FlutterDash Moments Analysis 3 · 8:57pm May 23rd, 2012
Hello one and all, and welcome to another installment. ...I guess. XD Today will be featuring the episode "May The Best Pet Win!", which is definitely one of the episodes of season two that was showcasing a bit of a closer bond between Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. They were actually more comfortable with each other and played off one another beautifully, especially in their song together.
Honourable mention goes to that, of course! I mean, wow! Of course, before I was a shipper, I liked the song and it was fun! But now as a shipper, it's just ten times the adorable. I mean, when two characters you like sing together, that's always fun. But when you ship them, hello! Rainbow Dash's first full-length song, and she shares it with Fluttershy! There has to be something in there, that they felt it appropriate for her to share it with someone she trusts.
As well as that, much like in Hurricane Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy made A LOT of physical contact with each other. No no, nothing explicit, I assure you. But it's sweet! Especially since Fluttershy made quite a few of them, which is funny because she doesn't do that very often with anypony else. But Rainbow Dash is her best friend and she clearly has no problem getting close to her.
They put their forelegs around each other, Fluttershy boops Rainbow Dash's nose, they simply touch one another with their hooves, touch noses, it goes on. One in particular I like are the moments they're looking at each other. Fluttershy is happy, in her element, and looking her in the eye, which shows how comfortable she is. She doesn't do that often with anyopony else, not directly. But it was sweet.
One of which involves Fluttershy picking up Rainbow Dash by her forelegs and flying with her! It's so cute.
Go ahead and look them up. I wanted to post them here, but they kept messing up. DX If you can help me with this, please do.
On top of that, Fluttershy calls Rainbow Dash "my dear" in the song, which is cute. Then Rainbow Dash later calls her "pal". Awwww! They don't say much of that for anypony else all that often!
Going back to my point, and yes, I'm sure Fluttershy would gladly do this for her friends if they expressed desire in owning a pet, but the fact they made this happen with Rainbow Dash was just awesome. Fluttershy just happily takes her back to her place and presents her with a menagerie of pets, which is so sweet of her. Rainbow Dash is at times reluctant since none of them are cutting it, but here and there, she's actually very excited and as the song progresses, she's definitely into it and then it's not long before she gets an idea on how to decide on a pet.
Of course, we know how the rest of the episode goes, and how the tortoise, later named Tank, ends up being the winner. Yay!
Now, of course, this is just a little theorizing speculation. I do not ask nor expect you to take this as word of law (dur, I'm not Lauren Faust or any the writers XD), but this is something I couldn't help but think about.
We see how Rainbow Dash wanted a cool pet. A pet that could keep up with her, and preferably, could fly. Agility, talent, guts, all that stuff. She wants a pet to be like her, and meets up to her standards. But in the end, she chooses Tank. Not just because he was the pet who crossed the finish line with her, but because he was the most loyal pet. No matter how hard things got for him, he never gave up. And he helped Rainbow Dash when she needed it. He proved to be a true pet, and she loves him for it.
But let's take a look at another angle. This is never addressed, and I don't expect it to be. But knowing Rainbow Dash, let's speculate. Let's say she does want a special somepony to be like her. Somepony who can keep up with her, is fast like her, a daredevil...all that stuff, Much like with a pet. At first, that to her seems like the perfect pony for her. Somepony who can keep up and is awesome. She meets a pony who is just like her, and they seem to hit it off perfectly. On paper, this seems like the perfect match.
However, when you dig down into it, Rainbow Dash realizes just how much this isn't what she wanted.
Then there's Fluttershy. Her best friend, who is unlike her in many ways, and yet can still connect with her, and still get along with her. Fluttershy compliments her in so many ways, with how different they are, and with how they connect. Fluttershy proves to be a better match, in terms of her personality, closeness, their friendship, everything.
In a sense, the way Rainbow Dash chose Tank at the end, would almost arguably mirror and symbolize how she would choose someone like Fluttershy over somepony who's "awesome" like just like her.
But again, that's just me. XD That's just the shipper in me talking. Once again, I can take off my shipping goggles and see exactly what is presented before us. It's just fun to dig deep and see it from an alternative perspective but still keeping it.
A big thanks in THAT regard, which I will address later on, goes to ugugg93, who has inspired me greatly with an awesome theory. I'm writing a fanfic right now based on that. ;)
Anyway, so that's it for now! Next time will be based on Hurricane Fluttershy! And that, everypony, will be the BIG one.
Hmm... I think the most interesting point you state in this is the idea of Tank. While it may not work exactly like that, it is apoint that kinda makes sense. Rainbow is kinda looking for the Ying to her Yang I guess you could say...
As for the song, It was one of my top "squee" moments up to that point. Why? Besides having Fluttershy (who is the best singer ever) and Rainbow (which is nice to hear her sing for once) in a legit duet, the amount of subtle hints that were in it, from speaking parts to physical contact, sent a lot of... curious hints towards the shipping. Something to think about definitely.
