The Choices We Make: A Shadowbolt's Story
There were times in my life were I have done some pretty stupid things. I can’t really name or even count the mistakes I have done in my life, but in the end, I would always make up for it.
I was loyal to the end and I have the Element to prove it. However, there was one choice that had often held me back. One choice that even to this day, I secretly regret. The day I refused to join the Shadowbolts.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of being a Wonderbolt and all that but I chose my friends over them, despite knowing I couldn't be one of them again. When we beat Nightmare Moon, who turned out to be some ancient Princess that was like… the sister to Celestia (Yeah, who knew?), it turned out that they were just an illusion to distract me from our goal.
At that point, I kinda felt better knowing that it was just a fake to catch me off my game, but a part of me hated knowing that I would have had the chance to show up the Wonderbolts and be either like them or better. For so long, my dream was to become like one of those great ponies and be an all-out star! My dream to be famous, to be unbeatable and to literally be known as one of the fastest Pegasi around! Just... knowing that I could have a chance, the smallest chance, I would have taken it… but my loyalty beat me to it, and for what it's worth, I did good.
Fast forward a few years and I managed to get into the Wonderbolts… ahead of everypony else and even more, managed to beat the previous times, tryouts and even set new records by miles ahead. Those scores were originally held by none other than Spitfire and veterans of the old Wonderbolts. At first, they all seemed to enjoyed the fact that… I would be the best asset to the team. I kept beating previous records by others teams, especially ones from other places like Fillyldelphia, Manehattan and even a few Gryphon teams as well. It was all great.
… Until I happened to listen in on a private meeting between the captain as well as previous Wonderbolt Veterans. What I heard that day nearly made me want to cry and scream and yell all at the same time.
Apparently, there was some issue with the Bolts and me. They all hated knowing that I was the star of the Wonderbolts. I was confused about that until they said something about popularity. So I was bringing in ticket sales, merchandise and all that, but the others were just... background characters now.
They felt that now that I was in the full spotlight, they got less attention. They had paycuts to the running members because I was taking up most of their time and had more to show than the others. They had an increase in candidates which wasn’t so bad, till the cadets started making things up about how it's easy to get into the 'Bolts. I made it look easy for them to get in… I don’t know how, but that was the case. Not only that, but the Vets were all pissed knowing that about nearly half of them, I beat their records with ease.
Some of them took years and years to get those records and I blew them all away like they were nothing. They were being forgotten, and even a few of their trophies were removed from the hall to make way for mine. I was the youngest, fastest, most agile Pegasi out there and they were threatened because of it. Not only that but because I was an Element of Harmony, most of the show still focused on me and my many accomplishments in saving Equestria.
You figured that would make the Wonderbolts look good knowing that they were flying with a hero, but I guess to them, that didn’t matter. It didn’t matter because they just wanted the fame, the fortune and the undying love of fans at their hooves. Yeah… I learned that from them, but I also learned that they wanted more.
They wanted to cut me from the team… My childhood, my dream, my career… it was gone. All gone because they were scared I was going to replace or beat them all at their silly records. I didn’t care much about it. I won trophies left and right but didn't care about them. Sure, I boasted a bit about my amazing moves and ease to win it all… but never for the trophies and never to make the others look bad.
More or less, they wanted me to at least stay in the back or in the side lines for backup. It would reduce the amount of time I would be seen by others and it would keep me more in line, like a ‘good little dog’. Yeah, I heard that from those A-hole veterans.
That night, I literally screamed out into the sky. I yelled, I cried, I destroyed a bunch of clouds that were meant for weather and I nearly killed myself trying to fly dangerously.
I never knew it would hurt so much knowing that ponies can hate you for being better than them. The girls never so much as argued about me being the fastest or best at doing what I love. In fact, they encouraged me to be the best. But I guess when it comes down to it, nothing is as it seems.
The next day, I stormed into Spitfire’s office and threw my badge on the desk.
“I QUIT!” I said loudly, though it felt more like a yell.
Spitfire was surprised by this sudden announcement.
“What?! Why?!” she asked, as if she didn't honestly know why.
With a snort, I literally crossed the space between us so that we were eye to eye.
“Don’t give me that crap, Spits! I heard what you and your pals were talking about yesterday. You want to cut me from the team because you all think that I'm gonna cut your careers down the middle! That I am beating all your previous records with ease and that the only reason we're getting any shows or fame is because of me!”
