Season 2

Episode: 11

Industrials Rise

It was a bright morning in Canterlot. Freestream was riding in his carriage to an old friend in the political field. The carriage stopped outside of a large manor. He stepped put dressed in a nice suit. He stepped up to the manor and knocked on the door. A nicely dressed butler answered.

Butler: May I help you sir?

Freestream: I'm here on government business with your employer.

Butler: Come in sir.

The butler escorted the man to a study where a fireplace was going. In one chair turned to the fire was the manor owner.

Butler: sir you have a visitor.

: Thank you Polished Porcelain. You may go.

The butler left and Freestream took a seat opposite of the pony.

Freestream: Pleasure to see you again Blue Blood.

Blueblood: You as well my friend. Tell me how has the railroads been doing?

Freestream: Well we are being worked hard. You've heard the whispers of war have you not?

Blueblood: I have yes. Are you here about them?

Freestream: That and more. The rumors are true my friend and that is why I'm here. You know my company is under government control correct?

Blueblood: Yes, it is to prevent monopolies from controlling the rails. What about it?

Freestream: Well my friend I know of your experience in smooth talking the nobility. When the war kicks off they will try to manipulate the government with monopolies.

Blueblood: What is my aunts' plans for countering such a measure?

Freestream: Government control of strong monopolies built from the ground up. They want you blueblood to join me and a select others to start these monopolies.

Blueblood: Why me? You've seen how I act.

Freestream: yes you are a great actor is what I remember. That handsome snob persona of yours is why you are good. You have quite the ways in slipping past the nobles' traps and the princesses need people like you.

Blueblood: What do I have to gain from such a venture?

Freestream: Well your goods gain priority over other noble companies on my trains. Not to mention your passenger train would be given exclusively to you and your company as well as some war department engines to run your business.

Blueblood: Will my family's respect be given to me if I drop the act?

Freestream: Of course friend, you would be a solution to problems in the noble courts. They would be so proud and you could finally be highly respected by more than the nobility.

Blueblood: What kind of company do they expect of me?

Freestream: Construction. You have the money and power to begin such a business in Canterlot. Money will be provided for services and, the allies of Equestria and the princesses themselves will use their hidden voices to guide workers to you. All you have to do is say yes and you can take your muddled name into a family worthy of acknowledgement.

Blueblood pondered over the idea. Respect, pride, love from the ponies of Equestria. He could finally restore the family name.

Blueblood: I will do this. What about facilities I have none yet.

Freestream: The princesses happened to buy out some crippled construction companies in Canterlot and elsewhere in the country. They will sell them to you for miniscule prices for you.

Blueblood: Thank you. Tell the princess I except. The company shall be called Noble Blue Construction.

Freestream shook hooves with Blueblood.

Freestream: Good. Now I must be off. Unless you know any nobles who are loyal to princesses before paychecks.

Blueblood pondered.

Blueblood: Well Fancy Pants and his wife Fleur are two very loyal noble houses.

Freestream: What do they own?

Blueblood: Fancy is a philanthropist who owns gem mines and his wife's family work in the textile industry.

Freestream: Excellent. With him we can get the government control of a mineral company. As for textiles, they could bring in money to distribute throughout others and provides us with two more influential ponies. Thank you my friend.

Blueblood: Where is the best building for a headquarters?

Freestream: Well the largest is here in the city. Have you seen that old building not far from the railyard?

Blueblood: The old foundry? That building is huge!

Freestream: it's is yours to own now. Go talk to the princesses. I must go to find these loyal friends of yours.

Freestream exited the manor and returned to his carriage.

Freestream: Coachman. Do you know where the Fancy pants and Fleur de lis live?

Coachman: Yes sir.

Freestream: Take me there.

The carriage rolled down the road until it came to a stop. Freestream looked out to see another opulent mansion of the elite. He stepped out of the carriage and proceeded to the door.

With a knock a maid opened the door.

Maid: How may I help you sir?

Freestream: I wish to discuss with the owners of this manor.

Maid: Oh I'm sorry. Mr. Fancy Pants is at an art auction with Ms. De lis.

Freestream: I am with the government. I must speak with them.

Maid: I'm sorry sir. I cannot help you. Anything else I can do for you?

Freestream: Very well. Tell them to come to Canterlot Rail works for Freestream must see them on matters of state. Will you do that?

Maid: Of course sir.

Freestream nodded, then reached into a coat pocket to give a card along with ten bits.

Freestream: Keep the bits to buy yourself something nice.

Maid: Thank you sir.

Freestream left the door and entered the carriage. Later that day, he was at the works when he had a knock at his office.

Freestream: Yes?

Stem Cloud: Sir, two ponies are here to see you about matters of state?

