The waves caress Paradis' southern port with gentle insistence, their rhythmic crashes serenading the scene. Warm gusts of wind meander through the air, embracing the assembly of stationed soldiers populating the perimeter. A symphony of steam ascends from distant waters, their not so veiled secrets hidden beyond the horizon's embrace.
Two men dash toward the pier astride their steeds. Both draped in the cloaks of the survey corps, both faced with a daunting task.
To betray Eldia in order to save the world.
And all that stood between them and Eren yeager, was noneother than Floch Forster and his loyalists.
Armin's countenance bore a frown as he and Connie navigated the labyrinthine passages of the port. His heart was a tumultuous rhythm as he scanned the faces of fellow scouts dispersed through the streets and rooftops, noting the suspicion emanating from their gaze, as though the very air whispered his intentions to them. Calming his trepidation, he redirected his focus to the central edifice, the place where they believed Floch and his men were detaining the Azumabito. His resolve solidified, a mental fortification erected against the trials that awaited them.
For the sake of every person in this port, Armin truly wished they did not have to resort to violence, the last thing he wanted was to shed blood for a plan that may not even work, worse yet, blood that belonged to his own people. As they came close to the target building, Armin mustered up all of his courage and began calling out to Floch, hoping he'd show himself, hoping the Azumabito were fine and not dead in a ditch like every other supposed dissident the Yeagerists have gotten hold of so far.
"Floch!"
Armin's voice rang out with an urgent plea, his heart threatening to burst from his chest. Curious onlookers peered from nearby rooftops, while others on the ground huddled together, their eyes fixed on the unfolding drama. Armin's face contorted with discomfort as he called out once more. "Where are you?! Please, Anybody! Where are the Azumabito?!"
Suddenly, a window above him creaked open, and Armin spun around, a fleeting wave of relief washing over him as Floch's head emerged."Armin?!
"Floch!"
"Where have you been?! What's all this fuss?" Floch inquired.
"We went after the cart titan, she's with the armored titan! They ran off swimming into the ocean!" He screamed back at him with fervor, pulling out all the stops in order to convince him. "If we don't hurry they'll get away! We need the flying boat now! Hurry up and tell the Azumabito to get it ready!"
For a moment, Floch froze, the weight of the information sinking in, his lips thinning as his eyes widened with the gravity of the situation. The men around them mirrored his concern, their faces etched with alarm. Armin felt a palpable sense of relief, but he knew he had to maintain the charade. Connie next to him looked uncertain but watched with a bated breath.
Armin furrowed his brows seeing that Floch has yet to come out of his trance, "What are you talking about?..." He muttered just loud enough for the blond to hear.
"What are you doing Floch?! Why did you lot go after the cart? You knew she'd be running southwards right?! They- They killed Jean and Onyonkopon!" He cried out in anguish, tears forming in his eyes.
Connie played his part, calling out to further solidify their story. "Armin, the flying boat is over there!"
With gratitude in his eyes, Armin turned to Connie, then back to Floch. "Floch! Hurry up and bring the Azumabito mechanics over!"
They hurried towards the boat, with Armin periodically glancing over his shoulder, his gaze fixed on Floch, who remained unresponsive, his expression inscrutable. Armin bit his lip, focusing on the flying boat ahead, this had to work.
It had to.
Well, shit.
The weight of the situation bore down on him like a ton of bricks. Armin hadn't thought this far ahead, and now he found himself in a precarious spot, wondering what the hell to do next.
In the midst of the awkward silence, Armin and Connie stood amidst a gathering that included Daz, Samuel, Floch, Kyomi Azumabito, her crew, and a throng of Yeagerists lurking in the background. Floch had seemingly bought into their fabricated story, and he had, in turn, rallied the Azumabito mechanics to start their work on the boat. They dragged it to a nearby warehouse, where the skilled workers began piecing it together.
"So, Armin, what's the grand plan?" Floch finally broke the silence, making Armin visibly jump in his own skin at the unexpected question.
