It Just May Get Away from You
"Come on, Rarity!"
Rainbow Dash eagerly awaited outside her companion's not-so-humble abode. Her unmoving tortoise stood beside her with his trademark propeller strapped to his shamrock shell. Rainbow had been pummeling Rarity's door for all of five minutes, waiting for her and her feisty feline. To Rainbow, it may as well have been five hours.
"Just another minute, Rainbow! Honestly!" came a muffled voice from beyond the door.
Rainbow groaned in frustration, wondering what could possibly be occupying her friend's time. She blew part of her rainbow-colored mane away from her face.
Finally, the door opened. From it emerged the glorious Rarity herself, her curly mane as violet as ever. Rarity's cat Opalescence sat on her back with a bored expression on her face.
"You know that our pony/pet play date is today, right?" Rainbow asked sarcastically.
"Oh hush," Rarity huffed at the impatient pegasus. "Opalescence had a few mats in her fur that I simply could not allow to go unbrushed."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. She loved Rarity, really. Although her attention to detail could be downright infuriating. "Whatever. Can we just go, already?"
"Indeed we can." Rarity stated as she broke into a swift trot to Ponyville's own park.
"Let's go, Tank." Rainbow Dash called to her tortoise. On command, the propeller on Tank's shell started spinning, lifting him into the air.
The mares and their small companions traveled side by side, fully enjoying the warm weather the day had to offer. Rainbow lazily glided next to Rarity, telling the story of the morning she had to fight off an enormous cloud of fog from reaching Ponyville by herself. Much of Rainbow's story was over dramatic, and some parts Rarity suspected Rainbow may have made up just for entertainment. Rarity simply kept silent, nodding when appropriate. She was in a good mood today, and she figured she may as well not ruin her boastful friend's fun. Besides, it was a fairly entertaining story.
It was not long before the pair and their pets joined the rest of their friends at the park, their animals already running wild.
"There ya'll are!" a familiar orange earth pony exclaimed to them. "Where've you two been?" Applejack
"Ask Miss Prim-and-Proper." Rainbow gestured towards Rarity, still hovering in the air.
Rarity, starting to tire of being asked the same question time and again, kept her composure. "I do apologize for being late, Applejack, but I had matters of utmost importance to take care of before I could—"
"She had to brush her cat." Rainbow interrupted, much to Rarity's irritation.
Applejack sighed to herself. "Course she did."
Rarity lowered her head in defeat. "Could we please just move on?"
"Well, we're all here now at least," Applejack stated optimistically. "Come on over, Pinkie brought a few snacks."
Rainbow Dash perked up upon hearing that. "Awesome, I'm starving!" she immediately dashed away to find her dear friend Pinkie Pie, with Tank slowly hovering after her.
And at that, their pony/pet play date was on.
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Despite a scuffle with Opalescence and Applejack's dog Winona, the day progressed with no trouble at all. There was never a moment where the animals were unhappy, or exhausted easily. The six mares also enjoyed spending quality time with their pets and each other.
It was a delightful day.
Though, the phrase "all good things must come to an end" didn't exist for nothing. The sun began to set, painting the horizon a light orange. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had to cut short the staring contest between Tank and Pinkie's alligator, much to Rainbow's delight. Between Tank's sluggish mannerisms and Gummy's... weird behavior, their little competition might have lasted for hours. That alligator sent shivers down Rainbow's spine. Something was just off about it.
Knowing full well she needed to be up early tomorrow, Rainbow bid her friends farewell for the day and lifted off with Tank. Ponyville's weather wouldn't set itself up.
Tank and Rainbow decided to take the scenic route through the town rather than fly above the town to her house, as she decided they were in no rush. All the townsfolk were busy heading home, eager to get back before dark. Some of which Rainbow recognized as the other pegasi scheduled to help her with the weather tomorrow. Only a simple greeting was given to each of them, as they both understood they'd see each other really soon.
And then, in her peripheral vision, Rainbow Dash saw it. "Wait a second!" she exclaimed for Tank to hear. Posted to the bulletin board on the side of the Town Hall, was a fairly large poster with the bold yellow words DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE! The advertisement told of the Wonderbolts, and how they were now looking for "new recruits." Rainbow's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates when she read those words.
Think you have what it takes? The poster berated. Come prove it at Wonderbolt Academy! We only take the best of the best! ENROLL TODAY.
Everything else on the poster was the information to sign up, but Rainbow had stopped reading. She was now staring into empty space. It was only a full minute later did a wide smile spread across her face and she ripped the poster off the wall.
"Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes!" the elated mare repeated over and over. "Do you know what this means, Tank!?"
Tank simply blinked. Very slowly.
"I can finally get into the Wonderbolts! I finally have a way to do it!" Rainbow Dash picked up the tortoise in her hooves and spun him in the air, laughing to herself with joy.
"I gotta show my friends! Just wait until they see this!" Rainbow told her tortoise, letting him hover on his own.
