//------------------------------// // Episode 29: The Power of Hope, Part 2 // Story: EoH Evolution: Season 6 // by Bahamut0 //------------------------------// The whole city was silent as the two powerhouses stared each other down. Blitz Surge's face was twisted in pure rage while Burst Stream still had his heroic smile on full display. "Hey, Shining Spoon? Why don't you grab your friends and take a few steps back." Burst Stream suggested. "This is where things get real." "R-Right!" Shining Spoon frantically nodded as he used his Earthbound strength to carry his friends away from the battlefield! Blitz Surge looked like he was about to explode, but his enraged expression suddenly faded and a cruel smile spread across his face. A dark chuckle escaped from his mouth as he glared at Burst Stream! "What's got you laughing?" Burst Stream asked. "I've taken a good look at the state of your armor." Blitz Surge smirked. "It was so badly damaged from earlier in our fight that it probably can't withstand another hit! Even if it can regenerate, it won't be able to reform fast enough to tank another hit from me! The source of what allowed you to face me on equal ground is now slowly crumbling away! At long last, the gap between our strength is reestablished!" "You know what? You're right." Burst Stream chuckled. "Because I don't need the armor to beat you. I just needed to break down the barrier. Getting to play around with my new power suit was just a bonus. You, on the other hand, were fighting with a massive crutch the whole time." With a sudden burst of magic, Burst Stream forced the armor off of himself! The pieces clattering to the ground after being ejected off him! "How can using the greatest power at your disposal be a crutch?" Blitz Surge scoffed. "Because you can become over reliant on it. That's why." Burst Stream answered. His heroic smile never once fading! "Besides, it's past time I start facing you with my own power!" Burst Stream drew his two-in-one Duelist Arm, and converted it into its lightsaber form! "So you wish to clash blades with me? Very well then!" Blitz Surge frowned as he drew his katana! "Have at you!" "Not yet!" Burst Stream protested. "If this is just between us, then let them get clear." Burst gestured to the gathered civilians who were bound by the chain constructs manifested by Blitz Surge! "Besides, you don't want to risk harming your audience. Right?" "Very well. I suppose there's no need to start a slaughter." Blitz Surge scoffed as he dismissed the chains with a snap of his fingers! As the civilians went running for cover the instant they were freed, an evil smile creeping across his face. "Your crucified corpse will serve as an eternal reminder of the price to pay for defiance!" "If I fall, my friends will rise to finish the fight." Burst Stream retorted calmly. His smile seemed to brighten at saying this! "But make no mistake, I'm going to win! Like I told you before, I just need to get in one good hit and then the fight's mine!" "You're a fool." Blitz Surge chuckled. "You think your friends can surpass the power I have?" "For someone who claims to be a 'true hero', you're lacking the greatest weapon a hero can have." Burst Stream's smile was practically glowing now! "It's because I have that weapon that I'll beat you. Even if I fall, it's why my friends will defeat you in my place. And it's something beyond your understanding." "I grow tired of you lecturing me." Blitz Surge growled before shooting forward! His katana aimed to pierce Burst Stream's heart! "BE SILENT FOREVERMORE, PRETENDER!" Burst Stream simply smirked, and parried with his lightsaber! The two blades clashing with a thunderous clang as shockwaves rippled through the air! "Aw, and just when we were having such a nice conversation!" Burst Stream quipped as he drew his blaster and fired at Blitz Surge! Blitz got hit by the shots, but they did little to damage him! However, they managed to catch him off-guard giving Burst Stream a chance to land a slash across Blitz Surge's chest and a swift kick to the side! But Blitz Surge caught Burst's foot right as it reached him, and hurled him into the air! It wasn't too much of a detriment to Burst Stream as he used his wings to stabilize himself and hover above Blitz Surge! Growling, Blitz channeled the power of Harmony into the blade of his katana and unleashed an energy slash at Burst Stream! Burst responded by strafing out of the way, and diving towards Blitz Surge! In his fury, Blitz Surge sent out more energy slashes but still failed to land a hit as Burst Stream descended towards him! Switching up his strategy, Blitz channeled his magic and fired a barrage of lasers at Burst