Chapter 4: Tuning up the instruments.
By Gingerquill

“Welcome back, Spike.” Twilight Sparkle smiled down fondly from her perch, sat atop the turret of Little Harmony. “How’s Rose?” She asked, helping him climb up from the bustling town square.

“She’s fine.” He said, apparently unworried about the fate of the poor pony as he settled on the roof next to Twilight, “Nurse Heart says it’s only a mild concussion. She’ll be up and about by tomorrow with nothing worse than a slight head ache.”

“And how’s Lyra?”

“You mean aside from nearly dying of embarrassment?” Spike giggled back. “She’s fine, couldn’t stop saying sorry though.”

“Poor girls, at least they’re both alright.” Twilight replied, showing more pity, “I guess the chance to ride an actual human vehicle was just too much for Lyra to resist.”

“You gotta admit, it was impressive the way she knocked everypony flying like bowling pins in her rush to volunteer.”

Twilight gave him a disapproving scowl.

“I can appreciate enthusiasm as much as the next pony, but I think handing out concussions just to be first in queue is a bit much.” She paused in thought. “Still, if she wants to be our loader that badly, I’m willing to let her try. Especially if it means she won’t blitzkrieg anypony else.”

“Be sure to let her know that when she gets back. She’s convinced she’s blown it.”

The two shared a quiet laugh and took a moment to gaze over the cheery festival that had taken shape around the six armoured vehicles.

With all the interest that had been growing around the workshop and Panzerfahren in general, especially since Filthy Rich had delivered the four new tanks, Twilight decided it was time to show Ponyville what she and her friends had been working on.

Purely in the interests of academic study.

She’d announced they would be putting the exhibits on display for everypony to see and enjoy, and between them, she and her friends had planned to drive the eclectic collection of tanks to the town square first thing in the morning.

Of course, the last thing anypony could ever accuse a tank of is running quietly, and six of them amounting to roughly one hundred and fifteen tons of steel powered by over one thousand eight hundred horsepower, meant her plan to deliver the collection quietly and have it setup before the townsfolk gathered, ultimately proved to be about as workable as Pinkies plan to get Fluttershy inside one of the vehicles, with the aid of surprise and a burlap sack.

That in the end required Rainbow Dash’s intervention, with some careful cajoling and promises of unspecified rewards. And though it did take a while longer than Pinkies attempts, it at least resulted in fewer black eyes.

That aside, the rest of the plan had gone well enough, and though the towns folk were already waiting for them when they drove up, it was with waves and cheers of approval. It looked like the whole town had turned out to see what their beloved princess had been up to, waiting with banners, bunting and a brass band cheerily pomping away. A few more enterprising ponies had even set up souvenir and snack stalls, and were busy peddling tank themed wares to any who were interested. The towns ponies now crowded around the six vehicles, eager to see and learn about the mighty engines arrayed before them, all newly painted and turned out, dressed to impress as Rarity had insisted.

“So how’re the rest of the crews looking?” Spike asked.

“Well the Apples have really taken to Big Red, he’s practically part of the family.” Twilight smiled, pointing over to the Valentine, where Granny Smith could be seen in her old war helmet, parading back and forth in front of the crowd, extoling the virtues of hard work, discipline, and a healthy supply of Sweet Apple Acres brand cider, which by an astonishingly convenient coincidence, Applejack just so happened to be selling at the stall next to them.

“Where’s Applebloom?” Spike asked, noticing the youngest of the apple clan was not with her family where he expected.

“Oh she’s with the other Crusaders. They’re checking out the Crusader, oddly enough. How appropriate.” Twilight mused. It seemed so right to her. “Diamond Tiara is giving them the grand tour, I’m glad they’re getting on these days. Oh, and Rainbow Dash managed to get a crew together too. Looks like Dr Whooves is driving.”

“Him? Isn’t he a little, you know… strange?” Spike hid his mouth behind one hand, as though somehow the eccentric earth pony might over hear him from across the bustling town square.

“I think he likes working with all the mechanical stuff.” Twilight shrugged. “Derpy’s on radio.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Nope. And Bon Bon is their gunner.”

