...

Behind where he sat hung the torn-in-half flag of Germany's former glory.

There was nothing he or his comrades could do. Their boss was dead, and the Russians were overtaking the Germans at the Berlin frontlines. Many times over, German soldiers urged Ludwig, free of Feliciano after telling him to leave after hearing the desperate situation in the Motherland, to get out of Germany while he still could. Still very much a fool, he had declined, saying they still had a fighting chance; Germans were strong, fierce people. And valiently they fought, but they were too weak and low on soldiers even with children from the Youth joining in on the last stand. Ludwig saw first hand how badly things were looking for Germany before seeking refuge in the Leader's former bunker.

So much for "No more 1918!"

Only the most loyal of the Reich remained in the bunker, many having fled or killed themselves instead of facing failure. Ludwig sat in a corner of a room, looking somberly at his boots, the other men in the room silent with despair. Just four years ago, Germany was invincible! They were at the top of the world! The other countries feared Germany! And now, the superior country lied in ruin. Shouts and artillery fire was heard from above, the ones still faithful to the Reich's fallen cause but were too stupid to realize all was lost. The door burst open, and Ludwig lifted his head.

"Vhy aren't you up there?" the young soldier demanded at all soldiers present. "Ve can still-"

"It's a futile campaign!" The older man growled. "Can't you fucking see it? Vhat is sere left for us to fight for? Seh only option left is to surrender!"

"NEIN!" the soldier cried, his voice bouncing off the concrete walls. "How can you of all people say sat?"

You of all people. Ludwig was forced to think back to the year of 1934. How enthusiastic he had been when his boss became the sole leader of the country! Younger, excited about Germany's new beginning and future. He had more than willingly enlisted in the newly rebuilt military when he was old enough. How damn proud he was, really believing Germans were far superior to everyone else, and taking part in the widespread discrimination of those "inferior" to "pure Germans." He even took part in snatching half of Poland and overtaking France. He'd left the frontlines to work behind them, getting caught up with Feliciano and Kiku and the other shenannigans. During all that time, he kept his "Germans are superior" attitude, honestly believing Germany's future to be a powerful blonde, blue-eyed nation, as well as the rest of the world once they'd taken it. That was eleven years ago. Now...it was too painful to think about.

"Vell?" the young man snapped.

"Leave, now," said another voice. Gilbert, whom had been next to his brother, shoved the boy out of the room and slammed the door shut. The room vibrated as a tank rolled over, firing off. The older brother took his seat once more. He patted Ludwig's shoulder comfortingly with no positive reaction.

"How stupid ve-I vas to actually believe in him," Ludwig shook his head. "Sat ve vere seh powerful race. Seh vorld vould be at our feet after ve conquered it. It vasn't vorth it, Gil. Eleven years of my life, out seh damn vindow!"

"Don't talk like sat," Gilbert said.

Ludwig fought back tears. "Sings were going so wunderbar! But now...vhat vos every-vone sinking? He vos a vierdo vis radical ideas. And..."

"Yah?" questioned Gilbert.

"...I-I just vanted you to be proud of me for vonce..." The blonde could only mumble his response.

Gilbert let out a soft chuckle.

"Vest, I am proud of you!" he said. "Two times you tried to take seh vorld, and the second time you almost succeeded! You fought like a true soldier, but just lost your vey along the journey."

As Ludwig looked into his brother's face, he saw the unmistakable glitter of an older brother's pride. for the first time in over a month, the blonde genuinely smiled. They embraced in a tight hug, not caring what the others in the room thought. Ludwig finally heard what he had always wanted to hear from his older brother. Tears managed to leak from his ocean blue eyes, yet he didn't prevent them from falling. Tank booms, gunfire, and shouting from above seemed louder than ever.

"I vish I could take everysing back. Vhy did I so foolishly believe it all?" he sobbed.

"He promised a bright future; every-vone vos fooled," soothed Gilbert, lightly rubbing his brother's trembling back.

Again, the door opened and Ludwig and Gilbert let go of each other so they could see who had entered. Their insides dropped as Ivan and his troops entered the room. The other Germans around all made some sort of racket; some took out their Lugers and pulled the trigger; some burst into tears. None made any attempt to fend off the Russians. For a moment, the room was silent minus the sniffling or yells of anger from the men. Ivan's face was in a mocking grin as his cold eyes swept the room. Then the violet orbs fell upon the brothers.

"Havink a good day?" Ivan grinned sweetly. "You surrender now."

Many German soldiers tried to flee the room while a few more Lugers went off. Ludwig and Gilbert were forced to their feet as Ivan took them into custody.

Germany had lost the war. Again.

And things from there on in were not going to get any easier.