The Mayor Of Canterlot

As the meeting was conducted, the princess of the night took the opportunity to better get to know the local human. The meeting was like any other in the past; mild conversation, expected subjects like merchant routes and ways to ensure friendly relationships with other countries, and one or two short-lived discussions between two mayors.

"Tell us Mr. Mark, is everything to your liking?" She questioned neutrally while taking a bite from her enormous salad filled with fruits and nuts.

"It is, your highness." Mark nodded with a big grin feasting on the perfectly cooked steak with barbecue sauce and mashed potatoes with melted cheese. The addition of some bread to help him clean the plate was also welcome.

"I'm not gonna lie, I was worried ponies might get nervous with my choice of food, but I'm glad to see Drusilla was right that no one would think any different of me..." Taking a glance around, Mark let out a sigh of relief when he found nopony staring at him in disgust or fear. "...and this plate is just mouth-watering, I’ll be sure to give a compliment to the chef for making it."

"I'm glad to hear it. For a moment or two, I feared that I might have under or overcooked it a little. It’s nice to see that it was just me being nervous." Luna mentioned with some degree of pride while trying to stay as calm as possible.

The moment the human heard this he almost spat out his drink. It took a small coughing fit to recover his breath. Looking back at the princess of the night Mark saw her expression morph into a smug smirk of pride, both from her work and the surprise.

"Y-Your highness?" His eyes darted between his dish and the princess multiple times before calming down enough to proceed. "You’re kidding?"

"Is it so hard to believe, Mr. Mark?" She raised an eyebrow and pointed at him, "You of all ponies should know how we all are more than just profession and appearance."

"It's not that it's hard to believe, it's just…why? Why bother yourself with this? For me?"

She smiled and poked his nose "Consider it my way of showing gratitude, for all your help improving life in Canterlot and as inspiration to not be afraid of being myself." She sighed and looked down glumly, "Diligence and drive for helping others that all your predecessors most surely lacked."

"Princess Luna?"

"Forgive us for ranting, it is just before you took office everypony, including myself, unfortunately, took the position of mayor for granted. I mean my sister and I rule Equestria, for Faust's sake! I thought dealing with the issues of Canterlot was simple with our actions as regents. The gods know how many years our city suffered because of that and opportunists seeking an easy and relaxing life doing virtually nothing; or in your predecessor's case, only interested in helping the high class.

She shook her head before smiling once more and grabbing his hand, "That is why we wanted to express our gratitude for finally showing us what we have been ignoring for so long and being an inspiration in more than one form. By letting you be the first to test our hand-made dish."

"Oh no, princess, not you too! You’re praising me over nothing here." He tried to defend himself, but Luna only chuckled at his reaction.

"I respectfully disagree Mr. Mark, you gave my sister and I a lot to think about. You even gave us the courage to try something we wanted to do but kept making excuses to not try, like cooking in my case." She resumed her meal with closed eyes. "I remember while growing up, I always wanted to learn it. I’d always say I didn’t have the time or wasn't feeling ready or there were more pressing matters to attend to." She opened one eye to look at him, "You have helped Canterlot in more ways than one, Mr. Mark. Even if you don't see it."

Mark is about to reply when suddenly Twilight Sparkle rose and tapped her glass with a knife to get every creature's attention. The sequins on her light pink dress and long white gloves helped her stand out even more. "Mayors of Equestria, thank you all for having come for this assembly. If I can have your attention for a moment, I have an important announcement to make!"

The room grew quiet as she gained the attention of everypony present. Ponies and other creatures in the hall placed their utensils down and waited for the princess to continue. "As all of you might be aware or at the very least read about, even before I became the Princess Of Friendship, my life was filled with adventure and enriching memories that have helped form me into the princess you all see today. Under the guidance of my former teacher," Twilight takes a moment to indicate Celestia who nods with a calm smile in acknowledgment. "I have achieved goals that not even I considered possible. I passed the rite of ascension without even realizing I was taking it. I witnessed a power stronger than friendship shine and repelled an invasion in a single swoop. I lifted my very castle out of friendship and bravery when everything seemed lost, and in my most recent accomplishment, I spread the gospel of friendship throughout the land, going far beyond Equestria and into other nations as well. Culminating in all of us uniting to defeat old foes whose schemes nearly destroyed Equis as we know it."

She recounted old events as the mayor's nodded along, demonstrating what she meant. Even Mark started to bob his head, recalling all the stories Twilight and her friends told him over the years while he was still adjusting to his new world.

