This is mostly from Ymir's POV, I needed to connect the changes I made in order for them them make somewhat sense, so there's not much Eremika in here
Ymir is climbing up a tree, bringing with her a rabbit that she hunted - Would be much easier to just turn into the Jaw, but I can't risk being found out.The freckled girl made her camp not too far away from the rest of the 104th squadron is staying, wanting to keep an eye on Historia - she doesn't know how she reacted to her letter, but she did see a small smile come to her face just before she entered the house, so she's got a pretty good hunch about it.
After reaching her camp, situated on the largest branch that wouldn't break, while being also very high up, she puts the rabbit down and starts organising herself for dinner - using a metal pan she stole a few days prior, she sets on it small branches, and she sets fire to them with a light starter and a small blade. You'd think that after a while I would understand how to do it properly, she thinks, while failing to send a spark to the branches.
Finally, after a while, she manages to start a fire, and she impales a rabbit with a stick, after having cleaned it the best she can.
While waiting for the meat to cook, she looks towards the cabin, trying to see if Historia will be out - but the girl appears to stick inside most of the time - makes sense...true heir to the throne, the current system doesn't want her alive... - the most interesting development that Ymir has seen is between Eren and Mikasa, the two having formed a very close relationship - it was rare to see one without the other, helping or simply talking and spending time together. Both kids definitely look happier and more relaxed, she noticed, and that also affected the general mood around the squadron.
Still not cooked yet...While waiting for the rabbit for finish cooking, her thoughts turn to Eren - she followed the carriage that departed a few days ago into a deeper part of the forest. Hange and Eren were apparently conducting experiments on his Titan, from intelligence tests, and, weirdly enough, him just apparently standing in a cave and doing nothing. Ymir took a while to finally understand what they wanted to do - are they actually trying to make him harden his body? . She had heard Hange talk about "hardening", and she quickly associated that to what they were trying to do.
Pointless...it's not the right Titan...not like I could do that either though...
She still thinks if running away was the best choice, rather than just come forward - she has basically all the answers they're looking for, and also the answers to Eren's training. So much time saved and so many fewer risks taken, if she were to step up and make herself available.
But she also knows that the squad is hiding, because they're looking for those secrets, so there's a chance that if those secrets stop being that, there would be a full blown war going on.At least that's what Ymir thinks. It wouldn't be the first time that I am wrong about stuff.Ymir smells the meat, practically sure that's it's been cooking for enough time now.
I wonder if Historia would want to have what Eren and Mikasa have...maybe with me... Ymir digs into the rabbit, wishing that she at least had some spices with her.
I'd like to, at least.
When she's done, she makes sure to clean everything perfectly, to avoid leaving any food remains to fall off the tree and give out her place, when she hears rustling coming from down below - looking down, she's able to see a few people, covered by cloaks - looking more carefully, she is able to spot her friend's faces.
Where are they going this late?
"What would have happened to us if we stayed there..."
"Doesn't matter - let's go to the rendezvous point. We don't have much time"
What...Ymir thinks of any reason why they should escape, but decides to just follow them for as long as she can, hoping that they stick close to the forest.
She is able to see everyone, from her position - Sasha, Connie and Jean, having formed an inseparable trio, stick together, each making sure that the other two are close by. Eren, Mikasa and Armin, the other trio, are doing the same, occasionally sneaking glances behind them to check on Levi and Historia.
They travel through the entire night, when Ymir is forced to stay behind when they exit the forest and enter the city limits, not wanting to be discovered - damn...I'll have to stay here for a while.
The girl waits for a couple of hours, until she deems it safe enough to climb down and enter the city. She is careful of anyone that might recognise her, so she swipes the first rag she sees, and covers herself with it, quickly abandoning that idea when more people take notice of her due to her being covered.
Ok, hiding in plain sight it is then - good thing I have normal clothes on...
Surprising herself, she actually catches up with the group, seeing them at the end of the road, Levi being confronted by a group of people. She is too far away to determine what they're talking about, and she is trying to get closer, when suddenly she hear from behind a carriage running - Ymir quickly moves out of the way, and she sees the people in that carriage grab 2 kids from the squadron.
"EREN AND HISTORIA HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED AGAIN!"
