Starlight yet out a yawn as she woke up. "Well, things could've gone a lot worse for me." Starlight stretched, and headed into the castle's kitchen for breakfast. "So what's on the menu Spike?"
"Pancakes. An oldie but a goodie." Spike answered. He then frowned when he saw Starlight's uneasy expression. "Would you quit looking like we're gonna throw you into Tartarus in an instant? Geez!"
Starlight laughed nervously. "I almost completely rewrote the timeline. You all being forgiving so quickly is a bit hard to believe."
"You're still without magic, and you're confined to the castle unless I'm accompanying you. I'd say you're being dealt with in a mostly sensible fashion." Twilight answered as she grabbed a couple pancakes. "Besides. You've acknowledged the fault of your actions. More than I can say for Discord. Or Tirek. But I wouldn't worry about the latter."
Starlight blinked. "Did he get sent back to Tartarus?"
"Let's just say...he's taken up permanent residence there. Courtesy of Burst Stream." Twilight answered. "Oh! Speaking of Burst and the guys, we'd better get going soon Spike! They plan on getting some more training in." Twilight then turned her gaze to Starlight. "I think you'd better come along too. I think the best way to see how differences can work well together is to see us in action. Come on!" Twilight and Spike led Starlight to a clearing where the rest of the Main 6 and the Elements of Heroism had gathered.
Burst smiled. "Glad all of you could make it. Today's training's gonna be different from the usual pairing up. Today we're fighting in teams."
"C'mon Burst! We know you and the guys are all about training, but why're you dragging us into this?" Rainbow Dash whined. "Most of us have become Avatars, and are crazy levels of badassness! We're the best!"
Burst sighed. "Rainbow Dash. Don't you WANT to stay at the top of your game? Yeah. A good number of us are Avatars now. But that's no excuse to not practice and maintain our skills." Burst then smirked. "Besides, don't you wanna try wiping the floor with Steel?"
"Hey!" Steel snapped. "Not cool Burst! You know she can do it too!"
Burst chuckled. "Then you better not hold anything back. Alright then! There's gonna be two groups of six, and one group of seven. Each group splits into a team. I think you can all figure out where I'm going with this, so I won't keep you!" As the groups split up, Starlight paid close attention to their actions. Each of them had a different way of fighting. Whether it was favoring the air, ground, magic, melee weapons, or ranged weapons. However, she noted that each of the group's different styles seemed to encourage a united stand. Each style covered one are that another was weak in. And through these differences, those who were sparring were a team. However, Starlight noticed something odd heading in their direction. A rude interruption in the form of odd objects hovering over them.
They were mechanical by the looks of things, and had an odd black and white coloring. A strange, sickly green orb at their fronts. These were the Malefic Scout Drones. Burst was about to raise his blaster when a beam of green light shot out from the orb of one of the scout drones enveloped his blaster! The beam soon faded, and the drones then spread out! However, Starlight noticed something odd. The scout drones paid no attention to the Main 6's Harmony Keepers and focusing on the Duelist Arms. In specific, the ones that were based on dragons. Starlight was then shocked as one of the scouts scanned her before rejoining the other scout drones! And before both sets of elements could fight back, the scout drones left as soon as they were done scanning! "Soooo, is this a normal sort of weird for today?" Starlight asked.
"Considering those things just screamed ominous? I wouldn't say so." Shadow answered. "But there's no sense in getting worked up about it now. Whatever badguy's going to rise next, we're gonna need to wait for them to make their move."
Burst nodded. "True enough Shadow. Training's over for the day." And with that, both sets of elements went about their days. However, Shadow walked up to Starlight.
"Yeah, our lives aren't exactly what you'd consider normal." Shadow said with a chuckle. "Especially since we all came together as teams of heroes." Shadow noticed that Starlight still looked pretty down. "Hey. You still going through the brooding pity cycle?"
Starlight snapped her head in Shadow's direction! "Wh-what?! Pfft! Nah! I'm good!"
"No. You're not." Shadow said as he shook his head. "You still feel pretty guilty about your actions, right? Forgive me for saying this, but I'd say it's guilt that's pretty well-placed. But you're already serving a punishment. I'd say having your magic inhibited is a more than suitable sentence."
