Alright back to the current timeline! Slight recap, Eren and Reiner met up at his home under Eren's plan which Falco unknowingly played a major part in, Gabi is also present and Reiner will tell her and Falco the truth, Jean and Armin are off on their own around Liberio at the moment. Eren has revealed himself to the young Warrior cadets as the very target they are being trained to capture and bring back to Marley. And Reiner is coming clean about what he's been preparing to do all these years! Well sorry that it's SUPER late, but still I'll never stop writing. I'll just keep moving forward...until this story is finished. Yes that is a chapter 100 reference lol. Drop a review, let us begin.
P.S, tell Me your thoughts on chapter 105 and theories for 106! I'd love to hear them! Same goes for whatever you readers think I will do with this story in the future! Personally 105 hit me hard although it felt a little short. But a few interesting things at play. Zeke working with Eren, I still don't like it at all although I am more curious about his other subordinate who apparently is a Marleyean Soldier. Yelena, whom I actually have doubts about being a Marleyean since we all thought the original Krueger was one until he freed Grisha and slaughtered the rest of the soldiers. Gabi I've grown to despise although I had high hopes for her, Falco I still do because he was there when Eren and Reiner talked. Reiner, I'm pissed at for fighting against Eren although a few things strike me as curious, like Erens last words to him being akin to "...There's no need to fight anymore. We'll meet again Reiner." And from what Pieck says he's been missing since Eren one punched his half armored ass. Porko we haven't seen anything of either since Eren used him as a nutcracker on Ms Tybur who I still wish we had an actual name for. Eren basically went and did what he had to, I'm in full support because he's gained them a major victory by killing and taking the Warhammer, slaughtering the Marley military leaders, and showing the world exactly what to expect if they declare and decide to go through with war against Paradise. And those of you who say Eren was rash and did bad, they were literally all there to declare war against eldians and exterminate them. If Eren hadn't struck then it still would've happened. He saw a chance and took it, ultimately paying off for him. And finally the one thing that hurt the most... Sasha's death. Even as I write up the last of this chapter I'm still hurt by it. Seriously send Gabi off the airship for that one head first. Sasha spared her, and this is the thanks she gets?! Damn Isayama. But Falco is alright though, he tried to stop her.
And last but not least, lightning reformed: I don't think shifters can drown in their Titans because Pieck has been shown to arrive in to battle from underwater. So I think it's entirely possible for them to swim just fine although Reiner would be weighed died and The Colossal would have disadvantage in the water. The rest aside from the Beast would be fine though, although I do believe there is that theory of the beast titan changing shape depending on the inheritor. After all we've seen certain things that stick out, like all the Jaeger's having pointed ears while in their titan forms.
Sorry for the reeealllly long author note lol, this is sorta like a second one because this chapter came out way later than expected. Rest assured I am back in full this time. Hopefully the next update for this will be up sooner than this one. Sorry if this chapter feels shorter but it will be longer in the next in a few good ways.
Revelations of a Man who opposes "peace" and discomfort.
"You're the... Founding Titan...You.."
Gabi and Falco could only stare with wide eyes at the man Krueger, who now openly declared himself as Eren Jaeger, the man the two warrior cadets were being trained to capture and bring back to the very country they were in now. They had no need to journey to Paradise island, their target had come to them. But before they could even think of doing anything,
Reiner spoke up to the pair as Eren still stood, his body fully regenerated and watching the two young children with something like expectance in his eyes. "Yeah, he is." Eren looked from them back to Reiner and asked "I believe it's time for that talk you mentioned earlier, don't you Reiner?" The blonde Warrior nodded grimly while taking his seat once more, and Mikasa eased herself back to the wall, feeling more in control of the situation.
So far everything had been going smoothly, and she intended to keep it that way until the others arrived, hopefully soon. Things were going better than expected, but if Mikasa has learned just one thing over the years, it's to never think it willl work itself out. They've been on the receiving end of that backlash too many times to count, so she would still treat the situation the same as it's been from the start and keep her guard up no matter what is exchanged between the others in the room. She listens as her former classmate starts speaking to the younger children in the room.
