Ankunft

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Appleoosa had often been called a “timeless” place, a politer term to use rather than quaint, old fashioned or backward. Over the decades since its foundation few things had ever changed in the desert-ringed backwater. It was still very much the tightknit farming community that it had always been, having grown but a little over the years. A web of further streets had slowly expanded out from the sole original, whilst fresh orchards had sprouted on the surrounding hills, fed by a water pipeline snaking into town through the dunes. This serpentine construction and a couple of squat processing plants nestled in amongst the artificial forests were in fact the only truly “new” buildings in town, the rest left styled always rustically in wood. In this way the settlement had generally avoided much of the modernisation which had necessarily swept through the rest of Equestria during the Crystal War.

It was into the skies above this largely unnoticed township that the sun lazily crawled, marking the start of a new week. Few paid the solar timekeeper any heed however, with fewer still even being aware of its appearance. This was much the same for all bar the bare minority of Appleoosa’s population, a minority which happened to include the latest of the town’s inhabitants amongst their number.

Were she anywhere else, on any other day, Dawn Melody would have gladly remained settled where she was, ensconced deep in the expanse of pillows and covers which made up her annex. Today however, of all days, she needed to get up and had therefore taken the precaution of pre-emptively setting not one but several alarm clocks to this end. As one all six of the punctual devices went off, ringing sharp and loud. On instinct the earth mare’s hoof sprang out from its redoubt, hammering against the machines’ tops in a desperate search for the snooze button. Her quest for respite was however futile, her far more lucid former self having already blocked all means of escape by tampering with their mechanisms. Like this she forced her hazy present self to its hooves, blinking away the last few settled shreds of sleep, eventually succeeding in turning off the incessant racket.

With a heavy exhale the young mare slumped, tired form slouching in the gifted quiet. In contrast to the abject chaos entailed in the noise it had succeeded, the world of her little room was now perfectly stilled in silence, calm like a sigh. The quilted realm she had only just left beckoned her back temptingly, it being a massive effort to resist its charms and not simply collapse back into its embrace. This reprieve was however fleeting, thoughts of resistance in turn begetting the realisation of why she had set the alarms in the first place. In the instant of this remembrance all the settled calm abruptly broke into storm, hurling her back into motion.

Just this once at the very least you can’t be late! You’ve got to make a good first impression.

Right on cue panic leapt out from her subconscious, trailing Dawn in close pursuit throughout the limited space of the bedsit. Although it was far from large, the chase nonetheless quickly devolved into a protracted one, growing with her chaotic route in flight. What was annoying (a polite term filled in with far greater vulgarity in her head) about this was that she was not in fact as unprepared as she seemed, rather quite the opposite. Despite her previous self’s best efforts though, setting aside her saddlebags packed and everything else besides that the morning would call for a day in advance, still the place was far too new to avoid getting lost within it in flustered transit. She therefore zigzagged back and forth between half-finished tasks, skipping hurriedly from each to the next. Throwing a white lace collar about her neck, she immediately whirled herself away from her dressing table, stepping seamlessly from bedroom to kitchenette in search of caffeine. A pale cream mare looked back out from the shiny front of a coffee machine, using the surface in lieu of a mirror to guide a forehoof in raking straight her straw yellow mane. The strands remained recalcitrant, refusing to fall into line and instead rolling in messy waves back across her shoulders.

Hurry up!

Neither waiting to achieve success or for the maker to complete its work she turned straight back about, returning to her starting position. An apple green ribbon tied in a long bow went to complete her uniform. It was noticeably almost a tonal match for both her irises and the logo on the collar’s left point. Finally slinging her bags onto her back she departed, pausing a brief moment more to grab a waiting thermos mug of sweet caffeinated goodness just as it finished pouring from the machine.

Through the portal Dawn found herself enveloped by the warm breeze of her namesake, bathed in the rays of the rising sun as she locked the door to her loft apartment behind her, skipping down three external flights of stairs in turn. The already present heat was likely a harbinger of what to expect from the rest of the day, something else that she was not yet used to, although this general off-ness would likely have been true of wherever she had ended up. ‘A fresh start’ she muttered to herself dryly, taking a first sip from her cup.

True, so don’t screw it up before you’ve even begun! Get moving!

Succeeding in startling herself once again she broke back into a swift trot, making her way through the ranks of similarly uniform apartment buildings (disguised to look otherwise) on her way towards main street.

---

Okay, deep breath, don’t you dare freak out!

‘Easier said than done.’

For you maybe, but not for every other normal pony, so for Goddesses’ sake mare up already!

So close but yet so far, Dawn wavered unsure on the cusp of her goal. Caught, she made a show of putting away her long since drained thermos, an explanation to all those in her mind’s eye as to why she had stopped.

Not far ahead of her the town’s chronologically newest building stood apart and prominent, although in its style it channelled times far longer past than its rustic surroundings. It stood at the head of a similar host in imperial stone as opposed to the simple local timber used elsewhere, its front towering to a pillar-supported point several floors past all opposing structures. A great carved mural adorned the peak of the edifice, depicting tight ranks of young ponies watched over by their two solar sovereigns, a motif repeatedly placed elsewhere by its unknown architect, whilst the rest of its face glinted with uniform rows of arched windows. Collectively these panes shimmered in the morning sun, likely within making the place aglow, but outside acting like a glittering mask. A single flagpole rose still higher atop all this, its pennant diagonally striped in alternating white and green with a red apple at its centre, this fruit placed beneath a semicircle of three stars. All this and more besides sat within the border of a high metal fence, topped with ornate barbs, the front gate set within which she was yet to approach.

A group of chattering voices drew Dawn from the façade, her eyes crossing an expansive square of cobblestones to find a septet of other young mares deep in conversation. All seven wore the said same uniform, matching both her and one another, neatly collared and tied. Central amongst them, two stood out as near mirror images of one another with each of them wearing their deep purple manes and tails in braided knots, differing only slightly in the auburn tones of their coats. This group (not noticing their audience) made directly for the gates, nodded through by a newly appeared figure on their path.

That’s probably your cue to get a move on!

‘I’m going!’ Persuaded (or rather forced) back into movement, she followed her predecessors’ suit, although unlike them unable to shake the feeling of being on show and antlike in her crossing of the square. In transit she passed the stone paved void’s sole feature: a thick tree stump, carved at its front with the words ‘Appleoosa Imperial Academy’, with the Apple logo again embossed on its base. Then she was there, no further room for even the slightest evasive manoeuvre, reaching the gate and its sentry. ‘Erm… hi, I…’

‘Don’t bother’ the guard cut off (dressed the same as the one she addressed, except with the addition of a second badge on the right point of her collar emblazoned with a crimson C), not bothering to look up from a book levitated before her vision. ‘Before you waste your breath the answer is no, I don’t care who it’s for. If you’ve got a message for Ruby, Diamond, Onyx, or anypony else find them yourself!’

‘Erm… I don’t think…’ Dawn tried again timidly, shrinking back a little at the outburst.

‘For the love of Luna, you guys never give up do you! The answer is n-oh…’ In a moment the unicorn’s exasperation vanished, finally lowering her tome to discover the unexpected. ‘Oh’ she repeated redundantly, a pink hue spreading itself across her teal cheeks behind a pair of glasses. ‘Sorry about that, you’ve got to be the newbie right?’

‘I guess that’s me, yeah’ the cream turned also light pink earth mare confirmed, remaining still unsurely hunched.

‘Figures.’ A clipboard and pencil hovered out of nowhere to replace the book, running through lists of names and their associated tick boxes. ‘Which in turn explains why you’re so early. I tend to know all the prompt ones, whilst the only others who turn up at this time are usually guys from RCA across town with some vapid letter or poorly constructed poem expressing the sheer depths of their love for somepony. It would be vaguely cute if they weren’t quite so pathetic and didn’t pester me to pass the damned things on. Anyway, moving on, I’m Dice Bag by the way.’

‘Nice to meet you, I’m…’

‘Dawn Melody, right?’ The pencil came to a sudden stop, striking an affirmative line against what it found, the magic driving it drawing a further sheet of paper from amongst those clogging the board’s clip. ‘Here’s your timetable, plus there’s a map on the reverse.’

‘Erm.. okay, where’s…’ Dawn began to query, skimming the paper in a quick glance.

‘Your first lesson’s up in F6 on the top floor, beyond that ask the map not me’ Dice answered bluntly, already returning to her book. ‘The room won’t even be open yet though, so I dunno you could maybe get a feel for the place in the meantime or something.’

‘Erm… thanks.’ Whether she wanted it to be or not the conversation was quite obviously over.

At least you actually made it.

---

*Riiing!*

The long shrill shriek of a bell sliced through the darkness, stirring Dawn abruptly from her seat, her eyes blinking frantically open. ‘Oh buck!’ At first she had attempted a quick tour of the campus, but had found most of it locked up and so denied opted for a bench caught sight of in the front yard. She had waited awhile and then a while more, but the furniture had been so comfortable and then…

Well bucking done!

On her hooves she tore her bags from where they lay as an impromptu pillow, throwing their strap about her shoulders. ‘Damn it all to Tartarus!’ In a mad scramble she charged for the nearest entrance, mind just about noting through the motion blur and crushing words of self-reproach that she was not alone in her tardiness.

Away at the school’s front gates another group was making their leisurely arrival, unconcerned and strolling as they were checked off by an irritably scribbling pencil. Most of them wore a darkened aspect, manes and tails dyed black, with a few exceptions in the form of stark acidic highlights. They were likewise united in their jewellery, all simultaneously glinting as light reflected off metal weighing down every inch which was reasonably conceivable to pierce, and a few that were not as well. Only the fact that they wore the uniform, in a scruffy and unfinished manner, identified that they belonged.

At the head of them though one only partially fitted into these trends, collar tied in neatness, whilst her hair as opposed to being pure shadow veered just off in navy, set against the rest of her sleek form in electric blue. This antithesis however just made the details in the unknown’s form standout even clearer. Her manestyle for example mimicked and furthered the aggressiveness of her compatriots’, sculpted as two mohicans running away from her horn down her scalp, whilst also buzzcut short on the right side and left long on the other below these. In a right eyebrow meanwhile she wore a pair of bars, cutting through its arch, an eyebrow which rose under Dawn’s gaze, yellow iris beneath taking note of its audience.

Great, now you’re both late and look like a tool! Bravo!

As if on repeat the second of the morning’s blushes burned the earth mare’s cheeks, hurrying her to faster flight. ‘Okay, top floor, F… 6 and quickly.’ An imposing entrance hall became the winding spiral of a staircase, steps taken three at a time, becoming a corridor flanked by lockers, ending in a single standout doorway. This she burst through, tumbling into the room beyond. ‘S-sorry I’m late.’

---

Well, that could’ve gone better.

Letting out a little sigh Dawn made no effort to catch her head as it fell, landing roughly between her forehooves already outstretched on the desk before her. ‘I’ve fared far worse’ she muttered under her breath in consolation to nopony bar the writing surface, ‘and in truth what more was I really expecting. I’m new, N-E-W, that kind of necessitates that I stick out and I don’t know anypony. Three lessons down, three to go, and then…’

‘Hey newbie!’

The collapsed earth mare jumped straight back up to attention, neck whirling about in search of the source of the excited exclamation.

‘You could’ve probably done that a lot better you know. A little quieter maybe.’

Running a few rows further to the back of the empty classroom, her gaze stopped on a pair newly appeared through its doorway. The slightly shorter of the two, all sunny fur and golden curls, smiled broadly despite the reprimand and nudge to that effect which she was receiving from her partner.

The second meanwhile stood taller and more slightly built, differentiated further in a hazel coat and darker brown mane tied up in a tail, making her horn stand out more prominently from her brow, but likewise wearing a warm smile. ‘Sorry if we startled’ she began in an intrinsically kind-hearted voice, ‘you’re Dawn right?’

‘Y-yes that’s me.’ Although caught off guard her inner voice still chastised her for the awkward stammer.

‘Spring Blossom’ the older seeming mare continued pointing to herself, ‘and this is Coquette, although most just call her Belle…’

‘Just cos everypony calls me that doesn’t mean I like it, and you know it!’ the latter interjected, bubbly voice indignant but not really rising to annoyance.

‘True, but your reactions are always worth it’ Blossom returned, without removing her grin or her gaze from Dawn’s. ‘Besides, you play the part so well.’

‘Shut up!’

‘Anyway, would you like us to show you around a bit, then we can go get lunch?’

‘Erm… thanks, but I’m okay’ Dawn shook her head.

‘What she means to say is that the Council’s told us to show you around, and I for one don’t need them on my case’ Coquette came in frankly.

‘And what she mean’s to say is that this isn’t a chore that we’ve been forced into’ Blossom scolded with a roll of her eyes. ‘I know from experience that coming to a new school, plus a new town in the middle of nowhere for that matter, isn’t the easiest thing on Equis to adjust to, not to mention doing so part way into term. So can we at least maybe give you a quick tour? It might help you get settled in.’

‘Okay’ Dawn finally agreed, another honest smile helping her over her timidity.

---

The noise of battle raged all around, a hoard of hooves trampling throughout the space whilst metal crashed and voices roared. Well befitting its soundtrack the world raced in a barely orchestrated anarchy, forces breaking away from the general swell to occupy their own seemingly predetermined areas, the pattern in all these movements impossible to follow unless already known. In the corner of the dining hall, a small vantage point on the side lines, Dawn sat with her two guides, despite this feeling very much in the warpath of this maelstrom.

‘So concludes the tour of AIA’ Coquette announced, ‘so moving on to a who’s who in this mess.’

‘Or put another way mapping out the minefield of the various spheres of influence there are in amongst all the chaos.’

‘Sure, if you wanna be drearily serious about it.’

Blossom ignored the critique. ‘You’ve pretty much got all the usual clichés you could expect from a “learning institution”, each with their own little chieftains at their heads’ she began turning to add hoof gestures to her speech. ‘Working our way across: first you’ve got your common or garden nerds/geeks. They’d probably argue the toss over what they are but they’re on the whole much the same.’

Dawn’s eyes followed the hazel hoof’s directions, finding a table with a few recognisable faces around it. She picked out first Dice Bag, then many of the others who like her had arrived earlier, including the two mirror images.

‘In which the Gnats are central’ the golden earth mare added, not to be left out.

‘The Nats’ Blossom corrected. ‘They’re both called Natalie but aren’t actually related, they just make themselves look alike to annoy people. Nat One has her hair to the right and Nat Twenty has hers to the left.’

‘I never got those nicknames.’

‘Moving on you’ve got your campaigners, a mix of politics and eco warriors…’

‘Stoners’ Coquette deadpanned bluntly.

‘They’re not all stoners! Most of them really believe in what they’re fighting for!’

‘Maybe, but you’ve gotta admit that most of them are pretty vague about what exactly that is. Plus, to quote you: “wearing a mask and saying ‘the system’ a lot doesn’t make you a revolutionary”.’

‘Moving on again there are your sports teams.’

Still trailing throughout the crowds, Dawn found those sat central in the swarms. A few remained identifiably dressed in whatever they competed in, whilst the rest helpfully had extra logos opposite the school’s on their collars to denote their sport. What drew her eyes though, more specifically at their nexus, was a pair of pegasus in the midst of a rising shouting match. Each rose ever higher in response to the other’s provocation, neither backing down, although it seemed only one of them had the backing of those around her as well as her own vindication.

‘…of which those two are Lens Flare, turquoise head of the hoofball team and wannabe Equestria’s next Rainbow Dash, hence the colourful highlights in her mane, and Split Second, the pink one who’s our resident track star and is all too aware of it.’

The second of these now given a name rose, slamming her forehooves onto the table, an action instantly reciprocated. In contrast to the pale rose of her form her mane stood upward, cropped short and gelled spikily except for a single braid beside her right eye, candy-caned in white and magenta.

‘It’s kinda funny’ Coquette again came in to add to the summary, ‘but the two of them are the only pegasus here and they hate each other’s guts. Ostensibly they’re supposed to be friends I think and they play on the same team in a lot of stuff, but they compete so much that it doesn’t really show.’

Both sides of the argument finally quietened down as a teacher made a pass closer to their verbal melee, each sitting back down sharply. The one identified as Split did however continue to mutter violently at her adversary, bringing a forehoof roughly through the barbs of her hair. In this disguised action her eyes roved away, startlingly coming to lock with their audience, almost making Dawn jump. On instinct the earth mare dropped her vision, waiting a moment before risking a glance upward, but the pink pegasus’ gaze remained her way, its owner stopped mid-retort. This remained for what seemed like a great many awkward minutes, until eventually Split was dragged back away by a fresh snarl from her opposite.

If Blossom picked up on anything of the mutual intrigued looks she made no point of highlighting it. ‘Next there’s the “popular” crowd.’

‘Don’t call them that!’ It was Coquette’s turn to turn defensive this time. ‘You make that title sound so critical!’

‘What alternative would you suggest instead then?’

‘I dunno, fashionable maybe, besides it’s not the term but the way you spit it out. Plus I’ll add that it’s like you’re tarring me with the same brush when you say that!’

‘You know full well that I don’t include you within that.’ Blossom glanced away for a moment, speech faltering in a pause, then just as quickly her features reset themselves. ‘Sorry’ she apologised, turning back Dawn’s way, ‘we’re not exactly being the best hosts are we.’

‘It’s really fine’ their earth mare audience corrected, regardless of distractions an intent listener.

Another infinitely warming smile and then the hazel unicorn returned to her words. ‘So, as I was saying there’s the “fashionable” and the “trend conscious”.’

‘Neither of those sound like any kind of improvement!’

‘Then those four to one side’ Blossom persisted, unbothered if not grinning a little more at her partner’s fresh interjection, ‘are most of the Student Council.’

Those pointed out were a pretty nondescript bunch, seated around a slightly smaller bench, each picking at salads and at the same time shuffling through piles of papers. Occasionally one would raise themselves from their work and state something to her comrades, sometimes even receiving reply before all returned to their sheets.

‘Dice being the one missing from their number, who you probably met on the gate, and equally she’s likely the only one you’ll ever see much of unless you get into trouble. They’re not too bad honestly, it’s just the only reason they’re in charge is cos they either wanted the extra credits or the shred of power which came with their position. They were elected, but they were the only ones who ran, if you get what I mean.’

‘And finally we reach the dark corner of the room.’ Coquette made a little grimace.

‘Now who’s being critical!’

The appraisal was semi-true of the last grouping under scrutiny, another in which Dawn found some previous faces. Black was the dominant shade among the assembly, but so too were a myriad of electric and acidic splashes of colour and the occasional glint of their common piercings catching the light. Once more two central figures stood out from the rest, the first being the navy-maned unicorn, shining out even more in a greater mass both more and less put together than she was. The one she was next to (not actually sat but instead sprawled on their table’s top) meanwhile was an onyx toned earth mare with a single iridescent pink mohawk, bordered on each side by buzzcut leopard print. The two of them were deep in conversation, in turn drawing their own enraptured audience from amongst their similar kin in what they discussed, almost as if hosting a lecture.

‘The blue unicorn in the middle’s Rook.’ Coquette this time was the one who put a name to a face. ‘She’s pretty much the ringmaster of that freak show, which before you say anything’ she turned pre-emptively, halting Blossom’s tongue, ‘is not meant as an insult. Much. She’d probably like that accolade anyway.’

With a grin the hazel unicorn conceded the point, nodding.

‘The one she’s talking to meanwhile is Helix, pretty much her second in command.’

‘Academically speaking, they’re a mixed bunch’ Blossom added, taking her turn. ‘Lots of creative writers, literature students, philosophers, historians, musicians, etcetera, so they’re all pretty artsy. At the same time though their AIA’s self-styled “rebels”, hence the look…’

‘And the attitude!’

‘As you can tell they’re not Belle’s favourite ponies either. And that about wraps up the big groups, although there are others, any questions?’ the unicorn ended in the air of a mock tour guide.

‘Erm…’ Dawn considered through a mouthful of hayburger, having remembered the meal still uneaten before her. ‘Where do you two fit into all this then?’

‘Well, erm… we don’t really do we?’

‘Well Belle knows pretty much everypony, Rook’s gang notwithstanding, to some extent’ Blossom answered tentatively, seeming to find it easier to answer for the other mare. ‘And I guess I’m kind of the reverse.’

‘That’s not true!’ Coquette countered, turning back to meet Dawn full face. ‘Don’t let the quiet, older than she seems, bookworm act fool you, even if she does occasionally. Together we span a couple of different crowds, cos we’re a bit different, but labels can be boring.’

‘So it’s a case of opposites attract then’ the other earth mare ventured through a second mouthful.

‘Yeah, that pretty much sums it up!’

‘Yeah…’ Blossom’s eyes dropped again as a flush rose across her cheeks, just briefly visible in the brown tones of her fur, ‘something like that.’

---

‘Bye!’

‘See you tomorrow!’

Dawn paused for a happy moment at her new home’s doorstep, now bathed in the comfortingly cooled light of a dying day, waving as Blossom and Coquette made their departure. She watched them round the corner, a broad smile painting her aspect, and then finally she stepped inside. Her saddlebags slipped carelessly from her shoulders just past the threshold, their weight let slip at least until the morrow. Their owner likewise took a last few steps more and then deposited herself onto the waiting covers of her unmade bed. It had been a long day, started early, whilst fraught by worries both founded and unfounded, and she felt it, content for the time being to just lie where she was. ‘A new day, a better day’ she concluded quietly to herself, ‘or at least not a bad one.’

Eine Einleitung

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‘Buck it!’

Clashing in momentum against her mid-morning backdrop, the lone shape of a pale cream earth mare charged through the barely waking streets of Appleoosa. Dawn was late (again) and she knew it, or more correctly she knew that she was going to be, caught in the far from new but still surreal realisation that she had set off without enough time to spare and was therefore hurrying towards an inevitable black mark. Her strides therefore likewise lagged between two states, mostly the desperate pursuer, but at the same time in part submitting herself to her fate, accepting that her quarry was unobtainable. In this flustered state she crossed a now almost familiar cobblestone square and arrived as the school’s front gate, whilst simultaneously from within despite her best efforts the bell rang.

‘Late again newbie’ Dice drawled, neither rising to a question nor really adding any emotion to her tone, simply stating the fact with an air of intrinsic criticism. ‘If you keep this up you’re going to end up with credits docked from your record’ she further warned without any real feeling. ‘What gives? You were straight up early for the first week, but since you’ve always just missed the bell.’

Dawn had no want to pause further with some kind of answer, she just wanted to get in and get going. A snappy reply was not forthcoming either though, the truth that she had overslept not seeming a good enough excuse. ‘Erm…’

‘Can it Dice! You should save yourself; remember you’ve got us to bitch at next!’ From nowhere a fresh voice appeared to make its challenge, its light yet strong tones bearing in them an intrinsic, almost theatrical, confidence. Into the space her words created stepped Rook, form granted height to fit her introduction by the gelled fins of her mane, swiftly followed by Helix and others at her back. ‘Besides, more importantly, life’s no fun if you’re stuck playing by the rules all the time. You’re more than eloquent evidence of that fact.’ As she spoke the unicorn’s yellow irises wandered to meet Dawn’s in something akin to a knowing look.

‘You can pack it in yourself!’ The teal council member remained unimpressed by the new arrival and company. ‘All the mane gel and “brooding” poetry on Equis isn’t going to do anything to resuscitate any of your records!’

‘Oh climb down off your throne for a bit, you’re no better than the rest of us!’ Helix came in, her own voice very much the stage partner to her leader’s except with an added smirk at the back of every expressed syllable.

‘You first!’

This snapped back and forth swiftly transformed into a fully-fledged argument, each side snarling their relished words at one another. Dawn meanwhile found herself to one side, along with the navy-maned unicorn who had started it, a wall of others forming up between them and Dice.

‘Hey’ Rook began with a final devious look over the unfolding scene before turning. ‘Rook’ she introduced simply with a nod.

This is going to be awkward.

‘Erm… I know.’ Even as she said it a blush spread across Dawn’s cheeks.

Called it!

‘Oh, sorry, I mean hi’ the earth mare attempted to recover, not quite managing it, little helped by an amused grin from her audience. ‘I’m Dawn.’

‘I know’ Rook mirrored, although in her the same expression somehow gained a loaded quality, furthered as she leaned in slightly. Catching her tongue however on the cusp of continuing, a particularly violent shot from Dice broke in, drawing her attention.

Now’s your chance! Escape!

‘I really should be getting to class, so I guess I’ll see you around’ Dawn excused herself, managing just to bring a small smile to her face, devoid of any her in any case absent confidence.

‘Yeah, see you round’ Rook spun back and returned with her own far more successful smile, although it had to break through a brief veneer of annoyance, the statement sounding like an affirmation.

Time to go!

With that the straw-maned mare was back in motion, propelled in haste as much by her own mind as her actual need, feeling the set of yellow irises pursue her in flight. Thankfully her destination was far less than a trek away and soon she was bursting into the settled quiet of an alchemy lab, remembering too late to knock on the portal. ‘Sorry I’m late sir…’

‘Please find your seat Miss Melody, promptly if possible. Oh and you can save your excuses, your lab partner already made me aware that you’d be late.’

Dawn, a tad confused, scurried through the class, locating the last remaining empty chair. Her eyes went from her teacher, in the midst of returning his attention to the blackboard at his back, to the lab-coated shape waiting at her prescribed desk. Complete with a set of safety glasses, Blossom gave her a wave, adding a silently mouthed ‘it’s all cool, you’re covered’ as she took her seat.

---

‘Thanks again for earlier!’ Dawn more or less had to yell as they fought their way through the regular insanity of the lunch hall, making for their usual vantage point on the side-lines.

‘Don’t mention it!’ Blossom shook her head. ‘Why the recent lateness though?’ she moved onto asking as they occupied their table.

‘Erm…’ Once again the query was not particularly welcome, giving its target pause, but at least this time it came from a source who somehow managed to make everything she said sound caring. ‘I keep oversleeping… kind of’ Dawn admitted sheepishly.

‘Stupid question, but you got an alarm?’

‘Yeah, several actually, but that’s not really the problem. I can wake up and get up no issue; it’s the staying that way where I fall down.’

‘Something on your mind perhaps?’

‘More like not enough. I dunno, it’s like I can’t keep the momentum going, like I’ve got no sense of urgency to get here, nothing to look all that forward to. Present company notwithstanding’ the cream coloured mare added quickly, to further knowing nods.

‘Your suffering from routine’ the hazel unicorn definitively diagnosed, ‘what I’d personally call one of the most infectious illnesses at AIA, or anywhere else for that matter.’

‘Routine?’

‘Yeah, it’s an easy trap which can snap shut without warning at any time. Why’d you think I put alchemy on my timetable as a science alongside all my other artsy stuff: it simply rings the changes. Anyway, further credit selection is later this week and there’s bound to be something to perk your interest, particularly as there’s a rumour that something big is on the cards.’ Mid-speech Blossom glanced off to the distance, her smile growing wider, welcoming the third of their number.

‘Modern Foreign Languages can go buck itself!’ Coquette announced with a flounced flourish. ‘If I have to conjugate one more Griffonian pronoun or listen to one more Draconic radio play I’m gonna loose it big time!’

‘At least Draconic’s easy; no genders or tenses to worry about’ the party’s unicorn tried in consolation. ‘It’s all masculine and in the present…’

‘True but there’s only so many times you can listen to some piss-poor voice actress stumbling over what she did on her bloody holidays!’

‘Just try and pick up something with enough credits to cover dropping it’ Blossom maintained as her rationally to the point self.

‘In brighter news: Hearts and Hooves Day!’

A non-plussed silence managed to form itself in the relative cacophony. ‘What about it?’

‘Oh come on Bloss!’ Coquette looked between both her friends, mildly shocked. ‘It’s literally only like a month and a bit away! I seriously can’t be the only one who’s excited about it!’

Dawn and Blossom each exchanged a generally blank look, much to the third of their number’s annoyance.

‘Seriously?! Come on, there’s gotta be somepony you’ve got your eye on?’

‘Not really’ Dawn countered, ‘I’ve still not been around very long.’

‘Maybe… but not really’ the taller unicorn answered in an uncharacteristic mutter before deflecting. ‘So what’s got you so worked up about it then?’

‘The dance of course! Who do you think will ask me this year? It could be…’

‘Dance?’ Dawn asked slightly bluntly, whilst the other sunny earth mare went on unabated.

‘…or maybe…’

‘Local interschool “ball” thing’ Blossom answered disparagingly. ‘Ultimately there are a vast array of better ways to spend an evening; watching paint dry for example.’

‘…or perhaps…’

‘Belle you always get like this, and how often has it ended at all well?’ The hazel unicorn’s interjection surprisingly broke in quite roughly, yet nonetheless there was an extra degree of emotion just audible within it.

Coquette however remained deaf to this, immediately reacting to her critic. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Well, it’s just that you’re bad for chasing guys at the best of times, and Hearts and Hooves just seems to bring it out worse. Your track record for picking them could hardly be described as all that good…’

*Crackle* ‘At the beginning of fourth period could all students please assemble in the Braeburn Memorial Hall for a special announcement. Thank you.’ *Crackle*

The three of them, and most others besides in various stages of their lunches, paused as the announcement boomed metallically from the speakers, collective shrugs rising from most in the briefly succeeding quiet.

---

Triumphal music played, thundering, orchestral and full of horns, whilst a countdown of tall black numbers filled the screen. At the inevitable strike of zero a sudden explosion sharply engulfed all other sound, all images whited out in a burning flash. Through this blind light the steel trunk of a gun barrel gradually emerged, smoke rising from its single dark nostril like warm breath in freezing air.

‘The tank’ a gruff mare’s tones announced, giving age to their invisible speaker and a voiceover to the black and white film as it continued.

The camera meanwhile panned out, revealing the rest of the hulking monstrosity which its primary weapon was attached to, the still hissing cannon placed head-like in a turret atop the rest of the beast. Beneath, its body was essentially an armoured box with caterpillar treads; its steely faces all flat save for its sloping front, sprouting a second larger gun on a swivel casement in its right side.1

‘The tank’ the announcer repeated, ‘the wonder weapon which played no small part in winning us the Crystal War, birthed from the boiling cauldron of modernity by some of the greatest minds in Equestria. Through their strength we were granted joy, their adamantine hulls a stalwart protector to our valiant soldiers, their devastating arms brushing aside our aggressors, gifting us this new age of much missed peace.’

As the speaker completed her address the screen’s scene shifted further, taking flight to bring into sight a rolling field filled with matching war machines, the imperial capital just visible twinkling on a distant mountainside. In one movement hatches opened all over each of the vehicles, letting through them a multitude of uniformed young mares, together grinning and saluting to the camera in unison.

‘The tank is therefore a symbol of our empire; our strength and our determined bravery, a symbol which now passes to you to be its keeper.’

The picture of happily assembled ranks faded, becoming three silhouetted ponies: an earth mare, a unicorn, and a pegasus, flanks emblazoned with a trio of apples, diamonds, and butterflies respectively.

‘In learning the noble art of tanking and its three styles you will gain a plethora of transferable skills.’

A hilly rise filled the screen, over which a row of tanks rolled as a unit, visibly making both the earth and camera shake at their approach.

‘Teamwork…’

The lens then refocused, superimposing the central machine’s turret and the mare poking out from it, a set of binoculars glued to her face. These she lowered, throwing a forehoof decisively forward and yelling a muted warcry.

‘…leadership…’

In a jump cut the screen became a room adorned with battle plans, a central table lit by a single shaded bulb and ringed by focused looking ponies. The effect was like they were in some kind of bunker. Eyes set definitively downward, they moved differently shaped counters about an unfurled map in front of them.

‘…strategy…’

Through another fade the room was dissolved, morphing into a busy garage, its background a mix of tanks in the midst of repair and refit. In the foreground meanwhile one mare organised the chaos, clipboard in hoof marshalling the confusion.

‘…problem solving…’

The lens again drew in to focus further on a single point, this time alighting on a machine whose engine cover had been stripped back, leaving exposed its mechanical and alchemical guts. A grease caked unicorn popped up from the cramped cavity, drawn in a satisfied aspect as she levitated a cracked glass tube filled with sparkling fluid in her magic.

‘…and a variety of technical skills besides. But that’s not all, tanking offers a great many even sweeter fruits besides: friendship, camaraderie, the respect and affections of your fellow citizens…’

The rows of tanks made a return, this time moving steadily in double file, their pilots waving and smiling as they passed through ecstatic crowds.

‘…the chance to grow your inner strength and confidence, to be the mare that everypony wants to be and know, and to become the embodiment of the martial spirit which has guided and protected us.’

In a final scene a quintet of tanks appeared, at full speed vaulting a gully with all guns blazing, in obvious pursuit of those off screen.

‘So come on mares, sign up to your local club today and become a part of the exciting and exhilarating world of the tank!’

The film concluded, ending with the written words ‘A Ministry of Education production’, placed beneath the organisation’s logo: a pair of six pointed stars, set one beneath the other with a crossed scroll and quill beneath.

---

Dawn “awoke” in a word, one in a great many seated in the ranks overfilling the sports hall turned movie theatre. The screen extended over the far wall crackled with lights as the projector somewhere opposite reached the end of its loaded spool. In this flickering illumination she could catch sight of her companions either side of her, both Coquette and Blossom caught in a stared silence. There were others in the crowd who equally shared her friends’ awed looks. One of these was a caramel toned earth mare, her blonde mane not short but functional, pulled literally to the edge of her seat by what she watched. Many more however were unmoved, wearing bored expressions, with a minority within them looking openly aggravated, from whom phrases like ‘the system foisting its militarism on us’ were just audibly muttered.

The lights came up far too abruptly, forcing all to blink away the invading brightness and prompting a fair few complaining groans. In her returning vision Dawn found that the five figures of the school council had moved to take the stage, one vibrant orange with a strait bun of hair standing out central.

‘It has been decided to reinstate AIA’s tank program’ the unknown council member began. ‘The option will therefore be available to you later this week when you come to choosing your module credits. As the martial art covers a variety of areas it will be unrestricted, its credits applicable to any area of your end of year scores you’d prefer them allotted to, be they artistic, sporting, technical or vocational.’

A fresh wave of intrigued murmurs ran about the audience.

‘No more sodding languages!’

‘Different, definitely different.’

Allowing the pause the mare at the front then continued. ‘I should also mention that as essentially a new module all credits achieved within it will count double, as a fitting reward for those who take the plunge.’

This last part developed previous whispers into an explosion, some elated, whilst others called out foul and unfairness.

Dawn looked between her two variously enraptured friends, both frozen in thought, but with the corners of their mouths visibly turned up.

Well it’d certainly be some thing new…

Suche

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The sun above had become a harsh overseer, hot gaze focused crushingly downward, risen past the point of noon but yet to truly start its commute back below the horizon. A scattered number stood beneath its fiery iris, most instinctively huddled with those alike, conversations left light, artificially fatigued by the overbearing heat. In a tired boredom they waited, without any hint of cover on a dusty driveway, set before the closed front of a large garage.

‘What’s taking them so long?’ Coquette emphasised her exasperated question with an exaggerated flounce, falling as if swooning against Blossom’s side, the taller unicorn despite the heat just shrugging without attempting to throw off the other mare.

Dawn likewise gave a lazy shrug, baked beyond being up to much more.

‘Even Little Miss Doom and Gloom is already here’ the golden earth mare continued, throwing out a theatrical forehoof to point at Rook, accompanied by a sextet of her followers, Helix unsurprisingly included. ‘You’d think they could at least have the decency to be on time for the first lesson!’

Dawn just shrugged again, resisting the urge to let her eyes follow the gesture, having already decided on its target’s arrival to resist the urge to look her way, not risking a repeat of previous awkwardness.

‘Buck you!’ The angrily shouted exclamation broke in, all heads spinning about in response. ‘We both know that I’d just run rings around you and then blow you outta the water!’

‘I doubt it would be that easy for you to land a shot; you’d be too busy eating my dust!’

‘Buck you!’ The voice repeated, joined by one slightly more nasal in kind, both yelled from high above by a pair of duelling pegasus.

‘Prove it then!’ Lens Flare challenged, jostling her enemy mid-air to emphasise her point.

Split Second made immediate reply, thumping the other roughly in the shoulder. ‘Fine, I will!’ With that both touched down at the centre of their audience, itself waiting on an arrival other than theirs, instantly joined by a unicorn (dark cyan) and an earth mare (burnished silver) who had been trailing their flight.

‘If you’ve quite finished…’

Everypony’s head spun back on reverse, discovering two new figures stood before the garage doors, one Dice Bag and the other the council president, whose name Dawn was still yet to find out.

‘Thank you’ the strict-maned unknown continued in the fallen silence. ‘So this is our new tank squad then? I can’t help but say that I’m a little surprised that some of you are interested…’

‘Ruby Necklace, Blue Diamond, Onyx Gem, Crystal Facet and Gleaming Jewel’ Coquette whispered in a rushed list at Dawn’s ear, helpfully if a tad creepily naming all those under the president’s gaze.

‘…and not so much by others, we did after all offer a substantial credit incentive for participation.’ In speaking her eyes made a switch to Rook’s crowd, Helix firing back a murderous scowl, whilst their chief instead made a sweetened smile. ‘Anyway, to business: first and foremost as we lack suitable specialists it has been decided that this class will be student led…’

‘What?! How’s that supposed to work?’ Somehow freakishly both Natalies managed to cry out their question in perfect time, the pair fronting a trio representing the geeky crowd. ‘None of us have done this before!’

‘It is for exactly that reason that the module was approved for double accreditation, individually and collectively entailing a higher degree of responsibility’ the president responded dryly, now faced by a sea of unsure and/or grimacing looks. ‘We have however acquired a number of educational materials for you to use, and at the same time many of you already possess some of the necessary skills, judging from your records that is. Also, Dice will be joining you as council rep, so you can bring all your questions to her.’

The teal unicorn looked far from happy about this statement, but made a nod.

‘Mechanically speaking meanwhile, the engineering department have agreed to give you all the help they can, having already let you use their old repair shed by the way, and for anything else we’re looking to develop some links with their counterparts in RCA.’

This received a chorus of excited whispers, not least of all springing from a suddenly attentive Coquette.

‘Are there any questions at this point?’

‘What’ll we be driving?’ a little voice asked from somewhere at the back of the assembly, tone twanging with a slight local flare.

Before Dawn could locate the speaker though, the president made a show of side-stepping, in answer nodding to her counterpart. ‘Dice, if you please.’

At the push of a button the heavy wooden door was put into motion, creaking a little as it rolled out of the way. Freed, the sun charged into the opened space, painting light amongst disused dust, rushing over a row of inspection bays to land on a single prominent shape. Hulking and powerful the machine stood above its surroundings, the dark grey of its tracks almost black whilst the rest of it was decked in a threatening coat of matte steel. Its prow sloped to a sharp point, jutting between its treads, mimicked in the slants and curves of its turret, its cannon sticking prominently from its front.

‘A Leopard Five’ the quietened voice again spoke up in an awed whisper.1

‘The Panther’ the president proudly beamed, ‘top of the line main battle tank. Enjoy!’

Dawn found herself drawn into the relative shade of the garage, but like those she accompanied the pull was more one of intrigue than a more basal want of cooler air. The war machine had a kind of magnetism in a way, rough and rugged, raw and powerful, but also in difference to its kin on the preceding film it bore a strange kind of delicacy. Its wheels for example enmeshed like the complex inner workings of a clock. No mere mobile box, its smooth contours flowed, although not quite seamlessly, therefore giving it an edge.

‘No secondary port, so this is probably an early version.’

This time Dawn succeeded in locating the timid voice’s owner, her expression in this case musing just above inaudible. Like herself mere moments before the face she found was focused solely on the vehicle, inspecting the hull of its armoured form, a caramel forehoof extended almost dreamily to touch its left track guard.

Okay, I guess somepony really likes the tank.

The new earth mare noticed that she was being watched, awed gazing instantly turning startled before she hid behind the blonde strands of her mane, worn loose but practical about her head. She further shied away, to Dawn’s further discomfort, putting the rest of the machine between the embarrassed two of them.

Great! You’ve really got to stop doing that you know.

‘Hang on isn’t that part supposed to be like attached to the rest of it?’

‘Erm, yeah…’ The president’s beaming expression took a knock as the one identified as Gleaming Jewel pointed to the Panther’s right side, highlighting a second tread hanging uninspiringly off its wheels. ‘Due to budget restrictions we had to source it second hoof, so it needs a bit of TLC to get it going. The engine’s in a bit of a state too…’

Aggravated huffs made their way around the groups, along with a few expressions of ‘typical’ and other less savoury terms.

‘More important question: where are the rest?’ Rook asked, tones just skirting above unimpressed. ‘One tank is hardly a team and I doubt that we could all fit in it anyway.’

These words broke the last few scraps of the council chief’s pride, sighing: ‘that’s your first task. A while ago the school did mess around with the idea of hosting a team. Although it never really did come to anything as far as we can figure there should still be some other tanks knocking about on campus.’

‘Why would they still be here?’ Helix added in.

‘We’ve got no record of them having been removed…’

‘Okay, so where are they then?’

‘We’re not exactly sure, but…’

‘So, in short: you’ve got no idea of what we may or may not have, or where we might find any of it’ Rook concluded.

‘Erm… yeah…’

More groans, objections and expletives rose up from various sections.

‘Anyway, I suggest you divide up into groups and get looking. This could also be an opportunity to get to know your teammates’ the president suggested, watching everypony stick like glue in their already decided crowd. ‘Or not. At any rate I’ve got to be going now, so address all questions to Dice and good luck!’

---

‘We’re playing hide and seek with a bunch of potentially non-existent military grade armoured vehicles. Is that seriously what’s going on here?’ Coquette questioned, irritation more than evident, written loud in both her words and features. ‘I can’t tell whether that’s insane or just stupid!’

‘Sure looks that way’ Blossom confirmed, ‘though if they really exist it really can’t be that hard to find them, can it?’

‘The fact that I haven’t seen any before in all our time here doesn’t exactly fill me with hope.’

