839

Grisha is at his clinic. It is the last hour of the day and he is finishing up some paperwork for his patients. He takes a brief moment to look at the picture of his wife, Carla, and (second) son Eren on his desk. As Eren has gotten older he's tried to discreetly shift Eren towards the path of a patriot. He's taken him to see the Survey corps returning home any chance he's gotten since he was a baby. Talking to his infant son about how they are the greatest, smartest, people in the walls for defending their island against the outside world and how the Marleyans hate them. How they make slaves out of their own people on the mainland and they need to be stopped to free this island and the people in Liberio. Of course he's sure not to do this around Carla. As wonderful a woman she is and as much as Grisha cares for her, she wouldn't understand. Besides, he was making an effort to not PUSH Eren to do what he wanted, simply nudge him in the direction. He was also planning to play with Eren more once he got older. But, make it educational. But more than anything Grisha needed to figure out who the real royal family is and how the activate the Founder once he got it. He's been able to access the medical records of many of the noble families since being allowed into the interior, but he still hasn't found records of people dying 13 years apart. But there are still noble families he hasn't looked into yet like the Reiss'.

A man with brown hair asks as he enters the clinic. He had waited until the last hour of the day and until everyone else had left so he could speak to the renowned physician who saved Shiganshina from a plague. He saw the young doctor alone in his office, putting files into his bag.

"Excuse me, Dr. Jaeger?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid we're closing up now," Grisha says.

"No, that's fine," says the man. "I just wanted to ask if you could do a house call."

"I don't normally do house calls," Dr. Jaeger says.

"Please, my wife is sick and I can't take her into town."

Dr. Jaeger looks curiously at the man.

"Why not?"

The man removes his hat.

"My name is Johnathan Ackerman-"

'Ackerman!?' Grisha thinks. 'I thought the king wiped them out. And replaced them with those pseudo-Ackerman Military Police.'

"My wife, Tanaka, she's from the Asian clan. As you can imagine neither of us can go to the city in broad daylight. Can you please make an exception for us, just this once?"

Grisha smiles warmly at him. It was well known that the members of the Military Police are given a specialized serum that gives them the strength of a Titan without having to become one, much like a true Ackerman, but they lack the mental link for combat skill accumulation. Grisha could tell that this man hasn't had his "awakening" but gaining Ackerman allies would be beneficial to his cause never the less.

"I would be happy to help."

The next day, Grisha is at the Ackerman household in the mountains. He is checking Tanaka's temperature as a little girl plays with dolls in the corner. They both have dark hair and are quite beautiful.

"Ah, you're fine. Just a slight infection. I'll give you some antibiotics to take and you will be fine in a week."

"Thank you, Dr. Jaeger," Tanka says.

"Please, call me Grisha."

Grisha looks over at the little girl. She looks briefly at the doctor while holding a stuffed rabbit.

"Cute girl," says Grisha. "What is her name?"

"That's our little girl, Mikasa," Johnathan says.

Grisha freezes in place upon hearing that name. That name which he had only heard ONCE before. He had figured out by now that the Attack Titan can see into the future. So this girl must be one of the two people that Kruger spoke of. She must be very important to his and his sons future, and she is an Ackerman to boot.

"Um, Dr. Jaeger. Are you ok?"

"Oh, yes… I'm fine," says Grisha. "Sorry, it's just I've only heard that name once before. I would be happy to look after your family at any time. Free of charge."

"Really?" asks Johnathan. "Oh Grisha, thank you!"

"No, thank you!" says Grisha. " I actually have a child myself. His name is Eren. He's about the same age as her. Maybe I can bring him bye sometime?"

"That's very nice of you," says Tanaka. "But we want to try and limit out interaction with people as much as we can."

"Ah yes, of course. I understand. Maybe when they are older."

'Either way I know she will be important to my son at some point. And what luck that he will have an Ackerman on his side.'


840

"Hey dad, look! The Survey Corps!"

Grisha has his five year old son perched on his shoulders so he can see over the crowd. He has been nudging Eren toward the life of a patriot since before he could speak. Fortunately, it seemed like the boy took a lot after him as he has barely had to do much over the years.

"Look at them go, Eren," Grisha says I'm a slightly nudging tone. "The wisest and bravest people of the walls. While some are willing to sit idly in comfort as the Marleyans plan our demise, they go out and fight."

"Just you watch dad, I'm gonna be a scout too!" little Eren says. "I'm gonna go to Marley and beat them all!"

