“…So basically, my lightsabers are the source of my abilities. They allow me to use the special powers of The Force, flight, alchemy, enhanced mechanical understanding, and I can breathe no matter where I am (including underwater and outer space). But I only have these powers while I actually have the swords on me. I don’t need to have both with me, but it cuts the abilities strength where they only work at half their usual strength. And now Sombra has one of them and no doubt begin to discover what they do.”

DJ was just finishing up explaining his lightsabers to his friends and family, most of which went wide eyed as he summed up all of his amazing abilities. Twilight and Nyx were the only ones present who actually knew about his powers. Now, though, they understood the tragedy that had happened. Sombra had acquired even more power than ever.

“DJ, please tell me you have a plan? You know more about these abilities than any of us, so you must know how to counter them,” pleaded Cadence.

“Yeah, I know how to fight them and like I said earlier, I do have a special weapon for this. You are not gonna like it though,” he said lowering his muzzle.

“Why do you say that?” asked Twilight, who was growing suspicious.

“Well…I have been working on a special potion for several months now and I perfected it and the antidote a while back. The reason I’m worried is because you won’t like what it does. Discords?” Uno poked his head out of DJ’s coat pocket. Even though all of Ponyville, and the majority of Equestria, knew he was an alicorn, DJ just didn’t feel right not wearing some kind of clothing. And he really loved the coat Rarity made, though she added a front pocket so the Discords could still have a home on his person. What happened to them when he died? DJ had no idea and neither did they. They just popped back into existence not long after DJ returned and he had learned not to question that kind of stuff a long time ago.

“Are you sure, Boss? We don’t like that you made this stuff,” said Uno, pulling out a tube of liquid from the pocket.

“I know, but it’s the only way we’re gonna stand a chance. Thank you,” he said taking the tube in his magic. Inside was a strange grey liquid. He swirled it around, making sure it was properly mixed.

“What is that stuff? It looks like it would taste awful,” said Pinkie Pie.

“This is my secret weapon. One I had hoped I would never pull out, but glad I made for emergencies. *Sigh* Girls, Shining, Spike. This is a liquid discord spell,” DJ said blank face.

There were gasps and shock all around, Rarity even went back to her fainting couch. “WHAT?!?!” they screamed at him.

DJ took a moment to respond, hoping his ear drums would repair themselves. “Yeah, I made this just in case we were really screwed over. I am still not a true fighter, and that is what we need right now. Malice is our hope; he has everything I do. The powers, the skills, the instincts. For him, it’s all second nature. He is a war machine; I am not. And yes, by the way, he is laughing like a school filly inside my head right now.”

Fuck you! I’m excited! Is that a crime?

“Not responding to that,” DJ mumbled. “Anyway, I know you won’t like it, but Malice is on our side. Whether you believe that or not, it’s the truth. He may be a big plothead, but he is willing to protect us. Trust me, we need him.” Twilight walked up to him and nuzzled his neck, tears falling from her eyes.

“Don’t’ do that, Twi,” DJ pleaded. “You shouldn’t worry, it won’t be permanent. The Discords have an antidote prepared. And they are more than willing to force it down Malice’s throat if he resists. Once the battle is over, I get my body back and we can all go home. I promise.” He turned back to everypony else, all them worried over what DJ was suggesting.

“Honest! That’s why I went to the battle; to make sure Malice wasn’t actually killing real ponies. With only half my strength, Malice is our ace in the hole.”

Shining was the first to speak up. “If you’re sure about this DJ, we’ll support you. But, all of us will be out there, too, next time. Will he protect us, or attack us?”

Tell the stupid prince to stop worrying. I have no interest in harming any of your friends. They haven’t provoked me. That Sombra, though, took our sword. He’s gonna pay for that!

“Malice says he’s only interested in Sombra. Don’t get in his way and we’ll be good,” DJ reported.

“Okay, then. If my brother says everything’s gonna be fine, then I believe him,” said Applejack. “Now we just need a plan of attack.”

I got one! You let me out and I kill everything that’s attacking us! Simple as that!

“We need more of a plan than that, Malice. No matter how strong you are, you can’t be everywhere at once. We need a plan that keeps everypony else safe. But we need to work fast,” said DJ looking out the window. “Sombra is coming.”

Far outside the kingdom, the ponies could see the giant smoke cloud growing. “One thing escapes me, though,” said Twilight. “How did Sombra break the barrier that protects the Crystal Empire? Love is the most powerful force on Equis; what did he do to break through?”

