It has been a day since CIEIR Music and Dark Divide called a truce. Things were quiet save for their occasional street appearance. At CIEIR HQ, S.T. and Light Harmony finish their studies.

S.T.: Since then there have been many truces. These stories got so famous that they became tv shows like M*A*S*H.

Light: That was a sad show.

Harmony: Poor Hawkeye. That breakdown made me want to cry too.

S.T.: It's why they do jokes on that show. To give it some levity to remind us it still takes place during a war.

The phone rings. S.T. let's the voice mail get it.

Divide: S.T. I know you've been ignoring my messages, but this is important. Rest assured I am not trying to break the truce. We need to talk about vaccine plans. You can bring back up if you don't trust me.

Harmony: She does sound serious. Look we'll watch over you, you can probably get information out of her.

Light: And you thought you were useless.

Harmony: I have my moments.

Meanwhile at a very familiar Cafe. S.T. and Dark Divide are seemingly alone.

Divide: Thanks for coming, I'll get right to the point. First of all, yes we do have child and adult labour and they do need vaccines. I managed to get Dark on board with this but we need your help. We just need to know what I.D. to fake.

Harmony over the radio: Let them know. If our guys can still use crime skills undercover so can you.

S.T.: Well first you ****** ***** ** and then you ******. Then they take you to a waiting room so you can show that, then you get one between a few weeks to a month. It varies from person to person there will be side effects. But other than that you all should be fine.

Divide: I see. Well S****, you seem to do anything to save lives. Look, I'm not stupid. I know as soon as this truce is over we go back to fighting, you trying to free our slaves and we try to kill you BLAH BLAH BLAH!!! I just want to know, I do appreciate you trying to make peace with me. I want to apologize. I know, back then....I came on too strong. I should have known better that you value the mission more than you value....intimacy.

S.T.: It's not just that though. I don't like fraternizing with my partners. I just think it's wrong.

Divide: Well that's perfect. That means I have a chance.

S.T.: Whatever. Look you got what you needed, give those kids a shot and just enjoy your vacation. We'll talk when we try to kill each other.

Divide: Fair enough, but I am having some fun with you before I kill you. I know your sidekick is listening.

Harmony: SIDEKICK!!!

S.T.: Ow. Well I gotta go. We just finished the Christmas Album. Check it out sometime.

Divide: You know what, I will. For what it's worth I do love your music.

S.T.: I appreciate that.

An hour later.

Harmony: Sidekick. I can't believe she called me..GAH I HATE HER!!!

Light: Harmony go to your happy place.

Harmony: Ok. Happy place. Nature, mountains, hot, cold, calm, peaceful. THAT BITCH'S HEAD ON A PIKE!! Calm, peaceful.

S.T.: Is she gonna be ok?

Light: Ya, she's just unleashing her inner Alpha. She wants to bite her.

Harmony: And smack her off the pavement. Calm peaceful. Puppies. Kitties. Birds.

S.T.: Well I'm gonna post the song. It's gonna be a good closer. Maybe she can listen to that.

Harmony: I would love that. Calm. Candy. Chocolate. Dark Chocolate. Someone get me a candy bar.

Light: I'm on it.

S.T.: Why Chocolate?

Light: She achieves enlightenment sometimes and the chocolate keeps her pineal gland stimulated.

S.T.: I gotta try that sometime.

An hour later, their last song in the Christmas Special was posted:

It was not too long after CIEIR Music posted this:

S.T. Musician and Light Harmony are having a meeting.

S.T.: Alright, it's been two weeks since we last heard from Dark Divide directly, but their actions have been coming in small doses. Just recently 20 homeless children have been reported missing. Granted that never stopped us before, but there is something else. I've noticed a lot of their hired help have been getting sick. It's a long shot, but I think some of them have Covid.

Light: I see. So their help is at risk of limits because some haven't got their shot yet. While I'm glad they don't seem to be making a major comeback, I wouldn't wish that on our worst enemies. Plus not all of them are crooks. Some have been doing this against their will. Others being our guys.

