FlutterDash Moments Analysis 2 · 6:16pm May 24th, 2012
"See you in the bedroom, Fluttershy..."
"Hope you're ready to ride the rainbow..."
"I'll need you to help me keep the stress off..."
xD Okay, I'm done now.
So, I made a huge edit because this one was just a MESS. I went off on funny tangents, and made it more casual and fun than analytical. I'm so sorry about that, everypony. So, I'm going to make it even better now and actually focus on what I meant to talk about. I apologize to all of you, of course, it was stupid of me to be so unproffessional before. But now, this is all cleaned up and ten times better.
It'll have bits of "Secret of My Excess" and also "The Cutie Mark Chronicles", with a little mention from "Sonic Rainboom". Not quite in that order, but you get the point.
These moments were a bit smaller, but in "The Cutie Mark Chronicles", it was slightly prominent as it was part of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy's backstories.
I would first like to take a moment to thank Souldin and ugugg93 for their generous feedback and opinions, and just their awesomeness with their works in general. They have been very inspiring to me since I began here and I appreciate it all so much. Not to mention being fellow FlutterDash shippers! Yay...
Anyway, now that we've gotten all of that out of the way, let's begin.
The Cutie Mark Chronicles
It's revealed in Fluttershy's flashback that she and Rainbow Dash were actually friends as fillies. Which comes to add some depth to their friendship, and does make sense for what we see later in season two with the way they interact. It begins off with Rainbow Dash standing up for Fluttershy against Billy and Hoops when they were teasing her. Really is the beginning of her being the Element of Loyalty! But moreover, she's not afraid to stand up for her best friend, because she cares about her and wouldn't want anything to happen to her. She then is challenged to a race in order to defend Fluttershy's honour.
Awwww!! Filly Rainbow Dash eagerly steps up to defend her like that, it's so cute, and really shows how much Fluttershy means to her. I'm likely to believe she's the only real friend she's ever had, because everyone else seems to call her Rainbow Crash. And as we later see in "Hurricane Fluttershy", Fluttershy was often made fun of for being unable to fly. This comes to really add some depth to them, and it shows how they connect because they're both misfits and were being made fun of for their weaknesses. Rainbow crashing a lot, and Fluttershy being a bit of a weak flier at the time.
So yes, I like to think they were each other's only real friends, kind of like when you feel alone and outcasted somehow, but have someone to rely on that you really trust. That even though you don't have a lot of friends, there is always someone you can count on. So again, it really shows how close they really are, even if in season one...it wasn't quite that prominent, but we'll get to that another time.
Then in the long run, when it's all revealed that filly Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainboom was actually what caused the Mane 6 to get their cutie marks, it's Fluttershy who first tells Rainbow Dash about how she got her cutie mark because of it. Fluttershy! She looks her in the eye as she's telling her that, and says it all with confidence and no uncertainty. Which is a callback to earlier, when she said to the Crusaders that if wasn't for Rainbow Dash, she would never have gotten her cutie mark. In fact, she's completely happy about it! And Rainbow Dash's teary smile as she does is just adorable. I think it's that moment their friendship together was rekindled, and when Rainbow Dash is slowly starting to soften a lot more around Fluttershy. Awwww...
In all, it was a great episode for everything that came to be! I love it.
Sonic Rainboom
With this episode, their interaction is actually short and few, despite everything. But with what we're given, we come to see a little more. This is kind of where it started in season one, with maybe "The Super Cider Squeezy 6000" being where it starts in season two.
We first see Rainbow Dash having Fluttershy going over the elements of a good cheer. Which Fluttershy easily passes on...at least with words. But then when she actually cheers, it's very weak and doesn't carry out AT ALL. Rainbow Dash is understandably a little frustrated, and tries to get her to cheer louder. Fluttershy complies, but never cheers loudly enough. The loudest she manages to muster is just above a whisper. This makes Rainbow Dash fall over with frustration, poor girl.
Regardless, Fluttershy is still very supportive of Rainbow Dash, and you can tell she really is. She tells her she rocks, for one thing, and wants to be there for her, despite that she can't cheer very loudly. You can tell she really wants her to win the competition, and one day become a Wonderbolt, that much is true. It shows how even though this isn't something Fluttershy herself would do, she is still happy for her best friend and supports her every step of the way.
