A Kind Doctor: Fluttershy's early life

by Monfang

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life
Length: 5407

Kindness alone is not able to stitch bone and heal wounds. And it's hard for some to stand holding such empathy but not have the skills to help. This conundrum left Fluttershy with only one choice...

For most pegasi, falling from the sky is a death sentence. For Fluttershy, it was the moment she fully realised herself and found her path in life.

Now, years later, she is brought back to the memories of her life before settling down in Ponyville by the curiosity of young foals. The last moments of her innocence before she says goodbye to her best friend. Her first steps into a new and unfamiliar world. Friends made, challenges overcome, and precious moments that will never leave her heart.

Edited by Malefactory

Currently open for co-authors to assist in writing.

Borrowing elements from works by RealityCheck with permission.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-01-09 01:03:17 UTC

Chapter 1

It was a night like any other and all throughout Fluttershy’s cottage, not a peep was heard. Animals rested in the fields where they lay, and only the soft glow of light shows that anyone was home.

CRASH!

That would be true, however, if it wasn’t a night where the timid pegasus had the misfortune of tending to the three young and well loved terrors of Ponyville.

Tonight, they seemed to have preoccupied themselves with attempting to be, as they put it, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS HOUSE CLEANERS! YAY!” Fluttershy, who had hoped just to give the dears something to occupy themselves with, was now left floating in the middle of her own house as they shot from one end to the other ‘cleaning’ wherever they went, usually resulting in a larger mess behind left behind.

Dishes, picture frames and other ornate objects were at risk from the fillies’ boundless enthusiasm and Fluttershy’s animal friends were little help to reign them in, several of the slower critters already falling to the clutches of the little fillies for a bathtime they won’t soon forget. What resulted had shocked the rest of the animals enough to send them hiding into their homes, hopefully out of reach.

All this was rather surprising to the caretaker of these animals, seeing as Fluttershy only equipped them with a small feather duster each. Somehow, Sweetie Belle managed to get them all dressed in attire similar to a maid’s outfit to round things out, even if it was clashed horribly with their capes fluttering in the wind behind them as they dashed about.

“I’ll get the flower vase!” Applebloom called out as she dashed to the blue container holding a fresh cut of pink flowers. Before Fluttershy could move, the Apple was already climbing up the endtable and batting away at the vase left and right with her duster before jumping away, leaving Fluttershy to sweep in behind her and catch it before it fell.

As soon as she set it back in place, a cry for help from the bathroom caused her to fly over as quickly as possible. “Oh.. My…” To her dismay, Sweetie Belle, in an attempt to clean the shower, had gotten herself completely wrapped up in the curtain. Fluttershy swooped in to try and dislodge the filly but instead found herself getting tangled within. “Sweetie Belle, please hold still, I can’t find you if you keep moving.”

“Hold on, I”m almost... There!” With a hop, Sweetie Belle jumped free of the fabric, leaving Fluttershy spinning to try and find where she had gone. Her hoof catches the the cloth, pulling it off of the bar above the shower and completely wrapping it around her. An oblivious Sweetie Bell was already running out the door when it had happened, calling back, “Thanks, Fluttershy!”

Angel found her several moments later and rounded up a few of the braver animals, setting them to work unwrapping the helpless mare. They eventually got her free, but her attempt to thank them all was cut short by an alarm call coming forth from the main living area courtesy of a bird’s shrill cry. It wasn’t a moment before Fluttershy was in the room, her eyes going wide as plates as she saw what the cause was.

The Trio of Crusaders had decided to clean off the knickknacks from the top of a rather tall shelf by stacking themselves hind legs on shoulders. Applebloom on the bottom using her natural strength to hold up the other two, Sweetie Belle next up with Scootaloo using her wings as best she could to reach higher. But all that resulted was the shelf growing far too heavy on one side and starting to lean on a dangerous path to crushing the three fillies.

While Fluttershy had been frozen in shock at what the girls were attempting to do, her maternal instinct took over once she saw what was going to happen. The shelf’s hind legs slowly rose up off of the ground as items shifted forward and fell off, alerting the fillies of a fact far too late for them to change. They cried out in panic as the shadow of the shelf lomed over them.

Suddenly, a mighty CRACK shook the house and the shelf was shot back, shattering against the wall. It was only a moment before the three Crusaders realised what had occurred when they saw Fluttershy standing next to them, her hind legs still raised up from bucking the shelf back in place using strength she never knew was in her.

Seeing all was safe, Fluttershy quickly moved to gather up the fillies in her hooves and wings. “Oh my goodness, are you ok? I was so worried. Please don’t scare me like that again. Oh please say you aren't hurt,” Fluttershy swiftly said, affectionately checking them over for even the smallest indication of injury.

