Season 1 Episode 1 - Friendship is Magic, Part 1
"...alright, we are now calling Ponyville for the Equestrian Party, yes, that's Ponyville, West Phalia; once again, Ponyville for Mayor Mare, for the Equestrian Party, Ponyville goes into the Equestrian column; wow, that is some margin, Timberwolf Blitzer!"
"Yes, Racer Meadow , pretty large margins, 65 to 35: let's bring up our latest-technology touchscreen; you can see here, East Ponyville - that's Apple territory - look at those wards, they have done a political U-turn! Compare that with the last election! Incredible!"
"Yes, I guess we were all expecting some losses for the Equine Party; the scandal surrounding Mayor Fields hit them pretty hard, it's probably safe to say Lyra Heartstrings never had a chance, but those margins, they are still phenomenal!"
"Indeed, Racer; the Equines will have to take all the votes from West Ponyville in order to catch up, and from our exit polls this is simply not the case - so once again, we're calling Ponyville for the Equestrian Party; Ponyville, West Phalia, for the Equestrian Party, in a tremendous landslide; Ponyville, West Phalia, for the Equestrians..."
*
The Mayor's Office, Ponyville
Crimson Ribbon, SOSM., SSS., HP., was the Secretary of Administration in Ponyville and in charge of all the paperwork. As such, he was of some ranking in Ponyville. Which just made the fact that he was now standing hat in hand, awaiting the new Mayor that much more jarring.
"By the Princess, she had better -"
“Oh, I’m very sorry, I’m heere!” Mayor Mare’s voice rang out from around the corner.
The stallion stood to attention as a gray-maned, spectacled mare came into view, slightly flustered and confused. First day blues.
“Ah, Ma’am. Congratulations. So nice to see you here,” Crimson Ribbon bowed as Mayor Mare raced past him. "I am the Secretary of Administration, Crimson Ribbon. You will of course know that I am your liaison with the Ponyville Civil Service."
"Oh, of course," Mayor Mare said, busily inspecting the oaken desk, the leather chair, the brass plaque with the words MAYOR MARE grafted on it - she had done it. She was at the top. She was Mayor of Ponyville.
Crimson Ribbon smiled knowingly to himself.
But alas, all good things had to come to an end. The graying stallion gave Mayor Mare a minute before clearing his throat. "Apologies, Ma'am; the agenda."
Mayor Mare plopped into the mayor's seat, savoring every moment.
"Ma'am, the agenda," Crimson Ribbon repeated, handing Mayor Mare a piece of parchment. "We should have a discussion on what you want to achieve during your tenure. Also, the Princess Celestia has summoned you to a meeting at two o'clock.
Mayor Mare's eyes widened. "The Princess?" she gasped.
"Yes. I understand that it is very irregular for Mayors to be received by royalty. You must be in luck." Crimson Ribbon, by contrast, was unfazed. Fifty-seven years of bureaucratic experience meant that he had seen stranger things.
"Oh my, what an honor..." the Mayor began.
"In any case, we should start on your agenda." Crimson Ribbon was quick to pop any delusions that the Mayor had. "So, Mayor, we all know your campaign slogan: 'Equality, Justice, and Wealth'. Now, how shall we go about achieving this?"
The Mayor was ready. "Well, you all know how the previous Mayor Fields was always being accused of nepotism - being all 'you scratch my back, I scratch yours' and stuff like that,"
She continued as Crimson Ribbon nodded. "Then there were the deals that he struck with the Ponyville upper class. You know, kickbacks, special gifts, the lot,"
"That was improper," the bureaucrat responded diplomatically.
"Well, I intend to destroy this system of pork once and for all! No more deals with the big monied interests. No more secret trades behind the scrutiny of the press. No more tolerating the fat monopolists who try to dominate Ponyville's economy. We will conduct business in the open, with full public input, and with as little waste as possible. It will be Morning in Ponyville!"
Typical Equestrian middle-class horseapples. "These are admirable aims, Ma'am. Do you have a concrete plan?"
The spectacled mare snapped out of her heroic demeanor. "Plan?"
"Well, Ma'am," Crimson Ribbon resisted the urge to facehoof. "you said that your main aim was to tackle the 'big monied interests', as you say. Doubtless you know that the Ponyville economy is dominated by several of these interests. Do you plan on taking them on all at once, or focusing your attention on a particular 'fat cat'?"
"Erm..." Mayor Mare pondered the question. "Well, governing will be difficult if we hit all of them at once...so just one, for the moment, I think."
"A wise move, if I say so. Now, you have a choice of several interests. There's the Apple family who dominate the agricultural sector. There's the Rich family who control the factories. There's Fancy Pants, who holds sway over the shops. And we also have the Small Business Associations, the Everfree Environmental Club, the unions, and numerous others players. Now who will be the recipient of your righteous fury?"
"Hmm..." Mayor Mare mulled her choices. I need honor and glory, and I doubt targeting the pipsqueak associations and unions would give those to me; the Riches and the Pants both donated to my campaign - "the Apples. Let's go after the Apples."
"The Apples," Crimson Ribbon pulled out a thick folder out of his saddlebags. "An excellent choice. Here's the folder on them. To summarize: They own a third of Ponyville. Responsible for a quarter of agricultural output. Goods include Zap Apple Jam and Apple Family Cider. Employ around one hundred ponies. Contribute little to receipts: Equestria's tax structure favors the agricultural sector."