Harmony: Not to mention that both kids and adults are at risk as they recently mentioned. Meaning if those bastards, put those kids to work, there's a chance they may die.

Light: If only there was some way that we could try to pause their ideas. We try to stop them now and there's no guarantee they won't resurface again. They've been dead before.

S.T.: So maybe we could try to find a way to take a break from the holidays. That's gonna take a miracle....HOLY FUCK!!!!

Light Harmony: What is it S.T.?

S.T.: It's a long shot but I think it might work. Are you familiar with the Christmas Truce?

Light Harmony: We didn't have much to study on the streets.

S.T.: Ok. Well it was during World War I. 1914 to be exact. The following trench soldiers were at each other's throats. Germany, France and The British Army. Their leaders decided to come together with a radical idea. Because all of them were Christian God Fearing Men, none of them felt it was right to kill each other on the holidays. So they negotiated a temporary ceasefire between the three. That would go from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day.

Harmony: I see, you're gonna try to organize a ceasefire between us and them. I don't think it would work to be honest, but I trust your judgement.

Light: I'm much more worried that if Divide sees us, she'll go batshit on you or try to kill Harmony.

S.T.: Surprisingly enough, Divide is the least of my problems. It's Dark I'm more worried about. It was Divide that allowed me to throw them out, because even after I rejected her, she still thought there was a chance and did what I said. Dark however, would not hesitate to kill me unless Divide told him to back down. He kinda has a thing for her. A Yandere going after a Yandere so to speak.

Light Harmony: Holy shit.

S.T.: I'm gonna arrange the meeting, you two will be present.

Light Harmony: Will do.

An hour later at a familiar cafe, Light Harmony, S.T. and Dark Divide sit at a table together. S.T. and LH in their civilian concert attire. Divide in her usual attire, while dark, a tall, buff blackhaired man is in white tuxedo with a black bowtie. All of which glaring at each other.

S.T.: Well first of all, thank you for coming.

Dark: Just make this quick S.T. we both have things to do.

S.T.: That's just what I want to talk about. I called you here because we all have a mutual problem. I know you have at least 50 minions on you. 20 of them children. There is nothing more I'd like to do than bust down your doors and get them out of here. However I also noticed something. You two have been doing your thing in small doses. And while I am glad you can only do so much, I'm kind of disappointment. It's not like you two were sloppy before. Especially you Divide, I expected better.

Dark: You shut up about her.

Light: You go near him and I'll tear your throat out.

Divide: Now now, if we wanted to kill each other, either one of us would have done it by now. S.T. is right though. Things have gotten slower since the pandemic has been flip flopping. Our men and our kids have been under the weather lately. I've been trying to convince Dark to vaccinate them, but surprise surprise he's an anti-vaxxer.

Dark: Now why do you have to say something like that? Even if I wasn't one, it's not like we could walk into a clinic and ask for them to give us 50 double doses to crooks and kidnapped children. Besides we tested it on ourselves. The effects were horrifying. We may be Evil, but this was chaotic. We wouldn't wish it upon you and we hate you.

Harmony: Which is precisely why we need to discuss this.

Divide: Sweetie, I'm only tolerating you for S.T.'s sake. The second you're alone I will get you for taking him from me.

Harmony: Wow, he told me you were crazy, but you really think it's like that? Maybe stop getting distracted and focus on the topic at hand. That said, if you so much as touch him in front of me, I'll bite that finger off.

Divide: And S.T. Thinks I'm crazy. Ok, enough drama. What exactly do you propose.

S.T.: Are you two familiar with the Christmas Truce?

Dark: You're not seriously suggesting that.

Divide: Go on.

S.T.: You cease all activities, get your hostages the treatment they need and basically take a vacation for the holidays. When everything is square, that's when we continue to kill each other.

Dark: That is stupid, I know my answer to that one. No fucking way. Let's go Divide.