Scootaloo managed to get herself free from the grasp, attempting to put on a cool act, “We’re fine, Fluttershy. We had it under control.”

Applebloom raised and eyebrow, asking in a deadpan voice, “Is that why you screamed the loudest? Because you wanted to show how in control you were?” Scootaloo tensed up as she was caught red-hoofed as the other two shared a laugh.

Crossing her hooves, she looked away stubbornly. “I wasn’t screaming. I was… Doing a Karate yell! Just like Rainbow Dash!” She attempted to prove this, pulling off a few weak moves she learned from her idol while the other two rolled their eyes.

“I’m just glad you are all safe,” Fluttershy said, her voice returning to it’s soft whisper as she gently scooted the three of them to the couch. “Now stay here and let me clean up, ok?”

“Let us help you!” The three girls jumped up, already eager after their near encounter with a falling shelf.

“No!” Fluttershy’s shout was more of a very loud whisper, but it stopped the three all the same. She slinked back and cleared her throat, “I mean, let me get the glass first. It’ll be safer that way.” Begrudgingly, the three Crusaders agreed and only watched while Fluttershy floated around the floor and cleaned up the glass from a few broken pictures, the smaller claws of her animal friends helping to speed things along greatly. With things a lot safer, she waved the girls over to help pick up

The fillies wasted no time in scurrying over and helping to pick up the broken picture frames. Each picture was of her many animal friends, from super closeups of her smallest friends and pictures that were larger than others to help them fit. “Whoa! You’ are friends with a manticore?!” Scootaloo couldn’t believe her eyes as she held up the picture of the scorpion tailed beast, holding the much smaller Fluttershy in it’s arms. It would almost look horrifying if not for the smiles that both of them wore.

“Yes, he’s such a sweetheart.” Fluttershy took the picture and smiled tenderly at it, “I remember meeting him and helping him with a thorn in his paw. He was so grateful for it.” She giggled, remembering the ticklish licks she got from him the first time they meet.

Beside her, Sweetie Bell lifted up one picture and tilted her head in confusion. “What’s this?” Fluttershy leaned over the unicorn filly’s shoulder as she read on, “University of Medicine, Baltimare. This Certificate of Medicine hereby grants Fluttershy of Ponyville the title of.. Doctor!”

The three Crusaders shared a look of shock before turning it on the quickly blushing Fluttershy, only growing worse as they said at once, “You’re a Doctor!?”

Fluttershy couldn’t help but hide her face in her wings, “Well.. yes. Kinda. Only with animals though. But, I could help a Pony. Maybe. If they say it’s ok.”

Applebloom shook her head, “It’s not possible! You don’t wear that white coat or go around touching us with cold things.”

Applebloom shivered at the memory as Scootaloo chipped in, “You don’t have sharp needles or hit our knees!”

Sweetie Belle was the last to speak up, sounding the most disappointed, “And you don’t even have any candy!” When the other two Crusaders gave her a look of disbelief, she shrugged defensively, “What? She doesn’t.”

Fluttershy giggled and gathered up the last few pictures and set them on the table before placing the diploma in the middle. “Well, I’m a different kind of doctor. See, I don’t give checkups to ponies, I help tend to my little animal friends who come to me with something wrong.” She brightened up at an idea, “Tell you what, how about I tell you about how I earned my diploma for a bedtime story?”

The three Crusaders shared a window rattling cheer and raced each other up the stairs and bowled into the bed, the sheet flying up and slowly floating down onto their forms. Their angel smiles betrayed the horror that they once visited upon the home.

Soft as a feather, Fluttershy floated up the stairs with an album in her hooves and set herself down on the chair next to the bed, opening the album up to show them the pictures inside. “Do you remember my Cutie Mark story?” At the three rapid nods, she smiled and went on, “Well, shortly after that…”

The crickets outside started singing, replacing the song of the birds as Night settled on Ponyville. While Luna rose the moon, Fluttershy took her little charges into the story of her growth into a mare. She left out the parts unfit for fillies, but the memories she had were clear and unfiltered.

Some of them were sad, others joyful. Some scare her still and others bring her unending laughter. But none of them she will sacrifice. Especially that of a doctor, one who bore a name from his father’s favorite book.

Chapter 2

        Once upon a time, long long ago relative to a filly or three, a young Pegasus fell from the sky. Sadly this Pegasus was weak and frail and had no means to right herself or stop her descent. It looked to be the end for her, and to this story. However, just before it came, a miracle occurred. For reasons even she still does not understand, a swarm of butterflies gathered and catch her in their gentle grasp before setting her down. It wasn’t long before she understood her innate connection to every living creature around her.

