Chapter 13

As we settle into the confines of the plane, annoyance prickles at me as I observe our restrained enemies sharing the same space as us. I turn to Onyankopon, seeking reassurance, "How long until we reach our destination, Fort Salta?"

"I'm not certain, but I'll ensure we arrive before the Rumbling reaches it," Onyankopon assures me.

"Good. I'm counting on you," I reply before redirecting my attention to Gloria, who sits beside me. "So, what did I miss?"

Gloria's response is laced with frustration, "A stubborn general and some brainwashed Eldians who remain in denial."

"I see... Since you're here, why don't you enlighten us on what truly transpired with Marco? And what about Annie and Reiner?" I inquire, addressing the group. Their reactions betray a sense of discomfort as I press for answers. "Armin mentioned before that Annie took Marco's gear, but what's the full story? I want to hear it from you."

Annie's admission is met with a heavy silence, her voice barely above a whisper as she recounts, "I removed Marco's Vertical Maneuver Gear. That's why a Titan..." She trails off, unable to finish her sentence.

Reiner intervenes, his voice tinged with remorse, "Annie was simply following my orders. Marco overheard a confidential conversation I had with Bertolt. Fearing that our cover would be compromised, I made the decision to silence him. I slammed Marco into a rooftop while airborne, incapacitating him. With Annie's assistance, we stripped him of his Vertical Maneuver Gear. Marco was left immobilized until a Titan approached and..." He pauses, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

Jean's voice cuts through the solemn atmosphere, his question heavy with sorrow, "Did Marco say anything before... before the end?"

"He said, 'We haven't even had a chance to talk this through,'" Annie responds, her tone laden with regret.

Jean's words resonate with painful truth, his frustration evident. "He's right. We never tried to talk things through. That's why we've resorted to fighting each other to the death like this, isn't it?" he laments, the realization hitting us all with a sobering clarity.

"The nations of Stammer, Valij, and Hizuru have shown willingness to engage in dialogue and cooperation, hence they won't fall victim to the Rumbling," I assert, my voice tinged with frustration. "But what about the other nations? Marley has relentlessly attacked my hometown of Shiganshina, and likely many in Wall Rose as well. Other nations have attempted to thwart our efforts for peace. They brand Eldia as the disruptors of peace, but in reality, it's their refusal to embrace peace that has led to the Rumbling."

Gloria's words echo my sentiments, her tone firm, "I understand that Eldians outside the walls endure immense suffering, but that doesn't justify their acceptance of their plight. If they resign themselves to their fate, then perhaps the Rumbling is a mercy, putting an end to their suffering. And those who mistreat them have no right to claim victimhood based on ancestral propaganda."

The prisoners remain silent, perhaps unwilling to acknowledge the truth or simply unable to refute our arguments. Reiner speaks up once more, his voice tinged with remorse, "As I watched the Titan devour Marco... I couldn't help but question why it was him."

"Eh?" Jean interjects, confusion evident in his voice.

"I was overcome with rage and slew the Titan, claiming it was for Marco's sake," Reiner continues, his words trailing off as Jean interrupts him.

"That's enough!" Jean's voice is sharp, cutting through the tension. "Are you saying guilt drove you to madness?"

"Don't offer forgiveness, Jean. I am truly powerless," Reiner admits, his voice laden with guilt.

"I said that's enough!" Jean snaps, his frustration boiling over. Without warning, he lunges forward, delivering blow after blow to Reiner, seemingly forgetting that Reiner no longer possesses the power of the Titans. "Stop it, Jean!" Armin and Connie attempt to restrain him, but Jean's cries ring out, "Let me go!"

As Gabi bravely intercepts Jean's blow, taking the hit in his place, a wave of concern washes over her companions. "Gabi!" Colt, Falco, and Porco exclaim in worry.

"I'm sorry... Our wish... was to exterminate all of you... on Paradis. We hoped it would make the world accept us, forgive us. That's why we prayed for the devils on the island to disappear. And now, my mom, my dad... everyone in Liberio will be gone because of it. I'm sorry. I know it's audacious of me to ask this... But please..." Gabi's words are tinged with regret and desperation.

