"Normal Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Voice Change"

"Flashback"

Location: Assassin's Headquarters

Year: 832

Vega's POV

After what seemed like a forever I'm finally back at HQ, my home away from home. As I finish dressing myself into my clothes I make my way back onto the deck of the ship as it docks at the port. I watch as some of my allies on the port set up the ramp for us and the Eldians and Aridams we rescued all gathered together as some Assassin's were leading them off the ship. But before they got off the ship they quickly look towards me and bowed which caught me off guard and the woman I saved in the warehouse spoke up.

F Aridam: "Thank you again Assassin!"

This honestly made me smile a bit, so I pulled off my hood and gave them a smile as they were taken away to the medical center.

Vega: "I better greet my friends upon my arrival, surely they've been anticipating my return."

I exit the ship while carrying the chest I put the lantern in as I hand it to one of my allies so they can return it back to the chambers of where we store the artifacts we collect.

Vega: "Return this back to where it belongs."

M Assassin: "Of course, the Mentor is ready to see you as soon as you can."

Vega: "Thank you for informing me."

Knowing this I started to exit the ship docks and head into town. While walking through the town I saw how things have improved since the last time I was actually here. The towns have grown and the land is starting to look more modern, and it's thanks to the efforts everyone is putting in. These towns have been built by the people we rescue so they can have a secure life here.

(Timeskip)

Location: Assassin's Council Hall

Vega's POV

I'm now standing before the 4 Assassin council members and the Mentor as I'm wondering about the mission I will be tasked with.

Vega: "I received news that you needed me for an urgent mission, Is this correct?"

(Assassin Council Member = ACM)

ACM 1: "You are correct we have received news from our spies in Marley, that the restorationists were captured and are being sent to Paradis as we speak."

Vega: "T-That can't be! I have to get there instantly!"

I started to hyperventilate a bit and for a good reason and it seems the council quickly took notice of this as a member spoke up.

ACM 4: "Calm yourself Vega, this is one of the reasons on why we're sending you there."

Instantly I calmed myself down and looked at them.

Vega: "And what's the other?"

ACM 2: "We have detected some artifacts located in Paradis Island and we want you to recover them."

Vega: "Should be a simple mission. I'll quickly save the restorationists and recover the artifacts then bring them here."

The Council members and Mentor all look at one another which concerned me a bit as they then look me.

ACM 3: "I wouldn't count on that."

Mentor: "We don't know the exact locations of where the artifacts are located on that island, so we'll need you to infiltrate the walls of where the Eldians resides in and try to locate them yourself. Do you accept this mission?"

Instantly without any hesitation I say my answer.

Vega: "I'll take this mission! I'll set off on a small ship as soon as I can."

Mentor: "Very well, you can't bring any of your Assassin gear since it would be suspicious of a newcomer appearing out of nowhere with our gear on, so wear any common clothing you may have."

Vega: "Can I bring my wrist blades?"

Mentor: "Yes you can keep your wrist blades, just keep them hidden. Also the Owl will meet you there so keep an eye out for him."

Vega: "Understood I'll put my all into this mission."

Mentor: "Choose your own way on how you want to approach this. And before you part from us let us leave you with these words.

ACM 1: "Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine"

ACM 2: "The Wisdom of our Creed is revealed through these words."

ACM 3: "We work in the Dark, to serve the Light."

Mentor: "We are Assassins."

All: "Nothing is true, everything is permitted."

Mentor: "Take care Master Assassin Vega, until we meet again."

Vega: "Until we meet again Mentor."

(Timeskip)

Location: On a small ship

Vega's POV

It's been some hours since I finished my meeting with the Council and the Mentor so I instantly changed my clothes to appear less than a Assassin and more as a common folk, tied my hair back and of course I kept my mask with me. I hopped into one of the many smaller ships we had and sailed off to Paradis Island.

(What he wears except his shirt is grey)

It seems I'm almost at my destination I just hope I can make it in time.

Vega: 'Please be safe Dina...Grisha.'

3RD Person

Location: Paradis Island

Gross: "Since your history is so grand, go and share it with your friend down below!"

The man named Gross forced Grisha into leaning close to the edge of the wall.

Grisha: "Stop it! Don't!"

Gross: "HEAR THAT? YOUR SISTER IS CALLING TO YOU!"

Grisha: "DAMNIT!"

But before the Gross could push Grisha off the wall, a blade went through his chest not killing him right away as the one who stabbed Gross spoke.

????: "Hope you find this experience interesting."

Another hand held Grisha in place on the wall and the same figure who stabbed Gross pulled the blade out and kicked him off the wall. As Grisha turned his head to look at the man with the blade his eyes widen upon seeing the person.

Grisha: "Vega?!"

