1-2. Athena’s big heart doesn’t just extend towards her pony and fellow creature friends and family - like her mother Fluttershy, she adores her animal companions as well. Of course, being raised by the Element of Kindness herself, many of Athena’s days were spent in Sweet Feather Sanctuary, helping her mother not only in the husbandry for the animals, but even helping with medical care once Fluttershy gained a veterinarian’s license. The pegasus taught her daughter from a very young age how amazing these creatures they shared their world with were, and how important it was to care for those in need.
 
So, as to be expected, Annie started bringing home injured frogs, squirrels, and birds for her mother to make better - including Shadow, the baby crow she found in the rain and was considered her first pet. Shadow, while being a wonderful companion in Athena’s young life, also provided her a formative lesson on life and death when he passed away from an unexpected illness. Luckily, she’s got a wonderful and wise mama that can explain the delicate in and outs of this whole song and dance we call life.
 

 
3-4. As she grew older, the draconequus’ love for animals never waned. Fluttershy continued to teach her how to help care for her rescues, how to rehabilitate and release, and look over the sanctuary’s more permanent residents. Her skills have even come into play in emergencies, such as when her adoptive Uncle Shining Armor’s pet crystal wolf, Timber, went into labor before her own vet wasn’t there. As her skills improve, Fluttershy even allows her to work on more intense cases, like injured big cats and sick manticores. While Athena doesn’t sport a cutie mark illustrating her destiny in caring for animals, she still is quite passionate about it and still hopes to be able to work in the sanctuary once in awhile once she becomes Dawn Star’s royal adviser.
 

 
5. Now, if there’s one creature that, no matter how hard Athena tries, that will simply now allow her to befriend them. Angel Bunny wasn’t the most pleased when he learned his beloved owner was to have a litter of her own. Of course, that would mean all the attention would be diverted to the new little devils (or, devil, as it turned out in the end). While Fluttershy still made sure to make time for her little rabbit, he still never became fond of Athena.
 
While she made quite a few efforts to becomes friends (Athena is able to understand animals like her mother, but is unable to speak back to them) Angel just wasn’t having it. His mean streak (leaving poo in her bed, stealing vegetables from her plate) did finally end when Fluttershy heavily reprimanded him for a rather harsh scratch to Annie’s cheek. Since then, he hasn’t really bothered with messing with the usurper (plus, naps are more appealing in old age), however he’s still never short on a growl or giving her “the angry stompy-feet.”