"W-what?" He stammered, a cold sweat forming on his brow. Was Floch onto them?
"Your plan," Floch repeated in a monotone, unyielding voice. "You mentioned they swam off to the mainland to catch up with Eren, right? How do you intend to stop them? Frankly, I don't see the logic in that, but you've always been the brains of the operation. If you know something I don't, spill it."
"W-well," Armin shot a nervous sideways glance at Connie, who simply shook his head, "This is your show, buddy." "We'll pursue them," Armin stammered, "Once we reach land, I'll transform and eliminate them with my titan form."
Floch folded his arms across his chest, fingers tapping his chin in contemplation. "So... if I've got this right, you believe their titans can endure that scalding water over there, muster the energy to cross the ocean to the mainland, and traverse what's essentially a blistering wasteland. All for you to... leap from an aircraft and transform right on top of their noggins?"
Armin felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his eyes darting around the uneasy crowd. Daz and Samuel appeared utterly baffled, Connie's nerves were palpable, and Kyomi Azumabito seemed resigned, her eyes vacant as if she'd given up all hope. "Y-yes?" Armin squeaked.
Floch's gaze narrowed to menacing slits. "Is that so?"
"No way, that's actually your plan?!" Samuel interjected incredulously, causing both scouts to flinch.
"I- I don't know, Armin, that plan sounds incredibly f-fucked up to me," Daz chimed in, his choice of words making Armin cringe.
This was a dire situation, one that Armin had failed to foresee. In truth, a part of him hadn't even believed they'd convince Floch to bring the mechanics along in the first place. Who could blame him? Back on those hills with Hange and the others, Armin had intervened to prevent their Marleyan allies from clashing with his own comrades, but he'd never truly expected it to work. Now that Floch had exposed the lunacy of the plan, Armin couldn't help but wonder why he'd ever thought he could pull it off in the first place.
Armin's gaze swept the area, and he spotted Mikasa in the distance, discreetly observing from behind cover. She signaled for him to report, but he responded with a subtle wave, signaling her to stand down. His attention then shifted to Annie and Reiner, who seamlessly blended into the throng of soldiers, both clad in Survey Corps uniforms. A chill coursed through him as he contemplated how they could have acquired such attire.
Returning his focus to Floch, Armin felt as if his soul might be wrenched from his body under the weight of Floch's scrutinizing gaze. Time seemed to crawl at an agonizing pace, seconds stretching into what felt like hours. Armin's brow dripped with sweat as he wondered what might be running through the redhead's mind. Had they been found out? Would Annie, Reiner, and Mikasa need to intervene? If so, their current position put them at a significant disadvantage.
Floch's lips began to move, and Armin braced himself for the worst.
"You're absolutely brilliant, Armin!"
"You don't understand; we have to!"
Both men froze, staring at each other in equal confusion.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
Armin's astonishment was palpable. "What did you just say?"
"I said you're brilliant, Armin! What the hell was I even thinking? Letting those damned Marleyan scum slip away like that when our island is in such a fragile state? I was being a complete fucking idiot," Floch admitted, his tone laced with self-reproach. He then cast a withering glance at Samuel and Daz, who visibly shrank under his gaze. "And you two, who do you think you are, saying those things? Apologize immediately! This is Armin you're addressing. When he speaks, he means it! Besides, that's no way to speak to your superior officer, you imbeciles!"
Caught off guard, Samuel and Daz found themselves in an uncomfortable situation as they rushed to apologize to the astonished Armin. "We're sorry!" they both uttered in unison. Connie and Kyomi watched the scene unfold with bewilderment, utterly lost in the unfolding scene.
