Equestrian Eeveelution.

by Symphonicdysonince


Planning for Sleep.

It had been a couple days since the Running of the Leaves, and I was growing worried. Tank had explained to me that he was getting ready for his "Long Sleep", which is what he called hibernating. Thing is, Tank had been trying to leave hints to Rainbow that he was going to do this, and Rainbow, being her usual oblivious self, wasn't picking up on them.

I crawled my way through the library tunnels, my Lulu custom saddle bags wrapped around my body. I had given myself a mission. Checking that no one was near my exit, I made my way into the Twilight's lab. Making my way around the equipment, I headed towards the stairs.

"What's up, Leo?" I looked up to see Yomega at the top of the stairs.

"You, actually." I made my way up to him. "I'm here to check out a book. I need a book on tortoises for RD."

Yomega raised an eyebrow. "You know Rainbow doesn't read yet?"

"It's important." Yomega's eyebrow attempted to high five his ears. I quickly continued, "No, I really mean it. Tank's going into hibernation soon, and Rainbow doesn't even know what that word means. Knowing her, she's going to misinterpret what's happening, and do something stupid like trying to stop winter, or something like that."

"So you're going to try to educate her." Yomega shook his head with a sigh. "Good luck with that. Meet me by the backdoor. Twilight's out right now, and Spike's making lunch."

I nodded, bolting past him. I easily made my way into the kitchen, where Spike was failing to complete a recipe with gems in it. I gave him a small nip on his tail to keep him from eating another gem. <<You should be cooking with that, not snacking on it.>> I scolded.

"Ow, hey!" Spike glared down at me, dropping the gem he was holding into the batter. "No, these are gems are mine." He gave me a once over. "Did Rainbow send you over for something?"

<<Yes and no.>> I chirped. Our "conversation" was interrupted by a loud thumpf of something hitting the floor. Turning, we saw that Yomega had dropped a large book onto the floor.

"Shello's Guide to Turtle Care, Abridged?" Spike asked.

<<That's the abridged version?!>>

Yomega started to push the book towards me. Spike rolled his eyes then moved to pick up the book. Seeing a note attached to the book, he paused to read it before carrying the book over to me. Slipping the book into a pouch, Spike mumbled something about Rainbow's mouth writing.

Yomega walked me to the door. <<There's a note I wrote that is on the part about hibernation. I've tried to copy Spike's handwriting.>>

<<What would you have done if he had bothered to look at the slip?>> I cocked an eyebrow at my grey friend.

He shrugged. <<I knew he wouldn't.>>

<<Erm, how?>> We had left the library by that point. I stopped and turned to Yomega, expecting an answer.

He just shrugged again. <<You'd better get that to Rainbow. And the book's due next Tuesday.>>

<<Seriously.>> I groaned. <<Do I want to know what the late fees are?>> He shook his head with a chuckle, nudging me to get me going. With a chuckle of my own, I began the trek home.


While I waited for Rainbow to come home, Tank and I had discussed the possibility of a terrarium made up for him. We had just brainstormed how to keep it in the cloud house when our owner came home. With a nod at Tank, I pulled the book onto his shell, climbing up myself so it didn't fall off. Rainbow found us plodding down the stairs.

"What's this you guys got?" She gently took the book from us, then carried it to her living room. I gripped Tank's shell as he tucked his limbs in. We bounced down the stairs then rocketed after Rainbow, with me leaning to steer. Absentmindedly, Rainbow held a hoof out to stop us.

<<I'm going to miss that over winter.>> I giggled.

Tank slowly nodded. <<What'd'ya call it? The Koopa Slide? It has a nice ring to it.>>

It was at that point that Rainbow scooped Tank up and rocketed out of the house. Her contrail faded as I landed on the floor. I blinked a bit before shaking my head and charging after her. Racing the tail end of the contrail, I followed Rainbow to Fluttershy's cottage. I skidded to a stop at the prismatic mare's side.

"Is there any way to keep him awake through winter?!" Rainbow pleaded to her timid friend.

"I'm sorry, Rainbow." Fluttershy was rubbing Tank's head. "I really am. But this is part of Tank's natural life cycle. He'll be just fine come spring. And, besides," she smiled at me, "you'll have this little guy to keep you company through Hearts Warming." Both mare's missed my slight frown.

"I guess..." Rainbow reluctantly agreed. "But I'm going to be there when he wakes up!"

I gave her a loving nuzzle, then made my way to the Daycare. I felt the need for a nap.


I woke up with a start as Lulu doused me with water.

"The fuck was that for?" I sputtered at her. I tromped my sodden self out to dry off.

"Moon Dancer just got off the train." Lulu explained. "She's already hitting it off with Twilight. I figured you could help me keep the eggs safe."

I finally shook my fur out to slightly damp, as opposed to wet. "That doesn't necessitate giving me a bath!"

She cocked an eyebrow at me. "Darling, I had already tried shaking and yelling. And, unlike Rainbow, there doesn't seem to be a key word or phrase to cut through your deep slumber."

"Rainbow doesn't have an insta-wake trigger." I groused as I tromped back into the Daycare.

She smirked. "Wonderbolts."

We both jumped as what sounded like a meaty projectile impacting the ground at high speeds. I took a quick peek outside, taking in the new divot in Fluttershy's lawn and an unmistakable rainbow tail sticking out from it.

<<Not a word.>> I Glared at Lulu. I jogged out to Rainbow, smiling smugly as I heard a clatter and muffled cursing. I quickly made my way over to the prismatic mare. I shoved myself under Rainbows barrel, trying to force her to get up. <<Alright, ya overgrown chicken. Up and at 'em.>>

The forced motion worked its way into Rainbow's brain and forced a reboot. With a groan, she quickly got her hooves under her. Her eyes quickly focused onto me. "Oh, good, it's you. Hey, I'm only stopping by to let you know that Rarity and I won't be surprised if you and Lulu stay here for a while. Moon Dancer is getting almost as giddy as Twilight was. You guys might want to guard the eggs..."

<<We already thought of that.>> I smiled and nodded. Rainbow gave my head a short rub before she took to the skies again. I once again made my way back inside the Daycare. Lulu and I shared a look. "We taking turns sleeping then."

Lulu curled around her eggs. "You get first watch."

"Damnit!"