//------------------------------//
// Arc 21-2: Firelight vs the Gaslighter 
// Story: My Little Pony: One as a Family.  "Trials of Friendship" 
// by SaburoDaimando 
//------------------------------//


	Firelight vs the Gaslighter




It was a bright day in Canterlot City.  But the citizens’ focus was either on their video tablets, or on the Senate Building where a number of Gold Bankers surrounded the front gates, protesting and demanding that Princess Wanda Young be taken to Daisy Joy Tech.
But in the air, a chariot carrying Princess Celestia, Firelight Glimmer, Starseeker Glimmer and Golden Lace flew through the air with a pair of royal guard pegasi pulling it.  The chariot flew above a landing pad before touching down.   Immediately, Celestia, Firelight, Starseeker and Lace stepped off the chariot before making their way to the upper entrance of the building.
“I’ll have to confess,” Golden Lace said.  “I have never been here before at all.”
“You’ve never been to the Senate building at all?” Firelike asked.
“Even when I was a mean-little brat, my parents normally didn't take me to these places,” Golden Lace explained.  “They usually left me in a school and let me play tyrant to the other kids.  And when I got in trouble, my parents always bullied the principal of these schools to make them back down.  It was no different when I started to attend the School for Gifted Unicorns.”
“So you were a lot like your mother back then,” Starseeker said.  “How did you end up more of a friend than a foe?”
“You can thank the Queen of the Hippogriffs for making me realize that I was in the wrong,” Golden Lace said.  “Then again, long after she showed me what a better pony I could be, I was shunned by my parents at first for changing for the better.  Then it got worse when Gold Banks tried to take Wanda away while she was healing from the Hay Fever Virus.”
“That’s just horrible,” Firelight said.  “To think that Gold Banks wants to make Wanda attend Daisy Joy Tech.”
“It gets even worse,” Princess Celestia explained.  “Gold Banks has been mistreating her husband in recent times, sometimes leaving him out of the house or even in the cold.  Since then, Silver Banks has remained in his mansion in Canterlot while Gold Banks has held up in her penthouse in Manehattan.”
“Sounds like the perfect couple to be on their way to a divorce,” Starseeker said.
“It is,” Princess Celestia said.
As the sun shone down on the Senate Building in Canterlot, Celestia, Firelight, Starseeker and Golden Lace made their way into the entrance of the building, anticipating the fight up ahead

Later inside the Chancellor’s chambers, Chancellor Cinch waited with patience as Princess Celestia entered with Firelight, Starseeker and Golden Lace right behind the alicorn princess.
“I got Princess Luna’s message as soon as it was sent,” Chancellor Cinch said.  “I’m surprised that you have chosen to end your recess this soon.  But I do question the idea of letting a citizen of Equestria on the debate floor, much less the father of Starlight Glimmer.”
“This wasn’t my idea to begin with, Chancellor,” Princess Celestia explained.  “The moment I returned to the palace in an exhausted state, Firelight Glimmer wanted to come in and debate Gold Banks over the proposal to make Princess Wanda attend Daisy Joy Tech.
“Is this true?” Chancellor Cinch asked.
“It’s true,” Firelight Glimmer said.  “I still remember what Gold Banks said to me back in Harvestia, about how she wanted to force my daughter to attend Daisy Joy Tech.  I would never let someone else dictate on what to do with my daughter, especially one who neglects and forces her to attend that horrible boarding school.”
“As someone who was enrolled there,” Golden Lace said.  “I still remember what kind of torment I’ve gone through, which includes automatic Fs regardless of how well I did on the test and being forced to clean dishes at night when I was supposed to be asleep.  Even some of the other students picked on me for who I was.”
“Seems Gold Banks bit off more than she could chew,” Chancellor Cinch pondered.
“So you’ll let me do it?” Firelight Glimmer said.  “Will you let me debate Gold Banks on the Senate Floor?”
“What’s this about an ordinary citizen wishing to debate my star pupil over her proposal to enroll Princess Wanda into Daisy Joy Tech?” Everyone turned to face the entrance of the Chancellor’s chambers, where Magistrate Creme stepped in with her daughter Majesty by her side.
