The next group of petitioners, much to Twilight's bemusement, had expressed a wish to hold their meeting with her on the street outside the Twilightlicious Capital Building. Followed closely by Raymond – as well as Geo and his guards – Twilight walked outside into the cool afternoon air, shielding her eyes from the sun which hung in the sky. Through the haze, she could make out more of Geo's soldiers, who were manning a checkpoint down the street, as well as the slowly retreating forms of her friends.
Geo sat on the steps and started juggling with his weapons, while Twilight cleared her throat to get the attention of the group arguing in front of her. One of them was sitting atop a horse, while another one appeared to be building what looked like a trebuchet.
"Ah, Princess," one of the people said as he approached her and bowed. "My name is Wil Jamieson, and I have come before you today – in my capacity as a representative of the Protect Anything Cute And Furry Society – to implore you to ban timber wolf hunting at once. It is a cruel and horrible 'sport' for the wealthy, and my mind boggles when I try to consider how anyone can possibly justify it." He pointed at the man on the horse. "Oh, people like him witter on about 'tradition,' 'pest control' and other such nonsense, but really we all know it's because sadists love to torture these poor, innocent animals! It is for this reason, Princess Twilight, that timber wolf hunting must be banned!"
The man on the horse sighed. "First of all, Princess, my name is Thomas Hamilton. Secondly... Banning timber wolf hunting would be the end for centuries of tradition! The thrill of the chase, the baying of the hounds, the timber wolf scooting through the undergrowth... it would be a travesty if you were to outlaw all of that! We provide much needed stimulus for local tourism — and you can't deny that timber wolves are pests, as they are often to blame for farmers losing livestock on a daily basis. I propose that timber wolf hunting be encouraged, for the cultural – and, not to mention, the economic – benefit of the nation!"
The woman building the trebuchet spoke up. "My name is Jazz Bronte, Princess, and do you want to know what I think?" she asked, to which Twilight nodded. "I reckon that the real issue about this sport is the cruelty aspect. Now, no-one can deny that sending a pack of dogs to slaughter a solitary timber wolf is cruel — so I reckon that you should just ban hunting with hounds and only allow kinder and more instantly lethal methods of hunting... such as guns, tranquillisers, and cruise missiles."
Geo laughed. "I like her way of thinking." Twilight glared at him and he stopped. "Yeah, yeah, I get it — 'shut up and observe.'"
The fourth person slowly stood up, revealing for the first time that he was feeding a young timber wolf with a baby bottle full of milk. "My name is Johann Dubois, and I am firmly against the slaughter of dumb animals," he said. "It would be best if the animals didn't die, and hunters could still do what they love to do. So with that in mind, instead of shooting them or sending vicious canines after them, how about you make it so that the hunter runs up to his quarry and gives it a symbolic 'tap' with his hand? If you ask me, I think that would be much nicer for everyone."
Almost immediately, the other petitioners began arguing with each other over which of them had the better idea.
"I've already made up my mind," Twilight said. "So if you could all... if you could just stop arguing, I might be able to—"
The sound of a gunshot quickly brought the squabbling to an end, as all attention turned to Geo. He was standing at the top of the stairs to the capital building, with an assault rifle slung over one shoulder, and a look of disdain on his face.
"The Princess is trying to talk to you, so I suggest that you show her the proper respect," he snapped. "Be thankful that you are not my citizens, as I would have had you all killed for your insolence."
Twilight sighed and shook her head. "Ignore him," she said. "I've found that it's the best course of action." She paused. "Anyway, I have already decided that I am going to outlaw timber wolf hunting in Twilightlicious; the new law will come into force overnight. Thank you for your time, have a nice day."
The assembled petitioners bowed and then beat a hasty retreat, Jazz abandoning her half-finished trebuchet as she rushed up the street towards the checkpoint. After they left, Twilight turned around and walked up the stairs to where Geo stood.
"Don't you ever speak to my people like that again, got it?" she hissed. "This is not the Apocalypse, Geo, so stop acting like you are there. Now, if you step out of line one more time, then I will be forced to ask you to leave my country." She looked around the area, taking note of the soldiers watching her. "And, while I have your attention, I want you to send the soldiers you have stationed in my streets home. I will permit you to keep your bodyguards, but that's it. My people are getting worried, and I will not have them bothered by a bunch of trigger-happy thugs."
Geo laughed and, much to Twilight's chagrin, placed a hand on her head and ruffled her mane. "You're adorable when you're mad, you know that?" he said. "Anyway, don't get your proverbial panties in a twist, Princess, I was only trying to help. But if it makes you feel better, I'll stop interfering and send the majority of my men back to the Apocalypse, keeping just a few of my best to guard me."
Twilight took a step back and snorted. "See to it that you do." she turned to Raymond. "What's next on the list?"
"Uhh..." Raymond looked through his usual consignment of paperwork. "An organized crowd of leather-clad individuals, some of whom are on leashes, are protesting against discrimination for those who share their interests."
"Oh, Violet, not them again." Geo holstered his weapon and started walking down the stairs. "I think I'll sit this one out, Princess, because there is a very high chance that I would end up killing one of those freaks." He shuddered. "They make my skin crawl."
Twilight smiled wryly at him. "What's this? The big, bad dictator can't handle a few simple fetishes?" she put a forehoof over her mouth to stifle a giggle. "Very well, Geo, you are more than welcome to avoid this discussion if you want — after all, it will give you plenty of time to get your men off my property."
Geo nodded and began walking up the street, barking orders as he went, while Twilight and Raymond began the trek back up to the office... and the strange sight which was to greet them.