Spitfire instantly knew that I had heard them talk. With a heavy sigh, she shook her head.
“Look kid, you weren't supposed to here that, especially the part about cutting you.”
“So what?!” I yelled. “You were just gonna up and tell me that you're letting me go because you think that I wasn’t good enough for your team?! Or maybe I was too good for it!”
With a stern look, she ordered me. “Dash, I suggest you calm down.”
“To Tartarus with that Spitfire! You wanna cut me because you feel threatened by me!”
Standing up suddenly, her gaze shifted hard on me and her voice nearly echoed mine.
“Dash! You need to calm the buck down before I have you thrown out! I am already dealing with the fact that because of you, we might have to cancel the next couple of shows! Yes, we were thinking about cutting you, but then we realized that the fans would stop coming because of you…
“So you only wanna keep me now because you’re afraid to lose your fans.” I said sarcastically. “What then? You gonna shove me in the back so you can have your fame and fortune up front? Is that it?”
She tried to answer, but she hesitated. Her mouth hung open and she sighed again.
“I am sorry Dash, really I am, but now that everypony and their grandmothers think that they can easily be as fast and as great as you, they are making it look like foal’s play to get into the Bolts. Lately we've also had more ponies try to join here and the other teams across Equestria. That sounds great but along with that, some of our reserve members are getting their own down time, with us trying to bring in the new recruits.
Along with the teams across Equestria, we have actual statistics showing that without you, we are just as even as the other teams. Sure you can beat them all, but what happens if we lose you? Then we look like we're the worst team to join. Not to mention that it’s only because they want to be like you that makes it worse.”
“Oh so I'm the problem then?” I snarled.
Spitfire shook her head. She wasn't making any sense, and I was ready to lose it.
“We still go through the hard training basics and all that but they're just full of hot air and from that, we're going to get many incidents like we had with Lightning Dust. She is making up for it now, but imagine if we had a bunch of hot heads like her, trying to be a hotshot and getting others killed.”
I couldn't help but let out my own sigh, remembering that incident so long ago. I was angry that Dust nearly killed my friends and I felt like Spits felt now, though more disappointed. Dust did manage to make up for i,t and was even a junior member. Often times, she was even with us in our flight shows and had her own fan base. She really proved herself back into the 'Bolts through the years.
“I get it Spits. You don’t want to get rid of me because you can lose all the fans or because you don’t want hot heads out there, but you want me to stay in the back because you want to increase your fame and all that. You want me to stay in line and follow orders and be a ‘good little dog.’”
“That’s not what I said--”
“Save it… I'm all done here. I don’t want deal with the 'Bolts knowing that they are holding me back for what they want. I know I am supposed to follow your orders, but being the backup is just too much… especially for fame’s sake.”
Spitfire tried to combat it with a harmless threat.
“You’re under contract, Dash. You still got another few years on us. You either stay with us or no team will take you in after that.”
I gave a snort.
“All it takes is a few words to the Princess to get me off that paper Spits. Remember, I am the Element of Loyalty and savior of Equestria.” That was a low blow, even for me. Spitfire looked stunned and hurt by it. I never had to use my status to get what I want or to help me out in situations. Granted, I didn't typically deal with situations like this, but still. I always relied on myself and my friends to help me out but never that. I also knew that it was a bluff, but a bluff that worked nonetheless.
“Some Loyal pony you are.” She tried to fight back.
“Says the pony who told me to give it my best and never hold back. A pony who now wants me to give up my time for her selfish need for fame. A pony I once looked at as an idol, rather than a celebrity with jealous intentions. ” Again low blow, but I didn’t need to hold back.
“You can either rip up that paper or you can hear from the Princess soon. I don’t care… I'm just gonna grab my stuff and leave. After all, you were going to let me go or shove me through the doors anyway.”
Without another word, I left her office and slammed the door shut. I heard a few things fall in her office right after that. I felt bitter and shaken and my heart was beating a mile a minute, and that usually only happens when I'm up in the air. Walking, each step was a thump in my chest but I kept going. As I walked down the hall, I could have sworn I heard a sob from her office.
Leaving was the hardest part, especially grabbing all my stuff and exiting the halls. A real stab in the heart. I had so many good memories here, hanging out with the team and more. The late nights, the training, the missions and so on. As I looked down at the costume I once wore, I realized that I am making the biggest decision of my life here. I know that I could have stayed but the way I see it, I am either gone or in the back, following a routine day in and day out behind the others, not able to show up my true talent.