        She spent the entire day communing with animals, learning their names and desires beyond anything she had been taught before. It was sunset when other ponies found her. Earth Ponies from a little hamlet called Ponyville. The word was sent out and soon she was returned home. As soon as her hooves touched the first cloud, she was fretted on by everypony around her.

        Doctors and nurses surprised she had not an injury on her. Teachers and her parents who fawned and cooed over her with her new cutie mark and quite a few other fillies who were more excited to hear what the land below was like. It took a while for her to find Dash in the throng of ponies, herself being swarmed by two sides; one wanting to reprimand her for the illegal race, and the other congratulating her for her cutie mark and the amazing Equestria wide spectacle that was the Sonic Rainboom! They were the most popular kids around! For days, it seemed like they were in a dream, celebrities wherever they went.

        All too soon, it became a nightmare.

        The nightmare took the form of a Unicorn from Canterlot who arrived one day during a press conference. The little Filly Rainbow Dash was about to be commemorated into the Hall of Flight and was fielding some very easy and somewhat cute questions. What was it like to fly that fast? What does a Sonic Rainboom sound like from the inside? What was her favorite foods and colors? It was in the middle of this that she was hit with a rather hard question.

        “Can you prove that you actually did the Sonic Rainboom?” Everyone in the room froze and turned to the Unicorn that had entered the room. The Cloudwalking Spell making him able to cross the soft floor and stand in front of the podium that Dash was in front of. Everything, from the manner in which he walked, the way he stared down the little filly and the tone of his voice said just one thing and he put it into words, “I know you are lying, young lady. And I, Professor I.M. Dubious from the Canterlot University will reveal the myth that is this ‘Sonic Rainboom’,” He spoke the name with such condemnation that might as well have been a child’s drawing of a monster.

        It was enough to scare a young Fluttershy behind the podium but Rainbow Dash just grinned, “Go right ahead and try, Professor I.M. Dummy,” Dash smirked wider as she taunted the professor, “Everypony saw me fly out there and then they saw the Rainboom. There is no denying my awesome!” Sounds of agreement were all around as the Pegasi glared at the Unicorn. But he didn’t flinch, not even as the fillies from her class gathered around and stared daggers at him.

        Instead, he simply scoffed and turned to leave, saying only one last thing, “I hoped you enjoyed your fifteen minutes of fame.”

        Dash blew a raspberry at the departing unicorn to the chuckles of the pegasi around. Once he was gone, she hopped off the stool set in front of the podium and put a hoof around Fluttershy, “It’s ok, Flutters. He’s gone. Don’t let that guy scare you, he’s just hot air.”

        Fluttershy looked up through the parting of her hair at her chromatic friend, “But.. But what if he can? Prove you didn’t do what you did?” Her question left Dash confused for a bit before she shook it off.

        “There’s no way. You can’t prove a lie, Fluttershy. That’s just not how things work.” Dash picked up her skittish friend and lead the way as she continued, “I’ll give him a month or two before he either gives up or comes back with an apology. Come on, lets try some of the new ‘Rainboom Ice Cream’. I hear they put in pop rocks!” This was enough to make the delicate pegasus smile, a genuine and heartwarming smile.

        It would be a long while before Fluttershy would smile like that again, for Dash was sadly mistaken. It didn’t even take a month before Dubious had destroyed everything. One by one he went from pony to pony, grilling them with question after question until he found something that made them slip up, say something that he could use to twist their perceptions around. He wouldn’t let up on any pony no matter the age, so focused he was on finding the Truth. Even little Fluttershy found herself doubting her own memories.

        The Newspapers swung just as quickly. Despite all attempts at recreating the event in the skies over Equestria to prove that it was a trick failing miserably, the news stories still switched from praising Dash as a prodigy to calling her a fraud and a disappointment. Soon, the ponies she called friends before now joined the hecklers, their praises replaced with ridicule. Until it was accepted across Cloudsdale about the myth of the Sonic Rainboom. Until only Fluttershy remained behind has her friend.

        From then on out, it only got worse. Adults would look down at them in disappointment. At Dash for spreading what they believed to be lies and for Fluttershy for continuing to support her. The other fillies were not so kind. Their disappointment in losing a hero became resentment which grew further. Teasing and bullying the pair became the norm. Rainbow Dash was a tough Pegasus, even as a filly. She could take the punishment and keep going forward.

Fluttershy was a different case. Her meekness grew worse under the treatment. She spent more time crying in the bathroom than most anywhere else in the school. This only egged her tormentors on.

It wasn't until she took a new turn running away from her bullies that she found sanctuary amongst the tall walls of the school library. She dived around a corner and under a table. From there, she could see the hooves of the bullies as the searched for her, chanting, "Fluttershy, Fluttershy, there's no place for you to hide!" Hooves grabbed the chairs around the table, ready to rip them out and leave her trapped.

