A/N: I'll come back and edit this at some point.

Jahr Unseres Gründers c.854

Port Slava, Vatanlar Peninsula

Reiner blinked and found himself awake, laying on a cot.

Shaking his head, the Shifter moved to position himself upright, all the while wracking his head for explanations as to how long he had been there. Is the Warchief safe? What happened after the battle? I remember getting hit by shells, then…

"Huh, you're finally awake. Took you long enough, Reiner."

The unexpected voice caught Reiner off-guard and his head jerked in its direction, notifying him of the second cot in the room where Annie lay, book in hand, eying him blankly, as per usual. Sighing away the brief tension and relaxing his shoulders, Reiner stood completely from his bed and nodded to his fellow Warrior. "Annie, you're okay. Good to see to that." The last time he had seen Annie was before he'd set out to join the Airborne Unit to fight at Fort Slava whilst Annie recovered from her wounds.

"It's good to see you too, Reiner. When they brought you in, I almost thought you might've died," Annie greeted back, pulling herself from her cot as well and making for the door. "Anyways, breakfast was served about ten minutes ago. I'm sure if we head out now, we can catch the leftovers." With that, Annie left the room, and Reiner quickly followed suit after changing into something more formal than his bedwear.

Padding down the stairs of what appeared to the the acquisition home of a former Eastern noble, Reiner walked himself over to the dining area where he heard friendly voices emitting from, only to be stopped in his tracks when a small blur erupted from the area and tackled him with a hug, burying her head in his chest. "Reiner! You're okay!"

Reiner smiled, tooling his cousin's hair lightly. "Hey, Gabi. Yeah, I'm fine, there's no need to worry."

His cousin looked up with an angry expression that took him aback for a moment. "Of course I worried, you idiot! Gabi scowled. "You threw yourself into giant bullets that could pierce your armor!"

"Would you rather I hadn't?" Reiner asked her with a bemused look, and Gabi actually stopped and thought about it for a moment, before frowning. "...That was the only exception. The Warchief needed saving. But don't do it again!" She poked his chest for emphasis, and Reiner laughed. "Alright, alright, I won't." His stomach rumbled slightly, cutting off any other words, and Reiner grinned sheepishly. "There's still food left, I hope?"

Gabi blinked, then nodded and grinned. "Lots! C'mon!" Previous worries forgotten, Reiner's cousin turned and started dragging Reiner towards the seating area and the Helos blessed scent that Reiner could smell emanating from the food. Those Easterners really know their food.

Upon entering the eyesight of his fellow soldiers, Reiner was met with smiles and greetings from everyone (save Porco, but even he gave a nod of acknowledgment) and was finally given a plate loaded with Eastern delicacies before sitting down besides his fellow Vice-Kommandant, Marcel, who clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Well done with saving the Warchief, Reiner," he congratulated with a grin. "The Oberkommando was actually considering giving you the Iron Conch."

Reiner blinked. The Iron Conch was one of the highest military honors a soldier with Eldian blood could ever receive. So far, only the Tyburs had ever been awarded with it. To consider someone else for it… "Really? I didn't do much, you know. I literally just stood there."

From the corner, laying languidly on the couch besides Porco, who was skimming a newspaper, Pieck chuckled. "Don't sell yourself short, Reiner. If you hadn't taken those shells, Zeke would be dead. Your armor saved him, and you, thankfully."

"Your armor may have saved you," Porco spoke up, "but it broke, and with it, the fatherland's reputation." He flung his rolled up paper towards Reiner, who caught it easily. "Read that."

Raising an eyebrow, Reiner complied, only for his eyes to widen as he beheld the headline and the picture underneath it. "...Oh."

Well, fuck.

Porco snorted. "Yes. Oh."

There was silence in the room for a moment before Falco spoke up from besides Gabi, Udo, and Zofia. "Colt and Zeke went to a meeting to discuss that -" he pointed at the paper in Reiner's hands "-with the Oberkommando. Pretty sure the Eastern leaders are signing the peace agreements, too."

