So this is a darker story, I honestly like it at this point. I spent a couple days writing this much, I hope the next chapter is longer. I am procrastinating with this story so don't expect any regular updates. I will update whenever I have a new chapter ready.

The Friend Found in Fire

June of 1930, Prussia

I knew that I had found something special when I cradled the small creature in my hand. I couldn't believe it. My crimson orbs were wide with anticipation, I couldn't wait to show my friends! Actually, I only had one person that I really considered a friend, Eli. However, he was really strange. He had two shining emeralds on his face and shoulder-length hair the color of an oak trunk. Though he had a very feminine build, he was agile, smart, and strong. He could outwit any of the boys in the small town.

We were both seven at the time, when I found what would become the most important thing in the world to me. It was an event that would change our lives forever, but first I should tell you more about myself. My name is Gilbert Beilschmidt, I lived my entire life in a small village in the kingdom of Prussia. I had never left the village until the day I turned twenty-one. My best friend growing up was Eli, who kept a huge secret until that day.

Now back to the story, we were seven at the time. Eli and I each had our respective wooden swords, the thud of wood clashing together echoed through the clearing. It was our secret spot that we had never shown anyone else, you had to trek half an hour to get to, near an abandoned cottage. We knew each other's style, making it difficult for either of us to land a blow. That was until he disappeared out of my view and I felt the wood being jabbed into my side.

"You surrender?" The thick Hungarian accent hit my ears as I smirked. I dropped my sword on the ground and waited until I felt the pressure leave my side before lunging at the hilt of the blunt weapon. Eli easily managed to catch on to my plan before I even put it into motion.

Instead of instinctively pulling back, the younger boy thrust the wooden sword forward, stabbing me in the stomach. I stumbled to the ground clutching my sore abdomen. "I...surrender."

Eli smiled, offering me a slender hand. He laughed as he spoke, "If you would just surrender in the first place, I wouldn't have to give you these bruises."

I pushed aside his hand with a scowl, only causing his smile to widen. I flinched as I pushed myself up, my arms were sore from fighting the whole day. He laughed at me as I lunged at him and pushed him on the ground, trying to pin him. He punched in the exact spot where he had stabbed me earlier. I cried out as I pouted, "Not fair!"

"Maybe next time you should actually land a blow on-" Eli was cut short by screams. His eyes widened in horror as we saw smoke rise above the trees. The smoke was rising above the Hedervary family farm. The younger of the two stood frozen in his spot. Eli was in shock, "...is that the farm. Tell me, Gilbert, that isn't the farm!"

His voice was a high pitch as he stared hopelessly at the face of his best friend, me of course, tears were welling up in the corner of his eyes. I couldn't move, I didn't believe it. I had never even been to my friend's farm, never met his family, all I knew is he could loose them. He started running, so racing after him was the only thing I could do. The only building in that direction was the farm, I could hear the shouting and screaming. We were so close I could see the fire and I heard a woman calling out a name, "...iz! Elizaveta! My baby girl! Where are you?!"

There was a screech of pain as I watched the timbers crumble and the roof of the small ranch house caved in. The woman was screaming in pain for only a short amount of time before her voice died off. I stood there confused at what I heard the woman scream as the younger spoke in Hungarian. "Anya! Nem! Ígérem, nem fut le újra! Gyere vissza..."

"...Elizaveta...?" The name rolled off my tongue as, the person who I thought was Eli, widened their eyes. It was a girl's name, but Eli was a guy right? "But, that's a girl's name...do you have a sister? I'm sure she wasn't calling for you...right?"

The person shook their head softly. Tears were pouring down her face, she had lost her family and her home. The only buildings that were left standing were the stables and the chicken coop, though there were few animals left due to the majority fleeing into the forest. There were three horses crying out in the stables, a group of goats were trying desperately to climb over the fence, and a dog fled towards them as the fire crackled in the background. Elizaveta spoke soft as she kneeled down to pet the terrified animal. "I thought if you knew I wasn't a guy, that you wouldn't want to play or hang out with me..."

My face softened as the crackling grew louder, people were rushing towards the barn trying to rescue the horses. Piyo! My head snapped towards the chicken coop, hearing the sound of distress. I left the Hungarian girl crying in the dust, as I rushed towards the small building. Piyo! Piyo! I heard sounds of the polizei behind me as I got closer to the sound. Piyo! I headed through the door of the small building, ignoring shouts and screams of horses. Piyo... The peeping started to die down.

Pi... The shouting grew louder, I heard Elizaveta screaming. I coughed, for some reason the smoke had gotten thicker. Before I had time to conclude why, I saw it. There was a small chick, now unmoving. I reached down and touched it, thinking it was dead, but its eyes opened just enough to tell me it was still alive. I turned around to head for the door, but I could no longer see it. The smoke was thick, too thick for it to be coming from the house.

It hit me like a train, I was left almost senseless. The chicken coop was on fire. I coughed to the point where my lungs were void of air, my eyes were watering as I gasped for air. I felt the heat lick my face, the flames were creeping toward me. I was going to die, never see my mother or father again. I was never going to meet my brother, he was never going to have an older brother...

My vision was going black, but I had to save the chick. I held the small creature close to my heart and gave myself no choice, tears stung my eyes as fear clutched my heart. I charged through the flames, doing my best to keep the chick alive. My skin burned, my chest was about to explode, my throat was on fire. I ran until I felt fresh air touch grasp my skin and flow into my lungs.

"Gil! Gilbert! Are you okay?! Get up Gil! Please, get up!" I felt a body wrapped around my own as I collapsed to the ground, but it was being yanked away. "No! I won't leave him! Gil!"

"Eli?" My mind was clouded, my vision black, I set the chick down on the soft grass. It wasn't moving, but I knew it was alive. A cocky smile grew on my face and I knew exactly what to name it. "Take care of Gilbird okay?"

I heard her screaming in the back of my mind as I laid my head on the ground. My smile slipped from my face as my pain dulled, my body felt heavy as the blackness started to swallow me. I panicked. I wasn't ready to die...

The blackness ignored my request and proceeded to encase me.

I promise you this is not a one-shot, I know I left it at a cliff-hanger but everything will be clear soon.