Light: You know, you wouldn't be the first person to disagree with The Truce. There was one man in the German Army who seemed less intuned to the holiday spirit and more wondering why his superiors didn't open fire on the Brits.

Dark: And who is this man?

Harmony: Oh we won't tell you. We will give you a hint. He was, but a messenger during that time, but decades later became responsible for killing 6 Million Jewish People. Men, Women and Children.

Dark: Adolf Hitler......So what are you implying?

S.T.: That you're no different than him.

Dark: You take that back.

S.T.: Prove me wrong then. Isn't that what you want, to be a better man than me in hopes Divide would notice you as more than just a sidekick?

Divide: *Thinking* How long has he known about that?

Dark: Alright, we'll play your game. From here to New Years, none of Dark Divide would make an already rotting world worse. But I do warn you, once this truce ends, we will come for you. Stronger than ever.

Divide: Well that is very big of you dark. S.T., Light....and you.

Harmony: The name's Harmony and when this ends you will say it.

Divide: Whatever. I'll make sure he holds up his end of the bargain. You know how tempermental he is.

S.T.: You held your word before, I trust you....this time.

Divide: I love you too. Now let's get going, I'm sure the barista is wondering why you all haven't ordered your Hot Chocolate yet.

Light Harmony: See you soon.

An hour later back at CIEIR HQ.

S.T.: That went well.

Light: I hope you know what you're doing.

Harmony: We may not have saved the whole world yet, but we managed to at least give it some kind of a break.

S.T.: Indeed we did. If all goes well, then it would be the second time a Christmas Miracle has been proven real. Speaking of which, I have one more song to go, before the Album is finished.

Light Harmony: That's great. I hope it does as well as the other 3.

S.T.: Time will tell.

It was a cold day at CIEIR HQ. CIEIR Music just posted:

Light and Harmony enter the studio.

Light Harmony: We need to talk S.T.

S.T. Ok.....

Light Harmony: We heard you were doing a Christmas Special.....without us.

S.T.: In my defence....

Light: I don't want to hear it S.T.!! I knew you would betray us, but this takes the fruit cake.

Harmony: How could you do this to us? Who stood by you for better or worse. Who guarded your house when your crazy Yandere came back from the dead.

Light Harmony: More importantly, what shall we do about you?

Light: I say we cut his hands off so he won't play again.

Harmony: I say we boil him in oil.

S.T.: Oh go ahead and do it, I dare you. Nothing you can do can scare me for being on your naughty list.

Harmony: .......Take him to Detroit.

S.T.: NO!!! NOT DETROIT PLEASE ANYTHING BUT THAT!!!

Light: Anything? Release the Robotic Richard Simmons.

S.T.: NO ANYTHING BUT TH--- Wait a minute. You don't have a Robotic Richard Simmons. You two were fucking with me weren't you?

Light Harmony: Gotcha.

Light: You should have seen your face.

S.T.: *Trying to hold a laugh.* That's not funny.

Harmony: Eh it was a little funny, I think you looked cute when you squirmed.

Light: HARMONY!!!

Harmony: What I can still look can't I?

Light: I...You...S.T.?

S.T.: I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Now who's squirming.

Harmony: Boys. Look, S.T. we're not mad about that, but we were wondering why you didn't ask us for help on it. We would have loved doing specials.

S.T.: I know that, but at the time, I couldn't think of a good idea for you two. I was gonna suggest a Halloween themed song, but I couldn't think of any ideas for you. Here though, I realized your vocals make great ballad material. Since I wanted to do Christmas in my own strange way, I thought of doing a ballad legend song.

Light Harmony: Really?

S.T.: Ya.

Light: Who's the ballad for.

S.T.: Santa Claus.

Harmony: NO FUCKING WAY!!

Light: What's the big deal, lot's of people do Santa songs.

Harmony: None are S.T. Don't get me wrong, there have been Christmas Carols about the guy, parody songs like that Iron Man one I Am Santa Claus, you name it. However very few actually go in depth like he does. He's not just going for the fat guy that delivers toys, he's going to cover the legends behind him. Even offer his own take on it.

