“Are we there yet?” Boogie Night asks as the group of pegasus are still headed toward Ponyville.
Lightning Dust, having grown agitated by her three followers swiftly turns around, getting into his face. “If you ask that one more time I'll have Sombra take your wings and we'll see how far you get.”
“Well technically he'll at least make the thousand foot drop to the ground.” Double Down says as she turns to him. “Just trying to be accurate.” He says hesitantly, quickly moving behind Cut Off.
“The sooner we get to Ponyville the better.”
“Uh boss. We've got incoming.” Cut Off shouts as they spot a single Pegasus coming toward them. Lightning Dust squints her eyes to get a good view of the approaching figure.
“Oh great it's Surprise. You guys get to cloud cover. I'll signal you if things don't go right.” The three jet upward into the clouds as the Wonderbolt approaches.
“Lightning Dust.” The yellow maned Wonderbolt greets her as Dust salutes.
“Ma'am.”
“What are you doing out here? You were supposed to report back to the academy days ago.”
“Sorry, I had an urgent message to deliver from the outpost that I thought should be delivered directly to Princess Twilight in Ponyville ma'am.”
“And who were those three I just saw?”
As Dust starts to answer her saddle bag begins to glow. “I got turned around for a minute and lost my heading for a while. Just needed...some directions.”
“Uh-huh. And what was so important that you couldn't pass a message back to the academy to let us know?” Surprise begins to stare at the bag as the glow gets brighter and moves closer as the cadet nervously moves away.
“Just something I thought they needed to see.” She flaps her tail against her back, signaling the three above.
“Was that the signal?” Boogie asks as the three look down.
“I don't know.” Cut Off says as she continues to do the same thing over and over.
“Kind of hard to tell since she never told us what the signal was. We might as well go.” Double Down says as they dive down.
“What's in the bag cadet?” Surprise is caught off guard as the Shadowbolts swarm her from every angle. She breaks away, swiftly diving toward the ground as they give chase. Bobbing and weaving through the trees, she hopes to escape them only for the leader to come seemingly out of nowhere, bucking her. She flies backwards into a tree, knocking her out cold.
“And that's why they call me Cut Off.” The three land down as Dust joins them shortly.
“I thought it was because you were an extremely aggressive cart driver.” Double Down says.
“Alright you three tie her up and light a signal fire. Someone will be along to free her.” Lightning Dust says as she opens her bag. “What was that light show all about?”
“Adagio has found our means of getting to this other world. We must arrive at our destination and locate this portal before she implements her part of the plan.” Sombra says. “Will this one be a problem?”
“No King Sombra. By the time she gets back to the academy it'll be too late to stop us.”
“As a precaution...” A small amount of energy sweeps over the unconscious Pegasus, causing a stone like infection over her wings. “This will ensure our plan cannot be stopped by these Wonderbolts. Now, we must hurry. I have little power to spare.” The three Shadowbolts trade frightened looks as they head off again.
“It won't be long. Ponyville is only about half a day from here.”
“Why didn't you just say that before?” Boogie asks as Dust glares at him. “Right, shutting up.”
Ponyville
As the citizens go about their daily business, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are once again in the process of attempting to get their cutie marks. “Alright this time for sure girls.” Scootaloo says, prepared to get to work.
“I don't know Scootaloo. Are you sure snake wrestling is worth it?” Apple Bloom asks as the three look down into a bucket full of the slithering reptiles.
As she prepares to dive in, three streaks race passed them, taking the bucket along with them. “Awe, our snakes.” The young Pegasus says in disappointment as the others breath a sigh of relief.
The streak, or rather the three Shadowbolts, race through the town. They first take a sharp turn, dumping the bucket of snakes on Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, who are seated outside the ice cream shop, sending them running. They next proceed to Sugar Cube Corner, making quick work of swiping the pastries, leaving the owners speechless. Cut Off heads back, taking the last treat, a cupcake from the baby unicorn seated in a highchair. “Nice haul gentlemen.”
