//------------------------------//
// Private Meetings 
// Story: The Decline and Fall of West Equestria:  Twilight's Tale 
// by StormLuna 
//------------------------------//

That night I was not able to sleep all that well.  So many things were running through my mind, the upset ponies in Canterlot, Filthy Rich and Colgate's concerns over the costs involved in maintaining their livelihood and the fact that the economy will likely begin to decline kept me awake.  The morning would arrive all too soon for me as the sun shone in through my window.  I thought to myself, "Well Twilight, it is time for breakfast.  Hopefully we can just spend time with our friends today and not have to deal with anypony else."

I headed downstairs and began to eat my breakfast.  While I was eating a guard came into the dining hall and told me that a pony wished to speak with me.  I told him to escort the pony to the dining hall.  When he arrived I was not thrilled, it was Filthy Rich.  I glared at him and asked, "Filthy Rich, why are you here and what are you doing here so early?"

Filthy replied, "Princess Twilight, yesterday during your address to the town you said that we could discuss my concerns regarding the foreign transaction fees in private."

I snapped, "I did but I did not expect you here THIS early."

Filthy replied, "Well I just wanted to come in before I started dealing with my customers' trades."

I asked, "Wait a minute, you are involved in the stock market?  I thought you owned Barnyard Bargains."

Filthy replied, "I do but I am also a stock broker on the side and since the nation split, there is now a foreign transaction fee that must be paid, which I have to pass down to my customers so I don't lose money."

I sighed, "Oh alright, I'll see what can be done about it but I have a feeling this will require a face to face meeting with Starlight Glimmer.  I do not want to have to meet with her unless one of the other princesses is present."

Filthy asked, "Why?"

I replied, "Because if I am there alone, she would likely abduct me again, take me back to Fillydelphia and hold me captive until Celestia would sign over even more land and I am quite sure she would want territory which has a lot of apple orchards, maybe even Ponyville."  I grunted and continued, "You don't want to have to either relocate or live under her rule, do you?"

During my meeting a guard came and told me that another pony wished to speak with me.  I had a feeling that it was Colgate so I told him to go and bring her in.  Sure enough, it was Colgate.  Something didn't seem right about her though.  Normally she always addresses me as Princess or your Majesty, but this time was different.  "Hi Twilight, how's it going?"

I replied, "I'm busy, can you come back later?"

Filthy interrupted, "Princess, I think maybe it would be good if she was here during this discussion since both of us depend on what is now East Equestria for our livelihoods."

I sighed, "Oh alright."  I looked at Colgate and continued, "Colgate, I take it you are here to see if I can do something about getting Starlight to lower the price she charges us for silver?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, I am."

I was admittedly frustrated but I did tell the two that we could discuss things in private regarding their business matters so I felt obligated to continue this meeting, despite it being so early.  I said, "Well there isn't a whole lot I can do on my own.  I would likely need the assistance of Princess Celestia or Princess Luna."

Colgate asked, "Why?"

I replied, "Because like I told Filthy, this will likely involve a face to face meeting with Starlight Glimmer and she has zero respect for me.   Also, with the history we have if I were to meet her alone, she would likely abduct me again and hold me prisoner until even bigger demands are met."

Colgate sighed, "Alright, I understand.  How are we going to get this meeting set up."

I replied, "I will send a letter to Princess Celestia and see when would be good for this and then she would have to contact Starlight to see when she would be available."

Spike came into the dining hall and I ordered, "Spike, take a note."

He replied, "Okey-dokey."

I said, "Dear Princess Celestia, I have a couple of ponies meeting with me whose livelihoods are heavily influenced by materials and transactions in East Equestria.  We are wondering if you could contact Starlight Glimmer about setting up a meeting at the neutral site.  I do not like seeing our subjects suffer financially over this split.  I would appreciate a quick response.

Sincerely,

Twilight Sparkle"

Spike sent the message, I looked at the three and continued, "Well hopefully we will hear from her sooner rather than later."

*BELCH!*

As Spike coughed up a reply I said, "Wow, that was quick."

The letter read, 

"Princess Twilight, my sister and I will head to Ponyville.  We will send a letter to her letting her know that we wish to meet with her at the neutral site as I think it would be the place she would be most likely to work with us.  We will be there soon.

