//------------------------------//
// Chapter Six: Shadow and the Moon 
// Story: The Redemption of King Sombra 
// by DrewCarriker6231993 
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Chapter Six: Shadow and the Moon
Those who were going to Sombra's Ball arrived at a beach that was facing the direction of Sombra's Castle. They were all dressed in their best clothes, especially the fillies and colts who agreed to go. Many of them were familiar: Trixie, Zecora, Bulk Biceps, you name them. Spike was dressed in his tuxedo while the Mane Six dressed in the dresses they wore at the Gala. "This is so exciting!" Pinkie Pie squealed jumping up and down. "Where do we go from here?" Rarity asked Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle looked at the direction of the castle. 
"I think we're about to find out...." A blue light was glowing and was coming right towards them! Once it got close enough the light created a shiny bridge. Twilight Sparkle stepped on it first. She looked back at her friends and the others and nodded. Soon all who were going were crossing the very long bridge to Sombra's Castle. 
When they got to the shiny doors of the castle it opened wide. "Welcome to my castle!" Sombra's voice echoed through the castle. "Please, come in and make yourselves at home. Feel free to look around. You don't have to pay for the food here, it's all free! If you need anything my servants will help." Rarity's jaw dropped when she saw the inside of the castle. 
"Beautiful!" 
"Yeah...." Spike was in the air floating behind Rarity with hearts in his eyes. 
"Yee-haw!" Applejack yelled. 
"This is going to be fun!" Pinkie Pie started bouncing through the hallways. Rainbow Dash started flying around the castle outside in full speed. 
"This is very nice of Sombra!" Twilight Sparkle said with a smile. They all made it to the ballroom where tables were sat close to the huge windows with many kinds of food. The tablecloths were light blue and the blue vases that were in the middle of the tables were filled with blue and black roses.  Sombra hired some musicians, even Octavia, to play with Discord as the conductor. Discord was looking in a mirror fixing his suit. Fluttershy saw him she ran towards him. "Hi Discord!" he turned around fast. 
"Hello Fluttershy!" they hugged each other. 
"Looking good Discord!" 
"You to Fluttershy! This night is going to rock! I even get to conduct the band!" 
"Good for you!" 
"Thanks! And between you and me, I think Sombra and Luna have the hots for each other." 
"Really?" 
"Really really! Those two are going to be dancing together, and I have the perfect song for them. Celestia's going to be singing of course and I'll be conducting the band! Did I say that already?" 
"Yes, you did..." 
"Oh, I'm sorry. And that reminds me, there is somepony who wishes to meet you." he looks over to his left, put a finger and thumb in his mouth and whistled. A handsome stallion wearing a white suit, red tie, and pink carnation came up to them. His coat was white, his eyes were green, and his mane and tail were blonde and brown. His cutie mark had three bunnies: one light brown, one white, and one gold colored. Fluttershy looked at him and blushed. "Fluttershy, I would like you to meet my friend Easter. He's a little shy, but he warms up and is just as good with animals."
Easter blushed as did Fluttershy, "I-I'm Easter. Nice to meet you, Fluttershy...." he spoke quietly. They both looked at each other.
"I guess I'll leave you two to get acquainted." Discord said before leaving. Easter and Fluttershy continued looking at each other. 
"Hello...." was all the shy stallion could say. Twilight Sparkle was walking through the ballroom, amazed of what King Sombra has done when she bumped into Flash Sentry and fell down. 
"Oh, I'm sorry! Flash Sentry?" she looked up at him. Instead of his armor he wore a red suit with a pink tie. He held out his hoof and helped the princess up. 
"We need to stop meeting like that." they both said, then they started laughing. 
"How have you been doing?" Twilight Sparkle asked. 
"Doing great. You having fun?" 
"You bet!" 
"Would you like to dance later?" Twilight Sparkle blushed, 
"Oh.... uh.... sure!" 
"Great! Is there anything you need?" 
"Oh, no thank you!" 