“Bon Bon?” Spike scratched his head in thought before realising who Twilight meant. “Oh, you mean Sweetie Drop?”

“Who?”

“Sweetie Drop. Cream coat, blue mane with a pink streak, Lyra’s best friend.”

“I thought her name was Bon Bon.” Twilight brow furled in confusion.

“What gave you that idea?”

“Because that’s what everypony calls her.”

“No they don’t, they call her Sweetie Drop.”

“Really? I’ve never heard that before.”

“Huh… so what’s she say her name is?”

Twilight paused as she rummaged through her memory.

“You know, I have no idea… Put it on the to do list.”

“Sure thing.” Spike donned his number one assistant persona and eagerly scribbled it down, producing a parchment and quill from somewhere. Specifically where, Twilight decided long ago that was a question probably better off not pondered.

“Hey guys!” Pinkie waved frantically at them as she bounced out of the turret hatch of Little Harmony before gravity dragged her back inside.

“Hey Pinkie.” Twilight smiled, peering inside the hatch, finding no sign of her hyperactive and bewildering friend.

“Guess who came to see me?” Pinkie shouted, somehow leaping from the engine compartment, shocking Twilight to leap into Spikes arms with yelp. “Go on guess! Guessguessguessguessguess!” She continued, bouncing excitedly on her hoof tips, staring madly at her friends.

“I dunno… Your sister Maud?” Twilight guessed with no certainty as Spike struggled to hold her up. Pinkie halted in mid-air and slowly floated to down onto all four hooves.

“Oooh, you’re gooood.”

“Oh, so it is Maud.” Twilight stepped back down from Spikes shaking arms with a smile. “How is she?”

“Hello Princess.”

“Aaaaah!” She screamed, leaping into Pinkies hooves. Pinkies inscrutable sister, Maud Pie, was standing on the roof of the turret behind her, her expressionless features could have been carved of the rock she loved. “How did you get up here so quietly?”

“I walked.” Pinkies monochrome sister said, her voice carrying all the energy and emotion of a filing cabinet.

“Oh. Right. Well, that story was… factually accurate.” Twilight eventually managed to say.

“Err, Twilight?” Pinkie croaked, straining to hold her up. “Can I put you down now, and recommend you start jogging or something?”

Twilight turned a surprised look at her friend, noticing her valiant efforts to bear her.

“Oh! Sorry Pinkie.” She blushed with an embarrassed smile letting herself down. “Maud just surprised me a little- what do you mean jogging?”

“You know, jogging, light exercise, because you’re…” Pinkie trailed off leaving an awkward silence.

“Because I’m what?” Twilight asked innocently.

“Because you’re… ah… um… oh look! Literally anything else!” She pointed wildly over Twilights shoulder before grabbing her sister and fleeing.

Twilight was abruptly left confused, at a loss to figure out what was going on.

“What was that all about?” She asked Spike, who suddenly became engrossed in carefully studying the majesty of his claws.

“Oh, I wouldn’t have any idea.” He said suspiciously quickly, before nodding towards the other side of the town square where a crowd had begun to gather. “If I had to guess, it’s probably something to do with that ruckus over there.”

“Fracas!” They distantly heard Pinkies voice correcting him.

The sound of a pair of all too familiar raised voices drifted over the square. With a sigh and a weary sense of expectation, Twilight levitated spike onto her back and jumped off Little Harmony, spreading her wings with a flutter to arrest her fall. A short canter and she was soon passing through the crowd, ponies stepping aside as their beloved Princess approached.

“You don’t think Pinkie’s saying I’m fat do you?” Twilight asked Spike as she trotted, a little worried at her friend’s strange behaviour. Well, stranger…

“What? No, don’t be silly. No. No, no, no.” Spike attempted a reassuring tone.

“Do you think I’m fat?” She worried.

“What? No, don’t be silly. No. No, no, no.” He repeated louder.

“You do don’t you?” She deadpanned.

“Oh look!” He panicked, pointing ahead, “Ponies are arguing!” he shouted, before jumping off her back and sprinting off as fast as his legs would carry him, disappearing into the crowd.

