"Hey Burst." Inferno said with a nervous smile. "How're you holding up buddy?"
"If this is about my condition being accelerated by that stunt I pulled, I'm not mad about it." Burst Stream answered in a neutral tone. "I won't lie, it's still pretty distressing to know that I've got a ticking clock and I just shaved a lot more time off it in that last fight. But I've already had a breakdown and nearly drowned in my despair when all of you guys pulled me out of it. Plus, this isn't the first time I've been hit with something heavy. There was the time that Shining Dawn broke up Celestia and me. Honestly? I think that hurt me more than what I'm currently going through because I actually felt like I was dead inside. But in the end, I came out stronger for it because I accepted my dark side and came out of it more whole."
"And that's just supposed to make this all okay?!" Inferno snapped! The Element of Potential soon regained his composure and sighed. "Sorry. It's just. . . I know the risk when I decided to join up with you. All of us knew that we might not make it out in one piece ever since our first battle. But you're probably the best friend I've ever had. You helped me become more than what I set out to be. The same goes for the rest of the guys too."
"And it doesn't seem fair that my life's got a ticking clock." Burst Stream said sadly. However, a small smile crept across his face. "That's why we've got make the time I've got left the best we've ever had! You remember that party Pinkie Pie threw me, right? She did that because she didn't want any sad faces when I left. Maybe it won't stop any tears from flowing, but I couldn't live with myself if I saw any of my friends not seeing me off with smiles."
"Burst Stream?" Twilight asked as she took a seat next to the Element of Power. "I know that I wasn't the greatest friend back at Celestia's School for Gifted Magi. But in these few years I've spent in Unityville with all our friends, I can say I know what I was missing out on when you'd take Spike out to goof off. It makes me sad that I didn't take that chance. . . "
"Hey. No use moping about it now." Burst Stream said with a small smile. "You've made up for it now, and I know it would've been a mistake to take you since you're also a part of how I made so many friends too! You're all going to remember me when I'm gone, right?"
"Of course we'd remember!" Twilight exclaimed! "I don't think any of us would ever want to forget you! Why would you even say something like that?!"
"Because then I won't be truly dead." Burst Stream said with a sad smile. "But do me a favor? Please don't go and make some sort of statue of me. As long as all of you guys knew me, that's all I really care about."
"Well since we're bringing this up, I think you should sit the next round out Burst." Inferno said as he crossed his arms. "You said it yourself. That new finisher you came up with used a heavy amount of magic and its only accelerated your condition. Plus, I've got the feeling the next round is going to be aerial combat. Grand Jupiter even hinted at it."
"If you're worried about me being at a disadvantage, don't." Burst Stream said with a frown. "Maybe you forgot, but my Nightmare Form has wings of light that I can use to fly."
"But didn't you feel pain when transforming?" Twilight noted. "I remember you told us that when you tried transforming your entire body felt pain and you couldn't maintain your Nightmare Form. And there's no telling what the strain of maintaining it in your condition!"
"That's a risk we're going to have to take." Burst Stream said with an edge in his voice. "Outside of those of us who've become Avatars, Inferno and I are some of the strongest fighters of our groups! And since Fluttershy's our healer, we're going to need to give her as much cover as possible because her team position makes her a target! So far the team for this round is going to be Inferno, Shadow, Ice, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Nightfall and myself. I can use my magic to cast a shield spell to protect her, and Nightfall's still a bit inexperienced. Meaning he's going to need someone watching his back."
"As much as I hate the fact you're doing this, I can see the reasoning." Twilight said with a sigh. "Besides, this isn't the first time you've been on your last legs during a fight. And. . . please make sure Nightfall makes it out safe. But above all, don't try to do anything that accelerates your countdown!"
"No need to worry princess." Burst said with a chuckle. "I'll make sure your little crush makes it out without a scratch. And I'll try that last one too." And with that, the Element of Power threw his coat on and transformed into his Nightmare Form! White wings of light sprouting upon the transformation's completion. "Time for the Gladiator Beasts to meet their worst nightmare."
