"He knows where the Queen's Farm is."

Those words played over in Eren's mind as he stood in an empty room. The only two people occupying it were him and the small boy known as Falco.

Falco regarded him with a very determined expression as if there was something at stake here for him personally.

Still, nothing about this made sense. Historia's farm was never attacked in the other memories, as far as he could tell. Nothing had changed that much yet. The blimps had all fled, thinking he unleashed the full Rumbling. Falco had already eaten Porco by the time Eren became the New Founder.

So what had caused this little ripple?

Eren considered what to say or do for a moment. He could just pluck what he wanted to know out of his mind. It'd be easy, like opening a book. But Eren didn't.

Instead, he turned to walk over to the window. Falco watched in surprise as Eren turned to sit on the still of the window. It stretched out enough to serve as a bench and the window was wide enough for two.

Eren nodded to the spot next to him, and Falco was already moving to take the offered seat before Eren was finished.

They sat there in silence for a moment. Falco looking at the wall ahead, while Eren leaned forward and pressed his hands together. "I'm sorry about using you, back at Liberio."

"I understand. What I can," Falco said quietly. "My family? My home?"

"Safe, assuming they don't try to flee north," Eren answered bluntly.

Falco breathed his relief.

"Is Marley actually going after Historia?" Eren questioned.

"Huh? Oh, no, I just said that to talk to you," Falco admitted freely.

Eren gave him with a raised eyebrow. "You know you're not supposed to admit that until after you've accomplished what you were lying for, right?"

"I think lying to each other and ourselves is one of the many reasons we're in this situation," Falco remarked with a sigh.

Eren couldn't argue with that point. "I'm not giving her sight back."

Falco's hands tightened into fists. "Is it because she killed your friend?"

"No," Eren answered. "She killed someone else to get up on the airship. She killed another to break you both out. I took her sight so she doesn't kill any more of my people."

"...So if you thought she'd stop, would you consider it?" Falco asked pointedly.

Eren made eye contact. "You think you can convince her?"

Falco looked down. "Gabi was beginning to understand, that everyone here are just people. Not devils. I think she already believes that, she's just too scared right now to think about it anymore."

Eren hummed. "I'll consider it."

Falco let out a breath. "Mr. Yeager? You know how you said not to say something until I have what I wanted?"

Eren narrowed his eyes.

"I wasn't lying. Marley has no idea where she is," Falco assured with a frown. "But I think someone...or something is after her."

"Something?" Eren asked pointedly.

"When I was...sleeping? I woke up in someplace else. A desert with a giant tree glowing in the distance. I think it was glowing green?"

The Paths, Eren recognized with suspicion. How did Falco end up there and conscious? Most people, upon joining the Nine, didn't recall much of how they became one of the Nine.

"Someone or...something was there with me. It looked like a girl. Younger than me, maybe? Blonde hair, but her eyes were...I can't remember them. They were there, but I can't recall what they looked like," Falco explained with an uneasy voice.

Eren's eyes had been wide, his body stiffening as he tried to figure out what was going on.

"She tried to...grab me? Take me somewhere? I don't know. I just had the sense that I should avoid her. Which is..." Falco trailed off uncertainly.

"Not like you, no," Eren recognized.

"I think she wanted something from me," Falco said, looking at his hand with a frown. "She wanted the Jaw Titan, didn't she?"

Eren scowled in thought. "Most likely."

Falco nodded. "I didn't let her take it. But no matter how much I ran, it always felt like she was just behind me. And the more I ran, the more I started to...see things. I don't know what they were, mostly. But I saw a woman, at a farm. She was pregnant. And a name jumped into my mind. Historia."

Eren glanced at Falco with a narrowed look.

Falco blinked. "What? What is it?"

"Being in the Paths makes many things blur. I think when you saw visions of the Queen, it triggered some memories from the Jaw Titan before Porco," Eren explained.

"That makes sense. I felt like...I wanted to protect her? No, not me. Like someone else wanted to protect her," Falco said, placing a hand on his forehead. "That Girl, the one chasing me? What...is she? Was that...Her?"

"Ymir Fritz, yes," Eren confirmed with a scowl. "I've-"

"Taken the Founder from her entirely, I know," Falco answered, smiling awkwardly. "I think I saw that too, even if I'm not sure what happened."

Eren considered Falco carefully and only checked one thing. Was he telling the truth through this entire conversation? Yes, he was. Good. "Do you know what she's trying to do?"

Falco shook his head. "I don't even know if she could take the Jaw from me. I just...didn't want to find out."

Eren agreed with that. "Why are you helping me? I used you before and am using the Titans to attack Marley and the rest of the world. Your friends died in Liberio because of me. Your brother-"

"That one is Mister Zeke," Falco cut in, glaring at the floor, balling his hands in the ground. "And Colt, he..."

