Mustard Gal - Yeah I just had to put Nina. It had been in the plot since day one. And I know all about that story but I haven't read it yet! I was the only class out of ten who didn't get to read it! My teacher doesn't make us read books. She says watching the movie is better. We've watched three books this year alone instead of read them. Isn't that the dumbest thing?! I bought Night today actually (5/4/07) and read it all in one sitting. Highlighting points I can use. I don't want to make it sound too much like Night, but if it does sound like it in places, that could be why.

HughesHanajimaHilariaHypocrite - Hm, I hadn't thought of that. Now that you mention it, that could be fun to do. I'll have to think about it though. Tucker's one of those characters we all love to hate so that would be one way of making sure we stick to that; but I'll have to think about it. Good idea though!

the light before the darkness - XD Scream away! I love to hear it...from way over here...through the computer...? Yes my ears are that good.

Tramontana Keeper - I'm actually somewhat glad you asked this. The reason I'm doing this story is because I felt I just had to. I don't know why, but it's been in my head for a long long LONG time now, and I felt as though I just had to write it. Even if I'm not the best author and even though I'm not very big on the subject, I really wanted to learn more about it and use that in my story. I didn't want to write some random fan-fic that's been done a million times over nor did I want to involve so many OCs that it killed the plot. I wanted to do this one and so I made up my mind to do it. Even if no one else wanted to read it, I would still write it for my own amusement. Posting it was just a way to have others read it as well. Some may not like it for one reason or another, but some do like it; and so long as even just one person likes it I promised myself to continue.

hiya24 - That is just a reoccuring poem with anything that involves the holocaust. Being one of my favorites as well, I threw it in. It's a really good poem though huh? Glad you like the story hope to hear from you soon.

Chapter seven: Arriving in Hell

"Edward," Tucker whispered as he nudged the sleeping boy. Edward stirred a second, but upon remembering where he was, he jerked up. "Edward, we're here." Tucker said as he motioned to the window. Alphonse and Nina were still asleep and Edward had joined them soon after Tucker and his little talk.

"Where's here?" Edward asked as he stared out the window. His eyes went wide, only a moment though, as he took in what he saw.

"You were wrong about Buchenwald," Tucker said quietly, as though not to disturb anyone still asleep. The woman, their husbands, and their children were still asleep as well. Maybe a few couples here and there that were wide awake, but for the most part many remained in slumber. Though they wouldn't be for long. "We're in another place. I heard someone call it Auschwitz."

That made Edward's breath stop, though only a moment as he caught onto it again. He knew that name. Hughes had told them about it once or twice in the past. Edward didn't have to remember all the stories he had heard to know this place wasn't good. He could remember the horrifying tales just fine to know what went on past the large gates.

"Why Auschwitz?" Edward hissed as he tried to get the lump out of his throat. It was hard. He'd never felt so much fear before; not in a long while anyway.

"Apparently, it's quicker to get to from Munich and they just want us off this train as soon as they can." Tucker explained as he watched out the window also. There wasn't much to see right now. It was just a huge brick wall covering the area. Soldiers marched along the side, and very few stopped and stared at the passing train. They all had weapons in some form or another; guns, knives, etc.

Edward leaned back in his seat, edging away from the window, as he tried to calm down. It was nothing to worry about. Auschwitz couldn't be that bad of a place. Could it? "I don't want to be here," Edward finally whispered under his breath. He wasn't sure if anyone heard him through all the noise the train was making, added in with the people shuffling about. No one knew what was going on but him.

"We should wake them up," Tucker said as he leaned across the length of the seat and gentle shook his daughter. "Nina," he whispered as he kept shaking her until her eyes began to flutter open. "Nina, we're here." He said with a weak smile. Edward watched the little girl rub her eyes, a smile planted on her own lips. He looked over at Alphonse and, reluctantly, he reached across and tried to wake him as well.

"Hey Al," Edward said as he shook. It didn't take long for Alphonse to wake either. He was generally a light sleeper; especially when traveling. Edward did his best to muster out a little smile, "we're here." He said to the best of his ability.

Alphonse sat up and stretched out, forgetting where they were going for a minute, then he went pale as he looked outside the window. "It that the city?" Nina asked as she peeked over Alphonse's shoulder to look at the gates.

No one answered her for a long time. They all knew what it was. Or more, the brothers knew what it was and Tucker just didn't want to say.

As the families began to gather their things, a few German officers entered and walked throughout the train. Pushing people out of their way as they went. They apparently had made some kind of announcement a short while ago, and they had sought to fulfill it.

"Gold, silver, and if anyone has any kind of watches!" They shouted to each family as they went down the isles with large woven baskets. "Anyone who objects will be shot down," they added.

