I sat in silence on the subject about pets as up until now, I never really had a pet and now I wanted one, but I wanted to know what kind of pet would be ideal for me and where I could take it to spend time with. After we had our lunchtime at the cafe, Twilight and Applejack spoke about having a group get together with their pets, but I had to raise a question.

"Umm girls, I don't have a pet and what is this get together with pets?" I asked.

"Oh no worries sugarcube, just stick with us and you'll soon see what it's about." Applejack assured.

"Let's get our pets and then we'll go get Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and their pets to come along with us." Twilight suggested.

"Good idea."

Soon, we left the cafe and over to the Library to pick up Owlicious whilst Applejack went to her farm to pick up her dog, Winona, Sugarcube Corner as our next stop, Pinkie came out with her pet alligator who she called Gummy, next was over to Carousel Boutique for Rarity and her cat Opalescence, before trotting over to Fluttershy's cottage to have her and pet bunny, Angel who certainly doesn't seem to be all that from my point of view.

When the five of them and their pets were altogether, we made our way to an empty park where the animals started roaming free around the area. Upon getting closer, I spotted Rainbow Dash napping in the tree, only to see her wake up suddenly when the pets surround her. The girls then got their pets attention so that Dash could have a bit of breathing space whilst I paid attention to see the girls having fun with their pets.

"Sincerest apologies, Rainbow if our pets are bothering you." Rarity said as her cat jumped down from the tree. "Say you're sorry, Opal." her cat hissed, "She's sorry."

I giggled slightly, seeing that Opal has a mind of her own.

"What are you all doing here?" Dash asked.

"Why, we always round up our critters for a regular ol' Pony Pet Playdate in this park." Applejack answered as she ran past Rainbow and continued to throw the stick that she held on to with her tail.

"Uh, you do?"

"Same time every week."

Fluttershy had stopped by Rainbow Dash with Angel on her back. "I thought you knew. You didn't know?" She looked at us. "She didn't know?" She began rubbing her hoof shyly on the ground.

"Well we had initially planned on inviting Rainbow, of course, except-"

"We were totally gonna invite you, Rainbow, then Twilight remembered that you don't even have a pet, and Rarity remembered that you really like to take naps in the afternoon, so Applejack figured you wouldn't be missing out on anything anyway, and Fluttershy and I nodded our heads in agreement like this." Pinkie Pie interrupted Twilight and placed her hooves on Fluttershy, making her head nod.

"Oh, please don't be mad at us." Fluttershy begged.

"Oh, I'm not mad. You all are right. Not much point of a Pony Pet Playdate for me if I'm a pony without a pet, right?" Rainbow Dash replied.

"Exactly. So, if you'll excuse us." Applejack continued throwing the stick towards her pet while the other girls spent time with theirs as well.

Rainbow Dash flew back up to the tree and laid herself down as she crossed her forelegs behind her head. I walked up to the tree and looked at her. "Dash, I know how you feel, I don't have a pet either, but I think it's fun for all to be together, with or without a pet." I said.

However, we began hearing the girls' chattering as they had fun with their pets, causing Rainbow Dash to open her eyes and look at them uneasily. She covered her ears with the pillow, but when that didn't work, she flew towards the ground, near me. "Hey, now wait a minute! Just because I don't have a pet now doesn't mean I never want a pet!"

Fluttershy's eyes immediately widened and her face contained so much joy and excitement. "Ohh! Y, y, Oh, really? You really want a pet? Really?" She flew around Rainbow Dash energetically. "'cause I've got so many wonderful choices at my house." Fluttershy began dragging Rainbow Dash as she flew. "Oh, and I know you'll just love them, and they'll love you, oh!" Rainbow Dash noticed that she was still on the ground, so she rolled her eyes and flapped her wings. "And you'll be best friends forever and ever! Oh!"

"Ohhhh kaaaay, that was a strange change of behaviour." I commented.

"I wouldn't worry about it, dear. She gets that feeling when somepony wants a pet from her." Rarity added.

"Speaking of which, I've been wanting to have a pet as well, but because of what's been going on in recent times, I've never got around to thinking of having one and I'm not even sure what kind of pet would suit me."

Later on when the pets they had were back at their homes, the five of us were by the Town Hall when Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash turned up with several animals.

"What's going on here?" I asked.

"Dash is having a competition on who will be his best pet." Fluttershy replied as she joined us.

"Has she started yet?" I asked.

"Nope she's just about to." Applejack answered.

