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// Prelude- Time to File 
// Story: Election in Ponyville 
// by StormLuna 
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It has been three years since Mayor Mare began her fourth term as mayor of Ponyville and just like she does on the third anniversary of starting her term, she realizes that it is time to file for her candidacy to run again.  Mayor Mare has been elected to four consecutive terms and has decided to run for an unprecedented fifth term.  To do this she knows she has to go up to Canterlot and file the proper paperwork with Princess Celestia so she heads to the train station to go see Celestia.

In the Ponyville Express, as required by law, it is reported that if anypony is interested in running for mayor that they are to head to Canterlot and see Celestia.  Most ponies just overlook this as they realize that Mayor Mare is extremely popular and that any ideas they would have to improve things would not matter, that the popular incumbent would defeat them.  This was not the case with some ponies though, particularly a light purple unicorn with three gems as a cutie mark and a hatred for inefficiency, arrogance and government waste, Amethyst Star.

Amethyst picked up the newspaper and began to read the article.  When she read this she thought to herself, "You know what?  I think the time for change in this town has arrived."  She began to snicker, "I know things about the mayor and her wasteful spending that other ponies do not."  She got a grim determination on her face and continued, "While I was too scared to run against her last time, I will not sit by idly this time and allow her to continue to dig Ponyville deeper into debt.  I'm heading to Canterlot and filing my papers to run for mayor."

In Sugarcube Corner, Twilight and her friends were in having a snack while Applejack was reading the paper.  She came across the announcement and said, "Well, it looks like another election cycle is beginning.  Princess Celestia has announced that the time for ponies interested in running for mayor need to file their papers."

Everypony that had lived in Ponyville for a long time knew about how the mayor had not had a serious opponent since the first time she ran.  Applejack continued, "Ah wonder who will run against her this time?"

Rarity added, "Probably another pony who will only sling mud at her and make false accusations."

Twilight had not moved to Ponyville yet when the last election had happened.  She asked, "What?  Ponies spread lies about the mayor here?  I thought she was loved by all."

Rarity replied, "Well it is usually just one disgruntled pony who isn't happy unless everything goes perfect and tries to tarnish the mayor's reputation with half-truths and weird conspiracies."

Twilight asked, "So how long has Mayor Mare been in office."

Applejack replied, "Well it was fifteen years ago today that she was sworn into office for the first time.  If Ah know her as well as Ah think Ah do, she is likely going to run for a fifth term."

Twilight said, "Wow, if she gets elected to a fifth term that will have to be some sort of record."

Everypony nodded but two of Twilight's friends believed that things could be better.  They felt that things in Ponyville had become mundane and boring.  One believed that the town could use more excitement while the other simply believed that things could be cooler so after they finished their snacks they headed to the train station to go to Canterlot.





Shortly before the train was set to leave the four ponies arrived at the train station.  Mayor Mare had a confident look on her face as Rainbow asked, "Hi, what's up with the confident look."

The mayor replied, "Oh I'm just headed up to file my candidacy for mayor again."  She got a huge smile on her face and continued, "Can you believe it, this is the fifth time I'll be running and when I win, I'll become the first mayor to be elected to five terms."

Pinkie said, "Oh that's funny!  I'm going to run for mayor too!  Wouldn't it be funny if I won?"

Both mares gasped, "What, you're running for mayor?"

Pinkie giggled, "Yeah and when I win, there will be a lot more parties!"

Amethyst, who had been simply listening earlier chimed in, "Seriously, more parties?  Don't you think there are enough already?"

Rainbow added, "Yeah, and where is the money going to come from for all these?"

Pinkie replied, "We'll find a way.  I just know that Ponyville needs more parties!"

The mayor simply smiled thinking that this year's opponent would be even easier to defeat than her previous opponents had been.  Pinkie asked, "So Rainbow, what are you going up to Canterlot for?"

Rainbow replied, "Well I think Ponyville could be cooler so I'm running for mayor too."

This caused Mayor Mare to break down laughing.  She laughed, "You too?  What are you going to do, make sure there are Wonderbolts races every weekend?"

Rainbow replied, "Well maybe.  I don't know if I could get them to do that but I know I could get Spitfire to have them come down once a month."

The mayor just shook her head.  She found it unbelievable that her opponents are the ones who take life the least serious, ones who simply don't understand anything about governing.  That smile turned into a slightly nervous look when she saw Amethyst waiting for the train as well.  She asked, "Amethyst, what are you headed up to Canterlot for?"

Unlike Pinkie and Rainbow though, she was not about to just tell her that she was going to run.  She didn't even plan on going to the castle at the same time as the other three, she wanted this to shock them as much as it will the rest of the town when it is discovered she is running.  She lied, "Oh I'm just going to go up and do some shopping, nothing serious."

The mayor breathed a sigh of relief while Pinkie and Rainbow began to yell at one another over the other running for mayor.  "Pinkie, you're supposed to be my friend but you're running for mayor when I am?"

Pinkie countered, "Well yeah and you're going to ruin things if you run!  Ponyville won't be nearly as fun because you'll steal votes away from me!"

The four ponies got on board and the train pulled away.  For a good part of the trip up to Canterlot Pinkie and Rainbow continued to argue while the mayor just sat there with a smile on her face.  Finally somepony had had enough with Pinkie and Rainbow's arguing.  Amethyst walked up to them and snapped, "Would you two shut up!"

This quickly caused the two to be quiet but they continued to scowl at one another.  For the first time since they became friends, a sense of pure anger towards one another radiated from the two.  Amethyst quietly snickered, "Not only are they going to lose the election, they're going to lose their friendship too!"