Eren

"Eren, we're going to save everyone."

A tree made of blue light. That's the draw of Eren's attention in this mysterious realm. How he got here, and how to leave, is unknown to him. "Where am I?"

"The Coordinate where all Paths converge, I believe." Eren turns around, seeing his older brother sitting down, bound by chains. By the length of his hair, Zeke looks like he aged a bit. "Those who use the Founding Titan's power must come here. Those with royal blood, that is."

"Brother..."

"The wait's been exhausting, Eren. It feels like I've been waiting years for you to recover and wake up."

"Years...have passed?"

"I'm not sure. Here, everything happens in an instant. Your head was blown off by Gabi, but you made contact with me before you passed on. We succeeded. We obtained the power of the Founding Titan." Zeke looks up, but he isn't looking at Eren, but past him. Following his brother's sight, he finds a shadowy figure between him and the Coordinate.

"Someone's here."

"Don't worry, that's...the Founder Ymir."

Eren's eyes widen as the shadow figure takes a feminine form. "The Founder Ymir? How do you know?"

"Who else but the Founder Ymir would be wandering around in a place like this? At one time, she rebuilt my body with this earth and brought me back to life. I imagine this is where she makes Titans... Expending unknown years whenever we seek the Power of the Titans."

Eren stares at the woman in the white rove that walks toward him. "All alone here... Forever..."

"Eren, command the Founder Ymir. The time has come to fulfill our dream."

Eren faces his brother. "Those chains..."

"Finally noticed them, have you? I appreciate your concern. They're to restrict my freedom. It's the vow renouncing war. As I thought, only you can move freely here. Only you can command the Founder Ymir... To fulfill my, Mr. Ksaver's, and your dream. Please, save the world." Eren silently stares down at Zeke, making the latter fill with concern. "Eren... Tell her to make Eldians unable to bear children till the end of time. Crushing the military with the Rumbling can come later."

Eren turns away, facing the Founder Ymir. "Euthanize every last Eldian..."

"Eren...?"

"There's no way in hell I'd go along with such a messed up plan. Sorry, Brother. I was only playing along in order to get here."

As Eren steps away from his brother, Zeke holds his head in despair. "As long as Eldians exist, this hell will never end! If you don't go through with it, the bloodshed will never stop! All we've been through will just cycle for eternity! Why, Eren?! Answer me!"

"Because I was born in this world." Eren holds his hand out to Ymir for her to take. "Founder Ymir, lend me your power."

The girl, however, passes by Eren, ignoring him completely. She continues to walk to the chained Zeke. "I thought as much, Eren. I hoped, if anyone, you would understand. Is this the result of Father's brainwashing again?!"

Eren frowns as Ymir kneels in front of Zeke. "What...does this mean?"

"In the time it took for you to wake up, I learned many things. The Founder can make anything, even these earthen chains." Zeke breaks his chains as he rises, wiping off the sand. "As long as I, with royal blood, wills it. Unlike the Kings of the walls, I'm here without being tainted by the First King's ideals. And in the mind-numbing time I spent with the Founder, I managed to nullify the vow renouncing war. Though possessing tremendous power, the Founder is a slave with no will of her own. She believes those with royal blood are her masters and obeys them. I've obtained the Founder's power."

Perplexed by Zeke's confession, Eren doesn't know what to say. "...Impossible."

"You were no more than a key, Eren." Eren points towards Eren, trapping him with chains. "I'm glad I waited to hear your true feelings. It's not your fault. You and I are tragic victims born by that vile father. But I had another father who saved me. You need somebody to save you, too. I will never abandon you. I'll fix you with the Founder's power!"

"Stop," Eren says. "It's pointless."

"When I save the world, it'll be with you!" Zeke places their heads together, letting a spark flash before darkness washes over.

"These are...Dad's memories." Standing before the brothers are Grisha and Carla Jaeger, with a much younger Eren in his mother's arms.

"He sure looks happy. For someone who cast his previous family and friends into hell, that is."

"Why show me this?"

