Author's Note: Hey everybody! Surprise to see the new chapter not uploaded after a couple of months…okay so one month has past but hey at least it wasn't two right?
I told you I'll get back in the swing of things, and I think we should get back to the story don't you? First let us see what is going on back at New Eldia?
Chapter 8: Derailed
The room was quiet as Miki waited for Levi's reaction to what she told him. About how she found Moll and Lora, about the Elias and how they thought they summoned Godzilla here all those years ago.
Throughout her explanation Levi said nothing but kept his hands together in thought, his face portraying no emotional reaction (which to be fair in his case seems to be his most common expression).
Now Miki on the other hand, she was nervously sweating as she twiddled her thumbs. She expected some shouting or blame but so far all she got was silence.
That worried her even more.
She then noticed Levi's eyes glancing at the stone tablet on the table between them, then back at her.
"That still doesn't answer my question," Levi spoke at last. "Why didn't your family do anything against the king?"
Well at least he's not shouting, Miki thought.
"You're right. To start with; you are aware of how the old king made his people stay on Eldia?"
Levi nodded.
"He used the power of the Founding Titan to alter their memory."
"That worked on the Eldians, but not on the Elias."
Levi put his hands down.
"Your people are immune to the power of the Founding Titan?"
Miki nodded.
"Yes. Unknowingly when the old King took many of the Eldians with him here he also took a couple of Elias with him. When my ancestors found out what the King had done, they played along for fear of their own life."
"It wasn't until my Grandmother at around her teen years decided to try and fight back. She and a small group used their telepathy to track Historia's grandfarther down, and tried to use her powers on him."
Levi gave Miki a concerned glance.
"So, you guys can control people?"
Miki gave him a disappointed look.
"Persuade, not control. There's limits to what we can do."
"But your grandmother tried it on the King?"
"And she failed," Miki told Levi. "Though we Elias are immune to our own minds being altered, the same can also be said to the one possessing the Founding Titan. My grandmother and the rest where nearly caught and killed, but thankfully the king's guards weren't immune to our…gifts."
Levi nodded as Miki continued.
"After that failed attempt we kept a low profile. It took years for me to find others."
Miki sighed as she looked out the window and onto Tanakibo.
"Levi believe me all I wanted to do was to help everyone on this island. Can you imagine having powers like mine and not being able to do a damn thing to help?"
Levi watched her for a moment before getting up and heading towards the door before saying one thing without either of them facing the other.
"For what it's worth, you've done more than enough to make up for it."
By the time Miki turned around Levi already left. Miki smiled for a bit, then frowned.
"But is it really enough?"
What was I thinking?! Historia thought as she finally left the meeting to check up on Ymir. I have no idea if there is even an Island for us or the monsters and who knows what kind of threats are out there and-"No!"
She said to herself as she slapped both her cheeks.
"Be strong Historia," She said to herself. "You are the Queen of an entire Nation, you have to pull yourself together!"
"Uh, your majesty?"
Historia froze, her face entirely red as she turned around to see Sasha and Connie looking at her awkwardly.
"Uh," Queen Historia manage to say. "Did you see that?"
"See what?" Sasha said hiding a grin. "We didn't see anything, right Connie?"
"Yeah," Connie nodded. "You totally were not losing it just now."
That earned him a hit on the elbow from Sasha.
Historia sighed.
"Take my advice, don't be the queen."
Sasha nodded.
"Yeah, but try being a single parent to a large, strong, but adorable Kaiju."
Connie rolled his eyes.
"This coming from the girl that wanted to get away from him the first time they met."
"Would you like to get hit somewhere lower?"
Sasha smiled with an air of menace that quickly shut Connie up.
Historia giggled at the pair. She needed that today, but what she didn't need started coming right towards her.
"Your majesty?" said Dhalis Zachary, one of the premier of the Three Regiments.
"Not now Dhalis."
Historia turned away and continued on her path, but Dhalis continued on while Connie and Sasha followed.
"But your highness-"
"Actually sir, we came to deliver our report to Queen Historia about Rodan's flock," Sahsa said quickly walking between her and Dhalis.
"What's the report?" Historia said slowing her pace.
"According to the reports from Jet Jaguar, Kazama's team, and the Kaiju Corps. It seems a few are nearing some of the farming districts," Connie reported.
"Luckily Zilla and Gorosaurus manage to keep them away, but then Jet reported those same creatures going back to the bay area and they're defended by a Varan."
