Beep
Beep
Beep
An old pegasus layed there on a hospital bed. At the side of the bed, a giant tortoise stands, staring at the faded rainbow pegasus, hoping she wakes up. Hoping she'll say she's fine and they can go back home. Hoping he can she her smile again. The room was dimly lit. Machinery covered one wall. There were chairs in the corner.
"She's been asleep for weeks," Tank could hear a nurse say from the hallway. "It is a waste of medicine that we could help ponies who still have a chance. I say we cut off-"
"No!" a doctor said. "She's a hero. We will try everything to help her. Besides, do you really want to go through that tortoise?"
"What's an overgrown turtle going to do to a unicorn?" she scoffed.
"Kill you," the doctors had all the seriousness he could in his voice. "He will protect that mare till the very end. He has killed ponies who've tried to assassinate her. He is her guardian. A guardian who won't let anything hurt his rainbow."
"Fine! But when she's dead and all that medicine went to waste, don't come crying to me," The nurse stormed off.
"Oh GoodGaws! You'll understand one day," The doctor sighed, walking into the room.
"Hello Tank. I'm just going to do a routine check, ok?"
Tank turned his head to look at the doctor. He didn't trust the doctor with Rainbow. He didn't trust anypony with her. But the doctor was the only one that could save her, so Tank let him do his job.
"Everything is in order. Tank, would you like some food to be brought here?"
The tortoise didn't nod, he just stared at the fading rainbow on the bed.
"You really should eat something. Keep your strength up."
Tank continued to stare at his rainbow laying there. He did not answer the doctor.
"Okay. Well, I'll be out for a moment," the doctor said, then he left the room.
Tank stood there, continually staring at the rainbow he loves. When she moved.
Her eyes slowly opened and she looked around. She saw Tank.
"T...Tank." The tortoise could have jumped for joy. He walked over and nuzzled the mares neck. "Tank I... I need to say something to you," She struggled with her words. "I'm... I'm sorry. I know I wasn't the best owner in Equestria. I know I haven't treated you like I should have." Tears started rolling down her face.
The tortoise nuzzled her again and shook his head, telling her that she was wrong.
"No Tank, I haven't. But that's never stopped you from being the best pet ever." Tank smile and shook his head. "No Tank. You're awesome. If you were 20% cooler, Equestria would freeze from your coolness." Tank rolled his eyes. "You've always been there for me. Protecting me. All those years ago when you saved my life in Ghastly Gorge when all I did was ignore and doubt you. You've stuck by my side through thick and thin. You've never stopped protecting me. You've saved my life a good number of times. My guardian. You are my best friend. I owe you my life. Thank you Tank. I'm going to miss you when I'm gone." A frown formed on Tank's face. "Don't be sad for me. I will be with the others again. I'll be happy. I'll be waiting for you up there, too." The old tortoise lowered his head. "Don't cry Tank, I've never seen you cry. And I don't want the last time we see eachother for a while.... Tank, I love you. Know that. I will always love you. Don't cry, stay strong. Go...Goodbye, my Old Guardian..."
She laid her head back on her pillow and closed hear eyes. "My Old Guardian..." Then a sound started. A sound that will haunt Tank for the rest of his long life. A sound that brought the strong tortoise, who had never cried, to tears. A sound of a rainbow fading into heaven.
Beep
Beep
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...
So there Tank stood. Staring at a faded rainbow. Tears streaming down his face. He was alone now. All alone.
The doctor came in. "Oh no... Tank I'm... I'm sorry. She... She was a great pony. We'll have her moved to the funeral home." He went over to the bed and reached for the cover. He tried to put the cover over Rainbow's face, only to have Tank tackle him, biting his foreleg. "Help! Help!" The doctor cried. Tank's mind broke. All he had was his anger. No one would touch what he protects.
Two big security ponies, both unicorns, busted in. "Stop him! Stop him!"
The unicorns tried to hold him with their magic, but in vain. "How the... Our magic does nothing!?"
"Then shoot the thing!" The guards opened fire. Tranq-darts bounced off Tank's shell. After a few darts hit his legs, Tank started to feel the effects. He fell asleep and layed there.
"What happened doc?" one of the guards asked.
The doctor looked at the unconcious tortoise. "He lost the rainbow in his heart."
Rainbow opened her eyes. She was sitting the clouds. She was young again. She had her 20 year old body. She looked behind her and saw that her smaller blue wings were now large white wings.
"Rainbow!" she heard a strong southern voice say. She turned to see her old friends.
"Jackie! Pinkie! Rarity! Fluttershy! Twilight!" Rainbow jumped up and hugged them.
"So... Umm," Fluttershy sounded as timid as she used to.
"I'm dead. I know that. I take it this is heaven?"
"Yep," Twilight had a smile, but you could see the fear in her face.
"How did Tank take it?" Rarity asked.
"I'm sure he's doing fine. He's a strong tortoise. He'll be able to handlle it," Rainbow said, almost in a boastful way, "I hope."
They buried Rainbow in the same cemetary that the other Bearers of Harmony had been bured in. The cemetary of heroes. Where Tank stands to this day. Guarding his rainbow. And all the others. Such is the burden of an old guardian. Protecting till they can't protect anymore...