The excited pegasus aimed herself towards Twilight's house, eager to show the unicorn her own opportunity. Upon looking back at the sun's position, she realized it was much too late in the day to disturb anypony. The sun had almost completely set, and stars could be seen in the sky already.
Rainbow's excitement lowered, and she realized her surprise would have to wait until tomorrow.
Ponyfeathers, she cursed inwardly. Well, Tank does have to eat anyways.
With reluctance, she called to her pet. "Come on, Tank. Let's go home."
The couple made their way to her house in the clouds.
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The door flew open, and in walked Rainbow and Tank, ready to collapse on their beds. It did take a lot more to exhaust Rainbow Dash, but she always welcomed sleep like an old friend.
"What a day, huh Tank?" Rainbow asked. She knew full well he couldn't respond. "Guess I gotta feed you now," she realized, making her way into her kitchen.
Her messy, unclean kitchen.
"Oh, right. I did say I would clean this place, didn't I?" Rainbow admitted to herself. Seems she would have to put it off a for a while longer for the sake of getting some rest.
Tank took a single step towards his bowl in the time Rainbow took his food out of the cupboard. The speedy pegasus had poured his food before Tank even made it halfway there. Rainbow Dash carried him the rest of the way just to help him out. She figured he must've been too hungry to wait by now.
With nothing else to do for the day, Rainbow strode to her bedroom, the flyer for the Wonderbolts tucked away in her feathers. Looking outside her window, she could see the clouds above the Everfree slowly spreading across the trees like bread on butter. There must've been a storm brewing over there as well. Coincidental, as Ponyville was due for a storm tomorrow as well.
Which she had to get up early for. Yeah, better get some shuteye, She thought.
Laying in her bed, she could not bring herself to fall asleep. Her eyes kept wandering over to the creased flyer flat on her bedside table. Rainbow Dash had nothing but the moonlight shining in from her window, but she could still clearly see the Wonderbolt insignia on the page. Someday soon, she would be flying around with that insignia on her Wonderbolt suit. It was only a matter of time.
Her eyes glanced at the clock on her wall. It was already midnight.
Great. Waking up tomorrow won't be fun, she thought disdainfully.
She glanced again at the poster. The darn thing was the reason she couldn't get any sleep. It made her too giddy every time she looked at it.
We only take the best of the best!
Obviously she was a shoo-in, then. What better contestant was there than the Rainbow Dash?
...
Actually, she had never really thought about it. The fastest, most agile pegasi would come in from all of Equestria. Surely, there was going to be some fierce competition! None she couldn't beat, of course, but it wouldn't be as easy as she first believed.
Rainbow Dash sat up in confidence. She had nothing to worry about. She had trained nearly her entire life for this, after all.
What makes you think you're the only one?
Rainbow saw it in her peripheral vision. The confused mare did a double take towards the advertisement next to her. For a moment, she could've sworn the bold yellow words said something different. Was her mind playing tricks on her?
Slumping back on the bed in frustration, Rainbow attempted to put the thought out of her head. Unfortunately, it was to no avail. She slowly realized how self centered it was to believe she was the only one training for the Wonderbolts.
The annoyed pegasus slammed a hoof down on her bed. All she wanted was to fall asleep, not get all mopey!
So there's some competition, big whoop! she screamed in her head. It's not like they'll be able to beat me—
The loud creak of her bedroom door in the quiet of the night interrupted Rainbow Dash's thoughts. Slightly startled, she sat up on her haunches to see the cause of the noise. It was only Tank, slowly but surely making his way inside her room.
Rainbow groaned before trying yet again to make herself comfortable on her own bed. Her eyes turned again to the Wonderbolt Academy poster.
We only take the best of the best!
She stared at those words in silence. They seemed to mock her, doubt her, imply that there were better flyers than her. The longer she stared, the more she hated those words.
"Hey Tank," she directed to her tortoise, just now making it to her bedside. "I'm like, the best flyer there could be, right?"
Tank did not respond.
"I mean, I know I haven't been practicing lately, but that's because I know I'm just too good! I mean, What other pegasus can do a sonic rainboom on command, right?"
The stoic tortoise did nothing.
"I mean, yeah I have to push myself harder than I believe is possible, but I can do it!" her voice trailed off. "...sometimes."
The old pet stood silently.
"Hey, maybe it isn't so easy, but it's not like any other pegasus can fly as fast as me! That's all that matters!" she said, turning away from her pet.
Is it, really? The poster changed it's words again, reverting just in time for Rainbow to look.
Rainbow's fury was growing considerably. She wanted to unleash the beast inside of her and beat the doubt into submission. Instead, she hopped off her bed and started stomping around her room, ranting to herself.
"Oh, for Celestia's sake! What am I even worrying about?" She walked up to her mirror on her wall. "I'm the best flyer in all of Equestria!"
