Minako sighed as she leaned against the railing watching the water rush over Neighagra Falls. Normally, the water and the fireworks in the night sky could cheer her up no matter how down she felt, but for some reason this time it just wasn’t doing anything for her. During the day she was fine since she could distract herself in her job but once she closed everything, she just felt hollow without Shadow or her new friends being around.

Or perhaps this time it was due to her having found a hidden compartment that held a cedar wood box with a rich green velvet cloth protecting something inside. That something in turn was a glass bottle that had looked familiar to her and she spent a few minutes trying to think of why. She then recalled the day she went into the Mare with the Dragon Tattoo and got her dragon tattoo. Shadow had told her it was a special ink as she inked the dragon in while the full bottle sat nearby. When the tattoo was done, the bottle was over half empty which is exactly the level the bottle of ink she found was at but she could never understand why Shadow looked disappointed. Since she saw the box this time around, she looked under the lid and saw it was created by Zecora along with a description.

“What thou create, with heart full imagination, thou shalt make.” She said to herself trying to understand the riddle as she headed home. She could see the empty house not too far when a burst of green fire lit up the area and a rolled up letter appeared. Catching it before it stood a chance of being blown away, she unrolled it. “A letter for Princess Celestia?” She questioned and read it over a few times. Quickly rolling it back up, she ran for the post office only to get there and remember they would be closed for the night.

“Why couldn’t I be a pegasus and fly there!?” Minako yelled out to the empty street. Her tattoo felt warm and suddenly it vanished except for a faint outline. “What the hay?” She could only stare at her bare fore-leg in disbelief.

A roar from above caused Minako to look up and jump at seeing a black dragon with white eyes, even shaped like her tattoo. “You’re my tattoo aren’t you?” She asked as the dragon circled around her but she wasn’t afraid… not yet anyway. A gentle roar seemed to confirm that and the dragon stopped as Minako touched it. It felt solid enough so she climbed onto the dragon’s back near the head. “Alright, Ryuseioh, to Canterlot!”

Ryuseioh took off and flew through the sky and they hadn’t been flying for very long when a factory with a red and white stripe smokestack appeared in their path. “Ryuseioh, dodge- never mind.” Minako sighed as her dragon decided to bite the smokestack in half as they continued to fly for Canterlot.

Home is behind. She thought and glanced back wondering if she’d see her house or the tattoo pallor ever again.

The world ahead. Turning back to the direction they were going, she got to see sighs she’d never see unless she was flying by hot-air balloon.

There are many paths to tread. She recalled the many times she stood at a crossroad trying to decide which path to take, and eventually settling for the one that led her to where she was today.

Through shadow. By now she lost count how many cloud shadows she passed.

To the edge of night. Since she couldn’t see Canterlot yet, it really did look like she was flying straight towards the darken horizon.

Until the stars are alight. Looking up, she thanked Luna for the light from the moon and stars to help guide her way.

Mist and shadow. Without warning Ryuseioh decided to fly through a cloud get her wet and shaking off the water before it could make her cold.

Cloud and shade. Minako commanded Ryuseioh to fly under a blanket of clouds and to her surprise, the dragon did that.

All shall fade. At this point, they reached a blanket of clouds as the stars disappeared from sight.

All shall fade. Because her thought hitched on that, she repeated it while thinking of what would happen should she not get to Canterlot quick enough, then vowing not to let that happen. “Ryuseioh, show us the meaning of haste!” She commanded and swore the dragon flew faster.

Frost Aura landed on the street Fainthoof specified only to see the Shadowbolts lying on their sides and backs and scattered all around the street with five mares standing in the middle.

“I take it you’re the Shadowbolt leader?” Feral Lupus asked Frost Aura, given he seemed the most likely choice by being in the middle.
“Suppose I was?” Frost Aura asked.

“It’ll make it easier to know who to fight. No offense to these girls, but they don’t seem like they could take you on without getting their plots handed to them.”

Shadow leaned over to Frost Aura and whispered into his ear. “I think that’s Feral Lupus. But I’m not a hundred percent sure.” She was the best one to know, but the hybrid coloring was throwing her off.

“Is she now?” Frost Aura glanced at Feral Lupus. “Aren’t you supposed to be on our side?”

“Probably.” Feral Lupus replied nonchalantly. “But that went out the window when one of those weaklings hit Blue Jay.”

Frost Aura looked at the only pegasus that had the same coloring as a blue jay. “A shame. Makes me glad we decided not to wait until the full moon.” He sighed and looked at all five of the girls. “I don’t suppose you could stand aside and let us continue on our way?”

“As it. Why would you even come down– oh, that’s right….” Feral Lupus smirked as she realized why Fainthoof led the Shadowbolts to this street.

“What’s right?” Paige asked, breaking her gaze from the Shadowbolts to Kitsune.

