The Rise of Sombra

Chapters

The Reincarnation Spell
Redemption
Sombra... the Hero?
Celestia's Warning
The Dark Book
Putting the Plan in Motion
A Sparkle of Attraction
The Birth of a Dark Love
Revealed Secret Love
Dropping the Mask
The Love Curse
A Royal Dinner

The Reincarnation Spell

Many thought he was gone for good, that his evil, vicious soul had left the world. But as the light can destroy the darkness, there's always shadow when there is light.

When King Sombra was defeated by Cadance after Spike have brought the crystal heart to her so she could channel all the love and happiness from the crystal ponies, his body was completely reduced to dust, except his horn that managed to survive the procedure and was thrown away. Predicting that his defeat was imminent with the crystal heart in Cadance’s hooves, Sombra managed to be fast enough to cast a spell that put his soul in his horn, hoping he would survive the impact with the light of the crystal heart, something that happened.

King Sombra’s horn landed in a remote corner of the arctic, where it stayed there for a long time, with Sombra himself inside of it, thinking of how he would proceed with his revenge and regain what he had lost. With the months passing, his desire for revenge was deepening and deepening.

Two adventurous stallions dared to adventure in the icy regions of the arctic. One of them was a earth pony and the other was a unicorn. The two friends liked to explore regions that other ponies had ever explored. After long hours walking through the snow and wind, the two decided to stop to rest, deciding to build an igloo to protect themselves from the cold.

They began to get snow that could use to the building. It was then that the earth pony found something while picking snow.

"Hey, come take a look at what I found" he said to his friend.

"I hope it's not some useless thing again" the unicorn replied, approaching. "Don't forget the night is about to fall and temperatures will start dropping even more."

When he reached the edge of his friend, he showed to him his finding, saying:

"Check this out."

And he showed what was King Sombra’s curved red horn. That made unicorn to gasp.

"I've never seen anything like this" he said. "It looks like a unicorn horn, but the form simply does not fit the normal standards."

"Cool, huh?" the earth pony said, looking to the Horn. "You'll see that we're going to be famous when we arrive to Equestria with this."

"I don't know..." the unicorn said with a certain fear. "I have a bad feeling about this thing."

"Come on, it's just a horn" the earth pony said. "It would only be dangerous if it was connected to the rest of the pony it used to belong.”

Unfortunately for this pony, that horn’s owner was listening every single word they were saying. After months of waiting, Sombra had managed to finally find what he wanted: somepony who could release him from that state of bodily death.

The horn began to be surrounded by the same dark aura that used to appear when Sombra used his magic. Seeing that, the unicorn was able to identify that type of aura and said:

"Oh no, it's dark magic. Drop it!"

But the earth pony couldn't do it. The dark aura was having a hypnotic influence over him, preventing him from dropping the horn. The unicorn tried to make his friend drop the horn by force, but some sort of invisible barrier appeared suddenly and throw the unicorn a few hooves away.

On the ground, he raised his head and saw the horn levitating in the air and heading directly to his earth pony friend’s forehead and attaching itself to it. That made the aura go through all his body and the earth pony began to scream in agony, as if he was suffering the worst of tortures. The dark aura covered the earth pony’s entire body and the unicorn could see the same body changing its shape: mane and tail, and even flesh and bones, to his great horror.

It was then that the aura began to pull back and returning to the horn, revealing what the earth pony's body had become. He was now a unicorn with a strong and slender body covered with dark grey coat with red crystals as Cutie Mark and coatless black hooves. His mane had a very deep shade of black, representing the darkness that inhabited his heart. But what was more terrifying were the eyes that were now brilliant scarlet with pupils in a darker tone and with the same type of aura involving them. Those eyes conveyed coldness, evil and cruelty the unicorn explorer had never seen before. A smile appeared on his face, revealing sharp teeth with two fangs, something that was impossible for a normal pony to have. But that was not a normal pony. Actually, that was not any the earth pony that the unicorn known. That was now King Sombra, the former ruler of the Crystal Empire. He gave an evil laugh, while thunders were heard.

"Finally, I'm back!" he exclaimed. "That reincarnation spell worked perfectly. Now I'm ready to recover what I lost and fulfill my revenge!"

The unicorn was paralyzed with fear with the sight of such evil creature. He wanted to run, but couldn't.

"However, I have to know more details about everything that happened since my defeat" Sombra said.

And he turned his attention to the unicorn that was there that started shaking like a leaf when he saw that deadly and evil look looking at him.

"But what do we have here" Sombra said, starting to get close to him. "It's my lucky day."

The unicorn was trying to take control of his legs to run away, but the fear was too strong and was paralyzing them. The only thing he could do was to stutter:

"Where... Where is my friend?"

"Oh, that friend of yours no longer exists in this world" Sombra answered, stopping in front of him. "His soul left his body so mine could take its place and then it shaped this vessel according to mine."

"What... What... What do you want?"

"Right now, I just want information" Sombra answered, lowering his head to stay on the same level as the unicorn’s. "And I'm sure you will be able to provide that to me."

And, having said that, Sombra blew what appeared to be part of his magical aura that entered through the unicorn’s mouth, which made his eyes stay in the same color as Sombra’s, though not so vivid. With that, Sombra was able to access all of his memories and knowledge.

He could see Princess Twilight’s coronation, repairing also in her ascension as alicorn. He recognized her as being the pony who tried to reach the crystal heart and eventually to fall into his trap. He managed to know her connection to Princess Cadance, something that interested very much. But the best was when he found out that Twilight had received castle located in Ponyville, beyond that he found the great affection she had for her friends. Apparently, that mare had really a great magical potential, making her maybe even more powerful than Celestia, Luna and Cadance. He also managed to know that Discord had reformed, something that surprised him a lot.

Having known what he wanted to know, Sombra made the aura that was inserted into the unicorn to leave and return to his horn. After release him from his influence, the unicorn looked at Sombra with pure fear and pleaded:

"Please, don't hurt me!"

Sombra smiled with pleasure at the sight of a pony begging for his inexistent mercy. He liked to watch ponies begging him, because it made him feel immensely powerful. But he had no mercy, plus that pony had ceased to be useful and Sombra didn’t need somepony who could ruin his plans.

So, he charged his horn with magic (in his case, dark magic) and launched it against the unicorn, piercing his chest in the place where the heart was, causing blood splatter everywhere, including Sombra’s face. That had managed to obliterate the unicorn's heart and he died, as the blood that was coming out painted the snow in red. Sombra licked the blood that was close to his lips, while savoring the taste.

"Delicious" he said.

After that, he used his magic to turn the unicorn’s corpse into snow and then made his magic aura wrap his own body to summon his old armor. The blood that reddened the whiteness of the snow rose in the air and was turned into his cape that was putted on his back.

"Now that I'm back into this world, I'm going to make it bow before me and my power. And I know the best way to do it."

And he turned into his shadow form and began to move away from that place, heading to Ponyville.

Redemption

Author's Note

Don't forget to vote in your favorite villain of my story The Taking of Tartarus in http://www.poll-maker.com/poll478564x00574f07-19

Redemption

A splendid morning dawned in Ponyville. The Sun raised by Celestia went up in the sky, as its light lit up everything in its path, reaching the entire kingdom of Equestria.

In Ponyville in the latest alicorn princess’ castle, Princess Twilight Sparkle woke up, yawning, as she had just had an excellent rest and could hardly wait to spend another day in the company of her friends.

She went to the dining room where Spike had just put the breakfast.

"Good morning, Twilight" greeted Spike. "Did you sleep well?"

"Wonderfully, Spike" she replied, as she sat down and began to use her magic to put applesauce on her toast. "And you? Did you sleep well?"

"Like a stone" he replied, while he sat down and began to serve himself from a bowl full of gems.

Twilight giggled and replied:

"Spike, I think you always sleep like a rock. I think nothing can wake you up unless your alarm clock. What kind of alarm do you have? I mean, for you having breakfast ready when I wake up it should be a good one."

That question left Spike slightly nervous and blushing slightly. Usually, he had that behavior when he was near Rarity. It was then that she realized.

"Don't tell me that your alarm clock is Rarity’s voice" Twilight said.

"Ok, so I don’t say that my alarm clock is Rarity’s voice" Spike replied.

"I can't believe" Twilight said. "Sometimes, it’s needed... I don't know what to get you out of bed. Are you telling me that Rarity’s voice makes you wake up soon?"

"What can I say?" Spike asked, shrugging, making then the same in love air that he makes in Rarity’s presence. "She has a beautiful voice."

That made Twilight take a laugh, as she rolled her eyes.

They ate the breakfast and then their tried to finish their duties, such as cleaning and organizing the library. Later, Twilight and Spike spent the rest of the day hanging out with their friends, laughing.

Without knowing, they were being watched by a shadow that kept itself in dark corners. It was Sombra in his shadow form. His attention was completely focused on his prey: Twilight.

"So it's true" he said to himself, so that nopony could hear. "There is really a fourth alicorn princess."

He gave an evil laugh and continued:

"Perfect. I can use her for my plans. However, for that, I'm going to have to approach and be completely honest... in the sense of my identity, of course. And since she and her friends like to reform bad guys, maybe I can achieve what appears to be an impossible task."

After a great evening of fun, Twilight and her friends, including Spike, returned to the castle.

"Applejack I have to say" Twilight said, while they entered in the Castle and began to head to the throne room. "That new apple pie recipe you brought to our picnic was delicious."

"I have to agree with Twilight" Rarity said. "I didn't mind anything in abusing a little. It was without a doubt one of the best pies I've ever tasted."

"Why, thank you” she thanked. "But it’s Granny Smith who you should say that. She was the one who created the recipe."

"Anyway, that was delicious" Twilight said.

"Yes, I actually think I ate three whole pies at once" Rainbow Dash said.

"Only three?" Pinkie Pie asked, hooping as always. "Please, I think I could eat more than ten."

"Well, I’m happy to have eaten a slice" Fluttershy said.

"I'm glad you liked it" Applejack said. "This will let Granny Smith quite pleased."

"And with reason" Twilight said, while she opened the doors of the throne room, without looking to the interior. "She is a really good... But what's up you, guys?"

Her friends had stayed with an air that was a mixture of surprise and fear. Twilight also looked and adopted the same amazement. Right in front of the circle where the seven thrones were, it was Sombra.

"Well, well, you have a lovely castle here" he commented with a smile.

Recovering from the initial shock, Twilight and her friends positioned themselves in a position to attack and Twilight exclaimed:

"Get ready, guys!"

When they began to start their attack, Sombra said:

"Please, dearies, don't be like that. I come in peace."

"Yeah, yeah, like we believed that!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"After what you did with the Crystal Empire and the crystal ponies, we're not going to believe anything you say" Applejack said.

“Yeah, meanie” Pinkie Pie said.

Applejack’s words made Spike think and then he said:

"Wait a minute, but I thought the Crystal Heart had beaten you."

"Spike is right" Twilight agreed. "The light of the Crystal Empire should have definitely defeated you. How could you have survived?"

"With the help of a little trick" Sombra answered. "After all, you don't get to where I am without having some trumps under your sleeve."

"Trumps full of dark magic, I bet" Rarity said.

"That's the only kind of magic that I know" Sombra replied. "But it doesn't matter. I didn’t came here to discuss my past. I'm here to discuss my future."

"I knew it!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "You want to take over of Equestria!"

"If that's what you want, you may don’t hold your breath" Applejack said.

"Believe me, if that was what I wanted, I'd be doing it right now" Sombra responded. "After all, I'm a stallion of action."

"If that's not why you're here, so what is it?" Twilight asked.

"I came to ask for a chance of redemption." the stallion with his mane black as night and his soul said, making a slight bow.

That answer surprised those who heard it, but it didn't seem to convince them.

"Yeah, as we would believe it" Rainbow Dash said.

"I'm telling the truth" Sombra said. "After my defeat, I spent months trying to recover. I have to admit that I thought in several plans for vengeance, but then I realized that it would be futile, since you, the good guys, would always ruin my plans."

"You got that right" Spike said.

"And when you freed Discord and when I saw the effect friendship was having on him and that he was gradually being accepted by ponies, I realized I'd make more if I became good" Sombra continued.

However, he still couldn’t convince the others. But Fluttershy, who was the more compassionate of the group, said to her friends:

"But what if he's telling the truth?"

"Are you serious, Fluttershy?" Rarity asked.

"Have you forgotten what he did?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Of course not" she replied. "But you can't forget that Discord was also bad and now he's reformed. Despite the mishaps, he proved he could change. Maybe Sombra can change as well."

But the others did not seem to be of the same opinion. Applejack turned to Twilight and told her:

"Twilight, you are the princess of friendship. The decision is yours. What do you think?"

Twilight didn't respond immediately, because first she had to think calmly. She also didn't trust Sombra. She knew what he was capable of and what he had done. No one would judge her for not wanting to give him a chance of redemption. But she also couldn't help but agree with with what Fluttershy said. Sombra could be able to change, just like Discord changed. And, in a way, Sombra was right about one thing: if he wanted to attack, he would have done it, because he had the element of surprise on his side. Furthermore, trusting or not trusting, her duty as princess of friendship was extending the hoof to who wanted to learn the magic of friendship.

Sighing, Twilight said to Sombra:

"I know I'll regret this, but I'll give you a chance of redemption."

"WHAT?!" Her friends asked, except Fluttershy.

"Twilight, you can't be serious" Rainbow Dash said.

"You can't be even considering giving this... cruel and evil pony an opportunity" Rarity said.

"Everypony deserves a second chance, Rarity" Twilight said. "Furthermore, Fluttershy is right. If Discord managed to change, maybe Shadow can also do the same."

Everypony seemed to want to say something, but Applejack said:

"Although I don't agree with your decision, Twilight, we will accept it" Applejack said, turning then to the other. "It's not true?"

Others, against their will, waved.

Sombra made a slight smile, pleased by his plan being working.

"I sincerely thank your vote of confidence, Princess Twilight" he said, making a bow.

"It's not a vote of confidence, because, honestly, Sombra, I don't trust you" she replied. "I'm just following my code as princess of friendship. You will have an opportunity to prove you've changed, or your fate will fall in Princess Celestia’s hooves."

"I understand" Sombra said, nodding.

"And to ensure that you’ll stay under control, I will block your magic" Twilight said. "At least while you are under probation. I think in that way I will be able to minimize the threat that you may represent."

Although they didn’t agree with Twilight’s decision to give Sombra a chance of redemption, her friends were slightly more relieved.

"Sure" Sombra agreed. "I will do everything so that you can see my repentance."

With this, Twilight focused her magic and cast a spell that hit Sombra’s horn that was briefly surrounded by Twilight’s magical aura. He was able to feel that he wasn't able to focus his magic.

"To keep an eye on you, you will stay here at the castle" Twilight said. "I hope you don't blow this chance."

"Of course not" Sombra answered.

"Wait, you're going to let him stay here with us?" Spike asked. "I don't know if you've forgotten, but I was the one who gave to Cadance the Crystal heart so he could be defeated."

"Don't worry, Spike" Twilight tranquilized him. "He will stay in the room further away and, besides, Sombra knows that if anything happens to you or to anypony, he will lose his chance of redemption."

Although that did not completely calm the baby dragon, he said nothing.

After Twilight's friend had go home, she turned to him and said:

"Come on, I'm going to take you to your room."

And Twilight led Shadow through the corridors of the castle until they got to a door leading to a room in a remote place of the castle.

"This is your room."

Using her magic, Twilight opened the door and Sombra got in. It was a room with a reasonable size, with a bed, a wardrobe, a table and a chair.

"I'll let you alone" Twilight said. "I just hope you don't make me regret my decision."

"I said it and I will say it again, princess" he replied. "You won't regret it."

And, with this, Twilight closed the door. After he made sure that Twilight was away and it was safe, Sombra dropped its air of facade and adopted its evil air.

"Finally, I thought I would have to play the role of repentant villain for much longer."

He advanced to the window where he could see part of Ponyville, continuing to say:

"These ponies are really naive. Especially that Princess Twilight. She really thinks that she put him between a rock and a hard place for having blocked my magic."

It was then that he took his hoof to his cape and pulled out a small bottle where inside it was a small portion of mist whose color was the same as his aura of dark magic.

"She should have made sure that I didn't have a small spark of magic to undo this little spell."

Giving small laughter, Sombra opened the bottle and let his horn absorb the magic that was there and, after doing so, the spell that Twilight set in Sombra’s horn to block his magic was undone.

"And now, let's start my diabolical plan."

And he laughed maliciously, while his eyes were surrounded by the mist of dark magic.

Sombra... the Hero?

Celestia’s sun once again lit up the beautiful village of Ponyville. The sun started to come through the window of bedrooms to wake the villagers up with a warm wave. These rays also entered the room of a certain evil unicorn who was pretending to be repentant to conquer Twilight’s trust.

Sombra was sleeping in his bed until the sun decided to wake him up. He opened his eyes and grumbled:

"Only Celestia’s stupid morning star to ruin me the delicious dream I was having."

He sat on the bed and stretched, saying:

"I have to admit, this was the best night I've had in ages. Just sleeping in this beautiful bed compensates for the fact of having to assume the repentant role once more."

Sombra got up and put on his armor and cape and left the room. He walked through the halls, taking the path that Twilight had taken to take him to his room. He then heard a noise coming in a room near the thrones room and went over there. He opened the door and saw Spike setting the table for breakfast.

Whenever he saw that little dragon, Sombra remembered his defeat during his return to the Crystal Empire. His desire was to make that sample of dragon to pay for daring to intervene in his attempt to regain the empire that was once his. However, he knew he had to control his obscure desires if he wanted to conquer Twilight’s trust. So, he took a deep breath and entered, greeting:

"Good morning, little dragon."

