It had been a good two days since Morning Glory had been called to talk to her queen. She had not had much to say. She didn't know why but she simply wasn't ready to talk about it yet. But as she thought over it, she decided that she could keep it no longer hidden.
The girl spread her wings and took to the air. She soared straight past the playing ponies. They gave their young friend a concerned glance but made no move to pursue. It would have been useless in any event. Morning Glory was too fast for any Flutter Pony to catch alone.
Morning Glory finally landed outside the fanciest hut on the highest hill. She stuck her head in,
"Rosedust?"
"Morning Glory? Come in."
The girl folded her wings and then dove down into the wide underground chamber, spreading her wings wide as she fell. Rosedust smiled at her friend and greeted her as she landed. Morning Glory said gently,
"I…I've decided to tell you what's been bugging me."
Rosedust let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad."
Morning Glory chose a small pillow to rest her knees on, while her leader chose a small chair. Morning Glory took a deep breath,
"It's been the dreams."
"The dreams?"
"Yes."
"What kind of dreams?"
"They're like a mirage, Rosedust." Morning Glory could see them clearly as if she had just awoken from one. She met her queen's eyes,
"It's a mixture of sobs and questions and then I'm alone and this young flutter pony, maybe…oh, twelve, is running to me. At first, her wings are so pale I can't see them and then they sprout into fully grown wings. She just begs me to protect them and not to allow her to lose her wings again."
Rosedust rose. "that explains it. You've a giant heart, Morning Glory. I'm not surprised that such a dream upset you."
Suddenly, Honeysuckle called down,
"The Little Ponies are here."
Morning Glory smiled at her queen. In unison, they rose to go greet their friends.
"Oh…"
Clover had been speechless since she entered the valley. She stood in-between Buttons and Surprise, stunned by everything. Her friends had neglected not to come as they believed that this was for Clover and her alone. It had surprised Clover but she was glad.
Tears fell down Clover's cheeks as she saw the ponies fluttering about her. Had she been born with such a blessed gift? How dare they steal that from her! She felt a rage fill her but it came out in the form of tears and silent cries. As she heard the jingle, she wiped her eyes as the Queen of the Flutter ponies and her right hand pony appeared.
Morning Glory froze. Her queen turned,
"Morning Glory?"
"That's her."
"Who?"
"The foal in my dreams."
Rsoedust turned to see a purple foal with pink mane and tail. She stood clumsily as all flutterponies did. But she had no wings. But she was gazing at them with tears streaming from her face. The queen spread her wings and landed.
"Welcome…"
"Clover," the girl interrupted. She was too stunned by these gorgeous ponies to care about her manners. Buttons said, seeing Morning Glory and Rsoedust's interest,
"This is Clover, she was born a flutter pony…but-"
"But my wings were taken from me," Clover choked out. "I wanted to see who I was meant to be."
"Taken from you?" Rosedust's eyes filled with pity. A flutter pony without the sky was a terrible thing. Most often they would die of misery without their wings. Clover said,
"I'm from the future. Wings are unheard of. They were cut at birth."
Morning Glory now understood,
"Rosedust!"
the queen truned and her right hand pony gestured her near. Rosedust was stunned at her need but did hover over.
"yes?"
"Rosedust…if they were only taken at birth…"
"It's a possibility. But I don't wanna-"
"She's in pain. If she has even a bit of hope…"
Rosedust bit her lower lip. But she asked,
"Clover?"
"yes?"
"have you 'become' a teenager or 'ponyling' yet?"
"No."
Morning Glory could not wait. She fluttered down and embraced Clover.
"Then all hope isn't lost."
"What?" Clover's heart froze in hope and wonder. The kind pony (that Clover swore she knew) went on,
"Flutter ponies are born with small immature wings. They allow us to fly but not perform 'Utter Flutter,' so when we approach maturity, they fall off. A natural metamorphism. We're grounded for a few weeks and then our adult wings emerge, fully developed. A bit like a butterfly's transformation."
Buttons caught on,
"Wait, Morning Glory, you aren't…"
"I am." She turned to Clover, begging to see joy. She had been afraid of her dreams but now she knew she was somehow tied to this pony's fate. If she was then she would embrace her duty. "Clover, if you have not yet become a teenager then there is a possibility that your grown up wings will emerge."
"I…I might win back my gift."
"Yes…it is a possibility. You may still regain your wings."