Okay mild Eren and Annie here, but I've decided big divergence for next chapter. I'm doing the big meeting my style instead of how it was done. Nothing else much to say, drop a review. Let us begin.
The Beasts of Paradise.
Eren stood watching at Annie conversing with Armin and the others. Over the past few months they've been able to build a semi normal relationship with her, considering they didn't really had one before her betrayel due to her closed off nature. But still she was one of them, and this time fully on their side. Of course his stepsister was still very distasteful of the girl, but she had been getting better to a degree.
Now they could actually be in the same room as each other without killing one another.
Given what had happened between them months ago, it seemed like a god given miracle that Eren was grateful for. So little time had passed for the massive accomplishments they've made so quickly that it was still so surreal. In other words, things were progressing very nicely for the eventual war against Marley and other countries if need be.
7 months had passed since her awakening, and since that fateful day the people of Paradise island have been preparing for War, a war greater than they thought imaginable. Because the war would not only decide their fate, but the fate of all Eldians left in the world. Their race was dwindling ever closer to extinction outside of the prison of Liberio where Marley kept it's prisoners. Apparently other countries were not so "accepting" of their race, and either shipped them to Marley like animals or just got rid of them the easy way. It sickened him and the others of the military, shifter or not when they were first told the disturbing revelation by Annie.
It was do or die now, ever since those scouting boats from what Annie had distastfully called the "Mid-Eastern Union" had arrived and cautiously ventured into the island for it's resources. Since word was received of Marley no longer travelling to the island, the country decided to try their luck at procuring it's fossil fuel possibilities.
Eren and the rest hadn't been exactly prepared for this situation, after all they were ready to fight and steal Marley's ships, so they debated on what to do with these other outsiders. The decision was quick and final, attack only if provoked, therefore opening the possibility of gaining potential allies if no action happened. So they hid and watched for a few days, before finally revealing themselves to the recon groups of being aware at their presence on the island.
The first meeting the Paradiseans gave to the trespassing wasn't hostile nor threatening, but merely the recon groups being confronted by the military and shifters. They were asked of their business here and the possible hopes to seek an alliance were a priority, since Annie told them they were a rival country to Marley. But things had gone sour from the moment Annie, Armin and Eren revealed that they were titan shifters, and the harsh tension that had already been building turned into an all out slaghter as the troops began attacking and retreating to their boats to escape the "island devils" as Eren remembered them saying as they fled.
But with their combined power of Titan shifter and scouts, the M-EU soldiers hadn't made it far. They were rounded up and captured, those who wouldn't surrender and continued to fight were promptly exceuted. It may have left a bad taste in a small number of their mouths but they wouldn't allow anything to hinder their progress, their fight for freedom. They've had enough for the past century of being trapped without hope. They weren't willing to sacrifice anything else when all they've done is sacrifice. Now it was time to take action, especially since they now had a possible way to infiltrate Marley by means of the unions boats.
Annie had left with Eren to secure the M-EU's boats before any alarm could be sent, a small group of scouts escorting them to the place one fearful soldier told them their ship anchored down at. Since the man had surrendered and gave them information, they gave him better conditions in his imprisonment. Granted the man was still a prisoner, he wasn't treated like an animal like he'd been when jailed after Trost.
But it was under a firm declaration by the Queen herself to her military as well as the citizens of the island that once Paradise struck back and achieved their goal, that any prisoners of war would be released back to their countries. It was a token of no ill will, but would serve as a warning and a reminder that they will not stand for attacks or invasions in the future from anyone. Such attempts would be met with full lethality, after all once the war against Marley was done, the island dwellers would once again have all 9 of the Titans to protect them and their home.
Or that was the endgame at least, a plan still needs to be put into effect.
Eren watched absentmindedly as Hange and Armin conversed with Annie about which of the 3 plans for the assualt on Marley to use. No matter which plan they chose it would certainly end in death, in large numbers possibly on both sides. It would also end with fleeing back to Paradise once every Eldian was freed and the 9 secured.
