SpitFire's Honor

Chapters

SpitFire and the WonderBolts meet the ShadowBolts
SpitFire's repressed memory
ShadowHeart's Past
ShadowHeart's new friend and an old friend.
A friend in need, a friend indeed.
SpitFire's Valor
(epilogue) SpitFire's Honor

SpitFire and the WonderBolts meet the ShadowBolts

Spitfires Honor (Chapter 1)

"what an amazing day this is guys, i hope your all ready for todays flying session!" she said to the other WonderBolts, Spitfire had a large smile on her face and she thought to herself as soon as she woke up after last nights wild Gala that today was going to be a great day she could just feel it in her heart.

"ha ha wow S-F your in a great mood today, any particular reason?" Soarin' was also excited along with spitfire.

"yeah today we need to practice a new trick that i know the crowd will just love and im really excited for it!.. are you guys all set?" All the WonderBolts exclaimed yes, everypony was anxious to get started on the new routine. "Okay guys! i need you over there and come around in an arch towards me and Soarin' as fast as you can, got it? and Soarin' stick right next to me and you t-" but she was cut off abruptly by a roaring thunderclap that confused her, the day was clear and the pegasi hadn't planned a storm or even a sprinkle that day!

The thunderclap came from the right side of them.. from the ever-free forest. A Sinister dark cloud raced into their direction but as they were about to call the weather patrol; dark figures emerged from the cloud and they all knew immediately what it was, The ShadowBolts.

Spitfire looked at her team and saw Soarin' shaking in rage " Those ShadowBolts are messing with us for the last time!" right as Soarin' was about to take off towards the dark cloud Spitfire instructed him.

" Soarin'! calm down maybe they will be smart and just pass us this time" that's what she had hoped but they all knew that the cloud was descending and losing speed. when they landed it showed 6 Dark Figures slowly walking off the smoke of their cloud.

"Well Well if it isn't the LoserBolts!" All of the ShadowBolts laughed in such a cold and crude manner. one of the shadow bolts stepped forward "so im guessing your about to make yet another horrible routine?" the ShadowBolts continued to laugh.

Spitfire stepped forward inches from the shadow bolt "Why are you and your team here? This is our practice feild you and your team have no reason to be here Thunder Dancer" she said to them trying her hardest not to show her anger.

The Lead pony changed her mood after being told that "Don't call me Thunder Dancer that's not my name anymore, now im Shadow Heart" she told SpitFire gritting her teeth.

" you can't just forget the name your parents gave you! that's not what they would have wanted" Spitfire told her, Shadow Heart started tearing up and looked down for a moment.. and when she looked up her face was blank, but in her eyes you could see intense hatred burning in the center of her eyes.

" you don't know that, im Shadow Heart now and that's how my name is staying" her mood changed back to confident " and im leading the Shadow Bolts to the top!"

Soarin' stepped forward " Sorry but that position is taken by us, and you won't ever be as good as us." he wanted them to know of his dislike to them.

"why don't you just go stuff your face into a pie you slow snail!" Soarin' was inches from tackling Shadow Heart if it wasn't for SpitFire and another WonderBolt pulled him away from her. Shadow Heart gave Soarin' a smug grin and laughed at him." you wonder bolts cant even compare to the speed of the shadow Bolts!"

SpitFire kept calm and just replied " And that's why we are given the title of Equestria's most talented flyers right?" SpitFire knew that remark seared the hearts of the Shadow Bolts. Insults and arguments rained for minuets until both SpitFire and Shadow Heart simultaneously yelled stop. SpitFire looked at Shadow Heart in Pitty, Once knowing her as a Filly but she had changed so much since then.

"Well then! How about a race loser bolts? We'll see whose faster here and also who rightfully deserves to be the most talented flyers in Equestria..." Shadow Heart kept a straight face but she knew SpitFire well enough to know she can't turn down a challenge.

Spitfire turned to her team " Well guys what do you say, i don't think this is a good idea but i think we have a chance to shut them up once and for all." SpitFire was worried but also confident that her team was the best there has been in a long time.

Soarin' was the first to answer "We can take these clowns easy S-F!" the other Wonder Bolts agreed to race the Shadow bolts.

SpitFire Turned to Shadow Heart "Alright you got a race." Shadow Heart smiled."Good.. lets do this right now." This caught SpitFire by surprise but she nodded yes.

The WonderBolts and the ShadowBolts lined up at the edge of the practice field "To Canterlot and back, first pony of either team back..wins." Shadow Heart said this with such confidence it scared SpitFire into imagining the worst.

They got the help of a local pony to be the starting announcer "on your mark...." Their wings all propped up."get set..."They all leaned forward."...Go!" As soon as the race started all of the trees at the starting line bent from the speed of the pegasi. The WonderBolts were ahead of the ShadowBolts but only by 50 yards. SpitFire looked back to glance at Shadow Heart... She was smiling and she nodded at her team and they instantly sped up.

They were right overhead of the WonderBolts and Spitfire shouted "Guys we need to get away from them speed up now!" Only SpitFire, Soarin', and another WonderBolt made it away before the ShadowBolts kicked downward and sent the rest of the WonderBolts spiraling uncontrollably downwards.

Soarin' yelled in rage staring at his falling teammates " NO! you dirty Cheats!"

SpitFire told the remaining WonderBolt to go make sure they were alright."Go help them out, we can still win this race" As the other WonderBolt sped to his fallen teammates the ShadowBolts were closing in on Soarin' and SpitFire. "Don't worry Soarin' we can win this, just keep your distance from them" SpitFire knew Soarin' was on the edge of turning back and fighting the ShadowBolts but he kept flying next to SpitFire. They made it to Canterlot and started heading back to the field before the ShadowBolts decided to make another move. One got between Soarin' and SpitFire and another got on the other side of Soarin' and rammed him inwards making his wings fold in, and before he could recover Shadow Heart kicked him down more and Soarin' fell into a lake.

SpitFire lost her confidence and it was replaced with rage and she could hardly control herself. One of the ShadowBolts caught up to her and was right above her and his hind legs were coiled and ready to strike.SpitFire barrel-rolled on top of the ShadowBolt and kicked with all of her anger and sent him into a 0 aerodynamic state and on his way down knocked down another ShadowBolt. Two other ShadowBolts went to go aid their fallen teammates.It was just SpitFire against Shadow Heart and one of her teammates.

