Malakai walked along the dirt road just outside of Ponyville. The air was crisp and cool, and the leaves had begun to change those beautiful autumn colors indicating that fall was on its way. And this being one of his two favorite seasons of the year, he couldn’t wait. Especially when it was closer and closer he was going to be taking time off his job to spend with Fluttershy. As winter approached, he decided that would be this offseason, as that was his top favorite season of all of them.

As he was making his way down the road, he heard the sound of flapping wings above him. He looks up to see Rainbow Dash flying towards him with a slightly annoyed look on her face. Almost like she was disgusted to see him. Not that he didn’t really mind. While she didn’t like him, she knew that Malakai made Fluttershy happy and that was all that mattered to the tomboy pegasus

“Hey Malakai, I need to speak with you.”

She said in her usual rough and slightly raspy voice, landing in front of him with a slight that. She was wearing her usual outfit. Tight fitting workout shorts that stopped at mid-thigh and her black tight fitting tank-top, it really showed off her lithe and streamline body, showing that she was quite the athletic but still had some softness in the right places. Malakai nods as he is approached by her.

“What’s up Skittles? Just so you know, I didn’t wreck any of your plans for the weather today. I am not feeling like causing chaos today.”

The mare grumbles and crosses her arms in annoyance under her rather modest bust at the nickname he had given her ever since he met her. She sighs and maintains her temper.

“The girls and I have been summoned to the Crystal Empire, and we are leaving today. Fluttershy asked me to let you know since our train leaves within ten minutes, and I am the only one fast enough to get here to tell you. And Fluttershy says...she says…”

“Hm?”

“GAH! She says she will miss you! I swear! I don’t know what she sees in you!”

She turns away and lets out another sigh, but then looks back at him with a less annoyed look.

“But...she has been happier than ever since you two got together. So...if she is happy with you, then I am happy to. Just take good care of her.”

Malakai arched a brow with a tilt of his head. Dash actually said something meaningful to him? Was it opposite day and he forgot to check his calendar? He shook his head and smiled lightly.

“Not to worry. She is in good hands with me. I’d do anything to keep that sweet mare happy, promise.”

She nods as she lifts up into the air with a flap of her wings.

“Good. See you around.”

Was all she said before launching back into the sky to meet up with the others. Well, that ruined his plans for the day, He was hoping to see Fluttershy and spend the day with her. But, her and the others most likely got sent to...wherever they are going by Celestia. Maybe he will pop by and sneak a peek at what important mission they have been sent on just to check in. Mainly for Fluttershy though. In the meantime, he wasn’t sure what he should go do. Maybe go and bother Celestia some? Or even go hang out with Big Mac and have a bit of guy time? Or just go be lazy on his couch at him with a plate full of nachos resting on his chest as he watches late 90’s movies? Yeah, that last one sounded pretty sweet.

Malakai laid on his couch in nothing but boxer shorts, resting his head on his favorite pillow as he watches a film called “The Mask’. It was an old favorite of his. The star of the movie was extremely funny. Then he watched The Crow’, another childhood favorite. This passed about four to five hours of time. He gets up and leaves another movie running for background noise and makes his way to his bathroom. He gets into his shower and starts the hot water, the steam fogging up the whole room as he starts singing. Yes, he sings in the shower. After all that, he goes back to his couch with nothing but his towel wrapped around his waist. Suddenly there is a knock at his door, he gets back up and walks over to the door and opens it to find….

“Muffins? How in the…?”

The poor mail mare was confused beyond all reason. She had a look of fear on her face as she had been drifting through the void of black and purple for quite a while now. Though her face went from fear to shock as she saw the nearly naked human. A blush coming across her face and a hand coming over her mouth.

“I..I have a message for you…”

She said with a shy smile behind her hand as she held out the envelope with the other. She swayed her hips lightly in embarrassment, but definitely liked what she saw. Malakai reached up and took the letter and smiled lightly to the gray pegasus mare.

