HOME | DD

Description
Step by step, heart to heart, left right left
We all fall down like toy soldiers
Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win
But the battle wages on for toy soldiers

The life of a soldier is not as heartless and cruel as it seems. It isn’t how the movies portray it as being able to bomb the living lights of our enemies while killing innocent civilians in the process. No, the life of a soldier in war is all about sacrifice and sometimes one of our lives has to be given up to protect a whole city from being destroyed. Though I never really hesitated to sacrifice my life to save others; I never wanted to drag my men into unnecessary battles. If I happen to lose my life in the battlefield, no one would really feel any strong remorse since I am just a general to my troops. And mind you not a very good general at all, because of that accident…Private Feliciano Vargas lost his life just to save me from being trapped in a fire. The Italian was a wimp, never trained at all, always ran from the enemy at first glance, and worst of all kept cooking pasta even while on guard. He never referred to me as General Ludwig, but to instead a silly nickname he kept calling me ‘Doitsu’ and I didn’t like it a lot as first though in time I got used to it. I seriously thought of shipping off that imbecile to the Allied Forces just to drive them crazy as much he has to me. Even with those faults, Feliciano was a good man with a huge heart always helping the other soldiers with small things and most importantly he was my closest and only friend though despite him being useless in combat. Something about the way he lived through our horrible living conditions made me hopeful to a better future when finally the war has ended with the Axis Powers on top. Maybe after the war ended I would have visited Feliciano at his home country for a nice dinner.

Sadly the idiot had to lose his life in that blasted fire Commander Ivan Babinski started to attempt to annihilate every last single Axis Power member. The rough childlike laughter and roar of the flames still haunt my dreams robbing me of my sleep. I surpassed any obstacle to help any soldier who fell under the large structure debris that the Russian fire burned away. Sure they all asked that if I would be alright to be by myself in a dangerous flame filled area, but a soldier must protect his comrades’ lives above his own no matter how grave the situation is. Even if you have to lose an arm, leg, or even your own life; never ever leave a fellow soldier in combat for if you treasure your life above your own…not only you are responsible for the death of an innocent life that will defiantly hurt the ones closest to him, you are just as bad as the enemy troops. Smoke of the wild fire was started to weaken me with every breath of air I took in, I never felt so weak and helpless before.

Barely being able to breathe anymore, I fell to the hard ground my face covered in ashes and struggling to crawl towards the only exit…I knew never to give up for not only for my own well-being but for my comrades who looked up to me to guide and protect them from harm. Who else was supposed to be the roaring lion that protect the herd of sheep? I had a duty to accomplish…and I will not let death get the better of me. With every movement I made was hell for me, as my sides burned immensely with dark red blood coming out of my mouth. Not even the training my grandfather gave me can prepare me from a situation from this. Dark raspy voices warned me to just accept my fate and rest peacefully being burned alive in the reddish purple fire that cost so many lives in one day. Starting to succumb to the mysterious voices, my vision started to blur in a dark red color seeing my dark black gloves torned to no repair covered in blood.

‘God please just please look after my soldiers. I have no other regrets, besides leaving my comrades leaderless…Now take my pitiful body away to Paradise’ I prayed silently to myself struggling to speak. A bright golden light surrounded a shadowy figure with a hand reaching out to me. Can this be the angel taking me away from this cruel wicked world?

“Doitsu! Doitsu! Take my hand!” the shadowy figure spoke urgently in a heavy Italian accent.

"Feliciano? Why did he come back to this dangerous place?" I thought to myself while the figure began to clear up to be known as my comrade and friend Feliciano Vargas

“What are you waiting for? Take my hand now! As a wise man once told me to never leave his comrades behind” the Italian private cried a bit while struggling to lift me up from the invisible chains of death and despair.

“Vargas, why did you come back here? It’s too dangerous to go alone and if anything happened to me….I would-”

“Ah Doitsu, even though I am a coward and a complete maggot…I wanted to help you even when Commander Honda told me not to. I didn’t want you to die without me repaying you all the good things you’ve done for me. When the others have given up on me, you kept on believing in me guiding me step by step, and most of all being a true friend through the rough times. Now after we leave how about I serve you your favorite wurst with pasta of course~ve?” Feli smiled kissing me on my scarred cheek lightly giving me back the light I needed to live on.

