Our actions lay stings that create a web of our life. Each decision lays dormant until the string is plucked and shown in the light. The web can either fall apart or sparkle in beauty. One can only hope that even after some strings are broken that their web can rely what lies at their heart...but some would still have it hidden.
A white alicorn with long bright colored mane flowing down sat on her throne alone. The throne was large and made of gold with a red carpet that flowed from her seat down the center of the large room. On each side of the carpet was stain glass windows by which the sun shined their bright golds, blues, and purples onto the white marble floor below. The only sound came from the water that flowed from below the four platforms below the main throne. Sunlight cascaded in to shine the room in a gold color before a cloud moved over and the throne room was dim for a moment.
Celestia, who had been working on a new trade proposal for the Yaks, halted her writing. It wasn't often she was alone in the throne room, but she required solitude to handle this matter with delicacy. However, her thoughts where still focused on The Crystal Empire. The Crystal Ponies could be very mistrusting and easily panicked. Sombra's rule had left scars that even could block Celestia from forming a strong bond with the empire. Cadence could only do so much, but since Celestia had failed to save the empire from banishment she had been shed in an unpleasant light. They called her weak, they called her manipulative. How could she be so powerful? They held little respect for her, and thus were suspicious of everything she did.
Celestia's lost her concentration and the quill fell from her magical grip. She blinked and grabbed it once more in her golden magic. She sighed as she let her smile subside in her solitude. How should she handle Bloodstone's return? That pony could do...had done horrific things. King Sombra had his own dark magic fuel her magical growth for so long. How can she trust this pony? Yet, she had been the one to suggest reformation for Discord, was she not? Discord was a powerful being, and this was a mere unicorn. She certainly cannot change reality, but even Discord's mischief held a line, but this pony had crossed the line before. Still, she had been trapped for many years in a realm beyond realms, one made to be a personal hell. Luna had been able to access it only in a limited manor, but enough to observe Bloodstone and keep watch in case she returned. When Luna felt a shift in that realm, she had grabbed Celestia from her dream and they both watched Bloodstone escape.
Celestia shook her head before her ears perked up at the sound of hoof-steps. She turned to look at her right as Luna came from a secret door behind the throne. Celestia was surprised to see her awake at this hour.
"Luna, what are you doing up?"
Luna let out a yawn. "Am I not involved in the current situation?" She looked around the throne room and took notice that not even the Royal Guard was in the room. She glanced at Celestia questionably.
Celestia sighed. "I needed silence." She added before she waved a hoof to her sister. "I have informed the Crystal Empire of the situation. If they have not captured her now, they will soon."
"And what then?" Luna stated as she walked up the throne to sit beside Celestia. "She has served a sentence."
"That doesn't mean she has changed."
"You know..." Luna stated as she looked around the empty room. "This room is much to large."
Celestia blinked before she chuckled at her sister. Luna's tired mind was having a hard time focusing, or perhaps she was trying to lift her spirits? "I suppose it seems that way when alone like this." She glanced at Luna. Luna held a smirk before her face turned serious.
"You should have Bloodstone brought here."
"Here?!" Celestia nearly recoiled back. "Whatever for?" She stated as she stared at Luna.
"So, I can watch her." Luna said with slight irritation lacing her voice. She shifted uncomfortably as her tired eyes stared in front of her. Luna's left ear swiveled toward Celestia.
"I beg your pardon?" Celestia asked as she blinked a few times.
"Well, not me specifically..." Luna stated before she turned to smile at Celestia, but it was not a happy smile. "I once asked her to face a monster, and she faced that monster knowing she would fail. I thought...." Luna lowered her head and her ears pinned back. Celestia's heart wrenched for a moment. "...I put her in that prison." Luna's brow furrowed.
Celestia shook her head. "She was not innocent." She looked at Luna seriously. "One action cannot make up for what she had done."
"Perhaps." Luna stated. "But she does feel like my responsibility."
Celestia shook her head. "You are much too hard on yourself." Celestia knew what it felt like, however, because she herself felt very responsible for Luna. After all that had happened, guilt still carried in her heart.
"Are you any better?" Luna asked with a smirk.
"It is not that simple, Luna. The Crystal Empire will be in an uproar if we take her here. She is their enemy and an enemy of Equestria, and I doubt that mindset will change."
"It seems your own mindset needs changed." Luna stated as she stood up. "You are constantly watched, but I am not. I can take this responsibility. I will take her under my care."
"Luna..." Celestia looked incredibly worried. "The backlash..."