Eren waited patiently as Falco's rage turned to sorrow, tears falling from his eyes.

"He's really dead, isn't he?" Falco said, with a shiver. "I knew he was, but it...didn't really set in until you said anything."

Eren nodded. "He thought you were as good as dead. He wanted to be with you in your final moment. Even if it killed him."

Falco sobbed a bit more before taking a long breath, calming himself for the moment. "I'm helping you because...I think if I don't, something bad will happen. Whatever Ymir Fritz wants now, I don't think it's good for anyone, anywhere. I think, in this exact issue? Helping you is helping the world, in some weird way."

Eren couldn't deny that as a possibility. "Thank you, Falco."

Falco nodded absently. "But...are you going to take the Jaw from me?"

Eren remained silent.

Meanwhile

"Mr. Forrester."

That felt weird to Floch. Even after everything, it was rare to be addressed by his last name. He turned and regarded the young woman. She had dark hair and skin. Not as dark as Onyankopon, but like a permanent, deep tan? Floch wasn't sure how to describe skin color politely, just that it was normal in the regions called the Middle East. "You're one of the Anti-Marley volunteers who asked to be returned to your homelands."

"My name is Amira, yes," she answered, giving him a stare he couldn't quite read. "I would like a chance to discuss something with you."

"And what would take be? Did you change your mind?" Floch asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No," she said, taking a moment to collect herself. "I'm not sure there is a delicate way to say this. Or a reason to be delicate. I would like you to help and advise me."

Floch was second in command of the Yeagerist. That was the easiest summary of why he was very busy most times of the day. Still, he was curious. "Go on?"

"You overthrew your homeland's government," Amira started. "I want to do the same."

Floch frowned. It wasn't suspicion or disapproval, merely curiosity and interest.

"My people are governed by puppets of Marley. Those who either benefit from the status quo or find themselves content with it. If we are to ever break free of Marley, we must break free of our own that would obey them. Just as you had to break free of those that would hinder this island's survival," she explained firmly, eyes filled with hate for someone Floch didn't know and likely would never meet.

"I commend your goal and resolve, but I am not certain how much help I could be," Floch said honestly. "I know my people. I can't say the same of any other place or culture beyond Paradis."

Amira nodded. "I'm not planning on following what you did step by step. But I would still like an example to work off of."

"You're from the Middle East, correct?" Floch asked bluntly. "Do they not hate "devils" like me over there?"

Amira fell silent.

Floch sighed. "Very well, I suppose I can talk with you later."

"Thank you, Mr. Forrester."

"Just call me Floch," he waved off. "I apologize, but I am busy at the moment."

"Of course. Thank you for the time," she said with a nod, turning to leave.

Floch watched her go with consideration. He fully believed that the whole world was against Paradis, but he did have one belief with Armin: Their enemies are human. If nothing else, they can be turned against each other.

With that done, he continued his walk. He was surprised to see Falco, the child with the Jaw Titan, being escorted through the halls…unrestrained at that. He scowled, picking up the pace to reach the turn they took.

"Floch."

He stopped at the turn, seeing Eren standing just down the other hallway. "Eren? What's wrong? Why was he...?"

"Falco had something to say to me. Broke his own bones until someone would listen to him," Eren explained, watching Falco's retreating figure. "He's hoping I'll give that girl her sight back."

Floch knew Eren pretty well by this point. He also knew when Eren was answering without the full truth, most of the time. "Was that all?"

Eren finally looked to Floch. Anyone else might have flinched at that stare, like Eren was staring through him. "You remember how I said I took the Founder from Ymir Fritz?"

"You mentioned, but never really explained what that meant," Floch admitted. "I was starting to think it was metaphorical."

The breath hitched in his throat as Floch found himself no longer in the building…nor anywhere on Paradis. He instead now stood in a vast desert under a star-filled night sky. And as he turned, he saw a giant entity of green light, vaguely like a tree in shape.

"This is the Paths," Eren said, standing before Floch still. "A realm beyond time and death. This is where, among other things, the Titans are made."

"I..." Floch said, unable to process that sudden revelation. "How did you...bring me here...?"

"All those who carry Ymir's blood are connected to this place," Eren answered, looking over the dunes as his eyes narrowed. "There she is."

Floch followed his gaze and saw someone else walking through the sands; A small girl with blonde hair and hooded eyes. "Is that...Ymir Fritz?" he asked dubiously.

Eren hummed in confirmation. "She has been in this realm since her death. In that way the Founder was still attached to her. All the rulers of Eldia used the power of the Founder by telling her what to do."

Floch balled his fists. "So...that means...she's responsible for all this...?" he asked with gritted teeth. "The Fall of Eldia, our ancestor's memories being erased, allowing our people to be treated like devils...she allowed all of that to happen?"

