Chapters The Weak Flyers Chat Circle
A week later, Derpy and Fluttershy return to the weak flyers chat circle but not without stopping for muffins first just like they've done every time previously.
A few minutes later, they walk into Flitter's place and take their places. Everypony else is also there and in their seats as well. Scootaloo is sharing as they sit down.
"We're glad you could make it," says Flitter, "since you did come a little bit late."
Fluttershy then begins to share her update with the others around her, how she's started to come out of her shell more. Flitter can't help but smile at Fluttershy's remarkable progress. Fluttershy is definitely improving way more than her other clients and that is clear to see. Fluttershy continues to talk. Once she finishes, Derpy shares her progress, which also causes Flitter to smile. The gray, clutsy pegasus has improved and she can see that clearly and she can't help but be proud. Maybe she can make good and confident flyers out of these two yet.
The Weak Flyers Chat Circle
A few days after the last meeting, Fluttershy goes alone and stops by Flitter's place on her own. She walks up and softly taps on Flitter's door.
"Come in Miss Fluttershy!" replies Flitter. Fluttershy opens the door and enters Flitter's house. "What can I do for you?"
"I wanted to just talk one on one some more, get some more stuff off my chest that I can't in front of other ponies," replies Fluttershy.
"Okay, let's sit down," says Flitter. The two walk over to Flitter's couch and sit down. "What do you want to say? This is your time to talk."
Fluttershy breathes and then begins. "Well," says Fluttershy, "the truth is, I've always been a very unconfident flyer. I have been since day one in flight school. I was teased. The others would always taunt 'Fluttershy, Fluttershy, Fluttershy can't really fly'. I ticked me off and annoyed me so much but instead of confronting them, I'd always run off and cry in a corner. The only friend I had through all of it was Rainbow Dash. I was called weakling, useless, it hurt my feelings so much." Her eyes begin to well with tears. "My teachers didn't care that I was being bullied either. The bullies would always get away with it. She didn't care about any of the flyers unless they were strong and big. I was the runt of my class. They called me things like thin, runt, stick on legs, and the teacher still did nothing. Once the higher ups found out, they fired the teacher and a new teacher was put in place. A teacher that actually cared and stood up for me against the bullies. I loved her. She was the best teacher I ever had. Even after flight school, it continued to get worse. Everyone in Cloudsdale would taunt me and tease me. That caused me to get into a race between Rainbow and the two bullies and that rush of wind knocked me off my feet and sent me to earth. Once I landed on the ground, I found a house for sale and settled down in the little glen in my little humble home. I was finally free of all the taunting. The Ponyvillians were nice to me especially Pinkie Pie and Applejack. I was finally somewhere I felt I belonged. Even so, my brother would always come to visit me. That would always make my day. Zephyr may have been annoying but he was supportive. Everything was perfect. A few months later, Rainbow came by to see how I was doing and then a year later, she moved her home from Cloudsdale to Ponyville, right above mine no less. I couldn't be more grateful. I knew whenever I needed some pony, she'd be very close and easy to grab whenever I needed someone to talk to. Everything was starting to change for the better. I even made friends in the woodland creatures around me especially a bunny named Angel and a chipmunk named Chippy. I made a friend in a squirrel named Nutty as well. I also made friend in bears in other big creatures as well. Those woodland creatures became my closest friends and comfort system. I could tell anything to my woodland friends. A few months after that, Derpy moved into Ponyville and we learned we weren't the best of flyers and so, we became the closest of friends. I felt she understood me more than the rest of my friends. She understood me more than the others did, more than Rainbow, more than Pinkie, more than Applejack. Whenever I felt down, I know I could talk to Derpy because I knew she'd understand." Fluttershy takes a breath. "May I get some water?"
"Sure," says Flitter. She gets up and brings Fluttershy over a cup of water then sits back down beside her on the couch.
