Dash and Shy · 9:03pm May 21st, 2012
The more I watch and think about S2 in particular, and the more I read comments by those who've thought about it much more deeply than I have, the more the relationship between Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy fascinates me. There's a remarkable quantity of little touches in those episodes that point to the very special nature of the bond between the two pegasi. For example, during the "Find a Pet" song, Shy gives Dash a little nose-beep, and Rainbow doesn't complain. Would she allow any other pony to do that in public? And later on, note how Fluttershy uncharacteristically barges Twilight out of the way to look for Dash through the binoculars.
"Hurricane Fluttershy", of course, is packed from end to end with these moments, but I'll pick out just two here. One is near the end: when Rainbow realises that Shy has finally joined the tornado, she gives her the most wonderful, joyous smile. Of course getting water to Cloudsdale is vital, but for Fluttershy to be there with her is clearly what she wants so very, very much. And earlier in that same episode, take a very close look at the decor in Fluttershy's cottage. There's a painting on the wall... showing pink butterflies and a rainbow. There is no way that's a coincidence.
