Chapter 78
Who You Know
"Fight… Fight…"
7 months later.
"Eren Jaeger! I haven't seen you since you destroyed a fleet several months ago..." The woman towered over the group of people there to meet them at the newly built dock into Paradis Island. She, along with her own people, stood with her, wearing their ties and suits to make the meeting more official.
"I don't think so." Levi would interject, standing in front of Eren, who himself stood among the likes of Hange, Fury, Mikasa and Armin. "He's not going to be in contact with any of you again. Consider his face the conversation you want so badly."
The tall, blonde woman would smirk. "And that would be enough. But today is an auspicious one. After all, you completed your Port, and finally you can welcome other dignitaries for the first time.
However, for now, you will simply have to do with the only friendly Nation you have to Paradis, Hizuru. Kiyomi Azumabito is their sole Ambassador."
A closing sailed ship would soon dock to the Port. A lady, followed by several armed men behind her who followed by sworn orders, came over to approach the welcoming party of Paradis. Over her arm rested a woven, silk cloth, with her Nation's symbolism imprinted upon it. Its design was old, and Kiyomi herself would instantly take her interested sight over to Mikasa.
"Do you recognise this Crest?" She would ask directly, lifting her arm that supported the cloth banner, the first thing she would say before introducing herself.
Though timid, Mikasa grasped at her wrist. "Show it to her." Eren would encourage. For Fury, she noticed such a similarity to this meaning when it came to the silver bracelet she wore with her own family name engraved into it.
"My mom said to keep this a secret, though…" Mikasa would counter.
Eren kept his eyes upon her. "But you showed it to me when we were younger. If you trust me, you can show them."
Mikasa nodded, rolling up her sleeve covering her wrist. The men behind Kiyomi gasping as they saw the same crest tattooed onto Mikasa's wrist, which her mother gave to her as a child. "I was told this has been passed down to my mother, who herself received one from her own mother, and so on. And I was told to pass it on to my own children, one day."
"Such… A noble act!" Kiyomi sobbed, reaching out and grabbing at Mikasa's wrist. "Around 100 years ago, there was a son from the Azumabito family. He was a great ally with the Fritz Royal family and even visited here often. But after the Titan War, and with the news that it was the Fritz family line that left Atheria in ruin, Hizuru lost its standing in this world, and with Paradis. And yet, under all the fighting and confusion, some members of that son's family were left on this Island.
Mikasa, is it? You are a descendent of a man who fought against the ideal of Blood Purge's. You are a descendant of a man with which our own Nation lost. You are Hizuru's hope!"
With Mikasa left stunned and quite literally speechless, Kiyomi took her step back from the girl after delivering such truths. A step forward then came and it was from Fury this time. "Your people found out about the Blood Purge against Bloodborn's, and were against it?" Ackerman's in general, Fury wondered?
Kiyomi nodded. "And later persecuted because of it. Not only that, but Atheria was its own island that bordered on the shores of our home Nation. And it was under our protection. But the news came that the attack from the old King Fritz was quick and swift, by the time they saw the fires and the rising smoke on our shoreline, Atheria was lost to them, as would our friendship later down the line once we learned of the past. The true history."
Hange cleared her throat to interject. "Fury here is a Bloodborn."
With widened eyes from Kiyomi, and mutters from the men behind her, the ambassador herself then came over. Levi then stepping forward to be nearer to Fury. "So the rumours that came to us were true; there was still a living Bloodborn. We just weren't sure if you were here, or over in Marley."
"We knew of this Atheria." Hange then continued. "We have one individual among us who's own family line came from there. He was the one who told us in what state that little island is still in."
"Still in?" Kiyomi stepped back, confused. "Atheria has since rebuilt. It has no walls surrounding it from enemies like you have here, but it is thriving, and still further under my Nation's guided protection.
The land is cold, and only the hardy can survive among the continuous snow blizzard's that hail down from the island's greatest landmark; the Twin Peaks. Two identical mountains in their height is such a sight to behold."
"Y-You mean… The scarring of its land wasn't permanent?" Fury asked with a stutter, Kiyomi shaking her head to answer Fury's shocked response. Levi placed his hand atop her shoulder, pulling her back in line, despite her wanting to know more about that place, and its past, for she knew that was where the first Bloodborn's hailed from 100 years ago.
