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* AccidentalInnuendo: This sentence said by Rainbow Dash towards Twilight Sparkle.
--> '''Rainbow Dash:''' "And that's why ''you'' would never qualify to be [[UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} my pet]]".
* AluminumChristmasTrees: While Fluttershy doesn't have one, there '''''are''''' [[http://www.livescience.com/28578-striped-bat-from-south-sudan.html yellow-striped bats]] in the world.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: A lot of fans were rooting for the bat after the preview image was shown. Shame he came in third in the race. He was still pretty awesome.
* HilariousInHindsight: Back during Rarity's "Art of the Dress" song in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E14SuitedForSuccess Suited for Success]], she sings the line "Rainbow won't look like a tank." Well, she might not, but her tortoise sure is one!
** In addition, there is a little known Dash fic wherein Rainbow adopts and trains a falcon. Sure enough, a falcon is one of the contestants and even appeared to be the winner. Coincidence? Yes, definitely, but no less hilarious either way.
** There's also the ''massive'' number of fanfics were Rainbow Dash gets her wing injured. Guess what happens in this episode? [[HurtComfortFic Only here she doesn't fall in love with anypony.]]
* IKnewIt: Ever since Hasbro released a Rainbow Dash toy with a turtle for a pet, fans speculated that it would be Dash's pet here. While Tank is [[RunningGag a tortoise, not a turtle]], he's [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute close enough to count]]. Then again, the animation team and the toy department are completely separate (and the latter has less creative freedom), so it's most likely either a [[HilariousInHindsight coincidence]] or a friendly TakeThat.
* InformedWrongness: Rainbow Dash's initial rejection of the tortoise (what with her wanting a pet that could fly alongside her) is lumped in with her valuing "coolness, awesomeness, and radicalness" above loyalty and companionship. Yet considering that Rainbow spends most of her waking hours flying, a pet that can fly would legitimately be a much better fit for her lifestyle than one that can't. Tank does get his {{Magitek}} propeller at the end, but before he is crowned the winner, there is nothing to suggest that that would be an option.
* JerkassWoobie: Let's not sugarcoat it. Rainbow Dash's behavior in this episode was very similar to the hare in The Tortoise and the Hare only caring about speed, brushing Tank off, and she's a DrillSergeantNasty, but at the end of the episode, when her wing is trapped under a boulder, you can't help but feel sorry for her.
* {{Narm}}: Spike's shout of "Rainbow!" Especially since it's the ''first'' time he speaks in the whole episode.
* UglyCute: The Angel, Gummy, Owlowiscious mix thing is this trope until [[NightmareFuel Opalescence popped out.]]
* {{Wangst}}: Rainbow Dash carries on about being trapped forever, despite her friends expecting her at the finish line very shortly and knowing exactly where to look for her, and two of them easily being able to magic the boulder off her wing. She was probably just giving in to panic for a bit.
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