For a split second, the mirror changed her reflection that of one of the Wonderbolts. Spitfire, mouthing the exact words that came from Rainbow's lips. I'm the best flyer in all of Equestria!
What makes you think you're the only one?
Rainbow reeled from the mirror a short distance before she sat down hard on her own floor. She couldn't even convince herself to get up, let alone get the annoying thoughts out of her head. It seemed her own mind was against her.
She turned her head to look at the time. 1:32 A.M. Rainbow was baffled. Had she really been up for so long?
It was all that stupid poster's fault. It was the reason she couldn't get any sleep.
Turning to swipe the advertisement off her bedside table, she saw those bright gold words again Think you have what it takes? Rainbow Dash didn't know anymore. She thought she did, but she had never stopped to look at the big picture. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of pegasi in Equestria wanting to join the ranks of the Wonderbolts. What if the off-chance came where one of them out-shined her? What if somepony had trained as hard as her, if not harder?
What if... she didn't have what it took?
She flexed her wing, squeezing the fragile poster in her feathers. Rainbow Dash opened her one bedroom window, and promptly tossed out the paper with all of her might. The ad had not completed a full arc before the wind carried it out of sight. Leaving the window open, she turned around to see Tank staring at her.
"What? Don't look at me like that! I'm just being real! Besides, the Wonderbolts aren't going anywhere."
Tank blinked once.
"Whatever! I don't care what you have to say!" Rainbow dismissed. "I don't need you judging me, you little slowpoke!"
At that, Tank withdrew into his own shell. Rainbow sighed as she fell back on her bed. Least I can probably get some sleep now. She compromised.
Closing her eyes, she waited for her dreams to whisk her away from these terrible feelings.
Maybe next time.
At last, she fell asleep.
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Morning came all too soon for Rainbow Dash. Her hoof slammed upon her ringing alarm clock, set for 6:30. A look outside her still-open window confirmed the time. Celestia's sun could be seen rising just above the horizon, and the shine did nothing for her bloodshot eyes.
Ponyfeathers. Forgot to close this thing last night. She thought as she slammed her window shut. No wonder she felt so chilled.
She threw the covers off her body, yawning loudly. Throwing herself off the bed, she noticed a lack of any tortoise asleep on her floor.
Must've moved somewhere else during last night. She rationalized.
Getting ready for the day, Rainbow Dash did her daily stretches. Today wouldn't be fun; she had to set up a major storm with a couple other pegasi while running on a poor amount of sleep. Maybe after she was done kicking the rain clouds into shape, she could come home and crash for a while. Not forever, though. She had a sleep schedule to keep up.
And just like that, she was all ready to take on the day. Rainbow Dash was already at her front door when she remembered something else.
Right. I gotta feed Tank. A minor setback.
The pet food was poured in an instant, but Rainbow was hardly rushing at all. Compelled to let Tank know of his breakfast, she hollered "Tank! There's food for you in the kitchen! I'll be back soon!" Rainbow felt somewhat silly yelling for her tortoise, but nevertheless, she did it.
The front door slammed shut, and Rainbow was off to do her job.
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Three hours later, a soaked and rather upset Rainbow Dash kicked open her front door. So far, her morning had not gone well at all. Several mistakes in managing the storm quickly led to an angry Rainbow Dash. The weather team had only been doing this kind of thing forever, how could they screw up?
I can't believe Cloud Kicker thought it was a good idea to start the storm early.
Rainbow attempted to shake herself dry. She grunted to herself. She could've been back home much earlier if Cloud Kicker had been a bit smarter with the rain. Perhaps she was sleep deprived, too.
It didn't matter now, Rainbow didn't care. Wasting no more time, she made for her bedroom. There were a few hours of napping she had to catch up on, and she intended to do just that.
Passing by her still messy kitchen, she couldn't help but notice Tank's food bowl to be just as full as it was when she left for her job. Perhaps the old pet didn't hear her when she left.
"Tank! You have food, y'know!" she called out in her house, expecting him to show up at any minute. When he didn't appear by himself, Rainbow took it upon herself to find him. If nothing else then to make sure he was okay.
"Hey, Tank! Where are ya?" Rainbow shouted, searching each room she came across. With every room empty of Tank, she became slightly more frantic. "Seriously, come out already!" Having investigated every room on her main floor, she rushed upstairs. Something was wrong, and Rainbow didn't like it.
"Taaaank!" Rainbow was panicking, ransacking every room in her house to find the elusive tortoise. Eventually, the frantic pegasus ran short of places to look. Standing in her room again, she called out his name repeatedly, hoping for any sign of a response. All she heard in return was the pouring storm outside her window.
A sudden thought had Rainbow Dash bolting to her front door. There's no way he can be gone! she denied. Not without—
Her thought stopped short upon witnessing that Tank's propeller was not next to the door where she always left it; in fact, it was missing entirely.
Sweet Celestia, I forgot to take it off of him yesterday! she screamed in her head.
There was one conclusion she could draw from this, but she did not want to. "No..."