"What a revelation today has been so far." Kiyomi hummed. "To find one of our own descendants upon this island, along with the Bloodborn. Such trepidation…"
Hange frowned. "We should discuss things further with Yelena, the tall one that both Fury and Levi here love looking up to, quite literally!" Gaining a frown both Levi and Fury, they then followed Hange on anyway to leave the greeting behind them, as Kiyomi and her men followed in pursuit.
Historia, who was also among the meeting, peeked over to Mikasa's way; with a bright smile upon her face as she wore her royal gowning. "Why did you only show Eren that mark? I mean, you've never showed what was under your sleeve to anyone, right?"
"You seem happy?" Eren would lean over to ask Historia, as Mikasa tried to gather a reply.
Historia's smiled gleamed more. "I am! Me, Fury and now you, Mikasa, all shoulder a heavy burden because of our births. There's no better people to have as companions than you two girls."
Eren smirked. "Fury? A companion, Historia? Have I missed such a moment where she's nice to us?"
"Fury isn't mean; she just has a lot of internal struggles!" Historia giggled after tapping at Mikasa's arm, causing her to blush. "She's actually really nice, deep down!" Both Eren and Mikasa blinked. "I spoke with her a while this morning, as we were all prepping for today's events. She spoke softly, and gave me praise for stepping up to my role as Queen. I just think she hides a lot of that kindness behind her mask because she's so used to it."
"Definitely not the Fury I'm familiar with." Mikasa mumbled. "Her bad attitude and language can be on par with the Captain's. Aren't they really old friends, or something?"
Eren tilted his head. "I heard they joined the scouts together. But then I remember a moment where Petra once told me that she heard that the Captain used to be some well-known criminal way back then. I don't think anyone but Captain Levi and Fury know that truth."
"Hm. They kinda remind me of you two." Historia addressed both Eren and Mikasa together. "They're close friends, and there has been a few moments where Fury has let it shown that she has worried over the Captain, just as you have with Eren, Mikasa. Haha! They're just you two… but older!"
Mikasa and Eren gave a quick glance each other's way, unable to reply to the now giggling Historia.
"Such a historical day!" Kiyomi would boast, as now, later in the day, she sat within a conference room with the rest of those who met her at the Port. "Though it would never have come to pass if not thanks to Zeke Yeager who has brought us all together. I would like to report that in exchange of letting us meet you, Lady Mikasa, as well as confirm our hope's that there was a Bloodborn here, we met that man in discretion and agreed to… specific conditions.
In exchange for willing to co-operate, he promised the supporting Nation an industry big enough to win over other Nations. However, if what he told us was true, there is resource below this island that is more desirable than Gold or even Diamonds."
"So they're here using me, and maybe even Fury's identity, as the excuse?" Mikasa hummed to herself, glaring over at Kiyomi's way, watching as the woman practically drooled over the aspect of treasure. "Though that tall lady, Yelena, did tell Hange that negotiations would go well, because Kiyomi loves money…"
"So what is the arrangement that was made with Zeke?" Historia would ask.
Kiyomi looked over. "He claims to have secret plans. But requires our Mediation. I have with me three steps that are to be required to protect this land from the Rumbling:
The first is for experimental use of the Rumbling. A fragment of its power must be shown to the rest of the world to prove its destructive potential.
The second is Hizuru's Mediation. Our goal is to raise the Military strength of this Nation to the point that it wouldn't even need a Bloodborn to protect them from Titan's, or the Rumbling.
Lastly, the continuous possession of the Founding Titan and a Titan with royal blood during that period. Along with Bloodborn's, which still also leaves room for potential experiments.
Zeke wishes to pass down the Beast Titan to one with royal blood. But also wants the Bloodborn, along with the one with royal blood and only 13 years left to their life once given his Titan, to bear and have as many children as possible."
The room left silent. Even upon Hange's face was a difficult expression. To be the one's with the power of the Rumbling was their greatest weapon against outside threats, but even she, and most of her fellow Officers in the room, could not agree to Zeke's final requirement. And how would Fury handle such a request, knowing it was Zeke who killed Erwin? Would Fury, someone who has always pretty much only seen the worst in people, be willing to undergo such a degrading thing in order to just save the lives of strangers?
"I understand." Historia then called out, pulling Hange from her thoughts, noticing how Historia's smile was no more. "I will agree to inherit the Beast Titan. As long as the Rumbling is necessary for our existence."
With a sudden slam of fists to his table, Eren stood high from his chair. His expression grim, his eyes narrowed with a deathly glare over to Kiyomi. "If broken walls, destroyed land and kids bred to be used and killed like pigs, are what we must do in order to just survive, then I cannot accept my brother's plan! It's crazy to already put our fate in the possession of otherworldly power! But wouldn't it just be better for us all to use the time we have left to think of a damn better option other than to have Historia and Fury both be used as reproduction farms?!"