Starlight sighed, and gave Shadow a defeated smile. "Fine. You got me. But how did you know that I was going through what you just said?"
"Starlight, have I got a story for you." Shadow said with a smile. "But it might take a little while. Care to listen to it over a soda?"
Starlight nodded. "Sure. Lead the way." Shadow and Starlight headed off to Sugar Cube Corner, and Shadow retold the events of Ice's character arc. From his running away from home, to his joining with the Nightmare Forces, his awakening as the Element of Courage, and Ice's ascension into an Avatar.
"And I guess that's my brother's character arc." Shadow concluded. "But I guess his romance could've used a little more development. But I guess you could make that argument for a few of my other friends' current relationships."
Starlight giggled. "True. You know? That gives me an idea. Why not have the two of us be a couple?"
"...Wat." Shadow said completely dumbfounded.
Starlight smiled. "Think about it. We've had some pretty decent development, and we got a good base for our relationship. Especially from what Moon told me about you." She then placed her hand over Shadow's. "Shadow...did you really regret me running away that much? Did I really shake your core that badly?"
"...Yeah. You did." Shadow said with a sigh. "I'm part of a team that's known for pulling off feats of heroism that most would consider impossible. Together? We've faced threats and saved countless people. And me on my own? I couldn't save someone who needed help badly."
Starlight's face saddened. "Maybe you should have run after me. But you can't fault yourself for me being too blind to see that I was wrong. Or how I had hurt people. So both of us have made some wrong calls." Starlight slowly smiled. "But maybe...we can help each other make some right ones. Together."
"Y'know? I'd like that Star." Shadow said with a smile.
Starlight blinked. "Star?"
"My nickname for you." Shadow said with a chuckle. "So. Where to next?"
Starlight blushed and smiled nervously. "Do you...like kites?"
"I can do you one better." Shadow said with a smile. "Just hold on to me tightly." Shadow lead Starlight outside, and Starlight wrapped her arms tightly around his waist from the back. "Here we go!" Shadow took to the skies! As soon as they were a good way up in the sky, Shadow hovered in place. "You can open your eyes now."
Starlight slowly opened her eyes, and looked in wonder at seeing herself and Shadow up among the clouds. "Whoa. So this is what it looks like being up here."
"Yup. Sure is a nice view when it's clear." Shadow nodded. "Care to find out how flying feels?" Starlight nodded excitedly. Shadow smiled. "Just keep holding tight!" Shadow flew forward! The wind blasting in his and Starlight's faces!
"WOOOOHOOOO!" Starlight hollered with joy as she felt the rush of the wind pulse through her heart and mind! Soon enough, Shadow landed on the ground and Starlight dismounted from his back. "That was amazing! But Shadow? I could've used a levitation spell I know so that I could fly too."
Shadow tilted his head in confusion. "So why'd you just go with me flying you around if you could've just been flying on your own?"
"Well, it takes a lot of concentration and I didn't have much time to practice it." Starlight then blushed. "And...I didn't want to ruin our first date."
Shadow froze in place as he felt his heartbeat uncontrollably. "That's the sweetest thing any girl's ever said to me. I should know. A good number of my friends are girls."
"So...are we official now?" Starlight asked.
Shadow shook his head. "Sorry. Not quite yet. We've still gotta take the time to know each other. You know, give some time for our relationship to develop. But don't get me wrong." Shadow placed Starlight's hand over his heart. "Our feelings couldn't be made any more clear."
"...Thank you." Starlight said as she blushed. "So, see you around?"
Shadow smiled lovingly. "Definitely." And with that, Shadow flew off home while Starlight returned to the Castle of Friendship.
Meanwhile, the Malefic Scout Drones returned to their master. "Excellent." the dark being said as he inspected the scans of the Duelist Arms. "And I trust you found a suitable power source for my plan?" One of the drones brought up the image of Starlight. "Ah. Perfect. Now then." The figure focused his magic on the black and white substance that pooled around him. Molding it into all too familiar shapes. "On to phase 2."
[/Two weeks later. Outside of the Castle of Friendship.i]
"No way." Inferno said in shock as he stared at the video Nightfall pulled up. "That's impossible!"