‘True, if the rest are anything like that monster they’d be pretty hard to miss.’

The trio remained in the Panther’s shadow, all others having begrudgingly departed on their own initiative in varying degrees of exasperation.

‘Looking on the bright side though, if anypony’s going to find a tank it’s gonna be us’ the hazel unicorn added, ‘we’ve after all got the edge of a fresh set of eyes which may catch what the rest of us would miss.’

‘Thanks.’ Dawn matched her friend’s smile, hoping she mimicked some amount of its warmth. ‘Where should we start then?’

‘Hey Toff!’ Both unicorn and cream earth mare left their joint look to follow the never quiet Coquette’s call and waving, finding that they were in fact not as alone as they had thought in the shed.

‘Erm… hi Belle’ replied one caramel and blonde, head just visible from her hiding place behind the tank.

‘You wanna come search with us?’ Coquette continued, bubbliness unquenchable.

‘Erm… sure.’ She stepped out a little gingerly, finally approaching almost on the tips of her hooves.

‘Great! Toffee Apple, meet Dawn Melody, Dawn Melody Toffee Apple.’

‘I told you she knew everypony here’ Blossom whispered in Dawn’s ear. ‘I overheard that you might know a little about what we’re supposed to be finding’ she moved on, addressing the newest member of their party with a questioning inflection.

‘A little.’

‘Great!’ the hazel unicorn mirrored her shorter predecessor. ‘Well now if we can’t find a tank there obviously never were any to be found to begin with.’

---

‘Remind me again exactly why we’re all the way out here?’

Coquette’s question seemed like a most valid one as the group slipped and scrabbled their way to the bottom of a particularly steep gully, almost losing their hoofing with every step taken.

‘Everypony else had the campus covered, plus any previous teams or proto-teams must’ve practiced on the outskirts in order to have enough space’ Blossom answered coolly, defying the annoyance which the repetitious question might have aroused. ‘Add to that the fact that not many of the roads which would connect the two are big enough to fit tanks down them and we end up here.’

‘All fine, but why exactly are we checking this dried riverbed from Tartarus that we can barely scale, let alone some multi-tonne behemoth we’re supposed to be hunting?’

‘For the hundredth time, everything outside of this pit is just flat dunes, if there was a tank up there, abandoned, burnt out or otherwise, we’d have seen it. Again in addition, Toffee made the good point that the void above us is pretty much just an extended kill zone. Nopony in their right mind would attempt to cross it in combat.’

‘Makes sense, kind of, but wouldn’t this be the same problem in reverse, I mean with nowhere to turn and still looked down on?’

‘Erm… cue Toffee.’

‘True enough’ the caramel mare stated, factuality set against her rural southern Equestrian accent, ‘but a commander cannot be trapped by a book of conduct in battle, rather a good gut instinct is far more vital.2 The three styles all have a basis in that concept. We don’t know, this may’ve been their only option, they could’ve played on acting unexpectedly, or they could’ve of course fallen in somehow.’

They all touched down at the base of their climb, Dawn at the very least surprised by the quiet speaker’s capacity to be so vocal on this particular subject. Taking a brief respite following the ordeal of their dissent, they took in the rough walled chasm they found themselves in, having travelled deep beneath the varying layers of strata which ran in ribbons across its red baked sides. A bit, tossed and caught by Blossom’s magic, then went to deciding their path onward and they set forth.

---

‘How the hay did that thing end up down here?’

‘Erm… cue Toffee?’

‘I have absolutely no idea.’

‘Sweet Celestia, it’s huge!’

Again Coquette’s question (along with its empty answers and followed excited appraisal) was entirely legitimate, faced now as they were with a quite literal behemoth of metal, lightly rusting about its edges. Atop a squat chassis, flanked either side by broad treads, an angular forecastle rose, fronted by a steep slope.

‘True enough’ Dawn agreed. ‘Not to sound thick though, but where’s its turret?’

‘Yeah’ Blossom mused aloud, ‘that was about to be my question.’

As opposed to having a turret the vehicle more had the shape of a bunker on tracked wheels. Two thirds of its length was covered by this armoured structure, front angle matched by lighter sloped sides to make it look like a flat topped pyramid, except that its rear face stood straight vertically as a flat plate. In contrast to the earlier almost smooth flow of the Panther, this beast’s lines were more angular, brutal although clean, a roughness added to by rivets running the length of its seams. In a way more obvious than these differences however was its weapon, an immobile barrel extending a greater length than past experience and having more than twice the diameter in its bore.

‘It’s kind of pretty in a weird way.’

‘Okay, sounding a bit crazy now Bloss’ Coquette scoffed. ‘It’s impressive yes, massive yes, but “pretty”? Hay no, just look at it!’

‘Sure it needs some work, yet beneath that you can see its true aspect. It’s almost got a sculptural look, straight lines almost made fluid, but not quite, left hard and basic. Nothing fancy, no frills, no disguise, it just is. Anyway’ Blossom broke off her staring, aware of the askance look at least two others were giving her, ‘do we know what exactly it is?’

‘A H-type ER-152…’ Toffee murmured, returned to her previous mode when presented with the Panther.3

‘A what?’

‘…equipped with a 152 millimetre gun howitzer and…’

‘Equis to Toff, come in Toff’ Coquette tried again, kicking the vehicle with a resounding clang in an attempt to break the other mare’s trance. ‘What is it? Preferably in something akin to what the rest of us can understand.’

‘It’s a Rhino 152, hunting type…’

‘And that’s a good tank?’

‘It’s not a tank!’ Toffee wheeled about, stood protectively before the war machine that more than dwarfed her, having already winced as it was truck. ‘It’s a combined tank hunter, assault gun and self-propelled artillery piece, more than excelling in all those rolls, more than a match for more specialised vehicles!’ The caramel toned mare instantly went from defensive to embarrassed, reading her own uncharacteristic outburst in her audience’s expressions. ‘Oh… erm… sorry about that… yeah it’s a good one…’ She shyly returned her gaze to the Rhino.

‘Wow’ Blossom mouthed, continuing in a just audible whisper to Coquette: ‘did you know that she was so into this stuff?’

‘Not a clue. I know her through home economics and agricultural studies, in both of which she was pretty much just the quiet as a mouse farm filly in the corner.’

Dawn meanwhile took a few more steps forward, coming to Toffee’s side, still very much taking in the vehicle. At the same time though, she recognised the self-conscious hue on the other mare’s cheeks. ‘So it’s a Rhino 152 then?’ she encouraged gently.

‘Erm… yeah, one of the Rhino series’ Toffee answered more gingerly than previous.

‘And if it’s not technically a tank is it still okay for us to use?’

‘Yeah, forget about what I said, the difference is just technical, everpony usually just calls it a tank and it’s fine within the rules.’ She ran a forehoof awkwardly through the strands of her mane. ‘Sorry, it’s just sorta one of my favs.’

‘All cool.’ Blossom and Coquette likewise came to Toffee’s other side. ‘Now, more importantly let’s figure how on Equis we’re going to get it outta here.’

Mannschaften

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‘It was a long time ago now, we were visiting the family up North, bored to tears as per usual, so me and a couple of my cousins snuck off. Somehow in our wandering we ended up in the local tank grounds and, with nothing better to do, chose to stick around. That was the first match I ever saw, not a particularly good one mind you; it was an exhibition match game between Hollow Shades and Tall Tale, so kind of a walkover, but after that I was hooked.’ Toffee grinned to herself in her retelling, caught up in recollection, set in a row with two other earth mares on the back of the vehicle they had found the day before. It had taken quite some effort to extricate the mammoth machine from its premature grave (involving a recovery crane, a toe tractor and several unicorns worth of magic besides), but the Rhino was now safely rehoused in the garage, watched over by the taller if lighter framed Panther.

‘I had no idea!’ Coquette exclaimed with genuine shock, ‘it seems so… I dunno, unlike you.’

‘Exactly. I’m a local and a home student’ Toffee explained to the third of their number. ‘So if I’m not here, I tend to be stuck helping out on the farm. Suffice to say as a massive understatement that farming’s not really my thing, whatever expectations might dictate. I guess I like tanks just because they’re so different from all that, so different from what everypony expects. I did a few of my written course assignments on the tech and the sport last year actually.’

Dawn nodded, at the same time absently flicking through the last few pages of the driver’s manual in front of her. Similarly skim read, a collection of semi-antiquated textbooks were set aside in a pile, together at least providing some kind of guide to their subject matter.

The trio were seated at the back of the ER-152, leant up against the rear face of the armoured structure at its front. Before them meanwhile the war machine’s engine cover at its stern was drawn open, revealing its jumbled mechanical innards, from which the sounds of busy tools were clearly audible. These collectively came to a halt and half of Blossom appeared at the aperture, levitating with her a host of unfathomable devices. ‘That should about do it’ she declared, her magic drawing a rag across her aspect, moving to wipe away the oil and muck which it had accumulated during her labours.

‘Really?’ Toffee leapt to her hooves in asking, sheer excitement more than clear. ‘So it’ll work?’

‘I’ve drained the cells, so they’ll need refilling, and the plugs also need replacing, but in theory yes’ the unicorn ventured. ‘It was made to last, with reliability in mind. That only goes for the engine though, the gun and everything else is another story I’ve yet to look at, plus all that stuff will likely be new to me so no promises. If the armour is going to stand up to anything meanwhile the hull’s going to need some major metal work done too. At the very least though it should run though, I think.’

‘Yes!’ With her happy exclamation the farm mare skipped up and down on the spot, unable to contain herself, before remembering her now amused audience and shrinking back. ‘Oh… I mean nice one.’

‘Thanks.’

‘I told you there’s nothing that mare can’t do’ Coquette whispered to Dawn in the midst of the other’s celebrations. ‘She’s quite literally amazing in her own quiet way, although it generally goes without the notice it deserves. You missed a spot Bloss’ she changed track, getting up and taking the rag still floating in the hazel unicorn’s magic, moving further to catch the last few stray spatters on the tip of her target’s nose.

Blossom’s reaction to this was mixed, neither retreating nor obviously wholly comfortable as the pair’s eyes came together for a prolonged moment. Into this several aged engines intruded, startling them apart, their guttural voices filling the eaves of the garage as the recovery tractor trundled in, dragging with it a full trailer.

---

‘Okay Toff, what we got?’ Dice prompted, singling out one from their reconvened number, collectively stood before a new rank of varied machines.

For her part Toffee quite clearly did not appreciate her new found position as go to savant. She therefore shrunk back in the face of the swarm of eyes which homed in her way. ‘Erm…’ she began uninspiringly, shuffling where she stood.

Come on, you more than anypony know how that feels.

Internally Dawn agreed, bringing a smile to her features along with an encouraging nod, succeeding in coaxing a little reply in kind from the struggling caramel earth mare.

‘The little one is a Type-7 Tornado, or PT-7, a light reconnaissance tank.’1 Bolstered, the farm mare pointed to the least of their discoveries.

Compared to the rest it truly was “light”, lacking in all ways the scale of its kin. Upon a small angular hull sat an equally cramped and boxy turret, all studded by rivets at their edges. Likewise in contrast to the huge cannons of the others in the line-up its looked more like a peashooter, only stretching beyond the prow in length because the turret sat quite far forward. The treads beneath it meanwhile rose higher at its front, giving the machine the look of riding a wave.

‘Doesn’t look like much.’

‘It’s true that it’s not got much armour and it’s weapon doesn’t really cut it anymore against other tanks’ Toffee continued, more in her stride, picking up the unimpressed voice’s argument. ‘In speed though, that’s where it excels. The other’s a “Little Lion”, more correctly a Cheetah Three or EC-3, a medium tank kind of in the weight gap between the PC-7 and UP-1.’2 She gestured from the Panther to the last of the four machines: a weird mix of the angular and the curvaceous.

The last tank’s tracks stuck out a bit further than most from its hull which did not run their full length, looking therefore more like a squarish axle between the protruding pair. Similarly in difference not one but two guns were set in its turret, an extended diamond shape with all pointed sides.

‘All in all we’ve got an interesting spread, if we can figure out who gets what…’

‘Dibs on the Tornado Type… the fastest one’ Lens Flare called out, as spokespony for sports.

‘We’ll take the one we found’ Ruby Necklace equally followed, laying a claim to the Little Lion.

‘Hold it!’ Dice held up a forehoof, trying to call but a semblance of order before full anarchy broke loose. ‘We don’t even know how many each will take to operate.’ She again looked expectantly towards one source of information.

‘Little Lion takes five, so that’ll work as is, and so does the Panther. The Rhino meanwhile has a crew of four and the Tornado’s is only three’ Toffee listed off.

The council rep nodded. ‘We’ll take the Rhino then’ she stated, receiving affirmation from the fellow nerds at her back and annoyed huffs from elsewhere. ‘Decide the rest amongst yourselves.’

Chaos ensued, all present making a mad dash for a vehicle. Three of the quartet were however ostensibly already decided, leaving only the Panther left to be fought over, in front of which two opposing groups appeared. Dawn without realising it found herself as part of the smaller of these, facing down the forms of Rook and co. Neither side backed off, although it seemed inevitable who would win out in the standoff.

‘It’s cool, it’s all yours.’ Taking everypony off guard, the navy-maned rebel leader spoke her surprising words directly to the pale cream centre of her adversaries. ‘There’s too many of us anyway.’

‘What!?’ Helix was the first meanwhile to vocalise a disbelieving complaint in response. ‘What the hay gives?’

‘Cool it Hel.’ Rook turned her calm words to her second, but kept her face straight ahead. ‘We’ll get the credits either way, plus: “tout donner, tout sacrifier sans espoir de retour”.’3

‘What?’ the pink-maned partner repeated, with the addition of two raised eyebrows, whilst beyond her only Blossom seemed to understand the leader’s words, breaking into a small grin. ‘You serious?’

‘Perfectly’ Rook confirmed. ‘We’ll practice with one of the tractors for now.’ With that she turned, taking her cohort with her, giving Dawn a parting smile.

‘Result!’ Coquette celebrated, raising a forehoof to bump with Toffee’s as they approached the tank, whilst the other half of their party lagged behind.

‘Did I miss something?’ Dawn sent her question quietly to the unicorn on her left, a little confused. ‘What did she mean by… whatever that meant?’

Blossom took a turn in raising an eyebrow. ‘It’s a quote from a play, a weird choice actually, although it is Rook we’re talking about. She’s got quite the preference for the obscure, the unclear, and the overly serious on occasion. Even without knowing that though her meaning was pretty clear. She…’

‘Fine! Buck you too then!’ Although still a sudden interruption the tone of the shouted words and their vulgarity were becoming almost familiar from the rose pegasus which yelled them. ‘It’s your loss!’

Drawn to the noise like most others, Dawn caught the end of whatever had happened, finding an angry Split Second storming in heavy strides their way.

‘You lot have got a space with you right?’ the disgruntled pegasus asked roughly, sending a passing glower back over her shoulder at the sneering opposition of Lens Flare. ‘Am I cool to join up with you guys since the second-raters are closing ranks?’

‘Sure thing!’ Coquette called out, cutting in on any reply the pair actually asked may have had. ‘Toff says we need another pair of hooves to be “combat effective” anyway. Welcome aboard!’

---

‘So we got a plan then?’

A few minutes later a quintet of blank expressions answered Split’s question, the five of them now stood on their tank’s hull, around its turret like a table. In the background the other groups were in a similar state, all without much more than a rudimentary clue, debating their course.

‘Sorry to rely on you so much Toff’ Blossom started in the quiet, ‘but you really are the expert out of all of us when it comes to this. What positions have we got to fill?’

‘We’ve got driver and communications in the hull’ Toffee answered with a tap of her hoof on the armoured surface, ‘and in the turret cos we’ve got five we can have a gunner, a loader and a commander.’

‘Well that’s gotta be you then.’ Coquette was definitive with the support of other nods. ‘Like Bloss says, you know what we’re supposed to be doing so you’ve got to be the boss.’

‘Hay no!’ The caramel earth mare was however far less enamoured with the idea, immediately shaking her head to that effect. ‘I really don’t want to be in charge, I’ll help whoever is but please not me. If you’re all fine with it I’d much rather drive; I’ve plenty of experience on the farm’s tractors and the principles are the same.’

They went quiet again, nodding acceptingly but muted without a concept of where to go from there.

‘I read the manual’ Dawn gingerly put forward, ‘and it suggested that unicorns made the best loaders because the gun’s mechanism is easier to work with the help of magic. There was also something about pegasus as gunners, something to do with natural sensitivity from judging air currents.’

‘Cool!’

‘Works for me.’

Split and Blossom both affirmed with nods, helping Dawn to tentatively continue. ‘I don’t think I’m really good enough to be on comms, so would you mind taking that role Belle since you know everypony and are great with knowing what to say?’

‘Will do.’

‘Are you sure?’ the tallest unicorn queried, always the most aware, ‘I mean are you cool to be in command? You shouldn’t feel like you have to be if you don’t want to.’

‘I’ll give it a go’ Dawn reassured, though in truth it was more for herself than her friend. ‘I really dunno where I’ll fit into this to be honest, but if you all have stuff that’ll work then I’ll fit in where I can.’

Geschichtsunterricht

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It all started with the return of King Sombra, an event for which Equestria was entirely unprepared, most scholars having reassuringly agreed that his banishment was permanent. Nonetheless the dark lord did indeed return, by his magic quickly reconquering his lost kingdom in the Frozen North, equally reappeared with him. Having sworn vengeance against our solar sovereigns who had imprisoned him, he then immediately turned all the resources of his Crystal Empire towards war, converting most of those under his power into soldiers and binding them directly to his will.

To call Equestria unprepared for this turn of events meanwhile would be the greatest of understatements. We had been at peace for centuries, sullied by nought but the occasional internal conflict, all quickly resolved. Even before this, war had been far flung from our present ideas: something fought far off on the borders, impacting only on the gleaming ranks of the Solar Guard or else fought by lone heroes. Mostly therefore our available forces as Sombra made his initial moves, first taking the form of probing skirmishes, were more honour guards and walking trappings of tradition than actual warriors.

For these lapses we reaped only bloody defeat, such as…

…Gradually however we learned what it was to wage total war. Bound together, as one loyal to the princesses which guide us, all roused themselves to that effect. If not a soldier then a supporter, a medic, a farmer or some other form of producer, all combatants on the ground or in material and in martial spirit. Modernisation followed, industrialising and mechanising, necessarily taking up the slack left by the absences of those at the front. More of everything was required and this grave need birthed even greater inventions to fill the void. Key examples of this include the alchemical combustion engine, the…

…The war meanwhile became one of attrition, both sides evenly matched in their will to succeed, the forces they could deploy and the material they could bring to bear against their enemies. Small victories and small defeats, all underpinned by vast losses, were the result. The situation in the heartlands of Equestria was not much better, equally beset by scarcity, whilst overwork and hardship reigned in the constant race not to fall behind. It would be here as opposed to on the frontlines that the leap forward to change the tide would be made, even more surprisingly coming out of the little barely-a-town of Ponyville.

It is now that the story switches to microcosm, becoming one of just three mares, one representing each of our empire’s united races. The first of these was Applejack (a distant relation by familial legend, but the Apple family is so vast that this is somewhat hard to substantiate): a simple earth mare working on her family farm, ever trying to increase its output whilst other members of her clan were in the service. The second of these was Fluttershy: by all accounts a quiet pegasus (making her involvement in the origins of the tank most legendary) and member of the medical corps, running a recuperation clinic in the town. Finally the third was Rarity: unicorn, boutique owner and seamstress who gave up all she had, turning to making uniforms and combat webbing for the troops. This trio, barely aware of one another, sharing only really the same hometown, would be the originators of the tank; the weapon which would win the war.

How these three came to meet is largely a subject of legend, lost to reliable history, but nonetheless when they did they united around a single purpose: not as lofty as ending the conflict, but having seen its results they wanted to stem at least a little bit of the bloodshed. This simple concept solidified as armour, going far beyond the archaic suits in use by our forces. Motorisation followed, necessitated by weight, taking as its base the basic agricultural tractor. Thus the tank was born, seeing its first use in the defence of Stalliongrad as little more than modified farm machinery, later truly militarised through the addition of modern weaponry. (As a side note: the name tank is supposed to have originated later when Imperial Air Marshall Dash compared the original slow moving and heavily armoured vehicles to her favoured pet).

After the machine’s united inception however, its three creators would diverge down different paths, differing in what they saw as being the tank’s purpose and therefore how it should be tactically employed, such considerations in turn affecting design. These debates continued when Sombrite forces began to employ similar devices, marking the advent of true tank warfare. The ideas of the three founders would lay the foundations of the three styles of their new martial art: earth, air, and magic. These would likewise spawn a myriad of variations in tank construction, often specialised towards a particular style. This can be discerned from a tank’s designation…

…Following the Crystal War our solar sovereigns would usher in further changes to the Empire, with the aim of consolidating those created by the conflict and safeguarding Equestria’s future. Whilst Princess Cadance would be elevated to command over the annexed Crystal Territories, Princess Luna would take on a greater number of internal responsibilities, starting with an overhaul of the nation’s education system. Rather than continuing to rely on the ad hoc and antiquated system of localised private and public schools, the Princess of the Night would create a framework of interconnected institutions. Within these a standardised structure of accreditation and a more than varied curriculum were formulated in order to be a more effective counterpart to cutie marks, facilitating the flourishing of future generations. Central in these policies was and is the Ministry of Education, first led by…

…It is at this point that these two seemingly disparate stories converge. Following the conclusion of the war a vast quantity of military material which had been produced remained unused, not least of all in the form of scores of fighting vehicles, rapidly made obsolete by continued technological development. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Education and facilitated by these surplus units, tanking would be rejuvenated as a national sport, taking military practice and war-gaming rules as its basis. Although niche this proved popular, with central government funding helping even the smallest academies to host their own teams…

---

Dawn stretched out where she sprawled, a wide yawn filling her face, briefly sitting up straight before slumping back into her cocoon of pillows. The windows to her little room all stood closed, veiled by blinds, leaving the world shadowed except for the cosy illumination of a bedside lamp. Despite all this comfort sleep had not been forthcoming, but now finally her eyelids felt heavy.

‘That’s enough of a history lesson, for tonight at least’ she whispered to herself, pushing aside the folder whose contents she had been reading: a thick tome ironically entitled From martial art to national sport: a brief history of the tank by Toffee Apple. Through another broader yawn she made a mental note to thank the author of the coursework, at the same time reaching out a forehoof to flick off the light. This action however reminded her weary frame of its various aches and bruises, the inevitable result of three hours of straight practice. She curled back up in response, pulling her covers in tighter about her. ‘We’ve got a long way to go, but it was at least a good start, so long as I don’t let the side down.’ Weirdly what pains she had were less than secondary; almost in fact seeming to be a good thing, their presence somehow feeling like an achievement as she drifted off into much needed sleep.

Ein Erster Versuch

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*Boom!*

In the distance a plume of blackened dust leapt into the air, quickly alighting on the passing breeze, thrown up as a fired shell impacted roughly against a raised slope. Others followed in quick succession to their own rhythm, similarly tossing their own matching clouds into the dry ether. Before the hillock however, a row of targets remained entirely unscathed by these efforts, remaining defiantly at attention.

‘I think you’re still a couple of degrees too high off the mark. Try…’

‘Yeah yeah, I got it.’

*Boom!*

The Panther’s cannon roared, the resultant shockwave rolling through its interior and occupants in turn, meanwhile its recoil made the whole vehicle in all its magnitude bounce on its springs. The results however remained the same, a new earthy splash rising up through the first before it had the chance to truly dissipate.

‘Buck yeah!’ In the left side of the war machine’s turret Split fell back into her gunner’s seat, a heady almost intoxicated grin etched on her face. ‘That’s so bucking awesome!’ she more breathed out in a sigh than truly spoke.

‘You missed, again, for the hundredth or so time.’ Blossom, set in the other side of the turret, was far more down to earth, leaning across the weapon which divided the two of them to take her own peak through its scope. ‘You’re still a tad off; in fact did you even change the elevation at all before you shot again?’

‘Maybe, maybe not, I can’t remember’ the pegasus answered with a flippant shrug, still very much more revelling in the afterglow of her efforts rather than actually listening. ‘Go on, load another and I’ll give it another go.’

‘No way, not happening.’

‘What why?! The hazel unicorn’s short negative words had much greater success in garnering a response, one of immediacy in a hard done by tone. ‘Come on, I was so close that time!’

‘“Close” doesn’t come near to cutting it. We’re not even at our maximum range yet, right Toff?’

‘Yep’ Toffee confirmed, set deeper in the hull in front of the firer’s side of the turret, not necessarily enjoying being called upon to take a side.

‘Right, plus we should be able to fire on the move?’

‘Also yep, if we can get good enough.’

‘Right’ Blossom concluded bluntly. ‘So either you pull your hoof out and put in a little more effort or I’m not loading a single shell more.’

‘Oh come on!’ Split’s voice rose out of pitch, indignantly decrying the injustice. ‘It’s only my third time in a bloody tank, let alone operating the main armament, or any kind of gun for that matter, so how about cutting me a bit of slack here! I deserve a freaking medal for how close I can land ‘em already!’

‘Bloss is kinda right you know’ Coquette broke in from the opposite side of the hull to her fellow earth mare. ‘There’s a limit to our ammo capacity so every shell has to count for something.’

‘Of course you’d take her side; of course everypony would take her side! What about me hmmm? This isn’t easy you know. All you’ve got to do is work the breach and load the ordinance, with the help of magic I might add! Not exactly the most taxing of jobs!’

From her seat above all this at the top of the tank, Dawn watched what was swiftly developing into an actual argument. Truth be told it was not really that surprising, they had after all been rumbling around the school’s fields for the past few hours. They all therefore ached (as yet unused to off-road travel), were tired and were hungry, awaiting the break of a much needed lunch. The bigger shock therefore was rather that this was the first case of such fractiousness to surface. ‘Erm… Split?’

‘What?!’ The pink pegasus whirled round, her glare however faltering as her eyes looked upward to meet the cream earth mare’s, a pause which visibly caught all others present by surprise. ‘Oh, sorry newbie, what’s up?’

‘Erm…’ Dawn was as surprised as everypony else (although less visibly as Coquette’s jaw which had literally hit the floor) by the blunted reaction, not at all expecting it. ‘Erm…’ she dumbly repeated, ‘Blossom’s just trying to help, so it would be good to listen to her. Now, it won’t be long till we can take a break so let’s have a couple more shots at it. Just relax and take your time.’

Although not the most inspiring pep talk ever it had the desired effect, Split nodding a quick ‘sorry’ Blossom’s way, although less solemnly than her previous apology. The pegasus pressed her vision to the weapon’s sights, altering the barrel’s angle with her forehooves whilst she took the main armament’s trigger with a wing. To her right meanwhile the hazel unicorn ratcheted open the breach, fluidly sliding in a fresh shell. A brief pause followed, silent, and then…

*Boom!*

The shot echoed in the cabin, somehow loaded far more than those previous, calling down a following return to silence in its wake, held in breath on hold.

‘It’s a hit! You hit the top left corner, but it’s still a hit!’

‘Buck yeah!’

---

The space was cramped and closed, its walls pressing in to hold uncomfortably close, but at least for now with the engine turned off it was also cool and quiet. In this Dawn was happy that claustrophobia was not one of her many weaknesses, permitting her to focus on her self-imposed task at hoof. Deep in the belly of the Panther she worked her way around the machine’s controls, experimenting with the gear change and steering system. She aimed to work blindly, keeping her eyes focused through the viewing port in front of her whilst her hooves felt their way through the motions.

‘You’re pretty darn good at that, particularly for a total novice’ Toffee observed, set above the other earth mare in the gunner’s position. ‘Almost a natural actually, but we’ll see how you go if it’s fired up. Why the sudden interest in driving by the way, if you don’t mind me asking?’ she queried through a bite of half-finished apple, a small amount of unsureness slipping into her voice.

In her head Dawn made a sharp right turn, locking up that tread whilst she accelerated its left counterpart. ‘It’s all fine, don’t worry I’m still okay with being our commander so don’t fret. I just figured that if I’m going to be in charge I should know a bit more. If I’m going to ask any of you to do something I kind of need to know what’s possible. Thanks by the way for this, for giving up your break I mean.’

‘Don’t mention it, this is way more pleasant than the dining hall any day, besides the thank you’s mutual’ the farm mare replied. ‘You seriously took a bullet for me in taking charge, plus on top of that I’m really grateful for you guys letting me join your group, so if you wanna ask me to make this machine do a somersault I’ll try my hardest to make it happen.’

The smile was evident in Toffee’s tone as she spoke, bringing one likewise to her commander’s face as she brought the tank of her mind’s eye to a rapid stop. ‘Is it okay if we take it out for a bit, to turn some of this theory into practice you know?’

‘Sure!’ The confirmation came through another mouthful of fruit. ‘It’ll probably need a quick refuel first though, so if y’ give me a couple of minutes to finish this then I’ll top up the cells.’

‘No no, I’ll do it, and again thanks for this.’ Dawn got to her hooves, keeping her head low so as not to crash it against the armour plates of the ceiling, a mistake she had already made more than once already, moving to open and wriggle through the driver’s hatch. She emerged into the garage, also plentifully shaded like the Panther’s interior and likewise not as abandoned as it being lunch period might have suggested. Their four war machines stood in a neat row, with only the Little Lion unoccupied. Of all of them it had required the least work, as if had not seen service and the previous teams had likewise not made use of it. The cruiser therefore sat drying, already given a base coat of paint in contrast to the rest.

The furthest away in the column was meanwhile a very different picture. All in all the engineers (and in no small part Blossom on her own initiative) had worked miracles with the quartet of vehicles, succeeding almost unequivocally in firing up ancient engines and unsticking long since seized firing mechanisms. Elsewhere in the department’s workshops thicker and replacement armour was at the same time under fabrication, whilst a set of radios for communication, some of the most complex pieces of the whole jigsaw, were being rewired and tested. The Tornado was however proving much more resistant to their skills, in part because it was by and large the oldest of the bunch, but also because of Lens’ having persuaded them to update and tune the power plant for even greater speed. They therefore hovered about the recalcitrant machine detaching, cleaning and refitting parts on repeat, each time making unsuccessful attempts to persuade it to at least turnover. At any rate, for now it was simply thankful that they were available to help. Later in the term, when they would be forced to focus more on their end of year projects, such aid would be less likely.

Their final military machine, much like its exceptionally smaller kin, was also in the midst of repairs. Overall the Rhino was in a good state, excluding its optics, of which in opposition to the rest it had far more. In its forecastle’s roof if had four exit hatches, each of which hosted an associated set of periscopes, in addition to its cannon’s own sights as well. With these the two Nats were wrangling, polishing and realigning the lenses. Whilst the pair laboured a scrawl of decorations had spread across its flat faces, pressed into service as impromptu chalkboards by Dice. Toffee had identified their weapon as a gun-howitzer, meaning that it could both fire directly and in arcs against targets, part of it effectively fulfilling its multiple combat roles. Establishing and mastering effective trajectories however was easier said than done, explaining the teal unicorn’s need of her scribbles and diagrams.

Dawn, having made her way to a fuel pump, was about to get started when her vision was drawn to the garage’s open doors, through them finding the arrival of the school council. The four figures made directly for Dice, making the studious unicorn jump as they appeared unannounced at her back. Low conversation followed, as rather one side spoke and the lone member of the other party had to listen, her features cycling from surprise to annoyance, visibly making contrary interjections but in these not being heard. Then just as rapidly the greater proportion of the council departed, leaving Dice to mutter to herself and throw a few murderous glances their way as they left. ‘Listen up everypony!’ she shouted, calling all attentions within the shed. ‘Apparently we’re going to have our first practice match against Dodge Junction High at the start of next week.’

What!? But we’ve barely just started to get the hang of it, and all the tanks aren’t even ready yet!

Dawn’s panicking brain was mimicked in the looks of the others present.

Dice held up a hoof, preventing any of the oncoming interruptions. ‘Before you all start complaining at me, I’ve only just been told about this and no there’s no backing out of it. It’s a done deal so we’d best just grin and make the best of it. We’ve only got a couple of days so I also suggest that we organise some extra practice.’

‘Could be worse’ Toffee commented, having popped up through the Panther’s turret hatch as Dice concluded and turned away to her two compatriots. ‘Dodge is at the bottom of the national league tables, plus they’ve pretty much always been there.’

‘Still, do you think we’re in any way ready?’ Dawn asked in return, set suddenly on edge. ‘Can we really do this in the state we are?’

You mean can you really do this?

‘You’re more prepared than anypony else here’ the caramel mare managed to perfectly translate and reassure; ‘I have faith in you. Besides there’s supposed to be no better substitute as a teacher than real combat, and at any rate this is just practice; it’ll be fun.’1

From the furthest end of the shed an engine spluttered violently into life, soon rising to louder revs filling the space to the accompaniment of the engineers’ cheering.

‘Hopefully that’s a good omen’ Dawn whispered to herself, both doubtful and apprehensive, trying to conceal the fear which rose from her core.

---

‘What the hay are those supposed to be?’

The five mare crew of the Panther stood in a line to one side of the station’s platform, watching as a locomotive rolled to a gently grating stop. Behind its cab a flatbed it pulled with it was filled with a dual row of four shapes, only semi-recognisable.

‘Are those things actual tanks?’ Split added her second question with an even more detectably disdainful tone as she pointed at them critically.

‘ETTs’ Toffee answered simply, ‘about as basic as they come.’2 The caramel farmer was in antithesis without critique in her words, although not its usual awed self in the case of the machines, remaining politely factual.

‘Translation please.’

‘Tractor Tanks: very rudimentary light combat vehicles built onto pre-existing agricultural chassis. They were constructed in the Stalliongrad Machine Works during the city’s siege, so one it’s impressive that they still run, and two that any even exist at all.’

Once the train stopped further coaches along its length opened up, half their occupants making straight for their vehicles. They all wore matching kepi style hats, marked at the front with a berry symbol logo, the stem of which was lit like the fuse of a cartoon bomb.

‘There are eight of them to our four’ Coquette observed, ‘how’s that supposed to be fair?’

‘That’s their whole team. Believe it or not they’re even more strapped for cash than us. I’ve got some family over there’ Toffee added in explanation. ‘The fact that they’re all here though probably means that it’s an annihilation match.’

Three faces looked blankly back at the comment.

‘She means it’ll be last mare standing’ Dawn came in, ‘as in whoever still has tanks left at the end wins.’

‘Brutal’ Blossom nodded, ‘this could be fun.’

‘A tad dark and creepy Bloss!’ Coquette frowned. ‘I get what you mean though, this is sooo exciting!’

The first of the ETTs rolled off the cargo carriage, followed in turn by a chain of others. Each of them was smaller even than the slight form of the Tornado, slightly shorter and about half the length, whilst their turrets were set at the back of their hulls much like their Cheetah Three. Excessively riveted plates clothed their shapes, but they were still recognisable for what they were underneath, their rear sections rising where a tractor’s cabin would be. Their added armament, small cannons in rotating mounts, made these even higher, whilst their prows extended bluntly forward, evidently all engine topped with truck like exhausts. One after the next they rumbled past, their pilots invisibly hidden deep within their stern compartments.

‘Ahem.’

The quintet spun about, meeting Dice’s continually blank expression, a red jewel held out proffered by her magic. The gemstone hung from a chain, fastened to its finely cut edges by a bronze setting, itself etched with sigils to form an intricate border. Every so often it pulsed, revealing if not explaining the enchantment obviously held within. ‘Just don’t lose it okay, they’re not easy to replace’ she stated, thrusting the piece towards Blossom and forcing the other to take it before turning back into motion.

‘Wait!’ Coquette blurted out confused. ‘What the hay’s that for?’

‘Give me a moment.’ The hazel loader turned the unknown item over in her telekinesis, closely examining its elements. ‘A couple of these are ward runes, but the rest are hard to figure out.’

‘It’s for score keeping’ Toffee stepped in, ‘so we don’t have to, you know, actually kill each other to win. Hung up in the tank the crystal records damage sustained in combat to determine when it would be knocked out. There’s also a shield spell or something in there which will form a “bubble” inside the vehicle, which, combined with the fact that we’re not using AP ammo, makes this totally safe. Mostly.’

‘AP?’

‘Seriously Bloss? Even I know what that means!’ Coquette giggled. ‘I mean come on, armour piercing, it’s kinda obvious!’

‘Hey Dawn.’ Whilst the usually knowledgeable unicorn suppressed a blush from her features, not helped by a nudge and further giggles from her golden partner, another voice forced them to spin round once more, continuing their circles on the spot. ‘Hey’ Rook repeated with a smile, accompanied as always by her darker second at her side. ‘I just wanted to wish you luck…’

‘Particularly bearing in mind the gunner you’re stuck with!’ Helix interjected, intrinsically sneering voice taking on a new edge when fired at Split. The electric pink-maned mare remained unbothered by the growl she received in reply from the pegasus until Rook sent her a similar sideways look as well, conceding to back down in response.

‘As I was saying’ the navy unicorn stressed, further putting the one beside her back in her box, ‘I just wanted to wish you the best, I know you’ll wipe the floor with them. Anyway, we’ll be cheering for you’ Rook concluded warmly as she moved off, turning back and adding another smile as she went.

‘Thanks!’ Dawn called after the departing mare, a tad bemused. Looking to her teammates did little to provide an explanation, Split having become all scowl whilst Toffee chose to hide herself in focusing elsewhere as the last of Dodge Junction’s tanks trundled off the wagon. Blossom and Coquette meanwhile quietly sniggered to one another. ‘What?’

‘Can’t you see it? Little Miss Doom and Gloom’s…’

‘Later Belle’ the taller unicorn cut off. ‘For now we really need to focus on the match. Do we have some kind of plan?’

---

‘What?!’

‘Target at nine o’clock! Split turn and engage, Toffee stop to give the best fire position and hopefully…’

*Crash!!!*

Perched atop the hulking form of the Panther, half emerging through the turret’s hatch, Dawn was jolted by the sudden impact. Looking to their stern she found that the pair of Dodge High’s tanks which had been in pursuit had crashed at full tilt into their treads as they had screeched to a halt. The collision had turned the front engine sections of the two into mangled messes of metal, whilst in this only crumpling the rear of her own much larger machine’s mud guards. The two wrecked ETTs glowed bright red, declaring their defeat.

*Boom!*

In the same instant the turret beneath her spun ninety degrees and its weapon fired, the swiftly following shockwave whipping wildly through her mane. She followed the thundering noise, eyes focusing swift enough to watch another adversary as it was literally knocked over into a roll down the length of the dune as if it were weightless, coming to a skidding stop at the feet of her war beast. Without any kind of pause however three more dark shapes broke over the peak of another mountain of sand to her right, rolling on their suspension as the miniature landships crested the dusty wave.

‘Three more on the right!’ Dawn yelled, pressing a forehoof to the microphone secured at her throat. ‘Get us back up to speed and spin the gun!’

Beneath her the turret reacted at her command, finding its mark, and then its weapon roared, sailing its shell well wide of its target. The enemy meanwhile made their reply without stopping, two shots whizzing by above Dawn’s head whilst a third pinged off the Panther’s sharp frontal armour, ricocheting away at a wild angle.

‘They’re reloading now; come to a full stop and fire again! Take your time with it Split!’

The weighty machine left a furrow in its wake as it skidded. With a pause this time the cannon fired, smashing one of the charging adversaries off its tracks.

‘Throw it in reverse, then full stop and fire again on the next one!’

‘Shouldn’t we go forward?’

‘Just do it!’

Dawn braced herself against the hatch’s rim as the Panther was slammed into rapidly backing up. Their remaining adversaries fired a second time; their shells landing perfectly on target had it instead chosen to accelerate. One paid dearly for this mistake, receiving a glancing blow in response from the Panther, this being still more than enough to knock out the far lighter vehicle. The last of these turned sharply right, attempting escape straight back up the dune it had just descended.

‘After them!’

Predator and prey exchanged bellicose retorts from their weapons, all noise, angry noise without either hitting what they wanted as they both took up their pursuit. The cacophony of labouring engines reached its pinnacle, cannons raged in unison and they raced each other climbing the steep incline, zigzagging occasionally to avoid being hit. With its head start the ETT was victorious, heaving itself to the top first. For a fractional second it was there, establishing its bearings, set to hare away. Then in the next instant it was punched in the prow by something unseen, immediately sent careening back down the hill so recently scaled. In its place the unmistakable silhouette of the Rhino materialised, standing out with its brutish angular frame and massive armament, its howitzer still smoking from the final shot.

Dawn found her breath, catching it and drawing down deep the air which she had forgotten she actually needed. Her eyes stung, likely burned a sore pink rather than their usual lush green tones by stirred up dust, and she could feel a couple of bruises forming at her sides. Despite this however her being surged, even as the war machine underneath her slowed. As the Panther finally stopped a silence fell across the battlefield, the dunes they sat within turned into a pit of broken vehicles save for theirs at its centre. Then the cheering started.

Nachbesprechung

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‘So, in conclusion…’

‘We whupped ‘em!’ Split interrupted loudly, throwing the speaker off task and receiving a fair few rolled eyes from the rest of the audience she was sat in amongst. ‘We were awesome; they didn’t stand a chance!’

‘Erm… in a word yes, sort of’ Toffee only half concurred, sending a quick glance her counterpart’s way. Both she and Dawn stood before the seated forms of the rest of AIA’s tank team, set on a background of sketched vehicle movements and terrain covering the snowy expanse of a whiteboard. Two swarms of opposing symbols flew about a roughly drawn landscape, leaving in their wakes matching trails of corresponding colours to highlight their routes. Of these a particular group of red triangles stood out, all meeting their end in the map’s centre when they fatally came into contact with a blue square marked with a P. ‘It was more like we were extremely lucky.’

‘Nah, just pure unadulterated awesome!’ The pink pegasus remained adamant. ‘The way you drove: awesome! The way I shot: turbo-awesome! The way Dawn took charge and knew exactly what to do: most awesome!’ she continued, adding greater emphasis with each addition she listed. ‘I mean we essentially dodged their rounds and then…’

‘So in your “highly educated” opinion our close victory was almost, if not absolutely, down solely to you?’ Nat (possibly Twenty) cut in bluntly, matching a low glare adorning many others present.

