Luna sat contemplatively upon her throne. Her sister Celestia was considering a personal knight in Burst Stream. Namely because the elder sister wanted to have her boyfriend closer to her. No doubt Celestia wishes to be closer to her lover. Then again, who am I to oppose her giving him a night to remember. Luna thought with an amused smirk.
Celestia's idea had gotten Luna to do some thinking herself. The guards were dedicated to their duties, but a little extra protection couldn't hurt. Especially after the Royal Wedding Incident. Luna mentally scolding herself for missing out on a chance to cut loose. Luna had posters made to advertise a tournament to be her personal knight. Many hopeful challengers had gathered outside the doors of the throne room. "I look forward to seeing who shall be my lunar knight."
Meanwhile, all the contenders were chatting excitedly amongst themselves. However, one figure remained silent. He pulled down the grey hood he wore over his head. His slicked-back white hair looking almost spiky in appearance. The young man's eyes glanced over the crowd before him. A smirk spread across his face as he raised his katana still in its sheath.
Luna was about to order that the doors be opened, but motioned for her guards to stand by as she heard grunts of pain and the sounds of fighting! Luna threw the doors open! Her magic flaring to life! "WHO DARES DISRUPT OUR CONTEST BY ATTACKING THE COMPETITORS?!" Luna then saw a young man wearing a grey cloak over his clothes holding a sheathed katana.
The young man looked to Luna, and smiled. "The only worthy candidate since I'm the last one standing." He looked over what would have been his competition groaning in pain on the ground. "The champion of a princess should not be defeated so easily, wouldn't you agree Princess Luna?"
"You. . . make a valid point." Luna said as she powered down her magic. "But your actions were reckless. It was most fortunate that you kept your blade in its scabbard. Someone could have been seriously wounded."
The young man scoffed as he surveyed his now demolished competition. "Don't waste your concern. None of these lot are worthy to feel the sting of my blade. There are only two that have reserved that right. Now then, I believe you have a winner to announce."
"Your demeanor is. . . intriguing." Luna said a slight nod. "Yet I cannot deny your talent. Might I have the name for the victor of my contest?"
The young man bowed, and gave Luna a suave smile. "Blitz Surge. And the victory is yours for gaining the only hero needed in this world."
Luna blushed lightly at Blitz Surge's compliment. "You'd better hope that the Elements of Heroism didn't hear that. I shall inform my sister of this news." Luna teleported off to Celestia's bedroom. The solar princess surprised at her lunar sister's sudden appearance. "Tia! I have a knight now!"
"That's wonderful Luna." Celestia said with a smile before letting out a yawn. "I'm about to get one of my own in Burst Stream. That is, IF he wants the position." A dreamy smile crept across Celestia's face. "It's almost like something out of a fairytale."
As Celestia went to sleep, Burst was already lying in bed dreaming of her. As he did most nights, he dreamed of their time together. However, his dreaming had not gone unnoticed. "So it appears your promise held true." Nightmare Moon said as she observed Burst's dreams. She had been observing the Main 6, Spike, and the Elements of Heroism. "Much has happened." She looked at Steel Edge and Arctic Ace's dreams of their ascension and training. "All of you have grown stronger than my return." She then saw Narico's dreams and that of the changelings who had integrated into the kingdom. "So much change in such a short period."
Nightmare Moon shook her head, and returned to the focus of her visit to the dreamscape. She floated over to the bubble containing Burst's dreams. "You were the only one to speak to me as a person." Nightmare Moon's hands glowed as she touched the bubble! "And there's so much I want to tell you. Let's hope you get this message loud and clear." And with that, Nightmare Moon left the dreamscape. Returning to the real world with a ghost of a smile on her face.
