Author's Note

Told you I've been saving certain episodes for a certain point in time. Well, now is the time to start using them.

Chapter 56: The Shadowbolt Arc Part 1 (Wonderbolt Academy AU)

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but be surprised at the number of pegasi who were here. She had expected there to be at most twelve, but not thirty-two. She and Soarin were amongst that number.

"Let me preference things by saying I did not expect there to be a high number of pegasi that would be interested in my program. That being said, I had planned around it." Luna said. "Which is why, there will now be a series of preliminary tests. You'll be paired up with others at random, and to ensure that the process is as unbiased as possible, I chose to have your names put into a jar and then I drew them randomly." She added.

"What happens at the end of these preliminary tests?" asked one mare with a blonde and a lime-green coat.

"Well, depending on your performances, it will detirmine whether or not you actually make it into the actual squadron at all." Luna replied.

So, it was a series of tests to determine who'd actually make the final cut, and who wouldn't then? "It that case, the rest of you might want to try to keep up. You might at LEAST make the cut." The same mare as before said. "But that captain's seat is mine." She added.

Rainbow Dash frowned. Because these tests were being done in a stadium, it meant the tests could be watched. And since every one of the pegasus's friends were there, she gave a nod to Applejack that for most, would've gone unnoticed.

"What was that just then Applejack? Why did Rainbow Dash just nod at you like that?" Twilight asked.

Applejack smiled. "She knows ah'd agree that that ego driven mare needs to be taken down a peg." She replied.

Meanwhile, since the main six, the two dragons, the CMC, AND White Flame's group was off watching Rainbow Dash's tests, Johnson was watching over Fluttershy's animals. That's when he heard something in the bushes.

"...Whose there?" Johnson asked before out stepped a figure that made him instantly brandish his claws. "You..." Johnson said in a tone that made it clear, he was bitter.

Back with the cast, they had no idea what was going on back home as the ponies were paired up. Rainbow Dash was lucky to get together with Soarin. She had no doubt that with his help, they'd crush that mare; who they learned was named Lightning Dust; and show her that she was way too egotistical.

"Lightning Dust makes me think of mom and not in a good way." Scootaloo said.

"Rainbow Dash isn't that egotistical." Spike clarified. But then he caught on to what else Scootaloo said. "...Wait..." He noticed.

"Yeah. I think this could've happened to mom if she hadn't had adopted me." Scootaloo said.

Applejack bit her lip. That was not an image she needed in her head. But it was one she couldn't deny. Dear Luna, please watch over ma dreams tonight. The farm mare thought to herself.

Soon, the tests began.

The tests in question, mostly revolved around simple things, but at one point, there was a cloud busting test. Lightning Dust had taken it upon her self to spin around really fast.

"! Lightning Dust, don't do that!" Rainbow Dash said.

"What? Afraid you'll--" Lightning Dust was saying when suddenly, her speeding created a tornado. "...I did NOT plan for that. But I can stop this." Lightning Dust said before trying and failing to stop the tornado.

"It's going to hit the stands!" One of the other pegasi said.

Grimmacing, Rainbow Dash took to the air and managed to calm the tornado down within a few seconds. "That...was too close." Rainbow Dash said. She was going to have words with Luna when she--

"WHAT THE TARTARUS WAS THAT ABOUT, LIGHTNING DUST?!" Luna exclaimed, almost going full on royal voice on the whole lot of them. "YOU COULD'VE EASILY INJURED THE SPECTATORS WITH THAT STUNT!" She added.

"Whoa whoa, easy now. It was brought under control, and no pony got hurt, so we're all good right?" Lightning Dust said. But pratically every Pegasi and even the ponies in the stands were glaring at her. "...Right?" Lightning Dust said hopefully.

It wasn't all good. Lightning Dust's team was immediately disqualified from the entire testing procedure, and thankfully for Rainbow Dash, her calming down of the tornado had pushed her team right up to the top of the pack. Not that it would've made that much difference since they were there anyways, but it basically ensured they'd move onto the next set of tests.

"Rainbow Dash, a moment." Luna said. "I would like you to be aware, that I honestly, wish I had done better background on Lightning Dust before sending her an application. What I found regarding her shortly after the incident, it only made me realize I should've dug deeper." She added.

Rainbow Dash smiled. "It's cool princess. How bad can it possibly--" Rainbow Dash was handed a criminal record on Lightning Dust. What surprised the pegasus the most was how detailed and long it was. "...I had to open my mouth..." Rainbow Dash finished.

"Safe to say, I have essentially taken it upon myself to have Lightning Dust blacklisted from all stunt related activities. Including that infamous daredevil group known as The Washouts." Luna said. "But, seeing as I am unable to find her after announcing her team's disqualification, I cannot do anything more then this." She added.

"...I'm sure me and my friends will keep a look out for her. And next time Trixie comes around, we'll see if she'll keep an eye out too." Rainbow Dash said.

"You bet I will do just that!" Trixie said, she was suddenly right next to Rainbow Dash.

"GAH!" Rainbow Dash said. "Wh-where did you come from?!" She exclaimed.

"A magician never reveals their secrets." Trixie said. Rainbow Dash looked at her. "...Okay fine, I happened to catch wind that you'd be doing these Shadowbolt tests and wanted to come see it for myself. Happy now?" Trixie asked.

"So, you'll keep an eye out for Lightning Dust on your travels too, Trixie?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"But of course!" Trixie said.

Meanwhile, the figure that Johnson had found was none other than The Wildman. But he was out for blood.

"Maybe now those ponies will think twice before preventing me from stopping an urserper." The Wildman said before he went away.

There, in a pool of blood were two simple words.

NO MERCY