Chapter 10 The End.

"Sarah are you ready?" A voice called out, echoing around the quiet, humble building.

"Yes, I am ready" she replied as she placed her beret on her head, looking into the mirror as a now common sight reflected towards her, the brown pin curled hair, red lipstick on matching her St Gloriana's Sensha-Dō uniform. She walked down the stairs that groaned with every step.

Her dad was wearing a rather tight-fitting dark navy-blue suit with a round silver medal on his chest. He opened the front door and they both walked towards the black car waiting outside of the cottage with a cobbled wall around the small front garden with beautiful frost-covered fields on top of rolling hills with a little mist in the air as the sun slowly warmed the surroundings.

They opened door to the black car, sat in and closed it again. The car began to move slowly winding around the roads it was joined more and more cars, as the convoy grew larger.

Sarah turned to her dad, and looked down to the shinning silver medal. "What's that medal for dad?"

"Oh, this..." as he lifted it. "Most improved crew member."

"Oh ok."

"Yep, being the driver wasn't really my thing, but that's where I was put. Over a couple of years, I got the hang of it and got so I could anticipate the commander's actions before he had even said them. Which wasn't too good for the gunner who always had a moan at me, because he could never get a shot off. As I would be dodging all the return fire… or well trying to. That's how I ended up working for the car company as I could drive and fix anything mechanical."

"What tank did you drive?"

"Cromwell of course. Which was why I was so shocked to see you commanding one at St Gloriana's. See it runs in the blood, James was a commander in a Cromwell at his starting point in Bovington. Your mother was even a gunner for one."

"Really?"

"Oh yer, she couldn't get enough of it. Which is why one night we 'borrowed' one from the school's garage; me driving it around at full whack and her shooting the gun at targets till the sunrise the next day" he said, reminiscing.

"Did they find out?" she asked eagerly.

"Of course not" he sniggered to himself "Those were the days. She was damn good gunner she was she could hit a moving target on the move herself at 800 meters. She could have gone professional but decided she wanted to live life in the slow lane, after getting married."

"Was she really that good?"

"Yeah, she was. She was easily the best gunner in the whole of the school, heck in the country maybe." He looked over to his daughter, the mirror image of her in looks and mannerisms, unbeknownst to her. "You know, you as commander, me as the driver, James as loader and mum as the gunner. We would have made a pretty mean Cromwell crew." He smiled over to her.

"Why wouldn't James be the commander?"

"Well, could you imagine him bossing everyone around, that wouldn't work and anyway we could put him on radio duty as he had a big enough mouth." He signed a little as he composed himself, he leant over to pull her beret down a little, putting more of a slant to the hat. "I think once this day is over, and we have reached calm waters, I need to tell you something about your mother, something I should have told you and James before. But I never knew when the best time was."

Sarah closed her eyes and nodded in agreement. The road straightened as a small crematorium chapel came into view ahead. Small lane was covered in bouquets colouring the road from the dull grey, with onlookers all standing at attention on the paths at the side of the road, all in different uniforms from schools, professional teams and even countries. All was silent only the purring of the cars engines and the tyres rolling along the road.

They got to the chapel yard and the cars dropped them off as there was no car park. The precession walked to the chapel with the cold winter's morning hugging them. Sarah walked in and sat in the warm small chapel at the front sitting alone in the front pew, looking at a large metal table with dark red curtains on either side and a podium to the left-hand side. The small crematorium chapel slowly began to fill with people with different uniforms from all around the world from the Americas, Europeans, Asia, Africa and Oceania with the conversation levels rising, as they all mingled with each other. "Prussia High would be delighted to take ATLAS Academy on in a friendly…Scott couldn't be here his unfortunately, he has got some business to attend to …Shamrock School I've never heard of you lot before… Did you hear about his guy Mr Joules I've heard rumours going around…"

"Sarah?" Someone placed their hand on her shoulder. Sarah looked behind her.

"Beth! How's university?" she said back looking at her Boston old school uniform with her golden tank badge on her chest sparking as the pair of golden badges were finally reunited again.

"Going really well; but Sarah..." Beth placed Sarah's hand on her shoulder again. "We saw you get hit trying to save Maho Nishizumi. I cried for hours - I didn't know what happened to you, it was such a relief to hear you were OK."

"Kay can't kill me. She's too soft." Sarah said with a little chuckle.

"Once we heard the news about what happened to James, everyone one was heartbroken here at Boston."

"I don't know what to say really. I can't say thank you if you know what I mean. But thank you."

"I know what you mean" Beth answered back reassuringly.

