Rise of the Angel of Death

Meanwhile, in Equestria, Discord waited for the six friends of Twilight along with Celestia, Trixie, and Luna to finish talking, or yelling would probably describe it better. "You say you can open portals to dimensions yet you can't just retrieve them? How is that possible?" Celestia finished and asked. Discord created two balls.

"Ok, say that these two balls are the two dimensions in the universe one ours the other is where they are." The two balls glow differently. "Now one is more rich in magic than the other, while I can bypass this, the effect will cause these two to unbalance and sever their connection which will cause me to weaken greatly and may just destroy both worlds and me in the process in the worst case scenario, best case the two could fuse which is also a terrible idea." The two balls moved away. "Now they are too far away for them to transfer matter and energy so until they get closer they are stuck there with their magics weakened by the dimension’s low, almost non-existent magic."

"Well how long until the two worlds are close enough to retrieve them?" Trixie asked, concerned for Mal and the others.

"I'd say it'll be a few days, a week at the most. I wouldn't worry about Mal and his group though." Discord said, knowing what was on Trixie's mind. "While Mal's powers now technically fall into our world's vision of harmony, they come from an outside source. If I had to guess I'd say that he still has all his magic. Unless there's something as strong as I am in the mirror world then there's nothing he can't handle."

"Is he really that strong?" Celestia asked. "Demise was able to stop him."

“Like I said before, if Mal lost his self control there's no telling how much of Equestria would be left. Of course, Sunset and the rest of his lovers keep his control in check."

"So we have nothing to fear?" Luna asked. Discord gave a bit of a laugh.

"Well I guess so, but I kinda wouldn't say no to that, after all the universe is a big place, I did take Spike around the galaxy you know." He unsummoned them both. "Besides, Mal’s powers seem to also be a part of chaos. As I once said the two are interdependent but are by no means the only two forces." He popped out of existence only to pop right back in. "Crap I forgot I had a book I was going to publish that talked about things like this. Here, give this to Sparkle it’s my first copy." His book appeared. Higher Magics and Secrets by Discord Disarray." with that he was gone.

Back in the Human Equestria world, Mal was sitting on a park bench. 'I wish I could just help the Dazzlings right now. But, that's not something my magic can do. At least not right now it can't.' Mal let out a sigh. ‘Come on man… angel… angel-man, now is not the time to get negative. I just wished my plan didn’t hinge on someone else. I should just clear my head, no sense in worrying too much, that won’t help at all.’

Mal put his hands into position on his guitar, and started strumming something that sounded like it belonged in a hard rock song. Mal's head and body started to sway with his music, and his foot tapped out the beat. But before he could totally lose himself to his music he was interrupted by a voice.

"So you're going to be facing us in the battle of the bands?" Adagio called out to him.

"Heh, no, I just saw this little beauty and I couldn't resist getting it." Mal answered with a grin as he held up the sickle guitar. "While my talents seem to lie in fighting and war, I have always loved music." He finished.

"Do you really expect us to believe that?" Aria asked getting in his face.

"What do you mean?" Mal asked. The two girls gave him a bit of a glare.

"You know well enough, you have Star Swirl’s soul and the only time you couldn't win a fight was against a being who had all the Alicorn magic of Equestria." Aria reminded him.

"So, what’s that got to do with it?" He asked.

"You know exactly what it has to do with it." Aria growled. "You know that we're not nearly as strong as all that, and you know we're trying to cause as much conflict as we can to control everyone in this little school. You could stop us any time you want, but you're not." She pressed on. "Do you like watching us squirm, do you just want us to constantly watch over our shoulders and wonder when you're gonna do to us what you did to Star Swirl? You might act like some little fool and nice guy, like when you took Sonata on a date, but you're a heartless bastard. So if you wanna take us out just do it already."

Mal sighed and got up from the bench. "You're right I could easily kill the three of you." He simply said. "You've been malnourished for centuries and even now you're nowhere near your best. If I wanted to I could just remove your souls and be done with all this." Mal stated, placing the blade on his guitar on Aria's chest and kept it there for a minute.

"But, I don't want to do that." He finally said, putting the guitar down. "Believe it or not, death is my least favorite way of getting things done. I've also used my powers to save Sunset and Trixie. I've even given Nightmare Moon, Queen Chrysalis, and Solar Flare new chances at life. I don't expect you to believe me, but I want to do the same with you girls." Mal said before walking up to Sonata and caressing her cheek. "I really did have a good time last night. I hope that wasn't the last time we do something like it." And with that Mal left.

