Lightning woke up in a room, lying on a bed. Everything was blurry for a few minutes when she opened her eyes, and the light hurt. She was nauseous and groggy; memories didn't want to come back all at once.

Very slowly she sat up, and promptly tipped over to the right. That was weird. And then she noticed. Her entire left wing, gone, a bandage wrapped around her side.

"Oh thank the Hippogrifs, you're alive!"

Dizzy, vision still blurry, Lightning Ridge sat up again, using her remaining wing for balance. Something yellow at her bedside. Her vision slowly cleared: her mother, Stormfall.

While Lightning's dad had abandoned the family, her mother had always been there for her in childhood. How long had it been since the last visit? Lightning had grown distant as an adult, kept busy with harsh training to make Wonderbolt level.

"Mom, I, it's, where am I? What happened?"

Now the memories came back in a torrent.

"Windbreaker! Oh, oh no, and that poor tan pegasus. Did we do it? Is Ponyville safe?"

A new voice boomed, "By your sacrifice and bravery, this town is safe."

She looked over to the corner of the room. Ragged Edge, leader of the Wonderbolts, sat there in a chair.

"Sir! What--what are you doing here, sir?"

"Your mother and I both sat here all yesterday, and all night. You've been out for a while now, Lightning."

"The hydra?"

"You killed it alright, and saved the entire town. That was really reckless and stupid you know."

"It was about to crush Windbreaker sir, and it got the tan pegasus, and, I don't know, I was just so angry...."

"I'm afraid you can't be active in the Wonderbolts now, with only one wing. However, before you leave us, I'd like you to see something. Look at your nightstand."

She did so. Her Wonderbolts necklace was on it, with tags indicating her division and rank. She had shot up to Division A, Rank #53.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she thanked Ragged Edge. She then spoke, "What exactly happened out there? I thought I was done for."

"Well, we don't exactly know, Lightning. Someone saved your flank. It was dark out, and hard to see, except by flashes from the storm. I gathered intel from everyone and we know four things: It was a very bulky, muscular pegasus with dark blue feathers. This pegasus was female. Her flank mark was a glowing, blue rune. And she took off for the Everfree forest, we're presuming she lives there or perhaps beyond it."

He nuzzled into a duffel bag by his side, and set three deep blue feathers on the bed. They were much bigger feathers than she had known any pegasus to have. She set them on her nightstand, curious.

Ragged Edge continued, "Windbreaker is safe. This hospital here in Ponyville is prepared for Everfree-related ailments, and they had the alchemy materials to reverse his condition. The palomino pegasus, Luna rest her soul, was a reserves member. Her name was Wildspirit. She was part of that whole back-to-nature movement before joining the bolts. She charged past the wall before anyone could stop her. I'm so sorry you had to witness that, Lightning."

"I knew the risks when I signed on," she replied weakly.

Stormfall spoke now, "Lightning, you're a hero. You did everything you could to defend this town. They want to reward you."

Lightning was unhappy with this. "No way! I'm not the only Wonderbolt who was out there in the fray. Besides, Ragged Edge, how is everyone else?"

"No other casualties, and you have the worst injury. Everyone did a phenomenal job out there."

"Do we know what caused it in the first place?"

Ragged Edge hesitated before speaking, "Nightmare Moon returned, you know that. She tried to gather some kind of ancient magic in the old castle to gain more power, and she had some kind of dark magic that controlled the forest creatures. But then these six random ponies from Ponyville charged into the forest after her."

"Wait, you let them take that risk?" asked Lightning dubiously.

"Celestia's orders. They were able to handle themselves very well at any rate. Handled a manticore and a sea serpent very impressively, and the two pegasi among them saved a couple klutzes from falling off a cliff."

"What happened when they reached the old castle?"

"I have no idea, Lightning, it was...surreal. Midnite and Weathervane are still in Canterlot right now talking to the princess--I mean, the princesses about it. Something crazy happened, but there was this massive burst of magic energy. So powerful it rippled the air around us at cloud level. Very colorful, almost looked like a damnned rainbow. The entire old castle shook and stones fell from it."

He paused to take a drink of water for the long speech,

"Then out of freaking nowhere, Celestia herself was in the clouds with us. No one even saw her, guessing she teleported. That's how she made a dramatic entrance at the castle anyways, popping in and out of thin air. When she came back up, she had her younger sister on her back, and told us that Luna had returned to us."