"Where there any casualties?" Dhalis asked.
"None reported as yet," Sasha said. "But it seems rather likely."
Dhalis shook his head.
"Now do you see your Highness? This is what I've been saying."
Connie and Sasha looked concerned as Dhalis continued.
"Despite having more advanced weapons, like that metal Titan and having three kaiju under our control, it's not enough."
"But there's still the plan I've set in motion," Historia argued.
"But what if they don't find anything?" Dhalis asked. "What if there is no other place for us? What if they did find a new home for the Kaiju and they won't go?"
Historia said nothing. She knew those where possibilities, but she hoped for the better.
"And let's not forget all of Marley, an entire nation that wants us all dead. Who knows what they got up their sleeves?"
Dhalis sighs.
"And I know you don't want to hear this but…we are running out of the cure the Nebulans left behind."
That caused Historia to stop as Connie and Sasha both giving worried looks to her way, both knowing well what this means.
Dhalis looked at the queen with a neutral expression but gave a soft tone.
"Both Yeager and Ymir are nearing the end of their time as titans, and we still have the Titan injection left behind by Kenny, if things continue to get worse we should-"
Before he could finish, Historia turned around fast and gave him a death glare.
"WE ARE ELDIA!"
Her shout echoed across the halls as Dhalis, Sasha, and Connie froze at the spot.
"We will wait for the report from the Gotengo before doing anything else, and if I find out you or anyone else disobeying my orders I'll show you just how much like my farther I can be."
Historia glared as she turned away from Dhalis in disgust and continued on.
Sasha and Connie relaxed a little but still shocked from Historia's outburst.
"She'll have to face that hard choice someday," Dhalis said his face shown a mix of concern and sadness.
"For her sake," Sasha said. "I hope she doesn't."
Historia managed to finally reach the Ymir's door, and after taking a couple of calming breaths, entered the room smiling.
"How are we feeling today?" She asked kindly, but Ymir looked at her with a sympathetic look, causing Historia to look at her in confusion.
"What is it?"
Ymir slowly raised herself a bit from the bed.
"You still have quite the pipes, don't ya?"
Historia looked confused for a moment, but then quickly realized that she must have heard her shouting at Dhalis.
Seeing this realization on her wife's face caused Ymir to chuckle.
"You know they say when in charge you have to make the hard choices. I always pity people who have to take a job like-"
Ymir stopped when Histoira ran up to hug her and bury her face in her chest. Ymir patted Historia's head.
"Historia…Krista," Ymir started. "You have to be brave if the time comes."
"Don't," Historia said while she held back the tears that wanted to fall so badly. "Just please, don't."
She was enraged. Here she was on a mission for the sake for not only every human on New Eldia but the Kaiju too. Here was a mission that needs to succeed at the upmost importance…and here she was in a cell sitting next to the very person that got her here in the first place…and her own sister no less.
Moll glared at Lora who just sat there next to her and showing not a hint of regret on her face. She hardly ever took anything seriously. You'd think in a situation like this someone like her would understand. No, not Lora. It's her words and no one else.
"Well Lora, this is a fine mess you got us into this time," Moll said with frustration. "Now the Captain doesn't trust us and who knows, maybe nobody here will either."
Lora didn't respond to her as Moll continued.
"Which I don't blame them since you used your powers on two of the crewmen here, they're probably thinking that we can make then dance if we want to."
Lora still said nothing.
"Sure, you did find the stone, but now we won't get the chance to examine it more thanks to you!"
"So, thanks Lora, thank you so much for ruining everything!"
Moll let her anger nearly out, but it was strange how Lora didn't say anything. Not even an excuse or an apology.
She looked at Lora again, still sitting down without acknowledging her with a blank expression.
Moll's anger turned to worry.
"Lora?"
She gently poked Lora's shoulder.
"Lora I'm turning into a titan right now and I'm about to bite your head off."
Lora blinked rapidly and shook her head.
"What? What did you say Moll?"
"What were you thinking about Lora?"
Lora rolled her eyes.
"Oh, now you want to know what I'm thinking."
"Lora," Moll started. "I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about the dream, but there were more important things to worry about."
"And I know that, don't think I don't!" Lora yelled.
This was surprising to Moll. Her sister never shouted at her like that before.
"But it was different than all the others. It felt…it felt important to me and I don't know why," Lora gripped the front her shirt like her heart was hurting.
"And I felt that same feeling from when I touched the stone."