"So that you understand: How Grisha Jaeger brainwashed and planted the seeds of nationalism in you. I'll show you as much as it takes." Zeke turns away and opens the door to the home. Before he exits, Zeke turns back towards his father. "Must be nice, Grisha. Here, you can live out a happy life without anyone to chastise you for forgetting your first family... Even if you forget about the son you already had. Let's go.

"Look, Eren. This is the true him," The brothers are now in a noble's home, with Grisha treating a patient. "He used his job as a doctor to get close to those in power, to hunt down the King and steal the Founding Titan. If he slipped up, his wife and son would suffer. But he continued nevertheless. Do you know why?"

"Because he's an asshole who'd toss his family into a ditch to restore Eldia. I get it now. I was wrong. I never should've been born. I'm no longer brainwashed."

Zeke scoffs. "We have all the time in the world. No need to rush."

Many images of Grisha's business later, including run-ins with Hannes, a former Garrison soldier, and Kenny, leader of the Interior Police years ago, the brothers come to a small church on the edge of a village, Grisha walking inside.

"You're kidding. He tracked it down this soon?"

"What is this place?" Zeke asks.

"The King of the walls' hideout." The brothers follow Grisha inside, finding him kneeling and displacing a rug. Underneath, he finds a trapdoor.

"That can't be," Zeke exclaims. "Grisha stole the Founding Titan on the day the walls fell. That's years from now." Grisha, however, doesn't descend into the depths. Instead, he returns home to his wife and infant child, taking the young Eren into his arms.

"I see..." Zeke says as they enter Grisha's own base, the basement of Eren's home. "He loved his second family enough to delay his Restorationist mission. A stark contrast from me. It seems he learned from his past mistakes. However, you moved exactly how Father wanted you to. The original you is gone. Sooner or later l, you'll see."

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Zeke..." Zeke looks from the bookshelf to Grisha, the doctor slowly awakening. As his eyes open, he glances in Zeke's direction. "Zeke?" Grisha suddenly stands in surprise. "Is that...you?" Neither child of Grisha says anything as the doctor rubs his face. "Don't be silly. That old, bearded man can't possibly be Zeke. This is just a dream."

Zeke steps up to the desk, looking at his half-asleep father. "...What?"

"Next one," Eren says as he opens the door. "Next memory, Zeke."

"At this point, you're nine years old. Grisha loved you and let you grow freely." Zeke sighs. "To think you were never brainwashed by him."

"I told you this was pointless before we wandered for years in his memories."

"In that case, why did you betray me? Your father told you nothing and made you inherit a Titan, yet you're fighting just like he wanted? Eren, why do you oppose ending the conflict? What were you planning to do with the Founder's power?"

"I am...who I've always been...from the moment I was born." The scene changes to the day Eren saved Mikasa, dead bodies littered around the house. " You may have thought we were the same, but you're wrong. Rather than letting someone steal my freedom, I'll steal theirs first. My dad didn't make me like that. I've been this way since birth."

"Since birth?"

"You won't find the pathetic little brother you were hoping for in me. Nor a convenient little brother to share your emotional scars with. All I see is a man who can't accept himself until he denies his father's wish to restore Eldia. A pathetic man still haunted by his dead father."

Zeke turns away from Eren's glare. "In that case, said man is grateful to his father. For the father's actions opened his son's eyes so he may save the world from the threat of Eldia. In a way, it's that father who saved the world. Don't you think it's a bit ironic, Eren? Listen, Eren. I have the power of the Founder in my hand. I can carry out the euthanization plan at any time. But I will never abandon you. Just like Mr. Ksaver did for me, before I save the world, I want to save you."

"Eren. When I get back, I'll show you the basement I've kept secret all this time."

"I'm an Eldian that came from outside the walls!" Grisha says as he approaches the true royal family in the crystal cavern. "I'm a Subject of Ymir just like all of you! King of the walls! Please, you have to kill the Titans attacking the walls! Before my wife and children... Before the people of the walls are eaten!"

