A welcome (unwelcome) announcement
"Thank you for coming on such a short notice." Mayor Mare nodded to the six ponies in front of her desk. "Although, Pinkie Pie, what are you doing here?" she asked. "I don't remember asking for you to come over."
"She tagged along." Twilight Sparkle, local librarian and unofficial organizer of Ponyville, as well as most likely the only pony in Equestria who dared to openly defy Princess Celestia's rule. The only reason the unicorn had not been arrested was probably because of her rather unique condition.
"You know her, we couldn't stop her."
"It's no problem. Pinkie Pie might be able to help spread the word."
"Spread the word?" Rarity Belle, local fashion designer and wannabe high society pony asked. "About what exactly, if I might ask so bluntly?"
"I'm glad you did. You see, yesterday I received a letter from Canterlot." The mayor held up a letter, which had the royal insignia on it. The mares in front of her oh-ed and ah-ed, except for one, who looked at the letter as if it was a murder weapon.
"The princess herself requested that this year's Summer Sun Celebration is being held here in Ponyville." the grey maned mare announced proudly, five of the younger ponies, even including Fluttershy, to cheer at. The sixth one let out a very loud:
"WHAT?!"
"Now, now calm down everypony." the mayor held her hooves up in a calming motion.
"I know this is all very exciting, but there are some things we need to do first, namely there are some things that need to be prepared. And that's where all of you come into play."
The mayor got up from her chair and approached the first pony.
"Applejack, I need you to take care of the catering for the celebration. I'm sorry Pinkie, I was torn between you and Applejack, but I think the princess would love to taste some apple treats. They're pretty much...how should I call it? A local treat?" the mayor shook her head.
"Don't ya worry nuthin' hon. Ya can count on me ta get everythin' ready." the cowpony mare held her head up proudly.
Nodding the mayor walked to Fluttershy, who slightly hid behind her mane.
"Fluttershy, I remember the little concert your birds gave for my niece. Do you think it is possible to arrange something similar for when the princess arrives on stage?"
"I...think so." the animal caretaker said in a low voice.
"Excellent." the mayor beamed and trotted to the next pony.
"Rarity, your talent as fashion designer are unquestionably extraordinaire. Do you think it is possible for you to pep up our little town hall, for the celebration."
"Why, of course mayor! I will only do my very best!" Rarity proclaimed.
"Oh, I hope you will. It's not everyday the princess is visiting our little community."
She walked to the next pony. "Rainbow Dash, we need a clear sky on the day of the celebration. Not that this will be any problem for you. Just do it in between your training sessions."
"You can count on me mayor." the rainbow mane colored pegasus saluted.
"Finally, Twilight."
"Let me guess." Twilight raised a hoof. "You want me to supervise everything and see that everything goes according to schedule." she said in a not really enthusiastic tone.
"Actually" the mayor bit her lip. "the princess personal student is coming to supervise everything."
Twilight's eye twitched.
"Does she now..." Twilight said slowly.
"Yes, however the princess also asked to provide some shelter for her. And since there are no hotels in town...and you just happen to live in a house, which technically belongs to the kingdom..."
"Okay, okay, I get it." Twilight hissed through gritted teeth.
"Just give me her or his name, okay? Looks like I'll need to prepare the guest room. And remind me to buy the library and its content." she added, muttering.
Mayor Mare resisted the urge to sigh in relief. No one knew better than her that Twilight could be quite bothersome, when it came to official stuff revolving around the princess. After all, the mare worked the first two years she lived in Ponyville at the town hall.
"It's a certain Trixie Lulamoon." The mayor hoofed over a parchment to Twilight, who took it reluctantly. "She's a blue unicorn with a silver mane. She'll be coming by chariot next week."
"Oh my gosh, a new pony?!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "I need to stock up on my party supplies!" she bounced into the air and threw confetti everywhere. The ponies around her giggled. Even Twilight managed to crack a smile.
"Alright everypony. I am counting on you all. Have a nice day."
"You too mayor." the six ponies replied and made their way out of their room.
"Twilight, mind if I have a word with you, before you leave?"
