The mornings at Sweet Apple Acres had taken a grim and uncomfortable atmosphere as of late, as Applejack, Granny Smith and Faerie Tail would eye Apple Bloom out of the corners of their eyes every so often as they had breakfast.

And the empty chair where Twinken normally sat.

The Cutie-Mark Crusaders had not been the same ever since they'd taken Princess Luna's test via a shared dream... only for that dream to turn into a horrific nightmare. Because of Twinken and his powers going out of control.

Since then, they'd hardly hung out together, were quiet, and just seemed to go through the motions of the days following. Getting up, having breakfast, going to school, coming home, doing their homework and chores, bathing and brushing their teeth, and then going to bed.

They hadn't even gone on a single crusade to find their cutie-marks since then (at least, Apple Bloom and Rumble hadn't, since they were the only two remaining with blank flanks).

"Ah'm finished," Apple Bloom said as she took her dishes to the sink and got her saddelbags by the door. Her sister, grandmother, and Faerie Tail almost said something when Apple Bloom added, "Ah think... Ah think Ah'm gonna play wit' muh friends after school if'n tha's okay."

That alone was such a relief to them that they sighed to themselves and Granny Smith replied, "Sure thing, honey, go on an' have a good day."

Apple Bloom smiled as she came over and gave her granny and her big sister a hug, and even gave a hug to Faerie Tail. She waved bye as she stepped out to go to school, and the three mares all shared a collective sigh and smile of relief.

"She's gettin' better," Applejack noted with a joyful sparkle in her eyes.

"The other Crusaders as well," Faerie Tail assured, "Princess Luna had a word with me in my dreams. She told me she's been watching over the Crusaders' dreams, doing what she can to help them heal and get past what happened. Nothing drastic, just gentle nudges and getting rid of bad dream if they got too intense."

"Why not make it so they don' have bad dreams at all?" asked Applejack.

"Because it's important that the Crusaders learn to face what happened, accept it, and not let that fear and trauma continue to influence them," explained Faerie Tail. "It's like if you face your fears in your dreams, then facing them in reality becomes easier. If they just ignore it, then the fears and trauma will continue to haunt them no matter how much they deny it. Princess Luna is helping their minds heal while also help them build their strengths and spirits so they can confront their fears. It's a slow-going process, but in time the Crusaders will be able to move on.

"Apple Bloom telling us she's going to go play with her friends instead of us encouraging her to do so? That's a sure sign of progress, and I'm sure the other Crusaders are making progress as well."

"Is Twinken doin' aw'right too?" asked Granny Smith.

The uplifted look on Faerie Tail's face immediately took a nosedive, turning from the look of an assuring and confident mother to one gloomy and deeply concerned. Applejack and Granny Smith shared a concerned look but neither said anything, letting Faerie Tail center herself as she took a deep breath and then responded.

"Twinken is resisting healing..."

"Wha- Why?!" Applejack was flabbergasted.

"He blames himself," Faerie Tail explained, pain starting to lace her voice as tears began to well up in her eyes, "For what happened... for what could have happened. He's wearing the talisman Luna originally gave him to keep his telepathy under control and he's refusing Luna access into his dreams. He's just... locking himself away! He's been doing all his schoolwork from home, but... he won't go out to play! He hardly eats or talks to anyone, even me! He teleports to go to the bathroom but then he goes right back to his room, I-

"AJ, Granny...!" The younger and older mares felt their hearts hurt to see Faerie Tail struggling to stay composed as she uttered tearfully, "I don't know what to do! My little colt is suffering and I feel so helpless...!"

"Oh, Faerie Tail..." Applejack said as she and her grandmother came around the table to comfort the worrying mother.
"There, there now, child," Granny Smith said gently, "it'll all sort out. Jus'... give th' youn'un time. Ah'm sure he'll reach out when he's ready."

Sniffling, Faerie Tail replied, "I hope so, Granny Smith. I really do..."

As the mares comforted each other, they had no idea Twinken was listening from the top of the stairs. He'd sensed his mom's heartache and stepped out to listen, and hearing how much she was hurting made him feel ashamed. But instead of going to his mom and his honorary granny and big sister... Twinken just went back to his room and locked the door.

The school bell rang, and as the colts and fillies all rushed off to get home, Rumble noticed how his friends had begun cheering up and talking to each other again. Part of him was glad to see the girls and Button snapping out of the funk and gloom that had shadowed their spirits as of late, and seeing them talk to each other again. He'd spoken with them too but had participated the least in conversations and playing.

Apple Bloom had suggested they go on another crusade soon, but none of them were up to it.

Then Rumble had asked Apple Bloom if Twinken could be coming back to school anytime soon, and to their dismay Apple Bloom had responded, "Ah ain't seen Twinken even once since... well, y'know."

That had really troubled Rumble.

As horrible and terrifying as the whole experience had been, Rumble didn't blame Twinken for happened. It had been an accident resulting from something none of them had really been prepared for. Princess Luna had taken full responsibility and had been so apologetic and ashamed that her test had turned out the way it did. Still, what mattered was, they were all still here and physically they were all okay. Even so, it was going to take time for the Cutie-Mark Crusaders to get past this.

The first few nights after the Test, Rumble was subjected to vivid and awful nightmares, of the crystal golems using their heat beams to burn Ponyville, his family and friends, and Rumble had been unable to do anything about it. In his nightmares, he'd been a statue. Just standing there, helpless but to watch the terror and destruction until finally nothing was left but ashes... and only then did the golems blast him into oblivion, which was when he'd wake up crying and sweating.

His big brother, Thunderlane, and their neighbors, Cloudchaser and Flitter, had all been worried and keeping a close watch on him.

