The Revolution - Revised
The train whistled as it began to pull into Canterlot Station. It was adorned with many vibrant red banners of the party and the symbols that represented the oh so many workers throughout Equestria. Crowds of 10s of 1000s had come from all over to hear Flame Rider speak and to hear the proclamation of the new Equestrian Government and nation he created from the ashes of Celestia's embattled and corrupted Empire.
Flame Rider paced nervously in his cabin. The words of his speech were become confused and vibrant with every passing thought. He peered outside of the train car. Many red banners and signs bounced happily in the cold night air. Many soldiers of the Equestrian Army waved swords over their heads at the new movement. Flame Rider swelled with pride but, his heart also plummeted into his hooves. His secretary Sofia Valentine came up to his side.
"You know you have to give them a speech. They've waited so long for some semblance of justice to finally emerge out of this cold and gloomy world" she said reassuringly. Flame Rider met her gaze, her ruby eyes sparkled against his brown pools. Flame Rider smiled slightly then frowned again. He stared back outside. A painting of Celestia and other royal relics were being burned in a large bonfire in the back of the crowd. Not far off, people screamed and shouted as drunken revolutionaries tossed vodka bottles and Molotov's into homes and businesses. Everyone was scared yet excited. Flame Rider lowered his head.
"This. This is not what I wanted" he said almost murmuring to himself, "This is not the revolution we needed. I wanted real rational change and for everypony to have a voice and place in this world. Now it seems like nothing has changed. Drunken brutes are running through the streets hurting their own kind. What was the point of overthrowing Canterlot and Celestia only for the innocent to still suffer no differently?" Flame Rider finished. Flame Rider went back to the desk at the end of the rail car and looked down at his notes again. He shuffled through them mouthing out the words to the speech again. He reached into the desk drawer and pulled out a small aspirin bottle. He plopped two in his mouth and slammed a glass of water before turning his gaze back to the crowd. At this time, a black carriage appeared outside the train. A small portly pony stepped out of the carriage. He had a small bowler hat, a pair of thick pebble glasses, and an air to him that seemed dangerously close to that of the bourgeois that Flame Rider vehemently detested. He approached Flame Rider's train car. Two guards waited at the door. Without so much of a glare the guards opened the door for the portly pony. As soon as he entered the door slammed shut.
"Hello Flame Rider, My name is Gray Thunder and I am here to take you to the podium at the square" the pony said taking out a small handkerchief and wiping the sweat off his forehead. Flame Rider raised a peculiar eyebrow to Gray Thunder. He unscrewed a bottle of vodka, poured himself a shot, then gulped it. He hadn't much choice of who was to lead him to the square.
"Let us make haste then" Flame Rider said.
"Very good sir, please follow me" Gray Thunder said opening the door to the train car. Flame Rider sighed and headed out to the many ponies gathered outside the train. As he stepped out of his train car the crowd erupted with cheers. Flame Rider waved his hoof to his supporters and smiled. They began to chant:
"Flame Rider"
"Down with Celestia"
"Flame Rider"
"Down with the bourgeois"
Gray Thunder led Flame Rider down to the carriage. Flame Rider was stopped numerous times to shake many a pony's hoof. Gray Thunder was patient and waited for the revolutionary stallion. Flame Rider eventually made it to the carriage after shaking what he felt like was a million hooves. Gray Thunder held the door for Flame Rider which Flame Rider thanked him with a nod. Flame Rider sat down in the carriage followed by Gray Thunder.
"To the SQUARE!" Gray Thunder told the driver. Soon they were off towards the square so Flame Rider could give his speech. The great mass of supporters swarmed like ants after the carriage.
Flame Rider pondered for a short while. Who is to say that this speech won't be a disaster and this entire revolution will have been all for not. Celestia will be back in power and all the carnage and bloodshed will have been for not. He then felt Gray Thunder put a hoof on his shoulder, it made Flame Rider jump slightly.
