Lifespan

by ShadowHail

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Tank, Sad, Tragedy
Length: 2812

When a hundred years pass in Ponyville who will be left to remember the previous century?

Tortoises can live up to a hundred and fifty years of age while Horses or ponies for that matter, can only live for up to 40 years. After a hundred years pass in Ponyville, the only remaining proof of the mane 6 are their statues in the Canterlot gardens and their loyal pets have suffered the same fate as well. But such is not the case with the slowest pet in their roster. Tank has seen and experienced everything first hand. He has seen the rise of new empires as well as the marriage and the death of his former owner: Rainbow Dash. This is story will take us deep into the psyche and memories of our favorite MLP tortoise.

Published 2012-08-12 13:04:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-08-12 13:04:01 UTC

The Events That Transpired

uch was the life I, Tank the tortoise experienced. Perhaps a quick trip down memory lane for one last time. When I was first found by that yellow pegasus, Fluttershy, I think her name was, I had just recently escaped being turned into an entree for a pack of timber wolves. I was so sure that I was done for, until she came; She looked them straight in the eye, and for reasons an old Tortoise like me cannot fathom, they all ran away with their tails tucked between their legs. She gave me a good home, food and water. She told me that she took care of plenty of animals and that she also let ponies who wnated to have pets adopt some of her animals. I was excited when I learned about this and I waited for the day that someone would adopt me. But, as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into years, I gave up and just waited. The other animals made waiting a bit more fun but it didn't change the fact that I wasn't adopted.Until one day, Fluttershy told me "Don't worry I'm sure someone will adopt you." and I believed her.

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Then the following day, a Cyan pegasus came to visit her I didn't know it yet but she would soon become my owner: Rainbow Dash. At first, I tried to get her to notice me but it was all in vain. She would either kick me out of the way or just ignore me. She wanted a pet that was fast, cool and well, just like her. She eventually picked a few of the animals like the falcon, eagle, owl, wasp, humming bidr and the bat. I lost hope of ever being someone's pet; so I just went back inside the cottage and stayed there all day. Then Fluttershy comes up to me and says "I know that you wanted to be adopted so I'm entering you in Rainbow's competition!" I was so happy that, for the first time in many months, I smiled at her. During the competition, I didn't win a single category but I was determined to become Rainbow Dash's pet. She was about to give up on me but I wasn't backing down without a fight. During the race at ghastly gorge however,while the other finalists raced off, I ran like hell but well, being a tortoise and all, I was still too slow. That was until I saw rainbow Dash trapped by a massive boulder "This is my chance! I have to help her!" I told myself. And I did and as it turns out, I won the competition and became her loyal pet. She even designed my flightsuit so that I could fly around with her whenever necessary. She would feed me 3 meals a day, she would take me out for walks and flying practice and she even gave me my own room in her house. All in all, we lived a happy life together. I loved my owner and she loved me back.Then one day, she went home with an extremely happy attitude "Oh Tank you won't believe it! I got into the Wonderbolts!!" She told me ecstatically. I knew for a fact that it had always been her dream to be part of the wonderbolts, she told me almost everyday; But now that she got in, I was really happy for her too. Little did i know that this event would begin the start of a series of rather sad and painful events.

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Ever since she got into the Wonderbolts, She's been gone more and more. At first it was only for a few days but then she was gone for weeks at a time. She would also come home late at night on some occasions and because of that she would forget to feed me.There was that one occasion when I approached her when she came home, she forgot to feed me so I thought I would remind her, she looked at me and then yelled "GO AWAY! CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TIRED! I HAVE TO FORMULATE MY FLIGHT PLAN BY TOMORROW!!". I got scared and hid in my shell all night. The following morning she went up to me and said "I'm sorry about last night Tank, I was just stressed about being in the Wonderbolts. It's everything I've always wanted but it's prettyrough being part of the Wonderbolts. Their training is harsh and The flight plan I made needs to be perfect. I'll make it up to you, how about you join me and watch the Wonderbolts and me at practice? I'll even buy Lettuce for you to nibble on." I was happy enough with the apology but getting lettuce and watching her practice? I always wanted to see her perform so I nodded to her and she smiled. "Great! I customised your flight suit too! we live after you put it on." And sure enough my flightsuit looked amazing, It was mainly blue in color with a few streaks of green and the formerly junky propeller was now replaced by a newer model which had a cloud for a center and lightning bolts for the blades. I smiled as I put it on and after Rainbow Dash was done dressing she asked me "Well, do you like it?" I nodded profusely and she laughed. "Well, let's get going then! we wouldn't wanna be late right?" She took me to the training ground for the Wonderbolts and her wonderbolt friends all crowded up to us most of them said "Cool pet dash!" some others asked "Can he fly?". Rainbow Dash laughed and told them "Can he fly?! Let's show em Tank!" I nodded and both of us took to the skies; my new flightsuit was amazing I could keep up with her for the first time! We performed a few tricks and when we landed, her Wonderbolt friends' jaws were hanging open. They couldn't believe that I could fly that well! After that, I watched their performance and Rainbow Dash and I went back home.

