TWILIGHT’S LIBRARY MONDAY 1:00 PM
“It’s not fair!” Rainbow Dash shouted at Twilight. “I mean can you believe this Twi!””
The purple pony frowned. “Yes Rainbow,” she responded. “You’ve been complaining about it for the last hour.”
Rainbow turned to look at the tell-tale clock before shooting a glare back at her friend.”You don’t understand Twilight,” Dash protested. “The Mayor’s gone too far this time! I mean making it illegal for Pegasi to fly at 10 or more wing speed below 100 feet over Ponyville is is-”
“Is a good idea,” Twilight interjected. “Why just last week some pegasi crashed into some stands at the market because they were flying too fast near the ground.”
Rainbow scoffed. “That’s beside the point!” She cried continuing her tirade. “All these new laws prevent ponies’ from having any fun!” Dash grabbed a copy of the new Ponyville rulebook and threw it open. “No running through the streets except in an emergency, No building outlandish contraptions on public property, Look Twilight! There’s even a new law creating a curfew!”
“Look Rainbow,” Twilight said fed up with her friend’s whining. “I understand your upset, but I agree with the Mayor here. When it comes to everypony’s safety it’s better to be cautious.”
Rainbow gave Twilight a look of scorn. “Fine then,” she answered. “I guess it’s up to me to save Ponyville from the Mayor and her booooorrrrinnng rules!” And with that Rainbow Dash flew through an open window and left. Twilight rolled her eyes before returning to her book. Little did she know what Dash was planning.
TOWN HALL MEETING 4:30 PM
The Mayor addressed a large crowd of ponies. “Everypony please settle down,” the elderly mare said with poise. The group quickly grew silent. The Mayor smiled. “Thank you everypony. Now that we’re all here let’s begin with the week’s agenda.” Many ponies in the audience began to whisper amongst themselves. These town hall meetings were always notoriously boring. The Mayor continued. “The first upcoming event is the election for Ponyville Mayor. Hahaha sorry about that everypony. It’s just that nopony has challenged me for the title of Mayor in 20 years.” Murmurs could be heard from the crowd until suddenly a loud voice drew everypony’s attention.
“And that ends today!”
Everypony looked in the direction of the voice only to see it belonged to Rainbow Dash, who had just entered through the doorway since she was late to the meeting. The pegasus leapt on to the stage to face the Mayor. All eyes were on the spunky young pony.
“Citizens of Ponyville!” Rainbow Dash bellowed. “I would like to announce that I’m running against the Mayor for the title of… well mayor!” Rainbow suddenly realized she didn’t know the Mayor’s real name, but oh well did anypony?
The Mayor laughed off Rainbow’s challenge. “Well Miss Dash,” She said. “While I would be happy to run against you, I highly doubt you’re qualified to run for office.”
“Oh yeah?” Dash retorted. “Well what do I need to be “qualified to run for office” then Mayor?”
“Well first of all you need to be 18,” the older mare answered.
Dash pulled her wallet out from under her wing. “I just turned 18 last week!” She said as he proudly flashed her flyer’s license.
The Mayor looked cross for a minute. “Well you also need to have been a resident of Ponyville for 10 years.”
Rainbow Dash smirked. “Well my family moved to Ponyville when I was 8,” She happily responded. “I just went back to Cloudsdale for flight school!”
The crowd was surprised and actually entertained. This was the first time that a town hall meeting hadn’t been sleep inducing. Everypony looked up in wonder at what credential Rainbow Dash would pull out next. The Mayor on the other hand was getting noticeably annoyed.
“Well lastly you need somepony to second your nomination,” the Mayor said with an tired expression.
Rainbow Dash grew wide-eyed. “A second vote huh?” Rainbow said as she quickly surveyed the audience. Suddenly her eyes caught Fluttershy hiding in the back of the room. “Fluttershy!” She screamed as she flew over to her timid friend. The yellow pegasus almost fainted as Dash hoisted her up and flew back to the stage. To make matters worse, now all eyes were also on poor Fluttershy.
Rainbow Dash lowered Fluttershy to the stage and stared at the Mayor confidently. “Come on Fluttershy,” Dash said in her most persuasive of voices. “You want me to be mayor right?”
Fluttershy seemed to shrink. The fear of everypony in the room staring at her was too much. “Um… I… uh,” Fluttershy was terrified, but Rainbow Dash scared her even more.
“Fluttershy!” Dash said shocked by her friend’s hesitation.
