Ponyville's New Mayor

"Fillies and gentlecolts, we have called this town meeting to discuss who will be the interim mayor while we continue our search for Mayor Mare," Princess Twilight Sparkle said in front of the town hall in Ponyville on a beautiful, sunny day.

"As you may already know," Twilight continued, "our beloved mayor mysteriously disappeared a few days ago.  Foul play is not suspected yet"

The Ponyvillians in the audience all mumbled to themselves in both worry and confusion.  None of them knew what had happened to their beloved mayor.  She had cared for the small, quiet town for decades and was loved by all of the ponies.  She also loved her job, so her mysterious disappearance was just that- a mysterious disappearance.  Nopony knew if she was just deathly ill at home, on a vacation she never told anypony about, or if something else, even dangerous or horrible, had happened to her.

"The Canterlot Royal Guard has been called in to form a search party for her, and all of the citizens of Ponyville are asked to join in in helping.  In the meantime, the search for an interim mayor will begin today," Twilight added.

"Who's going to watch over our town while they search?" Lyra, the green unicorn who was born in Canterlot but moved to Ponyville, yelled out.

"For the time being I will forgo my duties in Canterlot to watch over Ponyville, but only while we search for our next mayor," Twilight Sparkle replied.

"What are we going to do about all the weeds in Ponyville?" Roseluck yelled out.  She didn't receive an answer, though, because the rest of the citizens of the quiet town began to all shout out questions and concerns.  They were, after all, scared and worried and about the mayor they loved most.

Shouts from the crowd included, "What are we going to do about all of the forged paintings in the shops?"  "Why is our museum so empty?"  "Who will think of the foals?"  "When is the next fishing tourney?"

As the commotion continued, Princess Twilight informed the crowd that she would need some time to come up with a decision.  She left the podium with the crowd still quite concerned, but she needed to go consult her friends on what to do in this situation.  After all, she would never have become a princess if it weren't for her friends

"Guys, I don't know what to do.  I'm worried about the mayor, but I also need to come up with a quick solution.  Princess Celestia also needs me back in Canterlot as soon as possible," Twilight informed her friends as they stood in a circle behind the town hall.

"Oh Twilight, we are so worried too," Fluttershy said.

"Maybe you should go back to Canterlot," Rainbow Dash added.  "You have a lot of duties already."

"Yes, darling," Rarity added, "we will take care of finding a new mayor.  We can also take care of the town ourselves in the meantime."

"We can bake super-duper cupcakes for everypony to make them feel better," Pinkie Pie joyously added while hopping up and down.

"Yeah, sugarcube, if the five of us can work together, we can take care of this town," Applejack said.  "Besides, we have been through worse things many times."

"Are you ladies sure you can take care of things without me?" Twilight asked, just to make sure.  The five other ponies all nodded their heads with conviction.  "Well, then, I guess I will return to Canterlot for now.  I will check on you soon.  If you need help just send a letter.  Spike is waiting for me in Canterlot."  Twilight gave a group hug to all of her friends.

After informing the town of the news of what was going to happen now, Twilight spread her new wings and took to the sky, heading back to Canterlot from her royal duties.

"How d'you suppose we take care of a whole town?" Applejack asked the others after their alicorn friend disappeared into the clouds.

"The same way we saved all of their flanks on multiple occasions," Rainbow answered.

Pinkie Pie shouted out, "Together!"

The five ponies put their hooves together in the air to signify that they were ready for their new challenge, whatever may come their way.

However, as they made their way through the town, trying to find ways that they can improve it to make the ponies happy, they were received with grumbling complaints everywhere.  It was nothing really personal towards the five; it was more of just a complaining attitude by the villagers due to both their fear and the fact that Ponyville had become more run down in the few days since the mayor's disappearance.

The five friends decided to split up in order to cover more ground.  They all planned to write down what improvements needed to be made in the town.

As Rainbow Dash went towards the train station, the Friendship Express was just pulling in.  Out of interest, the blue pegasus looked over to see who, or what, was going to come off the train.

She landed on the roof of the building and hid behind the chimney, hoping to get a good look at the travellers or newcomers to the town.  However, she was shocked when she saw the creature that came from the train.  "What kind of pony is that?" Rainbow muttered to herself.

As the creature turned his face towards the sun, his face shined bright like a diamond (or rather, reflected).  He stood there like an angel sent from heaven.  He was a creature standing on his hind legs, fully clothed and had a shirt that said 'MVP' on it.  He was furless, appeared fearless, and his smile could even make the grumpiest of cats happy.  His brown mane stayed still even as the wind blew towards him.

There was something weird about him, though.  Behind his grin and triangle nose seemed like a creature who was disturbed for reasons unknown.  What was he doing in Ponyville?  Where would he live?  What were his plans?  These questions went through Rainbow's mind.

There was one other thing that was odd about him.  In his hands was a weapon.  It was a weapon of terror.  It was a big, fearsome, long butterfly net.