Cogs

Rouge, mane slick with styling, wearing his best suit trotted nervously down the gravel. Starlight had been put to bed, and the staff briefed on how they were to behave in his absence. With any luck, half of them would actually go along with it. The sun was gracefully setting, ending what could only be described as an atrocious day. Still compared to the previous two, things could be worse. The eastern breeze brought with it the scent of apple blossom, and the town was vibrant with the sound of happy unicorn foals playing. Seeing his gait, some of the foals were dragged aside by harangued looking parents; glaring down their noses willing Rouge to make a mistake.

With deliberate care, Wildfire held himself above the ruined street. Down the length of it buildings were scarred, their facades threatening to collapse at the slightest whisper of movement. At the end, facing the street dominatingly, the ripped hole that was Iridescence's house. The rear wall was better than the front, but not by much, the two side walls barely supporting the timber frame for the roof, and the second floor bowed ominously towards its centre. The carnage was sickening; the street had been shredded with such force and brutality that dozens of ponies were critically injured. The beams fell in with a deep groan of splintering wood.

"The other departments aren't going to like this. I trust you have a plan, yes?" Poppy Leaf asked carefully. Iridescence gave her a steady look.

"Of course they won't, mostly because they didn't think of it, but the only thing I can do is stay in Canterlot a few days to make sure people go with my candidate over theirs" He said shifting his weight in the armchair. "Have a cleaner excavate my office, though send a scouting party in before." Iridescence said in an attempt at humour.

"Your father won't like that, don't you have Ponyville obligations?"

"My house is in ruins waiting for repair, my job is irrelevant as a mop in a suit could pass for a foreman for the team I oversee, the only obligation I owe to Ponyville is to the ponies that reside there, and quite frankly, most of them will be glad to have a break from me." Iridescence said bluntly. "Can you believe it's been less than a week, and already I have upset the most influential family there, destroyed the employment market, near irrevocably, as a consequence, and been the target of a murder attempt?"

"Having met you, yes, yes I can." Poppy Leaf said with unwavering sincerity.

There was nothing for it, Wildfire had decided, it was time to go back to his workers' lodgings, and wait it out. He set down on the ruined street lightly and ambled slowly about the perimeter of the near collapsed house. He gazed over the rubble and sighed, there was nothing recognisable anymore, the house was lucky to have stood the past day, let alone hold its form for another.

With a forced smile he trotted through the streets of the old town until he reached a familiar, if unwelcome sight. The darkened, grey, dingy, and almost forbidding alleyway network that made up the industrial portion of Ponyville, its residential section built up, densely populated, and covered in a thick layer of grime from the smog. The sound of birdsong that Wildfire had grown so accustomed to over the past five days was hauntingly absent, and the breeze blowing what could only be called fog about his hooves wasn't helping his mood.

With regretful trudging steps, he crossed the first alleyway keeping his head down. With a painful blow, a brick had been hurled headlong into Wildfire, winding him. The assailant, a grubby looking earth pony, rushed over to purloin what she may find.

"'ere, what a bloody toff," She said disdainfully, "Where do you get off coming back to these forsaken streets then, eh?" She gave Wildfire a spiteful glare. "Things not working out with your plat boyfriend?" She spat the word plat with force, using the enforcers' de facto nickname, awarded to them for their founder Platinum Falls.

"He's no damned plat if that gives you any comfort, and he certainly ain't my boyfriend." Wildfire wheezed breathlessly. "

"Yeah? Well there's me thinking a unicorn with influence over them must be something to them." Wildfire risked turning his head to look at the mare.

"Oh deary me, Tiger May as I live, and apparently breath," he said mockingly, "I thought you had given up on the old mugging game. What made you have a change of heart?" Wildfire finished compassionately. Softening, Tiger sat down next to Wildfire and gave a slight sigh.

"Had to didn't I? What with mother taking up the drink again, and the foundry being nothing but a bunch o' stingy up themselves unicorns." She glared angrily at Wildfire after a moment's thought. "But here you are, in your hoity get up, walking about looking as if you own the place. And to run after such filth as that damned enforcer dogsbody..." Tiger looked disgusted.

"I seem to recall nopony took this much offence to me becoming a guard." Wildfire said sternly.

