//------------------------------// // Tank of Trouble // Story: The CMC Adventures // by Tangerine Blast //------------------------------// Apple Bloom bucked another apple tree and stepped back to admire her work. It was almost the end of the Applebuck season and Apple Bloom was ready to rest after a long day of farming. “Ah! Tree! Another tree! Applebushles! Tree!” Apple Bloom perked her ears as the slightly familiar voice grew increasingly louder. “Stop back seat driving! Unless you want to pull!” The other voice was much less panicked and a lot more annoyed than the first. Apple Bloom tilted her head, trying to pinpoint where the cries were coming from. “Tree! Apples! APPLE BLOOM!” Apple Bloom whirled around at the sound of her name just in time to see a rainbow and a wagon crash into her. “See, I told you to slow down.” A voice growled. Apple Bloom’s dizziness made it hard to tell if it was said or yelled. As she slowly untangled herself from the wagon, she saw Twilight Sparkle standing next to Rainbow Dash, who was still hooked onto the wagon, hanging upside down by her harness. “You were distracting me.” Rainbow huffed, crossing her forelegs over her chest. “What in the hay do you two think you’re doing?” Apple Bloom grumbled, righting the wagon and getting Rainbow’s hooves back on the ground. “We came to find Applejack!” the little pegasus explained, “Do you know where she is?” Apple Bloom arched an eyebrow, “And what do ya need her for?” “Crusading for cutie marks, of course!” Twilight answered, “She said she had something to show us that would help.” Apple Bloom opened her mouth to reply but her little sister came bounding up at that moment, a bright smile plastered to her face. “Yer here!” Applejack cried, “What took ya so long?” “Twilight kept telling me to slow down.” Rainbow Dash said, sticking her tongue out at the unicorn. Twilight just rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the other crusader. “What did you want to show us, Applejack?” Applejack’s eyes widened in wild excitement. “It’s somethin’ great!” She darted across the grass towards the barn and called back over her shoulder, “Come on! And bring the wagon!” The two other fillies looked inquisitively at each other before Rainbow shrugged and slipped back into the harness. She waited for Twilight to hop in the wagon before flying after the rapidly disappearing Applejack. Apple Bloom sighed and returned to her work. Applejack sure picked some odd friends. The two crusaders arrived at the barn with a screech and Rainbow slowly pulled the beaten up wagon into the dark interior. “Applejack?” she called, “What did you want to show us again?” “No, no!” Applejack called out from the dark, “Ya got ta close yer eyes.” Rainbow Dash and Twilight glanced nervously at each other before squeezing their eyes shut. “Shesh,” Applejack’s voice sounded again, this time much closer and a hoof was laid over each blinded filly’s back, guiding the forward, “You two are more tense than Fluttershy on Nightmare Night. Relax, it ain’t a prank or nothin’.” “You never know,” Rainbow Dash muttered, “Why did you want us to close our eyes then?” Applejack giggled, “‘Cause it’s a surprise, goofball!” Applejack stopped them a couple steps later and unhitched the cart from Rainbow’s back. “Alright, you can open em now.” she said with excitement. What entered into their sight was a bright red wagon. The fresh coat of paint still looked wet, and the polished bronze wheels had bright rubber on them. The leather harness, unlike the hard metal one of the old wagon, curled back so whoever was attached to it could also sit in the wagon. Rainbow Dash let out an almost inaudible squeal. “It’s awesome!” The pegasus flew over and gently pushed the gleaming wagon with her hoof. “It doesn’t even squeak! Where did you get this?” “Apple Bloom made it.” Applejack said proudly. “Now I almost feel bad about crashing into her.” Rainbow Dash giggled. “Almost?” Twilight asked before examining the wagon’s inside. “It even has shock absorbers.” “Well, it took her this long to build it.” Rainbow defended herself. They lightly chuckled at the joke before Applejack poked Rainbow in the ribs. “Apple Bloom says that she ain’t gonna make another for a long time, so we gotta make this one last. No crazy stunts and stuff.” Rainbow’s grin faded slightly. “But I wanted to try for a wagon derby cutie