"You really don't have to do this," Twilight pleaded.
"I made an oath, my dear Twilight," Sombra replied, as he continued his preparations. "If I am to be accepted by my former enemies, breaking my word right away is hardly a good start."
"Maybe so, but what about that wager?" Twilight said, worry evident on her face.
Sombra snorted and said, "Come now, Twilight, when have you ever known me to lose?"
"How about a thousand years ago when Luna trapped you in the ice?" Twilight demanded. "Or a few months ago when the Crystal Heart shattered your body?"
"Yes, I may have lost a thousand years trapped in ice, and losing my body was excruciatingly painful, but if not for those events... I never would have gotten the chance to fall in love with you," Sombra replied, gently stroking her face as he did. "Personally, I think I got the better end of the deal."
"Sombra..." Twilight leaned in to give him a light kiss before saying, "Just promise me that you won't hurt my brother too badly, okay?"
Sombra chuckled as he finished adjusting his armor and slid on his helmet. "Worry not, my dear. Just as with deceit, I doubt regicide would assist in reassuring the princesses of my good intent. Now, how do I look?"
Twilight stepped back to take in his armored form. Obsidian plates covered his entire form except for his curved, crimson horn. "I'd say the name 'Black Knight' fits you better now than it did before. Although, I thought you were trying to convince everypony you weren't a bad guy anymore?"
"All part of the plan, my dear," Sombra reassured her. "Will you trust me for one day?"
Twilight grinned as she remembered the first time he had asked her a question like that. "I think I can manage that."
"I assure you, my dear Twilight, you shall not regret this," Sombra replied, turning to leave the prep tent. As soon as he pulled the flap aside, the previously muffled noise from outside clarified into the sound of cheering ponies and Cadance's voice being projected throughout the stadium.
"-Crystal Empire is proud to be the host for this year's Equestria games!" Cadance could be heard saying. "Given how eventful this year has been, especially for the Crystal Ponies of this wonderful city, it has been decided that this year the games will open with a special exhibition match!" The cheering of the crowd turned into excited murmurs as the audience began to speculate
However, they did not need to wait long as Cadance continued, "It will be a jousting match between two of the mightiest stallions the Empire has ever seen. The first competitor I am proud to call my husband, the Prince of the Crystal Empire and former Captain of the Royal Guard of Canterlot, Shining Armor!"
The crowd burst into cheers once more as Shining Armor trotted out onto the field, the sun glittering off the golden trim of his armor.
As the cheers died down, the princess' voice took on a grim tone as she went on, "The other competitor may come as a surprise to many. However, rest assured that there is no danger to any of the spectators here." This drew new murmurs from the crowd, especially from the Crystal Ponies present. "He is as ancient as he is powerful, having fought battles the likes of which we have never seen, the former King of the Crystal Empire, Sombra!"
As Sombra strode out to meet his opponent, the crowd's reaction was far more mixed. While the Crystal Ponies and those that had heard of him gasped in surprise or even screamed in terror, those that had never heard of Sombra began to give polite applause which quickly faded away.
Silence settled over the arena as the two stallions stared each other down. After a few moments, Shining Armor called out, "I knew from the moment I met 'Black Knight' that there was something off about him. Imagine my surprise when a snake like you honored our agreement."
Sombra laughed at that. "And why ever would I not? I have always shown the same level of honor as my opponents, and for all your flaws, little prince, you have proven yourself honorable."
Shining Armor narrowed his eyes in suspicion and asked, "What is your game, Sombra?"
"I believe we decided the game was jousting, did we not?" Sombra replied cockily. "Shall we give these good ponies a show, then?"
With that, they both moved to opposite ends of the list field and readied their lances. The air grew tense as the crowd watched on, anxiously awaiting the beginning of the match. Then, the starting trumpet sounded, and both stallions leaped into a gallop. Moments later, they met in the center with a thunderous crash, but neither lance struck home, and they continued past each other.
Turning at the ends of the list, both stallions immediately leapt into another charge. Once more they clashed, lance against armor, but this time a harsh cracking sound echoed through the arena, as Shining Armor stumbled. However, he managed to regain his footing and turn to face his opponent from the end of the list.
Glancing away from his opponent, Shining looked up at his shattered lance, before tossing it aside. An aide hurried over with a replacement, as Sombra patiently watched with a cocky grin. "Well aimed, little prince," Sombra called out. "However, I am afraid that these tournament lances may not be enough to decide things between us. They are ever so fragile, after all."
"What are you suggesting?" Shining Armor shouted back.
"I am suggesting..." Sombra launched a beam of dark magic toward the center of the field, drawing gasps from the audience. When the aura cleared, two diamond lances remained, one practically glowing white in the sun's light, the other pitch black. "...that we stop playing with toys."
Cadance stood up to protest, but word came from the judges' booth before she could.
"Since this is an exhibition match, live weaponry is permitted so long as both competitors agree!"
"How do I know this isn't some trick to kill me?" Shining asked his foe.
