AN: I usually don't leave the Authors' notes at the top, but for this one, I will. This story won't be your traditional AOT story where I follow the main plot as I said in the first chapter. I will be doing new stuff to fit what I have in mind, and as such, I'm putting this out there for anyone wanting a re-telling of canon events with a new character mixed in. I will use canon events, but that is only to fill in the gaps for my own arcs.

Now here are some things that will be different: Most of the ages for the characters are messed around with. Frieda was 18 before she died in 845, but in this, she will be the same age as Kruger, so she'll be 15 in 845 to fit my story.

Marcel will be kept alive in this story, I have plans for him, and he plays an important role for Kruger and vice versa. But if Marcel is staying alive, what about Ymir? Don't worry, she'll still be in the story. Again, she'll play a similar role as Marcel in this. Will she still have the Jaw Titan? Most likely, but we'll get there in future chapters. This is only happening because I don't like Porco at all, and even in the short amount of time Marcel had, he felt like a way better character than his brother, however, I will not use this to bash or slander Porco, he will have a role.

Now, if Marcel is alive, what about Reiner's character? He will be the same, however, Marcel isn't the trigger for his character in this story.

As for the other titans I have planned besides the 9, those will play a factor in the story heavily as everyone in Marley believes there are only 9, so it'll be fun to write everyone's reactions to new players.

Now, on to Kruger. The first few chapters will be about his relationships with other characters and how his existence affects them and their views of the world. On another note, Isayama did VERY well in displaying that just because Eren had a Titan and could fight on par with other shifters, he'd still end up close to death or just outclassed. I've seen a lot of people do Titan Shifter OC stories, and the character ends up beating everyone with no trouble. Some people like OP characters, I'm no different, but to have no sort of struggle? That's one of my problems. Kruger won't be out here knocking out Reiner with a single punch or beating Annie in a fight of martial arts etc. Kruger has his flaws, however, I will add in some stuff to the Attack Titan so it can have some diversity, hardening is a given, but it'll be different than Erens'.

I wrote a lot here, I'm open to any questions you may have, and suggestions as well.

One question I have for you guys is. Do you want the Curse Of Ymir to still be in effect? If not, I will still have it be a thing but be explained later that it was false or whatever. I've seen a lot of people do this anyway.

Without further ado, enjoy!

The Devil With A Human Heart

Chapter 2


Frieda was only seven years, yet she felt like she experienced life more times than she could count. She couldn't explain the feeling. Every time she dreamed, she would see an older lady, like herself, but with a man holding a baby. They would sit on the sand, the wind blowing softly as they watched the sparkling water with smiles on their faces. She believed the water was called the ocean.

She had asked her uncle about this, and he solidified that it was indeed called the ocean.

Frieda felt herself in dreamland again, but this time, it was like she was watching someone else's life. She looked at the kid who was drenched from head to toe in sweat, wearing a yellow armband on his left arm, wearing militaristic clothes, he was holding a…musket in his hands, clutching it with dear life as he ran in the heat of the sun.

Did he look…broken?

Frieda could only spectate this weird…dream? This wasn't the first time she saw this boy, she started seeing him since she was four years old. It was weird, yet she felt he was a friend. A friend who couldn't see or hear her yet kept her safe within these walls. Frieda was quite oblivious to a lot of things, she was only a child, after all, however, from her time talking with her uncle, Uri, she believed that her dreams were linked with the boy she was watching right now.

It was weird, but her uncle knew a lot of things, and she believed him.

He was more of a father than her biological father. Frieda was a very intelligent young girl, and she knew her father was a scheming man. He was supposed to inherit the Founding Titan, yet her father didn't have the courage to do so. Frieda didn't know if it was because he was scared, but her father had reasons for not taking up the mantle.

Her uncle did with no hesitation.

Frieda blinked, and now the boy was sitting in a lobby with an apple in his hands, sitting next to an older-looking young kid with dusty blond hair. Frieda tilted her head as she could tell that her friend was happy sitting next to the blond-haired kid. Who was he to him? A friend? Or perhaps a relative like her and Historia? Now that she thinks about it.

The blond-haired boy looked like her little sister!

They couldn't be related, right? She knew her father was a shady man, perhaps she was too smart for her own good, but Frieda knew that her father wasn't loyal to her mother…at least, not fully, despite being married.

Frieda was now more curious about her new friend and the blond. Oh! She heard something, that was supposedly his cousin. That explains why they look a bit similar despite having different hairstyles and colors.

