The derby stadium was thundering with activity even as Rumble and the guard arrived outside the entrance. Rumble was so anxious he didn't notice his escort panting and out of breath, as the colt sighed, "Oh good, the race hasn't started yet. There's still time to warn them!"

"We need to... inform the alicorn royals," the guard panted as he wondered, How is this colt not out of breath like me?! He didn't even pause once on our way here!

"I'll find the Silverbolts and-" Rumble started when a loud voice over the PA system interupted him.

"AND THEY'RE OFF!!!"

The two of them looked and were dismayed to see the racers take flight and zoom off, Rumble crying, "We're too late! We gotta warn everyone!"

"The Silverbolts will be watching the race in a private row that way," the guard pointed to a doorway inside the stadium. They hurried over, the security guards standing vigil, and the guard said, "Official business! This is Rumble, brother to Silverbolt Thunderlane, he must speak with Prince Midnight regarding a threat to the Wonderbolts."

The security guards nodded and opened the door for Rumble, who looked up at the guard, "I'll tell Midnight, you should warn the Royal Sisters and Prince Sombra, tell them everything I told you!"

"You got it!" the guard wing-saluted before hurrying off and Rumble ran through the doorway.

Meanwhile, watching from a ledge higher up the mountain, the Shadowbolts glared down at the racers as they took flight from the derby stadium and then dove downwards as the race extended around the base of Mt. Canterhorn, then up to the summit, and then finally finished right back where it started from. The camera ponies weren't far behind, filming the race and sending the live feed to the jumbo-tron screen back at the stadium.

The Captain stepped forward, her wings ready, and then she peered over her shoulder, speaking with a sinister undertone, "Follow me..."

She dove, free-falling to pick up speed, before spread to catch the air, her squad following her example, each of them garbed in their purple and black flight suits, the sun catching the orange lenses of their flight goggles, as they began their pursuit, descending like vultures upon a meal...

"What?! Rumble are you serious?!" Midnight couldn't believe what he'd just heard, surprised at how Rumble had shown up in the private box he, the Silverbolts, and the Wonderbolts were sharing together, as they'd been watching the race. Nor could the rest of his team and their new friendly rivals, as all their eyes and ears were focused on the little gray pegasus.

"It's true, everyone!" insisted Rumble with worry, "A scary group of pegasi calling themselves the Shadowbolts are gonna attack the racers! They have some kind of grudge against the Wonderbolts, and saw this as their chance to take out Captain Spitfire!"

"Midnight, we've got to do something!" Soarin asserted, "I may not be a Wonderbolt anymore, but I still care about my old wingmates."

"But what can these Shadowbolt guys do out in the open?" brought up Lightning Streak. "If they attack, everyone will know!"

As if to answer that very question, the jumbo-tron suddenly went out, the feed being replaced with static, much to the audience's disappointed annoyance.

"Er- Our deepest apologies, folks," said the race commentator over the PA system. "We seem to be experiencing some technical difficulties. Please be patient as we try to resolve the situation, thank you."

"Oh no!" Rumble cried out in alarm, "The attack has begun! The Shadowbolt captain said they were gonna mess with the camera crew so nopony would be able to see what's going on! They're gonna attack Spitfire and others, including my brother!"

"Don't worry, Rumble, we'll save them," Midngiht assured before addressing the Silverbolts and the Wonderbolts. "Listen up everyone! Our wingmates are in trouble, and there's no time to lose! Silverbolts! Wonderbolts! Take to the air!"

Without hesitation, both flight teams leapt from the stands and followed the direction the racers had gone.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, it... seems that the rest of the Wonderbolts and Silverbolts are joining in the race!" the commentator pointed out, "I have no idea what they're- Hold on... Wha- Are you serious!? Fillies and gentlecolts, I've just been informed, the racers are in danger and their teams are flying to the rescue!"

