Chapter 11 Hope Arising
Eren's POV:
Right now I'm at Paradis with my first queen Historia, Mikasa isn't by my side because of the things in Hizuru. The three of us have been working together with the alliance of the two nations, and fortunately, none of the other nations know that we are the rulers, and we intend to stay that way.
After the unification of the 13 Royal Families, we have a wedding for me and Historia. We held the wedding in Shiganshina and by using the Founding Titan's ability, nobody on the island realize the wedding, for Anti-Marleyan Volunteers, asked them to keep a secret, since all of them except for Yelena are on our side, only that they kept a secret from Yelena because she would kill. The news also spread across Hizuru, and those who protested were already dealt with thanks to Aya, Masumi, and Hideyoshi.
When we are back in Hizuru, we were mostly going to other nations, hoping that we can at least try to convince some other nations to help us out. All three nations in the Mid-East are not willing to negotiate because of the war with Marley, Porzllan and Indien also refuse and Porzellan tried to attack Hizuru because of the territory. And the southern nations are also refusing to negotiate with us.
When we thought everything is going downhill, we get the news from Stamer and Vilij nations. The two nations are willing to hear us out first. The date will be set for a week after the present. This is good news for us.
The reason why the other nations refused to negotiate with us is because of Marley's constant war against the outer nations and the fact that they keep using pure Titans to create giant destruction. That is not going to help Paradis... with all of the population consisting of Eldians.
"Eren... are you alright?" Historia sits by my side as she is worried about me. I squeeze her hand and say, "I'm just stressed... For 2000 years, Marley has been an enemy of us Eldia. But no matter how many times we defeat them, they will always find a chance to rise again. And eventually, the Coward King decides to give Marley the win and then leave here, causing our misery."
Historia frowns and says, "That's why we're doing the Rumbling, but I also heard that Stamer and Vilij Nations want to meet you and Mikasa about the negotiations. What are your thoughts?"
"Stamer and Vilij nations consist of a lot of races of people." I say. "The nations were made from Refugees from other nations, and they have the third and fourth most amount of the Eldian population. Like Hizuru, they probably have the most advanced weapons. We already have a lot of enemies, if they also become our enemies, then we have no choice but to move forward and eliminate them."
Historia nods at me and she asks, "What would you think... about me having a child?"
I stare at her with my face becoming red, and I say, "Is this because of Zeke's plan? Or do you really want to?"
"Of course, I really want to." Historia says to me. "I know it sounds selfish to me, but I want to become a loving mother for my child... my mother never loved me and I don't want my child to become like that."
"I see..." I sigh as we share a kiss, and then that night, we are now united as one as we all give in to our own selfish desires. Our clothes are scattered on the ground, and the moans from the queen are really attractive. Eventually, both of us are now lying together as we cuddle until the next day.
The next day, I was about to board the ship because I need to get to Hizuru, and Historia decides to come with me for a farewell.
"I'm sorry that it is going to be a long time for you." I say. "Just be careful and don't let anything happen to you."
"Of course." Historia says to me with a smile, and then I board the plane and go with my faction of soldiers, including my Mom.
Once we arrive, I hug Mikasa and greet the other soldiers who're waiting for our arrival. After informing about the situation, Mikasa and I are now lying on the same bed and Mikasa asks, "So we're going to meet up with the others at Kiyomi's estate in Marley?"
"Yes, we're still going to hear the hearing of the Eldian Mistreatment in Marley. Fortunately, Stamer and Vilij nations aren't attending the meeting, probably because they want to hear us out." I say.
"We can't fail this negotiation." Mikasa says, "We can't let the whole world become our enemies..."
"That's true." I say. Unlike Historia, Mikasa isn't ready to become a mother like she wants to, and I respect her wishes. But we still like to cuddle each other when we're sleeping.
The next day, Gloria and the others, including my mother, are now on one airship, and Mikasa, Lady Kiyomi, and I are on another one, we get to the estate to meet up with Armin and the others. Once they arrive, we heard about the blood tests in Marley.
"I see... so that happened to you? It is true that as blood testing technology has improved, the issue has arisen of subjects of Ymir who have escaped Interment being discovered around the world. At the height of the Eldian Empire, it was considered around the world to be proof of one's high-born status to have a subject of Ymir in one's bloodline. But as the empire crumbled, the aristocracies who fawned upon Eldia found themselves being chased from their nations. This is the state of the Eldian people outside the walls. And so I must admit it will be very difficult to carry out our plan of Paradis forming friendly relationships with other nations."
