Chapter 52
Marley
Kara stood at the railing of the ship in a red suit jacket and skirt. She wore a simple hat. Jean was leaning on the railing next to her looking out as they came into port. Conny and Sasha were standing next to them. Conny was looking at the city in amazement.
"Can you believe there are really enough people outside the walls to fill up such a gigantic city?" Conny asked. Jean glared at Conny.
"Try not to talk about the walls in front of the general public, Conny." Jean hissed.
"Ah, right. Sorry about that." Conny said. Kara linked her arm through Jean's.
"We made it at least." Kara said with a smile. Jean returned it and kissed her forehead.
"This is the world beyond the walls." Kara looked at Sasha. "We're finally here, outside the walls, we've known our whole lives. The walls no one has ever escaped."
"Gah, would you listen to me for once?" Jean said. Kara sighed. Everyone was excited. The ship came to a dock and they all got off. They stood in the middle of the road looking around in amazement. It was nothing like the Island. A man was taking pictures from a camera. Couples were walking around.
"My friends!" Kara saw Onyankopon standing there waiting for them. He took off his hat. "I'd like to welcome you to the continent of Marley! The Azumabito have been waiting. May I escort you?"
"Hey, Onyankopon!" Hange said. Onyankopon laughs.
"It's so good to see you all here!" Onyankopon said. He looked at Jean and Kara. "Congratulations on the marriage."
"Thank you." Kara said. Jean nodded.
"So, what does everyone think about the biggest port in the country?" Onyankopon asked as something rides by them with a person sitting inside. Conny gasps.
"What's with that horse? Or wait. Is that... What was that?" Conny asked.
"Nah. No horse ever looked like that. I think it was a Marleyan cow!" Sasha said. Kara snorted. Hange looked impressed.
"It must've been a car. I've definitely heard about those." Hange said. She starts waving at the car. "Hey! Car! Here, boy!"
"They're making a scene. Everyone's staring." Armin said.
"It's Hange for you." Kara whispered. Jean lowered his hat and sighs.
"All these people are gonna think we're a bunch of yokels now." Jean said. Armin gasps. "Just act like you don't know them." Jean moves away with Armin behind him. Kara was standing with her father as Hange, Sasha, and Conny run after the car.
"I don't know them." Kara said. Levi sighed as Onyankopon comes over to them.
"Better get them on a leash. They'll try and feed the car carrots if they manage to catch it." Levi said. Onyankopon laughs.
"Give them more credit than tha..." Onyankopon gasps as Kara shakes her head at the three buying carrots. "Wait, are they buying carrots?" Onyankopon asked.
"Might want to stop them." Kara said. Onyankopon sighs and goes to stop them. Levi goes to get Armin, Eren, and Mikasa as Kara sticks around Jean. Jean held out his arm and Kara took it to look like an ordinary couple as they walked.
"Its so different then back home." Kara said, looking at the stalls. They had money to spend. Jean pulled her close as they walk. Sasha was standing at a food stall.
"May I please have one?" Sasha asked, holding up her money bag.
"But, of course!" The man hands her a cone with while stuff on it. "Here you go."
"Whoa! Sasha! Show some restraint." Conny said as Kara and Jean come over. Sasha took a lick and gasped.
"How is it cold like that?" Sasha asked. The vendor laughs.
"I wanna try it!" Conny said.
"Same here!" Kara said.
"I take it this is your first-time tasting ice cream!" The Vendor said. A huge smile was on his face as Sasha held out the ice cream for Conny. Conny licked and gasped.
"What is this stuff made of?" Conny asked as Sasha eats more of the ice cream. Jean paid for his, Kara's, and Conny's. Kara licked hers and closed her eyes at the taste. It was delicious. Levi was watching with dislike. He was impressed his daughter was more behaving then the other three.
"Those idiots. I told them not to draw attention." Levi said.
"They stick out, but they won't look like island devils if they're acting like overgrown kids." Hange said. Kara came up to her father and Hange, finishing her ice cream.
"You guys got to try this. It's good." Kara said as Jean went to tell Armin and Mikasa.
"Maybe in a little bit." Hange said.
"Hi, little fella." Kara turned to see a man dressed in a funny costume and face painted standing behind Levi. Jean came over and Kara had to hold back a laugh as the man was thinking Levi was a kid. "Got some tasty candy for ya." He held out a candy on a stick. "Wanna try it?" Levi looked like he was terrified. The man hummed as he leaned forward. Jean was snickering. "It's real good." Kara had to elbow Jean. Levi turned on the man and glared at him. "Sharp suit there, bud. Are you and your friends playing gangster?"
"I would love to see you father kick his ass." Jean whispered.
