My Little Pony: Soldier's Side
Chapter 11: Song of War
Many of these soldiers had lost family and friends to Equestria's wrath on the Griffon Kingdom. With their memories in their hearts, they fight on. These griffons from the Griffon Kingdom and Orel do not know surrender nor retreat. They are good soldiers, but behind every soldier still beats a mortal heart. They kill not for the pleasure of killing.
Relief troops had come to the village with the Panzer Divisions. They are a mix of Griffon Kingdom troops and Orel troops. Under the command of a Orel griffon named Major Giulia, Gunner was given his orders from the Queen, "You are to move out with the armored divisions to Singvogel, you will be rewarded for your bravery so says the Queen,"
"If anyone is to be rewarded for their bravery, it is not me, it is my own troops," said Major Gunner, looking back at his brave tercel and she-griffon soldiers,
"Ever the humble you are, Major Gunner," said Major Giulia, and the two commanders saluted each other. Major Gunner looked to his troops, and nodded,
"We have our orders, we are moving out," said Major Gunner, "gather your belongings, we march at noontime," amid the rumble of armored vehicles, Major Gunner's twenty troops were now on the march, "why do we march with you lot?" he asked semi-rhetorically as he knew they were needed at the front to further bolster the numbers.
"The armored divisions need infantry support to help reinforce the lines, pony tanks had been spotting heading to Singvogel village," replied Greta, the griffons used old trails once used during the First Griffon War to move their supplies and troops to the field. With the thought of that wounded pony and his troops, Gunner knew an old song.
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It's a long, long road
From which…
It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy he's my brother
He's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother, he ain't heavy
The other griffon troops sang with him as well. They knew the heavy burden they carried, and the purpose they carry in their rifles. Griffons like Gilda and Greta teared up and embraced as they marched to the field. Pony soldiers that set up an ambush heard the singing voice of Major Gunner (Helmut Lotti), and came out from hiding.
They lowered their rifles to the troops. They let them go. The eyes of Gloria met with a mare soldier, and they nodded to each other as the pony soldier saluted. Gloria saluted back, and marched alongside her comrades and carrying her Panzerfaust 250M on her shoulder. It was a fifty mile march to Singvogel, and the troops needed a rest.
With campfires going, the troops rested and opened up their rations, "I saw something in that mare's eyes," Gloria said to Major Gunner,
"What did you see?" he asked, spreading liverwurst on a hartkek, and eating it. Liverwurst is one of Major Gunner's favorite foods.
"A realization, that there's no point in continuing this war," said Gloria and smirked a smile, "thanks in part to your talents as a singer, I think you should pursue such a career when the war ends, and I know it will," Gloria is a kestrel-grey lioness griffon. She once worked at a bank, and joined up in the armed forces once war had been declared.
"It will take time, but the carnage of the frontlines will be told in Equestria when soldiers go on leave, the stories they tell and the stories we tell will plant the seeds of peace and silence the guns," said Major Gunner looking up at the moon, "it may not be today, but it will happen, someday," he said with a sigh and a hopeful grin on his beak.
"It saddens me that it was my beat friend that taught me friendship, now they close the door in our beaks," said Gilda sadly, looking over the engine,
One of the soldiers functioning as one of the cooks came around with food: erbswurst mixed with bacon and sausage, "This looks like vomit," grimaced Greta,
"It tastes better than it looks, take my word for it," said Gloria to the chuckles of the other soldiers gathered around the fires. The food is good for the soldiers as is the conversation by the fire. With coffee and sweet biscuits for late night snacks, the atmosphere was as warm as the campfire. Doppelkeks with are very popular ration snacks.
When they enter a ruined village, soldiers give their cookies to hatchlings. The smiles on their beaks gladden the hearts of soldiers passing through. Their regular food rations went to the families of said hatchlings. In return, they got places to stay and provisions for their packs. Pony propaganda said griffon food is so bad it could turn a rat sick.
Major Gunner pulled out his sleeping bag, and could hear the artillery shells exploding in the distance, "No rest for the weary indeed," he sighed,
"Still sir, tomorrow is another day," said Gloria, and turned over in her sleeping bag and resting near the fire, "good night, Major"