Morning came. Sunlight barely filtered through the trees. Discord and Zecora were also awake. We had a quick Breakfast, and Discord prepared to teleport me.
"Don't forget to stay out of sight," Discord reminded me. "Free the princesses and the Guardians and run for cover. You only have one shot at this. Well, good luck."
With that parting word, he snapped his fingers, and I was standing right in front of the mountain. I remembered the way, and boldly walked forward. This time I had to grope my way without the torch, for the one I had left under the mountain had already gone out. But soon my eyes became accustomed to the darkness, so I could make out the walls and ceiling of the cave. Soon I swam across that icy lake again and ran on. About half an hour later I came out of the cave. It was found in the same place I was yesterday.
So, now we need to sneak into the Palace. Looking back, I immediately ran into one of the houses, as I saw the Royal guards in the street. They searched every house, apparently hoping to find something. Or someone. We have to get out of here.
I opened the window opposite the door, and suddenly there was a heavy knock on the door. I quickly got out and ran toward the Palace without looking back, trying to avoid meeting anyone. At first everything was fine, but as I approached the Palace, Discord's voice came into my head:
'Stop! There are two guards at the gate, you can't go through them!'
'And what do you suggest?' I asked the question in my head.
'You know, I was thinking, why don't you use the banjo now, break the spell on these two so they can let you through?'
'Hmm, why not? Can try.'
I walked calmly to the guards at the gate. They immediately drew their spears and slowly began to approach me.
"Look, this is the fugitive all Canterlot is looking for."
"Gentlemen, please, let's talk. No one's looking for me, by the way. I came from the city of... Baltimare to play Sombra at his coronation. Just listen to what I have invented a tune in honor of the Great and Mighty Sombra."
I began to play the first tune I remembered. The effect was not long in coming: the guards stopped abruptly, then their eyes slowly began to take on a natural color. First the eye itself became white, then the iris and pupils returned. After this process, the ponies clutched their heads.
"Oh, what happened?!" one of them asked.
"Gentlemen, we don't have much time! Equestria is in danger, and I need to get to the Palace now!"
"In danger?! What happened?!"
"It's a long time to explain. Please let me through."
"Of course, pass..." uncertainly responded the second.
"Thank you infinitely, gentlemen," I told them, and ran inside, leaving the guards puzzled. It remains to find the princesses and Guardians. But here's the problem: where are they?
'Discord, do you know where they are?'
'Of course I know! The keepers are in the dungeon, on the lower level. And the princesses are in the tower.'
'In the tower?!' I was surprised.
'Well, you know, from there, the range of the hypnotic aura is much greater.'
'Clearly. Lead the way.'
'Of course.'
The first thing I did was to find my way to the tower. At least I'll thwart Sombra's plan. The discord guided me to every meter and warned me of approaching guards. I avoided them by running into the first rooms I saw. They, for some reason, nobody was there. None of them. After ten minutes of the corridor, the Discord led me to a spiral staircase leading high up. I put one hoof on the first step, but it gave me a painful shock that made me have to pull it back.
- We didn't anticipate this problem, - I said aloud.
'Yeah, I didn't see it coming. And now what?'
'I don't know yet, but... We have to try.'
I took the banjo in my hooves and played it. After a while I took another step forward: the same effect. Hmm, how strange. Why didn't it work? And suddenly I thought:
What if the action of my banjo depends on the melody I'm playing? I decided to check it out right away and started playing a different tune. But again it didn't work. Something's wrong here. But what? If I can remove Sombra's sorcery, and this one can't, then Sombra didn't do it. Then who?
"Sombrero, turn around!" Discord said anxiously. I did just that.
"Twilight Sparkle?! What are you doing here?"
But she was not alone; in a moment the other princesses were all around me. And they seemed unfriendly. I immediately grabbed the banjo and started playing it. However, none of the princesses were going to come out of their trance.
"What is it?! Why doesn't it work?!" I continued to play, while the princesses surrounded me and were about to shoot a beam at me. I still have time while they accumulate mana. But what if I don't make it? I pushed that sad thought aside and continued to play. But nothing happened, and the magical energy of the princesses grew stronger. All, now accurately the end of the. I turned to my beloved.
"Luna, forgive me for not being able to save you," I whispered.
And I started playing the tune I dedicated to her. I played her on our first date. My eyes were already closed, but I knew this was the last minute of my life.
"Sombrero, damn it, get out of there!" Discord yelled. But I did not listen to him, for I was lost in my memories. Our first date. Our preparation for the holiday. The holiday itself. I didn't dare propose to Luna, and I never will now. Through closed eyes I sensed vivid light. Ah, here is and all…
I could see nothing, for it was pitch black. I couldn't feel my body. Is this really death? I wonder why I can still think.
