Shadowbolts

The Shadowbolts are a team respectively of Nightmare Moon in Equestria and of Crystal Prep Academy in the human world. Nightmare Moon's Shadowbolts appear both in the My Little Pony Friendship is Magic episode Friendship is Magic, part 2 and in some adaptations; members of this pony Shadowbolt group include Shadow Surprise and unnamed Pegasi. Crystal Prep's Shadowbolts appear both in the film My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games and in the IDW comics' My Little Pony Annual 2013; members of this human Shadowbolt group include Twilight Sparkle, Sour Sweet, Sunny Flare, Sugarcoat, Lemon Zest, Indigo Zap, and several unnamed soccer players.

Development and design
The Shadowbolts are similar to the Wonderbolts/Canterlot Wondercolts. Though the trio of pony Shadowbolts appear as only a transformation of Nightmare Moon in Friendship is Magic, part 2, the pony trio appears simultaneously with Princess Luna/Nightmare Moon both in some merchandise and in Gameloft's mobile game. However, the human Shadowbolts have no known connection to Vice Principal Luna.

The winged skull cutie mark on the Shadowbolt costume worn by Rainbow Dash varies—in Luna Eclipsed and in some material, it has a different design than on Shadowbolt uniforms, while in some material, it has the same design as on Shadowbolt uniforms. Rainbow's costume is misidentified as a Wonderbolt costume in online promotional material, but it is identified as a Shadowbolt costume in merchandise.

Shadowbolt goggle lenses do not permanently maintain their usual shape, instead being round on occasion.

Depiction in the series
In the season one episode Friendship is Magic, part 2, Nightmare Moon briefly transforms into the trio of pony Shadowbolts. She claims that they are the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest and attempts to persuade Rainbow Dash to abandon the rest of the Mane Six and become the Shadowbolts' captain, but Rainbow Dash declines this offer and sticks with the Mane Six.

In the season two episode Luna Eclipsed, Rainbow Dash wears a Shadowbolt costume for Nightmare Night.

Depiction in Equestria Girls: Friendship Games
In the film My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games, Crystal Prep Academy's Shadowbolts compete against Canterlot High School's Wondercolts in the annual Friendship Games competition.

IDW comics
In the My Little Pony Annual 2013 Equestria Girls story, Crystal Prep's Shadowbolts (identified only by their team name) play soccer against Canterlot High's Wondercolts in the first game of the season.

Storybooks
In the book My Little Pony: Tricks and Treats, an adaptation of the episode Luna Eclipsed, Rainbow Dash wears a Shadowbolt costume for Nightmare Night.

The cover of the chapter book My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games, displayed at the 2015 American International Toy Fair, shows Crystal Prep's Shadowbolts along with Canterlot High's Wondercolts.

Magazines
In Panini's My Little Pony magazine, the trio of pony Shadowbolts appear in at least one of the last two parts of the three-part story Die Legende von Nightmare Moon, an adaptation of the episodes Friendship is Magic, part 1 and Friendship is Magic, part 2.

My Little Pony (mobile game)
Shadowbolts are featured in Gameloft's mobile game. The trio of pony Shadowbolts are a character called "The Shadowbolts" with the Ponyville house "The Shadowbolts' Hut" and the description "They're Nightmare Moon's knights-in-shadowy armor -- the Shadowbolts are Pegasi with predilections for bringin' the pain!" Shadowbolts also appear in two of the minigames. Seasonal theming of the game has had Rainbow Dash wear her Shadowbolt costume. A file of the game's has included information for a character called "Shadow Surprise" with the house "Shadowbolts' Hut" and the description "One of Nightmare Moon's most trusted Shadowbolts, Shadow Surprise is a Pegasus with a predilection for bringing the pain!"

Luna Eclipsed
In the PlayDate Digital game My Little Pony: Luna Eclipsed, an adaptation of the episode Luna Eclipsed, Rainbow Dash wears a Shadowbolt costume for Nightmare Night.

Castle Creator
In some versions of Castle Creator, one of the available character images of Rainbow Dash has her Shadowbolt costume.

Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE avatar items include a Shadow Bolt [sic] pet and a Shadow Bolt [sic] costume.

Toys
The Toys "R" Us exclusive Collector Series includes a glow-in-the-dark Playful Ponies brushable toy of Rainbow Dash as a Shadowbolt.

Equestria Girls Friendship Games dolls of Crystal Prep's Shadowbolts include both School Spirit and Sporty Style releases of Twilight Sparkle, of Lemon Zest, of Sunny Flare, of Sour Sweet, of Sugarcoat, and of Indigo Zap.

Posters
Despite only appearing as a transformation of Nightmare Moon in the show, the trio of pony Shadowbolts respectively appear alongside Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon on the Comic Con 2011 and Chaos is Magic posters. On the former, Spitfire and Soarin are shown opposite to them.

The trio of pony Shadowbolts are included on Enterplay's Nightmare Moon and the Everfree Forest poster.

Shadowbolts-related WeLoveFine art prints include fan-designed "Everypony", fan-designed "Shadow Wonders", and fan-designed "Shadows".

Activity books
Of Crystal Prep's Shadowbolts, Sour Sweet is featured by Fashion Angels' "Fashion Friendzy" sketch portfolio set.

Apparel and accessories
Shadowbolts-related WeLoveFine T-shirts include fan-designed "Shadowbolts Fan", "MLP Villains Allover",  "MLP Season One Allover", and fan-designed "The Periodic Table of My Little Pony".

Shadowbolts-related WeLoveFine iPhone cases include "MLP Villains iPhone Case".

Quotes
"Rainbow..."

- twice, Friendship is Magic, part 2

"We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria."

- Friendship is Magic, part 2

"Why, you, of course."

- Friendship is Magic, part 2

"No, Rainbow Dash. We want you to join us, the Shadowbolts. We're the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest. And soon we will be the greatest in all Equestria. But first, we need a captain. The most magnificent..."

- Friendship is Magic, part 2

"Swiftest..."

- Friendship is Magic, part 2

"Bravest flyer in all the land."

- Friendship is Magic, part 2

"We need... [whispering] You."

- Friendship is Magic, part 2

"No! It's them or us."

- Friendship is Magic, part 2

"Well?"

- Friendship is Magic, part 2

"Sei gegrüßt, Rainbow Dash!"

- Die Legende von Nightmare Moon

"Schließ dich uns an, Rainbow Dash! Du bist so schnell und könntest die Anführerin unserer Truppe werden. Na los, vergiss deine Freundinnen!"

- Die Legende von Nightmare Moon

My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games