But I also see that they don’t want me there. One thing I did leave behind was photos of me and Spits, and another one with the entire team that we took when I became an official member of the 'Bolts. I wanted so badly throw it but… I left it in my old room so if anypony wanted to see, all they would have is memories. They wouldn't get the satisfaction of seeing me like that.
My friends were upset about the news and were even more upset about why I left. They tried to cheer me up but there was nothing that could make me happy. I did managed to get back my old job at the weather factory, but that was just to keep the bits flowing. I was back to my old home.
Months had passed and I never heard anything from the 'Bolts. No letter, no news, not even Soarin or Fleetfoot coming to visit and for some reason, I felt that that was best. I wouldn't want to see them disappointed at why I left. Or, maybe they knew about it but wanted to try and bring me back.
You know… I find that some decisions are worth doing and some you do just out of impulse. Most of the time, that seems to be my case and with that track record, I suddenly get mailed by a recruit. Thinking it was the Wonderbolts or the military, I was about to throw it away. However, a mark caught my attention. And not just any mark. I checked the seal and it had the Lunar Crescent, meaning it was from Lunar territory. The mark on the front was a skull with wings. I would remember that symbol anywhere, and with the return of Princess Luna, I could guess who was trying to recruit me.
Shadowbolts…
Author's Note
Here we go, folks. I hope you join me for this ride!
Like? Hate? Leave your comments below!
The Choices We Make: A Shadowbolt's Story
I wanted to burn that little piece of paper before I even opened it. It would look much better as ashes.
At first, the Shadowbolts were Nightmare Moon’s incarnations of the Wonderbolts. They were real ponies, and I had no idea why they chose to serve Nightmare Moon. She tried to use them to get me to join her. It nearly worked and it probably would have been the end of Equestria. But, I refused to join them and stuck to my friends.
When Luna became, well... Luna again, they all but disappeared from Equestria. It was a year later until they finally started showing up again. A supposed "sighting" here and there, as if they were the subject of ghost stories. Several months after that, Luna publicly welcomed them back into society, and they denounced their evil ways to join their beloved Princess. I remember, the first thing I heard from one of them was a complaint about Twilight's new Crystal Palace. I mean, the thing was an eyesore, but that was my friend they were talking about.
Again, the temptation to throw the invitation away was overwhelming. Mostly because of how they reminded me of the Wonderbolts.
Just like the Wonderbolts, they were part show and part military. However, they took their military training to a whole new level. Whereas the Wonderbolts had shown some military status as well as being the Air Force for the guards, these guys were full on badasses.
They were rough about everything with everypony, including each other. Not only that, but they have made the Solar Guards look like mall cops on several occasions. They're brutal, and when I say brutal, I mean that one of them could take out, like, 10 guards and not break a sweat! I've seen these guys in action at some night bars, and when they get into fights... well, let’s just say that the last bar I went to, I was actually... kinda… afraid to go back. I didn't drink cider for a month.
The leader, the female version of what I think of as Spitfire but ‘super badassed up’ was the one who did that. Unlike Spitfire though, she had the scar on her eye, the muscles that would make Applejack shiver, and the face of a hardened warrior. I bet she could even stare down King Sombra! Although, Fluttershy in a bad mood would probably win. After she had taken out like... 10 or more stallions, she laughed it up with her pals as if they do it every day. Not that it would surprise me if they did...
She was literally an awe inspiring pony and it’s because of that, I remember why I had the regrets of not joining the Shadowbolts. Again, even if I had joined, it would have meant certain doom for Equestria and I would probably be Nightmare Moon’s mind controlled slave or something. Not even Daring Do would be able to face... that. Twilight's memory spell wouldn't even get me out of that mess.
At this point, I was at... ahem... "an impasse"... heh, do ya like my Tirek voice? Eh, sorry... I still get distracted easily... anyways, back to the story! It was like hitting my head against a brick wall trying to get it to move, which is something Twilight would say if she were stuck on a supposedly unsolvable problem, though she would probably freak out. Again. Opening the letter, I found a few paragraph's worth of words, and at the bottom, a date and time.
Dear Rainbow Prism Dash,
It has come to our attention that you have recently resigned from the Wonderbolts due to... complications. Under normal circumstances, one does not leave Equestria's most prestigious flight team without a very good reason. We are saddened to hear the news, and you have our deepest condolences. We know it is of short notice, but we wish to invite you to join our upcoming team, the Shadowbolts. We have always been called this, but only now are we making it official.