Rumble was about to follow as well, only for Midnight to bar his way.
"No, Rumble! It's too dangerous. I want for you to go to the royal box seats and stay with Princess Celestia. The guards will let you through."

"But my brother!" protested Rumble, Midnight placing a gentle hoof on the colt in assurance.

"Rumble, I promise," Midnight swore, "I m not gonna let these scumbags hurt your brother and the rest of our friends. Do as I tell you, and stay safe!"

Without waiting for a response, Midnight took flight and zoomed to catch up with the Silverbolts and Wonderbolts, Rumble watching anxiously... before spreading his wings.

The race was on! Thunderlane was doing well, maintaining a good speed without overexerting himself. He was in third behind Fleetfoot and Spitfire, while Rapidfire on his tail. Unfortunately, Amethyst Tides and Doran were both in last and starting to fall behind. Doran was a strong flier, but his mass was slowing him down. Amethyst had made the mistake of going too fast too quickly, and now she was paying for it with her expended stamina.

We're not gonna win this, Thunderlane understood as they arrived at the halfway point. Specifically, near the lower side of Mt. Canterhorn opposite to side where Canterlot was positioned.
But Faust willing, I won't allow it to be a total victory for the Wonderbolts!

Thunderlane began to speed up, but steadily. He knew his strengths and weaknesses well, and his strength was his stamina. If he could maintain it well enough, perhaps he could gain an advantage and outpace Fleetfoot and Spitfire when they began to get tired. He might make second place if his strategy worked, though he was more likely to come in third. Thunderlane knew Spitfire and Fleetfoot were far more experienced than him in flying and all its details. They'd mind their stamina as well, and adjust accordingly as the race unfolded.

From the corner of his eye, Thunderlane noticed the pegasi following them, carrying cameras to cover the race and show everypony what was going on. There were six of them each assigned to focus on one of the racers-

Out of nowhere, electrical pulses of energy shocked the camera ponies, and they strained out cries of alarm and pain from the eldritch electrocution, causing them to drop their cameras... and then themselves as they were all stunned unconscious. Thunderlane gasped in disbelieving horror as the camera ponies began to drop!

"THE CAMERA CREW!! THEY'RE FALLING!!" Thunderlane shouted to the other racers, and immediately they all followed Thunderlane as he dove to catch the nearest camera pony.

He reached the pony, and watched as the others zoomed to catch the rest. Rapidfire caught one. Then Fleetfoot. Then Doran, Then Amethyst. Spitfire pumped her wings to catch the last one, a mare, and just as she was about to touch her-

"AUGH!!" Spitfire cried out in alarm and pain as something small but sharp struck her in the back, near the base of her wings. She felt it cut her, but then it was gone, so it didn't pierce her. However, the distraction waylaid her and...

*Kathump*

The Wonderbolt Captain gasped and looked down... and felt her heart ache to see the camera pony lay lifeless on a ridge far below, blood already pooling around her and dripping down the cliff side.

"No...!" Spitfire whispered as remorse squeezed her heart.

"So close..." Spitfire looked up and was shocked to see an entire flock of pegasi, no less than thirty, garbed in flight suits of black and purple, outlined electric yellow, their flight goggles a menacing orange, all glaring at her, as the mare in front, their leader apparently, held feather-shaped throwing blades as she mocked, "...and yet so far."

"Who are you?!" Thunderlane demanded, having already given the camera pony he'd saved over to Doran, the griffon and the others taking the camera ponies to a nearby outcropping to set them down.

"We are the Shadowbolts!" the mare answered, her brows furrowed as she bore Spitfire with a glare of unwavering hate, "Each and every one of us, we were rejected, forgotten, and wronged by you self-righteous Wonderbolts and your pitiful egos so afraid of our talents that you denied us rather than be overshadowed by our greatness."

Spitfire noticed familiar faces among these so-called Shadowbolts. Some of them had been students at the Wonderbolts Academy, students who couldn't make the cut and were thus failed out of the program. Including one in particular, flying next to a disgrace.

