"I am absolutely against it!"
"It's the boss' orders," Blueblood explained as Cadance stood between him and Shining Armor. "He said that we'd need whatever help we can get-"
"'Help'?! From him?!"
"Now hold on a second, Shining," Cadance said. "Remember, he did help us during the Dazzling case."
"And it was a bad idea then, too, but this time we've got a much bigger enemy to deal with! We don't need the extra baggage!"
"I have to agree," Sunset said, glaring as Sombra shot her the most arrogant of looks. "This world's Sombra has the collective knowledge and memories of Equestria's Sombra, and that guy was a master of magic, powerful enough to even hold his own against Celestia and Luna.
"Not only that, but he already tried to take over Equestria once. Who's to say he won't join up with Tirek to try it again?"
"Because if he did, it would be his funeral," Blueblood answered. "The boss isn't stupid. He's taken precautions. The first is that he will be under constant watch, naturally. His arms and his legs will remain bound, and he will only be permitted to talk when a gun is to his head – if he so much as goes near a jewel without our permission he will be subdued and brought back.
"The final precaution is the bomb that will be strapped around his neck. It will be on a timer, and will detonate after twelve hours have passed unless the code is entered to prolong it. Attempting to disarm or remove it by force will trigger it early, so if he doesn't want his reign to be short, he will stay where we can see him."
Shining Armor shook his head firmly. "I'm still against it. What possible use could we have for him if he's going to be bound and gagged the entire time?"
"He will myself and Cadance in trying to capture some of Tirek's people here in the States. Sombra was a master of interrogation before. I'd imagine having his mind melded with a tyrannical demon from another world would help him break even the toughest of cases."
"You? And Cadance?" Shining asked, his fists clenching more the longer the conversation went on. "And who will watch him, then?"
"Gilda, and our two fine gentlemen here, of course… Um, dreadfully sorry, but what were your names again?"
"Agent D'Coolette, sir."
"Agent St. John, sir."
"Yes yes," Blueblood replied. "You can have faith in your fellow agents, Shining Armor."
"But-"
"It'll be fine, Shining," Cadance assured him. "And time is of the essence. Sombra can help us, and that's all that matters right now."
Gritting his teeth, Shining bore his eyes into Sombra's own. He stepped forward, grabbing Sombra by the collar, and brought their faces within inches of each other. "I'm only warning you once: if you do anything to hurt her, I will make you wish we had executed you. Understand?"
Sombra simply nodded, and Shining let her go. "Oh, and I will be fine, too. Thank you for your concern," Blueblood deadpanned.
"So," Shining began, "Myself, Sonata and Aria will be joining with a team from our own military and a team from the Vespanian military to secure and disarm the warhead. Blueblood, Cadance, Gilda and… Sombra, will follow a lead to some of Tirek's people in this country. Sunset, Daring Do, Chrysalis and Adagio, you four will investigate this solvent, as well as the Sage's Stone itself, and try to cut Tirek off."
"Question!" Sonata shouted, making Aria groan as she raised her arm. "Will there be tacos on the flight there?"
"… No," Shining replied flatly.
"Oh… Another question!"
"Yes, we can stop on the way," Shining said, filling Sonata with glee and making her jump for joy. "In fact, it'll be on Blueblood, so order as much as you can eat, okay?" He shot Blueblood a wicked grin, who fumed in response, mouthing a pox upon Shining Armor and his household.
After the meeting was over, everybody left the room, save for Blueblood, Cadance, Sombra, and the two armed guards. D'Coolette and St. John raised their guns, training them on Sombra, as Blueblood removed the gag, allowing him to speak.
"Sombra, before we begin, we need to know that you will cooperate with us," Blueblood said, approaching a suitcase that rested on a nearby table. As he opened it, Sombra took notice of the collar that sat inside.
"Do you need me to say it, or to understand it?" Sombra asked.
"The choice is always yours. Just pick the right one," Blueblood answered. "Know that there is no harm in refusing the mission now. You will be sent back to your isolated cell, fed through a straw until the time arises that we need your expertise again. However, if you help us here, the boss will offer you your old position back permanently, under a probationary contract."
"Know that Princess Celestia had no intentions of being so merciful," Cadance told him. "Had we not offered to bring you back, you would have been tried under Equestrian laws and locked away in a prison filled with monsters and-"
"I am well aware," Sombra said. "Remember that I have King Sombra's memories. I am aware of what fate I have escaped, only to wind up in a different prison altogether."
"Princess Celestia had no intention of trying to reform you, but we do. Before you found that accursed horn, you were a good man."
"Well, a man, at least," Blueblood said. "Only as good as an international spy and secret hitman could be."
"Ah." Sombra chuckled as the realisation came to him. "I see. This isn't about my 'interrogation methods'. You want me to knock a few people out of Tirek's forces."
Cadance gasped, and turned to find Blueblood giving a confirmatory nod. "Wait, I never heard anything about this!"
"I thought you would have figured it out," Blueblood said. "Tirek's forces have grown too strong, and our methods of getting information out of them haven't gotten us anywhere. Our job for now is to assist Chrysalis' team by taking out key members here in the US, and then round up the scattered remnants in the resulting chaos."
"But, we're trying to reform Sombra!" Cadance argued. "What's the point if we're just making him a monster under our own leash?!"
"Quite poetic," Sombra said, chuckling under his breath. "It seems I am fated to be a monster, no matter what."
"No!" Cadance shouted. "You're not a monster, Sombra! I know because you've saved my life three times in the past! Because if it wasn't for you, Shining Armor would have been captured by the enemy three years ago! I know because I've seen you laugh and get angry, just like any other person!"
Sombra's smile fell. "You still see me as a human?" he asked, and Cadance gave a resolute nod in return. "… Hmph. Such radiance is wasted on the likes of him." Grinning again, he said, "Have no fear. I will play my part, and I will do so without resorting to magic. I have grown quite tired of my bonds, and much desire the freedom to walk amongst the living once more."
"Very good," Blueblood said. "Then, for insurance, I will strap this collar around your neck. Remember that forcing it off will detonate it prematurely."
"I understand…"
Cadance frowned as the collar clicked, and the timer appeared on the small screen at the centre of his throat. "Please, Sombra. Let's work together, to make things like they were before."
The gag was replaced, and Sombra's guards lowered their guns.