"Are you sure you can handle this?" Twilight asked, as she and her friends left the library, leaving their pets inside.
"Of course," Spike replied from the doorway, "Wouldn't have agreed to it if I couldn't. Piece of cake." Pulling out a cookbook and chef's hat, he added, "Speaking of cake, I've got a little something I need to attend to."
"Yeah, like keeping an eye on a house full of critters," Twilight said in annoyance.
"Uh yeah, that was totally what I was talking about," Spike replied. Ushering her out the door, he said, "Relax. Go to your welcoming thing in the Crystal Empire. Spike's got it all under control."
"Are you sure you don't want me to have Black Knight stay behind to help?" Twilight asked.
"What kind of assistant would I be if I couldn't handle things for a single day?" Spike asked rhetorically. "Besides, Owlicious and the others haven't gotten to know him yet, so he'd probably just upset them."
"Well, if you're sure," Twilight replied, before heading off to the train station. As she approached, she found her friends listening to Rainbow Dash telling a story about missing the Equestria games as a filly.
Before she reached them, Sombra approached her, saying, "It seems you are ready to depart. Shall I accompany you, or would you have me remain here?"
Shaking her head, Twilight said, "I want to trust you, but building trust takes time. Plus, Spike seems pretty determined to take care of things here by himself. You'll be coming with us so that I can keep an eye on you, so don't you leave my sight, got it, mister?"
"But of course," The dark stallion answered with a bow. "I do so look forward to seeing my old home once more, and having such excellent company will only make the trip better."
"Flattery will get you nowhere," Twilight said shortly. As she headed towards the train, she continued, "Besides, this isn't a vacation. While I'm certainly glad to see Cadance and my brother again, giving the Games Inspector the best showing we can is what's most important."
"As you wish, my lady," Sombra replied smoothly, slipping easily into his role as 'Black Knight', as they approached Twilight's friends.
"There are my girls!" Cadance said happily, as Twilight and her friends entered the spa where she was getting prepared to greet the Games Inspector. Immediately, she and Twilight initiated their usual greeting, in the form of the silly chant they had come up with when they were younger. Noticing the cloaked figure behind them, she asked, "And who's this?"
Sombra, once more obscured by the cloak he had obtained on his first night after his body returned, bowed and replied, "No one of importance, your majesty. I am merely here to ensure that Twilight remains safe. Please do not let my presence interfere in any way."
"I assure you, Twilight is perfectly safe here," Cadance replied with a frown.
"One would have said the same about Equestria as a whole… before Nightmare Moon and Discord returned." Sombra replied evenly. "And I understand this Empire nearly fell to an ancient tyrant not too long ago."
Before things could escalate, Twilight spoke up. "That's enough, Black Knight!" Turning to her sister-in-law, she added, "Don't mind him, Cadance. Black Knight just takes his role as my knight very seriously."
"Your knight?" Cadance said in surprise. "It sounds like there's quite a story there. You'll have to tell me all about it when we have more time." Seeing Twilight's friends, especially Rarity, looking around the spa eagerly, Cadance added, "Feel free to try whatever you like. It's all complementary for you as the Welcoming Committee."
Cadance talked for a moment about the features available there, before explaining that she needed to get her ceremonial headdress on before the Games Inspector arrived. However, before anything more could happen, a messenger burst in.
"Princess!" The messenger cried out as she rushed over. Giving a quick bow, she hurried on to say, "If I may have a word, I have two pieces of news for you. First, your mane stylist has the flu, and won't be able to make it for fear of you catching it, as well."
"Oh, well… I hope she's better soon." Cadance thought for a moment before asking, "Do any of the other stylists here know how to do the traditional royal ceremonial headdress?"
After a few moments of muttering, it became clear that none of them did, but help came from an unexpected source. "If I might be so bold, perhaps I may be of assistance in that regard," Sombra said, as he stepped forward.
"Are you saying you know how to do the ancient Crystal Empire royal ceremonial headdress?" Cadance asked skeptically.