Sincerely,

Princess Celestia"

I looked at the two and finished, "Well the princesses are on their way.  When they get here we can discuss our plans and once we hear back from Starlight, we will head to the neutral meeting site."

Filthy asked, "So will it just be you three going?"

I replied, "No, you two will be coming as well.  I think it would be best if Starlight met the ones who are so dependent upon her country.  You can tell her about your situations.  Besides, I think she has more respect for the common, everyday ponies than she does for me or the other princesses."

Colgate said, "Well that sounds good."





While we were waiting for Celestia and Luna to arrive, we discussed how the split was affecting West Equestria overall and how the nation as a whole would begin to decline.  This was making me very nervous and frustrated, especially with Filthy Rich though as he seemed to constantly bring up how West Equestria was going to fall into an economic depression and either collapse or eventually be invaded by East Equestria and absorbed into it.  Finally Celestia and Luna arrived.  I sighed, "Thank goodness, I don't know how much more of Filthy's negativity I could take."

The two princesses came into the dining hall and gave me a smile.  Celestia said, "Twilight, it is so good to see you again!"

Luna glared at my guests and asked, "Twilight, we take it that these two are the ones who have concerns?"

I replied, "Yes, they are."

Celestia looked at the two and asked, "So what are your concerns?"

Filthy replied, "Well you see, besides owning Barnyard Bargains I am also a stock broker.  Now that the stock market is in East Equestria, any transactions I make, either for my customers or myself, I have to pay a transaction fee and I have to pass that cost down to my customers which is something that I do not want to do."

Colgate added, "And as you know, I, like most dentists, use silver to fill cavities.  All the silver comes from the east.  Before the split everything was fine but now that Starlight Glimmer controls those resources, she has decided to increase the price that I have to pay for it.  I am hoping that maybe you could get her to see how this is hurting not only the dentists here in West Equestria, but our patients as well."

Celestia gave them a smile and replied, "Alright, we'll see what we can do."

I asked, "Princess, is there any way quicker than the ordinary mail that we could send this to her?  I really want to get this done as soon as possible.  I dread having to see her and I don't want to have this looming over me for too long."

Filthy asked, "Couldn't we just send it via Pegasus mail?"

I replied, "I wish.  Thing is, Starlight vowed that if anypony was caught flying over the border from here that she would consider it an act of war and invade."

Colgate asked, "Couldn't we head out to that neutral spot, have somepony deliver the letter to their soldiers and one of their pegasi could deliver it to her?"

Luna replied, "Colgate, thou art a genius!  Let us do that!  That way Twilight won't have to be under so much stress for so long."

I said, "Sounds good, but who should we have write the letter."

Celestia replied, "Little sister, she seems to respect you more.  I think you should write it."

Luna nodded and read aloud as she wrote, 

"Dear Premier Starlight,

We in West Equestria have some ponies whose livelihoods depend upon materials in East Equestria and the economic transactions that take place there.  We are wondering if thou could make some time in thy schedule to meet with us along with the ponies with the concerns at the neutral meeting place.  We hope that thou can reply to us as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Princess Luna"

She asked, "Well everypony, how does that sound."

We all agreed in unison that it sounded good.  I ordered one of my pegasus guards to fly it out to the neutral structure so that it could be delivered to my enemy.  I sighed, "Well hopefully we will hear from her before too long."

Colgate asked, "So what do we do until we hear from her?"

I replied, "Well you and Filthy can go back to doing what you would normally do while the three of us will wait here for a response."

Both of them nodded and left the castle.  I sighed, "I really hoped I would never have to see Starlight again but I guess some things just can't be avoided."

Luna replied, "Twilight, perhaps thou could stay here in Ponyville while we along with our sister could accompany those two out to the meeting place."

Celestia interrupted, "No little sister, I think it would be best if Twilight were there as well.  After all, those two are from here in Ponyville and if Twilight is not there, Starlight may think she doesn't care about her subjects and reject this request immediately.  If Twilight is there, she will know she cares enough about Filthy and Colgate to meet her, despite their past."

Luna replied, "Thou are most likely right big sister.  Once we hear from her, the three of us along with Filthy Rich and Colgate shall head to the meeting place."

I nodded, "Alright."

I will admit, I had absolutely no desire to have to see Starlight and given the fact that Filthy seemed disrespectful towards me, I felt like simply telling Celestia that I would not go, but Colgate has never wronged me and when royal duties call, I have to answer whether I like them or not.