"I think we should release him 'Tia." Luna said, looking up from the records book she was going through.
"Release who 'Lu?" Celestia replied.
"You know, him. The one that never told us his name. That unicorn who turned himself in, it's been 500 years after all..." Luna said glancing at the record books again.
"... You know, I hate to admit it but I had forgotten about that." Celestia said sheepishly. "Yes, that white unicorn from Trotsdale, five hundred years was what we agreed upon wasn't it."
"Yes sister, it was, although I wonder how he'll react. He seemed to at least be sorry for what he did, although you only saw pictures of the city after the blast. It's another thing entirely to actually go there. Did they ever rebuild? I don't remember hearing anything about it." Luna brought her hoof to her chin as she thought.
"They did, although the crater is now a small lake in the center of the town. There's a memorial there, actually I think that's where I placed him, on top of the monument. I'll have to have a sculptor copy him before we release him, the monument wouldn't be complete without his likeness up there." Celestia said with a slight smile. "It's been far too long since those days don't you agree Lu?"
"What days?"
"Our days of power. Now we're just figureheads, well aside from the whole sun and moon thing."
"Yes, I do suppose. Democracy was a good idea though."
"I know that, I just wish we still had some power in parliament, I don't like the new prime minister, he seems a bit..." Celestia trailed off as she looked for the right word.
"Eccentric?" Luna offered.
"Yes I suppose that's one way to put it. Anyhow, would you like to bring our unicorn friend back or should I?"
"I think I can, although don't let the scientists near him, especially those in weapons development. They may just get some bad ideas from what he had created." Luna said smiling as she stepped out onto the balcony. "I shall return soon." she said before taking wing, heading for Trotsdale.
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What a lovely young couple... they do complete each other... ah that's that young carpenter, the one who used to climb up here and just talk for hours. It is a lovely night... although I do wish they hadn't put that office tower across the lake, it does block the sunset...
I couldn't remember how long I'd been rooted to the same spot, trapped in stone of my own accord. You see, I was the one at fault for the large lake in the center of Trotsdale, the center of which was where my old workshop used to be.
It is a beautiful night. Luna has outdone herself once again. If only I could feel the breeze... is that? it is. Wings. Not many pegasi come this far north.
I heard the sound of large wings flapping in the distance as the moon crested the horizon in front of me. I could see somepony flying towards the monument I sat atop, her long starry mane... wait starry mane?
It can't be... Could it?
I found my thoughts stalled at the sight of Luna. She had grown since I had last seen her. She was just a bit taller than me then, now however she, by my guess, would be taller than her sister by a few inches. Her mane sparkled in the moonlight, the strands of darkest blue catching the moonlight in a way that it looked like the stars themselves had decided to settle there. Her coat was a deep royal blue, subtle yet elegant in it's own way giving way to a darker blue with the moon as her cutie mark. She wore a tiara of obsidian carved so that while it's three peaked design was simple, the multitude of thin lines that linked the three diamonds embedded in it gave it a beauty fit for the night princess.
By the moon... She's beautiful. I only wish I could tell her so.
She landed atop the monument beside me, smiling as she took a few paces closer. Her horn glowed as I felt myself levitated from my perch, the mortar around my hooves flaking away as I was lifted. A moment later I felt a strange pull as I saw a replica of my form appear before her before being set back in place atop the monument, the mortar glowing a deep blue as it reformed around the new statue.
What is she doing?
"Come now inventor, it is time for you to be free once more." She said as she took off again, flying the direction she came, still holding me in her telekinetic grip.
Free? It can't be? my sentence is up...
My thoughts ground to a halt again as the miles melted beneath us and soon Canterlot was visible in the distance. The realization that my sentence was over was bittersweet, I had paid the time the Princesses had given me, however I still don't feel like I've atoned for what I had done.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Tia' I have returned." Luna said, as she entered their private library, levitating the statue behind her.
"Good, you didn't release him without me." Celestia said as Luna set the statue down gently on the floor in the center of the library.
"I wouldn't dream of it. Now, shall we?" Luna said, her horn lighting up with magic.
"Let's." Celestia replied, smiling as she added her power to the release spell.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I felt the warmth of their magic envelope me once more as the cast the spell to release me. I could feel the stone slowly changing back to flesh, bone, blood and fur as the magic worked its way up from my hooves. I held still as it passed my chest, and finally reverted my head, my mane falling into it's natural position around my shoulders.
I inhaled, my first breath in 500 years.
It felt like taking your first breath after stepping out of a warm house into a cool summer night, indescribably refreshing. I felt as if I had been born anew.
I exhaled, then breathed in again. The cool air of the Canterlot night smelled sweeter than the finest rose as I opened my eyes, and was greeted with the sight of the princess of the night.
"Welcome back." Luna said, a kind smile upon her face. I heard a movement behind me and I looked back. Celestia was there, smiling at me.
"Your sentence is over inventor. I would call you by your name but you never told us it, and your occupation was all we could gather from those who had visited Trotsdale. I'll leave you two now, I must get some rest." Celestia said as she rose.
"It's Alignak." I whispered, my voice quiet from lack of use.
Celestia nodded as she stepped out, the door shutting softly behind her.
"Alignak... there is a name I rarely hear." Luna said, drawing my attention back to her. "Come, sit." She said motioning to the extra space on the cushion she lay upon. I complied, walking over, my joints popping quietly as I started moving. "If you don't mind me asking, how was it?"
"Lonely..." I whispered, "Lonely, but peaceful."
"I know the feeling. To be stuck alone for longer than you've lived, it's difficult." Luna said sympathetically, laying a soft wing over me as she nodded to one of the stained glass windows in the library.
"The mare in the moon..." I whispered, leaning against her side as I examined the window. It depicted the image of an alicorn imposed upon the moon's surface.
"Yes. I've never quite been the same since then... It was just me up there, the nightmare put itself to sleep for those thousand years." She said quietly, a silver tear gathering in the corner of her eye.
"I understand." I said as I nuzzled her side.
"You're probably the only one who does."
"Trapped with nothing but your thoughts of what you had done..." I whispered, tears gathering in my own eyes.
"Regretting every moment of it, not understanding what pushed you to such lengths." She replied as the tear fell. "Stay with me for a while Alignak..."
"Forever if you wish it." I replied, my own tears joining hers upon the cushion. "So you never have to be lonely again."
"Thank you." She said. "I won't leave you either."
We stayed there, in eachother's embrace until the sun rose, signaling the dawn of the new day.
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A/N: Hope you like this. I felt the story was unfinished so I decided to add on to it. Let me know your thoughts on it.