//------------------------------// // Final Insults // Story: The Great Ponyville Election // by RarityFigma //------------------------------// TWILIGHT’S LIBRARY THURSDAY 9:00 A.M. Twilight woke up and began to sulk in a corner. After a few minutes of watching the new magic screen TV, Rarity and Applejack grew guilty and walked over to her to see what was wrong. “What wrong Twi?” AJ asked in caring voice. “Yes darling,” Rarity said. “You’re messing these great shows!” Twilight looked up to glare at her staff. “Rainbow Dash destroyed me last night. If she wins, Ponyville will be thrown into chaos. I can’t let that happen.” “Oh Twilight,” Applejack laughed. “There’s no way Dash will actually beat’cha!” “We now interrupt this cartoon for a breaking PNN news bulletin.” The trio turned to their expensive magic screen TV. A group of ponies in suits were standing at a table. A unicorn with a black suit and a white mane began to speak. “It’s clear from the polls that Twilight just doesn’t stand a chance in this election.” A set of numbers magically appeared next to the unicorn’s head. They showed Twilight with 40%, Rainbow Dash with 54% and Pinkie Pie with 5%. An earth pony with a gray mane and glasses shook his head. “You’re jumping to conclusions Colterson. We won’t know you’ll win this election till the voting occurs tomorrow.” The first pony sighed. “You’re no fun Blitzen.” A pegasus with a brown mane cut in. “Let’s just remember guys if we actually counted all the votes Pinkie would win hands down.” The group of ponies started to laugh at this coment as Twilight angrily turned off the television. “Just great,” she said. “Rainbow Dash is actually beating me!” Her staff tried to console her, but neither pony knew what to say. “Do we still have that last 800 bits? Applejack and Rarity exchanged guilty looks. “We have 600 bits,” they whimpered in unison. Twilight glared at them. “We kinda got hungry after the debate,” Applejack said. “Yes so we tried a truly exquisite restaurant,” Rarity said. “It was just a little…. You know costly.” “And you didn’t invite me?” Twilight groaned. “Well uh,” Applejack said trying to look away. “You were quite tired last night darling,” Rarity jumped in. “We thought it best to let you get some sleep.” “Ugh,” Twilight growled. “We have one day left to save Ponyville and there’s no way I’m letting Dash beat me!” Twilight threw the front door open with magic. “Come on guys. We’re going to clinch this election once and for all!” SOMEWHERE IN THE CLOUDS 4:35 P.M. Rainbow Dash paced in the air. She flew around in circles aimlessly hoping for the day to end. “This totally bites,” Dash whined. “Can’t it be tomorrow already?” Fluttershy was sitting on a cloud nearby. She got up and flew over to Rainbow Dash. “Why are you so tense Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy asked. “I mean you’re winning in the polls.” Rainbow turned away from Fluttershy and stared down in the direction of Twilight’s library. “I know that’s why I’m so stressed. Twilight’s the type of pony who’ll do something crazy if she’s cornered. I don’t want whatever weird thing she does to hurt my chances of getting elected.” “Oh Rainbow Dash, Twilight wouldn’t do anything to hurt you,” Fluttershy answered. Suddenly the two pegasi heard a loud marching from below. Rainbow Dash flew down to see Twilight standing at top a parade float being dragged by Rarity and Applejack. Atop the float was a huge poster that read: DISCORD WOULD VOTE FOR RAINBOW DASH? BUT WILL YOU? Paid for by the Vote for Twilight Sparkle Campaign. Rainbow Dash looked at Fluttershy. “Yeah she’d never do anything to hurt me.” The blue pegasi flew next to Twilight and glared at her. “Real mature Twilight.” The purple mare glared back. “Oh and it was soooo mature for you and Fluttershy to call me an egghead?” “You are an egghead!” Rainbow Dash answered. “Besides why can’t you just admit that I’m right? Ponyville would a heck of a lot better without any boring rules!” “No!” Twilight shot back. “You need to admit that I’m right and that rules are the staple of an organized society!” “Society-Shimiety!” Rainbow Dash said. “You’re just too boring to think outside the box!” “Um guys?” Applejack said. Both of the bickering ponies turned to face AJ. The orange mare wiped her brow before letting out a sigh. “Can Rarity an I stop pullin this float? It’s really heavy.” Rarity who was not one for manual labor whimpered in agreement. Twilight rolled her eyes. “Fine.” The unicorn returned her gaze to Rainbow Dash. “Just wait Rainbow. Tomorrow you’ll see that everypony chose safety and rules over your childish nonsense!” Dash flew up close to Twilight’s face. “Oh yeah! Well tomorrow everypony will show you just how WRONG you are! I’m gonna be Mayor Twilight! There’s no way you’ll win!” “I’m going to win!” Twilight yelled. “No I’m gonna win!” Dash shot back. “I’ll win!” “I’m gonna win!” A pink tail appeared in between the two screaming mares. “But guys I’m totally gonna win!” Pinkie cheered as she jumped down from her hot air balloon. “I mean I’ve been telling ponies to vote for me and giving out sweets all day!” