In the upper floors of Fortress Umbra there was a room near identical to all the others save for a ring of perfectly cut rubies inlaid into the floor. Twilight stood in the center of this ring with her eyes closed. To the casual observer she would seem to be in deep thought except for the beads of sweat that rolled off her body and the force her jaw was clenched. Her horn was encased in a light green aura that would occasionally pulse rapidly, causing the air around her to shimmer and vibrate with power. It had been doing that the last few hours but only just recently did the vibrations become constant such as the air was visibly distorted.

Twilight could feel her body beginning to weaken, despite her new powers and near unlimited magical potential her body had yet to fully adapt to them, as such she still needed to rest albeit less frequently.

A low humming filled the room, a sign that she was close.

"Just a little further."

Channeling more energy into the spell, Twilight mentally pushed forward.

A tremor entered her legs and traveled upwards until her entire body was shaking from the strain.

"Almost..."

Her body had other plans, with a surprised gasp, Twilights collapsed, her legs buckling beneath her. The magic surrounding her horn fizzled loudly before vanishing with a pop sending a ripple through the distortion that quickly turned to waves before it to vanished.

Lying on the floor drenched in sweat and shaking from exhausted, Twilight smiled. The spell had worked.

She frowned as she mentally chided herself. The spell had failed but the concept was proven right. With a little more practice and conditioning she would be able to pull it off.

"Have to remember to write down the effects the spell's casting has on me so I can compare them later."

Her body ceased its shaking and her breathing began to return to normal along with her stamina. Shifting her weight, Twilight prepared herself to stand but stopped when a grey hoof entered her line of sight.

"Would you like some help, my dear?"

Nodding in affirmation, Twilight reached out and grasped Sombra's outstretched hoof. With a quick tug, she was back on her hooves. Her legs however were not quite ready to support her as she felt herself falling only to be caught by Sombra.

"I’ve got you." He said reassuringly, supporting her with a hoof while she laid against his armoured chest. Twilight looked up at him with a smile. "Thanks."

He returned her smile as he pulled her closer, eyes glowing softly. "But of course."

Twilight sighed with content and laid her head against his chest while he wrapped his fore hooves around her in an embrace. Twilight could feel a familiar sensation growing in her chest, she had felt it the day before with Rainbow Dash and it had confused her but here with Sombra it was unmistakable.

"Twilight?"

Sombra had been speaking to her while she was lost in thought. "Hm?"

"I said you must take care not to overextend yourself."

Lifting her head she smiled knowingly at him. "While I understand your cause for concern I can also take care of myself."

He chuckled softly. "Of that I'm fully aware." He smiled wider, bearing fangs. "Though you can hardly fault me for worrying."

"Hm, true." She reached a hoof behind his head and pulled him into a deep kiss closing her eyes as she did so, her earlier fatigue melted away, replaced by burning desire that set her blood boiling.

Following her desire, Twilight used both hooves to pull Sombra closer. She moaned softly into his lips as she pressed her body up against his. His armour scratched her skin but she would soon take care of that. She could feel Sombra trying to pull back but this only increased her need. Leveraging her weight, Twilight pressed forward, pushing Sombra to the ground as she did so and followed him to the floor.

Twilight broke the kiss with a gasp and began to fumble with his armour.

"This needs to come off." She said breathlessly, using her magic to forcibly remove Sombra's armour. The chest plate was off in seconds and hastily tossed across the room. His chest bare, Twilight ran her hooves along his chest while her magic worked to remove the rest of his apparel.

"Twilight?" Sombra said, lifting his head up slightly.

"Dont talk." Twilight responded curtly, sending his greaves flying with a burst of magic. "No excuses, after all, you owe me."

Leaning forward she placed another kiss on his lips while her magic temporarily left his armour to undo the clasps of her robes, letting them fall from her body. Fully disrobed, Twilight returned to her previous task.