"You need to do more than just beat your enemies, Eren," Grisha says. "You also need to remember to protect the innocent. There are so many people just like us that are trapped by Marley. They will have been taught that they deserve it. Some may even think we are wrong for fighting against their masters. They are poor broken fools…but they need help. Promise you will remember that."

"Hmmm…ok dad," Eren says. "As long as they are nice to me, you, and mom."

Grisha chuckles.

"Sure, Eren. Sure."

As his second son laughs, Grisha thinks back to his first family. There are times where he feels that he betrayed the memory of his first wife, Dina. Moving in and starting a new family with Carla while she is still alive out there (technically) as a Titan. A part of him still cursed the Owl for not saving her. Kruger could have changed into a Titan then and there, saved BOTH him and Dina and taken them to the Walls. But he understood why. After Eren Kruger saved him from Marley he revealed a few things. First of all, he revealed that after coming to the island, King Fritz's son had wiped the people's memory to make him easier to control (so the people would follow the descendants of the monarch that saved them from a world that wants them dead due to their genetic "condition" rather than the man who caused the downfall of Eldia). Second, he told Grisha to start a new family. Grisha knew that he needed to pass his Titan down to someone else after his thirteen years were up. A relative was preferable due to greater chance of memory inheritance. And when he focused his power of precognition he could see a dark haired Attack Titan with a skull face and three eyes leading the forces of Paradis against the Warhammer Titan. A powerful female warrior, he now recognized as an older Mikasa, bursting with lightning and wielding dual blades by his side. He knew he had to make that a reality. Also, Carla was a beautiful, kind, affectionate woman whose presence was…comforting to him after losing so much.

"Come on, Eren. Your mother is going to be waiting for us. Now remember, what do we tell her?"

"I was at your clinic helping with patients."

"That's my boy," Grisha says with a smile.

Grisha lowers the boy into his arms and walks away as commander Erwin was answering questions form the crowd. Neither Eren nor Carla knew about his past life. He maintained the lie he told that he was from the walls but was found outside them with amnesia. He couldn't risk his real origins leaking, or else all his plans would be ruined, again. But Grisha promised to tell them the truth someday, in one form or another. AFTER he got the Founder and saved Eldia.

Once they arrived home, Grisha started playing kick-ball with Eren. They kicked the ball back and forth a few times, and then Grisha started asking questions.

"So Eren, what did you learn in school today?" Grisha asks as he kicks the ball back to his son.
"We learned about the countries that are currently allied with Paradis," Eren says as he kicks the ball back.

"Good," Grisha says as he kicks the ball back to him. "Can you tell me what they are?"

"Well Hizuru is one, I don't remember the rest."

When Eren kicks the ball back to Grisha, he places his foot on it instead of kicking it back. Grisha looks sternly at his son.

"Dad, kick it back."

"Think Eren, think," Grisha says. "Name at least two."

Eren thinks. "Um…Ok, there is…Gardar…and…"

"Chi…Chi…."

"Chidiya!"

"That's my boy," Grisha says before kicking the ball back.

Erne kicks it back to his father, but he stops it with his foot again.

"One more."

"Come on, dad!"
"Grisha, don't pressure the boy," Carla says as she hangs the laundry to dry. "There will be plenty of time for studying when he's done playing."

"It is imperative that he knows these things, Carla," Grisha says.

"It's ok mom, I can remember," Eren says. "Um…Gordo?"

"That's right," Grisha says with a smile before kicking the ball back.


842

One of the things that Grisha learned from keeping an eye on the Reiss family was that, ever since Rod Reiss inherited the Founder from his brother in 841, Frieda Reiss had been making routine trips outside the estate every week or so. Out of curiosity, Grisha followed her discreetly and was surprised to find that she was traveling with a man in black. They take their carriage about a mile away from a farm and walk the rest of the way. He watched from a distance (and behind a tree) as Frieda introduced herself to a little blonde girl named Historia. They spent the whole day together while the man in black watched from afar and the girl's mother and grandparents were disturbed by their very presence. Grisha had her suspicions on why, but she needed to check the background of the Lenz family just to be sure. At the end of the day he saw Frieda teaching Historia how to read.

"That's amazing, Historia!" says Frieda. "Just look how well you can read now!"

"Thank you," says Historia. "But I only learned how because you were here to teach me."

"Ah, that runny nose of yours needs some tending to."

