Author's note: I know I'm currently working on another story but I really needed to get this out of my head. There's a lot of things I'm leaving out of the summary for spoiler reasons so I just wanted to let readers know that there's quite a lot to this story that you may just need to read in order to find out. I'll take reviews, suggestions and constructive criticism to any that wish to offer it. If someone would like me to read one of their stories and review as well I definitely will and don't be afraid to ask me. I'm more likely to read a fanfic if someone personally asks me because I'm weird like that X) The first part is in first person and the second part takes you to the present where the story actually begins in third person. Thank you for reading!

Pairings: Gerita, Auhun (possibly a little pruhun), Spamano, Usuk, Lechxoc (maybe), and any other pairings I decide to add.

Rated T because its kinda dark, probably some language and sexual themes in future.

Ludwig's introduction (POV)

He was the very last person I would have suspected, the one that my comrades and superiors had so wrongfully accused. They were blinded and scared. Their nobility had washed away with so many of the other countries. They could no longer see the loyalty, the innocence that he was….

I still remember the heart stopping horror I felt when they brought the boy in front of my superior officer, forcing him down on his knees. Wide brown eyes lowered to the floor as the curls of auburn hair dropped further over his face. The boy shivered in successions as they discussed what should be done. He never once looked up at me. Their proof was flawed by an outside source, but they didn't see it. I never found the one that started such a horrible rumor.

Under the grounds that he was keeping information from the alliance…My friend was executed. They didn't even give him a trial. The world was at war, laws diminished.

To be honest, I truly thought my life was ending. I couldn't think. I couldn't focus. Everything shattered. The glass shards of my memories reflected everything I had shared with him. They fell around me in jagged piece that tore at my flesh and crushed my happiness. We were simply friends but good friends that became accustomed to doing everything together. There was so much comfort in his smile whether it was sweet or goofy, it didn't matter.

All I had left of him was his lifeless body. That was the extent of what they gave me…an empty shell to cradle in my arms and mourn over.

The damage had already been done…

After all the people I killed for them, after all the pain I caused, they had the nerve to take him away from me. I balled up that hatred and resorted to things I never would have thought possible for me.

Even before that though, I was experiencing a phenomena that was beyond my deepest understandings and perceptions. In that grieving moment as I gazed into his darkened eyes I called them out of me with all the force and energy I had left. I lifted his hands into mine and I kissed those hands. I pressed my lips into them long and deeply.

I was horrified with myself…..horrified that I wasn't genuine in my affections to him until he was gone.

So much regret…

How does one bear such a burden that they know they deserve?

I took the lives of someone's loved ones.

I took many lives. Some deserved it, some did not. Some were great, some unknown. These souls follow me everywhere I go. They've stowed away in my body, clinging and feeding on the life that took theirs away. They will always stay unless I can seek repentance.

I didn't think I deserved to go to such great lengths as to cure myself of sin but the least I could do was to allow my family to pass forth into an existence of peace. I hadn't felt love in decades after my exile until the reunion with my family. They waited with a mixture of wonder and grim dispositions outside of the gates for me, waiting to see what I had become or if I still was the same person as before.

When the war ended, they lowered my sentence for good behavior and because of the position I held before everything went sour…before I betrayed them.

Indeed, I had other ways of persuading them to give my freedom back as well….

I could see the doubt and fear in quaking pupils of the guards and the way the sweat would drizzle down their foreheads when I had another episode. They were afraid of me because I was the vessel for something that was far beyond this world, something ghostly and supernatural that they could never hope to control.

No more of that talk. I have more important duties to my family and I don't care to dwindle on the past any longer. Some things are impossible to forget without suppressing it.

Then again, at least I can have some peace of mind knowing that goodness can be filled in over time. That was the wisdom of my little cousin, Lillian. She sought to comfort me one day when the gloom settled over me again. Her gentle words came slow and quietly and even for the uncertainty in the young girl, the words hit a chord in my depression.

"It's not too late dear cousin, you can still continue to fill your bowl with beautiful things. Soon enough there will be more happiness then sorrow in that bowl."

I can still remember perfectly how my sensitive cousin cupped both her hands together in the shape of a bowl and presented her palms to me.