Spike startled when he heard Sombra’s voice and, trying to keep as much distance as he could, he replied:

"Good morning... Sombra."

He hastened to do what he was doing to get out of there as soon as possible. Sombra could see the fear that Spike had for him and that made him smile of pleasure. After all, he could taste the effect that his presence had on him.

After he had finished preparing the table for breakfast, Spike began heading for the exit, but Sombra asked:

"Aren't you going to join me?"

The little dragon stopped, freezing.

"After all, I'm the guest and I think it's a little rude not to join a guest for breakfast" Sombra said.

"You're not a guest, Sombra" Twilight said, entering, to Spike’s great relief. "You're here to prove that you deserve a chance to prove you've changed."

"Of course, princess" Sombra said cordially, making a slight bow. "But I love having a good talk when I’m eating breakfast. Besides, if I'm going to prove that I've changed, I have to live with other ponies... or, in Spike’s case, dragons."

"I keep you company, don't worry" Twilight replied, turning then to Spike. "You can go, I'll teleport your breakfast to your room."

"Thank you, Twilight" Spike whispered. "You just saved my scales."

And, having said that, Spike came out quickly, while Sombra sat at the table. Twilight used her magic to teleport Spike’s breakfast to his room. Then, she sat down, occupying the place that was further away from Sombra. She looked at him who returned the look with a slight smile, which made the young alicorn divert hers quickly.

To distract herself from Sombra’s presence, Twilight used her magic to put some croissants to her plate. Sombra, trying to also eat, almost used his magic to take some food, but he remembered that supposedly he had his magic blocked. So he had to resort to his hooves to take some food. He turned to Twilight that was using the cutlery with magic to eat her croissants and asked:

"Could I have my magic back? Just to eat, of course."

Twilight looked at him with a stare that gave to him the answer to his question.

"It was just a suggestion to make it more practical" Sombra defended himself.

He then began to eat. Moments later, Twilight asked:

"So, Sombra, what are you going to do today?"

"I don't know, maybe take a walk around the village" he said.

Upon hearing that, Twilight stopped eating and told him:

"I do not suggest you do that. The inhabitants of Ponyville will not react very well to your stay. After all, they know what you did."

"Without wanting to disrespect, princess, but don't you think that walk around the village would show to everypony how I am no longer the same cruel and evil king that I was once?" Sombra asked.

"That hasn't been confirmed yet" Twilight replied. "We only have your word that you've changed."

"So it looks like I have to go back to that isolated room and bore myself to death" Sombra said, making a fake sad face. "I may make a visit to the library. That is... if you don't mind, of course."

Twilight sighed. The library was her holy place, where she could go to escape her problems. With Sombra in there with her, she couldn't relax while reading her beloved books. So she said:

"Okay, you can take a walk by Ponyville, but I'm going with you."

"Fine, as you wish, princess" Sombra said.

The two then left the castle and began to walk around the village. As Twilight had predicted, the inhabitants of Ponyville, seeing Sombra, just pulled away from him, full of fear. Mothers put their foals behind them, fearing that Sombra could do any harm to them, although Twilight was accompanying the former tyrant king of the Crystal Empire.

"You were right, they really are afraid of me" Sombra said, feeling inside a great pleasure seeing so many terrified looks.

"What did you expect?" Twilight asked. "It's not just for your actions, but it is also because of your dark magic."

Although he felt great pleasure in all that, Sombra concluded that if he wanted to conquer Twilight’s trust, first he would have to win the trust of her friends and Ponyville. The question was how he would do that. Then he had an idea. Ponies loved heroes, ponies they could worship. He just needed to become a hero, perhaps saving somepony else, and this would certainly reduce the distrust that everypony had for him.

Looking around, he saw who he would use to accomplish his plan. Fluttershy was flying nearby, leading some of her bird friends that had been in her house.

"That's right," she said. "Don't be afraid. You're getting it."

That was his opportunity. Sombra looked at Twilight and, seeing that she wasn't looking at him, looked around, but nopony was looking. Then, acting as quickly as possible, he accessed to his dark magic, making his horn shine briefly with a dark aura.

Fluttershy flew quietly with her birds, when something strange happened. Its wings were full of cramps, which forced her to stop flapping them.

"But..." she started.

And then she began to fall, starting to scream. Many ponies were shocked to see her fall. Twilight turned and, seeing one of her best friends falling, exclaimed:

"Fluttershy!"

She tried to do something to help, but, before she could do anything, Sombra advanced and ran towards where Fluttershy was falling. Using subtly his magic, Sombra was able to reach the place where Fluttershy was going to fall in time and managed to catch her, much to the amazement of everypony, but especially Twilight, who was literally open-mouthed.

Fluttershy, having closed her eyes when she was falling, opened them, only to find Sombra who asked her:

"Are you okay?"

She almost cried out to the encounter with Sombra, but she restrained herself and simply put herself up, responding coyly:

"Yes..."

"I'm glad of that" Sombra responded.

That's when the crowd started surrounding Sombra, beginning to congratulate him. Although he feel himself disgusted by the good deed that he had to do, the former king had to admit that having all that attention and admiration made him feel pretty good.

The other Twilight's friends approached her and Applejack asked:

"Twilight, what's goin’ on?"

"Yes, and why are there so many ponies reunited?" Rarity asked.

"And why are they congratulating Sombra?" Rainbow Dash asked, who secretly was feeling a twinge of jealousy. "Do they not know who he is?"

"It's not they don't know who he is, Rainbow" Twilight answered, still recovering from what she just saw. "It’s because of what he just did."

"An’ what did he do, sugarcube?" Applejack asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Of course he saved Fluttershy from a really, really great fall after she had cramps on the wings, thus earning congratulations that he is receiving from our friends of Ponyville."

When they heard that, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack started laughing and the pegasus said:

"Pinkie Pie, you're killing me with your jokes!"

"Yes, darling" Rarity agreed. "If you really want to convince us, you should have gotten something better."

"As if Sombra would save somepony in this life" Applejack said.

"He did it, Applejack" Twilight said.

"He did what, Twi?" Applejack asked.

"Sombra... saved Fluttershy" she said.

"What?!" Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity asked in unison.

"I told you" Pinkie said. "My Pinkie sense doesn't fail. Now, if I may join you… WHAT?!"

"I'm also equally or more shocked than you, but the truth is that and I saw it with my own eyes" Twilight said.

"But... it can't be" Applejack said, not wanting to believe.

"That bastard couldn't have saved somepony" Rainbow Dash said.

"There must be some mistake" Rarity said.

"Unfortunately, there is no mistake" Twilight said. "What if Sombra is telling the truth? What if... he's really changed?"

Author's Note

I know this chapter is not what you expected after a long wait, but I'm just trying to prepare the ground for the next chapters.

Celestia's Warning

After what happened with Sombra saving Fluttershy, a meeting in the thrones room was organized quickly by Twilight to discuss what had just happened. Of course, Sombra was soon dismissed, but that didn't stop him from trying to spy the meeting.

Arriving to his room, Sombra headed to the mirror there, saying:

"Let's see what my dear friends are saying about me at that meeting. They should know that it's not quite polite to talk about in the back of others. And Twilight Sparkle still calls herself the princess of friendship."

Carrying his horn with magic, he enchanted the mirror and its surface began to reflect the thrones room, where Twilight and her friends were seating on their respective thrones.

"I still think that it was all done by him" Rainbow Dash said. "Please, as if Sombra would save anypony from anything."

That was expected by Sombra. He knew there would be those who wouldn't let themselves be convinced by the rescue, especially that blue pegasus.

"But, Rainbow Dash, you saw how he saved me from falling hard" Fluttershy said.

"Come on, Fluttershy, you really don't think he saved you because he has the most compassionate soul that exists, do you?" Rainbow Dash said. "What happened was that he was in the right place, at the right time, ready to save you and be seen as a hero."

"I'm not going to say that what happened was... a little suspect" Fluttershy said. "But the truth is that he saved me and I'm very grateful. Maybe what he said is true. Maybe Sombra really changed."

Sombra smiled. One of Twilight’s friend was already sympathizing with him and that satisfied the dark king.

"It's better we don't get tah conclusions, sugarcube" Applejack said. "We all know that Sombra is not tah be trust’d."

"Yes, have you forgotten everything he did?" Rarity asked.

"Uh, I don't!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, very excited, without realizing Rarity’s rhetoric. "I know everything what that Sombra guy did. You guys should know, after all, we we've been at Crystal Empire, the place that he conquered and enslaved and he just didn't do it again because Spike delivered on time the Crystal Heart to Princess Cadance."

"Yes, and that made me the most popular dragon on the Crystal Empire" Spike said, vainly, putting his feet up on the table that activated the map.

"We know that" the others said, rolling their eyes.

"The issue here is that Sombra is obviously up to something" Rainbow Dash said. "I mean, he is a villain and villains only can do something: imagining evil plans."

"That's not true, Rainbow Dash" Fluttershy said. "Discord was a villain and he's not imagining evil plans all the time... Well, at least he didn't do that during our usual Tuesday tea. I think..."

"I still think he did something for Fluttershy to fall suddenly" Rainbow Dash opined. "After all, how else could she stop flapping her wings suddenly?"

"That's impossible, Rainbow Dash" Twilight said. "Don't forget that I blocked Sombra’s magic. He couldn't have done anything to Fluttershy."

Rainbow Dash had forgotten that fact, but that didn't stop her from continuing to show her conviction that Sombra was bad.

"But he may have found a way to circumvent your magic" Rainbow Dash said. "Don't you forget who he is."

"It seems a little far-fetch’d, but Ah have tah admit that Rainbow Dash made a good point" Applejack said. "Twilight, is there a way tah break yer blockin’ spell?"

"Not without being through magic" she replied. "And I made sure that the spell is not break."

"If you say so, Twilight, darling, then it must be true" Rarity said.

"You've got to be kidding" Rainbow Dash said. "You're going to give him the benefit of the doubt."

"We also don't like this, Rainbow Dash" Rarity said.

"But we don't have hard evidence that if what ya're suggestin’ is true" Applejack said. "The only thing we know was that Sombra really saved Fluttershy."

"Yes, and that's something we can't change" Pinkie Pie said. "After all, all of us were there. Saying that Sombra didn't save Fluttershy is the same as saying that we weren't there, what cannot be, since that would mean we don't exist and I'm pretty sure I was born on a Tuesday."

Sombra couldn't believe how easy the course of things was taking. Almost all Twilight's friends were starting to believe on his change, despite all the mistrust that still existed, mainly from Rainbow Dash.

Twilight, on her part, didn't know what to say. It was true that Sombra had done horrible things, but she could not ignore what he had done for Fluttershy. All this made her question whether there was truth in Sombra’s claims about having really changed.

"I am also as shocked as you guys before Sombra’s action" Twilight said. "However, I cannot ignore the fact that this may be an attempt of him to try to gain our trust."

"You see?" Rainbow Dash said. "Twilight is with me."

"But I cannot also ignore the fact that he may have actually changed and he is trying to show that" Twilight continued, making Rainbow Dash getting quiet. "Although I am not sure about the accuracy of his words or intentions, the only thing we can do is wait to figure out what he..."

"Wait, Princess Twilight" a voice said.

There was an explosion of light and Princess Celestia appeared in the air, in the center of the room for the great amazement of everypony. Seeing Celestia appearing in the room, Sombra became concerned. Of all the ponies that could put an obstacle to the realization of his plans, Celestia was without a doubt one of the greatest dangers for him.

"Princess Celestia" Twilight said, caught by surprise, just like her friends. "But what are you doing here?"

"I came as soon as I heard of your dangerous idea to reform King Sombra, Twilight" Celestia said, landing next to the throne of her beloved pupil. "And I have to show my disapproval. Someone like King Sombra cannot be reformed, Twilight. "

"Finally somepony has my back completely" Rainbow Dash said.

"But, Princess Celestia, I thought you, of all ponies, would be glad to try and reform a great villain who's a big danger for Equestria" Twilight said. "If I am successful, Equestria will be safer, mainly the Crystal Empire.”

"I'm glad you're trying to do something like this, Twilight" Celestia said. "As your teacher and as princess of Equestria, I couldn't be more proud of your initiative. However, I fear that Sombra cannot be helped."

"But Princess, with all due respect, but I have to disagree with you" Fluttershy said. "After all, he saved me."

"I suggest that none of you let yourself be charmed by Sombra’s good actions" Celestia said. "I know him pretty well. He knows how to manipulate ponies in ways you can't imagine."

Everypony were surprised to hear Princess Celestia saying that, including Pinkie Pie.

"Wow, I'm surprised to hear Princess Celestia say that" she said. "And look that I usually hear the little voice saying things about everything that we do, think and feel."

"What are ya talkin’ about, Pinkie Pie?" Applejack asked.

"You know, that little voice that always talks in the third person and that describes everything that's going on" Pinkie Pie said. "I just hear it for a few moments, like since we started this meeting."

Everypony shared looks between each other, in light of what Pinkie Pie had just said, although they simply ignored, something they did when she made comments out of the ordinary, because they knew that was her way of being, despite sometimes being annoying.

"Hey, that wasn't very nice!" Pinkie Pie replied, offended.

"Princess Celestia, I understand that your responsiveness in regard Sombra’s reform is not very good, but you believed that Discord could be reformed, despite all of us did not believe that in the beginning" Twilight said. "Why are you reacting in another way when it comes with Sombra?"

"The circumstances are different from back then" Celestia replied. "We had ways to control Discod if he got out of control. Furthermore, Discord was just following his nature as Spirit of Chaos. I knew he just needed to realize the meaning of friendship to achieve change. Sombra, on the other hoof, rejects it. He's not like us. All he did was out of sheer malice."

"You don't have to worry, Princess Celestia" Twilight assured. "I blocked Sombra’s magic. He will not be able to use his magic to any evil plan he may have."

"You shouldn't underestimate Sombra, Twilihgt" Celestia advised. "That is the worst mistake you can make."

Listening Celestia saying all that to Twilight, Sombra feared that the young princess would listen to the advice of her teacher. It was then that Twilight replied:

"I appreciate your concern, Princess Celestia" Twilight said. "But I intend to continue with reforming Sombra."

That surprised Celestia that said:

"But, Twilight..."

"It is my duty as princess of friendship" Twilight said. "I'm supposed to believe in the possibility of someone like Sombra be able to change. Of course I won't be stupid about to cease to be alert to anything that Sombra can do. On the contrary, I will keep him under my watch. Casting him in to a dungeon and close him under lock and key seems to be the easiest measure to take, but, in that way, I wouldn't be the princess that I must be."

Sombra was quite surprised to hear Twilight saying something like that. He always thought she was just going to try to wait for the perfect opportunity to get rid of him, but it seemed that he had managed to plant a seed of doubt in her.

There was a pause and then Celestia smiled and said:

'' I understand, Twilight. And I'm very proud for your integrity as princess of friendship. I just hope you're right thing about Sombra... I really do."

"Thanks for the confidence, Princess Celestia" Twilight thanked.

"However, just to be safe, I will send some guards to keep the watch over Sombra even tighter so he cannot try any of his tricks" Celestia said.

"I'd appreciate that, Princess" Twilight replied.

Celestia took flight and then, accessing to her magic, she teleported herself. After that, Applejack asked to Twilight:

"Are ya sure of what ya just said, Twilight?"

"I hope so, Applejack" Twilight said, also a little uncertain about her own words.

Sombra annulled the spell that he was using on the mirror that returned back to normal. In spite of that setback, it seemed that his plan was progressing well. However, he knew he now had to slow down a little and wear the sheep's clothing for longer than he was foreseeing, having in regard the guards that Celestia would sent. But since he still had Twilight’s protection, he knew that his goal was still within reach.

The Dark Book

After her return to Canterlot, Princess Celestia, as she had promised to Twilight, sent a handful of guards to Ponyville to watch over Sombra.

Although she knew that was to ensure the security of everypony, Twilight couldn’t stop thinking that could make Sombra feel they didn’t believe in his change and that could make him return to his evil ways again.

Sombra, in his turn, thought that the presence of the guards was a little inopportune and that it could turn into a little complication to his plans, but that wasn’t something that he couldn’t deal with easily.

In a certain day, Sombra was at the library of the castle when Twilight approached him.

“Good morning, Sombra, I hope you are feeling okay this morning” she said.

“I am pretty well, Princess Twilight” Sombra replied. “Although, I am a little constrained for having all those guards looking at me with a not so friendly look every time I walk through the castle, as if they are waiting for a reason to attack me.

“Yeah, I’m sorry for that” Twilight said. “Princess Celestia, sometimes can be very cautious, mainly when it concerns…”

“Evil and cruel villains like me” Sombra completed.

“Well… after what you did in the past, it’s normal that ponies still don’t accept you” Twilight said. “But you’ve done some progress. I also had my own doubts. I still have them, of course, but you are being able to change my opinion about you.”

“Thank you for the complement, princess” Sombra said, cordially, realizing that his plan to gain Twilight’s trust was working without any problems.

“Oh, and you can call me just Twilight” the young princess said.

“Sure thing… Twilight” Sombra answered.

“Well, now I have to prepare myself to get the train” Twilight said, starting to head towards the exit.

“The train?” Sombra asked. “To where?”

Twilight stopped, hesitating if she should or not tell Sombra where she would go. She turned to him and replied:

“Well… Spike and I are going… to the Crystal Empire. We are going to visit my brother and sister-in-law. I would invite you to come along, but…”

“But due to my great reputation there, it is for the best if I don’t get even close of the empire” Sombra completed.

