Düzeltmek

Chapters

0 - What Do You Think, Miss Cane?
1 - The Reach of a Minister
2 - Party Games
3- Circling over Fillydelphia

0 - What Do You Think, Miss Cane?

"I am the object of criticism around the world. But I think that since I am being discussed, then I am on the right track."

Empress Ritmo IV of the Third Crystallian Empire

The United Canterlotian Party was in a mess.

Expedient Expansion supposed the party had always been a mess since their founder left after '58 with that vote of no confidence. He had rejoiced along with his clique those years back when that happened, but since then the conservatives of the party had became an even larger threat to his plans for the country.

His hooves' grips on the cup shook just a little bit as he frowned at the various shenanigans the party had done. From attempting to suppressing the local pegasi minority harder with a variety of bills, and believing that nationalisation was an actual good economic policy.

Their failures were what led to that impeachment in the first place...

... and his ascension to party leader.

Now that was a nice memory to think over.

It was nice to remember winning the party primary with ease after her ousting, declaring that a new method had to be taken for the Second Canterlotian Republic. That he along with his allies would steer the Republic into the future. That they will make Canterlot a better home.

They had barely won last year's election by a margin.

Expedient's grip on the tea cup hardened by just a smidge harder.

Anger, frustration, and pure wrath threatened to boil over but his hooves moved faster. Placing his cup of coffee into his mouth.

The warmth of the drink drew him out of that boiling stew of 'mistakes' that threatened to blow the lid off and give the Blossom a new round of papers to sell. It was a sense of the Celestia's sun. An essence of it extracted and made fluid. Expedient sighed as he looked down at it. Did the Alicorn disappear and manifest this glory after? Or was the holy artifact that was coffee present before her ascension?

The soft sounds of hooves on the carpeted floor drew his musings away to look up at a waiter. She was an older looking pony, with wrinkles around the eyes and a mane of black. A small headdress on her, a contrast to the more fitting forms of younger mares in Expedient's opinion, but one that made her presentable at the very least in an establishment this prestigious.

"Are you ready to order sir?"

Her voice was sweet and sultry, something that the manager probably kept her around for. It reminded him slightly of his lovely wife back home whenever their anniversary came around. Expedient waved a hoof, "I'm still waiting for my friend. Apologies."

"Understood," The mare bowed her head before leaving Expedient left alone once more, with his nice cup of coffee. The silence that left him there was near overwhelming, but it was a tolerable one. It was a bearable silence compared to chaos of the halls of the hallowed - or more accurately, hellish - Privy Council, or the more nervous pain that would originate out from his office.

"Heavy laid the head with the crown..." Expedient muttered to himself. He chose this job for a reason. But it didn't stop him from complaining about it.

His further musings into the Tomorrows that could have been were stopped as he heard the very brief sound of the door opening to this private room in the restaurant... that Glory Cane had arrived.

For all intent and purposes, Expedient didn't like the mare. A self serving conservative corrupt cranky knifer, which was already bad on its own. But she was also charismatic, and happened to been one of the most advent supporters of the outgoing Captain Sparkle.

Expedient placed down his cup as he leant back into his chair. His teeth clenched as he moved a hoof to the table. And, he did his very best to smile as the mare rounded into view.

Glory Cane was distinct, never really fitting to the typical role of a 'Canterlotian' per say. With a bright pink mane and a coat the colour of the golden spires of the Palace, she was more fitting to be a kindergarden teacher than being the chief whip of the UCP. Some suspected that's why the unicorn was quite able to be the chief whip. With the right balance of wrinkles around those dolomite eyes, along with styling her mane to be just as cutesy, she could worm members of parliament back on voting the party line.

Maybe his hatred of her was merely jealousy of such skill. He merely had a white mane and green coat to boot and he looked like he walked out of a mineshaft.

Glory's steps were ones that held her well as Expedient pretended to not notice her entering, mustering a small 'oh' as he turned to face her.

"Ah! Miss Cane! How was the walk here?" Expedient said with a smile, teeth hidden by the lips twisting upwards like some sort of puppet, "Pleasant I hope?"

Glory let out a small giggle unbefitting a mare her stature as she strolled up to the chair opposite Expedient, "It was delightful. The local flowermares had some of the nicest little dandelions you ever see, I'd reckon that your daughter might like them!"

"I did see it so! Very beautiful especially in this season," A lesser pony might have dropped their guard at such a display of cheerful affection, but the two weren't fools to this game, "How about you? Has your day been delightful?"

"It has!" She smiled at Expedient, and he returned a thin smile back. The two holding the looks as the waiter returned.

"Welcome to the Argentum, what can I get you two, esteemed guests?" The waiter asked, a plastic smile on her face. Beaming at the two.

Expedient turned and looked at Glory, gesturing at the menu laid on the table before her. Glory glanced at him before merely nodding back at the waiter, "I'll have the I'Indigo Salad."

"I'll have the same as the lady," Expedient remarked, "Oh, and some orange juice to replace my coffee would you?"

"Understood," The waitress quickly nodded and left, writing it down on a notepad. Leaving the two back into silence, as Glory observed over at Expedient. A quiet analyzing look washed over him with a bemused expression. Expedient returned back with a bored one back at her. Her dolomite eyes met his emeralds.

"I'Indigo? I didn't take you for having Manehattenite tastes, Miss Cane," Expedient stated. Glory merely chuckle back at him as she leant into the soft cushions of the Argentum's chairs. The two's look to one another, seemed polite, but of course the two knew better.

As Glory placed a foreleg against the the top of the chair and smiled, she replied, "I did study in University of Manehatten right before the Crisis those decades ago, Expedient. Can't a mare have their own interesting tastes?"

"Of course they can," Expedient returned with a lean forward, "Like politics."

Glory nodded, "Like politics, and why we're here - the Reforms."

The Reforms. Words enough to spark a fight in a more uncivilized place unlike the Argentum. This was a place of sacred discussion and negotiations, for backroom deals and frontroom parades. A place for the real movers of politics to decide the future of the nation.

