Chapter 61: A New and Familiar world

Three years ago…

Just off the coastline of Paradis, a Marley survey ship trailed along on the calm still water. On the horizon was the rough scenery of jagged rocks and a large mountain dominating their view and reaching into the sky, as the lights of their ship seem to illuminate in the shroud of night's darkness.

Marley troops armed with simple rifles and life jackets over their uniform as they spied on the island of Paradis, like a lion wondering just on the edge of their competition's territory; waiting for something to happen, anticipating their enemy's moves… if they even try anything.

"Any word from the advance unit?" the captain asked.

"No word yet, Captain." One of the soldiers responded "It's been two hours since they've landed."

"Prepare survey units two and three for landing then." The captain replied, behind him the sound of running footsteps echoed out as groups of soldiers ran to the edge of the ship and prepared the smaller boats hanging off the edge. "The island devils defeated our warrior unit and now threaten the world; no matter what we're gonna find out what these devils are up to and report it back to Marley, whatever it takes."

Suddenly the ship began to sway a bit; the crew members and soldiers wobbled slightly as they tried to regain their balance. Everyone looked around at each other confused and surprised as some looked over the edge to the ripples of water around their boat.

"Earthquak-" Then the boat began to shake as everyone fell over onto the deck. Some quickly grabbed hold of the railing as the underneath them was sloshed around them violently and the boat was elevated from the sea.

"Hold on!" the captain ordered. The front of the boat tilled upwards, those unlikely to grab onto something slide down the deck and towards the bow of the ship before the back was tilted up, balancing the ship.

At both ends of the ship were two pairs of hands gripping its side, the fingers crushing into the side of the ship "Devils…"

The ship was carried towards the shore, a set of loud footsteps crashing onto the rocky ground as the titans carrying the ship stepped out of the water. They carried them inland; some peered over the side to see the large arms of the titans carrying the ship, the heavy and loud breathing of the titans were overpowered by its thudding steps. The titans then stopped, shifted around to the side of the ship before then dropping it down just next to a rocky cliff facing the beach; the ship crashing into the ground with scraping bang as two titans towered over them; dark soaking wet hair covering their faces as they watched over them like predators looking over its helpless prey.

"That's… That's Eren Yeager…" someone muttered.

"It's true; they've taken the Female titan…"

There was a paralyzed panic on the ship as all anyone could do was look up at them.

"Carolina! Yeager! Pull back!" came an order, a booming voice not so far away from them. They all turned to see someone standing on a rock just a couple meters away from the front of the ship; the figure stood tall. As they got a closer look they saw what looked to be a man dressed in a strange uniform standing with one hand behind his back and other out front. The titans then moved back a few steps. "Visitors from Marley, my name is Commander Erwin Smith of the Scout regiment, let me be the first to welcome you to Paradis!" he called out "I'm aware of the stories and ideas you may have of us, they are false, surrender your weapons and I promise you I can guarantee your safety!" telling them "I've come into contact with your scouting parties and I assure you they are safe."

The captain stood up, holding his rifle in his hand "Why should we trust the words of the island devils?" he questioned.

"I assume you're the leader of this ship?" Erwin asked. "I'd advise you to lower your weapon, for the sake of the soldiers under your command!" he tried to reason "Those two titans are not the only things fixed on your ship!" Erwin then pointed to the cliff edge the ship sat underneath. As they looked up they started to notice; silhouettes in the cliff faces and on the edge looking down at them. "You're outmatched and outgunned, if you choose to fight then you and your own men will not survive!" The titans then took a step forward as a chorus of metal clicking bounced off from the cliff. "Lower your weapons; I can guarantee your safety and that you'll be reunited with the others!"

"Enough of this!" the captain yelled out "I'm not here to parley with some disgusting devils; if you want to kill us then we'll go out fighting as bravely as Helos!"He tried to taunt the commander.

Erwin then pulled the hand behind his back out, a flare gun in his hand, as he raised it up into the sky "Last chance!" he threatened this time "Drop your weapons, we don't want to kill you!"

The captain then pointed his rifle at the commander, yet Erwin did not flinch. Instead continuing to stare him down as his own finger pressed on the flare gun's trigger.

Suddenly a shot was fired.

And the captain drops to the ground on his face dead, blood leaking out from his head. As a single Marley soldier stands behind them with a pistol pointing where the captain had once stood.

Everyone could only watch shocked at what happened, a couple seconds of silence, the wind and the washing waves on the shore.

"Yelen- Yelena!" called out a Marley soldier as they raised their gun at them, the traitor turned their head to the soldier unfazed by the barrel of the gun pointed at their face before then all around, Marley soldiers around them began to point their guns at the comrades as the other dropped theirs.

"Lower you guns." the traitor commanded calmly with an effeminate voice, the now captured Marley soldiers then dropped their weapons on the ground "Everyone in the centre." The captured were then huddled in the middle as a few of the other traitors picked up their weapons "Toss them over the side of the ship." The guns were then thrown over the ship, crashing onto the rocks.

"Who are you?" Erwin asked as he lowered his arm.

The traitor took off their helmet to reveal a bowl but haircut, pale skin and large eyes looking back at him "Commander Erwin, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." They said "We… graciously accept your offer."

Both Edward and Alphonse stood outside the tent; outside around them scout soldiers patrolled the camp as the Marley prisoners were kept at the centre surrounded by guards, the wind blew against the tent as the shining stones illuminated the entrance.

"What do you think they want?" Alphonse asked Ed as the two continued to wait.

