Attack on Titan: Red War

by lrkrpublishing

In this alternate universe, Eren Jaegar is holding a dying Armin Arlert on a rooftop, just after defeating the traitor Bertholdt. However, something is different. Eren's eyes glow red and something...happens. Eren speaks up to Levi, who is holding the Titan Serum needle, and agrees that Erwin should be the one revived because it makes the most sense. This is the Red War.

ATTACK ON TITAN: RED WAR

FAN FICTION: Begins during Season 3, Episode 18 "Midnight Sun"

Dedicated to: People who love fanfiction series done of their favorite series. Creativity is a beautiful element that I believe all people should explore and live out their wildest fantasies. This is also dedicated especially to Hajime Isayama. Thank you for creating my favorite series. Your story moved me so much that I wanted to explore with alternate possibilities. This is also dedicated to Nicholas Marvin.

ACT I: "Comfort Zone" CHAPTER 1: Crimson Sunrise – 1795

WARNING: THIS FANFICTION CONTAINS VERY GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE SOME MAY FIND DISTURBING. PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. THANK YOU.

"I'll just keep moving forward...Until I've killed my Enemies."

Eren Jaeger, our protagonist, snapped out of what seemed a daze, his eyes glowing deep red for an instant. He looked to his left and to his right, searching for the source of the words he had just heard. He was on a rooftop. Was it all in his head? A dirty right hand of his rose to his face, rubbing his eyes and in his left, he realized that he was holding onto his friend Armin Arlert. Then he realized it, his friend was dying. He had forgotten that he was in an argument with Levi Ackerman, Hange Zoe, and Floch Forster. The three of them want to use the Titan Injection serum on Erwin Smith, because he is the current Commander of the Scout Regiment. Eren remembered that he and Mikasa Ackerman were trying to convince them to use it on Armin. The Titan Injection Serum can turn someone with Eldian blood into a Titan. And if that Titan eats a human with Titan Shifter abilities, specifically by consuming the spinal fluid, that Titan will transform back into a human and gain special abilities depending on the Titan Shifter. Eren currently has the powers of the Attack Titan and Bertholdt Hoover, the traitor of the Scouts and recently defeated by Armin and Eren, has the powers of the Colossal Titan. Finally, Eren was caught back up to speed. He sat silently for a second, being stared at by everyone until he spoke.

"Fine", Eren began. "Use it on Commander Erwin."

Mikasa stepped towards Eren with a concerned look on her face, tearing up because Armin was their best friend. However, Eren showed no emotion that Mikasa could read from his face. She looked towards the others trying to figure out what her own reaction should be.

Everyone's head dropped as Levi walked to Erwin who was laying on his back. The wind blew through the silent Shiganshina District. The only sound that could be heard was Levi's boots tapping onto the roof with each footstep towards the fallen Commander.

"Everything that you thought had meaning: every hope, dream, or moment of happiness. None of it matters as you lie bleeding out on the battlefield. None of it changes what a speeding rock does to a body, we all die. But does that mean our lives are meaningless? Does that mean that there was no point in our being born? Would you say that of our slain comrades? What about their lives? Were they meaningless?... They were not! Their memory serves as an example to us all! The courageous fallen! The anguished fallen! Their lives have meaning because we the living refuse to forget them! And as we ride to certain death, we trust our successors to do the same for us! Because my soldiers do not buckle or yield when faced with the cruelty of this world! My soldiers push forward! My soldiers scream out! My soldiers RAAAAAGE!"

...

Erwin's eyes opened up, and the sudden jolt of waking up sent his torso upwards, while his left arm held himself up in a makeshift bed on top of the wall and this right hand touched his temple. He gasped and began breathing quickly, trying to figure out what was going on. He looked down and realized that he was shirtless, and his body was completely healed. He closed his eyes trying to remember and then he understood what must've happened. Next to his bed was Sasha Braus, the country girl out of the group who was in serious condition. She groaned in agony, her body covered in bandages under the blankets.

"Commander", Captain Levi called out walking towards the injured camp they had set up while Erwin was incapacitated.

"Levi", Erwin replied, standing up slowly and falling only to be caught by Levi who ran up to assist him.

"Take it easy", Levi warned, helping his friend to his feet.

Everyone else walked up as well, except for Eren who sat at the edge of the wall looking out towards the horizon.

Floch's eyes widened with happiness, and he moved his way to the front. Mikasa and Jean walked up with Hange who looked hopeful.

Erwin looked down. He was confused, why did they bring him back? Obviously, he appreciated the gesture, but he felt a heavy sense of guilt. And his head was becoming to see glimpses into Bertholdt's head. Whatever the reason, he knew he had to continue to lead them and humanity to victory, and the first step was to check Eren's father's basement.

The group was on the group now, searching through Eren's hometown looking for his house. The reason the Scouts have had Eren's basement as an objective is because of the possibility of learning more about the dreadful Titans. Grisha Jaeger, Eren's father, was a doctor and did a lot of research in his basement. The day the Titans attacked Shiganshina District; Grisha had promised to show Eren what he does inside the basement. And Eren had a very realistic dream where he ran into his father and told him that his mother was eaten by a Titan. Grisha took Eren into a forest and instructed him to go into the basement before the dream gets fuzzy after Eren remembered being injected with something, the Titan Injection Serum. This wasn't a dream, but a memory; and discovering the secret within the basement was Erwin's hope for humanity.

While they searched, Erwin noticed Eren was quieter and less enthusiastic which made him curious. The younger Scouts were up ahead while Levi and Hange walked beside Erwin.

"What happened?" Erwin asked quietly.

"We don't know. He's been that way ever since..." Hange began but choked up.

"Ever since what?" Erwin asked.

"Ever since he agreed to use the injection on you instead of Armin", Levi answered coldly.

Erwin thought to himself for a second, remembering Armin and his relationship with Eren and Mikasa. Then he realized there was a decision that had to be made. The guilt on his shoulders became heavier, realizing that they chose him over their comrade. He remembered how intelligent Armin was, and knew that he would do whatever it took, so that the decision wasn't made in vain.

Eren begins having flashbacks from when he was younger and happier in his hometown as they walked. Mikasa was by his side, and they made their way up the stairs near his house. He remembers asking his father at a young age:

"When will you show me what's in the basement?"

And his father replying:

"Who knows? Perhaps when you realize the most important thing of all."

"Luckily the fires didn't make it this far", Hange stated, going through rubble and debris. Levi stood in the background kicking over broken wood.

Eren sat on the ground going through his family's plates and cups on the ground of his destroyed home. Under some wood of the ground, he discovered the entrance to the basement. Looking towards Mikasa, they decided to inform Levi.

"This is the door that opens up the stairs to the basement", Eren told Erwin, after leading the three older Scouts to the area.

"Great work, Eren", Erwin stated.

Eren proceeded by reaching for the latch to open the door and pulled it open, revealing a dark staircase. Erwin led them down the stairs until reaching the end where a door was locked. Eren stepped forward and pulled out the key from his necklace and prepared to insert it into the lock, but he was struggling; the key didn't match the lock.

"What's wrong?" Erwin begins.

"Eren?" Mikasa questions.

"Hurry it up!" Levi barks.

"Give him time!" Hange yells at Levi.

Eren looked frustrated and defeated at the same time. His jaw was clenched tightly, but he began to chatter out nervously. "This...This key...it doesn't go to this door."

"That can't be. I'm certain that's the key that Dr. Jaeger had", Mikasa responded quickly.

"Move out of the way!" Levi growled.

Everyone moved out of the way, confused, besides Erwin, and watched as Levi busted down the door with a single kick, shattering the lock, and pulling back the remaining pieces of the door to expose a dark opening. Erwin walked inside first and started an oil lamp for lighting. The room was revealed to be an ordinary office type room. Containing a desk in the middle with papers and books on top as well as many bookshelves and experiments that amazed everyone, especially Erwin.

"This is all great medicinal stuff, but we're looking for something deeper", Hange began. "This is just what he'd want anyone to see at first glance."

"There's something more indeed", Erwin rubbed his chin.

"Hey brats, quit standing around and look harder. Erwin's hunches are rarely wrong", Levi ordered Eren and Mikasa.

Mikasa walks over to the desk and grabs a book, knocking over a cup to the floor. She stops for a second and remembers when she was younger, giving dinner to Grisha, who was apparently going to be working an all-nighter. She leaned down to pick up the cup and spotted something on the desk.

"Eren...There's a keyhole right here", Mikasa was in front of the desk, looking at a small keyhole which must've kept the drawer locked.

Eren looked over and everyone gathered in front of the desk. Eren tried the key, and it went in on the first try. He unlocked it and let Erwin know it opened. However, the drawer was empty, much to Eren's dismay.

Erwin stepped forward and knocked on the bottom of the drawer, revealing a hollow sound inside.

"It's a fake bottom. Used to hide secrets in plain sight" Erwin stated. He pulled out the piece of wood used as the bottom of the drawer and exposed a few journals.

Hange pulled out something strange that appeared to a wrapped cylindrical object and sniffed it.

"It smells like charcoal...and peppermint oil", Hange described. "Maybe these were used to keep moisture and bugs away from these journals? They must be really important".

Erwin grabs a journal and hands it to Eren. "Here, you deserve to be the one to open this".

Eren looks into Erwin's eyes and down to the book. He grabs the book and places it on the desk. This is the moment he had been waiting for his whole life. And although the circumstances are less than ideal, he knew he was ready for the truth.

Mikasa lowered her hand on top of his and they looked at each other. Eren nodded and accepted her help and opened the cover of the first journal. Inside there was a picture. The first picture any of them have seen in their lives.

CHAPTER 2: Secret inside the Basement - 2510

"It's...my father!" Eren exclaimed, taking out the picture. Hange, however, immediately snatched it out of his hand and began swooning over it and inspecting it.

"AMAZING!"

Erwin found a letter and quickly read it.

"This isn't an illustration...Apparently it was captured using the light reflected off of a subject. And the result is that it burns the image on this special paper", Erwin explained after reading a brief letter from Grisha and handing it to Eren.

"It's called a photograph", Eren reads and hands the letter to Mikasa, who stood close to Eren and was reading over his shoulder.

The photograph was grainy, and it was black and white. Infront of a window with elegant curtains, stood a younger Grisha Jaeger, standing next to a chair where a woman sat holding a child boy on her lap. But this woman was not Eren's mother, and this child was not Eren. There were also three journals in total. The letter read:

"I pray the person who finds this book is a fellow patriot."

"Erwin!" Levi exclaimed, reading one of the journals that explained about human civilization that exists outside of the walls. This was one of the things Erwin has been talking about for quite some time. Erwin reach for the book and began reading and as he did, his eyes opened wide with amazement and a single tear.

...

When Grisha was a child, he lived across the sea in the nation of Marley, which had a noticeably higher level of technology, appearing more industrial, fancier clothing, and motor vehicles instead of horses for traveling on paved roads. One fateful day, Grisha was with his sister, Faye, wandering the streets in the Liberio internment zone within Marley. On both of their arms, they wore an armband. They were chasing an airship and eventually ventured outside of the internment zone, which they were warned by their mother never to do. Grisha led his sister by the hand, afraid she would be disappointed if they didn't follow.

"Come on! We've gotta catch up to it!" Grisha cheered his younger sister on.

The two siblings ran, looking up towards the sky following where the airship went, just over the hill, until they stood looking out to the airship which landed across a small river and was being held halfway inside of a large garage.

"It's so big!" Faye exclaimed, her eyes widening as she stared admiring the giant flying vehicle. Grisha smiled at his sister, taking in the moment. Suddenly, they heard a voice right next to them.

"So, you came to see the airship, too?" asked the voice belonging to an officer sitting on the grass next to another officer. Grisha had no idea, and quickly became nervous.

Grisha took a step back and Faye was behind him, holding onto his arm afraid.

"U-Uh, yes sir", Grisha quickly answered.

"Those armbands...Are you two from the Liberio Internment Zone?" the officer asked. They both got off the grass and approached the children. "Alright then, where's your exit permit? Let's see it."

Startled, Grisha quickly shoved his right hand into his pocket and searched. "Well, you see..."

Now the officers were directly in front of them, towering over and casting down a shadow onto their frightened faces.

"I don't have one", Grisha answered honestly.

"So, you guys entered the city without permission?" the taller officer continued to question them. He knelt down, staring Grisha in the eyes. "You know what that means, right?"

"...Yes".

"Labor or beating? Which one?" the officer asked, which scared Faye making her hold onto Grisha's arm tighter.

"I'll go with a beating...because..."

"Grisha!" Faye exclaimed.

"Oh! You don't want to trouble getting your parents involved, huh?" the man guessed. He had a very flat face.

Grisha's shoulders lowered and he responded, "Yes".

The officer closed his eyes and nodded, but Grisha shouted causing him to open them back up.

"I forced my sister to come here with me. She had no choice! Please, give her punishment to me since I am the one responsible!" Grisha stepped forward, out of Faye's grip, and she looked at her brother, concerned for him.

"Very well", the officer stated without question and rose to his feet. And then in a flash, his knee was slammed into Grisha's stomach. And he had both of his hands gripping Grisha's clothing and pulling him into the attack.

"Grisha!" Faye cried out watching her brother endure the punishment, powerless to do anything but cover her face with her hands.

"Here's another!"

The sound of another attack from the officer could be heard.

"Damn, go easy on him, Kruger", the other officer laughed. He walked towards Faye who was crying and guided her away from Grisha and Kruger. "Come now, let's get you on your way home".

The officer and Faye walked away from them, and the sound of continued strikes and kicks could be heard along with Grisha grunting and groaning as the punishment continued.

Finally, Kruger sat back on the grassy hill looking off to the horizon with a freshly lit cigarette. Grisha's body was folded over in pain, holding his gut, and resting on his knees, catching his breath.

"It was smart not to take off your armbands. Eldians without one are sent to their paradise, even if they're kids", Kruger explained as he brought his cigarette to his lips and inhaled. Grisha finally rose to his feet, exhausted.

"I'll be on my way home now, sir", Grisha announced quietly.

"Wait up. Didn't you say you came here to see the airship?" Kruger asked, holding the lit cigarette below his chin. "Might as well see it, right?"

Grisha sat down taking in the sights once more, this time quieter and without his sister. And that following day, Faye's mutilated body, was found in the river. They called Grisha's parents to identify the body and Grisha came along. They had her body on the grass and pools of blood were everywhere.

"Faye...?" Grisha cried out, tears going down his face.

The officers from before where now at Grisha's family home, giving a report to his parents about the events that happened yesterday.

"I showed the girl to the Liberio gates, inside the Internment Zone, and went on my way", the shorter, heavier set officer that escorted Faye away from Grisha while he was being assaulted by Kruger. "I'm too busy with work to take her all the way, you know".

"Eldian kids shouldn't be roaming the city without permits in the first place. Shouldn't you, as their father, be teaching him the sins that your ancestors committed? If the brat doesn't know his place, maybe you should put a collar on him", the officer continued. He had a small handlebar mustache and his eyes darted to Grisha, who was standing away from the table they were sitting at.

"I knew that man from the Marley Public Security was lying through his fat teeth!"

"Even though my mother was grieving, my father..."

"Thank you so much for your guidance and I deeply apologize! I promise you; I'll teach my foolish son to know better!" Grisha's father lowered his head in shame to the officer sitting across from him at the table.

"He cowered before the men; it was a pitiful sight to see!"

"I began to hate that man and my father so much that it made me feel dizzy."

"One thousand, eight hundred and twenty years ago, our ancestor Ymir Fritz made a contract with the Devil of All Earth and obtained the Power of the Titans. Upon her death, Ymir's spirit was split into the Nine Titans which formed the Eldian Empire. After defeating the great nation of Marley, they ruled over the continent. Thus began the Dark Ages..." Grisha's father explained later that evening with Grisha at the table, going over historical textbooks. Grisha's mother stood at the sink, washing the dishes trying not to listen.

"The Subjects of Ymir called other races inferior and began to oppress them. They stole lands and fortunes and forced other races to bear their children to increase their numbers. Their ethnic cleansing continued for about one thousand, seven hundred more years. But the Great Nation of Marley plotted to rebel against Eldian and its arrogance from within. They managed to bring seven of the Nine Titans under their control and proved victorious in the Great Titan War eighty years ago."

Grisha's father pointed onto a map which showed an island to the east of their continent.

"The Eldian King at the time, erected three walls here. This island is called Paradis. And the King fled there with many of his people. Our ancestors were left behind, abandoned on this continent. But the gracious people of Marley let us live and stay on their land."

Grisha stared blankly, taking in all of this information his father was going over, which he had done time and time again.

"My father sure was talkative for someone who had just lost their daughter."

Grisha noticed how obedient his father was. He obeyed those officer's commands as though they were his master and gladly shamed his own race's ancestry, much like he was their dog.

"That man is telling lies", Grisha interrupted his father. "The truth would expose him as a murderer, so he lied."

"Quiet, Grisha!" his father growled, lowly. "The walls are very thin. What if someone heard you throwing around accusations of murder towards officers of the Marley Public Security? As I was saying, our ancestors did terrible things. They believed in eugenics and tried to cleanse—"

"Faye and I did nothing like that!" Grisha slammed his fists on the table, now visibly frustrated and shaking in his seat. "We were just walking around being kids!"

"What has gotten into you? Are you that eager for all of us to get shipped off to paradise?" Grisha's father scoffed. "It doesn't matter that we aren't directly responsible for the sins of our ancestors. What matters is living humble and peaceful lives within this internment zone."

Grisha was beginning to form tears in his eyes, which his father noticed.

"Please, Grisha. I am begging you. Don't lead us all to the same fate as Faye", his father pleaded.

"I always wondered who was truly in the wrong. Was it me or this world? Maybe it was both."

Grisha grew up keeping his head down until he discovered his own path in life when he was 18. It was around the time he was able to take over his father's medical clinic. He was sitting in a room at a table beside a patient and he was filling out paperwork.

"So, what is that wound of yours?" Grisha asked the man, who had his shirt opened and he pulled out his right shoulder where an X shaped wound was cut deep into his flesh.

"This is proof that I'm a patriot", the man explained. "Your sister was killed by a man in Marley Public Security, right?"

Just then, Grisha's eyes widened. To bring up such an old event, but he knew the truth!

"We have an informant inside of the Marley government", the man quickly added, putting his shirt back on. "There are some things you need to hear..."

When Grisha learned the truth of Faye's death, he swore in his heart that he'd show them who the real devil was. Grisha learned that a group of officers with canine units unleashed their pack of dogs on Faye. The animals ripped her apart while she was alive, and probably crying out to him for help. At this point, Grisha had been welcomed into this underground group.

At one point, they gathered around Grisha and watched and cheered as he carved the X into his chest. Grisha was prepared to restore Eldia and correct the world with this group appropriately named The Restorationists.

"Our informant in the Marley government goes by the code name, "the Owl". He led the Restorationists without ever showing himself."

The Restorationists held meetings in secret rooms, and they would arm themselves and learn about firearms and how to properly use them.

"Our founder, Ymir, awakened the Power of the Titans, cultivated the wilds, built roads, and bridged the mountains! She helped the people prosper and develop this entire continent!"

Grisha was explaining, leading a group discussion during a Restorationist meeting. There were books and maps on the table filled with accurate history in a different language. The members of the group all stood around the table, listening to Grisha.

"The history we were taught is just a convenient deception for Marley!" Grisha roared.

"Wow, impressive, Grisha. You can read this ancient language", the man beside Grisha spoke, who was the member who originally recruited Grisha. The others continued the conversation with enthusiastic back and forth talk.

"Not quite. I still haven't deciphered most of it", Grisha answered. And just then the door opened, apparently the Owl sent a new member.

"Nice to meet you, everyone", a woman voice broke the silence. She had a red hood covering her head and hiding her face. She removed it, revealing short blonde hair and blue eyes. "My name is Dina Fritz."

Dina was the last descendant of royal blood who remained on the continent. And she provided information to the Restorationists about the Titans that only the royal family knew. Information that would prove to be incredibly useful.

"The King took the Founding Titan into the walls!" Grisha was exclaiming in front of a board standing next to Dina. "If we obtain that, we can control all other Titans and completely annihilate Marley!"

"Wait a minute", one of the Restorationists brought up a question, rubbing his chin. "If the King had a power so absolute, why did he flee to an island?"

"Because he refused to fight", Dina chimed in. "At the time of the Great Titan War, the King abandoned his role of balancing the continent's powers and retreated to the island of Paradis, creating the walls which contained Titans within. And so, these horrible lives we must live here in Marley all began when the King turned away from conflict."

"Let's fight!" Grisha barks out to the crowd before him. And he turned to Dina, "The true royal family held their ground on this continent for the sake of Eldia! It's time we bring the Founding Titan back to them! My comrades! We'll overthrow Marley and restore the pride of Eldia!" Grisha shot his right arm into the air as his voice boomed.

The room filled with cheers from all of the members and the motivation to fight back against their oppressors was felt by all. Dina turned to Grisha, with flush cheeks and tears of happiness, she grabbed him and pulled her body into his. Her head rested on his chest, on the spot where he carved the group's symbol, and he could feel her tears making his shirt moist. The next year, Grisha and Dina married and were blessed with a son. His name was Zeke.

CHAPTER 3: The Power of the Attack Titan - 2179

"Someday, this child will lead us all to victory."

As Grisha and Dina aged and raised Zeke, technology began advancing around everyone in Marley. But that wasn't all that grew, Marley's military had become stronger and had a program for Eldian children to volunteer. The warriors of Marley were hand-picked from the volunteer Eldian children to proudly serve the great nation by becoming a vessel for one of the Nine Titans to use in battle against other countries they were at war with. And if chosen, their family would be granted title of Honorary Marleyans, permitted to live lavish lives outside of the Internment Zone.

Later, at a Restorationist meeting held by Grisha, he would try to discover the reasoning behind this new program with the other members.

"According to this intel from the Owl, Marley is making a military move is to prepare themselves for struggle of resources", Grisha explained surrounded by Dina and other members at a table, reading a piece of paper. "But the King of the walls left this message, more like a warning, behind 80 years ago. He threatened that if Marley were ever to attack Paradis, then he would use the power of the Founding Titan to release millions of Colossal Titans to flatten the Earth."

The members of the group appeared worried hearing this warning. Some smiled as though it would be the perfect revenge for the way they've been treated. And some stared at the ceiling, as if they were envisioning the millions of Titans towering above them, inflicting a state of fear and paralysis.

"As long as those Titans remaining ready to attack remain there, none dare to confront him. Most likely, Marley is planning on infiltrating the walls and taking the power of the Founding Titan. So, we'll use my son, Zeke, to become a Marleyan warrior!" Grisha announced.

And just like that, a young Zeke, was indoctrinated into his father's teachings. He began to force his son to learn about the Restoration's and all of the work they do to resist Marley and all of their teachings and brainwashing. Zeke was left in a pseudo-catatonic state, mindlessly absorbing the information by agreeing with whatever his father said, like an obedient dog.

"How terrible the sin to besmirch one's beliefs on your own children. As my son Zeke, had I ever thought of him that way?"

One day, Zeke arrived at the house with Marley Public Security and turned in Grisha and Dina, exposing them as Restorationists. He chose to protect himself and his grandparents from dangers that existed for those who conspired against Marley. The exact thing that was about to happen to his parents. And Zeke never saw Grisha and Dina again.

"Welcome to Paradis. The penal colony for Eldian traitors", a tall familiar man said behind a kneeling Grisha. They were on top of a large wall after being shipped across the sea to the island. Below them was a long drop onto a sandy bottom, which led towards the walls, albeit many miles away. "This is where you'll serve your life sentence as punishment for your crimes against Marley."

Grisha was bound and exhausted, including numerous bruises on his body from the physical torture he had to endure while he was questioned by officers before his trip to Paradis. They wanted to break him and reveal the identity of the Owl, but he never cracked. The officer behind him was Kruger, the one who punished him as a child, the day his sister was murdered.

"G-Grisha!? What the hell man!? Why the hell did your son betray us!? I was an idiot to entrust everything to you!" next to Grisha on his knees was the man who recruited him into the Restorationists. He began tearing up and his volume lowered. "Eldia is finished..."

And with that, the shorter man and partner to Kruger, kicked the crying man down below into the sand of the island.

"Grice!" Grisha called out to the man as he hit the ground.

Grice was bound, but he managed to get up to his feet and began walking towards the center of the island, away from the wall he was just launched from.

"If you're lucky, you might make it to the wall instead of a snack!" the shorter man yelled out and began laughing, twisting the end of his moustache.

"He's the one who killed my sister!"

The man clapped, signaling the line of soldiers to pull out an injection syringe and filled them with a fluid from small glass containers. Each soldier had individuals, deemed as traitors to Marley, on their knees in front of them. And one by one, they began injecting the needles into the back of the necks of the frightened prisoners. And Grisha watched in horror as the prisoners were each kicked off the wall as soon as they received their injection.

A bright yellow light erupted as well as the terrifying, cackling of electricity. Flesh and bone began materializing out of the bodies of the prisoners, rising out of apparently nothing, until the smoke began clearing to reveal various disfigured Titans. The Titans retained some of the physical characteristics of the original people, bringing a slight uncanny and nauseating feeling to Grisha's stomach.

"Guys! Stop! That's Grice! Remember!?" Grisha frantically called out to the creatures below. They ignored his cries and began marching towards the wounded ally of theirs.

"Kruger, what the hell? This guy is annoying... yelling so loud", the shorter man walked over to Kruger and Grisha, who was still on his knees watching the inevitable death of his friends.

"Oh, a woman this time? What a waste...If only you weren't a devil. I wouldn't mind having a few children with her", the short man whistled as a soldier was walking behind Grisha and Kruger. He was escorting a woman prisoner beside Grisha.

Grisha turned his head to see his wife, Dina, now on her knees awaiting certain death.

"Wait! Why are you here? I told them everything there is to know!" Grisha asked, surprised, and depressed to see her at the same time. "She's a royal-!"

"Quiet!" Kruger quickly grabbed Grisha's mouth, closing it, and then slamming his body onto the hard ground.

"No matter what form I take, I promise I'll come and find you again", Dina smiled through tears at her restrained husband. The soldiers injected her neck and the short soldier, stepped up behind her.

"Well, isn't that sweet? You'll make a great Titan couple", the man jeered before kicking her off of the wall down below into the sand.

The explosiveness of the transformation occurred once more and rising from the ground was a Titan with a very large smile. It was the Titan who ate Eren's mother the day the Titans attacked Shiganshina.

"Dina..." Grisha murmured staring as the Titan walked away. There was a smaller version of Eren standing next to him, with glowing red eyes. Grisha quickly turned to see this version of Eren, and he gasped. But it was only a hallucination he realized as the smaller soldier walked through Eren.

"I think she's got the hots for Grice! She's forgotten about you already! I guess he's got the bigger package", the short man snorted into laughter.

"Shut up!" Grisha's anger was beginning to swell. "Fifteen years ago, you were the one who fed my eight year old sister to the dogs!"

The man grinned.

"Here, let me handle this guy. You can head back to the ship now", the shorter man said to another officer who was escorting a prisoner to the edge of the wall.

The officer complied without question and headed down the steps back to the docked ships. Eventually, all that was left of the wall were these four men: a prisoner, Grisha, Kruger, and this devil.

"Kruger. You done interrogating yet? I have a great idea for some entertainment", the shorter man began, lighting a cigarette. "I'll have this piece of trash turn into a 3 to 4 meter Titan so that guy can fight him."

Grisha looked over to the man. He was clearly the highest rank of all of the soldiers and yet his character was abhorrent.

"What is the matter with you?" Grisha asked.

"It's funny. And I find it interesting", the soldier answered easily, taking another puff from his cigarette. "If you really think about it, people want to see cruelty. Peace can be such a heartwarming thing but something about it is too boring. Probably because we become so out of touch with life and death?"

The man held up the needle and injected the serum into the other prisoner's neck and continued speaking to Grisha.

"So yes. It was interesting to me having my sons' dogs eat your sister", he kicked the recently injected man off of the wall, continuing his focus on Grisha.

"Do you not feel any remorse for anything you do?" Grisha asked, eyes widened.

"Well, if something like that happened to one of my sons, it would devastate me too—no doubt. So, I get where you're coming from. But we aren't the monsters", the man replied.

There was another explosion of energy signaling the transformation of the prisoner into a Titan and as the smoke cleared, the smaller Titan looked around confused.

"You guys are. See? This is your true form. The Subjects of Ymir", the Titan looked up at the men on the wall. "All it takes is some Titan spinal fluid and you turn into gigantic monsters. If it were up to me, I'd put every single last one of you to death. So no, I don't feel any remorse", he threw his cigarette and began walking towards Grisha.

"You animal!" Grisha tried backing away as the man approached him, but he was unsuccessful as he grabbed Grisha and began trying to force him off the cliff.

"Say hello to your sister in Hell" the man whispered in Grisha's ear before being launched off the wall.

Kruger held onto the back of Grisha's shirt tightly and forced his palm into his superior officer, pushing him down into the sand below. The man tumbled and rolled down through the sand until he stopped, only to look up into the eyes of the Titan he had just created himself. Without hesitation, the Titan grabbed the man and held him with two hands wrapped around his torso. The man put his hands up, trying to push away from the mouth of the Titan. You could hear the cries of desperation as this man's life began flashing in front of his eyes.

"What about my sons?" the man whimpered just before having his head bitten off by the Titan. Blood gushed out of his open neck and the Titan opened its mouth wider, drinking the blood and forcing the dead body of the man into its mouth; one bite at a time. Pieces of flesh and blood dripped down onto the sand.

"Well? Is it really that interesting?" Kruger asked behind a confused Grisha.

Grisha turned to see Kruger's face now that he had the soldier hat off his head.

"I am the Owl", Kruger announced pulling out a sharp knife. "Remember this, Grisha Jaeger. A Titan uses their power like this." And with that said, Kruger sliced open his palm with a rapid swing, blood splattered through the air.

Kruger jumped down, behind them where the ships were, and a bolt of lightning came down on him. Unbelievably, Kruger had transformed into a large Titan with green eyes that began attacking all of the ships and killing all of the soldiers. Their lives being squeezed out of them like fruit being juiced. After the carnage, Kruger returned to Grisha to explain a few things.

"I am Eren Kruger. As you just saw, I possess one of the Nine Titans. I am the Attack Titan."

...

Eren Jaeger woke up in a holding cell.

"Eren!" Mikasa called to him. She ran up to the bars of his cell with a relieved look on her face.

"M-Mikasa? What's going on?" Eren asked, confused.

Mikasa stared for a second into his eyes before finally speaking. "You don't remember?"

Mikasa explains that after they came back to brief everyone on the findings inside of the basement with Premier Zachary, leader of all three regiments, and newly crowned Queen Historia present, Eren started acting strangely. And just before he did, he had an outburst in the meeting, suggesting something he called the Red War. Eren's ramblings were determined to be a result of trauma from losing his friend Armin.

Eren sat and said nothing.

"Eren...what is the Red War?" Mikasa asked, concerned.

Eren looked into Mikasa's eyes, noticing how worried she looked. She must've been upset at the loss of Armin as well, but she's always been loyal to him. His eyes began glowing red and a bright flash of red light filled the basement where he was kept, however no one else was present besides the two of them.

"It's time."

ACT II: "Desire" CHAPTER 4: Picking up the Pieces – 2398

Eren and Mikasa returned upstairs to the sudden stares of individuals in the lobby area who seemed to be talking about the meeting. Erwin was speaking with Historia when he spotted Eren and politely excused himself from the Queen, leaving her with a few of the Scouts who survived. Eren watched as Erwin walked up to him and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"I'm glad you're feeling better Eren. Please take your time to mourn the loss of our comrades. We have much to discuss after we've received our medals from the Queen", Erwin uttered as Eren nodded. Erwin, along with Levi and Hange, walked down the hall.

Eren and Mikasa walked to Historia and the group of Scouts.

"Oh hello, Eren! How are you feeling?" Historia asked.

"I'm feeling better. Just trying to pick up all the pieces and put them together about..." Eren replied, and his head lowered.

The rest of the Scouts lowered their heads as well, remembering Armin. Floch kept his head up, staring at Eren.

"Eren...why did you choose Erwin over Armin?" Floch asked, shocking everyone to raise their heads and look at him. But a few of them were curious as well. Eren was friends with Armin and was even arguing with Levi about using the Titan Injection serum; a first arguing for Armin and then agreeing with Levi.

"Well...I..." Eren began.

Mikasa could tell there was something that he didn't want to say. She noticed the hesitation, but he broke the silence.

"I realized that Levi was right, and that the commander was the more valuable option", Eren explained.

"That's bullshit, Eren!" Jean yelled. "Levi said that the commander smacked it away, and you still insisted!"

The room fell silent.

"Armin told me himself that he never wanted to become a Titan. He made me promise to stop that from ever happening. And I kept my promise", Eren responded. His voice seemed different, much colder. However, there was a sense of sincerity that the others noticed. Jean however was becoming suspicious.

"But—", Conny spoke up only to be cut off.

"It's true", Mikasa added. "I was there."

Jean and Conny looked at each other and back to Mikasa. Historia seemed concerned for Eren but believed him.

"I believe you then, Eren", Floch assured.

Eren had a flashback to the ceremony where they were given green pendant necklaces, as medals of honor for the Scouts who secured the outer walls. This was a huge deal inside of the walls because it returned everyone to a new normal, however, the news the Scouts brought back would eventually be decided by Queen Historia to be published in the news for all of the Eldians to read. Revealing that there was humanity that existed outside of the wall and across the sea and they're planning on attacking sometime in the future.

At the ceremony, each of the Scouts knelt before Queen Historia where they'd be presented with their medals and each member kissed her hand. She moved down the line until she made it to Eren. When he grabbed her hand and kissed it, tiny sparks flew around their hands, but they went unnoticed. Eren closed his eyes and memories of his father began playing in his head from the point of view of his father.

"I'm an Eldian who came from outside the walls! My name is Grisha Jaeger!", Eren's father would speak but Eren felt in his place.

They were in the blue secret underground ceremony cave where Eren was going to be fed to Historia by her crazy father. In the cave was the Reiss family, excluding Historia, wearing all white while her father stepped in the back. In the front, protecting the children, was a woman with dark hair who Eren assumed must have been the Founding Titan. Grisha began to beg to her.

"Please! You have to kill the Titans attacking the walls! Before the people of the walls are eaten!" Grisha pleaded desperately.

The woman however, closed her eyes, and delivered a very aggressive facial expression. And the room filled with red light.

Eren opened his eyes and looked the angriest he had ever been. What ever he saw must have been horrible. Historia looked down and noticed, as well as the rest of the Scouts receiving their medals. Erwin became interested in Eren. He was beginning to suspect that Eren was having visions of some future. The rest of the Scouts were completely in the dark and didn't suspect a thing. They kept telling themselves that Eren was still grieving over the loss of Armin.

"Eren..." Mikasa murmured to herself, staring deeply into his eyes, and feeling his rage. She wanted to find a way to comfort him.

The months went on and soon winter came. The sounds of Titans being crushed by Trost's giant sledge went silent as now began to stick. This was the weapon they used to kill Titans mounted on the walls, but since the threat had been neutralized, the weapon's mechanical movements were no longer heard. The military had announced to the public that Wall Maria had been cleansed of Titans. The refugees were finally allowed to return to their hometowns safely, returning after losing so much.

Roughly one year following the attack on Trost District, the Scouts once again resumed expeditions outside of Wall Maria, the most outer wall, to venture out further. They rode out on horseback, Eren and Mikasa riding side by side, while Floch tried to get closer, admiring Commander Erwin. To Floch he was the Devil they needed to end this horror and finally be free. Floch looked over to Eren, noticing the cold look on his face, he rode next to him.

"Hey, Eren. Are you okay, man?" Floch asked. They weren't close really, but throughout the past year, Floch had been noticing Eren working directly with Erwin in private about something.

"I just wish Armin could see the sea when we get there. His family were true Scouts without anyone taking them seriously. And now they take us seriously?" Eren aggressively added at the end which caught the eye of Levi who was up ahead near Erwin.

"Whoa...Eren", Floch's eyes widened, concerned for him. Something was different about Eren that Floch was beginning to notice. He was seeing a bit of Erwin in him, but more hostile. Floch wondered about the Titan Shifters. He asked with a whisper, "Are they true Devils?"

Eren didn't respond. And suddenly, a red flare shot into the sky.

"A Titan! One showed up, huh? Be careful guys!" Conny warned, looking in the direction of the flare.

They stopped at a cliff and looked down to see a short but very wide-proportioned Titan down below. He was so wide; his weight distribution didn't allow him to stand. So, it appears that the Titan had been dragging itself on its stomach with tiny limbs as made evident to the trail of pushed in grass and dirt the Titan was making. They approached the Titan with caution.

"Looks like it can't move", Jean pointed out.

"With a body like that...it tried to crawl to the wall, little by little?" Conny asked curious, even though it was obvious.

The group of Scouts got closer to the Titan and Eren hopped off his horse, startling Conny and Jean. Mikasa and Floch watched Eren. And Sasha was looking back and forth between both of their reactions, until she pulled out a potato she had hidden as a snack and began watching Eren.

Eren walked until he was right next to the Titan. Even though it was a smaller Titan, it was still very large to their bodies by comparison. Eren touched the forehead of the Titan and looked into its eyes.

"H-Hey! Eren, be careful!" Jean warned.

"He's a patriot, Jean. And he's no threat to us. Leave him", Eren instructed about the Titan.

Everyone looked at each other and continued on horseback. Eren caught up to Erwin and the other two adults, with Mikasa right behind him. They followed the trail in the ground until they made it to a sandy beach. Seagulls were flying overhead. And at this moment they could all feel the excitement of seeing something that they never knew existed.

As they lined the beach, they made it to a concrete wall that did not appear naturally made. This was the wall from Eren's visions of his father.

"I'm sure of it. This is the place where Eldians are taken prisoner and made into Titans. The cause of everything terrible we've experienced", Eren uttered.

Mikasa and Floch heard him. Erwin heard him as well and stared at the pit. Knowing what he knows now it is hard for him to imagine the fear in the people's eyes as their forced to become monsters to kill their entire race. Erwin's understanding of Eren's abilities were beginning to grow, however he did not speak a word of it to anyone. Because Erwin was in fact working with Eren. Erwin flashbacks to informing Historia of his theory from the ceremony and they began experimenting in secret. Seeing every point of Grisha's memories. Eren was leaving out certain details though because he did not want to become a prisoner of the military or sacrificed for another Titan.

They rode up a sandy hill to a small grassy cliff. Lined with all of the Scouts. And what they saw shocked everyone to their core.

Besides Eren, who had seen this before, each of the Scouts widened their eyes amazed to see such a glorious sight. Stretching all the way to the horizon, was nothing but water. A vast sea, just how Armin had told Eren when they were kids.

They went to the shore, and each got off their horses. People split off doing their own thing for a moment. This was permitted by Erwin, who was astonished at what he saw. The reality of the world was becoming bigger for him.

Conny and Sasha would splash each other back and forth, enjoying the coolness of the water. Jean's curiosity was different. In his cupped hands, he scooped up some of the water to discover in disgust that the water is indeed salty. He spat it out immediately.

Erwin laughed while Hange, who was near him, had walked into the sea as well, looking closer by hunching over.

"Hey, Hange! It might be poisonous, so don't touch it", Levi warned.

Hange had picked up a shell and began admiring its shape. The angles and the hard integrity of its structure. The colors were also amazing, and her mind began going haywire, seeing this as a historical discovery. It was in fact a historical discovery for the people of Paradis who had their minds wiped away by the past King Fritz and the corrupt Royal Family. Thankfully, Historia broke that curse for their people.

Eren stood the furthest out into the water, waves crashing into his legs as he stared out into the horizon. Mikasa walked up, followed by Floch. And in an obvious hallucination, Eren saw Armin walk beside him.

"What do you think, Armin?" Eren asked.

The water beneath Armin turned red, and Armin's spirit looked panicked.

"Eren! W-What are you doing? Something is different about you!" Armin yelled, but his words could not be heard by Mikasa or Floch.

"The pieces of these shattered memories I'm seeing are letting me see new futures. This...red power is amazing. I'm going to use it to kill all of our enemies", Eren announced to Armin, who's face seemed horrified.

"Wait, but that's genocide Eren! And how are we even speaking in the first place?" Armin asked.

"I told you already, it's this red power. It's letting me show you the sea in this timeline", Eren uttered.

"Time...lines?" Armin repeated, unsure of what Eren was talking about.

"In one version of my life, I die. And in that timeline, nothing ends up changing and peace fails. This is the Red War and this time I will succeed with my plan no matter what. I realized that I needed a timeline where Erwin was chosen to be the Colossal Titan instead of you. I had to kill my best friend to save this world", Eren explained. The truth was still spoken only to the spirit of Armin. Mikasa and Floch watched Eren, after playing in the water for a short time themselves.

The red in the sea below Armin began rising up his legs and his body, until he was completely consumed, and his eyes glowed bright red. Armin was given visions of the Rumbling. Millions and millions of Titans all lead by Eren charging them to flatten the world.

This is crazy Eren! Why are you showing me this!?" Armin screamed out at the top of his lungs, the pain of the red consuming him could be heard in his voice.

Then the red disappeared and Eren appeared beside Armin and transported them into a red and black dimension where Eren had red skin and horns protruding from his forehead.

"Because there's nothing you can do to stop me", Eren sneered harshly and forming a tear in his eye. "I love you, my friend."

Armin and all of the illusions disappeared. Eren turned to Mikasa and Floch.

"I think I've put all the pieces together", Eren uttered to them.

No one else heard or suspected anything from the three, but Erwin. He watched Eren from afar. He could not tell what Eren was hiding from him. But he knew he must vouch for Eren as the hope for humanity. He decided to keep his suspicions from Hange and Levi, but soon they would begin to notice something off about their commander they didn't trust.

"We're going to destroy all of our enemies across the sea..." Eren announced coldly to Floch and then turned to see Mikasa's face.

Floch grinned. This was exactly what he was hoping to see from Erwin. Even if the Titans were just weapons, they were sent after their people mercilessly. Mikasa quickly looked to Floch and then to Eren. She looked over her shoulder at Conny, Jena and Sasha but they were too far. As well as the Commander, Hange, and Levi. But then Mikasa decided that she would play undercover with Eren, hopefully able to convince him to change his hostile intentions.

"Okay, Eren", Mikasa agreed, nodding her head.

CHAPTER 5: War in the Wild West - 3975

There was a ringing sound as the sky appeared after a boy slowly opened his eyes. A bird was flying above, passed the sun. Soon consciousness began returning to the boy as he began to speak.

"Hey..." he uttered to himself watching the bird fly by overhead.

The boy hand his arm raised, and he was laying on the ground. He had what appeared to be a white military uniform with a yellow armband on his left arm. Suddenly, the sounds of gunfire could be heard as well as explosions from artillery blasts. Next to the blonde boy on the battlefield was the dead body of another soldier who was missing a leg. There was another lifeless body near a crater with viscera coming out of his exposed torso. As soon as another explosion that went off near the boy cleared, an older male ran up to the boy, wearing a helmet. The teen leaned down and picked up the shellshocked boy.

"Colt? Why?", the boy asked, still dizzy.

"That's good. You can talk. You'll be fine, Falco!" Colt promised the boy as he began lifting him off the ground. He also placed his helmet on Falco's head for protection.

Colt placed Falco on his back and began running to safety. Beside them were other soldiers who were getting shot one by one, dropping as they were hit. The blood from their bodies spraying into the air as machine gun fire shredded their flesh. Colt made it to the trenches of their allies and tripped.

"Falco!" called one of the soldiers from down in the trench, extending his arm towards the boy.

The soldier, along with a few others, pulled Falco and Colt both into the trench, helping them escape the barrage of bullets flying ahead. As they landed inside, a taller man with wrinkled skin walked into view from the tunnels of the trenches. He spotted Falco immediately. Colt approached the man and hunched forward, trying to catch his breath.

"Sir! Captain Magath! The Eldian vanguard got bombed. Only a handful of us survived", Colt reported to the man.

"And the trenches?" Magath asked, his voice was a bit of a growl, and his eyes were uncomfortably wide.

"You can't dig any farther, sir", Colt replied, his voice shaking as the captain leaned closer to his face.

"Oh, I can't? Is that an order? Remember your place, soldier", Captain Magath growls.

"Watch your tone with the Commander, filthy Eldian scum!" a soldier behind the captain barked.

"But sir, at this rate..." Colt began to plead.

Three younger cadets around Falco's age, all with armbands as well, all leaned over Falco getting into his face.

"Do you remember how we've been at war for four years?" one of the children with glasses, asked Falco.

"Wait a second. Wasn't I just flying around with swords in my hands, going all "swiisshhh" up to Titans and fighting them?" Falco asked, wearily.

Then, the female cadet poured a canteen of water over Falco's head, finding his story to be ridiculous.

"Yeah, it looks like we're going to need to explain the whole operation from the top. Falco must've hit his head real hard", the girl cadet decided out loud to the others.

Falco was surprised by the sudden feeling of water being poured over his head and so he jumped in response and shook his head.

"Listen to this, Falco", the girl smiled. She had brown eyes and brown hair, as well as the same uniform everyone else was wearing with a helmet on her head.

"We're about to put an end to four years of war. Or to be more precise, once we sink the Middle Eastern Federation's fleet in the port behind it, Marley will have won this war", the girl explained.

The other two cadets began wrapping Falco's head with a bandage.

"You'd think the Marley Navy could just attack from the sea", the blonde female cadet tending to Falco's head injury murmured.

"Sophia! You think we can expect anything from the navy?" the male cadet standing behind Falco, and helping the blonde female cadet, asked sarcastically. His hair was dark and as he barked; the brunette cadet placed her hand at her side.

"Even with all those battleships! And they lost half of them in the process!" the male cadet was becoming more aggressive working on the bandages, and he began pulling up Falco's hair. "To hell with those damn pricks!"

"Udo", the brunette cadet walked over to him and smacked up on the head with a rolled up piece of paper, snapping sense into him. She looked up, out of the trench and announced, "It's almost time."

"Time for what, Gabi?" Udo replied.

"Captain Magath decided to use the front lines as our final exam. He's thinking ahead for the next war. He's looking for someone to inherit the Armored Titan and star in the upcoming operation to subjugate Paradis Island", Gabi declared.

"Well, when you compare Gabi to the rest of us", Sophia began, telling Udo. The two of them were checking supplies after Gabi's speech and how she wants to be the next Armored Titan. "She's definitely more accomplished."

"The resolve to take the Eldians' future into my own hands and slaughter those island demons who've caused us so much pain. I'm going to win this war and prove it to the world", Gabi announced to the three cadets. She was making an improvised explosive device consisting of a net which held several stick grenades together.

"What's that thing for?" Falco asked Gabi.

"Oh this? Isn't it great?" She smiled, holding it up to her face. It was slightly heavy, so she had to stabilize it using her body.

Meanwhile, Colt was still talking to Captain Magath, and they were going over their next plan of attack.

"The enemy's trenches are flawless. We don't have a way in. Even if we stay put, they could drop shells on us at any moment! They could clear out the enemy trenches and pillboxes in no time", Colt explained to the commander.

"No", Captain Magath replied abruptly.

"Captain Magath, it's here!" a soldier interrupted, handing binoculars to the commander.

Captain Magath took the binoculars and placed them to his face, looking outside the trenches. Approaching them was a mechanical vehicle guided by a rail.

"The armored train..." Captain Magath uttered aloud. "Both ends have a nasty piece of work attached to them.

The commander was talking about the large, heavy duty machine turrets that were mounted on top and were capable of turning their muzzles. They were approaching on the train tracks which wasn't a good sign for the Marleyan forces.

"The Federation's newest weapon, an anti-Titan cannon", Captain Magath explained reluctantly. Their secret weapons weren't so secret on the battlefield anymore. And enemies of Marley had upgraded their technology to develop weapons that could take out the oversized Titan's they used as weapons.

"Those monsters fire 150mm armor-piercing rounds that can take out a Titan in one shot", Captain Magath continued explaining looking through the binoculars. Colt stood up beside him and observed as well.

"Our titans are agile though. Reiner with the Armored Titan, Pieck with the Cart Titan, and Galliard with the Jaw Titan", Colt replied to the commander, suggesting that maybe the mobile of the Titans would counter the deadly effective anti-Titan rounds.

