“I c-can’t believe you talked me into this,” Cherry Blanche muttered, tugging at the blue vest with golden lightning bolts on it. She stood alongside several other pegasi as they waited to be called out into the arena, each of them sporting their own vest.

“Hey! You’re the one who wants to meet and greet with the Wonderbolts,” came a snarling voice in her ear. “And since you refuse to let me do all the heavy lifting, it’s on you.”

Cherry swallowed. This was meant to be some sort of fan exhibition. A way for Wonderbolts fans to show their passion, and maybe a chance for the Wonderbolts to do some scouting. It was meant to be friendly, but Cherry could tell from the faces around her that it’d be anything but.

“At least listen to me,” the voice huffed. “You don’t have to do this alone—and seeing as I’m stuck with you, I’d rather not be bruised.”

Cherry nodded. She flinched as the gates into the stadium opened and the light poured in. She was all bust pushed along by the crowd as they made their way onto the field. Her ears flattened at the roar of the crowd in the stands.

“Mares and gentlecolts!” came the announcer over the loudspeaker. “Welcome to the Wonderbolts Pre-Show Exhibition Game! The rules are very simple.”

A pegasus in a referee uniform flapped down, holding a bright orange ball. She held it aloft to show the crowd of pegasi.

“The first pegasus to score a goal at either one of the baskets wins a backstage meet and greet with the Wonderbolts, complete with free autographs! Now, pegasi: on your mark!”

“You can do this, Cherry Blanche.”

“Get set!”

“Do it for the Wonderbolts. Do it for Spitfire.”

“FLAP!”

Cherry was buffeted by a storm of pegasi as they rocketed into the air at once. She fell to the cloud floor of the stadium and looked up with a gasp. The pegasi were in a skyward tussle, each wrestling for control of the ball, which was lost in their midst.

“Eye on the ball, wait for an opening,” the voice cautioned.

Cherry nodded, getting to her hooves and priming her wings for takeoff. Her eyes locked onto a flash of bright orange in the throng of pegasi.

“NOW!”

Cherry felt foreign strength pump into her wings and she rocketed from the ground. She tucked her wings against her sides, letting the initial momentum push her through the struggling mass of pegasi. Outstretched forehooves grasped the ball and she cleared the mass.

“Fly, you fool! Fly like your life depends on it!”

Cherry’s heart roared in her chest as her wings pumped, eager to get distance between her and her rivals. But she could feel the shift behind her, the attention now focused on her.

“They’re closing in on me!” she squeaked.

“Hard about!”

Cherry grit her teeth and flared her wings, banking hard around to the left. The pegasi swarm flew past her, overshooting as she pumped her wings towards the opposite goal. This had befuddled the group enough for Cherry to sink the ball, much to the crowd’s applause.

“And we have a winner!” the announcer cheered. “Number 13, Cherry Blanche!”

“Fantastic wingwork out there,” the announcer said to Cherry in the locker room, patting her on the shoulder. “The Wonderbolts will be ready for you in a few minutes.”

“Thank you,” Cherry said with a grateful nod. Her heart still hammered, even after the exhibition and the show were long over.

As the announcer left, her ear flicked towards the sound of lone clops in applause.

“Not bad, Cherry, not bad at all.”

She turned towards a floor-length mirror set up in the locker room and approached it. She was hardly surprised by the reflection.

The mare in the mirror shared her white coat, her pale pink cherry cutie mark, even her cherry red, slightly curly mane and tail. But her reflection was a batpony, with a jagged horn of crimson magic sprouting from her forehead and a fanged grin.

“You surprise me,” Contessa Crimson purred. “You’ve come a long way since we first met.”

Cherry smiled and nodded, though it faltered slightly. They had come a long way since then—now she didn’t need to wear the Bat Crest for Contessa Crimson’s thoughts to join hers, or Crimson’s strength to flow through her body. They were becoming closer.

For better or for worse.

Author's Note

Cherry Blanche: Female, Pegasus

About: A shy pegasus who grew up close to the ground. Even more timid than Fluttershy, Cherry was a meek pony, even after meeting and befriending Ghost Pepper. She has a crush on Spitfire of the Wonderbolts.

Appearances: None so far.

Contessa Crimson: Female, Bat-Alicorn

About: When Cherry Blanche found a cursed artifact called the Bat Crest, she developed a Hyde-like alter ego named Contessa Crimson. Immensely powerful and arrogant, Crimson is everything Cherry isn't and lords over her with that fact. Though as time went on, she grew to be more encouraging than demeaning. Her immense power comes with a major drawback: an overwhelming hunger for fruit.

Appearances: None so far.

Fun fact: Ghost Pepper also has a cursed artifact, called the Hellfire Dagger. They share a third friend brought to life by a third cursed artifact.