I got the idea off tumblr

"Oi! Wake up." A kick made his bed shake and Ludwig sat up quickly. Still half-awake he rubbed his eyes and glared at the figure who kicked his bed.

"What was that for Gilbert!?" Ludwig whined to his older brother.

Gilbert laughed loudly. "Come on! You start your apprenticeship with Mr. Edelstein today." Ludwig groaned and rolled over in his bed.

"It's too early."

Gilbert frowned and pulled the blankets away. "Come on Luddy wake up! Your train'll leave in an hour."

Ludwig groaned and sat up. "You're a jerk." He tried to grab his blankets back, but Gilbert only pulled them away.

"I'm a jerk? You're the brat." The silver haired young man ruffled Ludwig's hair. "Come on, up. I'll make breakfast while you pack."

Ludwig dragged himself out of bed and slowly got dressed. He knew that he was going to Mr. Edelstein's because Gilbert was leaving for War. Ludwig didn't understand why he couldn't have gone too, from the sounds of it War wasn't too far away. He had his trunk mostly packed, he was still searching for a couple of books. "Gilbert where's the fairy tale book at?" He called. The impatient boy rolled his eyes when there was no response from down stairs. Searching all over the room one last time he put their father's old bible in the trunk and latched it. The sweet smell of sausages and eggs wafted up to his room. Ludwig ran down the stairs and sat at the table. "Gil what happened to my fairy tale book? I can't find it."

"It's around here somewhere, I just had it last night." Gilbert smiled as he set the plate in front of Ludwig. The younger had lost any will to eat when he saw what Gilbert was wearing and proceeded to push his food around his plate. "Come on Luddy eat." Gilbert encouraged.

"Why do you have to wear that? It looks silly on you." Ludwig pointed to the military uniform.

"All people who go to war wear a uniform."

"Where's War at?"

"Meh, kinda all over I guess. I'm going to France." Gilbert sighed. "Come one kiddo, eat. I'll look for the book."

"If I go to War do I have to wear a uniform?" Ludwig asked. Gilbert dropped his plate and swore.

"Damnnit!" Gilbert picked up the pieces. "Stay in your seat. And eat your food!" Ludwig ate in silence as Gilbert cleaned up the mess. With a sigh Gilbert kneeled down by Ludwig's chair. "Luddy listen to me okay?" The blonde boy nodded. Gilbert took a deep breath. "There is never a good reason to go to war."

"But you're going!" Gilbert put a hand up to stop his younger brother.

"I'm being forced to go. I don't have a choice Luddy. They wanted father, but they got me instead. They think I'm father, so that's why I have to go. Ludwig I want you to promise me that you will never, ever ever go to war. Run away to America, go to Switzerland, just don't go to war. It is a terrible thing, a horrid thing." Ludwig looked into his older brother's red eyes, searching for a sign that he was playing a trick, but found none. Ludwig nodded.

"Can we find my book please?" He asked. "I ate my food."

Gilbert smiled and ruffled his brother's hair again. "I think I left it in the living room. Bring your trunk down, I'll find it."

Ludwig hopped out of his seat and walked up the stairs to grab the trunk of clothes. Gilbert found the book on a table, right where he had left it, with a passage dog eared. He glanced over it, smiling as he recognized the tale of the Bremen Town Musicians. It was one of Ludwig's favorites. Glancing over the book he found several passages were dog eared. "Little brat this thing is ancient, don't ruin it." Suddenly Gilbert ran up the stairs and rummaged through his dresser drawers. He grabbed the old iron cross and ran back down stairs, shoving the cross in his pocket.

"Gilbert did you find my book?" Ludwig asked.

"Ja." He tossed the book at the kid, who caught it. "Be careful with that thing Luddy it's really old."

"Says the one who threw it at me." Ludwig scowled as he put the book in his trunk. Gilbert laughed and picked up the trunk.

"Come one kiddo, let's get you to the train." Gilbert grabbed Ludwig's hand and walked with him to the station. "Got your ticket?"

Ludwig nodded and patted his pocket. "Gilbert when am I gonna see you again?" He looked up with tears in his eyes.

Gilbert knelt down and looked into Ludwig's bright blue eyes. "Hey, you'll see me soon. Until then wear this." Gilbert took the iron cross from his pocket. "It was grandfather's." He pressed the cool iron into Ludwig's hand. "I dunno what happened to the chain, but I'm sure Mr. Edelstein has something you can use." The whine of the whistle filled the air. Gilbert pulled his younger brother into one last tight hug. "I'll be back before you become a man Luddy. I promise!"

"I don't want to go…" Ludwig whispered as he pulled away.

