Canterlot Castle: Celestia's Royal Chamber, 6 AM

Day court was called off again, Cadence was missing, and Luna was sleeping. Celestia dropped another Laudanum bottle on the floor, it was the 38th one within two days. It wasn't working at all! The memories were flooding back with force this time. This can't be happening! I DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER! Celestia put her head in her hooves, let out a scream of pain and decided to ride this one out.

Everfree Castle

Celestia had already lowered the sun and was heading to her royal chambers. She was flanked on both sides by two of her best guards, Dragonslayer Lancea; a golden pegasus with a purple mane who carried a strange, winged longspear, and Sunlight Paladin Holy Light, a blinding white earth pony with a blue mane and carried a Meridian Great-hammer. They were accosted by The Court Sorcerer, a unicorn named, Haematites Myalo who had the distinct crystalline mane of his ancestors. He bowed in the presence of the party. Lancea spoke first "What buisness dost thou hast with the princess as to impose on her majesty's free time?"

The Sorcerer addressed them in a plain tone "Tis not of mine knowledge, Sir Dragonslayer, for tis not of mine request. Tis a request of Luna herself, she desires to see Celestia in the throne room. . . .without escorts"

Lancea let out a hearty laugh "Dost thou hear that rubbish, mi'lady? Without escorts? The nerve!"

Celestia smiled at her three servants "Yes. . .That is an odd request, but she must know that I am the eldest and I set the rules" The servants sat in stunned silence for a few moments, staring at her.

"What is the matter?"

Haematites was the first to break the silence "Your majesty, you smiled."

"Is that not normal of me?"

Lancea hesitated for a moment "Well. . .this one seem'd from the bottom of thine heart"

"Well, I am with my three favorite servants, and I am not trying to please any stuck up nobles"

Haematites was the first to point out a fallacy in a joking manor "You realize that I am a noble, but I pride myself on not being stuck up like the rest of the court!"

Lancea, Haematites, and Celestia laughed, Holy Light just cracked a smile. She was a mare of few word and even fewer expressions. But she did find that their company was preferable to the other Sunlight Paladins.

They talked as they continued to the throne room, then Haematites addressed the elephant in the room "So. . .Whatever happened to Archmage Somber Heart, the Hell-hound of the four knight of the crown?"

Lancea answered before Celestia could finish processing the question "Nay pony knows. He disappear'd into the night, then the Crystal Empire disappear'd as well."

The party arrived at the door of the throne room. Haematites realized that he could do Celestia a favor and not delay the meeting "Strange, but I must depart. I need escort young master Lynchinus to his quarters from the archives"

Celestia turned towards Haematites as he departed "Thank you for the favor, kind sorcerer. I shall see that you are justly compensated for your lost time" but Haematites was too far away by that point to hear her.

Holy Light opened the door for Celestia, but Lancea crossed the threshold into the throne room first to keep a keen eye for threats. As they entered, Luna stepped out from behind her throne "Dearest sister, I see that thou hast not approached alone. Tis a shame for the knights in thou service"

Celestia looked upwards to her sister "What is the meaning of this gathering?"

Luna smiled, not a genuine one, but the way a demented pony looks upon it's next victim. She took her blade, Nadir, from her throne, held it above her, and unsheathed the blade; bathing it in moonlight "I am here to proclaim that it shall stay night forever, dearest sister, and that thou shalt not stand in my way. I shalt honor my fallen student with your blood"

"No. . .Luna you fool" Celestia was pushed back by Lancea.

"Princess! Stay with Holy Light! I shalt put thine sister in her place!" The Dragonslayer shouted as he fastened on his helmet, it resembled a fierce lion and covered his face. Lancea drew his great-spear and inhaled, which caused the spear to crackle with lighting.

Luna's crazed smile changed to a disapproving frown "Dragonslayer, thou art not a pawn, surely you can see that mine sister is a liar and evil beyond measure" Lancea's wings flared out as he flew forward with such speed as to create a massive, multi-colored shock wave.

Lancea knew there was no way for Luna to dodge the attack and he flew strait at her. There was a resounding boom that shook the throne room. Lancea's great-spear was lodged in the ceiling of the throne room, the electricity gone from it. The Dragonslayer sat stunned for mere moments that seemed to drag into eternity. "How? That speed isn't possib-"

Then, before he could finish, Luna drove Nadir straight through his heart. His armor crumpled like tinfoil. Luna kicked the once proud knight off her blade, splattering Celestia's throne with his blood, and he fell down the stairs. Celestia came to a sudden realization when she saw Somber Heart's blade by Luna's side. So that is how she beat Lancea, she deflected his spear by hitting the crossguard with that blade. She saw Holy Light gallop over and pick up Lancea. The normally stoic earth pony was crying. . .the fires of outrage burned in Celestia's soul.

Celestia couldn't stand idly by any longer, she summoned her lance to her side "Luna, this fight shall not continue"

"Do not address me as Luna any longer, for I am thou'st worst nightmare. Call me. . . .Nightmare Moon! Just as you were, Solaris, the Tyrant Sun!" Celestia flinched at hearing her old name, and could only watch as dark blue flames covered her sister, transforming her into a monster.

Canterlot Castle: 7 AM

Luna wandered the halls of the castle, she was unable to sleep. Maybe. . . she thought I could speak to Celestia about my recent bouts of sleeplessness.

As Luna went through the castle, she suddenly heard crying. She rounded the corner to see Celestia, covered in bleeding cuts, crying. "Dearest Sister! What hath transpired?"

Celestia looked right at Luna, and grabbed a nearby lance from a suit of armor "I shall vanquish thee, vile NIGHTMARE"

Luna had barley any time to react before Celestia charged straight at her. . .

Author's Note

Sweet Jesus, WiserOdin, you left the previous chapter and this chapter on a cliffhanger!
Well too bad, me. This part is kind of essential to Celestia's character. And I like having pick up points in the plot

Let's play spot the character inspiration for Celestia's two escorts! Ready? GO!

Anyhow. . . .This chapter was a hard one to make, because I had to choose between looking into Celestia's character and condition a bit more or continue with the current plot at hand.

Enjoy the fruits of my labor.