"As a matter of fact, yes." The stallion replied smoothly. "My last trip here nearly ended in disaster, and it prompted me to do as much research on the Empire as I could. One of the books I came across spoke of the unique hairstyle used by the royals for important meetings. I should be able to reproduce it with little effort."
"Well, in that case, it would seem to be fate that Twilight brought you along today," Cadance said with a smile. "I do have the instructions here if there's any part you're unsure about."
"The Games Inspector is not due for several hours unless I'm much mistaken, so while I have never had the opportunity to practice this, I should have plenty of time to get it perfect before she arrives," Sombra replied as he scanned the instructions to refresh his memory.
Smiling at him, Twilight commented telepathically, 'Wow, I never thought of the mighty King Sombra becoming a hair stylist.'
'Hardly.' Sombra replied, 'I simply stand by the adage "Knowledge is power, and power corrupts. So, study hard, and be evil."' Glancing at his student, he grinned at the glare that had earned him. 'In all seriousness, I have read every book in the Crystal Library at least once, and more than one spoke of this infamously complex headdress.'
Suddenly, the messenger interrupted. "About that, my other piece of news is that the Games Inspector, Mrs. Harshwhinny, will be arriving on the next train."
Shocked gasps echoed about the room. "WHAT!? You couldn't have told us that news first!?" Rainbow Dash shouted, the most vocal of the group, as usual. "That's fifteen minutes from now!"
As the others began to panic, Twilight took a deep breath and turned to Sombra. "How long until Cadance is ready?"
"Half an hour, minimum," Sombra replied, keeping calm as well. "The process is very precise, and attempting any shortcuts will only make it take longer." Suddenly, a grin split his face, as he continued, "That said, by myself it might take a bit longer, but if I had some assistance, say, from a pony more used to styling hair than myself…"
All eyes turned to Rarity, who perked up at his words. "I would be honored to assist with such an important task!" She said happily.
"Great, now we'd better get to the train station, pronto!" Rainbow Dash cried, before zipping out the door.
As the others followed the pegasus out, Twilight paused at the doorway, looking back towards Sombra. As if sensing her gaze, Sombra sent her a telepathic message. 'Go on, my dear student. Your friend and your sister-in-law will be here to keep an eye on me. They are sure to tell you if I were to try anything.'
'Sorry,' Twilight replied, turning to follow her other friends. 'I really am glad you offered to help out, Sombra. Thank you.'
That caused Sombra to pause for a moment. It was not the first time Twilight had thanked him for something, but before it had simply been for things he had been doing or saying to get in her good graces. 'To hear it said for something I did genuinely… that has not happened in a millennium.' Sombra thought with a chuckle. Turning to focus on the Princess' mane, his thoughts continued, 'I had thought that biding my time might try my patience, but it seems you will make this time much more enjoyable than anticipated, Twilight Sparkle.'
"I'm impressed. Most stallions would be too ashamed to be caught doing something like this." Cadance said as the cloaked stallion began the tedious process of weaving crystals into her hair.
"I can certainly understand why," Sombra replied with a smirk, his hooves sliding carefully through the Princess' hair as he worked. "Pride is a powerful thing, but many mistake it for reputation. So long as you remain proud of what you can do, the opinions of others are of little consequence."
"My, my, such confidence." Rarity said, using her magic to move the crystals into place for Sombra. "Twilight's certainly lucky to have caught the eye of such a magnificent stallion as yourself."
"You flatter me," Sombra replied smoothly. "Although that is nothing compared to her brother. I am merely a stallion more knowledgeable than most, marrying a princess is far more impressive. Although…" Sombra kept is tone even as he probed for information, "From what Twilight has told me, he almost let it all slip through his hooves at the last moment. Something about a shapeshifter, was it?"
"A Changeling and it was hardly his fault," Cadance said, coming to the defense of her husband. "Queen Chrysalis had everypony fooled."