They all thought on that as they approached the castle’s armory. DJ spoke up, remembering his old home. “There is one thing that can overpower love,” he said. They turned their heads towards him as they kept walking. “The one thing that Sombra would have plenty of; hatred. Pure hatred is the one thing that can overpower even the greatest loves. They are exact opposites and cancel each other out.”

They all tried to process what he had just told them. Cadence knew he spoke the truth, but that didn’t she had to like it. “Also, I don’t know why Celestia sent you all here, but I would feel much better if you girls were not on the battlefield. I don’t want to see any of you getting hurt,” said DJ.

“Ya can’t get rid of us that easily, brother,” said Applejack with a defiant look. “We may not have the Elements of Harmony any more, but that don’t mean we’re helpless. Rainbow and I especially can hold our own.” She trotted up to him and put a hoof on his chest. “I know you’re worried, but we can handle ourselves.”

DJ sighed in defeat, but still smiled. “Alright, but not all of you are going. Fluttershy, Nyx, Spike, and Cadence are staying here. I know Fluttershy means well, but she is no fighter and I am not going to put her that position; I doubt her stare will work on creatures without souls or a conscious.”

“I want to help!” said Spike.

“I know you do, little brother. But, I need you here,” explained DJ. “You’re don’t have the kind of power we need, yet. So I need you to stay here and protect your niece and sister-in-law. Ok? They need the extra security and who better than a dragon who is also family? It’s your job to protect them, got it?”

Spike thought on it for a moment. “I really want to do more, but I see your point, DJ. I’ll do it! Nopony is gonna lay a hoof on them!”

“That’s the spirit! Nyx, I will be back, so don’t worry. We’ll all come back and then we are gonna have the best Hearth’s Warming yet. Sound good?”

Nyx smiled at her father and nodded. “I know you’ll come back Dad. You promised to never leave again, so I trust you.”

DJ returned the smile. “Darn right, I promised! We gotta go, stay safe. Come one, we got only a little time left to prepare.” DJ, Shining Armor, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie headed off to the armory to get equipped for battle. Cadence, Fluttershy, Nyx, and Spike watched them go, silently wishing them the best of luck.

**********

An hour later, the group of ragtag soldiers were on the frontlines, awaiting the inevitable. DJ forwent armor, choosing to stay in his normal clothing. The omnitrix would destroy anything else he was wearing when he transformed, anyways. DJ and Shining stood side by side, with the Crystal army behind them. Shining spoke to DJ. “Ready for your first real battle, brother?”

DJ looked at him with an emotionless glance and returned his gaze to the approaching army. Then he smiled an evil smile. “Yeah, I am. This never would have happened on Earth; I always considered myself a coward. But I can’t be that guy anymore. I have a family and a home to protect, and I will protect them. Just a warning though, Malice’s first priority is to get back our other lightsaber. He’ll take out any enemy infantry as he does, but that is our target. The sooner we get it back, the better.”

Shining nodded in understanding. Malice would be completely out of his control and he needed to understand that or he had not doubt that demon would turn on them all. “Here they come,” he said. The army of darkness drew ever near and would soon be upon them.

“Then,” began DJ, “it’s time. Human up.” He glowed green and he was form locked into a human once again. “Omnitrix, power levels?”

“91%, sir. Estimated time before power down: three hours. Anything else you require, sir?”

“Yeah, how’s that ‘other’ function coming along?”

“Your requested project is still in creation. An estimated completion would be within several months. Apologies, sir, but it is difficult to recreate said ability.”

“Don’t apologize. I knew it would take some time. I won’t need it anyway.” DJ took in a large breath and let it out. “Ready, Malice?”

I was brought into existence ready! Let’s roll some heads, punk. Let them feel true malice!

“Uno, the potion.” The potion was thrown out of his back pocket, over his back and he caught it as it fell in front of him. He uncorked it. “Over the lips and through the gums, look out stomach, you’re not gonna like this,” he said with a worried smirk and he downed the liquid like a shot of hard cider. The effects were immediate. DJ’s color drained away within seconds, for the first time without pain, and his face turned into a sneer.

Back in the real world, said Malice. He stretched his muscles and cracked his back and neck. This fight ends today! He turned to the ponies around him. Listen up! All of you stay out of my way or you are going to die! I am not holding back on these pricks! And neither should you, he pointed a finger at them all. These bastard are trying to destroy your home, led by an evil son of a bitch that enslaved you all! Those things are not living creatures; destroy them all! Don’t let Sombra win! This time, we send that ‘king’ to the depths of Tartarus! Who’s with me!?

