A/N - Welp, another midnighter which means there's probably spelling errors galore, and I still couldn't fit all the exposition in this chapter ether.

Admittedly, I probably could have, but I just had so much trouble with this chapter and figuring out when it made since for them to know this stuff.

The next chapter will be the last majors info dump for a while, I promise…unless of corse you people like this stuff. I personally do myself but it's really hard for me to keep everything strait but I'm willing to suffer for my readers.

Anyway, enough rabbling from me. Happy Reading.

Wings of Freedom

Chapter 13

Everyone was deathly quiet for a long moment. Only the sound of the wind hissing through the leaves of the tree, filled the air.

Surprisingly, it was Scarlett that broke the silence as she gave a happy roar and hopped to her feet, forcing Eren to stand, but she promptly fell back to her belly as her exhaustion reminded her of it's grip, but the happy expression never left her and Eren couldn't help but smile as her happiness flooded his mind "there are more?!" He asked with surprise and oddly hopefulness in his voice and Roy's serious expression cracked a little as he gave a small smile "yes, several" he answered with a happy but subdued sigh.

Armin arched an eyebrow "but I thought you said you only had Scarlett's egg because she was Thalia's daughter?" He asked and Roy nodded "yes, and it is also for this reason that we were able to save the other eggs" he answered before looking up at Thalia with an awkward expression "you see, Dragons are very…protective, of the young, so when their hatchlings bond with Riders, they sometimes get a little, too protective and take the hatchling away" he explained and Thalia gave a guilty whine as she cast a glance towards Eren and Scarlett, who's eyes shot wide and they move a little closer to each other.

Thalia cast her gaze elsewhere as she whined a little "unfortunately it is true. In our zeal to protect our young, we harm them by denying them time to properly bond with their Riders" she admitted with shame and a small growl, but then she looked back at them with a happy expression and a purr "but fear not. As much as I may wish to trap you under my wings, I will not separate you from one another" she promised, much to the relief of the young pair, but then Roy felt an almost devious streak of emotion flash over their link as Thalia grew a thoughtful expression "though, come to think of it, I could easily fit you both under there" she teased.

Roy and Thalia both had to fight not to laugh at the looks of horror the others gave her and he looked up at his Dragon with a smile. It had been too long since he'd seen this side of his Dragon come out.

Roy shook himself out of it though and refocused on the task at hand "anyway, back on track" he said, earning everyone's attention "because of how protective Dragons are, eggs that are to be bonded with Riders, are kept separate from their mothers while being presented before candidates and until the two have had ample time to bond properly" Roy explained and Armin blinked as the pieces fell into place in his mind "you were leaving her egg when it happened" he realized.

Roy nodded with a sad sigh "the traitors attacked right as we arrived" he said as he fought back the painful memories "we saved as many eggs as we could, but…" he trailed off and both Dragons laid their ears back with a combination growl and whimper.

Through the whole conversation, Mikasa's intense stare had barely changed "so you're saying we could bond with these Dragons like Eren?" she questioned and Roy and Thalia fixed her with hard stares "yes but there is no guaranty that they will hatch for ether of you" he warned but Mikasa didn't flinch "well we won't know until we try" she said, but before she could move, Thalia growled at her "not so fast" she warned with a dangerous edge to her voice.

The kids looked up at her with surprise "but you're the ones who suggested this" Mikasa shot back and receive another growl in response "this is not something to be taken so lightly. Eren was ignorant of what touching my hatchling's egg would entail, but you have no such excuse, and I will not allow the hatchlings within those eggs to be viewed merely as a means to an end, rather them seen as partners for life, as you seam so eager to believe" Thalia warned dangerously.

Roy quickly stepped between his Dragon and Mikasa, who had the decency to a least look a little take aback by Thalia's words "Thalia is correct. In agreeing to be presented before the eggs, you would be accepting the responsibility of becoming a Dragon Rider and being bonded for the rest of your, now eternal life, to another being" he explained and then grimaced a little "also, you would be marking yourselves as targets of Galbatorix, and make no mistake, he will track us here eventually, even if it takes years to do so" Roy warned.