“Erm..here, let me help you out of here sweety…”

He said before opening up a portal that appeared between two buildings in Ponyville.

“Just..be more careful from now on, alright?”

She gave a rather shy nod and made her way through, waving to him still with a heavy blush on her face before leaving. He closes the portal and shakes his head lightly before closing his door.

“I swear..only she could find her way here like that.”

He said as he opened up the letter. When he read it, however, his eyes widened slowly as he saw only two words in handwriting he instantly knew.

‘Help us’

Malakai dropped the letter and got dressed as fast as he could.He snaps his fingers and appears on the outskirts of the Crystal kingdom...where things were looking rather dark and depressing. When Malakai envisioned the place, he was expecting shiny bright and happy ponies. This certainly wasn’t the case. Once he made it into the city, there were...strange looking guards in dark armor patrolling the streets and ponies barricaded in their homes. Something must have gone horribly wrong here with Twilight and her friends came here. And it was up to Malakai to help Fluttershy and her friends out of this situation.

”What is it you plan to do, handsome? Are you going to play hero instead of the villain today~?”

Asked Faust. Apparently, she was speaking with him using telepathy. He blinks a few times and responds in the same manner. Sneaking his way between buildings like an argonian assassin.

“Well, I can’t just let Shy and the others stay here. They sent me for help after all.”

”Aaa you do care for all of them. And here i thought you didn’t like them.”

He lets out a light chuckle as he continues to sneak about, making his way closer to the castle. The human was already good at sneaking around even before he became the lord of chaos. His sneaking skill is at one-hundred, baby.

”Who said I didn’t like them? I may act a little mean with them, but that’s my job. I actually like them all. Of course, i care about Fluttershy more than the rest, but other than that, they are really nice mares. Even if Skittles doesn’t like me, she is pretty cool too.”

--In The Castle Dungeons--

Twilight and the other girls laid on the floor in chains along with Cadence. All the ponies with horns had dark crystal rings around them so they could not perform magic to aid in their escape, and the chains and shackles were so strong that they couldn’t even hold down the strongest of the group, that being Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Shining Armor was kept away from the group in a couple cells down with some of his soldiers that had survived the brainwashing that been forced upon them but resisted against.

“Twilight...are you alright over there..?”

Asked a very exhausted Cadence. The royal outfit she was wearing torn to tatters and barely hiding her more form in the spots she wishes was fully covered. Each of the other girls having the same situation. They were all covered in bruises and scratches from the rough fight they were in. Things definitely did not go their way.

“Y-yeah...I just..I just can’t believe I failed to save the empire….I was so close to retrieving the heart, I did not think about the trap that Sombra had left behind even when he was banished...and it’s all my fail we are stuck in here now. I...I really let everypony down…”

She said in a saddened tone as tears began to well up in her eyes. Her friends wanted to console her so very much, but the chains kept each of them apart from one another.

“Oh Twah, don’t beat yourself up over this. We will find a way outta this… That letter made it through didn’t it…?”

Asked Applejack trying to lighten the situation, even for a little. Twilight nodded and looked over at her friend with tears still streaming down her face. Clearly, this was having a great effect on her. Not only did she fail her test, but she failed all of the empire. And she was taking it hard.

“Yes...but who knows when he will get it...or if he even cares to come…”

Fluttershy would normally be frightened in this situation, but hearing Twilight say that about Malakai made her feel a bit angry.

“He will be here...I know he will. Believe it or not girls, he does care about all of us. He may not be the nicest pony. But he would drop everything for all of us if we were in trouble. Not just for me.”

Rarity lets out a ‘pft’ noise and shakes her head. Clearly not believing what Fluttershy had to say about Malakai.

“I bet that ruffian just tossed the letter away and is doing whatever he wished. Let’s face it, the only reason he’d come here is that of Fluttershy. I bet he’d be as so rude as to leave us all behind…”

Fluttershy was really starting to feel heartbroken that two of her friends were talking about the only male who truly cared for her and like her for her. It was really making her heart get to the breaking point. That is until Rainbow Dash spoke up.