"I don't know, but whatever it is and whoever they are, they're willing to kill their own to get it." Ed replied "We should keep our wits about us, don't tell them too much until we know what they're about." Alphonse nodded his head.

The flap of the tent was raised slightly as Levi peered through to look at them "Oi you two." He said nodding his head at them to go inside. The two walked inside the tent; on the one side were squad leaders Hange sitting next to Erwin while Petra sat at the far end of the table while three empty seats waited, one at the other end near the flaps of the tent and two on the scout's side of the table.

While two others dressed in Marley uniform sat on the other side examining an Amerstrian rifle and handgun with an expression of wonder and intrigue. They both turned their heads to look at the Elrics as the two brothers looked at them; one of them was a woman with short blond hair in a bowl cut and large raccoon like dark honey coloured eyes all on a dauntingly tall figure. The other was a man with black skin and short hair cut from the side, a chiselled face and average build.

"The Elric brothers" Yelena said with an eager smile on mouth "It's great to finally see you in the flesh; I've heard miraculous things about you two."

"Boys, meet Yelena and Onyankapon." Levi said politely pointing at them.

The two sat down on the empty seats facing the two Marley traitors as Levi stood up his seat again. Yelena picked up the rifle again from the table while looking at them "I heard one of you helped design this." She said, her eyes shifting back and forth from the two.

"That was me." Ed replied in a guarded tone.

"Was it now?" Yelena asked "Interesting, so I'm assuming you must have been a part of your world or country's military before you came here then." Ed didn't reply "I'll take your silence as yes then." She said with a smile. "I saw some soldiers with metal limbs, was that also you're doing."

"Yes." Ed replied "Based off my left leg."

"Interesting, some countries would pay millions for technology like that." Yelena commented "They'd pay even more for these weapons."

"Some nations already have, fighting the titans." Onyankapon added as he took as slip of his drink.

"Of course guns and metal limbs aren't really what you're known for." Yelena said "It's your alchemy that makes you so revered." Yelena put the gun down and placed her hands on the table, tapping them a bit. "I read the reports about that battle you had, how many alchemy users or 'alchemists' are there besides you two?"

"You don't need to know that." This time Alphonse replied with an equally guarded tone.

"So there aren't two other alchemists then?" Onyankapon asked. Both Ed and Alphonse collectively tensed up as Alphonse quickly sucked up air through his nose.

Yelena's finger tapping stopped "I can tell that you don't exactly trust us but I can assure you that we are on your side." She replied "We hate Marley just like everyone other person who fights them."

"While I understand the sentiment, I do agree with their suspicions." Erwin interjected "You may very well hate Marley but that doesn't necessarily make you an ally to us."

"I understand then how about a little information exchange then?" Yelena suggested "To start; the Marley army is divided into fifty divisions with each holding twenty thousand soldiers each."

"That's… that one million soldiers…" Alphonse said "More people than there are on this island…" Ed nudged Alphonse in the ribs.

"Don't worry, that is common knowledge among the Marley military hierarchy." Yelena replied. "But still, it's your turn."

The others were quiet for a while "I'm one of the alchemist." Hange stated, both Ed and Alphonse snapped their heads to her in shock, Levi almost glared at Hange for that while Erwin remained calm. "I'm also the one who beat that shifter who had Ymir's titan. "

Yelena looked at Hange, impressed by her admission.

"Marley has three fleets consisting of twenty one battleships." Onyankapon stated "They also have aerial weapons and vehicles to their disposal."

"Aerial weapons?" Erwin asked

"If you're wondering, they are mobile weapons that can go beyond land and sea." Onyankapon explained.

"So a blimp?" Edward stated "That's what you're talking about?"

"Ah they have those in your world then?" Yelena asked. "I imagine that those weapons' don't scare you."

Both Edward and Alphonse looked towards the others who looked back at them, waiting for their answer. "No." Ed replied. "If you want something shared from us; Marley may be decades ahead of the island but is decades behind our world."

"And in a few years, this island will be the one ahead of Marley and the world" Yelena said rhetorically. "That's the implication yes? You're already created artillery that can damage any of the nine titans all in the space of a few months." Yelena looked at them. "I can tell you that the Marley military is very much aware of this…"

"You say this yet Marley hasn't attempted to launch another attack on us." Erwin pointed out "If they know that their window of opportunity to defeat us is shortening every day then why delay?"

Yelena then smiled at Erwin "Well that's because of all of you." she said as if almost stating something that was extremely obvious "The Warrior Unit, the pride of Marley and the reason its empire has been allowed to expand across the continent and beyond was defeated by the devils of Paradis; you had taken the Female and Colossal titan from Marley. You had humiliated them and weaken them, allowing other nations to rise up and challenge Marley."

"Talk about shooting yourself in the foot." Levi remarked.

"Then there is the Marley policy of turning Eldian captives into titans and condemning them onto the island for all eternity." Yelena added "While it has kept you all from expanding beyond the walls, it ironically prevented Marley from a land invasion of the last vestige of Eldia's empire.

There was a silence in the tent as the others looked at each other; their eyes shifting from side to side. "Yeah… about that…" Levi said almost sarcastically.

"Day is about to break soon… yet you are content to stay here drinking tea beyond the walls." Yelena pointed out. "Have you killed all the titans on this island?"

"No." Erwin replied "While we have reduced their population considerably, we have captured a large number of them and are holding them in a secure location; if what you say is true then we know how to counter a Marley ground assault."

"So the titans no longer pose a threat to you." Yelena asked "That's amazing, I'm in awe."