Stream! Wasting no time, Burst Stream used his Duelist Arm's lightsaber mode to deflect a few of the blasts! One of the deflected blasts actually struck Blitz in the chest and made him stumble back a bit! Seizing the brief window, Burst Stream teleported in front of Blitz Surge and fired a blast of white lightning at point blank range! With the tyrant briefly stunned, Burst Stream unleashed one of his strongest attacks! Magic gathering into his hand as he unleashed it! "MEGA FLARE" Burst Stream roared with all his might! A massive blast of magic power exploding right where Blitz Surge stood! For a second, it seemed like the fight was over. But Burst Stream knew better than that as he back-dashed away from the dust cloud and took a defensive stance! "If there's anything watching anime has taught me, it's never this easy." The smoke from the blast had not even cleared as a barrage of magic blasts shot towards Burst Stream! Reacting quickly, Burst managed to deflect them all! And when the dust cleared, Blitz Surge stood relatively unscathed! The only noticeable damage was to his robes, but that was instantly undone when a rainbow-colored aura surrounded Blitz and mended his clothing! "So that's the technique you used to destroy the forces sent to the Crystal Empire." Blitz Surge smirked as he dusted his shoulders off. "It's strange that you're still standing. An attack of that magnitude must require a considerable amount of magic power." "It only took a lot out of me last time because I used another attack that needed a lot of magic." Burst Stream replied. "I'm still in this fight, Blitz! You were right when you compared me to a dragon! Like them, it takes a lot to get me down and it takes even more to make sure I stay down!" "Then I shall simply grind you into the ground!" Blitz Surge hissed as he powered up his magic. Only to get an annoyed sigh from Burst Stream! "C'mon, Blitz!" Burst Stream groaned! "I went through the trouble of activating my weapon!" ". . . Fair enough." Blitz Surge scoffed. "Besides, I've been longing for the chance for my blade to fell you!" Blitz Surge shot forward at Burst Stream, but Burst jumped into the air right as Blitz swung! While he was airborne, Burst Stream flapped his dragon wings to fly right at Blitz Surge! Channeling magic power into the blade of his lightsaber! "DRAGON STRIKE!" Burst Stream cried out as an energy projection of a dragon shot towards Blitz Surge right as Burst swung his blade! However, the energy projection was cut in half as Blitz Surge channeled the power of Harmony into the blade covering it in a rainbow-colored aura! Burst narrowed his eyes as he took note of this! "Time to get up-close and personal!" "My sentiments exactly." Blitz Surge growled as he readied his katana! "It's time I slay you with my actual blade!" Both fighters charged at each other full force! The clanging of their blades booming like thunder and the light emitted from their clashes looked like stars flickering on and off! From the ground to the air, neither was willing to yield! On a nearby rooftop, all of Burst's friends were watching the battle with baited breath and great apprehension! "Shouldn't we jump in and help Burst Stream?" Twilight suggested. "I mean, all of us together could probably take Blitz Surge on easily." "Twilight. We're Burst's friends. Of course we'll help him." Inferno Flare answered. Twilight was about to reply, but he held up his hand for silence. "When he ACTUALLY needs our help. Trust me when I say Burst Stream can handle this fight." Inferno then returned his attention to the fight. "Besides, this is his fight to begin with. Ever since Burst Stream came back, a clash between these two was inevitable." "This is Burst's fight." Nightmare Moon stated as she crossed her arms. Despite the calm tone of her voice, concern was visible in her eyes. "It's natural to worry about him, but we have to have faith in him." "Thought we might not be by his side, we are with him." Celestia said as she put a hand over her heart and closed her eyes. A small smile on her face as she did so. "And I believe that's something Burst Stream knows quite well." Satisfied with that response, Twilight returned to observing the battle between Burst Stream and Blitz Surge. The fight had intensified so much that now auras of power had exploded to life around both combatants! Blitz Surge was cloaked in a rainbow-colored aura while Burst Stream's aura was bluish-white and dragon-like in form! "So much for you crushing me with your bare hands!" Burst Stream smirked as he blocked another strike from Blitz Surge! "Y'know, in our first official fight, you gave me crap for using blasters. But here you