Meanwhile, Burst was walking through the Castalot castle with Celestia. But in an instant, the setting changed! Celestia was gone, and Burst found himself at the Castle of the Two Sisters! "What?!" Burst Stream tensed up. "Okay. This is weird. I only met Celestia here once. And that was when. . . " Burst saw a few black feathers falling from the sky. He could feel a presence behind him, and turned to face it! Burst was in complete shock! "You?!"
Nightmare Moon stood before Burst Stream. Her appearance hadn't changed at all since he'd first fought her at the Summer Sun Celebration. Burst got into a defensive stance, and summoned his Duelist Arms! But to his surprise, Nightmare Moon didn't even respond. "O-kay. This is weird. Are you here to wreak vengeance on me or-?!"
Burst Stream nearly stumbled backwards when Nightmare Moon slid right up to his face. She leaned in, and uttered a single sentence. "Come find me when you wake up hero." And with that, she vanished in a cloud of mist!
Burst woke up with a start! "That. . . was not how I expected things to go down." Burst Stream shook his head. "The only time I ever dreamed about her was my first fight. So why now of all times is she popping up in my dreams again?" The element of power headed to the sink, and splashed some water on his face. "Maybe I just had one too many cookies before bed. . ." Burst threw himself on his bed. However, the same dream played on in his head. Making him toss and turn.
The next morning, Burst nearly smashed his alarm clock to pieces! "Uuugghhh. . . " Begrudgingly, Burst got out of bed. He had slept, but the slumber was far from peaceful as he had the same dream the entire night. "Aren't you supposed to forget dreams after you wake up?" Burst grumbled to himself as he got his breakfast ready. His grumpy state didn't last long when he received a text from Celestia. "So she's ready to ask me her big question. Well, a bad night's no excuse to keep her waiting."
Burst Stream scarfed down his breakfast, and got dressed before taking the next train to Castalot. Making a break for the castle as soon as he arrived. Oddly enough, Celestia was actually waiting for him as soon as he entered through the gates. "Glad to see I'm not the only one up early."
"You get used to it when you're job is to wake everyone up." Celestia said with a smile. "Now I suppose you're wondering what my question for you is, right?" Burst nodded. Celestia took a deep breath. "You know how I call you my dragon knight? Well, I was wondering if you'd actually like to become just that." Celestia's violet eyes gazing right into Burst's sapphire blue eyes. "Burst Stream. Would you become my personal knight?"
Burst gulped. "Well, Inferno's always primed to take charge if I can't. I don't have any doubts in his ability." Burst sighed. "But as much as I want to, I can't accept Celestia. I love you. And I'll never stop loving you. But I don't know if I'm ready to go this far with you yet. We've had only a few dates, and it's barely been a year. What I'm trying to say is, maybe we should give this some time?"
Celestia wrapped a wing around Burst. "I waited a thousand years for Luna's return. A little more waiting for you to move in with me isn't going to kill me." Celestia smiled jokingly. "Nothing can."
"That's great." Burst said with a sigh of relief as he hugged his girlfriend. "Because I'd die on the inside if I ever did anything to hurt you. Even if I didn't mean to." The two shared their embrace for a moment more before separating. "I'd better not keep you. You must be pretty busy." Burst waved goodbye, and Celestia gave him a goodbye kiss. "See ya around sunshine."
As Burst walked away, Luna and Blitz Surge approached. "I take it that Burst Stream turned down your offer?" Luna asked her big sister. "That's too bad. I was hoping to show off my knight against yours in a duel!"
"Really Luna?" Celestia asked with a knowing eye roll. She then looked at Blitz Surge, and noticed a slight similarity to Burst save for their skin color. "So you are Blitz Surge. I hope you know that the position you now occupy is incredibly rare. You stand as the Luna's personal knight. It seems she wishes to have a fairytale ending."
Blitz smiled. "Oh I don't think any less of her. In fact," Blitz looked in Burst's direction. "I plan on writing the ending for my own story very soon. There's just two obstacles in my way."
