"Hmm." Dark Mist looked over the footage of the Elements of Heroism battling against the Nightmare Forces. "Looks like Ace's little gang of friends are gonna be a lot of trouble for us." A dark smile crept across Dark Mist's face. "But that's also their weakness. They're a team. United they stand, divided they fall." Dark Mist then approached a towering brute. This Nightmare Warrior had a belt across his waist labelled "TITAN", and bandages were wrapped around his fists. "Dread Titan. I'm gonna need you and a few of your brawlers for a little project."
Dread Titan snorted. "You really think you're in any position to give orders little man? I only take word from the boss. And last I checked, you weren't him." He then cracked his knuckles. "You wanna try askin' again?"
"I doubt he would," Night Terror spoke as he entered the hallway. "But you would do well to hear Mist's latest scheme." Night Terror turned his gaze to Dark Mist. "Tell me Dark Mist. Just what is this project you had in mind?"
Dark Mist smirked. "Well Lord Night Terror, the Elements of Heroism are a team, right? And the strength and weakness of any team is their unity. They're a threat to us because they fight together. But if we divide them? Well, that would be another story entirely. And I'm just the man for the job. So what do you say My Lord?"
"Interesting." Night Terror said with a wicked smile. "You have my approval for this plot. In fact..." Night Terror's thoughts then turned to the insecurities he'd found by observing Rarity's dreams. As well as her desires. "...I'd say it's given me some inspiration."
Dark Mist bowed as he opened a portal. "Hang back here Titan." Dark Mist said with a smirk as he stepped through the portal. "I'll let you know when you get your turn to get brutal." Dark Mist arrived in Unityville. "Let's see if power's gone to Burst's head..." Dark Mist turned into his mist form, and slithered over to where Burst was training before resuming his standard form. "Yo."
Burst heard Dark Mist's greeting, and instantly pulled a blaster on him! "I didn't expect you to show up. Didn't you run off after we squashed that overgrown bug you let loose a while ago?"
"Hey, easy!" Dark Mist threw his hands in the air! "I'm not here to fight! I just wanna know...why you're wasting your time with those losers you call a team." Dark Mist began to circle Burst. "Hear me out. You're the Element of Power, right? That makes you the leader. And from what I've seen, you're the strongest out of your group. So why put the others at risk? On your own, you could probably get strong enough to take on our entire force. Just think about it would you." Dark Mist then faded away, and proceeded to speak with the remaining members of the Elements of Heroism when they were alone.
Mist's next target was Inferno. "Why is Burst in charge?" Dark Mist asked Inferno. "Sure. He's strong. But you? You're the Element of Potential. That means you could probably get even stronger than he is! Or even be a better leader if you were just given a chance!"
Dark Mist then targeted Steel. "Look man. Can I be totally honest with you? None of the guys you're fighting alongside with are warriors. Burst's never even led a team before. He doesn't have the leadership experience you do. So why are you taking orders from an incompetent officer? I think it's time you pull rank and show him who the real leader is." Dark Mist then approached Tyrannus, but was promptly decked in the face. "Fine. If you're gonna be rude, I don't see why I should waste time explaining anything..." Dark Mist opened a portal back to the Nightmare Forces' lair. "Now to see how things fall apart."
Sure enough, Burst called for the Elements of Heroism to assemble. "I've called you all here because I've got some troubling news. Dark Mist showed up earlier when I was training. He said that because I was the strongest that I alone could probably take on all the Nightmare Forces myself." The rest of the group seemed tense. "He's dead wrong." The other guys had puzzled looks on their faces. "Nobody gets stronger on their own. The reason we won our last big battle was because we all worked together as a team. Each of us has skills that either complement each other, or compensate for an area we lack. And by fighting together, we each grow stronger to surpass our limits! Because we know it's a battle we're not fighting alone!"
"Funny you should mention Mist." Inferno began. "He talked to me earlier too. Said that I could be leader if I was given the chance. But you know what I think? I think he's just trying to break up our band of badasses."
"Inferno. You're my best friend and second in command." Burst answered. "If I ever get put out of commission, then it's your turn to be lead singer. And there's no one I'd rather let have the spotlight."
Tyrannus nodded. "Indeed. I'm quite relieved I chose to have my fist counter any argument he would have tried to establish."
"He tried to get me to pull rank." Steel said with a nod. "It's true that you don't have much experience leading a team Burst. But from what I've seen, you're worth following. You look out for everyone. That's pretty obvious since you try to keep the fighting away from bystanders."
Burst smiled. "It means a lot to hear you say that Steel. But since we all know what Dark Mist's intentions were, what do we do now?"
