Mirrors of the Past

by Communist Starlight

Talon Hoof

I stand in the area where Canterlot's streets used to be. now there is just a wooden platform, a busy reminder to the grandeur of the cobbled streets of old golden throne. Besides me is Talon hoof, a riot member of the old Royal Guard. Everything about him is black, his coat, his mane, his eyes, and some say his soul. I came to him with an open mind and heart, just as the Princess of Friendship would do. What I find is that despite the wheelchair, Talon is still just as agile, sharp, and cunning as he was back in the Rioting Days. He motions to the work being done, and sighs.

You think it's easy building a castle onto a mountain? We're not even building it on top of it, we've built it on the side, where extra support is needed. That's why it all... come crashing down so suddenly, unexpectedly. All the magic in place, the support, the engineering. Years of work, gone in a flash of light. Crazy, isn't it?

But that isn't what I'm here to talk about, is it? Not my job, they say. Pfah. I know more about the structure than even the engineers do. It's the streets I know, the crack houses and gang hideouts. I made sure they were more... visible. But construction still has a long way to go.

[He rolls down the new street, weaving between unicorn workers and piles of supplies. I follow.]
[A long pause stands between us, filled with the noise of shouted orders and construction.]

The riots were bad. Really, really bad. Not here, clearly. No, 'here' didn't exist. Ponyville, Manehatten, even the Crystal Empire, from what I hear. Some of them were just angry mobs. Others were solemn things. I uh... attended a few myself. Not in uniform, of course. I was just as much a participant as the pony beside me. But... when I was on duty. That was when the real nightmare started.

They say the fire of Canterlot burned for four days. Ponyville burned for months. Something was always on fire, houses, transports... bodies. [He looks distant for a second. Suddenly, he turns to me, shouting.] A child shouldn't be equipped with a weapon! Not the magical equipment they had! [He goes quiet again.] I've seen my fair share of cracked skulls, poor decisions... but we don't get to make that choice.

I... my wife was caught outside once. She... didn't make it through the mob. They thought she was carrying bombs. She had nothing but bread. Freshly baked bread from home. Just... bread. I hope the bastard that killed her ate well that night. But she wasn't the only victim. You want to know why there isn't so much crime anymore? Because nopony can afford to lose the bodies. The morgues are full, Mr. Beam. There's a curfew now, enforced by capitol punishment. To be undone only when Canterlot is finished. Nopony goes outside anymore for fun. You get your bread, and you go home.

[Quiet again. He reaches into one of the pouches on his wheelchairs and pulls out pieces of something, and as he assembles the black carapace, I see what it is. His old riot helmet, still in perfect condition.]

They said we were the best of Equestria, its shining star. If that's so... what does that make the rest of Equestria?

[He gives me the helmet. He motions for me to put it on. As I do, I feel the solemnness of the action. The best of Equestria, fallen to such depths. I give it back. He puts it back into his bag.]

What Equestria needs now is time to mourn. Time to recover. And when we do, we're going to be ready. Ready for whatever's next, be it bug invasion or even the death of the new princess. And while we do, I'm going to clean the streets up for every being in all of Equestria. I am going to personally see to it. And you, Steel, you write this book. You make sure we remember, because the day we forget, that's the day we die.

[He rolls away, leaving me with my thoughts. He stops at the place where the rocket first exploded. He bows his head, and puts his helmet on.]

Author's Note:

woowoo, getting moar story up in here!