And with that, the small squadron of fliers stepped out towards the arena. Though their battlefield would be the open air, their opponents met them on the ground.
"The skies shall not be so friendly today!" Grand Jupiter announced from his throne! "For today you elements are pitted against Equeste the Sky Centaur, Lanista the falcon, Bestiari the hawk, Augustus the crow, and Octavius the eagle! Who shall soar, and who shall fall?" With a wave of Grand Jupiter's hand, the round began! The fliers of both teams of elements took off without delay!
Burst in his nightmare form was internally wincing in pain as his condition made maintaining his Nightmare Form. However, the strength of his will allowed him to power through the pain. He'd just cast the Aegis shield spell around Fluttershy, and joined his friends in a defensive line. However, when the Gladiator Beasts flew towards them, they ignored Burst Stream's friends and aimed their sights on him!
"Looks like I just became the center of attention!" Burst Stream muttered as he slotted the homing shot spell magazine into one of his blasters and opened fire at the Gladiator Beasts flying at him! Each shot hitting their intended target! "Alright. What's got you all gunning for me?" Burst Stream snapped as he blocked a swipe from the talons of Octavius!
"You defeated Alexander in combat!" Octavius said with a smirk. "That makes you the strongest among your team! So if we are able to best you, then our names shall be remembered in glory!"
"So you all plan on shooting me down do you?" Nightmare Burst asked with a smirk. "Well, that won't be happening today!"
"Because you consider yourself so strong you have no need for your comrades?" Octavius said with a sneer as he and his fellow aerial Gladiator Beasts circled Burst like vultures! Each of them shoving each other as their circle tightened around Burst Stream! However a shot of fire and a quick boomerang strike downed two of their number!
"No. Because I've got some pretty solid friends to watch my back." Nightmare Burst said as his hands were covered by the aura of his magic! Burst then let loose a blast of lightning! Jolting the aerial Gladiator Beasts long enough for his friends to split their enemies apart! However, this action was not without its cost. "Ngh!"
Burst's entire body seized up in pain as he seemed to fluctuate in and out of his nightmare form! New cracks exposing unstable magic coursing through his body and old cracks spreading farther! Lightning crackling around Burst Stream's body! The aerial Gladiator Beasts took this as a chance to try and finish off Burst, but an aura of unstable magic shot out from Burst Stream! Shocking them all once more! And just as violently as the aura had arrived, it died down soon after! Fortunately, Burst was quick to recover and resumed his nightmare form!
'It was taking me a lot of focus to maintain this form.' Burst Stream thought to himself. 'But that flare of magic made it feel like my whole body was being torn apart! Is that what Dad meant when he said I'd know when my condition was worsening?!'
Rainbow Dash rolled out of the charging Equeste! Just barely evading getting bashed by the Gladiator Beast's shield! However, Rainbow Dash held the edge in speed over her opponent as she circled Equeste so fast that she formed a tornado around him! Using her boomerang to strike at Equeste from all sides! The Gladiator Beast was worn down from the frequency of Rainbow Dash's hits!
"Time for a shocking finish!" Rainbow Dash said with a smirk as she launched herself forward at Equeste! Striking the Gladiator Beast square in the chest and sending him plummeting to the arena ground! The Gladiator Beast turning to stone upon defeat and shattering!
Meanwhile Nightfall Silver had been using this battle to test out the flight pack of his suit. Needless to say, it was performing quite well as he was jetting around Bestiari! The beast tried to cut Nightfall down with his talons, but Nightfall's armor proved to be more resilient than his prototype suit!
"Sorry! But you're the only one who's getting their wings clipped!" Nightfall quipped as the twin strident cannons on his flight pack powered up alongside the strident blasters on his palms! "Super Strident Blaze!" A trio of blue, fire-like lasers shot forth from Nightfall! In a flash, Bestiari was wiped out! The Gladiator Beast turning to stone upon being defeated and shattering as he hit the ground!