"Thank you," replies Fluttershy. She drinks the water and then continues her story. "Since I became friends with Derpy, my confidence level began to grow and since she became my friend, her confidence level too began to grow. We helped each other grow as ponies. We helped each other grow as flyers as well. We'd have book clubs together every weekend too. We called it book club but it was just really two friends reading books together for fun. Me helping her understand words that she didn't know or ones she couldn't read. We became each other's support system especially against bullies. We knew, no matter what, we'd have each other's back."
"I'm glad you shared," says Flitter. "Do you want to continue this one on one chat next week?" Fluttershy nods, thanks Flitter for her time, then leaves. Flitter sighs. "I'm glad that I can help those around me that need a shoulder to lean on. It's the best job in the world. The most useful." She then goes to her bedroom and sits down and takes a breather. She's glad Fluttershy trusted her enough to share with her one on one. She definitely sees that as a major step in the right direction and that makes her smile.
The Weak Flyers Chat Circle
That afternoon, Fluttershy is alone at her home tending to her garden when a little bird hops into the window with a hurt wing and hurt leg. She bandages up the little bird and sticks him in one of her hoof made bird houses. Once in the house, the bird falls fast asleep.
"It's okay, I know how you feel little birdy," sighs Fluttershy, "everypony is a weak flyer now and again." She then leaves the bird to his nap and goes back to tending to her flowers.
Meanwhile, at the CMC club house, Scootaloo finally finds the courage in herself to tell her friends what she's been doing lately. "Girls," says Scootaloo, taking a deep breath, "I've been going to a weak flyers chat circle lately. It's a great circle with other ponies I know, ones that are like me, Derpy and Fluttershy are there. There are others there too, but I don't know them as well as I know Derpy and Fluttershy. After all, Fluttershy is like a mother to me just like Rainbow is. I'm just glad that I finally got to tell you, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"It's okay," replies Apple Bloom.
"Yeah, it's completely fine," says Sweetie Belle, "we're just glad you told us."
"I'm glad you two have my back on this, that means a lot to me," replies Scootaloo as tears form in her eyes. "I'm so glad you care."
"Of coarse we care, you're our best friend," say Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom hugging her. The three burst into laughter.
Scootaloo is just glad her friends now know the truth about where she's been for the last few weeks. She's glad she doesn't have to hide it from them anymore.
The Weak Flyers Chat Circle
It's another day and Fluttershy is at another one on one at Flitter's place as it pours down a spring shower of rain outside. The two talk over tea and cookies. "So, how has your flying improved? Your confidence?" asks Flitter as she pops a cookie in her mouth.
"It's going well, really well," replies Fluttershy, "I even came out of my shell and told my brother how these meetings are helping me improve as a pony and a flyer. It's great! I'm so glad I'm doing this!"
"I'm glad you were able to open up to your brother," replies Flitter, "that's a huge improvement."
"I know," replies Fluttershy. She takes a sip of tea then smiles.
A few hours later, the two part ways. Fluttershy is glad she's doing these extra one on ones. They're really helping her improve as a pony, a flyer, and a general member of pony society. These one on ones are making her more comfortable with crowds and social situations and for that, she's grateful. She's glad that she's improving herself and her social skills. She honestly couldn't ask for anything better than that.
The Weak Flyers Chat Circle
After several more months of the focus group, Fluttershy finally comes out of her shell more than she ever had in the past, which, to her friends' and family's surprise, was something they thought would never happen. The same goes for all the others in the chat group. To celebrate them all finally coming out of their shells, Pinkie throws a beautiful party to celebrate with only their closest friends and family. In the end, Fluttershy, Derpy, and the others can agree that doing the chat group was for the best and they really wouldn't change that for the world if given the choice. Happy for his sister, Zephyr even gives her a hug and a slap on the back and an "I'm proud of you". Fluttershy can't help but blush. She's glad she's improved and she truly has Derpy to thank for that.
The End
The Weak Flyers Chat Circle
"Hey Fluttershy," said Derpy, "you wanna hang out?"