And the Reforms, with a capital R, were one of those topics needed to be discussed. The rule of Captain Sparkle, despite what the most avowed UCP members would proclaim, had brought about systematic issues. From a corrupt upper parliament, to an entrenched judiciary, to what the Applelousans had proclaimed to be the most unfair election system in Equestria.

It was frankly, in Expedient's eyes, an embarrassment.

"What's your opinions on the Reforms?" He asked, looking over the older mare. He wasn't a fool, he already knew what the answer to the question was.

Glory smiled shifted to a smirk, "A bunch of populist hogwash, a collection of mistakes, an assemblage's doltish ambitions, aberrations of amateurish delusions. Nothing that any sane pony in the UCP would support, mister Expansion."

"But yet there are more ponies in the UCP who believe it necessary for the Second Republic to continue," Expedient returned, raising an eyebrow carefully, "Do you not believe the Second Republic is in an impasse, Miss Cane?"

"An impasse manufactured by the easily excited amateurs at politics, mister Expansion," Glory said with a small wave of her left hoof, "The Second Republic has endured crises after crises in its decade long history, under the guidance of Captain Sparkle we managed to weather them well through a system she personally built. And that system will serve us well."

"A system that limits legislative participation to an election threshold of fifteen percent? I don't call that particularly... democratic, Miss Cane. Issues like these make it harder for the common citizen of Canterlot to voice their concerns, would you not agree?" He pressed, prodding at her slowly.

A click of her tongue, her lips smacked one another, "I would agree, if it not for the slow infestation of subversive Pieist and Preventusian elements within our nation. The blessing of democracy, is one that we must cherish, and unfortunately, withhold until we can probably... eliminate these threats, Mister Expansion. I do have to commend you for your efforts on suppressing them, but, I simply do not believe that until they are dealt with, we could move on from this system."

"And take action against Preventus and his Manehattenite Coalition?" Expedient shook his head, "We'd be long dead before we allow proper democracy to reign in Canterlot, Miss Cane. It's better if we risk subversion for the freedom of our ponies.'

"And that is the same reason why you think we should abolish the Upper House?" Glory replied, her small facade of being friendly faded as her dolomite eyes became hard as bricks.

"Corruption festers among their ranks, and the fact that they are appointed for life is not exactly helpful in dealing with that corruption, Miss Cane," Expedient stated, his brows furrowing. "I understand that the Upper House was created for the same purpose we have that electoral threshold, but we cannot hide in fear of Pieists and Preventusists forever."

"On the contrary," Glory chuckled with a smile. A more genuine one perhaps, "We can."

"We can?"

"If Her Holiness Sol can do it for a thousand years, why can't we?" Glory said, a twinge of pride lacing her features. Expedient wondered if the sun was positioned just right to give her that glow, "For a thousand years, Equestria as a whole as sheltered by her loving grace, Equestria was safe from the horrible waare waged outside our borders. But because they ascended, as it was their time, that duty of safeguarding Equestria now lays with us! Should we not continue the methods of the Alicorns which brought us peace and prosperity for so long, Mister Expansion?"

The beliefs of the UCP were easy to understand. Expedient knew by heart that the party was founded based on Solarist-Sparklist thought. A frame of belief that the nation could be managed the same way it had been managed for thousands of years. By a strong autocracy, guiding the ponies to prosperity in Harmony. And all threats to its survival crushed underneath their strength.

"No," Expedient shook his head as he looked down at the table, wondering when exactly their salads had arrived and how the usually noisy waitress got in here without them noticing, "The same system can't work forever. And we aren't exactly the princesses, are we?"

"Then you lack faith in Her Holiness, Captain Sparkle, and our nation, Mister Expansion," Glory said with a stern face.

"You lack faith in the people of Canterlot, Miss Cane."

A small sigh escaped Glory as she picked up her own fork with her yellowish magic, stabbing it into the lettuce within, "Listen, Mister Expansion, I want to help you. I really do. We conservatives do also recognize the failures of our... planned economy policies. And how... right you are on these restrictions on democracy. But this is what we need. We are surrounded by enemies, we cannot enjoy our democracy if we are surrounded."

"You want me to remove these threats to our home? Or would you rather simply be fully in a state of fear indefinitely of those around us?" Expedient asked, taking a moment to chew down a portion of his meal. "That is two states of madness I don't understand."

"Do you wish to understand?" Glory asked, swallowing a bite of cucumber.

Expedient nodded, "Explain to me. Why? Why is safety more important than our liberties?"

Glory chuckled as she took a sip of her orange juice, "I can explain it. I doubt you would accept it, but I can explain it."

"To put it simply, we believe that Equestria collapsed because we lost our system in the chaos of the Princesses' Ascension," She began, her fork picking up a stray piece of green with red, "In that chaos, the enemies of Equestria took their moment to strike against us, blowing away any hopes for peace and plunged us into chaos."

Expedient nodded at the history, everypony learned about that in their education.

"Under duress, the Royal Guard took over, and the nobles appointed themselves to lead after the Princessess' Ascension to the Veil. But they were corrupt, corrupt and decadent. They ruled for ten long years... ten long years of strife." Glory recalled, her eyes shimmering with the glow of a mare who had seen history, "Then, Captain Sparkle launched a coup against their degeneracy, disbanding the Republic and replacing it with the Second Republic. It was the better system that resulted. From those short decades, we knew, the shortcomings of liberal democracy, mister Expansion. Enemies flooded our gracious city and chaos reigned in the outer reaches. We lost Tall Tales to the Pieists because of their reign, tens of thousands of our patriots lost beyond our borders."

"The moment we let our guard down, Canterlot was ravaged like a whore," Glory said with seething, "First Equestria broke into pieces, then we lost Tall Tale, then the Shire, then we also lost Cloudsdale to the Confederacy. We were weak, and we cannot be allowed to be taken advantage of again."

"Captain Sparkle moved against this chaos, with strong, decisive action she had the nobles hanged. The Pieist threat was destroyed under her purview and the cursed Manehattenites stopped their harassment," She looked at Expedient as she finished her meal, "Do you understand now?"