“This street has a hidden passage leading to the castle. No doubt Fainthoof told them about it.” Feral Lupus was proven right when Fainthoof looked at the ground. “Leave the alicorn to me. I know him well enough that he won’t be able to attack me. And none of you girls attack the stallion in the middle.” She told them just loud enough for the girls to hear before flying skyward.

Fainthoof watched Kitsune fly away. At first he wanted to make sure she was okay after not seeing her since they last fought but for some reason he couldn’t explain, he recalled the times he attempted to help her only to have his plot handed to him way back before Nightmare Moon came to be. Then he had a sudden flashback to her making him look stupid in front of Luna, followed by his punishment, which also led him to joining the Shadowbolts to try and save Spitfire. “It’s all her fault.” He practically snarled as his darker side found its way to the surface and he pushed it back down before shooting after her.

Frost Aura waited until those two were out of sight before looking at the four remaining mares. “Please stand aside.”

“No.” Blue Jay said, hoping her voice sounded braver than she felt.

“Guess it can’t be helped.” Frost Aura motioned with a wing giving the Shadowbolts permission to attack while he stayed behind.

Harmonious Flash stood her ground as Neon Echo flew towards her. Waiting, she spread her wings and kicked off allowing the other mare to pass under before Harmonious Flash spun around and pursued her target.

Lyla Firecracker reached behind her for her saddlebag but remembered that they were still at the castle. Knew I should have offered to carry everything. Bracing herself, she felt Serenity Dreams slam into her and they wrestle on the streets until Serenity Dreams latched onto her and took to the sky.

Paige calmly placed a hoof onto Blue Jay’s shoulder telling her to stay in place. When Shadow was close enough, Paige threw up a magic barrier which Shadow hit and bounced off.

“Nice one, Paige.” Blue Jay laughed.

“Thank you, Blue Jay.” Paige said calmly as she watch Shadow stand up and shake herself off. This time, when Shadow flew, she slipped into the shadows before she hit the barrier and appeared on the other side before attacking Paige first.

“Paige!” Blue Jay called out and started to run towards her when Shadow picked her up and flew into the sky. Blue Jay squirmed and tried to spread her wings but Shadow pinned them to her side.

“I’m sorry.” Shadow told Blue Jay as she dived down hoping to slam Blue Jay into the ground and knocking her out. Suddenly her prisoner was gone in a flash and Shadow pulled up in time to narrowly avoid colliding with the ground.

“Paige” Lyla Firecracker shouted as she was barely able to dodge the dive-bombing Serenity Dreams. “Can you teleport my saddlebags to meet?” She was too busy focusing on the Shadowbolt to realize she was being pushed back into a wall until she found there was nowhere else to move. Feeling her saddlebags drop onto her back, she quickly reached in and pulled out a smoke bomb. It was a crazy idea as she dragged the fuse along the cobblestone and was glad when it caught fire and threw it at the ground where Serenity Dreams would be when it exploded.

Serenity Dreams saw the smoke bomb and tried to speed up but it exploded right in her face, causing her to shut her eyes and cough several times as she inhaled it before crashing through the shop window.

Lyla Firecracker shielded her eyes and had ducked when Serenity Dreams crashed through the glass overhead. Standing up, she sighed and started walking away though she barely reached two steps when she felt somepony latching onto her back before fangs slid into the side of her neck close, but not reaching her jugular causing her to cry out in a mixture of pain and surprise.

When Serenity Dreams drained enough of Lyla Firecracker’s blood to cause the earth mare to fall asleep, she let the other’s body drop. “Thanks for the meal.” She said before flying away.

Harmonious Flash traded blow for blow with neon Echo, often mirroring each other. She had been able to use her speed to her advantage in the beginning which allowed her to get several hits until Neon Echo made sure to keep an eye on Harmonious Flash at all time.

Kitsune hovered high in the air. “Why are you with them?” Feral Lupus asked as she and Kitsune stared down Fainthoof.

“Because of you.” Fainthoof accused her. “If you hadn’t come back and attacked Luna, then none of this would have happen. “Because of you, I had to watch over the Wonderbolt academy which led me to losing my pendant. Once I lost that, the Shadowbolts were my only link to finding out more about the shadow pendant. And because I was forced to join them, I had to reveal things they have no right to know about.”

“Oh, so it’s my fault?” Feral Lupus challenged. “You idiot! Don’t you think I might know something about those shadow pendants? Remember, I lived in the Training Guild like you did.” Feral Lupus growled, her voice overlapping Kitsune’s. “But no, instead of asking somepony who might, just might, have some idea, Mr. High and mighty Fainthoof decides he’ll team up with the enemy and discover the answer on his own. Am I right?”