"Uh," hesitating, "sure," replies Fluttershy. "Where are we going?"
"Where do you think?" replies Derpy, "For muffins."
Fluttershy flies off behind her friend. They go and grab some muffins from Sugar Cube Corner before heading off to their real location: a chat circle for weak flyers. There, they are greeted by their other friends that have trouble flying including Sky Stinger and Vapor Trail, which surprises Fluttershy. What has she gotten herself into? At least, it's ponies that share the same problem as her. That gives her some comfort.
"Please sit down," says Flitter, "welcome to our weak flyers chat circle Miss Fluttershy and Miss Derpy." The two take their seats. "Let me introduce everypony else here, Blossomforth, Scootaloo, Sky Stinger, and Vapor Trail. This is a calm and collected environment where everypony can share their thoughts and confide in those who understand what they're going through."
"Well," says Fluttershy, "in that case, I never really did well at flying and because of that I was always picked on as a filly and I never got over it. It still scares me to get into the air. I may be a pegasus, yet I prefer the ground. Even though I have wings, I tend to walk everywhere just the same. I just can't bring myself to take to the skies because every time I do, I hear the voices of those bullies taunting me in my head and it grounds me every time."
"Miss Fluttershy," says Flitter, "can I recommend something?" Fluttershy nods her head. "Just lean on your friends, they can keep up your confidence or even raise it. Whenever you need support, just turn to them, especially your best friends. There's a reason you surround yourself with them after all. They're a support system."
"I never thought of it like that before," replies Fluttershy with a small smile and a sigh, "thank you."
"Who's next?" asks Flitter.
"Me," says Scootaloo, "I'm the only pegasus in my class that can't fly at school and it gets me down especially since I'm bullied for it by the school bullies. I don't let my friends see my struggles, but based on what you told Fluttershy, I should tell them about my struggles. Even so, I hate that I'll never really be able to fly."
"Who wants to share next?" asks Flitter.
"I will," sighs Sky Stinger, "I was the runt of my family and because of that, I was pretty much ignored. While my parents taught my siblings to fly, they never bothered to teach me to fly. When it came to me learning to fly, I had Vapor Trail. She taught me how to fly. She helped me fly too. All she wanted was for me to succeed. She helped me finally reach my cloud nine. She then took me off that cloud when she told me the truth, that she kept me in the air. I wasn't truly flying. It crushed me. It ripped my world to pieces. I'm still not completely over it to be honest."
"I was only trying to help him succeed, I didn't know it would damage him in the end," says Vapor Trail with a tear in her eye.
"You just need to be honest with him from now on, after all, Vapor, honesty is the best policy, especially when it comes to something of this nature, sometimes it hurts, but it's worth it. You did the right thing," replies Flitter.
"Thank you," reply Stinger and Vapor as they embrace hooves.
"Who wants to go next?" asks Flitter.
"I will," sighs Derpy, "the reason I can't fly well, well, it's not my wings, it's actually my eyes. I've tried every surgery, but nothing worked. I can't see straight and that makes me a clumsy flyer. It gets me mocked or stuck in a corner. It ticks off the other pegasi around me. It always seems like they're throwing me a pity party. I hate that they see me as useless and worth their pity. It's not my fault that my eyes make it difficult for me to focus enough to fly straight. It's just how I was born. I can't help that."
"If I may," says Fluttershy to Flitter.
"Go on, Fluttershy, you can probably help Derpy better than I can," says Flitter.
"Derpy, don't let them get to you. Believe me, I learned to not let it get to me and it helped a million times over. Try it, if it worked for me, it'll work for you too," says Fluttershy. Derpy nods.
"You're right, Flutters," says Derpy, "thanks."
"I guess that leaves me," sighs Blossomforth. "I can never keep my feet under me and that makes it near impossible to take off without several previous hours of just trying to get myself on my hooves. I'm weak kneed but when I get in the air, I finally feel free. All I need to do is learn to get off the ground. It's been my biggest challenge since day one and I often get teased for it, called names for it, and I can't stand it."