"Don't be so quick to underestimate a threat. Remember nine years ago when our operation to recover the Founding Titan blew up in our faces and we ended up losing both the Colossus and Female Titans?" Captain Magath reminded Colt.

"People saw that Marley was becoming weaker after that mission started, leading to the war that we're dealing with today. We had to postpone the Paradis Island operation..." Captain Magath continued. "Tell me, what is it that makes our fatherland a superpower?"

"The power of the Titans", Colt answered, quickly and confidently.

"That's right. And if we lose any more of them, Marley will fall apart. The power of the Titans is absolute", Captain Magath barked. Then his eyes lowered to Colt and asked with a growl. "You are warriors who've sworn allegiance to Marley, are you not?"

Captain Magath and Colt looked over to the dozens of dead and tired soldiers who were in the trenches with them.

"This is their chance to bring glory to the fatherland, Marley", Captain Magath stated.

A few soldiers were talking to themselves, suggesting they were having a mental breakdown. One traumatic-affected soldier was shaking as he reaches for his canteen to drink a sip of water. The look of terror was in his cold, lifeless eyes as he whimpered,

"...and all existence is rendered devoid of meaning."

Walking down the trench now was a higher ranked soldier. He was passing a row of tired soldiers who sat with their backs to the wall.

"Stand up, troops! Get ready for battle!" the higher-up ordered.

"You, the Eldian unit, will charge the enemy's railroad and destroy it!" the man issued commands to soldiers and it was visible that he was a bit out of shape.

"You suicide troops will dive into the pillboxes and neutralize their machine guns!" he continued to order the men, commanding the group of soldiers who had bombs strapped to their chests.

"You hear me? This is a golden chance for you filthy hell spawn maggots!" the man croaked as the rows of soldiers all began to shake in fear. One soldier was holding a necklace with locket which had a picture of his children inside. "Now go! Bring Marley a victory!"

The man threw his hand in the air towards the soldiers, signaling all of the soldiers to rise to their feet and hold their rifles. They all stood shoulder to shoulder, pointing their rifles into the sky. And in unison, each soldier rose their rifle hire and responded to the officer, "Sir, yes sir!"

Soldiers began breaking off to their assigned posts and Captain Magath approached Colt, who stood in front of Falco and the others.

"You warrior cadets will remain on standby", Captain Magath ordered. "We can't afford to send in the Armor or the Beast."

"But..." Colt uttered hesitantly, he looked to the side and Magath walked in front of him and grabbed his shirt.

"You need to have the resolve befitting of a commanding officer, Colt", Magath told the teen, lowering to get eye-to-eye with him. Colt is the replacement for Zeke, the Beast Titan, and has been shadowing Captain Magath's special instruction ever since being picked as Zeke's successor.

"Sir, let me do it", Gabi spoke up, approaching Captain Magath who had been looking through the binoculars at the train.

Captain Magath turned towards Gabi, pulling his face from the binoculars. "What?"

"Ta-da!" Gabi exclaimed, holding up her improvised explosion device to show the commander.

"I can neutralize the armored train all on my own, sir!" Gabi smiled with wide eyes.

"You may never see a warrior as amazing as me ever again..." Gabi began, looking downward and making herself sound like a righteous martyr. "Or one so drop-dead gorgeous..."

The three cadets behind her shrugged in embarrassment for her.

"But if I succeed, we won't have to lose eight hundred Eldian soldiers" Gabi explained finally. "We lose one promising warrior candidate and seven explosives."

"No way", Captain Magath replied, shrugging off Gabi's demand of self-sacrifice.

"Look, if I'm worth more than eight hundred Eldian soldiers, then so be it. That's just..." Gabi looked down to the side and began twisting and blushing, putting on quite the performance. "If you'd sacrifice eight hundred men out of love for me—"

"Fine", Captain Magath gave in. He was also becoming annoyed with Gabi's antics, but he was impressed with her tenacity.

"I swear!"

Gabi's face looked incredibly determined, catching the eye of Captain Magath as Gabi continued.

"I will prove to you that I am the ONLY one worthy of inheriting the Armored Titan!" Gabi declared confidently.

Falco stared at Gabi, concerned for her because he cared about her as a friend. He turned his head to the side when she began taking off her outer jacket part of her uniform. She was wearing a tank top underneath.

"What are you doing?" Colt asked Gabi.

"Part of the disguise", Gabi winked, catching Falco who had peaked but turned away again embarrassed and blushing.

After Gabi removed her uniform, she walked up to Captain Magath holding it, which covered the net of grenades she was holding.

"I request permission to remove my armband for the sake of posing as a noncombatant, sir!" Gabi stood at attention, straight and motionless as she asked to remove her armband which is a mandatory law for all Eldian born individuals.

Across the battlefield, two men with tall religious hats wielding rifles and a machine gun were scouting the area from a defensively set up trench post.

"Hey, look. Someone's coming and they're alone", the man with the rifle told the man with the machine gun, which was mounted.

Looking through their magnifying scopes on their rifles, they could see Gabi, wearing tattered clothes with her hands raised signaling that she's a noncombatant.

"It's a young girl."

"Looks like she's trying to surrender", the man with the machine determined, looking through his scope.

"Wait, she might be an Eldian", the man with the rifle replied quickly.

"She's too close. She must be an Eldian", the machine gun handler added.

"Kill her before she turns into a Titan", the rifleman said.

"Don't be stupid. That's a job for you and your rifle!" the machine gunner replied.

Just then, Gabi fell onto the ground. She began reaching for her leg, but the two men couldn't see completely. Around her ankle was the net of grenades. She looked up towards the train which was too far away.

"Not yet", Gabi whispered to herself.

The train got closer and closer, but Gabi had to wait. The pressure from being stared at by enemy soldiers both with their weapons pointed at her made her realized that at any time they could kill her if they suspect her. And then the train got close enough for Gabi to throw the net.

"Now!" Gabi jumped to her feet, holding the net with both hands, and twisting her torso to the side, preparing to toss the grenades to the incoming train. And with enough preparation, she threw the net into the air.

The two men were shocked as they spotted the net filled with explosives now airborne. The bombs landed under the train, in between the tracks, and detonated causing an explosion that derailed the train into the trench where the two gunmen were.

Captain Magath watched from his binoculars, and he turned, "Galliard! Get a move on! This is our opening!"

Gabi jumped up and down cheering and admiring the destruction she caused and turned to head back towards the allied trenches. As she ran, enemy gun began firing towards them. Falco noticed and called out to Gabi, but she was too far, so he jumped out of the trenches and ran into the battlefield towards her.

"Gabi!" Falco called out, diving and reaching for Gabi who was also diving but into a crater for cover. Just as the landed inside of the crater, they were nearly hit by gun fire. Instead, above them was the Jaw Titan. Galliard's Jaw Titan had a skull-shaped face with a large jaw and teeth. It also had sharp claws on its hands and feet and was smaller, like Ymir's. There was also a big mane of yellowish golden hair around the skull face.

"Mister Galliard!" Gabi called out with a smile, with Falco's arm around her.

Galliard ran on all fours across the battlefield and avoiding the incoming gunfire. He launched himself forward and smashed into a gunner's post, demolishing the structure, and crushing the gunmen.

Above, there was an airship in the sky. On it there were soldiers with parachutes on their backs.

"Proceed exactly as planned. Zeke will be our spear and Reiner will be our shield."

On the battlefield, explosions continued to go off in random spots as well as incoming gunfire and returning gunfire. Soldiers would die directly beside one another, and it was too loud to notice. Galliard's Jaw Titan was leaping from enemy to enemy, slashing their bodies apart with his hardened claws. Enemy soldiers tried redirecting their fire towards the Jaw Titan when slowly a dark shadow consumed them.

Above them was Pieck, the Cart Titan. And she swiped her arm at a group of soldiers, destroying their post. On her face, she wore a thick metal mask with slits for eye holes. On her back was a heavily armored multiple gunner turret manned by her squad, shooting into the enemies. Pieck found a group of enemies hiding and lifted up the structure they were hiding under with her Titan's large face. The Marleyan group soldiers ran up to the enemies and pointed their guns at them, shooting all of them immediately.

On the other side of the battlefield, Gabi was putting her uniform back on as Colt lowered himself into the trenches. Udo was tending to a soldier's wounding arm while Falco was helping an enemy soldier.

"Falco, what are you doing?" Gabi asked, buttoning up her top.

"Udo, give me some bandages", Falco asked his dark haired friend who was sitting next to him. Udo was going through the medical box in a hurry due to all of the wounded soldiers.

"Stupid kid, that's an enemy. Just let 'im bleed out", the soldier with the wounded arm, sitting in front of Udo, growled. He began rubbing his newly dressed wound's bandages.

"Is that supposed to be your selling point?" Gabi asked Falco. "You're useless in battle."

"What do I care?" Falco replied.

"You're a weird one", Gabi sighed.

The enemy soldier that Falco was helping began talking, but it was in a language that Falco couldn't understand. Falco turned to Udo, who could translate.

"Hey, Udo. Could you do me a favor and translate something for me? Tell him, 'You're going to be fine; I stopped the bleeding.'" This was referring to the injury on the man's head. He was bleeding so much that it was covering some of his face.

"Don't touch me. You'll corrupt me. Devils", Udo uttered, translating the words the man spoke. The wounded Marleyan soldier sitting in front of Udo began laughing hysterically.

"Retreat!" The soldiers on the battlefield yelled as the airship appeared above everyone.

Soldiers from the airship jumped off with parachutes. The enemy soldiers below pointed up and stared. Dozens and dozens of soldiers jumped off the airship falling down below, and Reiner pulled out a knife. Reiner was older now and had gotten bigger physically and had grown facial hair. Zeke stepped in front of Reiner next to the open ramp and cleared his throat.

"Ahem."

Zeke opened his mouth and roared, sending out a bellowing and thunderous boom that began transforming all of the soldiers that jumped with parachutes into Titans. This was because those soldiers were Eldians who had been injected with Titan serum. The transformations created an explosion of yellow light and when it cleared, a very large number of Titans were now falling from the sky.

The Titans began landing in enemy territory and mindless charged and attacked the men trying to eat them. The bloodlust in the giant creature's eyes struck fear in the enemy soldier's eyes and they each dropped their weapons and began running away.

The falling Titans completely pummeled the enemy outpost. Some men were so terrified that they were unable to move. And surrendering to the hunger of the might Titans. One Titan grabbed a man and pulled him towards his mouth. The man desperate to survive, struggled with all his might to try and escape. He was unable to, and his body was ripped apart by the jaws of the Titan. Throughout the base, Titans had the bodies of enemy soldiers in their mouths.

Suddenly, there was a loud boom and Titan's began being hit by anti-Titan rounds. The first Titan hit received a blast to its neck. Above, a row of heavy artillery cannons capable of firing Anti-Titan rounds had been assembled. They continued firing below into the Titans.

"I'm so tired of walls", Reiner uttered as he took a quick swipe of his knife to his palm. This resulted in bright yellow lightning crackling down as Reiner transformed into the Armored Titan from the air. Reiner crash landed onto the ground and bent his knees to absorb the shock of his landing. His eyes began glowing bright yellow.

"It's the Armored Titan! Kill him!" enemy soldiers who were operating the cannons began trying to turn them towards Reiner, but the massive Titan already charged forward and began swiping away the cannons as he ran beside the walls they were placed on.

Reiner received a heavy blow to his arms as he blocked his face instinctively. A second blast split his arm in two and sent him falling. Reiner noticed in the distance, there was another armored train.

"They had another one?" Reiner asked in his own head.

The train continued to fire, and Reiner leaped forward into a full sprint, using his arms to protect his head. He was hit again just before crashing into a wall which had cannons firing and destroying and killing their operators. Just then, Reiner turned to see another cannon preparing to fire at him, but it was destroyed by Galliard's deadly claws.

Reiner nodded towards Galliard, thanking him.

"Eat lead, you cretins!" an enemy soldier shouted, firing at them.

Reiner and Galliard both dodged the shot and began flanking the cannons who were firing at them. Galliard leaped from rooftop to rooftop with ease due his agile frame and size. Reiner was using an unmanned armored part of the train as a shield, protecting him from the heavy shells. When he found an opening, he began spinning to build momentum until he tossed the armored vehicle into more enemies, killing them instantly.

"The fort's fallen..." Zeke began, he was stilling floating down with his parachute. He had a knife and prepared to cut his hand. "Remember, our defeat caused this war, Reiner!"

Zeke cut his hand and a bright yellow light filled the sky. Down below, Colt and the four cadets watched as the warriors of Marley took out an enemy military. They were watching war. Gabi's eyes suddenly glowed red, but the others couldn't notice it.

Zeke landed on the ground in his large furry ape Titan form. He reached down and grabbed some armored vehicles, balling them up tight and marching towards the shore. Approaching them from the sea was an enemy Navy and a group of ships. Zeke winded up his body as if he were throwing a baseball and launched a barrage of metal debris into the rows of naval ships, destroying many of them.

Except before they were destroyed, they had already fired towards Zeke, which startled him. Reiner jumped in front of Zeke, taking the damage for him from the fleet's cannons. Reiner began falling, and Zeke stepped forward throwing another barrage of debris directly at the remaining boats in the sea. The boats were all on fire and had so many holes that they were sinking. Below, hundreds of men were falling deep down into the dark bottom of the sea.

Back in Marley, the townspeople were reading their local newspaper.

"Thanks to the Marleyan army's courageous actions, Fort Zlava has fallen at last!" a man read out loud, to a group of people who were listening with cheers. There was a man walking behind them. A man with a hat which covered his face.

CHAPTER 6: The Future of Marley – 2745

In a meeting room filled with Marleyan military leaders including Captain Magath, they were discussing the siege and the recent problem with their enemies using anti-Titan rounds from heavy duty cannons.

"We wasted four years fighting over a peninsula's sovereignty only for our two main battle Titans to be nearly shredded by the enemy fleet", a man in uniform, high-ranking due to a band being worn over his right shoulder, announced to a group of men at a table with tea on top. The man was standing as he continued.

"The press from other nations is commending the Mid-East Forces. Does this sound like a victory for Marley to you?" the man asked.

"General, I'm afraid the time has come", Magath, sitting at the table, spoke up to the man who had walked to a window to gaze out of it. Magath rose to his feet who then took a seat to here from his captain.

"While we've been relying heavily on Titans and colonial expansion, other nations have been developing weapons to counter us", Magath then walked behind the general to glance outside at the sea. "And as a result, our strategy has come back to bite us on the ass."

The general, who had been leaning his chin on his left hand propped up by his elbow place on the table, turned his head to watch Magath and was interested to hear his thoughts.

"For the time being, our Titans remain unrivaled when it comes to land battles. However, if aircraft keep advancing at this rate, bombs will soon fall like rain", Magath added, walking back to his chair, and looking up at a hole in the ceiling of the room they were in.

The general looked up and noticed flying birds overhead and joked, "Do we not have any Titans with wings?"

"General, what I'm trying to say is that the era of Titans—", Magath tried to explain, but he was cut off by the general.

"I know, I know", the general added.

"If I may, General?" Zeke asked, raising his hand. "Requesting permission to give my counsel."

"Oh Zeke, the wonder boy. Go ahead", the general responded. He looked to be growing uninterested in the way the meeting was going.

"As Commander Magath was saying, Marley needs to develop better weapons", Zeke began now standing. "However, the world will not stand by and wait. What we need, is for the newspapers of the world to read like this: 'Marley Occupies Paradis and Wields the Power of All Titans.'"

The general thought to himself for a moment before replying, "You have one year left in your term, correct?"

"Yes, and I'm concerned that Colt can't inherit the full power of the Beast Titan", Zeke answered.

"I see", the general murmured, thinking again.

After the meeting, Zeke and Colt walked outside on top of a roof. They passed some laundry hanging on wires and approached the edge of the rooftop, a waist-level high wall.

"To think, an Eldian being heard by the general!" Colt exclaimed to Zeke, excited to hear that Zeke's input was taken into consideration.

Colt leaned over the wall to gaze at the sea while Zeke leaned his back against the wall and rested his arm on it.

"There hasn't been a Beast Titan like you in its history", Colt lauded Zeke, who had pulled out a cigarette and inhaled it.

"Who knows? Guess I'll be dead before we figure it out", Zeke responded with a slight chuckle.

"Oh, but when you inherit my memories, you'll find out my big secret", Zeke, becoming serious, added now facing Colt.

"Secret? What do you mean?" Colt asked curiously.

"The special way I wipe my ass. Hope you don't tell anyone", Zeke joked.

"Zeke, I want a report", Captain Magath said, appearing after removing hanging laundry from his path to approach them.

"Commander!" both Zeke and Colt exclaimed. Both men straightened their posture and rose their right arms to salute.

"Everything down to the hairs on your ass. Do you think Eldians get privacy?" Captain Magath growled as he walked closer to them.

"No sir", Zeke replied, but Magath walked past them to lean against the wall and gaze off into the sea, smoking a cigarette.

"These past three years, every scout ship we've sent to Paradis hasn't returned", Captain Magath stated.

"Considering 32 ships were sunk, I can't imagine a single Titan was responsible. At least two Titans, including Eren Jaeger, must have blocked their escape. But it's more than their Titans that pose a threat", Zeke explained, referring to their ability to dispatch Titans with their 3D Maneuvering Gear, and most specifically, Levi Ackerman, who has been giving Zeke nightmares ever since he left the island.

In a bed somewhere else, Reiner wakes from a nightmare of Mikasa, he delivered the final blow years ago before he was saved by Zeke and the Cart Titan. He seemed frightened and his arm was extended upwards, but when he realized it was just a dream, he turns to the side and begins rubbing his face.

"It seemed like you were having such a good dream, so I didn't want to wake you", a voice next to him in a chair, belonged to Galliard but in his human form. He wore a red armband meaning that he was a warrior of Marley and an Eldian who can transform into the Jaw Titan.

"Pock, let's not pick on people who just took cannons to the face", Pieck declared walking into the room. She was talking to Galliard who had short brown hair. Her hair was dark black, and her face was pale. Her body appeared frail as she stumbled around using a crutch.

"Quit calling me that, Pieck", Galliard uttered, turning in his chair to address her.

Pieck walked to a bed beside Reiner's and sat down. She was facing him, who was sitting up facing her.

"Everyone's worried about you, big guy. You should go talk to those kids", Pieck revealed to Reiner.

"Ok, I think I will", Reiner rose to his feet and walked out of the room.

Pieck dropped down onto her back. "I'm pooped."

Outside, Udo was talking to the other younger cadets. Falco and Sophia were sitting on crates.

"Hey, if Titans lose their usefulness in battle, what will happen to the Warrior unit and us other Eldians?" Udo pondered, asking his friends.

Falco dropped down, avoiding that question, to sit on the ground next to Gabi who seemed to look upset.

"Mr. Braun will be fine", Falco tried to assure Gabi, referring to Reiner.

Meanwhile, Udo and Sophia were now talking about whether the sea gets its salty taste from people's pee in the background. Udo jumped off the crates away from Sophia and began shouted unintelligible things and kicking broken crates on the ground.

"Cut it out, Udo", Reiner said as a car past between them so he could cross the road to get to them.

The three cadets all approached Reiner to greet him, and he took turns placing his hand on all of their heads. Falco stood from sitting on the crate by himself, catching Reiner's eye.

"Hey! They said we're going back to Liberio soon!" Gabi exclaimed to Reiner with delightful eyes. She took Reiner's hand and began walking towards the town. "Let's walk around until then!"

"Hold on", Reiner tried to contest, but failing miserably as he continued to follow Gabi.

"Come on! We never get chances like this!" Gabi added running off.

Reiner came back to Falco, who was still standing near the crate, and kneeled down to place his hand on Falco's head.

"I'm all right. Don't worry, Falco", Reiner tried to reassure the child.

"Why don't you, Falco, go home and rest! Sheesh!" Gabi blurted out, folding her arms in frustration.

"I'm coming, I'm coming", Falco finally called out.

As the group finally decided to leave together, Reiner saw his friends in these children. Reiner reached out towards them. But he snapped out of it to go walk the streets with the children.

Later that evening, the Marleyan soldiers were aboard a train that was taking them back home in Liberio.

"Did you guys witness the bravery of our Eldian goddess?! Does anyone know why this idiot risked her life!? Well, I do! She did it to save all your asses in the Eldian unit!" Colt slurred his words together. He was clearly intoxicated due to the bottle of wine he was holding.

The soldiers were on the train but grouped separately. The Eldian unit was in the back, and they were the loudest and most obnoxious celebrating success thanks to Gabi's plan which fooled their enemy and took out a heavily armored tank. A higher up was about to quiet their cabin on the train, but Captain Magath told him not to. They decided to allow the Eldians to celebrate something for just one night.

Meanwhile in the Eldian's cabin, Colt now had Gabi on his shoulders, holding her up as well as his bottle of wine. The rest of the soldiers were cheering as well, leaving Udo and Sophia awkwardly in the middle.

"It's looking like she'll be the one who inherits the Armored Titan", Reiner spoke in the back of the cabin, where it was quieter, to Falco who was standing next to him, leaning his back on the wall.

"If the cannons don't shred her first, that is", Falco replied.

"What did you say?" Reiner asked, lowering himself so his face was closer to Falco's. "Are you insulting the honor of inheriting one of the Nine? If I report this, you and your whole family will become Titan weapons."

"W-Wait! Let me rephrase what I said. What I meant to say is—" Falco stammered.

"I pledge my life to Marley!" Falco exclaimed while raising his hand into a salute.

"And what about the honor of inheriting one of the Nine?" Reiner continued to add pressure with his questions.

"To be given the chance to display my loyalty to our motherland is the greatest honor I will ever experience", Falco answered quickly.

"Do you want to inherit the Armored?" Reiner asked staring directly into Falco's eyes.

"The one who should inherit it is me!" Falco declared confidently.

Then Reiner grabbed onto Falco's shoulders and pulled his face even closer.

"You have to rescue Gabi from the dark future that awaits us", Reiner added cryptically.

After riding through the night, the train makes it to its destination in the morning. And once the platform was clear, the train doors open, and soldiers begin exiting with luggage.

"We're home!" Gabi yells after jumping out of the train.

Galliard was helping Colt walk, because he had drunk a little too much the previous night.

"Could you be a little quieter, Gabi", Colt asked politely and fell, but Galliard helped him to sit down on a large crate.

"You should've known that you can't hold your own booze. So, it's your fault, really", Galliard responded to Colt.

"I think it's fine. You deserved a bit of fun. That plan you had on the battlefield was impressive", Pieck added, gracefully rubbing Gabi's shoulder.

Falco was staring at Reiner wondering if he could trust him. Reiner's words from the train still sat with Falco and he was unable to figure out any deeper meaning. The gate doors to the Internment zone of the city open and hundreds of people crowded near the entrance waiting to reunite with loved ones.

"Reiner, you must be tired. Come home and rest", Reiner's mother called out to him. She had other members of their family with her as well.

Falco walked away, near a line of men who appeared to have suffered in combat. The soldier at the front of the line was struggling to stand and had two other soldiers giving him a hard time for it.

"Are they injured soldiers, Mr. Koslow?" Falco asked the higher ranked officer.

"Its what happens when you're digging trenches on the front lines for too long. All those bullets and bombs do it for you", the man explained.

"BOOM!"

The men in the line became hysterical and they dropped to the ground covering their heads. The injured soldier at the front of the line, knocked down a soldier who was missing a leg and an eye. The two soldiers began laughing at the injured soldiers while Falco walked to the soldier missing a leg.

"Your armband's on the wrong arm", Falco said to the man.

"It's okay. I'm sure you'll get better. You don't have to fight anymore", Falco added.

Meanwhile, Gabi and Reiner were eating together because they're cousins, and she was telling the family about the events that happened. She would mainly bring up her accomplishments though and her parents were so excited.

"Your bravery saved a bunch of our soldiers! You're a hero of Eldia!" Gabi's father blurted out, hugging his daughter.

"I'm so proud of you!" Gabi's mother added, smiling to her daughter.

"To think that our family would have two Warriors. I'm so proud", Reiner's mother chimed in. "If only those island devils disappeared, we Eldians could finally be happy."

"But even Reiner barely escaped from the island devils, right?" Gabi's father asked.

Reiner sat for a second to think, which others at the table misunderstood for him being affected negatively over his time spent with the Scouts and people of the island.

"No, I can talk about it", Reiner began. He told the story of how he infiltrated their ranks and began learning about their military defenses. Then he began talking about individual Scouts he met but left out their names. He started by bringing up a situation where Sasha was eating a potato during their entrance ceremony. He finished his story by surmising that the people of the island were truly beyond all help. He claimed that there were all sorts of people there and that his days spent there were true hell.

Everyone stared in silence until Gabi spoke up.

"What do you mean, "all sorts of people"? They're bad people, right?" Gabi asked curiously.

"That's right Gabi. Those island devils turned our world into hell", Reiner's mother answered. She had walked to the window from her chair in order to close it.

The next day, Reiner and Gabi walked back to the barracks.

"Aunt Karina's worried about you", Gabi revealed, referring to Reiner's mother. "She says you've changed ever since coming back from the island alone."

"Well, her 12-year-old son came back a grown man. You can't really blame her", Reiner replied.

"It sounds like you're hiding something", Gabi replied quickly.

"Hiding something? Like what?" Reiner turned his head to Gabi.

"I'm not sure, but I think Aunt Karina does", Gabi stated as they passed a crowd of people standing around the body of a soldier who killed himself by jumping off of a roof last night.

Reiner joined the other Warriors while Gabi went with the cadets. Zeke had assembled them around a coffee table that they all sat behind in a chair, except Pieck who was laying down on a couch.

"Now, the last battle made it clear that normal weapons will overtake Titans in the near future. That means our existence is in danger. The world must be strongly reminded of the threat that Paradis Island poses", Zeke declared pulling out a notebook.

"The family holding the War Hammer Titan?" Colt asked.

"Rumor is, the Tyburs have never sent the War Hammer Titan to enemy soil", Pieck added with her body still sprawled out. "They're influential abroad thanks to them driving away King Fritz during the Great Titan War."

"But we—" Galliard began but was immediately cut off by Reiner.

"If it saves our motherland Marley, I'll be grateful and serve as the backbone for restoring Marley", Reiner seemed determined to crush Paradis by any means necessary.

Zeke looked outside of the window to the streets below.

"There will be a festival here in Liberio soon", Zeke adds.

"Festival?" Reiner asked.

"VIPs from abroad will be invited to hear an announcement from the Tyburs: 'For the future of Marley, we must join our hearts as one.'" Zeke announced.

Gabi and Falco were both sparring with fake weapons and Gabi managed to slam Falco. Reiner walked up to them, staring blankly, as he began to realize that he would be going back to that dreadful island.

ACT III: "Unfamiliar Situation" CHAPTER 7: The Warriors of Marley - 2391

"We were abandoned", a younger version of Reiner's mother spoke to him in bed as a child.

"That's why we live in a camp surrounded by walls. Your father is...Marleyan. H-He can't be with us Eldians. If only we were Marleyan", Reiner's mother began to sob into her hands, sitting on the bed next to her son, telling him the truth for the first time.

Adult Reiner was laying in bed, thinking about his past and all the paths he took that led him to this moment. He knew he would have to face Eren and the Scouts inevitably.

In a flashback, a young cadet Reiner was running through the rain carrying a backpack filled with weighted equipment and an oversized rifle. It was a military training exercise for future Warriors of Marley.

"Who the hell said you could walk?! Run, you little filthy spawn of devils!" a military drill instructor yelled out. He was on horseback and yelling down at the children as they ran.

Reiner's flashback went forward in time.

"Did you guys hear?" Zeke asked, tossing up an apple and catching it. "We're attacking Paradis Island in just a few years. Out of the seven of us, they're picking six!"

The group of young teens included: Reiner, Porco Galliard, Bertholdt, Annie, Pieck, Marcel Galliard, and Zeke, who tossed the apple to Marcel.

"Yes! I can finally be Marleyan!", Reiner exclaimed excitedly.

Marcel took a bite of the apple and handed it to his brother, Porco. Porco handed the apple to Reiner after hearing his comment.

"Huh? Why are you so excited? If anyone's the worst, it's you. They aren't picking you", Porco jeered to Reiner.

Reiner snapped over to Porco who had a wide grin.

"Nope. The only value they see in you is your loyalty to Marley", Porco shrugged.

"You making fun of our mission? Or maybe you're a stray Restorationist!" Reiner blurted out in defense. He had clutched Porco's wrist and was holding on tightly.

"Report this, you little shit!" Porco became aggressive and threw Reiner on the ground. "Have fun waiting 13 years alone!"

Marcel ran to his brother to stop him from fighting Reiner.

"Cool it, Porco!" Marcel interrupted his brother by holding him back.

Pieck watched along with Bertholdt. Annie seemed uninterested in their fighting.

"But it's like he said. I'm the worst", Reiner rose to his knees and teared up, feeling insecure about his capabilities as a Warrior of Marley.

"Listen Reiner, Porco doesn't have the final say. And besides, loyalty is important. I'm sorry about my brother", Marco patted Reiner on the shoulder and helped him up to his feet.

Reiner stayed silent. Bertholdt walked over to help him while Annie took off.

"The Female Titan...on top of its mobility and endurance, its hardened strikes are incredibly destructive. The Armored Titan specializes in hardening its entire body. As Marley's shield that must withstand attacks, it suits Braun's perseverance. The Jaw Titan is an assault weapon. It's as speedy as it is small, with claws and a jaw that crush nearly everything. The Beast Titan is as potent as ever. What's more Zeke's blood seems to have hidden power. The Cart Titan has outstanding endurance, suitable for long missions. Pieck's superior judgement will serve well. And the Colossal Titan is a god of destruction. Hoover should be able to handle it."

"Sending children to retake the Founding Titan sounds insane to me", Magath voiced his concerns with the general.

"You think?" the general replied as they watched the Warriors fighting below. "Didn't those children just crush an entire nation before our eyes?"

Later, Porco violently approached Reiner and slapped his hand on the wall behind him, trapping him and encouraging a confrontation.

"It's bullshit! Why was the worst of us chosen?!" Porco growled in Reiner's face.

Marcel was once again trying to hold his brother back.

"Porco! You sure you want to defy the brass!?"

Porco dropped to his knees and lowered his shoulders in front of Reiner, who's back was to the wall. Porco was the only one wearing yellow armbands because the new Warriors of Marley wore red ones. Eldians from the Internment Zone all came out to the streets as the military gave a celebratory parade for these 6 soldiers.

Reiner spotted his mother in the crowd, and he waved. Until he spotted a balding man leaving the crowd and entering a shop.

"Dad!"

Reiner barged into the shop.

"It's you, right? Mom used to work in these barracks before I was born! That's where you met her! Karina Braun!" Reiner seemed genuinely happy to become an honorary Marleyan and hoped his father would be proud of him.

"Bloody hell!" the man barked to Reiner, catching him off guard. "Did that woman send you here?! To get revenge on me?! Shit! Now her kid's a Warrior?!"

Reiner stared blankly hearing the response from his father.

"You're gonna get me hanged! I'm running the hell away from here! Away from you and your damn Eldian mother!" the man continued to yell and began pacing around the shop.

"Reiner!" his mother called out to him.

He snapped out of it and was on the boat leaving for the island. The other Warriors were waving back to the people as the boat moved further away from the dock.

"That's right. I'm still the chosen Warrior of the Armored Titan", Reiner thought to himself.

At night they made a campfire, now on the island.

"Will the King really not use the Founding Titan, even if we break the wall?" Marcel asked the circle.

"What's the use asking now? Trust Marley's research", Reiner replied. Zeke and Pieck weren't apart of this crew.

"That's right. We can't turn back now", Marcel responded, looking down to his stick that he was using to keep the fire burning.

"Wait a minute. Are you having second thoughts about killing the devils?" Reiner asked the group. He stood up noticing the lack of morale. "We're the world's chosen Warriors sent to punish the island devils!"

Marcel stared at Reiner until he finally cracked.

"Reiner, I'm sorry. You were never meant to be a chosen Warrior. I talked you up and criticized my brother to influence the higher-up's decision. I wanted to...protect my brother", Marcel explained, beginning to tear up.

Just then the sun began to rise.

"Why...are you apologizing?" Reiner asked. However, behind him a Titan was beginning to rise.

Reiner slowly turned around to see it, but Marcel lunged forward and pushed Reiner out of the way. The Titan would devour Marcel as Reiner, Annie, and Bertholdt ran off terrified. This Titan was later discovered to belong to Ymir, who spent her life as a mindless Titan until eating Marcel and becoming the new Jaw Titan. Ymir was captured however and fed to Marcel's brother Porco in the present timeline.

Reiner finally got some distance away from the Titan. He tried catching his breath by leaning against a tree. But then he began hyperventilating and turned with a look of horror as he grabbed the sides of his own head.

"They got eaten! They got eaten because of me!" Reiner exclaimed to himself, trying to calm down. He lowered himself to his knees and leaned forward, pressing his knees to his chest. "This is where I'm going to die!"

Suddenly, a foot belonging to Annie, kicked Reiner in the ribs, flipping him onto his back. Reiner was surprised and rolled over a few times before sitting up and using his feet to push him backwards. His hands were out as well, protecting his face.

"Not bad", Annie spoke. Annie and Bertholdt were both out of breath. "This is a first. You actually beat me...in a long-distance race..."

Reiner, realizing it was Bertholdt and Annie, lowered his arms.

"We've gotta go home. Marcel was our leader so we must abort the mission", Annie declared.

"What?" Reiner asked, still confused while his delirium comes down.

"Let's find Jaw and leave. They would've change back to human", Annie decides and begins walking back with Bertholdt, until Reiner's voice stops them.

"We can't!"

"We can't go home until we've completed the mission!" Reiner exclaimed, holding his hand out to them.

"I don't give a shit about the mission. I give a shit about our lives!" Annie, now annoyed, responded to Reiner.

"Oh, I see. You want me to take the blame for running away?" Reiner challenged Annie.

"T-They can't control it right after becoming—" Bertholdt tried to ease the tension.

"You controlled the Colossal Titan, no problem!" Reiner interrupted Bertholdt. "Without the Founding Titan, there's no going home!"

"But you have no problem intimidating us to save your own ass, huh?!" Annie now furious, approached Reiner.

Annie launched her foot upwards into Reiner's chin, knocking him backwards from being on his knees still. He spit blood from his mouth as he hit the ground.

"How about you come clean to Magath?! Tell him it's all your fault!" Annie became so angry that she continued to stomp on Reiner's face while he was on the ground.

"Honorary Marleyan, my ass! Chosen Warrior, my ass!" Annie continued to kick Reiner's unguarded face, almost knocking him unconscious with all the blood he was losing covering his face. "Marleyans, Eldians! They're all liars! Everyone only thinks about themselves!"

She stepped back preparing a more powerful kick to the defenseless Reiner.

"If you feel guilty, just die! Take all the blame and die!"

Annie turned away and began walking back to Bertholdt, leaving Reiner's motionless body on the ground. However, without noticing, Reiner rose to his feet and launched himself towards Annie, grabbing her and putting her in a choke hold on the ground.

"Reiner is dead", Reiner murmured in his psychotic state.

"This is the only way we'll be able to go back home!" Reiner continued, rolling with Annie to keep her in the chokehold. Annie was beginning to lose consciousness as she was unable to breathe. "Let's go back...together...to our hometown!"

They continued with the attack on the walls with Bertholdt opening a hole for the Titans to enter. Bertholdt exited his Titan and blended in with the panicking civilians. Reiner used his Titan form to run through the inner gate, completely exposing the wall inside Shiganshina, Wall Maria.

"I thought I could make my mom's wish come true and we'd live with my father"

After successfully assimilating with civilians in shelters after the Titan attack, Reiner was hugging both Annie and Bertholdt.

"Marcel...I'll be the Warrior I should've been."

The three of them then signed up for the military and would even become friends with some of the other children who also signed up. One night, Annie approached Reiner and Bertholdt.

"Let's take what we know back to Marley. They'll be happy to hear anything", Annie spoke quietly.

"Not if it's all we have to show after five years", Reiner replied.

"A lot of your friends are gonna die", Annie chimed in.

"I keep telling you", Reiner began walking up to Annie and kneeling in front of her. "They're not friends—they're devils. But gaining their trust can't hurt. And frankly, your aloof behavior isn't—"

"I'm going to barf. Can you move your face away from mine? Thanks", Annie finished.

Reiner rose back to his feet. He could tell that they were in too deep now, and if anything happened to either Annie or Bertholdt, it would be on him.

"I bet you're exhausted. Sorry for always laying the burden on you", Reiner apologized to Annie.

Back in the present, Reiner had placed the barrel of his rifle into his mouth. He aimed it carefully and attempted to pull the trigger, eventually causing him to tear up. He was sitting on a chair, alone in his room and everything felt like it was crumbling around him. His eyes went blank as he prepared to pull the trigger and end his life, which felt like a curse.

He stopped. And removed the rifle from his mouth, setting it aside to lean on the wall. He rose from his chair and looked out his window. He had heard a slight thud just before he pulled the trigger, and realized it was Falco outside after some training, he suspected.

"That's right...I still have those guys", Reiner added trying to feel some light of hope.

Falco walked past a hospital and the man he helped in line before was now on a bench, calling out to him. The man looked the same for the most part, and Falco figured it would be nice to chat with a veteran of war to maybe get a better understanding of his own role in it.

"I guess you're recovering well. You're good enough to talk now", Falco mentioned, sitting next to the man who had long brown hair.

"Kinda. I'm here for emotional trauma, but it's a lie", the man replied. His tone was cold. "It'd be hard to face my family now. You seem to be the one hurt. Is it from your Warrior training?"

"Well...there's this other candidate who is so talented, I don't even stand a chance", Falco replied.

"You're a good guy. You'll live a longer life", the man added.

"But I don't want them to be a Warrior", Falco looked down into his lap. The man turned to Falco, his hair covering one eye while the other was bandaged.

"Why not?" The man asked.

"Well, she's famous around here. She did incredible things in the war. Everyone's saying that she should be the next Armored Titan. But since I'm powerless, I can't do a damn thing about it", Falco admits to the man.

The man leaned his head back, staring upwards. "Every day I'm here, I think: Why did it ever come to this? Damaged minds and bodies...Their freedom take away...Even losing themselves." The man and Falco looked across the lawn at a nurse tending to a soldier with injuries.

"If people knew it would come to this, nobody would go to war", the man adds.

"But most people are pushed by something, forced to march directly into Hell. That 'something' wasn't their choice. Their situation or others made them do it. But people who push their own backs see a different kind of Hell..."

"Only those who keep moving forward will ever know..."

CHAPTER 8: His Name is Eren Jaeger - 2031

"Falco? Where are you headed this late?" a confused Reiner asked the child, who was out of breath and panting holding his knees.

"See you tomorrow, sir!" Falco saluted and ran off.

Reiner watched Falco run away and noticed he was carrying something.

"Falco, could you do me a favor? If my letters are sent from the internment zone, they'll check it. Please help me get these letters out. They might find out I'm not really sick. I want to tell the people of my hometown that I'm here and I'm doing just fine..."

Falco stood in front of a mailbox and placed the letter given to him by Mr. Kruger inside.

Captain Magath was on his way to meet the Tyburs with another soldier. They are an important family for Marley. Walking up to knock on the door, Magath could see soldiers wearing a different uniform.

"It's the Tyburs' personal guard. They're not part of our military", the soldier walking with Magath whispered.

The door opened and one of the personal guards told them to come in. Magath and the soldier walked in to meet a thin man with long blonde hair.

"Sorry to drop in on you. I'm Willy, the head of the Tybur family", Willy announced formally and shook Magath's hand. "Nice to meet you, Commander Magath. Allow me to introduce you to the family."

In the open living room, there were a few elderly people as well as kids and other members. Willy and Magath walked to his outdoor balcony and Willy looked outwards. Magath stood behind him, but not too far away.

"Are you able to tell which of us is the War Hammer Titan?" Willy joked.

"No clue. One might wonder if it's even here at all", Magath replied.

"I assure you, the War Hammer Titan is among us", Willy laughed. "I came here to see the statue of Helos."

Upon gazing at the statue, Willy would continue to speak. "How marvelous. So brave and beautiful, with not a scratch in sight."

Willy turned to look at Magath.

"I hear you're working to reinstate Marleyan conscription?" Willy asked.

"They're content to just read about our lands expanding", Magath replied. "One hopes letting Marleyans hear the sound of bullets whizzing by their ears will be enough to stop our self-destructive march towards war."

"This nation is controlled by the Tyburs", Willy explained. "But this path of warmongering was one that Marley chose on its own. We gave Marley both freedom and power in hopes of atonement. And in the end, Eldia and Marley were both thrown into darkness. I intend to reveal the truth to the world at the upcoming festival."

Willy turned to look at the statue once more.

"My coming to see the statue was no lie. Marley needs a hero once more", Willy announced and extended his hand out towards Magath. "Theo Magath, will you not join hands with me?"

Magath stared into Willy's eyes. They wanted to recruit the War Hammer Titan since they lost both the Colossal and the Female Titans. Magath figured it would be easiest to go along with Willy's plan.

Meanwhile, Galliard almost trips over Pieck who was on the floor at the top of the steps.

"Pieck!? What are you doing?" a startled Galliard asks.

"It's more comfortable for me like this", Pieck stated. It was a long side effect of her becoming the Cart Titan which also travels on all fours.

"Can you just walk upright?" Galliard asked.

"Can you just, piss off?" Pieck replied with a smile.

Reiner was going over a map of Paradis Island and the walls the King built.

"Titans come from the south. However, this wharf is the only place where our large ships can dock. But the south is where our ships have been gone and haven't returned", Reiner explained to a Marleyan soldier.

"All right, enough. It was a dumb idea to let an Eldian talk", the higher up stated, raising his hand in front of Reiner's face.

After the briefing, the five remaining warriors of Marley all talked, disappointed by Reiner's treatment.

"The brass in charge is oh so intelligent!" Galliard exclaimed kicking dirt from the ground.

"Can't wait to hear what the come up with", Galliard relaxed and leaned his back on the railing, next to Pieck who stared outwards.

"Like entrusting the whole thing to four kids?" Pieck chimed in without turning. Down below was Falco, Gabi, Udo, and Sophia.

Reiner and Colt stared below as Falco ended up passing Gabi during their run with all of their gear on.

"Look! He's ahead. Falco passed up Gabi!" Reiner blurted out in awe.

The kids finished their run and began to catch their breath. They all cheered for being able to finish.

"Look at 'em celebrate one little win. Jeez. They've got no idea", Galliard added.

"No matter how well Falco does at this point, he'll never surpass Gabi", Colt chimed in.

As the festival grew closer, the people of Marley were setting up a huge stage in the Internment Zone. Falco eventually met up with Mr. Kruger again at the hospital on the same bench.

"...but at this point, I honestly doubt I can pass up Gabi", Falco opened up to his friend. "Even so, I'm going to keep moving forward. Like you're always telling me."

"I see. I'm the one who should be thanking you, though", Mr. Kruger told Falco, referring to his letters.

"It was no problem, Mr. Kruger", Falco replied, looking over to a baseball glove next to Mr. Kruger on the bench. "Did your family send you that?"

"Yeah well...they thought it'd make hospital life less boring", Mr. Kruger revealed. He looked up into the sky at birds flying above. "When the festival is over, I'm going back to my hometown."

A man walked out of the hospital.

"Oh, someone's coming. Well, I'll get going now", Falco said as he waved to Mr. Kruger and ran off.

"May I sit next to you?" the elder man wore a doctor's coat. Kruger nodded.

"I appreciate it", the man began as he took a seat. "I am Dr. Jaeger, a physician for the zone. I come out here to drink tea sometimes."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kruger", he replied politely.

"His uncle was a leader of the Eldian Restorationists. And when his brother was chosen to inherit the Beast Titan, the Grice family knew they were finally safe", Dr. Jaeger explained.

"Why...are you telling me this?" Kruger looked over to the doctor.

"If he comes under suspicion, all their effort will have been for nothing", the doctor continued. "And if you're truly healthy, you should go back to your family. Someday, you won't see them anymore. Don't wait and live with regret."

Inside, a few nurses noticed Kruger and Jaeger speaking together.

"Do you have regrets about your own family?" Kruger asked.

"There's not a single day that I don't", Jaeger answered honestly.

"That day, my son took my daughter outside the walls. It's because I was too strict about him becoming a doctor! It's my fault! Everything was my fault!" Jaeger bellowed until his cries became terrified groans of agony.

"Mr. Jaeger! Please don't go around on your own!" a doctor and nurse came out from the building.

"I'm so sorry. I looked away for a second", the woman nurse apologized to Kruger. The nurse and doctor led Jaeger, who was actually a patient, back inside the hospital.

Later that evening, there was a large fancy event for important and wealthy individuals in town for Willy Tybur. The four Warrior cadets were dressed in nice suits and were tasked with serving the guests with no mistakes.

"Look, there's empty glasses! Let's get 'em!" Gabi stated as the four leapt into the party and began recovering empty glasses and plates.

The speed and efficiency that they worked was phenomenal. Until Udo heard a disrespectful comment from one of the partygoers about them being disgusting and touching dishes. He mistakenly bumped into an older oriental woman and spilled wine on her dress.

Udo and the woman stared at each other until she pulled him close to her and whisper, "Shh! Don't make a fuss."

"B-But your fancy clothes, miss!" Udo stammered nervously.

"Is everything all right, madam?" an adult server from behind Udo spoke.

"Clumsy me! I spilled wine on my kimono and was asking for help!" the woman assured the other server. There were others looking, but the scene died down.

"Sorry to hear that. Please, let me take you to a washroom", the server offered.

"W-Why?" Udo asked silently.

"Who knows what would've happened to you", the woman whispered to Udo before walking off with the other server. Udo realized that she saved him.

Udo walked nervously to the others who were handling their own dishes.

"That woman...she saved me", Udo tried keeping his voice down. "She knew I was an Eldian and that I'd be punished for spilling wine on her dress."

"That woman..." Gabi began, staring at the back of the woman leaving the party area. On her kimono there was a noticeable symbol. "I think she's an Easterner from Hizuru."

Willy Tybur walked in and suddenly, one after another, many people started saying hello. And because there were people from all over the world, there were different races of people.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! We thank you all for coming tonight!" a well-dressed, bald older man announced.

"Until recently, we were squabbling over resources in an unsightly war. However, yesterday's enemy is today's enemy! Wait that's not right, I meant to say that Yesterday's enemy is today's friend! Let's wash the past down the toilet with our drinks! To everlasting peace!" the man rose his glass of wine above his head.

Willy began clapping and walked over the bald man, "Thank you very much! Such an elegant joke to amuse our guests! However, they didn't quite understand, so allow me to take over."

The bald man began walking to the side, clearly intoxicated. The crowd grew louder with applause welcoming Willy to speak.

"Yeah, Willy!"

"Kin of our saviors!"

Willy bowed and waited for the cheers to wind down so that he could speak.

"It is the home of a people whose blood runs through me. The ones called devils for slaughtering a great number of people—the Eldians. Marley has used the devils to oppress other nations and repeat the tragedy. But I have arrived at a single solution that will answer this endless problem. Tomorrow, I will reveal that solution in my first-ever theater production. To the great playwrights and witnesses of history!" Willy rose his glass above his head in a more proper toast.

The next day was the day of the festival. Reiner, Galliard and Pieck took the four kids into town. There were stands selling all sorts of food and desserts they didn't normally get to eat. After stuffing their faces, Reiner had to drag out a delirious Gabi.

"Oh? Did you guys have fun?" Zeke called out to the approaching team. Willy's show was going to begin soon. Colt was with Zeke, and he asked where Falco was.

"He said he saw someone he knew and ran off", Udo chimed in.

Falco found Reiner standing with Gabi.

"Sir, can you please come with me?" Falco asked Reiner.

"What's this about, Falco?" Reiner asked curiously.

"You'll see soon enough!" Falco promised.

Falco ran off ahead to a door, which lead to a staircase that went lower.

"In here", Falco continued to point in the direction, but it got darker and darker the further Reiner walked down the stairs.

"Okay", Reiner continued to follow.

Inside, there was a table with a lit candle which illuminated the room slightly. In the middle of the room there were two chairs. In one of the chairs was Falco's friend Mr. Kruger. The seat across from him was empty, however.

