And I'm back! I know, slow update but I'm getting into motion with Chapter 98 being out. I've read it and I wanted to die at the ending, I can't wait another month!! As usual drop a review. Let us begin.

Warrior vs Soldier

Reiner sat in a room recovering from the stress of the past few days. The operation at Fort Slava had been successful, even if he'd nearly died. The war between the Mid-East union and Marley was over, a peace treaty signed because Zeke had destroyed most of the Unions naval fleet. All thanks to the power of the Titans, and the people who could become them, who were treated as a lower race of Devils. 'Disgusting.' He thought inside.

But the real worrying thought going through his head was the imminent return to Paradise with the next candidate for the Armored Titan, which he hoped in a way was Gabi. But he also didn't want to limit her life to just 23 years, and she still needs to be informed about the truth. He knows that soon he and the others will be heading back to Liberio before the operation would be declared active by Marley's commanders. Maybe there he would tell her, after all they do live close to each other, bearing the same last name.

But the fear of someone else being chosen also prohibits him from outright doing it, because then she would be in a tight spot with such knowledge but no power of 9. He accepted that he's going to have to play this one by ear, which is something he hasn't really done since coming back to the mainland. Everything was carefully planned and calculated, sometimes in the moment, but for the most part ahead of time with sufficient enough knowledge.

But none of this was at the forefront of Reiner's mind right now, as he lay dreaming. It isn't a pleasant dream, it's a nightmare. And it involves the friend he left to die 4 years ago.

It's right at the wall, in Shinganshina as Reiner takes in the vaguely familiar setting. It was here that he lost to Eren in combat, nearly died himself, and Bertoldt was defeated.

Bertold stood facing away from him, his body half gone from using his steaming ability. His body is moving slower than usual, and Reiner sees two figures soaring through the air on the odm gear towards his lost friend. Two figures that he and Zeke fears as well, the Ackermans. Levi, humanities strongest, and Mikasa, best of the 104th. Both with their blades at the ready, aiming right for Bertoldt exposed nape. Reiner tries calling out to his friend, to warn him but finds that he can't speak. His voice is gone, and much to his horror Bertoldt doesn't even move or acknowledge their presence.

He watches as the pair looms ever closer, ready to strike, their faces ones of anger and fierce determination. And why wouldn't they be? His best friend was the symbol of terror known around the world, and especially to the people of Paradise. But no more, whoever ate Bertoldt now had one of the greatest powers of Ymir.

Whoever consumed his best friend was now the God of Destruction.

And even though this is a dream from the fact that Reiner never saw what happened to Bertoldt, or how he was even defeated, he couldn't help but try calling out to his friend. He says the same word that he's used too many times in his life.

The word from his time in becoming a warrior. The word he spoke to Bert and Annie when they stopped running after they lost Marcel. That one word that he would grow to hate, not because he needed help.

But because he's always needed help.

"Wait!!"

Reiner wakes from the nightmare with his arm outstretched, just like the other times he's ever said that word with the most desperate of tones. He clears his eyes, trying to take in his surroundings, rembering where he was before sleep had claimed him. He sat up and was grateful that he appeared to be alone before a voice interrupted his peace. A voice which belonged to a person that he despised.

"You seemed like you were having a funny dream, that's why I didn't wake you." Porko said between bites of the sandwich he was eating while writing a report. 'Yeah I bet so you salty fuck. Must've been real funny to see me in pain, dreaming about all the shit I've had to go through because of lies you and everyone else on this goddamn continent believe.' Reiner thinks as he narrows his eyes, but he keeps his thoughts to himself. He instead takes his mind off it by replying to Porko's comment.

"You know I haven't thanked you for saving me during the past operation." He struggled as he was in a way grateful for being saved, because it meant he could complete his own mission, but he doesn't think of Porko any more than he did before. With probably the the least amount of hostility Reiner's ever shown him since their time in training, he grudgingly gave his gratitude towards the warrior of Marley. "Galliard...thank you."

The boys reaction wasn't what Reiner expected at first. Galliard turned to face him with an odd look in his face, and replied "You don't need to thank me for that." He began and Reiner's eyes widened in disbelief. 'Is..is he actually going to try and be nice? To me?' But that brief thought was shot down his next words, but Reiner wasn't surprised at all by it. "I wasn't saving you, I was merely saving my country Marley from your blunder of losing the Armored Titan."