The ponies were initially shocked by the new creature, but his words rung true in their minds. The Crystal Ponies were angry and they yelled when he asked that question. They roared their answer. “YEAHHHH!!!!!!” They cheered towards the demon.

The others were shocked and Malice noted. He gave them a wild grin. Hey, if humans know one thing, it’s the art of battle. And a good pre-battle speech is always great way to get the army in the mood to spill some blood. I may be a demon to you, but I am just cynical compared to the ass holes back on Earth. He turned toward the enemy, he spotted Sombra riding a black war chariot far in the back of his army. Malice sneered. There’s the bastard. Shining Armor, lead these stallions to victory. I got a weapon to retrieve.

“Right,” said Shining Armor. “Crystal warriors…ATTACK!!!!!” The charged forward, meeting the darkness head on. As Malice charged, he grabbed the other lightsaber and lit it at full power. No holding back, DJ said in his mind. That’s right, kid. Now let’s spill some blood! The soldiers of darkness never even knew what hit them. The human rushed right through them, literally. Each swing ended another’s life and he just kept running. His swings and slashes had a feral grace to them. Each strike was aimed at strategic point on the body, every last one fatal in an instant. Behind him, the crystal army was fighting harder than it ever had. Malice’s speech invigorated them and they would protect their home and loved ones. The demon had given the army the inspiration they needed to win.

Malice spotted Sombra heading right for him. He grinned like a mad man and increased his speed, planning on taking the chariot head on. As he was about to collide with it, a blast of energy sent him flying back and the chariot came to a screeching halt in front of him. Malice groaned as he stood back up. The hell?

“What an interesting weapon you left me, creature. These new powers are a great addition. I really must thank you,” Sombra said in a mocking voice that increased Malice’s fury.

Oh, shut up! That weapon is mine and I will take it back! I am not the same being you fought before. Today, you die Sombra! The chaotic being rushed forward, hoping to cleave the unicorn in half. Only for his sword to hit light. Sombra lit the other lightsaber in time to meet him. Malice could feel it, the unicorn had found the power limiter and charge the sword to full power. The king was learning the lightsaber faster than expected. Which explained the blast; Sombra now had the Force! Malice’s blue lightsaber clashed against the green of Sombra’s, bright light flashing as the swords met time after time.

Sombra was surprised at this creature’s skill. Unlike before, each strike was precise and only Sombra’s own skills kept him alive and fully limbed. “You are better than creature. I am impressed. But you will still fall to my might!” His horn charged and fired at Malice. The human retreated for a moment and struck away the magic. Now that they knew the lightsabers could fight magic, those blasts were no threat to Malice. But then the unexpected happened, Malice was struck by blue lightning and sent flying. When he stood, Malice was staring wide eyed at Sombra who was sneering. Lighting had been fired from his horn. Force lighting!

Damn! You figured that one out; not good. Compared to his other abilities, the human’s greatest had to be the Force lightning. The other powers were great and all, but that lighting was the fiercest and the most likely to kill out of all of them.

“Do you like it? I bet you wish you had this back now, don’t you? Now it is time to die, creature!” His curved horn began to crackle as lightning encircled around it and he let the power forth, flying right for Malice.

Two can play this game! He planted his feet hard into the ground and let the power flow into his hands which also crackled with blue electricity. As the opposing force approached, Malice let out a war cry and let the lightning fly. The powerful bolts collided between them and began to strike out around them. Neither would let up and the meshing bolts began to grow in intensity. An orb of pure energy began to form where the bolts collided and was growing to be bigger than the human. All of a sudden, the power went critical and the orb collapsed and imploded. The blast was immensely powerful and spread out everything in the area; everything was sent flying.

As Malice regained consciousness, he took in his surroundings. There was tons of dust and ash in the air. In front of him was a fair sized crater where the implosion occurred. He turned around in a circle to see that both armies had been blown away by the blast. May not have been big, but definitely powerful, DJ commented. Malice had to agree, but he couldn’t see Sombra anywhere.

“CREATURE!!” Malice turned around to see Sombra holding a pony hostage with a lightsaber across her neck. NO!! DJ shouted in his mind. Sombra had Twilight! She wanted to struggle they could see, but new that that would end her immediately. “Stand down or I will end this one’s life! Your choice!”

