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Apr
28th
2015

Shadowbolts Headcanon · 2:14pm Apr 28th, 2015

So... the Shadowbolts appear in the second part of the pilot as a temptation for Rainbow Dash, before vanishing in a burst of purple smoke. They were another example of Nightmare Moons Magic (like her altering the trees and making the cliff collapse), so there might not be much more to them.
I prefer my idea.

We know that Luna can dream walk. I have a personal theory that says that Nightmare Moon had the same ability, and spent a thousand years invading ponies dreams, causing the nightmares that resulted in her reputation as the bogeymare... but that's not really relevant right now.
The relevant part is that, one way or another, Nightmare Luna probably had access to ponies minds.

In Testing, testing 1, 2, 3 we learn the early history of the Wonderbolts; that on the anniversary of Luna's banishment, an elite group of aerial performers put on a show which filled the ponies watching them with wonder- leading to the group being titled "the Wonderbolts". That's the kind of thing which would leave quite an impression on the minds of any pony in the audience.

Enough of an impression that, for some time following the show, the Wonderbolts would probably be on every ponies mind. If pegasi want to join their ranks in modern Equestria, it's difficult to imagine how much they would have wanted to join after the display that they put on for Princess Celestia. The ponies were probably impressed enough that at least a few of them would have dreams about the event.

Which bring us back to Nightmare Moon. Luna's motivation in becoming Nightmare Moon was jealousy; jealousy of her sister, and anger that her night wasn't as appreciated as the day. Then, on the anniversary of her banishment (in all likelihood, possibly a time she thought she might have been allowed to return), her only line of communication with her subjects thoughts are full of displays of pegasi celebrating the fact that Luna was banished.

It can get lonely on the moon, living in isolation for years. The idea that everypony is glad she was gone was just rubbing salt into the wounds.

I believe that Luna created the Shadowbolts in response to the Wonderbolts. The Wonderbolts are the greatest flying team in Equestria? Well, the Shadowbolts are even better, (and call themselves the best when speaking to Rainbow). Luna probably had the Shadowbolts perform shows in her honor, just as the Wonderbolts did for Celestia. And since she spent so long with them, it's not surprising that she gave them their own names ("Nightingale", "Descent"), and probably some kind of personality. Luna was stranded on the moon for a thousand years; outside of dreams of ponies, the Shadowbolts were the only things she had to speak to.

So, my headcanon: The Shadowbolts are the Imaginary Friends of Princess Luna.

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Comments ( 4 )

3029012

Er... that picture/link doesn't work. :twilightsheepish:

3030560 It works for me. :applejackunsure:

The picture says 'Headcanon accepted'. :twilightsmile:

Headcanon accepted. Also, that was soul-crushing. But I like it.

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