Edward licked his lips in anticipation as he let his hand slip down into his pocket. He fingered the silver chain to his pocket watch. The same one he'd received for being a state alchemist. It was just something he use to carry around to brag and showoff. Sometimes it got him what he wanted, sometimes it got him into trouble. He was lucky to still have it after all these years.

Now they were ordering him to give it up. He wouldn't.

He frowned as a German officer walked over, narrowing his eyes at the cart, holding the basket out. "Gold, silver, and watches." He instructed, shoving the basket toward Tucker first. Tucker fumbled around in his pockets until he emptied them. It was just a pocket watch, similar to Edwards, along with a few silver and gold coins. "That too!" The German said, pointing to Tuckers ring.

Tucker stuttered a bit as he stared at the ring, "but my wife gave it to me. It's our wedding ring."

"I don't care what the hell it is, put it in the basket now or be shot down!" The man growled. Tucker hesitated before allowing his right hand to reach over and take the ring off. He slipped it off his finger and placed it into the basket.

"That's mommys ring!" Nina shouted suddenly. She put her hand up as if trying to grab it, but Alphonse reached out and pulled it back. She whined and tried again, but Alphonse held firm. "Give it back! That's mommys!" She cried.

"Shut her up or she'll be shot down first," the man hissed. Alphonse leaned down and gently picked Nina up, cradling her like an older sibling would. "What about you boy?" He motioned towards Alphonse.

Alphonse just shook his head, "I don't have any sir." He said softly, still rocking Nina.

The man seemed to buy it as he moved onto Edward, "and you?"

Edward was quiet. Just staring at the man with his eyes narrowed. He reached into his pocket with his other hand and pulled out some coins, shoving them into the basket. "There." Was all Edward said.

"Is that all you got?" The man questioned as he looked at Edward's already pocketed hand. Edward gave the watch a small squeeze and nodded. The man, whether believing him or not, walked off.

Tucker let out a sigh and glanced over at his daughter; who seemed to be crying into Alphonses shoulder. "Nina, it's okay. Really. Daddy can get a new one. In the city. It's no trouble." He said trying to comfort her.

She sniffled a few times then wiped her eyes, "really?" She asked looking over at Tucker.

He nodded with a little smile, "really. I promise. Now come on, we should go get settled before the good homes are taken." He said as he held his arms out. Nina got down from Alphonse's hold and into her fathers. "See you boys inside the gates," Tucker said as he walked off. The boys waved but said nothing in reply.

They just stood in the cart, watching the others load off the train. Listening to the shouted of German soldiers in the background. "So we're here," Edward said as he looked out the window again. Alphonse nodded as he too looked out the window.

"Yeah," Alphonse said as he watched. Then it was quiet again. The sounds of people shuffling and moving about was all they heard as they tried to see over the gates. "We're...we're going to die. Aren't we?" Alphonse said after so long.

"What?" Edward hissed as he looked over at his brother. Did Alphonse just say that? Something so grim and depressing?

"It's true right? All those things Hughes told us about them. About Auschwitz. It's all true isn't it? If so, then we'll just end up dying..." He said taking in a deep breath as his eye weld up with tears.

"Al, listen to me," Edward whispered as he grabbed his brother's shoulders to make Alphonse face him. "No way in hell are we dying here! You hear me?" He hissed in an almost inaudible whisper. "I didn't spend my whole life getting your body back, just to watch it burn!"

"Burn?" Alphonse asked, almost terrified. He hadn't heard those stories yet. In fact, there were lots of stories Hughes kept secret from the younger sibling.

"Yeah..." Edward sighed as he shook his head, glancing back at the window once more. "Can't you smell it? The air. It reeks of burning flesh. I would know. Roy use to show off all the time." He said with a small pathetic chuckle; thinking back on those good ol' days.

Alphonse felt his tears run down his cheeks as he nodded, "I thought it was just my nose playing tricks on me..."

"Yeah, I wish." Edward scoffed as he shook his head then looked back at his brother, "okay Al. Here's the deal. No matter what happens. No matter the consequences. No matter what; we stick together. Nothing will keep up apart. Got it?"

"Of course," Alphonse said nodding rapidly. "We're the Elric brothers. We always stay together."

"Always," Edward said with a smile as he let go of Alphonse. "Let's go," he said, losing his excitement he had a moment ago. Replacing it with slight depression he headed out, with Alphonse close on his heels.

There you go! Chapter seven! Hurray! Not much going on, so to make it not so boring, I've updated the next chapter too! I'm just that cool XD Don't bother commenting to this chapter unless you seriously want to. Just do it in the next chapter.

- Kori