"So, after having thought about it for a long time and with careful deliberation and negotiation with not only the princesses of Equestria, but also rulers of other nations. I have decided to take the final step in my growth as a princess and become a full-fledged ruler of my very own kingdom!" She ends her speech by charging her horn and showing every creature present a projection of her castle rising in the middle of a city. The design having a striking resemblance to the Crystal Empire. "Ladies and gentle stallions, I would like to introduce you all to my future kingdom of friendship: 'New Harmonious!'"

Right after making that announcement every mayor in the room began bombarding the Princess with questions and comments on her decision; some in support, some against it, and the majority mostly curious about why she disclosed something so big to mayors of a country that she seems to be leaving and abdicating her position of power. That was when the other shoe dropped and left even Mark cold.

"I plan to establish New Harmonious as a coastal city, right here." She projected a map of the Badlands and zoomed on a location, revealing a small bazaar-city skirting the coast with a purple dot north of it, hugging the beach. "It will be a daring project, to say the least, which is why I'm so grateful for the support of other rulers that are willing to help make it a reality. Especially with how, like my school, this will be a country open to all species wishing to live under the banner of friendship."

"Which is why each ruler has given princess Twilight a gift as a show of good faith and gratefulness for all she has done." Celestia continued standing up and gaining every creature's attention with her eggshell white formal dress, golden crown, bracers, and gorget. "Seaquestria secured a landmass adjacent to the ocean for her to use with plenty of islands in her name, The Crystal Empire provided prime building material to construct a small city, Yackyackistan with weapons that I pray will never be needed, and so forth."

She glanced around the room, "And for Equestria’s part, as a show of good faith, we extend an invitation to all that are interested in accompanying princess Twilight in this voyage to become the first mayor or mayors of New Harmonious."

Eyes widened and murmurs start to spread. Everyone glanced at each other over such a statement, until Luna rose.

"Of course, the position would be voluntary," She stepped to the side and pointed to the notice board in the far corner of the room. "All who might be interested just need to put your names on the form. Princess Twilight will gladly listen to you and any condition or suggestion you may have about this project. However, before rejecting or accepting the invitation keep in mind that while this might be a huge ordeal to ask of you, if accepted, your names will pass down in history as the pioneers that aided in the formation of a brand-new country. The likes of which the planet has never seen before."

After a pause and some deliberation, Mark watched as some of the mayors stood and put their names on the candidate sheets, much to Twilight’s delight and relief. Soon after, the notion of becoming a mayor of a brand-new kingdom became the hot topic to discuss during the after-party. A party boasting a bar with hard drinks, a dance floor, a light show, and even a DJ for everypony present to enjoy.

"I'm telling you, Mark, it’s about more than just being a mayor. This job will turn whoever is chosen into her adviser. It’s only starting, and the Princess knows next to nothing about running a city, let alone a kingdom; she’ll need guidance." Cumulus, a dark blue pegasus stallion with a long grey mustache, stated confidently as he thumbed his silver vest. He hiked up his leg on the stool, his black trousers and mirror-shined shoes raised against the heel guard. He, Mark, and some other mayors were discussing the matter at the bar.

"No experience? What about when Discord's wacky roots kidnapped the princesses and threw everything into chaos? Princess Twilight sure knew how to run the place, then." Sentries, a younger earth pony with green fur and a brown patch on his right eye, argued back. He almost matched Mark in attire, wearing a similar suit with black pants and a white formal shirt.

"Run the place? yeah right. She issued ONE order, then flew back to Ponyville and solved the problem herself. Sure, it helped, but that’s not ruling. Or do you expect her to fill the role of guard, hero, princess, ambassador, and clean up all at once every time it happens? She needs to know how to delegate!" Cumulus fired back as other mayors join the conversation to agree with him. "The princess was right to ask for our help, she definitely will need somepony to show her the basics."

"Do you think she will leave her friends behind?" Spectral questioned, gaining everypony’s attention.

"I highly doubt it, I think all of them are going with." Braeburn, a yellow earth pony dressed as a sheriff stepped in, "Applejack’s my cousin and she told me about her planning on moving, now that Big Mac became the new head of the farm. Good for her if you ask me, we Apples love to spread our roots and that mare was born to make a farm of her own."

"I heard Rarity was planning on opening a new shop for her line of clothes, never imagined she meant to open it in a new kingdom." Another mayor mentioned.

"Fluttershy told me she was planning on expanding her sanctuary somewhere else, now that hers has grown too big." Tree Hugger added. "Plus, Pinkie and Cheese Sandwich announced their plans of opening their own bakery."

"I haven't heard much about the captain of the wonderbolts, but I don't think she’d just relinquish her job…right?" Cumulus pondered

"Knowing Rainbow Dash, she’ll probably seek a way to do both jobs." They all shared a chuckle, minus Mark who was deep in thought.