Suddenly feeling very self-conscious, Twilight examined herself, rubbing her chin to check just how many were hanging there, poking her belly to see if it wobbled. Just as she was set to start freaking out, a fresh burst of shouting came from ahead. The bathroom scales would have to wait, there was a friendship problem that needed a princess.

Passing through the crowd, she wasn’t remotely surprised to discover the culprits, head to head, waiting for the other to give way first.

“For the love of Celestia, are you two arguing, again?” She asked Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

“It’s not my fault, she’s being over competitive!” Dashie waved an accusing hoof at the orange workhorse, leaning in to push her back.

“You started it, all your talk about how great Tank 2 is!” Applejack snapped, shoving back. “More noise than two angry squirrels on a hickory stump!”

“Nopony asked you to step up!” Dash growled, squaring up, still pushing against the immovable object that was her friend. The two were abruptly engulfed by a lavender glow and lifted into the air.

“Can’t you two go one week without falling out over something?” Twilight separated the two like an exhausted mother, wearily playing referee between two foals. “Can you just try, please, for the sake of my sanity, to be a little less competitive?”

“Oh I can do that easy.” Dashie boasted.

“Ha, I’m way more non-competitive than you are!” AJ challenged her.

“Are not.”

“Are too!”

“Fine!” Twilight snapped, her last nerve, that had valiantly endured their bickering for weeks, finally gave way under the pressure. “You know what? Let’s settle this. Practice battle! One week to prepare, then I’m kicking both your flanks!”

“Fine!” The two squabbling ponies said together, Applejacks confidant grin matched by the eager one Rainbow Dash threw back at her.

“May the best pony win.” Applejack continued.

“Oh I intend to.” Dashie told her.

The two separated, heading back to their tanks, already planning their strategy.

An excited, feverish energy gripped the crowd. Already ponies were talking and eagerly predicting who was going to win. Will the speed and agility of Tank 2 and Team Dash race to victory, or will the armour of Big Red prove every bit as impenetrable as Granny Smith proudly declared. Then what of Pinkie Pie and her Hetzer, newly christened the Party Cannon? Or the nimble Crusader? Even Fluttershy and her Somua S35 had found a following, though she had spent most of the festival cowering behind the tough little French tank, looking as insignificant as possible to avoid answering any questions.

Standing alone as ponies began gathering into groups, Twilight heard her voice spoken. Suddenly aware she was becoming the centre of attention, she started paying attention to what was being said. Listening, she realised Little Harmony was the only tier five vehicle in the collection, all the rest being tier three or four. Technically that meant she had the best tank. And on top of it all, she was a Princess.

The pressure landed on her like unpleasant memories of a potted plant, an anvil, a cart of hay and a piano.

“Oh sweet Celestia, what have I got myself into?...” She thought out loud, dread seeping into her voice.

“So we’re going to have an actual battle?” Spike asked, remerging from the crowd.

“Yeah… looks like I really put my hoof in it this time.” Twilight wilted in the face of the situation her temper had landed her in.

“This, is, AWESOME!” Spike pumped a fist into the air.

“What?”

“Well, yeah, what else have we been building teams for? We get to play Panzerfahren!” His childlike enthusiasm, usually endearing, stuck in Twilight’s mind like a splinter, itching furiously right where she couldn’t scratch it.

“Spike, it’s hardly playing, we’re going to be shooting at each other!” She told him pointedly, levitating him onto her back and walking toward Little Harmony.

“But the protection spell works, right?” He asked, unwilling to let her mood dampen his joy.

“Of course, complete success rate.” Indignation poked through her fug and crept into her voice.

“Then what’s the worry?” Her smiled down at his regal mount, hoping his cheer might encourage her too. “Let’s have a blast! Pun totally intended.” His little quip, though not lost on Twilight, did little to alleviate her worries.

“I’m not comfy about shooting at my friends.”

“But you’re the one who issued the challenge. Can hardly back out now.” He reasoned. “Look, you love tanking on the viewer, but this time you get to be right in the thick of it! It’ll be fun! And with the protection spell in place it’s not like we’re actually going to hurt anypony, right?”

