Chapter 2: All you need is a little harmony.

The broad and tall doors of the old warehouse swung wide with a creak of rusty, worn hinges. Left empty for years, it had the overwhelming musk of dust, mildew, the stale reek of disuse. But there was something else, a scent unfamiliar in an idyllic, clean world. The tang of iron and steel, the thick aroma of grease and oil, all of it as much tasted in the air as smelt. This was the scent of heavy industry.

Blocking the light that spilt through the yawning doorway, eight figures cast their shadows across the floor towards a single, shapeless feature that sat alone within the shadowy, cavernous warehouse.

“I’ve been working on this for a little while now.” Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, said to her seven companions as she led them into the darkness, the sound of their hoofsteps and her voice echoing about. As their eyes grew accustomed to the low light, they saw the shapeless mass was in fact a tarpaulin, carefully laid to cover a large object that dwarfed even Princess Celestia. The corner glowed lavender as Twilight gripped it with her magic. “I wasn’t planning to unveil it until it was ready, but now’s a good a time as any I guess. TA-DA!” She finished, whipping the cover away with an excited flourish.

To call what lay beneath a tank would be no different to calling a pile of bricks and timber a house.

“So what do you think?” Twilight smiled broadly at her quiet audience.

“Seriously, this is what you’ve been up to all this time?” Spike broke the long, uncomfortable quiet. “What’s it supposed to be?

“Equestrias first, actual, T-34! An historic vehicle from an entirely different dimension!” The following silence was deafening. “Well…” Twilight continued, deflated by the underwhelming response from her friends, “it will be… it’s sort of a work in progress…”

“Yeah, minus the progress…” Rainbow Dash said quietly. But her voice echoed in the empty warehouse, and seeing the lavender princess slump slightly her senses of guilt and loyalty spurred her into action. “Oh hey, I didn’t mean anything by that, I just figured that when you said tank earlier, there’d be a little more tank, and a bit less, parts of tank…”

“RD, you ‘ain’t helpin’ none.” Applejack trotted over to the downcast alicorn to put a hoof round her shoulder. “So it’s not finished yet, looks to me like all ya need is a helpin’ hoof or two.”

“Well, Dashie is right, progress has been kinda slow…” Twilight sighed, as though a single breath could express the long hours of fruitless work she had spent banging her head against this problem. “I can unravel the most convoluted magical theorems and formulae, but this…” She paused, trying to put her confusion and frustration into words. Her train of thought was derailed by a loud clang from behind her.

“Well for a start, according to these blueprints you’ve somehow managed mount this differential backwards.” Rainbow Dash poked her head out of the engine compartment, now sporting a large greasy smear across her muzzle. “And the suspension is improperly fitted, I could see that from the door. Lemme guess, it keeps collapsing whenever you try to rest it on the ground, that’s why it’s still on the blocks?”

Twilights weighty frustration suddenly dropped away to be replaced with surprise and confusion, not simply because Dashie had managed to get inside the tank without her noticing, but that she also seemed to know what she was talking about.

“Wait… how do you know any of this?” Twilight asked incredulously, “you hadn’t even seen a real tank until two minutes ago, let alone crawled through its mechanics…”

“Duh Twilight, my first job was working at the Weather Factory in Cloudsdale, I know a thing or two about machinery.” The Pegasus gave one of her cheery grins before dropping back inside the hull.

“Really?” Twilight called back surprised, the thought that the speedster might know anything about anything other than flying, the Wonderbolts and Daring Do had never actually occurred to her.

“’Course, can’t be on the weather teams unless you know how the weather’s made.” Rainbows voice echoed from inside the hull.

“An’ you have to learn your way round a tool kit workin’ on a farm. Just how hard can it be?” Applejacks cheery drawl carried across the room. “Hey, Big Mac, start making yourself useful and help me with this would ya?” She called to her brother while rooting round the suspension.