“Feli…” I said blankly while leaning on the smaller soldier’s back towards the exit.

“I never had anyone come to rescue me before and it had to be you to my rescue…A complete dunderhead when it comes to war and only a bother to others…My so called allies didn’t even bother to attempt to save me, though I don’t blame them for it. But out of all my comrades, I knew you were the strongest and pure hearted of them all. I always did admire your kindness to others even though they might knock you down hard to the ground, but you always kept standing right back up. I’m glad you are my friend, Feliciano and I’m honored to be your General” I wheezed out trying to show my support to Feli.

“Doitsu! I can see the exit from here and I always wanted to tell you that-“ a loud thud interrupted the Italian.

“Wait? What you were going to say, Feli?” I turned around only to see a large wooden structure crushing the life out of my comrade.

“…Ludwig…please go on back to the troops. I can’t be saved, but I want you to know that *wheezes* ever since I enlisted in the army I wanted to be some use and not a waste of space like my brother told me. With you guiding me, I didn’t feel as such a loser anymore and in my heart I know that I loved you. Everything about you…your blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes, the way you protected the troops, your hand ruffling through my hair whenever I got into trouble, the times we spent eating pasta together, spending night duty together with our bodies cuddled together to be warm…Thanks for never giving up on me and being my protector, Doitsu” tears flooded out of Feli’s auburn eyes slowly his energetic life ebbing away slowly. I stood there in shock as my only friend was slowly being crushed to death by one of the Russian’s fire debris…if I was in here any longer I could risk dying; but after the effort Feliciano did to rescue me I must do what it takes to get that pole off of him.

“Doitsu, what did I tell you go back!” Straining to lift up the pole, I fought back the tears keeping me from being strong.

“I can’t possibly leave you behind, because without you I won’t be able to live without my ray of sunshine guiding me to keep living another day. Please Feli live! You can’t die like this…”

“Hahaha I guess then my life wasn’t so meaningless then I’ll be watching you from Grandpa Rome’s place…Ti Amo” Feli rasped while he gave his last breath of life dying truly a soldier. I managed to get the pole off of Feli’s body soon rushing out from the burning building.

‘No..no…no…This can’t happen after everything he did to save me’ I thought to myself bitterly rushing to the medics with a chance of hope that Feli was still alive.

Although the medics did everything they can to help the wounded soldier, it was sadly not the case as the pole broke every bone in his body and the smoke filling his lungs trapping any chance of a single clean life giving breath. My world felt like it ended right there and then when I saw Feliciano’s dead body with a flower in his hands… his smile never fading away. Being in the army and war for so long can certainly numb a soldier of his feelings, especially I who have seen many causalities and comrades dying terrible deaths. The thoughts of never being able to see the Italian’s cute bouncy curl on the side of his head, eat the Italian’s pasta again, yelling at him to stop sleeping during guard, making him do a 100 pushups for not following orders, and worst of all never being able to confess my true feelings to him by returning his gentle kiss just left me helpless to the flood of tears streaming down my face.
“Why did you leave me, Feli? I wanted to be with you forever and always facing the war together…I never got the courage to tell you how I felt…I wish the life of a soldier was easier” I uncontrollably sobbed into Feli’s lifeless body with a great heavy feeling in my heart. Now I am truly alone in this cruel world, with no one to hold dear to my heart but only my soldiers.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t a better friend to you, Feliciano”

“Don’t say such things, Doistsu! You were a great friend to me and you’re not alone for I will always be in your heart and watching over you from above” a familiar voice rung through the hills.

“Just be strong to the others, my love” the supposed dead Italian private with a holy glow and huge angel wings reached in to give me a hug.

“Feli…It’s been so lonely without you please don’t leave me”

“I got to go...Ludwig…my time here is up and if you ever miss me the smell of cooking pasta will bring me back to you~ve” Feli smiled while flying and slowly disappearing into the sky.

“I’ll never forget you, Feli, as one of the toy soldiers who fell in combat...Truly a great soldier” I saluted proudly by Feliciano Vargas’ grave leaving a bouquet of roses with a few tears slowly rolling down my face.