Split meanwhile either remained aloof or unrepentant. ‘Yep!’

‘Self-aggrandising…’

‘…cow’ each Nat muttered one after the other.

‘You do realise who you’re talking to?’ Lens Flare piped up, backed by her teammates’ nods. ‘She’s always like that; don’t you realise that all of Equis obviously revolves around Split Second!’

‘It certainly does more than it does around you!’ The other pegasus turned on her rainbow-maned rival. ‘Last time I checked they didn’t give out medals for second place, or for that matter for running away, regardless of how fast you do it!’

‘We distracted a good third of them chasing after us, keeping them off your back! Besides we definitely did more than reverse into a ravine and get ourselves stuck!’

‘Piss off!’ Gleaming Jewel huffed from one side, forehooves crossed sulkily. ‘That was like a total accident!’

Split ignored this interruption, maintaining her sights always on Lens. ‘You needn’t have bothered, we could have taken them all any day, and another thing…’

‘Pack it in already!’ Dice finally stood up. ‘You two can fight on your own time if you want, or get a room if you’d prefer, but for now can it! Nopony cares. Thanks Toff, and you too Dawn, for the analysis.’ The two earth mares gratefully swapped their places with the teal unicorn, taking their seats, in actuality ammo crates set in the corner of the supply shed.

Dawn let out a small sigh as she sat down. Presentations were not usually her favourite activity in the world, let alone trying to give them about herself, struggling to explain actions which she had done with little actual thought involved at the time. She had just acted because there had been a need to, whilst all her orders had been more ‘instinctual’ than actually considered.’

None of which is particularly easy to put into words that others can make any sense of, particularly as you yourself don’t really get it.

‘She’s right about one thing at least, if nothing else.’ A whispered form of Rook’s tones came from somewhere behind the cream earth mare, playing at her ear and pulling her from her thoughts. ‘You were great out there, a true Manestein in the making’ the blue unicorn complimented warmly, inescapably stirring a blush across the recipient’s features. ‘This victory is yours before anypony else’s.’

‘Moving on, I agree with Toff that although everypony played their part luck had the greatest hoof in yesterday’s win.’ Dice effectively took up the stage, magically wiping clean the board at her back as she spoke. ‘We failed utterly to organise ourselves, we had no plan going into the match, and we failed to act as a team, all of which needs to be addressed before our next one. First and foremost therefore we need a team captain. Does anypony want the job?’

No hooves were raised and quite a few gazes took the added precaution of averting themselves, including Dawn’s.

‘O-kay, pre-emptively I’m out of the running cos I’m council liaison, but are there any suggestions?’

‘It should be Dawn’ Split called out to fill the void, taking everypony by surprise.

‘Typical!’ the shiny and well-coiffed Silver Streak scoffed. ‘You don’t actually want to do the job, but want the power and the spotlight anyway, so you put forward your own commander. Just typical Split!’

‘Screw off!’ It’s not like that!’ Split turned from her retort to her suggested leader, locking their eyes with an added smile. ‘In the heat of it all she was epic; without her the score would’ve been very different.’

‘For once the Las Pegasus princess is actually right.’ Rook’s voice announced itself with its usual theatrical confidence, drawing a glower from the preceding athlete with its words. ‘From the side-lines it was obvious it was Dawn alone who beat Dodge. Atop her tank giving orders in the midst of all the chaos; she has more spirit than anypony else here.’

The Panther’s commander looked between the two making recommendations. Despite their uncharacteristic agreement in their points, both pink sportsmare and darker rebel also shared low just visible scowls in one another’s direction.

‘Have either of you considered that she might not want to be in charge?’ Blossom interrupted, seated on Dawn’s left.

‘Yeah, it should be her choice’ Coquette backed up her friend, similarly sat to her fellow earth mare’s right and just as defensive as her preceding speaker.

Toffee likewise nodded her agreement, sending a supportive look Dawn’s way in accord with the other pair. ‘It’s unfair to make her do it just cos nopony else wants to be responsible.’

Well, this is new.

Whilst Dawn’s mind made its grand understatement her being felt lifted from the crowd in which in reality it resided, not puffed up by pride but rather simply glowing within. As if they could read her thoughts the trio were correct, the idea of being team leader was not exactly something she relished, but more than simply reading that they were willing to rally to her side over it against everypony else. ‘It’s okay, I’ll do it if nopony else wants to’ she spoke without really thinking, surprising herself as she did so.

‘You sure?’

Her three friends spun to face her as Blossom raised the question for them all, each of them still very much in the cream coloured commander’s corner.

‘No, not really’ Dawn admitted, ‘but like I said before I’ll give it a go. Nopony else should feel forced to.’

‘Are there any objections?’ Dice asked from the front, scanning the rows before her and finding none. ‘That’s that settled then. Next order of business: we need a team logo.’

---

Tools raged, clashing harshly in the heat of protracted battle. Its strident tones mixed and the lines between each combatant blurred, making for a single all-consuming metallic cacophony. At a lower pitch the setting’s tonal backdrop was meanwhile constructed of whirring motors and coughing engines, both as baser notes to the heavy hoofed orchestra. Like a cavernous amplifier the tank garage threw outward these sounds as a wall of noise, like some titanic predators staking its claim on its territory to the rest of creation. Seemingly without regard for this warning two figures stepped through the shed’s doors, not skipping a beat in their conversation as they went.

‘…so yeah, pretty much the skill part comes where you have to judge the distance to the target, but if you’ve got that the sights do the rest for you. As long as its aligned properly it should do all the complex maths involved for you’ Blossom concluded her explanation to her slightly shorter counterpart, much the easy rival to even the most experienced teacher.

‘Okay, so what’s the knack to judging distance then?’ Dawn added her fresh query as they shimmied their way between welding equipment and a pile of supply crates, further ducking as they passed under an engine block set floating from a winch.

‘Unhelpfully it’s just kind of something you learn, kind of like my job’s just muscle memory, or more correctly magic memory in my case. As a starting point you can use units that you know, such as how many hoofball fields it is to what you’re aiming at for example, using what you’ve already got to get your bearings. After that it’s as boring as “practice makes perfect” you know; the more you do it the better you’ll get.’ They skipped over the Little Lion’s unwound tracks, avoiding the jagged edges of their damaged flanges. ‘Unlike most other stuff though that’s possible anywhere, anytime, just pause occasionally and try to judge your surrounding landmarks. In Split’s case though she’s got biology on her side, a high level of spatial awareness is after all central in flight. That’s assuming she can actually put the effort in and focus for more than a minute’ the hazel unicorn added with a shrug and shake of her head.

Dawn mulled over the other mare’s suggestions, experimenting with estimating the span between herself and the fuel pumps at the far end of the space, as well as the cranes in its ceiling. ‘Thanks Blossom.’

‘You are allowed to shorten it like everypony else does you know’ the loader countered. ‘Bloss isn’t exactly the most inspired nickname in the world, but it’s at least more me than “Blossom”, or worse “Spring” for that matter.’

‘Sorry, I didn’t figure you didn’t like being called that.’

‘No, no apologies, that’s not my intention. It’s not like you came up with my name originally, plus it’s not like I truly dislike it, it’s just that it doesn’t feel like it fits, whatever the misguided parental intentions may have been. While we’re on the subject though, do you have a preference other than Dawn?’

‘Erm… no, no nickname.’

Or at least not one worth repeating.

‘Not even “Manestein” then?’ Blossom jibbed, although light-heartedly, a knowing grin at the edges of her lips.

‘Pardon me.’

Saving Dawn from a repeat of her earlier embarrassed hue, a new voice turned the two friends about, expressing its polite syllables with a light but intrinsically Canterlottian air, not quite going as high as to sound posh, being too demure, but close.

‘Sorry, I hope I’m not interrupting.’ The slight mare attached to the out of place tone was beyond pure white, seeming somehow even paler. In this she was therefore equally at odds with the grimy working environment she was set within. More than this though, she was making an obvious effort to avoid being sullied by it, tentatively checking the floor for its many oil slicks before she let any of her hooves touch down. Past her pure whiter than white fur, her bob cut mane was almost translucent like spider silk, and even her irises denied harsh colouration, instead bearing an icy silver shade.

‘Hi… Crystal, right?’ Blossom ventured, unconfident without the aid of her usual all-knowing counterpart.

‘Yeah that’s me, hi Blossom by the way’ the colourless unicorn confirmed. ‘I… I just wanted to apologise’ she turned her address from the hazel unicorn to the pale cream comrade at her side, ‘both from me and the rest of the crew.’

‘For what?’ Dawn’s brows creased up in a confused frown at being presented with yet another new face, not to mention one as it was in an unsolicited sorrowful expression.

‘For our substandard performance in the match’ Crystal Facet explained, finally finding a suitably clean spot on the floor in which to stop. ‘Although Ruby or Gleam won’t admit it openly, particularly the latter because it was her driving which put us in the ravine, we’re all seriously embarrassed. I just froze up, sitting staring uselessly at the radio…’ She trailed off, looking away at her forehooves.

‘Even if you’d had it on you wouldn’t have picked up anything anyway’ the other taller unicorn countered, ‘Dahl’s music had pretty much flooded the coms.’

‘That’s not the point. We were the one black mark against the display everypony else put on, most especially by you.’ Her silver eyes risked a glance up at the newly elected team leader. ‘So yeah, I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t say that’ Dawn countered, the blush that had been put off making itself felt across her cheeks, set in antithesis to the concerned discomfort which had appeared in her heart. ‘Everypony played their part, and for everypony it was our first real go as well. We all did well, and we all won together.’

Crystal nodded gratefully, if not with any real belief, pausing a moment before she resumed: ‘while we’re on this subject could I also ask a favour?’

‘Sure, if I can help.’

‘Well, please could you give us a hoof in generally getting to know the Little Lion a bit better? I really don’t want to slow you down next time.’

‘As in?’ Blossom queried.

‘As in everything.’ Crystal gave a sheepish shrug. ‘I’m only on coms, so if I don’t screw up as usual I should be okay, but everypony else could use some help, particularly Gleam who’s at the sticks and Blue on the gun. It would be much appreciated, if it’s not too much trouble.’

‘And the reason they’re not here asking?’

‘Come on Blossom, you know what they can be like. On top of egos though, although the credits were an incentive, us doing this was largely mine and Ruby’s idea, to try and become known for being something other than the resident pretty airheads. It’s kind of hard to square that with asking for aid.’

‘It’s okay, next training session we can exchange some team members and learn from each other, assuming everpony’s okay with that?’

The hazel unicorn gestured an affirmative to her commander’s question.

‘Fantastic, thank you so much!’ Crystal’s face lit up slightly, much to Dawn’s relief filled pleasure. ‘I’ll see you round. Oh and those thanks are from all of us, even if the others aren’t so good at showing it’ the colourless unicorn added as she left the other pair, carefully picking her way back to her tank.

Blossom’s eyes had in this fallen squarely on Dawn, the silent look prompting a question. ‘What?’

The taller unicorn broke into a smile. ‘I’m glad that you decided to be captain’ she admitted after a moment of quiet thought. ‘Nopony, myself included, is all that good at spotting their own strengths or good points, but you’re a natural leader.’

It might be far easier to just stay bright pink you know, as opposed to this cycle of blush on blush off you’ve currently got going on.

The pair moved off, almost making their final destination before being cut short as Split’s boastful voice sliced its way recognisably through the surrounding din. The mostly magenta maned pegasus was once again squaring off against her nigh perpetual nemesis, this time selecting the relatively clear airspace above the Tornado to be their battleground. ‘So what if yours is faster on paper, that hardly counts for anything if all you do with that edge is run away! On the up side though, bearing in mind what you fled from this match, I can’t wait to see how fast you go when we meet some real opposition!’

‘Bearing in mind what you’ve just agreed to, you’re going have to come up with some way to tell Split that somepony needs her help with gunnery without inflating her ego’ Blossom observed at a mutter in Dawn’s ear. ‘There’s barely enough room for the three of us and it in the turret as it is.’

As the two duelling pegasus, one entrenched in defensive retorts whilst the other remained all heedless boasts, touched down atop the former’s tank the school council appeared unseen to all bar the audience at their back. Split was far too caught up in recounting her all-conquering awesomeness (uncharacteristically however listing it alongside Dawn’s to share in her tale’s glory) to notice their arrival. This unawareness only broke as the president sharply cleared her throat, bringing flaring wings back to their owner’s sides and silence to her lips.

‘So Split’ the council chief began in earnest, ‘I hear that the team’s first challenge fell well short of the mark. You “whupped ‘em” right?’

Surprised, it to the pink pegasus a moment to re-find her words, but when she did her self-confidence was likewise returned, to which Dice in the background winced and face-hoofed. ‘Yep pres, sure did! How about a real test next time?’

‘I’ll see what I can come up with.’

‘durch Feuer und Bewegung’

View Online

‘So, just how exactly screwed are we?’

‘How about you give them five minutes peace to think and, you know, plan, then maybe we won’t be quite so much.’

The carriage felt quiet. Not that it actually was though, there being the constant clack of steel wheels on track to prevent this, but nonetheless it seemed so. Absent were the excited conversations which had been the norm of the day and generally of those couple previous, now replaced with their antithesis. All twelve of the full coach’s inhabitants had been struck increasingly dumb the closer the train got to its eventual goal, forming into two groups at its opposite ends. Between these two (formed from the Panther’s crew combined with Rook and her still tank-less comrades) meanwhile one of three combined sleeping and seating births was unoccupied, leaving the other two overfilled. Furthest down the line the best part of AIA’s “rebels” sat around a five way card duel, evidently being led and won by the smug form of Helix, whilst their sixth (identified at some point as Dahlia) played around with a portable stereo, giving their scene a violently thrashing soundtrack.

‘I wasn’t asking you!’

Everpony else was alternatively ensconced at the carriage’s opposite end, making for a numerically matching but far less harmonious party. This was made perfectly clear by the rose pegasus and electric blue unicorn who sat scowling at each other out in the coach’s interconnecting corridor. Of the rest Coquette and Blossom took up the end of the cabin’s table nearest the window, wordlessly warring across a chessboard, whilst Dawn and Toffee occupied the rest with sketch maps and scribbled notes.

‘Well you’re getting an answer from me anyway!’ Rook shot back Split’s way defiantly. ‘Can’t you see she’s trying to focus!’

With a huff Dawn let the sheets she was considering slip from her hooves. Whatever she had been trying to do it was not going anywhere, little helped by the pair’s bickering constantly derailing her thoughts. Initially she had been surprised when the rebel leader had chosen to join them, minus the normal continual chaperone of Helix (although the other dark mare had visibly kept one eye off her cards and their way instead the whole time). This however had quickly waned into aggravation as the incoming artist and already resident athlete immediately started butting heads. It equally little helped that Split had in essence started their conflict, making the already difficult task of diverting Rook as good as impossible. ‘Toff, let’s review what we’ve got, and you two can act as a sounding board for ideas’ she decided aloud, without any better course having presented itself.

‘Happy to help’ Rook affirmed, her feature’s doing a U-turn to meet Dawn, succeeding simultaneously in deepening the scowl on her adversary’s face before she too mimicked the sentiment.

‘Okay, thank you, so let’s start with what we’re facing…’

‘And why they’ve got everypony so spooked’ Split added in.

Toffee likewise set down her notes before she began. ‘For our second, second, practice match we’re up against Hollow Shades Prep…’

‘Which is a problem because?’

‘It’s a “problem” because they’re the best team in the national league. They’ve been second in the championships for the past four years running…’

‘Doesn’t sound like the national best’ Split scoffed.

In response the farm mare just rolled her eyes. ‘Well Ponyville always wins, but that’s beside the point. Hollow Shades is a preparatory school mostly feeding directly into the military academies of the Lunar Guard. They’ve got fearsome kit, they’re masterminding their own style of tank combat, and their captain is simply legendary…’

‘Somepony’s got a favourite’ the sportsmare interrupted again unhelpfully, before a swift look from Dawn forced her silence.

‘Yes, they’re my favourite. If you’d actually listened you’d know that already.’

‘What’s this about a new style?’ In contrast the fin-maned half of the outside audience had much more useful input to give.

‘Yeah, you two have been going on about “the styles” for a while now’ Coquette added, in the midst of protracted consideration of what move to make next. ‘Could you explain those while we’re here?’

‘I’ll field that one for the sake of practice’ Dawn volunteered. ‘Firstly there’s earth: based around strength and brute force, meaning lots of heavy tanks and headlong assaults. Second theirs air: fluid, stealthy and defensive, meaning its aim is to engage at a great range or lay in ambush. Then thirdly there’s magic, which is harder to pin down. It’s all about sweeping movements and artfully constructed formations, kind of different from the speed focus in air style cos it’s more about massed numbers of vehicles. All correct?’

‘Yep, you’re good’ Toffee nodded, taking up the explanation. ‘The thing with Hollow Shades though is although they’re ostensibly air specialists it’s not so simple cos they combine it with shock and awe, casting aside the claim that the pegasus style is timid, but not as a straightforward copy of earth. They’re also well known for their willingness to use unorthodox tactics.’

‘“Unorthodox?” That sounds like code for they don’t play fair’ Blossom remarked, granted the turn to move a piece in her ongoing game and instantly taking it to her opponent’s dismay.

‘Not true!’ The driver turned instantly defensive at the hazel unicorn’s words. ‘They’ve been accused of that and far worse by traditionalists; that they cheat and that they’re ideas of creating a new style are presumptuous, but none of that’s true. They’re not afraid to fight differently, which when watching makes them amazing, especially their captain, but the idea of competing against them is kinda terrifying.’

‘Okay, so they’ve got better vehicles, they’ve got more experience, and they’ve got our expert scared. Great!’ Coquette came in again, needing the stolen time to consider her moves.

‘Pretty much, yeah.’

‘Grim’ Blossom seconded, eyes less than half on the chessboard.

‘Maybe so, but we can at least match them for leadership.’ Rook added a wink to her smiling compliment, eliciting another askance look from the pegasus at her side. ‘We know a lot about them, plus I might add that we’re in essence the new foals on the block, meaning they won’t have a clue what they’re up against. So what’s your plan in response?’

‘Well we haven’t got that many options’ Toffee sighed. ‘As a flag-tank match, although it’s hardly a minor feat, all we have to do is knock out that one vehicle. The problem is we haven’t got the numbers to play it too aggressive. It would be a major risk to separate our force for example, although that would allow us to go hunting.’

‘So defence then I assume?’

‘Yeah, it’ll sadly mean playing to their strengths, but like Toff says we’re not exactly flush with options.’ Dawn dug out a rough drawing from her papers. ‘Here’s what I’m thinking, but it’s only a rough plan so I’d really appreciate any input anypony can give. As it’s got the thickest armour I think the Rhino should carry our flag whilst the rest of us work on keeping it safe.’ She drew a forehoof over a simple geometric chart. ‘Moving side by side in a line it can focus solely to the front, whilst our panther and the Little Lion can cover its flanks. The Tornado meanwhile can take up the rear, forming a sort of T shape.’

‘So the idea would be to let them come to us, like we know they’re going to, and then bringing maximum power to face them when they do.’ Toffee nodded approvingly. ‘It’s as about a sound a defensive line as we can draw up with what we’ve got.’

‘You’re not really playing to Lens’ tank’s strengths though’ Blossom interjected, still waiting patiently on her opposite’s move. ‘Where you’ve put it it’s pretty much just a bumper shield for the Rhino; if she’s hit once by anything major she’ll be toast. She’d essentially be an extra life, but nothing more.’

‘True.’

‘We could have her separate from the rest of us’ Dawn suggested. ‘That way she could act as our reconnaissance and…’

‘…if they made contact we could move to engage’ Toffee came in, ‘or…’

‘…we can have them draw the enemy to us.’

‘Yeah!’ The two quiet earth mares celebrated their tag team planning with a hoof bump across the table, before remembering that they still had an audience and immediately retreating back into their blushing selves. ‘Oh… I mean that could work.’

‘Manestein and Pommel’ Blossom commented from the planners’ side-lines, obviously enjoying the further embarrassment the half-compliment half-jib raised, before turning back to Coquette who had finally taken her turn. ‘Checkmate.’

‘Oh for the love of Luna!’ Coquette pouted. ‘I was really trying that time!’

‘No no you silly filly’ the hazel unicorn countered with a grin, ‘I’m in checkmate.’

The golden mare’s face scrunched up in confusion, eyes darting about the pieces. ‘Wait? How exactly… but? Wait a minute Bloss, how did you…’ As her frown looked up to her adversary it quickly broke into a giggle, swiftly spreading like flame to engulf the whole group. Beyond the carriage’s windows meanwhile, the tired sun began to drop below the horizon, whilst on both sides what had been gently undulating fields was subsumed by dense woodland.

---

The platform stood empty, eerily so, as their train slowed to a halt in a vacant siding. They had not stopped in the town to everypony’s surprise, but instead had continued past leaving it behind, instead diverting down an empty trackway through the all-surrounding trees. Where they had now stopped had relieved none of their general bemusement, as they found themselves stepping off into what was for all intents and purposes little more than a clearing.

‘What, no welcome party?’ Ruby Necklace was the first to vocalise what everypony was thinking as she disembarked.

Loaded silence fell back around, whilst the last of the day’s light finally died like a bad omen.

‘Does “unorthodox tactics” include being rude?’ Coquette muttered.

‘No!’ Toffee replied, again in an unintentional defensive huff. ‘Maybe the council got the wrong day?’

‘Nope.’ Bluntly to the point, Dice was obviously trying to retain her blank drawl but was not quite managing it, an underlying hint in her tone belying that even she was suffering from everypony else’s nerves. ‘Clearly we’re supposed to go that way, so everypony mount up and let’s get going.’ She pointed towards the clearing’s edge where two out of place gates were set open. Painted black and formed from the spiky metallic facsimiles of woven rose vines, these fronted a track through the foliage rather than being set in any wall, topped at their peak by a silver crescent moon.

---

*crackle* ‘Looks like there’s something up ahead.’ *crackle*

*crackle* ‘Finally!’ *crackle*

The radio sounded strangely loud within the Panther’s shell, for once easy to overhear as its opposing engine merely hummed, the whole machine set at a crawling pace. Within, the static laden voices drew Dawn instantly to attention. In line behind Dice’s Rhino at their head, they had been slowly making their way along the chosen path for some time now, growing ever more on edge as time went by and no proof that they were even going the right way revealed itself. She therefore rose quickly up through the turret’s open command hatch, feeling both loader and gunner’s eyes following her ascent.

She emerged into the cooling air, just starting to chill as evening fell in earnest, although this was mostly disguised by the canopy above. For a while it was not entirely clear what Dice had been talking about on the coms, but then all at once the woodland parted, a glade breaking open through its midst.

*crackle* ‘Watch your heads. *crackle*

Just in time Dawn ducked, narrowly avoiding a sign which read ‘HS Preparatory College’ in bold lettering, hung up between two overhanging branches.

*crackle* ‘Looks like we’re finally here.’ *crackle*

Their column of tanks entered a courtyard, a wide flag-stoned expanse fronting a row of grand gothic structures, all dark brickwork, stained windows and glowering gargoyles. Nothing however moved. No light shone, no noise sounded, save for their own engines, which as one came to a halt. Hatches opened across their number and further faces popped out to join Dawn in her confusion.

*crackle* ‘Dice are you really sure that…’

All at once a series of low explosions cut all radio chatter short as a smoke cloud shot up in a semicircle at their front, totally veiling the school from view. Behind the plumes a hoard of angry power plants roared into life, revving higher and higher as the smoke dissipated, revealing in its place six tanks with guns pointed skywards.

*Bang!*

In unison the sextet all fired into the air and at the same time all the lights in the buildings flicked on like a flood, forcing blinding stars across Dawn’s vision. When these cleared the engines also cut out and cheering sounded, coming from a mass of faces which had appeared in the previously blacked out windows.

‘Welcome to Hollow Shades!’ The thundering voice came from one of the two central tanks, on which a silhouetted figure stood. ‘You can come out, we don’t bite! Much!’

‘Somepony knows how to make an entrance’ Split muttered, the first to revive from the sensory barrage, although it was unclear whether she was truly unimpressed at the display or simply feigning it.

‘Come on let’s go already!’ Toffee in contrast was far less reserved, pretty much pushing her comrades out of the Panther before her.

The five of them (driven most of the way before a farm mare barely containing her excitement) crossed the void between the two rows of tanks, being joined by Dice in transit. Their counterparts from the opposing school followed suit and soon they met at the halfway point.

‘Sorry for the theatrics, we couldn’t resist’ the leader of the opposition began in what would have been a frank accent were it not equally jostling with its own more songlike qualities. ‘We haven’t hosted in a long while so everypony wanted to roll out the fireworks. Still you faced them far better than some; a bunch from Canterlot threw a total hissy fit when we pulled the same trick on them’ she continued, laughing with her compatriots.

She was a night pegasus, marked out by feline pupils in her crimson irises, the membranous wings at her sides, and glittering fangs in her mouth. The same was true of ninety percent of her comrades at her back, revealed as they exited their vehicles. In contrast to the rest however she was extremely pale, ignoring the general trend for nocturnally tonal fur to instead cloth her form in an off white, akin to the colour of moonlight. Beneath this though, just barely visible on her slim form, she also bore a few swirling markings in a darker grey.

‘Anyway, as I was saying: welcome!’

She and the rest of the team backing her up all wore matching black military coats, double-breasted with silver buttons and plain box epaulettes. Their badge meanwhile, placed on their right sleeves, depicted a bat mid flap, except that it had been mechanised with feet replaced with tank tracks and a cannon emerging through its pointed jaws. In a word fearsome fit quite well.

‘Check out the stripes’ Split’s voice whispered just audibly behind Dawn.

The rival leader’s pointed ears twitched in midst of her bow. ‘Yes I’m part zebra, an eighth technically if you want to be all Sombrite about it.’

‘Oh buck, sorry, I didn’t mean it like tha-ow!’ The pink pegasus’ embarrassed outburst was cut off abruptly, becoming a pained yelp as Toffee roughly crushed her hoof with an equally uncharacteristic face like thunder.

‘I’m forgetting my manners though.’ The night mare seemed heedless of the background melee as she continued. ‘I’m Solstice, team captain, and who might yours be?’

Dawn found herself pretty much thrust forward as all others receded back behind her. ‘Er… that’d be me: Dawn Melody.’

‘Great, it’s a pleasure! Let’s take a walk and discuss the game.’ The night mare turned, gesturing to be followed as she took up a leisurely striding pace.

‘Okay, come on Toff.’

Needing no second prompt the other earth mare came into line and the trio set off down the row of Appleoosa’s tanks.

‘So Dawn and…’ Solstice began again leadingly once they had separated themselves from the rest of the group.

‘Toffee!’ the driver blurted before dragging her fan-filly voice back under control. ‘Sorry, I’m Toffee, oh and sorry for Split’s comment, she didn’t mean it.’

Solstice just smiled through the fumbled introduction, nodding. ‘Oh I know she didn’t, I was just messing with her. You’ve got an interesting line up’ she moved on, pausing before the Little Lion, ‘including machines from all of the style categories. Do you mind if I take a look?’

‘By all means.’

At Dawn’s okay the night mare leapt into a single flap and landed on the tank’s roof, peering in through the turret. ‘This is a seriously nice!’ Her voice echoed from within the armoured shell. ‘Cheetahs were a rare breed anyway, and this one’s dual turret means it’s got to be a prototype. How’s the double cannon handle?’

‘As you’d expect, twice the firepower but half the range cos of the lower calibre’ Toffee thankfully came in with an answer where Dawn had none. ‘Also you’re right about it being a prototype; it was the only one of its kind constructed by a subsidiary of the Trottingham Assembly Works.’

‘Pretty damn nice!’ Solstice reappeared and glided off the vehicle. ‘I might experiment with one of my spare Leopards down similar lines’ she mused gesturing to the closest of her tanks, its type making up a two thirds majority of those on display.

‘Those are Leopard Threes’ the caramel earth mare whispered, still acting as sage in her commander’s ear. ‘Middle weight earlier predecessor to our Panther, but hers are later models so they’ve also been upgunned with extended barrels.’1

The highlighted quartet stood with guns still at attention, sticking out from broad elevation mounts which consumed the whole front of their turrets. This tapered back in neatly sloping sides, coming to a point at their back where an added counterweight jutted out to balance their weapon’s weight. What supported this however were mostly flat edges, a flat faced box supporting the turret above an equally blunt hull, running on both sides on six road wheels in their treads.

‘Although they’ve at the same time left off much of the extra armour you’d expect, such as on the nose plate, in favour of manoeuvrability.’

The Leopards all presented themselves as quintessential looking tanks; however it was their paintwork which more caught Dawn’s gaze. Dark woodland camouflage was painted in rough splatters across their forms, but where Toffee highlighted a lack of added protection in contrast to this was depicted snarling jaws of predatory teeth in a bloody red gullet. Combined with the vehicles’ headlights like eyes the complex murals made the machines look like actual monsters.

‘Do you only have the four though?’ Solstice asked, her own eyes going to the fifth vehicle in Appleoosa’s line up, instead a tractor from which Rook and co were just disembarking in an unbalanced fashion having faced the brunt of the flashy intro unprotected. ‘Regulation etiquette would demand a five a side minimum…’

‘Sorry, please don’t be insulted’ the driver wheeled about and blurted before Dawn had a chance to speak, taking all present unawares. ‘These are the only four we have, we meant no disrespect.’

‘Don’t apologise, that wasn’t my meaning.’ Having sensitively bristled at the outburst Solstice quickly settled back down, calling what could best be described as an encouraging smile into her features, at total odds with her fangs. ‘I was merely considering your team’s future, as to compete you’ll need more.’ As she had spoken she had lead them around her own column of vehicles, stopping at the central pair. ‘As far as now’s concerned I’ll have one of my Leopards and one of my H-types stand down so we’ll be equal.’

‘UP-1 H-Types’ came the low translation, this time giving into its recurring enthralled tone, ‘as in the converted tank hunting version of our Panther.’2

At their base the pair were very much the carbon copies of Dawn’s own tank, except one had been fitted with a dozer blade and both like the rest of their kin in their team bore painted on jaws on a splintered backdrop. Above the interlocking drive and road wheels however the creatures abruptly changed forms, growing a fixed forecastle like their opposition’s Rhino, except smoothly welded instead of riveted. Its cannon like its less refined opposite was titanic, although less broadly bored still much longer, capped necessarily with a huge muzzle break and set in a rounded sconce. All its faces, even its stern, sloped at steep reflecting angles. This combined with its dropped height in contrast to her own Panther gave it a sleek appearance, making the term ‘pretty’ which Blossom had gifted previously seem far more appropriate for these machines.

‘In all honesty you could’ve showed up with half a tankette and we’d still have gladly duelled with you. What kind of hosts would we be otherwise, besides experience is supposed to be shared not hoarded so that everypony can have the chance to improve. It’s easy to forget, but this is a sport not actual warfare, and we’re honoured if we can help a new team find their hoofing. Plus, more selfishly, it’s just nice to see some new faces on the scene.’ Solstice patted the Hunting Panther without the blade affectionately. ‘This’ll be my flag-tank, which brings us to when we want to get started?’

‘Do you have a preference?’ Dawn asked, ultimately to her own surprise finding conversation with her opposing and (by Toffee’s description) infamously renowned opposing team captain increasingly easy, taken off guard by the other uniformed mare’s straightforward manner.

‘Well obviously we’d prefer an evening battle to fit into the school timetable, but that plays very much in our favour for more reasons than one, whilst I assume you’d all like to wait for tomorrow and daylight. Normally I’d be fine with that since we’ve already got a home field advantage, but for various objections that wouldn’t be preferable.’ The pale night mare slipped a bit from one of her coat’s pockets, dextrously balancing it on a wing tip. ‘So, heads or tails?’

‘Erm… I guess we’ll go with tails.’

The coin was flung into the air, tumbling end over end as it reached its peak and fell to earth, landing with the Sun Princess’ portrait facing the sky.

‘Hard luck, tonight it is then, although we’ll of course give you time to prep and stretch from your journey. You have got maps of the combat area right?’

Dawn nodded.

‘Great!’ Solstice smiled again, her gaze switching from commander to driver who was still mostly focused on the tank in front of her. ‘Feel free to jump up and check her out if you like.’

‘Really? You sure?’

‘Positive, be my guest.’

Gleefully Toffee was soon clambering her way up the modified Panther’s front, looking back for another reassuring nod of approval from its owner before she leapt inside, leaving the two commanders to themselves.

‘Your advisor certainly knows her stuff’ Solstice commented, turning to her fellow commander as the caramel earth mare disappeared.

‘As do you. Sorry for Toff’s nervousness by the way.’

The wave of a pale forehoof brushed aside the words. ‘You two need to stop apologising; besides she’s pretty cute with it. She’s not the only one though; you’re showing your nerves a bit yourself.’

‘Am I that obvious?’

‘Yep, although you’re doing a good job in concealing it I’ll give you that. This is only your second actual game though right, so don’t be bothered by it. Nerves are good anyway, they keep you on edge.’

‘Thanks, and also thanks for indulging’ Dawn added, gesturing to the tank hunter whose gun was now being experimentally moved. ‘She’s a massive fan of yours.’

‘Really? Well that’s new.’

The reply was a confusing one and Dawn’s features expressed that. ‘Aren’t you guys one of the best teams in the empire though?’

‘Statistically true, but our supporters don’t really stretch beyond the Shades.’ Solstice gave a sideways glance with a raised eyebrow. ‘I thought it was kind of obvious; I mean our uniforms are black, we like fighting in the dark, and we roll around in tanks decorated like monstrosities. We’re the baddies’ she finally concluded, ‘hence not many fans.’

‘What?’

‘You really are totally new to this aren’t you? Suffice to say that we’ve sort of developed a reputation as Ponyville’s dark rival, who will “stop at nothing” and “stoop to any under-hoofed tactic” in our pursuit of victory. I’ll admit the infamy does have its uses though; it makes scare tactics so much more effective for example.’ The Hollow Shades leader laughed although it was a dry one, coming to a stop as one of her bat-like comrades approached with a muttered message. ‘Apologies, but I’ve got to be off, oh and you can tell Toffee that if there’s time before you go tomorrow she can take the H-type out on our test ground, if she wants.’

---

‘She’s so cool!’

‘Toff, you’re beginning to sound like a broken record now. You do realise that the one you’re fan-fillying over is currently trying to stalk us with her gunsight!’

‘Meaning Solstice, the Solstice, could be watching me drive’ Toffee sighed dreamily.

‘Oh I give up!’ Split huffed, sharply spinning the turret as she scanned the surrounding walls of trees.

‘Allow me to give it a try’ Blossom offered, leaning across the Panther’s cannon to better reach the caramel earth mare with her words. ‘Equis to Toff, come in Toff?’

‘What’s up Bloss?’

‘Say Solstice does see you drive.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Then surely she’d be more impressed if she could see you at your best, if you’ve got your head in the game, and we give her a run for her money.’

‘Yeah… yeah!’ In an instant the driver refocused on what she was actually doing. ‘Let’s do this!’

‘Points Bloss.’

‘It’s all in choosing your words, something that you could do to learn’ the unicorn grinned to the pegasus on her left, enjoying the semi-sulky huff she got in reply.

Accepting this as resolved at least for the time being, Dawn rose to her hooves out through the hatch and into the chill of the evening air as it rushed across her face. As planned the best part of their force rumbled together in a line three abreast, their Panther holding the right flank and the Little Lion the left, with the Rhino (carrying the addition of a green flag on its top) at their centre. In all things the night was an agreeable one, pleasantly as opposed to chillingly cold, whilst the skies just visible through the thick branches overhead were clear, permitting a sprinkled dusting of moonlight. There was a tension in the air however, sharp and pointed, which converted the black forest into one of myth, where threats might lurk behind every stump.

‘Lens is checking in on the coms.’ Coquette’s voice appeared in the captain’s earpiece. ‘No sign of enemy yet, moving into grid section F6 and… oh buck!’ The earth mare’s voice in a moment became a shrill panic. ‘Tornado’s been hit, they’re knocked out, but they’ve got no idea where the shot came from!’

Dawn activated her throat mic. ‘Are they all okay?’

‘Confirmed, all okay. Silver says thanks, they’re all fine.’

‘Gotta be the Hunting Panther engaging from long range’ Toffee ventured. ‘Solstice’s gunner must be an ace to land a round through these trees, unless maybe she fired the shot cos she’s so…’

‘Focus Toff!’

‘Sorry.’

‘Signal to all remaining tanks’ Dawn ordered to her coms operator. ‘Everypony keep your eyes peeled on your sectors. We’re on our own and it’s likely the enemy’s coming.’

All voices fell back into quiet. Atop the turret Dawn raked the treeline in all possible directions, whilst beneath her the weapon mount swung back and forth as Split likewise searched for contact. Nothing. Nothing stood out, nothing moved for a long moment, but then something stirred. It was low at first and she strained her neck trying to get her ears to register exactly what it was, receiving a questioning look from Ruby on the Lion for her efforts. Then her ears caught it again, metallic, rhythmic and regular. As it grew it finally became clear: it was an engine, or rather engines, but in the unusual acoustics of the woods their sources were indistinguishable. ‘Brace yourselves, they’re coming!’

‘Left side at nine o’clock, closing fast!’

Dawn spun, feeling her gunner following suit with their weapon, just in time to see the enemy’s three Leopards break through the undergrowth, their fangs glittering.

‘No shot, our own tanks are in the way!’

Their adversaries could fire however, three shells striking glancing blows against both the Lion and the beast it was protecting. As quickly as they had appeared the enemy then made an exit, having passed in front and behind to slip away into the brush off the right flank.

‘Damn it!’ Split sent an ineffectual shell chasing after them but only succeeded in snapping a gnarled trunk in two.

‘Everpony increase speed, expect their next attack from our side. Damage reports?’ Dawn barked.

‘Rhino unaffected’ Coquette replied, ‘Tornado unclear.’

The team captain darted back inside to better hear what was going on. ‘Put it on general coms Belle.’

*crackle* ‘We’re fine, steering’s been jarred up a bit but we’re still going’ Crystal’s voice declared through the static. ‘No other… no Onyx your mane does not count as a casualty, who’s going to bucking see it anyway! We’re really fine, out!’ *crackle*

‘Here they come again!’ Split yelled, face glued to her scope.

‘Engage immediately! If we can land a couple of hits we’ve got a chance!’

*Boom!*

As Dawn darted back up she watched as a plume of smoke was expelled violently from their cannon, the succeeding shell tearing between the under canopy to strike the leading Leopard in the front of its left tread. The charging vehicle skidded, crashing into a tree with track unwound and useless. This did not however put off its kin and they returned fire, again scoring indirect blows. Although their own Panther’s turret remained locked on a second target a further shot was not forthcoming however, evidently not reloaded in time, instead letting the two remaining enemies pull away, only slightly hampered by new fire from the Lion’s dual guns.

‘Damn it, no chance for a second go!’

This time in their departure the Hollow Shades vehicles turned their turrets, firing to their rear on the move, again striking blows on Ruby’s vehicle. Mangled, the Little Lion faltered to a stop, glowing red.

‘Report from Crystal is they’re okay’ Coquette pre-emptively called.

‘Good, tell them they did well.’ Dawn took a second in considering her options. However she figured it they were little but grim. ‘Toff put us in the Lion’s old position, Split expect a third attack. Hang in there everypony!’

At her command the Panther slowed, ducking round behind the squat shape of its last remaining ally as it took up position on the Rhino’s left side. The moment stretched, guaranteed to shatter at the enemy’s return.

‘Prepare yourselves!’

Then everything stopped as a single titanic explosion ripped through the trees. Dawn’s eyes whirled to her tank’s rear and were despairingly met by the defeated form of their charge, spun sideways by an impact in its newly unguarded right side and belching smoke. Like that its matte green coat turned red and its flag faded into immaterium.

No!

---

‘Well that could’ve gone better.’

The five friends slouched despondent on the mud guard of their tank, hind hooves dangling over the side. Elsewhere the last of their teammates’ vehicles were in the midst of being dragged onto a transport trailer, requiring the aid of the tractor to shift their battered bodies. The scene just acted to confirm the fact that they had well and truly lost.

‘Total understatement.’

‘Excuse me.’ A light voice drew their attentions, facing them with the pale form of Hollow Shades’ captain, except now with the addition of a plaster on the bridge of her snout. ‘Would you all mind following me please?’

Taking a moment to look to one another and collectively exchange shrugs they acquiesced, following the night pegasus’ lead. They wound their way to the back of the school’s main structures, all in antithesis to the nocturnal one they followed beginning to sag under the weight of fatigue.

‘Wait a minute, wasn’t she in their flag-tank?’ Blossom questioned quietly, ‘which wasn’t the one we hit, so where’d her injury come from?’

Dawn frowned. The hazel unicorn was as per usual right in her observation, but that added no actual sense to what it meant. From the corner of her eye though she caught sight of a knowing grin on Toffee’s face, matched by the one they trailed. ‘What is it?’

‘You’ll see’ the farmer just mouthed in response.

They rounded a last corner and stepped into a wide open space. It was surrounded on three of its sides by repair sheds, although their gothic inspired intricacies, details and scale defied that simple title, centred on what was essentially a carpark for armoured vehicles. The motor pool was filled largely with Leopards, Panthers and their more predatory familial members, as well as a great many more variants which were as yet unknown to Dawn, all eliciting a series of silent squeals from Toffee.

‘One of the more correct accusations that we’ve had levelled at us is that we’re spoilt as Princess Luna’s pet institution’ their guide explained, ‘hence all the hardware.’

They made their way through the neat columns of the imposing collection, passing a myriad of camouflage styles and aggressive extra liveries, only Split really capable of putting on an unimpressed expression. On the other side of the expanse however the sight which greeted them caused nearly all to falter, including the flippant athlete, as they were met by a carbon copy of the one at their head.

