"Oh, you're awake," said Historia. "I'm glad; just hang in there for a bit. We'll be okay."

'At least Historia is all right,' said Ragnar relieved.

"Ragnar, listen, my father has always been humanity ally; his only goal is to keep the people within the Walls safe," Historia explained. "It's clear to me now that we've misunderstood him. He didn't deny anything, it's true that he went after the Scouts, and his people did kill Pastor Mildew, but he did that because he had no choice. Everything he's done, he's done for the sake of humanity."

"Thank you, Historia," said Johann as he stepped out of the shadows. "Please let me explain the rest."

When Ragnar looked at Johann, everything started to come back. 'It's coming back to me. Yeah, the last thing I remember is the two of them… how long has it been? Captain… Hiccup… what happened to the Scouts?'

He then began to take in his surroundings and was immediately confused because everything was foreign to him but at the same time familiar.

'What's the deal of all these glowing pillars?' Ragnar frowned. 'They just keep going; I can't even tell with its day or night. More importantly, why does this place feel familiar somehow? Have I been here?'

"If you're wondering, no, you've never been here," said Johann as if reading his mind as he climbed some steps towards him, holding Historia's hand. "Although, you may recognise it nonetheless."

'What's that supposed to mean?' Ragnar frowned.

"Huh, father?" said Historia. "Could you explain to Ragnar?"

"Of course, I intend," said Johann. "But before that, there is something that I would like us to try. This could make him remember without us saying a word."

Ragnar watched us both he and Historia place their hands on his back, and then suddenly, images began to flow into his mind. It was almost as if he was being struck by a bolt of lightning as he saw Johann and his family praying inside the caverns and saw a young woman transform into a Titan.

'What is this? Who are they?' he said. 'These are things I've seen.'

He then saw that he was looking through the eyes of a Titan, which began to grab Johann's family began to kill them one by one.

'No way? Whose memories of these?'

He then saw the image of the Scout, who seemed familiar somehow. Then he saw himself as a child in someone placing the key to his house seller in his hand.

'The key? No… what?'

He then saw him being injected with something, and then he transformed into a Titan, which then reached out towards him. He saw the reflection in his dying eyes and saw the base of his mother, who he then devoured. A few moments later, he had reverted back to normal, staring at the remains of his mother.

"Mum?" he said with tears in his eyes. "What happened to you?"

He then screamed in anguish

"Well?" said Johann. "Do you remember? Have you learnt of your mother sin?"

Ragnar can believe what you just witnessed, his own mother somehow turned into a Titan and then allowed him to devour her, and he'd forgotten all about it. She had possessed his Titan powers before, and she was responsible for the death of Johann's family

Historia was also reliving some memories back in the days when she was on the farm. She was hanging around a tall girl with black hair.

"That's amazing, Historia," she said. "Just look how well you can read now."

"Thank you, but I was only able to learn how because you were here to teach me," said Historia as her nose became runny.

"Ah, that running nose of yours needs some tending to," she said and pulled out a handkerchief. "I guess the next thing I should teach you is how to act more ladylike. Blow into this."

She held up a handkerchief to Historian's nose, and she blew into it.

"Oh, now that's what I call a job well done," said the girl.

"Hey, what does it mean to act ladylike?" Historia asked curiously.

The girl pondered for a moment. "I'm not exactly an expert, but I say the young lady in your blog has it down."

"Christa?" Historia blinked as she looked down at the book.

"Yeah, is she one of your favourite characters?"

Historia nodded.

"Christa is always thinking about other people and helping them in whatever way she can. That's what I think makes a proper lady. You'll find pain and suffering everywhere you look in this world. So do your best to make things better, treat people with love, and they'll love you in return."

Historia then looked up at her. "Well, that's how you act, so I want to be just like you?"

The girl looked terrified with that remark.

"Do you think if I try really hard, I can grow up to be like you?"

"No need," said the going quickly hugged her tightly. "You're already perfect; no need to change a thing."

The two girls then laughed, and the girl looked at her seriously.

"I'm sorry, Historia, but I have to go now. That means you'll have to forget all about me again, until next time."

