The Tottering Tortoise, Tank

by Zaphilious

Rating: everyone
Tags: Tank, Rainbow Dash, Comedy, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 5037

Rainbow Dash returns home after an exhausting day to find Tank missing... and she remembers catching glimpses of him in town while she was flying. Where has Tank gone, and why?

EQD Writer's Training Grounds #15:
Writing Prompt:
Thanks to her uncanny eye for detail on the wing, Rainbow Dash glimpses something she should never have seen.

Rainbow Dash returns home after an exhausting day to find Tank missing... and she remembers catching glimpses of him in town while she was flying. Where has Tank gone, and why?

Published 2014-04-11 01:10:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-04-11 01:10:03 UTC

Chapter Only

The Tottering Tortoise, Tank

by Zaphilious

“Fetch Tank!” A speed obsessed rainbow maned pegasus playing fetch with a tortoise wasn't something you saw everyday. The tortoise being equipped with a magical helicopter apparatus which allowed it to keep pace with the pegasus was even less frequently seen. But here at Ponyville's central park it could be seen at least once a week, when the local librarian princess and her friends gathered for their pony pet play dates.

Tank was not alone in his game of fetch: Owlowiscious, owl of the alicorn librarian, and Winona, the Apple's sheep dog, were having a great game of running interference on Tank; Owlowiscious bogarting the airspace, while Winona raced for the stick, a tag team effect which only won out about 20% of the time. Rainbow sure named that turtle (tortoise!) right; Tank was unstoppable. Angel Bunny, The local animal caretaker's personal pet, had attempted to join in once or twice, but found himself significantly slower than Winona, and not as capable of aerial defense as Owlowiscious, so he found himself under a tree, flicking acorns at a toothless alligator. On occasion, those acorns would be intercepted by a surprisingly playful Opalescence, the grouchy cat/vicious decorative pillow of Carousel Boutique, who would bat them around a bit before losing interest. Angel's target, Gummy, the toothless alligator of the self appointed Ponyville party planner Pinkie Pie, would just sit there in the grass, slowly turning his head. Nobody knew what went on in Gummy's head. Like owner like pet, as they say.

The majority of the gathered friends sat enthralled by this makeshift sport of owls, dogs and flying turtles (tortoises!), every now and then one of them volunteering to throw the stick. Only a yellow pegasus stayed out of the fun, cuddling up to Angel and attempting to get him to stop flicking acorns at Gummy. A difficult task, considering the level of authority she typically exerted. Sometimes the stick would “accidentally” land at her feet and the rest would invite her to play too, but Fluttershy insisted that stopping Angel was of greatest importance. Pinkie Pie didn't share that sentiment, thinking Gummy was play some nut themed version of dodge ball. Never the less, Fluttershy stayed to watch over Angel, Gummy and Opal, while the rest admired Tank's unstoppable determination.

After an hour of this, things were winding down. Tank and the gang eventually brought the game to the more somber set and what semblance of order there was to their this game soon devolved into anarchic horseplay. Fluttershy had flitted about like a nervous mother, terrified for the safety of Angel, as well as the rest. But this all found itself resolved at the end of an hour, all the pets and owners happily drained and preparing to bid good bye to their friends. Then a certain purple princess walked to Rainbow Dash's side.

“Hey Rainbow, there's something I need to to talk to you about.”

“Oh, uh, sure, just let me gather up Tank and we can talk on the way home” While the rest of the pets had returned to their respective owners, Tank and Winona were still dancing around each other in attempts to knock the other one off balance. Just as Dash turned towards them Winona pounced on Tank, successfully taking him out of the air with a smug little doggie smile. That only lasted until Tank floated back up and Winona clamped her mouth around his foreleg, which resulted in a flying tortoise with dog dangling from his foot. The comedy of the moment did not escape Applejack.

With a giggle, Applejack offered a suggestion, “I can't bare to break up such an friendly pair. Tell you what Rainbow: I'll take Take to yer house while you and Twilight talk it up. That way these two get to fool about a while longer and I don't have to got to the movies this month.”

“Oh, and I'll make sure they don't hurt each other.” Fluttershy offered.

“I'm heading the same way, so I might as well tag along.” Rarity said with a giggle, “I can make sure they don't commit any faux pas. Would want them to get embarassed.”

“I'm not, but I'm sticking around to see what else they'll do. Those two are a blast!” announced Pinkie Pie in her high-energy, shrieking laugh.

Rainbow seemed to catch on to the pattern. “Hey, you all just want have fun while I'm stuck in a lecture about modern cloud analytics or something like that,” she said with a sarcastic pout.

