It was another beautiful and bright day in Ponyville, birds were chirping, flowers were blooming, and many ponies were out and about in the town, shopping and whatnot.
Two such ponies out right now were Misty Fly, a yellow coated mare with a blue mane and Altitude, a white stallion with a dark blue mane. Two members of the Wonderbolts, easily distinguishable out of the rest of the townsponies from the navy blue jackets with the Wonderbolts logos they wore. They wandered through the market, with the intent to find something to eat for lunch, and to gather some things for their boss.
"So, tell me again why the list includes cough medicine." Altitude said to Misty Fly as he looked over the list again. This made Misty groan.
"Because Al, it has part of the ingredients for the drugs that the chemistry team makes." Misty responded with a slight whisper as they passed a few other townsponies. Misty silently spit in their direction.
"Uh, so many Earth Ponies here, why couldn't we have been sent to cover Cloudsdale, these Earthies disgust me." Misty said in a disgusted tone.
One of the many ironic similarities between the Wonders and the Shadows was their hatred for non-pegasi ponies, though both groups showed their hate differently. The Wonderbolts usually acted as condescending as possible to Earth Ponies, usually treating them as less and thus needing their help. They treated Unicorns with Envy, slightly jealous of their magic, which in some cases could let them fly without wings, this made them furious.
The Shadowbolts were a lot more straight forward with their hatred fro Earth Ponies and Unicorns. They were flat-out racists. They shouted slurs and profanity at them, and treated them as less than dirt. The current Shadowbolt leader Night Stalker even prefers the prostitutes that the Shadowbolts use to be Earth Ponies, just because their the easiest to treat as things that are just above slaves.
"I don't think it's that bad here, it's pretty and the air is fresh." Altitude said as he put the list back in his bag. Misty simply rolled her eyes as the two continued to walk through the market.
Eventually, Misty spotted the stand they were looking for and the two started to approach it, but from behind one of the unoccupied stand, stepped three ponies, Two Stallions and a mare. They wore dark purple jackets with the Shadowbolts logo on the back, a black storm cloud with a bright lightning bolt. The center pony, a stallion with a dark grey coat and a silver mane, stepped forward.
"Sorry Blunderbolts, but, this side of town is Shadowbolt territory, so why don't you turn around and safe yourself the trouble." the stallion said with a mixture of smugness and threat. Altitude stepped back, but Misty stayed defiant.
"We're just trying to get some things, we're not trying to start anything." Misty said, only for one of the other Shadowbolts, a mare with a blue coat and a white mane, to step forward.
"Oh no, you started something the minute you joined the Wonderbolts." she said, beating her hooves together. Altitude was too distracted by the mare's threat to notice the Stallion when he swiped the list sticking out of his bag.
"Hey, that's for our boss'!" Altitude said, trying to get the paper back, only to be stopped by the mare. The stallion looked over the list as he walked over to the other shadowbolt stallion, who had a baby blue coat with a navy blue mane. He looked mildly uncomfortable.
"OOOH, check this out Soarin, they're trying to cook some meth, isn't that cute?" the stallion said to the other stallion in a condescending tone. The other Stallion, Soarin simply chuckled, and the mare laughed.
"What should I do with it Fleetfoot?" he asked the Mare who was standing off with Altitude.
"Rip it up." Fleetfoot suggested. Upon hearing this, Altitude attempted to rush past Fleetfoot to get the list back, only for Fleetfoot to tackle and pin him down.
"Al!" Misty cried out before moving to help, only for the Grey stallion to step in front of her with his switchblade out.
"We tried to warn you both, but you didn't listen." he said threateningly.
"Look Thunderlane, we didn't mean any harm, just let us go, we'll even leave you the list. I know your dad's been looking for more drugs to sell." Misty said, trying to dissolve the situation. Thunderlane then frowned and ripped apart the paper by stabbing the paper with the switchblade several times.
"My father actually deals in quality drugs, not some chemistry project shit!" Thunderlane said as he walked back over to Altitude and Fleetfoot. He then kicked Altitude directly in the head as he walked passed.
"Don't worry Al, I'll get help!" Misty said before turning and running towards the Wonderbolt side of town.
"Should we go after her?" Fleetfoot asked, standing up with a leg wrapped around Altitude's neck.
"No, let's just deal with this one." Thunderlane said, raising the switchblade up to Altitude's neck. Altitude winced and started to whimper, when Thunderlane lowered the Switchblade.
"Eh, I'm actually not in the mood right now. Something about how helpless you look, it makes me not want to beat you senseless myself." Thunderlane said as he sheathed the switchblade.
"Hey, Soarin, how about you take a crack at this toothpick?" Fleetfoot asked Soarin, who had been pretty silent the entire time. Soarin stepped forward and Fleetfoot tossed Altitude to the ground.
Soarin stepped over Altitude and looked down at the pegasus, who had a look of fear in his eyes as a tear fell from one. Soarin reluctantly gripped Altitude's shoulder, and punched him across the face, not hard, but Altitude felt it.
"Get out of our territory." Soarin said in a semi-threatening voice before pushing Altitude back to the ground. Altitude nodded and quickly launched himself into the sky and flew away.
"What was that?" Thunderlane said annoyed as he walked up to Soarin.
