S1E3: The Ticket Master
Season 1 Episode 3 - The Ticket Master
The Hall of Reception, Canterlot
The Agenda
1. Get Back the Ticket! [ ]
2. LONG TERM - Break the Power of the Apple Family [ ]
"Mayor," Princess Celestia spoke again, prompting the tan mare to slip the piece of paper back into her folder. "The Grand Galloping Gala is dull. I daresay I have done you a favor."
"With all respect, Your Highness, that's not the point!" Mayor Mare protested. "It's about the prestige and the networking and the knowledge of royal favor!"
The alicorn tried a different tack. "Tickets were also taken from the Mayor of Dodge Junction, Appaloosa, and Mustangon, and they have not yet complained, much less demanded an Audience for Redress."
"But they're tiny. Ponyville's the biggest out of the five!"
"Surely you can appreciate that the Gala requires the presence of the Mayors Canterlot, Fillydelphia, Manehattan and other such metropoles," The Defender of the Sun and Moon stressed. "And you can understand that a late expansion of the list would raise the specter of favoritism."
"But Ponyville needs to be represented!" the Mayor was intransigent.
Celestia put her hoof to her head in mock contemplation. "Mayor, I do apologize again. But I simply will have to deny your request. I do admit that it was a terrible idea to teach Twilight friendship lessons in such a way. I promise it will not occur again -"
"But we need it -" Mayor Mare began.
"- Mayor Mare," The Dominator of the Seas and the Mountain Lands cut the tan pony short, summoning a brown envelope out of thin air. "You will find that your room for maneuver is rather limited."
The Mayor opened the contents. Oh- oh my stars, I - There she was, being chastised, being beaten, being humiliated by Granny Smith...
The Co-Magistra of the Griffin Kingdom sipped her tea in satisfaction. "You know, that reporter was greatly aggrieved when her job review proved... sub-optimal."
Mayor Mare looked back at the Ruler of Equestria with some degree of trepidation.
"Under wraps," Princess Celestia patted the Mayor's head while taking back the envelope and its contents. "For the time being."
*
The Mayor's Office, Ponyville
"Ah, Mayor, but you should never have exposed yourself like that," Crimson Ribbon said unsympathetically. "First rule of politics."
The tan pony paced up and down the room. "I will go to the Gala!"
The Secretary for Administration shook his head. "Quite difficult, considering the circumstances."
The Mayor stopped and looked at him. "Surely you can help?"
The gray stallion shrugged. "I can't. It's a political matter."
"But this is about the constitutional independence of the Ponyville bureaucracy!" Mayor Mare assumed.
"That may be. But it's still a political matter."
The Mayor regarded her subordinate suspiciously. "Is this a political matter because there are no honors involved?"
Crimson Ribbon opened his mouth in fake shock. "I- , Mayor my intentions are always noble!" He immediately regretted his choice of words.
The Mayor raised an eyebrow and broke out in a smile. "Because, you know, I could do something that would annoy the Princess very much. Like crashing the Gala."
The bureaucrat's eyes widened as he realized that now he was the recipient of blackmail.
"I doubt, should such a situation occur, that the Princess would accept my recommendation for honors."
"Mayor, do we have to..." Crimson Ribbon approached her with a fake smile.
"You know, no KOSM this time, no POSM in your lifetime," Mayor Mare scratched her mane, seemingly lost in thought.
"I- " a deflated Crimson Ribbon backed out of the room. Mayor Mare had given him his orders.
*
The Gentlecolt's Club, Canterlot
"Say," Jet Set said, pouring out the bottle of San Fratello 979. "So nice to see you again. You attending the Oaton College Reunion next week?"
"Unfortunately no," Crimson Ribbon replied. "have some estate matters in East Phalia to handle."
"Regrettable," Jet Set reclined in his chair, slowly stirring his wine glass. "I was hoping we could get all the lads back together for some recreational polo."
"Regrettable," the bureaucrat assented.
The two sat in silence, sipping their wine glasses, taking in the 'clink' of champagne glasses, the guffaws of privileged laughter, and the aristocratic tones of "Jeeves, the cognac."