“That is not what I want to talk about. And besides, what's wrong with cloud analytics? You work with clouds and you need to know how they work if you're going to do you job properly.”

“Blah, blah, blah. Just because some egghead announces the “cloud fluffiness coefficient” doesn't mean I have to change the way I fluff my bed.”

“No, but It can help you figure out how to dial in the perfect amount of rain, arrange cumulonimbus and nimbostratus clouds so as to allow for the perfect sun exposure, or...”

“I hop on the cloud to make it rain, I arrange the clouds so the lighter ones don't drift where they don't belong and to perfectly fluff a cloud, tenderize it with fifteen hoof smacks, curl up like a cat and sleep until the cloud settles, then repeat.”

“Uhh. Come on, let's go before I forget what I wanted to tell you out of convenience.”

“Fine, fine.” Rainbow turned back to Applejack, “Take good care of Tank, and don't have too much fun without me”

“No promises” Applejack called back, as Rainbow and Twilight ascended into the sky. Once they were out of sight, Applejack returned to the gang gathered around the rough housing reptile and canine. “Alright Fluttershy, let's move; we ain't got much time.”

***

“Celestia's doing what!?” Rainbow floated there, absolutely gape jawed and stunned.

“She's forming a new division of the Wonderbolts: the Wonderbolts reserve. It's going to take over most of the ancillary functions such as promotions and sub-regional derbies, but-”

“OhmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmyGOSH!!” Tears were streaming down Rainbow's cheeks as her whole body shivered with shock, “Thank you Twilight! This is the greatest news EVER!!” She dove into Twilight with a bone crushing hug, enough to nearly knock her out of the sky. “Oh, I was so worried after that whole business with the Wonderbolts academy, I would never be become a Wonderbolt!” She practically hung off of Twilight, all of her fear and excitement gushing forth and draining her completely. “I was too afraid of that being true to plan for anything else; I just managed the weather and entered races, pretending everything was going to work itself out. And it has!”

“Uh, Thank you Rainbow” Twilight swung her head around, looking for a nearby cloud or rooftop, “Could we, uh, lay down, I'm not as strong a flier as you.”

“Oh, sure” agreed Rainbow Dash. She wiped away tears on her soaked cheek and quickly sped off to a nearby patch of white fluff, Twilight Sparkle following suit. The two settled in, Rainbow pummeling the cloud exactly fifteen times. “So, where do I sign up for these Wonderbolts Reserves?”

“Spitfire is going to announce them later today. After that, it should be another week before recruitment begin.” Oh that made Dash happy, the cloud soon vibrating in time with her giggles. “But,” those were never good, “because the reserves handle so much public relation, they're looking for ponies with a functional knowledge of Wonderbolts history and procedure, not just skilled fliers.”

“Eh, I'm sure I can wow them into making an exception”

“No, they're not looking for speedsters or sonic rainbooms. They're looking for ponies who can organize and participate in Wonderbolt events and games; aerobatics are an after thought.”

“Well, no big problem, I'll just, uh...” Dash's eyes flitted back and forth nervously, “watch the Wonderbolts movie every night before bed.”

Oh, that got Twilight flustered. “Absolutely not, that movie takes gross liberties with the source material. General Firefly was not in love with his secretary, Firejewel and she did not produce the magic lightning out of some misguided attempt to impress him. I swear, I could write a book about all of the inaccuracies.”

“Oh” Rainbow Dash was unconvinced, but know better than to argue with Twilight when it came to studying. Suddenly, her face contorted into a massive smile and released a gasp of realization, “Why don't you?” Rainbow Dash dove to the feet of a confused Twilight, “You could write a book about their history. A Daring Doo book! Daring Doo and First Wonderbolt.”

“Uh, Rainbow, flattered as I am, I don't think I can conceive of an write an entire Daring Doo book in a week. I doubt Daring Doo could, and she's, you know, Daring Doo.”

“I long would it take you? I don't have to be the first in the Wonderbolts reserve”

Twilight was getting a bit irritated, “Rainbow Dash,” Rainbow's smile wilted, “even though I have read the entire Daring Doo series, many other works of popular fiction, and most of the history books in the Canterlot Library, I am not a writer.”

“But you used to write the princesses all the time”

“So did you. Would you like to write an entire novel on the grounds that you've written a friendship report? I'm a scientist, Rainbow, and while I like fiction, I'm not all that good at writing it.”

