Honor Lost

Luna groaned in pain, she opened her eyes confused as to how she got where she was. Her vision was blurry and her eyes watery so she blinked a bit to clear her vision. As she looked around she saw the ruins of what was once her home, the windows shattered and vines growing on the stone that was cracked with age. She looked at the ground around her as she rose to her hooves and saw shards of what looked to have once been a pony. Then it all came back to her the way she betrayed her ponies, the very ones she swore with her honor to protect.

Luna was jolted completely awake by this realization, her honor was left in tatters thanks to actions of her own. She looked at the ground ahead of her and found the six ponies that freed her stirring. The purple unicorn was the first up, she looked directly at Luna. Luna responded by backing away and disappearing in the shadows of the far corner before slipping out of the chamber via a side door.

Then the sun rose and for the first time in a millennium, Luna heard her elder sisters voice. It shattered her already fragile heart. Her sister, the one she betrayed, was there in the room she just left. Should she turn back? Should she beg forgiveness?

No! Luna steeled herself. Forgiveness must be earned. She must redeem her honor and earn her sisters, and equestria’s, forgiveness. She would earn her place in their poverty, and slowly earn her way to citizenship. And the one pony she knew she had to face was in the room behind her. But it wasn’t time, she had not earned that right, nor did she have the strength to face her.

Luna moved to the lower levels of the castle, where some equipment was waiting for her. She walked along dark stone corridors and down dark stone staircases. Soon she reached the place where her equipment was stored and walked in through the heavy ebony door. Inside she gazed upon the armor she wore during the nine crusades.

The armor was that of a heavy knight, a complex set of plates meant to protect the wearer from the greatest damage. The overcoat was that of a white field with a black cross in the middle. Over that was a white cloak that had no hood, and on the left side where the front leg would be was a black cross. The only odd thing was the helm, it had no visor like that of most suits of armor from the age. The helm was made from the same materiel, which is to say very thick steel, but it was shaped very differently. It had two large cheek plates and a long nose guard and on the top a horsehair. (Later age Corinthian helm and Teutonic armor). There was a large round shield made of solid steel and its design matched that of the overcoat, white with a black cross in the middle. And next to the stand was a large broadsword that would hack through the heaviest of armor.

All of these were enchanted with Lunas most potent magic, to never fall into disrepair and never dull in the case of the sword as well as to never shatter. No one had been able to do her much harm in this armor, and she had never fallen to an enemy before her betrayal. Her broadsword eternally sharp and unbreakable, her armor near impenetrable, and her hoof unwavering.

She donned the armor and belted on her broadsword then put on the cloak. It had been a thousand years since the crusades, no one would recognize the colors and think it a coat of arms. She left the shield where it lay, she would have no real need for it and it would only slow her down. Before she left she found a quill and parchment, and began to write.

Princess Celestia

I write to you hoping that you will understand my position. I will not remain in the nation I betrayed, and I wont return until the honor I lost I have restored. I wont be anywhere that you can find me easily, but if you do I will not resist the sentence I deserve. If ever you find me, end my life as should have been the sentence all those years ago. I will accept the punishment you dicided on centuries ago and remain in exile until I have earned the privilege of returning home.I dont think that will ever happen, and even if it does I will never regain the privilege to call you sister again.

the traitor Luna

Back in ponyvill the villagers were celebrating the defeat of nightmare moon, all but one pony. Celestia sat on the edge of town looking at the ruins with her heart heavy. She felt tears threaten to break from her eyes and she sighed in despair. She never noticed the lavender unicorn come up behind her, and see her moist eyes.

“Princess?” Twilight asked genuinely concerned.

Celestia turned suddenly to see her standing there, “Oh, Twilight. I’m sorry, I was lost in thought. What can I help you with?”

“It seems to be you that needs help.” Twilight said. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Celestia said trying to regain her composure, “Nothing at all.”

“You dont seem to be good at lying princess,” Twilight said, “You look ready to cry. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s nothing that can be helped now,” Celestia said. “I just miss someone, thats all.”

“Was it that blue alicorn?”

“You’ve seen Luna?!” Celestia said suddenly.

“So thats her name.” Twilight said. “I saw her back away into the corner of the room we fought nightmare moon in.”

“So she’s alive,” Celestia said with hope in her voice.

“Who is she?”

“She is Princess Luna of Equestria, and my younger sister.”

That piece of information nearly struck Twilight dumb. Her brain moving faster than any computer ever could she began to think.

“Your... Younger sister?” Twilight asked.

Celestia nodded.

“We...we have to look for her.” Twilight said with a great resolve in her voice. “We have to find her. She could be vital to Equestria. Where can I find information on her?”

“I have a few history books on her. One of them is written quite casually as though it were a conversation with friends but it has most of the history in one book and it is almost exactly accurate. There are a few holes but the other books and I can fill those in.” Celestia said to Twilight. “I will send you those books as soon as possible. You should inform your friends of this. In the meantime I will have your brother and princess Cadence search the castle in the forest for any clues.”

So both teacher and student walked away with a new purpose. Twilight was excited and curious, whereas Celestia felt a new sense of hope flood into her. She could see her younger sister again... and not the one that was betrayed.