"I brought him!" Falco exclaimed.

Reiner finally made it out of the dark staircase and looked around the room.

"Hey. It's been four years, Reiner", Mr. Kruger spoke up in the middle of the room.

Reiner's eyes opened wide.

"Eren!"

CHAPTER 9: Declaration of War! - 2309

Reiner tensed up uncomfortably in the presence of Eren. Falco seemed confused at first and looked back and forth between Reiner and "Mr. Kruger". However, Falco was confused because Reiner called him "Eren".

"What? Aren't you two supposed to be old friends? Right, Mr. Kruger?" Falco asked.

"Impossible...!" Reiner gasped.

"Here, have a seat. They're great seats, right? You can hear everything on stage", Eren coldly revealed. "The building above us is all housing. It may be behind the stage, but it's full of people waiting for the curtains to rise."

And Eren wasn't lying. Directly above them was a building filled with innocent people and a stage that was getting ready for Willy Tybur's presentation to the other nations.

"Directly above us", Eren raised his index finger, so it pointed to the ceiling. However, in the palm of his hand, blood was dripping down in his curled fingers.

"Huh?" Falco noticed the wound on Eren's hand. "Mr. Kruger, did you hurt your hand?"

"Yeah. But it's just a cut", Eren replied to the naïve child.

Eren turned his attention back to Reiner.

"Reiner, sit down."

Reiner looked into Eren's eyes, and he could see emptiness. Reiner closed his eyes wondering how he could get Falco safely from Eren.

"Well, I think I'll head back. Let you two catch up", Falco stuttered backing into the wall, nervous and shaking.

"No, Falco", Eren chimed in. "You should stay here and listen."

Reiner grabbed the chair in front of Eren and sat down. "Falco...just do as he says."

"O-Okay", Falco stuttered again and taking a heavy gulp.

Outside, it was dark, and the stands were filling up with people. Marley's military sat separate from the others, but there were also people from Willy's party as well as Eldians from the Internment Zone. There also happened to be many journalists for newspapers all over the world. This was indeed a larger than normal event for Willy and the people of Marley.

The warriors sat together with the cadets, except for Falco and Reiner. Pieck began rocking Sophia back and forth.

"It's like we're in the world's spotlight!" Pieck cheerfully stated.

"The Tyburs sure are powerful", Colt began. "And yet they're Eldians, same as us."

A musical band started playing fanfare music, and the sudden start spooked Sophia. She covered her ears and let out a quiet shriek. Meanwhile, Gabi began to find it weird that the show was starting, and Reiner and Falco were still missing.

"Warriors of Marley", a tall shoulder with a helmet stood at the row with the warriors. "Commander Magath has summoned you."

Meanwhile in the basement below the stage.

"Eren...How? Why did you come here?" Reiner asked.

"Same reason you did", Eren replied coldly.

Reiner slowly grabbed the sides of his head and looked down at the floor in front of him.

"Don't you get it? The same reason you did", Eren continued. "Because I had no other choice."

"Sounds like it started", Eren responded to the sound of applause overhead. "Let's listen."

"Roughly 100 years ago, Titans have robbed enough lives to eradicate humanity three times over. Countless cultures and peoples have been wiped out by Titans; their histories stolen away. The Great Titan War had begun. Families holding the eight Titans waged a bloody roar. Thanks to his clever manipulations, the Eldian Empire was tricked into killing each other, one by one. Tens of millions of Titans await on the island to trample the world. To eliminate this threat, our motherland Marley sent four Titans to the island to recover the Founding Titan, but they were beaten back and only the Armored Titan returned. The darkest blot on humanity's history, the Eldian Empire, is alive and well..."

"You hear that, Reiner? Isn't that why you destroyed the wall?" Eren asked.

The Marleyan soldier escorted Porco, Pieck and Zeke to the streets.

"You're wanted at the gate, Jaeger", the soldier relayed to Zeke. Leaving Porco and Pieck with them.

"Fine", Zeke complied and turned and began walking away as the other three turned as well and began walking.

"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before. Where are you from?" Pieck asked, growing suspicion.

"Out west by Lakua, but I was called here. I didn't come to chitchat with Eldians, so quiet", the soldier barked in response.

"Oh? That's a shame. I kinda fancy your beard", Pieck replied sarcastically.

"Oh, hey! Pieck!" an overweight soldier grouped with four other soldiers called out.

"The Panzer Unit! Thanks for all your hard work!" Pieck ran up and hugged the confused member.

"You're sure in a good mood today", a member of the unit with dark hair said referring to Pieck's friendly mood. It was out of the ordinary.

Pieck walked back to Porco and the soldier with a smile on her face.

"What was that all about?" Porco asked.

"Since they ride the Cart Titan into war and all, it's good if we build a bond", Pieck explained.

"Yeah but", Porco began, turning to the faces of her unit which seemed off. "Didn't you just put a rift in that bond?"

On a rooftop across from the stage, some soldiers were stationed. One soldier was listening on a radio and waiting to take notes with a pen and paper.

"Anything?" Magath asked, standing next to the soldier with the radio.

"Nothing strange as of yet", the soldier replied.

Marley's military were remaining vigilant while Willy gave his historical presentation.

"This way", the soldier escorting Porco and Pieck said, opening a door for them.

"Well? Where's Commander Magath?" Porco asked, confused because the room was empty.

"Porco!" Pieck shouted, but she was too late. The soldier cut a rope next to the door which opened a trap door underneath Porco and Pieck sending them crashing down far enough to where they were unable to climb out.

Down in the basement under the stage, Falco was getting concerned. He couldn't figure out what was going on and why Reiner seemed so scared. Falco remembers Mr. Kruger saying that he was old friends with Reiner.

"Wait, old friend? Like, how many years ago?" Falco whispered to himself.

Then Falco realized that if they met more than four years ago, then they probably met on Paradis Island. Falco stared at Mr. Kruger, now terrified, and feeling guilty for the position he put Reiner in.

"Now then, the story I've told thus far is common knowledge. However, the truth is somewhat different. In passing down the War Hammer Titan, the Tybur family inherited its memories. I will now reveal the truths we learned for the first time ever. The one who ended the fighting and saved the world...was King Fritz. He anguished over the Eldian Empire's vicious history. When he inherited the Founding Titan, he schemed with the Tybur family, and they fabricated a Marleyan hero. His name was Helos. The King moved as many Eldians as he could to the island and closed the gates. He claimed that if they were threatened thousands of Titans would be unleashed as revenge. However, this was never his intention. King Fritz made a vow renouncing war so his ideology would be inherited, and the Titans have never left the island to attack. That is, the one keeping our world safe is the 'vile' King of the walls—Karl Fritz, and his desire for peace. He believed the sins of the Eldians were so grave, they could never be atoned for. He said, 'However, until that day of retribution, let me savor a brief paradise, free of conflict within the walls. That is all I ask of you.' "

Everyone in the crowd, particularly Gabi, looked around confused. The silent murmur of people unable to understand, could be heard as they brought up questions amongst themselves.

"If the King of the walls won't attack, why do they say Paradis Island is a threat?"

"Yes, in exchange for our safety. We're no more than traitors lavishing in crookedly earned honor. The reason that I stand here and willingly part with this sham is because I know our world is in great peril."

"The Warriors and soldiers sent to get them are missing", a confused soldier of the roof with Magath explained.

"Has it begun?" Magath muttered, staring at the stage and at Willy.

Down in the trap hole, Porco and Pieck dusted themselves off and examined the pit.

"Must be a pit to restrain Warriors", Pieck realized.

"You're right. We'd be squashed to death. Why'd that scrawny soldier even do it?" Porco asked.

"I don't know. But I feel like I've seen them before..." Pieck began thinking to herself.

"Using the power of the Founding Titan, Karl Fritz erected three walls. These walls, formed by tens of millions of Colossal Titans, became his Paradise. But recently, an uprising took place on Paradis Island. King Fritz's peace was undermined by a person who stole the Founding Titan. Once again, there's a threat to our world—a rebel against peace!"

Eren untied the knot in his left pants leg where his leg was missing, and his leg began to regenerate as well as his left eye. Falco watched in horror realizing exactly who Mr. Kruger was.

"His name: Eren Jaeger!"

"Y-You tricked me...And here I respected you!" Falco chimed in feeling betrayed.

"The letters! The ones you had me send! What were they!?" Falco blurted out which caught the immediate attention of Reiner.

"They didn't reach my family, but they did reach my comrades. Reiner, do you remember Commander Erwin?" Eren asked, looking down at his fully regenerated foot and rolling his pant leg down.

Reiner's eyes widened while Falco, with his back against the wall, began sinking down towards the ground as his body grew numb in defeat.

"No way! You're kidding!" Falco exclaimed. "What have I done?"

"Erwin's...here?" Reiner muttered to himself.

"The threat of Paradis Island is the stampede of millions of Colossal Titans—a rumbling! As I mentioned, the vow renouncing war prevents the King's bloodline from starting the rumbling. But currently, this Eren Jaeger, who possesses the Founding Titan is not part of the King's bloodline. Once the rumbling is set into motion, there is nothing that we can do. Nothing but tremble at the footsteps of doom, fleeing in vain. All lands and civilizations will be trampled, literally razed to the ground."

"That's right", Eren spoke up. "It's like Willy says—I'm the bad guy. I might destroy the world. But to me, you were the bad guys, too. That day, when the wall was destroyed and Titans invaded my hometown...Why, Reiner? Why was my mom eaten by a Titan?"

"Because...on that day, we broke the wall", Reiner answered silently.

"What was your mission?" Eren asked.

"To retake the Founding Titan and save the world", Reiner replied.

"I see...If it was to save the world, you didn't have much choice then", Eren added.

"I'll make you guys suffer in the worst way possible", Reiner quoted Eren from long ago. "Isn't that why you came?"

"Oh, I vaguely remember saying that", Eren responded, scratching his chin.

"Huh?" Reiner asked.

"Just forget it", Eren said with a sigh. "I lived with these people. They aren't bad people. I learned from a lot of them and even shared meals with them. Reiner...I'm the same as you."

Reiner and Falco stared at Eren.

"Across the sea, within the walls...It's all the same. But you guys were taught everyone in the walls was a devil. You were children who knew nothing, but it was drilled into you. You were just kids. What could you even do? Right, Reiner? Hasn't that been eating away at you?" Eren questioned.

Reiner dropped from his chair onto his knees in front of Eren and bowing his head down.

"No! You're wrong, Eren!" Reiner exclaimed, tears filling his eyes. "That day, when Marcel was eaten, Annie and Bertholdt tried to turn back and end the mission. But I...I talked them into it and made them go on! I wanted to be a hero! I wanted people's respect! It's my fault! Your mom was eaten by a Titan because of me!"

"But I do not wish to die. And that is because I was born into this world. However, it is time to join as one and face this dreadful enemy! Lend me your strength, those of you who wish to live! Those of you who wish for a future!"

The audience rose to their feet and there was a roaring applause.

"If we work together, we can overcome any obstacle in our way! I want you to join me in the fight against the devils of Paradis Island!"

Eren stood up and reached his hand down for Reiner, helping him up.

"I think we were born this way", Eren added.

"Here and now, as representative of the Marleyan government, I proclaim..."

"I keep moving forward", Eren eerily added. "Until I destroy my enemies."

Eren's hand began to spark electricity and he was still holding Reiner's hand. The yellow light filled the room and wind was sent from the energy, making Eren's long brown hair flow. Reiner, panicked, and began to turn concerned for Falco's safety. Reiner knew that Eren was transforming.

Reiner released Eren's hand and opened his arms out, running to Falco. Eventually a yellow explosion blows out the door to the basement and wreckage from Eren's Titan transformation could be seen from the windows of the floors he would pass as he grew in height.

"To the enemy forces of Paradis—a declaration of war!"

Eren busted out from the ceiling, destroying the building, and roaring like a ferocious monster. He immediately grabbed Willy and tossed him into the air after crushing his body. Then Eren ate Willy and turned to the horrified faces of the innocent people in the stands.

ACT IV: "Adapt/Change" CHAPTER 10: Massacre in Liberio Part 1 - 2358

Immediately the huge crowd began running for their lives. The sounds of screaming from women and children could be heard as well as a few men. The ground beneath the stands began to shake as the stampede of people rushed to safety. However, due to how terrified everyone was, people were pushed and shoved, some to the floor. And the stampede wasted no time trampling those unfortunate people. Some were crushed under heavy concrete debris from the destruction of the stage.

Eren turned towards the stands with Marleyan soldiers. The general however, wearing his red sash across his torso, sat completely still while other soldiers fled. Eren launched himself into a full sprint and dived into the stand directly on top of the general, crushing his body instantly.

Eren continued to slam his fist into anyone he could, and body parts and blood began painting the ground followed by clouds of dust.

"Get up, Gabi! Udo!" Colt called out.

Gabi was on the ground, dazed and confused, and she turned to the side. "Sophia?"

"Sophia!" Udo called out but he was held back by Colt.

The three of them saw the bottom half of Sophia's body, her legs. She was crushed by one of the concrete pieces of debris that were sent into the stands. They quickly realized that she was dead, besides Udo, who ran to his comrade trying to lift the heavy piece of concrete off of her.

"Hurry! We have to lift this!" Udo called out to Colt and Gabi.

Udo was pushed onto the ground by people who were running to escape the carnage. As the crowd approached Colt and Gabi, Colt grabbed Gabi and rolled out of the way from being trampled, hiding behind debris. When they recovered, they looked up to see the mob of people running by them.

Lara Tybur, Willy's sister, stood in the wreckage by the stage, holding her side with blood trinkling down her face. She watched as Eren was pounded and smashing completely innocent civilians.

"Brother...You fulfilled the Tyburs' duty admirably", Lara uttered.

Then a bright yellow glow flashed from Lara's body as well as electricity, as she activated her War Hammer Titan form. Eren turned to see the Titan being materialized from the body up and he wasted no time slamming his fist with hardened knuckles into Lara's not fully developed Titan face.

Now Eren was on top of Lara, repeatedly throwing fists again and again into her face, trying to smash through her nape.

"Commander! The War Hammer is getting wrecked!" a soldier on the rooftop across form the stage cried out to Magath.

The soldiers began talking over each other, trying to figure out what their next move should be since they lost communication with the other Warriors. However, Magath, without saying a word, lifted up his rifle and took aim at Eren's back and fired one round.

"It seems Eren Jaeger has come in person. Saves us a trip to the Island. Everyone, prepare for battle!" Magath cried out to his men.

The shot obviously didn't harm Eren, and he continued to punch again and again at Lara's head, doing serious damage since she was unable to completely transform.

Lara did have a trick up her sleeve though. Her eyes gleamed for an instant, and a pointed spire made of hardened material shot upwards piercing Eren's torso and sending him into the air, where he was stuck.

Debris from the newly formed spire sent heavy rocks from the earth into the air and one of them smashed into a couple, a very drunk man and his wife who was trying to get him to evacuate.

Lara, now able to complete her transformation, rose to one knee as she began trying to stand.

"Remember it, people. I'm the one who took the first shot", Magath explained to his frightened men, easing their anxiety.

Meanwhile, in the streets, Colt was holding Udo's body who had been severely trampled and running with Gabi. There were many dead bodies that they passed. Some crushed by rocks and some killed by the stampede of people. It was a horrific sight.

"How is Udo?" Gabi asked Colt as she ran.

"Not good. He needs a hospital", Colt explained, taking a look at Udo's face, and seeing the life slowly leaving his body. "We need to hurry!"

"I think we're almost there!" Gabi replied.

"Shit! Falco! Where are you!?" Colt cried out.

"You're late", Pieck called up to the top of the hole where her Panzer Unit was standing, looking down at them.

"Pieck!" one of the men called out. "You, okay?"

Pieck turned to Porco. "I told 'em to follow since that tall soldier was shady."

"Oh, back then? In the streets?" Porco realized. "Very clever."

After the Panzer Unit freed Pieck and Porco from the hole, they ran outside.

"A Titan attacked during the speech!" one of the men explained.

"Where's the Cart's gear?" Pieck asked her unit.

"At HQ! We'll have it ready in 15!" a Panzer Unit member stated.

"Make it 10! This is an emergency!" Pieck ordered.

The men saluted Pieck and ran off to headquarters. Porco was about to run off when Pieck stopped him.

"Wait, Porco. Before you rush in..." Pieck started to say, however the sound of gas and wires begin shot, concerned the both of them. They both looked up to the dark sky.

"What the hell!?" Porco blurted out.

"You're kidding! There's no way!" Pieck exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Lara stood with her fully formed face which seemed to be mostly covered with white hardened skin like the rest of her body. She looked up to the defense Eren, hanging on the spire like a marshmallow being roasted by a campfire on a stick. Lara opened one hand and a bright ball of energy formed into a long handled War Hammer.

Lara pulled the War Hammer back, preparing to swing and twisted her torso with full strength sending the hammer at Eren, but with some quick thinking, Eren punched the spire which broke and allowed Eren to jump back away from the hammer swing.

Lara used her power again to create spikes underneath Eren's feet. And now caught off guard, soldiers from behind Eren began firing anti-Titan rounds which began piercing his body with ease, sending blood everywhere. Eren stopped and brought up both of his hands to protect his nape.

"We need to have the War Hammer eat it! We're here to ensure that happens!" Magath called out to his men as he watched.

"But I don't think the War Hammer is trying to eat it", one of his men replied, turning to watch Lara prepare another hammer swing.

Lara swung once more at Eren's head, but he blocked by putting his arms in front. His hands were smashed from his body because of the force from the hammer.

"It beat the Attack Titan!"

"The War Hammer wins!"

Eren's Titan form hunched over and from his nape, Eren's original body poked out. Eren sat in the neck of his Titan and stared into the eyes of Lara's Titan. And then, Lara raised her hammer one more time.

"It's really gonna finish him off!"

"Usurper, Eren Jaeger. Do you have any last words?" Lara bellowed, but Eren was unphased.

"Now or never, Mikasa", Eren uttered.

Suddenly, behind Lara was Mikasa, wearing a new Scout uniform which consisted mainly of black color. She threw her right hand forward, firing a barrage of thunder spears into Lara's neck. And as Mikasa swung passed Lara, the wires snapped, activating the explosion. Mikasa landed beside Eren on his Titan and looked down to him.

Meanwhile, behind the men who were stationed on the rooftop appeared more scouts with more thunder spears. They launched them into the Marleyan soldiers, blowing them to pieces of flesh and misty blood.

"You guys actually came? Well, of course Erwin would come", Eren muttered to Mikasa.

"Eren, please...Come home", Mikasa replied.

Battleships with 30,000 soldiers began cruising to Marley's port for assistance.

Magath's troops were forced into a building to avoid the Scouts. Soldiers attempted to shoot out of the windows at the Scouts who seemed to be flying to the Marleyans who had no idea about their 3D Maneuvering Gear.

"Have fun while it lasts. There's no future for you now", Magath said under his breath, holding his rifle tightly. "The whole world will see the Eldian Empire as a threat, just like Willy planned."

The sound of a metallic grenade bouncing into the room caught the attention of one soldier. However, it exploded but luckily Magath escaped the blast.

"Shoot them down!" a Marleyan soldier cried out on the roof. "They're just swinging!"

That soldier was hit in the back by an anchor which was fired from newer technology that pulled the soldier off of the roof.

"What part of keeping civilian casualties to a minimum don't you get, Floch!?" Jean growled.

"The only thing here are enemies and places they live!" Floch replied. "Did you forget how they massacred humanity inside the walls!?"

"You're still saying that?" Jean asked.

"Look. Eren's telling us something—to fight!" Floch pointed out. "Erwin is becoming softer. What we need is a devil like Eren!"

Mikasa put her hand on Eren's shoulder.

"You killed civilians. You killed children, too. You've done things that can't be undone. You know Armin would've been against this", Mikasa crouched down beside Eren.

"Armin's no longer here, Mikasa. He was killed by Bertholdt, remember?" Eren turned to her. His eyes glowing red again.

Lara was beginning to regenerate.

"Impossible! I blew away its nape!" Mikasa exclaimed.

"And I smashed it's head to smithereens and yet its still moving", Eren watched Lara as another white orb of energy in her hands created a crossbow.

Lara fired a bolt towards Eren and Mikasa, but she shot an anchor to a nearby building and took Eren to a rooftop.

"The War Hammer Titan...It uses hardening to make whatever it needs", Eren stated after observing. "That must be why it won't die, no matter what we do."

Eren had a plan.

"Mikasa, get its attention. If this works, I can eat the War Hammer", Eren explained.

At the hospital, Colt and Gabi finally arrived with Udo, but the doctors stated that they were full, and they were unable to help Udo. Colt placed Udo on a stretcher softly.

"Gabi, stay with your family", Colt instructed. "I'm not sure if any where's safe. Get as far from the plaza as possible."

However, Gabi, filled with rage ran off back towards the battlefield.

"Wait, Gabi! Don't!" Colt called out as she ran away.

Trucks filled with soldiers being sent to combat passed Gabi as she ran.

"Hey, stop! You're headed towards a war zone!" a soldier commanded Gabi.

"Mr. Gate Guard! I'll fight, so let me through!" Gabi seemed determined to join the fight.

The Gate Guard grabbed Gabi by her shoulders.

"Don't be an idiot, brat! You head back home and..." however, he was interrupted when a few Scouts overhead fired explosives destroying the trucks which had been driving through.

Then the Gate Guard was shot through his head sending blood into Gabi's face as the man's lifeless body fell to the ground. Gabi panted heavily for a moment before reaching down and grabbing a rifle from the ground. She looked to the rooftop where the shot had come from and watched as a girl with brown hair pulled her own rifle away from Gabi, since she was a child.

On that rooftop, Sasha turned to Conny who just landed next to her.

"Conny, did you forget about the lights?" Sasha asked, holding up a device which emitted a cool blue color.

"Right", Conny replied.

The two of them placed the lights onto the rooftops and spaced them apart. And then they both rendezvoused with Jean on his rooftop with Floch.

"Jean, we stalled the reinforcements", Conny explained to Jean, who nodded.

Back on the battlefield, Mikasa was in motion, firing more thunder spears at Lara's knee and detonating them. She whizzed passed Lara and fired another thunder spear directly into her eye. This knocked Lara back, falling down onto the floor and exposing a cord that connected to the War Hammer Titan.

"I knew something felt off to me", Eren noticed the cord. "And that's because its body formed from the feet up. She's not in the nape. She's underneath the stage."

Eren leapt from the rooftop where Mikasa left him, and a bright yellow light revealed that Eren was in a new Titan body. Eren immediately went for the cord which was going into the ground. After digging through the ground, he pulled out Lara Tybur, encased in a hardened crystal similar to Annie, except she had her eyes opened. Eren ripped the cord from the crystal, which deactivated the War Hammer Titan's body sending it to the ground, unresponsive.

Magath watched from a distance. "Shit! The War Hammer is about to be eaten!"

Eren brought the crystal to his mouth and opened wide, however, behind him was Porco in his Jaw Titan form, ready to pounce on Eren.

"I've been waiting for this moment! I'm retaking the Founding Titan!" Porco exclaimed.

Porco leapt forward and grabbed Eren's head and shoulder, creating an opening for Eren's nape. Porco leaned forward to bite Eren when suddenly another Scout whizzed by and slashed Porco's jaw making him unable to bite into Eren.

"What!? I can't bite!" Porco shouted.

On the ground before him, was Levi, using blades instead of the newer thunder spear technology.

"Was that him? Is that...Ackermann?!" Porco blurted out.

Eren noticed that Porco couldn't bite and used this opportunity to throw himself back into a building, smashing Porco. Porco struggled to climb up but was set crashing to the streets after a thunder spear shot him from the air. Then several Scouts all came to converge on Porco.

"You're kidding! Can't you see I'm a Titan?!" Porco let out a frightened cry. "These guys are just humans, yet they're coming to kill me?!"

"These guys...They're the Devils of Paradis!"

CHAPTER 11: Massacre in Liberio Part 2 – 2682

In the distance, the Cart Titan and Panzer Unit set up and the soldiers began firing automatic heavy rounds to the Scouts, the bullets velocity completely shred through their bodies.

"Behind us! Retreat! Retreat!"

The Scouts reacted to the fire from their flanks by finding cover quickly. When they had a shot, they would risk firing back with their pistols, but the Panzer Unit was in a heavy duty metal turret.

"The Cart Titan!" Jean realized.

"Pieck!" Porco called out on the ground still. She had saved him.

"Guess I made it in time", Pieck replied. "Like I thought, my machine gun gear is perfect against their soldiers."

Back in the plaza, Eren looked down at the hardened crystal he was holding containing Lara, and her eyes widened, activating her War Hammer's ability to create another giant spire to send Eren into the air, but Eren blocked by hardening his forearm.

Then, the thunderous sound of heavy footsteps could be heard. It was the furry Beast Titan form of Zeke. Levi turned to see Zeke coming from over his shoulder.

"That's him all right...The Beast Titan!" Jean called out, remembering him from their last encounter.

"Zeke!" Porco yelled out relieved.

Meanwhile Gabi was continuing to run towards the battlefield, rifle in hand.

"I'm gonna kill you, Eren Jaeger!" Gabi screamed.

Eren turned to look at Zeke, noticing the Jaw Titan and Cart Titan regroup with him.

"Let none escape. Kill 'em all", Zeke ordered.

"Don't die on me. Survive!" Levi barked to his troops and shot an anchor out from his gear to fling him into battle with Zeke.

Behind the plaza and coming from the ground was an armored flesh cage, which Reiner had used to protect Falco when Eren transformed. Falco looked around confused as he witnessed Zeke in his Beast Titan form fighting along with Porco and Pieck. The Scouts that flew around frightened him as he's never seen such technology before.

Scouts were swinging around both Zeke and Pieck. Meanwhile, Mikasa tried firing a thunder spear at the hardened crystal that Eren was holding but the explosion didn't even scratch it. Falco looked over to see Eren on top of a hardened spire.

"Is that...? No way...Mr. Kruger?! No...Eren Jaeger!" Falco muttered to himself, realizing the current situation.

Falco turned, remembering Reiner who must've saved him. He turned quickly and ran to Reiner, who was in the center of the armored flesh cage and unresponsive.

"Vice Chief, I'm sorry! It's all my fault!" Falco exclaimed. "Huh?"

Reiner was completely still, and his eyes were closed.

"Wait a minute. He's unconscious, but his body should heal itself with the Power of the Titans", Falco was trying to figure out why Reiner wasn't moving. "That is, as long as he has the will to live, but..."

Falco remember earlier when Reiner was on his knees asking Eren to kill him.

"There's more than just enemies out there", Falco calmly said. "There's me, Gabi, the others...We're all on your side. Just hang in there, Vice Chief."

Meanwhile back in the streets, Scouts were flying through alleys using their maneuvering gear. But suddenly, troops who were flying next to Jean were immediately turned into fleshy paste when the Cart Titan's Panzer Unit opened fire.

"Protect the war chief's rear!" Pieck called out to Marleyan troops.

Porco heard Pieck's call and leapt behind a Scout and slashed his body to pieces like wax paper.

"Galliard, you're a life saver!" a Marleyan soldier praised Porco for saving him.

"Be careful! I'm not sure where Ackermann is! He's hiding somewhere! I know it!" Porco called back to the troops.

"Porco! The War Hammer!" Pieck cried out, focusing back to the plaza where Eren had Lara.

Eren tried biting down on the hardened shell, but it remained unphased while Eren's teeth were broken. He examined the color of the material and remembering from years ago, Annie used the same insanely durable crystallization. His teeth were going to be completely useless. He needed to find a way to crack through the hardening.

"But you're completely worn out now, and you've got no more moves to play", Eren muttered out loud.

Eren hopped out of his Titan form and into a new Attack Titan form. His stamina for transforming had been developed under the strict training of Erwin, Hange, and Levi, making him a very fearsome opponent.

"Shit! After all that, the bastard still has more fight in him?" Porco yelled out, watching the yellow light shine and dim in the plaza. "But if we get him, the Founder..."

"What are you afraid of Porco?" Pieck asked from her growly Cart Titan. "We're the ones controlling the battlefield. They're being driven into a corner. The Marley Army has surrounded the zone by now, so there's no escape. For starters, Paradis can't compete against Marley in a real war anyways."

"But if we take out the Founder right here and now, they can't do the rumbling!" Porco explained.

"Right now, just focus on protecting the war chief from Ackermann", Pieck commanded Porco.

"That's Pieck for you!" Zeke prepared his signature debris baseball pitch. "Precisely!"

Zeke's debris shot out like a shotgun blast, sending shrapnel throughout the entire battlefield claiming the lives of some Scouts, but not all.

"Eren Jaeger...is not my enemy", Zeke stated. "Show yourself, Levi."

Over on the Marleyan supported side of the city, Falco finally found Commander Magath. He felt he urgently needed to tell him about Reiner.

"Commander! Back in the venue—" Falco began. "Um, Vice Chief Braun is underground behind the stage and isn't moving!"

And just then behind them, Gabi arrived, out of breath and showing a very angry expression on her face.

Over by the docks, sailors were trying to organize the docking of the boats in order to dismount their many soldiers sent as reinforcements. Many heavy machinery was being moved around as well as the men worked.

"Hurry and dock! We need soldiers at Liberio on the double!" one sailor barked.

A small boat began drifting to the side of a bigger Marleyan battleship. One sailor above noticed and tried calling down to it.

"Hey! Get your ship outta here! Can't you see the fleet?"

Once the boat got closer, it was revealed to be Commander Erwin, after he removed his cloak. Electricity began to spark all around his body.

"Was it worth it, Eren?"

The deafening silence was broken with the sound of a very high energy explosion that sent shockwaves into the city of Liberio and could be seen for miles. The massive explosion also sent all of the navy battleships into the air. And as the smoke cleared, Erwin, the Colossal Titan stood, towering over everyone.

"Battle...ships?" Gabi stammered.

"Snap out of it! Get the hell out of here!" Magath was shouting into Gabi's ear and shaking her shoulders. Gabi and Falco's gaze were locked on the bright flame that painted the sky orange. Was this war?

"But Commander Magath..."

"It's the port. The only one who can do that—" Magath was interrupted by the shockwave blast that was sent from the explosion, making its way throughout the entire city to reach them from the port. The three of them were knocked to the ground by the wind.

"The Colossal Titan!" Pieck exclaimed. "The Titan they stole from Bertholdt!"

"Those little shits!" Porco shouted. "Guess they didn't barge in here without a plan after all! If you lose the Founder, then your plans mean jack shit!"

Porco charged for Eren but was quickly noticed by Mikasa, who leapt from Eren's shoulder towards the Jaw Titan.

"The other Ackermann!? Get outta my way!" Porco roared.

The two clashed, and just when they did, suddenly the nape on the back of Zeke's neck was sliced open.

"War Chief! Here comes their attack!" Pieck declares. But she suddenly realizes that the huge Beast Titan was now falling to the ground.

Levi landed on top of the hole in Zeke's neck after the Titan hit the ground in front of Magath, Gabi, and Falco. He pulled out a grenade and threw it at the trio after removing its pin. Magath covered the children as the explosive detonated.

Porco turned, noticing the flank Levi did on Zeke.

"Pieck! They're coming!" yelled a gunner.

Scouts began circling the very defensive Cart Titan which turned its body as the Panzer Unit controlled and fired the machine at the airborne Scouts.

Sasha slid off to a blind spot and pulled up her rifle. She took aim at the tiny opening in the Panzer Unit gunner area. She fired and soon after, the machine gun stopped firing. Sasha hit the soldier dead in the center of his forehead.

"Hey! Say something! Carlo!" another Panzer Unit member called out to the now deceased one.

Pieck turned and spotted Sasha, who was staring straight at her. Pieck leapt forward and began charging at Sasha.

"You'll pay for that!" Pieck barked.

But right behind Sasha, Jean popped on the rooftop from below, ready to fire a thunder spear point blank.

"This is for last time", Jean mentions, referring to the fight in Shiganshina when Pieck tried killing Hange and then recapturing Reiner.

Jean's thunder spears made contact with the Heavy Duty Panzer armor. And with his opening, more Scouts unloaded a barrage of thunder spears into the back of the Cart Titan. The bodies of the members of the Panzer Unit crew were burned alive, unable to escape their fiery iron prison.

"Guys!" Pieck cried out, tears falling down her human face as she was pummeled with explosions off of the rooftop onto the ground, next to Magath, Gabi, and Falco, weakened.

"Pieck!" Magath called out after witnessing the mangled face and body of the Cart Titan.

Near the coast, the ground was scorched. There were debris of rocks and cement and steel flung everywhere into the city. Many bodies of dead men, women, and children filled the streets and their homes. All below, the Colossal Titan, Commander Erwin. He looked around at all of the death and destruction and began to picture his father.

"Father...is this what you wanted me to learn? Is Eren really the savior of humanity?" Erwin had pulled his body out of his nape. He closed his eyes and could faintly feel the memories of Bertholdt, but they would flicker in and out.

Back on the streets, Falco jumps in front of Pieck's battered body, defenseless, as Jean swings in to finish the job.

"Don't shoot! Please stop!" Falco cried out at the top of his lungs.

Jean hesitated for a split second, which was enough time for Pieck to use her stream to knock off the path of the thunder spear fired by Jean. The steam also pushed Falco onto the ground.

"Shit! It missed!? Was it because of the steam, or...?" Jean began questioning his abilities in combat again. "Is it...my fault it missed!?"

Pieck's body removed itself from the Cart Titan's nape and her body was severely wounded. Jean flew past but did not return.

"Pieck!" Falco called out to her unresponsive body.

Magath fired his rifle and hit a Scout who let his guard down.

"Protect Pieck!" Magath ordered.

Jean tried warning his comrades while dodging rifle fire himself.

"Look out! Stay back!" Jean called out.

Gabi and Falco held up Pieck's body and dragged her to a building while Magath provided cover fire, backing up with them to the door.

"This way! Hurry!" Magath ordered the cadets.

"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Damn you!" Porco yelled in frustration as he galloped his way over to Eren, enraged with the Devil of Paradis.

Porco leapt into the air with an overhead attack, but Eren countered with a quick strike to the face with his fist. However, Porco bites down on his free hand, and twists his body while his legs had a hold on Eren's arm. Then Porco crawled around Eren's body, delivering multiple slashes as he did through Eren's flesh. One of the slashes were parried, by Eren using his other hand which held the crystal shell, and the slash left four distinct cuts in the crystal.

Porco leapt away from Eren and crawled towards the old spire tree created by the War Hammer Titan earlier on in the fight and sat perched and waiting.

"So fast! Ymir's Jaw was nothing like this", Eren thought to himself. He looked down at the crystal however and noticed the claw marks in the crystal. "So, this is the Jaw's power?"

In the building where Magath led the kids with Pieck, they set her body down and she had blood all over her uniform.

"It's awful. Her body can't heal fast enough", Falco realized.

"But she's a Titan, so why?" Gabi asked.

"Unlike the Armored Titan, the Cart isn't exactly known for its toughness", Magath explained.

"Hold on, I'm thinking we should leave Reiner out of this!" Falco exclaimed.

"Wait, what are you saying, Falco?" Gabi asked him, then turned and walked to the door.

"Hey Gabi! Stay away from the window! The enemy will see you!" Falco called out to her.

"Huh?"

Incoming, there was a dark airship flying into the city, following the lights the Scouts aligned to guide the massive aircraft. However, the captain of this ship was a familiar female voice.

"Thank goodness. So far, this operation is going according to Erwin's plan", Hange declared. She was starting to doubt Erwin's trust in Eren though, especially after how violent this alleged rescue ended up being. "We're counting on you to pilot this baby, Onyankopon!"

"Leave it to me, Hange!" Onyankopon confidently replied.

Erwin, now aboard, walked to the pilot controls where Hange and Onyankopon were.

"Any vision on Eren, yet?" Erwin asked.

"Not yet, sir. But we should be getting there any minute. Mikasa is supposed to bring him up", Hange explained. "We've got one shot at this, so any stragglers will be out of luck."

"I can't believe this had to get so bloody", Erwin muttered.

"Yeah...me neither", Hange said under her breath, looking at Erwin in the corner of her eye, which wasn't covered by her new eye patch.

Down below on a rooftop, Jean and Conny spotted the airship arriving, along with other Scouts.

"Look. Right on time", Jean announced.

"You guys think you're escaping on that? Not happening!" Porco exclaimed, spotting the airship as well. He charged forward but was caught off guard when Mikasa blitzed through and sliced Porco's feet off and sent him flying.

Porco crashed on the ground right before Eren, who immediately grabbed his head and then moved the crystal between his jaws. He held Porco's head above his own head and opened his jaw wide. Then, inside the crystal, Lara's eyes and Porco's eyes connected to the bloodlust of Eren's eyes. And then...

"Please! Stop! No!"

CRASH!

The crystal snapped open, and the jaws crushed the body of Lara Tybur. The Spinal fluid in her blood flowed out of the mouth of the Jaw Titan and into Eren's ready jaw. He gulped down all of the blood until there was none left.

"What happened?" Gabi asked Falco and Magath.

"The War Hammer Titan was eaten. And it looks like the Jaw Titan is next", Magath explained.

Eren was repeatedly smashing the head of the Jaw Titan into the ground now.

"It can't be...Not Galliard, too", Magath placed his hand on his forehead, trying to make sense of the current situation they were in.

"No!" "—Huh?"

"Reiner!" Gabi pulled herself so her body stuck outside the window, and she screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping to get through to him.

"Help us!"

"Reiner!"

"...shut...up"

"Reiner!"

"Reiner!"

"Why won't you guys..."

Eren prepared to bite into the nape of the defeated Jaw Titan, who's body was unresponsive and limp.

However, a bright yellow light with sparkling electricity exploded behind him. Eren turned and tossed the Jaw Titan to the side to see that he was once again face to face with Reiner.

"...just let me..."

"...die in peace?"

CHAPTER 12: The Bullet of Vengeance - 2888

"Reiner!" Gabi called out from a window next to Falco. They both watched as Reiner had transformed and looked to be challenging Eren.

Eren, still holding the head of Porco's Jaw Titan, sprinted forward towards Reiner, who charged as well. Eren and Reiner both threw punches at each other, but Eren dodged Reiner's fist. Meanwhile, Eren's fist with hardened knuckles made contact with Reiner's face. Eren's punch sent Reiner crashing into the ground, sending dust over to Mikasa who was watching the fight.

Eren looked over to the fallen Armored Titan on the ground and noticed that he had grabbed the Jaw Titan away from him. Unfortunately, the fight had to end here. Eren backed out of the nape of his Attack Titan and was met by Mikasa.

"I've got no energy left", Eren announced to Mikasa. "Certainly not enough to finish off Reiner."

Reiner was lifting his head up, staring at Eren. His jaw was destroyed, and he looked weak since his normal armored plated was changed in his transformation, exposing more of his Titan flesh.

"I'll see you later, Reiner", Eren muttered, turning his back, and joining Mikasa.

Mikasa fired an anchor into the arm and held onto Eren as her body was pulled upward towards the airship.

"Protect the airship from the enemy!" Jean commanded the other Scouts who were swinging through the city.

Gabi, Falco, and Magath looked out the window and noticed that the enemies were retreating.

"They're running away..." Gabi murmured.

Gabi became filled with rage once more and left the window and the building and began running towards the airship holding her rifle tightly in her arms.

"Eren Jaeger!" Gabi yelled out.

"Gabi!" Falco called out to her. She didn't hear or didn't care so Falco ran off after her.

Meanwhile, the Scouts who were protecting the airship were swinging over the streets, shooting any enemies they could see with their pistol attachments.

Mikasa and Eren reached the airship, by hanging on to the edge. Erwin dropped to a knee and held out his hand to Eren, looking very disappointed but not saying a word. Eren, seemed not to care in the slightest and Mikasa was on his side. They entered the ship, and Erwin had to immediately arrest Eren.

"Eren..." Erwin stated. "Let's talk somewhere quiet."

"You should let me punish him, Erwin", Levi offered.

"There'd be no use, Levi. He'd just heal. And there are more pressing matters we should tend to", Erwin placed his hand on Levi's shoulder.

Erwin led Eren to the front of the ship, with Levi and Hange. Mikasa waited behind the door after they closed it.

"You look like you fell in a vat full of shit", Levi scoffed at Eren. He quickly kicked the wind out of Eren and sent his body crashing into a wall.

The sound alerted Mikasa, who reached for the handle, but stopped.

Eren picked himself up.

"Levi, stop", Erwin chimed in.

Levi was beginning to feel uneasy around Erwin. He watched as Erwin picked up Eren and escorted him into another private room. This left Hange and Levi alone with another prisoner who had a bag over his head.

"What do you think about the Commander, Hange? He's acting different", Levi spoke up.

"I've been noticing it too. I first noticed something different after we used the Titan Injection serum on him", Hange replied.

"Now that is interesting", a voice from behind a bagged head chimed in after eavesdropping.

"Quiet, damn you!" Levi yelled and prepared to kick him, but he was stopped by Hange.

"Leave him be, Levi", Hange began. "I need you to keep an eye on him while I go check on Onyankopon and see how the progress on the Scouts returning."

"Fine", Levi agreed reluctantly as Hange left the room.

Hange bumped into Mikasa, who had her ear to the door.

"Is Eren okay?" Mikasa quickly asked as she backed from the door.

Hange nodded. "He is for now. But this stunt he pulled...Erwin said that we were just coming here to pick up Eren and our prisoner. But he murdered so many innocent people and forced our hand to do the same, Mikasa. Erwin isn't a murderer. And it feels like Eren is changing him somehow."

"Eren doesn't have that power, Hange", Mikasa mentioned.

"True", Hange began before walking off. "I wonder what would've happened if we used the Titan Injection serum on Armin instead of Erwin."

Back outside, Scouts were still retreating but many had to protect the ship for those who were going back to the ship.

"You go too! I'll guard the rear", one Scout said to another. It seemed as though most Scouts have made it back to the airship.

"We're counting on you, Commander Lobov", the Scout said to the other, after sending his anchor to the airship and swinging away.

"I'm a new recruit and you know it!" Lobov called out to the other Scout, but he was too far away. "Tsk. Sarcastic prick! I don't need the Garrison anymore! Or those overpaid geezers!"

Lobov was crying out as he continued swinging through the streets, shooting at any enemy he could see.

Sasha leaned out the ship and pulled Jean in, next to Conny.

"Everyone make it?" Jean asked.

"We're still waiting on Squad Lima in the vanguard", Conny explained to Jean.

"I see. Damn it!" Jean cursed.

"Compare that to the losses the enemy suffered!" Floch stood tall and mentioned to Jean and the others.

"This is a major victory!"

"The new Eldian Empire has won its first battle!" Floch continued to cheer, even throwing his fist into the air. Behind him, a large crowd of Scouts did the same, cheering loudly.

"Jeez. How many more people do we have to kill?" Conny asked, as Sasha looked out the door of the airship.

Conny noticed the concerned look on Sasha and Jean's faces, so he walked over to them and placed his head between theirs, wrapping his arms around them tightly.

"I feel sorry for those other Scouts", Conny began. "But you guys are special to me."

"Don't hug people when you're covered in metal", Jean joked to break the ice and pulled himself away from Conny, standing back up. "Idiot."

"Oh yeah? An idiot is the kinda guy that feels the need to comb his three lonely chin hairs!" Conny argued back with his friend.

In the private room on the airship, Erwin sat Eren in a chair with his hands handcuffed in front of him.

"I know those cuffs can't bind you. So, I'm going to just come straight out and say it, what's going on, Eren?" Erwin asked, folding his arms.

Eren, however, remained silent.

"Eren, I need you to be on our side. I can't keep praising you as the hope for humanity if your actions are going to speak otherwise. The letters you sent; you never said anything about attacking innocent people", Erwin continued.

Eren tilted his head to the side.

"Who said I was on your side?"

Outside, Gabi continued to run chasing the airborne ship while Falco continued to catch up.

"Gabi! Wait!" Falco cried out.

Falco finally caught up to Gabi and placed his hand on her shoulder. Her rage subsided for a second and she stopped next to her friend.

"It's no use", Falco started.

"Sophia...Sophia's whole torso got crushed by flying debris", Gabi mentioned coldly. "I was sitting right next to her. Udo tried to save her, but he got trampled by everyone who was running away. So many people ran over him that they crushed his head. The two gate guards got mad at me. I'm an Eldian, but they still desperately wanted to keep me out of danger. And then they got shot dead by a woman on a rooftop. I've been working hard because I believe that one day this armband will be something that I can take pride in. Everyone here is precious to me. It's my home. And you're going to tell me not to run after them? We don't even know why all this happened!"

Falco stood silent for a moment. "It's because we attacked them first."

"Huh?"

"It's true. Marleyan warriors invaded their home and got their friends and family killed", Falco explained. "This is their revenge."

"Did...Did you see it happen?" Gabi asked.

"No...I didn't."

"I didn't either", Gabi pointed out. She held her rifle tightly once more. "Besides, those guys are island demons threatening to destroy the entire world. We all learned about that, didn't we?"

Falco looked shocked. But he knew that Gabi didn't hear what he heard from Eren himself. How Eren compared himself to Reiner just before attacking Liberio.

Gabi ran off.

"Great everyone made it. Message the control room!" Lobov cried out to the airship.

Gabi maneuvered through an alley, holding the rifle to her chest to fit through the tight spaces at her quick pace. She ran into a clearing in the middle of the street, where Lobov spotted her. Lobov aimed his pistol at her, but when she turned, he realized she was young.

"A child?" Lobov exclaimed, pulling his pistol back.

Gabi slid across the street on her back, and held her gun up, placing her cheek to the buttstock and looking through her sights which aligned with the airborne Lobov. As she slid, she fired and hit Lobov in the face, killing him instantly. His body fell but his anchor was still attached to the moving airship.

Gabi approached the lifeless man, noticing the wire going into the air.

"It's still connected", Gabi realized and looked up at the airship.

Falco ran out of the alley and spotted Gabi.

"Gabi!"

Falco approached Gabi who was removing the anchor from Lobov. She held the pistol which the anchor wire was attached to. After moving it slightly, she could see how the device worked.

"If I just pull this trigger..." Gabi began. She pulled the trigger, and immediately felt the force of the wire attempting to retract itself, which pulled her arm up.

"Gabi, you aren't gonna..." Falco uttered.

"I'll kill every last one of those island demons!" Gabi roared, her anger swelling once more.

"All you'll do is get yourself killed, stupid!" Falco replied concerned.

"Tell my mom, my dad, Reiner, and everyone else. Everyone will inherit my feelings. Because this is vengeance!"

"Falco! Gabi!" Colt finally found them, but he was too far away. He was sprinting towards them and noticed the wire.

"Colt..." Falco noticed, hearing his voice. Gabi, however, was hurrying to remove the dead body from his gear. But she decided to just keep the body attached.

"Well, this is goodbye, Falco", Gabi said. "You've always been a good person."

Falco looked her in the eyes, remembering Reiner's words.

"Save her from the grim fate we share..."

Gabi pulled the trigger once more and she was lifted off the ground along with Lobov's body. Falco ran for her and reached his hand out.

"No! Falco!" Colt cried out.

Falco had managed to grab ahold of Gabi and was joining her path of vengeance to save her from the darkness within herself.

"Falco!?" Gabi cried after looking down and seeing Falco.

"The next Armored Titan is going to be me!" Falco barked, confidently.

"What?" Gabi replied.

Inside the airship, the sound of a mild bump could be heard, but the Scouts inside the ship were all talking loudly. Sasha, however, turned towards the open door.

"I heard something just now. Is everyone back?" Sasha asked Jean.

"Hey! Keep it down, guys!" Jean barked, walking towards Floch and the others.

"We've won!" they all cheered.

Back in the private room, Erwin held Eren's shoulders and was shaking him.

"What is the Red War, Eren!?" Erwin yelled.

"You should probably help Sasha, Commander", Eren grinned.

Erwin picked up Eren from the chair and moved back into the room with Levi and Hange, who had returned.

"Everything ok, Commander?" Hange asked, noticing them enter the room once more.

"Hange, bring Sasha in here right away!" Erwin commanded.

"But why?" Hange seemed concerned. Hange and Levi both looked to Eren, and his eyes went from glowing red back the green, a detail they picked up but paid no mind to it.

BANG!

