Girls Und Panzer: Euro League
Chapter 12: Caroling in a Katzchen (Holiday Special)
We are far from home. It does not mean we cannot celebrate the holidays. We received gifts and cards from our parents back home in France and Germany. My parents sent me a package of vanilla sable cookies to share with my friends, and a Christmas card. They miss me, and I miss them too. I am excited to have them meet Gabrielle.
My parents had known about me since I came out to them. They accepted me for who I am and what I am. They said 'It doesn't matter who you are or who you love, you are still our daughter and we love you all the same'. Those words from my parents touched me, and helped me in finding Gabrielle. She has a special place in my heart.
Our tanks were assembled in a half-circle around a Christmas tree. There were red bows on the frontal armor of all our tanks. Christmas lights, wreathes and holly all decorated the turrets and guns of our tanks. This is the happiest time of the year, and we wanted to share it with the teams we were competing against in armored sporting.
"I have an idea," said Gabrielle, "let's go caroling around the other schools, this is supposed to be a wonderful time of the year, so let's share it with the other teams," everyone seemed to be in agreement with my driver. Just then, two Katzchen came with Christmas wreathes in front and dressed in Christmas lights and other decorations.
"I am happy you brought that up, we were thinking about that as well," said Clarisse Lebeaux, the driver for Team Faucon,
"Our dean General Von Moltke gave us another Katzchen for such an occasion, Merry Christmas," said Monika Leben, the driver of Team Lobau, the 'Blond Bunnies'
We all got into the APCs, and we were driven to the schools to spread the Christmas cheer. Our first stop was Pravda. We stopped the Katzchen in front of the school, and set up a small Christmas tree as our centerpiece. We all had our music for caroling, and chose some traditional carols from our part of Europe. I just hope we know how to sing.
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Just then, I saw Katyusha and Nonna come out of the school to greet us. Katyusha had her hands on her little hips, and looked up at the members of both our teams. She approached me and Commander Wolfe, "I came here to say...I am sorry, I am sorry I called you all names, you ladies are skilled tankers, good luck against Kuromorimine,"
"Merci," I replied, and Claramond and I finally shared a handshake with Katyusha and Nonna. We accepted her apology, "you know, if you want to keep in touch with us, we can make plans to have your team come to Europe to see how we do armored sporting," I saw Katyusha smile for the first time since we got here. I think she will like Europe.
Our next stop on our caroling trip was St. Gloriana Girls High School. This time the Germans chose the music. We used solar generators which were charged throughout the day to give power to the Christmas lights decorating the Katzchens. The Germans chose a personal favorite of mine from when I sang in a children's choir as a girl in church.
O come all ye faithful joyful and triumphant
Oh come ye O come ye to Bethlehem;
come and behold him born the King of angels;
Oh come let us adore Him,
Oh come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
God of God light of light
Lo, He not the virgin's womb;
Very God begotten not created:
Oh come let us adore Him,
Oh come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ The Lord.
Sing choirs of angels sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God in the highest:
Oh come let us adore Him,
Oh come let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ The Lord
See how the shepherds summoned to his cradle,
leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear
we too will thither hend our joyful footsteps;
Oh come let us adore Him,
Oh come let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
"You French and Germans really know how to spread the Christmas Spirit," said Darjeeling sipping her tea, and coming out to meet us in the snow with Assam and Orange Pekoe. We gave them sweets ranging from Bûche de Noël to sable cookies to have with their tea. We laughed, and talked and shared our hot chocolate rations with them.
Everyone on our teams are special, but one that stands out is Sabaya. She is Muslim, but she still celebrates with us none the less. Assam noticed her among the members of my team, "How come you are celebrating this holiday? You are a Muslim are you not?" Assam asked, Sabaya lightly chuckled at her. Out of all of us, Sabaya is the maverick.
"Oui, I am Muslim, but I don't let that stop me from spending time with my friends," Sabaya replied with a smile, "when people tell you that you cannot do something, you do it because you enjoy it, my parents did not approve me going into armored sporting, I went anyway, they excommunicated me, but I got motivation from my grandfather,"
"My grandfather fought alongside the French at El Alamein, and it was him that motivated me to become a tank driver," Sabaya concluded to Assam,
"Your grandfather must have been a brave man," said Assam
'Oui, oui he was," Sabaya replied, before she came to Japan. Sabaya went to her grandfather's grave, and asked for him and Allah to give her strength and guidance. Sabaya is no different from anyone else here. She talks, she laughs, and she competes as well as everyone on the teams. Cherie came over to her, and put a hand on her shoulder.
Our last stop on our evening of caroling was Ooarai Girls High School after sharing a few cups with the St. Gloriana crews. We are going to face Ooarai and Kuromorimine in a few days. It gave us more time to prepare, and repair anything on our machines. For now, it was all about enjoying the good times and cheer that comes with Christmas.
Ding Dong Merrily On High
The Christmas bells are ringing
Ding Dong joyously reply
The angels all a'singing
Gloria, Hosana In Excelsis
Ding Dong carol all the bells
Ring out the Christmas story
Ding Dong sound the good noels
G-d's son has come in glory
Gloria, Hosana In Excelsis
Ding Dong Merrily On High
The Christmas bells are ringing
Ding Dong joyously reply
The angels all a'singing
Gloria, Hosana In Excelsis
"Thank you, thank you very much," said Miho. They bowed to us, and we bowed back. We talked, laughed and shared moments of past competitions and Christmas memories with apple cider, biscuits, and cookies. It brings me joy to see their spirits so bright, and cheerful. Miho looks like an experienced commander, but so are Claramond and I.
"It is Christmas after all, it is a time to be happy and look forward to the coming year," said Commander Wolfe with a friendly German smile, I laughed, and gave Gabrielle a light kiss on the cheek with my arm around her shoulder. Tomorrow is another day, but still it felt nice to meet and interact with the other teams away from the field for once.