Rainbow Dash even outwardly admits to their friends that Fluttershy is great support, which is pretty nice of her...even if it's followed by the complaint of her being unable to cheer properly. We can understand why, it turns out that Rainbow Dash CAN get pretty insecure and nervous, to the point that she's shaking and curled up in a ball because of it. ...Sounds awful familiar, doesn't it? Yep! Just like Fluttershy. That goes to showcase how they really DO connect with each other!
But in the end, when Fluttershy actually manages to cheer very loudly for her, Rainbow Dash actually gets teary-eyed! Awwwww...
So in all, this episode was a pretty good start to getting things going between them.
The Secret of my Excess
There was not only some funny between them in this episode, but their constant contact here was also pretty sweet, as well as the way they played off each other.
First off, with their "Good Cop/Bad Cop" routine, which is really played up for laughs, but really comes to showcase their opposing personalities and ways of dealing with problems. It comes to be a little proof of balance between them, in a sense. ...And how they would make a perfect Good Cop/Bad Cop duo! But anyway, despite that they are both saying the same thing (telling Spike to let Rarity go), they are both approaching it in different ways, exactly the way Good Cop/Bad Cop goes, and again, showcases the balance between them.
Then of course, the little funny scene where Rainbow Dash just grabs Fluttershy off-screen and holds her close when told she should do something. Now, who does that?! XD Why did Rainbow Dash need to do that? You COULD argue that because it's Spike and a big dragon, Fluttershy might be scared to hurt him and didn't want to, so she grabbed her to in order to take initiative. But still, she could just as easily have turned to her and said, "C'mon Fluttershy, let's do this!" She really had no reason to do that! But she did anyway!
Then there's another little bit that sometimes is overlooked. But before they get knocked down, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy grab each other before they fall into the water. Even though they could both fly. So, Rainbow Dash could have either easily dodged it, kept them up, or let Fluttershy fall herself. But no, she grabs onto her too! Fluttershy, I understand, she was panicked and probably wasn't thinking clearly. But you would think Rainbow Dash would step up to the plate and solved the problem..but nope! She too grabs onto Fluttershy and they fall into the water!
They're so silly sometimes. XD But again, they had a great thing going in this episode, not only with the constant physical contact, but also the way they played off each other in a great balance.
So, that's about it for now! Once again, this was edited from previous, so things are different now. Thank you all so much for reading!
My next blog, already posted, is for "May the Best Pet Win!"
Hee! I love all those FlutterDash moments. <3
The FlutterDash moments were pretty common in season two. I really liked how Rainbow was nicer to Fluttershy. Still, I can't wait till you get to Hurricane Fluttershy. That one really showed just how much Fluttershy's support means to her.
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Don't we all?
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Glad you're looking forward to it! 
They were! Season one was a bit dry in that area, aside from in "The Cutie Mark Chronicles", but it was definitely in season two that they were a lot closer and had more moments. Ooh yes, and like I said, that'll be a big one!
They have seemed to of gotten a lot closer since season 1, Rainbow Dash used to get frustrated with Fluttershy timid personality but now she seems to be a lot more patient with her.
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I agree! She really has been more patient with her in season two, this was especially apparent in "Hurricane Fluttershy". When I re-watched "Dragonshy" recently, I was pretty stricken with how impatient she was with her. But I guess to be fair, they had a job to do and it had Equestria's well-being in the balance and she really had no patience with stalling about it. So I do understand.
My response to "May the Best Pet Win" is basically: "You had me at 'Rainbow, my dear' "
Here's my take on how the whole thing is happening in the show (we'll start this at episode 1, and not talk about before it when they were fillies or whatever)
Rainbow's POV: Rainbow and Fluttershy are friends. Close friends maybe, but they are friends. However, something about Fluttershy makes her feel... weird. She can't explain it at all, and it annoys her. So, acting out like a little kid, she gets easily frustrated with Fluttershy, as seen in Dragonshy, and basically is acting out as a defense measure. After that, she realized that that was unfair, so decided to avoid her throughout a lot of the season. Eventually, she got over this "fear", though the feeling was still there, and the two started hanging out more. Eventually, the two started hanging out more and more, and Rainbow felt more of those weird feelings, but now they felt... good. The more she hung out with Fluttershy, the more she loved it, so she spent every moment she could with her. However, she started to realize that she started to care about her more than other ponies, and oddly sentimental (Hurricane Fluttershy), and while this confused her, she couldn't help but feel comfortable with it. Finally, in a spurr of the moment situation, she kissed Fluttershy, in Canterlot Wedding, and realized what it meant.