"Thank Helos for that," Udo praised before taking a bite out of an apple. "We can finally go home. Gott, I can't wait to sleep in an actual bed that's not made out of concrete…"

"Pssh, it's not the army's fault that you're a light sleeper, Udo. Sleep is for the weak," Zofia teased, and Udo blinked before scowling. "Easy for you to say, since you don't have to hear your own snores every night."

"Hey!"

Before another argument could break out, Pieck stood up and began to usher the younger Warriors out the door. "You four need some fresh air, I think. I here the docks have a nice view."

While the four protested, Marcel stood up as well. "I think we should all go, actually. It might help us unwind," he noted, and the Reiner nodded at that. "Sounds fine to me. I can keep an eye on Gabi and make sure she doesn't blow anything up."

"And I'll go to make sure you don't do anything stupid, Marcel," Porco spoke up, already following after Pieck, which did not pass unnoticed by Annie. "You sure that you're not going to keep an eye on Pieck's a-"

"No."

Annie shrugged, and the Warriors made their way down the stairs and out the door-

-only to find a mass panic taking place outside.

Soldiers were running everywhere, packing up as soon as possible. Vehicles moved about, preparing to depart, and officers in their automobiles drove up and down the road overseeing Easterners who had been spared by the war watched with bitter interest as the occupiers prepared to leave, and so did the Warriors.

As one officer passed, Marcel stepped forward and waved them, and they came to a stop before them. "What are you lot standing around for?! Get moving, Eldian scum! The Oberkommando gave the orders nearly a half-hour ago! We're pulling out."

"But, why the rush, sir?" Marcel called out, but the officer had already driven off to bark out more orders, leaving the confused and slightly worried Warriors behind.

"Colt!"

Falco's shout drew the others' attention away from the bustle of Port Slava and towards another officer mobile cruising down the road, heralding the arrival of both the holder of the Beast and his heir. "Falco! What are you doing out here?" Colt clambered out of his seat and pulled his brother into a hug. "Thank Gott that they moved our families out…" he muttered under his breath, and Falco pulled back, frightened. "Colt, what's happening? Are we being redeployed? Why?"

"That we are," Zeke answered grimly, standing besides Colt. "We are to return to Marley with all haste. Malik will be returned to the Eastern Powers-"

"What?!" Gabi cried indignantly

Porco swore. "Gottverdammt! Doesn't High Command know how long we fought to take the damn place?! The casualties we took?! And their just giving it back?! "

"Tell me you're joking, Zeke," Annie glared, but the Warchief did not shake his head, only continuing.

"-and we will link up with reinforcements in the southern baronies before marching on the east coast. This is the will of the Chancellor, and the reason is sound."

"What is the reason, Zeke, Colt?" Pieck asked. "You never answered the why to Falco's question…" the holder of the Cart trailed off when Zeke's lips tightened and Colt gripped his brother slightly tighter. The two exchanged a shared look, and the alarm bells in Reiner's head went off.

There was silence, then Zeke spoke.

And Reiner knew fear.

"Liberio is under attack.

The Island Devils are here."

Jahr Unseres Gründers c.854

Liberio, Continental Marley

They were unprepared.

The war, so everyone had thought, was over. Fort Slava had fallen, the forces of the Mid-East Alliance had been crushed, and the Great Fleet of the East that had once terrified the people of marley now decorated the bottom of Vatanlar's waters. Oh, how the city had celebrated when the news had arrived- wine bottles had been opened with glee, food was distributed to even the poorest of souls, and the citizens of Liberio, both inside the Internment Zone and out, danced in the streets. Many of the soldiers who had been garrisoned the port and the few ships of the Überozeanflotte that the Hochadmiral had left behind cashed in on shore-leaves, visiting families, pubs, and the works, and why not? The war was over! They had won! Marley reigned supreme!

It was underneath this air of jubilation that the first shells began to fall upon the Überozeanflotte.

There was no chance to retaliate. The enemy navy had caught the ships stationed at Liberio at the worst possible moment, seeing as half the men and women (all trueborn Marleyans and quite a few Eldians) who were supposed to be on duty had decided to abscond for the day to join the victory celebrations, leaving no one qualified to man the naval turrets, and the vessels of the Überozeanflotte were left to be naught but defenseless, floating tombs

The ships sank without even a single shot fired in retaliation, and the battleships of the Kaiserliche Eldianische Marine sailed unopposed into the harbor.