“Can we get a little light in here? I can barely see what I’m doing.” Rainbow Dash’s voice came from inside the tank once again. As Twilight prepared to fly up and open the sky lights, she saw a golden glow was already doing it for her. Looking round she saw Princess Celestia smiling warmly as her sun shone through, illuminating the interior of the warehouse while Spike, Pinkie and even Princess Luna had set about cleaning up the building.

“Well we can’t have a dirty workspace can we?” Luna told her, seeing Twilights bemused expression as she levitated a pile of random rubbish out of the door.

“No we can’t.” A warm smile spread across the young Princess’ face, seeing her friends rally around her, come to her aid and get stuck in without her even having to ask lifted her heart. “Spike, come with me, we’re going to get some proper cleaning supplies and straighten this place up.”

“Not that I’m unimpressed with your industrious efforts here,” Princess Celestia said to Twilight as she set about bringing an evening the eight friends could enjoy, “but where in Equestria did you manage to lay your hooves on all this?” She gestured to the rows of equipment and parts that now lay neatly arranged and organised about the floor inside the warehouse.

“Well… not in Equestria exactly…” The younger Princess replied, taking a sip of cider she had provided from her castles cellar. After all the effort her friends had poured into the day, treating them all with a barrel of fine cider as they kicked back, felt the very least she could do.

Huge strides had been made tidying up the warehouse, it now looked like somewhere work could be done, and Twilight even had plans to convert it into a proper workshop. Though the tank itself had seen less progress. Between the unfamiliar mechanics and foreign blueprints, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were slow getting to grips with the work that needed to be done. That the blueprints were in a language none of them recognised didn’t help.

“You know how I managed to build the viewer in an afternoon, but was having trouble with the immutable laws of interdimensional physics?” Twilight continued, sensing Celestia’s curiosity in her vague answer.

“Yes…” The Sun Princess replied slowly, with a sneaking suspicion where this was going.

“I may have had a little help over coming them…”

“What sort of help?...” Her suspicions grew large in her mind.

“Hellooo everypony!” A high pitched and cheerily prim voice sang at them, heralding the arrival of Rarity the Unicorn and Fluttershy the Pegasus, shining radiant and graceful as they trotted up the path towards the gang. “Sorry we’re late, but it was a truly manic few days in Canterlot and one just could not resist the temptation for the extra special sea weed and mud bath at the Spa. Honestly Aloe Vera and Lotus Blossom are absolute miracle workers, oh my stars Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!” Rarity gasped. The fashionista quickly bowed before her sovereigns, joined by Fluttershy. It was only appropriate.

“Oh, Rarity, Fluttershy, please rise, you need not to bow to us this evening.” Lunas regal voice was softened by the day’s work, the presence of friends and a healthy dose of cider.

“Oh b-b-b-but I do! You’re the Two Royal Sisters!” Rarity gabbled, making Celestia roll her eyes and Luna straighten up a touch, a vision of royal smugness, “This is so exciting! Oh a chance to spend some time with the rulers of the land, the two most majestic, graceful, elegant and beautiful ponies in all Equestria!” She danced on her hooftips like a filly about to go out on her first date.

“Way to make it weird, Rarity…” Rainbow Dash could be heard, making the fashionista glare daggers at the Pegasus. Unfazed, she quickly sidled over to the royal sisters with stars in her eyes.

“So what have we missed here then?” Fluttershy asked as Rarity fawned over Luna. “This all looks very nice.”

“Twilight was just about to tell me how she managed to overcome the immutable laws of interdimensional physics.” Celestia said to her, turning an expectant gaze on Twilight.

“Oh Celestia, you should know by now that when you’re a being of chaos like me, laws aren’t so much immutable, as much as they are, suggestions.” Twilight told her in an un-Twilight baritone with a broad grin and a smug flourish. She just as quickly clapped her hooves over her mouth, her eyes plastered with shock. “Discord!” She screamed in her own voice as a disembodied, hysterical cackling floated about.