"Okay, see you later." after he left, Twilight Sparkle sighed in relief. Pinkie Pie bounced next to her, 
"I saw that!" Twilight Sparkle looks at her, 
"What?" 
"You like him, don't you?" Twilight Sparkle blushed, 
"No! I...." 
"Don't be modest! I know you do secretly! Well, catch you later!" she bounced away. Twilight then spotted her brother and ran over to him. 
"Shining Armor!" 
"Twilight Sparkle!" they hugged each other. 
"And Cadance!" then Twilight and Cadance both said, 
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and give a little shake!" with that they hugged.
"Great to see you Twilight!" 
"Great to see you too!"
Rainbow Dash was flying around the chandelier in full speed creating rainbows and making the crystals change color. "Wheee-hee-hee! LOOK OUT!" she hit heads with another Pegasus. "Ow! Oh, I'm so sorry!" she gasps, "Soarin?!" 
"Ow!" he was rubbing his head. "I thought I'd find you up here!" they flew to each other and hugged. "Surprised to see me Rainbow?" 
"Yeah! I didn't think the Wonderbolts would be here!" 
"We got an invitation to join the ball too!" 
"Lucky you!" then Gilda shows up, 
"Hey, Rainbow!" 
"Gilda!" they hugged. "How have you been?" Rainbow asked. 
"I've been doing okay, considering. Griffonstone is doing better than it has been lately." 
"Glad to hear it. Hey, would you like to race us ten laps outside around the island?" Soarin chuckled. 
"You're on!" they both took off. 
"Hey, no head starts!" Gilda yelled before she dashed off after them.
Sombra's General, who was more bulkier and darker than the other soldiers, stood in the middle of the ballroom. "Ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, and Alicorns! All creatures of all ages!" he shouted getting everyone's attention. "We thank you for coming here tonight! Right now it's time to bring out the guests of honor! First off is the Crystal Empire Prince and Princess: Shining Armor and Cadance!" the crowd applauded as they came to the center of the room. "Next is the Lord of Chaos himself! The conductor Discord!" the crowd applauded as he too walked to the center putting both paw and talon together in the air shaking it. "Next up is the Good Princess of Daylight, Princess Celestia!" Celestia flew through in open window as she glowed. Everyone bowed down to her as she landed, "That's quite a entrance your majesty!" Celestia smiled.
"Thank you!" she walked and stood by Discord. 
"Next up is the Princess of Ponyville and her friends! The Magical Twilight Sparkle and Spike the Dragon!" they had a surprised look on their faces, but they walked to the center and stood next to Shining Armor as the crowd applauded louder. "Next up is the rootin' tootin', apple bucking, yet Honest Applejack! Come on up here partner!" 
"Yee-haw!" she ran up to the center and stood next to Twilight. 
"Next is the quietest, and sweetest of them all, the animal-loving and Kind Fluttershy!" Fluttershy blushed, but she walked up there slowly. "Next, how should I say, energetic, fun-loving, rambunctious? Give it up for the Queen of Laughter Pinkie Pie!" 
"That's me!" she bounced up and down as she went to the center.
"Next stop is the Master Fashion Designer and Seamstress! The glamorous and Generous Lady Rarity!" Rarity walked up waving at the crowd as they applauded. "Last, but not least, is the well known dare devil and the Princess of Sonic Rainbooms, the one and only tomboyish, and yet Loyal Rainbow Dash!" she dashed through the window, flew around the Ballroom, then around the Chandelier and then landed next to her friends. 
"Did I miss anything?"
"We have Spike, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash to thank for saving The Crystal Empire, defeating the dark side of King Sombra, the evil Queen Chrysalis, Lord Tirek, helping Discord reform, turning the Nightmare Moon back into Princess Luna, and many countless good things. And, most recently, along with Celestia's, Discord's, Luna's, Cadance's, and Shining Armor's support, changing King Sombra from evil to good!" the crowd applauded even louder. "Everypony, please welcome the reformed King Sombra!" a shadow ball came from the ceiling and in front of the other. The shadow took shape and then Sombra stood. The crowd was scared at first, but they applauded. Twilight Sparkle and the others smiled at him. 
