Chapter 3: Civil Matters
A/N: welcome back everybody, Lord Primeval here again to continue the saga. Once more, we here at Z-King don't own anything here. Enjoy.
The newly paved streets of Tanakibo were bustling with activity. People of multiple ages were purchasing goods from the new marketplace, with some stall just opening today for the first time. Men toiled around the buildings; shingling the roofs, fine tuning walls, and installing windows all over the city.
All of the youngsters, however, were in the Town Center. This area was left mostly untouched by the hands of humanity, save for a fountain or two. Eren and his friends made it to the Town Center, awaiting for any signs of attack or unusual activity. They gazed around to see the children busy at work, making paper lanterns and cutting ribbon on the grass.
"What's with all the green?" Mikasa asked. She was referring to the fact that all of the Children, including a large portion of the townsfolk, were wearing clothing with green colors.
"Grey." Armin answered.
"What?" Mikasa asked.
"They're wearing Charcoal Grey, not green." Armin said.
"Don't you remember?" Levi said, "Everyone here is a member of The Children of Deliverance. That's their colors. Not a very good choice of color I might add…"
Levi was right of course. When the idea for the province was proposed, no one wanted to go out that far away from the walls. Too many were afraid of the Titans possibly still out there.
One group of people however, was the followers of a new faith: The Children of Deliverance. Their entire faith revolves around the Great Predator. They agreed to be the workforce behind this new chapter in human expansion, in exchange for first claim rights.
This fact was further highlighted by the Town Square's centerpiece: a statue of Godzilla, the Great Predator himself. In front of the statue, a circle of youngsters meditated, under the watch of an adult woman with medium-cut hair.
"I guess you weren't too far off when you asked if it was a god Armin." Eren said, "I think they would agree with you."
Eren couldn't help but stare at the stone version of the saurian savior. It had been months since he last encountered the real Godzilla.
"Alright," said Levi, "I trust you all can handle yourselves from here?"
"Yes sir." The group said in unison.
"Good," he continued, "be sure not to interfere-"
Levi's instructions were interrupted by the sounds of stone hitting stone. They turned to see children screaming as rocks hit the statue repeatedly.
The source of the commotion came from the left as a group of people in robes came walking in.
"These people are lying to you children," a man with long hair called out. "They keep you from the truth and plague your mind with lies."
This was Pastor Monroe, he was Pastor Nick's replacement after his death. Where Pastor Nick wasn't the quietest man about his faith, this man was abrupt and loud.
"If you stay out here you all will die at the hands of the Titans."
"But," a young girl said, "The Great predator-"
"Is an animal," he continued, "and animals have only two instincts: kill and survive. And he'll turn on you all soon enough. Return to the Walls children, they are forgiving and will take you back."
Eren clenched his fist. How dare Monroe, telling these children to live in a cage their entire lives, rotting inside while the world is ready to be explored again. It made him sick to his stomach. He braced himself, ready to run at him and give him the beating he deserved.
Suddenly, a hand came to his chest, stopping him in his tracks. For some odd reason, he felt a sudden rush of calmness. He looked to see it was the Women from the Meditation circle. She wore a charcoal grey robe with large circular earrings. She walked over to the situation.
"What are you doing?" she said, "harassing children and defacing our property?"
"Harassing?" Monroe said, "We're trying to save these children from harm, from the fate you people sentenced them to. Only within the Walls can you be truly protected."
"Where were your walls during the attack on Trost?" the woman asked, "Where were your walls when countless civilians were slaughtered? They crumbled and fell. Is that the protection you offer to them?"
Monroe slapped her, knocking her to the ground.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" Monroe yelled. "How dare you blaspheme in my face?"
Eren finally lost it. He raised his fist as he lunged at Monroe, jabbing him in the stomach. The other members of the Wall Cult were about to join in and take Eren down, but the rest of the Survey Corps took hold of them.
Monroe shook on the ground, groaning in pain from the hit.
"You little…" Monroe said. He didn't finish due to another hit to his abdomen.
"That's enough out of you." Eren said.
"I want these men out of here NOW!" Levi ordered. "And if I see them again I want them arrested."
