[SPOILER ABOUT SEASON 4, GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE-]

3rd POV

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Ymir, in her long life, had never felt so perplexed. If anyone had suggested she'd encounter someone unrelated on the path, she'd have dismissed it outright. But there she stood, facing a young, dark-skinned woman in her twenties who was embracing her. Ymir blinked at this peculiar situation, though her eyes, concealed by her bangs, didn't reveal her surprise.

"How are you? Are you okay? YOU'RE SO ADORABLE!!!" The woman's enthusiastic squeal persisted as she continued to embrace Ymir tightly.

"Who are you...?" Ymir spoke quietly, her voice tinged with confusion at the sudden and unexpected situation.

"Ah!" The woman hastily withdrew, putting some distance between them. "Sorry! Forgot you guys aren't accustomed to easy affection!" she awkwardly laughed. "My name's Colith, or [Mother] if you prefer, but whatever floats your boat—Nice to meet you, Ymir!" She struck a playful pose, further deepening the blonde's bewilderment. Ymir's confusion grew as she tried to comprehend the unfamiliar encounter.

Ymir simply gazed at Colith, struggling to comprehend her presence in the paths.

"How...?"

It had been years since encountering anyone outside the Royal bloodline. Uncertain of what to do or anticipate, as it seemed her powers would not affect this... [Mother?] she stared. There was another man, inheritor of the Beast Titan and possessing Royal blood, who sporadically appeared but couldn't wield the powers of the Founding Titan and therefore couldn't order her.

Colith chuckled softly. "You wouldn't believe me if I explained." She settled onto the sand, patting the space beside her. "Would you like to hear the story anyway? Only if you're interested!" Her grin was inviting, offering Ymir a chance to uncover the mysteries she brought.

The blonde remained quiet for a moment, then settled beside the excited woman. As Colith explained her identity and purpose, expressing a desire to aid her descendants, prevent various events, and potentially build a... harem, the woman's unconventional nature intrigued her. It appeared she was the one influencing the Titans, directing them not to harm their own people. This unexpected turn of events seemed promising, if she had to say.

Ymir found the woman's stories fascinating. She listened to tales of powerful men capable of destroying planets, a human housing a fox, and a spirited boy on a quest to rescue his sister from a curse, among other captivating narratives. The stories were truly engaging and kept her entertained.

"You're quite amusing, Colith," Ymir remarked with a slight smile.

The woman reacted dramatically, gasping with feigned shock. "YOU SHOULD SMILE MORE! YOU'RE SUPER CUTE!"

Ymir chuckled softly, experiencing a positive emotion for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Her existence in this place, adhering to the King's will, had been characterized by a sense of desolation and sorrow. Colith noticed the sudden quiet from Ymir and, to the blonde's surprise, placed a hand on her head.

"You're aware... you don't have to follow Karl's will, right?" Colith's gaze shifted towards the tree of light, a frown creasing her features. "His choices only worsened things for everyone. Leaving some of his people in Marley's hands and taking the rest to an island, then erasing their memories..." She redirected her attention to Ymir. "But you already knew that..." She offered a sad smile. Ymir glanced downward.

"I... I have no say in this... he's my king–"

"But this power belongs to you, Ymir," she interjected cautiously. "Karl... no, they all manipulated you to serve their agendas. I understand that in your era, your king's authority was absolute, and you felt compelled to heed his every command, but..." She affectionately patted her head. "With the abilities you had, you could've easily shown him who's boss."

Ymir snorted as the woman chuckled. "Seriously! Some men are just idiots driven by their meat sticks! You could've taken charge, and stomped his ass." She wiped a tear of laughter from her eye. "What I mean is, you still possess the strength to break free from their hold. You just need someone trustworthy to help you do it." A fond smile graced Colith's lips as she spoke encouragingly to her.

"...Eren..." She murmured, a newfound sense of hope swelling within her. She gazed at Colith with a mix of wonder and admiration. How many times had she yearned to hear such words from someone? This woman, no, [Mother] , desired her freedom and happiness...

"I... I'll consider it," the blonde admitted at last. "Um... Thank you... for sharing this with me..."

Colith grasped her hands in hers. "Don't worry! I just want you to know you won't be alone anymore!" She beamed cheerfully. "I'll come visit whenever I can! We can chat and, if you'd like, become friends!" Her grin remained infectious as she spoke warmly to Ymir.

She smiled, a genuine expression she hadn't known she could muster. "I'm okay with that."

Colith embraced her tightly once more.

'This feels... comforting...' Ymir thought, finding solace in the affection she'd never experienced before.

As Colith let her go, she grinned. "I'll share more about my world next time! But..." Her expression lit up with excitement. "Can I design a future titan?"

Ymir blinked before shaking her head fondly, sighing. "Sure, why not? That could be interesting."

The other woman leaped in delight, abandoning any air of being a powerful being and began doodling in the sand while laughing like a child. The blonde observed her quietly.

'Thank you...'

This was the start of a long friendship.