“You must be Magistrate Creme Dream,” Firelight said.
“And you must be the Patriarch of the Glimmer family and one of the two heads of Sire’s Hollow,” Magistrate Creme Dream said, holding her hoof out.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Firelight Glimmer just looked down at Creme Dream’s hoof with a dead look on his face.
“No thanks,” Firelight said.  “I’m not in the mood to shake hooves.”
“Oh?” Magistrate Creme Dream said, surprised by Firelight’s decision.  “Not in the mood for a formal courtesy?”
“Perhaps after the vote is cast on Princess Wanda’s fate,” Firelight Glimmer said.  “Right now, my focus is more on my debate with Gold Banks.”
“Very well,” Magistrate Creme Dream said.  “I’ll respect your decision, Mr Glimmer.  But I did come to say that Gold Banks has been made aware of your presence and she looks forward to humiliating you on the debate stage.”
“Did she?” Firelight Glimmer said.
“Oh she looks forward to treating an ordinary citizen of Equestria far worse than Princess Celestia,” Magistrate Creme Dream said.  “And I assure you that you will be the shame of all of Sire’s Hollow, whatever is left of it.”
But before Firelight could say anything, Chancellor Cinch tapped him on the shoulder.
“You don’t need to cause a commotion,” Chancellor Cinch said.  “I’ve informed the Senate of your desire to debate Gold Banks and they’ve approved of it.  You will go on in thirty minutes.”
“Thanks, Chancellor,” Firelight Glimmer said before he directed his eyes towards Creme Dream.
“So it looks like everything is in order,” Creme Dream said.  “Very well.  I look forward to this entertainment on the Senate Floor.”
But next to Creme Dream, Majesty approached a very stern Golden Lace, who stood her ground against the alicorn filly.
“The disgraced daughter of Gold Banks,” Majesty said.  “What brings you here?”
“Just came here to see how my mother is going to get humiliated,” Golden Lace said, staring down at Majesty.  “And I don’t need your encouragement for that.”
“Setting your expectations extremely low, I take it,” Majesty said.  “You’ll never hit the big time ever again with that kind of attitude.  In fact, I think you’re going to sink far lower if you keep going against your own mother.”
“That’s fine with me,” Golden Lace said.  “In fact, I think the big time was overrated.  Too much desire to be number one, and not thinking about others.”
“Oh you don’t get it, do you?” Majesty said.  “We have to look down on the commoners like the peasants they truly are. We have to show them that we run this nation, and they have no say in it.  Democracy, freedom, friendship, harmony, all that stuff.  That’s all junk to be tossed away.  Maybe you should have gotten the point and stayed at Daisy Joy Tech.”
Golden Lace glared at Majesty as she struggled to hold herself back.
“That’s enough, Majesty,” Magistrate Creme Dream said.  “It’s time we prepared for the entertainment of today.”
“Yes, mother,” Majesty said as she and Creme Dream began to walk out the door.
As Creme Dream was making her way out, she turned towards Princess Celestia, Chancellor Cinch, Firelight and Starseeker Glimmer.
“Guess this is the event of a lifetime,” Magistrate Creme Dream said.  “All of Equestria is watching.”
Once Cream Dream and Majesty left the room, Firelight Glimmer stood there with his wife, Princess Celestia, Golden Lace and Chancellor Cinch.  The anger on his face has not left him.  
“Oh believe me,” Firelight Glimmer said.  “I expect to give them a show.”
Chancellor Cinch stepped towards the door before she turned to Firelight Glimmer and said “I will prepare the Senate for the event.  I would advised that you prepare yourself.”
“I will, your excellency,” Firelight Glimmer said.
As Chancellor Abacus Cinch stepped out of her chambers, Princess Celestia turned towards Golden Lace and said “I take it you once had a friendship with Majesty.”
“Not really,” Golden Lace said.  “Even back when I was a meanie, I saw her more as a rival.  LIke she wanted to prove that she was the meaner pony than I was.  I never really cared for Majesty at all.”