"Please can everyone take their seats" came a voice from the front. Sarah turned to see a man in khaki Tankery uniform standing behind the podium. He looked familiar; her mind raced as she came full circle on her Tankery journey, it was the head of Bovington Tankery who she saw after James won at the Great British Cup. She turned back to look to Beth's long blond hair and give her a small smile.

"I'll see you later Beth. Once this is all over."

Beth closed her green eyes and nodded, moving to the back to of the chapel to find her pew.

The chapel slowly began to simmer down as the noise dropped, just the sounds of breathing was the only noise to be heard. Both chapel oak doors opened, as a warm glow came in from the low hung sun accompaniment by the bitterly cold breeze of the winter morning. As a wooden casket came into view carried in with Sarah's dad as the lead bearer. The precession slowly passed with both his Bovington and London United cap's on top, as they head towards the table placing it down slowly and carefully, all the bearers slowly walked to their pews with Sarah's dad next to her, as he put his hand or hers. The man in the in kaki Tankery uniform walked up to the podium, as he had a small written note in his hand.

"Thank you all for being here I this time of mourning. Today we wish to remember and cherish James Edward Alexander, who sadly passed away." The man stopped, took a deep breath and looked down at his notes. "We can only imagine what this young and talented man could have done for the world of Tankery but sadly we will never know." He looked up to everyone in the small chapel. "It will be a great loss and for me, he will always be remembered to me as Alexander the Great." The chapel was silent apart from the odd sniff was heard. "Now I will pass you over to Robert Alexander who wishes to say a couple of words."

"You got this dad," Sarah whispered to him, as he nodded back to her.

He walked up to the podium and shook the man's hand and looked out to the grieving faces of all the people seating in front of him.

"I'm happy to see no Black suits, as James was never a man for a formal engagement. Thank you also for wearing your Tankery uniforms; I know James would be laughing at me now seeing me trying to get into my 20-year-old Tankery uniform this morning, as I must have grown out more horizontality since then!" Some of the crowd chuckled with smiles appearing on some grieving faces.

"He was a son unlike no other, as he would talk the talk, but he could walk the walk. Which was embarrassing for me to try and teach him a lesson. Hopeful he has brought you all joy to your lives and if you were fighting against him well let's say he loved to beat you on the battlefield."

He put his hand on the coffin, as a small liquid crystal rolled down his cheek. "The people who did this want this sport to die off, to be thrown into the ash heap. So please, for James's sake and the others that sadly passed, we can't let them win. We will show them we are strong and united. I miss you James - You won't be forgotten." The chapel was momentarily silent until the man in the khaki green uniform stood and clapped; others followed his example as the chapel echoed to the sound of clapping as Robert sat down, with the rest of the chapel following.

Sarah couldn't hold back her emotions after that

She leaned on his shoulder as her eyes watered. He put his arm around her rubbing her shoulder, as he kissing the side of her head.

"That was beautiful dad." She murmured.

"When mum died, James... he was only 4 at the time... he ran into the house to pick up a couple of toys and looked at me and said to me, 'dad why are you sad?' just as the phone call ended. I said to him, 'I wasn't sad I felt bad because I didn't say goodbye to mum as she would be gone for a while.' He smiled at me, they ran off the play with his friends in the garden, with the one-year-old you sleeping upstairs on that beautiful sunny day in September. So hopefully today he would be proud of this message, my final goodbye to him."

The funeral proceeded, with other people taking the stand and talking about their memories of James from his time at Bovington to London United. As Sarah found out little things about him she never knew, the funniest being the first spying mission he went on, which went horribly wrong as he blew his cover and he hid a large capacity wheelie bin, for 3 hours before his other colleague found in there him, smelling of rotted food covered in black bin bags.

Eventually, the man in khaki Tankery uniform walked up to the podium. "Thank you every one who spoke today, with your great stories and moving words but the journey is now over as we have reached the end of the road." He looked over at the coffin and then back to the crowd. "It is now the time where we must say our final goodbye to James. The path he takes now is one he must take alone." He turns to face James coffin. "James; your journey may have been short, but the impact it has made cannot be underestimated. You will forever be in our thoughts and in our hearts. May you now rest in peace. Goodbye James... " He walked back to his pew.

Somebody at the back of the chapel stood, Sarah turned as the young man put a brass bugle his lip as he played the Last Post call. The metal table slowly rotated becoming parallel to the pews as the red curtains slowly closed around; the once fun and light-hearted mood had gone, replaced with pain and pity as people sobbed. As the curtains surrounded the coffin the bugle stopped, and gradually the chapel emptied.

