//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: The Recall Scandal of 1002 // by Blue Hour Pony //------------------------------// The Recall Scandal of 1002 Chapter 4 By: Blue Hour Pony         It was high noon in what was surely to become the most important political nerve center in Ponyville’s history: the Carousel Boutique. The operation was small and humble, but the alabaster unicorn standing before the mirror was confident in the nobility of her cause. She was a business mare, a decision maker, and an artiste with passion, heart, and a grand soul. Levitating a curler to her face, Rarity straightened her eyelashes before applying dabbles of blush to her cheeks. The face reflected back at her was that of a leader. She knew that. Her friends knew that. And soon, everypony would know too.         She carefully fastened a set of pearls around her neck and squinted harshly at her reflection before turning to Fluttershy and shooting her a question that, with her tone, managed to sound also like a demand, an order, and a plea all at once.         “Fluttershy! How does this look?” Rarity spun away from the mirror and, with her head tilted upward, planted her hooves in a firm and graceful position, her posture straight and confident. In addition to the pearls, she had on a vivid red silk dress that commanded power and respect.         Fluttershy looked her up and down, trying her best to appear as though she were conducting a thorough analysis. However, she had already seen numerous outfits in the past two hours and she did not have anything new to say about any more of them.         “It’s fine. You look very nice. Quite pretty,” the pegasus said softly. “Mmmmm…”         For a moment it seemed that she was going to say more, and Rarity waited intently. Before long, however, Fluttershy trailed off and became silent. She tapped nervously at the floor with her right hoof, eyes downcast.         Rarity frowned and pursed her lips. “Is that… all?”         “Oh… and the pearls are just lovely. They’re a good addition. You should keep them.”         “Ugh, Fluttershy!” Rarity let out an exasperated moan that startled the pegasus. Fluttershy thought that she had been nice. So why did Rarity look so frustrated?         “Fluttershy, darling, you absolutely must take this a bit more seriously! Don’t you understand what is at stake? Don’t you understand what this is all going to mean? Everything must be perfect, but I require feedback in order to get there.”         Sweetie Belle, who had been listlessly rolling around on the floor nearby, jumped to her feet. Her shrill voice and the sudden force with which she spoke indicated that she could suppress her sentiments no longer.         “Rarity, don’t you think you’ve done enough? I thought you and Fluttershy were going to be doing… you know… dramatic political stuff. All you’ve done so far is try on dresses and stare at yourself in the mirror. What does this have to do with anything?!”         Rarity gasped, eyeing her sister as though she could not believe that a member of her own family could possess such incompetence.         “Sweetie Belle! We are doing dramatic political ‘stuff!’ Have I taught you nothing about style and impression? If a pony does not look like she can lead, then no one will follow her no matter what she knows. If I wasn’t elected because I did not look like the mare for the job, think about how terrible that would be for Ponyville. Can you imagine such a disaster occurring simply because I had become careless with my appearance? How’s that for dramatic? The implications of what we’re trying to do now are of the utmost importance. This could change Ponyville history, perhaps more than any decision I make in office!”         Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, utterly incredulous before the case Rarity had made. “Are you kidding me? Clothes! That’s the most important thing in politics? Clothes?!”         The little filly turned to Fluttershy, silently imploring her to come to her side on this. Perhaps Rarity would understand if she heard it from a fellow mare.         Fluttershy looked back at the filly, shaking her head passively. If she shared Sweetie Belle’s feelings, she certainly did not make it known. However, at that moment they both established a mutual bond: their discomfort shared a similar source.         The pause was interrupted as Rarity rushed between them on her way to the folding screen behind which she had been constantly changing outfits all afternoon.         “You know what?” she said more to herself than anypony else. “I believe that perhaps the red dress is a little too bold for the moment. Maybe it would look nice for the right occasion after I’ve been elected, but I think it is a tad too fierce for where we are now.”         From behind the screen there came the sounds of fidgeting and the quick ruffling of fabric and cloth. Rarity’s shadow, outlined through the partition, moved spasmodically, as though she were shaking off ants. When she stepped forth it was with a different outfit.         