Lightning was thunderstruck, "So those ordinary ponies reformed Nightmare Moon?"

"That's how it looks like. But if my suspicions are true and they harnessed the ancient magic--I mean it's just a myth, you know, I'm not trying to start rumors here--but if they did, they are no ordinary ponies then."

"Wow, I guess the Wonderbolts aren't alone anymore in handling weird stuff happening. Well, guess I need to figure out what I'm going to do next."

Ragged Edge didn't have an answer for her, and he said goodbye and left her room.

Her mother, as well, was at a loss for words, "Never, not once ever, did I think the old pony-tales had a grain of truth to them... I'm sorry, Lightning, I didn't mean to ignore you," She paused, grimacing, "Well, I guess... you're going to have to live life as an earth-pony from now on. They did what they could, but a healing potion can't restore an entire wing."

Lightning tried to hold back tears, but a few of them quietly slid down her nose anyways. She said, "Could I be alone for a while, mom?"

Her mom nodded, and left the room.

The injured pegasus spent several more days in the hospital. When fully healed, she stepped through the doors out into the sunlight.

Looks like eternal darkness was prevented, she thought.

She walked in an awkward way, constantly tripping to the right from imbalance. The town of Ponyville was friendly, cozy, and charming, but she hardly noticed it.

Images flashed through her mind like the bursts of magic and fire on that night. The tan pegasus. Her final screams. That horrible acid. Lightning shuddered.

She wanted to avoid ponies for the time being, and she rambled her way out of town, tripping occasionally. Everyone stared without meaning to, and quickly looked away.

Southwest. Towards Everfree, but away from where the battle had taken place. The town slowly gave way to nature and she passed fewer houses. This side of town was full of flowers and gardens, and it was so lovely that her visage became a grim smile. Lightning wondered who had planted them all.

The answer appeared near Everfree. A cozy and secluded cabin, surrounded by all sorts of flowers and birds. A nice white picket fence bordered the yard, with pink hearts painted on it. This must be the gardener's place. A cream colored pegasus with a butterfly marking lie in the loamy soil of the garden, and Lightning had to shake her head and do a double take: This pegasus was feeding a baby squirrel a bottle of milk.

Lightning walked up very quietly, but tripped and startled the squirrel away.

"I'm so sorry about that," she said.

The light yellow pegasus was unfazed. She called the squirrel out of the bushes, saying that it was okay to come out. To Lightning's shock the squirrel seemed to understand her.

When the squirrel had resumed taking milk, the pegasus spoke to Lightning in very soft, timid voice, "It's quite alright. I love visitors--oh my, your wing!"

There was an awkward silence.

"I'm sorry, it was probably rude of me to mention it."

Lightning sat in silence, on the verge of crying again, sniffing.

"If you need to talk about it, I'm all ears. My name is Fluttershy. Do you want to come in and have some tea?"

"Y-yes that would be l-lovely," Lightning managed to say.

They both stepped inside.

The beautiful garden flowed so seamlessly from outside to inside the house that it felt like they were still out in nature. Even more various wild animals rested in Fluttershy's cabin. Some of them seemed to be recovering from sickness or injury.

As the light yellow pegasus placed a kettle on the stove to boil, Lightning Ridge sat by a bay window which let in warm rays of sunlight for numerous potted plants. She stared into the cloudy sky, a vacuous and distant look in her eyes.

Fluttershy sat down beside her, and very gently placed a hoof across her shoulders.

Lightning, still gazing in a trance at the great blue expanse, said in a quiet, bewildered tone of voice, "I will never fly again."

The teapot started to boil and Fluttershy walked over to prepare some green tea, which smelled amazing. The steaming cups and a plate of delicate pastries were brought over to a lacy table. Fluttershy balanced the two trays on her wings so well that the tea didn't even spill, and used her mouth to place each tray on the table.

Lightning was impressed. As she walked over to a white wicker chair and took a seat she said, "I don't even think most Wonderbolts could pull that off."

"Oh, it's nothing really," meekly answered Fluttershy as she opened a container of sugarcubes, "I just have years of experience balancing plants and small animals that way."

