Deep in the Everfree Forest stand the Ruins of The Castle of The Two Sisters, once the seat of power for all of Equestria a millennia ago. Now it stands empty and left to slowly erode with the passage of time all but forgotten as are stories of events it had bore witness too over the years it served its purpose before being abandoned after the last event it ever saw.
Within this once proud castle in one of the decrepit halls stands alone figure surveying the ruins. To many the damage to this hall would be blamed on the sands of time but the figure knew better, she knew what had really damaged this hallway.
Slowly Princess Luna stepped into the hall and felt a cold chill run through her body, as if the spirits who reside in this hall did not welcome her, she wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case. Slowly she walked on looking over the damage to the hall. It was far worse than it used to, the damaged made worse by the passage of time but still if you knew what it was from it wasn’t hard to recognize.
“I thought I’d find you here Luna.” A voice said behind the Princess of the Night causing her to jump and spin around to see a larger white alicorn standing at the other end of the hall wearing a sad smile.
“Sister, what are you doing here?” Luna asked Celestia as the older alicorn began to walk towards her.
“Not letting you face your past alone.” The older alicorn said. When she reached the smaller alicorn she nuzzled her face. “You don’t have to face anything alone again.” She said and Luna nodded before turning to face the hall once more, feeling Celestia drape her winger over her back.
The two stood there in silence, one providing silent support, the other remembering the past. “They fought hard.” The younger of the two said quietly.
Celestia noded. “That they did, from what I was told the battle lasted nearly thirty minutes” She said. “They bought enough time for the castle to be safely evacuated and for me to arrive.”
“Do….do ponies know what happened?” Luna asked, voice barely a whisper.
“No.” Celestia said gently. “As far as anypony know Nightmare Moon was the only one here that night.”
Luna nodded and closed her eyes as imaged and voices played in her head.
“We can’t fight her!”
“This is insane!”
“We aren’t equipped to fight Princess Luna!”
“Stow it!”
Slowly as the images of the guards trying to stop her and her killing them played out in her head the Lunar Princess’ head slowly drooped. “I am a monster….” She whispered.
“No Luna, you are not.” Celestia said firmly. “You were driven mad by jealousy and resentment and are not responsible for the actions taken that night.” she said as she pulled her sister close. “If anypony is to blame then it is me for not having realized how you felt till it was too late and I am sorry for that.” She said and nuzzled the top of her sister’s head.
Slowly Luna raised her head and looked back back at her sister. “I...don’t remember much of the later half of the battle...but….I remember a guard...a lieutenant I believe.” Luna said.
Celestia nodded. “Lieutenant Raven Shield, a relatively new transfer at the time.”
“Yes...I….I offered her something….I don’t remember what….my memory gets fuzzy around that time but I remember I spoke to her but the next thing I remember is you confronting me in the throne room and me taking the form and name of Nightmare Moon.” Luna said.
“You offered her the chance to join you and fight against me, you promised her anything she desired.” Celestia said.
“What...what happened?” Luna asked not really sure she wanted to know.
Celestia looked at her sister for a few moments. “She attacked you and you destroyed her.” She said. “Not even her sword or armor survived.”
Luna looked at the ground once more and Celestia looked at the hallway once more. “She was given a hero’s funeral and promoted to Guard Captain of the Solar Guard posthumously for upholding her oaths to defend Equestria even against one of its rulers and in the face of utter defeat.” Celestia said. “There is a statue of her in the Royal Guard barracks in Canterlot, I thought it fitting that the guards should see a pony who stood by her oaths to the very end when the shift changes.”
Luna nodded as she looked over the hall was the only time ponies ever fought an alicorn. “How do you know what happened?” Luna asked after a while.
“A young pegasus private by the name of Firefly survived the battle. He was too injured to fight after being thrown against the wall near the end and went unnoticed.” Celestia said.
“Firefly….the name sounds familiar…”Luna said.
“He was a pegasus who rose through the ranks rapidly and eventually formed an elite pegasus flight squadron that is still active today if in a slightly different use then it was before.” Celestia said. “I think he was trying to follow in the hoofsteps of the lieutenant he witnessed face impossible odds that night.” Celestia said with a smile.
“To inspire even after death…..the mare would have done great things.” luna said.
“She already did.” Celestia said. And looked at her sister. “She prevented the deaths of hundreds of innocent ponies.” She said and removed her wing from her sister’s back. “Come now sister, I believe enough time has been spent on dwelling on a past that cannot be changed and that we should look to the future now.” She said.
Luna nodded and the two sister began to walk back up the hall, Luna pausing near the edge and looking back one last time. “Thank you for stopping me from harming the innocent and I am sorry.” She said to the ghosts of the past before she turned back and left the hall.