"Except for Twilight, you mean." Sombra prompted while thinking, 'Queen Chrysalis, eh? And here I thought I was the only being with the power to back up a title greater than "Princess".'
"Well, there's a bit more to the story than that." Rarity said.
"Do tell, we have plenty of time while we work," Sombra said with a smile, glad that that had gone so smoothly.
"Well, it all started with a letter from Celestia…"
"The next host of the Equestria Games is… the Crystal Empire!"
Twilight breathed a sigh of relief at those words. After how the day had gone, she was glad that everything had worked out. 'Especially considering the "extra guest".' She thought, looking over to where Sombra and Rarity were talking. Raising an eyebrow at that, she trotted over, asking, "When did you two become such good friends?"
"We had some time to chat while working on Princess Cadance's mane," Sombra said.
"Yes, you never told me that Black Knight knew so much about fashion!" Rarity said excitedly. "His tastes when it comes to color schemes might be a bit darker than mine, but he has quite the eye for designs!"
"I… didn't realize he was interested in that kind of thing," Twilight said in surprise.
"My dear Twilight, there is no such thing as useless knowledge," Sombra replied. "While magic is capable of anything with the right application, appearance has its own power, when used appropriately in turn." Telepathically, he added, 'Take my initial return to the Empire for example. The mere sight of me threw the Crystal Ponies into a panic, and while that was mostly due to my past deeds, it was enhanced by the image I had crafted for myself.'
"Your dear Twilight?" Came the annoyed voice of another stallion. Looking up, the trio saw the royal couple approaching, a glare on Shining Armor's face, directed at the cloaked stallion beside his sister.
"Now, now, give him a chance, dear. He's been nothing but a gentlecolt since he got here." Cadance said.
"No, he is right to rebuke me," Sombra said, much to the other's surprise. "As her knight, I should address Lady Twilight more respectfully. It seems I had begun to get lax in the informal environment of Ponyville."
"Knight? You never told me anything about a knight, Twily!" Shining armor said, changing his tune after hearing that.
"You mean like you never told me about your wedding?" Twilight shot back playfully.
"Touché," Her brother conceded. To Sombra, he said, "Black Knight, was it? Sorry, you just looked a bit shady, all wrapped up in that cloak."
"'Shady', huh?" Sombra repeated in amusement, considering the nature of his favored spell, and drawing a stifled laugh from Twilight. "Well, appearances can be deceiving. One would hardly expect the heroic Prince of the Empire to have been born a pampered Canterlot pony."
"I was born in Canterlot, too, you know." Twilight pointed out.
"Yes, which makes your powers all the more impressive, my lady," Sombra replied smoothly.
"Well, so that we don't have to rely on first impressions, why don't you stay the night?" Cadance offered diplomatically. "We can all get to know each other better over dinner, and there are plenty of extra rooms in the palace."
"Well, we all left our pets with Spike for the afternoon. I'd hate to leave him with such a burden overnight." Rarity said. "Besides, I'm sure it would be better if it were just family… and knight, of course."
"It would seem that you truly are suited to represent the Element of Generosity, Lady Rarity," Sombra said.
Twilight frowned at that, unable to help but think, 'Why did he never say that about me? I mean, sure he said my magic is powerful, but…'
'If your pride needs to be fed by others, it is a fragile thing indeed.' Sombra said telepathically. 'You know full well what you are capable of. You need only acknowledge it to yourself.' Out loud, he said, "I, for one, shall remain by your side, of course, Lady Twilight."
"Well, if the rest of you are headed back, I'm sure Spike won't mind keeping an eye on just Owlicious for the night," Twilight said. "We'll be happy to stay."
In the darkness beneath the Crystal Palace, a shadowy figure stirred, a single eye opening, glowing with Dark Magic.
"Such powerful Dark Magic I feel. Has our King finally returned?" A whispery voice asked. "No, this power feels… different. Could another have risen to take our King's place? No! There is only one I would ever call King. I shall deal with this pretender personally!"