Then the dreams started getting better, not as scary and not as long, and sometimes he'd wake up before they got too bad. Rumble suspected Princess Luna was helping him there, and likely his friends too. After a couple of weeks, Rumble had been able to muster the will to take control of his dreams and face the fears that still haunted him. He didn't always succeed, but he was doing better.

Seeing his friends were doing better too helped, but that Twinken wasn't left Rumble conflicted as he took a casual flight home. Flying always helped Rumble clear his head and focus on whatever he needed to. Enjoying the feeling of the wind lifting him up, he felt his own spirits rise with it, and the view was nothing to sneeze at either. When he'd started flying, Rumble had been scared of flying too high, even when his big brother, Thunderlane, had been right there, encouraging him, cheering him on. Back then, he'd hardly been able to fly higher than a swing set. Going too high had caused him to get so scared that his wings would lock and he'd drop like rock. That had resulted in a few close-calls...

Then he'd met Scootaloo and the rest of his friends. They gave him the courage and the self-confidence to improve his flying skills and overcome his old fear of heights, and looking across Ponyville and beyond Rumble wondered how he'd ever been afraid of being up so high when it made everything else seem so small and inconsequential, as it filled him with the uplifting thrill that came from an unequaled sense of freedom.

Then his eyes noticed Ponyville Clocktower- Wait, was that accurate? 3:15?!

Uh-oh! Rumble thought as he remembered Thunderlane had told him to come right home after school... for a surprise.

The door flew open and Rumble rushed in, yelling, "I'M HERE!!"

"Cutting it close, little brother...!" responded Thunderlane's voice from upstairs and Rumble looked up to the second floor hallway.

"I know, I'm sorry! I..." Rumble fumbled, trying to find the right words. "Um- I... what'd you want to show me this morning? You said I had to wait until I got back from school, and here I am! A little late, but still!"

"Heheh, no worries, Rumble," chuckled Thunderlane's voice, his approaching hoofsteps clopping in the hallway. "I just didn't want you to be late and miss out..."

Then Thunderlane stepped into view at the top of the stairs, revealing himself to be garbed in a flight suit, similar to the ones worn by the Wonderbolts. His however was gleaming silver with blazing blue flame-shaped patterns, along with a pair of flight goggles secured above his eyes, and Rumble gasped as he recognized this uniform.

"On the first-ever Silverbolts Aerial Show!" Thunderlane declared as he spread his wings and smoothly glided down the stairs and landed in front of his stunned little brother, smirking with satisfaction at the colts reaction.
"But you are cutting it close, we gotta get going!"

"Wha- Where to?" asked Rumble as Thunderlane picked up some saddlebags and strapped them to his barrel and then tapped his goggles.

In a bright flash of light, Thunderlane's suit vanished, leaving him naked except for his goggles and saddlebags.
"We have to take the next airship to Canterlot, because that's where the aerial show is taking place, along with the Silverbolts' first derby against the Wonderbolts ace fliers, Spitfire, Fleetfoot and Rapidfire. C'mon, kiddo! We gotta flap!"

It was little more than an hour later by the time the brothers arrived in Canterlot. Disembarking the airship, Rumble asked, "So... where are we going and when's the big show and derby?"

"We're going to spend the weekend here," explained Thunderlane as they left the Canterlot Aerodrome, "and we'll be hosted by the Wonderbolts Administration Canterlot branch. The Silverbolts don't have their own administration yet, so the Wonderbolts Administration are assisting us until we do. As such, we'll get to sleep in a private hotel room during our stay.

"In the morning, I gotta meet with the Silverbolt A-Squad to practice for our show, and then we're gonna draw straws as to who will represent us in the derby and race against Spitfire, Fleetfoot and Rapidfire."

"Who else is gonna be there?" asked Rumble.

"Midnight, since he's our captain, as well as Soarin, Doran, and Hazel Blight," answered Thunderlane. "The five of us make up the Silverbolts' A-Squad. B-Squad and C-Squad will be there too, but only their squad leaders, Steel Edge and Amethyst Tides, will get to participate in the aerial show. Once that's over, we'll move onto the derby and, like I said, three among A-Squad will race against Spitfire, Fleetfoot and Rapidfire.

"Another reason the Silverbolts exist is to provide the Wonderbolts with a direct rival but in the spirit of friendly and sporting competition."

"So, you might get to race the top three fliers in the Wonderbolts!" Rumble was getting more and more excited, until he realized something and asked, "...what about me? What am I gonna do?"

"Well, you'll get to watch the show and derby with the royal family in the royal box," answered Thunderlane. "I asked Princess Celestia if that'd be okay, and she said she'd be delighted to have you there watching the show with them."

"Is Rainbow Dash gonna be with the Wonderbolts? She did get into the Reserves," Rumble brought up.

"Nah, she won't," Thunderlane shrugged. "She's still only a reserve member, but a little birdy told me she's very likely gonna become an official member soon."

"Well, even if she was here, you guys are gonna clean up on the derby!" Rumble scamped around his big brother, smiling and excited, as they made their way through the Canterlot streets.

Thunderlane was glad. This was exactly what he was hoping for, bringing his little brother along for such a big and exciting event. Even though he'd noticed Rumble was doing better recently, the stallion had hoped this would have a positive effect on the colt and wash out some of that funk he'd been moping under.

Unfortunately... Thunderlane had no idea that somepony was watching him from a shaded alleyway. somepony wearing black, purple and gold with flight goggles set with orange-lenses, the eyes behind them narrowing contemptuously at the Silverbolt and the colt with him.

The arc title is derived from "Cross my palm with silver"