"Yeah, it is. Gabi, Falco, there's some things I need to tell you...about myself, my time across the ocean 4 years ago, and about Paradise Island." Reiner's voice was a bit heavier but more at ease for some strange reason. Perhaps it was the chance to finally get the truth off his chest and stop living as such a lie. He's been having to hide who he was since Ymir was still alive, and even then he had to hide the full truth from her because she was set to be consumed by Porko.
The thought of that bastard made Reiner's temper flare a bit, although not visibly outside of a slight hardening in his eyes. But he has to keep it together, especially since Mikasa's here. He knows just how deadly and protective she is, she nearly killed him and Bertoldt 3 times each, every attempt nearly being successful. If she wants to kill him, shells find a way to. Reiner shook his head and continued as Eren and Mikasa watched him closely before Gabi spoke up, confused and stressed out.
"What do you mean about...your time there? You already said that...it was hell there. That they were all devils. That's what you said." Gabi said slowly and Reiner grimaced at hating the thought of bursting Her bubble. He hates that he's lied to her, but it's not like he's had many options to work with. Reiner sighed as he started to correct her.
"I left out the part where I created that Hell, and so did Marley. The people of Paradise are Innocent Gabi. They aren't Devils, they never were. We were the devils. We, I killed hundreds of innocent people in the name of beliefs I thought were the truth. Raised here to hate our own kind, to want to exterminate them to please our masters. I was the true devil there." He finished as he looked down and Gabi couldn't speak, she was having a hard time accepting this.
Falco started first "You call them people? But they...they can destroy the world! They're evil, why we live in camps-" but He was stopped by the very man who made this meeting come to fruition. "No, Falco. We are not the reason you and everyone else lives in this damn prison. That's Marley's fault. Yeah, your right about us having the power to destroy the world, but think Falco. Tell me, what had Marley been using the 7 Titan powers they've had for a century for?" Eren asked and Falco stayed silent as he starts to see it in a different ligli, his eyes widening a tiny bit. Gabi fails to understand but Krueger obliges her with an explanation.
"They've been using them and our people to wage war against the world since King Fritz left to Paradise and left your group here. He was a coward, and anything but a king. Marley is the one using mindless Titans to consume and destroy people, not Paradise. Like at Fort Slava, after all it wasn't Paradise who created those mindless Titans nor sunk that fleet at fort slava. All that was Marley and it's warriors. Hell you want to know something very interesting?" He asked and recierecno answer, seeing that he had them at his full attention.
"Paradise knew nothing about the rest of the world even existing until 4 years ago. We inside the walls thought the world was destroyed and consumed by the Titans, until the Colossal and Armored destroyed our first wall and let the mindless ones inside." Both Gabi and Falco's mouths drop in surprise at this revelation, and Eren continued, his voice growing hard like iron, and Reiner actually flinched at the mention of his actions destroying the false idea of peace and isolation those in the walls used to hold.
"We never knew where the Titans came from, what they were, what we were until We discovered my basement in my hometown. You see my father came from here, he was an Eldian from Liberio sentenced to imprisonment on Paradise for trying to restore the Eldian race in secret years many years ago. He watched as his fellow revolutionists and even his first wife were all transformed into the very monsters who ate my friends right after our graduation in the military. His first wife however, came and ate my mother right in front of me. And do you know why?" The young cadets stay silent, not giving an answer as some of it began to make sense to them. Eren continued with his small speech.
"Because Reiner and the other warriors were sent from here by Marley to take the Founding Titan from us when we did nothing with it for a century. Not out of peace, but out of ignorance. Peace isn't thinking that your all that's left, and that the world outside only wants to eat you for no apparent reason. That isn't peace, that's being trapped in a cage like livestock. And nine years ago we received a grim reminder that we Always lived in fear of the titans." Eren finished and peeked an eye at Reiner who hung his head in shame.
Gabi and Falco were staring at the infiltrator with shocked expressions, and Gabi tried speaking to him over something she'd caught him emphasize. "You said that your people didn't attack because you were ignorant about the world outside your walls, but not because you were peaceful. Why are you doing here...what are you going to do?" At the nervous and somewhat accusing tone Eren smiled at her, and the look creeped out those in the room from this land. Eren chuckled at the looks on the young girls face, not out of cruelty but out of maturity. He remembers how he used to be, seeing the world in such black and white. And even though he sees things in more of an overall grey, he still sees his side as the light over the dark. It was natural, no matter who anyone was. It was just the way the world worked.