“He is a jerk...but he isn’t that heartless guys…”

They all gasped and looked over at the cyan mare. They couldn’t believe their ears.

“He cares for all of us, even though I don’t like him myself. You gotta respect someone like that. I know he’ll be here. And he wouldn’t leave any of us behind.”

Pinkie chimed in as well, reinforcing Dash’s comment with a slight smile despite their situation.

“Mhmm, when he isn’t causing trouble, he sometimes comes and helps me with the cake making when things get too busy. He just doesn’t want anyone to know that is all, hehe.”

“And you went and told them? Shame on you Pinks.”

They all gasped when they saw Malakai walk in front of the bars with a grin on his face, crossing his arms as he looked at the group. Fluttershy the happiest out of the bunch to see him of course. She tries to get up to run to him, but remembering her restraints, she falls back down. Malakai crosses his arms at the group mainly eyeing Rarity who seemed to not have any faith in him at all.

“You know, for being so rude, I could leave you here and let the dark king have his way with you while I take all the others to safety…but that would make Fluttershy sad. And I'd feel a bit guilty in letting him do unspeakable things to you. So I guess I can let you free.”

He said as he snapped his fingers, the bars turning into cheese and literally falling apart when he bends them. The chains and shackles having the same effect. Once they were all free, Fluttershy got up again and run to the human, wrapping her arms around him tightly and not letting go, lightly sobbing into his shoulder. She had a death grip on his jacket as she held him.

“I knew you’d come. I knew it in my heart….”

She said between light sobs. Malakai smiled lightly and ran his fingers through her mane lovingly, consoling his sweet mare. His gaze falls to Twilight and the others, then look over at Cadence who had gotten to her hooves.

“What happened here? I was expecting a place like the Crystal Kingdom to be a bit more….brighter and happier. But this place is more depressing than a bus stop in Rino. But that’s a story for another time.”

Twilight and Cadence had explained to him that things didn’t go quite their way when retrieving a relic called the ‘crystal heart’ and that King Sombra has returned and taken over the kingdom once more. Malakai listened intently as Fluttershy clung to him, happy to be in his arms once more. Once he was brought up to speed on the whole situation he nodded firmly

“I am going to go and release your husband who is in the next few cells down. When I do, I want you all to get out of here and get somewhere safe. With those growths on your horns, I believe you won’t be able to use your magic until Sombra has been taken down. I will retrieve the heart for you.”

Twilight walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

“Please let me come with you. I know the layout of this castle like the back of my hand. I may not be able to use my magic, but i can certainly guide you around every twist and turn.”

The group nodded in agreement with this idea, leaving Malakai no choice but to agree.

“Fine, but when I confront Sombra, I am taking him down my way…”

He said as he rubbed his hands together with a wicked grin. Another thing he had always wanted to do ever since his childhood was about to become a reality.

--The Throne Room--

Sombra sat upon the throne with a goblet full of red wine and a few female crystal ponies dancing for him, chained and barely clothed in nothing but silks. However, that fun time was ruined quickly when the twin doors were busted down with two dead soldiers whose heads rolled in beside them as a figure in a black and red cloak wear some rather odd futuristic armor and a mask walked in wielding some kind of glowing red dual-sided blade that seemed to have a light humming sound coming from it. When the figure twirled it around a bit, it gave off a more “warm’ sound.

“Well well, looks like I am late to the party. You got to the heart before I could> That certainly will not do.”

The figure said with a morphed voice, as the mask he wore gave it that very effect. Sombra already had a look of unpleasantness on his face when he saw his dead soldiers. He stands up from his throne, a low growl coming from his throat, thus giving the signal for the slave mares to run while his attention was elsewhere. He slowly steps down from his throne and draws his sword from its sheath that rested at his right hips, clad in metal armor and a long flowing red cape.