Historia?! Damn! Guess I'll make a sudden appearance then!
Ymir runs towards the group, and then stops, noticing how Mikasa isn't freaking out at all, seeming quite calm too.
Why isn't she running after them?
Looking at the rest of them, Ymir sees how no-one is particularly stressed about this development.
From Levi I can' understand, but why is nobody else- wait...
She mentally counted the number of people, checking with herself if she was counting right.
Sasha, Mikasa, Levi, Connie...where are Jean and Armin? Could it be that they left them behind...
She then remembers that Historia told her that someone had to impersonate Eren for his trial after failing to capture Annie, and it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to assume that that someone was Jean.
Fueled by this newfound information, she trails behind the group, when Ymis sees that they're about to breach a large building, seemingly of the Reeves Company.
Now thinking that the one inside isn't Historia, Ymir back out, getting back to hiding, and waiting to see if she can meet up with Historia again.
*Historia and Eren are in the cave*
Ymir has managed to stay close to the squad, following them in the church, where she sees them climbing down some sort of cellar.
Ok, decision making time - if Historia and Eren are there, with Reiss, that means that Historia will eat Eren and become a Titan.
Ymir shudders at the thought - she doesn't want her friend to suffer her same fate as her. She knows that, in her current state, she wouldn't be able to fight, seeing as Levi and the rest went in fully armed and with the gear - If I go there, I'd have to transform...
Deciding to think later and act first, Ymir follows them down, making sure not to be seen or heard, not an easy task, seeing as they're not that far ahead.
"Ok, roll them down now!"
At Hange's command, Armin and Connie push some barrels down the stairs, and at the bottom they emit smoke, quickly covering the cave, lowering visibility, followed by flare guns.
Not wasting any time, the squadron is quick to take to the air, with Sasha and Armin providing support from the ground - Ymir is not moving, still not seeing a way she can reach Historia safely. She is able to see Mikasa, her blades cutting down the people already in the cave, but not noticing a person getting behind her, their position favorable to avoid detection from the girl or the others - Damn it! Guess I'm game now
A bright light surrounds the cave, and Armin is thinking already that Historia became a Titan in order to eat Eren. He's about to warn the others , when from the smoke a familiar 4 legged Titan appears, taking down a couple of soldiers that were cornering Mikasa. The Titan is quick to take down most of the other people, its small figure and agility being an advantage in this environment.
Connie looks around, seeing if he can spot the Titan, when he sees it, attacking the enemy and currently providing support with Levi. "IT'S YMIR! SHE CAME BACK!". His shout is heard, the rest of the squadron relieved to see their friend with them again.
"HEY UGLY! WHEN YOU'RE DONE HERE, GO TO THE END OF THE CAVE! HISTORIA IS THERE!"
Ymir hears that, and is about to go, but she spots more soldiers flying through the air, and she stops, Levi at her side -"You go, we'll take care of these clowns.". Before she can go, Levi quickly stops her, a serious look on his face - "If you see a tall man wearing a hat, don't give him any openings. He's like me, but an enemy - don't underestimate him"
Ymir nods, and then runs down the cave, looking around to see if she can spot the man Levi just warned her about - she sees a man, matching Levi's description, who immediately notices her- for how fast Ymir is moving, she's still a Titan.
"Just how many Titans are in this place!" Kenny shouts before leaping towards the giant, blade in hand. Ymir manages to avoid the hit, rotating her body so her neck isn't in the way of Kenny's knife.
"Man, Titans are sure a pest to deal with - no wonder Levi's is considered the best, if he deals with them every day", Kenny thinks aloud, a proud grin coming to his face, while he shoots a hook on the opposite wall - "But Titans have never met me"
Historia and Rod see Kenny chasing after the Titan, and both recognize the Titan, Reiss looking confused at seeing another Titan in here - Someone else came to this island?
Historia can't help but smile wildly at the giant, who is still evading Kenny's relentless attacks, the anti personnel gear not being as agile as the 3DM gear, thus not being able to quickly change direction - "YMIR! YOU CAME BACK!"