Shadow Heart yelled to SpitFire " Just give up! you can't win!" SpitFire couldn't hear what she said everything around her was blank, she could only see forward..only hearing the painful scream of Soarin' and the other WonderBolts. SpitFire suddenly stopped and Circled over the ShadowBolt and kicked Downwards, Shadow Heart tried to bash into the side of SpitFire but she shifted upwards dodging the attack. Shadow Heart yelled again so loud that SpitFire regained full consciousness" I WON'T LET YOU WIN AGAIN!" SpitFire surged forward wth all of her energy towards the finish line and the pony ready to announce the winner. Both Pegasi surged forward close to the ground, Shadow Heart moved ontop of SpitFire and kicked her in the dead center of her back.SpitFire fell for a moment but went with the momentum of the kick to head straight towards the ground and kicked away from the ground doubling her speed.

"The WonderBolts win!" yelled the excited pony "They won by only a few inches what an amazing race that was!" SpitFire was relived to see the WonderBolts heading towards the finish line all safe and unharmed.

Shadow Heart collapsed to the ground and cried for a moment and then stood up as her ShadowBolts reached her side "This..." she started" THIS IS NOT OVER!" she shouted. "This is the last time im ever going to lose to you!" The ShadowBolts flew up in a cloud darker than ever before.

SpitFire teared up a little as she flew away.. feeling remorse for Thunder Dancer. The WonderBolts all grouped together praising SpitFire for her amazing flying "I have never seen flying that amazing S-F!" Soarin' had a huge smile on his face." Hey S-F whats wrong? we won!" SpitFire was not happy at all " I Feel so bad for Thunder Dancer, and this race didn't solve our problem, they WILL be back and they will probably be dirtier than before." The other WonderBolts scratched their hooves in the dirt, forgetting the victory.

Soarin' stepped up "Well that means we just have to get faster and be ready for them again right Spitfire?" SpitFire's smile returned "yeah your right, lets all rest for a bit, then what do you say we get back to practice?" All the WonderBolts all together replied "Yes sir!" they all had ever growing respect for SpitFire that day.

(At the ShadowBolts Head-Quarters)

Shadow Heart was crying in her room thinking to herself," I let her beat me again...why..why cant i ever beat her? I try my hardest and it never works..."Shadow Heart broke down in tears again. "N..never again.. next time i wont hold back, no matter how close i was to her in the past...

End of Chapter 1

~ By Winter Twister

SpitFire's repressed memory

SpitFire's Honor (Chapter 2)

Later that day after the race excitement had worn out and they had finished practicing they walked toward the middle of the field after their last attempt at the new routine.
"Ugh... my wings are so tired from all of today's flying we did, how about you guys?" Soarin' said while he rubbed his drooped wings with his hooves.

SpitFire didn't like complaining but she couldn't help herself but to agree with Soarin' "Yeah today was pretty rough out there today, I think we are going to take it easy the rest of this week we already had a nice start on the new routine so i think we deserve it." SpitFire looked away while she tested the strength of her wings and then turned back to her team.

"Alright guys lets walk back to the H-Q, we need to keep off our wings for the rest of the day so we don't strain them and besides its not that long of a walk back to Canterlot."

All of the WonderBolts agreed and the walk back everypony was silent; all thinking about the tiresome day.The only noise on their walk back was their hooves clopping on the narrow dirt road and the wind running through the trees and making the brown and orange leaves dance carelessly. Soarin' was thinking about the race and watching SpitFire become enraged and taking on all of the ShadowBolts by herself. The other WonderBolts were thinking about the same thing, but SpitFire wasn't thinking about the race at all. SpitFire was thinking about ThunderDancer and why she had changed her name to ShadowHeart and why she was acting in such a manor, it bothered her greatly.

As soon as they made it back to Canterlot they increased their pace to make it back to their home to get to their rooms all eager to get some well deserved rest. SpitFire was still thinking about Thunder Dancer and almost tripped over the front steps of their two story pale blue home.

Soarin' was surprised to see SpitFire so lost in thought. " Hey S-F are you alright?" Soarin' , always thinking of SpitFire as a role-model, was normally concerned for his captains health.

"Wha-? oh im fine don't worry about me Soarin' I'm fine." That was a lie.

"Your thinking about those ShadowBolts aren't you?" Soarin' was so sincere SpitFire couldn't lie to him.

"Yeah.." SpitFire looked down, after a moment she raised her head. "I'm thinking about Thunder Dancer."

"You mean ShadowHeart?" Soarin' was confused that she still called her ThunderDancer.

"No, her real name is ThunderDancer, ShadowHeart is a fake name that she had made for herself and I'm really worried about her." SpitFire didn't want to talk about it but Soarin' said something that slightly offender her.

"Why do you care about that no-good ShadowBolt, i mean she even tried to injure you!" Soarin' didn't understand.

SpitFire had anger in her voice."She wasn't always like that!" SpitFire calmed herself down to normal. "I knew her before she was a ShadowBolt, she was my best friend along time ago."

They went into their home and most of the WonderBolts had turned into their rooms, but Soarin' wanted to know more so he pressed Spitfire before she could tear away from him. "Please SpitFire i want to know how you know ShadowHe- I mean uh.. Thunder Dancer..."

SpitFire rubbed her hoof against the door of her room nervously. "...If i tell you will you please never talk about it to me again? It's a really personnel matter." Soarin' nodded to the agreement.

"Alright, this is how I met ThunderDancer it was a long time ago.."

SpitFire couldn't say anything at first but she knew Soarin' wouldn't go away until she told him so she started forcing it out."When i was a teenage Philly i was walking home from school when i heard yelling a few blocks away so i galloped ahead to see what was wrong."
SpitFire took a deep breath. "When i got there I saw Thunder Dancer against dirty alleyway wall with a bag of sweet-bread in her mouth and she was cowering from the Baker that caught her in the far corner of the alleyway, screaming at her calling her a thief while trying to get back the bag of bread."
SpitFire shuddered from that memory, but continued regardless."I stepped in between the Baker and Thunder Dancer and tried to reason with both of them, after a few minuets of arguing in-between them i got the bag of bread from Thunder Dancer and returned the bag to the Baker."