Her front door nearly flew off its hinges as she flew back into the stormy weather.
"Taaaaank!" she desperately retried.
Nothing but the sound of rain and booming thunder met her ears. Rainbow Dash didn't move from her spot in the sky, she hardly knew what to do. A thousand options ran rampant through her mind, and she was unable to sort them out. The words Tank is missing were the only things clear to her right now.
In desperation, she flew down beneath the clouds in search of a certain friend. Surely, she would know what to do.
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"Fluttershy! I need you!"
For the second morning in a row, Rainbow found herself banging on a friends door.
"Rainbow Dash? What are you—"
"Tank ran away! He's just disappeared and I don't know where he could've gone! You've got to help me Fluttershy! I have to find him!"
"Tank? Missing?"
"Yes! Please Fluttershy, you've got to help me find him! You know more about animals than I do!"
"Rainbow, maybe you should come in out of the rain?" The pegasus meekly offered.
"No time! If we start looking right away, we might be able to find him!"
"Rainbow, I really think we should talk about this inside—"
"Fluttershy, we have to go now! Every minute we sit around is just another minute that he is lost, and—!"
"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy commanded, snapping Rainbow out of her rant. "We will find him." Her change in manner from assertive to motherly was uncanny. "But, um... please come out of the rain."
A deflated Rainbow Dash complied, too distressed to continue arguing. After she improperly shook herself dry, Fluttershy asked to hear the entire story. Rainbow's story was rushed, sparing as many details as she thought unnecessary. Fluttershy remained silent aside from the occasional comment. By the time she finished, Rainbow didn't realize she had ended up sitting on the couch.
"So if he left last night, then he shouldn't be too far. He certainly won't be able to fly in this storm, it's much too windy."
"That's what I've been saying!" Rainbow groaned impatiently. "We've gotta get the others too, they can help us look for him. But we've gotta go now!"
"Well..." Fluttershy looked out her window at the raging weather. She didn't want to have to go out there, she could easily catch a cold! But her friend desperately needed her right now, and that ultimately took priority. "Okay, I'll try my best to help you, Rainbow."
The sudden crack of lightning made her jump a little.
"Just let me get a coat on."
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Getting Applejack and Pinkie to agree to help look for Tank was easy, but Rarity and Twilight took a lot more convincing. Twilight insisted she needed to help Spike clean the catastrophically filthy library, and Rarity refused to risk getting even a drop of rain on her. Twilight was won over when she realized she could put some of her tracking spells to use. Rarity, realizing that her friend needed her, came out of her boutique only after bundling herself up in three gaudy, stylized raincoats and an umbrella saddle.
Rainbow loved Rarity, really. Even if her obsession for detail was a bit irritating at times.
Applejack had her dog Winona by her side, hopeful that the canine would be able to help find Tank's scent. Besides Rainbow Dash, the elated dog was probably the only one who didn't mind the cold rain.
"Alright, everyone!" Rainbow addressed each of her five friends. "Thanks for coming out to help me with this, but we shouldn't waste any more time! Every second we spend yapping is more time lost looking for Tank. Fluttershy," she directed to nervous pegasus. "You're the expert. Do you have any idea where we should start?"
"W-well..." Fluttershy stammered, not doing well with being put on the spot. "Most tortoises prefer arid areas, sometimes near woods. They'll even burrow underground just to stay dry," the meek pegasus looked at her friends from beneath her hood. "Does that help at all?"
"Maybe we should split up, Rainbow," Twilight Sparkle offered. "That way, we can cover more ground in less time."
"Good idea," the drenched pegasus agreed. "Applejack, you think that dog of yours will be able to sniff out an underground tortoise?"
"You betcha!" she cheerfully replied.
"Then go search the outskirts of Ponyville. Near the forest, at the lake, whatever. Just meet at Sugarcube Corner in an hour or so."
"I'll go with Applejack," Rarity stated. "If he's down below, I might be able to find his tunnel with my underground location spell."
"Okay. Thanks, Rarity." Rainbow Dash replied, not expecting the fashionista to take charge.
"Alright Winona, time to put that nose of yours to work." Applejack ordered the carefree canine.
Rainbow watched as the two mares and dog trotted off, hoping to Celestia they would find something if she didn't.
Shaking the thoughts away, she turned to the rest of her friends. "Twilight, you and Pinkie should search in Ponyville. She probably knows more about this town than any of us, and your magic might be able to help her in some way."
"Ooh! I can try out my new turtle call!" Pinkie optimistically cheered as she bounced in the rain.
"Pinkie, first of all, Tank is a tortoise," Twilight bluntly told her "Secondly, turtles and tortoises don't make sounds."
"How can you be so sure? Maybe nopony has ever heard one before!" Pinkie rebutted cheerfully.