“Let’s just say that convince the crystal ponies of your change will be a much harder task to do” Twilight said. “We must go slowly. Don’t worry, I am sure one day they will accept you as one of their own.”

“Oh, I don’t have doubts about that” Sombra said. “Having you as a friend and reforming me it is certain that day won’t take too long to come.”

Twilight became a little embarrassed by what Sombra just said, blushing slightly.

“Thank you, Sombra…” she said.

And then she left.

After she left, Sombra dropped his facade and gave an evil laugh, saying then:

“Everything is going according to plan. Princess Twilight is having more confidence in me and that’s very good and, with her and her little pet dragon at the Crystal Empire, I will have more freedom to prepare everything for my great plan.”

Later, Sombra went to say goodbye to Twilight, ensuring her everything would be fine, and then she and Spike went to catch the train. Arriving at the Cristal Empire, they started to address to the Crystal Castle. During the way there, they found some crystal ponies. Although they showed the same enthusiasm for Spike’s presence, due to his status as their great hero, Twilight noticed that they acted a little distant with her. She presumed they heard she was trying to reform Sombra, their former tyrant king, and that didn’t please them at all.

Arriving to the castle and after greeting Shining Armor and Cadance, they started to try to dissuade her in abandoning the idea of reforming Sombra.

“That’s madness, Twilight” Shining said, in the throne room. “Sombra cannot be reformed.”

“Not if we don’t give him any chance, Shining Armor” Twilight said. “I was also tempted in locking him away in a dungeon and let him rot there…”

“Yeah, that’s what you should had done” Shining said.

“But that is not something that a princess of friendship must do” Twilight replied. “My duty is to give the opportunity to others of proving they can change for the better… including Sombra.”

“We understand your position, Twilight” Cadance said. “But we cannot ignore the fact Sombra is not like the other ponies. His heart lost all the light. For more that I hate to say this of a pony, the truth is Sombra is a monster.”

“Cadance, I can’t believe you just said that!” Twilight exclaimed. “I thought you believed that everypony had a good side.”

“This is different, Twilight” Cadance said.

“Twily, we are talking about a pony that enslaved an entire empire just for the pleasure of that and desire for power” Shining said. “It cannot exist any trace of light in him.”

“You’re losing your time” Spike said to Shining and Cadance, while eating a bowl full of gems. “It seems you don’t know Twilight when she puts something in her head.”

“Listen, I know you’re very concerned” Twilight said to Shining and Cadance. “Not just for me, but also for the Crystal Empire and the crystal ponies. But, please, let me deal with Sombra. Just give me a chance to try to change him.”

But they still weren’t very convinced with Twilight’s words. She sighed and added:

“I promise that, if Sombra crosses the line, I’ll take care of him.”

At the Friendship Castle, Sombra sneaked into the thrones room using his smoke form. After that, he started to watch closely the table where the map was. He had a slight suspicion that place was the focus of the magic of that castle. Not just for being where the thrones were, but also for the fact that it was where the magic map appeared to report any friendship problems.

Sombra touched the table and tried to use his magic to find out more about its magic, but something repelled him, leaving a burn on his hoove.

“Impressive…” Sombra said. “To burn me like that, the magic involved must be very pure and powerful. There is no doubt that magic is powerful enough to eradicate me completely. A power like this one must only come from one place: the Three of Harmony. It’s unbelievable how six insignificant ponies have a power like this one by their side. But that is nothing that I cannot deal with.”

It was in that moment that he heard hoofsteps coming in the direction of the thrones room. That made him return to his smoke form and disappear. The door of the thrones room opened and a guard got in with a frowning look. He thought he had heard something there, but he couldn’t see anything there, so he got out.

That night, Twilight e Spike returned to the castle and Sombra went to welcome them.

“So, how did the visit go?” he asked.

“Well, it was… good to see my brother and sister-in-law” Twilight answered.

“Yeah, without the part where they gave you a lecture” Spike said to Twilight, starting to go to his room.

That made Twilight to give him a stare of disapproval.

“I see” Sombra said to Twilight. “They lectured you because you are helping me, right?”

“Let’s just say they have the same opinion as Princess Celestia” Twilight said. “But I am certain they will be able to understand. Well, I think I’m going to bed. I’m tired from the travel.”

And, having said that, she moved away.

After making sure Twilight or anypony else was not around, Sombra smiled and accessed to his magic, turning into his smoke form, and got out of the castle. However, his transformation was witnessed by a pegasus guard who decided to follow him.

Sombra, in his smoke form, headed to the Castle of the Two Sisters, where he knew there was something that could help him with the problem of the magic of the Three of Harmony. Arriving to the library, he assumed his solid form and started walking though the library.

“It must be around here” Sombra said. “Celestia and Luna took it from me when I was still in power and I can feel its presence here.”

It was then that he felt a negative energy calling him. He followed that energy until a wall in the most remote corner of the library. It was coming from behind the wall.

“Really?” Sombra asked. “You could have been more original, dearies.”

Charging his horn with magic, Sombra blew up with the wall and a book simply fell by his hooves. Taking it with a levitation spell, Sombra laughed and said:

“With this book, I’ll be able to put my plan in action. I’ll recover my power fully and my rise will be a certainty. I just have to do one little thing first and Princess Twilight is the key.

“Halt right there!” a voice exclaimed.

Sombra looked by the corned of his eye and saw one of the guards Celestia sent to watch him, the very same who followed him.

“Well, well, well, it seems somepony decided to leave his post” Sombra said.

“My mission is to have you under my watch” the guard said. “And it seems Princess Celestia was right in sending us. Sombra, in the name of the alicorn princesses, you’re under arrest for conspiracy.”

Sombra laughed, while the guard approached, and said, turning to him:

“And it’s an insignificant guard like you who will take me in? Pathetic.”

“Don’t underestimate me!” the guard exclaimed.

And he launched himself against Sombra, but then stopped suddently, as Sombra had stabbed his body with his bare hoof. Sombra saw with delight the guard’s suffering, while he spat blood. The unicorn king took out his hoof full of blood from the guard’s chest and the latter fell on the ground, dead.

“What a shame” Sombra said, while using a spell that cleaned the blood over his hoof. “You should have run when you had the chance. Maybe that way you would still be alive. However, your disappearance would put some suspicion over me. I cannot allow that.”

Opening his book, Sombra searched for something and then he found the right spell.

“This must do the work” he said.

He accessed to his magic and then the guard’s shadow started to involve him and, when it did it completely, the dead body started to move and got up. The hole on the chest caused by Sombra was healed and the hole on the armor was repaired. The eyes opened, shining with some darkness.

“From this moment forward, you’ll be my servant” Sombra said. “You may be useful to me in the future. I count on your servitude.”

The dead guard simply bowed before Sombra.

“Don’t forget that, in order to not catch any attention, you must act like that guard” Sombra said to his new servant.

“As you wish, my king” the guard’s shadow said.

“Perfect, now let’s my great plan to my rise… begin” Sombra said, starting to laugh diabolically.

Putting the Plan in Motion

Author's Note

I’m sorry if it took me almost a year to publish a chapter, but I got too much involved with the Order and Chaos Saga that I ended up forgetting this one. Don’t worry, now I’ll try to publish more chapters and not let this story be forgotten again.

Putting the Plan in Motion

With his book of dark magic now in his possession, Sombra returned to his bedroom at the Friendship Castle to study the magic that would allow him to return to his maximum strength and not having the fear that his enemies could defeat him once more.

“I see…” he said, while deciphering the written runes. “So the power of the Elements of Harmony is focused on the Element of Magic. Without it, the others won’t have any power. I knew Twilight Sparkle was the key to my great plan. Now, how can I use this weakness of the elements in my advantage?”

Sombra search in the book what he would need and then found it.

“Perfect…” he said. “It’s not properly something that I would do, but it has certainly a certain evil and deceiving side that I love…”

At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Hurrying to hide his book under his mattress, the evil unicorn went to the door and opened it. It was Twilight who was on the other side.

“Princess… I mean, Twilight…. What brings you to my room?”

“It’s just that you were taking too long to come to breakfast and I wanted to know if everything was all right.”

Sombra was so focused on his book that he hadn’t noticed the pass of time.

“I’m sorry, Twilight, I think I let myself sleep a little longer this morning” he replied. “But, if you wait just a few seconds, we can go together to the dining room.”

“Of course” she replied. “I can wait, there’s no problem.”

Sombra closed the door and hurried to put on his armor and cape. After that, he got out of the room and he and Twilight started to head to the dining room. During the way, they met with the guard Sombra had killed and turned into his dead puppet. For a moment, the former unicorn king feared that the guard would ruin everything by bowing down before him, but eventually he only bowed down respectfully before Twilight instead, moving away after.

“Tell me one thing, Sombra, don’t you feel uncomfortable using that armor to wherever you go?” Twilight asked.

That question caught Sombra off guard, but he didn’t waste time to answer:

“Ah, well…. You know, this armor used to serve to inspire fear on my enemies and protect me from any possible attack. I already use it for so long that I can’t feel comfortable without using it in public anymore. Actually, I dare to say that feel vulnerable without it.”

“But you don’t have any reason for that” Twilight said. “If it is your intension to get the ponies’ friendship, then you have to show it, not only through your actions, but also through what you transmit to them. That armor of yours makes ponies to remember the tyrant Sombra that used to torment the crystal ponies. If you don't use it, I am certain that the others would become more comfortable on your presence and it would become easier for you to make new friendships. Beyond that, I think you would look better without it…”

Realizing what she had just said, Twilight got quiet and blushed slightly. That made Sombra to draw a smile, not only because that showed that the trust Twilight had on him was gradually increasing, but also because he found her rather adorable with that pink shade on her cheeks.

“Thank you for the advice, Twilight. I’ll take it into consideration. Furthermore, I admit that this armor don’t quite fit my style… and I would be a lot lighter without it.”

That caused Twilight to drop a laugh and the two continued to advance to the dining room.

Spike was at that moment taking his reinforced breakfast, with sweet potato muffins with amethysts to go along. When he saw the door opening, while Twilight got in with Sombra, he hurried to put his last muffin in his mouth and then headed to the exit, while he said with his mouth full:

“I have chores to do…”

After he got out, Sombra commented:

“I think he just got out so he can’t be on the same room as me.”

“Don’t worry about Spike” Twilight told him. “He will eventually get used to you. But I think that, for now, he will continue to fear that you put him in dark crystal and then you break him into tiny pieces to feed other dragons.”

Twilight made a slight laugh from what she just said and Sombra followed her example, although he made his best to not add his evil tone, as that was an idea that pleased him.

They started to take the breakfast. Twilight, while she ate her oatmeal potatoes, observed Sombra trying to put jelly on a toast without magic. Although it had already passed some days since Sombra arrived to Ponyville, he still had difficulties in doing what he used to do with magic without it.

“If you want, I can attenuate the magical block on your horn so you can take breakfast at will.”

That suggestion caught Sombra by surprise and he asked:

“Really? You would do that for me?”

“Don’t get any wrong idea” Twilight answered. “I just do this so I don’t have to watch you struggling to use a knife to spread jelly on a toast. Also, I will only change the spell so you can only focus your magic to only use the normal levitation of a unicorn.”

The stallion with the black mane couldn’t believe on his luck. With that, his disguise would become easier to sustain. Beyond that, he could take advantage of that moment to begin his great plan.

“Do what you think it’s best, Twilight” Sombra replied, trying to not look too anxious.

The young alicorn advanced to Sombra and charged her horn with magic. Sombra did the same with his, focusing to make look like the block was still active. He let a part of Twilight’s magic to involve his horn and, when he thought that was the right moment, he ended the magic flow and then used the levitation, in order to show Twilight that it had worked.

“Thank you, Twilight” Sombra said, making a fake thanking tone. “This will without doubt improve my comfort.”

“You don’t have to thank me” Twilight replied. “If I thought you didn’t deserved it, I wouldn’t change the block.”

After breakfast, Sombra asked:

“So, what there’s today for you, Twilight?”

She hesitated in replying, but then she said:

“Today, Spike and I will to Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie is preparing a party to celebrate Rainbow Dash’s promotion as a full-time member of the Wonderbolts.”

“Really?” Sombra asked.

“Yes, Fire Streak just reformed and Rainbow took his place” Twilight told. “You know, I could take you, but…”

“But Rainbow Dash doesn’t want me there” Sombra completed.

“Rainbow has a tendency to take her loyalty a little too far” Twilight explained. “Don’t worry, someday she will end up accepting you.”

After Twilight and Spike got out to go to Rainbow Dash’s party, Sombra started to go to his room. Meeting with his evil warrior, he told him:

“I’ll start to prepare the beginning of my plan. When I get out of the castle, I want you to cover me up. Tell to your colleagues that I’m in my chambers and that there’s nothing to report. By the way, why don’t you invite one of them to wait for me there? Maybe we can get new friends.”

“Yes, my king” the guard answered, making a brief bow.

Sombra went to his room and consulted his book one more time before saying:

“I hope this works.”

And he turned into shadow and he get out discretely from the castle, heading to the Everfree Forest. There, he found, close to the Castle of the Two Sisters, the secret cave where the Tree of Harmony was. Getting there, Sombra found the beautiful and brilliant tree, whose five branches hosted five of the Elements of Harmony, the ones connected to Twilight’s friends. However, the one he wanted was the element connected to the young alicorn princess. So he noticed the tree’s trunk, where there were representations of Celestia and Luna’s respective Cutie Marks… and Twilight’s.

“So you’re hiding there” Sombra said.

He made a try to advance to the tree, but it, feeling Sombra’s threatening presence, released an intense light that forced the tyrant king to retreat until where he would be able to tolerate all that light.

“Of course something with a power so pure and powerful would be protected from a pony with a black heart like mine. Fortunately, I came prepared.”

And, focusing his magic, he released Twilight’s magic that he had absorbed when she tried to change the blocking spell she thought that was still active. With it, he created a barrier that shielded him from the intense light of the tree, allowing him to approach. When he was closed enough, Sombra, remembering the spell he had read on his book, casted his dark magic against the place where the Element of Magic was.

At Sugarcube Corner, everypony was having fun on the celebration of the fact Rainbow Dash was able to become full-member of the Wonderbolts. Between the invited were all of Rainbow Dash’s best friends, as well Big Mac and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, with Scootaloo being the one that showed the biggest excitement for the success of the one that was her greatest idol.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash approached Pinkie Pie and the former told her:

“Wow, Pinkie, I have to say that, for a party organized in a matter of hours, this is pretty great, even for you.”

“Yeah, Twilight’s right” Rainbow Dash agreed. “I mean, it’s not as awesome as the birthday and moving to Ponyville party that you organized with Cheese Sandwich, but, even so, it is awesome!”

“Thank you, Rainbow” Pinkie thanked. “When I got to know from my Pinkie Sense that you would be chosen to be a full-member of the Wonderbolts, I started to organize the celebration party right away.”

“Wait, are you telling us that you have a combo for when Rainbow Dash becomes a full-member of the Wonderbolts?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, Twilight…” Pinkie Pie said, while ruffling the young alicorn’s mane. “I already told you that I have a combo for all kind of situations. But don’ expect me to tell you, because that would ruin the surprise… And also because I did a Pinkie Promise to myself that I would never reveal my secret combos to anypony. And no one breaks a Pinkie Promise… not even Pinkie!”

Adopting unexpectedly her less serious tone, Pinkie said:

“But, meanwhile, why don’t you enjoy by nine-lays-every-berry-every-chip-surprise-cake that I did?!”

She then whispered to Twilight:

“The surprise is that I lost a measuring spoon in the batter. Somepony’s gonna get a very special slice of cake! I wonder why I keep doing that…”

And then she moved away.

“I think it is for the best if we get away from that cake” Twilight told Rainbow.

“I agree” she answered.

And the two laughed.

In the cave where the Tree of Harmony was, Sombra continued to use his spell and it was then that the Element of Magic emerged.

“There you are…” Sombra told, continuing the spell.

And his magic started to penetrate the element.

Back to the castle, Twilight got in with Spike and Rainbow Dash, who decided to escort her.

“You didn’t have to come, Rainbow” Twilight said. “I know the way back to my own castle.”

“I know, but you never know with that villain living here as well” the blue Pegasus replied.

“You know, you should give Sombra a second chance” Twilight told her. “He’s not that bad.”

“You may be the princess of friendship and having the duty to give second chances, but you need somepony that continues to see that guy for what he really is, just in case he tries something.”

“What I think is that you are getting too much paranoiac” Twilight commented.

She then noticed the guard that was loyal to Sombra passing by and called him:

“I’m sorry, but can you tell me where Sombra is?”

The guard took some time to answer, as his master hadn’t yet arrived and he didn’t know what to do to cover him up at that point. It was then that hoofsteps were heard and Sombra appeared, saying:

“I’m here, Twilight.”

“And I am not” Spike said, moving away.

“Rainbow Dash, I’m glad that you managed to become full-member of the Wonderbolts” Sombra told her. “Twilight told me that was always your dream.”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t even think you convince me with those sweet words” Rainbow Dash replied to him.

“Never mind her” Twilight said to Sombra. “It won’t take long for to get used to you, just like Spike.”

“As if that would ever happen…” Rainbow said.

“Here, I brought you cake” Twilight said, giving a package to Sombra.

“Thank you” Sombra thanked, taking the package with magic.

Seeing that, Rainbow exclaimed:

“He has magic! I knew you were up to something!”