The possessor of the Founder and Historia's older sister, Frieda Reiss, glares at Eren's father. But who speaks is not her, but the King of the Walls, King Fritz. "We mustn't escape our sins. Judgment day has come for the Subjects of Ymir. When it comes to great power, people are weak. I realized something from the Great Titan War: We mustn't allow the Power of the Titans to fall into the people's hands. If the Founder's power falls again into weak hands, the world shall again become hell. To save the world, we must accept our sins and welcome our ruin."

"That girl and I are on the same page," Zeke comments. "But this whole family is slaughtered by Grisha. You once said you saw this memory and you were disgusted with him. Was that a lie, too?"

Eren says nothing, just staring darkly and intensely at his father as the latter continues his plea. "My house is right where the wall is broken! I live there with my wife, son, and daughter! The people of the walls don't know about their ancestor's sins! Because you erased all of their memories! You think the ignorant getting eaten by the Titans is atonement?!"

"...No. No matter how much we repent, it won't bring back any of the lives that Eldians stole. However, we can prevent more lives from being stolen beyond the walls. If we remain ignorant and accept the world's hatred, it's only us Eldians who need to die."

Eren scowls at such a message, so much so that he doesn't hear Zeke call his name or pay much attention to Grisha slightly turning in his direction.

"It's pointless to try and persuade me. And even if you can steal the Founding Titan from me, you can't-"

"I know," Grisha interrupts. "I know I can't use the Founding Titan's power."

"Huh?"

"Each of the Nine Titans has its own special trait, including the Attack Titan within me. For ages, the inheritors of the Attack Titan have never bowed to anyone. And I know the reason why: To fight the King's self-righteousness! Yes...We were led by our memories, all for this moment. The Attack Titan can glimpse into the memories of its future inheritors. In other words... The Attack Titan is able to know the future."

"Know...the future?" Zeke says in disbelief. "What does he mean, Eren?" The boy now standing in front of Grisha.

"The Attack Titan's special trait? I've never heard about-"

"I knew you weren't aware of that, too. And seeing how you're bound by the vow renouncing war, you can't fully use the Founding Titan's power either. This is where I eat the Founder and end the royal bloodline! That future is already decided!" Grisha takes out a scalpel, forcing Frieda to send her family away.

"Run!"

"HUAAAAAAAAUUGGGH!"

...But the Attack Titan doesn't show itself...Instead, Grisha drops the scalpel, and drops to his knees, his resolve wavering. "...I can't. I can't...kill children. I'm...a doctor who saves lives."

"Impossible..." Zeke says to himself. "Grisha's supposed to take the Founder and slaughter this family. The past...can't just...change..."

"What are you doing, Frieda?! Hurry and kill that man! The Founder is unmatched! Kill him!"

"Don't let him leave this place alive!"

"Hurry up and kill him, sister!"

"Our paradise will be destroyed! Frieda! You have to protect us!"

As the Reiss family continues their pleas, Eren steps up to his father, glaring down at him. "What are you doing? Stand up, Dad." Eren kneels down, lingering in Grisha's face, hand on his shoulder. "Did you forget what you came here to do? To avenge your little sister eaten by dogs. For your comrades. Dina. Kruger. To avenge them. You keep moving forward. Even if you die. Even after death."

Grisha's breath shakes with a breaking voice as he slowly picks up the scalpel.

"Aren't you the one who started this story?"

"HAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGHHH!"

"I killed them!" Grisha screams to the heavens as he steps outside the church, carrying a black case in his hands. "Even the little kids! With my own hands! Eren! I killed the Reiss family! All but their father! Are you happy now?! Is this what you wanted?! Will Eldia really be saved because of this?!" With no answer, Grisha falls to his knees, and drops his head. "Why won't you show me everything? The wall being destroyed... The day it happens... If Carla is safe... Was this...really the only way? You're there...aren't you...Zeke?" Zeke is indeed there, standing before his father. "From here on, things won't go your way. Only Eren will get what he wants."

"...What...did you say?"