Eren looked thoughtful. "I could show you her full story, but I doubt it would change your opinion of her much, Floch."

"You're probably right," Floch agreed. "Why is she still here?"

"You're assuming I know how to get rid of her," Eren retorted bluntly. "The power of the Titans chose me and my willpower over hers. I thought she was powerless here, but-"

"Eren, look out!"

Floch had only looked away for an instant, but Ymir was suddenly running right at Eren with some stone blade.

A spike emerged from under Eren's feet, stabbing Ymir's hands. The blade fell away and crumbled, as the top half of her hands lay on the sand with bloody and twitchy fingers.

Ymir didn't flinch or cry out in pain, even as she stumbled back.

Eren narrowed his eyes before casually kicking Ymir in the head, sending her tumbling down the slope. When the sand cleared, there was no sign of her. Not even her dismembered digits.

"She's gone?" Floch said in confusion.

"She'll be back. The Paths sent her far away again. She can't do much, but she's still something I have to keep an eye on," Eren explained with a sigh.

"Can she...take the power back?" Floch asked in concern.

"I don't know," Eren said, looking at the tree. "I get the sense that...a lot of things went wrong with Ymir Fritz. I don't think the Power was meant to be bound to one person after death for so long."

Floch opened his mouth before closing it. "Eren, I can help you with anything...just about damn near anything in the real world. But here? I don't think I'm even cannon fodder."

Eren nodded in understanding. "I know. I just wanted you to know. Just because you can't help seems like a stupid reason not to tell you something this important. Just let me worry about it for now. There's a reason the power of the Titans rejected her now."

There was a pulse of light from the tree, as if agreeing with that.

Floch sighed. "I guess this is the…pragmatic reason you want Hange on our side still."

"Among others," Eren agreed.

There was a shift, and suddenly they were back in the hallway.

"Has there been any problems?" Eren asked without pause, unphased by the transition.

Floch however, needed a moment to shake his head and get his bearings again. "A few. Just people getting drunk and celebrating too early, but nothing beyond that," Floch assured, rubbing his head free of cobwebs. "It can wait until the Wall Titans are finished, but we do need to worry about reforming the government. Everything is running smoothly out of sheer desperation and joy."

"Yeah, we need to at least seem like we already have a long-term plan for running the island," Eren agreed. "The main issue is Historia."

"I believe that's the first time you said anything remotely negative about her," Floch remarked idly.

"It's not negative, just a fact," Eren answered with a sigh. "I don't want her getting scapegoated by the people, lumping her in with everyone else. Getting her on the same page would make everything smoother."

Floch considered his words carefully. "Eren? Do we really need her? I don't mean that as a threat to her, mind you. But the King of Eldia was always the one who held the Founder. You're the first to actually do that in a century it seems. And if you don't have a time limit anymore..."

"Careful, Floch," Eren said pointedly. "That was exactly what I meant. If Historia wants to step down, we can talk about that. But if we start that conversation without her? Someone, somewhere is going to do something stupid and cruel in our names. And ignoring how much I don't want her harmed? That would be the easiest way to start a division in Paradis. People still respect and adore her."

"Oh, I see," Floch said in understanding. "I can see that those memories are coming in handy."

Eren looked slightly annoyed by that remark, but it might have been Floch's imagination.

"Don't worry, I'm not stupid enough to scheme behind your back," Floch assured.

"It's not you," Eren said pointedly.

Floch became confused until he heard running from down the hall. He turned and watched with cautious eyes as they grew closer until the figure arrived, turning the corner and nearly running into him.

"Mr... Forrester?"

It was Amira. But her eyes were wide and frantic. Her clothes were disheveled and her blouse was ripped. In her trembling hands was a knife, covered in blood.

"Amira? What's going on? Why do you have a knife?" Floch asked firmly, hand reaching to his pistol slowly.

She noticed, but she didn't try to stop him. "They...they were mad. Two men, Yeagerists. They said I was a t-traitorous bitch for leaving, that I was probably a spy. They grabbed me and tried to..." she trailed off and swallowed very uneasily. "I, they...I don't know what happened. They just froze. But I was...so scared and just trying to escape. I think I...killed one of them."

"Floch," Eren spoke, and Amira nearly jumped out of her skin, only now realizing Eren was even there. Her knife clattered to the ground. "I'll handle them. You take her to see a medic."

Floch didn't even register what Eren said, just staring at Amira.

"Yeager," Amira addressed, looking like a deer that had escaped a wolf only to find a lion. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, I swear, but they-"

"Amira," Eren said firmly without raising his voice. "You have nothing to apologize for. No one will be worrying about those two ever again."