Almost like her and Historia!

Frieda, for once, felt like she had a deeper understanding of the boy she watched for three years. Now, that does sound creepy, but it's not her fault she dreams about him all the time!

The next scene was probably the most interesting one.

The boy was walking down the street, it was completely different from here in the walls. The buildings looked so advanced that it made her feel envious of them. Yes, she's of higher status, but everyone there looked equal!

She was wrong again as the boy walked passed someone without an armband. They looked ugly and crooked, and Frieda felt her anger swell. She hatefully glared at the ugly man who shouted inaudible words in her friend's face, and what got her to gasp was how quickly her friend punched the guy's teeth out. Even in her dream, she felt a sting as if she experienced that punch from somewhere.

Now, her friend was being beaten up by a mob, but he was quick to defend himself by putting up his arms and blocking the punches and kicks. He didn't look hurt, in fact, he was grinning at this. He looked confident that Frieda felt her sadness leave almost immediately. The next thing that happened was two boys, wearing armbands but with different colors pushing the mob aside.

She was happy that they seemed to help her friend.

She'll repay them if she ever meets them.

"Frieda!"

"HUH!"

Frieda awoke from her very immersive dream to the sound of her father, Rod Reiss, He stood by her open door wearing a flat expression that she was used to. She wished he would smile beside the time she did something for his benefit. Like making excuses to her mother that he was out on business or whatever. Frieda was thankful that her mother didn't know of the existence of her younger sister, Historia, and her mother Alma.

That would be disastrous.

"You were dreaming about the boy again and woke me up. What was his name? Kruger? Why do you keep dreaming about him anyway? He doesn't exist, I've already checked."

Frieda suppressed an annoyed scowl as she knew her father was still strict and the fact he was still her father. She had to be more ladylike and just bide with the irritation.

"He does exist. Just not here."

She could see the look on her father's face change and deepen. She must've said something she wasn't supposed to.

"What do you mean not here?" Her father pressed with a bit more authority than she was used to.

"Today, he was wearing military clothes with a red armband holding an advanced musket…I think. He looked to be training for an army like the Military Police, but the clothing seemed different, and the gun looked to be improved than our own."

Rod began to bite his fingernail. The way his eldest child was talking confirmed his suspicions.

The outside world was getting too far ahead of them. Rod knew the truth…or as much as he could get. Being a part of the Royal family of the Walls, he had knowledge that the others didn't. He knew about Marley and other countries, and he wanted to stop them and the Titans, but his brother had fallen victim to the will of Karl Fritz. Rod hated that man with a passion; limiting the use of what made his family strong was the worst mistake one could make.

It made no sense.

Rod and Uri both didn't understand why he would do such a thing and curse the fate of future generations.

"Dad!"

Rod snapped out of his musing and looked at Frieda, who was wearing her pajamas and yawning as she walked out of her bed. Her bedroom was empty, despite being the princess…she didn't want much.

That caused Rod to wonder about his daughters' well-being. Frieda could have everything, but the one thing she wanted….

Was in Marley.

Rod knew that this Kruger existed, just not here.

But why the dreams? That shouldn't be possible. Were Frieda and Kruger linked to one another but not aware that one was watching the other?

That seemed to be the case here.

Rod sighed. "Frieda…tell me more about this Kruger boy, and I'll see what I can do, okay? I'll let you and your uncle go to Historia today."

Frieda beamed and hugged her father. He was shocked initially but relieved that Frieda seemed to have found…someone other than Historia to care for. Frieda loved her other siblings, but it's clear Historia was the one who won her heart the most.

And now it seemed Kruger was also making his way to her heart.

Rod watched his daughter go get dressed for the day and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could feel this was going to be a headache. He had no way of leaving these damn walls. For all its godlike powers, the Founding Titan was nothing more than a basic titan. Its abilities were sealed by his ancestor, and now his eldest child wants her first friend to be here with her, but he comes from outside the walls.

He couldn't hurt his daughters' feelings. As much as he seemed to be cold and pessimistic, his love for his family was strong. He was sure that one of his children would finally be able to break the damn curse that weakens the Founding Titan.

Rod, for some reason, knew that this Kruger boy was going to be the key to it. He just needed to be patient.


Kruger rubbed his swollen arms and legs with a scowl on his face. He was just beaten up by a Marleyan mob, but truthfully he deserved it, not that he would admit it. He did have some pride about it. Or maybe he was just too stubborn?