"I don't know, he didn't seem like the kind of Wonderbolt that deserved a beating. I think he was a newbie or something." Soarin said. Thunderlane shook his head and slugged Soarin in the shoulder.
"You know what dad says, EVERY Wonderbolt deserves a beating!" Thunderlane said sternly. Soarin sighed and looked down.
"Dad's gonna kick your ass later over this." Thunderlane said. Soarin remained silent. Then Fleetfoot spoke up.
"Guys, I think we should get out of here." Fleetfoot said, pointing toward a group of Wonderbolts flying over the market. Soarin and Thunderlane agreed and the three left.
Soarin was a Shadowbolt. He had been one practically his whole life, though he didn't always act as bold or as mean as the others despite his upbringing.
Soarin never knew his father, he died after an accidental crash during his job as a weather pony. His mother had no job and eventually became desperate. She went to the Shadowbolts and became a prostitute under Night Stalker. She had Soarin, who was still a colt at this time, but Night Stalker saw something in Soarin, and took him under his wing, becoming a like a father to Soarin.
After Soarin's mother passed away, Night Stalker practically adopted Soarin, making him part of the family. Night Stalker had 2 blood related sons. The older one, Thunderlane, became best friends with Soarin, and the younger one was Rumble.
As Soarin grew up, he was taught to be ruthless and relentless like the rest of the Shadowbolts, and maybe one day lead the Shadowbolts. But Soarin was never like that, he was unusually nice, even when he was forced to do something, like with Altitude.
The three Shadowbolts eventually made it back to the Shadow Plantation, their headquarters. They walked into the courtyard and saw several Shadowbolts hanging around. Playing games, chatting, and getting high.
The plantation house was large and looming, like the setting out of a horror story. It was old and much of the wood was old and rotting, even though much of the mansion had been renovated many times since the Shadowbolts moved in.
Soarin and Thunderlane entered the front door and into the foyer. The mansion had dim lighting and looked just as creepy inside as it did outside. The history was that the plantation was once run by a Unicorn family that enslaved Earth Ponies to work the fields.
The two walked up the stairs, making creaks every step up. They walked down the upstairs hallway to the last door, where Night Stalker's office was. Thunderlane approached the door and knocked.
"Come in." a deep voice said from inside. Thunderlane opened the door and walked in with Soarin following him. Night Stalker then turned around in his seat and stood up upon seeing his sons coming in.
"Boys! Good to see you! How was the day?" Night Stalker asked. His coat was as black as night and his mane was white as the driven snow, a perfect contrast. Thunderlane chuckled as he slapped Soarin in the back.
"Well, Soarin got cold hooves today, again." Thunderlane said. Night Stalker sighed and shook his head as he walked around his desk and over to the boys.
"Thunderlane, leave us, I must talk to your brother in private." Night Stalker said. Thunderlane nodded and left the room. Soarin then noticed that they weren't alone yet. Over by the fireplace was an orange earth pony mare, who was busy dusting the mantle, and a bucket of water was nearby with a rag hanging over the side.
Night Stalker had brought in some extra help for around the mansion with some cleaners and butlers. Most of them were Earth Ponies, who Night Stalker had no problem treating terribly.
"What about her?" Soarin asked, referring to the earth pony. Night Stalker scoffed.
"Her, she won't tell anypony, and if she does, I'll gut her! Isn't that right Earthy?" Night Stalker said to the earth pony, who didn't look over to Night Stalker when she replied with a "Eeyup." in a country accent. Night Stalker then began to pace around Soarin.
"Now Soarin, I know that you think that you're doing the right thing when you show mercy to those pathetic Wonderbolts, am I right?" Night Stalker asked.
"Right." Soarin responded.
"But, what do I always tell you, every time you do this?" Stalker asked.
"You need to be cold to make it in this world." Soarin responded almost deadpan.
"That's right. In our world, you're either the hunter, or the prey, and which one are you?" Stalker asked.
"The Hunter." Soarin responded.
"That's correct. You can't be all soft to those Wonderbolts or anypony else for that matter. The only ponies you can feel for is us, the Shadowbolts, your family. Everypony else either wants you dead, or will slow you down, understand?" Stalker said.
"Yes." Soarin answered.
"Good, now what will you do to the next Wonderbolt you get a chance to hit?" Stalker asked.
"Punch them." Soarin answered. Night Stalker chuckled, "Yes, but how hard?"
"Harder." Soarin said with more intensity. Night Stalker grinned.
"Very good. Now remember this for next time, I don't want to have to discipline you. Understand?" Stalker asked.
"Yes sir." Soarin responded.
"You may go now." Night Stalker said as he walked back over to his desk and sat down. But just before Soarin left, Night Stalker stopped him. "Wait!" he heard him say. Soarin turned around and saw Night Stalker standing up again.
"Maybe to encourage you, you could use some tail. Earthy?" Stalker said, beckoning the Earth pony over to him. She stood up from washing the floor and walked over to Night Stalker.
"Yes?" she said.
"Go with my son to his room, and show him a good time, understand?" Night Stalker said threateningly to the mare.
"Y-Y-Yes." She responded before walking towards Soarin. The two left the room just as Night Stalker said one last thing.
"Enjoy Son!" he shouted.
Shadowbolts Theme: