Chapter 5: Opening Riff
By Gingerquill

“Ah, I see.” An enlightened smile spread across Princess Celestia’s face as she strolled with her young protégé, Princess Twilight Sparkle. “Because both the crew, and the incoming shell carry the same enchantment, the two are repelled from each other, rather like matching poles on magnets.”

“Exactly.” Twilight eagerly basked in her mentor’s approval. “But the really clever part is, the strength of the munition’s enchantment is powered by velocity. The faster the shell, or it’s fragments travel, the more powerful the enchantment becomes, and as they slow, the power falls away. This causes any fragments that threaten crew to rapidly decelerate before falling harmlessly out of the air.”

“Rather than being rebounded back and forth between crews until they either overcome the spell or are launched off in a new direction.” Celestia finished for her. “Very impressive work, Twilight.”

“Thank you,” she blushed, “overcoming problems like inertia and transfer of momentum so crew aren’t thrown around was tricky, but as tempting as it was to rely exclusively on shield spells, a powerful enough attack, or string of attacks, might overcome them.”

“Your consideration and attention to detail does you credit.” Celestia’s warm, motherly smile was always an uplifting experience for Twilight, but now even more so with the stresses and worries of the previous week approaching today’s climax.

“Hey Highnesses!” The cheery voice of Pinkie Pie could be heard as she bounced towards them.

“Hi Pinkie,” Twilight smiled, “you and your crew all ready for today, where’s Maud?”

“Hello Twilight.”

“I’m gonna tie a bell on you.” Twilight grumbled at the stone grey mare as she dangled helplessly upside down in Celestia’s magic, having tried to leap into her grasp with a surprised screech.

“Oh Twilight, you’re so funny.” Pinkie giggled, innocently holding a tray overflowing with confectionary. “Muffin?” She offered, Celestia’s eyes lighting up like stars as she inspected the treats.

“Hmmm, I don’t remember seeing a cake stand in the paddock area,” Twilight mused as she was carefully placed on the ground, “where’d you get those?”

“Muffin Button.” Pinkie smiled innocently.

“What?”

“Muffin Button.”

“Did we install one of those on the Party Cannon?”

“No, silly. He’s over there.” Pinkie corrected with one of her child like giggles, pointing to a blond furred Earth Pony stallion with a pointy black mane.

“Muffins! Get yer Muffins right here! Fresh muffins for sale!” Came his call. The orange shirt clad vendor was pushing a non-descript cart with a generous parasol overhead. Twilight cocked her head to one side as she pondered where he came from.

“Huh… So, Princess, what do you… Princess?” Twilight looked round, confused by the sudden absence of her peer.

“And what delectable treats can I get for you?” She heard Muffin Button ask.

“How many have you got?” Was Celestia’s reply.

Twilight rolled her eyes. Her mentor was lost to her now, at least until her infamous and voracious sweet tooth had been sated. Which would likely take most of the afternoon.

“GAAAAAH!” Pinkie gasped in awe, staring at a new, impossibly large delicacy Muffin Button produced from the depths of his cart. “Is that a triple chocolate, double cream, hot fudge sauce, foot long éclair?!”

“Why yes, it is.” Celestia smiled, a tear forming in her eye. “It’s beautiful…”

“Divine…” Pinkie whispered reverently, sidling up next to her to bask in its holy radiance. For long moments neither spoke, mesmerised by the glory of the foot-long éclair.

“Oh come on guys,” Twilight interrupted, scoffing at their adoration, “it’s just an éclair. Ah, guys? Guys?” She trotted over when neither responded to wave a hoof before their vacant, adoring and slightly drooling faces.

“Erm, Maud, a little help?” She asked, a hint of worry creeping into her voice.

“Sorry Twilight, I've seen this before,” Maud said, her monotone voice betraying not the slightest hint of concern as her sister and the living personification of the sun were apparently hypnotized by the power of cake. “They’re having a PCM.”

“A what?”

“You know how normal ponies have moments when they appreciate an especially tasty looking cake? Well this is a Pinkie Cake Moment. It’s kind of like a ‘want it, need it’ on overload.” She explained at length.

“Oh…” Twilight pondered that for a moment. “Are they going to be alright?” She asked, glancing at the two ponies, immobile save for the stars dancing in their eyes.

“They just need a few moments to reset. They’ll be fine, I’ll look after them if you want to keep wandering.” As little sense as the explanation made to her, Twilight found Maud’s plain voice oddly comforting.