We watched Rainbow Dash blow her whistle loudly. The animals before her stood at attention. The girls began cheering loudly. Rainbow Dash saw this and blew the whistle briefly, causing the girls to quickly quiet down. "Shh!" She turned her head towards the assembled animals and began pacing in front of them. "So! You all think you've got what it takes to be my pet, do ya? Well, we'll just see about that!" She pressed her nose against the flamingo, causing it to take a long gulp. "If any of you don't think you can handle it, bow out now before you humiliate yourself in front of your peers. This competition isn't for the weak. You'd better be prepared to step up your game!" She noticed the butterfly and pressed her face closer towards it. "You call that flapping?" The butterfly began to flap much harder and faster. "That's better. There's only room on Team Dash for one of you, and my future pet needs to be able to take it to the extreme! Any questions?"

"Ah got one." Applejack whispered. "Does she understand what a pet really needs?"

If joining the army for animals was a possibility, I'd be worried too, I randomly thought.

"Yeah, like care and attention," Twilight answered. Applejack and I noticed Winona begin panting near Twilight. "Love and affection-" She suddenly licked Twilight on the cheek, causing Applejack and I to smile "-ugh! And breath mints!"

We turned our attention back to the competition. I looked back to see Fluttershy, but I noticed that she was gone. I then saw her gently pushing the turtle towards Rainbow Dash with her nose. "Now, you just pay attention, and try your best, and-"

"Seriously, Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash interrupted her motivational speech. "The turtle? What did you bring that thing here for?" She pointed towards him, causing him to flinch.

Seeing the turtle look slightly hurt saddened us a bit.

Fluttershy licked a white clean cloth and polished the turtle's shell. "Technically he's a tortoise," Fluttershy placed a hoof around his shell and hugged him. "…and he's always dreamed of being somepony's pet. He just wants a chance to compete, he won't get in the way. You won't even know he's here."

Rainbow Dash observed how he even blinked very slowly. "No."

"Oh, just let him try."

"Ugh, but there's no way he can possibly keep up." She pushed the turtle, causing him to roll on his back and return to his original position. "Look at him!"

"It won't hurt to let him try." Fluttershy repeated, holding him towards her.

"But-"

"Please, Rainbow Dash…" I stated, walking over to her. "He deserves a chance…just like anypony or animal…" She returned a groan, looking annoyed.

"Grrgh, fine!" She surrendered. Fluttershy gently placed the turtle down, causing Rainbow Dash to fly up to his face. "But don't say I didn't warn you! This isn't a game, you know!" She turned her attention to the other animals. "Alright, now these games will determine which one of you has the most important qualities I'm looking for in a pet." Her paradoxical sentences caused me to shake my head. She suddenly sped away, causing the turtle to spin around on his shell. I walked over to him and placed it back right. "Speed!" Rainbow Dash shouted from a distance. After, she manoeuvred through each animal very quickly. "Agility." She stopped by us and puffed herself up. "Guts!" She sped towards a cloud and created a figure with it using her flying. "Style!" She sped back down and presented herself. "Coolness." Then, she created a triumphed pose. "Awesomeness." Finally, she used the cap she had on and turned it backwards, crossing her forelegs together as she wore a pair of shades. "And radicalness."

Twilight had come by. "Aren't those all the same thing?" She asked.

Rainbow Dash lowered her shades to where she could see Twilight. "You would think that, Twilight." She began patting her head. "And that's why you would never qualify to be my pet." She raced away.

"Consider yourself lucky we're not in the Pokemon universe, Dash." I muttered.

"What did you say?" Twilight asked.

"Oh I said don't worry about her. She's just being herself."

"Of course…"

Rainbow Dash had led the animals, as well as us, towards the track for the first part of the test. However, Fluttershy had to pick up the tortoise and fly him over to the starting line and place him on there. She flew back to us as we stood outside of the track.

"Speed!" Rainbow Dash announced. I slapped my hoof on my head because I knew the turtle was going to have trouble with this one… I just wish something could just help him... "On your marks..." The animals lined up at the starting line. "Get set..." They prepared themselves. Rainbow Dash blew the whistle. Immediately at the sound of the whistle, the animals dashed themselves throughout the race. I noticed the turtle barely getting one step on the line. Rainbow Dash analysed the animals that finished a lap. "Sorta speedy, not speedy, pretty speedy, could be more speedy..." The Falcon cried and instantly flew with a rapid speed and stopped at the line. "Yeah! That's speed!"

Right, if that Eagle does not win, I'm taking him as my pet, I said to myself.