mark.” Applejack rolled her eyes, “We already tried that. That’s how the old one lost the wheel, remember?” Rainbow glanced back and forth from wagon to wagon. “Fine,” she eventually relented, “But where are we going to keep this one?” Twilight cocked an eyebrow at Rainbow, “You kept the old one at your place, shouldn’t you keep the new one?” “Nah, Fluttershy’s animals will probably ruin it,” Rainbow Dash said, “Can you keep it in the barn, Applejack?” The farmpony gave a quick nod. “Sure. So, what do ya want ta do with the old one?” Rainbow gave the old wagon a long look before shaking her head and waving a dismissive hoof, “Oh Fluttershy can use it as a bird house or Scootaloo can make a scooter out of it or something.” Applejack nodded, “Alright then, y’all ready to take this thing for a spin?” “I can’t,” Twilight confessed, “Spike needed me to reshelve the library today.” “Oh,” Applejack’s ears dropped a little at this news, “That’s alright. Me and Da-” “Can’t.” Dash interrupted, “I promised Fluttershy I’d help her with the pets today. Sorry, AJ.” “That’s alright, the paint still needs ta dry anyway.” Applejack reassured her friends, a twinge of disappointment in her voice. “You sure?” Rainbow asked skeptically. “‘Cause I wanted to give Twi a ride home in it, but we can use the old one.” “It’s dry enough!” Twilight exclaimed, frantically jumping in the new wagon. Rainbow Dash let out a laugh as she hooked herself up to the new harness, watching Applejack climbing in next to Twilight. Rainbow Dash winked at her passengers, “Don’t worry, I’ll go slow this time.” New record. Rainbow thought proudly as she trotted into her sister’s animal garden, the old wagon squeaking along behind her. “Oh, hi Rainbow.” Fluttershy greeted from her perch in a tree, inspecting birdhouses. Rainbow waved at Fluttershy as she unhooked herself and flew up to sit beside the other filly. “What did Applejack want to show you?” Fluttershy asked. “The most awesomest thing ever!” Rainbow exclaimed, throwing her hooves up and almost falling from her perch. “Apple Bloom built us a new wagon and it’s got everything! Fresh paint, shock absorbers, everything!” Fluttershy smiled at her sister’s excitement, “That’s wonderful Rainbow.” She glanced downward at the wagon Rainbow Dash had brought with her, “What are you going to do with the old one?” Rainbow Dash shrugged, “I dunno, I thought maybe you’d want it for some animal thing or something.” Fluttershy furrowed her brow. “But, Rainbow, you’ve had that wagon forever. Are you sure you just want to give it up?” Dash bit her lip and glanced back down. “I don’t know how’d we keep it.” “I’m sure Scootaloo can find someway to preserve it,” Fluttershy suggested. Rainbow shook her head. “It’s not that. I don’t know how to keep it without ruining my style. I can’t be seen being so attached to something like a clingy foal.” Fluttershy just smiled gently. “Nopony would think less of you.” “You don’t understand.” Rainbow muttered before clapping her hooves together. “Enough about that, weren’t we going to do some sappy sister-bonding stuff?” “Oh, yes,” Fluttershy said happily as she flew from the tree to a little shed on the ground, “Thank you again for agreeing to feed the animals with me today.” “No problem,” Rainbow said, flying after Fluttershy, “after all, I haven’t been spending enough time with you and I sort of feel guilty about that.” Fluttershy smiled at her sister as she dragged a bag of feed in front of Rainbow Dash. “Just take this and sprinkle it around the garden; it’s all purpose food so all the animals can eat it.” Rainbow Dash nodded and hoisted the bag in the air. She flew around the little zoo, letting the food fall and watching the animals scurry out from everywhere to come eat. The pegasus chuckled at the eagerness of Fluttershy’s pets. She started flying to the other end of the miniature zoo when a tugging at her tail made her stop. She looked down to see a tortoise clamped on her tail. It was huge- probably big enough for Dash to ride, and looking at her weirdly. “You’re really hungry, aren’t you?” Rainbow reached into the bag and pulled out a hoofful of feed, sprinkling it over the tortoise's head. It didn’t let go of her tail. “Um...OK?” Rainbow said uneasily, reaching into the bag again, “This is getting a little creepy.” This hoofful she held directly under the tortoise’s noes. To