Hange and Levi looked to one another. Erwin ran past them and to the door where the Scouts were. In the room, the Scouts all circled Sasha's body which laid on the floor, bleeding from a large hole in her torso. Across from her was Gabi and Falco.

A few of the Scouts began beating the children into the floor until Erwin stopped them.

"Enough! Bring her and someone tend to Sasha's wounds!" Erwin commanded.

Gabi's eyes turned to Erwin and her face was filled with rage.

Floch brought Gabi and Falco into the separate wing with Erwin. Inside the room was Hange, Levi, Eren, and after the removal of a bag over his head, Zeke.

"War Chief Zeke?" Both Gabi and Falco exclaimed together.

Meanwhile, back in Liberio, Magath came to check on Pieck. She was with another soldier, who was tending to her on the floor.

"The other two both ran off a while ago, and they haven't returned", the soldier briefed Magath.

"Pieck..." Magath said under his breath, finally seeing the extent of her damages and growing worried.

"I'll be fine, Commander", Pieck began. "I saw one of their soldiers three years ago. The one who trapped Porco and I before this whole attack happened. I remember that soldier after Reiner returned from Paradis Island. That horrible beard they wore is what got me thinking about it..."

"How did you recognize this soldier?" Magath asked Pieck.

"Because they were a devote follower of Zeke", Pieck revealed.

"Get your filthy hands off me, you demon!" Gabi growled at Floch, who held both Gabi and Falco by their arms in front of Zeke. "War Chief! Have you been captured too? Let's fight these guys and get outta here!"

Yelena, the soldier who trapped Pieck and Porco, finally removed her beard. "My, this is an interesting development."

"Where'd these kids come from?" Levi asked.

"They managed to use one of our anchors to board the ship. This girl shot Sasha", Floch explained.

Erwin turned to look at Eren who seemed to be looking at the ground.

"She...isn't going to make it", Jean revealed, who walked in with Floch.

Mikasa's eyes widened as she ran out of the room to Sasha and began trying to help Conny resuscitate her.

"So...did this all happen according to plan, Zeke Jaeger?" Erwin approached Zeke.

"For the most part yes", Zeke muttered. "But there were a few miscalculations."

"Wait...Mr. Zeke?" Gabi uttered. Both Gabi and Falco's eyes widened. They seemed confused because Zeke and the enemy were being so formal together.

Jean grabbed Yelena's collar violently.

"Yelena! You were supposed to restrain the Jaw and the Cart!" Jean yelled.

"I am sorry. I did drop them in the hole I prepared", Yelena replied as Jean loosened his grip and eventually let go.

"Well, it was quite the performance for the monkey", Levi jeered, looking down at Zeke.

"Don't look at me like that, Levi", Zeke replied with a sharp tone. "You're quite the actor yourself. I know you want to kill me."

"I'm the kind of guy who saves his favorite part of the meal for last. Don't worry", Levi replied. "I really want to savor the taste."

"We killed the leaders of the Marleyan army and destroyed their main fleet and their military port", Eren spoke coldly.

"Which wasn't the plan, Eren", Erwin chimed in.

The room fell silent as everyone watched Eren and Erwin stare each other down.

"You took advantage of the fact that the world was joining together and had planned on striking the island first", Erwin began. "So, you attack them first, and made yourself into a hostage so you could force us to make this attack."

Zeke looked to Eren. There was some sort of play being made right now and Zeke was starting to sense the difference in Eren's demeanor, however, he knew he needed Eren for his plan.

"What should we do, Erwin?" Levi asked.

"Keep him restrained for now. He is still the hope for humanity, but we will properly arrest him when we reach the island", Erwin explained. "I will make a report of this and deal with Premier Zachary. In the meantime, Zeke will remain in your custody."

"Have I lost trust in the one I predicted would save humanity...?"

"But now we have both the Founding Titan and a Titan with royal blood", Zeke explained. "All of these noble sacrifices will bring freedom to Eldia."

Zeke and Eren were both restrained next to one another, brothers with the same cold look of betrayal in their eyes.

Slowly, the door behind Jean and Floch opened, creaking slowly to reveal the distraught face of Conny.

"She's...gone."

"...Did Sasha say anything at the very end?" Eren asked.

"She said...'meat'..." Conny replied.

Eren began to chuckle, thinking back to all of the memories he had of Sasha.

Mikasa sat next to Sasha, tearing up.

"Sasha died because you dragged the Survey Corps into this", Jean explained to Eren.

Erwin stared at Eren.

"Can he...see the future!?"

ACT V: "Get Desire" CHAPTER 13: Volunteer for World Peace - 2513

[Some time before the Massacre of Liberio and after the Scouts found the Sea]

"I doubt this is something you want to hear, but just listen..."

"Captain! The team that went ashore hasn't made contact for two hours!" a Marleyan soldier on a battleship was running to his captain. It was dark on the docked ship.

"The island of devils defeated the Warrior unit", the captain explained.

But suddenly, the men were knocked off balance as their battleship began to rise from the waters. Under their ship, Eren in his Attack Titan form held the ship over his head and on his back. Some men, slip and fell, holding onto the railings.

"I-It's a devil!" the captain bellowed.

Eren walked with the ship back to the shore, and set the ship down, which knocked down the men once again. Over the hill, the loud sound of a female voice could be heard.

"Hello, friends from Marley! Welcome to Paradis Island!" Hange called out with her friendliest tone. "Come on down! I made some tea for us to enjoy!"

Levi held his blade pointed at the back of a man in a white Marleyan uniform with blonde hair and a terrified expression on his face.

"By the way", Hange pointed to the man. "We're already friends with this guest that arrived before you!"

Hange trotted over to the man and hugged him, which pushed him slightly closer to the blade and he gulped loudly. "Isn't that right, Nicolo!?"

"Captain! Forget about me and shoot these devils!" Nicolo shrieked.

"Wait—what are you saying, Nicolo!?" Hange blurted out.

"Captain!"

"I think he's tired of your shitty skit", Levi suggested.

"Nicolo! Understand this, you devils! Marley doesn't mingle with filthy blood!" the captain yelled back. "Go drink your pig piss with your filthy friends!"

"Aww! Hey! You sure you wanna be rude to us!?" Hange barked. "Can't you see the Titan behind you!?"

The men on the ship turned to see Eren, towering over them with glowing green eyes.

The captain ran back to the front of the ship, aiming his rifle to the hill. "We'll never yield to you devils! Say hello to this!"

BANG!

The captain laid dead on the floor with a bullet hole in the side of his head. Yelena was the one to pull the trigger.

"Hands up, Yelena!" a soldier ordered a tall woman, pointing his gun at her.

The rest of the soldiers watched, confused. And then, soldiers turned to point guns at each other.

"Drop your weapons", Yelena turned to point her gun.

"What are you—" the soldier turned to see he had a gun on his back by a soldier behind him.

"Do as she says", the soldier replied.

"Hange, I'd be happy to accept your invitation", Yelena replied, turning to Hange, and bowing while removing her helmet. "Let's have tea."

Erwin revealed himself. "Yelena, is it?"

"Oh, with ears that good you must be the leader", Yelena grinned, turning to Eren's massive Titan form. "I've longed to meet you, Eren."

Jean, Conny, and Sasha watched from a short distance. Eren, Mikasa and Floch were nearby as well while Erwin and the other two captains talked with Yelena and her forces in tents that the Scouts had set up waiting for their arrival.

"Wonder what her goal is?" Conny asked.

"Who knows? Whether friend or foe, she's not to be trusted", Jean replied.

"This isn't naptime, Sasha", Mikasa lifted up Sasha's head by her hair and she jumped awake.

"We've been really lucky. If Marley comes in force, we'll be screwed", Eren mentioned. "We've gotta do something. Next to Eren was an image of Armin, who looked disappointed in Eren, but only Eren could see him.

Inside the tent, Hange was playing with a Marleyan pistol, admiring its technology.

"Ah, I see! That's how it shoots a bunch!" Hange exclaimed, surprised.

"That's standard-issue in Marley", Yelena explained to Hange.

"What else does Marley have that we should know about?" Erwin asked, looking at another pistol.

"The Marley Army has 20,000 soldiers per division. With 50 divisions, that's about 1,000,000 soldiers' total. There's also the navy with three fleets, each comprised of 21 battleships. They've also made tremendous progress in new weapons and aerial warfare as well", Yelena detailed, sitting next to Onyankopon at a table drinking tea. Across from them was Erwin with Hange and Levi at his sides.

"Aerial...?" Hange began.

"Don't freak out or they'll think we're weak", Levi muttered under his breath.

"Ahem", Erwin cleared his throat. "Sounds fascinating."

"Erm, in other words, yes they are vehicles which allow one to attack the enemy from the sky", Onyankopon explained, hearing Hange's bewilderment.

"From the sky!?" Hange blurted out, standing up.

"Hey!" Levi called out to Hange.

"If Marley had such capabilities this whole time, why haven't they attacked in over a year?" Erwin asked.

"There are two main reasons", Yelena began to explain. "Titans are the main reason. Even with the latest weapons, they would hinder a land assault. They were used as a tool to keep the Eldians confined within the walls. But in turn, they've protected Eldia from invasion."

"Yeah. Well, ain't that funny?" Levi added.

"And the second reason?" Erwin asked.

"Currently, Marley is at war with multiple nations. You defeated the Warrior unit, the pride of Marley", Yelena continued to explain. "And you captured two of their main weapons, the Colossal and Female Titans. Marley's many enemies took notice and were quick to unite and declare war."

"If you guys are secret agents who infiltrated Marley, I'm guessing you came from conquered nations?" Hange asked.

Yelena and Onyankopon were silent, and Yelena took a sip of her tea.

"Oh, I'm right?! If you're going up against Marley, I bet you've got big backers!" Hange exclaimed.

"We're not secret agents or anything of the sort", Yelena answered. "We were powerless. Marley took our homes and forced us to be soldiers. We were close to losing hope at ever striking back. That is, until we met him. A Titan that people of the world feared, calling it a devil. But I saw something completely different. A god. One that gave hope to the powerless. Under Zeke Jaeger's command, we shot our superiors. We're the Anti-Marleyan Volunteers. Our goal: To free the Eldian people."

"That concludes Zeke Jaeger's requests."

Later, Eren sat in the conference room, along with other Eldian soldiers. One soldier from the Military Police Regiment stood up.

"He's the Beast Titan!"

"This is the same person who nearly annihilated the Scouts!"

"His one and only goal is to retake the Founding Titan", Premier Zachary began. "Since he can't do it by force, he'll attempt it diplomatically."

"He should know we'll expect that. Let's hear what else he has to say", Commander Pyxis suggested.

"To carry this out, it requires the Founding Titan and a Titan with royal blood", Erwin presented to the Premier. "With both, the world can be saved."

Eren's eyes widened.

"Eren?" Mikasa asked, noticing Eren stand in his seat.

"He's telling the truth. I remember that Titan I punch and controlled had to be my father's other wife, Dina Fritz. Zeke, Dina's son, must have figured out a way to elude the vow renouncing war. To wake the millions of Titans sleeping in the walls and activate the rumbling", Eren explained.

Levi and Hange turned to Eren.

"Eren...why did you keep quiet about this for so long?" Erwin asked.

"I was concerned for Historia's safety", Eren replied quickly. "Yeah, it was careless of me though."

"If that's really true, Zeke's secret plan holds up", Hange announced.

"Are you insane?! You trust them!?" Nile asked Pyxis.

"Yeah! We can't have all those soldiers on the island!" another Military Police officer added.

"To protect the island from Marley's scout ships, we need the volunteers. Without their 'wireless radio'..."

"Second fleet. Go ahead", a Marleyan soldier tried making contact via wireless radio with Yelena's battleship.

"What a relief! Our ship ran aground! We've been waiting for your help" Yelena lied over the radio.

"We're on the way! In the cove, huh?" the soldier's voice could be heard over the radio. "How many ships? Two are headed your way!"

Once the ships arrived, a crewmate tried calling out, but the piercing sound of electricity followed by a bright yellow light filled the area, from behind the ships.

Erwin had transformed into the Colossal Titan and his transformation's blast was strong. Sending some soldiers into the water. One soldier reached the shore by swimming and when he looked over the cliff, he was face-to-face with Levi.

"Welcome to the filthy island of filthy devils. You're gonna love it", Levi joked to the soldier.

Back in the tent with the others, they continued talking to Yelena and Onyankopon.

"By the way, why do you have dark skin, Onyankopon?" Sasha chimed in, unknowingly ignorant.

"Because our creator thought, it's more interesting with a mix of people", Onyankopon answered with a smile. "You Subjects of Ymir are the same. We exist because we were wanted".

"Who...created us?" Eren asked, curiously.

"The one who gave the Founder Ymir power. God", Onyankopon answered.

Eren thought to himself and began wondering who in fact God was. The next day, the Scouts were all at the shore where they had Nicolo cooking for them. The Scout group walked up and examined all of the food.

"Smells fishy", Jean pointed out.

"You've never had seafood? Nicolo's a master of Marleyan cooking", Yelena explained.

"Jerks. If you don't like it, don't eat it. Eldians like you don't—" Nicolo began but was interrupted.

Sasha cracked open a lobster and took a very big bite out of the meat, tearing it by pulling her head back. The food was like nothing she had ever tasted. She immediately went back for more, this time holding two lobsters.

"So good!" Sasha exclaimed with food in her mouth. "Nicolo! You're a food genius!"

"S-Stop eating like a pig!" Nicolo replied as he watched Sasha stuff her face as though she hadn't eaten in days.

"I've never had anything like this!" Sasha continued now with tears leaking out of her eyes.

"Well, there's plenty. So, take your time", Nicolo urged and turned to continue stirring another pot. He began blushing as he realized how much Sasha loved his cooking.

On the training grounds, Eren shot a glass jar with a rifle. Apparently the had set up a firing range for practice.

"The port will be finished soon", Mikasa mentioned to Eren.

"Thanks to the Marleyan engineers, building it's been quick", Eren muttered.

"They've sure been cooperative", Mikasa mentioned.

"Given enough time, if we set aside our labels and see each other as people, we can understand each other", a ghostly image of Armin stated besides Eren, who fired the rifle again at another target.

"I wonder if the Commander has been seeing Bertholdt's memories", Eren said under his breath, continuing to fire. "There's not much time. Zeke has less than three years left."

"Is using the rumbling to threaten the world the only way to protect Eldians?" Mikasa asked, concerned. "Doesn't that really make us the devils?"

Eren stopped firing and looked over to Mikasa.

"Before it comes to that, do you think Armin would've been able to talk to them?" Mikasa asked Eren.

"Who knows what Armin would've done?" Eren replied with another question. "To buy us some time, we've gotta keep 'em at bay."

"Sometimes I wonder...did we make the right choice?" Mikasa added.

...

Back in the present, Eren is being held prisoner in a basement that the Scouts control. Outside, Mikasa, Jean, and Conny ran into Nicolo at the funeral. He was crushed after hearing the news that Sasha was killed. He was being harassed by other Eldians until the three Scouts approached him. He was on his knees in the grass holding his own head down.

"Sasha's really dead?" Nicolo asked, turning his head to them. "Why? What the hell were you guys doing!?"

"I let my guard down. Sorry", Jean chimed in.

"Why apologize to me?", Nicolo's face looked completely nihilistic. "All I did was cook her food."

"Thanks for letting her eat so much tasty food, Nicolo", Conny pat Nicolo on the back, understanding his pain. "It feels like half of me is gone."

Approaching them, was Sasha's father, mother, and the girl who Sasha saved, Kaya. Sasha's mother held roses to assumably set on her daughter's tombstone while her father removed his hat to address them properly.

"Y'all knew my daughter, did ya?" he asked.

The family walked to her tombstone to say their condolences while the others backed up. Nicolo took a step towards Sasha's father.

"I'm just a captive Marleyan but I'm allowed to work as a chef", Nicolo began. "Your daughter loved eating my food more than anyone else. So...if you ever want to, please come, and eat my food."

Sasha's father turned and put out his hand for Nicolo. "On the house, right?"

Nicolo shook his hand, firmly. "Of course, sir!"

Meanwhile back in town, Levi was escorting Zeke in a horse-drawn carriage.

"If I send your dead Marley and reveal your little plot, your gramps and granny are done for", Levi threatened. "But if this secret plan of yours is real, I can wait to chop you up."

"I appreciate your graciousness. But don't I get to meet Eren first?" Zeke asked.

"Don't be in such a hurry. We've got the finest hotel for you", Levi barked. "You can stay there and relax for a while."

"Hey...can you please stop glaring at me?" Zeke asked Levi, they were face-to-face across from one another.

"This is all of the Titan serum we stole from Marley", Yelena began.

"We owe you so much already. We were ignorant, but you gave us hope", Pyxis explained.

"It's unfortunate. The guns we brought were meant to give Eldians freedom", Yelena responded. The Volunteers were all in the middle of the room with guns drawn on them.

"I know it's selfish to ask, but can you overlook our cautiousness for a while?" Pyxis revealed. "We have to keep Zeke on a tight leash."

"It's fine, Commander Pyxis. We'll dine at the same table again soon", Yelena promised.

Now, in a heavily wooded area, Levi and Zeke walk up to a forest.

"This is my hotel?" Zeke groaned.

"It's a forest of giant trees. I can't think of a better place for you", Levi teased, riding on horseback.

"Must be a lot of fun with ODM gear", Zeke suggested. "Hey, Captain Levi. Think I could show Gabi and Falco this natural wonder?"

Gabi and Falco were both locked in a room with two beds. Gabi sat up, constantly thinking about nothing but Eren while Falco watched, upset, and concerned for her.

"Eren...Jaeger", Gabi chanted.

Meanwhile in Eren's prison, he stood tall by the sink without his shirt on and he stared at his reflection in the mirror.

"The only way to win is to fight", Eren murmured.

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

CHAPTER 14: Imprisoned - 2297

"Fight. Fight!" Eren murmured in his prison cell. He was shirtless, and he tied his long hair into a bun on his head.

"Hey. You said, 'Fight. Fight', didn't you?" a familiar female voice called to him from outside the bars of his cell.

"What exactly are you fighting?" Hange asked. "If you're saying, 'Fight. Fight', does that mean there are two fights?"

Eren remained silent.

"Keeping quiet isn't helping. Normally, people don't talk to themselves like that", Hange continued. "I know I've never talked to myself in the mirror before. By the way, I think your hair is cool. When it's all disheveled, it's kinda like you're hard-working and carefree—"

"What did you come for!?" Eren finally snapped.

"What? To talk of course", Hange began. "Erwin might think of you as the last hope for humanity, but I believe something within you has changed, personally."

Back to the time Yelena and her volunteers became allies with the Eldians of Paradis Island, Yelena outstretched her hand towards Eren, who was in a line up with other Scouts.

"I'm honored to work with you", Yelena stated.

"No, you won't be working together. You're lucky enough to see his face", Levi interrupted.

As Yelena and her volunteers began to share technological secrets, the Hizuru royal family made attempts to become closer with the Eldians. In one instance, they arrived to meet the Scouts in a fancy hall.

"My name is Kiyomi Azumabito", the same elder oriental woman who was at Willy's party that bumped into Udo and spilled wine on her kimono, introduced herself. "Do you recognize this family crest?"

The crest was a golden circle with three golden katana swords overlapping each other to form a triangle.

"You showed it to me when we were little. It's a secret meant for today", Eren murmured to Mikasa.

Mikasa stepped forward, raising her right arm, and pulling her sleeve down to reveal the same crest on her wrist.

"My mother said I should pass it on to my child", Mikasa informed.

Kiyomi's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. She walked slowly to Mikasa stretching her arms out, as she continued to gaze at Mikasa's wrist.

"What an admirable deed!" Kiyomi exclaimed, grabbing ahold of Mikasa's shoulders. "After the Great Titan War, Hizuru was defeated and in disarray. In the confusion, a child of the shogunate was left behind on the island. You're the lost descendant of our nation's ruler! You are the hope of Hizuru!"

After meeting with the Hizuru officials, the Paradis leadership along with the Scouts, spoke to one another in the hallway.

"The sea has joined us to the world, but we're still just a child learning how to walk", Pyxis announced.

"Hey, why'd you show Eren that symbol?" Historia asked Mikasa, off to the side.

"Huh?"

"You've never taken off your wrist wrap for anyone!" Historia continued. She brought up her hand, to cover her mouth because they were standing next to Eren. "Do you, y'know? Like him?"

Mikasa blushed immediately and Hange opened the door to the hall. Eren turned to the two girls and smiled before they all filed into the room as well. Everyone sat at a long table, with Kiyomi at the head of the table.

"It's a historic day for both our nations", Kiyomi began. "Today is only possible thanks to the one who brought us together, Zeke Jaeger. After meeting with him in secret, we agreed to an arrangement under the condition we were able to meet Lady Mikasa."

Kiyomi had previously met with Zeke when he first attacked the island and stole a Scout member's Omni-directional Maneuvering Gear. They talked about how the Eldians designed it to fight against Titans. Zeke informed Kiyomi at the time that the ODM gear ran on a special resource that could only be mined in Paradis.

"Our nation may just helm an industry that restores it to its former glory", Kiyomi added. "And yet, he hasn't even prospected your reserves. Why, it would be worth its weight in jewels and treasure."

Mikasa thought to herself, "I'm being used as a pretext?"

"As you know, Zeke Jaeger has a secret plan in mind", Kiyomi continued. She placed a few papers on the table and handed them to Erwin. "Here are his three points to protect Paradis with the rumbling."

Eren and Hange read a few of them while Mikasa looked over Eren's shoulder.

"The first is a test run of the rumbling—"

Eren began reading the paper and seeing that Zeke's main plan is the renounce the vow of King Fritz.

"Lastly, the Founding Titan and a Titan with royal blood must be passed down", Kiyomi added. "Zeke will pass on the Beast Titan to someone of royal blood. Until their 13-year term ends, they must bear as many children as possible."

"Unless we get rid of it, inheriting Titans will continue for generations to come. Is it right for us to push this problem on our descendants to save ourselves now?" Erwin thought to himself.

"Very well. I will inherit the Beast Titan", Historia volunteered.

"Historia..." Mikasa uttered to herself.

Eren stood up however, angrily. "After years of getting trampled on, now we've gotta breed like livestock? If that's the price of getting to live, Zeke Jaeger can take his damn plan and shove it!"

Everyone was looking at Eren now.

"We need to spend our time exploring what other options are available to us", Eren finished.

Meanwhile, back in the present, Eren was in his prison cell speaking with Hange.

"You should know I felt the same sense of urgency", Hange began. "But I still don't get why you went on your own and put the island in danger. Don't you care about Historia?"

"I ate the War Hammer Titan. In other words, there's no prison deep or strong enough to hold me. I can leave whenever I want", Eren replied. He stood up and walked to the bars until he was face-to-face with Hange. "So, Hange...What is it you can actually do?"

Eren reached through the bars and grabbed Hange's collar and pulled her body into the bars.

"Tell me, Hange! If you've got something up your sleeve, let's hear it! Erwin can't stop you now!"

A yellow flash sparked, which caused Hange to gasp and step away from Eren.

"Eren, you perv!" Hange exclaimed. She began walking away from the cell but continued to call out to Eren. "Still in a rebellious phase?! You moron! Idiot!"

Hange stopped for a moment, holding her head, and catching her breath. "I hope you know what you're doing, Commander."

Months have gone by now and Historia is pregnant and living on a farm with a man who used to work with her. In a restaurant in town, a few officers were eating and passing around a bottle of wine.

"We should've stuck with our plan", one of the men chimed in. "Turn her into a Titan but noooo she got pregnant with a farm boy's child."

"In the end, she's a low-bred girl whose Queen in name only", another intoxicated man added.

"Hey! Quit it", Nile interrupted. "The Queen is free to choose a partner who makes her happy".

"They grew up in the same area. Back then, he apparently threw rocks at her trying to get her attention. He started helping at her orphanage out of guilt. He worked with his head down for years, but the one who approached the other was the Queen."

"Who cares about their love story", one of the officers with glasses added rudely. "Someone told her, 'If you're pregnant, they won't make you a Titan!' If the Queen is pregnant, Zeke lives another day!"

"Hey! You're drunk, Roeg", one officer told the man with glasses, who was pouring another glass of wine.

"We should do it anyways. Make her a Titan, pregnant or not" Roeg unnervingly added.

"Her child might die. And if something happens to the Queen, it's over", Nile explained.

"That sound argument might just ruin our country!" Roeg continued. "Hey! Bring another bottle, Marleyan!"

"Certainly", the Marleyan waiter responded. He was cleaning another table and collecting the leftover dishes.

"This one, right?"

One of the newest technological advancements the people of Paradis were adding with the help of volunteer nations was a continental railroad system. This method of travel outshines anything they've ever done on the island, but first they had to build it.

"Nope! We wouldn't be doing this, but that idiot opened their mouth!" Jean exclaimed to Conny. The two of them were hammering stakes into the railroad.

"We can't do much but wait for Hizuru's answer anyways", Conny replied, wiping sweat from his face with a towel.

Around them, other Scouts were working as well.

"Yeah. And hope they can be our mediator to the world", Jean added. "We're grasping at straws here trying to avoid the rumbling and save Historia."

The sun was shining down on them hard, and since they were working in the heat, they'd become tired faster.

"Man, you're all working hard in this heat!" Hange cheered.

"Yeah, well, we're stuck watching this idiot", Jean answered referring to Eren.

"Unbelievable. You're all growing so damn big", Levi realized that he was now shorter than Conny.

"It seems they want to monopolize Paradis Island's resources", Hange mentioned, referring to Hizuru. "The world wants Paradis Island to be the root of all evil."

Hange was explaining to the Scouts which including Sasha, since this was before the Massacre in Liberio.

"So, we've got no choice but to rely on the rumbling and sacrifice Historia?" Eren asked. "And they say we're the devils."

"That's right. They won't trust people whose faces they haven't seen", Hange replied. "So, let's meet 'em! If you don't understand something, go figure it out!"

At dusk, they road the locomotive back to town. In the carriage being pulled sat: Eren, Mikasa, Jean, Sasha, and Conny.

"I'll be able to chow down on real Marleyan cuisine!" Sasha stated with a lot of enthusiasm.

"Yeah? What should I bring? It would stink to get the runs", Conny added.

"Stomach medicine, toothbrush, a taste of home..." Sasha began.

"Even if the world knows that we want peace, nothing will change", Eren spoke up. Everyone looked at him. "If only we had more time. I've got just over five years left. We're going to have to decide who inherits my Titan soon."

Mikasa was about to raise her hand when Jean interrupted her. "Can't be you, Mikasa. We still don't know what the Ackermanns are."

"Should be me! First of all, I'm way smarter than Eren", Jean chimed in. "Instead of a suicidal maniac, you'll have a gifted leader who shows good judgment in all situations."

"Someone that amazing we don't wanna lose in 13 years, moron", Conny added.

"Huh!?"

"That's not good at all. You're an idiot", Sasha spoke up.

"Eh?" Conny seemed confused.

"Doggone it...I'll inherit it", Sasha began scratching her head. "By process of elimination, it's gotta be me."

"Well, you know", Conny began. "You said an idiot's not fit for the role."

"Hmm?"
"You're more of an idiot than I am, so you're contradicting yourself", Conny continued.

"Huh?"

"Huh...?"

"I don't want any of you to inherit it", Eren concluded. "Because you're important to me. More than anyone else. So, I want you all to have long lives."

"Huh?! What are you turning red for?! The hell kinda mood is this?!" Jean barked out loud.

"Tell Jean it's the sunset that's making our faces red", The ghost of Armin whispered to Eren, who ignored it.

Later on, that night in the present, Conny was talking to Jean and Mikasa in a dimly lit room. Eren was imprisoned below them.

"Hey. Did that look like Eren to you guys?" Conny asked, staring out the window.

"Not me. That wasn't Eren", Jean answered.

"If he's made up his mind to side with his half-brother over us..." Conny began.

"If he has, then what?" Mikasa asked.

"We've gotta be prepared to cut him down if necessary—"

"I won't let you!" Mikasa barked defensively.

"Huh?" Conny turned to Mikasa. "Are you siding with them too, Mikasa?"

Everyone calmed down.

"Maybe that's why he's so hostile to anyone who isn't one of us", Mikasa started. "Losing Armin has really affected him and I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect Eren."

"No matter how strong you were, the old him tried to keep you off the front lines", Jean explained. "But he made the Commander destroy the port and pulled you into the fight, Mikasa. He pulled all of us with no regard for our lives trying to save his. The ones he called important."

"I think that's because he trusts us", Mikasa informed them.

"Mikasa...When Sasha died, what did Eren do?" Conny asked. Everyone knew the answer, but Mikasa sat for a while trying to figure out what to say.

"Did he cry? Did he regret his actions?" Conny continued asking.

"Conny, stop", Jean instructed.

"He laughed!" Conny exclaimed. "That bastard laughed while Sasha died for him!"

"What part of it was so funny to him? What part of Sasha dying is funny, Mikasa!?"

"We'll find out his goal", Jean tried to reassure Conny.

"But will it help? What if his goals are the same as Zeke's?" Conny asked.

"You don't mean-!" Mikasa exclaimed.

"The option of making someone we trust into a Titan, who would then inherit Eren's Founding Titan."

Meanwhile, in the forest, Levi and Zeke were both by a campfire and a pitched tent. There were also Scouts stationed all around the forest to keep Zeke prisoner and away from Eren. Zeke was reading a book, with his legs folded.

CHAPTER 15: Infiltration - 2684

Gabi was in a locked room with Falco, imprisoned after being captured by the Scouts when they snuck aboard the airship leaving Liberio and killing Sasha. Falco was at Gabi's bed where she began convulsing and writhing in her bed.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"She's in pain!" Falco informed the guard outside. The guard quickly unlocked and opened their door and came in to check on Gabi.

Once the guard reached Gabi's bed, Falco stepped away. Gabi took the opportunity to use what she was holding, a pillowcase with a brink inside, to smash into the guard's head. After the man was knocked out and, on the floor, Gabi climbed on top of him and continued to smash his face in with the covered brick.

"Gabi! That's overkill!" Falco exclaimed, running to Gabi's side, and stopping her.

She relaxed and tossed the brick to the side. They snuck out the door that was left open and completely avoided detection, running through the wilderness outside of the town's limits. But they knew they needed to keep going because once that guard they killed is discovered, the devils would come for them and show no mercy.

"How's running away gonna help!?" Falco cried out to Gabi while they ran. "You know that guy really was worried about you!"

"Can you trust those devils!?" Gabi shrieked back to Falco. "I can't even trust Zeke anymore! Or anyone else!"

Across the sea, Reiner would wake up in his bed. He remembered hearing Gabi and Falco's voices but couldn't remember if it were a dream. He sat up, surrounded by Porco, Pieck, and a few others.

"How I wish this all was a dream", Porco spoke up and handed Reiner his armband.

"I heard Gabi and Falco's voices. Where are those two?" Reiner asked.

"We're thinking they've been taken prisoner by the Eldians. And Zeke is working with the Eldians as well", Pieck revealed.

Back on the run, Gabi and Falco stop by a beautiful clear stream to wash the faces off.

"If any normal person sees it, they won't know what it means", Gabi stated, referring to their armbands.

"But soldiers will know what it is. Just take it off", Falco instructed.

"I just wanna get answers from Zeke", Gabi began. "Did you really betray us and Marley? Why did you do it?"

Gabi rose to her feet. "You can do whatever you want. You don't have to follow me."

Falco reached down and removed Gabi's armband. "Fine, then. I'll do whatever I want, starting with trashing this."

"Give it back!" Gabi angrily grabbed Falco's collar and began violently shaking him. She tripped him and sent him to the ground landing on his back, and holding his shirt by his chest, pinning him.

"What for?! What's the point of even wearing it here!?" Falco responded.

"I'm a good Eldian! Without that, I'm the same as the island devils!" Gabi yelled in Falco's face. "Why...did you come with me?"

Gabi began tearing up. "You didn't have to die, too!"

"What are you doing?" Kaya chimed in, staring at them from the tree line. Kaya was the little girl Sasha saved long ago, but Gabi and Falco didn't know her. Gabi grew suspicious and grabbed a rock, hiding it behind her back.

"I-I don't wanna say. We hated our home and ran away from it all", Falco lied.

"So, we can't go back."

"I see. Are you guys hungry? I live nearby, so follow me", Kaya politely invited them.

They made it back to Kaya's home, which was the Braus family ranch. They had many acres of field with plenty of animals.

"Wait here a minute", Kaya instructed. Kaya ran inside to ask the Braus family if she could invite guests for breakfast.

"Let's take the horse and run", Gabi whispered to Falco.

"What are you talking about?" Falco asked, confused.

"Those soldiers will discover that guy I killed. They'll come and search here, too. We've gotta run farther", Gabi explained. "Besides, I'm not gonna share a meal with devils."

"Hey guys! They said you guys can come on in!" Kaya yelled, returning to the two.

"O-Okay! We'll be right there!" Falco replied.

"I'll do all the talking, so keep your mouth shut", Falco whispered to Gabi.

"So, you young'uns are the runaways? Who might ya be?" Mr. Braus asked Gabi and Falco, inside their home. At the table, Mrs. Braus was setting the plates up with breakfast.

"A southern Marleyan accent?" Gabi and Falco thought to themselves, hearing the man's voice.

"Nice to meet you! We're siblings, Ben and Mia!" Falco introduced quickly to the family. He was hoping to remain undercover so they wouldn't turn them in. "We'll do whatever work you want! Please, let us stay for just a few days!"

"You young'uns don't need to be bowin' like that", Mr. Braus explained.

"Y'all can stay as long as ya like. C'mon, join us for breakfast", Mr. Braus politely said to them.

Breakfast was a stew, with beef, carrots, beans, and other vegetables. And at the table, there were three other children besides Kaya.

"Are y'all tired?" Mrs. Braus asked after getting seats for Falco and Gabi. "Go lie down once yer done eatin'."

Mrs. Braus ran her hand through Gabi's hair gently which startled Gabi into smacking her hand away. Everyone at the table stared at Gabi.

"I'm sorry. I'm sure y'all been through a lot", Mrs. Braus apologized.

"Well..." Gabi began.

"She's been traumatized for a while ever since Titans attacked our town", Falco tried to cover for Gabi.

"It's really good!" Falco exclaimed eating a spoonful of the stew.

"Come on, Mia. Eat up", Falco continued with the charade.

Gabi slowly used her spoon to scoop some of the stew and bring it to her mouth. She took a bit and swallowed, watched by the family.

Elsewhere, the Hizuru officials were meeting with Premiere Zachary.

"Congratulations on your successful campaign against Marley", Kiyomi stated to Zachary. "The leaders of Hizuru have nothing but praise for Eldia's bravery."

"Is that the observation craft you've spoken of?" Zachary asked.

They were on a dock, where a vehicle was covered by a large cloth, in the water next to the dock.

"Yes. It may just be the world's first flying boat powered by Iceburst Stone", Kiyomi explained. She was referring to the natural resource found in Paradis Island.

Meanwhile, back in town near the Capitol building, citizens were reading newspapers and asking questions about Eren.

"Are the rumors true about Jaeger being imprisoned and the volunteers detained?" One man from the crowd asked Erwin, who was trying to enter the gate along with Hange and a few other soldiers.

"We want an explanation, Erwin!"

"Eren is Eldia's last hope!"

"Erwin! Jaeger's victory opened the path to our future!"

"A future where Eldians can live!"

"Hange, you once said, Taxpayers decide what to make of information."

"I know you're in a tough situation, Erwin..."

"Look us in the eyes and tell us what you guys are doing is for the sake of humanity!"

"This is all for the sake of the Eldian people", Erwin revealed before opening the gate and going in followed by Hange.

Erwin and Hange walked into a room with four Scouts who were about to be punished.

"You're the ones who leaked the info about Eren?" Erwin asked.

Erwin sat in a chair in the middle of the room in front of the four who leaked information to the newspaper. Those four were in chairs as well, and the remaining individuals in the room stood around them.

"Why did you do it?" Erwin asked.

"Because Eren should be freed. He hasn't done anything wrong. Eren saved the lives of everyone in the New Eldian Empire", Floch explained.

"There's no guarantee that the rumbling works as planned and can save us", Hange chimed in.

"Well, that's because you're keeping Eren locked up" Floch replied. "Eren Jaeger will lead our country. He is the only one we Eldians see who can save us. Please, release him at once."

"Have them confined", Erwin delivered swift punishment. He realized that what ever was happening with Eren was becoming seen by the public.

"If it's for the sake of humanity, so be it", Floch stated under his breath, and closed his eyes.

Down in the basement where the prisoners were kept, one female tried starting conversation with Mikasa.

"Have you ever been in this cell, Mikasa?"

"Oh, I don't regret what I did. If victory is our ultimate goal. I am the same person as the one you saved that day", the girl walked to her prison bars.

Mikasa remembered saving a little girl and her mother when they were tasked with clearing the Trost district of Titans. This was when Mikasa was much younger.

"I learned that it's okay to fight against senseless violence", the girl continued. "Why did you join the Scout Regiment, Mikasa?"

Mikasa turned and began walking away.

"If it was for Jaeger, freeing him—"

"I only have one thing to say", Mikasa stopped. "Keep your mouth shut."

Mikasa turned to see the girl saluting her, and a sharp sudden pain was sent to Mikasa's head where she was remembering when Eren saved her as a child.

"You're safe now."

Back on the farm, Gabi and Falco were doing chores in the horse stables. Gabi emptied a bucket of water by throwing it on the ground. She turned to hear the horse making noises. And suddenly the mouth of the horse latched onto Gabi's head, and she reacted by stressing out and crying, even though she was in no danger.

"Gabi!" Falco called out, running to the stables.

Gabi slipped on mud from the water that she poured out. She flew with the bucket into the air until she crashed on her bottom and the bucket landed on her head, comically.

"Gabi!" Falco cried again.

"Why is this happening to me?" Gabi asked with the bucket still on her head.

The horse began laughing.

"This is the devil's doing!" Gabi exclaimed. The bucket finally removed from her head by Falco.

"No, I think it's the horse's doing", Falco added.

Gabi turned to Falco.

"I think it's better to hunker down here than roam around", Falco suggested.

"What are you saying?" Gabi asked. "Aren't you pissed at Zeke?! There was a traitor among us!"

"There's nothing we can do", Falco bent over and tried to straighten up what Gabi messed up.

"And what the hell is 'Mia'? Why am I your little sister?!" Gabi exclaimed, as she began shoveling hay.

"Hey guys", Kaya interrupted them. "Let's have lunch."

Outside, with a picnic basket filled with food, Kaya was treating them to a nice meal after all their hard work.

"You're quick learners and hard-working, too", Kaya complimented them. "All of us kids here lost our parents four years ago."

"You haven't accepted your guilt", Gabi chimed in.

"Huh?" "Wha—!?"

"Have you forgotten the atrocities the people of this island committed?" Gabi asked angrily. "Only when an Eldian accepts the depths of their sins can they begin to atone."

"Is that related to our parents dying, or something?" Kaya added, curiously. "Is that what they teach you in Marley?"

"We're in her debt you know!" Falco whispered to Gabi.

"These are indisputable truths!" Gabi exclaimed.

"Would you just—?" Falco tried to calm Gabi down.

But they both turned to Kaya.

"What did you just say?"

"You two came from Marley, right?" Kaya asked confidently.

"Why didn't you say something before? You're so sneaky!" Falco concluded.

Gabi, however, walked to a pile of hay with a pitchfork standing in it.

"Huh?"

Gabi reached for the pitchfork and pulled it up, aiming it for Kaya and running into a full sprint. However, Falco grabbed the pitchfork and began struggling trying to pull it from Gabi's hands.

"What are you doing?" Falco asked Gabi.

"The devil revealed her true colors!" Gabi exclaimed, still struggling for the pitchfork.

"Stop, you idiot!" Falco begged.

"Hey!" two people called from afar.

"Mia's jealous and thinks I'm stealing her brother!" Kaya covered for them, once again.

"Good grief...Don't horse around or you'll get hurt!"

Falco took the pitchfork from Gabi. "Sorry!"

Later, Kaya took the two of them on a walk through her empty village which was attacked by Titans. There was so much overgrowth that mother nature had reclaimed the land.

"This village used to be my home", Kaya informed them. "The villagers ran when they saw it and left behind my mom, who couldn't run."

Kaya guided them to her childhood home which felt empty.

"Mia, Ben. Tell me. What exactly did my mom do?" Kaya asked earnestly.

"Your kind slaughtered people for thousands of years!" Gabi answered quickly. "Don't tell me you forgot it! They wiped out other cultures, forced them to bear their children, and murdered endless droves of people! Stop playing the victim!"

"My mom was born and raised here. She never did anything like that", Kaya replied.

"But a century ago, the sins of your ancestors were terrible and great!" Gabi exclaimed.

"A century ago? What about the people who live now? How have we sinned?" Kaya replied. "My mother was killed four years ago, so it's not her fault."

"I'm telling you, your ancestors killed people all over the—" Gabi tried to explain.

"My mom didn't kill anyone!" Kaya yelled in Gabi's face.

Kaya grabbed Gabi's shoulders tightly.

"Answer me, Mia! Why did my mom have to suffer like that?" Kaya asked, raising her voice. "There has to be a reason! It's crazy if there's not!"

"Why was my mom eaten alive, huh? Why was she killed in front of my eyes!?" Kaya's eyes filled with tears the flooded down her face as she shrieked. "Huh!? Why!?"

"It...was recon-in-force", Falco finally answered. "The invasion of Paradis four years ago was staging for a larger attack. You and your mother were unfortunately caught up in it. Your mom didn't do anything wrong."

Kaya walked over to the doorway where her mother was killed and sat down.

"You're leaking secrets to the enemy. And why apologize?" Gabi asked Falco.

"Thanks for letting me know, Ben", Kaya appreciated Falco telling her the truth. "But it's weird for you to apologize for Marley. You were just born there."

"So, how did you manage to escape the Titans and survive?" Falco asked Kaya as they walked outside.

"A girl a bit older than I am now grabbed a hatchet and started hacking at the Titan", Kaya answered.

"No way! That's crazy!" Falco exclaimed, impressed.

"Yeah. She put herself between me and the Titan and allowed me to escape", Kaya continued. "If she was alive, she wouldn't abandon people like you with nowhere to go."

"Just like she didn't abandon me."

Kaya turned to them. "We were invited to a restaurant a Marleyan is working at. If you come along, you might find a way to go back home. I want to become a person like her."

Meanwhile, back in Liberio, the Marley Army was tasked with recovering the injured and the deceased and trying to regain order after the massacre caused by Eren.

"Investigating the Beast Titan's corpse, we found pieces of Zeke blown apart. We believe Zeke has sided with Paradis and escaped on the airship. There's also the airship they stole. It executed advanced maneuvers only a trained pilot could perform. Obviously, we won't let him off the hook. Within six months, a global alliance will launch an offensive on Paradis", Magath explained to the Warriors. He had a bandage wrapped around his head from the earlier attack.

"S-Six months!? We're waiting six months to rescue Falco and Gabi?" Colt exclaimed.

"They're the most talented Warrior candidates", Porco explained. "It'll be a huge blow to Marley if we lose them."

"We must wait for the global alliance", Magath ordered.

"What about Eren? He thinks Marley won't attack after taking such heavy damage", Reiner explained. "We can't wait for the global alliance!"

"We must strike them now!"

ACT VI: "Heavy Price" CHAPTER 16: Rise of the Jaegerists - 2161

"Military Clings to Power by Wrongfully Detaining Eren Jaeger."

"Only Eren can save Eldia!"

There was an angry mob of Eldian citizens who were picketing outside of the main Capitol building. Many men rose their signs and chanted angrily.

"Jaeger's the only one who avenges the eaten!"

"Hey, Hitch! Lend us a hand!" a Military Police soldier called out to Hitch, Annie's friend.

Mikasa and Hitch were talking, but after Hitch took off, Mikasa decided find Jean to talk about talking to Eren.

"You want to release him, don't you?" Jean asked Mikasa.

"N-No. But I feel like I should be able to talk to him", Mikasa replied.

On the other side of the building, Yelena was having tea with Commander Pyxis. They sat in fancy wooden chairs pointed out towards the horizon where they could see trees and mountains.

"That day, I did go to meet Eren", Yelena confesses. "I'm sorry for keeping quiet about it. I know that's enough reason to detain the volunteers."

"Eren felt the same urgency, too", Yelena explained, thinking back to when she met with Eren and talked in secret.

"So, you convinced Eren to infiltrate Marley alone to get our military moving?" Pyxis asked, turning his head to look at her.

"Not quite", Yelena began. "I said someone needed to light a fire under the administration."

"You risked a secret meeting without discussing any concrete plans?" Pyxis asked Yelena. "But the risk was worth it to you. You succeeded in manipulating Eren just as Zeke hoped you would."

"What would be the point in that?" Yelena asked, defensively. "All I wanted was for Eren Jaeger to know who I was!"

Just then, Garrison soldiers walked out onto the balcony. Three of them, with two who had rifles, stood watch reacting to Yelena's aggressive tone.

"No...We wanted Eren's Founding Titan to crush Marley to dust", Yelena relaxed. "He delivered the divine retribution we wished upon Marley for years. Commander Pyxis, do you know what we're witnessing? I simply want to see it happen from their side."

"In other words, the main reason you met Eren was out of curiosity?" Pyxis asked.

"It's true that I deceived you guys, but I did it for the sake of Eldia", Yelena concluded.

"Tell me everything you and Eren spoke about", Pyxis asked while the unarmed Garrison soldier took a seat. She also took out a pen and opened a notebook. "Do you know how to tell a good lie?"

Pyxis touched his forehead before answering, "Sometimes, you've gotta mix the truth into it."

Meanwhile on another side of the building, Erwin had Hange meet with Onyankopon in order to find out if he had spoken to Eren or if he knew Yelena had talked to him. Erwin made sure to keep Eren imprisoned until he could find out his goal. Erwin searched through Eren's room and all of his belongings, but no luck.

"Good grief. It's appalling that people doubt us after all this time", Onyankopon stated. He was shuffling cards to play a game with Hange. "Aren't we comrades? We sweat side-by-side these past three years! The railways, the trading...We made this island prosper! We gave our everything to Eldia!"

"I'm sorry. It's just ten months after the rails opened and this happens..." Hange began, appearing visibly upset.

"Tell me about it. Didn't we swear to work together for the future?" Onyankopon asked. Suddenly, Hange leaned forward and put her face in his face, awkwardly and closely, she made a face. "Wh-What's the matter?!"

"Did you know that Yelena met with Eren? Secretly?" Hange questioned him.

"What? Yelena said she met Eren in secret? Seriously?" Onyankopon asked, puzzled.

"You really didn't know?" Hange asked.

"I-I had no idea. Honestly", Onyankopon answered nervously.

"Yeah. It doesn't seem like you did. To me, at least", Hange revealed to him, sitting back in her chair.

"Yelena..." Onyankopon touched his chin. "As you know, Yelena organized the volunteers. But she got her hands dirty and proved her loyalty to Zeke and the group. There were 'accidental' deaths. We buried friends we ate and slept with. Anyone who doubted us."

"She pressed our government to give Marleyans certain rights", Hange began. "All right! I need you to come with me, Onyankopon."

"I hear Hange's all over the place", Premiere Zachary stated in his office, looking out the window at the angry mob outside the gate. "I can't allow you two to meet Eren."

Zachary turned to see Mikasa and Jean.

"Because we know Eren had contact with the volunteers", Zachary continued. "Eren kept quiet about his secret meeting which resulted in the raid on Marley. Eren hasn't said a word since the truth came to light. We're still in the dark about what he did during his time alone in Marley, too."

"We believe that Eren is being manipulated by Zeke, Mikasa", Erwin revealed. He was at the door to the Premiere's office.

"Oh, Erwin. Can I help you?" Zachary asked.

"Hm? New chair?" Erwin asked the Premiere.

"Oh that? It's nothing. I had recruits bring it here since there was nowhere to store it", Zachary responded. "If you'll excuse us, Mikasa. Jean."

Mikasa and Jean walked out of the office after saluting.

"Why? You're right that there's no harm in talking, so why can't we?" Mikasa asked, curiously.

"No clue", Jean responded. Behind them, three soldiers knocked on the Premiere's door. "But if that's true, they're probably already picking the next Founding Titan."

