//------------------------------// // Unexpected variable. // Story: Forever // by Hoax1337 //------------------------------// "Hmm... raise minimum salary by 1.000? Sounds good." "What? I don't want people to learn how to steal, are you crazy? Still, I will let you take down the filters to content related to that. Freedom of speech, after all. We promised it." "Instead of raising the basic work hours, why don't we reduce the pay for overtime? Only for highly specialised jobs though." Seriously, sometimes I think that people are responsible for all the migraines I have. Do they really want to go back in time? Because I'm definitely not modifying the 8 hour minimum shift. But on the bright side, being this more realistic than the game I can modify the decisions so I get the best of it, and thus in 7 more turns I already made it into the green zone with all the factions. I felt like I was blessed in this opportunity. I didn't need to worry about conspiracies which is the main reason I usually lose too soon, and I'm still apart from the revolt zone, so you could say that I was calm. I wasn't. You see, even when you live in a world in which you are the most technologically advanced country surrounded by nations that are simply too prideful to accept what we have to offer, a message would not take more than 3 days to reach even the most austral countries thanks to high speed trains, and thus a reply is expected after an equal period of time. Most of the leaders showed their concern when they got notified of the coup, and some of them even were looking forward to relations with the new government, but I was still concerned about one nation in particular: Equestria. They had yet to express their thoughts, but there was simply no answer. I could only hope that they were not already planning a way to overthrow me (again), but before the fear could develop further, something happened. Something that broke my boring cycle of ruling and death. I was redacting a new decree with John that would increase the protection of prosecutors, when I received an internal call from Carmen notifying me of a visitor. At that moment I did not pay that much attention since I wanted the new decree done. After we finished and I dismissed him I went to Carmen's desk to ask her about the visitor. "...Says that she is coming in representation of Equestria." So they decided through the diplomatic way this time, huh? "She is over there" and when I turn to see the diplomat, I froze. Sitting on the waiting area was a white cream coloured unicorn mare which had a pink mane, and she used a formal business attire, but her shape was not what shocked me. When you are a person that is basically condemned to live the same time period over and over again, you know certain things you are not supposed to, such as 'future' events, the personal life of people you supposedly don't know until later... And secret abilities. Such as the ability to disguise. And it happened that I had already seen that disguise many times before. "Just hold her for a few more minutes. I will call you when she can pass" I tell her before going back to my office. Back there I take again my gun from the drawer and I prepare it in case that SHE thinks of anything funny. In the spare time I have left I take many deep breaths to avoid raising any suspicions from HER. Finally it was time. "Carmen, please bring her" I call her over the internal phone. The seconds that pass before SHE enters are eternal. If I do anything wrong I might get killed again. I need to pay attention to any suspicious movements from HER. Finally the door opens and the 'diplomat' enters, and I stand up to meet her. Before continuing we both stood looking at each other for another eternity until I decided to speak. "Nice to meet you, miss..." "...Sunny Skies." she finishes the sentence. I swear that pony names are too direct, and in some occasions, childish. It is like they already have predesignated their future. Guess it is all magic's fault. Also, more evidence that it is actually HER. Should at least have bothered with a more unrelated name. "I guess that the reason for your presence must be important, so please, have a seat." And she does as I said. You know, If it was another diplomat we would have talked before raising the matter, but since I wanted to make HER clear I was not playing HER game, I went straight to the point. "So, what brings an Equestrian representative here?" I ask. Normally people that dealt with me and were not close would get nervous from such straightness, but I could see in HER eyes that SHE had diplomatic experience. More evidence points for me. She took her time, but finally responded. "The princesses has sent me to request a recall of all the ponies that are currently living in this country." ...What. "Why should I do it? If my memory does not fail me the first thing we did was to open the borders. Anyone can immigrate and emigrate with no problems as long as their papers are okay, so if they are trying this for "safety reasons" then I'm not doing it. It is completely unnecessary and I doubt they want to leave unless they are tourists. We are the only nation that has no race distinction when it comes to citizenship and we know that anyone that immigrates here is seen with bad eyes by others that decide to stay back, so I doubt that they would agree with your request that would basically mean to become social outcasts." This is escalating quickly. I need to keep my temper in line. "How can you guarantee their security? It has reached us that certain sectors of this nation are rejecting them. Why do you think that is a good idea to keep them?." She tries to backfire, but i'm not having any of that. "They are being dealt with. It's not the first time it is denounced by residents. Now, what do you really want? Because coming all the way along to the capital must be for some important business, so if you can tell me what's the real deal everything will be easier. I don't want to start an incident out of a misunderstanding." "Yeah. I don't want to expose my little ponies to a war..." ... Now I was seriously in high alert mode. THAT phrase... little ponies... Maybe if I did not have any suspicions from the beginning I might had not paid attention to that whisper, but unluckily for her I understood every single word, and... and... "...I won't let you harm my little ponies, you shall be stopped!" I lost it. Seriously, always swearing to to protect them by going to war, and now she wants to avoid a political disaster? That... that had to be a joke, right? A funny, stupid, and fucking ENRAGING joke. She looked at me with a face of surprise and... hate? I had to prevent myself from doing something stupid during that rage moment. But one thing is the theory and the other is the practice, as usual. "You wanna know how to avoid a conflict?"I asked in a very informal tone, trying to contain the incoming rage, "You could start by stating your real intentions, princess" I reiterated in a firm tone. As soon as the last word left my mouth... Oh, the look on her face was priceless. There you go, Celestia. Where are your gods now? She tried to avoid the ball. "What are you talking about?" She should have realised by now that I was not having that shit