Twilight's P.O.V.

I finished up breakfast with Sombra. We were going to be starting my training in Dark Magic today. But before we got started, I decided to lead with something.

"Hey Sombra, you should know that your not the only one I know who got bullied." I told Sombra.

"One of your friends was bullied when they were younger too? But all of them are pure ponies." Sombra said.

"Technically it was two of my friends. Though the constant target was Fluttershy; she's the yellow pegasus. She was bullied for being so timid and shy. What's more, is because Rainbow Dash defended her a lot, RD got bullied too, and a lot worse then Fluttershy did." I said. "It got to a point where RD decided to race those bullies, which is when she performed her first sonic rainboom. She performed it a second time a couple months ago at the young fliers competition to save one of my other friends and the wonderbolts. And I'm sure RD would very much relate to what happened to you. She's been there. And while she dealt with it differently, I'm sure if you wanted to grow close to her, you both have something in common." I explained.

"I'm not sure if I'm comfortable telling anyone about my past..." Sombra said.

"But it'd help. I believe that you don't have to be a tyrant to protect anyone from going through what you went through, Sombra. I'm only suggesting that you start keeping your options open." I said.

"I understand what your getting at, but is it not too late for me?" Sombra asked.

"No. It's never too late." I said. "All you have to do is make the attempt to reach out." I added with a smile.

"Very well...I will make the attempt for your friends." Sombra said. "Might as well, considering they will be the ones I'll be interacting with the most." Sombra said as he began leading me to the training area.

"Trust me Sombra, you'll do fine." I said. "You have the building blocks in place with me already. You just have to be true to yourself and who you are inside." I added.

"Stars above..." Sombra said, eyes going wide.

"What? What did I say?" I asked.

"It's...well...just now...what you said...it sounded like something Radiant Hope used to say." Sombra said. That caught my attention.

"Well like I said, even if I am Radiant Hope reincarnated, I still want to get to know you Sombra. The real you." I said, smiling.

"Again, you really are starting to sound like Radiant Hope." Sombra said.

"Is that really such a big deal?" I asked.

"To me, it is. Stars above Twilight, the more things you say, the more and more you remind me of Radiant Hope." Sombra said. "In fact, you've been making me feel things I used to only feel for her. The emotions inside of me that I've long since thought were dead are bubbling to the surface in full force." He added. "Twilight...no matter if you are Radiant Hope reincarnated or not, I promise you that I will protect you and your friends. You have my word on that." Sombra finished. I was shocked.

"That...means a lot to me. Thank you Sombra." I said. For the first time since we met, Sombra smiled at me. "...You smile great." I said, smiling back. Sombra blushed.

"Th-thank you..." He stammered.

Sombra's P.O.V.

As I began teaching Twilight Dark magic, my mind returned to our earlier conversation. I don't know why I feel the way I do around her. And why telling her such things comes so natural when I'm around her. And the more things she says, the more she reminds me of Radiant Hope. Perhaps I am right, and Twilight Sparkle is Radiant Hope reincarnated. And if that is indeed the case, then fate has given me this second chance to find true love. This time I'm strong enough to protect her. This time I won't let anyone harm her. Or her friends. I will die before I let anything happen to any of them.

...

Stars above...

If by some coincidence Twilight isn't a reincarnation of Radiant Hope, she has to be a distant descendent. I must find out more.

"Hey Twilight, how about you take a break?" I asked her.

"Sure thing Sombra." Twilight said. She was picking up the dark magic as if it was nothing. It took me three months to master my first spell, yet she had managed to master three of them in the span of a few hours.

"If you don't mind, I think I'm going to read on my break." I said. Suddenly Twilight gasped.

"Do you like to read Sombra?" She asked. Uh oh. Maybe I was wrong about her.

"Yeah. I do. Radiant Dawn's the one who got me into reading actually. She was a bit of a bookworm." I said. Suddenly Twilight hugged me.

"Oh my gosh, fellow bookworm!" Twilight said, her eyes lighting up as she squeed with joy.

"What?" I was confused.

"I love reading too. Whenever I'm not hanging out with my friends, I enjoy reading books like there's no tomorrow." Twilight said. My god her face right now is exactly how Radiant Hope looks whenever she talks about reading. "I enjoy books so much that RD calls me an Egghead just to tease me. I don't mind it though." Twilight said.

Stars above...

The more things I learn, the more Twilight feels like Radiant Dawn...

Which makes what I have to read all the more important...

After three hours of reading, I have made the most interesting discovery. Turns out, Radiant Hope had a brother who left the crystal empire as soon as he saw his sister tied to that wooden stake, knowing full well what would happen after. He was given equestrian citizenship after the empire vanished. From there, he had his own family tree. In fact...it was his ten times great grandaughter that struck out to me the most. Her name was Twilight Velvet.

"Twilight..." I spoke up.

"Yes Sombra?" Twilight asked.

"Didn't you tell me your mother was Twilight Velvet?" I asked.

"Yeah. What about her?" Twilight asked. Dear god...

"Well..." I showed her the book. Twilight gasped in shock.

"No way..." Twilight said. "I'm related to...Radiant Hope's Brother?!" She exclaimed.

"And by proxy...Radiant Hope herself." I said. I went over to her. "Twilight, it seems fate has decided to give me a second chance. Perhaps with you, I can make up for what happened one thousand years ago." I explained. "We don't have to marry yet, but I am curious that once we get to know one another well enough, you would consider dating me." I said.

"Yes Sombra, a hundred times yes!" Twilight exclaimed before hugging me. "I know not how, and care not how, but I feel the same. I am your second chance Sombra." She said.

Unknown P.O.V.

Watching from the Shadows, I smiled. I soon left the Crystal Palace. I took out the Crystal Heart I had snatched. "...Only a matter of time..." I said to myself once outside the Crystal Empire. "Only a matter of time to correct history...and save this world..." I said.

Author's Note

CLIFFHANGER!