//------------------------------// // The Adventures of a Socially-Awkward Science Pony // Story: The Adventures of Tank and Angel // by FlutterDash979797 //------------------------------// “Seriously, why are we playing this again? I can think of less time-consuming, and even less painful, ways to torture myself!” “The game is beautifully crafted! The lore is great in scale! And it’s a challenge! The world doesn’t care about you! And it works with the lore!” Tank rose triumphantly. “It gets your mind thinking!” “Like Pony: the Gathering-” “I swear to Celestia, if you mention that to Turby again, I will tell mom that you split soda on her Wonderbolt cap!” Tiny arms crossed. “It seems we have reached an understanding...” “Uh huh, we have. So don’t mention that I play the world’s nerdiest game to her. Please...” “Okay, fine. I’ll be quiet in front of your marefriend-” “She’s not my marefriend! She’s just like, my friend that’s a lady, man! So stay away from my ladyfriend, huh?” “Deal...” “So I got the drip-acclimation started. Give it about two hours at the current rate; invertebrates are highly sensitive to changes in salinity. The polyps should extend in some time after they are placed in the aquarium. Give the zoas space to grow, and be sure to place the mushroom corals in areas of low current. With time, they should reproduce asexually and colonize the whole rock. Be sure to place the LPS in the highest point so it’s zooxanthellae cells can receive the most light.” A controller impacted the floor. The two creatures attempted to piece together the alien language before them. “Ugh... thanks?” Rainbow Dash laughed. “Sorry bro, you sound like my friend Twilight. Anyway, Fluttershy will love these! She loves animals, especially colorful ones! I can’t wait to surprise her!” “Yeah... sorry... nerd-talk, I know. Just tell me when to shut up-” “You are fine. Just chill, okay?” “Yeah... chill... hey, is that Dark Souls?” “Oh, Tank and Angel? They are always playing that Ponystation. I know, a bunny and a tortoise playing video games, beyond weird right? But they’re good boys. Go stop by. I’m sure they would love to play with you.” The stallion cautiously made his way into the living room, checking every step before eventually finding a seat. “Who the hay are you?” Angel puffed out his chest. “Hey! I’m Storm Tide! I was just here to help Rainbow Dash set up an aquarium for Fluttershy. Are you playing Dark Souls? I love that game!” Tank nodded a few times before nudging the controller to Storm. “Sure... I can play... but I’m fine with just watching.” Stormy hesitated. Tank nodded several times afterward, clearly begging for help. “Okay... let’s see here...” Storm fiddled through the game menus and created a new game. Tank was rested next to his new friend while Angel dug into a bowl of snacks. “Pyromancer. Hay yeah boys! 50% mage, 50% fighter, 100% awesome!” Storm gave his custom character a black mane and green eyes, clearly imitating his own features. The game began with Storm’s character rested in a prison cell. “Let’s do this thing!” Storm navigated his character forward, fending off various hollowed with a broken sword-hilt. The pegasus displayed a great deal of cunning and ingenuity as he rolled, dodged, and countered anything the game threw at him. “Woo hoo! Fireball! Check this out!” Storm summoned a blazing ball of orange fury and tossed it towards an obese demon. The spell impacted his head and began a scorching storm of flames. A improbably large club fell to the Earth seconds after. “Look out!” Angel’s grip loosened, fragmenting popcorn pieces across the floor. The club never made it off the ground. An arsenal of flames roasted the demon mere seconds after the failed beating attempt. Storm’s character absorbed the souls of the monster before proceeding forward. “He did it!” Tiny fists circled the sky, demanding contact with their hero. “Um... okay? Bro-hoof?” Dark blue hooves reached outward and awaited a response. “You have done the impossible! Where did you learn that?” “That was fun boys. Anyway, I gotta go. Maybe I’ll see you around...” Storm left the room, waved Dash goodbye, and trotted off. “Dude, that guy was awesome!” Tank cheered. “I can’t believe he did that! He kicked that demon’s flank!” Angel felt respect for the fellow gamers achievement. “We should hang out with him again sometime! Maybe he can get us farther in this game!” “Oh! Tank! I got an idea!” Angel knocked his brothers shell, ensuring he had proper attention. “A stallion as cool at that, we should find him a marefriend!” “That is-” the tortoise paused for a brief second. “The greatest idea ever!” “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> “So Angel... what is the plan again?” The bunny slapped a tiny paw against Tank’s armor. “I already told you!” “I need a refresher. Come on, for Storm’s sake.” “Fine...” Angel crossed his arms and began to condescend, “Are you going to listen this time?” “Tell me already!” “We get Storm’s attention by using a series of instruments and computer animation to mimic a Ponysaur...” “Fine... fine... I got it. Just give the word. I’ll get him into Rarity’s. I promise.