Dear Sasha Braus,

Come to the northern mountain in Wall Maria. At the very top, you will see a small cabin where your mother and a dozen children are being held hostage. Meet us at the cabin at 6:00 pm sharp or there will be consequences. If you don't believe me, check your father's pulse. And bring 30,000 in bills. Come alone. Come as a human, not a Titan. And, again, come ALONE or else we will kill more of the hostages starting with your mother.

Signed,

Anonymous

Sasha looks at the letter in her hands. Her mind races and she thinks about what to do. She looks at the clock and sees that it is 5:00, which means she only has an hour. Looking on the back of the note she finds a map of the mountain range in Wall Maria and an "X" where she assumes the kidnappers are. Sasha's first instinct is to grab as much money as she can and head over to the mountain in the small amount of time she has left.

Then she hears a cough.

"Sasha."

Sasha looks down and sees her father getting on his knees. He is bruised, and bleeding, but still alive.

"Dad?"

"Sasha….no….It be a trick. T'was Eldians from Marley."

"Elidans from Marely?" Sasha questions. "Why would they want mon-no, they want my Titan."

"You ca-" Artur coughs weakly.

Sasha grabs her father and drags him outside.

"Oh, Dad. I need to get you to the hospital first. Hold on, my trucks over here!"

Mountains, Wall Maria

Some people are on lookout at the tops of the trees and on the roof of the cabin, while the people below have crudely made Anti-Titan weapons, fireworks launchers, and dart guns for powerful tranquilizers. In addition, they also have some "borrowed" ODM gear, thunderspears, and gatling guns. Inside the cabin, the Brauns, Porco Gilliard, Falco, a few Marleyan soldiers who managed to escape, and Pieck are watching over their captives who are tied to chairs in a big circle.

"I'm sorry, everyone," Mia says to the other kids and Mrs. Braus as most of them glare at Gabi, Falco, and Ben. Ben and Gabi try to ignore the stares while Falco lowers his head in shame. "I should have told you that GABI BRAUN was up to something. Again, I'm sorry that I trusted GABI BRAUN!"

"I'm sorry too." Kaya looks at Gabi and Ben disappointed. "I found out that they were Reiner Brauns cousins when I met them, but I thought I could trust them."

"Well, then it serves you right for being devils and stupid," a Marleyan soldier snarks, causing his friend (a fellow Marleyan) to laugh, to Gabi's mild disgust. "Though I still don't get why we're here instead of New Liberio."

"I agree," says Karina. "It would have been the perfect opportunity to show that we aren't so different."

The Marleyans scoff. They try to hide it, but their attitude is noticed by Pieck and Gabi. The latter frowns as they hear the Marleyans continue conversing.

"Do you want to be surrounded by Eldians?"

"I'm just saying, New Liberio has a ten-foot wall made out of stone, Eldians on look-out from 80-meter trees, and a forge that makes anti-Titan guns."

"But we didn't want to risk bringing the wrath of the devils to innocent Eldians," says Porco. "But thats why we brought the Titan guns here. Don't worry, though, Sasha Braus will find this place. I put the location in the note. Plus she thinks that this is just a money thing. Once she gets here we will knock her out with the darts we got." "And then I will drink her spinal fluid and become the next Female Titan," Karina says.

"After that we will heal Sasha with the healing spinal fluid I got from my father and use her as bait to lure in the others, right?" Pieck holds up the syringe while looking sharply at Porco. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just try to not mess up this cabin too much. I paid good money for it."

"Pock, you said this place was cheap."

Porco chuckles. "Yeah, apparently there was a homicide here. A normal Eldian killed an Ackerman. I thought it would be appropriate for this."

"Are you sure this will work?" asks the Marleyan. "What if the devil girl comes with an army?"

"I doubt she would take that risk since I said in my letter that we would kill all these hostages if she did," says Porco. "Plus, I highly doubt that she will want to lose anyone else considering how we left her father."

Gabi, Ben, and Falco look distressed. Kaya lowers her head and Lisa Braus recalls what happened as they were being taken.

Earlier That Day

Artur Braus opens the door to his family ranch. He sees two men standing in the doorway.

"E'llo?"

One of the men takes out a knife and stabs Artur in the stomach. Lisa Braus screams along with Kaya and any other children present. They watch helplessly as the man repeatedly stabs Artur and the other beats him bloody with a baseball bat.

"A-Artur!" Lisa cries.

Porco places a note on the beaten, dying, body of Mr. Artur Braus. "Come quietly and you dont have to end up like him."

"Kids! Follow me!"

Lisa tries to take the kids out the back, but they are stopped by more men emerging through the back door and windows. Outside, more men are taking the children captive. Grabbing ahold of the young kids while pointing their guns at the bigger ones. Lisa, Kaya, and a few others find themselves surrounded in the center of the room. Karina Braun and Porco Gilliard emerge from the doorway.