"You alright?"

"Of course, he's not alright, Marcel."

"It doesn't hurt to ask…"

"It's stupid to ask when he just got his ass handed to him. Although, he has more guts than me."

Kruger watched the two boys in surprise. He remembers these two. The kids he helped two years ago. They looked to be six. Kruger got up, and he towered over them by a few inches. He was 4'9 inches tall. Actually, he might be too tall for his age.

"He's right. I did get my ass handed to me. It was worth it," Kruger finished with a bloody grin.

Marcel looked at Kruger with a worried expression, and Porco seemed fascinated by Kruger's tough attitude. It wasn't fake. It was as real as it gets.

"Anyway, shouldn't you kids be home?"

Marcel sighed, and Porco felt his eyebrows twitch.

"We were just in the area, and then we heard a discourse going on, and it turns out I found the one who helped us out two years. I had to repay my debt."

Kruger tilted his head. Marcel reminded Kruger of himself, which was a good and bad thing.

"Well, no matter. I appreciate the help, although I don't think I'd have it in my conscious of letting you two get beat up since I'm older."

Porco groaned. "You're not much older than us."

"I'm seven."

"THAT'S JUST TWO YEARS!"

"Anyway. I gotta head home. Mom is probably going to beat me worse than that mob. I'll see you guys around!" Kruger said his goodbyes and left the brothers to themselves.

"Hey, wait…his armband was yellow."

"It was…that means…"

Both the brothers quickly realized that their new friend was a part of the Warrior Program they would join when they were seven.


Kruger had to lie to his new friends today…if they could be called friends. He didn't know yet, but knowing those two, they'll probably end up joining the Warrior Program when they turn seven as well. Kruger didn't want them to do so. Kruger learned that a Titan Shifter dies after thirteen years, and if not eaten, the Titan is sent to a random Eldian baby.

How does the baby find out?

No clue. Probably if their parents are reckless and cause them to bleed and the baby cries, it'll transform.

Just food for thought.

Right now, Kruger was going to his secret hiding spot to train. He had asked the higher-ups to give him extra training, but his answer was a kick to the stomach. He didn't budge under the pressure. It only increased his resolve.

He had a mission.

To save his Uncle and Aunt.

He didn't care about Marley. He was using them to get a Titan. Thankfully, his mentor Eren was going to help him get it. He needed to wait until he was fourteen to get it. That was seven long years. He wanted to see Frieda so badly.

But he had to be patient.

Thanks to Zeke's slight influence in the Warrior Program, he was able to gather intel on the supposed God Of Titans, the Founding Titan. It would be able to revert his Aunt and Uncle back to normal. They just needed to stay alive until he was able to get that power.

He would do anything for it. Even if it meant eating whoever had it, meaning taking it away from the Royal Family. He didn't care if he couldn't use it. At least it would be better under his supervision.

A good thing about this is. His Aunt also has royal blood in her, meaning Zeke does too. He could always take the Founding Titan, meet up with Zeke, and use it. However, that was going to be a hard quest. He was still weak, yeah, he could beat up the common thug, but that was all it was at. He wasn't Zeke. He wasn't some genius.

Sometimes he hated Zeke for that.

Everyone praised him. It was a good thing Kruger wasn't given much praise. He could tell they were fake and forced. Zeke probably did as well. He did a good job in his poker face. Zeke's smile was always forced when around people, except for Faye, Kruger, and someone named Tom Ksaver, who Kruger learned was the current inheritor of the Beast Titan, but he only had five years left, so Zeke was going to have to train harder than before to lock in his prize for the Beast Titan.

A Beast Titan with Royal Blood sounds menacing.

Actually, any titan with Royal Blood would be.

Kruger made his way to his hiding spot within a tree…yeah he had a tree house. How original. During some nights, Kruger would steal a lot of things. It didn't matter what, thanks to the training he received from Eren for two years. He now had a calm and tranquil spot to hang out and rest his bones. His mother knew about this place. He couldn't lie to his beautiful mother.

Kruger opened up a small mini-fridge and took out a can of soda. He popped the lid and quickly drank the contents with haste. He needed the energy from it so he could begin his secret training.

Kruger popped his head out of the round hole in the tree and looked to see no one was in the area. He made his way down and went to a sandbag he had stolen. He was surprisingly never caught. He was a true thieving spy.