Grisha chuckles as he sees the older girl wipe the little one's nose and tells her she needs to learn to be more ladylike.

"What's it mean to act ladylike?" Historia asks.

"I'm not exactly an expert, but. I'd say the young lady in your book has it down."

"Krista?"

Grisha rolls his eyes. He knew that although the Walls had forgotten about Ymir and Eldia, the former's story still exists as a kids book. Except they changed the name to "Krista" and used a version similar to the Marleyan propaganda for how she got her power. Although it had her giving an apple to a monster/devil out of kindness and being rewarded, then using her unspecified power to help the people around her. So Grisha was glad that the story didn't paint Ymir the Founder as a pawn of the devil.

"Yeah," says Frieda. "Isn't she one of your favorite characters? Krista's always thinking about other people, and helping them out in whatever way she can. That's what I think makes a proper lady. You'll find pain and suffering everywhere you look in this world. So, do your best to make things better. Treat people with love and they'll love you in return."

"Well, that's how you act," Historia says to Frieda. "So I wanna be just like you!"

"Huh?"

"Do you think... if I try real hard, can I grow up to be just like you?" Historia asks.

"Huh..." Frieda then pulled Historia in for a hug. "No need! You're already perfect. No need to change a thing!"

Gridha smiles at the scene of the two girls laughing. However he becomes concerned when the man in black taps Frieda on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Historia," Frieda says. "But I have to go now. That means you have to forget all about me again. Until next time."

Grisha watched intently as the man in black removed his gloves and placed his hands on the little girls head. Historia flinches and Frieda walks away with the man while Historia looks confused.

Grisha's eyes follow the man and Frieda as they walk away and he thanks Ymir that he is close enough to listen to what they are saying.

"You really should stop visiting her," the mysterious man says. "The memory wiped can't be good for her brain."

"I will keep coming as long as Historia's so-called family continues to treat her like a nuisance. I have no idea why you even cheated on Mother with her, Father."

Grisha watches, shocked, as Rod Reiss (the lord of this land) the true king of the Walls and the Founder, removes his scarf, showing his pudgy face and mustache.

"Your mother's and mine's marriage was arranged, Frieda. You know that. Alma seemed to really understand me."

"She was a gold digger and now she's a neglectful mother who doesn't even talk to her own daughter."

"Well did you meet her parents? They were never really loving to her even before Historia. And if you really care about the girl then you would stop risking her life by visiting her. You're lucky I even allow these visits."

"The whole reason I even let you take the Founder from Uncle Uri instead of taking it myself, like he wanted, was because you told me you wanted the power so you could see Historia," Frieda reminds him. "Yet whenever we visit I'm the only one who ever talks to her while you spend half your time cheating on mom, some more."

"…Just be grateful I didn't alter your memories," Rod mutters.

Grisha hides as they walk bye, careful not to make a sound. He waits until they leave and the girl goes back inside her house before Grisha runs to his car.

The next day he returns to the interior and does a background check on the Lenz farm. He discovered that Alma Lenz, Historia's mother, used to work as a maid in the Reiss estate before she was let go for unspecified reasons. This confirmed his suspicions.

'So, Historia is Rod's bastard child and Frieda goes out to see her sister every week then the king wipes her memory each time,' Grisha realizes as he closes Alma's file. 'Historia is unaware of her heritage although she should have a pseudo-shifter form. Though I have heard of a Titan Serum used to cap the Reiss' ability. Rod must have altered her to repress that ability when she was a baby. Anyway, now I know how I can ambush Reiss outside of the estate and in secret. I just have to know how to activate the Founder before I do.'


Historia POV

Two girls sit underneath a tree. One is Historia Lenz, a little girl with blonde hair. Beside her is Frieda Reiss, the daughter of the lord who owns the land she, her mother, and grandparents live on. Frieda stopped by the farm Historia lives on that morning and introduced herself. Throughout the whole explanation, Historia's mother and grandparents were scared and anxious, especially Alma. The two girls spent all day together, playing, hiding horses, and now Frieda is teaching Historia how to read. Historia noticed a strange man watching them from a distance the entire time. He was covered from head to toe in black clothing. A long coat, a hat, and even his face was concealed by a scarf. However, Frieda told her to ignore him, saying that he was someone she knew and she was there to make sure things were ok.

"That's amazing, Historia!" says Frieda. "Just look how well you can read now!"

"Thank you," says Historia. "But I only learned how because you were here to teach me."