“Oh that was just beautiful, you should have seen your face Twilight!” The spirit of chaos appeared in a flash. “In fact I could help with that, check out these.” His serpentine body flopped over twilights back and with a snap of his clawed fingers a trio of photos appeared. He cuddled up close so they could both enjoy the pictures. “This is the one of you being me, that’s a keeper, and this is the one of you absolutely horrified about being me, though I can’t imagine why, and this is the one of you about to slap me- hang on...” He yelped and retreated rubbing one sore cheek while Twilight pouted angrily with her hooves crossed. “Well, in that case no copies of these for you.” He stuck out his tongue.

“Well you know what they say Twilight, speak of the devil.” Celestia tittered.

“Oh Celestia!” Discord gasped, “What an awful way to speak of our dear, sweet Fluttershy!” He disappeared in another flash before reappearing next to the graceful yellow Pegasus, covering her ears protectively.

“Oh my, did I do something wrong?” Her graceful voice was etched with worry for fear she’d done something to upset somepony. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Don’t worry Fluttershy,” Twilight cantered over to her friend, carefully prying Discords fingers away, “just Discord, being Discord. So how was Canterlot Carousel?”

“Oh darling, Sassy Saddles is doing an amazing job,” Rarity said, “the fashion show was marvellous success, she got Hoity Toity, Photo Finish and Snap Shot all there to shoot and review the new line. Even Fancy Pants was there! Dear Fluttershy did such a superlative job modelling, he couldn’t help but be taken. Photo Finish even tried to convince her to restart her modelling career.” She finished with an excited giggle.

“Of course I said no thank you.” Fluttershy blushed, “I’ve tried the life of a model before, and it’s not for me. I was just helping Rarity.”

“And you did a fantastic job.” Rarity assured her. “Even Discord managed to behave himself long enough to let the show go without a hitch.”

“I was just being a good and supportive friend,” he defended his innocence, as though the very idea of unleashing random havoc and mischief never once occurred to him, “and I’d like to think my little flourishes spiced up the after show buffet.”

“I hardly think drinks and hors d’oeuvres serving themselves, and a coat stand trying to chat up Fleur Dis Lee counts as ‘spiced up’, but it certainly made things… interesting.” She grudgingly admitted. “So what have we missed here, how did the matches go?” She asked, eager to learn what had transpired in their absence.

“Paris won their assassination match against Munich,” Rainbow was quick to speak up, “Tokyo on points and best of all,” she paused for twenty percent more dramatic effect, “Yorkshire by annihilation!” She directed all her smugness at Applejack.

“Alright, fine, ya got yerself a full barrel o’ special reserve, wi’ your name on it.” The work horse huffed impatiently at her friend. “Any chance of us movin’ the conversation forward, ya startin’ to sound like one of granny Smith’s old, stuck records.”

“Yeah,” Dashie stretched, victorious, “I think I’ve managed enough gloating for one evening.” She smiled up at the darkening sky.

Soon night began to fall as the friends cheerily ignored the time, a second barrel of cider had been cracked open to ease its passing. Celestia had finished lowering the sun and Luna brought her moon up into the clear sky, full and radiant like her buoyed mood, it shone clear among the twinkling stars, painting the serene Equestria below in shades of silver.

Fluttershy was the first to make her excuses, closely followed by Rarity. Their busy few days in Canterlot had worn them out. Big Mac was next to head home, Sweet Apple Acres wasn’t far, but Applejack fancied staying a little longer. He figured she just wanted to stay up longer than Rainbow Dash, get a little pride back. He shrugged to himself, that was her choice, and she’d likely be up early anyways, even if all that cider gave her a hangover.

As Big Mac left, Rainbow Dash, with the help of more than too much cider, gave in the inevitable and said she’d better hit the hay as well, weaving her way skyward in an unsteady pattern, leaving the others to wind the impromptu party down.