“Watch this, watch this.” Boogie Night decides to have some more fun by whipping up a tornado that runs wild through the town. The three stop to look over their work, sharing a laugh as they watch the town's ponies running for cover. Suddenly Double Down is knocked out of the sky by another streak. The other two look up to see the streak dismantle their tornado before zooming back to them. The pony responsible is none other than Rainbow Dash, who gives them an intense stare.
“What gives? You think you can just waltz in here and wreck our town. Who do you wannabes think you are?”
“Isn't it obvious. We're the Shadowbolts.” Joined by Double Down again, the three race off into the sky, with Rainbow giving chase. They lead her on a chase through the clouds, trying everything they can think of to loose her.
“What are you guys, straight out of flight school?” She easily outmaneuvers them, swinging sharply in front of the trio, causing Double Down and Boogie Night to spiral out of control. Seeing his comrades beaten in quick fashion, Cut Off attempts to flee only to be shocked by lightning. From above a cloud Dust appears. “Lightning Dust?”
“Need a hand with these jokers?” Dust asks as she whirls around the three causing another tornado that sweeps them up inside before spitting them out and tossing them over the horizon. She quickly spirals back, dissipating the whirlwind as the town's ponies below cheer the duo on. “Missed me Dash?”
“Sure, but what are you doing here?”
“Got rumors that some losers were going around calling themselves the Shadowbolts. Spitfire sent me to check it out. Though from what we just did, they were nothing to write home about. So, what's a pony got to do to get some grub around here? And maybe you could give me a tour of that famous castle I've heard so much about.”
The Everfree Forest
Zecora sits in her hut cooking up another of her brews as a loud crash shakes her abode. She looks up to see the three Shadowbolts lodged into her home. “Oh hello.” Cut off says politely. “Say you wouldn't happen to have something to relieve a minor concussion would you?”
The zebra takes a sip of her tea before answering. “The order you ask is none too tall but first I'll need you to fix my wall.”
“Fair enough.”
Canterlot Animal Shelter
Aria, with Ticki perched on her shoulder makes her way to the animal shelter before school, occasionally rubbing her new pet. She walks inside, ringing the bell at the front desk as Fluttershy walks up. “Hey Fluttershy.” She greets, even managing a light smile.
“Hi Aria, I'm so glad you came.”
“No problem. So where do you want to get started?”
“Right this way.” The two walk down the hall to a room in the back. “Before we get started there's someone who wants to talk to you.” Fluttershy opens the door where all the girls, Sonata included are sitting in chairs.
Aria looks a bit confused as she sees her sister a little more fidgety than usual, actually a little nervous. “What's going on guys?” Sunset puts a reassuring arm on Sonata's shoulder as the blue haired girl looks up. “Sonata isn't there something you want to say to Aria?”
Sonata stands up and takes in a deep breath before speaking. “I...I don't like it when you call me names. You always talk down to me like I'm stupid. But I'm not stupid, I'm just different. I have ideas just like you and Adagio but you never let me even try. You always called me the worst or bullied me and...it hurt.” Sonata starts to get choked up as tears run down her face.
Aria finds this unsettling to see the girl she thought of as ditzy and care free, breaking down like this. She instinctively hugs her younger sister who opens her eyes in shock at the action. “I'm....I'm not very good at saying stuff like this you know, but I'm sorry, okay. I didn't know it hurt you like this.” Aria suddenly finds herself welling up with tears also. “It's been this way since we left Equestria but...I don't want us to be like that anymore.”
“Me either.”
“Now come on, dry up those tears okay? I think you're starting to get to me. Besides, you know what day it is?”
“Taco Tuesday?”
“Don't be silly. It's Taco Thursday. They changed it.” Aria wipes the tears from her eyes as Rarity hands her a tissue. “Thanks. Do you guys mind not telling anyone? I have a reputation to keep.”
“Secrets safe with us.” Applejack says as she and the other girls commend Aria.
Sonata takes a tissue from Sunset to dry her eyes as well. “I'm really proud of you. How do you feel now.”
“I'm just glad to have my sister back. I wish Adagio was here too.” This statement causes Aria to tense up slightly.
“Oh right, Adagio. Why don't you let me go talk to her?”
“I'll come with you.” Sonata says joyously.
