Don't forget to vote in your favorite villain of my story The Taking of Tartarus in http://www.poll-maker.com/poll478564x00574f07-19

A splendid morning dawned in Ponyville. The Sun raised by Celestia went up in the sky, as its light lit up everything in its path, reaching the entire kingdom of Equestria.

In Ponyville in the latest alicorn princess’ castle, Princess Twilight Sparkle woke up, yawning, as she had just had an excellent rest and could hardly wait to spend another day in the company of her friends.

She went to the dining room where Spike had just put the breakfast.

"Good morning, Twilight" greeted Spike. "Did you sleep well?"

"Wonderfully, Spike" she replied, as she sat down and began to use her magic to put applesauce on her toast. "And you? Did you sleep well?"

"Like a stone" he replied, while he sat down and began to serve himself from a bowl full of gems.

Twilight giggled and replied:

"Spike, I think you always sleep like a rock. I think nothing can wake you up unless your alarm clock. What kind of alarm do you have? I mean, for you having breakfast ready when I wake up it should be a good one."

That question left Spike slightly nervous and blushing slightly. Usually, he had that behavior when he was near Rarity. It was then that she realized.

"Don't tell me that your alarm clock is Rarity’s voice" Twilight said.

"Ok, so I don’t say that my alarm clock is Rarity’s voice" Spike replied.

"I can't believe" Twilight said. "Sometimes, it’s needed... I don't know what to get you out of bed. Are you telling me that Rarity’s voice makes you wake up soon?"

"What can I say?" Spike asked, shrugging, making then the same in love air that he makes in Rarity’s presence. "She has a beautiful voice."

That made Twilight take a laugh, as she rolled her eyes.

They ate the breakfast and then their tried to finish their duties, such as cleaning and organizing the library. Later, Twilight and Spike spent the rest of the day hanging out with their friends, laughing.

Without knowing, they were being watched by a shadow that kept itself in dark corners. It was Sombra in his shadow form. His attention was completely focused on his prey: Twilight.

"So it's true" he said to himself, so that nopony could hear. "There is really a fourth alicorn princess."

He gave an evil laugh and continued:

"Perfect. I can use her for my plans. However, for that, I'm going to have to approach and be completely honest... in the sense of my identity, of course. And since she and her friends like to reform bad guys, maybe I can achieve what appears to be an impossible task."

After a great evening of fun, Twilight and her friends, including Spike, returned to the castle.

"Applejack I have to say" Twilight said, while they entered in the Castle and began to head to the throne room. "That new apple pie recipe you brought to our picnic was delicious."

"I have to agree with Twilight" Rarity said. "I didn't mind anything in abusing a little. It was without a doubt one of the best pies I've ever tasted."

"Why, thank you” she thanked. "But it’s Granny Smith who you should say that. She was the one who created the recipe."

"Anyway, that was delicious" Twilight said.

"Yes, I actually think I ate three whole pies at once" Rainbow Dash said.

"Only three?" Pinkie Pie asked, hooping as always. "Please, I think I could eat more than ten."

"Well, I’m happy to have eaten a slice" Fluttershy said.

"I'm glad you liked it" Applejack said. "This will let Granny Smith quite pleased."

"And with reason" Twilight said, while she opened the doors of the throne room, without looking to the interior. "She is a really good... But what's up you, guys?"

Her friends had stayed with an air that was a mixture of surprise and fear. Twilight also looked and adopted the same amazement. Right in front of the circle where the seven thrones were, it was Sombra.

"Well, well, you have a lovely castle here" he commented with a smile.

Recovering from the initial shock, Twilight and her friends positioned themselves in a position to attack and Twilight exclaimed:

"Get ready, guys!"

When they began to start their attack, Sombra said:

"Please, dearies, don't be like that. I come in peace."

"Yeah, yeah, like we believed that!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"After what you did with the Crystal Empire and the crystal ponies, we're not going to believe anything you say" Applejack said.

“Yeah, meanie” Pinkie Pie said.

Applejack’s words made Spike think and then he said:

"Wait a minute, but I thought the Crystal Heart had beaten you."

"Spike is right" Twilight agreed. "The light of the Crystal Empire should have definitely defeated you. How could you have survived?"

"With the help of a little trick" Sombra answered. "After all, you don't get to where I am without having some trumps under your sleeve."

"Trumps full of dark magic, I bet" Rarity said.

"That's the only kind of magic that I know" Sombra replied. "But it doesn't matter. I didn’t came here to discuss my past. I'm here to discuss my future."

"I knew it!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "You want to take over of Equestria!"

"If that's what you want, you may don’t hold your breath" Applejack said.

"Believe me, if that was what I wanted, I'd be doing it right now" Sombra responded. "After all, I'm a stallion of action."

"If that's not why you're here, so what is it?" Twilight asked.

"I came to ask for a chance of redemption." the stallion with his mane black as night and his soul said, making a slight bow.

That answer surprised those who heard it, but it didn't seem to convince them.