"Well that’s' different, an' you know why. As much a nuisance the pegasi may be, up there watching everything, they damn well know when it's time to turn away, and ignore the small stuff. Besides, you can spot them a mile off, in their shiny smart uniforms, they keep ponies innocent." Tiger said condescendingly. "Not like a plat, with their secrecy, and always watching, don't know the difference between a crime, and a bit of honest pilfering."

"You might be surprised to learn then, that the unicorns in the old town fear and hate them even more than some of the street waifs you could care to name."

"Toffs with their private law have nothing to fear; they can just throw money at a problem and watch it disappear. Only last week Greythorn was killed by his employer because he was apparently stealing silver. So what if he was, you can't tell me that that is right. Why do them over there get such privilege while I have to fester in these gutters barely supporting myself let alone my family?" Tiger asked incredulously.

"Roselyn's butler? Yes I heard about that. Met his replacement, nice enough pony though pompous and arrogant. Well the plats carted her off a couple of days ago, along with her husband and eldest."

"What? Never. What did she do that was so atrocious?"

"She tried to kill my employer." Wildfire said regretting it immediately.

"Oh right then, I suppose when she butchers us 'lower races' nopony gives a damn, but she touches another unicorn and that's it is it?" She spat angrily. "And here I was starting to get all sympathetic to them, thinking they might actually have the capability of honest and real emotion." Tiger finished sarcastically.

"You still lodging with that nutter from Fillydelphia?" Wildfire asked desperately changing the topic.

"Course I am, not like I can afford anywhere else. Not everypony can be as lucky as you, with your highbred home that you get for sleeping with some ponce." Tiger said bitterly glaring at the stallion.

"I'll have you know Iridescence is my employer, not a lover." Wildfire retorted indignantly.

"And you even talk like them do now, all proper with your airs and graces. It's like trying to talk to the Empress herself. You were once respectable, now you're just one of them."

"Look, my employer has decided to go off on some adventure to Canterlot, and the house we were in was totalled by Roselyn in her rage, so I'm just here to pick up some things before going back to my 'high living' as you're so keen to think of it, lodging with quite possibly the only decent unicorn still in that privileged community of self-important bigots." Wildfire looked softly at Tiger. "Here, this should see you through a few days; you were only going to rob me of it anyway." He said tossing a small money pouch at her.

"Oh my, how gracious." Tiger said with a put on sneer. "I wish I could be more sympathetic to you, and more grateful for this pittance, but I know your situation is a damn sight better than mine will ever be."

The streets of Canterlot were beautifully illuminated by the evening sun. Casting long shadows over the white buildings, appearing crimson in the light, Iridescence inhaled happily. It wasn't Manehattan, but it was a lot closer to home than Ponyville. He gazed about the main street, enjoying the sounds of a city at dusk he noticed a grand building just outside the castle walls. Twilight's Mausoleum, vast and impressive, it emanated the beauty and splendour of the new regime; back when it was new.

It had been years since Iridescence had last set hoof in there. As part of a school trip to Canterlot the young unicorns had been encouraged to visit and pay their respects. With a reminiscent smile he strode confidently to the entrance and gave the guard a slight nod. The entrance to the vast tomb was gilt and plush, its surfaces giving an unmistakable rich feel. Even the carpet, deep with its pile, was a grand purple, and replaced annually what with its thread becoming worn and bleached through excessive traffic and light.

At the far end of the entrance stood a grand statue of Twilight Sparkle, head held high, planting a flag. Iridescence smiled fondly as he walked past it to descend the stairs behind the statue's base. The fornix beneath was cool and dry, lit with safety lanterns and following a similar layout to the entrance hall. With one significant change though, where a statue stands above to the end of the room, a glass sarcophagus rests on the flagstones below.

Iridescence approached at a respectable slow gait. Embalmed beautifully, a unicorn lay above the inscription bearing her name: 'Twilight Sparkle', with the addendum: 'Gifted Academic, Scientist, Sociologist, Unicorn. We shall remember her.' Smiling weakly, Iridescence gave a gracious bow to the case, eyes wet with tears of respect, gratitude, and above all humility.