are just swinging your sword around without any form of control." "SILENCE!" Blitz Surge roared! "First you lecture me and then you mock me?! I command the power of Harmony! I liberated the throne and this land from the useless gods who once ruled us! And now you look down on me?! I AM THE TRUE HERO! ME!" "No you're not!" Burst Stream snapped as the two locked blades! "You can call yourself a hero all you like, but that's not a call for you to make! Heroes aren't defined by their words but by their actions! And the actions you've performed are anything but heroic!" Burst Stream managed to overpower Blitz Surge, and used this chance to hammer away at him! "You manipulated Luna by playing with her heart! You stole the Tree of Harmony's power! And using that power, you cheated to win a fight you would have lost without it!" As Burst Stream listed each of the evil Blitz Surge committed, his strikes carried more power in them! "I HAD TO DO IT!" Blitz Surge screamed as he shot a blast of harmony magic at Burst! The Element of Power dodged the blast, and the clash resumed!"You gave me no choice! You ruined all of my original plans! I had it all figured out! When all hope seemed lost, I would arrive! I would be a legend for saving Unity in its darkest hour! Father would notice my heroic deeds and praise me as a hero and name me his successor! But then you had to come along and ruin everything!" "I never stole anything from you!" Burst Stream countered! "You only have yourself to blame for all that's happened to you! You never once risked your life to fight against whatever evil showed up to menace Unity! My friends and I have gone out into every battle knowing we might not make it out in one piece, but we still fought anyway! Because we were willing to protect our home and the people we love! When I compare us, I can't help but laugh because you're a pathetic excuse for a hero! And despite you being half of my dad, there's no way you'll ever come close to being even half the hero he is!" "SHUT UP!" Blitz Surge roared! "I REFUSE TO WITHSTAND A PRETENDER LIKE YOU ANY LONGER!" "You've never shown any respect for me, so why should I give any to you?" Burst Stream asked with a frown before sighing. "But if you want me to take you seriously. . . " Burst Stream took a deep breath as a sphere of darkness formed around him before exploding to reveal his nightmare form! "Then you're in for a real nightmare." Burst Stream then teleported above Blitz Surge and slashed at him! Blitz swung at Burst, but when he struck it was revealed that the Burst Stream above him was just an afterimage as the real Burst slashed him at his side! Blitz Surge was so stunned by the trick he failed to notice Burst Stream kick him in the chest! "My nightmare form boosts all my speed, power, and magic." Burst Stream stated coolly. "Kind of like how the power of Harmony works as a boost for you. Only this power comes from me. Not something I stole because I couldn't accept the possibility of defeat." Blitz Surge growled before he noticed the evacuated crowd looking up at their battle! A cruel smile spread across his face as he pointed a finger at Burst Stream! "MONSTER!" Blitz Surge declared! "You show your true colors at last! The dragon wings on your back made me suspicious, but your current appearance confirms it! You've become less human than before you were assumed dead in your fight with Tirek! DO YOU SEE, UNITY?" But to his frustration, no one was reacting in shock or terror! "They already know about my nightmare form." Burst Stream stated with a frown as he narrowed his eyes. "And really? Trying to turn the public against me? It didn't work when you took over. And it still fails now. Maybe physically I'm not fully human, but I'm human where it counts. Which is more than I can say for you." "I have become a higher being!" Blitz Surge screamed! He sheathed his katana, and began channeling the power of Harmony into his entire body making him bulk up! "I told you I would crush you with my bare hands. . . IT'S TIME I DELIVER ON MY WORDS!" "Really now?" Burst Stream smirked as he holstered his own weapon! "BRING IT ON!" Both fighters charged at each other! When they were within striking distance of each other, both let out a flurry of punches and kicks! Each strike carrying great speed and power! However, Blitz Surge noticed something as they traded blows. One of his strikes managed to graze Burst Stream, but it seemed to make his nightmare form melt away for a brief instant! With an evil glint in his eye, he sent out a pulse of the power of harmony to force Burst Stream back! Burst Stream's nightmare form seemed to flux for a minute before stabilizing! "It would appear your power-up state is at a type disadvantage!" Blitz Surge sneered. "Just means I have to stay out of your reach!" Burst Stream shot back! "Easier said than done!" Blitz Surge smirked as he used the power of Harmony to summon a barrage of projectiles consisting of lasers, arrow constructs, and orbs of energy that exploded upon contact! What was once a fist fight had suddenly shifted into a bullet rain! 