"Well," says Flitter, "first, don't let it get to you. Show that you're better than the bully. Show them that they can't hold you back. Second, strengthen your knee bones from working out with specific exercises and going to the spa to get them rubbed every week, two times a week. It should help immensely."
"Thank you," replies Blossomforth, "that information definitely helps. I'll take your advice."
"Good job today, everypony, I'll see you same time next week," says Flitter.
"See you then!" says everypony as they walk out and head their separate ways. Fluttershy is actually glad Derpy brought her along. She can definitely agree that this is definitely going to help her in the long run.
The Weak Flyers Chat Circle
One week later, Fluttershy and Derpy go to another weak flyers chat circle at Flitter's place.
"I'm glad everypony came back," says Flitters as everypony takes their seats. Like last time, Fluttershy sits down right beside Derpy. "Has everypony taken the advice they shared last time and put it to use?" Everypony nods to show that indeed they did put everything into use. Flitters, smiles, pleased, and then tells everypony to share how they put the advice they were given into action.
The first to share is Blossomforth. "Doing therapy and going to the spa every two days a week really helps. My knees are getting stronger and making it easier for me to take off into the skies."
The next to share is Fluttershy. "Learning to ignore the taunts and teasing has really helped me build my confidence and take to the sky more. I'm glad that I've come to these meetings. They're really helping me improve in my flying and daily life and I couldn't be any more grateful!"
The third to share is Derpy. "Learning to ignore ponies calling me names like 'cross eyes' has really helped my confidence rise and even though I still bump into things on occasion, I don't do it all the time now. I'm no longer annoying ponies and I have your advice to thank for that." She looks at Fluttershy then at Flitter. "I have to thank all of you for that."
"Anypony else want to share?" asks Flitter. Everypony shakes their heads. "Any new concerns at all?" she asks next. "Any comments?"
"I actually have a question," speaks up Sky Stinger, "I am trying my best to build my wing strength but I still keep falling flat on my butt every time I try to take off. It's annoying. Do I throw in the towel or just keep at it since it feels like I'm getting nowhere?" He huffs and then snorts.
"Keep up the wing strengthening exercises and you'll be in the air in no time at all," replies Flitter, "you also need to learn patience and anger management. That'll also help." Sky Stinger just nods then tips back in his seat. Vapor looks at him proudly. She's glad he got that question off his chest.
The chat circle continues for another two or three hours before finally drawing to a close. Everypony then goes out for lunch together and talks a little bit more before parting ways. They're all glad they're doing the chat circle. It's definitely helping them become more confident in themselves as well as pushing them to keep up on training their wings to be stronger as well as teaching them not to give up so easily and for that, they can all agree, they couldn't be more grateful!
The Weak Flyers Chat Circle
That same day after everypony else has parted ways, Fluttershy and Derpy go and grab something to eat at Sugar Cube Corner. A few moments later, they arrive and are immediately seated by Pinkie who then proceeds to ask them about their day as well as take their order.
"Hey Fluttershy, hey Derpy, how has your day been so far?" asks Pinkie Pie.
"It's been good," replies Fluttershy. Derpy nods in agreement.
"I'm glad to hear that you two," replies Pinkie, "now what would you like today?"
"Muffins," says Derpy. "All kinds."
"I'll do your angel cake cupcake," replies Fluttershy sweetly.
"Sure thing," replies Pinkie as she goes off and grabs their food.
A few minutes later, Pinkie returns with the muffins and the cupcake and places them down in front of Fluttershy and Derpy. "Here you are," she says, "a muffin basket for Derpy." She places it in front of Derpy. "And an angel cake cupcake for Fluttershy," she places it in front of Fluttershy and then goes off to tend to her other customers.
Once the two are done with their treats, they leave Sugar Cube Corner and then part ways but not without sharing a hug.
"I'm so glad you talked me into going to that chat group," says Fluttershy as she hugs Derpy.