Big Mac was busy checking Sweet Apple Acres for the night, making sure everything was locked up and secure. Stopping first by the old hay barn, he went inside to make sure everything was as it should be.

Suddenly the door behind him closed with a thud. In the darkness he could tell there was another pony inside with him. Instinctively he prepared to defend himself, determined that no intruder was going to find the Apple family easy prey.

“Hey there Big Mac.” A familiar voice slurred in the darkness.

“Miss Rainbow Dash?” He relaxed, “Is that you?” As his eyes adjusted he could make out her outline, swaying slightly.

“Eeeyup.” She replied, imitating his voice, clearly drunk.

“What are you doing here?” He became acutely aware that he was trapped, alone, with an attractive, drunk mare.

“I was hoping Princess Loony didn’t wear you out.” She giggled.

“Now Miss Dash, nothing happened.” He began, but was cut off when the cerulean Pegasus pounced, knocking them both tumbling into the hay. Rolling about, Rainbow Dash trying to get close, Big Mac trying to dislodge himself, there was a loud, hollow bong as they landed on something hard underneath. Rooting around between herself and the squirming Big Mac, Dashie’s hoof found something long and hard.

“Is that you?” She asked.

“Nnnope…”

Princess Celestia relaxed in the cool night air, thoroughly enjoying the nearly forgotten sensation of being comfortably drunk. She could barely remember the last time she got to leave the uptight princess behind and just chill out with her sister and her friends. Even her onetime enemy and constant irritant, Discord, was a welcome companion. Luna, Twilight and Applejack were chatting, something about using moonlight to grow apples so AJ could double her yield, while Pinkie and Spike had nodded off.

“So, my dear Twilight has a tank now.” She said to the spirit of chaos, her mind drifting and relaxed. “Rather a shame she has the only one.” She finished thoughtfully, staring up at the moon. A part of her mind wondered at the beauty of her sister’s duties, and she found herself a little jealous of the quiet serenity of her realm.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that’s entirely true.” He said, grinning as he took another sip of cider. Celestia frowned as it took a moment for her alcohol dulled mind to catch his meaning.

“Oh Discord, you didn’t?” She whipped to face him, her face splitting into a gleeful, broad grin.

“‘Scuse me,” A voice called before he could answer back. “but could somebody please explain why me and Big Mac found a tank under the hay in AJs old barn?” Rainbow Dash swayed her way up towards the gang with Big Mac in tow.

“Dashie, what in tarnation were you and Big Mac doin’ in the hay in the old barn anyways?” Applejack responded first.

“Nothing,” the blue Pegasus answered defensively, “not for want of trying…”

“RAINBOW DASH!!” Applejack roared, lunging at her. But even drunk Rainbow Dash was still faster, and quickly leapt into the skies to avoid the clumsy dive. “Get down here!” AJ commanded her.

“Not happening!” Rainbow Dash’s voice echoed back down.

“You gotta land sometime, and I got all the cider!” AJ yelled up at the sky. “Come on Big Mac, we’re goin’ home!” She turned and strutted imperiously away. It took a moment for Big mac to catch up and turn her in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.

Rainbow Dash shouted something in response, but she was apparently unaware she was still gaining altitude, and her voice was lost in the night sky. In the awkward quiet that followed it was Princess Luna who was the first to find the courage to break the silence.

“Are they going to be alright?”

“Yeah.” Twilight replied uncertainly. “I mean, they argue all the time.” She didn’t sound at all convinced. “Maybe we should call it a night, this’ll probably all blow over by morning.”

Twilight sighed as she approached the newly christened warehouse. The last few days had seen it completely outfitted as a machine shop, with everything she and her friends could possibly need to maintain and operate a complex vehicle like a tank. Tools, powered machinery, even a crane to lift pieces of equipment too heavy for the ponies to handle themselves.

But it brought her no joy.