The girls began cheering loudly. The other animals caught up with it as it stood, full with pride. The turtle had just finished a step on the line when Rainbow Dash walked up to it and clicked her tongue. "That's just sad."

Rainbow Dash began the next set of tests all involving what Dash had said earlier and each one, the tortoise kept coming last and letting Dash down. But there was one highlight that stood for me so far. The bat's time to shine on a stage was up and he hung upside down. There were several glasses below him and he created a soothing song as he lightly played them.

Wait a minute, where have I heard that part of a song before? Then it hit me.

"I'm starting with the mare in the mirror! I'm asking her to change her ways!" I spoke out a loud in a singing tone.

All the girls and animals looked at me, wondering what I was doing...there was nothing else said as I walked backward slightly.

Suddenly, the bat released a high-pitched squeal and shattered the glasses into bits of pieces. "Whoa! That was truly awesome! But... I'm afraid this is the radicalness competition, so I'm gonna have to take some points off."

When the tortoise was up to present himself, I was really astonished by his bravery and determined attitude to become Rainbow Dash's pet. He had went through the trouble to create an obstacle course consisting of jumping on a spring which would launch him over a pool of sharks, dodge through a continuously swinging guillotine, travel through a roller-coaster style obstacle, jump through a burning hoop of fire, and finally land at a sheet at the end. I truly commended his effort…but unfortunately when he set himself up at the beginning on top of a stool… he could not even make it across to the first obstacle. He jumped and only fell on his shell, helplessly. He waggled his legs as the curtains dropped on him. I saw Rainbow Dash sigh and walk over to him. I began walking towards her…just…just to see if I could do something for the poor animal…

"Listen, turtle..."

"Tortoise." Fluttershy corrected as she popped her head out of the curtains.

"Whatever!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, sending Fluttershy back. "You've had your fun, but I think you and I both know who made the cut and who didn't." He reacted by slowly closing his eyelids and reopening them, looking as if he didn't understand her. Rainbow Dash only stared at him for a moment until he croaked. "You didn't." She pointed at him, then at the flying birds in the sky. The owl, bat, falcon, and hawk had made the cut. "I mean... A for effort and everything, you gave it your best shot, maybe I've got a gold star sticker around here somewhere you can have, but, seriously, go home. You're starting to creep me out…" Rainbow Dash released an uneasy grin. Now it was beginning to look uncomfortable. "So, anyway…" She turned around and noticed me standing there in front of her. "Oh hey, Bond. What's up?"

"Well…" I thought for a moment. "Is there any way that tortoise has a better chance to be your pet?" I began feeling a little more emotional for some reason… "I mean… he really wants to. I can see he's placed so much effort in doing so…it's just…" I sighed. "He's not used to doing the kind of things that you've set standards for…"

Rainbow Dash returned slightly understanding eyes. "Listen, Bond… I know what you're trying to say and stuff...but he's just not the type of pet I'm looking for…"

"But a pet's supposed to be something to love and care for. Something you have a bond with… not for their superior skills…"

Rainbow Dash sighed. "I like to fly." She pointed to the tortoise that was still on his shell. "He can't fly. So if he can't fly, I can't fly. I would have to stay planted on the ground. Besides, he's slow! Have you seen the way he walks?"

"Can't you make an exception? I mean, you can take a saddlebag with you and place him in there. Or I'm pretty sure there are other ways…"

Rainbow stopped me by shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Bond." She began walking away towards the other pets, leaving me to only stare at the turtle and feel depressed. "You're all outstanding competitors, but there can only be one of you who's number one. So the final, tie-breaking contest is going to be..." She turned the other way for a moment. "…pause for dramatic effect ...a race against me! Through Ghastly Gorge! Dun dun dun!"

As she began escorting the animals to their final test, I looked at the turtle and picked him up. "Don't worry…" I thought for a moment. "...I know you'll win, you just have to show her how big of a heart you have...besides, I want that eagle as my pet." He could only look at me and release another brief croak. I squinted my eyes and looked back to see the others walking to Ghastly Gorge. Fluttershy had spotted me and flew over to me before leaving.

"Is something the matter?" She asked, aware of my expression.

"This little animal deserves so much more than to be cast aside." I answered as Fluttershy observed with a concerned expression. I thought for a moment and opened my eyes. "Can you do something for me?"

"What is it?"

"Can you take the tortoise to Ghastly Gorge and have him compete anyway?"

Fluttershy placed her hooves to her mouth. "Isn't that a bit too dangerous?"

"Yeah, I know. I just have faith in this little guy." I patted his shell.