"I see you found a different flock to fly with, Lightning Dust and Wind Ryder!" Spitfire glared at them reproachfully. "As if your misconducts were bad enough, you choose to fly with these lowlifes?"

"I did what I had to in order to protect my legacy and you dishonored me for it!" Wind Ryder retorted bitterly before patting a hoof onto Lightning Dust's withers. "As for my student here, at least she has the spine to allow nothing and no one to hold her back!"

"How much spine does it take to join scum like you?" Thunderlane interjected. "Or how little...?"

"You want to see spine?" the Shadowbolt Captain raised her hoof. "I'll be glad to show you yours, Thunderlane. After I've snapped it in half and torn it out of your back... NO MERCY!!! Kill them all!!"

The Captain pointed her hoof and the Shadowbolts all let out roars and cries of battle as they zoomed out in both directions and began to fly literal circles around the six racers.

"Form up!" Spitfire commanded, and Fleetfoot and Rapidfire were immediately at her sides.

Doran and Amethyst looked to Thunderlane, who nodded, and they flew up to position themselves behind the Wonderbolts, as the six of them faced their enemies.

"Spitfire, you're the commanding officer here. You lead!" Thunderlane called to the Wonderbolt captain.

She nodded, and said, "They outnumber us, so they're surrounding us to cut off our means of escape. I can see some of them are armed, with hoof-talons and wingblayds."

"While we are unarmed," Doran pointed out in a dry manner, before raising his own talons and adding, "myself the exception."

"You're not the only one, pal," Thunderlane raised his hoof and summoned his knightly sword, Skystrike! Its blade matched the stormy dark gray of Thunderlane's coat while its handle was the same silvery blue blue of his mane, and set into the pommel was a tiny engraving of Thunderlane's storm cloud and lightning bolt cutie-mark.

Some of the Shadowbolts quickly took notice of the sword in Thunderlane's hooves as he challenged them, "I am Thunderlane! Not only a Silverbolt, but a Knight of Harmony! If you value your lives, surrender..."

"...rrrgh!!! Wingblayders! Focus on Thunderlane and the griffon! The rest of you deal with the others! Spitfire is mine..." the Shadowbolt Captain seethed before she charged straight for Spitfire.

The rest followed, shouting things like "DEATH TO THE WONDERBOLTS!!" "TAKE THEM DOWN!!" "LET'S DESTROY THOSE GUYS!!!", their hate and rage filling the air along with their wingbeats.

The six racers were forced to scatter, the Shadowbolts armed with wingblayds veering after Thunderlane and Doran, as their Captain had ordered. Thunderlane heard the whistle of blades swinging through the air and span `round, Skystrike raised, and knocking away a Shadowbolt's attempt to slash him overhead with his wingblayds. Then he backed off as another Shadowbolt with wingblayds slashed at the knight, Thunderlane easily deflecting the following attack, and more kept coming.

Thunderlane knew his Pegasus Empire history well enough that the Wingblayds, deadly and infamous as they were as the Ancient Pegasus Empire's signature weapon, had its drawbacks. It took years of specialized training to wield them and know how to fly with them. After all, though they were a means of arming a pegasus' wings, wielding them meant putting one's wings at risk, and fighting with them meant making movements where even one mistake could leave the wielder vulnerable since they still needed their wings to fly and stay aloft.

Doran was faring well enough, as his massive size, earsplitting screams, and deadly talons made the other Shadowbolts tasked with facing the griffon hesitant and keep their distance.

Amethyst Tides was no slouch either in defending herself, provoking Shadowbolts into chasing her, and outmaneuvering them before giving them a nasty strike in the back to weaken their wings.

