//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 
// Story: A Change of Heart 
// by LolianTriforce 
//------------------------------//

Sombra was walking home with Ornate asleep on his back. She kept crying for fifteen minutes, and as soon as he got her to calm down, she had fallen asleep. He kept her stable by using his magic. He had to hurry to the hotel before the sun started to rise.
The horizon was beginning to turn pink. Sombra began to panic. He quickly ran down the street, still steadying Ornate on his back with magic. He had to hurry.


	***


Celestia flew up to the top of the Crystal Castle and landed on the platform. Luna was lowering the moon for her. Celestia walked over to her and raised the sun as soon as the moon disappeared below the horizon. 
As Luna began to walk away, Celestia looked down upon the town. It was still quiet and peaceful. There was one thing wrong. She noticed a pony running down the street with the green zebra on its back. She recognized the zebra. She was the one from the hotel. But who was the pony?
Her eyes widened in realization. She ran quickly into the castle and to Sombra’s cell. She slammed the door open and looked inside. The cell was empty and the chains lay on the floor, opened.
She growled in frustration and quickly ran to the main hall. She stamped her hoof on the floor as hard as she could, making Luna, Cadence, Shining Armor, and Twilight and her friends running towards her.
“What’s wrong, sister?” Luna asked.
“Sombra has escaped his cell,” Celestia growled. 
All the ponies gasped. Luna faked her gasp, trying to blend in.
“He is now roaming the streets,” Celestia continued. “He may even have a hostage on his hands. We must act soon. He will be hiding during the day, so we need to lure him out of hiding. Any ideas?”
They all stood silent, thinking about what they could do. Luna began to panic a little. It wouldn’t be long before they find out about what she did.
“I have an idea!” Rarity exclaimed. “It’s about that time of year for the Grand Galloping Gala to begin. But since Princess Celestia and Princess Luna cannot leave because of Sombra being a threat, why don’t we have the Grand Galloping Gala here?”
Everyone smiled at the idea.
“Very well, Rarity,” Celestia began. “We shall begin preparing. Twilight, you are in charge of fliers; Pinkie, decorations; Rarity, prepare your friends’ dresses; Rainbow, you will help Pinkie; and Fluttershy, you will prepare the animal choir.”
They all nodded and ran off to their rooms to prepare for the Gala.


	***


Sombra sat on Ornate’s bed next to her. She lay next to him, still asleep from the long night. Sombra stroked her tail gently, making her slightly smile in her sleep.
He smiled. She was beautiful no matter what she did. Sombra slowly laid down next to her and cuddled her. Ornate curled up in his arms and relaxed. He realized that she had been up all day and all night. He could not imagine how exhausted she must have been.
Ornate slowly began to open her eyes. She looked up at him and blushed lightly. Sombra gently kissed her cheek.
“How did you sleep?” He asked.
“I slept well,” she answered.
“That’s good.”
He smiled at her. He knew she was still quite tired, but he was glad she was better. Ornate slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes. She jumped off the bed and walked into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
Sombra sat up and sighed. He knew he could not go out of the hotel room until night fell upon the Crystal Empire. He wondered how Ornate would take the news.
Sombra stood up and put on his cloak. Just then, Ornate exited the bathroom and walked over to him. Sombra handed the cloak to her. She quickly put it on and walked over to the door. 
She glanced at him and gestured for him to come with her, but he shook his head. She frowned for a minute, and then left the hotel room. She walked outside and pulled her hood over her head. 
As she walked around the town, she spotted Princess Twilight putting up fliers around town with Fluttershy holding a stack of fliers. She stood close to her and listened carefully to her conversation with Fluttershy.
“You really think this will work?” Fluttershy asked Twilight.
“Yes,” Twilight answered. “Princess Celestia thinks it will work, and so do I.”
When they walked away, Ornate walked over and looked at the poster. It read:

	Grand Galloping Gala


	At the Crystal Castle tonight.


	Best dress.

Ornate gasped quietly. She had always heard of the Grand Galloping Gala, but she was never in Canterlot in time to go. She quickly grabbed the poster and ran back to the hotel to tell Sombra.


	***


“The Grand Galloping Gala, huh?” Sombra mumbled, looking at the poster.
“I’ve wanted to go for a long time,” Ornate said, twiddling her hooves a little.
 “Really?” Sombra’s face brightened.
“Yeah. I’ve never gone to the Grand Galloping Gala, and I was thinking it would be a good place to go to.”
Sombra studied the poster closer. He wondered why Princess Celestia would hold the Grand Galloping Gala now. But he knew that Ornate wanted to go. He had to make a choice.
“Well,” Sombra began, “If we’re going tonight, then we’ll need to get ready.”
Ornate’s face brightened up and she immediately hugged him.
“Thank you!” she cried happily.
Sombra blushed and hugged back. He was glad she would hug him willingly instead of with resistance. The embrace felt good.
He quickly left and stood up.
“Let’s go get ready,” He began happily.
Ornate quickly ran out the door and out of the hotel. Sombra quickly followed her outside. He pulled his hood over his head and looked around. Today was going to be a long day.