Fluttershy POV: They are friends, but throughout the series, this feeling grew. In Dragonshy, she was ashamed that she made Rainbow so upset with her, and while she stood up to the dragon there, she knew that she had to be more assertive and brave. Through it all, she always felt Rainbow was a close friend, but that feeling slowly grew, though she didn't even realize it. That feeling steadily grew, though thick and thin, until Canterlot Wedding, where Rainbow suddenly kissed her, which was, in her mind, AMAZING! However, she was scared on what it meant, so tried to avoid Rainbow somewhat after the party, which is why the two are on opposite sides of the line of girls at the final scene.
Rainbow: Knows she likes Fluttershy like that, and has finally accepted it
Fluttershy: Thinks she likes Rainbow, but hasn't fully accepted it yet, and is kinda scared on what it means.
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Darn it, where's an animated clapping icon when I need it?!
That was just beautiful. I think that makes perfect sense without straying too far from canon or characterization. It's actually very believable, and would explain a lot of things! Such as how Rainbow Dash seemed more annoyed with Fluttershy in "Dragonshy", and even sometimes in general in season one, where she visibly rolled her eyes at her sometimes (or rather in reference to something Fluttershy said or did). It makes sense, she has a strange feeling she can't understand, it has to do with Fluttershy, and due to being unable to comprehend it and also to express it..well, she reacts like a kid and gets frustrated with her because she's the cause of it and doesn't know what to do. And then avoided her, which does happen a lot with other characters!
It makes sense and makes for perfect buildup for the fact that Rainbow actually seems to be more of a friend to Fluttershy than ever before in season two, ESPECIALLY in "Hurricane Fluttershy", where she's not only sympathetic and gentle with her, but also more than happily expresses how proud she is of Fluttershy when the time is right. And it's incredibly genuine as well, because it shows that Rainbow is breaking her hard exterior more in favour of making Fluttershy feel good and happy, because she cares about her very much. And by then, has about come to accept the feeling and rather than run from it, bask in how good it feels and how good it feels to make Fluttershy happy.
Then yes, with Fluttershy, I can see that she's a little more apprehensive about it and even somewhat unsure of what it comes to. On one hoof, it's not a bad thing because Rainbow Dash is her best friend and she cares about her a lot, not to mention the air of familiarity. But on the other hoof, it's all very new to her and it has to do with her best friend, and yes, she'd be scared of what it all means and also in fear of ruining her friendship with her.
And another level, I like to think that Fluttershy kind of seeks her approval, in a way. In the same way Rainbow seeks her support. Even if she can't muster up the strength or courage to do so.
So really, that was a brilliant assessment! I love it! It's perfect!!
Thank you so much for your input! I will certainly be citing that in the future, giving you credit, of course. 
I'll be honest; this here analysis is not as good as the last one. It lacks focus and doesn't explore nearly as many angles. It is also somewhat confusing, for instance, the following;
All right, so this time, we're going to look at two episodes that contain some stuff to talk about. Three and a half!
"Secret of my Excess" from season 2, and also Sonic Rainboom from season 1. Then finally, The Cutie Mark Chronicles, also from Season.
You say you are going to look at two episodes and then mention something about three and a half. Then you talk of the 'The Cutie Mark Chronicles' despite how it is not brought up in your analysis at all. I just
.
There is some good to this analysis though, you make some great points regarding the constant physical contact that goes between the two characters, your comments in the comment section of this analysis are certainly praiseworthy, and there are lots of points to this that had me laughing out loud. The problem is, while more casual and humorous than the last analysis; it is not as focused or in-depth.
I think that analysing the characters relationship in Season 1 is best done as an overview of the whole relationship, and then have it compared to how they interact in Season 2. The only episode within Season 1 worth mentioning as an episode focused analysis is 'The Cutie Mark Chronicles' and how after the revealing of their back-story the two do begin appearing together more often, even subtle they are next to each other/working together moments ('Party of One' and 'The Best Night Ever' shows the subtle change of their relationship upon their expanded back-story).
