After the fight at the Fall Formal, Burst Stream thought that was it. But his battles are far from over. By contracting with Dracoplatinum, a new battle will begin. HENSHIN!
Peace has returned to Castalot High School after the events of the Fall Formal. And none are more happy with the peace than Burst Stream. Especially since he got his life back to normal after Sunset Shimmer and Goldenrise tried to wreck it. However, this peace is short-lived as Burst Stream notices a strange card deck near his bed. But this time, it's blank instead of having the crest of a dragon that he remembered talking to. And all the memories of the Fall Formal have given Burst several questions: Where did the dragon that gave him the deck come from? Who made the mysterious armor he'd donned to fight Sunset and Goldenrise? But most important of all, what's a Kamen Rider? There's only one way to find out. HENSHIN!
Castalot City, The night of the Fall Formal At a local diner, the patrons were arguing fiercely. All except three girls wearing hoodies and singing a song that seemed to make everyone be at each other's throats. The trio of girls soon ceased their singing, and removed their hoods.
"Ugh! This is the worst!" The purple-skinned one of the trio complained. Her hair styled in twintails. "I hate having to feed on fast food just to get by."
"Well, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place!" The blue-skinned one sporting a ponytail shot back! "Or maybe you're the worst!"
"Enough!" The yellow-skinned, and apparent leader of the group, snapped! Her mane of orange hair seemingly bouncing a little as she slammed her hands on the table! "It's bad enough that we're stuck in this magicless world! Now I have to deal with your stupid bickering!"
"Maybe you've forgotten Adagio, but this mess is on your head too!" The twin-tailed girl snapped! "If it weren't for your lousy scheme, we would-ve-!?!?!" A bright rainbow-colored light coming from the direction of Castalot High School made the bickering trio fall silent before rushing outside to verify their suspicions.
"This feeling. . . "Adagio said in awe before a wicked grin spread across her face and turning to face her sisters. "Do you know what this is?" She frowned at the silence coming from the two. "Magic! REAL magic!" She turned to face the display of magic, and smirked in the direction of the source. "Hope you're ready for school, girls. . . "
Burst Stream's House, The same night Burst Stream's body was on autopilot as he shuffled into his bedroom. He pulled the card deck out of his pocket, the same deck that had allowed him to transform into that armor he'd used to fight against Sunset Shimmer and Goldenrise in their transformed states.
"Kamen Rider Bahamut. . . how did I know that name?" Burst Stream murmured to himself before setting the card deck on his nightstand, and collapsing onto his bed. Falling into slumber not long afterwards. However, he was not as alone as he'd believed. Watching from the nearby mirror, the same dragon that Burst Stream had made a contract with to become Kamen Rider Bahamut stood vigilant.
"Rest well Burst Stream." Dracoplatinum said as he guarded Burst Stream's slumber. "You have earned it, and need it." However, the dragon was not alone for long as he spotted a lone figure walking through the passageway from the world behind the mirrors to Earth. "Master Eubulon. What brings you here?"
"Dracoplatinum. There is a troubling occurrence that has been brought to my attention in Ventara." The man answered. He wore a black coat, and his clothing had what looked like light bits of armor on it. "A number of new advent decks have been created. Ones not of my making. But what's even more troubling is that the new decks' signatures were coming from Earth. As well as the reactivation of one of the next generation advent decks that I had created."
"Eubulon. . . " Dracoplatinum began. "The boy's life was in danger! If I hadn't-!"
"I am not here to lecture you, my friend." Eubulon said as he raised his hands to affirm his point. "The fact you came to his aid is something I consider very fortunate. In fact, your saving of the boy just might prove to be the greatest edge we have. I can feel something coming Dracoplatinum. And it will threaten both your world, and his."
"So he will take up the mantle of my previous partner." Dracoplatinum stated in a cool tone. "He will be the new Kamen Rider Bahamut. You needn't worry about training him since you can pass on the experience of my previous partner, as well as the last active team of Kamen Riders."
"True. But that is not my main concern." Eubulon said with a shake of his head. "I've come to revert his advent deck to blank form."
"WHAT?!" Dracoplatinum was stunned! "Are you insane?! Blank Form's strength is pitiful! Why would you dissolve the contract I've made with him?!"
"Because he made his decision to contract with you due to the stress of his situation." Eubulon answered. "I do not wish him to feel forced, or obligated to being a Kamen Rider." Eubulon stared out through the other side of the mirror with a regretful look in his eyes. "I want it to be his choice. Him, and those that will soon join him."
". . . I see." Dracoplatinum said with a sigh. "Forgive my rash response. I'll return to the Advent Dimension now. But I'll still be keeping an eye on the boy. I intend to fulfull my promise."
"Until we meet again, Dracoplatinum." Eubulon said with a sage nod as the dragon vanished before he stepped through the mirror and walked over to Burst Stream's night stand. Waving his hand over the advent deck, a faint light emitted from the card deck before the dragon crest on it vanished. Eubulon pulled out a card with the word "Contract" on it. Satisfied that the card was blank, Eubulon returned it to the now blank advent deck and stepped through the mirror. Returning to the world behind the reflection, and leaving Burst Stream to his slumber.
Streets of Castalot City "So? How does it feel to be home my queen?" A young man asked the girl he had his arms around. He had pitch black hair, acid-green eyes, and his clothes practically screamed he was dark and edgy.
"It's fine Night Terror." The girl replied. Her outfit consisted of black, high-heel boots, jeans, an azure tank top, and a black leather jacket. Completing her fierce and intimidating appearance were her teal eyes that seemed to pierce through a person's soul. "I can still hardly believe I'm back here."