Kruger began to punch the sandbag. Two jabs before kicking, and kicking before two jabs. It was simple strikes, but they weren't sharp enough to consider damaging. He was going to inherit the Attack Titan. Its whole basis was about its fists.

These two fists were going to pave the way for a new world.

Kruger did this for thirty minutes before feeling his stamina drain. He slumped on his knees and breathed heavily, his throat as dry as the desert, and sweat was all he could taste to get some hydration going on.

"Are you tired already? Aren't you in that Warrior Program?"

Kruger felt a rush of urgency course through him as he got his second wind, and he turned around to kick whoever was there, but his kick was countered by another from the newcomer. Kruger looked down to see a small blonde-haired girl with blue eyes that showed the raging ocean.

Kruger and the girl retracted their legs. A small hint of respect for both of them was apparent in their stare.

"You're fast. Guess that has to do with your height," Kruger pointed out, completely aware of the glare the girl sent his way.

"I'll kill you," She tried to sound threatening, but her cute, child-like voice caused Kruger to laugh, getting the girl to glare harder as her face went red.

"Yeah, you'd kill me with cuteness. Honestly, you shouldn't be saying words like those," Kruger kept laughing even though the girl retaliated with a kick to his shin.

"Tch, I only came here because it was quiet. The next thing I hear is the sound of something getting hit, and it turns out to be you. So, this is your hiding spot?"

"You know…you should give out your name before talking to a stranger."

"I don't want your name,"

"It's Kruger Yaeger," Kruger introduced himself, ignoring the girl's comment.

The girl scowled but sighed. "Annie…Leonhardt."

Kruger raised an eyebrow. "You look nothing like that old prune. Adopted?"

Annie's eyes widened. "You…know him?"

"He taught me some things, but I didn't like his attitude, so I'm self-training."

"No wonder you were prioritizing your kicks. You can use a little more swiftness."

"Are you going to teach me?"

Annie blinked and turned his head away, her side bang covering one of her eyes as she stared off into the distance. "Y-Yeah…but you have to give me something in return."

"I'm a pretty good cook, and if you want, you can use my hideout in the trees to sneak away from that man. Ymir knows I might kill him one day."

"You…really don't like him?"

"From your icy glare and the way you carry yourself, yeah, I don't. I know when someone is a lousy father. I got that from experience."

Annie looked down as she rubbed her head. She was only four, so she was still learning things, like emotions and all that. Her father only teaches her how to fight. As good as that is, she wanted a bit more.

Kruger spoke before she did. "And yes, I'll be your friend. We all need someone to lean our heads on. So, if you ever feel like crying, just come here. I usually come here around this time. So you can relax, and I'll cook you something from home. You like Pumpkin Pie, right?"

Annie tilted her head in confusion. All of this was too fast. "What's Pumpkin Pie?"

Kruger blinked, and a tense silence filled the air as Kruger's long hair shadowed his face. Annie was about to speak, but Kruger picked her up quickly.

"YOU DON'T KNOW PUMPKIN PIE!"

Annie stared down at the boy she just met with an alien gaze. She didn't know this feeling…what could it be? However, one thing was for certain.

"OW!"

Annie kicked Kruger in the chest, causing him to drop her. She returned to him her usual glare, but it softened as Kruger just laughed. Was he really enjoying her company?

"It's settled. Come here whenever you can, and I'll bring back Pumpkin Pie whenever I can, okay?"

Kruger held out his pinky finger, which confused Annie. Catching on, Kruger sighed.

"It's a sign of friendship or making a promise you can't turn your back on."

Annie looked at her pinky finger with a forlorn gaze. This was the first friend she had ever made…and that made her happy. At this moment, Annie knew she had someone to depend on when she needed someone to talk to.

Annie twisted her pinky with Kruger's, and they both shared a smile.

One of many.


END

AN: I'm going to assume Marley has soda and Pumpkin Pie for the sake of my story because that sets up a funny dynamic for Kruger and Annie's relationship. Right now, I'm leaning toward a sibling-like relationship as opposed to a romantic interest. but unless the masses want otherwise, then I'm all ears for good reasons. This chapter may have been quite forced with Kruger meeting his future fellow warriors, but I merely wanted to cement the three that'll play a role in Kruger's development. I worked out a few things with a few friends, and the dynamics will be interesting to write for me.

Kruger and Freida's relationship will take a different step from what I've seen in most stories. Frieda is still affected by the Vow Renouncing War, so hearing that Kruger is from outside the walls will make for an interesting conversation they'll have eventually.

With that said, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!