The sun slowly began to rise as Celestia's horn glowed with that familiar golden glow of magical aura. With dawn now in place Celestia let out an exhausted drawn out sigh. Yesterday's events still played heavily on her mind.

However, despite Celestia's exhausted state she still had a duty to perform and she would see it through, but she couldn't help but worry what would happen in two days time when Sombra and Nightmare Moon would supposedly come to collect their daughter, and she was even more worried at how they would react to Celestia's survival.

Celestia looked out into the distance roughly in the direction of the distant Crystal Empire, "Oh Lulu" She muttered sadly, "Why do we have to fight as we do sister?"

Of course Celestia now knew why they fought, she now knew of the one who was truly behind all this. This Trickster character had changed all their destinies just to feed off the resulting chaos, this sounded familiar and her thoughts went to a certain statue which still sat in the Canterlot castle gardens.

"Yes your Discord and The Trickster would get on well I believe," Said a voice behind Celestia as if reading her mind.

Celestia turned around to find a familiar brown coated stallion with an hour glass cutie mark.

"Doctor, how are you this morning?"

"Oh I'm fine, it's you I'm worried about..."

Celestia smiled warmly. "I'll be fine in time, my little pony."

"Yes well 'time' is certainly the object here isn't it!" the Doctor chuckled before turning onto a more serious tone. "She's awake".

"Twilight?" Celestia gasped, that filly sure was resilient. "How is she?"

"Confused, she expected to be dead, the other five are already waiting for you." The Doctor looked Celestia dead in the eyes. "Celestia, you know she was manipulated since birth; there is still a light in her so just please, give her another chance..."

"I will do what's necessary, Doctor."

The Doctor sighed, but nodded in acceptance. He just hoped she would make the right choice.

Twilight lay in her bed, several medical apparatus sat throughout the room, Twilight had to wonder why they had done so much to save her life, if she had tried to kill her father she would already be dead, or at least undergoing unbearable torture in the dungeons.

Twilight sighed, her father never really cared for her, it was her mother that raised her. Oh how Twilight longed for her embrace, she would give anything to see her again, one last time before the punishment she was sure was still coming was inflicted upon her.

A clicking noise caught Twilight attention as the door to her room swung open and in came seven ponies. The Element Bearers looked unsure, Pinkie Pie's mane was also drooped instead of being in its usual cotton candy like configuration, the Doctor had a look of concern on his face and he was looking between Celestia and Twilight in apprehension. Celestia looked as regal as ever, but Twilight knew she was hiding the exhaustion she was feeling behind her usual mask. She looked down at Twilight with largely emotionless, but slightly judgmental eyes.

Twilight sighed. "My punishment has been decided I presume?"

Applejack stepped forward to address Twilight. "Why'd ya do it sugarcube? All we've done since y'all got here was try an' befriend ya."

"I have a duty to my empire, a duty I sadly failed. Anyway, I have it on good measure that your attempts to befriending me were nothing more than a trick."

"The Trickster," the Doctor proclaimed walking up to the bed.

"Excuse me?" Twilight asked in confusion.

"He's your fathers benefactor, he told you that your friendship was a lie, didn't he?"

Against her better judgement Twilight confirmed with a simple. "Yes."

The Doctor sighed. "Twilight, the Trickster has been manipulating you since you were born! To him you are a tool to cause unparalleled chaos, and he lied to you to keep you from rejecting his manipulations!"

Twilight didn't want to believe him, but something about those age old eyes told her he was telling the truth.

"So?" she asked. "What happens now?"

It was at this moment Rainbow Dash piped up. "I say we give her a second chance!"

All the ponies turned to face Rainbow surprised by her sudden outburst.

"Why do you say that Darling? She tried to kill the Princess!" exclaimed Rarity.

"I don't care! The poor egghead was taken from her birth parents and thrust into a life that wasn't meant to be hers, they've manipulated her since day one and now he knows the truth what kind of friends would we be if we abandoned her now?!"

Rainbow's four friends glanced between each other before nodding, all voicing their agreement with Rainbow Dash.

"Wait," Twilight muttered just audibly. "You really consider me a friend? It really wasn't a lie?"

Before Twilight knew it, the five Element Bearers had tacked Twilight in a group hug with Pinkie saying as her mane re-inflated. "Of course we do, silly! Why else would I throw you that epic party!".

Tears began to fill Twilight's eyes, but for the first time in a very long time they were tears of joy, not sadness.

"See, Celestia!" exclaimed The Doctor. "Even now the friendship those six have conquers all!"

Celestia chuckled. "Well then its certainly a good thing I was going to give her a second chance anyway!"

Celestia approached Twilight and the five Element Bearers ceased their group hug and parted to let her through.

"Besides, adopted or not I would certainly like to get to know my niece better," Celestia gave Twilight a warm, loving smile.

"I would like that," Twilight smiled back, nodding slightly in agreement

"Just one thing however..."

"Yes Celestia?"

"No more assassination attempts if you would be so kind."

Twilight chuckled. "I think I can accept those terms."

Two days later...

A large army consisting of both Crystal Pony's and various beasts and monstrosities marched onwards towards the city of Canterlot in the dead of night, the city had just been put on high alert and Sombra and Nightmare Moon stood on an outcropping overlooking their battle ready army.

