Chapter 53
At the port, Kiyomi is having a meeting with Zachary and Dina. "Congratulations on your successful campaign against Marley. The Leaders of Hizuru have nothing but praise for Eldia's bravery."
"We're deeply honored. Welcome to the world's most dangerous island." Zachary says.
"Indeed. But this time, our goal is to witness said danger in person." Kiyomi says.
"Is that the observation craft you've spoken of?" Dina looks at the plane at the port.
"Yes. It may just be the world's first flying boat powered by Iceburst Stone. With it, we will ascertain the true power of the rumbling." Kiyomi says.
"I'm sure you're aware of the Rumbling is not just the Colossal Titan, right?" Dina asks.
"Of course, Zeke and Lady Neumann have informed me everything. And I must say it is nice to have Titans doing the hard work for you as well." Kiyomi says.
Armin and Annie are watching the Titans building an armored train, and Armin says, "So this is what the Anti-Titan Armored Train looks like...and to think the Titans are helping us build them."
"Before you need to worry about being eaten by Titans, but now you're witnessing how they can cooperate with each other..." Annie sighs. "The world changes a lot."
"And we need to prepare for the worse if only those people can accept peace..." Armin says.
At the same time, Aya and Eren are now at Katrina's office, and they see Zeke, Katrina, Floch, and Louise there.
"Aya Neumann! I've finally got to see you again." Lousie greets the girl and Aya asks, "I remember you're..."
"I'm still the person as the one you saved that day." Louise says. "I realize something when you a human, took down that Titan with Mikasa Ackermann, that without power, you can't protect anything. I learned that it's okay to fight against senseless violence. Ever since that day, I wanted to get closer to you, so I..."
"I see..." Aya says.
"Why did you join the Scout Regiment? Is it because of Eren Yeager?" Louise asks. "I heard you're married, so..."
"Yes, Eren gives me a purpose to live." Aya says.
At the same time, Katrina says, "Looks like Aya gains another new fan."
Floch asks, "Are that medical stuff you learned back in Marley? Since they are different from what we used to know."
Katrina says, "Thanks to my big brother, I manage to learn more from doctors and nurses in Marley. The only problem is that all of our patients are Eldians, and they have been suffering a lot because of war and Marley..."
"That's why we're going to free them." Eren says.
Zeke asks, "Where are Carla and Erich?"
"They're at the Reiss farm. Historia is taking care of them, and both Gabi and Falco are also there. Peter and Sasha decide to stay so that they can keep an eye on them." Eren says.
At the farm, Gabi and Falco are cleaning the barn when a horse bites her hair.
"Gabi!" Falco gasps, and Sasha rushes to the horse and says, "Hey, leave her alone!"
After the horse frees her. Peter asks, "Gabi, are you alright?"
"Why is this happening to me? This is the devil's doing." Gabi yells.
"No, it is just the horse's doing. I'm pretty sure every horse is the same." Peter says.
"Yeah, I've been bitten by the same horse all the time." Sasha says. "I'm already used to it."
After Peter and Sasha leave, Falco decides to talk to Gabi privately. "There's not a single horse that would let you ride it, huh?"
"Well, I wasn't trained to ride one. We won't learn a thing out here in the sticks."
"I think it's better to hunker down here than roam around." Falco replies.
"What are you talking about?"
"We can stay here waiting for help. Eventually, the world will attack the island. I bet Reiner and my brother will come, too." Falco says.
"Aren't you pissed at Zeke?! There was a traitor right among us!" Gabi yells.
"There was nothing we could do." Falco says as Kaya walks in.
"Hey, guys, let's have lunch." Kaya brings a basket of food as they start to eat. "You guys are quick learners and hard-working, too."
"You think? Thank you." Falco says while Gabi is cleaning her hair. "By the way. I noticed all the workers here are pretty young."
"In this ranch, everyone here is an orphan." Peter says, "The Queen's policies give support to kids without families. And I'm sure that Eren and Aya might've played a part in it."
"So you haven't accepted your guilt." Gabi says. "Have you forgotten the horrible crime the people of this island committed? Only when an Eldian accepts the depths of their sin can they begin to atone."
"Is it related to our parents dying?" Kaya asks.
"Of course. Even if you act like a saint, your sins are too great to escape." Gabi says.
"Is that what they teach you in Marley?" Sasha asks.
"These are indisputable truths!" Gabi says as she suddenly grabs a pitchfork, Sasha notices it and she uses her arm to block the attack, causing blood to leak out.
"Sasha!" Peter and Kaya yell in shock. Falco asks, "What are you doing?"
"The devil revealed her true colors! I knew something was up! Island devils can't be this kind!" Gabi says.
"Hey!" "What's all the fuss about?" Some workers hear them and they ask.
"Don't worry! Gabi is just jealous that we're giving more attention to Falco!" Mia yells back.
"Kaya is actually getting along with people? She is cheered up a bit." "Good grief... Don't horse around or you'll get hurt!"
Just then, they decide to bring Gabi and Falco to Dauper Village. Sasha says, "This village used to be our home."