Twilight groaned, knowing that trying to argue with the bubbly pink pony was neigh impossible. "Come on, Pinkie, let's go." The last Rainbow heard of them was a series of indiscernible noises coming from Pinkie Pie. Probably her alleged "tortoise call", Rainbow figured.
"Looks like it's just me and you, Fluttershy," Rainbow directed to the remaining pegasus, standing in the rain whilst Rainbow hovered.
A bright flash came over all of Ponyville for a split second. The two ponies waited in silence, neither of them wanting to shout over the sky's roaring which followed seconds afterwards.
"Me and you are gonna do an aerial sweep of the entire area," a drenched Rainbow explained. "We'll start at the park on the other side of Ponyville, ending the search at my house." She wiped at a few stray strands of her mane, the hairs slightly irritating her.
"Um, Rainbow? Are you certain it's safe to fly in this weather?" Fluttershy peered out form under her hood.
Rainbow nearly snapped at her immediately, before realizing that this was Fluttershy, and she did have a point. This storm wasn't scheduled to let up anytime soon, and the townsfolk were indoors for a reason.
"Fluttershy, I..." Rainbow began, unsure of how to say what she wanted to. "I know what I'm asking is kind of huge. I get it," Rainbow landed to look her yellow friend in the eye. "But I need you to help me. Please, just a little more."
She hesitated to answer, but her words were music to Rainbow's ears when she did. "I would never make you do this alone," she assured with a smile "Let's go find him, Rainbow."
Rainbow returned the smile. "Well, what are we waiting for?"
Rainbow flew skyward, and Fluttershy followed suit.
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The time passed too fast for Rainbow. It was already time to meet with her friends back at Sugarcube Corner ten minutes ago, and neither her nor Fluttershy had spotted the elusive tortoise. Sudden gusts of wind and lightning strikes which were too close for comfort had not made their objective any easier.
Fluttershy tried to reason with Rainbow as they flew, telling her that her friends were probably getting worried about them by now. Rainbow wanted desperately to keep searching, but her conscience got the better of her, and she eventually turned back.
Rainbow flew in silence, letting the cold rain shower her fur. It didn't matter at this point, she was already soaked beyond belief. Her mind was already occupied with finding Tank.
Hopefully her friends had found him.
Fluttershy didn't speak a word to Rainbow, knowing full well she was under too much stress right now.
Outside the doors to Sugarcube Corner, they could briefly hear their friends already inside.
"—are they? Rainbow said to meet here in an hour."
"Must be real worried 'bout that turtle of her's."
"The poor dear. I can't imagine what she's going through right now."
The two pegasi walked through the door, finding all but one of their companions convened at a single table in the middle of the dimly lit store. Four dripping coats were hung up on the hat rack next to them. Pinkie Pie was nowhere in sight. She was probably busy with some other chore. She did live here, after all.
"Thank Celestia, there you both are!" Twilight exclaimed upon seeing them walk through the door. "Rainbow you're soaking wet! Why didn't you wear a co—"
"Did you find anything?" Rainbow cut off the librarian, not wanting to put up with a lecture.
To Rainbow's absolute dismay, none of them spoke. She waited for one of them to say something. Anything. Rainbow could almost see the gears working in Twilight's head as she attempted to find a way to tell Rainbow the bad news.
"Nothing?" Rainbow said for her silent comrades, each of them wincing slightly when she said it. "Nothing at all!?"
"Rainbow, we know it's upsetting to hear, but—"
Twilight continued speaking, Rainbow heard none of it. They had searched the entirety of Ponyville and the surrounding area, and came out empty-hooved. If Tank wasn't in Ponyville, where could he be? How could she not check and make sure he was at the house this morning? What if he was hurt, or worse? Thoughts raced through her mind again, and she grew angrier with each one that passed.
"Rainbow Dash?" a yellow hoof softly found itself on Rainbow's back. "Are you okay?"
Rainbow snapped back to reality to see Fluttershy and everypony else staring at her in concern, Twilight must've finished speaking her part already.
Rainbow's face was a contortion of mixed emotions. Worry, sorrow, and all the anger she could muster. She turned to face Fluttershy, who winced slightly upon seeing her visage. "No, Fluttershy. I'm not okay," she said in a voice unlike what her friends had heard before. "But I will be, when I find Tank!" she half screamed at them, turning back to the Bakery's entrance.
"Oh, no ya don't," Applejack denied. "Ya'll ain't goin' back out there in this weather!" The farmpony hastily moved to block the doorway.
"Get out of the way!" Rainbow demanded of the apricot mare.
Rarity took the opportunity to speak up. "Rainbow, please listen to reason! We've already searched the entirety of Ponyville!" she flipped her curly mane. "Besides, It's much too dreary right outside to be doing anything!"
"I don't care! I'm not stopping until I find him!" Rainbow rebutted as she attempted to wrestle Applejack away from the exit. Applejack refused to budge.
"Rainbow, you will find him. I promise you that, but we need to wait! This weather is dangerous!" Twilight intervened. Rainbow recalled Fluttershy saying nearly the exact same thing earlier.
