Rainbow Dash had arrived a bit early to the Shadowbolt HQ grounds, and the only pony that had gotten there before her was Night Wing.
"Wow, I thought I was being a bit of an early bird. Your a whole thirty minutes ahead of when I wanted every pony here." Night Wing said.
"I woke up early and have already had breakfast. I wanted to make sure I was ready for whatever tests you'll throw my way." Rainbow Dash said.
"Heh. I like your attitude. Just try to keep that ego in check." Night Wing said.
As time passed, the others were already coming in. Though there was one surprise entrance just one minute before it was time. "Princess Luna? What are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"You'll understand shortly." Princess Luna said.
"Right. I think every pony is here now. So, I would like to first appreciate you all for coming. As you know, you'll all have to pass a series of tests. These tests will weed out those who don't have their heart set on becoming one of the best fliers in Equestrian History." Night Wing said. "Not to mention, it will test varoius abilities to see if you'll be a great fit for the team."
Rainbow Dash was eager to get started. "However, it seems there's been a slight change in plans for the first test I had set up." Night Wing said. This had caught Rainbow Dash off guard.
"Indeed. The past few nights, I've been seeing a lot of ponies have dreams involving a black hamster that can speak ponish as fluently as we do. While these dreams are not nightmares, the fact that so many ponies are dreaming about the same exact black hamster, makes me worried." Luna said. "This is because it could be a spy that is here to scout our weaknesses, in order for some other land to try and invade us."
"The test today was meant to be about teamwork and how well you work together with another pony. That will not change. However, how you'll demonstrate it will be." Night Wing said. "Originally, there were going to be a series of obstacles that you'd have to fly through while being tied together with a random pony. However, now the goal here is for you and whoever you get paired with to capture this black hamster and bring it here through coordination and team work." Night Wing said.
"You all have until sundown to complete this test. Please, for the saftey of Equestria, do not fail." Luna said.
The pairs had been selected, and Rainbow Dash had ended up getting paired with Thunderlane. "Of all the ponies here to get paired with, I get paired with Thunderlane." Rainbow Dash said.
"Can you not please? I'm guessing we both want on the main squad, so can we just agree to call a truce for this?" Thunderlane asked.
"Fine. But I'm not going to like this all the same." Rainbow Dash said. "Besides, I've already got a plan in motion."
Sadly however, Rainbow Dash's plan did not really work out that well. And while Thunderlane had also given a plan of his own a go, the black hamster had outsmarted it.
And by that time, the sun was getting ready to go down. However, the pair decided to give it one more shot with a trap they both designed to combine their ideas together. They were pretty certain this was fool proof.
...Only for said Black Hamster to suddenly tap Rainbow's Shoulder. "What the..." Rainbow Dash said.
"Gonna have to say, out of the whole lot that's been after me today, your trap is the most sofficated." The hamster said. "Not sure why you all are after me, but I will give credit where credit is due."
"Says the potential spy." Thunderlane said.
"Spy? I ain't no spy. I'm just a wondering hamster who has a vast knowledge back in his head. Including my own fair share of secrets. That's why they call me 'The Walking Secret'." The hamster said.
"Well, your still coming with us to Shadowbolt HQ. Nothing personal, we've got a job to do." Rainbow Dash said.
"Oh, is that what this is about? Guess I should've gone there sooner." The Hamster said and walked away; heading right into a bush.
"Hey wait!" Rainbow Dash said, and lifted up the bush, only to find nothing inside of it. "What the..." The cyan mare was confused.
"Wasn't he JUST here?" Thunderlane asked.
"Yeah...that's the confusing part." Rainbow Dash said.
Sadly time had ran out after that, and the unlikely pair headed back. "Unbelievable, not a single one of you even caught the hamster." Night Wing said.
"We got the closest. He approuched us at the least." Thunderlane said.
"Did I tell you you could speak? No. No I did not. I don't want to hear your excuses." Night Wing said.
"That's not something you should say to the truth." A male voice said. Right there suddenly on the airstrip was the Black Hamster again.
"What the..." Rainbow Dash said.
"Seems there's been some miscommunication abound. So, let me clear something up: I'm not here on some mission from a foreign place. I am simply here on my own, to do something that needs to be done. I have my own agenda. As for my name, it's Cole Watterson. Remember it." The hamster said.
"What sort of agenda do you even have? Lots of ponies are having dreams about you." Night Wing said.
"I didn't do anything to them outside of dropping a few life lessons on them. How they reacted to that is on them. Just because I may look evil, doesn't mean I am. Of course, the concept of what is good and what is evil isn't that cut and dry if you ask me. What really is evil? And what really is good? These are questions that society things they have the answers to, but I despise such simple uneducated answers." Cole said.
"Okay, this dude has totally lost me." Rainbow Dash said.
"You and me both." Thunderlane said.
"Count me in that camp as well." Night Wing said.
"You need not know what that relates to right now. What you should know is some words of wisdom." Cole said. "Our eyes can play tricks on our mind, memories can be excused, but one thing that can never be questioned is our sense of smell. Smell is something that cannot lie to our minds, so never question one's own nose." He explained. "Take my words to heart. Or don't. It's your choice." The hamster then proceeded to walk past the building.
"Hey, I'm not done questioning you." Night Wing said, but soon discovered that Cole had vanished. "What? Where did he go?!" Night Wing exclaimed.
"He did that earlier to Thunderlane and I after he went into a bush." Rainbow Dash said.
"Cole Watterson...who is he, really?" Thunderlane asked.
"I wish I could say for certain. Regardless, it seems I owe you two an apology. Seems you did work together in getting Cole here. I'll inform Princess Luna right away." Night Wing said.
"Crazy day huh?" Thunderlane asked.
"Yeah. Not sure who that Cole is yet, but something tells me, he's not normal." Rainbow Dash said.
"Not trying to insult you, but considering he's a hamster who can speak our langauge fluently as breathing, what was your first clue?" Thunderlane asked.
"Okay, yeah, fair point." Rainbow Dash said.
"Hey Rainbow?" Thunderlane asked.
"What?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"...See you next test?" Thunderlane asked.
"...Yeah. Sure." Rainbow Dash said.