Theory Shadowbolts (real or make-believe?)

[The Stranger 812]

Warning: This entire theory is based on speculation and belief. What I write here can be true or false. It's also a long read so if you aren't an egghead turn back! 

 

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I tend to get philosophical about things, even things like MLP. Not too long ago on a different forum, I had created a thread called: "She's a lie I tell you!" which was a list stating reasons as to why I think Princess Celestia is secretly a tyrant (obviously not true). The list was a hit and everyone had something to say. I'm considering sharing this list here on the MLP forums as well but first I wanted to discuss another topic.

 

Back in the day (lol) during season one, an episode named "Friendship Is Magic, part 2" aired on the Hub channel. During this episode their was this moment when Rainbow Dash crossed a crevasse to fix a rope bridge that had broken in the Everfree Forest. When she flew to the other side a great fog engulfed her and she was separated from her friends.

 

During this moment three masked ponies who called themselves the "Shadowbolts" appeared as if out of nowhere and approached Rainbow Dash in hopes of getting her to join their team. What puzzles me is where did these three ponies come from? I found it very odd how they just appeared the way they did. Also, how did they know where she'd be in the Everfree Forest?

 

I just kept getting more and more confused? I then wondered if the Shadowbolts were even real. Out in the MLP community a lot of ponies think the Shadowbolts are real in the MLP world, others think they where just an illusion. 

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Here's what I think about the Shadowbolts:

 

The Shadowbolts aren't actually real. During that moment when Rainbow Dash encountered them they where actually a display of Nightmare Moon's powerful magic. I believe Nightmare Moon created them with her magic to trick Rainbow Dash into abandoning her friends. To be even more clear I think Nightmare Moon was trying to separate Rainbow Dash from her element of harmony which was Loyalty. By doing so Rainbow Dash would leave her friends behind and they'd be lost forever. Luckily Rainbow Dash's loyalty was too strong so she refused. 

 

At that moment the Shadowbolts disappeared into the fog like a group of specters (Creepy). So yeah, I think it was all a magic trick.    

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So what do you ponies think? Do you agree with me or do you believe the Shadowbolts exist somewhere in space and time? If you think they do exist please explain in detail. 

Edited December 19, 2012 by Mighty E.

[NavelColt 22,880]

I swear I remember discussing this somewhere, but maybe it wasn't here, or it was in a topic about something else, since I never saw this when searching. At any rate, Nightmare Moon created them as anti-versions of the Wonderbolts more or less, and used them to draw Dash in, to try and separate her from her friends. Since the name and appearances are modified, it's really easy to say that Nightmare Moon just thought them up, and created them from her magic. That's really more how I stand on the idea. But I'm curious to see why others may think they're real.

[Betez 1,734]

I think it was just Nightmare Moon's magic. I don't think there's an opposite of the Wonderbolts, because the Shadowbolts haven't been referenced in the show since as far as I know.

 

While it would make a good season finale or intro episode if they were real, I don't think the Shadowbolts are real. Like you, I think Nightmare Moon just made them when she was evil, and then they disappeared after Rainbow Dash went back.

[PonyPowaX1000 69]

 Nightmare Moon ''embodied'' the three Shadowbolts. I think NM made them from scratch to since she could use her ''puppets'' to lure RD away from the others by appealing to her with spot of Captain.

 

  I think They are an illusion (magic) of Nightmare Moon.

Edited December 20, 2012 by PonyPowaX1000

[NavelColt 22,880]

Um....wasn't the reason clear in the episode?

They're not asking if the Shadowbolts we saw were Nightmare Moon or real, that's obvious. The topic is asking if Nightmare Moon made them up from scratch, or, if she based her magical illusions of them, off of real existing Shadowbolts.

[PonyPowaX1000 69]

Will someone please just delete this post (mine, this very one)  it's pointless, should just put extra info in original post but too late for that.

Edited December 20, 2012 by PonyPowaX1000

[Silverwisp the Bard 2,353]

Well, their appearance was certainly altered to appeal to Rainbow; I doubt they had goggles a 1000 years in the past.

And I don't quite see Luna having a unit called "Shadowbolts", she is a princess of (moon) light, not shadow (that's Sombra's turf). If she had a personal flying team, their uniforms would probably look similar to those of her guards in Eclipsed and the name would be somewhat more poetic.