The unicorn smiled as she sashayed toward the mirror. She wore a jet black blazer with silver buttons on the cuffs, and at her flank was a black, pin-striped skirt. Her smile quickly waned as she examined herself, pulling out the sleeves of her white shirt before turning away from the mirror once again.         “What do you two think?” she asked while introspectively putting a hoof to her chin and staring off into space, a pose that she supposed made her look thoughtful.         Sweetie Belle smiled sardonically. “Great! Haha! It looks just great! Now, if we could actually get to work on something that matters…”         “I think black suits you Rarity. The white of the pearls and the darkness of the jacket go together really well,” Fluttershy said, attempting to be more helpful in her analysis this time.         Rarity beamed with delight at Fluttershy’s comment. “Oh, you really think so Fluttershy? Yes, I agree with you wholeheartedly dear. However…”         Sweetie Belle groaned and threw herself to the floor.         “However…” Rarity continued, “I don’t think this will do. It is a tad too austere. I must look commanding, but invigorating as well. And speaking of invigorating, you would do well to liven up Sweetie Belle. I know you’re tired of my methods, but I’m sure you will soon see how they pay off.”         “You know, Rainbow Dash and Applejack probably aren’t wasting their time on things like this,” Sweetie Belle shot back.         Rarity knew that Sweetie Belle could be rather naïve at times. However, it was not the occasion to suffer such nonsense. The little filly, in the ignorance and impetuousness of her youth, probably did not understand that, in times as these, fashion could be a matter of life and death. Rarity sighed.         “Oh, my dear sister. Maybe someday when you’re older you’ll realize that in helping to me get spruced up today you were offered a front row seat to the drama of a lifetime. You’re too small to see it now, but you soon will. You young ponies don’t care enough about how important it is to properly present yourselves.”         Sweetie Belle went back to rolling around on the floor.         “Geez, now you’re talking down to me like I’m a foal. Perhaps I should have joined Rainbow Dash’s campaign. At least she cares about what young fillies think…”         “Oh, good heavens!” Rarity cried, her eye twitching as she was suddenly hit with a spate of charged emotion. “Would you really conceive of betraying me? Your own family?”         She cleared her throat and composed herself, her right hoof gently caressing the pearls at her neck as she headed back toward the screen to put together another outfit.         “I know you’re just a little tired and cranky right now, so I’ll just pretend that my own sister did not just suggest abandoning me for my political opponents.” As Rarity disappeared behind the screen, the little filly stuck her tongue at her, crunching up her face in a way that elicited a small laugh from Fluttershy.         Perking up for a moment, Fluttershy leaned in close to the young filly. “You know, I think I have the same concern as you. Rarity hasn’t told me anything about how she would run Ponyville if she were in charge. From day one, it’s been all about outfits and poses. I hope she has something planned. I really don’t know what to do.”         Downstairs the door was loudly flung open and the ring of a bell indicated that somepony had entered the boutique. Before the chime from the bell had even completely dissipated hooves were heard charging across the floor and thundering up the stairs. Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle had no chance to react before a pink blur burst into the room and the smell of sugar saturated the air.         “Oh, is Pinkie Pie here?” Rarity called out from behind the partition.         “Yep yep! And I have cupcakes!” the pink mare cried as she bounced circles around Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle. “Here you go! Vote for Pinkie!” She shoved a cupcake in Sweetie Belle’s face before bouncing over to Fluttershy.         “And here you go! Vote for Pinkie!” Pinkie shoved a cupcake into the hooves of the hesitant yellow pegasus.         Fluttershy eyed the little pink cupcake uneasily and held it as though she was handling a baby cockatrice. “Uh… Pinkie. I can’t…”         Pinkie Pie never heard Fluttershy’s protest. The pink blur had bounced over to the partition.         “Rarity! Raaaarity!”         “You don’t have to scream darling. I’m right here. I can hear you.” Rarity poked her head from behind the partition. “In fact, since you’re here, why don’t you be a dear and help me with something? Tell me, how does this scarf lo--”         Pinkie pried open Rarity’s jaws and shoved a cupcake into the unicorn’s mouth. Rarity’s eyes flung open with shock at this flagrant violation of her personal space and she staggered as the saccharine substance assaulted her taste buds.         “Here you go! Vote for Pinkie!” was the shout that reached right into Rarity’s ear. Pinkie Pie proceeded to bounce around the room laughing and snorting wildly. “You all are going to vote for me in the election, right? You’re all my friends and I’d really like your support! I’ve been out all day passing out cupcakes and asking others to vote for me, and if I pass out enough cupcakes I think I’ll leave enough of an impression to get ponies to the polls. You all are going to vote for me, aren’t you? Huh? Huh? HUH?”         