It was late in the afternoon, and the group gathered in the villa’s courtyard. The day had been productive—repairs to the electric fence were underway, the animals were fed, and Eugene had been tinkering with the villa’s generator.

Daryl sat sharpening his crossbow bolts, and Rick leaned against the railing of the porch. Everyone seemed at ease, but curiosity lingered in the air.

“We need to talk about that helicopter,” Abraham finally said, pointing toward the sleek machine sitting on the helipad. “If we’re keepin’ it around, someone needs to know how to fly it. I’ve been in one before, but flyin’ ain’t my thing.”

The group exchanged glances, uncertain.

“I can fly it,” Ji Hyo said casually, sipping her tea.

The silence that followed was deafening.

“What?” Glenn asked, his eyes wide.

“I can fly it,” Ji Hyo repeated, setting her tea down.

“You’re telling us,” Rosita said, leaning forward, “that on top of everything else, you know how to pilot a helicopter?”

Ji Hyo nodded, trying not to laugh at their expressions.

---

The Explanation

“How?” Rick asked, his tone incredulous.

Ji Hyo smiled, leaning back in her chair. “Remember how I told you my family owned a ferry company? Well, as the business grew, we started transporting goods by air too. My father always believed in being prepared, so he insisted I get my helicopter license. He thought it might be useful someday.”

“You actually went through with it?” Tara asked, still in disbelief.

“I did,” Ji Hyo said. “It was challenging, but I enjoyed it. Flying gave me a sense of freedom.”

“And the boat license?” Eugene asked, his scientific curiosity piqued.

“I grew up around ferries,” Ji Hyo explained. “It was natural for me to learn how to operate them. My father was very hands-on, and he made sure I understood every part of the business.”

“You’re full of surprises, Ji Hyo,” Michonne said, shaking her head with a rare smile.

---

A Test Flight

“Alright,” Abraham said, crossing his arms. “If you’re serious about this, prove it. Take the chopper for a spin.”

Ji Hyo hesitated. “The fuel reserves are limited. I don’t want to waste them unless it’s necessary.”

“We can spare a little to test it,” Rick said. “It’s better to know if it works now than when we’re in a desperate situation.”

The group watched as Ji Hyo approached the helicopter, her movements confident and practiced. She climbed into the cockpit, ran through the pre-flight checks, and flipped a few switches.

The rotor blades began to spin, the whirring sound growing louder as the helicopter came to life.

“She actually knows what she’s doing,” Rosita said, watching in awe.

Moments later, the helicopter lifted off the ground, hovering steadily above the villa. Ji Hyo circled the area once before landing smoothly back on the helipad.

The group erupted into cheers and applause as she stepped out, brushing her hands off casually.

“Not bad, huh?” she said with a grin.

---

Reactions

“That was badass,” Tara said, still grinning.

“I can’t believe we have a pilot among us,” Glenn said, shaking his head. “You’re a real-life action hero.”

“Don’t forget the boat license,” Eugene added. “She’s practically a one-woman survival manual.”

Ji Hyo laughed, her cheeks flushing slightly. “It’s not as impressive as it sounds. I just had opportunities to learn these things, and I took them.”

“You’ve been holding out on us, Ji Hyo,” Daryl said, his smirk almost playful.

“Not intentionally,” she replied. “I didn’t think it would matter.”

“It matters,” Rick said firmly. “In this world, every skill counts. You’re more valuable to this group than you know.”

---

A New Sense of Purpose

Later that evening, Ji Hyo found herself sitting by the firepit again, this time with Michonne and Hershel.

“You’ve done a lot for us already,” Michonne said. “But knowing you can fly that helicopter… it opens up possibilities we didn’t think we had.”

“I’ll do whatever I can to help,” Ji Hyo said. “This group is my family now.”

Hershel nodded, his kind eyes twinkling. “You’ve given us hope, Ji Hyo. That’s a rare thing in times like these.”

Ji Hyo smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest. For the first time in a long time, her unique skills felt like a gift—not just for herself, but for the people she cared about.

As the fire crackled and the stars filled the sky, Ji Hyo realized that her past had prepared her for this moment in ways she never could have imagined. And no matter what challenges lay ahead, she was ready to face them—with her newfound family by her side.