Pieck enters the house and she looks around distressed at the sight of children being held captive and at the man beaten and dying on the ground. She was no stranger to enemy suffering, and she knew full well that there were children in civilian areas where she and the Marleyan army had attacked before, but seeing them up close was different. Ben and Falco exit the room, with varying levels of guilt, letting Gabi hold onto them as she limps.

"David! Tristen! Thea! Get out of here!" Lisa screams.

"It's Ben, Falco, and Gabi Braun," Karina says. "I'm Karina Braun."

"B-Braun? Are you related to Reiner Braun?"

Karina becomes tense, remembering the conversation she had with Reiner earlier.

"That's…complicated. Now, if you would please come with us, we need you all alive."

"My husband!" Lisa snarls.

"A message," says Porco.

Looking at the dying man and then the crying woman, Karina feels a tinge of guilt. But she shakes those feelings out of her head. They are just devils, after all, their kind had separated many more lovers during the Eldian Empire.

"Don't act like you're the victim here!" Karina yells, as Falco discretely walks over to Pieck and then Mr. Braus. "Come! Answer for your sins!"

Now

"At this moment, more members of the Good Eldian Society and volunteers from New Liberio are on their way to Ragako village to take the family of the Armored Titan," Porco says to the Marleyans. "We will lure him in the same way we are luring in Sasha Braus. Then we need to go after Annie."

"Annie!?" Pieck asks, horrified.

"She's a traitor and she's dating the Colossal Titan!" Porco snarls. We will especially need that one to take the Founder. We'll tear apart the interior to find Smith now that the queen is gone!"

"We aren't really going to kill them, right?" Falco points to the captives. "Most of them are from Liberio like us."

"They are traitors!" a Marleyan shouts. "Good riddance!"

"Why are you doing this?" Lisa asks, downcast.

"Once we get the Founder Marley will triumph over-"

The Marleyan is interrupted by Lisa telling them to shut up. She looks right at Karina and Porco.

"Why are you two doing this? We're Eldians just like you."

"Your kind ate my brother! This is payback!"

"We are nothing like you," Karina says spitefully. "Your kind are holding my country by the throat."

"You trampled the world for-"

"Oh shut up!" Mia shouts at the Marleyan. "How long as you bastards going to keep playing the victim over something that ended a hundred years ago!?"

"This is real history!"

"I don't think we should kill them all," Gabi admits.

Falco smiles. Ben avoids eye contact. Karina looks at her niece horrified while everyone else looks at her either shocked or surprised.

"W-what?" Karina stammers. "Gabi? How could you ask that? You know-"

"Yes, I know they are devils. But our ancestors were devils too, Aunt Karina. They trampled the world for 2,000 years and did a lot of bad things just like the people of this island's ancestors did. What they have done to Marley now. But, despite all of that, we are here today because our ancestors were given "mercy" and a chance to redeem themselves for the sins of the Eldian Empire."

"Gabi, they hurt you! They have made the rest of our kind suffer! Don't you want revenge!?"

"I DID want revenge when I first got here. But lately, I've been thinking." Gabi looks at Kaya and Lisa, who look at her surprised. "A couple of them were actually ok to us. And besides, how can we expect the world to forgive us for our sins if we can't forgive others?"

"I agree with Gabi, Aunt Karina," says Ben. "If we ask the islanders if they are willing to give themselves to Marley in exchange for their lives then shouldn't we give it to them? Maybe revenge isn't the right away to go about freeing our people?"

The Marleyans groan.

"Ugh! What is this bullcrap!?"

"I have a question," Falco says to the Marleyans. "Say we succeed in getting the Founder? We restore Marley to its former glory. What happens to all the Eldians currently walking outside the zones right now? Will you let them stay free."

The Marleyans stifle a laugh. This is noticed by Karina, Gabi, and Pieck. The former takes it in silent acknowledgment while Karina and Gabi are shocked. The Marleyans recompose themselves.

"Er…what we mean is, they will need to earn their freedom like you all have."

"So basically once we win you will force the rest of us Eldians back into the zones?" Gabi asks disappointedly.

"Just do your job, Eldian."

The Marelyans walk outside, leaving the Liberian and Paradisian Eldians alone. Prisoners exchange glances with captors.

"I don't think that the Marelyans are appreciating what we do," Ben says to Pieck. "They don't mention our contributions in wars at all, do they?"

"No, they don't."

"Pieck, you were a warrior. Do you believe that if we prove ourselves to Marley they will eventually see us as people?" Gabi asks her hopefully.

Porco growls. "Enough with these doubts! We're not here to complain about a few jerks! Were here to get revenge for our fallen comrades and fight for our country! We'll take down the devils today and we can worry about the government later!"

