//------------------------------// // I propose... // Story: Leaving Their Legacy // by Sparx //------------------------------// "Say what?" Dash couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Shadowbolts?" "Yeah, Soarin' said they were real, and they plan on coming to town." Spitfire spoke with an even tone in her voice. "That's not possible. The Shadowbolts were created by Nightmare Moon. They were shadows, just a trick on the mind." Rainbow Dash began to pace back and forth on top of the cloud. "Well, Soarin' says it's true, they exist. Some ragtag group of pegasi who've challenged the Wonderbolts.Their leader is some pegasus with grey fur and bright blue mane." Spitfire claimed. "Well that definitely sounds like a Shadowbolt." Rainbow Dash's face became lost in thought. "Well, if it's just a challenge to the Wonderbolts, I don't think we have to worry. We just gotta keep our ears to the ground and our eyes open." Spitfire couldn't help but let out a laugh. "You? keep an ear to the ground?" "You know what I mean." Dash smiled. "Anyways, I'm more concerned with where they came from than what they want." "Um..." The girls heard a small squeak come from down below, then they remembered they weren't alone. They looked down to see Fluttershy looking up at them. "Is everything alright?" Dash put on a big grin. "Yeah. We're fine. Just thinking is all." Dash couldn't tell Fluttershy what they were talking about. The shy little pony would have a panic attack if there was even a hint that the sinister power of Nightmare Moon was still around. "Anyways, we should get moving. Stuff to do, places to go." "Don't y'all wanna say hi ta Applejack?" Big Mac questioned. "We'll come by later. I'm sure she and Soarin' would like to spend some time alone." Spitfire chuckled. "Anyways, come on Spike, let's head out." Spike ran over behind the two pegasi, following them closely. "Riiiiiiight... So, what's really going on?" Spike inquired. The girls explained the situation to Spike, the Shadowbolts, their challenge against the Wonderbolts, about the grey and blue pony. "I wanna see these so called 'Shadowbolts' myself." Rainbow Dash smiled mischievously. Spitfire let out a small sigh. "I had a feeling you'd say that. Well, Soarin' said that he last saw them near the edge of the Everfree Forest." Spike let out a sigh. "I knew it." The trio walked down the path through town towards the Everfree Forest. As they passed by Sugarcube Corner, the noticed a blur fly past their field of view in the sky. "Was that..." "I believe it was." Spitfire answered. "A pegasus stunt flier." "A Shadowbolt." Rainbow Dash said. "I'm sure of it." She flew up above the buildings, looking down across the town, searching the ground for any sign of the pegasus that flew by. Soon she was joined by Spike mounted upon Spitfire. "C'mon, let's go check it out." The trio flew towards the edge of the forest. They noticed about five ponies walking about in purple and black uniforms. "There." Dash flew down towards the one standing in front of the rest of them, the one with the electric blue mane. "Hey!" The pegasus turned around. "Well! If it isn't Sonic Dashfire." A stallion's voice came from the mouth of the pegasus. "We've been...expecting you." Rainbow Dash held her ground, scoping out the various pegasi around her. "Right. The Shadowbolts was it?" Rainbow Dash gave a cocky smile. "Or was it something else?" The Stallion looked slightly nervous as he shook his head. "No, we're definitely the Shadowbolts." Upon closer look, Dash and Spitfire noticed this stallion had his tail cut short and his mane styled up like a mohawk. "Show them, Rum- I mean Shadowbolts!" The uniformed pegasi all flew up, and started zooming about. They weaved through the sky, dodging one another as they flew towards each other at neckbreaking speeds, creating shapes from figure eights to stars, to even whipping up a grey and violet tornado, much larger than what Rainbow Dash was able to make by herself. "Well well well! How did you like that Sonic Dashfire?" Rainbow Dash had to admit, it was pretty impressive. She looked upon the rest of the Shadowbolts. One was large, white and bulky with tiny little wings. Two of them had grey pelts and bright sky-blue mane done up in different styles. The last one was smaller than the rest with black and grey mane with a light grey muzzle. Dash gave a chuckle. "Wow, you guys are really something. Rather