Author: MetalHooves
Description: A group of terrorists known as the Shadowbolts are confronted with old grudges, past loves, and even their own morals as they set out to destroy the Wonderbolts and anypony who gets in their way. Based on the Shadowbolts as drawn/characterized by YoorPorickA Dark Sky Part 1
A Dark Sky Part 2
A Dark Sky Part 3
A Dark Sky Part 4 (New!)
Additional Tags: Long, Action, Anti-Heroes, Gritty, Vengeance
72 comments:
Usually Avoid grimdark but im going to have to read this.
ReplyDeleteI agree the picture is very convincing.
ReplyDeleteThe picture alone is intriguing enough to warrant a read through. Sounds like a great idea, I hope it reads like one too.
ReplyDeletebut...but...weren't the shadow bolts actually nightmare moon??
ReplyDeletemy world...
This is more a comment on the picture than the story, but the name "Blueball Blitz" conjures up a completely DIFFERENT sort of mental image than what I imagine was intended. I think that BlueSTREAK is more what the artist was going for there.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure the "Anti-Heroes" tag fits? It seems to me that "Villain Protagonists" would be better.
ReplyDeleteMetal Hooves, not a name I was expecting around here.
ReplyDeleteConsidering reading.
~Scratch
Googledocs version please?
ReplyDeleteI also am confused about this: I was pretty sure the Shadowbolts were just Nightmare Moon taking a form in order to get Rainbow away from the others in episode 1. :|
ReplyDeleteStory moves well away from the characters in the picture, pretty much turns it on its head.
ReplyDeleteNot yet sure what to make of that.
AHAHAHAHA! YES! HE FINALLY BIT THE BULLET AND SUBMITTED IT!
ReplyDeleteAnd for those confused. You're staring at the answer. the story is based off Poor Yorick's OC Shadowbolts team.
*shades*
Deal with it |3
I'm kind of surprised at all the confusion surrounding the Shadowbolts here. This isn't the first story I've seen that's spun the 'Bolts off as their own discrete entities. I mean yes, in the show they were basically illusions/projections/constructs/what-have-you, but that's no reason some industrious equines couldn't go ahead and co-opt the name for themselves.
ReplyDelete@supervanman64
ReplyDeleteThe chars in the pic are sort of a story template featuring villainous pegasi taking up the group name Shadowbolts. The artists intended them as an inspiration for writers.
A rather neat Idea I think.
picture intrigues me, but please can we get a not-DA version?
ReplyDeleteOh hell...
ReplyDeleteYou know the guy who made that pic said to NEVER make a fanfic out of it or they would EAT you?
Good luck. But intriguing. Will read.
Metal hooves? the guy who writes humans having sex with ponies? no thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't one of his clopfics actually.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteStill a dude that defiles ponies like that... I think I'll avoid it.
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteFinally, somepony with some decency standards.
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteSame goes for you anon. Maybe theres some hope
He's kind of like Ottanta or Megasweet, except with words. Really talented, but his content ranges from questionable to disturbing.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteActually, he said never ship them.
It's REALLY good. It gets disturbing without being TOO graphic (Cupcakes breaks the too graphic barrier, this comes NOWHERE close to that level of violence) and the characters themselves are fleshed out and given heartbreaking backstories. The characters feel distinct and even the Mane characters they bring in are in character (As long as you disregard the fact he's made Dash and possibly AJ lesbians, though this falls into acceptable breach of character personality). To go from a really interesting pic to a well thought out story line is quite impressive. 5 stars.
ReplyDeleteMetal Hooves, not writing clopfics?!?! BLASPHEMY!
ReplyDeleteHooray MetalHooves! Told you it would get in! :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, this IS a 5-star fic. It's beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteI'd read this if I didn't have to sign up for DA to do so.
ReplyDeletemetalhooves is my brony, sup
ReplyDeleteNone of you can match the bond me and Metal Hooves share. -smooches-
ReplyDeleteOk, now I don't like this author's other work.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm gonna give this guy the benefit of the doubt, and read it...
Wish me luck!
Am the only one getting linked to DeviantArt's sign up page?
ReplyDeleteWhy the heck am I attracted to Nightshade, Starry, and Blitz? I bet they don't even /like/ humans.
ReplyDeleteReally, though, a great story and I LOVE the fanart. If I were still playing Champions/HERO Games I'd steal these guys in a heartbeat as villains.
I'm eagerly awaiting more!
~Ardashir
So basically, Blueball Blitz is the Bellatrix Lestrange of this series. I suppose using that imagination makes her insanity and bloodlust bearable.
ReplyDeleteDark... but well written. You have redeemed yourself, and may continue.
This is actually pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Give it a read guys, I think most people will be pleasantly surprised.
ReplyDeleteBadass fanfiction. Period.
ReplyDeleteI do not want to have to sign up to DA. Anyone want to mirror this?
ReplyDeleteSO AWESOME!!! Alternate universe bassassery at it's finest. I eagerly await more of this story.
ReplyDeleteI read "Lobo" from DC comics also, so there goes your taste in comics *Laughs*
@supervanman64 I think this group called themselves the Shadow Bolts because of their hate to Wonder Bolts. So their like a dark image of Wonders Bolts.
ReplyDeleteFun Fact: MetalHooves is 17 years old.
ReplyDeleteCould someone post this somewhere not on DA?
ReplyDeleteOk, that MetalHooves is 17 is actually creepy...
ReplyDeleteI have to say I'm impressed with this piece. In a stark contrast to the usually magical and whimsical goings on in Equestria, the Shadowbolts are... 'real'. Nitty gritty, down to earth, life sucks and you deal with it real. Rightfully deserving of the Grimdark tag, but also rightfully deserving of 5 stars.
