History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS9E2TheBeginningOfTheEndPart2

* AndIMustScream: King Sombra's brainwashed victims seem to be fully aware that they're being mind controlled, as once they're free, they are all extremely happy instead of saying stuff like "what happened?"

'''Mane Six:''' [[TitleDrop Friendship ''is'' magic!]]

'''Mane Six:''' [[TitleDropFriendship ''is'' magic!]]

'''Mane Six:''' Friendship ''is'' magic!

** As they prepare to enter the throne room and Twilight exclaims on how much they need Discord for this, how lost they would be without him, etc., one can see Discord looking quite somber at the implications, foreshadowing that he is going to do something to give Twilight and company more confidence in themselves.

* AdultFear: Seeing the CMC under Sombra's mind control, Applejack and Rarity become fraught with distress. Pinkie's fear of the Cake twins being under his control hits home, too. Twilight also gets this to seeing Spike, her little brother figure, being hypnotized by Sombra too.

* AdultFear: Seeing the CMC under Sombra's mind control, Applejack and Rarity become fraught with distress. Pinkie's fear of the Cake twins being under his control hits home, too.

* BigNo: King Sombra at the end of his FamousLastWords as he gets killed a second time. [[DeaderThanDead This time for good.]]

* TookALevelInDumbass: In "The Crystal Empire" and his "The Cutie Re-Mark" BadFuture, Sombra was a PragmaticVillain who avoided pitfalls like CaughtMonologuing and SuicidalOverconfidence. Here, he's an unrestrained SmugSnake, reckless actions lead to him being KilledOffForReal.

* TookALevelInDumbass: In "The Crystal Empire" and his "The Cutie Re-Mark" BadFuture, Sombra was a PragmaticVillain who avoided pitfalls like CaughtMonologuing and SuicidalOverconfidence. Here, he's an unrestrained SmugSnake, who recklessly enables his own FinalDeath.

* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: When the Mane 6 see that all of their friends and family have been turned into King Sombra's mindless slaves, they try to reach out to them, with Twilight desperately telling a hypnotized Starlight and Spike that they are stronger than Sombra's powers. However, it is clear as day that Sombra's mind control ''is'' stronger.

* IKnowYoureQInThereSomewhereFight: When the Mane 6 see that all of their friends and family have been turned into King Sombra's mindless slaves, they try to reach out to them, with Twilight desperately telling a hypnotized Starlight and Spike that they are stronger than Sombra's powers. However, it is clear as day that Sombra's mind control ''is'' stronger.

* VillainBall: Sombra has the Mane Six dead to rights after destroying the Tree of Harmony along with the Elements by trapping them in a cage of crystals. But rather than either destroying them or brainwashing them right then and there, he decides to leave them be so he can take over Ponyville and then Canterlot, allowing them to escape, regain their resolve and finally put an end to him. At the time he justified it by stating it'd be pointless to use his fear spell on them, as what he is going to do will already be their worst fear. He also overlooks the fact that the Mane Six can just dig their way out of his cage. Furthermore, he doesn't think of running away when they are about to unleash the Magic of Friendship on him.

* VillainBall: Sombra has the Mane Six dead to rights after destroying the Tree of Harmony along with the Elements by trapping them in a cage of crystals. But rather than either destroying them or brainwashing them right then and there, he decides to leave them be so he can take over Ponyville and then Canterlot, allowing them to escape, regain their resolve and finally put an end to him. At the time he justified it by stating it'd be pointless to use his fear spell on them, as what he is going to do will already be their worst fear. He also overlooks the fact that the Mane Six can just dig their way out of his cage. Furthermore, he doesn't think of fleeing when they are about to unleash the Magic of Friendship on him.

* NearVillainVictory: At first it looks like Sombra is coming out victorious since he has all of Equestria under his control, but a seemingly-wounded Discord reminds the Mane Six they still represent each of the destroyed elements, and with that, they unleash the magic inside them to destroy Sombra. If Discord hadn't told them when he did, Sombra would've won. Subverted once it is revealed that Discord was faking being injured and could have beaten Sombra anytime he wanted to and probably would have had worse come to worse.

* VillainBall: Sombra has the Mane Six dead to rights after destroying the Tree of Harmony along with the Elements by trapping them in a cage of crystals. But rather than either destroying them or brainwashing them right then and there, he decides to leave them be so he can take over Ponyville and then Canterlot, allowing them to escape, regain their resolve and finally put an end to him. At the time he justified it by stating it'd be pointless to use his fear spell on them, as what he is going to do will already be their worst fear. He also overlooks the fact that the Mane Six can just dig their way out of his cage. Furthermore, he doesn't think of fleeing when the Mane Six are about to unleash the Magic of Friendship on him.

* VillainBall: Sombra has the Mane Six dead to rights after destroying the Tree of Harmony along with the Elements by trapping them in a cage of crystals. But rather than either destroying them or brainwashing them right then and there, he decides to leave them be so he can take over Ponyville and then Canterlot, allowing them to escape, regain their resolve and finally put an end to him. At the time he justified it by stating it'd be pointless to use his fear spell on them, as what he is going to do will already be their worst fear. He also overlooks the fact that the Mane Six can just dig their way out of his cage.

* TookALevelInDumbass: In "The Crystal Empire" and his "The Cutie Re-Mark" BadFuture, Sombra was a PragmaticVillain who avoided pitfalls like CaughtMonologuing and SuicidalOverconfidence. Here - he's an unrestrained SmugSnake, who recklessly enables his own FinalDeath.

* TookALevelInDumbass: In "The Crystal Empire" and his "The Cutie Re-Mark" BadFuture, Sombra was a NoNonsenseNemesis who avoided pitfalls like EvilGloating and SuicidalOverconfidence. Here, he's an unrestrained SmugSnake who recklessly enables his own downfall.

Back at Grogar's lair, Grogar tells Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow of Sombra's defeat, intimidating them into agreeing that they should work together to defeat Twilight, much to their dismay.

* AnAesop:
** Being a leader may be tough, but it's important to know when to ask for help, and also to admit your mistakes.
** Don't drop sudden, world-changing news at the very last minute on your friends, especially if they are like Twilight Sparkle.