The kids all stiffened and looked among themselves as the seriousness of the situation sunk in. Roy and Thalia both sat there patiently as the kids thought it over, though Thalia still fixed Mikasa with a mild glare.

Eventually, Armin spoke up "what would becoming Riders mean for us? he asked and Roy crosses his arms "well, the old Order would have probably demanded Eren swear loyalty to them, but as Thalia said, Eren did not know what bonding with Scarlett would mean, so I will not force the responsibilities of a Rider upon him, but if you wish to be bonded with Dragons, then it would be your duty to serve the people. To protect the innocent ether through conflict or with healing, and you would need to be trained in said professions" he explained.

Armin hummed as he rubbed his chin, pondering Roy's words. But then something occurred to him, something he had neglected to consider, being so rapped up in all that was going on and he fixed Roy with a stare that surprised the Rider "ok but before we give our answer, tell me, what do you plan on doing now?" he asked plainly.

Roy was a little taken aback by Armin's sudden change in attitude "I'm sorry, but what are you asking exactly?" he asked and Armin continued to stare at him "what are you planing to do now. You said your home's been wiped out and you have no ties to the Walls. So what do YOU plan on doing now?" he asked.

Roy blinked. It was a good question and one that he had given some thought to, but he and Thalia had been so focused on finding Scarlett that they hadn't discussed it since Roy made his vow at the lake.

The shadows hid Roy's face as he looked down in thought, but then he looked up with a cold stare "I've already sworn in the Ancient Language to return and take vengeance for the destruction of our home, but only after we are ready" he said and took a breath to steady his nerves "in the meantime, I plan on upholding my oath as a Dragon Rider, and help the people of the Walls eliminate the Titans" he said with determination and Thalia gave a small roar of agreement.

The kids were stunned. Roy and Thalia had no obligation to help them and yet Roy had promised that he would. But then again, he was very much like them. An orphan, who's home had been destroyed and he was determined to retake it.

In the end, they weren't that different from each other.

Eren grew a determined look of his own "well, count me in" he said and it was Roy and Thalia's turn to look at him in shock "I swore I'd put a stop to the Titans. To be free from this cage we call home. I'll rip the Titans apart with my bare hands if I have to, but with you I could probably be the most effective against them. So, you can count me in" Eren said with such determination and near bloodlust that Roy almost mistook him for a Dragon in human skin.

Roy gave Eren a hard stare "you're sure? You would both have to train and serve as members of the Order. Granted, with us possibly being the only remaining Riders, the rules wouldn't necessarily be the same" he said with a guilty smirk hidden behind his serious mask. He had never agreed with all of the Order's policies.

It was Armin who answered for them this time "we've already lost everything. All we have left is each other and we promised to stick together until the end and fight back against the Titans…so I'm willing to try" he said and Mikasa gave a determined nod in agreement, though she seamed a little more thoughtful of her decision this time. Thalia fixed them both with a stare and they both felt her probe at the edges of their minds. Not enough to read their thoughts but enough to feel their emotions.

After a moment, the feeling left their minds and the Dragon gave a snort "they may be presented before the eggs" she relented and Roy gave a sigh of relief "good, because we need all the help we can get" he said but his face quickly hardened over again "but, I have one more question for you before presenting you to them" he said and fixed them with his hardest stare yet "would you be willing to fight your own kind to accomplish your goal?" he asked.

The kids all stiffened and looked at Roy with shock "w-why would we need to fight our own kind? The Titans are the enemy!" Eren asked but Armin's eyes widened and he had to swallow the lump in his throat as he realized something "why are you out here?" he muttered and everyone turned their attention to them "Armin?" Eren asked with confusion and Armin looked up at Roy with a nervous expression "why are you out here…in this tree specifically, instead of at Wall Rose, working with the Scouts?" he asked and the other kids blinked with surprise as they too began to wander the same thing.

Roy and Thalia both sighed "because we have already attempted to contact them" Thalia admitted, much to the kids surprise and Roy shook his head "yes, and we are all fortunate that we did not get the chance to make contact" he said with a bitter edge to his voice.