At the shorter girl's shout, the Titan quickly lands next to her, hoping to send the message that she is here only to protect Historia and not fight - Reiss, still confused, quickly stops Kenny from continuing the attack, raising his hand -"Ackerman, please, do not continue - it's not a threat".
The tall man lands, adrenaline still pumping in his system, and relents, backing away, leaning against a wall.
Steam rises from the Titan, and Ymir lifts herself up, quickly exiting the giant body - "Historia! Don't do that! Don't become a Titan!" - she says, while grabbing the syringe - "You don't want to do that - it's hell"
"B-but...he told me that I'll inherit the ultimate power - I can wipe out the Titans, Ymir! We can live as we always wanted! Free!"
Ymir pulls a face at that statement, her eyes locking with Reiss', basically staring him down and daring him to move - "I don't know what he told you, and I don't know how Eren got to have that power, but wouldn't you think that, if someone could've wiped out the Titans, they would have already? Who would live like this?" - she then turns towards Reiss, almost growling a warning to stay put -" Also, why do you think that he doesn't want to do the deed himself? What's the hold up, uh, Rod?"
Without waiting for the man to reply, Ymir continues, just staring straight at him - "It's because you can't! You change! Your ideal, your personality, you! You change forever...and you don't do a thing"
Eren is watching and listening intently, still astonished by Ymir's appearance, and her speech. So she knows about everything...why keep it a secret!?
Historia is looking down, mind racing with the new information - "B-but..." - she then realises something else entirely -"Eren knows that he has the power right? He can use it! His personality didn't change at all! He wants to kill all Titans!"
Reiss intervenes this time, making himself noticed by the 2 girls - "It's because he's not of royal blood. Only the descendants from that line can access the full power. We touched him earlier,remember? Those visions, those were memories of Frieda - Eren was merely the conduct, and we were the energy."
Historia is still taking everything in, breathing quit heavily, - Should I listen to my father, or to my friend -, eyes darting between the two.
"Historia, I told you - live your life. Don't take any more aliases - just be Historia!".Ymir is shoved away by Reiss, who grabs the syringe again and readies it, pushing down on Historia's arm - "Don't listen to that nobody - you're royalty, Historia! You have to follow what's best for the kingdom - trust me"
Alias...or me...
Suddenly the blonde girl throws Reiss' hand away, making the syringe break, liquid pouring on the floor - " HISTORIA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!", Reiss screams, shaking the girl in anger, when he gets picked up and body slammed by the freckled girl, towering over him - "Don't you touch her", she threatens him.
"I'm not going to be your puppet, dad - I'm going to be Historia Reiss, the new Queen! Living my life! Ymir! Hand me the bag, quick!" After receiving it, both girl sprint towards Eren, who , for his credit, has been trying to connect all the information that has been thrown around up until that moment - Historia gets to work unscrewing the holds, releasing Eren, while Ymir ungags him.
Knowing already what he wants to ask, Ymir shuts him up -"Hold the questions for later, now we run"
While the duo is freeing Eren, Reiss is crawling towards the spilled liquid, muttering -" Uri...I'm coming...wait for me...", and licks the liquid from the ground, initiating the Titan transformation.
Eren looks at the new Titan, and screams at the two girls to stop - "HISTORIA! YMIR! STOP! LET HIM EAT ME!"
Both girls are frozen in place, not expecting that answer from the boy -" JUST LET THIS STOP! SO MANY PEOPLE DIED BECAUSE OF ME! IF THERE'S A WAY TO END THIS, LET HIM EAT ME"
Ymir smacks Eren hard on his head, stopping his rambling - "Have you not heard what I said? You change! The only reason any of this is happening is because that power is inside you! If it were inside of them, we would still be in the same problems, only much worse!"
The wind from the transformation picks up, the Titan keeping on getting bigger - "That would've been me!?", Historia exclaims, to her horror.
"No - he took the serum incorrectly - ingested instead of injected - nasty stuff" Ymir replies, protecting Historia from the wind and heat - "Hand me the keys! I'll free him!"
The light and steam attracts the rest of the squad in the deeper part of the cave, and, to Ymir's surprise, no-one is looking at her weird - Maybe it's because of the absolutely gigantic Titan in front of us - I don't think they've forgiven me yet, or if they ever will, she thinks, while finally opening the last lock around Eren's feet.