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> “And whom might you be?” Rarity asked as a dark-blue pegasus was thrown into her shop. The mare was classically beautiful. Blue, inquisitive eyes froze Storm into an icicle. “Are you perhaps interested in my designs? I can assist you with any questions you might have.” “Actually... I gotta go... sorry... wrong place, I mean, not the wrong place in a bad way, I just... you know?” Storm fled towards the door. “I beg your pardon, but I haven’t the faintest idea of what you mean.” “I gotta... sorry-” “Actually, I have a great idea.” Rarity scurried towards the basket case, clearly displaying some pity. “Sir, if I may, I have a necklace constructed, but I haven’t found anypony who has been interested. You seem like the perfect candidate!” “What?” Storm struggled to hold his sense of reality. “Oh... here it is! A dragon claw necklace! On my trips for for jewels, I had found this buried in the sand. I saw your necklace, and I thought this would be a perfect fit!” She adjusted the strings around the necklace and tossed it to Storm. The claw held it’s symmetry quite well, and displayed a smooth surface. “Wow... this is... this is awesome! Thank you,” Storm opened. “She was just nice to him! That totally means she is in love with him! Anypony who is nice to another pony must love them! It all makes so much sense now!” Angel managed to relax in his spy position. “I know right! She totally digs him! Like really!” <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> “I didn’t believe I caught your name,” the fashionista investigated. “Storm Tide.” “Well, I am Rarity,” she said, mildly annoyed that she wasn’t asked. “Thank you Rarity. How much?” Rarity held out her hoof. “How about 10 bits?” Storm deposited the currency in her hoof, making sure to not make physical contact. “And if you ever feel the need to rethink your current fashion, please, drop by again.” Storm’s head slowly spun. “Not much of a fashion guy. I usually just like wearing black...” “Yes... no matter. Fashion is my utensil, and I am the artist. Now, have a good day sir-” “That’s cool. I guess I can relate. I love being creative.” Despite having several orders to fill, Rarity felt compelled to let the stallion speak of out good will. “And what might that be?” “He needs a little nudge. And I got just the thing.” Angel reached for a baseball. “Baseball? What are you going to do with a baseball-” “Well I gotta get- Thud! “Sir? Are you alright?” Rarity asked. “Yes... thanks for the necklace... I gotta... I gotta, sit down...” “No!” rages Angel. “How was hitting him with a baseball a good idea?” Tank questioned. “Plan B! No time to talk! Follow me Tank!” <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> “Can I ask you a question man? I mean, I know getting Storm a marefriend is a wonderful idea and all, but Applejack? You sure man? They haven’t even met before! And they don’t have much in common...” Tank said, concealing himself in a bail of Sweet Apple Acres hay. “Our moms are totally different, and they are in love to the max!!” Angel sized their love with his paws. “Kind of... but they are alike in a lot of ways too. They balance each other out, you know? Here? I’m not sure...” “We are matchmakers!” Angel gripped his brother and shook Tank’s shoulders. “We cannot fail! We will not fail! Just like mom says!” “Remember what momma said about love? It has to be earned...” “Too late! Here he is!” A deep blue colt fumbled through the fields of Sweet Apple Acres. Anxious hooves slid across the grass, moving at a pace that only Tank would find comfortable. Storm’s reach would extend outward at the sight of any wildflower or plant, carefully documenting it’s texture. As the distance closed between the fields, Storm’s hooves met a fury surface. “Hey pup!” The pegasus befriended Winona in a matter of seconds. The farm-dog rolled over and demanded a belly-scratch. “What’s