My Little Pony: An Unexpected Return

"So, is it going to be you and me, or..."

"Ha!" Rainbow Dash snorted. "Of course not. You challenge one Wonderbolt, you challenge all of 'em!"

"But...I didn't challenge you," Moonshadow said, suddenly giving her a grave look. "You challenged me."

"Oh...well, you got a point. But - "

"Look, Dash, I'll race you. I'm fine with that. But I'm not racing anypony who's frightened of me. No exceptions."

"I was expecting you to say that. That's why I'm taking you to introduce yourself to them. That way, they won't have a reason to be scared of you."

"You really want me to race them, don't you? Well - "

"Nope! Come on!"With that, Rainbow Dash bit his ear and began to drag him towards the Wonderbolts locker room.

"Ow - Hey! That hurts - OW! Let go of my - OWW!!! Jeez!"

Despite his protests, she didn't let go until they were at the door to the locker room.

"You. In. Now."

"Ugh...you are such a pain in my flank," Moonshadow complained, rubbing his ear, but still walked into the room nonetheless, which got a grin and a blush from Rainbow Dash. Upon entering, he heard the white-maned pegasus - Fleetfoot was her name - talking to the other Wonderbolts about something...

"...had large bat wings, but - to be honest - he had one of the coolest hairstyles I've ever seen! It was a spiky black, with purple tips at the ends..."

They're talking about me, Moonshadow thought mournfully.

He turned to leave, but noticed Rainbow Dash was blocking his way. She went up to him and bumped his shoulder purposely and blushed, as if to suggest to him to just make himself known. Sighing, he stepped out of the shadows and cleared his throat. The Wonderbolts turned to see Rainbow standing with Moonshadow, and some eyes were filled in wonder and awe - but most were fear...

"Everypony...this is Moonshadow Meteor," Rainbow Dash said. "He's the son of Princess Luna."

The non-frightened Wonderbolts came up and introduced themselves - Soarin, Misty Fly, Thunderlane, Silver Zoom. The rest stood back, rigid with shock.

"Well, I guess you heard about Rainbow Dash challenging me against you all," Moonshadow sighed, clearly showing he did not want to do it. "Do you all accept?"

Spitfire and Soarin looked at each other, then grouped the ponies up. As they talked, Moonshadow tried to sulk away, but Rainbow Dash stepped on his tail, making him stay put - and have him yell in pain.

"OW!"

The Wonderbolts turned to him in shock as he began to flush furiously. He glared at Rainbow, who looked ashamed by what she did. "Sorry, Moonshadow...I just really want you to do this. Plus, this could be a way for you to join the team and - "

"And what? Become a show-pony? I'm a fighter, Dash - Showing my talents off isn't what I do." He turned away and mumbled, "That's why I don't want to be here."

"Oh, Moonshadow..." Rainbow started to say, but Spitfire came over to them.

"Alright, Meteor, here's the deal. Fleetfoot, Soarin, Misty, Thunderlane, Rainbow and I will race you - six on one. One full lap around Cloudsdale. First one done wins. You ready to lose?"

He looked up at her, his eyes giving off a dull red light. "I hope that's how you feel."

...

As the pegasi stretched, Fleetfoot noticed the dragon-pony sitting by the starting line, clearly thinking about something on his mind. Walking up to him, she asked, "Already set to race?"

He turned to face the Wonderbolt. "Not really. I just want to get this over with as soon as possible. I need to be back at Canterlot, preparing for my journey alongside Lazuli to find my father, not...here. No offense."

"None taken. We'll try to make it as fast as we can for you," she said, sitting down next to him. "You know, it's not a bad place to live. You know, Canterlot. If you ever need a place to stay...well..."

Moonshadow looked at her and was shocked to see her blushing.

"Look, Fleetfoot, I appreciate the offer, but I plan on staying in the Dragon Lands after this whole fiasco is done and ove with. Also, not to be rude, but... I don't necessarily like you. Please don't take it the wrong way." He crouched and spread his wings. "You should probably get ready."

The Wonderbolt looked up to see her teammates lining up for the race as well. Sighing, she got into position and glanced at Moonshadow, blushing as she did so.

"Hey, Fleety," Rainbow whispered. "Hooves off of him. He's mine."

"Did he ever say that?"

"Well...no..."

"Well, then, he's still up for grab."

"On your mark!" Silver Zoom cried, holding a green flag.

"You ready to go down, spiky-back?" a blue-maned pegasus taunted at Moonshadow. Misty, that was her name.

"Get Set!" Silver cried, raising the flag.

Moonshadow looked up at the crowd that had formed to see the race, then back at Misty Fly and gave only a sly grin.

"Go!"

The crowd cheered as the flag dropped, signalling the racers to begin. What caught everypony off guard, however, was when Moonshadow went straight up into the air. He continued his climb up until he was twice the height of the Wonderbolt stadium, then began to pummel to the surface of the starting line. As the crowd watched, they noticed a shadowy substance beginning to form around him, partially blocking him form view.

Suddenly, before he hit the surface, he began to spin in a circle, and continued spinning until he was a black sphere hovering a few feet above the surface. Then, with a gasp from the crowd, Moonshadow shot out of the sphere, completely surrounded by the dark substance and appearing like a comet.

As the Wonderbolts raced, they slowed as they heard a growing screech come from behind them. They turned to see what it was, but sped ahead immediately, yet were still blown aside as the comet flew past them.

Only one pony went back into the race, determined more than ever to win.

Rainbow Dash sped towards the comet as fast as she could, and was soon on its tail. She continued starting up a Sonic Rainboom, but she would have to begin a climb up into the air, which will lose space between her and the comet. Before she could decide what to do, however, the comet exploded and Moonshadow shot out, leaving a shadowy trail behind him - and leaving Rainbow Dash to choke on his dust.

"Wait...what? What was...what?

She sped for the finish line, where Moonshadow was waiting for her and the other Wonderbolts, who were directly behind her.

"What in the name of Celestia was that?" Rainbow Dash cried in shock.

"When I showed it to my soldiers the first time, they called it a 'Nightfall Bullet', and the name just stuck. Why, did you like it?"

"Like it? Like it?!" Fleetfoot flew up to him and pushed him back, laughing. "Moonshadow, that was one of the coolest things I've ever seen!"

"You have to teach us that trick! Think of the popularity it would get us if we - " Misty started, but stopped when Moonshadow gave her a dark look.

"The Nightfall Bullet is a tactical move - a form of fighting used in war. I only used it to quicken the race. However, I can't teach it to you all if you all plan to use it for simply a 'show.'"

Spitfire sighed at her teammates' attitude that was a respond at what he just he said. "Wait, you said you're soldiers. Are you a Captain?"

"Actually, I'm the Commander of the Royal Guard. Get it right."

Immediately, the Wonderbolts gasped as one and stood at attention, saluting him. "We thought your name sounded familiar, sir, but we weren't sure. I believe you used to lead the whole Solar Military, including - "

"Yes, the original Wonderbolts. That's why I was so furious to see you've all become nothing but a bunch of pretty-dressed show-ponies." The pegasi winced at his words, but looked up as he smirked. "Gotta admit, though, you all still have the speed of the Wonderbolts before you. They'd be proud, I'm sure."

Rainbow blushed as she realized he was talking to her, too. 'Now, about that Nightfall Bullet..."

Moonshadow sighed. "You know what? Fine. I'll teach it to you. Just...stop bugging me about it, alright?" Despite trying to keep a straight face, however, he couldn't help but start to laugh, and soon the Wonderbolts joined in with him.