"Can't you see what's glaringly obvious right here? This is the embodiment of true devotion to the Eldian Empire!" Floch's voice thundered through the gathered Yeagerists, commanding their attention. "While we stood around, doing fuck all and twiddling our thumbs, these two actively pursued our enemies with unwavering resolve! Even now, as our foes have left our shores, they refuse to relent! This is the essence of true dedication! This is what Eldia's future demands – individuals who take action, even at the risk of their own lives. They're so passionate about this land we call home that they're willing to extinguish even the faintest glimmer of hope our enemies hold to halt the Rumbling!"
Floch turned to face Connie and Armin, their shoulders tensing as his hands landed on them. "I've misjudged both of you severely. I see it clearly now."
"Y-you do?" Armin and Connie stammered in unison, their expressions a mix of astonishment and hope.
Floch nodded, his smile sincere and genuine. "Yes, truth be told, when Eren and I were planning all of this back then, I genuinely believed you both to be inept pussy ass losers. Just a couple of naïve, worthless, slow-witted, and indecisive bunch of hopeless motherfuckers."
"Hey, that's really harsh, man," Connie muttered, sounding hurt and no longer feeling hesitant about slaying a couple of Yeagerists.
Taking a deep breath, Floch's countenance transformed into one of genuine remorse. "But I was wrong. You both possess what it takes. You're true and honest Eldians in my eyes, and I've been blind to that fact. This right here proves it." Floch shifted his focus to Armin, determination burning in his eyes. "Armin, tell me everything you need for this mission. Like you, I can't allow anything to stand in the way of our freedom. Just the thought of them reaching Eren is enough to send shivers down my spine."
"W-well, ideally, we'll need someone capable of piloting this aircraft. But Connie and I should be sufficient to deal with them. After all, if I'm planning on reducing them to rubble, bringing too many people along doesn't make sense," Armin supplied, casting a hopeful glance at Floch.
"I see," Floch responded thoughtfully. "I'll do my best to find you a pilot, maybe one of these Azumabito can be persuaded with enough pressure."
Armin couldn't believe his ears. Could Floch actually be willing to help them? The possibility left him stunned.
Suddenly, the two young men froze as tears welled up in Floch's eyes. He noticed their concerned gazes and hurriedly wiped away the tears, inadvertently smudging his face in the process. "I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't be like this at a time like this, but it's just... it's been too much, you know?"
Floch looked up at them, tears streaming freely now. "I mean, damn it, we've been through so much together, all of us! And now you tell me that Jean's dead, I just... I can't." He continued to quietly sob, leaving Armin at a loss for words. He awkwardly patted Floch on the shoulder, a gesture that seemed to offer some comfort.
"With this mission, it'll finally be over," Floch continued through his tears. "No more fighting, no more titans, no more racist warmongers, and no more so-called allies leeching our resources for diminishing returns." He shot a scathing look at the Azumabito matriarch before softening his gaze as he turned back to Armin.
"Armin, you do realize this is going to be a dangerous mission, right? You might not return from this." Floch asked, his voice trembling. Armin nodded, swallowing hard.
"I'm fully aware, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes," Armin replied, capitalizing on Floch's vulnerable state. The response seemed fitting, as Floch visibly touched by it.
In a surprising turn of events, Floch pulled Armin into a tight, emotional embrace. "Armin, you have no idea how relieved I am to hear that. You're a hero, Armin, a true hero. I should have never doubted Captain Levi. If that tiny bastard were still alive, I'd get on my knees and thank him for choosing you that day. Give them hell, for us, for Jean... and Onyonkopon, too. He may have been stupid to reject my offer, but I still liked the guy."
Armin frowned as he turned to glance at Connie behind him, noting how he along with Mikasa, Reiner and Annie looked utterly fucking confused by what was going on but pushed him to go along with it regardless. He exchanged a hesitant hug, patting Floch's back for comfort. "There, there. I-I'll make sure to annihilate them, for all of us."
Floch stepped back and wiped away the last of his tears. "I believe you will. Seriously, can you imagine if they reached Eren and somehow killed him? Never mind the fact that it would be impossible thanks to his Founding Titan powers. But if the world wasn't obliterated and we were left defenseless? That would be it, man; we'd be screwed."
