Chapter 45
After several months, they are now in year 853, they are now working on the railroad and Connie asks, "Hey! Is this... something they really needed us... to do?!"
"Nope! We wouldn't be doing this, but those idiots opened their mouths." Jean says as he turns to Eren and Aya, Eren is working while Aya is sitting beside him with her big belly. " 'We can develop the island and our muscles at the same time', my ass."
"Aya, I still don't get why you shouldn't just stay with Mother?" Eren asks.
"I just want to see how my husband is working." Aya says. "I know you're worried about me, but I'm fine."
"Just take it easy." Eren sighs.
Behind them, Sasha is taking the bucket of water and drinks it while Peter and Katrina continue to pour some into the bucket. Armin and Annie are on the other side working.
"We can't do much but wait until we get to see Marley..." Connie says.
"Yeah. And I hope we will have a better future instead. We're grasping at straws here trying to avoid the rumbling and save the Eldian Empire..." Jean mutters.
Mikasa and Odom walk past them while carrying four steel beams, and then they hear the adults calling to them.
"Man, you're all working hard in this heat!" Hange says.
"If only Katrina would turn into a Titan and give us rain..." Peter says.
"Hey, we're not sure if the materials will get wet because of it." Katrina says.
"And we're stuck watching those idiots." Jean says.
"Unbelievable. You're all growing so damn big." Levi mutters.
"Is that you're worried about Dad?" Aya asks.
"And why didn't you just stay indoors, that big belly of yours is going to cause you trouble." Levi says.
"I said I'm fine, you don't need to be an overprotective daddy of some sort." Aya rolls her eyes.
"Anyway, it is just like you said, Eren. The world wants Paradis Island to be the root of all evil. It helps to unite all nations and brings stability to the world." Dina says. "They decided we're devils without knowing our intentions."
Armin frowns, "Why won't they consider the path of peace? All we just want is less war and peace."
Annie says, "With Marley's influence, I doubt it. They probably don't know anything about Paradis until they come. And when the time they come it will be war."
"They fear us because they don't know what we are." Mikasa says.
"That's right. They won't trust people whose faces they haven't seen." Erwin says.
"So let's meet them. If you don't understand something, then go figure it out. Isn't that what we Scouts do?" Hange asks.
After that, all of them are sitting on the unfinished train, they are making some discussions, and Jean asks, "Make a base in Marley and infiltrate, huh?"
"As expected from Commander Erwin." Sasha says, "I'll be able to chow down on real Marleyan cuisine!"
"Yeah? What should I bring? It would stink to get the runs." Connie says.
Armin turns to Annie, "However... if you're coming with us to Marley, you might need a disguise since, in their eyes, you're as good as dead."
Annie says, "Fine by me, as long as my father is the only one recognizes me."
"If the world knows that we want peace, maybe something will change." Aya says, "Right?"
"Who knows..." Eren frowns. "I was still thinking about the declaration of war happening after a year... nothing has stopped to change that, which is why it is set in stone."
"Besides, we also need to decide who to inherit the Armored, Cart, Jaws, and the War Hammer Titan soon." Katrina says.
"I will." Mikasa says, but Odom says, "Not you. The Ackermanns aren't able to become Titans, we all saw it from Eren's memories."
"I can be one. First of all, I'm way smarter than Eren." Jean says. "Instead of a suicidal manic, you'll have a gifted leader who shows good judgment in all situations. In other words, me."
"If you're that amazing, we don't wanna lose it in 13 years, moron." Connie says. "You should aim to be a regiment leader. I'll inherit one of the Titans. It works out good, right?"
"Connie..." Eren mutters.
"That's not good at all. You're an idiot." Sasha says.
"Eh?" "Don't eh me. We can't leave such an important role to an idiot."
Connie is still confused, and Sasha says, "Doggone it... I'll inherit it." Sasha says. "I've got combat experience... I'm someone you can trust... By process of elimination, it's gotta be me."
"You guys..." Aya mutters.
"Well, you said an idiot's not fit for the role. You're more of an idiot than I am, so you're contradicting yourself." Connie says.
"In my opinion, unless we know we can lift the Curse of Ymir, I don't want any of you to inherit it." Eren says.
"Why not?" "Because all of you are important to us. More than anyone else." Katrina says.
"Indeed, you guys deserve long lives than us." Peter says.
As they all notice the others, they are having their face red. "Huh? What are you turning red for?! The hell kinda mood is this?" Jean asks.
"Jean, it's the sunset!" Armin says. "It's making our faces red."
"Oh. Nothing we can do about the sun." Jean says.
Armin says, "What about you, Annie? Do you want to inherit a different titan?"
"If you want an honest answer, I don't. In fact, I'm relieved that you strip me of the Female Titan's power, so I don't need to worry about everything about it." Annie says.