“Thanks Maud, you’re a great friend.” Twilight smiled gratefully.

Leaving her friends under Maud’s care, she began to meander aimlessly and was soon strolling through the chaotic tank paddock, wandering between the six armoured vehicles while checks and finishing touches were made in preparation for the day’s big event, the first ever Panzerfahren match in Equestria. The tanks crews were abuzz, working on their vehicles, greasing hinges, checking oil and fuel levels, counting shells and their protective enchantments one more time just to be sure.

Wandering further, Twilight drifted into the fevered excitement that reigned within the carnival that had come to life around the grandstands and viewer screens erected for the match. Stalls were selling wares and snacks, tank themed games with chances to win tank plushies, somepony had even produced a line of commemorative shirts, scarves and attractive statuettes of Twilight and her friends in full battle dress.

Lost amid the hustle and bustle for a moment, Twilight managed to forget the worries and stresses of the past week spent trying to prepare for today, that she would soon be competing against her friends. That ultimately, she had brought the whole thing down on herself. Instead she was enjoying a pleasant afternoon, seeing the broad smiles and mirth of the crowds, and soaking in the festive atmosphere. Seeing everypony so happy and carefree let her heart feel light and radiant once again.

“Thank you, Princess Twilight!” She heard a shrill voice call to her. She looked round and down in surprise at a young filly, beaming at her with the energy and enthusiasm that only a child, and Pinkie Pie, is capable of. “Today is so much fun! Thank you!” She called again as her mother shooed her along with an embarrassed look.

Twilight couldn’t help giggling as she waved back. No doubt, tomorrow that little filly would be telling her friends all about the day she bumped into Princess Twilight Sparkle, and how she favoured her with a smile and a wave.

“Twilight!” She heard the familiar voice of Spike calling to her. “There you are. Been looking all over for you.”

“I don’t exactly blend into a crowd, Spike.” She smiled, levitating him onto her back as he drew close. It was always a comforting presence, having him there.

“Doesn’t help me when all I can see of a crowd is a bunch of legs.” He complained in his playful ‘don’t really mean it’ voice.

“Hmm, point conceded.” She smiled gracefully. “So what’s up?”

“We’re getting ready for the pre-match briefing over by the main office, plus me and Rarity have some awesome news!”

“I’m guessing it’s some big secret you want to reveal dramatically?” She already knew the answer from the way he didn’t quite manage to hide his excited grin.

“Yup, and before you ask, no you’re not getting a spoiler.”

Twilight could only laugh. She guessed maybe the two were finally going to go out on a date, but she’d find out soon enough.

“Well, guess we’d better get to the meeting then.”

Now with somewhere to be and something to do, Twilight wasted little time breaking into a gentle canter. For a nostalgic moment, it felt like the old days when she’d first moved to Ponyville, before she became an Alicorn and joined the ranks of royalty. She was wandering, carefree though some cheery carnival or celebration, where she might play a few games, win a prize if fortune smiled and return home with the warm, content feeling you get from an untroubled day full of simple joys.

That little bubble of day dream was popped when the scene that greeted her at the office was another blazing row between the Cutie Mark Crusaders and their elder sisters.

“No means no!” Applejack raised her voice, just short of shouting, but enough to demand an end to the argument. “They ‘ain’t safe!”

“It’s a tank!” Applebloom wailed, refusing to give up. “They ‘ain’t meant to be safe!”

“I’m sorry, was that meant to change our minds?” Rainbow Dash weighed in next to Applejack.

“Then why’re you allowed to go tanking then?” Scootaloo argued back this time.

“Because we, are responsible adults.”

“Are you saying we’re not responsible?” Sweetie Belle demanded to know, her voice pitched in shocked accusation.

Dry looks were the only answer she received.

“Not helping.” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo growled to her.

“Look, I know y’all are disappointed,” Applejack tried switching to a consoling tone, “and maybe one day you’ll get to drive your own tank, but not today. And forget that cutesie big eyed thing y’all do, it ain’t gonna work this time.” She finished, cutting off their attempts at being adorable before they could start. “You got your VIP tickets, you get to be treated all special for the day. So why don’t you go and enjoy yourselves and we’ll see you at end, alright?”

