The yellow bat began to glide as she neared the Everfree forest. She had taken this path so many times she could probably close her eyes and fly straight to Zecora's door. It was almost just routine: Wake up, go to Zecora, Cheer up Zecora for another failed potion, Go have fun. A gentle grin spread across Flutterbat's face as she saw the smoke in the distance. Zecora always kept her chimney on to cook up some brew or another, so finding her hut was easy enough from the sky, but some how this seemed...different. The bat squinted her eyes, the red irises looked closely and noticed how much darker the smoke was than normally. Compared to the almost white steam that came from her hut, this one seemed to be much thicker too. A quick glance to her surrounds and she soon realized that she was still much too far away for her to have possibly had seen the usual steam. This was smoke from a fire. With a strong flap of her wings, Flutterbat thrusts herself forward to get to the hut as quickly as possible.

Her fore legs stretched forward, Flutterbat couldn't help but wonder why she was in such a hurry to see if everything was alright. How was Zecora's safety any of her concern? No Zecora meant no more terrible potions. She shook her head trying to focus on the matter at hand, as she saw the hut close by, her stomach sank.

"Zecora?" The bat asked as she looked around, gently landing at the now ripped open hut. Flutterbat's ears perked up as she heard a soft grunt from under some rubble. Hesitantly, she walked over and began to move some debris and soon saw what she had imagine, a wounded zebra. Not knowing what she should do, Flutterbat simply dug her out and looked around the broken hut for some useable ingredients.

"Heaven's save me....is that Flutterbat I see?...." Zecora asked out as she began to come to.

"Try not to move, you'll only injure yourself more." The yellow bat responded, her voice a little cold for some odd reason. The zebra did as she told and soon Flutterbat came over with a freshly mixed potion. "Here, this is the first potion you brewed for me, you told me it heals most ailments and small injuries."

Astonished at how she could have possible remembered the recipe for a potion she had only seen brewed once, Zecora took the cup that was being offered to her. She took a quick sniff of the brew before confirming it really was said potion. She quickly drank the entire thing in one go before gasping for air, her tongue in full view and strangely colored green from the potion.

"How was it?" Fluttershy asked.

"The taste is a bit disturbing, but that simply means it is working." Zecora said as she began to stand, her body aches beginning to disappear. Her physical wounds, on the other hand, were still present.

"What happened?"

"I was trying to gather an ingredient from a sea snake, but somehow ended up making a grave mistake. I accidently found myself at the edge of Equestria, and unwanted attention from hunting I did draw."

"Unwanted attention?"

"Demons of the night." Zecora began as she started to clean up her hut. "Came to me looking for a bite. I ran as fast I could to the safety of my hut, but their talons made it easy for them to cut."

"Where are they now?"

"I managed to make a potion which sent them back while they attacked, but I fear they will soon another raid, reenact."

"So what are you going to do?" Flutterbat asked as she began to see Zecora not just clean the broken pieces of her home, but also place things on a saddle. and wagon that had survived the assault.

"I must venture out and hide, and soon change the current of the fighting tide."

"Say what now?"

"I mean to say that it would be wise, to go out and gain some allies."

"Oh...Well best of luck to you." Flutterbat said as she spread her wings and took flight. She was already a few yards away when she heard Zecora call out to her.

"Not so fast little Flutterbat, come down so we might have a little chat." The yellow bat was caught mid flight when she heard Zecora's words. Her ears folded down as she gently flew back, her body limp with a hint of sadness form being called back form her 'freedom'. "Now do not rue, for you I will continue to make some curing brew." Zecora said as she began to make the potion she had risked her life to gain the ingredient she needed. It didn't take very long and soon Flutterbat held the potion in her hoof with a grim look on her face. The zebra chuckled as she saw her expression, but gestured to drink it. Flutters did as she was told and soon gaged at the taste...like usual.

"Oh dear Princess Luna, I thought I told you to please work on the taste..."

"Please don't kid.....Flutterbat dear, I did!"

As if on cue, Flutterbat's eyes widened and she held the potion's cup as far away form her as possible, her tongue out as she looked in disgust at the brew.

"Still no good results it seems, perhaps I should go to more extremes."

"Please....no..."

The rest of the night Flutterbat assisted the zebra in gathering her more intact belongings and setting her off. The bat pony waved good by as the zebra made her way out of the Everfree.

"Well, at least I won't be getting more strange potions for a while." She took a moment to look around and sigh, now that she was alone again she felt....lonely. It was such a shame that she ended up wasting her precious night time with the zebra and didn't have any real time to enjoy herself....well that might be a little bit of a stretched lie. Fluttershy did go to sleep early. She did a few more hours of freedom than usual so sad it was all coming to an end now. With the sun about to rise, Flutterbat made her way to 'her' cottage. She almost had to drag herself in form how tired she was. She was sure her body would be sore in the morning...well, at least it wouldn't be her it would be hurting.

With a cute yawn, Flutterbat flew to her bed, wobbling on the way there and landed roughly on the sheets as sleep began to take over. It wasn't long before Celestia's sun began to shine through the window and gently caress Fluttershy's face. Her turquoise eyes slowly opened and she sat up and stretched like usual. Except things weren't  like usual...

"Oh Ouch! Why am I so sore?...." Next Chapter: Word Around Town Estimated time remaining: 17 Minutes