Fluttershy vs. the Self-Defense Course

The Setup

It was a relief to return home after the wedding so she could be smothered by the warm embrace of her small animal friends.  Lately, however, she had not been her usual quiet self.

Fluttershy's friends always had positive things to say about her, sprinkled with a bit of criticism here and there.  Nonetheless, whatever they had to say to her was always in her best interest.  Yet, she could not escape her own self-criticism that during her fight against the changelings, she did very little.  Pathetically little.  She lifted no hoof to throw a punch or a kick, and by sheer luck her hiding and fleeing caused many changelings to run into each other or mistakenly fight one another.  Her friends did complement that her shyness (cowardice) allowed them to distinguish from the real Fluttershy and the many fakes.

Yet the shame continued to haunt her.  The animals were the first to notice, and it was hard not to due to her constant sighing around the cottage.  Fluttershy sighed at breakfast.  She sighed at lunch.  She sighed at dinner.  She even sighed during her sleep.  Angel, being the pushy bunny that he was, began to feel bad to bully his pony owner to fetch him the best carrots sold by Carrot Top every morning.

Today was another spa date with Rarity, and she was late.  She barely acknowledged her unicorn friend and stared out to space as she relaxed in the aromatic mineral tub they always liked to bathe in.

"Something on your mind?" the unicorn asked.

"It's nothing important," sighed the pegasus.

"Please, tell me.  I'm your friend.  I'll listen."

"You know, back at the wedding…"

"Uh-huh."

"I wasn't much use when we fought the Changelings."

"Of course you were useful!  You, um, were able to, er, accidentally trip a whole row of them in one fell swoop!  I meant to say that you deliberately tripped them.  Yes, that's it."

"Oh, Rarity.  I'm just a weak and pathetic pegasus.  I wish I could do half the things you do."

"Darling, if you put your mind to it, I'm willing to bet that you could even surpass me in dressmaking.  That is not something I like to admit out in the open."

"No, I don't mean that.  I just wish that I can fight as well as you do."

"Fight?"

"I know you're not as strong as Applejack and Rainbow Dash, but you took out waves and waves of changelings.  You're brave against dragons, and you even kicked a manticore on the day we first met Twilight."

"Oh, that.  You know darling, I wasn't always the tough lady I am today. When you have stallions chasing beautiful ol' me every which way, you're bound to run into a crazed stalker or two.  I couldn't risk me and my sister being put in danger.  So a couple of years back, I took a self-defense course."

"How did it work out?"

"I quite enjoyed it.  Plus it allowed me maintain my weight, although I somehow found myself participating in several tournaments after I earned a 1st degree black belt.  I haven't practiced ever since, so my skills may be a little rusty.  I know!  Why don't you take a self-defense class at the Ponyville Community Center this Saturday?  I'm taking my sister over, because apparently she and her friends want to get their Cutie Marks in, if you pardon my language, 'Kicking Serious Flank'.  I can help you practice, and after half a day session of hard training and sweating, we'll relax back here at the spa."

"Oh, I don't know.  I might be busy."

"Fluttershy, I know your schedule like I know the back of my manicured hoof.  You're probably going to end up grooming Angel again.  I'm right, am I?"

"Well, yes."

"Then we'll just get Spike to watch over him and the rest of the animals.  The wittle darling dragon wuvs to look after cute cwitters."