your name girl? You’re a good puppy, aren’t you?” “Winona? Where did ya run off to? We got some herdin’ to do!” The canine sprung upward and dashed towards her caretaker. Applejack spots the stranger. “Why howdy. Now who might you be?” “Storm... Storm Tide. Sorry, I was just passing by...” “Well shoot, I’d say you were a rare sight in these parts! What’s a guy like you doing here? In Ponyville I mean?” “Well... I just... I just got a job here. I’m work for the Canterlot University... they sent me here for research.” “You don’t look like the Canterlot type, that’s fer sure! What are ya studying here?” “The adaptive radiation of the various cichlid species in this regions river basins.” Applejack paused. “Huh?” “Fish... I like fish...” he meekly replied, feeling ashamed of his interests. “So that explains yer cutie mark!” Applejack signaled the wave on his flank. “Nice to meet ya Stormy Tide! I’m Applejack and this is Sweet Apple Acres! We sell the best and most fresh of apples you can find!” The farmhand’s forelegs yanked the colt’s hoof up and down at tornado speed. “I like apples,” he replied, trying to keep the conversation simple. “I got a whole load of apples to buck today, so I’m afraid that I don’t have much time to talk, mister Storm.” “Okay... well... I’ll be going. It was nice to meet you...”’ Storm awkwardly trailed forward, kicking the blades of grass with his hooves. A prolonged sign spawned in the depths of his lungs. I can’t help but feel like... I’m being set up... “Applejack! Who’s your friend?” An adorable bundle of farm-raised youth gazed at the sight of the bizarre pegasus. “This here squirt is mah’ little sis. And Applebloom, this is Storm Tide.” “Applebloom!” Two tiny fillies cried out, allowing Applejack to get back to her work. “And we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders! The coolest, most awesome fillies anywhere!” A tiny pegaus buzzed about. “And we’re on a crusade to find our Cutie Marks!” A unicorn filly piped up with gusto. “What’s yer’ name fella?” “Storm Tide. Nice to meet you guys!” “Stormy!” the fillies cheered. “How did you get that Cutie Mark? We need to know so we can figure out our own!” the unicorn filly cheered. “It’s a wave! How awesome is that? You gotta tell us! I’m sure it’s an awesome story!” “Well, gather up and I’ll tell ya’!” Storm gathered the eager fillies and prepared to tell his story. “Now, my story my not be as awesome as you girls, but I’d love to share it with ya’.” “Are you a surfer? Oh, that would be so awesome! You would get so much speed!” “Sorry, I’m no surfer. I walking the beach one day... wait a minute, you know what?” He smiled at his audience. “I think I was about your age. And I saw a shell on the beach. It was beautiful! I started collecting them... and found more, more, more, and more! Then I decided, you know what? Let’s go swimming and look for more!” “Did you get a swimming medal? Are you a champ? Like Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo added. “You know what happened next? I swam so far, I forgot about the tide! I started to get sucked into the undertow!” The fillies gasped. Sweetie Belle wrapped her hooves around Scootaloo in suspense. Applebloom had lost all of her breath. “And I saw... I saw... I saw a...” “Saw a what?” Applebloom cried in an eager tamtrum! “A shark!” Storm giggled as the fillies screamed in terror. “What happened? Oh my gosh? Tell me tell me tell me TELL ME!” “The shark was huge! And I was super-duper scared! I didn’t know what to do! Then... nah, you girls don’t wanna hear about it. It’s too boring...” “No! Tell us! We need to know!” Scootaloo threw her hooves against the grass. “I stayed still. And calm. And he swam away...” “What?” the girls replied, staring at him as if he were insane. “I learned something really important. You girls got any ideas?” Three little heads waged from side to side, anticipation written across their young features. “Did he not see you?” Sweetie Belle innocently suggested. “No... that would be lame! Storm scared him away!” Scootaloo interrupted. “Let ‘em finish!” Applebloom finally ended the banter. “Well, you know, I didn’t scare scare him away. And he saw me. But you know what? He wasn’t a monster; he was simply a creature of Equestria, just like me. And he didn’t want to hurt me; I wasn’t something he would eat. I thought he was awesome. Big, powerful, and served a great purpose in nature. He was so cool, I wanted to explore more!” “After seeing a shark? That’s so brave!” “I wasn’t brave. I was just really excited. I