//------------------------------// // The Envy of Loyalty // Story: The Choices We Make: A Shadowbolt's Story // by FrozenInTime //------------------------------// There were times in my life were I have done some pretty stupid things. I can’t really name or even count the mistakes I have done in my life, but in the end, I would always make up for it. I was loyal to the end and I have the Element to prove it. However, there was one choice that had often held me back. One choice that even to this day, I secretly regret. The day I refused to join the Shadowbolts. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of being a Wonderbolt and all that but I chose my friends over them, despite knowing I couldn't be one of them again. When we beat Nightmare Moon, who turned out to be some ancient Princess that was like… the sister to Celestia (Yeah, who knew?), it turned out that they were just an illusion to distract me from our goal. At that point, I kinda felt better knowing that it was just a fake to catch me off my game, but a part of me hated knowing that I would have had the chance to show up the Wonderbolts and be either like them or better. For so long, my dream was to become like one of those great ponies and be an all-out star! My dream to be famous, to be unbeatable and to literally be known as one of the fastest Pegasi around! Just... knowing that I could have a chance, the smallest chance, I would have taken it… but my loyalty beat me to it, and for what it's worth, I did good. Fast forward a few years and I managed to get into the Wonderbolts… ahead of everypony else and even more, managed to beat the previous times, tryouts and even set new records by miles ahead. Those scores were originally held by none other than Spitfire and veterans of the old Wonderbolts. At first, they all seemed to enjoyed the fact that… I would be the best asset to the team. I kept beating previous records by others teams, especially ones from other places like Fillyldelphia, Manehattan and even a few Gryphon teams as well. It was all great. … Until I happened to listen in on a private meeting between the captain as well as previous Wonderbolt Veterans. What I heard that day nearly made me want to cry and scream and yell all at the same time. Apparently, there was some issue with the Bolts and me. They all hated knowing that I was the star of the Wonderbolts. I was confused about that until they said something about popularity. So I was bringing in ticket sales, merchandise and all that, but the others were just... background characters now. They felt that now that I was in the full spotlight, they got less attention. They had paycuts to the running members because I was taking up most of their time and had more to show than the others. They had an increase in candidates which wasn’t so bad, till the cadets started making things up about how it's easy to get into the 'Bolts. I made it look easy for them to get in… I don’t know how, but that was the case. Not only that, but the Vets were all pissed knowing that about nearly half of them, I beat their records with ease. Some of them took years and years to get those records and I blew them all away like they were nothing. They were being forgotten, and even a few of their trophies were removed from the hall to make way for mine. I was the youngest, fastest, most agile Pegasi out there and they were threatened because of it. Not only that but because I was an Element of Harmony, most of the show still focused on me and my many accomplishments in saving Equestria. You figured that would make the Wonderbolts look good knowing that they were flying with a hero, but I guess to them, that didn’t matter. It didn’t matter because they just wanted the fame, the fortune and the undying love of fans at their hooves. Yeah… I learned that from them, but I also learned that they wanted more. They wanted to cut me from the team… My childhood, my dream, my career… it was gone. All gone because they were scared I was going to replace or beat them all at their silly records. I didn’t care much about it. I won trophies left and right but didn't care about them. Sure, I boasted a bit about my amazing moves and ease to win it all… but never for the trophies and never to make the others look bad. More or less, they wanted me to at least stay in the back or in the side lines for backup. It would reduce the amount of time I would be seen by others and it would keep me more in line, like a ‘good little dog’. Yeah, I heard that from those A-hole veterans. That night, I literally screamed out into the sky. I yelled, I cried, I destroyed a bunch of clouds that were meant for weather and I nearly killed myself trying to fly dangerously. I never knew it would hurt so much knowing that ponies can hate you for being better than them. The girls never so much as argued about me being the fastest or best at doing what I love. In fact, they encouraged me to be the best. But I guess when it comes down to it, nothing is as it seems. The next day, I stormed into Spitfire’s office and threw my badge on the desk. “I QUIT!” I said loudly, though it felt more like a yell. Spitfire was surprised by this sudden announcement. “What?! Why?!” she asked, as if she didn't honestly know why. With a snort, I literally crossed the space between us so that we were eye to eye. “Don’t give me that crap, Spits! I heard what you and your pals were talking about yesterday. You want to cut me from the team because you all think that I'm gonna cut your careers down the middle! That I am beating all your previous records with ease and that the only reason we're getting any shows or fame is because of me!” Spitfire instantly knew that I had heard them talk. With a heavy sigh, she shook her head. “Look kid, you weren't supposed to here that, especially the part about cutting you.” “So what?!” I yelled. “You were just gonna up and tell me that you're letting me go because you think that I wasn’t good enough for your team?! Or maybe I was too good for it!” With a stern look, she ordered me. “Dash, I suggest you calm down.” “To Tartarus with that Spitfire! You wanna cut me because you feel threatened by me!” Standing up suddenly, her gaze shifted hard on me and her voice nearly echoed mine. “Dash! You need to calm the buck down before I have you thrown out! I am