Mayor Mare had not been having the best night’s sleep since campaign season started. Whilst she had never had any real opposition since Filthy Rich had stepped down that time he had become Mayor. But to Mayor Mare elections were more than the means to keep her power, but rather a chance to evaluate her own efforts with the people. After all the more people who came out to show her support the better the job she must be doing.

Still it wasn’t as if she could ignore these parties, it was never good to get complacent after all. And when she arrived it was important that she looked her absolute best, smart and professional. As she glanced into her hand mirror she examined herself for any hint of imperfection that might alienate her voters. Or in this case her donors to her group.

She would have to be satisfied with this appearance, even if her nitpicking mind found many reasons to complain. Strange that after so many elections she could still be so nervous, but some things never changed.

The Smooth Brew had been reserved for her and her campaign tonight, so she could safely say all the customers would be her donors, and all their eyes would be on her. Sweat fell down her face as she stood up to the microphone.

“It’s been over twenty years since I first campaigned and for some reason Thursday speeches ever get any easier.” Mayor Mare said with a weak smile, “but I want to be clear that it is no excuse to get sloppy. Nor any reason not to thank those who have supported me throughout those years, not to mention welcome those new contributors to my campaign.”

As she said that last point her eyes flickered throughout the crowd, as she checked if there were actually any new contributors in her campaign. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d made a fool of herself by welcoming non existent newcomers. To her surprise however she found not only new members of her campaign but two she recognised.

“In any case I won’t keep you all from your lovely dinner, so here’s to another good five years. Dig in.” She finished, and an aura of polite applause filled the air. To her small disappointment though she saw Rarity and Spike were quietly discussing something with each other rather than clapping along. Something she didn’t let get to her as she made her way towards them.

They at least finished their conversation before she arrived, and Mayor Mare didn’t let it get to her. Approaching with a gentle smile, the two turned to her and returned.

“Mr Spike, Ms Rarity, I wasn’t aware you two were joining my campaign.” She said, offering them each a polite smile. “I wish you two had told me sooner.”

The two looked at each other in confusion, blinking. For a moment Mayor Mare began to get worried before Spike spoke up. “Oh no we’re not-“

“Oh well dear Mayor we wanted it to be a bit of a surprise, you’ve done so much for our town over the years. We just haven’t quite decided how much we wanted to donate.” Rarity explained, but for whatever reason her eyes darted to Spike’s with a certain knowing glee in her eyes.

When the dragon saw the unicorn he received some kind of message, as his eyes widened and his mouth became a sort of ‘O’ shape. Mayor Mare was polite enough to pretend not to have noticed.

“Hopefully I could persuade you be a bit generous hmm?” She teased, causing a few gentle chuckles from Rarity.

“Well dear I am the element of generosity dear. You might find yourself quite satisfied.” Rarity suggested playfully.

“Hmm is Princess Twilight also considering donating? Because if so I’d have to remind her that there are laws preventing Princesses from getting involved in the democratic process.” She reminded the two of them.

“No dear you don’t have to worry about that, this is just me and my dear Spike Wikey here.” Rarity promised, placing her hands on Spike’s claws and fluttering her eyelashes in direction. The dragon smiled like an idiot, as his eyes rolled as Mayor Mare picked up on the implication.

"Do you mean to say that you two are a couple?" The Mayor asked, a question that was answered by two grins.

"Well does this answer your question?" Rarity suggested, dragging her seat back and showing a large stomach to the Mayor.

"You're pregnant?" She asked in shock, only receiving a nod from Rarity. "How?"

It was a genuine question, Mayor Mare had spoken to the fashionista a week ago and had seen no sign of such a child. Now though Rarity looked as if she was well into her third trimester.

"Dracony children work a little different from pony children dear." She explained gently. Nodding Mayor Mare regained her composure, taking a few deep breathes as she did so.

"Congratulations you two. I must confess I always assumed that Rarity here was out off your league Spike, but here you go proving me wrong." Mayor Mare confessed, causing a scandalized expression to split across Rarity's face.

Spike however had a giddy yet humble smile on his face, with one claw reaching to scratch behind his head. "You weren't the only one."

"Well hopefully dear we can put those myths to bed. But now Mayor Mare let's get back to your campaign. Tell me dear what sort of benefits do we get as contributors?" Rarity asked, sending a not so subtle wink to her boyfriend. Mayor Mare could feel an uneasy feeling brew in her stomach. She didn't want the fashionista to get any wrong ideas, she was pragmatic but she wasn't corrupt.

"Benefits dear? You mean apart from helping me make Equestria the best town in all of Equestria?" She asked, but even she could feel how fake her smile was becoming. Nor was it lost on her at how wooden her voice became all of the sudden, this didn't seem to be something that bothered Rarity. The fashionista simply leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of her drink with a rather dark smile on her face. The way her mane fell on her face concealed her right eye, and the left one seemed fixed on her not unlike a supervillain.

Mayor Mare was growing increasingly uncomfortable now, sweat began to flow down her forehead as her feet began to squirm. She was starting to wish she was anywhere but here right now.

"No dear, I was talking about what benefits you could give us. My dear Spikey to be clear, after all a generous donation of several billion bits should be rewarded. Correct?" Rarity asked, snapping her fingers and a few bags of money appeared before her.

"Several billion?" She gasped, her lungs seemed to fail to draw in enough breath. "Rarity that's entirely too much money, there are laws against it. And I'm only a small town mayor after all, what would I do with it?"

"Don't worry about the laws dear, we can get Twilight to make a special exception. And if there's a bit too much what's the harm? Why not take some for yourself or donate it to Ponyville." She suggested, and Mayor Mare was getting increasingly concerned with the devilish sing song voice she was using.

"You will take the money won't you?" Spike asked her, and Mayor Mare felt her resistance slipping. "After all with this donation you won't need any more donors right? You should just get rid of the rest right?"

"Right." She agreed eyeing the money, her inhibitions gone. Eyeing the bag she assumed it would be quite heavy to handle, but it would be more than worth the trouble. "Excuse me I need to get rid of the rest of my contributors this will be all I need."

The two lovers were now smiling giddily, as if keeping a personal joke to themselves. "We'll come round to your office dear at say 16:30 dear, to discuss the terms of their arrangement? Is that alright?"

"After all you'd do anything for our donation right?" Spike asked her, and immediately Mayor Mare felt her priorities shift. She needed that money, for her campaign and all of Ponyville. She'd do anything to get it.

Author's Note

Good news I received worth from Nauth. They're beginning work on a Spike/ Cadence child and more importantly they've received word that it's okay to use the image I wanted as Spike/ Rarity's kid.

Crowdfunding for more commissions: https://ko-fi.com/darkstar239

Ideas on what bonuses contributors to Mayor Mare's campaign should receive are also welcome as usual.