And she prepared to attack Sombra who, for instinct, prepared to use magic to protect himself. Fortunately for him, Twilight stopped Rainbow with magic and told her:

“Stop, Rainbow! I was the one who allowed him to use magic.”

After letting her go, Rainbow Dash asked:

“And why did you do that?! You know the danger he already is without magic!”

“Sombra is not a threat without magic” Twilight ensured. “Futhermore, he can only use levitation. I think that, after the improvements that he has been showin, it’s the least I can do.”

“Not to me” Rainbow Dash replied. “And I am certain the others will agree with me.”

“Well, I think it is for the best if I go back to my room” Sombra said. “I don’t want to cause any more conflict. Thank you for the cake, Twilight.”

And, having said that, Sombra moved away. The guard bowed before Twilight and then followed Sombra. When they were at a safe distance, the guard commented:

“That was close, my king. I didn’t know for how long I would be able to cover your absence from Princess Twilight.”

“But it was worth it” Sombra told with a smile. “The first step is done. Now, everything will depend on my façade… and how much Twilight really believes on it. By the way, did you do what I requested?”

The guard made a gesture to Sombra’s room and he entered there, finding another guard, tied up and gagged.

“Well, well, I think you’ll do” Sombra said to the imprisoned guard.

And, having said that, Sombra pierced the guards’ body with his hoof, making blood cover the floor. The guard didn’t take long to die and, when he did it, Sombra took out his hoof from him, saying, while cleaning the blood with magic:

“Killing always makes me hungry.”

And he unpacked the slice of cake that Twilight brought him and started to eat it.

“Not bad…”

It was then that he felt something that caused him to spit. It was the spoon Pinkie had lost.

“What the…” Sombra said. “I’ll never understand the ponies from today…”

He then turned to the body of the dead guard and, with magic, turned him into a dead puppet, just like the other. The two guards kneeled before him and Sombra said:

“It won’t last for all the guards Celestia sent to watch me to become under my control and, once that happens, I’ll have the freedom that I need to advance with my great plan.”

A Sparkle of Attraction

It was the middle of the night and Sombra was walking around the castle. He didn’t feel quite sleepy and, since the next part of his plan now didn’t involve being stuck in a room looking to his book, the dark unicorn couldn’t just stand there.

The main problem were the guards that weren’t yet under his control, as they would use that stroll of his to report to Celestia that he was coming up with something. But the guards that were serving him were at that moment making sure Sombra didn’t have any encounter with any of the others.

Passing by the library, he noticed the door was slightly opened and a light was coming from there. Curious about that, Sombra approached it and peeked in, finding Twilight reading a book beside a pile of books with a candle giving her light. While watching her that in peace, Sombra couldn’t help but smile, as that was a way to make a move on her.

So, after teleporting his armor and cape to his room, Sombra went to the kitchen, where he took a couple of glasses and a bottle of wine that he had bought for himself at Ponyville’s market. After that, he headed back to the library and, without making a sound, entered and approached Twilight. When he was behind her, he put a hoof over a shoulder and asked:

“Having a late reading?”

That caused Twilight to startled and drop the book she was reading. After seeing it was Sombra, she said:

“Sombra, you scared me to death!”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to scare you” Sombra said.

“It’s okay, I probably was too much involved by the book” Twilight said.

At that moment, she then noticed Sombra was not wearing his armor and cape. Although Twilight already knew Sombra was well built, she couldn’t stop but thinking he was really quite handsome. When she found herself thinking on that, the young princess hasted to clear her mind and, after shaking her head slightly, she observed:

“So… you decided to follow my advice.”

“Yeah… I believe so…” Sombra said. “But you can’t forget we’re in the middle of the night. Even a tyrant needs to take out his armor to get some sleep.”

That caused Twilight to chuckle and then say:

“You got me with that one. But... what are you doing up at the middle of the night? I thought I was the only one awaken… well, beside the guards.”

“Well, I was having some troubles sleeping, so I decided to take a glass of wine to make me sleepy” Sombra replied. “It's a habit of mine… I was never a fan of warm milk. But then I noticed you were at the library and I thought… maybe we could make company to each other?”

And he showed the two glasses and wine to Twilight.

“That’s very sweet, Sombra…” the young princess said. “But I’m not the drinking type.”

“Oh, come on, Twilight, what damage can a glass of wine do?” Sombra asked. “Besides, I think we could use this opportunity to get to know each other better. Isn’t that something that friends do?”

There was a pause and then Twilight said, with a slight smile:

“Well, I believe you’re right about that.”

Sombra extended a glass to Twilight who took it with her magic and Sombra filled both with wine.

“Now, what if we started from the beginning” Sombra said. “Tell me, what path did Princess Twilight Sparkle took in order to become this formidable mare that now stands before me?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m that formidable” Twilight said, with her cheeks pink, while Sombra took a sip on his wine. “And the same thing can be said about my life. It’s just like any other pony’s ordinary life”

“Each pony has their own story” Sombra replied. “So there is no such thing as an ordinary life.”

“I have never considered seeing things that way…” Twilight said. “If you insist, I guess I can sum up my life.”

And so she told Sombra how she had grown up in Canterlot and dedicated most of her life studying as much as she could about magic.

“If there was one pony I would want to meet, that would be Star Swirld the Bearded” Twilight told. “I am a great fan of his…”

“Ah, the father of the omnimorphic spell and the most important conjurer of the pre-classical era…” Sombra said. “I also admire his work.”

“Wait, you also admire Star Swirld?” Twilight asked, surprised

“Yes, of course” Sombra answered. “Only a fool or an ignorant would question his geniality. Many of my original spells are based on some of his.”

“So what you are saying is that Star Swirl used dark magic?” Twilight asked. “Now you’re starting to cross line…”

“You misunderstood me, Twilight. What I meant to say is that I used the principles of many of his spells to manipulate dark magic. Dark or not, magic is still magic and follows the same rules.”

“I don’t have any argument against that…” Twilight replied, while also taking her first sip on the wine. “Wow, this is really good!”

“You like it?” Sombra asked. “That’s good… I choose the wine I drink very carefully. As a king, I always make sure I get only the best. And I have to admit that it paid off to live this long just to witness how ponies created such divine nectar.”

That last sentence caught Twilight’s attention and she asked:

“What about you? You didn’t tell anything about your life… you know, beyond what I and the others already know.”

Sombra was expecting a question like that, but he thought that it wouldn’t hurt tell Twilight about his life. For the contrary, that would cause her to get even closer to him.

“Well, my childhood is not something that I would like to remember, but I guess I can tell you” Sombra said.

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to tell me, Sombra” Twilight replied.

“No, it will be good for me to share things with the pony that gave me an opportunity for redemption” Sombra said. “I grew up at the Crystal Empire that was ruled by my parents, the king and the queen. It may be hard for you to believe, but I was once a crystal pony. However, my life, unlike the others, was filled with loneliness. My parents didn’t have much time for me because of their royal duties and I was always alone at the castle. My only joy was the library, where I could read every book there. It was like I didn’t need anything else, as long I had a book at my hoof.”

“I understand the feeling…” Twilight said, thinking back. “It was the same for me.”

“It was then that I found a hidden and ancient book at the most remote part of the library” Sombra continued. “It was like it was… calling me. It was a book… of dark magic. At the first, when I got to know what it was about, I tried to reject it. But curiosity took over me and… well, I started to read and the much I did it, the more I started to feel attracted to it. I don’t know how to explain it. The book itself was full of power and I could feel that power passing through my all body…”

At that moment, Sombra could feel himself getting excited. Remembering what he felt when he had his first contact with dark magic was like reliving a first love, something that reacted with his own magic. He tried to control the dark magic inside him, before it could expose him, something he was able to do.

“Sorry, but I can still feel the power like the first time…” Sombra said.

“So, it was that book that inspired you to…” Twilight started.

“Not at the beginning” Sombra answered. “I only wanted the knowledge about dark magic, but the temptation became too great, until I couldn’t hold it any longer… and I started to master it. However, that costed me my crystal coat, what caused my parents to discover everything and they tried to prevent me from practice it again… but it was already too late, because I was too attached to it that I couldn’t let it go. And so… I rebelled against my parents… and I took over the Crystal Empire.”

“Wait… you mean you…” Twilight said, with the horror invading her expression.

“I understand that you are shocked by that, but I’m afraid that’s truth” Sombra said. “There isn’t one single day that I thought about what I did.”

A moment of silence invaded that moment. Twilight couldn't help but thinking about what Sombra had just disclosed with her. She knew he had made terrible things as a tyrant who enslaved his own kingdom, but she never expected he would had killed his own parents in order to take over. Despite her brain warning her about that being a red flag, she could see that Sombra had some regret on his eyes. It was then Twilight said, while placing her hoof over Sombra’s:

“It was not your fault. I mean, it was, but I know how magic can do when out of control. Believe me, I had pass through that in order to get this castle. I can only imagine how it was for you considering we are talking about dark magic.”

“Thank you, Twilight, for those kind words” Sombra said, with a smile.

While looking to his eyes, Twilight couldn’t help but get lost on the bright red color they possed. It was like she was being hypnotized for how much they drawed her into them, but soon she was able to dodge the look, with a blush on her cheeks.

The two of them continued to talk for the next hours. They talked about their experiences and what they liked and disliked. Twilight couldn’t believe how much in common she had with Sombra. Beyond the love they had for knowledge and magic, they also had a taste for fictional literature, not to mention that they shared the same lonely past that only was different on the path they both chose to take.

While talking, they both drank the wine they were drinking, what caused their connection to become even easier to be built. Sombra, who was already used to alcohol, was able to stand it, but Twilight was starting to get a little drunk, with her inhibitions starting to low and she becoming more vulnerable.

After a joke that Sombra made, Twilight laughed (in a tone a little higher than usual) and said:

“Sombra, I have to confess I never had this much fun in quite some time. Please, don’t tell Pinkie that I say that.”

“My lips are sealed” Sombra replied, passing his hoof over his mouth.

When Twilight noticed the time, she exclaimed:

“Oh my, it’s almost morning! I didn’t even notice the time passing.”

“Well, that’s what happens when we are enjoying ourselves” Sombra commented.

“You’re right” Twilight said. “It was nice to have this fun without being reading a book. But I guess I should go to bed and rest a bit. Also I believe I exaggerated a little on the wine, so…”

She stood up and prepared to go, but she did it too fast and Twilight started to lose her balance. When she was about to fall, Sombra caught her and said:

“I got you.”

At that moment, the two of them found themselves with their muzzles almost touching and their eyes gazing at each other. By his surprise, Sombra was caught by Twilight’s beauty, mainly her eyes. The light that existed in them was so intense that only made him desire to engulf it with his darkness. Twilight was also caught by the intensity of Sombra’s eyes, as much as him for hers. She could feel the dark glow in them drawing her again.

It didn’t take long for the two to forget their inhibitions completely and let themselves be involved in a passionate kiss. Sombra couldn't believe how soft Twilight's lips were, more than he expected. He had to admit that he already admired Twilight's beauty, but being now sharing a kiss with her made that admiration grow even more to the point that he only increased the intensity of his kiss. Meanwhile, Twilight was left completely overwhelmed by that kiss. She could feel herself trying to form thoughts in response to that, but being unable to complete them, fearing they would force her to stop her from experiencing that foreign yet fascinating moment. She could feel Sombra only getting more intense, but that didn't scare her... it only made her more expectant for more.

Both of them didn’t know for how long they kissed, only that seemed to be an eternity. It was then that Twilight, letting herself finally form a thought completely, realized what she was doing and broke the kiss, saying:

“But… what am I doing?”

“Twilight, I…” Sombra started.

“No, I know” she said, while standing up and starting to head to the exit. “This… was an accident. I think it’s for the best if I… go to bed now.”

And, nervously, she got out the library.

After that, Sombra returned to his room as well, thinking about what happened. Of course that was something that he had planned to do. That's why he purposely influenced Twilight to have a drink with him, so he could low her defenses and build a trust in a way she could not deny it. But what happened there… it was something he never experienced before.

While arriving to his bedroom, one of the guards that was under his control was waiting for him at the entrance.

“Master…” he said, while making a bow. “We captured another guard and we are waiting for you to turn him.”

“I’m not with the patient for that” he replied, while creating a sphere of dark magic and delivering it to the guard. “Just do it yourselves. And don’t forget to clean everything when you’re done.”

“Yes, my king” the guard replied with another bow.

And he moved away, while Sombra got in his room. He took his book from where he hid it and looked at it for a moment. That was the book that changed his life forever, the one that put him on the path he was now.

But then his thoughts went to the kiss he shared to Twilight, as well to the memory of her eyes gazing at him. Now... more than that. It was that night of intimacy he spent with her. During his entire life, he had never found somepony that could understand him the way Twilight did. Everything he said to her was the truth. He did confide with her the past that led him to become the pony he was today, the pony that was once her enemy. And yet... she empathized with him, she made him feel... understood, something that no pony was ever able to do. That made him experience a set of feelings that only became more intense once they kissed. He didn’t understood what he was feeling. Could he… be falling in love for Twilight?

No, it can’t be! he thought. I am King Sombra, the most feared unicorn of them all! I can’t fall for such thing as love… Maybe it was just a physical attraction. Yes, that’s right… She is a very attractive mare, after all.

Even with his mind still struggling to accept that explanation, Sombra couldn’t help but smiling, as everything was going as he had planned…

The Birth of a Dark Love

Through that day, Sombra noticed that Twilight was trying to avoid him as much as possible. In part, he understood why she was doing that, as the kiss they shared was unexpected to her, much less sharing it with a villain that she was trying to reform and didn’t trust completely.

However, he couldn’t stop feeling frustrated, as Twilight was now vulnerable and he needed to take that chance before she could get over it. The only thing that was keeping him from going all out was his patience that was telling him to not put everything to lose when he was so close to get what he wanted.

When night fell, Sombra went to the dining room, but he only found Spike.

“Hello, Spike” he greeted.

The young dragon became uncomfortable with Sombra’s presence, but, remembering what Twilight told him about having to be nicer with the dark unicorn, he said, while keeping eating his bowl full of gems:

“Hey…”

“Have you seen Twilight?” Sombra asked. “I was hoping I could talk to her about something.”

“Nope, I haven’t seen her” Spike replied, while eating. “And even if I knew, what makes you think I would tell you. If she didn’t tell you where she would be, then I guess she doesn’t want to be near you, right?”

That observation from Spike really annoyed Sombra. Of course he didn't know what had happened between them, but he couldn't help but still wanting to zap that dragon with his magic. After being able to contain his anger before what Spike, Sombra replied:

“Even so, I need to talk with her. I’ll go see if she is at the library.”

And the tyrant king got out of the dining room. When he did that, Spike said:

“Okay, you can come out now.”

And Twilight appeared, having undone an invisible spell she had casted to avoid Sombra.

“Thank you, Spike” she thanked. “I owe you this one.”

“But can you explain what happened between you and Sombra?” Spike asked. “Don’t tell me he tried something…?”

“Please, Spike, if he had done something bad, I wouldn’t be hiding around” Twilight told.

“Yeah, I guess…” Spike replied. “But why are you running away from him.”

“It’s just…” Twilight started, trying to find an answer to tell Spike. “Well… It’s something very personal, Spike. It is for the best if you don’t know. I think I’ll go to the attic. Maybe he won’t look for me there.”

But before she could teleport, Spike said:

“Come on, Twilight, you know you can tell me everything. We’re friends, right?”

“Of course we are, Spike, but there are things that cannot be shared, even with friends” Twilight said. “You wouldn’t understand and you would start lecturing me.”

“No, I won’t” Spike promised. “I promise. I give my dragon’s word. You can trust me.”

Even though Twilight didn’t want completely talk about what happened between her and Sombra, she had to agree that holding that only to herself wouldn’t be of any help, mainly because she couldn’t talk with Sombra at that moment. Beyond that, Spike had been with her ever since he got out of his egg. If there was any being she could trust the least, it was him.

“Okay, I’ll tell you, but, please, don’t tell the others” Twilight said. “I know they will start to think the worse… mainly Rainbow.”

Spike zipped his lips and replied:

“My lips are sealed.”

Taking a deep breath, Twilight confessed:

“Sombra and I… shared a kiss.”

Listening that, Spike almost chocked with the gems, coughing them and exclaimed:

“YOU TWO DID WHAT?! Twilight, are you crazy?!”

“Wow, Spike, and I was thinking you always followed your dragon’s word” Twilight said, rolling her eyes.

That caused Spike to cough and then say:

“Sorry, it’s just… Well… I’m sorry, Twilight, but I have to say it. You shouldn’t have kissed Sombra!”

“You don’t know what happened, Spike” Twilight told. “We were a little tired and we share a drink… I drank a little too much, then I fell and he caught me… There was a little… climate and we got close to one another… You know what, I’m not going to stay here and talk about that. It’s something very personal and can put my friendship with Sombra at bay.”

“Oh, come on, Twilight!” Spike exclaimed. “Don’t you see that Sombra is trying to make you fall for him so you don’t fight him when he goes all black crystals and evil laughs? It’s like when Discord pretended to be good so Fluttershy wouldn’t use her element on him.”

“Spike, don’t be silly” Twilight said, starting to go to the exit. “It was just one kiss and I wasn’t completely sober when that happened. And even if I do fall for him,and that is a big if, I won’t let that prevent me from stopping Sombra from causing any harm to Equestria. After, I’m one of the alicorn princess and that is a responsibility that I’m not willing to break.”

And she got out, Spike sighed and said:

“I really hope you’re right, Twilight. I really do.”