"I'm glad you decided to tag along," says Derpy as she hugs Fluttershy.
The two then end the embrace and part ways. Fluttershy returns to her cottage and Derpy heads off for her date with the Doctors. For these two, they may have a long way to go, but they can both most definitely agree that they are improving both socially and as flyers.
The Weak Flyers Chat Circle
It's a beautiful day as Fluttershy and Derpy head to yet another Weak Flyers Chat Group at Flitter's place. The two can't wait to share what they've learned and what new experiences they've had. Deep down inside, though, Fluttershy can't help but feel nervous since she doesn't feel she's improved as much as Derpy and the others have. Just the same, she swallows her unsureness and enters the building and takes her seat beside Derpy as normal.
The chat soon begins with Sky Stinger kicking things off for the first time in all the chats. This shocks everypony especially Flitter, who wasn't expecting this from him at all.
"Ever since I've started focusing more on the air dynamics and strengthening my wings, I've soared to new heights. I got to seventy five feet yesterday with is something I've never done before but only dreamed of up until now. Maybe someday I'll become an elite flyer and not just a trick flyer, it's possible now more than ever before and I have this group to thank for that!" Flitter sees how excited he is and responds accordingly.
"I'm so thrilled you're reaching new heights, Stinger, keep up the good work!" Says Flitter. "Who wants to go next?"
"I will," peeps Fluttershy.
"Go on," replies Flitter with a smile.
"Well," starts Fluttershy, "I've gotten ten inches off the ground, which is a huge improvement for me. My friends and family are proud of me especially Rainbow Dash. She's glad I'm doing this group and hopes I'll keep going and improving myself. I'm glad to have a support system behind me, just glad to know I'm not alone."
"That's a great thing to have, a support system!" replies Stinger to Fluttershy. "After all, if it wasn't for Vapor, I'd still be land bound."
They continue to talk for three more hours before parting ways. After parting ways, Fluttershy and Derpy stop by Sugar Cube Corner for muffins and something to drink. Once they get their food, they sit down and talk.
"I'm glad you talked me into doing this chat group, it's really helping me build my confidence and come out of my shell," says Fluttershy.
"You're welcome," Derpy replies with a smile. She then proceeds to eat her muffin and Fluttershy does the same.
The Weak Flyers Chat Circle
Not long after getting home from the chat group, Derpy heads to the foal daycare place and picks up Dinky. Once she does, the two go out for ice cream and not long after get caught in the rain, so they rush into the closest shop laughing and smiling as they continue to enjoy their cones.
"I'm so glad you're my mommy, you're so much fun," squeals Dinky.
"That means the world coming from you," replies Derpy with a smile.
Once the rain subsides, the two head home with them strolling down through the gardens near the Ponyville fountain as they approach the lab. There, they stop in and say hi to Doctor Whooves before heading to their home up the road. Back at home, the two sit down and start on a puzzle. The two laugh as they try to put it together. Derpy is glad that her daughter enjoys spending time with her. She'd have it no other way.
Meanwhile, at Fluttershy's place, she tends to the little bird by bringing it food and even some honey comb to suck on. She then smiles as she flies off to tend to her other creatures in her home. Then, she gets an unexpected knock at her door. It's her brother. "Hey sis," he says.
"Hey Zeph," replies Fluttershy with a grin. He then comes inside and they talk for a few hours.
"So, I heard you've been going to a weak flyers chat group," says Zeph.
"Yep," replies Fluttershy with a nod, "and I really enjoy it. It's help me build my confidence. It's also helped me make friends that are going through the same things I am. It's great."
"I'm glad to hear that," replies Zephyr with a grin. "I'm proud of you, sis." She pulls back a loose piece of mane and smiles at him. He always knows what to say to make her day. The two talk for several hours before going out to dinner at the Ponyville Cafe before finally parting ways for the night. She's glad to have him as a little brother, she knows that now more than ever before.