her relief it released her captive tail and started licking the food. Rainbow Dash let out a giggle as the tongue tickled her. Her hoof was soon empty of food but the tortoise kept licking her until she pulled away. “No, no,” Rainbow scolded, “Didn’t Flutters teach you to share? You can’t have anymore.” The tortoise blinked at her slowly. Then out of nowhere he snapped for her tail. Rainbow yanked it out of the way before he could close his mouth on it though and hovered out of reach. “I’m not food.” She told the tortoise before flying off, dumping food from a non tail grabbing height. The tortoise watched her go; his face full of wonder and excitement. After the chores were done Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy played for the rest of the morning until Scootaloo called them in for a lunch of daisy sandwiches. “So Rainbow,” Scootaloo asked after a couple minutes of eating, “What did Applejack want?” “Uh osht awshom shng eher!” Rainbow cheered. Scootaloo chuckled and rubbed the filly’s head, “Swallow before you choke kiddo.” Rainbow quickly swallowed her food and continued, “Apple Bloom made us the most amazing wagon! It’s all red and shiny and everything!” “Wow, that great!” Scootaloo said. “Have you test ridden it yet?” Rainbow nodded enthusiastically, “Yeah, and it works really well we were practically flying across town.” Scootaloo smiled, “That’s good; after all, your ride can make you or break you.” She paused to take a drink and glanced at the ground. “You brought the old one back though. Why? Is there something you want to do with it?” Rainbow shrugged, glancing to the side she said, “Just whatever.” Fluttershy gave her sister a confused look but said nothing. Scootaloo nodded and tossed the last of her sandwich into her mouth before standing up. “Okay, guys. I promised to spend the rest of the day with you, so…” She paused and turned to smile at the fillies. “Who wants to go to Rainbow Falls?” The day had been long and fun. When the three got home, it was late and the fillies went straight to bed without any complaint. As they laid in their beds Rainbow Dash almost drifted off to sleep when she heard her name being quietly spoken. She sat up bleary eyed and look at the bed across from hers. “What is it Fluttershy?” For a couple minutes, the other filly didn’t move or make a sound, and Rainbow wondered if she had been hearing things. When she decided just to go back to sleep Fluttershy answered. “Do you really not care about what happens to the wagon?” Rainbow sighed and flopped on her bed. “I...I don’t know. Its been with us for forever hasn’t it? Even before we met Scootaloo. Do you even remember where we got it?” There was a couple seconds of silence before Fluttershy let out a small, “No.” “I want to keep it.” Rainbow insisted, “But I can’t look like a cry baby holding on to their toy for no reason. It will mess with my image you know?” When Fluttershy didn’t say anything else Rainbow Dash rolled over and closed her eyes, “Look, I’m tired right now. I’ll figure it out tomorrow alright?” Fluttershy’s small acceptance was the last thing Rainbow heard before drifting off to sleep. Rainbow woke up early the next morning. She was looking forward to a long day of crusading in the new wagon but there were things that she needed to get done before she left. After her morning ritual of brushing her teeth and not combing her hair, Rainbow flew out of the house and down to where she left her old wagon. She gently touched its side and sighed, “What am I going to do?” She muttered, her hoof tracing its edge. She stopped when her hoof hit something foren on the well known wagon. She reached down and picked it up. Holding it close to her face she wrinkled her nose. “Straw?” She looked into the wagon and her eyes shrunk when she saw that it was littered with straw and twigs and leaves. “Wha...what?” Rainbow jumped back when the mound of twigs shifted. A green head peeked over the wagon’s side and blinked slowly at Rainbow. “You.” Rainbow growled, she flew towards the tortoise and poked his nose, “Get out. Get out get outgetout!” She whined, shoving the tortoise out of her wagon. “This isn’t your home!” The tortoise blinked slowly at her before standing up and climbing into the wagon again. Rainbow Dash growled and flew back inside. “Fluttershy!” Rainbow yelled once she burst into her room. Fluttershy