A few days had passed after the return to what was the normal routine of CHS. However, there was more excitement in the air due to the upcoming music showcase the school was holding. In the gym, many students were busy decorating posters that would be used to help advertise the acts being showcased. However, among the large body of students, two were having a hard time joining in the effort. But when considering their past actions, it wasn't hard for either of them to see why.
"Need some help?" Sunset Shimmer asked the CMC's counterparts. Despite her hopeful smile, she could tell that the girls wouldn't accept her assistance because of the cautious look in their eyes. Fortunately, she was called over by the Main 6's counterparts. "I guess the consequences of what I've done hit me full force now."
"I wouldn't say you're the only one who's feeling them." Rarity said as she nodded towards Goldenrise. "The two of you are in the same boat, darling."
"We were pretty horrible." Sunset said with a sigh. "People probably thought the two of us were an item. Especially after I brought him out right in front of Flash during our break-up. I know I planned on breaking up with him when I got popular, but I don't know what made me go that far. I was pretty awful, wasn't I?"
"Well. . . " Fluttershy began.
"You were downright evil." Applejack answered. Her response earned her a slight glare from her friends. "But that's the thing about regret Sunset. It means you weren't all that bad."
"Oh! Why don't you talk to Goldie?!" Pinkie Pie suggested. "Maybe the two of you being mopey together can make both of you happy!"
"That. . . isn't all that bad of an idea." Sunset said as she took a moment to process how Pinkie Pie could randomly spit out good ideas. "It's not like the two of us have people flocking to us." And with that in mind, Sunset walked over to Goldenrise. The two of them were in the middle of the gym. Surrounded by people, and yet completely alone at the same time. "Hey Gold."
"Oh. Hello Sunset." Goldenrise said with a dejected tone. "Look at all this. Everyone here's so happy. And we took that away from them. This is probably the second time we've both screwed up something wonderful."
"Yeah." Sunset said as she gripped her arm with a pained expression on her face. "In a lot of ways, we're the same. Both of us were students to wonderful people. We both grew arrogant and greedy and wanted more when we already had more than anyone could ever want. And the two of us looked to our mentors as parental figures."
"Yes." Goldenrise said. "But there's a key difference between you and me. I'm far more disgusted in myself than you are."
"And why's that?" Sunset asked.
"Because I willingly harmed the son of my former master's counterpart." Goldenrise said as he clenched his fist. "It was my recklessness that made Aether expel me as his student. Because of my abilities, I could afford to get hurt. The same could not be said for the people who get stuck in the crossfire. Master Aether always told me that there was one thing more important than my victory. And seeing Burst Stream put himself in harm's way back at the Fall Formal made me realize that. It's why I did nothing and just let the magic hit me."
Burst Stream and his friends were working on getting some posters set up when he noticed Sunset and Goldenrise standing isolated at the center of the gym. He wasn't the only one to take notice as Inferno Flare paused what he was doing and walked over to him.
"You're going to talk to them, aren't you?" Inferno asked. "Are you going to forgive them just like that?"
"No." Burst said as he shook his head. "It's not a question of can, it's a question of should. But that's not why I'm going to talk to Gold. Sunset has the girls to help her. Gold has no one. Right now, I don't see the creep who used my ties to Principal Celestia against me. All I see is someone who needs help. And I'm going to give it to them."
"Well, you wouldn't be you otherwise." Inferno said with a small smile. "I'll tell the guys to play nice with them. Y'know, it's a shame there's no one here who's caught your eye. I can lend you Rarity for a quick outing."
"Dude. We both know I'd never forgive myself for taking that offer." Burst said with a chuckle before making his way over to Goldenrise. "Hey, Gold. Care to give me and the guys a hand with the posters?"