Nightfall sighed. "I wish it were. I don't quite believe it myself. But take a good long look everyone." Nightfall paused the video. It was of the Royal Guard testing out new weapons. Nightfall then magnified the image of the weapons being tested. They looked exactly like the Duelist Arms. But the key difference between these strange replicas was that they shared none of the monster motifs the true Duelist Arms had, and were black and white in color. With sickly green blades, or firing blasts of sickly green energy. "Anyone willing to guess that whatever those things were yesterday might have something to do with this?"
"I called it!" Shadow announced proudly. The entire group stared at him with raised brows. "Well...I did, didn't I? But, let's focus on who's behind this."
"That would be me." A man wearing a black and white suit with odd patterning stepped forward the Elements of Heroism. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Paradox Truth. Forgive my drones for being intrusive. But I had heard of your weapons. The Duelist Arms, correct? You could say they were an...inspiration for my current works. I take it that you've seen my creations demonstrated by the Royal Guard?"
Burst nodded. "You could say that. But why are you here? I'm pretty sure you've got other business to attend to."
"Indeed." Paradox said with a smirk. "I have business to discuss with Starlight Glimmer."
Shadow narrowed his eyes. "Hey. How come you know about Starlight Glimmer? Her reformation wasn't announced in any of the media!"
Paradox blinked and sneered. "I suppose I can do away with this charade now." A flash of sickly green energy enveloped Paradox! Changing his suit into a wizard's robe! "She is crucial to my machinations. And I'll not let any of you get in my way."
"We'll see about that." Burst said as he and the Elements of Heroism readied their weapons.
Paradox chuckled. "Indeed we shall." Paradox snapped his fingers, and the distorted copies he'd made of the Duelist Arms materialized! And along with them were what looked like brainwashed wielders! "Do you like them? My Malefic Arms use their wielders as opposed to your weapons. And I in turn manipulate the Malefic Arms. So much cleaner. Using those beneath you for your fighting!"
"Let's see if they're durable you coward!" Ice spat as he fired a power force shot from his claymore! Only for it to be intercepted by a malefic version of the same attack from one of the controlled royal guards! "Great! It's a mirror match!" And with that, most of the Elements of Heroism were occupied with the mind controlled guards used by the Malefic Arms. Save for Shadow who broke off from the group to try and beat Paradox to Starlight! But he was too light! Chains of malefic magic!
"STARLIGHT!" Shadow cried out as he flew at Paradox with his spear readied! It's dragon-head blade poised to strike Paradox in his heart! Only for Shadow to be shot back by a blast of magic!
Paradox sneered at Shadow's groaning form. "How noble of you to come to this girl's rescue. And how very, very foolish. You-AAGGH!" Paradox howled in pain when one of the Malefic Arms was destroyed! Unlike the Duelist Arms, the Malefic Arms were literally part of him. And it hurt like Tartarus when he felt a part of himself die. "It appears circumstances have dictated that I retreat. You want this girl? Come and get her. I'll even leave a portal should you and your friends be stupid enough to attempt a rescue mission. And I shall await you so that I may personally end you." Paradox disappeared in flash of magic. Taking his Malefic Arms with him and releasing the mind controlled guards.
"Damn it..." Shadow cursed as he slowly rose to his feet! "DAMN IIIIT!" Shadow punched a wall in his frustration. "Just when I had her. Right when I had finally thought she was safe....AGH!" Tears started to flow down Shadow's face.
Ace and Ice noticed their brother's distraught state of mind. "You're absolutely right Shadow. Starlight was taken from you." Ace said calmly as he placed a hand on Shadow's shoulder. "But that brings up a question. One you need to look deep within yourself to answer truthfully."
"A-and what's that?!" Shadow snapped as sobs wracked his voice.
"How badly do you want to get her back?" Ice asked bluntly. "Would you face Paradox's entire army yourself if it meant even the slightest chance of bringing Starlight back safely? Would YOU be her hero?"
Shadow stood completely still. Slowly, he turned around to face his brothers. Wiping the tears from his eyes as his gaze hardened with conviction. "I'd go against the world for her."
"Well, you won't need to fight alone." Burst said as he stepped before Shadow. "This is your story Shadow. And we're damn well getting you your happy ending! We'll handle the army. Paradox is all yours."