Fluttershy grew momentarily resolute. “YEAH SURE I SUPPORT RAINBOW DASH!” The yellow pegasus jumped behind the Mayor’s podium as the crowd began to stomp their hooves in approval of the show. Rainbow Dash looked at the roaring audience before shooting the Mayor a glance of superiority. The elder pony sighed before forcing a smile.
“Well Rainbow Dash,” The Mayor said. “I’m pleased to have you as an opponent. For too long has there never been any sort of real election in Ponyville. I think that with you running we’ll have an interesting-”
“Yeah yeah save it for later lady,” Rainbow Dash said as she gently pushed the Mayor from her podium. “Citizens of Ponyville! ARE YOU READY FOR A RAINBOW REVOLUTION?!” Dash raised her right hoof to the sky. The crowd mimicked Dash raising their own hoof while cheering as loudly as they could.
TWILIGHT’S LIBRARY 7:00 PM
“Are you crazy?” Twilight asked Rainbow Dash.
“What are you talking about?” Dash answered while rummaging through Twilight's library. “I don’t like the Mayor’s rules so I’m gonna run against her!”
“You don’t know anything about running a town Rainbow Dash!” Twilight yelled back. “Besides the Mayor’s been mayor so long nopony even remembers her real name!”
“Ah agree wit Twilight,” Applejack cut in. “Don’t cha think it’s a little extreme to try and run for office all willy nilly?”
“Uh NOOO,” Dash responded annoyed by her pessimistic friends. “Besides I can’t lose with the help of my new campaign director, political pal and right-hoof mare Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash flew over to Fluttershy who had been trying to relax on a bed and again lifted her up in her hooves. Fluttershy wanted to scream, but by this point she had gotten used to it.
Twilight shot Fluttershy a glare. “Fluttershy do you really support Rainbow Dash?” The purple mare asked.
“Um… well… uh,” Fluttershy answered.
“I guess I won’t have you guy’s help then,” Rainbow Dash yelled to the room. “Well that’s fine! Fluttershy and me will win this election by ourselves! Come on Fluttershy! Let’s get outta here!” Rainbow Dash again exited through Twilight’s window this time dragging Fluttershy along with her.
Twilight looked back at her remaining friends. “Can you believe her?”
“Oh oh oh!” Pinkie Pie had been keeping quiet, but now she was bouncing up and down. “I should run for Mayor too!”
The rest of the group all gave Pinkie a confused look. “Pinkie now why would you want to be mayor?” Twilight asked fearing the answer.
“Well I don’t like the Mayor’s new laws either!” Pinkie shouted. “She banned cooking on public streets! I mean that like totally ruins my welcome to Ponyville wagon!”
“Pinkie, the last time you used that wagon, you spilled cake batter all over the road,” Twilight responded.
“Yeah, but that only happened cause I put the dough in the wrong compartment!” Pinkie cried. “Otherwise it would’ve worked!”
“Hay we have a question?!” Said an unknown voice.
The group turned to the direction of the sound. It emanated from a pile of Twilight’s books in the corner. Suddenly the Cutie Mark Crusaders pushed their way out of the clutter to reveal themselves.
“Applebloom! What are you and yer friends doin here?” Applejack said annoyed.
“Well we heard Rainbow Dash was running for mayor!” Scootalou cheered.
“And besides were always spying on you guys anyway,” Sweetie Belle laughed. Her fellow Crusaders both faced the white filly and shushed her loudly.
“Look girls,” Twilight said authoritatively. “Rainbow Dash won’t be mayor and Pinkie, you can’t even run.”
“Why not?!” Pinkie answered distraught.
“You’re not old enough darling,” Rarity said as she rose from her pillow. “It’s like the Mayor said earlier you have to be 18 to run for office. Your only 14 dear.”
“Well that’s not fair!” Pinkie cried.
“OH oh oh can we run?” Applebloom shouted.
“Yeah if we won then we could be,” Sweetie Belle began as the group prepared to scream in unison.
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER POLITICIANS!” The trio bellowed to the captive audience. Each pony was somehow blown by the sheer strength of the fillies’ scream. The sound was so loud it cracked one of Twilight’s windows.
“NO YOU CAN’T!” Twilight yelled back angry over the ringing in her ears. “You guys are too young to even vote!”
The Crusaders all stared at Twilight with tears falling from their eyes. “We….we can’t even vote?” Sweetie Belle sobbed.
“That’s not cool…” Scootalou whimpered. “That’s not cool at all.”
“Wait I’ve got an idea!” Pinkie screamed trying to break the melancholy. The pink pony pointed at her white unicorn friend. “Rarity you could run and I could be your right-hoof mare!”