"You needn't worry about the unpleasant past you left here. Our sound will make sure everyone knows how you feel. We'll MAKE them feel as bad as you do, Nightmare Moon. If you hadn't found me, you'd be alone with your pain." Night Terror then took a hold of Nightmare Moon's hand. "Let us hurt together, my queen. You belong with me. One who understands you."
"Yeah." Nightmare Moon said with barely any instance of interest as she looked towards the night sky. "You sure do. . . "
For Burst Stream, the day started out like any other day, but he was happier than he'd been for the last couple of weeks. Sunset Shimmer and Goldenrise using his closeness to Principal Celestia had left Burst in a defeated state for a good while. But thanks to Twilight Sparkle, he was able to regain his will to stand for what's right and stood against the two of them despite their transformation.
'And then I had a transformation of my own.' Burst Stream thought to himself as he changed into a fresh set of clothes. 'Still, it's hard to believe all that happened. There's a link to another world in my school's statue, and magic exists there. Now I've got a deck of cards that lets me turn into a some kind of superhero. ' He then turned his attention to the advent deck resting on his nightstand, and went to pick it up. Burst Stream was surprised to find that the dragon crest on it was gone!
"What?" Burst Stream was confused as he inspected the advent deck. "But I could've sworn that there was an emblem on this thing." He then decided to inspect the cards within the deck. Inspecting the first one that he drew. "Advent card. . . "
"Burst!" Lumina called from the kitchen. "Your breakfast's ready!"
"Be right there Mom!" Burst Stream called back as he shoved the advent deck into his pocket and made his way towards the kitchen. He then proceeded to scarf down the food his mom had prepared. "Morning!"
"Look at you." Lumina said with a fond smile as she watched her son eat. "You really are back to your old self. It looks like that girl you brought over really snapped you out of your sulking."
"Well, she made a lot of good points." Burst Stream said as he scarfed down the last of his breakfast, and clenched his fist slightly. "Especially concerning what Sunset and Goldenrise were doing to the school. I could have helped everyone by taking a stand in the open, but like an idiot I did nothing. All because I wanted to keep Cele- I mean, Principal Celestia out of trouble."
"Oh, Burst Stream." Lumina said with a sigh as she walked over to her son and pulled him into a hug. "What happened isn't your fault. You and I both know that. As for wanting to make sure Celestia kept her job? I don't blame you in the slightest. I know how much she means to you. It still seems like only yesterday you were begging her to read you a story."
"I-I gotta get going!" Burst Stream stammered as he shot up from his chair and onto his feet! "ByeMom!" Burst quickly grabbed his backpack, and bolted towards the garage! Slipping on his helmet and starting up his motorcycle after opening the garage door. "Let's ride." One quick bike ride later, and Burst Stream found himself nearing the school's parking lot.
"I've got a feeling things have gotten better since I last set foot through the hallways." Burst Stream thought out loud as he dismounted from his bike. He couldn't help but smile as he saw all the different groups of students mingling and chatting. However, his stroll through the school was interrupted when Inferno Flare jumped on him! "Somehow I knew this was coming."
"Yo Burst!" Inferno greeted with a grin. "Man, it's good to have you back!"
"Good to be back, buddy." Burst said with a chuckle. "But where the others?"
"Right behind you." Tyrannus said as he gave Burst Stream a bone-crushing hug. "Glad to have you back, dude."
"Ty. . . thank you." Burst wheezed out. "But I need air. . . " Thankfully, he was released from the hug within seconds of his plea. "And I suppose Akage's going to pop out of nowhere next. Right?"
"Not likely." Steel Edge said with a shrug as he walked up to the group with Rainbow Dash at his side. "Pinkie's been talking his ear off about what happened during the Fall Formal."
"Really?" Burst Stream asked. Despite his knowledge of what had transpired. "What happened at the dance? The last thing I remember was seeing Sunset and Goldenrise transform. But beyond that, I don't remember anything except seeing a fireball come right at me."
"Count yourself lucky! I don't think any of us want to picture what happened before that Kamen Rider guy showed up and saved you!" Rainbow Dash chimed in. "Since your memory's blank, I'll fill ya in. After Sunset and Gold tried to waste you, some guy wearing cool-looking armor showed up and dragged you out of the fire. Said his name was Kamen Rider Bahamut, and he started kicking Sunset and Goldenrise's butts! Then, me and the girls plus this girl Twilight who's from another world transformed too! We unleashed some magic and delivered a massive butt-whopping to Sunset and Gold! So, that's about it so far."
"Sounds like one heck of a night. But now that I think about it, the words Kamen Rider sound kind of familiar to me." Burst Stream said with a small smile before turning to face Inferno Flare. "So, are there any other key events that I'm behind on?"
"Not really." Inferno said with a shrug. "The school's going to have a music showcase pretty soon! No pun intended, but it's gonna rock! In fact, you could say the timing's perfect with your return! Your vocals are just what we need to round out our band! Steel's on bass, Ty's on drums, and I'm lead guitar."
"Funny. I thought you'd take the vocals. Especially after you serenaded Rarity for one of your dates." Burst Stream said with a smirk. "So. You got any ideas of the songs you want to perform? Are we going original, or are we sticking with a cover?"
"Actually, Akage managed to come up with some songs based on the continuation from that book series you like." Inferno said with a grin. "You know, that superhero series you loved so much?"
"Wait, now I know why those words sounded so familiar." Burst Stream snapped his fingers in realization! "Mirror World: The Adventures of the Kamen Riders! I read that book so many times when I was a kid!" But now this new information brings a lot of new questions too. . .