"Hey Mark, you’ve been oddly quiet." Braeburn called to him, "Something on your mind?"

With a sigh, Mark stopped playing with his cider and looked at the other mayors, "I hope it's just my imagination, but I fear the princess is ignoring one glaring issue that needs to be addressed before she tries to build a nation of her own."

"And what issue might that be?" Everypony turned and saw none other than Princess Celestia approaching the group with a calm demeanor. Immediately they began to bow but she stopped them by raising her hand, "Please raise my little ponies, you’ve done plenty of that. I'm only interested in finding a drink and if possible, joining your conversation." She approached the bar and pointed at the empty stool next to Mark. "May I?"

"Sure Princess, by all means," Mark answered.

Celestia took her seat and ordered a cup of wine, which the bartender brought to her seconds later. "So…you were saying something about a glaring issue?"

With a sigh, Mark looked down and nodded, "Yeah, ever since Twilight showed us where she was building her empire, I noticed something that got me worried." The other mayors flinch at how casually he referred to a princess but Mark ignored them and continued by drawing a crude sketch of a map on a napkin. "According to her, New Harmonious will be located northwest of a local bazaar in the Badlands. A place she and her friends have been familiar with ever since the Storm King invasion, right?"

"That is correct. I made sure there would not be a problem with neighboring kingdoms, and it's a free land for anypony to take."

"Which is the source of my concern. It wouldn't be a problem if it were just miles of land with nothing on it, but a community already there makes it a more dangerous place. Being ungoverned the community is a lawless place, so anyone living there is either a criminal, a fugitive, or a dealer in illegal merchandise…and Twilight is planning on having them as her neighbor?"

"Yeah, the same concern came to mind when she was seeking a piece of land." Celestia nodded and idly twirled her wine glass, "If it eases your worries, I made clear my concerns and objections to her settling down in such a dangerous place too."

"Then why is she still placing herself there?" Cumulus joined the conversation again, as Celestia chuckled.

"Because that is how Twilight is. She argued that Capper was like those individuals you were talking about, Mark, but it was enough just showing him a glimpse of friendship to change his ways. She believes she can do the same for the rest of the city, or rather she insists that creatures like those need friendship more than ever."

"Oh yeah, that makes sense." Various mayors concurred with her point, nodding their heads. Except for Mark.

"That only covers half the issue here, Celestia."

Once again everypony flinched at how informal he was treating the princess, even the alicorn was taken aback, but in her case, it was more for his sudden claim.

"Yeah, the place might be crawling with criminals, and something should indeed be done if they live in such tenuous conditions, but I'm afraid Twilight might be thinking of colonization without realizing the ramifications. I mean, what about the other creatures that just want to be left alone? What about those that just decided to live there because they aren't bad but for one reason or another don't want to live under anyone's rules? Or worse, what about those that don't exactly want to follow her teaching of friendship?"

"No one will be forced to do anything Mark, what Twilight is doing is simply offering her hand in friendship, at the end of the day it will be their choice to take it or not," Celestia argues back.

"And that is the glaring issue I meant, Celestia. She has to find a way to pass that point across leaving zero room for misinterpretation." Marks nodded once, decisively. "This project truly is bold, and it has the potential to not only raise a new empire but also bring a heavy blow to crime and corruption, but leave even one word vague and anyone can open a very big and nasty can of worms. Princess, I don't question your wisdom but how are you not seeing such a huge problem?"

For her part, Celestia only stares at him with a smile and lightly tilts her head to the side.

"Unless…you did." Mark answered himself with wide eyes as it suddenly dawned on him and the rest of the mayors, "You did and that’s why you offered the job as mayor to her kingdom, you knew Twilight would need someone to speak to the masses and smooth out any friction her plans may cause."

"Wow, talk about a plot twist!" Braeburn commented.

"Well done Mayor Mark, well done." Celestia lifted her cup to him, "It fills me with happiness finding others that can understand the reasons behind my actions. Looks like my vote was placed on the right candidate after all."

Recovering from the surprise, he can’t do anything else but smile and clank his drink with hers, "Celestia, you clever girl!"

"Please, you don't get to a thousand years of ruling without learning how to be clever!" She joked and smirked at him while enjoying her drink, "So what do you say Mark, would this be enough to put your mind at ease and help you relax for the rest of the evening?"

He smirked in return and stared at his empty glass, "I don't know, I might need just one more cup of cider and maybe a princess to accept a dance with me. That would help me loosen up."

"Well, I wouldn't be doing my job if I ignored my subject's pleas, right?" Celestia played along and called the bartender, "Ma'am, another round of drinks for my friends."

Everypony cheered at the princess and put away the topic of Twilight’s new kingdom to enjoy the party properly.