Fluttershy was walking to her class. The others had gone ahead to ask Professor Ember something. Professor Ember's class was her least favorite, so she liked walking slowly.
"It's nothing against you Professor Ember, you're very nice. But...I just will never be that assertive. I'm sorry. Fluttershy was reciting what she was going to say when Professor Ember pulled her aside after class. She was sure it was going to happen today.
"Oh, I hope she's not mad." Fluttershy gripped her school bag, nervous. She suddenly tripped and fell on the floor. She sat up and backed into the wall. "U-Uppercrust." she gasped as she saw the bully and her gang.
"Hey loser, we're trying to walk here." Trixie said, flipping her hair as she passed. Fluttershy whimpered and picked up her things.
"I wish I could stand up to them, I was just minding my own business." Fluttershy whispered. Fleetfoot and Spitfire were standing outside the class when she arrived.
"Hey Flutters." Spitfire said as they walked in.
"H-hi." Fluttershy sighed
"What'th wrong?" Fleetfoot asked, voice low.
"Uppercrust and her gang were picking on me again, no big deal." Fluttershy sighed.
"Flutters, you have to be more assertive, you can't let them push you around like this." Rainbow murmured as she took her seat.
"Oh, I couldn't. I'm not brave like you three and Daring. I would never be able to speak up like that." Fluttershy protested as the class began.
After class, Fluttershy was at her locker. She had told Professor Ember exactly what she had wanted to. The teacher hadn't excused her from class, but advised that she take the extra time to study with Spitfire, a natural at authority. Fluttershy was suddenly shoved into her locker. Fluttershy squealed and turned to see Trixie's sneering face before the door slammed shut.
"Help!" Fluttershy said, banging on the door. She wasn't that strong though, so it was barely audible through the metal. Fluttershy whimpered and began crying, sinking down and putting her head in her hands. "Help me." she whispered
After about twenty minutes, the door opened. Fluttershy looked up to see Daring and Sunset standing over her.
"Oh, thank goodness." Flutetrshy stepped out and wiped her eyes.
"What happened to you?" Daring asked
"Uppercrust trapped me in there. I wanted to scream but...but I can't. I'm not brave enough and I never will be." Fluttershy sighed. Daring closed her locker door and put a hand on Fluttershy's shoulder.
"Flutters, just because you can't speak up for yourself doesn't mean you aren't brave. I'm scared of things too when I go on adventures. But I'm still brave, because I do things anyway."
"Yeah, standing up for yourself can be as simple as not letting them get to you. You just need to be a little more strong-willed. Don't let them push you around, ignore them. If Uppercrust puts you in a locker again, ram the door with all your strength. Someone will hear it." Sunset added
"Thanks girls, but I don't know how I can do that. I've never been very brave, no one in my family is. Well, except maybe my brother." Fluttershy objected.
"Shy, the only problem that I see; is your lack of confidence. Just give it your all every time something bad happens. You're much stronger than you know." Daring said. Fluttershy smiled.
Fluttershy was heading to class, walking beside Rainbow, who was dribbling a soccer ball.
"Hey, losers! Out of the way! The Great and Powerful Princess Trixie is late for class!"
Trixie pushed Fluttershy a little. She staggered, but recovered. Trixie then elbowed Rainbow in the side. Rainbow fell backwards against the wall. Adagio walked behind Trixie and stepped on Rainbow's ball with her heeled shoes. The spikes on them dug into the ball and made it deflate.
"Oops." Adagio sneered, then kept walking.
Fluttershy reached down, picked up the flat soccer ball, and tossed it at Adagio. It hit her square in the back of her head. Adagio turned, eyes flaring in anger.
"Oops." Fluttershy said, eyes narrowing. Adagio snarled, then headed away.
"That. Was. Awesome!" Rainbow exclaimed, hugging Fluttershy. "I knew you could do it Flutters! You're amazing!"
"Oh, uh-well..." Fluttershy stammered as they went the rest of the way to class.
"And then she was all, 'you did not just do that!'" Rainbow was saying, sitting on her desk and telling their other friends about Fluttershy's deed.
"Maybe next time you can actually go head-to-head with her." Spitfire commented. Fluttershy chuckled nervously and rubbed her arm.
"I don't think I'm quite ready for that. I was so nervous. But...I think I'll stop letting them push me around from now on."