"Porco is right, Gabi," Karina says. "No matter what, we have a loyal duty to our country. And I'm sure that Marley will recognize our work. Ok?"

Gabi looks at her aunt unsure. Tears fall down her face.

"Well, just stop calling us devils then!" a Paradisian boy captive shouts. "You're painting us as devils just so you don't feel bad about killing us! And you only wanna kill us so you look good and feel better about yourselves! That's just…just…SELFISH!"

Karina scowls at him, and then she becomes ashamed.

"I have been selfish. Especially with my family. But once we get back to Marley I will make things right." Karina turns to the captives. "As for the rest of you. You may have sown doubt in the minds of my family but I know the truth. You aren't anything like us. You're just cruel devils who have always deserved to die." She glares at Mia. "And traitors. You may plead your cases to Marley when they come to raze this island and if they choose to spare you, fine. But don't get your hopes up. And whatever punishment they give you won't be half of what you deserve."

Falco speaks up. "You know, Ms. Braun, the average Marleyan says the same things about us. That we're devils. We're nothing like them. We deserve to die. Even the ones we fight with aren't much better."

Karina's expression softens. "They just don't know us."

"Kind of like how we don't know them?" Falco points to the captives. "Maybe we're just passing on the hatred dished out to us?"

Karina is briefly stunned. But she shakes her head.

"I will have a word with your parents later." She then looks at Gabi. "And Gabi, don't go soft on us. Don't be a traitor like your cousin."

Gabi glances at the tied-up Paradisians, who look at her with anger and disappointment. Except for Lisa, who continues to cry over her husband.

'They are just devils,' Gabi tells herself, even though those words don't have the same weight anymore.

Falco walks over to the captives.

"I'm really sorry about this."

"Tristen, or Falco, whatever your name is. Why are you here?" Randy asks.

"I was hoping I could talk some sense into Gabi," Falco whispers.

"She's beyond help," Mia says.

"No, she isn't." Falco looks at Gabi, who is looking away unsure (just like Ben and Pieck). "At the core of Gabi's whole attitude is a belief that her actions will get Marley's approval and help out people. If I can just get her to see that's wrong I know she will come to her senses." Falco sighs. "Look, I know that you all likely don't have a good opinion on her. And I admit she can be a bit headstrong and ruthless. But believe me, underneath it all she's really a kind girl."

"And how are you going to defend her aunt and the other guy?" Mia asks.

"Porco lost his brother and, somehow, I think he's projecting his anger onto everyone on this island. The fact that we have been taught our whole lives to hate you and blame you for our troubles is likely a factor. He's just angry and he wants someone to blame. Karina has been like that for far longer. But I hope they can move on soon enough."

"Yes." A paradisian girl wiggles in her seat. "SOON enough!"

A bell goes off, Porco and Karina run outside. They gaze up at the Liberian looking through s set of binoculars from the top of one of the trees.

"What is it Knox!?" Porco yells. "Do you see the Female Titan!?"

"No!" Knox yells back. "There is a single person approaching the settlement!"

"Fine! Have our men go into the forest! Throw a few fireworks down to scare away the devil!"

"Actually, I don't think its a devil." Knox looks closer through his binoculars. "I see them waving a Marleyan navy uniform in the air like a flag."

"It could be a trick," Karina states. "Go check them out."

"Were on it," one of the men with dogs says as he and a few others head into the forest.

Half An Hour Later

The Good Eldians arrive back at the cabin with their new Marleyan guest. He approaches Porco, Karina, and Gabi (the latter two vaguely recognize him).

"Hi, captain Koch told me that this is where the Good Eldians are at."

"That's us," Karina says. "And you are?"

"My name is Niccolo Fischer. I'm the guy who got the information out of Sasha Braus that you used to do all this." Niccolo glances at Lisa and the others who are tied up, the woman glares at him.

"Thank you for your hard work," Karina tells him. "Now we finally have a chance to take down the devils for good."

"Im glad that I could help. It wasn't easy flirting with a 16-year-old devil, and honestly I feel a little guilty, but I need to get off this island and go home to my family." Niccolo crosses his arms. "Besides, after the way she messed with my feelings like that, I'm looking forward to payback."

"You jerk!" Kaya yells.

"My daughter really cared about you," Lisa says, disgusted and disappointed. "She told me. She deserves better." "Shut them up!" shouts a Malreyan.

The Eldians in the area walk over to the captives and gag them with cloth or whatever they have. Porco turns to Niccolo.

"But how are you here now?"

"Koch and my friend Griez are covering for me. They made a distraction while I hopped on one of their scooters and fled. I told them that I wanted to go home more than anything after everything that's happened to me recently, and they told me about their allies who are planning to take Paradis down."