"That I do." He said, finally able to respond to her previous statement. "I just wonder what Shadowbolt would think if she found us."

Twilight stopped mid motion, various armour pieces floating about her. "What do you mean by that?"

"Come now." He said, grinning darkly up at her. "Surely you've seen it?"

Twilight became nervous under his gaze, her current position doing little to ease this feeling. "I dont know what you mean."

Sombra's grin grew wider. "Oh but you do. I've seen your mind as well as hers. Tell me, did you ever question why she was the only one of your friends to return for you?"

Twilight's magic failed sending the armour pieces crashing to the floor with a clang. "She's the Element of Loyalty of course she...."

"Loyalty only goes so far." Sombra said, cutting her off. Twilight stepped off of Sombra allowing him to rise to his full height. "Love however knows no bounds."

The discarded armour pieces dissolved into the floor, forming a writhing mass that launched itself onto Sombra, covering him in seething shadows before falling away leaving him once again clad in black armour.

"Everything she's done since coming here shes done for you."

Twilight took a step back her eyes trying to find something to look at other than his piercing gaze. "But...she..."

Sombra's eyes glowed a fiery red as he continued. "When you were wracked with doubt she was at your side, doing everything in her power to help you. "Sombra seemed to grow larger, towering over Twilight. "But when she questioned her decisions, when her mind rebelled against her heart, where were you?"

Twilight cowered beneath Sombra's judgmental stare. "I..."

"Knowingly or not, you've been manipulating her and that manipulation will destroy her as surely as the Alicorns."

A jolt ran through Twilight as his words struck a nerve. "Manipulation?!" She said in bewilderment. Anger overwhelmed her, no longer cowering, Twilight matched Sombras stare with her own.

"Dont speak to me of manipulation when you've done the same to me, knowingly or not!" She finished in a mocking tone.

"Ah that is where you are wrong, my dear." He responded, leaning forward so that they were eye level. "What I did, I did to better you, to help you find your inner strength and resolve." His eyes flashed a bright red. "Can you say the same?"

Twilights anger dissipated as she once more shrunk under his gaze. "No."

"Did you not notice her absence after the battle? While you shrugged off the Alicorns words they found purchase inside Shadowbolts heart. She hid herself away, doubt clawing at her mind and heart at what the Alicorn said. Fearfully worrying that her choices as well as yours have damned you both, all the while longing for you to comfort her."

Sombra raised his head. "I suppose its ironic that she dreamed you came to her and waylaid all her fears before returning the love she holds for you."

Twilight said nothing, turning her head away as she was unable to meet his gaze any longer.

"You would say that I had no right entering her mind but I didn't have to. Her inner turmoil radiated out of her. One had only to open their eyes in order to see it."

"I didn't realize." Twilight whispered, more to herself than Sombra. She felt a hoof gently turn her head and when she looked up she found Sombra looking down at her with compassion. "I did not tell you this to cause you pain, but so you could make a choice. If you cannot return the love Shadowbolt holds for you then tell her so, just do not leave her hopefully waiting for what will never come."

Twilight could feel tears forming in her eyes as Sombras words pierced her soul. "How could I have been so blind?" She thought, pulling back from Sombra so she could wipe her eyes. "Oh Rainbow, what have I done to you?"

"Your right." She said aloud, turning away from Sombra. "I need to talk to her." Closing her eyes she reached out with her magic and found Rainbow Dashes presence in the lower keep. Her position locked in, Twilight turned back to Sombra and smiled at him. "Thank you."

Sombra bowed low. "Of course, my dear Twilight. I will always be here for you, no matter your decision."

Smiling at his words, Twilight vanished in a flash of purple light, leaving Sombra alone in the room.

He looked on at the spot where Twilight had been and began to chuckle. The chuckle rapidly grew into a dark booming laugh that carried upwards to the high ceiling, rattling the very foundation of the room. The laughter died down just as quickly as it had appeared.

"At last we can begin."