"A-ha!" Mayor Mare said. "Own a third of the land, but only a quarter of the output? That is clearly inefficient! Now if we split up their lands, we can then move away from these diseconomies of scale and let the market work its magic! Entrepreneurial farmers would then be able to innovate in their very own plot of land! Our productivity would soar!" She winked at her subordinate. "I did study economics at Carneighgie Melon."
"Mm-hmm," assented Crimson Ribbon, finding himself slightly in agreement. "in that case, Ma'am, the bureaucracy will strive to assist you in this goal. However, as we are a non-partisan organization, you will understand that we cannot help you in political matters."
Mayor Mare raised an eyebrow. "But surely everything I do as Mayor can be branded as 'political'!"
"But no, Ma'am," the bureaucrat replied smugly. "And to demonstrate why, here is a welcoming gift from all of us here," he handed over a leather-bound, well worn tome to the tan mare. "'The Constitutional Codex of Equestria'. You will find the relevant regulations in Part I, Chapter V, Number XII, Section (A), Subsection XXIV."
The Mayor's jaw dropped. "Surely I can't be expected to know all of this!"
The Secretary of Administration smiled. The test that separates the mares from the fillies. "Allow me to be frank: understanding it would smooth your mayoral tenure in innumerable ways."
*
The Hall of Reception, Canterlot
The Codex would have to wait.
"Stand to attention for the Most Royal Princess Celestia, Ruler of Equestria, co-Magistra of the Griffon Kingdom, Lady over the Canterlot March, Elector of Akhal and of Teke, Grand Duchess of all the Appaloosas, Defender of the Sun and Moon, Dominator of the Seas and the Mountain Lands -"
An interjecting chuckle. "A venerable stallion such as you should really take care of your voice: Royal Chamberlain, you are excused." the Princess Celestia, in her dread majesty, said while entering the room.
"Your Highness!" Mayor Mare prostrated herself in front of Equestria's ruler.
"Arise, Mayor Mare," Princess Celestia replied. "and congratulations. My best wishes for a successful tenure."
"You are too kind." The Mayor gracefully accepted the seat that the Guards had brought in.
The Princess sat opposite her and gestured for hot tea. "Now I do not need to tell you that this meeting is highly irregular and, in many ways, a serious breach of royal protocol. I hear the Governor of West Phalia is most displeased."
"I apologize for any inconvenience I have caused you."
"That is not necessary on your part. For there is a reason behind this, and I will, unfortunately, have to demand your unconditional support before we proceed."
"This much is guaranteed, Your Highness."
"Good. I have decided that my prize pupil - a purple unicorn named Twilight Sparkle - should stay in Ponyville for some time. It would be much appreciated if you could find somewhere for her to stay, and something for her to do. I will be responsible for any expenses incurred."
"Hmm..." I always thought that darned treehouse was a waste of money..."how about Ms. Sparkle as the municipal librarian? She will be able to live in the Library as well."
"Excellent. Twilight has always been the bookish and, dare I say so, cold type."
"Shall I introduce her to the townsfolk, then?"
"That will not be necessary. I intend for her to learn these things herself."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
*
Mane Street, Ponyville
"The agenda is prepared, Ma'am," Crimson Ribbon approached the Royal Carriage. "Please have a peruse and tell me if all this is to your liking."
The Agenda
1. Congratulations/Introductions. [Completed]
2. Meeting with the Princess Celestia [Completed]
3. Preparations for the Arrival of Ms. Twilight Sparkle [ ]
4. Meeting Ms. Twilight Sparkle [ ]
5. LONG TERM - Break the Power of the Apple Family [ ]
"All clear," Mayor Mare handed the piece of paper back to the bureaucrat. "Now, is the library ready for the Princess' student?"
"Ah," Crimson Ribbon made a polite cough. "We have incurred a slight problem there."
"What problem?" Mayor Mare raised an eyebrow.
"You see, the library is a civic structure in Ponyville. And according to the Structures, Planning, Infrastructure and Township Act (SPIT), civic structures cannot be used for residential purposes."
"But there's always been a bedroom in that library," the gray mare pointed out. "With a kitchen and toilet and everything."
"Yes." Crimson Ribbon said without irony. "I'm just saying you can't live there."
"Well...aha! can't we redesignate the place as a residential building?" Mayor Mare exclaimed, secretly feeling oh-so-proud of her own genius.
"Oh yes. At the next Town Planning meeting, five weeks from now."
"So Ms. Sparkle can stay there in the meantime?"
"Alas," the graying stallion shrugged. "we will have to arrest her for trespassing if she does so."
Too easy. "Well I'm the Mayor, and I will order the police not to evict her."
Crimson Ribbon bowed. "As you wish, Mayor. May I suggest, however, that voters may consider you to be... excessively arrogant, with regards to the law?"
Mayor Mare shuddered out from her complacency with a start. "Oh dear."
The bureaucrat smiled. "There is a way, Mayor."
"How?"
"Ahem," the bureaucrat gazed into the far distance. "Say, I believe the Princess' Birthday Honors list is being compiled as we speak."
"I'll nominate you for a KOSM," the Mayor Mare said, desperate to live up to her promise with Princess Celestia.
"Ah. Sorry," Crimson Ribbon rubbed his head. "I got distracted. As I was about to say, the Mayor of Ponyville does have certain 'Emergency Powers' at her disposal. She can use them anytime for a period of up to ten days, or for as long as required by the circumstances."
"And is the power to rezone land one of them?" Mayor Mare enquired.
The bureaucrat nodded. "For ten days, at least."
"Good. Do that. I'll find some suitable alternative after that."
"That would be best. We don't get many emergencies in Ponyville."