The two rogue scouts were now quite uncomfortable, as Floch delved into topics they were acutely aware of. "No, really, you guys, you don't get it. Let's sit down and discuss this properly. Daz, be useful and fetch us a few chairs, will you? Lady Azumabito over there looks like she might crumble any second if she keeps standing on those old lady knees."
The four of them were now seated off to the side inside the warehouse, where the Azumabito engineers diligently carried on with their work. Daz and Samuel stood guard behind Floch, facing Armin, Connie, and Kyomi. In the background, Reiner and Annie appeared to be in sour moods as they observed the conversation. Mikasa found a secluded spot behind a stack of crates and barrels, her fingers absently toying with her scarf as she lost herself in thought.
Floch's passionate rant continued, his voice filled with fervor. "So, think about it—a massive nation hell-bent on military expansion, and what do they want? Our resources, of course! Never mind the fact that they're essentially doing what the world despises us for, but on top of that, they're spreading lies about us while we're isolated behind our walls! How insane is that? And the worst part? The world believes them! The same nations that are being invaded by them are actually buying into their crap about us being devils!"
"Damn, Connie, you were there!" Floch turned to him, his frustration evident. "They clapped and cheered when that Tybur bastard declared war on us... and we hadn't even attacked them yet! And when they were here in Shiganshina a few days ago, that Cart Titan was openly mocking us, telling us to just give up and die after they took out Zeke. Such audacity, what a fucking bitch am I right?!"
Connie chuckled awkwardly, not quite sure how to respond.
Armin attempted to interject, but Floch cut him off. "Honestly, if Eren is stopped now, they'll slaughter us without hesitation. There's zero, and I mean ZERO, chance they'll let something like the Rumbling slide. They outnumber us, possess superior technology, and we'd be left with only one Titan against their three. It's good that you guys are making sure to nip trouble in the bud. Sure, if Eren is stopped, it might grant us a grace period to rethink our strategy, but logistically, it'll never be enough. Unless we start demanding that people breed like rabbits to triple or quadruple our population to provide enough manpower in the future, and that's not factoring the resources required to sustain such a sharp increase in our population."
Floch's eyes darkened, and he spoke with chilling resolve. "I mean, think about what the survivors will say. Those Eldian devils did it once; who's to say they won't do it again? Strike while they're vulnerable."
"Do you not think we could still negotiate for peace at that point? If we already showed them what we can do?" Armin ventured, earning a stern look from Connie and disapproval from Annie and Reiner, who overheard the conversation.
Floch laughed, a bitter sound. "Oh, Armin, no chance. What peace is there to negotiate? Didn't you just hear me? They can overpower us and wipe us out without the Founding Titan on our side. To make things worse, we don't even have walls anymore."
"I see," Armin murmured with a hint of sadness. "I just thought, maybe in the unlikely event that Eren does die, we could still find a way. I mean, surely the world isn't entirely black and white out there. There must be people willing to listen, willing to live in peace."
Floch's joyous mood ceased, and he wore a melancholic smile. "Sure, in that case, I'd say don't knock it until you try it. But I genuinely hope you don't actually try it. Contrary to popular belief, it's not like I wanted the Rumbling to happen, but now that it's here, I have nothing to complain about. You know what I wanted more than anything in the world ten months ago, before Eren showed up at my door? It was to sit my ass down one day and relax—no more geopolitics, no more scheming, no more death and destruction, no more Titans. Just living a simple, quiet life."
Floch's smile turned wistful. "But as long as our world remained the way it was, that would never happen. So we had to make sacrifices—sacrifices that I'm sure will continue to haunt us for years to come. But in the end, it was all worth it." He turned to Kyomi Azumabito. "Wouldn't you agree, Lady Kyomi?" He smiled.
"I have nothing to say on the matter. Though, pardon me for saying this, but you are simply insane, and I would appreciate it if, from now on, our contact remained to a minimum," the elderly woman replied.