already dealing with the fact that because of you, we might have to cancel the next couple of shows! Yes, we were thinking about cutting you, but then we realized that the fans would stop coming because of you… “So you only wanna keep me now because you’re afraid to lose your fans.” I said sarcastically. “What then? You gonna shove me in the back so you can have your fame and fortune up front? Is that it?” She tried to answer, but she hesitated. Her mouth hung open and she sighed again. “I am sorry Dash, really I am, but now that everypony and their grandmothers think that they can easily be as fast and as great as you, they are making it look like foal’s play to get into the Bolts. Lately we've also had more ponies try to join here and the other teams across Equestria. That sounds great but along with that, some of our reserve members are getting their own down time, with us trying to bring in the new recruits. Along with the teams across Equestria, we have actual statistics showing that without you, we are just as even as the other teams. Sure you can beat them all, but what happens if we lose you? Then we look like we're the worst team to join. Not to mention that it’s only because they want to be like you that makes it worse.” “Oh so I'm the problem then?” I snarled. Spitfire shook her head. She wasn't making any sense, and I was ready to lose it. “We still go through the hard training basics and all that but they're just full of hot air and from that, we're going to get many incidents like we had with Lightning Dust. She is making up for it now, but imagine if we had a bunch of hot heads like her, trying to be a hotshot and getting others killed.” I couldn't help but let out my own sigh, remembering that incident so long ago. I was angry that Dust nearly killed my friends and I felt like Spits felt now, though more disappointed. Dust did manage to make up for i,t and was even a junior member. Often times, she was even with us in our flight shows and had her own fan base. She really proved herself back into the 'Bolts through the years. “I get it Spits. You don’t want to get rid of me because you can lose all the fans or because you don’t want hot heads out there, but you want me to stay in the back because you want to increase your fame and all that. You want me to stay in line and follow orders and be a ‘good little dog.’” “That’s not what I said--” “Save it… I'm all done here. I don’t want deal with the 'Bolts knowing that they are holding me back for what they want. I know I am supposed to follow your orders, but being the backup is just too much… especially for fame’s sake.” Spitfire tried to combat it with a harmless threat. “You’re under contract, Dash. You still got another few years on us. You either stay with us or no team will take you in after that.” I gave a snort. “All it takes is a few words to the Princess to get me off that paper Spits. Remember, I am the Element of Loyalty and savior of Equestria.” That was a low blow, even for me. Spitfire looked stunned and hurt by it. I never had to use my status to get what I want or to help me out in situations. Granted, I didn't typically deal with situations like this, but still. I always relied on myself and my friends to help me out but never that. I also knew that it was a bluff, but a bluff that worked nonetheless. “Some Loyal pony you are.” She tried to fight back. “Says the pony who told me to give it my best and never hold back. A pony who now wants me to give up my time for her selfish need for fame. A pony I once looked at as an idol, rather than a celebrity with jealous intentions. ” Again low blow, but I didn’t need to hold back. “You can either rip up that paper or you can hear from the Princess soon. I don’t care… I'm just gonna grab my stuff and leave. After all, you were going to let me go or shove me through the doors anyway.” Without another word, I left her office and slammed the door shut. I heard a few things fall in her office right after that. I felt bitter and shaken and my heart was beating a mile a minute, and that usually only happens when I'm up in the air. Walking, each step was a thump in my chest but I kept going. As I walked down the hall, I could have sworn I heard a sob from her office. Leaving was the hardest part, especially grabbing all my stuff and exiting the halls. A real stab in the heart. I had so many good memories here, hanging out with the team and more. The late nights, the training, the missions and so on. As I looked down at the costume I once wore, I realized that I am making the biggest decision of my life here. I know that I could have stayed but the way I see it, I am either gone or in the back, following a routine day in and day out behind the others, not able to show up my true talent. But I also see that they don’t want me there. One thing I did leave behind was photos of me and Spits, and another one with the entire team that we took when I became an official member of the 'Bolts. I wanted so badly throw it but… I left it in my old room so if anypony wanted to see, all they would have is memories. They wouldn't get the satisfaction of seeing me like that. My friends were upset about the news and were even more upset about why I left. They tried to cheer me up but there was nothing that could make me happy. I did managed to get back my old job at the weather factory, but that was just to keep the bits flowing. I was back to my old home. Months had passed and I never heard anything from the 'Bolts. No letter, no news, not even Soarin or Fleetfoot coming to visit and for some reason, I felt that that was best. I wouldn't want to see them disappointed at why I left. Or, maybe they knew about it but wanted to try and bring me back. You know… I find that some decisions are worth doing and some you do just out of impulse. Most of the time, that seems to be my case and with that track record, I suddenly get mailed by a recruit. Thinking it was the Wonderbolts or the military, I was about to throw it away. However, a mark caught my attention. And not just any mark. I checked the seal and it had the Lunar Crescent, meaning it was from Lunar territory. The mark on the front was a skull with wings. I would remember that symbol anywhere, and with the return of Princess Luna, I could guess who was trying to recruit me. Shadowbolts…