Dies ist eine dunkle Stunde für Deutschland. Unser Land wird belagert und wir müssen das Schwert Brandish. Ich hoffe, dass wir mit Göttern helfen, es gut zu benutzen. Damit wir es mit würde wieder Scheide.

This is a dark hour for Germany. Our country is besieged and we have to Brandish the sword. I hope that we will with Gods help we will be able to use it well. And to To re-sheath it dignity

"Kaiser Wilhelm"

INCOMING! Was the shout of a British Captain as German artillery came blasting in near the trenches. Later in the lives of those who survived would later suffer from shell shock. It is during this bombardment on the 23rd of December 1914 that we see the young Captain by the name of Ruby Rose, along with her friends Nora, Velvet, Coco and Neptune huddled close together waiting for the bombardment to stop and then prepare for an attack. On the trench right of the British line were the French, the captain of the French line Jaune Arc was currently taking refuge along with Lieutenant Neo and his other friends of Yang, Sun, Port, and Glynda. The Allies may out number the Germans but due to the tactics used by both sides, it means almost nothing.

Twenty minutes later after the bombardment of the Allied lines Lieutenant Winter Schnee was giving a speech to her soldiers, among them were Ren, Cinder, Blake, and her younger sister Wiess.

"Our artillery has bombarded them enough that we shouldn't have any problems, our objective is to take the enemy Trenches just two hundred meters across the way and hold them! That's all we need to do, then our relief will come and we can enjoy Christmas behind the line. Remember to follow instructions and keep low and loose! Schnell!" Winter shouted giving the signal to charge.

Immediately gun fire and small arms explosions erupted the area of no mans land the screams of the dead and dying were being heard everywhere.

"KEEP MOVING! KEEP MOVING!" Winter ordered. Eventually they managed to make it into the French side of the trench but only to be mowed down by a repositioned Machine Gun. Ten minutes into the assault the order for a retreat on the German side was given.

Among the casualties of the Germans was a solider who was once a doctor by the name of Oobleck

Neo being an assistant to Jaune, his Aide-De-camp.

"Easy on there. It's not to short is it?" Jaune asked a bit worried as he was getting a heir cut from Neo

I told you lieutenant, I'm the best barber in Lens. Even the mayor used to come to my shop!" Neo said

And Henri Hannebicque, was he a customer?" Jaune asked

"Hannebicque? Doesn't ring a bell." Neo said

"He's my father in law. Deputy mayor, lives at 21 Cypress ally." Jaune said to her

"You never told me. Cypress ally, I know it well! I've had to go by that place a few time to get my bike fixed! At Narcisse Denoyelle's, number 43." Neo said with some excitement

"Right, I can see it now, a little blue gate." Jaune said sharing some nostalgia with a fellow Lens.

"I feel I can tell you now... I know it's dangerous, with the shoot on sight between the lines, but sometimes on perfect evenings, I head up along the embankment towards the farm here.. softly softly so the Germans won't shoot me. I sit down and I look, this farm that we are occupying belong to the Delsaucx. I know them well I'd cycle here for eggs and milk, and just beyond the farm behind the German lines is the road straight to Lens. On foot, I'd be home in an hour with no bother in life. One hour! My mother would be waiting at the door with Neapolitan ice cream of all things!" Neo said now going into tears.

Jaune just sits there, also knowing the Feeling of missed loved ones and home. His wife Pyrrha was already heavily pregnant with their first child. With the war going on he couldn't get letters out or get them. Last he heard she went to stay with her Father, he doesn't even know if his child is born yet and if it is; is it a boy or a girl.

On the mid day of the 24TH The German side was cramped due to the Christmas trees the Kaiser ordered for them, the Germans were busy decorating them to their personal taste but Winter was getting agitated.

"Get a move on soldiers! It's 10 o'clock and nothing's done with these dammed trees! We can't sit here screwing around playing house when the enemy could launch an attack!" Winter said throwing one of the trees out of her way

Later that night as both sides were quitting down, on the eve of the 25TH the sounds of the wounded and dying from both sides were long gone. One solider by the name of Peach on the German side wrote in her diary about an Incident two days earlier.

"We heard one poor soul out in no mans land, no one knows what side he is one but he's been lying there for two days now, his screams of agony chilling our souls. No one was willing to end his misery so I took my rifle and fired."

The Twilight of the 23rd and the 24 was quite, the Germans were busy decorating their Christmas trees.

Flash back ten days ago

"It means placing one every five meters." One German General said to his counter part.