"Huh. And I thought things couldn't get any more epic!" Rainbow Dash said with a smirk. "Now we've got a real-life superhero roaming around the city!"
But before the conversation could carry on any longer, the school's intercom system went off.
"Would Burst Stream please report to Principal Celestia's office? Thank you."
"Sorry guys! Talk to you all at lunch!" Burst Stream called out as he made his way to Principal Celestia's office. Upon reaching the door, Burst took a deep breath before knocking.
"Come in." Celestia called out from the other side of the door. When she saw the door open, she couldn't help but smile. "Good to see that you're not one to keep a lady waiting."
"So why'd you call me Princi-" Burst Stream when he saw Celestia give him a knowing look. "Sorry. Why'd you ask to see me Celestia?"
"Because I wanted to see whether or not you were back to your old self." Celestia said with a warm smile as she pulled Burst Stream into a hug. "I'm happy to say you haven't lost that same, wonderful smile you had when you were younger. I still remember when your face lit up whenever I'd babysit you."
"Well, you were kind of like a second mom to me. Especially when my mom was out working." Burst Stream said with a slight blush. "It also didn't help I had a bit of a crush on you. As for I was acting weird, well, Sunset and Goldenrise decided to use the time we spent together as blackmail with pictures that could've easily be taken out of context. They told me that if I continued to get in their way, they'd leak the pictures and make it look like you were doing something scandalous. And I couldn't bear to see something like that happen to you. It wouldn't have hurt just me. Everyone here loves you as our principal. Without you, I don't think this place would be nearly as happy."
"Oh, Burst." Celestia said with a sigh as she loosened her hold on Burst Stream. She then noticed tears starting to form in Burst Stream's eyes. "You don't need to feel guilty about staying quiet. I knew Sunset Shimmer and Goldenrise had been bullying, but they were playing things smart enough to fool me too. They'd always hide their actions whenever I'd near them troubling other students."
"But that doesn't give me an excuse!" Burst Stream cried out! "I did nothing, and those two got to do as they pleased! So many people got hurt because I decided not to do anything!"
"But it didn't stay that way for long, did it?" Celestia asked with a comforting smile. "I saw you riding up to the Fall Formal on your motorcycle. And it was clear then that you had no problem confronting those two and getting more, hands-on as it were."
"Yeah." Burst Stream said with a sniffle as a small smile crept across his mouth. "That new girl, Twilight? She helped me remember what my dad said."
"You know, he'd be very proud of you." Celestia said with as she removed her hands from Burst Stream.
"Yeah." Burst Stream said with a slight frown. One that soon vanished as he shifted his mind to a happier topic. "The point is, I'm just happy things are back to normal! And I hope there's more excitement in store for the future! I better get going! Class is gonna start soon!"
"It's good to have you back, my dragon knight." Celestia said with a fond smile as she watched him leave. Little did either of them know, they'd be seeing more excitement very soon.
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. . .'
"There." Sunset said with a triumphant smile as she finished writing in her old journal. "I just hope this trick works." She didn't have to wait long as Twilight came out of the statue at the front of the school.
"I came as soon as I got your message!" Twilight said as she walked up to Sunset. "I've got a pretty good idea of what we're up against, but I'd like to gather the girls so they can be informed too."
"Don't worry. They should be here soon." Sunset said with a nod as she led Twilight inside CHS. "But what's really troubling is that these girls I warned you about can somehow still use a form of magic. I've got a pretty good idea of what allows them to tap into it. The only problem is figuring out how to negate it."
"That's why I'm here." Twilight said with a smile. One that soon faded when she caught sight of a familiar face. One she'd lost back in Unity. "Burst Stream!"
"Hm? Twili-GAH!" Burst Stream found himself being nearly tackled to the ground as Twilight hugged him! "Twilight. It's good to see you, but it hasn't been that long since you saw the other me, right? I mean with how you're crying, you'd think I was-" And that's when he felt Twilight tense up. ". . . Oh. If you don't mind me asking, how did the other me go out?"
"He sacrificed himself to give us a fighting chance." Twilight said as she let go of Burst. "He went down like a real hero. But there's no point in crying because I know he was proud about how he chose to meet his end."
"Well, at least you knew him before he was gone." Burst Stream said with a sad smile. "That's more than I can say for a certain someone. But, let's change the topic. I'm pretty sure you're not here for a social visit."
"Well, there's a trio of sirens who are planning to turn the entire school into a feeding ground for themselves. Their magic is fueled by adoration, and it also gives them singing voices that can make people adore them."
'No wonder I got a weird feeling from those girls earlier.' Burst thought to himself. "Well, good luck to you. Just know that if things escalate, I've got your back."
"See you around then." Twilight said with a nod as she turned her attention to Sunset. "So. Have you got any ideas of where we can set up?"
"Oh! I know the perfect place!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she seemingly popped out of nowhere! "SLEEPOVER~!" And with that, Pinkie Pie zipped off with Sunset and Twilight in tow!
"I don't know why I thought she wouldn't pop up." Burst Stream said with a sigh as he went back to roaming the halls. However, he noticed something odd when he passed by a display case. A dragon seemed to be following him from the other side of the glass! The same dragon that he'd contracted with during the Fall Formal! "What the?!"
The dragon seemed to pause when he realized Burst had noticed him. And then, he seemed to just hover on the other side of the reflective surface. Almost like he was waiting for Burst Stream to do something.
"Uh. . . hi?" Burst said with a nervous wave. 'Okay. The night of the Fall Formal DEFINITELY was not a dream!' "Nice to meet you. Again."
"It's good to see you too Burst Stream." The dragon said. Shocking Burst by even replying to him! "Although, I'll admit the circumstances of our encounter are far more pleasant than our second meeting."
"Wait. Second meeting? What're you talking about?" Burst asked.
"Ah. I should have guessed you wouldn't remember our first meeting all that well." The dragon said with a chuckle. "You were just a child when we first met."
"You were the dragon I saw when I was a kid!" Burst Stream exclaimed in realization! "I thought I was just seeing things. I've got so many questions! Where did you come from? Why did you save me back at the Fall Formal? Do you have a name?"
"I have been watching over you for a long time Burst Stream." The dragon answered. "That's partially why I intervened for your protection when you were in danger. And I am called Dracoplatinum. I am sure you have many more questions for me, but now is not the time."
"Well, can you at least tell me why there's no symbol on this?" Burst Stream asked as he pulled out the blank Advent Deck. "I know that when you first linked up with me, this deck case had a dragon crest on it. But now, it's gone. Care to explain?"
"Our previous contract did not give you the luxury of voluntarily bonding with me." Dracoplatinum. "No self-respecting Advent Beast would dare force their partner into a contract. There's more to it than that, but I'll save the specifics when you meet the Advent Master. He is the one who created the Advent Decks. And it was he who reverted your deck to its blank state. But right now, you've more pressing matters."
"Right. I'd look pretty crazy talking to a mirror." Burst Stream said as he noticed students approaching out of the corner of his eye. 'Well, things are certainly getting a lot more interesting now. At least I can't complain about things being dull.'
The rest of the day went on like normal. Or at least, it would have if the Dazzlings hadn't turned made everyone go at each other's throats and turn the school's music showcase into a battle of the bands. It was pretty shocking for Sunset to see the unity and friendship that had just been ushered in get shattered so easily. And to make matters worse, the Dazzling had also gotten to Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna! Using their hypnotic song to make them agree to hold the upcoming competition!
"Things got better when you showed up Twilight." Sunset said sadly. "But now they're all falling apart and it's just making the sirens stronger!"
"That just means we can't afford to give up now!" Twilight countered! "If we let those three have free reign, there's no telling what sort of havoc they'll wreak on the world! Unity has magic, and we could fight back with no trouble. But this world has no magic! I don't even want to think about what happens if they win."
"She's right, you know." Goldenrise said as he approached the two. "Maybe standing against them won't completely redeem us, but it'll be one hell of a start."
"True enough, Gold." Sunset said with a small smile. "No one ever said this was going to be easy."
"In the words of Master Aether: Nothing worth doing ever is." Goldenrise said with a slight blush. "I wonder what this world's version of him would think of me?"
"Don't waste time on doing this for someone else." Twilight said with a comforting smile. "The two of you should be doing this for yourselves because you both want to get better. Now come on. We have a counterspell to create!"
"Weird." Burst Stream thought out loud. "Why aren't I being affected from this?" He quickly pulled out his blank Advent Deck. "Is it because of this?" Deciding to not bring unwanted attention, Burst Stream returned the Advent Deck to his pocket.
"Well, everyone's gunning for the top spot now." Inferno said with a smirk. "I was actually kind of hoping things would be chill after the Fall Formal."
"I'd say it's more than just your friendly competition." Steel Edge noted. "Did you see the way everyone else was acting? It was like they were going to start throwing punches at each other!"
"Not to mention that Twilight girl came back." Akage added. "So that means there's something magical afoot here."
"Not to be that guy, but are you sure about that lad?" Magnet North asked. "I mean, what on earth could have made our high school a beacon for magical events?"
"Fall Formal, remember?" Tyrannus countered.
"Wait. You guys aren't getting super aggressive?" Burst Stream asked. Confused as to why his friends weren't being super competitive like the rest of the school except for the Rainbooms.
"Dude. I just wanna show what I can do up on stage." Inferno said with a grin. "This just gives me a chance to really let loose with my skills!"
"The rest of us are just along for the ride." Steel said with a shrug. "Plus, something tells me Dash would never forgive me if I pulled out of a competition just so she wouldn't have to face me."
"Pinkie would be sad if she didn't get to see me on the keyboard." Akage replied with a small smile. "And the last thing I want to do is make her sad."
"I just want to cheer Fluttershy on." Tyrannus answered with a blush.
"And I'm just here to offer emotional support." Magnet North answered with a grin. "Somebody's got to keep you lot organized too!"
"Well, we better get as much practice in as we can." Burst Stream said with a sigh. "I'll meet up with you all after classes are done."
From there, the rest of the day went on as usual. Students shuffled through the hallways to their lockers and then to class, and headed home to either practice or rest for the coming competition. While the Main 7 were trying to figure out how their magic activated, Burst Stream and his friends were busy selecting which songs to perform for their audition and which one to perform should they make it through to the finals. Once they had selected their songs, the band set to work practicing their performance.
"Okay. Things sound pretty good so far." Inferno said with a nod as he tuned his electric guitar. "We've gotten a good amount of practice in today, so I'd say it's about time for us to head home. Practice means nothing if you're too tired to perform. See ya guys tomorrow!"
"Later everyone." Burst Stream said with a smile as he slung his backpack on, and exited the practice room. However, as he was walking, he heard someone singing. "Hm?" As soon as he heard it, Burst Stream was captivated by it and decided to follow the sound to its source. Sure enough, he found that the source of the voice was none other than Nightmare Moon. "That was so beautiful . . . "
"Who-?!" Nightmare Moon, surprised that someone had been listening to her singing, spun around to face her lone audience member! "Oh. Burst Stream. How much of that did you hear?"
