A/N - I'm alive!

So sorry for the little hiatus and the short length of the chapter. Writer's block chose the worst time to hit.

Anyway a guest reviewer commented how the last chapter was a little hard to fallow, and to be honest I don't blame you. The whole concept of the paths and the desert were hard for me to rap my head around at first, but it is cannon to Attack on Titan and everything that's been happening is me trying to prevent plot holes without changing or outright ignoring cannon. I'm sorry if it's a little jumbled and seams patched together but let's face it. When you drop characters from nearly any other universe into AOT, they'll be stupidly overpowered for the most part and I already deviated massively from AOT's story the moment I started this fic, so this is me trying to balance it out, without braking anything.

Now that that's out of the way, happy reading.

Wings of Freedom

Chapter 25

Roy stared wide eyed as he looked between Eren and the tether, which now had the see through image of a man standing in it "Eren!" Grisha called out in shock and relief.

Eren stood in shock for a moment before running to his father "dad!" he called out as he reached for him but nearly fell as his arms passed right through Grisha. Roy just gave an exasperated sigh though "of corse. Because this all wasn't confusing enough as it is" he muttered.

Grisha meanwhile, knelt to get a better look at his son, apparently ether ignoring or obliviously to Roy "Eren, what happened to you? How are you here?" he asked with amazement and worry as he ghosted his hands over Eren altered hair and ears.

Eren blinked a few times before he rubbed the back of his head and he laughed sheepishly "yah, I guess a lots happened since the last time we saw each other. But we're alive. Me Armin and Mikasa" he said and Grisha let out a relived breath as tears pricked at the corners of his eyes "what about your mother? Is she with you?" he asked but Eren clenched his fists as he cast his eyes to the ground and Grisha stiffened as he could immediately tell what happened "I'm sorry dad…but I couldn't…I couldn't save her!" Eren said with his own tears threatening to spill over.

There was silence for a moment between the two, until Grisha placed his hand on Eren's shoulder and he was able to feel it a little despite it ghosting through him "don't be sorry Eren. There was nothing you could have done…what matters is that you, Mikasa and Armin are still alive" Grisha reassured his son and Eren looked up at him.

Grisha's expression turned serious though as he took a breath "but Eren, how are you doing this. Appearing here like this?" he asked with concern and Eren started fidgeting nervously as he glanced back at Roy, who was standing off to the side "we're not really sure. It's all so confusing, I barely understand any of this" he said but Grisha arched a confused eyebrow at him "we? Are Armin and Mikasa with you?" he asked and Eren's own face mimicked his look of confusion "no, I'm talking about Roy. He's right there" Eren answered while pointing right at the Rider, who bore a frown as he tried to make since of everything.

Grisha frowned with concern though "Roy? Eren I don't see anyone else with you out here in this field, and who is this Roy?" he asked but Eren just gave him a confused look "field? But we're in a desert" he questioned back without thinking. Grisha narrowed his eyes a little "a desert? Wait, how do you even know what a desert is?" he asked.

It was at this point that Roy grew tired of the back and forth questing that only lead to more questions and he walked up and placed his hand on Eren's shoulder "I could ask you the same question Mr. Yeager" Roy said and Grisha took a step back as he was finally able to see Roy "what? Who are you and what are you doing with my son?" Grisha asked with a protective edge. Roy gave nothing away though as he gave a polite nod of his head "my name is Ruaidhrí Mayson, and I am the one who has been looking after your son for the past two weeks" he introduced himself.

Grisha blinked as he looked at Roy with an expression that the Rider couldn't quite pin down. Was it shock? Confusion? Recognition? Ether way it didn't matter because they were running out of time.

Roy held up his hand as Grisha made to speak "Mr. Yeager, I understand that you are rightfully concerned and we are all very confused, but to be blunt, we don't have the time. It's only a matter of minutes at most, before the Shade realizes what's happened and comes after us, and there is no chance of us surviving this time" Roy warned with absolute seriousness "Eka thorta du ilumëo" Roy quickly added when Grisha eyed him with suspicion.

Grisha stilled eyed Roy with a little suspicion, but it was giving way to worry as he looked between Roy and his son.