"Yelena, I believe it's you two's turn to tell us something about yourselves." Erwin reminded them.

"Of course, Commander Erwin, we are an open book." Onyankapon replied.

"You mutinied against your commanding officer, even going so far as to kill him and hold your own comrades hostage." Erwin pointed out. "If you don't work for Marley, then who do you work for and why?"

The two were silent for a second; Yelena looked off to the side "Why? Because we hate Marley, it is as we say; we are conscripts from other countries who have been taken over by Marley, all of us were powerless against them." A smile then began to form on her face "As who we work for… we work for the one who gave us the power to oppose them…" she talked almost dreamily about this person "We work for Zeke Yeager."

If Edward had a left eye then it would twitch; his hands gripped tightly together as he tried to hold in his contempt. "Zeke Yeager…. You work for that hairy bastard?" Even Alphonse began turn icy to them as the tent had turned cold suddenly.

"I know of your battle against him." Yelena said looking at the two brothers.

"Sure, if you want to tossing rocks at us like a massive wimp a fight." Ed remarked wit distain.

"Zeke Yeager is the reason some of the people we were close to are either dead or are missing limbs." Alphonse stated "The last thing he ever did was try to finish us off when he had to chance do anything else; so it might be easy to understand why it might be hard to trust someone like him."

"It's understandable that you may hold hard feeling for him but I can only say…that man, the titan feared by the world, showed us hope." Yelena stared off at the tent ceiling as if reminiscing about something "To me… that man was a God."

"Lady… I've met God, and trust me when I say this, God would have taken more than just my left eye… and I wouldn't have been able to touch God let alone beat his hairy-"

"Edward, please." Petra quickly interjected raising her hand up slightly.

"Whatever your feelings on him are, we are here on a mission by Zeke Yeager." Yelena told them "We are the Anti – Marley volunteers and our goal… is to free the Eldian people."

In an office at the Scout's headquarters in Shiganshina; Erwin sat down looking out of the window with his hands resting on his lap as Hange, Levi, Eren and the Elrics stood around the desk waiting.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Come in." Erwin called out, not raising his voice as he turned to face the door. The door opened as Onyankapon, escorted by two scout soldiers armed with rifles, entered the room. "Thank you, wait by the door; this hopefully won't take long." The two scouts nodded and saluted him as they left the office, closing the door behind them. "Come, take a seat, Onyankapon."

"Thank you, Commander." Onyankapon replied as he sat down on the chair just opposite Erwin. "How was the meeting with the Queen and the officials?"

"The situation is tense." Erwin admitted calmly "But I'm confident we can navigate through it and hopefully create something amenable; of course that now depends on the success of intercepting the new wave of Marley ships heading to the coast."

"Yes, Yelena and I intend on helping the regiment counter them." Onyankapon replied.

"Indeed, thank you for your support." Erwin stated "Tell Me, Onyankapon, I know Yelena told us about how the volunteers hate Marley who conscripted them into their army and occupy their country but I want to know your experience, why do you hate Marley?"

Onyankapon looked surprised for a second; he looked around the room before then looking down towards the desk, his fists clenching "My country… my people… we exist on a separate continent from the Marley empire, but that didn't stop them from invading us and the other nations around us." He voice began to sound more and more disgusted "When Marley came… they took over everything, they started to take from our land; minerals, food, resources, even people like me into their armies." Onyankapon looked up "Two of my brothers were also drafted into the Marley army, sent to the frontlines with Eldian conscripts as Marley officers sat back and watched… they died fighting their wars."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Hange said.

"It's okay…" he replied as finger brushed the edges of his eyes. "But… that is why I hate them… it's why I joined the Anti-Marley volunteers, so that one day we'll be free…"

"Free…" Eren muttered catching Onyankopon's attention "If you don't mind… are there Eldians in your country too?"

"Yes… but the treatment they face…" Onyankapon looked back to the ground sadly "It's horrible; it's less than second class citizenry… absolutely shameful, even the attitudes of my own people…" Eren listened to him quietly and still "The conditions… I dare not speak of it; it is truly heartbreaking; if we ever defeat the Marleyan Empire then we must help Eldians across the world too."

"I couldn't agree more." Eren replied.

"Thank you for telling us." Erwin said "I understand your dream and your anger."

"So you will join Zeke Yeager, help us take down Marley?" Onyankapon asked.

"No, that's not going to happen." This time Ed was the one to speak. "Before you say anything this isn't just because I'm pissed with the guy, I am and I don't think I'll never not be, but we don't know enough about the guy to trust him to do certain things." Ed then looked over to Alphonse.

Alphonse walked over to the side of the desk, closer to Onyankapon "If Zeke Yeager wants to come here; neither I nor Ed will come after him, that we can promise." Alphonse told him "But acting as a mediator to friendly nations and helping enact a secret plan that claims to help save Eldians around the world… we just can't trust him."

"But we all want the same thing." Onyankapon stated almost pleading.

"I knew someone… well something… that claimed to only want to learn, to obtain knowledge." Ed stated "But what he did, what he hoped to achieve and how he went about it… needless to say I'm glad he's gone. But what I'm saying is this; just because we share an idea or a goal doesn't mean we want the smae thing if you know what I mean."

"I can understand that." Onyankapon conceded.

"Tell me, Onyankapon, how do you feel about Zeke Yeager?" Hange asked "We know that Yelena seems to be a devote follower of his but we have to ask, what about you?" Onyankapon was silent "Just putting it out there, none of this leaves this room; you can trust us to keep anything, we staged a coup right under our previous regime's noses after all."