'Crap! He's really keeping me busy with this!' Burst Stream thought as he maneuvered through the storm of projectiles he was caught in! 'If I slip up even once, I'm done for! One opening is all he needs!' Unfortunately for Burst Stream, he was already within the opening that Blitz Surge was waiting for! As Burst dodged the bullet rain, Blitz Surge was concentrating the power of Harmony into the blade of his katana. And when he saw Burst's back to him, he struck without any warning! Streaking past Burst Stream and slicing into his side! Burst Stream had barely registered what happened when he felt a sudden pain in his side! And the instant he doubled over, the storm of projectiles slammed into him! Pelting him mercilessly and striking faster than he could react! When the barrage was over, Burst Stream was just barely hovering in the air and flickering back and forth between his regular form and nightmare form! "It's fitting you took that form, brother." Blitz Surge smirked as he hovered above Burst Stream! "Because like the original nightmare, you shall fall by the power of harmony!" Without mercy, Blitz sent out a massive energy slash of Harmony that ripped into Burst Stream and sent him plummeting toward the ground! Acting quickly, Burst Stream managed to recover from his fall and land on his feet! However, he soon fell to one knee, panting in exhaustion as his nightmare form faded away! While it may have given Burst Stream a power boost, it also needed to be maintained throughout the course of the fight! Right now, Burst Stream was at his most vulnerable! And as Blitz Surge descended, things weren't looking good for the Element of Power! "All that punishment, and you still refuse to fall." Blitz Surge frowned as he looked down on Burst Stream. "Do you truly refuse to believe that you've lost? Face reality, brother! I have won! All your words are now rendered pointless! I have cast aside all that shackles me in order to pursue my goal! And now here I stand! The TRUE son of Aether and the real hero of this land! You! Have! Lost!" All was dead quiet for a whole minute as time seemed to freeze. But the silence was soon broken from a faint sound. One that grew louder by the second. Burst Stream was slowly but surely getting back on his feet, and laughing all the while! "Heh. Heh heh! Ha ha ha! HA HA HA HA HA HA!" "Have you finally gone mad from the pain?" Blitz Surge asked as he tilted his head to the side in curiosity. "Or have you cracked upon realizing that I am right?" "No." Burst Stream answered with a heroic smile as he stared right back at Blitz Surge! "I just realized how pathetically weak you are! You might be more powerful than me, but you'll never be stronger! Casting aside all that you think is unnecessary? That's the thinking of a coward who's too scared to carry a burden on his shoulders! You took the quick and easy path, Blitz Surge! And that's why you'll never beat me! I won't lie, it's hard having to care about the people you hold dear when you fight. Sometimes it can seem like everything would be much easier if you didn't think about them at all. But that's wrong! It's because of them that you have a reason to fight harder and push past your limits! My friends aren't the source of my power, but they're why I've become as strong as I am! So go ahead! Smite me with your 'great and mighty power'! Just know that even if you defeat me, I'll still win!" "What kind of nonsense are you speaking?!" Blitz Surge hissed! "Isn't it obvious?" Burst Stream smirked. "You've made it your life's mission to wipe me off the face of the earth. I'm probably the only challenge you've ever had even when you cheat with the power of Harmony. Once I'm gone, you'll have nothing because you've wasted your life on getting 'revenge' for something that was never my fault to begin with. Dad's never going to accept you. After the horrible thing you tried to do to your own mom, I doubt she'd ever look at you again. And we all know the people would never accept you as their hero!" Burst Stream's eyes were full of defiance as he stared down Blitz Surge! "WRONG!" Blitz Surge snapped! "ONCE YOU'RE DEAD, I WILL HAVE EVERYTHING! I AM THE HERO! ME!" The power of Harmony began to pool together in a massive orb of energy between Blitz