Things had not blown over like she’d hoped, and while the sound of tools being taken to machinery resounded through the cavernous building, the absence of voices did not raise her spirits. It brought her so low to know her friends were still fighting, and despite her best efforts she had yet to bring an end to their feud. Progress had been made on the T-34, at least now it was sitting on its own tracks, but the turret had yet to be fitted and much of the internal workings remained scattered around the floor.

“Are you two still not talking to each other?” She called out to Applejack and Rainbow Dash after seeing them working on opposite ends of the vehicle.

“Oh I’m just fine, it’s her not talking to me!” Rainbow Dash was the first to call back.

“Twilight, could you please kindly tell Rainbow Dash I will be happy to speak to her once I have received an apology in full for the other night.” Applejack stated matter of fact.

“Errr, Raindow, I think-“ Twilight began.

“Twilight please tell Applejack I heard her just fine.” Rainbow Dash snapped back. Twilight gave a resigned sigh.

“Applejack-“

“Twilight, please tell Rainbow Dash that she is being very rude by not letting you finish.” Applejack quickly butted in.

“But didn’t you just interrupt me?” The young princess was getting royally fed up.

“Rainbow Dash, would you be kind enough to say thank you to Twilight for pointing that out and that I’m very sorry.” Applejack called to Rainbow Dash.

“Twilight, Applejack says thank you for pointing that out and she’s very sorry.”

“Applejack, please say thank you to Rainbow Dash for passing on that message and ask her to tell you that I accept your- Oh for pities sake now you’ve got me doing it!” Twilight finished with an angry snarl before stomping angrily away towards the offices that had been set up at the other end of the shop, slamming the door with her magic as she entered.

“I swear, those two get more stubborn every day!” She snapped at nobody in particular as she settled before a desk covered with blue prints and various bits of paper and parchment scattered across it. Normally she would have been shocked by such a mess, an aberration to her sense of order and cleanliness, an itch she just had to scratch until it had gone away. But whenever she came to the shop now, she found she just couldn’t be bothered to tidy any of it up.

She was disturbed from her sulking by a quiet knock at the door.

“Twilight, mind if we come in?” Fluttershy asked quietly with Pinkie Pie just behind her, her voice barely carrying over the noise of Applejack and Rainbow Dash pretending not to have yet another argument on the shop floor. Sounded like they were blaming each other for upsetting Twilight.

“Sure girls, I could use a ray of sunshine right about now.” She smiled sadly at her friends.

“Oh… well maybe I should write a letter to Celestia.” Pinkie joked, entering the room. While Celestia and Luna had been instrumental on that first evening, their duties in Canterlot had kept them away and unable to become involved further.

“There’s an idea,” Twilight smiled at her gentle friend's attempts to cheer her up, “might just scare a little sense into those two. So what’s on your mind?”

They fidgeted for a moment, trying to find either their words or the courage to say them.

“I’m not really enjoying this project, Twilight.” Fluttershy finally managed to say.

“it’s not that we don’t like any of you anymore,” Pinkie added, “but everypony is so miserable now. This isn’t slightly fun.” She drooped.

“And we really don’t like seeing our friends unhappy.” Fluttershy finished their sentence.

“I know how you feel.” Twilight slumped down, resting her chin on the desk. “I’m regretting ever starting this.” She gave a long sigh. “Things just haven’t turned out as I imagined. If you want to walk away, I’m not going to stop you. The happiness of my friends is more important than that lump of steel out there.” She finished bitterly.

“Oh Twilight, we’re not going to just abandon our friends,” Fluttershy tried to comfort her friend, “but I think we need to do something about Applejack and Rainbow Dash.”

“I’ve tried everything I can think of,” Pinkie complained, “balloons, cakes, punch, but those two, it’s like they want to be miserable!” She finished, walking over to the window that over looked the shop floor.

“I’m open to ideas. Everything I’ve tried so far has been a dud.”