“No!” Aria stops herself, realizing how she's just come off with that outburst. “I mean, why don't you let me go and soften her up first? I think she might need a little more persuasion. First why don't we focus on helping out here? This has given me a lot to think about.”
Ponyville
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash takes Lightning Dust on a tour of the castle. “And this is the throne room.” Dust looks around in amazement as the other ponies are seated, performing various tasks. “You all remember Lightning Dust.”
“How could I forget. That tornado she started almost wrecked us all.” Rarity says polishing an emerald.
“And almost ruined the care package I made for you. Though now that I think about it, could you do that tornado thing again? It was kind of fun in a terrifying way.” Pinkie Pie says happily.
“I'm really sorry about that. Especially you Princess Twilight. I have to learn to control myself, no matter how good I think I am.” Dust kneels down before the purple Alicorn.
Twilight steps down from her throne and stands before the Pegasus. “It's quite alright. I think we've all made mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them. And please, it's just Twilight Sparkle. So Rainbow Dash what was all that commotion about?”
“A group of Pegasi are going around calling themselves the Shadowbolts and wrecking everything. Luckily Lightning Dust and me whooped them good. Weird thing is the ones I saw before were just illusions. How could anypony else know about them?”
“That's why Spitfire sent me to investigate. These ponies came out of nowhere. So I'd better get back to my mission before they strike again.” Dust says as she prepares to disembark.
“Wait. Maybe we can help.” Twilight says as the Pegasus halts. “I've got plenty of books here that might be able to tell us something. Spike!” The Alicorn teleports her assistant to her. The dragon, who is in the middle of a bubble bath looks up and notices the eyes on him, quickly covering himself with a towel as Lightning Dust begins to chuckle.
Canterlot Opera Hall
After finishing at the shelter, Aria returns to the old hideout as she finds Adagio ecstatic, holding a shoebox in her hand. “Adagio? Are you alright?”
“Never better. I just received a message from Sombra. Everything is in place and soon we'll have our power and more.” Aria looks at her sister who has dark, heavy bags under her eyes.
“When's the last time you got some sleep?”
“Oh I haven't had time. I've been too busy making sure everything is perfect. Nothing's going to go wrong this time I promise.” She shows Aria the contents of the box, the remains of their pendents. “Look I found all the pieces.”
“Adagio, we need to talk. Look, maybe we should call this all off.” This suggestion causes the lead siren to give a very worried look.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“I need to be completely honest with you. I kind of made friends with the Rainbooms. Just let me explain. I didn't plan for it to turn out like it did but I got to know them and they're not as bad as we thought.”
“I can't believe it. I should have known better than to trust you with this. My own sisters turning against me.”
“We're not turning against you. I'm just saying, maybe there's another way. When I was with them I felt something I can't describe. It felt good, like we used to feel before we got banished, before we tried to take Equestria. Do you remember that?”
“I do. We were all so close then. We were all we had in the world.”
“We can be like that again. But this time it won't just be us anymore. We have the chance to make people like us, to really like us.”
Adagio turns away from her for a moment, tightly clutching the box. “I just want to make things right with you girls, to fix the mess I caused.”
“And Sonata and me just want our sister back. Why don't you come hang with us? We can just forget all of this and make a new start.”
She looks down at the box containing the fragments for a moment before responding. “Alright. If you don't mind being tone deaf the rest of your life.” Adagio puts the box down.
“As long as we're all together I think I can bare it.” Aria brings her in for a surprise hug, lifting her off the ground.
“Never pegged you for a hugger.”
“Yeah, it's been a weird day for me.” Aria admits as she places her sister down. “You know we're all going to the soccer game tomorrow. You should come with us. And who knows, Sonata got her voice back. Same thing could happen to us. You coming? Applejack offered me a room on her family's farm. I don't think she'd mind making room for one more.”
“You go ahead. I think I'll stay for a while. Say goodbye to the old place one last time. And I think I need to let Sombra know the plan is dead.” Aria nods as she begins to head for the exit. “Aria. I'm not used to saying this, but you were right.”
“Thanks. So I'll see you at the game?”
“Definitely.” As Aria leaves, Adagio reaches into her pocket and pulls out the crystal, tightly gripping it in her hands.