"I saw Eren's memories of what comes next. But I never imagined it would be so terrible." Grisha looks up, and for the first time since Zeke turned his parents in, father and son...finally see each other. "Zeke...? Is that you?! How you've grown!" Grisha stands, tears pouring out of his eyes. "I'm sorry... I was a terrible father. The things I put you through were so cruel." Grisha steps forward...hugging his firstborn son. "Zeke...I love you. If only I had spent more time with you..."

"..." Not knowing what to say, Zeke could only look up to the night sky...only muttering one word as his eyes filled with tears. "...Father."

"Zeke... Please...stop Eren."

"Ugh," Zeke drops to the ground as the brothers return to the coordinate. Taking deep breaths, Zeke tries to wrap his head around what Grisha just told him. Stop...Eren?

"We still haven't seen the part where I eat him." Eren comments.

"Did you...push father into fighting the King of the walls...and the world? If the Attack Titan really has the power to transcend time, you could show him just the memories that suited you to alter the past. Father... Grisha hesitated to carry out his Restorationist mission. He knew he couldn't use the Founding Titan's power, even if he stole it. Except he did steal it...and entrusted it to you. Because of what he'd seen in the future. Something in the future...something you showed him."

"I'm grateful, brother. This was only possible because you brought me into Dad's memories."

"...He said things wouldn't go my way...that only you would get what you want."

"Yeah. I saw it four years ago: I saw my own future through Dad's memories. What a sight it was."

Zeke grits his teeth and shouts, "Founder Ymir! Take the ability to reproduce from every single Subject of Ymir!"

Eren turns his head just as Ymir turns around and heads to the Coordinate. "The Coordinate!"

"Grisha told me, 'Please, stop Eren.' He regretted listening to you. I don't know what sort of future you saw through Father's memories..."

"aaaaauuuugghhh!"

"...but you didn't see everything, right? For example, you didn't know you couldn't use the Founder's power here."

"aaaaauuuuuggghhh!"

"You're as powerless as ever."

"AAAAUUUUUGGGHHHHH!" Eren frees himself from his chains, tearing off his thumbs in the process. He begins a desperate run towards Ymir as she enters the Coordinate.

"It's no use, Eren. Once Ymir has begun to move...no one in this world can stop her." Eren ignores Zeke and grabs Ymir. Instantly gaining a vision of her memories...from two thousand years ago.

Ymir's life as a slave...to the first King Fritz...

"One of you let a pig escape. If nobody fesses up, every one of you loses an eye. Slaves have no need for two."

All hands pointed to one young woman...

"You're the one who let it escape? Very well. You are...'free.'"

'Free'...meaning she'd be hunted like a wild animal by his subordinates. But her 'freedom'...was only the beginning. Thinking she would find sanctuary from the hunters...she took refuge in an abnormally large tree. And from that tree...the first Founding Titan.

"You've done well, my slave, Ymir. You've built roads, cultivated the wilds, and bridged mountains. My tribe, Eldia, has grown quite large. As a reward...I shall give you my seed."

"In the name of Fritz, annihilate the vile people of Marley!"

In her sentence, Ymir was forced to slaughter millions...bear three daughters...and build an empire. Until one day...either it'd been a foolish soldier, or an enemy of the nation, he attempted to kill the mad King Fritz...only for Ymir to protect him with her body.

"What are you doing? Get up. I know you won't die from a mere spear, my slave, Ymir."

"Feast, my daughters! Whatever it takes, Ymir's power must be carried on! Eat every last piece of Ymir's body, Maria...Rose...Sina!"

"My daughters... Bear children and multiply. Ymir's blood must be passed on."

If my daughters die, feed their spines to my grandchildren. If they die, feed their spines from child to child!"

"Even after I pass, Eldia will dominate the lands with its monstrosities, and my Titans shall reign supreme for eternity! Until the world's end! For eter-"

"I'll end it! I'll put an end to this world! Give me your strength! You're not a slave! You're not a god! You're just a person! You don't have to bow to anyone! You can decide! It's your choice! You get to choose!"

"Eren?"

"Do you wanna stay her for eternity..."

