The New Equestrian Republic

Royal Questions

   The Sun shone brightly over Equestria, and all the various beings whose rays it fell upon were soothed and warmed by it. Princess Celestia was less enthused with its radiation at the moment. She was under fire from the media for a string of corrupt tax collectors and under fire from Griffonstone diplomats asking for equitarian aid. Sometimes, it was difficult being a Princess.

   'Luckily, Princess Luna will be able to handle the griffons,' thought Celestia, 'and Prince Blueblood can handle the media, and Twilight can handle national security. What an excellent student, that mare.'

   But there was still so much to worry about.

   The recent political movement toward democracy, for example. Radicals across Equestria were persuading impressionable little ponies to rise up against the Princesses. This wasn't bad in and of itself, but Princess Luna feared violence breaking out and Celestia had to admit she might be right. The last time democracy had been attempted, Equestria was-

  "Auntie?"

  Celestia was jolted from her thoughts by Prince Blueblood, coming in from a press conference. She sat up straight upon her throne, not that an air of authority was necessary. Prince Blueblood was casual, if rather arrogant with his royal reports.

   "I just announced the success of the Cloudsdale pegasi's treatment, and the punishment of corrupt tax collectors, who probably will never stop being corrupt," Blueblood chuckled, "But it keeps the ponies happy, so..."

   "Thank you, Blueblood." Celestia said genuinely, and as warmly as the Sun's light.

   Blueblood began to trot away, but Celestia called him back

   "Yes, Auntie?"

   "What are your thoughts on....I don't know....just all this business? Ever since Luna came back, with her old ideas, I've been thinking differently."

   "You mean, on the governance? It's..." Blueblood paused, thinking, "I don't know. It's always been this way, and you're the one whose made it so, after so many years."

   "But it won't always be this way, now will it?" Celestia said like a mother teaching a child.

   "Why not? You'll live long enough to see it through."

   "Change will always come, Blueblood. I feel like it's about to change. They're bringing back the idea of the republic, and-"

   "Wait," Blueblood stared at her with a hard expression, and confused eyes, "Bringing back? Its been attempted before?!"

   Celestia sighed uncomfortably, "Yes. The republic was originally for Earth ponies, until their chancellor became corrupt, and Equestria was formed shortly afterwards," Celestia paused, reminiscing, "I was very young then. But I can remember Clover the Clever, Private Pansy, and Smart Cookie crowed as the first three in Equestria's triumvirate," Celestia grimaced, "It wasn't as peaceful as the old story makes it out to be. Private Pansy died leading a rebellion against the three previous rulers, who had made an alliance to crush Equestria and maintain their respective corrupt states. Smart Cookie herself was murdered by Chancellor Puddinghead. He was rather insane, you know. Clover rescued Luna and I (we were her young apprentices), and successfully led the rebellion to victory. Equestria then attempted democracy, and guess who won the election?"

   Blueblood simply listened, no change in his expression.

  "Discord, posing as a pony, and promised great fortune for Equestria. I suppose you can guess how well that went."

   Blueblood shook his head, "C'mon, Discord? You don't actually think that would happen again, do you?"

   "In democracy, Blueblood, ponies will promise you freedom and security, balanced perfectly, but in reality? They'll use security as an excuse to subjugate you. They'll never actually use democracy in politics."

   "So what?, You think Roussan is trying to gain popularity by lying?"

   "I think what he really wants......is power."

XXXX

   Voltaire soared over the Everfree. Such an appropriate name, he thought. The Everfree was one of the few places Equestria could not claim as its own. Other nations, of course, existed outside the Princesses' control, but only because Celestia allowed them to. Why, if she wanted to, she could threaten to never raise the Sun again, in order to gain more power, and-

   "Voltaire!"

    Voltaire shook his head to clear his thoughts. He landed in a clearing and shed the saddlebags he wore. Inside one was a metallic device, invented by Roussan and his mad scientist friend, that allowed them to communicate. Roussan said it emmited light, but Voltaire never saw it glow.

   He took out the device and pressed a button down, "What?"

   "Where are you?" Roussan's voice crackles through the device.

   "The Everfree."

    "Come back quick, we got a job for you. Volunteers are needed for a......a little surprise. I'll tell you what when it's finished." The cracking ceased, leaving Voltaire to wing his way back, and assist Roussan in his schemes.