"You're welcome?" Aya asks while holding her belly.
"By the way, Aya. Are you sure you're coming with us to Marley even with your big belly?" Eren asks.
"I have to." Aya says. "According to the documents that my mother left me, my Neumann powers are used to create a perfect soldier. Neumanns are used to transfer Titan powers, but that is only possible if they get in contact with the Founding Titan, something that my mother didn't have."
"But she did have the Lightning Titan inside her this whole time." Katrina says. "It turns out that my Dad is the one to turn our mother into a pure Titan and have your mother transfer the powers to her..."
"But she shouldn't have died with Dad and others..." Eren says. "She became the Weather Titan for 11 years only before passing to Katrina..."
Aya says, "She would rather die with her husband together, I know how it feels."
"I guess so..." Armin frowns, and Annie asks, "Hey, Armin. I never got to ask, but are you an orphan since birth?"
This causes Eren and the others to flinch, and Connie says, "Oh yeah, you never talked about your family to us..."
Armin says, "It's fine... it is just... the thing is, they were killed by the Interior Police, which is why my grandfather was the one taking care of me."
"Wait, what? The Interior Police? You don't mean those guys that tried to stop us from locating Eren and Historia, right?" Jean asks.
"The one who killed them... I guessed Commander Hange and Captain Levi already gave him a taste of his own medicine..." Armin says, "My parents were just like Pastor Nick, they were tortured before killed."
"But why did your parents get arrested?" Annie continues to ask.
"They wanted to explore what's outside of the walls, they managed to create a hot air balloon... but just as they were about to set off, the Interior Police arrested them and that's how."
"Good thing we have done the coup d'etat, huh?" Odom asks, "Now nobody is going to die just like your parents."
"What about Mikasa?" Sasha asks, and this causes all of them to flinch, Mikasa gives them a dark glare and says, "Don't ask."
"Yeah... we would rather not talk about it..." Aya says.
Jean, Connie, Sasha, and also Annie are curious about what the girl is hiding, but they know better than to force her to talk about something terrible. After arriving at Shiganshina, Eren says, "These 3 years sure are eventful... the development of the Paradis Island is getting better and better..."
"Good thing everyone here is supportive of these new and convenient things." Armin says. "So what are your plans tomorrow?"
Peter says, "I'm going with Sasha to Dauper, I was thinking about delivering some seafood to the family."
"Are you sure that's the reason? Or perhaps you just want to see Kaya again?" Katrina asks.
"Shut up. If you want to talk about that, how about you talk about your relationship with Floch?" Peter retorts.
"Shut up..." Katrina is now blushing as Jean mutters, "Just great, almost everyone here seems to have a partner already..."
"Are you jealous, horseface?" Eren teases.
"Shut up." Jean glares at him. And the others are chuckling as the train goes inside Wall Maria.
Because of Aya's pregnancy, they decide to delay a little more time before going to Marley, and in the end, Aya manages to conceive two babies: a boy and a girl. They decided to name them Erich Yeager and Carla Yeager.
Before the night of leaving Marley, Eren, Aya, Katrina, Peter, Odom, and Dina are now at the farm with Historia.
Historia says, "So are you still planning to attack Marley even though you know what happens in the future?"
Eren says, "The Declaration of war is already set in stone, I know that not all of them are our enemies, but all this time, I have been trying to find a way to completely end the cycle of revenge born from hate. In my memories, I tried the Rumbling, I wanted to completely bury that history along with the civilization that created it."
"But those who survived the Rumbling would remember that day and the hate will be continuing..." Odom says.
"But one thing for sure is that Eren and I bear children not for sacrificing the island, and you shouldn't be as well." Aya says. "It will be roughly 5 months before the declaration of war. During that time, all of us are going to stay at Marley."
"Are you sure about this?" Historia asks, "All 6 of you? But you guys are probably one of the best squads..."
"You still have Commander Erwin, Captain Levi, and even Armin and the others." Dina says. "I'm sure Paradis will be fine with you guys working together, and we're not going to leave for so long, we will also send some letters for you."
"But do you seriously have to leave? Ymir already left and she never returns...what if you-" Historia asks.
"We will definitely return. You don't need to worry about it." Peter says.
Historia frowns and asks, "Did anyone know about this? Mikasa, Armin, and the others?"
Eren says, "We will tell them once we have our trip to Marley. And we've also informed Premier Zachary about our absence."
"I see..." Historia frowns. "It will be very lonely if you guys aren't here anymore..."
"Yeah..." Just then, both Erich and Carla jump up and down on Aya's lap, and she says, "Erich and Carla are also coming with us as well. I'm sure Mother can protect them from any danger."
"I guess so." Dina says while they all look up into the sky.
Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, this is the last chapter before going to Marley. I hope you like this chapter.