"Luna?" Twilight asked as the pair walked down a long stone corridor, "Could you explain why we're here. Almost nopony uses this arena anymore especially after all the sporting events were moved into the newer and larger stadium on the other side of the city."
"Almost nopony, however I know of some that still use this place," Luna said as the corridor led into a broad open space, "It is far too important to merely be torn down."
"From what I've read it hasn't seen regular use for almost a century now except by a few Guards regiments," Twilight commented as she looked around the empty arena.
Luna closed her eyes, "That may be true now, but I still remember when arenas such as these were central to the city, where the citizens would gather and the seats would fill completely and one could hear the roar of the crowd as they watched the spectacle below. I remember seeing the challenges being issued in the traditional way with the throw of a gauntlet by the challenger."
"You would throw a Gauntlet?" Twilight asked confused, "I don't see how throwing a Pony initiates a challenge Luna."
Luna shook her head and with her magic conjured an ethereal image, "This is a gauntlet, the protective armour that covered the entire foreleg and hoof. Although if I must guess its use has fallen out of favour as has the phrase itself."
"I'm not as familiar with some of the finer points of military history, but I haven't seen any Guards or soldier wear anything that looks like that," Twilight answered as she took another look around trying to imagine what Luna had just said about arenas and duels.
"Still confused as to why we are here?" Luna asked with a grin.
"I am, you asked me to come with you and you didn't explain why," Twilight responded.
Luna wrapped a wing around Twilight and in flash of magic teleported to on the higher tiers of seating. "We're here of course to watch a match, a duel in the traditional style. As I have checked the last two remaining Royal Knight Orders both use this arena as the place to host their traditional duels and were very grateful when this place was not torn down."
Twilight quirked an eyebrow, "Not exactly what I had in mind when you decided to whisk me away from Ponyville."
Luna smirked, "Oh? Perhaps you should relax and watch, it may prove interesting and there's more I had planned for today or rather tonight."