Fluttershy sniffed her cupcake before putting it down. She was unsure if eating it would be a betrayal of Rarity. “Um… Pinkie. I’m sorry. I…”         While Fluttershy went unheard Rarity was almost choking on whatever Pinkie had put in her mouth. Swallowing it involuntarily Rarity coughed as sprinkles dotted her scarf. She stepped out from behind the partition, brushing them off with her hoof before glaring at the source of the sugar laden campaign ad.         “Pinkie, darling, you really shouldn’t go around shoving food in ponies mouths when they did not ask for it! I’m watching my sugar intake, and that cupcake was entirely unplanned! Are you trying to fatten me up so that I look horrible on the campaign trail? Besides, I can’t vote for you if I, myself, am running too.”         Pinkie planted her hooves suddenly, the rest of her body rattling in place like the spring of a door stopper. She tilted her head to the side.         “Really? You’re running too?” She was about to say more when the window burst open and Rainbow Dash stepped in. Homing in on Pinkie Pie she raised an accusatory hoof in her direction. “You! You’re siphoning off my votes with those cupcakes of yours!” Rainbow grunted.         Pinkie Pie’s lips curled into a bemused smile. “No I’m not. Nopony’s voted yet. You don’t have votes. Besides, I can’t help if little fillies really like cupcakes. Well, unless they’ve never had a cupcake before. Then they could have one of mine. And then they might really come to like cupcakes. And then I could say that I helped somepony like cupcakes who’s never really liked them before. But yeah…”         Rainbow Dash stomped her hoof angrily. “Stay focused here! The point is you can’t go bribing so many of my supporters away from me! That’s not fair!”         “Ah agree with Rainbow here, for once.”         Everypony turned to see Applejack standing in the doorway. No one had even heard her enter, but now, with sweat dripping down her face and her heavy panting as she tried to catch her breath, she was the most conspicuous pony in the room. She sat down briefly, fanning herself with her hat.         “Ah’ve been followin’ these two all day. Rainbow. You really need to keep all your little storm troopers in line. Pinkie. You’ve really gotta stop bribing everypony with those cakes and pies. Ah want for there to be an honest campaign, and we can’t do that if ya’ll are playin’ with people’s sentiments instead of talking about the issues. Now I’m sorry I have to do this, but I think I’m gonna have to stop selling apples and other ingredients to Sugarcube Corner until this election is over. I can’t have my apples being used as ingredients for such shady shenanigans.”         Pinkie Pie frowned; her puffy hair seemed to deflate sadly as her eyes turned into big blue saucers.         “But… but… ponies like pies. Why can’t I give them pies?”         Rainbow Dash nodded her head and faced Applejack mockingly. “Yeah, being a little bit hypocritical there, aren’t you Applejack? You sell pies to ponies and then tell them to vote for you. I’ve seen you do it all the time. Why can’t Pinkie Pie do that? Double standards much?”         Applejack jumped to her feet and dropped her hat, her eyes shining with indignation.         “Sell! That’s the key word here. I sell those pies as part of honest business, and then I ask the community to support me with a vote. Pinkie Pie is givin’ them away. Ah can’t fund bribery! Besides, Ah thought you agreed with me that Pinkie should stop. Now you support her if it hurts me? Who’s the hypocrite?”         Rainbow Dash winced for a moment as she contemplated the verity of Applejack’s words. She was silent for a moment, and stuttered before shooting back.         “Uh… well… I don’t think any of it is fair! You both should just keep food out of it.”         “But you have food at your meetings all the time. That last one in your clubhouse was like a feast,” Pinkie Pie said quizzically.         Rainbow Dash pressed a hoof over her eyes and groaned. “Yes, but we ordered that food. We bought it from a place that was completely unaffiliated with the election.”         “But you were still bribing them with a feast. So I can bribe my supporters with cupcakes! Seems fair.” Pinkie Pie smiled, but it was not like the playful smiles of a few minutes ago. There was something almost imperceptibly dark about her visage now, and nopony seemed to notice that her normally frizzy hair had become straight.         “And Applejack,” Pinkie turned to the other earth pony and smiled grimly, “don’t you believe for a second that you can keep ingredients away from me. Just you wait. Pinkamena Diane Pie has ways of making cupcakes when she needs them.”         Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Now what do you mean by that, huh sugarcube?”         Rarity rolled her eyes and sighed impatiently. She did not at all appreciate the fact that these ponies (her political rivals, no less) had burst into her campaign headquarters without permission. As if that were not enough, they were interrupting the serious sartorial business that she had been engaged in beforehand.         “You all are being absolutely insufferable,” she said with disdain. “Now, would somepony be so kind as to please tell me how this scarf looks. And then afterwards you can all remove your flanks from my house posthaste.”         “You know what’s really ‘insufferable,’” Rainbow Dash used air quotes to accentuate the word, “is how you actually think that trying on outfits amounts to actually getting things done. You would be such a lousy mayor.”         “Well first of all you should probably thank me for teaching you that word, because I’m sure you had not heard it before today,” Rarity said with her nose in the air. “Secondly, I find it hilarious that a rock star candidate such as yourself has the gall to call me insufferable. Your whole campaign is the result of a crude popularity contest. You’re a know-nothing.”         Rarity’s dismissal of Rainbow Dash as a candidate made the latter quite angry. The pegasus flared her wings and crouched down as though she were ready to tackle the unicorn. This move greatly alarmed Applejack, who began shouting at Rainbow Dash, who in turn began shouting right back. Rarity and Pinkie Pie immediately joined in, while Fluttershy cowered before them, her eyes shut and her hooves held firmly over her ears.         “Make it stop… oh, please make it stop…” Fluttershy whimpered.                Sweetie Belle, who had remained silent the entire time, smiled with glee as she bore witness to the first campaign related action that day that did not involve her being intimidated at school. She turned her head and cast a glance at her flank to see if some kind of debating cutie mark had appeared. Disappointed to see nothing, she continued looking at the shouting mares, wondering to herself just when all this was going to lead to the spying, explosions, and intrigue that the movies had lead her to believe would be imminent.         And to Sweetie Belle’s utter surprise there was an explosion! Or so she thought at first. After the mares conducted a good minute and a half of yelling, a bright flash of purple light filled the room and silenced everyone.         “Enough! I can hear you all yelling from outside! What is the matter with everypony?”         Twilight Sparkle stood in the middle of the room, her frazzled mane letting off smoke and dark singe marks surrounding her on the floor where she had made her explosive entrance.         “You ponies have been driving me crazy with all of this! All week it’s been nothing but shouting and arguing and back stabbing. Save it for when the election monitors get here. Then you all can have a proper debate.”         “Election monitors?” Rainbow Dash asked with trepidation.         “Yes, that’s right. You didn’t think I would let you all have a debate without some kind of official guidance, did you? Otherwise, you might tear each other apart like you were about to do here. That’s why when I heard that you all were planning on having a debate, I wrote Princess Celestia asking her about democracy. She’ll soon be sending election monitors from Canterlot to make sure that Ponyville’s election process is not undermined and its citizens not disenfranchised by a bunch of overzealous candidates with malicious designs on power.”         Twilight smiled (not at all bothered that she had just suggested that her friends aspired to be power hungry dictators) and waved her hoof as though she were concluding a class presentation.         “Democracy, after all, can be rather dangerous if the mob doesn’t know what’s best. That’s why we live in a monarchy like Equestria, where only the wise and qualified make decisions.”         “Wise and qualified? Sounds like I’m set then.” Rainbow Dash, utterly unfazed by news of Canterlot’s involvement in the affair, smiled before turning back toward the window from whence she came. “It’s nice to know that ponies from the capital are interested in observing my greatness. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got things to do.” She flew away hastily, and the other mares in the room, feeling that tensions had been defused for now, started to file out of the room as well.         Rarity frowned as she watched her friends go. “Now wait a minute. No pony told me what they think of this scarf!”         Pinkie Pie, who was the last one out, turned and looked at Rarity grimly, her straightened mane obscuring one eye. “Hmm, it looks like it’s cutting off the circulation to you head...” Without waiting for a reply, she marched loudly down the stairs and headed for the front door. Sweetie Belle, careful to avoid the attention of her sister, quietly snuck out after her.         Rarity stood dumbfounded as she pondered Pinkie’s response.         “Now what in the world was that supposed to mean? Ugh, some ponies. Well Fluttershy. Let’s continue, shall we. I want to look my best for when the monitors arrive. I can’t let them believe that all of Ponyville’s aspiring politicians dress like backwater rubes that look as though they’ve spent all day in the woods with a bunch of animals.”         Fluttershy stared at the unicorn, wide eyed.         “Oh. No offense to you, darling.”