"If Celestia has hurt Twilight..." Nightmare Moon muttered angrily.

"Then go on ahead of me, if she is alive she may be of use to us yet," Sombra told her with little emotion

"Use to us?" Nightmare Moon repeated. "She's our daughter, not a tool!"

Sombra didn't answer, instead he continued to look down on his army.

Nightmare Moon glared at him for a few moments before turning and taking to the skies, flying directly towards Canterlot castle.

Solar Guards ran about the castle evacuating all civilian personal as Twilight ran as fast as she could to the throne room, which was still undergoing repairs.

Twilight burst through the doors to find her five friends, Celestia and the Doctor already there.

"What's happening?!" shouted Twilight in a small panic.

"Your so called father, that's what!" exclaimed the Doctor. "According to Celestia's scouts, they marched all the way across Equestria under the cover of a powerful illusion spell. They are already too close for a shield to be placed around the city!"

"Twilight, can you talk to them? Make them stop their attack?" asked Celestia

The whole castle shook violently as it took a hit from a siege weapon.

"I may be able to convince mother, but father I highly doubt. He's never really held me in that high regard!"

"If only we had the Element of Magic, then we could possibly have used the elements to pacify the army!" proclaimed Rarity in exasperation.

The Doctor turned to Celestia. "Yes where is the Element of Magic itself located anyway? I mean those five have theirs embedded in their armour but I haven't seen that one anywhere!"

Celestia shook her head. "I do not know, that element disappeared almost a thousand years ago..."

"It's always a thousand years, isn't it..." the Doctor deadpanned.

Suddenly an almighty bang caught all of their attention as Nightmare Moon barreled into the throne room.

"Celetia! Where is my daughter?!" Nightmare Moon shouted as both a question and a challenge, before her eyes rested on a perfectly fine Twilight Sparkle.

"Mother!" shouted Twilight happily running up to the dark alicorn and embracing her.

"Oh my little star, I thought for sure I wouldn't see you again!"

Twilight broke away from the embrace and looked up at Nightmare Moon. "Yeah, we're luckily that lot gave me a second chance and nursed me back to health DESPITE me trying to kill Celestia," Twilight pointed a hoof towards the other ponies in the room who were all shuffling awkwardly.

"They... did?" Nightmare Moon asked, very surprised by this revelation.

"Luna," Celestia addressed her little sister as she slowly approached. "We don't have to fight anymore, we can be a family again! By this point that is all I want..."

"You can trust her, Mother!" Twilight confidently proclaimed. "I don't want this war anymore, and neither should you!"

Nightmare Moon looked between her daughter and her sister, unsure of what to do. She had been fighting her sister for so long, but she couldn't deny that she had missed Celestia and the relationship they once had.

Before Nightmare Moon could respond a voice echoed throughout the throne room. "My my Twilight, how very disappointing. This is how you repay me for bringing you into life of royalty?"

"Sombra," muttered The Doctor

Sure enough the evil king walked into the throne room. "Sorry about your guards Celestia, but they got in my way..."

"Father!" shouted Twilight running to put herself between Sombra and Celestia.

"Hardly," deadpanned Sombra. "But it doesn't matter, your real father will be dead before the night is over, as you will if you don't get out of the way."

"Sombra, you will not harm her! Do you understand?!" shouted Nightmare Moon

Sombra ignored her and continued to glare at Twilight.

"Twilight," Celestia addressed the young alicorn. "This is between me and Sombra, I don't want you getting hurt."

"No!" shouted Twilight in her seldom used Royal Canterlot Voice. "Sombra, it doesn't need to be like this! There is a chance for all of us to live side by side in peace and if there is one thing that my friends have taught me in the last few days..." Twilight briefly turned to view her friends before turning back to Sombra, "...is that friendship is magic! And it will overcome all!" Twilight stamped her hoof in conviction.

Time stood still for a moment as everypony fell silent, nopony spoke for what seemed like hours.

And then Sombra struck...

A huge beam of dark magic hit Twilight square in the chest and sent her flying out of the throne room and into the gardens outside.

"Twilight!" everypony but Sombra gave a terror filled shout.

"Nopony defies me!" shouted Sombra angrily as he followed Twilight out, intending to finish her off.

"No!" shouted Nightmare Moon who quickly followed Sombra outside.

"Well, it would appear Sombra is a bit more powerful in this timeline than the true one," observed The Doctor before hurriedly stating. "Well, come on you lot! We have to help Twilight!"

A mortally wounded Twilight lay in the Canterlot Gardens. Twilight's crown sat a few metres away having fallen from her head in the impact. Regaining her senses she attempted to stand up but found herself too weak to do so, she was not ready for combat so soon after her botched attempt to kill Celestia.

Looking up Twilight saw Sombra approaching, horn glowing with dark magic ready for the killing blow.

"It's a shame, Trickster saw so much promise in you, sadly it would seem you did not live up to that promise... goodbye Twilight," Sombra sneered.

Twilight closed her eyes, waiting for her end.

Author's Notes:

Cliffhanger! Again... I'm so sorry XD