A few glimpses showed Thunderlane and Doran that Fleetfoot was leading some of the Shadowbolts on a merry chase, as in, she was flying circles around them, frustrating them, and even tricking them into bumping into each other. Rapidfire was being a little more direct. While Fleetfoot was deservedly known as the fastest of the Wonderbolts, Rapidfire was among their finest when it came to aerial combat. Though Rapidfire used a style of turning his foes' attacks against them. Every time a Shadowbolt charged to strike him, whether the came at his front, his side, or his back, Rapidfire had honed his pegasus senses to feel the shifts of the wind currents and counter their attacks or redirect them into attack each other.

Above, Spitfire and the Shadowbolt Captain were at each other's throats. Her enemy slashed at her with her knives, but Spitfire skillfully dodged every move and struck when the Shadowbolt Captain presented an opening... which had happened only once, and even then the wicked mare had anticipated it and blocked the attack. Neither was gaining best of the other, which proved to Spitfire that her foe was no amateur by any means.

This evil pegasus, she fought with skill, with experience, and with the intent to destroy her enemy.

And yet... Spitfire couldn't help but sense something familiar about this pony. A memory from a long time ago vaguely rang, but not clearly enough.

Seeing as their fight as it was had come to a stalemate, the Shadowbolt Captain raised one of her knives and threw it straight at Spitfire's face, only for her to easily dodge it-

-and she gasped to see the Shadowbolt Captain suddenly vanish in a flickering light!

"Did she just...?!" Spitfire uttered aloud, when a subtle current of air from behind alarmed her and she spun `round, just in the nick of time, avoiding what would have been a knife to her back, straight to between the bases of her wings!

And there she was again, appearing out of nowhere while simultaneously catching her knife, giving Spitfire a devious look.

"How did you do that?! Pegasi can't teleport!" Spitfire demanded, now on higher alert as she realized her enemy was far more dangerous than she'd anticipated.

"Heheheh," the Shadowbolt Captain laughed darkly while tossing one of her knives into the air with enough force that it span and expertly caught it, before she threw it at Spitfire again.

The Wonderbolt Captain dodged-

-and turned to see her opponent had appeared once more, catching the knife she had just thrown, and that's when Spitfire realized, The knives... they're enchanted with some kind of teleportation magic!

"Figured out my little trick... Spitwad?" the Shadowbolt Captain mocked with a blatant tone, and finally Spitfire realized who she was, as she gasped at the memories that came back!

She remembered... being a determined young pegasus mare, fresh into the Academy. Her grandfather, Hellfire, had trained her well, but there were things she had to learn here before she could truly be considered Wonderbolt material. Spitfire had been confident, her little brother Rapidfire wishing her luck and sad he wasn't old enough to go to the academy with her, but she promised him his time would come.

She was going to be the best cadet of her class.

Unfortunately, somepony else was vying for the same goal. She'd given off a nasty impression right from the get-go. A brazen young pegasus who looked down, literally and figuratively, on everyone else in the class.

Spitfire immediately disliked her, but she wasn't there to make friends. She was there to learn and train. To work towards her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt.

Spitfire proved herself immediately, being among the ponies in her class chosen to be lead-ponies in the pair-ups. Her partner had been a young pegasus stallion named Wave Chill (there was immediately an attraction there, but nothing would come of it until a few years later).

Her rival was also chosen to be a lead-pony and her partner had been another pegasus mare, named Swift Feather.

Spitfire and Wave Chill worked well together. He was a talented flier, but not quite on the same level as Spitfire herself.

As for her rival and her partner... They didn't work well together. At all. Spitfire's rival, she seemed to breeze through training and even managed to break a record or two, while her partner kept making mistakes, having accidents. One time, Spitfire could recall hearing her rival talk smack to Swift Feather in the locker room, saying some very hurtful things. Spitfire was certain she'd heard Swift on the verge of crying. Part of Spitfire had felt she should intervene, but another had held her back. She wasn't here to make friends or wipe others' noses or be anything other than the very best of her class. Her grandfather had drilled it into her head; the will to succeed would drive her. Anything else was a distraction.