I intervene, placing a restraining hand on Jean's shoulder. "Don't," I urge, my voice firm. "As much as I understand your anger, we're on a plane, and the last thing we need is a disruption that could endanger us all."

Jean grits his teeth in frustration but reluctantly returns to his seat. I turn my attention back to Gabi, awaiting her plea.

But before she can continue, I interject with a harsh truth, "Please what? Stop the Rumbling? Try to avoid further casualties? I'm sorry to say, but my sense of morality died the day your people slaughtered my family and friends. It's true that the ancient Eldian Empire committed atrocities, but do you truly believe the kings reveled in it? Not at all. Though I'll admit, Karl Fritz was the most compassionate of them all." My words are tinged with bitterness and resentment, a reflection of the scars left by years of conflict and loss.

Armin inquires, "What is the true history of Eldia? You keep mentioning that each nation has its own version of events."

I sigh heavily, feeling the weight of centuries-old truths pressing down upon me. "The true history is one that none of the nations are willing to acknowledge. They seek a scapegoat for their grievances and harbor a deep-seated resentment towards our Titan powers," I explain, my tone tinged with resignation. "It's undeniable that the first King wielded Ymir's power to conquer enemy nations, enslaving countless individuals in the process. He even instructed his three daughters to consume Ymir's remains to inherit the Titan powers. Yet, there's more to the story than meets the eye."

Gloria interjects, her voice steady with conviction, "Despite their father's ambitions, Maria, Rose, and Sina defied his wishes upon his death. Instead of continuing the Empire's expansion through conquest, they chose to nurture the land, constructing homes and infrastructure. They liberated those who had been enslaved by their father's regime. It was their acts of kindness and benevolence that earned them the reverence of the people, who began to see them as goddesses. However, as time passed, the nations they had freed grew in strength, coveting the Titan powers for themselves."

"That's when Eldia's bloody history truly began," I add, a deep frown etched upon my face. "I can empathize with Karl Fritz's decision to relinquish the power of the Nine Titans. He didn't want it to be wielded as a tool of war. But Marley, in its quest for dominance, continues to exploit these powers to conquer and subjugate other nations. It's why we must take action." My words carry a sense of urgency, underscoring the necessity of our actions in the face of entrenched hostility and aggression.

"As for the histories of other nations," Gloria continues, her voice carrying a note of frustration, "Stammer and Valij disclosed that before their civil war, they were actively rewriting history to vilify us. It was only through their internal conflict that Eldians were eventually granted equal treatment in their lands, preserving the true history. Hizuru, bound by their samurai traditions, also uphold the old truths."

"However, some nations' narratives are utterly unfounded," she continues, her tone incredulous. "In Schonheit, they attribute their volcanic eruptions to the Eldian Empire, ignoring the natural processes at play. Porzellan and Indien scapegoat us for their famines, despite the reality being their own mismanagement of resources."

Connie interjects with a mixture of bewilderment and indignation, "So people just point fingers at us without any logical basis? Do they truly believe Titans possess omnipotent powers?"

"It's human nature," Gloria responds solemnly, her words tinged with resignation. "Instead of facing their own shortcomings, they prefer to shift blame onto others. And with Eldia possessing Titans, we become the convenient scapegoat for all manner of misfortunes. That's precisely why we've unleashed the Wall Titans." Her words carry a weight of inevitability, highlighting the harsh reality of our situation amidst a world rife with prejudice and misinformation.

"The 13-year Titan curse? Marley's responsible for that," I declare, my frown deepening with resentment. "They betrayed Ymir, hurling a spear at her and causing her demise. Even though she'd grown weary of life, knowing King Fritz never truly cared for her as a person."

"No one seeks to lift the curse because of religious convictions. They cling to the belief that 13 years is the rightful tenure for Titan powers, ingrained over generations until it's accepted as truth. Karl Fritz, despite relinquishing the Titan powers, still harbored love for the Eldian people," Gloria elaborates, her tone somber. "That's why, even as he erected the Walls with Colossal Titans, he ensured Marley couldn't rid the world of the curse. The Vow of Renouncing War serves to prevent the misuse of the Founding Titan's power until the day of reckoning arrives. His vision? A century of peace."