"wow... why was she stealing the bread?" Soarin' was at a higher point of curiosity than before.

SpitFire rubbed her eyes; she was really tired and didn't want to continue but she felt bad about leaving Soarin' hanging in curiosity.
"Well after i got the Baker away i went up to greet Thunder Dancer and she wanted to run but i grabbed her hoof before she could get away." SpitFire remembered the look on her face when she first saw her face up-close, it was angry and the look in her eyes had no compassion within them and when I looked at her side she was starved and bony. "I invited her to my house for dinner and she immediately accepted with a small grin on her face but it wasn't very trusting..." SpitFire stopped for a moment feeling deep remorse in her heart remembering her friend in such a state.

"After dinner i looked at her smile again but this time it felt different, it didn't have the same distrust as before and the look in her eyes was softer. She thanked me for the dinner and was about to leave but before she could leave i didn't want her to go back and live on the streets so i asked her if she wanted to stay with me at least until she was ready to leave and be able to survive on her own. She didn't know how to react but she reluctantly agreed to stay. After about a month of her staying with me i felt as though i had her full trust and we started becoming friends. We Lived together and spent each day together for about 3 years attending school normally, but then one day Thunder Dancer was smiling so hard i asked her why she was in such a good mood and she told me about how she got accepted into Canterlot's famous academy for dancers. I was overjoyed for her fortune but then she started frowning, so i asked her what was wrong. She told me that she would be leaving and going to the academy, i told her that was no problem and i also told her to follow her dreams. We promised each other that we would fulfill our dreams and then meet again someday, for some reason we never met again after the day she left. It tore me apart that she never tried to contact me and i went to the academy to visit but they told me she left one night and never came back. And it was only a few months ago i saw her again but i was unable to reach her, it was only today i really spoke with her again." SpitFire was finished; exhausted and heart-heavy she turned to her room to leave Soarin' awestruck.

"Thanks for telling me SpitFire, goodnight." Soarin' went to his room still thinking about the story that SpitFire had told him.

Before SpitFire walked into her room she stopped and nodded then continued into her room towards the bed and then plopped herself on her bed and stared at her window and for some reason that she didn't know why her gaze was fixed on a single star in the sky. She finally closed her eyes after watching the star for several moments and went to sleep still facing the star, feeling slight comfort.

-At the ShadowBolt headquarters-

ShadowHeart fell on her cold bed that resided in the corner of her dark room; eyes puffy from her constant weeping and still feeling rage from losing to SpitFire. She edged up toward her pillow letting it comfort her and pulling her black silk covers up so that she could sleep, she felt her eyes drawn toward her window and her eyes were fixated on a single star that she couldn't understand why. But she was sent into a deep sleep before she could try and tear away from the star.

They were staring at the same star.

End of chapter 2

ShadowHeart's Past

SpitFire's Honor Chapter 3
ShadowHeart fell on her cold bed that resided in the corner of her dark room; eyes puffy from her constant weeping and still feeling rage from losing to SpitFire. She edged up toward her pillow letting it comfort her and pulling her black silk covers up so that she could sleep, she felt her eyes drawn toward her window and her eyes were fixated on a single star that she couldn't understand why. But she was sent into a deep sleep before she could try and tear away from the star.
She couldn't tell if she was dreaming or looking into a bright light of her doorway, she decided she wasn't dreaming so she had slumped over to her bedroom door to close it. It was after she had reached her door that she realized that she had decided wrong it was a dream, and peering into the door she saw herself as a child... happy and playful. She was confused for a moment but she turned to the left to see her parents who even in a memory their faces looked scratched away by a yellow light. ShadowHeart started to whimper as she saw the two horses, sad that she never truly knew them and while she was thinking to herself she sub-consciously walked into the door and it slammed shut behind her before tossing itself away into the white abyss. She faced forward once again to the memory of herself walking a few yards back admiring the plant-life in the ever-free forest. Her mother was a gardener retrieving a bushel of some type of fruit i could not identify but knew it only grew in the ever free forest, her father was also there to help mother in collecting the crop smiling as he watched the little filly play. The little filly had run into the bushes chasing after a squirrel she had spotted leaving her parents to finish harvesting the fruit while watching their daughter act so lively. The mother was nuzzling the father and talking about how beautiful their daughter was, but the father noticed he couldn't hear Thunder Dancer playing so he took a step forward towards the bushes but stopped as he heard the bush directly to the left of him was shaking. He took a step back from the bush and out came something that made their hearts jump and their stomachs fell. A mighty Cockatrice had ambushed the father and turned him into stone showing him in motion of looking back and telling the mother to run but no words came out of the cold stone. The mother couldn't move she was shocked that her husband was gone she only whimpered and couldn't move until the Cockatrice was slowly slithering towards her. She had backed into a tree and slowly slid down it in defeat, ShadowHeart was having a fit in tears while the mother slowly turned to stone with a hoof outstretched where Thunder Dancer had dissapeared and as she had completely turned to stone a teardrop from the edge of her eye had fallen and made a thud on the ground for the teardrop was also petrified.

ShadowHeart went into a mad dash to go try and aid her mother but she passed right through the image and fell face forward into the dirt, out of frustration she tried again and once more fell into dirt but this time she wept in the dirt instead of foolishly attempting to touch the projected image again. After moments of crying she saw that the younger version of herself had come back grinning ear-to-ear about having so much fun, but that grin had died instantly at the sight of her parents. The upset filly had run up to her parents nudging them mouthing the words begging them to be alright but no words had escaped her mouth. The filly ran right to a near-by town called PonyVille to get help but as the filly got the specialist to the scene even from a distance he knew it was to late to help them. He didn't know what to tell the little filly but the look in his eyes was enough for the filly to read his mind. Before the Doctor could stop the young girl she ran into the woods, the Doctor tried to find her but to no avail, the only thing he could do was to walk back and hope the little filly had calmed down and returned to PonyVille. ThunderDancer didn't stop running that night, trying to run from the truth but becoming exhausted she passed out after tripping over a rock and cried in her sleep.