"Zeke…" he muttered "Zeke Yeager is… a mystery; we know he hates Marley, the orders he gives us aid in undermining them and he was the one who formed us in the first place but… no one knows of his secret plan to save the Eldians, well everyone except Yelena I believe."

"Is that so…we're willing to collaborate with Zeke Yeager." Erwin stated "However Zeke being the point of access to the world for us and vice versa is something we can't accept; that's why I would like to ask you to help us."

Onyankapon looked at Erwin a bit confused "What do you mean?"

"The anti-Marley volunteers, are they the only resistance group against Marley?" Erwin asked.

"No, across the world there are rebel groups." He replied "Some are armed fighters but others are just advocate groups."

"Hmm, do you possibly have any contact with those groups?" Erwin asked. "Any at all, even in your own country."

"We do collaborate with some groups from my country and within the region from time to time, help to get insiders in different areas of the Marley Empire." Onyankapon stated. "You want to communicate with them?"

"Yes, as Alphonse said before we don't want to leave communications entirely up to Zeke Yeager." Erwin reiterated "That would leave too much of our fate in his hands, instead we'll be… 'Open' to other groups and associations that will to speak with us; I'd like to start with any groups you may know and go from there."

"I fear if I do this I will be going against Yelena and possibly even Zeke Yeager." Onyankapon stated nervously.

"If you fear that you will somehow be undermining your leadership and comrade's plans or trust than I can assure this is not the case." Erwin tried to assure him "If our goals are to help protect Paradis and help Eldians across the world then naturally our plans will line up in future and provide each other with insurance should anything go wrong on either end." Erwin then extended his hand. "Do we have an agreement?"

Onyankapon looked at Erwin before then extending his own hand out and shaking his "Yes, I will help you."

"Good." Erwin said as they place their hands away "Now, we should all get ready; the next fleet of Marley ships will arrive soon."

Alphonse placed his hands on the side of the slopes of the rocky cliffs; a spark of lightening ran up the small cliffs as the face of it began to morph and a staircase from the top of the cliffs to the sandy beaches below running down its face as across it trenches were formed as scout troops began to walk into them and hide away.

Petra walked down the rock staircase, pointing around as her squad members took up their positions "Keep your heads down and do not fire on them unless I say so." She commanded.

Ed jogged down the stairs and up to Petra "Trenches are done." He said "Al should be finishing up at the bottom."

"That's good to hear." Petra replied "If those Anti-Marley volunteers are right then Marley will try to establish a bridge head here." Petra then turned to Edward "Ed, you're with Jean on the top of the cliff and Alphonse will stick with team one at the base."

"Huh?" Ed said perplexed. "If that's the case then send me with team one, have Al at the top."

"Alphonse was the one who volunteered to join with team one at the base of the cliff." Petra said "He and the others can handle themselves; besides we're just here to hold them off, if those Marley troops see themselves being out-numbered and out-matched then they'll surrender without a shot being fired." Petra then picked up a rifle leaning against the rocky wall of the embedded trench "I know you hate using these but… just in case."

Ed didn't reply, biting his tongue as he turned back and walked back up the stairs towards the cliff tops carrying the rifle in his hands. Petra turned her head back to the ocean and sighed "Five minutes everyone, get ready!" she commanded. She ran into one of the sides, hiding behind the small wall with just her head peering over the side.

Twenty minutes had passed, that was what his pocket watch had said as Ed hid on the cliff's edge with Jean and others looking out as several large boats were being rowed to the beach carrying dozens of Marley soldiers dressed with life vests and armed with their rifles.

They all watched silently as the Marley troops dragged their boats onto the beach as others began to walk inland pointing their rifles at the cliff face. As scouts watched them silently with rifles and machineguns pointed, all hidden in the darkness of a cloudy night.

Alphonse pressed his hands together slowly as he watched them before then pressing his hands down onto the ground; the area around the Marley soldiers trembled sending them into a frenzy as the ground began to fall underneath them as some of them fell into a pit.

An improv trap.

"They're here!" one of the Marley soldiers yelled as the others not trapped ran forward pointing their guns around in the darkness. The scouts continued to watch them as Alphonse continued to pick them off; small holes forming beneath them as they fell into pits.

"Advance on the cliffs!" came an order "Quickly!"

The Marley troops quickly began to jog towards the cliff face when suddenly the cliff lit up in a flurry of flashing lights as bullets struck the beach.

"Freeze!" Petra ordered "Drop your weapons!" the Marley troops quickly dropped the ground "You're surrounded, drop your weapons and surrender!" Some of the Marley troops fired into the cliff wildly, the scout soldiers returned fire striking their targets. Marley soldiers hitting the ground in pain or dead.

"Stop!" Alphonse yelled, he stood up from the trench with his hands out to both the scouts and the Marley soldiers, he turned to the Marley soldiers "No one has to die, we're not here to kill you; just drop your weapons!"

"Stay back, Eldian scum!" a Marley soldier called out as Alphonse walked out of the trench.

"What are you doing?" Ed yelled out.

Alphonse ignored the call "I'm no Eldian… I'm… I'm an Amerstrian." Alphonse called out hesitantly.

"An Amerstrian?" someone questioned among the Marley soldiers pointing their guns at him "What the hell is that?"

Alphonse then walked up to a wounded Marley soldier, the others still pointing their guns at him. "I won't hurt him; I want to help him." He crouched down and looked down at the bloody hole in the soldier's leg "Keep calm." He told the soldier "I can stop the bleeding." He then looked up to the others "But you'll have to treat the wound." He placed his hands together as blue lights flickered around him like the ambers of a flame or lightening in the sky.