"So, why are we here?" Jet Set finally got down to business.
"Ah yes. Well, you see, I've heard your company's responsible for the building of the Trans-Equestria High-Speed Rail."
"Baltimare to Canterlot section, yes."
"Might I suggest," Crimson Ribbon smiled in anticipation. "that you reroute your rail line six miles to the south?"
"Crimson Ribbon!" Jet Set said patronizingly, shaking his head in mock admonishment. "That brings the line within Ponyville municipal boundaries."
"Really?" Crimson Ribbon responded, deliberately widening his eyes.
"The extra paperwork would be such a hassle," Jet Set mused. "And there's no point..."
"I see," the Secretary for Administration looked out of the window. "Well, you know, we've just received your tender for the construction of the Canterlot - Ponyville spur road. Very difficult to arrange - I mean, justify - your win, if you think our rules are such a hassle."
"But now that I think about it," Jet Set backpedaled. "Ponyville does seem more...um..." He would need time to think of a suitable reason. "Anyway. More wine?"
*
Finance Secretary's Office, Ponyville
"...so, you see, the rail line will cross Ponyville municipal boundaries on this, uh, fifty-meter stretch," Jet Set explained. "So we'll need permission to build there."
Bit Coin scrutinized the map again, trying to find that miniscule patch of land. "Why don't you just move the entire line up a hundred meters north, and avoid all this hassle."
"Aesthetic reasons," Jet Set responded. He guided Bit Coin's eyes towards the relevant patch of land.
"Darn, it's occupied." the chestnut mare murmured. "Freehold, too. We'd have to negotiate with the owner and prepare for legal proceedings in the Circuit." She looked up again. "You sure this is important?"
"Can't you just, you know, use...other methods?" Jet Set suggested.
"I'd prefer to stay near the law," Bit Coin responded.
"I see." The businesspony cleared his throat. "You know, as a member of the Corneighl University Trustee Board, I couldn't help but notice that your brother is applying there- "
"Fine, fine," the Finance Secretary interjected. "I'll get it sorted."
*
Delta Force's House, Ponyville
Delta Force stubbed out his cigarette into a nearby ashtray. "So you want me to go and 'evict' Mr. Whinnyfield on an invented charge."
"Dearie," Bit Coin said, slowly massaging the red stallion's back. "It's so easy to do in someone for tax evasion. The code's unreadable."
"He would sue," Delta Force said, murmuring with satisfaction. "It wouldn't look good on the Mayor. Even Celestia would run afoul of the EAT."
"Oh, darling," the chestnut pony pouted, now working on his shoulders. "I'm sure you can make him not do that."
"Come on now," the Security Chief responded. "I'm supposed to be the guardian of the law."
Bit Coin leant in and gave the stallion a little smooch. "The very best guardians of the law surely must know that sometimes, to defend the law, you have to break it..."
"Mm-hmm..." the Security Chief was too busy tasting the sultry mare's lips.
Bit Coin finally withdrew and gave the stallion's nose a little teasing peck. "Plus, I don't think Mrs. Force would be too happy if she knew what we've been doing."
*
The Hall of Reception, Canterlot
"Greetings, Mayor Mare. Please sit." the Princess Celestia gestured to a nearby couch. "Tea?"
"Just green is fine," the Mayor responded.
The Ruler of Equestria obliged and poured it out into the porcelain teacup. "Sugar?"
"You are too kind, Princess," Mayor Mare nodded.
The Elector of Akhal and of Teke put two teaspoonfuls in and began to stir. "I do tender in my profuse apologies," she said. "It was very...irresponsible of me to behave in such a way. I should have known better."
"I should be the one apologizing for all this inconvenience," the tan pony replied, following protocol.
"No, no," the Grand Duchess of all the Appaloosas handed the teacup over to Mayor Mare. "you are too humble."
"You are too kind," Mayor Mare savored the exquisite texture of the tea.
The Lady over the Canterlot March watched as Mayor Mare finished her tea. "Another one?"
"Thank you, Your Highness," the Mayor replied.
