It was after the chaotic brief rule of the Umbrum over the Crystal Empire; King Sombra brought back the Crystal Heart to lock away the Umbrum once again and the combined magic of Radiant Hope and the four Alicorn princesses, Sombra was prevented from being sealed away as well. Facing the princesses Sombra kneeled and said "nothing I can say will ever make my actions go away but for all the horrible things I have done now and before I was banished, I surrender to your authority..."
"Sombra, no wait!" Hope said speaking up facing her friend incredulously. "Don't do this Sombra, you are a hero now you just saved the Empire..." Hope protested but Sombra put up his hoove to silence her for the second.
"The Empire would never have been in danger in the first place if it was because of me, I let myself become a monster taking down Princess Amore and enslaving the Crystal Empire. I was merely fixing what was already my fault to begin with, I wish to atone and by doing that that means facing the consequences for my actions." Sombra told her sternly.
Hope was about to speak up again but sighed thinking about it, "I guess you are right Sombra and it's not completely your fault. I let the Umbrum spend the last more than a thousand years convince me that they were good beings that were unjustly banished and because I was fooled, I led the other ones and the Changelings into a coup to take over the Empire and unleash the Umbrum. Because of me innocent ponies got hurt thanks to the Changelings and the Umbrum so we face the consequences together." Hope told him with a nod and he returned it. "Princesses, I too surrender myself to your authority." Hope said kneeling, the four Princesses did not know what to think but Cadance ordered the guards to escort them to the dungeons for the time being. The two followed the guards with no hesitation.
The four princesses did not know what to think of the situation they were now faced in, they all had strong negative feelings about Sombra due to his actions and the pain he put the Crystal Ponies through and their exile for a thousand years. Princess Cadance herself especially was not that sympathetic to Sombra despite knowing about how the story of him and Radiant Hope. However they saw Sombra decide to turn against the Umbrum to save them which inspired them to want to help save him and he did seem to want to make amends by willingly surrendering himself to their authority.
They were still wary of him due to his actions but they allowed Discord a chance to reform despite all he had done so they figured Sombra may deserve the same chance.
Soon they were faced with the four princesses for a hearing, "We know you understand that the mark you left on the Crystal Empire cannot be forgotten Sombra but we all have talked it over and since the spirit of Disharmony himself Discord was given a chance to atone and redeem we believe you both deserve the chances as well." Cadance said facing the two ponies. "We both offer you the chance to do services for the Crystal Empire and to serve out your sentence by helping out with special tasks." Cadance told them and Sombra spoke up.
"Thank you Princess Cadance but I believe we can start by bringing back Princess Amore." Sombra told them to the shock of them all including Radiant Hope. "I may have turned her to stone but she still exists though her remains have been scattered, I believe it might be possible to find the pieces and bring her back together. She and Radiant Hope were the ones who believed that I didn't have to be the monster that I seemed to be destined to become, I owe her that much." Sombra told them with Hope and the Princesses had all smiling.
Soon after they were sent to begin their journey to find and restore Princess Amore with it being a race with the Princesses laughed as they glanced at this the Princesses could not help but laugh. The spirit of Princess Amore also smiled at this and chuckled to herself "I knew you could take charge of your own destiny Sombra, you didn't have to just be the weapon for the Umbrum to take control..."
Still one more thing to take care of for the Princesses...
After returning home Princesses Celestia, Luna and Twilight were at Canterlot Castle with the Royal Guard bringing in the new prisoners...
"Don't worry, Iron Will is cooperating."
"What's the big idea; I was once the top pony at the Wonderbolts Academy!"
"Is this about that mishap in Manehattan, we would be able to pay back the bits. Won't we brother?"
"Indeed so brother!"
Iron Will, Lightning Dust, Flim and Flam were brought to the Princesses who gulped now realising that they would now have to face consequences for their parts in the Crystal Empire's siege. After each being given a chance to plead their cases the Princesses decided that they would all serve their sentences in community service.
Lightning Dust' would be served being an assistant janitor at the Wonderbolts headquarters. The sight of Rainbow Dash in her Wonderbolts jackets made her blood boil and she vowed she will still get her ultimate chance at revenge.
Iron Will would be helping out the Canterlot Animal Shelter and he did not seem to mind, he never had anything against the Crystal Ponies or the ponies that made up the Elements. He only did so to make himself more fearsome for his self help talks and he was happy to serve out his sentence so he could return to his normal job.
The Flim Flam Brothers were sent to be assistants for the mare that ran the ice cream stand in Manehattan, having to do this business job without getting into the profits made their blood boil and they decided they would get their chance at retribution. They would flatten Equestria and make a business so powerful they would practically own Equestria and all the ponies would pay for this.
Royal Guards were sent to see if they can capture Queen Chrysalis so she could face justice for her part in this as well as locking her back up again before Twilight Sparkle tricked her into freeing her.
The Princesses all smiled at how things worked out in the end..
Author's Note
I really enjoyed the Siege of the Crystal Empire arc but found out that people didn't like that Sombra and Hope were instantly forgiven and the jerk characters turning evil. Since I myself never liked Starlight being forgiven quickly either I decided to write this.