But Vega didn't bothered to look at Grisha as he just watched the Gross roll down onto the sand in front of the Peering Titan as they stared at one another before he started to scream.

???: "Well that certainly is interesting."

As Grisha just watched the Perring Titan bring the man closer to its mouth he looked upon his friend and noticed the other familiar figure next to him.

Grisha: "You're..."

???: "I'm the Owl."

The one called the Owl tosses his hat aside as Vega moves his arm out so his blade is pointed at the Owl.

Owl: "Remember this, Grisha. A Titan uses their power like this."

As soon as he said those words the Owl cut the palm of his hand on Vega's blade, and jumped off the wall as a yellow lightning strikes down upon him which shocked the soldiers as they were flung around due to the force of the unexpected transformation.

Vega and Grisha just watched the scene before them as the Titan gripped the ship that was in the ocean and broke it in half over his shoulders.

Vega: 'There it is, the Attack Titan.'

(Timeskip brought to you by Kruger Attack Titan crushing Marleyans)

With the Attack Titan finishing off the rest of the remaining soldiers Vega went behind Grisha and used his wrist blade to cut his hands free as he help him stand up. He then notices Grisha's hands were wrapped in bloody bandages.

Vega: "It seems they messed you up before bringing you here."

Grisha: "Yeah, they just did it to satisfy themselves."

The Attack Titan finished his attack on the soldiers and from the nape came out the Owl with markings under his eyes. Vega then jumped from his position and landed onto the Titan's shoulder as he pulled the rest of the Owl from the nape and jumped with him back onto the wall.

The Owl then pulled out a handkerchief and whipped off the blood that was leaking from his noise.

Grisha: "Owl, just who are you?"

Owl: "I am Eren Kruger. As you just saw, I possess one of the Nine Titans. In other words, I'm a subject of Ymir, just like you two."

Vega: "It's good to finally meet you face to face Owl."

Kruger: "As it's an honor to meet you Master Assassin Vega."

Grisha: "Master Assassin...?"

He then realized that Kruger was a Subject of Ymir that posed as a Marleyan.

Grisha: "Wait! If you're a subject of Ymir just like me, how were you able to pretend to be a Marleyan and infiltrate Public Security with the blood tests?!"

Kruger: "That was easy enough with the help of a doctor. Doctors make good spies. In all honesty, you did very well. But in terms of results, Grice had every right to grieve like he did."

All Grisha did was bowed his head in shame as he spoke.

Grisha: "You're absolutely right. I tried my best as a father, I tried my best as a husband, and I tried my best as a man, but through it all I was useless."

Grisha just looked down at his bloodied bandaged hands.

Grisha: "And yet... why am I the only one who remains as a human? Dina was someone special, being a Subject of Ymir with royal blood. She would've brought out the true power of the Titans if you hadn't covered up her lineage. Dina was..."

Vega only gritted his teeth as he heard what happened to Dina. Grisha then grabbed Kruger's collar.

Grisha: "Answer me! Why did you only let me live?!"

More blood started to soak his bandaged hands.

Kruger: "Enough. don't your fingers hurt enough?"

But Grisha just smiled at the irony of him saying that.

Grisha: "Thanks so much for your concern! You didn't seem to care so much when you chopped them off as well with the others!" Well?! Why didn't you transform a few minutes earlier and save everyone else from becoming a Titan?! Why did you stand there and allow it to happen?!"

Kruger just fell onto one knee as he started to breathe heavily and Grisha spoke with worry in his voice.

Grisha: "What's wrong? Why did you suddenly go pale?"

Vega just walked away from the two as Kruger gave Grisha his backstory. Bringing out his journal he opened it and pulled out a small map of the Island as he calculated how far they are from the walls. When he was finished Vega sat next to Grisha and Kruger as he was finished explaining his story.

Geisha: "Tell me something, Owl. What mission do you want to give me."

Kruger: "I want you to infiltrate the society within the Walls and steal the power of the Founding Titan. You'll do it by inheriting my Titan."

Vega eyes widen hearing that as he looked at Grisha.

Grisha: "W-Wait, but that means you'll..."

Kruger: "I'll have to be eaten by you as a Titan. You'll take the Founding Titan from its owner the same way."

Grisha: "B-But why only me?! Why not you?"

The Assassin spoke up before Kruger did.

Vega: "Those who inherit the power of one of the Nine Titans perish after 13 years..."

Kruger: "I inherited this power 13 years ago so I have very little time left. This is known as the Curse of Ymir."

Grisha: "But why only 13?"

Kruger: "Whenever our founder awakened her power she perished after 13 years, so it's only appropriate we live that long, too once we inherited ours."

Grisha: "And what happens if someone dies without passing on the power?"