‘Hey, congrats on the match!’ the second Solstice greeted, stood before a hulking tarpaulin-covered shape.

‘I’m sorry what?’ a wide-eyed Coquette deadpanned. ‘Firstly: we lost, but far more importantly: how the hay are there two of you?’

The two nearly mirror images, separated only by a single injury, giggled before the new one answered. ‘This is my very slightly younger sister: Equinox.’ Both then returned to laughing at the stunned looks they received.

‘You know when I said that the Shades were known for unorthodox tactics’ Toffee began at a whisper, the only one not in light shock. ‘Well, most famously they were unfairly accused of switching their flag-tank in a match against Detrot, when really the sisters just drove around in matching H-types and their opponents got confused about which one they were supposed to be aiming at. It was as funny as it was brilliant, and ruffled a fair few feathers too.’

‘Thanks’ the mimic now introduced as Equinox smiled, evidently catching the driver’s words despite their muteness. ‘Not many take our side on that one. They should’ve paid more attention, and learnt to read the rulebook.’

‘As far as our most present game is concerned meanwhile’ Solstice picked up, ‘congratulations to your team are definitely in order. You set up a solid defensive line which didn’t fold up even when we charged you, showing good leadership and a loyal troop. Above and beyond that though you sacrificed a tank from your formation to come after us! That took guts, slightly foolhardy throw the dice and see kind of guts, but they’re often the best kind. It would’ve been interesting to see what you would’ve done with more at your disposal, which brings us nicely to this…’ With a quick look to one another the two siblings in unison raised a forehoof each and heaved down the obscuring material. ‘It’s a…’

‘Hydra One’ Toffee breathed out, ‘the first of its class.’3

In reality the previously hidden tank was not much larger than their Panther, but still it seemed to be, looking like a fortified bunker on tracks. A boxier style of the Leopard Threes’ turrets in the background sat at the creature’s centre, capping a tower to the left rear and right front of which two smaller versions were set. All three of these mounts held two weapons, dual machineguns in the case of the smaller pair and two varying calibres of cannon in the main. Beyond these revolving positions the rest of it was mostly flat, riveted faces, its hull flanked at each side by a mass of twelve road wheels and suspension brackets. Like the rest of Hollow Shade’s machines it wore a terrible serrated mouth on its prow, but beneath this its skin was jet black, scuffed and marred all over, giving it an even more aggressive, battle hardened air.

‘Yep, an EH-1’ Solstice confirmed. ‘It’s solid, but doesn’t really fit in anywhere in our line up, so we’ve been mostly using it as a practice decoy. I reckon it could do far more in your hooves don’t you think?’

It’s your turn to speak.

All were put into a stunned silence, but Dawn’s inner voice forced her to fight through it. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Yeah.’ Toffee was the second to re-find her words. ‘It’s not a common tank at all to be giving away.’

‘True, but we’re positive.’ Solstice was all smiles. ‘It deserves to be better used, and we’d prefer it to go to those who will appreciate it for what it is. No formalities this time, we were truly honoured to fight you earlier and we’d be further honoured if you’d accept this’ she concluded and with her sister gave a polite bow.

‘And of course kick some butt with it’ Equinox added. ‘You can even keep our badass paintjob if you want.’

Dawn and her comrades found themselves fumbling their own bows in return, remaining off step with the whole experience. ‘Thank you.’

The two night mares rose. ‘You might want to give it a look over’ the older of the two suggested. ‘Additionally once you’ve got it back with you you’ll probably want to strip out its smaller main gun, it just takes up space as it is which could be better served by a third set of hooves.’

Whilst the rest led by the younger of the twins began their inspection, the two captains gravitated to one side.

‘Sorry about your sister, is she okay?’

‘I told you to stop apologising! Don’t worry about it; stuff like that’s an occupational hazard’ Solstice shook her head. ‘She’s a total speed freak, so she’s seen far worse. You’ve got a caring spirit Dawn, which I bet your teammates see far better than me. It’ll serve you well, so don’t let anything change that. Your gunner’s got the makings of a deadeye too’ she changed track, ‘to score a hit on the move against charging opposition, not to mention your driver keeping everything smooth to make it happen.’

You’re turning pink again!

‘Thank you’ Dawn just managed through a potent blush.

‘I mean all of it. Have you got family in the military?’

‘Erm… no.’ The previously cream mare looked to her hooves, trying to disguise that a nerve had unintentionally been caught.

‘Sorry.’ Despite the earth mare’s efforts it was noticed. ‘There’s a big school of belief that there’s a connection between blood and aptitude in this martial art, as in: pegasus are best at air style for example, but more than that it’s thought by some that skills run in families. In my case warrior traditions run deep, going back in my family tree to my great grandmother and beyond, so nature and nurture are hard to disentangle. Anyway, I was just intrigued; you show great potential. On a lighter note though, I look forward to doing this again sometime.’

‘Me too.’

Kein Druck

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Pain, white hot and searing, surged up her forehoof, scorching every nerve ending in the limb as it went. Dawn recoiled from the table shaking her hoof as if doing so would dislodge the hurt it felt within, at the same time trying to will away a tear which had forced itself from her eye in response.

‘Damn Dawn, I’m sorry!’ Coquette was immediately at her fellow earth mare’s side. ‘Are you alright?’

As quickly as it had appeared the pain dissipated, although everywhere it had burnt still felt stunned. ‘Yeah I’m fine; it was my stupid fault anyway.’

‘In any case I think that’s as clear a sign as any that we should really wait for Bloss.’

‘Agreed’ the third of their number concurred, leaning lazily back in her chair. Dahlia was one of the rebellious crowd, unsurprisingly all blacked out except for some acid green frosting the tips of her jagged mane, the tone matched in her hoof varnish. The unicorn’s one passion seemed to be music; a feature evident in that she pretty much permanently had at least one headphones glued to her ear, and had hence been chosen as the newest team’s coms operator. ‘I don’t exactly get why we’re doing this anyway.’

The table at the trio’s centre was piled high with several sets of radio equipment in various states of de/reconstruction, accompanied by soldering gear (the cause of the captain’s recent injury) and multiple wide open user manuals.

‘We’ve got to know how all our kit works’ Dawn declared definitively, having had this conversation before, ‘so if they’re damaged during a match we can still get our communications up and running again.’

‘Plus we generally need to tune them better anyway’ Coquette agreed. ‘I’m already sick to death of hearing static all the time!’

‘Fine, makes sense for you guys, but I’m pretty much at the centre of our Hydra’s hull, deep in the belly of the beast.’ Dahlia stretched out further with an absent sounding yawn. ‘If we take enough damage for me to feel it I reckon our tank will have bigger issues to deal with than just fouled up wiring.’

‘Tsk tsk Dahl, where’s your martial spirit?’ Appearing from nowhere (something she seemed annoyingly good at) Rook brought the other unicorn straight back to attention with her criticism. ‘If memory serves it was you who were the bitchiest about not having a tank before now.’

‘Speaking of which, shouldn’t you be helping to fix it up rather than leaving your minions to it?’ the golden-maned coms operator interjected.

‘Well yes, and we’ve all been lending a hoof where we can, but Corset’s pretty much a one mare army when it comes to this stuff, not to mention that none of it is exactly my forte’ Rook countered.

Corset?

Both Coquette and her commander exchanged blank looks before turning in the direction of the Hydra One. Blossom was in the midst of lifting away the main turret’s second smaller calibre gun with her magic, it having indeed been deemed surplus to their needs.

‘Do you mean Blossom?’ Dawn turned and enquired with an unsure frown.

‘Hmmm? Yeah that’s right.’ Rook’s look became conspiratorial. ‘And therein lies a story you could ask her about if she hasn’t already told it to you.’

‘Hey Dawn!’ In a flash of pink and white Split shot down out of the sky, (unintentionally to be sure) planting herself in the way between the rebel leader and the team captain. ‘I’ve finished giving the other gunners a lesson like you asked, and they’re currently set overhauling their weapons’ she beamed. ‘So is there anything else at all I can help out with?’

‘Erm… thank you.’ The pegasus’ change in attitude had occurred soon after their return from Hollow Shades and Dawn was still far from used to it. ‘Right now the only thing I can think of is showing those who’ll be on the Hydra’s guns too, it’s got three turrets which will all need effective operators after all.’

Briefly the expected grimace passed across Split’s visage, but just as quickly it disappeared. ‘You got it!’ With a triumphal grin on her face she turned to the electric blue unicorn at her back, herself also succumbing to a small scowl. ‘Come on then you; show me to my new pupils.’

‘Fine’ Rook acquiesced with an eye roll. ‘See you later Dawn.’ Rapidly they were off, muttering at one another under their breath.

‘They’re here!’

The shout was called from the garage’s drawn back doors, where Onyx Gem was the picture of excitement, a look quickly repeated on the faces of the rest of the popular crowd along with Coquette as well and a few others. The arrival they had announced meanwhile drew up outside in a small bus, its sides marked with the letters RCA in painted mock filigree. From this a group of young stallions stepped out, lugging with them saddle harnesses of various tools, immediately being set upon by a giggling Ruby and co. Inevitably therefore they began to gravitate in the direction of the Lion until a louder voice called all to a halt.

‘Oi, hold it!’ The gruff tone belied somepony far older than the rusty coloured stallion who spoke it, bringing his comrades back into line. ‘Work first. Who’s captain here?’

‘Erm… that’d be me: Dawn Melody.’ The cream earth mare rose, briefly scrabbling in the table’s spilt wires and resistors for a piece of note paper, but being denied she made her way over.

‘Chain Drive’ he introduced in reply. ‘Not to be impolite but where can we start?’

---

‘Called it.’

Set back at the electronic laden table, Dawn watched a quite literal hoard swarm all over the shell of the Hydra One. Three sides fought for dominance on the multi-turreted creature’s back: Rook and company barking a constant stream of demands, the visiting engineers trying to fulfil them, majorly impaired by the presence of Ruby’s bunch clinging tightly to them. The selection came with the addition of Coquette, at that moment draped over a chrome coloured stallion who was trying to juggle a welding torch despite this complication.

‘Called what?’

‘Exactly what you’re looking at’ Blossom answered coldly, roughly pulling a fuse from the radio set before her with some pliers. ‘You’d think it’d take more to turn her into a fawning filly, but no’ she half-sighed half-huffed, severing a cluster of wires. ‘She’s so many things and yet she wastes herself so.’

Dawn decided that diversion was perhaps the best course of action. ‘Are you making any progress?’

‘No.’ A more concerted huff from the hazel unicorn proved the captain’s tactic to be a failure. ‘These things are bloody complex, and it’s an age since I’ve handled electronics.’ A particularly loud giggle flew over from the much more densely populated side of the room, causing her to wince and then scowl. ‘If you give me ten minutes maybe I can get a bead on it, and then give you more of a hoof.’

‘Thanks again Bloss.’ Without much else to do, and feeling decidedly inept, Dawn’s eyes passed elsewhere. There were of course jobs she should have been doing, working out the repairs the other tanks needed or coming up with a debrief for their last game for example, but for either she had need of Toffee. On the one hoof the caramel earth mare was far more the expert of course, but added on to this she provided a much needed support, particularly where public speaking was concerned. In any case though, the farmer was still missing. Drifting elsewhere her emerald irises went to the other end of the shed, far from the commotion which was consuming its opposite. ‘I’ll be back in a bit.’

Blossom registered with a silent nod, making an obvious effort to focus solely on the jigsaw in front of her over all other distractions.

The team captain moved off, hopping across a couple of construction bays as she went. Her purposes were simple and twofold. Predominately, like the one she left but for different reasons, she had need of occupation. At the same time though intrigue had drawn her, having caught a lone figure out of the corner of her eye.

In contrast to the raucousness of elsewhere, another sat quietly on a stack of large boxes. In this way, having placed herself beneath one of the cavernous building’s few skyward windows, Crystal seemed to shimmer, wraith-like or ethereal within the rays. The pale unicorn had tied up her mane yet much of it still fell down her shoulders, it like her position (seemingly trying to rise above the oil of the garage floor) conveying a steely determination alongside her delicate air. She did not notice that she had gained an audience, even as they drew closer, keeping her gaze on the book before her crossed forehooves.

‘Erm… hi’ Dawn began tentatively, feeling even as she spoke to be intruding and more insecure as even her slight words made the other mare startle.

‘Erm… hi’ Crystal mirrored, initially adding nothing more except leaving a hanging silence. ‘Oh sorry, have I forgotten something?’ Her voice turned worried with her question.

‘No no, nothing like that’ the cream mare tried to backpedal and reassure. ‘I just wanted to see how things were going… What you reading?’

The unicorn closed her tome, revealing its title: The Handbook of the Tank.1 ‘I thought that I’d better improve my skills, or lack thereof’ she sighed, ‘particularly with my new role.’

‘New role?’

‘Oh for buc… I mean sorry.’ Colour filled Crystal’s cheeks, turning her an adorable shade of pink. ‘Sorry’ she repeated, ‘I thought you’d been told, but me and Ruby have swapped places so I’m now the Lion’s commander. The consensus was that of all of us I handled myself best at the Shades, but I don’t know…’

‘Good for you, that’s great!’

‘Not really…’

Dawn cocked her head to one side, if she thought about it likely attempting to channel Blossom in an encouraging look. ‘Come on…’

‘No!’ Crystal snapped a forehoof down on the book in front of her, immediately recalling it to catch her overly loud lips. ‘Sorry. Look it’s just… two matches for two we’ve failed, and that was more than bad enough, but now it’s all on me to turn that around, and I really really want to. I don’t want to let anypony down anymore; I don’t want to let you down anymore…’ The unicorn again turned pinkish.

‘Finally! Where the hay have you been?’

The sudden call from Blossom’s voice forced Dawn’s neck to spin around, discovering the heralded arrival of a certain until then absent farmer. Although this of course brought a major relief, in that moment it hardly registered, immediately brushed aside as she turned back. ‘Crystal?’ The unicorn had however disappeared, leaving only the vacated crates in her place.

‘Hey Dawn!’ Blossom hollered, ‘look who decided to show up!’

---

‘…So I took Solstice up on her offer and spent the morning before we were supposed to leave putting her Hunting Panther through its paces on the practice course’ Toffee explained, smiling in a barely reigned in mixture of happiness and pride. ‘I don’t think I really have to tell you, but it was awesome! After that though there was still some time left, so I had a go in a Leopard Three, which I obviously had to compare to one of their earlier EL-2s, and then there was this converted Assault Tiger…’2 Her features strolled leisurely through memory lane and then turned sheepish. ‘And so in short I kinda missed the train and had to jump on the next one, so I got back a day behind you.’

‘And what about the jacket?’ Blossom asked, in the process of rewiring a speaker.

‘Yeah’ Dawn added in, returned as the third of their number around the improvised radio repair shop.

The caramel earth mare had indeed gained a new item of clothing: a wide collared and double breasted officer’s coat. It was however in a slightly fancier style than those seen during their brief visit to the other school, equally monochromatic but bearing the addition of fringed epaulette’s and Hollow Shade’s cybernetic bat logo in an embroidered circle of laurels on its back. This lay between two openings in the fabric, likely meant for somepony with wings. ‘Oh this?’ Toffee skirted somewhere between mock surprise, an act she was not particularly adept at, and un-repressible pride. ‘It was sorta cold when we headed out in the morning, so she kinda gave it to me.’

‘And I assume you haven’t taken it off since?’ the hazel unicorn asked, pausing midway through her work with a set of wirestrippers and becoming all grin.

‘Yeah…’

‘And from now on your probably never going to take it off?’

‘Maybe…’ Toffee’s shrug turned into a giggle, then becoming a laugh which spread around all three of them.

‘Attention everypony!’ Dice boomed, silencing the shed and demanding attention. ‘The pres wants us all in the hall double time, and no before you ask I’ve got no idea why. Come on, move it!’

---

Breath! Breathing is good, so remember to do it!

‘Easier said than done!’ Dawn thought back to herself. Where she was the act of simply breathing seemed much more of a luxury. She felt like she was placed on a podium, set up high and singled out, and she loathed every fractional second she had to spend there. She hated being on show, she hated being the centre of attention, and she hated all the eyes which felt like they were focused only on her.

‘…And that brings us to the final item of business this afternoon.’ The president addressed a hall of wholly bored faces, some obviously labouring to keep them supported on their forehooves and eyelids open.

Finally! Not much longer, keep breathing!

‘By now all of you know AIA’s newly established tank team, who won such a stunning victory against our neighbour’s from Dodge in their first match!’ The council chief made a sweeping gesture to Dawn and the rest of her comrades who shared the back of the overly full stage, evidently choosing to forget their most recent game’s result. ‘Although new, and therefore having far less experience than their competitors, they have shown considerable talent…’

Dawn found herself turning pink.

‘…and it has therefore been decided that our school will enter the national championships this year!’

Eep!

In lieu of words her mind jettisoned all eloquence in favour of wordless terrified noise. Those eyes that had been her enemies before redoubled their assault, quite a few waking to join in this newly focused barrage.

‘Victory in this competition would obviously bring our school great honours…’

No pressure.

As reality sunk in her subconscious returned, although its words remained as unhelpful as ever.

‘…and a considerable funding boost is up for grabs as the prize, which I know everypony, including myself, would appreciate.’

No pressure!

‘So please join me in wishing them, and Dawn Melody their captain, the best of luck! We’re all counting on you!’

No pressure!!!

---

The repair shed was still, whilst within only a few dim lights were switched on against the creeping shadows, in this and in so many other ways the antithesis of its daytime self. The only sound meanwhile to echo throughout its recesses was the light patter of raindrops against the tinny panels of its roof. Outside, the glittering fields of the evening sky had been stripped of their adornments, covered by thick covers of foreboding cloud. From these however nought beyond a faint drizzle dropped, still in of its limited self an oddity in the desert climate, all else behind which would have fallen from the moon and stars being blotted out by their sources’ presence.

‘No pressure’ Dawn whispered to herself, tone dropped even lower than it normally would, still sensing herself loud against her background. ‘No pressure.’

Although in truth she was alone, her quiet words therefore drifting to nopony’s ears bar hers, what she said was meant to be heard. Against her audience she was little more than a speck, a blip, dwarfed both by their scale and more than imposing stature. The five figures looked down on her statuesque, metallic visages blank, armoured shells standing firm whereas her own was forced to shiver despite itself.

‘In the grand scheme of things it’s no big deal’ she reassured. ‘If we don’t win it’s not like the world is going to end, or the school’s going to be closed down, or anything excessively apocalyptic like that.’

It would be nice though.

That she could not deny. Although her more reserved gaze did not alight as high as bringing home the trophy, still a part of her revelled in the idea of victory, even if she could only achieve one or perhaps even two. For all the terror her responsibility brought, stoked up by the glimmering hopes of all those that looked to her, more than that she wished to maybe achieve that much.

Her audience remained unmoved, staring her down through their multitude of gunsights. They gave nothing away; all they did was watch as she made her petition, joined in state by the neatly stacked boxes of supplies and spare parts which had needed to be catalogued earlier.

‘I’m going to do my best, and we’ll see how far that takes us.’ Her emerald eyes came up into focus staring straight back. ‘And all of you are going to do the same; at the very least you’re going to keep everypony safe.’

A loud unconcerned yawn caught Dawn entirely off guard, stopping up her words as her ears flicked outward. Even as they began their more concerted search a sigh followed the initial noise, further falling on her hearing. ‘Hello?’ Her quiet question received no answer. ‘Is somepony there?’ Still naught, spurring her eyes to follow her initial sense’s suit in scanning the space. Initially there was even more nothing, taking a third pass to notice the something that she sought, although she was as yet none the wiser as to exactly what that was. There was a tiny light, one that she was sure she had not switched on, glowing out just visible from the top of the Little Lion, the near unique tank set second in the row between the Tornado and her own Panther. ‘Hello?’ Once more there was no reply, pulling her forward on the tips of her hooves, creeping across the shed. An access ladder remained propped against the machine’s track and this she climbed, coming to the turret’s open hatch.

Crystal let out a second sigh, totally unaware of the earth mare that had appeared above her, delicate form regularly rising and falling curled up in the limited space of the commander’s position. A small engine inspection light hung from the hatch’s rim, illuminating a previously cramped space, already having to accommodate the breaches of two cannons, made even more so by a circle of half open books.

You’re not the only one who’s feeling the stress.

This observation brought with it a spike of guilt, making her whole previous monologue feel like a total self-indulgence. Despite the distracting intrinsic cuteness of the scene, the unicorn’s aims were perfectly clear, as were the fears which motivated her, fears that they obviously shared. None of this was made any easier as a shiver coursed its way through the sleeping figure’s form, causing her pure white fur to bristle. Ultimately Dawn felt responsible in a weird way.

You have to try harder, be more, and do more…

The earth mare found herself back by her own tank’s supply chests, rummaging amongst the contents of their winter fighting kit which had apparently come free with the vehicle. Just as quietly she returned, carrying a fleece blanket with her. As gently as she dared she tucked the cover inside the turret, helped as Crystal turned over pulling the warming material around her. The sight helped a little, as did a third more contented sigh from its occupant, letting Dawn make her way to the shed’s door. With a final glance back and a nod to the statuesque war machines she slipped out, just as the drizzle began to peter out.

‘stahl dickhäutern’

View Online

Beyond the pane intermittent lights whipped by like caged stars, caught, bound up and hung in webs of metal mesh. These torches were constant, flashing rhythmically in the dark as guides to the otherwise unseen path. It felt like this passage was unending, as if the darkness they were rolling through was truly a black hole in the infinity of the void, but then a faint glow began to permeate from somewhere ahead. As quickly as this tiny glimmer appeared full brightness burst forth, dissolving what little there had been in formless white.

The image which appeared to fill the blanked out frame was only bright compared to its predecessor, bisected as a sky of darkened clouds above a sprawling landscape of equally grey towers. Rising up out of this crowded metropolis, a settlement whose heart spread out from the banks of a bay sheltered by sharp headlands, skyscrapers and smokestacks raced each other to pierce the sky. The latter spilled their contents to merge the ashen ether with the world below. Back down on the ground branches crisscrossed, weaving between the buildings as the clogged veins of congested roads and artery-like canals, all heaving with predominately industrial traffic. Everything was motion, productive motion, beneath the darkened yet not ominous sky, recovering from rather than threatening a downpour.

A horn blast sounded twice, loudly heralding the appearance of a second train charging in the opposite direction back down the track, blotting out the factory town behind its bulky form. Passenger carriages trailed behind the other serpentine vehicle’s engine, their windows filled with gleeful faces and waving forehooves. Their sides meanwhile were decked in fluttering blue pennants, looking like water constantly coursing down their sides. Following these cars was a series of flat cargo wagons carrying a line of tanks strapped tightly to their backs.

The first of these were not particularly interesting, notable only really in their quantity, a good twelve units rushing by before count was lost. They lacked true curves, but still looked rounded at the back and front of their hulls and around their turrets, most of their parts cast as single seamless pieces or neatly welded together.1 A couple meanwhile sported longer cannons, dwarfing and in this doubling their lengths.2 Beyond these one beast was different: a low profile but wildly quadruple tracked monster, turretless with its gun instead mounted low in its snout less than a pony’s height off the floor.3

‘There’s Baltimare’s bunch’ Toffee observed, peering out through the carriage’s window, ‘with maybe not the coolest line up, but a strong one. Out there you’ve got…’

‘Mostly variants of the Tortoise 26’ Blossom interrupted, ‘along with their big sister the Tortoise 28.’ She put on a show of thoughtfully stroking her chin. ‘All very impressive.’

‘Oi, that’s my job!’ the farmer returned, more surprised than actually indignant.

Dawn watched the last of the other school’s cars roll by, swiftly vanishing into the tunnel her own train had just left. She turned, in time to catch Coquette’s bounding entrance to the cabin with company, a trio moving to take up the table’s remaining seats.

‘Found ‘em!’ the bubbly earth mare announced rather redundantly, gesturing to her compatriots.

‘Sup’ Lens nodded. ‘Where’s Split at?’

‘Gunnery practice with Rook’s lot, although I’m not sure how beneficial it can have been in the dark.’

‘Bet she’s enjoying that’ the pegasus smirked. ‘Not that I’m complaining, I’m not really in the mood for a pre-match fight.’

‘Er… hi Dawn.’ Crystal, the second of Coquette’s finds, was more reserved, keeping her eyes on her forehooves until a moment to speak presented itself.

There could not help but be a degree of awkwardness between them bearing in mind the last time they had spoken, but she tried her best to overcome it. ‘I just want to run through some things for today’s match with both of you.’

‘But what about the other commanders?’ the silvery unicorn asked apprehensively. ‘Shouldn’t Rook and Dice be here too?’

‘For the general briefing yes’ Toffee took up the mantle, ‘but we’ll do that later. For now though we’d like to discuss things just with the two of you as you’ll both be central in the battle plan. Stalliongrad’s a tough earth based team, so we’re expecting heavy tanks in dense formation protecting their flag. All pretty harsh bearing in mind our past experience, but I suppose hitting the championships after only two practice games is still a tad more sane than doing it after one.’

‘So to counter this we’re going with speed and aggression. As the pitch is urban our smaller vehicles should have the manoeuvrability advantage and we’re going to press this home’ the pale cream captain seconded. ‘This will however hinge on some successful deception, plus taking a couple of risks in order for us to break through and strike them where it counts.’

‘Cool, so where do we fit in?’ Lens queried.

‘For one thing you’ll be carrying our flag…’

‘Again cool, but…’

Dawn held up a forehoof against the coming interruption. ‘That’s because you’re by far our fastest. Due to the environment it’s likely to get up close and personal, at which point other vehicle’s extra armour won’t keep out accurate enemy fire anyway, so your small size gives you the best chance. Your starting moves are critical, and we’ll come on to them in a sec, but after that you’ll partner up with our Panther and we’ll act as your security.’

‘And what of us?’ Crystal asked quietly.

‘You’re going to win us the game!’ Toffee announced, visibly startling the Little Lion’s new commander. ‘The rest of us will make you a path, then you’re gonna take down the enemy flag.’

‘Erm… are you sure?’ The unicorn only half succeeded in hiding herself behind the translucent fringe of her mane. ‘I mean… well that’s huge, and we’re hardly…’

‘Absolutely sure’ Dawn jumped in quickly to reassure. ‘Your tank’s the best for the job. The rest of ours are too big to slip past the enemy, whilst the Tornado lacks the firepower to deal decisive damage against a lot of what Stalliongrad might field.’ She was definitive, before she was wholly aware finding herself reach across the table, taking Crystal’s forehoof in hers. ‘I know you can do it.’

---

A light breeze blew across a dusty plain of cracked tarmac, ruffling through a fair few manes as it went. The space was like a jagged bowl, bordered on all sides by the shells of long since abandoned buildings, their glass eyes uniformly put out and left shattered. Although all lay in a general state of dilapidation there was a small degree of variance, some roofs sagging a bit lower and some brickwork crumbling a little quicker into dust. Yet despite these features of disrepair the whole place seemed weirdly maintained. No graffiti for example was prominently displayed on any wall and in few places had nature been allowed to begin to reconquer the desolation, both of which would have been otherwise expected.

‘Team captains please step forward!’ a young mare called out, her voice magnified and echoing outward through a myriad of hidden speakers. Like the two that flanked her at her back she was decked in the stark lavender suit of her office, with the addition of a silver gorget embellished with two layered six pointed stars etched onto its surface.

Here we go.

Taking in a deep inhale Dawn stepped forward, moving out from the relative safety at the head of her comrades and out onto the open void. Steadily she crossed to the central speaker, trying desperately to make her movements seem less gingerly than they were, in her mind’s eye at the least failing utterly in this task. As a mirror Stalliongrad’s opposing chief strode forth, wearing an uncomplicated green tunic, its only adornment being a red shooting star pinned at a chest pocket. This opponent’s features were likewise minimalist, set as a strong granite wall giving nothing away. They came together in a cloud of silence, their joint journey seeming miles longer than its slight reality, ending up before the trio of referees.

‘Today’s game is a flag match.’ The lead purple suit addressed neither with her speech but rather looked beyond them to the audience with her words. ‘Are you both aware of the rules?’

Dawn nodded, endeavouring to look confident, and her counterpart far more successfully followed.

‘Have you both chosen your flagtank, and are you both aware of your adversary’s decision?’

The pale cream earth mare sent her gaze beyond their assembly to the centre of the enemy’s five tank squad. Running on twelve road wheels and easily matching the size of her Panther, the rival standard bearer was far from small scale, it just seemed it when set up against its protectors pulled up alongside. Its form carried itself thick, angular and heavy, not belying musculature but rather a blunt force, obviously without agility making up for this in protection.4 Its only real curves were in its prow and stern, apart from a couple of extra fuel barrels secured at its hips, whilst the turret it wore was basic, supporting a gun which almost looked stubby against the being it was attached to. Additionally a second weapon (thankfully only a machinegun though) protruded from the rear of this mount, extending from an extra box which jutted out above its back. Dawn again made her affirmation, as did this enemy tank’s owner.

‘Good, then you are both bound with your teams to honour and obey the tenets of play.’ The lead ref bowed, leading both captains and all others to follow them, first to one another and then outward to the crowds which watched over them. ‘The match will begin on my command’ she concluded, ‘so mount up, start up, and good luck to the both of you.’

‘You’re gonna need it.’

Too true.

Dawn caught the other leader’s muttered addition on her way back to her own lines and could not stop a part of herself agreeing with the sentiment as she and her comrades boarded their vehicles. ‘No, doubt isn’t going to help anypony’ she silently rebuffed back to herself as ten power plants were simultaneously kicked into life. ‘Coms test, does everypony read me okay?’ she asked aloud, receiving four affirmatives from her crew and then four more relayed as their radio grid was established.

‘Sweet Celestia!’ Toffee muttered into her mic, ‘I can’t believe we’re actually here!’

‘That feeling’s mutual’ Blossom agreed, locking the breach closed with its first round and checking the action. ‘Right now its feels as if we’re in the eye of a storm and it’s all about to come crashing down.’

‘Looks like Stalliongrad’s the local favourites’ Split observed, highlighting the relative sea of red stars and matching war paint which decorated the audience, themselves set in stands to one side of the square.

‘Well we don’t exactly inspire confidence’ Coquette sighed. ‘Their “style” or whatever matches the local one, plus they’re the experienced team, whereas we’re the newcomer, in a bunch of random vehicles, and we don’t even have a team logo yet. I guess all that just means we’ll look even better when we beat ‘em though’ she laughed, yet only half humorously.

This’d be the point where you’re supposed to give a rousing pep talk you know.

For the pale cream captain however, still not really used to that role, no words were forthcoming. Something was required though. ‘Erm… Toff, can you rev the engine please.’

‘On it.’

The Panther’s purring turned into a guttural growl. Atop the turret Dawn aimed to channel confidence as she made a smile, nodding first left and then right to her fellow commanders. Lens and Rook were the first to twig, succeeding in drawing out Dice and Crystal in turn, setting all their power plants to snarling in unison. Collectively their machines bade for blood and they made sure everypony else knew it, including themselves, riding on the noise.

‘On your marks, begin!’

---

‘Are you sure about this?’

Nope.

‘Yep’ Dawn lied. ‘Is Lens all set?’

‘All good’ Coquette confirmed, ‘just waiting on your order.’

‘Great, then tell them to get going.’ Atop the turret the commander turned to the pink pegasus stood beside her. ‘How about you?’

‘Don’t sweat it; I got this’ Split confirmed nonchalantly.

‘You’re sure? You’ve definitely got the signals down?’

‘Positive, if there’s one thing I can do it’s fast.’ The pegasus pointed to a chimney standing out high above all the other rundown buildings. ‘I book it up there, report on the enemy, and then get my ass back to you to join in the fun. All right yes?’

‘Yeah, but you’ve definitely got the hoof signals memorised?’ Dawn reiterated. ‘Bloss still isn’t sure if your boosted mic will reach us from there, so we have to be sure we can still communicate.’

‘For the last time yes!’ The rose pegasus rolled her eyes. ‘Put a little faith in me would you; you’re already putting way too much in Lens!’ With that Split alighted, quietly soaring up into the sky.

‘Are you sure you’re sure about this?’ Toffee repeated from within the hull.

Still nope.

‘Show a little faith’ Blossom countered as she shifted herself into the vacant gunner’s position. ‘Besides, isn’t at least half of this plan your doing?’

‘I helped a bit’ the driver answered gingerly, ‘and it looked good on paper. It’s just…’ she trailed off. ‘Maybe we got carried away, I mean it’s not exactly simple and we’re risking the flag as bait…’

‘No guts no glory.’ The hazel unicorn was definitive, but at the same time managed to retain her almost matriarchal encouragement in her tone. ‘If Dawn thinks we’ve got this, then we’ve got this.’

No pressure!

‘Erm… Dawn?’

Unaided by any mic, yet also at the same time uncontested with all engines resting at standby, the recognisable light tones of a small voice turned the captain about. Drawn up alongside her own vehicle the Little Lion was tucked in close, sharing a shadowy alleyway. Her emerald eyes met a set shimmering silver before they quickly drew themselves downward.

‘Are you certain it has to be us?’ Crystal asked quietly, not enjoying her question even as her lips formed it. ‘It’s not that I’m doubting you, please don’t read it as that, but it’s just… I’m… are you sure we’re…’

‘Everypony needs to stop asking me if I’m “sure” about this’ Dawn interrupted, ‘and you need to stop doubting yourself most of all. Ultimately this is apparently the first time in a quite literal age that Appleoosa’s been anywhere near the championships full stop. Our being here in of itself is therefore an achievement. Beyond that all we can do, given in a clichéd sought of way, is try our hardest. There’s nothing more, and I wouldn’t ask anymore of anypony.’

‘I know’ the pale white unicorn glanced upward, ‘it’s just…’

‘That you’re nervous right?’

‘Well yeah.’

‘So am I, and everypony else.’ Dawn stopped, considering her words and really hoping she could summon up the right ones, motivated most by the needlessly sorry expression her counterpart wore, desperate to excise it. It equally little helped her quest that her mind kept reminding her of the irony entailed in her desired encouraging speech. ‘That doesn’t betray any kind of weakness’ she essentially thought aloud, hoping not to sound too preachy, ‘rather on the one hoof it displays your ambition, to strive and achieve more than we are. At the same time though it shows an intense care for others, as in when you say you don’t want to let anypony down you more mean that you want to do all you can to help them.’

Crystal’s gained some colour in the form of a cute pink hue. ‘I guess…’

‘Like I said before, I know you can do this’ the earth mare continued, wearing a warm smile, enjoying the little blush her words elicited, if not wholly convinced of their success. Before she could say anything further however, a whistle drew away her attention.

Rook gave a wave, set atop her tank’s central turret, her vehicle sat next to Dice’s, although the teal unicorn in contrast had decided to remain undercover with hatches battened down. She pointed to the tower Split had made for and then to her own ear, concluding by crossing a forehoof over her throat.

‘Belle can you please put me on general coms, it looks like Split’s radio can’t reach us.’

‘Damn it!’ Blossom cursed, ‘I really thought I had the set sussed.’ She thumped their cannon’s breach in annoyance.

‘Listen up everypony.’ Dawn activated her throat microphone whilst within the hull Coquette relayed her words. ‘Stalliongrad’s unit is to the east’ she translated from Rook’s continued gestures, themselves a mirror to their technologically muted scout. ‘As expected they’re moving in force, with their four Hydra 35s forming a square cordon around their flag.’5

In an aura of Blossom’s magic a folded map was helpfully levitated out of the hatch, coming to float before Dawn for her perusal.

‘They seem to be moving in a grid search pattern, currently going from section H9 to I9. The Tornado should make contact in I8 and then draw them towards the dense residential section in J7, where we’ll engage as per the plan. Lens use harassing fire only to get their attention, and whatever you do keep moving.’

‘Silver reads and confirms’ Coquette reported from the radio. ‘Tornado’s moving in now.’

‘Okay everypony, let’s do this! Pincer one moving out’ Dawn affirmed with a nod Crystal’s way, ‘pincer two do the same.’

---

‘Did you miss me?’ Split shimmied her way back into her seat, having just moments before touched down on the still moving Panther, obviously pleased with her own feat. The fact that the machine had merely been idling along however, the Little Lion keeping easy pace behind it, detracted somewhat from its actual impressiveness.

‘General coms: our gunner’s back on board.’ Swiftly following, Dawn retook her commanding position.

‘Oh come on!’ the pegasus pouted. ‘Not even a “good job” or a little well done? I went as fast as I could and even made sure they didn’t spot me too!’

The cream earth mare looked down through the hatch. ‘Good job’ she smiled honestly, spreading an uncharacteristic deeper pink in her targets cheeks. ‘Now, head back in the game please.’

‘Yes ma’am!’ Split saluted, getting back to grips with her weapon.

In the background and coming closer a series of explosions rang out, interspersed with the occasional burst of rapid fire. These angry noises echoed between the tightknit tower blocks like a coming storm on the near horizon.

‘Report from Tornado: enemy still following, have remained in their defensive formation, they’re about to reach the rendezvous point.’

Dawn’s eyes lowered taking in her map. They sat on one side of a double dual carriageway, a broad road cutting straight through a forest of stacked apartment buildings, their two counterparts in their second pincer set in a side street directly opposite. By her predictions the pursing enemy would soon be drawn down this main road, in following it passing between their two claws. ‘Tell Silver that they’re good to open the taps and lose them’ she replied to her radio mare.

‘Tornado copies’ Coquette confirmed, ‘they’ll be with us shortly.’

A last particularly violent round of detonations crashed then ceased; the last call of a predator losing track of its prey. The noise of a swiftly closing engine was quick to follow, pre-empting the on cue arrival of their flag tank, skidding round the corner on the street at their back.

On top of the smaller vehicle’s turret a cloud of multi-coloured hair belied its commander, flowing in the rushing air like the vehicle’s added pennant. ‘They’re on their way’ Lens beamed, drawing up alongside the Panther whilst Crystal reversed back behind the two of them. ‘We scored a couple of hits on ‘em too so they’re also pretty pissed!’

The gutsier grumble of a group of far meatier engines rumbled into ear shot, their owner’s tracks scraping the tarmac as they lumbered into the main street. Even in absentia the machine’s seemed large, their power plants expressing an underlying complaint at the weight they were tasked with shifting. With each passing moment they got louder, drawing ever closer.

‘Steady everypony.’

Huge was not really an adequate adjective for the first pair of Stalliongrad’s four escorts as they emerged into view on either side of the carriageway. Taller than their panther, broader than the Rhino, they were also a good third of the length longer besides, topped with a crazy stacked quintet of turrets. They looked like fortresses on tracks, making their own earlier version of the Hydra look like a mere pillbox, their main weapon in a simple rounded turret atop a tower at its centre with a duo of smaller sentry versions both fore and aft. They therefore quite literally bristled with weapons in a mix of cannons and machineguns. Beyond this, the rest of the brutes’ forms were flat faces held together by rivets, most prominent of which were its sides, like castle walls in scale and bordered by a three hundred and sixty degree frame of wheels. One of the smaller turrets on the nearest one began to swivel searchingly their way.

‘Fire!’ Dawn yelled and in the same instant four tanks let fly in unison, peppering the enemy. For all the surprise and fury however their results were disappointing, Split’s shot only putting one smaller front turret out of action, whilst the Tornado’s bounced harmlessly off its shell. The ends on the other side of the broad road were far more encouraging though, a tall plume of smoke rising from a mortally wounded hulk smacked by a howitzer at close range. Despite this their attack still felt blunted though.

You can’t stop now! Go go go!

‘Crystal get out of here until we draw them further off’ the captain ordered, denying any internal doubts. ‘Everypony else charge!’

Battle cries ran around the coms whilst Dawn instinctively ducked inside her tank as it lurched into motion along with the one at its side, both of them running in opposition to their enemies. Her eyes half went to the viewing ports, sighting the blurry dark green shapes of their adversaries, and half went to her still clutched map, granting her the scene in vertical in her mind’s eye. Both pincers with pairs of vehicles filing one behind the other closed to their enemies, racing to the rear of their formation, the opposing columns passing so close by each other that that their guns could have been more effective as lances. The claws then closed shut, each side crossing one another to draw a figure of eight as they switched places and doubled back on themselves, returning to the cover of the alleys.

‘One Hydra knocked out, all other vehicles picking up speed to escape, but side streets too narrow for them.’ Coquette’s voice sounded in everypony’s ears. ‘One of the EH-35s is now covering their rear though.’

In Dawn’s mind the enemy’s square cordon became a triangular one, directly blocking their assault. ‘Pursue and engage, draw them forward!’ She popped back out of the turret as the world’s frantic motion accelerated.

From the right Dice and Rook’s vehicles darted in and out of cover, firing inward against their targets in the main street each time they crossed a T junction. From the opposite side meanwhile the Tornado and the Panther likewise weaved and lashed out. The enemy reposted as good as they got and the battle swiftly descended into a running slugging match, both sides scoring nothing better than glancing blows, turning it into a test of how much damage could be sustained by each vehicle. Stalliongrad’s defenders were skilled though, naturally moving into a driving wedge around their flag, although unwittingly in doing so they fell into a prepared noose as they roared out into an open square. Everything fell onto a knife edge as for both sides all cover vanished.

‘Crystal’s making her move at six o’clock.’ Coquette’s voice rang in their headsets above the din of battle.

Given its intro the Little Lion stormed out of hiding. Charging into the fray from the rear, it broke through the enemy picket line unopposed, locking horns with the flag at its centre. The remaining swarm of Hydra 35s immediately took notice, rallying to the defence of their leader, their attention immediately making the position of the brazen attacker precarious.

‘All vehicles all-out attack in support!’ Dawn shouted, most aware of the danger in their gamble. ‘Don’t let anypony lay a hoof on her!’

