Lyra, Bon Bon, Octavia, Vinyl, Derpy, Dinky, Ruby Pinch and Pina Colada set up in the castle while Zecora returned to her treehouse and would sneak off for supplies. As she feared, Cranky's and Matilda's home was sacked by Sombra's soldiers. The rest of the Mane 6, Spike, Trixie, Sunset and Discord went to Canterlot and the palace where they met the four royals.

"What is he doing here?" asked Shining Armor.

"Discord has joined us." answered Sunset.

"Can we trust him?" asked Luna skeptical.

"Yes." answered Fluttershy.

"We heard something happened in Ponyville." noted Celestia.

"Ponyville has fallen." stated Trixie.

The four royals winced.

"Was...Twilight there?" asked Cadence worried.

"Yes." answered Sunset.

Celestia, Cadence and Shining cringed at this.

"They first attacked my family capturing them." began Pinkie.

"They also captured my parents." added Rarity.

"And my brother and Granny." concluded Applejack.

"I am so sorry for your losses." said Celestia.

"We know your highness." replied Applejack.

"They're little sister where safe." noted Fluttershy.

"How many where captured?" asked Luna.

"Five ponies, three fillies and a zebra living on the outside of town." answered Spike.

"That's it?" asked Shining surprised.

"Yes." answered Sunset sadly.

"We can't just sit here! We know exactly where Twilight is!" snapped Rainbow.

"We cannot just go rushing into things." warned Applejack.

Rainbow Dash let out an annoyed grunt.

"I know you want to help. We all do, but if we rush in we'll be killed." said Sunset.

"It's so hard." sighed Rainbow.

Fluttershy flew over to her marefriend's side.

"I know. We can all sympathize." said Fluttershy.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't." said Trixie.

"Look Trixie! We can do this without you!" declared Rainbow.

"Fine. But, when your enslaved don't come whining to Trixie." said the illusionist.

Trixie turned and began to walk away.

"Wait! Trixie, please stay!" called Sunset.

"Perhaps, if you beg Trixie will consider." said Trixie.

"We ain't beggin' for nopony!" declared Applejack.

"Damn right!" cried Rainbow.

"Fine. Then Trixie will take her leave." said Trixie.

"Guys!" cried Sunset.

"Trixie, please wait in the foyer." requested Luna.

"Fine with Trixie, your highness." replied Trixie.

Trixie turned and left the room.

"Have you talked to Trixie like I instructed?" asked Luna.

The ponies and Spike looked down guilty.

"No." answered Sunset.

"There is a reason I requested you do that." replied Luna.

"Because of she came from a "broken home" right?" asked Pinkie.

"Yes. You need to talk to her. I will call her back in, we will leave and you talk to her." answered Luna.

"Right." agreed Sunset.

"Trixie, please come back in." said Luna.

Trixie entered and the four royals left.

"Where are they going?" asked Trixie confused.

"They have business to attend to." answered Sunset.

Sunset Shimmer stopped and took a deep breath.

"Um Trixie, can we talk?" asked Sunset.

"Yes. Trixie knows she is great." answered the illusionist.

Rainbow and Applejack grumbled under their breaths.

"That's not what we want to talk about." stated Applejack.

Trixie raised her eyebrow.

"Earlier, you noted you had a rough fillyhood..." began Spike.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie sees no need to talk about her youth!" declared Trixie.

"Trixie, you cannot avoid this." stated Sunset.

"Trixie sees no reason to disclose this personal information." said Trixie firmly.

"Please." requested Fluttershy.

"You have to be kidding Trixie." scoffed Trixie.

"Just me use my magic. I can get her to talk." offered Discord.

"We don't use magic to bend the will of others...especially friends." chastised Fluttershy.

"Trixie is not your friend!" snapped Trixie.

"Trixie, I know what its like to have a past you aren't proud of." said Sunset.

"You probably didn't come a from a broken home!" cried Trixie.

The illusionist paused as she realized what she had said.

"Not that Trixie came from a broken home either." said Trixie defensively.

"Please Trixie. We are not going to abandon you. We want to help you, but we can't if we don't know what's wrong." said Sunset.

Trixie thought for a moment and groaned.

"Fine." relented Trixie.

Trixie took a deep breath.

"Trixie's father was an illusionist like Trixie and Trixie's mother was his assistant." began Trixie.

"Is that how they met?" asked Pinkie.

"Yes. She auditioned and they got closer even falling in love." answered Trixie.

"How darling." said Rarity.

"Trixie's father was a good illusionist, but failed in Manehattan." continued Trixie.

"What happened?" asked Applejack.

"He couldn't cut it in the big city." answered Trixie sadly.

The illusionist took a deep sigh.

"He hit the bottle and became a violent drunk." said Trixie.

"Did he hit you?" asked Fluttershy worried.