"Yeah, as we would believe it" Rainbow Dash said.

"I'm telling the truth" Sombra said. "After my defeat, I spent months trying to recover. I have to admit that I thought in several plans for vengeance, but then I realized that it would be futile, since you, the good guys, would always ruin my plans."

"You got that right" Spike said.

"And when you freed Discord and when I saw the effect friendship was having on him and that he was gradually being accepted by ponies, I realized I'd make more if I became good" Sombra continued.

However, he still couldn’t convince the others. But Fluttershy, who was the more compassionate of the group, said to her friends:

"But what if he's telling the truth?"

"Are you serious, Fluttershy?" Rarity asked.

"Have you forgotten what he did?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Of course not" she replied. "But you can't forget that Discord was also bad and now he's reformed. Despite the mishaps, he proved he could change. Maybe Sombra can change as well."

But the others did not seem to be of the same opinion. Applejack turned to Twilight and told her:

"Twilight, you are the princess of friendship. The decision is yours. What do you think?"

Twilight didn't respond immediately, because first she had to think calmly. She also didn't trust Sombra. She knew what he was capable of and what he had done. No one would judge her for not wanting to give him a chance of redemption. But she also couldn't help but agree with with what Fluttershy said. Sombra could be able to change, just like Discord changed. And, in a way, Sombra was right about one thing: if he wanted to attack, he would have done it, because he had the element of surprise on his side. Furthermore, trusting or not trusting, her duty as princess of friendship was extending the hoof to who wanted to learn the magic of friendship.

Sighing, Twilight said to Sombra:

"I know I'll regret this, but I'll give you a chance of redemption."

"WHAT?!" Her friends asked, except Fluttershy.

"Twilight, you can't be serious" Rainbow Dash said.

"You can't be even considering giving this... cruel and evil pony an opportunity" Rarity said.

"Everypony deserves a second chance, Rarity" Twilight said. "Furthermore, Fluttershy is right. If Discord managed to change, maybe Shadow can also do the same."

Everypony seemed to want to say something, but Applejack said:

"Although I don't agree with your decision, Twilight, we will accept it" Applejack said, turning then to the other. "It's not true?"

Others, against their will, waved.

Sombra made a slight smile, pleased by his plan being working.

"I sincerely thank your vote of confidence, Princess Twilight" he said, making a bow.

"It's not a vote of confidence, because, honestly, Sombra, I don't trust you" she replied. "I'm just following my code as princess of friendship. You will have an opportunity to prove you've changed, or your fate will fall in Princess Celestia’s hooves."

"I understand" Sombra said, nodding.

"And to ensure that you’ll stay under control, I will block your magic" Twilight said. "At least while you are under probation. I think in that way I will be able to minimize the threat that you may represent."

Although they didn’t agree with Twilight’s decision to give Sombra a chance of redemption, her friends were slightly more relieved.

"Sure" Sombra agreed. "I will do everything so that you can see my repentance."

With this, Twilight focused her magic and cast a spell that hit Sombra’s horn that was briefly surrounded by Twilight’s magical aura. He was able to feel that he wasn't able to focus his magic.

"To keep an eye on you, you will stay here at the castle" Twilight said. "I hope you don't blow this chance."

"Of course not" Sombra answered.

"Wait, you're going to let him stay here with us?" Spike asked. "I don't know if you've forgotten, but I was the one who gave to Cadance the Crystal heart so he could be defeated."

"Don't worry, Spike" Twilight tranquilized him. "He will stay in the room further away and, besides, Sombra knows that if anything happens to you or to anypony, he will lose his chance of redemption."

Although that did not completely calm the baby dragon, he said nothing.

After Twilight's friend had go home, she turned to him and said:

"Come on, I'm going to take you to your room."

And Twilight led Shadow through the corridors of the castle until they got to a door leading to a room in a remote place of the castle.

"This is your room."

Using her magic, Twilight opened the door and Sombra got in. It was a room with a reasonable size, with a bed, a wardrobe, a table and a chair.

"I'll let you alone" Twilight said. "I just hope you don't make me regret my decision."

"I said it and I will say it again, princess" he replied. "You won't regret it."

And, with this, Twilight closed the door. After he made sure that Twilight was away and it was safe, Sombra dropped its air of facade and adopted its evil air.

"Finally, I thought I would have to play the role of repentant villain for much longer."

He advanced to the window where he could see part of Ponyville, continuing to say:

"These ponies are really naive. Especially that Princess Twilight. She really thinks that she put him between a rock and a hard place for having blocked my magic."

It was then that he took his hoof to his cape and pulled out a small bottle where inside it was a small portion of mist whose color was the same as his aura of dark magic.

"She should have made sure that I didn't have a small spark of magic to undo this little spell."

Giving small laughter, Sombra opened the bottle and let his horn absorb the magic that was there and, after doing so, the spell that Twilight set in Sombra’s horn to block his magic was undone.

"And now, let's start my diabolical plan."

And he laughed maliciously, while his eyes were surrounded by the mist of dark magic.