Some of the soldiers staggered back, some shakily held their guns at him. "It's him…" one muttered.

"It's one of Elrics…"

"It's the demon of Paradis…"

"He's performing his magic on Peter!" one cried out.

The soldier than began to panic as Alphonse placed his hands over his wounds "Stop, I'm trying to help you." he told the man. Suddenly the Marley soldiers nearby began to form around Alphonse with their guns pointed.

Then a chorus of metal clicking followed just on the cliff face, snatching their attention for a second. "If you even think about taking one more step or making a move, we'll dump your bodies in the ocean." Petra threatened. "Alphonse, move back now." She commanded "Marley soldiers, you have one last chance; drop your weapons now and we promise no harm shall come to any of you!"

For a couple seconds there was nothing, just the sound of the weak waves washing over the beach and into the small pits as everyone stood still waiting to see who'd move first.

"Drop the guns!" Jean ordered "Let Alphonse either help your friend or move back." Even Ed pointed his rifle at them, his finger on the trigger as he aimed it at one of the Marley soldiers near Alphonse.

Alphonse removed his hands from the Marley soldier; his hands were stained in blood as he raised them up. The Marley soldiers pointed their weapons at him as Alphonse began to slowly back away, watching them as he stepped back.

One of the Marley soldiers then knelt down and lowered their rifle onto the ground; he looked to the others and nodded his head. They then looked at him for a second before following his lead. The tension in the air began to grow thinner as Alphonse continued to step back as the Marley soldiers dropped their rifles while they watched Alphonse step away.

It felt as if a collective sigh of air was released from the lungs of the people around.

Everyone except Ed, who still watched anxiously as his brother was out in the open. Surrounded by people who would want them both dead.

Alphonse was possibly only a few meters away from the trench, a few meters away from safety.

"Soldiers of Marley, stay where you are, we promise you'll be reunited with your other comrades." Petra tried to assure them "Stand up, keep your hands up and-"

Suddenly, the Marley trooper who had led the surrender then reached around his back and pulled out a handgun as he pointed it at Alphonse

"NO!" Jean yelled.

Suddenly there was a single gunshot and a flash of light.

The sound of a rifle going off on the top of the cliff, a smoking gun…

And Edward looking down the sight at the now dead body of a Marley soldier that had a pistol in his hand.

After a second of shock, the Marley soldiers then scrambled for their rifles as they tried to aim it at Alphonse.

"Don't let the Devil escape!" one of them yelled.

But before they could fire off their weapons, before they could grab their rifles or handguns off the ground and before they could even move. The scouts opened fire on them; a hail of gunfire rained down on the unlucky Marley soldiers who hadn't had the fortune of being trapped in a pit safe from bullets.

Alphonse ran back into the trench, diving inside as Marley bodies hit the ground; they desperately tried to return fire at the cliffs only to be shot by a rapid hail of bullets. The beach was soon stained in dark red as commotion of gunfire drowned out the cries of pain.

As the last Marleyan dropped to the ground the gunfire from the scouts quickly ceased, the whimpering and crying of the survivors could be heard just over the waves as the sight of a beach littered in bodies was all that remained of an extremely one-sided slaughter.

Petra stood up from the trench and walked towards the stairs, walking down each step as she continued to look out into the battlefield. A few other scouts followed her down the steps, as they reached the base they began to spread out as those already at the base then moved up and towards the Marley bodies and survivors.

Alphonse peered up from his cover and slowly walked up towards the soldier he had healed; he looked down at a body littered in gunshot wounds surrounded in a small pool of blood which stained the once dull yellow sand.

He then looked up at the others; those trapped in the pits surrendered quickly as they were forced out while the others, the bodies, were thrown into a pile. Alphonse didn't utter a word; yet he wanted to scream.

On cliff top, both Ed and Jean watched "You… you just had to surrender…" Jean muttered. He then pulled out the empty magazine from his gun.

Ed pulled out the magazine from his rifle; he looked down at an almost fully loaded magazine, missing only two bullets, one already left in the chamber of his gun.

And the other bullet left in the body of a Marley soldier.

Hange stood quietly inside the tent, reading over the different blueprints as both she, the Elrics, some of her own squad, Mina among them, and the scout's own engineers waited for the Marley ones to arrive.

She looked at the others; boredom written all over their faces as they chatted idly to each other waiting, well… everyone except Edward, Alphonse and Jean. Hange had read the reports of what had happened; a tense situation gone wrong and the first 'skirmish' between Marley and Paradis soldiers.

As if you could call it that… she thought fifty Marley troops either dead or injured and only eighteen unharmed, meanwhile none of our guys got even a scratch of them let alone a casualty.

She then began to wonder how much the Marley prisoners knew; she knew that after the incident, those survivors were being kept in their own camp separate from others, else stories of a massacre ignite further tensions among already terrified and hostile 'visitors'

Hange looked over to both Edward and Alphonse; Alphonse looked over the blueprints quietly as his finger glided against the paper, while Ed had his back turned to the entrance and towards the white board, leaning against the table.

Then the flaps of the tent opened, they all looked to the entrance to see the Marley engineers walk through and into the tent, everyone except Ed who continued to look over at the board.

Hange smiled at them "Welcome esteemed guests." She greeted them. "We're delighted you're here and we'd love to hear your input on these new ideas we've got in the works." The Marley engineers just looked at them coldly as they left Hange there. "You know what; it's been a day so I'll let everyone right to it."

These guys are gonna be difficult to reach… Hange thought looking at them.

