Aevium - Yes. If you hadn't pointed that out, I would have like...commited suicide when I found it myself a month later. As for counterparts, I figured since Edward and Alphonse were dead in that world, maybe they could have been reborn because of...something. I swear I have a reason behind it!

Chikara-san - Yeah. It just hit me in US history the other day. I'll play on it later.

the light before the darkness - I did update! YAY! Thanks for the review, I love hearing from you. I have about...three favorite reviewers. Not to be mean or anything, I love all my reviewers, but your one of my favorites! I LUV YOU! Not in that way either... Update for you!

Leprechaun-girl - Yeah I realized that after I was finished writing and, but didn't bother to go back and change it. I guess they had some...saved...from something? Oh I don't know ;;

Mustard Gal - I update for you!!! 3 I know you hate cliffies, but this story is based on cliffies most times. Don't worry though, I'll update as fast as I can. Between karate and school and youth group and Sai training and homework...and stuff...hm. Well, I'll always make time for you!


First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

- Pastor Martin Niemöller


Chapter six - Train ride


"She's gone..." Alphonse whispered aloud as he sat on the moving train. Edward was across from him, just staring at his younger brother. Alphonse had been in a state of depression since they boarded. Probably because of what had happened moments ago.

"Al, it wasn't your fault," Edward said softly as he shook his head. "You couldn't hold onto both of us, you just-"

"She was our mother!" Alphonse interrupted suddenly. Edward didn't take offence to it as he shut up. It wasn't a true statement and both of them knew it. Trisha Elric here was different from the Trisha Elric they knew. No matter how hard they tried to be one another, they were, in fact, different.

Alphonse was crying again, even though he tried to hide it form Edward. Through the loud noises inside the screaming metal machine, Edward couldn't even hear his brother's whimpering; but he knew it was there though.

Edward turned his head away to look around to distract himself. The train was big, of course, like the trains they use to ride back home. This one just seemed smaller because it had been crushed and damaged along the way to its past destinations. It was an old train by far, and with hundreds upon hundreds of passengers all going to the same place, at the same time; it wasn't exactly a fun little ride.

The brothers had been lucky enough to land themselves a window seat somewhere in the very back of a cart. Near the mothers and children, who had all been put to sleep with hushed lullabies. So it was remotely quiet where they were, but you could still hear the crying, screaming and talking from the others in front.

They shared their small window seat with themselves and their luggage. A rare find really. One they had planned to keep, though they figured they would be kicked out soon enough.

"Hey Al," Edward said finally to break their own silence. Alphonse didn't respond, too busy burying his face into his palms. "You mentioned the death camps. Are we really going there?"

Alphonse was still for a long time; just huddled up in his safe little corner. He brought his hands down and wiped his eyes after a few seconds and looked over at his older brother. "I don't know. They didn't say but," he paused, "I've heard stories about things like this. From Hughes." Curse that Maes Hughes. "He told me stories about the Nazis taking Jews onto trains and loading them like animals. Then sending them to concentration camps, or death camps as another way of saying it. Then they..." He trails off, figuring Edward could only guess the rest.

"That's Jews though," Edward countered, "we're not Jews. I'm sure most people here aren't Jews in fact."

"Yes, but we're still going to the same place." Alphonse said darkly. Edward frowned as he just stared at his brother. He hated watching his brother cry. Or worse; be emotionally damaged by something. Which these Nazis seemed to be doing a lot lately.

Edward opened his mouth, about to say something, when another voice cut in. "Daddy! Daddy, over here!" It was a little girl. Edward closed his eyes slowly to take in a deep and soothing breath; as Alphonse hide once more. Yet again, another familiar face.

"Nina, don't bother the nice men," he father said as he walked over.

"Yeah, but it's just them. We can sit down too can't we?"

"We can just stand-"

"It's no trouble at all," Edward quickly said as he opened his eyes again and tried to smile. He failed in doing so though, but continued to try. "We could use some company anyway. That is, if you don't mind sitting next to a bunch of lonely boys like us."

"Not at all," Nina said as she hoped more into the seat. Edward reached over and grabbed a hold of the suitcase next to Alphonse, and pushed it down onto the floor so the girl could sit down. She was cute. Around eight or so by the looks of it. She had long sandy colored hair that was in two braids currently at her shoulders. She was smiling and happy looking as she bounced up and took her seat next to Alphonse.

"If you don't mind then," he father said as he walked over also. The man was named Tucker. Shou Tucker. A man Edward hadn't particularly liked the last time they met. He was an older man, with almost no hair. Chestnut colored locks, dabbed with gray spots here and there. He wore thick frame glasses on the tip of his nose so the sun glinted off quite nicely. Scary almost.

Edward pushed the bag beside him down onto the floor as well so the older man could sit. "Thank you," he said with a small nod. Edward nodded in reply as Alphonse poked his head up to look over at Nina.

"Hello there!" She said when she spotted him.

Alphonse made a small effort to smile, but found it difficult. "Hello," he said softly as he sat back up completely, wiping his eyes to rid them of any tears. "What's your name?" He asked, feeling stupid for the time.

"Nina Tucker," she said with a small bow in her seat. "Nice to meet you. What's your name?"

"My name is Alphonse. Alphonse Elric. Nice to meet you," it was hard, but he did it. "That's my brother, Edward Elric, over there." He pointed out. Edward gave the little girl a small wave and smile.

"Well hello Edward," she said bowing to him too. "Your sitting next to my daddy."

"Yes I figured as much," Edward muttered as he turned to the man. "Nice to meet you Mr. Tucker."

"Nice to meet you as well Mr. Elric."

"Edward's fine," Edward said as he made a small face. He hated when people called him that. It always reminded him of his father. Though he didn't know why.

