My name is Rainbow Dash
I'm a pegasus from Ponyville
I've lived there for over a year now
And I've made so many friends
Fluttershy who I met in Cloudsdale,
And then Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack and Twilight Sparkle who I met in Ponyville
Another one of those friends of Tank. He's my tortoise
He was my friend ever since he rescued me last spring
But unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to him.
He had to hibernate
I thought we could be together forever but, I was wrong
But what if something could bring him back,
What if there was a way for him NOT to hibernate
Not likely that that would ever happen
But some days,
I wished it would be nice to have him by my side,
Doing all the wintery things we had planned.
It would be so cool!
What if that wish,
What if that type of wish became a reality
my story begins in Ponyville
Ponyville covered in tons of snow
Usually it would take the ponies FOREVER to make winter happen
But this year was different
my friends were in for a shock when winter literally crashed into Ponyville a giant snowball!
That was me. I tried to stop winter from coming because I didn't want Tank to go away
But I just made things worse
In the end, I accepted his hibernation and my friends were pleased that I had brought winter down for them.
Speaking of which, there's Pinkie Pie!
Weeeeee!! This is so much fun!!
Weeeeeee!!!!
You should be more careful Pinkie!
Relax Fluttershy! I didn't hurt myself!
Yes, but you stacked!
Fluttershy you silly filly!
I'm not worried about my pride being destroyed, I'm the element of laughter from crying out loud!
What's going on Darlings?
I crashed into the ice!
Are ya ok?
She is.....I think......I don't know
She might have an ice scratch or something!
I'M FINE!!!
I wouldn't worry too much about Pinkie, but maybe Rainbow Dash
Why Rainbow Dash?
Because she ain't here right now
Oh right, you do have a point
We did leave her and Twilight alone by Tank's hibernation spot
Hi girls!
Rainbow Dash won't be joining us just yet, she's staying behind for a while
Why is she staying behind?
Apparently she's reading a Daring Do story to Tank
I have no idea when she is going to come join us though
I think it would be best that we give her some time with him.
Do you really think that Rainbow Dash would ever truly accept Tank's hibernation?
I shouldn't be too worried about that.
Rainbow loves Tank,
And she knows that the one thing to prove she loves him is to let him go
When he does wake up in three months time we will be able to rejoice. After all, Tank is our friend too isn't he?
That was beautiful
I feel so sorry for Rainbow Dash; waiting this long
Don't worry sugarcubes
If I know Rainbow, she is truly loyal to her friends; especially her tortoise
She shouldn't do anything to drastic for now.
OUR DASHIE IS GROWING UP!!!!!
WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?! I WAS BEING SERIOUS!!
We know darling. That was awfully sweet what you said
How about we go ice-skating
Good idea Twilight!
Good thing that I brought extra pairs of Ice Skating shoes with me!
TA DAAAA!!
Uhhhhhhhh.....Pinkie?
How did ya do that?
A "Pinkician" never reveals her secrets!
I GET IT! "Pinkician" instead of "magician"!
That was clever Pinkie Pie!
Let's go find an ice rink where Pinkie Pie isn't going to topple over again
Hey! That was one time! I pinkie swear it's NOT going to happen again!
Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!
She won't fall over sugarcube
Yeah! Listen to my cousin! She knows me better than you do!
Yes, but you only discovered she was your cousin a couple of months ago
That still doesn't change the fact that she knows me better than you do
Remember? I came into Ponyville when I was just a filly
Then I was looked after by the cakes
They practically ADOPTED me!
Yes. I think you have told me that story
I remember I moved to Ponyville when I was fifteen
I was looking after my great aunt's cottage according to her will-
TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!!!!!!
Ok Pinkie, I was just saying!
Boy, that was intense!
I never knew Fluttershy was so good at ice skating!
Now Rarity, I'm not THAT great at Ice Skating
Pinkie Pie is the professional
What you say does NOT change my opinion darling. I thought you skated brilliantly
Um........thanks?
Whaddya lookin' at Twilight?
Don't worry about it Applejack. I was just thinking about something
Rainbow Dash?
She'll be fine!
And the world was saved once again. Thanks to Daring Do!
There wasn't that a cool story? Although that's probably the 11th time I read it to you,
But I guess you'd get so tired of it, you automatically go to sleep!
Aw man! Look Tank, it's already evening! I'd better get back
I'm gonna miss you Tank. I'll see you by the next winter wrap up ok.
When life gives you lemons,
You can make lemonade
But life gave me Tank here
And our friendship has been made
When I loved you, I felt like I was back home
Back in the clouds in the air
But I do not think that will change the place I call home
With the ponies who care
You were tired back then, from your sleep I kept
Now I see that's something that I regret
Now I'm lost without you, scared without you
I don't know what I'm doing anymore
Did I really protect you? Or did I just keep you to myself?
Time to open the door!
Remember how you became my pet,
It seems just not too long ago
And I didn't think you'd be the creature I'd get
Because when the other pets were fast, you were slow
But when I was trapped under the boulder, the other pets left me
But the only one who stayed behind was you
You bandaged me and took care of me until I was able to fly again
And in return I helped you too,
At least that's what I knew
But now I'm lost without you! Scared without you!
