Rainbow Dash trotted down the cold stone passageway, wincing as the frozen air hit her sensitive wings.
“Guys? If this is your idea of a prank, it’s not that funny.”
The note directing her to the cave she was currently walking through had been slipped under her door on the last day of the Wonderbolts Academy. With no indication as to why she was supposed to be here, or any hint of an author, Rainbow had no idea if it had been one of her fellow trainees playing a prank on her, or if it was a message from Spitfire, or any of the other Wonderbolts.
“Spitfire? Soarin’? Misty Fly? You guys in here?” Up ahead, the passageway widened out into a large circular room, and Rainbow could see six ponies arrayed around a central stone altar. She couldn’t quite make out what they were wearing from this distance, and so she entered the chamber fully.
“The Rainbow has come,” uttered one of the ponies around the altar, one who saw her enter the cavern, and the rest turned to face Rainbow Dash.
“Oh, very funny guys,” said Rainbow, as she finally made out what the six ponies were wearing: Shadowbolt outfits. “Ha ha ha. Great joke. Now take off the outfits, and let’s all go back up to the academy, okay?” The six ponies began to advance towards Rainbow Dash, and she realised that all of them were pegasi.
“The Rainbow has come. The Rainbow will show us the way,” said another of the Shadowbolts, “But the Rainbow has yet to join us.”
“The Rainbow must join,” said a third, and that was taken up as a chant by the rest.
“Look, I thought I told you guys this when we met in the Everfree, but I don’t leave my friends hanging,” said Rainbow, taking a step back to get away from the slowly advancing group of chanting pegasi.
“The Rainbow must join,” the six intoned, “The Rainbow must join.” One of the pegasi was suddenly behind Rainbow Dash, and pinned her wings to her sides, before wrapping her in a headlock and began to pull Rainbow Dash towards the central altar. Rainbow fought the Shadowbolt every step of the way, but whoever this pony was, they were much stronger than Rainbow was, and in short order Rainbow was splayed out over the stone altar, kept in place by iron chains attached to her hooves.
“The Rainbow must join. The Rainbow must join.” On and on the chanting went, filling the cavern with a monotone drone that permeated every crack and crevice
[time]
The Shadowbolts arrayed themselves around the stone altar in a rough circle, chanting all the while. Then, the pegasus by Rainbow’s head held up a hoof, and resounding silence ruled over the cavern.
“We Are Shadowbolts. We are the Dark,” said the pegasus.
“We are the Dark,” echoed the other five.
“We consume the light, make it our own. Before us lies a pony of the light, The Rainbow,” said the apparent leader.
“The Rainbow must join,” responded the five.
“Doesn’t ‘the Rainbow’ get a say in this?” yelled Rainbow Dash “Cause I say no!”
The Shadowbolts ignored Rainbow’s outburst, and instead continued on with their weird ritual. Rainbow Dash blocked out the sounds surrounding her, and concentrated on getting free. One of the manacles had not been secured properly in the stone, and it came free when Rainbow gave it a good yank. From there, it was all downhill for the Shadowbolts, as one after another, the fastest pegasus in Equestria dealt with them, knocking them unconcious in short order.
But just as Rainbow dash was about to go and finish off the leader, the other pegasus held up a hoof, and pulled back their hood.
“S...Spitfire?”
“Congratulations, Rainbow Dash. You just passed the final trial. Welcome to the shortlist for Wonderbolt auditions.”