The Mayor Of Canterlot

"Thanks for your visit, safe travels." Mark waved goodbye to his last meeting of the day before closing the door to town hall and sighing. Glancing at the clock, he was surprised to see it was already 7pm..

Getting his second wind, he approaches Drusilla, who was finishing filling some reports. "What’s next on the list, Ms. Drusilla?"

"One second, aaaand done." She puts the seal of approval on a document, before looking at Mark. "Nothing else, sir, that was the last thing on the list." She checks the clock as well, "And right on time too, it's closing time."

"Great, I will see you tomorrow then." The human nods and starts packing his things when Drusilla approaches him.

"Since we are outside of working hours, can we talk about what you decided to do about what we discussed last night?"

"Of course," Mark replies with a smile, “ my answer is no. As tempting as Twilight’s offer might sound, my place is here in Canterlot.. I'm not going anywhere, Drusy." He gives her a light punch on the shoulder, "Especially not without my BFBS. That’s why I asked you to save me an appointment. First thing tomorrow I’m telling Princess Twilight thanks, but no thanks and apologies for the mix up." He grabs his briefcase and heads to the door.

"That’s nice, glad to hear you’re wanting to clear the air." Drusilla sighs and looks down, "But that’s not what I meant." She kept looking forward, not needing to turn around to know that Mark stopped moving. "Did you think about the other subject we talk about?"

"I did." Mark replied looking forward as well, with his hand on the handle door. "Long and hard, all night long, barely slept even."

"Mark…you don't need to do this, whoever she was, she gave you an out, you have a reason, she has a reason." She turns around, "Heck, I'm on her side now. If the public even suspected that the Mayor of Canterlot and the Princess went for a roll in the hay…"

"...It would destroy our public image in ways I couldn't imagine." He finishes before looking down. "No matter which princess, the press could spin it to say I only got elected because the princesses pulled some strings. Creatures would view me as her personal toy, a mayor in name only. As for her, it will be viewed like she is a closet deviant who can be exploited to obtain whatever you want as long as you fill her cravings…and that’s just me seeing the best possible outcome."

"So you understand why I can't continue with this chase right? Mark, I'm begging you, if you can't let go of anything else please, let go of this. For you, for me, for Druid, please, just this once…let it go."

"…Ok." He answers calmly as Drusilla sighs in defeat and stares down.

"Then I have no choice but to immediately start my…my…" She needs a moment to process what she just heard and looks at him with wide eyes as a smile starts to form on her face. "Come again?"

"You are right, Drusy." Mark turns to look at her "It’s not worth it. Heck, I already got the answer I needed." He smiles weakly at her, "It's just a piercing. I bet the Princess can get another one. Better to just put this one to rest."

Unable to contain herself she launches at him and gives Mark a strong bear hug. "Oh, thank Faust! You have no idea what that means to me. Thank you Mark! You aren't such a blockhead after all."

The cheerful display helps him relax and he returns the gesture, "Don't go saying I don't hear you now, Drusy. I am not that stubborn either." They end the hug and he notices a piece of paper on her hand. "Hey what is that?"

"Nothing! Nothing!" He was about to grab the paper bur Drusilla stand back and, to his surprise, eats it in front of him "Jsugh shum funk fail (Just some junk mail)."

"O...k, anyway I might need a couple of days to relax before I see the Princesses again in the flesh. So, after I clear the air with Princess Twilight, could you…?"

"Consider it done, sir." She starts to work on rescheduling their agenda, "I'm gonna put so many activities between you and them that next time they see your face it will be at the end of Winter Wrap Up."

"You’re the mare, Drusy."

"Heck yeah I am! Now go home, stupid. Some human really needs his beauty sleep now. Don't think for a second I didn't hear the bit about not sleeping last night." She half jokes half orders as she continues to work. Mark laughs and nods before heading back home, a big weight lifted from his shoulder.

As he walks through the empty streets of Canterlot, he can't help but feel like he is being watched. Looking around, he tries to see if there is any pony nearby only to find air and empty alleys. The place was cold and damp and the clouds above him were telling him it was about to rain, so he started to speed his march. Suddenly the sound of a bottle being kicked alerts him. Turning around, he glimpses a shadow moving around by some dumpsters.

"Hello?"

He starts to see more shadows moving around him.

"Is anyone there?"

The place was deadly silent until he heard a humming behind him. Next thing Mark realized a burlap sack was put over his head and his body was flying backward into a chain link fence while his hands and feet got tied up with a rope.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" Mark starts but suddenly someone punches him in the side of his face, knocking him off balance. Mark hears laughter as more punches and kicks land all over his body.

"How do you like that, monkey?"

"Go back to your forest, freak! We don't want your kind here!"

"Canterlot was doing just fine until you started whining and complaining! Stupid commoner, learn your place!"

"Canterlot is only for the high class! You and those monstrous bats need to go back to the caves where you belong."

“Just because the law forgave you, doesn’t mean we will or forget what you did to Mayor Silver!”