~Fin~

Description
Step by step, heart to heart, left right left
We all fall down like toy soldiers
Bit by bit, torn apart, we never win
But the battle wages on for toy soldiers

The life of a soldier is not as heartless and cruel as it seems. It isn’t how the movies portray it as being able to bomb the living lights of our enemies while killing innocent civilians in the process. No, the life of a soldier in war is all about sacrifice and sometimes one of our lives has to be given up to protect a whole city from being destroyed. Though I never really hesitated to sacrifice my life to save others; I never wanted to drag my men into unnecessary battles. If I happen to lose my life in the battlefield, no one would really feel any strong remorse since I am just a general to my troops. And mind you not a very good general at all, because of that accident…Private Feliciano Vargas lost his life just to save me from being trapped in a fire. The Italian was a wimp, never trained at all, always ran from the enemy at first glance, and worst of all kept cooking pasta even while on guard. He never referred to me as General Ludwig, but to instead a silly nickname he kept calling me ‘Doitsu’ and I didn’t like it a lot as first though in time I got used to it. I seriously thought of shipping off that imbecile to the Allied Forces just to drive them crazy as much he has to me. Even with those faults, Feliciano was a good man with a huge heart always helping the other soldiers with small things and most importantly he was my closest and only friend though despite him being useless in combat. Something about the way he lived through our horrible living conditions made me hopeful to a better future when finally the war has ended with the Axis Powers on top. Maybe after the war ended I would have visited Feliciano at his home country for a nice dinner.

Sadly the idiot had to lose his life in that blasted fire Commander Ivan Babinski started to attempt to annihilate every last single Axis Power member. The rough childlike laughter and roar of the flames still haunt my dreams robbing me of my sleep. I surpassed any obstacle to help any soldier who fell under the large structure debris that the Russian fire burned away. Sure they all asked that if I would be alright to be by myself in a dangerous flame filled area, but a soldier must protect his comrades’ lives above his own no matter how grave the situation is. Even if you have to lose an arm, leg, or even your own life; never ever leave a fellow soldier in combat for if you treasure your life above your own…not only you are responsible for the death of an innocent life that will defiantly hurt the ones closest to him, you are just as bad as the enemy troops. Smoke of the wild fire was started to weaken me with every breath of air I took in, I never felt so weak and helpless before.

Barely being able to breathe anymore, I fell to the hard ground my face covered in ashes and struggling to crawl towards the only exit…I knew never to give up for not only for my own well-being but for my comrades who looked up to me to guide and protect them from harm. Who else was supposed to be the roaring lion that protect the herd of sheep? I had a duty to accomplish…and I will not let death get the better of me. With every movement I made was hell for me, as my sides burned immensely with dark red blood coming out of my mouth. Not even the training my grandfather gave me can prepare me from a situation from this. Dark raspy voices warned me to just accept my fate and rest peacefully being burned alive in the reddish purple fire that cost so many lives in one day. Starting to succumb to the mysterious voices, my vision started to blur in a dark red color seeing my dark black gloves torned to no repair covered in blood.

‘God please just please look after my soldiers. I have no other regrets, besides leaving my comrades leaderless…Now take my pitiful body away to Paradise’ I prayed silently to myself struggling to speak. A bright golden light surrounded a shadowy figure with a hand reaching out to me. Can this be the angel taking me away from this cruel wicked world?

“Doitsu! Doitsu! Take my hand!” the shadowy figure spoke urgently in a heavy Italian accent.

"Feliciano? Why did he come back to this dangerous place?" I thought to myself while the figure began to clear up to be known as my comrade and friend Feliciano Vargas

“What are you waiting for? Take my hand now! As a wise man once told me to never leave his comrades behind” the Italian private cried a bit while struggling to lift me up from the invisible chains of death and despair.

“Vargas, why did you come back here? It’s too dangerous to go alone and if anything happened to me….I would-”

“Ah Doitsu, even though I am a coward and a complete maggot…I wanted to help you even when Commander Honda told me not to. I didn’t want you to die without me repaying you all the good things you’ve done for me. When the others have given up on me, you kept on believing in me guiding me step by step, and most of all being a true friend through the rough times. Now after we leave how about I serve you your favorite wurst with pasta of course~ve?” Feli smiled kissing me on my scarred cheek lightly giving me back the light I needed to live on.

