It was the summer of 2016, June the tenth to be exact, Rainbow Dash was flying around with Tank at her side. She loved the turtle almost-scratch that-more than anything. He wasn’t just her pet, he was one of her best friend. She noticed he looked exhausted, so Dash decided to take him back home. When they got home she put him to bed, the Pegasus noticed that something was wrong with the turtle.
Maybe I should talk to Fluttershy about it. Rainbow Dash thought to herself as she left the room. Rainbow didn’t like that her favorite turtle looked sick, she definitely needed to get Fluttershy’s help. She laid down on a cloud and began to read one of her Daring Do books, she loved the adventures of her favorite Pegasus. Dash read for hours until she finally fell asleep.
When Rainbow Dash woke up, Tank was hovering near her. “Hey buddy,’ Rainbow smiled as she went to hug him, that’s when she noticed he was looking weak. “Something’s gotta be wrong, let’s get you to Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash said worriedly and left with her pet. When they reached Fluttershy’s cottage, Rainbow quickly knocked on the door. “Fluttershy, I need your help.” Rainbow Dash called for her friend.
The timid, yellow Pegasus opened the door to see a worried looking, cyan Pegasus in front of her. “Rainbow Dash, what’s wrong?”
“It’s Tank, I think something’s wrong.” Rainbow replied with worry.
“Come in,” Fluttershy replied as she allowed her friend and the turtle into her cottage, ‘put him on the couch.” Rainbow Dash did as instructed and Fluttershy grabbed some supplies. It wasn’t long until she found the problem. “Oh Rainbow, I’m so sorry.” The yellow Pegasus told her friend with a frown, “I don’t know how to tell you this, but Tank…only has a little longer to live.”
“What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash asked, “Fluttershy, he is okay…right?” Tears filled Rainbow’s eyes, “Tell me he’s fine.”
“Rainbow Dash, he has a tumor.” Fluttershy said softly, hugging her friend tightly. “I’m sorry, but there isn’t anything I can do.”
“M-Maybe T-Twilight can h-help with her m-magic.” Rainbow Dash said in between sobs as she cried into Fluttershy’s shoulder.
“I’ll go get her if you want.” Fluttershy replied, “I’ll go as fast as I can.”
“Th-thanks F-Fluttershy.” Rainbow said as she went back over to Tank. Fluttershy left the cottage to go see Twilight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~At Friendship Castle~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fluttershy flew in quickly and bumped into Twilight. “Oh my gosh Twilight, I am so sorry.” Fluttershy quickly said, “Rainbow needs you, right now.”
“Is everything okay?” Twilight asked as she got up and helped Fluttershy up.
“No, Tank has a tumor and we were wondering if you can help him.” Fluttershy explained, “Or try to help him.”
Twilight sighed softly and headed towards her new library, “I’ll look for a book that tells how to cure tumors using magic or other means.” Twilight replied with a soft sigh, “How is she taking it?”
Fluttershy frowned, “Not well, Twilight I think she’ll lose it without him.” Fluttershy replied, “I don’t want her to be upset.”
The Alicorn nodded in agreement, “We’ll keep her together and be there for her like friends should be.” Twilight looked at Fluttershy, “Will you please give the news to the others?”
Fluttershy nodded and she left the castle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~At Fluttershy’s Cottage~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rainbow Dash was gently rubbing Tank’s shell, she had stopped crying. “Tank, you’re my best friend.” Rainbow said softly, “I’m going to spend as much time with you as I can.
Rarity ran in and hugged Rainbow Dash. “Oh darling, Fluttershy told us what happened.”
“How are you holdin’ up sugarcube?” Applejack asked as she too walked in.
“Wellclearlyshe’supsetbecauseTankhasatumorand-“ Applejack put a hoof over Pinkie Pie’s mouth.
“Pinkie, shush.” Applejack said softly as Rainbow started to cry again.
When Applejack removed her hoof, Pinkie went over to Dash and hugged her. “I’m sorry, maybe Twilight can help.”
“No botherin’ Twi.” Applejack said, “If she can help then she may be doin’ research for a while.” Everybody nodded in agreement as Twilight walked in with Fluttershy.
“Actually, I decided to do a little bit of research at a time.” The Alicorn said as she joined in on the hug, “Rainbow Dash, if I can’t help Tank then remember that we’re all here for you.”
“Thanks guys.” Rainbow replied with a sniffle as she looked to Tank.
“What about Zecora?” The pink Earth Pony, Pinkie Pie, piped up. “Twilight, you can research while we see what Zecora can do.”
“What a great idea.” Twilight replied with a smile, “It’ll be good to see Zecora again and boost your moods.”
“Won’t you come with?” Rainbow asked, Twilight thought for a moment.
“Alright, but I can’t stay for too long if I am to get some research done.” Twilight replied with a soft smile, “It’ll be okay, we’re going to do everything we can for him.”
“Come on Tank, let’s go see Zecora.” Rainbow Dash said softly as she picked up her turtle and put him on her back. “You’ll be okay.” The cyan Pegasus trotted off with her friends at her side. They knew she was hurting and didn’t want to lose Tank, they also knew that they would stick by her side through thick and thin.