"He wants me to… what?" Fury asked in a monotone attitude, her hues shaken with uncertainty.
Hange sighed, frowning with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Fury. Those were Zeke's terms. And Historia has already agreed to it, as long as she gets to decide who it is who gets her pregnant."
"She's not doing it." Levi interjected, and yet, it surprised Hange, as Levi was always someone who followed orders, even if it was for the betterment of everyone else. "Don't you think that bastard's final request is a bit steep?"
"I have requested that Kiyomi further try to make negotiations with Zeke over this matter, but even she claims his request will not shift."
Fury gazed up, placing some of her hair behind her ear. "So the scouts just expect me and Historia to open our legs and mass produce children we'd never even bond with?!"
"Believe me, Fury, no one in that room jumped to agree to these terms." Hange scoffed. "Hell, even Eren spoke out and expressed even he was against what his own brother wants from us."
"But why?!" Fury fretted. "I understand wanting to transfer his Titan before his time runs out, but why does he need us to produce children? The fact that if Historia inherits his Beast, and all Shifters only live for 13 years after inheriting a Titan, he wants her to live those 13 years doing nothing but give birth?! Come on, Hange, there's no way you can have her do that! One child per year?!"
Hange hissed. "Dammit!" She then pushed her glasses up, her left eye still covered with a patch from the accident she received during Bertholdt's shift into his Colossal Titan. "I can only surmise he wants to ensure the birth of more royal children so that there will always be someone to inherit the Beast Titan, and so that there always exists someone who can activate the Rumbling when they touch the Founder.
As for Bloodborn's, a fail safe?"
"Bullshit." Levi growled. "We both know she can't control a Titan who is still in possession of their own will. A fail safe for what, when she, or her children, could probably never stop any of those Titan's from the Rumbling."
"That's where you're wrong." Hange would mutter. "Sure, Fury hasn't shown any capabilities that she can control a Titan Shifter, but I highly doubt the Colossal Titans within our Walls will have free will of their own. I'm betting Zeke wants Bloodborn's mass produced in case they all need to come together to push back the Rumbling from going too far, if ever activated.
I think this may relate to the experiments he wants access to. Which means, Fury, Zeke may potentially request it his him you sleep with, to conceive a child of royal blood, and who may also be a potential Bloodborn. Imagine that… The power to activate the Rumbling, but to also stop it."
Levi then stepped forward, only after he pulled on Fury's shoulder to have her stand behind him. His teeth gritted, and his gaze darkened. "I told you she's not doing it, four-eyes. And not with that bastard, of all men."
"Sounds like the choice isn't any of ours to make…" Fury muttered, having Levi turn himself to look over at her, and his expression lightened as he continuously reminded himself of the promises made to Erwin, to protect her, and kill Zeke. Having her being made to sleep with him greatly contradicts the promise in which Levi has made sure to work on maintaining. Not only that, but a part of him spoke out because she was his dear friend, someone he could trust and not feel like he couldn't be himself around, because he knew the likes of Fury, and even Hange, accepted him for that.
Not once has he spoken out for Historia, and Levi couldn't express as to why if the Queen had already accepted Zeke's requests.
"...And with Historia agreeing to it, she has practically spoken for me…" Fury continued, gripping at Erwin's bolo tie. "What do I do? Do I be selfish and refuse? And risk our home? Or do I close my eyes and become a factory for the rest of my life, for the sake of people who I don't care for, other than those who are around me every day?"
Hange moved passed Levi to place her hand over Fury's shoulder, smiling. "The first thing we're gonna do is play out the plan to infiltrate Marley that we made a few months back. Everything has been put on hold to make the Port and the new train lines, but now, we can go over to there, and in the meantime, keep you away from Zeke.
As for Historia, she has chosen to do what she needs to do. Perhaps when Kiyomi asks for negotiations, Historia's acceptance will be enough in Zeke's eyes." Hange then grabbed Levi's arm and pulled him over, resting her own around both him and Fury, pulling them closer. "We're in this together, right?! Us three Veterans and all that! Isn't this what buddies are for?! To look out for each other, hmmmm?!"
"… You can be such an idiot." Levi would mutter, pulling himself away and straightening his collar. Whereas Fury surprisingly remained, though only because of Zeke now upon her mind.
How was Isaah going to react to all this?