"No! You can all sit around and do nothing for all I care," Rainbow backed off of her opponent unexpectedly, causing Applejack to lose her balance. "but I won't!" with the emphasis of those last three words, the prismatic pesgasus charged with all of her might at the orange blockade.
Applejack, unprepared for the blow, was easily blasted out the door with Rainbow. The poor mare flopped on the ground, and Rainbow felt a tinge of guilt as she bolted away. On one hoof, she could have hurt Applejack, but on the other hoof they had both got into more heated arguments than that. She would be just fine.
"Rainbow!" was the last thing she heard Twilight call out in the distance. She wouldn't be getting any help from them now.
After being sure she wouldn't be apprehended, Rainbow slowed her flight. Her charge had taken a fair bit of energy to execute, but she couldn't take a break and rest. Not while her friend was gone.
The storm had intensified in the short time she was indoors. The fat raindrops unforgivingly pelted against her face, and the intense gusts of wind almost made her regret not bringing a jacket. Celestia forbid she tell her friends that, she'd never hear the end of it.
Not much time had passed before Rainbow had made a her round of aerial scouting around Ponyville. Nothing had changed, she still found nothing.
So if he's not in Ponyville, then... Rainbow turned her gaze to the southern border of Ponyville, where the Everfree Forest stood. Maybe he's in there. Intimidating as ever, and more dangerous than one would think, only the bravest of the brave traveled through.
Daunting as the forest was, Rainbow steeled herself. Tank was nowhere to be found in Ponyville, and the trees of the forest provided some dry protection from the ongoing storm. She also remembered that Fluttershy had said tortoises sometimes burrowed near woods. Her tortoise had to be in there.
Wasting no time, Rainbow bolted to the place where none dared to tread.
It was not two minutes later when she landed at the Everfree's edge. Looking at the town behind her, she felt somewhat guilty. If her friends knew what she was about to do, they'd be furious. Hopefully they weren't secretly watching her.
In she went.
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Only fifteen minutes into her search, and Rainbow was already lost. Although being lost didn't mean too much as she was a pegasus and could fly out of the forest, but she could not simply glide overhead and search at the same time, much like she had done for Ponyville. The hooded forest was hard to see through, and nothing save for a few rays of light made it through to the forest floor.
At least it was dry down there.
Rainbow had considered enlisting the help of Zecora to help her navigate the forest and hopefully locate Tank, but unlike Twilight, she didn't remember the first thing about getting to her hut in the dense woods. It didn't take long for her to abandon the idea of it. She didn't need more things to search for right now.
Another downside of the Everfree was that it was unnaturally dark inside. Some areas of the forest she could hardly make out due to them being enveloped in the thick shadows. Needless to say, it was seriously hampering Rainbow's morale. How could she search under these conditions? At this rate, she would never see Tank again.
Only large tree trunks and unidentifiable plant life surrounded her. Trotting around the forest was getting her nowhere. Everything looked too similar wherever she went. Sometimes she thought she saw the tortoise in the corner of her eye, and it would always get her hopes up without fail. It only made it all the more enraging when it turned out she was only seeing things.
Rainbow tried calling out for him, hoping that he might be able to hear her over the howling weather. She didn't expect any response in return, but for some reason it made her feel a bit better.
"It makes no sense! What did he run away for?" Rainbow asked herself. "What possible reason could he have to leave!?" she raged, mightily kicking a nearby tree so hard it left an indent. It hurt her back legs, but it felt good at the same time.
"Then again, I wasn't exactly nice to him last night," Rainbow added, recalling her harsh attitude towards the animal. "I yelled at him and he didn't even deserve it."
Saddened and upset, the pegasus kicked a stray pebble as hard as she could. Against all odds, the ballistic stone ricocheted off the tree and hurdled straight at Rainbow's face. The rampant rock struck her cranium, causing her to reel back onto her flank and cry out. She moved her hoof to cover her injury, and shut her eyes as she hissed in pain. When she checked her hoof, she was relieved to find that blood had not been drawn.
Rainbow was absolutely miserable. She was cold, wet, hurting and alone, and was still no closer to finding her friend.
This is all that stupid poster's fault. Rainbow silently declared. I wouldn't have taken my anger out on Tank if I wasn't mad, and I wouldn't have been mad if it weren't for that stupid piece of paper!
Her head throbbing, she begrudgingly continued her search into the abundant vegetation. Thoughts of aforementioned night began to flood her mind. Finding the poster, losing sleep over the darn thing, and finally throwing it out the window. She silently wished she had never found it in the first place.
At least then she wouldn't feel so horrible about it.
Try as she might, Rainbow could not push the feelings of shame out of her mind. The opportunity was there. A voice asserted in her head. Why didn't I take it? It's everything I ever wanted. Rainbow shook her head and growled. She did not need this. Not now.
But I threw it out the window.