Alphonse clapped his hands together before then reaching into his pocket and pulling a rock; he held it up in front of him and the Marley engineers on the opposite end of the table. Then a familiar blue glow and sparks of light swirled around the rock. To Hange, Armin and the others of Levi squad in the tent, this was nothing new but to those Marleyans…

The look they had was a mixture of awe… and fear as Alphonse turned a simple rock into a small figure of what looked to be a cross with a snake wrapped around it with a crown and wings atop of it. There was a muttering around the tent as Alphose placed the figure down and slid it towards their end of the table "Would you like to know what that is?" he asked them, a smile creeping on his face as some of them nodded at him.

Hange couldn't help but smile too at how her teacher was using alchemy to capture their interest and relieve the tension in the room, even Mina smiled at Alphonse… though probably not for the same reason. Yet she still noticed that Ed had his back turned to them as he instead picked up a piece of chalk and began to write on the board.

"If you want to know a bit about alchemy and other science" Ed said "Then help us with these blueprints." The Marley soldiers looked at each other apprehensively before then walking around the table and reading the prints themselves.

Over the course of the day, the once uneasy engineers began to open up more; everyone started to feel comfortable with each other as even some of the scouts guarding the tent began to the exchange small talk with the Marleyans.

Some huddled around Armin as he explained the chemistry around alchemy, much to the fascination of the Marley engineers. All except Ed who, almost all day, tried to avoid looking at them; only catching glances here or there before going back to the board, even going so far as to eat food inside the

Hange walked up to the Edward who was reading the plans on the board; she stood next to him looking back at it. The plans involved miles of tracks for a 'train' that would connect the port to the walls and cut the travel time from days to possible less than a day! Then there were the plans of the port itself; buildings, designs and infrastructure.

"What are you thinking about, Ed?" Hange asked.

"Just how long it will take to make this." Ed replied, he then wrote on the board again "We, the alchemists, could probably get the foundations for the port done in a day maybe less; that's if we get the material first." He placed the chalk down on the small shelve "The rest we can leave to the engineers."

"Sounds like great progress." Hange replied, silent for a bit "Ed… is everything ok-"

Suddenly a Marleyan accidentally bumped into them, they turned around to them as both Hange and Ed turned to him. "Oh sorry, didn't mean to bump into you." he apologized.

"No…no…its- its fine." Ed replied "I'm… I'm sorry." Ed then looked at them. "I'm- I'm so sorry…"

The engineer looked at Ed a bit confused "I'm fine, there's no need to apologize."

"No it's just- You know it must be hard for you guys." He said. "Far from home and all, I just hope things can get better." Ed then offered his hand to the engineer "I hope we can change that."

The engineer shook Ed's hand "Yeah, of course." He replied "And I hope we get to learn how to do alchemy too."

"Don't push it." Ed joked, as the engineer walked back to the others, Ed turned back to Hange.

"It wasn't your fault." Hange said, whispered almost.

Ed let out a sigh and shook his head "It was…"

"Anyone would have done what you did… I would, Petra, Jean, Armin, Mikasa, Eren, the others… they would have done the same if placed in their position."

"I know, it's just that I never shot a gun, let alone a person before." Ed said "When I did, everyone else just followed; they all followed my lead, using guns I helped make… Hange, everything about that was my fault."

Hange placed a hand over Ed's shoulder and gripped it tight "You're a good person, never doubt that."

"I don't, I just- Hange, what do we do?" Ed said but didn't ask. "There's so much we can't get wrong."

"I don't know either but…" Hange tapped her finger on Ed's head "You and Alphonse will figure it out, you always do."

Ed smiled lazily before then looking out to the tent "Where's Alphonse?" he realised. "Shouldn't he be back from lunch?" Ed then looked to Hange "Where's Mina?" Hange shrugged, Ed looked back to the chalk board and shook his head as he looked back to the board, the two then focusing on the work.

The sound of the tent flaps opened and the sound of multiple people entering caught their attention, they both turned to see three troops dressed in the uniform of the royal family, soldiers from the central government. "Is Alphonse here?" the man standing in the middle of three asked.

"No." Ed replied.

The man in the middle turned to one of his subordinates "Find the younger Elric." The person nodded before heading out of the tent "Squad leader Hange, I need you and the rest of your squad and the Marleyan engineers to vacate the tent; I have a private message from Darius."

Ed then raised his hand up "If it has something to do with alchemy then both Hange and Armin stays." He stated "They're alchemists like us; if it's meant for Al and I then it's meant for them too."

"Fine, Darius didn't specify when he said alchemists." The man said "But the rest of you will leave." The others began to leave the tent, walking past the soldiers. The other soldier then stepped out, there was a sound of shuffling outside and footsteps moving back. They waited inside the tent for a few minutes for Alphonse to arrive, quietly looking at the messenger sent.

Then there was a shuffling of feet outside as the tent flaps opened and Alphonse scurried inside; his shirt not quite tucked in and his buttons slightly loose, Hange snickered at the sight.

I wonder how they found them…

Armin moved over to the side a bit as he made room for Alphonse on their side of the table. "Alphonse Elric, good to see you." the soldier said before then putting down a file onto the table and then sliding it over to them.

"Whats this?" Alphonse said as he picked up the file and opened it.

"Darius accepts your terms." The messenger said.

"What?" Ed said confused.

"The terms that you set before the mission of Shiganshina a year ago." The messenger replied "You wanted total control of the alchemist division and a future for alchemy outside of the army, did you not."

