Rainbow Dash looked on with worry.
Normally, she didn’t like to worry about things. If she felt as though she needed to worry, she tried to do so in the comfort of her own home, preferably with the company of only Tank, her pet tortoise, and a couple cartons of ice cream (Super Mare, because awesome.)
However, currently, as she watched the shadows flying around her in the dark woods of the Everfree, she couldn’t help but wonder if maybe the legends were true.
What had seemed to be nothing more than the work of Nightmare Moon in years prior, now seemed more real, as in the legend of Nightmare Moon herself once upon a time.
And Rainbow could remember how that legend went.
Also, how it ended, but there was less flank kicking and more just trying not to die.
Currently, not dying was at the top of her priority list, but the shadowy figures had yet to do anything other than just… fly around and howl like demonic banshies.
Arguably, she would say she was growing bored, but she knew better than to let such a foolish trait of hers risk her life and limb in the Everfree.
Finally, after an eternity (or more realistically, 5 minutes) the figures stopped, and took positions in front of Dash. Their forms, cast down onto the ground as if they were but only shadows, shifted and changed, two dimensional becoming three, and they lifted up off the ground into solid beings, however under the bright light of Luna’s moon, they did not cast a shadow themselves.
Because, well, they were the shadows.
“Well well well, look who decided to come back for round two.”
It was the mare who spoke, the other two ponies being stallions by their physical build.
Rainbow Dash gulped, then steeled herself, pushing her chest out and standing straight.
“Hey, I’m not here for any trouble. But, if you’re looking for some anyway, I’d gladly-”
“We don’t care about that.”
Rainbow blinked.
“Wh-what? What do you mean?”
The shadow mare scoffed. “Look at us! We’re Shadow Bolts! Literally legends of the Everfree! Like we’d waste our time fighting you.”
“Then what do you mean, when it’s time for round two?”
The mare cracked her neck. “What else? Speed.”
A special part of Rainbow’s mind wanted to be curious, ask questions, and just wonder why any of this was going on.
But the usual part of Rainbow’s mind kicked those thoughts into the gully below, and her muzzle shifted into a predatory grin.
“Oh, speed is it? I’m game.”
The two shadow stallions leapt into the air. One stayed hovering just overhead, the other flew off towards the castle ruins, and found a comfortable place to perch on a crumbled wall.
“Easy. We have to race from this ‘Bolt, to the other.”
“Wait, that’s it? Just a straight line?”
The shadow mare grinned. All around lighting cracked, thunder boomed, and the clouds began shifting, covering the bright glow of the moon above.
“Ah, right, traps, huh?”
The shadow mare nodded. “Of course. A straight line would be suicide.”
“Even for you?”
The mare’s grin grew in size. “Depends.”
“Right, so this is totally a trap. It’s probably rigged in your favor. And you know I’d figure this out, so you’re actually going to play fair because you know it’s the only way to really get me to do this.”
The shadow mare’s grin twitched.
“Well, I’m game then!”
The grin returned in earnest, on both mare’s faces.
So they lined up at the first stallion, got into position, and waited.
“So… on three? Or three, and then go?” Rainbow asked.
The shadow mare barked a laugh, and suddenly a bright green bolt of lightning struck a dead tree beside them. Rainbow flinched, which allowed the other mare the needed time to launch herself.
“Hey! Get back here!” Rainbow shouted, and launched herself into the air to chase after.
The two mares weaved around one another. Each time they went straight for the other stallion, aka the Finish Line (which unironically was his name, just don’t make fun of him for it, he has intimacy issues) a cloud obstacle would get in the way. Or a lightning bolt would strike near them.
This was it, this was really happening for Rainbow.
They were practically neck and neck, until finally the stallion was close enough Rainbow could see him reading a Playpony magazine.
“Hah! I got this, just watch!”
Suddenly, Rainbow put on a burst of speed, getting a solid ponys length ahead of her competition.
This was it, she was about to beat the legends of the Shadow Bolts in a speed contest.
Another dodge, another flourish of her wings, a loop de loop, and she was there, moments away from-
Everything froze.
Rainbow blinked, frozen mid-air. She looked behind her, the only thing movable on herself was her head and forelegs.
“What the?”
Behind her, the shadow bolt was frozen stiff, mid grin as she pushed herself to catch up.
There was a sudden bright light ahead of Rainbow, and she used her legs to cover her face. Blinking repeatedly, she finally looked ahead to see what it was.
A large, rectangular box of bright light shown down upon her, blocking her view of her goal.
Then… music began playing, and within the bright box, movement, and then…
“Buy it now. Raid: Shadow Legends!”
Rainbow groaned. Another dream ad.
Luna was getting overboard with these 15 second ads…