The Last of Us

Chapter 14: Democracy is Hard

I got up to see Twilight looking down at me, she was started looking at me with a worried expression on her face. “Ugh, what is it Twilight?” She prodded me with her hoof.

“Come on James you have to go and see the Princess today she has some urgent business to take care of with you.” My eyes shot open and I quickly got in a new pair of pants and t-shirt on. Rushed to get my socks and shoes on but managed to forget to tie my shoe laces making me fall flat on my face.

“Fuck!” I rubbed my forehead and then quickly shook my head to get out of my daze. I looked down and tied my shoe laces. I ran back towards Twilight and kissed her on the cheek. “See you sweetie.” She giggled and pushed me away.

“Just go and get this done then you can come back and we can have fun.” I rushed out the door and saw a chariot waiting for me.

“Hop on.” said one of the guards in the front of the chariot. Couldn’t tell which since they look the same, so I just got on and sat down on a cushion. The two stallions flapped their wings two times before we got off the ground but it seemed like they had no trouble carrying me. I looked behind me and saw Ponyville turn into a speck in the distance, then looked forward to see the ever-growing capital coming up to greet me. We stopped at the entrance of the castle and I hopped out of the chariot. I turned towards the guards.

“Thanks for giving me a ride.” They snorted in response and I walked through the castle courtyard gates. I ran up the stairs into the main hallway and was greet by a spear pointing at me.

“Halt! State your name and your reason for entering.” He stood firm spear held with his magic. I stood up straight and took a deep breath.

“My name is James sir! And I am here to aid the Princess in a mission concerning other nations.” I saluted and stood there straight.

“At ease.” I exhaled and slouched my body down. “Pony of military discipline, I haven’t seen one of those for a long time.” He tilted his head toward the double doors. “You may enter.” I walk through the doors and he led me to the throne room.

“Hello Celestia how are you doing on this fine day.” She stood up and pulled me in for a hug I graciously accepted.

“Fine my friend I am just so glad to see you.” I smiled warmly at her.

“it is always a pleasure to see you Celestia.” A rosy tint came to her cheeks and quickly dissipated.

“Enough of these pleasantries James we need your help on something.” I looked at her with a very sterile glare.

“And that problem is Celestia?” She bowed her head and sighed.

“It would seem that the dragons and griffons both think that we are holding out gems from them on purpose and since you supposed that you could help with our politics I’m going to ask you of it now.” I sat down on Luna’s throne.

“So what do I need to do?” I scratched my arm and rest it on my cheek.

“I need you to lead a group of negotiators into the dragon embassy and then the griffon embassy. Once inside you and the group need to see if you can make a deal or see if you can make them rely on them more than us.” I looked around the room at all the people staring at me in disgust and I look down at the chair I was sitting on.

“I take it that I’m not supposed to sit on here?” I said with a taunting smirk.

“Well that is my sister’s throne and most ponies don’t think of you as royalty.” I slowly stood up and walked towards Celestia.

“Ya I’ll do as you asked but only if you make me immortal like Twilight, we like Luna and John want to stay together forever.” She looked down at me with a loving smile.

“Its fine I was planning to ask if you wanted me to do that to you anyways but if that is request as payment so be it.” Celestia got up and walked me down to the front gate, where conveniently there was a sky carriage waiting for me. I turned to look at her.

“So I have to sneak in there or what?” She wore a confused look on her face yet.

“Of course not, we and the other kingdoms are perfectly fine. Why would you ever think that?” She pointed to the carriage.

“Now please step in and you can start your work.” I stepped in the carriage as she commanded and turned around to see 4 ponies in the carriage already. A fern green Pegasus looked up to see me.

“So you are the human we have heard so much about,” He held out his hoof to me, which I shook firmly. “I hear that you’re the reason this operation is going down. Good on you I was hoping we would be doing this for a long time, I love when I get to go on missions especially when it’s of utmost importance. Oh I’m Swift Shadow but ponies just call me Swifty.” I took a seat beside him and looked at the mare in front of me. She was middle- aged, very stout, and wariness seemed to emanate off of her like heat to a flame. She opened her eyes and looked upon me.

“So what’s your name?” I coughed a little feeling not that at ease with her asking for it.

“Oh, me? My name is James, James Fleck.” She simply nodded.

“So James you ever been in a fight, or in griffon country?” I sighed at this and looked at her.

“I have killed 60 people of my years in combat for the military miss.” About everyone in the carriage shivered and looked away at me. “So if you’re implying that I am useless then I will gladly show you what I can do when I get mad.” I snarled at her. She put her hoofs up in defense.

