"Awww! They think Tank's their Mommy!"

I smile at Fluttershy's words as she and the other girls fawn over the sight before them. And in truth, I cannot help but feel much like they do. These young ones around me, they come to me, like any child to a parent, and while I myself might not be their sire, I am nevertheless here for them. Had I the throat for it, I might have let out a chuckle to that thought. Me? A parent? A strange thought, to be sure, and one that, in truth, I never considered before. Not fully at least. My owner, Rainbow, might not realise this, but I am an old tortoise. Have been for some time now. The thought of children, while not entirely absent from my mind during my long life, has, on very rare occasions, propped up here and there, usually when seeing other young creatures. But now that these ones here are acting this way towards me, I cannot help but wonder.

True, this will likely be the last time I ever look upon them, as already, one by one, the young make their way into the waters. I see them go, and to my slight surprise, several of them stay behind, nuzzling me affectionately. I return the gesture, my wrinkled lips forming into a smile as I do so. But, as much as I wish I could remain with them, I know they have a long journey to complete. So, as difficult as it is, I begin to nudge them away from me, encouraging them to go to the sea. They seem just as hesitant to leave me as I am to see them go, but go they do. I take a few steps closer to the edge of the water, just to escort them that last small distance, but then, I stop, knowing that this is where we would part. The last of them shows just the tiniest bit of hesitation, but then, finally makes its last motion, entering the sea.

I am a tortoise, they are turtles. By all logic, it would never have worked. They are creatures of the sea, while I and those of my kin walk upon the land. We are of two different worlds, and were I to keep them, they would only have been hurt. For a being of water to live upon land would have been difficult at best, and deadly at worst. No, as much has it pains me to admit this to myself, they must go to the sea, where they belong. My heart aches, seeing them swim further and further away from me, but I take solace in the fact that, at the very least, they have been given a good start in life. And really, while parenthood is not something I ever expected to have in my life, a good start is really the best thing any parent can ever give their children. So, I suppose, I can take comfort in that thought.

Will I ever see them again? Perhaps years from now, when they are fully grown? Will they remember me? Will we converse? Will they call me Father? Or perhaps, as Fluttershy remarked, as Mommy? Another smile comes to me as I think on that prospect, knowing that it would not be unwanted, at least on my part. Only time will tell, as the old saying goes. The girls around me continue to be enamoured at what has transpired before their eyes. The "cute baby turtles" that they so adored. But for me? This moment will always be far more meaningful than mere cuteness. It will be the moment where, just for a little while, I had children. And I look up, seeing them swim off to the horizon, witnessing as the one with the red shell stops to wave back to me. My smile widens, and a single tears falls down my cheek, and I think to myself that, yes, they will be alright out there.

"Come on, Tank. Time to go home," Rainbow says to me.

Home? Yes. We're all going to our homes now, aren't we?