The night fell and Twilight couldn’t stop walking around in her room. She couldn’t stop thinking about her kiss with Sombra and what Spike had told her. Although she would agree with her number one assistant, initially, now, she couldn’t stop thinking how that could turn the friendship she was trying to forge with Sombra into something awkward. The fact that she avoided him all day was proof of that.

It was then she realized that the only way to get everything straight was to go talk with him. So, getting all the courage she had, Twilight took a deep breath and then got out of her room and head to Sombra’s room. While on the way, she noticed that many of the guards Celestia had sent were close to Sombra’s room, however Twilight thought they were just doing their job. Little she knew it was for another reason.

Arrriving to his room, Twilight knocked the door and waited. A few seconds later, the door opened and the dark unicorn emerged. He had a towel around his shoulder with his black mane ruffled and his coat was still half wet.

“Twilight…” he said. “I’m sorry, I… I just finished taking a shower. If there’s something I like in this modern world is a good warm shower.”

But his words were not being heard by Twilight, as the young alicorn had become mesmerized by Sombra’s half-wet body and ruffled mane that only caused him to be even more handsome and attractive than she found him before. Just like that, the reason that led her to come to his room vanished, being replaced by a desire to kiss Sombra, a desire to touch his strong body, to embrace it... but the one thing she desired the most was for him to do the same to her with the same intensity that he did when they kissed. It was a desire that the young princess complied to by pressing her lips against Sombra’s.

Although surprised by that, Sombra didn’t fight back. Actually, he couldn’t be more glad about that. He had been able to seduce Twilight and now he had her at his mercy. This was the moment he was being waiting for and he would make sure that it was a success. But more than that... He could feel himself purring inside as he was now feeling the softness of Twilight's lips again... and now he would be able to do more than just kissing...

He kissed back with intensity, with the two standing there for a few seconds before Sombra brought Twilight inside his room, closing the door. Throwing the towel to the floor, he conducted Twilight to his bed and the two fell on it, with Sombra positioning himself over her. They continued to kiss, while Sombra passed his hooves through her body. It felt good to hold her like this. Breaking the kiss, Sombra passed to also kiss her neck, causing Twilight to moan in pleasure, a sound that truly arose Sombra even more.

It didn’t take long for the dark unicorn to become hard and then he turned to Twilight, looking to her eyes, seeing nothing but desire, something that was complemented by the look she was giving him, and he could see that she truly wanted that. A smile appeared on his face, while he licked his lips. That was the moment he wanted ever since he formulated his evil plan, the one thing that would be key for its success. And so, with a thrust, Sombra penetrated Twilight, causing her to let out a scream that were not only because of pain, but also because of great satisfaction. He could feel that was her first time and just that thought caused him to get even more excited, since it has been a long time he had a virgin with him and he was determined to enjoy himself the best he could.

The moment Sombra thrusted into her, breaking through her hymen, Twilight came to feel a sensation like no other. She felt herself full, with her walls tightening around Sombra's member. She felt pain, but it was only at the beginning, because soon that pain give place to an immense pleasure, one like she had never experienced before... even more than when they were just kissing. But that pleasure only increased when Sombra, after placing his front hooves beside each side of her head, started thrusting into her... again... and again... with him going faster and harder with each one. She could only moan, as she let herself be guided by the feeling of elation she was experiencing. Only Sombra's grunts and breathing seemed to be the anchors that prevented her from losing herself in all that, but even them were entacing. To get a hold of herself, Twilight went to placed her hooves on Sombra's shoulders. It didn't take long for Twilight to reach her climax and come down for the dark unicorn. But even after that, Sombra just kept going, causing Twilight to start building up for another orgasm.

The two continued their intense and sweaty intercourse. Twilight lost count the amount of times Sombra made her reach her climax. He only came a few times, but still seemed to have energy for more. However, Twilight exausted a lot of hers and, after a while, he let her take a break, with both lying on the bed. Twilight ended up falling asleep with her head over Sombra’s chest, while holding him. He, who had his foreleg around Twilight’s shoulders, couldn’t be happier with the way his plan was taking. It wouldn’t take long for the great climax of his evil scheme. But, despite that had always been his main objective, at that moment, it was not what he was really thinking.

He was looking at Twilight and couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was while sleeping, mainly with the slight smile that she was showing. Sombra couldn’t hold himself from touching delicately her mane and face, finding them very soft to the touch. All that caused his heart to start bumping faster and faster and made him have a strange feeling in his stomach. Even if had been with many mares during his life, that experience was perhaps the best he ever had. Not just that, but he also felt happy that he brought pleasure to another... and not to just satisfy his own sense of pride. Perhaps the reason for that was because he actually felt a connection with Twilight that was more than just physical or a need for an end. He actually had made an emotional bond with her earlier. All those signs made him realize that he was starting to like Twilight for the mare she was.

His thoughts were interupted when Twilight started to wake up. When she opened her eyes, Sombra said:

“Hi…”

“Hi…” Twilight said, with a smile appearing on her. “You know, I can’t believe this happened.”

“Me neither” Sombra replied, as he carressed her mane. “I have to confess that I didn’t expected you to… I just thought you wanted to talk about our kiss last night.”

“And that was my first intention, but… I don’t know. When I saw you… I can’t explain what I felt.”

There was a silence between them, where the two just looked at each other. Without being able to contain themselves, Sombra and Twilight went on to share another kiss. The desire to dwell themselves in their attraction again was tempting, but they were able to stop and just look at one another.

“What do we do now, then?” Sombra asked. “Does this… changes anything about us? Because, Twilight... I know that you will think I’m just doing this to manipulate you, but… I really like you, in a way I never felt for another mare before.”

There was a pause and Twilight replied:

“I also feel the same for you Sombra.”

“Then I guess it is settled then” the dark unicorn, leaning to kiss Twilight.

But she dodged it, adopting a more serious look, and Sombra asked:

“What’s wrong?”

“Everything, Sombra” Twilight replied, as she sat up. “Independently of what we feel for each other, we can’t deny that a relationship between us that is more than friendship is impossible.”

Sombra sighed and said, while also sitting up:

“You’re talking your friends, right?”

“I’m talking about them, Princess Celestia, Cadance, my brother… Practically everypony in Equestria. Don’t forget that you caused too much pain to the Crystal Empire and, even though you’re not the same Sombra from before, that’s something that cannot be forgotten easily.”

Twilight then found Sombra hold her chin and make her look at him, saying:

“I don’t care what the others may think. I’m not willing to let the feelings I feel for you to be ignored, Twilight. But, for you, I can hide this from the others until we are certain they may accept it, but, please, don’t take one of the best things that ever happened to me… and, I believe, to you.”

Listening those words, while looking to Sombra’s eyes, caused a great impact in Twilight and she found herself be involved by them. She smile and the two of them shared a kiss, followed by a hug. While hugging Twilight, Sombra couldn’t help but thinking about the great conflict that now existed inside him: a battle between power… and love.

Revealed Secret Love

After the dinner at the Canterlot palace, it would appear that Celestia and Luna were now more opened with the idea of reforming Sombra, that it was actually possible to do it. That for certain would decrease the amount of pressure they were putting on Twilight, mainly Celestia who before was bombarding her faithful student with tons of letters asking how things were going. Just that gave Twilight a certain amount of peace… and more time to be with Sombra.

The love between them was becoming even more stronger. They hardly spent any time apart, something that started to upset her friends a little bit and arouse some suspicion in them. Despite knowing something was going on, they couldn’t possible even come up with the idea they were together.

Also, the fact Sombra spent as much time with Twilight as he was, also meant he spent time with her friends. Using his natural charm and sweet words, eventually he ended started to conquer slightly their trust, or at least from Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie, as both Applejack and Rainbow Dash were still very skeptical regarding his change of heart. Spike was the only one who didn’t know what to think. Despite living in the same castle as Sombra and seeing how he was befriending everypony, he still had some distrust and fear of him. He didn't know if the reason why he couldn't trust him was really because he thought he was faking everything or because he was too much affraid of him.

As a few weeks have passed since the dinner, Twilight started to wonder if she and Sombra should assume their love for each other to all the others, a talk she addressed him after another night of love.

“I don’t know, Twily” Sombra replied, while embracing Twilight’s shoulders with one of his forelegs.

“But it had passed some months since you arrived and weeks since we start what we have” Twilight said, looking at Sombra, while holding her hoof over his chest. “Why can’t we just assume our relationship?”

“Because I don’t think it’s time” Sombra said. “I just started to create some sort of friendship and only to some of your friends. That farmer and racer friends of yours don’t seem to give me any chance. And your assistant… well, he barely stays in the same room with me. Not that I can blame him, but still...”

“They just need more time” Twilight said. “Applejack and Rainbow are the ones who care deeply about the wellbeing of the group the most. Maybe in a way that can be harsh and suffocating... but they won’t be able to deny the kindness in you if you dare to show them. And the best way to show them that is by showing the Sombra that I know.”

Sombra looked at Twilight, who looked him back with those profound eyes of hers. She really had a lot of faith in him. In a way, that caused him to become a little guilty regarding what he had planned, but the desire that he had for both power and Twilight’s love was so strong that his motivation soon was renewed.

Passing his hoof through her delicate face, Sombra said:

“You always can find a way to convince me do whatever you want, my love.”

“Does that mean that…” Twilight started, while opening a smile.

“It means we may assume our love to everypony” Sombra said.

Twilight released an excited scream and hugged Sombra, while saying:

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sombra. You’ll see, initially, they may be reticent, but I’m sure with time they will accept you completely after seeing the stallion that you really is.”

But the only thing Sombra could think about all that is that he hoped Twilight’s friends didn’t crossed on his plan by trying to prevent Twilight from loving him. However, with Starlight working on the adjustments on his dark spell, he knew it wouldn’t be long for his plan to come to reality.

At the next morning, Spike had just awake and was heading towards the dinning room to have some breakfast. When he opened the door, he came across something that he wasn’t expecting. Twilight and Sombra were laughing together, but it was not any kind of laughter. It was a laugher of pure joy, but the worse part was how close they were to each other and how they were touching each other’s hooves.

Noticing Spike’s presence, Twilight and Sombra instinctively moved away from each other, with Twilight blushing and then she got up and said to Sombra:

“That joke was very funny, Sombra. You have to tell it to everypony later. Well, I have to go. You know, princess things to do and that.”

And so she got out of the room, leaving Spike alone with Sombra. The young dragon was so caught up by surprise that he didn’t remembered the fear he had for Sombra.

“So, this time, will you stay and have breakfast with me here?” Sombra asked, while adding some coffee to his teacup.

“You know, I think I’ll wait until you have finished” Spike said, trying to make one of his escapes. “It’s just so you can eat in peace.”

“You know, Spike you don’t have to fear me” Sombra said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Say that to the crystal ponies that you enslaved” the young dragon said at the corner of his mouth.

“I heard that, you know?” Sombra said.

That caused Spike to petrify and then ask nervously:

“You did?”

“My ears are very keen” Sombra said, while taking a sip of coffee. “Marvelous… There are so many things you take for granted when you have a body that you don’t give any importance until you become a shadow and then you can’t take them anymore. I’m here for a few months and I’m never tired of the flavor of pure coffee…”

“Pure?” Spike asked. “You don’t put sugar in it?”

“I prefer to not tamper with perfection” Sombra said. “Twilight knows that about me so she makes sure I have my favorite sugar-free coffee. You would know that if you make an effort to know me better.”

“And why do you think I would want to know you better?” Spike asked.

“Spike, if I really have some sort of evil plan to take advantage of Twilight so I can recover my power and empire, do you really think I would waste it in harming her most faithful and dedicate assistant?” Sombra asked.

The baby dragon tried to find an answer to give, something that would tell him there was no way he would never take breakfast with him, but Sombra had made a very good point. So, in order to keep his pride, Spike did the last thing he could possibly do: cross his arms and turn his back, while saying:

“That doesn’t mean I’m going to sit with you at the same table.”

“Come on, aren’t you curious to see how it goes when the former tyrant of the Crystal Empire and Spike, the Great and Glorious, savior of the crystal ponies, sit together at the same table, eating and drinking side by side. I for one would find rather ironic and amusing, but I prefer to try it first before making a formal opinion. Besides, it would make Twilight very happy to see that his number one assistant is making an effort to be friends with the pony she’s reforming.”

Those words from Sombra, both taunting and reasonable and touching on his need to make Twilight happy, caused Spike to do the last thing he wanted to do. Turning to Sombra, he told him:

“One time only and then I’ll eat my breakfast where, when and with whom I want.”

“One time is good for me, thank you” Sombra said, keeping his smile and sipping his coffee.

Spike then dragged his feet to the table, sat at a chair as far as possible of Sombra, reached a bowl full of breakfast gems and some milk and started eating. At that moment, Spike’s fear for Sombra had put him in a big state of alert, as he watched carefully any possible movements the former king could do, something that really didn’t allow him to appreciate the taste of his gems, while the dark unicorn remained unchanged, keeping his cool while taking and appreciating his coffee, along with some overly toasty toasts.

Later, Twilight was walking through a corridor, when she came across of one the guards Celestia had sent.

“Good morning” she greeted.

But the guard just passed by her. That was strange, but Twilight quickly let it go. A few hooves later, she encounter Sombra.

“Hi, Sombra, sorry if I had to leave so quickly” Twilight said to him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “But Spike’s arrival…”

“I know, don’t worry” Sombra said. “It’s still not the time. You want to wait for your other friends, right?”

Twilight nodded to him and then said:

“I already set up a meeting in a few moments. So, tell me, did Spike avoid you as usual?”

“Actually, I managed to convince him to have breakfast with me” Sombra revealed.

“Really?” Twilight asked, both surprised and impressed. “How did you do that?”

“Just using my charm” Sombra replied, in his seductive way. “It doesn’t work only in beautiful mares, you know?”

“Stop…” Twilight said, while blushing. “You know how I hate to blush like this.”

“It’s only the truth.”

“Well, you can keep that truth for later. So, what do you say, do you want to take a stroll before the meeting?”

“That would be lovely” Sombra replied, while following Twilight.

Answering Twilight’s call, her friends came to the meeting, sitting on their respective thrones, while waiting.

“What’s holding Twilight for so long?!” Rainbow Dash asked, very impatient. “I wanted to do a little training before my training with the Wonderbolts.”

“Calm down, RD, I’m sure she’s coming” Applejack said.

“Well, at least I came prepare to entertain myself” Rarity said, while sewing by hoof one of her dress. “I simply have so much work that I can’t afford to lose any time.”

“Oh, do you want my help, Rarity?” Pinkie Pie asked her in her excited. “I may not be as good as any other sewer, but I can work really fast. Remember those dresses we helped you make back in Manehatten.”

Despite Pinkie Pie’s enthusiasm, Rarity was reticent in accepting her help because of her tendency to not do the job she was expecting, so the white unicorn decided to settle her down quietly.

“That would be lovely, Pinkie, but I’m afraid this client of mine is very rigid when it comes to their product” Rarity said. “It would be better if things are done with quality, instead of speed. Besides, sewing is actually very soothing and helps me clear my mind. I also don’t want to prevent you from doing things you love just because you have to help me finish an order I can perfectly do by myself.”

There was a pause and then Pinkie Pie replied with a smile:

“Okie dokie lokie.”

And she went back to her chair, much to Rarity’s relieve.

“Good call” Applejack said to Rarity.

“Thank you, you don’t know much it tool me to come up with that one” she whispered her back.

The doors opened and Spike got in, trembling a little and with a dozy look.

“Wow, Spikey-whikey, what ever happened to you?” Rarity asked.

“I was eating some gems…” he said, while climbing slowly to his chair. “Well, I think it was more stress-eating. I think I exaggerated a bit.”

“Why were ya stress-eatin’, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

“Because I couldn’t enjoy my breakfast because I took it with Sombra” Spike replied. “That guy gives me the creeps.”

“Wait, wait, wait, you took breakfast with Sombra?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I thought you fear him so much that you can’t even stand be in the same room with him.”

“I don’t fear him!” Spike exclaimed, before downing his tone as he felt nausea again. “He just… makes me nervous.”

“Well, it was nice of you to made an effort to be with him” Fluttershy said, with a smile. “It was time for that.”

“Actually, he was the one to convince me” Spike told. “And it was in that weird way of him. It was like he knew exactly what to say to me to make me sit with him at that table.”

“Yeah, that Sombra is really manipulative” Rainbow Dash said. “We really need to come up with a way to move him away from us. That guy is practically with us the all time.”

“Maybe the reason he is with us is because he is always with Twilight and Twilight is always with us?” Pinkie Pie said, making every one look at her. “What? I must not be the only to have noticed that.”

“Actually, Pinkie has a point” Applejack said. “Tha only reason fer Sombra spendin’ time with us, is ‘cause he is with Twilight.”

“That only proves he is up to something” Rainbow Dash insisted.

“Actually, Rainbow, it proves that he’s tryin’ tah reach us through Twilight” Applejack said. “But it doesn’t quite proves that he’s doin’ it for an evil propose.”

“Applejack is right, darling” Rarity said to Rainbow, while keeping sewing. “Twilight is the one to support his reformation the most. It’s obvious he relies on her to reach to others.”

“Once you come to know him better, he doesn’t seem to be the evil king he once was” Fluttershy commented.

“And he has a way with words I can’t even describe how fabulous it is” Rarity said. “Only signs of someone that had a very firm education. I like that in ponies.”

That particular observation was not that well received by Spike.

“And he also has a great sense of smell and taste” Pinkie Pie said. “He was able to know each one of the ingredients I use at my special pie with seventy-three super secret sweets and spices. Now that was an accomplishment.”