Moll never saw Lora like that (well, not since they lost their parents). Whatever anger remained had been replaced with guilt.
Moll placed her hand on Lora's, causing her twin to look at her.
"Lora, do you still have the image in your head?"
Lora nodded.
"Show me."
Lora smiled and closed her eyes, allowing Moll to see the image in her mind as Moll closed hers. Taking a breath, Moll dug deep.
"Wait, this isn't what I saw..."
Moll was getting worried. She opened her eyes to see the both of them somewhere new. Instead of steel walls of the Gotengo they found walls of stone, like a cavernous hall. An opening above allowed the rays of the sun to shine in.
"So, you didn't see yourself in a cave when you touched that stone?" Moll asked.
"No, it was more like random flashes," Lora said. "Not like being somewhere else."
Moll placed her hand on the wall in front of her. Oddly enough, she couldn't feel the texture of the obviously coarse stone, or even the slightest feel of a temperature.
Yep, this wasn't real. It was a sort of mindscape. The two had been inside the minds of others before when the situation called for it, but it was never this complex.
"Maybe it takes two minds to decipher the message," Moll suggested.
"I think we should follow the tunnel." Lora said.
"Alright."
They continued forward. It didn't take long before they saw light at the end of the tunnel. Before them, beyond the doorway, was a great grove covered with foliage.
A large variety of bright flowers, grasses and willows lay ahead, disturbed only by short breezes and the abundance of glowing butterflies flying about.
Lora looked around with hanging mouth as the two continued onward into the grove.
"It's beautiful," Lora said.
At the sounds of her voice, a swarm of butterflies began to orbit around Lora, glowing a variety of colors.
Moll took notice and turned to see the mass of insects move ahead of her, forming a coordinated effort to form a shape in thin air; that same cross they've seen before.
"Is that..?" Moll asked.
"It must be," Lora answered.
The swarm then broke formation and scattered, revealing a stone wall that Lora and Moll swore wasn't there a second ago.
The twins looked upon the stone wall, noticing images carved into it. They portrayed a group of people dancing, Kaiju, and what looked like giants. Titans maybe? Some of these giants seemed human enough, but some of them seemed more beastly, reminding Moll of the Beast Titan.
Lora's eyes were caught by something fluttering in front of her. She looked to her right to see...
A moth.
This one wasn't glowing like the butterflies before. This one was about as big as her hand, fuzzy and pink. She almost got sucked into its blue eyes.
She reached for the small creature clinging to the wall, wanting to feel its fur, which fluttered away as she got too close.
Where the moth once rested was another carved image. This one showed both man and kaiju bowing to a large butterfly with a halo like ring around it.
"What's with all the bugs?" Moll said as she noticed similar motifs in the carvings.
Suddenly, a rumble was felt in the ground, causing the two to brace themselves. The wall in front of them split down the middle, slowly parting like a pair of doors.
And beyond the ancient gate, resting on a massive pedestal and illuminated by a beam of light...
A large blue egg.
Moll and Lora opened their eyes with a gasp, falling backward on the hard metal floor. Upon getting back up they noticed they were back in their cell.
"That," Lora said while trying to catch her breath. "Was...different."
Moll nodded.
"Yes, Lora. It was."
And for whatever reason, the twins smiled.
Inside the restroom of his bunk Eren washed his face with cold water, trying to focus his thoughts on the cold sensation.
"Please end the suffering."
Eren grabbed his head, ready to pull his hair out. Those words again; why can't he get rid of them? Why can't he stop hearing them?
Knock, Knock!
"Eren?"
Eren quickly picked up a towel and dry his face as he opened the door, revealing Armin and Sanda.
"Yes?" Eren asked trying to keep his emotion underwraps. "What is it Armin?"
"Just wondering if you are ok," Armin asked. "You left in a hurry."
"I'm fine. It's just been a long time since I handled that many opponents at once, that's all," Eren lied. "Kind of feel a little rusty."
"Alright..."
Armin could tell that there was something wrong but kept quiet for now.
"Sanda and I were about to go to Captain Gordon to try and convince him to release Moll and Lora."
"I'm s-s-s-sure he wi-will listen t-t-t-t-t-to reason," Sanda hoped.
"Sure," Eren groaned. "If he's given enough space-"
A sudden tilt in the Gotengo knocked the three of them prone. While recollecting themselves the lights glared red as the sirens boomed.
"BATTLE STATIONS! BATTLE STATIONS! THE GOTENGO IS UNDER ATTACK! ALL HANDS ON DECK! REPEAT: ALL HANDS ON DECK!"
