It was nearly three o' clock in the afternoon when they finally arrived. Their train to Canterlot for their annual school field trip had been delayed for several hours on the final approach to the city, but now they were finally there. A gaggle of very excited fillies and colts piled off of the train and onto the platform of the elegant Canterlot Central Train Station. Excited chattering voices filled the air as they followed their teacher, the ever patient Cheerilee.
A short carriage ride and they were soon in the city square. Cheerilee let them wander off a bit, while of course staying in sight, so they could get a look at all of the shops before they started their tour of the city's historical sites proper. Three in particular were absorbed with one of the local bakeries, serving delicious fall themed goods. One of them, a yellow earth pony filly, adjusted the bow in her hair while licking her lips as a scrumptious looking apple pie was taken out of the oven.
"Mmm, that looks delicious," She said. "I bet apples to pears that it tastes right up there with Granny's." Her two companions, a white unicorn and an orange pegasus, nodded in silent approval while they watched more delicious confections being taken from the ovens. A kindly elderly mare left the pie in the oven, smiling and waving at the fillies before returning to her work. It was then that the three fillies noticed something on the mare's breast, just above her apron pocket.
A small red flower. A poppy.
"I wonder why she's wearing that." Scootaloo, the young pegasus, said.
"I dunno, but it's pretty." Sweetie Belle, the unicorn, replied. Apple Bloom nodded, her mouth still watering at the treats on display and the pie in the window.
"Girls! Time to get going!" They turned to see Cheerliee beckoning them to follow. The three tore themselves away from the oh-so-tempting treats and rejoined their class to continue their tour.
Cheerliee led them down Canterlot's historic district, pointing out the various landmarks along the way and giving them a brief history lesson. Most of the students just nodded along, but the three fillies were more focused on the crowd. Almost all of them were wearing the same poppy they had seen on the bakery mare. Passing by the Lord Mayor's mansion, they spotted several wreaths made from the same poppy flowers, creating a splash of red on the white alabaster building. An elderly stallion was sitting below the steps, handing out yet more of the red poppies. As Cheerliee explained the history of the Lord Mayorship of Canterlot, the three fillies approached the stallion, curiously looking at the poppies. The kindly stallion selected three exceptional ones.
"Here you are, little ones," He said in a clipped Trottingham accent. "Courtesy of His Lordship, the Mayor." He hoofed one to each filly, who each mumbled a confused thank you before slipping back to rejoin their class. All of them were thoroughly confused. What was with the flowers all over the place? Cheerilee was just finishing up her speech when she noticed the fillies carrying the poppies.
"Oh! I see you managed to get some." She said happily. The three looked up at her, confused.
"Uh, what's with them?" Scootaloo asked. Cheerilee was confused.
"You mean you don't know?" She asked. They shook their heads. Several other fillies looked at her and nodded as well. Cheerilee was scratching her head in confusion.
"They certainly don't look good," A haughty voice sounded in the back of the group. They all turned to see Diamond Tiara with her nose turned up in the air as a younger stallion, a poppy pinned to his sweater, walked by. "I mean, nobody knows how to wear red anymore. There should be a law." Cheerilee rolled her eyes.
"I take it none of you know the significance of the poppy on this date?" She asked. More nodding. Cheerilee frowned, but then smiled as a thought came into her mind. "I think I can fix that." She turned, examined some street signs, and then smiled. "This way." She said, beckoning them to follow.
"Where are we going? And how does it answer the question?" Button Mash asked, sipping on a Coke he had gotten from a nearby vending machine.
"You'll see." Cheerilee said.
The followed their teacher until they reached a wide open area; some of them instantly recognized it as Amalthea Square. Cheerilee led them past historical monuments into the center. The foals were in awe at what they saw in the center.
A huge stone column stood dead in the center of the square. Made of polished marble, it gleamed in the evening sun. Flanking the column were flagpoles bearing the flag of Equestria and the banners of each branch of the military, gently flapping in the evening breeze. On top of the column was a polished bronze statue of a Royal Guard, clad in their traditional armor and standing rampant, holding out his spear at the ready as though fighting and invisible foe. Below the statue, set in recesses cut into the column, were several other statues of Equestrian soldiers, dressed in the uniforms from each major war that their country had fought in. Below this, they could see words carved into the column.