intimidating I'd say." "Yeah, You bet we are." The leader said. "And after we're done with the Wonderbolts, we're coming for you chumps." "Uh-oh." Spitfire and Spike spoke in unison. "What?" Rainbow Dash stepped closer to the lead Shadowbolt. "What did you call me? I know you didn't call me a chump, CHUMP!" "So what if I did?" The Shadowbolt leader spoke strong but started to back off. "Why wait for the Wonderbolts? I want in on this too. One on one on one. Let's find out who's team is the best, once and for all?" Rainbow Dash stamped into the ground, driving her words home. "Uh... F-fine! In two weeks we'll show down with both you and the Wonderbolts!" "Done!" Dash spit in her hoof and held it out. "Well come on!" With hesitation, the stallion spat on his hoof and did the same, knocking hooves with Rainbow Dash. "See you in two weeks, Rainbow crash!" "Real original." The Shadowbolts took off as Rainbow Dash sat there looking back at them confidently. "Well guys. That should-" "Dashie! What did you do?" Spitfire flew in front of Rainbow Dash. "I just told Thun-" "In two weeks we have a show! Applejack's wedding show!" Spike cut in. "...Oh... um, oops?" Rainbow Dash blushed. "I guess the show just became a bit... Bigger?" "One more problem Dashie." Spitfire made three lines in the ground. "According to Soarin', the competition is going to be composed of five events, one being a tag race. Each team needs six members. We only have three including Scootaloo." "Uh... Guys." "Huh... that is a problem." Rainbow dash placed a hoof on her chin. "Maybe we could each do two contests?" "Dash, Spitfire..." Spitfire shook her head. "No good. It's not allowed in the rules." "GUYS!" Spike shouted, finally getting the attention of the mares. "I, haven't exactly shown or told anypony yet. But, rather recently... I've... well..." Spike turned his back and the mares saw a slight flutter across his spine, then they noticed two large scaled wings erupt from his back. They were large and impressive for the young dragon. "I've sprouted my wings rather recently. I haven't told anyone because they haven't been ready to fly yet, but I think they're strong enough now. So, if I was taught... maybe I..." Spike gave a slight shrug and a smile. "Spike? Are you asking if you can join Sonic Dashfire?" Spitfire smiled. "Spike! We'd love to have you join us!" Dash walked over and slung a front leg over Spitfire's neck. "Spitfire and I have been talking about having you join when you got your wings! Welcome aboard Spike... Again!" Spike gave a large smile and flapped his wings to kick up some dust. "But we still need two more members." Spitfire chimed in. "Not to mention that we need to bring up this whole thing with Soarin', Applejack and Twilight. Twilight especially won't be too happy with us..." Spitfire gave an audible gulp which spike followed up on with a gulp of his own. "Yeah... right... Let's tell Twilight tomorrow... or the next day." Dash looked deep in thought all of a sudden and looked in the direction the Shadowbolts zoomed off to. "Well, we're minus a few pegasus ponies to choose from." "What do you mean Rainbow? We still have Thunderlane and Rumble and Blossomforth-" "That's just it Spike." Rainbow Dash turned to face the dragon again, looking rather serious with the sun glowing behind her head. "Those weren't the Shadowbolts." "What?" Spitfire stepped forward. "How do you know?" "Because I'm the only pony whose ever met the real Shadowbolts. Their leader was a mare, not a stallion. Besides, I already know who they were. It was easy." "Oh? Who were they?' Spitfire inquired. "Thunderlane is the leader, Rumble, Flitter, Roid, and Cloudchaser were with him just now." Dash smiled. So we can't count on recruiting them." "Recruiting?" Spike wondered aloud. "Yeah, I propose we recruit some of the best fliers in Equestria; next to Spitfire and myself of course. "Did you have anyone in mind?" Spitfire stepped forward. "Actually, I do. But it'll sound a bit strange. so bear with me." Spike and Spitfire leaned forward as Rainbow Dash muttered her plan into their ears. "I don't know how we're gonna pull that off." Spitfire said at the end. "It'll be easy, she's always up for trying new things, she's... uh... Eccentric like that!" Rainbow Dash smiled. "And who else?" Spike asked. "Uh..............." Rainbow Dash stopped cold. "I... I guess we'll have to wing it!" she chuckled with a flutter of her wings.