"Taaank!" the exhausted pegasus bellowed into the cluttered woods. She had no idea how far she had traveled in.
I threw my dream out the window. All because I was afraid.
"Taaaank! Where are you!?"
Now it's just...
Only the sounds of raindrops on leaves responded to her.
...Gone.
A despondent Rainbow came to a small clearing, where the rain could actually find it's way to the forest floor. It was brighter in this area than it was in the dark forest. Her tortoise wasn't here either, not like that was any surprise to her at this point. The resigned pegasus lowered her head and sat down hard at the base of a tree.
It's just like the young fliers competition all over again. Rainbow Dash sat back as the memory came to her. Except I don't have anyone to support me right now. Rainbow's guilt increased, knowing full well that she pushed them away.
"I don't think I ever told him how important he was to me." Rainbow whispered to herself.
Rainbow wanted nothing more than to be in her warm, comfortable house with her tortoise. She wanted to apologize to her friends for the way she acted. She wanted to do everything over again from yesterday. And she especially wanted the infernal clouds up above to stop pouring down on her.
Rainbow had no idea how long she sat there on the forest floor. Minutes, hours, it did not matter to the unmoving pegasus. Rainbow yawned, exerted from her consistent investigation mixed with getting up early to help set the storm. She realized she would need to go home soon, as she was already nodding off right there under that overgrown oak. Knowing that was a bad idea, she jerked herself awake. Not only were there monsters constantly on the prowl in the Everfree Forest, but she knew she would not be having any sweet dreams until she found that tortoise.
That blasted tortoise. If only she didn't care so much.
And then, silence. Rainbow did a double take around the small clearing, neither seeing or hearing a single raindrop. The harsh storm had ceased.
Rainbow recalled that Ponyville was scheduled for a downpour until 8:00 PM, but she also remembered she was in the Everfree Forest, where the unnatural weather moved all by itself.
Rainbow didn't know what to do next. Continue her search? Go home? Apologize to her friends? It was all so tangled up in her mind, and in her distraught state she wouldn't be able to unravel them anytime soon.
Wait, what was that? Rainbow snapped to attention. She had heard something rustling in the bushes, and was not keen on finding out what it could be.
She should've flown away sooner, of course she'd be stalked in the Everfree Forest! She had to get out of here. She needed to act fast or she'd soon be a manticore's meal. She needed to—
...Wait.
The cautious pegasus inched closer to the edge of the clearing. Her mind screamed at her to get out before she got jumped, but the hopeful thought in the back of her head kept her hooves planted. Another noise from beyond the bramble in front of her made her freeze. In a final bout of hope and fear, she swiftly pushed the vision-blocking vegetation aside, only to find...
A green shelled animal, with a propeller strapped to him.
"Tank!" Rainbow screamed in joy, sweeping the tortoise in her forelegs. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you're okay! I was so worried about you!" the relieved pegasus stated, looking her tortoise in the eyes. "Where did you go!? Why did you leave!?"
Putting her tortoise down, her look turned more serious. "You have any idea how much trouble I went through to find you!?" to Rainbow's surprise, Tank's reply was to retract back into his shell. Rainbow lowered her head to try and peer inside. "Hey is this about what I said last night? Because I'm really sorry about that!" she claimed. "It was wrong of me to yell at you for—" Rainbow stopped when she found Tank come out of his shell, this time carrying a piece of paper in his mouth.
A very familiar half crumpled piece of paper; aiming right at her eyes the sentence she knew all too well.
DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE!
"...for that." Rainbow finished, softening her attitude. "Is that what this was all about? You were just looking for that thing?" the calm pegasus inquired.
Tank just stood there in his typical manner.
Rainbow Dash sat next to her tortoise, her hoof rubbing his shell. "You big dope. Don't you realize you could've hurt yourself in this weather?" Tank appeared apologetic when she said that, causing Rainbow to rein in her disapproving attitude.
"But you know, this was really considerate of you." Rainbow redeemed with a small smile. "Thanks for looking out for me, big guy."
The two sat in silence for the next minute, the relieved pegasus rubbing Tank's shell. Rainbow never took her eyes off of Tank, on the off chance he disappeared again when she turned her back.
She spared a glance at the crumpled advertisement. "I guess I really wasn't thinking straight last night, huh?" she started. "I was so scared that I convinced myself I wasn't good enough. But I am good enough. I already knew that I was." She stared back at the silent tortoise with a smile. "I guess I just needed a reminder."
Tank's propeller began to buzz, lifting him into the air slightly. Rainbow didn't get to ask what he was doing before he nuzzled the side of her face.
"Aw, I love ya too big guy." When the unlikely duo finished their nuzzling, Rainbow lifted into the air with a flap of her wings. "What do you say we get out of here, bud? This probably isn't the safest place to be," Rainbow cautioned with a quick scan of their surroundings. "I have to go make some apologies anyways."