"Sure. I'd like that." Goldenrise said with a hesitant nod. "Burst? I know this probably won't make things right between the two of us, but-"
"Save it. I know you're sorry." Burst said. "I don't hate you Gold. But that doesn't mean I'm just going to forgive your past actions right now. Nothing's going to get better for you instantly. But, that doesn't mean I'm just going to leave you to fend for yourself. I can't stand letting someone who needs help go it alone. It's a part of the promise I made to myself."
"That's more than I deserve." Goldenrise said meekly. "Thank you."
"Just doing what a hero would." Burst Stream said with a shrug. And with that, he and his friends plus Goldenrise set to work getting the posters up around the school. Meanwhile, Sunset was also occupied showing two new groups of students around the school. However, something felt off about both groups. The first was a trio of sisters with strange necklaces on them. And when Sunset reached out towards them, the girls tensed up and guarded their necklaces fiercely. As for the other group, they all seemed to give off a bad feeling. And one of the girls in the group eerily reminded Sunset of the appearance of Nightmare Moon depicted in stories back in Unity.
"Well, that should be it for the tour." Sunset said with a cautious smile. "It should be lunch time soon, so feel free to swing by the cafeteria." 'I've got a bad feeling about those sisters. Something feels off about them. Especially those gems on their necklaces. They feel like magic. Dark magic in particular. Still, jumping to conclusions right now would probably just make things worse for me. As for the other group, the lead guy just seems to scream trouble.'
"Thank you. We'd have been lost without you." Adagio purred as she lead Sonata and Aria towards the cafeteria. "Well, girls. It looks like this school has just what we're looking for."
"Yes!" Sonata cheered as she saw a poster depicting her favorite food. "They have tacos!"
"Would you focus?!" Aria snapped! "You can worry about stuffing your face later! We're here for the magic, remember?"
"As amusing as it is to see the two of you bicker, I'd rather not waste time." Adagio said sternly. Her lips then curled into a devious smirk. "However, I think it's time to give everyone a taste of what's to come. Shall we?" And with that, the gems on their necklaces began to emit a slight glow as the trio of siren sisters began to sing. Captivating the entire cafeteria with their voices.
As soon as the Dazzlings were done performing, Night Terror smirked. "Well then. I believe it's time we show them our sound and let them hear our fury. Wouldn't you agree Nightmare Moon?"
"Fine. Whatever." Nightmare Moon said flatly as she grabbed a microphone and Night Terror and his lackeys grabbed their equipment. They then started performing, and their song was doing a good job of sounding dark and draining. The captivated mood the cafeteria had earlier had now transformed into gloom. However, a precious few weren't affected. Sunset, the Main 6, and Burst and his friends.
'She sounds so beautiful. But, her voice is so sad.' Burst Stream thought as he kept his focus on Nightmare Moon. Taking in her features as she sang. What really caught his eye was her pitch black skin, and the intensity of her teal eyes. 'It's like she's staring into my heart. . . '
"Burst. Hey, Burst!" Steel Edge called out as he nudged Burst Stream back into consciousness. "That song they performed was a bit of a downer. How about we liven things up?"
"Huh? Oh, sure!" Burst Stream said as he shook his head to clear it. "Let's not waste any-Oof!" Burst Stream was so busy trying to get his mind off of Nightmare Moon that he hadn't even realized he'd ran into her while she was leaving the cafeteria! When he noticed he'd bumped into her, he couldn't help but lock eyes with her. "Oh. Sorry about that! I guess I should've paid attention!"
"No harm done." Nightmare Moon said in a neutral tone. Not breaking eye contact. She then noticed the microphone in Burst's hand as the two of them began to get up. "Are you going to sing as well?"
"Yup!" Burst Stream said with a bright smile. "Me and my friends are in a band for the school's music showcase! You sounded pretty good yourself. Did you want to sign up? I think there's still some slots left. But it's kind of a shame your music's such a downer. Your voice is real beautiful."