[SillyPinkie 40]

I always thought they were just dark versions of the Wonderbolts created by Nightmare Moon. So yup, she made them up because of Dash's desire to join the Wonderbolts. She probably couldn't control the real Wonderbolts, and even so it's easier to make an illusion I'd think. Why not use regular Wonderbolt illusions? It has the possibility of confusing the viewer. 

[Spring Storm 276]

I think it was just Nightmare Moon's magic. I don't think there's an opposite of the Wonderbolts, because the Shadowbolts haven't been referenced in the show since as far as I know.

 

The Shadowbolts were referenced in a way - in Luna Eclipsed, Dash's Nightmare Night costume was the Shadowbolt uniform. Obviously that's not evidence pointing toward them being real, as Dash just remembered them and thought it would make a cool Nightmare Night costume, but it was a reference nonetheless.

 

I'm with everyone in saying that the Shadowbolts were just something Nightmare Moon made up to tempt Dash, since we have never seen proof of them being real. I wouldn't really dislike it if the writers did make the Shadowbolts real, but I'd personally prefer them to just remain a trick that Nightmare Moon did.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Spring Storm

[PurpleBaconEater 37]

i would think that the explanation is obvious. i have seen a few mentions of ow nightmare moon can "shapeshift" and turn int other ponies. ive gotten into arguments about wether the lead up to something in fan-whatevers referenced NMM or queen chrysalis. i would like to point out that although NMM can obviously shape-shift. there has never once been evidence of her shifting into a clone of an actual existing pony. she didn't shift into Celestia or any other pony. and during that episode everything she turned into was "dark" and meant to,  in some way to do damage. i don't believe she can or would turn into an actual existing pony for a few reasons.

 

1: too similar to queen chrysalis and would cause confusion and it would seem pretty cheap for mlp fim to copy the aspects of one character so closely

2: NMM has better things to do than to run around as other ponies. i think that she would only shape-shift temp. to get what she wants. 

3: also, I'm sure NMM has many other "evil" tricks up her sleeve.

4: she didn't turn into one pony. she turned into a group to do what she wanted. (i know that reason doesn't seem that significant but it is in my head)

5: she could've easily turned into a wonder bolt. i think that might have been suspicious, but i can think of a couple of scenarios where it would fit quite nicely. but the fact is she didn't, i believe there is a reason behind that.

[kirbyboi 588]

Yeah, I agree. It was all simply one of Nightmare Moon's illusions. Probably like the forest and all. Plus, if they were real, some ponies would have at least known about them or something. 

 

 

 

The Shadowbolts were referenced in a way - in Luna Eclipsed, Dash's Nightmare Night costume was the Shadowbolt uniform. Obviously that's not evidence pointing toward them being real, as Dash just remembered them and thought it would make a cool Nightmare Night costume, but it was a reference nonetheless.

 

I'm with everyone in saying that the Shadowbolts were just something Nightmare Moon made up to tempt Dash, since we have never seen proof of them being real. I wouldn't really dislike it if the writers did make the Shadowbolts real, but I'd personally prefer them to just remain a trick that Nightmare Moon did.

Rainbow Dash wearing a Shadowbolt costume...maybe that means that the Shadowbolts are some sort of scary curse or legend told by few ponies who know about them. That's another possible theory. But I dunno, I honestly just think that they were illusions, and Rainbow Dash's costume was just a cameo or a reference back to them. 

 

 

But to make it simple: Their only illusions. Nothing more. Just Nightmare Moon trying to get RD to be disloyal to her friends.

[Jadefire 2,797]

The Shadowbolt ponies Rainbow met were likely just illusions embodied by Nightmare Moon (as apart from being her minions or something).

 

However, one thing I find interesting: in Luna Eclipsed, if I'm not mistaken Rainbow dressed up a Shadowbolt costume for halloween Nightmare Night. It seems extremely out of character for her to make a costume of an obscure reference to ponies she met for ten minutes only once, so it makes me wonder if the Shadowbolts are an actual organization or at least exist in pony folklore.