"Yes, those were the terms." Alphonse said as he handed the file to Ed who read it, Hange looked over to her side and read it with Ed.

Darius and the government are handing them totally control over an alchemy military branch? That's a hell of a concession… Get to hand pick the recruits… Pick the personnel…Build the whole thing from the ground up?

Hange raised her eyebrows

It's not so much the governments or Darius' military branch; this will be the Elrics, what are Darius and the others playing at? What are they gambling on? That one day they'll have to leave? Do they just want them to build it then inherit the rewards?

"Anything else?" Alphonse asked.

"While it would be too early to promote you two to the ranks of commander or squad leader, should you accept you'll go from corporals to captains considering that you'll have people to teach and command, and while you'll still be working closely with the scouts you'll 'officially' become our own entity outside of Commander Erwin's authority." The messenger replied. "So do you accept?"

Sasha didn't know it was possible to cry this much, yet here she was; weeping into the shoulder of Nico as the members of Levi squad, past and present, Petra's own squad around and Petra's family stood by her grave either quietly watching or weeping into their hands or tissues.

All around the looks were all the same; resignation, sadness, tears and anguish.

As some of them left, they patted Jean on the shoulder; now the new squad leader of what Petra had previously led. Many left flowers on her tomb stone as they went, the rain beginning to dribble down. Yet as the processions died down, those of Levi squad never left.

Especially the captain.

Levi stood by the left hand side of Petra's tombstone, those around them also then tapped onto Levi's shoulder as they left as they gave their condolences before then trying to comfort Petra's family. Sasha looked over to Petra's family; her father cradled her mother as they both stood facing her grave.

Sasha quickly turned her gaze away and placed her head back into Nico's shoulder; she couldn't bring herself to look at them. An aching pain in her chest would strike through with every glance towards them.

It's my fault…

She gripped Nico tighter.

It's my fault…

The moment began to play in her head once again; a girl looking at her behind the broken glass of a building and then that same girl looking at Sasha through the sight of a rifle.

Fault…

Petra's body on the medical table of the ship as they all cried around her.

Your fault…

Staring down the hallway of the ship, heading towards the holding area of the ship… where she was…. Sasha held Nico tighter.

It's your fault.

"Sasha." Nico whispered, Sasha let go slightly and tilted her head to him, a look of concern on his face "Are you okay?"

Sasha shook her head "No… I'm not." She replied through a cracked voice. Nico placed her head back on his shoulder.

Levi walked towards Petra's parents, a hand in his pocket which he pulls out; the small metal plate with the symbol of the scout regiment in his hand. Her parents looked at her as the two stared at each other for second, Levi then looked down at the badge before handing it to them.

"I'm sorry." He said to them "Petra Ral was an outstanding soldier and an even better squad leader, everyone who knew her adored her." He told them "To the people in her squad and my own squad members who had the privilege to serve with her. She was so proud of her comrades and we are worse off without her."

Her parents listen to Levi before then accepting the badge from him, her mother placing the metal badge towards her own heart and holding it close.

"Thank you, Captain." Petra's father replied "We know she was very proud to be a part of your team, she wanted to dedicated herself to you… but we wish she was still here, doing something more."

"I wish nothing more than the same." Levi replied. "If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask the regiment, we all owe Petra so much and if we can pay it back to her family then we would be more than happy to."

"Thank you." her father replied he then turned towards Jean "Mr Kirstein, right?" he asked. "You were Petra's right hand man?"

"Yes sir." Jean replied "I was her second in command."

"She talked and wrote about you a lot." Petra's father said "She was very proud of you." he then looked back to the others "She was so proud of all of you, she had such high hopes for each of you."

Jean stood there, closing his eyes for a second "Thank you sir, we were proud to work alongside her too." He placed his hand towards his eyes as he began to rub at them.

Petra's father nodded his head sadly to them as he and Petra's mother then walked away from her grave.

As Petra's parents walked out of sight, a loud sigh came out of Levi as his body slumped before then turning back to the others still standing by Petra's grave. Sasha looked to the others still looking down; Armin and Mikasa stood near each other as they sombrely stood, Alphonse and Mina held each other much like Sasha and Nico as they too stood quietly.

Sasha let go of Nico and looked to Levi who turned his head back to her "Captain, I'm so sorry, this is all my-"

"Stop." Levi said "I swear the next person to say that word is getting their tongue ripped out." His voice was the same calm and authoritative tone it always was. "No one couldn't have known that was going to happen and Petra would have jumped in front of that bullet for any of us. That was just who she was."

Ed knelt down by her grave as he stared at the dirt. "She's the one who taught us how to take apart and put back together our ODM gear, helped train us with Eld, Gunther and Oluo… and protected us during the uprising."

"She was the one who kept us all together and focused during the battle in Shiganshina." Jean added.

"She should be here." Levi said, he then turned towards Ed and Alphonse. "That thing that spoke on the ship, when you two were putting meat, water and that other shit together, what was that?"

"That was the thing that brought us here." Ed replied "'God'" Ed said almost sarcastically "Or the Truth; it didn't like that we tried to make blood so it rebounded the process."

"It was a mistake on our part; we should have known something like that wouldn't work." Alphonse added "It didn't work the first time we did it… but I guess, we couldn't think of another way."

"Are you still thinking of doing it now?" Levi asked. The two were silent as they continued to look at Petra's grave. "Don't." Levi told them "Petra wouldn't have regretted her decision or sacrifice; I'm not an alchemist and I'm not even gonna pretend to be one but I know about your whole 'equal exchange' shit, I can't imagine what getting a life back will take." Levi sighed "So where's everyone going then?"