Rainbow Dash was starting to get frustrated how her friends were starting to really enjoy Sombra’s presence. She turned to Applejack and told her:

“Please tell me you’re not falling for his act.”

“My position in this discuss is the same one I have been taking from the beginning” Applejack said firmly. “I’ll wait until there’s undisputable proof that Sombra is either evil or reformed.”

That only made Rainbow Dash even angrier and she shouted, while taking flight:

“Can’t you see that he’s playing us?! He’s probably manipulating Twilight with those silvertongy words and that’s why she is so blind about him. And now you’re falling for the same trick.”

“Come on, Rainbow Dash, stop being so paranoid” Rarity said. “Our Twilight is perfectly capable of thinking by herself. She wouldn’t let anyone manipulate her like that so easily.”

“Yeah, what comes next?” Pinkie Pie asked. “He’s going to make Twilight fall in love with him so he can draw the power of her element to him so he can regain his power back?”

That caused all the mares, except for Rainbow Dash to drop a laugh.

“Fer that tah happen, Twilight need’d tah be in love with him and, as far as we know, that day hasn’t still come.”

Once Applejack said that, Spike remembered the scene he saw that morning at breakfast and how fast Twilight and Sombra moved away from each other quickly. Then he remembered what Twilight had told him weeks ago about the kiss he and Sombra shared and that, combined with everything that was discussed, he let out:

“OH MY CELESTIA! THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HE’S TRYING TO DO!”

It was then that he noticed the others had heard what he had just said. Remembering he had promise Twilight to not tell her friends about the kiss, Spike made an awkward smile and said:

“Oh no, my indigestion in causing me to say things with no sense. I better go to bed and rest.”

But when he went down his chair, Rainbow Dash caught him and placed him back on the chair, while saying:

“Wo, wo, wo, wo, you’re not going anywhere until you explained why you said that. Come spill the beans.”

“Yeah, Spike, do it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, jumping to above the map and putting herself in front of Spike, using her aggressive voice, passing then to her normal voice. “But be careful with the table. A hooful of vomit green gems doesn’t quite match the design of the all.”

This time, everypony was at Rainbow’s side. They all wanted to know why Spike said what he said.

“It’s nothing, really…” he said, nervous for having everyone looking at him with those inquisitive eyes. “Like I told you, it’s the indigestion.”

“Spike, please, we know somethin’ is happenin’ fer ya tah say that” Applejack said. “Ya know ya can tell us. We’re yer friends.”

“But… I promised Twilight I wouldn't tell you about it” Spike said.

“Tell us what?” Rainbow Dash asked, even more inquisitive.

The young dragon could feel his heart racing and racing, while he started to feel claustrophobic. It was like the only way to get some relief was to tell the secret, but his loyalty for Twilight was preventing him from doing it. However, the desire the others were showing to know the secret was so intense that put Spike in so much pressure. Eventually, he ended up confessing:

“Twilight and Sombra kissed!”

Those news shocked everyone who asked:

“WHAT!!”

Rainbow Dash grabbed Spike with force and asked, while shaking him:

“When was that?!”

“A few days… before the dinner with Celestia and Luna” Spike answered with more nausea because of Rainbow Dash’s shaking, before she dropped him.

“I can’t believe she didn’t tell us that!” Rainbow Dash asked. “We’re her friends.”

“I wonder why she didn’t tell us” Applejack said. “This changes everything about Sombra’s case.”

“Come now, girls, there must be a reasonable explanation for this” Fluttershy said.

“What possible explanation can it be?!” Rainbow Dash asked. “Haven’t you heard what Spike just said. Twilight and Sombra kissed!”

“But we don’t the circumstances of it” Fluttershy said.

“Fluttershy is right” Rarity agreed. “We can’t jump into conclusion without knowing all the facts.”

“Well… she did say it was… because of a moment they had” Spike spoke through his dizziness. “She said it didn’t mean anything to her.”

“See, Rainbow, it meant nothing to her” Rarity said.

“But Twilight is always bottling up what she feels” Applejack said. “We all know she has that habit. She may be trying to deny her true feelings.”

“And how are we’re going to know how she truly feels about Sombra?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“By asking Twilight ourselves” Applejack declared.

At that moment, the doors of the thrones room opened and Twilight appeared with Sombra, saying:

“Hi, girls, how are you…”

It was then that everyone looked at her with the same inquisitive looks they once did to Spike. Just by looking at them, Twilight knew something bad had happened and her eyes laid on Spike, still recovering, who told her:

“Sorry, Twilight, they forced me to tell them about the kiss.”

At that moment, Twilight realized her job to convince her friends about Sombra would be harder than ever.

While Twilight talked with her friends, Sombra waited outside. He could hear the sounds of their voices, despite not being able to decipher the words. But he could image Twilight was having a hard time with them. The moment of truth to his plan’s success was about to come out and he couldn’t wait any longer.

It was then the doors opened, meaning the end of the meeting. From there, Rainbow Dash got out flying really fast and Applejack was the second to leave, passing by Sombra without even speaking or looking at him. Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy were the last to leave, but at least they didn’t seem threatening to him. Twilight got out, holding Spike who was now sleeping on her back, resting from all the nauseas he had.

“So, how it went?” Sombra asked.

“Well…” Twilight started. “I’m pretty sure Rainbow is not going to talk with me for the next few days and Applejack was not very pleased with the news. Pinkie and Rarity didn’t react that badly, but they are not keen of the idea too. I think Fluttershy is the only one that seems to support us, despite not entirely.”

Noticing how upset Twilight looked, Sombra asked:

“Are you okay, Twily?”

“Yes, I am, it’s just…” she started. “Well, we already had fights before. They are the reason why our friendship is so solid, but… we have never fought because of a stallion before.”

“Do you need anything?” Sombra asked.

“Just a little rest” Twilight said. “I’m going to bring Spike to his room and then I’m going to mine if you don’t mind.”

“Of course not” Sombra replied. “But tell me one thing, Twilight… Do you still love me?”

The princess of friendship showed a smile and then kiss him in the lips, saying:

“Of course I do. I promise we’re going pass through this.”

Having said that, she went away.

Sombra returned to his room and looked at his mirror with a heavy look. He knew that the fact that Twilight still loved him despite the fact her friends were against their relationship was a good thing to his plan. However, the distress she was feeling was such that even him could feel it. In a way, he could feel Twilight’s love for her friends interfering with his motivation in following his plan. It was imperative that things happened as soon as possible.

As if deducing the right time, the mirror shone, being someone trying to magically reach him. Using his magic, Sombra accepted the call and Starlight’s image appeared, saying:

“I’m done. We can meet this night at the Tree of Harmony.”

And the image dissipated, while Sombra finally got some relief with those news.

When the night feel and he was certain Twilight would be sleeping, Sombra turned into shadow and went to the cave of the Tree of Harmony, where Starlight was waiting for him with his book.

“Finally!” she said, while Sombra approached. “I was starting to think you had second thoughts about this plan of yours.”

“King Sombra never has second thoughts when it comes to one of his plans” he replied coldly. “He only adapts to the situation. And for your information, I needed to leave the castle without anypony to notice I’m gone, because allegedly I’m still in probation and without the full use of my magic. I may have the guards Celestia sent to watch me under my control, but things can go wrong if one is not careful... especially when success is too close.”

“Wow, you’re touchy today” Starlight commented. “Did something happened between you and your marefriend?”

And angry look from Sombra made Starlight to gulp and then said:

“Sorry… Take this, I made all the modifications you needed.”

Sombra took the book and looked into Starlight’s notes. After analyzing them for a moment, he became quite satisfied with the result.

“Impressive…” he said. “Very impressive… I knew you were good in revising spells, but being able to do something like this with such dark magic…”

“Well, I’m good at my job” Starlight said. “The only thing you need to do is casting the spell on Princess Twilight’s element and everything will be in place. Next time she and her friends use the power of the elements…”

“I will get their power and Twilight will be mine” Sombra completed.

“Yes, that was part of this plan of yours” Starlight said. “However, I’m not seeing how this will properly satisfy my desire for revenge to Princess Twilight Sparkle for taking my village from me.”

“You said yourself that there was nothing you wanted more than to take Twilight’s friends from her, with her being unable to stop it” Sombra said. “Well, with my plan, she will lose them and she won’t be able to do anything about it, both to prevent it or reverse it, because the only thing she will need… will be me.”

“I see…” Starlight replied, thinking about the reasoning of his plan. “That really is evil and diabolical… I love it! But with the previous spell you were planning to use before, you would get the power from the elements, anyway. Why complicate things? I mean, I believe it was not to fulfil my revenge, because the only thing you would need was to dispose of me, so…”

“So let that be a thought for when you talk too much, dearie” Sombra replied.

With that, Starlight stopped talking. Sombra then procceded:

“If you really want to know why, I’ll tell you. I came across with one reality that became clear to me as soon as I returned: there are certain needs that we don’t give the importance they deserve, that only when we lost them is that we learn to appreciate them with more… intensity and dedication. It can be something simple like the flavor of coffee, the feel of the blood of your enemies passing through your hoof… But with Twilight I have found the one thing that I’ve never expected to find again after I killed my parents: love. And now that I recalled that feeling, I’m not going to allow anypony to take it from me. I’m finally going to have them all: power and love!”

Having said that, he casted the modificated spell that hit the heart of the tree that opened to reveal the Element of Magic. After he finished, the element became darker and then returned to its place, inside the tree, waiting now for Sombra’s evil plan to unfold.

Author's Note

I’m really sorry for the great delay, but my attention to my stories had been compromised, as well a terrible block I had in my mind. But don’t you worry, you’re about to have the great finale of The Rise of Sombra, and I’m promise you won’t regret that you started to read this story.

Dropping the Mask

After setting everything ready for the final step, Sombra returned to his room. As soon he reformed his corporeal form, he heard a knock on the door. For a moment (and for his hope) he thought it was Twilight, but then remembered that she had said she wanted to be alone that night.

“Come in” he said.

He door opened and one of the guards he had turned into his minion entered.

“I hope it’s important” Sombra replied. “I was about to go to bed. I need my rest for the big day of tomorrow.”

“It is important, my king” the guard replied, while bowing. “We have received news from the princesses. They want us to keep you in your room as soon as you’re awake and apprehend you at their command.”

“They what?” Sombra asked. “But why the hell would they do that so unexpectedly after they had agreed with Twilight’s request in letting me prove my change of heart? Unless… Yes, it’s the only explanation. Twilight’s friends must have warned them about us, most probably that rainbow mane pegasus. I knew she would be a big headache.”

“What should we do, my king?” the guard asked. “The others are waiting for your orders. Should we act now?”

“You’ll keep playing your role as you’ve been doing until I say otherwise” Sombra replied coldly. “I already have everything in place. Now what we need to do is to let them think they have me where they want. They think I’m powerless and with a thick security watching over every single step I give. It’s imperative they keep thinking like that until the end.”

“So we keep doing our job as guards, right?”

“That’s what I just said, you idiot. Now leave. I need my rest.”

Making a final bow, the guard got out of the room. After he was gone, Sombra laid down on his bed and looked to the ceiling, while drawing an evil smile and saying:

“I’m so close of finally getting everything I desire. In a matter of hours, the power of Elements of Harmony will be mine!”

It was then that he looked beside him. Normally, he had Twilight by his side on that bed. It was strange to be alone while sleeping, but the thought of finally having her all to himself was able to sooth him. Passing his hoof over where Twilight would normally lie beside him, Sombra said:

“Very soon, Twilight, you and I will be together and nopony will be able to break us apart. That’s a promise.”

The next day dawned and Twilight woke up. In a way, she felt strange while doing so and it was only when she looked beside her is that she got to know why. The fact she didn’t have Sombra with her was like a void in her heart, something that was only worse because of her argument with her friends at the day before.

She rose up and arranged herself, before going out of her bedroom. While walking around the halls, she saw Spike.

“Spike!” she called, approaching him.

“Twilight…” he said.

“I can see that you’ve recovered from your tummy ache” Twilight noted.

“Yeah… I think I just needed a little rest” he replied, becoming then apologetic. “I’m sorry, Twilight. You asked me to not tell the others about… Well, you know…”

“You don’t need to apologize, Spike” Twilight told. “It was only a matter of time for them to find out the truth. Besides, I was planning to tell them yesterday at that meeting. I knew it wouldn’t be easy and they would not accept it, especially Rainbow Dash, but there is nothing I could have done to prevent their reactions.”

There was a pause and then Spike said:

“Twilight, look, I don’t want to repeat what you’ve already heard, but I need to tell you. Sombra is not the best for you. He can’t be trusted, and…”

“I know, Spike” Twilight said. “I know that you and the others don’t accept my relationship with him. But there's one thing I can tell you. The love I feel for Sombra is real and I’m certain the love he feels for me is real too.”

“I don’t know, Twilight…” Spike said. “Sombra is one of the darkest ponies that ever lived. I don’t think he can even feel love.”

“Love is something that exists in every creature, Spike” Twilight said. “Every creature has the potential to love, including ones like Sombra and that I know.”

“I hope you’re right” Spike said. “Because I would hate if you were not.”

They arrived to the entrance to the thrones room and opened the doors, but they stopped when they saw who was there. Besides their friends, who were sitting on their thrones, there was also Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, both with a serious look.

“But… what are you doing here, princesses?” Twilight asked, while approaching. “Shouldn’t you be in Canterlot?”

“Twilight, I think you know why we’re here” Celestia said, coldly.

It didn’t take long for Twilight to realize the meaning of Celestia and Luna’s visit. Looking to Rainbow Dash, who was avoiding to look at her directly, she said:

“I think I have a very good idea.”

“Please, Twilight Sparkle, you have to understand that the situation regarding Sombra has become more… complicated and dire” Luna said.

“Twilight, you have to break up with Sombra at once!” Celestia declared.

Such statement surprised everypony in the room, as Celestia rarely would make a demand like that one, especially in the way she declared it. Twilight, of all the ones present, was the one that got the most shocked.

“Princess Celestia…” she said. “How… How can you say something like that? You, of all ponies… I love Sombra. You can’t possibly…”

“Twilight, please…” Celestia said, with a softer and tender voice, approaching her faithful student and placing a wing over her. “I’m not chastising you for falling in love with Sombra. I know Sombra and I know how charming and appealing he can be. He can make himself be understanding and give you the attention you want or need. But, please, don’t let yourself be fooled by this illusion. Sombra’s love is only for one thing and one thing alone: his power.”

“You’re wrong” Twilight replied, getting out of Celestia’s wing. “So far, Sombra has shown that he really has changed. He has nothing but showed that he can be a great friend. He even saved Fluttershy once. I myself have come to see his real self and I can ensure you there’s a kind and caring stallion under all that darkness. I can feel his love for me. It’s not an illusion… it’s a reality.”

“Come on, Twilight, it’s obvious that bastard is tricking you!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “He’s tricking all of us! There’s no way a pony like him can change.”

“You don’t know him like I do, Rainbow” Twilight said.

“Or maybe you don’t know him at all” Rainbow Dash replied. “Who is Sombra really? You don’t know that. How can you fall for someone that may be trying to trick you?!”

“That’s enough, Rainbow” Applejack said. “Ah think Twilight gets ya’re against her relationship with Sombra.”

“Like, yeah, that’s all of what Rainbow has been saying” Pinkie Pie said. “Wasn't that the reason why she went tell Princess Celestia and Princess Luna about it as soon she got out of here?”

“Yes, Pinkie, darling, we all know that” Rarity said, rolling her eyes. “We don’t need you to retell everything that is pretty much obvious.”

“Please, don’t be mad at Rainbow, Twilight” Fluttershy said. “She was just trying to do what is best for you.”

But Twilight was finding hard to not be mad. It was like her friends thought she wouldn’t be able to handle Sombra, being him or not trying to manipulate her. That she would let himself get involved with somepony that she wasn’t sure to love her back. But it would appear that her friends and mentor didn’t think that way, as the latter said:

“I’m sorry, Twilight. But having in count the recent development, I have no choice but to take Sombra in.”

“Princess Celestia, please, no!” Twilight begged.

“It’s for your own good” Celestia replied. “I hope you can understand someday. Guards!”

A pair of guards entered and Celestia told them:

“Bring Sombra here, now. And, please, bring him with cuffs.”

“Yes, Your Highness” a guard said, as he and his companion bowed to her and got out.

“Please, Princess Celestia, don’t do this to me” Twilight implored.

“You don’t have to worry, Twilight” Celestia said. “This is just a precaution. Sombra will be confined. But if he proves himself to be truly redeemed, then he shall be released.”

In Sombra’s room, he was reading a book, buying time until the perfect moment to act, when somepony knocked on his door.

“Come in” he said.

The door opened and a guard entered, making a bow to Sombra and telling:

“My king, Princess Celestia has arrived and she ordered us to bring you him.”

“Excellent…” Sombra said, smiling and closing the book. “Looks like the time has come.”

Placing the book on the desk, he used his magic to put his armor and cape on and then said:

“Let the show begin.”

In the thrones room, Twilight still couldn’t believe that was happening.

“No, no, no…” she said. “You want to put Sombra in a cage as if he some kind of dangerous beast?!”

“Well, he’s not far from that…” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Rainbow, now it’s not dah time!” Applejack admonished her.

Noticing the despaired look on her faithful student, Celestia approached her and put a wing over her and told her:

“I’m sorry this decision of mine is causing you pain, Twilight. But you have to understand I need to put Equestria’s safety above everything. Sombra may have conquered your trust and love, but he still hasn’t proved himself to the rest of us. I wouldn’t be a good ruler if I let some villain like Sombra walking around freely after getting strong evidence he may be up to something.”