"Stop it! What's the big idea?!"

"...or should I end this?!"

"What are you doing?!" Zeke runs towards his brother. "Ymir! Obey my command! I'm telling you to take the ability to reproduce from all Subjects of Ymir!"

"You were the one who led me here...weren't you?"

"Do it now, Ymir!"

"You've been waiting here...all this time."

"I'm a descendant of royal blood!"

"For two thousand years... For someone..."

Ymir lifts her head. Her eyes...bearing two thousand years of hatred... Ymir is finally free.

Elijah

Looking away from Reiner's Titan and my mind cursing my heart for not hitting his nape, I see Eren closing in on Zeke. "Stop him! Kill Zeke before Eren gets to him! Don't let them meet!" I, along with the others of the 104th descend down on our friend and his crawling brother.

"Come here, Eren!" Eren runs as fast as he can as the rest of us descend from the sky. I don't care if he hates us if we get in his way, we are not resolving to the Rumbling or euthanasia! We can- Wait, is that...Gabi? What is she doing? What is she...that's...an anti-Titan rifle!

"EREN!"

BANG!

The boy turns his head at my shout, only for it to be completely blown off his body by Gabi's well-aimed shot...

...And Eren's head flies directly into Zeke's waiting hand...

In the blink of an eye...the world begins to glow and shake.

A spine forms between Eren's head and body, illuminating the area with a bright light. Around the soldiers and warriors, the walls begin to crumble. The Cart Titan slips off the top of the wall, and Mikasa and Armin quickly divert from falling debris. As the skeleton continues to grow, I see Gabi again, looking upon the forming Titan in shock and horror. Cursing myself...again, I shoot myself down, grabbing her and rushing away from whatever the hell is going on.

...No. I know what's happening...

The Rumbling...has begun.

I land beside Mikasa and Armin, holding onto Gabi as the world around us turns to hell. Colossal Titans, fifty or so meters tall, march toward the south. In the center of it all is the largest Titan we've ever seen. For Gabi, it says a lot but for the three of us? We saw Rod Reiss' Titan, but this...is much, much, much, much, much, much larger. Eren's nothing but a spine and ribs, with tiny legs at the back. That's what we can see from the distance...between the fires that turn the sky orange and black.

"Did...Eren...not hear you?"

"He did it! Eren did it!" Armin shouts to Mikasa.

"Speak up!"

"We won!"

"Huh?!"

"Eren has control of the Founder! If the Rumbling has begun, Eren's the one behind it! He's gonna crush the global alliance in Marley! Eren's our ally! He's always been!"

"Eren came home...to be with us?"

I feel a tug on my shirt. Looking down, I see Gabi looking at me with horror. "What?" She points to the north. Following her gesture, I look up and... I drop my jaw and widen my eyes. I blink at least three times just to make sure I'm seeing things right. The Colossal Titans...of Wall Maria...are walking as well. "...What...the...hell? Armin!"

Armin looks in my direction, bearing the same expression I am. "No...it can't be! Mikasa! Even Wall Maria has come down! If he's just crushing the global alliance, what's the point?! Shiganshina's wall should be plenty! Why give up the walls to attack?! If he's just crushing the alliance in Marley, why use no many-"

"Hear me, Subjects of Ymir."

I turn to my friends, seeing the same confusion I possess. Was that...Eren? "Guys...what the hell was-"

"I heard Eren's voice just now!"

"My name is Eren Jaeger."

"I'm using the power of the Founding Titan to address all Subjects of Ymir."

"I've undone the hardening of all the Walls on Paradis Island, and all the Titans entrapped within have begun their march."

"My goal is to protect the people of Paradis, the place I was born and raised."

"However, the world...wishes the annihilation of the people of Paradis. Not just the people of this island, but until all the Subjects of Ymir are dead."

"I reject that wish."

"The Wall Titans...shall trample all surface of the land outside of this island."

"Until all lives existing there..."

"...have been exterminated from this world."

Rumbling! Rumbling! It's coming!

Rumbling! Rumbling!

Beware!

Coming for you!