Sonata blinked a few times. She was then happy. "See I told you he wanted to help us." Sonata said with a smile. The other two sighed.

"I still don't trust him." Adagio said. Sonata was saddened by this.

"Well maybe he can find a way to help us?" Sonata stated. Aria rolled her eyes.

"How is he going to do that?" She asked. Sonata thought for a moment.

"Oh, he has Star Swirl’s soul and maybe other smart guys’ souls as well, he could get them to help him." The two stared at her. That honestly was so far-fetched.

"Sonata stop getting your hopes up, this is what we have to do. It's how we'll survive." Adagio said, sounding crestfallen.

"But, it sounded like he had a plan."

"I still think he's talking out his ass." Aria stated.

"Aria has a point," Adagio agreed. "Even if Malthael does have a plan, there's no way it'll work. We just have to stick to our plan, and get this school under our control. Once Malthael's plan undoubtedly fails we can hopefully use the students and our restored power to make sure he doesn't kill us." Adagio finished. Sonata shook with anger.

"Why can't you just have a little faith!? Mal has done amazing things before! I know he can do something now!"

"Just stick to the plan Sonata." Adagio chided.

"I hate the plan!" Sonata screamed. "And right now, I hate the two of you!" She stormed off in the direction Mal went. Aria made a move to follow her but Adagio stopped her with a hand on the shoulder.

"Let her go. Sonata has always been the most naive of us. She'll calm down and be back on board with what we have to do. Actually, I kind of wish I had the faith she does." Adagio finished with a dry chuckle.

Mal himself turned to see Sonata, he had a feeling someone was following him. "Sonata what's wrong?" He asked her. The blue member of the sirens gave him a look of anger and sadness. "It's Aria and Adagio, they say you don't know a way to help us but I think you can." She said with eyes filled with hope. He decided something with a mental sigh. Sonata gasped as he gave her a kiss with a faint glow the siren felt a surge of what she usually fed on go through her. It caused her a bit of a shock.

"I’m hoping I can, if not... Well at least the souls I absorbed are in a constant vortex of strife so you could have more normal lives." Sonata looked at him with a blush.

"You know I kinda.....uhh what's the word?" She felt kinda happy down there when he kissed her. She shook her head getting rid of those thoughts. "Thank you Mal, but isn't it bad that you have those souls in strife?"

"Sort of, but most of these souls belonged to mostly wicked people. So they would've been punished in the afterlife anyway. I don't know exactly what goes on after death, but I think what I'm doing is tame compared to what they could be going through."

"Okay." Sonata said, not completely understanding his explanation. "But I don't want to feed on conflict anymore. And I believe in you Mal, if you did all the things you said then I think you can do anything." Sonata said, wrapping him in a hug.

"Thanks Sonata, I'll do whatever I can to help you and the other Dazzlings." Mal confidently stated, returning the hug. Sonata was the first one to pull away from the hug, but still had her arms around Mal. "Sonata can you do me a favor, I need you to not fight with the other two what I have planned, if it works, needs you three to not have this kinda strife within your own group, ok?" He asked with a smile.

"But, they want to take control of this whole school, and then they want to try and kill you once our powers are restored." Mal smiled and caressed her cheek again.

"I know, but I need you to trust me on this." Sonata paused for a while before clutching the hand on her cheek.

"I do trust you, Mal."

Mal's smile widened at her and he leaned in and gave her another kiss. He could tell that she had wanted to say something about it earlier. This time though, Mal flicked his tongue at Sonata's teeth, silently asking permission to enter. Sonata opened her mouth and their tongues glided against each other until they needed to stop for air. Mal stroked her cheek again the smile still present on his face.

"Now, go back to the other Dazzlings. Tell them whatever you have to about me."

"I wish I didn't have to, but if this is what you think I have to do." Sonata said.

"It is. I'll be watching your performances in the battle of the bands, and considering your singing is literally magical I'm sure you'll make it to the finale." Sonata giggled at this and finally let go of Mal.

"I need to head back now, but maybe we could go on another date tonight?"

"Sounds fun, but try to keep it secret from the others if you can. Sonata nodded and walked back to the park where she had left the other Dazzlings, looking dejected.

"So, have you had time to calm down?" Adagio asked, arms folded underneath her cleavage.

"Yes." She said, "You were right, he has no idea how to help us." Sonata said. With that the other two moved to comfort her.

