Fluttershy had retracted her bestial form, she was barely holding herself together as Ratel comforted her (It will be all right, Fluttershy. You did as she asked of you.)

Fluttershy cried (But I hurt her, she screamed in pain! I clawed out her eyes, I could have killed her! What if I kill someone else?!)

Ratel frowned (Fluttershy, the ability to kill doesn’t make you a monster. Even killing doesn’t truly one a monster. What makes one a monster is when one kills for joy and pleasure of killing, yes there is the thrill of the fight. But that persists even in non-lethal combat.)

Fluttershy looked hopefully at Ratel “(What should I do?)

Ratel smiled back (Focus on the future, and don’t fear your instincts. Learning how to control that is part of why you are here, Celestia knew this would be a consequence of training you so don’t worry about it.)

Fluttershy nodded (I’ll try.) She trotted through the halls of the castle, it was fairly quiet.

Storm frowned as he saw her trotting around the castle “Where is the Princess, isn’t she supposed to be teaching you.”

Fluttershy whispered “I doubt I need much protection.”

Her father smiled “Nevermind that, there is something we have been meaning to tell you.” Fluttershy was curious, she had no idea of what this surprise could be but she was curious.

Storm and Fluttershy entered their sparsely decorated home within the castle, her mother was smiling down at her. Windy patted her belly softly “You’re going to be a big sister.”

Fluttershy excitedly gave her mother a big hug “I’m going to be a big sister!” Despite her excitement some small part of her got a really bad feeling and she was not sure why. She shook her head clearing those thoughts and smiled “Maybe we should go for a walk around the castle.”

Windy shook her head “Fluttershy dear, we don’t think it‘s wise to just wander around the castle. The nobles don’t really like us here and we just want to say out of their way.”

Storm nodded “We don’t think it is wise to wander around the castle.”

Fluttershy frowned “Well I’m not just going to stay in here, it may be scary outside but I can’t lock myself up in these rooms all day.” Fluttershy pushed the door open and left her parents in the room.

She trotted through nervously shuddering as the guard watched her closely, Ratel raised an eyebrow (Why do you wander the halls if everypony scares you.)

Fluttershy sighed internally as she looked around nervously (I am scared of a lot of things but if I hide from everything in a room then what would the point of living. I will not hide in fear., I may be pushed around, I may be treated badly but when push comes to shove I will act.)

Ratel smirked (Good, hiding from those around you achieves nothing.) Before Fluttershy could reply there was screaming, a huge fearsome beast with four head ran through the corridors. Ratel growled (Who let a Hydra into these halls!) Fluttershy assumed her Ratel form, Ratel looked at her (Are you nuts, I’m all for a good fight but that thing is huge. You aren’t a fully mature Ratel yet.)

Fluttershy’s eyes narrowed as the guards charging at it were knocked aside by the rampaging beast (It doesn’t matter.) She burst into a gallop her clawed hooves tearing through the floor, she leapt tearing off one of it’s heads. The head split into two as the Hydra turned around to face her, Fluttershy leapt back as one of the heads slammed into the ground.

She frowned (How to take this beast out, it’s just going to keep growing back it’s heads… I have an idea, crazy one.) Before Ratel could inquire she leapt forward, one of the Hydra’s opened it’s mouth going for her, she grinned as she felt into it’s mouth.

Ratel growled as Fluttershy dove down it’s throat (What are you doing!) Fluttershy smirked fell into the stomach, she winces ash felt the burning sensation of the beast’s stomach acid. She leapt out tearing through the beast’s stomach with her jaws. She found her way through the beast’s body and found a huge multi chambered heart pumping. She tore into ripping out flesh and swallowing piece by piece. She then tore her way out of the Hydra’s corpse.

Princess Celestia was chiding the scientists “You shouldn’t try move anything you have in your labs without an escort. That was Hydra, one of the most dangerous beasts of the Everfree. You should have requested a formal transfer, you may have been responsible for the death of a filly.)

Fluttershy was covered in blood from head to hoof, she trotted over with a smile “Princess I am fine. I let it swallow me, it was easy to tear my way out from the inside. I’m glad you figured out why there was Hydra in the halls.”

Celestia frowned “You weren’t ready to face a Hydra, what you did while smart you put yourself in unnecessary danger. I could have handled this if you waited.”

Fluttershy frowned “What about those who would have been killed by it by the time you arrived. I was present and able to act, able to make a difference. I’m not like my mother and father, I have the ability to make a difference even if it is small. I will not let my fears keep me from doing what only I can do.”

Celestia sighed “I can understand that, I think I have a few ponies who should be able to teach some things. I’ll have them meet us tommorow.” Fluttershy reverted back to normal and decided return home for a rest, she had enough excitement for one day.

Author's Note

Fluttershy is the 'bold one of the family,' likely because she actually goes outside.