Eren narrowed his eyes a little. He did not like where this was going at all "and why is that?" he asked and Roy sighed "because it seams that betrayal is not exclusive to Alagaësia" he said and the kids watched the Rider with a look of dread as he took his seat again and let out a defeated sigh "we were but moments from contacting them when it happened" he began as he thought back on the events of that day.

[Ten Days Ago. Trost District]

Roy took a deep breath as he approached the military's headquarters. He had been tempted to simply ride in on Thalia and get right to the point, but given what the people of the Walls had to fight on a regular basis and their general paranoia since the fall of Wall Maria, he decided to go with a more subtle method. It didn't help that he still barely understand any of their language ether, so he figured this was the safest method.

However, Wyvern was still carefully hidden under the raincoat he was wearing, specifically to conceal it and Thalia was flying high above in the cover of the sun, ready to swoop in if things went bad.

Roy steeled himself as he approached the building and double checked his wards to make sure they would hold up to the those odd but impressive weapons he'd seen them using, and upon finding everything satisfactory, took a deep breath ok, let's do this he thought as he picked up the pace.

Roy was about to enter but froze as he head something explode and, if not for his enhanced hearing, would have missed the sound of someone cursing and scurrying away quickly what in the world he thought as he fallowed the sound and quickly hid in the shadows to avoid a group of soldiers wearing the jackets with the roses on them, as they too, moved to investigate.

Roy moved quickly and quietly and found what appeared to be a new cannon, waiting to be installed on the wall, only it was badly damaged. The Rider arched an eyebrow as the solders investigated damn it. So much for making a friendly introduction today. They'll be suspicions now he thought and he scanned the area for whoever it was he heard but saw nothing. So, failing in his visual search, Roy extended his mind out and his eyes narrowed as he found someone hiding behind some crates and decided to investigate further. Roy carefully probed the man's mind and broke through with minimal effort and what he found surprised him. The man was with the Military Police and he had sabotaged the gun.

Roy was confused beyond all reason what the hell! he fumed, still having a sore spot concerning betrayal. Thalia took notice of her Rider's distress "what's wrong?" she asked from up in the sky "someone high ranking in the military just sabotaged one of those weapons they've been mounting on the wall" he explained and felt shock and rage, flare off Thalia "what!? For what purpose!?" she demanded and Roy focused on the traitor again and probed his memories.

Roy might not have understood the language, but he could still tell what emotions the man had been feeling and see his memories, and he was stunned even more to find that the order to sabotage the cannon had apparently come from higher up the chain of command, from within the very military he was sabotaging. Roy frantically searched the man's memories, no longer caring if he gave the traitor a headache, seeing as these people had no knowledge of magic, and his eyes widened at what he saw.

Countless memories of receiving orders from high up in the government and this man carrying them out. Murdering a family that tried to build a machine to fly. Killing a man who tried to dig under the wall. Torturing people who knew too much. And as Roy scanned the memories, he turned his gaze up to the wall as the horrible truth, dawned on him they don't want anyone to leave he realized with horror. The horror quickly turned to rage though as he turned his gaze to the traitor "Verkr" he whispered with venom dripping from his voice and the man screamed before doubling over in pain.

It may have been spiteful of him, but Roy had, had enough of betrayal and he would not stand any more of it. He may not have been able to apprehend the traitor but he could make him pay for it and make sure he got caught, and as the solders went to investigate the scrams, Roy quickly made his retreat "Thalia, we're leaving. Get ready to pick me up" he thought to his Dragon and received no argument aside from an enraged growl, as she had been watching everything through him, and they both left the city to think over what Roy had just seen and make a new plan.

[Present]

The kids just stared at Roy with a combination of shock, disbelief and rage, at the story he had just told. Roy had even sworn in the Ancient Language that he was telling the truth, about halfway through his story when they didn't want to believe it.

While Armin and Mikasa both still looked shocked by the revelation, two distinct growls, rang out from Eren and Scarlett and the boy drove his fist into the floor "DAMN IT! Those bastards what us living in fear of those monster! This place really is a cage!" Eren fumed as he shook with rage and Scarlett roared while raking her claws across the floor.

Roy and Thalia gave them time to process everything, knowing full well what betrayal felt like, though Roy had to admit that this form of betrayal was far worse then what they had gone through.

