Celestia looked up, already saddened and regretful of the action that monster had forced her to do. But she was no monster, not naturally at least. Already an image was appearing in the moon. She could see the bitterness in the eye of The Mare in The Moon. That would watch her when she took over the rotation of moving the moon through the sky. Tears welded in her eyes. She had sealed away her sister for eternity….No it wasn't eternal. It couldn't be eternal. The Elements of Harmony were weakened.
She looked down. Feathers and blood were everywhere. Cracks in the walls and glass were on the floor. The signs of battle were everywhere. Her own mane was lined with her own blood. Her beautiful coat was scratched up and bruised.
Her sensitive ears, fueled by adrenaline, picked up the sounds of hooves approaching. She turned and faced them. She felt her nostrils flare and lowered her horn. Luna- no Nightmare Moon had summoned flesh less demons in her attack. Capable of inflicting pain, but knew none. Perhaps Celestia had missed one.
She raised her head as she recognized several ponies from court. The fear in their eyes explained more than words. Everypony had seen Luna and her rampage. In her sisters un-avoidable return, and if she prayed, and sane side would be there. The Luna side. But it would be a vicious cycle. She would come and ponies would know of her insanity. Then she would be exiled. And the insanity would return.
She looked at the court ponies. "You tell no pony of this. Luna's reputation will not be tarnished upon her eventual return to Equestria." She told them. They all nodded. There was still fear there. "From here on out, until the day you die, you are all sworn to the strictest secrecy." Celestia commanded. "Move your families into the Castle. Guard Capitan" she called. He was there in an instant "Escort them, gather you most trusted men. Let none of them out of your sight." He nodded and left.
Celestia looked up again. Now that adrenaline left her body, she was exhausted. But she felt like she wouldn't be able to move. A tear fell. She mumbled incoherent phrases. She struggled up to bed. But she doubted sleep would come. She had to raise the sun in the morning.
A few decades later, a book was published. Containing the myths and old Mare tales. Celestia found it in her ever growing library. And in it was…"The Mare in the Moon" Celestia mumbled to herself. "A long time ago…there lived two regal sisters. The older, was responsible for raising the Sun. The younger, drove the Moon across the sky….." Celestia sighed. How many knew this story? Would they believe this?
That night Celestia looked up at the moon, like she did every time. But this time she studied it closely. Her eyes were still engraved on the surface. Her horn appeared just a few hours later after her sealing.
Celestia was not surprised when a festival popped up in Nightmare Moons name. The festival was an offering, to avoid her wrath. She sighed. A dishonor, but it's not like she could defend her sister. The fact that Luna had even existed was lost to history. And that was better than Luna being named a monster. Everypony thought it was myth and that was fine.
Let ponies think what they will. As Luna was not spoken directly down upon.
Centuries passed. Celestia's student, a filly quickly growing into a proper mare, and her group of new friends, freed her beloved sister. "I'm so sorry, I missed you so much big sister!" Celestia couldn't help but smile and cry as her sister accepted their old friendship.
"I missed you to."