Unlike the Wonderbolts, your time is just that. Yours. Also, how you spend it and how much you are willing to put into it as well. It's all up to you. If you wish to show your skills to the world without slowing down and without fear of beating the others, then we welcome your determination and skill. If you wish to work with a team, we have many who would want to learn from you or work with you here.
Though we do warn you that we push our ponies to the limits they never thought they had, then we break right through said limits. We will do the occasional air show, but we are also guards. And as guards, we are full fledged warriors of the night. With the Shadowbolts, you will do far greater things than just fly around and do some fancy tricks (although I personally look forward to seeing your Sonic Rainboom). We will give you the opportunity to know what it really means to be the best.
Learn how to fight multiple opponents at once, take control of how you want the world to see you, meet others who hail from all different places in Equestria, pony or otherwise. You will all learn what it means to be a Shadowbolt, no racial prejudice here. Take on the night and fight the unknowable dangers that lurk in the shadows, and feel the freedom to choose how you fly. Lead a team or fly alone, that is a choice we give you here. If at any time after training you wish to leave, you may. But, know this: once you leave, it will be so much harder to get back in. We only recruit around 10 to 20 Pegasi and other species every six to eight months but of them, only 3 or 4 will make it.
We know of your protective instincts, miss Dash, and we know just how to sharpen those instincts and put them to good use. Perhaps best of all, you will be much closer to home, so you can stay near your friends. We heard you were a bit homesick with the Wonderbolts, but you won't have to worry about that here.
If you wish to join, we have provided an address and time below to go and meet with me. We really hope that one of the greatest ponies around will come.
Sincerely,
Black Ember, Captain of the Shadowbolts.
P.S.
Say hello to Rarity for me.
Below was an address somewhere in Canterlot and the date was set for two days from now at a time close to midnight. I held onto the letter for Celestia knows how long, reading it and re-reading it over and over again.
It was hard to believe I had just wanted to burn this. The tone of the letter completely went against everything I'd ever seen or heard about the Shadowbolts. Maybe this "Ember" was just trying to sway me? Also, how did she know Rarity? Well, everypony knows who we are. We've saved Equestria so many times, but she made it seem like she actually knew Rarity.
I didn’t need to be an egg head like Twi to understand that when you get an opportunity, you take a chance at it. Imagine it, I could choose to fly solo or with a team! I could take my time, use it how I please, stay with my friends on a regular basis... and learn how to fight like the Shadowbolts.
Though it was no joke that they would really push me beyond my limits. There have been stories of many who have joined and failed, coming back either beaten up with their tails between their legs or… in a stretcher. They're in a stretcher, that is... not their tails, seperated from their bodies or anything... although I wouldn't put it past them. Anyways, I know that only because Lightning Dust tried to join them before they started giving out invitations. She was so desperate to join, she tried to ‘tough’ her way through it.
She had barely stepped through the doors, and she already had her ass hooved to her… literally. She was talking smack and ended up saying the wrong thing to the team leader. When Lightning Dust told us the story, she was shaking horribly and was actually crying a bit. She said that they literally beat her down till she was on the floor begging for mercy.
Of course, it was all illegal but any guard that came to help either turned away out of fear or waited till the Shadowbolts were done with her. Heck, even ponies around her were sorry for her including myself, despite her former status as a sociopath that almost killed my friends!
Apparently, those beatings did much more than leave a few bruises on her flank. After four months in the hospital, she had a revelation of sorts and came back to the Wonderbolts, begging me and the others for forgiveness. It wasn’t out of pity that we did, or maybe it was… but when we gave her another chance, she really tried to make it up to us.
She made up for it all in a few months by following all our orders, apologizing to my friends and training extra hard just to be in the reserves again. After that, well, with Spits and me up in front, Soarin and Fleetfoot in second and her in third, you know she pulled it off.
But when she told us what changed her, she was very somber about it. The Shadowbolts made her feel weak and low, going so far as to beat her till she fell and cried. That's something that so few can do, and having the guards too afraid to raise a hoof against you just adds on.
The Shadows maybe new but their flight and fighting styles are old. Based off Princess Luna’s retro style of fight and flight, the Shadowbolts took the fighting of her olden times and mixed them in with modern hoof-to-hoof combat and weapons as well. As one of their primary weapons of choice, it was the deadliest weapons known to Pegasi and Earth Pony alike. Only Unicorns had any real chance against it.