"Every five meters?! We..well how many is that all together?" He asked

"About one hundred thousand, of twenty trains via Brussels." He said looking at the book.

"Incredible! Tannenbaum (Christmas trees) it will take me longer to transport these to the front then it will for our Cannons!" He said in slight shock and contempt.

"These trees are to be sent to our frontline soldiers by orders of Kaiser Wilhelm himself."

Christmas Eve: December 24TH 1914

"We wise you the best of luck in this most important mission." Jaune read the new orders from command, which wanted them to case or count the number of German MG's which was pretty much a death sentence.

"Hell Lieutenant! Can't they leave us alone on Noël!?" A corporal by the name of Cardin said pissed off.

"I volunteer." Private Mercury said getting his rifle.

"Alright Be carful and do what's orders, no heroics." Jaune said

"In this light can I return fire if spotted?" He asked Jaune to which he nodded. But also said

"Speed and cunning if you want a hot meal."

Over in the British side we see and Medic who was a catholic chaplain by the name of Ozpin, he just returned from behind the line getting supplies.

"Hey lads heard you got some Bagpipes." Ozpin said

"Yeah! Some lads from the Ninety second sent them over to us for Christmas" one solider said

"Don't suppose you have a spare set lying around?" Ozpin asked

"Here you can use mine." The solider said giving Oz the pipes

"Come on Ozpin give us a song." Captain Ruby asked.

"How bout I'm dreaming of Home?" Velvet asked.

As Ozpin began playing the tune all sides stopped what they were doing to listen. They maybe enemy's but they all stopped when some sort of respite came.

"I here the mountain birds, the sound of rivers singing, a song I've often heard, it flows through me now! So clear and so loud I stand where I am and forever I'm dreaming of home I feel so alone I'm dreaming of home!"

"Common folks louder!" Ruby shouted

"It's carried in the air, the breeze of early morning I see the land so fare, my heart opens wide! There's sadness inside, I stand where I am and forever I'm dreaming of home, I feel so alone I'm dreaming of Home.

This is no foreign sky! I see no foreign line! But far away am I! From some peaceful land I'm longing to stand a hand in my haaand for ever I'm dreaming of home! I feel so alone! I'm dreaming of home!"

"YEAH!" They cheered

"Sounds like they're having fun." Winter said. "Hey Wiess why not sing us something?" Blake asked her friend which also got nods of agreement from the others.

"Alright Ren I'll need you to play your harmonica." She said then decided that before she sang she got her Christmas tree and put it up on the field of no mans land soon other followed suit.

Mercury saw this as he was half way across the field he quickly rolled over a crater made by a shell and waited.

"Lieutenant! Come quickly, Something strange is a foot." Yang said to Jaune.

As he got into position to see what was going on he was surprised to see Christmas trees.

"Where the hell did they get those, and right under our noses to." Jaune said not liking this.

"I don't like this Lieutenant, could be a ruse for some dirty trick.

Line break

Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht

As Wiess began to sing, the whole British line stopped what they were doing to listen in on that one voice.

Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar. Holder Knab' im lockigen Haar, Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh

Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh

Stille Nacht..

As Wiess was beginning to sing the next part she was interrupted by Bagpipes playing the next stanza by Ozpin. Wiess didn't know why she did it but she continued to sing along

kundgemacht Durch der Engel Alleluja, Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah Christ der Retter ist da!" Christ der Retter ist da!"

Silence rained over the entire field neither side did or say anything, either out of shock or surprise.

Then the British side in their trenches cheered for the performance and some of them yelled "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas fritz!"

"God rest ye Merry gentleman" they yelled out

Then Ozpin began to play another song. He played out O come all ye faithful' first stanza and stoped, wanting Wiess to sing in Latin.

Adeste fideles laeti triumphantes venite, venite in Bethlehem,

Natum videte Regem angelorum Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus Dominum

En, grege relicto, humiles ad cunas, vocati pastores approperant;

et nos ovanti gradu festinemus.

Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus,

Venite adoremus Dominum.

"Guten Abend Englisch!" Ren yelled out

"Good evening Germans!" Nora replied back

after the little sing show everyone went back to what they were doing. It wasn't until a hour that velvet finally spotted a German coming out of the trench.

"Income German!" She yelled. The entire line was in action within three seconds. But what they saw shocked them.

There in no mans land was a German women with a white truces flag and a bottle of Wine.

"Merry Christmas" she said.

Merry Christmas!