Strapping on her Anti-Urban ODM Gear, Historia removed the crown on her head and handed it to Feldmarschall Erwin. "Hold on to that, will you? I won't be needing it for a while."

Erwin smiled, taking the crown from his Queen's hand and nodding. "Of course, Your Grace."

Historia blinked for a moment, then shook her head, an odd look on her face. "Gott, it still sounds so weird when you say it."

"I imagine it would, seeing as I was your superior, once," Erwin shrugged. "Going from soldier to Queen must have been quite jarring, but you've done a good job. Not a day goes by that I regret that coup."

"Neither do I, your majesty." Rita Iglehaut added, striding besides Erwin. "There's a reason you're part of the Pantheon, now. One does not become a goddess for nothing.

Historia smiled. "...I'm glad you see it that way. Eren's done a lot to help as well- it's amazing how much his father learnt of the ins and outs of the nobility before… well." Historia trailed off before shrugging, tightening the straps of her gear to her body. "Anyways, I'm losing focus, sorry." Then the Queen stepped back, activating her gear and attaching the pulleys to the railing at the bow of the ship before pulling the line taunt. "Time to go."

With a shout of "Für das Gründerland!," Erwin, Rita, and every other person on the deck, officers, sailors, and soldiers alike, saluted the Queen, and the monarch responded in turn with her own.

"Widme deine Herzen!"

Queen Historia Reiss activated her ODM Gear and flung herself off the Crown Prince Cardel with a shout of elation, a grin on her face.

It was time.

For a century, the monarchs of Eldia had prepared for this day, had planned and built and planned again. All for this very day, and it was finally time.

The Queen of the Walls slit her palm, and golden lightning rent the air.

And, for the first time since the Fall of the Empire, an enemy Titan waded onto Marley's shores, with all of Eldia's might behind her.

Chaos reigned.

When the first shells had begun to fall, the people of Liberio had almost let them pass unnoticed, so caught up in their revelry. Then the fuel tank of one of the Überozeanflotte battleships had detonated due to a direct hit, and the explosion rang through the air, fire visible to all, and the celebrations ceased.

The people fell silent. The dances halted. The music stopped.

Then there was a flash of lightning, and the screaming began.

The conquest of Liberio was as swift as it was unexpected. With the city's Public Security Authorities having been uninformed and unprepared for such an assault and most of the Eldian militia having been sent east, the defenders could barely amass four-thousand soldiers to fight against the invaders, and while the soldiers of Marley knew not the numbers of their enemy, it was soon apparent that, whatever those numbers were, they vastly outnumbered the home guard.

Nonetheless, the officers would not have it said that they were cowards, so the order was given to prepare to skirmish. As per usual, the COs sent the Eldian conscripts in first, as was the norm.

That would be a mistake.

The Eldians did not make it within 50 meters before the enemy Titan roared, and all those soldiers simply dropped on the spot, seemingly unconscious, and though that frightened the front lines, the officer commanding what was left was undeterred and ordered them to keep shooting at the enemy, though it was all but futile- the extremely rare few times a bullet managed to land a killing shot on one of the enemy's flying soldiers (and oh, how that had horrified them to discover), it never seemed to kill them, only stalling said enemy for a moment before they continued on, though usually not without a retaliatory shot or explosive that more often than not landed.

To their credit, the soldiers of Marley continued their failing defensive, and only broke and ran when the Founding Titan lunged for them, screaming.

They did not get far.

The courtyard of Liberio's military headquarters was in chaos. Soldiers ran about in a panic, and though Edol could not blame them. Hell, it was taking everything in him to not panic alongside his subordinates, but he held himself back. As the kommandant of Liberio's home guard, it was up to him to lead his men through hard times in the absence of the Große Armee of Marley. He had never faltered before, and Edol would not falter now.

Scrambling atop a nearby ammunition crate, Edol let his voice heard. "Hear me, soldiers of Marley! Hear me!"

The pandemonium gradually died down as the soldiers, Marleyan and Eldian alike focused their attention on their kommandant, and finally having it, Edol spoke. "These are dire times, yes, but not all hope is lost! The Große Armee has been sent word, and when they return from the East, they will through these Island Devils back to sea!"