After a short time, Iridescence ascended the stone steps and blinked in the bright light of the entrance hall. He decided to continue to the next floor where a memorial library and reading room was held. Books written by great thinkers adorned the high mahogany shelves, most of them either by Twilight, or critiques of her work by others. She had applied herself to so many disciplines, and had written on most of them. Iridescence breathed in the musty heady smell of ancient books and selected one at random. 'Socialist Equestria: An overview of post revolt society' was one of the last books to be written by Twilight, and had been heavily edited and censored by the department of Documentation. Iridescence settled himself in an armchair, and turned to a random page.

'Perhaps the most striking difference, to society comes in the form of how business is managed, all forms of enterprise are now heavily controlled by the state, their occupancy being decided by the department of Agriculture and Welfare, their existence noted and accounted for by the department of Documentation, and their regulation being handled by the department of Justice. As previously mentioned, these three departments represent the will of the Empress, and a form of democratic process in the creation of the governing laws. Between them they divide wealth with a modicum of equality about the community, ensuring all ponies, regardless of race, sex, or ability is capable of sustaining their own existence, so long as they appease the assignment of employment.

Employment itself is also improved, arguably, as with such assignments very few ponies are unemployed, those that are do so out of choice not necessity, and few jobs go understaffed. Most interesting though, is how artists and inventors have their employment regulated. Common practice is to assign one such gifted pony suitable premises for their type of employment, then to give them a stipend for being available for official work. Architects will, for example, be required to design lodgings and factories, along with public service buildings to secure their wage, picking up trifling sums of money elsewhere as and when they pick up a private commission. This is particularly true of artists, most will paint, sculpt or create works depicting important political heads as part of their actual job, with the occasional piece created when a pony of sufficient wealth can afford their services.'

Iridescence blinked blearily, the text was washing over him, causing his tired mind to feel numb. He put the book back on its shelf and sleepily walked downstairs to the entrance. The guard shift had changed, and the new pony gave Iridescence a confused but respectful look as the exhausted pony ambled past.

* * *

With great care Iridescence sat between his mother and father. In a conference room just off the castle grounds the mid-morning sun blazed through the ornate windows, making Iridescence uncomfortably warm.

"Father, I..." Iridescence began meekly.

"You have spoken for the department, which is a right I had not awarded you. I only respect your decision publicly, lest our family look deplorable, but know that I do not support you privately." Platinum Falls spoke bluntly.

"You said yourself the decision I made was one you would have." Iridescence retorted quietly.

"Exactly." Platinum Falls said sharply. "One I would have made." Emphasising the I forcefully he turned away from Iridescence. The door swung open to allow a small group of unicorns to enter. Sitting opposite Iridescence a trio of unicorns dressed in a collection of reds sat comfortably, glaring with bureaucratic force, and at the other side of the rounded table sat another group of three, though dressed in rich greens. From above the table looked like a triangle formed from black, red, and green points; each sitting almost an equal distance apart from the others.

"The department of Documentation feels it best that Ponyville Manor be occupied by Cotton Flower." The only red clad stallion began slowly. "Her credentials are outstanding, and we feel she has a healthy attitude towards business management, serving classes, and foals."

"You would Brandy, you do tend to support those with the deepest pockets." A white mare dressed in green spoke bitterly.

"Really Nightsong, you're going to play that card? Why doesn't your department support her, she is your employee after all?" Brandy retorted, running a hoof through his white mane out of stress.

"Why for that reason of course." Nightsong said simply. "It would not do to relocate her from her fine service. As for her attitude to foals, we in Agriculture and Welfare have the opinion that she will most likely sell the filly first chance she gets." She shifted in her seat, her pink mane clashing horribly with the green of her mandated dress. At least her white coat bore little clash.

"Why in Equestria would she sell a foal?" Brandy asked bemused at the suggestion.

"Have you not heard her remark how the teaching hospitals always need practice materials?" Nightsong replied slyly. "Consider for a moment the circumstances surrounding her parents' untimely passing." Platinum Falls shot Nightsong a warning look.

"I will not tolerate that level of accusation at this table!" He shouted forcibly.

"No? How much did she pay you then? Cotton Flower solves all her problems by throwing money at them." Nightsong said in a gossiping fashion.

"Moving on." Platinum Falls said sharply. "Who do you propose?"