A big thanks in THAT regard, which I will address later on, goes to ugugg93, who has inspired me greatly with an awesome theory. I'm writing a fanfic right now based on that. ;)
... sweet child of Celestia... what have I unleashed
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Exactly what I mean! Rainbow Dash realizes that what she needs for the long-term is the Yin to her Yang. On paper, it may seem all of the pets are good for her (and in a way they are), but then when you dig into it, Tank really is the best for her. Because he's unlike her, and yet, the most perfect for her.
That's so true! Their duet was just so fun for that. It definitely had some squee!
XDDDD Oh yes, you have unleashed inspiration!!
XD Don't you worry though, it's a lot more of exploring the feelings within regarding all of that, you know? 
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Oh... oh I know...
When Dashie and Flutters broke out into song together, my heart practically exploded with squee. <333
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You'll see, if you want. 
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Looking at it now, it does make my heart burst with squee!
Me too!
Here we go, your last analysis was rather weak due to how scattered it was but here, you focused on one episode and have come out with some top quality analysis. This is really well written, a good amount of depth, and a very unique and interesting theory is present here and explored with remarkable detail. Humour is a little light but I can deal with that, the analysis matters much more.
The constant contact, gestures, and manner of speaking that goes on between Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash really does show how comfortable they are around one another. Rainbow softens up a little and Fluttershy is much more comfortable around Rainbow Dash than she is with anyone else (exceptions include her animals of course and more than likely Rarity). For Rainbow, the difference in interaction becomes much clearer in 'Hurricane Fluttershy' but Fluttershy shows off how she interacts with Rainbow differently to other characters the most here, although one could argue that this is in part due to Rainbow wanting a pet, an area Fluttershy loves and is an expert on. I guess that could also explain her excitement and enthusiasm though, Fluttershy's best friend, who previously has shown little interest in her hobby and career of animals, is finally showing some interest in the field, giving them something to connect over. After all I can imagine Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, though they manage to get along despite being near opposites, really appreciate the things they do have in common and are able to enjoy together.
Your theory regarding Tank and Rainbow's view on what she would seek in a special somepony is very interesting, and I can see it being true. It is not a viewpoint I share, personally believing Rainbow Dash to be the sort who has never really thought about romance or a special somepony, and is more focused on her goals, dreams, and ambitions to spare it a thought, but if she did, your way of looking at it is how I think Rainbow would approach the subject.
I would like to add an extra bit of analysis to the discussion table, and that would be how Rainbow Dash makes it very clear that she wants a pet like herself and yet Fluttershy keeps on handing her all the cute and adorable pets. Either Fluttershy is trying to savour this shared activity as long as she can or she thinks Rainbow Dash is 'cutesy and wootsey', both paths go well for my ship. Best analysis yet, and while I think it's a little soon to tackle the effectively FlutterDash episode, 'Hurricane Fluttershy' I look forward to witnessing what you will interpret from it, cheerio!
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Thanks very much for your input! (Yeah...last one was weak. XD Oh well, it happens, I guess. I'll fix it up and make it better!)
For one thing about Rainbow Dash not thinking of that topic, I completely agree! I think she is a lot more focused on her goals to even really spare it much thought. So if it ever crossed her mind SOMEHOW, yeah, I feel she might think of it like that....at least until she realizes Fluttershy is perfect for her. XD But yeah, on a whole, I completely agree with that.
It definitely did showcase how comfortable Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are with each other, and that this entire thing was something they could actually connect with and bond over. It helps that Fluttershy is an expert on animals, so she's more than willing to share it with Rainbow, who had expressed she wanted a pet, something Fluttershy wants to do so that she can give an animal a good home, and also do something nice for a good friend. And again, she'd have done that for any of her friends, I know she would, but it was awesome to see it happen with Rainbow Dash, which I feel is just really appropriate. Fluttershy is indeed the most comfortable with her, it really showed in this episode. She even sang pretty loud, especially at the end! Kind of shows she can break out of her shy shell when she's REALLY in her element.
And hey, you know how Rainbow Dash was just wide-eyed and frozen when she saw the falcon and eagle on Fluttershy's forelegs? I think she partly thought about how cool she looked. XD
Your little added analysis makes perfect sense! I can see it that Fluttershy is maybe both trying to savour this moment (it's no wonder she later on says "Should we sing about it again?", which really indicates how much fun she had
) and also maybe that she thinks Rainbow is so cute. XD And maybe just needs a little cuteness to brighten things up! Moreover too, just showcasing she has a lot of options to pick from.
Hmmm...you're right, it might be a little too soon, especially since it'll be big and well, we all know it's the best FlutterDash episode! Maybe I'll throw in some other blogs in the meantime, as some kind of buildup?
Thanks again!
It's always great to see your input!