“Err, Twilight…” Pinkie said. “You might want to come and look at this…” She sounded worried, and in Twilights experience, what worried pinkie bode ill for everypony.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash were busy ‘not arguing’ over the gun mount for the turret, and they were busy struggling with each other to try and fit it the way round they thought was right. Though neither seemed to be making any kind of progress, and took special delight when the other came up wrong as well.

But the worst of it was the state of the hull itself.

While the two mechanics were busy failing to complete the turret, having been frustrated in their efforts on the main hull, Rarity had arrived and taken it upon herself to begin decorating. With a look of dumbfounded shock, Twilight left the office and cantered over to her friend, who was hard at work, her unicorn magic working in great sweeps over the sloped armour while she hummed a cheery tune to herself.

“Uuuh, Rarity.” Twilight called to her.

“Why hello dear.” She chirped happily. “Doesn’t a little colour really brighten up a room and lift everyponies spirits?” She smiled broadly, gawping at her handiwork, as she quickly swathed the hull with another shade of bright purple. “Pinks and purples are really in this season!”

“Don’t you think that’s a little… bright?” Twilight asked, choosing her words very carefully.

“Dear, just because it’s called camouflage, doesn’t mean it can’t stand out and be noticed!” Rarity never lost her enthusiastic smile, which made it that much harder for Twilight to criticise.

“Actually, yes it does.” She said, further saddened to deflate the one pony in the room who seemed to have any eagerness for the project left. “That’s the point of camo, to not be noticed.”

“Really?” Rarity seemed confused by the idea of using colours to not stand out.

“‘Fraid so.”

“Well… I guess I could tone it down a touch…” She paused, disappointedly trying to gather her thoughts and enthusiasm. “Oh Applejack, Rainbow Dash, what do you think, is it a bit much?” She called to the two mechanics, looking to find a little support. They stopped trying to stare each other down long enough to see what Rarity had been up to, and it was the ever brusque Rainbow Dash who spoke up without missing a beat.

“Oh no,” she oozed sarcasm, “nothing says ‘don’t buck with us’ quite like sequins.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Applejack snapped at her as Rarity gasped, shocked by the Pegasus caustic remarks. “That was uncalled for, no matter how ridiculous it looks!" Rarity burst into tears at AJs off hoof remark

“What?” Dashie snapped back. “Thanks to Rarity, this tank is now officially the fruitiest thing in this town since-“

“Your mane?” Applejack finished for her.

“That’s it, kicking your ass now!” Dashie leapt at the work horse and soon the two of them rolled around the room, throwing punches and kicks at each other as they wrestled back and forth.

“I just wanted to bring a little light and happiness into the room, cheer everypony up a little!” Rarity wailed as Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie tried to comfort her. “Oh, by the way,” she managed to say to the two fighting ponies between sobs, “before I never talk to either of you again, you should know you've been trying to fit the mount upside down.”

Snapped from their brawl by the unicorns statement, Applejack and Rainbow Dash paused their attempts to force each other into a headlock and gave Rarity a blank look, before looking back towards the half-finished gun assembly. They walked over to it, and together they turned the mount over and carefully lowered it into place.

It fitted perfectly.

“How did you know that?” They chorused in utter amazement.

“It says right here on the blueprint.” Rarity said miserably. Twilight, Dashie and Applejack trotted over to the stand next to Rarity and stared down at the gibberish written on the blue paper.

“Hang on, you can read this?” Twilight asked her, levitating her a roll of tissues.

“Well of course dear.” She sniffed, wiping tears from her eyes before realising something important. “You mean you can’t? It’s Yakyakistani dearies, or the human version of it. You know their flax weaving is just superb,” she continued wistfully, “and their wools are the finest, breathes like Sphinx made cotton. I’ve been importing it for years, but they insist on writing everything in their language. Took a while to get the hang of it.”

“This is perfect! I’ll be right back, we need parchment, quills and ink!” As she rushed back to her castle, Twilight beamed with a confidence and enthusiasm for the project she hadn’t felt in days.