“So what am I supposed to do?!” ask Rainbow, throwing her hooves in the air.

“I can help you study. That's what I was trying to get at. Rainbow, I know you don't like studying, but this is for your dream, and I'm certain you can learn anything and everything if it helps you achieve it.”

A smile returned to Rainbow's face, before she flung her forelegs around Twilight. “Thanks Twilight, I know if there's anypony in Ponyville who can get me to learn something, it's you.”

Twilight leaned into the hug and place her own foreleg over Rainbow's shoulder, “You're welcome Rainbow Dash. Anything for a friend.”

Rainbow Dash pulled away and raised her hoof to her eyes, wiping away tears Twilight hadn't even seen. Rainbow's composure return in a flash, along with a big, goofy grin, “Come on, let's get going before Tank wrecks up my house. You never know what a flying tortoise'll do when he's left alone.”

“Sure” The two took off from the cloud, flying in the direction of Rainbow's house. They proceeded to make friendly, light-hearted small talk, commenting on the weather schedule and Owlowiscious's thankful transition to a vegetarian diet. However, as they flew, Twilight couldn't help but worry that she hadn't given her friends enough time.

***

“Well, we can't send him back.”

“Oh, but Rainbow will be so upset. She loves Tank.”

“I know, but he needs our help. If she loves him, she'll understand.”

“Take him to your house, Fluttershy. He'll get the finest care in Ponyville”

“But what if Rainbow asks us to search for Tank? I couldn't stand to see he that upset.”

“Can you stand to see Tank like this?”

“No... Okay, I'll do it, but please keep Rainbow Dash from visiting while I do. I don't want to see her hurt.”

“It's okay Fluttershy. We'll all do what needs to be done.”

***

“See you tomorrow, Rainbow!” Twilight hollered as she flew off in the direction of the library. “And bring a notebook.” Rainbow doubted she owned one of those. While reading was now amongst her favorite pastimes, writing was only for paperwork or the occasional journal entry. Still, Rainbow looked down off the edge of her cloud home, wondering if it was worth going down there for a notebook now. It certainly would lower the risk of forgetting, or getting distracted. No, it wasn't worth it. Rainbow was used to being physically exhausted, but emotional exhaustion was not so familiar. She needed to go inside, say hi to Tank, nuzzle his adorable nose, and sleep straight through the night and into next morning.

“Tank, I'm home” announced Rainbow, stepping through the door into her living room. Unsurprisingly, the whole room was made of cloud: cloud couch, cloud table, cloud shelves lined with the whole of the Daring Doo series, and even a few flouting cloud lamps. However, Rainbow paid none of it any mind as she strode straight across the room to the cloud staircase. On another day, she might just fly up to the higher floors, but for now, she was too drained for anything beyond walking. Her bedroom was much the same as her living room: a lamp, a bookshelf and a bed, all made of cloud. She leapt into her bed with fervor, giving it her requisite fifteen shot beating, and settled in for a sixteen hour cat nap. Throughout all of this, she hadn't even glimpsed Tank. As she closed her eyes for the night, she wondered where he was.

Then she remembered, she'd glanced him a few times while flying with Twilight. Once hovering alongside Fluttershy and Applejack and once with just Fluttershy. And once on the ground, hobbling about, adopting an expression of pain with every step.

Eyes flung open and exhaustion forgotten, Rainbow surged through her bedroom door, down to her living room and out into the clear sky in an instant. Where had she seen him? It was near the outskirts of the market, just past Carrot Top's stand. In a technicolor streak across the sky, Rainbow flew all the way across Ponyville to the business district, shattering at least a dozen clouds in the process and displacing a few weather teams. Every time her wings began to slow, an agonized image of Tank would flash in her vision and she would push herself to just under the sound barrier.

She landed with a crash, almost destroying three stands and knocking down almost a dozen ponies. She couldn't bare to slow down, even for the landing. She raised herself back into the air with nary an effort (Rainbow Dash knew how to crash land) and immediately spotted Carrot Top; her crash landing had taken her a ways away from the local carrot merchant. In an moment, she was floating before Carrot Top with a look of desperation and fear.

“Carrot Top, did you see Tank earlier?! I don't know what's going on, but I think he's lost his helicopter. Did you see anything happen to him? He looked like he was in so much pain!” Rainbow was working herself up by the second, slowly convincing herself that a secret contingent of Nightmare Moon loyalist Ninjas had broken Tank's helicopter and implanted a bomb in his chest to get revenge for destroying their queen.