Historia looked at her confused as the girl leaned in, then pressed her forehead against hers and then she felt a sudden spark. She then looked around and saw the girl walking and looked at her curiously.

"I wonder who that girl is?" she said.

Back in the present, Historia was completely shocked as those memories of that girl flowed back into her in tears formed in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Johann asked. "Are you all right?"

"How could… how could I forget… in all that time," she said as she remembered playing with the girl. "I was never alone; I had her. She was always there for me. She gave me books, taught me to read and write, she was so kind to me, so how could I forget about her?"

"I take it that you're talking about Helga," Johann assumed.

"Helga?"

"It was a kindhearted young woman with long black hair, then I imagine that it was Helga Tradesman. She was your half-sister; she must've been worried and gone to check up on you from time to time. If she was erased your memories, know that she did it to protect you."

"So that's why I forgot her?"

"That's right, but touching him seems to have brought those memories back to you. An unexpected side-effect."

"Father, where is she? Do you think we could visit her sometime? I would like to tell her, thank you. If she hadn't been there for me, I-I wouldn't have had anyone. I need to thank her."

Johann just stood there solemnly, and Ragnar had stopped struggling to free himself.

"Helga is no longer of this world," said Johann and Historia's eyes widened. Johann then approached her and hugged her. "There was a time when I had five children, but five years ago, my wife and my children were murdered by a woman named Freida Keatson. Your sister was killed by Ragnar's mother."

Ragnar was just completely stunned; he still couldn't believe that his mother, who had dedicated her life to saving lives, would kill children in cold blood.

"Freida had the ability to transform into a Titan," said Johann. "I still don't know where she obtained it, but her goal was to steal something from the Tradesman family. What Freida sought to obtain was power, the power of the Tradesman family, which resided within Helga.

Helga's Titan was by far superior to all the others. In theory, she had unsurpassable power. However, at her young age, she lacked the experience to wield it properly, and because she couldn't unleash her true potential, Freida ate her and, in so doing so, stole her power.

"But that wasn't enough. She then turned her gaze to the children; she wanted to eradicate the Tradesman family. She started by crushing Will and Able, who were 14 and 12. She trampled my wife as she held our 10-year-old daughter Gloria. She squeezed the life for my eldest son Han. Through some curse or miracle, I alone managed to escape."

"It's not fair," said Historia as she turned to look at Ragnar. "She didn't deserve that. Why would she do such a terrible thing?"

Even if Ragnar could say anything, he didn't have any answers.

It was at that point that Grimmel entered the chamber. "Hey, hey, hey! What's the hold-up? Whatever you're talking about, we don't have time for it. Things are going straight to hell outside."

"Do explain what's been going on?" Johann asked.

"Well, the Scouts started a coup d'état, and all the other regiments have taken their side. Everyone found out that old King Flitz was a fake, and now his whole council has been arrested. Yep, it's been a loyal shit show. It's only a matter of time before they show up here, so you best get a move on."

"All right then, I will," said Johann. "Now take the Anti Personnel Control Squad and defend the entrance at all costs."

Grimmel looked as if he wanted to stay put, but Johann looked at him strongly.

"I already told you that the ceremony can't be done in the presence of you or your crew."

"Ah, where is the trust, your Majesty? Did I make him mad?" Johann just looked at him strongly, and he relented. "Fine, sorry. I'm just so worried about you."

"I trust you; it's because of that trust that you're here. Now go."

"I feel the same, your Grace," he said and then turned to make his leave though he wasn't too happy about it.

Meanwhile, at Meridian, Zachary had strapped the fat noble to the torture device of his own making. The fat noble was strapped to a chair upside down wearing only shoes and socks; there was also a tube attached to his gentleman's region Japan would be fitted directly over his mouth.

"For now on, whenever you eat, you'll be digestive your meals from the bottom up," Zachary explained. "As always, you aware the finest of clothes, but only from your feet to your knees. And so that you don't get lonely out, you out once a week to be paraded to the public. It's so beautiful; this may very well be the finest work of art that mankind could conceive. All those decades of planning it have finally paid off. Just wait; art must be completed by its audience, you must be seen by the people. The same ones that you tyrannised, and that will be my masterpiece."