Roy also looked between then before sighing "look Mr. Yeager, we don't have the time. If ether of you have anything to say, now is the time" he said with a slightly challenging edge. It hadn't escaped Roy that Grisha had to already know what a desert was to ask Eren how he knew.

The elder Yeager grimaced as he looked between them before looking back down to his son "Eren…can you at least tell me where you are?" he asked with a slightly conflicted expression. Eren looked away with a guilty expression though before finally facing his father again "far away…nearly back to wall Maria" he said.

Grisha's eyes shot wide at that "what!? But how do plan to survive out there and get back!?" he asked with concern and Eren just looked more guilty "we're safe dad. We don't need to worry about the Titans but…we're not coming back yet" Eren admitted. Grisha looked near panicked now "what!? Eren that's a insane! How can you-"

"DAD!" Eren interrupted Grisha and gave a determined stare that gave his father pause. Eren then lifted his hand and took a breath "brisingr!" he spoke and Roy was glad the boy had the foresight to rain in his power while still in this place as a red flame burst to life in his hand.

Grisha jumped at the conjured flame, burning over Eren's palm and stared at it and then his son in absolute shock and disbelief "I can do things no Scout could ever do now dad. And in a few years time I'll be able to tear the Titans apart like there nothing. That's why I have to stay dad" Eren explained with a determination that was unshakable.

Grisha just stared at Eren for a moment before looking back to the flame over his palm, but then his focus shifted to below it, at Eren's palm and a surprised expression crossed his face before he gave the ghost of a smile "I see…so Dragons found their way to paradise…" he trailed off while Eren and Roy chocked upon hearing his words.

The two Riders were shocked to say the least as they stared at Grisha and the flame over Eren's palm died as his hand fell limp at his side "WHAT!? You know about Dragons!? But how and for how long!?" Eren asked frantically. How long had his father known? How much did he know!?

They would never get the chance to those questions though, as Roy suddenly yelled in pain and nearly collapsed as he gripped his glowing scar "time's up" he grunted out as Eren looked at his with dread "no, not now!" he yelled as he looked back behind them mad gasped with fear.

On the horizon, a wave of pure shadow, rose up higher then even the walls back in reality and quickly made it's way towards them with horrific cacophony of monstrous screams.

"EREN!" Roy yelled as he gripped the boy's shoulder tightly "we need to go now!" Roy said with urgency as he struggled to stay standing and began chanting the spell to hopefully get them "what!? No, not yet! We still-"

"Eren!" It was Grisha who interrupted this time as he kneeled down to Eren's level "I don't know what's going on but if your life is in danger, then you need to leave now!" he said but Eren grimaced as the showed loomed ever closer "but…" he tried to say but Grisha reached up to grab his son's shoulders and somehow willed them to make contact "Eren, the cellar!" he yelled and the two Riders looked to him with confusion "in our home in Shiganshina, everything I know! The secrets of the Walls, the Titans and Dragons, is all in the cellar! The answers are there, you must get them!" he explained as fast as he could.

Eren was stunned for a moment but as he looked into his father's hard eyes, he gave a node "good, now go!" Grisha ordered and Eren turned to Roy who was stringy to finish his incantation with his curse scar flaring at it's worst but with a yell, he managed to force out the last words and the tethers on their hands glowed brightly as they solidified and they could both feel their Dragons clearly "PULL US OUT!!!" Roy screamed as the massive wave of spirits was now over them and his pain was reaching it's peak.

The two felt like their arms were pulled out of their sockets as they were suddenly yanked up into the sky at grant speed. Eren looked back down at his father as they rose and some tears threaten to leak out as they got further away and Grisha gave a sad but relieved smile "goodbye Eren" he said and the young Rider's breath caught in his throat.

Why did it feel like they were saying goodbye for the last time?

Eren clenched his eyes shut as he gripped the tether at his hand tightly and the one on his neck faded "goodbye dad" he said, barely universe a whisper but Grisha heard it as the two picked up speed and the wave of shadows nearly had them but they shot right passed it and faded away.

Grisha then began to fade away as well as he looked down and took a shaky breath "goodbye Eren…take care of Armin and Mikasa…" trailed off as he faded away, and the enraged wave of shadows came crashing down.

A/N- "Eka thorta du ilumëo" - "I speak the truth"