A fresh battle cry rose from everypony of Appleoosa’s force as they charged, ignoring all including their own safety in their assault. From one side of the expanse the Rhino and their own Hydra One rolled in, engaging two of Stalliongrad’s remaining land battleships. First salvoes on the move from both sides missed, pulling both Dice’s tank hunter to a stop as well as her enemy, both drawing up to better sight their targets. Simultaneously they shot, each being bathed in gouts of flame as they turned to glowing crimson. Rook meanwhile duelled with her adversary, turning all her guns to bear and equally being born upon as the two multi-turreted monsters pummelled each other, becoming a most effective distraction.

From the other side at the same time the Panther let loose, becoming a primal extension of its commander’s fury. Fluidly it swerved and shot, the smaller Tornado in support remaining covered behind its back and occasionally pulling out to fire. Their target however had more foresight than its kin, instead choosing to halt and spin a trio of its turrets to port, chasing the more important threat to its standard. Its machinegun spat angrily as two of its cannons homed in on their quarry.

‘Don’t you dare!’ Dawn found herself growling under her breath, defensive anger flaring. ‘Ram them Toff!’

‘What?’ The question rose sharply from the driver below.

‘Just do it! Like Dodge tried on us except this time we’ve got more weight behind it. Now!’

‘On it, everypony better hold onto something!’

Beneath Dawn her tank stopped being evasive, its path becoming a straight determined arrow, its pace unchecked accelerating to its peak. The Stalliongrad Hydra they made for got off one shot from a secondary cannon, not enough to even pause their progress, the distance between them reduced to nothing before a second could be tried.

*Crash!*

It was as if two bulls had smashed into one another, both beasts shuddering from the titanic impact. The Panther was thrown upward, mounting up on its target’s palisade-like side to crash against its main turret. Plates buckled inward, crumpling and distorting on both vehicles as combined force and weight crushed them together as one. Only the larger of the clashing beasts was stained crimson however, the victor although gravely wounded recovering to reverse back off its kill.

Dawn’s eyes remained focused past this however, caught up in the ongoing confrontation at the area’s centre. Two very different vehicles fought, fire leaping out from their guns again and again. Their combat looked much like that between a tarantula and a wasp, the relatively miniature Little Lion buzzing about the heavy flagbearer. The cruiser tank’s turret faced inward to its foe, its dual cannons blazing, shells striking hit after hit as it ran rings around its enemy. All this action was however secondary to its pale cream viewer, her gaze captivated by the shining unicorn topping the scene. Crystal roared in slow motion, forehoof remaining commandingly fixed to their target, directing each of her tank’s shots in flight, their blasts blowing her translucent hair back around her head. Stalliongrad’s leader was in contrast overwhelmed, desperately trying to keep up as the blows continually rained down against its hull until it could take no more, its power plant choking to a standstill and its pennant disappearing into the ether.

‘Flagtank immobilised! Appleoosa wins!’

It was all over, the brief pause which followed swiftly becoming the cried celebrations of a jubilant crowd, voices as much surprised as elated. Dawn emerged, panting in ragged breaths in her commander’s cupola, still staring at the one who was very much her colourless reflection, likewise just realising that she needed air. Crystal looked up and their eyes met, but both seemed too stunned to remember to blush or retreat elsewhere. The glowing unicorn beamed, brushing some strands of her mane back into place as Dawn matched her, sharing in the smile and the moment.

Picknick

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Nestled in a protective ring of rocky outcrops, surrounded beyond only by seemingly infinite dunes, blue waters shimmered at the base of a natural bowel. Only faint ripples played across the mostly still lake’s surface, running glittering sparkles in amongst its otherwise serenely aqueous tones. Around this great mirror further concentric rings radiated outward, its calm waves lapping gently against a beach-like shore, these sands then disappearing beneath a leafy border of trees. Inevitably, lying so close to Appleoosa, the boughs of the gnarled sentinels were thick with fruit, but in turn they defied the apple orchards of the rest of the township in sprouting pears in their stead. Everything in this secluded world seemed to have grown and flowed organically from the earth except for a single metallic pipe which reared out of the soil to one side, plunging its neck into the pond.

Far above, the sun shone down, just passing the peak of its ascent. The airy ceiling from which it glowed was a twin to the waters below, spread out as a cover of light blues, largely unmarred by anything which might veil the solar sovereign’s rays. What little rains there had been a week ago, blowing into the desert as the remnants of a storm elsewhere, by now were obviously long gone. There was in fact only a single cloud in the ether above the oasis, but if given more than a momentary consideration it became clear that it was not in fact a cloud at all. From a fluffy base rose classically styled pillars, supporting above a domed roof of the same substanceless material. Ultimately it was a palatial (if small) house, anchored static where it was and floating seamlessly.

This world both tranquil and warm felt even in the shade like the air was a comfortable duvet. It was hard therefore for Dawn to suppress the yawn which gripped her features, sprawled as she was on a blanket beneath the overhanging braches of the trees. She and five others similarly relaxed at the beach’s edge shared this serene haven, having long ago finished their picnic, content to let it settle.

‘This was such a nice idea’ Coquette sighed, verbalising what was a communal feeling. She had eaten more than the rest of them and was therefore beset by a far greater lethargy, choosing to use the hazel unicorn beside her as a pillow, leant up against the other’s barrel. ‘A great plan as always captain’ she tiredly mock saluted.

In a similar state Dawn waved away the other earth mare’s words. ‘Thanks, but it was really Split’s idea’ she countered.

‘True I suggested a picnic’ the pink pegasus countered, unlike the rest draped over one of the larger fruit bearing limbs above. ‘It wasn’t my idea to bring everypony along though’ she added just audibly, sulkiness just underlying her tone.

‘I never even knew this place existed. Thanks for bringing me along.’ Crystal smiled the captain’s way, ostensibly sharing the same tartan expanse as her fellow commander but placing herself separate, shying away to its furthest edge.

‘I haven’t been here in ages’ Toffee came in, half on her own blanket, noticeably patterned in desert camouflage, half supporting herself against one of the tree stumps. ‘At least not since you bought the place and the signs went up.’

‘How many times have I gotta tell everypony, that wasn’t my idea!’ Split huffed irritably into her forehooves. ‘It was my “Dad” who felt the need to buy the land, him who had the house built as opposed to letting us get a normal place to live, and it was him who put up those stupid “private property” signs! Is it too much to ask for everypony to just move on?’ She buried her face further. ‘I’m not like that.’

A quiet followed, although lacking its previous tranquillity, unintentionally broken.

‘Erm…’ the driver attempted, trying to sketch over her accidental blunder, ‘looks like we’re up against Las Pegasus High next round.’

‘How’ve you figured that one out?’ Blossom turned to ask, stopping as Coquette made a whining noise, instead remaining still. ‘I thought you said it would still be awhile before the full results for round one were released? What’re you reading?’

Toffee made a poor job of concealing the papers in her hooves, scrunching them to her chest. ‘Er… it’s a letter… from Solstice’ she admitted. ‘Since the match we’ve kinda stayed in touch.’ Her eyes went back to skimming the script. ‘She sends her congrats on our win versus Stalliongrad by the way, and her lo… never mind.’ She stopped, changing from caramel to burnt rose, making a show of shuffling back through the sheets with a concealing cough. ‘Anyway, she was up against Maretonia a few days ago and on the way back her train passed Las Pegasus’ in a siding. Since they were apparently celebrating its likely they beat Whinnyapolis, meaning they’d be through to face us, so she thought we ought to have the heads up.’

‘Good job consorting with the enemy’ Split sniggered from her branch.

‘Oh, she also said they had something hidden on one of their flatbeds’ the farmer continued, ignoring the comment. ‘She couldn’t get a proper look at it cos they had it covered, but whatever it is its huge.’

‘Sounds foreboding’ the unicorn turned cushion commented. ‘Isn’t that your hometown Split? Any ideas?’

‘Nope’ the athlete answered bluntly, only moving to aggressively shake her head, ‘besides I was only born there, nothing more.’

‘Hey!’

Split stiffened, reacting to the excited youthful voice just too late, knocked from her perch as a bright orange bolt struck the bough. She was more successful in catching herself though, breaking into a neat hover just before she crashed.

The streak of lightning was less adept, roughly hitting the ground and becoming a ball as it rolled through the sand. ‘Hey!’ the ball repeated loudly, unfolding to change into a tangerine coloured pegasus filly.

‘Why aren’t you in school?’ the older, taller and pink version of the new arrival deadpanned, tucking away her wings.

‘Aw come on! Don’t be so lame!’ the younger pegasus pouted back. ‘We got the rest of the day off cos there was an accident in zoology which I totally had absolutely nothing to do with.’

‘Mil…’

‘Anyway, stop being so rude already! This is the part where you introduce me, you know, to be polite and stuff. This has gotta be your new track team right?’

‘Actually…’ Coquette began before being immediately cut off.

‘That’s right’ Split broke in with a silencing look the golden earth mare’s way. ‘Dawn, Crystal, Toffee, Blossom, and Coquette’ she pointed out, ‘meet Milly: my baby sister…’

‘Don’t call me a baby!’

‘…and world renowned migraine inducer.’

‘Shut up!’

‘Don’t you have homework to do or something?’ the sportsmare asked, looking down to her sibling.

‘Hey everypony!’ Milly beamed, consciously ignoring the question before making a blunt answer. ‘Nope.’

‘Really?’ Split raised an eyebrow, giving her question an underlying warning.

‘Nope’ the filly repeated, ‘which means we’re going swimming!’

‘No way, not happening.’

‘Yes way, totally happening right now, or else.’

‘Or else what?’ the older sibling scoffed.

‘Or else I’ll do this…’ The filly stuck out her lower lip and her eyes became saucers, far surpassing even the most shameless of puppy eyes. ‘Pwease.’

‘Cut it out!’

‘But I said pwease and you pwomised!’ Impossibly the clichéd adorable display managed to magnify, Milly persisting and nuzzling against her sister’s side.

‘Okay fine!’ Split relented, resistance failing miserably. ‘Unpack you school bags and stuff first, and then I’ll come join you.’

‘Yay!’ The orange streak of colour immediately returned, shooting off in a blur towards the miniature sky palace. ‘You’re awesome!’

The pink pegasus watched her sister depart, a small but obvious smile playing on her lips before she remembered everpony else and tried to reset her usual degree of flippant nonchalance. ‘So, who’s coming with? I’m not dealing with her all by myself.’

‘Nope, too tired.’ Coquette rolled onto her side, putting her back to the lake. ‘And you’re not stealing Bloss either, she’s too comfortable.’

‘Have you been drinking?’ the hazel unicorn asked in a slightly condescending tone, but making no effort to throw off the one lying all over her.

‘Does food drunk count?’ the golden mare returned with a tiny burp.

‘Same here.’ Dawn shook her head. ‘Well, sort of. I’m way too tired I mean.’

‘Seriously? Don’t leave me hanging here!’

‘I will’ Toffee offered, carefully folding and stowing away her letter.

‘Likewise.’ Crystal rose. ‘It’ll be nice to cool down. We’ll even race you’ she grinned the farmer’s way, getting only confusion in return.

‘You’re on!’ Split’s powerful wings instinctively flexed. ‘How much of a head start do you want?’

‘Oh, none thank you.’ The pale unicorn’s grin grew even broader. ‘Three, two, one, go!’ In a flash of silver both she and Toffee disappeared in a burst of light, succeeded immediately after by another above the glittering pool, two splashes and then laughter.

‘Cheat!’ The duped athlete tore off after them, leaving the final three to themselves.

‘Do you think there’s a…’ Coquette began after a momentary quiet, pausing as she thought about her words and rolled onto her back. ‘A conflict of interests’ she decided, ‘with Toff I mean, since the closer we get to the final the more likely it is that we’re gonna fight the Shades you know?’

‘Personally I’m not worried.’ Blossom fielded the query. ‘Last time Toff played a major hoof in bloodying up Solstice’s sister’s nose, and she gave her a jacket for it. I think our little fanfilly probably revels in the idea of going a step further and beating their team.’

‘Could we get it to work in reverse though you think? You know get a buy through maybe?’ the coms mare ventured.

‘Where’s the fun in that!’ the loader scolded. ‘Besides, again I doubt it. From what little I saw of the Shades’ captain she didn’t seem like the quitting type, no matter the reason. Her beaten up sister again comes to mind as evidence to the contrary, plus I might add that it’s not like we need that sort of help.’ She sent a warm look Dawn’s way. ‘Together I reckon we’ve got this. Oh, while I remember…’ From a discarded saddlebag Blossom levitated out a small box done up in wrapping paper, telekinetically passing it over to her captain.

Dawn sat up, plucking the ribbon-tied parcel from the air. ‘What’s this?’

‘Not from me’ Blossom explained, nodding to the shape curled up at her side, ‘or little miss currently embarrassing herself here.’

The golden lump made a muffled whining noise again in response.

‘Rather they’re from Crystal, so dust doesn’t sting your eyes anymore.’

The pale cream commander pulled on the loose strands of the bow, releasing the lid. Within sat a set of goggles, much like a flyer’s, but with thicker protective lenses, their securing strap and face padding made from a soft black material. ‘She shouldn’t have…’

‘She said she’s no good at stuff like this, so asked me to give them to you.’

‘She’s very different when it comes to you’ Coquette came in. ‘If you’re our Manestein then you need the proper kit to go with your title! There’s even a place on the side where we can embroider the logo, when we actually have one that is.’

‘Damn it!’ Dawn jumped, startling the other two likewise in the process, ‘I knew I’d forgotten something!’

‘Calm, that’s not your problem.’ The golden earth mare waved a hoof lazily, brushing the air. ‘Before you start panicking, you haven’t missed a meeting; I’m handling the logo. Sitrep is that Blue and the Wraith each came up with their own design, so I told them to go away and come up with something together, suffice to say that they weren’t happy but at least they’re on task.’

The captain exhaled deeply in a relieved sigh, at least one problem lighter. ‘Thanks Belle.’

‘The last thing you needed was mediating between the two of them on your plate as well as everything else you’re already dealing with.’ Coquette found the strength to sit up for a moment and stretch, gaining a thoughtful frown as if further reminded of something. ‘Bloss?’

‘What’s up?’

‘Well… we know each other pretty good right?’

‘What is this?’ The loader turned onto her side to face her friend. ‘Seriously, what’s up? You never talk like that.’

‘It’s just why does Rook call you “Corset”?’

‘Yeah, I wondered about that too’ Dawn seconded.

Both earth mares gave a questioning look in unison.

‘Erm…’ Uncharacteristically Blossom stumbled, for the first time in at least one of her compatriots’ hearing. ‘That goes back a long time, back to when I first came to Appleoosa.’

‘But I’ve known you ever since you arrived’ Coquette countered in a more confused tone.

‘Not exactly true. I’d been here the best part of two years before we properly met.’ The hazel unicorn sidestepped an oncoming interruption with a quick glance. ‘Obviously when I transferred here I didn’t know anypony, so I kind of fell in with Rook, Lab and the rest, mostly because I was doing pure arts and shared a load of their subjects. With that I conducted myself very differently to how I do now, for want of a better way to put it, hence why we didn’t really know each other maybe. If you can imagine me blending into that crowd it sort of gives you the right image. Anyway, passing over a long series of potential anecdotes, I ended up wanting to get a piercing, Hel taught me generally how to do it, I wanted something different, and in short she ended up giving me a corset. Thus the name, like others not particularly inspired.’

For once the golden earth mare had gone quiet, therefore leaving the stage open for Dawn to query further. ‘Sorry, I still don’t get it; principally what exactly that is?’

‘Oh, it’s where two lines of flesh rings are put in on either side of your back and then you lace them up, with ribbon for example, making it look like the fastenings of a corset’ the unicorn answered like it was the most ordinary thing in the world. ‘Hel did a great job on it and it looked great, I loved it, still think it looked great actually, but that was the peak point.’ She paused, considering and selecting her words. ‘The speech that this has become shouldn’t be confused with regret by the way, it was fun and I’m still good with Rook and everypony. It was just… with all that metal on my back, and there was a lot of it, that kind of became all I was. I mean that on a petty look level, but slightly deeper as well; I didn’t like looking 2D or seeming it to others. Basically I got bored.’ Having chosen to look to the sky while she talked she glanced to her side, met by one usually more vocal remaining quiet. ‘So over one summer I reverted a bit and took them out, then when I came back very few recognised me so it became a new start. For the record though Belle we did share a creative writing module before that, though in my state then I wasn’t exactly the most approachable.’ She cracked a small grin, making light of it, and then rolled away onto her other side, reaching a forehoof over to point at her back. ‘Hel is really good at what she does. There were sixteen rings on each side and you can still sort of see the scars from where they were…’

‘Sweet Celestia Bloss!’ As soon as the taller mare turned away Coquette broke from her trance, moving in close like a nurse inspecting a wounded patient. ‘How could you let her do all that to you?’ Evidently none too happy with the marring marks she found she leapt to embrace the hazel unicorn, drawing up behind her and pulling her into a tight hug.

Blossom’s initial response was to stiffen up, fur bristling at the sudden increase in intimacy, a faint blush following close behind. ‘First: she didn’t “do” anything to me, I asked her to, and second: have you seriously not been drinking?’

‘Sorry… I…’

This is starting to feel awkward.

By now Dawn very much felt like a guilty spectator, considering that it maybe would have been better to follow the rest to the lake. For the first time since she had met her she saw the golden earth mare turn pink, and this served to only deepen her sense of intrusion.

Coquette had recognised that she had probably overstepped the mark, pulling back slightly, but not letting go. ‘Sorry, it’s not really about that; it’s more a question of why you’ve never told me about any of it?’

‘I don’t know.’ From her previous discomfort Blossom’s frame relaxed, although she kept her face away and its embarrassed burnish had certainly not dissipated. Tentatively she brought a hoof to her shoulder and the other’s forehoof still enwrapping her, wordlessly bringing its owner back into their cuddle. ‘I guess I didn’t want you to judge. Just because I don’t regret anything doesn’t exactly make it a point of pride.’

‘But since when have you cared about how any other pony has judged you? I wouldn’t ever do that anyway, and I’ve always shared everything with you...’

Feeling really awkward now!

‘Get a room you two!’ Split’s voice broke in, forcing the pair apart as she landed with a broad grin on her features. ‘More important than… whatever this is…’

‘We’ve found some tanks!’ Milly like the sister which preceded her shot down out of the sky, landing on the other sibling’s back. ‘Although I still don’t get why you’re all so excited about it. What do you even need them for anyway?’

‘Never mind that, the point is that there’s a couple of vehicles at the bottom of the lake’ the pink pegasus concurred.

‘Really?’ Dawn felt more than a little bit relieved by their appearance. ‘At the bottom of the lake? How does that even happen?’

‘Luna knows, but they’re either tanks or bloody big steel elephants, and the first option seems far more likely.’

‘She’s right’ Toffee agreed, running up and unlike the pegasus, dried in flight, dripping from the pool, usually mussed up hair slicked back across her head. ‘Crystal spotted ‘em.’

The silvery unicorn was the last to return, dextrously tying her soaked mane up in a tail. In Dawn’s eyes at least the water seemed to have turned her into her namesake, the droplets clinging to her already shiny fur having the look of glass as they glinted in the sun, shimmering like the rest of her being. She paused, noting the opened present, and added a shy smile.

Stop staring!

‘What kind of a state are they in?’ the captain managed to recover.

‘Likely severely messed up, regardless of how long they’ve been down there’ Toffee reported, getting a nod of agreement from Blossom. ‘They look like a couple of heavies though, so if we could get them even partly running they’d be an asset. In any case though, we can’t just leave them down there to rust away to nothing!’ Her tone managed to make such a thought seem like the worst crime ever considered in the history of Equis. ‘So what’s the plan?’

‘Panzer Antreiben’

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‘Hello and welcome to Trottingham everypony!’ The lilac form which greeted them off the train was drawn as the image of hospitality and friendliness, aspect topped by a paler mane, short and regimented strictly straight by a comb. ‘It’s simply wonderful to be hosting a team making such waves as yours! Again a most rapturous welcome!’

‘Erm… thanks for having us’ Dawn attempted to match in reply, acting as the obvious spokespony for the crew at her back. Their previous arrival at Baltimare had been very different, far more formally managed, involving the signing of a variety of official documents. This was almost the reverse, not unwelcome, but unexpected.

‘Ah yes, Miss Melody right?’ The purple earth mare wore an extremely adorned red coat, buttoned in gold with embroidered braiding spiralling away from these fastenings across its front. Further buttons and fringe meanwhile decorated its shoulder boards, whilst a broad white sash bisected the whole ensemble, much like a dress cavalry jacket. ‘Or would you prefer Dawn?’

‘Dawn’s fine thanks.’

‘Spiffing! Coronet, and I’ll be your team’s liaison for the duration of your stay.’ She extended a forehoof and they shook, the sole similarity to previous experience. ‘Please don’t hesitate to inquire if you need anything or have any query. Now, if your vehicles can follow the signposts they’re sure to find their way, meanwhile if you’d like to come with me we can take the more scenic route?’

‘Lead the way’ the captain replied, giving a quick glance back to her equally bemused comrades.

They passed from the platform into the town proper, the fine weather having followed them there in transit from Appleoosa, the sun shining down from an only sparsely clouded sky. Trottingham was hardly small, but weirdly as they strolled through it the place felt it, in the same way their hometown defied its actual proportions through its traditionalism. Here though the quaintness was taken to a whole new level. Every dwelling they passed, no matter its actual scale, constructed itself as a cottage, fronted at least by old looking black-stained timbers and whitewashed panels. In front of most were set lush gardens overflowing with flowers, whilst above similar clusters of blooms dangled from hanging baskets and vines snaked like bunting across the promenades they walked. The streets were broad parade pitches, the buildings that flanked them low and surrounded by greenery, seemingly every second one some kind of small shop, all meaning that it stretched far beyond the boundaries of any normal urban centre.

‘First visit?’ Coronet asked as they exited the open plan maze, coming into a particularly large cobblestone plaza, having remained politely quiet while her audience took everything in.

‘Yeah’ Dawn nodded, matched by most at her back.

‘Same’ Blossom agreed, ‘but it’s a lot like Hoofington if you don’t mind the comparison.’

‘Not at all, although I might say that we’re the slightly more refined sibling. From what I hear we’re a pair a lot like you and your neighbours Dodge Junction.’ Their guide remained all smiles throughout. ‘I must say though that it is splendid to finally have a serious squad coming from your neck of the woods. Dodge has never been much cop if you’ll pardon me saying so.’

They passed by what seemed to be the repair shed they were supposed to be making for, although they more had the look of squat barns, simply thatched like all other structures. In the beautiful weather most stood with their fronts open, letting in the sunshine and out the clamour of busy tools, although even these seemed to conduct themselves with a more reserved etiquette. In those that they went by Trottingam’s crimson clad mechanics worked on their vehicles, or rather hulks which had been them. The machines looked like they had taken quite the pounding, most lacking tracks and with sections of armour hanging off or bent at crazy angles. A couple were even in the midst of having their main guns removed, the mighty weapons actually having been bent out of shape by heavy impacts.

‘Baltimare put up quite the fight’ Coronet clarified, following her audience’s looks, ‘although I guess that’s what tends to happen when two earth teams square off. As you can see our Lions took rather the severe beating, but they still served out a sound drubbing. At least it was a good clean fight, although perhaps a tad dull, neither of which can be taken for granted next time since we’re set to face the Shades.’

‘Those are Lions?’ Coquette asked from the back of the party.

‘That’s right, we have quite a few of their variants in our motor pool. Those ones are Lion Mark Eights for example.’1

‘But they look nothing like our Lion’ the golden earth mare continued, this time changing to a whisper.

‘Ours is a Cheetah Four remember’ Blossom answered equally quietly, ‘Little Lion is just a nickname.’

‘Why, I mean other than of course to make this needlessly confusing and me look stupid of course?’

‘You’ll have to get Toff to clarify it, but yeah that sounds about right. All the serial numbers, designations and nicknames are probably part of an Equestria wide conspiracy set up just to mess with you.’

The whistle stop tour came to its end as the cobblestones widened out into a large plateau, flanked by a pair of double size maintenance buildings and with an open air fuelling station at its far end. Past these pumps and berths the ground and road surface fell away, becoming instead a quickly branching dirt path meandering its way through rolling fields. Light slopes melted away into one another, streams and small rivers running between them, occasionally bridged by stone arches. Some patches stood out as areas of low grassy ferns, but most was covered by the densely packed rows of vineyards, their tall frames and associated vines creating a maze of leafy walls.

Familiar engines rumbled into earshot, marking the arrival of their five tank column, immediately being directed into the first large shed.

‘So then, this’ll be your domain for the duration and Las Pegasus will be across from you’ Coronet concluded. ‘When they arrive we’ll do refreshments, then you’ll have until tomorrow to do prep and…’ She stopped as a far louder mechanised thunder appeared. ‘Ah, speak of the Siren!’

‘What the buck is that thing?!’ both Coquette and Split exclaimed in unison, verbalising what everypony else struck silent was thinking.

If those tanks that they had so recently discovered in the lake were elephants then the thing approaching them (quite literally making the ground tremble even from a distance) was a mammoth, a decidedly deformed mutant mammoth. The creature was extremely long and thin, no broader than the average heavy tank but trailing a good three times the length further backwards behind the sloped box of its prow. From this foundation sprouted a trio of crazy stacked growths, formed from multiple turrets as if severed from many smaller vehicles and then absorbed along its spine. The base of the fore and aft piles was recognisably made out of the same weapon mount which Stalliongrad’s flagtank had been equipped with, sporting the same angular front and rearward facing machinegun. On top of the first one then another turret popped out from its roof, smaller with a dual autocannon as its armament, a second of these smaller double weapons being recessed just behind on the hull. The back meanwhile was the tallest of the vehicle’s spires, having a smaller single cannon atop its base one and then an unknown structure of scaffolding and rails towering further above that. Finally at its centre was its largest weapons: a great revolving box, with a smaller one on its roof like the rest, hosting a pair of cut down versions of their Rhino’s huge howitzer. Nine more smaller war machines trailed in formation behind, but it was hard to pay them any heed as the titan came to a stop in front of the opposing shed.

---

‘That’s all very nice and all, but seriously what the buck is that thing?’ Split asked for a second time. ‘I count seven turrets and ten cannons, plus three machineguns for buck’s sake!’

The Panther’s five mare crew sat at the centre of a long table decked in white lace edged cloth, surrounded by the rest of their team further along its length. Opposite them similar furniture had been arranged for Las Pegasus’ larger squad, both sides arrayed facing one another across the cobbled ground in front of their sheds. In the western city’s case however they more had their prize behemoth for their backdrop, it not having fit in their maintenance area. A third table was meanwhile placed across the flank of the opposing factions, filled with their red coated hosts. In front of everypony a lavish afternoon tea had been served, dainty cups and other paraphernalia feeling totally at odds with what they were there for, not to mention the silent interrogation two of the parties were giving one another over the empty divide.

‘Cue Toff.’ Blossom halved a scone she had selected, liberally applying cream and jam, but only to the first of the pieces, before digging in.

‘Official designation is the PHex+20’ Toffee answered excitedly through a mouthful of sandwich (a sandwich she had constructed out of several of the crust-less things masquerading as real ones), ‘generally known as the Hexer.’2

‘Yay more numbers!’ Coquette groaned, ‘at least it’s not another freaking “Lion” though!’

‘This one’s easy to remember’ the caramel expert continued, assembling a second plateful from the table’s spread. ‘There’s only ever been one Hexer, plus look at it! It’s not exactly easy to forget!’

‘What exactly are we up against here?’ Dawn’s face had not exited its concerned look since the massive creature’s appearance and her worry slipped into her query.

‘It’s an experimental type of Hydra, part of research into using such vehicles in air style combat. It’s also the only tank ever, at least partially, developed by Air Marshall Dash’ Toffee added, gaining another set of turquoise ears to her audience from further down the table. ‘The story goes that her only major input on the project was the demand that the vehicle was “twenty percent more” than anypony else’s, but the results of this were disappointing so twenty became two hundred. It never worked though cos it was underpowered, making it too slow to keep up with even heavy tanks, and it also had a tendency to break apart on rough terrain since its hull couldn’t support its weight.’ She pointed to a pair of massive hinge joints placed between its three main turret piles. ‘They obviously got a hold of it at some point and have been working on getting it functioning; those flex joints being one of their fixes.’

‘It’s got to have weaknesses?’

‘I would’ve said speed, but they beat Whinnyaoplis to get here so we’ve gotta assume that they’ve upped the engine enough to at least partly overcome that. Also their other vehicles are lights and fast which would make no sense if their toughest couldn’t at least try to keep up with them.’

‘What about manoeuvrability?’ Blossom suggested, moving on to prepping the second half of her scone. ‘Bearing in mind its length its turning circle must be terrible.’

‘Very true’ Toffee nodded. ‘The only other thing I can think of is that it’s not actually that heavily armoured all over. Any of our guns could do damage to certain parts of it with the right range.’

Split made a sweeping motion with her wing. ‘Let’s just charge in blasting then and ram the damn thing.’

‘Nope.’ Dawn shook her head, pushing her plate away to clear a space before her. ‘The match is annihilation and they have twice our numbers, so losing anypony is going to make it much tougher. Also the council gave me an earful about ramming because of the repairs which had to be done last time.’ She selected a particularly large slice of cake, placing it where her plate had been. ‘The Hexer.’ Next she collected nine macaroons. ‘Their… Tornados, right?’

‘Yep’ the driver confirmed, ‘the rest of their kit are all PT-70s, better than our earlier version in a couple of ways, but generally they’re on par.’3

‘So what are they going to do with all of that?’

‘They’ve got enough to divide and conquer.’ Toffee reached over, moving a trio of the macaroons about the cake and the rest into their own formation. ‘I’d suspect something like that: six scouts to locate us in force, then three in reserve guarding their sledgehammer, which will follow and try to crush us based on the other’s reports. In doing so either of these groups can outgun our whole team, whichever finds us first, and then they’ll hope to converge and wipe us out.’

A quintet of differently decorated cupcakes joined the confectionary collection in play. Dawn moved them about. She organised them together, she divided them apart in groups, quite aware that all her actions were under the scrutiny of her comrades and friends. Her mind filled in the details of the movements, thrusts, feints and counters, but nothing seemed to click, the pressure in her head from her expectant audience pressing in tighter. ‘We have to divide as well, to try and whittle down their numbers without letting them link up, but… I’m not exactly sure how we can achieve that.’

‘A suggestion: might you be overthinking things?’ Blossom lightly levitated her tea in front of her lips, blowing steam from its surface. ‘I know you feel like everything’s supposed to be on your shoulders, but trying to stage manage everything in minute detail is impossible, there are far too many variables for any one pony to keep track of.’

‘Even you’ Split complimented. ‘We’re all a team in this.’

Toffee, whose concerted efforts seemed to have actually satiated her appetite, gave a supportive smile. ‘Self-dependence is the hallmark of a good tank commander.4 You can handle the broad game, and then we’ll all help make it happen.’

‘Too right!’ Coquette remained the brightest of all of them, although to their surprise she then went beyond this perfect if simple summation of the collective feeling, rising to her hooves. ‘Together we’ve got this! Isn’t that right everypony?’ She raised her teacup high as if it were something far grander. ‘Cheers to victory!’

‘To victory!’ Everypony got to their hooves and followed suit, drawn up together as Coquette showed off her infinite capacity to say exactly what was needed, lifting all spirits with her words.

Dawn followed with the rest, carried on the general swell, uncaring therefore of the askance glances they got in return from the team opposite. The faux pas equally drew a few disapproving splutters from a couple at their host’s table. In the corner of her eye however she caught the end of Trottingham’s company where Coronet and an unknown comrade shared a quiet laugh before they both sent a nod and a smile her way, raising their cups up in kind.

---

Is this really going to work a second time?

Coquette huffed, looking up from her station. ‘Dahlia’s asking for another sitrep’ she repeated, her growing exasperation evident. ‘Please give me something to tell her, she’s threatening to put her damn music back on!’

Dawn could relate, but that did not necessarily give her a helpful answer to send back. The waiting was the worst, caught on the precipice but not quite falling, stuck on the start line before a race. What was coming kept her on the edge, kept wound up tight, yet equally there was enough distance to allow her mind time to dwell. Allotted the space to vocalise, her mind was her greatest critic, doubting, questioning, whilst it sadistically took on the guise of those she cared about. Had she done enough?

‘Dawn?’

Can you be enough for them?

‘Dawn?’

Unclear, every better answer blurred as the question felt like it had a very different meaning depending on who she considered. For most she wanted to be a good leader, but for others she wanted to be a bit more, much more maybe…

‘Dawn?!’

Meanwhile, back in reality! Focus on the present, not the unrealisable!

The captain was pulled back from her thoughts. ‘Oh yeah, sorry… tell her…’

‘Please, anything…’ Coquette stopped mid-plea, listening intently at her headset. ‘Never mind, scratch that.’

‘Fate provides’ Blossom observed, moving to tap the pegasus beside her. ‘Wake up hotshot, it’s time to shine.’

‘Rhino still undetected, making its approach’ the radio mare reported, her succeeding silence casting all rising hopes back to the floor before this turned into a small giggle. ‘Just messing with you. More importantly the other two are on their way with all targets in tow! They’re less than a minute out!’

‘Buck yeah, finally!’ both Split and Toffee cheered in unison, sharing a grin and a hoof bump as they recognised their own mimicry.

‘Panther reads and is waiting’ Dawn responded. ‘Belle, make sure Rook’s aware as well please, and everypony else get ready.’ She rose up into her cupola, breathing in the flower scented air, tinged a bit as it was by the baser notes of fuel fumes. They rested in what was very much a chocolate box village, the kind of intrinsically smiley hamlet which would adorn a postcard, except like the larger facsimile of Trottingham proper this view was false. The place was the game map’s one prominent urban feature, beyond a few scattered outbuildings placed in the surrounding vineyards the only other thing of note being a small forested region in the south. As it was they had deployed themselves just off centre within the geography, near the northern edge of this settled landmark.

‘Silver and co copy all.’

The captain looked to her right and the malevolently fanged form of their Hydra One, receiving a nod from the blue unicorn in its central turret. The two tanks were placed at either side of a crossroads which bisected the village, the second of a pair that created a box of central streets. ‘What formation are Las Pegasus in?’

‘Ruby reports two groups of three following one another, each one formed up as an arrow.’

‘Perfect. Get us into position Toff.’ Dawn sent Rook a nod of her own, whilst beneath her the tank swung away, turning to and approaching the next intersection in line parallel to the one her counterpart covered. She kept her sights behind her, watching the Hydra and its roadway intently.

‘Rhino almost has eyes on target, meanwhile others have entered town!’

A cacophony of screaming engines made their presence perfectly clear, reverberating through the village’s narrow streets and breaking any tranquillity it may have had. For the crews however the experience was very different, inner tensions winding tighter as their systems gifted them their first doses of adrenaline. The competing noises grew, hard to locate.

All of a sudden a pair of tanks broke across Rook’s intersection, passing the unicorn hidden in cover to one side. They were the Tornado and the Little Lion, their commanders ducked under cover and their turrets faced to the rear, firing as they dashed across the junction. A matte sand coloured and lightning cloud decorated trio were quick to follow, three of Las Pegasus’ nine reconnaissance vehicles which all seemed to ooze the speed and performance required of that role. Toffee had called them PT-70s, later Tornado models, although unlike their own their crews were one mare sparser. Their forms were all sharp lines and straight points, designed to cleanly cut as opposed to bluntly cleave their way through the air, their turrets even sloping back like shark fins. As this first three passed their guns remained silent, for now at least more focused on their pursuit.

Now Rook!

Dawn found her mind’s shout to be needless as on cue the Hydra stormed out of hiding, placing its weighty form across the crossroads at an angle. As it had moved its turret had swivelled to target where the enemy had appeared from and now it roared, its smaller front machinegun following suit furiously.

‘One down, the rest pulling to the left.’

As she spun back round the captain’s eyes caught a couple of redundant shell bursts as they landed harmlessly just off target, failing to hit the multi-turreted barrier. In front of her: another crossed intersection, empty and remaining so as the second stretched. As suddenly as before first one and then a second enemy tank revved into the void. ‘Fire!’ The divide between her order and their shot was next to non-existent, slamming squarely into the first PT-70’s side, instantly knocking it out. Its now lonely partner began to spin its turret to reply as it tore off, continuing in its progress. The junction however proved too big a piece of open ground to cross, the Panther impossibly quickly spitting forth another shell and punching the fleeing vehicle in the stern. Both wounded vehicles began to glow, voicing their defeat. ‘Buck yes!’ Dawn found herself cheering before she could catch herself.

‘Couldn’t have put it better myself’ Split seconded, falling back of her weapon’s controls with a satisfied sigh. ‘Points on the loading Bloss!’

‘Muscle memory and practice’ Blossom returned flippantly, although it was evident that she felt some pride in her efforts.

Further congratulations were cut off by a shout from the coms. ‘Hexer is firing!’

‘At wha…’

From her place outside Dawn was just able to register a faint whistling sound before the first rocket fell on a nearby cottage, with flaming tail burning straight through the structure’s thatch to detonate within. There was a white hot flash and then there was flame burning bright behind its blown out windows. Without a moment of respite the rest of the deadly shower came raining down, hammering all around and throwing debris up into a whirlwind. In from this two sets of hooves dragged the captain, landing her back in her seat whilst magic sealed the hatch.

‘Are you crazy?!’ the pink owner of one of the forceful forehooves demanded. ‘You’ve not even got your goggles on!’

‘Don’t tell me the fearless Split Second was scared?’ Blossom wore a far less hardened but equally concerned visage.

‘No!’ The pegasus turned defensive. ‘I was just worried okay!’

‘Sure you were. She has a point though.’ The hazel unicorn nodded to the hatch and then to her captain’s forehead. ‘For all the wards in the world the stuff we’re shooting at each other isn’t entirely risk free you know, plus Crystal got you those to wear not just to decorate your head with.’

‘Sorry.’ Dawn blinked, pulling the lens down over her eyes. ‘I just kind of got caught up in the moment. It’s sort of pretty and… raw you know.’

‘Whatever psycho’ Split nudged, ‘just try not to get your head blown off by your own insanity!’

‘I don’t know; I get what she means’ Blossom countered.

‘That’s no gauge at all!’

The captain looked between the gunner and loader, finding their conversation more than surreal, after all the world was exploding just outside and they were treating it like rain. In a way there was likewise nothing they could do about it, but it was still odd. Beyond the Panther’s protective shell the incendiary downpour came to a close and at the same time Dawn’s thoughts regained their lucidity. ‘They’ve stopped?’

‘Probably’ Toffee spoke up from below, moving on to regarding the launch rails she had previously explained. ‘With an artillery system like that, we’re talking eighteen to twenty missiles per salvo, so it takes a while to reload between shots…’

‘Nope!’ Coquette cut in, ‘the Rhino engaged them to draw their attention. So far they’ve got one of their sentries and still haven’t been located.’

‘Tell Dice thanks, she probably just saved us. Damage report?’

‘We seem fine’ the farmer replied, before a report from the radio mare.

‘Rook took a couple pretty close and they lost a track. They’re not out though.’

Dawn rose once more, opening the hatch and brushing aside a light pink hoof which held her back. ‘I can see better from up there, and I promise I’ll be careful’ she reassured. Back in her spot smoke filled her nostrils, many of the surrounding buildings set ablaze and crackling, her eyes roving back to the Hydra’s intersection. The blue unicorn’s tank was indeed crippled, one of its tracks running limply off its drive wheel where the commander and her comrades were already trying to reattach it. ‘Move us over there to assist.’

‘If the Hexer fires again we probably won’t be so lucky’ Blossom warned.

‘Dice bagged another one!’ Coquette yelled into her mic, ‘she’s not sure how long she can stay undetected though.’

From the stranded tank its commander turned. Locking eyes with Dawn, Rook shook her head, waving he captain off.

‘But…’

The navy-maned unicorn remained adamant, shaking her head again and pointing in the direction the other vehicles had disappeared.

‘Okay, good luck!’ Dawn reluctantly shouted back. ‘Toff, get us out of here; stick to the plan and link up with the others.’

‘Will do.’

The Panther was back in motion, trundling through the newly decimated remains of the hamlet. Craters and burnt out structures pressed in from both sides as their tracks crunched their way forward, scrabbling over fallen brickwork. In the distance there was an audible rattle as the Hexer launched the last of its loaded rockets, evidently blindly chasing the Rhino with saturation. Then they broke into the open, hitting a dirt track through the vineyards.

‘Sitrep from other group: one enemy down, two remaining, but have lost the Tornado. And before you ask, Lens and the rest are fine’ Coquette pre-emptively added.

Dawn just noticed this addition however. ‘Double time it Toff!’ She thumped the lid of the exit hatch, attacking the image of Crystal outnumbered by pursuers which her mind had formed for her.

The Panther leapt forward, breaking into a sprint. It ran between the vines, its turret looking like a ship sailing through the foliage with its hull hidden. They slipped down into the base of a valley, sliding through a stream at the bottom to scale the other side, their driver pushing the machine’s limits.

‘There they are below us!’ Split called out, rotating the gun about face.

From the vantage point they looked down on the fields stretched below where a road snaked through the landscape, currently occupied by a trio of tanks. The Little Lion remained just ahead, Las Pegasus’ pair more keeping pace and taking shots than actually chasing anymore. Ahead of their route the stream their audience had just crossed joined a river, guided into a sharply cut channel, crossed over by a bridge.

‘Split, target the crossing and fire on my mark.’

The cruiser below had its dual guns pointed backward, replying as it veered, avoiding the enemy fire.

‘Just a little more…’

The front of the Little Lion’s treads hit the bridge.

‘Fire!’

The shell arced through the air, aided by the rise the Panther sat on. Just as the first of Las Pegasus’ Tornados was about to cross the ordinance struck, felling the path before it and sending the machine prow first into a steep tumble. It crashed into the water, nose crumbling as it was stuck fast, immobilised. Its partner meanwhile screeched sideways to a halt just avoiding the fall, but in doing so exposing itself. Crystal needed no second invitation, likewise halting to steady her own vehicle and then firing with both cannons, finishing the other adversary. The silvery unicorn looked up smiling and gave a wave.