Light: Could you say all that again? Without undressing him with your eyes?

S.T.: How did you k--

Light: She crosses her eyes in a twitch when she thinks someone notices her checking them out. Don't worry you're not the first. She had a boyfriend long ago. This guy was an urchin like us. She could not take her eyes off him even if she went blind.

S.T.: How come she moved onto me?

Light: Well it didn't work out between them. Dark Divide recruited him because he was an ace at Sleight of Hand. They thought he'd make a great pick pocket. They fought. Verbally, then physically. His side on the matter was, that he wanted to make enough money to leave the streets. We don't judge the motive, just the means. Which was something he couldn't agree with. He struck her. Before I could step in I saw another look. Those cross eyes became glaring daggers of death. Even her retina's changed from blue to molten gold. Before he knew it, his arms and legs were disabled. His body covered in bloody teeth marks.

S.T.: She attacked him like an animal.

Light: I've seen this kind of attitude before. Among urchins. It's not unusual for them to go feral when out in the streets for long. However what she became would scare the ferals. Luckily I wasn't in any danger.

S.T.: How so?

Light: When she enters that state, her senses are heightened. She could tell friend from foe by the smell. It's why she's always kept close to you. She was trying to memorize your scent.

S.T.: I see...that does explain a lot.

Harmony: It's not something I like to talk about, but I'm glad you accept me for what I am.

S.T.: The way I see it, whatever that is, increases the better parts of yourself. Oh god did I just say that?

Light: You really done it now.

Before S.T. could even blink Harmony grabs him with wolf like strength pulling him into a hug.

S.T.: Can't Breathe. Ligh..wen...do...se..le..go?

Light: Just pass out man, trust me I've been there. She is a champion hugger.

An hour later S.T. is his bed, sore as ever. Light Harmony stands over him.

S.T.: Well luckily for me I've finished the instrumental. You just have to do the vocals and post.

Light Harmony: Will do.

Harmony: S.T. I....

S.T.: It's ok, I forgot you are an aggressive hugger.

Harmony: I just hope I didn't break anything.

S.T.: Nope, but I may be in bed for a while.

Harmony: Great, I always wanted to see if I'm a great nurse.

S.T.: Help...me....Light.

Light: Sorry, last time I did that she threatened to give me a flu shot.

The song was later posted on Newgrounds:

Ok normally I post holiday countdown related stuff once every 7 weeks, to show my fellow fans and the world all I have done so far. However. It stands to reason that I should post these here now, because I cannot believe I did this:

For starters in the art department:

In the end of November I finish an old incomplete gif. My own little tribute to Pink Floyd.

I did a two comic story on Santa's war with Krampus. In case no one answered my trivia I'll give the answer here: I did two movie references. When Santa describes Timmy's death, he is referencing From Beyond. Jeffery Combs as Crawford Tillinghast describes his fellow scientist Edward Pretorious' horrifying demise. Specifically stating that the abomination "Bit off his head like a gingerbread man."

The other reference, when Santa leaves a not and a bomb for Krampus, it was a reference to The Mechanic. A movie starring Charles Bronson about an aging hitman training a younger hitman. Spoilers. In the end the younger hitman betrays and poisons the older one and when he goes to steal the guy's house and car he gets a note from the older guy. Pretty much telling him how he fucked up and is gonna die in a few seconds. Before the car explodes. I made the explosion green and red to fit the holiday theme, because let's face it, if Santa Claus was gonna use weapons they'd all be Christmas Themed. Including the explosion. Also CC4 wasn't a typo. It means Candy Cane C4. As in Santa knows how to weaponize Candy Canes.

Finally:

My first Canvas Drawing. I decided to do my take on the Star of Betlehem and at the same time make an album cover for the following songs.

My take on the conception and birth of Christ.