Another Door-way had entered the scene and ShadowHeart stepped within it to find herself 1 year after the incident. She remembered this part of her childhood well, she wouldn't let anyone be near her and she had lived in a damp alleyway which fortunately she had made herself a small house created off pallets, old house insulation, and an old quilt that she had found one day. She was defending for herself in these times, she was an orphan constantly stealing and feeling nothing but the hate of the world. Most who passed her just ignored her and those who tried to offer their help were scared away by the anger the filly possessed. Daily she was lucky to have eaten a discarded sandwich or some unfinished crackers she had found. Life was Lonely and difficult for this young girl and at some points even considering one of the most immoral crimes of ending her own misery, but never attempted to fully resort to this.

After months of fighting for her life one day she had casually walked into a bakery and the baker gave her a pleasant smile before returning to his usual work. The Philly had gone into the corner of the store to find a small section of the wall filled with bags of sweet-bread shaped like animals. The filly couldn't contain herself over the lust over that bag of bread, she snatched the bag of bread and slowly walked to the counter allowing the owner to think she was about to make a purchase. As soon as she reached the flour covered counter with the smiling baker she immediately sprinted out of the door with the store bell clanging recklessly.The filly didn't look back but only heard terrifying screams that made her run faster, wishing she had the strength in her wings to fly, while looking for a place to hide but this was where she had made her flaw in the bread robbery. She had dived into an alleyway that was closed off with a brick wall so she had tried to shrink herself in the corner as the baker approached and instantly saw her and slowly closing in on the thief. Screaming at her from a short distance the baker was grabbing for the bag but the philly kept dodging but couldn't find an opening big enough to escape the baker from. As the baker closed in even more another Philly had stepped between them, she had a yellow coat and had orange hair and was a Pegasus pony. The Pegasus had begun to talk to the baker but after a moment she turned toward ThunderDancer and asked politely for the bag, at first ThunderDancer refused but the Pegasus had warned her that if she didn't she could be arrested and sent to jail for bad fillies. After being frightened with that statement she handed over the bag to the Pegasus who returned the bag to the baker who grumpily took it and trotted off.
" Hello there, I'm SpitFire, are you okay?" The Pegasus was worried for the little filly.
.
ThunderDancer tried to push past the Pegasus, but SpitFire had counted on that so she grabbed her hoof firmly. ThunderDancer tried to struggle away but the Pegasus being a few years older than herself and also the weakness from hunger the struggle was pointless.

After the Pegasus had looked over ThunderDancer she asked politely. "You look really hungry, would you like to come to my house for dinner?"

ThunderDancer was surprised to be asked such a question, the hunger in her stomach forced her mouth to whisper. "Y-yes please miss."

SpitFire had led ThunderDancer to her home and gave her a seat at the table while she went into her kitchen to start cooking. The smell of the warm food made the filly's mouth water and her stomach was anxious to be fed and her heart was rising a bit to the kindness she was being shown.

SpitFire laid in-front of ThunderDancer a large plate of steaming vegetables that were sprinkled with the perfect amount of salt and pepper in the appropriate places. ThunderDancer immediately started eating the delicious meal and was also given extra helpings to fill her stomach. As soon as ThunderDancer finished she felt drowsy and passed out banging her head on the dining room table with a small giggle from Spitfire.

SpitFire took the small filly on her back and slowly carried her upstairs and laid ThunderDancer on her bed and then covering her up in two layers of blankets. SpitFire laughed again when she heard the snoring from the tiny Pegasus filly. She stroked the filly's' dark purple coat and slightly brushed her lavender mane and noticed that she had not yet earned her cutie mark. SpitFire left ThunderDancer there to sleep while she slept downstairs on her couch.

The memory fast-forwarded to morning where the little filly had woken up in a happy mood that she hasn't felt in ages and was suddenly overcome with joy wondering if this whole time she was in a deep sleep and her parents were still there! The filly sprinted downstairs yelling "Mommy! Daddy!" but her heart sank back into the abyss that she felt when she saw her petrified parents. She also felt embarrassed that she had fallen asleep in a strangers home and started heading for the door but was stopped by a recently awoken SpitFire who spoke gibberish. "wai oh leaf yat". SpitFire shook her head and corrected herself, slightly more awake. "Wait don't leave yet!" SpitFire was wide awake after saying that."Before you leave, please tell me your name." SpitFire knew that ThunderDancer was living on her own and was sorry for her.

ThunderDancer gently kicked the carpet while looking down and said."M-my name is Th-ThunderDancer." She looked back up to speak again."Thank you for having me, ill be leaving now.."

After hearing this SpitFire jumped up and almost on the edge of yelling. "WAIT!". ThunderDancer froze in fear of what was going to happen next, she looked at Spitfire to show her scared expression.

SpitFire blushed at what she just did, so she cleared her throat and said "Sorry i didn't mean to shout, what i ment to say was wait, i have a question for you."

ThunderDancer looked in puzzlement at SpitFire.

"Would you like to stay with me ThunderDancer? At-least until your able to leave and survive on your own?" SpitFire asked a bit nervous about her answer.

ThunderDancer's eyes were wide, her heart was swelling, there was nothing she wanted more than to stay with this kind mare. "Y-y-y-you really mean that?" unable to control her emotions she stuttered her speech.

SpitFire smiled and said "Of course!" SpitFire smiled harder. "We would be the best of friends and always look after each-other!"

ThunderDancer couldn't control her emotions she broke down in SpitFire's mane crying with SpitFire patting her back with her hoof to comfort her.

ShadowHeart was crying with the joy she remembered having that fateful day and wanted to watch that moment for awhile but the door had re-appeared and she obeyed hoping it would take her to another happy memory. The door became a window and she watched in fast forward her days with SpitFire, from attending school, playing daily games with Spitfire and always trading turns to cook for each-other trying to top the night before. They almost literally spent everyday together with ThunderDancer having someone to look up to almost like having a big sister and SpitFire enjoying teaching ThunderDancer new things like having a little sister.

