A Clone Gargoyle's Equestrian Tale

Map Lessons: Tanks For The Memories

S5 E5 everypony! Appleloosa's Most Wanted is up next!

.....

The days grew shorter and the nights grew longer as winter soon arrives to Equestria, Cloudsdale floating into view, getting ready to haul in the snow clouds. Malibu and Rainbow Dash while she carried her pet turtle Tank were both soaring through the sky together, Malibu breathing in the fresh winter air that the New York City streets when he lived with the mutates never had.

Rainbow turned to him with a smile. "Look at that, guys!" She said referring to him and Tank. Malibu watched the city get closer to its destination, seeing the weather factory preparing itself. "Cloudsdale is here! That means Ponyville is next up for winter!"

The young couple flew above the earth ponies and unicorns running along White tail woods' path, knocking down the leaves on the trees as usual for the Running of the Leaves. "Looking good everypony!" Malibu called down, Lyra waving from below as he waved back.

Rainbow Dash pointed to some other trees around. "We need those leaves off those trees!" She called, the rest nodding. The two soared back up to the sky, Dash hugging Tank tight. "Once we get autumn cleared away, it'll be hello winter!" She cheered.

But then Malibu heard a small yawn coming from the tortoise, noticing now how tired he was, eyelids droopy. Rainbow Dash frowned, a brow raised up. "Was that a yawn I just saw?" She demanded. Tank did another yawn until Rainbow pointed his vision to the pegasi carrying over the big clouds. "How can you be tired when the most exciting time of the year is right around the corner? And don't forget the best part—our first winter together!" She cheered.

It made Malibu a bit confused since they had snow here before with Tank. "Uh, didn't you guys just enjoy winter that time ago before Tirek invaded...?" He tried to ask.

The rainbow Pegasus simply looked at him blankly as a way to say 'don't ruin the moment', while shaking her tortoise a little. "Come on! Wake up! Once those ponies bring in the big, fat clouds of snowflakes, we'll have a tone of snow for our extreme sledding!" She said, Malibu seeing her already imagining it with a warm glow in his cheeks, looking forward to doing it with his special somepony as well. Rainbow pointed to the frozen pond nearby. "And over there, we can play horse hockey, with no shoulder or arm pads!"

Tank though kept yawning, Rainbow Dash's face falling further, as Twilight joined them. "Everything's looking great, don't you think?" She said.

"Almost everything. Does Tank look alright to you?" Rainbow Dash asked, Tank hovering nearby with his magically charged propellor, another yawn coming. "Well, he does seem to be moving a little slowly." Twilight observed.

Malibu shrugged. "He's a tortoise, right?" He said, Rainbow glaring at him again.

"And he's looking kinda sleepy." Twilight added. "Totally!" Rainbow muttered.

But then, Twilight simply smiled. "...Just like he always does."

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck. "Heh, yeah, ha ha. I'm sure you're right." But Malibu didn't believe her, watching Tank yawn further, knowing they would have to take him to some kind of expert to make sure he's ok.

.....

Later in Fluttershy's cottage, she was using a stethoscope on Tank to listen to his heart, while the tortoise yawned yet again, Rainbow Dash watching anxiously, Malibu doing his best to settle her down by patting her awkwardly on the back.

"Well?" Malibu asked first before Rainbow could. "Is he fine?"

Fluttershy glanced up, her ears flattened. "I suppose his heartbeat could be a teensy-weensy-eensy bit slower than usual..." She said sheepishly.