Harmony and Chaos

The Thunderbolts

It was raining the day of Derpy Hooves’ funeral. Although the funeral went only on for about an hour and a half, for Rainbow and her new foster daughter, Dinky, it felt more like fifty years, due to the fact that Dinky had lost her mother and Rainbow had lost one of her best friends. Aside from that, Rainbow couldn’t help but feel incredibly guilty. Blackthorn’s blade had been meant for her, not Derpy… Rainbow wished Soarin could be here to help, but he’d been called away for something important.

One thing’s for sure, thought Rainbow. The Shadowbolts must be destroyed… and I think I know somepony who can help me. “Rain Drop, can you keep an eye on Dinky? I need to talk to the Princesses,” said Rainbow.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot Castle, or rather, what was left of it, Princess Luna approached her elder sister, who was in what used to be the throne room.

“Most of our books are intact, and our belongings are ready to be moved to Manehattan,” said Luna, before seeing the troubled look on Celestia’s face. “Tia, what’s wrong?”

Celestia gazed at an old oil painting. It was of her parents, herself as a mare barely out of fillyhood, and a newborn Princess Luna. “Luna, I have lived in this castle for the better part of a millenium… and now, in a single night, it’s nothing more than a ruin… thank Faust that you made it through, Luna…” said Celestia, embracing her little sister. “I’m not going to lose you again.”

“I know, big sister… I know… that’s why this new team is so important. They will have the talent, the skill, and the ability to take down Blackthorn and the Shadowbolts… we have most of the team and the uniforms… all we need now is a Captain and a name,” said Luna.

“Um, excuse me, Princesses? Is this a bad time?” came Rainbow’s voice from the doorway.

“And I think we just solved the Captain problem,” whispered Luna. “Come in, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow, looking a little nervous, entered the ruins, and bowed. “Uh, with all due respect your Highnesses… what is being done about Blackthorn and her gang of terrorists? I lost one of my oldest and closest friends during the battle… I want the chance to avenge her,” said Rainbow.

“I understand, Rainbow… and you will have it. The time has come to bring the Shadowbolts’ campaign of terror to an end… and you’re going to be on the front lines of this war. If you’ll follow us,” said Luna.

Rainbow, a little confused and nervous, followed the Princesses into a side room. In there were five other pegasi, two mares and three stallions, who were dressed in flight suits similar to the Wonderbolts, but the sky-blue was a deep dark blue, and the yellow lightning bolts were an emerald green.

“Hey, Rainbow!” called Soarin, walking up to his fillyfriend.

“W-who are these ponies?” asked Rainbow.

“Well, they’re your team, Captain. What would you like to call them?” asked Celestia.

Rainbow’s jaw dropped. I’m Captain of my own team? was the thought that ran through her mind. After a moment, a name for her team came to her mind… something Derpy had mistakenly called the Wonderbolts…

A few hours later, Celestia and Luna were holding a press conference in response to the Canterlot attack.

“What happened in Canterlot three nights ago was nothing short of a tragedy and an act of war. It is for that reason that we are creating a new resource. Some of you may remember Rainbow Dash as the Bearer of the Element of Loyalty. But, now she will have a second moniker,” said Celestia.

From above, six pegasi clad in dark blue flight suits, including Rainbow Dash, flew overhead at speeds that were nearly impossible to chart. They landed in a circle, the press conference in the dead center.

“Presenting the Thunderbolts. A group of six fliers who are nothing short of the best of the best. So, Blackthorn, listen up if you’re watching: you wanted to start a war? Well, we will finish it,” said Luna as the entire crowd burst into cheers.

Later, the Thunderbolts sat at a tavern in Manehattan, which was serving as the temporary capital of Equestria, the newly-minted Thunderbolts sat, sporting their new green dress uniforms, drinking cider as they got acquainted with each other.

In addition to Soarin and Rainbow Dash, there was a mare with a lavender mane and tail with a deep purple coat named Moonlight Twinkle. Prior to her new gig, she had been at the Wonderbolts academy, and was highly skilled in combat.

Also present was a mare with a white coat and a silvery blonde mane and tail named Ice Wind. She had been Shining Armor’s fourth-in-command.

Among the two new stallions was a pony with a cobalt coat and a green mane and tail named Falcon Screech, who, like Ice Wind, had been in the Royal Guard as Shining Armor sixth-in-command.

The second stallion had a black coat and an aqua mane and tail. His name was Whiplash, and he had been a Wonderbolt team leader just like Rainbow, albeit a few years ahead.

Abruptly, once meet-and-greet was done, the topic turned to Blackthorn and the Shadowbolts.

“Whoever she is, she must have great hacking skills if she was able to commandeer every last TV in Equestria,” said Falcon.

“And she clearly has talent in military tactics, so I’m willing to bet she may have been attending either the Wonderbolt Academy or the Royal Guard Academy,” said Ice Wind.

Soarin looked thoughtful for a moment. “Captain, if you don’t mind me saying, there seems to be a lot of pageantry in Blackthorn’s actions,” he said.

“You know, you might actually be onto something. There does seem to be a lot of theatre in her actions,” said Rainbow.

As the Thunderbolts kept talking, a dark shadow listened in on every last word.

So, they think they can last against my puppet’s Shadowbolts? Well, we shall see about that! And Rainbow will pay for humiliating my family like that! thought the shadow.