anymore, and I started a rant that would change the game rules. "Stop trying to go around Celestia, We know very well of cloaking spells, and how can only be done by high level magic users, apart from the fact that your fake Identity does not help you very much on hiding. Seriously, Sunny skies? Quite relatable to you, If you ask me. So, what do you really want? A treaty? Financial aid? Declare war (Again)?" ... Uh-oh. "So you remember..." "What?" "You remember what happened?" "I don't know what are you talking about..." "Yes, you know!" She screams at me as she starts dropping her spell. I take some steps back and I take out my weapon out of reflex. She charges her horn, but stops after seeing me with the pistol. It did not have the special rounds, but the fact that it was a weapon seemed enough to deter her. We stood in the office looking at each other, me with a serious yet surprised look, and her with what could be described as a revenge seeking face. So much happened in so little time, but I was already forming an idea of what was going on. "What did you do?" She demanded to know, in an angry, yet serious tone. "I did nothing. Whatever happened that made you board the train is entirely your responsibility." I answer her in a neutral tone, confirming her suspicions. "Where did you learn such powerful magic?" She asked in a more calmed but nervous tone. "Nowhere, because I did not do it. It's simply something that happens when I lose control of the government. I have no control over it" I answer honestly. No point on lying when someone else knows. "Then I shall prevent you from taking control again" and her horn starts glowing again. She sends a shot that I manage to avoid thanks to a quick head movement. "Wait! Could you please calm down? Do you want the same happening again? Get dragged back to the past?" I ask her as I get behind my desk. "I will stop you whatever it takes! Even if I have to repeat this forever!" She shoots again but I duck under it. Shit. I Must try something different. "Let's suppose you don't get back. How will you explain my death? Are you really going to risk a war against us, again? It will only end in the same way!" "Then so it be!" And she shoots for the third time. The bolt went through the window and got lost in the sky. She is not thinking rationally. Then I need an emotional excuse... wait. Why I did not thought about the other one? "Celestia... do you really want to receive her in the middle of a war? Or risk the possibility of not seeing her again?" She went wide eyed, but I continued, "Do you even think about your sister, Celestia?" The glow on her horn faded out quickly. I noticed that she was shaking, so I quickly reached a chair and placed it next to her. This time, she seemed to understand. I could have remarked many negative things about her in that moment, of how she acted without thinking, maybe even I could have told her to get out, but, I don't know. I... I felt horrible for having to remind Celestia of her sister in order to save my ass, how close she was to end her loneliness. Something I would have to endure forever, even if I did not like it. She might be a pain in every single run, but I don't wish for anyone to be alone. And I do not mean basic interaction, but to care of someone, and also be important to that person. She was about to get her sister back, why ruin it? Suddenly I heard a frenetic knocking in the door. Of course that the commotion would not be unheard by carmen. "You might want to activate your cloak again" I tell her. In no more than some seconds she was back as the diplomat. Finally, I answered the door. "Alex, Everything is okay in there? I think I heard some loud noises and I was worried." "Don't worry Carmen, the diplomat had a sudden allergy that accidentally triggered her horn, nothing else." She gasps. "Are you okay? Were you reached by a shot?" "I'm okay, there was some unimportant damage in the office, and one of the discharges broke the window. It can be fixed eventually. Just tell security that it is all clear. I don't want them busting into the room thinking that there was an attack." She lets out a small giggle. "Well, then I shall go back. If you need anything just ring me, okay?" "Got it. Thanks for worrying about what happened, Carmen. Speaks good of you." And then I finally close the door. Then I go back to Celestia. "Just... Don't do that again." I recommend her. "Quite the show, was it?" And I let a small chuckle at my dumb joke. "How many times?" She asks. "I'm sorry, what?" "How many times you... restarted?" Oh, that. "Last time I checked, 100 times, over the course of about 800 years" I answer her like if it was the most normal thing to happen to a human. "Why the interest on it?" "Oh, nothing" She answers looking in various directions in a short span of time. I could tell that she was holding something, but given the recent events I deciden not to press on the matter. "I think I should get going" she suggests, and gets up of the chair. A sudden question crossed my head. "Wait, how did you arrive here?" She could have not arrived by chariot since those long distance trips were usually reserved only for the princess, and since she was incognito... "I got here by train." The only option left. I took a look at my phone. It was almost night. And given the recent events the railroad network still did not have all the timetable fully operational, including night departures. It was done in order to capture all that governing scum before they could escape. "Well, then I suppose we will have to arrange a place where you can stay, and your escort too. I suppose you have one?" She nods. "Okay then, follow me." We left the office and I headed towards Carmen's desk, to ask her about a government asset I barely used. "Carmen? Which is the state of the presidential residency?" "I'm staying there?" The princess asked in a surprised manner. "No one's using it, and it is on good conditions, so I thought it would be a good idea to use it." I answer. I know that the residence is big and important, but I don't really like that place. The few times I decided to move there I died. It is a very blatant objective for people that wanted me dead, even with all the security it has. So, since it was unused, why not open it for important visitors? We then stay in the hall looking at each other for some seconds, unable to find something to say, so I decided to finally extend the invitation. "I hope we can work together for a good relation between both nations, princess." It was the only thing I could say, and I really meant it. Saying that I was fucking tired from constant wars would look like an understatement. She could only look at me with an incredulous face, but then the princess extended her left hand. Before I could extend mine she changed it for the right one, as if she had done something wrong. I wanted to know why she did that, but I still shrugged the thought off. "I do look forward to it, president." and we shake hands. Finally, she started walking towards the elevator. Before she entered it, I heard her calling me. "Alexander?" "Yes?" "Thank you." Then the doors closed after she got in, leaving me wondering what she was thanking me for, and what was going on with her sudden change of attitude.