Alright I know it's a few days later than I would've liked, but I try my best with this story. Since I've been rereading the latest chapters again I've been trying to figure out how to write Reiners perspective during the return from Shinganshina to the land of Marley. Hopefully this sounds as reasonable and in character as possible. As usual drop a review. Let us begin.

'Shut up'- Warrior thoughts

'Shut up'- soldier thoughts

All Hail the Conquering Hero

Reiner sat next to Ymir in the return boat headed for the mainland, the difference between them was her being shackled and asleep. Zeke had ordered for him to bind her to prevent an escape, and to knock her out before he left to talk with the boats captain. However no such brutality was needed when Ymir told him she was already sleepy, and to just lie for her sake. He had been stuck at what to do when she said that, on what each side of him wanted to do.

The warrior side just wanted to obey, knowing she was the one who ate Marcel, she stole the power, she deserved this. But the other side of him, the soldier, disagreed, because he knew her story from the letter to Historia, her struggle to live. The hell she endured for about 60 years, if what she told Bertoldt was true. 'Bertoldt', he flinched as he remembered where he had left his best friend. Crippled and helpless to the island demons, to be killed or tortured like Annie was, like Armin said.

"They aren't demons, you should know that by now. Things were quite different from what we were told Reiner." the soldier said, before the warrior interrupted.

"And? They were still ready to kill us when they knew who we were. They nearly did it too with the explosive spear, all of them Sasha, Connie, Jean, Mikasa, Armin.. They are demons, Demons who deserve nothing but extermination.

"No, if they were demons, then Marley would be no more. They know nothing about this world, its history...but they might now. If Eren learns the power, then he will know everything. He will know why this has all happened, he'll understand our struggle. He will be furious, but unable to do anything...and yet he'll still fight." Soldier argued, and even Warrior was reluctant to admit it was the truth.

"And if he does, he will try to attack us, to take revenge against me and the people I serve. Even if it's a lost cause, I know he'll still fight. He hates us, he hates-when soldier stops the rant with an angry tone.

"He hates what you've done, but look at him and the rest! Look at how they reacted when they thought you were dead, they cried! As much as it was what they had to do, they still cried for your armored ass! Sound familiar Reiner, remind you of a time You felt sympathy and cried for one of those "cursed island devil's"?

"Shut up" warrior said, but soldier continued. "Do you remember Trost? Do you remember making the mistake of telling your plans out loud? Someone hearing it? Someone named Marco Bodt?

"Shut up!! Be quiet, I don't want to-"

"No, Of course you don't, it makes it easier to excuse what you've done, doesn't it? Makes it easier to forget that you left one of your own friends to die in a horrible way because You fucked up. You caused his death and so many others, all because you choose to just blindly accept what Marley says even after what you experienced there.

"Shut up warrior tried again to say, but soldier continued on.

"Did any of it seem wrong to you? None of the "island devils" even knowing about the world outside their walls? What they said and what you were raised to believe is a lie and you know it. You don't want to question it because it excuses the lives you've taken in your foolishness. Admit it!"Soldier screamed at him, and he felt tears begin to go down his face. He knew he was a warrior...but he was also a soldier. He knew he couldn't be both, and yet he is.

What Reiner didn't know was Ymir was still awake next to him, and she had a good feeling she knew both reasons for him to cry. For leaving Bertoldt behind since she hasn't seen him since they left Paradise, and the internal struggle his mind must be having again. She saw some of it back in the forest with Eren and Bert, but now as he kept silent, she knew it was happening again. He was crumbling under the guilt of what he's done, and while Ymir hated what he and those he serves have done, she cannot help but feel sympathetic for the split person beside her.

She knows what it's like to live a lie, she did it for most of her life. It's why she was punished, or at least, that's what she calls those 60 years of mindless hunger and sleep. All because of them, the people Reiner and the others work for, the real enemy. Marley. 'I should've told Eren about them then in that forest. At least he would know, he would try to figure out and understand. We might've escaped, and I'd be with Historia..but no. I chose to help them, I chose to go back the Marley.'

The word sent disgust and hatred through her form, and she thinks about what the confused person next to her must be thinking. 'He was probably raised to believe they were evil, and then he saw the truth. But why did he decide to follow the lie?'

