After what happened with Sombra saving Fluttershy, a meeting in the thrones room was organized quickly by Twilight to discuss what had just happened. Of course, Sombra was soon dismissed, but that didn't stop him from trying to spy the meeting.

Arriving to his room, Sombra headed to the mirror there, saying:

"Let's see what my dear friends are saying about me at that meeting. They should know that it's not quite polite to talk about in the back of others. And Twilight Sparkle still calls herself the princess of friendship."

Carrying his horn with magic, he enchanted the mirror and its surface began to reflect the thrones room, where Twilight and her friends were seating on their respective thrones.

"I still think that it was all done by him" Rainbow Dash said. "Please, as if Sombra would save anypony from anything."

That was expected by Sombra. He knew there would be those who wouldn't let themselves be convinced by the rescue, especially that blue pegasus.

"But, Rainbow Dash, you saw how he saved me from falling hard" Fluttershy said.

"Come on, Fluttershy, you really don't think he saved you because he has the most compassionate soul that exists, do you?" Rainbow Dash said. "What happened was that he was in the right place, at the right time, ready to save you and be seen as a hero."

"I'm not going to say that what happened was... a little suspect" Fluttershy said. "But the truth is that he saved me and I'm very grateful. Maybe what he said is true. Maybe Sombra really changed."

Sombra smiled. One of Twilight’s friend was already sympathizing with him and that satisfied the dark king.

"It's better we don't get tah conclusions, sugarcube" Applejack said. "We all know that Sombra is not tah be trust’d."

"Yes, have you forgotten everything he did?" Rarity asked.

"Uh, I don't!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, very excited, without realizing Rarity’s rhetoric. "I know everything what that Sombra guy did. You guys should know, after all, we we've been at Crystal Empire, the place that he conquered and enslaved and he just didn't do it again because Spike delivered on time the Crystal Heart to Princess Cadance."

"Yes, and that made me the most popular dragon on the Crystal Empire" Spike said, vainly, putting his feet up on the table that activated the map.

"We know that" the others said, rolling their eyes.

"The issue here is that Sombra is obviously up to something" Rainbow Dash said. "I mean, he is a villain and villains only can do something: imagining evil plans."

"That's not true, Rainbow Dash" Fluttershy said. "Discord was a villain and he's not imagining evil plans all the time... Well, at least he didn't do that during our usual Tuesday tea. I think..."

"I still think he did something for Fluttershy to fall suddenly" Rainbow Dash opined. "After all, how else could she stop flapping her wings suddenly?"

"That's impossible, Rainbow Dash" Twilight said. "Don't forget that I blocked Sombra’s magic. He couldn't have done anything to Fluttershy."

Rainbow Dash had forgotten that fact, but that didn't stop her from continuing to show her conviction that Sombra was bad.

"But he may have found a way to circumvent your magic" Rainbow Dash said. "Don't you forget who he is."

"It seems a little far-fetch’d, but Ah have tah admit that Rainbow Dash made a good point" Applejack said. "Twilight, is there a way tah break yer blockin’ spell?"

"Not without being through magic" she replied. "And I made sure that the spell is not break."

"If you say so, Twilight, darling, then it must be true" Rarity said.

"You've got to be kidding" Rainbow Dash said. "You're going to give him the benefit of the doubt."

"We also don't like this, Rainbow Dash" Rarity said.

"But we don't have hard evidence that if what ya're suggestin’ is true" Applejack said. "The only thing we know was that Sombra really saved Fluttershy."

"Yes, and that's something we can't change" Pinkie Pie said. "After all, all of us were there. Saying that Sombra didn't save Fluttershy is the same as saying that we weren't there, what cannot be, since that would mean we don't exist and I'm pretty sure I was born on a Tuesday."

Sombra couldn't believe how easy the course of things was taking. Almost all Twilight's friends were starting to believe on his change, despite all the mistrust that still existed, mainly from Rainbow Dash.

Twilight, on her part, didn't know what to say. It was true that Sombra had done horrible things, but she could not ignore what he had done for Fluttershy. All this made her question whether there was truth in Sombra’s claims about having really changed.

"I am also as shocked as you guys before Sombra’s action" Twilight said. "However, I cannot ignore the fact that this may be an attempt of him to try to gain our trust."

"You see?" Rainbow Dash said. "Twilight is with me."

"But I cannot also ignore the fact that he may have actually changed and he is trying to show that" Twilight continued, making Rainbow Dash getting quiet. "Although I am not sure about the accuracy of his words or intentions, the only thing we can do is wait to figure out what he..."

"Wait, Princess Twilight" a voice said.