"With all that's going on, we've gotta find out their plan!" Mikasa exclaimed.

BOOM!

The Premiere's room exploded violently. Mikasa and Jean were knocked to the ground. And out of the explosion, the torso, and other pieces of Premiere Zachary, was launched from his office in front of the gate where the rioters were. The other soldiers and Erwin were also caught in the blast.

Hitch looked horrified at the face of the Premiere who was now dead, and she let out a gasp.

"Mikasa?" Jean called out.

"I-I'm fine", Mikasa replied.

"Put out the fire!" "Was anyone injured!?" "Over here! We need a hand!"

"Hurry up!"

Mikasa and Jean ran outside and identified Premiere Zachary's corpse near Hitch. Outside the gate, the rioters began to chant and salute, roaring loudly.

"Give your hearts!"

"Our anger's reached 'em! Now's the time to fight!" one man in the crowd barked.

"—Yeah! It's time to fight!"

"—Let's show 'em how angry we are!"

Military Police soldiers watched in horror, the actions of the bloodthirsty public.

"Give your hearts!" the crowd roared again and again.

Meanwhile, inside, officials were speaking of the explosion.

"Premier Zachary owned a 'special' chair. We believe a bomb was placed on it. Who else could be responsible for it?" a soldier with glasses asked.

"The premier told us some recruits brought it to his room", Jean replied. He stood with Mikasa for this meeting.

"Recruits from where?" Nile asked.

"Scout recruits", Mikasa revealed.

Nile turned to look at them.

"Speaking of Scouts, I hear some of them leaked the info about Eren", Nile brought up. "And luckily for Erwin, he's a Titan so he'll survive the blast. But that's still four bodies, because of the Scouts!"

"—You don't think..."

"It's an emergency!" a soldier barged into the meeting room.

"Eren Jaeger has escaped from his cell!"

"Mobilize everyone and find him!" Nile ordered loudly.

"Yessir!"

"What in the world is happening?" Jean asked. He looked down at Mikasa and noticed a slight hue of red in her eyes. "What the-?"

Outside, the sun was setting, and off in the wilderness Eren was walking up a rocky hill. He stopped when he made it to Floch, and other soldiers who have joined Eren's cause.

"What a crowd. This everyone?" Eren asked.

"Besides us here, we have allies hiding in the military. Including some who blew up Dhalis Zachary. What about Mikasa?" Floch asked.

"She'll come around this time. With my new power, I'll be sure of it", Eren revealed.

"The only one who can save the Eldian Empire is you, Eren Jaeger", Floch explained and handed Eren a jacket because he was shirtless.

"Find out where Zeke's being kept", Eren ordered as he put of his jacket.

In an official's office, the Scouts were meeting with the other leaders.

"Floch Forster and some 100 soldiers and guards vanished from the prison."

"They need a name. Let's call these anti-military insurgents 'Jaegerists'", Nile mentioned.

"The military schemed to take the Founder from Eren, all without telling us", Hange replied.

"We knew what would happen if we had", Nile responded.

"In any case, many of the Jaegerists are from the Scouts", Nile began. "And Erwin was incapacitated. So, how will you take responsibility, Hange? As second-in-command?"

"I'll accept any punishment", Hange quickly stated.

"Indeed. There might even be a suicide bomber standing in front of me" Roeg added.

"Roeg, don't be ridiculous", Hange sighed.

"Enough! We have a guest here!" Pyxis ordered in the room referring to the officials from Hizuru. "We have more important things to do than bicker! Have those three brought here. Nile, is the Queen's residence safe? Eren will attempt to contact Zeke and Queen Historia. Protecting those two is an absolute must!"

"Now that we've lost the premier, the only one who can lead us is you until Commander Erwin recovers. But we don't know how long that will take", Jean explained. "What do you think we should do sir?"

"We've been utterly beaten", Pyxis declared, raising his arms up. "Let's surrender to Eren."

Pyxis got serious. "Even if we flushed them out, who knows how much blood it would cost? We don't have time to waste on such folly. Our decisions made soldiers turn their backs on us. It brought about our defeat."

"You're kidding! Bow down to the people who killed the premier!?" a female soldier behind Conny chimed in.

"We'll use the location of Zeke to negotiate with the Jaegerists", Pyxis explained to the room. "However, we must look past the fact that they murdered the premier. If that's the price to prevent countless comrades from being killed..."

Everyone in the room looked down at the floor, gritting their teeth as they remember the stakes being risen due to Eren's Jaegerist uprising.

"...so be it."

"Get moving soldiers!" Pyxis ordered his Garrison troops.

"Yessir!"

"Commander?" Kiyomi called for Pyxis.

"I'm ashamed you had to see that", Pyxis apologized and bowed slightly.

"Don't be. Every country goes through this", Kiyomi replied.

"I'm afraid I can't guarantee your safety", Pyxis added.

Kiyomi nodded understanding and walked over to Mikasa.

"If anything happens, please escape to my ship", Kiyomi instructed Mikasa.

"I appreciate your concern, Lady Kiyomi. However, I am an Eldian", Mikasa pridefully reminded her. "I want the place I was born to have a future. Don't concern yourself with me."

"What are you talking about?" Kiyomi asked, grabbing Mikasa's shoulders. "The whole reason we came was for you!"

"Not our resources?" Mikasa quickly added.

"Yes...Unless the rumbling's power is proven, Hizuru will hang us out to dry", Kiyomi confessed. "Our investments will go to waste and the Azumabitos will be done for."

"All the more reason I can't rely on you", Mikasa concluded.

"Now, we're best known for being wretched, money-grubbing vixens", Kiyomi began. "No matter what comes of the country, we wish to protect you!"

Mikasa looked deeply into Kiyomi's begging eyes. After the meeting, Mikasa, Jean, and Conny spoke to one another.

"Nobody knows if Eren did it."

"Keep it down, Mikasa. People suspect us of being Jaegerists."

"Whose side are you on anyways, Mikasa?" Conny asked.

"I almost got caught in the explosion. Along with Jean. You have to ask?" Mikasa responded. But deep down, she could feel Eren's presence around her.

"Huh?" Conny added.

"Enough", Hange approached, and walked to a horse that was beside the three of them. "Like Pyxis was saying, infighting will be our downfall."

"We have to expect they took other precautions, too", Hange murmured as she began fixing the saddle on the horse she was tending to. She turned to the Scouts. "We need to figure out Zeke's intentions before me makes fools of us."

"Yelena secured work for Marleyan prisoners in odd places", Hange revealed as Onyankopon joined the small circle. "Like restaurants for example."

Outside of the restaurant Nicolo works for, the Braus family along with Gabi and Falco, entered through the massive entrance.

"What a big building!"

"I've never seen anything like it!"

"Me either!"

"Y'all fixin' to eat?"

"Yeah!"

On horseback, Hange and the others were riding to the restaurant to begin tracking down the Jaegerists.

"Tsk! The military's always in a rush!" One man on the road exclaimed as the group of horses ran past, kicking up dust.

Behind the man was a woman, carrying a bag of bread. And behind her was a woman reading the newspaper. It was Pieck, the Cart Titan.

CHAPTER 17: Forest of Solitude - 2699

When Zeke attacked Conny's village, he used a gas weapon that turned its villager's, including Connie's mother, into Titans he can control with his voice. He explains this to Levi in the forest, Zeke's prison for the time being. Erwin dispatched Levi knowing that hopefully he would be able to contain Zeke. Zeke also mentions that the gas weapon contained his spinal fluid, much like the Titan Injection needles. However, breathing in just a slight amount of the gas makes Subjects of Ymir freeze up. They can't control their bodies and lose consciousness.

"On my command, I send the Power of the Titans to the coordinate via Paths", Zeke explains to Levi. "That's why the people of that village obeyed my orders."

"Don't forget the name of the village you slaughtered, you bearded shit", Levi adds.

They were sitting in chairs, facing one another in the forest at night.

"Well, I didn't want to do it", Zeke confesses. "But if I hadn't, I couldn't have brought hope to this island. You know, I told you all this when I landed on the island."

Behind Zeke there other Scouts watching his every move and these Scouts were hand-picked by Levi.

"You can't have been popular", Zeke teased. "You think you know everyone's feelings."

"I do know", Levi looked off to the side in front of him. "And I was popular enough."

"They may think they have time to spare, but they don't", Zeke declares to Levi.

"I'm with you on that one, beardy", Levi responds with a grin.

"Captain Levi!" a Scout ran up to Levi in a hurry.

Zeke couldn't hear what was told to Levi.

"What? Are you serious?" Levi barked.

Meanwhile, back in town during the day, the Braus family arrived at the restaurant Nicolo works at. Everyone was dressed nicely as this was a restaurant that officers also frequently visited.

"Kaya! Does a Marleyan captive really work here?" Gabi asked Kaya as they stood at the door.

"It's true, so get a grip. Soldier's use this place too", Kaya whispered to Gabi. Remaining under cover was the duo's top priority.

"Mr. Braus! Thank you for coming!" Nicolo greeted the large family.

The family included Sasha's parents, Gabi, Falco, Kaya, and the three other children. Mr. Braus waved to Nicolo as the family walked into the dining area.

"Oh, my. You sure brought a crowd", Nicolo joked after realizing that he was going to have to feed for eight. However, because it was Sasha's family, Nicolo would make sure to cook the best meal for her parents as a tribute for her.

"—We skipped breakfast for this!"

"—I'm so hungry!" "—You and me both!" the children ran ahead and picked their places at the fancy table.

"That's Nicolo", Kaya whispered walking off to the side to talk to Gabi and Falco. "The Marleyan who invited Mr. Braus."

"Why did they invite him specifically?" Gabi asked Kaya.

"His daughter was the girl who saved me", Kaya replied. "Nicolo was at her grave and wanted to treat him to the food she loved. But personally, I thought they were in love."

Falco was beginning to piece things together while the family ate, until he was interrupted by Mr. Braus.

"Hey Ben. What's wrong? Tummy ache?" Mr. Braus asked, preparing to eat a forkful of meat.

Falco snapped out of it and tasted the food. There was a spark of joy that ignited within Gabi and Falco because the food was so amazing.

"Delicious! I've never had anything this good!" Falco exclaimed.

In the back room, Nicolo had a pan on fire cooking dishes for hungry customers. A waiter came in holding a stack of plates.

"Nicolo, you've got guests", the man informed Nicolo.

"Huh!? Who is it now!?" Nicolo exclaimed in frustration.

Nicolo walked out to be greeted by the Scouts. Most specifically Hange, Mikasa, Jean, Conny, and Onyankopon.

"Hange! I heard about Erwin, my apologies", Nicolo bowed.

"Thank you, but he'll be recovered soon enough", Hange stated. "You can go back to work if you want."

"They're investigating our detainment. We're hoping you can help. We've learned some things about Yelena", Onyankopon chimed in.

"Sure, alright", Nicolo agreed to assist them.

"Huh? Is this the wine all the soldiers are gossiping about?!" Jean exclaimed finding bottles of wine with different colored labels. He picked up a bottle joyfully. "They say only higher ranks can get it."

"I'd say we deserve a bit of fun, too! A sip or two wouldn't hurt", Conny added, but Nicolo jumped between them and grabbed the bottle.

"Don't touch that!"

"Ch-Chill out, Nicolo. We're just screwing around", Jean explained.

Nicolo whispered a racial slur.

"Nicolo, you're still saying stuff like that?" Jean began. "The booze doesn't give a damn what race we are!"

Jean grabbed Nicolo's collar and held him up by his shirt.

"Don't touch me, Eldian. Just because I've been nice doesn't make us pals", Nicolo stated aggressively.

"Have you forgotten what you are? You're just a—" Jean continued, getting more heated.

"A filthy captive, huh? That makes us even, Eldian", Nicolo concluded, unphased by Jean's aggressive behavior. He began to grin and removed Jean's hands from his shirt. And then he walked to the back room, holding that particular bottle of wine they were holding.

"What's his problem?" Conny asked as Jean rubbed the hand that Nicolo had grabbed.

Gabi spotted Nicolo going to the back room from their dining area, which was separate from the Scouts. She nudged Falco as he was taking a sip of water.

"Go!" Gabi whispered.

"Argh! My stomach hurts!" Falco acted like he was sick. "I think I need to use the bathroom!"

"I think I better go help my brother!"

The two of them ran to the back, and entered the room where Nicolo was.

"Good luck", Kaya thought to herself, as she watched the two of them.

In the back room, Nicolo realized that Gabi and Falco entered.

"Hmm? The restroom is the other way", Nicolo informed them.

"That's not why we're here, Nicolo. We're from Marley", Falco chimed in. "We think there will be a huge offensive against the island soon."

"Until then, hang in there! And let any of your Marleyan comrades know!" Gabi instructed. "The island devils raided Liberio. We got aboard their airship as it retreated and rode it here."

"Huh? Did you...kill anyone?" Nicolo asked, his eyes widening. "A female...soldier?"

"Yes, I did", Gabi said proudly. "I've only killed a few, but our real revenge has yet to begin! We won't let those spineless devils get away with..."

"Gabi, wait stop!"

"What!?"

"So, it was you..." Nicolo began, horrified. He backed up to a table, which had the bottle of wine on top of it. Nicolo reached for the wine bottle. "...who killed her?"

"You're the one who killed Sasha!?" Nicolo charged at Gabi. Falco tried to step in front of Gabi, but Nicolo managed to smash the bottle of wine over Gabi's head, knocking her unconscious and the wine mixed with her blood. Nicolo wrestled with Falco while the Braus family continued to eat. They finished up and Mr. Braus thanked Nicolo but didn't walk in and see anything.

"How dare you! I loved her!" Nicolo shouted at Falco.

"I'm sorry! I should've done more to save her!" Falco confesses. Nicolo looked in Falco's eyes and stopped. He rolled off of the child, panicking.

"When will the blood shed end?" Nicolo looked up to the ceiling.

Eren walked in and stabbed Falco in the stomach. Falco's eyes widened confused as the last image he sees is of Mr. Kruger. Nicolo reaches for a knife, but Eren's eyes glow red, and Nicolo's body stops moving.

"Tell me where Zeke is", Eren ordered.

Time goes by and Nicolo runs out of the kitchen. He sees the empty table where the Braus family ate. He questioned whether or not to let them know about Gabi but figured he should go to the Scouts first. He walked in while they were discussing Yelena.

"He took Gabi!" Nicolo exclaimed.

"Who did?" Hange asked, confused.

"We did", Floch walks in and immediately points pistols at everyone. They managed to kidnap the Braus family as well before the family was able to go home. "The Jaegerists have taken control over the New Eldian Empire."

"Wait, we have no intention of fighting you", Hange stated.

"It's Eren's decision", Floch immediately added. "Pyxis would never leave the fate of the island in our hands. I'm sure he's frantically devising a plan, especially with Erwin out of commission, to take the Founder from Eren while we're on the move."

"Just put the guns down, please. There are children present", Hange pleaded.

"Do I look like I'm one of your lackeys that'll answer to you?" Floch asked, loading his pistol, and pointing his gun at Hange. "Now let's get moving before I prove to you that I'm not."

Nicolo noticed another Marleyan captive friend of his was with the Jaegerists.

"Greiz? Did Yelena put you up to this?" Nicolo asked.

"Nicolo, you're too obsessed with Eldians. I knew this day would eventually come", Greiz replied. "I was right not to tell you how to reach them."

"We don't have time to be fighting among ourselves!" Hange exclaimed.

"Can't you see? This is Eren's plan. The Red War. He's seen it all and he is making sure this time, he wins", Floch announced to Hange.

"Eren can see the future?" Hange realized.

Eventually, the Jaegerists began escorting the Scouts as well as the Braus family. Their group had gotten bigger, so Eren split away from Floch to wait until Gabi woke up so he could use her to spot out the Marleyan spies.

Back in the forest, Levi was being briefed on the takeover of the Jaegerists.

"Yes. The Jaegerists effectively control everything in the walls", the Scout informed Levi while Zeke continued to read his book.

"We think it's all part of some plan Zeke put together using Yelena and Eren", the Scout explains.

"He's going to make sure Eren gets eaten...by our own hands", Levi replied. "I've saved Eren, over and over—each time, more comrades dying. All because I believed he was the hope for humanity. Erwin, are we fools? Look where our beliefs have gotten us. All that struggle for a farce like this."

"There's another shithead we should have eaten", Levi began in his thoughts. He was also grabbing his head. "Comrades... There was meaning in your deaths and at long last, I'll prove it."

Levi turned to see Zeke running away through the forest.

"Huh?"

RAAAAH!

Zeke's booming voice bellowed throughout the forest. Every Scout in the forest besides Levi fell until they became enveloped in yellow energy and electricity ultimately becoming Titans. That's when Levi realized that Zeke and Yelena must've mixed in Titan Serum with the wine. He remembered Zeke asking about the wine.

And Zeke's mighty roar was so powerful, that the officer's who drank the wine in town, all felt a slight surge of electricity through their bodies, but they were too far to transform.

"What was that?" Pyxis asked, looking down at his palms.

Eren noticed Gabi jolt when her body was zapped. Eren realized that Zeke must've used his voice.

"You're not going to slice them up just 'cuz they've grown a bit, are you?" Zeke teased Levi.

Levi was now surrounded by several large Titans. The Titans began chasing Levi and all Levi could do was dodge. Levi travelled up a tree, reminiscing to when their unit received the crates of wine and how each of his subordinates wanted it. Levi wished now that he never let them have it.

"Fine. Bring it."

The Titans began climbing up the trees to get to Levi. He was in a dire situation.

"Shit, they're fast! How do they move like that!? Is that Zeke's doing too!?"

Levi dodged one Titan that reached for him, by spinning with his blades and severing the Titans fingers. He looked into the eyes of a Titan and saw the face of a comrade.

"Are you in there somewhere?"

"...you guys?"

"Farewell, Levi", Zeke began. He was being held by a Titan which ran with two other Titans away from Levi. The goal now was to find Eren. "In the end, we couldn't trust one another."

"All the world's might will soon fall upon this island", Zeke continued to monologue to himself. "You have no idea what that means. Not realizing you had none of those, Levi, was your biggest mistake. Still, even if I explained my intentions, you wouldn't understand."

"Right Eren? Only you and I do."

Suddenly, an anchor from Omni-directional maneuvering gear past right by Zeke from behind. This startled Zeke to turn, only to realize that it was Levi, covered in blood.

"Go!" Zeke roared. "What the hell, dammit!? Again!?"

Zeke bit down on his hand, hard enough to trigger his transformation into the hairy Beast Titan.

"Where'd you go, Levi?!" Zeke roared once more.

"All you had to do was read your damn book", Levi said from the shadows. He was cutting down tree branches to effectively cover his position. "What gave you the idea that you could escape from me?"

"Did you think I wouldn't kill my comrades if they turned into Titans?" Levi continued. "You don't have a damn clue how many comrades we've killed!"

Levi found an opening and fired multiple thunder spears into the Beast Titan's neck. Zeke managed to look down within his Titan to see how the tables have turned on him. The thunder spears primed and exploded, sending Zeke's body flying out of the Titan's body into the grass. His body was mangled and disfigured due to the explosion, and his skin was charred.

"Damn. You stink and you're filthy, you ugly piece of shit", Levi barked after grabbing Zeke by the hair to lift his head up.

Meanwhile, basic training was being conducted with young cadets and Keith Shadis, Eren's old instructor.

"...which is why the 109th Cadet Corps will be training to defend Shiganshina from Titan attack!" Keith barked to his students.

"You hear me!?" Keith yelled in the face of a cadet.

"Y-Yes sir!"

"Why do we care how to cut a Titan's nape?" a student asked in the back of the formation.

"Eldia's only hope is for the Jaegerists to seize full control!" one student exclaimed loud enough for the class to hear. "We need a leader capable of making tough decisions."

Some students turned their head to see the student talking. And then, the doors to their outdoor training session opened up.

"We Jaegerists are the ones in charge now", Floch declared stepping outside with a rifle in hand. Then a row of Jaegerists all pointed their rifles at Keith, while having Hange detained with her hands behind her back.

"...The Jaegerists"

"Looks like you finally figured it out, Floch", Keith began. "Unless you point guns at people, nobody cares what your little gang of asswipes says, and that's a fact—"

BANG!

Keith's body fell to the floor, with a bullet hole in his forehead.

"Floch!" Hange cried out.

"From now on, this is your time, cadets!" Floch roared.

All of the students gave a salute.

"For the sake of Eldia's future, we give our hearts!"

"Now, Hange, could you guide us to where Zeke's being held?" Floch asked Hange and walked back inside. The Jaegerist began recruiting all of the cadets, who stepped over Keith's body. However, Hange didn't move. She stared at the dead body of Keith and teared up.

"Commander Hange", Floch spoke up. "Hey, let's go."

"Commander Erwin...please."

"Eren Jaeger", Erwin approached Eren finally recovered. Eren was holding Gabi's unconscious body and had taken her to a private room. When Erwin walked in, Eren set Gabi down. There was also a Jaegerist guard in the room, but Eren waved him down.

"Commander", Eren responded.

"Enough is enough, Eren. You must surrender", Erwin pulled out a blade and raised it to Eren.

"If you're against me, then you're my enemy", Eren responded by removing his own blade.

CHAPTER 18: Plan for the Future - 3195

"My name is Zeke Jaeger, and this is the story of our plan for the future..."

"Take a good look, Zeke. That's Liberio, where we live", Grisha told his young son, many years ago. They were standing at a high altitude where they could see the whole city. "Compared to the world, it's like a tiny birdcage."

Gisha was holding Zeke and standing next to Dina, who wore a scarf over her head.

"Since we can't leave, we have to live here till we die", Grisha added. "Zeke, wouldn't you like to leave?"

"Yeah, I would", Zeke replied, looking away from Liberio.

Suddenly a janitor came around the corner and spotted them. He had a bucket full of water and a mop.

"Oh, Eldians?" the Marleyan man blurted out. He took his bucket and threw the water. Grisha turned to protect his son and wife, which made him soaked.

"Wh-What?! We got permission to leave the walls!" Grisha exclaimed.

"It's my job to clean the tower and get rid of trash", the man replied, angrily. "You came in here and defiled it, you devils!"

"Your kind slaughtered countless lives! Yet here you are, pumping out kids?!" the man continued.

Grisha began walking home with his child and son, and as they walked the streets, they were harassed by Marleyans, who tossed rocks and garbage at them.

"Stay in the internment zone!"

"You guys' stink!"

"—Remember this well, Zeke", Grisha whispered to his son. "This is the outside world. If you don't like it, you've gotta change it. Zeke, you're going to save everyone."

Later on, as Zeke grew, Grisha applied his son into the warrior program in Marley. During one of the exercises for endurance training, the cadets were tasked with running while carrying a rifle and a heavy backpack. Zeke tripped during his run but gathered his breath and got up to continue running.

"One of these kids will be my successor?"

Two men watched the children run, sitting on horseback. One of the men had a red armband, signaling that he was a Warrior who had the power of a Titan.

"One of them is falling behind", the man with the armband stated. "Who's that?"

"Ah, Jaeger again? All the other kids are fiercely competing to be Honorary Marleyans", the other man, Magath, replied. "Yet he has none of that drive. Why does he even come here?"

The dark haired man with the armband watched Zeke as he struggled to keep up with his squad.

Later on, after training, Grisha and Dina walked their son home.

"I see. But I know you can be a Warrior", Grisha explained to his son.

"Because you have a special power", Dina explained to her son.

"And most important of all, you're our son!" Grisha concluded. The Jaeger family was having a happy moment.

Unfortunately, Grisha followed in his father's footsteps. Except, instead of forcing his son to indulge in a fabricated history, he forced his son to learn the taboo history of the Eldians.

"This is the tragedy of Lago that occurred 1,200 years ago. After Lago was destroyed in a single day, the Titans went on to cause the Horrors of Valle and Ravaging of Monte", Grisha's father explained to Zeke by showing him old history books, along with Grisha's mother.

"Marleyans in the tens of thousands were killed by Eldia", Grisha's father continued. "What's more, the people who escaped Lago fled into the countryside."

"Yeah, I know. A lot of people died", Zeke responded.

"Is your father teaching you our actual history?" Grisha's father asked.

"He says Eldians did horrible things to Marleyans, so we have to atone for it", Zeke explained.

"Do you want to become a Warrior and fight for Marley?" Grisha's father asked.

"Yeah. I want to be a Warrior", Zeke replied.

Silence filled the room until Grisha's mother chimed in.

"Oh! Next time you're here, I'll read you the cat house book!"

Grisha's parents both got up from the table and Zeke turned to an old photograph of the family with his aunt, before she was killed at a young age.

The next day, the warrior cadets were all trained on dismantling and reassembling their rifles. But Zeke, filled with anxiety and the desperation for his father's approval, struggled. He held the bolt together and searched for the next piece when the spring shot out of the bolt carrier and both pieces were sent to the ground.

The piece landed at the feet of a younger Magath, who looked down at Zeke, disappointed.

Zeke walked home after training, and past a father playing catch with his son. Zeke wished that he could have a normal life with a father who would spend time playing catch with his son. Just seeing the love, the father and son had for each other began filling him up with sadness and jealousy. Zeke ran home to ask his father if they could do the same.

"Dad!"

"Zeke?"

"I finished early today! Lets—", Zeke hurried in the house, excited. His father had his back to him and seemed to be looking through textbooks.

"Oh, good. We'll be able to study more", Grisha interrupted Zeke.

"Right..." Zeke looked disappointed.

They sat at the table and began their study session together.

"...In other words, the Tragedy of Lago never happened", Grisha concluded, showing Zeke the textbook filled with drawings of Titans attacking a coastline. "The Ravaging of Monte and the Horrors of Valle are stories made up by Marley, too."

"The Founder Ymir wouldn't want that. It's unthinkable", Zeke responded.

"That's correct! You're catching on, Zeke!" Grisha praised his son. He rose from his seat and pat Zeke on the head.

"Yeah!", Zeke smiled, enjoying feeling loved by his father.

Another day, Magath was scolding Zeke for his incompetence.

"We sure as hell won't leave a Titan in the hands of someone like you", Magath barked at Zeke who had his head down. Magath was scolding him in front of the other cadets as well.

Zeke walked behind his peers through the town. His gaze was on the ground, watching every place he'd place his feet as he walked.

"Hey! You there!" a mysterious voice to the side, called out to Zeke, snapping him out of his depressive daydream-like state. "Can you toss that ball back?"

Zeke looked at the ball, and then to the mysterious voice which belonged to a man with dark hair and glasses. He also had a baseball mitt on his hand. He waved to Zeke who was several feet away.

Zeke picked up the ball and tossed it back to the man.

"Here!"

The man tossed it back to Zeke.

"Nice catch!" the man called out. "I'm sick of throwing off the wall. You mind playing for a bit?"

Zeke noticed the man had a red armband.

"A red armband! You're-!" Zeke blurted out.

"One of the Marleyan Warriors you're aiming to be", the man explained. "Though, since my Beast Titan isn't too helpful in war. I mostly just play catch around here."

"The name's Tom Ksaver. I work in Titan research", the man introduced himself formally. "So, what's your name?"

"My name is Zeke. Zeke Jaeger!" Zeke seemed excited and this man seemed friendly.

Later on, Zeke rushed home and found all of the lights off.

"I'm home! Dad, guess what?" Zeke echoed throughout the home. Zeke heard some voices coming from another room and he walked over to eavesdrop from the cracked door.

"What gives, Grice? If Zeke isn't chosen, the plan's finished!" Grisha yelled.

"But the Owl said they can't influence the decision unless Zeke has decent scores", Grice explained.

"I know! A chance like this comes once a century!" Grisha exclaimed.

"Doesn't Zeke still have a shot, though?" Grice asked.

"Yeah, he might", Grisha began, now holding his head in frustration. "If Zeke steps up—"

Grisha noticed Zeke staring and eavesdropping through the crack in the door and Grisha and Grice both approached the door. Once they opened it, Zeke realized that his mother was also in the room. He stood in silence, unsure of what to say to them after hearing all of what was said.

"I'm sorry", Zeke began but he was quickly grabbed by his father.

"Zeke!" Grisha blurted out. "I know you can do it! You're our son, after all!"

Once again, during training, Zeke was being scolded at by Magath.

"I said Marley has no need for you. Why are you here?" Magath asked, aggressively.

Magath and Zeke were both on the training grounds, and Zeke was carrying his rifle and his heavy gear.

"T-To show my loyalty to Marley and atone for Eldia's sins!" Zeke declared loudly. "Let me in open training, please!"

Zeke was granted permission to join them for training, which consisted of a run. Grisha and Dina watched the group of children all running with their rifles and gear; however, Zeke was once again struggling to keep up.

Zeke noticed his family watching and stopped. Unfortunately, Grisha turned and walked away followed by Dina, who was trying to convince him to stay.

"What are you doing, Jaeger?! Run! Run, boy!" Magath growled noticing Zeke had stopped.

Later that night, Zeke would try to cover his ears from a very loud argument concerning his parents.

"Dammit! It's bullshit!"

"Don't say that! He's trying his best!"

"He'll never be a Warrior like this!"

Zeke's happiest moments were becoming more noticeable whenever he was with Ksaver. They continued to meet during the afternoon to play catch. After tossing the ball to Ksaver, he spoke up.

"You were a mess the other day", Ksaver mentioned. He was referring to the run where Zeke struggled to finish.

"It's not funny", Zeke began. "They're just having me run errands now. It's over for me."

They continued to toss the ball back and forth.

"Seemed to me that you never wanted to be a Warrior", Ksaver suggested.

"I have to become one", Zeke answered, but lowered his gaze. "Yet, I totally failed..."

"No big deal", Ksaver began, tossing back the baseball. "It's stupid for you to be a Warrior."

Zeke caught the ball.

"It's dumb to shorten your life for Marley and get sent to fight other nations", Ksaver explained.

"Huh!?" Zeke looked around.

"Compared to the mysteries of Titans, hatred and war seem so trivial", Ksaver stated, looking up into the sky.

Zeke stared as Ksaver continued to talk.

"We're just two decent people—a real rarity in this world", Ksaver added.

Later on, Zeke was tasked to mop the hallway of the military building.

"This is for the best. Even if I can't leave the zone, as long as I'm alive..." Zeke thought to himself as he mopped the floor. When he finished, he walked past a room where he began eavesdropping once more.

"We finally got a lead. They're the Eldian Restorationists", a man said which peaked Zeke's interest.

"It's a pretty large group."

"A traitor called the Owl formed it. We've got a few hunches already."

"It's just a matter of time till we get solid proof."

Hearing this information made Zeke feel the need to inform his parents. So that night at dinner while they were all at the table, Zeke spoke up.

"Dad, Mom...Stop doing dangerous things", Zeke pleaded, barely touching his food. "If they find out, we'll be sent to paradise—sent to the island of devils and made into Titans."

"Have you learned nothing I've taught you?" Grisha asked, disappointed. "Unless someone takes a stand, we'll live pitiful lives in this tiny cage."

"That's right", Dina chimed in. "We're fighting for the future of all Eldians, including yours."

"Even if there's a chance that I end up like Aunt Fay?" Zeke asked, knowing it was a trigger for his father.

Grisha slammed his fist on the table in anger. "Zeke! The only reason Fay died is because this world is twisted! We have to fight so nobody else ends up like her! We must restore the strength of Eldia and win our rights back!"

Zeke's eyes teared up as his father yelled. And the next day, Zeke told Ksaver everything.

"Mr. Ksaver, thanks for playing catch with me", Zeke chimed in as they sat against the military building. "Even when I'm a Titan, I'll remember you."

Zeke got up to leave and Ksaver seemed torn and buried his face in his hands. "Report them."

"Huh?"

"It's your only hope!" Ksaver declared. "If you report them to Marley and prove your loyalty, you and your grandparents might be spared."

"I could never do that!"

"Zeke! Your parents have been terrible to you! They gave up on you and never cared how you felt!"

"They never loved you!"

"Zeke, you've done nothing wrong", Ksaver muttered standing next to the boy after he reported his parents for being Eldian Restorationists.

Zeke's parents were arrested and loaded into a vehicle where Zeke never saw them again.

"You're a smart kid", Ksaver bent down to hug Zeke. "You're a good kid."

Years later, Zeke and Ksaver continued to bond and play catch during their afternoons. Now that Zeke was older, he threw the ball a lot harder.

"Take it easy on me, Zeke!" Ksaver joked after catching a really fast ball.

"Whoops. Do I throw too hard for a geezer?" Zeke teased. He was much older now, in his older teenage years, but he still had only a yellow armband. He was becoming closer to Ksaver though which was advantageous.

"Hey! I'm not that old-!" Ksaver argued back. "I've been studying the things the Founding Titan did to Subjects of Ymir."

"Oh. Like rewriting their memories?" Zeke replied, catching the ball tossed by Ksaver.

"Not just memories", Ksaver began. "It can change the anatomy of their bodies. Around 600 years ago, a terrible pandemic devastated the population. But all of the sudden, the disease just vanished from the Eldian Empire. The King at the time used the Founding Titan to change how their bodies work. No matter where we go, we Subjects of Ymir are like part of the Founding Titan."

Zeke stared.

"Scary, right?" Ksaver asked.

"Can the Founding Titan make it so Subjects of Ymir can no longer bear children?" Zeke pondered. "If none of us were able to have kids, Titans would be wiped out in 100 years."

Ksaver's eyes widened.

"The world wouldn't have to fear or be threatened by Titans anymore", Zeke continued, looking down at the baseball in his hand. "What's more, if we hadn't been born, we wouldn't have had to suffer."

Zeke tossed the ball and it hit Ksaver's glove but fell to the ground because he was frozen in shock.

"...I've never spoken about it, but I had a family once", Ksaver began. "In my foolish youth, I removed my armband. And hiding the fact I was an Eldian, I had a wife and child. My wife was Marleyan. I knew I couldn't hide it forever, but when my wife found out I was Eldian, she slit my son's throat and her own. Me becoming a Warrior was merely a grandiose way to commit suicide, but..."

"For 13 years, I immersed myself in Titan research, met you, played catch..." Ksaver continued and picked up the ball at his feet. "It's been fun."

"I looked for my dead son in you", Ksaver began to sob. "I ran from my sins with my Titan powers! If only I hadn't been born in this world!"

"I'll inherit the Beast Titan", Zeke vowed. "Not for Marley, but to retake the Founding Titan and save the world!"

Ksaver looked up to Zeke while he was kneeling on the ground.

"I'll free the world from the terror of Titans", Zeke declared, confidently. "And free all Eldians from suffering!"

"If a Titan with royal blood comes in contact with the Founding Titan", Ksaver began, now on his feet to explain more Titan powers. "It's possible to draw out its power. However, the power isn't yours to use. That right lies with the Founding Titan. Essentially, you're the key to the lock. The Founding Titan needs to be someone you trust."

And when the 13 years finally came, Zeke became the new Beast Titan, by turning into a Titan via injection serum and devouring Ksaver and obtaining his powers.

"Someone who understands our euthanization plan."

"I'll find that someone, Father", Zeke muttered after transforming back into a human and placed Ksaver's glasses on his face to wear.

After regrouping with Reiner and Bertholdt, they reveal to Zeke that the Founding Titan is within a boy named Eren Jaeger.

"Eren...Jaeger?" Zeke asks them.

"Yes. Eren possesses the Founding Titan", Reiner explained. "And in the basement of his house in Shiganshina there's some sort of vital information."

"Did you hear Eren say anything about his father?" Zeke asked, curiously connecting the dots.

"I believe he said his father's missing and used to be a doctor", Bertholdt responded.

"Unbelievable! 'That' father was alive?" Zeke asked himself.

"Eren, we're victims. You've been brainwashed by him.

Zeke eventually met Eren while Eren was staying in Liberio against the Scouts orders.

"You're starting to resemble Father a bit", Zeke spoke up to Eren who was sitting on his usual bench. Zeke was referring to how Eren's hair had gotten longer, similar to Grisha's. "Do you support the Eldian euthanization plan?"

"Four years ago, some of Dad's memories opened up to me—" Eren looked up. "Memories of when he slaughtered the wall's royal family. He crushed their little kids and smeared them like bugs. Those kids dying is what lets us live."

"I see", Zeke began. "So, you believe Father was right?"

"No, he was wrong", Eren declared. "And I, the son that he raised, was wrong, too. If Eldians hadn't been born, this city—these people wouldn't have to die in this plan of ours. There's no greater salvation than never being born in this world."

"I'll do it", Eren used his crutches to walk towards Zeke. "I'll put an end to 2,000 years of Titan domination. Until then, I keep moving forward. Right, brother?"

Zeke began tearing up. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right. Let's do it."

"Eren...we're going to save everyone."

Back in the present, Zeke was finally beginning to wake up. He could feel the gentle raindrops begin to fall down on his body.

"Our sole salvation..."

"...is Eldia's euthanization."

"You say something? Euthanization?" Levi turned to ask Zeke.

"I didn't steal...I saved lives", Zeke muttered, barely conscious. "The lives of the children they would bear."

Zeke was tied up to a thunder spear which was lodged into his torso. Levi, wearing his green hoodie, watched as the steam from his feet signaled that Zeke was regenerating.

"...from this cruel world."

"Looks like your legs are growing back", Levi realized.

"Mr. Ksaver!? I hope you're watching!" Zeke yelled out loud.

Zeke moved his body, to pull the ignition for the thunder spear which exploded destroying the carriage they were in and sending both of their bodies flying away. The horse caught on fire from the explosion and fell onto the ground.

ACT VII: "Back to Familiar" CHAPTER 19: As Above, So Below - 1948

Rain fell upon the land as the sound of a thunder spear detonating caught the attention of Hange. She turned towards the sound and Floch did the same.

"I'm sure we'll find something if we follow that sound", Floch explained.

They were both on horseback with their green hoods on with a few other Jaegerists.

Over near the explosion, Zeke's torso was still intact, but he was barely conscious.

"It's so quiet..."

Nearby, there was a Titan that made its way over to Zeke. It crawled across the grass and sat up, next to Zeke. The Titan grabbed its stomach and ripped it open, then placed Zeke's torso into it.

Meanwhile, Yelena was eating with a few volunteers at a long table.

"Looks like I was right, Commander Pyxis", Yelena chimed in, putting her hands together and resting her elbows on the table.

"This evacuated district is the only place suitable to contain us should we turn into Titans", Pyxis replied. "And above all, with our own allies pointing guns at our backs, our hands are tied."

"Forgive me, Commander", a fellow Garrison officer muttered. "My son and I both drank the wine."

Pyxis turned, looking at the others in the room and noticing armbands tied around everyone's arm with color having meaning.

"At any rate, it seems like turning coat early on was the secret to securing a cozy position", Pyxis continued, folding his arms. "I assume those white cloths some of you are wearing so proudly denote one's status as a Jaegerist? Then the red cloths are for those who bent the knee after learning what was in the wine they'd drunk, leaving the black ones for the majority of us fools who drank the wine and were none the wiser."

"It sounds a lot like something Marley would do", Pyxis stated sarcastically. "Your homelands were subjugated just like this too, were they not? Was it wise of us to distrust guests who brought gifts of poisoned wine? Or was it foolish?"

Yelena reached for a glass of wine. "You were foolish, yet wise. Had you trusted Zeke and the rest of us from the start, the world would have already been saved."

"What do you mean by saving the world?" Pyxis asked, confused. "How would that save the rest of the world?"

"You were all too late", Yelena answered. "Zeke waited long enough. You responded to his kindness by trying to kill him. Zeke is the god who will save the world, so this divine punishment is only fitting for you."

Meanwhile in the basement prison cell, Mikasa, Conny, and Jean were secured by the Jaegerists. They also had the Braus family and Nicolo imprisoned.

"If Armin was here and had the Colossal Titan, I'd ask if he could bust us out of here with it", Conny began. "But it would probably obliterate us anyways."

"Hey, Mikasa. You haven't talked to Eren recently, have you?" Jean asked.

Mikasa simply shook her head. She had been particularly quiet very recently since the Jaegerists took over. Jean cared about Mikasa deeply, but he knew that her allegiance always lies with Eren.

"Point is, he's now a bona fide piece of shit", Conny chimed in. "He's so far off his rocker."

"Well, let's say he wasn't insane", Jean began. "In that case, he'd need a good reason to do everything that he's doing. We might be able to figure out what he's thinking if we approach it from that angle."

The Scouts then heard footsteps coming.

"Hey! Are you one of them too?" Conny blurted out. "Let us out!"

"You locked me up and dragged me all over the place", Onyankopon began. "And now you're mad that the tables have turned?"

Conny relaxed and the Scouts all looked to Onyankopon.

"Just stay here and behave yourselves until Zeke and Eren meet each other", Onyankopon concluded.

Jean walked up to the bars. "It must be a great feeling to watch things go so smoothly."

Yelena stared at Jean.

"Eren's done everything you and Zeke wanted him to", Jean continued.

"We developed the island", Onyankopon explained. "It was a full century behind the times."

"What!?" Conny blurted.

"Only so you could live in comfort!" Jean barked.

"You were deceived, and you lost", Nicolo's Marleyan friend, Griez, stated. "Nothing more, nothing less."

"Griez!" Nicolo growled. "You traitorous snake!"

"Are you stupid?" Griez asked. "You're the one who sided with the demons and betrayed us, aren't you? You couldn't tear your eyes away from that demon spawn potato girl."

Nicolo reached through the bars at Griez but was held back by Jean and Conny.

"I'll kill you!" Nicolo exclaimed.

"Stop it, Nicolo!" Jean pleaded.

"I got so sick of listening to you prattle on about her every night", Griez continued. "I was a fool to think that whore's death would wake you up!"

"What did you just say!?" Nicolo got even angrier.

"I'll make this simple for you", Griez began. "That whore was a filthy dev—"

BANG!

Griez's lifeless body fell onto the floor with a gunshot would in his head. Yelena shot Griez in his head at point black range, without warning, sending a chill silence through the air.

"Yelena?" Onyankopon cried out.

"I apologize for his rudeness", Yelena bowed to Nicolo and the Braus family. "This island has no need for those who would deride you as demons. Our goal is to sever the chains of hatred. Allow me to tell you the whole truth. No more secrets."

"Zeke's true goal is to save the world with his euthanasia plan", Yelena revealed.

Meanwhile, back in the supply room with Eren, Erwin and an unconscious Gabi.

Eren lunged forward with his blade only for it to be parried with Erwin's. Erwin overpowered Eren due to his size and sent Eren backwards. Eren tried getting up and grabbing his blade, but Erwin kicked it away.

"What is the Red War, Eren!?" Erwin exclaimed.

Eren remained silent for a while before speaking up.

"The true history of the Titans. They come from Ares. And when I succeed and free all Subjects of Ymir, I will get to meet Ares", Eren explained.

"Ares? What are you talking about?" Erwin asked.

"I've seen things", Eren revealed. "I've seen technology that would only exist in stories. Technology from space. The true origin of the Titan powers."

Suddenly, Pieck walked into the room and killed the Jaegerist guard by stabbing him in the throat. And as soon as that happened, a gun shot went off. It was fired by Gabi into Erwin's head. Everything went in slow motion as Eren leapt forward to Erwin's falling body and Gabi turned and aimed her rifle at Pieck.

"Gabi!" Pieck exclaimed. "What!?"

Pieck was in shock as she witnessed Eren eating through Erwin's neck to drink his spinal fluid and be granted powers of the Colossal Titan while in his human form. Gabi's eyes glowed red for a second and she continued to aim her rifle.

"Cart Titan, I suspect", Eren muttered with blood covering his mouth.

"WH-What are you?" Pieck cried out, but she was silenced when Eren put his finger to his mouth.

"You're going to show me where Jaw is", Eren explained. "I'm going to capture him and turn this brat into the new Jaw Titan."

Pieck hesitated for a second. "What do you—"

"Gabi", Eren muttered. And on command, Gabi fired her rifle to clip Pieck's ear.

"Ahh!" Pieck cried out in pain, holding her ear, and trying to stop the bleeding.

"Let's go, I know he's somewhere in this building", Eren declared, walking towards Pieck with Gabi.

"What is going on?" Pieck thought to herself. She complied with Eren's commands and began leading him to the roof. She also gave up her pistol to Eren, who handed it off to another Jaegerist in the hallway.

"Why...why can't I move? Or speak?" Gabi thought to herself as she walked with Eren and held her rifle at Pieck.

Meanwhile back in the basement prison, Yelena finished explaining Zeke's euthanasia plan which consists of Subjects of Ymir being unable to reproduce.

"So, we'll stop having children?" Jean chimed in.

"Slowly and peacefully", Yelena confirmed.

"Wait, what do you mean by, peacefully?" Jean questioned. "If the population decreases until the Subjects of Ymir go extinct—"

"Keep the threat of the Rumbling alive by maintaining the Founder and the royal family", Yelena explained. "Fortunately, Queen Historia already bears an heir to her lineage. If a handful of Subjects of Ymir continue passing down the Founding Titan, until the end of the child's natural life..."

"What, you think everything will be perfect?" Jean asked.

"Perfect, failsafe..." Yelena revealed with cold eyes. "Eren...Zeke...Those brothers will be symbols spoken of for thousands of years. And in death, those two will be saviors, the light shining down on humanity..."

"Yelena!" a volunteer rushed to her from upstairs. "Come quick!"

"Enemy invasion!"

Everyone was running.

"Someone was killed!"

"It's the holder of the Cart Titan!"

Jaegerists began putting on their omni-directional maneuvering gear.

"If you even think about transforming", Eren whispered to Pieck. "I'll have Gabi shoot you directly in the brain."

"I see..." Pieck began as she walked. "Are you going to explain how you're controlling her?"

"Not to you", Eren jeered.

They walked up a flight of stairs which overlooked an open hall filled with Jaegerists. They all watched as Pieck was being forced to the top. She looked down at the soldiers and waved.

"There", Eren noticed Porco's facial expression stood out differently than the others.

"Porco! Watch out!" Pieck exclaimed, jumping down, and running away.

Eren pointed at Porco and had the Jaegerists hold him at gunpoint.

"This couldn't have been the end game", Eren stopped and looked around. He noticed that Porco was in fact right under the roof which is what they were probably planning.

"Should we chase the Cart Titan, sir?" a Jaegerist asked Eren.

"She's probably running back to Reiner", Eren pulled out a Titan Serum injection and took Gabi and Porco to the roof.

The Jaegerists kept hold of Porco so that he couldn't transform, and they made sure not to harm him. Eren injected Gabi, turning her into a Titan and feeding her Porco's body.

Eren carried Gabi back inside, noticing a fleet of airships coming. He found the closest Jaegerist and instructed him to find Zeke before Marley did.

"Yes sir!"

Meanwhile on the airship, Reiner was looking through binoculars.

"Well? Where's Pieck with the signal?" Commander Magath barked.

"Pieck? Porco?" Reiner thought to himself.

Eren's red glowing eye affect on Gabi wore off and she was finally able to move. She quickly lifted her rifle and aimed it at Eren.

"What the hell was that!?" Gabi exclaimed, panicking as her grip on her rifle began shaking.

"I kept you alive because you've been misguided", Eren revealed. "I could've killed you whenever I want."

Gabi lowered her rifle, trying to understand, but became enraged when she remembered the Massacre in Liberio. She once again raised her rifle, but Eren walked over to her and snatched the rifle out of her hands. Gabi back up into a wall, frightened.

"You're an Eldian. My goal is to free all Edlians from the torture of this world", Eren explained.

"You're a Devil!" Gabi spit at Eren's feet.

"I've met the Devil" Eren revealed. "He gave me this new power. But I still need Zeke to activate the Rumbling..."

Outside, explosions and gunfire could be heard overhead. Yelena watched from the roof while Onyankopon rushed downstairs to free the Scouts. Eren looked out a nearby window with Gabi, and he grinned.

"Bring it on, Reiner!"

CHAPTER 20: Attack on Paradise - 2579

Floch and other Jaegerists escorted Hange to the site of the explosion to discover the wrecked carriage and the badly injured body of Levi. Hange got to her knees beside Levi and held his body up. He was unresponsive, but she felt a pulse.

The Jaegerists checked the area, including the Titan that placed Zeke in its stomach to heal. Floch approached Hange holding Levi.

"Captain Levi?" Floch asked Hange.

"The blast shredded his insides, killing him instantly", Hange reported.