“I, uh, saw him earlier with Fluttershy” Carrot Top answered cautiously. More and more ponies were gathering around, not sure what was going on or why, but did know it had Rainbow off balance.

“I know he was with Fluttershy, I mean later, when he didn't have his helicopter”

“He did have his helicopter. He was walking along side Fluttershy for a bit. The poor thing looked like he was in pain, so Fluttershy picked him up and gave him a ride on her back.”

“Oh” Maybe Tank got hurt on the way back and Fluttershy needed to take him to her house for emergency care. Yeah. “Good, thank you. I'll just go check Fluttershy's house.” Rainbow floated up and away from the market place disaster, only now feeling the creeping hints of embarrassment for her overreaction. Wait, there, on the street corner at the end of the block, was a veterinary office. Fluttershy could have easily taken him there. Maybe he just broke his helicopter and she took him to Twilight to get it fixed. But then, why would he be in pain. Okay, first destination, Fluttershy's cottage, second destination, Twilight's house.

Speaking of Twilight, there she was, on a cloud not far from Rainbow's house. Almost directly between Rainbow's house and Fluttershy's house. Rainbow ignored her and just kept flying at a reasonable pace, not wanting to overreact again. However, Twilight spotted her as she fly past.

“Hi Rainbow!” Twilight called, lifting herself from the cloud and flying over to Rainbow's side.

“Hi Twilight. Listen, I got to get over to Fluttershy's, so”

“Oh, I just finished our first lesson plan; I'd like to go over it with you if you've got the time”

“No Thanks Twilight, I'm way too tired. I just got to find Tank, and go to bed.”

“Oh, well, I'm sure he's fine. You should probably take that nap before you look for him. Don't think Daring Doo could do half of what she did sleep deprived. And what makes you think he's at Fluttershy's?” Twilight's rambling answer as jittery and stressed. Nothing suspicious here at all.

“Carrot Top saw Fluttershy take Tank away on her back.” Rainbow let out a sigh, “I hope he's okay. I didn't think a tortoise could get hurt.”

“He's fine. It takes a lot to take down a tortoise. Rainbow, you look tired. You need to get some sleep. We'll start on Wonderbolts History tomorrow and we can search for Tank right after.” Twilight's voice was smooth and motherly, like a princess. But Rainbow couldn't help but put the pieces togother.

“Twilight, what are you trying to hide at Fluttershy's?”

“What? Nothing.” And the princess voice was gone, replaced with the same unconvincing liar's sprint. “I'm sure you're just imagining things because you're so tire. I'll take you home, I'll even read you a bedtime story. I know your favorite: Daring Doo and the Silver Stalk”

“Twilight, I'm not a foal-”

“Oh, right, sorry. I don't have to read you a bedtime story, but you know you don't have to be a foal to like them-”

“Twilight, you're almost as bad a liar as AJ. I'm going to Fluttershy's to find Tank.” Rainbow gained speed, quickly reaching the limits of what Twilight could keep up with

“Wait!” okay. “What if... he was hurt?” Twilight asked tentatively.

“I would personally give whoever hurt him I one way ticket to the sun on the end of a Sonic Rainboom” Rainbow replied dryly. Twilight cringed and gave Rainbow a pleading look. “What happened?” With a pulse of fear, Rainbow edged closer, “What happened and why? And who?” Twilight looked even more uncomfortable, like a filly caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Rainbows eyes went wide with shock. “What did you do?” an accusation filled with fear.

“I'm sorry, Rainbow” And with a flash of purple light, the local alicorn princess was gone, leaving Rainbow to gawk at where she'd just been. Oh this wasn't good.

Back in full on panic mode, and the Nightmare moon ninjas in her head well on their way to becoming half dragon, Rainbow shot straight towards Fluttershy's house. This was not good. Tank was hurt, or worse, and her friends were trying to keep it from her. Why? Why would they keep it from her. She could forgive them for an accident... probably. So, it wasn't an accident? WHY?!! Oh, the dragon ninjas were growing manticore tails and insulting her flying ability. She pushed herself faster and faster until the ground below become a nondescript green blur, dotted with little smears of technicolor ponies. There was one stationary orange dot positioned just as Twilight had been, but she was swept away as quickly as she was seen. Then a lone white in just the same position, but neither could do much against a speeding, high-altitude pegasus. Then a pink dot, in a pedal helicopter.