“Even compared to your worst days, Majesty was far more of a burden,” Princess Celestia said.  “Let’s say she knew how to get under everyone’s fur, including my own.  And as much as I wanted to suspend her for her behavior, I knew the Magistrate would come down on me if I did so.”
Golden Lace let out a sigh and said “I wish this nightmare will end, Princess.”
“It will, Golden Lace,” Princess Celestia said.  “It will.”

It was the top of the hour.  The senators from various provinces of Equestria has taken their seats, awaiting the debate.
At the Everfree Forest, the younglings from Ponyville all gathered around Sunspot and Stellar Flare as they had their video tablet setup.  Joining them were Crescent Eclipse, Artemis Light, Fortwright, Shanoa, Bright Mac, Buttercup, Big Mac and Granny Smith, who all had their baskets full of fruit.
“Out here in the Everfree Forest?” Rainbow Dash said.  “I’m surprised by the fact that we’re getting great reception here.”
“Well that’s the magic of the Canterweb,” Fortwright explained.  “I don’t know how it’s done, but I know they’ve done it.”
“Do you think Mr Glimmer will be able to teach that mean Gold Banks a lesson?” Fluttershy asked.
“Are you kidding me?” Applejack said.  “If anything, I hope he gives Gold Banks a lesson she won’t forget.”
“On a side note,” Crescent Eclipse said.  “What will we say to Moondancer and Sunburst when they find out we were at the Everfree Forest while they were visiting Wanda?”
“That’s a good question,” Sunspot said.  “If we try to ignore or deny it, these younglings who are with us would spill the beans to them, and they would lose faith in us.  We’ll have to admit the truth to them when we see them.”
“That’s a shame,” Artemis Light said.  “To chew out our own children for wanting to go to the Everfree Forest, only for all of us to do so.”
“Right now, my focus is on Firelight Glimmer,” Stellar Flare said.  “After what she did to Night Light, I hope Firelight airs her out to dry.”
“I heard Gold Banks is going to hit rock bottom,” Maud Pie said.
“Maud,” The younglings yelled before they burst into laughter.
“What?” Maud Pie said.  “I had to take cues from that cute colt Danted Spell.”

At the Living Quarters of the Royal Palace, Wanda Young sat down, staring at the big screen with Starlight Glimmer, Sunset Shimmer, Cozy Glow and Abigail by her side.  Sitting on the floor, observing the Senate on the tv, were Twilight Sparkle, Spike the Dragon, Sunburst, Moondancer, Danged Spell, Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk.  Behind the couch were Shining Armor, Princess Cadance, and Majordomo Kibitz.  Princess Luna was in the doorway near the staircase, talking with Eleanor Young out of the sight of the younglings.
 “I must thank you for helping bring Firelight Glimmer to Canterlot,” Princess Luna said.
“It was the least I could do, Princess Luna,” Eleanor said.  “I wanted to help out after unintentionally separating Wanda’s friends from her.
“Her fate now rests on Firelight Glimmer’s shoulders,” Princess Luna said.  “And for some reason, I can’t help but realize that there is something within him that could light up the Senate.”
“That may be true,” Eleanor Young said.  “Where I come from, we have a similar political system to yours.”
“Guess there is more to us than meets the eye,” Princess Luna said.
   While most of the group observing the TV looked anticipated, Wanda felt a bit anxious.
“How are you doing, Wanda?” Princess Cadance asked.
“I’m only hoping that Mr Glimmer can best Gold Banks on tv,” Wanda said.
“You’ve never seen my daddy debate before,” Starlight said.  “Let’s just say he’s extremely fierce when it comes to deciding the fate of Sire’s Hollow, especially around Sunburst’s mommy.”
“Is that a fact?” Sunset asked.
“It sure is,” Sunburst said.  “In fact, both my mom and Starlight’s daddy often joke about who’s going to be the Senator representing Sire’s Hollow.”
“I’m surprised that neither of them are acting senators at all,” Cozy Glow said.  “After all, Equestrian Politics are as vicious as they come.”
“They’ve made a lot of excuses for not wanting to run for Senate,” Starlight Glimmer explained.  “Which unfortunately meant looking out for me and Sunburst.  But give them time and they may consider it.”
“Only time will tell,” Cozy Glow said.