Kaya says, "Four years ago, a Titan showed up here. The villagers ran when they saw it and left behind my mom, who couldn't run. There was nothing I could do so I sat down. From right here, I sat and listened to my mom get eaten. She was alive the whole time it happened. Eventually, she went silent. I think she screamed until she lost her voice. They say humanity outside the walls thinks that were devils."
Just then, she starts to grab Gabi's shoulders and yells, "But I don't understand why we're hated so much. Gabi, Falco. Tell me. What exactly did my mom do? What did she do to be hated so much?"
Gabi looks at her intensely as her eyes widens. "Your kind slaughtered people for thousands of years."
"Thousand years?" Kaya asks.
"Don't tell me you forgot it! Eldians used the Power of the Titans to trample the world for millennia! They wiped out other cultures, forced them to bear their children, and murdered endless droves of people! Stop playing the victim!"
"My mom was born and raised here. She never did anything like that."
"But a century ago, the sins of your ancestors were terrible and great!"
"A century ago? What about the people who live now? How have we sinned?"
"Not long ago, you guys trampled my home."
"My mom was killed four years ago, so it's not her fault."
"I'm telling you, your ancestors killed people all over the-" "My mom didn't kill anyone! Answer me, Gabi! Why did my mom have to suffer like that?! There has to be a reason! It's crazy if there's not! Why was my mom eaten alive, huh?! Why was she killed?! Huh, why?!"
"Kaya, that's enough!" Sasha says as she hugs Kaya, trying to calm her down.
"It was recon-in-force. The invasion of Paradis four years ago was staging for a larger attack. You and your mother were caught up in it. Your mom didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry."
"You're leaking secrets to the enemy and why apologize?" Gabi mutters.
"Thanks for letting me know, Falco. But it's weird for you to apologize to Marley. You were just born there."
"So how did you manage to escape and survive?" Falco asks.
"A girl a bit older than I am now grabbed a hatchet and started hitting the Titan. She put herself between me and the Titan and allowed me to escape." Kaya says while turning to Sasha, who blushes a little.
Peter says, "And you said about forgetting, a hundred years ago, King Fritz used the power of the Founding Titan to wipe out everyone's memories about their sins. Of course, none of the nations outside of Paradis knows the truth. King Fritz lied to us that we are the last of humanity in the world, and the Titans are monsters that try to eat us."
"But how did you know?" Falco asks. "If you forget about everything, why do you remember now?"
Peter says, "My mother was an Eldian living in Marley. And she is also a member of the Eldian Restorationists."
This causes Falco to gasp in surprise, "Eldian Restorationists?!" Gabi asks, "What is that?"
"Eldian Restorationists are Eldians living outside of Paradis that try to overthrow Marley for the wrong teachings. My uncle used to be the leader. But I thought they all turned into Titans and they were killed!"
"You're right. However, we have 5 survivors. My mother, Odom's father, Zeke's parents, and... Aya's mother... a member of the Neumann."
This causes both of them to widen their eyes in shock. "You're kidding! Marley would never treat a Neumann family member like-"
"But they did." Peter says. "As the Ocean Titan, I have memories of my mother. They tried to push her off the wall so that the Titan can finish her. The only reason why they're saved is because of the previous Ocean, Sky, and Attack Titan. They let our parents eat them and that's why we got the powers."
"Why are you telling us this..." Gabi asks, now calming a little.
"Who knows, just want to have a conversation." Peter says as they all head back to the ranch.
"After investigating the remains of the Beast Titan, we found parts of Zeke's body that were exploded into pieces. However, it's not enough. All we found were his limbs." Magath says to Reiner, Porco, Colt, and Pieck. "He made it look like he died to deceive us. We believe Zeke has allied with enemy forces on Paradis and escaped on their airship."
He shows the ODM gear on the table. "This modified anti-personnel vertical maneuvering gear uses Marleyan technology. And the airship they stole for their escape required military training to pilot, especially at such a high degree of proficiency. He must've snuck them onto the survey ship to Paradis four years ago. His comrades in the Eldian restorationists, that is."
"Dammit! We fought together all this time. But he's actually a traitor?" Porco says, "He was the one who brought Eren Yeager and Aya Neumann into the military, and because of it, Reiner and I lost our Titan abilities."
"Of course, we have no intention to let this end here." Magath says. "Within the next six months, the global military alliance will conduct a mopping-up operation against Paradis!"
Colt stands up in disbelief. "S-six months?! Is that how long we have to wait to rescue Gabi and Falco?"
"These two are the best warrior candidates we have now. I believe losing them will be a great loss to Marley."
"It will also take a lot of time to train the next batch of warrior candidates." Pieck explains.
"But the chance of winning is slim if Marley attacks Paradis on its own. We must wait for the allied forces to gather." Magath says.
"Zeke must be thinking the same thing. That the Marley army won't attack immediately after taking such a massive blow. And he's not the kind of person who just going to wait with no plan for six months. We can't wait for the global allied forces to be ready! We must attack Paradis island right away!" Reiner says.
As the others show their determined faces, Pieck thinks, "You're right, Eren Yeager... they are going to attack Paradis right away..."
And here is a new chapter, and as you can see, I decide to put the Gabi, Falco, and Kaya reaction in this story and I hope you like it.