However, Floch stared at her wondering if he could trust her words.

"I can take a pulse, too", Floch stated. "Let me see him."

"Floch!"

The Jaegerists all held their rifles at the Titan which lay in the grass. The Titan began emitting large amounts of steam. The rain cleared up and as the steam dissipated, the Titan was mere bones. Zeke had absorbed the Titan's flesh to restore his own.

Zeke was nude. And he looked as though he had seen a new power. The Jaegerists all saluted him and Floch approached him to guide him to Eren.

While the Jaegerists were distracted with Zeke, Hange rolled into the nearby river with Levi and escaped with its current. A few Jaegerists tried to shoot after them, but Zeke waved them down.

"Zeke, what happened to you?" Floch asked.

"I was in some strange place", Zeke began. "Watching this little girl healing my body using sand. It felt like years passed by, but at the same time, it felt like an instant."

Zeke finally realized. "I see...Were those the Paths?"

"All we can do is move forward", Zeke muttered as Zeke walked to a horse with Floch. "Right, Eren?"

"Stay here", Eren instructed Gabi. "You can't control your Titan transformation yet, so you'll just get in my way."

"I could try and go undercover!" Gabi insisted. "If I get closer to Marley—"

"No", Eren interrupted. "Pieck already knows you've switched sides."

"Hey, Eren", Gabi began. "You are going to protect all the Eldians during the Rumbling, right?"

Eren turned away from Gabi and walked to the roof, watching as the airships dropped their anti-Titan cannons and now in the distance Eren could see Reiner, in his Armored Titan form, on the ground with Pieck in her Cart Titan form with her new Panzer Unit on the wall.

"Hide inside and escape underground with the War Hammer Titan!" Yelena exclaimed to Eren. "If you fight, you'll be at a disadvantage!"

"Bring it on, Reiner!"

A yellow bolt of electricity shot down onto Eren's body until he transformed into his Titan form. The bones and muscles of the Attack Titan materialized from Eren's body and roared into the sky after transforming.

"The Titans...have started to move", Pyxis looked up to the roof.

Eren charged Reiner who did the same. When the two Titans collided, it sent out a shockwave that destroyed nearby windows. With Porco dead, Eren stood a better chance against Reiner. However, an anti-Titan round was fired across the battlefield into Eren's chest.

Eren began to try and heal, but Reiner continued delivering power strikes to Eren's face.

"Only you could have convinced Marley to do something so stupid, Reiner."

"Hurry! Protect Eren!" Yelena ordered her men. Onyankopon had left her side earlier to free the imprisoned Scouts.

Many volunteers and Jaegerists began to take defensive positions as well as attack the enemy to aid Eren, who was fighting Reiner.

"We need either Reiner or Pieck to eat the Founding Titan so we can end this war!" Magath declared to his men who were at the ground zero for the two Titans who began wrestling and destroying buildings. Luckily, most of the city was evacuated beforehand.

Reiner began a flurry of punches which were blocked due to Eren hardening his forearms. When Eren found an opening, he grabbed Reiner's arm and hip tossed him into the ground.

When Reiner stood up, Eren sent a hardened fist crashing into Reiner's jaw, and breaking off pieces of his armored face. Recovering quickly, Reiner lunged forward and tackled Eren into the ground. As Reiner got up, Eren kicked Reiner in the face, sending him crashing onto his back.

"Without the Jaw Titan to help him, this fight was over before it even began", Eren thought to himself.

BOOM!

An anti-Titan round fired from the Panzer Unit's giant cannon mounted on the Cart Titan fired into Eren's Titan's head.

"Shit", Eren blurted out. "I forgot about the Cart Titan."

"Got its brains! The Attack Titan lost motor control!" a member from the new Panzer Unit stated while looking through binoculars at the damage they'd done.

"Shit! The Armor Titan will escape!" Jaegerists yelled as they were mowed down on rooftops by semi-automatic gunfire.

"It's the enemy!"

"—They're on the roof!"

The bodies of the dead Jaegerists fell to the ground.

"There's too many!" One Jaegerist yelled to the others as they tried to find cover on the rooftops.

"They're slow!" One Jaegerist blurted. "Wrap around 'em!"

Suddenly, automatic gunfire from machine guns mounted on the airships above began killing many Jaegerists with ease.

"No way", Yelena began realizing, frozen in fear and watching the battle unfold. "At this rate, the Founder will get eaten!"

"Eren, you're not like other people", Yelena thought to herself as she watched Eren try to heal. "You're special."

Eren was shot once again in the head, spilling gallons of blood onto his feet.

"Eren!" Gabi yelled. She ran into the streets with her rifle, but then stopped. "Wait...who's team am I on?"

"You've lost", Reiner chimed in. "You've suffered enough already."

Meanwhile in the basement prison, Onyankopon was struggling to find the right key because he was so anxious, trying to free the Scouts.

"Marley is here!" Onyankopon blurted out. "And Eren is fighting alone! And no one knows where Zeke is!"

Once he opened the door, Conny immediately grabbed his collar.

"Marley will steal the Founder! Help us! We've gotta protect Eren!" Onyankopon pleaded.

"Are you shitting me!?" Conny exclaimed, forcing Onyankopon against the wall. "What's this about 'we'!? This is your fight!"

"I-I'm sorry! But if I went against Yelena, she would've blown my head off!" Onyankopon admitted.

"Eh!?" Conny responded. "You were just pretending to be nice to us! I'm fed up with getting betrayed all the time! Why the hell should we help Eren if it means none of us can have kids?!"

Jean grabbed Conny's hands and removed them from Onyankopon. "Let's hear him out, Conny."

"I honestly had no idea", Onyankopon dropped to his knees after being released. "The wine, the euthanization plan...The Volunteers didn't know!"

"Eh!?" Conny lunged at Onyankopon but was stopped by Jean once again.

"He's telling the truth", Nicolo vouched. "Yelena told us to keep quiet. She said not to tell the Volunteers."

"Besides, I don't want Eldians to get euthanized", Onyankopon began. "I want to build Paradis together and beat Marley side by side! If the euthanization plan is carried out, what's the point of all our effort?!"

Onyankopon looked into the eyes of the Scouts. "Please believe me!"

"I do", Jean declared. "Or at least I know Armin would've."

"I believe him too", Mikasa also declared.

"You've already shown that your views basically go against Zeke's", Jean continued. "On your feet, Onyankopon."

"Jean..." Onyankopon looked up to see Jean extending his hand out. He grabbed it and rose to his feet.

"If we help Eren and Zeke, it means letting the euthanization plan happen", Jean said to the group. "What do you think, Mikasa? Do you want to help Eren?"

"I want to", Mikasa declares, holding onto the red scarf which she never gave away. "I don't believe that Eren honestly wants to stop Eldians from having children."

"While I don't think it's like him, it's not that outrageous—" Jean began.

"It IS outrageous!" Mikasa shouts. "This is Eren! If he refused to go with Yelena's plan, he might not even be alive right now!"

Outside, Eren roared as he tried to heal. Yelena stood at the edge of a stone rooftop watching everything unfold, alone due to all of the other volunteers running for safety.

Some Marleyan soldiers tossed grenades at Jaegerists on rooftops, killing them. The battlefield was becoming filled with guerilla warfare, some soldiers resorted to choking other soldiers while some used bayonets to stab and gorge their enemies. The streets were filled with red bloodstains and dead bodies.

"Well..." Jean began to explain to Mikasa. "I did think that's unlike him to think that. But it's not impossible-"

"But it IS impossible!" Mikasa continued. "It's up to Eren to decide what to do with the power of the Founding! From the moment Yelena made her proposal, he had no choice but to go with it."

"Is it okay for us to go now?" Mr. Braus chimed in, standing among his family.

"I'm sorry, but please wait just a bit longer", Nicolo pleaded with them. It was still far too dangerous to be outside at this moment.

"He really pisses me off to no end", Jean muttered.

"Yeah", Conny blurted out. "I'll lose my chance to punch that bastard if he dies here."

And with everyone on the same page, the Scouts began to run to help Eren. Mikasa thinks back to when they went to the sea and seeing nothing but red, come from Eren's aura. They ran up a long staircase to exit the basement.

"...will we finally...be free?"

Marley soldiers ran through the streets with their rifles.

"We need a true hero like Helos!" Magath bellowed to his soldiers. "A true hero to save the world!"

Eren and Reiner continued grappling in the center of the city. Eren roared and activated the War Hammer Titan's power to create hardened spires that pierced Reiner's armor.

Eren took a hit in his shins and Reiner took the opportunity to tackle Eren to the ground. He opened his mouth wide and began lowering his head to Eren's nape, struggling to eat him. However, Eren used his free arm to push Reiner's head away. Suddenly, Reiner was launched forward and off of Eren. He was hit with something.

Across the battlefield stood Zeke, in his Beast Titan form, on the wall a good distance from the Cart Titan and Magath. Everyone looked up to see Zeke make his grand entrance.

"You did well holding your own, Eren", Zeke bellowed from his massive Titan's mouth. "Just leave the rest to your big brother!"

Zeke reached down below and crumbled a bunch of rocks together in his hands. He twisted his torso and winded his hand with the rocks back, before throwing his arm forward and launching the rocks at the airships above.

"Hurry Pieck!" Magath on the Cart Titan exclaimed as she jumped to the side to avoid rocks thrown by Zeke.

Pieck grabbed ahold of the wall and hung off its ledge.

"I believe it's not wise to engage in a shootout with the Beast", Pieck's large mouth Titan explained to Magath.

Around the bend of the wall, Floch, along with other Jaegerists using Omnidirectional Maneuvering gear began closing the distance on Pieck.

"Pincer, the Cart!" Floch ordered.

"Yes sir!" Pincer replied, by moving into a flanking position.

Rocks thrown by Zeke began hitting Marleyan soldiers fighting on the ground. They had to quickly get to cover or die.

"We have no choice but to leave the Titans to Titans", Colt addressed on the battlefield. "We have our own battle to fight."

Colt began to run through the streets looking for Falco when he bumped into Gabi who defied Eren's orders.

"Gabi!" Colt exclaimed.

"Colt!" Gabi responded.

"Come on, we gotta get you out of here!" Colt stated. "Wait, do you know where Falco is?"

"I haven't seen him!" Gabi lied. She was still protecting Eren, and she had no idea why.

Meanwhile, the ones who drank the wine were all being held captive and were forgotten once the battle overhead started.

"This area is under Jaegerists control!" a young soldier tried stopping Jean and the others. "You can't just—"

"Will you still put your life on the line to stop us?" Jean asked, grabbing the soldier's collar, and lifting him up.

The Scouts all began freeing the many soldiers who were held captive by the Jaegerists.

"Pyxis!" Jean exclaimed. He and Mikasa both approached the old man. "Are you okay?"

"I'm not senile just yet", Pyxis replied sarcastically. "But I did have a little too much to drink."

Once everyone was gathered, Pyxis addressed anyone who could help fight in the battle.

"We'll fight off the invaders on the front line!" Pyxis exclaimed.

"Yes sir!"

Everyone began gearing up with omnidirectional gear and weapons for battle. Mikasa was approached by the young girl she saved years ago.

"To be able to fight alongside you for the same goal again", the girl said to Mikasa as they put gear on. "Oh? So, you are going to wear the scarf?"

The girl watched as Mikasa completed her look with the original scarf Eren gave to her.

"Of course, I am", Mikasa told the young girl.

Now that everyone had their equipment, they walked up the flight of stairs which placed them into the battlefield. Jean was in the middle, beside Conny and Mikasa. The remaining Scouts from their original class. The ghost of Armin walked alongside them, unable to affect anything but proud to watch his friends.

Yelena stood on a stone ledge and placed her arms out and looked up to the airships which had all been shot down by Zeke and were becoming engulfed in flames.

"The Shiganshina gate has been blocked?" Conny asked.

Eren began walking towards Zeke, who helped Eren by tossing rocks into Reiner who had lunged forward at Eren.

Jean and the others eventually found Yelena.

"Where is Captain Levi and Hange?" Jean demanded.

"I believe it's right to assume Zeke has defeated them", Yelena replied, staring at the chaos in front of her.

"We should join the Jaegerists and help put Zeke and Eren together", Mikasa suggested.

Yelena looked at Mikasa with the creepiest face, but then relaxed, suspecting nothing.

"Please help Eren and Zeke", Yelena smiled to Mikasa.

The airships began crashing into the ground and the Scouts moved onto the battlefield. Soldiers continued firing at one another while the Scouts took cover on a rooftop.

Zeke continued to cover Eren by throwing rocks towards anyone around him. Eren continued to walk while receiving heavy gunfire.

"Just a little more and our dream will come true", Zeke growled. "Just a little more..."

"We did it!" a few Jaegerists cheered on the wall. "We killed the Cart Titan!"

Pieck's Titan form looked as though it were melting.

Floch landed on the wall with a few others. "Right when we thought we finally caught up."

"Eh? You guys killed it, right?"

Suddenly, people began to drop dead as single-shot gunfire could be heard coming from the steam from Pieck's Titan melting.

"We can only make one shot with this sneak attack", Pieck explained to her Panzer Unit, covering her ears. "General Magath!"

Sitting in the seat of the heavy cannon was Magath, and he fired a powerful shot which hit Zeke in the neck and sent his Beast Titan crashing into the ground below.

"Did you kill him?" Pieck asked Magath.

"The last person in this world who should have that power...is you, Eren."

CHAPTER 21: Two Brothers - 2817

Zeke's Beast Titan was hit with so much force, he stumbled forward and off the ledge of the wall. Jean, Conny, and Mikasa watched from a distant rooftop while Yelena's face grew more concerned after witnessing Zeke take such a heavy attack.

Eren walked over to Zeke but was stopped by Reiner, who shoved him into the ground. Eren tried fighting back until he was shot in the head once more.

"Would you piss off already!?" Pieck exclaimed as she turned her body, which also moved her cannon, and she smacked a few Jaegerists out of the air.

"We've gotta deal with the Cart Titan first", Mikasa points out.

"Mikasa look out!" Jean tackled her onto the roof, dodging a rocket that was fired by a Marleyan soldier. The rocket ended up exploding inside of a nearby building.

Meanwhile, Zeke regained consciousness after his fall.

"I...fell to the ground", Zeke muttered.

Zeke looked forward until his vision sharpened and he saw Reiner wrestling on top of a wounded Eren.

"Eren..." Zeke muttered again.

"Where's Porco!?" Reiner yelled at Eren.

"I fed him to one of your Eldian children!" Eren revealed.

Reiner lowered his guard for a second and Eren took that opportunity to flip Reiner and begin wailing on his face with hardened fists.

"I'm sorry Reiner", Reiner heard a familiar voice in his head. "You were never meant to be chosen as a Warrior."

On the wall, Magath was still sitting on Pieck's cannon, but he was also firing at the airborne Jaegerists with his pistol.

"General Magath!" Pieck roared from her Titan mouth.

"It's time to summon the Titans", Zeke muttered.

ROAR!

Zeke's mighty and thunderous roar echoed throughout the walls. And one by one, the Eldian officers who drank Zeke's wine all began to transform into Titans. Lights began flashing inside multiple buildings displaying how many Titans were now within the evacuated city.

"Farewell..." Pyxis gave his last goodbye as he felt the Titan within himself, transform.

When the dust settled, there were now hundreds of Titans, thirsty for human blood.

"What the?" one Marleyan soldier seemed puzzled. "The enemy...turned into Titans?"

"Quick! The Anti-Titan cannons!"

They turned to see another soldier being eaten alive. Meanwhile, another Titan attacked from their blind spot and devoured them. Hundreds of Titans began running down the streets searching for humans to eat. Suddenly, Gabi in her Jaw Titan form appeared to help Eren deal with Reiner. While Gabi had Reiner distracted, Eren began walking towards Zeke who couldn't move because his Titan's legs were crushed.

"Let's go stop the Cart Titan!" Mikasa declared.

"Wait, why is the Jaw Titan attacking Reiner?" Jean looked puzzled.

Mikasa didn't hesitate, she immediately fired off an anchor to flank the Cart Titan.

"Hey, wait Mikasa!" Jean blurted out before he and Conny followed her into battle.

"G-Gabi?" Colt quivered. He was left speechless after she transformed into a Titan.

Reiner was able to hold Gabi down, but she was relentless and was able to slow Reiner down until Reiner kicked her face, which forced her to release her grip on him.

"I can't let Eren get away!", Reiner roared as he struggled with Gabi's Jaw Titan.

Suddenly another heavy round fired by Magath, and the Anti-Tank cannon shot fired through Zeke's body.

"He's a goner this time; I'm sure of it. Crisis averted", Magath declared, looking through a scope to see the battlefield. "That leaves the Founding Titan. We've got no need for your head—just your spinal fluid!"

There was a large explosion that went off next to Magath and Pieck from a few recently launched thunder spears.

"We were too slow", Mikasa reveals in the air. She flips and sends herself between two Marleyan soldiers on the wall and cuts through both of their bodies at the same time, killing them.

"It's over! It's over for you guys!" Pieck exclaimed, reacting to the sudden attack.

Back on the battlefield, Reiner manages to catch up to Eren and punches him in the face. However, Eren quickly hardens his Titan body and jumps out of it in his human form, where he begins running towards Zeke.

"Glad you noticed, Eren", Zeke reveals that he's in his human form as well. When Magath shot him the most recent time, Zeke exited his Titan Form, which gave off a large cloud of steam to hide his presence.

Reiner's hand that punched Eren's was trapped due to the hardening, so Reiner reached towards Eren with his free hand. But he was stopped, after being bombarded by thunder spears in his face launched by nearby Jaegerists.

"Come on, Eren!" Zeke reached forward.

Eren ran towards Zeke, and he looked over to his right, spotting another image of Armin.

"I see. So, you turned Gabi on to your side so that she wouldn't shoot you here. Right, Eren?" Armin asked Eren, who ignored the ghost and finally contacted Zeke, grabbing his hand.

In a flashback, Eren meets with Zeke for the first time to talk about the plan.

"First of all, thanks for coming here to talk with me", Zeke mentions, standing beside Eren. "My stance is exactly what Yelena told you. Do you support the Eldian euthanization plan?"

"Four years ago, some of Dad's memories opened up to me—", Eren began and stepped away from the wall. "There's no greater salvation than never being born in this world. I'll do it. I'll put an end to 2,000 years of Titan domination."

"Eren, we're going to save everyone", Zeke concluded and tossed his baseball to Eren.

Eren, however on crutches at the time, doesn't catch the ball and it falls onto the ground.

"Hospital life must've made me sluggish", Eren tried to explain, while Zeke stared.

Once Eren contacted Zeke on the battlefield, they were both transported to the Paths, a world with a blue hue to it and it was filled with sand. Eren looked confused, but Zeke sat on his knees, with chains linking around his neck coming from the ground.

"Someone's here", Eren announced.

"Don't worry, that's...the Founder Ymir", Zeke explains.

Just then, a young girl dressed in an old, tattered dress began walking towards them from a singular light, which extended upwards like a tree.

"The time has come to fulfill our dream", Zeke continued. "As I thought, only you can move freely here. Only you can command the Founder Ymir..."

Eren stared down at Zeke.

"To fulfill my, Mr. Ksaver's, and your dream. Please, save the world, Eren", Zeke begged Eren calmly.

"Eren...?"

"Eren, tell her to make Eldians unable to bear children until the end of time!" Zeke demanded, raising his voice. "Crushing the military with the rumbling can come later!"

Eren turned his back to Zeke. "Euthanize every last Eldian..."

"Eren...?"

"There's no way in hell I'd go along with such a messed up plan!" Eren barks down at Zeke. "Sorry, Brother. I was only playing along in order to get here."

Zeke looked betrayed and placed his face in his hands, as if he were sobbing.

"As long as Eldians exist, this hell will never end!" Zeke tried to plead his case.

"Founder Ymir, lend me your power", Eren reached his hand forward, to the young girl. However, she walked right past Eren towards Zeke.

Eren turned, looking surprised this time.

"I thought as much, Eren", Zeke began. "I hoped, if anyone, you would understand."

Zeke then moved his hands from his face and shouted, "Is this the result of Father's brainwashing again!?"

The Founder Ymir sat down in front of Zeke.

"What...does this mean?" Eren asked, bewildered.

"The Founder can make anything, even these earthen chains", Zeke explained, grabbing, and pulling off the chains from his neck. He stood up and continued. "I managed to nullify the vow renouncing war. Though possessing tremendous power, the Founder is a slave with no will of her own."

"She believes those with royal blood are her masters and obeys them", Zeke explains. "I've obtained the Founder's power. You were no more than the key, Eren."

Eren looked down and realized he had chains on his wrists, stretching from the sand.

"I'm glad I waited to hear your true feelings", Zeke declares to Eren. "You need somebody to save you too, Eren. I will never abandon you. I'll fix you with the Founder's power!"

"Stop", Eren began. "It's pointless."

Zeke placed his hands on Eren's shoulders.

"When I save the world, it'll be with you!" Zeke concluded.

Zeke pulled Eren towards himself and their heads butted together.

"Where are we now?" Eren asked.

Eren and Zeke were standing behind a younger Grisha who was tending to a young boy. This boy was a younger version of Eren, and he realized that Zeke must be able to take them through memories of the past.

"This is..." Eren began.

"Just how Grisha Jaeger brainwashed his son", Zeke chimed in. "And how he planted those seeds of nationalism into you."

"Let's go", Zeke stated and turned with Eren into a new memory, leaving Grisha and Carla happy with their young boy.

They stepped into a memory where Eren walked for the first time.

"I shouldn't have been born", Eren declares. "I'm free from my brainwashing now."

"We have all the time we need, Eren", Zeke stated as they continued to watch Grisha raising Eren. "No need to rush."

Zeke took Eren down memory paths where Eren grew up eating dinner as a family and even when Grisha would take Eren to the Garrison soldiers who were friendly to the child. Finally, Zeke took Eren to a memory of Grisha's where he found the royal family's sacrificial church.

"I can't believe he found it so quickly", Eren said beside Zeke, watching Grisha.

"What's this place?" Zeke asked Eren. He was interrupted though when the door opened.

Grisha looked inside and then left. Zeke and Eren then switched to a memory where Grisha and Eren were just playing together like father and son. And soon Zeke began realizing that their childhoods were nothing alike.

Eren began to notice Zeke's expressions with each memory.

"It seems he did love his second son", Zeke finally acknowledged. "Enough to put his mission as a restorationist aside."

Zeke watched as Grisha slept at his desk with his head on his books. "Nothing like he did with me."

"I'm sorry...Zeke", Grisha stated in his sleep.

Zeke turned in surprise.

"Zeke?" Grisha continued, now opening his eyes.

Grisha stood straight up, knocking his chair back, as it appeared as though Grisha could see Zeke.

"Are...you there, Zeke?" Grisha asked, seemingly staring at Zeke.

Eren and Zeke both stared, shocked. If this was a memory, how is Grisha able to detect their presence?

"How could that bearded old man be Zeke", Grisha relaxed, sitting back in his chair, and rubbing his head.

"This is—"

"Next", Eren coldly stated. "We're going to the next memory."

Eren stood by the next door, which opened up like a spiritual portal.

"Before I save the world", Zeke began as they walked together. "...I want to save you."

Zeke began reading over Grisha's shoulder. "Humanity has not perished, huh?"

"What grand words he left behind."

They were now in Eren's kitchen where Carla was doing the dishes and Grisha was holding his basement key. Eren and Mikasa had just gotten home.

"I'm home", the younger Eren announced.

"Welcome back", Carla responded and turned to smile.

Young Eren and Mikasa had been gathering sticks outside. They set their sticks down with the rest of the gathered wood.

"You made Mikasa help, didn't you?" Carla teased.

Later on, younger Eren asked his father. "Eh? Are you going out, dad?"

"Eren said he wanted to get into Survey Corps", Mikasa revealed to Eren's parents.

"What are you thinking!?" Carla scolded her son. "Do you understand how many people that left the walls have died?"

"I understand!"

"Then why!?"

Grisha turned to his wife and son. "The ship will sail soon. I'm going now."

"Human curiosity is not something that can be suppressed by words", Grisha began as he walked out the door. "I'll show you the basement I've been keeping a secret about."

However, something was off about Grisha. He was talking calmly, but his eyes were staring straight into the older Eren's eyes.

"Really?" younger Eren cheered.

"Have a safe trip!" Carla and Eren called out to Grisha as he left. Mikasa was quiet, but she waved as well.

Suddenly, Grisha was in the underground sacrificial chamber of the royal family. And they were staring each other down.

"I'm an Eldian from outside the wall!" Grisha announced to the royal family. "Just like you..."

Eren and Zeke stood behind Grisha.

"I'm a Subject of Ymir!" Grisha continued to explain to the royal family.

"The time has come for us Subjects of Ymir to face judgment", Frieda Reiss declared. "Man is far too weak in the face of such massive power. That the power of Titan must be protected from the hand of people."

"You said you've seen this memory before, right?" Zeke asked Eren. "And that made you lose all hope in our father..."

"No one within the walls knows about the sin our ancestor has committed!" Grisha exclaims, pointed outside. "Because you took away their memories! Is having them eaten by Titans without knowing anything what you call atonement?"

"No", Frieda answered. "No matter how hard we reflect on ourselves now, we cannot give back the lives we Eldians have taken away. We Eldians will be the only ones who have to die."

Grisha turned to his right, towards Eren who was visibly angry. But this was a memory, so how was this happening? Zeke was beyond confused at this point.

"There's no point in trying to convince me", Frieda declared. "From long ago, the inheritor of the Attack Titan never obeyed others."

"We've all been led to this memory for this one moment", Grisha explained. "The Attack Titan can see the memories of its future inheritors."

Grisha began holding the side of his head, as though he were in pain.

"The future?" Zeke chimed in. "What does that mean, Eren?"

"I also know that you're not aware of it", Grisha continued. "Because even if you're part of the royal family, the vow to renounce the war...That is the future already set for us!"

Grisha took out a scalpel blade and prepared to cut his hand while Frieda told the rest of the royal family to seek cover. However, Grisha dropped the knife.

"Just kidding", Grisha muttered to himself. Realizing he didn't want to kill or cause violence. Grisha fell to his knees. "I could never kill children..."

Eren approached his father's side.

"A doctor who saves life", Grisha continued muttering to himself. "The past... can't be... changed..."

"We must not let that man leave alive!" one of the Reiss royal family members blurted out.

"He will destroy our paradise!"

"Frieda! Protect everyone!"

"Stand up, Dad", Eren coldly began talking to his father through time.

Eren leaned down towards his father and began whispering to him.

"Did you forget?" Eren chimed in. "The reason why you're here. Isn't it to get revenge for your little sister who was eaten by dogs? For your fellow restorationists, for Dina, for Kruger..."

"You have to avenge them!" Eren roared. "And keep going forward."

Grisha, now freaked out, cries out loud and reaches for the blade once again and cuts into his palm. After the destruction of the building and the slaughter of Frieda and her siblings, Grisha exited in his Attack Titan form. His human form detached itself from the Titan body, and Grisha stumbled walking forward.

"I killed them!" Grisha yelled to the sky. "With my own hands! I killed the Reiss family! Are you happy now!? Is this what you wanted!? Will Eldia really be saved with this!?"

Grisha fell to his knees, tearing up. "Why won't you show me everything? The walls being destroyed...Carla..."

Grisha looked at the ground. "You're there, aren't you?"

"Zeke..."

Zeke's eyes widened, surprised.

"From here on, you won't get what you wanted", Grisha began muttering out loud. "The one who will is Eren..."

"What...are you saying—" Zeke began.

"I saw...Eren's memory of what happens next", Grisha declares. "But I never thought it would be something so terrible...Wait! Is that you?"

Grisha's eyes made contact with Zeke's, and he ran to hug his older son.

"You've really grown", Grisha continued talking to Zeke. "I was a really terrible father! I've put you through so much suffering...I love you! I should've spent more time with you!"

Zeke looked up to the sky as he hugged his father back and began to cry.

"Dad..."

"Zeke...Please stop Eren", Grisha concluded, and Zeke was knocked back into the Paths with a chained up Eren.

Zeke fell onto the ground and looked up to his brother.

"Eren!"

ACT VIII: "Overall Changed" CHAPTER 22: The Rumbling - 2360

Inside the Reiss sacrificial chamber, Grisha transformed into his Attack Titan while Frieda Reiss transformed into her Founding Titan form. She stood above her family, protecting them. Grisha's Attack Titan form was bigger than Frieda's and he leapt through the air and tackled her.

Grisha's Titan was able to rip off one of the arms from Frieda. Then he quickly brought his mouth to the nape of her neck and devoured Frieda's human body.

Grisha then continued the carnage by slamming his hand into the children and other members of the family. Each member died a gruesome death besides Rod.

"I saw...Eren's memory of what happens next", Grisha declares. "But I never thought it would be something so terrible...Wait! Is that you?"

Grisha's eyes made contact with Zeke's, and he ran to hug his older son.

"You've really grown", Grisha continued talking to Zeke. "I was a really terrible father! I've put you through so much suffering...I love you! I should've spent more time with you!"

Zeke looked up to the sky as he hugged his father back and began to cry.

"Dad..."

"Zeke...Please stop Eren", Grisha concluded, and Zeke was knocked back into the Paths with a chained up Eren.

Zeke fell onto the ground and looked up to his brother.

"Eren!"

"It should be possible for you to show Grisha memories that best suit you..." Zeke began. "...and influence the past."

Eren remained silent.

"Dad...Grisha", Zeke continued. "...hesitated to carry out his duty as a restorationist."

"Thanks to you bringing me into the old man's memories..." Eren explained. "...the path I'm on now becomes possible."

Zeke's eyes widened. "I won't get what I want, but you will..."

Zeke began to rise to his feet. He shouted out towards Ymir, who stood behind the two brothers.

"Take the ability to reproduce from every single Subject of Ymir!" Zeke ordered.

Ymir, without a sound, turned and began walking towards the light to grant Zeke's wish.

"The coordinate!" Eren exclaimed.

Eren began struggling to break free, but these chains didn't crumple like the one's that held Zeke. Eren, realizing that he was powerless, continued to struggle until his wrists began to bleed.

"I don't know what kind of future you saw through our father's memory..." Zeke began. "But it's not like you saw everything, right Eren?"

Eren continued to pull.

"You are..." Zeke continued. "...as powerless as ever."

Eren, with his headstrong determination and will, activated his red glowing eyes and he pulled through the chains, bleeding everywhere as one hand was severed. As Eren now ran to Ymir, the Paths began changing color from blue to red.

"...nothing in this world can stop her", Zeke declared.

Eren hugged Ymir from behind. The entire realm of the Paths was red now.

"Eren! Stop!" Armin chimed in.

"What is this? Who is that?" Zeke blurted out. "Founder Ymir! As part of the royal bloodline, I command you to euthanize all Eldians!"

2000 years ago, Ymir was a young girl who was a slave and blamed for releasing all the livestock. King Fritz freed her but made her run for her life from his men's arrows. She eventually tripped into a largely odd, shaped tree where her body became fused with an alien lifeform. Hallucegenia looked like a large centipede. This was all a ruse, however, as King Fritz was working for a Martian named Ares. The Martian wanted to conquer Earth by releasing their bioweapon, and King Fritz chose Ymir.

Once Ymir fused with the Titan bioweapon, she transformed into the world's first Titan. King Fritz then took her back as his slave and mated with her, ignoring Ares and his conquest. King Fritz decided he would rule the world himself with the power of Ymir. He started by terrorizing Marley, but he stopped communicating with Ares. That is, until Ares returned 2,000 years into the future and began communicating with Eren by showing him memories from an alternate timeline.

Eren hugged Ymir who now had red glowing eyes.

As a result of Eren's new power, Ymir didn't take the spear that was meant for King Fritz. Instead, Eren altered the past by forcing Ymir to control her own destiny. Ymir became a Queen in an alternate timeline and created a peaceful world. However, the rage from Eren forced her to start the Rumbling. A blue Ymir walked towards the red Ymir. Armin appeared beside Eren to try and stop him one last time.

"Fight!" Eren and Ares bellowed simultaneously.

"I will put an end to this world!" Eren shouted to blue Ymir. "You get to decide! You choose!"

"Eren, stop this!" Armin yelled.

"What are you doing?" Zeke barked. He began running towards Eren and both Ymir's. "Ymir! Obey my command!"

"The one who lead me here...was it you?" Eren silently asked the red Ymir.

"But I am of Royal blood!" Zeke blurted out.

The blue Ymir placed out her hand which made contact with the red Ymir's hand, who had it extended as well. The blue began to be absorbed into the red Ymir as passion, rage, and destruction filled her eyes.

Back in the real world, Eren began transforming into a large Titan, with a very different and more sinister appearance. The walls began crumbling sending Pieck and Magath crashing to the ground.

Eren's body merged with Zeke's as the giant Founding Titan form of Eren began moving towards Marley, accompanied by millions of Colossal Titans which began trampling the world beneath their feet.

Everyone watched as Eren roared and the sky darkened.

"Gabi!" Reiner shielded Gabi who had exited her Jaw Titan form.

Mikasa and Jean landed on a rooftop in front of Conny who watched in horror as the Titans moved.

"What's that?" Jean asked. "It's way too big."

"That's Eren", Mikasa stared.

"What?" Jean asked Mikasa, cupping his ear.

"I can't hear you!" Mikasa replied to Jean.

The sound of the millions of Titan footsteps filled the air, deafening everyone.

"Eren started the Rumbling!" Mikasa yelled closer to Jean's ear.

"Guys! What's going on!?" Conny blurted out.

"Wait, Mikasa look", Jean pointed behind them where the inner-wall Colossal Titans were also being freed. "Shiganshina district's outer wall should be more than enough!"

"If it's just to crush the Allied Forces massing in Marley..." Jean continued. "...if that's his goal, then we won't need this many—"

Suddenly, Mikasa and Jean appeared in the red version of the Paths.

"To all Subjects of Ymir..."

The voice of Eren could be heard inside of the heads of all Eldians in the world.

"My name is Eren Jaeger. I've undone the hardening of all the Walls on Paradis Island and all Titans entrapped within them have started marching. The Wall Titans shall trample all surface of the land outside of this island."

Over in Marley, Annie's dad snaps into reality.

"What?"

"What was that strange place?"

The Eldians around Marley began looking around afraid. The Marleyans were unable to hear Eren's cryptic message.

"Are you okay, Mr. Leonhart?" the Marleyan shop owner, Annie's father was shopping at, looked puzzled.

"Say...did you hear it?" Mr. Leonhart asked. "The Titans are coming from that island to kill us..."

"Reiner!" Gabi helped Reiner out of his Titan.

"Gabi! Why do you have the Jaw Titan's powers? Where's Porco?" Reiner asked.

"Where's Falco?!" Colt begged. He caught up to Reiner and Gabi after Gabi transformed.

Gabi looked at both Reiner and Colt.

"They're both..."

Colt dropped to his knees and screamed in horror.

"Wait, but why are you one of the nine, Gabi?" Reiner asked.

"Eren Jaeger..." Gabi began. "He has some new ability. It's not a Titan ability. It's an alien one. I heard him talking with their Commander before I killed him. Eren Jaeger made me eat Porco..."

Reiner and Colt both gasp in shock. The sound of the Titans rumbling filled the air.

"We have to stop him!" Gabi declared.

Reiner looked exhausted and was badly injured due to wall debris and Colt didn't have much to offer strength wise. Gabi looked around trying to formulate a plan.

"For some reason, my armor was stripped away..." Reiner explained.

"...Everyone's gonna die", Gabi muttered. "And it's all my fault."

"Gabi, I—" Colt began but was interrupted.

"Even Aunt Karina and everyone else in Marley, aren't they?" Gabi continued sharply.

"That's right...no one can stop him now..." Reiner sat onto the ground holding his wound. "All we can do is to run away and survive..."

Later after finding refuge in an abandoned building, Gabi tied her hair up and looked at herself in the mirror. "Wait for me, Falco."

Meanwhile, on the rooftops, the three remaining Scouts stood together.

"It's finished", Jean declared. "I never thought he'd planned to slaughter everyone outside the walls. All because they deemed us as devils and tried to kill us all. I wonder what Armin or Sasha would say right about now..."

The Titans were further away now, so they could all hear one another.

"This is what those people brought on themselves", Jean continued.

Each of them remembered when they rode the train with Eren and he told them, "You guys are important to me. More than anyone else."

Suddenly, the Scouts looked into the distance and saw the Titans the Zeke created were fighting Jaegerists and trying to eat people.

"The Titans...are fighting our soldiers?" Conny asked.

"Did they devour all the Marleyan soldiers?" Jean asked.

"They're eating our comrades!" Mikasa stated. "We have to help them!"

"I wish we could've captured that Jaw Titan to feed to my mother", Conny revealed.

"That's a side quest, I'd rather not go on, Conny", Jean replied, placing his hand on Conny's shoulder for comfort.

The Three Scouts swung into action and began killing the Titans one by one, using their blades and thunder spears.

"...You can do this Jean", Jean muttered to himself. "What would Armin be thinking right now?"

Back in the building with the Volunteers, Onyankopon was trying to move Yelena away as she stared at the Titans from behind a large window.

"Yelena, get back", Onyankopon pleaded for her safety.

"Those are the Titans that Zeke created..." Yelena stared cluelessly.

Titans busted through the walls, finding a large group of young soldiers that were recruited into the Jaegerists.

"It's...over..."

Over in a nearby alleyway, Kaya and the Braus family were running from Titans. Kaya tripped and fell down some stairs, trapping herself with a nearby Titan.

"Why...?" Kaya asked herself. "Save me...Sasha!"

BOOM!

The Titan which lunged for Kaya received a clean headshot fired from Gabi's rifle.

"Mia!?" Kaya exclaimed in relief.

"Kaya! Get up!" Gabi ordered as she charged towards her.

Gabi leaped into the air, jumping over Kaya, and placing the barrel of the gun in the Titan's mouth and firing, decapitating it.

Kaya looked up and saw Sasha within Gabi.

"...Sasha?"

"Wait a minute, are you the intruder kid from Marley?!" Jaegerists from the rooftops asked down below to Gabi.

"Tell us! Or else!"

"She's not!" Kaya chimed in.

Nicolo took the rifle from Gabi.

"I used to be a Marleyan soldier and a POW, so I know how to use a gun!" Nicolo covered for Gabi, forgiving her for killing Sasha.

"Can you direct us to safety instead of worrying about small stuff?" Mr. Braus asked the Jaegerists above.

"Yes please! We beg you!"

"You guys..." Gabi realized that they had all forgiven her.

After the Jaegerists directed them down a safer alley, Mr. Braus broke the silence.

"Are the Titans of the Walls really going out into the world?" the man asked, looking up at the reddened sky.

"Why did you save me?" Kaya asked Gabi.

"I don't know", Gabi responded.

"Sometimes I wish I had killed you", Kaya began. "For what you did..."

"So, you've always known?", Gabi responded, tearing up. "Well, that's the devil in me."

"He's inside me as well", Nicolo began, after hearing their conversation. "There's a devil inside us all, that's why the world turned out this way."

"Then what should we do?" Gabi asked Nicolo.

"We must keep trying", Nicolo declared to the two children.

Meanwhile, the young soldiers were being attacked by Titans that crumbled the building's walls, exposing them.

"Save me!" one man was grabbed by a large Titan.

"Surma!"

Just in time, Mikasa swooped in and cut open the Titan's nape, killing it. "What are you cowards doing? Put on your ODM gear!"

Yelena stared as a Titan began reaching for her through the glass window, but the Titan was swiftly executed by Jean.

Titans began attempting to climb the large tower where most of the surviving humans were. The Scouts and the other Jaegerists all geared up and positioned on the top of the tower.

"Let's all go at once!" Jean ordered, and everyone leaped from the ledge and turned in order to fire thunder spears at each of the Titans.

"Pyxis..." Jean looks down at a familiar faced Titan.

"Commander..." Mikasa began. "We've made it this far all thanks to you. You were the first to truly believe in Eren..."

"...Like I do!"

Mikasa launched a final thunder spear into the Pyxis Titan's neck, killing it.

"Rest...in peace", Jean mutters as he watches the Pyxis Titan fall to the ground.

The Scouts continued zooming from Titan to Titan, killing each one with either a thunder spear or blades to their nape.

"The flames finally began to settle", Jean declared. "This place's safe for now."

They watched the marching Titans from their tower.

"I see..." Onyankopon asked, staring as well. "Is my homeland doomed as well?"

"Floch!" a Jaegerist blurted out, seeing Floch return with the help of another Jaegerist to stand. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah", Floch replied. "Thanks for your concern. But I can't die just yet."

Floch walked forward and pointed his pistol against Yelena's forehead, who was sitting in a chair quietly.

"Yelena, you're all under arrest!" Floch exclaimed.

"What?" Jean and Onyankopon looked puzzled. Mikasa disappeared, but Floch didn't detect her.

Mikasa knew where she had to go next. She remembers during Eren's speech he mentioned undoing all Titan hardening.

"Annie!"

CHAPTER 23: Crimson Sunset - 3104

"The wall Titans are all marching toward the mainland together", an Eldian stated to Hitch, who was tending to the wounded inside of a makeshift hospital.

"I'm sure he didn't mean to attack us, but still..." a Jaegerist chimed in.

An injured civilian was lifted in on a stretcher and sat down beside Hitch.

"He got crushed by the wall!"

"No, Eren killed him!"

"Exactly", and injured Eldian declared.

"Their noble sacrifices bought the survival of the Eldian Empire!" an obsessive nationalist civilian interjected.

"We've won!"

"They died so we could live!"

"Dedicate your hearts!"

Hitch watched beside an elderly woman, who she was treating. The sky cast down a crimson hue over everything as the Rumbling continued.

Later, Hitch moved to a military convoy.

"Load this thing up with all the riot gear it can hold!" Hitch commanded while slapping the back of the horse-led carriage.

"Ma'am!" Three younger soldiers all acknowledged in unison and ran off to complete their assigned tasks.

"I swear", Hitch began, walking into a building and calming down. "What are the people in Shiganshina doing?"

Hitch walked through the building and spotted wet footprints, coming from Annie's holding area.

"Hm?" Hitch began following the footsteps.

Hitch walked into a dark room and was grabbed from behind by Annie, who was hiding behind the door. Annie quickly covered Hitch's mouth to prevent her from screaming. Annie kicked the door closed.

"Scream", Annie began revealing her ring prong against Hitch's neck. "...and I tear your throat open."

Hitch caught Annie off-guard by throwing her over her own hip and slamming her onto the ground. Hitch immediately recovered and grabbed Annie by her collar, holding her up.

"You're so weak, I thought you were an old lady", Hitch teases Annie.

"I need to get her back to the basement", Hitch thought to herself. "Or she'll endanger the city."

"You look like you're too weak to transform right now", Hitch noticed and pointed out.

"You may be right", Annie teased back.

A Jaegerist knocked on the door to the room they were in, but Hitch told them off and covered for Annie.

"Well...", Annie began as the tension was lowered. "At least now I won't have to listen to you bitch about men all the time either."

"How did you-?" Hitch looked over her shoulder at Annie, surprised. "Were you conscious the whole time? It's been years!"

"Yeah", Annie replied. "For those long four years everything felt like a hazy dream. So, is Eren serious about destroying the world?"

Hitch escaped with Annie, who remained hooded, and they rode on horseback traveling and witnessing the marvelous sight of the monstrous Colossal Titans.

"Will you answer my question now?" Hitch asked Annie, who looked back at people grieving the deaths of their loved ones in the streets.

"You asked me so many times, I had to give it some thought", Annie began.

Annie explained how she was sent to Paradis Island to take the Founding Titan from Eren and become heroic Eldians who serve Marley.

"I can't even really remember why I wanted to do it in the first place", Annie continued. "Life just sucked."

Annie explained how her mother cheated on her husband with an Eldian, so that she's a byproduct of infidelity. The man who took her in at the internment camp in Marley wanted Annie for selfish reasons turning her into a Warrior for Marley. Annie mentions to Hitch how he forced her to train her whole life to get stronger just like he wanted.

"And one day, I paid him back for all the pain he'd inflicted on me", Annie continued.

Annie details how she beat the man so severely that her goal was so that he'd never walk right again.

"Now you'll be able to kill your enemies with or without a weapon", Annie remembers a quote from the man.

The two continued on horseback passed a windmill.

"Wait, hang on", Hitch interrupted. "What's all this about again?"

"You made me listen to you talk about yourself for four years", Annie chimed in. "A couple minutes about me won't kill you."

Annie continued telling her story about when her "father" apologized to her. She mentions that he bawled his eyes out and begged her to forget about all the Warrior of Marley prestige.

"I have a father waiting for me to come home", Annie concludes.

"Even if you do get back to your father", Hitch began. "All you're going to find is corpses and rubble."

The pair continued to glance over at the stampede of the Colossal Titans.

Meanwhile, back in Marley, the Eldian refugees all began looking towards one another after hearing Eren's words with the Paths Coordinate.

"Did you see that vision, too?"

"The day has finally come."

Annie's father tried getting through to the Marleyan soldiers.

"Your house, your wife, your in-laws, and everything else are going to be crushed flat!" he roared.

"How can I believe that and just let you out?" the soldier replied. They were keeping the gate closed in the internment camp.

Eldians began making their way to the gate, stumbling over, and confused.

"I'm sure you're all just conspiring together to mount an escape!" the soldier suggested.

The soldiers began to get the crowd under control by forcing them onto their knees at gunpoint.

"You heard me scum!" the soldier kicked Annie's father in the back.

"Promise me you'll come home."

Annie's father begins remembering his last words to her.

"I promise."

Annie's father felt a rush of adrenaline and charged the officer.

BANG!

Mikasa continued looking for Annie. She felt horrible leaving Jean with Floch and the Jaegerists, but she felt that maybe Annie would have some answers. However, Mikasa was worried about Hange and Levi. She didn't even know where Erwin was. She feared that Eren had become a monster and that she wanted to help save him. Free him.

Meanwhile, back at the tower, Gabi was talking once again with Kaya.

"Huh? Gabi's weird", Kaya blurted. "I like Mia better."

"Huh?" Gabi exclaimed and walked forward to hug Kaya. "Bye, Kaya."

"Goodbye, Gabi", Kaya replied.

Upstairs, Floch was becoming trigger happy, and he ended up shooting a volunteer in the hand.

"Floch, stop!" Jean exclaimed. "Don't shoot!"

Floch stood before Jean with the Marleyan volunteer wounded on his knees. "He still hadn't grasped his situation. But now, he has."

"Yeah, but you can't just kill off all of the volunteers!" Jean responded, angrily.

"Great thinking, Jean!" Floch yelled, turning to the rest of the volunteers. "Listen to me, all of you! Ten months ago, Eren told me about his plan! You volunteer soldiers have lost your leader. You've lost the military that backed you. And you'll lose your homelands, too. The Rumbling will turn them all into fields of giant footprints! But if any among you would lend your aid to the Eldian Empire on this island—"

"Go fuck yourself, you prick!" the injured Marleyan soldier on the floor in front of Floch blurted out. "We'd rather die than—"

BANG!

The body of the man fell after being shot in the head at point blank range.

Floch fired into the dead man's torso two more times.

"Even staring down the barrel of a gun, he clung to his pride as a volunteer soldier", Floch reacted as the dead man's blood began pooling around his body.

"What's wrong about submitting, hmm?" Floch asked out loud. "It's far better to survive than to die like a dog."

Floch finished by instructing the nearest Jaegerists, "That's it for now, think about it. Take them to their cells."

Mikasa returned to the tower, finding Jean after no luck finding Annie.

"Jean, what happened here?" Mikasa asked. "I tried looking for Annie, but she's not in her shell anymore."

Jean sat on his knees, feeling powerless.

"To answer your question", Floch kneeled in front of Jean to meet his eye level. "I speak for Eren."

"Freedom!"

"You don't have to fight anymore", Floch declared, happily. "You can live however you want."

Floch turned to Jean. "Remember how you wanted to join the Military Police and take it easy in the interior? Well, you can do that. You're a hero."

Floch smiled. "You can be the old Jean again."

"That annoying, insufferable, cocky son of a bitch we all loved."

"You wanna say that again?" Jean asked, silently.

"Jean...?" Conny walked in.

Meanwhile, outside of the walls, Hange walked over a hill and spotted Magath along with Pieck.

