History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWIssue34To37

* DarkerAndEdgier: Easily the darkest story of of the main [=MLP=] comics (not counting the Fiendship is Magic mini-series) with the only thing really coming close is the ''Reflections'' arc but even then that had an air of silliness to it till the climax. Hardly anything about Sombra is played for laughs and the third part of the story is where it really starts veering into this.

%%* EvenEvilHasStandards: Chrysalis is NOT an example, see PragmaticVillainy.

* {{Flanderization}}: Sombra only used his TakenForGranite power ''once'' in his origin story, and never in his original episode. Here it's basically his go to power, even when making threats, as opposed to his fear powers and crystal generation in his original appearance. Not to mention he was originally shown to be able to cast RealityWarping curses (causing the Crystal Empire to vanish until his banishment expired, hiding the Crystal Heart behind {{Pocket Dimension}}s of stairs and traps, etc.).

* XanatosGambit: Chrysalis releasing Twilight then leaving: the Mane Six win? No more Umbrum, the Umbrum win? No more Twilight Sparkle.

** The VillainTeamUp angle is dropped instantly part way through Issue 36 and none of the characters besides Sombra and Radiant are never seen or heard from again.

* BackFromTheDead: Though alluded to by ''Fiendship'' #1, King Sombra who was for all purposes killed in the episode "The Crystal Empire" is back.

* NeverSayDie: Shockingly averted. When Sombre says he intends to bring Amore back, Hope states that he killed her, only for him to clarify that Amore can still be brought back.

A cloaked figure travels about Equestria, convincing the Flim Flam brothers, Iron Will, and Lightning Dust to join her for some nefarious activity at the upcoming Crystal Faire in hopes to get back to the Mane 6 for humiliating them.

Inside, the hooded figure, with the Crystal Heart, enters the dark chambers under the throne room. Inside Sombra's study, she reveals herself as Radiant Hope, the mare that had originally befriended Sombra before he turned evil, and was forced from the Crystal Empire before it was sealed away a thousand years ago. She finds Sombra's horn there, and the spirit of Sombra strong and resentful of her, but she states she is there for a purpose, having spent the centuries improving her healing magic. With a powerful burst, she is able to restore Sombra to his former pony self. Sombra questions why Hope had returned, and she explains that after the disappearance of the Crystal Empire, she could not forget about him, and on returning to look for clues, discovered the Umbrum. The Umbrum invited her into their realm, who claimed to be the pixies that only she could see as a filly. They insisted Sombra was their champion and helped to teach her how to free him.

Aware that Hope has the Crystal Heart, Sombra races to the surface; Cadance witnesses this and quickly sends a message for help. Shining Armor tries to stop Sombra alone but is easily deflected, and Sombra releases the other mischief makers, forcing the Mane 6 to battle them again. This time, the Mane 6 lack the upper hand, and aided by Sombra, they are quickly defeated and captured. Chrysalis thinks their victory is complete but Sombra knows help is on the way, and is not surprised when Princesses Celestia and Luna show up. They face Sombra and Chrysalis in battle, until Radiant Hope steps in and prevents them from hurting Sombra again. The pause gives Sombra the opportunity to unleash a powerful magic spell - the same one that turned Princess Amore into crystal. The Princesses are turned to stone much to Hope's horror.

Through Queen Chrysalis thinks they are free to take over the Crystal Empire, King Sombra reveals this was only one step of a plan to free the Umbrum. On hearing that name Queen Chrysalis panics, having encountered the Umbrum many centuries before, and tries to warn Sombra off this plan. Sombra refuses and returns to his study. Queen Chrysalis taunts the Mane 6 once again before abandoning the other antagonists, not wanting to be around when the Umbrum are freed. Meanwhile, the Mane 6 figure out how to help use the magic of friendship to free the spell blocking Twilight's magic from working, allowing them to get free.

Meanwhile, Hope realizes Sombra seems much more different than before, and Cadance, hiding in the castle, tries to comfort her. Hope insists the Umbrum are good and offers to take Cadance to their realm, where she had stayed for the last several centuries, their magic helping her to stay young. There, they meet the fairy-like creatures including Rabia, one that Hope had befriended, and they offer to take them to the Prison of Shadows. Rabia takes her to her cell to introduce them to her daughter, but too late they realize their fairy-like appearance is a front, as Cadance's magic reveals their true form, and the Umbrum quickly turn on the two. They reveal that they had created Sombra as a pony as to allow him to pass the barrier that prevents them from leaving, and that they are seeking to be free and take over Equestria. Cadance and Hope make their escape back to the real world and then back into Sombra's study. Hope tries to warn Sombra from releasing the Umbrum from what she has just learned when Twilight and the others arrive. Twilight tries to stop Sombra with a powerful burst of magic, but Hope jumps in the way and absorbs the shot, severely injuring her. Sombra, furious, reveals that he's already unlocked the means to free the Umbrum, and releases the seal that lets them into the castle.

