//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Winning The Election/Jealousy. // Story: The Equestrian Civil War 2: The Battle For Silverstream // by Admiral Producer //------------------------------// Unbeknownst to Silverstream, there was a reason why her adoptive father Hawk was so busy. Since the end of the war, Hawk had been launching an election campaign for the 2020 presidential election. He tried to split his time between the campaign and caring for Silverstream, but faced active opposition from his liberal opponent, Cozy Glow’s mother Amber Rays. Amber Rays campaigned for the poor and promised that if she won the election, she would distribute land amongst the earth ponies and raise taxes for the rich. Essentially, she was a communist, but she didn’t want to admit that. Hawk ran for the Republican Party of Equestria while Amber ran for the fledgling Socialist Democratic Party of Equestria. Silverstream wanted to help her adoptive father, so she asked him if she could help with the campaign. Surprisingly, he agreed, but not in the way she was expecting. He told her that she could bring honor to his name by continuing to be the kind and polite hippogriff she was and being an example to other creatures, which would show the integrity of the Republican Party. Silver agreed, although she was kind of upset she couldn’t be his campaign manager. She knew not to press forward though as she had learned from her experience as a slave that pressing on never ended well. Plus the role Hawk gave her was enough. She loved making Hawk proud of her. It made her feel good about herself in a time in which her morale was practically broken by slavery. And by November of 2020, it worked! It turned out that Silverstream’s kindness and compassion towards others brought more ponies flocking to the Republican Party as they felt that Silverstream’s politeness was a result of her conservative upbringing. On November 20th 2020, it was announced at the Lunar Court Senate that Hawk was the new President of the Republic, the first landmark victory for the Republicans. When Hawk arrived home, Silver couldn’t help but embrace him as soon as he got to the door. It was a day to celebrate. “You did it, Mr. Hawk! You won!” Silverstream exclaimed, having her first excited smile in years. Hawk smiled back, “I couldn’t have done it without you. I’m more proud of you, Silverstream, than I am about my victory.” Silverstream was confused, “Why?” “Make no mistake,” Hawk said, putting his hoof on Silverstream’s shoulder, “I am extremely elated that my party won. But I am more happy to have you as my daughter. That is what matters most.” They embraced each other again and Silverstream hurried to prepare him a victory lunch, making him his favorite apple pie, even though Hawk said that she didn’t have to do it. Although he was really grateful. “Should we throw a party?” Silverstream asked him, “I hear ponies talking a lot about that sort of stuff in school and I’m curious to know what it’s like. Only if it’s okay with you though.” “A party?” Hawk echoed. He thought about it, “Well, it’s Friday, so it’s practically the prologue to the weekend. Eh, shouldn’t be that big of a hassle. Alright. If you can invite your friends over, I’ll get the decorations ready. Sound good?” Silver nodded and Hawk felt glad to see her happy and smiling. He had been researching different ways to connect with her ever since ponies discovered the Internet during the war. He found a lot of useful suggestions, although caring for Silverstream was harder than he thought. She was very dutiful and kind, but she was basically scared of everything. Hawk had to be careful what he said or how he said it. Even now, a year after the war and one months after summer break, when Silverstream was beginning to come out of her shell, Hawk still had to be careful. But now, he had a victory party to look forward to. He wouldn’t be surprised if Silverstream managed to invite the whole school. Of course, that was kind of unlikely as not all students and staff were Republican according to a recent political poll done by the state during the school year. But that didn’t matter as part of a functional democracy was accepting the results of an election. He bet teenagers were pretty good at that, though he didn’t know for sure. Eh, how bad can it be? He thought. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— “IT’S ABSOLUTELY A DISASTER!!!” “Don’t raise your voice, young filly!!” her father roared. Cozy Glow didn’t listen. She stormed out of the house in a fit of rage after she dumped a bowl of hazelnut soup on her father’s mane in frustration, completely sliming it. Cozy Glow ran and ran until she bumped into one of her good friends, Svengallop, who was also good friend of her mother’s. “Whoa! Chill out, Cozy!” Svengallop exclaimed, shocked at Cozy’s frustrated demeanor. “Don’t tell me to chill out, you money-loving cheapskate!” Cozy shouted, causing Svengallop to gasp, “My mother lost the presidential election, and you’re telling me to chill out?!” “Amber lost the election?” Svengallop asked, “Aw, that’s a shame. This country needs some socialist reforms if you ask me. I guess big bad Hawk is the leader now?” Cozy Glow nodded, “This was our only chance to get out of the dump! If the rich were equal to the poor, then we would be free while all the rich starve! I’m so mad, I could blow up the world!” “Steal a nuclear bomb and go ahead,” Svengallop teased her. “Unfortunately, I can’t,” Cozy Glow said, “I want to, but then they’d lock me up. I just hate Hawk so much. I hate Silverstream so much too!” “Why do you hate her exactly?” Svengallop inquired, “She’s a pacifist weakling whose too pathetic to even stand up for herself. Her precious friends have to help her out. Why do you have a grudge against her?” “Because,” Cozy Glow replied, “She has more privileges than she even knows! Her father Hawk was a military general before he became President, so he got paid by the government to live in that cottage in Cantropolis! Silverstream will inherit that wealth and she doesn’t even know it! Why does Silverstream get to live the life of luxury while my family rots at the bottom of the food chain?! It’s just not fair, Svengallop. I wanted to get out of the dump so bad. I wanted to finally live in Canterlot where I could be among the rich and privileged. I wanted my family to finally be able to afford adequate food and living conditions. Svengallop, I wanted nothing fancy. I just wanted to have higher social status so my family wouldn’t be socially discriminated against. I was so happy when my mother decided to run because we had a chance to live like the more happy ponies up there. Instead we’re stuck in a dump like the Russian proletariat were stuck on their farms courtesy of the Russian Tsar!” “This does sound pretty sad,” Svengallop admitted, “Normally I wouldn’t care, but you’re my good friend, Cozy Glow. Something obviously must be done about that little brat Silverstream and her almighty father! But what?” “We need to come up with a plan,” Cozy Glow told him, “Let’s get Suri Polomare.”