"It amuses me he thought dad was a kid." Kara said. Hange seemed amused at it. Conny was chasing after Sasha who smelled something delicious. Kara saw Mikasa try and hand ice cream to Eren, who didn't seem happy he was there. Jean was watching them as well. Hange had to pull Levi away from the man in a funny suit which they were told it was a clown before Levi shoved the guy in the sea.
"Let's start going to where you'll be staying." Onyankopon said. They start walking. Kara and Jean walked hand in hand as they looked around.
"Hey!" Everyone stopped as Levi stood holding a hand of a kid, who held a purse in his hand. People were looking at the kid. "I don't think that purse belongs to you, does it, kid." The kid gasped and Kara saw the fear on the kids face. Kara realized the purse was Sasha's. Sasha reached for her bag.
"Huh?" Sasha gasps.
"Thief!"
"Well, look at that. Another enemy immigrant!"
"How'd you get into Marley?" A man asked as he pushed through the crowd.
"But he stowed away on a ship."
Kara was watching as people surrounded the kid.
"He can't understand us, can he?"
"We should toss him into the sea!"
"Nah. I say we smash his hands. That ought to stop him from picking pockets. Why don't we string the little rat up somewhere everyone can see him? It'll scare off the next thief!"
The kid was sweating, and Sasha and Kara looked shocked at what the people were saying.
'So, this is the true colors of Marley people.' Kara thought.
"There's no need! Don't hurt him, okay?" Sasha said. She held up her purse that the kid had given back. "I got my purse back, so why go that far?"
"Young lady, this is about more than just your purse. All us merchants working in this port are trying to make an honest living. We can't allow the riffraff to run around stealing from our customers."
"On top of that, this kid could be a Subject of Ymir."
Kara and Jean share looks. Levi's frown deepened. Jean squeezed Kara's hand.
"Blood testing has been picking up like crazy all over during the past few years. Now that we know the devils have been blending in with the rest of us, people are losing sleep over it!"
"Blood testing?" Kara whispered. Levi was starting to feal bad ratting out the poor boy. Levi walks up to the boy and picks him up, under his arm and tries to leave.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"
"I never said he was a pickpocket. All I said was the purse didn't belong to him." Levi said. He looked at Sasha. "He owes his big sister an apology for this little prank." Sasha gasped.
"Geez. That's children for you!" Hange said. She pushed through the crowd. "But what can you do? Right? It's a family thing!" Hange glared at Sasha." Sasha got the hint and started to bow.
"Huh? Yeah, your right. I'm sorry my little brother acted like an idiot, everybody!" Sasha said. People didn't believe it .
"Smells like bullshit. You think we're stupid?"
"Run for it!" Levi called to his team. Levi pushes through the crowd and Jean pulled Kara into a run as they all ran after Levi with the crowd calling for them.
They come to a stop at some ruins. Kara leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath.
"Did anyone see where the brat ran off to?" Levi asked. Kara saw he didn't have the kid with him anymore. Kara saw him on the wall.
"Dad. He's right there." Kara said, pointing. Levi looked. The kid was waving at them, holding a pouch in his hand. Kara snorted as Levi discovered that his pouch was missing as the kid disappeared. "Well, then. So much for the Azumabito's pocket change."
They all sat in the Azumabito's parlor. Kara sat in one of the chairs. Jean and Conny stood standing as the others sat. Eren was leaning against the wall. They told them what happened in the market. Kiyomi didn't look happy.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that. With improvements in blood testing technology, countries are beginning to discover that Subjects of Ymir have been able to sneak out of the internment zones and blend into the wider population." Kiyomi said. Kara frowned at this. They knew the Subjects of Ymir were put into internment zones and treated bad. Kara felt bad for them. The bloodline of Ymir made its way across Eldian territory when the empire was at the height of its power, and for many centuries, the ability to trace one's lineage back to a Subject of Ymir served as proof of noble status among the global elite. But as the Empire crumbled, the aristocrats who'd been aligned with Eldia quickly found themselves exiled. Today, you witnessed the way Eldians are typically treated beyond the walls." Kara looked out the window. "In light of that, I'm sure you can see how difficult it will be to convince the world to engage with the people of Paradis on friendly terms." Everyone sat in silence. Jean put his hands on the back of Kara's chair. They both wanted some peace without the Rumbling happening.
"Even so." Kara looked at Armin. "If we give up on pursuing peace at this point, our only remaining option will be to throw in with Zeke and his conspiracy. We would be leaving our fates entirely up to him and sacrificing Historia's life, and the lives of her children."
"That's right. We're looking for a way to avoid such a future, and our search brought us to Marley." Kara said. Hange nodded.
"This Subject of Ymir Protection Group will be debuting at the international forum tomorrow. They may be able to help." Hange said.