"Is nothing to the possible potential this pony has. You believe in your subjects that shine in the light, but I know those in the dark." Luna stated as she eyed Celestia. "In the dark, there is very little to see on the outside, but you learn to look a little deeper."
Celestia bit her lip. "I... will trust you on this, Luna. However, I will ask Cadence to release her to us. There is no reason why this should only be on you."
Luna coughed and cleared her throat. "I already talked to Cadence about who will be taking charge of this. She...err already has agreed to release her to me." Luna smiled wide before making a quick exit.
"WHAT?!"
A pink alicorn paced around her throne room. It was made of blue crystal with a purple carpet flowing down the center. Her throne was similar in design to Celestia's, but her throne was made of crystal and not gold. Her wings twitched at her side in her agitation. She had gotten word that there was a unicorn loose in her castle, one that had dealings with Sombra. She could not calm until she was sure Bloodstone was contained. Luna had stated that this pony should be treated as a threat, but not to harm her. Celestia had left a brief description of who this pony was, and suggested this be kept as quiet as possible as to not alarm the Crystal Ponies. Her subjects were a very loving people, but anything to do with Sombra could spark many...MANY problems.
Her ears lifted in alert as she looked as her husband walked through the doors. "Shining Armor!" She ran up and gave him a hug. "Any news?"
Shining Armor frowned. He hated seeing Cadence in such a worried state. "Not yet, but we are looking. She couldn't have gotten very far. This castle only has so many places to hide." He stated as he rubbed the back of his neck. Cadence sighed and pulled away from him. He watched her before he stood up a little taller. "We'll find her, Cadence."
"That is not all I am concerned about. Perhaps it would be better to let her flee." Cadence stated as she dropped onto her hunches and bowed over in her exhaustion.
"Let a war criminal go?!" Shining Armor trotted up to his wife in both shock and concern. He placed a hoof under her chin and tilted her head to look at him.
"It's more complicated than that!" Cadence threw up her front hooves. "She's been imprisoned for a very long time."
"That didn't stop Discord..." Shining armor stated flatly as he raised one eyebrow and let his hoof fall from her face. "Or Tirek, or even Nightmare Moon before the elements of harmony changed her back to Luna." He pointed at her with his hoof. "Trust me, this pony is a threat, and we cannot believe she has changed just because she's been trapped. Many of the Crystal Ponies still don't remember all of what Sombra did, but I've still heard stories about this, this Bloodstone."
Cadence shivered at the mention of her name. Sometimes her husband could be so cynical, but the weight of her cutie mark did not give her the luxury. "Luna wants to transport her to Canterlot. To release her into another's judgement will not sit well with anypony, but it is what I must do."
Shining Armor straightened up. "Princess Luna? Why would she want that?" He narrowed his eyes.
"She said she wants to watch her and reform her."
"That's like trying to reform Sombra." Shining Armor stated in disbelief. "We can't just hand her over!" He pointed his hoof at her and narrowed his eyes.
"We have too. She would not be safe here, and she would cause panic if we imprisoned her. They will not believe they are safe until she is dead."
"It's not safe to have her there." He pointed his hoof behind him in the general direction of Equestria...or so he thought. Okay, it was more of a representation than actual directions.
Cadence shook her head. "Princess Luna seems to think it is worth the risk."
"We should hold her until we can be sure she will comply." He pressed, but Cadence was having none of it.
"Can you guarantee her safety? If my subjects find out who she is, hate is guaranteed to fester, and hate can only lead to one thing."
"You're worried about her protection? What about your subjects' protection? She's a war criminal and a murderer."
"Can you say you have not taken a life?" Cadence narrowed her eyes at her husband. Her stress suddenly reached new heights.
"That is different."
"It is not!" Cadence stomped her hoof down. Her eyes widened before she lowered her head and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, but killing is killing." She sighed. "It is also for the safety of my subjects that I would let them take her."
Shining Armor took a step back before he pinned his ears back and glared at her. He knew she saw that taking a life was always the same, but not everything was as black and white as she seemed to see it. Her mindset was always love and compassion and he admired that in her, but he could not always see things that way either. He had a duty to protect the Crystal Empire and right now he needed to protect it, but he also could not go against his wife. "What would you have me do?" He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Capture her and then prepare to take her to Canterlot. We will wait until nightfall, and meet Luna there."
Shining Armor nodded and turned. He was stopped by Cadence's voice once more.
"And she is not to be harmed unless absolutely necessary."
Shining Armor's ears flickered and twitched in irritation. Normally such a statement would not bother him, but right now it felt accusatory. He swallowed any comments and left without a word.