It had been the horrifying sound of a bone breaking and the agonized screams that followed that finally caused Spitfire to take another look, and she saw that her rival had ruthlessly assaulted her own wing-pony and broken Swift Feather's wing.

The academy staff confronted her, and she'd sneered their demands for an explanation and instead called them weak and pathetic... before an explosion from the academy's cloud storage distracted everypony with a release of surging storm clouds, and she'd flown out of there before anyone knew what was happening. The last time Spitfire saw this pony, she'd been a distant figure in the sky before she was gone like a harsh gale blowing through.

And now, here she was, flying before her, as Spitfire whispered with the barest intimidation, "Nightshade..."

"Aw, you remember me," mocked the Shadowbolt Captain, Nightshade, lifted her flight goggles to reveal her golden eyes narrowing with a sadistic gleam, confirming Spitfire's suspicion.
"Perhaps we should have a little alone time to catch up..."

Spitfire felt such a chill in her bones from those words, but she found her nerve and demanded, "What is this about?! Why are you attacking us?"

"As much as I'd love to play Q&A with you, Spitty," Nightshade played with her knife before giving the edge a sexual lick as she creeped Spitfire out with her malevolent gaze, "I'm afraid we're pressed for time. So you'll have to settle for knowing that once we've killed you, the rest of the Wonderbolts will be next..."

"That's not gonna happen!" Spitfire exclaimed, "But answer me this - You enrolled into the Wonderbolts Academy, same as I did. But you clearly weren't there to learn or prove yourself. So why did you enroll into the academy, only to ditch it after your hurt Swift Feather and blew up academy property? Because of what you did to her, Swift's dream of becoming a Wonderbolt was ruined!"

"You pathetic little bitch," Nightshade sneered in amusement, "I am Captain of the Shadowbolts! Our goal is to destroy you Wonderbolt pussies and prove we are the greatest to ever fly in the sky! I didn't enroll into your joke of an academy to learn how to be a Wonderbolt. I did so in order to learn anything useful to better enable me to kill Wonderbolts!!"

"You snake..." Spitfire narrowed her eyes with seething contempt. "I'll make it my life's mission to take you down, and your band of scumbags!"

"Well, I'm afraid your life, let alone your 'life's work', aren't going to last for much longer!" Nightshade responded with a manic gleam in her eyes before throwing her knife at Spitfire again.

Again, Spitfire dodged, but now knowing what was up against, she turned - *VWIT* - and socked Nightshade in the gut, causing the evil mare to fumble her catch, her knife dropping down to the cliff side below. The counterattack left Nightshade winded for only a moment as she raised her free hoof, flicked it, and a hidden blade extended, and Spitfire just barely managed to avoid a lethal blow. But not without a scratch, as she felt the edge of the blade cut through her suit and into her side, as she had made a strong flap to put distance between her and Nightshade.

Spitfire looked to see Rapidfire, Fleetfoot, Thunderlane, and Doran, who was now carrying Amethyst Tides, were all surrounded, the Shadowbolts cutting off their escape, and she knew they were in trouble.

Nightshade rose up, looking down literally and figuratively upon her targets as she boasted, "I say it's high-time we put an end to this farce! Shadowbolts! I promised you revenge upon the self-righteous Wonderbolts who rejected you, denounced you, denied you... Are you ready for payback?"

"PAYBACK!!!" the Shadowbolts all roared, vengeful, bitter, sadistic, savoring the look of the top Wonderbolts and these loser Silverbolts so completely at their mercy.

"Then what are you waiting for...?" Nightshade gestured before commanding, "Ready!"

The Shadowbolts all raised their hooves, and devices revealed themselves, miniature crossbows mounted onto their fetlocks, and they each loaded a Stormy Eye marble.

"Aim...!" The Shadowbolts took aim as they awaited their captain's command.

Nightshade relished the looks on her enemies' faces. They were helpless with no way out, about to be struck with a magic that would make them drop like stones onto stones that would break their bodies as they tumbled all the way down. And it was a long way down...

