Escalation

"This is CBS currently broadcasting your latest American news. As of right now, the president of the Federal Republic, Ronald Reagan, is now carrying out a press conference to the people out of stasis and are currently living their new lives in the partially constructed Washington D.E."

The camera panned to the president walking into the room full of reporters. Cameras flashed as he walked up to the podium and adjusted the microphone to his comfort. The audience spanning of a number near sixty men and women, some even being ponies, all took to their seats and waited for the president to speak.

"Hiya, America." he said, putting his hand up to signify his greeting towards the crowd. "I'd like to say, that today will be noted as the first press conference in the next American generation. Not only is it a new generation, but a new, clean, fresh age where humankind, along with their allies, friends, and benefactors, can prosper in its privileged way of life." he said before clearing his throat.

"Now, before I tackle some questions heading my way, I'd like to introduce you to our guest, Princess Luna, Head Administrator of the Equestrian Parliament, the Princess of the Moon, and the sister of Princess Celestia.”

“Greetings all.” she faintly smiled, waving at the crowd.

“Now, have you been to a press conference before, your honor?”

“You don’t have to speak to me that way. A simple ma’am would do for me. And yes, I have been to a press conference. We Equestrians have magivisions. They can broadcast a viewing of the conference around the country. Though the amount of magic it needs to operate is costly when used around the country, so watching these broadcasts are strictly limited.” she said.

“Well, your magivisions sound a lot like a television. Except for the magic. It just uses electricity.”

“Oh really? Well, consider me interested.” she smiled.

"Now, I believe it is the time we answer some questions--"

“Mr. President, are you saying we’ll be working with these extraterrestrial beings in order to continue the American legacy?”

“Do you believe these creatures should be trusted?”

“Will we ever live to see a new prosperous nation?”

“What will happen to our old homes?”

“What about the natives here?”

The reporters swarmed the president with questions. He had experienced this. Many times. Yet he could never get used to it. He had no better choice other than firmly answering—

“Look, I can only answer one at a time. Please take turns. And please let me talk.” he sighed.

The reporters quieted down, seeming to be waiting for another response. The man noticed this, and quickly continued.

“I know everyone here is eager to know these things, but frankly, I don’t know the answers for any of these questions. I ask for no one to expect me to hold the right ideas always. I decide first, not do first, not choose first, nor act first. So in that case,—-“

—TV flashes off—

“Hello workers of the administration. We now hold the first discussion of the cabinet.” he stopped, producing an awkward period of silence in the room.

“So, Mr. President,” asked Rosette, one of the cabinet members stationed in the -under construction White House-.

“Can I ask something to any of you?” questioned the president.

His administration sat quietly, waiting for the president to continue.

“Does something new require something different in order to keep up with the changes?”
he asked vaguely.

The cabinet members murmured in conversation before again, sitting quietly for the president to move on.

“Joe? I’ll ask you. Does something completely new, require something in adaptation for it to operate under completely new circumstances?” he repeated again.

“I’m afraid I don’t fully understand what you’re asking.”

Reagan paused for a second. Thinking of a new way to ask the question.

“Do you need to adapt to new environments in order to survive?” Reagan questioned.

Joe responded, “Yes. Mr. President.”

“Alright. In an event you are found in a completely alien situation, rendering all of your methods unable to work, do you make new methods in order to not make the same mistakes, or to prevent mistakes?”

The cabinet began to understand what he was trying to explain.

“Yes. Mr. President. I think we understand where you’re going with this.”

“That’s great. If so, then does America require new policies to adjust to its current position and issues?” Reagan responded.

“Yes.” Joe answered with understanding.

“Then what do suggest? Anyone?”

There was a pause in the room. Then a member answered.

“Well, right now, we’re facing a citizenship problem. Are there any thoughts you have on that, Mr. Reagan?

“Ah, that there is something I hoped you were gonna ask. Any ideas on how to act on it?”

“Well, I suggest we integrate them into our society. What makes America superior to others is its multiracial population. Unity is in our name; it’s what makes us strong.” he answers.

“I don’t have any kind of criticism on this idea.”

“I believe this concept is worth note. I just think we don’t have to rush the approach though. It’s best to believe staying safe from pulling the strings of our current shape of society would remove any worthy risks of integration.” noted a man named Robert.

“Speaking of rushing, are we bringing in civilians too quickly?” asked the president, hands together.

“Oh, Mr. President that is nothing to worry about. I don’t believe it is overpopulated yet.”

“MR. REAGAN? I DEMAND YOUR POLICY! THIS LAND IS OVERPOPULATED. —- GOD! LET GO YOU TWO FACED BASTARDS!” said a familiar voice. The doors swung open as a man in a navy blue coat and a black hat barged into the doors of the office.

“DICK! GET BACK HERE YOU LUNATIC!” shouted behind him, came another man in a formal suit covered by a black coat.

The security stationed in the White House grabbed onto the former president and began to drag him back.

“Security, cease your doings.” ordered Reagan.

The men grabbing onto the man stepped back as he flailed his arms.

“Get off me you slimy crooks!” shouted the man.

“Dick Nixon? Is that you?” inquired the sitting president.

“You! Mr. Reagan, explain. You’re reeling in too many of us too fast!” shouted the disgruntled former president.