After hearing that, Twilight get out of under Celestia’s wing and replied:

“But you let Discord walk free after what he did. And initially you let Sombra stay here. But now that you know I love Sombra you’re willing to take him in?!”

“Well, she kind of have a point there” Pinkie Pie said.

“It’s because of what happened with Discord when Tirek attacked that I’m doing this” Celestia said. “It was because of Discord that Tirek got very closed to get all the magic and conquer Equestria.”

“But it was also because of the friendship lessons we taught him that caused him to be truly reform and led us to defeat Tirek” Twilight replied. “Sombra has learned so much ever since he came and proved that he can be a loving and caring stallion. So, please, Princess Celestia, can you give him another chance to prove himself? He hasn’t done anything wrong to deserve have this second chance taken away from him. Let him prove himself to you.”

Celestia couldn’t believe the dedication Twilight was putting on her plea for Sombra. Indeed she really loved him and the way she was talking about him made Celestia wonder if he indeed had changed. After all, love can change anyone as much as friendship does. But her thoughts were interrupted when Luna said to Twilight:

“You should not let yourself be fooled, Twilight Sparkle. My sister and I know Sombra better than you do. His words do much more than winning everypony’s trust, he can also manipulate the darkness in one’s heart. I know that from experience. Despite all the bad things I have done are my responsibility, Sombra was the one to put me on the dark path. He shook everything I believed, everything I stood for, by taking advantage of my vulnerabilities.”

“Twilight, you have to believe that, when we do something, even if it appears to be unfair, it’s only for the safety and well-being of all” Celestia said. “Please, you have to understand.”

Twilight still firmly believed what the two princesses were planning to do with Sombra was an injustice, but she couldn’t overlook their reasons to do it.

At that moment, the doors of the thrones room opened and Sombra got in, along with the two guards, with the former having cuffs around his hooves.

“Sombra…” Twilight said, advancing to him and giving a kiss on his face. “I’m sorry for this. I…”

“You’re not to blame, Twilight” Sombra said. “I knew it was just a matter of time for this to happen.”

Turning to Celestia and Luna, he said:

“So, it looks like you found the perfect motive to bring me in, hein?”

“Don’t try to make us the villains of the story, Sombra” Luna said. “Because that is your role.”

“Well, at least in one thing… we agree” he replied, making a dark smile.

His hooves were surrounded by a dark aura and the cuffs just melted and fell on the ground, much to everypony’s shock.

The Love Curse

The fact Sombra was able to get rid of his cuffs like it was nothing caused Celestia and Luna to position themselves and the former said:

“You still have your magic!”

“But of course” Sombra replied, cynically. “How else would I be able to carry on my plan?”

“I knew it!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, as she and the others also positioned themselves. “I knew this was all an evil plan!”

“Kudos for you, rainbow head” Sombra said, sarcastically. “Although you can’t say it was for smarts, but rather for stubbornness.”

Twilight couldn't believe what was happening. She could see what was in front of her... and yet she couldn't proccess it.

“I can’t believe it…” Twilight said, completely shocked. “You… You really…”

Seeing Twilight look at him with shock and disappointment on her eyes really pained Sombra’s heart. He already knew she would feel like that once he revealed his true intentions. That was an inevitability. However, he still hoped that the love their had for each other would allow him to reach out to her without executing his plan.

“Twilight, please, let me explain…” Sombra said, while trying to touch Twilight’s face.

But she moved away his hoof and asked:

“So, all of this… was a lie?”

“No, not everything” Sombra replied. “Perhaps, in the beginning, I planned to charm you and use you in my plan, but… I truly came to fall in love with you. You are, without a doubt, the best thing that ever happened to me. The most amazing mare I ever met, the one that managed to show me the taste of love.”

“Please, can you stop with all the lies?!” Rainbow asked. “It’s making me sick!”

“Ah have tah agree with Rainbow, here” Applejack said. “Ya can’t fool us anymore, Sombra.”

“Why, can’t a villain also fall in love?” Sombra asked. “Don’t tell me only heroes can find love?”

Turning again to Twilight, he continued to said:

“Please, Twilight, let us just go… together. We can have everything we want.”

But Twilight, despite all her love for Sombra, couldn’t ignore the fact that he had lied to her in the worst possible way. She stepped away from him and said:

“I’m sorry…”

Despite that rejection, Sombra was unable to get mad at her.

“You know, Twilight, you always surprise me of how genuine you are” he said. “I guess that’s one of the reasons why I love you. You remain firm to your believes. It would appear... we’re doing this, right?”

“Guards, seize Sombra now!” Celestia commanded.

However, the guards did nothing.

“Haven’t you heard my sister?” Luna asked them. “Seize him!”

But the guards just positioned themselves a little ahead of Sombra, as if trying to shield him. That attitude really shocked everypony and Sombra chuckled and said:

“It would appear they have second throughts. I can see that you're confused. But then again, you should have foreseen this. Do you really think I was just hanging around and pretending to a goody two-shoes? No… I’ve been busy preparing everything for the big reveal. These guards, along with all the others you have sent to watch over me, are now loyal to me… And by quite some time, actually… ever since I got my hooves onto this.”

And he made his book appear.

“Your book!” Celestia exclaimed. “But I thought…”

“You should have hidden it better, Celestia” Sombra taunted. “It was not very hard to find it. But then again, it emanates such dark energy, I could feel it miles away. Finding it again it was like when I first held it on my hooves... I guess, I can thank you for giving me that sense of nostalgia. With it, I was able to turn your precious guards into my servants. Take a peek.”

And the doors burst opened and all the guards appeared, all with red eyes and a dark colored coat. The sigh was so horrible that Fluttershy took her look away from them and Spike went to shield himself behind his throne. Even confident ponies like Applejack got chills just seeing them.

“Oh, that’s the most unfriendly looking group of ponies I’ve ever seen” Pinkie Pie commented.

“Please, as if they scare me” Rainbow Dash said. “You’ll see what I’ll do to your…”

But before she could finish, Applejack pushed her tail to get her down and then covered her mouth with her hoof, whispering:

“Do ya want tah make dah evil powerful villain even angrier?”

“You have gone too far, Sombra” Celestia said. “How could you have turned these innocent ponies into your slaves? They had nothing to do with this.”

“Once you put them to guard me, they start having it” Sombra replied. “In a way, if they are now living corposes serving me, it's all thanks to you. They were standing on my way… so I had to get rid of them. However, I knew I would need some help. Ironic, right? Your efforts to try to stop me... helped me quite a lot. But I guess we have talked too much, already. Now, it’s time to get… well, everything!”

“No, Sombra” Twilight said. “I won’t let you.”

“I think you mean we won’t let him” Rainbow Dash said, as she and the others stood beside Twilight.

Seeing her friends standing beside her despite the fact it was her poor judgement that put them in that situation made Twilight feel much better. It meant everything to her that they were supporting her.

“Thank you, girls” Twilight said, smiling. “And… I’m sorry for dismissing all your suspicions, Rainbow.”

“It’s okay, Twilight” Rainbow Dash said. “Now you know the truth and we can’t stop him now.”

“But how are we going to do it?” Rarity asked. “We don’t have the Elements with us.”

That was a very good question. King Sombra’s dark magic was extremely powerful, especially when he had the help of his new underlings. But then Twilight noticed the map, at the center of the thrones. It was connected to the power of the Tree of Harmony, along with all the castle. If she could harvest the power of the map, maybe she could connect herself to the Tree of Harmony and get the power of the Elements of Harmony.

And so, she flapped her wings, flying and landing over the table, and said:

“Your evil plan, whatever it is, ends here, Sombra.”

Seeing her like that made Sombra realize she had finally realized how to access the power of the Elements of Harmony… and that was something he was counting on.

Twilight charged her horn with magic and then tried to access to the power of the map. The table started to shine with an intense light that elevated Twilight.

At the cave where the Tree of Harmony was located, Starlight was overseeing the proccess from there. Seeing the Element of Magic reacting to Twilight's magic and then reaching out to the other elements, she smiled evily and said:

"It has begun... It's time for you to feel my revenge... Twilight Sparkle."

Back at the castle, Twilight was surrounded by a ball of light that casted five beams that hit all of her friends, also elevating them and surrounding them in a ball of light as well. After the light released them, the six ponies were transformed in the same forms they got when they defeated Tirek.

Seeing that, Sombra got amazed for all the power he was seeing. Despite the fact it was pure light magic, he couldn't help but admire the pure power in it. It was really amazing.

“Magnificent…” he said. “So this is power of the Tree of Harmony…”

“Don’t you worry, my king, we’ll protect you” the guards told him, as they positioned themselves in front of Sombra.

“What are you doing, you fools?!” he shouted. “Get out of the way! Go wait for me at the place we talked about!”

“But, my king…”

“NOW!”

And so the guards got out, leaving King Sombra to deal with Twilight and her friends all by himself.

“This is your end, Sombra” Twilight told him.

“If you say so, my love” Sombra replied, making a wide smile. “Come on, try to destroy me. I can’t way to see if you can really do it.”

Twilight prepared to do it, but she had a slight hesitation. After all, despite the betrayal and deception, she still loved Sombra. One thing was immensly clear: she didn't want to hurt him. That very thought caused something on the Element of Magic at the Tree of Magic, as a dark spark immerged from it. Seeing that, Starlight's smile intensified.

"There's no turning back... It's over for you... Twilight Sparkle."

Despite there was still a part of her that didn’t want to hurt him, Twilight wouldn't back down on her duty to her friends and the rest of Equestria. With that in mind, she made up her mind and decided she had to do it. And so she casted a rainbow beam against Sombra that started to go around him.

The attack stopped and the six mares landed on the floor, confident that they had been able to do it. Celestia and Luna seemed also relieved.

“Ah, all right!” Spike exclaiming, coming out of his hideout. “Eat that, Sombra!”

However, to the shock of everypony, things had not gone as they have expected. The rainbow that was involving Sombra soon became as black as the night, with the pure magic of the Elements of Harmony turning dark and being absorbed by King Sombra, with him laughing evily after that. Immense schock invaded the faces of everypony in the room.

“Okay, I… I’m going to hide again, if you don’t mind” Spike said, returning to hide behind his throne.

“What… just… happened?!” Rainbow Dash asked. “I thought we had him!”

“Twilight, what happen’d?” Applejack asked the young alicorn princess.

“I don’t know…” she said. “I used the full power of the Elements… I… I don’t understand!”

“Sombra… what did you do?” Celestia asked the dark unicorn king.

He chuckled and then said:

“Let’s just say that building an army wasn’t the only thing I’ve been doing. I realized that the only reason why you’d be able to defeat all of your enemies was because of the Elements of Harmony, so I made sure that at the time you would use it against me, that, not only would not work, but that power would be transferred… to me.”

And he laughed, while he was surrounded by an intense dark energy. Twilight and her friends couldn't believe in what they were seeing. They could feel how the magic they have used against Sombra was now tainted with his darkness, fueling his already powerful magic. Reacting to that, Celestia and Luna advanced to attack Sombra.

“Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” Twilight called, worried about what Sombra could do to them.

“Really?” Sombra asked them, before casting a powerful dark beam against them.

The two then find themselves be engulfed by the dark magic, before they were turned into stone.

“NO!” Twilight shouted, while her friends gasped in horror.

Sombra laughed and then said to the petrified princesses:

“I presume you two now know how Discord felt when you turned him into stone. I bet he would appreciate the sweet irony... even if now is not as I remembered him.”

“You will pay for this!” Rainbow Dash shouted, trying to go against Sombra before being stopped by Applejack.

“Don’t worry, girls, we can free them using the power of the Elements of Harmony” Twilight said.

“Can you, now?” Sombra asked, sarcastically. “Well, perhaps, you could… if I allowed it.”

“Well, then we just have to pass through you” Twilight said, charging her horn.

“Now you’re talking…” Rainbow Dash said, while stretching his limbs.

“We’re ready when you are, Twilight” Applejack replied, preparing his hidelegs.

“Yeah, I already have a party cannon loaded for battle” Pinkie Pie said, while getting her party cannon.

“Well, fighting isn’t exactly my style… but I will get my hooves dirty if necessary to take this bandit down” Rarity said.

“You… you can count on me too” Fluttershy said.

Twilight smile at her friends, grateful for her dedication and undying friendship. However, there was a wave of darkness that blow away Twilight’s friends, including Spike, causing them to hit the hall and be restrained by dark crystal. Twilight turned around and saw it was Sombra who did that.

“Release them, Sombra” Twilight demanded, while intensifying the magic around her horn.

Sombra used his shadow transformation to appeared right in front of Twilight and said:

“Oh, my dear Twily… That determined look you have now… It only makes you even more… attractive. But there’s one thing you don’t know…”

Approaching his muzzle to her ear, he whispered, in a similar manner he used to do when they were together:

“You… can’t… hurt… me.”

Twilight found that comment initially nonsense. Even though she loved him, she had made up her mind to defeat him for the sake of Equestria. However, when she tried to move to attack Sombra... being it with her own magic or with her body... she simply couldn't do it. It was then Twilight noticed he was right. Despite her desire to put an end on Sombra, she just couldn’t do it.

“What…?” Twilight asked, not understanding what was happening.

As if her body had a will of its own, Twilight cancelled the transformation, what caused her friends to return back to normal as well.

“Twilight… what’s going on?” Applejack asked.

But she didn’t answer, as not even she knew what was going on.

“How did you…?” Twilight started to ask.

“How did I do that?” Sombra asked. “Well, how do you think? I had to make sure the magic of the Elements of Harmony didn’t destroy me once I tried to absorb them. After all, they are pure magic. And since your element is the heart of their power, you were the key to everything. And once I had my book, I was able to find the right spell that would allow me to get all of the Elements’ power without being overwhelmed by it: the Love Curse.”

“The… Love Curse?” Twilight asked.

“An ancient and powerful curse” Sombra told. “When casted, it prevents the victim from hurting the one they love… even if that someone is an enemy. I casted on your element not so long ago and it activated once you summoned its power. And since your element is the heart of the power... the others become useless.”

“So that’s why…” Twilight started. “You made me fall in love with you… so I would be cursed to not harm you?”

“Yes” Sombra confirmed. “Ingenious, right? I used one of the greatest forces of goodness in my advantage… Now that’s how it is done.”

“Then my friends were right…” Twilight said, with tears on her eyes. “Everything was a lie.”

“Well, that’s just it…” Sombra replied, approaching Twilight and putting his hoof over her face. “My love for you is real.”

“Yeah, right, as if that was true after what you just said about…” Rainbow Dash started.

But before she could finish, Sombra made a gesture and crystal formed around Twilight’s friends muzzles, preventing them from speaking.

“I should have done that long ago” he said.

“How can you say your love for me is real when you cursed me?” Twilight asked. “How do you expect me to believe in what you’re saying, when the only things you’ve been doing this all time was deceiving and plotting?”

“When I started my plan, my only goal was to take the power of the Elements of Harmony and prevent you from trying to destroy me” Sombra told. “For that, I needed the Love Curse. But for the curse to be successful, I needed that my target felt real love for me. That’s why I started to court you. But then… After our first kiss… Let’s just say I started to feel something. It was only after our first night together that I realized what it was: love. Believe me, I tried to struggle against it, but I couldn’t do it… However, that would represent a problem. Once I enacted my plan, despite being granted an immense power and immunity to the Elements of Harmony’s magic, I would lose you… Fortunately, I got to meet somepony that gave me a little help.”

“Somepony…?” Twilight asked. “Who?”

“Let’s just say that your ability to make great friends is only matched by your ability to make great enemies” Sombra replied. “Actually... that is something quite... enticing. Anyway, thanks to that pony, my curse was reformulated and now, not only you can’t hurt me... but you’re also bond to me.”

“What do you mean with that?” Twilight asked, terrified to know the answer.

“It means now my mere absence can cause you pain” Sombra told, approaching his face to Twilight. “You need me… just as much as I need you.”

Hearing that, Twilight couldn’t feel more disgusted.

“No…” she said, with tears coming to her eyes. “No… You… You enslaved me…”

“No…” Sombra said. “This is not slavery. I just can’t lose you. And I won’t. I did what I have to do to not lose the mare I love. We were meant to be, Twilight. You know that…”

He tried to touch her face again, but when he was about to do it, she grabbed his hoof with hers and said:

“I won’t let you do this…”

Despite feeling a little hurt for Twilight continuing to resist him, he knew all that was pointless.

“You can try to fight it, but you won’t be able to do it” Sombra said. “Why don’t you try it?”

Indeed Twilight tried to fight what she was feeling at that moment. She tried to move Sombra away from her, to push him back with all the power she had. However, when she went to do it, she felt something holding her back, making her want to get Sombra only closer to her. And so, she moved Sombra’s hoof to her face, feeling his touch that was able to sooth her. Sombra smiled and then proceeded to give her a kiss on the lips. Twilight's friends had their eyes wide open as they watched that scene. After their lips stopped the kiss, Sombra asked Twilight:

“Do you see it now? You need me. But don’t worry, from now on, we’ll be together… forever.”

“Please, Sombra…” Twilight cried. “Don’t do this to me.”

“Don’t wet this beautiful face with those tears, my love” Sombra said, as he cleaned some of her tears with his hoof. “You’ll see everything will be okay. Now you may feel I’m being cruel... but you’ll see this was for the best. I’ll tell you what, if you come with me now, I’ll spare your friends… I’ll even release Celestia and Luna from their stone prisons.”

“You… You mean that?”

“It’s a promise.”

