//------------------------------// // Year 4: Part 2 // Story: Lightning Dust: The Story Of Shadow // by Whooves235 //------------------------------// Lightning’s Barracks Lightning walked to her bookshelf and grabbed her journal, then grabbed her quill with her mouth and started writing in her journal. "It has officially been 10 months since I joined the Shadowbolts. My relationship with the team is rocky, but I feel that will all soon change: my initiation is tomorrow. Cinch has not said anything to me about what I need to do. Hopefully I will pass the test and be what my father could not.” Lightning spat out the quill and closed her journal, then put it back in her hiding place and walked to the closet. She put on her uniform and walked out of the barracks, only to be stopped by Cinch. "Cadet Lightning," Cinch said. "Ma’am!" Lightning said. "What can I help you with?" "Lightning, I came to check on your progress. I have hope that your initiation will go well." "I believe my training has gone well, ma’am, and I am prepared to do whatever I need to do," Lightning said. "Excellent. Now, I have another thing to ask of you, Lightning," Cinch said, her tone changing. "Yes, Ma’am?" Lightning said. "An anonymous letter was sent to me yesterday claiming that you and General Sky Striker are seeing each other in a romantic relationship," Cinch said. Lightning Dust froze. Would she be killed? Exiled? Kicked out? "Ma’am, I...." "At the moment, there will be no punishment given to you, Lightning." "Ma’am, I don't understand." "Yes, it is true that dating other bolts is not strictly approved, but the bigger problem is that we have a traitor in the bolts." "Ma’am?!" "The Shadowbolts have to work as a team, and going behind each other's backs and trying to get them expelled is not acceptable," Cinch said. "While we are devious and work to do these things to others, your team is your family and we do not betray family. Furthermore." "Understood, ma’am," Lightning said. "And ma’am, If I may be so bold, I think I know who might have given you that note." Captain's Quarters/Throne Room "As you all know, when you first joined The Shadowbolts, you swore an oath that you would work together for the good of the Shadowbolts and the New Equestrian Vision." Cinch said. Lightning, Sky Striker, and Nightshade were all in the Captain’s Room waiting for Cinch to finish her speech. "Part of working together is trusting each other with everything. Now, you are all young, so breaking minor rules is to be expected, but going behind somepony’s back is strictly unacceptable." Cinch stepped off her throne and headed to the three ponies. "Commander Nightshade, please step forward." As Nightshade stepped forward she could see Cinch’s eyes; they were full of disappointment, but also rage. "Yes ma’am," Nightshade said. "What is it?" "Nightshade, tell us," Cinch said, "why did you join the Shadowbolts? Do not lie, I will know." "It was my birthright, ma’am," Nightshade said. "I was born to be one." "Is there no other reason?" Cinch said "Perhaps, jealousy?" "Ma’am?" "Is it not true that you have a sister, Nightshade?" Cinch asked. "Yes ma’am," Nightshade said. "And isn't it true that you also legally changed your name to keep others from connecting you to her?" Nightshade remained still. Lightning could see she was breathing heavily, and for the first time in her time at the Shadowbolts, she saw Nightshade was afraid. "Yes ma’am," Nightshade said. "So then Nightshade, what is your real name?" Cinch said "My Real Name" Nightshade said she took a deep breath, and for a second was silent. "My Name Is Solar Flare." "And tell me, why was your name so important that you felt the need to change it?" "Because my mother’s name is Stormy Flare, and my sister is Spitfire Flare, captain of the Wonderbolts," Nightshade said. "So the truth comes out," Cinch said. "You may return to the group....Solar Flare." Nightshade cringed at the name and slowly walked back to the group. "Solar Flare, because of your treasonous backstabbing to your fellow bolts, your rank as Commander of the Stealth Division will be revoked, and you will make up 100 hours of training until you prove yourself worthy of the rank." "Yes ma’am," Nightshade replied. "You will continue to be called Nightshade by your peers, but from here on out, I will call you by your real name as punishment." "Yes ma’am," Nightshade said. "Everyone except for Sky Striker, please go back to your barracks for the rest of the day," Cinch said. "Tomorrow is Lightning Dust’s initiation into the Shadowbolts. Rest up and be prepared." "Yes ma’am," all three ponies