"Not enough." Burst Stream said with a smile. "You actually sound better when your boyfriend's not guarding you possessively. Weird. I thought you would've been practicing with them."
"They're not too big on practicing." Nightmare Moon said with a sigh. "By the way, what time is it?"
"Hm?" Burst Stream whipped out his phone. "It's almost four. Why?"
"Great. They didn't even wait for me." Nightmare Moon said sadly. "I know where they're staying at. I'll just walk there."
"Sorry. I can't let you do that." Burst Stream said. "Letting you walk all that way doesn't sit well with me. Plus, it's getting dark soon. I don't doubt that you can handle yourself. Heck, you look like no one would ever want to mess with you. Still, maybe they're not worth going back to if they're not going to wait for you."
"Honestly? I don't know what I ever saw in Night Terror to begin with." Nightmare Moon said with a small smile. "You know, you're the first person who's treated me so nicely. So what did you have in mind?"
"You can stay the night at my home." Burst Stream said with a kind smile. "I'll let my mom know that we'll be having a guest tonight. We've got a spare room back at the house, so you won't have to occupy the couch."
". . . Why?" Nightmare Moon asked.
"Why what?"
"Why are you being so nice to me? What reason do you have to help me? You don't know me. You even said that my appearance is intimidating. So why choose to show me kindness?" Nightmare Moon asked sadly. "Especially when it nearly got you hurt?"
"Because you looked like you were hurting." Burst Stream answered as he took a step towards Nightmare Moon. "And I refuse to ignore someone who I've got the power to help. That, and because of a promise I made to myself a long time ago."
"What kind of promise?" Nightmare Moon asked.
"I'll tell you some other time." Burst Stream said with a wave of his hand. "Right now, let's get you to my place. My ride's parked outside the school."
"You have a car?" Nightmare Moon asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Nope." Burst Stream shook his head, and smiled as he led Nightmare Moon towards his bike. "Well, what are you waiting for? Hop on!"
"Okay." Nightmare Moon said with a nod as she sat behind Burst Stream. She got a warm feeling from him as soon as she put her arms around him so she could hold on. 'No wonder I'm starting to like this guy. He's gives off such a pleasant feeling.'
Before long the couple had arrived at Burst's house and dismounted from his bike as they headed inside. Burst Stream was busy texting his mother about their new guest, and was showing Nightmare Moon to the guest room.
"Okay. I'd say to get settled in, but you don't have much on you." Burst Stream said as he set his phone down in the kitchen. "Ask me if you need anything. I'll be getting dinner ready soon."
"You?" Nightmare Moon asked. "You mentioned that your mother was out working. So where's the man of the house?"
"You're looking at him." Burst Stream answered flatly as his eyes narrowed. "There's only one place that you'll find my father." Burst Stream strode over to the picture of him and his parents. "And that's in this picture."
"Don't be sorry. You didn't know." Burst Stream said with a sigh as he picked up the picture. "You asked me what that promise I made was. Well, it's got a lot to do with him."
"So, what happened?" Nightmare Moon asked cautiously.
"I was just a kid when it happened. Probably around eight or ten years old." Burst Stream answered sadly. "It was night, and I heard my mom crying. It woke me up from my sleep, and I got out of bed to see what was going on. I saw my dad standing while mom was sitting in a chair and tears were falling down her face. Dad noticed me, and he told me that he had something important to do and that it might be a long while before he came back home. I just nodded and wished him good luck as he went out the door. A few days passed, and I asked my mom when dad would be home. Then a month passed. Still no sign of him. And that's when the rotten nephew of Celestia decided to be a jerk and tell me that my mom and I had been abandoned."
"Burst Stream. . . "
"Hearing that shattered my whole world, and I asked my mom if what he said was true. The only answer I got from her was tears." Burst Stream said as he set the picture down, and he clenched his fist. "My dad always told me to stand up for what was right, and to be there when others needed me. So where was he when Mom needed him? Where was he when I needed him? How could the guy who I looked up to just up and turn his back on everything he taught me?! I didn't know what else to do at that moment, so I locked myself in my room in an attempt to shut out the room and cried for a few minutes straight. Then, I had a stupid idea. My dad and I would always watch cartoons, movies, or read comics together. So, in a vain attempt at thinking it would bring him back to me, I threw myself into all of my favorite things. Most of them were superhero related. And after about an hour or two of that, that's when I made my promise."
"What promise did you make?" Nightmare Moon asked.
"I promised myself that I'd be like the heroes I looked up to and enjoyed." Burst Stream answered as his hand relaxed. Slowly but surely, a smile returned to his face. "That I'd stand up for what was right, and fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves. But most important of all, I swore that I'd be there when someone needed me. That way I could be a better person than my dad was, but still live by the values he taught me."
"Burst Stream." Nightmare Moon said with tearful eyes. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
"Don't be. It wasn't all that bad. I had plenty of great friends to help me get by." Burst Stream answered with a warm smile. "When you're ready, I'm willing to listen to your story. And I promise that I'll be there to help you get better too. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to work on dinner."
"Right." Nightmare Moon said with a small smile. "By the way, where does your mom work anyway?"
"Oh. She's a model." Burst Stream answered. "She gets pretty busy with her work considering how good she looks for her age, so I take care of a lot of the housework."
"Well, if you need any extra help, I wouldn't mind lending a hand." Nightmare Moon said with a slight blush.