"But what of us?!" a Marleyan officer cried out, "they won't make it in time to relieve us!"

"That is true," Edol acknowledge grimly, "but in that, there is nothing we can do! Do you know what we can do?! We can fight till our final breaths!"

At the murmured acknowledgement rom the garrison, Edol continued, gaining fervor. "We are the first line of defense! The fatherland depends on us to fight here and now!" The murmurs had turned into shouts and warcries, and Edol gave an almost-maniac grin. "WE MAY DIE, BUT WE WILL DIE DOING OUR DUTY TO THE FATHER LAND- NAY, NOT JUST THE FATHERLAND- THE WORLD! "

The soldiers of the homeguard were screaming themselves hoarse, now, and Edol's grin widened, ignoring the shadow that cast itself over him. "TO ARMS, SOLDIERS OF MARLEY, TO A-"

"I'll admit, that was a pretty good speech."

Suddenly, with horrifying clarity, Edol realized why his soldiers were screaming.

He turned, and looked upwards.

And death stared down at him.

The Titan that loomed over him from outside the courtyard, the same that had horrified the garrison in place, scrutinized him with an indecipherable look on her oddly-beautiful (for a Titan) face.

Edol found he couldn't move as the Titan's right hand reached for, then grasped him in an iron hold, before said hand brought the home guard kommandant to the owner's face. The Titan glared at him, and growled four words.

"Surrender, and you live."

Edol did as death commanded.

And, just like that, Eldia once more had foot on the mainland.

Information Bracket

Overview of the Kingdom of Paradis

Leader(s):

Queen Historia Reiss, King-Consort Eren Jaeger

Other known people of interest:

Darius Zackley - Oberbefehlshaber (Commander-in-Chief)

Dot Pixis - Garnisonsgeneral (Garrison General)

Nile Dok - Innenkommandant (Interior Commander)

Erwin Smith - He Who Dedicates, Feldmarschall (Field Marshall)

Hanji Zoe - Chefwissenschaftler (Head Scientist)

Rita Iglehaut - Harsh Mistress of the Sea, Großadmiral (Grand Admiral)

Keith Shadis - Auszubildender Kommandant (Trainee Commander)

Jinn Ackerman - Akkāman Kyō ( Lord Ackerman)

Matteo Beschützer - Herr Beschützer von Udynel (Lord Protector of Udynel)

Objectives:

- The reconquest of the Mainland

- The annihilation/annexation of the Nation of Marley and Her territories

- Re-expansion of influence in other regions of the world

- The procurement of safe passage to Paradis and Her territories for all Subjects of Ymir

- To deliver the Queen's Justice upon the Tybur Family

- The re-acquisition of the Seven Lost Titans

- The survival and continue prosperity of the Eldian Race

- The destruction of all life outside Paradis Island [UNDER REVIEW]

Branches of the Armed Forces:

- The Vermessungskorps (The Survey Corps)

- The Founderliche Garnison (The Founding Garrison)

- The Innenpolizei (The Interior Police)

- The Kaiserliche Eldianische Marine (The Imperial Eldian Navy)

- Forschung und Entwicklung (Research and Development)

- Anti-Marylean Volunteers

- Wehrpflichtige Kriminelle (Criminal Conscripts)

Further assets:

- The Founding Titan

- The Attack Titan

- The Ackermans

- Walls Maria, Rose, and Sina

- The Peace of the Coward King

- The Rumbling

- Inland shipyards

- Resources unique to Paradis Island

- Technologies unique to Paradis Island

Official Allies:

- The Nation of Hizuru

- Several other deposed Governments-in-Exile

Unofficial Allies:

- The Anti-Marylean Volunteers

- The Eldian Restorationists

- House Beschützer (the Lord of Udynel)

Threats [UNDER REVIEW]:

- The Nation of Marley and her Allies

- The Tybur Family

- The lost Titan Powers

- The Mid-East Alliance [UNDER REVIEW]

- A Global Coalition [UNDER REVIEW]

Faction Cohesion:

Excellent. All dissidents to Queen Historia's rule were dealt with in the civil war, and all within the walls pays homage to the Founder and her King-Consort.