Vega: "An unborn child who is a Subject of Ymir is given that power."

Kruger: "It's as if all Subjects of Ymir are connected by something we can't see. One inheritor once said they saw paths. It is because of these paths that memories and thoughts are sent through the inheritors."

Vega: "And all the paths cross at a single coordinate. In other words that's..."

Kruger and Vega: "The Founding Titan."

Kruger: "Every single Subject of Ymir is connected to that coordinate."

Grisha: "Just who was our Founder?"

Kruger: "Under Marley authority, it is said she's one of the pawns of the Devil. During the Eldian Empire era, she was a miracle of God."

Vega: "The ancient text left for us by The Hidden Ones, it is said that she and someone else was given a power after coming into contact with a creature left behind from those who came before us."

Grisha: "Those who came before us..? Another person?"

Vega: "A story for another time."

Kruger: "But who's to say any of those are true."

Grisha: "Huh?"

Kruger: "The only truth in this world is that there is no truth. Anyone can become a god or a devil. All it takes is for people to believe it."

Grisha: "You're the one who said that Dina had royal blood in her. Was that a "truth" of yours?"

Kruger: "Unfortunately, Dina having royal blood was true."

Grisha quickly took a glance at Vega before turning his head back to Kruger.

Grisha: "Then why abandon her?"

Kruger: "Precisely because she had royal blood. I couldn't let the enemy have her. It had to be done before any information leaked to Marley about Dina's true heritage."

Grisha: "Even so..."

Kruger: "Even so?"

Vega: "Unfortunately I hate to admit but this is the better option for her instead of her having to give birth to the enemy for her entire life."

As he finished saying that he clenched his fist and punched the wall leaving a mark.

Kruger: "I've done my duty. You do yours. Only someone with the power of the Titans or Aridams is capable of reaching the walls."

Grisha: "To be perfectly honest, I don't think I'm fit for the job. I rather have Vega get the power instead of me."

The Assassin simply sighs as he explains.

Vega: "I cannot possess the power of one of the Nine Titans in the regular sense."

Grisha: "What do you mean? Aren't you also a Subject of Ymir just like us?"

Vega: "That is half true. I am a Subject of Ymir, yes. But I am also a Descendent of Akyla."

Grisha: "W-What? You're an Aridam?! Wait what does that have to do with anything with you not being able to take the power?"

Vega: "My Aridam blood prevents the Eldian blood within me to access some abilities you Eldians have. But I'll accompany you on your mission."

Kruger: "Which means that only you Grisha can do this."

Grisha: "Look at that..."

All three look down to where Gross's half eaten corpse was.

Grisha: "He was eaten alive by a Titan. And you asked if watching that was interesting? It wasn't interesting at all. His screams of agony were unbearable to hear."

He then looks down at his bandaged hands.

Grisha: "I...didn't know any better. If I had known this was the price of freedom, I wouldn't have paid it."

A small silence is shared between the three until Kruger stands up.

Kruger: "Stand. Fight! For the sake of restoring freedom and dignity to Eldia... Stand!"

Grisha: "I...can't."

As Grisha closed his eyes and lowered his head Kruger reached inside his pocket, pulled out a photo and put it in front of Grisha's face.

Kruger: "Look. I brought this from your home."

Grisha gasped then closed his eyes shut again.

Grisha: "I can't look."

Kruger: "You can't look. Can't stand. Can't fight. Have you no balls?"

Vega then stood up looking down at Grisha.

Vega: "Please tell me Marley didn't cut them

Off?"

Grisha: "It's pointless to try and make me recall my hatred towards Marley. All I have left now...are my sins."

Kruger: "That's more than enough. The main reason I picked you was because you left the walls that day. That day, if you hadn't taken your little sister and gone past the walls, you would've taken over your father's clinic."

Vega: "Your sister may be safe now but that's only because of the Assassin's, you cannot hope that you will get lucky again with another loved one."

Kruger: "But since you did go outside the walls. Ever since the first day I kicked a patriot off this wall... Ever since that day you took your sister outside the walls...we must push forward until the price of our actions is paid. Even in death and after death."

Grisha finally looks at the photo that's in Kruger's hand.

Kruger: "This is...a story that you began, is it not?"

Grisha clutched the photograph and stood. The three men stared silently at each other.

Kruger: "There are names given to each of the Nine Titans. That includes the Titan you will inherit. No matter which era this Titan has found itself in, it has pushed ever towards, seeking out freedom. For the sake of freedom, it fights. It's name... The Attack Titan."

Grisha: "The Attack Titan... I'll have this Titan once I eat you."

Vega: "Once you inherit its powers you'll have 13 years to find the location of the Founder."