Surge's hands! The full force of the power of Harmony contained within it! "A WORTHLESS PRETEND HERO LIKE YOU HAS NO RIGHT TO LIVE! NOW DIE!" A massive blast of rainbow-colored energy came screaming towards Burst Stream! The blast completely enveloped him upon impact and a blinding rainbow-colored pillar of light formed where he stood! When the light faded and the smoke began to clear, all of Castalot looked on in shock, disbelief, and horror. It seemed as if their best hope against Blitz Surge had fallen. But when the smoke cleared, it was revealed that Burst Stream was still standing! However, it didn't look like he was in good shape. His body was pretty roughed up from taking the full force of the blast and his hair shadowed his eyes. Despite the fact he was still standing after such a massive attack, Burst Stream was completely still. In fact, it looked like he was dead. However, the fact Burst Stream was standing enraged Blitz Surge even more! With a scowl he descended back to the ground and slowly drew his katana as he approached the motionless Burst Stream! "I drove you from your home, imprisoned father, and even unleashed the full might of Harmony upon you." Blitz Surge growled as he marched toward Burst Stream! "And even now, you still stand against me!" Blitz was an arm's length away from Burst Stream, and the crowd was frozen in utter terror as he raised his blade! "But today marks your final stand brother!" Blitz Surge glared hatefully at the still form of Burst Stream. "NOW YOU FA-?!" Without any warning, Blitz Surge was sent flying back by a powerful punch to the face! Blitz was hit so hard that he was bleeding from the strike! And as he picked himself up, the tyrant's eyes shrunk to pin pricks. Burst Stream's arm was held out with a closed fist and it looked like he was breathing! But that wasn't what shocked Blitz Surge the most. ". . . Told you." Burst Stream said as he took one step forward. His arms hanging lazily at his sides as he advanced! Making Blitz Surge freeze in disbelief! "I told you. All I need is one good hit. . . " Burst Stream clenched his fists, stomped one foot down, and glared right at Blitz Surge! His eyes filled with life and fighting spirit! "AND THEN THE FIGHT'S MINE!" Blitz Surge was trembling in fear! All of the power of Harmony was put into the massive beam he'd just fired! So how?! How was Burst Stream still alive?! However, his fears were soon overshadowed by anger as he wiped blood from his face! "You made me bleed. . . " Blitz Surge murmured as he stared at the blood on his hand. His shocked expression morphing into an animalistic snarl! "YOU MADE ME BLEED!" "That one hit was just for me." Burst Stream cracked his knuckles! "I've got plenty more for you from my friends!" "Why will you not fall?!" Blitz Surge snarled! "Why do you oppose the world I wish to create?! A world where justice and order prevail! Where peace is eternal! Where the right thing to do is the ONLY thing to do!" "I already told you Blitz." Burst Stream replied calmly. "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings! One that no one has in your 'perfect' world! The world you describe is a world without heroes!" "You speak so highly of freedom, but look at what some have done with it!" Blitz Surge snapped! "Luna turning into Nightmare Moon! Discord's reign of chaos and misery! Sombra enslaving the Crystal Empire! All of them freely chose to do evil, and that freedom let them commit terrible deeds!" "Maybe so. But you've only looked at one half of the picture." Burst Stream frowned. "Twilight and the girls. Me and my friends. And then we have villains who reformed. All of us freely chose to either take up the fight against evil, or to turn their lives around for the better! A world without the freedom to make that choice is a world without heroes! A hero isn't someone who just chooses the right thing because they have to! Heroes are people who make a choice between right and wrong, and chooses the right thing to do simply because they can and want to!" "I grow tired of your voice pretender!" Blitz Surge hissed! "If one blast of the full power of Harmony was not enough," Blitz Surge began to channel his magic! "Then perhaps two will finish the job!" But to his shock, Blitz Surge couldn't feel the power of Harmony gathering! "What?! Why can't I-GAH!" Blitz Surge was forced onto his back by a rainbow-colored blast of magic! "Looking for that?" Burst Stream asked as he stepped closer! A rainbow-colored aura of power enveloping his entire being! But instead of the dull and muted aura Blitz Surge had projected, this one was bursting with vibrancy yet it seemed calm and collected at the same time! "You