"Come on we have to head to the bridge!" Eren shouted as he ran ahead with the others following.
Everyone headed to their stations on the bridge while Captain Gordon calmly waited for everyone to get to their stations, keeping his eyes on the main screen.
"What's attacking us?!"
One of the crewmates put up an image from one of the outer cameras of the ship, showing the sub being covered in the tentacles of the giant cuttlefish Gezora.
"Great, we've got oversized calamari attacking us," Randy remarked.
Eren, Armin, and Sanda arrived just as the image showed Gezora tightening its grip on the hull. The creature rocked the vessal once more.
"Captain!" Eren shouted, "Let Sanda and I deal with this!"
"No!" said Miyuki. "None of you would survive the undersea pressure."
"Yeah, and I doubt you've ever fought monsters underwater, have you?" Randy said, then flinched when Eren glared at him.
"You two just sit there in case if we really get screwed!" Captain Gordon ordered.
Eren tired to argue this, "But captain-"
"We'll show you how the Gotengo deals with this overgrown squid."
Outside, Gezora kept adding more pressure on the ship. Two ports opened on top of the ship and a pair saw blades launched out, cutting off a tentacle. Gezora roared in pain and tightened its grip harder, jamming the rest of the blade ports. While this was going on the front drill glowed yellow and streams of electricity covered the ship and Kaiju.
The result of this surprise attack caused Gezora to let go of its prey. Free of its grasp the Gotengo turned at this captor and five missiles from both sides of the ship towards the mollusk.
The sea monster roared and tried to swat the missiles with its tentacles, managing to fling two away, being hit by the other three.
Gordon grinned.
"Now we got it. Get ready to fire the Absolute Zero Cannon!"
"Frozen squid for everybody!" Randy cheered.
"W-w-wait! Look!"
Sanda pointed at the monitor as Gezora suddenly paused and let out a cloud of ink and swam away.
"It left?" Eren said. "Why?"
"Captain something big heading towards us!" shouted one of the crewmates.
"Well don't just sit and tell me, show me what's coming!" Gordon ordered.
The monitor changed, showing a large creature swimming towards them. Its appearance resembled a plesiosaur, but unlike most of it's kind this one has two stubby feet along with the fins.
This was the Cryptocleidus.
"Well, I guess the saying is true," Randy gulped. "There's always a bigger fish."
The scene on the monitor showed the creature gaining speed, charging straight towards them.
Captain Gordon looked to his men, "BRACE YOURSELVES!"
The creature slammed into the ship, pushing it upwards with its front legs. Inside the crew fell onto the floor, some of them hitting their heads on rails. Machines sparked at the force of the attack.
As the monster continued to push the ship the Gotengo let out another electric attack, but then the Kaiju opened its maw and let out a sonic attack, causing systems to go haywire.
Moll and Lora held onto each other due to the attack and sparks from the sonic attack. Due to attack, a number of the electric systems went haywire, including the lock on the cell door. It swinged open slowly.
"What is going on?!" Moll shouted.
Lora let go of her sister and tried to use her mind to find out about their attacker, but groaned in frustration. It was that same staticky noise as before.
"Well, for some reason, I can't tell!" Lora growled.
Suddenly, Lora realized something: she and her sister were able to use their abilities on each other, but only when in the same room. Just like the crew members before. But when trying to channel past a wall it didn't work.
"I'm going up to the deck!" She said.
Just as Moll realized what her sister said, Lora was already out of her cell.
"Lora wait! We're supposed to be under arrest!"
Moll quickly followed her but just as she was getting close the ship shook again, causing her to hit her head against the wall knocking her out. Lora was unaware of her sister's predicament and continued onward.
"Status report!" Captain Gordon shouted to his men as they tried to get things control while dealing with the attack.
"Sir, the Kaiju's sonic attack nearly damaged our systems!" shouted one of men.
"Look at the monitor!"
Armin pointed out from the near blurry screen that the Cryptocleidus managed to get the Gotengo halfway up the surface and right during a storm.
"Well, if we had another sea beast fighting this one this would be a great atmosphere for a fight," Randy joked.
"That's it, I'm going out!" Eren shouted with determination.
He quickly left the bridge before anyone could stop him.
Lora ran down the hallway, trying to recall the way to the main deck. She noticed the light inside was getting brighter.
Instinctively she rushed to the nearest porthole, seeing the sunlight and drops of water trickling down the glass on the other side.