“Hi Rainbow Dash. I-” She was sped past just as quickly as the others. But the odd thing with Pinkie was that you could never be sure what she could do when she wanted to do something. The candy colored helicopter burst out from behind a nearby cloud, “I wanted to-” Ignored. Then another cloud, “I was hoping we could-” Doubly ignored. Then from behind a cloud directly in front of her, stopping Rainbow dead in her tracks. “Rainbow Dash!”

“Not now Pinkie! You are not going to keep me from Tank at Fluttershy's house!”

“I'm not here for that silly. I wanted to go to Fluttershy's with you and see if we could get the flamingos to do that funny trick.” Pinkie giggled from her flying machine.

“Oh... well, okay then, but I need to ask Fluttershy about Tank.”

“Okey Dokey Lokey” With that, Dash had a companion. A companion in a fairly slow moving helicopter, bringing Dash's pace to a screeching halt. Still, she was already most of the way there, and Pinkie was good conversation. “Which one do you think will get the yo-yo this time? I hope it's the light, off-magenta one. He's so funny”

“Yeah. Pinkie, I'd rather not talk right now. I'm really worried about Tank.” Too bad she didn't want it.

“Oh, sure. I understand. From this moment on I am not talking. Or, rather form that moment on. Or that. Oh, how do I clarify without getting stuck in an endless loop!” Pinkie smacked her hooves to her head. “Oh” A patented Pinkie smile bloomed across her face, “I will not speak anymore after this moment.” Yup, she figured out how to end the loop. “Nailed it! Oh, sorry. No more speaky after this moment.” Pinkie continued on with a self-satisfied grin all the way to Fluttershy's cottage. A trip that took at least three times longer than if Dash had just kept sprinting. Still, Pinkie did keep her promise to stop talking.

They arrived in less than fifteen minutes, Pinkie's helicopter making most of the animals flee. She managed to land it quickly enough, though still far too long for Rainbow's tastes. At least they were here. Pinkie was out of the helicopter before Rainbow had even had a chance to glance around, bouncing about, looking for the flamingos. With a sigh, Rainbow trotted up the path to Fluttershy's door. In a hop, skip and a jump, Pinkie Pie bounced into her way.

“Where you going, Dash? We've gotta find those sneaky flamingos”

“In a minute Pinkie, I've just got to talk to Fluttershy.” Dash pushed Pinkie aside and continued along.

“Oh Fluttershy's not home, silly”

Dash immediately spun around and dove in front of Pinkie. “What!?”

“Well duh, she doesn't like it when I play with her flamingos. How was I going to do that when she was here?”

“Why didn't you say that earlier?!”

“Oh, because I needed you to teach them that cool yo-yo trick” Pinkie replied with that same oblivious smile she always wore.

“But... But... why isn't she here, and how do you know, Pinkie?”

“Oh, I always know where my friends are”

“Then where is Fluttershy?”

“Oh, she's in the Everfree Forest sorting out something between the local bears and bees”

On that note, Rainbow Dash was just about to take off into the forest in search of Fluttershy and Tank.

“Rainbow Dash!” How many ponies were going to open a conversation with that? “Step away from the cottage and leave Fluttershy be!”

Pinkie face hoofed and Rainbow Dash looked from Pinkie to the new arrival and back. “So she is home!”

“Applejack, you ruined the game!” Pinkie whined, “I was going to give the flamingos a yo-yo.”

“Oh... uh, sorry Pinkie” Applejack drawled as an exhausted Rarity caught up to her friend.

“I really... need Twilight... to teach me how to teleport” she panted, bracing herself against a fence post. Applejack was distracted. Rainbow Dash dove for Fluttershy's door, only to feel a noose close around her tail and stop her dead in the air.

“You are not going to harass Fluttershy. I are going to go home and go to sleep.”

“You are not going to stop me from seeing Tank” She howled back, tugging at the rope with all of her might.

“Rainbow... you don't want to see Tank right now.” Applejack said with a hint of pity, and just a smidge of apology. Oh, if that didn't galvanize her. Rainbow's wings doubled their speed, pulling and pulling against Applejacks constricting lasso. Eventually, something had to give, and an inch and a half of Rainbow's tail gave.

She was propelled forward with all the speed that had been held back by the lasso. With a crash, Fluttershy's door was ripped off its hinges and Rainbow was sent careening into a collective of startled animals. Quicky shaking off the chinchillas and ferrets, Rainbow shouted, “Tank!” She was in the air inside of a second, scanning the room for her beloved, old tortoise. “Tank!” Her friends flowed in from the broken doorway, Applejack swinging her lasso and Rarity collecting a length of fabric in her magic.