By the time they were done, Mark was gasping for air, coughing blood and in too much pain to move. Someone grabbed his hair through the sack and forced him to sit up. As he did, Mark saw the figure of a unicorn getting closer to his ear.

"Consider this a warning. Resign from office, pick up your garbage and leave Canterlot, or next time we are gonna get your little bat bitch."

With his eyes wide, Mark's body goes stiff and he breathes from his nose.

"Look at him, he is frozen in fear." Some of them mock him as they all laugh and point at him.

“HA! What did I tell you, those rumors were only exaggerated lies, oh careful or the mighty and scary monster might get us, what a joke!” One of them laughs even harder after claiming that in a sarcastic voice.

“Bet he only took credit from some earth pony brute he hired to punch Silver Tongue.”

They continued to mock him and none of them saw how his tied hands were slowly moving toward the unicorn in front of him until it was too late. Mark started to strangle him with all his might, startling everyone as the other unicorns blasted him with magic.

Hearing one of them gasping for air, he could see the silhouette in front of him grabbing his throat. "You are dead, freak! DEAD!" They were preparing to shoot their magic at him as Mark tried to recover, until help finally arrived in the form of a flash of lightning that illuminated the place long enough for the ponies crossing the sidewalk to see what was happening.

"Hey! What are you doing!?" A vague familiar female voice calls in the distance and the group starts to panic before teleporting away. Hearing hoofsteps, Mark closes his eyes for a moment before the sack is removed and sees a group of ponies gathering around him, the mare that call earlie looking at him in the eyes with concern as he stare at her purple iris, as she coup his right cheek, until he passes out. One of his hands firmly clenching pieces of clothing he managed to rip from his attackers.

The Next Day

The sound of something being cut slowly brings the human back to the world of the living When his vision clears, he sees Drusila peeling an apple next to him as he lays in bed. His arms were covered in bandages, there was an IV connected to his right arm. With how sterile and clean the room was, it didn't take him long to piece together that he was in a hospital.

"Drusy?" He weakly asks as he tries to sit up. Catching the thestral’s attention, she stops peeling and looks at him before wrapping him in a tight hug.

"Thank Faust!" He heard her sniff and tear up a little. "When I got the call…I was terrified, I thought…I thought I was gonna lose you. What the hell were you thinking! Walking on an empty street like that!"

Tightening the hug, Mark soon relaxes after the initial surprise and returns the gesture, "Come on Drusy, it’s gonna take way more than this to stop me. I used to spar with Big Mac and Applejack back when I was still new to Equestria. Compared to them, a stuck up snob’s punch is like a bug bite."

"This is not the time for jokes!" She ended the hug and grabbed his shoulder staring at him with tears in her eyes, "Mark you were ASSAULTED, the doctors told me that you have a minor concussion, and it was a miracle there weren’t any broken bones. This is a serious matter. It's just like back then."

"Indeed." A green pegasus stallion with a doctor uniform walks into the room before pulling a flash light and approaching the mayor. "This isn't exactly a laughing matter, sir," He starts to examine Mark’s eye. The doctor sighs before taking a glance at Drusilla, "but it is also appreciated if you don't raise your voice Ms. Drusilla, this is still a hospital."

"Sorry." She steps away so the doctor can continue his examination.

"Good morning sir, I'm Doctor Gray Skies, but you can call me Gerald. For some reason ponies feel more at ease with that name." He chuckles a little at his own joke. "So, how are you feeling, Mr. Mayor? Please don't try to be a hero, just be honest with me." Once he finishes flashing the light in Mark’s eyes, he puts the device away and gives him a deadpan look.

"Saying 'I’m fine' isn’t gonna cut it, is it?"

"No." He replies flatly and Mark sighs in defeat.

"Fine, I still feel sore all over my body, and my stomach hurts a lot." He grabs said part, feeling some bandage on it. "They concentrated their kicks there, mostly. My head is still ringing and my right arm hurts when I move it." He clenches and extends his palm a couple of times, "Other than that, I'm fine, all things considered."

"I see, well, like your friend here just said. Considering the series of bruises and hits you received, it’s a miracle not a single bone was broken. Your skeletal system truly is resilient."

He chuckles at the compliment, "What can I say Doc? I really like my milk."

"It sure seems like it. Still I would like it if you stay here for a day for observation."

"How long was I out, Dr. Gerald?"

"Not much thankfully, just the majority of this morning and all of last night. It's almost noon at the moment."

"Noon! Aught, Twilight’s appointment!" He brings his palm over his head, "She is not gonna like this. Of all the Princesses she is the most obsessed with schedules and punctuality."

"Already canceled, sir." Drusilla points out, "That mare can wait. This is an emergency and you heard him, one day off for observation. If she has a problem with that I will gladly tell her where she can put that schedule of hers."

The doctor's eyes wide in horror until Mark laughs nervously and taps her shoulders, “Kidding, kidding, she wouldn’t do that. Right Drusy?”

He gives her a side glare and she huffs, “Yeah, let's go with that.”

"A-Anyway, just as a precaution, to ensure that concussion is nothing serious, it is better for you to rest here for a day. Tell me, does your head hurt, sir?"