Gilbert tapped the trunk. "Remember the stories. This is just like the stories. Hans in Luck right?" Ludwig nodded. "So when I come back I expect you to have traded any money you've made away for a milling stone." Ludwig giggled and got on the train. He looked out the window at Gilbert, suddenly feeling very sad. Gilbert reached up and squeezed his hand. The train began to move, and Gilbert ran alongside it until he could no longer keep up. "I'll see you again! Auf Weidersan!"

"Auf Weidersan Gilbert!" Ludwig stuck his head out and waved as he watched his brother shrink smaller and smaller until he could no longer see him.

"Ticket please." Ludwig turned and handed his ticket to the man. "Riding on your own for the first time?"

Ludwig nodded. "I have an apprenticeship with Mr. Edelstein."

"Mr. Edelstein? The pianist?"

"Er… My brother told me he was a shop keeper." Ludwig said in a soft voice.

"Oh yes he is, but he's also a wonderful pianist. You should see if he would teach you how to play." The man smiled warmly.

"Okay. Thank you." Ludwig smiled. The man moved on and the young boy looked out the window. Ludwig felt his eyes drooping and things going dark. In his dream there was Gilbert, laughing under an apple tree flirting with a friend of his, Elizaveta. The two were happy. Ludwig smiled and munched on the sandwich Elizaveta had made happily. There was a warm feeling in his tummy. He was happy. It was the closest to a family he had known, a mother and a father.

Ludwig woke with a start. "Here's your stop kiddo." It was the man who took his ticket earlier. "Did you have a good dream?"

Ludwig nodded. "Thank you." He picked up his trunk and got off the train, searching for Mr. Edelstein.

"Luddy!?" He turned his head to where the high voice had come from. "Oh Ludwig! It is you!"

"Lizaveta?" Ludwig ran to the familiar young woman.

"I'm so glad you're here, Roderick will be glad to meet you, come on." She took his hand and walked with him to his new home. "How is Gilbert?"

"Gilbert went to War. That's why I'm here." Ludwig looked at his hand, he was still holding the iron cross.

Elizaveta froze. "W-war?" She stammered.

"Yeah, the place near France right?"

Elizaveta was silent until they reached the house. "The bottom half is his shop, the top half is where we live."

"You live with Mr. Edelstein?"

Elizaveta nodded. "I'm married to him." Ludwig detected a sadness in her voice.

"But I thought you loved Gilbert."

"What?!" Elizaveta's eyes went wide. "Who told you that? Oh I'm sure it was your brother that arrogant little-"

"Complaining about your albino friend again?" A bored voice cut through.

"Oh, n-no." Elizaveta shook her head. "This is Ludwig, that nitwit's little brother."

The man stood up from behind the counter that was against one wall. Ludwig fought the urge to hide behind Elizaveta. "Hallo. I am Rodrick Edelstein." He held his hand out for Ludwig to shake. Ludwig took his hand and shook it weakly. "We will have to work on your hand shake." He frowned. "Show him to his room Liz and prepare supper. Our young guest must be hungry." Rodrick sat down behind the counter again as Elizaveta took Ludwig upstairs."

"Here you go." Elizaveta opened a door to a small room. "If you want you can go explore the neighborhood when you're finished unpacking."

Ludwig nodded. "Do you have something I can put this on?" He asked holding up the iron cross. "Gilbert gave this to me."

"I'm sure I have something." She smiled warmly. "I'll go look while you unpack."

Ludwig nodded and set the cross on the bedside table. He put his trunk on the bed and unlatched it. The books he put on the table and his clothes he placed in the dresser. He picked up the cross again and sat down on the bed. He began to lose himself in his thoughts. Why did Liz get scared when he told her where Gilbert was going? Didn't she know?

"Ludwig?" There was a soft knock at his door. "I found a ribbon." Elizaveta smiled and handed Ludwig the black ribbon. "Here let me help you." She sat down next to him, strung the cross upon the ribbon, and tied it around his neck.

"Thank you." Ludwig hopped off the bed. "May I go out and explore now?"

The young woman nodded. "Stay nearby, I'll call you when it's time to eat."

"Okay!" Ludwig called as he ran down the stairs and out the door. He looked around, trying to memorize the area and walked down the street. He looked in all the shop windows as he walked. There were toys, meat, and clothes in the windows. And then he turned around and walked back. When he reached the bookstore where he now lived he walked around to the back, gasping in delight when he saw how close the sea was. "The sea! The sea!" He ran up to the very edge of the water and watched the grey-blue water lapping at the waves. The sound of a splash made him look up. He glanced around and saw a nearby dock. Ludwig ran up to the dock and sat at the very edge. He took a deep breath at the sight. The world is so big. He thought to himself as he looked across sea. He sat there and watched the waves until he thought he should be getting back.

Unbeknownst to him the splash came from a young girl with hair the color of autumn leaves and eyes that were a warm caramel with a tail that matched.