Shadow nodded. "Wouldn't want it any other way." The Elements of Heroism gazed upon the portal that lead to Paradox's lair. "Let's go!" Shadow led the charge into the portal! Once they were on the other side, they saw a single tower. Malefic magic pulsing from it through the very ground. And a horde of Malefic constructs Paradox had summoned to meet them. As the other Elements of Heroism engaged the horde, Shadow flew right for the tower! He busted down the doors! Spear raised and ready to fight! "PARADOX!"
"Ah. Just as I expected." Paradox said with a smirk.
Shadow narrowed his eyes. "Where's Starlight? What do you want with her?!"
"Ah. You mean my battery. If you wanted to see her so badly," Paradox snapped his fingers, and a chamber containing Starlight lowered. "you just needed to ask. As for why I took her, it's simple. My machine can't handle the divine magic of an Avatar. But an incredibly powerful Magi? That's more than well within its capability of handling. Thanks to her, I shall terraform all of Equestria! It shall become the Malefic World! Free of separation. Free of difference. A purely equal world where all is as I see fit! A world in my image!"
Shadow scoffed. "Slight problem. You're ugly." Shadow flew at Paradox! His Duelist Arm poised to strike! But his spear didn't strike the malefic mage! It hit the battery chamber Starlight was held in, and she cried out in pain! "Oh no! Starlight!"
Paradox sneered. "Your compassion for this girl is your weakness!" Paradox fired a concentrated blast of malefic magic at Shadow! "And that weakness will cost you your pitiful life!" Paradox continually battered Shadow with blast after blast! However, he'd made a critical error when using Starlight as a living battery. He'd removed the inhibitor ring that had suppressed her magic.
Starlight could feel the chamber leeching her magic away. It was slow and agonizing, but it paled in comparison to seeing Paradox brutally assault Shadow. Starlight focused her magic into a massive burst! Trashing the battery chamber and knocking both Shadow and Paradox to the ground! Starlight fell to her knees! Only to find her legs merged to the floor by the same substance that formed the Malefic Arms!
"You're proving to be more trouble than you're worth girl!" Paradox growled as he stood up and advanced meancingly towards Starlight! The malefic substance forming a bladed tendril. "If you'll not serve me alive, then I'll remedy your resistance by death!"
Starlight shut her eyes as the bladed tendril shot right at her! But when she opened her eyes, it had not torn through her. Someone else had taken the blow. "SHADOW!" Starlight held onto Shadow as his body fell limp after the bladed tendril dematerialized. "Why?! Why did you do that?"
"Easy...answer Star." Shadow said weakly as he tried to hold himself together. "I can't just....stay put and see people hurting. It's who I am...to help others that I don't even know. And I don't want to see you hurt anymore...Starlight." A weak smile spread across Shadow's lips. "I love you...Starlight..." And with that, Shadow's eyes closed. Only for his body to be enveloped by a blinding light! As soon as the light faded, Starlight found herself in Shadow's arms! But what startled her was the new wings on Shadow's back! They were dragon-like, but they looked like one of the celestial dragons to reside in Elysium guarding it's gates from the afterlife! "And now? I'm gonna get you out of here." Shadow turned to face Paradox. "Let's see how you like getting skewered!"
Paradox stumbled back in fear! "Y-You think I fear you boy?! I have an entire army to call upon of my own making!" Paradox snapped his fingers to summon his minions, but none appeared! "What is-NO!" Paradox stared in horror at his utterly decimated army!
"You talk a big game, but you suck at playing." Shadow remarked. "Because you consider yourself so high..." Shadow slashed at Paradox! The malefic mage desperately avoiding Shadow's strikes! "It's only natural that you'll fall so hard!" Paradox Truth summoned one of his Malefic Arms! Only for Shadow to shatter it! And as if to further Paradox's connection to the Malefic Arms, cracks appeared over his body! "Your weapons are literally a part of you, aren't they? If they go, so do you." Paradox frantically summoned another Malefic Arm, but Shadow once again destroyed it! Causing the cracks to spread even further across Paradox! "But I'll just strike at the core of the problem!" The blade of Shadow's spear glowed with golden light! "HALO STRIKE!" A ring of light launched forward as Shadow slashed with his spear! Slicing right through Paradox's core! And as Paradox's core shattered, so did he! His debris crumbling away into dust! "Looks like he couldn't hold himself together."