The Crusaders mumbled a dejected ‘alright’, and began trudging away miserably as their sisters went inside. Looking up and seeing Twilight, Apple Bloom nudged her friends. Brightening up, the three of them galloped over, brimming with hopeful smiles.

“Hi Twilight!” They beamed up at her, like kittens expecting to be fed.

“Hi girls,” she greeted them back awkwardly, “I know exactly where you’re about to go, and I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you.”

“Oh.” Their faces turned downcast again. “You saw that, huh?” Scoot asked.

“Yeah, and I sympathise, I really do, but it wouldn’t be right for me to overrule your sisters. I’m sorry.” Twilight smiled apologetically, while inside her heart broke a little.

“It’s okay.” Apple Bloom said, faking a smile of her own.

“It was a long shot, but had to try, right?” Sweetie Belle shrugged miserably.

All Twilight could do was smile as the three little, dejected fillies trudged past in the vague direction of the grandstands.

“Wow, that was so sad.” Spike remarked. “Couldn’t you at least have a word with the girls? You know, maybe change their minds?”

“Later,” Twilight sighed, “right now, we have a meeting to attend.”

Taking a deep breath, she finally stepped inside the office to find most of the crews gathered together, minus those still working on the vehicles, but also surprisingly, Princess Luna, who was presently giving the pre-match briefing. They greeted her quickly and Spike hopped off her back and over to Rarity.

“Hello Princess, sorry we’re late,” Twilight smiled at Luna, “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“Greetings, Princes Twilight, neither did we anticipate our presence being required,” she replied, habitually slipping into her archaic tongue, “however our sister is currently… indisposed…”

“Oh, don’t stop now!” Princess Celestia’s ecstatic voice could be heard from within her private pavilion, “give it to me!”

“You want this? You want this?” Muffin Button teased her.

“Oh yes! Yes! Give it me to!” She practically begged.

“Here it comes!”

There came a great moan of joy and release.

“Oh sweet heavens, you make the best triple chocolate muffins…”

“See, I told you he was good.” Came the chirpy voice of Pinkie.

“So, while she is absent, our royal self will be officiating todays match.” Luna continued. “Recapping the major safety points and victory conditions, no firing on a vehicle flying a white flag, flying a white flag means you are knocked out of the match, and victory will be determined by ‘last pony standing’ rules. Since this is the first full test of the munitions and their enchantments under actual match conditions, we will be insisting on basic armour piercing rounds only, and crews are to remain within their vehicles until the match is over. Now that is concluded, I believe Mr Spike and Madam Rarity wish to say a few words.” She finished, stepping back from the front of the room.

“So what’s this big news then?” Rainbow piped up as Spike and Rarity took the podium, clearly eager to get the match started. “You two finally going to tie the knot or something?”

Everybody had a good giggle at that, and even Spike and Rarity smiled and blushed.

“Do you want to go first?” Rarity asked.

“I can go first.” Spiked took a deep breath, barely containing his excitement. “Okay, great news. CBS has offered to broadcast our match!”

Everypony in the room gasped in amazement and began chattering excitedly about the honour, the fame, the celebrity exposure. With the sole exception of Twilight.

“CBS?” She asked, and immediately regretted it, trying to look very small as she felt all eyes on the room focus on her in the following silence.

“The Crystal Ball Service.” Spike told her, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of them? They’re one of the biggest broadcaster networks in Equestria! Next you’re going to tell me you’ve never heard of the Neophyte Broadcasting Circle or the Brotherhood of Broadcasting Conjurers.”

“What about FOX Network, were they asking?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“No, they’re assholes.” Spike told her.

“Oh good, phew.” The relief in the room was palpable.

“Their reps are in the royal box right now, they’re all ready to go, all we have to do is give them a yes.”

More silence followed, and Twilight felt the expectation in the room as everypony impatiently waited for her to decide the future of broadcasted Equestrian Panzerfahren.

“Yes?” She said meekly, and immediately the room burst out in excited chatter once again.

“Well, then,” Rarity’s voice cut through the din, “if we’re going to be on display, it’s good thing I have my new line to show off.” Her horn glowed as her magic dragged a loaded clothes rack from behind a curtain. “I call it, Full Frontal Fashion!” She finished with a dramatic flourish, showing off a gloriously flamboyant array of uniforms. “I was Inspired by the tank fashions of the human world, though I have taken the liberty of improving on their drab colours. Twilight darling, try this on!” A bright ensemble flew of the rack at Twilight, quickly engulfing and wrapping itself round her at the command of Rarity’s magic. “Oh my, you look absolutely stunning! You’ll be the belle of the blitzkrieg!” She cooed.