responded. Lightning and Nightshade left the room, leaving Cinch and Sky alone. "Sky-Striker, I must say, I am impressed with the way you handled this situation," Cinch said. "I’m doing as you said, ma’am," Sky Striker said. "Now, as for the second part of your plan?" "Do not worry, ma’am, I have it all under control," Sky said. Cinch got down from her throne and approached the map of Equestria. "My spies tell me that my sisters have been inactive for some time," Cinch said. "However, I have a feeling that will all change soon..." But before Cinch could finish her sentence the door blew open and another pony came in the room: another Cinch. "Back away from the imposter, General Sky-Striker!", the Cinch look-alike said. Nightshade and Lightning Dust came running in to see the two Cinches facing each other. "Please tell me I'm not the only one seeing double," Lightning said. "For once I can say you’re not crazy," Nightshade said. "That Cinch before you is an imposter, a changeling sent by Queen Chrysalis," one Cinch said. "Do do not believe her, she is the imposter. General Sky Striker, kill her," the other Cinch said. "I...I don't know who the real one is..." Sky-Striker said in a confused manner. Before anything else could happen Nightshade flew into the air and grabbed a spear hanging from the wall. "All right you bitches, one of you is the real Cinch, and the other is a slimy, yellow-bellied changeling. Now because you both look the same, Lightning Dust will just have to ask you something only the real Cinch would know," Nightshade said. "Are you crazy?! I know nothing about Cinch, and you expect me to ask her something about her?" Lightning said. "Would you just trust me?!" Nightshade said. "Oh yeah, trust the pony who almost got me expelled from the Shadowbolts. Ok, seems great!" "First off, if you didn’t get all mushy with Sky Striker, none of this would be happening! Second off, I didn’t send that letter!" Nightshade said. "Oh yeah, next you're going to tell me that you're secretly an alicorn." "Would you two stop arguing for one Celestia-damned minute and work together?!" Sky Striker said. Lightning looked at Nightshade, took a deep breath, grabbed the spear from Nightshade, and then walked away from her into the center of the room. "Ok Cinches, all I have is one question, and one question only." "And that would be?" one of the Cinches said. "Where were you before you came to the Shadowbolts?" The Cinches looked at Lightning, with a confused look. "Could you please clarify?" one of the Cinches said. Lightning then chucked the spear at the Cinch, piercing her skin and sticking in her chest. The Cinch’s skin changed color from cyan to black and her mane disappeared completely, turning into blue scales. The now-revealed changeling fell dead on the floor. "Excellant work, Lightning," Cinch said walking over to her. "Lightning How...How did you know it was the Changeling?" Sky Striker said. "Because the real Cinch would never tell us the truth, nor would she ask for clarification," Lightning said. She walked over to the changeling corpse and grabbed the spear, handing it to Cinch. "Ma’am, how did a Changeling get into the base?" "Yesterday, a group of five changelings found the bace, and infiltrated it while we were all asleep," Cinch said. "They took me with plans of bringing me to Crysalis, but I escaped and killed the other four." "How did they even know where we were?" Nightshade said. "I was going to inform you later today, but my shadowspies told me that the changelings have taken and replaced the Princesses and the Elements of Harmony. However, it will not be long before they are stopped," Cinch said. "In the meantime, the camp is on lockdown until further notice." "Yes ma’am," the three ponies said. "Lightning, please stay. I have something to talk to you about." "Yes ma’am," Lightning said. She watchced as Sky and Nightshade left, then Cinch walked over to her desk and pulled out a note. "I am afraid that everything the changeling imposter did today was what I was going to do. It seems the changelings have gotten ahold of mind copying spells." "Are you going to expell me, ma’am?" "Lightning, you just saved the Shadowbolts. However, I will still have to punish you for your violation of the rules," Cinch said. "Yes ma’am, I understand," Lightning said. "You did well today, Lightning Dust. I have high hopes for your initiation tomarow," Cinch said. Lightning left the room, leaving Cinch alone. "Hopefully she will know what to do," Cinch said to herself, then pulled out a folder marked Equestrian Convict File. On the side of the folder was the name Tiny Dust.