Eventually, after watching all the emotions play across their faces, Roy took a deep breath "so, I ask again. Are you still willing to become Dragon Riders, knowing what you do now?" he asked and there was silence for a moment but then Eren looked over at his friends with a furious glare that could put even a Dragon to shame as Scarlett curled around him with a growl.

Roy watched as the others looked up and met his glare. Mikasa with a cold fury that contrasted Eren's blazing one and Armin with a distraught expression at first but it quickly turned to anger as well. Roy wasn't sure if Eren was communicating mentally with them or not, and he saw no reason to check if they were. If words were passing between them, then they weren't for him or Thalia.

After a moment, the kids nodded to each other and then turned their furious stairs to Roy, though he could tell their anger wasn't directed at him "yes, I'll do whatever it take make them pay and finally be free from this cage" Eren state's with determination and the others nodded with just as much while his Dragon gave a roar in agreement.

Roy and Thalia shared a look and very brief, privet conversation before turning their attention back to the kids "then fallow us" he said and they fallowed closely behind. Scarlett was still a little weak though and Eren had to help her stand and move a little bit, but they fallowed just the same.

Roy led them to his and Thalia's "room" and up to the wall behind the Dragon's nest. The Rider then cleared his throat "firstly, I wish to apologize for what you are about to hear" he apologized and the kids looked at him with confusion for a moment, but before they could ask why, Roy began to sing in the Ancient Language…and it was the most atrocious singing they had ever heard. It was so bad that Scarlett winced and even banged her head against the ground a little as if that would banish the foul tune from her memory, before covering her ears with her paws.

They all winced but their suffering soon gave way to fascination as the tree groaned in response and they watched as the wood of the tree moved and shifted, revealing an alcove, hidden in the wall, and once the singing stoped, the kids looked in awe at seven Dragon eggs, each one sitting on an old pillow, scavenged from abandoned buildings.

The egg on the far left was dark blue with baby blue veins. The second one was forest green, with light green veins. The third was dark brown with maroon veins. The forth was such a shade of hot pink with white veins that it was ridicules. The fifth was a light grey with black veins. The sixth egg was midnight black with grey veins. And the final egg was bright yellow with white veins.

The kids stared in awe at the eggs. It had been so long since they had seen Scarlett's egg and they hadn't been quite mentally sound at the time, so this was the first time they'd had to really look at them and take in their beauty.

Scarlett hummed loudly and happily at the eggs as she looked them all over with a critical eye. Roy smiled at the display as he walked up and placed a hand on the green egg and felt the Dragon within, relax considerably at the presence of a Rider and the sound of Scarlett's humming "alright" he said, turning to face the kids "now each of you needs to place a hand on each of the eggs" he instructed and Armin and Mikasa looked at him for a moment, and then the eggs "but, what if more then one hatches" he asked with concern and noticing that Roy had just touched one. Roy simply shook his head though as he observed Armin's curious and worried expression "it is possible to have a Rider bonded to more then one Dragon but it's extremely rare and I've never heard of it exceeding two. Also, Riders are exempt from the rule, as we are already bonded. The Dragons can tell and our touch usually relaxes them" Roy explained and Armin took a moment to absorb the information before taking a breath and he and Mikasa both moved forwards.

Armin held his hand over the blue egg but hesitated for a moment "does it matter how long" he asked and Roy shook his head "you only need touch each egg for a moment, the rest is up to the Dragons" he explained and Armin nodded before looking back to the egg and placing his hand on it.

Despite his previous experience with Scarlett's egg, Armin half expected to feel something when he touched the egg, but all he felt was the smooth surface and nothing else to indicate that it was even alive. Regardless, Armin continued down the line, with Mikasa moving in step behind him until each one had touched each egg.

Once it was done, they both stepped back and looked at the eggs for a moment before turning their gaze to Roy "so what now?" Mikasa asked and Thalia gave a huff "now we wait. You each have two weeks for the eggs to hatch, if none of them do within that time, then none of them will hatch for you" Thalia explained and Armin put a finger to his chin as he contemplated their time limit and Mikasa just looked back at the eggs.