The Wall worshipers were escorted out by a group of Survey Corps members. Eren reached out his hand to the women on the ground.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
She took hold of his hand, prying herself up.
"I'm fine." She said, "Thank you. I'm just glad the children are alright. I take it you're Eren Yeager?"
"How did you-?"
"Let's just say I have a knack for sensing these things." She said with a mischievous smile on her face.
Levi came up next to them.
"Everything alright here?" he asked.
"Everything's fine here Commander," she said, "Are all of your men as impulsive as Eren here?"
"I'd hope not." Levi answered. "Eren Yeager, this is Miss Miki Saegusa; high priestess of The Children of Deliverance."
"The pleasure is all mine," Miki said. "Children, say hello to Commander Levi and Eren Yeager."
The children responded with a greeting in unison.
"Take a good look at their uniforms," she continued, "there will be people with the same jackets all over town starting today. You will all have to listen to what they say, because they'll be watching over all of us for a while."
The children nodded and returned to their activities. Some children decided to approach the Survey Corps members, their minds filled with curiosity. Each one was eager to ask their questions.
Meanwhile…
Reiner and Yimir were halfway through the forest, concealed by gigantic trees over 60 meters tall. Unbeknownst to the humans of Tanakibo, they were hidden from them by just being in the forest feet hundred feet away from them.
They were lucky. Months prior, the Survey Corps sent a team to check these woods for Titan activity. They avoided detection at their base, so well hidden even they forgot where it was at times.
"Does this mean we have to put Plan B into effect?" Yimir asked, probably just to break the silence.
"Looks like we'll have to." Reiner replied, "We don't have that many options left to…"
Yimir took hold of Reiner's shoulder.
"What?" he asked.
Suddenly, he felt it. The ground began to shake beneath them.
A few feet away from them, they saw a great explosion of dust and rocks erupting from the ground. They hid behind one of the large trees as the dust and stones caught up with them. They could hear the sounds of collapsing rock from behind the tree.
Then they hear another sound. This time, it was a buzzing sound. Like a fly or a beetle, only amplified to an impossible degree.
Once the sounds cleared and all was silenced, the two Shifters opened their eyes again, peering behind the thick tree to examine the area.
Where once another patch of forest was, there was now was a large hole. About half a mile wide, or more, it seemed like the entrance to some large man-made tunnel. As they looked down, they saw the tunnel just go down for what seemed like no end.
"What the hell…?" she asked herself.
"It looks like a landslide," Reiner said, "We should go with a little more caution. We need to get back to base, make sure the supplies didn't get damaged."
Yimir just nodded and followed suite. As they walked away, the cloud of dirt finally cleared to reveal something at the bottom of the tunnel: a strange, crystalline rock growing from the side of the tunnel.
Meanwhile…
At the north-east end of the border, a Survey Corps member watched the area fiercely from the watchtower. His two partners, however, seemed distracted by themselves.
"And then," the first man said, "she says, 'well that explains the blood, but why is he naked?'"
They both cried out in laughter.
"Dammit you two!" the watchful man yelled, "Can't you two be quiet? If I'm going to do all of the work, then at least let me concentrate!"
"Com'on Tyler," the second slacker said, "The worst that could happen here is a simple riot. What? Do you honestly think a Titan is gonna sneak up on us? Am I right mark?"
The first slacker, Mark, just stood dumbfounded.
"Mark?" Tyler asked, "Are you ok?"
Mark pointed behind them. They turned around, gazing in disbelief at what they were witnessing. From the forest, something took flight. Ten large, thin objects flew from the forest with great speed.
Soon enough, they swarmed past the Watchtower, hitting with enough force to knock it completely over, shattering it on impact.
Tyler, the only human inside left alive, struggled against a large hunk of wood that pinned him to the ground. He reached into the rubble, pulling out the signal flare. With the last bit of life he had left in him, he aimed it at the sky.
It fired, letting out a Purple colored stream of smoke and light. It was the only hope to warn the city…
…as that's where the monster objects were heading.
A/N: if you happen to know the Shadow of Colossus theme, next chapter would be the time to play it! See you all next time!