"Eren! Are you alright?" Mikasa's voice can be heard, shoving everyone aside to get near him, making him lean against her for support.
Everyone gets distracted by loud noises, the walls of the cave falling on the ground, the creation of the Super Titan destroying the ceiling, causing large rocks to start falling.
My Titan isn't big enough to cover us all...if only I could learn the hardening, all of this could be avoided"I'm sorry...you're in trouble again because of me...I couldn't learn-" Eren gets interrupted by Ymir, who pushes in his face a small vial, the words "Armored" written on it -"You couldn't learn it because you can't learn it Eren. Drink this instead!"
Eren looks at his friends, who are waiting for his actions again. "Eren, I told you already, you're just a messenger, don't hold yourself to a higher standard just because you apparently hold godly powers"
"Jean's right! It's not like we have other options in here" Armin interjectes, a small smile on his face
Eren turns to Mikasa, who only smiles at him, and whispers to him -"Whatever you decide, I'll be behind it - Don't worry about failing. Whatever next happens, it's not only your fault - relax"
Levi steps in, expression decisively neutral despite the situation -" Eren, I'm sorry you keep ending up in these situations, but you need to choose now. Your decision"
Can I really do it...
"I hate to speed you up, but you need to decide now, Eren - are you going to try or should we just try to escape using our gears"
Instead of replying to Jean, Eren bites the vial
*Outside*
The squad is following the Super Titan via carriage, Eren needing to rest, alongside a wounded Hange, courtesy of an MP.
"If we let that thing eat me, he'll turn back into Reiss. If we can restrain him and force him to undo this hell, you'd be free"
Everyone is looking at Eren, and Mikasa is looking at the ground, sitting next to him - Eren looks to his side, and catching her expression, scoots closer to her, whispering -" You understand why I need to do this, right? I could save the world"
The raven doesn't answer at first, refusing to meet his eyes, and only hugs her legs closer to herself.
"That could work...Eren, are you really willing to do this?"
Before Eren can answer, Historia stands up, balancing herself on the sides of the carriage - "Eren! You were listening to what Ymir said, right? If they could, someone would've done it already! You can't undo the brainwashing! Don't be that eager to die, idiot!"
Everyone is surprised by the girl's outburst, deciding not to comment or interrupt her speaking, not wanting to be subjected to her fury.
"That plan is a no go - right now, we need to focus on beating that thing"
Eren takes a deep sigh, not listening to whatever plan Armin is coming up to take that Titan down. Next to him, Mikasa is still silent, the last comment from Historia hetched in her memory.
They both look up at the same time, eyes meeting,and, understanding the unspoken "We need to talk about this", they grab each other's hand, resting for the meanwhile.
Eren then looks around them, noticing how Historia is by herself, not with Ymir - "Wait...where is Ymir?"
"Ugly left while that thing was causing the mess - I have no idea why", Connie replies, obviously stressed about the situation. "I mean, we just got back together, and she leaves again? What's up with that"
"Maybe it's for the best - we are going up against the monarchy and aristocracy - if Historia is going to become the new Queen, she shouldn't be under pressure for being best friends with someone from the outside" Jean's voice comes through, mulling over it.
"She escaped cause she wanted to - we're both not living the way we are hoping for yet. When that day comes, she'll be back here.I know it."
Historia's firm words end that discussion, making everyone focus on the main problem, the Super Titan heading for the city
Ymir is still running through the forest,
Occasionally looking behind her to see if anyone is chasing her - More people are sure to hunt them down if I'm with them, and if Historia is to be made Queen, she'll encounter more resistance if the aristocracy knows we are friends.
She reaches a tree big and tall enough, and starts climbing - while the Super Titan was destroying everything, she managed to escape unnoticed. Historia did see her, but after looking at each other, simply nodded and smiled, before turning her back to her.
Sorry, Historia - it's too much of a mess for me to be at your side yet. But I'm sure that the time will come
She set herself up, creating a bed using small branches, and covering herself with the cloak she stole.
The moon is shining over her, and Ymir looks at it, hand stretched as if to grab the moon - she sighs deeply, a smile coming to her face - We'll get there