Sarah remained sitting looking at the grey stone floor, with her dad walking over to the khaki uniformed man as they had a private word with each other.

Someone walked in front of her and stopped. "It's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember." She looked up the black boots and skirt, a dark red coat a black leather handbag, with beautiful blond hair and the deep blue eyes.

"Darjeeling, I didn't think you would come!" Sarah stood and hugged her.

"Oh, but I must be here." She looked at the curtains. "How lucky I am, to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." Then she looked back to Sarah.

"I hope this was the right way of sending him off."

"He would be happy. If I was upset, I wouldn't be able to say any proverbs. So, you did a good job as your dad would say he would not want people upset, which is how James would like it. Today is also Anglerfish's memorial service. Orange Pekoe and Assam are going there on my behalf. As much as I respect Miho and her crew, James was a dear friend who I don't think I would never forget." Darjeeling smiled back.

Sarah tried her best to smile back but just couldn't muster the energy.

"With sympathy. Words can't wipe away your tears. Hugs won't ease your pain. But hold on to your memories. Forever they'll remain" Darjeeling said, hugging Sarah again hoping to relieve some of the pain.

Sarah looked over Darjeeling's shoulder to see Beth walking out of the chapel. "Beth! Quick come."

She turned on the spot and walked down the aisle to the front. Beth walked up to the two girls. "This is…" Sarah added pointing towards Darjeeling.

"Darjeeling it's a real pleasure to meet you," Beth said buttingin, her face beaming as she looked straight into Darjeeling's eyes.

"Beth O'Conner, right? Sarah has told me a lot about you." Darjeeling said back, calmly.

"Really? I'm nothing special just a freethinker." Beth said flustered. "But, may I ask one question Darjeeling?"

"Yes of course."

"English Breakfast? I had a laughing fit once Sarah told me! Why did you give her that name?"

"Well, the names as we known are to keep our identities secret. So, most are picked at random."

"Most?" Beth asked as she felt something was afoot.

"I choose Sarah's just to see her reaction." Darjeeling covered her mouth as she giggled. "She could have asked to have it changed to something random but she never asked for it to be changed."

"Can I change my name then?" Sarah stared over at Darjeeling.

"That ship has long since sailed; everyone knows you know as English Breakfast and besides, James asked for something embarrassing so I had to comply."

Sarah turned to the red curtains. "James you bastard, you really wanted the last laugh didn't you!?" She smiled as the tears dribbled down her face.

Beth looked at her watch on her arm. "Sorry ladies but the taxi that will be dropping me off at the party will be here now, so I'll catch you up with you there." Sarah smiled and nodded with Darjeeling in turn.

Beth walked off towards the main door in a quick canter, with the man in the khaki uniform and Sarah's dad joining her.

"Dad I'll join you in a bit," Sarah shouted over to him. He raised his thumb and nodded. The chapel was now empty only with Darjeeling and Sarah the only living people in it.

Darjeeling opened her bag "So James went to see Lady Grey's parents."

"What really?"

"Yes, they said he was really nice, but a little shy."

She chuckled a bit. "I can't believe that." It probably was true hearing some of the stories been told.

"So the IS-3 she was in was completely destroyed inside; there was nothing in there, not even any ashes. So, Lady Grey's parents decided that when she was a child they had a wonderful little apple tree in the garden that she used to dance around and enjoy the sweet fruit it bore. So, they have decided to burn it with some of her Sensha-Dō clothes, to have something to remember her in one way or another." Darjeeling took out a small white rounded china pot which had blue Japanese words painted on it, saying "Lost, but lives in our hearts." She passed it over to Sarah.

"Thank you, James would have been happy. We are having him cremated so we will mix them together so they can be with each other." Sarah started to cry uncontrollably, as Darjeeling hugged her again. "Darjeeling, it's like a dark hole in your mind and if you stare into it for long you're swallowed by the deep abyss and you can't get out. Your body can't be controlled, your chest tightens, sweat pours uncontrollably, as your tears rain down your face. A… and all you can do is feel anything and everything, that's what I can say what grief is like." Sarah murmured incoherently into Darjeeling's ear then placed the china pot of ashes on the pew next to her.

"I can tell you Sarah there is nothing to be ashamed of. I'm always here if you need me." Darjeeling let go and took a step back.

"Your brother was a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Very much like you Sarah. But he did say something that I hope is true and I only dream is a possibility." Darjeeling calmly said to her, staring down at her deep into Sarah sore eyes. Sarah stared back after wiping away the tears from her cheek with her now damp sleeve. "These past months I've rigorously tested you, but you rarely failed me, your spirit to fight on is something that I could never match. Even when you did fail me you grew stronger from it like an oak tree" Darjeeling said with unwavering pride.

"How can it be that we say so much without words," Darjeeling spoke in a way Sarah had never heard before, like warm caramel. She slowly moved forward towards her become closer every passing second with unbroken eye contact on each other. Sarah closed her eyes for an instant, and then it happened - the soft impact onto Sarah's lips. She opened her eyes with a flutter to see Darjeeling's head tilted at a slight angle to the side. Sarah raised her hand onto Darjeeling cheek. She could feel the emanating heat, she knew Darjeeling was blushing without having to look.

After a couple of brief moments, she parted the contact from Darjeeling. "But how did...?"

Darjeeling raised a finger placing it on Sarah's moist lips. "Sssh, when you know you know and anyway if this wasn't you for you, you would have at least a boyfriend by now, which you could say the same for me. Please, we're going to be holding everyone up." She held out her hand. Sarah looked down at then slid her hand atop of hers. With Sarah's free hand she picked up the pot, they began to walk to the main door of the chapel.

Four large pictures of smiling young girls were held up by wooden easels. In front of every picture was a small china vase on a plinth; each in a different style from the last. One was painted with beautiful coloured flowers; one with pink love hearts and quotes of songs; the other with tanks, with quotes of famous generals painted in a camouflage paint scheme; the last was pure white with the only indentation being a small piece of writing saying 'She can rest forever without being disturbed.'

The gymnasium was well-lit, but the mood inside was one filled with darkness with people wearing black as well. It didn't give the impression of a happy event. Every available space was full of chairs. The room was a mix of emotions, some rather sombre and respectful as other cried their hearts out as they walked up to see their friends, daughter, colleagues, cousin and lovers to say one last goodbye to the ones they loved.

Miho, wearing a black dress walked towards the vases. She looked at one then up at the picture. "I'm sorry Hana you were the best gunner and kindest girl in the whole school, you would always make me smile, when you would bring me such adorable flowers for when I had a bad day, which would always cheer me up." She moved to the next vase.

"Saori, I'm sorry. You would be so happy right now by all the boys that said that they admired you, and that had wished that they were brave enough to ask you out. The advice you gave me for love will always be in my heart and I will follow it to the letter, well most of it." She took a couple of steps to the next vase.

"I'm sorry Yukari. My go-to spy, my little historian. The girl who would make me laugh and smile, your knowledge and skill helped us save this school. Your loving parents always made me feel at home. You would never let me down." She finally moved to the last vase.

"I'm sorry Mako. You were the world's best driver; no one could beat you. Of only you weren't so sleepy all the time you could have easily worked into any Sensha-Dō school and they would have accepted you off the bat. Your grandma is extremely proud of you. The only positive is at least you get to see your parents again."

Miho looked around to all the people a few seated and others stood, as some made eye contact with her. She felt so much remorse and as she finally saw the emergence exit, she quickly made her way over there, pushing it open. Miho walked alone to her favourite spot, where all five of them went to see the sunset. She placed her hands on the railing then looked up. The view didn't disappoint. The light dancing atop of the smooth tranquil waters, the silhouettes of birds proudly floated in the peach sky, as the sun was slowly being swallowed by the ocean.

Everything seemed to overwhelm her as her knees buckled and she crashed to the floor with her face awash with tears.

"Miho get up!" a voice shouted at her. She looked behind her. Maho, still in her electric wheelchair, with Erika moving alongside her ex-commander. "You will not fall at this final hurdle... you're better than this. Your friends would never want you to fall now, would they!?"

Miho looked over to her sister as she pushed herself off the unforgiving cold concrete floor.

"Your right. I'm not." Miho proclaimed definitely, wiping her face with her arm. "But I miss them so much." Miho looked hard through her blurred vision behind her sister and Erika. She could pick out some familiar bodies with corresponding faces

"We do too Miho; we can never replace them. But we are always going to be there as friends and family" Maho spoke to her.

The faces came into focus. Kay, Nonna, Assam, Katyusha, Naomi, Orange Pekoe, Alisa and Rosehip, still on her crutches with her ankle in plaster, all walked up towards her in unison. They all wrapped their arms around Miho hugging her so that not an inch of Miho was felt unclaimed. She felt that her friends would be happy if they watched down onto her from the heavens.

The party to commemorate James had finally kicked off. It was at a large '20s designed manor house, with large open fields at the back and beautifully kept water fountain in the front, with a large gravel path for cars to drive on.