Everyone doesn't say anything as they frown, Armin says, "Still... if we abandon the path of peace... we will have no choice but to use the Rumbling to protect Paradis and Hizuru at the same time..."
"Yes... and we're here in order to avoid that future. Our hopes are riding on this "Association to protect the subjects of Ymir" appearing at the International forum being held tomorrow." Hange says. "We still don't know their beliefs, but we'll need to watch carefully from a distance for now. If it does look like we could cooperate with them, only then...
"You will declare that the island of Paradis seeks peace." Kiyomi finishes. "It goes without saying that the Azumabito Clan, ruler of Hizuru, too would like to help bring about this peace, but just how realistic do you believe this plan to be?"
"We understand how difficult it is. And how dangerous. But that being said, we still have no choice but to give our best efforts here." Hange says.
I already knew the conversation, so I just left already, on my way, I found a boy being punched and kicked because of him stealing their money. I think I'm going to save this boy... I tried to ignore him since I'm just going to kill the boy someday, but I still can't do it.
After saving the boy, I decided to bring him back to the refugee camp. When he tries to thank me, I can't help but cry, I hold the boy's shoulders and I can only mutter, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"Why are you crying?" The boy is confused, but before he can ask for more, he notices his parents and bid me farewell, I can only wipe my tears while watching them.
"Eren!" Mikasa found me and says, "Don't you know that you're the Enemy's prime target? Everyone has been searching for you!"
I say nothing as I see the boy finish greeting his parents and wave his hand at us. Mikasa says, "Is that the boy from the market? Did something happen?"
"Nothing yet." I reply. "This is where those who lost their homes from the war are living."
"The same as we were..." Mikasa mutters.
"One day, our everyday lives suddenly ended, and everything was stolen from us. All of our freedom was stolen from us." I frown. "Most of my memories, the Rumbling is also going to destroy this place as well... I don't know what to do..."
Mikasa notices my sad face and hugs me. "Eren... I know you don't want to do this as well. All of us don't want to, but when we're backed into a corner, there is no other choice..."
"You're right about that. Tomorrow after the hearing, we're going to meet up with Gloria and the others. Did you tell Hange about it?"
Mikasa shakes her head and says, "Should we do it?"
I say, "Let's just leave Lady Kiyomi to tell them." And just then, a man from the camp comes with two drinks. I say, "Looks like he's trying to make us feel welcomed."
At the same time, Armin and the others find us, and we decide to have a party with the people. And eventually, we're all drunk and we sleep on the ground when Hange and the others found us.
The next day, we were at the palace as we listen to the speech.
"We seek aid for the displaced subjects of Ymir scattered across the nations! These refugees were never once Eldians, nor do they have anything to do with the dangerous ideologies of the Eldian Empire. They are nothing more than victims who deserve compassion, forced by the Eldian Empire into creating offspring! It is only the devils of that island who deserve our hatred, now as ever! The devils who escaped to that island a hundred years ago are the ones we must abhor! Our enemies are the devils of the island!"
When people are cheering, I squeeze Mikasa's hand as we decide to leave the place, we manage to get to Aya's airship and I inform them about what we just heard.
"To think that they try to blame everything on us while we have the memory wipe..." My mom frowns.
"Most of the members there are Marley Eldians and those from the other nations. Our last hope is the meeting with the Stamer and Vilij Nations." I say.
Peter says, "But still... it takes two parties to negotiate. Do you think they're going to hear us out eventually?"
"We have to try." Clive says, "The Rumbling might be set in action, but the fewer Colossal Titans, the better."
"Clive is right." Adler says. "And if better, we'll be able to gain some weapons from both Stamer and Vilij to protect ourselves from the corrupted military government and Marley as well."
We all nod as the plane is now flying towards the Stamer Nation.
Armin's POV:
"What do you mean that Mikasa and Eren are suddenly called back to Hizuru?" Commander Hange asks.
After the hearing, we find that both Eren and Mikasa are gone, and after asking Lady Azumabito, she just tells us that they got an emergency call and they needed to go back to Hizuru.
"I'm not sure about the whole detail, but our queen showed me the call, and it was no mistaken from our own military back in the Hizuru land."
"I guess being the king and the queen sure makes them busy..." Sasha sighs.
"But still... to think they have to leave so abruptly...I still think something is fishy..." Jean says.
I have the same feeling as Jean. For some reason, I feel like Eren and Mikasa are a distance from me... I wonder why?
And here is a new chapter, there are two nations willing to meet Eren and Mikasa for the negotiations with the Eldia. Will they succeed or will they fail? I hope you like this chapter.