Longevity

by RainbowBob

Chapter 1: Time Passes

It was raining.

Usually such an act would put a smile to his face. Well, not so much as a smile, rather than a feeling of comfort and joy. The pitter-patter of rain drumming along his shell as the cool water washed down the cracked ridges of his skin was always an enjoyable event. He’d even stretch out his neck and open his mouth to wiggle his tongue out to collect droplets.

But today, there was no joy in this depressing weather. He just stood there, downtrodden in the mushy earth. Bad weather, despaired spirits and sinking ground. Maybe he’d be lucky and get swallowed by the earth and be with master again.

He did not know why they buried master. Why they dug a hole and lowered master in the ground. It wasn’t the real master. It was a wooden box. But master was inside. And then they covered master with dirt and left.

Master was always the fast one. Lively at all times, always speeding ahead. He’d hardly have time to catch up, but master was kind enough to slow down. That was what he was most grateful for, in fact. Master would always be there waiting for him, never leaving him in the dust. He was slow, master was quick, but that difference didn’t separate them. In fact, it made their bond stronger. Master would wait, and he would follow. A process both never got too impatient to bear.

But recently their roles were reversed. He wasn’t sure how it happened, but more often than not he’d be the one waiting for master to catch up. Master would never mind though. Just a smile, nod, and pat on the head. Then they’d continue on their way.

First it was master’s hair. Its once luxurious rainbow spectrum color faded over time, turning from all the colors one such as himself could possibly imagine to just plain grey. But that never discouraged master. Nor did the wrinkles ever lessen the brightness of master’s smile. Master would always be beautiful, no matter the grey hair, wrinkles or even slower movement.

And himself? He was the same as ever. This hurt him a bit, to be so unchanged while master seemed to buckle under the weight of the passing years as they stacked one by one.

He remembered all the times master would end up in the bad-smelling building, which he was never bothered to join master in whenever master was hurt. But master would always be back home soon enough, covered in white cloth that master would always find irritating. No matter the crashes, bashes, cuts and scrapes, and even full-on bonks to the head, master would always be alright in the end.

But then one day, it all changed. Master fell down. Master wouldn’t get up. No matter the pushes or urges for master to stand, master wouldn’t. Then the bad-smelling ones from the building took master away. And left him all alone.

He didn’t know why master wouldn’t get up, or why master was taken from him. But he soon figured out master wasn’t going to be fine like the other times. Master wasn’t going to just shrug this away and call him to speed off into the clouds like usual. Or race against one another. No, never again.

Which meant that he would be forgotten.

He remembered when he first laid eyes on master. He didn’t know that master was master at the time, yet he felt a connection to this dazzling flyer of the sky, that graced the winds so smoothly to perform the most mind boggling tricks. Having never seen such a magnificent spectacle in all his living days, he knew immediately he must be with master.

The task wasn’t easy, however. There were others that wanted to be with master. Faster, stronger, wiser, and all around better than he. Even master didn’t want him at first. That crushed him more than anything, so much so that he was sure his shell would break in half. But he was not discouraged. He just did what he always did. He just kept on going.

Eventually, left abandoned time after time again, he found master. Master was hurt, and needed help. So he did what he always did. He just kept on going. But this time, with master by his side. More specifically, his back.

Then, he was master’s. That was the most joyous occasion of his life. He’d eat lettuce with master, go on walks with master, and on more than one occasion, fly with master in the skies. Never before had he thought he’d have the entire world beneath his feet while up in the air. He was grateful for master to give him this opportunity. To fly with master in the clouds was the best experience in his life.

Then returned the crashing news of him never being able to do it again with master.

All that was left of master was dug up dirt and square stone in the ground. He cried out to master in the dirt, and even tried to dig at it. But his stumps for feet never picked up enough earth to get to master. They were separated. No goodbyes, pats on the head, or even warm smiles. Just... gone.

He just remained on the spot, over master. In the time they spent together he knew he’d never forget the caring master that was nice enough to take him under master’s wing. What he was afraid of was being forgotten by master. Finally being left in the dust, with master never looking back.

But that fear was unneeded. For master always looked back. Always waiting. Now, for him, he needn't do the same. For there was no master to look back and wait for.

So, he turned around, and started walking. Never looking back. No use to wait for those that will never catch up, anyway.

Author's Note:

An awesome reading of the story. Go and give the voice actor all the love!

Comments

[Holo]

I'll edit it soon, I promise!

[Drawdex]

Really? Really!

It seems so...

[Skeeter The Lurker]

Huh. Not bad at all.

~Skeeter The Lurker

[FloydienSlip]

This story, Bob. It... It's just... It's...

This may have been the shortest, most heartbreaking story I've read.

[John The Dragon]

man... poor tank, now he's all alone again.

[KingOfTheMuffins]

Damn... that's really deep...

Featured in T-minus 5...

[Jake8765]

Poor Tank. Another sad masterpiece by Bob.