Amira looked both grateful and utterly confused. "But I...I killed one of your soldiers...?"

"They were animals, nothing more. Devils don't suffer animals in their ranks," Eren retorted reassuringly. "Floch. Help her."

With that, Eren walked by both of them. Amira watched him leave with gratitude and incomprehension before looking back at Floch. His face had slowly turned to solemn and apologetic, with a hint of frustration in his eyes.

"Please follow me," Floch requested.

Amira nodded, following him in a daze. The room he led her to obviously wasn't a dedicated medical area but had been turned into a makeshift one, with many tables and sheets on them; some with bodies covered by the sheets, others with patents on them.

She sat on an empty one as Floch turned to a guard. "Find me a doctor, anyone with medical training," Floch said before glancing at Amira briefly. "Preferably a female one."

The Yeagerist didn't react beyond a glance of his own. He saluted and left to fulfill his orders as Floch sighed.

"I'm sorry," Amira said, rubbing her head to keep it from spinning. "I...I'm sure this'll cause problems for you."

"No. I just have to decide if I tell their families the truth or spare them the details," Floch said firmly, looking at her with an expression just short of being lost.

"...What?" she asked, furrowing her brow.

"I'm sorry. Would you be more...comfortable if I stayed or left?" Floch asked uncertainly.

"Stay, please. For now," Amira said, glancing around, keeping an eye for anyone coming close to her.

"Eren's right," Floch said with a sigh, taking a seat near her without being too close. "You have nothing to apologize for."

"Thank you," she said with a weak, hollowly amused smile. "I'm sorry if I seem like I don't believe you. It's just...back home..."

Floch remained silent, letting her speak if she wished.

"Fighting back gets you punished. It never happened to me, but I've seen it happen," Amira answered. "I'm just lucky they...what even happened to them? They just suddenly...collapsed."

"Eren Yeager stopped them," Floch answered bluntly.

"Yeager?" she repeated in bewilderment. "But how...?"

"I don't know how to explain it. But he can control all Eldians in ways that are scary to think about," Floch mused. "He somehow noticed what they were doing and stopped them."

"He can...but that..." Amira sat there, unable to wrap her head around this. "That sounds almost like a god."

"You're not wrong," Floch admitted freely with a small smile. "Just...don't rely on that while you're here, okay? It's good you fought back. Eren's still human, he's not going to be aware of everything that happens."

"I...see," Amira said slowly. "Does that...terrify you?"

"Not really," Floch said absently, looking her over. "You're sure you're not bleeding anywhere, right?"

Amira glanced down before shaking her head. "No. They...they didn't get that far."

"I'm sorry if I don't know what to say," Floch said in advance.

"Talking at all helps a bit, I think," Amira said with a half-hearted smile.

Or she tried to, before running to the open window and vomiting out of it.

"Amira?" Floch asked in concern as he approached her.

"So-sorrry, "she said, pulling herself back in. "That was...the first time I killed someone. Up close I mean. It's...not the same, not as with a gun."

Floch nodded in understanding. He moved to put a hand on her shoulder but thought better of it given current events.

Meanwhile

Eren looked down at the two dead Yeagerists.

One was killed by Amira, the other by his own power.

Nothing he said had been untrue to Floch. He didn't want animals like this as soldiers, having any kind of power over people. Creatures like these would bear their fangs on anyone that they thought looked amusing and appealing to harm. He wouldn't punish that woman for this.

The only thing he hadn't mentioned was that he hadn't been aware of this going on at all.

Eren looked up and found himself in the Paths again.

Looking at Eldia, the earthen Avatar of the creature that was the Source of all Titans.

"Thank you," Eren said to Eldia, who nodded in its own way.

They both turned their respective heads to the side, looking at the figure of Ymir, standing and watching them in the distance.

"You keeping an eye on her too?" Eren asked with a frown.

Eldia didn't nod. It growled, like the low rumble of an earthquake. And Eren knew that was a very firm and overt "yes"

"Good," Eren accepted. He was unsure of what to think of Eldia still, but he knew that Ymir Fritz was now just lashing out with little to no plan anymore.

He'd have to deal with both in due time, Eldia's true intentions and putting a final end to Ymir Fritz.

He could only hope that neither concluded in some new horrific tragedy for him to endure.

End of Chapter

So, yeah, Falco is as always the best boy. Tries to get Gabi's sight back, eventually, and tells Eren that Ymir is still fucking around in the Paths. Meanwhile, Floch has made a friend of sorts and Ern is genre-savy enough to not leave Floch out of the loop about the issues int he Path. And Eldia is being Eldia. Which is to say myeterious yet helpful.

Hope you all enjoyed this! Until next time!

Early viewing of chapters 9-10 avaliable on my pat-reon:

p a treon . com (slash) akumakami64