As the sun sets over empires at day and cover the, with darkness at night, even as some ponies fall asleep, the new industrial society is generally always awake, from the nearly constant sound of great industry, carriages and railroads. Our world is changing, there is no doubt about it. Just about half a century ago today, there were only sounds of simple carriages in the streets of Metrobern before development started when big business started to truly emerge.
But despite how I may be making it out to be, I support this, since I see it as a sign of civilization's progress through time, we are in a second renaissance almost due to our society changing so much per year. But I do not live near the huge factories and such, I live in the Royal palace of Wosterchester in central Metrobern. It is a odd feeling to be queen in such times as now. One cannot tell if all this progress will continue peacefully or will "industrialization" cause a horrible war in the future. Yet at the same time, we have had countless upturns with industry, railroads, steel ships and ocean liners, Great monuments and bridges made out of steel and stone, mass-produced consumer goods, there is so much to say. Before my mother died last year, she told me " Many ponies say that this "Industrialization" matter is completely positive, nothing can be perfect." I hope that I can lead the Imperial Holiestian Empire through my reign peacefully and we will only see the positive side of development.
I think that to myself as I sit on my desk in my office until one of my maids trots in.
" Your highness. Lord Fletcher is asking for your company down stairs." My maid Angelia tells me
I then look up and nod " Then I will go to him." i tell the short earth pony mare as I get up and trot to the staircase of the palace.
I've seen this hallway countless times, I did grow up in this palace after all so I really know my way around. My full skirt's back end drags elegantly across the marble floor as I make my way to the stairs. Then to my eyes, I see a familiar medium height, older unicorn with a suit And glades on, he then gets up and bows " Your highness."
" Hello Lord Fletcher. Any news on the new railroad being built?" I ask him as I sit down elegantly
" Yes, The expanded Metrobern-Unseig line's construction is going along perfectly fine. At the rate we are going at, we should be finished by the beginning of next year." he tells me as he sits down on a different chair.
" Splendid, this new railroad should really help with the previous raw material transport issues we have been having." I say, appreciated
As I say that, Angelica trots up to me and Fletcher
"Angelica dear, can you please get me and Lord Fletcher some wine please?" I ask her politely
" Yes Mrs. Unbenheimer." Angelica says as she trots to the kitchen to get the wine
" Thank you Angelica." I tell her as she trots away and I turn back to Fletcher
" Now, as we were saying, this new line should be able to divide raw material goods and passengers into two separate sections of the railway, which in turn should keep things in order and lessen the risk of crashes between passenger and freight trains."
" Yes, that is the main idea after all your highness." he says, agreeing with me
After Fletcher said that, Angelica then returned with 2 bottles of champagne " Here you are Mrs. Unbenhimer." she tells me politely
" Why thank you Angelica, I'll call you when I need you." I tell her in a soft tone as I pour a bottle of the champagne into a glass cup next to me with my unicorn telekonises abilities.
" Yes your highness." she says softly, she then curtsies and leaves the room.
" Your imperial majesty, I also have some news to share with you..... And it isn't very majestic to say the least." Flensky tells me nervously but honestly
" Yes, what is it?" I ask boldly, but not in a dictator like fashion
" It seems that the workers at The steel factory in hatersville have been rather.. How can I say.. "disruptive" as of late." he says as he takes a sip of the champagne
Due to the sheer shock of that, I put down my cup softly, but the tone of one's voice is serious " Pardon me Flensky? I thought that the factory issues were settled a year ago."
" Yes, but politics are unpredictable, especially in this day and age. They seem to be complaining about the working conditions now." Flensky says
" But surely they don't expect a factory to be the safest place on earth. For goodness sakes! My non royal family members live in the poor area of the city! So I know what they are going through, but I cannot make a always risky location completely injury proof!" I somewhat shout, annoyed, but getting the point across.
" I-I am aware of that Your majesty..." Flensky says, slightly startled of my tone of voice
A certain monarchy then feels remorse and apologizes " Flensky, I'm sorry for my tone of voice, but this isn't an ideal situation by any standards. It may not be an international crisis but it could hurt The prestige of Metrobern... And maybe even of the whole Holiesterian Empire. " I tell him
" Yes, I understand ." he says as he looks at one of the hallway's clocks " Oh, excuse me Your highness, I have a meeting with A New steel factory manager in an hour, and it will take me half an hour to get there, so I must be going." Flensky says as he then gets up
" It's fine, I understand how important business is to a nation.. Especially a developed one like ours." I tell him as he begins to trot to the main door that leads to the gates of the palace
" Goodbye Lord Flensky." I tell him in a professional voice
" Goodbye to you Your highness." he says politely as he allows a guard to open the palace door for him and he trots to his carriage.
After that, I get up and trot back to my room, which is also my office at the same time. Despite the fact that I've lived in this palace ever since I was born, it still amazes me by it's sheer beauty. From the dark wooden floors, the crystal statues, elegant vines around the statues to the wooden and marble roof that covers the inside from unideal weather. There are also many prestigious paintings on the walls that are of my family from years past.
My desk is soon visible to me as I then enter my room and return to my work. The room smells of a mix of flowers and tropical dark wood and is very elegant in appearance. I have a large painting of my parents from right after they died in memory. After trotting to the rectangular desk, I sit down on the chair and begin my work from where I left off.
The constant chime of pen meeting paper is now apparent once more as I file some more political reports, military papers and industrial allowance sheets.
Then I have memories of My mother, my wonderful, beautiful mother. It is apparently hard to speak or even to think Of her since the accident, but I just can't help but to think of her.... I remember one conversation we had right before the parade started.. It's a both bitter and beautiful memory.