"Because you're not dead yet, you idiot!"
I know that voice.
"Discord, is that you?" I shouted into the darkness.
"Well, who else? No," he said indignantly. "Oh, how unlucky I am with you. And that trouble on its groats attract? First you were in a cage, then the princesses almost killed you."
"Wait, what do you mean 'almost killed'?"
But he did not have time to answer, because I woke up (apparently it was a dream) in a strange place. No, I recognize this place. This is ... Luna's Bedroom.
"Oh, you're awake at last. Now try to explain what's going on."
That voice ... I was ready to jump up to the ceiling and punch through it. It was the Luna! I turned and saw her: for some reason her mane was disheveled. But I didn't care what she looked like, I just leapt up beside her and hugged her really tight.
"Luna, you have no idea how glad I am to see you unharmed."
"Hey, easy, you're going to strangle me!" croaked Luna. I loosened my grip a little, but I wasn't about to let go.
"So... are you going to explain what's going on?!"
I let her go.
"Here's the thing…"
And I told her everything that had happened in Equestria in the last few days.
"... And then you four showed up and wanted to kill me. But ... So my banjo worked?"
"Looks like it. I woke up just as the beam hit you. The first thing I had to do was to teleport us here, but you somehow lost consciousness."
"How long did I sleep?"
"A little, only ten minutes."
"Alright. But I don't understand why I couldn't free you right away."
"I can guess," came a voice from the air. Of course it was a Discord. "Sombra magic seems to be stronger than Sombrero magic. That explains why it took him so long to break the crystals."
"What do we do now? We need to free the others!"
"I know what to do," Luna said. "Of course, I'm not sure it will work, but... I can try to pass my magic on to you."
"What?! Luna, What about you?!"
"You know, Luna, it would be more effective if you transferred the magic not to sombrero himself, but to His banjo. And so it will be more likely that everything will go well.
"How do you know that?" I asked.
"Not me, but Zecora. That's what she asked me to say."
"Ok. So I'll pass the magic right now."
At that moment Luna pointed her horn at my instrument, and it lit up. Soon, from the horn of the moon to the banjo began to float a blue stream of smoke. When that smoke cleared, the Luna's mane changed: it was no longer the cosmic mane it had been, but a regular blue mane; and its eyes also lost color. Right after she passed the magic, she fell to the floor.
I ran to her:
"Luna, are you all right? Luna!" I asked.
"Yes, everything is normal with her! It wouldn't be normal for you to just sit here. The absence of one Princess is unlikely to stop Sombra."
"But what about Luna? I can't leave her!"
"Then say goodbye to normal life on the planet. But you will be together... and Sombra will be the ruler of the world.
"Oh, well, I'm coming," I shouted. And Luna ear whispered:
"I'll be back, I promise."
Then I left the bedroom and went back to the tower. Instead of princesses there were already a bunch of guards. They all began to attack when they saw me, but I had already armed myself with my banjo. After playing the tune, I made sure that all the guards were now in good condition, and said:
"Respected the guards, am asking a moment attention. I'll put it in a nutshell: you need to leave this place immediately. And don't ask why, just do it."
Strangely, they listened to me. As it turns out, I was hypnotized? Even better, though. I went back to the unlucky staircase and played the tune again. The strings are making my hooves hurt, but I'll have to endure it. Finally, I stepped on the first step. And this time successfully!
I ran quickly up the stairs. At the top of the tower stood three princesses. When they saw me, they began to approach slowly and menacingly.
"Well, the second attempt," with passion I said. The notes of my music loudly spread around the room. Finally, my music magic worked: the princesses stopped and began to recover. Twilight woke first.
"Where... are we? Sombrero, what are you doing here?"
"Let me explain later. Twilight, can you teleport me to the dungeon?"
"Why is that?" she asked, surprised.
"Come on, you'll see."
She closed her eyes for a moment, and we were in Canterlot's dungeon.
"What did you want to show me?"
"Go."
I moved forward along the corridor, examining each cell.
'How long, Discord?'
'Patience, my friend... You are there.'
There was a wall in front of us and a few more cells ahead. And here were Twilight's girlfriends.
"Ah ... What?!" Twilight was at a loss.
"Quietly." I took out my banjo and continued as I played:
"We were attacked by a Sombra at the Grand Galloping Gala."
"What?! But how, you...?!"
"We're separated now. And he hypnotized all of you, controlling your mind. But my banjo... here, look."