And breath.

Dawn did so, taking a much needed deep breath. ‘Okay, let’s finish this.’

---

The two tanks rolled side by side, the sun at their back rising to its noontime throne. They moved together in parallel, each occupying a track between the vines, their passage wafting mellow scents up from the leaves. Weird as it was therefore, for all the speed and fury of their movement, they could have as easily been simply out for a stroll.

Dawn looked to the Little Lion’s commander running beside her, catching a set of silvery irises as they likewise rose to a furtive glance. Given the space to be wary they both self-consciously burnt, dropping their gazes as they felt their cheeks turn pinkish. A moment later though they both ventured a look back, again catching one another’s eye and mirrored blushing face, each coaxing a little smile out of their opposite.

‘Rhino’s been spotted!’ Coquette called.

Focus please!

‘Tell them we’re almost there. If they can they should pull back and we’ll link up.’ Dawn ducked into the turret, pulling up the map and definitively drawing a forehoof to its southwest corner. ‘Any report from Rook?’

‘Refitting the treads as we speak, doesn’t want to leave us to have all the fun.’

Both armoured vehicles rounded a final corner in their track, passing around a small hillock where the last of their adversaries awaited them, arriving just in time to see the Hexer’s monstrous central cannons fire into the vines. The shells landed unseen, blowing outward a cloud of torn up foliage, then the rest of the mammoth creature’s guns engaged the same spot in a terrible downpour. The last Las Pegasus Tornado followed suit.

‘Rhino’s out!’

Damn it!

Before any more eloquent response could be mounted the Hexer’s rear stack of weapons spun about, spitting a hoard of missiles into the air. The rockets tore away over the horizon, painting smoking lines with their fiery tails.

‘What are they firing at?’ Dawn asked a bit confused. ‘They can’t have spotted us from there, so where are they sending those?’

There was some rustling from below as Blossom borrowed the map, muttering to herself. ‘By trajectory and direction it’s… the village! They must know Rook’s still there!’

No!

Heavy detonations thundered in the distance.

‘No response from the Hydra’ Coquette reported sadly, desperately working at her radio’s dials. ‘I can’t reach them at all.’

Buck it! What now? That evens things up again, or rather throws the scales back against you.

Dawn froze questions flooding her mind. Their two vehicles had come to a stop on the cusp of the plain, whilst below likewise their adversaries drew up side by side. The challenge was clear. Running would only prolong the inevitable, whilst giving the hunters the advantage. It had to end here, but Las Pegasus’ behemoth remained, forcing her to falter. She had to look away, turning to clear the beast’s image from her thoughts, accidentally in doing so again matching eyes with the commander next to her.

Crystal remained radiant, delicate and slender, in vast antithesis to the rugged war machine now caked in dirt which she rode. In her irises though there was steel, reinforced and more adamantine in her smile as she replied with a definite nod.

‘This is it everypony, the odds are equal’ the captain decided. ‘First focus on their last escort, then we’ll take the Hexer. Little Lion follow our lead. Charge!’

The two predatory cats pounced into motion, the lighter of the two coming into line behind the Panther; meanwhile their rivals remained in parallel as they likewise made their move. Both sides ran at each other, Las Pegasus attempting a couple of shots which were expertly avoided, until nothing remained of the distance between them. At the last possible moment Appleoosa’s command tank turned off, veering to the right and being followed by its ally, putting the enemy Tornado between themselves and the land battleship it guarded, hammering blows into the sleek sentry. They broke off the attack, haring away and then screeching to a halt, turning about like jousters set to attempt a second clash. The Hexer however did not mimic them, unconcerned by and ignoring the loss of its final friend, instead turning side on to become a wall of weaponry in their way. To attempt a second assault became comparable to suicide.

‘Toff, we need to relocate, try to out manoeuvre then have another go’ Dawn spoke into her mic.

‘Got it; reversing.’

‘We can’t’ Blossom interrupted surprisingly, ‘we’re at the edge of the game area. They’ve got us hemmed into the corner, meaning if we go backward at all we’ll probably get disqualified for going out of bounds. We can only go forward’ she sighed. ‘They trapped us.’

The Hexer’s many turrets all leisurely turned their way, obviously well aware of their manoeuvre and therefore enjoying the guaranteed kills to come, mocking their prey. Its weapons divided, smugly picking their targets with a crushing confidence.

‘Bucking assholes!’ Split exploded. ‘They’re still in range, so even if they’ve got us let’s make sure they have to hurt for it!’

Dawn held off on the command, the enemy’s self-confidence perfectly potent. The pegasus was right, some kind of vain glorious display was all that was really open to them, but she was paused by disappointment.

‘Hold on… new contact behind them!’

The captain’s eyes shot for the track where they had been but moments ago, catching the arrival of a furiously galloping vehicle, the multiturreted tank bearing down, its prow blackened but still with its decorative fangs visible. Its three turrets swung to strike a broadside.

‘It’s Rook!’

Their Hydra One opened fire with everything it had, hurling projectiles at its much larger sibling, slamming shots into its exposed flank. The Hexer could not reply to these wounds, stuck with all its weapons facing in the wrong direction.

‘Fire!’ Dawn roared.

Both the Panther and the Little Lion opened up in support, trapping the leviathan between walls of fire, its confused attempts at reply going wide. Its treads were quickly shredded, its turrets smashed, the whole beast being battered into an inoperable pulp. A delighted chorus of cries rose up from its slayers as they repeatedly struck, Dawn included, her elation becoming a happy and relieved exhale as the rival machine flashed crimson, declaring its defeat. On impulse her eyes went back to Crystal’s, her visage consumed by beaming.

*Bang!*

Something hit the pale cream captain, roughly snapping her neck backward as it struck her in the forehead.

‘Dawn!’

Everything went black.

Instandhaltung

View Online

I am content, more than that I glow, both within and without. The creature beneath me shudders as it roars again and again, my frame jumping in time with its bellows, vibrations running through my being as if I’m an extension of this predatory animal. Fire burns the air, smoke swirling in a pleasant breeze, but the scent of the surrounding vines makes everything mellow. Flashes burst brightly in the near distance, flaring as rivals to the sun above in its clear blue ethereal court, rage muted as they sparkle like shattering stars.

I and my war beast are not alone, far from it; rather we are one in a pack, three of us in all. We are all very different in so many ways, but we and our mounts shout in unison, as one setting upon our prey. In contrast the enemy is a lone titan, vast and far tougher than any one of us. Together though, we are strong, helping each other to soar beyond our limited selves. There is nothing that we together cannot conquer, even this behemoth which stands against us. For all the angry noise of its many maws it fails against our combined onslaught.

Everything ends, a last round of roars running amongst us as our quarry bleeds out a bright red light. I am triumphant, but more than that we are triumphant, all of us together. I do not pause to drink it in, instead I instinctively look away, seeking a greater confirmation than the slain carcass. I find it in a pure white face and two gleaming silver eyes. She smiles at me and, although I may doubt the wordless whispers her lips silently convey, I nonetheless alight upon them. I both hope and doubt that I manage to smile back in the same way, but I try.

Something, or more correctly somethings, strike me. They hit hard, the most prominent of their unseen number crashing across my forehead’s left side. Others meanwhile score additional hits across my exposed form, but it’s the first which has the most impact. It’s strange, but there’s no pain, in fact there is nothing, even as I feel my body slump, suddenly unable to support itself. I am falling, there is red, and then there is black.

---

Darkness, pale darkness: the world not yet taking form but its audience gradually slipping from the crypt of sleep. Her mind was likewise a blank canvas as it slowly came to register its own existence, very much discovering itself in the void. If there had been something more to precede this it had dissipated, any dreams or thoughts lost to the slight lights. Little by little she awoke, her eyelids finding the strength to rouse their heavy selves.

Dawn found herself laid out on her back staring at a wood panelled ceiling, intricate plant-like engravings spiralling at its edges. She felt a stack of pillows behind her head, a soft mattress beneath her form and a light sheet draping her. Whatever the place was it was comfortable, serene light bathing all in a tempered sunshine, part muted by a thin covering of blinds. There was something not quite right about it though, not enough to make her ill at ease, but certainly an “off-ness”. She could just about judge from its scale and feel that the bed she occupied was not her own, an observation which begged the question of where she actually was?

The cream earth mare moved to sit up and regretted it, finding her stiff being totally at odds with the idea. With this attempt at movement her dulled nerve endings seemed to remember themselves, rewarding her efforts with an insistent ache, as if she had been sunk somewhere a lot more permanent than mere sleep and now in escape they dug themselves out. This sudden dark thought startled her, pushing her further despite the resistance to prop herself up, initially leaning against her forehooves.

Beyond the rustically inspired panels above her the rest of the room was colourless, all wiped clean and antiseptic white. Likewise the furniture she lay within was a simple structure of refined lines and pale painted boards. The place’s designer had obviously aimed at cold and professional in his chosen colour palette, whilst nodding to something far older than the contemporary through its sparse embellishments. These objectives would have probably been wholly successful were it not for the additional decorations placed on every available surface belonging to the rest of the room’s furniture. Atop all of these were aligned bunches of flowers, blooming bouquets overflowing their vessels with rainbow petals, additionally filling her lungs with a meadow’s scent.

Dawn stretched out on instinct, this time enduring less of a complaint from her settled form, a lazy yawn escaping her lips, more mechanical reaction in her state than inspired by fatigue. A last few twinges from her spine finally brought her full consciousness, emerald irises at last able to discern details in her surroundings. In amongst the dense foliage of blossoms were set a similarly colourful array of cards, some associated with particular bunches of flowers whilst others stood alone, all generally vying for her attention and wishing her well. Two of the largest occupied opposing ends of the table at the end of her bed, set facing both her and each other as if in silent competition. From within one she could just about make out Split’s scrawl, whilst the other was filled with a far finer hoof in dark ink.

A faint creak sounded from the corner of the room, revealing what would have otherwise been an unseen doorway as it crept timidly open. In the crack left by the ajar portal appeared a golden face, peering in and instantly catching eyes with her.

‘She’s awake!’

With this in part excited, in part relieved, and infinitely happy shout the door was thrown open, the hoard it had held back behind it charging through just as fast. Coquette, Blossom and Toffee were pushed through at the group’s head, forced by the swell behind them, followed immediately by Rook and Split jostling each other on the way in. Finally came the strange pairing of Helix and Crystal, very much the mirror opposites both in form and air. Naturally the first six of these divided, taking up places either side of the bed, whilst the last silvery unicorn stayed a bit back, setting herself at its far end surrounded by bouquets.

‘Sweet Celestia you’ve had us all worried!’ Coquette cried, although with a broad grin painting her aspect as she leapt forward for a hug, before being held back by Blossom’s magic and a raised eyebrow.

‘How’re you feeling?’ the hazel unicorn asked tenderly as she levitated the other mare back to her side.

Dawn took a moment in considering, put off guard by the sudden invasion. It was then that she felt the pressure of something secured above her left eye. She rose up a forehoof to investigate, simultaneously finding one bandage where she blindly searched and another wound about her inquiring limb. Another entirely wrapped her shoulder and there were more in other places, but aside from what their presence suggested and her persistent aching she could find no greater malady. ‘Okay, I think’ she ventured. ‘What happened exactly, and possibly more importantly where am I?’

Blossom’s features became one of her winning smiles, absolutely reassuring. ‘You’re in the Appleoosa Medical Centre at the moment. I don’t know if you can remember any of it, but you were transferred here once you were stitched up in Trottingham. As for what happened: you were both incredibly lucky and unlucky in equal measure.’

‘When we took out their Hexer at the end of the match’ Toffee took up the retelling, ‘their rocket launcher ignited and exploded…’

‘Was everypony okay?’ Dawn immediately broke in. ‘Was their crew alright? Was anypony hurt?’

‘Yes: you were.’ The caramel driver rolled her eyes. ‘Seriously, we’ve all been worried sick, so could you at least this once think of yourself for a change! They’re all fine. Anyway, one of the missiles partially took off and then detonated, and you were hit with shrapnel. Either our ward was configured wrong or had stopped working for some reason, but its currently under investigation.’

‘You were super lucky though!’ Coquette reached to the bedside table and lifted up a set of goggles from the surface, hoofing them over to her bedbound captain. A gash had been roughly carved in the top of the left eye’s lens, trailing across the protective material like a slash mark cut by a blade. ‘These pretty much saved your face from a fin which broke off the rocket.’

‘And gained you a badass scar’ Rook added, gesturing in explanation to her own forehead and indicating a stripe from above her eyebrow to her maneline.

‘Both of which make you seriously lucky’ Blossom concurred, although more with the first sentiment, ‘but there’s still more to it. The flight stabiliser to the head knocked you out cold, meanwhile a few smaller bits hit you in the forelegs and upper barrel, meaning although the injuries weren’t necessarily as bad as they could’ve been you still lost quite a bit of blood.’

‘It looked like you were trying to repaint the Panther’s turret’ Helix piped up bluntly, straight away silenced by all angry looks.

‘So you were fortunate that Toff was a match to your rare type. Who knows, maybe you’ve got some Apple in you along with the pegasus.’

‘Pegasus?’

‘Yeah… the doc said it’s a miracle you didn’t break anything.’ Receiving a blank look the golden earth mare continued, if a bit hesitantly. ‘Sorry, I thought of anypony you’d know yourself, but she said you had a lighter bone structure, so there’s probably at least one pegasus somewhere in your family tree.’

‘Thank you’ Dawn whispered honestly to the friends beside her bed, who returned with a nod, not wholly perceiving the last bit though, focused mainly on the farm mare.

‘It’s been a few days since all that happened’ Blossom finished recounting, ‘and once you were stable we all came back home. Oh yeah, I should also add Crystal to the things you’re lucky for. When it happened she blinked straight to you, and then teleported you out of the tank before anypony else had even realised what’d happened. She made sure you’d be okay, in fact she hasn’t left the ward since we got back.’

The captain’s eyes went to the other almost ethereal commander at the end of the bed. Crystal made a little smile, faintly pink at her edges, set in a halo of her translucent mane.

‘That all more or less covers it. Up until now you’ve been pretty much out of it.’

‘I’m sorry…’ Dawn briefly began before a sharp huff from everypony stopped her words.

‘Don’t you dare apologise!’ Coquette commanded, speaking for them all, getting up more carefully this time to draw her friend into an embrace. ‘You may’ve scared the buck out of us, but we’ll survive, we’ve got along fine in your absence, and we’re all just happy that you’re back with us! That cover everything?’

‘Yeah, pretty much.’ The Panther’s commander found herself giggling into her radio operator’s curls, the other earth mare having seen straight through her. The hug helped, followed as they parted by a series of others, collectively more than medicinal. ‘We did win right?’ she asked sheepishly when she was again granted some breathing space.

‘Oh yeah, totally whupped ‘em!’ Split had remained uncharacteristically reserved throughout, but now chose to re-find her voice. ‘Bearing in mind they had double our number and well more than twice the firepower, I don’t think merely awesome quite cuts it! Your plan worked absolutely perfectly, and it had to be our last shot which scored the killing blow on their monster as well!’

‘Hang on, aren’t you glossing over somepony feather brain!’ Helix snapped, ‘or rather several someponies, or have you conveniently forgotten about our part in all this? Our arrival was what tipped the scales back in your favour!’

‘Yeah yeah, you were a nice distraction and all, but Dawn…’

‘Distraction!’

The athlete and the rebel second in command turned to barking at each other, neither backing down from each succeeding challenge.

In line alongside this, Rook gave the growing verbal duel a sideways look and a knowing grin. ‘Apologies for just appearing unannounced back there.’ The navy-maned unicorn looked to her captain. ‘We were getting underway when they hit us with the second barrage. Although nothing direct got us, we were still rattled enough for our coms to go down, hence our radio silence. I’ve already got Dahl learning her stuff, so that won’t be an issue in the future’ she continued with an appreciative nod the way of their company’s other unicorn of all trades.

‘Thank you everypony, thank you all so much.’ Dawn more than meant her words to her friends, appreciating and bolstered by each of the smiles she received back in kind, even breaking Helix and Split momentarily from their argument. ‘Have I missed anything else?’

‘The next round of fixtures were announced today’ Toffee answered, ‘which I should mention officially means we’re more than half way to the final! We’re in the top four!’ Proud beaming illuminated her face. ‘Next though we’re up against Canterlot and Yan Hoover will be hosting us. It’s another tough draw, even before we think about numbers, and the forecast’s a cold one, but from what intel I’ve got we shouldn’t be in for any surprises like last time at least.’

‘And how is Solstice?’ the captain asked, reading as well as anypony what “intel” meant.

‘Sta… I mean Solstice’s doing good.’ The driver blushed. ‘Their previous matches have been pretty easy, but now they’re facing Ponyville for a final spot so they’re in for a tough one.’ She pointed to one of the fluted vases filled with a collection of blue and purple flowers, tonally like a summer night’s sky, along with a black envelope. In the half light of the room their petals almost seemed to weirdly glow, giving off their own luminescence. ‘The dusk lilies are from her. I don’t really do flowers, but apparently even when they’ve been cut they never shed their petals.’

‘Most of all this is from ponies at school.’ Blossom gestured about the room, taking in its mess of colourful contents. ‘You should see it; everypony has really come together and rallied behind us since we got into the semis.’

A couple of louder growls came from Helix and Split’s resumed muttering competition.

‘Present company notwithstanding that is. There are few things from others though. Coronet sent you the hamper for example, along with wishing that you get better soon and us all the best of luck shooting for the final.’

The highlighted “hamper” was more of a full picnic basket, left open due to its copious content and taking up the entirety of one of the few visitors chairs. The crimson wicker container was jam packed (no pun intended), barely able to manage all it held. Sweet and salted biscuits and cookies vied for space with jars of chutney, set alongside the miniature wax-coated forms of a plethora of taster cheeses. Behind this mountain meanwhile sat marked boxes of more blends of tea than could be reasonably conceived to exist.

‘Oh, and she also invites us all back during their next competition season with Hoofington as well. Back to the issue of our next match though; with a massive amount of help from the engineers we’ve managed to get the two tanks we found up and running against all odds. Guess we’ll still be at a disadvantage in terms of units, but that at least closes the gap a tiny bit.’

Dawn considered the pair of battered landshipwrecks which had been hauled up from the lakebed. That they were working at all was pretty crazy, the effort it must have taken to achieve it immense.

‘They’re a couple of heavy Rhino types’ Toffee, ever sage-like, expanded, ‘an ER-2 and an ER-5.1 Both of them are essentially advances on the design of Stalliongrad’s flagtank, made bulkier and upgunned. Thanks to Belle and Bloss we’ve also already got crews for ‘em.’

‘That’s fantastic!’ the captain nodded, unable to call up a truly adequate expression. ‘Again thank you, and well done! You’ve all done so much. Is there anything else?’

The farmer paused and considered before shaking her head, generally mirrored by most others.

‘Seriously Belle?’ Blossom was the exception to this. ‘This is your moment to gossip about Hearts and Hooves, like I know you want to!’

‘Oh… well yeah, but I’d kinda forgotten about that’ Coquette admitted. ‘What with the accident and the excitement of the championships I haven’t given it much thought. Honestly I’ve been more focused on team stuff, and I’ve really been enjoying it. I suppose I did get another card from my mysterious suiter’ she shrugged.

‘Are you sure you’re not the one who should be in the bed?’ The hazel unicorn looked visibly shocked. ‘This is the same guy who you’ve been obsessively trying to identify for the past few years, and you’re suddenly completely unbothered?’ She shook her head. ‘That said I will always be the first to say that the whole unsigned card thing is on the borderline between romantic and just plain creepy.’

The golden radio mare simply shrugged again. ‘I honestly haven’t given it much thought, which I suppose could be pretty awkward if he suddenly decides to come out of the shadows.’

There was a lull, separate conversations consuming both sides of the bed.

‘Really? Nopony else is going to say it?’ Crystal got to her hooves, using her magic to shift the still angry pegasus and earth mare, forcing them to stop as they freaked over being unwillingly levitated out of the way. She moved into the forcibly vacated space, keeping her gaze with her captain’s, coming to her side. ‘Are you sure you want to keep going with this? All luck aside, what happened was hardly minor; you could’ve been seriously hurt!’ A sorrowful crack caught at the back of the unicorn’s tones. ‘I know you don’t want to let anypony down, but I know I… we wouldn’t be able to forgive ourselves if something were to happen to you. You shouldn’t feel forced to do anything; you’ve already done so much.’

Do you want to keep doing this?

The thought had not crossed Dawn’s mind. As the events lost to unconsciousness had been retold she had only really considered them as a setback, nothing deeper or more serious. She wanted to get back into gear, quitting having not figured at all in the equation. The mare whose concerned face looked into her gave her that option, in turn accompanied by all those around her who joined it. It was touching, potently so, but that did not change the fun they had enjoyed and the times they had shared, regardless of this inconsequential black mark. ‘Of course I do’ she answered with what she hoped was a reassuring smile, aware that her answer may have been quite different not so long ago.

Der Kampf auf dem Eis

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Ice and snow, there was little else in the frozen world. Cold windblown flurries whirled up from the surrounding landscape, spiralling gritty lines in the air as they made visible the ether’s unseen currents. Granted flight the chill was therefore made a far more powerful predator, given the strength to pounce and bite with greater ferocity, as well it did. Actual features were difficult to distinguish on this colour stripped plateau, its thick white covering having sapped or blotted out anything remotely warmer, and this seemed to further sharpen the weather’s fangs.

Dawn pulled her coat’s hood down tighter against her head, succumbing to a shiver, in part a victim to an icy blast and equally to a shot of adrenaline served by her own body as it revved up. In the Panther’s command cupola she stood exposed to the worst of both. She was not quite alone however, flanked on each side by a trio of matching commanders, all at attention atop their vehicles, readying themselves on the edge of an approaching abyss.

The pale cream captain looked outward from her fleeced cocoon, receiving a second jolt to her nervous system as she took in the only real monuments in the absence. Contrastingly dark silhouettes loomed ahead of them, as a comparative hoard just more than double their number. Fifteen tanks stared back, set neatly in two rows to their one, their forms emblazoned with the rising Canterlot sun disc. Most bar one of the enemy were simplistic hulking shapes, predominately made up of turretless tank hunting vehicles. These shared much of the shape of their own first Rhino or the H-type Panthers of Hollow Shades, if either of these lesser creatures had been forcibly fed a prolonged regimen of growth tonics. Vast boxy forecastles encased their fixed guns, their only real curves existing in their titanic supporting drive trains and the tapering sconces in which these weapons were set. Generally they lacked the rugged or refined beauty of their comparable kin, even Toffee admitting that these ‘ET-1Hs’ as she had identified them were ugly.1

The second major component to Canterlot’s force shared a similar brutality in their aspect, made up of six other heavily armoured monsters. These in difference wore their bunker-like heads at the rear of their hulls, the cannons which these protected requiring the addition of struts part way along their length in order to support them as they extended across and then far beyond the end of their substructures. Whereas their allies little deserved their title of Tigers, a name which conveyed an agility that they obviously lacked, these Elephants well suited theirs.2 Within all these brutalist hulks Canterlot’s final vehicle was hard to pick out.

‘The match will begin on the sound of the gun!’ An announcer’s voice sounded out relatively clearly in the freezing wind, heavily reliant on the aid of her microphone in order to overcome its resistance.

Engines, which had been purring constantly to keep themselves warm, let out gouts of smoke to join the falling snowflakes as they were allowed to truly rouse themselves. A couple of hatches clanged shut on Dawn’s either side, but she would remain on her perch; the added visibility was easily worth the numb hooves.

Here we go!

*Bang!*

---

‘Okay, so these are they.’ Having taken the lead on the way to the repair shed’s far corner, Blossom turned about, adding a minor flourish as she introduced the war machines behind her. ‘Allow me to present our latest additions: the Rhino Two and the Rhino Five, also known as the Two-headed Rhino for obvious reasons.’

‘They look amazing!’ Dawn agreed with her friend’s sentiment, ‘particularly bearing in mind they were on that lakebed for… do we even know how long?’

Remarkably the two sister vehicles barely resembled the twisted and rusting lumps which had been dragged from the bottom of the oasis. From the waist down the pair quite obviously resembled the earlier machine they had evolved from. It was when their turrets were considered that they varied, evidently developed with the principal of ‘more is more’. The Rhino Two had an armoured shed for a weapon mount, more than doubling the vehicle’s height with this addition. It meanwhile bore a high calibre howitzer for its armament, as did its sibling alongside. For the younger of the two however this was not its only gun. In addition to this on the Rhino Five a second smaller turret had been fitted just off centre in the shadow of its first, although at present its aperture was empty.

‘Not a clue’ the hazel unicorn shook her head. ‘From my brief look at the school’s files it’s clear that whoever the old archivist was she had no clue about what she was doing. We don’t have any documents on some of the tank’s we’ve found, let alone info on their service history and fate!’

‘That’s insane!’

‘Totally’ Blossom concurred. ‘It’s not like we’re talking about a few missing hoofballs or some other sports equipment. They’re freaking war machines, no matter how old they are, and nopony seems to have bothered to keep track of them! Anyhow’ she shrugged, ‘stealing Toff’s job: they’re both heavy duty and multipurpose. Their guns can work in either direct or indirect fire role, so along with Dice’s we’ve got the makings of an artillery unit, whilst their armour’s thick enough to take quite a beating. Their one weakness is that they’re not exactly nippy, not as slow as some others, but certainly not quick.’

Dawn nodded, considering. ‘At this point I reckon anything we can get our hooves on would be a help.’ She gave the new tanks a second thoughtful look over. They had been painted a simply functional shade of woodland green (matching the Hunting Rhino already in their arsenal) with the single colourful addition of a logo on their bodywork. Within a circular border, a yellow scorpion reared aggressively as it burst through an exploding red apple, the barb of its stinger replaced with a smoking cannon barrel. ‘Belle really did a great job with that.’

‘Too true. If anypony could get could get Blue to cooperate with somepony else it would be her.’ The loader pointed back to the ER-5. ‘Since the artists joined up they’ve made short work of adding them to everypony’s vehicles, plus they’ve got some other ideas for when we’ve got more time to play around with paintwork.’

The captain took a few steps, taking in the new tanks in a short semicircle. ‘Hold on, what’s that mean?’ She pointed to a scrawl of white lettering painted across the previously hidden side of the ER-2’s turret.

Blossom followed the indicating gesture and immediately face-hoofed. ‘It means “all power to the ponytariat”’ she translated the strange writing. ‘It’s great that Beret and the rest are keen, but I made it perfectly clear that the rules prohibited the use of the sport as a political platform. I swear unless you’re spieling off a quote from Marex they’re bucking deaf! Don’t worry; I’ll get them to remove it.’

‘Don’t sweat it. Like you said it’s good that they’re fired up, so as long as it’s gone before the next match it should be okay.’ Dawn turned along with her taller crewmare to the hectic work of the rest of the maintenance bays. Everypony was busy without exception, sparks flying and hammer falls sounding to fill the air of the cavern. In the building’s eaves a flock of cranes flitted back and forth, lending their strength to the assembly occurring below. From one of these a reinforced sheet of armour plate was suspended, gradually being guided into place on the Little Lion by a host of hooves, all being marshalled by Crystal’s shining form atop her tank’s turret.

‘You should know that Belle thinks she’s changed a lot, in a good way.’

‘Who has?’

Blossom raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh I don’t know, maybe the she who your eyes are usually glued to and you’re currently staring at!’ The unicorn could not help a giggle as pink flushed Dawn’s cheeks, but her expression quickly turned back to a tender seriousness. ‘It may not be obvious to everypony, but it’s pretty clear that you like her, so you should tell her how you feel. She said with no hint of hypocrisy’ the unicorn added at a near inaudible whisper.

---

Spread out in a formation like an arrowhead three tanks tore across the landscape, the Panther at their head, leading the Little Lion and Tornado closely following behind. Powdery snow whirled up about their thundering treads, blowing up in airy waves over the vehicles’ prows as they ploughed through the loose surface. The trio all galloped forward with turrets swivelled in reverse. Shells crashed around them, throwing up plumes of earth and instantly vaporised ice, fired from two hordes of titans which chased them. Their pursuers were as two great claws of seven vehicles closing ever tighter around their prey. The pursued were however not going down easy, weaving around each attempted shot whilst maintaining their group’s structure, occasionally making their own defiant replies.

Frozen flakes blew unpleasantly up Dawn’s back, clawing at her form. She remained oblivious to this though, more concerned with holding her wildly flapping mane back against her head, aiming to keep clear her view of the enemy. She watched as the great pincers drew in closer, threatening blasts likewise coming nearer to finding their mark. Canterlot’s team was doubly impressive. For one thing their manoeuvres were artfully orchestrated; meanwhile these feats were more astounding for their being achieved with earth vehicles, totally unsuited for the magical style. Underneath this however it was clear that the veteran team was not enjoying the conditions, its heavier vehicles visibly struggling to meet their drivers’ demands.

‘All other tanks in position ready to assist’ Coquette called across her mic.

‘Okay, deploy smoke on my signal.’ The captain kept her vision trained behind them, keeping all covered by her gaze, but most importantly remaining glued to the one exceptional enemy Elephant, a machine sporting the addition of a coloured pennant. Canterlot’s vice grip tightened in increments, but she waited for the very last moment: a point when there course would be hard to correct, but before they got into truly effective range. ‘Now!’

As one the three vehicles released a torrent of smoke canisters, fired from clusters of tubes on their turrets’ edges, bursting to form a blinding wall between themselves and their adversaries. Obscured they peeled away, diverting their course whilst simultaneously the detonation of more smoke charges could be heard, heralding the arrival of the rest of their team. From one side charged the hunting and double-headed variants of the Rhino, whilst from the other side the third of these sisters did the same, accompanied by the Hydra One. Dawn’s trio changed direction, still formed in an aggressive wedge, and with them Appleoosa’s team went on the attack, breaking through their own smoke screens on three sides to crush their now boxed in enemy on three sides.

---

‘As far as the budget’s concerned we’re pretty flush’ Toffee reported, passing over an impossibly complex table of numbers. ‘Through a combination of donations from other clubs and all the fundraising the council and campaigners have done we’re rolling in funding compared to what we had previously.’

Dawn took in the offered sheet, more taking note of the plethora of names which had lent their support than the detailed amounts listed. It was a lot to take in. On the one hoof the sight created a fresh pressurised hurt in her guts, each title representing another set of hopes to bear on her shoulders. On the other though, each was also a stone, together building a great foundation of intense support. For all her nerves she felt strong as she crested this wave. Back in reality the pair sat on a couple of ammo boxes around an upturned crate, its surface littered with a variety of papers and diagrams. ‘So how can we put everypony’s help to good use? Have we got enough for another vehicle?’

‘Yes actually’ the resident expert admitted, ‘maybe even a couple if we eked it out, limiting ourselves to lighter or older models, but I don’t reckon that’d be the best plan. It’d take time to get new kit here and then get it match ready, plus we’d have to source and train more crew which we don’t necessarily have.’

‘Shame’ the captain nodded, becoming a knowing smile. ‘So what’s your battle plan then, cos I know you’ve got one.’

‘Upgrades’ Toffee answered, beaming back, ‘we maximise what we’ve got and can operate. Now, times against us despite our resources, so we can’t do anything too complex yet, but more arms and armour would be an obvious start point.’ She spun round a broad sheet displaying a variety of styles of additional plating, some to be riveted directly to a vehicle’s hull, whilst others overhung their sides to protect their caterpillar treads or were otherwise set on scaffolds about their turrets. ‘At the very least all our vehicles can mount track and turret skirts.’

‘All good, except that’ll mean added weight, so… we should leave the Little Lion and the Tornado without for now for the sake of speed.’ As she reluctantly spoke it a big part of Dawn rebelled against the decision of her better judgement, much more in favour of providing the former with as much protection as possible. She jotted a few price notes. ‘What about weapons?’

‘We’re limited by our time frame as far as more extensive refits are concerned. I think this is possible though.’ The farmer picked out a trio of designs. ‘Currently the extra turrets on the EH-1 and ER-5 don’t really do a lot, so I think we should change them out with 45 millimetre cannons based off the Hydra 35’s design. Honestly other than the occasional use of tracer it’s not entirely clear why anypony bothers with machineguns in the sport anymore. Additionally we could try upgrade the Panther to an 88 millimetre. Hopefully it shouldn’t take too much more modification than a counterweight and new sconce. That’s all I’ve got.’

Dawn jotted down more notes, skimming across the rest of the sheets littering their impromptu desk, equally perusing past experience in her mind’s eye. ‘I agree with all, and we can easily afford it. My one addition would be smoke projectors for everypony. Although that’ll probably mean a few extra training sessions, we could definitely fit them in the time we’ve got.’ Her eyes fell on the plans for a tank which she knew was not one of theirs. ‘What’s this?’

‘Thanks for the reminder’ Toffee answered after a quick look at the image. ‘That’s “the Racket”, or more correctly it’s an experimental version of the Leopard Four, fitted with a quadruple rocket artillery battery.3 As Canterlot’s got one I figured you should know its specs.’

The architect’s picture depicted a strangely modern looking vehicle, or at least its top half was, whereas its hull was more common or garden tank. Instead of a true turret it had a quartet of rectangular tubes which could be elevated or rotated as a set. From the design it was revealed that each of these held a single massive missile, far outclassing the relatively puny projectiles the Hexer had shot.

‘Why “the Racket”?’

‘You’ll see, or rather hear, when it fires. If you thought Las Pegasus’ rockets were loud you ain’t heard nothing yet!’

---

Shells screamed through the air and metal shrieked its resistance as blasts forced it to buckle. An angry inferno had killed the cold, devoured by a host of raging engines whilst these same beasts’ muzzles blazed at one another, throwing out their fiery tongues with each shot. The Panther (and Dawn atop its turret by extension) surged as part of this insane melee, built of swerving vehicles on a pitch of snow where all battle lines had blurred. It was chaos, but in such close proximity long guns gave no advantage and those who could move the quickest had the upper hoof.

‘Buck yeah!’

The Hydra hurtled past, its commander’s voice somehow managing to cut through all the other noise as it shouted, tones a strange amalgam of rage and joy. A pair of bulkier adversaries followed close on her tail, their main arms bellowing back. For the most part their shots were all impotent anger, but then one of the Tiger’s gunner’s found her mark, if only passingly, against the side of Rook’s vehicle. The shell exploded where the tank’s drive wheel would have been unprotected were it not for the armoured skirt which now shielded it, the plate instead being torn away by the blow.

‘Not this time!’

Rook’s war machine skidded abruptly, rounding on its enemies with all its guns turned to bear. The three cannons roared in unison in a full broadside, rocking the vehicle beneath them and bludgeoning the foe at close range. One Tiger succumbed and before its ally could do anything to even the score the Hydra leapt back into motion, its commander laughing from atop its central turret, drunk on the soaring sensation of battle.

An ear splitting whistle screeched from above, pulling Dawn back into her own body in time to witness a fuel barrel sized rocket slam down out of the sky, swiftly followed by three more. Craters blew up in their path as frozen earth was forced to mushroom upward.

‘That’s the Racket!’ Toffee called across the internal coms rather redundantly, adding a low curse as she narrowly weaved between the newly formed pitfalls. ‘They’re on the ropes if they’re firing into the midst of their own vehicles, but they’ve also got a bead on us. They’ll adjust range and be more accurate next time, and if they get the flag it’s obviously over!’

Listening, heedless of the surrounding conflict even as blackened dirt blew through her mane, Dawn’s adrenaline fuelled brain raced through options with remarkable clarity. ‘General coms: main force form up on us’ she returned with only a momentary pause, ‘we’ll run and gun to the pass at K3. Crystal and Lens meanwhile please seek and destroy their artillery, we’re counting on you.’

Through the haze of smoke and flame Appleoosa’s five larger tanks reunited, all battered by the brawl they had instigated, but still faring better than their adversaries. In single file the quintet rolled out, departing the chaos as the enemy tried to restore their shattered formations. Two more meanwhile departed in the opposite direction, skipping light and fast across the drifts.

---

*Bang!*

A rank of cannons fired together, their shots whizzing towards a hillock and a set of targets stood up before it. Only one of the three species of Rhino scored a hit, but the other two were not far from the mark, despite the inexperience of their handlers.

‘They’ve been practicing hard’ Coquette observed, taking a sip from her lemonade. ‘Dice reckons they’ll be able to move on to working on plunging fire in a couple of days.’

Dawn sat sprawled next to the other earth mare on a checked blanket beneath a parasol, together enjoying their lunch beside the firing line of war machines. The fields would have been an almost idyllic setting were it not for the regular roar of artillery, but neither seemed to really notice. ‘Impressive. Did they have any past experience before they started?’

‘Nope, exactly zilch to be honest. Although Dice and Split can claim some of the credit, most of what they’ve achieved is off their own backs. It kinda helps that they’ve got an inspiring captain to focus on though.’

‘Not exactly true’ the cream commander countered, cheeks bearing a light pink stain.

‘Afraid so, even if you’re too modest to admit it’ Coquette shook her head, ‘and everypony else thinks so too, so I’m more than right. Moving on though, before you can even try to say otherwise, I’ll do proper intros once they’ve finished, but for now I’ll give you an overview.’ She pointed first to the dual turreted Rhino Five. ‘The artists’ commander is Abstract Print, but she prefers Abby. A couple of their group are extensions of Rook’s crowd, but mostly they’re the carefree creative sort, mostly going for the windswept and interesting kinda vibe, although Abby actually pulls it off quite well.’

‘They don’t sound like the types to be into this.’

‘True, but with all things considered do we really fit the expected bill either?’ The golden earth mare stroked her chin in thought. ‘From memory: she said something about “inspiration in the unknown” and “life reduced to its fundamental elements” if that’s any kind of explanation.’ She moved on to gesturing at the box-turreted Rhino Two. ‘The next gang are from the “campaigners” as somepony has put me under orders to call them, definitely not stoners. Beret’s at their head and their determined I’ll give ‘em that, but as far as a motivation’s concerned I reckon they’re credit chasing even if they might say otherwise.’

‘Their numbers will be a help regardless.’ Dawn watched the trio take another shot at the targets, this time succeeding in scoring hits. Happy cheers from within their hulls raised a smile to her lips. In the corner of her vision though, something else caught her eye.

Elsewhere in the baked hard dunes others were likewise putting in the extra time for practice, their team’s light and cruiser tanks racing each other in the noontime sun. They moved fluidly, like pegasus dogfighting as they darted around one another. Both deftly leapt across a deep furrow in their path, the image sparking with it déjà vu back to the characters of the introductory film, now seeming an age in the past. Shimmering through the heat haze Crystal was clearly visible commanding her Little Lion, sparkling visage consumed by gleeful laughter, a sight which Dawn could not help but appreciate.

‘You should really say something to her you know, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised. It’s no good to anypony if you just keep stuff bottled up inside…’ Coquette’s voice began warm and supportive at Dawn’s side, but it shrunk to a mutter as its last few words petered out.

---

‘We’ll hold the line here, the rest of you regroup and finish this!’

‘We can’t leave you!’

‘Just get moving!’ Beret shouted across the coms. ‘Our engine’s not cooperating so we’d just slow you down. This way we can buy some time and maybe take a couple with us. Now go!’

A slim gap lay open between two steep hillsides of glacial looking ice and rock, into which a line of four tanks streamed, seeking safety and escape in its confines. The Panther was the last to duck inside, firing a parting shot behind as the battle line of opponents thundered closer. With some guilty respect Dawn watched Split’s last shot relieve an enemy Elephant of its tread and then their Rhino Two pulled across the opening. The heavy tank set itself at an angle, becoming an armoured barricade blocking the path. Only its turret stirred in the face of the onslaught bearing down upon it, its gun-howitzer burning through its ammunition store in a rapid succession of shots.

‘Not one step backward!’

---

‘Hey Dawn!’ Rook beamed, looking down from a perch alongside the Hydra One’s secondary aft turret. ‘How’re you doing?’

‘Fine thanks’ the captain smiled back, ‘everything’s pretty much healed up, so all good.’ She took a step towards a set of access steps. ‘I just wanted to see how the additions were going…’

‘Please, allow me.’

Before Dawn could make an interjection the electric blue unicorn sparked up a similarly toned pulse of power around her horn, summoning a matching glow around the approaching earth mare. In of itself the sensation was not unpleasant, more the opposite, making her every nerve ending tingle warmly, only making it seem weirder. The magic almost had the soft feeling of a quilt, except that it was still clear that its touch was animate, like its owner was directly holding her. Outwardly struck dumb, whilst her mind began an argument within itself over what was happening, she was floated up and gently deposited at the unicorn’s side.

‘Your face is a picture!’ Rook laughed. ‘You look like you’ve never been levitated before!’

Dawn burned, perfectly aware of how pink she must have gone. ‘Well… no actually not really, or at least not like that.’

‘Buck, really?’ The Hydra’s commander winced in recognising her error, her ears falling slightly, looking uncharacteristically awkward, like an actress who had messed up her lines. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it, unless you…’

‘No, it’s okay. I mean, the last time was under rather… different circumstances’ the captain struggled over her words, trying to think them through whilst simultaneously suppressing a few other things which reared in her mind. At the same time there was a degree of self-reproach, not liking the expression she painted on the other mare’s features. ‘Sorry… I didn’t mean to make stuff weird.’

Rook ran a forehoof through the longer side of her mane. ‘Do you want to switch back to talking about upgrades?’ she offered, still concerned but reading the silence.

Dawn nodded thankfully.

‘Okay then, we finished fitting the extra armour yesterday, which pretty much covers up all of our previously exposed parts. As for the guns: this rear one’s mostly good to go’ she pointed to the nearby secondary armament, ‘and we’ll be fitting the front one this afternoon. Additionally the ammo store’s already been converted. Its size will mean we’ll have far fewer shots, but at least they’ll do more than the peashooters we had before. Other than that all there’ll be left to do is recalibrate the sights and see how she handles with the added weight. How’s yours going?’