“Hold on,” Wanda said.  “I see Ms Cinch approach the center.  I think it’s about to start.”

On the Senate Floor, Chancellor Abacus Cinch stepped onto the central podium and looked up towards every senator within the halls of the building.
“Senators of Equestria,” Chancellor Cinch explained.  “The recess has ended earlier than usual so that we may continue to debate on Senate Bill 060660.  Presenting the debater for this session will be none other than the royal ruler of Equestria: Princess Celestia Del Sol.”
The Senate clapped as Princess Celestia walked in front of the podium and approached the microphone.  Once the Senate finished their cheers, Celestia cleared her throat.
“Senators,” Princess Celestia explained.  “I wish to apologize for my weak start in today’s debate on my daughter’s fate.  But that being said, I will not be partaking in the rest of this debate as someone else chose to take up that cause.  Joining me to debate Gold Banks on this bill is the sole citizen of Sire’s Hollow: Firelight Glimmer.”
Firelight Glimmer emerged from a nearby doorway and walked towards Princess Celestia while the Senate murmured amongst each other.  Princess Celestia stepped aside as Firelight Glimmer approached the mic.
“Equestrian Senate, ponies from across our fair land,” Firelight Glimmer announced.  “I came here on concerns about the bill to make Princess Wanda Young attend Daisy Joy Tech without the consent of her acting parents.  As a parent of a cute daughter, I came here to voice my concerns about this bill.”
“You? Speak out for that furless monkey? Don’t make me laugh.”  Those words came from Gold Banks, who marched down the other side and approached Firelight Glimmer, causing the Senate to murmured even louder.
“Gold Banks: The Auric Scarlet,” Firelight Glimmer said in a cold tone.  “I never thought I would lay eyes on you again.”
“The feeling’s mutual,” Gold Banks said.  “That being said, I am rather surprised that you of all ponies would show up to defend that pathetic excuse for a princess, especially one who might as well be the biggest juvenile delinquent in Equestrian history.”
Firelight Glimmer adjusted his tie before he said “I don’t know what you’re talking about.  But the one thing I know is that Wanda is no delinquent.  My daughter Starlight Glimmer told me all about her and….”
“Still making excuses for that Man’s Cub?” Gold Banks interrupted with a smile on her face.
Firelight glared at Gold Banks for a bit as the Senate murmured once more.
“Mrs Banks,” Firelight Glimmer said.  “I am trying to make a case in favor of Princess Wanda freedom, and the last thing I need is for someone to interrupt me.”
“Are you still making excuses for that chimp?” Gold Banks said, her smug smile becoming far more visible.
“More like I’m trying to point out why forcing a parent to enroll a child into a school that wouldn’t treat her well is a bad idea,” Firelight fired back.
“You don’t get it, do you?” Gold Banks laughed.  “There is a sharp increase in the number of juvenile delinquency across all of Equestria, and it’s gotten to the point where even the parents are unable to discipline their younglings even after being harsh on them.”
“Where are your sources for this?” Firelight said before Gold Banks placed her hoof on Firelight’s mouth.
“Ahh ahh ahh,” Gold Banks said.  “I’m not done yet.”
Gold Banks removed her hoof from Firelight’s mouth before turning towards the Senate and pulling some papers out from her coat with her right hoof.
“I have credible proof that juvenile delinquency has gone through the roof, members of the Senate,” Gold Banks announced.  
But as Firelight Glimmer began to sweat nervously, Princess Celestia stood behind the stallion, also looking a bit more anxious.
“Firelight, please,” Princess Celestia said to herself.  “Do this for Wanda and for your own daughter.”
As Gold Banks held the papers in the air, she said “The only solution to this increase in juvenile delinquency is to pass Senate Bill 060660.  That way, Princess Wanda Young will serve as an example to make all of Equestria send their younglings to Daisy Joy Tech.  It is the only way to combat the juvenile delinquency crisis that makes the Windigo’s Guild and the Changelings look small in comparison”
“You’re out of your mind if you think I would even think about sending my daughter to Daisy Joy Tech,” Firelight said.  “Even if you required it, I wouldn’t allow you to take her away from me.”