"Alright then Edward. Thank you again for letting us sit here. We just arrived on this train and we were so tired weren't we Nina?"

"Yup! Really tired from all the walking we did to get here."

"It's no problem," Alphonse said with another nod. "We don't mind the company."

"Yes, but we made you move your stuff and everything. It'll get dirty being on the ground." Tucker said as he motioned to the baggage.

Edward blinked once, slightly confused, then looked at the bags and laughed. "Oh those? They're not ours. They were here when we arrived. We just kept them there."

"Oh I see," Tucker said with a small laugh of his own. "Well, where is your luggage?"

"We actually don't have any," Edward said with a shrug. It was true. Then again, what would they take with them?

"Huh, well that's interesting. Most people here have their things." Tucker said as he looked around the cart. Spotting all the different families with their stuff. "We had to leave most of our stuff home, but Ninja managed to get a few things."

"I have my favorite teddy bear," Ninja explained as she reached into her blue overall dress and pulled out a teddy bear, showing it to the brothers. Alphonse smiled as it and complimented on how cute it was. Then the two of them began to talk, while Tucker and Edward just watched and enjoyed.

Nina leaned against Alphonse as she slept. It had been a good couple hours now since they had joined the Elric brothers. Alphonse and Nina had chatted most of the time and were now fast asleep against each other. Tucker and Edward, meanwhile, were still wide awake.

Tons of people around them were asleep, so it was easier to talk amongst themselves. "So Tucker, how long have you been in Germany?" Edward asked as he looked over at the man. They hadn't been talking much since the train ride started, so Edward figured now would be a good time to learn about this new Tucker. Instead of dwelling on the old one.

"Germany? Well, not long actually." Tucker said as he looked up to think about it. "We traveled here from Poland only a few months back. You see, Mrs. Tucker, Nina and I come from Poland. So naturally we were living there. One day, Mrs. Tucker got very ill. Some kind of sickness that was rare. Nothing like the common cold. Well, we heard about some kind of treatment going on in Russia, so we decided to move there to have her treated.

"Unfortunately, we didn't have enough money to send all three of us to Russia; so we gave her the money and only she went. I thought about sending Nina, but decided not to. It was just easier to keep her there with me.

"Then this whole war started happening as you know, and Germany took over Poland. Which meant they took over us too. Which wasn't bad at first, then they started this whole relocation thing. Nina and I were sent to go live in Germany after they burnt our neighborhood down." He explained as he frowned deeply at the memory. Edward could relate. "It wasn't that bad here either, and then they started the relocation again. This time with Jews.

"We didn't pay much attention since we weren't Jewish or related to any Jews. Then they came for us too," he let out a deep and heavy sigh. "So here we are now. On this train being relocated who knows where." He glanced over at Edward who was lost in his own thoughts. "What about you?"

"Huh?" Edward asked, looking back at Tucker.

"I mean, what's your story? How did the two of you get here. Your somewhat of an odd pair you two."

Edward nodded and took in a long breath also, "it's a long story, but to make it short..." He trailed off trying to think of how to word it. "They didn't like our eyes."

"Your eyes?" Tucker asked raising an eyebrow. He looked over at Edward's eyes, "why, they're golden!" He said amazed. He hadn't really noticed before. "Like your hair."

"Exactly," Edward said as he nodded. "They said we were pretty much perfect Jews. Aryans. Al and I aren't Jewish though; and not only that but our eyes aren't blue. Kind of stupid if you ask me."

"Very. You know, I've heard that many scientists working for the Nazis have been experimenting with eye color. Trying to change them from, say, brown to blue. Or green to blue. So they can be considered perfect."

Edward scoffed and shook his head, "change eye color. That's not their place to do so."

"Exactly; but it is an interesting subject to think about." Tucker said trailing off into a dream land. Edward didn't say anything. Tucker was still a scientist. Got that noted. "So why do you think they relocated you?"

"Well, not only are our eyes different color; but we're not the most loyal Aryans around." Edward said, a little too proudly. "We're not big fans of Nazis."

"Who is?" Tucker said laughing, "but I guess that's one reason to get rid of you."

Then they went quiet. There was nothing much else to say.

"Do you know where they're taking us?" Edward asked after so long. Only to be answered by more silence. "I heard that they're taking us to a place called Buchenwald. Ever heard of it?"

"No, I can't say I have," Tucker said as he shrugged. "Maybe it's a new city." He said with a little smile. Clueless to any possible danger.

Edward nodded and tucked his legs up so he could rest his elbows on top of his knees. He gazed out the window as his eyes dimmed, "yeah. Maybe your right."


So there you go. Not much. Not very exciting. But it has to be written or the story doesn't move along. There's a LOT of stuff inaccurate in this chapter and I'm sorry for it! Please don't kill me! I had my original editor check this one, so eh. Stuff to explain:
1. The poem at the top is just needed for this story. It's almost the theme. I love that poem also, so why not put it. It's a good theme for this chapter anyway.
2. Tucker stuff. It's all made up. Don't kill me. Don't sue me. Don't yell at me about how wrong I am. He's pretty much a made-up since it's Germany Tucker so leave me alone. Same for Nina. Sorry I didn't make her cuter. Sorry Alphonse was like...emo in the corner cutting himself. Um, no offence to people who do that! I know his wife, being in Russia, would probably end up joining them some time soon, but forget it! She no longer exists! You want to know why? Because I can do that! MUHAHAHAHA! ;;
3. Buchenwald is the name of one of the concentration camps. Not a city. In case you didn't know that. Don't feel bad. I didn't know that either. ;;
So, see you all in the next chapter! RxR because I love hearing from you!

- Kori