"We're topside," Lora spoke. "Perfect!"
She searched onward, knowing there was a way to go through the top entrance. Finally, she found the door to the exterior latch. Lora opened the door and rushed up the ladder, then turned the valve to open the hatch.
Once out her face was hit by the blustering wind and rain.
"Maybe this was a bad idea!" Lora shouted through the storm.
Despite the bad weather, Lora could easily see the sea beast gnawing at the hull.
Without hesitation she readied her powers to try and attract help, any help. She concentrated on that one idea with all her might, but halfway through she felt something looming over her. She opened her eyes to see the Cryptocleidus staring at her.
"Oh sh-!"
The kaiju lunged its neck to try and take a bite, but struck too hard and too far left. Lora was flung into the air, screaming into the ocean.
Back at the edge of Tanakibo Anguirus slept. Yesterday he managed to keep a Manda, an Ebirah, and even a pair of Kamaceri out of his territory today...at the same time!
Lucky for him, all of these intruders were outsiders, not members of Rodan's flock, meaning he could use rougher methods. It was rare to see unfamiliar monsters come this way, but recently more have been showing up.
The damage caused was close to that of the old days, before the pact was made. There were casualties.
Luckily, Gorosaurus was keeping pace, allowing him a moment of rest.
There was a silver lining here though. Even with less fish available, the Ebirah and Manda provided enough meat to feed almost everyone (as long as everyone was fine with a single portion).
Past the bones of his kills, a group of volunteers were preparing a large fire pit, set to cook an offering of giant shrimp claw. People were taking notice of Anguirus' efforts and decided that a reward was in order.
Supervising the event were members of the Military Police.
"HELP!"
Anguirus lifted his head up from his rest. He heard the voice echo in his brain, recognizing who it was. It was Lora, one he considered one of his protectorate. Sensing the fear in the message his instinct kicked in and began to rise.
It's hard to explain in human terms how Anguirus could follow the message. A sort of animalistic sixth sense guided him, just as a bird can sense which direction to migrate.
Unaware of his wake people ran for cover as trekked forward like a zombie.
A Military Policeman watched as Anguirus dove into the ocean, making his way toward the horizon.
"I need a message delivered to Ms. Blouse this instant!" The officer yelled.
Eren stopped midway to the door, suddenly distracted by a noise.
Was that someone screaming? He thought.
He quickly got out the door, which was left open, and climbed up the wet ladder. Out the hatch he saw the sea monster, illuminated by the bolts of lightening as it struck the metal over and over.
You will not stop us!
Eren glared and raised his hand to activate the transformation. The creature saw Eren, locking eyes with him in curiosity. Both stared each other down, attempting to get the first move.
Cryptocleidus opened its jaws wider as Eren saw something coming through the clouds.
A large boulder rocketed through the fog, smacking the creature on the back of the head.
"What the hell!?" Eren shouted in surprise as two more stones zoomed by.
The Cryptocleidus roared out to its unseen attacker as another boulder came out of the rain, this time managing to hit it in the face at incredible speed.
Eren heard a loud crack, no doubt from the sea beast's neck. The monster ploped it's mangled, bloody face onto the metallic shell with a loud thud. Just as quickly, its entire mass slid down the hull and sank into the abyss from whence it came.
Eren tried to see the attacker, only to see another large boulder this time coming right towards the ship.
The rock hit the side of the Gotengo, causing sparks to shoot out from the side.
The sub rocked violently back and forth from the inertia and churning waters as the storm raged on.
Uuuugh that really was a bad idea.
Lora rubbed her head as she regained consciousness. She slowly stood up, rubbed her eyes, wiped the sand from her hair.
"Wait sand?"
Lora looked at her surroundings as she found herself on a beach. She turned around and froze at a strange sight.
Standing right in front of her was a young beautiful brown woman with a slightly dark complexion, wearing a mix green and blue tribal clothing. She had long black hair looped over her left shoulder, with a red flower hold it together.
The woman stared at Lora in wonder. Somehow Lora felt that this woman wouldn't harm her. Before she could ask who she was the young woman knelt to the ground and bowed as if she was royalty.
"At last," spoke the woman. "You're here."
Author's Note: Well that will give you guys something to think about huh? Who is this strange woman that Lora meet? What happened to the Gotengo? And more importantly where is Lora….but I bet you guys have already guessed huh?
Well hopefully you won't have to wait long for the next chapter!