Shadowsaurus: Yeah, I kind of rushed through it to be honest. Want to get to the good parts

Gaujay7: Yes, it definitely didn't come from a certain family mentioned in a certain fourth season. And god heavens if I referenced a certain manga creator.

In all seriousness though, there's a reason I dropped the Azumabito name outside of just laziness.


Clash of the Titans Part IV: Her Decision

"Ymir!" Reiner appealed, "There's no future here and you know it."

Ymir gasped in surprise, and Reiner pushed on, "You have a pretty solid grasp of things. After all, we came from the same place. What do you think comes next? Joining our side isn't out of the question."

"And put my faith in you guys? That's rich, I'd rather go with Eren. He's stupid, but at least he's trustworthy at best and predictable at worst."

"Come on, we all know what you really want." Reiner pressed, "You only really care about protecting Krista. We all agree on that, so I don't see the conflict."

"Wait. Your goal is the Founding Titan, correct? I mean, it's the only thing you could be after. Unless you somehow knew that Eren and Ymir had Titans, which I doubt,"

"I mean...sure." Reiner shrugged, "We are here to capture the founding."

"Then you have to know that it isn't operable without royal blood. Otherwise, you'd just have a glorified Attack Titan. Brute strength, but otherwise useless."

"Where are you going with this Christopher?"

"I'm saying Krista- no Historia is of royal blood, and I am as well."

The entire area fell silent, "Lying to us isn't going to work-" Reiner began

"You know it's true. When Historia touched you, you felt a spark, and a natural draw to her, correct? Same with Bertolt, Eren, and Ymir." Alto looked at them all, and they nodded.

"I doubt that means that she can be anything but royal blood."

"Just who are you?" Zeke stood up at last,

"My name is Alto Burke, the final member of the Burke branch of the Royal family."

"So she's of Royal Blood, so what?" Reiner demanded, 'Damn...this complicates things. With this, I no longer have a handle on Ymir's motives. I knew Krista was from an important family within the church thanks to digging Annie did. But aside from that I didn't know she was a royal.'

"You know exactly 'so what'." Alto said, "You didn't refer to yourselves as just 'warriors', you called yourselves 'Marleyan Warriors'. And Ymir keeps referring to Evangelica as a 'princess'. I have a pretty solid grasp of things from there. Point is, your government needs people of royal blood to continually operate the Founding Titan. So what will they do to Historia when they find out?"

Reiner gasped, and gulped.

"I knew it." Alto said as he turned to the Warriors. "You have no more cards to play warriors. What's next? You can't bait Ymir over to your side by assuring Historia a future."

'Does this world really have no future? How do Historia and Alto figure into this? What will Ymir do now?' Eren's mind was whirling with questions.

"Alright, come clean you two! Who's the real enemy here?! What do you know?!"

Ymir sighed, "The real enemy...is the Principality of Marley."

Suddenly, a green flare shot up in the distance,

"Damn!" Evangelica stood, "Shouldn't be surprised though. Erwin's a crazy one." Evangelica got up, "Reiner, Bertholdt, no use crying over spilled milk. We need to bail."

Suddenly, Evangelica flashed over to Eren, her movements no longer as rage filled and erratic as before. She upper cutted him, knocking him backwards before tying him up again.

Ymir tried to scramble away, but Bertholdt dropped on top of her.

One of the Panzer Unit men stepped up, and called a long, shrill whistle. Almost immediately after, the Cart Titan came running.

"Pieck will distract the enemy. Reiner, Evangelica, for now you'll be our legs."

"Yes, Warchief!"


Mina fired a red flare as a 6-meter titan approached from her right.

She watched as a green flare came from where Erwin was, but almost instantly after, three more appeared in front.

"Mina!" The MP known as Hitch pulled up to her, "We're going to go around, right?"

Mina thought about it, then shook her head. "Not enough time. We're breaking through."


Evangelica and Reiner dropped down and transformed, landing on the floor. Soon after, the Panzer Unit, Eren, Alto, Ymir, Bertholdt, and Zeke were all caught by their extended hands. Alto, Eren, and Ymir were all tied, and laid on Evangelica's neck.

Another flare went up, "I thought you said we had more time," Zeke asked Evangelica,

"I thought so as well. It seems Commander Erwin is leading them," Evangelica said,

"I see…" Zeke thought. Suddenly, Pieck ran up to them,

"You lost the titans?" Alexander asked,

"Yes." She nodded, "But we have bigger problems. The Scouts are approaching the forest. Fast."

Evangelica nodded. Lifting her hand to her neck, Zeke put the three captives in it, and Evangelica dumped them onto Piecks back. The Panzer Unit hopped on, and took their positions in their bunkers.


Ymir looked towards the entrance to the forest, where she saw a green flare shoot up into the sky.