IN MEMORIAM
TO EVERY SOLDIER, SAILOR AND AIRMAN
WHO FELL IN THEIR MAJESTIES' SERVICE
"What is this place?" Archer, a blue pegasus filly, asked. Cheerilee smiled at her.
"This, little ones," She said, addressing them all, "is the Cenotaph."
"Cenotaph?" Silver Spoon asked.
"Yes. It's a memorial to every single soul who fought and died for our fair country. Go up closer, and take a good look at what's at the base of it." She pointed to a small area a the base of the huge column. They could see what looked like a raised marble slab sitting at an incline. It was surrounded by a sea of red poppies and poppy wreaths, plus what looked like notes left by people who had visited the Cenotaph. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo led the class up the base of the column. As they got closer, the smell of fresh poppies filled their nostrils. They also noticed that some of the poppies were white. As they approached the slab, they finally noticed that it was fenced off, and a large plaque on the top was made of polished brass so the writing on it could be read. Sweetie Belle cleared her throat before she started reading.
Here lies in honored glory
A soldier of Their Majesties' Army
Known but to the heavens
Who gave his life
So that you may stay free
They buried him among royalty
Because he had done good toward Equestria and his House
Continuing, she read some more writing that appeared along the border of the plaque at the top.
Princesses of the sun and moon, I am dead. I hope it was enough.
Sweetie Belle looked at Cheerilee. "This is a grave?" She asked. Cheerilee nodded.
"Yes, a very important one. This young soldier has no name, yet he has thousands of names. He lies here in this tomb as a memorial to every soldier who died for us all." She explained. "Do you know what today is?"
"November the eleventh." Button Mash said. The ears of every single filly and colt suddenly perked up.
"It's the Day of Memory!" Apple Bloom piped up. "Now I remember! Applejack was talking about it before I left!" Cheerilee smiled.
"Yes, it is," She beckoned for Apple Bloom to hand her the poppy she had been given. Taking it, she held it up for the entire class to see.
"And old legend says that the poppy flower is the first to bloom over the grave of a soldier who dies in battle," She explained. "The red poppy is therefore said to represent the blood he shed for his country and people. In recent years, the white poppies you see have been added to symbolize the hope for peace." She handed the poppy back to Apple Bloom and pointed at the Cenotaph and the tomb.
"This memorial isn't just for the fallen brave. It's also there to remind us not to forget the price that has been paid so that we can stay a free people," She began. "All the rights and freedoms that we enjoy; the right to speak and publish without fear of the censor, the right to worship or not worship as we choose, the right to peacefully assemble to make our voices heard, are, by themselves, just words on paper. What makes them special is the price paid to win and keep them. That price is the blood, sweat and tears of mares and stallions who fought, and died, on battlefields against others who sought to take them away. Take a close look, my little ponies, and take a lesson from the dead. Listen to his voice speaking to you from across the veil of death. I lie here, like so many others, so that you can stay free. Never forget me. She smiled and pinned Apple Bloom's poppy to her scarf. "That's why these are worn, so that we don't ever forget."
By then, there was barely a dry eye in the group, and even Diamond Tiara, who had called the poppies a fashion faux-pas, was wiping away a tear. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle smiled and pinned their own poppies to their scarfs as well. She also noticed something out of the corner of her eye.
And elderly stallion, limping due to some unseen injury and wearing an immaculate Army dress uniform, approached the Cenotaph carrying a wreath of red and white poppies, laying at the foot of the tomb. His leg shaking with age, he still held a stiff salute. They all counted off; twenty-one seconds before he brought it down. Sweetie Belle nodded to her friends, who all trotted over to the stallion. Before he could react, all three wrapped him up in as big a hug as they could manage. Sweetie Belle turned her own sap green eyes to his amber ones.
"Thank you, sir." She said. Misty-eyed, the old stallion smiled and returned their hug as best he could, before gently breaking it and leaving. They returned to their group, Cheerilee beaming at them. Encouraged, the other fillies and colts approached the tomb, each of them giving a message of thanks.
None of them were going to forget that day, or ever again.
Author's Note
A short story I wanted to write today in honor of Remembrance Day. Though I'm an American, I have always felt that we should show solidarity with our British and Commonwealth allies as they honor their fallen servicemen, even as we honor those still living. This is my contribution.
I hope that you all enjoyed this fic. To all reading this who have served or are serving, I thank you on behalf of all those who enjoy the life you have sacrificed for.
Happy Veteran's Day and happy Remembrance Day. May all those who have died in the service rest in peace.
