Disclaimer- I do not own Ed, Al, or any other characters from FMA. The plot, however, does belong to me.

Edward What took you so long to update

Sadie-kun Well, I've been gone to Missouri to visit family and I didn't have a laptop. It almost killed me but somehow I survived. Now I bring you the third chapter for your reading pleasure. By the way, the date refers to December 7th. I hope you know what date I'm referring to.

December 1941

The cold morning was abuzz with news about the war. News traveled fast at the camp. Sometimes it felt like the only line to the outside world. That day was even more exciting than most. Ed and Al received their breakfast rations and went to sit with a group of workers.

"Did ya hear?" One of them piped up. "The Americas were attacked! Early in the morning on the seventh, some japs attacked Pearl Harbor! Almost the entire navy fleet was wiped out!" Others in the circle nodded their heads. Alphonse turned to Edward with a face filled with shock. The United States had helped England under the table but had never directly declared war. It was hard to gauge whether this was good news or bad news. In one hand, the US had plenty of factories and able-bodied men. Then again, it wasn't great news that much of their fleet had been destroyed. It could serve to ruin their morale. Certainly they had declared war after but were they in it whole-heartedly? Only time would test the determination of the Americans.

Edward and Alphonse spent the rest of the morning discussing the possibilities. They were so preoccupied with their conversation that they didn't hear Basque Grand approach them from behind. "It seems I have two little scheming rats here. Well if you have enough energy for idle gossip, I'm sure you can work twice as long in the field." Edward gave him a stony glare but didn't reply. In the past month, he'd been beaten four times. Al tried to intervene once and had a split lip for two weeks. No matter how much Ed hated the Germans, it wasn't worth causing his brother more pain.

Grand chuckled at Edward's lack of resistance and continued walking through the camp. Al gave an appreciative look to his brother for not causing problems. They finished their food in silence and went to the field for another hard day of manual labor.

Huge bands of laborers worked on the land surrounding Auschwitz. Some pulled massive stones from the earth while others pulled the ploughs. The unfortunates were sent into the mines. Edward and Alphonse had the work of pulling the plough. A group of about six men were hitched to the metal device like oxen and forced to pull it. Each group had an overseer, usually with a particularly nasty streak. On average, they would work about 14 hours a day. There was no break for lunch and supper was minimal. The high number of deaths each week weren't really surprising.

As they worked, the furrows they were making got closer and closer to the entrance. Many had gone crazy and ran for the gate, only to be shot in the back as they ran. Everyone tried not to look at the gate that led to freedom. So near but yet an unattainable dream. Edward glanced over and saw a truck entering the compound. As it stopped, soldiers rushed over and began to force the passengers out. All had the dark skin and hair of the Roma. More examples to the Germans' attempt to purify their race. Edward shook his head in disgust. Then he noticed someone in the crowd. She was a girl when he last saw her but that had been many years ago.

He saw a flicker of movement and then she turned to face him. The liquid chocolate eyes of Noah stared at him in terror. Edward could only gaze in amazement as a soldier roughly grabbed her arm and led her to where the two doctors were waiting to check the "health" of the newly arrived. Alphonse noticed his brother's rigid form and looked for the cause of his distress. "Ed… was that… Noah?" Edward gave a slight nod and returned to pulling the unwieldy plough. Al followed in suit but continued to speak under his breath. "How did she end up here? I thought we told her to leave the country. She knows how the Germans view the gypsies." "We'll talk about this later Al," Edward said as he cocked his head towards the overseer. It was obvious sign that they needed to speak away from the German soldiers. Al nodded and they both to pulling without another word.

The long day's labor was finally over as the sun set. Slowly they trudged back to the barracks. Edward wanted to run and check every building. Had Noah passed the so-called "exam"? The possibility of her already dead sent shivers through his spine. He couldn't stand to see anymore friends murdered. Evidently, Alphonse was feeling the same because he took Ed's hand and gave it a squeeze. HE smiled in thanks and they continued towards the cluster of buildings.

Relief greeted the Elrics as they reached their dorm. Noah ran out from a near building and gave them a hug. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stood in front of them. "Sorry… Ed." Edward's face formed a puzzled look. "For what?" "I didn't listen to you. I saw the eminent war but I refused to run. I helped evacuate my clan but I was caught. Sorry." Edward was furious that she didn't do as told but a small part of him couldn't help being proud. She had tried to not be selfish and make a difference in the world. A thought which made him rather nervous occurred to Ed. "Did your group manage to escape?" She nodded and Edward relaxed his tense muscles. For a moment, he had been worried this world's Scar was in the camp. The man he had originally met in Amestris had been hell-bent on destroying the military. It was some comfort to know that the man in this world would be spared. "So how did you two end up here?" Noah and the brothers had split up shortly after the attack on the lab. The group moved towards the barracks as Alphonse proceeded to tell Noah their story.

As they neared the door, Edward saw a tiny white flake float gently down in front of him. Dozens more filled the sky. Noah put out a hand and caught one. A tiny white particle against her dark skin. She turned her face to the sky and saw the cause of the strange rain. Her eyes widened in realization and horror as a burning stench reached them. The crematoriums were nothing new to Ed and Al but Noah had never encountered them. Those chosen unfit by Tucker and Marcoh were immediately sent to the gas chambers. Cyanide was the chosen poison used in mass killings. Afterwards, all valuable possessions were taken and the remains were cremated. There were a total of four crematoriums. When they were run thoroughly, more than 20,000 people could be burned a day. These cold truths had become part of the Elrics' world. Noah had felt prejudice for her ancestry but never anything like this. It was too much. She started to sway before falling back in a faint. Edward caught her and carefully picked her up with Al's help. As they put her in her bunk, they gave each other determined looks. They would be strong for Noah and keep her safe. Too many lives had already been lost and they didn't want to see another snow storm of cruelty.

Sadie-kun I'm so relieved to finally have this chapter up!

Edward About time! Your readers were getting bored. So have you started the next chapter?

Sadie-kun Yeah, but I'm not working on it today.

Edward Why not?!

Sadie-kun Well, I'm reading the last Harry Potter. I'm about halfway through but I won't give any spoilers.

Edward So you pick Harry over me? storms off

Sadie-kun Wait, Edward! Sheesh, I have way too many obsessions. See ya next chapter! runs after Ed, trying to explain the situation