"Hey bro!" Shadow Thunder called out as he avoided a swing from the sword of Augustus! "Think you can keep this guy off me? There's something I've been meaning to try with my spear!"
"You got it Shadow!" Dark Ice said as he swatted Augustus with his claymore! "C'mon you ugly buzzard! I'm right here! Fresh meat!"
"Maybe I'll make like a group of crows and murder you!" Augustus shrieked as he flew at Dark Ice! The crow Gladiator Beat raising his sword to strike Dark Ice down! Only for a bolt of lightning to smite him! Dark Ice saw Shadow Thunder with his spear raised and sparks of electricity coming from the spear's point!
"Just giving him a bit of a shock." Shadow Thunder said with a smirk.
"Guess you're not as defenseless as you used to be." Dark Ice said with a smile. ". . . You're still my baby brother though."
"Yeah. I figured." Shadow Thunder said with a pout. He then looked to Inferno's fight. "Hey look! Inferno's on fire!" And true to the Element of Compassion's words, Inferno was indeed on fire. In particular, his sword.
Inferno Flare was beating down hard on Lanista! The falcon Gladiator Beast's Spear proved no match against the dragon scales that were now Inferno's skin! Couple that with Inferno now being able to ignite his sword, he was able to render Lanista's weapon as little more than a melted piece of junk!
"Time to roast this bird!" Inferno grunted as he hurled a fireball at Lanista! Scorching the Gladiator Beast to little more than ashes! "Only one beast left!" Inferno turned his head in Burst's direction, and saw that Burst was engaging Octavius! However, it was clear that Burst Stream was the one at a disadvantage as he seemed to have trouble maintaining his Nightmare Form. Namely because Octavius was spamming shooting razor-sharp feathers at Burst Stream as he orbited him! "Oh man! Not good!"
'Great! As if trying to maintain this form was hard enough!' Burst thought as he tried to shield himself! 'Then this guy decides to pelt me with feathers that're sharp like knives! Even if I use my magic to cast a shield spell around myself, I still need to concentrate on making sure the shield can hold! With all these projectiles being fired at me, I doubt I'd be able to make a shield that would last a second! He can't actually hurt my wings because they're made of light, but he probably me noticed me having trouble with my transformation!'
"You're not so tough now!" Octavius boasted as he kept firing more and more razor feathers! "Perhaps that burst of unstable magic you unleashed warrior was the only real trump card you had on me! If that's all you have then fall! Fall! FAALLL!" Unfortunately for Octavius, he gave Burst Stream an idea on how to win this fight.
Burst Stream crossed his arms, and focused his magic throughout his entire body! With a mighty shout, he unleashed another aura blast of magic! The blast shocking Octavius upon release! Not wanting to waste the opening that had been provided, Burst punched Octavius towards the ground! As the Gladiator Beast was plummeting, Burst channeled his magic and energy into his right foot before using his nightmare form's wings of light to launch himself down towards Octavius! His rapid descent adding more momentum and resulting in a devastating force when Burst's kick struck Octavius! The Gladiator Beast exploding not long after contact!
Burst landed safely, but was exhausted as he reverted back to his normal form. But he wasn't too tired to cry out in pain as he felt cracks form on his right leg and new tiny cracks starting to creep across the rest of his body. ". . . Crap." Burst Stream uttered as he fell onto his back exhausted. "I can't believe I broke my promise. Sorry Twilight." And with that, he passed out.
As the Elements gathered their strength, Grand Jupiter had gathered the spirits of the Gladiator Beasts that had been defeated in the round and put them with the other spirits of the other defeated Gladiator Beasts. He then started mixing the spirits together to creates new, more powerful warriors! And he immediately struck them down and abosrped the spirits into himself!
"With this strength, I shall make even an Avatar kneel!" Grand Jupiter boasted. His memories then turned to Steel Edge. "And I know just the one who shall fall first. . . "