The window stopped and re-formed back into a door for ShadowHeart to walk through. It was the day she had left SpitFire.
"SpitFire! SpitFire! I have great news!" Said ThunderDancer with a large smile across her face

"Oh really? What is it Thunder? SpitFire was curious.
"I got accepted into Canterlot's Academy for dancers!" ThunderDancer was so overjoyed she could barely contain herself.

" Whoa! CAC is a really prestigious school they only take the best and i guess that's you Thunder!" SpitFire said this proud of her friend for her accomplishment.

"Yeah but..." ThunderDancer's mood changed.

"What is it? aren't you happy? SpitFire was confused.

ThunderDancer was on the brink of crying. "I have to go live at the school to make sure i get my full education and practice."

SpitFire thought about this for a moment. "Well how about this, you follow your dream and become the best that you can be and so will I! And we can be together again after fulfilling out dreams."

ThunderDancer's Smile returned. "Deal!"

They both embraced in a hug that went on for minuets. A few hours later ThunderDancer embarked on her way to the academy to realize her dreams of becoming a professional dancer to perform for the princess
.
"Bye SpitFire! Don't forget to visit me!" ThunderDancer yelled behind her.

"Don't worry i wont! Goodbye Thunder!" SpitFire was happy for her friend and watched her leave until she dissapeared from sight.

ShadowHeart was moved by the friendship they once had and was in a state of lust to meet SpitFire, to be her friend again like the good old days. The door had appeared and it was time to move on to the last memory, the memory of hatred and hardship that she didn't want to see... but she was in no position to control the direction that the door took her.

ThunderDancer studied hard and was praised by her teachers for her performance and artistic views. But the other students were spiteful, always pointing out her flaws and making fun of her, jealous of her excelling in the school.

One day, a few days before her recital, she was practicing her routine until she deemed it perfect. When she left the dance room she was met with a cluster of classmates.

"Oh hi guys, what's up?" she asked... clueless.

"Oh nothing..." a nameless pony smirked.

Then suddenly they circled around ThunderDancer and started shoving her and finally making her thud on the ground with insults trailing after her.

ThunderDancer didn't know what to, so she broke through the crowd (slightly injured with a limp) running away from the academy with them yelling threats of what would happen if she came back. ThunderDancer was confused, she thought she could dance well.. she was praised by her teachers!... or was is pity? What if she could never dance at all? She thought to herself while running away crying towards the ever free forest. She had made up her mind, she would live in exile in the ever-free forest knowing that she had no talent or any purpose in life.. and what seemed worse is that she broke her promise to SpitFire so she didn't deserve to be her friend. A trail of tears is all she left.

ShadowHeart was furious that her mind brought her here and started screaming into the white abyss. As if she had called a cab a door halted in-front of her, she remembered this day well it was the day her leader and come to ask her to join the ShadowBolts. The leader had told her who he was and why he wanted to take her in as a new teammate, he wanted to assemble a team to top the show-offs called the WonderBolts. ThunderDancer asked about the WonderBolts curious about them, the leader gave a brief explanation of their team and then said something that caught her attention. He told her the leader was a Pegasus named 'SpitFire' and upon hearing this she fell into depression remembering their promise but then the depression was replaced by the rage of how SpitFire had become so great and ThunderDancer was still the equivalent of what she was years ago as an orphan wandering the streets. She agreed to join the ShadowBolts so that she could also become great and top SpitFire in life. When the leader asked for ThunderDancer's name she replied.

"Call me... ShadowHeart." She said coldly as if she lost all emotions other than hate.

The Door Finally closed and ShadowHeart let loose her emotions and started regretting joining the ShadowBolts. She started hearing a muffled sound.

"Ay..."

"He- sha- He-..."

"Hey ShadowHeart are you alright?"

ShadowHeart woke up to the leader next to her bed.

"Shadow you were crying in your sleep, are you alright?" The leader asked.
"Yeah im fine don't worry about it.." ShadowHeart said weakly.

"Good i don't need one of my fastest members being soft and crying from a little dream, c'mon its time to practice." The leader said as he exited the room.

Something told her not to go with him, but what choice did she have?

End of Chapter 3

ShadowHeart's new friend and an old friend.

"ShadowHeart!" The leader was scowling at her. "That's the third time you messed up the formation!"

ShadowHeart looked down in embarrassment. "I'm really sorry BlackJack.. I haven't been myself today."

BlackJack changed his mood, the ShadowBolts were may have been unpleasant in public but they cared for each other because that's all that most of them had. "Alright Shadow, I'll let you go for today so you can get your head straight. Go take a day off."
ShadowHeart looked at him, nodded and then slowly walked her way back to the ShadowBolt HQ so she could possibly get some rest from last night's dream that had robbed her of rest. She felt bad thinking about the dream as if it had caused her to act this way, she was grateful for the memories it had returned to her but also made her angrier about most of them. When she reached their home she went to her room and laid on her bed trying to shut her eyes, she was exhausted... but not sleepy. She had taken off her ShadowBolt uniform and walked to her mirror to look at herself, as she did this she stared at her own eyes. Starring at her own eyes made her tear up and look away from the mirror. She thought to herself for a moment and the only solution that came to mind was to just walk it off, she left the home and started walking into the EverFree forest which was the closest place to the HQ and deemed suitable.

ShadowHeart started feeling comfort as she was walking along an old dusty hoof-beaten path hearing the sounds of the forest. But even the soothing sounds didn't help she was tearing up again and couldn't help it, so she just kept walking regardless. She had heard a soft voice among the constant "bahh" she was hearing up ahead. She tried to keep away from the noise but the path had still led her there, she saw another Pegasus gliding above the goat's ushering them along a path into the mountainous terrain. ShadowHeart just glanced at the Pegasus and kept walking.

The Pegasus guiding the goats had spotted the mare along the path and noticed that she looked as if she was depressed, normally she would mind her own business but she thought that mare really needed a friend right now. She had fluttered over to greet the depressed pony. "Um.. hello? I'm FlutterShy, nice to meet you." She said shyly.

ShadowHeart looked up surprised that the pink haired Pegasus had paid her any attention, she had planned to just ignore her but she had a gentle look in her eyes that made her slightly trust the Pegasus. "Hi... nice to meet you." She was still depressed even starring at Fluttershy's smile.