A ballad from Light Harmony. Though in Hindsight I think I just made my own Christmas Carol.

Ok this one is a twofer, because it's been two subjects that have bugged me since day one of my life.

The first question, I will ask. But first context.

Just recently to prepare for the holidays, I started with my favourite past times. Watching Christmas Specials. Yes I know, the politically correct term is Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas and while I'm not Christian, I am not ignorant of other religious holidays either. From Hanukkah to Kwanzaa However let's face it folks. The only specials they show are ones centred around Christmas. Even that crappy Star Wars Holiday Special, which had their own fictional Wookie Holiday called "Life Day." counted as one. Hell I'm Pagan, I'm surprised no one ever did our version of Christmas Special. And they did try to make a Hanukkah themed movie. However that movie was 8 Crazy Nights and we all know how that went and much of why people fear making a decent Hanukkah based movie was that they'd be compared to Adam Sandler. Which is a legit fear. Hehe. But I ramble on.

Anywho, my favourite Christmas Special is the Bill Murray Richard Donner Classic Scrooged. Which is basically a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol. About a TV executive, Ironically doing his own version of a Christmas Carol; being visited by 3 Ghosts. One played by a popular comedic singer. One played by the ever crazy awesome actress Carol Kane. Finally, one that's a giant reaper with a TV for a face and Bill Murray's Zombified face displayed on it. This movie was one of the darkest, yet hilarious versions of the fable, but that aside, two things stuck out for me:

1. This was one of the few adaptations where the Scrooge character, is reunited with his love interest. In this case Frank Cross, is reunited with Claire. Who is played by Marion Ravenwood herself, Karen Allen. Which I also kind of thought was missing in the original story, but he was an old man in those so aside from spending their last moments together, there wouldn't have been anything good storywise.
2. While most Scrooges change their ways in an epic fashion. A personal favourite of mine being Jim Carrey's version acting nice in his Carrey way, with his maid freaking out because she thinks he's gone mad. The best thing about Scrooged, is the final speech at the end which can be viewed here: Scrooged Speech.

This speech wasn't just about Frank realizing what Christmas was all about, but he had the steel balls to call out everyone for getting into the Christmas spirit only once a year. For those that don't know what I mean, whether you celebrate the holiday or not. Christmas is often considered the one time of the year, where people are nicer. Spend more time with each other. Help each other and so on. Yet, when the holiday is over, everyone seems to go back to themselves. Now to give this movie credit, Frank isn't telling people go out and spend thousands of dollars to buy each other presents. He's telling people that even simple things like providing an old blanket to someone cold or giving a starving person a sandwich. Simple stuff, cheap to buy, you don't have to do it all the time, nor should it effect your schedule. Part of why Frank took so long to change his ways, was because he couldn't comprehend good deeds for the sake of them. To be honest I kind of agree, but I am interested into hear other viewpoints on this. Both those that celebrate or those that don't and simply know of the Holiday.

Why do you think people only get into the spirit of Christmas and the other Holidays only once a year?

Now for my next question again context:

If there's one thing we as a species have in common, is that we have the drive to succeed in life. Some succeed, some fail, that's life. However one thing I noticed is how difficult things get when times change.

Let's say for example the time period was the 1900s. No one cared what they did in in life so long as there was food on the table and a house to keep you warm. And the simplest way of doing that was simply getting a job. You work, you get paid, you put it to your stuff. However as 100 years go by and some people in those simple jobs, get more successful than others. Get them in a position where they become by that standard, rich. Something always happens. Rather than help others along the way, these type of people go out of their way to make life difficult for the rest of the populace. It gets more difficult to get a job, poverty outweighs even the working class and most successful people work round the clock to replace simple hands on jobs with automation. Without even remotely eliminating or changing the economy in a way that those that get canned are not at least financially compensated or stable enough to live out the rest of their lives. Then just when things can't get any worse, we are plagued with a lot of things that could potentially wipe us all out. From man made weapons to this current pandemic.