‘Erm… pretty much finished. The skirts are fitted, and that’s all there really was to do cos we’re not changing the gun, which has Split disappointed. She was looking forward to the higher calibre, but this way we’ll have more ammunition and the turret would’ve in fact needed major changes to make it work. Plus, although I don’t exactly understand it, Bloss did the maths and our current cannon’s bore and length actually has a higher muzzle velocity than the eighty-eight we could equip.’

‘I’ve never really got physics either, but if Corset says so you can guarantee it’s legit. Everypony else is mostly sorted as well right?’

‘Yep, more or less.’

‘Great.’ Rook slowly raised a forehoof, elevating an eyebrow to ask permission before she brought it to her captain’s shoulder. ‘Are you sure you’re okay? I won’t pry, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care about you, and I’m here if you ever want to talk about anything.’

‘Thank you’ Dawn answered honestly, feeling the support of the other’s hoof and, although not enjoying the concern etched look which accompanied it, appreciating the cares which it signified. ‘I think I’m okay.’

---

‘Appleoosa is victorious!’

A horn sounded, calling an official end to the game and unintentionally the day along with it, the reds and oranges of dusk having begun to glow from behind the cloud cover. Dawn’s war beast grumbled to a halt, at long last granted a rest, its engine ceasing its constant labours and bringing with that an alien quiet. Elsewhere on the field dark grey plumes rose from a good number of enemy carcasses awaiting the aid of a recovery vehicle, their smoke rising into the sky from which a sprinkling of snowflakes was still falling. The captain let out a long sigh, letting it all sink in, recovering mind as yet to fully register the announcer’s words.

From her position below in the driver’s seat Toffee sounded like she was in a similar state, nothing more than her heavy breathing along with the occasional ‘sweet Celestia!’ coming across the mic which she was obviously unaware was still switched on.

‘Buck yes!’ Split’s celebrations in contrast were far louder, if no more truly eloquent, accompanied by the sound of her rapping her hooves jubilantly against the roof. ‘Totally freaking bucking yes!’

Outside more of Appleoosa’s force pulled up alongside their leader, bringing their vehicles to a stop, whilst the survivors from amongst their rivals likewise formed up as a row opposite. Everywhere hatches swung open, figures emerging into the chilled air. Dawn found herself following suit, slipping out and the hopping down from her machine, the rest of her crew behind her. The two adversaries faced each other.

‘Glorious game!’ Canterlot’s captain stepped out from the crowd, a deep lavender unicorn, dressed like her teammates in a stark white tunic bisected by a golden sash, for anypony else parade attire not mere match uniform. ‘Simply glorious! Thank you!’ She led her comrades in a bow which was similarly reciprocated. ‘However’ she continued, features turning into a frown, ‘I’m afraid that despite your impressive display as opponents we must demand an immediate rematch.’

‘Er… thanks, but what?’ Dawn asked, infinitely confused and much mirrored by her allies. ‘What do you mean by that? Why?’

The rival captain’s face remained serious. ‘Nothing personal of course, but rather for the sake of honour’ she answered, hovering up a ball of snow from behind her in a corona of magic. She broke into a grin with a giggle as the rest of her allies produced similar projectiles. ‘Now, open fire!’

‘Cover!’ Dawn yelled, throwing herself to the deck as a mass of snowballs were hurled their way. ‘Return fire!’

Everypony was consumed by laughter as the two sides exchanged salvoes, forcing each other back behind their parked vehicles. This fresh battle grew as the rest of their respective teams ran up, adding to each group’s number as they joined in, and would go on into the evening.

---

‘So we’ve reached the halfway point then, and you’ve kept to your side of the bargain.’ Dawn stood up central at the front of the maintenance shed, for a second time addressing her armoured audience. She raised a forehoof, tracing the line formed beneath her fur running from the arch of her left eyebrow and into her fringe. ‘Well for the most part at least, and so have I… or at least I’ve tried to.’

Her listeners had changed a bit since the last private conversation she had taken with them, most having gained in their already imposing stature, forms grown with the addition of new armour. As before they looked down on her, but unlike the last time she did not feel quite so crushed beneath the weight of their gazes, more at ease both with them and herself. This was also despite the growth in their ranks, with two additions on the end of their neatly assembled number.

‘It’s been far from easy, but we’ve come this far together, against all the odds.’ The captain looked to each of the mismatched war beasts in turn, taking in each individual’s disparate facets, from their unique structure to their armament, as well as the certain something akin to personality which stemmed from their unique forms and functions. Although in contrast to the clear unity of most of the teams they had faced their group could look mismatched or messy, they had all played their part, all having a purpose in their success together. ‘I don’t want to stop now’ she decided, her words as confident as they were definitive. ‘So…’

‘Talking to the tanks probably puts you on Toff levels of lunacy you know.’

Buck!

Dawn froze, ears standing straight upright and fur bristling as if she had been struck by an electric shock instead of just the recognisable tones of a certain pink pegasus. ‘Erm… oh, I… er…’

Eloquent as ever!

The captain’s voice failed to achieve much more, quite effectively stunned by the other mare’s slightly smirking deadpan, remaining dumb as she found Split leant against the frame of the shed’s ajar doorway.

And you’re blushing again! Hooray!

‘You say you’re no good at speeches, but that was on the cusp of getting good.’ The gunner obviously tried and failed to suppress a giggle. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to freak you out quite so much. A bit definitely I’ll admit, although it’s not exactly my fault that you go all adorable when you’re embarrassed, so you’re at least part to blame too.’ She straightened up, drawing to the earth mare’s side and in this turning her back about so they both faced the rank of armoured vehicles. ‘Your audience is beginning to look impressive, almost worthy. Anyway, Bloss sent me to find you. We’re all doing dinner at hers if you’re up for it?’

Words please!

‘Er… yeah, sounds good.’ Dawn managed to find her smile along with her words, although her teammate was making it far from easy to relocate her hoofing, spoken compliments and grinning expression keeping it from her. The critical tone of her mind, caught entirely off guard, did not help either, but with some effort she called it back to heel along with her burning cheeks. She followed Split’s gaze to the assortment of tanks and that struck a note with her memory. ‘I’ve been meaning to thank you.’

‘For anything in particular?’

‘For that mostly’ she answered, pointing to the Hydra One. ‘I went over the books with Toff when we were organising all our purchases. You pretty much singlehoofedly paid for all its upgrades. So yeah, thank you, from everypony not just me.’

‘Oh, that.’ Split’s features darkened slightly, almost unperceivably, but it was still picked up upon. ‘Don’t mention it.’

‘If you don’t mind me asking though, yours was the single largest donation out of everypony, so where’d…’

‘The money came from my dad.’ To the point, the answer beat the oncoming question. Its voice however lacked the warmth or nonchalance it normally had. Split’s eyes remained ahead of her.

Dawn frowned at the other mare, not expecting the reaction. ‘Oh, well thanks to him then.’

The athlete snorted. ‘One: he doesn’t deserve that, and two: he’d hardly understand it anyway. It’s not like he gives a buck.’ She shrugged carelessly, but her shoulders sagged a little, betraying feelings otherwise.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean…’

‘Don’t apologise.’ Split abruptly shook her head. ‘I should be sorry for being a total downer.’

‘I didn’t mean to pry.’

‘No no, some explanation would be fairer. “Dad” lives at “home” in Las Pegasus, and as far as I’ve bothered to work out he’s some kind of faceless suit, not exactly rolling in it mind but well off. I ended up here a few years ago, cutting a longer story short in saying that Appleoosa of all places was chosen for no better reasons than being far away and able to take me immediately. He was never exactly the… “fatherly type”. Since then the only time he’s ever shown his face here was to dump Mil here as well, who’s more correctly my half-sister by the way, aside from the occasional letter. The only thing he’s ever really given a buck about is my athletics, although that’s probably just for bragging rights around the watercooler, and in any case all it has really brought is expectation rather than actual care. It’s funny cos trying to make him proud was one of main reasons I originally got into it. Kinda pathetic right?’

‘It really isn’t.’

‘Oh yes it is. Anyway, me and Mil get an allowance to stay outta sight and mind, and he gets to occasionally pretend he’s a father when it’s convenient. That’s without any of the responsibility other than sometimes throwing money at us, so I guess we all win in the end. Which brings me to the donation: I told him we needed kit for a new sports team I was captaining. He hasn’t got a clue about the tanks or me quitting track either, but his face would probably be worth seeing if he did figure it out.’ The pegasus laughed dryly. ‘That’s not likely though.’

‘But the championships are recorded, plus they go out live on the radio.’

There was another dryer laugh. ‘Never been his thing. Besides I doubt he’d pay attention even if my face was staring down at him from a newsreel.’

‘I’m so sorr…’

‘Don’t’ Split cut off bluntly, finally turning to meet her captain’s sympathy-written face. ‘I mean please don’t. If you did I know you’d really mean it, and that’s one of the things which makes you great, but please don’t apologise for him.’

Dawn was once more lost for words, although desperately in need of them. She could relate. With no other course really open she stepped forward, bringing up a forehoof to draw her friend into an embrace. She recognised so many of the feelings beneath the pegasus’ hardened exterior, hoping the hug although a small thing would do something, just something, to help, comforted when a wing moved to hold her back.

‘Sorry for just sort of spewing all that, but thanks for listening. Dawn?’

‘Yes?’

‘After the next match, no matter how it goes, there’s something I’ve gotta talk to you about.’

Duell

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‘“Speed is as much a weapon of war as any armament, particularly so when it comes to the tank, and all forces should be arranged around this concept.”’1

‘Manestein?’

‘Nope, but close.’

‘It can’t be Zhoofkov then?’

‘Nope. I kinda should also say that I’m more paraphrasing than actually quoting.’

The best part of the Panther’s crew (minus their gunner) sat outside the maintenance shed, enjoying the sun’s heat in contrast to the cold climate of their trip to Yan Hoover. A scavenged hull plate served them for a table, supported by fuel barrels, whilst for chairs they as per usual had a bunch of empty ammunition crates. The mass of stuff occupying the homemade desk made it seem lucky that it was made from a slab of armour, anything less likely inadequate. Stretched maps and thick files made up most of its contents, accompanied by further copious piles of sheets, several half eaten lunches, a tool kit, and the spilled guts of a savaged radio set. Noise and the bright sparks of flames came from the barn at their back, the work of only really a few labouring tools resonating proudly outward. Most others had instead elected to use the granted time for a much needed break.

‘I’ll leave you to keep guessing for now’ Toffee continued, ‘but the point is the easiest effective way to organise ourselves would be in groups of relatively similar capabilities in terms of mobility, and then we can move on to considering complimentary firepower.’

‘Makes sense’ Dawn nodded. She and the other earth mare occupied one more greatly papered half of the mess, for the last time pawing over a set of championship maps. The arrival of the grid-lined sheets had suddenly made everything much more real, at least as far as the two of them were concerned, immediately throwing all their focus behind planning for their final match ahead. ‘The Rhinos all move similarly, plus after all the changes our Panther, the Tornado and the Little Lion will all likewise be relatively matching. Only the Hydra remains a little sluggish, but its added firepower more than makes up for it, as proven last time.’

‘Would you mind checking this?’ Coquette asked from the other end of the table, turning her question and the radio she was attempting to reassemble to the taller unicorn next to her.

‘Just a sec…’ Blossom meanwhile worked with a pen and ruler, carefully annotating a set of official looking diagrams, aided by her magic. The images depicted the Rhinos Two and Five, showing the addition of boxy scaffolding tubes on the sides of their turrets. These constructions (four in total per tank) were further expanded elsewhere, shown to each contain a heavy bore artillery missile to be launched at an angle from these mounts. ‘Let me just finish this section…’ At the same time as the other writing implement another worked over a series of documents, filling in designated questions and ticking required boxes in a flowing hoof. ‘Mare, they don’t make it easy do they! Now, what is it?’

‘Have I done it right?’ the smaller coms operator queried, pointing to a protruding tangle of wires she had been working on.

The loader levitated the piece under her gaze, turning it over and obviously going through a mental checklist as she counted off cables in series. ‘Yep’ she confirmed, ‘just seal it up and it should work fine.’

‘Really?!’ The golden mare was ecstatic. ‘You mean I’ve seriously managed to freaking fix it?’

‘Yep’ Blossom repeated, smiling. ‘You’re nowhere near as clueless as you make yourself out to be you know. Mostly’ she laughed, her quip totally ignored by her partner still celebrating. ‘How many copies of this do I need to do?’

‘Three I’m afraid’ Toffee responded, ‘one for us and two for the officials to look over.’

‘Buck! And if I screw anything up or it’s not accepted we’ll have to do it again?’

‘Pretty much; hence why you’re the one doing it. Thanks again by the way.’

‘No pressure!’ the unicorn huffed. ‘You’d think they’d make it at least a tad easier to be creative though, I mean isn’t part of the sport’s aim supposed to be development? Bucking health and safety!’

‘I know!’ Coquette piped up with a grin, ‘we want to strap rocket launchers to the sides of our tanks, which if hit could explode by the way, and with them we plan on firing at other ponies. Obviously us having to fill in a few forms to make it legit it health and safety gone mad! Oi!’

The golden mare received a flick of ink and a raised eyebrow back from the loader. ‘If you want a go filling in this crap then be my guest!’

‘So we’ll be facing twenty of Ponyville’s vehicles?’ Dawn looked back to her own work and their resident intelligence officer, the ever-present black jacket adding to the image. ‘Any ideas on specifics?’

‘Their arsenal is huge’ Toffee shook her head. ‘Since their original patron was Twilight Sparkle, the first Minister of Education, they’ve always had the best stuff, and their tank team is no exception. The only thing we can be sure of is that they’ll use the Turtle, which incidentally is our biggest problem anyway, quite literally.2 Beyond that it’s anypony’s guess.’

‘Okay, let’s consider that then.’

‘It’s a close relation of the Tortoise family, you know like the ones Baltimare uses which we saw on the train, but made by a different company, so also close to Canterlot’s Tigers. Like the Hexer it’s another prototype design, gifted by Minister Sparkle to the school because, as far as I can work out, she had no concept of friendly competition, or friends for that matter. Designation is ET-ex or Tortoise Ex-Type…’

‘Hang on; I thought you said it was called the Turtle?’ Coquette looked up from screwing the radio’s rear plate back into place.

‘It’s just another nickname, nopony knows the difference anyway.’

‘FBS!’ the golden earth mare muttered, returning to her task.

‘Anyway, you could say it looks like a super-heavy tank and a land battleship had a foal, and then it mutated into some kind of demonic titan straight outta Tartarus. You remember the huge dual 152 millimetre howitzers the Hexer used on us?’

Dawn nodded.

‘Well this thing’s got a pair of 280 millimetres as it main guns, plus a pair of secondary turrets armed with 128 mils at its rear. The thing’s a beast, insanely large and insanely armed! Scale wise it’s about twelve times the size of a Hunting Tiger, and three times the height!’

‘With all that it must be stupidly slow’ Blossom observed absently, mostly focused on her pages, ‘which makes it pretty redundant for all its grandeur bearing in mind your first point. Why make such a pointless machine?’

‘Partly it came about because of the Hexer. By rumour it had something to do with a longstanding rivalry between earth and air style proponents, but…’

‘Hey Dawn!’ The interruption came from the Hydra’s electric blue commander as she materialised behind the team’s captain, herself spinning around at the sudden appearance. At her back the darker form of Helix also stood, in the midst of pushing her leader forward.

‘Hi’ Dawn managed to respond, as surprised as everypony else. ‘What’s up?’

Uncharacteristically it took a second nudge from her comrade for Rook to keep talking and her words equally seemed to lack their usual showmare confidence. ‘So, er… this may sound out of the blue, but there’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell you…’

‘Hold it!’ With an angered sounding yell a pink bolt of lightning shot down out of the sky, reforming as Split next to the two others so recently teleported. ‘Don’t you dare!’

‘Buck off princess!’ Helix growled, moving to confront the new arrival. ‘Can’t you see they’re trying to have a conversation?’

‘Not before I’ve had my say!’ The athlete totally ignored the interjection. ‘Dawn, you know how I said I wanted to talk about something? Well, I really li-mmph!’ A ball of magic muted out her speech.

‘Hay no! I got here first!’ Rook snarled, stepping forward to clash face to face with her rival, for once actually wearing the ferocious expression her air and those of her comrades tended to suggest.

The two scowled at one another, exchanging murderous looks.

This would be where a good captain would say something to cool things down you know.

‘What’s this ab…’ Dawn tried, but was interrupted.

‘How do you suggest we settle this impasse then?’ the navy-maned unicorn questioned icily, never dropping her eyes from her target.

‘Bare hooves round the back of the sheds would do it’ Helix suggested darkly.

‘Not exactly helping Hel! Exclusion is not something I want to aim for.’

‘A duel then’ Split stated straight back. ‘A duel for her.’

What?!!!

‘With our tanks I assume, so we’re on some kind of equal ground?’

‘Agreed.’

The two nodded coldly at one another, the pegasus then turning to the table.

‘Not happening’ Blossom answered the absent question without even looking up.

‘I didn’t even ask you yet!’ Split complained, anger mounting. ‘And, more importantly, why the buck not?’

‘I’m busy.’

‘Likewise’ Coquette seconded.

‘Seriously?!’

‘I just don’t want to get involved’ Toffee added in more quietly.

‘Well buck you too then!’ The pegasus wheeled on the spot, searching for options, flames further stoked by a snigger from Helix. ‘Hey, Lens!’

‘What?’ The Tornado’s three mare team all walked up, having been on their way past, fronted by their rainbow-haired commander. ‘You want another rematch? You know I’ll just win again!’

‘I need a favour.’

‘Ha, that’s rich!’ Lens snorted. ‘I don’t owe you anything.’

‘Fine, I’ll owe you, big time, I just need you all to crew the Panther for me so I can grind Miss Doom and Gloom into the dirt where she belongs!’

‘Almost tempting, but not quite’ the other pegasus replied, her crew members likewise shaking their heads. ‘There’s no way anything’s worth taking orders from you.’

‘That’s not what I’m asking. You’re in charge.’ Split’s words caused everypony’s jaws to hit the floor. ‘No need for coms, I just need a driver, a loader, and you at the top giving directions. All I want is to work the gun!’

‘Really? Are you sure you’re not ill or something?’

‘Who cares’ Silver came in, ‘let’s do this!’

Without any further pause, both sides departed for the maintenance area, leaving the table’s four occupants back to themselves.

To repeat: what?!

‘What the buck just happened?’ Dawn asked generally to anypony and everypony, failing to regard her unusual expletive.

The three others sat around the table all looked up from the jobs they had put all their focus into, Coquette kicking off with: ‘it’s been going on for a while now, nothing as… vocal as this mind, but simmering under the surface.’

‘We didn’t wanna bring it up’ Toffee came in, ‘you already have so much to think about. You deal with so much stress for everypony that we didn’t think it was fair to make you deal with this too, at least until after the championships.’

‘They both have a thing for you’ Blossom finally straightforwardly answered. ‘Put politely: they’re both pretty crap at elucidating it, Rook’s particularly good at being inscrutable, but they’ve had their obvious moments, so I’m honestly surprised that you never noticed until now. What Toff says is a good summation though. We did decide that it wasn’t fair on anypony for us to push it or interfere.’

‘And look how well that’s turned out’ the coms mare sighed.

Revving engines and clouds of dust followed in the wake of the two war beasts as they rolled out of their cave. The pair moved out, snarling at each other as they took up opposing positions on the practice pitch. There was a pause and then the duo roared at one another, beginning on some unknown signal. Each shot and manoeuvred, quickly throwing up a veil of obscuring dust over their brutal competition.

‘I don’t get it’ Dawn found herself stating as she watched on. ‘Am I supposed to feel good about this?’ She pointed to the shrouded melee, shocked mind leaving her words thoughtless. ‘How is being fought over supposed to be in any way pleasant? I like both of them, a lot, as friends, so what the buck am I supposed to do after this, whatever the outcome ends up as?’

The particularly loud thunder of the Hydra’s three gun broadside rumbled out of the cloud, flashes just as quickly flaring in the billowing dirt. A louder reply came back, obviously from the Panther, and the two sparred on invisibly.

‘Maybe if I’d just seen it…’

‘Come on, can you just not be you for a minute’ Coquette cut the cream earth mare off, ‘or rather can you bring a bit of Commander Dawn to the table instead of just laying responsibility at your hooves. We’re to blame’ she pointed around the table, ‘as are those two out there, them for not saying anything and us likewise, not you.’

Blossom nodded. ‘For now though I think you should take a walk.’

Dawn looked to the whirling smoke and dust. ‘But shouldn’t I…’

‘No, you shouldn’t have to watch this, and they’re idiots for trying to make you. Whatever’s going on behind those clouds, it’s messy, and there’s nothing you or anypony can do about it until they tire themselves out. So take a walk, clear your head a bit and let them clear theirs. We’ll make sure they give you some space.’

‘But…’

‘The shed’s pretty empty’ Toffee suggested, passing over a few sheets. ‘You can go check out how the work is going along, and then just go from there.’

Together the trio all wore encouraging smiles, supportive and sorry, helping Dawn over a last glance back at the ongoing combat. ‘Thank you’ she returned with a small smile, turning to seek shelter in the maintenance bays. Out of the corner of her eyes however she did catch Coquette and Blossom as they sent a sideways glance Toffee’s way, an askance look which got a more confidently flippant reply and an added wave of a forehoof.

---

What are you going to do?

‘Not listening’ Dawn silently thought back, looking up from the paper to the armoured vehicles before her, channelling all her attention away from what was screaming in the back of her mind. Before her were the two turreted Rhinos, in that moment under the care of RCA’s engineers, affixing mounts and ejection systems to the sides of the machines’ squarish heads. These would be ready to receive the rocket tubes set to one side awaiting their design’s approval, simpler and therefore already fabricated, assuming they got it. The ordinance itself was meanwhile being cooked up by the alchemy department, so as long as the plans got the okay all was ready to be on time for the final battle.

What are you going to do?

‘Shut up!’ She moved onto the next tank, or rather the exploded out constituent parts which had been one. The Tornado was in a total state of disassembly, its tracks unwound, its wheels removed and old turret hovering from a crane’s hook high above. The purpose of all this was not easy for an untrained eye to recognise unless the machine’s hull in the middle of this mess was recognised for its unpainted state. This central component was new (again not easy to spot), exchanging rivets for stronger seamless welds and with far sharper angled faces. There were likewise new skirts of armour to protect its drive train and a much meatier engine set to one side (something that Lens and co were still celebrating) so it could maintain its speed with all the extras. All this work had begun as soon as they had got back, the extensive overhaul by Toffee’s estimates essentially converting the machine from a Type Seven to a Type Nine.3

What are you going to do?!

Dawn just huffed, stamping a hoof as she continued with her review, surprised as she reached the Little Lion and was met by the sound of work echoing from within. Despite its agility the cruiser had taken quite the beating in their last match, its repairs only just finished, and they had yet to get down to the additions it was set to receive. Intrigued, she hopped up onto its hull with the aid of a fuel can. She made for the turret, its open hatch the source of the noise, but as she reached it a figure popped out, tossing back her translucent mane.

Crystal was initially oblivious, simultaneously floating a band to tie back her hair whilst using a cloth to desperately clean the grime from her hooves. A moment later however she noticed, startling herself in a mirror image to the other mare a fractional second before. ‘Oh… Hi Dawn.’ Her silver irises went mostly to removing the muck from her forehooves.

‘Hi Crystal.’ The earth mare, given a tiny bit more time, recovered from the shock marginally quicker than the unicorn, but only just barely, similarly dropping her gaze. Her reaction more than the surprise itself was what brought her embarrassment however, suddenly aware of the differences between their meetings in combat versus out of it. This was little helped by the serious working look the delicate mare in front of her was wearing, made even cuter by a small smudge of oil on the side of her nose.

‘What’s up?’ the Tornado’s commander asked, finally succeeding in drawing up her eyes.

Dawn took a moment for thought before she answered. ‘Er… just reviewing how everything’s coming along. How are things going?’

‘Pretty good. The locking mechanism on the left breach has been sticking a bit, so I’ve been working on that, but otherwise we’re all done.’

‘Not quite.’

‘Why?’ The other commander turned meek again with her question, doubting herself. ‘What’ve I forgotten?’

‘No no, you haven’t forgotten anything’ the captain countered quickly, ‘it’s just that we’ve upgraded everypony else, so if it’s ready we’re not going to leave your Lion out.’ She could not help but smile, enjoying the unicorn’s features as they brightened. ‘We’re going to up your armour, so we’ll be adding extra layers to your prow and skirt plates over your treads.’

‘But… not that I’m questioning or ungrateful or anything, but weren’t we not getting anything like that in order to remain faster?’

‘That was the case yes, but I’m also going to get Bloss to take a look at your engine to see if she can coax some more out of its performance to overcome the added weight. The finals are going to be an annihilation match, so everypony is going to have to hold their own against larger forces, plus…’ Dawn stumbled, finding that she had unintentionally put herself in a corner. ‘Erm I… I-I don’t want anything to happen to you.’

You and your big mouth!

The Panther’s commander felt herself turn pink, furthered as she watched a similar reaction on the part of the other leader. Thankfully a particularly loud blast rolled in from outside, breaking the loaded silence which fell to follow.

‘What’s going on out there?’ Crystal queried, consciously changing the subject. ‘Rook and Split came storming in here a while ago, and then charged straight back out again. Are they practicing against one another?’

‘Not exactly. They’re… “duelling” over me.’

‘What?’

Dawn turned away, taking a seat as she sighed, looking out through the shed’s doors. ‘Yeah, that was my reaction. Apparently they both “have a thing for me”, and now they’re fighting over it.’

Crystal climbed from her commander’s perch, sitting down next to the pale cream earth mare. She had however returned her gaze to her forehooves. ‘And? What do you think about that?’

‘In a polite word: it sucks. I like Rook a lot…’

The unicorn’s ears dropped slightly.

‘…and it’s the same with Split. They’ve both become what I thought were friends to me, but this just makes all that seem weird. I feel stupid and I feel powerless.’

‘I’m sorry.’ The other snowy mare at her side kept her eyes on her hooves.

‘Don’t be; nothing to do with you. Thanks though. I just wish they’d come out and said something you know, rather than let things get this far and then jump to each other’s throats.’

Just a tad hypocritical there, bearing in mind present company!

‘On top of all that I just don’t get it, this is all totally new for me. I don’t understand what they’re thinking or what they can see.’

‘Erm… it’s pretty obvious actually.’

The captain turned to the pure form next to her.

‘You’re kind and you’re caring. You know how the both of them are, but you’ve never judged either of them in the way so many others have, or done that to anypony else for that matter. From the start you’ve done and cared so much for all of us, but at the same time we’ve all been allowed to see your other side as well. You’re strong, you’re brave, you’ve put yourself on the line for others without a second thought. I know cos it’s you you’re likely not going to agree with anything I’m saying, but trust me it’s true. Bearing all that in mind it’s not surprising that they feel the way they do, plus it probably doesn’t help that… that you’re pretty cute too.’

These last words sent the earth mare’s gaze crashing straight back to her forehooves, bearing a hotter pink shade than ever.

‘Dawn?’

‘Y-yes?’

‘You should know that I like you too.’

A set of lips came to brush lightly against Dawn’s cheek. Instantly she whirled back round, finding Crystal with her head inclined timidly toward her forehooves, shoulders noticeably hunched and face screwed up around closed eyes as if expecting a very different reply in return. The heavy quiet had come back, all sound seeming to pause in of that moment as the captain looked at the other commander, feeling guilty at her partner’s anxiousness, but at the same time finding the sight infinitely adorable. She was drawn in, leaning over as she closed the gap between them, laying a kiss as tentatively on the unicorn’s cheek as the one it succeeded, before she likewise receded shyly back.

Crystal’s features softened, biting her lip as she looked up. The pair broke into little smiles as they looked into one another. They remained quietly gazing, finding their forehooves intertwined between them.

‘Hold on!’

‘Wait a minute!’

Loud calls from the building’s doors sharply drew away their attention, where a crowd was forcing its way in. The shout came from Coquette, alongside Blossom and Toffee trying and failing to be an immovable rampart, but finding their collective barrier forced continually backward. Behind them Rook and Split refused to be detained, both caked in a mixture of sweat and dirt from their angry conflict, storming heedlessly forward. This group came to an abrupt stop, spinning around the trio which had tried to prevent its progress. A varied collection of faces all bore up at the two mares holding hooves, expressions arranged on all points along the emotional spectrum.

Entscheidende Schlacht

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A light breeze blew across the hilltop, running waves through the trimmed grasses which covered its surface. The sun brightly illuminated this lush summit, looking down through a thin layer of clouds, lending the place comfortable warmth. Similarly the background scent of meadow flowers joined in to create a natural serenity. Running counter to these facets however, carried on the winds as they created shiny ripples in the green stems of the ground, there was the echoing sound of a great many voices all talking excitedly in unison.

The source of this out of place noise was far below, crossing an expanse of similarly manicured garden-like fields, rising up from the streets and promenades of a town. Hoofington did indeed seem to bear a marked resemblance to its sister settlement of Trottingham, similarly adorned throughout with blossoms and greenery, giving it the carnivalesque look of a summer fete. Its constituent buildings were however not the rustic structures of wood and thatch previously seen, rather rising as neo-gothic towers of plain stone. Wrought ironwork marked the borders between domiciles, in many places woven with flowering creepers to disguise their barbs. Such details were however made hard to spot by the hordes of ponies milling about on every street and in every square, together filling the air with sound even at a distance.

At one end of the town its station was clogged with trains, all at rest having deposited their passengers. One of these was Appleoosa’s, given its own berth to one side, which despite its size was made to look tiny set against its rival next to it. Ponyville’s serpentine vehicle was truly huge in comparison, a contrast which was mimicked in those vehicles it had delivered. In amongst the crowded visitors thronging throughout Hoofington purple was the predominate colour, worn on scarfs, on shirts, and as war paint, all declaring their loyalty to the obvious favourites. It was all more than a little imposing to look down upon.

Hardly a confidence booster!

‘Don’t let it get to you, you’ve been here before, more than once’ Dawn thought to herself, taking a calming breath. Both she and her mind more than needed it.

‘Sweet Celestia!’

A perfect summation.

Alongside the captain stood the best part of her command tank’s crew, all likewise caught up in the scene before them. Of them it had been Coquette to voice the exclamation, with it encapsulating the look on her and everypony else’s face. ‘Look at all of them!’

‘National championships’ Blossom observed, ‘kind of a big deal! Still hard to believe it’s really real though.’

‘You can say that again!’ Toffee, who had been for some time quite literally skipping around, made almost permanently hysterical by excitement, seemed to have finally calmed down a bit. Their collective tension was however still palpable.

Dawn nodded her general agreement. It did not seem that long ago that she had been walking through AIA’s front gates for the first time and the four of them had been strangers. They were now a world away from there in more ways than simply one. In reflection the changes felt stark, going right to her very heart. Unreal was not the half of it, providing something else unhelpfully for her subconscious to obsess over.

Along with the Turtle, the Split situation, and, you know, trying to win the freaking finals!

‘Just keep reminding yourself that it’s no different to any other game, it helps.’ The advice was called down from above, succeeded by a blast of rushing air as its speaker touched down behind them all, turning them about.

‘Star!’ Toffee yelled out.

‘Hey Sweetie!’ Solstice replied, catching the caramel earth mare and wrapping her in her wings as she leapt forward into them. For a moment the two of them were heedless of all beyond themselves, each burying themselves in the other’s embrace, only rising out again to find their partner’s lips.

‘What’re you doing here?’ the driver finally managed to ask as she reluctantly extricated herself from their reunion.

The black-suited night mare raised an eyebrow in return. ‘Oh, I don’t know, I was out for a quick flight, took a few wrong turns, realised I was in the neighbourhood and just sort of ended up here!’ she scoffed sarcastically. ‘Surely it’s pretty clear why I’m here!’

‘But you said you couldn’t make it?’

Solstice’s visage became a conspiratorial grin. ‘True enough, but isn’t it obvious? I’m sick.’ She made a show of a mock cough. ‘So sick in fact that I couldn’t make the exams and am currently at home in bed as we speak. Seriously though, there was no way I was going to miss this!’ Her faked coughs became a giggle, before she moved in to steal another kiss. ‘Hi to the rest of you as well by the way! Glad to see you’re looking well Dawn.’

‘Thanks’ the other captain replied, meaning it wholeheartedly. ‘It’s so good to see you again; it feels like it’s been so long. How’ve you been?’

‘Well in many ways it has been, you’ve come so far since we first met, as I quite rightly predicted I might add. As for me, there’s a small part which is a bit disappointed that I’m not in your shoes right now, it would’ve been good to have another go for the win, but this is a nice consolation.’ She shrugged. ‘Plus I suppose the look on everypony’s faces, not just those joyless gits from Ponyville, is going to be utterly priceless when you strip the title from them.’

‘Kinda getting ahead of yourself there don’t you think?’ Coquette countered.

‘Not that we don’t appreciate the confidence’ Blossom added in support, ‘it’s just that we are going up against the reigning champions here, something that you’ve done far more than us…’

‘No, not really, I think I’m on the mark.’ Solstice swatted away both their comments with a wave of her wing. ‘I reckon my predictions have been pretty much spot on so far, or more correctly you’ve defied and gone beyond them, not to mention everypony else’s. You’ve all obviously come together as a team and achieved so much, so why the hay shouldn’t your sights be set on total victory?’ She pointed to the town below, specifically picking out the unmissable shape of their adversary’s not so secret weapon by the repair sheds. ‘I might also add that for all their show you’ve got them scared. At base their team’s formidable, so they don’t always roll out the Turtle to face everypony, and yet here it is when they’re set to go up against you lot. You’re still relative beginners, if extremely successful ones, but they’ve still chosen to bring out the big guns. That looks a lot like fear or nerves to me.’

‘Like a filly screaming that she isn’t scared as loud as she can at a dark room’ the hazel unicorn mused, contemplating as she spoke, ‘except their version of it is a bit more effective.’

‘True, but look past the whole massive war machine thing and it stems from exactly the same place. Keep that in mind when you face them. You’ve bothered them, caught them off guard.’ The pale night mare made a fanged grin, before returning her attention to her fellow captain. ‘Going back to the previous topic however, it is really good to see that you’re alright with my own eyes. Despite the win against Canterlot I still had my worries.’

‘Thanks’ Dawn repeated, although she found her foreoof subconsciously drawn to trace the scar above her eyebrow, ‘and thanks for the support as well. I assume Toff kept you up to speed with everything?’

Solstice gave a nod, catching eyes with the equally black-jacketed earth mare beside her. Her face then furrowed slightly with understanding, having picked up on the pale cream commander’s movement. ‘Sorry I brought it up, I didn’t mean to bother you, but if it does you shouldn’t let it.’ She pulled down her collar and pointed to an almost invisible line running in amongst the faint markings on her neck. ‘Lots of mine have faded with time. I’ve got my fair share of battle scars elsewhere though that Sweetie can attest to.’

Toffee went beyond turning pink, rather graduating to a full blown burning red, much to her partner’s amusement and furthered by the laughs which escaped all others in response.

‘Like I said before quite a while ago now: stuff like this are an “occupational hazard” in this sport, but it also helps to consider them like medals. They likewise stand for all you’ve done to achieve them, every step you’ve taken, but unlike some chunk of metal they’re far more permanent.’

---

Dawn stepped out into rushing winds, letting a door slide closed at her back, whilst trying to hold her billowing mane out of her eyes. With utmost care she hopped across a gap, moving from one swaying platform to another, doing her best to keep her hoofing on the constantly rolling surface. A sharp shiver coursed its way through her, the night’s chill beginning to make itself felt throughout her being as she moved onward.

The dark sky above her bore only a few scant clouds, those few wisps there were being swiftly whipped away by the ether’s invisible claws, therefore levelling a patchwork of spotlights to guide her route. Even with this help her path was not the easiest, taking her to the edge of the flatbed as she made her way along the carriage, much of its space occupied by the strapped down forms of armoured vehicles. She hunkered down against the continuing rush of cold air, ducking her way beneath guidelines and ropes as she made her way backward along the train, finally reaching the recognisable shape of the Hydra One. ‘Rook?’ Her call was immediately carried away and lost to the wind, so she hammered a forehoof against the tank, trying again. ‘Rook?!’

The unicorn popped her head out from the main hatch in the machine’s central turret, even her copiously gelled mane wavering in the force of the wind, just about maintaining its sculpted fins. Rook gave a wave, her lips moving wordlessly.

‘What?!’

The Hydra’s commander made a second attempt with no greater success, whatever she said being stolen from her lips. Instead therefore she signalled, pointing to her captain and then her tank as she ignited her horn, pausing to ask permission with her eyes.

Figuring it out Dawn nodded, immediately being engulfed by a ball of magic, whiting out everything beyond it. In a flash she appeared within the vehicle, instantly raking back the chaos of her blown about hair, suddenly alongside her teleporter within the tank. ‘Hi.’

‘Hey!’ Rook returned warmly. ‘Sorry to drag you out here, but Dahl just finished the last of the set up, so I thought you’d like to know.’ She traced the route of a set of wires down through the space as they descended into the hull. ‘We’ve put the speakers on either side of the turret in armoured encasements, so they’re trainable, but also have some degree of protection when not in use. The controls for them meanwhile are down with the radio system at Dahl’s station. Currently we’ve only got music and some engine noises cued up, but in the future we should be able to do some more complex stuff.’

‘Did you remember to put in the paperwork for all this? From what Toff says the refs are really strict on that stuff.’

‘Yep, sent them off before we left, plus requested for their reply to be sent to Hoofington, so all being well it should be waiting for us. If not we can simply unbolt the system, so we’re covered if in doubt. I do reckon we’ll get the green light though. A bunch of different vehicles did get systems like this during the War so it should be legit.’

‘Fantastic’ Dawn smiled. ‘I can’t believe you actually managed to pull it off.’ This if anything was an understatement, the idea for the more than complex addition having come from the rebel team at the very last minute. Their leader was obviously pleased with the achievement, and Appleoosa’s captain felt the same way, but in the quiet afterwards there was a certain awkwardness still unresolved. The fact that it had not been brought up at all made it hang all the more heavy. ‘Erm… Rook?’

‘Yep?’

‘Er… I’ve been meaning to ask you’ the cream earth mare began uncertainly. ‘Are we cool?’

The navy-maned unicorn nodded knowingly. ‘Yeah, pretty much.’

‘Really? I mean, after what happened…’

‘Really, we’re cool’ Rook interrupted, turning away in thought as she continued. ‘True, I’ll admit that I’m disappointed, I’d be lying if I said anything otherwise, you are after all annoyingly cute. I can’t exactly hold that against you though.’ She turned back to the other mare. ‘Hel’s a whole different story though.’

‘Helix?’

‘Yep, it’s probably going to take a lot longer for her to forgive you for “toying with my heartstrings”.’ The unicorn gave a thoughtful shrug whilst trying to sound jokey. ‘Me and her have known each other for an awfully long time, so as you’ve probably noticed she’s a bit protective to say the least, but then again I’m the same way in return. Generally therefore I’d suggest giving her a wide berth for now, but as far as I’m concerned, although there’s a part of me that’s loath to admit it, I’m just happy that you’re happy.’

The simple words were intensely liberating, freeing the captain from at least one of the leaden things weighing down on her. ‘Thanks Rook.’

The electric blue unicorn, in so many ways different to what expectations may have claimed, shook her head and then extended a hoof across the turret. ‘Mates?’

‘Mates’ Dawn concurred, meeting the forehoof comradely with her own.

---

‘I told you we weren’t the only ones!’

Dawn’s gaze followed Solstice’s observation as they and the three others made their way through Hoofington’s crammed streets, catching a few splashes of sandy yellow in amongst the great swell of purple. Sat around a table in front of a café (something she had discovered the town was overflowing with) was a vaguely familiar bunch in burgundy coloured kepi hats, all sporting flags adorned with scorpions.

‘You obviously made a good impression on Dodge when you faced them.’

‘That or it’s a case of solidarity amongst the underdogs’ Blossom suggested. ‘It’s still nice though.’

One of the members of the Dodge Junction group looked their way, face lighting up in recognition, her comrades following suit as they all gave a cheer and a wave.

‘I could get used to this fame thing’ Coquette grinned, leading the reply to the fans.

The Appleoosa captain was meanwhile far less at ease with the attention. In a word it was surreal, not exactly pleasant, but feeling unfair to call it the opposite. Her loader was maybe in part right though: at least they were nice in contrast to a few of the other looks they were receiving from the purple-clad majority (although some of the darker ones were probably directed more against the two in black officer’s coats of their number).

Regardless the five of them made their way onward, dipping in and out of light conversation as they mapped their way back to the station. Eventually with some effort they made it past the still full platforms and into the relative quiet of the assembly areas. Things were far from calm there however, the two sides of opposing sheds being well filled with frantic preparations under the watchful eye of several referees. Appleoosa’s half in this was far more spacious, one of the only real benefits to their limited numbers, giving the room for a large planning table set up in their centre.

‘Hey Dawn!’ Dice called, waiting with the rest of their team’s tank commanders, nursing coffee mugs as they looked over a map, their crews busy in the background.

‘Me and Belle will go give the Panther a last look over’ Blossom announced, moving off. ‘It was good to see you Solstice.’

‘Likewise’ the night mare smiled. ‘I should take my leave too though, don’t want you to be penalised for me hanging around. I wish you the best of luck’ she concluded Dawn’s way, ‘not that you particularly need it though. “It’s the will for victory which…”’

‘…“make’s a commander strong”’ Toffee finished, cued in by a glance.1

Solstice gave a nod with a broad smile. ‘Correct, so knock ‘em dead and show everypony what I know you’re capable of.’ She leant in towards the caramel earth mare beside her, dropping her tone slightly, adding a last kiss on a cheek which turned instantly pink. ‘And that goes the same for you too my little desert fox.’