"I'm sorry it just looked like you needed a friend" she said after landing and scratching her left hoof with her right.

ShadowHeart couldn't lie to FlutterShy even if she wanted to. "I'm just having a bad day and-" She was cut off by the surprise of a little alligator rested on her back. "Why do you have that alligator on your back? It might try to bite you!" She said terrified of the little creature.

FlutterShy giggled and just said. "Oh don't worry about Gummy he's harmless, he's not my pet im just taking care of him for the day for a good friend of mine who was to busy to pay any attention to Gummy." She smiled and let out a squee that ShadowHeart couldn't help but smile at.

FlutterShy offered to share her lunch with ShadowHeart and she accepted realizing she hadn't ate a thing that day.

FlutterShy swallowed a bite of her sandwich she had eaten and asked. "So whats your name?"

ShadowHeart felt bad that she had not even said her name to her new...friend.. yet."I'm sorry Fluttershy my name is Sha-" she paused for a moment but then continued. "ShadowHeart."

FlutterShy looked a little uneasy. "Oh...um.. that's a nice name." She took another bite of her sandwich as she noticed how awkward the moment had gotten after realizing her new friend's name.

At that moment Gummy had fallen off of FlutterShy's back and was on his own back now, almost as a statue but was still having a steady blink every 4 or 5 seconds. They laughed at Gummy together and ShadowHeart had wondered what that little alligator was thinking but her imagination couldn't reach that far.

"H...hey FlutterShy.. " ShadowHeart nudged her own hoof with her nose nervously.

"Yes?" FlutterShy quickly responded thinking something was wrong again.

"I have a rhetorical question to ask you.... If a friend breaks a promise to another friend does that friend still deserve to be that friend's friend? ShadowHeart asked feeling a little silly after asking it.

FlutterShy was confused a bit a first having the sentence imbued with so many friend's but answered. " Well.. promises are important in a friendship but breaking one doesn't mean the whole world is going to fall beneath you, it just means you should apologize to your friend and make sure everything is okay." FlutterShy smiled at her answer feeling it helped ShadowHeart alot.

It did, ShadowHeart felt alot better but still felt that she didn't deserve to be forgiven. "Thank you FlutterShy you don't know how much weight you took off my shoulders."

"Was that what you were sad about earlier?"

"Yeah.. but you really helped me out, thank you so much FlutterShy, maybe we can hang out again someday? Right now I better start heading back home before it gets dark." ShadowHeart enjoyed having a new friend, but still heart-heavy about SpitFire

They waved bye to each other and departed their ways, ShadowHeart walking slower than before thinking about what to do about SpitFire.

(In SpitFire's bedroom)

SpitFire was lost in thought looking for an answer, and then she gave a shout of frustration she couldn't take it anymore she had to talk to her friend. Just the thought of ThunderDancer acting in such a manor disturbed her and tore her very soul and heart apart in the burning mind retching agony in the memory of their once strong friendship that she cherished dearly and felt robbed of the happiness she had with ThunderDancer. SpitFire started crying to herself in her room, an old song appeared in her mind that she had listened to as a teenager... she realized it was never too late for understanding or having ThunderDancer as a friend. She decided to go talk with her even if it was risky. SpitFire took precautions and removed her WonderBolt uniform and walked out of the house and the setting sun hit her yellow coat, she took flight towards the EverFree forest where she would walk from there to keep her stealth.

(The EverFree forest)

ShadowHeart was still walking back still thinking about FlutterShy's advice when she heard a sound of a speeding Pegasus with the wind running through their wings and made her stare back thinking if it was maybe FlutterShy. ShadowHeart's stomach sank as she saw SpitFire flying straight towards her.

SpitFire spotted ThunderDancer and her heart jumped and started flying towards her with tears raining from her face. She screeched to a halt directly in-front of ThunderDancer tears still streaming down her face and wrapped her shaking hooves around ThunderDancer. "ThunderDancer i missed you so much! Please we need to talk!"

ShadowHeart stood there dumbstruck not knowing what to do especially with the unseen event that just took place that not even Celestia could have predicted it.

"ThunderDancer?" SpitFire looked as if she had been shot so she stepped backwards a few feet.

"SpitFire?...." ShadowHeart still couldn't believe it.

"ThunderDancer why have you been acting like this? I miss you please come with me we can be together again!" SpitFire had an expressionless face as she saw ThunderDancer hesitate.

"SpitFire... please go away i don't deserve to be your friend!" She screamed at the top of her lungs tears pouring from her face from seeing SpitFire gave the renewed effect of breaking her promise the first time she felt the self-disappointment she had many years ago.

"What are you talking about ThunderDancer! I don't care about that, the only thing i care about is you..." SpitFire's voice trailed off into a quivering statement. "P-p-please Thunder don't you remember the times we had when we were young? I want to have those times again don't you?"Tears were pouring rivers from both ponies.

They both were slowly edging toward each other to embrace in each others sorrow but they were interrupted by what sounded like a Jet-Plane breaking the sound barrier. It was BlackJack with an angry look on his face. "Shadow head home now ill take care of this." BlackJack had a look in his eyes that made SpitFire want to run and hide but her will to help ThunderDancer was even greater than her fear.

"Please no BlackJack leave her alone let's just go back to the HQ!" ShadowHeart was scared.

"Thunder please no come with me!" SpitFire extended her hoof out towards ThunderDancer.

BlackJack tried to charge SpitFire but was held back by ThunderDancer still urging him to go home. BlackJack finally agreed. "Lets go Shadow!" He shot another hateful look at SpitFire. "Stay away from Shadow or you'll regret it!"

The two flew away with SpitFire standing there staring at ThunderDancer who looked right back at her crying silently and mouthing the words 'I miss you SpitFire'

SpitFire's anger was ignited and she knew what to do. She Sped back to the WonderBolt Head Quarters making an even louder sound with her speed than two of BlackJack's sound deafening landings.

A friend in need, a friend indeed.

SpitFire's anger was ignited and she knew what to do. She Sped back to the WonderBolt Head Quarters making an even louder sound with her speed than two of BlackJack's sound deafening landings.