"What am I going to do? Well I stated that already, I'm here to free my people. That includes my friends and family on Paradise, Falco, Reiner, even you. And also every Eldian in this camp, we will all be free and safe when this is over. And it'll be done in a months time, when that lovely festival is set to begin. The one with the world leaders all coming for a play of some sort since I've seen that theatre being constructed. The one the Teiber family and the Marleyean government intend to declare war on Paradise, which I cannot sit by and allow to happen." Eren told the still reluctant girl and the three Liberio Eldians sat there in shock, starting to comprehend just what he was hinting at. Reiner's mind was thinking deep on this, trying to see the big picture being painted before him.
'So that's his plan, he's going to use the opportunity that the festival gives to attack the higher ups for Marley. I mean all the generals and commanders will all be there, Magath, The Teibers of course...and the Warriors as well.' His mind concluded before a troubling thought came to his attention. 'How does he intend to get everyone out of here? There's easily close to 3 hundred Eldians in this camp, even if he and the scouts captured all the investigation ships fully intact there just wouldn't be enough room.' The blonde decided to voice his questions to Eren.
"Eren I understand why your going to attend the event... but even if you do plan on taking everyone here back to Paradise, how would you even do that? You guys don't have enough ships to do something that huge, there's still limited space on the investigation ships no matter how big they appear." At the man's concerns Eren gave a mysterious look and merely waved Reiner off, giving him a brief explanation.
"We have that planned out, don't you worry. You'll just have to wait till that time comes closer, after all you'll play a integral role. If your genuine with what you've been saying so far Reiner. After all, which side am I talking to?" Eren looked Reiner dead in the eyes as he asked the question that the younger ones didn't seem to understand. Reiner stayed silent, and Eren had to ask again, hoping that he didn't mess anything up with the man's fragile mind. Otherwise he would've been forced to use a different method to recruiting Reiner. One he isn't actually sure he would like to attempt yet, despite the overall tests coming off as promising so far.
"Reiner." The blonde stiffened a bit at his name being called a little more forcefully, but he just had to collect himself before he could answer truthfully. However, he Is going to answer Eren's question either way.
"Are you a Warrior or are you a soldier?" Eren asked and Reiner took a deep breath and sighed before looking up. "I'm alive Eren. There is no choosing sides, if I choose either I'm still lying to myself. So I'm neither, but I'm going to help you because I am both. I will help you, and I'll bring freedom to all of the people here." Reiner declares and Eren's eyebrow raised as he gave a small smile. He stood and offered to shake Reiner's hand while Gabi and Falco watched in disbelief while Mikasa watched with reserved judgement still present on her face. Reiner saw the hand and also stood to take it, joining hands with Eren and shaking twice.
Reiner felt a wace of relief wash over him as he openly declared his loyalty to the people of Paradise, but it left when he heard two voices protest behind him. Younger voices that belonged to those who didn't quite understand just yet about why he was doing this.
"Reiner you can't do that! Your the most loyal warrior of Marley! Its treason! What if aunt Karina finds out?" Gabi protests while Falco is less vocal about the loyalty issue and more concerned with Reiner putting his trust in Krueger considering he'd lied to Falco only minutes ago and for the past month or so since they met. "Braun sir, do you really think you can trust Mr Krue...Eren Jaeger? He's a liar! I don't doubt what you know but he's been deceiving me since we came back home to Liberio! How can you just shake hands and be on his side because of what he supposedly says he'll do?!" He said while glancing back forth nervously towards Mr Krueger and his Sister, if she was even that.
Eren raised his brows and got ready to speak when Reiner stepped up to take the heat. "Both of you, Enough. I don't care about loyalty to Marley, I haven't been truly loyal since I came back from Paradise. I've just been waiting for the opportunity I needed to keep Gabi alive since I know my mother is too far gone to just believe anything I could've tried to tell her. I only did what I've done since coming back in order to survive. If it wasn't for you Gabi I would've just transformed, grabbed Ymir and swam back to the island." Reiner stated with bitterness in his voice as he remembers the friend who made one helluva difference in his life more so than anyone else, the friend he lead to her death because he was still unsure of who he was.