“Slow down there just a simple question no reason to get so riled up from it.” I calmed down and lounged out. She looked at me with a piercing gaze and I looked back at her and laughed.

“So you’re the intimidation factor aren’t you, miss...” She smiled at me.

“Short Fall, nice to meet you. Usually people think I’m useless I’m glad I have someone here that can sniff out my purpose in this mission. Most of them think I’m a financial advisor.” She made herself less tense herself and slouched down. “I’ve also seen my fair share of combat but nobody died, luckily.” She rested her hoof on her chest and raised her eyebrow. “So I take it you’re informed on this situation. I want to ask you personally what the best course of action on this mission is, you know how we can work out a permanent solution?” I rubbed my chin and pretended to think.

“Well first we have to abide to their customs so that they are not offended and then we need to figure out a way to create a 10 year plan to wean the dragons off our nation’s resources. Then we should try to make sure the griffons don’t try to take us over and get them to create their own crops and weather stations.” I heard some clapping come from her and she relaxed.

“Well it looks like we’re in good hoofs and hopefully we can get that operation started.” She grinned and looked out the window. “Well, looks like we’re here.” She backed away from the window and I looked out the window. The air was smutty and fogged. I looked to the ground to see big brick buildings, smoke billowing from the top of them and saw a few griffons go down to them with buckets of coal.

“Wow,” I turned towards my team. “They are way more advanced then you are.” We landed besides a once pearl white building that has been stained by years of ash and fire. I stepped on the ground which softly squished underneath my shoes. “Ewww, what’s wrong with the dirt?” I got pulled to the side by a griffon. He glared at me with a burning fury.

“What did you say, griffon dirt is the most fertile in the land, unlike that pony dirt that Celestia keeps sending us!” I pushed myself away from him and chuckled at his feeble attempt at a insult.

“Really then why does Celestia have to give you shipments of food each week? No you poisoned your soil a long time ago and I am here to work a deal out and fix this place up.” The griffon let off a low growl.

“And what makes you think we will accept your offer?” I looked him deep in the eyes totally deadpanned.

“Because if you don’t I will order your nation’s ration supplies cut off and you will all die.” I shook my head. “Either that or you will eat each other and inbreed, but I don’t think the mighty griffon nation will fall that low.” The griffon gulped in fear and led me to the main chambers of an office. I sat down on the chair in front of the desk and he sat behind it. I smirked and bared my teeth a bit. “I’m guessing your,” I looked at the brass name plank on the desk. “President Kalwan the Third.” He wiped sweat from his brow and coughed to clear his voice.

“Yes I am and I’m guessing you’re that human warrior named James that I've heard Celestia blabber about.” I smiled and looked up at him.

“Why yes, yes I am.” His face turned neutral and he gazed at my body build.

“Now why are you threatening me and what is this deal you’re proposing?” He tapped his claws together and I sighed.

“Well I threatened your people because I need you to know I don’t piss around.” The only response I got from him was a nod

“My deal is a ten year plan where we slowly wean you off our supplies and make you more independent.” He nodded and put one of his claws down.

“And how do you plan on doing this?” He raised his eyebrow in curiosity.

“Well first your citizens will need agriculture training that will involve bring in textbooks and teachers. Then we will have to shut down those coal mines so that your air can get less polluted which will make your workers, now farmers mind you easier working environments. We will bring Earth and Unicorn ponies with talents in dirt and plants. They will be used to fix your land and plant your first crops. We will have a group of Pegasus ponies to build a master weather station, they will teach, and control it for 5 years. The Earth and Unicorn ponies would teach for the whole ten year plan so you can plant and water the crops properly. Now this will be a tough ten years but if you do it you will never have to rely on us again.”

I grabbed him and pulled him in to look straight in my eyes. “But if you fuck up after those ten years you will have no help or guidance from us ever again.” I let him go and held out a paper. “Do we have a deal Kalwan?” He took a quill out from his ink well and signed the contract papers. I smiled gently at him. “That wasn’t that hard, now the workers will be here within 2 weeks and I hope I see no smoke coming from them when I come to visit.” I walked out of his office and told everyone to get in the carriage so we could get started in getting to the dragon kingdom. Now this one I know is going to be easy.

A/N: Hey it’s me! Sorry for being so late in this chapter but really I have to get my passion burning for this fanfic again which happened after I read the ending of Xenophilia I knew I had to start writing so I hope you enjoy.