The Umbrum quickly secure the Crystal Empire, though not before Twilight's friends escape. The Umbrum set to tie up loose ends, having Sombra turn Shining Armor to stone like he did to Celestia and Luna, and then prepare to do the same to Twilight and Cadance, effectively removing the Royal Family from the Umbrum's path of conquest, though Twilight suggests doing it outside, near the pedestal for the Crystal Heart, in public view of the Crystal Ponies. As they are prepared, Sombra speaks to Hope and realizes she's bitterly angry with him, having forgone her chance to be a princess, despite having him back, and tries to convince him to stop this.

They join the Umbrum outside, when the other Mane 6, gathering their various allies, launch an attack on the Umbrum. In the confusion, Hope suggests that instead of turning the remaining Princesses to stone, they shatter the Crystal Heart which she carries. The Umbrum agree, and give it to Sombra to destroy. When he looks at it, he doesn't see the same reflection as he had years ago, and realizes that he can change. Instead of destroying the Heart, he puts it back in place. The Heart's magic draws the Umbrum back to their realm and seals them away again, while also restoring Celestia and Luna to flesh and blood. As it happened before, the Heart always wears away at Sombra, but he comes to a happy realization and shares his last moments with Hope. Hope tries desperately to restore him, and suddenly her power is joined by the four Princesses. The five of them are able to rid the Umbrum magic from Sombra, leaving him as a normal pony. Princess Celestia forgives him for what he's done since he saw the light and saved Equestria. Together, he and Radiant Hope set off to collect all the pieces of Princess Amore that he scattered around Equestria a thousand years ago as to return her to normal too.

** When Chrysalis pulls a harsh YouFool on Hope for trusting the Umbrum -- Sombra looks dangerously close to ensuring that the Queen shares the same fate as Amore, Celestia, and Luna for screwing with Hope (indicating he still thinks of her as his MoralityPet).

* VoodooShark: WordOfGod explained Flim, Flam, Iron Will, and lightning Dust's SuddenSequelHeelSyndrome was their not knowing they would be working with Sombra, only sticking with him out of fear. Besides having the same issues of them knowing working with the similarly notorious Chrysalis and Changelings, it additionally [[InformedAttribute contradicts their portrayal in the comics]] with them falling in line and even smiling when assisting Sombra in fighting the heroes only gaining fear afterwards which leads them to presumably flee rather than sticking

* RealityEnsues: [[ManOfKryptonite Sombra]]'s reaction after Twilight overloads his PowerNullifier crystals on her, via ThePowerOfFriendship? Just slap another set on her.

* DidntThinkThisThrough: Hope admits she should have seen Chrysalis betraying her coming. While she did intend to deal with Chrysalis, it's also shown she had no idea how long it'd actually take to be able to free the Umbrum to do so (as she didn't even know how long it'd take Sombra to uncover the door to the Umbrum's prison). She also took no steps at all to prevent Sombra from causing havoc upon revival, even though even the MonsterSobStory the Umbrum fed her said he was 'corrupted', and in fact ''stole'' the one thing that could actually keep him in check. In fact, every bad thing that happens in the story is ultimately due to her not thinking through the consequences of her actions. Her TakingTheBullet for Sombra was also this: Sombra is ''much'' [[StupidSacrifice stronger and more durable than she is, and just shrugged off a similarly powered beam with no problems]], meaning all she accomplished was [[NiceJobBreakingItHero convincing Sombra to release the Umbrum]].
* DidYouActuallyBelieve: While not said by the Umbrum themselves, Chrysalis tells Hope this in regards to the Umbrum's MonsterSobStory.

* MonsterSobStory: The Umbrum told Radiant Hope one about them being wrongfully imprisoned. Chrysalis reveals it's a gigantic lie, as she actually ''witnessed'' what it was like when the Umbrum were free. Chrysalis is proven right when Cadance's magic reveals that the pixie look was all an act.

** When Sombra is turned into a normal unicorn in the finale, the alicorn princesses witnessing this look shocked and surprised... except Celestia, who is just smiling fondly. Undoubtedly because Sombra's new look resembles [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDWIssue17To20 her lost lover from mirror universe]].

* ContinuityNod: On a sign outside of Iron Will's office is a notice that a seminar from Well-To-Do (from Issues 27-28) has been cancelled.

** When Chrysalis pulls a harsh YouFool on Hope for trusting the Umbrum; Sombra looks dangerously close to ensuring that the Queen shares the same fate as Amore, Celestia, and Luna for screwing with Hope -- indicating he still thinks of her as his MoralityPet.