For you, Great Grandfather... Nightshade thought to herself as she opened her mouth to give the command to fire when multiples Magic Arrows rained down, striking the Shadowbolts, causing some of them to misfire.

Stormy Eye marbles flew through the air, some out into the open, others to the mountainside, causing them to break and burst into small electrical explosions. Not one managed to strike anypony flying.

"WHAT?!" Nightshade looked up and felt her victorious elation vanish as Prince Midnight descended, accompanied by all of his Silverbolts, as well as the rest of the Wonderbolts!

Her moment of triumph had been spoiled, as her enemies now surrounded her and her Shadowbolts, the wicked ponies in purple and black loading more Stormy Eyes and aiming. But now the winds had changed, as they were so fickle. Midnight came down, his gaze boring into Nightshade, as he stated, "You are surrounded and outnumbered. I suggest your surrender..."

Nightshade grounded her teeth in barely-controlled outrage! Her plan had been perfect, they'd been on the verge of striking a critical blow to the Wonderbolts, and no one would have had any idea it was them. Her moment of triumph had been swept right out from under her, and now this arrogant prince was looking down on her.

Her!

Great-Granddaughter of Dark Shade, Captain of the Shadowbolts, the greatest flier ever!

"FIGHT!!" Nightshade screamed to her followers, as she threw some more of her knives at the nearest Wonderbolts, injuring a few but the rest dodged, "FIGHT!!!"

Chaos ensued, for though the Wonderbolts and Silverbolts outnumbered the Shadowbolts three-to-one, the screams and shouts and wingbeats of so many fliers together worked to Nightshade's advantage as she screamed, "FIGHT LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!!!!"

"Spread out! Or we'll just crash into each other!" Midnight commanded as he used his magic to yank two Shadowbolts and send them hurtling into open air.

More screams and shouts and even barbed insults filled the air along with more clashes and wingbeats. The Shadowbolts were outnumbered, but they were still armed with weapons. Thus, the Wonderbolts and Silverbolts had to fight more carefully and defensively. Some of them flew down to the camera crew, who were all still lying unconscious on the ledge where they'd been safely set after being stunned.

As he flew up to get a better vantage point, Midnight scanned the battle. It was going relatively well, for though the Shadowbolts' weapons made them more dangerous, their numbers put them at a disadvantage, and he could tell some of them were already getting tired. It was then he noticed somepony in particular among them, and she saw him too.

Without hesitation, they zoomed at each other and quickly began to exchange blows, as Midnight yelled, "And to think I thought you'd learned your lesson, but I was a fool to let you off so easily!"

"I learned plenty, Your 'Highness'!" spat Lightning Dust as she threw punch after punch at the alicorn, "But one thing in particular I take to heart, nice guys finish last!"

Below, Spitfire was engaged with Wind Ryder, the younger mare glaring at the disgraced veteran as she dodged his wingblayds but held her own.

"You're tired! I can tell from how hard you're beating your wings!" Spitfire pressed her attack, forcing the older pegasus to fight more defensively.

"I might not be as young as I once was, but you've got nothing on my experience, rookie!" Wind Ryder retorted with bitter arrogance. But he was not so bitter as to lose his cool and maintain awareness of his surroundings. Especially when he saw Nightshade coming their way, and all he had to do was keep Spitfire's attention on him.

Soarin knocked off a Shadowbolt when he saw Nightshade zooming for Spitfire, and she was too preoccupied with Wind Ryder. He'd never make it in time, and all he could do was shout, "SPITFIRE!! LOOK OOOOUUUTTT!!!!"

Hearing Soarin's voice cry out in warning, Spitfire pushed off Ryder and just barely glanced over her shoulder to see Nightshade zooming her way, knives poised to end her life! Nightshade had the look of a mad mare and a manic grin on her face as her singular focus was on Spitfire... when out of nowhere, an EXPLOSION of sheer agony slammed into Nightshade's side, literally knocking the wind out of her and sending her spiraling through the air as a surge of electricity jolted her nerves, and everypony gawked in utter disbelief to see Rumble had zoomed out of nowhere, having somersaulted mid-flight and slammed his hind hooves into the Shadowbolt Captain, saving Spitfire's life!