"Funny." Burst Stream said with a chuckle. "Most girls would kill to have a man who does most of the housework." The two shared a laugh before Burst got to work preparing that night's meal. All the while, Dracoplatinum was watching the pair vigilantly.
Meanwhile, the Dazzlings had just met up with Night Terror and proposed an alliance. However, they were soon interrupted when a creature shuffled out of the nearby mirror!
"Uh, Adagio?" Sonata asked. "WHAT THE HECK'S THAT?"
"I don't know." Adagio said with narrowed eyes as she powered up her magic. Strangely enough, the creature, known as a Gelnewt, immediately stood still. "Walk forward." The Gelnewt followed Adagio's command. Prompting a smirk from the eldest of th siren siblings. "Interesting. How many more of you are there?" The Gelnewt let out a strange grunt, and more of its kind stepped forth from the mirror.
"It appears you hold great power." Night Terror said with a dark smile. "I could finally give my queen a devoted legion."
"Then tell me, Night Terror. Do we have a deal?" Adagio asked.
"Oh. We have a deal." Night Terror said with a smirk. 'Once I figure out how you control these creatures, I'll take it from you. And then, Nightmare Moon and I shall rule together. Just as we're meant to be. . . '
"Hmm." Burst Stream was deep in thought as he ate his breakfast. The past few days he'd been practicing with his friends in their band. It was easy enough for them to land a slot in the Battle of the Bands, but that wasn't the source of his worry. What truly concerned him was how the Rainbooms had made it into the competition despite wrecking their own performance! "Something about this reeks."
"Something troubling you?" Nightmare Moon asked as she took a seat near Burst Stream. "In all the time I've known you, you always seem to smile and be easygoing."
"You've only known me for a few days." Burst Stream noted. It had only been a couple of days since he'd invited Nightmare Moon into his home. In fact, one could almost say the girl had practically moved in given how little she carried with her. "As for what's bugging me, it's concerning the Battle of the Bands. I can't shake the feeling that things are going to reach a climax once it gets down to the main event."
"Well, I didn't have much interest in the competition to begin with." Nightmare Moon said with a shrug. She then gave Burst Stream a small smile. "Then again, I don't suppose you're looking for a cheering section?"
"Keep up this banter and the two of you could be mistaken for a couple." Lumina Burst said as she exited the kitchen with a plate of food for her home's newest resident. Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled with life, and her white skin was only matched in fairness by her platinum blonde hair. Most people would find it hard to believe that she was a mother, let alone still holding the career of a model. "Of course, I've been waiting for the day Burst would bring home a girl."
"Excuse me." Burst Stream said with a slight blush as he got up from his seat. "But I'm not dressed to endure this embarrassment. I'm going to get changed." And with that, Burst Stream retreated to his bedroom to don his usual outfit. Leaving his mom and Nightmare Moon alone.
"So." Lumina said with a warm smile as she sat down. "It looks like my son came to your rescue."
"Well, he did say that he wanted to be like the heroes he looked up to." Nightmare Moon replied with a ghost of a smile. "He's also shown me the most kindness by offering me to stay here with you two. Are you sure that me staying here isn't any trouble?"
"Don't be absurd." Lumina said with a giggle. "My current occupation provides more than enough money, so you don't have to worry about driving up our expenses. I take it you've informed your boyfriend about your current lodging status?"
"Actually, I haven't. Because I'm not going back to him." Nightmare Moon said with a sigh. "I'd prefer to say nothing about it, if that's alright with you."
"I understand." Lumina said with a nod. "At least tell him to his face that you're done with him."
'Trust me. I'm going to make sure that he gets the message loud and clear.' Nightmare Moon thought to herself as she nodded in response. It wasn't long before she found herself on Burst Stream's motorcycle on the way to CHS. She was greeted with an unpleasant sight once she and Burst Stream entered the building.
"Where have you been?" Night Terror asked in a cold tone.
"If you were worried about me, you should've called." Nightmare Moon responded in kind. However, the calm tone of her voice was betrayed by the fury her gaze held. "But then again, it's not like you ever prioritized my well-being or happiness."
"You don't need to be happy!" Night Terror snapped! "Our bond is one of sorrow! That's the only way for us to be together! We don't need happiness when we're sad together!"
"Your logic is screwed up, pal." Burst Stream interjected. "If you really love her, then shouldn't you want her to be happy?"
"Love? Love?!" Night Terror growled! "What did that have to do with me selecting her as my queen?! All I wanted was a woman with a powerful presence at my side! Nothing more! Return to me, Nightmare Moon! You've been defiled by this fool's presence long enough!"
". . . So you finally confirmed what I've thought for the last few months." Nightmare Moon said as her eyes narrowed. "Listen well Night Terror. I'm not coming back to you. We're done. I'm tired of you encouraging me to stay sad and angry. I'm through with being miserable. And above all, it's clear you don't care about my happiness."
"You. . . " Night Terror growled as he clenched his fist and glared at Burst Stream! "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! YOU MADE HER WEAK! YOU CORRUPTED HER! YOU STOLE HER FROM ME!"
"Nightmare Moon's left you of her own free will." Burst Stream countered as he returned the glare. "The only person you have to blame is yourself. And considering how unhealthy your relationship was? Maybe she was never yours to begin with. You never loved her, so you have no right to say she's yours."
"Your presence vexes me." Night Terror hissed as he turned to leave with his flunkies in tow. "Let the Dazzlings play their little game on their own! There's no point in joining them now!" 'I may have lost my queen. But soon, she will see that I'm right for her. I'll make her see. . . '
"So? How do you feel?" Burst Stream asked Nightmare Moon.