Floch nodded. "Of course, it's the least I could do for you. After all, I took away your homeland and your grand plans to expand your decrepit empire."
"How long do you think it will take to get the airboat ready?" Armin inquired, and Floch simply shrugged.
"Why are you asking me? Just go talk to one of the engineers over there," Floch replied nonchalantly.
Armin nodded and began to get up to approach one of the engineers, but Floch's voice halted him in his tracks. "Armin."
He turned back nervously. "Yes?"
Floch's tone carried a sharp edge. "About what you said earlier, about Eren's death. You're not actually serious about that, are you?"
Armin quickly clarified, "Of course not. It was merely a hypothetical scenario. I'm not thrilled about it, but the Rumbling needs to happen regardless."
Floch nodded, his demeanor softening. "You're right; my bad. In these uncertain times, you can never be too sure. Carry on then. Though, if I had to guess, we'll be here for a while, so we might as well make the best of our time."
With that, Armin made his way to one of the engineers, blending into the crowd of Yeagerists and Azumabito until he was out of Floch's sight. Despite his guilt about leaving Connie with Floch, but he needed to speak to the Azumabito and let them know in advance lest they mistakenly sabotage the very plane that's meant to save them.
Armin located a senior-looking man clutching a clipboard, who appeared to be anxiously monitoring the progress of his fellow countrymen working on the airboat. When Armin approached, the man nearly fainted from terror.
"E-excuse me, sir," Armin said in a hushed tone, trying to reassure the frightened man.
"P-Please! We're working as fast as we can, don't hurt me!" the man stammered, cowering and bowing down frantically.
Armin urgently clarified, "Y-you've got it wrong, I want to help you, please stand up!"
The man cautiously looked up at him with wide eyes, astonished by his words. "W-what?"
Armin explained in a hushed voice, "My allies and I are trying to get this boat ready to leave the island. We're going to stop the Rumbling, and we need your help. You have to get this boat running as efficiently as possible. I just wanted to let you know in case you decided to sabotage it. Please, you'll have to trust me; we don't want genocide, not like this. Make sure you relay this to your people. I have to be subtle, or else he'll find out and stop us." Armin gestured subtly towards Floch.
The man snapped out of his stupor and cast a grateful look at Armin. "Y-you're serious... I- I can't believe it..." he muttered before determination filled his eyes. "Very well, we'll get this boat in great condition. I trust you."
Armin smiled sincerely. "Thank you. I promise to make this right."
The man nodded and hurried away to carry out his task. Armin cast a quick glance toward the warrior duo and gave them a brief nod of confirmation before rejoining Floch. The oblivious redhead continued their conversation. About three hours later, with the assistance of the Yeagerists, the airboat was finally ready to set out. Floch, Armin, and Connie stood a good distance from it, preparing to bid their farewells.
"Well, this is it. I'd offer to come with you, but without a figure of authority, I'm afraid I'm needed here. Give 'em hell, boys," Floch spoke as he offered a salute.
The two quickly returned the salute. "We will. Again, thank you for this, we won't disappoint you."
Floch smiled warmly. "You're worried about that? You guys are doing the Lord's work. You better come back in one piece, you hear me?"
Armin and Connie nodded resolutely. "Y-yeah, you bet your ass we will!" Connie chimed in with a halfhearted chuckle.
"Alright, don't let me hold you back. Get to it then," Floch encouraged them.
As they boarded the airboat, a surreal feeling washed over Armin and Connie. They could hardly believe that their audacious plan had succeeded. The two turned their attention to the other three, who were huddled behind supplies in the back of the boat, deliberately avoiding the windows.
"I can't actually believe this plan worked. I didn't like the way Forster handled that," Annie remarked.
"Neither can I," Connie mumbled in agreement.
"In any case, it worked out. Now, we just have to tell the pilot to move the plane further up the shore to meet up with the rest. We've got this now," Reiner supplied confidently.
