Here’s a fun fact: Rainbow is the first non-augmented steampunk pony I’ve drawn. That machine on her back and wings isn’t permanently connected to her, she’s simply test-flying a new one of Twilight’s contraptions while her old pal Fluttershy, the best animal-augmenter in all of Ponyville, cheers her on (and hopes the thing won’t explode… again).

I figured in this universe Fluttershy’s knack for helping animals would be expressed in helping them recover from major injury, which entails also augmenting them with whichever limb or organ might be missing. So she’s more of a mixed mechanic and doctor than simply a caretaker. Of course some animals don’t exactly like company when they’re in extreme pain so she’s seen her share of maulings, hence her lack of one eye and the tough leather-armour under the light, soft shirt she usually wears.

And of course Rainbow’s hooves are cracked and unkept… Because she doesn’t like ponies touching them! : D