"Looking good old boy!" Discord said elbowing him. 
"Did I forget to mention that there is going to be a special dance tonight? Yes, King Sombra is going to be dancing for us! But he's not alone! His dancing partner is none other than the Princess of the Night herself, Princess Luna!" everyone looked at the open window and saw a black shadow. Her eyes glowed white and she smiled. She spread out her wings and came into the light showing that she was wearing a light blue sparkly dress and landed next to Sombra as everyone applauded again. "Places everyone!" the General ordered. "Discord, are you ready?" 
"I was born ready!" Discord answered the General. 
"Yeah right!" Rainbow said. Discord headed to the front of the band. The others returned to their spots with Celestia joining them. Discord bowed to the crowd, then turned around and tapped the music stand with his music stick. He moved his arms slowly and then the band started playing Beauty and the Beast. Sombra and Luna bowed. Luna got close to Sombra, and with her magic she helped Sombra's hooves to where they should be then she rested her left hoof on Sombra's right arm and then took Sombra's left hoof into her right. Even though Sombra didn't show it on the outside he was very, very nervous on the inside. Luna looked up at Sombra and smiled her beautiful smile and they started dancing. 
Then Celestia started singing in a very sweet and beautiful voice: "Story as old as time.... As real as it could be..... Narrowly close friends.... Then somepony bends.... Unexpectedly...." Cadance and Shining armor looked at each other, smiled, and began nuzzling. "Just a little change.... Say it really soon.... Both just a little scared.... Both are not prepared.... Shadow and the Moon...." Sombra and Luna kept their eyes on each other. Luna smiled again and rested her head on Sombra's shoulder. Sombra was surprised at first, then he smiled. "Ever selfsame.... Ever to amaze.... Ever as before.... Ever just as sure.... As the sun I raise...." Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry looked one another. Twilight then closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder without realizing it. Scootaloo laid on her belly and leaned on her hoofs smiling; Apple Bloom leaned against her older sister's side with a smile on her face; Sweetie Belle's and Rarity's eyes were beginning to water but Spike handed them a handkerchief; Easter and Fluttershy both sheepishly smiled at one another; Soarin wrapped one arm around Rainbow Dash.  "Story as old as time.... Tune as old as song.... Bitter sweet and strange.... Finding one can change.... Learning one was wrong. Certain as the sun.... I raise in the East.... Story as old as time.... Melody as old as rhyme.... Shadow and the Moon...." Celestia then closed her eyes. "Story as old as time.... Melody as old as rhyme.... Shadow and the Moon...." The music than started quieting down and then stopped. The crowd whistled and applauded wildly as Celestia walked to the center where Luna and Sombra was standing. All together they bowed. Then light shown on Discord who bowed as well. Sombra and Luna left the ballroom and went to the balcony outside to talk. 
"Sombra?" 
"Yes Luna?" 
"Are you happy?" Sombra looked down at her and smiled, 
"Being good? Yes, and these past several days spent with you and new friends was the best time of my life...." Luna smiled and the two began nuzzling. If only I can tell her how much I've grown fond of her.... Sombra thought to himself. They looked back at the ballroom and saw many of the ponies have begun dancing themselves. Twilight was Dancing with Flash Sentry; Shining Armor was dancing with Cadance; Big Mac was dancing with Cheerilee; Fluttershy was dancing with Easter, and also made plans to see each other again; Rainbow Dash was dancing in the air with Soarin; almost all the ponies were dancing in the air and on the floor. Discord was still conducting the band. 
"Up for another round?" Luna asked. 
Sombra smiled, "Let's!"

(Song: Shadow and the Moon) Parody of Disney's Beauty and the Beast song: Tale as old as time