Twilight's friends began to recover. Eyes, mind... More than once I had to watch it. I didn't notice how Twilight instantly teleported her friends into the hallway.
"So now we have to wait for Discord to transfer the Elements to us."
"Oh, I'd love to, but the Tree won't give them to me. What to do, I'm the spirit of Chaos," it is guilty he said.
"That's bad."
"My friends and I will get to them in no time," Twilight said. A moment later they were gone.
"By the way, where's the Sombrero?" I asked Discord.
"He's in the throne room, where the coronation is taking place. It was after her that he wanted to conquer the world…"
He paused as Twilight and her friends reappeared in the hallway. The first asked me:
"Where is he now?"
"In the throne room. Run there."
We quickly ran to the throne room. Twilight quickly opened the door. Sombra sat on Celestia's throne, and from the fact that He wore no crown, the coronation was just beginning. But when we ran into the throne room, all eyes were on us.
"What?! How did you get out of hypnosis?! Sombrero, what are you doing here?!"
Sombra was stunned by our visit, so Twilight and her friends did not waste time and used elements of Harmony. First, the Elements themselves lit up, then the Guardians lifted off the ground a couple of meters, forming a kind of circle, in the center of which was Twilight. Then a rainbow beam formed around them and shot straight at Sombra. At that moment, a bright flash lit up the room. When she disappeared, my vision returned. But Sombra sat on his throne, grinning maliciously.
"Ha, ha, ha, you didn't think those trinkets would stop me. Nothing in this life is perfect, and I have discovered the weaknesses of your pathetic elements of Harmony. And now they are not a hindrance to me! And that means you too!"
With these words he attacked Twilight and its friends their beam, but Twilight on time has put protection. However, the impact was so strong that she was thrown back a couple of meters. Friends immediately ran up to it. She rose to her hooves and raised her shield again as the Sombra began to attack again. I have to do something, Twilight won't last long. Precisely! I knew what I had to do.
Sombra struck a third blow with his beam, and Twilight and the others could not have survived it. Fortunately, I timely appeared in front of Twilight and put banjo as a defense. He, in turn, absorbed the magic of the Sombra.
"What?! So your strength is in this pathetic instrument?!"
"You dare call him pathetic? You'll regret it."
I picked up the banjo in a normal way and began to play a new tune, which I began to invent as I went along.
"What are you doing?!"
"That's what!"
With that, a yellow beam shot out of the banjo and aimed directly at Sombra. And, you could say, I hit very well.
- Ah! Well, all of a Sombrero, you're done! - he began to create black crystals from the ground, intending to kill me. But, unfortunately for him and fortunately for me, the crystals were instantly shattered by my music. Meanwhile, all present already woke up.
"No! You wouldn't dare…"
"Already! What did you say? 'Found the weakness of the Elements of Harmony'? What happens, if block your magic?"
I came closer to him; light crystals appeared on his horn.
"No! Yes I'll skin you alive!" he yelled.
"I'm afraid, you now not benefits scatter such utterances," quietly I observed. All, magic Sombra blocked, and we both know, that this a desperate situation for him.
"Well, Sombra, it was very unpleasant to meet you. And now... the last chord."
I began to play the last notes of my improvised music, and at that time my banjo began to glow. Then, as the last note was played, a yellow beam shot out of the banjo again, four times the diameter of the first. After blinding us all a second time, the flash disappeared. But this time it was different: the Sombra was gone.
"Sombrero... that was amazing!" Pinkie Pie shouted.
"Is Twilight okay?" I asked as I approached them.
"Yes, I'm all right. But... it was incredible."
"Indeed, Sombrero, I agree with my former pupil," Celestia said from behind. "I think we should thank you for saving us."
"Oh, don't…"
"And don't even think about being modest!" something knocked me down like lightning. It turned out it was Luna. "You're our hero!"
"Luna, it's good to see you... Again. I think I should give you back your magic now."
Can you imagine how I did it? That's right, I started playing a tune. When the process ended, the mane of Luna was the same. I stood in front of her for a moment, debating whether to tell her or not, and finally made up my mind.
"Luna, I owe you something. I wanted to say it back at the lake, but something made me say nothing. So... Luna, will you... will you marry me?"
My heart began to pound. Even all the ponies that were there were silent, waiting for Luna's answer. But he did not immediately follow. Luna stared at me, stunned, and then said:
"Yes, I agree!"
The audience began to exult, and at that moment our lips closed in a passionate kiss. My heart began to pound. I closed my eyes and hugged her. She hugged me back. That sweet kiss seemed to last forever. But it cannot be eternal. When I let go of Luna, my mind was still in the clouds. It was an unforgettable experience.