Levi POV
"They call themselves the Reiss family. But if my father's memories are correct, then they are no regional lords. They could be the true royal family."
A silence hung over them at Eren's words.
The royal family a fake? Well, I suppose it shouldn't surprise me at this point. Humans able to transform into titans, a possible enemy from outside the wall, and now this. The kings who have ruled for a hundred years are nothing but puppets to a regional lord.
"Why would they hide their true identity?" He finally asked, breaking the silence.
"I do not know the true reason, but I suspect that it was to keep attention away from them as they passed on the founding titan from one king to the next."
"How…" Eld started, completely shocked by the revelation. "How do you know this?"
"During the fall of Shiganshina and Wall Maria, my father travelled to the Reiss chapel and ate the king of the walls, taking the founding titan for himself. He then killed the entire family, except the father, Rod Reiss. After that, he presumably passed both titans he had in his possession to me."
Silence once again fell upon them.
So, that is where his father went. I suppose this only confirms what Berhtoldt said. The powers of titans can be passed on.
"So you are the current holder of the founding titan. We can talk about that later, but do you know where the Reiss chapel is?" He asked. "Because from the way you speak of it, to defeat the government, we must kill the puppet master behind the king. So how will you draw him out?"
"Simple, I will hand myself over to the government and he will take me to the cavern where they transfer the power of the titans. From there I can kill or capture him, depending on what is needed," Eren replied without hesitation.
"You want to hand yourself over to the government?" Eld exclaimed. "After all that we have fought and died for. Oluo gave his life to keep them from getting you, and Petra nearly did the same.
"Yes, I want to hand myself over to the government, but that's part of the plan," Eren replied calmly, his face as neutral as ever. "If I don't then this could turn into a full-blown civil war. But if I lure him away and give the government a false sense of security then you can swoop in and take the capital without much of a fight."
"Well, it's not the most stupid plan I've heard. And what if your plan all comes to fruition?" He asked. "If we take the capital with ease and you kill Rod Reiss, what then?"
"We will have to crown a new king within the walls," Eren said simply. "Then prepare for a defence against the other shifters, who will likely be attacking soon.."
"And who will that be?" He asked, his eyes narrowed.
"I don't know," Eren replied, still calm and without emotion. "I suppose someone with royal blood. Perhaps one of the royal family had a bastard or something of the like."
Well, at least he isn't trying to make himself king.
"We'll look into it," he replied quickly. "And we will look into your plan."
"That's a surprise," Eren said with the same monotone voice. "I didn't think you'd consider one of my suggestions, let alone a plan."
"Well don't be a smart ass about it," he replied as Eren stood up. "It isn't the worst plan in the world, and right now we have nothing else. Now go find a job to do."
"Yes, captain," came the reply from Eren, who then swiftly walked out the room.
"Captain," Eld said suddenly. "You can't actually be considering this can you?"
"Eld, I don't say this often. But for once, I think we need to have faith."
,
Eren POV
He walked away from the kitchen swiftly, a silent celebration going on within his mind.
This is going far better than expected. I didn't think the Captain would agree that quickly, but for once, it seems like fate is on my side.
Now, I just need to find Ymir.
But where in the walls would she be? Well, with Historia most likely.
He reached the stairs and looked up to where the sounds of the injured emanated from.
And where else would Historia be than with the wounded and those who need help.
He walked up the wooden stairs quickly, ignoring the creaking sounds which emanated from them with each step he took.
He once again came into the room where the majority of the wounded lay, and as he expected Historia sat on the ground tending to the wounded while Ymir was kneeling beside her, following every command that Historia gave.
"Ymir," he called out from the door after a minute of watching the two work their difficult task.
"What is it? And can't you see I'm busy," Ymir replied, irritation filling her words.
"I can see that you're busy, but I need to speak to you. Alone," he told her, his eyes flickering over to Historia for a moment, then back to Ymir.
"Whatever you need to say can be said in front of both of us," Ymir replied, still trying to help the unknown heir to the royal family tend to the wounded.
"Ymir, it's important," he replied, trying to stay as discreet as possible.
"Yeah, well you can say it here or we can talk to later, because if you can't see I'm-." Ymir tried to say before being cut off.
"Ymir, it's about your past."
Ymir's eyes widened at the reply, and after looking from him to Historia and then back to him she replied.
"Krista. I'm going to leave for a while? Eren and I need to have a quick chat," Ymir said slowly, still staring at him with her eyes narrowed and filled with a hundred emotions.
"Ymir, what's wrong?" Historia asked, her eyes filled with concern.
"We can talk about it later," Ymir replied.
"Ok, I'll be here if you need me," Historia replied.
Ymir stood and then walked towards him quickly.
"So where are we going to chat?" Ymir asked, emphasising her final word.
"Just follow me," he replied before turning and walking down the hallway, away from the Historia and the staircase leading up the second floor.