Freestream: Yes. Let them in.

Freestream saw two tall unicorns. A tall stallion and a thin mare walked in.

Fancy: You are Freestream?

Freestream: Aye that I am. Please have a seat.

The two took seats.

Fleur: Why did you want to talk?

Freestream: Well I heard you are loyal the royal sisters and are very generous unlike other nobility. Is this true?

Fancy: It is. We help any pony we can. Why do you ask?

Freestream: Have you heard the rumors of war going round?

The couple looked at each other.

Fleur: We have. Are you saying it is true?

Freestream: Sadly, yes. However, I and the sisters need help. You two can provide it from what I've heard?

Fancy: What do the princesses need of us?

Freestream: We would like you Sir Fancy Pants to join myself and a select others create government owned monopolies. To stop nobles from getting in the way of the war.

Fancy: Ah I see. Does this have to do with my gem company?

Freestream: Yes, the crown is willing to give you land grants to other mineral deposits to help us. As for Ms. de lis, I believe your popularity and family textile industry can help the crown by giving the princesses more…influence in the field of politics.

Fancy: what for us in return?

Freestream: All government owned companies get railroad priority. Plus a locomotive along with others in the need of freight traffic. Come, follow me.

The group walked onto a catwalk to see a locomotive that was being polished.

Fancy: My word. Locomotives sure are beautiful machines.

Freestream: one of these beautiful locomotives of your choice from our models can be yours. You will receive freight engines as well for your mineral deposits. So, can I tell the princesses you have joined their side?

Fancy and Fleur whispered to each other then turned to Freestream.

Fancy: You have my mineral company mister Freestream.

Fleur: I'm sure I can dissuade any complaining from some of the nobility.

Freestream: Excellent. Follow me to the selection room.

The three entered a room. On in glass cases beautifully, handmade models of locomotives.

The two looked at all the designs.

Fancy: That one looks lovely.

He pointed to a single wheeler locomotive

Fleur: So does that one

She pointed to a Coronation class.

Fancy: What would you personally recommend Mr. Freestream?

Freestream: If you like that single wheeler I would recommend a 4-4-0 design. Like this one.

He picked up a model of a Midland compound.

Fancy: My word, that is very pretty.

Freestream: She isn't fast, or super strong but this locomotive can make it up in elegance I assure you.

Fleur: I think we would like this one.

Freestream: Great now before you leave I need you to give it a name and colors to paint it.

He pointed to the colors on the wall.

Fancy: I like this shade of red.

Freestream: Ah that sir is crimson. So should it be named the Fleur de lis?

Fleur: Oh my… I certainly am flattered Mr. Freestream. What do you think honey?

Fancy: Yes. That way, if I ever travel, I can look at this locomotive's name and think of you.

Freestream: Very well. It will be finished quickly and I shall have my finest crews working on it.

That night, Freestream arrived at the castle to talk to the sisters.

Celestia: Ah Freestream how are things?

Freestream: I got you who I could.

Luna: Who nobles have you acquired for these government monopolies?

Freestream: Blueblood shall come to start his new construction company. Mr. Fancy pants and his mineral company, along with his wife Fleur have decided their family businesses should work with the crown.

Celestia: This is wondrous.

Luna: These nobles will help us stop others from getting in the way of peace negotiations and future prosperity.

Freestream: Yes indeed. As for the prototype military trains you requested, they will be displayed at the training camp of the Hybrid Division. This will allow us to sell locomotives to our allies when they come to see the camp.

Celestia: Good.

Freestream: any news on the enemy.

Luna: They are preparing navies and drafting troops. Our fleet is growing and volunteers are rising. Peacekeeper is going to help but we need more of her.

Freestream: An armored train cannot help you on another continent if the war is short. If the war is long, we are building two others. These though are specifically for weapon platforms unlike Peacekeeper which can also pull troop trains. In the meantime, I can build weapon cars for existing locomotives. How about those cannon ships you were working on?

Luna: The cannon ships are being produced quickly and your small transports with a frontal canon is in production.

Freestream sighed. Clearly exhausted being thrust into such a position.

Freestream: I wish my mentor was here. He could help more than I.

Celestia: We all wish he was here Freestream. Your mentor was a great pony and his technology got us this far. Keep in mind though, you have kept his legacy going. He would be proud.

Luna: I miss him so. He vanished off the face of the planet two years ago.

Freestream: Well it was a pleasure. I must get some sleep.

Celestia: I as well.

The two left with Luna sitting on her throne. She was about to weep when Titan came in.

Titan: Mom. I came to keep you company through night court.

She hugged and nuzzled her son. Her sadness dimmed. While a figure watched them hug before vanishing in magic.