I don't know what I'm doing anymore!
Did I really protect you? Or did I just keep you to myself?
Time to open the door!
I'll clear the skies forever so we won't be apart
I'll keep the weather warm for you
And the winter will never......
........start
You've got to stop crying so much Rainbow Dash!
You're the element of loyalty for crying out loud! You're not going to forget about him or anything!
It is pretty cold outside. I should probably get some firewood
Goodnight Tank. Sweet Dreams
He's like a......like a.......Tank!
But Rainbow. You didn't want a pet that couldn't fly because it would keep you grounded and hold you back remember?
Ooooh! How about I create a machine that can help him fly!
That's it! Let's fly up to my house and do that!
OWWWWW!!!!
Are you okay? Yeah? I'm fine
Yeah.....I'm fine......
Maybe you shouldn't fly for a while.
After all darling, you have just had your wing trapped under a boulder
I guess you're right.......But how am I supposed to get to my house?
I can help you!
Come y'all. We'd best be headin' back now
I agree. I think Opal is worried about the wherabouts of her toy
I do hope they'll be ok
Come on Spike
Now that rainbow dash has chosen her pet. We should probably go back to the library to do some research
Twilight.....you're always doing research!
Research on what exactly?
Tortoises of course! I find them to be very fascinating creatures myself!
You know, whenever there is a new animal introduced to the group,
Why is the first thing you want to do is research on that animal? isn't that the same thing you did with Owlowiscious?
Yes well, Owls are also interesting creatures
And seeing that Tank is as loyal as Rainbow Dash, just makes it more fascinating
What if all of our pets match up to our element of harmony?
Think about it: Winona who is Applejack's pet hardly does anything bad and when she does,
Simply confess through dog speak!
What have I gotten myself into?
Ooooh. And what about Opal?
I guess she is pretty generous....uh.....most of the time!
Um.......ok what about Gummy?
Rainbow Dash, Why are you so heavy?
You know fluttershy you don't have to carry me.
But I do! Your wing is injured remember?
I know that! But why don't I just stay at your place until I recover?
D-Don't be ridiculous! I couldn't possibly!
Besides, Tank needs to see his new home instead of staying at MY house for the couple of days!
If you say so; your loss!
Rainbow, contact me if you need anything okay?
I think I'll be fine. Thank you
Hmm. Well, I should probably get on to that flying contraption as soon as possible
There! That looks really good! Now, let's see if it works!
Huh, this is awesome!
Wait! Tank? Go left! Go left!
I didn't think that would happen
Ow
I guess you don't usually see a flying tortoise huh
You are fast, for a tortoise
You're really great help! I don't know what I'd do without ya little buddy!
I am feeling better, how about I give you a grand tour of the house?
Welcome to Rainbow Dash's Cloudominium!
I am your host; the one only Rainbow Dash! And I am about to take you on a tour of a lifetime
This is the lounge room, where we have all sorts of couches and other materials accessible to you and me
Pretty neat huh!
We have the kitchen with all our yummy supplies that you are free to eat at any time
You can just tell me what you usually eat and then everything will be fine.
I Guess you really don't talk much. I mean Applejack's dog barks, Rarity's cat meows,
Twilight's owl hoots, Fluttershy's bunny does.....something
Though Pinkie Pie's pet alligator doesn't say much either
But I don't want to feel like I'm talking to myself.
We need to form some kind of communication like nodding. Nod if you understand!
Phew.
Huh, that works
Then we have the bathroom, laundry, training room and finally the bedroom
I know it's gonna be so weird sleeping in a room where all the walls are made of cloud,
But don't worry the only burglars we could possibly have would have to be able to fly
And I have set special alarms just in case that does happen. So you are perfectly safe
I guess you're hungry. It has been a long day. Let me get you something to eat
Here we go. So I have some carrots and some lettuce
Come on. You must like lettuce!
Okay, how about carrots? They're really good for your eyesight and fluttershy's bunny angel loves them!
Oh my gosh! Tank!
I Don't know what else to feed you! I mean you've gotta eat something!
What if I ask Fluttershy what tortoises eat? Nah! I'll give him more time before I require her help again!
And then Peacock would use her forth wall powers off screen to feed Tank Cabbage and turnips. Hence why he doesn't starve
Oooh! I'm winning!
Oh no way!
One does wonder how Ponies and tortoises are able to play video games without opposable thumbs.
I-Is somepony in the house? A burglar?
Course that wouldn't be! Otherwise the alarms would have set-
Tank? Tank where are you?!
How did you even get out of the room? It was locked-
Oh right. The walls are made of cloud. Of course you were able to get out!
But try not to walk off again. I can't fly yet!
Oh my, Rainbow what happened to you?
Thank goodness you're here!
What do you need help with?
Tank couldn't sleep last night. Every time he tried to, he just kept trying to fall out of my house
That meant I couldn't sleep either
That makes sense. You only got Tank yesterday after all
I guess you don't know what tortoises eat either
I tried to give him carrots but he didn't like them. I also tried to give him lettuce but he didn't like them either
Rainbow calm down. I can help you with this. I looked after Tank before you did. That's why I'm here
Ok......
