Fluttershy's hidden powers and untapped abilities.

[Anadu Kune 668]

Ok so this just came into my head a few days ago. Fluttershy is often seen as the weakest or most useless of the group. She even acknowledges this herself. However I think this is incorrect and I think the show demonstrates it.

It has been shown and stated in the show that when the need arises Fluttershy can demonstrate impressive skills that she is not normally shown to be capable of doing. Rainbow Dash stated that Fluttershy indeed could fly very well using an instance in which she saved an animal as an example. During the Discord Story Fluttershy demonstrated considerable speed an strength when told the possibility of Discord's triumph. In Hurricane Fluttershy she is seen flying past the other ponies when she finally gets over her fears again demonstration enhansed speed. In putting Your Hoof Down Fluttershy is shown to be quite proficient in intimidating people physically and emotionally.  


This power is a bit of speculation on my part but I think it will generate some cool theories. Fluttershy has demonstrated a power that the others simply refer to as the stare. She has also demonstrated the ability to communicate with animals on a level other ponies cant. I started to think of how this power worked, and it occurred to me that she may have some form of telepathic power. The stare may be a restrictive/compulsive physic field that compelles or frightens animals and perhaps ponies into doing what she wants. 

So all that considered I think Fluttershy is far more powerful than even she knows. One must wonder how strong and fast she might be if not for her nature putting a restriction on her abilities. One must also wonder to what extent her stare power could be used.

[Scootalove 10,689]

Fluttershy decides not to show her true potential and all of the wonderful problems that she could solve if it wasn't for hiding her strength and instead showing her weaknesses. So, even when you have a weak character in the show they can be able to persuade you that they are actually strong in comparison to the other characters.

[Declen 118]

Only thing I can say to Fluttershy critics as well as to her admirers:

Never underestimate the strenght of phobia.

It's a real mental disturbence that sometimes should be treated with professional help.

And Fluttershy has two of them: a sociophobia (fear of society or simply of many ponies together) and fear of dragons. Both are so strong that they affect Fluttershy physically. And mentally, of course. Why was Fluttershy scared of her own shadow in "Dragonshy", while usually she isn't? Because of her fear of dragons.

Yeah, but in the end of that episode she'd overcome this phobia, hasn't she? No, she hasn't. What we saw in her stand-off against the dragon was another case of flutterrage. That really heppens sometimes when fear of something turns to rage and the affected person throws himself against the object of his fear trying to destroy it.

In "Putting You Hoof Down" Fluttershy have learned to use this effect and "unleash the beast". Her flutterbitch state was nothing but a serie of self-inducted bursts of flutterrage.

Hopfully she did overcome her sociophobia in "Hurricane Fluttershy", but her fear of dragons is still with her as we could see in "Dragon Quest"

Edited September 6, 2013 by Declen

[Abstract 832]

One of the countless reasons I love her to death; she has immense power and potential, perhaps in ways even she doesn't know about, but she only exercises use of them when a situation can be solved no other way.

 

She's the pacifist and probably second in levelheadedness and logical ability of the Mane 6, behind Twilight.

[Dusknight Haze 161]

Actually I've been thinking that because she has one of the powers of the Earth ponies, the ability to care for animals better than most, and she also contains the innate Pegasus powers, she is actually the most powerful pony of the mane 6 pre-alicorn Twilight, since she basically has 1.5 times the powers everyone else does.

 

That is of course, not including her tenacious fury when angered, or her extreme speed when provoked, since those are highly situational.

[spacestorm 183]

If her personality was designed a little different, she would be a good material to be a classic superhero. Shy and kind at day, kicking asses and saving world at night.

But seriously I don't think that she is more powerfull from other ponies, but her abilities are just too much underestimated, unaware (of their potential) and underused by her in most situations.

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

It's all about fluttershy showing that she can do certain stuff.

 

She's usually to shy to evoke those powers, but when she can, she does excellent.

 

She can do the stare, fly faster, and more! She's just to shy that's why.

[True Rarity 1,240]

Well, for one thing, being able to communicate with animals on a different level is her special talent. Second, if she's telepathic, why does she sometimes have problems figuring out what Angel Bunny's trying to tell her?

I do, however, think that you are correct in that Fluttershy does have some powers she is yet to unlock.

[Planty 1,053]

Actually I've been thinking that because she has one of the powers of the Earth ponies, the ability to care for animals better than most, and she also contains the innate Pegasus powers, she is actually the most powerful pony of the mane 6 pre-alicorn Twilight, since she basically has 1.5 times the powers everyone else does.

 

That is of course, not including her tenacious fury when angered, or her extreme speed when provoked, since those are highly situational.

 

Its very interesting that you mention this! I've never really thought about the way that Fluttershy is very similar to earth ponies in here animal abilities! (almost similar to Pinkie sense is kinda like unicorn magic?)

 

The thing thats great about Fluttershy, is her kindness. It's so hard to be kind all the time, I mean look at s2 e1/2 where discord is trying to turn her on her friends and he basically can't do it and has to do it herself. No matter what she faces she seems to be able to be kind and (mostly) positive and supportive!

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

It's kind of difficult to measure Fluttershy because we aren't sure exactly when she's being consistent within her potential boundaries.

 

For example when Fluttershy was chasing Doscorded Rainbow Dash and actually caught up to her. Again inthe cider episode when she's flying at high speed with Rainbow Dash even though in a later episode shehas trouble flying faster. Not to mention Fluttershy said herself she was ax weak flyer so I think she just does what she does because of the writers.

 

As for the Stare I think that only works on animals, but I could be wrong because she doesn't really use it at all.

[TheMangoPony 146]

Yeah, Fluttershy is definitely the pony with the most untapped potential. We've seen her out fly Rainbow Dash with a huge wind resisting balloon in tow. In Hurricane Fluttershy it appeared as though she managed to out fly all the other ponies. They only really mention they need 5 more wingpower to make 800, and we know they made it to at LEAST 800, but we never do hear just how high they actually managed to get it with her help. We also hear tale of her dive bombing to rescue a bird. She's got "The Stare" of course.

 

She's constantly been shown to display a wealth of untapped potential. 

 

Then of course there's always this gem

 

 

(yeah, so it was just a massage, she was still pretty amazing! )

[Koelath 445]

Fluttershy's power is heart. Nobody wants it, nobody likes it, everyone mocks it for being useless...But in the right (or wrong) hands, it can actually be crazy awesome.

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

Fluttershy is strong, she simply doesn't use her full abilities. Whether she chooses not to or can't, I don't know (you reading this, fanfic writers?). She will do anything for her friends, pony or otherwise. Her Element being Kindness, doing something like showing off or using her abilities without need just doesn't match her personality. Her ability to communicate with animals stems from empathy and experience, anyone with a pet knows what I mean. As for her physical abilities, they seem fairly ordinary compared to other ponies, they are merely exaggerated by her apparent weakness. The reason she can face a dragon or a cockatrice is not a burst of "flutterrage", but a continuation of her normal affection.

[Nature's Spell 526]

I agree with the overall feeling that Fluttershy has a deep reservoir of talent and power that is rarely seen. The thing about her is that without a stimulus (fear, being annoyed,etc) she seems unable, or unwilling, to regularly use those powers. Something has to push her over the edge, but when it does watch out. I think she is second only to Twilight in ability. Yes Pinky has powers, but is also so random and just "being Pinky".

[Untitled Goose Q 5,138]

As to Fluttershy not using her full range of abilities, I suspect this is a subconscious inhibitor, or is along the lines of when a mother's young are threatened they can show a burst of strength.

Edited September 9, 2013 by Questioner