Fluttershy closed her eyes and nodded. "Okay." She grabbed the turtle and we began heading towards the next area of the competition.

We arrived just in time to see Rainbow Dash giving her speech before the start of the event. "Actually, Ghastly Gorge isn't scary. It's fun. Heh. I've flown through it a million times myself, so, obviously I'll be at the front of the pack." As Rainbow Dash continued to be herself, Fluttershy had flew slyly behind the others and placed the turtle behind them. She patted his shell, whispered a comment, and flew back towards us. "But whichever of you make it across the finish line with me will have proven you can keep up with me," She began doing push-ups. "…and will have earned the honour, and glory, of getting to be my pet!" She stood up and braced herself at the edge of the cliff, seeming as if she didn't even notice the tortoise. "Ready?" She asked and looked towards the gorge. "Setgo!" She quickly announced and sped off. The other animals had hesitated for a second but began flying after her. The tortoise could only release a frightened expression, especially since he couldn't fly. He looked below him and wondered how he would accommodate to this test.

I looked at him seriously and muttered to myself. "Come on, you can do this." I closed my eyes and felt something immense inside me. When I had opened my eyes, I was surprised to see the turtle at the bottom of the gorge, slowly walking and severely trying his best to have a chance in winning. I had widened eyes and looked at the girls to see if they had an explanation on what happened, but they were too busy cheering for the others.

"Come on!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Let's go meet them at the end of the finish line!"

The other girls agreed and ran ahead. I shrugged and met up with Fluttershy to head towards the finish line as well.

When we finally arrived, we all stood and wait for Dash and the winning animal...I was placing my hopes on the tortoise so I could have the eagle.

We all heard a cry in the distance and looked up to see the falcon arriving in first place. The girls began cheering for the winner and the rest of the animals as they crossed the finish line. However, their cheering slowed down as they noticed Rainbow Dash wasn't among them as they continued to fly past the end.

"Hm, something's not right here." Twilight commented and grabbed a pair of binoculars with her magic.

Before she could have a second with them, Fluttershy immediately rushed between her and the binoculars to see what happened. "Where's Rainbow Dash?"

Applejack then placed herself between now and looked. "Great galloping galoshes! There's been an avalanche in there!"

"Rainbow!" Spike reacted and the girls began gasping and talking worriedly.

"Wait! Look!" Pinkie Pie suddenly intervened and pointed.

"It's a teenage mutant ninja turtle!" I exclaimed.

"Tortoise!" The others corrected.

"Whatever."

We could see the turtle slowly walking towards us and carrying something.

"Ahh! It's Rainbow Dash! It's her! It's Rainbow!" Pinkie Pie shouted and hopped excitedly.

The girls began cheering loudly again as I smiled at the sight of them. However, their cheering slowed down, once again, as they realized they were heading towards us at a very slow and awkward pace.

"Maybe we'd better go meet him half way." Fluttershy offered, grinning.

Twilight walked over to them, bringing the checkered banner and white line along with her and placing them firmly on the ground. The girls resumed cheering loudly as the turtle slowly passed the finish line. He stopped when we all met up with him.

"Huh. Way to go, little guy!" Spike praised as he patted him on the head.

"Oh, thank goodness you're not hurt, Rainbow!" Twilight exchanged words with Rainbow Dash.

"Just my pride…" Rainbow Dash returned softly and dusted herself off.

"I certainly hope all of this dreadful dust was worth it!" Rarity added as the dust flew over to her. She released a mighty sneeze.

"It sure was, if'n it means Rainbow gets to have her own little critter just like the rest of us from now on." Applejack expressed as she petted her dog on the head.

I noticed the turtle look up at Rainbow Dash, wanting to know what her decision would be.

"Uh... thanks." Rainbow thanked and hopped off of his shell. She lowered herself to see him face-to-face. "What you did... I owe you one." They knocked hooves…or feet… and that made me feel warmer inside, but I was still worried about her decision.

"Rainbow!" Fluttershy spoke happily. "Your new pet is over here waiting for you!" She presented the falcon, who spread his wings and flew over to Rainbow Dash, landing above her bandaged wings. The turtle looked at her sadly.

"Oh... right... yeah. That." Rainbow Dash sounded uneasily.

"What's the matter?" Spike asked, noticing this.

"You got your perfect pet, right?" Pinkie Pie added, placing her foreleg on his head.

"The best of the best like you wanted, remember? It can fly and it's not a squirrel!" Fluttershy emphasized. "Should we sing about it again?"

"A falcon sure looks good on ya, Rainbow." Applejack commented.