Expedient stayed silent as he looked at her. His magic held the cup of orange juice, half empty as he mulled over the explanation.

"I... suppose," It was the start of a response, not exactly the best to say at a press conference, but a response nonetheless. "That does put... things into perspective..."

Glory frowned at the words, "You still think those reforms are necessary don't you?"

He nodded, "Of course they are. Canterlot still needs them, Miss Cane."

A sigh escaped Glory's lips as she shook her head, leaving her utensils in the bowl, "Then there is no point to this meeting. The conservative base shall not accept your amendments, Mister Expansion."

“Can you at the very least, listen to my end?” He spoke up, looking at her with a small pleading look.

Glory paused as she considered the proposition before shaking her head, “No.”

Expedient nodded, feeling quite empty as the bowl, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," She said as she stood up, a soft smile still on her face, "You have your ideals and I have mine. That’s why we were friends. Thank you for the meal, Expedient."

Expedient merely leant back into the chair as Glory moved away, leaving him in this empty room once more, with a hollow shell of a body.

Passing the Amendments were going to be quite harder now…

Author's Note

Got Criticisms? Throw 'em down in the comments.

Will try and get this updated every two weeks.

Well hopefully at least.

1 - The Reach of a Minister

“The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end.”

Viennoiserie Pie, Their Morals and Ours: The Class Foundations of Moral Practice

The home of Canterlotian Democracy was of course, the Royal Palace.

Ever since the Sunday Coup, the Princess' castle was appropriated to be used as the home for the Canterlot Parliament - opposed to the Privy Council Room the Upper House now held. Expedient enjoyed the area with the ambience it provided, it was a calming aura of peace and regalness that only defanged monarchic structures could provide. Over the years, the place had been renovated several times for the likes of the Parliament and her Prime Ministers. A new pillar there, more white dandelions over the roses, less gold and more of the old classical chiseled marble over the royal baroque.

It made the Palace an apt representation of the Second Republic, if Expedient thought so himself as he walked through it. This hallway along had signs from the old serene Principality, and lots of signs from the past decade of parliament rule. With modern art laced together with the absolutely ancient walls of white which were decorated with gold and gold like paint. If he was drunk and naive, he might actually believe this meant the Parliament was a proper institution!

His green hoof found itself knocking on the door of an old oak quality. It sounded like oak at the very least. It was hard to tell nowerdays with the continued proliferation of liars and hacks making oak-like birch.

Expedient's ears moved forward as he could hear somepony shout from inside, something along the lines of 'come in!'. His magic moved on its own as it readjusted the tie on his suit. And he took a moment to make sure nothing was on his pants and tail before opening the door.

A small portion of his brain insisted on him doing a small prayer, a very small part. But he refused to the inkling of morality that his body still held. His magic moved and tapped a pocket on his dress jacket, a small smile escaped him as it hit something not fur beneath cloth. This was a democracy, not utopia afterall.

Expedient's eyes were greeted by a sight of an earth pony. About a decade his junior right in front of the door, their eyes widened at surprise at the door opening so suddenly.

"Ah! Opaque Bill, so nice to meet you!" Expedient's lips moved upwards, curling as he stepped in.

"Yes, nice to meet you too, mister Expansion. You needn't to open the door that quickly you know?" Opaque was a yellow coated earth pony, and with a mane so inconsistent it danced between the colours of brown and orange. It was opaque, perhaps. He smelt like old candles and eggs. "Could've almost hit me!"

Despite the exclamation of worry, Expedient could still recognize a smile on Opaque.

"Well, I suppose it'd make your mane a bit more proper wouldn't it?" He laughed, Opaque merely shook his head with a chuckle as a hoof of his moved to close the door.

Expedient took a moment to look around the room, his eyes watching over the row of cabinets that had been installed along with the couple of ferns in pots placed around the room. Opaque's desk was a tidy one, meticulously placed on it were his writing utensils along with a variety of papers and folders.

"I like what you did with the room," Expedient remarked with a smile at Opaque. Opaque returned a sheepish smile as he walked over back to his desk.

"Thanks," He nods, gesturing for Expedient to take a seat before him. Expedient's eyes wondered over the simple maple desk. Oak was the common wood for things in Canterlot. If you wanted to knock down the fact that you were important, you used mahogany! But maple? Maple was not something you see in Canterlot.

"Never seen a maple table before, mister Prime Minister?" Opaque asked.

"Never seen one this nice," Expedient remarked as his eyes traced over the rest of the desk. Noting a small package of sweets. Manehatten brand from the looks of things. Their colours more subdued compared to any Canterlotian brands he remembered.

His eyes raise back up at Opaque, "Got a friend from Manehatten?"

"Yep, had a uncle who said if I wanted something for my birthday last month, and his gift arrived yesterday," Opaque's body moved like a stiff board. His face as if wooden, but his eyes moved with a youngness that Expedient wished he could see more in the Parliament.

Expedient nodded, "I see. Now, onto our itinerary's topic, what's the issue, Opaque? The reforms the UCP is proposing?"

He nodded back, "Yes. Its about that. I... heard on the grape vine there was a fight in the UCP over it, no?"

Expedient hid his grimace as he repeated his nod, "Yes indeed. My cabinet has found that the UCP is not fully on board with the reforms we're planning..."

And that meant that he had to cross the floor to the PFEP for support, a task that would most likely tank his vote among the conservative voters. Not good, but necessary.

"That is a shame, since the PFEP is fully willing to back your reforms," Opaque leant forward on his desk as he tilted his head at Expedient. Expedient could just imagine the purring Opaque wanted to do, "But if that's the case, are you still going forward with it?"

"Of course we are!" He exclaimed, careful to not escalate to a shout but stay a declaration, "I promised the people reform, and we're giving them that even if some of the UCP can't see beyond Captain Sparkle's work."

"I'm glad that's case, mister Prime Minister," Opaque smiled, "But... there's a thing about the Reforms... I heard Minister Velvet is still working on it with her legal team correct?"

