There it stands....a monument to your sins.

Luna was more surprised than the others of the group at the castle ruins in the Everfree Forest. She could sense that this place was left as untouched by magic as it was when her and Celestia lived here. But as consequence, that meant Celestia didn't use her power to keep their fillyhood castle standing for her return.

So there it stood, an open wound. Ravaged by a battle that no one should've witnessed, and fallen into disrepair. Luna didn't know why she felt compelled to come back to this place. Maybe it was the nostalgia of the better times, before all the jealously and lies. It was where the Elements of Harmony were found after all. Perhaps this is where they are summoned?

“What's everypony gasping about?” Scratch asked, acting coy about the whole blind thing, as she always did.

“This castle is enormous!” Octavia gasped.

“What's left of it.” Trixie snorted, smirking at her own joke. Nopony paid her any attention.

Dr. Whooves had seen worse in his travels. Sure the architechure was impressive for a species with hooves, but it was just old ruins. He tried to act impressed however, for Luna's sake.

“This place...was where Celestia and I grew up. It...it saddens me to see it like this.” Luna hung her head. Back when they were fillies, before they had the power and position they had now, this was their home. If it wasn't for the ruin and decay, Luna's unchanged appearance from those times would fit right in.

Painful memories came flodding back with every hole, every scortch mark she could observe and remember. The battle, the banishment. Not even Luna herself could remember the entirety of what happened that night. All she knew was she was upset, then everything went black, and next thing she knew, she was awake and crying at her sister's hooves one thousand years later.

To have that big of gap in your memories is frightening to anybody. But it was even more terrifying to her. Not only had her sister grown considerably, and gained a position of power and a fancy new castle in Canterlot, replete with royal guards and servants. But it also seemed, that everypony, including Celestia, had forgotten about her.

Now here she was, on a crazy mission of redemption to earn the trust of a generation on ponies who only know her for her misdeeds, if at all. Sure they still bow to her because of her alleged status, but that didn't mean they knew who she was. Most of them never even made the connection that she was Nightmare Moon, as they wern't there.

Maybe this was more out of seeking self approval than anything. No one knew Celestia like she did, and any reckless ideas that others might think would win her good graces, she knew wasn't going to accomplish much in the grand scheme. The fact that she was still foggy on the exact events between Nightmare Moon's manifestation and her freedom by Twilight Sparkle, didn't help her indecision any.

But now wasn't the time to think such things. There would be time for questions, and answers, later. Right now, she had to do something to keep Equestria from falling to something far worse than anything Nightmare Moon could conjour.

“So...what do we do now that we're here?” Octavia asked, noticing Bubbly nudging a rock absent mindedly.

Luna snapped from her thoughts. “In order for the Elements of Harmony to activate, you need to have the bond of friendship.”

“So, just get to know each other then? Sounds easy.” Scratch nodded. “Most ponies should be familiar with me.”

“As with me.” Dr. Whooves smiled.

“EVERYPONY is familiar with the GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!” the blue unicorn added, making sure her voice echoed nice and loud.

“Yes, but nopony likes you.” Scratch replied.

Luna hung her head and sighed. Maybe this was a mistake?

“Look, now that you all know where this place is, I will return you to your lives. If you want to stay in touch, and feel that you want to come back here. I'll be waiting.”

“You'll be here all this time?” Octavia asked, concern in her voice.

“I have faith you will all return when you're ready. But for now, I must let your friendships grow naturally. I have...” Luna glanced around at the ruins of the castle. “Other matters, to tend to at the moment.”

“So you're just going to toss us away, just like that?!” Trixie snapped. “Where's the adventure I was promised?!”

“Four of you ponies are already on the path to forging the friendship needed for the task at hand. The fifth...” she glanced at Trixie, “Needs a little more time.”

Before any objections, Luna had teleported them all back to the center of Ponyville. It was then Trixie realized, her wagon was miles away.

“HEY! What about my stuff?” she yelled, hoping Luna would hear her. As if on cue, her wagon appeared, right on top of her.

The other ponies chuckled. Scratch now thought Princess Luna was one cool pony.