//------------------------------// // Well, Twilight? Ready to fight yet? // Story: My Little Civil Activist: Equality is Magic // by GrouchoMarxDisciple //------------------------------// As the sun began to rise over the orchard, the rays began to reveal the Apple family, already hard at work. The fields were overflowing with apples ready to be picked and processed. Everypony was working overtime, and that meant waking up at the crack of dawn. It is for that reason that Applejack and Big Macintosh were already up, having beat Celestia's sun by a good two hours. They were preparing the tools, crates, buckets, and all other supplies necessary to have a successful mid-summer apple harvest. They had also been talking, as ponies are wont to do when there is a lot of time to be filled. This mostly amounted to Applejack talking about something farm-related, and Big Macintosh nodding and letting out a classic "Ee-yup." That changed, though, as the sun rose. They were busy assembling the reserve carts, which were kept in the shed especially for harvest season. Applejack was busy telling Big Mac all about the latest adventure of the Elements of Harmony. "Well, we were all so scared, bein' split up like that in the Canterlot maze. It was one heck of an experience. Twilight called for everypony to meet in the middle, because we was all alone." She chuckled. "Oh, Twilight. She is always ready to take charge when we need it. I reckon that's why she is the Element of Magic." Big Mac simply nodded. "Ee-yup." "But what I don't get is how she got all tangled up in this whole "equality" mess. It was bad enough she was getting her head filled with all these fancy ideas by that smooth-talking Carmel, but now she is just crossing the line! She said that she is going to go try to talk some sense into the Mayor! Sense? Sense about whut, exactly? 'She lied to the Moon Party, lied to my father, blah blah blah!' I tell ya, Big Mac, that Carmel's a wily one. We got to keep an eye on him." "..." Applejack looked at him, quizzically. "Y'all don't agree?" "Ee-nope!" "And why not? Carmel is a born manipulator, tryin' to get us poor country-folk so bamboozled that we can't tell the difference between up and down no more. We gotta stick to our values, Big Mac. We gotta be strong. It is important to preserve Granny Smith's town." "..." "Our Parent's town. Mom and dad would agree with me, Big Mac. And you know it!" "..." "Oh, the silent treatment, huh? You and your stallions are too fancy to keep company with someone who wants to stick to her guns, even if that someone is your own sister! Ah am too old-fashioned for you, huh?" "..." "Well, ya know what? Ah don't want to have this conversation. Let's just both be quiet and worry about gettin' this harvest over and done with." "Ee-yup" --- Twilight approached the large building that served as City Hall. It was really more of a ballroom with a few offices, but it served all of the needs of the town. Twilight had been there a lot in the past, especially around Winter Wrap-up. She was on good terms with the mayor, and was given permission to "drop in" whenever she pleased. Logic dictates that someone with the strong personal character the mayor shows should not be so manipulative, Twilight thought. The Mayor, though she is a politician, is a pony like the rest of them. So, how could she lie so coldly to Carmel? There has to be a misunderstanding. Somepony has to have made a mistake. The Mayor couldn't do something that cold... right? --- The office was small (the Mayor preferred the word "cozy"), and stacked to the brim with papers and notes. The Mayor had a large workload that particular day, so she didn't feel like having any visitors. When Twilight walked in (without knocking, which was uncharacteristic of her), though, Mayor Mare knew she had to talk to her... Heh. Twilight was really the Mayor's No.1 assistant, and everypony knew it. "Hello, Twilight. What brings you here today?" The purple unicorn took a seat. "I just have a few questions for you, Mayor. I have been brought some... disturbing news." The Mayor's brow furrowed. Bad press? This is not good. The re-election is so near... "What are you referring to?" "Well, I've been talking to Carmel..." The Mayor burst out laughing. "Oh, that rabble-rouser? I assure you, any allegation of his is completely false. He and his group are not above lying to sway people to their position, Twilight." "But... he seemed so sincere..." The Mayor nodded. "The best liars always do. Twilight, I can quickly disprove this. What did he say about me? I'll show you that it was either grossly exaggerated, or in error." Twilight's brow furrowed. "Well, he said that the Stallion's Rights movement helped you into power..." "Not true. When I ran, I ran with the Moon Party originally. I was a fan of their forward thinking and new policies. It was exciting, the idea of being the mayor who changed Ponyville." There was a sparkle in her eye, reminiscent of a dreaming foal. "But Twilight, you must realize. When the Moon Party accepted the Stallion Right's movement as part of their agenda, I couldn't stay. The bad press was more than any elected official can handle." "But Mayor! Press should not be an issue! We are talking about basic rights here! Isn't that at least lightly more important than what the public thinks?" "Welcome to Democracy, Twilight. If I try to do something unpopular, I lose my power to do so. As a result, I need to act in the best interest of everypony, and any personal agendas must be put on the back-burner. Thus is politics." The mayor nodded. "But..." "I am not an absolute ruler, Twilight. I am not all-powerful. I have tried to pass many resolutions, which have failed. You see, when I sign a resolution, it goes by the voters. You wouldn't just need me, you would need the whole town. Surely you of all people know that." The Mayor said, sympathetically. "We could get it! I could campaign for it! The town will gather behind us... I have already seen it." Twilight was exasperated. "I mean, if public opinion is all that matters to you, then can't I solve it by proving the public is for the change?" The mayor was silent for a second. "In my file cabinet. Under Resolutions. Find number 27." She said, pointing to her cabinet. "...okay?" Twilight was unsure how to proceed, so she did what was asked. Upon retrieving the paper, she read it aloud. "Stallion Equality resolution... Let it be hereforth known that any equine, regardless of race, sex, or species, shall not be barred from becoming full citizens with all powers and rights associated with... You already have a resolution written?" The grey-maned mare nodded. "I do. It was one of the first I wrote, and even now if I affix my signature it will be sent to the voters. I considered signing it, so many times, but I could never find the guts. I was always afraid it would destroy my credibility." "Then... sign it! We could end this whole mess now!" Twilight almost shouted. "I'm still worried, Twilight. I am still on the fence. Public opinion is fickle, and we as a species are always looking for somepony to blame for something or other. I don't want to be that pony.." "So... what will we do?" "I would be willing to sign that paper... if you can prove to me that the public would stand behind that resolution. That is my offer." The mayor said, with a tone of finality. "Otherwise, I can't risk it." Twilight thought for a moment. "This is our chance... our chance to fix everything! I will! I can prove it! It will be just like a research paper! I can prove it to you, Mayor. I will." Twilight said, excitedly. "I hope you do, Twilight. Good luck!" The mayor said, the smile returning to her face. I know this town better than anypony. You are going to need it.