Tortoises love food with good nutrition like leaves, cabbage and turnip
They don't like lettuce because it doesn't have that much nutrition (Equestrian tortoises don't anyways)
Well that explains why he didn't like lettuce
Now. You also said that Tank wasn't sleeping properly?
Yeah. As I mentioned before; he tried escaping the house every single time, and I don't know why
Hmmm. Let me have a look at him
Well. Is there anything wrong with him?
Not terribly. He's not sick
Then why won't he sleep?
I think he's just dizzy
Why is he dizzy?
You live in a cloud house. It's really high up for a tortoise. Of course he would get dizzy because of how high up he is
Then how do I make him STOP being dizzy?
I think he just needs to get adjusted into his new home. That takes time
But I can't take NOT having that much sleep!
How about we sing a lullaby for Tank?
Good idea!
Hush now quiet now. It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now quiet now. It's time to go to bed
Drifting off to sleep, exciting day behind you
Drifting off to sleep, let the joy of dreamland find you
Hush now quiet now. It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now quiet now. It's time to go to bed
Hmm. Looks like it didn't work after all
Rainbow Dash?
Rainbow Dash, wake up!
What? Is Tank asleep?
No but you were
Oh.....
I Guess I was really tired
Seems like it
Now what do we do then?
Why don't we COMPOSE a lullaby for Tank!
Fluttershy, I don't know the first thing about composing music!
Otherwise I would have a completely different cutie mark all together.
And no offence. I'm happy that my cutie mark is to do with racing!
What's so funny?
Your cutie mark doesn't have to bind you to one thing you're good at
I mean, you're good at clearing clouds away
Yes, but that also requires my SPEED to do so!
Well, I compose "Hush Now Quiet Now" and my cutie mark is to do with communicating to animals
looking after them and ponies too, I need something to get them to sleep
But that lullaby only works on foals and the rest of your animals. Maybe mammals? I don't know!
There is no point stressing about now. If we compose a different lullaby just for Tank, then maybe he'll be able to fall asleep comfortably
Right. Let's just hope your method works
No
This is hopeless!! I'll NEVER get my tortoise to sleep!!
Awkward silence.......
Rainbow, did you ever have a lullaby sang to you when you were a foal?
Why do you ask?
Because you kind of remind me of a stressful mother trying to get her baby to sleep
I do?
Yes you do actually. So did you have a lullaby sung to you?
Well, to tell you the truth.......yeah
BEFORE I got my cutie mark! Then my parents decided that I was too old for that stuff!
And they were totally right! Lullabies are just lame! I'm too cool for them!
We'll always love you, our little Dashie
What did it sound like?
What did what sound like?
Your lullaby of course!
Oh that. Man, that is a long way back.
I'm just trying to remember the song itself. Here goes:
Little Dashie, please do not cry now
I will always be by your side now
If the weather starts to get too cold now,
I will never leave you alone
That was beautiful. You have a lovely singing voice when you want to
That's all I can remember from it
There is probably more but I can't remember the rest
That's ok. That should be enough anyway
So how do we change the lullaby to fit Tank?
simple! We just change the lyric "Dashie" to "Tanky" instead!
But do tortoises even have tear ducts?
I don't think so, but not everything in the lullaby needs to make sense
As long as it gets him to sleep, that's all that matters
How do I know it's going to work?
Test the lullaby now! Then we'll know for sure!
Got it! I will!
It worked! It actually worked!
That's good to hear
If there is anything at all about Tank you need help with, don't hesitate to tell me
Wait, I want to know something else. Something I've been meaning to ask you
Oh? And what might that be?
Fluttershy, how did you find Tank in the first place? I mean he wasn't living in your cottage before
That's true, he wasn't
So, how did you find him?
You see Rainbow Dash, it was the beginning of Spring.
Everypony had just finished winter wrap up a day ago. I was heading towards the market to get some carrots for Angel,
But suddenly, I saw a slow green tortoise crossing the street
But there was a carriage heading right towards him!
I had no other option but to fly swiftly and save him!
Good thing I did before he got injured
"Why were you crossing such a dangerous street?"
Well, long story short. He wasn't talkative so I didn't really get a response from him
My natural instinct was to take him home to my cottage
I really didn't know what urged him to cross the street without looking first
So if you didn't save him, I would have a completely different pet altogether
Not just that, but Tank could've gotten seriously hurt or killed if I didn't save him
I guess Tank was shown Loyalty from the start. After all, he did save me from being trapped under that boulder!
Maybe it's because I saved him, he wanted to save another pony in return and prove himself (mostly to RD)
Yeah, that must be it
Ooooh! I almost forgot!
TA DAAAA!!!
Wow! You made this for Tank?
Yeah, I did! Just out of a belt and propeller. Pretty neat huh
Yes!
I think you're wing is almost on the mend. It should be ok by the next Pony/Pet playdate!
Heh. Thanks!
No problem!