jumped from where she had been sitting combing her mane, “Rainbow? What’s wrong? Did something…” Her sentence died as her sister picked her up and flew her outside. “Look! Look at what your turtle did!” Rainbow yelled, pointing at the wagon. “Um...actually he’s a tortoise…” Fluttershy muttered looked at her pet. “Whatever, just get him out of the wagon!” Rainbow demanded. Fluttershy shifted on her hooves and glanced down at the ground, “That would...um...actually be illegal.” She muttered. Rainbow Dash scrunched up her nose in confusion, “What? Who said that you can’t remove turtles…” “Tortoise.” “Who said you can’t remove tortoises from wagons?” She let out a sudden gasp and glanced around, “Are the animal police ninjas lurking in the shadows?” Fluttershy ignored that last comment, “You see Rainbow, Mr. Tortoise here is an endangered species. Endangered means it the whole species might die out.” She quickly explained when Rainbow pulled her confused face again. “That means that wherever he wants to make his home no pony can do anything about it. And...well, he made his nest in the wagon.” “That’s just...that’s that’s…” Rainbow Dash bared her teeth and let out an angry huff. “I don’t care! I’m getting him out of my wagon!” She grabbed the tortoise in her arms. Grunting and wheezing she hoisted him out of the wagon and onto the ground again, “Now stay out!” She bellowed before turning around and flying off. Fluttershy bit her lip and she watched the fading rainbow streak before turning back to the tortoise. “I’m so sorry about this. I’m sure she’ll warm up to you eventually.” Mr. Tortoise just blinked slowly at her. “Rainbow Dash we’re going the wrong way.” Twilight said from the back of the new wagon which was gliding along the roads of Ponyville. “Sugarcube Corner’s that way.” “What?” Rainbow Dash snapped. She stopped and looked around before huffing and turning in the right direction. “I knew that.” Applejack and Twilight looked at each other. “You OK there sugarcube?” Applejack asked, “Ya seem a bit mad ‘bout something.” “I’m not mad.” Rainbow growled. She was silent for a few minutes before letting out a long sigh. “Sorry guys, I’m just...never mind.” She flew a little faster and flashed her passenger’s a smile. “Let’s just get some treats OK?” “Rainbow,” Twilight said hesitantly, “Are you sure you’re OK?” “I’m fine, honest.” Rainbow persisted, “I just had a rough morning. Let’s just drop it and get crusading.” Applejack and Twilight didn’t seem convinced but they didn’t question their friend until they were walking in the doors of Sugarcube Corner. “Are you sure nothing’s bothering you?” Twilight asked again. Rainbow Dash grunted as she pushed the door to the bakery open. “Yes, I’m sure. Look, you want to know why I’m grumpy? It’s cause Fluttershy’s pet turtle kept bugging me. That’s it I swear.” Twilight was about to say something else when she was cut off from Pinkie Pie waving to them from across the bakery. The pink filly had a couple dirty plates stacked on her head that somehow weren’t falling over from her bouncing around and shouting, “Hi guys! Hi!” “Hi Pinkie.” The crusaders greeted in union. Pinkie Pie bounced over to them, the plates on her head threatening to topple over. “Hi guys, you here for some cupcakes?” They all nodded. “Okie Dokie Lokie! You go sit down I’ll get some from Pound.” Pinkie turned around and bounced into the kitchen. The Cutie Mark Crusaders sat down at one of the booths, anxiously awaiting their treats. “Rainbow…” Twilight started again. “Twilight stop it.” Rainbow sighed, “I’m fine really. I know you don’t get out much but everyone has a bad day once in awhile so just drop it.” Twilight opened her mouth to retort but was again interrupted by Pinkie Pie. She bounced out of the kitchen, dirty dishes replaced for a tray of cupcakes, and happily handed the other fillies their treats. “You guys should have been here earlier.” Pinkie said, sliding in next to Twilight. “There were some lumbering stallions in here!” “Lumbering?” Twilight asked. Pinkie nodded, “They said they were lumbering jacks but I didn’t see any jacks and none of them were even named Jack!” Applejack cocked her head, “What were lumberjacks doin’ here?” Pinkie shrugged, “Donno, said something about picking up spare wood from a pegasus or something. They actually sounded like they were heading towards your place