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.
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