SpitFire had never flown so fast before, she felt the adrenaline mixing with her anger. SpitFire flew straight for the house but she was going so fast she ran into the house causing considerable damage to the side of their home. The WonderBolts ran outside with the thought of a bomb in their heads but they found a dazed SpitFire and rushed to her side.
"SpitFire what happened?!" Soarin' was still spooked about the noise and the damage and terrified that his captain was hurt.

SpitFire was still dazed and her head was spinning and her body shaking with tears still streaming down her face. "I..I need you guys right now.." She forced the words out with each word pounding her head like a drum the size of Manehattan.

Soarin' went over to SpitFire and put his wing over her to try and comfort her. "Calm down SpitFire just rest for a moment before you talk."

SpitFire took his advice and rested allowing the spinning world to settle around her before she spoke up again. "Guys we have to go save Thunder she needs us!"

The WonderBolts were in confusion at this request from their captain to go save a ShadowBolt but they saw her tears and continued to listen.

"I went to go see Thunder and she doesn't want to be with the ShadowBolts anymore but their leader wont allow her too and tore her away from me, please guys come with me we need to save her!" SpitFire was angry but shaking in her plead as she saw their reactions differ from each other.

Soarin' was the first to step forward and speak. "C'mon guys!" he stared at the team appalled by their disregard towards SpitFire's pleading. "Our captain needs us and we shouldn't question her!"

The other WonderBolts felt ashamed of themselves for doubting their captain even if they didn't like the ShadowBolts at all. They all stepped forward and their loyalty returning to them they all nodded at the captain and she silently mouthed the words 'thank you' she said as she wiped away her tears and replaced by a confident stare. "WonderBolts! Take flight and follow me!" SpitFire once more sped to the EverFree forest and this time her team following her all ready to jump when SpitFire yelled jump.

The WonderBolt's were in perfect sync and they were nearing the ShadowBolt HQ in 'V' formation with SpitFire at the front. They landed in front of the ShadowBolt's home with the air and dust swirling around them in a bubble heading away from them.

(Inside the ShadowBolt base)
ShadowHeart was lying in her bed not even wanting to continue living anymore... what day started in new companionship became the loneliest day of her life. She just wanted to lay there and do nothing for the rest of her life, that is until she heard a booming from from outside. ShadowHeart walked up to her window and saw SpitFire and her team with her. ShadowHearts eyes widened in terror and she sprinted to the door.

(Outside the ShadowBolt base)
SpitFire saw the door swing open within a few seconds of their landing and saw ShadowHeart yelling at them. "You guys have to leave now! Hurry before BlackJack comes o-" ShadowHeart was silenced after being shoved aside by all of the ShadowBolts. The ShadowBolt's doubled the WonderBolt's numbers two to one.

SpitFire wasn't scared. "Thunder hurry come over here we will protect you!" SpitFire once more beckoned with her hoof at ShadowHeart. This wasn't the time for tears, this was the time to save her best friend.

ShadowHeart slowly started to walk toward SpitFire.. but she was blocked off as soon as she started walking by BlackJack.

BlackJack pushed ShadowHeart back and yelled at SpitFire. "I should have just finished you back in the EverFree forest! I guess now this has to be settled in front of our own home." BlackJack had a bloodthirsty look in his eyes and he shouted to his team. " SHADOW BOLTS! Get into attack position!" All of the ShadowBolts went into a line sticking close to each other in pairs of two.

SpitFire's heart sank in fear for a moment but then she shook it off with determined anger-lit eyes she faced her team and shouted. "Defend yourselves and watch each others back! we need to save Thunder!"

SpitFire's Valor

The WonderBolts did as they were told and scrunched close together, preparing themselves for the ShadowBolts assault. But right as they were ready they saw with wide eyes as SpitFire surged forward straight for the ShadowBolts.

SpitFire always being headstrong dived into the ShadowBolts most too surprised to have the reflexes to react immediately so they kept heading towards the huddled WonderBolts. The few that did turned right to SpitFire, SpitFire saw the first one coming and flying close enough to the ground put her front hooves on the ground and allowed Newtons third law of motion take place right into the skull of the ShadowBolt, hearing a crack and sending him flying. Having all the momentum unleashed on the ShadowBolt she was able to steady herself on the ground and jumped into the air inches above a ShadowBolt that crashed after missing the target. SpitFire picked up her speed again and continued flying towards ShadowHeart. Two ShadowBolts entered her path embracing for the impact a few feet ahead to grab SpitFire. SpitFire couldn't get out of the way in time and instead of allowing them to catch her she turned up-side-down tucking in her wings and limbs and slipped through a small opening that left the two ShadowBolts gaping in amazement at what just happened, but regained themselves and caught up to SpitFire. One of them tried to grab one of her back hooves but got a surprise visit from the other one that sent him spiraling downward. The second ShadowBolt had appeared right over SpitFire and was ready to kick her down, but SpitFire again surprised him by flying up-side-down and kicking upward causing him to flail. The ShadowBolts wings tucked in from the shock and pain and almost fell on SpitFire, SpitFire had moved away from the ShadowBolt and even kicked him again for good measures.

SpitFire had finally made it to ShadowHeart who was still on the ground in pain from BlackJack shoving her, SpitFire helped her up and yelled at her to follow as close as she could. They flew up and saw the WonderBolts keeping their phalanx in check as they were rained on by ShadowBolts. SpitFire and ShadowHeart flew above them in the confusion and yelled to her team. "Everypony make your way back to Canterlot, watch eachother's back!"

The WonderBolts all took off at once, putting distance between them and the ShadowBolts who were cursing and calling them cowards. The WonderBolt's caught up to SpitFire and ShadowHeart, Soarin' pushed himself to get next to SpitFire.

"Whats the plan SpitFire? They are catching up to us and i don't think we can defend as well in the air!" Soarin' looked worried but he trusted Spitfire completely.

"First we have to get to Canterlot, tell everypony if someone starts lagging behind or gets caught all turn their attention to help that pony to keep their speed going!" SpitFire was busy making sure ShadowHeart could keep up and reassured her. "Don't worry Thunder we'll keep you safe just make sure that you never leave my side. Understand?" ShadowHeart nodded and kept her pace with SpitFire.