“Feli…” I said blankly while leaning on the smaller soldier’s back towards the exit.

“I never had anyone come to rescue me before and it had to be you to my rescue…A complete dunderhead when it comes to war and only a bother to others…My so called allies didn’t even bother to attempt to save me, though I don’t blame them for it. But out of all my comrades, I knew you were the strongest and pure hearted of them all. I always did admire your kindness to others even though they might knock you down hard to the ground, but you always kept standing right back up. I’m glad you are my friend, Feliciano and I’m honored to be your General” I wheezed out trying to show my support to Feli.

“Doitsu! I can see the exit from here and I always wanted to tell you that-“ a loud thud interrupted the Italian.

“Wait? What you were going to say, Feli?” I turned around only to see a large wooden structure crushing the life out of my comrade.

“…Ludwig…please go on back to the troops. I can’t be saved, but I want you to know that *wheezes* ever since I enlisted in the army I wanted to be some use and not a waste of space like my brother told me. With you guiding me, I didn’t feel as such a loser anymore and in my heart I know that I loved you. Everything about you…your blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes, the way you protected the troops, your hand ruffling through my hair whenever I got into trouble, the times we spent eating pasta together, spending night duty together with our bodies cuddled together to be warm…Thanks for never giving up on me and being my protector, Doitsu” tears flooded out of Feli’s auburn eyes slowly his energetic life ebbing away slowly. I stood there in shock as my only friend was slowly being crushed to death by one of the Russian’s fire debris…if I was in here any longer I could risk dying; but after the effort Feliciano did to rescue me I must do what it takes to get that pole off of him.

“Doitsu, what did I tell you go back!” Straining to lift up the pole, I fought back the tears keeping me from being strong.

“I can’t possibly leave you behind, because without you I won’t be able to live without my ray of sunshine guiding me to keep living another day. Please Feli live! You can’t die like this…”

“Hahaha I guess then my life wasn’t so meaningless then I’ll be watching you from Grandpa Rome’s place…Ti Amo” Feli rasped while he gave his last breath of life dying truly a soldier. I managed to get the pole off of Feli’s body soon rushing out from the burning building.

‘No..no…no…This can’t happen after everything he did to save me’ I thought to myself bitterly rushing to the medics with a chance of hope that Feli was still alive.

Although the medics did everything they can to help the wounded soldier, it was sadly not the case as the pole broke every bone in his body and the smoke filling his lungs trapping any chance of a single clean life giving breath. My world felt like it ended right there and then when I saw Feliciano’s dead body with a flower in his hands… his smile never fading away. Being in the army and war for so long can certainly numb a soldier of his feelings, especially I who have seen many causalities and comrades dying terrible deaths. The thoughts of never being able to see the Italian’s cute bouncy curl on the side of his head, eat the Italian’s pasta again, yelling at him to stop sleeping during guard, making him do a 100 pushups for not following orders, and worst of all never being able to confess my true feelings to him by returning his gentle kiss just left me helpless to the flood of tears streaming down my face.
“Why did you leave me, Feli? I wanted to be with you forever and always facing the war together…I never got the courage to tell you how I felt…I wish the life of a soldier was easier” I uncontrollably sobbed into Feli’s lifeless body with a great heavy feeling in my heart. Now I am truly alone in this cruel world, with no one to hold dear to my heart but only my soldiers.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t a better friend to you, Feliciano”

“Don’t say such things, Doistsu! You were a great friend to me and you’re not alone for I will always be in your heart and watching over you from above” a familiar voice rung through the hills.

“Just be strong to the others, my love” the supposed dead Italian private with a holy glow and huge angel wings reached in to give me a hug.

“Feli…It’s been so lonely without you please don’t leave me”

“I got to go...Ludwig…my time here is up and if you ever miss me the smell of cooking pasta will bring me back to you~ve” Feli smiled while flying and slowly disappearing into the sky.

“I’ll never forget you, Feli, as one of the toy soldiers who fell in combat...Truly a great soldier” I saluted proudly by Feliciano Vargas’ grave leaving a bouquet of roses with a few tears slowly rolling down my face.

~Fin~