One of the other Malreyans smacks Niccolo on the back with a loud laugh, causing Niccolo to flinch.

"Well, thanks to you that's a possibility!"

Niccolo then rubs the back of his neck. "But, if possible, let's try not to have to kill anyone, ok?"

"What?" a Marleyan asks.

"Don't you want revenge?" Karina asks.

"I do, but…feelings are still complicated," Niccolo says.

Knox yells again from outside

"Female Titan! Approaching!"

He watches in his binoculars as a giant female Titan runs through the forest, alone. She stops about a mile away from their destination and falls to her knees. The Female Titans' neck steams and Sasha Braus emerges from the nape. She slides off the evaporating Titan carcass and continues her way.

"She has exited her Titan and walking!" Knox yells. "She is about a mile away!" "No other devils in sight!" another lookout yells.

"Good, we have a few minutes to prepare!" Porco yells. "Ok, everyone hide! We dont want any surprises!"

Karina grabs a shotgun loaded with a tranquilizer dart and approaches Ben and Gabi. "Ok you two, this is our time to shine. While me and Porco distract the devil-girl with negotiations for her family, one of you will shoot her with this. She will already be weakened from her recent transformation but the tranquilizer we will inject her with will render her unconscious."

"And then the plan is we will give her spinal fluid to me so I can become the Female Titan," says Pieck. "With my Titan I will ambush Jean using my charms and take him to New Liberio so one of you can become the Beast Titan."

"And pretty soon we will be able to lure in the Armored Titan." Porco frowns. "And then I'll have the power that should have been mine long ago."

Karina frowns. "So, who wants to do it?"

Ben and Gabi exchange uneasy glances with each other.

"I'm the one who was in Warrior Training before we came here," says Gabi. "I was taught how to hold a gun. It should be me."

Karina caresses her face. "That's my girl."

"Hey, we have the proper tools for the spinal fluid transfer, right?" Niccolo asks. "I mean for future use, of course."

"I brought plenty of healing serums with me," Pieck says. "Don't worry, if you insist we can keep the Braus girl as your plaything."

"Ugh, why would you though?" A Marleyan asks.

"Aye, just because she's a devil doesn't mean she isn't attractive," says another Marleyan. "As long as you pull out before the bread can be buttered it's fine."

Niccolo and the first Marleyan cringe at the mental image.

"Hey, so how about us Marleyans keep an eye on the captives while the Liberians negotiate with Sasha? I mean, er, the Female Titan."

"What? Why?"

Niccolo whispers into the ears of his fellow Marleyans. Though he whispers quite loudly, allowing those near them to hear what he is saying: "Can we really trust devils to keep an eye on devils? What if they decide at the last minute they like it here and to let them go?"

Porco and Karina are about to protest that such a thing would never happen, but the other Marleyans nod in agreement.

"Good thinking Nick."

Gabi lays on her stomach as she hides in the nearby bush. Her eyes are focused on the area where she expects to see Sasha Braus at any moment. Outside, Porco and her aunt Karina wait for the devil-girl with Lisa Braus tied and gagged while the rest of their Good Eldians are hiding in the trees and on the roof of the cabin while the Marleyans are ready to fire from the windows.

Falco is inside with Niccolo while Pieck is next to Gabi.

"They still don't like us," Gabi says, sadly.

Pieck sighs. "No, they don't."

"...Pieck. You were a warrior. You've worked with Marleyans for years. Do you think they actually mean it when they say we can earn redemption if you continue to fight for them? That if we work hard and prove that we are good Eldians then one day we'll be set free. Not just outside the gates out of obligation, but truly free? Otherwise, what are we fighting for?"

"Gabi, answer this question for me. Are we Eldians or Marleyans? Which one comes first?" "…We're Honorary Marleyans."

"No, were Subjects of Ymir," Pieck says. "No matter what we call ourselves that is the absolute truth. That we're a race of people that can be turned into Titans. And no, Gabi, most of the Marleyans don't appreciate what we do. With the way things were going before, with the exception of a few, most of them continue to sneer at us because that's what they were taught to do. Just like how you were taught to sneer at the Paradisians. They continue to see is as demons who don't deserve to be in this world, just like the islanders." Piecks words cause Gabi to cry. "But soon the Power of the Titans will become obsolete. And those in charge will order us slaughtered without a second thought. It doesn't matter how hard we work or show that we are good Eldians. They will put us down like animals before they ever set us free. We have to secure our right to live with our own hands."

Gabi chokes on her sobs and wipes away her tears. "T-Then why are you still fighting for Malrey?"

Pieck averts her eyes, thinking about her Panzer Squad and Magath.

"She's here."

Gabi looks ahead and they see Sasha Braus emerging from the forest.