But it wasn't that way anymore, he's got a full grip on who he is. He's not a Warrior, and he's already been outcasted as a soldier for his actions. So like he told Eren, He's alive and he's going to do the right thing because he's been given the opportunity to do so. Gabi was looking at her cousin dith wide eyes, not believing what she's hearing but also confused. She asks the person she looked up to "Who...who's Ymir? Your not talking about Ymir Fritz are you?" Much to her relief he shook his head, and she knew that his mental health wasn't completely out of whack. After all he was still thinking of joining the devil island's people against Marley, the people who've allowed them to live even after what their ancestors did-
"No..Ymir was a friend of mine on Paradise island who... I lead to her death. She was one of the mindless Titans for 60 years until...she ate Marcel and gained the Jaws power. She stayed hidden for years, but we met when I enlisted in Paradise's military. And when I was caught, she chose to hand herself over. Zeke, Pieck and I brought her back to the mainland. That's where Galliard got his powers from, not that he deserves them. Marcel was my friend but...I'm glad that I met Ymir. She helped me become what I am ever since I had my eyes opened and my priorities shifted. She gave her life...so I could live mine for the truth."
Reiner paused before he looked towards Eren with somber eyes, and he felt the emerald green bore into his with some surprise in them, his sister not so much but she too was caught a little off guard by this sudden revelation. Eren however recovered from his surprise first, and decided to voice his curiosity to the former warrior and soldier.
"That so Reiner? Well I can't say that I'm as accepting of that as I am of your loyalty. You two always seemed to be at each other's throats over Historia, but like we've both seen before. People change. I guess you two got closer to her end didn't you? I would've liked to have seen that." He asked in a more careful but thoughtful tone, much to the surprise of Gabi and Falco. But there was something in his tone that caught the laters attention, and cadet Grice asked a question tentatively to Eren.
"What are you getting at Mr Krueger, I mean Jaeger? You sound like...you want him to tell you more." Eren's response actually caught everyone aside from Mikasa off guard when he answered with a casual mention of something very unusual. "Actually I wished to see it for myself, and maybe show you two something that should clear all of this up. I'll need Reiner's help with it though, but it's painless and won't take more than a touch."
Reiner's eyes widened as he begins to think about what Eren is hinting and insinuating right now, 'He can't actually do that can he? How, how far has he come with being a shifter, much less the Coordinate?!' He thinks as he starts to recall how Eren had used it once before and stopped him in his tracks before setting mindless Titans on him. Then only a month later he'd shown up in shinganshina able to use the hardening ability with surprisingly deadly effectiveness, kicking his ass until Reiner was nearly killed by the scouts and their new explosive Spears.
He hasn't seen Eren for 4 solid years now, there was no way for Reiner to tell just what Eren is now capable of doing. And if he was actually hinting that he wished to used the Founding Titan's power on the two young Eldians with his help for some unknown reason. After all he was far from Royal Blood with his mixed Marleyean and Eldian bloodline, so why did Eren say he requires his assistance?
"Eren...why do you need me? I'm not connected to the Royal bloodline, what purpose do I serve in this?" Reiner asked and his anxiety began to rise when Eren gave him a grim look, the same one he'd held just a few minutes prior to Reiner declaring his allegiances, when he was talking about what happened on Paradise. Reiner's thoughts then began to grow fearful.
'He's not talking about using me like...an example of the truth...is he? He's not going to use the Founding Titan's power to show them my memories is he?!' His eyes widened and he looked to Eren's grim face, perhaps he was thinking that Reiner had just now pieced together what he intended to use the blonde warrior for. Eren then spoke and confirmed his fears verbally.
"I need to show them your memories Reiner. It's the only way that they'll be truly convinced by what we've been talking about, because even if they don't believe me...they know you wouldn't be able to like to them this far. You can't fake an entire person's life in their memories, so if they see what you have in there with my help...you can help save them. If you're willing to share what you've seen and done for them to see. Can you do that Reiner?" Eren asked, not threateningly this time like he had before with the sliced hand and chairs. This was a genuine question aimed solely at him to answer. And it was only for Reiner to decide, even if it hadn't seemed like he has a choice.
Reiner looked to the ground for a moment before closing his eyes, not at war with himself but just feeling a sense of fear and shame. And rightfully so, after all their going to see most likely the worst of what he's done during his time as a warrior. During his time brainwashed but slowly beginning to realize the truth of their situation during the mission. And yet even though he wishes he didn't have to show them it, that he could spare them from the horrors they'll see him commit...he has to. Not because he feels threatened or forced, but because it's what he should face and sacrifice for the better good.
