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.

“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 know. Besides, I was planning to tell them yesterday at that meeting. I knew it wouldn’t be easy and they would not accept it, mainly 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 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. “Everycreature 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 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 told it. Twilight, of all the ones present, was the one that got more 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 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. “Was it 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. 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. 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.

Next Chapter: The Love Curse Estimated time remaining: 12 Minutes