"If I wanted you dead, you would be," Sombra said confidently. "Besides... I do not think harming you would be a very good way to impress your beautiful sister..."
Rather than reply to that, Shining Armor picked up the white lance and simply said, "Let's finish this."
Sombra grinned as he picked up the black lance, and readied himself for the next charge. Once more the trumpet sounded, once more the two stallions clashed, and once more a shattering sound echoed through the arena.
Then Sombra collapsed, tearing the lance that pierced his chest from his opponent's magical grip.
Shocked gasps came from the crowd and Shining armor stumbled back in shock at what he had just done.
"Sombra!" Twilight shouted as she rushed to his fallen form.
"Sorry... Twilight... it looks like... I lost..." Sombra wheezed as the medics approached.
"The victor; Prince Shining Armor!" Cadance announced, drawing roars of applause from the crowds.
Twilight, however, barely noticed anything but Sombra being loaded onto a stretcher. Hurrying alongside them, she said, "Don't worry, Sombra. We've both been through worse than this. You'll be right as rain, soon!"
"You are correct, Twilight," Sombra replied as they entered the medical tent... and stunned the medics as he hopped spryly off the stretcher, seemingly unaffected by the hole in his chest. A hole that began to close before their eyes.
"Wait... did you throw the match!?" Twilight asked, her keen mind starting to put things together. "What about the wager?"
"I told you I had a plan. When I made the wager, I fully intended to humiliate him," Sombra replied. "This way, however, all those ponies watching will feel protected from the 'big, bad tyrant', and I do not have to worry about assassins or an angry mob. Or not as many, at any rate."
"And what about them?" Twilight asked, gesturing to the medics.
"There were bound to be a few that saw through it, anyway," Sombra replied with a shrug. Gesturing at the entrance, he added, "Especially considering-"
"Twilight, is he alright?" Cadance demanded as she burst into the medical tent. Shining Armor followed close behind, but both pulled up short at the sight of Sombra looking perfectly fine, aside from his shattered breastplate. "What's going on?"
"Apparently, Sombra decided to take a fall so that the Crystal Ponies wouldn't be so scared of him," Twilight said, her tone a mixture of amusement and pride.
"What!?" Shining Armor protested. "You expect me to accept that? And what about the wager?"
"Dear..." Cadance tried to step in.
"No, no, he has a point," Sombra said. "I am honor-bound to keep my word."
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked.
Stepping up to Shining Armor, he declared, "I swear to you that you will never see 'Black Knight' near your sister again."
A sly smile slid over Twilight's face, as the final piece of the puzzle slid into place for her. "So, that was why you weren't worried about winning."
"Oh, you think I care about you more than protecting myself?" Sombra asked with faux innocence.
"First of all, I don't think so, I know so," Twilight shot back. "Secondly, I know you're too proud to lose such a wager unless you didn't think of it as an actual loss. Lastly," Twilight changed her voice to imitate his own prideful tone, "we both know you would never give up somepony as amazing as me."
As the pair burst into laughter, Cadance and Shining Armor exchanged a confused glance, before the princess asked, "I don't get it. Why are you okay with him losing a bet like that one, Twilight?"
"Because, he didn't really lose much," Twilight replied.
Seeing them still confused, Sombra explained, "By my oath, I will not hide behind some mask. I shall face the consequences of my past and stand by Twilight as the pony I truly am."
"Now hold on, that's not-" Shining Armor started to argue, only to get interrupted.
"That's enough dear," Cadance scolded him. "Besides, we really should be getting back to the royal booth." Turning back to the other two, she added, "Would you two mind joining us there during the closing ceremony? Celestia has an important announcement to make, and wants to talk to you afterward."
"And with this, we bring another glorious Equestria Games to a close," Celestia declared. "Many victors were declared today, but remember; everypony who competed today were experts in their fields, even those that don't take home a medal worked hard to even get here.
"But before you all leave, I have an important announcement to make," she continued. "Many of you are aware of the recent event here in the Empire, involving the release of the ancient Shadow Ponies. Some of you may have heard of the changeling attacks on Canterlot and Ponyville. These issues, and many others, were resolved in no small part due to a certain pony, who has proven herself time and again as a reliable, if unorthodox, defender of the ponies of Equestria. She is also a very studious individual, who has attained a mastery of magic not seen in a millennium. In recognition of her efforts and accomplishments, I am happy to announce that a week from now in Canterlot, will be holding a coronation to crown Twilight Sparkle as the newest Princess of Equestria!"
Twilight's jaw dropped at hearing that, even as she was ushered to the front of the royal booth, to the cheers of nearly every pony in the arena. One exception was a young mare staring up at Twilight in shock.
'An Alicorn!?' Rosa Maledicta thought. 'An Alicorn that uses Dark Magic!? And they are making her a Princess!? No wonder I could feel her power at such a distance. Even now, it is humbling... And who is that stallion with her? What they said when he jousted earlier... I need to gather more information, but this...'
A grin spread across her face as she mingled with the departing crowd.
"This could change everything."