"What do you think you are doing?" Everything stopped when a mare's voice sternly interrupted the bullies. There was silence for a moment before the other fillies stepped away from the table and went to to the source. Narrow Margin was the school’s librarian. Grey hair up in a bun and wrinkles on her face under her grey blue coat, she never seemed to have a smile on her face, ever.

Fluttershy couldn't clearly hear what was said, but she could tell they were playing innocent again, like always and she closed her eyes as she expected them to get off the hook again.

A moment of quid again until, "If you want to be in the library in recess, you must respect the rules of being quiet. As you have shown no desire to do so, I'll have to ask you to leave." The bullies looked at each other with pained expressions until one of them brightened with an idea.

"Ok, miss," the mare started sweetly as she wakes back to the table, "let us collect our friend and-" Her hooves barely touched the chair before the librarian slammed her own hoof on the chair, holding it place.

The mare's voice was cold as she explained, " Your 'friend' hasn't made a sound since her arrival. I'm sure you don't want to needlessly put her in the same spot as you are." The librarian lowered her head and continued, "That spot being dangerously close to a write up." The message was loud and clear now. With a unified grumble of disdain, the bullies trudged off. It was only after she heard the door close and checked for any stragglers tha she pulled a chair out and spoke to Fluttershy, "Well? Come on out. They left."

It took a few moments before she actually did come out, shaking slightly as she looked up at the intimidating mare. She quickly moved her gaze down to her hooves as they shuffled a bit before she spoke in a soft voice. "Um.. Thank you for helping me." She looked back up again and quickly regretted it. The librarian's expression was impasse as a blank wall, leaving her to only default to running away, "Ok, I'll just go..  If that's alright with you, I mean. Sorry" she turned to leave but was stopped by a hoof on her shoulder.

        Fluttershy made it a few steps before the librarian stopped her, “And where do you think you are going?” The timid mare froze like a statue at the question and slowly looked up at the mare standing next to her. She pointed to the door and started to soft whisper out an answer when Margin put her hoof in the filly's shoulders. "When I said you could stay, I meant it. Follow me." The mare walked around the corner without looking behind her. Fluttershy, after a stunned moment followed after her.

A few winding turns and the pair ended up in a quiet and unused part of the area, fit with a small reading table and a lamp. "I'll be able to show you the way here until you know it yourself." The librarian pulled out the chair and patted the seat, no one will likely bother you here. And if they do, just give a shout." She gave the faintest of smiles through her wrinkles as she lowered her voice, "The state won't let me take direct action against those bullies. But I have control here. I can keep them out, I promise."

There was a tense moment as it sunk in before the mare was tackled by a ball of yellow and pink, the filly burying her face in the older mare's neck, thanking her perfusely. It took Narrow Margin a moment to realize that she was actually being hugged by a student. Gently, she pulled Fluttershy off of her and patted the filly on the head before returning to the front desk.

Fluttershy took a seat at the table and for a while was content. Though safety is no guard against bordum. Halfway through the out of class period and Fluttershy had exhausted all options of passing the time that didn't make much noise. With a soft sigh she floated off of the seat and headed for the door. "Maybe they are gone by now. Miss Margine is nice, but I don't think I can stand being alone." She turned down an aisle of books, "maybe I can find Rainbow... Dash?" Fluttershy stopped and floated back as the book names caught her attention.

Natural Encyckapidea. All about Animals. Woodland Creatures. Ponies and Pets. Fluttershy couldn't believe her eyes. Everything she could want to know about the animals she had encountered as a little filly in hoof's reach.

Gathering up several books, she floated to the front desk and set then down, much to the surprise of Narrow Margin who raised an inquisitive eyebrow at the shy Pegasus. The gaze made her retreat a bit before she asked in a soft voice, only audible thanks to the near silence I the library. "Um, I was wondering, if it's ok that is, if you could give permission for me to read these while I'm here?" She have a hopeful smile. Narrow Margin's expression changed to one of disbelief, As if such a question was unheard of. Quickly, Fluttershy retreated, "Oh, ok. Sorry for bothering you." She reached up to take the books back but they were held in place by the librarian mare's hoof.

"Miss Fluttershy," she said slowly as she leaned forward over the desk, "do you not understand where you are? This is a library. Do you understand? Then don't ask such silly questions." The librarian pushed the books forward to Fluttershy, who was looking very confused as she went from looking to the books, up at the mare and trying to find words. Finally, Narrow Margin settled the internal conflict by leaning forward and clearly saying, "Go. Read."

Fluttershy's smile lit up the room and she dive to give another hug, stopped only by a firm hoof from the librarian holding her back. Margin have her a shooing wave and Fluttershy gave a sheepish smile before quickly heading off.

Only to return just as quickly to collect the books.

Chapter 3

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!