Twilight had to admit, Spike made several good points and there was little room to argue. The match was her idea, the spell and special ammunition would protect the crews while still allowing the vehicles themselves to be damaged realistically, but not beyond repair. And though she hadn’t really given it any conscious thought before, the question now occurred, what other reason was there for collecting and refurbing the tanks, preparing protection spells and enchanted munitions, if not to put them to use?

“You know what Spike?” Twilight starting cheering up. “You’re right, this is going to be fun. It’ll go with a bang!” She sported a big silly grin at her little joke.

Spike was not impressed.

“Just leave the puns to me, okay?”

“Reload armour piercing!” Twilight’s voice carried over the rumble of Little Harmony’s engine. “Rarity, hard left, head for point 4!” Even as she gave the order to Rarity, Lyra was busy hefting a fresh shell up towards the gun breach with hoof and magic to ram it home. Little Harmony roared and began to swing about as Rarity heaved on the controls, guiding the tank in a new direction.

In the commander’s chair, Twilight worked the gunnery controls, bringing the turret round towards the right as the vehicle lurched forward. She quickly found her target as it came into view and worked hard to keep it in the gun sight as they raced over the rough ground.

“Shell loaded!” She heard Lyra shout over the commotion of the vehicle.

She was abruptly pushed towards the front of the tank, the whole vehicle leaning forwards as Rarity stamped her hoof on the brakes.

“Here we are dear!” She chirped over the intercom and Twilight didn’t wait for the tank to settle before squeezing firing trigger.

The gun next to her boomed, sending the shell streaking towards its target and a spent casing clattering to the floor.

Twilight peered through the scope, waiting for the smoke and dust to clear so she could check her hit.

“Shoot!” She snapped.

“You know, you’re supposed to say that before you fire the gun.”

Spikes sarcastic quip, undoubtedly meant in jest, was not welcomed with a hearty giggle. Twilight didn’t stop to retort however, instead she threw the hatch open and grabbed her binoculars to double check what she’d seen through the scope.

The wooden target on the firing range was indeed, unharmed.

“Missed again?” Asked Spike. From his position inside the tank, he had no view of the outside world, save for the tiny sights of the hull mounted machine gun, which would go unused during the match. Rather than respond, Twilight turned her binoculars further down the range to the other three targets she and her crew had been practicing on.

They were unharmed too.

She sighed deeply as the second turret hatched opened and Spike poked his head out allowing him a quick check of the range.

“Wow, you are a bad shot…”

Twilight snorted indignantly with a dark look at her under very real risk of becoming ex-assistant. Spike recognised that snort, and quietly slid back inside as he felt her glaring knives in his back.

“Rarity, can you take us back to the garage please?” Twilight spoke very carefully into the intercom, keeping her voice level and devoid of emotion. Hearing her exaggerated care, Rarity leaned over to Spike as he settled back into the hull gunners seat.

“Oh dear, target practice didn’t go so well?” She whispered to him. Buttoned up inside Little Harmony, her view of the outside world was only a little better than his, limited by the viewport on the hull hatch to watch was directly in front of her, so didn’t surprise Spike that she didn’t know how the target practice had gone.

“’Fraid not.” He said. Normally being in such intimate proximity to his beloved Rarity would only excite and lift him, but he knew Twilight better than anybody, felt her moods keenly, and knowing he had a claw in it dampened his spirits too. “She’s been really bothered by something last few days, and I think I just upset her too.”

“Well, don’t just sit there,” the fashionista admonished him quietly, “talk to her.”

“I will, I will,” he whispered back, “I just need to find a quiet moment, you know?”

“Rarity?” Twilight called to them, having ducked her head back inside the tank. “Is there a problem with your intercom?”

“Loose wire I think.” Spike’s quick thinking saved a blushing Rarity from making her own excuses, it was bad form to gossip about somepony. “it’s okay now, but I’ll take another look at it later on.”

Rarity mouthed a thank you to him, and he winked in response as she began turning Little Harmony back towards the garage.

“Absolutely not!” Applejack stamped a hoof in emphasis.