"The department of Agriculture and Welfare find Pearl Ring a suitable candidate."

"Moving on." Platinum Falls repeated in the same tone. "The department of Justice have been informed the replacement should be Starfall." He gave a sidelong glance at Iridescence. "Meeting over. Good day."

"No it most certainly is not. Why did we not get to defend our candidate?" Nightsong asked indignantly.

"I didn't want to waste your time with false hope." Platinum Falls suavely replied. Nightsong deflated visibly.

"I still fail to see why Cotton Flower is such a bad choice." Brandy stated trembling with nerves.

"Because she's a heartless shrew of a pony who would sell her own mother, and, if you believe Nightsong, has." Platinum Falls bellowed, patience vanishing quickly. "Now can we end this charade and just agree that, as per usual, the department of Justice is right."

"I think it is fair to say that we are the only department that has acted justly in the garnering of a candidate." Nightsong cried over the growing din. "We haven't taken a bribe, or forced a reaction from convicted criminals."

"I say." Platinum Falls gasped in mock surprise. "You would dare accuse my department of unfair tactics when it comes to the matter of politics. What of you being influenced by the fact that you want to get your own sister a teaching job in Ponyville? Would Pearl Ring's absence not provide you a perfect work opening?" Iridescence took a deep breath.

"Interdepartmental agreement states that in the event of an employment vacancy, not through departmental action on the part of Agriculture and Welfare, or Documentation, the previous incumbent, unless disqualified through whit of insanity, has precedent in choosing their replacement, unless they are disqualified through whit of physical incapability, insanity, or being criminally unsuitable." Iridescence spoke calmly and softly, causing silence to drop about the room again.

"Lord Blossomfall has declared his family inappropriate for making such a decision, and gave a lengthy statement giving his views on the suggested replacement. Unless a legitimate disqualification reason is given, his wishes are to be respected." He finished as quietly as he had begun, shocked by his own words.

"What are you doing?" Golden Jubilee hissed in a low whisper.

"Saving our credibility." Iridescence replied hushed. Nightsong cleared her throat.

"When put like that I can see the point of Starfall. I trust she'll be better at caring for Starlight than Cotton Flower at any rate, so the department of Agriculture and Welfare is satisfied with this conclusion." Nightsong said slowly and deliberately.

"The department of Documentation also agrees that Starfall is most suited, no matter how much we didn't benefit from a never given bribe." Brandy agreed sweating and looking ill.

* * *

"If you ever do that again, I won't stop at disowning you." Platinum falls said harshly once everypony else had left the room. Iridescence looked straight at him, unblinking.

"Do what? Save your credibility? Fix a power vacuum? Make a suitably visible position for an already being watched pony?" He snarled back, flippant in his rage.

"I appreciate your actions have worked, but it was not your place to make them."

"If I am watching you nearly fail, why should I not stop you from falling?" Iridescence asked coldly.

"Because that is my job, and nopony else is trustworthy enough."

"Next time I'll just let you drop then?"

"That is what I expect of you, yes!" Platinum Falls spat. "You are a failure of a son, a failure of an enforcer, and a failure of a unicorn, yet you act out on the few areas you actually have some modicum of ability in, only causing the wrong ponies to notice you. I made the right decision in exiling you from this family; I'm just sorry it took that gateau for me to find an excuse to do so." Platinum Falls started breathing heavily.

"I don't expect you to show me up, I don't expect an incompetent like yourself trying to save me, and if by some miracle you manage it, it doesn't strengthen us, it weakens me. I may have lost credibility had I fallen from grace then, but I have lost credibility now. Credibility as a father, and credibility as a head. None of the other department underlings spoke once; they sat quietly taking notes, and passing documents to their superiors. You have smeared my reputation as the confident leader I once could claim to be."

"No father." Iridescence spoke bluntly. "You smeared it, the moment you refused help on an issue you were incapable of. You can no longer command ponies as you once did, you have lost that part of you, and anything I do, does little more than merely underline the point to you. Everypony else can see it, you are merely deluded with your own self-importance and worth."

"Such nerve, I have half a mind to..." Platinum Falls started shocked.

"Good day, father, I have business to attend to." Iridescence sharply turned on the spot, and walked dramatically out of the room.