"Ah, that runny nose of yours needs some tending to."

Frieda takes her handkerchief and wipes the little girls nose.

"I guess the next thing I should teach you is how to act more ladylike. Blow into this." Historia blew. "Ooh, now, that's what I call a job well done."

"Hey."

"Hmm?"

"What's it mean to act ladylike?" Historia asks.

"I'm not exactly an expert, but," Frieda points at the illustration in the book they have, showing a girl holding an apple and facing a cloaked demon. "I'd say the young lady in your book has it down."

"Krista?"

"Yeah," says Frieda. "Isn't she one of your favorite characters? Krista's always thinking about other people, and helping them out in whatever way she can. That's what I think makes a proper lady. You'll find pain and suffering everywhere you look in this world. So, do your best to make things better. Treat people with love and they'll love you in return."

"Well, that's how you act," Historia says to Frieda. "So I wanna be just like you!"

"Huh?"

"Do you think... if I try real hard, can I grow up to be just like you?" Historia asks.

"Huh..." Frieda then pulled Historia in for a hug. "No need! You're already perfect. No need to change a thing!"

Historia laughs and Frieda joins in. Frieda then feels a tap on her shoulder. She turns and it is the mysterious man. He points to his watch and Frieda sighs as Historia looks at him confused.

"I'm sorry, Historia," Frieda says. "But I have to go now. That means you have to forget all about me again. Until next time."

"Huh?"

The mysterious man removes his gloves and reaches for Historia's head. She is hesitant but the multitudinous man grabs her head regardless. The mysterious man's eyes glow purple and then….

Suddenly, Historia cannot remember anything that happened the entire day. Frieda walks away with the mysterious man as Historia comes back to her senses.

Historia looks behind her and, past the fence, she sees two people walking away whilst talking to each other.

"I wonder... who those people are?"

The Next Day

Historia is doing her normal chores. Feeding the animals, carrying tools to the workers, etc. As usual her grandparents do their own work, only talking to her to give her instructions. Her mother, Alma, ignores her completely. Later, Historia sits by her and watches her read.

"I started reading myself," Historia says to her mother, who continues to ignore her. "I, uh, just picked up a book and I started understanding the words. I don't know how but I think it was from watching you read, so thank you mommy."

Alma remains silent, not even looking at her and continuing to read. Though inside she scoffs, chiding that she knows how to read because her half sister insists on visiting her even though she has their father (who won't divorce his wife and marry her) wipe her memory each time. Historia is crestfallen but doesn't give up.

"I was looking at one book and one of the pictures had a mother hugging her daughter. How come we aren't like that?" Historia asks.

She is ignored and Historia becomes slightly saddened. She'd never thought much of her mother, or anyone really, never talking to her. But recently she's felt an emptiness inside. And finding that book made her wonder why she's missing that in her life.

"Did I do something wrong? Whatever it was, I'm really sorry."

Her mother just stands up and walks away. She has the same cold expression as before and didn't bother looking at Historia once the entire time.

Historia walks up to her grandfather, who is milking a cow. He notices her in his peripheral vision and sighs, thinking she's here because she messed something up or didn't understand her instructions. Not that she should have problems with: "feed the chickens."

"What did you do?" he asks, annoyed.

"Grandpa, do you and grandma like me?" Historia asks.

"What?"

"I started reading," Historia says. "In books families are supposed to care about each other. You and grandma never talk to me, you don't tuck me in at night, you make me eat away from you at the table…"

Mr. Lenz just grunts and gets back to work.

"Why don't you and grandma like me?" Historia asks. "Did I do something wrong? If I did, I'm sorry."

"Honestly, girl, it was just your mother that did something wrong," her grandfather says. "But your proof of it. Be grateful that I let either of you stay here and feed you. Though you pull your weight around here, I'll give ya that. Your lazy mom just sits around all day reading books then whores herself some more at night. You're both disgraces to our family."

That stung Historia a little.

"Not that she was ever much of a daughter before," her grandmother says, walking bye with firewood.

"But mom doesn't talk to me either," Historia says. "At all."

"Just get back to work," her grandmother chides.

"And don't ask things like this again, ya got it?" her grandfather says.

Historia nods and walks away.


AOT World Building

Chidiya-sparrow the golden sparrow (India)

Gardar-Insula Gardari (island of Gardar) (Iceland)

Gordo-(Peru)


All comments are appreciated.