"Excuse me", Hange cheerfully greets herself.

Pieck went inside her Titan body with Magath and charged after Hange.

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Hange flailed her arms in front of herself.

Pieck stopped.

"Don't eat me, okay?" Hange begged. "I'm not carrying any weapons."

Pieck and Magath looked over to a badly injured Levi.

"Oh, don't worry about him!" Hange chimed in. "He's just one of those stubborn types that don't know when to die."

Flashback to when the morning came out in the fields, a lonely Jaegerist rode up to a dead Jaegerist on horseback. He jumped off and approached to check on his comrade when he was suddenly shot in the head.

Hange, hidden in the tree line, continued shooting at Jaegerists with her rifle. She was tearing up as she felt forced to kill her old comrades.

"They're not coming for us anymore", Hange returned to a motionless Levi. The managed to escape Floch earlier by falling into a stream and going down river.

Later, Hange had Levi next to a campfire and she was tending to the wounds in his face.

"You're the only one who didn't get turned into a Titan", Hange began as she stitched up Levi's face. "I bet it's for the same reason these wounds didn't kill you. Because you're an Ackermann."

Hange turned away from the silent but conscious Levi.

"We don't have what it takes to kill Zeke", Hange stated. "We'll have to hope that Commander Erwin and Pyxis take care of him."

Hange began to rub her head, taking in the totality of the circumstances they were in. But suddenly they were transported to the Paths, when Eren first started the Rumbling and addressed all Eldians.

"Eren...", Hange began. "...is destroying the world!?"

"Levi!"

Hange looked over to Levi who lifted himself to a seated position.

"Don't get up!" Hange rushed to gently lay him back down. Levi's face was covered in bandages. "Zeke went to Shiganshina District with the Jaegerists."

"I didn't realize he was prepared to die", Levi admits to Hange. Levi raised his hand, looking at his hand which was missing his index and middle fingers. "I let him get away again."

"I'm sure you have your regrets", Hange whispered to Levi.

"All I want is to kill Zeke", Levi declared in the present.

Levi and Hange were speaking with Magath and Pieck, forming somewhat of an alliance.

"Our interests align", Levi explained.

"I hear your strength is on par with the Nine Titans", Magath responded to Levi. "But look at you now. How do you plan on dodging my bullet?"

Magath raised his pistol and aimed it at Levi.

"I don't", Levi admitted. Trying to win them over.

"Well...", Magath began, lowering his weapon. "I suppose my trigger finger can wait."

"Where is Zeke now?" Magath asked, showing that he was willing to trust them for now.

"Eren probably assimilated him in order to use his royal blood", Hange chimed in. "Look, we all need to work together. To stop Eren and the Rumbling!"

Meanwhile during the night, the Rumbling continued to echo throughout the world. Jean and Mikasa were unable to sleep. What were they to do? The Jaegerists claimed control of the New Eldian Empire.

"Jean?"

Conny approached Jean in his room.

"Yeah, Conny?" Jean answered.

"Well...I was thinking..." Conny began. "What if I? Y'know? Feed that kid who killed Sasha to my mother?"

"Conny...stop", Jean interrupted.

"Well, don't you think we should stop Eren?" Conny asked quietly to avoid suspicion from any Jaegerists.

Jean sat silently, thinking to himself. "Armin...What would you do?"

Mikasa walked to the bedside of the girl she saved so long ago.

"My name is Louise", the girl states. She noticed Mikasa holding her large red scarf. "I became a soldier because I wanted to be like you."

"Do you..." Louise began. "Trust Eren?"

Mikasa turned and walked out, keeping the scarf Eren gave her the day he saved her life. She valued Eren more than anyone she'd ever known and vowed to protect him with every breath in her body.

During the day, the survivors of the Rumbling on Paradis Island, all began moving and operating as usual. The thunderous earthquakes finally subsided as the Rumbling grew further and further away. To many citizens, it sounded less like rumbling and more like the bells of freedom tolling.

Floch celebrated on a balcony down towards his fellow Jaegerists, who also cheered, and they all gave a salute.

"Ey, Mikasa", a random Jaegerist in the crowd asked Mikasa off to the side, where it was less quiet. "You feel like joinin' the Jaegerists and sittin' at the top?"

"Dedicate your hearts!" The crowd roared.

"Long live the Jaegerists!"

Conny and Jean were eating pie in town. Gabi tagged along with them. The New Eldian Empire seemed at peace for now.

"Yeah, so..." Jean took a bite out of a slice of pie. "Mikasa said something about if Eren removed all hardening, then it should mean Annie was released. But she couldn't find her."

Suddenly, a cloaked girl beside Jean coughed loudly, spitting some into the air.

"Huh?" Conny looked to the other side of Jean.

"Annie?" Jean realized. Along with Conny and Gabi.

Annie was devouring a pie of her own and stared at them, with food in her mouth.

Conny burst into laughter and pointed. "Annie's eating that pie like a gremlin!"

Later, Hitch returned to the table where she left Annie. "Sorry, line was longer than I thought."

But Annie left a note behind on the table. Hitch sat down with a fresh pie and read the note to herself.

"Hitch, I ran into Jean and Conny and I'm going to go with them...Sorry our reunion was so short. Maybe next time, we can share that pie. Love, Annie."

Hitch blushed and ate a slice of pie.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Eldian Empire! I thank you for the gathering here!" Floch yelled to a circle of Jaegerists. Conny and Jean came up with a plan to save the volunteers. Floch stood on stage with Onyankopon and Yelena on their knees before him. And Jean stood close to Floch.

"You're about to witness the execution of two volunteer soldiers who threaten our empire!" Floch roared. "We do this to further Eren Jaeger's desire for world conquest.

"This criminal's name is Yelena", Floch pointed, and she displayed an empty expression. "She turned against Marley and gave aid to the Eldian Empire, and deceptively planned to euthanize the Eldian race!"

"Send her to hell!"

"Kill that bitch!"

Floch pointed his gun at Yelena's head. "Yelena, any last words?"

"You gonna shoot, or what?" Yelena coldly replied.

BANG!

Yelena's body dropped to the ground, catching Jean off guard. Floch's eyes were now glowing red.

"You're no match for the Subjects of Ymir!" the crowd grew louder.

"Now this man. His name is Onyankopon!" Floch began, now pointing his pistol at Onyankopon's head. "He was unaware of the euthanasia plan, he worked hard for the Eldian Empire."

"But!"

"He declared that he would rather die than live under the Eldian Empire!" Floch continued, the crowd began booing at Onyankopon.

Onyankopon began laughing hysterically.

"I worked for your benefit!" Onyankopon barked, he began tearing up. "...And what's left? A bunch of incompetent, xenophobic dirtbags?"

Onyankopon turned and began looking into all of the Jaegerists faces from his knees. "Shouldn't you know how horrible it is to be killed for no good reason?"

Onyankopon turned to Jean. "Don't just stand there, say something, Jean!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

BANG!

Jean had fired beside Onyankopon into the ground, missing intentionally.

"Hey!" Floch barked, looking annoyed.

"Oops, I missed", Jean responded, turning to the Cart Titan which was running up from behind the Jaegerists.

Jean pushed Floch away from the mouth of the Cart Titan and got swallowed along with Onyankopon.

"It's the Cart Titan!" the Jaegerists began to chase the large Titan.

"Where's Mikasa!?" Floch blurted out, standing back up. "We have to—"

"Where's Mikasa?"

"You hear that?" Conny stated from a hidden position before Jean's signal.

"Jean's signal to carry out the plan", Mikasa replied.

Everyone eventually met in the woods with the Cart Titan, Magath, Hange and Levi. Including Jean and Onyankopon who were saved by the Cart Titan. And the Scouts, Mikasa, Jean and Conny with Gabi. Annie was also part of the group now. Enemies in the beginning coming together, but is it enough to defeat Eren?

"Do you ever brush your Titan teeth?" Hange asked.

"That's such a rude thing to ask a lady", Pieck replied.

Jean felt grossed out and Onyankopon recovered himself.

"When di you side with Marley?" Onyankopon asked Jean.

"Last night..." Jean confessed.

"Are you sure about this?" Onyankopon asked.

"Yeah", Jean began. "I really wish I could just keep hiding away and covering up my ears."

"I have no idea what you're talking about", Onyankopon chimed in. "But thank you."

"Shut up and wash your stupid face!" Jean teased, splashing water into Onyankopon's face.

"...I can't believe Yelena is dead", Onyankopon stated.

"Yeah", Jean added. "I think I saw a red glow in Floch's eyes when he shot her. I don't know what it all means though."

"Speaking of Yelena", Hange interrupted. "She was the condition for lending us all the Cart's aid out of that situation. But since she was killed, it appears her karma has come back to claim her."

"We would've liked her alive", Magath began. "To face judgement in Marley. However, it appears the Jaegerists are more brutally savage than I initially gave them credit for."

Meanwhile, later Reiner was rudely shaken awake by a familiar voice.

"Wake up!"

Reiner slowly opened his eyes and they widened.

"Annie?" Reiner looked puzzled. Then he noticed the others.

"Get up. It's time to go", Conny blurted out to Reiner. "To save the world."

At Reiner's bedside, was Gabi, Annie, Mikasa, Jean, Conny, and outside were Pieck, Magath, Hange and Levi. It appears that a combination of different races and nationalities were banding together to stop Marley.

CHAPTER 24: The End of the Night - 2964

The night Jean decided to join up with Hange and the Cart Titan, he couldn't sleep. He began to hear tapping on his window, and when he went to see who it was, he was face-to-face with Hange for the first time in a while.

"I'm glad you came, Jean", Hange began. "I'm alright, but as for Levi, he's not unscathed but he's alive. He won't be able to fight for a while, though. We joined forces with the Cart Titan and remaining Marleyan forces. The old chain of command has been wiped out and I'm no longer your superior. It's also safe to assume that Erwin is dead."

"What'd happen to this island after doing that? This Rumbling..." Jean asked. "If for decades to come, far into the future...The world will continue to loathe us. It'll just stir up more rage than Willy Tybur's speech!"

"You may be right", Hange replied. "We'd still get at least a few years to spare."

"But..." Jean continued. "The last time we decided to explore possibilities with the time we had, we couldn't solve a single thing! That's why Eren decided to wipe out the world—"

Hange slammed her fist down on the table they were sitting at.

"Genocide is wrong!" Hange declared. "There is no right reason to commend such an act!"

Jean stopped and began remembering all of his comrades who died. And slowly, Jean began realizing that Eren's way was wrong. He looked back to Hange.

"Hange", Jean chimed in. "I'll join you."

Back in the present, the new team had set up a camp with a fire and Hange was cutting potatoes for a stew that was cooking.

"So, you want us to eat together after all the time we spent killing each other?" Magath questioned. "What changed your mind?"

"None of us wished for a genocide", Hange explained. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be hiding here in the forest and making stew."

"So, you're saying you finally see whose side justice is on?" Magath replied.

Jean pointed at Magath. "You're saying we're the bad guys for fighting back against the Titans you people kept sending? Listen-"

"Yeah", Magath answered quickly, opening a bottle of wine, and drinking from it. "You do look like devils to me. All our fears about the threat of Paradis have come true."

"If Eren hadn't watched his mother eaten alive when the wall was breached..." Jean interrupted. "You people left him no choice but to use the Rumbling!"

"Oh?" Magath chimed in. "Now you want to talk about history?"

Magath looked down at the stew which began to bubble from the heat.

"You should at least understand that Eldia was the first to devastate Marley and put our people through hell", Magath explained.

"How long are you going to play the victim over something that happened two millennia ago?" Jean barked.

Gabi sat next to Pieck's Cart Titan mouth, depressed after losing Falco. She vaguely remembers Eren killing him but had been struck over the head with a wine bottle by Nicolo and she couldn't remember fully.

"You think nonsense like that holds up in the face of two thousand years of real history?" Magath barked back.

"Aaah..." Hange chimed in, stirring the stew. "Let's stop this."

"An argument over what happened 2,000 years ago when you're not even there bores me", Hange explained. "Jean, to him, we're strange devils who'd abandon our own paradise just to save the very people who tried to eradicate us."

"So?" Annie spoke up. "Can you guys kill him?"

"Killing Eren isn't the only way to stop him", Mikasa blurted out.

"I knew you were going to say that", Annie replied. "Are you going to persuade him? You'd think the guy who'd reconsider that easily would begin genocide on the rest of the human race?"

Annie continued. "I'm sure never in your life you ever thought of anything more precious to you than Eren."

Mikasa flipped and immediately pulled out her blades. "So, you're saying you need to kill me?"

Annie held up her hand, exposing her ring with the small blade, threatening her ability to transform into a Titan.

"Leonhart!" Magath barked loudly.

"Mikasa!" Hange barked as well.

"I also have one reason I want to stop Eren", Annie began. "If you can convince Eren to stop, then great. At the very least, we have no reason to fight until then."

"Come on, the stew is ready now", Hange announced to the camp. "Let's eat!"

"So, where would Jaeger be headed first?" Magath asked while everyone began eating.

"Pretty sure it doesn't matter where he heads first", Hange chimed in. "But probably Liberio again."

Conny looked over to Onyankopon.

"So, how're you doing? Jean said you were right next to Yelena when Floch killed her", Conny asked.

"I was scared" Onyankopon admitted. "I've never been so close to death before. But I also believe Yelena got what was coming to her."

"We found out she was Marleyan", Magath revealed. "That's why we wanted her alive. But at least the traitor is dead."

"I'll just come out and say it", Conny blurted out. "I'm kinda glad she's dead. Could you imagine if she were here now? She'd probably ruin the whole mood."

"The mood?" Reiner chimed in.

"Well, you know what I mean", Conny added, finishing his bowl of stew.

"Well, there is one thing I'd like to confess", Reiner began. "Marco...well, you see. I ordered Annie to remove his ODM gear during the attack on Trost. That is why he was killed by a Titan."

"What!?" Jean and Conny exclaimed.

"Marco overheard a secret conversation I had with Bertholdt. So, in fear of our cover being blown, I decided that he needed to die. After we stranded him, Marco was stuck on a rooftop until a Titan came up and ate him", Reiner explained.

The circle around the fire grew quiet.

"We've been on each other's throats all this time", Hange chimed in. "But at the very least, we're now talking without trying to kill each other."

"As I watched the Titan eating Marco..." Reiner began. "...I wondered why Marco was being eaten. I really am just a helpless—"

"Enough!" Jean roared loudly.

"I'm sorry", Reiner concluded.

Jean leapt forward and charged into Reiner and kicked him backwards in his face. Reiner tumbled landing on his back and Jean sat on his chest. Jean then began wailing fist after fist into Reiner's face in anger.

"Jean!" Conny cried out.

Conny and Mikasa ran to Jean to stop him. Jean continued kicking Reiner until Gabi jumped in the way and took a hard kick to her ribs.

"Our wish..." Gabi began, weakly. "...was to slaughter all of you...on Paradis. That's why we kept on hoping for the devils on this island to go away. I know it's very impudent of me to ask this..."

Gabi bowed before Jean. "...But we need your help! Please lend us your strength!"

Jean stopped and stared.

"Please stop the Rumbling together with us!" Gabi cried. "We beg you!"

Jean began to walk off.

"Where are you going, Jean?" Conny asked.

"Jean!" Hange chimed in. "What about your seconds?"

Magath looked at Gabi and realized the hypocrisy in his own words. He looked down to the ground, thinking. Meanwhile, Levi sat up.

"You guys are so loud", Levi added, his face still covered in bandages.

In the morning, Colt woke Gabi up while Jean tried shaking Reiner awake.

"Come on!" Jean exclaimed. "How long are you going to sleep, Reiner? You've already healed, haven't you!?"

Now on the move again in the carriage, the team continued following the path of the Rumbling.

"Hey..." Jean began, looking at Gabi. "I'm sorry I kicked you."

"Thanks, it's okay though. I'm fine", Gabi replied.

"I see..." Jean responded. "Reiner, you won't get any apology from me."

"Yeah, that's fine", Reiner replied.

Riding the horse which pulled the carriage was Conny. He turned to see Pieck running towards them.

"The Cart's coming", Conny mentioned to the front carriage, which pulled: Onyankopon, Hange, Magath, Levi and Mikasa.

Pieck came out of the nape of the Cart Titan's neck to detail what she spotted.

"The Jaegerists have taken control of the harbor!" Pieck explained. "They must've gotten there first by steam engine train. They're geared up and ready for combat."

Down on the harbor, Floch had the Hizuru diplomats held hostage. Magath and Hange sat on top of a hill overlooking the harbor.

"I can't believe Floch made it here this early", Hange mentions to Magath.

"It's all over for us if the Jaegerists destroy the flying boat", Magath points out, looking through a telescope.

"They're likely unsure that we're still alive and trying to stop Eren", Hange explained. "I'm sure that they'd want a flying boat to explore the continents once the world is empty."

Hange turns to Magath. "However, if they learn that we're here as well, I'm also sure they'll smash that flying boat into pieces in an instant."

"If we falter here", Magath began. "We would have no chance to take down the Founder."

Magath moved back from the hill. "Let's think of a plan—"

Magath and Hange regrouped with the team and explained the situation to them.

"That's our only way to secure the flying boat", Magath explained to the team. "We'll use the power of all our Titans alongside your weapons to do that."

Pieck, Reiner, Annie, and Gabi looked at one another, the holders of Titan powers. Alongside Magath and Colt who had firearms, and the Scouts: Hange, Mikasa, Jean and Conny.

"Okay?" Annie looked at the Scouts.

The Scouts all looked down to the ground. The Jaegerist might be antagonizing the entire world, but they were once comrades, who they share a special bond with.

"She's right", Conny admits.

"They might be distant relatives to you", Annie began. "But to us, they're enemies who attacked our homeland."

"But without the Azumabito mechanics, that thing is just a plain boat with no wings", Onyankopon mentioned. "And of course, just extending the wings won't be enough to make it fly. It was originally meant to be transported to the hangar, receive maintenance inspection and perform flight drills."

"Tell me, Jean", Annie chimed in. "Tell me your plan. Since Armin isn't here, I reckon you're the new talentless leader."

"No plan exists", Pieck added, speaking from her human form which peeled out from the Cart Titan's neck. "Either we settle this in one go, or we mess up and lose the flying boat."

"So, you're telling us to just watch you kill each other?" Conny asked.

Hange began sliding down the hill. "I'm not interested in becoming a spectator. I already killed four Jaegerists with my own hand, anyway. More importantly, humanity does not have much time left. I saw the Titans moving from the shore, giving off a massive amount of steam. Judging by their speed, they've already arrived on the continent of Marley."

"Dammit to Hell!" Magath blurted out. "Yelena would've known where Eren might've been heading!"

"I don't think so", Hange chimed in. "Eren isn't following Zeke's orders which was what Yelena was fighting for."

"I want to apologize for my behavior last night", Magath revealed. "We were wrong. I spoke so flippantly about justice. All because I was afraid to reflect on myself and see the despicable side of Marley within me. It's wrong to place the sins of the past on your shoulder just because of your race."

The Scouts all looked at Magath, taking in everything he was saying.

"We do have the responsibility to remember this foolish, blood-stained history and pass it to future generations. So long we continue to avert our eyes from our own foolish acts...this Hell will never end", Magath explained to the team.

Magath bowed before the Scouts. "Please overlook our foolishness just for now."

"I refuse...", Mikasa chimed in. "To just stand by with clean hands.

Meanwhile, in the main building where the Hizuru diplomats and the Azumabito mechanics were being held captive by Floch and the Jaegerists.

"Just look at that steam", Floch stated, looking out the window at the horizon. "I doubt history has ever changed in one day as dramatically as today. Hizuru's best engineers are here, after all."

Floch stood next to the dead body of a man with a bullet hole in his head.

"If you don't want to lose any more of your men", Floch began. "You should make sure they do as they're told."

Two Jaegerists came in to remove the dead body from the room. Floch hand his hand on Kiyomi's shoulders from behind her, as she sat down at a long table with other diplomats and engineers.

"I hate to interrupt you when you're in such a good mood", Kiyomi chimed in.

"Eh?" Floch responded. "I appreciate your warning. And yes, I have started to feel the same way. What's important now is to know one's place."

Floch placed the barrel of his pistol to Kiyomi's head.

"We don't need Hizuru's technology, flying boats and navigation. What's important is to know your place", Floch continued. "Understand?"

"Floch where are you!?"

Floch turned to the window, hearing the voice of Conny outside.

"I was chasing the Cart Titan!" Conny yelled to Floch upstairs through the window. "They have the Armored with them! They escaped by the sea! We need to use the flying boat immediately!"

On the rooftops, Jaegerists armed with Thunder Spears watched below as Conny yelled.

"What are you talking about?" Floch asked Conny after opening the window.

"And what are you standing around for!?" Conny blurted out. "They killed Jean and Onyankopon, you know!"

Conny rode his horse over to the flying boat from Hizuru.

"Floch! Hurry up and get the Azumabito mechanics out here!" Conny called out to Floch as he rode away.

Two Jaegerists held their hands up to stop Conny.

"Stop right there!"

Conny noticed explosives on the flying boat which was covered by a tarp.

"Are those bombs?" Conny asked them.

"Actually, there is suspicion that you are working with Marley", one of the Jaegerists explained. "And you're trying to stop the Rumbling using this flying boat."

Conny's eyes widened.

"H-How could I ever do something like that!?" Conny asked, quickly and nervously.

"Of course not!" the Jaegerist relaxed. "That's a relief."

"I wouldn't know what to do if you betrayed us, Conny", the other Jaegerist continued.

"It's alright", Conny began. "Anyway, just hurry up and remove those bombs."

"But..." one Jaegerist began as he crouched down to disconnect the bombs from their charge. "I also got the feeling...that you might try to stop Eren from slaughtering anyone, even if they're enemies. There, we disconnected the detonator."

Conny looked at the main building.

"All that's left is for Floch to hand over the Azumabito mechanics", Conny began. "Once the flying boat is ready, we need to somehow get everyone on it and leave."

"I really should nip any concerns in the bud", Floch looked to the ceiling. Then he pointed his pistol at an engineer.

Suddenly, Kiyomi's chair fell to the floor and there were three rapid fire gunshots.

BANG BANG BANG!

Kiyomi managed to subdue Floch, pinning him to the floor and disarmed him.

"Dammit! Kill her!" Floch ordered the other Jaegerists in the room.

The Jaegerists all pointed their pistols at her.

"I'm not dying without a fight!" Kiyomi exclaimed.

Suddenly, Mikasa crashed through the window and disarmed the Jaegerists. She kicked one and smashed another into the wall.

"Ms. Kiyomi!" Mikasa yelled.

Floch struggled to free his arm.

"Mikasa and Conny have betrayed Eldia!" Floch roared to his Jaegerist squad.

Mikasa quickly guided the Azumabito engineers and the Hizuru diplomat's downstairs to avoid being hit by Thunder Spears through the windows.

"Run to the basement!" Mikasa commanded.

Out on the docks, the Jaegerists began reconnecting the detonator.

"Wait-!" Conny chimed in but he was suddenly shot multiple times.

Conny's dead body fell onto the pier.

The two Jaegerists looked to one another.

"H-He betrayed us!"

"Y-Yeah! Let's blow this up, Daz!"

"Sam...uel..." Conny looked up to his old comrades, Sam and Daz before finally dying.

Meanwhile, in the basement, Mikasa tried protecting the Azumabitos.

"At this rate, we'd be trapped here to death!" Kiyomi cried out. "It's only a matter of time before they kill us!"

"As long as we're safe, they can run wild!" Magath responded, hiding with Mikasa and the others in the basement.

On the roof, a Jaegerist landed next to another group of Jaegerists.

"They ran to the basement!"

Suddenly, Reiner flew into the docks using ODM gear and he bit down on his hand. Along with Annie who prepared her ring blade. They crossed behind Floch who was also airborne.

"Wait..." Floch muttered.

Meanwhile back on the hill, Onyankopon stayed with Levi during Jean's plan.

"You can't separate humanity from violence", Onyankopon spoke up. "Right, Captain Levi?"

Levi sat up, watching Reiner and Annie transform into their Titan forms, the golden light filled the sky.

Annie reached out towards the smaller bodies of the Jaegerists. She grabbed one and crushed his body completely. Reiner attacked as well, smashing through the bodies of nearby airborne Jaegerists. A few Jaegerists flanked Annie and prepared to launch Thunder Spears at her nape. Annie reached behind to cover her nape, while Reiner wound up his fist and launched it into the bodies of the flanking Jaegerists.

Annie recovered by running forward and kicking the bodies of three more Jaegerists into the sea.

Daz and Samuel activated the detonator, and the covered flying boat was destroyed in the explosion, and it began sinking under the sea.

Jean watched in horror as his plan failed.

CHAPTER 25: Storm from the Sea - 3592

"So, it didn't work" Colt watched the yellow bursts of light join the battlefield on the docks.

"Why does this always happen?" Onyankopon asked, rhetorically.

Colt, Gabi, Onyankopon, and Levi were all that stayed behind along with Pieck in her Cart Titan.

Sam and Daz were quickly killed by Annie after destroying the flying boat with the explosives. More Jaegerists flew around the Titans using their ODM gear and trying to find openings to their napes.

Reiner continued to kill other Jaegerists, grabbing their bodies mid-air and crushing them in his Titan hands. He slammed into a group of them against a building, while Annie grabbed the lines of the anchors fired by a few Jaegerists and swung them around, killing them.

"So, I'm saying", one of the Azumabito engineers began explaining to Magath and Hange. "It will take an entire day to prepare the flying boat for flight-!"

They were interrupted by the sound of the explosions going off.

"Great", Magath realized. "Now we need a new plan."

"And we don't have time to wait", Hange replied. "The Rumbling's march was faster than a galloping horse. And they can also ignore any obstacles on their way."

"Which means..." Magath began. "...it'd already be too late for Liberio."

"No way", Jean added.

The group that went to save the Azumabitos and the Hizuru diplomats were: Magath, Hange, Mikasa, and Jean. Conny was also with them, but he was shot to death, which the team couldn't see trapped in the basement. Annie and Reiner managed to take some of the attention off of them, however.

"It'll take even more time to locate Eren at the center of this Rumbling", Magath stated. "And what's more, it's impossible to hold them off for even half a day."

"I have an idea", Kiyomi chimed in. "Odiha is far enough away that we could get there before the Rumbling."

"Yes-!" the engineers began. "But we'll need thirty minutes before we can depart-!"

"Do it in fifteen!" Magath ordered.

"They didn't blow up all of the boats yet", Jean realized.

Jean turned to Mikasa. "I also believe that Conny is most likely dead."

Magath turned to the engineers. "If you die, Hizuru will be gone along with the rest of the world! Keep that in mind!"

"Yes, sir!" the engineers collectively stated.

Jean checked his rifle. "I'll go get Captain Levi and the others."

"Mikasa, let's go!" Hange declared.

Everyone began moving after the basement seemed clear to exit. Meanwhile, outside Annie and Reiner continued killing the relentless Jaegerists.

Mikasa came up behind a Jaegerist who was closing in on Annie and Mikasa killed him.

"Cover them as they board!" Mikasa ordered Annie, before firing off another anchor and flying away.

Floch and other Jaegerists spotted the engineers escaping while they were on a rooftop.

"The Azumabito mechanics!" Floch exclaimed.

The Jaegerists began firing their rifles down below at the engineers. They began to run faster and covered their heads as they ran. Suddenly, Mikasa appeared and kicked one of the Jaegerists off the building. And Hange appeared next to Floch, spinning, and slicing two nearby Jaegerists.

"You filthy traitors!" Floch exclaimed and began firing at Hange and Mikasa. "Where are they risking their life to go? Can it be!?"

Floch looked over at another vessel.

Reiner protected the engineers however he did receive a few rockets to his back.

"Run, run!" Magath ordered, turning, and firing at the Jaegerists on the rooftop.

"Deal with the Female later!" a Jaegerist ordered his comrades, flying using ODM gear.

"They're planning on completing the other flying boat on the continent?" Floch muttered to himself as he maneuvered throughout the air.

Floch landed near a big group of Jaegerists.

"Get every last Thunder Spear you've got!" Floch commanded. "They're planning on going by ship to kill Eren! The world will take vengeance on us and kill your parents, siblings, and our children! Dedicate your hearts!"

Floch saluted, which caused the Jaegerists to cheer, ready for battle.

The Cart Titan snuck onto the docks, with Colt, Onyankopon, and Gabi. Gabi looked around the battlefield.

"I should fight too!" Gabi barked. "I'm the Jaw Titan!"

Gabi jumped off the Cart Titan and began running down the docks towards the fighting.

"Gabi, wait!" Pieck blurted out. "Can you even control it, yet?"

Colt was prepared to jump off, but Pieck stopped him.

"Don't, Colt", Pieck began. "You'll get yourself killed."

Magath escorted the engineers to a spare boat and the began getting it ready to sail. Jean looked over Conny's dead body and a tear dropped. He leaned down and closed Conny's eyelids so that he could rest in peace.

"Oh no!" Hange warned. "Their reinforcements are coming!"

Over the hill on the horizon, the black smoke could be seen as the exhaust for a train which was heading to the docks, filled with Jaegerists.

However, the train exploded when explosives went off placed by the Cart Titan before the started this mission. It was Jean's plan to ensure that reinforcements would be delayed, even if for just a few moments.

The Jaegerists seemed to have the upper hand now over Annie and Reiner. Annie's eyes were blown to bits due to Thunder Spears as well as Reiner. Annie wasn't used to this new technology the Jaegerists were using.

"I can't see anything!" Annie cried out.

Jean flew into the battlefield, protecting Annie from the Jaegerists.

"Jean!" Mikasa cried out.

Jean landed and fired at Louise, but he missed purposely. "Get out of here!"

Louise quickly got up and ran away.

"Thanks, Jean", Mikasa stated. She knew that Jean saved her for a reason.

"Hit the Cart with Thunder Spears!" Floch ordered his Jaegerists.

Pieck tried running, still carrying Onyankopon, Colt, and Levi. She continued to dodge explosions as she fled.

"Defend this island!" Floch barked. "Defend our country!"

Annie and Reiner looked defeated as the Jaegerists prepared to finish them off. Until suddenly there was another large burst of golden yellow light.

Gabi transformed into her Jaw Titan and began killing Jaegerists in a frenzy.

"DAMMIT!" Floch exclaimed as he tried to get closer to the Cart Titan, however Hange continued to slash towards him, even cutting his cheek slightly.

As Floch fired a Thunder Spear at the Cart Titan, Pieck launched herself forward trying to eat Floch, but she missed.

"It all comes down to this last rocket!" Floch thought to himself, aiming his rocket at the ship. "I'll be the one to save Eldia-!"

Just then, Floch was shot mid-air, but he was still able to fire his rocket. Floch fell into the sea as his rocket missed the second boat.

Mikasa continued slicing and killing Jaegerists, one-by-one, fearlessly and relentlessly. She kicked a Jaegerist into another and then stabbed them together, releasing the blade and making them prime their attached Thunder Spear. She backflipped away just before it exploded and began raining down red blood.

Onyankopon leaned over the railing of the ship and began yelling. "We're ready to cast off! Hurry up and board!"

"Woah!"

Gabi began losing control of her Jaw Titan form. Unlike in the alternate timeline where Falco was the new Jaw Titan, Gabi's Jaw Titan looks more like a lion.

"Gabi!" Pieck exclaimed in her Titan form.

The Cart Titan began wrestling with the enraged Jaw Titan.

"It's alright now", Magath stated, holding Gabi after removing her from the nape of her Titan. "You did well, Gabi."

The team began walking towards the boat with no resistance left. Jean carried Reiner, Magath carried Gabi, and Mikasa carried Annie. Magath handed Gabi off to Onyankopon.

"Get moving at once", Magath ordered.

"What about you?" Onyankopon asked.

"I'll guard the rear", Magath stated.

On the boat, Pieck sat next to Gabi.

"An enemy!" a Jaegerist blurted out, spotting Magath.

Magath turned, holding his rifle.

The Jaegerist jumped from the building and began firing at Magath.

"There's still one left!"

The Jaegerists failed to see the team loaded onto another ship. Magath shot them both down and began running to a third ship.

"I need to hurry", Magath muttered to himself. "Those explosives we used on the train wont hold back those enemies for long."

Down in the ship, Magath was preparing a bomb.

"I was looking for a place to die anyways", Magath whispered to himself as he worked with the door locked.

Jaegerists followed Magath inside the ship and began running throughout the ship looking for him.

"I've done nothing I can be proud of", Magath continued to speak to himself. "I ignored the voice of my conscience and turned those children into a convenient tool for the country. And ordered them to breach those walls, restarting this circle of hatred. If those kids could have lived a normal life..."

Magath began seeing images of Udo, Sophia, Gabi, Falco, Pieck, Porco, Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie.

"Who knows how happy that would make me feel", Magath continued.

"What are you doing!? Open up!"

The Jaegerists finally found Magath, but his bomb was already prepared.

"Good luck, Warriors!"

The bomb exploded, destroying a hole in the ship which made it start to sink into the sea.

Gabi was awake now and she screamed at the explosion, realizing that Magath had sacrificed himself. Everyone else watched the fireball in the docks as well, with Pieck trying to hold Gabi back from falling overboard.

As the ship sailed, the truth was finally revealed to Annie. Liberio would most likely be destroyed before they managed to make it in time to stop Eren. Annie dropped to her knees on the ship in front of everyone.

"I don't have any reason left to fight", Annie explained, shaking. "I quit."

"Magath still put his life on the line to open the path forward for us", Hange added, placing her hand on Annie's shoulder. "And he didn't do that for Marley or Liberio. He did it so that we can save even one more life of a stranger."

"Would you be able to sit back and watch?" Annie asked Mikasa. "I don't want to fight anymore. Not with any of you. Not even with Eren..."

Later, on the ship, Mikasa began thinking to herself.

"Everyone says that Eren has changed...But maybe that wasn't true."

Mikasa began thinking back to when the Scouts first sailed to Marley undercover, before the Massacre in Liberio. They all wore fancy clothes in order to fit in and were guided by the Marleyan Volunteers on what's customary in the real world.

"Maybe Eren hasn't changed at all from the very beginning..."

"Then what part of Eren have I been seeing all these years?"

The Scouts looked excited, venturing out into Marley and all it had to offer. They exited the boat with their fancy clothes.

"So there really are cities outside the walls and people living in them?" Conny said to Jean, who kept looking over to Mikasa and Eren.

"Guess so", Jean replied.

"And we're the first group of human within the walls to step foot outside!" Sasha chimed in.

"You could say this is what our job really is about", Erwin stated. He stood next to Hange and Levi and was taking in all of the amazement from the new continent.

The group included Erwin, Hange, Levi, Jean, Sasha, Conny, Mikasa and Eren.

"Welcome to the continent of Marley!" Onyankopon took off his hat to greet them. "Allow me to show you to Lady Azumabito's mansion."

Conny and Sasha pointed at a weird vehicle.

"It's a cow, right?" Sasha asked.

"It's a car", Hange explained. "We heard about them before we came here, remember?"

"Hey! Car!" Hange shouted.

Levi looked to Erwin and Onyankopon. "If you don't stop them, they'll start feeding carrots to that lump of iron."

"You must be kidding—" Onyankopon stated. "Wait, they're buying carrots!"

"So many people", Mikasa said to Eren, making her way to him through the crowd. "Hey, Eren. There's no telling what'll happen, so stay close to me."

Eren turned to Mikasa and nodded.

"I keep thinking about Armin, and what he would think of this place", Eren muttered to Mikasa. "This is the other side of the sea...right?"

"Hey, don't walk so far", Levi barked to Eren and Mikasa. "Especially you, Eren."

"We're coming", Mikasa called out to Levi.

"Hey, watch out, kid!" a man yelled after being bumped by a young child.

Meanwhile, Sasha was buying ice cream, using money given to them by the Azumabitos.

"I'll take this, please", Sasha stated to the vendor.

"Thanks. Here you go."

The man handed Sasha a vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone.

"Hey, Sasha!" Jean exclaimed. "Don't go buying stuff again!"

Sasha slowly used her tongue to lick some of the ice cream and taste it. Beside her, Jean and Conny jumped when Sasha jumped after discovering it was very cold.

"Hey, let me try that!" Conny begged.

"First time eating ice cream?" the vendor asked.

"This is delicious!" Sasha shouted.

"—I'll have one too!"

"Me too!"

"No one would thought they're the 'devils' from that island", Hange mentioned to Erwin.

Jean tried handing over the ice cream to Eren and Mikasa.

"Hey, guys! You should try this, too!" Jean exclaimed.

"Hey there, kiddo", a massive man behind Levi spoke up. "Would you like some sweet, tasty candy?"

The man held a large spiral lollipop in front of Levi's disturbed face. He looked down to see Levi, where Levi realized the man was dressed like a clown.

"...I'm talking to you..."

Levi turned.

"That's a cool look!" the clown exclaimed. "Are you kiddos playing gangster?"

The Scouts continued to venture from stand to stand, looking at what all of the vendors were selling.

"I smell something good over there!"

"It might be what Nicolo talked about!"

Eren and Mikasa stood at the pier, sharing ice cream with each other.

"You knew?" Mikasa asked.

"From the old man's memory, that is", Eren revealed. "Eldians living in the internment zone rarely get to eat one."

Mikasa stared at Eren, amazed of his stories of new memories.

"Even though there are so many things outside the walls", Eren began. "Freedom isn't one of them."

"We didn't notice...or perhaps, we refused to"

Mikasa turned in her bed on the boat and began dreaming again, revisiting old memories of Eren.

On the pier, the small child was discovered to be a thief. Levi grabbed the boy's arm and raised it up, revealing a bag of money.

"That isn't your purse", Levi declared.

Suddenly large men began circling the boy. It was starting to become clear that this child was Eldian, and these people didn't treat thieves kindly.

"Looks like he can't understand us."

"How about we toss him into the sea?"

"Nah, let's just smash his right hand!"

"We must punish him to set an example."

"It's a problem for all of us merchants making a living here."

Sasha received her purse back, but the Scouts all looked in shock at how this Eldian child was being talked about.

"Not only that, but he might also even be a Subject of Ymir!"

"This is why countries around the world have been frantic with blood tests for years!"

"Nobody could sleep at night knowing these devil blood lurking around nearby!"

Levi looked down at the boy. He quickly walked forward and picked the boy up, walking off with him.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

The crowd reacted to Levi.

"The purse is his older sister's", Levi explained.

"Yeah! We're just one big family visiting! No one stole anything, right sis?" Hange continues with Levi's charade by including herself.

"Y-Yeah!" Sasha replied. She began bowing rapidly to the crowd. "I'm sorry about my little brother!"

"You really expect us to buy that!?"

The crowd grew angry.

"Let's go!" Levi blurted out.

Quickly, Levi picked up the kid and began running away with him. The rest of the Scouts ran as well as Onyankopon.

"Hey! Wait!"

Once they were finally able to catch their breath, the Eldian boy waved back to them after stealing Levi's money purse.

"Well..." Levi began. "That's just the money I got from the Azumabitos anyway."

Later, the Scouts met with Lady Kiyomi in her estate. She continued explaining history to them that was kept from the people of Paradis Island.

"As the Empire crumbled, those people were forced into exile", Kiyomi stated. Everyone sat at a long table. "Also, it makes the plan for Paradis Island to advocate harmony become extremely difficult to be executed."

"We'd have to put our fates in his hands..." Erwin began. "And sacrifice Historia as well as the children she'd give birth to..."

Kiyomi looked to Mikasa. "You'll go and tell them that Paradis seeks peace."

Mikasa nodded.

"It goes without saying that the Azumabito clan wishes to help bring this peace as well", Kiyomi continued. "But just how realistic do you believe this plan to be?"

"All we can do here is try our best", Hange replied.

"Agreed", Erwin also added.

"—Where's Eren?" Mikasa rose to her feet.

Mikasa ran outside to find Eren standing on a cliff, alone.

"Eren!" Mikasa called out, approaching him from behind. "You do realize that you're our enemies' biggest target, right?"

"What happened?" Mikasa reached out for his hand, standing beside him.

"Nothing yet", Eren replied.

"Eh? What do you mean?" Mikasa asked. "What is this place?"

Looking down below, there were many tents with lights inside from candles.

"After the war left them with no home, they all gathered here to live", Eren stated. "They're just like us. One day, their regular lives just ended, and everything was taken away from them."

Eren stopped for a moment before turning to Mikasa.

"Why do you care so much about me?" Eren asked.

"Eh?" Mikasa was caught off-guard.

"Is it because I saved you when we were little?" Eren suggested. "What am I to you?"

"You are..." Mikasa quickly blurted out, blushing. "I love you, Eren."

Eren was now caught off guard. He always saw this memory happening another way, and he wasn't controlling her. She confessed to Eren, leaving him speechless. An elderly man had approached them while they remained silent.

"Please come with us inside!" the man happily invited them.

"You moron!" Jean cried out from afar.

"Perfect timing", Eren relaxed. Mikasa looked away though, embarrassed because she didn't know how Eren felt.

The Scouts began drinking alcohol with the refugees in their camp, besides Levi and Erwin. Everyone was having a great time, singing, and dancing. Conny and Jean while intoxicated tried dancing with the elderly man.

Mikasa passed out with her back to Sasha. And Eren stared at her from across the tent.

"I love you too, Mikasa."

The Scouts all eventually passed out with Mikasa and Eren holding each other. Jean woke up and noticed it but said nothing. Deep down, he loved Mikasa, but he could see how much she cared about Eren. In the morning, the Scouts teased Eren and Mikasa.

"We seek aid for the displaced Subjects of Ymir refugees who are scattered across nations!" an older, government official preached to a crowd in what appeared to be a diplomatic meeting. "They're nothing more than sad victims, forced by the Eldian empire to inbreed!"

"Our enemies are those island devils!"

The crowd before the man applauded.

Eren rose from his seat and left the Scouts and the building.

"That was the day Eren left us."

"On the letter we later received from him, he said he would entrust everything to Zeke."

"What if, on that day..." Mikasa held her arm and looked at the sky from the boat in the present time.

"Did I choose the right answer? Eren?"

Mikasa looked to the boat the were on and the steam over the sea they had been following.

Meanwhile, Eren thought to himself. "I wonder where it all started. Back there? No...the place doesn't matter at all. It was all what I wanted."

The world dispatched their entire naval fleet to intercept the approaching Rumbling.

"Every bit of human brainpower now has its sights fixed on the same target."

"Fire!"

BOOM!

The long row of naval battleships aimed all their cannons towards the large amount of steam on their horizon. Each of the cannons fired into the steam. Some of the cannons hit Colossal Titans which were swimming forward. However, the cannons were unable to take out the millions that kept coming.

When the large cloud of steam coming from the sea reached the boats, each sailor's body immediately incinerated from the Titan's heat. The steam was also strong enough to knock the ships into the air as the passed under them.

From the coast, there were also soldiers manning cannons aimed for the Colossal Titans in the sea. As the Titans approached the shore they no longer had to swim, so they rose to their feet and continued marching.

The cannons on the shore began firing, with little to no effect. Nothing could slow these Titans down, and one-by-one the soldiers began running away, abandoning their military posts.

"This is..." one Marleyan soldier muttered as he watched a massive Titan foot coming down over his head. "...the Storm of the Sea!"

The Titan's continued marching onto the shore, crushing anything in their massive path.

"That is..." another soldier deeper into the town of Liberio observed Eren's monstrous face. "That's him!"

The frightened soldiers all began to point and panic.

"The Attack Titan!"

"I'll exterminate them all!"

CHAPTER 26: Tears from the Devil - 2718

Two young boys in Marley were crouched behind a tree over a cloth holding money. One of the boys looked like the boy who stole from Levi when the Scouts first came to Marley.

"Look, Halil", one of the boys began. "We're the only ones who know about this place. We'll save money until this bag is full and then we'll definitely find a good place to live with everybody."

"But Ramzi..." Halil began. "If we keep stealing like this, someday you'll get your left hand cut off too..."

Ramzi looked down at his wrist which was wrapped to heal after his hand was severed.

"You shouldn't do anything that'll make grandpa sad anymore..." Halil continued, concerned for Ramzi.

"But somebody has to do it, so everyone can leave that worn-out tent", Ramzi responded. "Not everybody makes it through winter. People die every year."

"Yeah..." Halil replied.

"I don't want that anymore."

"That's why, Halil..." Ramzi began. "If I die, please give this money to the family..."

"Ramzi..." Halil muttered. However, the sound of footsteps quickly made them concerned. Behind them, a large number of adults were running seemingly away from the town.

"Hide it!" Ramzi quickly covered the money in the cloth and tied the bag closed.

"What's going on?" Halil looked at the people running.

Ramzi and Halil could tell something was wrong. Why were the people from town running away?

"The ground..." Ramzi realized. "It's shaking!"

Ramzi and Halil ran to a hill to get a glance at the town. They were shocked to witness a large cloud of steam coming from the sea onto the mainland.

"There's crying..." Halil declared.

Suddenly, the sound of many birds filled the air as they also were fleeing from the town.

"I don't know how long it will take but, someday, those people...I'll massacre them all!"

Back when Eren left the Scouts, he strolled through the town, watching its people, planning.

"Before long, they'll all die..." Eren said to himself on the streets of Liberio. "No...I'll kill them."

The people who filled the streets were all having fun, especially the families that went shopping from vendor to vendor.

"Right..." Eren continued. "Therefore, it's decided. In the future, too. Paradis Island didn't find a way to survive, right? Anything and everything will be lost. Houses, people, animals, lives, dreams..."

Eren stopped and took notice to a pregnant woman and her husband. Seeing her stomach made him think about his own mother when he was a child.

"Mom...what would she think?"

Eren continued walking and having flashbacks to Grisha killing the royal family.

"Are the ones who must die, us Eldian people? Just like how the King of the Walls chose the path of suicide?" Eren muttered.

Eren looked up and saw the Marleyan flag.

"At the very least, the number of people between the Island and the outside that would die is a huge difference. It's the truth that if the Eldian people were to be completely extinct, the problem of the Titans would be gone", Eren continued speaking under his breath. "But that outcome is one I cannot agree with!"

Eren stopped near an alleyway where a boy child was being brutally pummeled by a group of adults.

"That boy...I saw him in my future memory", Eren realized. "I should probably help him—"

The men stopped as Eren approached.

"This kid's a refugee from another country and a repeat offender pickpocket", one of the men spoke up. "So, this is just us tradesmen doing a bit of pest control."

"It's got nothing to do with you", another man stated. "Get lost."

"Yeah..." Eren replied silently. "That's true..."

"What am I thinking?"

"Even though I'll kill that boy someday..."

"How conceited..."

Eren left the alleyway and could hear that the men continued beating the poor boy.

"There are no limits to the violence I'll be committing from here on. There are no excuses for my pretend justice..." Eren concluded.

Later, Eren carried the boy back to his tent refugee camp. Eren did in fact, go back and he beat all three of the men who were beating the child. He beat the three men until they could no longer stand.

"Thank you, Mister!" the boy, Ramzi, cheered as he was let down from Eren's back.

Eren couldn't help but cry. He pulled the boy closer by his shoulders. "I'm sorry!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Why are you crying?"

"Ramzi, hurry up!" Halil cried out to his brother.

The giant Colossal Titans continued marching. Each of their faces emotionless and at the center of it all was Eren's enormous Founding Titan form.

Ramzi and Halil began running with the crowd. One of the people suggested going to the mountains, but it was no use, the Colossal Titans were already on the mountains. It seemed as though these walls were closing in on everyone.

"I's over!" "Titans can climb mountains!?" "Those Titans are so fast!"

"There's nowhere left to run!" "So, what, we give up and die!?" "No!"

"Can't we at least save the children?" "Did the Marleyans get away and leave us!?"

"Ramzi..." Halil looked to his brother. "Are we...going to get trampled?"

"Of course not!" Ramzi replied. "We can't give up!"

The crowd continued to run through the town, trying to outrun their inevitable deaths. Suddenly, Halil dropped the bag of money onto the ground. Halil turned to grab it, and when Ramzi noticed he turned as well.

"Halil!" Ramzi cried out.

"The money!" Halil reached downwards.

Halil grabbed the bag after getting on to his hands and knees. Ramzi ran up to him and tried pulling him up by his shirt. The two watched down the road as the mighty Colossal Titans continued their march.

"Halil!"