Meanwhile, Burst Stream had just returned to Unityville. "Looks like I've got the rest of the day free." Burst said with a content sigh. "I didn't get much sleep, so maybe a nap can fix that." Burst headed to his bedroom, grabbed a pillow, and threw himself onto his couch. Sure enough, Burst Stream fell into slumber. However, the dream that had cost him last night's sleep once again surfaced. "UGH!"
Burst Stream got up, threw his pillow back onto his bed, and whipped out his phone to text his friends and Celestia. "Hey everyone." Burst said as his fingers tapped away at his phone's keyboard. "I've been having weird dreams lately, and they keep taking place in the Castle of the Two Sisters. Something might be up, so I'll check out the old castle later on in the afternoon. I should be back before morning. Don't panic if I'm not here in the morning. I'll probably stay the night in the ruins."
"That ought to do." Burst said with a satisfied nod. "Five o'clock. That'll be when I head out." Burst looked at the time on his phone. "Well, no sense going out on an empty stomach. Better fuel up before I go." A quick lunch later, and Burst reflected on his past encounter with Nightmare Moon. That was the first fight of my life. My first loss too. Not to mention it was also technically my first kiss.
Burst Stream took a deep breath. How is this even possible? Luna was hit with the Elements of Harmony. Nightmare Moon should be gone! Well, physically at least. Memories of her still live on. Twilight, the girls and I all vividly remember when we defeated her. But the dreams I've been having. . . there's no way they're based on memories of our fights. Why would she want to find one of the people responsible for defeating her? Maybe she thinks the third time will be the charm?
The alarm on Burst's phone sounded off. Snapping the element of power out of his reflection on the past. "Well, it looks like I'll get my answers soon enough." Burst Stream got up, equipped his Duelist Arms, and locked the door after he left. Staring towards the path leading out of Unityville. "So much for an evening alone at home."
However, Burst Stream was not as alone on his journey as he thought. Back in the Castalot Castle, a lone figure stood in a dark room with his blade drawn. The figure's hand was soon covered in the aura of his magic. The mark on his hand showing a wild ball of lightning that looked like it would smash through anything in its way! The figure held the blade in front of him, and focused his thoughts on Burst Stream. The figure smirked as he cast a spell on the blade of his sword! "Found you."
The figure then slashed the air in front of him, and a portal appeared! "Now to correct the mistake." The figure pulled a grey hood over his head. "But in the end, I will be the only one left standing. The only one to lay claim to my destiny."
Burst Stream had made it a good ways towards the old castle. In fact, he had just gotten to the bridge. He couldn't help but smile as he recalled the good friends he'd made thanks to Nightmare Moon's return. I guess that I have her to thank for how far I've come. If you think about it, she's part of the reason I made my promise. However, Burst was snapped out of his musings when a portal appeared before him! The sun starting to set as a figure emerged from the portal! "Um, can I help you?"
The figure was silent for a moment before reaching under his cloak. "There is only one way you can aid me. YOUR DESTRUCTION!" The figure pulled out a katana from a scabbard beneath his cloak, and slashed the air! Burst instinctively jumped backwards! A sphere of light soon appearing where the figure had slashed! "How fitting that you should meet your end where your journey began."
"Sorry pal! I've got better thing to do tonight than die!" Burst Stream shot back! Both figuratively and literally as he drew his twin blasters and opened fire! But the figure spun his katana in front of him, and deflected the barrage! "What?!" Burst barely had any time to react when the figure dashing up to him, and executed a draw-slash from his katana! Burst was knocked back! "Agh!"
The figure smirked under his hood. "Fear not. I have every intention of putting you out of your misery." The figure then unleashed a series of rapid slashes from his katana! Orbs of light forming from each cut and blasting Burst Stream around! "There were only supposed to be two of us. But then you showed up in this world."
Burst had managed to get himself out of the chain of slashes! "What are you talking about?!" Burst Stream drew his sword, and crossed blades with his mysterious attacker! "Why are you attacking me?! What have I ever done to you?! And who is 'we'?!" Burst and the figure forced each other back!