‘If you’ll pardon me to interrupt for a moment…’

Dawn, feeling a bit like a third wheel, had some appreciation for the surprise distraction, turning back around to locate the politely spoken speaker at her back. Behind her were several figures, suited neatly in red dress tunics like the last juncture they had seen them, except this time with the addition of yellow war paint decorating their forms, something which looked particularly odd on their lilac leader.

‘Hello again’ Coronet greeted in her softly spoken accent, the antithesis to the jagged battle markings adorning her aspect. ‘We don’t want to keep you from your briefing, but we likewise wanted to show our support and to wish you good luck.’ The earth mare straightened with her compatriots and then they all made a bow.

Appleoosa’s captain, caught off guard, instinctively bowed back. ‘Thank you.’

‘These are also for you all’ another of the Trottingham mares added, levitating a crimson wicker basket over to the table, ‘they should go well with your drinks.’

‘Anyway, we’ll be off.’ Coronet gave a parting smile, moving out with her comrades. Solstice joined her in departure, meeting another group of the night mare’s teammates who had evidently appeared at the shed’s doorway. Both parties met with a degree of formality, recognisable in their words despite going unheard. After a brief exchange the Hollow Shades representatives went into their saddlebags, drawing out and showing off a set of oversized yellow foam scorpion claws. A couple of these were exchanges for a tub of face paint and then all went off together.

‘Ahem’ Dice broke in, ‘that’s nice and all, but could we please get on with actually planning this out!’

---

Coquette let out a long sigh, letting herself collapse forward onto the low table as if actually deflating with her breath. She proceeded to lift her head just enough to lay it on her forehooves, in the same motion brushing away several of the sheets before her. ‘I bet they set this stuff just to piss me off! I mean, when in real life is any of it gonna actually be at all useful?’ She pouted accusingly at the mess of scribbled equations, huffing again.

Dawn could not help but join the other earth mare in a little sigh of her own, although hers had very different origins, more a sigh of contentment. The world was already cosy, softly lit and filled with warmth, yet in addition to this she had been given a blanket to curl up in. All around were rich savoury scents wafting in from the kitchen, mellow spices mixing with the sweet smells of peppers and onions. The desert chill outside meanwhile seemed only to amplify this general bliss, an effect furthered by the first patter of another unusual shower playing against the covered window panes.

‘Okay okay, I get the less than subtle hint!’ Blossom called from the kitchen, from which both the delicious smell and a mouth-watering orchestra of sizzling was flowing. ‘You can take a look at my notes; they’re in the usual place.’

‘Thank you!’ Coquette immediately regained her energy, rising to her hooves and shrugging off her fleeced cover as she went. She bounded across the room to a desk set at one side, without having to search pulling open its top drawer and plucking out a green folder from a dense host of differently colour-coded others. Returning back to her seat, she drew out the unicorn’s version of the homework from within the file and placed it between herself and her captain to look over. ‘You look about as bored as I am, and Bloss doesn’t mind.’

The pair set to work, one openly copying and the other a tad guiltily just checking her notes against her friend’s. They sat in the by now quite familiar surroundings of Blossom’s apartment: a simple two room affair, plus bathroom, situated in the loft of a stack of similar domiciles. The hazel unicorn’s tastes were as varied as all her others, most clearly displayed on the walls of the main room which were all completely covered in an intricate collage of art pieces, film posters, and her own drawings. Her home’s kitchenette meanwhile was in stark colour blocks of black and white, interspersed with red details, all in a minimalist modern style. Throughout all of this none of the furniture matched. From the stools of the breakfast bar, to the futon (currently set as a seat but unoccupied), everything had a different style or patterning. It somehow however defied looking messy, everything having its ordered place and position in what might otherwise have been utter chaos.

‘Whatever point you’re at can you clear a space?’ came Blossom’s voice again, ‘it’s almost ready.’

‘You’re seriously gonna love this’ Coquette stated definitely, partly hindered by her mouthful of pencil as she raced through the last of the questions on her paper. ‘Unsurprisingly, cooking’s another of Bloss’ limitless array of talents.’ Bringing her scribbling to a halt she stowed her sheet and others back in her bag before slinging it into the one untidy spot in the whole place.

One of the corners seemed to be set aside permanently for the golden earth mare’s use, complete with a rollout mattress and mass of personal effects in a heaped pile. Dawn had noted a similar if antithetical setup to one side in Coquette’s place, not odd bearing in mind how close the two were. On the other hoof though, they also did live in the same building, if at opposing poles of it.

Forestalling any further thoughts on the subject the sounds of cookery cut out in the other room, directly followed by Blossom’s appearance, levitating in front of her a large platter and trio of plates. ‘Sorry, I’ve made way too much’ she began, ‘but I hope you enjoy, which pre-emptively Belle is not an invitation for you to eat yourself drunk again!’

‘Oh come on! Can you stop bringing that up already!’

Grinning at the reaction she received the hazel unicorn took her seat, pulling up a set of cushions and delivering the steaming tray to the table. On it was a fried potato tortilla, piled high with vegetables sautéed in garlic oil and further smothered in a layer of melting cheese. True to the coms mare’s prediction the dish looked more than delicious. ‘It’s a shame the others couldn’t make it’ Blossom mused, cutting thick wedges from the colourful slab and hoofing them out.

‘Yeah’ Dawn nodded, more than happily accepting a heaped plateful. In the case of Split the pegasus was at home with her sister, Milly having fallen under the weather during their team’s visit to Yan Hoover. She was therefore spending some time with the sick filly, showing her caring side which she generally preferred to conceal. As far as where the fifth member of their party was however, that remained an unknown. ‘What happened to Toff?’

‘Her parents wanted her to help with something on the farm’ Coquette answered. ‘Unsurprisingly she wasn’t happy about it, but looking on the bright side I guess that’ll mean she’ll be kind of getting in some extra driving practice.’

‘In less than favourable conditions.’ Blossom gestured to the curtain covered windows and the sound of continuing rain coming from behind them. ‘Between that, the team, and her studies it’s amazing how much she quietly does. Anyway, speaking of which, did you both get finished?’

‘Yep, all done. Thanks for your help.’

‘Likewise’ Dawn agreed, ‘and also thanks for tonight.’

The hazel unicorn shook her head. ‘Don’t, this was nice, and it made sense to take the time to clear the decks a bit. What’s the blueprint for tomorrow?’

‘If all goes to plan we can start work sourcing some extra armour for the Little Lion and the Tornado.’

‘Do we really have to add those boxy sheets to everything?’ Coquette complained. ‘Our tank looked better without them, and it’s the same with everypony else’s.’

‘We’re going into the grand final’ Blossom countered, rolling her eyes, ‘so I reckon how pretty our vehicles are is probably the least of our worries! Besides I thought that you found them all ugly?’

‘Well, most of them aren’t exactly lookers, but they’ve grown on me in a weird way.’

Dawn covered her mouth with a forehoof, catching a contented burb before it escaped. She snuggled a bit deeper into her blanket, for a while just listening, watching her friends discussing the relative beauty of various armoured vehicles. There were a lot of things at the back of her mind which demanded her attention, but for now she felt relaxed, choosing to merely enjoy it and her company.

---

‘So, let’s go over what we’re up against.’ Dawn gave her usual intelligence mare her cue with a nod, moving on to take a sip from her mug and selecting a piece of vanilla shortbread from the basket Coronet and co had gifted.

‘Their line-up is a straightforward division of three types’ Toffee began, putting her own coffee aside and taking up a number of technical sheets to pass around the assembled commanders. ‘Most of their squad, thirteen tanks worth of it, are versions of the EL-4 or Leopard Four, like what Canterlot’s “Racket” was based off of.2 In amongst the one’s they’re fielding there are quite a few infinitesimal variations which I could easily go into too much detail about, but suffice to say they’re mostly later versions.’

‘How do they compare to ours?’ Beret asked.

‘Hard to say.’ The sage scratched her chin. ‘Since we’ve upped its armour they’re probably most similar to the Little Lion, except as a cruiser it’s much faster. As medium tanks they universally outgun the Tornado, but it can outrun them, and the opposite’s the case for the Hydra. Likewise it’s the same for all our Rhinos, including yours. I think only really our Panther beats them on all fronts’ she almost guiltily admitted.

‘So they’re relying on a reliable middleweight in large numbers’ Rook put forward, snapping a biscuit in two and dipping one of the halves into her drink. ‘So we should expect a brute force approach, trying to out manoeuvre and drown us.’

‘I think so’ Toffee agreed. ‘Their other selections are more interesting though.’ She hoofed around another set of images depicting what was in essence an open-topped box on treads.3 The relatively small and incredibly simple looking vehicle had three flat sides, only slanting at its front plate which had a notch cut out in order to mount a stubby high calibre cannon. ‘Six more of their selections are earlier Leopard Ones kitted out as self-propelled artillery pieces. They’re a weird choice from their arsenal: small and nippy, easy to conceal, and they pack quite the punch for their size. Oh and, just to be extra confusing, as a nickname they’re called Bison.’

‘So from them we should expect and ambush?’ Lens queried this time. ‘They don’t look particularly fit for a pursuit role.’

‘Maybe, or they’ll use them to support the Turtle, which as it’s hard for us all not to have had a good look at I won’t go into further. That final beast of theirs is slow and insanely powerful. If anything it’s got hits you you’re probably out.’

‘And we’ve got to destroy all of that’ the Tornado’s commander added in. ‘To call it a “challenge” would be a stupidly big understatement!’

‘What do you think Dawn?’ With her words Crystal gathered all attentions and sent them to the pale cream earth mare at the table’s head.

The captain looked back at the expectant faces. It was true that the idea of command had never really been her thing, nor had the thought of being involved in a martial sport such as this one she found herself in ever crossed her mind until coming to Appleoosa, now quite a while in the past. Here however was a group with which she had been through a lot, done a lot, smiled a lot. With them she had grown, they having trusted and supported her throughout, and she them in return to the best of her ability, just as they did again in the present. With all this at the back of her mind her self-consciousness failed to trip her up, her thoughts going straight to the task at hoof and in this sending her eyes to the map laid out at the centre of the group of friends.

‘Here.’ Dawn brought a forehoof to the bird’s eye image, drawing it in a circle a region at its top right corner: a slightly raised plateau with woods on its two edges. ‘They’re mixed force looks like they’re playing two different games, and I think one of them will be to place the Turtle there, with the assault guns in support. On the plateau its back is covered, so there’s no issue in its lack of manoeuvrability, meanwhile there’s only three other approaches, which we’ll eventually have to use since it’s annihilation. Either we go straight up the middle, exposing ourselves as we go over the rise, or we go through the woods, in which I reckon they’ll hide their Bison divided across the two.’

‘So they’ll just wait us out if they take that position’ Lens came in, ‘so we should strike them first in transit at the start before they get set up.’

The captain shook her head. ‘If that’s their plan, and we have therefore “spooked” them, they’re playing conservatively, meaning they’ll have their whole force, or at least most of it, guard their trump card into place. After that they’ll turn all their Leopard Fours loose to scout and destroy us with their superior numbers. The good thing about that though should be that it’ll gain us some time to set up ourselves.’

‘So we dig in deep somewhere and do the same to them.’ Beret’s face became steely, seeming to look off into the distance. ‘We’ll stand up tall on the barricades, draw them in, and let them crush themselves against our resolve! Where?’

‘Perhaps here’ Toffee jumped in, hoof landing on a central hill surrounded by flat grassy country. ‘If we place ourselves up there we’d have a clear view in all directions when their force comes, and with all our guns we could easily defend it, even if they attack from all sides.’

‘That’s my thinking’ Dawn smiled back to her comrades. ‘However we won’t all be up there, rather the Rhinos and the Hydra will go out on their own, aiming for their prize behemoth.’

‘Wait wait wait’ Dice cut in, ‘so three of you are going to hold a ridge against thirteen of them, whilst the four of us are going to face seven, including the Turtle, ensconced in a defensive position?’ She raised a particularly high eyebrow.

‘The aim with our offensive group will be to destroy their self-propelled artillery and to wound the Turtle before pulling back, hopefully drawing the thing out.’ The captain remained firm, channelling confidence. ‘On the hill meanwhile we’ll use smoke and movement to convince them that we’re all up there and then knock out as many as possible. By staying on attack as much as we can we’ll be able to set the pace of the game.’ The pale cream mare looked to each of her comrades in turn, hoping she conveyed something akin to strength, pausing a little longer in Crystal’s silver irises. ‘Just cos they’re playing defensive and trying to cover all bases doesn’t mean we have to follow suit.’

‘She who “tries to hold everything at once, finishes up with nothing at all”’ Rook quoted in support, adding: ‘Manestein’ in explanation.4

‘Hey!’ Toffee’s face wore something of a mixture of surprise, like a few others, and a pout, as if her thunder had been stolen.

The electric blue unicorn grinned back. ‘Just proving I’ve been going through the reading list you gave me.’ She turned back to her captain. ‘My question is how do the four of us go after them, bearing in mind they’re probably hoping we’ll do just that?’

‘For that’ Dawn answered, ‘I’m banking on you and Dahl’s secret weapon.’

---

The carriage rocked with motion, rolling almost gently despite its thundering progress through the late evening outside. The whole space swayed in time to the rhythmic *clack* of wheels against track beneath it, creating a regular ticking almost like a clock’s pendulum. As potentially soothing as this may have been however, each count of the constant tempo marked a step closer to their final destination, something which had the very opposite effect.

Dawn therefore lay awake, her eyes purposely half-lidded and her breaths made deep and slow, but as yet being denied the sleep she sought. Too much plagued her mind, creating an inner bulwark against unconsciousness. She had tried to reassure herself. One: she knew their vehicles (stored on the flatbeds elsewhere) were prepared, and two: she knew they were as ready as they were going to be, the mass of papers and books filling most of the rest of the cabin as testament to that. She had attempted escape, distracting herself in considering everything else under the sun. All however had been to no avail, and so she stared upward at the slats supporting the bunkbed above her.

A couple of knocks came from the door.

‘Come in’ both earth mares muttered together, simultaneously showing that neither was having any luck in discovering sleep.

The door opened a crack, allowing a rainbow-maned pegasus to look in. ‘Hey guys’ Lens began at a whisper, ‘sorry to disturb, but do you mind if I crash in here?’

‘No, that’s fine’ Dawn replied, ‘I don’t know if there’s space though.’

‘Thanks’ the colourful athlete smiled gratefully, bringing with her a couple of cushions as she came in and closed the door. With these she set about creating a nest for herself on the floor, accepting a couple of fatter pillows passed down by her comrades to form an improvised mattress.

‘There’s also an extra blanket in one of my bags’ Toffee offered. ‘What’s up with your cabin?’

‘Split’ Lens sighed in answer, settling herself and pulling out an urban camouflage patterned cover. ‘She’s decided that now’s the perfect time to hold a boxing match against her bed.’

‘Hold on, you’re bunking with Split?’

‘Well yeah, so?’

‘Well, aren’t… actually never mind’ the farmer backpedalled in the face of a defensive response.

‘Anyway, she’s not really been herself since the fight with Rook’ Lens continued. ‘Not that I care that much or anything, but it doesn’t make much sense. I mean, we clearly won, no matter what Miss Doom and Gloom might say.’

‘Wait, so you don’t know what that was about?’

‘No, I just figured it was the usual. You know: somepony said something, somepony replied, and so on. Why, is there more to it?’

‘Er… no, again nevermind. We really should be getting some sleep’ Toffee ended uncertainly, making an audible show of turning over onto her side.

Silence fell between them, punctuated only by the occasional yawn or stretch, each of the trio restarting their interrupted quest for sleep. For Dawn however this uphill struggle had become even steeper a climb, fresh and old worries collectively jostling one another for dominance in her mind. New amongst these was the image of her gunner angry, or worse miserable, a few cabins further down the carriage. The picture struck her deeply, painful for the blame she levelled against herself for the hurt she had caused her friend. Caught like this she remained still, the world around her ever rumbling forward towards their conclusive stop.

---

‘Alright everypony!’ Dice bellowed. ‘Captain’s orders: mount up and do final checks, we roll in five!’

Dawn allowed herself a grin, watching the teal unicorn in her element. It would have been wrong to call the council member bossy. Even at her loudest she never quite warranted that title, rather seeing her take charge was strangely reassuring, adding a sense of normality to any situation. Even in the chaos of the Hoofington repair shed, as everypony jumped to their vehicles, it managed to have such an effect. Any further thoughts the cream earth mare had on this were however cut short as she felt her fur stand on end, a corona of energy swiftly forming about her being as it flashed her out of existence before she had time to react. Just as quickly she found herself reappeared, a pure white forehoof moving to catch her as she stumbled, landing unsteadily back on solid ground.

‘Sorry about that.’ Crystal made a sheepish smile, extinguishing her horn. ‘Erm… I just…’ Her soft voice stopped and started, stumbling over its own words, whilst she left her hoof holding onto her opposite’s shoulder, her face cutely pinkish. ‘Er… buck it!’ She moved in to her partner, her eyelids falling closed as she brought their lips together.

It took Dawn a moment to react, surprised enough by the sudden teleportation, her eyes initially going wide. In a second however she recovered, falling under the spell of the kiss which had pounced upon her, likewise letting her vision flutter shut. Having been effectively ambushed, she then counterattacked, her own hoof coming up instinctively to caress her partner’s cheek as their tongues sparred playfully between them. And so it went on, neither surrendering to pull away, both fuelled by a potent mix of excited passion, surprise, and the moment, all the tension coiled within them overflowing in the embrace. Eventually though they did have to part, catching their breath, with irises returning to gaze on one another.

‘Well’ Crystal began again once she had recovered, ‘I just wanted to wish you luck, although I already know you don’t really need it.’

Granted a moment to take in her surroundings the earth mare realised that they were somewhere at the back of the garage, hidden out of view by a wall of supply crates. ‘Neither will you, but likewise the same.’ She wanted to say more, but found her words less than capable, instead putting her hopes behind her smile and enjoying the one it elicited in return.

The silvery unicorn brought a hoof to her bobbed mane, stroking to one side a few of its translucent strands. ‘Also… keep yourself safe, okay?’

Dawn was drawn back toward the other mare; rising to wrap her forehooves about her and feeling her partner do the same. ‘You too.’ They each held the other tight, both supporting them together on their hind hooves in their hug.

‘Is everpony set?’ Dice shouted, receiving various degrees of confirmation from around the shed.

‘I think that’s our cue’ Crystal whispered at her captain’s ear, adding a last kiss to the earth mare’s cheek.

Once again Dawn felt energy crackle around her, and in a burst of light she appeared alongside the Panther. She boarded her tank, in the corner of her eye catching the pure white unicorn she had just parted from doing the same, sending a quick wave her way. The captain scaled her vehicle’s hull, quickly reaching the turret, just as Split was likewise ducking inside. ‘Are we all ready?’

‘Looks that way’ the pink pegasus returned, bluntly cold, not bothering to look up as she spoke. ‘Let’s get this over with.’

---

‘Sweet Celestia, this waiting is the worst!’ Coquette moaned loudly from down in the hull. ‘We get all psyched up, face each other down, the crowd roars, and then… nothing, exactly squat!’

Dawn nodded her total agreement. It was normally bad enough being caught on the cusp of action, but here it was worse, not just scouring the horizon, rather also listening intently at the radio for any news of the others far away. Her decisions weighed heavily upon her, whether her instincts had been right or wrong, whether her choices would lead to success or failure. All she could do however was watch and wait, trusting in those she had dispatched, knowing that enquiring after them would more hinder them by looking over their shoulders than it would help her.

The radio mare gave another aggravated huff. ‘I just wish something would happen!’

‘For the love of Luna, shut up!’ Split thumped the side of the turret alongside het outburst, sending echoes throughout the vehicle.

Coquette stopped for a moment, side swiped like all others by the pegasus’ sudden shout. ‘Oh… well, sorry. I’m right though aren’t I, you more than anypony has gotta hate sitting still? In fact you tend to be the one voicing it the most, not me.’

‘All you’re managing to do currently is piss me off!’ the gunner snapped back, ‘so shut the buck up!’

‘Watch it!’ Blossom growled back, cutting in with a voice dripping in menace, a threatening tone that nopony was used to.

Split was however evidently deaf to this. ‘Why don’t you watch it! I only want your marefriend to be bucking quiet!’

The unicorn’s visage became one of cold iron, something else unnerving, whilst her horn let out a low crackle.

‘Bloss, it’s okay’ Coquette jumped back in, far more aware of the change in her friend. ‘There’s no need for this. I was being annoying, and I’ll shut up…’ She stopped, catching a hoof to her headset. ‘Hold on… they’re all in position, about to start the attack!’

Everypony stopped, turning instantly to the coms mare and her radio. Dawn’s eyes meanwhile, previously caught up in the scene below her, with their owner feeling powerless in what she saw, fell to the folded map unfurled ready nearby.

The Rhinos were set to approach the edge of the north-western forest, whilst the Hydra was hidden below the plateau’s rise. As one, both Dice and Rook looked to their watches, counting down the seconds. There was hush, there was silence despite continually murmuring engines, all sound held in as baited breath.

‘They’re off’ Coquette reported, ears glued to her receivers.

Deep in the Hydra’s heart Dahlia flicked a switch and instantly outside the speakers sparked up, sounding the charge of a great many far off beasts beyond her own. The noise travelled up and over the rise, coming to the ears of a Ponyville sentry awaiting her prey. For a moment she had to digest what she heard, not quite believing it, but then overjoyed she turned tail and bolted full tilt into the woodland.

‘Here’s hoping they take the bait… Yeah I’ll give you that’ the golden earth mare grinned down her mic to her counterpart on the other end, ‘you are definitely good at making yourself the centre of attention, and also more than capable of making a scene!’

With the lookouts distracted, making for their waiting vehicles, the Rhinos slipped into the trees, keeping their movements steady and the revving of their power plants to a minimum. As the most experienced Dice took the lead as the point of the trio’s spearhead, her two turreted comrades scouring their path carefully as the sun above was masked by thickening branches. They crept forward, kind of a crazy concept bearing in mind the war beasts they rode, but they relied on the enemies own engines to cover theirs, along with the Hydra’s feint. Dahlia elsewhere gradually cranked up the volume, making it seem like her summoned ghost tanks were getting closer.

Within the Panther all had gone silent, all minds with their teammates. Time stretched out hatefully, none of them daring to breath or make a sound, all held at the edge of their seats and an unseen precipice. Nopony moved.

‘They got ‘em!’ Coquette announced, a glow of both relief and jubilation illuminating her features. ‘They caught three of the Bison from behind, just like you said they would!’

The three Rhinos travelled passed their gored foes, their gun-howitzers overkill for the light vehicles to say the least. They had been caught turning about, setting themselves up to engage a non-existent enemy. Hopefully Appleoosa’s luck would continue to hold out and the artillery in the opposite forest could be equally taken unawares. They were however the Hydra’s responsibility.

‘Rook’s moving out now, and Dice says she’ll report in when they locate their main target.’

The speakers atop the multi-turreted tank continued to blaze out their soundtrack, the vehicle’s main weapon mount swivelling to give the faux noises direction as it swung about, making for the north-eastern woods. Dahlia flicked the switch off again as they crossed into the foliage, aiming to stalk their prey as their teammates had done so successfully. Like those she succeeded Rook rose out from her turret, casting her eyes across their route, but without the benefit of comrades to aid her. She was a lone hunter. Her quarry however was far from unwary, if given the chance set to turn the tables on their erstwhile predator. More than anything she had to have surprise on her side and strike first.

‘Yes!’ Coquette thumped the air. ‘Nice one!’ She turned back to the rest of the Panther’s crew, pressing her mic to general coms. ‘Rook bagged the rest of their self-propelled guns. The last one caused her some trouble, but not enough to save it. So that’s Appleoosa six to Ponyville zero!’

Cheering from all the other tank crews came back in reply; loud enough to be audible from the radio mare’s headset.

Almost immediately though the golden earth mare went back to the dials. ‘Rhinos have the Turtle in sight, again where you said it was gonna be, but on the move… It’s turning in Rook’s direction!’

‘Tell Dice to engage!’ Dawn ordered immediately.

All three Rhinos fired at once, loosing a thunderous volley of ordinance, their guns roaring at the same time as their rockets were let fly. Leaving smoking trails behind them the missiles shot into the sky, punching holes in the canopy and scattering a shower of scorched leaves in their wake. They reached the peak of their trajectories and came crashing down on the other side, landing together with a trio of high calibre shells.

‘Good hits!’ Coquette relayed the report with all the excitement with which it came to her through her headset. ‘Seven of eight rockets smashed the Turtle’s stern guns!’

Flames leapt up from the rear of the wounded behemoth, a pair of its gun barrels bent off at wrong angles. Beneath it, its enormous tracks stirred in opposite directions, labouring to quickly turn itself around in search of those who had dared to strike it.

‘The Leopard Fours have appeared’ Split cut in, beginning normally before remembering herself and dipping back to a darker tone, having at some point pressed her face back to her gunsight.

For Dawn this was a wakeup call, drawing her from her film-like thoughts and back into her own tank. At once she returned to her position atop the Panther’s turret, sending her gaze out from the hilltop and down to the fields below. Ponyville’s main force was indeed appearing, emerging out from a small copse, their guns swivelling quickly upward to locate their present adversaries. The captain looked to her left and then to her right, catching eyes first with Lens and then with Crystal in turn, each time giving a nod. ‘Here we go.’

---

‘Yeah, they got us pretty damn good’ Dice grimaced, watching the mangled cargo loaded onto a tank carrier as it came to a halt before them. ‘When the shell hit they actually managed to flip us over, as impossible as that sounds.’

Dawn similarly took to the hulk strapped to the back of the vehicle, a bent and bludgeoned mass which only memory made recognisable as the Hunting Rhino. The skirts added to its left side had been torn away and the tread beneath was likewise busted, evidently where the enemy had landed their hit. The rest of the tank was meanwhile a mess of crumpled armour, as testament to its ordeal in being rolled onto its back. ‘I’m amazed you’re all okay.’

The teal unicorn gave a dry laugh. ‘Yeah, nothing but a couple of bruises. One of the benefits of being so cramped up in there is that there’s nowhere to really fall.’ She stepped up to the flatbed, her magic simultaneously conjuring a clipboard and pen as she brought a forehoof affectionately to the side of the butchered war beast, beginning what would inevitably be a long list of repairs. ‘We’ll live, and she’ll live again, I’ll make sure of that, but regardless it was well worth it’ she concluded, turning with a smile. ‘Thank you.’

---

‘Fresh target at three o’clock!’

‘I know, just feed the damn gun!’

*Bang!*

Up on the flattened crest of the hilltop thick white clouds rose up in plumes from a scattered mass of smoke canisters, casting thick veils across the expanse. In amongst this, bright flashes blossomed as a trio of tanks lashed out or else received fire from their enemies, slowly but surely trying to scale the incline in pursuit of them. For all their numbers and superior firepower however, for Ponyville the attack was proving both heavy going and costly, not that this was putting any dent in their enthusiasm. Evidently spurred on by their losses elsewhere they pushed on relentlessly, chasing their elusive targets with a hail of fire whenever they revealed themselves.

Dawn rode atop the ebb and flow of battle, exposed to the flying mud and acrid fumes in her command cupola. None of this fazed or gave her pause though, caught within the moment and her discovered element. ‘Split, switch targets to cover Lens, she’s under threat of being overrun.’

‘Doing it.’

The Panther’s turret swung around and its cannon bellowed, spitting its shell screaming through the air. This shot however, very much fired from the hip on the go, flew high and wide, whizzing past its intended recipient.

‘For buck’s sake!’ the gunner cursed violently. ‘A reload would be nice!’

The captain winced. Therein was the greater plague preying on her mind than all that surrounded her: an insistent dark shadow, cast over her and the rest of her crew. For this she felt responsible on several levels, whilst for it she still was no closer to coming up with an effective solution.

‘Crystal says they’re massing on her sector’ Coquette reported across her mic, ‘probably moving for a final assault.’

‘Okay’ Dawn registered in reply, ‘relay to the other two that we’ll pop the last of our smoke and pull back on my signal.’

‘Buck that, let ‘em come!’ Split interrupted roughly, anger coursing back into her words. ‘We’ve got almost half already, and I’ll happily smash the rest too, as long as you don’t quit on me that is!’

‘Belle, relay the order’ the captain continued, choosing to evade, and when she received confirmation going further: ‘three, two, one, go!’ At her either side two clusters of tubes placed on the turrets front corners erupted as they launched their remaining canisters, laying down a thick screen. The Panther however made no further move. ‘Toff, what’s wrong?’ There was no answer, so in confusion she tried again, ducking through the hatch. ‘Toff?’ Three equally confused faces met her with no better reply. ‘Toff?!’

Then finally a reply came up from the driver’s compartment. ‘I’m not moving.’

‘That’s pretty obvious!’

‘What’s wrong?’ Dawn asked more productively than the sportsmare. ‘Is there something up with the engine?’

‘No.’ Toffee had been quiet for quite some time, and now in speaking her tones were fallen far from their usual selves, low and sad, but cut through with steely determination. ‘I don’t even want to try and win like this, it’s not worth it.’

‘What’re you talking about? We’ve really gotta go!’ Coquette warned.

‘No, not happening.’ The caramel earth mare remained adamant. ‘The tank may be fine, but there’s still plenty of stuff inside it which needs fixing. So, at least until one conversation is had in here I’m not going anywhere. With things as they are we might as well let them tear us apart, we’re already set to do it to each other. I don’t wanna lose you guys, and I reckon you feel the same.’

Dawn looked down to her right, knowing exactly what her driver meant, catching eyes with a pink pegasus whose guilty visage was a mirror to her own. ‘Split…’

‘Dawn…’ the athlete began at the same time, each of them cutting the other off and spurring an awkward silence.

‘I’m sorry’ the pale cream captain began again, trying to marshal her thoughts into something intelligible, very aware of the rapidly approaching threat. ‘I’m sorry for hurting you…’

‘Please don’t say that’ Split interrupted, her previous rage dissipated, obviously just as much focused inwardly on her thoughts. ‘I don’t want to hear you say that.’

‘But I am. I’m sorry I was blind, I’m sorry I never really listened, and I’m sorry I trampled all over your feelings.’

‘Dawn…’

‘We’ve gone through so much, and you mean the world to me okay! I don’t want my stupidity to change that.’ A pause followed; hanging and hoping.

‘Me too’ Split tentatively admitted, ‘on all counts. You’re right; we have been through a lot. Before now I… I guess I’d gotten used to being a loner and a hard case. You’ve been one of the first to put up with that. More than that though you’ve listened and understood, never judging me, and for that aside from anything else you’ll always be special to me. I’m sorry too okay… to everypony.’ She added an apologetic nod to the rest of her crew mates. ‘Crystal’s a lucky bitch, again sorry, but I don’t want to spoil what we’ve already got. I also want things to go back to how they were if they can.’

The two of them came together, although majorly hindered by the cramped conditions of the tank succeeding in unison to draw each other into a hug. They held tightly onto one another, in this continuing the far more they both still needed to say.

‘Buck it; I guess there isn’t going to be a better time than this.’ Blossom’s words were muttered in the background, just audible to the two caught in their reconciliatory embrace. ‘If this is when we’re going to get everything out in the open or die trying… Belle?’

‘Yes?’ Coquette returned quizzically, a raised eyebrow intrinsic in her tone.

‘Erm… well I…’ As soon as the unicorn started she paused, so unlike her usual self who tended to be the most confidently spoken amongst them. ‘I… You know that Hearts and Hooves Day card you got?’

‘What, the one I got from my “mysterious admirer”?’

‘Yeah.’

‘What does that have to do with anything? Why bring that up now?’

‘It was from me, along with all those previous…’

‘What?!’ The golden earth mare became the one to trip over her words, surprise allowing only a further monosyllabic ‘why?’

‘For exactly what they said, I meant everything I wrote.’

‘B-but you’ve always been the first to criticise them, calling them everything in them cliché or lacking and their writer creepy…’

‘…and a coward’ Blossom finished. ‘All true for describing somepony putting pen to paper in the shadows because they don’t have the courage to tell you how they feel to your face, being too afraid of how you’d react…’

‘For buck’s sake you silly filly!’ There was a clatter, followed by a surprised yelping sound from Blossom as Coquette leapt up, pulling the other mare into an embrace. ‘Y-you idiot… I…’ her words turned into silence as she found the other’s lips, cutting off any further failing words.

‘You may’ve missed me and Rook’ Split whispered in Dawn’s ear before they separated, ‘but please tell me that’s not news to you.’

‘Yeah, I kind of had a hunch’ Dawn giggled back, the two of them turning to find the loader and the radio operator wrapped up in one another, both of them heedless of all beyond as everything held in for some time came out in one go.

An explosion fell closely outside, rocking the Panther roughly on its tracks, in this startling all the crew back into their positions.

‘Thank buck for that!’ Toffee called out above the noise, the tank’s engine coming back into full roaring life with her words. ‘For the record though Belle: you’re as much a “silly filly” as she is!’

‘I know’ Coquette agreed, her voice revealing her lightly blushing smile. ‘Now, can we please get the hay outta here!’

‘On it!’

The Panther’s treads whirled rapidly against one another, spinning the great machine in a tight circle. Its turret meanwhile in the same instant revolved to guard its back as it set off charging through the thinning fog and down the rear of the hilltop. In the place they had occupied only seconds ago appeared a Ponyville Leopard Four, its gun swivelling about, confused by the lack of resistance. Instantly the Panther’s cannon fired, its shot joined by those of its two comrades waiting at the foot of the rise, hammering the newly appeared enemy tank into immediate submission. As the rest of the remaining vehicles rolled through the mist Appleoosa’s captain reached the lighter tanks of her allies, the three vehicles taking off across the plains.

---

‘The Turtle got Dice!’

The three lightest vehicles of Appleoosa’s force sped across gently undulating fields of tall grasses, creating trails as they crushed the yellow stems beneath their caterpillar tracks or burst through the green tufts of clustered ferns. Close behind, their adversaries pursued them in an equal frenzy, the six remainders of Ponyville’s strike force straining their engines for all they were worth. Both parties in this running battle blazed at one another, cannons lashing out wildly, loaders obviously in overdrive to feed their weapons, shots throwing up burnt undergrowth with their blasts.

Dawn rode through the frantic wind and flying dirt, one hoof holding back her mane whilst her other braced her against the side of the perch, hanging on as the Panther weaved wildly, its route intentionally erratic. Her emerald eyes were cast behind them with their main armament, watching as the Leopards drew inexorably closer, inevitably bringing with this a greater chance that they would be hit. The tactic was risky but there was only a bit further to go. ‘Just a little more…’ As she muttered the reassurance to herself however an explosion rose to her right, her fear realised as the Tornado careened sideways, grinding to an immobilised halt. ‘Damn it!’

‘Lens is down!’ Coquette called out, confirming what had been already witnessed. ‘She wishes us luck.’

‘Keep going everypony! Let’s do this for them!’

They maintained their pace, defying the lengthened odds, skipping down a small hillock into a bowl of similar slopes, patches of the area dotted with bushes. Shortly afterward the hunters also followed, leaping down the incline to continue their chase.

‘Just a bit further!’

Suddenly a trio of shots rang out to the left of the captain, tearing through and bursting out from a thick clump of foliage to all strike Ponyville’s leading vehicle, knocking it out. The Hydra One charged out from its hiding place, running in parallel alongside its adversaries with all guns turned together to face the enemy. Pre-empting any reaction Rook’s vehicle fired one broadside after another, hammering two more vehicles out of play before they could attempt to return fire. The ambusher then peeled away, stealing any chance for a reply, disappearing back into the undergrowth. Those that remained formed together, their vengeful anger made impotent by their total surprise.

‘Break formation!’ Dawn yelled, her order being relayed straight to the Little Lion rolling beside her, the two vehicles pulling away from each other.

Ahead of them there were two flashes, sending high calibre shells in arcs overhead through the gap they had formed. These fell as heavy blows on two of the three remaining Leopards, the medium tanks literally running headlong into the shots and being turned a glowing crimson shade. The last meanwhile, finding herself alone, regained her wits, turning straight away in flight.

‘Oh no you don’t!’ As the Panther came to a stop, Split homed in its cannon on the fleeing vehicle. She fired, her shot smashing off the plates of one of the Leopard’s track guards, but still it kept going. Almost immediately however a fresh shell was in her weapon’s breach, supplying a second chance which she took, forcing the adversary into a submissive stop. ‘Buck yeah! Nice one Bloss!’ Both gunner and loader brought their forehooves together in celebration.

Dawn drew in a long satisfied breath, allowing herself the moment’s pause in reflection as her teammates emerged from their hiding places. ‘Maybe we can actually do this’ she thought silently to herself. ‘Just one more monster to overcome…’

Her mind was cut off by a titanic pair of detonations, forcing her on instinct to duck down in the cupola. Almost as an echo the sound of shots cracked in the distance, whilst far closer there was the crash of toppling metal as both the Rhinos Two and Five, having just revealed themselves, were thrown over onto their sides, turrets falling from their hull mounts.

‘Sweet Celestia!’ The exclamation was common of everypony in Appleoosa’s team, shouted both verbally and non-verbally by all of them.

Pulling herself back up the captain spun around, taking in the destruction and spying its cause: a vast creature sat on a far off hill. How the Turtle had dragged itself so far was anypony’s guess, the insane feat seeming clearly impossible, but it was up there, titanic guns facing their way.

The Hydra and the Little Lion both pulled up either side of the Panther, their commanders like its sat proudly atop their vehicles. Crystal and Rook both looked to their captain expectantly, their machine’s engines revving to go and with determined looks etched onto their faces.

Dawn looked from their most recent losses, to the distant beast which had done the deed, and then to her two surviving comrades. In an instant (if even wavering at all) she was resolved, the expressions infectious and reinforcing, hardening her will to steel. ‘Okay everypony, they’re reloading as we speak, so here’s what we’re going to do…’

---

Across a fluid terrain of faintly rolling curves three war beasts galloped, the remnant trio of Appleoosa’s force, skimming like stones over the ground. Their approach was closely watched, glowered down upon by their hulking enemy, like an immobile rock formation set atop the rise ahead, its statuesque form disguising the frantic action going on within. The Turtle’s guns trailed their close-knit targets, waiting for a chance to strike. Even as it watched however its potential easy prey broke apart, single spear point becoming three smaller bolts, defensively dispersed.

Set central as the head of their broad formation, charging head on towards the last of their adversaries, Dawn waved off her comrades as they veered away from her. ‘Okay everypony, hold on tight, it’s about to get rough. It’s down to you Toff, get us in close.’

‘On it!’ Toffee shouted back excitedly across her mic, betraying the truckload of adrenaline coursing through her being, whilst likewise the vehicle’s engine kicked up into its highest gear. ‘Here we go!’

The Panther surged forward, seeking as quickly as possible to devour all the distance between them and the enemy. As much as they could they hugged the scant plant cover there was, darting between thickets in flowing zigzag motions, trying to remain both unpredictable and interesting. Proof they had the Turtle’s attention came in the bellicose form of a shot from one of its enormous main guns, swiftly followed by its twin in kind. Their driver was however in time to swerve, skidding to narrowly avoid the first shell, whilst the second fell short, having attempted to read their route and just failed. They leapt across the crater so newly formed, flying through smoke-clogged air and burnt soil as they fell back to earth. Still they kept going, dodging further salvoes which came their way, not stopping even as their added armour was torn away by the blasts, making for the hill.

‘We’re almost there!’ Dawn shouted back against all the noise and fury, channelling her all into her war beast, its crew, and their assault.

A little way above the Panther, their target struggled to the very edge of the rise, its cannons straining downward as they tried to keep track of them. It was so pre-occupied in fact that it had no time to react as two more vehicles appeared, scaling the hillock on its flanks and pitching forward as they landed on the summit on its either side. Neither the Hydra nor the Little Lion spared a moment, each with guns turned to face their foe lashing its sides with fire as they raced for its rear. They fired with everything they had, landing hit after hit point blank, flaying apart the behemoth’s tracks beneath its dwarfing form, rendering its wheels less than useless. In sync as they came to the unguarded back of their prey, the two tanks then turned about, gunning their engines as they rammed the enemy vehicle, heedless of the destruction they wrought on themselves. The Turtle jerked forwards, sliding despite its resistance along its broken treads like slipways.

Appleoosa’s captain watched on; caught up in the scene as her own tank made it into the safe zone, unreachable as a target beneath the rise. ‘Again!’

Together Crystal and Rook reversed, extricating their vehicles’ blunted noses from the damage they had caused and then making their second charge, forcing their adversary forward again. The Turtle’s drive wheels spun ineffectually, trying desperately to backpedal, but despite these efforts its prow slid over the hill’s edge.

‘Now Split!’

On cue the Panther’s gunner fired, her weapon pointed straight up at the now partially exposed underbelly of their rival’s titan. Seamlessly the cannon continued to roar, its shots blurring into one continuous blast as its loader threw every round that they had left into the breach. Then as suddenly as these thundering hammer blows reached their crescendo there was silence, thick smoke masking everything from view.

Dawn, having instinctively hunkered down away from the flames exploding so close before her, rose to standing, raising a forehoof to lift the blackened goggles from her eyes. Fire scorched her nostrils and her ears twitched, the crackling of ignited brush pricking at her senses. Her body tingled all over, as if every one of her nerve endings had been touched by exposed wires. At the same time though, she shivered, the sweat on her form giving even the light breeze an icy chill. She caught her breath, panting whilst transfixed, staring intently forward. Gradually the fog thinned, allowing light to pierce through the misty shroud, shining out as a great crimson torrent, a vast beacon which signalled victory.

Mares und Panzer

by Indulgence

Prolog

Ankunft

Eine Einleitung

Suche

Mannschaften

Geschichtsunterricht

Ein Erster Versuch

Nachbesprechung

‘durch Feuer und Bewegung’

Kein Druck

‘stahl dickhäutern’

Picknick

‘Panzer Antreiben’

Instandhaltung

Der Kampf auf dem Eis

Duell

Entscheidende Schlacht

‘wenn die panzers gelingt, folgt der sieg’