“How could I?” Fainthoof shot back. “Celestia locked into a pegasus form and sent me to the Wonderbolt academy with explicit instructions for me not to use my abilities. Like it or not, we’re allies against a common foe.” He had just finished speaking when the loud shrill screeching noise rang through his mind. Growling, he managed to remain hovering but it took every ounce of concentration he had. “Alright… I’ll fight her.” He said between gritted teeth and it was the right thing to say as the screeching died down. Waiting a couple seconds to focus, he shot several fast magic beams at Kitsune before shadow hopping right after the last one fired.

Kitsune’s eyes widened as she realized Fainthoof was going to attack her and thus hesitated a little too long before attempting to dodge the attack, made evident as she got hit by several of them and while she managed to dodge the last one that was aiming for her heart, she blinked as Fainthoof appeared behind her and punched her towards the ground. Gritting her teeth, Kitsune blinked back the pain as she leveled herself out before shooting towards Fainthoof.

“Maybe it was a good thing you joined them.” Feral Lupus said as they attacked and dodged the other. “You’re finally raising a hoof against somepony.”

“Shut up.” Fainthoof growled as he grabbed Kitsune’s hoof and threw her away from him. As she spun around and got ready to close the distance, Serenity Dreams slammed a hoof into Kitsune’s body as she continued flying upwards causing Kitsune to double over for a moment. Fainthoof had been flying to meet Kitsune head on and was able to land a clean hit on the wing joint with a hoof as he passed by. Together, Fainthoof and Serenity Dreams teamed up their attacks with hoof and wing blades out until Feral Lupus was able to shadow hop to safety.

“This is getting fun.” Feral Lupus laughed despite the number of cuts she was bleeding from. “Though the two of you don’t stand a chance against me!” She had barely finished speaking when she shot towards the two, growling the entire time. With the gap rapidly closing between the three, Kitsune saw somepony suddenly appear from the shadows flying straight towards her, forcing Kitsune to veer off as Spitfire did a tight spiral spin to avoid hitting Kitsune.

“Spitfire?” Fainthoof asked, not believing his eyes that she had just appeared from the shadows and even Serenity Dreams stopped and hovered as she stared at Spitfire.

“It worked?” Spitfire asked in surprise as she looked around to confirm that she was in Canterlot. Turning, she locked eyes on Fainthoof and hovered over to him. “YOU!” She growled and poked him hard in his chest while getting into his personal space. “I thought the pendant was annoying as it was already but I put up with it, so why am I suddenly hearing a loud screeching noise now as well?”

Fainthoof could only stare at the mare who already looked ready to rip him a new one. “You… feel that as well?”

“Not at all. I’m just guessing that randomly happens.” Spitfire growled sarcastically as she narrowed her eyes. “Of course I feel something you giant flying plot! Or do you think I like nearly falling to my death, TWICE?” She didn’t scream, but her voice had dropped so low that her screaming would have been better.

“But I thought… he said… oh Faust.” Fainthoof stuttered and hovered backwards while putting his fore-legs in front of him but Spitfire followed making sure to keep the same distance.

“Who the buck cares?” Serenity Dreams asked before flicking her wing sharply as a hidden blade flew towards Spitfire.

Fainthoof saw the blade out of the corner of his eye and hating what he was about to do, he shoved Spitfire away from him. Talk about being trapped between a boulder and hard place. If I attack her to defend myself, it’ll only piss her off more. If I don’t defend myself, I’m going to be in a lot of pain.

Spitfire threw her hooves up between his and tried to push his hooves away from her only to be pushed back first. Getting ready to retaliate, the blade flew past her at neck level and she hesitated looking over at Serenity Dreams while keeping an eye on Fainthoof.

“Buck answering the question, Fainthoof. She’s our enemy, take her down.” Serenity Dreams commanded before ducking under a flying hoof from Kitsune. “Attacking while somepony is speaking? That’s rude you know.”

“Oh like you care.” Kitsune and Feral Lupus said at the same time. Without giving Serenity Dreams a chance to reply, Kitsune launched her attacks against the Shadowbolt. “Captain. Knock him out.” She said when she had the chance to while pointing at Fainthoof.

Fainthoof defended himself as Spitfire seemed to take Kitsune’s suggestion and found that if he didn’t take the fight serious, he stood a very good chance at dying. “Alright, look, I had to join them. They were my only chance to learn about the pendant.” He told her and wisely kept quiet about the fact he was enjoying himself as he fought back.

Author's Notes:

Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony, Hasbro does.
However, I'm pleased to say I do own Blue Jay, Paige, Harmonious Flash, Kitsune/Feral Lupus, Lyla Firecracker, Minako, and Shadow.

Also, the Shadowbolts named here are mine as well.
Fainthoof is used with permission from Damien, a good friend of mine.

As always, constructive criticism is welcome. It'll help me to improve my writing and seeing what people liked.