"I sound. . . beautiful?" Nightmare Moon asked. The only response she got from Burst was a nod and a big smile. "I-"
"YOU!" Night Terror screamed as he stomped up to Burst Stream and got right in his face! "How dare you touch her?! Do you have any idea the disrespect you've shown?! And then you have the audacity to insult our music?!"
"What's your problem, man?!" Burst Stream spat back! "It was just an accident! I even apologized to her! There's no need to go ballistic on me!"
"Oh, there's plenty of need!" Night Terror growled as he forcefully put an arm around Nightmare Moon. "SHE is my queen! The fact someone like you has dirtied her with your presence gives me all the reason I need to get angry!"
"So, she's your girlfriend?" Burst Stream asked with a raised eyebrow. "Dude, it's not like I was trying to steal her from you. There's no need for you to go and make a scene over this."
"Listen carefully boy." Night Terror said as he narrowed his eyes. "Her name is Nightmare Moon. And you should count yourself fortunate that you haven't provoked her. For if anyone upsets her in the slightest, I won't hesitate to eliminate them so they'll never trouble her again. Is. That. Clear?"
"Yeah. It's clear, that you're a bit too possessive." Burst Stream quipped. "Now if you'll excuse me, my friends and I are going to dispel all the gloom you let loose." And with that, Burst Stream and his friends got their equipment ready, and began to play.
Song Burst and the guys perform(I suggest listening to the whole song):
Soon after Burst Stream and his friends finished performing, the entire cafeteria cheered! Sadly, the fun couldn't last forever as lunch period soon came to an end. As the bell rang, students shuffled out of the cafeteria towards their lockers to grab any books or supplies they needed for their next class. However, one person was watching Burst's performance with great interest. And they soon followed him to his locker.
'Hmm. Wonder what song we should perform at the showcase?' Burst Stream thought to himself as he opened up his locker. 'It's gotta be something fun that really gets the crowd going. . . '
"Hello." Nightmare Moon said as she was barely a foot away from Burst Stream! She had moved so quietly that Burst hadn't even realized he'd been followed! Nightmare Moon's eyes had a sad look in them when she realized she'd startled Burst. "Oh. I didn't mean to scare you."
"Like you said earlier, no harm done." Burst Stream said with a kind smile. "So. Nightmare Moon, huh?"
"It's the only name I have." Nightmare Moon said with a shrug. "The only thing I have left that my mother gave me."
"Oh." Burst Stream said. "Is she-?"
"No. She's very much alive." Nightmare Moon said with a shake of her head. "She works here at this school. But I honestly don't know if I should even see her. I made life difficult for her before I left her."
"Well, I can't tell you what you should do. That's not for me to decide." Burst Stream said with a nervous look on his face. "But, maybe you should just let her know that you're back and say you need some space. Who knows? Maybe she's been waiting for you to come back."
"I've only dreamed of that happening." Nightmare Moon said as a small giggle escaped her lips.
"I was right. You do sound better when you're happy." Burst Stream said with a smile. "So. What else do you need from me?"
"It's about when you were performing." Nightmare Moon answered. "You looked like you were enjoying yourself up there. And you also made everyone else smile. How?"
"Well, I guess it's because I was performing something that I enjoyed." Burst Stream scratched his head. "Don't you enjoy the music that you're performing?"
". . . " Nightmare Moon was silent. "Let's just say that I'm regretting some choices. Also, I never got your name."
"Burst Stream." Burst answered with a smile. "It was nice meeting you too! I'd continue talking, but I gotta get to class!"
"Burst Stream. . . " Nightmare Moon said to herself as she roamed the hallway.
However, Burst Stream was not as alone as he thought. For in the reflective surfaces along his path, the dragon he'd encountered the night of the Fall Formal trailed him.
'These new arrivals are troubling indeed.' Dracoplatinum thought as he followed Burst from the other side of the mirrors. He then turned his attention to the mirror monsters gathering. 'It looks like the recent surge of magic has attracted more than one sort of unwanted visitors. . .'