Canterlot was as magnificent as ever, the whole city coming to life as its inhabitants bustled through it like bees in a hive, buzzing with activity while rushing to their daily lives. The train stopped and Applejack exited to stretch her limbs, thankful that they'd finally arrived at their destination. She peered back at her friends and smiled, happy to be in the same space as them once again. From the sounds of the Princesses' letter, it must've been urgent enough to require the five of them plus Spike. All it said was they their presence was needed pronto and the princesses had something important to discuss with them. Maybe they found a way ta save Twilight! 'Course it'd make sense fer them ta call us! But then again, why bring Spike? Celestia knows we all adore him an' all but he ain't exactly the most useful on a rescue mission.

"Oh, Canterlot, how I missed you!" As to be expected, Rarity came bursting through the door, dressed in a sun hat, big sunglasses and a scarf that trailed behind her. Spike, meanwhile, was straining himself hauling two large suitcases while an unfortunate cargo pony was dragging a cart stacked with luggage.

"Now Rarity, we're here 'cause tha princesses asked us ta come. This ain't a vacation."

"Of course, darling. Of course."

Rainbow Dash zoomed out of the train, relieved to once again have a chance to spread her wings. "Ugh, that train ride was sooooo lame! Next time, we're flying." She was followed by Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, who happily boing-boing-boinged onto the train station and snapped a couple of quick photos.

"Neato! Wait until Maud gets a load of this!"

"Um, it's just a train station," Fluttershy quietly stated.

"Well duhhhhh. I'm taking pictures of the cement and the station's brickwork. Maud'll love it!"

Applejack rolled her eyes good-naturedly. It really had been too long. She searched through the crowd until she found a familiar face and waved him over. "Hey, Shining Armor! Over here!"

The white stallion came galloping over, dressed in his Royal Guard helmet and armor, his face, though warm and joyful, had several hard lines etched into it, as though he'd spent the last few hours scowling. "Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike. It's great to see all of you again! Princess Celestia sent me to give you a royal escort to the castle."

Applejack clapped Shining Armor on the shoulder. "It's great ta see ya too. So what's this hush-hush meeting about? The princesses' letter was pretty vague on the details."

"I'm just as clueless as the rest of you. The princesses said that they reveal everything once we were all in the same room. Whatever it is must be vitally important."

"Come on then!" Rainbow Dash energetically shouted. "Enough with the chit-chat and let's get going!"

The six ponies (and dragon) entered the Canterlot Castle throne room, where they were met by Celestia, Luna and Cadence, the air tense and awkward between them as they finished up their conversation. Cadence joined Shining armor while the two sisters stood by what appeared to be a small pedestal with a thick fabric draping the top. Their eyes betrayed their worry as they regarded the newcomers and Applejack wondered what in the hay was going on with them. They all resembled Apple Bloom that time she tried to sneak a slice of zap apple pie out of the fridge before supper. Princess Celestia in particular looked as guilty as a filly with her hoof in the cookie jar.

"Greetings everypony. I'm glad you all could make it," Celestia greeted. "By now, you're all no doubt wondering why Luna and I called this meeting." She and Luna shared a quick glance before she continued. "We have been able to get into contact with Twilight and have learned of her predicament with King Sombra."

"What?! Is she okay?" Applejack cried.

"My goodness! What's happened?!"

"If Sombra put even a hoof on Twilight, there'll be a world of hurt waiting for him!"

"I'm so scared to think about something bad happening to Twilight."

"The Pie does not abide!"

"SILENCE ALL OF YOU! TWILIGHT IS IN NO MORE DANGER THAN YOU OR I!" Luna boomed, silencing their protests.

"Then what's this about?" Shining Armor snapped. "What happened to my sister?"

Celestia sighed, "There's no easy way of saying this but...Luna and I have spoken to Twilight and it would see as though she and Sombra...are soulmates."

Nopony spoke for the last several minutes, their minds momentarily wiped clean of any coherent thought. And then:

"Twilight and Sombra...are what?" Shining Armor was seething as Cadence placed a calming hoof on his shoulder.

Applejack shut her gaping mouth. "Go ahead and pull tha other one. Are y'all sayin' those two are meant for each other?"

"Aye, it would seem that way. They have been decreed by fate to fall in love," Luna confirmed.

Rainbow Dash snorted, "Yeah right. Twilight and King Sombra in love? That'd be like saying Fluttershy is destined to hook up with Discord!" The yellow Pegasus dove behind Rainbow and shivered, clearly disturbed by the very notion of being romanced by the draconequus.

Rarity rolled her eyes dismissively. "Oh the very thought is ridiculous to comprehend! Sombra is a monster!"