She thinks for a moment, and she sees another similarity between the two of them. 'Because he's fighting for someone else, isn't he? He has to go along with it...or else other suffer. Hmm sounds familiar.'

"Reiner..." She mumbles to him, and he quickly wipes his face to look at her. He snaps a bit at her "Your supposed to be asleep, get to it." She smirks a little, as she tells him. "Oh I'll have plenty of time to sleep once I get back to your "hometown" now won't I? Besides, I think I've slept long enough in my life. Since I know what your going through, I'm trying give you the best advice I can. It would do you some good to listen."

He stays silent, but his expression tells her that she has his attention. "Like I said, I know what your going through in a way, plus I've seen what you and the others had to go through."

He interrupts her "How the hell would you ever know what we, what I went through? Don't pull my leg, I'm not in the mood for your shit."

She narrows her eyes at him and snaps back "And you think I'm in the mood for yours, you psycho? You don't even have a handle on who you are, so shut the hell up and listen. I know what you went through because of your friend, the one I ate when I wasn't in control. All because I was trapped in that body by the bastards your taking me back to, that you cower and whimper under like their the greatest goddamn thing in this world.

You wanna point blame for anything, you point it right at them. None of us would be in this situation if it weren't for them, not those "Island devils" as you called us. Not your own people that you slaughtered and betrayed for your masters. You betrayed your goddamn race for nothing, and now your seeing that, aren't you? It's just eating way at you to know and feel the weight of what you've done. All the friends-"

"Shut up! I don't need you reminding me-" he starts to yell but she cuts across him. "Well too fucking bad, your gonna listen to what I'm trying to tell you! I've stayed quiet and kept my silence long enough, but now you're gonna hear what I have to say whether you want it or not!" He stays silent at her outburst, but still glares at the freckled shifter before him. She closes her eyes for a moment, and looks back to him, much calmer.

"What I'm trying to get across Reiner, is that you know the truth. And yet your sitting here lying to yourself about everything you've seen in the past 5 years. All our friends, the times we've had, Historia, you know all of it isn't what the Marley told you about. You know that much, so you need to make a decision. Just like I told Historia, you need to stop lying to yourself."

Reiner says nothing, but inside his mind is at war with itself again. "We're not lying to ourselves. We've seen them try to kill us, we know what they are willing to do to survive." Warrior muttered.

"And you've also seen them try to reason with us, even after we declared them enemies. We've seen them cry for you even after all that. It seems that Ymir is giving you some much needed advice Reiner." Soldier said s little louder.

"Why the hell should I trust what she says? She killed Marcel! She killed my friend right in front of me!" Warrior argued back and Solder snapped at him.

"And you killed one of your friends as well, Marco! You alsonkilled plenty of innocent people too, people who knew nothing but fear of the Titans, trapped behind those walls. But you broke that cage, and let the monsters in. And now your friends fear You. Hell you're leading Ymir to her death like a lamb to the slaughterhouse just fine, wasn't she one of your friends as well Reiner?"

Ymir notices again that look in his eyes, and while he's fighting himself takes the chance to say it again. "You need to stop lying to yourself Reiner, otherwise it's gonna drive you insane. Though from the way you're acting now, it seems like it's already starting. What I'm trying to say Reiner, is that you need to decide. I don't know who you're fighting for, but you should consider all your options here.

You need to make a decision, what are you? Are you a Warrior or a Soldier? Or...are you what Eren said you are, are just a murdering psychopath?"

Ymir closes her eyes then as he hears footsteps approach the room they are in, and Reiner sees Zeke enter, looking somewhat satisfied with whatever he and the captain discussed. "Ah so she's asleep then? Good, we've had enough setbacks as it is. We don't need another one running off with the power, much less if she's the one you say ate Marcel. We have a day or two till we reach the mainland, I suggest you prepare your report for when we get back, they won't be happy."

Reiner knew they had failed in this mission, Marcel was long gone, Bertoldt was probably dead with him, and Annie might be as well. He was the only warrior returning home, and he wasn't even sure if he was one. The only good part of this mission, along with crippling their military greatly, was that the Jaws Titan would once again be under Marley control. The power should be with the true Eldians, not the island devils...right? To be under control, for their own safety..He sighed, he has to focus on what he would report about his time on Paradise.

He smiled bitterly, at the name of the island. Called "Paradise" when it was actually Hell.

And yet he missed it already.