It wasn't until recently that I figured it out. The reason why is because they don't want everyone to be as successful as them. Why? Because someone conditioned them to believe the world is one big competition over who gets the most of what. Money, Land, Luxuries, you name it. When they get to a position they feel comfortable with and spot others getting into that same position, they panic. Because they think that person's success is a threat to theirs. So they resort to everything, lobbying new laws that benefit them and knock the rest of us down, turning people against each other using every ism and phobia in the book. Pretty much everything they can to keep us distracted and down. Before this kind of thinking happened, the world was plentiful. It could have provided us everything we needed, no matter how big the population increases. The one catch would be to work together. Which by all intents and purposes, should they have implimented that for monetary value would have made people a lot richer without having to get at everyone's throats.

So my question on that one is. Why the fuck are people so focused on being competitive with each other when the sanest thing would be to work together?

Let's start with the Bad News First. I have scrapped both my annual Carol song and The Chakra Album. The latter because I felt like I was knocking off my Tuning Experiment. I may do tuning songs later in the near future though.

The former, is because I decided to come up with a better idea.

Christmas Carols are a dime a dozen. Anyone can come up with their own variation of them and it could be well liked and well hated.

However save for various fictional mediums, there has rarely ever been songs related to the elements of Christmas. Be it Santa Claus, Gift Giving or the Legend of Jesus Christ. So I thought I'd do something different this year by making a short album based on those ideas. Starting with this:

Probably one of my longest songs ever. Enjoy and Happy Holidays.

Normally I would save this kind of Celebration for a level at least 10 points above the last level I've done, but this opportunity is too tempting. I am 9 points away from being half of 60. Also 21 reminds me of the game of Black Jack, so I thought I'd celebrate by making a picture out of it as seen here:

Every December I try to make a Christmas Album. I know it's a gimmick, but I loved making my own versions. However aside from one song idea, I'm kinda stumped on what else to do.

So I ask my fans, what would be a good Christmas Carol, that I haven't already done.

You can check out my bandcamp to see that I've done some for two different albums.

Also to expand on it, would it be weird if I came up with my own Christmas/Winter Themed song?

Let me know.

Sometimes, the toughest thing for any artist to do, is come up with new things to further keep their patrons interested. Whether it's making a new picture, song, you name it. I often struggle with this the most, but at the same time relish the challenge it gives me.

In this case, I made 2 albums in an effort to offer something new to the table.

An Experiment In Tuning

First of all big shout out to @dj-steve-francis. For inspiring me with this idea. I was curious about the 432hz tuning he puts in his songs so I thought I'd expand beyond it, by making a simple song. Then tuning it to the various frequencies. From the classic 440hz, to the much debated 432hz, to the solfeggio frequencies, based on both amusement and hypothesis. To see if my music can effect people in more than one way. Hopefully it's a success in that department.

Throw it in Reverse

This one was based on a fascination I've had. Regarding playing songs backwards. So I made 3 songs and reversed them to see which is better. Needless to say I am satisfied with the results and I hope you find some enjoyment too.

Over the years, I've often noticed a strange pattern when it comes to music. That many often like to experiment with their favourite songs to see how it sounds backwards. We all heard the infamous Stairway To Heaven rumor, where satanic messages allegedly are hidden in the song if played backwards. However this isn't quite what I am talking about. Just recently I made and uploaded two songs as seen here:

With the sole purpose of putting what I am about to talk about into play.

Whether it's Rock and Roll, Electronica or many of the other styles of music, some songs just sound strangely good backwards as they do forwards. Many have caught on to this effect and often even programmed certain instruments in Synths to recreate it. Whether it's the reverse cymbal of a drum or the illusion that whatever instrument playing, be it digital or analog, is breathing in instead of blowing out. There have been many reasons why playing music backwards seems to sound just as good, if not better than playing it forwards.

What do you all think?

Also to any fellow musicians, I suggest you try this out too. Whether it's an existing song in your library or a brand new song to make.