Cadence stepped forward. "Even monsters can have love in their hearts. All it takes is the right person to bring it out."

"Are you joking right now?! You're talking about my sister and that-that thing! Did you forget about the way he terrorized the Crystal Empire? He held us in a dungeon and ripped Twilight away from her friends and family!"

"No, I won't ever forget!" Cadence shouted back, nearly sending Shining Armor toppling back. "Yes, he did those things and worse but believe me when I say that he cares about her! I can feel it!"

"Uh, before ya mentioned that ya spoke to Twilight? How'd y'all do that?"

"With this." Celestia tore the fabric off the pedestal to reveal a light blue orb that shimmered in the sunlight. "This is one of the Beads of Clover the Clever, a very powerful relic. King Sombra has one and thus, we can communicate with one another. Let us try it, shall we?" Touching the tip of her horn to the orb, Celestia waved her hooves above it, the surface swirling and ebbing until the face of Twilight Sparkle came into view. "Twilight? Hello, can you hear me?"

"Princess Celestia! I'm glad that you-..."

"Ahhhhh! Don't worry Twilight, I'll get you out of there!" A pink blur sailed past Rarity and snatched up the orb. Pinkie Pie raised the orb above her head and brought it down, though the timely intervention of Rainbow Dash left her swinging empty air. "Hey, what gives?!"

"Pinkie, I'm fine. I'm speaking to you through the crystal ball."

"Oooooooooh. Okie-dokie-lokie then."

Rainbow Dash placed the orb back on the pedestal. "Wow, it is so good to hear your voice, Twi! Are you okay?"

"Yes, yes Rainbow Dash, I'm okay. I'm so happy to see all you! I've missed you so much!"

"Twiley?" Bewildered, Shining Armor reached out to touch the orb's surface. "Is it really you?"

Twilight mimicked the motion and nodded. "Yes Shiny, it's me. I miss you the most. How're Mom and Dad holding up?"

It took Shining Armor a moment for his brain to catch up. "They're pretty shaken up to be honest. They miss you. We all do."

"And I miss all of you." She leaned out of view and shouted, "Sommy, come say 'Hello.'"

"I don't know about this, Twi," a familiar voice replied, though its tone was noticeably softer and at ease. "I'm fairly certain that I'm the last creature that they'd want to talk to."

"Please?"

"Oh, I hate it when you do the face. Okay, fine."

Twilight's face reappeared and shortly, a dark gray stallion's face came into view, a nervous grin on his face.

"SOMBRA?!" The majority of the group shouted, making Sombra wince at the sound.

"Everypony, please be nice. Sombra's really trying here."

"He's trying?! Twilight, have you gone nuts?" Rainbow Dash barked. "Have you forgotten who this is?"

"The Shadow King," Rarity gasped.

"The Emperor of Darkness," Fluttershy muttered nearly inaudibly.

"Hey, you're that guy with the mediocre oatmeal," Pinkie Pie pointed out absentmindedly.

"Now hold it everypony." Applejack took a deep breath. "Ah can't believe Ah'm sayin' this but maybe...maybe we should hear him out."

Amidst the protests and exclamations of disbelief, Cadence was calmly tuning out the background noise to focus on Sombra, her horn light glowing as she picked up on his current emotional state. Earlier, when Celestia and Luna showed her the Bead, she was able to detect a minute trail of emotions that had emanated from their last conversation. Tuning into Sombra's emotions, Cadence felt her head take a beating from the raw heat that radiated from the umbrum. There was no room for doubt in her mind: King Sombra, the Conqueror of the Frozen North, was in love.

"Applejack is right," Cadence said calmly once the animated chatter died down. "I believe Twilight, Celestia and Luna when they say that Sombra's changed. Am I cautious? Absolutely. But I still think that we should have the courtesy to hear him out before we cast our anger and grievances at him."

Sombra threw a foreleg around Twilight and the two beamed at one another. "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, from the bottom of my heart, I am in your debt."

"Please, just 'Princess Cadence' will do."

Twilight grinned, "Thanks Cadence. So, does anypony have any questions for me or Sombra?"

"Ooh, ooh! Me! Me! I have a question!" Pinkie had her foreleg raised like an excited schoolfilly.

"Yes, Pinkie?"

"Are you two married yet?"

"No. In fact, Sombra called off the wedding. For right now, we're just taking it slow. Rainbow Dash?"

The cyan-blue Pegasus crossed her forelegs. "Have you two had sex yet?"

Everything was deathly quiet. Between Twilight's beet-red cheeks and Sombra's pale face, it was beginning to look very awkward for the new couple. Sombra placed a hoof over his end and stammered, "Okay, I think it's safe to say that we're done here!"