A Kind Doctor: Fluttershy's early life

From that day forward, Fluttershy was a feature of the school library. Every moment out of class, she was there in her secret corner reading up on the countless creatures both great and small that covered Equestria.

Except for dragons. Too scary.

It took a while for Fluttershy to learn how to reach the safety of the book covered walls. Several times caught by her tormentors before she could and suffered the accumulated treatment. But slowly she learned their habits. Ponies are not far from animals, especially when they are young. In time, she learned to find ways to avoid them. Skipping into clouds, weaving through crowds. She even learned to quiet herself, make her presence so small that she could slip right next to them without being noticed.

She tried unsuccessfully to get Rainbow Dash to join her, the Pegasus just rolled her eyes. "Be careful you don't turn into an egghead hanging around all those books, Flutters. I need you to be my cheering team." The two shared a smile and a small hug. Fluttershy understood what Dash really meant. Her pride and self confidence wouldn't allow for hiding in a library. Especially in a closed off corner. Dash had her own way of battling bullies.

Every time they tried to pull her down, she would just fly higher.

As much as Fluttershy was worried, she knew that things were better this way. She instead focused in her treasures. The countless books on nature and animals.

While she could never see them herself so high up in Cloudsdale, she was almost there with the detailed texts on the animals and their lives. Sometimes too detailed. It took her a while to accept that there were animals that ate other animals. But once she understood the idea of the ecosystem, it got a little bit easier.

With every flip of the page, she was taken to a new place with a new creature, a new wonderful friend for her to meet. A new thing to learn all about them. Although she had never meet any of them, she felt more connected to them than to anything else out there.

This moment of bliss was broken when she started reading further into the book on pets. Reading about how some were mistreated and hurt. Or how there was no pony who would care for those left abandoned. Despite the clinching in her chest, Fluttershy pushed on only pausing to wipe her eyes clear of the mist when it grew too much to read through.

She was reworded with finding a new section speaking about treatments. At home techniques to ensure the wellbeing of common animals. And then a suggestion for the most troubling cases sent her flying out back nto the shelves, hunting for books on a new theme: Veterinarians.

The books began to pile up around her as she dove deeper and deeper into the subject, trying to learn more and more about her new heros. Ponies who devoted their lives to the care and wellbeing of animals.

Her days in the library had expanded her mind and her heart and gave her a new purpose, much to the surprise of Narrow Margin. But it gave her joy to see the change. The once shy pony too scared to come out of her shell, able to stand tall with the light of determination in her eyes.

“A Veterinarian!?”

Sadly, this joy was not shared with everypony. Guiding Hoof only gave Fluttershy a look of shock when the little yellow filly suggested it as her future career path. She was hoping that the guidance counselor would understand and support her like everypony said, but instead she shouted, making the younger filly cower under her bangs.

It took a moment before the mare snapped her jaw closed and moved to calm the filly, “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to shout. It was just a surprise. I mean..” With a sigh, she returned to her desk and started leafing through Fluttershy’s folder, “I read through your folder when you said you wanted to talk about your future career. I was hoping for a… less stressful career choice. But this.. You are just too sensitive, sweetie.”

Fluttershy cringed, she knew that Miss Guiding was trying to help. But it doesn't keep it from hurting. Hearing no disagreement, Guiding went on, “Now, don’t be disheartened. Your talent is very special and I think you will have a great future ahead of you. I will keep an eye on your case and let you know if I find something better, ok?”

She could only nod weakly. To be shut down to such a point, Fluttershy was left defeated. She daintily slid off her chair and slowly walked to the door, weighed down by what had occurred. Guiding Hoof tried to cheer her up, “It will be ok, Fluttershy. Trust me, ok?” The filly stopped for only a moment to look back at the counselor, nodding even as mist filled her eyes. She turned away before any tears would fall but it still left an impression.

This is ok, Guiding tried to tell herself, She’ll understand. This is for her best interest. She needs to listen to ponies who know better. A stinging memory surfaced and she looked to her university diploma, seeing her own reflection in the glass. “Where would you be, you foal, if you had listened to your ‘betters’?” With a clatter of a chair, the mare was in the air and shoot out the door, “Fluttershy!”

She looked up and down the hall and found not a single soul. Guiding’s heart sunk, thinking that she missed her chance, before a small squeak in the form of a word got her attention below her. Looking down, she found a pink ball of a hair with a single eye peeking back at her. It quietly squeaked out again, “Yes, ma’am?”

Smiling gently, Guiding Hoof descended and gently landed next to the filly, tenderly putting her wings around the shaking form of Fluttershy to help relax her. After she stopped shaking, Guiding spoke in a soft voice, “I’m sorry.” Fluttershy looked up and meet her tender gaze. “I’m sorry for being so inconsiderate of your desires. I should not have struck you down like that. I’m just.. I’m afraid. Every one of the little ponies under my care, including you, I see looking to do such wondrous things and it scares me because I’m afraid of what might happen if you fail to achieve it.”

With a calming breath, the concludes, “If you are willing to take that risk. Then I will support you throughout.” Fluttershy was left still in surprise for a moment before she beamed and hugged Guiding Hoof tightly, squeaking out thank yous. She returned it, laughing at the filly’s antics, before gently seperating them. “Now, this doesn’t mean that you are going to have it easy. Let me show you.”

Leading the filly inside, Guiding Hoof turned the folder for Fluttershy to see. “Look here. While your biology grades are fine for a general passing, if you are going to make it to being a veterinarian, you are going to have to go further. And there is one more thing.” She flipped the page over to reveal a series of notes from teachers. Most were just commentary on her shyness or how quiet she was. But one in particular was pointed to by Guiding Hoof.

A quick read got Fluttershy to eep and hide in her hair, coming out after a moment to find the patient expression of the guidance counselor smiling back at her. In a whisper, she asked, “D-Do I have to?” She looked around the room for something to let her escape. Her mind latched on to a thought and she looked up hopefully, “What if I-” Her suggestion was cut off with another gentle shake of Guiding Hoof’s head.

Fluttershy’s hope faded away as she sighed, her head hanging low making her mane flow down like a pink waterfall. A gentle hoof on her shoulder draws her gaze upward to the supportive smile of the consoler. “I know that next step is scary. I’ve been in this same position before countless times. And I won’t lie to you, you will have to face moments like this countless times in the future.” Fluttershy cringed and tried to hide in her hair again, making the mare smile and bring herself down lower to Fluttershy’s eye level as she continued softly, “But there is something I learned. A harsh truth, but one that should encourage you.”

A bit of coaxing, rubbing her back, and Guiding Hoof got Fluttershy to look at her, curios. She continued in that same calming whisper, “Your goal will never come closer if you stand still. But every step, no matter how shaky or small, will bring you closer.” She nuzzled the filly as she softly concluded, “I believe in you. Believe that you can take that step.”

It was a little while later before Fluttershy emerged from the room, standing a little taller. Or as tall as she could. Guiding Hoof followed behind her, “I’m glad to see you in a much better mood. Just remember my advice, keep stepping forward!”

With a smile and a wave, Fluttershy departed. She radiated a new found confidence. She was sure of herself, ready to face the challenges before her! Nothing could stop her now!