Rainbow charged off towards the stares, leaving a length of rope tightened around thin air and glowing blue swatch of clothe coiling around it. “Tank!!” There were three rooms upstair. Rainbow poked her head into the first one, “Tank!!” It was a bedroom for non-predatory mammals. On to the next room, “Tank” Fluttershy's bedroom, laden with small adorable animals of all kinds, but not tortoise. On to the final room, “Tank!!!” It was a relaxation room for reptiles, quite warm and with at least a dozen turtles and tortoises. She immediately surged through the room, checking every corner and every shell for the distinct set of marking that were Tank's shell. “Tank!!!” Then, through the window, she saw Fluttershy running back to her house from her backyard, a herd of small and large animals behind her. And in the middle of the field, surrounded by a dozen of Fluttershy's furry friends, was a bright green tortoise with all its legs in casts.

Rainbow burst through the window, her friends arriving just in time to watch her go, and Fluttershy left to gawk as Rainbow passed her in an instant. “Tank!!!” uttered Rainbow in pure joy. She landed right at his feet and hugged his adorable, spotted shell. Tank wiggled his legs, attempting to get them around Rainbow. She set Tank down and said, “Oh, buddy, I've been worried about you” relief glowing in every word. Tank propped his legs under him and lifted himself up, smiling his turtley smile. Then his smile was gone, replaced with an agonized look of extreme effort.

“Oh, Tank, are you alright?” she asked with fear and concern.

“Of course he's not alright, Rainbow” He friends had just arrived on the scene, lassos and clothe bindings forgotten. “I... didn't want you to see him like this.”

Rainbow whipped around to them with total aggression, “What did you do to him?!” Her voice was dripping is anger and fear.

Fluttershy looked frightened, but not of what Rainbow might do to her.“We didn't do anything to him Rainbow-”

“Then how did he get like this?!”

“We took him to the vet, Rainbow” Applejack answered calmly.

Rainbow's boil slowed to a simmer, “Well, I'm glad you took care of him, but what happened-”

“We took him straight to the vet's from the park. Dash, do you have any furniture that isn't made of cloud?”

“Well, why should I, and what does that have to do with anything.”

“Rainbow, we tried everything we could to get him back to you quickly: both Twilight and the doctor used their most powerful regeneration spells” Fluttershy pleaded for understanding.

“Rainbow Dash, has it occurred to you that Tank is not a pegasus, or griffin, or bird, and therefor cannot walk on cloud?” Applejack had a point, one that was making Rainbow uncomfortable.

“Dash” said Rarity, her breath now caught up, “What would happen to you if you exercised at all. Could you even fly if you just sat down on a cloud for five months straight?”

“Well... wait, what's wrong with Tank?” She knew, and she was terrified of the answer.

“Tank's legs have completely atrophied. He'd become so dependent on that helicopter, he can't walk on his own.” Fluttershy muttered defeatedly.

“And that's because he can't ever land in your house. He just has to float there, even when he sleeps.” A matter-of-fact Applejack added.

“It's going to take him a while to build up the strength in his legs again, so we thought Fluttershy would be the best one to handle his rehabilitation.” Rarity offed cautiously.

A purple flash appeared behind Rainbow. “And we didn't want you to feel guilty, so we hid it from you” A teary-eyed Twilight Sparkle confessed.

Rainbow sat there in silence, surrounded by all of her friends. She hadn't noticed. The thought hadn't even occurred to her. That little flying contraption wasn't a part of Tank's body; it was a machine, an aid. Tank couldn't even walk because she assumed he flied because he wanted to, not because he had to. She turned around to face her reptilian companion, lying there soberly, a wide, old grin on his leathery face.

“Tank, I'm so sorry. I wish I had known better” Rainbows eyes were red and puffy, hot watery streaks flowing down her face. She flung herself over him, wrapping him in the tightest hug she could muster. “I promise, I'm going to install wood floors as soon as we get home. I swear, I will never hurt you again” She had collapsed entirely. Every facade of coolness and arrogance melted away, leaving a raw nerve of pure emotion. “I love you, Tank”

Tank's rusty grin never left his face. With a nod of understanding (somehow), he scrunched in to lovingly caress Rainbow with his head. She was forgiven. Tank never really had any feelings of resentment towards her. He loved Rainbow, with all of his cold-blooded heart. The rest of Rainbow's friends closed in around, adding their own love to the mix. The circle was complete.

Sometimes, even a vigilant pony miss when their friends are hurting. It's important to notice when your friends act strange or different. Otherwise, they'll miss out on the help a good friend can give them

-Rainbow Dash