For an elusive criminal and 'charismatic' rebel, mud-haired Mathias Kramer was not of particularly impressive build especially in a broken chair underneath the abandoned and dusty buildings.

"And I can likewise assure you that Miss Iglehaut doesn't see things that way. Accident or not you did shoot a military official. Sorry, kill. You killed a soldier."

"I don't deny it. And if it's your wish that I hang when I'm judged within the inner Walls then fine, but I'm not blind. I see where Rita is taking power and this city. And even though you've refused to say it I see your discomfort and how you always edge away from that topic so you also disagree. This district is going places. Places far from freedom, from change, from truth. Right now, we 'rebels' are the ones willing to leave our comfort and move forwards." Miche tapped the point of his finger on his ODM Gear straps then made an encircling motion only Grisha could see.

We're being surrounded

"All fair points. Yet all missing an idea. Peace. If my commander was here he'd explain all the finer points of politics and relations. But what I know, is that the day we turn against ourselves… Hum- humanity is finished." Miche said. Grisha didn't fail to notice the hesitation, no doubt even one of Erwin's best was still having trouble adjusting to the new reality of not being the last people. That was not good. If the scouts couldn't adapt and re-structure on the field they'd be finished off.

"You see, Kramer, ideals hardly match reality. A flexible mind ready to take down any threat is what is needed in this world." Grisha added jointly for Miche's benefit. "Not being stuck in mindsets of what the world should be like." His audience frowned and Mathias tilted his neck up at him

"I don't follow."

Oh right

That message had been covertly addressed to Miche's turmoil and Grisha paused to wipe off his perfectly clear glasses and think of how to stall and explain away his thoughts.

"Before you came to Quinta you had a fairytale of how everything would be. Easy, slight challenges but eventually you at Rita's side. That didn't work out so you tried to move on. But you had that pre-conceived notion that this was the Rita of your childhood. Nice, kind, soft.

You were disabused of that notion when she acted as Magistrate, mayor, and executioner. Now you're here hoping we'll handle certain problems for you. See what I mean?" Rather than nodding and pondering his words the boy looked offended. And on a personal level.

Oh no. Not yet

"I'm not asking you to poison her drinks or anything! And I most certainly didn't hire assassins against her so nice try but goading me won't work. I don't feel inclined to hand myself in to her brand of justice either. And I'd rather wait to see results before I haul myself off with you. Furthermore you're the ones who came to offer help. Help that has proven utterly useless, you want me to be cautious? I am cautious. I don't assassinate, vandalize or organize break-ins-"

"Are you done blabbing rich speak? The hard-voiced speaker set both of them on edge and Grisha slowly stood to face his sharp-eyed critic.

"Aren't you together?" he asked mildly. The man scowled at him and strode forward.

"I don't give two coppers about your politics. Give us our man and you can keep your lovely city."

'Us. Rich Speak. Politics'. I'm in the presence of a reluctant ally. No. Reluctant allies…

"Bernhardt you fool." The man snapped when Grisha stared blankly at him. "He never killed any soldiers and we had our dear friend's permission to move his rightful property."

"You mean the MP? Well 'Bernhardt' will see the sunlight once again. Before we hang him of course." It was dangerous but Grisha wanted to know the temperament of this group's members. Klaus struck him faster than he could see with the barrel of a small gun. Grisha's head whipped back with the force and he stumbled before ungracefully plopping on the cobblestone.

Miche twisted the weapon out of the hand of Kramer's female companion before anyone could register his movement. Both of his hands flashed as he pulled out his primed flare gun inconspicuously knocking over the only source of candlelight to disguise that he was not, in fact, holding a very large-barreled pistol.

Grisha felt his mouth ring from the impact and the coppery taste of…

Blood

"Oh no," He locked eyes with his assailant "You injured me."

"Mikasa, he's missing."

"I don't care."

"But…"

"I said I don't care, Armin." She was trying very hard to keep a gentle tone with him but the last thing she wished to think about was the person who called her a slave. She patted Armin's hand to assure him she wasn't angry with him. Eren on the other hand,

Another punch would have been well earned.

The 'missing' boy was in a stagecoach circling around the capital of the Walls, Mitras, a place he hadn't often been to. His carriage eventually shuddered to a stop just outside the former gardens of the King's Chief Adviser. The late Rod Reiss.

When the cabbie opened the door for inspection both he and the Military Policemen stared at the empty passenger seats where a young child was supposed to be. Distraught as the cabbie was over receiving only a down payment, the MPs laughed it off.

After the disappearance of the Chief Advisor and his family they'd been called without explanation to swarm his estate and protect the house from vandals. A trivial task for over a hundred Policemen they thought.

Perfectly brushed hair. Sitting guards. Chatting Sentries.

Eren scowled from his position near the gatehouse window. With the real danger and laborious assignments at Wall Rose, this duty was the easy job for all the privileged MPs. Even better the servants, of all ages, had no uniform all wearing different clothes and milling about. Eren grabbed the nearest parcel and a sheaf of stamped papers through the window and confidently joined those on the roadway. He walked for a few seconds before deciding that 'scurrying' about would be better suited to his age and position.