swam back to the shore, using every little piece of energy I had. I loved the water, and each little way carried me back to shore. And guess what? When I got back to shore I found-” “Your cutie mark! YAY!” All three fillies rolled in joy. “Thats right.” The stallion kindly nodded in agreement with the youngsters. “Then I dedicated the rest of my life to studying nature. I collected seashells, caught and kept fish, grew plants... and that’s the story of my Cutie Mark!” “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER SWIMMING PARTY! YAY!” Dashes of energetic youth zipped out of sight. Storm smiled gently in the following moments. Despite the initial uncertainties of the day, he had managed to bring joy to three fillies. He rested on the trunk of an apple tree. Maybe today won’t turn out to be so bad- Thump! Stars spun around the stallions vision as attempted to figures out what had just happened. He reached up and tenderly brushed a hoof against the impact zone confirming the interruption to his thoughts. “Sorry, ah didn’t see ya there,” Applejack apologise, spotting the stunned pegasus. “It’s okay... just... just give me a minute to... to... catch my... actually, you know what?” Storm said with a goofy, confused grin on his face. “I’m going to nap now. I think I need nap... sleepy...” Applejack gently settled the stallion down. “Sleep tight Storm.” “Applejack! I have the most wondrous gift for... why is Storm Tide sleeping on your apple tree?” Rarity appeared, carrying a custom saddlebag. “I uh... sorta... knocked him out... with an apple.” Applejack couldn’t withhold her smile. The fashion queen broke out into a small fit of giggles. “Come on darling! You must see what I have for you!” <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> “This... he’s a lost cause, isn’t he!?! I thought Applejack was totally digging him... and she runs off with Rarity!” Angel hopped out of the hay bale in a fit of rage. “Maybe we should just give up... maybe it’s a sign, or something, man?” Tank replied, following his brothers footsteps. “Wait... oh my gosh, Tank, I AM A GENIUS!” “Let’s hear it,” Tank sighed. “No time to talk! Get the Ponystation running! I’m going to need a few chairs, pillows, snacks, and a TV!” “Gaming isn’t a plan, man...” Tank complained as the excited rabbit rushed off. “Just run with it. You know how many awesome plans I have had? This is the most awesome one! Most awesome, Tank! MOST AWESOME!” called out Angel as he disappeared from view. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> “Uh... Tank? Angel? You said you guys needed help with games?” Angel and Tank immediately greeted the uncertain stallion and rushed him towards the game room. A controller was thrown in his lap within a few seconds.Tank began to battle Storm in the virtual world. Angel quickly sprung from the scene, following his plan word for word. “Hi guy’s. Whatcha playing?” Tank replied without letting his eyes leave the screen. “Skyrim!” Storm retracted at the sight before him. A light pink pegasus threw herself next to Storm and Tank. Her wings were properly kept and athletic, while her snowy mane naturally drifted along her ice blue eyes. The scruffy, unkempt, and dorky stallion’s fear sucked the breath from his frail body. “You doing the Companions quest? Cool! I prefer a bow though...” She settled down comfortably beside the quietly panicking stallion, grinning from ear to ear. “Oh my gosh, it’s going so well. I told you! I told you! I was right!” Angel danced, throwing his tiny hands back and forth. “Be quiet! I think you were right! Let’s give them some space... come on!” The two comrades bailed as quietly as they could, doing their best not to disturb the two pegasi. The room was completely silent, save for a few blasts of action from the TV. “You friends with Tank and Angel? Cool! I’m Snowflake! You really like enchanting, don’t ya’. I think it’s broken. “Storm Tide. I’m Storm Tide...” “How about Stormy? Toss me the controller Stormy.” “Um... sure.” He passed her the controller. “You... you play at home?” “Occasionally. I don’t have much free time, but when I do, I sometimes do it. You know, just to kill some time.” “Cool...” He gently nudges himself away from the pegasus, attempting to make a silent flee. A bright wing forcefully pulls him back as the grinning culprit joins the game, continuing to wear a smile on her face. As the sounds of battle ring out from the TV, she gently leans upon the frozen stallion. “Comfy?” she giggles, glancing over at him. Yeah, he thought, body