Prolouge: Meeting by moonlight
The air was still and lifeless, not even a breeze shaking the leaves of the ring of trees that surrounded the circle of massive stones. These needle shaped rocks stood at regular intervals around a space about five hundred meters across in a perfect circle. The ground within the circle was bare dirt without a hint of plant growth. The insects that moved silently through the grasses and shrubs turned back when they neared the edge of the circle. This was not a place for the living to be. Or at least, not a place for most of them.
The two young men strode into the clearing and onwards into the circle. One of them was thickly set with short blonde hair, while the other was tall, lanky and a raven. They were dressed in faded brown jackets, white shirts and pants and leather boots that came up to their knees. They also wore a system of black leather straps around their legs and chests. "I hate this place," muttered Bertolt to his companion.
"So do I," agreed Reiner with a wary glance around, "But don't say that in front of him, he likes it."
"That's because he's one of them," replied Bertolt with a disgusted look. "I can't believe we're actually working with a titan."
"We've already gone a long way to betray our own kind," said Reiner bitterly, "what's one step more?"
"We had to do that!" protested Bertolt, "We needed to restore the balance; there was no other way."
"Wasn't there? I wish I felt so sure of myself."
Bertolt bit his lip. "Reiner, don't talk like that. Especially don't talk like that now, not here; it isn't safe."
"I couldn't agree more," said a voice that was silky like honey but also deep and somewhat dramatic. Forrae leant against one of the stones, arms folded. Her long blonde hair fell down to her waist and her eyes were staring coldly at the two youngsters. For compared to the hundred and thirty six year old woman, that's exactly what they were. In fact, infants might have been closer to the mark.
Reiner scowled at her. "Oh, it's you," he said through gritted teeth.
"Try not to sound so delighted," replied Forrae with a sarcastic roll of her eyes. "I know you're all broken up about me not telling you who I was and serving with you in that tin pot army for three years but do try to act like an adult."
"That's rich coming from you," snipped Bertolt.
Forrae scowled back at him. "At least I didn't blow my cover and then lose my captives all in the one day," she replied coolly.
"No. You did it all within three days," replied Reiner.
"That was not my fault! That idiot Riess actually believed that his stupid bastard would go through with it willingly. He should have restrained her and then stuck her with the needle right when we first got her. My part of the job was already done."
"Unless I'm mistaken, your job also included protecting the Riess Family didn't it?" asked Bertolt, "You've done a bang up job of that one haven't you? Only two of them left alive and one is a bastard whilst the other is the Unmade Sacrifice. Nicely Forrae, we should all be in awe of your achievements."
"Shut up before I rip out your skull, plug up the eye sockets and use it as a glass!"
"I'd like to see you try it!"
"SILENCE!" boomed a deep, rich, echoy voice from seventeen metres above them. The Beast Titan loomed over the titan shifters, glowering irritably. "You humans are giving me the most dreadful headache," he complained, putting a massive hand to his temple. Bertolt and Reiner still stared at Forrae with fiery hatred, but knew better than to try anything with the Beast Titan only a few metres away. "Now then, we're all here I believe," said the Beast Titan turning to look towards the centre of the circle. "My lord? We are ready for you now."
There was a kind of crackling noise a slight flicker of yellow lightning arching up from the middle of the circle into the night sky. Then there was a booming Gong! as if someone had struck a great bell with a hammer somewhere up in the heavens. There was another flicker of lightning and everything was still. At last, the voice spoke. "All the faithful ones have been gathered," it said, in such a huge deep boom that it seemed to be the very earth that spoke. "All that is bar the one who is in chains. Fear not, she shall be retrieved and granted true freedom like all the others when the time appointed arrives."
"Sire, what is it you wish us to do now?" asked the Beast Titan, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic humility to it.
"The humans will be coming soon to reclaim the outer walls. It has already been almost two months since they crowned the shame Queen, so it will not be long now. There is no longer a chance to restore the balance by the means I had hoped. New means shall be employed."
"What new means?" asked Reiner cautiously. "The Coordinate power is the only way to keep the royals in line, and that is compatible only with the Riess bloodline."
"Indeed that is so. However, I shall create a new power that will be passed through a new bloodline. Thus shall the crown be returned to one with the right to it."
"How shall we accomplish this my lord?" asked the Beast Titan in surprise.
"All in good time. For now, I have a task that I require all of you bar the one of pure heart to complete. I have other pressing work that they must do at this time in case you should fail your task. You are to prepare yourselves for the coming of the humans to the city they call Shiganshina. When they arrive you are to kill or capture the Coordinate and capture the Sacrifice if possible. I value his good heart and would not see him die needlessly, even though he is misguided in his fight. If you must though, you may destroy him. Also, I wish for you to eliminate as many of their leaders as can be achieved, particularly the ones from the old families such as the one called Levi Ackerman. He has a touch about him that is far too dangerous to be permitted."
"You are afraid he may become one of the blessed?" asked Forrae incredulously. "That shorty?"
"He has a strong arm and a far stronger will. Should he be given the right tools then he would become a truly formidable adversary. It is much to my regret that these tools are in the hands of the humans right now. However, we are blessed in the fact that it is unlikely that they will risk using them. I wish for you to be swift in your efforts and to dispatch both of the Ackermans when the attack occurs."
"You want us to kill Mikasa as well?" asked Reiner. "Can that really be necessary?"
"I fear that it will soon be necessary to remove all of those from the old families who do not recognise the importance of our goals. They are a threat we cannot allow when the time of the new order arrives. And arrive it shall, for I am almost prepared for it now. The aligning will occur in six months time and when it does, the New Order shall arise. Take heart my loyal children, for the time of our victory is close at hand."