Kruger: "If the Founding Titan falls into Marley hands, Eldians and Aridams are done for."

Grisha: "The King in the walls wouldn't allow that to happen."

Vega: "The King in the walls won't fight."

Grisha: "What?"

He asked confused on that.

Kruger: ""If once again Eldia is driven to sin, we will perish as it's meant to be. I have made a vow renouncing war with the Founding Titan." He said that to the royal family on the continent and then closed the walls."

Grisha: "Did he not warn that the Titans of the walls would flatten the earth?"

Vega: "Those words were meant to only deter an attack. Just to allow the Eldians within the walls a brief amount of peace."

Kruger: "The King of the walls stole his people's memories and made them believe humanity perished beyond the walls."

Vega: "All that cowardly King does is surround himself with ignorance and babbles about their paradise. A King who denies to defend his people is no King."

Kruger: "You must find that cowardly King and strip him of the Founding Titan. That is our mission."

Grisha: "Would I be able to use the power of the Founding Titan once I eat the current inheritor?"

Vega: "No you would not, only those who possess royal blood can access the power of the Founder. However, even if that person possesses the Founding Titan, they're enslaved by the King's ideals, which only leads them down the path to humanity's downfall. That is the vow of renouncing war."

This left Grisha speechless. Knowing that even if he acquires the Founding Titan he still won't be able to use it.

Kruger: "Vega, mind doing the honors?"

Kruger held out a small glass bottle and a syringe towards Vega as he slowly took both the items and prepared the syringe.

Vega: "Hope you're ready Grisha. This is the point of no return."

Grisha: "I'm ready."

He said with confidence.

Kruger: "Build a family."

This caught both men off guard.

Vega & Grisha: "What?"

Kruger: "Once you enter the Walls, build a family."

Grisha: "What are you talking about? I have Dina..."

This only made Vega eye twitch.

Grisha: "Won't I forget the things you tell me just before I become a Titan anyways?"

Kruger: "That's not always the case. And someone may see it later."

Vega & Grisha: "Huh?"

Kruger: "Your wife, your child, your neighbors, if need be... Love someone inside the walls. If you can't do that, it'll only repeat. The same history... The same mistakes... Over and over... To save Mikasa, Armin, and everyone else, you must see it through."

Grisha turned his head back to look at Kruger as Vega just raised an eyebrow when he said that.

Grisha: "Mikasa? Armin? Who are they?"

Vega: 'Never heard those names before.'

Kruger then looks out to the setting sun.

Kruger: "Who knows? I'm not so sure... Whose memories are those?"

A long silence passed by and Kruger shook his head.

Kruger: "Never mind that, let's get this over with, you both have a mission to complete. Are you ready Grisha?"

Grisha nods his head as he kneels down and looked towards the direction of the walls.

Grisha: "I'm ready."

Vega helped Kruger go down the wall as he stares at Grisha awaiting his fate.

Vega: "Farewell Kruger, It's a shame we have to part ways after finally meeting.

Kruger: "It's been a pleasure to meet you Eidorian, even if it was only for a small moment. May you and Grisha complete your mission."

Vega nods and then climbs back onto the top of the wall and walks behind Grisha.

Vega: "I'm sorry that this role fell upon you my friend... If I could I would inherit this power instead of having you do it."

A small chuckle could be heard coming from Grisha as he had a small smile on his face.

Grisha: "If doing this is the only way we can save our people...then I'll have no regrets."

Vega: "Very well then. I'll see you soon then, Grisha."

Vega then grabs Grisha's head by his hair and leans it forward as he inserts the syringe needle into the back of his neck and pressed the plunger making the serum go inside Grisha. Once he done Vega quickly kicks Grisha off the wall as his body starts to glow and when his body was engulfed in a bright light, Grisha turned into a 10-meter Pure Titan. He instantly snatched up Kruger who was in front of him and began to consume him as Vega watched.

Once Grisha's Pure Titan stopped moving around it fell onto its face and from the nape Grisha slowly emerged out from with newly made Titan markings under his eyes as he was in a daze after what happened. Vega quickly jumped off the wall and ran towards Grisha to help him back onto his feet.

Vega: "Hey Grisha, you with me?"

A couple of seconds have passed he finally answers.

Grisha: "Y-Yeah I'm here"

The Assassin brings the new inheritor of the Attack Titan under a tree and sets him down as he looks around the area.

Vega: "Good now rest up. Once you're fully rested we'll start heading towards the walls."

Grisha: "Got it and Vega."

Vega looks at Grisha.

Vega: "Yeah?"

Grisha: "Thanks for joining me."

With that Grisha finally decides to fall asleep leaving Vega with a small smile on his face as he looked out towards the direction of the walls wondering what it has in store for him.