Ramzi pulled Halil up and they began running away. The legs of the Titans crashed into homes and other buildings. The debris of rock and concrete were being flung through the air.

Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do to outrun it. Eventually the debris came raining down from above them. A large piece of stone landed on them knocking them forward. Ramzi's right leg was pinned under the massive debris, but he started to catch his breath.

When the dust settled, Ramzi realized he was still holding Halil's hand. Halil still had the bag of money, but when Ramzi looked, half of Halil's face was crushed in on itself.

"Halil!" Ramzi began crying and was afraid.

Ramzi looked up as the sun disappeared and they were completely in the shadow of a massive Titan foot. Ramzi screamed for help until the heavy foot came down and crushed both of their bodies and left them in a crater of a footprint.

"I'm so sorry..."

The crowd the boys were apart of eventually reached a locked gate. And they too suffered the same fate as the boys.

"They were always just there wherever I looked...from the day I was born", Eren said in his own head. "Those miserable walls!"

Eren thought back to when he was a child and Armin would show him his parents' book about the outside world. Just the thought of being free from walls and danger was enough to make Eren happy.

"This is it..."

People continued to scream, fearing death.

"Freedom."

"Right, Armin?"

"Hey...Mikasa", Jean approached Mikasa on their ship.

"Oh, hi Jean", Mikasa turned from the ship's railing to face Jean.

"Crazy everything that's happened, huh?" Jean asked. "Feels a bit weird to be relaxing...while millions of people are being trampled."

Mikasa remained silent.

"Do you really think you can convince Eren to stop?" Jean asked.

"I..." Mikasa looked down at the sea below her.

"How do we stop him, otherwise?" Jean continued to pressure Mikasa into answering.

Jean gave up and looked out into the horizon, watching the large cloud of steam in the distance.

"I try to think I'm like Armin", Jean began. "I mean, I didn't always want to be a leader. But ever since Armin died, I ask myself, would things have turned out the way they did?"

Mikasa turned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean", Jean began. "Armin always wanted to see the sea, right? That's what Eren was always talking about before. Do you think if Armin was around that he wouldn't have such a vendetta against the world?"

Jean watched Mikasa's facial expressions, and he could tell there was something she was hiding from everyone about Eren. They both stared at one another until a seagull landed near them and squawked.

"Eren..." Mikasa began. "Is like this seagull. He's always talked about freedom."

Jean turned to Mikasa. "Yeah, but freedom doesn't mean we have to kill everybody else!"

"They deserve it!"

Jean and Mikasa paused, and Mikasa covered her mouth. "Sorry..."

Mikasa turned and walked away from Jean. Annie noticed the commotion and approached Jean.

"What's her problem?" Annie asked.

"It's..." Jean began watching Mikasa leave. "...nothing."

Jean walked off in the other direction. Annie stared at the sea.

"...Armin..."

The ship finally made it to the port of Odiha.

"It's quiet."

"The people of Odiha must have already fled to the south", Kiyomi noticed. "All ships have set sail, too."

"Well then", Hange began. "The time has come to make a formal request. Lady Azumabito, before the Rumbling crosses those mountains we will have the flying boat in the sky, no matter what."

Kiyomi nodded to Hange as they all stared ahead at the empty port.

"In return..." Kiyomi began. "Find a way to save our motherland of Hizuru."

The ship docked and everyone departed and began to tug the flying boat into an open hangar. Eventually with the help of the engineers, they managed to bring in the soaked boat, covered in a tarp.

"Hurry, we need to get these explosives off!" Jean exclaimed.

"Let's cut them down", Conny responded. "They're in the way!"

"Wait a second, we could probably use these explosives somehow", Jean touched his chin and began to think. "The Jaegerists blew up the other flying boat. Maybe we can use them on the Titans?"

"You mean, you want to use them against Eren?" Reiner chimed in.

"I..." Jean continued. "I don't know."

Jean looked over to Mikasa silently.

Meanwhile, on the boat, Pieck was bringing Gabi back up to speed after she regained consciousness.

"All of them are dead already!?" Gabi exclaimed, grabbing the sides of her head.

"The Rumbling has already flattened most of the Marleyan continent", Pieck explained.

"Then...what do we do?" Gabi asked, looking up to Pieck. "What are we supposed to do now by ourselves!?"

"I'm sorry, Gabi", Pieck answered, holding her forehead. "I don't know..."

Gabi remembered that Eren killed Falco.

"Falco..."

Back in the hangar, Mikasa walked passed Annie carrying a crate full of gear and supplies.

"Annie?" Mikasa asked. "You should try on your equipment."

Annie stared at the floor in front of her.

"You're still not used to the new vertical maneuvering gear, are you?" Mikasa asked. "You should go practice with Reiner."

"Why?" Annie asked.

"Well because we should be doing whatever we can", Mikasa replied.

"...I thought I told you, this is my last stop", Annie responded. "I'm getting off."

"...So, you won't be joining us on the flying boat?" Mikasa asked.

"Sorry, but no", Annie began. "This whole saving the world stuff...I don't really get it. Far from it, actually. As Eldians living in Marley, we were always persecuted by the 'humanity' you're trying to save. It's all I ever knew. Even if the Rumbling stopped here, Marley has already been obliterated. No one in the world would ever stand with Eldians now..."

Annie turned and looked towards Onyankopon working with the engineers to ready the flying boat.

"I'm sorry. I really am..." Annie continued. "They're all betting everything on the faint hope that they can still save their homelands..."

Annie then began to picture Armin helping as well, until his image faded.

"I can't fight any longer", Annie continued. "At least give me my final moments to live...in peace."

Mikasa stared.

"...Mikasa?" Annie chimed in.

"Yes?" Mikasa replied.

"I'm also sorry that we came and attacked you guys", Annie realized. "If it wasn't for us, Eren wouldn't be doing what he's doing now."

Mikasa looked into Annie's eyes. "It's okay. It's not really anyone's fault."

"Well...", Annie continued. "When you find Eren, what will you do? Are you going to kill him?"

"...I won't kill him", Mikasa answered quickly. "Eren's strayed too far from home. All I'm doing is bringing him back."

Mikasa began walking off.

"I'm glad to see that you're still wearing that scarf", Annie chuckled.

Back on the ship, a badly injured and bandaged Levi was trying to leave but he was stopped by Jean.

"You're being reckless. You still need rest", Conny tried explaining to Levi.

"...You want me asleep in bed?" Levi growled. "You're going to forget I even exist if I rest any longer."

In the hangar, Jean set down a large barrel next to other barrels.

"That's all the fuel from the boat", Jean stated, stretching his back.

"Just leave it there", Onyankopon responded, standing on the wing of the boat, inspecting it.

Pieck met with Kiyomi on the pier.

"Can I ask you to take care of Gabi?" Pieck requested. "There's no guarantee she'll be safe, even at sea...But it's better than her getting on that flying boat."

"Of course, I'd be happy to", Kiyomi replied. "But would she truly want that?"

"I'll lock them in their room", Pieck continued to explain. "Please don't let them out until we take off."

"But you", Kiyomi began.

"I need to pay back my fallen comrades. I must do my duty as a Warrior", Pieck finished.

The team worked all night to get the flying boat ready.

"Hange! Takeoff sequence starts in an hour!"

"Got it!"

Hange gathered the Scouts, including Levi, and they all began inspecting their individual equipment.

"You heard them", Hange said.

"Everyone, inspect your equipment really good", Levi declared. "We can't risk any mistakes."

Levi reached down for his blades and used his pinky and ring fingers to pull the trigger on the hilt. The blast from Zeke had mangled Levi's body to the point were he was missing a few fingers.

"Two fingers are all I need", Levi stated.

Meanwhile, the Warriors were talking to themselves off to the side.

"So, I'm the only one running away?" Annie asked Reiner and Pieck.

"Don't worry", Pieck responded. "You never submitted to Marley from the start. There's no burden you need to be saddled with."

"...Reiner?" Annie looked at the tall man.

"Annie..." Reiner began. "I've always wanted to apologize...to you and Bertholdt. That day...it all began that day when I forced you to go ahead with the operation..."

Reiner continued. "If we'd turned around then, you and Bertholdt might have been able to go home to your families...it's brazen of me to even apologize."

"Yeah..." Annie began, sarcastically. "I can't count the times I felt like just killing you."

"I admire your self-control", Reiner chuckled.

Annie moved to Reiner and they both embraced each other with a hug.

"Take care of Gabi for me", Reiner muttered.

"...Yes sir", Annie replied.

Annie walked off and waved to the Scouts.

"To be honest", Jean began. "We really needed her."

"But Annie's done more than enough fighting", Conny explained.

Hange turned to her full team. "Are you all sure about this? Even if we stop the Rumbling...To think of how Eldians will be treated after that..."

"I hate to say it, but you're right", Pieck chimed in. "General Magath left us with one final order though...Work together to do what must be done."

Hange stared at Pieck in admiration. "Pieck...In that case, I'll gladly ride on the Cart Titan's back and feel the heat of its body as well—"

"Stop", Pieck seemed creeped out. "Why are you being all gross all of the sudden?"

"I guess your Titan love will always go unrequited, eh four eyes?" Levi teased Hange.

"I'll charm her yet. Just you watch", Hange responded seriously.

"Hey Levi..." Hange's voice grew softer and more sincere. "Do you think they can see us now? Our dead comrades...will they be proud of what we do today?"

"Don't you start talking like him too", Levi replied. "Dammit Erwin...We could use a Commander right about now..."

CHAPTER 27: Farewell, Commander - 2051

When the heroes boat docked into the Odiha port, they were unaware they had a stowaway. Floch managed to hold onto the ship and traveled undetected. He also managed to hide while they worked on the flying boat. The day they were preparing to leave, Floch took the opportunity to sabotage their efforts.

"Okay, you can start the fueling", Reiner chimed in down below to Onyankopon. Reiner was standing on the wing while Onyankopon was on the floor.

"Alright", Onyankopon responded. " Good...Looks like we'll be out of here before the Rumbling arrives."

Floch crawled into the hangar, aimed his pistol towards the flying boat, and began opening fire. His rounds missed everyone, but the flying boat's fuel reservoir was damaged severely.

The Scouts all charged Floch after he ran out of ammo. Levi was ready to kill him, but Mikasa interjected.

"We should keep him prisoner!" Mikasa exclaimed. "He knows more about Eren's plan than any of us."

Levi stopped and looked to Hange, who seemed to be thinking as well.

"Well, I can't believe he was able to hold onto the boat for so long", Hange chimed in.

"He shot holes in the fuel tank!" Onyankopon reported after checking the damage and seeing the fuel leaking from the holes. "We can't fly like this!"

"No..." the head engineer interrupted. "We can still manage if we can close the holes!"

"Set up to weld!"

"Anyone free, check the engines!"

"How long will it take?" Hange asked the head engineer.

"Well, if we use tin, then..." the engineer replied. "...an hour?"

The engineer reached down for a wrench until he realized that it was shaking. Hange and the engineer looked to one another, feeling the earth beneath their feet begin to shake as well.

"That sound!?" Hange exclaimed.

"Ugh", Levi groaned.

Reiner left Pieck's side to check outside the hangar. His eyes widened and jaw dropped after seeing the mountainside covered with millions of Colossal Titans.

"It's here..." Reiner began. "The Rumbling is here!"

Hange and Mikasa worked together to stop the bleeding from Floch's torso from when he was shot. Jean tried helping as well, but Hange stopped him.

"Jean, help Onyankopon and the others weld those holes!" Hange ordered.

Mikasa held down pressure on Floch's wounds, while Hange grabbed their medical kit and took out plenty of bandages. Before she wrapped it, she began stitching his wound closed. Mikasa continued helping by cleaning him off.

Hange looked to Mikasa. "We still can't give up! Even if we fail here, now...maybe someday..."

The Colossal Titans continued marching down the mountains, some of them slipping and tumbling down. Meanwhile, in the ship, Gabi was trying to leave her room, but Annie kept the door locked.

"Open the door!" Gabi pleaded. "Aren't the Titans right there!?"

"Keep it down in there!" Annie responded, with her back holding the door shut.

Outside, the Scouts walked onto the pier and were faced with the terrifying sight of the Rumbling heading straight towards them.

"Jean..." Reiner chimed in. "Is there...anything we can do?"

"I don't think so..." Jean responded. "This...is it."

"I'll stay behind and try to hold them off", Reiner suggested.

"You really think I'd let you do that?" Hange asked. "We can't lose any more of our Titans' powers!"

The Scouts all turned to look at Hange.

"I'm the one who led us here", Hange explained. "I pressed on, even at the cost of so many lives. Time to face the music."

Hange walked to Levi. "Levi Ackermann. I hereby appoint you the fifteenth commander of the Scout Regiment."

Levi looked into her eyes and stayed silent. Hange placed her hands on his shoulders and a tear came down from her eyes. "...You sure about this, Hange?"

Hange nodded.

The Scouts and Reiner saluted Hange.

"Hey, four eyes..." Levi muttered.

"Shh Levi. I want to look as cool as I possibly can right now", Hange smiled. "So just let me walk away."

"Dedicate..." Levi began placing his hand on her shoulder. "...your heart."

"Ha-ha!" Hange blurted out laughing. "That's the first time I've heard you say that, Levi!"

Hange shot her anchors forward, attaching to buildings and pulling her airborne, and she continued rappelling towards the row of enormous Titans.

"Titans truly are..." Hange declared. She was in the air above them, looking down. "...Magnificent."

While Hange began firing Thunder Spears into the Colossal Titans in an attempt to kill them, the Scouts helped the engineers weld the holes shut in the flying boat. After Hange killed the first one, its large body fell down and crushed a few buildings.

"Tank's sealed!"

"Start fueling!"

"That's it for fuel!"

"Start the engines!"

"Push the aircraft forward!"

"So hot!" Hange exclaimed, referring to the heat of the steam the Colossal Titan's let off. She turned to look at the hangar and noticed the plane hadn't left yet. "Still nothing!?"

Hange continued taking out Colossal Titans while the Scouts and the engineers began manually pushing the flying boat down the ramp of the hangar into the water.

"Hurryyyy!"

Once the flying boat reached the water, everyone got on board just in time for the Titans to trample over the hangar.

"Hange!"

"We're taking off! Hold on!" Onyankopon exclaimed.

Levi looked down. "Farewell, Commander."

The flying boat took off from the water and began flying. Hange fell running out of fuel for her ODM gear and landed in a giant footprint.

"The flying boat!" Hange shouted, sitting up.

Behind Hange, were the images of the previous Commanders of the Scout Regiment.

"Huh?" Hange asked.

"Hange", Erwin turned to Hange. "You did your duty."

"Erwin...Everyone", Hange muttered. She closed her eyes and smiled. "Ugh, I swear, do you know how much I went through after you appointed me, Commander? The things that idiot Eren got up to..."

"Yeah...It must've been difficult."

"You'll have to tell us all about it."

Meanwhile, in the main cabin of the flying boat, The Scouts sat with the Warriors with an injured Floch who was unconscious and recovering. The sound of the Rumbling could also be heard from the plane. Jean moved to the pilot's cabin where Onyankopon was flying.

"Our fuel..." Jean mentioned, looking at the reading.

"Yes..." Onyankopon started. "We were only able to fuel it halfway."

"Will it be enough to reach Eren?" Jean asked, concerned. "Since we don't know where he's going, I take it we're going to try and stop his giant new form?"

"I promise you, I'll get us there", Onyankopon continued. "This flying boat is the legacy that Commander Hange left to us. One final hope...So I promise, I will get us there. No matter what! So, you need to promise me that you all will stop the Rumbling. No matter what it takes."

"Right..." Jean began, turning and leaving the pilot's cabin. "We're all counting on you, Onyankopon."

The large ship set sail after the flying boat took off. Annie stood on the deck looking over the railing.

"Where to now?" Annie asked Kiyomi who had walked up to her.

"The voyage to Hizuru will take several days. I do believe that Lady Mikasa and the others will stop the Rumbling", Kiyomi responded. "However, I'm certain my homeland is already unable to stand on its own as a nation."

"Well, I guess fish is all I'll be eating for a while", Annie teased sarcastically.

"Hizuru's seafood is exquisite", Kiyomi responded with a smile.

"That's nice", Annie smiled back. "Oh, I guess we could eat birds too..."

Kiyomi looked down.

"I am the one who brought Zeke and Eren together", Kiyomi muttered. "I doubt there is any way for me to atone for the sin of bringing about this mass slaughter."

"Well then...say you could do it over again", Annie chimed in, leaning on the railing in front of her. "Would you never get involved with the Eldians...and just watch everyone on Paradis die?"

"We can never turn back the clock", Kiyomi explained. "But my regrets will stay with me forever. I cannot claim to have searched for every possible way to ensure that the Eldians did not die. I acted with the profit and the honor of my clan first and foremost in mind."

Annie stared at the sea down below.

"I wonder..." Kiyomi began. "Why don't we realize we've lost it until it's gone? The feeling of respect for the dignity of others without regard for profit or loss."

"But..." Annie began having flashbacks to her time with her father and the Warriors before Paradis. "It's too late..."

"Annie!" Gabi blurted out, running towards Kiyomi and Annie. "I had a dream!"

"A dream?" Annie turned. "One of Galliard's?"

"No", Gabi shook her head. "One of Mister Zeke's. And not really a dream. It was more like a memory."

Annie and Kiyomi looked at each other puzzled before Gabi continued.

"Isn't it true that the Female Titan can take in parts of other Titans?" Gabi asked. "And manifest those Titans' abilities?"

"Well..." Annie began. "It's particularly easy for the Female Titan to do that. The things they made me eat...What about it?"

"Well, I became a Titan because of Zeke's spinal fluid in the wine. And I think that's why my Jaw Titan is showing characteristics of the Beast Titan."

"Ok, and?" Annie asked.

"The clearest memory is one of flying above the clouds!" Gabi answered. "What If my Jaw Titan can fly!?"

"What do you mean?" Kiyomi seemed interested now, along with Annie.

"In other words, there used to be a Titan with wings!" Gabi exclaimed.

"Yeah, but your Jaw Titan looks more like a lion. And lions can't fly", Annie explained to her.

"Well, I'm going to try", Gabi stated determined.

"You're going to turn into a Titan here!?" Annie shouted. "If the ship can't take it, it's just going to sink on the spot and kill us all! And anyways, why are you so confident that you'd be able to do something like that when you can't control your Titan powers at all!?"

"Miss Leonhart", Kiyomi interrupted. "I do not mind if this ship sinks. Not when the alternative is living with even more regrets."

Gabi and Annie stared at Kiyomi, sensing the sincerity in her voice.

Meanwhile in the country of Marley, a train was heading towards a higher elevated post.

"So that's Fort Salta."

"Are there really airships in there?"

"Who knows", the train conductor chimed in. "We can't be sure until we get to the top of that mesa. But do you really think you can steal one and get away? All you Eldians?"

The man stopped however after noticing Annie's father was holding a rifle and aiming it at him.

"Watch your mouth, Marleyan", Annie's father said threateningly. "Remember who you have to thank for not being a flattened stain on the ground right now."

"If the airships are a bust, your family is dying in the Rumbling too. If you betray us, we'll shoot you. This is the only chance your family has at surviving this together."

In the train, there were many people who were trying to flee. Eldians and Marleyans sharing a space together in order to escape Eren's genocidal wrath. The parents of Reiner, Gabi, Colt and Falco, and Pieck were also on board.

"Hey! Look!"

The passengers on the train all looked outside the windows towards the top of the mesa, airships were taking off and leaving.

"No...!"

"The airships! They're taking off!"

"Hurry!" Annie's father yelled at the conductor. "We only need for there to be one left!"

"I know that!" The conductor yelled back.

"...It's too late!"

"That smoke!"

Suddenly, beside the moving train a large cloud of steam could be seen over the horizon.

"It's the Rumbling!"

The passengers of the train began panicking.

"It's finally caught up to us!"

"It's here!" Annie's father announced. "Can't this thing go any faster!?"

"Wait", the conductor began, noticing the route of the airships. "Those airships! They're headed for those damned Titans!"

"What does that mean?" Annie's father asked.

"It means we might be saved!" the conductor replied. "It's a bomb run! They're going to blow the Titans away from up in the air where they can't be reached!"

Eren's terrifying Founding Titan form continued to march forward, trampling anything in its path.

CHAPTER 28: The Final Showdown - 2030

Two men with rifles guarded a secluded farmhouse. Inside, Historia was in labor and attempting to deliver her child with the help of a room of nurses.

"Push!"

Historia groaned in pain. Besides the physical pain, she was also in pain knowing that throughout the world, cultures were being extinguished from the world.

Meanwhile, the train finally reached Fort Salta, on top of the rocky flat mesa.

"It's no good...There's not a single airship left."

The train stopped and the passengers all began to exit.

"Every airship has been mobilized."

"The entire fate of humanity..." Annie's father began. "It's all riding on this attack now!"

Above their heads they watched as the airships flew towards the giant steam cloud.

"To all soldiers in the airship squadron and here in this fortress! This is the last bastion left to humanity!" A Marleyan Commander shouted to nearby soldiers. "An immeasurable burden lies upon your shoulders...But whatever the outcome...Know this! The responsibility does not lie with you alone. It is shared. By every one of us adults. We exploited hatred. We kept feeding our resentment. We even thought our hate would save us. We dumped every problem caused by our shortcomings onto an island of devils. And the result..."

The terrifying face of Eren popped into view.

"...was the birth of that monster. Which has now come to return out hatred upon our own heads."

Reiner's mother began having flashbacks to Reiner growing up and becoming a Warrior. She remembered seeing how happy it made him. She dropped to her knees and began sobbing.

"Karina!" Annie's father chimed in, bending down next to her.

"All this time..." Reiner's mother began. "I've used him...as...a tool for revenge...I never once acted like...his mother..."

"Me too..." Annie's father admitted.

"The squadron is in formation!"

"The bombardment will begin once they reach their target height!"

"With this attack..." the Commander continued talking over the speakers. "We say to the world, that we are done with this age of mutual hatred! And that we will all help to create a world where we care about each other..."

Above Eren, airships opened their hatch doors and men prepared to drop their payloads onto him.

"That here...we say farewell to our own monsters!"

Eren looked up as the bombs began to fall.

"What!?"

"The Attack Titan is on the move!"

"Release all of the bombs at once!"

And with that, the airships continued dropping hundreds of barrels filled with explosives onto the heads of the Colossal Titans. Some of the bombs hit Eren's enormous skeleton-shaped body as well. However, Zeke's Beast Titan revealed itself.

The Beast Titan crushed rocks and tossed them into the sky above Eren, destroying all of the airships.

"The Airship Squadron...has been wiped out..." the Commander declared. "I'm sorry...To all of the innocent children here...I'm sorry."

Annie's father helped Karina to her feet. "I'm sure both Annie and Reiner are alive on Paradis Island. AT least they'll outlive their parents."

"Yes. I'm sure they're alive", Reiner's mother stated. "That's enough for me."

Annie's father placed his hand on her shoulder. Everyone looked down, powerless to change their situation, everyone felt hopeless.

"Over there! What's that?" a child in the crowd asked.

Everyone looked up over Eren, they could see a flying boat overhead.

"A flying boat!?"

"Damn!" Onyankopon yelled out as they approached Eren. "The engine is running on fumes!"

"We've got to ditch now!" Jean suggested. "Come on, Onyankopon!"

"Not yet!" Onyankopon responded. "I've got to put us right on top of the Founder! I'll make an emergency landing after that! Just wait to jump until you're sure that you can land on the Founding Titan. Understand?"

"Onyankopon! Evasive maneuvers!" Mikasa cried out as she witnessed the Beast Titan preparing another attack for them.

"Hang on!" Onyankopon reacted by turning the wheel so that the plan would twist to one side in order to dodge the incoming rock debris.

The Scouts struggled to stand.

"So, he's here", Levi muttered. "That big, furry bastard!"

"That saves us the trouble of finding him!" Conny blurted out.

"Ok then", Jean chimed in. "The target of our attack is the Beast Titan!"

"We'll use all our forces to destroy him! We're stopping the Rumbling!"

"Now!" Onyankopon shouted. "Jump! I'll watch over Floch!"

Each of the Scouts and the two Warriors jumped from the plane and began falling down towards the Beast Titan who was preparing to through more rock debris. Reiner bit his hand, and a blinding yellow light filled the sky, attracting the attention of the people watching from Fort Salta.

The Armored Titan punched into the Beast Titan's face, knocking him backwards. The Scouts were able to use their ODM gear anchors on Eren's skeleton-shaped body. Pieck transformed as well, and her Cart Titan travelled down towards Eren with the bandolier of explosives in her large mouth.

"The Armored Titan!?"

"And the Cart Titan!?"

"That's vertical maneuvering equipment!"

"It can't be...the enemy forces from Paradis!?"

"Here to stop the Rumbling!?"

"Reiner!" Karina continued sobbing, worried about her son.

Reiner and Pieck created an opening for the Scouts, but as Levi examined, Zeke wasn't inside of the Beast Titan. After subduing the Titan, they realized it after the Titan turned into a skeleton.

"No wonder he's not putting up a fight", Levi explained. "He's already a husk."

"So, Zeke really is hiding his own body the way the Warhammer Titan did", Mikasa mentioned.

"Wait!" Jean chimed in. "Are you telling me that we have to find a target three feet long and four inches across in this mountain of bones? There's no way we can pull that off! We need to prepare for the worst!"

Meanwhile, Onyankopon managed to crash land onto the mesa of Fort Salto. The many Eldians and Marleyans helped him out of the plane and also removed Floch.

"This guy is still breathing!"

"Hey! Can you hear me?" Annie's father shouted. "Do you know Annie Leonhart? She's my daughter!"

Reiner's mother, Karina, stood watching the battlefield and prayed.

"Please, Reiner. Please, stay alive", Karina muttered.

"The forces from Paradis appear to have engaged the Attack Titan", the Commander continued. "But the speed of the Rumbling has not changed."

Inside the military tower, the Commander continued to order his men.

"We can't just sit here and watch", the Commander told the room. "All troops, fire cannons at the enemy!"

"The majority of our troops were assigned to the airship squadron. The surviving troops can only operate three cannons at most..." one of the men brought up to the Commander.

"And is that any reason to stand here with our mouths open?" the Commander asked. "Right now, on the back of that monstrosity there are people fighting a desperate battle. What exactly do you think they're fighting for?"

"Reiner! Incoming!" Conny blurted out.

There were three Titans that materialized out of nothing, similar to how the Beast Titan was introduced to the battlefield. These three Titans attacked Reiner and since he was outnumbered, he was struggling.

Luckily, the Scouts were equipped with Thunder Spears which they used to take care of the extra three Titans. However, they all looked down the spine of the Founder and there were more Titans preparing to strike.

"What are these guys?" Reiner asked.

"They don't act like pure Titans", Jean examined. "They're waiting for an opening and attacking together..."

"Even if I was in peak shape", Levi barked. "A frontal assault on those Titans wouldn't be my first choice. So, stay calm."

Mikasa landed near Levi.

"Mikasa, don't rush", Levi stated. "Wait for me to get their attention. I'll act as bait."

"That won't be possible, Captain", Pieck growled through her Cart Titan's mouth. "I've figured out what they are. Those are the Nine Titans from throughout the ages. In other words, all the people who've ever inherited the power of the nine Titans. I don't know if they have control of their minds, but the Founding Titan can probably resurrect them again and again. It's an army of battle-tested Titans created for one purpose; to fight."

"There's no way we can beat that!" Conny cried out.

"Correct", Pieck responded. "And so, we can't afford to stand around deliberating..."

The Cart Titan charged forward, passing many Titans.

"As for me..." Pieck continued as she charged forward. "I was never a friend of Eren's!"

"Huh!?"

"Hey! Is she...!?"

"Pieck!?"

"Ah!"

"That little..."

Pieck dodged the fist of a Titan that tried to slow her down.

"Enough talk! Our primary target has always been obvious!" Pieck exclaimed, reaching Eren's Titan's neck. "It's what I've been aiming to take out from the beginning!"

Pieck wrapped the bandolier of explosives around Eren's neck. She exited her Titan's nape in order to press down on the charge for the bombs.

"Now get out of my sight!" Pieck yelled. "You nightmare!"

"Wait!" Mikasa cried out.

Suddenly, Pieck spit out blood. The War Hammer Titan materialized behind her and created a large trident and used it to pierce through the Cart Titan. The trident managed to be skewered through Pieck's torso. The War Hammer Titan raised the trident and the Cart Titan as well.

"Pieck!" Reiner yelled, but he was suddenly attacked by Porco's old Jaw Titan.

Reiner tried throwing a punch, but it was immediately dodged and followed up with a quick slash to Reiner's armored face, cracking it.

"Over here, Reiner!" Jean called out. "Pin him down!"

However, another Jaw Titan was coming up from behind Jean and almost took a bite out of him, but Levi managed to save him in time.

"Bertholdt?" Reiner asked as he was grabbed by the familiar Colossal Titan.

The Colossal Titan quickly brought the Armor Titan to its mouth and took a bite out of its head. Reiner, thinking quickly, jumped out but his human body was caught by the other hand of the Colossal Titan.

"No! Wait!" Reiner cried out before he was eaten. At the same time, Pieck was being eaten by the War Hammer Titan.

"Reiner!" Jean called out, but he was held back by Levi.

"I think there's only one way to stop Eren", Levi barked. "We have to kill him! Get to the head!"

Without the powers of the Titans on their side, Levi began to prepare for the worst.

"Conny!" Mikasa shouted. Conny was hanging from his anchor and seemingly looked unconscious. A smaller Jaw Titan leaped towards him and devoured him whole.

"Shit!" Jean exclaimed. "Shit! Shit! Shit!"

Levi coughed up blood, holding onto the skeleton body of the Founding Titan.

"Mikasa!" a familiar voice called out. "Jump on!"

Mikasa, Levi and Jean turned to see that Gabi's Titan had wings even though it looked more like a lion. The Titan flew inside the ribcage of Eren's Titan and the three Scouts jumped on.

"Man, I never imagined a Titan could actually fly", Jean declared, holding onto the fur of the airborne Titan.

"She really does, though", Annie announced. "So, I had to come help."

"Annie!?" Mikasa and Jean exclaimed.

"...and", Annie continued. "I'm glad I did."

"Reiner and Pieck..." Jean muttered to Annie. "They...didn't make it."

"We need a plan", Mikasa chimed in. "There are only the five of us left."

"We're going to its head!" Levi commanded. "We need to end this here and now!"

"Lady Kiyomi allowed me to transform before even knowing if I could fly", Gabi barked. "So, the Azumabito ship sunk, but they all managed to escape using smaller rowing boats. We need to repay her kindness!"

"Annie..." Levi turned to her. "Straight ahead looks to be a Marleyan fortress. You can fight with us or head to safety. It's your choice."

Annie remained silent for a moment.

"I...want to see my father", Annie confessed.

Levi nodded.

"Mikasa and I will head to Eren's head to distract him", Levi ordered. "So, Gabi can take Annie back."

"What about me?" Jean asked.

"Go with Annie", Levi decided. "Onyankopon flew the flying boat with Floch, and I want you to watch him. I need to remember to kick his ass later."

Each of the five looked at one another.

"This is it", Mikasa muttered. "The Final Showdown!"

CHAPTER 29: Manchurian Candidate -1739

"Wow, a flying Titan..." one Marleyan soldier stated as he prepared a cannon to fire. "That's right! We won't give up either!"

"Even if it's just a cannonball or two, it's still better than nothing", another soldier blurted out.

The Eldians from the train walked around the fortress to where the cannons were positioned. The two men operating the nearby cannon turned to watch them approach.

"Refugees?" one soldier pondered.

"Wait!" the other soldier chimed in. "Look at their left sleeves...They used to have armbands."

More Marleyan soldiers came and pointed their rifles at the refugees. "You're Eldians, aren't you!?"

Suddenly, Annie's father was caught in between the two groups as the refugees all raised their own rifles and pointed them at the soldiers.

"Hey!" Annie's father called out. "Hold on! We're just here to ask for help with our wounded!"

"We're in no situation to do that!" the lead soldier responded. "What are you really here for!?"

"Mr. Leonhart", Pieck's father chimed in. "Now do you understand?"

Tension was high. Annie's father kept his hands up.

"Marleyan soldiers aren't going to help us..."

"Looks like we outnumber them."

"We have more experience in battle too", one Eldian claimed. "We've been to the front lines, time and time again, for the sake of you Marleyans, after all..."

"Put down your guns, Eldians!" the lead soldier shouted. More Marleyan soldiers ran up behind cover with their rifles.

"Dammit!"

"Stop!" Annie's father yelled over his shoulder. One of the Eldians was having issues with his rifle.

"I said, put down your guns!"

"What? The driver? Since when did you-?"

"Secretary Muller!" Annie's father exclaimed as the Marleyan officer held up his pistol.

"Boom! Boom Boom! Boom!"

"What was that?" Jean asked. He decided to come back after dropping Annie off. "They're still at each other's throats!?"

"Gabi!" Levi commanded. "Watch out for projectiles!"

"Yes sir!" Gabi replied and began to approach the front side of Eren's Titan formation.

Down below, there were several War Hammer Titans that created bows with arrows, crossbows, and rifles. Zeke's Beast Titan was outside of Eren as well.

Once they all fired their projectiles at the flying Titan, Gabi reacted swiftly by turning and dodging debris and arrows.

"Now! Speed up!" Levi yelled. "Hold on!"

Levi, Mikasa and Jean held on to Gabi's fur. Down below, Annie placed her hand over her head to block out the sun and watch the final assault on Eren.

"What are you going to do, Mikasa?" Annie asked.

Mikasa and Levi leaped off Gabi once they were close enough. They used their vertical maneuvering gear to make their way towards the Titans neck. Jean leaped off and grabbed the charge to detonate the explosive. Until suddenly, Levi and Mikasa appeared in the Paths. But it was the red version that Eren had control over.

"You know, I used to hate you", Zeke's human form approached them from behind. Zeke scoffed as he passed Levi.

"What changed?" Levi barked.

"I've noticed that there's a lot of me inside of you", Zeke responded. He walked to a sandcastle he had made with sand walls around it. "Have you come to stop, Eren? You know that's pointless, right?"

Levi didn't hesitate. He reached down but realized he didn't have his weapons in the Paths.

"There was a history that I studied", Zeke continued. "Come to find out, time works in mysterious ways across universes. Different timelines. Different results."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Levi barked again.

Mikasa began to experience a headache. He winced in pain and held her forehead.

"Long, long ago...There was a time when nothing, but mere matter existed in this world. In the teeming ooze, forms of a certain something appeared, disappeared, and appeared again. However, that 'life' was actually something called a bioweapon from another life form that speaks as we humans do. You see, the planet Mars rules our galaxy. And they send bioweapons to planets in order to rule them faster. Martians also have the ability to control people's will when they glow crimson red..."

"You're telling me there's another species besides humans that can communicate?" Levi asked.

"Yes", Zeke replied. "The original King Fritz worked with a Martian named Ares and they put the Power of the Titans into the Founder Ymir. Well, Ares is back. He's traveled into our timeline and has been using Eren to gain control over Earth..."

Levi looked confused and shocked all at the same time.

"That's right. You guys on Paradis Island were so far behind technology wise. And apparently even Marley was far behind the Martians", Zeke explained.

"Where is Eren, Zeke!?" Levi finally snapped.

Zeke laughed at Levi's frustration and simply pointed up. Levi and Mikasa looked confused, and they looked up as well. "He went beyond the stars."

"That's nonsense!" Levi replied. "We were just about to blow his head off!"

"The Martian split his consciousness", Zeke explained. He stepped to the side to reveal a depressed child version of Eren, making sandcastles.

"Why are we in the Paths then?" Levi questioned.

Suddenly a sword appeared in Levi's hand. Zeke also pulled up a blade which materialized out of sand. Zeke's eyes glowed bright red. "Because I figured I'd kill you properly with no fancy maneuvering gear!"

And with that, the two began a sword fight. Zeke and Levi matched each other blow for blow, blocking and parrying strikes. Mikasa walked over to the younger version of Eren and sat down, while Zeke and Levi continued their fight moving away.

"Hello...Eren", Mikasa said softly.

Eren remained silent.

"Eren...are you okay?" Mikasa asked.

Above Earth, there was an incredibly large spacecraft. Eren was escorted to the bridge where he was introduced to Ares. Martians were similar looking to humans except they had red horns and tails, appearing similar to devils.

"I have the vial", Eren announced in the massive room. Beside him, there was a shelf which had many vials, all containing the Hallucegenia parasite.

Ares had a muscular build. He approached Eren.

"Eren...are you okay?" Mikasa asked.

Eren remained silent. Then he turned to her. "Fight!"

"Fight!" Eren's eyes glowed red and he stabbed the Martian in the neck with a blade he kept hidden. Ares grabbed his neck wound and fell to the floor bleeding out quickly. Eren, covered in blood, tried to catch his breath.

However, once Ares died, two more Martians showed up. Eren hid quickly.

"Ares is dead?" one female voice spoke out. "Do you think he brought a Terran onboard, Athena?"

Athena looked around. "Shh, he's nearby, Aphrodite."

Eren covered his mouth, watching them from a distance. However, they eventually turned directly to him.

"Terran, it's no use. Since we're Martians, we can feel and detect your Terran brainwaves", Athena explained.

"We ain't gonna hurt ya", Aphrodite smiled.

Eren stood up and looked confused. He ran forward still holding the blade, but he stopped. He looked around at all of the space age technology inside the ship and the physical features of the Martians and their special abilities did interest Eren.

"I...I am no slave!" Eren bellowed.

Athena and Aphrodite looked at one another and began laughing.

"Ares was making y'all slaves again?" Aphrodite asked. "He loved slavery for some weird reason."

"What?" Eren asked.

"Look, Terran. All Mars wants with Terra is complete obedience in the event of a galactic war event", Athena explained.

Eren could tell that Aphrodite was the friendlier Martian. But Athena didn't appear too hostile towards him, so he lowered his guard.

"Will we...be free? My race? Eldians?" Eren asked.

"He still doesn't get it", Aphrodite laughed. "Terrans care so much about 'race'! Just like Ares!"

"That could explain why he chose this world to conquer", Athena rubbed her chin.

"What?" Eren was too confused.

"Look, Terran—" Athena began.

"Eren!" Eren yelled.

"Look, Eren", Athena continued. "We don't care how you rule Terra, or 'Earth'. But we do need this space station manned. And you killed its one and only captain."

Eren looked around. "Wait you mean me? There's no way!"

"We'll teach ya, cutie!" Aphrodite laughed again.

"We do need to report to Olympus though", Athena stated to Aphrodite.

"What's that?" Eren asked, feeling more relaxed.

"It's the Martian Headquarters. It's where most Martians live", Athena explained.

"I dunno if y'all can see Mars from Terra but that's why it's so old and dusty!" Aphrodite chimed in.

"Rule Terra however you want", Athena stated. "Just be prepared to be brought here once again."

"Eren...are you okay?" Mikasa asked.

Eren remained silent. Then he turned to her. "The Red War has been won."

Ten years later, Eren controls Earth with the New Eldian Empire. The Hallucegenia was modified to last indefinitely, as well as the Nine Powers of the Titans. New Eldia absorbed Marley and any Marleyan refugees lived in Internment Camp zones.

New Eldia boosted Hizuru and the Azumabito family by developing technology that extracts oil in large quantities, enriching them financially. The Aftermath of the Rumbling left 80% of humanity annihilated. All survivors became slaves to the Eldians, and the New Eldian Empire controlled by Eren Jaeger, and the Jaegerists became the police state that ruled society. And during the past ten years, Eren has stopped every revolution to ever rise up.

Eren also had a ten year old son, named Armin Jaeger, with Mikasa. Eren continued to control Gabi to be his servant as the flying Jaw Titan. New Eldian gathered for a special day, the death of Levi Ackermann.

Everyone dressed in fancy clothes and the execution was scheduled to be public. Eren assigned Floch to be the executioner. Technology was now more modern, and the method of execution was a firing squad.

Levi marched to an open area, where bystanders watched, Eren finally walked to Levi.

"Isn't this a bit ironic, eh Levi?" Eren teased. "Remember when you beat me in front of a crowd like this?"

"Erwin was wrong about you", Levi spit in Eren's face.

Floch stepped forward and punched Levi in the stomach. Levi fell to his knees and was picked back up by two Jaegerists.

"You're wrong, Levi..." Floch declared. "Eren is the Devil that Erwin should've been. Eldia is finally free."

"This is our Paradise Levi. And you are hereby sentenced to death after a unanimous judgement of our peers. Before you are executed, I will allow you to speak one last time", Eren explained.

Eren stood back beside Mikasa, his son Armin, and Gabi. Suddenly, the image of Armin Arlert appeared beside Eren.

"Is this justice, father?" Armin asked, looking up to Eren next to the image of Armin Arlert.

"Is this?" both Armin's asked.

BANG!

"Freedom?"

ENDEPILOUGE: Chapter 30 EPILOUGE: The God of War - 1464

After Eren killed Ares and was appointed Earth's ruler by Athena and Aphrodite, Eren ended the Rumbling. The Jaegerists assumed control after 80% of the population was wiped out. Eren remained cold as the new King. The Royal Family was preserved however with Historia's baby girl, named Ymir. Eren married Mikasa after he was able to have Athena modify the powers of the Titan to remove the 13 year lifespan.

Gabi remained reluctant to serve Eren, however. After partially remembering Eren killing Falco and him using his Crimson Glare to control her actions, she knew she couldn't trust him. Especially after killing Reiner and Pieck.

Annie tried to rise up against Eren and the New Eldian Empire, but she was eventually killed by Mikasa. After Mikasa killed Annie, she became pregnant with Eren's son who they named Armin. Floch ended up marrying Louise, and the two ran the Jaegerists, supporting Eren and the New Eldian conquest over the world.

Eren and his new movement would inevitably be compared to Marley's harsh control over the world. However, with the power of the Titans under Eren's control as well as the governmental control and advanced technology from the Martians, New Eldia was a global superpower.

Eren bestowed the Colossal Titan to Floch and the Female Titan to Louise. The Beast and Cart were also Jaegerists, and Gabi remained the Jaw Titan while Eren controlled the Founder, Attack and War Hammer. Eren also put the Armored Titan into his son, Armin.

The might of New Eldia was unmatched, and with the expansion of technology due to the discovery and usage of crude oil in which Hizuru operated, New Eldia ruled the world.

After the public execution of Levi Ackermann, it became a crime for anyone to speak against New Eldia. The execution of Levi was meant to act as a deterrent for the public. Armin was an intelligent boy and with Ackermann blood within himself, he would also prove to be knowledgeable with fighting. Mikasa would teach him how to fight while Eren would teach him about Eldia's true history. Eren kept the presence of the Martians to himself.

Zeke wasn't killed by Eren, nor was he spared. Eren trapped Zeke in the Red Paths with the Founder Ymir, where he would remain for eternity. He was happy though, because he was able to learn more about the Titans within the Paths.

At the end of it all, Eren won. He ruled the world by crushing all of his enemies and achieving what he felt was freedom for the Eldian race by oppressing other races. Eren looked below at his kingdom, from a tower balcony. And then, Armin Arlert appeared.

"So, Eren...this is it" Armin began. "This is what you wanted. And you needed me to be dead for it to happen."

"So, you finally realized it, huh?" Eren asked.

"I wondered why you wanted Erwin to be the Colossal Titan", Armin continued. He was quickly interrupted by Eren.

"It's because I couldn't kill you. And I needed you to be away from Mikasa", Eren admitted.

"You named your son after me", Armin continued.

"To pay my respects of course", Eren announced.

"So, what now? What will you and Floch do next?" Armin asked.

"Well", Eren smiled. "I wait until I'm called by Athena and Aphrodite."

"Right, the Martians?" Armin chimed in. "Doesn't that make you a slave to them-?"

"Watch your mouth!" Eren blurted out.

Eren turned and the image of Armin Arlert was replaced with his ten year old son.

"Father...?" Armin asked. "Are you ok?"

"Yes, Armin. Sorry about that", Eren smiled hugging his son and lifting him up so he could see the kingdom below. "You see all of that? It belongs rightfully to the Eldians. Do you remember why?"

"Because long ago the dirty Marleyans lied to the world and attacked Paradise. And you saved the world by defeating them in the Red War" Armin recited. It would seem history had changed for them.

"That's right", Eren grinned. "I saved the world..."

Mikasa approached the two of them out on the balcony.

"There you are", Mikasa chimed in. "I was looking all over for you, Armin!"

Eren smiled. "Were you trying to hide from your mother? Isn't so easy, is it?"

"He knows he's got schoolwork he's been falling behind on", Mikasa explained. "I talked to his academic instructors earlier today."

Eren looked up. "Well, I got business to attend to. Sorry, Armin. I gotta leave you with your mother."

"Aw, ok", Armin looked disappointed.

"Hey!" Mikasa blurted out. "That is hurtful!"

Eren sat down in his office after Mikasa took Armin and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he was on the Martian spacecraft flying above Earth. Athena and Aphrodite appeared as well.

"Well, hello Eren", Athena greeted. Aphrodite pushed her out of the way however and smothered Eren with a hug.

"Hi hi! Eren!" Aphrodite yelled out.

"Aphrodite! Stop!" Athena pulled her sister back.

"Well, what's next?" Eren asked, turning to the more serious sister, Athena.

"Olympus's orders are to take over a planet a few lightyears away from Earth", Athena explained. "It's outside of this solar system."

"I'm going to pretend I know what that means", Eren continued. "What does that mean for me?"

"We're going to need to take the Hallucegenia to the planet and rule it. You can use the people you've already given the Hallucegenia treatment to", Athena explained.

Eren thought to himself for a moment. "Alright. And afterwards?"

"You may go back to ruling Terra as you see fit", Aphrodite chimed in.

"Exactly", Athena stated.

"You have yourself a deal", Eren shook Athena's hand. He closed his eyes and reopened them back on Earth.

Eren informed Floch and Louise about their mission, and he told them to keep the information confidential because he wanted to prevent the world from discovering the Martians. Eren rounded up all of the Titan shifters to board a spacecraft which would transport them to an alien planet. Eren also brought Mikasa along and Historia would run the Eldian Empire in Eren's absence.

"So..." Floch chimed in on the spacecraft before it launched. "Aliens?"

Eventually everyone on the spacecraft was brought up to speed.

They landed on a planet with small furry alien lifeforms. Their Titan forms were far more powerful than the alien's primitive technology. Eren and the Eldian Empire conquered the planet in roughly a few hours.

When they returned to Earth, Eren thought about sharing some of the alien technology with Earth in order to enhance their daily quality of living. The anniversary of Levi's death arrived, and it became a national holiday for Eldian's known as the Purge, referring to any revolutions of uprising against the New Eldian Empire.

All of the remaining world leaders were invited to Paradise Island for dinner with Eren and Historia. Everyone paid a very high price in order to attend for the prestige of being in Eren's presence. Most countries also wanted to remain on Eren's good side, when it came to taxation and other financial worries.

During the dinner, Armin would play dolls with Ymir, Historia's daughter. Many soldiers joined the wealthiest members of society for this special dinner. Marleyans were forced to be servers for the guests as well as entertainers.

When the final performance finished, Eren rose to his feet and began clanking his wine glass with his fork. He was seated at the main table next to Mikasa and Historia.

"I'm so glad for everyone here in attendance of this beautiful day. The day we finally purged all resistance away from the great Eldian race and we became free from the evil clutches of the Marleyan Empire", Eren began.

Everyone in the large open dining hall watched and listened.

"I want everyone to know that the New Eldian Empire hears all your worries and struggles and asks of you to entrust in the mighty empire. But we also do not discriminate against any other race besides Marleyans. The only good Marleyan is a slave Marleyan. They knew of their lies and wished to kill me to keep their secrets from the world. The Rumbling was the greatest event to ever take place! Cheers, to the New Eldian Empire!" Eren finished his toast by raising his glass.

All of the people in attendance raised their glasses as well before they all took a sip of their drinks.

Eren successfully changed history by winning. The Crimson Glare help him from being killed by Mikasa. This was because Armin wasn't a voice of reason for Mikasa to resonate with. And with the ability to control other people, Eren was able to ensure everything happened the way he wanted. The Red War was Eren's war with humanity for freedom.

END – THANK YOU FOR READING!