"Yes, the Ministry of Justice is still working hard on drafting up our proposal of the amendments. Cross checking with various legal scholars and making sure its air tight. What do you want to know?" His eyes tried to discern truth from Opaque's face, but all that returned was merely the reflecting windows of his soul. No answers to be found there.

A click of the tongue echoed throughout the room, "Well... the PFEP has some concerns. You believe in the prevention of another authoritarian government right?"

He nods, as Expedient could feel his fur stand on its edge, worrying of what may come.

"The PFEP has deduced and predicts that the reforms are not enough in preventing such," Opaque stated, a hoof of his moving back onto the desk, grabbing a pen as he continued. "We believe that the legislature does not have enough power in supervising the Prime Minister in their duties."

Expedient's teeth seemed to grind off each other as he looked past Opaque, trying to hide away the burning bile that was beginning to form on his tongue. Just begging to yell.

"And how does the PFEP think this should be done?" A smile as fake as maple spread across his face at his partner.

Opaque's hoof picked up a folder on the desk, with a beige colour and made an action of peeking through it before looking back up at Expedient. His mane bounced with excitement, "The Ponies' Freedom and Equality Party, formally believes that within the amendment package to the constitution of the Second Canterlot Republic, should include amendments to Article Twenty, which details regarding the powers of the Prime Minister of the Second Canterlot Republic. In such that for the Prime Minister to pass any decrees, the legislature should be required to pass an enabling act first in order to prevent the abuse of the Powers and Duties of the Office of the Prime Minister."

"You want to limit my office's powers," Expedient stated with a raised eyebrow, a sense of calm desperately hiding away the growing exasperation within him, "What exactly got the PFEP thinking this is necessary?

A slow nod accompanied his statement, "Yes... the PFEP thinks its necessary. You did say you understand the need for preventing another dictatorship right?"

"Yes, but enabling acts? That'll slow down the process of governance!" Expedient exclaimed, a hoof shooting up for dramatic effect, "If the Prime Minister's already been elected by the people, they should have a right to govern as they have demanded!"

"That is correct, Prime Minister, but wouldn't that also allow future Prime Ministers to pass more dangerous decrees in the future?" Opaque posited, "I don't think either of us needs to remember what happened to our cousins in Vanhoofer, do we? That Hoof madpony got elected, and they began to pass draconian decrees that turned it into a delusional dictatorship! Simply because their 'politburo' can't even oppose their so called general secretary."

Everypony who had access to a newspaper knew about that. It was all over the news three decades back when the revolutionaries began their so called 'liberation campaign' which had more pillaging than liberating and more murders than emancipations. Expedient merely frowned at the thought.

"And you worry that Captain Sparkle's dictatorship can repeat once more in this Republic?" He asked, his frown complimented by a raised eyebrow.

"Let's simply be blunt here, Prime Minister, the dictatorship was a mess," Opaque said with a sigh, "We cannot allow another dictatorship like that repeat here in our republic if we are ever to become the true heirs of Harmony in Equestria. Do you really want the Manehattenites to get that title?"

Opaque's eyes seemed to furrow at his own question, and Expedient's eyes seem to dance between a peaceful, polite gaze, to a very quiet glare. It was one that was rapidly escalating, and a hoof of his moved to readjust his tie again.

"Of course... we don't want the Manehattenites to win, but if we are to restrict decrees to enabling acts, then I'd have to admit that we will not get anything done, Opaque. It'll take too long for anything to get done! And we can't let that be can we?" Expedient stated, his eyes trying to light up sympathy like a rat tampering with a lamp, "I mean, executive action is blessing at times, is it not?"

That rat, now successfully jumping on the switch of the lamp, got no reflection from Opaque's own eyes, "Yes, it is. But as the writings of Tailspin Eye states, 'Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. We must restrict the power of the office of Prime Minister, lest we get our own Hoof Enfield. The legislative and judiciary serves to counteract the executive and vice versa."

"And allow for partisan voices to block the work of the government?" Opaque's eyes widen just a bit, and Expedient jumped at the chance, "If we leave the executive fully at the mercy of the legislature, nothing is going to get done if the legislature has an agenda against the Prime Minister."

"I... I suppose yes that is true, but, that is an inevitable part of democracy right?" He reasoned back, "People will disagree with another, and in a democracy we're supposed to be able to reach a consensus and work on it together, no?"

"And we can build a consensus fast enough in wartime? I don't think so," Expedient shook his head, "We are surrounded by potential enemies, and while consensus building is a thing we must deal with. Leaving protocols for wartime and emergencies is necessary if we are to survive."

"I assure you, Prime Minister, the PFEP will ensure that you will get the emergency powers needed if any emergency arises," Opaque's hoof placed itself upon the table, "But you must understand, that not every prime minister to come after you, is going to be a correct prime minister."

A small silence descended, Expedient let out a long sigh as he slumped back into his seat. Opaque tensed as he moved forward...

"Please, Expedient, this is necessary for the safety of the republic," Opaque pleaded.

Expedient sighed as his hoof laid next to his pocket, "There is nothing I can say that convince you otherwise on this can I?"

A shake of the head from Opaque confirmed such and Expedient considered the alternatives... the UCP was split, and his alternatives were either the independents which he doubted he could get, or the nationalists.

"Fine. I'll inform Minister Velvet about the changes... but I expect the PFEP to back this fully."

"Cross my heart, hope to will, stick a sword in my eye, Prime Minister," Opaque promised, letting a wide smile appear on his face, "You will get your votes."

Expedient raised an eyebrow, as he leant back into the seat. It was a comfy seat, but it wasn't that much to comfort him...

"And what if I didn't?" He asked, the room's feeling dropped to a mild cold. Both of their expressions turned hollow as they both prepared their knives for a duel. A duel of wits, reasoning, threats, and most importantly, blackmail.

Opaque reclined back, mimicking Expedient's position, "Then, the reforms will not pass."

"You're willing to risk the lifeblood of your party in order to make a point towards me?" Expedient inquired. His face molded into a sense of calm. This was the part of politics where charisma and poker faces came to reign, a game of dick measuring and bluffing. And Expedient was confident in Expedient Junior.

