Nightmare Moon's Stars

"The Yaks are drooling fools!"

"The Zebras are trickster snobs!"

"The Unicorns would just waste the resources!"

"The Breezies wouldn't even be able to use the resources!"

It was not exactly what was being said, but Celestia's long experienced diplomatic mind was able to interpret from the so-called debate before her with minimal thought.

If there was anything Celestia regretted about the establishment of the ESR, it was the headaches it brought.

As the dominant nation for all of recorded history, and then some, Equestria was synonymous with the planet itself. As the head of the Equestrian nation, Celestia had similarly been the dominant political leader.

However, with the establishment of the ESR and Celestia's role as its head administrator, Celestia found herself as The political intermediary between the nations of Equestria and the ESR. And that meant everyone from every nation wanted something from her.

Everyone wanted to be the first to benefit from the newest technologies to come out of the ESR. To be allocated resources acquired by the ESR first and the largest amount. To have the greatest political influence over the ESR. To have a voice on any and all matters of the ESR.

And that did not take into account Equestria itself.

As a member of the ESR, Equestria was naturally expected to act in its own self interest. As the political leader of Equestria, Celestia was naturally expected to act in its nation's self interest.

But as the head administrator of the ESR, Celestia was expected to act impartially towards Equestria.

This conflict of interest inevitably resulted in endless political debates.

Fortunately, they were all arguments Celestia had heard from overly ambitious pony nobles in the past.

Unfortunately, those arguments were now being repeated by all nobles, of all species, of all nations.

It was bad enough having to listen to three tribes argue, now I must listen to all nations argue. Thought Celestia. They can withhold their political influence and make things harder, but they cannot stop me or the ESR.

"Celestia should yield the throne!"

Suddenly the room went silent.

Celestia mentally groaned.

This will not go anywhere. Celestia thought to herself.

"Yes! We should take control of own activities!"

"A centralized government concentrated on a single individual is outdated!"

"Celestia has ruled for over a thousand years, surely she deserves a vacation!"

"We do not need princesses in this day and age!"

Suddenly the room went silent again.

Celestia mentally sighed. And there it was. Did not even last a full day of court.

"How dare you! Our king was appointed by divine right!"

"It is tradition to uphold the royal family!"

"Yaks smash those who smash tradition!"

"Dragon Lord Ember will hear of this treachery!"

Centuries. It had taken centuries for me to raise the noble class of Equestria and it will take me centuries more to raise the noble classes of everyone. Is this my punishment for banishing Luna to the moon for a thousand years?