Rainbow Da…” Rainbow Dash was already gone by then. Her half eaten cupcake abandoned as she raced towards her house. “What was that about?” Pinkie asked the other two fillies. Applejack and Twilight offered no explanation as they glanced at each other before running towards the door. “Hey!” Pinkie called after them, “You forgot to…” The door slammed shut behind the retreating fillies. “...pay.” Pinkie finished lamely. She glanced at the half eaten pastries around her and let out a sigh, “Guess I’m not getting an allowance this week.” Rainbow Dash pushed her wings harder than she ever did before. They ached and screamed at her to slow down but she didn’t care. She needed to get home. Why had she told Scootaloo she could do anything with the wagon? Why was she so stupid? Why? After seemingly hours her house finally came into view. She put on a burst of speed when she caught sight of the lumberjack ponies and Scootaloo talking. “WAIT!” She cried, coming to a stop in front of Scootaloo. “Rainbow?” Scootaloo asked, surprised by her sudden entrance. “Weren't you out crusading today?” Rainbow Dash didn’t answer. Her gaze swept the ground until she found her target. “You can’t take it!” She yelled, clinging to the wagon. The adult ponies stared at her. “Rainbow,” Scootaloo said slowly, “I thought you didn’t care what happened to the wagon?” Rainbow Dash gulped. This was the tricky part. She couldn’t sound like an obsessive kid, but she couldn’t let them take something that had been with her forever. She needed a distraction. She needed a miracle. She needed a plan. She needed a… “Gah!” Rainbow cried as a wet tongue brushed against her cheek. She wiped her head around to glare at the tortoise sitting in her wagon. “You.” She growled. “What are you doing…” Rainbow’s eyes widened as a light bulb light up in her head. She whirled around to face the adults. “You can’t take this wagon because this turtle…” “Tortoise.” Fluttershy corrected her somewhere to Rainbow’s right. “This tortoise is end...endan...enderd…” “Endangered.” “Right, that.” Rainbow ignored her misshape and plowed ahead, “It made its home in the wagon and if you take it away the animal ninjas will come and lock you up!” The adults stood silent for a few minutes before Scootaloo turned to the yellow filly, “Fluttershy, is this true?” Fluttershy nodded meekly, “Yes, you can get in really big trouble for taking away an endangered animal’s home.” Scootaloo sighed and turned back to the lumberjack ponies with a sheepish grin, “Sorry guys, the kid knows her animals and I’m not about to get fined for not listening to her.” The lumberjack’s grumbled among themselves. One of them stepped forward and asked Scootaloo, “So you don’t want us to take it?” “‘Fraid not boys.” Scootaloo declared. The lumberjacks looked upset but left without any fuss. Rainbow watched their tails until they disappeared out of sight. She let out a thankful sigh and glanced at the tortoise sitting in the wagon. “Hey, thanks for that. You can stay in the wagon for as long as you need alright?” The tortoise smile and licked her face again. Dash let out a giggle and gently pushed his head away. “I’m sorry I called you creepy and stuff. You’re actually really cool. You stuck by me the whole time and even helped me out in the end. Thanks.” “Rainbow, does this mean...” Rainbow backed up as Fluttershy suddenly pushed her snout into the rainbow filly’s face. “Does this mean you want to take Mr. Tortoise as a pet?” Rainbow glanced from her sister’s pleading eyes to the reptiles loving ones. “Uhg, fine. You've wanted me to have a pet since forever and this little guy will do pretty well. Mr. Tortoise is a dumb name though; I’m going to call him Tank.” If Fluttershy cared about the name change she didn't show it. The little filly started flying around Rainbow’s head, rambling on about something that sounded like ‘pet play date’. Scootaloo ruffled Rainbow’s mane. “That was a really nice thing to do squirt; I’m proud of you.” Rainbow smiled up at her. “Thanks Scootaloo.” “RAINBOW DASH!” A cry came from down the road. The three pegasi looked to see Twilight and Applejack running towards them. “Rainbow Dash!” Twilight called again, “Why were the Lumberjack’s here? What were they going to cut down? Is this why you were so upset?” Scootaloo glanced down at Rainbow, “You’re gonna have some explaining to do aren't you?”