"What have you done?" The figure asked. Irritation present in his voice. "You are in the way of my destiny! I am the true hero! I am the only hero needed by this word! You and your band of friends are pretenders are not worthy! You don't have what it takes to bring about justice! And now you shall face mine!" The figure placed a hand near the handle of his katana, and quickly drew it out! The draw was so quick Burst could barely catch the faint aura of magic around the blade! "Judgement Cut."
There was no visible slash mark, but Burst Stream felt like he'd just been cut! While Burst was staggered, the attacker dashed up and stabbed Burst in the gut! "What makes you so special?" The figure said coldly as he removed his blade from Burst's chest as the sun crawled down the horizon. "Farewell error." And with another slash, Burst's assailant left Burst Stream to die from blood loss.
Burst stumbled forward! Clutching the area where he'd been impaled! Damn it. . . he got me good! Burst thought as he limped towards the castle. Who the tartarus was that guy?! And what did he mean by 'there's only supposed to be two of us'?
"Ngh!" Burst grunted as he slumped against one of the ruined walls. He took a look at his hand, and saw how bloody it was from attempting to stop the bleeding. Crap! I'm losing more blood than I thought! Burst Stream pooled all of his will together, and limped forward. Is this. . . is this how it ends? No. NO! It can't end like this! Me dying here alone. . . I won't let that happen! But despite the effort of his mind and will, Burst's body said otherwise as he fell to one knee. His vision starting to blur from the blood loss! I've gotta make it. . . I have to! Burst Stream tried to focus his magic, but the pain broke off any attempts he made. Is this really. . . the end of my story. . . ?
Burst Stream teetered on the edge of collapse when thought he could have sworn he heard the sound of a teleport going off. He then thought he was seeing things as black feathers fell from above him. What? A blurred figure seemed to descend towards him. Who are you? Burst Stream would have fallen on the ground had the figure not caught him with their magic!
"So you answered my call." Nightmare Moon said as she levitated Burst's body closer to her. She then saw where Burst had been impaled, and concern briefly registered in her eyes. "Let's fix that, shall we?" Nightmare Moon focused her magic on Burst's wound, and it instantly healed! "Rest for now hero." Nightmare Moon teleported Burst into a nearby bedroom, and set him down on the bed. She then removed the dream message she'd planted in Burst's mind. "I owe you the sleep you've lost." With that, Nightmare Moon returned to the ruined throne room where Burst had nearly collapsed. "I have all night long to wait for you."
A few hours passed since Burst had fallen unconscious after he was attacked. ". . . Nnngghh. . . " Burst groaned as he stirred. As soon as his eyes opened, he was shocked to find his wound had been healed! "What the--this doesn't make any sense! I was bleeding out from my gut! Did. . . someone heal me?" He then saw his coat and weapons had been set aside on a desk. "Well, at least I don't have to worry about getting my coat patched up. Rarity would've flipped if she saw a tear in it."
Burst Stream looked to the shirt we was wearing on the nightstand. "Well, no sense putting it on until I can get it patched up." Burst equipped his weapons, and headed out the door. "Whoever healed me, they were considerate enough to bring me indoors. I'm inside the castle now." Burst drew out one of his blasters. "I'm alone. For now. . . "
Caustiously, Burst Stream treaded the empty halls of the ruined castle. He had no clue where to go until he caught a figure out of the corner of his eye. He could clearly see black angel-like wings from the figure's back. "Scratch that. Looks like there is an occupant in this castle." Burst followed the figure. Just barely catching a glimpse of it as he turned matched its turns! "I've got a good feeling who that occupant is, but I just can't believe it!" Burst kept following the figure until he found himself at the entrance to the ruined throne room. "So you were expecting me."