“Dick! Stop it you fool! That’s the president!” shouted an outraged Gerald Ford.

“What the? How did you two get in here anyways?!”

“Just like everyone else in this hell hole!” spouted Nixon.

“Dick, stop it!”

“Shut up Ford. I’m obtaining answers.”

“Richard Nixon? What do you want?”

“What do I want?! Hm.. let’s see… I demand a place in your cabinet!” he demanded.

“Dick are you crazy?!”

“Crazy as what? Talking horses? Being on a different planet? Magic? Flying? Truly democratic monarchies?!”

“Besides all that damn stuff!”

“Well, there is 1 person sitting and that’s you! There should be 26 people!”

“One, two, three, four, five, six, se— there are actually 19 people here.”

“Exactly my point. Wait what?! Reagan are your eyes cleared? Or are you just hallucinating. There are no other people.”

“You—-“

“So, as I was saying—”

“You’re calling me a hallucinogenic—“

“I am gonna sit here right now, and you’re gonna let me sit here right no—”

“—Why don’t you ever have anything reasonable to say for fucks sake—“

“Mr. Reagan,” intervened Clara.

“I’m talking.”

Clara scowled.

“I will be working for… this great one called: the Department of Global Affair—“

“—And what does this ‘Department of Global Affairs’ bring to the deck, exact—“

“Well! We try and understand global affairs, and solve the problems! The United States must set itself as a dominant power on the world stage, and therefore we should be further exploring our surroundings, including our own neighbors!”

“Dick, you didn’t answer my questio—.”

“And yet you’re so incompetent you can’t even fix your own country!”

“Say that agai—“

“I’m saying you’re a clown who should go back to cinema, your presidential career is the literal embodiment of a joke, and your policies have a desire for Hoover’s-dick.”

The table gasped.

“Excuse me!—-“

“HOOVER. DICK.” shouted Nixon again.

“Nixon you klutzy bastard!” shouted Ford.

“There are horses rioting outside, Ronald Mcdonald! If I were president I would be signing amendments and bills left and right to appease the population. Just like the African American population in 69’! Wait, what in Uncle Sam’s hell happened to your eye?” he asked out of sentence.

“None of your business! It’s not even important! Now if you don’t have anything else more useful to say, I’ll be seeing you never!”

“You are an absolute long necked cock sucking asshole bastard! I’m watching you! You self proclaimed ‘president’!” Nixon bolted out the door while Ford pursued behind along with a bunch of security.

“Are you alright Mr. President?”

“I’m fine I’m fine. Let’s just conti—“

He stopped as he turned his head and saw nobody near him.

Twilight continued packing her books about politics in her saddlebag. Spike watched with uncertainty as she did so.

“Twilight, are you sure this is necessary? I feel like you’re pushing the humans when they have internal issues we should let them solve first.”

“Like what? I feel as though the pony riots on the blocks of the streets have been well enough attention to integrate them more! They should add ponies to cabinet! Give them every a human has!”

“I don’t know Twilight…”

“Spike, this is socially unfair for our ponies! I don’t care if you don’t think it’s right, I’m going there and giving Mr. Reagan a pep talk!”

The alicorn hadn’t noticed AJ and Rarity standing there and watching her.

“Twilight, darling, I don’t think you should be dictating the human president’s decisions.” advised Rarity.

“Ye’ Twah’. It doesn’t seem that fair on his side at all. Them humans elected him, Ah’ think he’s trying to all he can. We have no idea what is going on there. Take our advices and try not to get in his face about that political stuff.”

Twilight stood there, completely still. As if she weren’t alive.

“Twilight?” asked Spike, poking her in the hoof as Twilight vaporized into thin air. She had used one of her spells to slow the vision of her down until she had left.

“Ah for hill’s sake. Classic Twah’.”

“Should we follow her?”

“Ah’ believe it’s too late. He is done for…” deadpanned AJ.

“Mr. President, someone wants to speak with you.”

“I’m busy. Tell them to come back later.”

“Seriously, Mr. President, this one is tormenting the staff with utter bullshit! Oh god she-“

“I’ll have you know, I’ve read over a hundred politically scientific books stating theoretical concepts of ideological economic and social opinions on hundreds of factional representations on the political spectrum. I have already confirmed that your president is right-wing just by the way he straightens and polishes his suit! Now as the Princess of Friendship I demand to speak to your manag- I mean president on the matter of pony kind and their integration to your ‘democratic’ society. I have organized an entire three hour essay on why you shouldn’t judge ponies because they look different to you humans, and just in case your president forgot human anatomy, I made a complete diagram of the human body as convenient as it could possibly be. And if he doesn’t open the door, I have an eight hour longer version with 10x explicit detail. And if that doesn’t work, I have a 35x explicit explanation with complete diagrams on every two pages. And to remind you, I have PHDs in magical studies, quadratics, and physics, I have degrees in political and social theories, historical, scientific studies, theory of organic chemistry, as well as majors in mathematical logic, physical chemistry and genetics and biology and-“

Reagan opened the door, unable to take the constant rambling.

“Thank you Mrs, I’ll take it from here.” the president smiled while motioning Twilight to enter.

“Come in, come in, have a seat Mrs.”