Arch-Wings.
Just thinking of it sends shivers down the spines of many Pegasi, including me. Made from Lunar Steel and hollowed out by Unicorn welders, the Arch-Wings are also known as the "Silent Wings and Peaceful Winds"…
I saw them displayed at a museum in Cloudsdale once. I knew that even as a filly that those things were deadly. They were silver in color, and fit over the natural wings of a Pegasus. There were a few openings and lots of pivot points in them to allow for free movement, while also supplementing aerodynamics. They looked like a pain to put on.
The ‘Feathers’ or the blades of the wings are what make them deadly. They were so sharp that they could cut through a pony like a hot knife through butter. The nicknames they got were there for good reasons. ‘Silent Wings’ is because with enough practice and skill, fighting or flying with these things is as simple as gliding in the air. ‘Peaceful Winds’ is the best description for them… If you use these things when you achieve full control of them… you could kill a pony with a single slice and the wind wouldn't be disturbed by it nor create a sound.
Heck, I heard that, with the perfect cut, the victim wouldn't even know that they had been sliced. All would seem normal... until a gust of wind finished the job. That's what really got to me. You could be decapitated and not even know it until the wind gently blew your head off your shoulders.
Not only that, but because they were magically enhanced, they never dulled and if they did break, which was almost impossible, they had to wait a week to repair the magic that held them together and another week to repair the blades themselves.
Fighting with them was just as lethal as using them. Arch-Wings require you to fight with full movement of your body and wings at the same time. Using them to attack an opponent upfront or to your back or underneath you was difficult. Ariel Combat seemed like straight up suicide. Fighting while trying to remain in the air and not get killed by another’s weapons plus making sure that when you flap, the blades don’t cut you... it all begged the question on how the Shadowbolts use them.
Anyways, I've been distracted again.
Here I stand, trying to think of what to do in this situation. On one hoof, I could keep my job at the weather factory, leading a bunch of ponies to do a job I could do in ten seconds flat… or I could join one of the most elite and most vicious flight teams in Equestrian History and join a team or fly solo whenever I want. I could keep the glory or I could just do what I want and not have to worry about others holding me back because they are threatened.
For the rest of the night, I stared up at the white puffy ceiling of my room, thinking of my options and whether or not this would be a good choice or not. The outcomes, the benefits… the change in life styles and what it would mean to my friends.
It was near two in the morning before I fell asleep. But I fell asleep with a decision in mind.
The next evening, I flew to my destination and true enough, it was in a remote part of Canterlot. Actually, it was near the edge of the city and had little pony activity except guards and a few shops that operated late at night.
Passing all that, I saw a small building with the matching address. A large flag floated above, colored in a shade of blue that perfectly matched the night sky. It made the crescent moon pained on its surface look like an actual second moon. Two Night Guards stood at the entrance and were as still as statues. When they saw me approach, they gave a glance before motioning me with their heads to go in. I hesitated, but swallowed what fear I had and walked in. The door opened and with a creek, and I stepped in and closed it.
What I saw dumbfounded me. What I was expecting was a huge building with walls littered with photos of the Shadowbolts' triumphs, trophies of competitions they had won, maybe a few mounted monster heads or something... But… it was a simple office building. Why did it need guards out in front?
For a moment, I thought I had the wrong address. Then I remembered the flag outside.
A Unicorn mare who had dark grey fur and a black and white mane, sat behind a desk with her eyes focusing on some paper work. Behind her was just a window and file cabinets with another Unicorn mare in the back filing.
The mare looked up at me and caught my eyes. I almost felt her study me before she showed a smile.
“Oh, good evening!” Her voice sounded soft and sweet, a bit like Fluttershy’s voice but not so fragile. Her smile was genuine and her posture spoke that she was prepared. It sounded a bit rehearsed.
I felt so lost with all this. I approached her, cautiously, and kept my face as still as possible, not to show my nerves. As I approached her desk, I cleared my throat and spoke.
“I am… I am Rainbow Dash, and… I came here to join the ShadowBolts.”
You wanna know what she did?
Do you really wanna know?
She laughed at me.[/i
Author's Note
Apologies for the delay, but I'm currently out of country.
This story is just getting started. I do hope you all enjoy. Please, leave your comments below.
Much love.
~Ava
