Stay With Me

Celestia let out a groaned as she shifted through the countless papers before her. Her body, mostly her legs, ached from not only the added weight she has gained but the fact that she had sat down for so long. Forced to stifle through a bunch of plain white documents and the bitter atmosphere of the rectangular table that she herself sat at the front of as always.

Multiple eyes watched her attentively as she shuffled through the list with fine lines present under her orbs from due stress and fatigue. Celestia glanced over at the ticking clock with parts of the papers obstructing her field of vision directly in front of her. Ruling has hard work and til' this day Celestia wonders exactly how she was able to keep hold of power this long without becoming either a tyrannical tyrant or a lazy individual from the amount of work she was forced to deal with.

Thankfully most of the political matters of work was largely taken off of her hooves as the various cities and towns across Equestria had their own small little government system to work and fix problems without having to run to the sun princess every time a problem was bought to attention. These mayors often had a political body surrounding them such as the senators so that even then the issue of politics and power did not solely rest on the shoulders of one.

Unfortunately there were times where the body could not come to a settled agreement with each other and then it was to be taken over to the princess herself who is then forced to hear their cries and reach a final verdict on what should be done alone. This was one of those many incidents. An undecided bill or legislative action was often held off, unless absolutely urgent of course, til' the conference meeting came around which was held every new year at Canterlot Castle.

It was there that many if not all, of the city and town leaders came with a few from their bodies to discuss with the princess face to face on what should be done about important matters. Often, it also came with the impossibility on holding a peaceful and stress free conversation.

Celestia redirected her eyes back over to the papers and gave a deep held sigh as the other ponies of the table held conversations with one another quietly. Only raising their voices slightly at times when at a disagreement or trying desperately to persuade the other to see their view and perspective of the issue at hoof.

She had largely managed to get through the barrage of demands and various other documents that the various ponies gathered had thrown at her. Whether it be the trivial complaints of the wealthy or the more important issues such as public warming, vaccines, and funding on that of research. Most of the senators, mayors and delegates had been dealt with but two opposing forces still needed to be solved lest the room explode with stale tension.

She shuffled through the innumerable number of sheets she paused on one document in particular asking for a more important request to the issues at hand. She pulled the paper out of the stack and sat the large amount of papers out onto the table. She pushed her eyes forward to scan it attentively and looked at the light purple earth pony mare who eyed her anxiously.

Celestia cleared her throat and sat the papers down on the table.

"Ms. Violet, I have seen your request concerning the education of students kindergarten through twelfth. Your concern seems to be placed in improving the school systems and the facilities they have correct?"

The earth pony smiled and nodded her head as a light brown earth pony stallion stared on with furrowed eyes. "Yes your majesty. You see, various programs and classes are being cut from schools and class curriculum's for the sake of saving funding."

"And those will be?"

"Arts like drawing and painting, gymnastics and even basic home living. I am mostly concerned for the students present in grades nine through twelve as that is the time that they are starting to explore who they are and gain their cutie marks. At least, basic home living skills should be taught like knowing how to hem a skirt or pants or knowing how to file and complete bills and such. All things that are important to basic living."

"Your majesty there is a very good reason as to why we have canceled funding from those programs. There is little resources for those programs to be kept and serve to only burden our schools with them. As for basic living and the arts those classes are not as important to their learning and development as the sciences, maths and language arts. Those are things that they themselves can learn at home."

"Indeed, while they may not be as important as the sciences, maths and language arts, they still carry a high enough value that we shouldn't just disregard them. It is important that students be able to not only be able to due what is required of them but also expand on their skills and techniques. As for basic living, not everything should be upheld on the parents. especially when most of them lack the time to be able to teach their foals basic things like learning how to sew. Not even most of them know of such."

"We do not have the funding for such things and because of funding we also do not have the resources!"

"Mr. Smarty Pants." Celestia spoke. "Since funding for the schools in Manehatten seems to be scarce, then why is something not being down about it?"

"Well your majesty we did try to curve the lack of money by-"

"Investing in casinos." Ms. Violet gritted through her teeth.

"So instead of funding schools you've been funding..casinos?" Celestia raised an eyebrow.

The stallion cleared his throat. "No, well, you see your majesty, there was a push by the public and one Canterlot's wealthy business stallions to build various casino's in the Manehatten metropolis area. At first we were apprehended but it was insisted that we allow the building of the gambling arena in exchange that majority of the earnings go towards education."