No one blinked when he ran past the guards.

No one blinked as he circled the house to the servant's door.

Right up till Eren saw two stiff faced guards standing at attention and scanning the faces of everyone who passed them. Unlikely as it was they knew every face Eren just rounded past them to the back of the house. The kitchens were unguarded but far too many servants had it as their little gossip point. He moved on.

The third side of the house had no doors but no one milled around there either. He spotted a rain barrel and leapt unto it. Another jump would put him hanging off the balcony. He threw the parcel first and followed after. The door to the balcony was locked but the window beside it was open. A simple hindrance Eren easily overcame.

A glance around put him in the library and he pulled off a volume's worth of children's stories and dumped the papers behind the shelf.

Too easy

Head down like the lowborn scum he was he took the collection out of the library and straight for the master bedroom. Where else would they put the last Reiss.

Wouldn't be wise to trap myself at a dead end…

"Might I ask where Lady Reiss is?" A fresh-faced, nervous maid pointed him to an open study. Where in all her blissful ignorance sat the true Queen of the Walls, Historia Reiss.

The only one Grisha failed to kill.

"Did you request these books, milady?" Eren gently asked her.

The frightened face that peeked up at him pressed in thought. Finally she shook her head.

"But… Have you at least heard the Tale of Eldia's Empire of old? I suppose it isn't the story a Reiss would tell you. But it all starts with a poor girl whose name is now lost to time and some very… smelly pigs."

She giggled and that made him smile. It was good she still remembered to be happy. For well over an hour both of them sat there, rather he sat but she jumped, exclaimed and twisted her face in horror. When she looked at her own hands in fear, he just knew he'd gained an immutable ally. He told her more and more. Titans and titan shifters, Fritz, Reiss and Ackerman even the curse of- 13. He didn't tell her about Ymir. That, she'd need to remember on her own.

And she did. When he forced every stolen memory of her sister to the front of his own mind and touched her she jolted.

"Ymir! Where?... Who is Ymir?"

"In our hearts, but your sister… Frieda?"

"You… you said your father killed my sister." A statement, not a question and with only one suitable solution.

"No one… NO one who endangers you will walk free. I promise you that. But you must understand you can't have the founding Titan back, right? Because of the vow and the curse of Ymir."

"The Curse of Ymir?"

"The Curse of 13. Sorry."

"No living human can use the founding titan anymore. Especially if they're royal blood."

And Kenny Ackerman predictably walked in to catch that last part.

"Not you too."

Now what?

Historia stood up and bolted in front of Eren to his surprise

"He was just telling me a story!"

"Ya? I love stories," His curved knife slipped out and he advanced towards the pair of children, " talebearers and I go all the way down."

"Please stop! He's my friend!" Historia's voice shook terribly and her hands even more.

"He? Got a name? Why don'tcha tell me his name?" Kenny's overpowering leer knocked the resolve from Historia and her eyes fell to the ground. Eren moved Historia behind him then he turned to face her backing the serial killer.

"A queen, Historia; You're a queen. And queens do not beg." She looked up at him mouth quivering tremulously as she gathered herself and looked Kenny straight in the eye.

"Kenny… leave him be."

"…"

Kenny snorted and slit Eren's throat from ear to ear.

The blood splattered on the floor and his throat streamed out his precious life fluid onto his clothes.

Eren almost staggered away yet Kenny grabbed his coat and wiped his knife off with his disgusting smirk turned to the quivering Historia.

"I suppose you also deserve a reward for such bravery. I'll have the servants send up pie and uhh, what else you like?" Eren's knees gave out and he hit the floor beneath Kenny's unfazed glare.

"He's a fighter… -was. Remember him when you have that bright idea again to-"

"Oi. No turning your back on an enemy"

Kenny looked over his shoulder and frowned, the eyes widening as he locked unto the steam.

And the flawless flesh.

"You know Kenny, I don't believe much in fate but, there's a few things we the strong deserve, right?"

Grinning as he paused to feel his warming neck, without a scratch, Eren looked back up at the empty space beside Historia where Kenny should have been. He spun around and there was the murderous goat backing out through the corridor. Face trained on Eren.

"Peace. I'm-" Eren coughed out blood that had gone the wrong way, his eyes watering and he hacked for a half a good minute before his body finally let up. "Ahem. Sorry. Like I said, I'm fine. And thinking we'd make an excellent partnership! What do you say?"

"You the true King now?"

"Nope, but I might be. You heard what I told Historia. But first there's some people want us all as deep in the earth as you're high so uh… Friends?"

And that murderous goat strode forward and actually shook hands with Eren Jaeger.

Huh. Better than the previous introduction.

Both of them were still grinning like idiots when the Armored Titan blew apart the house.

Pardons if the Quinta storyline drags, it should get resolved within a few chapters but I hope to give it a meaningful and fulfilling role in the story. Apart from noting the lack of 'good guy Kenny' fics, (Why?) I really don't want to say much (give away anything) about the second part of this chapter.

Leave your questions and comments and please leave a review. Anything is appreciated!

Looking forward to That Bright Dawn!