must have lost your inner harmony." "Impossible. . . " Blitz said in horror! Denial, fear, and anger pulsing through his core!"IMPOSSIBLE! HOW?! HOW CAN A WORTHLESS PRETEND HERO LIKE YOU COMMAND THE POWER OF HARMONY?! IT WAS MINE!" "It was never yours." Burst Stream replied coolly. "And it's not mine to command either. Nobody is meant to control it. That's what your mom shared with me and my friends. She explained that Harmony isn't some mindless force, it's sentient. It determines who wields it. Like when it chose Twilight and the girls to be the Elements of Harmony. And the same principle applies to how Harmony uses its power. Nightmare Moon and Luna's banishment, and Discord's imprisonment being prime examples. And with how you've been misusing Harmony, it refused to work with you." "HOW MUCH MORE MUST YOU STEAL FROM ME?!" Blitz Surge roared! Powering up his magic, he unleashed a massive blast! However, Burst Stream batted the beam aside and advanced towards Blitz Surge! "No! NO! NOOO! STAY AWAY!" Blitz Surge screamed in fear as he let loose blast after blast of magic! His entire body trembling as he fired in a blind panic! Burst Stream said nothing as he flew right at Blitz Surge and unleashed a Harmony-powered uppercut that launched Blitz Surge into the sky! Not wasting any time, Burst Stream drew his Duelist Arm in its blaster form and charged up a shot! But instead of the standard blue, the shot was rainbow-colored! Once it was fully powered, the charged shot rocketed towards Blitz Surge and stunned him upon contact! Rainbow-colored lightning crackling around Blitz Surge's stunned form! Burst Stream converted the blaster to its lightsaber form! The blade igniting in a brilliant rainbow-color! Taking a deep breath, Burst Stream flew at his top speed and slashed at Blitz Surge! A large slash mark appeared on Blitz Surge's chest and light poured from the wound! Before Blitz Surge could cry out in pain, Burst Stream teleported behind him and slashed apart his wings of light! An instant later, Burst Stream was slashing him at his top speed and making cuts all over Blitz Surge! The assault culminating with a massive overhead swing from Burst Stream that cut right down the middle of Blitz Surge, and concluding with a massive explosion! When the smoke cleared, Blitz Surge was in one piece but looked even worse than Burst's battered state! His divine robes were in tatters and his body was riddled with slash marks and cuts! Each wound leaking a tainted white light! "Why. . . ?" Blitz croaked out as he weakly hovered in the air. "I cast aside. . . all that didn't matter. I commanded the power of Harmony. And still I lost to you?!" "That's exactly why you lost." Burst Stream answered. "I told you earlier that my friends are why I'm so strong. It's because carried a 'burden' that I became stronger. But there's another reason why I'm stronger than you. That reason is because I have the greatest power a hero can have: Hope. A hero isn't strong because of what powers they have! What makes heroes strong is the hope they inspire in people that pushes them to be good too! And it's because of that hope that I won't lose! You may have turned my friends and I into fugitives, and you took my father from me. But despite all of that, I'm still standing and fighting! Because I hold on to hope that we'll be able to stop you and undo all the evil acts you've committed!" "Never. . . NEVER!" Blitz Surge howled in anger! Powering up his magic for one final attack as he glared at Burst Stream who hovered above him! In desperation, he unleashed a massive white beam of magic at Burst Stream! "I AM THE TRUE HERO! ME!" Burst Stream said nothing as he channeled the power of Harmony into his hands! A massive beam of rainbow-colored magic collided with Blitz Surge's attack before completely engulfing it and slamming right into Blitz Surge! Sending the tyrant crashing into the same crater that Burst had made earlier in the fight! When the beam faded, Blitz Surge was back in his regular clothes albeit they were almost in tatters. "One more thing to do." Burst Stream said to himself as he once again channeled the power of Harmony into his body! He crossed his arms and wrapped his wings around himself before unleashing a wave of magic that rippled throughout the territories he and his friends had worked to liberate! The princesses felt their magic power return! And in Unityville, the platinum that had imprisoned Aether began to crack! Letting out a sigh of relief, Burst Stream smiled as he saw the power of Harmony then condense into a rainbow colored orb that shot off towards the direction of the Tree of Harmony! Satisfied that things were as they