My Little Pony: Soldier's Side
Chapter 15: One Tin Soldier
It was a war so brutal that not even Discord would meddle in these affairs. A war that nearly saw the end of the griffon species. The number of griffons who perished in combat and civilian deaths may never be known. Still there was a sense of calm after the Battle of the Ridge. A peaceful silence came over the soldiers resting after the battle.
The shells still echoed on other fronts in the distance. Soldiers from the Griffon Kingdom and Orel tried to keep hope alive by talking about their families and homes that hopefully still waited for them with the war nearing it's end. Amid the campfires on the ridge, their shared food and coffee together. Not even the most heartless would attack.
It is Hearth's Warming Eve after all. From the snow-covered bushes, a small squad of pony soldiers looked ready to ambush the allied griffons. They had a chance to kill a griffon princess too. With a headshot on the princess in his sights, his comrade touched his wing. He turned to him to see the soldier shake his head lightly. It was just wrong.
The officer turned to his squad of ten. They didn't want to fight anymore. There was no point anymore. The griffon was a steadfast and worthy opponent that stood up to the might of Equestria, and won. Princess Ghislaine, Major Giulia and Major Gunner heard the sound of rustling bushes, and saw the ponies emerging and dropping their weapons.
Gilda and Greta looked ready to give the ponies a good beating, "-Stop-," snapped Princess Ghislaine to the surprise of Gilda and Greta, speaking her native German, "-Let them be, look in their eyes, can you not see that they know what they are doing is wrong?-" she asked, the two griffons pulled back with unconvinced scowls on their beaks.
"Thank you," said one of the soldiers, a young mare GI named Valiant Charge,
"You are most welcome," said Gabby, hoping her cheerfulness could bring a smile to them,
"I don't know if you understand us but...we no fight, we don't want to fight," said the officer,
"Why does everybirdy assume that we do not speak English?" Major Gunner jested,
"Give the ponies a break, it is a holiday after all, come now," said Major Giulia offering a seat,
"Yes, come and sit with us, and keep warm with us," said Ghislaine, and the ponies took the offer,
"And we have plenty of food too," offered out Gretchen,
The griffons gave the ponies hot cocoa, and bread with honey, jam, or salted butter. The ponies, in return, offered the griffons Hearth's Warming cookies from their families. It was a night of peace and joy amid the closing of the chaos of war. This was a sign of things to come, and a future that looks brighter for all species for a better world.
While talking to the ponies and hearing the stories they tell, they too had families waiting for to come home from the war. Many pony soldiers were just like them, not like the sadistic 'Cleansing Regiments'. Many ponies did not want to fight in this war, and did not want to be a part of the extermination of a species that was no different to them.
Princess Ghislaine sighed with a grin to their guests, "It is good to see that there is goodness in ponies, I never had any doubts about that," she said to the officer in command of the ponies, a stallion named Purple Heart. A flute began to play and then came the strumming of an acoustic guitar, and the singing began with Gabby and Gretchen.
It was an old folk song often sung by mothers to their chicks in the nest. This song has different interpretations. Some sing it is a song of peace, while others say the song tells the tale about how Griffonstone got it's name. Most Pegasi know the old song as well. The beautiful singing voices of Gretchen and Gabby lifted their spirits that night.
The ponies soon joined in with Purple Heart singing first to try and get his pony soldiers to do their part. They were a little hesitant at first, but the singing voices of Gabby and Gretchen helped the ponies to find their voices on this most cold of winter nights. It goes to show that even an old folk song can still remain relevant in the modern times.
Listen children to a story
That was written long ago,
'bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley folk below.
On the mountain was a treasure
Hidden deep beneath a stone,
And the valley ponies swore
They'd have it for their very own.
Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing,
Come the judgment day,
On the bloody morning after
One tin soldier flies away.
So the ponies of the valley
Sent a message up the hill,
Asking for the buried treasure
Tons of gold for which they'd kill.
Came the answer from the kingdom,
With our brothers we will share,
All the riches of the mountain,
All the treasure buried there.
Now the valley cried with anger,
Don your armor, draw your swords
And they killed the mountain griffons,
So they won their just rewards
Now they stood before the treasure
On the mountain dark and red
Turned the stone and looked beneath it
Peace to all, was all it said.
Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend,
Do it in the name of heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgment day,
On the bloody morning after
One tin soldier flies away.