The Archtreasurer of the Manehattan Commune poured the tea out again. "In any case, let's get to brass tacks, Mayor Mare. Is there anything that you require of me?"
"Well..." Mayor Mare began. "I wouldn't like to impose..."
"No no no," the Supreme Head of the Equestrian Council shook her head. "The pleasure's all mine."
"Well...in that case, I'd like a guarantee of Crimson Ribbon's KOSM."
The Grand Marshal of the Equestrian Forces gave her silent assent.
"I'd also like all my...records with Granny Smith back. Copies and originals."
Three brown envelopes were magically conjured next to Mayor Mare. "Done."
"Also, I'd like an increase in the our share of the Emergency Subsidy."
"I'll add a special provision for Ponyville in the ESA."
"Don't push your luck!" Crimson Ribbon cautioned. "Thank you very much, Princess Celestia."
"Don't mention it," the Regent of the Ponies responded, levitating over another finely-brewed cup to the Mayor. "Now, I believe both sides are now satisfied?"
"Indeed we are!" the Mayor said happily.
"So you will, now, cease all mandatory cavity searches on your sector of the High-Speed Rail?"
"I believe we may have...overestimated the threat of overseas smuggling into Ponyville," Mayor Mare. "After all, we are situated in the center of Equestria."
The tan mare heard an audible sigh of relief.
"Oh, I almost forgot. One more thing," the Princess mentioned.
"Your Highness?"
"The Grand Galloping Gala. I'll transfer Ms. Sparkle's ticket over to you. How does that sound?"
Mayor Mare wasn't falling for this desperate comeback. By Equestria, you're not making her my enemy! "Thank you, your Highness. But I thought about what you said previously, and I couldn't help but agree. The Grand Galloping Gala does seem quite boring..."
Stats
Page generated in 0.023 seconds
Total duration
608 users online
1,344,228 hits today, 2,139,894 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
I really dislike this chapter.
2429666 Care to explain? (Don't take it the wrong way, just wanna improve.)
Just the characterization of Mayor Mare and Princess Celestia getting so desperate that she offered to rescind Twilight's ticket.
Plus I find the idea that the absolute ruler of the country could not expand the guest list by five, assuming the second ticket was originally for Spike
2429676 Thanks for your comments, as well as the one previously about Applejack and the trees. I have attempted to explain it away for the time being.
As a sort of explanation re: Princess Celestia. (and hopefully future comments of this nature.) I've always thought that while Princess Celestia is all-powerful, power can't be the be all and end all in Equestria - or else, why did Nightmare Moon, Discord and Queen Chrysalis all get defeated with seeming ease? Political relationships, power balances, and tradition must matter to some extent, just as it has always done in our world.
Furthermore, there's the fact that Celestia herself has ruled for a thousand years. She's a part of the establishment, if not the symbol of the establishment herself. The rules and norms that she originally laid down now constrict her moves as much as it does others. Perhaps she has even come to believe in the 'naturalness' of those rules. This was the price she paid for stability, and hence, why she continues to play along with the tit-for-tat of fourth rank officials.
Hopefully you, or some others, can give more detail into what you think re: characterization of Mayor Mare/Princess Celestia. Perhaps I'm just too cynical...
Well so much for that plan. At least Ponyville is getting a railroad out of this though.
Ah the balance of power. Such that we must play this game.
mayor mare is such a badass ....oversea smuggling....glorious
Blackmail all the things!
*Grins and applauds* Very nicely done. I confess I sort of feel like the mayor has gone from coming across as very green and wet behind the ears to incredibly savvy in a very short period of time. Not a big issue though, just a minor comment.
I love and hate the politics in this story. I love you're giving a detailed look into Equestrian politics; I hate that they're just as corrupt and shady as I've understood politics to be IRL.
One complaint and one nitpick: you use the term "hands" so much I thought this was either Human or Anthro, and in an earlier chapter you make reference to a "leather-bound" book, a material I think herbivores wouldn't use.
All in all, I like the story so far.
Thanks for the laugh. Poor Mr. Whinnyfield though...