Twilight looked at herself in a dressing mirror Rarity produced and found herself wearing what appeared to be a black tankers jacket, cut specially for her wings, and a furry hat she remembered was called an Ushanka. All in all, it was reminiscent of the functional uniforms worn by Soviet tank commanders she had seen pictures found in literature from the human world. Barring the bright lavender accents along the seams and edges, sparkling gemstones in place of buttons, flamboyant epaulettes, and a huge peacock feather protruding from her Ushanka, which now sported her cutie mark in precious stones where it would normally feature a red star.

‘Oh great,’ Twilight thought, plastering her best smile on her face, ‘at least I’ll look good while my humiliating defeat is broadcast the length and breadth of Equestria.’

“You know everypony is rooting for you to win.” Rarity doted on her. “You are the princess after all, and you have the best tank. Even better, now you’ll be fabulous doing it!”

‘Oh goodie. More pressure…’

Across the paddock, the Cutie Mark Crusaders trudged miserably towards the Crusader cruiser tank. Diamond Tiara looked up from her work and saw Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle approaching and carefully hopped down to greet them.

“Hey Diamond Tiara.” The Cutie Mark Crusaders called, unable to dredge up even the least enthusiasm in their dejected voices.

“Hey girls. I’m guessing you weren’t allowed to drive the Crusader.” Diamond Tiara received only a group shrug in response. “It’s just so perfect for you. I mean, you’re Crusaders, it’s a Crusader…” She trailed off sympathetically.

“I know, it really sucks.” Scoot grumbled.

“It’s just not lady like.” Sweetie pitched her best lady like imitation of her sister, before casting off the affected accent with a resentful snort. “Like that stopped Rarity.”

Diamond Tiara looked as disappointed as they did, then a wicked gleam came into her eye, like those she used to wear when she schemed to make someponies life a little worse. She beckoned to Silver Spoon and whispered in her ear once she had trotted over. The grey filly gave first her and then the crusaders a thoughtful smile, and nodded back before trotting away sporting a mischievous grin.

“Say, you all know how to operate the Crusader, right?” She asked, getting some mumbled yes’s and grunts in response. Her voice took a thought turn. “You know it makes me really angry that your sisters won’t let you drive it. After all the effort you went to, learning how, helping me and Silver Spoon get it ready, all wasted. So angry in fact, I’m just going to stand over there and look away for a while.” She said, strolling off to stare at nothing in particular.

The three crusaders shared a confused look, before Applebloom trotted over to her friend.

“Are you feeling okay, Diamond?” She asked, concerned at her strange behaviour.

“Yes, I’m fine, I’m just looking away angrily.” She assured her.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m just being distracted and looking away.”

“You’re acting a mite strange is all…”

“Oh for pities sake,” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. “I’m standing over here, wink, wink,” she punctuated with a pair of exaggerated winks at her friend, “where I can’t see what you’re up to, wink, wink, and I just so happened to have left the Crusader’s hatches wide open, wink, wink.”

“Oh…” The gears turned painfully slowly in Applebloom’s mind. “Oooh!”

“Finally.”

“Fillies and Gentlecolts! Welcome to this, the first ever Equestrian Panzerfahren match!” Even at her distance, Twilight could hear the announcer’s voice ring clear over the loud speakers, along with the cheers of crowds.

“The teams are in their starting places! Let’s give them one last cheer before the starting gun fires!” The cheering in the distance grew even louder. Looking up she saw a pair of Pegasus overhead pointing a camera in her direction. She blushed nervously under her flamboyant hat and gave them a wave. In the distance she heard a fresh road from the crowd, confirming her fears that they were being broadcast live, not only to those attending, but undoubtedly to the rest of Equestria as well.

“And there is everyponies favourite! Princess Twilight Sparkle! Doesn’t she look great folks?” Another distant roar of cheering could be heard.

She took a deep breath.

Okay Twilight, just calm down, calm down. Smile and wave, smile and wave, and you’ll get through this… Just remember the training. No, forget the training, it all went pear shaped... Crap… what was it Spike said about Celestia?

“Twilight,” her slowly panicking inner monologue was cut short with a startled jump, when Spike called her over the intercom, “are you okay?”