Roy gave a thoughtful hum as he looked over at Scarlett "hay, Scarlett is about two weeks old right?" he asked and Eren nodded "yah, that sounds about right" he answered and Thalia perked up a little "then by the end of these two weeks, she should also be old enough to fly with you" she revealed while marveling at how everything seemed to line up.

Eren blinked with surprise before a smile spread over his face and Scarlett looked like she would have pranced around the room, had she been in any condition for it.

Roy on the other hand, sighed with exhaustion "well, it's getting late and I think we all could use some rest" he said and the kids all blinked as they realized just how exhausted they were and they swayed on their feet a little. Eren looked up at Roy with a hard stare though "there aren't any more world shattering revelations are there?" he asked and Roy responded with a sigh "yes though not in the same nature as what you just learned and I believe it can wait till the morning" he said and the kids were filled with a little dread at hearing that there was more, but they couldn't deny that they were exhausted and they were still shell shocked by what they had already leaned, and any more may push them over the edge.

Armin sighed as he ran a hand down his tired face "yah, as much as I hate to admit it, I think we need time to process all of this before getting any deeper, and sleep sounds amazing right about now" he said and the others groaned in agreement.

In a matter of moments, Roy had fished some sleeping bags out of the pile of junk that was temporarily serving as storage until he could finish the rooms in the tree and organize it, and he set them out for the kids, before settling down himself with Thalia and his Dragon laid her head next to him and looked at him with one eye "this has certainly been an interesting day" she said and Roy grunted in agreement "aye, that it has, but not necessarily a bad one" Roy replied as he finally felt like he could actually get a decent night's sleep, now that they had found Scarlett and a new Rider to help them.

Still though, Roy wasn't ignorant to the suffering of his new guests and cast them a glance I wander how they're faring he thought before falling into the first peaceful sleep he'd had in moths.

Eren lay under his Dragon's wind, staring up into space, mind still buzzing too much to sleep. The world seemed so foreign to him now. It was like he had been living with blinders stitched to his face, and in one night, this stranger had come alone and violently and painfully ripped them off. Now he didn't know what to think all this time, I thought the Titan's were the only enemy…? Eren thought, not sure what to think of the world anymore.

Scarlett curled her tail around Eren and used it and her wing to pull him closer with a growl/whimper as her mind touched his "fight…revenge…free" she spoke and even though it was just three broken words, it was enough. The emotion she put into it and the simplicity of it, helped ground Eren again. He still understood that the world was drastically different from what he originally thought it was, but he could work with what Scarlett had said. It was simple and familiar, and still applied "thanks Scarlett" he responded and sighed as he finally relaxed enough to sleep.

Meanwhile, Mikasa was staring at Eren with a hollow expression and looking a little pale I almost lost him again…and now, if one of those eggs don't hatch… she trailed off with dread at the dark fate her feature possibly held. Her gaze then shifted to Scarlett. She didn't hate the Dragon like she used to and she still felt some connection to her, but she was also beginning to feel the beginnings of jealousy.

In a way, the Dragon was taking Eren away from her, and he would live forever while she might have to grow old and leave him. And the way Eren had acted back when Scarlett collapsed had made it painfully clear how Eren valued her in relation to Mikasa and Armin.

Mikasa gripped her scarf as she fought with her inner turmoil and eventually fell into a restless sleep.

Armin was similarly in turmoil but not over Eren.

Armin was thinking of his parents and grandfather mom…dad…grandpa…if they weren't trying to keep us in here…if they weren't sabotaging the Scouts.…would you still be alive… he trailed off in thought as he pondered everything with a numb expression could the Scouts have whipped out the Titan's if government weren't holding us back…could we have seen the sea together…at that last thought, a tear slid down Armin's face and it hardened as soon as the tear hit the ground and a little of the old, naïve child in Armin died as everything he'd been through, flashed through his mind. Everything he'd lost and everything he and his friends had suffered, and he made a silent vow to get revenge for what the King of the Walls had done to them.

A/N - Can anyone guess who gets the pink egg.

"Verkr" - "pain"

"Brisingr" - "Fire"

Brisingr wasn't actually used in this chapter but I forgot to put the translation in the last one and I'm lazy.