"And has that been so?"

The stallion looked down at his side and rubbed her front leg. "Um...well no your majesty. We have not seen much coming in from the casinos."

"So they did not keep their word? Why did you go to them instead of bringing your request straight to Canterlot's high council which would include me?"

"I did your majesty, matter of fact we both did. But each time we did our request was either ignored or looked over for what the council deemed as more important matters such as public health or funding for public awareness. It would seem as though that are constant notes and letters of funding for schools after sending out thousands of dollars of funding for them already is apparently making it seem as though we are asking for too much."

"Which is why we are here today. The foals, in place of doing actually meaningful courses, are being tested constantly. So the classes that are left are instead focused on preparing for tests instead of actually teaching the foals for life."

"I see..."

"But also take in consideration that due to the lack of resources that we have, the board seems more focused on devoting whatever funds they are receiving to the more wealthier districts and communities instead of focusing on the poorer communities that need it like new textbooks."

Celestia furrowed her eyes at the statement and looked at the head of the board of education. "Is this true Mr. Smarty Pants?"

"Y-yes your majesty-" the pony stammered. "-but this is because the wealthier districts are the ones who are showing more investment in their education." He slid over a paper towards that depicted a triple line graph showing the statistics of student pony performance in the more wealthy, middle and poor districts.

"As you can see princess, the board and I have decided that it would seem more reasonable to focus our attention of our limited funding on those who actually care about their education instead of those who don't."

Celestia peered at the graph and swallowed her impatience and agitation with the entire situation. She shuffled in her seat and groaned from the aches that have developed from her sitting for so long. She felt a kick in her abdomen and which opened her tired eyes a little but also caused her to ruffled her wings a bit from surprise. Celestia merely stared at the papers while Violet and Smarty pants held their breath waiting to speak.

"Tell me Mr. Smarty Pants, does it make sense for a well pony to go see a doctor? Or a pony who knows how to fly to be given flying lessons?"

The two earth ponies looked at each other with confusion and then back at the sun princess.

Smarty Pants spoke. "I am...not understanding where you are getting at Princess."

Princess Celestia hovered over a pen from her cup on the table and grabbed a blank piece of paper and begun to write.

"Mr. Smarty Pants, it is of waste in my eyes to focus your 'strict' funding on schools that do not need improving then on those who does. It seems backwards in thinking. Perhaps the reason the students are not performing well is not only because of lack of resources from funding but also due to the fact that by providing little to no funding for them you have left them behind in whatever resources you and your board can give them as well as overwhelmed teachers who must work with what they have. Assuming with large classes?" Celestia raised an eyebrow.

"Well, y-yes but princess if you-"

"It is done. Decreased funding should be given to the wealthier districts and instead increased funding should be given to the poorer districts in order for them to catch up to their already advanced peers."

"And where shall this money come from?" Ms. Violet questioned.

"I shall hold the casino owner to their words. At least ten percent of all profits shall be withdrawn from casino earnings and out towards educational learning. This will allow schools that are left behind to hire the staff they need and implement even new programs as well as keep old ones such as gymnastics and the arts. This, I am sure will also help to decrease the class size of said overstuffed classes to a much more manageable size."

Once finished writing, Celestia gave the paper over to Mr. Smarty Pants.

"Surely this will solve the issue. I hope to hear back from you Mr. Smarty Pants on how well my decree goes. If it does not then I may reconsider cutting funding for the poorer districts but until then I hope you will fulfill my words."

There was almost a strap hint to Celestia's tone as the stallion gritted his teeth. Groaning under his breath from his sovereigns creed.

"Yes your majesty." he growled.

Ms. Violet on the other hoof gave a winning chuckle.

Before long, the door of the conference room slowly opened as a grey stallion coated in golden armor peered through before fully showing himself. The room simply turned their heads and stared as he gave a bow out of formality and respect.

"I am sorry to be of rudeness your majesty but it is time for your appointed checkup."

Celestia gave a sigh and raised a wing. "I think that we have spent enough time here on these matters. Surely everything if not most of political manners have been settled correct? Then I assume that we are finished. Court is dismissed."

Celestia stood up from her seat and as per custom, the other ponies bowed as she walked off. Signifying to them that it was now their time to leave. As they cleared out and was escorted back to the train Celestia couldn't help but think of the ancient days where simply stomping a hoof was enough to seal a deal. She sighed.

Everything was easier in the old days.

A kick in her stomach signified an agreement.