"So that's why we're here. No matter what though girls, always remember the most important thing: Friendship is magic." Twilight said.

"Of course Twilight. You and Sunset just be careful okay?" Rarity said.

"I'm sure they will. I'm going with them after all." Spike said.

"Spike, are ya certain about that?" Applejack asked.

"I'll be fine." Spike said. "I'm going with Celestia's two students after all." He added.

"Spike does bring up a good point sis." Apple Bloom said. She and the cutie mark crusaders insisted on coming with. Though that also meant bringing Diamond Tiara's mother Spoiled Rich along as well.

"So, is there anything I can do to help out?" Spoiled Rich asked.

"Actually, I was hoping you and the cutie mark crusaders could see if you can find any books Sombra left lying about somewhere. If Twilight and I have a hard time finding the crystal heart on our own, Sombra may have written the location down somewhere." Sunset said. "Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash will be too busy trying things out to help out the crystal ponies to watch them otherwise." She added.

"Yeah sorry squirt; I'm afraid I'm going to be a bit busy." Rainbow Dash said.

"That's okay sis. I'm sure whatever you plan is going to be awesome." Scootaloo said.

"I'm surprised that Night Wing allowed you to come with..." Sunset said.

"Well..." Rainbow Dash said.

the day before

"The Crystal Empire...that place hasn't been seen for a thousand years. Luna has already filled me in that you and the other elements are going to be helping Sunset and Twilight out over there." Night Wing said.

"I'll do whatever I can over there ma'm." Rainbow Dash said.

"You better give it 110% Rainbow Dash; you're basically a representative of the Shadowbolts to them." Night Wing said.

"Now that you mention it...I'm not going to lie ma'm...now I'm a little bit nervous." Rainbow Dash said. Night Wing laughed.

"I remember what it was like being the representative of my hometown for the Equestria Games a year ago. Winning the race there is part of why Luna chose me as the new Shadowbolt Captain." Night Wing said. "But you can bet I was all kinds of nervous." She added.

"Speaking of...you didn't object to me wanting to be on the Ponyville team for the next Equestria Games." Rainbow Dash said.

"I want to race against you instead of with you for that; I have to measure myself against you to know whether or not Luna was right about you." Night Wing said.

"She is. And I intend to prove that before then." Rainbow Dash said. "You can try and argue that me being an Element of Harmony is giving me a bit of a priviledge, but I know Luna made me a member because I had already earned it." She added.

"Doing a Sonic Rainboom at the Young Fliers competition to save the Wonderbolts and your friend Rarity is not enough for me." Night Wing said.

"Well hold onto that thought when I kick butt at the Crystal Empire." Rainbow Dash said.

Present time

"Well you should not try to engage Sombra unless it's absolutely necessary. Got that?" Twilight asked.

"Got it. But something tells me we are going to have to fight." Rainbow Dash said. "Call part of my instincts." She added.

"Right..." Twilight said.

"C'mon Twilight; it's time for us two Sun Students to go find the crystal heart!" Sunset said.

"Sun Students?" Applejack asked.

"It's the sisterhood name Sunset came up with. I'm surprised this is the first time she's ever used it with everyone present." Twilight said.

After much searching, the Sun Students managed to find the crystal heart, but Sombra managed to burst through Cadence's shield. He burst right into the room where the two Sun Sisters were, and while Sunset easily teleported away in time, Twilight wasn't so lucky.

"TWILIGHT!" Sunset said; her magic dropped the crystal heart which was then caught by Cadence who put it where it belonged with the Crystal Ponies beginning the ritual.

"So...it seems we'll both die this day..." Sombra noted.

"Sombra...stop this tyranny. Do you think this is what Raidiant Hope would've wanted? Do you think she'd like what you've become?" Twilight asked.

"It doesn't matter what she thinks. This was my destiny." Sombra said.

"Listen to me: It doesn't have to be that way Sombra." Twilight said. Sombra opened his mouth but then instead of saying anything gasped. There was an afterimage of a mare behind her. One Sombra knew was Radiant hope. And he swore he could here the two mare's voices in stereo.

"Sombra, you don't have to listen to your destiny. You can choose to become a better pony. All you need is to want it. Do it to create a better future for yourself. If you won't do it for your sake, do it for mine, Sombra." Sombra heard the voices of Radiant Hope and Twilight Sparkle say in stereo. A tear fell from Sombra's eyes.

They are right...I can still choose to become a better pony. I don't have to listen to my destiny... Sombra thought. Just as the light from the crystal heart surged out, Sombra's magic too surged.

"TWILIGHT!" Sunset said, but a light blinded her. When it faded, Twilight was safely on the ground, looking like she had simply lost all of her balance. But there was also a gray stallion with her too.

"What the...where'd the stallion come from?" Shining Armor asked. Twilight got up.

"We're...both alive?" Twilight questioned, looking at the gray stallion.

"Twilight, do you know who this is?" Cadence asked.

"There's only one pony it could possibly be. And it seems...I got through to him after all..." Twilight said.

"Huh?" Applejack asked. Suddenly the stallion woke up, and while his voice was familiar, it had changed.

"Ugh...my head hurts now..." The stallion said.

"S-Sombra?!" Sunset said, her jaw suddenly hitting the floor along with everypony elses but Twilight's.

"It seems...that by rejecting the dark magics that made him the way he was, Sombra has undergone a transformation of sorts into a normal unicorn stallion." Twilight summerized.

"I am free then? I'm the way I was before?" Sombra asked.

"Before? What do you mean before?" Shining Armor asked.

"Yeah. What exactly do you mean by that?" Cadence said.

"Well...it's just that...the Dark magic that had turned me into what you first saw me as...it was given to me." Sombra said. "And it's only a matter of time now before the ones who gave me that magic shows up. Things aren't over here yet." He added.

"Well in that case, who and what are we dealing with?" Twilight said. A suddenly monstrous screech could be heard.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note

So yes, there were zero changes to the Young Fliers competition in this universe. All that would've been added extra was a line or two from Sunset Shimmer. It's one of those "there's basically zero change" scenarios. The brief flashback is the main change to before Sunset and Twilight find the crystal heart. Also, finally I drop the sisterhood name of Sunset and Twilight. Been saving that one. And yeah. While this version of Sombra is also being redeemed, don't think for one second the events of the crystal empire are over just yet. Consider what'll happen next your present for New Year's Day.