With the disaster of Spike's transformation averted – mostly – everyone had chalked it up to just another day in Ponyville and started drawing up plans for the repairs. It probably said something about the town that several buildings being destroyed by a dragon with puberty problems was thought of as commonplace. But it was still home, and Fluttershy wouldn't have it any other way.
Well, she would have it without the rampaging dragon part. That wasn't so homely.
As far as Rainbow seemed concerned, their work for the day was done after 'heroically saving Spike and Rarity from certain doom'. Fluttershy would've liked to stay and see if anyone needed help with fixing things, but part of her was glad to have a chance to rest after the taxing afternoon. Her wings still buzzed a little from flying that quickly.
“Nice save back there, partner,” said Rainbow, bumping into her as they walked through town. They weren't heading anywhere in particular, just walking off the flight. “We make a pretty awesome team.”
Fluttershy smiled and shook her head. “You're being modest. You did most of the work, I really just held the other end of the tarp.”
“I'm being modest?” said Rainbow, raising an eyebrow at her. “That doesn't sound like me. You're the one who's always selling herself short. You kicked flank today!”
Fluttershy felt her cheeks heating a little, and angled her head away. Maybe she had done pretty well to fly that fast and help catch Rarity in time. And, when she thought about it, standing up to Spike in the first place was quite brave – considering how scary dragons were. Rainbow had done most of the work, but Fluttershy had to admit that maybe she was selling herself a little short. Just a little.
“You know, you can do some pretty epic stuff when you put your mind to it, Fluttershy,” said Rainbow. “I still can't get over how you caught up to me when Discord messed with my head.”
“You said yourself that you weren't going all out,” Fluttershy countered, by reflex.
“It was still crazy fast! No-one should've been able to do that, but you did. And while dragging an air balloon behind you too.” Rainbow shook her head with a smile. “Trust me, you are awesome Fluttershy. I couldn't ask for a better partner.”
Fluttershy's smile grew at that. “Partners,” she repeated, more to herself. The word was a warm one, especially coming from Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow grinned at her. “That's what we are, right? We help each other out, watch each other's backs--” She inclined her head. “--and fronts. And we take on all kinds of stuff together.”
“I suppose we do make a good team,” said Fluttershy, finding it hard to disagree. They did do all those things, and they did have a habit of always coming through. Rainbow did most of the heavy-lifting, but the fact that she considered Fluttershy a partner meant that she must've been doing something right herself.
“Darn right, we do.” Rainbow nodded and turned a satisfied smile to the trail ahead. There was only a very brief moment of silence before she seemed to remember something. “Oh, uh, speaking of teamwork...”
Fluttershy gave her a sidelong look. “Yes?”
Rainbow rolled her neck. “So, I saw in this Wonderbolts training magazine the other day that ponies tend to perform better as a team if they get a lot of physical exercise together. Like, the more the better,” she added, with emphasis. An extended glance at Fluttershy later, she shrugged. “I don't know. Just putting it out there.”
Fluttershy found a nervy smile. “Are you suggesting we start going for runs together?”
Forgoing subtlety, Rainbow smirked at her. “Somethin' like that.”
Fluttershy hummed and turned her head away to hide the growing smile. “I'm sure I don't know what you might be talking about, Rainbow. But whatever it is, I'm sure we could find some time to... practise,” she said. “For teamwork's sake, of course.”
Rainbow grinned. “I'm up for practise. When?”
“I don't have any plans this afternoon,” said Fluttershy. “Do you?”
“Not anymore!” Rainbow unfurled her wings and gave them a test flap. “Let's go?”
Fluttershy couldn't mask a giggle at her enthusiasm. With a nod, she unfurled her own wings and took off alongside her partner, heading for her cottage out of habit. Her wings still hurt a little bit, but the idea of unwinding at home with Rainbow was more than pleasant enough for her not to mind. It went without saying that this kind of assertiveness was her favourite kind, and not just because it was the easiest.
* * *
Okay... Not that I mind this kind of turnout, but I expected this sort of conversation to happen somewhere after the events of Hurricane Fluttershy.
A lot of people say Fluttershy is completely out of character in Rainbow Falls and Equestria Games because of her no longer being nervous with flight performances. They use Hurricane Fluttershy as the reason she's out of character, but I think it's the exact opposite and Hurricane Fluttershy is the reason why she isn't nervous. In the end of Hurricane Fluttershy, she managed to overcome her fear and break her wing power record by more than double. Because of that, she is no longer as nervous with flight performances as she used to be.
So, for the events of this chapter happening before Hurricane Fluttershy, where Fluttershy doesn't have any of that confidence yet, feels a bit misplaced. In my opinion, it's not a bad idea, but I just feel it's the wrong time.
Didn't expect this little moment after "Secrets of My Excess". Gotta say, I'm surprised that Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash weren't working on putting Fluttershy's chicken coop back. Still, it was nice to see Rainbow considers Fluttershy her partner, considering there are times when she works alongside the others. I have to say, you could use "The Last Roundup" as a way to enforce Rainbow's comment that they work well together...while also throwing in some comedy with Rarity's intent to get Rainbow Dash for abandoning her and Pinkie Pie. At first, I thought Rainbow Dash was suggesting that Fluttershy join her in her flying practice, which confused me since I haven't seen Fluttershy doing that in the show. But then I realized that Rainbow was referring to an entirely different form of exercise.
Looking forward to the moment after the Hearth Warming pageant. Should be a good one.
6646679 Yeah, Fluttershy's confidence definitely gets a big boost after Hurricane Fluttershy (love that episode). I think I see what you're saying - it might've been better to have this scene after they've worked together in the hurricane. That makes a lot of sense actually.
I'm going to leave it here for now, as I've got a bunch of other ideas I'm trying to choose between for Hurricane Fluttershy, so I probably wouldn't get around to using this kind of scene for it anyway. I might build off of it though. Thanks, you've given me something to think about!
6646731 Ha, I didn't even clock the chicken coop when I watched it through again! Aw, I should've had them doing that. Oh well, I'll just have to be more observant for the later episodes and try to notice stuff like that. I'm liking the Last Roundup idea, I'll keep than in mind and see if I can do a scene for that as well as the others I've got planned.
Hehe
Thanks for the comment. And yes, I think you'll like what I've got planned for the Hearth's Warming pageant (I hope so, anyway!)
The next chapter announcement is just in time for Christmas. Yea!
6646843
Glad you're deciding to use the idea. Also, I know that the third season is some time away, but when you get to it, you could probably do a good moment between Rainbow and Fluttershy after "Magic Duel", bringing up the heroic things Fluttershy did (including finding the entry on the Alicorn Amulet, which you could reveal that Rainbow was the only one who noticed that), along with Fluttershy being disguised as Rainbow Dash during Twilight's plan to get the amulet off Trixie. I feel such an idea would work.