Dark Alleys, Bright Hearts

I sigh as I trot through the royal gardens, my mind tearing into itself.

I pause as I bump into something. I look up, only to see the stone form of Discord before me. His last moments of fear caught in stone. I look into his frozen eyes, kept wide in terror.

I shake my head, “You should have asked for help, Discord. We could have ruled the entire world. But you went in alone.” I levitate a popped ball off one of his horns, throwing it aside, “Better luck next time.”

As I throw the ball aside, however, something catches my eye. The moonlight catches on something, casting an orange light my direction.

I trot to the back of Discord’s statue, where his tail is. On the underside of his tail, I see a little dagger. The weapon is so small that it could be confused as a thorn to the untrained eye. However, what truly garners my attention is the orange gem embedded into the dagger.

I take a step back, looking up at Discord and raising an eyebrow.

His stone form offers no answers, although I do notice something odd. His talons are in an unnatural position, and seem to be pointing.

I look at where his talon points, seeing another statue. I slowly trot over, giving Discord a slight glance as I do so.

I arrive at the other statue, and raise my eyebrow further. This statue is one of a Griffon. He wears armor, old armor, and a crown. Eyes that once were blue stare forward with rage locked within. His talons are in the middle of drawing the sword at his side, while his wings are flared out.

I take a slight step back, “King Grover the Second. Emperor of the Griffons.” I step closer, looking at the pedestal next to him, “He who attempted to destroy Equestria. Ambushed by Celestia and Luna, and sealed in stone.”

I look back at Grover, my eyes drawn to his blade. It’s made masterfully, with a golden gem embedded into it.

I look back to his face, “Another gem weapon.”

I look around, a glint of midnight blue catching my eye. I rush over to it’s source, coming face to face with a statue of a thestral.

The thestral is in the middle of a hiss, her eyes locked into a deadly glare. Her helmet lays by her hooves, dented and crushed. Her armor hangs loosely off her form, barely kept on by leather straps. Held firmly in her mouth is a twin bladed sword, with a midnight blue gem embedded into it.

I quickly look to read the panel next to her, “General Mid Knight, most loyal to Nightmare Moon. Trapped in stone after a long fight with Celestia.”

I look at her again, before my eye catches another glint.

I rush over once again to the red glint.

I stop as I see the statue of a giant Yak. The Yak’s fur blocks all features, though I notice there are portions of the fur coated in blood. The Yak stares forward calmly, a giant axe grasped in his mouth. The axe has a red gem embedded into it.

I frown, reading over the panel next to him, “Knight Yakford. Tried to kill Celestia in a duel, only to be frozen in stone.”

I take a step back, rushing over to the next statue with a white glint.

I pause, quickly examining the figure of a scarred Zebra, until I see his weapon. A flail, with a white gem embedded into it. I read the panel quickly, “King Xerxes, led a war against Celestia, frozen in stone.”

I take a step away from the statue, accidentally catching Discord in my vision again. I slowly draw my new dagger, with a green gem embedded within, and look at it.

All of the gems shine at me, causing me to take another step back.

I frown, my eyes following the path I took, “Discord: fought Celestia on his own. Grover: ambushed by Celestia alone. Mid Knight: faced Celestia one on one. Yakford: Dueled Celestia alone. Xerxes: fought a war without allies.” I look back at my dagger, “Chrysalis... betrayed her only friend and tired to assassinate Celestia.”

I back up more, pausing as I feel my hooves touch a stone pedestal. I look at it, my eyes widening as I see it’s size, and the fact that there is no statue. Like the statue walked off...

“Or has yet to be put in...”

I shake my head, rushing out of the area until I find a bench. I quickly collapse onto the bench, breathing rapidly.

I quickly use my leg to wipe a stray tear from my face, as it threatens to fall down.

I’m all alone. All alone. My children are gone, my friend is gone, all that’s left is me and my weapon.

And soon... soon all I’ll have is my fellow statues. Failures who were arrogant, facing Celestia alone.

I sigh, burying my face into my cloak.

As I do such, I pause. I look at my cloak, my boots, my grappling gun.

I look up as the sun begins to rise, looking back at the Palace.

I take in the Palace for a second, before slipping my dagger away.

A pony lands behind me, “Miss Love, Princess Celestia requests your presence.”

I look back, seeing a Pegasus Guard there, “Is something wrong?”

The guard frowns, “It has to do with Mark.”

I stand, “What happened?”

The guard shakes his head, “I’m sorry, but Princess Celestia wishes to tell you herself.”

I nod, “Take me to her.”

The guard trots off, and I follow after.

I look at the palace, my eyes narrowing as determination takes me over.