130467>>130492 The best thing about this analysis is these two comments, a real interesting but highly plausible take on the relationship. Unfortunately it is the one thing I cannot comment upon due to the differences in how Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash interacted in Season 1 and Season 2 being something I bring up and explain my take on in one of my upcoming fanfics and any attempt to discuss will surely spoil that theme of my story. All I can say then is bravo and have a cheer from Fluttershy
. Cheerio!
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XD I don't know how I missed it. I must've been rushing with this one and didn't realize. Oops! I'll fix it up, though. :3
Thanks anyway for your input! At least I managed to get SOME things across, I guess.
As for the theory thing, understandable! We all have different viewpoints that work for us, and that's all well and good.
I'll fix this up, and be sure to drop you a line about it. X3
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Hey again! Well, I fixed this blog and now it's much better, and actually talks about the mentioned episodes. Let me know what you think at your leisure.
132985 I will try my best to comment upon this new and superior analysis right now, even though my laptop is making this annoying buzzing sound at the moment which is really distracting.
Anyway, it's not a bad thing to be casual or humorous in your analysis, in fact I approve of some wit and tangents every now and again, but you need to balance it out with the more professional analysis stuff which is the main purpose of the post. As for your post though, it’s much better than it was previously. This here post is more organised than your others and is clear on when you are talking on a new subject. You don't explore as many alternative routes but the ones you do explore are analysed well and your points are explained in decent detail.
In regards to 'The Cutie Mark Chronicles', I see it as the start of their friendship, not a case of a friend helping a friend, but this is one of those points of debate as it's not exactly clear but either way is beneficial to FlutterDash support. I also see Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy being each other's only true friends with one exception, you forgot about Gilda. This is another point not made clear, we do not know if Fluttershy knew Gilda or did not know Gilda (I imagine that the reason Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash began interacting more after 'The Cutie Mark Chronicles' is that the writers hadn't solidified their back-stories before and as such were undecided on how the two would interact with one another), but I also imagine Gilda to be a case like Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, an outcast, and so appreciated Rainbow Dash, who would have no problem making friends with Gilda because of being an outcast. Anyway I'll stop talking about Gilda here as my view on that back-story is also something I may address in a future fanfic, a little undecided on whether Fluttershy knew of Gilda or if she and Rainbow went there separate ways before that point (say, ended up going to two different schools or something of the sort). One last thing I will add is that Rainbow specifically mentions that she raced to defend Fluttershy's honour which is just sweet, really sweet.
In regards to 'The Sonic Rainboom', I would have also analysed the moment Fluttershy stood up for Rainbow Dash against the very bullies who picked on her when she was young. I'm sure there's a lot of meat to get your teeth into their (apologies for the comment if you are vegetarian).
In regards to 'The Secret of my Excess', keep in mind that this episode takes place after 'May The Best Pet Win', an episode which had the two interact physically, and comfortably with one another throughout. After deciding that the two would be comfortable invading each other’s personal space to such an extent in 'May The Best Pet Win', I imagine the writers/animators/studio felt it would be okay and consistent for them to keep on being capable of interacting in such a touch friendly manner.
This is a magnificently structured and highly analysed post. Great job and cheerio!
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D'oh! I did forget about Gilda there. Sorry about that! But actually though, I guess you COULD argue that they haven't met at the time yet, perhaps? But other than that, you are right, though!
She sure did though, it was sweet how the entire drive for the race had been because she wanted to defend Fluttershy's honour. That's really sweet!
You're right about Fluttershy trying to stand up to the bullies in Sonic Rainboom, much like how Rainbow Dash stood up against them when they were fillies. It's kind of a reverse callback! I really should have looked at that moment, too...hmm...maybe I'll add that later.
And hey, that's true about the fact that since "The Secret of my Excess" takes place after "May The Best Pet Win!", it's no wonder right then that they're comfortable being so close together like that. I think it would be consistent of they kept that up, because it shows that the development in rekindling their friendship is still there! Even if Rainbow Dash had no reason to grab her like that, the fact she's comfortable doing that AND also is the first thing she thinks of doing, it's pretty funny! But yes, it does showcase their comfort in close physical contact with each other.
So it all does raise some good interpretations on the paths of the ship!
Thanks so much again for taking the time to look over the much-better revised edition of this! I do agree, having some fun and tangents on a blog like this is always a good thing and I try to lighten things up when I can. But when I looked at the old one, I do realize it was a scattered, disorganized mess and just didn't fit at all with what I was trying to do. But now it's a lot better.
TTFN! Ta-ta for now!