As Armin approached the pilot, who had already been informed of the plan, he pulled out a pistol and aimed it at the man's back, just for show. The plane roared to life and began to move forward slowly. Floch waved at them from outside, and Armin waved back as the airboat hit the water and glided forward.
Now out of view and beyond the range of gunfire, the warriors and Mikasa stepped out from their hiding places and took their seats, tension still palpable in the air.
Floch stood with a smile on his face, his hands resting behind his back as he watched the plane intentionally glide just above the water without taking off. Daz and Samuel, standing behind him, exchanged skeptical glances, both casting worried looks toward each other.
"Uhmmm, Floch?" Samuel began tentatively, and Floch hummed in response. "This... might seem strange to ask, but do you really believe them?"
Floch turned around with a surprised expression, shifting his gaze between both soldiers. "What makes you say that?"
"Well... their story was... nonsense... and you, you let them walk away with that plane!" Daz exclaimed.
"Samuel, Daz, can I ask you both something?" Floch inquired.
The two boys exchanged glances once more before turning their attention back to Floch. "S-sure."
"Up to this point, have I ever failed any of you?"
"No."
"Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me?"
"No."
"Have I ever made a decision that ultimately backfired against us in the long run?"
"No."
"Then why are you both questioning me now?" Floch asked with sincerity in his eyes before turning his head to gaze at the horizon. "Armin Arlert is a remarkable man, a genius, quick-witted, and, most importantly, he's Erwin's rightful successor. You both might not have realized it, but today, he has saved all of humanity within these walls. He has achieved a feat worthy of immense respect, undeniably proving that he was the right choice all those years ago."
Floch closed his eyes, wearing a content smile.
"Eldia and its people owe their futures to him, and him alone. I shall ensure that we honor him for his deeds, because history will look back on him kindly."
"W-why is that?" Daz stammered.
Floch grinned as he observed the plane taking off into the sky, heading towards the rumbling, towards Eren.
"Because he managed to single-handedly defeat all of our enemies without costing us a single soul on our side."
As he spoke those words, all the Yeagerists and Azumabito gathered on the port witnessed the plane explode in a massive fireball. Seconds later, the sound of the explosion reached them, and the Easterners watched in utter despair. Surprisingly, Kyomi Azumabito did not appear fazed by this; Floch glanced at her knowingly.
"Hmm, it doesn't seem like what just happened had any effect on you. You did just witness that sliver of hope for the outside world getting ruthlessly crushed right in front of you," Floch teased.
"Your sense of humor sickens me. Of course not. It was blatantly obvious, though, at that point, that boy was so mind-numbingly inept I simply refused to utter a word. If that ill-thought plan had managed to save my homeland, I fear the shame alone would have been enough to kill me," Kyomi replied impassively.
She turned around. "Congratulations, I suppose. In the end, you get what you want. But how long will the honeymoon phase last before you all return to killing each other?"
"Newsflash, lady, the entire island supports us, and those who don't have now just died right in front of you. If you think we're just going to kill each other after everything we've collectively gone through, then you're seriously stupider than you look. One day, that might be the case, but not for many, many centuries to come. For now, the island is intact, and the people are more united than ever, and it is my job to make sure it remains that way, even if what you say is true I don't care how many newborn children and grown ass adults I have to brainwash into loving their home and their people for it to remain that way." Floch delivered a cold and fierce rebuttal.
"Lies soothe the mind, don't they?" She smiled.
"And ignorance withers it."
He raised the gun to her head, pulled the bolt of the broomhandle back, and squeezed the trigger. A shot rang out, and Kyomi Azumabito crumbled into a lifeless heap on the ground. Floch turned around to address his men, who were surrounded by fear-stricken Azumabito.
"Execute them all."
In an instant, all of the Azumabito cried out in horror and began to flee, the Yeagerists turned lethal and began to fire at them indiscriminately. "Come, you two. We've got great news to deliver to the rest," Floch gestured to Daz and Samuel.