"What type of idealist idealogue would I be if I folded to my opposition's compromise without advancing my agenda?" Opaque said with a soft bark of a laugh.

Expedient's eyes glanced over at his pocket on his clothing and back at Opaque, "And nothing can convince you otherwise?"

"What matter of the dark arts are you going to do if I don't?" His own eyes having following Expedient's.

"Twelve Hemmingway Street, 7th and a Half Mercantile Bank of Canterlot?" Expedient countered, observing as Opaque paused just a bit, his lips quivering before the earth pony opened his mouth.

"Meeting with Liquor Race, 15th of Septober, 1049. Around nine o'clock," Opaque said with a recall as he leant back, "Wonder how you got the vast funds to invest into Overhall the day after."

Silence fell between the two as Expedient raised an eyebrow at Opaque, contrasting heavily with his own internal screaming. Expedient wondered if Opaque was doing the same before he shook his own head.

A long sigh escaped out of his mouth as he looked back up at Opaque, "It seem we both have a gun at our heads, so let have bygones be bygones?"

"I... agree," Opaque nodded at him, "Bygones are bygones."

"Yes."

The two looked at each other, mildly awkwardly before once more Expedient spoke up first, "I'll contact Minister Velvet to have what PFEP's revisions installed into our amendment package to ensure that the Office of Prime Minister's decrees to enabling acts permitted by Parliament."

"And the PFEP will back your administration in ensuring that such an important package can get through the hoops of the rebelling UCP and the rest of Parliament," Opaque gave a curt nod at him, "I can assure you that."

Expedient smiled, once more genuine, "Good, and how can we be sure that we won't immediately throw each of us under once this is done?"

Opaque shrugged, "Well, your excellency, what we both know, only we know..."

"The PFEP bent you over?" Minister Velvet was frankly a boring looking mare. Whilst Glory Cane was outstanding in a field of Canterlotians, Velvet Circuity was the top of the bell curve. A plain old unicorn with the colours of a beige mane along with a brown coat. Boring enough that she could have been lost in a pile of beige envelopes.

"Mister Bill is a very convincing stallion," Expedient remarked as he took a swig of the mug of beer. The cabinet room was - some time ago - a dining room for noble guests back in Canterlot's history, since then it had been renovated to become a meeting room for the various administrations of the Republic. The room's history brought with it a sense of elegance and a smell of... royalty to it, "Very convincing."

"I'm sure," Velvet nodded, taking up her clipboard and checking over it, "Very sure..."

"You want me to twist this in a way so you can get away with a more flexible version?" Velvet offered, to which Expedient nodded at.

"Yes please, I don't think I can handle having to wrangle the Parliament if I have to force it through them to declare emergency measures during a crisis," Expedient grumbled, "But it's either that or us needing to compromise with the NF for votes on the Amendments. And honestly I rather deal with the PFEP than them."

"Still sucks nonetheless," Velvet voiced, to which Expedient could only take another swig, "Not even enough to secure the absolute majority needed for the amendments to get ratified."

"But enough for a simple majority," Expedient shook his head, placing his empty mug on the table, "We just need to find more supporters among the Regionalists and some of the independents perhaps. That should be enough right?"

"That..." Velvet flipped through her clipboard, "I think that's enough. Yes..."

"Great, now how do I get them on my side?"

2 - Party Games

“Canterlotian Politicians has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests”

Rule Listener, 'Damnable Truths' - Article printed on The Blossom's opinion column

"Order! Order!"

The gavel slamming on the table did little but to add to the chaos that was the session of parliament. The endless barrage of shouting from the Ponies' Equality Front's seats were near defeaning to Expedient. Like a symphony, there had to be an accompaniment to the PEF's shouting. And to make that accompaniment was the shouting from the Canterlotian National Front. The CNF, were to put it in Expedient's opinion, a rabble of reactionaries reacting as if their rectal been reexamined by a researcher.

"Order! Order! Joke Tory do not punch- ORDER!"

Expedient sighed as he leant back into his chair as the first punches began flying in the parliament. The shouting fit the brawling well, it took politics into the form it always reverted to when it failed.

Battle.

Many have said over the centuries that war was merely the continuation of politics when politics failed. And as Expedient's eyes tracked Opaque Bill's hoof slammed into the MP Exalted Caffeine's face, he sighed as the chances of a good productive session of the parliament slipped away. The sounds of ponies throwing punches provided a good base for the thoughts going through his head.

With the news of the amendments having properly settling into the zeitgeist of the Parliament, every single party and MP had been thrown into a frenzy in order to cement their legacy. It was easy to understand too! But that made the process of trying to make the Second Republic a better place... a much more bitter struggle.

Expedient fiddled around in the saddlebags placed by the side of his chair. If things had begun to detriorate like this, then the day was to be wasted with emotions running this high. He might as well make the day much more tolerable with a pint of alcohol.

Sure, drinking within the Parliament was frowned upon. But with such insanity? It was just a mere sideshow. Plus, the couple of journalists up here with him were more interested in watching the fight.

His magic seemed to find its mark as his slowly pull out a nice little flask. For anyone else this flask might seem like a simple flask. Unremarkable in its mundanity. But as Expedient looked over it and heard the soft, swirling of the liquid contained within it. He knew that its mundanity hid behind some good old fashioned, liquid joy.

As he took a sip of such effective recreation, Expedient could hear the sound of hoofsteps off to the side of his seat up in the gallery. He turned his head slowly towards whatever was breaking his symphony of shouting and hoof-to-hoof combat.

A beige coloured stallion pushed the door open to the official's gallery. A couple of the journalists that oft frequent the gallery like him, seemed to perk up at the sight.

It was a public meeting then.

"Ah, your Excellency, its nice to meet you here," The voice was gravely, it felt slimey. Expedient took another sip as he turned back to view the fight as Hayseed Glasses took a seat next to him.

"Come to enjoy the view of our respectable members of parliament?" Expedient asked, his magic keeping to hold of the small bottle with him.

"I did, that and here to converse with you regarding some important matters... regarding the state," Hayseed remarked as he took a seat next to Expedient.