"Zachary!" the fat noble glared. "We'll pay for this tenfold. The blood of slaves runs in your veins, and there's nothing that will change that. You'll never be the equal of a noble like me. Soon enough, you'll forget any of this happened. I'll even let you get out and shit—"

Zachary then immediately installed the tube into his mouth. "So long as we're on the subject, why don't you tell me if you noble's really do shit gold. I'm sorry, what was that your mouth is full!"

He then punched him in the stomach.

Stoick was outside arranging the Scouts so they could provide aid to Eret and his squad when Alvin showed up.

"This could end badly," he said. "All the members of the king's council are telling us the same thing. It's just as your late father speculated. The Tradesman family has the power to alter people's memories as it suits them. From what I've been told, aside from those from a few noble bloodlines that are immune, whole cities could be affected at once."

Stoick's eyes widened in horror seeing implications. "So they could still…"

Alvin nodded. "In the event that Lord Johann is able to obtain Ragnar scream, this uprising of ours will amount to absolutely nothing. If you ask me, that's why the council members have been so cooperative. They don't think that it's worth getting beaten."

"Right, because invisibility should come into play, we'll forget everything that they told us."

"Although I imagine that they prefer whatever torture we could throw at them if they knew what awaits them once they're given up to Zachary," said Alvin and sighed. "I understand him. To think that he would dedicate so much of his life to such a morbid goal."

"So you knew what he was planning?" said Stoick, stunned.

"It was a slip of the tongue," said Alvin folding his arms. "I suspected. At the very least, I knew that his motives were perverse, and unlike you, I dedicate myself to a single dream. Tell me, Stoick would you be willing to die if meant saving what's left of humanity? Would you give up your dream?"

"I don't know," Stoick admitted.

"I thought as much, the only reason I back to you is because I believed it to be the best choice for the human race. How the Government passed my little test, I was prepared to move a stand against you and Zachary. It's no wonder they call me the treacherous. I once heard in a song that someday humans would stop fighting; when will that be?"

"Commander," said a Scout. "The wagons of ready, sir! Troops are standing by. We await your command."

Stoick then looked back at Alvin. "Peace between men will never be certain, not into our numbers for between one or less."

Alvin chuckled. "Shit, here I was hoping that you might have something optimistic to say."

"Believe that kind of thinking to my son," Stoick smiled.

Alvin nodded. "Yes, that boy is certainly something special. He'll make a fine leader one day, probably better than you."

Stoick then put on his cloak and faced his men. "Your attention! Soldiers of the Survey Corps, our mission is to cover Ragnar and Historia. We will now make our way to their location with what we believe to be the chapel on Johann's land!"

Eret's squad was already making their way to the chapel as quickly as they could.

"You should understand, this is Grimmel the Grisly," said Eret. "If he's there, he's our biggest obstacle. In terms of his threat level, it's like you'll be fighting me. Wait, with those weapons of his will be stronger."

"Then he's unbeatable, at least for us," said Ruffnut.

"Maybe we should wait with other soldiers," Tuffnut suggested.

"We can't; every second we weighed only put Ragnar in more danger," Astrid reminded him.

"She's right; if we wait for reinforcements, Ragnar might get eaten," said Heather.

"You know, based upon what the Captain just told us, the odds won't entirely be in Grimmel's favour," said Hiccup.

"You really think so?" Fishlegs asked.

"Yeah, his squad is well trained, but we have way more combat experience."

"Have to ask, how is it that you have lived with Grimmel the Grisly but know next to nothing about him?" Valka asked curiously. "Did the two of you never talk?"

"Not much, I only just learned the man's last name," said Eret. "I don't know if you heard, but it's Huntsman."

"Speaking of last names, that was my mother's last name as well," said Astrid.

"Really? Is he some kind of relative of yours?" Eret asked curiously.

"My uncle told me that my mother side of the family were persecuted when they lived in the cities," Astrid explained. "My mother just wandered the countryside, but then she met my father, and they got married. No one ever told me why the Huntsman were persecuted."