"Floch!"
The redhead turned his attention to the newcomer, a quizzical arch in his eyebrow as he noticed four men, dragging in a battered looking Keith Shadis. What brought him here, of all places? Wasn't this worm under arrest?
"We stumbled upon him up the hill, sir. He was knee-deep in defusing explosives from the tracks," the scout reported.
"Oh?" Floch approached Shadis, who was now on his knees, firmly held by two Yeagerists. "What's your explanation for this, instructor?"
"You-" Shadis couldn't manage a single word before he went suddenly limp, collapsing heavily, a bullet lodged in his skull. The men released their grip, and Shadis thudded lifelessly onto the cold ground. Floch scanned the surroundings as his men swiftly corralled the Azumabito; some made a desperate dash for the water but were met with bullets, their lifeless forms drifting in crimson swirls.
"Well, that exceeded expectations. Let's wrap this up and dispose of the bodies." Floch turned to the four men. "Next time, you see somebody planting explosives you don't hesitate to shoot them."
"Yes, sir!"
With that command, Floch embarked on the train, bound for the capital, ready to make a formal proclamation that would echo across the island.
Four years later.
"And then I said, 'You're brilliant, Armin! What the heck was I even thinking?'" Floch recounted with glee, a plate bearing a slice of cake in hand as he regaled the gathering. Seated at a rustic homestead in the northern Eldian meadows, Floch was attending Historia's daughter's birthday party seated in the middle of the table. Next to him, Historia smiled politely, her lap cradling an excited girl who bore a striking resemblance to her, save for her vivid green eyes. It was evident that Floch's story, gruesome details notwithstanding, enthralled the young girl.
"Y-Yes, Floch, you've told that story before... several times over the past four years," Historia replied, before looking over his shoulder. "Isn't that right, Eren?" She turned her attention to the third member at the table right next to the redhead, whose haggard appearance contrasted starkly with the festive occasion. With bags under his eyes, unkempt hair, and a pallid complexion, Eren seemed utterly miserable. He offered a despondent nod when prompted, then returned his gaze to the distant horizon, detached from the festivities.
"Sheesh, come on guy, it's your daughter's birthday!" Floch playfully jabbed Eren's side with his elbow. "You're such a sad buzzkill, aren't you? Isn't that right, Frieda?"
"Yes, Daddy's sad!" Frieda chimed in merrily, turning to her mother with curiosity. "Mommy, what does 'buzzkill' mean?"
"It means Daddy, sweetheart," Historia awkwardly replied.
"Ohhhh!" The girl said in awe as her mouth did an 'o' shape.
Eren lowered his head, covering his face with both hands, tears escaping as he crumbled under the weight of his grief. Floch and Historia exchanged a concerned glance; Eren had taken the deaths of Armin and Mikasa exceptionally hard. He couldn't even feign happiness at his own daughter's birthday party. Frieda, however, was oblivious to her father's sorrow, having grown accustomed to it.
"Aw, come on, buddy, don't be so down! There's so much joy in this world, the world you helped create for us, Eren!" Floch attempted to console him, but Eren's agony only intensified as he sobbed harder.
"You... you killed them... I told you not to... and you killed them!" Eren sobbed into his hands.
"Hey, now, that's a harsh accusation, mister! I didn't kill Armin and his crew. Armin made his own choices, and he chose to get on that plane. Besides, you have us now! You have this little bundle of joy right here!" Floch said as he tousled Frieda's hair, eliciting a delighted giggle from the girl. "What else could you possibly want?"
"Armin... and Mikasa!" He cried even harder.
"Welp, I did all I could." Floch shrugged.
