Dark Qiviut

Most of this episode is in FS’s point of view, but it doesn’t demonize Dash’s whatsoever. Because she spent many adventures with DD, it’s understandable why she’s so concerned. The same goes for Daring and her urgent pursuit to retrieve the Truth Talisman of Tonatiuh before C gets it first.

Also, Fluttershy’s kindness continues to “infect” the others. First, she shares her lunch with the bigger, blue henchman. Second, she reassures the second in command after he feels slighted by him. Then, when the henchman in glasses accidentally rests under a flyder hive, she lured them away so he escapes. She shows genuine respect for the entire gang from top to bottom.

This respect for her comes back after Caballeron tricks her into getting the Truth Talisman. When she was caught in the trap’s shooting lava, they coulda made a run for it and leave it and her behind, but they didn’t. They quickly made a path from one of the temple pillars to get her across. The same for Caballeron. He coulda let her fall to her doom, but he saved her instead.

However, there are a couple of problems here.

1. Fluttershy fell for his bad acting inside the Talisman’s crypt so easily. In all four of his appearances in the series, this was by far his smartest and most competent. This wasn’t his smartest idea, and it made Fluttershy too gullible.
2. Fluttershy didn’t realize that he tried to trick them. Again, same problem. If Fluttershy knew beforehand he was scheming yet went along, it would subvert the idea that she was too gullible. Right after he reveals to lie to her, he soon reveals that he valued her kindness and friendship, a smaller subversion in and of itself and downplays unneeded drama, but it also lessens the weight of his reformation.

If after his initial “no” that she shows that he knew well in advance that he was trying to trick her but went along anyway because she knew there can be more to him than being greedy, then it really shows that FS knows what she’s doing and was in control of the conversation. OTOH, writing it like this also shows how unconditional her kindness is, especially after She Talks to Angel, where her ignorance to Angel and his needs helped fuel the conflict. Also, Fluttershy’s “kindness” from Keep Calm was more like controlling channels of communication between her and Discord.