(Picking up after a few moments from the arrival of the scouts in the Paths(during chapter 133))
Levi : Hear that Eren? Stop now and I'll let you off with an asskicking...
Dull silence falls around them, as Levi impatiently thinks that his words are falling on deaf ears. Annoyed, he calls out
Levi : Hey... Why don't you speak up for a change?
Everyone looks around, looking for any sign of life apart from them. Armin, panic-stricken, calls out to Eren.
Armin : EREN?!
Suddenly the voice of Eren can be heard around, as if speaking into the minds of each and everyone present there.
Eren : The rumbling will not stop. I won't let fate decide paradis's future. I will keep moving forward.
Everyone looks around utterly confused. Suddenly Levi exclaims and points out towards the base of the giant column of light, which a appears to be a tree; where stands a child facing their direction.
The Eldian members of the 104th cadet corps run toward him, with Mikasa and Armin in the lead, having recognised the kid as the Eren from their childhood; leaving Reiner, Pieck and Levi behind.
Armin and Jean call out to him
Armin : We can talk all we want now that we are here, right?! Why are you letting us still use the power of the Titans?!
Jean : Are you saying you can't trust us?! why not Eren?!
Armin, distraught from everything that has been going on, continues to voice his plea in an agitated tone.
Armin : Please, don't go any further away from us than you already have!! We're always going to be together!! So talk to us!!
Eren's voice resonates once more all around them, as they are still running towards his silhouette.
Eren : In order to gain my own freedom, I will take the freedom away from the world. But I won't take anything away from any of you. You all are free.
As the four continue to run towards Eren; they stumble upon Reiner, Pieck and Levi, who, to the surprise of all, hadn't moved at all from where they had been. In the background, Ymir also appears beside Eren, as he continues to speak.
Eren : you have the freedom to defend the world's freedom, and I have the freedom to continue moving forward.
Everyone stares at each other, still baffled as to what was this plane, where they had been running in straight direction, only to arrive where they had started, and still not be any closer to Eren, Ymir and that incredible tree of light, While Eren continuing to speak his ultimatum.
Eren : So long as we both have our unbreakable conviction, we will collide.
Mikasa and Armin just stare forward, eyes wide after hearing what Eren proclaimed.
Eren : There's only one thing for us to do, FIGHT.
Everyone, dumbfounded at this declaration, look at Eren, when Armin has a question he voices.
Armin : What?, Then why'd you call us here?
Eren : So I could speak to you, and tell you there's no need for us to speak. If you want to stop me, then try to stop me from ever taking another breath. You are all free.
As the rest of them are teleported back to the flying boat, an uneasy silence falls in the Paths.
Eren : There was no other way, was it?
Ymir : With the freedom which you have made me realise I always had, I state my opinion to say, that you were and are wrong.
Eren, greatly surprised by her words, was left speechless as ever since he had learnt the way to unlock the Founding Titan's full power, he had worked only to save Eldia and crush those who threatened it's existence. Ymir, seeing his silence, continued to speak
Ymir : You were wrong to assume that that the whole world was against paradise, other countries who supported Marley did so, only out of fear of being conquered, they dished out discrimination against their Eldian populace, only to remain in the good books of Marley, and even then, treated their resident Eldians, far better than Marley. Other countries, who resented the power of Marley, even joined their forces to form the so-called Mid-East Allied Forces in a futile attempt to stop the growth of Marley, ultimately losing to the Titans of Marley. Hizuru, even if it had it's own agenda of establishing a monopoly of the rare resources unique to Paradise only, had helped the people of the Walls to catch up to the advancements of the outside world and it never differentiated between the Eldians residing in it and the rest of its population. How do I know all this, as you know I am connected with every single Eldian around the world, the reason they're called the Subjects of Ymir, I come across a lot of information of what is going on everywhere.
Eren, after realising the error of his ways, slumped to his knees, hands holding head in despair. Even if he was against a diplomatic approach, he should have tried to sort out his enemies in a calm manner, with leaving a possibility of finding potential allies. Instead, he went into a blind rampage against the world, and would have the blood of millions of innocents on his hands, innocents like his mother. Howsoever, he was also struck by a idea, that might work out. He still had Zeke trapped in the Paths and the Founder at his disposal, he could still stop the Rumbling, by freezing the Colossals in place. Earnestly, he began to propose this epiphany to Ymir, only to have it shot down by her.
Ymir : Even if you were to stop now, the Rumbling has managed to instill the fear of Titans in the outside world and presented to them, an example of the threat of the Rumbling, in the form of the ruins of the Marleyan city Liberio. Also, the Global Allied fleet, which, to it's delight, had assembled at Marley's coast, had assembled particularly there, so as to deal with the Rumbling in a Minority report style, by trying to stop it before it had a chance to spread out outside of Marley. The Navymen who manned those naval vessels, weren't Marleyans but belonged to different nations of the world, each having a separate opinion of Paradise prior to the activation of the Rumbling. With it's commencement all of them were scared for themselves and thus, stood under the banner of Marley in the hope of counterattack while Marley would be facing the brunt of the Rumbling. Marley also, had been delighted that all the other countries had decided to cooperate with it, if not out of respect or subordination, then out of the fear of being trampled and due to having a common goal of thwarting the Rumbling. The destruction of the fleet at the hands of the colossals has sowed the seeds of fear in the hearts of the governments and the countrymen of these countries. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. If you stopped the Rumbling, then this fear would never cease to exist. It would only evolve into anger at the loss of their troops and then in hatred towards Paradise, and in the not-so-distant future, when the destruction caused by conventional weapons will exceed the power of the Titans, all this hatred directed towards Paradise will be acted upon. During all this time Marley would continue to spread it's propaganda, but this time instead of being simply based on blind hate and history lessons from the past century, it would be backed up via association with the after-effects of this partial Rumbling, that is if you are to stop. In the end, Marley would have won, having successfully propagated everyone of the outside world and thus, gaining support for Paradise's decimation. Also even if you were to carry out the Rumbling and were successful in eradicating every last life outside the Walls, then the minorities of Paradise, who aren't of Eldian descent, like the Ackerman and the Asian clans, would have resentment and grief towards you, whose memories, you won't be able to influence with the founding Titan, if the worst comes to worst. Also in the aftermath when you reflect upon your past and your massacre of innocent millions who died in your blind rage against the Marleyans you would never be able to live a simple life, but a life full of remorse and plagued with guilt and regret. To sum it up would be to say that you decided to destroy the entire world, assuming it to be your enemy, while the real enemy was Marley and Marley alone.
Eren, quiet after having been hit with the realisation of the full extent of the consequences of his actions, was filled with despair and hopelessness. Sensing his state of mind, Ymir continued to speak.
Ymir : As I said, you were and are wrong. You were wrong in going against the world and you're wrong again, in thinking that there was no other way.
Eren jolted upwards upon hearing this and looked directly at Ymir, locking eyes in a stare-off. Ymir, knowing that now she had him captivated, continued.
Ymir : As you know, the Attack Titan can foresee the future by allowing the holder to experience the memories of not only the previous, but also the future holders...
TO BE CONTINUED