"Not me. My mother." answered Trixie.

Applejack winced at this.

"Trixie had to watch it. My oldest memories are of father beating mother." explained Trixie.

"No child should ever see that!" cried Applejack.

"Calm down." said Rarity.

Applejack took a deep breath.

"You're right." said Applejack.

"Mom had to work two jobs, but most of the money to booze." continued Trixie.

"How bad was it?" asked Rainbow.

"We barely had food. I had to...beg." answered Trixie disgusted.

"Oh my!" gasped Rarity.

"We lost our home and had to move into an apartment. But, my dad drank the rent away forcing mother to beg for money and constantly leaving us in debt." explained Trixie.

Trixie took a moment.

"Trixie wanted to get out of that place as soon as I could." said Trixie.

"Is that you became an illusionist?" asked Spike.

Trixie nodded her head in confirmation.

"Trixie was determined to make something of herself." answered Trixie.

Trixie blinked and a a frown was clearly visible.

"Trixie wouldn't end up like that! Trixie would make something of herself and become famous not only in Euqestria , but beyond!" declared Trixie passionately.

The others where left speechless.

"So there you go." said Trixie hurt.

"We...didn't know." stated Sunset surprised.

"Happy now?" asked Trixie annoyed.

"There's now way we could be happy with that." answered Spike.

"Why did you want to know so badly?" asked Trixie.

"There seemed like there something bothering you." answered Rarity.

"Nothing bothers Trixie!" spat Trixie.

"Is that why you've wanted to get revenge against Twilight?" asked Rainbow.

"Trixie has no idea what you're talking about." answered Trixie.

"Yeah sure." muttered Applejack.

Trixie took a deep breath.

"Trixie will admit there is something...liberating about telling this." confessed Trixie.

"Do ya want to rebuild your relationship with your father? asked Applejack.

"No. I never want to see him again." answered Trixie firmly.

"You third refer to yourself in the third pony." noted Sunset.

Trixie blinked and shook her head.

"A momentary miscalculation." stated Trixie.

"Maybe, um, it's because you let your guard down." proposed Fluttershy.

Trixie sputtered, revealing Fluttershy was right.

"Trixie, we're here for you. Your relationship with everpony hasn't been great, but we are not going to abandon you. If you need to talk, we'll be here for you." explained Sunset.

Trixie was left speechless.

"I'm going to get the royals." said Sunset.

"Wait!" cried Trixie.

Sunset stopped and turned her attention back to Trixie.

"Trixie thanks you." said Trixie.

In Manehatan, Sombra had firmly cemented his rule. Sombra's rule was implemented and dissidents quickly crushed by Sombra's Army. Sombra was in his office waiting for an important meeting. He was looking over update reports pleased with the status of his invasion. Sombra leaned back patting himself on the back when a knock came on the door.

"I am busy.' said Sombra annoyed.

"Master, it's me." said Twilight.

Sombra took a moment.

"Come in Twilight." said Sombra.

Twilight entered and shut the door behind her.

"It is so great to see you again." said Twilight dreamily.

"Indeed. It has been far to long." replied Sombra.

"How have things been?" asked Twilight.

"Thanks to you they've been grand." answered Sombra.

Twilight felt her cheeks burning.

"It has been my pleasure serving you Master!" declared Twilight.

"You naive fool." thought Sombra.

Sombra thought for a moment.

"I have heard you've captured Ponyville." noted Sombra.

Twilight let out a chuckle.

"I enslaved most of the residences." said Twilight proudly.

"You've enslaved most of them?" asked Sombra uneasy.

"A few managed to escape. A zebra, five adults and four fillies." answered Twilight.

"Where the Element of Harmony bearers there?" asked Sombra.

"Yes. But, they ran away like cowards." scoffed Twilight.

"No matter. There running is almost over." said Sombra.

Twilight let out a sigh of relief.

"Once Equestria has fallen, you can do whatever you want to it." said Sombra.

"Master, they actually had a memorial to me." noted Twilight.

Sombra squinted in concern.

"Those pathetic fools!" laughed Twilight.

Sombra took a deep breath of relief.

"I will never go back to that!" declared Twilight.

"Good girl." said Sombra.

Twilight smiled happily.

"As you may guess, Canterlot is our next target." stated Sombra.

"Good! I want to payback Celestia!" exclaimed Twilight.

"I want you by my side in the fight." said Sombra.

"It will be a great honor." said Twilight.

"Equestria will be yours after this." said Sombra.

"Indeed. I plan to make major changes." stated Twilight.

"Too bad they'll never com true." thought Sombra arrogantly.

"How sweet." cooed a voice.

Twilight turned her attention to the door.

"It is a great to see you once more." said Chrysalis.

Author's Notes:

A/N: That's where we'll end this chapter. Next time, we focus on preparations for the battle. Please review.