Edited December 20, 2012 by Jadefire

[Moon Rat 4,772]

I do not think they are real simply because Nightmare Moon just came up with the idea to try to distract Rainbow Dash from helping her friends

 

All the Shadowbolts are are just a nightmare copy of the Wonderbolts

 

Although, that would make for a fantastic episode...

 

Shadowbolts Vs. Wonderbolts

who will win

[Just some guy 1,070]

The Shadowbolt ponies Rainbow met were likely just illusions embodied by Nightmare Moon (as apart from being her minions or something).

 

However, one thing I find interesting: in Luna Eclipsed, if I'm not mistaken Rainbow dressed up a Shadowbolt costume for halloween Nightmare Night. It seems extremely out of character for her to make a costume of an obscure reference to ponies she met for ten minutes only once, so it makes me wonder if the Shadowbolts are an actual organization or at least exist in pony folklore.

Could be she just remembered them and thought it would be more fitting to wear a Shadowbolts costume rather than a Wonderbolts one for Nightmare Night,with the SB outfit having a darker color scheme and all.Also fits in with the Nightmare Moon theme going on,since she did make the Shadowbolts.

[Jadefire 2,797]

Could be she just remembered them and thought it would be more fitting to wear a Shadowbolts costume rather than a Wonderbolts one for Nightmare Night,with the SB outfit having a darker color scheme and all.Also fits in with the Nightmare Moon theme going on,since she did make the Shadowbolts.

 

How did she get the costume for the Shadowbolts, though? It doesn't seem in character for her to make one or have Rarity make one based off the Shadowbolts, though, given she only met them once.

[Just some guy 1,070]

How did she get the costume for the Shadowbolts, though? It doesn't seem in character for her to make one or have Rarity make one based off the Shadowbolts, though, given she only met them once.

...Shit,you got me there son.Only reason she would have such a costume is if,as you said,the Shadowbolts did exist in Equine folklore,since I highly doubt they're a real organization since NMN just made them up on the spot.But the SBs being in their folklore seem also out of place,since--if memory serves me--Rainbow Dash said she never heard of them when she first saw them.I would think she would at least know of the ponies that are,essentially,the anti-Wonderbolts.

 

Or we could just be simply reading too much into this.Could be just a reference the animators wanted to give us bronies who've been here since the start of the series.

Edited December 20, 2012 by CaptainBlue808

[Spring Storm 276]

How did she get the costume for the Shadowbolts, though? It doesn't seem in character for her to make one or have Rarity make one based off the Shadowbolts, though, given she only met them once.

Well, perhaps that is what she did? She could've had a good memory for the details of their costume, and wanted one for Nightmare Night. I suppose it does seem odd that she or Rarity would make one, but eh... If they made it with the intention that it would be for Nightmare Night, and never for serious use, I don't see how any harm could be done or anything.

[Twi Rubix 726]

Hmm, now you got me thinking xD

 

Well, I think I will say for sure that they were an illusion conjured by Nightmare Moon. They were made with the weird... Purple... Magic... thing that Nightmare had. But Spring Storm, I think you do have a point...

 

The Shadowbolts were referenced in a way - in Luna Eclipsed, Dash's Nightmare Night costume was the Shadowbolt uniform.

That could point that they are real, but it can be a number of things...

 

Rainbow could've had Rarity make the costume after her encounter with them, or the Shadowbolts are some kinda mythological thing from way back when. It could also be an April Fools joke by The Wonderbolts to play pranks on others... Somehow.

[Spring Storm 276]

Hmm, now you got me thinking xD

 

Well, I think I will say for sure that they were an illusion conjured by Nightmare Moon. They were made with the weird... Purple... Magic... thing that Nightmare had. But Spring Storm, I think you do have a point...

 

That could point that they are real, but it can be a number of things...

 

Rainbow could've had Rarity make the costume after her encounter with them, or the Shadowbolts are some kinda mythological thing from way back when. It could also be an April Fools joke by The Wonderbolts to play pranks on others... Somehow.

 

I didn't mean it pointed to them being real. Just that they were referenced again. I too am of the belief that they were just illusions conjured by NMM's magic. I do like your theory that the Wonderbolts play pranks on others. While I doubt it'll ever be true, it's a fun thing to imagine

Edited December 20, 2012 by Spring Storm