Making sure Tank's propeller still worked, the two soared above the woods and made a beeline for Ponyville. As Rainbow had guessed, the storm was still going strong over the small town. Rainbow cursed under her breath for not bringing a coat with her. Now that nothing was at immediate risk, a waterproof jacket didn't sound so trivial.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
There was no search party out for her, thank Celestia. She didn't want to be lectured about going into the Everfree forest alone. Nonetheless, she knew each and every one of her friends would make no secret how worried they were for their prismatic pal. Pinkie, who was left alone to babysit at Sugarcube Corner, told Rainbow that everypony else left for their homes shortly after Rainbow's outburst.
One vigorous towel drying of Rainbow Dash later, (whether Rainbow Dash wanted one or not,) Pinkie provided Rainbow with a basic, mustard-tinted rain jacket. Rainbow happily obliged, fearful of another forceful drying session with Pinkie if she didn't.
Applejack was the pony she wanted to see first, as Rainbow felt she offended her more than the others. Knocking on the barn door, the remorseful pegasus was shocked to see a nasty bruise on Applejack's right side. No doubt the result of their collision earlier in the day.
"Rainbow?" Applejack balked. Her face was a mixture of emotions. Where Rainbow saw concern and surprise, she also found a hint of anger and hurt.
"Applejack, I..." Rainbow wanted to get this over with quickly, but she could hardly choke out the words to do so. She could hardly look Applejack in the eyes. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I know you were just trying to help back there, but... But I—" Rainbow was interrupted by an orange hoof at her mouth. Looking up at her face again, Rainbow saw no more anger or hurt in Applejack's eyes.
"It's alright, sugarcube. I forgive ya." Applejack assured with a soft grin. "I see you also found Tank. Where was he?" the farmer asked.
"Uh, I'll tell you later. I still have to apologize to the others." Rainbow diverted, not yet wanting to be scolded for her solo journey in the Everfree.
"Ah think besides Pinkie, the rest are all over at Twi's house. I'll come with ya, just lemme grab mah raincoat."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was just as Applejack had claimed: Fluttershy, Twilight and Rarity were all chatting inside the library. Although their chatter had devolved to silence when Rainbow was present. They were probably discussing what they were going to do when she returned, Rainbow figured.
Even though she had done so once already, apologizing wasn't an easy feat for Rainbow. Luckily, they had accepted her apology with just as much enthusiasm as Applejack had. They were overjoyed to hear Rainbow had managed to locate Tank, but frankly they were just happy she was still in good health.
But that didn't stop them all from hounding Rainbow when she told them how she found her pet. Even Pinkie Pie inexplicably seemed to appear from nothing just to reprimand Rainbow for traveling into the Everfree Forest.
Nopony questioned her about it, for they all knew better. Pinkie was Pinkie. There was no use trying to explain it.
With the entire gang here, the six mares each found their own seat in the library. Tank laid on the floor next to Rainbow, and she casually stroked his shell with a hoof. Before she knew it, Rainbow and her friends were all laughing at their own jokes. Rainbow could laugh again, and she couldn't be happier for it.
The room had slowly turned quiet when their chuckles died down. Rarity was the one to break the silence, "Rainbow?"
"Yeah, Rarity?"
The inquisitive mare sat up straight on her couch. "You said you didn't run into any monsters in the Everfree Forest earlier," she began. "But if it was as uneventful as you said, then how did you get that nasty mark on your head?"
Oh, ponyfeathers. Rainbow had attempted to cover up the aching bruise on her forehead with her mane, but her attempts to conceal her wound were no match against Rarity's eagle eye. Rainbow would not enjoy the embarrassment this explanation would bring. "Well, uh... while I was in the forest I was pretty mad. So I kicked a rock on the ground really hard," The indignant pegasus mumbled, almost too quiet for the others to hear. "but it kinda sorta bounced off of a tree and... hit me in the head." The embarrassed pegasus rubbed the back of her head.
Her friends seemed relieved.
"Yer right when ya say that ain't nothin' to worry about. That skull of yours is thicker than Pinkie's molasses pie." Applejack mocked.
"They're made with love!" Pinkie buoyantly voiced. "Oh, and also lots and lots of molasses!"
Everypony snickered. Even Rainbow Dash, who had just been chastened by Applejack. She didn't mind it too much. It just meant that Rainbow would have to get her back for it.
"It's still interesting, though," Twilight remarked. "You were in such a dangerous area for so long and you didn't run into any monsters at all? I wonder why."
Fluttershy chimed in, albeit meekly. "Well, it's believed that animals will sometimes act differently depending on the weather."
Rainbow couldn't see how that information would benefit her in the future.
The light drizzle outside rattled against the Library windows.
Rainbow decided that now was as good a time as any to let them all know of her surprise. Asking Tank to retrieve it from his shell, she unfolded the advertisement for Wonderbolt Academy. Each of her five friends observed the big golden letters in awe, knowing what it meant for the athletic pegasus.
DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE!