Canterlot was in view and saw what she had hoped to see, the royal guard ready and waiting for them. All of the WonderBolts were within 100 yards of Canterlot and felt triumphant that they had made it, but the ShadowBolts had finally caught up to them. All of the WonderBolts were crashed into the ground by the ShadowBolts and they had began to roll on-top of each other in a desperate fight for the dominance of top to deliver blows to the other. SpitFire was in a much worse position than the other WonderBolts. BlackJack was atop of SpitFire and she looked into his eyes and could have sworn she saw flames in his pupils that made her want to cry for help but she was too scared to try.

"Well little pony..." BlackJack raised his front hooves to stomp on SpitFire. "It looks like your finally mine" BlackJack grinned as he thought of his action. He tensed his whole body preparing to put all of his monstrous strength into one slam to her skull. He released his hooves on SpitFire... within inches of making contact he was tackled by ShadowHeart who was now on top of BlackJack.

"What are you doing?! Get off of me!" BlackJack shoved ShadowHeart aside and was walking back to SpitFire, angrier than before.

BlackJack stopped walking towards her and looked to the right of himself and was instantly terrified, the royal guards were on their way. BlackJack scrambled back to his team and yelled at them all to head back to the EverFree forest, but they were too late, the royal guard surrounded them.

"ShadowBolts! You are under arrest for several crimes you have committed to Canterlot and to several ponies in the provinces! Cuff them and their wings men!" The guard captain was a huge built horse who looked like he could take 5 BlackJacks at once.

The guard captain walked towards SpitFire and helped her up. "We can't have Equestria's star performers getting injured can we? Especially not my sons heroes" The guard captain smiled at SpitFire. "Go and see if your team is alright, if they have any injuries report them to me, i want as much evidence on these hooligans as possible." The guard captain trotted away to help his men suppress the rioting ShadowBolts

SpitFire walked over to her team, to her relief nobody was injured, just dusty.

All of the WonderBolts huddled together to smile and enjoy their victory and finally getting rid of the ShadowBolts. Then they all turned their attention to ShadowHeart who looked worried and had rolled up into a ball shivering on the ground, it wasn't cold but she was defiantly panicking.

"We need to get her home, lets go guys" SpitFire told her team.

(At the WonderBolt HQ)

They had gotten ShadowHeart there and Soarin' offered his bed to her while he slept on the couch. All of the WonderBolts had left and gone to enjoy the rest of their week off starting with sleep to regenerate themselves from today, everypony but Soarin' and SpitFire.

"Are you alright Thunder?" SpitFire was still worried she wouldn't stay with her.

"I'm fine but i just don't know what im going to do with my life now..." Her voice trailed off almost on the verge of panicking again.

SpitFire hadn't thought of that. " Well..." She racked her brain for ideas."Don't you still want to be a dancer?"

ShadowHearts head perked up with wide eyes. "More than anything!" but then she looked disappointed. "The academy wont accept me again though, not after i just dropped-out...." She looked as if she was going to cry.

SpitFire nudged ShadowHeart."You're right, they probably wont." She stuck her nose up in the air.

Soarin' was about to tell her how rude she was but before he could say it SpitFire opened her eye down on ShadowHeart.

"That is unless you have a letter of recommendation from the princess that i can get for you.." Spitfire smiled after she said that.

ShadowHeart jumped up in joy and hugged SpitFire thanking her. They hugged for several moments, crying in each others hooves, glad to be back together again.

"So we should probably get some sleep we can hang out together tomorrow, ShadowHeart." SpitFire knew she called her ShadowHeart on purpose to see her reaction.

ShadowHeart looked down for a moment, but then returned with a smile on her face. "SpitFire please don't call me that anymore, that's not my name, call me ThunderDancer." ThunderDancer's smile was bigger than it ever was.

(epilogue) SpitFire's Honor

(3 months later)

ThunderDancer was accepted into Canterlot's academy for dancers thanks to the help of SpitFire and Princess Celestia. ThunderDancer had walked into the academy with her letter and a smile on her face that day to re-enroll, but as soon as she had walked in she had dropped her letter from her gaping mouth as she saw Princess Celestia herself had showed up to personally escort her to the Dean's office.

ThunderDancer excelled in all of her classes as she did many years ago and was praised by both her teachers and her classmates. ThunderDancer had finally graduated from the academy after months of tuition and was requested by Princess Celestia for a private performance and which resulted in ThunderDancer earning a contract to perform at he Grand Galloping Gala along with a few other seasonal festival contracts in Canterlot. ThunderDancer had finally achieved her dream of becoming a professional dancer.

SpitFire and ThunderDancer made it tradition to meet with each other every week to talk about events that had happened from dance performances to flight routines. They also enjoyed going to their favorite restaurants and slumber parties forgetting their age and just having fun together as they had as teenagers.

(10 years later)

Both ThunderDancer and SpitFire had retired from their life careers and had decided to move in together so they could continue to be friends to their old age.

ThunderDancer was crying across the table where they usually sat together, but she had a smile on her face. "SpitFire im so glad you found me that day in that dreadful alleyway." The tears were increasing but not sound had come from ThunderDancer.

SpitFire had also began to cry a bit. "Yeah me too, your the best friend i could have ever asked for." They held each others hooves as testament to this.

"We had a good life didn't we Thunder? A bit rough at some points but we pulled through together."

"Yeah... I wouldn't have been able to do it without you SpitFire." They both closed their eyes and kept holding each others hooves.

They both were going through their lives in their minds and both came to a conclusion. 'Maybe your dream isn't enough to get through life.. maybe in the end all that matters was that you had a friend beside you the whole way.'

To SpitFire's honor, she had no objections to this statement.

Story inspired by CertaintyPrinciple from deviant Art.com- to whom im grateful for this story idea which made me realize how much i loved writing. (his games on deviant art are fun)

Hopefully you watched the link to 'in the end' by Linkin Park i consider them a type of video credits showing the beginning of Shadow's Depression and in the end of the video showing her peace with the shot showing the nature of the land.