What had be said to Eren years ago? When they were atop wWal Rose and he began to slip into pure warrior as soldiers guilt weighed on him?
"Why did there have to be people like this? Why...why did I let myself devolve...into such a half ass piece of shit?! It's too late now, damned if I know what's right anymore! Who cares...it is what it is. No choice but to face what I've done. As a Warrior...no road left but the one that leads to the end!"
He thinks to his lost comrades, the three Warriors he went to that island with, so determined to save the world as their had once thought to be the right way. And even then there had been doubts the night before it would all happen, Marcel revealing to him that he was the reason why Reiner was selected over Porko, his hesitqthes along with Bertoldt's about breaching the wall the next day.
Marcel being eaten, Annie kicking and beating him for his failure to die when Marcel did instead. Shifting to protect Annie and Bertold from the very large Titan swarm Annie had attracted with her Titans scream. Grabbing bertold before he could be pounced upon by the swarm after kicking in the outer gate.
Rushing towards the inner gate with Marcel's last words still clouding his mind, hearing the screams and shouts of the Garrison and civilians alike as the mindless Titans came for them.
Bertoldt and himself nearly being killed by Mikasa when they tried to kidnap Eren, and later the fear the pair felt when Armin told them of Annie being imprisoned and tortured beyond imagining. The same fear when Eren sent mindless Titans to kill him and Bertoldt until Ymir decided to help them out.
When he and Bertoldt were both taken down in shinganshina but Zeke and Pieck only managed to retrieve him while his friend was held hostage by Eren. He knows Bertoldt is long gone by now, and be is sickened that he doesn't even know what happened to Annie, about whether or not what Armin had claimed was true.
He'll do this for them, because he was the only one to return home when the both of them wished to return after Marcel died. And yet he forced them to stay, to complete the mission out of both selfish self preservation and that stupid idea of him being a hero, respected by his friends instead of always being the weakest link out of them all. The only thing that's gotten him to this point was his loyalty to Marley, and that hasnt been apart of him for many years now.
If he shares this with Gabi and falco, the first thing hell he'll ask in return is what happened to his friends.
He opens his eyes and looks up to Eren once more, nodding his head in consent, but bedobecan extend his hand towards himself Reiner let's Eren know what he wishes. "Alright Eren, I'll help show them. But afterwards...I need to know what happened to Annie and Bertoldt. I just need to know... Please."
Eren gave him a curious tilt of his head before nodding to the request. "That's sounds more than reasonable Reiner, I'll tell you after the others get back." At the last words Reiners ears perked up as well as his eyes widened. "Others? They're...they're coming here?" He asked and once again Eren nodded. Reiner took a deep breathe and sighed, as much as he wanted to see them, he knows it won't be the reunion he's fantazied about before. But still, he has a task to carry out before that can even happen.
"Alright let's... let's do this." Reiner stared firmly and Eren reached out with his hand for Reiner to take, which he did after staring at it for a few seconds, still feeling that tingle of fear and shame but ultimately overcoming it and holding hands. Eren looked to Falco and told the boy. "It's your turn Falco, all you have to do it sound Reiner or me, doesn't matter which. You'll still see the same thing."
Falco gulped and looked to Reiner for a sign of some sort, but saw rather than telling him to stay away, Reiners face tells him to step forward and become apart of whatever they were trying to attempt. He swallows once more before putting his hand atop of Reiners and Erens.
Gabi was still in place watching in place when all tree of them then turned to Her, and the only person who she really looks to is her cousin. He gives her a soft nod and offers out his hand which she stares at, much like he'd done with Jaeger's. He spoke to her though "Gabi...it's alright. It's the only way to show you...the truth. About me, Marley, us...and Paradise. Please." She still looked scared, but she too took his hand with hers.
Seeing the acceptance Eren then began to focus on the Founding Titan's poeer within him to only be used on these two. And still holding the vial of blood Historia granted him years ago when he pleased to talk with Annie on a sting around his neck, he felt the tingle in his mind. From the gasps of the other three, they certainly felt something else as well.
He closed his eyes and felt it all fade into darkness, and then Light.