"Hmmm." Ace scratched his head, and an idea soon came to him! "Easy. Let's show him what he wants to see..."
Dark Mist teleported back to Unityville, and saw Burst Stream waiting for him. "So. You wised up and decided to go it alone, huh?" A smirk spread across Dark Mist's face. "I knew you'd see it my way."
Burst smiled. "That's right. In fact, I'm so convinced that I bet I could beat an entire squad of your minions by myself! So bring 'em on!"
"I was hoping you'd say that." Dark Mist said with an evil smile. He snapped his fingers, and Dread Titan's bruisers flooded out of a portal! "Have fun getting clobbered idiot!"
Burst smiled as the line of bruisers charged at him. Only for a massive blast of lightning to blow most of them away! Burst looked to his left, and saw Tyrannus lower his cannon. The other guys formed up around Burst. "Care to take ALL of us on?" Burst led the charge against the bruisers! He fired a charge shot point blank at a bruiser charging right at him! The blast ripped through the bruiser, and it soon disintegrated!
Inferno and Steel were slicing their way through all the bruisers that swarmed them! Steel blocking with his shield whenever one brought its fist down, and Inferno slicing the bruiser's arm off before finishing it with a charged shot to the head! Tyrannus slung his cannon across his back, and activated the blades in his gauntlets! Slicing through all the brusiers in front of him while Ace used his dragon wing scarf to dodge any swings the bruisers before bashing them in the face with his shield and cleaving them in two! Soon, only Dread Titan was left standing.
"So. You took out my grunts." Dread Titan snorted. "Well. LET'S SEE HOW YOU LIKE THIS!" Dread Titan slammed the ground with his fist! Creating a shockwave that brought the Elements of Heroism to the ground! "I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU WIMPS YET!" Dread Titan charged at Steel, and slammed him into the ground! "Let's see if I can pop that scrap metal you're wearing!" Dread Titan was about to stomp on Steel when Tyrannus fired his canon! "GAAGH!" Dread Titan was knocked back by the blast, but far from finished! "Care to ditch the toys and get personal?"
Ace charged at Dread Titan, and slashed at him! But to Ace's shock, his sword didn't cut through as easily as it had through the bruiser grunts! Leaving only a shallow cut! "Uh..guys? I think he's built a lot tougher than the last one!" Ace barely had time to dodge as Dread Titan sent him reeling with one punch!
"Ah! Now this is what I live for!" Dread Titan proclaimed proudly! "This is what the fists of the strong were made for! To crush those beneath them and show the weaklings their place! That is the way of the world!"
Burst scowled at hearing this. "The strong stand for themselves. But the strongest stand for others!" Burst discarded his weapons, and got into a fighting stance. "Let me show you how strong a person is when they use might for right!"
Dread Titan just laughed. "HA HA HA! Go ahead worm! I'd like to see how hard those tiny fists of yours can hit!" He then thumped his chest. "I'll even give you a free shot!" Dread Titan stood with open arms. A grave mistake.
"SHORYUKEN!" Burst screamed as he unleashed a devastating upper cut that knocked Dread Titan to the ground. "So. Do you think you can defeat my dragon punch?" Dread Titan bolted to his feet, and roared at Burst Stream! Charging at him and landing a punch right in Burst's stomach! Burst was utterly winded from the force of the punch!
But before Dread Titan could pulverize Burst, he was struck in the back of the head by a twin kick from Ace and Inferno. "Need a hand?" Inferno asked. "Let's show this thug how strong we are together!" The others soon formed up on Burst, and the Elements of Heroism mounted a unified assault against Dread Titan! Tyrannus rushed Dread Titan, and struck him in the gut with his fist! Steel, Ace, and Inferno each got in one hit on Dread Titan's sides and head! From the combined strength of their attacks, Dread Titan began to topple slightly! "Time to finish this!" Burst focused his energy, and extended his arms out! Unleashing a blast of blue energy! "HADOKEN!" The blast ripped right through Dread Titan's center! The massive brute disintegrating upon his defeat. "I struck the final blow. But we won this fight because we were a team. HEROES TO THE CORE!"
"HEROES TO THE CORE!" The Elements of Heroism cheered in unison!
Back at his lair, Night Terror smashed the vision orb that allowed him to observe the matter. "DAMN THEM!" A wave of dark power exploded from Night Terror's rage! "No matter what I through at them, they always rise in the end! But then again, I've only been striking their body." Night Terror conjured up an image of Rarity with his magic, and an evil smile spread across his face. "But they are not the true threat. It is the Elements of Harmony that truly stole my promised queen Nightmare Moon. They too have strength in unity. But I'll not make the same mistake. This time...I attack their heart. And she shall be the instrument of my designs..."