The Hearth's Warming Truce.
War…
A dismal and terrible experience. A conflict that never seems to end in that moment and when it is over, many wished they had been ended in the moment. If the bullets didn't kill you, illness and inclement weather certainly would.
Today, under the guise of a light snowfall, two trenches dug deep into the frozen earth, the only reprieve in the barren, frozen no mares land of the Europonean battlefield. In those trenches, two separate creatures in their separate trenches populated these deep dugouts. On one side, Equestria's finest, the Royal Guard sat in their muddy, frozen trenches, desperately trying to stay warm in the cool night. Down the line, fires burned while many hovered around them to stay warm.
Not but one hundred hundred meters away, in the same sort of dismal conditions, the army of the Griffon Empire, suffered in the cold weather. Colts and roosters, creatures of different walks of life, caught within the might of a brutal, agonizing war, wanted nothing but to try and enjoy what down time they had.
All, on Hearth's Warming Eve of all nights no less...
But it was not all dreary and dismal, for both sides still found it in them to celebrate. Especially on the Equestrian side. Boys and stallions found the time to laugh and be merry, telling tales of their lives before the war, the Great War. They drank and ate the snacks they could afford to part with, many passing around cookies and candy. A joyous time!
One young colt, barely even legal age to drink, found it in him to smile despite the atmosphere. In his pale green hoof, he sipped away at his cool apple cider, a gift from his parents and little sister. He wished they were well.
"Hey, where did you find the pipes?"
The young colt raised his head, finding his commander passing through the boys, eyeing one of the NCO's armed with a set of bagpipes.
"Found them sir!" the stallion replied as many of the others chuckled about. Even the young stallion found it in him to gently laugh with the boys.
"Well play us a song if you know how to!" the officer replied with a smile.
"Out of those infernal things? No thank you!" another quipped, causing the boys to chuckle.
The NCO found it in him to smile happily as he adjusted his pipes, filling them with air before he began to play. The song was uproarious and happy, a much needed tune to drown out the silence of war.
"Ponies' voices fill the night!" one began.
"Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again!" another sang.
"Happy hearts so full and bright! Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again!"
More began to join in as the tempo began to pick up pace.
"Oh what a sight! Look at the light!"
The young colt smiled, watching as his fellow soldiers began to smile and sway, embracing one another as they sang.
"Louder!" The commander declared.
"HEARTS WARMING EVE IS HERE ONCE AGAIN!"
In the distance, the griffin army sat amongst their companions, silently listing as their enemy, creatures they fought tooth and nail to defeat and kill, sang. They listened, most unable to discern the words sung in a foreign tongue. But the words were clear, it was a song, celebrating the night and the holiday it represented.
One young rooster set down his plate, giving his cerulean feathers a brief adjusting as he turned his head to listen. Slowly, he stood, rising so that he could barely peek over the lip of the trench. The singing was louder here, but they were happy over there. It was…
Infectious.
So the young lad watched and waited until they were finished of there, the enemy calling out with a rapturous cheer!
"HUZZAH!"
Slowly, the young rooster eased his way back down into his seat, closing his eyes to listen to the merry tune. The faint sound of bagpipes never ceased, but he felt something. A calling, to be compelled to sing. He glanced towards one of his companions, one he knew had a harmonica, which was primed and ready. With a confirming nod, the harmonica player held his instrument to his beak. They waited patiently until there was a lull in the pipes before he and his player took a deep breath.
"Hearth's Warming Eve is filled with presents that take you by surprise!" he sang slowly. "A story shared by your good friends. That makes your spirits rise!"
The boys in the trench smiled warmly, many reaching out and embracing one another.
"Sometimes you just let go of the past… and enjoy the present while it lasts!"
Many watched him intently, listening as his words sank in to the hearts of each and every one. One young private grabbed the trunk of a small tree, setting it up on the lip of the trench, carefully keeping his head low as he clicked a lighter to life, igniting the candles that decorated it. Others followed as well, carefully setting more and more trees along the length of the trench, decorating the land and bringing much needed light to the no mares land.
Just as the young griffin was about to sing further, he froze as the sound of bagpipes playing in the distance. The same, gentle tune he was just singing. He continued to listen as the enemy piper continued to play the gentle tune despite having no one singing.
Boldly, the young singer rose, slowly heading for one of the parapets just behind him
"...With good friends by your side!" he sang across the field.
He watched as the piper, along with another, rose and exposed themselves from the enemy trench.
"Now it's time to celebrate!" the enemy singer declared.
"Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again!" the young rooster sang.
"All together feeling great!"
"Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again!"
This time, the two sang together in perfect harmony. "Can't hardly wait! We'll party 'till late! Our favorite date! Hearth's Warming Eve is here once again!"
The two and the piper hummed the rest of the tune, lost in their merry making tune until it came to a gentle end. The three soldiers stared across the land at one another, gentle smiles upon their faces.
Then, one clapped.