What kept Eren's mind thinking however was how or if they should try to secure all the titan powers at once. From Annie's words of Marley being the only country to host Eldians, it was a possibility that even if they failed initially to secure the powers, they would get them in time. If the last Eldians were all on Paradise, then it was a guarantee that the powers would return to the island once the tenures came.
Eren visibly flinched at that knowing roughly just how long he and Annie have together, but luckily no one noticed. Armin was more at ease since he was still fairly new to this, but he too has a limit on his life. 13 whole years left for his best friend, Annie had about 7, and Eren only has 8 himself. He received his power after home fell, Annie was given hers a few months before the attack, about half a year.
The thought that Annie would die before him stabbed Eren deeply in the heart, as did the thought of his friend being taken from a full life as well. But it's not like there was anything he could do to stop or slow it, none of them could. The world was a cruel place, that was the most truthful thing he'd ever heard from Mikasa. He too remembered thinking about it in Stohess in order to fight. "Right or wrong, it doesn't matter anymore! Just kill, consequences be dammed! Because it is a cruel world!"
All they can do is fight, and fight, and live until someone kills them or the Curse fianlly claims them. But Eren knew that despite that knowledge Armin, Hange, and Mikasa as well would try to think of a way to escape from this fate that awaits them all.
It was honestly one of the biggest depressing things he's faced in his life, from his mother's death to now. Learning his father's past and fate, Dina Fritz's sad story, even though she killed his mother as the smiling titan. His time as a captive learning that he wasn't special, that his ability was just something passed to him from the sacrifices of others. Annie's initial betrayel, as well as Reiner and Bert's not even a full day after.
Bertoldt's death also hurt him even if the boy had chosen to be a warrior following the road that led to the end. Thinking he'd killed Reiner despite what he's done, and finally the basement. Oh the basement and all it's morbid and Earth shattering Revelations. And the chance to go to the beach for he first time, but not as he and Armin pictured it growing up, with smiles on their faces.
They'd been robbed of that dream, and even though they rejoyced at finally arriving at the sandy shore meeting the vast body of water that spanned the world, it wasn't the same. Now when they looked out at it all they saw was the enemy, imagining the constant horrors and opression their race blindly accepted because of how the world viewed his kind. But he shook his head from such thoughts, now wasn't the time to be thinking of that. The time to attack would come, but for now he should take some time to just enjoy what time he does have left. And that meant spending it with Annie.
He walked over to her and Sasha who had recently shown up while Hange, Armin and the other intelligence officers they conversed with decided to end their talks for now. Annie's head turned to see him, a small frown on her face at something Sasha had asked her but he'd been unable to hear. Eren in turn frowns and asked the two about what they've been talking about, which Sasha hesitantly answered "I just wanted to know if it was still a possiblity for you two to bring Reiner back um..alive. Ya know, if you guys try the infiltration thing." Eren can see the red head's face looks a bit sad, but before he can reply Annie speaks to her.
"Sasha we've been over this, we aren't sure which plan we're using yet. And even if we do try spying first, contacting or even searching for Reiner is risky. We don't know what he's done in the past year, and that's if he's still alive. You remember what I said about what awaited us for failing right?"
At this Sasha flinched, and Eren too sighed at the thought of Reiner being dead. Granted the blonde was still considered the enemy since he chose to go back to them in his identity crisis, but like in Shinganshina, he would still be a bit saddened at his death. He knew what Annie said was the truth, but that didn't mean he liked it. None of them did, but they don't have a choice. It's just how things are.
Sasha nodded her head glumly, both shifters could see that she'd been hoping for a better answer. She began to speak low, depressed. "I know, it's just...I heard you two talking with Armin about how his mind is, and I guess I got a small bit of hope that he could still help us. That he wasn't...someone we have to kill, again."
Eren and Annie locked eyes for a moment, and they too felt the aura of sadness the girl was inside of. Eren decided to word his answer as best he could. "We don't know what will happen in the future Sash but, should the opportunity arise and we can recruit him, I'll give it a try. That's the best I can offer you and every one of us 104ths." The girl looks up at him, her sad gaze lifting a bit, and spoke to him "Your right, it's all we can hope for, right?"
'Yes, that's exactly right. All we can do, is Hope.' Eren thinks.