Staring into the Sun

Love and Politics

A Celestia in the Vogonverse Story

“It’s just like dealing with the nobility, it is no different,” I thought as I walked toward the large room.

Barely a year, a year, since I convinced Thomas to begin helping his employees, and things had turned around. Already Rider Farms was higher in profits than our Corporate competitors. Of course during that time I had other things come about. Seeing my favorite pupil was here had been a blessing, and getting to officiate over the wedding for one of the elements had made me smile. Still, I was going to do something I had done while I was a ruler of Equestria. I was walking into a political arena, and I was going with little more than my wits, and well over a thousand years of experience.

“Celestia Rider, Co-owner and proprietor of Rider Farms has the floor,” a stable colt said before he took a seat.

“Ah, the Pony wishes to preach friendship, rainbows, and sunshine to us terrible, greedy, and horrors of the human race does she?” a familiar voice said.

I looked at the one speaking. Teresa Trump looked smug as she leaned back in her chair. I had learned, from Thomas, that while there was a ruling government body most of the arguments that happened included selected members of various businesses that had been elected to public office. Teresa Trump was such an official, and I had dealt with her kind before.

“Perhaps the pony wouldn’t be preaching it if it didn’t seem to work,” I replied.

I knew she understood what I was implying. One didn’t deal with the Canterlot nobles trying to get public funding redirected so they could get have cute pool colts, private pools, and mares of the night gracing their homes at all times. The fact that Rider Farms had become more productive, and was out selling Glossman was proof that being kind, giving the working ponies that worked for Rider a living wage, and helping them move into their own homes was more proof than any of them could deny.

“Ms, Rider, we all have very busy schedules. Would you mind presenting your motion of action before the floor?” Douglas Walton said.

I looked at Douglas and considered how I wanted to start. Douglas, Douglas was somepony who could be an asset, or he could be the biggest roadblock. More than anything Douglas followed what he believed would be in the best interest for the economy.

It meant that if I could show him that doing right by their employees, doing what was the best for them would help the economy then he would be a huge supporter. I would have the Walton family behind me in support. There was no doubting that this was making a deal with the devil, but it was a deal that needed to be made. Thomas’ own clout and power in the business world had brought us this far. The evidence of what we’ve done was real, but now I needed to explain it in terms that they would understand.

For once I wished that Blueblood was here. Despite everything my nephew was very skilled at showing the nobility what he wanted them to see. He had proof, but there was more than that. It was his special talent, and I would be wrong to say that Blueblood wasn’t good at it. He had, successfully, worked to get the servants in Canterlot higher pay, better living conditions, and to be treated with more respect.

I was proud of my nephew, but I knew the reason he had done what he did. It wasn’t because he felt it was right. Instead it was because of my head maid, Honey Pot. I knew that he fancied her, quite a bit, and he was trying desperately to impress her. Still, even if his actions were born out of self interest I couldn’t argue with what he had done. Blueblood had managed to convince the Canterlot nobility that doing these things for the servants would help the economy, it would make the servants more productive, and it would make all of them happier.

I knew that I could use Blueblood’s silver tongue, but at the moment I would have to use my own. I had done what Blueblood had done before he was born. I had played the game the nobles had set up, and I had won, several times over. For me it was experience, trial and error, that helped me. And right now I was going to set what I had learned in my own rule to play here. I looked at Thomas who nodded, turned on his tablet, and instructed Alfie to pull up the presentation that he had helped me prepare.

Behind me I heard the sound of the council’s holoprojectors starting up. The gentle whine before the lights began to form the pictures being projected from the tablet.

“Mr. Walton, other members of the economic board, what I present to you is a viable study that Rider Farms has done since our changes,” I said as I pointed to the charts, “As you can see once we began to change the way we dealt with our employees there was a small boom in the local economy.”

I turned and pointed at the various pictures of the businesses that had been impacted by the surge of economic growth since the changes, “The employees now having the ability to buy more than just the staples needed for everyday life have begun to purchase other goods and services from local businesses. Businesses that purchase the materials they need from larger corporations.”

I looked to see Douglas paying close attention. I could see his interest, and I knew that I was heading down the right track.

“By reinstating the middle class, at least in our region, we’ve seen a huge economic growth that from my research hasn’t been seen since the early two thousands. I’m certain that some of you have noticed a large influx of orders coming in from this region as well,” I said.

“This is all well and good, but how does it affect our bottom line?” Teresa Trump asked.

“It effects, Teresa, effects, it in a positive way,” Douglas said, “I saw him stand, walk down to where we were, and pointed to the various businesses.”

“We’ve hit a stagnation. There has been change in our economy, nothing major anyway, since the creation of the immersive technology. It’s been stable enough, but is that the best that we want? Do we simply want a stable economy? There was a point in our history where the economy was booming, we were on the edge of seeing an economic super giant the world has never known, and then things began to fall apart,” he looked at the other council members, “What we have here is a real chance to bring back the economy and make it something powerful again.”

“It’s going to cost us millions, perhaps billions of credits to put something like this in place,” Teresa Trump replied.

“Yes, it will, but the economic surge we’re going to witness is going to pay us back with interest. Mr and Mrs Rider have my vote. I will support the changes needed,” Douglas said.

There seemed be a mummer among the council. For a moment I held my breath, not daring to breathe until one of the other members nodded.

“Let us take a vote. All who agree with this plan of action, say Aye, those opposed say Nay,” the human mare said.

A large group resounded with Ayes, and after a moment there was only two Nays. I looked to see Teresa Trump looking defeated, angry, and glaring at me.

“Very well, it has been motioned, and approved, that we begin working to improve the lives of those employed as unskilled labor. Upon review of how this will affect the economy we shall see about extending it out to other branches of labor and service industries,” Douglas said.

The council was adjourned shortly afterward, and I walked out with Thomas. I felt hope, real hope, once more blossoming in my heart. I had helped so many, and if things went well there was a real possibility that I could help even more. I thought about my other little ponies here in this place. Twilight, who had grown into a wonderful princess in her own right, was now running a school that taught all species how to deal with their magic. I felt so proud of her, so very proud of her. The last three years had truly shown how much the world could change.

The Element of Laughter and her husband also came to mind. I had seen what he was doing. Attempting to convince everypony that all of us needed the same rights as each other. It was noble, and something that I’ve noticed was certainly gaining more and more attention. I felt Thomas’ hand squeeze my own, and then I felt his lips on my neck.

“What do you say we head home and celebrate?” he asked.

I tittered, and I let my tail lightly slap him on his rump.

“I think that sounds like a wonderful idea,” I said.

Author's Note

Well, this has been awhile hasn't it? Okay, the next chapter is pretty much going to be a clop chapter. A little forewarning about that for everyone reading.

Thanks again for reading.

RJP