Celestia sighed as she looked up at the statue. She didn't visit often, but today she had felt drawn. She placed a hoof against the paw and closed her eyes. He hadn't always deserved to be cast into stone. He had been good, once.

Discord lay on the blanket next to Celesita. Her pink mane spread out around her head as she gazed into the sun. "It is beautiful, you know," his voice sounded from beside her. She turned, gracing him with a smile. He reached out with his claw like hand, gently stroking her face. "You and your sister create such beautiful pictures."

"Mayhaps. You know we do not truly control the heavens. Everypony does." She closed her eyes, basking in the warmth radiating down.

"I know that is what you have said. And yet, your cutie mark is the sun itself." Discord chuckled as the placed his mismatched arms behind his head.

Celestia sat up. "Oh you. I've explained it all before. Imagine, a single pony forever having to drag and control such large things across the sky. No, we simply keep watch. Ensure nothing goes wrong."

"Oh, my Celly, you are easy to tease." He sat up as well. Taking her hoof in his paw, he grinned. "You know what it is I meant, darling."

"I do. And it was a lovely compliment. Thank you."

Discord leaned in slowly, pressing his lips to hers. After a moment, the couple broke apart. "You know," he whispered, "I'll always be yours."

Celestia grinned. "I can only hope."

Blinking in the brightness of the sun, Celestia opened her eyes. "Oh darling, where did we go wrong." She sat, just looking at the statue. She look in the features, though she knew them like the underside of her hoof.

Hoofsteps sounded behind her. Turning to look, she saw Luna. Any defenses she had prepared fell away as her sister wordlessly wrapped her in a strong hug. "Celly, tell us why it is you visit this creature. Surely, you do not still feel for him as you once did."

Celesita's gaze was cast to the ground. "Lulu, how did he escape? He shouldn't have been able to leave for thousands more years. Perhaps I unleashed him, unknowingly."

Luna pressed her lips together. She and Celestia looked at each other for a few moments before Luna shook her head."I cannot say, sister. Had he not…" Luna trailed off, shaking her head again. "We've all made mistakes and paid our prices. This is simply his."

"Do you think he has paid his dues?"

"He did turn Equestria about when he was last freed. I do not believe the Bearers would like to see him again."

Celestia nodded, her eyes once again on the statue. "But say, he wasn't like that. Say he was who he was once more.

"Then…yes. We all deserve a second chance." With that, Luna left Celestia to her thoughts.

"My sister! How could you turn her against me! How could you turn against me?"

"Celly, darling, I'm not against you. I'm simply…looking out for my personal interest."

Celestia took a deep breath, ignoring the tears falling down her face. "You have torn apart my family. My own sister looked to cover Equestria in night. How could you have…why?"

"Are they not great feats! Ponies will come to love the new Equestira!" Discord laughed.  "Of course, with your sister gone, and my dealings with the Crystal Empire, Equestira has already changed, hasn't it, love?"

Celestia swallowed. "Discord."

"hmm?" He looked over at Celesita, with only enough time to adopt a shocked expression before he was blasted. He tried to move, to run away, but nothing worked.

Suddenly, Celestia was standing over him, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry. I cannot allow this to go unpunished. I…am sorry." She leaned down, gingerly kissing the dark grey stone that used to be his cheek. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry." Celestia stroked the cheek. "I am so sorry, my darling." She turned and walked away, never glancing back.

Walking into the castle, she saw Luna. She sat next to her sister. "Maybe it is time to give him a second chance. I believe in his goodness."

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