The room is in complete darkness. Sombra and I can barely contain our laughter as we walk in a circle around the prisoners: Shining Armour, Cadance, the six Elements of Harmony, Spike the baby dragon and Wishbone, along with a few guards from Canterlot. All of them have had their magic bound. They cry out, "What do you want?" and "Let us go!" and it is all so amusing.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Oh, look at you all," I mock them. "Even after being trapped for a week, Celestia's perfect slaves are defiant and trying to defend her until the end. Sombra and I are going to tell you what we want in a moment, but you have to be patient while we think about what we are going to do with you." I look at Sombra, who is at the opposite end of the room. "I have an idea."

"Please, enlighten us," he answers. We are slowly beginning to learn to work out what the other is thinking, but I am more unpredictable than he is, so he doesn't immediately know what ideas I have to improve the Empire.

"I think that we may be able to let our guests choose what they do with their lives. Go back to Equestria and remain her servants or live here and enjoy themselves for the rest of their lives. I would personally not make them work in the mines all day as long as they behave, as these lot have so much more skill than that. I mean, the guards from Canterlot could join our own guards, and I am sure that we could find a role for the ladies here. Maybe, they could lift the spirits of the Crystal Ponies, or could be trained to become teachers in the schools."

"Mm-hmm. Not a bad idea. As you already know, Moonlight, I think that they need to be sent back to Equestria, because the last thing I want is a war, and Celestia would surely be upset if this lot did not return home. However, we should give them the choice to stay."

"It has been decided, then," I address the ponies in the middle of the dark room. "You can stay here or go home. If you stay, you will be rewarded for good behaviour. However, if you spread discord among the Crystal Ponies and encourage mutiny, you will be treated how you treat us and our rules. Nopony is allowed to abstain, and if you refuse the decision will be made for you. Make your decisions."

Unsurprisingly, none of them make a decision immediately. They still fight for Equestria and the good of its ponies, even though I have already encouraged Sombra to make better choices. He wished to use dark magic to control the guards, whereas I told him that only those who cause trouble should have to be subjected to mind control. I also spoke out against him reducing the working age to eight years old, and instead suggested that those who break the law can work in the crystal mines. I still am unsure why he encourages other ponies to go down into the mines for him when he can make those black crystals with ease, but I have not yet had the chance to ask him.

"Tick, tock, tick, tock, time's up on the clock," I say, standing still after walking around the room for a few minutes. "If you wish to stay in the Crystal Empire, go and stand with King Sombra. If you wish to leave, come over here and stand next to me."

There is movement in the room, and almost everypony walks over to where I am stood. Everypony except Wishbone, who remains sat in the middle of the room.

I cock my head to one side as I look at her. "Wishbone?"

She does not reply.

"King Sombra, it seems that somepony is abstaining. Maybe she just refuses to speak to me. Would you wish to ask her, or should we make a decision for her?"

He looks down at Wishbone. "Wishbone Willow, do you wish to remain in the Crystal Empire or return to Equestria?"

"Tyrant."

"Why, what name did you just call me?" he questions her, faking shock.

"You think that was aimed at you?" she screeches. She glares at me. "Tyrant. Monster. Liar. Traitor. What have you done to yourself?!" Her wings flare outwards menacingly.

Old me would be terrified by such a sight from my old friend. I just laugh as if she was telling me a joke. "What did I do? I set myself free."

I barely register anything until I am pinned on the floor. I try to roll her off of me, but it is hopeless. She spits at me, "You let Sombra control my mind for your own selfish whims. Why?"

"You were going to sell me to Celestia. You were going to tell her to kill me. I am surprised that you even remember."

"Sombra's curse was never going to last forever. I am a dreamwalker. I know more about the mind and memories than the vast majority of Equestria. I figured out what he had done, and it broke the spell."

"Clever. What's also clever is that the elite guards are now in this room and you probably didn't even hear them."

She looks around, startled. Sure enough, guards clad in black armour covered in metal spikes stand all around the room, ready to kill Wishbone Willow should she make a move to attack me. That moment of hesitation and fear is all I need to push her off of me and get up. I tower over her cowering form.

"Fine," she says shakily. "Do what you want. Under Equestrian Law, you are unable to lay a hoof on me. I am your teacher. I am helping you learn to dreamwalk."

"Well, guess what. I am giving up my apprenticeship with you, and switching teachers to King Sombra. Since I cannot bear to look at the face of the one who wanted to sign my death warranty and stab me in the back, you are allowed to leave the Crystal Empire. Next time I see your face, I will not be as kind. Goodbye, Wishbone." I watch as she rushes over to the group of ponies on the other side of the room before trotting over to Sombra's side.

"Guards," orders King Sombra, "please escort these ponies to the cafeteria so that they can eat and enjoy themselves for a bit. The next train is not expected to arrive for another few hours." Everypony begins to move towards the door. "Dragon."

Everypony stops, and Spike gingerly steps forwards.

"I have a letter here." Sombra's horn glows, and said letter appears, rolled up into a scroll and tied with a red ribbon. "Would you please send it to Princess Celestia to inform her that you will be returning?"

"Uh - uh - yes, your majesty," answers Spike, taking the letter quickly and retreating to the relative safety of the group.

We watch the group of ponies leave, and when the guards are gone, we burst into laughter. "Oh, you seemed so threatening!" I giggle at Sombra.

"I don't know, you seemed far more dangerous to those ponies than I did. I was trying my level best to be nice," he replies.

"They have no reason to fear you. They have faced terrible villains before and have grown used to it. I used to be one of Them, and the fact that I changed so suddenly, in their opinion, makes me seem like the bigger threat. Oh, you were never trying to be nice, were you? If you showed this side of your character they would have let you into the Empire to raise the spirits of the Crystal Ponies!" I say jokingly.

"Ah, good one, Moonlight. You said it yourself. They see this." He points a hoof at himself. "They think that that is the only side to me. You were smart enough to realise that I was different. Their loss. What would you like to do now, my bat?"

"Eat. The Crystal Empire is far too cold for mangoes to grow, but right now I would not trade living here with you as my leader for all of the mangoes in the world." I kiss him quickly. "Besides, there is crystal berry pie here."

We laugh as we too leave the small room in the dungeons, and head for the dining room, all the while thinking how lucky we are to have each other.