"See we tried to warn you." Adagio Dazzle said. Sonata gave her a hug.

Mal was walking to find Sunset. "Ok then one two three," Rainbow Dash started. He saw the Rainbooms trying to get the hang of everything. One of them was failing with the guitar. As soon as they were done he pulled out his guitar. The Rainbooms heard a hard, rapid, guitar sound. They turned to see Mal with his sickle shaped guitar plugged into one of their unused amps.

"What are you doing?!" Sunset screamed. Mal stopped.

"Sorry, just thought I'd drop by." He said with a smile.

"Could you try not scaring us to death the next time you do it then?" Sunset asked. Mal just had a goofy smile on his face and Sunset facepalmed when she realized the pun she had just made. "You know I didn't mean it like that." Mal just walked up to her and kissed her forehead.

"I know, and that's why I thought it was funny." Sunset just shook her head at the angel's antics.

"So, what made you think of using music against the sirens?" Twilight asked.

"Haven't you ever heard of fighting fire with fire? If their song based magic is working then I figured if you made a counterspell in the form of a song, you might be able to use some magic."

"That makes sense." Twilight said, her hand on her chin in thought. "So, we saw the Dazzlings follow you again, how did that go?"

Mal put his guitar behind him. "Well not too bad, they wondered why I haven't ended them like I did their jailer Star Swirl." He finished.

At that Twilight Sparkle’s whole outlook and emotions changed. "What, Star Swirl, as In Star Swirl the Bearded?!" She asked. With a sigh Mal let a ball of glowing light appear in his hand.

"I hate you." The ball simply said, "I was once Equestria’s greatest mage. I had the powers of an alicorn yet was a unicorn! Then I fought you and...." Mal squeezed the soul.

"Just because a soul cannot be destroyed or erased doesn't mean I cannot rip you apart!" he warned the soul.

"Malthael, why do you have the soul of one of the most important historical figures of all time?!" Twilight boomed.

"Ow Sparky! I was using those ears." Mal complained.

"Just answer the question!" She seethed.

"Yeesh okay, just stop yelling at me." Twilight remained quiet but kept seething at Mal. "Apparently Star Swirl here put his spirit into a soul gem when he was close to dying. The Prench got their hands on it and got Star Swirl to fight me. He made the mistake of insulting and threatening Sunset and my girls and now his soul has to do whatever I say. Isn't that right, Star Swirl?" Mal asked the soul in his hand.

The soul took time to answer. "I hate you," Was all he said.

"Yeah I'm guessing every single soul he has hates him." Sunset replied as she rolled her eyes.

"No four souls Like him actually, this guy’s basically his own afterlife within himself. Those four however, seem to govern us." Star Swirl said. Twilight was now intrigued.

"Wait so he’s a walking afterlife, with its own rulers?" Twilight asked.

Star swirl paused. "Actually yes and no.... it’s better to call him an aspect of death rather than a living afterlife."

“That right there is one of the most confusin' things I've heard in mah life." Applejack said, scratching her head at the angel in front of her.

"I know, and I don't know if I'd be able to give a very good explanation of it all." Mal said. "Now say goodbye to Star Swirl everybody." Mal finished, winking the soul out of existence.

"Malthael, I know you and Star Swirl don't like each other but do you think I could talk with him some time?" Twilight asked sheepishly. "I've always been curious about a few of his theories." Mal wanted to say no to her but he just couldn't bring himself to do it, not with the look she was giving him.

Mal sighed and said, "I'll think about it, Sparky. But, right now you should focus on your counterspell." He pointed out. Twilight let out a nervous chuckle.

The next few days where spent with the Rainbooms practicing trying to get it just right. Mal’s and Sonata’s dates, as well as the Sirens practicing. Mal doing what he always did, and Moon and Chrysalis trying to keep Solar form hurting people. Finally it was the battle of the bands night. At the battle Malthael, Solar, Moon and Chrysalis came to watch the whole thing. "Mal," The Rainbooms walked up.

"What are you doing here?" Twilight asked. "Why do you have your guitar?" she finished.

"These clothes make me look like some kind of rocker anyway, so I might as well have the guitar to finish the look."

"That sounds reasonable to me darling." Rarity said with a nod.

"You really expect me to believe that you've gotten into accessorizing?"

"Oh come on Sparky, don't you trust me?" Mal asked with a cheesy grin.

"Sometimes, but right now, no." Twilight deadpanned.