"Free. . . " Nightmare Moon said as she took in a deep breath. "I can't think of a time I've been more happy than now."
"Well, I'm just glad to see that you're better than you were when I first saw you." Burst Stream said with a smile. "I've gotta get going! My friends are preparing for the battle! Wish me luck!" And with that, Burst Stream ran off to find his friends.
It wasn't long before the Battle of the Bands was underway, and every act was gunning for the top spot. However, for the Rainbooms, things weren't going so well as Trixie's band trapped them in a room! Thankfully, they were rescued by Spike and Vinyl Scratch just in time! Before long, the Dazzlings took the stage and their power began to grow due to the adoration of the crowd! However, their gathering of power was interrupted as soon as the Rainbooms burst onto the scene! The two bands clashed with the student body held as a literal captive audience! Gelnewts spawned from nearby reflective surfaces and kept the students trapped! However, one brave soul refused to do nothing!
"Hey uglies!" Goldenrise cried out as he got into a fighting stance! "You're gonna have to try harder if you want to keep us pinned here!" And with that, he threw himself at the squad of mirror monsters! 'Maybe this won't make up for everything I've done. But if nothing else, I know that I'll go down being better than I was before!"
But despite the valiant efforts of Goldenrise, the Gelnewts still outnumbered him and were stronger than the average human. It was then that Nightmare Moon decided to lend a hand. Her added strength didn't turn the tide, but it did provide Goldenrise with some much needed assistance.
"So you are still afflicted with foolishness, are you?" Night Terror purred as he made the Gelnewts stand down with a wave of his hand. "My offer to return to my side still stands Nightmare Moon."
"And if I refuse?" Nightmare Moon spat.
"Then it's a shame I have to dispose of you." Night Terror said with a psychotic chuckle. "If you can't be mine, then you'll belong to no one!"
Meanwhile, Burst Stream was watching the whole scene from the nearby entrance to the main building. As he observed the situation, Dracoplatinum appeared in a nearby window.
"You don't have to do anything, you know." Dracoplatinum said as his head peaked out of the reflective surface. "No one would fault you for running away. I wouldn't fault you either."
"Maybe you could live with that," Burst Stream said as he clenched his fist. "But I could never live with myself if I ran now. The people I care about need me. My home's in danger. And right now, there are a lot of people who need help! Twilight and the girls are handling the Dazzlings, but those monsters are menacing the audience!"
"So what will you do?" Dracoplatinum asked.
". . . " Burst Stream was silent as he pulled out the Advent Deck from his pocket and drew out the Contract card. Holding it right in front of Dracoplatinum! "Let's do it." Dracoplatinum nodded, and shot forward out of the window and into the contract card!
Burst Stream found himself in a grey version of the armor he'd summoned back at the Fall Formal. Suddenly, Dracoplatinum coiled around him and disappeared in a flash of light! The mounted gauntlet on Burst's left arm transformed so that it was modeled after Dracoplatinum while his grey suit turned white! The helmet resembled a dragon's head with the faceplate seemingly in the mouth of a dragon! The chest armor turned from a dull silver to a brilliant platinum! Kamen Rider Bahamut was born!
"Let's go!" Bahamut cried out as he charged at the Gelnewts! Batting away the ones surrounding Goldenrise and Nightmare Moon! "How about you try picking on someone who can actually fight back?"
"ATTACK!" Night Terror screamed as the Gelnewts surrounded Kamen Rider Bahamut!
'Burst Stream!' Dracoplatinum told Bahamut mentally! 'Draw a card from the deck, and slot it into the visor on your left arm! The Advent Cards will aid you well in battle!'
"Who's ready for a game of cards?" Bahamut quipped as he drew a card from the Advent Deck and slotted it into the Dragvisor Neo on his arm! A computerized voice called out "Sword Vent!", and a sword themed after Dracoplatinum dropped into Bahamut's right hand!
Bahamut slashed at the Gelnewts! The additional strength granted to him by his weapon allowing him to tear through the cannon fodder Mirror Monsters like paper! However, that didn't stop a few of the more determined mooks from hurling the giant shuriken on their back right at him! Bahamut quickly holstered his sword onto his back, and drew another Advent Card! This one depicting a shield modeled after Dracoplatinum's chest!
"GUARD VENT!" The visor's voice called out as the shield materialized in Bahamut's hands! The incoming shuriken did little damage as the shield blocked them! With the Gelnewts completely unarmed, Bahamut set to work mopping up the stragglers!
"Heart of the cards guide me. . . " Bahamut said as he drew the next card. It depicted the crest that was on his Advent Deck. "Final Vent?"
'Your finishing move.' Dracoplatinum answered. 'And since the fight's almost over, I'd say now's a good time to use it.'
Burst Stream immediately slotted the card into his visor!
"FINAL VENT!"The visor announced!
Dracoplatinum was summoned to Bahamut's side! The entire crowd in awe of the Advent Beast before them! Dracoplatinum let out a might roar before firing a blast of lightning from his mouth at the Gelnewt stragglers! While the Gelnewts were stunned, Bahamut ran towards them before throwing himself into a flying kick boosted by Dracoplatnium's lightning blast!
"HYAAAAH!" Bahamut cried out as his kick impacted the remaining Mirror Monsters! Making them explode upon impact! "Looks like you're all out of bodies to throw at me."
"You think this is over?!" Night Terror hissed.
"If it isn't now, it will be in a couple seconds." Bahamut said with a smirk beneath his helmet as he noticed the Rainbooms unleashing their magic and overpowering the Dazzlings! "Look up."