Burst Stream slowly inched forward. He froze when he looked at the large hole in the ceiling. Nightmare Moon was sitting atop it. Burst darted back into the entranceway! His heart beating uncontrollably in his chest! I'm crazy. I have to be! I was caught in the line of fire right alongside her when the Elements of Harmony were unleashed! The only thing left of her was her armor! How?! How is she alive?!
I know I can't win against her. Burst thought to himself. Even though I've come out of my last few battles in one piece, I'm nowhere near her level or experience! Maybe I can sneak by without her knowing. Burst peeked out from his hiding place, and was surprised to see that Nightmare Moon had vanished. "All right then. Maybe I was just seeing things." Burst walked out from his hiding place.
"So you received my message." A smooth, female voice called out from seemingly everywhere at once. Burst Stream whipped his head about! Trying to find the source. He knew who was speaking. "I'm quite pleased that you had the courtesy to answer. You've no idea how happy that makes me. I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me. I couldn't blame you."
Burst Stream smirked to hide his panic. "Yeah. Well, it's pretty hard to forget your first kiss. Much less a first kiss given to me by a goddess who kicked my butt." Burst slowly reached for his sword, and one of his twin blasters. "So. You invite me for another dance? I'd be happy to show you some new moves I've been working on."
A slight chuckle could be heard from Nightmare Moon's voice. "As much as I'd love to see you in action, I'd rather not. After all, I did fix up that nasty cut you got earlier. Whoever gave it to you had no intent of a merciful end. How cruel."
"That's. . . not what I expected to hear from you." Burst said as he kept still. "Honestly? I was expecting you to mock me and boast about how you wouldn't be stopped this time as you revealed yourself to me."
"Believe me. I won't be stopped this time. Namely because I don't plan on doing anything." Nightmare Moon responded. "As for showing myself," Slowly Nightmare Moon materialized from her mist form right behind Burst! "All you had to do was ask Burst Stream."
Burst Stream spun about, and readied his sword and blaster! Getting into a defensive stance with both! "Looks like you remember me too."
"Like you said. You never forget your first kiss." Nightmare Moon said with a giggle as she turned away and sat down on the ruined throne. "In fact, you could say that I owe my rebirth to you."
Burst was confused. "What do you mean you owe it to me?! The Elements of Harmony hit you full force! All that was left was your armor, and that's been destroyed! So how are you here again because of me?"
"I suppose I should start at the beginning. Or should I say, the end?" Nightmare Moon said with a smirk. "Yes, I was blasted with the Elements of Harmony. But think about it. Have they ever actually destroyed what they were unleashed upon? Luna and I were banished to the moon, and Discord was imprisoned in stone. I was defeated. Not destroyed. I was little more than a sentient pile of essence after my second defeat. I had been torn free from Luna, and had become a spirit. For a time, I wandered around these ruins and the forest. But what really caught my eye was a certain celebration. 'Nightmare Night', correct?"
Burst Stream slowly nodded. "Yeah. That's right. I'm guessing you weren't happy about a whole festival being made about you and disgracing your legend?"
"Quite the contrary. I found it quite enjoyable." Nightmare Moon said with a chuckle. "It's refreshing knowing that at least a few good things came from my existence. And that in some way, I was able to fulfill Luna's wish when she made me."
A small smile crept onto Burst's face. "Well, that's good to hea-wait. What do you mean 'made you'?" Burst's smile was quickly replaced with a puzzled expression. "I thought Luna turned into you because of her jealousy! At least, that's what the legend says about you."
"Oh the legend was right. In a way." Nightmare Moon said with an amused smirk. "Luna and I did become one. But that's a story for me to tell when your friends and Celestia and Luna themselves arrive." She then rose from the throne. "I have some things to say to them as well. But that can wait until they arrive tomorrow."
"Wait. You're saying you want BOTH teams of elements AND the princesses to come here?!" Burst Stream asked. "How are you going to let them know you're back? And what did you mean when you said you didn't plan on doing anything?"