“Now you’re making excuses for this Starlight Glimmer?” Gold Banks laughed.  “And to think you let her live with that Man’s Cub at the palace.  No wonder she has no respect for you.”
Firelight Glimmer’s face turned beet red before he slammed his hoof on the floor.
“What…did you just say?” Firelight Glimmer snarled.
“Oh my,” Gold Banks smirked.  “Did I make you mad?”
“Oh you did, alright,” Firelight snapped.  “And it’s true that I let her stay at the palace.  But only because you threatened to have my daughter taken to your stupid school.”
“There is nothing stupid about having your daughter attend Daisy Joy Tech,” Gold Banks said.  “So why don’t you just accept the fact that your daughter has a delinquency issue?”
“My daughter does not have a delinquency issue,” Firelight said.  “I allowed her to attend the School for Gifted Unicorns to help her with her gift.  I loved and cared for her like any good parent would.”
“If you truly did love and cared for her, then why not take her out of that failure of a school and make her attend Daisy Joy Tech?” Gold Banks asked.
“Because at least I know to treat my own daughter with respect compared to how you treat yours,” Firelight said. 
Immediately, Gold Banks’ smile disappeared as she glared at Firelight Glimmer.  The entire Senate murmured even louder.
“What exactly do you mean by that?” Gold Banks snarled.
“Lemme tell you something,” Firelight Glimmer said.  “I’ve heard tales from Starlight Glimmer about how you treated your own daughter.  When Queen Novo made Golden Lace change her ways and shape up to be a better pony, you chose to lock her out of the house as punishment.”
“What she did was the prime example of delinquency,” Gold Banks fired back.
“No,” Firelight said.  “That was the example of a pony who saw the errors of her own ways.  And let’s not forget the time you tried to take Wanda Young away when she was sick with the Hay Fever Virus.”
“She was faking her own illness,” Gold Banks snapped.  “Doing it for her own publicity.”
“Mrs Banks,” Chancellor Cinch yelled, pounding her gavel onto the block.  “There are records that prove Princess Wanda Young was taken to the hospital with a serious case of the Hay Fever Virus.  I suggest you take back your statement about faking her illness.”
“Do not tell me what to do,” Gold Banks said.  “I am the Empress of Equestria, and my word is law.”
“Is it?” Firelight Glimmer said.  “Tell me, why did you forge a document to seize a property of Princess Celestia, put the occupants and their friends in danger just to bring it down, and threaten to have them taken away to a factory program?”
“Don’t you dare talk about that,” Gold Banks yelled.
“I am talking about it because my Starlight told me how you placed restraint cuffs on her, Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle and Wanda Young,” Firelight Glimmer said.  
“Records also show about the complaint filed towards the Equestrian License Board about your incident with the ruined orphanage while there were still younglings inside,” Chancellor Cinch said.  “You also threatened to have the board dissolved if they objected to you revoking the demolition team if they didn’t comply with your demand.”
“Shut up, you,” Gold Banks yelled.  “I’m the Empress of this land, and you will stand down.”
“We’re not finished with you, Gold Banks,” Firelight Glimmer said.  “Unlike the last three incidents that I pointed out, I was involved in your fourth incident, where you tried to ransom off Princess Cadance, Twilight Sparkle and her companion Spike the Dragon in exchange for Princess Wanda and my Starlight Glimmer to attend Daisy Joy Tech.”
“You say nothing but lies,” Gold Banks yelled.
“Do I?”  Firelight Glimmer said.  “The ponies of Harvestia know what happened down there, and they were upset by what you wanted to do.”
“Don’t you dare speak about those insufferable fools,” Gold Banks yelled.
“Oh I’m gonna speak more than that, Gold Banks,” Firelight Glimmer said.  “I’m not just chewing you out for what you did in the past.  I’m chewing you out for what you plan on doing.  Forcing a little girl to attend a horrible boarding school that neither her mother nor her aunt had any say so in the matter.  That crosses the line.  What you don’t account for is parental choice in the matter.”
“Today’s parents don’t have control of their younglings in this day and age,” Gold Banks snarled.  “They need Daisy Joy Tech more than ever.”
