Harmony and Chaos

Inside a dimly lit conference room on the Shadowbolt flag ship, The Wicked Wench, the six members of the Shadowbolt leadership sat watching Shining Armor’s press conference.  Among them was a pegasus mare with a magenta mane and tail named Starry Skies. She had a virtually inexhaustible bank account, which of course was useful for providing funding. Unfortunately, it couldn’t get her a spot on the Wonderbolts.

Another member, a pegasus stallion with an aqua mane and tail named Stratus, was a former member of the Royal Guard, but had been kicked out when he threw restraint and safety to to the wind more often than not.

The third member, a stallion with a poisonous green mane and tail named Charger, was the group’s weapons specialist, since he had a deadly talent for creating lethal Poison Joke-based toxins.

Then, of course, there was Blueball Blitz. He had once been a weatherpony in one of Cloudsdale’s weather factories before a freak accident drove him bonkers. However, it also seemed to make him faster, as his speed in flight rivaled that of his captain.

Then, there was second-in-command Nightshade. He had actually been a Wonderbolt prior to a backfired stunt that injured several audience members during the Summer Sun Celebration… and he secretly harbored a crush on Captain Blackthorn.

Finally, there was the captain, Blackthorn herself. No one, not even her own inner circle, knew very much about her. She had just came to them, one by one, and told them she was putting a team together.

Meanwhile, on the screen, Shining Armor was telling the press that the Royal Guard was investigating both the destruction of the convoy and the TV satelite hackings, but had so far had no leads.

“In Equestrian, that means ‘we’re not taking these so-called Shadowbolts seriously,’” commented Starry Skies.

“Fear not, Starry, we’ll fix that just as soon as we obliterate a few military bases… and, of course, the Big One,” said Blackthorn.

The others smirked. Blueball however, laughed hysterically. “Oh, yes, Captain! The Big One will great a nice big flood of chaos and discord! Just like you wanted!”

“Indeed it will… but, remember, that’s not what we’re after… Lieutenant Nightshade, remind everypony what it is that we hope to accomplish by all of this,” said Blackthorn.

Nightshade nodded. “Each of us have been scorned by a certain faction of the Equestrian Military, be it the Wonderbolts or the Royal Guard-” he said.

“Uh, I haven’t,” said Blueball.

“Oh yes, that’s right, you’re only here to avoid getting sent to the loony bin,” said Charger with a sneer.

“I… AM...NOT… CRAZY!” yelled Blueball.

Stratus laughed. “Blueball, your engine’s running, but there’s nopony behind the wheel,” he said with amusement as Blueball turned red.

Starry nodded. “You’re nuttier than squirrel shit, Blueball… or, should we call you ‘Screwball’?” she said.

“All of you, shut the Tartarus up!” yelled Blackthorn, her dark eyes flashing.

Almost instantly, the quarreling Shadowbolts became silent.

“That’s better. Nightshade, continue,” said Blackthorn.

“Uh, yes, Captain. Anyways, our goals are really quite simple: destroy all Wonderbolts and Royal Guard members, be they cadets or official members, and take Equestria for ourselves,” finished Nightshade.

“And the Big One, plus all of these minor attacks, is just how we’re gonna do it. Then, we’ll be able to crush them in battle,” said Blackthorn.

“Uh, meaning no disrespect, Captain, but what do we do if the Elements of Harmony should get in the way?” asked Stratus.

“You know, Captain, I think Stratus has a valid point. They’ve turned Nightmare Moon back into Princess Luna, sealed the Spirit of Chaos in stone, fought off the entire Changeling Hive, and destroyed Sombra,” said Starry Skies.

“And they did those last two without their Elements… and let’s not forget the time they stopped the Everfree Forest from overtaking all of Equestria,” said Charger.

Blackthorn paused for a moment. It had occurred to her that the Mane 6 might try to meddle with her plans. “Those six fools haven’t been together in over a year. And even if they do try to get in our way, we have the power to destroy them. Now, get ready, we’re almost at the base,” said Blackthorn.

~

Rainbow Dash, exhausted from fighting off wave after wave of Shadowbolt troops who were attacking Canterlot, was still fighting as valiantly as she could. She turned and saw Derpy Hooves, who was desperately fighting to escape Captain Blackthorn, who was armed with a concealed dagger.

Rainbow took to the skies, and tackled Blackthorn, thus freeing Derpy.

"Say good night, my little hero!" snarled Blackthorn, tossing the dagger

But, Derpy, in an act of valor threw herself in front of the blade, thus causing Blackthorn to impale her instead.

“DERPY! NOOOO!” yelled Rainbow, running to the mortally-wounded Derpy’s aid.

As Rainbow flew towards the falling Derpy, everything around her changed into the belowdecks of a warship, and Derpy turned into Spitfire, who had flecks of gray in her mane, and had a different sort of wound in her chest, rather than a impale wound.

“Captain!” said Rainbow, her voice somewhat rougher as she knelt beside Spitfire, and she was wearing a green and blue version of the Wonderbolts unifrom “Come on, Captain! You’re tough as nails! You can pull through it!”

“No… I… can’t…” gasped Spitfire. “Rainbow Dash… you've always been the better pony out of the two of us”

“Me? But... you're captain of the Wonderbolts...” said Rainbow.

“Yes… but, now  it’s up to you… you must save Equestria...” said Spitfire, before her eyes turned into nothing more than vacant orbs as another explosion rocked the ship…

~

Rainbow Dash gasped as she woke up from the nightmare.

That was one horrible nightmare… Derpy killed, Spitfire killed… jeez, it really DOES sound terrible, thought Rainbow as she got a drink of water… it had been only a dream, right?

But, then why do I feel like it’s almost going to happen for real?  thought Rainbow as she got back into bed. Nah, it’s just pre-performance jitters… I hope.

~

At the Trottingham Royal Guard Base, everything was relatively calm. In the control room, two unicorns were sitting around, one playing with a paddleball, and the other playing a hand-held video game.

Unbeknownst to the soldiers who were there, all snuggled up in bed, Charger and Stratus snuck about in the vents wearing gas masks and carrying  gas canisters with a blue potion in them.

“Is everything ready?”  came Blackthorn’s voice over Charger and Stratus’s headsets.

“Just about, my Captain,” said Charger.

“Good. Blueball has the camera ready,” said Blackthorn.

With the flick of the switch, deadly Poison Joke gas sprayed through the vents...