"It's possible." Kiyomi said. Hange looked at her. "Though I would caution against assuming your goals and theirs are in alignment."
"We're not and we won't make contact until we've had a chance to observe them. If they show promise, and if they'll agree to hold a meeting with us, they can help us get our message out into the world." Hange explained.
"You've come to make it known that the people of Paradis wish to coexist in peace?" Kiyomi asked.
"Yes." Kara said. Kiyomi sat in silence for a bit.
"Rest assured, the Azumabito clan will happily aid you in pursuing said goal. But... I must wonder how realistic you've been in assessing your odds of success." Kiyomi said. Hange gasped and looked down. Levi didn't look happy.
"Fact is, chances are slim even if we do everything right. And we'll be in constant danger. But still, we at least have to try." Hange said. She looked at Kiyomi. "As long as there's a chance, it's our duty to take it. Kiyomi looked at all her guests. Some looked gum and others looked determined.
"Far be it from me to tell you otherwise." Kiyomi said. Mikasa looked back and suddenly stood up.
"What is it?" Kara asked.
"Where's Eren?" Mikasa asked. Everyone notices that Eren was missing. They all get up and go look for Eren. Jean walked with Kara as they looked for him.
"Where the hell did he go? Its such a big town." Jean said.
"I don't know. Is it me or does he seem to be getting more distance from all of us?" Kara asked.
"You noticed as well. He does seem to be getting distant. I don't know what's on his mind." Jean said.
"Hey. Over there." Conny called, pointing at a hill. Armin soon joined them, and Sasha and they saw Eren on a hill, talking to Mikasa.
"Hey." Armin called. Mikasa and Jean looked down at them.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, you maniac?" Jean called.
"You some kinda moron?" Conny called. They came up the hill to see tents.
"Let's go down. We were invited by one of them to come visit." Eren said. Some of them looked hesitant, but after some talk and they all head to the tents.
They sat in one of the tents. Kara sat in between Jean and Sasha. A man with a hat poured what looked like alcohol into cups. Everyone looks at the cups, not sure what if it was safe to drink. The man was chuckling. Eren reached for the first cup and started to drink. Kara watched him as the others look at him in shock.
"Ahh." Eren said as he set the cup down, finished. His checks were red. The old man wrapped his arm around Eren, laughing. Kara saw a smile on Eren's face for the first time in awhile. Kara reached for the cup and the others followed. They drank the alcohol. It was sweet. Something no one had back home, and Kara felt it starting to affect her. Everyone brings the cups down and gasped.
Soon they were partying with the others. Jean and Conny were drinking with the old man. Kara and Sasha were leaning back-to-back together after eating some food and Sasha was still drinking. Armin peaked outside as one of the kids is thrown into Eren's back. Jean, Conny, and Sasha linked together and tried singing which sounded out of tune. Kara was eating some food as the old man poured some more of the alcohol and Jean was for some reason, strangling Armin. Conny tapped Jean on the shoulder and Jean released Armin and they disappear and come back with more alcohol and more people. Jean sat next to Kara and pulled her onto his lap as she held a drink of alcohol. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. Eren sat smiling as he watched his friends have fun.
Later that night. Levi, Hange, and Onyankopon found them in the tent. Jean and Kara were curled up together on the floor, passed out. Kara was red in the checks and Eren had his leg wrapped around Jean's neck as Armin and Mikasa were cuddled with him. Sasha was puking in the corner from all the alcohol. Levi shook his head at his team.
The next day. They all sat in the meeting. Kara was yawning and had a migraine from getting drunk as she saw next to Jean.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this new organization advocates for the Subjects of Ymir living as refugees around the globe! These desperate people are not responsible for the crimes of the Eldian Empire, but rather, its most tragic victims. The living legacy of its effort to corrupt all the peoples of the world with Eldian blood! The taint of Elida is all but cleansed from the earth. There's only one corner where it continues to fester: the Island of Paradis, where the empire's most loyal subjects fled in the wake of Marley's victory a hundred years ago." Kara felt her blood run cold at his words. "It is the island devils alone who pose a true threat to humanity!" Cheers rang through the crowd. Jean took Kara's hand and squeezed. This was what they didn't want to hear.
"Kara." Mikasa whispered, tapping her shoulder. Kara turned and Mikasa pointed. Eren was walking out the door. Kara raised an eyebrow.
Afterwards. Eren was no where to be found. Armin and Mikasa weren't happy, and Levi and Hange were worried. Kara stood on the balcony looking out into the town. Jean had gone into town to get a newspaper. There were talks of Marley winning a major battle at Fort Salva.
'I got a feeling something is gonna happen and we are gonna be in something big.' Kara thought. She would soon realize her fears were to come true.
AN: Its a Snow Day today and can get this story updated. Till next time.