[Mayojar77]

The burden of an immortal species is the destiny to never have a peaceful death. What pity it must be to know that barring some cataclysm, Tank will never see his master again.

[MusicAndStuffProductions]

2992393
4...

[Bad_Seed_72]

Another masterpiece. A sad one...

[Timothy48]

2992556 3...

[Ekhidna]

Wasnt the minimal word content to be a candidate for feature were 2k words? if so it saddens me this will not get featured, sad, touching and short, I admire and envy your skills RainbowBob

[RainbowBob]

2992717
Minimum is 1000.

[Paladin Redflare]

Screw feels nigga, I hate feels.

[Starguy135]

Damn RainbowBob, hit me right in the feels why don't you.
2992652 2...

[Ekhidna]

2992747 OH!, then in a little while it shall be featured for sure

[Avenging-Hobbits]

I feel like my soul got ripped out and torn into pieces by rabid dogs...

WELL DONE SIR WELL DONE

[this_and_that]

Well now for my daily dosage of feels
Great story

[Pearple Prose]

Not bad.

[firestripe]

[Namara]

YES THANK GOD IT'S NOT AN ALICORN FIC *glomps Bob* THANK YOU FOR BEING ORIGINAL

Edit: Oh... jesus... I-... merp...

[GeodesicDragon]

D'aaaaaaawwwwww... poor Tank.

[RoadRunneR]

God damn it...

[Shadow_Wolf]

Beautiful, but so very sad

[MissytheAngle]

So short, and it totally worked, nonetheless. Great work, RainbowBob!

[lmagine]

This fanfic is very sad.
Good story though.

[Isumo1489]

2992975>>2992815

Agreed, poor Tank, would there be any other pony/person to take care of him? Maybe Spike? I don't know, but I do know that noble tortose would never forget his master. And moreover, that this fic hit me in the feels like the Sun Princess fic...I wonder if that'll be a new trend in fics? If so, I'm looking forward to another somewhere down the line.

That said, T-Minus...1

[thegooddr.]

Right in the feels.

[LeopardCay]

Wow...
That was...
Sad...
I have no soul...

[Indeliblink]

>Lie down
>Try not to cry
>Cry a lot
denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw3432-why_would_you_post_that.gif

[Zamairiac]

Well damn...

media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9e5xgGkYY1qbpugx.gif

[DonutBeagle]

That was actually really depressing.

What about the rest of the Mane Six?

[Blue Streak]

i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/308/031/880.gif

[Rainbooms]

I'm pretty sure my soul just died. Twice.

[FoxDemonPony84]

THE FEELS!!! WHY GOD WHY!?
Now that that is taken care of, well done! I really enjoyed it.....short, sweet, and sad as hell.

[SPARTAN-117]

I HAVE NO SOUL
khaanz.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/funnylolcat.png

[Gyro Steambass]

3001705 That second picture of the kitten is absolutely terrifying. Also, you have my condolations.

[Knight of the Raven]

This was beautiful.

The narration was simple but well written at the same time. I liked that Tank referred to Rainbow Dash as 'master.' No gender, no capitalization - because these things just don't matter when it comes to the love a pet has for their owner.

I liked these lines;

'He’d hardly have time to catch up, but master was kind enough to slow down,'

'Master would wait, and he would follow. A process both never got too impatient to bear,'

'Which meant that he would be forgotten,'

'Even master didn’t want him at first. That crushed him more than anything, so much so that he was sure his shell would break in half'

and

'He cried out to master in the dirt, and even tried to dig at it. But his stumps for feet never picked up enough earth to get to master. They were separated. No goodbyes, pats on the head, or even warm smiles. Just... gone.'

[cringe]

x_x

[RainbowBob]

3012140
Aww, why thank you for that nice comment. Really appreciate it, and hopefully I can make another story that you enjoy.

By the way, awesome avatar.

[Orion 141]

Never thought I would shed a single tear for a story about a Tortoise. But you sir have done it, I bow before your glory.

[ObabScribbler]

Hi there. I hope you don't mind, but I liked this fic so much I have put together an audio version on YouTube.

[RainbowBob]

3065077
Oh god, that was beautiful. Like seriously, you did an excellent job. The music, your voice, the extra part with the pictures. You captured the feel of my story better than I ever could have managed. And for that, I thank you immensely. Which is why I made a blog post to hopefully get you more recognition for your works. I'll be sure to check your stories out and other fanfic readings.

[Kaidan]

well played RainbowBob, you've made a sad fic.

[LunerMagick]

Man I really felt the feels in this story.

[Ariel Hunter]

That was beautiful!

[Ariel Hunter]

I applaud you, for being able to write one of the very few stories that can make me cry

[Selbi]

Holy crap, that was deep! Listened to the Reading, which made it feel like the mood was enhanced even further. Kinda regretting right now I ignored this thing for so long.

[Fanboy]

3065077

That reading actually brought me here. Thanks for that :).

And of course, thanks for an awesome story. I don't know how you did it, but I think you perfectly captured the perspective of a tortoise. Excellent job!