Spooked from the terrified reverie, she realised she’d been vaguely staring off into the middle distance, and no doubt wearing some horrified look on her face.

“I’m okay, Spike,” she faked a smile, “just nerves.” She added a wave to the crowd for good measure, hoping it would put him at the ease she couldn’t feel herself.

“Okay… well, Princess Luna is on the radio, I think she and Princess Celestia are about to start the match.”

She took another deep breath. No backing out now.

“Okay, signal we’re ready and put her on speaker.”

“Attention all teams.” Came Luna’s stern and regal voice. “We are about to commence the match, please mount up, start your engines and await the sound of the cannon.”

Twilight gave Rarity the start-up signal as she settled into her hatch down and got as comfy as she could. Little Harmony gave a little whine before the engine barked and growled as it came to life, the interior of the armoured vehicle vibrating with power waiting to be tapped.

Long moments passed as they waited for the starting cannon.

Over the speakers, she could hear the commentator describing the moment as Princess’ Celestia and Luna stood by the cannon, letting the tension and excitement grow a little more.

Then came the boom, the roared cheers of the crowd and the twin cries of Celestia and Luna.

“Pony Fore!”

“See anything yet, Lyra?” Twilight asked her turret companion as she peered suspiciously through her field goggles at every wooded copse they rumbled past.

“Nothing yet.” She replied as she likewise scanned her side of the tank with her own set. “You’d think we’d have bumped into somepony by now. Or at least heard shooting...”

Though she hadn’t said it, Twilight had been thinking the same thoughts. They’d been rumbling through the match area now for nearly ten minutes. In a space of only a few square miles, they ought to have seen or heard something by now. Save for the rumble of Little Harmony’s engine, the little squeaks of her tracks, it was all quiet. Too quiet.

She idly wondered how to sneak that cliché into the conversation.

“Rarity, anything to the front?”

“Not a sign dear,” came the response, “though in fairness I can’t really see that much.”

Twilight was about to tell her to keep her eyes open when Lyra shouted.

“Two O’clock!”

She quickly shifted to bring her own goggles to bare and follow where was Lyra pointing toward a short ridge, topped with a hedgerow that ran parallel to the road.

“Really?” Rarity asked before she could spot anything. “Shouldn’t we have broken for lunch by now, I am truly starving, I was in such a rush to get our outfits ready I completely missed breakfast.” She complained.

“No, it’s only eleven.” Twilight corrected her.

“I don’t see anything at eleven, are you sure?” Lyra swivelled to continue scanning the horizon.

“I knew I should have packed my watch.” Rarity grumbled, reaching over towards Spikes position.

“You packed just about everything else… there’s barely enough room to breathe under all this!” Spike’s muffled voice could just about be heard from under the great pile of cushions, accessories and changes of functional, yet stylish and attractive, uniforms.

“It may well be uncomfortable,” Rarity admonished him, “but you’ll be thanking me when you’re covered in dirt and grease and in need of a change of outfit!”

“Guys, there’s definitely something at two…”

“Doesn’t anypony have a watch to hoof?”

“It’s not about time Rarity,” Twilight started to explain, “it means Lyra saw something off to the right.”

“Then why ever didn’t she simply say ‘off to the right’?”

“Think of it as a clock face, but laid down on the ground.” She tried.

“Why would anypony leave a clock on the ground? You’d never see it until you stepped on it.”

“Well, yes… but… just turn right, I’ll explain later.” Twilight gave up with a sigh.

The confusing argument was rudely interrupted by the reverberating clang of a shell deflecting off the side of Little Harmony’s turret.

Everypony flinched, Twilight and Lyra ducked low into the turret, the pile of accessories shifted as Spike buried himself a little deeper and Rarity jumped, pressing a hoof onto the accelerator, causing Little Harmony to lurch forward.

“Is everypony okay?” Twilight shouted, her confidence in her protective enchantments waning before the reality of being shot at.

“I’m okay!” Rarity sounded like she was hyperventilating.

“Mrfrfrfm!” Her pile of accessories called, a purple claw poked out to give a thumbs up.

“Sweet Celestia, this reminds me of Vietnam!” Lyra grinned like a lunatic.

“Good.” Twilight breathed a sigh of relief. Real world test successful. “Now where’d that shot- hang on, what?” She turned to face Lyra as her brain finally acknowledged what she said.