“Never going to happen!” Rainbow Dash agreed.

To a casual observer, the sight of the two hyper competitive ponies agreeing on something could be interpreted as a sign of the impending end times.

To the Cutie Mark Crusaders however, it meant the heart breaking disappointment of not getting to drive a tank.

“Awww, c’mon sis…” Applebloom whined, pouting and batting her big adorable eyes.

“Yeah, it’s a Crusader, like us.” Scootaloo added. “A Crusader!”

“It’s clearly destiny.” Sweetie Belle reasoned

“Ah don’t care if it’s called an Applescootabelle and was personally delivered to your clubhouse by the very cosmos with a letter signed by Fausticorn herself!” Applejacks face began turning red as she loomed over the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Y’all are not getting in that tank!”

In the momentary silence that followed, Applejack cast an expectant glance to Rainbow Dash, who blinked a few times, her mind working furiously to generate a suitably powerful follow up to Applejacks diatribe.

…

“Yeah!”

…

“Seriously?” AJ asked Rainbow Dash through the side of her mouth, focusing hard on not cringing. “That’s the best you could come up with?” she stopped the cyan pegasus before she could reply, seeing Little Harmony just finished parking. “Hey Rarity, get over here and back me up will ya?” She waved to the pearl unicorn, who perked up hearing her name.

Hope blossomed in the Crusaders hearts as Rarity trotted cheerily over. Surely the element of Generosity herself would be able to convince their elder sisters to let them participate.

“Rarity!” The three of them whined together before anypony else could speak. “Applejack and Rainbow Dash won’t let us crew the Crusader! Can we drive it, can we, pleeeeeease?” They flashed her their big, sad, doleful eyes.

Rarity gave a horrified gasp.

“Simply out of the question!”

Twilight was sat quietly, absently watching the exchange between the Cutie Mark Crusaders and their elder sisters. She had been welcomed back to the garage by the ever bouncy Pinkie, who, bless her giant and easily distracted heart, was trying to treat her friend to a sweet confectionary lunch.

Though in truth she was gleefully doing most of the eating, Twilight merely picked at her cake while throwing the odd jealous look at her oblivious friend.

“Seriously Pinkie, how do you eat like that and not have diabetes and more chins than an oriental phonebook?” She asked as her friend noisily jammed a chocolate sponge cake in her face.

“Dunno, just lucky I guess.” The pink mare grinned back showing off a mouthful of chocolate covered teeth, making Twilight cringe and quickly change subject.

“So how’s your crew coming along?” She asked.

“Hello Twilight.”

“GAAAAAH! Hi Maud… Didn’t see you back there…” Twilight finished, now dangling upside down from Little Harmony’s gun barrel with an embarrassed grin plastered on her face. The expressionless grey mare stared at her blankly for a moment before looking at Pinkie.

“Pinkie, I came to tell you it’s our turn on the firing range. Thunderlane is waiting.”

“Oh goodie! I get to go play!” She giggled, bouncing on hoof tips excitedly. Any pony who didn’t know her might think a sugar rush was kicking in. “Catch you later Twilight!”

“Okay, Pinkie, catch you later.” Twilight let herself down from the barrel, her forced smile quickly fading as Pinkie and Maud headed for the Party Cannon. Alone, she sighed, looking about to see if there was something that might lift her spirits. She spotted Applejack and Rarity still chatting idly, the Cutie Mark Crusaders evidently having gone off somewhere to sulk, while according to her memory Rainbow Dash would be heading out on the obstacle course. “Oh, hey girls, can I ask you a little question.” She called, trotting over.

“Of course darling.” Rarity smiled her elegant, polite smile and AJ too affirmed with a cheery ‘sure’.

Coming up to them, Twilight opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to find her words.

“Ummm… girls, do you think that maybe, and feel free not to answer this but be honest if you do, do you think that, maybe, just maybe, I’m getting a little… heavy?”

The two mares shared a look before Rarity before answered hesitantly.

“How can I put this gently?... You know that I’m the element of Generosity?” Twilight nodded. “Well, I appear to have some competition in the form of whoever is cooking your dinners.”