“I don’t know who you are stranger, but the ponies and the crystal heart all belong to me rightfully. I waited a thousand years to be free of my icy prison in the north, and I am not going to give up what is mine to some...outlandish pretender.”

Malakai chuckles lightly under his mask and eyes Sombra, idly twirling his dual blade again

“Well, your soldiers I have come into contact with certainly won’t help you. You see, they are all dead~. Lightsabers can cut through steel with no issue. So if you got any other weapons other than that flimsy blade you got there, this is going to be over quickly and I can take your throne. Of course, that would be too easy. Here.”

He said as he throws a cylindrical hilt toward Sombra who grabbed it and looked it over.

“Press the button and the blade comes out. I recommend not touching it though unless you want a hand removed.”

Sombra does so. And a beam about as pink as Pinkie’s fur comes out, this making Malakai laugh.

“I think it suits you very well mister dark king.”

“Sombra growled lowly at this and gritted his teeth in anger. Readying the blade in his fighting stance.

“I will sever your head and mount it on a pike for all my slaves to see, then let the crows eat the flesh until there is nothing left.”

“Big words for someone who is about to get his ass kicked and using a pink lightsaber~.”

They walked the room in a circle for a few moments, sizing on another up as Malakai twirled his dual blade once more to taunt Sombra. They then lunged at one another with the blades connecting over and over. Near hits and misses as the blades danced through the air in the grips. It was as if it was a real Star Wars fight from the movies. But this was two sites fighting for total control. All the while Twilight was sneaking around looking for the heart. Malakai was keeping Sombra to busy with the barrage of attacks from his blade Sombra was holding up against him quite well. He must have had sword training back when he was younger, but Malakai was still bearing down on him. Also, Malakai was quite agile since he wasn’t weighed down by heavy armor like Sombra was. He was backflipping and jumping over Sombra like it was nothing. At this point, Malakai was just toying with the unsuspecting dark king.

“You are outmatched here Sombra, give up and accept your death by my blade. This realm doesn’t belong to you.”

“Shut your mouth, pretender!”

He shouted in irritation. Beginning to swing blindly in rage now. Even so much as using his magic to wield the blade now. Malakai had a plan for that though, he knocks away the blade and unlocks the twin blade into literally dual wielding blades. He twirls them around and suddenly flings one of them using the force, the blade coming at Sombra like a buzzsaw. Sombra knocked the first one away but didn’t notice the second one right behind it. Severing his horn from his head. Malakai’s blades fly back into his grip as he then sheathed his blades at his side and casts lightning at Sombra, a wicked grin forming behind his mask as he mercilessly electrocutes the dark king, the metal armor not making it any less painful.

“You do not know the power of the dark side. You are just a petty king who rules with fear. And now...you will be nothing. I will kill you slowly…”

He said in a more dark and wicked tone which included a low sinister chuckle. Before he could strike the finishing blow, something inside of him clicked, a heartbeat was heard as he stopped. He felt like this was one of those critical moments Faust had warned him about. He steps away finally coming to his senses, realizing what he was about to do and got caught up in the role a bit too much it seemed. He backs away and shakes his head.

“No….nonono, Get a hold of yourself…."

He said repeatedly as he placed a hand to his head. With Sombra already passed out from the intense pain he had been given. Twilight returned with the heart in hand. She gasps sharply as she sees what has happened and quickly runs to Malakai’s side.

“Is he….?”

“No, but I almost did...I will bind him down and let the heart take care of him. I will not kill if i don’t have to. But I...it felt good to see him struggle under my power...had I not stopped…”

“You did the right thing by stopping, Malakai. I am glad you caught yourself before you did the unthinkable. Once the heart is activated, Sombra will be destroyed. Come, let’s get this taken care of.”

And with that, the restoration of the Crystal Empire began, and Sombra was defeated. And Malakai successfully avoided making a bad decision...for now. Will a similar choice come down the line sooner than he hopes? No one knows.

Author's Note

The last part for all the Star Wars fans out there :P

May the darkness grant you peace