'Krista…?' She thought, 'I know she's there. Stupid girl came to rescue me…' She squirmed, trying to break free and transform. But she was bound, and Zeke held her down.

"From what I heard, that girl means alot to you. I apologize." Zeke bowed his head,

'If you're sorry then let me go!' She tried saying that, but the gag prevented it.


Marley

"Hmm, what about this one?"

"She's 600 Dakars."

"Sold." The first man handed over the money, and grabbed a young Ymir by the hand,

"Hello, I'll be taking care of you from now on."


That was...the first time I lied to myself. Told myself I never had a choice in all of this.


"All hail the Lady Ymir!" A man raised his hands up in praise.

"Heil Lady Ymir!"

"Glory to Eldia's Founder!"


If I was being honest, it wasn't half bad.


"Be careful my Lady. You shouldn't eat too fast…"


My food wasn't cold.


"She's so peaceful…"

"Truly...like a goddess."


I didn't sleep on hay or the dirt. But most of all..


"Heil Lady Ymir!"

"Heil Lady Ymir!"


I finally knew what it felt like..to be needed. For the first time, I knew what it was like to mean something. And...it went to my head. Before long, I truly believed I was Ymir the Founder.

Then one day, it all came crashing down around me.


There was no warning. Dozens of Marleyan Public Security officers burst into the small adobe hut.

"Wait- no! I have a family!"

"Shut up Eldian rat!" The officer pulled out a pistol, and blasted the man behind his head, he fell to the floor, limp and dead, blood leaking out of both the front and rear of his head.

"I don't wanna die!"

"Someone save us!"


I still don't know who, but someone shouted-


"It's her! It's the girls fault! She said she had the Blood of the King! We only believed her!"

The entire room went silent, as everyone focused on Ymir.

"I...uh-" Ymir didn't have any words. She looked around, her followers looked to her in fear.

Ymir made a decision she'd always regret, but looking back on it, it would've ended the same way regardless.

"B-but it's true! I am the heir of Ymir!"

A P.S.A officer scoffed, "Yeah right, like we'll believe that." She was kneed in the stomach by that officer.

"Round them up, Eldian filth." The officer spat.


I thought I could save them.

Thing is, things rarely turn out the way you think they will.

We were paraded through town that day. Wives turned against their husbands. Sons against their fathers. All because we made the mistake of risking our necks for a lie we desperately wanted to be real.


"S-save me! P-please!" A woman screamed, as a needle dug into her skin, remained for a few seconds as the contents of the bottle it was connected too was pushed out, and thrown off the wall.

Seconds later, a burst of lightning occurred, and what was left was a 6-meter titan.

"Stop this!" Ymir tried to beg the officer, "This isn't right!"

He didn't listen, injecting her anyway and throwing her off.


And I realized...that I had this coming all along.

I'd deceived everyone.

I deceived the believers.

I deceived myself.

I even kept it going to the end, and deceived Marley.

That was what I was being punished for.

So in my last moments, I begged for a second chance. A chance...to live for myself.


"I-it's a Titan! Run!" A brown haired boy screamed,

There were four of them, all dressed in ponchos. Ymir reached out for the first one, the blonde one frozen in place.

Suddenly, the brown haired boy made a move, knocking the blonde one out of his daze. He was grabbed by Ymir, and eaten.


Ymir next woke up in a place unknown to her, yet so familiar at the same time.

"Welcome, Ymir." A girl turned to her, she a wooden bucket lay beside her.

"Who are you?" She asked,

"No one important." She said sadly, "All that matters now...is that you choose what to do next." She smiled at Ymir as what she was sculpting came into view.


Suddenly, I couldn't help myself. I laughed, and thought 'If fate exists, then she's a fickle little bitch.'

I swore to myself, I'd never let anyone use me. I wouldn't hide behind a paper mask made of lies.

I'd do what I had to.

I'd lie.

I'd steal.

I'd kill.

But all through it all...

I'd live for myself!


Then I met you two. Krista and Christopher.

Krista, you reminded me of the bitch I was before I became a titan. Constantly living for others. Never sparing a thought for myself. Shoving herself spoonful after spoonful of lies.

Christopher, you just struck me as sad. A boy scared to be close to others and took everything on himself like some kinda savior, so he hid himself behind silence and isolation. Just like I hid my true self behind feigned kindness and benevolence.

Believe me, I get both sides of the equation. I really do, and I'm not asking either of you to understand.

I just...want to be honest with myself!


'That's why…' Ymir flipped over, and rolled off Pieck's Cart Titan, as she fell, she cut her arm open, right as planned

'I'm going to do something!'

She burst into light, as the Jaw Titan materialized.


A/N: And with that, the Marley bombshell has finally been dropped. Ymir has decided to stay with Historia and Alto, Cart vs Jaw fight coming, and shit is about to get a whole lot more wack from here on out.

Fandom: the-official-flare-titan .fandom. com