Distant and faint, followed by another and another until the entire Equestrian trench was alive with rapturous and joyful cheering. But they were not alone as the Griffin trench too, cheered, clapped and whistled with glee. Standing proudly, the two stallions waved hello to their new companion. In response, the young griff waved back, but no, his heart desired for more.
Slowly, the young griffin placed a claw on the lip of the trench, gently crushing the snow beneath his claw.
"Gallus what are you doing!?"
Gallus ignored the harsh tone of his commander, easing another claw into the cool snow, followed by his rear paws as he now stood fully exposed to the enemy. He eyed the enemy trench cautiously, seeing several watching eyes, helmets, and a few rifles being raised and moved about as whistles blew to grab their attentions for an imminent attack. Gallus slowly worked his way out into the barren landscape, halting until he was about halfway did he stop, sitting down in the snow and holding his claws over his head.
The young rooster tipped his head and held his brown spike helmet high in surrender.
He watched on silently as the young stallion that was singing climbed the lip of his trench as well, slowly traversing his way out towards the griffin. Not too far into the field, the young stallion mirrored the griffon, dipping his head as he too, removed his helmet and held it high in surrender, walking on three legs until he was close enough. Both boys came to silent surrender, so Gallus placed his helmet back upon his head, watching the pale green stallion as he approached.
He was no older than him...
"Hello," the young lad greeted with a small nod. "Do you speak Equish?"
"Guten nacht," Gallus replied with a gentle smile. "And I do. Those songs are only in one language."
The young stallion found it in him to smile at the joke. "My name is Sandbar. What's yours?" he asked.
"Gallus," Gallus replied as he offered his claw, which Sandbar gently rested his hoof in, shaking it. "It's… good to meet you Sandbar."
The two glanced around, watching in awe as their own fellow soldiers on both sides clambered out of their trenches and into the now once barren wasteland. The boys watched as all around them, ponies and griffons embraced one another. The pair could only stand and watch in awe at the sight of two enemy forces that came together in silent agreement to lay down their arms.
There was hope.
Just then, a ball sailed overhead as Griffin flares fired into the air, bathing the ground in a gentle white light. Gallus and Sandbar shared a look before Sandbar took off after the ball. Gallus followed shortly after the stallion, stripping his grey wool jacket and planting it in the snow as a point line before he promptly ran back, joining in the commingling teams. Gallus stood boldly next to Sandbar, the two sharing confident and cocky smiles as they began to play their game.
A call off with a whistle, a blue stallion charging forward, juggling a ball between his hooves as he tried to push his way through the opposing team. Both Gallus and Sandbar flanked the stallion, desperately trying to steal the ball for their own team. Gallus hooked a claw around the ball, pulling it to him before he passed it to Sandbar, who ran for his life towards the opposing goal.
All while both sides cheered with glee.
They played and laughed as the ball was passed around from between hoof to claw, playfully tackling and pushing one another aside as each team desperately tried to score a point. All around games and stories were told, pictures shared. Some played cards while others sang and drank.
There was a lot of drinking.
The minutes turned into hours as the boys had their great fun. Both Gallus and Sandbar were tired, but greatly satisfied. Eventually, the pair worked their way off the field, sitting down on the lip of a crater watching as the game continued without them. Gallus set down a bottle between them to share.
"So where are you from?" Gallus asked as he set the bottle down.
"A little town called Ponyville," Sandbar replied as he gently took the bottle and took a gentle swig of the warm alcohol. "You?"
"Griffinstone," Gallus replied before he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small photograph, eyeing it longingly before he leaned over and presented it to Sandbar. "This is my girl. Her name's Silverstream."
Sandbar analyzed the cute looking and very excited pink hippogriff smiling in the photograph. Written on the front were the words written in elegant cursive, 'Come Back to Me!'
"She's pretty," Sandbar complimented as he passed the picture back over to him. "This is my girl," Sandbar quickly reached into his coat pocket and offered the griffin a photo as well.
Gallus took it between his claws and examined the yak beaming excitedly at the camera. "A yak? I see you like your girls exotic like me!" Gallus teased, causing Sandbar to chuckle softly as he rolled his head to the left in embarrassment. Gallus elbowed his friend playfully as he flipped the photograph over, reading the little note that read, 'Yona loves you!'
"What can I say?" Sandbar replied, still smiling as he fought back a blush. "I'm a bit out there!" He took the picture back when offered and stuffed it back into his inner coat pocket for safe keeping. Scooping up the bottle, Sandbar took another deep swig of the now half full bottle and set it back down. Gallus mirrored the stallion as Sandbar took a slow, deep breath, letting it out with a foggy sigh as the two watched their allies as they played and joked, celebrating the night away.
"This is dumb…" Sandbar remarked.
Gallus eyed the stallion out of the corner of his eye as he planted the bottle between them.
"I know what you mean," Gallus replied understandingly. "All because a couple of creatures can't come to a simple agreement."
"And we pay the price…"
Gallus took another drink, passing off the bottle back to Sandbar.