“Thanks…” Twilight said ungraciously.

“And you seem to be getting a little generous about the middle yourself.” Her friend continued.

“Yes, thank you.” Twilight replied tersely.

“Not that it’s a bad look you understand!” Rarity desperately back peddled, trying to undo the damage she realised she was busy inflicting. “The full figure is very much in this season, and you’re looking terribly fashionable.”

Twilight just threw her a dry look before turning to Applejack.

“What do you think AJ?”

“You’re gettin’ fat.” She said without skipping a beat.

“Applejack! Don’t be so rude!” Rarity snapped at her.

“What? I’m the element of honesty.”

“Yes, but not brutal honesty…”

“I ‘ain’t telin’ no lies, Rare.”

“I’m not saying you should, but there’s honesty,” she frowned sternly at her friend, “and then there’s, honesty.” She beamed broadly and brightly.

“Oh yeah, ‘cause that were workin’ so well for you.” Applejack replied with a sardonic look. “What’d ya say, Twilight? Twilight?”

Their friend was nowhere to be seen.

All afternoon Spike had been steadily gathering his courage to apologise to Twilight for making her feel bad on the firing range. He had patiently waited to find her alone, quietly practiced what he was going to say, and it had sounded great. But then Pinkie had arrived throwing that plan into a cocked hat.

So he waited for her to leave. And when she finally did, Twilight didn’t hang around long enough for him to regather his courage again before heading off to chat with Applejack and his lovely, beautiful and radiant Rarity.

It just wasn’t fair, how was he supposed to put things right if ponies weren’t going to clear off and give him the space he needed?

Apparently though, that conversation didn’t go well either. He watched her depart the conversation suddenly, only to hide behind a tank and teleport quietly away while nopony was watching. Few knew Twilight as well as he did, even among their friends, and they might not have seen just how deeply unhappy she was.

The rotund young dragon eventually found Twilight alone, sat at the edge of a copse of trees, away from the garage where she couldn’t be seen. Her face was a mask of focus and concentration, lost deep in serious thought as she would say.

Spike called it sulking.

She didn’t acknowledge him as he approached, simply stared into the middle distance.

“Hey Twilight.” He tried, waiting uncertainly for her to respond. “Uuh, I’m sorry I was rude earlier.” He fidgeted uncomfortably. “I should have been more supportive, should’ve noticed how important this is to you. I’m really sorry.”

Twilight sighed, long, deep and miserable, slumping in every way her body could, head, ears, wings, ever her horn looked ready to sag.

“Oh Spike, this is just awful.” She moaned. “There’s so much riding on this, and I just can’t get it right.”

Ever faithful, Spike sat down on the grass next to her. She was more than a friend to him. She was the closest thing he’d ever know to a mother or a big sister.

“You’ll get it.” He smiled, hoping his best encouraging smile might rub on her. “Not met the problem yet you couldn’t crack.”

“Bless you.” She looked over to him, smiling sadly. She loved that he always tried his best to lift her spirits. Except when there was a conflict of interests involving sleep or ice cream, but mostly he always tried. “But I don’t know if I can get this in time. The match is the day after tomorrow, you’ve got the radio sorted, Lyra is finding her rhythm loading, Rarity is an excellent driver. The weak link on the team is me.” And like that, her smile was gone, leaving her slumping a little lower than before.

“Oh come on Twilight,” Spike pleaded, “your gunnery isn’t that bad. Okay, well maybe it is, but so what?”

“So what?!” Twilight was shocked he could so lightly dismiss the impending disaster with a casual, ‘so what’. “This is important! This will be the first ever Equestrian Panzerfaharn match! It was my idea! I’m the Princess! I’m expected to excel! And be pretty and slim…” She wilted to the ground, a lavender puddle of misery.

Spike raised an eye brow.

“That’s what this is about? You think you’re fat?”

“And ugly.” She mumbled into the grass.

Spike shook his head and took a deep breath, before stepping inform of his dear Twilight and lifted her head to look her in the eye.