"About the Amendments?" Expedient's eyebrow raised, but Hayseed couldn't see it as he nodded.

"Everything is about the Amendments these days," Hayseed stated. Expedient slowly turned back to face him. This close, Expedient couldn't help but feel mildly disgusted at the member of parliament. He reeked of cheap tobacco. Expedient gave a small short nod.

"So, what is the issue?"

"Well," Hayseed clicked his tongue, "I've heard that the UCP isn't fully backing your proposed amendments I heard?"

Expedient nodded carefully, a curt one, "I suppose so. Where you hear that from?"

"I have friends," Hayseed remarked as he focused onto the chaos downstairs as a resounding smack echoed out among the shouting, "Damn, what a hit."

"Mhm, and what's your point, Hayseed?" Expedient raised with an eyebrow.

"Simple. I have a proposition for you, your excellency," That roll of the tongue sent a small shiver down his spine, "And it's a very simple one. It'll be able to secure support back in your party - and even get my party's support for your amendments even!'

Expedient leant back into the chair, trying to prepare himself to hide any reaction that might appear, "And what exactly is it? If it's rolling back on my reforms, I'm not accepting it."

"You sure your ideals are better than making sure it gets passed?" Hayseed remarked. The way his mouth seemed to move slightly set him off. As if it was moving just slightly slower than it should been.

Expedient shook his head, "Of course not. Would you abandon your party's ideals for popularity?"

"Ah but politics is about compromises, no? You compromise on this and that, tittle tattle over specifics, and you are able to pass all the important bits you want and we all get that nice stability~ we all want," The syllables pronounced were like the creak that forks made on plates, "Come on now, Expedy, won't you want to hear... my proposal?"

Expedient gritted his teeth as he let a small smile appear and turned towards him, "Alright then. Tell me. What is your proposal?"

Hayseed let out a small clattering of his teeth once more, "Well, you see. The conservative part of your party? They're quite... quite easily placated if you do what is necessary to secure your party's supremacy in parliament. My party, sees eye to eye with a lot of your party's policies. If you... agree to raise the electoral threshold. Perhaps up to 9%, then, well, you'd have your party back in your lane and a new ally in the parliament."

"And how large is your party exactly, Hayseed?" Expedient asked as he took another sip of his flask, his magic dancing in the glow of the dimness of the gallery.

"Listen," Those teeth moved to let the hiss escape, "We may only have 29 seats in parliament compared to your parties' 148, but that's 29 less seats you need to recurpurate if your party experiences a splinter."

Expedient took a glance down back to the fight occurring in parliament, shouting, punches, and paperwork were being thrown. The anger permeated the room in the form of juicy, juicy gossip for the media to steal and peddle with yellow ink. He took a moment to look at the ponies from the UCP throwing punches at the PEF and CNF who were also punching each other. Some took sides with the PEF and the rest with CNF.

If he were to do what Hayseed intended...

"I'm sorry, but I cannot accept that offer, Hayseed," Expedient sat back down. Hayseed let out a sigh and stood up. That brief, disgusting smell from him tainted his nose as the stallion left. Expedient let out one small scowl as he watched Hayseed leave.

"So you turned down his offer?"

The Chancellor of the Treasury was a short and stout stallion. Defined mostly by his brown coat and bright cyan mane, and a pair of spectacles on the muzzle. Expedient liked him for his ability to count, and the ability to quip a necessary laugh whenever needed.

Expedient nodded as he sat down at the meeting room. It was a nice and comfy room, the newly installed air conditioner was blowing in, and there wasn't anything infuriating to be reported on from the Ministry of Home Affairs. But still, he needed to be briefed on all those minuate regarding the state of affairs regarding the economy.

"How are you going to figure out how to drag the rest of the Conservatives in then, Expedi?" Telegraph Tear asked as he sorted through files.

Expedient sighed as he placed his hooves on the table, making a base from which he can place his head and ponder, "Do you have your ears to any complaints from the MPs?"

"I did get an inquiry from the Ponyville Prefecture," Tear remarked, "Another railroad incident. Apple wants us to fix it as fast as possible, saying that if we can lose Ponyville if it isn't fixed in time."

"And let me guess, the official Inquiry discovered that his hooves technically caused this?" The Prime Minister threw a tired glance at Tear who merely nodded, "Son of a Pieist."

"You can say that again," Tear chuckled, "And this provides a nice little oppurtunity for you to wrangle another vote into your ability. Just set up a meeting with the Member of Parliament of Ponyville, and get yourselves some votes that way."

"At most, Apple Bloom'll only get me six more votes. Not enough to make up for this loss," Expedient noted as he opened the file, "How am I supposed to get fourty three more votes in a month?"

"Well..." Tear trailed, drawing a look from Expedient which begged for him to continue, "I've heard from Minister Cable Dancer that some of the conservative party members are, quite upset about the judges being quite corrupt backdoor wise... have you considered judicial impeachment?"

"Judicial Impeachment? That ight throw Velvet into a tizzy and anger towards me," Expedient remarked as his eyes traced over the details of Ponyvilles issues, "It'd be insane for me to legislate on that in the Amendments, since it'll definitely throw the PFEP into not supporting us."

"Still, there is nothing saying we cannot prosecute judges related to issues outside the court. Since, if I'd recall properly, they'd have Judicial Immunity, right?" Tear laid out, Expedient paused before nodding, "Well, Judicial Immunity is only applicable when they are exercising their duties within their jurisdiction, i e, whilst acting as a Judge. But, only whlist in their jurisdiction. Theoretically, if we can find evidence of their wrongdoings... outside of the matters of court, then we can hit them with a court case where their immunity is inapplicable."

"But that would then require further investigation, and an official inquiry into their activities," Expedient noted at Tear, looking over at him, "And you're a civil servant! You know full well official inquiries go nowhere and that we only do that if we know the results!"

"But we do know the results," Tear noted back at him.

"Wh- What?" His focus turned squarely towards Tear, his eyes widened, "Wha... you mean, you got proper evidence of misconduct?"