But is she really happy with it? That's what I thought.

Rarity placed her camera and took a picture, which caused the light bulb above it to flash brightly and scare the turtle. He cowered inside his shell.

"Easy, fella. Nothing to be afraid of." Rainbow Dash comforted the tortoise. "The falcon sure does looks cool... he's absolutely everything I wanted in a pet." She sighed.

"Yay?" Fluttershy expressed in a questionable matter.

"But…?" I asked, longing for her to choose the brave tortoise.

Rainbow Dash looked at me and smiled. "But I said whoever crosses the finish line with me gets to be my pet."

"You did! You did say that!" Pinkie Pie quickly reacted. "She did say that, that was the rule!" She exclaimed as she hopped over us excitedly.

"And the only racer who crossed the finish line with me, was the one who stopped to save me when I needed help." The falcon immediately looked around worriedly and embarrassingly when she had said that. "The tortoise!" She announced and held him up, nuzzling her nose against his. I finally felt warm again inside my heart. I was so happy to see that tortoise smiling in accomplishment.

"But what about the-" Twilight was about to ask before being cut off when we all saw the falcon accept the exchange and shake wings/feet with the tortoise and flew over towards me and on my back.

"Looks like I have my very first pet, an eagle." I said with a big smile.

"Alright dude! That's one terrific pet." Spike complimented.

Rainbow Dash placed her hoof on his shell, causing him to look back and smile very slowly. His expression made me want to laugh, but it was mostly because on how happy I was to see him be chosen.

"Would ya look at that? He even smiles slow." Applejack commented and led the girls to chuckle and awe.

"Spike, take a letter." Rainbow Dash spoke. Spike pulled out a scroll and quill and began writing. "Dear Princess Celestia, I used to think that the most important traits to look for in a pet, or any best friend, were all physical competitive abilities. But now I can see how short-sighted and shallow that was."As she had spoke, I noticed Opal aggressively attack and bite that toy mouse she had in her claws. The winning pet noticed this and slowly walked over to her to take it away. However, Opal realized his attempt and began to furiously swipe her claws at him, but he had covered his head and feet by burrowing them inside his shell. He poked his head out, retrieved the mouse and dragged it inside his cage as Opal began to attack him. "Today I learned what the most important quality really is. A certain kind of spirit. A stick-to-it-ive-ness. A never give up, can-do attitude that's the mark of a real winner. And this tortoise has it." Opal had grown weary of attacking her pet and walked away as if he wasn't worth fighting. I smiled at her behavior and the tortoise's bravery.

"Tenacity." Twilight offered proudly.

"Gesundheit." Rainbow responded in the wrong way. "You just can't stop that little guy. He's like a... like a... Tank!" She placed her hoof on his shell. He poked his head out.

"But Rainbow! You didn't want a pet that couldn't fly because it would keep you grounded and hold you back, remember?" Fluttershy advised, causing his head to lower sadly.

"Hmm..." Rainbow Dash wondered, placing a hoof to her chin. After a moment of thinking, she raised it up and exclaimed. "I've got it! Everypony, go to the park. I have a surprised for all of you!" She chuckled and grabbed him, taking him with her as she flew away.

The girls and I exchanged looks with each other and shrugged.

We did as she asked and walked back to the park, waiting for Dash and her new pet.

"Heh. C'mon, Tank! We're gonna be late for our very first Pony Pet Playdate!" Rainbow Dash shouted from the top of the hill. We both turned our heads to see her flying towards the others, but what caught our eyes was Tank. He had flying goggles on him and some sort of flying contraption strapped on to his shell with a belt. He was no longer slow and stuck to the ground. He flew over to the others happily. We all exchanged looks and chuckled at the sight of him.

"Good thing he doesn't fire cannon shells." I said to no pony in particular.

As for me, I was having fun flying around with my pet eagle which I was going to name as Raven...what, it's a cool name, don't judge me!

After the pet play-day was over, we all exchanged our farewells and headed on home as it was nearly close to the evening. With my new pet, I walked home with my new pet on my back. It flew to an empty nested spot in my small shed in my fenced back garden, probably to make itself at home, which I could only smile at. I headed inside my home and took off my clothes and got straight to bed.

It's funny how so much can happen in a day or so. Earlier in the morning was all about that cutie pox and the rest of the day was about pets, Dash now has one which I'm sure she's happy with and so am I, I never had a pet before but now I do and I'm much happier thinking about that, as I went off to sleep. Next Chapter: The Mysterious Mare Do Well Estimated time remaining: 21 Hours, 29 Minutes