//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Tortoise and The Mare // by AlmightyDove //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Luna's face darkened with every second of silence between the two. Ask him, she thought. It can't get any worse now so just ask him! "Um..." Um. That's a start! ...Why can't I say anything else? Why is my mouth still open? No words are coming out! Mouth! We command thee to close this instant! Her mouth did not obey her order. She had been so mesmerized by the figure before her, so controlled by whatever spell he was casting upon her that she couldn't move on her own. Just more awkward silence. Tank looked up, meeting eye contact with Luna. Her mouth finally decided to close but the rest of her body still resented her commands. Luna let out a quiet embarrassed whimper. She felt as though all the blood in her body rushed to her face. Her limbs trembled and her wings opened slightly as his hypnotic gaze forced her heart to pound at an uncomfortable rate. Talk! Luna internally yelled at herself. As Luna suffered from internal arguments, Tank was contemplating a few thoughts of his own. I wonder where the lettuce patch is. I guess I could ask the princess but... I'm just a turtle! He chuckled slightly at his combination of jokes, both insulting the fools that had before called him a turtle although, as obvious as it is, he is a tortoise, and the fact that as a tortoise, he lacked the vocal cords to talk. Oh no... Oh no oh no! Did he just laugh at me? How could I make such a fool of myself! Luna finally gained control over her body, but the deep blush in her cheeks continued, giving her a pink complexion that was noticeable even through her dark blue coat. All hopes crushed! And that damned commotion you are bringing up is making nothing better! She thought to her stomach. It replied with yet another eruption of bubbling noises. She took advantage of this. "Oh, look at that! We're still hungry!" Luna finally broke the silence. "Hopefully we may see you another time! Farewell!" She quickly turned around and made her way to Sugar Cube Corner. Well that was rather odd, Tank thought as he continued walking around Sweet Apple Acres in search for the ever-so delicious lettuce he strived for. He had been walking for, what seemed to be for him, 20 minutes before he made it to a lettuce patch. The green spheres sticking out of the group caused his mouth water a little. Tank went for the largest he could find and extended his neck to bite on one of the outer leaves. He let out a satisfying moan after every bite, savoring the lettuce's flavor. The leaf's juices swished around in his mouth as he chewed, only intensifying his enjoyment for his meal. He finished the leaf and went for another, then another and so on until he heard a familiar, somewhat muffled voice approaching him. "Aye 'Ank!" RainbowDash yelled out, Tank's flying gear in her mouth. He turned to look at her when she dropped everything near him. "Time to go, bud." Tank was giddy with excitement as his owner began dressing him with his gear. Another flight! he thought, giddy with joy. After she finished, they started a casual flight back to RainbowDash's cloud house. "Then I just ran away and here we are!" Luna took a bite out her cupcake as Twilight Sparkle stared at her in awe. "I don't even know his name...," Luna continued. "What if we meet again? What do I say? 'Oh hey! Uh... you!' I'll just make a fool of myself again!" Twilight was still staring, unable to process the Princess's predicament. She began. "Um... Princess?" Luna shot Twilight a look. She couldn't tell if it was an angry look or if Luna was just showing Twilight had her full attention, but Twilight continued. "You're telling me that you're in love with...," she paused to clear her throat. "A turtle?" "No no no! A tortoise! He is a tortoise! The most elegant, handsome, desirable...," Luna blushed. "He was just so amazing..." She stared off into space, images of the tortoise roaming her mind. Twilight's confused gaze hadn't ceased. "Sorry... a tortoise." Luna nodded and took another bite from her cupcake then a sip from her tea. "I'm sorry, Princess Luna, but I'm at a loss of words. Again... You're in love with a tortoise?" "Twas love at first sight..." Luna cooed, lost in thought. Twilight cleared her throat again as if to say something, but her mind drew a blank. Maybe it's just a phase? she hoped. I mean she was banished to the moon for a thousand years... I wouldn't blame her if she wanted to experience a relationship after all that time but with a tur- ...tortoise? Twilight tried her best to give advise to the alicorn before her. "Well...," she stammered, "there's always the possibility you two will meet again. Ponyville isn't that big of a town." Twilight paused to take a sip from her untouched teacup, swallowing the now cold substance within. She and Luna noticed the Celestia's sun was beginning to set. "Just come back tomorrow. Maybe you'll meet him again!" Twilight managed the most sincere smile she could, even though she was still lost on the situation. Luna only heard the words "tomorrow" and "meet him again". She bounced happily and started for the door, leaving a pile of cupcake wrappers behind which Twilight reluctantly cleaned up. "Thank you very much, Twilight Sparkle! We are forever grateful for your help." Twilight Sparkle nodded. "Any time, Princess! We hope-" somehow, Luna's way of speaking in the plural first person affected Twilight in her state of confusion. She corrected herself. "I hope to see you again tomorrow!" Luna left Twilight's library and began her flight back to her and her sister's castle in Canterlot to raise the moon and start that night's duty as Overseer of the Night.