should be, Burst Stream returned his attention to Blitz Surge! "You'll never be a hero Blitz." Burst Stream declared as he descended. "Because you never once did anything for somebody besides yourself. Everything you've done was only what was good for you. It was never out of the kindness of your heart or because you genuinely wanted to help someone else." Burst Stream picked up the katana Blitz Surge had used, and flew down into the crater. "Unless you learn this or admit that, you'll never be a hero!" And Burst Stream shattered Blitz Surge's katana! Leaving the broken blade at Blitz Surge's feet as he walked away. However, Blitz Surge's anger overruled any semblance of common sense as he gripped the portion of the broken blade that had the point and stabbed Burst Stream in the back! A manic grin on his face as he drove the broken blade in! The whole of Castalot was deathly silent as Burst Stream registered what had happened to him. As Burst turned to face Blitz Surge, there was only pity in his gaze before his face shifted to a peaceful expression as his body was soon engulfed by light! When the light faded, Burst Stream vanished! And unhinged laughter erupted from Blitz Surge. "Heh. Heh heh! Heh heh heh! AH HA HA HA HA HAH HA!" Blitz Surge threw his hands up in the air in pure elation! "HE'S GONE! AT LAST THE PRETENDER IS DEAD! DO YOU SEE UNITY?! DO YOU SEE FATHER?! IT WAS NEVER HIM! IT WAS ME! IT WAS ALWAYS ME!! I AM THE LAST ONE STANDING! I AM THE TRUE HERO! I-!" "SHUT UP!" Inferno Flare roared as he flew at Blitz Surge and slugged him across the face! "You're wrong! There's no way he's gone!" The other heroes had gathered and were immediately glaring down at Blitz Surge! Inferno was on the verge of tears as his fists trembled! "He can't be gone! Not now!" "You are right Inferno." A familiar voice called out. The group was stunned to see Aether teleport before them! A proud smile on his face. "My son is not gone. Rather, he has achieved what I hoped he would." "What do you mean?" Twilight asked with a pleading gaze! "Please! Tell us!" (Suggested Listening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpxlgkdauj4) "Through his friendship with all of you, Burst Stream found unity. When evil rose and the call to action sounded, he became aware of his duty." Aether said. "And by following his heart and acting on the bonds he forged with all of you, he has been lead to his destiny!" As Aether finished, an orb of light shot down from the heavens! The light fading the closer it got to the surface! When the light faded it revealed Burst Stream! But his appearance had changed. His dragon wings now clad in feather-like scales giving them an angelic appearance while a divine aura shined around him! Burst Stream had ascended into godhood! A bright smile on his face as he greeted his friends! "Don't worry guys." Burst Stream beamed! "Something tells me we're gonna be together a long time!" However, his expression turned serious as he locked eyes with Blitz Surge and advanced toward the usurper! Each footstep sounding like thunder to the terrified tyrant! "So. . . you stand among the gods now?" Blitz Surge trembled as he found himself unable to move! "Go on then! Smite me and deliver your diving justice!" "Justice is a subjective term. There's no absolute definition of it." Burst Stream answered as he stared down at Blitz Surge! "For a short while, I wanted to get revenge on you after you imprisoned my father. But after some words from my friends, I realized that it wouldn't make me feel any better. And it wouldn't do any good for the people you've hurt. And ending you when you can't even fight back doesn't sit well with me. I won't kill you Blitz Surge. Because in the end, that would make me no better than you. A cruel, evil, merciless version of me that cared for no one but himself." Silence reigned supreme for almost a whole moment. Blitz Surge stared at Burst Stream in disbelief before his expression twisted into a snarl! He would have said something, but he was soon trapped within a clear crystal courtesy of Burst's magic! "But I'm not letting you walk away from this either." Burst Stream stated with a heroic smile as he tapped on the crystal prion he'd put around Blitz Surge! "This should hold him until we get the guards freed from the dungeon." "It's good to have you back Burst." Celestia said with a loving smile as she and Nightmare Moon approached him. Both of them wrapping their arms around him. "Don't scare us like that again!" Nightmare Moon said as tears of joy fell from her eyes. "Hey. I'm immortal now." Burst Stream chuckled as he wrapped his arms around the two of them! "I'm not going away any time soon."