Malice began to stride towards them. Malice!! NO!! If you don’t do as he says, he’ll kill my Twilight!

Not my problem kid. That prick's gonna die. I’m sorry, but love doesn’t belong on the battlefield. Then he stopped. Malice’s legs and arms were fighting him! No, DJ! Don’t do this; he needs to die!

Not at the cost of my beloved. Stand down Malice. Drink the antidote! Or I will force you!

Malice didn’t even get a chance to respond. His left arm retreated to his back pocket and pulled out a vial filled with rainbow liquid a second later. Malice groaned and strained as the tube was lifted to his mouth, but it was a fruitless fight. DJ’s metal control was much stronger and he forced the liquid down Malice’s throat. Seconds later, Malice and DJ had switched back to their original positions. I’ll make you pay for that one day, kid, Malice said inside his head.

“Alright Sombra,” DJ said as he powered down his lightsaber and clipped it to his belt. “I did as you asked, now let her go free!”

“As you wish, creature.” Sombra threw Twilight away with his magic and fired a bolt at her like he was shooting a flying disk. She screamed in agony and fell to the ground, her body still smoking. Sombra sneered as he turned back to the human, but was short lived. DJ was immediately in front of him, anger at its peak. With a fierce upper cut, Sombra was sent sprawling away. DJ slowly walked towards Sombra. He used the Force and reclaimed the other dropped lightsaber and clipped it to his belt. His hands then began to glow with lightning as he built of the power.

“Now I will kill you, Sombra! All this pain and suffering ends now!” DJ was half way to him, when Sombra stood back up. He growled at the human, then glanced behind the approaching creature. The king sneered and summoned a crystal from underneath him and he rose above them.

“No, creature! Now, we see how fast you are! The princess of magic will be no more!” His horn was lit with dark magic and he fired the black bolt of power, right at Twilight. DJ let the power drop as his brain registered what was happening. He rushed back to Twilight, just before the bolt struck. DJ held her in his arms and the black magic hit him, right on the shoulder. With a sudden burst and a lurch, the two lovers were gone. Only a black, smoking smudge on the ground remained. “I win!” Sombra let out a malicious laugh of victory as the other ponies regained consciousness. They had all awakened to see Twilight Sparkle and DJ be blasted into nothingness.

Applejack was the only one who could speak. “No,” she whispered. “Not again; not Twilight, too.” Their soldiers grabbed them and retreated back to the empire. None of them knowing what they could do now.

**********

DJ awoke to a drop of water falling on his face. His eyes fluttered open and then memories came flooding back to him. He sat up with a start, then another drop fell on him. DJ looked up to see dark storm clouds. Another drop of rain fell to his face as the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed. He started to look around him. He was in a field of some kind, there was green grass and trees all around him. It was hard to tell where he was, though, as it was clearly night and the storm made it impossible to see right. Then he was drenched as the storm picked up in intensity. DJ was not amused.

He brushed his hair out of his face with his hand. Wait? Hand?! DJ looked down to see that he was still human, but another look at his left shoulder made him worry. The guard with the omnitrix was gone. Instead, the watch was on his left arm and was red, indicating it was out of power. He began to get really worried. With the rain, now he really couldn’t see a thing. Then the last memory hit him like a brick. “TWILIGHT!” He stood up and began searching around frantically. Then he noticed a structure nearby when the lightning flashed. He rushed towards it and found that it was a park play set. Slides, swings, the like. On the small, wide slide, however, was a young girl. DJ didn’t know what she was doing out here, until he looked at her hand and his eyes grew wide.

On the girls right hand, was a gold ring with a star sapphire charm. That was Twilight’s wedding ring! DJ then looked at the Caucasian female a little closer, and noticed that her hair was a deep violet with a line of pink hair goin down one side. He carefully lifted one her eyelids and when the lightning flashed that it was indeed those beautiful, loving eyes that he had fallen for over a year ago. Twilight had been turned into a human!

DJ began to freak. His wife was human, he was human, what was going on! When the lightning flashed again, he saw a sign not too far from them. He rushed over to it. Once there, he unclipped a lightsaber and lit it, the rain turning to steam as it fell on the pulsing blade. He nearly dropped it when he read the sign. The top part was covered in ages old graffiti, but the bottom was still easily read. And he didn’t like what it said: Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

“No,” DJ whispered. He looked around him, past the park and found that they were in the middle of a suburb, surrounded by houses and streetlights, and cars. It all came to DJ in an instant. He was back on Earth. DJ was home!