"Tell me this, have you suddenly felt how awakened inside you?" Eret asked curiously.

Astrid looked up at him. "I have."

"This has happened for Grimmel Huntsman as well, suddenly. Out of nowhere, he felt an absurd amount of strength flowing through and in that moment, he knew just what he needed to do. And it's happened to me too, makes me wonder."

Grimmel was in the underground caverns fiddling with his knife began thinking back several decades ago.

"Come on, Gramps, come on, your dying anyway," said Grimmel looking down at the old man in his bed.

"Ah, Grimmel, I take it that you were just out killing more of the Military Police?" said the old man.

"Yeah, if you're talking about those goons who are snooping around here?" he said as he sat down. "They're on the ground helping the trees grow now. Speaking of trees and such, there's a branch of the family that moved south to Berk. I guess they should change the name when they left because they're still getting screwed with. So, of course, the still poor as dirt."

He then turned and looked at the old man. "What the hell happened to us? I thought the Huntsman clan used to be the king's personal bodyguards. Now the whole damn family is on the verge of extinction. So why don't you tell me what you did to piss off the king?"

The old man just remained silent.

"Come on, why won't you tell your sweet grandson one last story?"

The old man then sat up. "What sweet grandson are you talking about? Surely not the infamous Grimmel the Grisly, who has been terrorising the capital. It ain't that the monarchy hates us or has on a course to; they're just afraid of us, is all. The reason being is that we Huntsman are one of the few families the King can't quite control."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Can't tell you the whole story because I don't know it. But it was true that our family was once honoured and trusted by the King. More than that, what I was told, we Huntsman were once the king's sword. For generations, each king has passed the power of the Titans to his successor."

Grimmel frowned. "Huh? Power of the Titans? What's that?"

"I don't know how it works or what else there is to it, but this power allows the King to wipe out human memory to erase the past. Only a few noble bloodlines are immune; among them, there were two groups that decided to turn their back on the King. One of these groups were the Haddock Clan, they were the strategists and military leaders for the King, and the other was our own Huntsman Clan."

"Hence all the persecution," said Grimmel.

"Nothing can end it. The Haddock's were much smarter than we were when we decided to turn our back on the King, and they managed to survive a good majority of the persecution."

He then laid back down on his bed.

"Ain't the heartwarming story you want to hear on your deathbed, but I found my little sister," said Grimmel. "Ingrid has been working in a brothel in the underground. She got knocked out by a customer; I couldn't convince her to get rid of the thing. Oh hell, who would want to be born in this piece of shit world anyway? There is in a dream you can have that's worth suffering through it."

Eret's squad had finally reached the chapel, though it was completely vacant. That said, I expect Johann or any of his followers to be out in the open began looking for a sequel opening.

"Found it," said Valka as she found a secret entrance beneath a rug. "A hidden door. Johann and Ragnar should be inside. Hopefully, the layout is close to what I predicted."

"These presents had a better payoff, considering the time that we spent prepping them," said Eret.

Within the cavern in the Interior, Police had set up defensive positions amongst the pillars.

"We counted at least nine enemies, and you can bet that Captain Eret is among," said Shard. "As you all know, last time that we caught Eret by surprise and then he killed 12 our comrades. The Government has been overthrown, which means we're the fugitives now. So I wouldn't count on getting the backup. We're in some deep shit, and in this tiny scrub world, dying is preferable to what we would get if we decided to surrender.

But here's the thing, that's what life in the Walls has always been; nothing's changed. We've got a foe we can't beat, so we stand by and wait. For them to break through our walls and kill us. We thought to be Military Police, then Interior Police, and now we're Grimmel's elites. We did this to find purpose in our meaningless lives, in this meaningless world. I see no cause to stop believing now; if Grimmel and his dream can't turn this game around, he'll flip the board."

At the entrance, Hiccup had just finished making the final preparations for their assault.

"All right, we should be ready to go now," he said.

"All right then, is everyone here ready?" he asked, looking at everyone. "Because you're all about it dirty your hands."

Every single one of them looked determined; they knew what was at stake if they failed, so they couldn't fail.

"Guess that's a yes," said Eret.