Twilight is the ending of the old and the beginning of the new.
For Fluttershy, Twilight was who brought her more friends and confidence. The end of her shyness and the beginning of her overcoming it. Alone at the end of her days, she won't put this on Twilight to watch another friend die.

With the Lunar Rebellion reestablished by Luna's return, Celestia is desperate to find any way to hold on to her sovereign power. Twilight supports Celestia, dedicated until the end, going out and trying to maintain the support of the general populace. The ponies wonder, though, why is she so loyal to the dictator?
What about Rainbow Dash? What side will she, the element of loyalty, choose when forced to choose between her friends?

Gore tag is in place just in case. If there is gore in the future, it will be a light amount.

Twilight learns to be thankful for her friends and everything they have done for her since she met them.
Tags are weird, alternate universe is only for part of the story.

Happy Thanksgiving, whether you celebrate it or not, it's nice to remember to be thankful for what we have.

Twilight had always been unstable. She watched her friends grow old and pass on. She felt trapped. She never wanted this.

The royal guards found the purple alicorn's body lying broken in front of the memorial for her friends.

Celestia is left to wonder why. Why did this happen? Her faithful student, her best friend gone. She is left to wonder what could have happened.

How do you save a life?