Twilight glared at the dragon. He was glaring at the sky. Everyone else was still slack-jawed in shock.

"There is no reason for you to be that mad!" Rainbow Dash shot forward, knocking the dragon backwards. "She was my friend once. Why did you have to try and kill her?!"

The black dragon kickeed her off, sending her reeling. Her body slammed into one of the pillars, falling limply to the ground. "She attacked me!" He extended his teeth, tail twitching. "And I'd like to be out of here before the bombs start falling, thank you very much."

"Why don't you just fly away?" Another pony landed in the clearing, black coat shining. "I know your wings are big enough."

"Princess Luna?" Twilight cantered up beside the princess. "Why are you here?"

She rolled her eyes. "Celestia is too high-and-mighty to bother with the problems of 'commoners'. She's probably soaking in her tub. Anyway, is this the mysterious dragon?"

"I have a name." He growled, eyes narrowed. "It's Toothless."

"So, Toothless, why are you tormenting griffons?"

He rolled his eyes, limping over to the corner of the ruins. "We've been over this."

Applejack nodded as Luna looked around, confused. "He did explain everything before you showed up.."

Twilight Sparkle was panicing inside, her heart racing. They were alone, in the middle of the Everfree Forest, with what had once had been Nightmare Moon. She couldn't understand how the others were so calm. "They attacked him first." She replied, shocked that her voice didn't tremble. "He defended himself."

"Well, we still have a war in the making. Any way you can fly? It wouldn't be as much of a problem if you could stay outside Equestria."

"If I could, I would be gone by now. But on top of my leg, which is much more painful, I tore my sail on the crash landing. Sharp trees you have around here." He opened one wing, the webbing in a large, ragged tear. He winced as it moved.

"Toothless, that looks painful!" Fluttershy trotted up, looking at the missing skin.

"Unlike your wings, skin can be removed. It's how they ground dragons to train them. It doesn't hurt that much. It still takes a long time, but it can fully mend."

"How long would it take?" Luna interrupted.

"The leg; probably a week, give or take a few days. The wing, maybe a month or so."

"That's too long."

"I'm quite aware of that." Toothless growled, shutting his wing again. "But you're stuck with me. And it's hard for a dragon to learn to fly again after being grounded for that long."

"How do you learn to fly?"

He grinned, lying down. "Well, our parents carry us up into the sky, way past the clouds, and drop us. If we can gain control before we hit the ground, we've learned."

"That's barbaric!" Rarity screeched. "What about the ones that hit the ground?!"

"Well, they're dead by then." Toothless shrugged, curling his tail. "So there's nothing to do."

Rarity gasped and fainted, her mane landing in another puddle of mud. Pinkie Pie laughed.

"Look, Toothless, I can put a tarp on your wing so you can fly until it heals."

"Doubtful that it would work." The dragon rolled over, his back to the ponies. "Night Fury wings are extremely sensitive. If I can't feel a section of my wing, I won't be able to fly alone."

Luna watched the dragon's back, mind racing. Twilight Sparkle had slowly inched away from the young mare. Rarity was still unconcious. Rainbow Dash was hopping from hoof to hoof, wanting to get back into the sky. Pinkie Pie was dunking Rarity's mane in the mud. Applejack was sorting through the food she brought. Fluttershy's inner voices were battling.

The dragon needed help. None of these ponies, the ones Toothless could trust, were going to help. But she had to keep an eye out for surprise attacks when the dragon became nervous, and stay for months while the wings healed. She trusted Spike and Angel with caring for the animals if she stayed, but still...

She looked up, noticing Toothless's large, green eyes were fixed on her curiously.

She made up her mind. "I'll help you fly."

All the ponies turned to look at Fluttershy, standing at the back of the group. The timid Pegasus cantered up to Toothless, placing a hoof on his back. "I'll stitch your wing shut, and stay with you until your leg heals, and I'll teach you to fly."

She looked at the assembled ponies. "Go back home. I'll be fine. Applejack, could you bring meals every-so-often?"

Applejack nodded. "Come on, fillies. There's nothing more we can do."

Twilight Sparkle watched the other ponies file away through the trees, and Luna took to the sky towards Ponyville. "I'll bring you a tarp ond some string tomorrow, okay?"

Fluttershy nodded, eyes narrowed in determination.

Toothless was going to fly.