The adults would be having fun with alcoholic beverages downstairs with waiters catering to them with small nibbles on silver trays. Meanwhile, everyone under the age of 18 was upstairs in a colossal games room, with pizzas, burgers, chocolates, ice cream, anything a child could dream off for a perfect meal was there. It was also set up with game consoles, large TVs, some tablets and even a pool table. Some of the younger adults decided to stay here and have fun rather than schmooze downstairs.

Some boys pointed at Sarah. She noticed them pointing but casually waved it off and continued chatting with some of the other girls for the different schools.

One of the boys, pressured from the other boys, walked over to her as he stretched his neck and took a deep breath before speaking. "Oh, sorry to bother you. Hi, I'm Joseph, Joseph Green" he said rather timidly in a hybrid between a Scottish and German dialect. His blond hair was glinting. "I'm from Prussian High and we think James was a big loss to us, even though we never meet him. He was a great inspiration to us all" he said, stumbling over his own words. She smiled at him and she looked onto his purple eyes, then scanned his face reading his facial expressions.

"Thank you, Mr Green. That means a lot" she said back, rather elegantly, to see what kind of a response she would receive.

He seemed to then relax a little. "Well, what I'm trying to say is that, if you ever need someone to talk to, over tea or coffee or whatever. I'm always here" he said, trying to match her calmness.

She just smiled back, straightening her black beret as she sighed. "Sorry Mr Green, but I have to decline your offer of a date, as sadly men are not my first point of call, for a long-term relationship. But I'll always be available for a chat whenever you are available as you seem like an intriguing person to speak too in regards to Tankery matters." She spoke back in a crisp explanatory tone.

He looked at her blankly for a couple of seconds as his mouth opened and then shut again abruptly, his face turning a pinkish hue. He turned and walked away defeated.

A small girl no older than fifteen walked over to Sarah. She looked a little befuddled by everything happening around her. "Hi English Breakfast, I'm a really big fan of yours, what you did in this last battle is really amazing. I wish I could be like you."

"Thank you, that means a lot. I'm not that good though" Sarah smiled back.

"I've got you a present just for you and Darjeeling as you two are my heroes and idols."

Sarah walked over to Darjeeling who was sitting in a chair watching some of the boys playing pool, sipping on a cup of tea. The girl followed in Sarah's footsteps, her head down trying to be hidden and not noticed. "Darjeeling, someone's got you and I a present" Sarah said, looking down at her.

Darjeeling placed her teacup on the side of a small table next to her. She stood and looked at her with a warm and welcoming smile. "Oh, I love a present. Who's it from?"

The girl moved from behind Sarah and waved rather shyly towards Darjeeling. "It's a secret one I don't want everyone to see it; only for you two. Come, come." She took Sarah's hand and pulled her outside onto the balcony with Darjeeling walking behind.

The crescent moon and the twinkling stars against the black canvas night was a beautiful sight to see, like natural piece fantastical art with the icy breeze flowing over the manor house. Darjeeling closed the balcony door and the noise slowly dissipated as she walked up to join Sarah a couple of meters ahead of the door. No one else was outside, even on the ground floor; they were all alone. The girl turned slowly to face the two excited girls as the moments passed, with Sarah and Darjeeling looking expectedly at the girl.

"So, what is it then?" Sarah asked, excitement wrapped in her voice with condensation expelling from her mouth.

"I'm so sorry ... I have to do this. I really don't want to but I have too" the girl said rather begrudgingly looking towards Sarah and then over to Darjeeling.

The smiles vanished from their faces as they looked at the girl who revealed her present to them. Sarah's fingertips wriggled by her side, finding Darjeeling's hand. She slowly grasped her whole hand onto Darjeeling's and squeezed it hard. Darjeeling could feel Sarah's whole body shaking and her hand full of cold sweat. Darjeeling stood strong and resolute, looking at the deadly object that the girl had in her hand. The young girl's silver ring was shimmering in the lunar glow mixed with the distant stars pouring their light from the far parts of the universe.

"Sarah..." Darjeeling said in a desperate and compassionate whisper. "... I've always loved you."

The End.

I really do hope you enjoyed the story; I know it's not the best story on the platform but hopefully it was something new and interesting. A big thank you goes to everyone on the Fanfic discord server with all their help nut mostly the biggest thanks goes to Sharkycast (Trust me check his stories out they are so under rated) who has made this story even better by proofreading and editing the story making it a way better than what it would have been.

If you wish to join the code is BSdFMH3 you can find me on there and even see my future plans for stories while you're at it. So again, thank you and goodbye.