Mares Office (Ed)

Mare's Office

    Her head pounded.  It split.  It felt like somebody was driving a steel rod through her skull, right behind her ears.  It was another typical migraine.  She got them more and more as she aged.  She wasn’t a young pony anymore.  She didn’t need this abuse.  She should just abandon it all and take off for an island resort in the Trotugas.  Then they wouldn’t have Mayor Mare to kick around anymore.
    There was more pounding.  This time it was knocking on the door.
    “What is it?” Mayor Mare shouted a bit too harshly.  She had specifically told Maple that she didn’t want any interruptions during the meeting with her adviser.
    Maple stuck her head through the door.  “Princess Celestia is on hold, ma'am.  Line one.”
    Mayor Mare sighed.  “I’ll take it in a moment, Maple, thank you.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Maple said as she ducked out the door.
    “Now what could she want?” Mayor Mare asked.
    “Could be anything,” said her adviser.
    “Humor me.”
    “Could be the missing relief money from the Hoof and Mouth outbreak.”
    “That’s a town council issue.  It’s right there in the charter.  I declare the municipal emergencies, the council deals with the appropriations.  That’s the way it’s always been run.”
    “They changed that two nights ago.  Emergency closed door meeting,” her adviser said.
    “And I vetoed that.  Hell, the the vote wasn’t even legal if it wasn’t public.  If we have to take that to arbitration, we can.  The judge would take one look and throw...”
    “Doesn’t really matter if we’re in the right.  It’s a short term issue.  They’re forcing a scandal.”
    “Are you telling me that Misty is...”
    There was another knock at the door.  “Yes!” Mayor Mare shouted.
    Maple poked her head in again.  “The public employee union boss is here to speak with you,” she said, before ducking away again.
    “Thank you, Maple,” Mayor Mare said.  “Alright, what else could it be?”
    “Well,” said her adviser.  “Could be the union thing.”
    “We’ve already negotiated a contract, are you telling me they’ve gone over my head after we’ve already reached a deal?” the mayor asked.
    “It’s all but signed by the council.  The Princess would put a hell of a lot of pressure on you to make it sweeter,” her adviser answered.
    “We can’t...”
    Maple knocked again and entered.  “Your lawyer is here to see you, Mayor.  Something about a settlement deal.  He says it’s urgent.”
    “Thank you, Maple,” Mayor Mare continued.  “We can’t sweeten the pot.  That would mean cutting the budget for the schools.  We’re stretched paper thin.”
    “We could issue another levy on property tax.  Of course, that’s not going to help poll numbers any.”
    “Oh god,” Mayor Mare said, “do I even want to know what the poll...”
    Maple knocked again.  “Three fillies here to see you, Mayor.”
    “Thank you, Maple.  Alright,” she said to her adviser, “tell me how bad the poll numbers are.”
    “Seven points behind,” her adviser said.  “Misty’s running away with it.  Her latest attack is to call you too inexperienced for the job.”
    “Me?” Mayor Mare was dumbfounded.  “She’s been on the council for three months!  She chaired a meeting once and they had to take over for her because she didn’t know the first thing about protocol!  She’s never even paid attention to how this town works!”
    “That’s politics, Mayor,” her adviser said.  “Attack the strengths.”
    “Alright, what is is it that... MAPLE!” Mayor Mare shouted.
    “Yes, ma’am?” Maple stuck her head in again.
    “Who do you say is waiting for me?”
    “Princess Celestia is holding on line one.  I’d take that first, Mayor.  The Union boss is waiting in the waiting room.  So is your lawyer, now he’s saying it’s an emergency.  Also, there are three fillies.  They’re kind of making a mess of the place, to be honest.”
    “What do the fillies want?” the Mayor asked.
    “I don’t really understand,” Maple said.  “They say they haven’t got their cutie marks and they say that maybe they want to be Cutie Crusader Mayors, whatever that means. I think they want to see your office, or something.”
    Mayor Mare took in a long deep breath.  “Alright, you,” she pointed a hoof at her adviser.  “I want you to get the hell out of here, and go straight to my campaign manager.  We’re going full attack mode.  I want all the boots off.  Misty wants to run this kind of campaign, this is the kind of campaign she’ll get.
    “Yes, ma’am,” her adviser said, hurrying from the office.
    “And you,” Mayor Mare pointed at her secretary.
    “Yes, ma’am?” Maple squeaked.
    “I want you to take a message from Princess Celestia.  I’ve got too much on my hooves right now to talk to her.  Tell the Union boss that the new contract is completely between me and the union.  If he wants to get Celestia involved then the deal is off, contrition included.  And tell my lawyer he’s already got full power of attorney. I haven’t got time for any more of this crap.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Maple said.
    “Oh, and Maple?” Mayor Mare straightened her hair and put on a smile.
    “Yes, ma’am?”
    “Could you show those fillies in, please?”