“You know, the movies.” She explained. “I love those things.”

Twilight was still giving Lyra the most pecular look when a second clang announced more pressing concerns.

“Glancing hit on the front plate, we’re okay!” Rarity squeaked.

“Where’d the shot come from?” Twilight cried, settling down into the gunner’s seat and turning the periscope about, trying to get a view of who was shooting at them.

“Spotted them, Tank 2, at 2 O’clock, atop the ridge, range 700!” Lyra shouted, staring straight at them through her binoculars.

“Rainbow Dash,” Twilight thought out loud, bringing the turret round to bare. M5 Stuart, light tank, US made, 37mm main gun, 25 to 50 mm armour, high speed, her mind supplied various details as she peered through the gun sights, using her magic to work the focus and bringing the hedgerow into sharp relief.

There! A puff of smoke gave her target’s position away. She could make out the sharp angles of worked steel hiding among the leaves now.

“Rarity, halt!” She called, ignoring the dull crump of a near miss as she finished laying the gun. No sooner than Little Harmony had been brought to a stop than she squeezed the firing trigger and the gun boomed!

The barrel recoiled back in its mount with a clang, sending an empty shell casing clattered to the floor, and though it took barely a second, Twilight watched the shell through the sights as it hurtled through the distance separating the two tanks, to strike sending up a great clod of dirt.

As she watched, Tank 2 emerged from the cloud, accelerating rapidly away as it followed the line of the ridge.

“Damn.” She snapped, frustration at her poor marksmanship beginning to boil once more. “Lyra, reload, Rarity, straight ahead, fast as you can, let’s get after them!”

“Damnit!” Twilight swore yet again as she watched another shell go wide. After twenty minutes of pursuit along the forest path (though it might only have been five, adrenaline was making a mockery of her personal time keeping) she still hadn’t managed to land a clean hit on Tank 2. All credit to Dash and her crew, they were making excellent use of the terrain and their agile tank, but knowing that didn’t make her feel any better. “Reload! Rarity keep after them!”

The detached, analytical part of Twilight’s mind knew she was rushing her shots, that she should halt and wait for Little Harmony to settle before firing. But it was being constantly overridden by the part of her mind that was desperately panicking and handling the pressure like a landmine.

This part of her mind was then in turn being fought for control by yet another part that was so clouded by anger and frustration, that it demanded Twilight strap a shell to her horn so she could gallop up to the slippery little bastard of a tank and head butt it into scrap while screaming die.

Of course, neither the rational nor panicky parts of her would ever allow this, which ultimately resulted in a gridlocked stalemate that left her capacity for decision making and aiming lost in a grey wilderness somewhere between terror, reason and frothing lunacy.

The last thing the tenuous grip she held on her faculties needed was a thunderous barrage of explosions, announcing they had rumbled headlong into an ambush and were being fired on from multiple directions at the same time.

Which, cripplingly enough for her emotional state, is exactly what happened the moment they followed Tank 2 into an open clearing.

“Hard right!” She managed to screech through her own high pitched squeals, and Rarity quickly drove Little Harmony off the road and thundering into the hard brush as the trees from all around her continued to erupt with shell fire.

Little Harmony plunged through the thick forest, tracks churning through mud and brush, it’s engine roaring as they fled the ambush as fast as they could. They burst into the open on the far side, only for another blast and a clang to announce they had driven into more tanks! Panicking, Twilight called a hard left and they swung round, their tracks throwing dirt and mud as they took off in a new dew direction, skirting the edge of the copse of trees, until finally, once the sounds of fire had stopped, she found her voice long enough to call a halt.

At last, given a moments respite, her ears ringing, heart pounding in her throat, Twilight began frantically swinging her periscope back and forth, hyper ventilating as she tried to regain control of her racing, frantic mind long enough to figure out what was going on.

Then she saw something.

A slope of rough, dull grey hidden amid the bushes. A colour that had no place among the green plant life.

And a long barrel pointing directly at her.

“Eeep!” Was all she managed as the Party Cannon fired.

Author's Note

Finally, after all the delays! Some of those scenes just did not want to be written... But a big thanks to Twidashloverxox, Harmony Pie and her sister SugarPinkieVA and Ceffyl Dwr for taking the time to help me with this. Big thanks to you all.
Anyways, here it is, hope you all enjoy!
As always, please leave any and all constructive feedback, help me grow as a writer.