"You will be fine, sir. You have brought a lot of hope and renewed confidence in the ponies of Equestria. I think if ponies were to come as far as the Crystal Empire by hoof alone to see you they should have some amount of confidence in what you preach" Gray Thunder said with a smile. Flame Rider shoved his troubled thoughts to the back of his mind as the carriage slowly came to a stop at a podium in the center of Canterlot. Many ponies crowded around, some carrying bright red banners, signs bearing propaganda, waving rifles, or holding their hooves up to be empowered by Flame Rider's speech. As soon as the carriage door opened, the crowd bellowed loud enough to crack various windows throughout Canterlot. Flame Rider felt his heart in his throat.
As he stepped out many hooves reached out to him shaking. Shouts could be heard throughout:
"Glory to Flame Rider!"
"Thank You Flame Rider for delivering us from the vile Princess!"
"To the revolution and to Flame Rider!"
Every passing step felt like an eternity to Flame Rider and soon enough he was at the steps up to the podium. With each hoof step he felt all that he worked for and all those that helped him get to this point were on his shoulders. Each stair seemed to bear the weight of a 1000 boulders. When he finally reached the top he felt the entirety of the world was staring at him. A hush tone fell over the crowd.
"My fellow Comrades! The time has come for us to be empowered. Celestia is no more. Her reign of tyranny and darkness will not hamper the working ponies of Equestria! It is time to rightfully take back what is ours!" Flame Rider shouted placing his hooves at his chest. The crowd erupted in applause but just as soon as they did Flame Rider hushed them with a lift of his hoof. He continued on.
"We watch as she entertains unknown dignitaries and her own friends, flying off for weeks at a time to some far off land while we suffer to feed ourselves. The shops and the pantries lay barren while Canterlot thrives and swells in excess. We must now empower ourselves to make a better future, to take back our fields and factories, to have many a great harvest, to let our children live without fear, to make our future!" Flame Rider yelled. The crowd again erupted in cheers but Flame Rider hushed them yet again.
"As many of you may know friends that Celestia tried to escape to the north beyond the Crystal Mountains the other day but, she failed to account for the resolve of our loyal soldiers. She is with us today to hear for cries of treason and for whipping her own people like cattle. Bring her forward!" Flame Rider called. Soldiers soon appeared with a cloaked figure their body covered in chains. The soldiers brought the figure to Flame Rider's side. Flame Rider undid the cloak and there was Celestia. She had been beaten and bruised. Her eyes adjusted to the light and soon looked at Flame Rider. Her mane in an instant turned a fiery red. The crowd called out in a chorus of boos and hisses.
"Look at this Princess. She is now nothing more then trash in the street. She fled when you needed her most after causing so much pain to you and your children my friends. I SAY NO MORE! NO MORE SHALL WE LIVE UNDER HER YOLK OF TYRANNY!" Flame Rider said. The crowd cheered and cheered. Celestia leaned towards Flame Rider her eyes bore a great fire.
"You can't lead these ponies. You will make this whole land fall into darkness and ruin. You will drive these ponies into the ground" Celestia angrily said. Flame Rider raised an eyebrow and then with a grin turned back to the crowds.
"Now here me friends. The Princess says that this whole land will fall into darkness and ruin and I will drive you into the ground. When she is the very same that caused you all the misery and bloodshed up until now. She is why we suffer. She is why we starve. She is why we are beaten. She deserves to be treated the same way that we all have been treated. Thrown into a cell and wilt away until the end of time. She is so keen that should happen to all of you why not her" Flame Rider shouted. The crowd roared in triumph. The cloak was placed firmly back on Celestia's head and she began the long march to prison.
"THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO LEAD OUR OWN DESTINY!" screamed Flame Rider. The crowd cheered fervently. Flame Rider had started out nothing more than just a factory worker and now he was in the driver seat. The justice for all ponies had started to come in fruition and now it felt like a reality. All ponies would now have a voice.