I woke up and to my surprise I was not out in the open, like I thought the guards would have done. I was in a nicely furnished house which struck my curiosity of who would take me in. I searched my surroundings for signs of someone, or signs that someone owned the house. So far I found no such signs, but I heard a door creak and the voice of another pony.

"I see that you're finally awake. I'm glad you aren't injured beyond the cuts and your wings."

My head turned in the direction of who spoke, which I saw a brown stallion, his blue eyes were filled with warmth and kindness. However I had questions, for what happened and how I had appeared in...apparently, his house? Such information would be comforting to know.

"Thank you... but how did I get here? And, who are you?"

The stallion smiled, and shook his head.

"Forgive me, where are my manners. I am Whooves, Doctor Whooves. You were dropped outside in the square, I found you and brought you inside."

So my previous thought about the guards was right, they did leave me out in the open. This caused my coat to twitch, the guards were as barbaric as the tyrant herself.

"Are you alright? Do you remember anything from before?"

I blinked away my thoughts, the memories from before were all blurs to me... I could hardly remember them, my best friend...the elements orbitting around Celestia, her incantation, the cries of Luna as she was banished. I shook my head.

"Faintly."

Whooves blinked, then tilted his head at my reply. I could tell he was confused, the air around him was vibrating a bit.

"Luna's exile, I was held jailed and Celestia was trying to persuade me to join her. I opposed her and so she sentenced me to exile. Here."

Suddenly the air around him and I shifted, it was a dark feeling and almost resonated like an unholy aura off of the male. His mood changed as instantly as it could, and all at the naming of the tyrant. This rose my curiosity... Did Doctor Whooves, hate the tyrant Princess as much as myself? My query would have to come for a later time.

"My wings, you said they were broken and my flank was covered in cuts. How badly?" I was afraid to ask, however did so besides.

A flicker of worry appeared in the blue depths of the stallion's gaze, as he lightly tapped his hoof against the floor a few times while attempting to say what he wished without appearing too cynical. I could however tell though, despite his attempts to hide his fear, if not my coat, my wings held a difficult story to tell. I would have stood, but my legs ached and the muscles in them flamed in protest to any movement or even flexing I did.

"Star, was it? Your flank was easily able to be attended to, the cuts should heal in days time. But your wings however...I don't know what she, or her guard's, did. But they seem pretty badly torn up. Feathers are ripped from places, skin was torn and bleeding heavily...the breaks also seemed heavy. We did what we could."

We? "We?" My question was abrupt but also instant.

"Another two residents of the town and I, you can meet them later. For now, you should maybe rest."

I narrowed my eyes quizzicaly, it seemed suspicious. In a day, I was left for the wolves, I was taken in by a resident townpony, who seemed all too willing to give his name... and I was also, taken care of. They didn't know who I was and yet did all this. I suppose I should be grateful...

"Please Star... Rest will help you heal, and I would find reassurance in knowing it could help your wings get stronger so that you may be able to fly again."

Whooves voice sounded grieving, and it had also softened. I looked up into his blue gaze, searching for an answer behind his sympathy within his eyes. However I pulled my green eyes away, something within his gaze made me, something about it just told me to. I slid my eyes over my bandanged wings, blood stuck to the wrapping and also caused my feathers to itch uncomfortably.

Brown hair fell over my face as I looked down, then out of a window. I wonder if...If he'd allow me to sleep out in the open air. Out under the stars, under the moon. Under my friend's precious light of the darkness. Soon I looked back at him and went to open my mouth, however I closed it, finding no words to be able to speak.

Whooves tilted his head, one ear turning back as he looked at me. I noticed his gaze look towards my flank, towards where my cutie mark rested, and his eyes seemed to glow a bit in curiosity. Soon his eyes wandered back to mine, was there something odd about somepony that wasn't from Ponyville? Or somepony with a mark like mine?

"Um...Doctor Whooves? May I rest outside, under the vigilance of the Princess?"

What I asked caused his head to suddenly straighten as he stared at me, I could tell now that I definitely wasn't some normal townpony. ... ... How wonderful. But he didn't say anything about it, instead Whooves smiled and closed his eyes. This gesture came strangely to me, noteably, Luna did it often when we were by each other. But it was her being friendly and playful. I didn't know this pony...

"If it will ease you and help you rest, go ahead Star. I would like to speak with you when you wake up in the morning though."

A smile adorned my face, and I nodded towards the male. At least his kindness was sincere, not like something the traitor tried to fake. I made a mental note: Someponies are better than the tyrant; while walking my way towards the door and heading outside. I used my shoulder to ease it open, still finding it hard to raise my hooves more than a few inches off the ground. As I made it outside, I heard the stallion call to me.

"See you in the morning, Star. Good evening."

"See you in the morning Doctor Whooves. Rest well."