Twilight looked back and then towards her friends. "Go ahead. I'll come after."
"You better hurry, Twilight! Or else all of the cupcakes will be gone again!"
"That might be because ya eat 'em faster than a starved pony." AJ pointed out, causing everyone to laugh. The five friends of Twilight left the mayor's office, with Rarity closing the door behind her with her magic. The hornless unicorn turned around, frowning at the mayor.
The older mare trotted back behind her desk and took a seat on the overly huge chair. She put her forelegs on said desk and put her hooves together, sighing.
"You can probably guess, why I wanted you to stay back." the older mare spoke slowly.
"You're afraid I'm going to cause a scene." Twilight responded as a matter of fact. "Don't worry." she went on. "I am probably going to Zecora during the celebration. She almost never gets visitors anyway."
"Twilight, I don't know what happened all those years ago, but it doesn't take a genius to know that the princess was somehow involved in all of this. Please, no poison joke or whatever you have in mind."
The younger mare let out an angry snort. "Mayor, just so you know, I'll never be found near that bitch, even if my life depends on it. I have not anything planned, just because I can't stand her and the way she's governing Equestria."
The lavender pony spun around and opened the door with her hoof.
"Twilight-"
"No!" the unicorn held up her hoof. "Whatever you have to say, forget about it! And you can also look for a new editor for your biography!" said the pony and slammed the door shut with her hind leg, causing a picture to fall down from the wall.
Mayor Mare let out another sigh. She tended to do that a lot, when it came to Twilight Sparkle. Truly the special case unicorn was the cause of as many headaches, as she was the cause of so many problems around the office to be solved. The latest novel of the local librarian for example was the cause of another headache. Really, it was like each time the young lady did so much as hold her head to high, the mayor's office would be flooded with letters from politicians and nobles literally wanting the unicorn to be thrown out into the Everfree Forest. The only thing protecting her was, in an ironic way, the princess she hated so much.
"Princess Celestia: Wise or senile? This is outrageous, princess!" Quick Quill, Celestia's most trusted adviser shouted, while almost throwing the book onto the desk of the princess.
"This time Twilight Sparkle has gone too far! You need to take action, immediately!" the stallion shouted, his manners completely forgotten.
Princess Celestia in the meantime, calmly took a sip from her tea and looked down on her only openly critic's book.
"You know as well as I do, if I would do anything against Twilight Sparkle, even so much as giving her a fine, she will get more attention, than if I just leave her be."
She looked outside the window and down the mountainside. Ponyville, the small town only founded 100 years ago, could be seen from there. For the white alicorn it was only as if a week had passed since the foundation of the small settlement.
"But princess! If she goes on like this other ponies will follow her example! It might just look like a simple breeze at the moment, but even the simple flapping of a butterfly might cause a tornado!"
Celestia looked back to her adviser.
"Criticism is good, my dear Quick Quill. I certainly prefer this over the ways things went in the past." She thought about the pretty much useless assassination attempts against her and...
She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"This isn't criticism, this is straight up rabble-rousing!"
"Enough." Celestia said with a calm, yet stern voice. "You will leave Twilight Sparkle alone. I am well aware of the contents of her books. I have read all of them and nothing she writes goes in any way against the law. Is there anything else that you need to tell me? Something not related to Twilight Sparkle?"
Quick Quill stiffened his posture. "No, your highness."
"Good. Please, leave me alone. I have to do some final preparations for this year's Summer Sun Celebration."
"Your highness." Quick Quill bowed and left the room.
After the door closed, Celestia looked down at the book, the stallion forgot. Smiling sadly she levitated it over to a shelf in her office and put it to the other books, which put the Equestrian Government and she in particular, in a rather bad light.
It's just one pony. She won't even leave any kind of an impact in the history books. A shame, really. In a way, Twilight Sparkle helped me become a better leader, by pointing out every seemingly insignificant detail and turned it into a problem of the size of a mountain. I wonder what she would think of me, if she knew, I am the one who convinced her publisher to bring out her book series.
...
The history books will be rewritten soon anyway. It's high time the population sees that I am not without my flaws.