She nudged a cup of tea over to Lightning, who took a few sips. Lightning began to talk about her time in the Wonderbolts, how she made it all the way up to Division B. Fluttershy patiently listened without interrupting, and nibbled on a sugar cookie.

Lightning found she could easily talk to this pony with no fear of judgment. She poured out her whole story as Fluttershy peacefully nodded. After telling her everything that had happened, she asked for any thoughts or advice on what to do next.

Fluttershy took a moment in silence to think. She replied politely, "I don't know what to say, Lightning. I've never been in a situation like that. I always fly low and stay out of danger, you know. There's so many scary creatures outside of Ponyville, and not all of them are herbivores like my cute little Angel bunny here."

Lightning could swear that the bunny in question gave them an angry glare as he passed, but she had to be seeing things. Rabbits were not a sapient species.

"Well, I suppose I could say one thing... this is kind of personal and I'm not very comfortable talking to anypony about this. I just really feel like it's something you need to hear. Give me a moment please."

Lightning enjoyed a pastry full of jam and cream cheese as she waited for the pegasus to gather her nerves. Fluttershy had a gulp of tea, and then spoke in an even quieter voice,

"Just, please don't go telling everyone about this," she took a couple breaths, "The truth is, I was born with a fear of heights. I really worked on it during my childhood, and now I can fly to Cloudsdale when I need to, but it still bothers me. I don't know if it's any consolation to you at all, but, I'm also a pegasus who mostly stays on the ground. So if you want, we can be pen pals wherever you go, and feel free to stop by any time."

"Thank you, I will," answered Lightning.

"It's really not so bad down here once you get used to it. It might take you a while to adapt, but I love life in my garden. And there's so many nice, friendly ponies around."

"Um, if you don't mind Fluttershy, could I help you with gardening sometime? I've never really done it before, but, I'd love to learn."

"Sure! Would sometime tomorrow work?"

Before Lightning could answer, there was a knock at the door. A moment later, Fluttershy returned with a friend.

"Lightning Ridge, this is Tree Hugger. She's with the Back to Nature movement."

The green-furred, loopy looking pegasus said, "It's like, so nice to meet you."

Lightning offered an uncertain hello back.

The green pegasus continued, "I need some aloe vera, our cook burned herself on a hot skillet."

Fluttershy trotted into her kitchen, and returned in a moment with a couple slices from an aloe plant. Her friend said thank you as Fluttershy returned to her seat and her green tea.

Tree Hugger sat down by the table and spoke to Lightning, "Fluttershy has so many herbal remedies and natural cures. She's amazing with that stuff. Do you know what chamomile is?"

"No," said Lightning.

"It's a tea that helps with sleep and pleasant dreams. Then Fluttershy has these like, lovely roses and lavender she uses for potpourri."

Fluttershy responded, "Hmm, yes they do smell lovely."

"And she even knows how to grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and it always turns out so wonderful."

"Why thank you," answered Fluttershy as she took another sip of tea.

"Then the flowers in her bedroom are a common kind of aphrodisiac."

"Okay Tree Hugger, thank you for stopping by. It was nice seeing you, I really think it's about time for you to leave. Have to go take care of that burn, right?"

She hastily escorted her friend out the door, slamming and latching it shut once she was out. When she returned to her chair, her face had gone the same color as the strawberries planted in the windowsill.

"Um, right. Don't mind her. So, be seeing you tomorrow for gardening lessons? Oh, and I'd love for you to meet my other friends, they've been wanting to tell you thanks for everything you did to protect Ponyville."

Lightning spent a few more hours at the house of this amiable pegasus. They moved to the living room and sat in squashy, overstuffed chairs by the fireplace. Fluttershy had much to say about this quiet town she called home, and she gave a brief summary of the five other good friends she had recently made. These were the ones who somehow convinced her, of all ponies, to go with them and take on Nightmare Moon.

As Lightning prepared to leave, she mentioned that she had no way of getting back up to Cloudsdale and she wasn't certain where she was going to sleep tonight. Fluttershy had no problem letting her sleep on one of the cozy chairs by the fire, and gave her a blanket.

Lightning went to sleep that night by the warmth and crackle of the fire with an actual smile on her face. Things were going to be okay.

Author's Notes:

Yes, Lightning should have lost a lot of blood if she lost her wing. Let's say a wizard fixed it. A potion of blood restoration. Yeah.