//------------------------------//
// Scootaloo the Shadowbolt: Part One 
// Story: Cutie Mark Crusaders Trilogy 
// by Limelight02 
//------------------------------//

Scootaloo grabbed her boots and pulled them on. She put her goggles and brace in her saddle bag and walked along the path in Everfree Forest. She trotted as she secured the brace on her left wing and strapped on her goggles. As she walked onto base camp, she locked the brace on her wing. Another pegasus walked along with her. He was about the same age as her and was missing a wing. It had been replaced with a fake metal one. Scootaloo knew they would both have to go to Shadowbolts Training Camp together and learn how to control the special wing pieces they had given them.


They walked into the arena and were greeted by a pegasus that had a scarred wing and was missing feathers. They stood with the other disabled recruits and waited for instructions. As the instructor entered, Scootaloo push her goggles up onto her forehead.


"Greetings, young recruits! I will teach you to use your new wings and become a Shadowbolt. Remember this is a high honor. If you don't take your training seriously, you will be thrown out of the academy."


All of the recruits stood up straight as the instructor paced in front of them. He pointed at the boy without a wing.


"You. Go and fly. Let's see how well you know your wings."


The boy walked out and started to run around the edge of the arena he flicked his head up and lifted off the ground. He reached the top of the arena that was closed off by a canopy of chains. He glanced along the top and his metal wing snagged on the chains. He hung there helpless. Scootaloo crouched down in a takeoff position and the instructor nodded at her. She took off and tried to stabilize her wing as she gained altitude. When she reached him she unlatched his wing and grabbed his hoof. She pulled out the wing and latched it back onto his back. She let go of his hoof and he fell about fifty feet before he regained control of his wing. They both dove down to the ground and landed back in their places in line.


The instructor turned towards Scootaloo.


"Good job." He turned to all the recruits and said, "Help your fellow Shadowbolts, but have no mercy against the enemy. That would show disloyalty and you would be killed either by the enemy or by us."


Scootaloo readjusted her wing brace and watched as the other recruits tested their wings. Many 
could not even lift off the ground. The ones that could didn't even come close to where the chain canopy started. Scootaloo knew that no one came close to her and the boy's flying ability.