"A bit yeah, but it's tolerable, other than the bruises I'm fine" He sighs in defeat "And as much I would like to leave and give my bed to someone that needs more, perhaps it would be best if I listen." He looks at a nearby window. "Something tells me the press is just dying to take a picture of me in bed."

"Not only them, I'm afraid." Gerald confirms with a nod "This was an assault on a government official, so of course the royal guard would like to have a word with you, too. Is it ok for them to come and ask you a couple of questions, Mr. Mayor?"

Mark suddenly remembered what he did before passing out "Yes…ah Doctor Gerald, before I passed out, I clenched some clothes with my hand. Did you…"

"Secured and sent to the lab for analysis." He nods with a smile. "Clever move, sir, that sure will help find the criminals." He then looks at Drusilla, "Ms. Drusilla maybe it’s best if…"

"She can stay." Mark dismisses him "As my best secretary it will help me calm down if she stays here for moral support." She nods once and crosses her arms.

"Ok, if that's what you want, I will come back later." Gerald nods and leaves the room allowing two earth pony royal guards to enter.

"Mayor Mark? I'm Officer Lando, and this is my partner, Officer Walls. We are conducting the investigation into your assault last night. Mind if we ask you a couple of questions?" Lando asks, bringing out a notebook and pen.

"Sure, as a matter of fact I think I can help you gentlemen." He extends his palm toward them, "During the attack, I managed to scratch one of the criminals’ neck, maybe there is some DNA on my fingers."

"That would be helpful, yeah." Lando looks at his partner who nods and leaves the room. "We will collect the samples later, for now why don't we start with recalling the events of that night."

Mark nods and tries to remember everything that happened. "I was heading home after working late at Townhall with Ms. Drusilla here. The street was eerily empty."

"You know the name of the street?"

"Rookhoof street 45. The same one I use everyday when going back and forth from home."

The guard nods and writes everything down. "I was getting cold and looking up I saw that it was about to rain, so I tried to rush home. That is when I heard something behind me and felt someone staring. Turning back, I tried to find anyone but could only see glimpses of shadow moving around. I heard a low hum in the distance and next thing I knew they put a sack over my head, used their magic to tie my arms and legs and tossed me into a fence."

"Did you recognize any of the criminals?"

He shook his head "They were using a voice filter to alter their voices and I couldn't recognize their silhouettes through the fabric of the sack. Once they immobilized me, they started attacking while laughing and throwing insults at me repeatedly."

"So this was a tribal crime then?"

He nods once "Or at least social class one. From the type of insults they were throwing, they seem to be part of the ponies that didn't like me being a mayor and were demanding I leave Canterlot. They threatened to go after Drusilla if I don't comply with their demands."

That caught both ponies' attention. "That was when I lost my composure and tried to strangle one of them, that is when I scratched him."

"I see." The guard keep writing everything down

"They sure didn't like that, so they all blasted me with their magic. At least four or five of them were unicorns from the lights I saw, but I couldn't get a good number on how many there were. They started saying how I was dead, luckily, a flash of lightening, illuminated the alley alerting some passersby of what was happening. The group panicked and teleported away. That is all I remember before I passed out."

"Thank you sir, that will help with our investigation." Soon his partner returned with a small pick and a glass vial. "Perfect, Mr. Mayor, could you repeat what you just told me to my partner while I talk with your secretary for a second?"

"Sure." They both nod and Drusilla leaves as Mark retells the story to Walls as he collects the sample from Mark’s fingernails.

Once they close the door the royal guard gets straight to the point. "Ms. Drusilla, I need to ask you,does the Mayor have any enemies that would wish him harm?"

"You mean other than those stuck-up, snobbish brats that whine because their tea is too hot?" She immediately answers, not hiding her anger whatsoever. "None, he is loved by all of Canterlot’s social classes. I simply can't believe some creature would do something like this to him." She hugs herself and look away

"It is the cruel reality, unfortunately. By the time we get that testimony there is a high possibility that they might attempt another attack.." Gerald sighs and looks down. "Ms. Drusilla, I'm afraid we will have to add extra security to town hall and its workers."

"Agreed. Until those bastards are behind bars it would be for the best to protect the mayor from any other attack."

"He is not the only one in danger." The guard clarifies as she looks at him in surprise.

"Me?"

"You heard the testimony, ma'am, the criminal made a clear threat of targeting you next if he doesn't step down from office, and if they were willing to attack a member of the government I highly doubt they would stop there. Normally, this would place you both into the witness protection program,but doing so would be just what they want; for you two to disappear. Probably so they can swoop in and bring Canterlot back to its 'natural state' or some bullcrap like that."

"Yeah, that is only gonna happen over my dead body. I know Mark, he would rather fight than let a bunch of pompous snobs get their way."

"That’s what I thought, so instead of doing that why don't we turn this threat of theirs into an opportunity?" The guard suggests.

“I'm listening." Drusillay raised an eyebrow, more than intrigued and in part believing that this way she can give those ponies a piece of her mind.