still rigid with surprise. “Holy crap... it worked,” Angel grinned heavily. “Fine. I’ll go get your bits. I owe you that bet.” “We are so cool. The ultimate matchmakers.” “Umm... not sure about that. They aren’t exactly... doing anything... they’re just cuddling. What’s romantic about that?” Tank reasoned. “I’ll show you!” “Angel wait!” The mad bunny rushed up to the pair. His tiny mass accelerated at a rate that carried enough kinetic energy to throw the stallion. The minute projectile collided with the back of his head, smacking the two ponies faces together. A bombshell of chaos erupted forward. Mere seconds afterward, Storm was several feet away, cowering in anxiety. Snowflake giggled as she pieced together the situation. “How could that fail? It was such a perfect idea!” Angel stomped the ground and pointed towards Storm. “You are lame! LAME! Screw this, I’m outta here!” “This is why you shouldn’t force together ponies, Angel. Or you know, collide with them...” Tank relaxed himself on a chair, apparently having enough chaos for the day. “You should see the look on that bunny’s face. I thought you two were up to something...” Snowflake trailed off into a fit of laughter. “You mean... this was...” Storm threw sweat from his forehead. “Oh thank Celestia! I gotta go... like right now.” The nervous stallion made a hasty exit, practically stumbling over his own hooves in an attempt leave. “Stormy? You alright?” Her concerned voice barely reached the receding pegasus’s ears as he flew off. Snowflake sighed, turning back to the miscreants who had just ruined her gaming session she addressed them with a disappointed tone. “Thanks guys. I was looking forward to a game with that stallion.” “See. I told you man.” Tank assisted his gobsmacked brother to back up onto his paws. After a few quiet moments, the tortoise feared his friend had lost his capability to speak. However after one final look of disbelief at the receding pegasi Angel finally found his voice. “But... but... I never fail...” The bunny trailed off into dumbfounded silence. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> The park finally managed to soothe Storm’s nerves. A novel rested on his hooves as the cool, spring wind eased his coat. He sighed in relief, recalling the events of his day as nothing less than a total disaster. “Hey Storm!” A pink pegasus rested on the bench beside him. Storm captured his chapter in the novel and pleasantly smiled at Snowflake. “Hey Snowflake. What’s up?” “Just cruising. You know? What’s up with you?” “I’ve had a long day...” Pink hooves strangled the stallion tightly. After a few seconds, they quickly broke off, leaving Storm mildly anxious. “You need to loosen up a bit. When you meet that mare of your dreams, you can’t be all dorky and shy like you were with me. You are a cool guy Storm. Don’t forget that.” He smiled softly. “Friends?” “Friends.” “Thanks.” The sense of relief was clear in his voice. Snowflake gifted him a kind smile. “See you around. And next time, don’t listen to those little hooligans.” Storm opened his novel as she took off. A tiny spring of confidence warmed his nerves. Today could have been worse. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> “You did what?” Ashtail shook her coltfriend. “You tried pairing a stallion up with a bunch of different ponies, even though he didn’t want that, and when he didn’t get romancy with them, you used yourself as a bullet to make them kiss?” “They didn’t kiss! You obviously don’t have any idea what happened!” Angel hoped away from his steaming rampage of a partner. “Angel... come on, you know better! You don’t pair ponies that are just like one another, you don’t force love... what if I told your mom about what you did?” “You wouldn’t want to get The Stare, wouldn’t you Angel?” Tank added in. “Not you too tank.” Angel cast a pleading glance at the reptile. “The entire world is against me!” “No, just us,” retorts Ashtail sourly. “Stuff this... I’m off to play Skyrim," Tank announced. “Yeah, that’s right! Go away! You know I’m right! Look at that! Tank, look at me! Come on! Pay attention to the right bunny! Tank? Tank?” The defeated bunny pleadingly held out his paws begging his buddy to return. After several quiet moments with nothing but the receding back of the tortoise's shell as a reply he sighed. “Fine.” ------------------------------------------------ Snowflake is an OC by FlutterDash7. She gave me permission to use her OC, ideas, and pretty much wrote her OC's part in the story. Big special thanks to her!