“I would totally vote for Rarity,” Spike chimed in.
“Yeah sis you should run for mayor!” Sweetie Belle declared as she wiped away her tears.
Rarity blushed, she didn’t like being put on the spot like this. “I’m sorry darlings but I can’t run for office,” Rarity answered. “I’m much too busy and to be honest I like all the new laws the Mayor has made. They’re keeping Ponyville a less rowdy and more in order.”
A large sigh of disapproval and multiple shrugs ensued. Twilight walked over to her dragon assistant. “I’m sorry Spike, but you can’t vote either,” Twilight said trying to ease the blow. “You’re also too young.”
“Well this just bites!” Spike cried.
“I can’t take this anymore!” Pinkie screamed. Every creature turned to face the now fuming pony. “These stinky no good rules are making it so we don’t have a voice in our own town! I say we change that!”
The Crusaders and Spike all ran over to Pinkie. “You’re right Pinkie!” They cheered.
“We gotta make it so the town gives us the attention we deserve!” Applebloom yelled.
“If Rainbow Dash would leave me out like this then I’ll gladly vote for you!” Scootalou shouted.
Spike and Sweetie Belle each shot Rarity a look of betrayal. The white unicorn recoiled a bit. She didn’t realize how badly she hurt her two biggest fans.
“Help us Pinkie it’s up to you!” Spike begged.
“Yeah Pinkie if you become mayor then everypony will be happy!” Sweetie Belle laughed.
Pinkie grinned with pride. “Alright guys! Let’s get this campaign going!” The group ran out threw Twilight’s door and within seconds they were long gone. Twilight, Applejack and Rarity all exchanged glances each unable to explain what just happened.
“Well this is gonna be one heck of an election,” Applejack said.
“I think this may be fun to watch,” Rarity chuckled.
“Ugh,” Twilight let out. “Neither Pinkie or Dash has any idea how to run Ponyville!” If either of them wins it’ll be chaos!”
“Don’t worry Twilight,” Rarity answered. “What are the odds Rainbow Dash could actually become mayor?”
“Or Pinkie Pie for that matter,” Applejack laughed.
“I just don’t like this guys,” Twilight said. “I just don’t like this one bit.”
TOWN HALL 9:30 PM
Twilight walked into the deserted town hall building. It was still being renovated following the Derpy incident and the old hall at night was truly ominous. Twilight looked at the letter she found on her door an hour ago. It read:
Twilight Sparkle
Please come to Mayor’s Room in Town Hall at 9:30 tonight alone
The note wasn’t even signed. Twilight worried over a possible trap and had her unicorn magic at the ready. However as she reached the end of the hallway and opened the door to Mayor’s room Twilight found no deception.
The Mayor was facing the window looking away from Twilight. As the door closed she turned and smiled at the purple mare. “Hi Twilight good to see you.”
“Um Mayor why did you want to see me so late?
“Well Twilight I need a favor,” After saying this, the Mayor turned away from Twilight again. She looked up at the full moon intently. “I want you to run for mayor in my place.”
Twilight was shocked. “What?!”
“You heard me. I want you to run for mayor against Rainbow Dash.”
“But why?”
The Mayor stopped her and turned again to Twilight. “I’ve been mayor for 20 years Twilight.”
“But don’t you love being mayor?”
“I do, but everypony needs to know when to call it quits. Besides I really want to travel Equestria! See the sights you know! Live a little! I mean I can already feel this old body giving out on me. The last thing I want to do right now is actually have to campaign again.”
“Why me then? Rainbow Dash would never forgive me if I ran against her!”
The Mayor gave Twilight a serious stare. “You have to Twilight. You know what will happen if Rainbow Dash wins.”
Twilight remembered her fears of the chaos under Rainbow Dash as mayor. She shuddered. “I’m still not sure I can run,” Twilight said looking down.
The Mayor simply smiled back at Twilight. “Just win the election over Rainbow Dash. Then you finish your 4-year term as mayor. By then my daughter will be 18 and she can take the position from you.”
“It sounds like you’ve got this all planned out.”
“I do Twilight. I do.”
Twilight thought to herself for a moment. She couldn’t let Rainbow Dash become mayor much less Pinkie Pie. Ponyville needed order. It needed a strong leader to keep the rules in place. Without rules there would be chaos. And Twilight couldn’t let that happen.
“Alright Mayor,” Twilight said with a sudden newfound passion. “I’ll run for office and I’ll defeat Rainbow Dash!”