Alright time for a change of perspective, time for Reiner! Don't worry we'll get back to our shifter pair in about 4 or 5 chapters before it'll become complete Au depending on where the manga goes. I mean this story is already Au but canon style because it's so frustrating waiting a month for a new chapter. But I digress. Since we didn't really see much of Reiner returning to Marley I'm skipping ahead to when we saw him again at the the beginning of the Marley Arc. His set of chapters will go up to chapter 97 of the manga so beware of spoilers. As usual drop a review. Let us begin.
Soldier of Marley, Warrior of Paradise
Reiner stood next to Zeke onboard the carrier plane, high above the battle brewing below between Marley and the middle eastern union troops. The current objective was to take Fort Slava, being a position of high strategic value, making it nearly impossible to storm and take. However that wasn't stopping Marley from assualting the fort by sea port while his fellow Eldians and Shifters helped attack the front lines below. Down there the next generation of warrior candidates were being out through the harsh realities he and the others endured before. His own cousin was down there, along it a select few he came to know about from the next warrior trainees.
His little cousin Gabi had that mentality of heroism like he did at that age, Falco who was a good hearted kid. He seemed to be a bit like Eren the more Reiner got to know him, always trying to improve himself for the sake of others. Calculating, smart Udo who seemed to have high anxiety, which sadly reminded him of Bert's lack of conviction. And finally Zophia who he didn't know much of, who's looks made her a damn ringer for Annie, though the first actually smiled much more.
Hell in the small amount of time he's seen the girl she'd smiled more than he's ever seen Annie show any sort of emotion. But she did have that dryish sense of humor that he rarely saw Annie exhibit on their time in Paradise. The more he thought of it, the more he sadly realized that he never really took the time to know Annie. She'd been his fellow shifter and warrior, but she seemed to be by herself in her own world, even when the trio were alone together in the 2 years before they joined the cadets. His thoughts returned back to the possible inheritors of the Armored Titan, his Titan.
In a way they were like clones of his former friends, sometimes personality wise, but he also saw the very depressing similarity. They were fighting for lies, thinking about nothing but becoming honorary Marleyeans, wiping out the island devils, or just making things better for Eldians in general, though he knew they'd never voiced those ideas aloud. But he could tell those reasons just by observing them for the past 4 years. '4 years? Damn, has it really been that long? 4 years since I returned, since Ymir and Bertoldt died, and 4 years since any activity regarding Paradise Island. Once we end this battle, it's only a matter of time before we head back there. Before I head back there. To the "devils" who will destroy the world if disturbed.
To my friends, to my former family.
What a load of crap I grew up believing.'
Reiner was brought from his increasingly dark musings by the flare lighting from below. That was the signal for their role to begin in this mission, against the middle East union. Though Reiner was a "warrior" in Marley's eyes, he's a soldier at heart. That hasn't changed about him, and it never will. Not till he makes things right, not till he keeps his promises. Not until he frees every Eldian back home and in Liberio. He paused as he recaled what he just said. "Back home and in Liberio." Isn't my home in Liberio with my mother? No...it isn't. That was a prison, an interment camp to guilt trip me and my kind. Paradise is my home. And I will free it. I will be the hero who saved the world.' Reiner kept up his act around everyone back home and out on the front lines, but he still couldn't supress a grimace at what was about to happen. He looked over at the 6 or 7 dozen Eldians wrapped in paratrooper outfits, but also bound with straightjackets. They had varying looks on their faces, ones that would growand stay with them as they became the very monsters he'd fought against for the years. Some were drilling with blank grins on their faces, not coherent at all to their fate. Others were fearful as they knew hat was to come, Eldians who were caught in some act considered treasonous against the oh so great Marley. And the last were former Soldiers and casualties from other battles who could join longer serve properly. They were to be disposed of, by act of bombardment.
Prisoners, Eldians, soldiers, bombs. The back of the plane opened up and the troopers and slid out from the rails holding them upright and into the open air. Everyone below as well as those on the plane waited with cringing or fearful expressions as Zeke let loose a wild yell, just like the one Eren gave so long ago. The yell that ordered Titans to attack him Bertoldt, and the Titan before him. The yell of the coordinate.
"RRAHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
In rapid and multiple flashes of lightning the paratroops grew and transformed into grinning, mindless Titans. Just like the process was done when taking the punished to Paradise, the Eldians before him were given a serum, however this one was unique. It came from Zeke himself, which prompted questions that everyone back home, Marley, and even Reiner was curious about. 'How does he do that? It's never been heard of before by the former beast holder, and I've only seen Eren command Titans twice in one day. Zeke is a Jaeger, could they somehow have a connection to royal blood? But if so why hadn't we been told to search for that name aside from the Fritz and Riess by the Teibers? There's still so much I don't know..'
Reiner stopped his thoughts as he too leapt from the plane. He took note of Porkos and Pieck's positions on the beach front, away from the dropzone. He would be landing with Zeke in the very center, and quickly saw how many Titans were left. They were eating the mid eastern soldiers, the sight reminding him of Trost, of seeing fellow cadets get devoured before his eyes because of his mission. But the difference was that those people he'd cared about, had trained with, were innocent. These people weren't. They hated Eldians just like Marley, but didn't keep them alive as slaves like Marley did. They just killed them, and so Reiner did not take pity on these people. He had to let his anger at his oppressors out in someway, what better was than on people who also hates his race with a passion?
But soon enough he would give his power to Eren and the rest to have a better chance at destroying Marley. If he were alive to see it, it would be great. And if not well, he hopes that it'll be worth it in the end. That his death will mean something. He shook his head to clear his mind, he has to keep up appearances after all.
"I've calculated how many died from the initial landing, and I've got the positions and numbers of all the remaining antiTitan cannons. Looks like it's just another wall!" Reiner shouted out to Zeke, who was falling beside him, and he felt a rush of memories of his time across the sea at the last word. Good times with friends, people who didn't know or face the hatred from the world. Not just yet, but most likely do now if Eren's mastered the power. In a quieter tone Reiner growled to himself as he slashed his palm with a knife to transform.
"I'm sick and tired of fucking walls."A flash of lightning struck his and then Zeke's body a moment later, and the pair landed after the other in the center of the fortress. As he landed Zeke spoke in his Titan form, continuing what he'd been saying before shifting, the words falling upon deaf ears as Reiner let his anger guide him, just like Eren had in their first Titan fight. "..War is never good." Reiner ignored the hypocritical words and shielded his face from the antiTitan shells, only to discover that they could indeed penetrate his armor. He grabbed the massive guard tower planted near his position and began dragging it across the wall top, leveling it. Cannon and soldiers flees or were crushed under the destruction, but those on the other side from his makeshift weapon were preparing to fire on him. But thankfully, but grudgingly Reiner saw Porko smash some of the cannons that were about to rain hell on his armor and possibly kill him.
'Galliard' Reiner growled inside his nape, but was outwardly unchanging. As troops began aiming at the jaw Titan Reiner finally destroyed their section of the wall with the tower and threw it down. Porko had leapt far away to safety back at the beach before it happened, since Reiner really wished that he could kill the bastard who could threaten everything for his plan, his future. But he couldn't succumb to such desires, because he doesn't have the security of knowing his family is safe. Once everyone does that, once they go to reattack Paradise, then he will make his move.
Zeke reached into a destroyed munitions house and grabbed a large handful of the anti Titan shells as he prepared to take care of the naval fleet out in the port. Once that hand went forward to end more lives and this war, Paradise would be back in the crosshairs of Marley. Reiners massive eyes widened for a moment as Zeke pulled back his arm and pitched the projectiles forward. He could see that one of the union ships had fired, the shell rocketing towards Zeke. In reality Reiner couldn't care less if he died, but because Reiner was so close to him, he would be questioned about why he didn't act if he saw it coming.
He would have his armor stripped from him, given to the next candidate who possibly wouldn't be Gabi. And if she was the next inheritor, she would go insane. He hasn't told her yet, hasn't spoken a word about his true intentions to anyone. Her mind would shatter and she would either kill herself, or she would be eaten by a comrade of hers, one of the other candidates he'd come to know.
She wouldn't fight for all Eldians in his place, and he wouldn't be the hero who saved everyone. Everyone would continue to suffer. Nothing would change, the cycle would repeat itself until every Eldian was gone from the world.
He would die breaking his promise to Ymir, to Historia, to all of his friends.
'No, I won't.'
Reiner stepped in front of Zeke and took the shell.