'Of course. There's the Porko that I know and hate. Your days coming soon enough Galliard, and I'm gonna smile when you finally realize it. Right in your smug face.' Reiner's thoughts darkened as he listened further to the remaining Galliard twin speak.

"First, things would not be this way if 9 years ago I had been selected for the operation to Paradise Island, that I would've inherited the Armored Titan. My brother would not have been devoured by the area's Titan, while saving you." Reiner's thoughts grew bitter as he recalled that moment ' Shut up you bastard. I don't need you reminding me of that, I see him enough in my nightmares. It should've been you who died, Ymir could've been given life again while your wouldn't been taken. A win win for me.' Speaking of Ymir, Reiner's carefully but casually asked porko a question. One he's been fearful if hearing the answer to for the past 4 years.

One that could ruin everything he's been planning and thinking of for so long.

"Dd you see his memories?" Reiner questioned and much to his relief, Porko shook his head. 'Thank Ymir for that.' He internally sighed, praising the deity and who his now gone friend inherited both her name and power from. Who all the warriors got their power from.

"No unfortunately, I did not see you abandoning my brother." Porko's accusation made Reiner nearly snap back in anger and outrage before his next words made Reiner stop in cold blood. "However I was able to understand my predecessors memories, or at least fragments of them. She was just a poor girl who was given a name that was too big for her. To bring back my brother's jaw was also her wish."

Strangle Porko's voice wasn't as bitter as he spoke her name, and Reiner couldn't help but feel more depressed than he was before. He remembered how Ymir looked just before her death, the look of utter defeat at knowing she had a regret left to this world. He remembered how her face looked just before Galliard already her, broken, empty, but accepting in her own way.

Reiner mumbles under his breath, but loud enough for Galliard to hear it. "That's right. You're correct."

Porko goes on after regaining his usual composure, himself unsure what brought about that minor change in his demeanor. "So what did you do on that island? Did someone keep saving you?" Porko asked him, and Reiner looked to the floor with some of his inner depression showing.

He couldn't help it, and simply replied "Yeah, some did."

"From what little I saw of her memories, you seemed like a person those people looked up to. What was that? You were mimicing my brother.." Porko said with some confusion in his voice, and a brief smile played on Reiner's face as he recalled those days once more. Playing orabjs with Connie and Sasha, sparring with Eren and helping him get through hard times in training. Grabbing the biggest load when they all were given instructions to move equipment or supplies. Breaking up fights at food times between Eren and Jean. He answers Porko's pondering as the smile leaves his face, remembering those days are long gone to him now.

"Yoir right Galliard. Everything you said, was true." He tells Porko, and Galliard looks at him in more puzzlement before the door is opened by the only person he really is at ease around whose not his family, Pieck. The girl was always kind to him, well kind to every one of the warriors really. Intelligent, peaceful, but with her own quirks. She was fun, in other words. He found her presence relaxing, but he found himself growing somewhat concerned as she walked in with a crutch.

Pieck spoke to the pair with her usual kind voice, one of those mellow smiles on her face. "Come now Pokko, you should not tease people involved in a bombardment." Galliard was annoyed by her nickname for him. It annoyed him to no end, but not in a hateful way. "I told you never to call me by that name, Pikku." He grumbled, and she merely chuckled lightly at his own nickname for her.

Reiner asked the girl. "Is everything alright?" looking to her crutch. She held her crutch out further to explain "To two months I did not return to human form, and I ended up forgetting how to walk." She mused once more, and he was glad to hear that she would be fine. But her tone grew more concerned about his well being with what she mentioned next. "But Reiner since your awake, why don't you go visit Gabi and the others? I know they've been worried since what happned at Slava."

Reiner knew the girl was right, they would be worrying over him for what he did to save Zeke. He appreciated Pieck's simple way of getting him away from Porko's hostility without causing a scene. She didn't want a fight to break out between them because they were both her friends.

'Nice girl, would've been nice if she were on the same side as me, but I don't think I can tell her. It's too bad, she seems to have the best head out of them. Hmm, wonder what she and Armin would've discussed if they ever met.' He mused to himself but outwardly he was unchanged. He sat up on his bed and readied to leave the room, thanking her with a smile like the one he wore on Paradise.

"Thank you for that Pieck, I think I will."