Dark Alleys, Bright Hearts

Mark and I walk down a hallway, to where the blacksmith that’s going to be making our tools is.

Mark smiles, “Hopefully this blacksmith can actually make the tools.”

I shrug, “If he can’t, then Celestia won’t be getting what she wants. So he better.”

Mark opens a door, moving inside. I trot after him.

The room is a smithery, with a large, coal black, earth pony working it. Annoyance radiates off him constantly, but it is impossible to tell from outward appearance.

He looks over to Mark, and nods, “Greetings, lad. I take it you are the one with the stuff?”

Mark nods back, “Yes. I must say, that’s quite the unique accent.”

The stallion nods, “Aye, it’s part of me family. Celestia might take a lot from us, but she’ll never take our accent.”

I smirk, “So readily insulting Celestia in front of her two most loyal citizens? My, you are brave.”

He shakes his head, “No, lassie, ponies know you two talk shit about Celestia all the time. Figured you’d be a good outlet for all I have to say about her.”

Mark smiles, leaning against an anvil, “Well, you’ve found some kindred spirits. Celestia brought me here against my will.” He pauses, looking at me, “Why do you dislike her, again?”

I shrug, “She’s a bitch.”

He nods, “Alright, I suppose that’s reason enough.” He looks back to the stallion, “What’d she do yo make you mad?”

The stallion frowns, “She’s kept my family as indentured servants for centuries.”

I pause, “Wait... Black Smith?”

He nods, “Aye, lassie. Is me name famous or something?”

I shake my head, “Not famous, but known. You are the Royal Smith, after all.”

He frowns, “I know I am, lassie. No matter how much I don’t want to be.”

Mark holds up a hand, “Hold up. You’re an indentured servant?”

He nods, “Aye, lad. My ancestor, Moon Smith, made weapons for Nightmare Moon capable of killing Celestia. So she has us working for her as punishment.”

Mark glances at me, “That’s fucked up.”

I nod, “Yes, but it is technically legal.”

He pauses, “That’s legal? That... it’s just slavery with extra steps!”

Smith nods, “Aye, but it’s legal. Because she’s the final say on punishment, she can use any punishment.”

I nod as well, “It’s a shit system, but it’s the system.”

Mark looks between us two, “Really? You two aren’t angry about this?”

Smith frowns, “Believe me, laddie, I am angry. I am more angry than you could imagine. I want to be an inventor, and here I am, being forced to make weapons for the one who stops me to begin with. But I’ve had twenty five years to come to terms with this, laddie. I know how to hide my anger.”

I shrug, “It’s just the way things are. They suck, they should be changed- no, they need to be changed. But it’s been this way forever.”

Mark frowns, “That... that’s bullshit! She can’t just-just keep a pony a slave! An entire family at that!”

Smith shrugs, “She can, laddie, and she has.”

He steps closer to Black Smith, “That’s not right. No, we can change that.” He spins to face me, “Love, I have a new idea!”

I raise an eyebrow, “You do?”

He nods, “Yes, I do! Whenever we steal the artifact, we can go back in time and kill Celestia! She’ll never teach Twilight, and thus I’ll never be summoned. Black Smith and his family could be free, and then the artifact could be freely used by you.” He glances at Smith, “Oh yeah, we’re both thieves and are going to steal a time traveling artifact.”

I pause, “Huh, that’s not that bad of a plan. But there is a flaw.”

Smith nods, “Aye, there’s a major flaw. That’d cause a paradox, laddie. If you’re never summoned, then you never could go back in time to begin with. If my family is free, then you don't get the inspiration for the plan. So that plan could lead to a paradox.”

Mark pauses, “Shit, you’re right. But I can’t just let this happen.” He frowns, “Wait, if it would cause a paradox, then that means the artifact is useless.”

Smith nods again, “Aye, it sounds like it is. If you travel back in time, then you automatically cause a paradox, so you can’t travel back in time.”

I shake my head, “But Tempus found a way past a paradox. That’s what the entire point of the book is.”

Mark looks at me, “Did you actually ever read the book?”

I shake my head again, “No, but I was told it found a way to true time travel.”

Mark nods, “What if that time travel was forwards?”

I pause, “N-no, that can’t be.”

Smith nods, “It probably is, lassie. Going forward doesn’t cause a paradox. There’s no way to go back that wouldn’t cause one. So he must have found how to go forward.”

I shake my head, “That’s not right. It has to be back! It has to be! The agent said... the agent...” I collapse, “s-she... never said backwards.”

Mark steps closer to me, holding out his hand, “Love, I am so sorry.”

I look down, trembling, “M-my children... they’re gone... forever. T-they... they’re gone. I never even said goodbye.”

Mark steps closer again, putting his hand on my head and slightly scratching, “Love...”

I look up at him, blinking away tears in my eyes, “Mark... she took them. My children. My last hope of seeing them.”

He nods, “I know, Love, I know.”

I shudder, and slowly stand up. Mark moves his hand back, and I use my leg to wipe the remaining moisture around my eyes.

Mark kneels down, looking me eye to eye, “Are you okay, Love?”

I shake my head, “No. Mark, I’m not okay. But I know what to do.”

He nods, “I think a glass of cider and a night talking would be the next step, Love.”

I smile slightly, “Maybe, Mark, maybe. Bu I know what I must do now. Celestia is going to die.”