“No they don’t,” Firelight Glimmer said.  “Real parents care a lot for their offspring, like I do with Starlight Glimmer, and like Princess Celestia does with Wanda Young, Sunset Shimmer and Cadenza Mi Amore.  We help push the decisions to make sure they are taken down the righteous path.  You, on the other hoof, see your own daughter as nothing more than a means of projecting your own narcissistic ego down a filly who doesn’t deserve it.  Real parents deserve to have a say in their youngling’s education, not some unelected bureaucrat.”
“Are you suggesting to me that parents should join their younglings in the delinquency?” Gold Banks yelled.  “ARE YOU?”
The Senate murmured as loud as possible as Gold Banks breathed heavily, all while Firelight Glimmer stood there now with a stern look on his face while Princess Celestia and Chancellor Cinch let out a slight smile.
“If by delinquency you mean true parental love, then yes,” Firelight Glimmer said.  “What would happen if parents had no say in their youngling’s education?  What would happen if an unelected bureaucrat told us where we can take our sons and daughters without our say so?  What kind of nation would force colts and fillies to be separated from their mothers and fathers?  Senate Bill 060660 is just one step that would push us towards being unable to raise our youngling the way we were meant to.  And unless this bill is voted down, it won’t be long until parents are no longer allowed by law to be parents.”
The Senate went haywire.  Gold Banks stood there totally beet red.  Firelight Glimmer walked up to Gold Banks with a smile on his face.
“I’m afraid this debate is over, Gold Banks,” Firelight Glimmer said.  “You lost.”
As Gold Banks marched off from the center of the Senate in a fury, Princess Celestia looked up at Firelight Glimmer with a smile on his face.
“That’s the spirit, Firelight,” Celestia said to herself.  “You showed her who’s the boss.”

Later that day, Princess Celestia and Golden Lace sat in the Chancellor’s Chambers while Starseeker gave Firelight a hug.
“You did well, honey,” Starseeker said.  “You bested Gold Banks on the Senate Floor.”
“She won’t forget that, that’s for sure,” Firelight said as he and Starseeker released themselves and held hooves.  “After all, that’s payback for threatening to put our daughter into Daisy Joy Tech.”
“I appreciate you for teaching my mother a lesson she won’t forget,” Golden Lace said, getting up from her chair.  “But there’s still the matter of the vote, and they could end up voting to put Wanda in Daisy Joy Tech.”
“Well I wouldn’t bet on that,” Princess Celestia said as she pulled up her video tablet and tapped the screen a bit.  “Firelight Glimmer caused a major commotion in the Senate and they’re about to go to a vote.”
On the video tablet screen, in the Senate hall, the senators sat down and placed their votes on their touch screens while Chancellor Cinch waited patiently.  One by one, each senate desk lit up to a white color, confirming that their vote had been cast.  Once they were all lit up, Chancellor Cinch stood up and faced the Senate.
“Every vote has been accounted for in the matter of Senate Bill 060660,” Chancellor Cinch announced.  “All in favor of enrolling Princess Wanda Young at Daisy Joy Tech without the consent of her mother Princess Celestia, say aye.”
But only five senators yelled out “Aye” as their lights turned from white to green.
“All opposed?” Chancellor Cinch announced.
“NEIGH!” Nearly the entire senate shouted as their lights turned red.
“The resolution to enroll Princess Wanda Young into Daisy Joy Tech without the consent of Princess Celestia has been defeated 95-5,” Chancellor Cinch announced with a smile on her face.  “The Senate has been adjourned for the day.”
And with that, Chancellor Cinch slammed her gavel on the block with the Senate clapping loudly.  But behind the doorway leading into the Senate’s center stage, Magistrate Creme Dream looked from afar with Majesty by her side.
“Guess Firelight Glimmer lived up to his name in more ways than one,” Magistrate Creme Dream said with a smile.
“What do you think we’ll do, mother?” Majesty asked.
“Nothing,” Creme Dream replied.  “No further need to stir the hornet’s nest thanks to Gold Banks’ failure.  We’ll let them celebrate their win until the next major session of the Senate.”



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