Night Terror's pupil's shrank to pinpricks as he witnessed the Dazzlings' defeat! And with them beaten, whatever empowerment they'd bestowed upon him quickly faded. He was down, and was out in mere moments after Bahamut slugged him in the face.
"Sweet dreams, crazy." Bahamut said with a nod as he began to take his leave.
"Wait!" Nightmare Moon called to the rider! "There's a friend of mine who I didn't catch sight of!"
"Relax." Bahamut said as he turned to face Nightmare Moon. "Burst Stream's safe. Wouldn't be the first time I've given him a hand. He'll turn up sooner or later." He then turned his attention to Goldenrise. "Don't think I've forgotten about you."
"If you're here to punish me for my past mistakes, go ahead." Goldenrise said. "I deserve it."
"That's not why I'm here." Bahamut said as he approached the fallen apprentice. "I'm here to say that you did good by risking your own life to protect others. You're becoming a better man than you were before. And it'd be a shame to lose you before you can fully realize that."
"I don't deserve that kind of chance." Goldenrise said sadly.
"No. But you need it." Bahamut said with a smile hidden by his helmet as he gestured to Sunset being embraced by the Rainbooms. "It's done her a world of good. And something tells me it'll do the same for you."
". . . Thank you."
"Just doing my job." Bahamut said with a nod as he made his way to the nearest reflective surface, and jumped right in! Leaving an awestruck, but thankful crowd before! Bahamut soon exited the mirror and found himself in the hallways of CHS. "Now. How do I get back to normal?"
"Stand with your arms spread out slightly, and focus on dispelling the armor." Dracoplatinum answered.
"Gotcha." Bahamut said as he followed the Advent Beast's instructions. A vertical ring of electric blue energy materialized right in the middle of Bahamut's armor, and pulled apart! Reverting the rider back to Burst Stream.
"Now then." Burst said as he clapped his hands together and dashed towards the battle site! "It's show time!" Burst made his way to the stage, and he and his band took the stage as they performed!
After his performance, Burst and his friends exited the stage. He promptly found himself in Nightmare Moon's tight embrace!
"Looks like I've got a fan already." Burst Stream joked.
"I was so worried when I didn't see you in the battle." Nightmare Moon said as she loosened her hold slightly. "You're one of the first people to care about me."
"Hey." Burst Stream said as he put a hand on Nightmare Moon's shoulder. "You're not gonna lose me that easily. I can promise you that." He then caught Sunset and Goldenrise talking to each other out of the corner of his eye. 'And it looks like there's another couple that are going to be inseparable too.'
"My hero." Nightmare Moon said with a small smile.
However, things weren't completely settled as Twilight had the Dazzlings be rounded up.
"So. What's in store for us princess?" Adagio said with a defeated look in her eyes. "Throw us in tartarus? Shove us into a dungeon?"
"Your magic's been destroyed. You don't have access to your singing voices anymore. As far as I can tell, you can't do any more harm." Twilight said. "But you still need to answer for your deeds. I'll be taking you three back to Unity. We'll decide the outcome once we're all back home." And with that, she escorted the three siren siblings through the portal.
A day later, Burst was roaming about the city. Things were finally back to normal. That is, until Burst Stream heard a strange ringing in his ears. He looked in a nearby window, and saw a Mirror Monster moving about. He also saw Dracoplatinum nodding, and he thrust out the Advent Deck! In a flash of light, the V-Buckle materialized around Burst Stream's waist!
"HENSHIN!" Burst cried out as he slotted the Advent Deck into the buckle! A sphere of electric blue energy surrounded Burst as two rings of energy traveled up and down his body! Transforming him into Kamen Rider Bahamut! With his transformation, Burst Stream leaped into the nearby mirror and mounted a pod-like vehicle that drove him towards the source of the trouble!
Once on the other side of the mirror, Bahamut took to engaging the Mirror Monster! Unbeknownst to him, two figures were watching from atop a building.
"So. He's the one who reactivated the Bahamut Deck." A figure in bat-themed armor said as he watched Bahamut fight. "He's got some good skills for being a rookie Kamen Rider."
"So which of us is going to show him the ropes?" A figure in dragon-themed armor said. However, instead of a western style dragon, it was themed after an eastern style. "You taught me how to fight when we were up against Xaviax. Plus, you've already mentored some of the previous wielders of the next generation Advent Decks. Right, Len?"
"Well, Kit, I think you'd be a better fit for him." Kamen Rider Wing Knight said to his friend. "One dragon knight to another."
Back with Bahamut, he'd managed to get the monster onto its last legs!
"Time to finish this!" Bahamut drew his Final Vent card, and slotted it without any hesitation! Dracoplatinum stunned the Mirror Monster with a blast of lightning before Burst Stream ran towards the monster! launching himself into a flying kick boosted by Dracoplatnium's lightning blast! "HYAAAH!"
A lone figure sat behind a desk. Looking over a series of files. A knock on the door interrupted his overview. "Enter." A secretary walked in, and handed the man a new file. The figure opened it, and looked at a picture of Night Terror. As well as some pictures taken of Kamen Rider Bahamut! "Thank you. That will be all for now."
As soon as the secretary left, the man set the file down with the others, and opened a case near his desk. In it were a bunch of Advent Decks!
"Soon, it will begin." The man said with a smirk as he shifted his gaze to the files on the desk. "They call me the city's prince. But soon, I'll make that more than just a title." He walked over to the desk, and picked up the pictures of Kamen Rider Bahamut.
"You could prove troublesome." The figure said before shrugging. "But it hardly matters. For when you meet my riders, you'll be all alone in the Rider War. . . "