They walked into an empty room in silence, and upon turning he saw Ymir close the door as quietly as possible, Ymir with rage in her eyes charged forward and rammed her forearm into his neck and pushed him back several steps and smashing him against the wall with her choke.
"What the hell Eren?" She hissed while pushing harder against his neck. "What do you know about my past? Actually, how the hell did you learn about it?"
"I'll explain," he managed through the choke, his voice raspy and weak. "If you let go."
As if on command Ymir let him go, finally letting him get air back into his lungs.
"I thought you were meant to be one of the best fighters in the 104th," Ymir taunted. "But if you have to beg to get me to let go, then I have no idea how you got that title."
"I could have got you off me," he coughed out." But with how this conversation is going to go, I'd rather not piss you off further. After all, the Scouts could always use another Titan shifter as an ally."
Ymir's eyes narrowed at his words, but he could see she was still confused and shocked.
"So then, how the hell do you know about-. About my past?" Ymir questioned.
"Does it matter how I know?"
"It does matter, to me," Ymir replied.
"It's a story for another time. What matters is what your choice will be regarding revealing your titan powers to the Scouts."
"I'm not planning on revealing it. But I swear if you-."
"I'm not going to reveal your powers," he said, cutting her off. "Of course, I will be forced to if you don't do it eventually."
"You just said you wouldn't," Ymir hissed in reply.
"Ymir, we need your Titan. I can only be in a single place at a time, but with another shifter, we will be able to launch multiple offensives against the enemy."
"Use Bertholdt's Titan for fucks sake. He's just waiting to be eaten right now. So why don't you go get his titan powers, and leave me be," Ymir replied while looking down at him.
"We could, but his Titan will always be limited due to its size. I'm assuming your titan is smaller than his, and because of that it can fight on the ground and it can be used multiple times during a fight."
"You can give me every reason in the world to reveal it, but I won't. If I do I'll be imprisoned and from what I've heard about what Zackly did to Bertholdt… I'll never let the sick bastard get his hands on me," she said before turning around and walking away from him.
"Titan Shifters only live thirteen years," he blurted out.
Ymir stopped dead in her tracks at his words.
"What did you just say?" Ymir replied after a moment, her voice quiet and shocked.
"I said Titan shifters only live thirteen years," he repeated.
Ymir turned around and once again crabbed, this time by the collar of his shirt, lifting him ever so slightly.
"What kind of shit are you talking about?" Ymir yelled in his face, no longer caring that others may hear them.
"I'm talking about the curse of Ymir," he replied calmly. "Now let go of me."
Once again Ymir let go of him, perhaps not wanting to draw any more attention to them. It was a miracle that no one had walked in on them yet, and he'd rather not have to explain this to everyone at the moment.
"Now, what is this, 'Curse of Ymir'? And how do you know about it?"
"The curse of Ymir prevents Titan Shifters from living more than 13 years after gaining their power. I don't know how it began, but my father told me before he made me take his power," he lied.
"Is there any way to escape it," Ymir asked, sadness now in her eyes.
"No, there is no way to prevent the curse from killing you. So you can hide your power till your last days on this planet, but when you become weaker and close to death, you will know what is happening. You will know that you wasted your power and you wasted the time that you had left."
"You think I care?" Ymir yelled angrily. "Whether I use my power or not I die, and you seemingly have already mastered your titan's power so I don't know why you need mine. So why don't you piss off instead of begging me to reveal my power."
"I'm not begging you," he replied, still as calm as ever. "And though I have mastered mine, we still need multiple titan shifters, whether you want to believe, or not, it's true. And Ymir, don't you want to protect Krista."
"What do you mean?" Ymir replied, still seething with anger.
"Like me, you aren't skilled enough to make a difference in this war, but with the power of the titans, we can change its tide. With the power of the titans, you can save Krista from the fate which has fallen on so many of our people."
Ymir didn't reply, but he could see the conflict now raging in her eyes.
"So, will join me, and die knowing that you made an impact and saved the lives of those within our walls. Or will you die knowing you did nothing more than every other soldier. Who fought and died for something that they cannot achieve without us?"
Ymir sighed as her eyes dropped to the ground for a moment. But then she looked at him again, this time anger in her eyes, but behind that there was determination.
"You really are a piece of shit Yeager. But ok, I'll reveal my power."
"I may be a piece of shit, but right now that's what humanity needs," he replied, watching as Ymir turned to leave.
"And Ymir," he said, stopping her from leaving yet again. "Thank you."
Ymir didn't reply, instead, she left the room silently, obviously with a lot on her mind.
He was left alone in the room, only his thoughts to keep him company.
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Please review, it really helps push me to write more. I'm also on Tumblr now, I have no idea what I'll post there, but if you want to ask questions and what not then you can use that. My Tumblr name is the same as my name here.
And as usual, the next chapter will be out next week.