There was an explosion of light and Princess Celestia appeared in the air, in the center of the room for the great amazement of everypony. Seeing Celestia appearing in the room, Sombra became concerned. Of all the ponies that could put an obstacle to the realization of his plans, Celestia was without a doubt one of the greatest dangers for him.

"Princess Celestia" Twilight said, caught by surprise, just like her friends. "But what are you doing here?"

"I came as soon as I heard of your dangerous idea to reform King Sombra, Twilight" Celestia said, landing next to the throne of her beloved pupil. "And I have to show my disapproval. Someone like King Sombra cannot be reformed, Twilight. "

"Finally somepony has my back completely" Rainbow Dash said.

"But, Princess Celestia, I thought you, of all ponies, would be glad to try and reform a great villain who's a big danger for Equestria" Twilight said. "If I am successful, Equestria will be safer, mainly the Crystal Empire.”

"I'm glad you're trying to do something like this, Twilight" Celestia said. "As your teacher and as princess of Equestria, I couldn't be more proud of your initiative. However, I fear that Sombra cannot be helped."

"But Princess, with all due respect, but I have to disagree with you" Fluttershy said. "After all, he saved me."

"I suggest that none of you let yourself be charmed by Sombra’s good actions" Celestia said. "I know him pretty well. He knows how to manipulate ponies in ways you can't imagine."

Everypony were surprised to hear Princess Celestia saying that, including Pinkie Pie.

"Wow, I'm surprised to hear Princess Celestia say that" she said. "And look that I usually hear the little voice saying things about everything that we do, think and feel."

"What are ya talkin’ about, Pinkie Pie?" Applejack asked.

"You know, that little voice that always talks in the third person and that describes everything that's going on" Pinkie Pie said. "I just hear it for a few moments, like since we started this meeting."

Everypony shared looks between each other, in light of what Pinkie Pie had just said, although they simply ignored, something they did when she made comments out of the ordinary, because they knew that was her way of being, despite sometimes being annoying.

"Hey, that wasn't very nice!" Pinkie Pie replied, offended.

"Princess Celestia, I understand that your responsiveness in regard Sombra’s reform is not very good, but you believed that Discord could be reformed, despite all of us did not believe that in the beginning" Twilight said. "Why are you reacting in another way when it comes with Sombra?"

"The circumstances are different from back then" Celestia replied. "We had ways to control Discod if he got out of control. Furthermore, Discord was just following his nature as Spirit of Chaos. I knew he just needed to realize the meaning of friendship to achieve change. Sombra, on the other hoof, rejects it. He's not like us. All he did was out of sheer malice."

"You don't have to worry, Princess Celestia" Twilight assured. "I blocked Sombra’s magic. He will not be able to use his magic to any evil plan he may have."

"You shouldn't underestimate Sombra, Twilihgt" Celestia advised. "That is the worst mistake you can make."

Listening Celestia saying all that to Twilight, Sombra feared that the young princess would listen to the advice of her teacher. It was then that Twilight replied:

"I appreciate your concern, Princess Celestia" Twilight said. "But I intend to continue with reforming Sombra."

That surprised Celestia that said:

"But, Twilight..."

"It is my duty as princess of friendship" Twilight said. "I'm supposed to believe in the possibility of someone like Sombra be able to change. Of course I won't be stupid about to cease to be alert to anything that Sombra can do. On the contrary, I will keep him under my watch. Casting him in to a dungeon and close him under lock and key seems to be the easiest measure to take, but, in that way, I wouldn't be the princess that I must be."

Sombra was quite surprised to hear Twilight saying something like that. He always thought she was just going to try to wait for the perfect opportunity to get rid of him, but it seemed that he had managed to plant a seed of doubt in her.

There was a pause and then Celestia smiled and said:

'' I understand, Twilight. And I'm very proud for your integrity as princess of friendship. I just hope you're right thing about Sombra... I really do."

"Thanks for the confidence, Princess Celestia" Twilight thanked.

"However, just to be safe, I will send some guards to keep the watch over Sombra even tighter so he cannot try any of his tricks" Celestia said.

"I'd appreciate that, Princess" Twilight replied.

Celestia took flight and then, accessing to her magic, she teleported herself. After that, Applejack asked to Twilight:

"Are ya sure of what ya just said, Twilight?"

"I hope so, Applejack" Twilight said, also a little uncertain about her own words.

Sombra annulled the spell that he was using on the mirror that returned back to normal. In spite of that setback, it seemed that his plan was progressing well. However, he knew he now had to slow down a little and wear the sheep's clothing for longer than he was foreseeing, having in regard the guards that Celestia would sent. But since he still had Twilight’s protection, he knew that his goal was still within reach.

Next Chapter: The Dark Book Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 29 Minutes