Starlight giggled at Shadow's pun, but panicked a little when she felt the whole lair rumble! "Something tells me that with Paradox gone, his lair can't hold it together either!"
"Then let's get out before we get torn apart!" Shadow replied as he scooped up Starlight! "Think you can hold on as tightly as last time?" Shadow flew out the window as the rest of the Elements of Heroism made a break for the collapsing portal! The group narrowly avoiding the complete of Paradox's Malefic world! Shadow breathed a sigh of relief. Or at least, he would have if Starlight didn't press her lips against his the second she saw an opening. "Well, if weren't official before, we are now. Better get going. Chances are Pinkie's been planning another party for us."
Later that night
Burst let out a fond sigh as he looked at how peaceful Ponyville looked from the sky. "Well, another battle's come and gone. But even if another villain shows up, I wouldn't worry." Burst landed. "Me and my friends can handle it."
"So it would seem as your track record suggests." Blitz Surge replied. Burst spun around to face his "brother".
"What do you want asshole?" Burst asked with an annoyed look on his face.
Blitz shrugged. "Merely to spar with your nightmare form. I know you have it. I wish to see if it's as strong as they say."
"I don't really need to whip it out since I've ascended. But I guess me kicking your ass oughta humble you." Burst snorted as he transformed. "Come at me. "Bro"." Burst activated Bahamut Aether as Blitz drew his own sword! "Gotta admit. You're backing up your talk so far." Burst quipped as he and Blitz locked blades! "But I was trained by Dad!" Burst hit Blitz in the stomach using his aether blade's handle, and followed it up with a slash across Blitz's chest! Blitz retaliated by imbuing his blade with an odd magic and slashing Burst's chest! Burst had no damage, but Blitz had scorch marks from where Burst had slashed at him! And Burst noticed. "I knew my bad feeling about you was right. But what's your game? Why attack me now?"
Blitz smirked. "Because now is the perfect time." He then looked to the moon. "Such a lovely moon isn't it? You're about to get a closer view of it."
"What are you-?!" Burst looked at his body in shock as he felt an all too familiar magic pulling him towards the moon. The magic of the Elements of Harmony. "Blitz-!" And in an instant Burst was whisked away from Equestria. Bound to the moon by chains of harmony magic.
A wicked smile crossed Blitz's face. "Onto stage 2." Blitz teleported into the Canterlot throne room, and immediately threw himself at the feet of the princesses! "YOUR HIGHNESSES! I bring grave news! Burst has fallen to darkness!" Celestia and Luna raised skeptical brows while Nightmare Moon eyed Blitz suspiciously. "I was out sparring with Burst. When suddenly he declared there could be only one son of Aether! He then transformed into a dark form, and tried to kill me! And in the end...I had no choice."
"What are you talking about." Moon asked coldly.
Blitz pointed to the moon. "Look at the moon." The princesses did so, and were horrified to see the shape of Burst along the moon's surface. Blitz was about to respond to them when Moon grabbed him by the neck!
"YOU LIAR!" Moon screamed! "Burst never fell to darkness! That was just his nightmare form! He was in complete control! But I know above all else that you're lying because of one thing! Burst NEVER cared about living up to his family legacy! And there's no way he'd ever try to kill you." Moon then released her hold on Blitz. "But I'm starting to think he's going to have a pretty good reason when he gets back."
Blitz scoffed. "If he gets back." He was then promptly slapped across the face by Celestia!
"He will return." Celestia said coldly. "And when he does? We'll be waiting for him." As Celestia and Moon left, Luna knelt down to Blitz's level, and caressed his cheek.
"Blitz...you didn't mean to banish Burst to the moon, yes?" Luna asked hopefully. "I could barely keep it together for all those years."
Blitz slowly stood up, and took Luna's hands in his. "Well if what Celestia and Nightmare Moon say is true, then it was simply an honest mistake I made. But I feared for our kingdom. I feared for you Luna. And I would never have forgiven myself if I let a possible threat do you harm."
"Blitz..." Luna said with a blush. "I've...rethought your proposition. Such dedication to my safety you have. It truly touches me. And maybe...we could be a bit more, together?"
Blitz slowly wrapped his arms around Luna. A devious smirk crept onto his lips. Just. As. Planned.