A few of the Shadowbolts quickly flew to save their captain, the rest finally losing their nerve and will to keep fighting. That didn't mean the battle was over, however. The Shadowbolts were cornered, and none of them had any intention of being captured. As they fought more viciously, Spitfire turned to see Rumble, flapping aloft, looking stunned by what he had just done before meeting her gaze.

Her gaze turned from disbelief to smug gratitude and even admiration, as she said, "Not bad, kid. You've come into your own"

"Huh? What do you mean?" asked Rumble, not understanding.

But before Spitfire could answer, they heard a shout of outrage and looked to see Wind Ryder fly upwards until he looked down on the whole battle, as he raged, "You insufferable bastards have won this battle, I'll give you that! But make no mistake, Wonderbolts and Silverbolts and especially you...!" Ryder seethed as he bore his gaze straight at Rumble, who saw burning hate in the disgraced veteran flier's eyes, "All our careful planning, our perfect opportunity, ruined by a snot-nosed brat! But that doesn't matter. You've won this round, but we'll be back!

"SHADOWBOLTS! TIME TO DISAPPEAR!!!"

Wind Ryder raised something in his hoof, as did every single Shadowbolt once they put distance between themselves and their opponents, and then-

The whole area was suddenly engulfed in thick and blinding smoke that stunk and burned sinuses and eyes, causing everypony to cough and cry out in alarm.

"What the?!" "ACK!! What is this stuff?!" "I can't... breathe!" "It's stinging my eyes!" "Where'd they go!?" "ACHOO!!" "Someone stop them!" "Ouch! Who bumped into me?"

Midnight thought quickly as he focused his power, spread his wings, and span, a whirlwind kicking up and powerful currents following him as he formed around himself a strong tornado. Not powerful enough to pull anypony in, but strong enough to blow away the acrid smokescreen. In a few short moments, the air cleared, much to everypony's relief, but they saw that the Shadowbolts were gone!

"Where'd they go?!" "I don't know!" "Does anypony have eyes on them?"

Midnight, Spitfire, Silver Lining, and Doran all flew upwards and then looked north, south, east, and west respectively, their keen eyes scanning the distance skies for any sign of their enemies in retreat.

Everyone else below looked on and waited in suspense... and after a long moment, the four descended, each of them dismayed as Midnight informed them, "The Shadowbolts have disappeared. None of us could see mane nor feather of them.

"They must have had an exit strategy in case they failed, which they did," Doran pointed out.

"But how could they have just vanished?" Spitfire wondered, irked that the enemy had gotten away. "No matter fast they fly, they couldn't have flown out of sight that quickly, without leaving behind some kind of sign of which direction they went!"

"Clearly, these Shadowbolts are no ordinary thugs," Silver Lining grumped, "they have weapons, some of which are magic, and somehow they've pulled off a very effective disappearing act."

Ignoring all that, Thunderlane flew over to his little brother, a bit frantic while saying, "Rumble! Are you okay? I don't know whether to be proud of you or to be angry with you!! That was amazing, but it was also absolutely reckless, young mane!"

"Whoa! Whoa, whoa there, Thunder," Soarin came over to calm down his teammate, "Let's not forget, Rumble's a hero!"

"Damn right he is," agreed Spitfire as she came over, giving the colt a smile of respect. "Rumble, you saved me life, and many more. While I agree with your brother that what you did was rash... but it's as obvious as that mark on your flanks that you've got a lot of guts."

"Wha- Huh?!" Rumble flabbergasted as he turned to look, "The mark on my...!!!"