Nightmare Moon gave a barely noticeable smile. "Well I plan on inviting them of course." She snapped her fingers, and a black envelope with her talent crest appeared! "And I also plan on making sure they know I'm back." Nightmare Moon's magic aura flared around her for a brief moment before fading away. She then snapped her fingers, and sent the letter to Celestia and Luna via magic! "I was sure to entail that you are currently my guest and that you're unharmed. Though I couldn't exactly say that when I found you. As for what I meant, I mean that I don't plan on pursuing any form of vengeance. I've had time to reflect during my isolation here. Twice now vengeance has been my motive. A thousand years I did nothing put plot and rage on the moon. And in the end, it all amounted to nothing."
"Revenge." Nightmare Moon scoffed. "Such a worthless, futile cause that leads nowhere." She then stared straight ahead. "Instead, I wish to make amends for what I've done. I don't expect any forgiveness, so I won't ask for it. In fact, I don't want it. This is something I'm doing for myself." Nightmare Moon then beckoned for Burst Stream to follow her. "Though it would be hard to do any of that on an empty stomach. Come. I've prepared a little something for us."
Burst would have declined, but a growl from his stomach said otherwise. While the two were dining, Burst looked out of what once was a window. He then attempted to attempt small talk. "Soooo, you never mentioned what I did that made you come back. Would you mind telling me?"
"Well, I suppose it's because you've done what no one else has when speaking to me." Nightmare Moon said as she looked down at her drink. "You. . . talked to me like I was a person. You found out the truth of my story, and you tried to help me. Even when I hurt you." Sadness became more evident in Nightmare Moon's eyes. "You were willing to put your life on the line just to help me and Luna. In short, it's because you believed in me." She then looked right into Burst Stream's eyes. Her teal, draconic eyes staring right into Burst's sapphire orbs. "And if you could believe in me, then it stood to reason that I could too. That catalyzed the magic of the Elements of Harmony that I'd absorbed. Giving me a body of my own."
Gee. Now I kind of feel like I haven't fully kept my promise. Burst thought to himself as he polished off the last of his meal. "Well, nothing else to do. So I guess I'll turn in for the night."
"Wait." Nightmare Moon said. "This castle can get quite cold at night. I know from experience. Two bodies are warmer than one, so why not share a bed tonight? I can promise your slumber and mine will be more pleasant."
Burst sighed. "Sure. Just don't try anything funny! I've already got a girlfriend." And so, Burst followed Nightmare Moon to her bed. Burst removed his weapons, and slipped off his coat. "I'll just sleep topless." Burst crawled under the covers, and closed his eyes. He then felt the covers move a couple minutes later. Indicating Nightmare Moon had joined him. "Well that was fast. I didn't expect you to get changed that quickly."
Nightmare Moon blinked, and a playful smirk soon crept across her face. "Well, that's certainly an advantage of sleeping in the nude." Her response made Burst Stream jolt up! She couldn't help but giggle at his reaction! "What? You didn't expect me to sleep in all that armor did you?"
"NO!" Burst screamed. "But I didn't expect that I'd be lying against your bare naked body all night long!" He was blushing furiously! "Celestia and I haven't even made it that far yet!"
Nightmare Moon laughed at Burst's flustered state! "Well her body and mine are quite similar." She then leaned closer to Burst. "You could take the opportunity to get more. . . familiar." She then decided to have a bit more fun. "By the way? The pillows aren't the softest. But there is a more comfortable alternative."
"I know where you're going with this." Burst Stream grumbled. "But you're not wrong about the pillows. So. . . fine." Burst rested his head against Nightmare Moon's chest. "Huh. Didn't expect this kind of warmth from you. It's. . . kinda nice. . . " Burst soon drifted off to sleep.
"Sweet dreams Burst Stream." Nightmare Moon said with a visible genuine smile. She then rested her head atop Burst's. You're warmth is quite nice as well. . .