"So anyway, the plane didn't take off at first, which I thought was pretty strange, you know?" Floch continued with animated gestures, entertaining the delighted four-year-old. He tuned out the intense sobbing happening just behind his back. "But then I remembered there were more of them, so I thought, 'Give it time, Floch. I'm sure they'll all get on it in time for the charges to go 'fweoosshh,' so they can all go to heaven together. (Oh yeah, all those supplies we gave them? Not supplies at all, they were bombs, happy sugar bombs!) And you know what? It totally happened! It went off with a loud 'Bawm,' 'boooom,'" Floch mimicked the sound effects, eliciting giggles from the child. "And then we all started cheering and having fun. It rained sugar everywhere and we used it to make cake, although not as delicious as this one right here." Floch took a forkful of cake and savored the taste.
Eren watched Floch from between his fingers, his green survey corps uniform hanging on the chair behind him, offering easy access to the pistol holster by his side. Without hesitation, he reached for it discreetly, took aim, and pulled the trigger.
*PEW*
The other three individuals at the table were jolted by the sudden gunshot, their faces contorted in shock. Frieda cried out in fear and clung tightly to Historia. Floch and Historia both turned to look behind them, their eyes widening as they laid eyes on Eren's lifeless body sprawled face-first against the table. For a few moments, stunned silence enveloped the scene before Floch and Historia burst into laughter. Shortly after, the confused Frieda joined in with her own giggles.
"Oh, Eren, you silly goose!" Floch chuckled, nudging him with his elbow, although Eren was less responsive this time.
"That's our knuckleheaded Eren," Historia said with a warm smile directed at Eren's lifeless form.
"Your majesty, is everything okay?" a faceless, nameless man rushed out from inside the house, holding a bottle of wine.
"Yes, yes, no worries!" Historia reassured him. "Just my now dead husband playing a little prank..."
"Honestly, Eren, you're not supposed to shoot yourself with that thing. What were you thinking?" Floch shook his head as he took the gun back and placed it in his holster.
"You know, Floch, since Frieda doesn't have a daddy anymore, she could really use a new father figure in her life," Historia suggested, her tone fitting and very much in-character.
Floch stroked his chin in contemplation. "Hmm, me? A father? Floch Reiss? Or Historia Forster?"
"She already likes you a lot, judging by her reactions to your stories," Historia pointed out.
Floch glanced down at the child, and his doubts faded. "Well, all right... It can't be that hard. Besides, some of the people in the new interior have been referring to me as 'King Floch' lately, which I found strange since I was only the premier, so I suppose it's fitting." He shrugged.
"Mama, does that mean I have a new daddy now?" Frieda asked, her eyes filled with hope.
"Yes, honey, Floch is your daddy from now on," Historia declared with a warm smile for her daughter. "Maybe he'll actually be willling to give you siblings, unlike the last one."
"Yay! Old daddy was so sad, I didn't like it!"
"Me neither, sweetie. So, where were we, honey?" Historia turned to Floch. "Oh, and it's definitely Floch Reiss, You might be a king but I'm now Empress of the new Eldian empire."
"Touché." He thumped his fist into his palm as he got back on track. "Oh, right! I haven't told you about how all those Marleyans reacted when we came back. You're going to love this part, Frieda!"
They may have never spoke before or during the Rumbling, but that didn't mean that love couldn't sprout from the most unexpected places. The newly formed family embraced their newfound bond and moved forward with their lives. As the island progressed, they stood as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, proving that they could coexist peacefully with other people who looked like them, talked like them, thought like them and acted like them, all without senseless conflict. After all, killing each other for no reason was really stupid.
And it was all thanks to one Armin Arlert.
Erwin's true successor.
Hello, this story is like one giant shitpost, take it seriously or don't, I regret nothing about it.
Anyway I really thought Armin's plan was stupid and had no thought put into it, the port battle was always destined to end in a bloodbat because of that. So yeah, now that I got this out of my system I'm just gonna go do something else with my life, like maybe eat raw honey and try to break my deadlift pr, maybe go to the beach while it's still warm and sunny, maybe invest in crypto, maybe take up oil painting, who knows? Only Ymir knows. Goobye.