"I have to prepare." Jean said "I need to meet with Marlowe and reorganize the squad."

"So he's gonna be your second?" Levi asked.

"Yeah, it hasn't been made official yet, something I'll have to talk to Erwin about." Jean replied.

"Alright then, the rest of you?" Levi asked.

"Just head back to central and relax for a bit, try and try to see where we can go from here." Armin said he then looked to the rest of the group; Mikasa, Sasha and Connie nodded their head agreeing with him.

"Mina and I were planning on heading back to Karnes for a few days." Alphonse said "We'll meet you guys back in central afterwards."

"Of course, you going with them too Ed?" Levi asked as Ed still stayed crouched looking at Petra's grave.

"There's still some work I need to do for Erwin first." Ed replied as he stood up "Still need to write the report, interrogate some prisoners…" there was an uneasiness after he spoke the word 'prisoners'. "After that… I'll meet back with you." he said looking back at Alphonse and Mina.

"And Nico" Levi said looking at Nico

"Ye-Yes sir?"

"Keep your head down for now." Levi said "And keeps an eye on your Marley buddies, if you need to lie about being an Eldian; have a feeling after this, things are going to be tense. Also if you can get moving, I need to tell talk to them for a second." Nico nodded his head, gently kissed Sasha's forehead before then walking away too; Levi watched him move away until he came out of ear shot. "Don't use the radios." He told them "If you want to say something then try to say it in person."

"You think someone's listening in on us?" Connie asked.

"I think those who helped Eren and have been fucking up Erwin and the government's plans might have the radios too." Levi said "We can't be sure so for now keep all information within a tight circle; that means everyone here, Erwin, Hange and Nanaba. No one else; I don't care if it's your family, your friends or the person you're seeing, if it's important than it stays within that group."

The others nodded.

"Be on your guard, Erwin will state our next moves." Levi finished before they all departed.

Pieck could just barely move the nubs of her still growing arms but she knew it would do little in trying to stop the soldiers carrying her off to God knows where; she felt two hands hold her up from the ground from her shoulders while another person held her knees as they carried her through what she assumed was a hallway, the tapping echoes of footsteps.

The blindfold wrapped tightly around her eyes; her captors were thorough in her handling, blindfolded as soon as the ship had made it to the island.

Then there was the sound of squeaking metal, the clear sign of a metal door opening and being swung to the side as those carrying her made a sharp turn before then tossing her onto a bed then removing the blindfolded from her face.

Her eyes quickly looked up to see a woman soldier dressed in a short light brown jacket and a plain shirt carrying what looked to be a one of their unique weapons. On the jacket was the symbol of two wings, one white and one blue; the same one of those soldiers who attacked Liberio.

As the soldier moved away she looked around the room; it was a simple room with stone walls, a pipe sticking out of the wall with a bucket underneath it. She lifted her head up to see bars separating the room from the hallway.

But what quickly caught her eye, was the small window just on the wall opposite to the bars, she stared at the window for a few seconds.

Either they're confident or just stupid…

"Don't even think about it." Called a voice from the other side, Pieck turned her head to see the same soldier watching her "It won't work; this prison was made for shifters; transform and your body get squashed."

Pieck turned her head back to the ceiling and sighed.

The next few days were dull; her limbs had grown back and the guards were kind enough to give her new clothes to wear and even some privacy when she needed to bathe.

They're very confident… She thought when she first asked them to turn their heads away from her. She was surprised, grateful but also disappointed; those guards believed in the strength of her prison to both hold her and keep them safe.

She looked down at the tray of food, the guard passed through an entrance through the bars; bread, some meat and bean soup. Again surprisingly more and better than what she had expected. it almost bothered.

There was one thing that did bothered her though.

Why haven't they tried questioning me yet?

She looked back to the guards as she ate her food, each day they'd stand there watching her and maybe chatting to each other. But never to her.

If the plan was to bore her to death or submission than it might be working.

Suddenly the guards tensed up as they placed their fist over the badge on their jacket "Squad leader!" they called out. Pieck raised her eyebrows, a bit surprised.

It's taken a while…

A woman with short blond hair dressed almost exactly like them appeared into view "At ease." She told them before then turning to Pieck. As she turned Pieck then caught sight of something that peaked her interest; a metal hand.

"Here to interrogate me?" Pieck asked calmly "It seems everyone here takes their time."

The squad leader kept her calm demeanor "I'm just here to check up on you." she replied "That's someone else."

"Who's then?" Pieck questioned.

"The Arsonist was assigned that duty."

Eren stared at himself in the mirror in the crystal light of his cell, his hands brushing up against his face now smooth after removing the facial hair which he had grown out since his time away from home. His half naked body still a bit wet after washing himself.

His long hair draped over his shoulders, he picked up a band from the sink counter as he began to tie his hair up into a bun.

"If you lose you die…" he spoke to himself as he recited the mantra he had told Mikasa all those years ago when he found her almost kidnapped by those human traffickers. "If you win you'll survive."

"But if you can't fight you can't win." Finished a very familiar voice, Eren turned his head to see Ed standing on the other side of the bars looking at him.

Eren placed his hands on the sink counter as he finished tying his hair, the two staring at each other for a few seconds.

"Hello Eren, sorry you couldn't be there for the funeral." Ed said, pausing for a second "You've had some time to yourself, ready to give me a straight answer now?"

Hey everyone,

Sorry for the long delay, I've been busy lately and lost a bit of my writing spark when doing this chapter, I'll try to write the next chapter sooner.