When they reached the Everfree Forest, they were all a little terrified, but braver than the first time they entered the forest. Rainbow continued to walk, she decided that flying could possibly worsen Tank’s health. Dash didn’t want Tank to get worse, it would be horrible. The six ponies soon reached Zecora’s hut and Rainbow Dash gently knocked on the door. When the door opened, the zebra looked to her friends and smiled.
“Ah, my pony friends.” Zecora opened the door wider, “What brings you to my home on these fine weekends?”
“It’s my pet.” Rainbow said softly, “Tank has a tumor, and we were wondering if you could help before Twilight has to research…”
Zecora touched Rainbow’s shoulder and smiled softly, “I will try Rainbow Dash, but if I can’t then do not be so rash.” Zecora led the ponies to a table, “Often we wonder why, but sometimes, a friend must die.” Zecora looked at Rainbow, “This may sound sappy, but maybe Tank will be happy.”
“I still can’t imagine a world without my turtle…” Rainbow Dash replied, trying to keep her cool.
Zecora gently hugged Dash, she too felt sad about Tank dying. “I am sorry Rainbow Dash, I truly am.” Zecora told her rainbow maned friend, “I am glad you came to me instead of Flim and Flam.”
Rainbow pulled back and gently set Tank down before smiling at Zecora. “Of course we’d come to you, Flim and Flam would come up with something that would probably make Tank sicker.”
“You know it’s funny.” The zebra said, “Those two only care for money.” Zecora grabbed a book and read as she spoke, “Finding a cure may be hard, but I just might be able to if I play the right card.”
“Thank you Zecora, this really means a lot to me.” Dash replied as she sat down with Tank and gently rubbed his shell.
“Of course I’d help you my friend,” Zecora smiled, “I’ll be with you ‘til the end.’ She continued to read, hoping to find a cure. “You, my friends, are few.” Zecora told them, “And I was glad to make friends that are new.”
“It was really Apple Bloom who was the fearless one.” Twilight admitted with a smile, “It’s thanks to her that we know you aren’t an evil witch.”
“How is my friend, Apple Bloom?” Zecora asked, “I heard she had pony pox, that would send her to her doom.”
“She’s fine,” Applejack replied, “she’s getting plenty of water and rest.”
“Good, she is a nice filly.” Zecora chucked, “Although she can be rather silly.”
Pinkie Pie hopped over to Zecora, “Zecora, why do you rhyme?” the pink Earth Pony asked rather curiously.
“I rhyme because it helps me focus on the task at hand.” Zecora answered, “It is also rather fun, otherwise I would sound rather bland.”
Pinkie sat down and looked over Zecora’s shoulder. “Zecora, you research almost as much as Twilight.”
Zecora smiled softly at her friend, “I heard when Twilight stays up past the hour,” Zecora said, “she becomes rather dour.”
Twilight sighed softly, “Actually I turn into a lunatic.” The Alicorn smiled softly, “One time, I had almost nothing as a report for friendship.” Twilight told Zecora, “I ended up losing half my mind…”
Rarity giggled, “She never got that back.”
Zecora looked at her friends with a smile, “She only got better,” she said, “because you five pulled her back together.”
Zecora, we are grateful for your aid.” Fluttershy said in her soft voice, “We are all very afraid.” Realizing what she said, Fluttershy began to giggle. “You’re right, rhyming is fun.”
Zecora chuckled, “Fluttershy I told you so,” then she said, “maybe we can find something that rhymes with doe.”
Fluttershy laughed, “This is fun, later we should go for a run.” The duo continued to rhyme their hearts out while looking for cures. Dash was anxious to cure Tank, but she knew that she had to be patient.
“I am sorry my friend,” Zecora suddenly said with a frown after looking through all the books, “but I am afraid his life has come to an end.”
“Rainbow, I have almost all these books at home.” Twilight said softly, “I’m so sorry.”
“Then I’ll just have to spend more time with him.” Rainbow Dash replied as she carefully picked Tank up and put him on her back. Rainbow Dash hugged Zecora tightly, then she left with her pet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~At Ponyville ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Rainbow, would you like to stay at the castle?” Twilight asked, “You two can spend as much time there as needed.”
“Thanks Twi, it would mean a lot.” Rainbow replied as they headed for the castle.
A few months passed, Rainbow spent much of her time with Tank as she could. One day she was rubbing his shell, he looked miserable. Suddenly Tank closed his eyes, Rainbow saw that he wasn’t breathing. She checked the clock, it was two in the afternoon on November the fifth. Tank had only lived five months after they found out he had a tumor.
The funeral was a day later, Rainbow wanted the best for her turtle. She made sure he was buried in a blanket with all of his favorite toys and a picture of him with his friends. Rainbow Dash knew she had to move on, it would be difficult, but her friends were there for her. Dash stayed at Tank’s grave for a few minutes after the funeral, it helped her get some closure. As she left the grave, she swore she saw Tank smiling at her, before he disappeared.
The End