ReplyDeleteOoh I like this. It's dark and has a definite edge to it, but it's also believable. It stands to reason that their would be some dangerous ponies in Equestria, otherwise the guards wouldn't be necessary.
ReplyDeleteOnly complaint was the fact that I snicker every time I see the name "Blueball"
A few have asked this question and i shall ask the same.
ReplyDeleteIs there a Googledocs version?
Chapters 7-9 are out! :D
ReplyDeleteA bunch more f-bombs being dropped.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like that.
However, I am still glad that 7-9 are out.
After reading Poor Yorick's hypocritical rant about OCs and condemnation of the fandom I'm afraid I can't generate much interest in myself for this one.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair Marrock, this fic is writen by Metalhooves and Poor Yoriks rant was against weird Luna fanon, not OCs or the fan base in general.
ReplyDeleteThis anon would also like a googledocs version.
ReplyDeleteThere should be a Google Docs version, would someone kindly get on it?
ReplyDeleteThat artwork reminds me of the Sly Cooper Series...
ReplyDeleteBlueball BLitz reminds me of that red rabbit Spaz from Jazz Jackrabbit. He went off the deep end after eating those predatory blue fish from the rabbit universe, otherwise unlike Blitz, Spaz is one of the good guys.
ReplyDeleteA very great piece of work.
ReplyDeleteOf course, as soon as i read rainbow dash call starry 'sexy'...
yeah.
Good job. Can't wait for the rest.
Keep it up^^
ReplyDeleteNEED MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE@!~!!!!
ReplyDeletemore!!!!!
ReplyDeletethis is great!!!
It's over already? I'll read the ending, THEY BETTER NOT DIE! Am i talking about the shadowbolts? Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts? Who knows!
ReplyDeleteaw man I loved blitz and nightshade oh well a great story and a decent ending
ReplyDelete@Anonymous Nope, still not interested.
ReplyDeletelove this!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGood read, although I am going to allow myself some nitpicking. There was no real response to the fact that the Wonderbolts were all nearly blown up by a bunch of bloodthirsty criminals. They briefly mentioned reinforcements, but they obviously didn't arrive in time to prevent the attempted execution OR keep the Shadowbolts from escaping. You'd think the Royal Guard or somepony would've stepped in. Hell, what about the Shadowbolts' criminal empire? They turned their gang into a powerhouse in the Equestrian underground: what happens to it now?
ReplyDeleteEnding was pretty weak compared to the rest of the story; seemed rushed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love how Dash abandons the Wonder Bolts to be murdered after 'getting her kill'.
I WANTED ALL OF THEM TO DIE!!! no fair
ReplyDeleteEnding was reealy transparent. "I did this. This is how I feel about it." But the terrible part about the ending was how Rainbow Dash suddenly abandons the Wonderbolts when they're under attack after killing just the one bad guy she had a grudge against. It doesn't get more weird or ooc than that. I reall like the rest of it though. I'd definitley read another fic by you again.
ReplyDeleteThis is silly .
ReplyDeleteThe shadowbolt were a part of NMM , they never existed.
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteYeah, this. The place is under attack, tons of ponies are dead, it's on fire, and there's bombs going off... meh, let's go bury this one. Good luck, guys!
The whole of part 3 was really disjointed -- Blaze needed to be built up a lot more than she was, the relationship foreshadowed, SOMETHING. I feel like this needed three more chapters, at least one in between Dash meeting Blaze and them finally facing down the SBs, and the rest to bulk up all the fights.
The fights all resolved really fast and not very satisfyingly overall. Rain was too mustache-twirlingly evil to be credible, and I really wanted to get Spitfire's perspective on the race... did she actually cheat to win, or was that Night's misperception? Why did Stratus have a sudden change of heart? That whole situation needed... more.
You spent a lot of time building up your villains, but you killed them off without much fanfare. Blitz got the most screen time, and it was fine, but even that fight could have used some extension.
The ending... that was... bad. And I don't mean in the grimdark, "bad end" sense. Stratus and Star just walked off apparently unpunished, and while Charger's revenge was justified, he didn't get anything but "wah, I feel empty". And then Dash got the same ending, which felt really weird... she wasn't out for revenge, but to restore her own confidence and make sure Blitz couldn't hurt anyone else. I think I would have preferred to see her start crying on AJ's shoulder.
By the way, there's no such thing as a friendly kiss on the lips. I'd have liked to see that subplot resolved, what with AJ having had a week or so to work out her feelings.
Well, despite the the apparently distasteful nature of this author's writing in general, I read this one and quite enjoyed it. Perhaps the ending was a little bit rushed and unexplained, but doesn't that really just open the door for all sorts of interesting psychoanalysis and speculation?
ReplyDelete...No, not really. I mean, it isn't bad, but an epilogue and/or extended ending that examined the motivations and thoughts of the survivors (the ones who died had pretty transparent motives, so they don't really need anything) is probably in order. According to the comments on DA, it looks like something like that might even become reality, so that's cool.
For some reason the Shadowbolts me of the Turks from Final Fantasy VII
ReplyDeleteI liked a lot of elements to the story. The background of the villians, Blitz & Blaze as well as Strat's change of heart. There were things that didn't sit incredibly well with me, like how after Blitz died, Dash just went off with Blaze and called it good rather than seeing to what should have really bothered her, which was the entire reason the Shadowbolts were there in the first place, the Wonderbolts. I've been looking for something similar to this kind of story for a while, and I think you did a good job overall. Stratus ftw! :P
ReplyDeleteAn epilogue is required, good sir.
ReplyDeleteit was good story if i do say so myself
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteI met blueball blitz on SL, according to her headcanon, they are not the same shadowbolts...