Despite Twilight had lost trust on Sombra, the fact is she couldn’t help but notice he was telling the truth. She looked to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna petrified and then to her subdued friends. They all were shaking their heads, while trying to talk. They probably were trying to dissuade Twilight to not accept Sombra’s offer. However, she only wanted for her friends to be safe, as now she couldn’t escape Sombra.

“Let’s go” she said.

Sombra smiled and then said, while opening his cape and covering Twilight’s back with it:

“As you wish, my love…”

And the two disappeared in a wave of darkness. As soon they were gone, the crystal holding Twilight’s friends broke and they were release, while the stone covering Celestia and Luna’s bodies cracked and broke, releasing them.

“NO, TWILIGHT!” Celestia shouted.

But it was too late…

The End…?

A Royal Dinner

Since that night where Twilight and Sombra got involved with each other, the two of them kept continuing meeting each other at the next days. Just like Sombra and Twilight had agreed on, they kept their relationship a secret, something they carried out religiously. Although there was a certain suspicion in the air, the simple idea of Twilight and Sombra being together had not yet been conceived by the friends of the young alicorn princess.

When a new day was starting to dawn, Twilight and Sombra were on the latter’s bed, enjoying the moment after another night of love. Twilight had her head rested on Sombra’s shoulder, while caressing his muscled chest. The tyrant king, by his turn, had his foreleg around the young princess’ shoulders.

“You know, I never thought I would come to enjoy making love... especially with you, Sombra” Twilight confessed.

“Well, fate has always ways to surprise us” Sombra said. “I also never thought to come to fall in love with a mare like you, Twilight.”

Sombra stopped as soon he said those words as they had come from his mouth in such fluid way... like water. Had those words been said by his manipulative side wanting to have Twilight falling in love for him just to achieve his evil purposes? Or were they said by his more sensitive side, the one that was fighting to know what he really felt for Twilight?

Twilight, listening that, asked, turning to him:

“You’re really in love with me?”

“Well, I…” Sombra stuttered, while trying to think on something to say.

However, he didn’t manage to say anything else, as Twilight silenced him with an intense kiss. When their lips separated from each other, she said:

“I’m in love with you too, Sombra.”

And, having said that, Twilight hugged him tightly. Those words and that hug made the dark king’s heart to race like it had raced before, while he felt something funny in his stomach. His dark side normally would manifest itself, seeing that his plan was going perfectly well, but, however, for the first time since he remembers, a genuine smile and full of affection appeared on Sombra’s face and he returned Twilight’s hug.

It didn’t last for the sun starting to get in Sombra’s room and illuminate it. Seeing that, Twilight said:

“Well, it seems it is time for me to go. I just wished that we didn’t have to hide our relationship from my friends so we could be always together.”

For a brief moment, that idea seemed so tempting to Sombra that he seriously considered in taking it with open hooves. It was at that moment that his dark and calculating personality took control, remembering him why he accepted Twilight’s suggestion to keep their relationship secret. If her friends got to know about them, his goal would become harder to achieve.

“But you know we can’t risk it. At least, not for now. Now I’m the one to ask you secrecy. Don’t take me wrong, being with you all the time is what I want the most. I just want to know that I’m accepted by everypony, so that nopony tries to separate us.

Twilight nodded with her head and, after she gave him a goodbye kiss to Sombra, she stood up and teleported to her room. When she got out, Sombra stood up as well and went to his window, observing the rising sun, something that he really disliked for being a symbol of hope.

He couldn’t stop thinking about what he was feeling for Twilight. It was a feeling that he never had felt for anypony and was just getting bigger for each time he was with Twilight. However, that feeling was something that put him in conflict with his plan that was going just like he had thought it would. For the first time since the first night with Twilight, he asked himself if he wanted to do that.

Later that day, Twilight was reunited with her friends at the thrones room.

“I want to know the reason for you to summon this urgent meeting” Twilight said.

“Oh, I love guessing games!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitingly. “Is it to plan a surprise party to Gummy? His half-birthday is coming, after all, and we have to plan things beforehoof. You know how Gummy is very picky…”

“No, Pinkie, that is not the reason!” Rainbow Dash replied sharply, with no patience to hear the pink earth pony’s eccentricities.

“Okay, fine, but don’t come complaining if you find a toothless alligator in your bath” Pinkie Pie answered.

“I think the reason is quite obvious” Applejack declared.

Twilight didn’t need to think for more than two seconds to know what she was talking about.

“Really?” she asked. “You summoned this meeting to talk about Sombra?”

“I’m sorry, darling, but it’s just that it already passed sometime since he arrived and…” Rarity started.

“And we wanted to know for how much long you’re thinking in keeping that curved-horned cockroach around here!” Rainbow Dash said, cutting what Rarity was trying to say gently.

“Rainbow Dash, I think you should watch your words” Twilight scolded. “I know that you don’t like Somba very much…”

“That’s the understatement of the year” Rainbow Dash commented.

“But that is not a motive to treat him like that” Twilight said. “Sombra is really making an effort to change and he certainly will not be able to do it if you keep attacking him.”

“And I can’t believe that you’re defending him with all that after what that bastard did” Rainbow Dash said. “For somepony that, just like us, didn’t trust slightly on him, you’re very compassionate with Sombra, Twilight.”

For an instant, Twilight was almost telling how much Sombra was changed and, consequently, she would end up revealing the existing passion between them. Fortunately, she managed to control herself until Applejack said, calmly:

“What Rainbow is trying to say is that we must act carefully. If we give a step longer than the leg, it is very possible that we will let ourselves be tricked, if Sombra is really planning something.”

“Applejack is right, Twilight” Rarity adverted. “It’s not that Sombra’s effort is coming unnoticed, but we can’t forget who he was in the past and what he did.”

“Yeah, enslaving an entire empire is not, without doubt, the best way to be friendly” Pinkie Pie said. “And I know that because I have a lot of friends. You should know that too, Twilight, after all you’re the princess of friendship.”

“I, personally, believe that Sombra is good, deep down, in the same way I believed in Discord” Fluttershy said. “But… I also agree with Applejack, Twilight.”

The young princess of friendship understood her friends’ doubts, but that didn’t make things easier. How would she be able to prove them how much Sombra had changed?

At that moment, the doors of the room opened and Spike got in, bringing a letter.

“Twilight, a letter from Princess Celestia arrived!” he declared.

Sitting on his throne, he gave the letter to Twilight who took it with magic, opening it afterwards and starting to read it:

“My faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, it had already passed some time since the last time we saw each other... more precisely since you decided to try to reform King Sombra. Because of that, I invite you and Sombra to join me and my sister at dinner tonight in order to observe the acquired progress. I await your answer. Yours truly, Princess Celestia.”

“You see?” Rainbow Dash said. “Even Princess Celestia must think the same as we do. I bet that the reason behind that dinner is to see what that evil cockroach is plotting."

Twilight didn’t want to admit it, but Rainbow Dash was right. Princess Celestia had always showed her disapproval regarding the opportunity to reform Sombra. However, Twilight knew she could take advantage of that to show the progress that Sombra have had done.

“Maybe, but I can’t refuge an invitation like this one” Twilight replied. “Spike, take a note.”

When her dragon assistant took a pen and a parchment, Twilight started to dictate, while Spite wrote:

“Dear Princess Celestia, it is with great pleasure that I accept your invitation to dinner this night. You can also count with Sombra. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. You can sent it, Spike.”

After writing the last word, Spike curled the letter and then sent it with a blast of flames.

It didn’t take long for Twilight and Sombra to get on board the Friendship Express to go to Canterlot. Most of the ponies, knowing his reputation and still fearful of him, kept their distance, what caused Twilight and Sombra to get a compartment just for them. Some guards (all loyal to Sombra) had asked Twilight to accompany them, something that was a great idea to the dark unicorn due to the fact of in that way being prepared for any trap Celestia and Luna could set against him. However, the young princess had refused.

“I don’t know about this, Twilight” Sombra said. “You know that I and the alicorn sisters don’t have the best relationship.”

“I know that, but this is the best way to prove how you have changed” Twilight replied.

“Or this is just a way of Celestia and Luna finding the minimal reason to lock me up.”

“I know Princess Celestia well and I know that she can notice a change when she sees it. And I’m certain that Princess Luna is the same. After all, she was already on your horseshoes."

“I hope you’re right, Twilight” Sombra said.

Twilight looked around to make sure that they were really alone to give a brief kiss to Sombra on his lips, saying then:

“I know I am.”

When the sun was starting to set, the train arrived to Canterlot station. They got out and noticed that the ponies present there on the platform hasted to get away, fearing Sombra. He and Twilight were then approached by guards that escorted them to the castle, where they met with Celestia and Luna who received them in a cordial, and yet distant, way.

The dinner happened very silently, but equally tense. It was like if everypony wanted to say something, but eventually gave up doing it. When they were eating the dessert, Twilight couldn’t hold it anymore and said:

“Okay, enough of this. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, you invited us to dinner with you and, for that, I’m grateful... But don’t you think this silence is ridiculous?”

“Indeed, Twilight Sparkle, this silence is really uncomfortable, but I don’t see any reason to have any conversation with somepony we don’t want to be friends with in any way” Luna replied.

“What Luna means to say, Twilight, is that we organized this dinner to verify the change in Sombra” Celestia said. “And I can indeed detect a slight change on his behavior.”

“That is very kind of you, Celestia” Sombra said, bowing his head in a fake gesture of cortesy.

“You didn’t let me finish” Celestia cut him. “However, like the crystal ponies, we still remember the time of the tyrant who ruled the Crystal Empire with cruelty. Twilight, don’t take this wrongly, but it will be hard to accept Sombra.”

“I understand…” Twilight said.

Seeing Twilight’s sad look before what Celestia had said, Sombra, in an impulse, said to the two alicorn sisters:

“You should have more consideration for Twilight. At least, she has the capability of being a true princess.”

“What did you just said?” Luna asked.

“What you just heard” Sombra replied. “Despite all the mistrust and knowing by experience everything I did, she put everything aside and gave me a chance, while you just wanted to see me locked up closely. For that and for all the patience that she has been having with me, Twilight is a better princess, better than you. For that, you should stop not take her seriously.”

After that last statement, a very intense silence, more so than the one that has been ruling during most of the dinner, was imposed. Although worried with Celestia and Luna’s reaction to that outburst from Sombra, Twilight couldn’t be happier by his words. The two alicorn sisters were equally shocked, but then Luna said:

“I… never saw you defending a pony in such honest way.”

“Indeed” Celestia agreed. “Maybe you did have changed... but don’t forget that you’ll have to do more than doing touching speechess. After all, actions are worthier than words.”

When he heard those words coming out from the mouths of his two greatest enemies, Sombra couldn’t stop but drawing a slight smile, although he did the best to not let his dark intensions be shown. However, the way how he came in Twilight’s defense disturbed him. After all, if he hadn't put as much restrain as he did on himself, he could have said more than he should and put his plan in risk.

With the end of the dinner, Twilight and Sombra got out to go to their respective rooms. While they walked, Twilight said:

“That was kind of you, Sombra. Thank you for standing up for me.”

“After everything you did for me and because you are important to me, what did you want me to do?”

After a share of passionate looks between the two of them, Twilight sighed:

“It’s just a shame that we can’t be together this night.”

"Are you sure about that?" Sombra asked, with a teasing look. "You know... you could teleport yourself to my room. We would have a little fun and then you would return to your room."

That caused Twilight to chuckle, as she blushed slightly. That for certain was a tempting idea... but before her impulsiveness could cause her to accept it, caution took over.

"I would love that, Sombra... but we would be taking too much of a risk. We are in Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's castle, after all. Considering how delicate your situation is with them, we shouldn't give them any reason to put you away."

“That is true...” Sombra agreed. "It's just... I got so used in having you in my bed... in holding you closely... in kissing you...“

But Twilight put her hoof over his mouth to stop him from speaking, while chuckling and blushing, and said:

"I know... but it’s just for today. Tomorrow, we return to Ponyville and then we can be together again.”

Sombra nodded and the two then took their respective ways to their rooms. In his room, Sombra couldn’t stop but thinking, for a long time, on his feelings and desires in conflict. On one side, he had at his reach the opportunity to have a superior power capable of allowing him to have what he once had and even more. However, the passion that he had for Twilight was the anchor that kept him from moving forward.

With his new power, he would be able to capture Twilight and force her to be his concubine, but the idea didn’t please him. In fact, he repulsed him. Sombra didn’t desire her only physically, but also sentimentally. He didn’t want to have her only to satisfy him, he wanted to love her and be loved by her. However, love and power were two incompatible concepts, what forced ponies to choose one of them. If only existed a way to have both of them. In that way, Sombra wouldn’t have to worry anymore.

At that moment, he felt the presence of a power magic in the castle. That magic didn’t belong to any of the alicorn princesses, but there was no doubt that it was intense. That caught the tyrant king’s curiosity.

At the archive of the castle, a figure involved by a cloth appeared at Star Swirl the Bearded Wing. Creating a source of light with her horn, the figure took out the hood, revealing to be Starlight Glimmer, a pony that had been defeated by Twilight and her friends after creating a village with ponies from whom she took their Cutie Marks, replacing them with equal signs, and made them follow her philosophy of true friendship. She had pale, light grayish heliotrope coat with a purple and white star with two two-toned blue glimmering streams as Cutie Mark, moderate purple with lighter purple and pale light, grayish aquamarine highlights mane and moderate persian blue eyes.

Starlight started to look over the existing parchments, searching for something that would allow her to take revenge on Twilight for everything she had done to her.

“No… no… no…” she said, while becoming increasingly frustrated as she put aside each parchment that she verified. “But where is it?!”

It was then that she found what she was looking for. A wicked smile appeared on her and she said:

“Yes, this is exactly what I was looking for. Now Twilight Sparkle will pay for everything that she did to me. She took my village from me? Well, I will take her best friends and she will watch it, unable to stop me.”

“You don’t tell me…” a cold voice said.

At that moment, the parchment got involved by a dark aura and then disappeared.

“But… where did it go?!”

“Are you looking for this?” the same voice asked, behind Starlight.

She turned around and found Sombra, holding the parchment with his magic.

“You…” Starlight said. “You are that dark unicorn that Princess Twilight is trying to reform. What are you doing here?”

“The more pertinent question here is: what is a unicorn so talented like you doing at the middle of night in Star Swirl the Bearded Wing?”

“You don’t have anything to do with that!”

“That’s what we’re going to see” Sombra replied. “For what I heard, you’re trying to take revenge on Twilight. Well, I must tell you that there are others like you out there. Of course... they are not as foolish to try to steal one of Star Swirl's spells from the Canterlot Castle's library right under the alicorn sisters' noses. But, tell me, what do you pretend to do?”

He unrolled the parchment and observed it. Then, he noticed that it was Star Swirls’ famous spell that allowed the user to travel through time. According to what he remembered about the spell, although it worked, it didn’t last for long and wasn’t strong enough to break through the temporal loop of cause-effect.

“A time traveling spell?” Sombra asked. “Why having so much work invading the castle of Canterlot just to steal a spell so limited like this one?”

“The spell may be limited, but it’s not something that can’t be adjusted” Starlight replied. “ After all, Star Swirl already did the most complicated part. Now, hand over the parchment or I will take it by force.”

And she charged her horn to validate what she had just said.

Sombra looked at Starlight, amused. He could see the great rage that Starlight had for Twilight and how much determined she was to get her revenge. On that aspect, Sombra managed to see a little of himself in her.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t let her ruin his plans just for a petty revenge. His first thought was to kill her, but then he remembered that Starlight’s capabilities could come in handy, mainly with his dilemma. Sure he could turn her into one of his slaves, but her job would be far more effective if she did it on her own will. He just had to convince her to work for him.

“Time is such a dangerous thing to be dealt with” Sombra said, while rolling the parchment. “By changing the past, you risk to create a present and a future far more... dire than you expected. It is much easier to adapt to the situation and try to turn the table on your favor than risking in something so daring as time traveling.”

“Do you really think that you will convince me to give up my revenge?” Starlight asked. “Don’t wast your time, curved horn. Nopony will be able to dissuade me.”

“I’m not trying to make you give up your revenge” Sombra declared. “I’m trying to give you a better plan. Do you really think that I became one of Princess Twilight’s friends just to get a second chance? No… I have a plan of revenge of my own that is already in motion. A plan that will give me everything I want and more, all while preventing my enemies powerless against me.”

“And why are you telling me that?” Starlight asked. “I don’t have nothing to do with your little problems with Twilight.”

“Oh, you do... when your little plan can prevent me from getting what I want” Sombra replied, in a harsher way, returning then to his calmer voice. “But, if you help me with my plan, we both can get our revenge on the ones who wronged us. Believe me when I say that what I have planned is so much better than creating holes in the timeline.”

Starlight thought for a while on Sombra’s offer and then replied:

“If that plan will really cause to Twilight the greatest suffering than the one she and her friends caused to me, then you can count on my help. Just tell me what you want me to do.”

“I already have the spell I need prepared and the moment to give the final blow is coming” Sombra said. “However, certain unexpected… events require some reformulations. And having in count that I would take a lot of suspicion when trying to make them... and how you have a talent to revise spells…”

“You want me to do it, right?” Starlight completed.

Sombra nodded and then said:

“But I must warn you that I will be watchful of you. Don’t you dare to temper the spell out of my indications. Now, tell me, are you up to the challenge?”

“Just tell me what kind of changes you want me to do and you can consider it done.”

That answer made Sombra draw his evil smile, happy to have found the solution to his dilemma of having to choose between power and love.