Gladmane is a successful stallion, no matter what the courts, the loan office, and his former employees might say. Everything he does is a success; even his failures are just a stepping stone to greater successes in the future.

Unfortunately, this becomes a problem the one time he wants to lose.

When winning means losing and losing means winning, what's a savvy stallion to do to make sure he ends up on top?

Whatever is necessary, of course. That's just politics.

An entry for the 2024 Everfree Northwest Iron Author competition. Written in two hours with the prompts weasel, smile, and gubernatorial. It didn't win (or even get an honorable mention) but I'm proud of it anyway.

Some minor edits and proofreading done post-contest.

Cover art created by the wonderfully talented Shaslan, live, during a reading.