I rarely feel sentimental…but in that moment…I did…

Still, the grief for my lost friend will never fade. My comrade, my everlasting friend will stay in my memories for all of time. Feliciano Vargas…

War changed everything, but that was the nature of it. The oil depletion finally sunk to dangerous levels with the overuse and many countries couldn't sell their oil anymore. Corruption was fueled to sickening heights and that was the start of many invasions. The year was 2060 when America went bankrupt and China had taken over much of the economy. Banks closed, grocery stores ran out of food, gas stations closed, unemployment sky rocketed and basic benefits and institutions were closed to the public. It was complete chaos that harshly affected other countries that depended on America's economy. England tried to save America in a fit to pay back their loans but it didn't last. War ensued, and innocence was killed as people blamed each other.

Many countries were swallowed up as others took the weakness of war to their advantage.

The war had left Lillian, my brother and the others in poverty. They managed to keep a small cottage in the hills of Switzerland that they shared together. It could have been a lot worse…

Naturally, Vash was the one that offered as the selfless man that he was and with the combination of funds they all managed to survive up in those grassy, meadow hills. For a time my brother, Gilbert stayed with them until one day he just didn't come home. I didn't see him after I was released. I assumed the worst for my big brother.

The present year is 2071.

It was later in the afternoon when they arrived by boat to the Isle of Elba, halting at the gates were the city boundaries sat beyond the tall metal bars. Ludwig and his companions waited to be acknowledged by the guard on the other side as the small row boat bobbed up and down in the gentle waves. The Italian island became a refugee during the war and the metal gates were established in front of the ports and the boarding docks to keep out anymore invaders. The Island was known back in history for its abundance in metal.

Ludwig could make out from the corner of his eye the shift in Lillian's position. Frail fingers weaved over the edge of the boat as she leaned out and released a sigh of amazement at the beauty of the shoreline beyond. The others finally seemed to stir from their watery daze when they noticed the blonde girl's enthusiasm. Indeed, these blue waters were undoubtedly enchanting. It had a perfect kind of transparency that anyone could be mesmerized by. The town was also an interesting sight to hold alongside the shore, nuzzled comfortably in the cliffs and slopes of the island.

"Ciao, che cosa vi porta qui?" A guard spoke from behind the bars in Italian. He was wearing a black uniform with a red stripe traveling down each leg. The colors, red, white and, green of the Italian flag represented themselves on his badge. The man stood upon a small platform anchored to the sea floor below with a tall ladder that led up to the watch tower above them.

The blonde foreigner balanced himself up into a standing position, stabilizing himself easily with feet firmly planted in the boat. The tall German wore a long navy green coat that went down past his waist with dark jeans that tucked into his boots comfortably. The coat was open with nothing more than a solid black shirt and the iron cross necklace that swung gingerly back and forth across his chest to the movement of the boat.

Icy eyes edged into the guard's articulation as his mind registered the Mediterranean language for a brief moment. He responded in broken Italian, but his eyes didn't falter in shame or confusion. He did the best he could with what he could remember from years ago

The guard tilted his uniform cap back with a scratch of his forehead. He seemed put off until Ludwig pulled out a folded document from his coat pocket and handed it over between the confining bars.

This was just another example of how much the world has been downgraded. No more of this talking to a person through an electronic audio box or exchanging documents on a computer. In the years that followed the disabling war and up into the present cars were rare to see driving. The general public had minimal access to gas or oil except for the use of trains and other major forms of transportation. Plane transportation is mostly used for imports now. Even with that, the world has to rely heavily on local products and goods now to sustain a crumbled society.

The guard unfolded the document and scanned the printed words (surprisingly) with a careful eye. His brow seemed to rise slightly at the letter's request, giving Ludwig an unsettling look before the gaze returned to the paper.

It contained a letter of appeal by the holy Bishop himself who resided on the Italian providence. The holy stamp of the church was present near the bishop's signature as proof of authenticity.

Finally, the guard seemed vaguely satisfied as he lowered the paper from his face and inspected Ludwig and the three other people on board. Two of the people were women that consisted of a shy young girl that appeared to be no more than 14 and an older woman with luscious brown hair that flowed down to her waist. The last person was a man that held a prudish disposition with a carefully placed curl above his forehead.

"Posso vedere alcuni identificazione?"

Ludwig did as instructed. He drew out his official passport, holding the small booklet out as his index finger bookmarked the Identification page. He could see the guard reciting the name in his head as he looked from the passport to the document to make there was no mistakes.

With that settled, the guard suddenly grinned with a friendly nod of approval.

"Ludwig Beilschmidt, benvenuti all'Isola d'Elba"

Italian translations:

Ciao, che cosa vi porta qui?- Hello, what brings you here?

Posso vedere alcuni identificazione?- Can I see some identification please?

Benvenuti all'Isola d'Elba- Welcome to the Isle of Elba