“You are not fat or ugly.” He told her with the total certainty of someone who knew something he wished he didn’t. He continued before she could contradict him. “I know this for a fact because I can say, claw on heart truth, and please don’t ask me how I know this, that there are plenty of Stallions, and several mares, in Ponyville and Canterlot who would love to, and I quote, ‘ride that sexy ass into the sunset’.”

Twilight have him a long, suspicious and confused look.

“Really?” It wasn’t the flattered, embarrassed, or even shocked expression he expected, but at least she wasn’t sulking anymore.

“Bet she bangs like a barn door in a hurricane.” He dutifully quoted again, and a little bit of him died inside.

Twilight sat back up, blushing furiously. There was no way her little Spike would have come up with that by himself.

“There’s also been innuendo about Alicorn stamina, a willingness, or even necessity to share if the stamina thing is true, wing play and horn tricks, among other things…” He trailed off.

There was a long awkward silence as neither knew what to say next.

“Okay…” Twilight finally broke it. “Wow, ponies actually think of me that way?”

Spike cleared his throat.

“Bet she could suck a golf ball through a garden hose.”

…

…

…

The Somua S35 fairly flew across the range, engine rumbling as it rolled effortlessly over the worn ground. Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie watched the French tank smoothly navigate the obstacle course, all three quietly impressed by the excellent work none of them really believed the crew would be able to manage.

“Wow, I did not expect that from our sweet little Fluttershy.” Pinkie marvelled. At first they doubted she’d actually take command of the tank at all. But somepony had to drive it, and all the others were taken, so in the end it was less of a choice, more a lack of reasonable alternatives. “Call her on the radio, let’s see how she’s doing.”

Rainbow Dash flicked a switch on the field radio set beside them.

“Hey Fluttershy, how’re you doing in there?” She asked into the handset, cleverly modified for a pony’s hooves.

“Oh dear heavens, this is terrifying! Let me out!!” The speakers wailed.

“She’s fine.” Dashie confidently nodded.

“Are you sure? Because I think we’ve left her mentally scarred.”

“Y’know, I know Fluttershy is good wi’ animals an’ all,” Applejack spoke up, “but how exactly do a bunch of woodland critters an’ a bear drive a tank?”

“Honestly? I don’t have the first clue.” RD shrugged. “I just accept that it works and go with it.”

All the while, the radio’s speakers continued to bawl hysterically.

Twilight and Spike sat on the grass together in silence, watching the majesty of Celestia beginning to set the sun together. Neither one was quite sure how to continue the conversation, but at the same time it simply refused to die.

“So, how do you know all this?” She asked.

“I asked you not to ask me that.”

“Okay.” Twilight nodded impassively.

…

“You have a fan club.” Spike grudgingly admitted in the silence.

“You mean like Rainbow Dash’s?”

“Sort of… it’s for a certain type of fan…” The young dragon explained nervously. “I was the guest of honour at one of their meetings, before I found out what sort of club it was… it was so awkward. They send you mail from time to time, I’ve been intercepting it…”

Twilight nodded, digesting the information.

“Who’s in it?”

“I kinda promised not to say.”

…

Twilight shifted nervously, trying to get comfortable.

“Do you still have the letters?”

“Say, the match isn’t until the day after tomorrow, so we still have a day to practice.” Spike quickly changed the subject. “Why don’t we get a good night’s sleep, come to it fresh tomorrow?” he asked, but Twilight didn’t seem in any rush to answer. “Look, I know you’re worried it, but just ask yourself, what do you think Princess Celestia would say?”

Twilight pondered that question distractedly.

“She would probably tell me I should relax, take my time and have a little fun. Maybe lift my tail once in a while.”

“I meant about the match!” Spike said with a shudder, he didn’t need mental images of Twilight on the prowl.

“Oh, right…” Twilight blushed with embarrassment. She gave the question a moment’s thought. “You know, oddly, I think she would say exactly the same thing…”

Author's Note

The long overdue Chapter 4!
Hope you all enjoy it.
Credit for proof reading goes to, Headsplit, Fracturedheart and Fluffysam.
Thank you all three for taking the time to proof read for me

Please feel free to comment and any constructive critique is welcome