"Would I've been the previous Cabinet Under-Secretary if I wasn't?" Tear chuckled, as he dragged out his case from underneath the desk. With finesse pulling a manila folder, if a bit rough at the edges.

"If you check this one, the National Police have some... well, still circumstantial evidence that Judge Lorry may have been involved in some, suppression of Unions near Rainbow Falls, due to some bribery behind the scenes," Tear noted, opening the folder and pointing at some... quite well taken photographs, "Of course, we cannot prosecute him since this is directly related to his duties as a Judge, but I have a friend you see, in NatPol, followed up on the investigation and revealed this is quite a trend for him."

"We all know that, and how is this supposed to give us an edge and win over the concerned conservatives?" Expedient asked, reading over the list of incidents... he wasn't quite surprised at how long it was, "Do you want an official police inquiry into this situation? Have them watch him out and place pressure before finding something that we can actually prosecute? We don't even know if it will dig up things."

"Ah but you see.," Tear beamed, "It will set a precedence once the dirt is dug up, it sets us a political and public victory. We uncover political dirt, revealing that you are in fact, honest and committed to reform, and we get to place pressure on the old dogs and wins some conservative voters from the UCP. That, or we can always hand them the information so they get the win... securing us a favor or two. And you know full well, sir, that overconfidence... is a slow and insidious killer. And I think Judge Lorry's a bit too overconfident."

"... You sure this would work?" Expedient looked at him, with a hint of uncertainty in trusting the bureaucrat. Tear had never been wrong when it came to matters of finances nor ensuring companies danced along the regulations they wanted. But political intrigue? He doubted.

Tear leant on the table, as if reading his thoughts, smiling at him. "Yes, Prime Minister."

3- Circling over Fillydelphia

“International politics, like all politics, is a struggle for power. Which makes it more of a tragedy for us, Equestrians.”

Mayor Mare, Politics Among Equestrians

As soon as his hooves touched FIllydelphian soil, Expedient could just feel the smell of a fish market entering his nose. The Fillydelphian Federation had always been famous for their trout fishing, and had contributed to the stereotype of all Fillydelphians being fishmongers. Expedient personally believed that was at least true, he had seen at least six fishmongers, and five of them looked like Fillydelphians. If one ignored the obvious Canterlotian accents.

But that was now as he stepped off from the walkaway and onto the red carpet laid out for him. The President of the Fillydelphian Federation, Masked Cream stood about four hoofsteps away from him, providing enough walking distance for the press to photograph them apart, then exchanging greetings, then walking over to the convoy to bring them properly into Fillydelphia.

It was the same old, song and dance. Most countries he visited over his previous term did this, it was how you did it to seem polite, cordial. But it was boring. Painfully boring for Expedient and as he shook Masked's hoof with a smile that screamed plastered, he could sense that she too was bored by this. That same plastered smile as they both threw a temporary glance at the cameras to imprint for the press.

"So, how was your flight here?" Masked asked as they walked, a black limousine stood ready at the end of the red carpet.

"Pleasant, it's a bit comfortable to take a nap in a plane, but eh, could be worse," He said with a chuckle, Masked nodded with a smile.

"That's great to hear, hopefully it'd be enough to string you along for our proposed trade deal, eh?" She offered with a chuckle of her own. Expedient nodded with his own laugh as the door to the limousine opened. Masked took a step in and he soon followed inside.

The seat felt smooth as he sat down, the cloth wasn't hard as Canterlotian armchairs were, he could just lean infinitely into this limousine's seat.

"Enjoying the seat?"

He nodded at Masked, "Definitely, good leather I'd say."

"mhm..." Masked clicked her tongue against the top of her mouth, "Now, before we get to the negotiating table. Any issues you currently have with our proposed deal?"

Expedient tilted his head towards Masked, " Of course I do, its not the most perfect deal in the world. Your prices for fish? Too high for our market's taste."

"And your steel's price is too high for the meager sum you're offering," Masked tutted, leaning on the sidedoor, "Turn that into a million tons and we can start talking."

He merely shrugged at the offer, "That for the fish price adjustment."

"Deal," The mare nodded with a smile, "How's it been, Expedient?"

"Terrible," Expedient nodded back, "The Constitutional Reforms are causing me more migraines, and... well, its self explanatory."

"Ah, I suppose so," She nodded, a hoof fumbling with the stored away bottle of whiskey at the bottom of the door, "Its been peaceful over here in the Federation. Everybody's got the post-mid term lethargy. Which means less political scandals and more actual work getting done."

"By Celestia I wish we had a time like that," Expedient shook his head with a chuckle, watching as Masker pulled it out, "Its all... unproductive over here now. My party's half in rebellion, and everybody else wants their slice of the Constitutional Pie. It's all... so tiring."

"I can tell," Masked smiled as she popped open the bottle, "That's why I don't touch landmark bills with a ten hoof stick. All I'm doing is just economics, after all, I ran on economics for a better economy and not for political reform. I am just an economic professor after all."

"And you're intending on going down in history as the mare that saved Fillydelphia's Economy?" Expedient raised an eyebrow at her as she took a swig of the whiskey bottle.

"Of course! No better way to prove to your theories on economics than to implement them yourself! I'll show that Hay Ditch who's better at macroeconomics, and that's going to be me!" Masked declared, passing the bottle over to Expedient, who himself took a small swig from, "What's your long term goal, Expedient? Becoming the Reformer of the Republic, right?"

"No... not really," Expedient leant forward as the limousine lurched forward over a bump, "Just want to go down as the Prime Minister that made Canterlot a much more democratic place. I ain't aiming for the same spot Captain Sparkle holds."

"Well, that's good you're not aiming too high," Masked remarked, "Drawing ire from the most influential mare in your republic is a death sentence for you. But you also have to consider long term democratic processes, not just in the short term, Expedient."

"If you're suggesting more changes to the Constitution, then I don't know about my survival in the Parliament, Masked,"

"Listen alright. If you're going to be a limp dick when pushing your Constitution, you're not going to get things through," Masked leant forward towards him, the smell of alcohol was quite prominent, "You have to be more decisive, more contreversial, and more importantly, more brave to push more radical ideas through. Like, I've read the news on your reforms. And... really? Only electoral?"

