//------------------------------// // ‘wenn die panzers gelingt, folgt der sieg’ // Story: Mares und Panzer // by Indulgence //------------------------------// Flowing light fell down from the sky above, showering as an infinity of pure white dots from the borderless ether on high. The night-time sky was far from dark, without any form of cover and therefore allowing its denizens to shine: a multitude of stars looking down from above. All seemed to home in on a single spot, the attention of each glittering pinprick drawn to a lone point in the landscape, one whose centre was built of a shimmering lake, bordered by imposing boughs. This world was very much an oasis, nothing more, nothing less, a lush patch in an ocean of sand, green and alive, but also tranquil. Nothing could touch this grounded paradise, set apart in a literal desert, but more than protected, maintained and furthered by its enveloped inhabitants. Dawn dwelled within all this, floating, once more atop her war beast, except this time set before rather than inside her Panther’s turret, its weapon drawn up and to one side. She meanwhile leant up against the cannon’s mount. She was content, for once happy exactly where she was, relaxed where she lounged. Her eyes fell down from the star-speckled sky above, landing in the shared haven. Dulled music hummed in the background, mellowed notes wafting past her ears, having been toned down from the heights of their previously raucous selves. Earlier that evening its rhythm had been far swifter, a chaotic and constantly changing flux of seemingly random electric sounds formed together into stirring music, raising all spirits into a joyous frenzy with its voice. Its conductor however read the mood of her audience well, letting her music climb down in rippling waves to settle in its present form. Dahlia remained upon the Hydra One, the battle scarred vehicle one in a line of six pulled up in a line on the sand (only the Rhino 152 having been too wounded to make it), totally engrossed as she experimented with the vehicle’s speaker rig. She was not alone on the vehicle’s central turret though, two dark night pegasus drawn up on her either side, pointed ears constantly twitching sensitively in time with the beat, occasionally putting forward suggestions. Although still showing the marring marks of conflict, Appleoosa’s tanks stood tall in a semicircle on the lake’s beach, formed up around a cluster of fires glowing brightly on the shore. Alongside the music on the breeze there was too the scents of barbecue, bar a few leftover scraps, all that really remained of the feast which had been had. What was left sat keeping warm on a couple of grills, around which likewise the majority relaxed, quietly chatting in the dancing orange glow. One of these groups winding down like all others was led by both Natalies, together talking excitedly as mirror images, as ever weirdly able to fluidly finish off one another’s sentences. To them Onyx Gem and Silver Streak listened intently, casting their eyes across the vast array of dice and rulebooks collected between them. The captain allowed herself a smile, considering how strange the scene might have seemed not so long ago. More standout from this quartet though was a larger group, divided between most of the crew mares of the Rhino Five and the Hydra, along with a couple more of the visitors from Hollow Shades and engineers from RCA. The two sides were gathered tightly around an ad hoc table formed from a crate lid secured to the top of a fuel barrel base, at which two vied to be crowned the victor in a hoof-wrestling contest. Representing the rebels there was Helix, whilst for the campaigners Beret defiantly held her ground, wincing with the considerable effort. Their locked forehooves waved back and forth like an uneven pendulum, each cheered on by their comrades, putting their all into the battle. Then finally the scales tipped and a pitch black hoof forced its rival into submission, in rising replaced by two new challengers. The previous opponents were however all smiles. Each congratulated the other as they turned back to watch an ochre night mare square off against Chain Drive. A second more anarchic competition was meanwhile unfolding in the evening sky, where two blurry shapes dived and spun about one another. The streaks of colour constantly varied in their motions, sometimes racing between points only they recognised, whilst at other twisting around in balletic forms, mock dogfighting as they pirouetted through the ether. Only when they paused did Lens and Equinox materialise, out of everypony apparently the only ones incapable of relaxing, sharing a grin or a fresh challenge before immediately taking off again. The bat-like night pegasus sported a fair few new cuts and bruises since the last time they had seen her, but these seemed not to bother her, easily keeping up with the cyan sportsmare. Back down on the ground most others congregated in a far more laid back manner, settled down in a large circle on a colourful collection of rugs. By the light of the fires and her magic Blank Canvas rapidly scribbled with a pencil, seamlessly forming the images of posing ponies and making up their attire, whilst the Little Lion’s crew crowded in to give their input. ‘Couldn’t it be a little less severe?’ ‘We could lose the epaulettes and go with a floral design?’ ‘It’s supposed to be a uniform you know. Flowers are hardly going to get us taken seriously!’ ‘Well currently it just screams dull, no offence.’ ‘None taken.’ ‘What about studding, or some chains?’ ‘You’ve been talking to Lab too much!’ ‘It would look like so much more fabulous though!’ Abstract Print was the centre at the other side of the group, similarly drawing, but in her case playing around with the tanks’ paint schemes, a trio from the machines’ crews giving their suggestions. Here it was Dice with the most to say, but it was the others who more caught Dawn’s eye. For all intents and purposes Rook and Split sat side by side, only separated by the sleeping form of Milly curled up beneath her sister’s wing, the younger pegasus having refused to fly on home even as night fell (although in truth the older sibling had relented quite quickly). This was in of itself surprising enough, but more than this the two were at ease as opposed to giving each other the cold shoulder, even sharing their thoughts, whilst the artist put pen to paper. Whether just a momentary truce, or hopefully more, the sight was nonetheless a happy one. Another pair meanwhile chose to separate themselves from the rest. Blossom by popular demand had been the principal cook, Coquette acting as her main sous-chef assembling skewers of halloumi and vegetables. After this though they had taken off and were now strolling together on the edge of the water, neither really speaking, but rather simply enjoying one another’s company. What was curious about this was that it was the first time since the team had come back that they had seemed so close, nothing really having changed on their return, perhaps casting into doubt their confessions on the hill. At present however the looks they shared were hard to deny. What the pair had found was therefore more of a little realisation than some grandiose discovery, yet nonetheless cherished. A giggle drew the captain’s vision along the row of tanks to the Rhino Five, finding her driver in the midst of failing to stifle a laugh, enwrapped by the wing of a colourless rival captain. Solstice had flown in with her comrades to join in the celebration, and since her arrival she and Toffee had been nigh inseparable. Despite the one caterpillar tracked nature of ninety percent of their conversations, mostly consisting of obsessing over the intricacies of tactics or fan-fillying over some kind of armoured vehicle, they managed to be weirdly cute. Even at present they had open before them the war memoire of some obscure general, somehow finding humour amongst its contents, likely more than dull to the casual reader, whilst snuggled up sharing a blanket. The Panther’s commander was drawn back into her own being as she felt the one next to her move, glancing down to her side. Crystal’s shining eyes captured the earth mare’s emerald irises as the unicorn made a small yawn, stretching out her frame. She looked out over the scene below them, her face bearing a smile. ‘You did good’ she whispered as she resettled herself, bringing her head back to rest against her partner’s shoulder, concluding with a contented sigh as her eyelids closed. Dawn nuzzled back, adding a soft kiss to the forehead of the glowing form curled up beside her, the silvery unicorn quite literally shining in the light of the stars. ‘We all did good’ she corrected warmly, once again taking in all those on the beach and above it. They were all friends, having all grown precious to her over what felt like so short a time, all as joint partners sharing in a plethora of moments. Together they had achieved so much, able to travel so far supported every step of the way, overcoming obstacles from all quarters which had tried to stop them. They had helped her to discover things about herself that she had never known, which would have probably remained lost besides, and of course she had discovered the one currently nestled against her. Dawn could only smile, basking in the glow of everything which surrounded her, from the comfort of this foundation with her sights set on the future.