E.V.I.L

Celestia wakes to find herself in the middle of a dark room. She can't see anything, only the black void is visible to her eyes. She looks around frantically to see if she can make some sense of where she's at. "Hello," she cries out, "Is anypony out there?" Silence is her answer, she assumes that she is alone. However, a faint noise is heard. The noise sounds like laughter but it's hard to tell. "Hello," she cries to the voice, "Who's there?"

The laughter grows louder, but the laughter has a maniacal tone to it. As grows louder, Celestia is able to hear that laughter is not coming from one but three sources. Fear creeps up on her as she tries to run away as the laughter grows closer. Her running is brought to a halt by a circle of green and yellow flames encircling around her, trapping her inside. "Where do you think you're going Celestia," says a female voice of malice, "We just got here."

"Who are you," asked Celestia.

"Don't you recognize us princess," said a deep male voice of hatred. Walking through the flames came three figures; one resembled a monstrous centaur, another a tall, slim bug like pony, and another a broad bodied unicorn.  When they got closer, they revealed to be Lord Tirek, Queen Chrysalis, and King Sombra. Celestia couldn't believe her eyes, "What do you want with me?"

"You have given us quite some trouble in the past Celestia," said Sombra, "Ripped me from my throne."

"Starved me and my people," said Chrysalis.

"And turned my own brother against me," said Tirek.

"You all deserved what you got," said Celestia accusingly.

"Maybe, but you have given us so much trouble that we're no in debt to you," said Sombra.

"And I believe that it's time we paid you back," said Tirek.

"Watch your rump princess, we're coming for you," said Chrysalis.

Out from the flames and behind the trio came another figure. This figure was smaller than the other three. When she got closer she resembled purple and green female unicorn. She neared Celestia with her horn fully lite up. Suddenly a huge a blast of magic came from the unicorn and shot at Celestia.

Celestia wakes up in her bed, her body drenched in a cold sweat of fear.  She breaths heavily, trying to catch her breath. Another nightmare, when's this going to end, she thought to herself. Her thoughts are interrupted when her bedroom door bursts open and Princess Luna runs in. "Sister, are you alright," Luna said frantically, "I felt your distress when you woke up, what happened?"

"Nothing dear sister," responded Celestia as she gets out of bed, "Just another nightmare."

"Sister, you've been having these nightmares ever since Tirek was defeated," said Luna, "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine," Celestia puts on her crown and royal brace, "Come, we have much to prepare for tonight's Gala."

"Sister I don't think you should help since..."

"I said I'm Luna, now let's get going," Celestia said sternly as she walked out of her room leaving Luna alone in it.

This new behavior in her sister certainly did not sit well with Luna. It's been nearly a year since Tirek's defeat and Celestia is still having nightmares. Luna tried in the past to help her sister let go of these fears but no matter what she tries it just seems that after one goes away a new and more powerful one comes in. Luna is far too worried that her sister may become paranoid of her fear. This is something that eats at Luna, her sister in trouble and she can't do anything about it. She prays that this trouble won't escalate into something far more dangerous.

"Ok, Applejack has the food all ready, Rarity says the dresses will be done before this afternoon," says Spike as he looks over Twilight's Gala checklist, "Pinkie Pie has the entertainment planned, Fluttershy says her bird choir is ready, and Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts are ready to perform."

"Are you sure that's everything, I don't want to disappoint Princess Celestia," says Twilight. Twilight has been tasked for the second year in a row to plan the Gala. After last year's fiasco, she doesn't want anything going wrong this time around.

Spike scans through the checklist, "yep that's everything."

"And are you sure Discord isn't bringing any other unexpected guests, I don't want another smoosh incident."

"He's coming with Fluttershy, remember?"

"Right, I'm just a little worried that's all."

Spike rolls his eyes, "What's there to worry about? Celestia already trusts you'll do a good job or she wouldn't have picked you for this assignment."

"I know I just don't want to let her down."

"And I doubt you will," says a voice at Twilight's bedroom door. Standing at the door is Celestia, looking proud of her former star student.

"Princess Celestia, what are you doing here," asks Twilight as she rushes over to meet her.

"I came to see how preparations are coming," said Celestia.

"There going grand," said Spike, "We have just about everything covered for tonight."

"Almost," said Twilight, "We're still double checking the list to see if we missed anything."

"Double checking for the fifteenth time," groaned Spike who got a glare from Twilight for his comment.

"That's good to hear," said Celestia. A long, awkward pause follows and the trio start to become a little uncomfortable. "Well, I best head down to the ball room and see how decorations are coming, see you tonight Twilight." Celestia turned and left the dragon and young alicorn.

"Well that was awkward," says Spike as he walks over a dresser to put up the list and his quill pen.

"Hey Spike," says Twilight, catching the dragon's attention, "have you noticed that Celestia is acting very different lately?"

"A little bit, I ran into her early and asked if she wanted to raid the kitchen for some cake and she turned me down. I found it odd since she absolutely loves cake."

"Wait so frosting on your claws from early wasn't from helping decorating the cakes?"

"Uuuhhh."

"Never mind, what were we about to do?"

Spike thought that this could his chance to finally stop "double checking" and have some fun, "About to get a bite to eat, I'm getting pretty hungry."

"Why don't we look over the check list one more time before we eat?"

"I should've known you were going to say that," Spike says as he picks up the check list and quill pen.