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A few years passed when once again, Rainbow went home ecstatic. She told me that she was getting married to a Wonderbolt stallion named Soarin. I didn't really know what marriage meant so I just smiled and nodded. After that, she was busy for the next few days but she never forgot to feed me. That night, she returned and Soarin was with her. "Alright Tank, this is Soarin he's gonna be staying with us permanently so be nice!" I understood that so just nodded. "Nice to meetcha Tank! I saw you fly around with Dashie that one time Awesome moves man!" I was surprised by the amount of awe he had for me so, being the shy reptile that I was, I hid in my shell. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked rainbow dash; "Nah, he's just shy come one I'll show you around!" rainbow replied. After her marriage, the next few years were more exciting with Soarin around. The three of us went flying more often and I got more helpings of lettuce during my meals. But little did I know that Rainbow's flying days were almost over.

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Until one day, I heard both of them in a panic filled conversation: "What?! here! in Cloudsdale?!" Soarin asked. "Yep, It's only a couple of minutes awa..." Rainbow was cut short by a massive roar "Oh No!" they both said in Unison. They rushed outside immediately. I didn't know what happened next but that same evening, only Soarin returned to the house. "Listen buddy, Dashie... She's in the hospital. her condition isn't good, that rogue dragon really did a number on her. Do you want to come with me to visit her?" I just looked at him and nodded, "Alright, then let's go." he told me. When we got there, Soarin immediately carried me on his back and pushed his way through a crowd of ponies in White coats. I think they were called doctors or something. We arrived at a room and I saw my owner, rainbow Dash lying on a bed. what was weird was that I could only see one of her wings and something that looked like a square balloon was attached to her. I looked at Soarin and he was crying, his tears were falling on the floor "By Celestia please be okay." he kept saying over and over again. I walked over to him and I laid my head near him, he saw me doing this and said "Thanks Tank". Pretty soon we were both asked by a white unicorn to leave the room he said that Rainbow was going to get surgery. I didn't know what that meant so I just hid in my shell and went to sleep. Then I heard voices "Is she alright?" Soarin asked, "Her condition is stable but I'm afraid..." another voice said, I assumed it was the doctor; "Well??" Soarin asked again, "She won't be able to fly anymore and she'll have to be in bed for a few months." The doctor replied. "Oh thank Celestia It's just good that she's alive." Soarin said. "We'll dispatch her tomorrow" the doctor said yet again. The next day I saw Rainbow Dash again, she had a bandage around her body and she had to be supported by Soarin when she walked. Then she cried, her tears staining Soarin's Wonderbolt suit and falling to the ground. I decided to comfort her So I went up to her and rested my head against her body. She looked at me and smiled a little "Thanks Tank" She managed to say. Ever since that day, Rainbow Had changed. She was no longer the old, brash and outspoken pony she used to be. She would still feed me but she always looked distracted when she did. Instead Soarin and I would fly around but come back fifteen minutes later. I rarely saw Rainbow outside anymore. She was either reading a book or was fast asleep.