Thunderlane sighed as he saw the dawning elation on his little brother's face, before he grabbed him around the barrel and raised him up for all to see as he declared, "LET'S HEAR IT FOR RUMBLE!!!"

The cheers and whoops and shouts of kudos and encouragement snapped Rumble out of it, as he took a moment to let it sink in... and smiled.

The next day, an announcement was called, and all the ponies who'd come to watch the air show and derby attended, meeting on an empty airfield at New Heights Avionics. On the raised platform, stood the Silverbolts and Wonderbolts standing together, along with the Royal Sisters, Prince Sombra, and the Council of Friendship.

The atmosphere was a little tense, as Spitfire and Midnight stepped forward, the prince casting an amplification spell, and letting Spitfire have the first word, and she began.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, yesterday, we learned we have an enemy. An enemy that is ruthless, cruel, and vile. Their aim was to kill me, as well as my wingmates, Rapidfire and Fleetfoot, as well as our racing opponents, and the camera crew that was following us, just so there would be no witnesses to their crime. It pains me to say, that while their goal failed, one life was lost. I have personally seen her body delivered to her family and expressed my condolences for their loss. Were it not for the bravery of one young colt, these rogues may very well have succeeded and nopony would have been the wiser.

"It is because of this young colt that we are still here. That we now know this enemy, and must do everything within our power to see them brought to justice. They call themselves... the Shadowbolts!"

A ripple of unease and hushed chatter spread amongst the crowd, before Midnight chimed in.

"The Shadowbolts failed, but they remain at large and so they are still a threat. We, the Silverbolts, pledge to our friends, the Wonderbolts, to lend our aid and support. These criminals may be able to run, but they cannot hide! We will find them and we will defeat them! But this victory would not have been possible without a certain colt. Rumble, please come here."

Rumble had been in the crowd, alongside the rest of the Cutie-Mark Crusaders, under the care of Faerie Tail, and he nervously flapped up onto the platform and approached Midnight, who gave him an esteemed look.

"Rumble, for your courage and your determination, I hereby award you, by declaring you the very first Junior Silverbolt, and if you accept, I would like to make an offer to you," Midnight then gestured Rumble closer, and leaned down to whisper something into the colt's ear.

Rumble gasped and gazed up at Midnight, whispering, "For real?!"

When Midnight nodded, Rumble looked over to his brother, and saw Thunderlane winking, confirming he was in on it, and Rumble felt his heart skip a beat as he considered what Midnight had just said... before feeling a gentle surge in his wings that somehow brought a sense of ease. He looked up at Midnight again, smiling as he nodded.

"Very well! From this day forward, the Silverbolts hereby adopt the cutie-mark of our very first Junior Silverbolt as our insignia!" Midnight declared as he lit up his horn and cast a spell to display the image of Rumble's cutie-mark into the sky for all the world to see!

Magical fireworks launched and exploded into dazzling colorful effects, and the crowd went wild, cheering for the Wonderbolts, for the Silverbolts, but most of all, for Rumble, who was the hero of the day!

Thunderlane couldn't help but shed a tear of deepest pride and joy for his little brother. Never in all his life had he ever felt so proud of the colt, and he looked forward to what more would unfold in his brother's future. But then, the dark gray pegasus felt a strange sensation in his feathers, similar to static electricity, and he felt as though there was another presence there, when a voice spoke in his mind. A voice he had heard before:

Thunderlane felt a pleasant tingle that reminded him of static in his feathers, and turned to look to the sky, where he saw a cloud shaped as a familiar face of a certain alicorn he was certain he'd met before.

Rumble's cutie-mark was comm'd by MCShelster

I had another idea regarding how this would turn out, but due to certain details and becuz I couldn't see it unfolding in the direction I wanted to go, I realized it wouldn't work.

So, anyway, I also knew the Silverbolts needed their own symbol and felt that them taking on Rumble's mark as their symbol would solve that problem as well as give Rumble everlasting glory, as it honored him for his deeds and his being made the first Junior Silverbolt