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Whatever Pinkie.” “You’re not even a real candidate,” Twilight groaned. “Oh yeah,” Pinkie cried. “Well just wait till tomorrow when I win!” The three ponies then re-entered their shouting match. Bored by this display, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy decided to spend Twilight’s last 200 bits on an early dinner. The trio of campaign organizers took off, leaving their candidates to argue. AN EXPENSIVE RESTAURANT 6:34 PM “Thanks for coming with us Fluttershy,” Rarity said. “Applejack and I have really missed you.” The trio was seated in one of Ponyville’s most expensive restaurants. Each rested on a rare imported pillow. The table and walls were adorned with diamonds. The visuals were only matched by the food. They say you can only truly enjoy the taste of grass after it’s been cooked with 13 different sauces. Now after eating the ponies were having some much needed small talk. “Why Dash must be workin you like a mule,” Applejack exclaimed. Fluttershy looked down. “She does work me hard…but I think I know why.” Rarity leaned closer. “What’s on your mind darling? You can tell us.” “Well,” Fluttershy began. “Rainbow Dash really wants to be Mayor so she doesn’t lose to Twilight. “Heh!” Applejack chuckled. “Twilight’s the same! Ever since you two gave out those fliers, she’s been on the war path!” “Oh I hope she isn’t mad at me,” Fluttershy whimpered. “I told Rainbow Dash that it was mean, but she didn’t listen. She wants to win that badly.” “Oh don’t worry Fluttershy,” Rarity mused. “Twilight’s fury is directed at Rainbow Dash, not you.” “You know ah think all this drama has made everypony forget what’s really important about elections,” Applejack said. “Oh you’re so right Applejack,” Rarity said. “In all this huss and fuss everypony has lost their mind.” “At least it’ll end tomorrow,” Fluttershy said. “But after that we’ll have two friends who feel awful!” The pegasus began to tear up. “What should we do?” “It’s all right Shy,” Applejack said. “No matter who wins the election tomorrow everything will be alright.” “Yes,” Rarity jumped in. “Regardless of who wins we’ll be there to help. It’s what friends are for after all.” “You guys are right,” Fluttershy answered smiling. “I just hope Twilight isn’t too sad when Rainbow Dash wins.” “Now hold on darling,” Rarity cut in. “I think you mean Rainbow Dash isn’t sad when Twilight wins.” Fluttershy and Rarity entered the most casual of stare-downs before both bursting into laughter. “Y’all had me going for a second there,” Applejack chuckled. “Oh don’t worry about us AJ,” Rarity laughed. “I don’t even mind who wins anymore.” “Me neither, but I am worried about the two ponies who lose being sad,” Fluttershy said. “And not just our friends! Everypony who votes for a pony and then learns that they lost will feel sad! Oh this whole election thing is just a bad idea! All it’s done is turn friends and neighbors against each other! Why do have this mean old practice in the first place?” “Because darling,” Rarity answered. “Sometimes you need to choose between who you want to give power to.” “Princess Celestia has power and we didn’t vote for her,” Fluttershy countered. Rarity and Applejack exchanged glances. “You got me there sugarcube,” Applejack said. “Either way in every contest some ponies must lose,” Rarity said. “It’s just the way the world works.” Fluttershy sighed in annoyance. “I guess you’re right.” “Hay guys,” Applejack said. Her fellow mares to turned to her. “I say we go see what’s on that old magic screen television!” “Brilliant idea Applejack,” Rarity said. “Fluttershy could you please join us?” “Hmm give me a minute,” Fluttershy said before flying off. The yellow pegasus flew through the darkening sky back to spot where they had left the bickering trio. Not surprisingly the three ponies were still in the middle of the road arguing. Fluttershy sighed and turned to fly back to the restaurant. Twilight, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash were struggling to stand, or in Dash’s case fly. They’d been arguing over who would win the election for over 3 hours and Twilight was finally growing tired of it. “Look Rainbow Dash let’s just wait and see!” Twilight shouted. The blue pegasus chuckled. “Fine then. But remember Twilight, by this time tomorrow I’ll be Mayor and you’ll both be big losers!” “No way,” Pinkie cut in. “Tomorrow I’m gonna win and beat both of you!” All three entered one final stare-down before turning to leave. In a few hours they would know once and for all, who would be the next mayor of Ponyville. TOWN HALL ELECTION DAY FRIDAY 10:00 AM Town hall was filled with ponies. The hyper tense campaigning had made everypony come out to vote. The lines to cast a ballot were long and the ponies in charge of counting said ballots were despondent. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, and Twilight each cast their vote as the booths opened. Now each had taken their position to await the results. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy sat atop clouds over town hall. Occasionally Dash would swoop down to sign autographs and pretend to kiss babies. Either way the campaign season had restored her fame in Ponyville. But that wasn’t enough for Dash, as she wanted only one thing to beat Twilight. Twilight and her campaign staff sat in the library watching the news coverage of the event. Why somepony decided to air Ponyville elections on Canterlot television was beyond each of them. Regardless they sat eyes glued to the TV screen awaiting the election results. Twilight was on edge. She wanted to win more than anything else. Pinkie and her now revived campaign staff were busy handing out sweets to the voters. The pink pony was jovial. Sure all the polls had her in dead last, but that didn’t matter. Campaigning was fun! And Pinkie loved every minute of it. As the polls closed Princess Celestia stepped onto the podium. “Attention citizens of Ponyville!” All eyes focused on Celestia. Rainbow Dash, Twilight and Pinkie were all watching the ceremony vigorously. The battle would be decided right then. “We’ve finished counting the votes,” Princess Celestia said. “I’m proud to announce that the next Mayor of Ponyville is….”