"Well all pay the price," Gallus clarified. "You… me… them!" He waved a claw out towards the boys. "Our families…" Gallus inhaled slowly, exhaling slowly through his nostrils. "All for what?"
"I wish I knew…"
The pair sat in content silence, listening to the sounds of merriment and happiness around them all.
"Gallus?"
"Hm?"
"If I don't survive this war…" Sandbar started grimly, pulling out a crumpled slip of dirty paper and a pencil from his pocket. Sandbar quickly scribbled down something on said sheet of paper and passed it to Gallus. "Win or lose, please just… go to my family and tell them about what we did tonight… and the friend I made."
Gallus stared in shock at the slip of paper, written on it was a number and a name, an address. Shocked, Gallus looked towards his friend, whose smile was gentle, friendly.
Gallus pressed his beak into a tight seam, quickly reaching into his pocket as well and pulling out a crumpled slip of paper, waving his fingers for Sandbar to hoof over the pencil. Gallus wrote down his own address, giving it to Sandbar as well.
"So long as you promise the same."
A tender, caring smile graced the young stallion's muzzle as he slowly wrapped his hoof around the note, gently stuffing it into his coat pocket. "I will, Gallus."
In the distance, cannons roared as the sun began to rise in the distance, bathing the land in a gentle, orange hue. The cannons roar, a signal that all understood and many regretted to hear as it brought fear into their minds. All the soldiers looked to the sky, the horrific thought of what they were going to have to do once again settled in. It sent chills up their spines.
Stallions and roosters ran for their trenches for cover, but Gallus and Sandbar decided to take their time as they stood, lingering in the presence of the friendship they had created. The boys carefully wiped the snow and dirt from their uniforms before they proudly faced one another.
"Gallus."
"Sandbar."
The two shook their respective appendages, a silent show of respect portrayed by such a simple action. Both boys pulled one another in close, hugging each other goodbye.
"I had fun, Gallus. Be safe," Sandbar shuddered, tears forming in the corner of his eyes.
"You too, Sandbar. I'm sorry it has to be this way…"
"Me too…"
The two boys released one another, Sandbar wiping away the tears from his eyes with a clean part of his green wool jacket. Gallus gave his dark grey wool jacket a tug, straightening out any wrinkles. Standing tall, Gallus snapped to attention and saluted his enemy as a show of respect. Sandbar took a deep breath, steeling his gaze as he clacked his hooves together, returning the salute.
"Good luck, Gallus…"
Gallus nodded. "You too, Sandbar."
Reluctantly, the duo parted ways back to their respective trenches, heads hung low, saddened by the reality of the war ahead they now faced. Two wars, to be exact. One physical, one inside, forevermore.
"Hey Gallus!?"
Gallus froze, slowly turning and lifting his head. Standing alone in this barren battlefield, Sandbar stood proudly, his smile gentle, loving.
And not an ounce of hate to be seen.
"Yeah?"
"If we survive this… I want to invite you to my wedding!" Sandbar hollered as he held a hoof to his muzzle.
"When?" Gallus yelled back.
Sandbar gave his barrel pocket a gentle pat with a hoof, reminding the blue griffin of the pact they made together. "I'll let you know!"
It brought a smile to the griffin's beak as he gave the stallion a thumbs up. "I'll hold you to that!"
"What are you going to do? Kill me?"
Gallus couldn't help but chuckle despite the dark tone of the joke, lowering and shaking his head playfully. "I will if I have to!" he shot back.
Sandbar laughed uproariously, waving his hoof both dismissively and as a final goodbye. Gallus returned it with a wave of his own as both he and Sandbar slowly clambered back into their respective trenches.
There was an… awkward silence that befell Gallus' trench and companions. None of them wanted to acknowledge what was going to be asked of them within days time. Gallus had a friend over there, he couldn't imagine what he would do if he were to die.
Gallus found it in him to break the tense silence.
"You know what the worst realization I had today was?" Gallus asked no one in particular, his head hung low and depressed as he sat down on a rotten, soaking wet log.
All around him, his brothers watched him intently, waiting for him to continue. Slowly, he lifted his head and looked around the trench and the many faces that looked back at him.
"I looked deep into the eyes of the enemy… and the harder I looked… the more I saw myself… and that at the end of the day... I am no different than they are…" he finished, slowly stuffing his claws under his armpits to keep them warm.
In the opposite trench, unbeknownst to Sandbar, the young stallion mirrored the look and actions of his friend and the friendship he had, brief as it was.
"What's worse," Sandbar said as he sat propped up against the trench wall, his fellow compatriots watching on attentively. "Is that tomorrow… we go back to killing one another…"
From both sides, two elder officers addressed their boys. Their uniforms may have been different in color, but they spoke the same words, resonating words with a deep sigh. "Old stubborn bulls declare the war… but it's you younger boys that have to fight and die in it…"
A pair of saddened sighs.
"That's what I hate…"
But perhaps... there was hope to be had.
Author's Note
In 1914, an unspoken truce was made on Christmas. A spark of peace and goodwill between two nations amidst the chaos of war....