As Onyankopon announces our nearing arrival at Fort Salta, I nod in agreement. "Good. Gloria and I can temporarily halt the Rumbling, but we only have a 24-hour window," I remind everyone as we brace for landing.

Upon touchdown, we're met with a startling sight: throngs of desperate people rushing towards us, their hopes pinned on our arrival. Yet, as I bite my hand and undergo transformation, their initial anticipation gives way to fear and suspicion.

"It's Eren Yeager!" "Why is he here? Is he here to harm us?"

Sensing the tension mounting, I swiftly intervene, instructing Gloria to erect protective barriers as some trigger-happy Marleyan soldiers take aim at us. My voice reverberates across the scene, seeking to quell their apprehensions. "So you're intent on fighting to the bitter end... I'm simply here to rescue those Marley chose to abandon."

A collective gasp fills the air as former warriors and Commander Magath emerge from our grasp, their families rushing to embrace them. I turn to the soldiers with a firm command, "Release them."

With a swift motion, their restraints are severed, allowing them to reunite with loved ones. As the chaos subsides, a lone figure approaches, addressing me directly. "So, you're Eren Yeager, the one who triggered the Rumbling," he states, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

As Gloria introduces Secretary Muller, identifying him as a high-ranking officer, I listen to his plea with a measured expression. When he implores us to spare the innocent, I offer a stark ultimatum, "I've halted the Rumbling for 24 hours. If you wish to negotiate, do so quickly. But if you choose aggression, we'll resume the Rumbling."

Anger simmers among the soldiers at my warning, yet Muller intervenes, firing a shot into the air to silence the tension. "Enough, all of you!" he commands, his voice cutting through the clamor.

Turning his attention back to me, Muller speaks with a tone of solemnity and regret. "We fueled hatred. We nurtured resentment. We even believed our animosity would shield us... We laid blame for our own failings at the feet of an 'island of devils'. And the consequence... is millions of Colossal Titans bearing down to claim our lives. As the remaining Military Secretary, I implore you: spare the children and innocents who bear no responsibility for our sins. I refuse to see their futures sacrificed for the mistakes of their elders."

I contemplate his words carefully before responding, "Your sincerity is evident. But Marley has long propagated the belief that Eldians are inherently sinful due to the actions of our ancestors. So, by that logic, should innocent children pay for the sins of their parents or forebears? Marley has peddled propaganda and distorted history to maintain control over Eldians, all while exploiting their Titan powers to stoke global hatred against our people. The Rumbling stands as a reckoning. I will indeed spare those who are truly innocent and ignorant of these machinations. But how many fit that description?" My question hangs heavy in the air, underscoring the complexities of our situation and the moral dilemmas we face.

As the desperate pleas for negotiation echo around us, Gloria steps forward, her voice firm with resolve. "While I may bear the name of the Tybur family, I stand here as the wife of Eren Yeager," she declares. "We seek peace, yet Marley chose to rally the nations against us, declaring war on the 'island of devils'. Why is it only now, with the Rumbling underway, that you deign to negotiate? Just days ago, you launched yet another attack on our island. My allegiance lies with Eldia and Eren now. If you seek sympathy, you won't find it here."

I echo her sentiments with a stern directive, "Stammer and Valij have been rescuing innocents, sheltering them from the Rumbling under our alliance. But for the people of Marley, we'll bring them to our island for safety. Soldiers, do your duty."

As my soldiers spring into action, I turn to Secretary Muller, addressing him directly. "Secretary Muller, your acknowledgment of Marley's faults speaks volumes. There was a time when I hoped it wouldn't come to this."

"I'm prepared to face the consequences of the Rumbling," Muller pleads, his voice tinged with resignation. "Just save as many lives as you can," he implores, and I nod solemnly in response.

Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, Eren's plan is now in the middle of action and I hope you like this chapter.