"I... had plans to include term limits and make it easier to launch impeachments," Expedient admitted, looking down at the floor of the limo, "I didn't plan on adding them because I doubt the UCP would even let them see the light of even existing on the drafts."

"Put them on anyway!" She exclaimed, "Show them that this what you want, but say you're willing to negotiate on them. By throwing them a kilometre you can get a yard of progress!"

"I'd be seen as weak then!" Expedient threw a hoof in gesticulatory exclamation, "If I seem weak I'd lose capital in the parliament, that makes it harder to do everything else! What do you want me to do then?"

"You'll lose capital with the hardliners, not the moderates," Masked added, "If you can demonstrate that you're willing to compromise, the UCP's Conservatives may be more willing to... bend to your way of thinking. You can also incentivise them by playing to what they want in other fields. They want to redraw the electoral boundaries? Let them! They want to nationalise some companies? Suggest some that would fulfill the goals easily! You can keep your image as a democratic reformer whilst allowing them to dictate economics."

"... is that what you've been doing in Filly?" Masked nodded.

"Of course! If the liberals want welfare I can get them welfare as long as they want to sucker up to my economic policies!" She said with a prideful grin, "You have to make sure that not only you and the parliament knows about this deal, throw it out with a statement to the press... or a very juicy 'leak' to the press. It's a very easy task to do you know, and its a very advantageous effect to."

"I..." Expedient paused, mulling over the words as he looked out the window of the limosuine, their destination - an imposing brutalist structure - coming into view, "Are you sure that'll work back in the Republic?"

"Oh I'm sure about it!" Masked chuckled, spotting the view as well, "You just need to apply it well. This entire thing is just an exercise in... what I'd call professional guidance. If you get them all panicked over your radical reforms, you can easily, push through what you actually intended."

"So, productive meeting I hope?" The Cabinet secretary asked Expedient as he got on the steps of the walkway to the plane. He was tidy as ever, and his greying mane stayed as it always was. Indecisively grey with bits of its original brown in it. Expedient always thought of him like beige. There in the background, yet everywhere.

"Productive, very productive, Pear," Expedient grinned, the smell of the boring air of the airport was slowly devolving away for the familiar smell of grapes that were government airplanes as he got to the door of the plane, "The trade deal's secured, and this is a great win for my public relations. It'll be all over the papers!"

"That's lovely, Prime Minister," Sir Pear replied, his intonation making it hard to pin whether it was laced with sarcasm or genuine, "But there are some things that require your attention, regardless."

Expedient rolled his eyes as he headed for his seat, "What is it this time? Did the inquiry on the judges dig something up."

"No, Prime Minister," Pear stated, still gripping onto a manila folder, "Rather, Hayseed has been spotted talking with a Miss Glory Cane."

Pausing in his seat, and proceeding to look up at Pear with a facial expression that tried to process the statement. Perhaps it was surprise winning initially, but fear, panic, and mania managed to find places on Expedient's face.

"You mean- that they... were?" He stuttered out, "Mee-meeting toge, together? Glory and Hayseed?"

Pear nodded, handing him the manila folder, "Yes they were Prime Minister. And, there is a considerable body of the opinion that decisive action be taken once you're back in Canterlot."

Frantically opening the folder, Expedient's eyes darted across the photographs of the meeting two. The lovely shilouette of Glory and the despicable aura of Hayseed were things you didn't expect to see in one image, but nonetheless it was there. k

"Oh, oh this is horrendous!" Expedient exclaimed, looking back up at Pear, "They're going to tear the Amendments apart!"

"Well... yes and no, Minister. Yes that they are going to try, and no if you could think something up," Pear returned uselessly as he took his seat next to Expedient, "Oh and, don't forget you're meeting you with the honorable MP from Ponyville tomorrow..."

"Right, right..." He nodded, "But how am I going to deal with Hayseed and Glory? That's more than enough to prevent the Amendments going through."

"Mhm, quite a trouble indeed, Prime Minister," Pear remarked, "I suppose you're going to have to find some way to win them over... maybe a scandal, maybe a concession."

"Are you sure you don't anything about this?" Expedient asked, shifting his seat to face towards Pear with a look of frantic panic in his eyes.

"Prime Minister, I'd recommend you take a breath first and think this through," Pear conveyed, returning to his master a stern look, "Panic will do us no good if you're being corned by your enemies... you'd have to think rationally about this."

"Rationally!?" Expedient's voice was on the edge, "These two are going to kill me! What am I supposed to do? There's no way that I can get bloody Bloom on board, she's a hardliner for the UCP. And there's no way I can get the nationalists to stop their support the UCP. I'd need two bullets to take them both out! And that's not even a guarantee I can find one!"

With a frown on his face, Pear kept a calm voice, "Then improvise your way through it. You're a politician, keep it under wraps and keep going. We'll figure out a way to deal with them. The cabinet has your back behind this, I can assure you."

Expedient shook his head as he sat back right in his seat, the airplane shuddering as it disengaged from the walkway, preparing to taxi off.

"Do you have any ideas, Pear?" Expedient asked again, unwilling to let this become a quiet issue, "What do you think we should do?"

"I... would keep very quiet about this, Prime Minister," Pear's head bobbed with each word, he took the manila folder from Expedient's grip and continued speaking, "That, and perhaps contact the Ministry of Defense to see if they need anything passed in the next few days that would infuriate the nationalists."

"Ministry of Defense? What do they have got to do with this?" Expedient snapped his head back up from the sulk.

"Mhm, they're considering abolishing conscription. Too expensive," Pear said with more than enough dismissiveness, but laced within them, was that familiar tone and smile that Expedient could catch, "They say it's not useful anymore in a modern war. That it's too dangerous to give to the average folk access to weapons. Might end up in unfavourable incidents. Might cause parents to lose too many children. Hm, its quite obvious really Prime Minister."

Expedient nodded, a small plan forming in his head as a grin spread across his face, "Yeah you're right, that's quite obvious..."