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Until one day, After Soarin and I were flying, we noticed the house was lively and there were a lot of ponies coming in. I saw a few of the Wonderbolts and some of Rainbow's friends and their pets. They had surrounded rainbow Dash and were talking to her and making her laugh. I heard her say "Thanks everypony, I realized that just because I can't fly anymore doesn't mean I should be depressed." Then all of them cheered and the laughter and happiness of the house was restored yet again. One day, I saw Soarin and rainbow Dash whispering to each other, Soarin nodded and said "Hey, Tank! Wanna come with me to Canterlot? I heard they got a new Shipment of Iceberg Lettuce!" I nodded and we took off. When we arrived back home however, the lights were turned off and I saw a few figures moving in the gloom. Soarin flicked open a light switch and I was greeted by Rainbow and her friends "SURPRISE!!!" I was so surprised that I hid in my shell. I heard laughter and when I peeked out I saw a massive table filled with a lot of my favorite food like lettuce, bananas and apples. I looked at rainbow Dash confused, and she told me "Don't you remember? This is the day when you became my pet!" And I remembered the whole thing. She then gave me a hug and said "Tank, you were always loyal to me even if I accidentally forgot about you sometimes. you're my pet Tank and I love you for that." Then Soarin took his mouth out of a pie and said "Hey! I love you too you know!" I hid in my shell to indicate my embarassment then I took it out again and put my shades on. They all laughed, and while they were talking, I went and played with their pets. Winona was chasing Opal, Owlowiscious was fast asleep on a stool while Angel was going to pour water on him and the only other reptile in the group, Gummy was, well being Gummy. He was looking at a wall and I tried to pull a prank on him but, being the slowpoke that I was, for some apparent reason, I ended up upside down. They saw me and laughed I laughed along with them. It was one of the best days of my reptilian life. But it would be the last.

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After many years, Soarin and Rainbow Dash looked old and wrinkled. They barely went out anymore and spent most of their time sleeping or reading books. Then I heard Soarin say "Gone all gone. Changelings took them out This marks the end of the Wonderbolts." Rainbow simply shook her head and said "Even the Elements failed. Twilight, Owlowisicious, Fluttershy, Angel, Pinkie and Winona were caught in the blast. Now they're all just ashes I couldn't do anything to stop it." Soarin agreed and said "Let's go we have to Escape." I heard Rainbow Dash say "ARE YOU CRAZY?! CLOUDSDALE IS MY HOME I"M NOT LEAVING IT!!" Soarin then looked at her and said "Cloudsdale?! don't you mean what's left of it? look around you! the Princesses are dead. Chrysalis has assumed control! We have to escape!" She looked at Soarin and said "No! I am not going to leave." Then they both see me walking towards them and Soarin says "Let's go I don't care if I have to drag you out! you're with me right Tank?" he asked me. "Don't drag him into this!" Rainbow replied. Then we all heard it a massive buzz followed by a loud BANG of magic power. "Oh no!" They said in unison. "GET DOWN!!!" Soarin told as as he placed me on his and carried rainbow Dash. We managed to get out as we watched our home disintegrate before our very eyes. Then, green bolts of magic rained down from the skies as an evil voice cackled and saide "RAINBOW DASH?! or should I say Rainbow CRASH? kill them all my changelings! leave none alive!" Soarin managed to dodge most of the beams but he was less aerodynamic as he carried both of us on his back. He got hit by a beam and we spiraled onto the ground. It was a good thing that We were only a few feet from the ground when we got hit. "Are you okay?" Rainbow asked Soarin. "My wings are shattered and that blast cut my side open. Run I'll buy you as much time to escape! They're coming!" "I can't leave" I heard rainbow Say. "RUN SURVIVE" Soarin yelled at her. She nodded and carried me on her back and she ran like she'd never ran before.

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We then saw a flash of green light and I saw Rainbod crying I looked at her and blinked. She managed a small, weak smile and said "At least you're still he.." She was cut short as a green light flared in front of her. It was a changeling. the flare sent me flying and I hit my head on a tree. Before I blacked out I saw rainbow squaring off against the changeling. She was old but she still wanted to protect me. When I got back to my senses, I saw the changeling dead and rainbow dash lying on her side beside me. I looked at her and she said "tank, I want you to know that you have to survive. I'm old now, so very old. If I was a bit younger then.." She was cut off by her coughing. "I..I would have managed to survive. But... I'm Sorry Tank old age would have gotten me anyway. It's better to die like this rather than by living Ponyville retirement with that kooky grandpa right?" I couldn't say anything I knew that my beloved owner was dying and I coudln't do anything. "Soarin??? Twilight??? I..I can't see anymore. Tank I...I.. love you." She said to the only creature who could hear her. I saw her gaze at the sky and then, she closed her eyes for the last time.

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That all happened a century and a decade ago. I watched my beloved owner attain her dreams, get married and finally die as I couldn't do anything. I watched The end of the Princesses' reign on equestria. and through that century I lived while others around me died. I am alone now. Like the first time I was seen by Fluttershy. And now, As my gaze dims and I see the faces of my fallen friends. I realize that I have lived for a Century and half. Rainbow Dash? Soarin? Gummy? Yes... I... I'll come with you.