With Rarity translating the blueprints, work on the T-34 burst ahead once again. Being able to read and interpret them correctly was like switching a light on in a dark room. Suddenly the whole project was filled with a sense of direction, clarity and certainty it had lacked since Twilight had begun work by herself weeks earlier. The once dour and miserable workshop was transformed. The atmosphere was charged with the fervour and excitement Twilight had so longed for.

A feverish energy grasped all the gathered friends pulled together, even Fluttershy took a turn getting her hooves dirty, if only for a short while, and as Celestia in Canterlot began lowering the sun, there came a dull clang of the T-34s turret lowering into place atop the hull, which was now a sensible, dark green. Not exactly the colour Rarity had envisioned, but she had finally accepted the purpose of camo.

As the moon began to rise, the final pieces came together, the last hatch was slammed shut, and the six exhausted but elated friends cheered at their success. Equestria’s first T-34, was complete.

As they congratulated each other, Applejack turned to Rainbow Dash, her hat in her hooves, looking very bashful.

“Hey RD,” she called, and the blue Pegasus turned to her fellow mechanic, a similar embarrassed look on her face. It took a moment for Applejack to find her voice. “I’m, uh… sorry I said your mane was fruity. It was rude, I was angry and I shouldn’t ah done it.”

“Oh hey, it’s okay, we were both angry and said a lot of stupid things. ‘sides,” she added, flicking her mane with one hoof, “it is kinda fruity, hehe.”

“Yeah, but it looks great on you.” Applejack countered, every word sincere. “You stand out, an’ ah know all the stallions love it. Way more than these boring ole locks…” She flicked her own blond mane, sounding thoroughly dissatisfied with the hair fate had granted her.

“Come on AJ, your mane is gorgeous!” Dashie told her, “and you’re strong, fit, you got those cute little country gal freckles. If I were into mares, I’d totally be into you.” She blushed, suddenly realising what she had just said.

“Awww shucks, you’re just teasin’ me now, ‘cause I’d totally be into you too.” AJ blushed back. There was a long, awkward silence. “But neither of us is into mares.” She said quickly.

“Nope, neither of us.” Rainbow Dash agreed very quickly.

“Nope. Just great friends.” AJ agreed.

“Yup. Great friends…” They locked eyes, staring, lost in each-others gaze, slowly leaning in close.

“Okay, breaking this up now,” Twilight barged in between them. “You’re making me feel awkward… You two need rest. Big day tomorrow, we’re getting this finished. Go. Sleep. Read a book. Take a cold shower or something…”

Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rarity were all giggling, having witnessed the brief theatre. Still blushing and embarrassed, Applejack, Rainbow Dash bit their lips with a nervous smile, before bursting out laughing. The six friends all enjoyed their beautiful moment together, the stress and tension of the last several days had been broken and cast aside.

“Thank you girls, thank all of you.” Twilight expressed her gratitude. “This isn’t just a tank, it’s a monument to our friendship and teamwork. And all it took to build her was a little harmony.”

“That’s it!” Rarity gasped. She took one of her paint brushes with her magic, and with a splash of crimson paint, dragged it over the side of the hull in elegant swishes and twirls, finally making her artistic contribution to the project. She dropped the brush back in the paint pot.

“Little Harmony.” Twilight said, reading the flowing, delicate script. “Rarity, it’s perfect.”

“Let’s take it for a spin!” Pinkie screamed, delighted at the sight. The others chorused their agreement, save Twilight.

“What, now? It’s the middle of the night!”

“So? We’ve been at this forever! Let’s have some fun with it!” The pink mare grinned like a lunatic.

“You know what? Let’s do this!” The lavender princess grinned back. Together they cheered and smiled up at Little Harmony, the warmth of their friendship glowing bright within them.

No pony moved.

“So who knows how to drive it?” Fluttershy asked.

…

“BUGGER!”

Author's Note

Hope you all enjoy!
Please leave any and all critique! Help me grow as a writer