Tales of Attack on Titan

by RavenJaeger

Multiple one-shots of all our favorite characters of Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin). Pairings if wanted and different scenarios.

18. Day XI: Far From Heaven

Day 11: Disney/Fairy tale

The Lion King

The sun rose high above the city of Paradis; enticing all who lived within to awake to the glistening new day. A day that would carve its presence in history for all to remember and re-live; and everyone woke with one goal in mind.

So, as the morning laid itself upon this beautiful kingdom, the people moved toward the heart of the city, the castle.

Horses dragged carriages filled with people from the outskirts of Paradis and winded children, dogs barked happily as they protected the people from wildlife, and men and women alike conversed excitedly to each other about the upcoming event.

The castle stood, beholding, as everyone settled in the main courtyard, awaiting the arrival of their beloved rulers. Eagerness, tension beyond anything before, lingered heavily, but all stood silent once a single figure made his way through the courtyard and toward the mantel that would eventually hold the royal family.

He took his time, walking, back straight, eyes closed, and a serene smile on his face. He wore a simple brown vest overtop of a white shirt and brown pants. He had a bald head, but a generous mustache was displayed playfully along his upper lip. His aura radiated wisdom.

He made his way over to the mantal, choosing to climb the stairs on the left side; everyone watched.

When he got to the top, he was led by some guards into the room just off the mantal's flooring. The double doors opened, and the man was standing in front of a man and woman, flanked by 6 more guards. The woman stood, looking somewhat exhausted, and holding an infant.

"Pyxis, how lovely to see you again," the woman said, bowing her head.

"My Queen, please, the pleasure is all mine. I must say, you are absolutely glowing, my dear," he commented. He strolled over, bowed low and kissed her hand. He then turned to the man.

"My King," Pyxis lowered himself again. The King grasped his shoulders.

"No need for formalities, old friend, it's a joyous day."

"Indeed," Pyxis straightened and held his hands behind his back. "I must say its not every day we receive an heir made up of titan and Eldian blood. The people are absolutely elated to be able to trust a member of your clan so wholeheartedly."

The king exchanged a look with his queen, then looked back to Pyxis. "I couldn't agree more. My brethren are certainly a powerful folk, and I'm afraid about what the future holds for my son."

The Queen placed a hand on her husband's shoulder. "Dearest, we mustn't speak of such sin at this time."

"So, it is true he has recruited more warriors with your gifts?" Pyxis wondered. The King sighed, before looking down at his infant son.

"I'm afraid so. Once he didn't get what he wanted as quickly as he liked, he left Paradis, and found a way to multiply our family's gift, but only 6 times, and I don't know how different they are from him. All I know is that it's possible to split the power, even though I was only aware we could transfer the power to just one other host."

Pyxis made a knowing sound. "I am guessing that is why this ritual today is happening. You are going to give your son, your powers, in case…" Pyxis trailed off. The king nodded.

"Precisely."

"Well, your highness, I will do my part willingly, and will do anything else to aid in this time."

"Let's make the transfer," he explained. He nodded to his Queen, who bit her lip, but hesitantly handed her child over to Pyxis. "Stay inside, my love." The queen nodded and stepped back.

The two men moved toward the doors that would lead them onto the mantal and before the people.

When they stepped out, the crowd grew into an uproar. The King calmed them easily.

"My people, for years I have attempted to make peace with Eldia and Titans, my talk of such nonsense had me persecuted from my hometown across the river, Marley. I proved myself, did I not? To the king and to all of you, that I could rule an empire, the power of a titan harnessed in my soul." The crowd cheered their approval. "Not only have I succeeded in reigning an era of peace, but I have now given you another King!" At that moment, Pyxis lifted the infant into the air, for everyone to see. The crowd went into chaos. Tears flowed, screams echoed, children cheered, adults clapped. "Behold! My son, Eren Jaeger, the Titan King!"

Lightning struck down from a clear sky, striking just in front of the King and his son. Smoke billowed into the crowd, causing coughing and heaving and a whole lot of confusion.

When the smoke cleared, no one stood atop the mantal, and the guards moved to start escorting people out of the courtyard.

Meanwhile, across the city of Paradis, through a mild wood, and over a rushing river, an abandoned city, broken and crumbling, basked in the sunlight.

A city once prosperous not too long ago, now in shambles and at the mercy of an unrelenting force.

There was only one section of the city that didn't bear the same battle scars as the rest, and within, an even more unsuspecting force, lay low and quiet.

"Life's not fair, is it?" A voice, so raspy, so dark, spoke out to the unknown. "Here I sit, knowing that I, well, I will never be King, and my warriors will forever stay, starving and under the merciless reign of…" this voice halted, shuddered. "My own father."

A blonde man sat amongst his stone furniture, knowing, full well, he could crush them to dust as easily as squeezing a wet sponge. But such child play bored him now, he already destroyed the city of its luxuries, he needed to keep some for himself.

Before he could wallow more in his isolated misery, a scruff on stone had him transforming into his Beast Titan and growling at the intruder.

"Didn't you learn anything from your old man, Zeke?" An even more raspy voice cackled. Zeke rolled his eyes and sighed, transforming back to human.

"What do you want?" he growled out.

A man, about 6 feet tall, with blonde hair and hazel eyes stepped into the destroyed doorway of his stone villa. He wore a typical military uniform, with a rifle over his shoulder.

"I'm here to announce that Commander Pyxis is on his way, so you better have a good excuse for missing the ceremony this morning," he said, crossing his arms. The man usually had a grin on his face, and may or may not be intoxicated, but now he had a stern look.

"Oh, come now, Hannes, I didn't want to get lost in the city," Zeke retaliated.

"Well, you'll be lost in something else once the Commander is through with you, you know what had to happen today because of your incompetence. If you hadn't gone off and given some random Marleyan soldiers your titan fluid, then King Grisha wouldn't have had to sacrifice himself to protect everyone from you by giving his youngest son his power," he said.

"Aw, the guilt is just killing me," Zeke gritted out. He was about to start clawing the crap out of Hannes' face, when another figure loomed into the doorway.

"That's enough, Hannes."

The blond man grunted out a curse and crossed his arms.

"Why if it isn't the highest commanding officer, coming to rub it in the King's eldest son's face," Zeke said slyly.

"We didn't see you at the ritual for Eren," Pyxis said.

"That was today, oh, I feel so awful, truly. It must've slipped my mind."

Hannes tsked. "Yes, well, as slippery as your mind is as the king's eldest son you should have been first in line!"

"I was first in line, until the little brat was born."

"That brat is the new Attack Titan, and your future king," Pyxis snapped out.

"Shall I practice my curtsy?" Zeke sassed. Hannes stepped forward, almost losing his temper.

"Don't sass the Commander, Zeke. He could lock you up in a second."

"Perhaps he shouldn't sass me." Hannes gripped Zeke's already ruined shirt and growled threateningly.

"Is that a threat?"

"Oh, no, no, I wouldn't dream of threatening Pyxis."

Pyxis raised an eyebrow. "Pity, why not?"

"Well, I'm afraid all that titan multiplying has drained me almost completely. I can barely even transform for a minute at a time," Zeke said, sighing and leaning against the wall. "I'm afraid I'm slowly fading while my warriors run around God knows where."

"You don't know where they are at all?" Hannes questioned. Zeke shook his head.

"If I did, do you think I would be sitting here in these ruins, wasting away?"

Hannes and Pyxis exchanged looks.

"What happened to you, Zeke?"

That night, Pyxis sat in the royal study, sipping on his flask that contained God knows what kind of alcohol. As he did this, another occupant sat across from him, at the desk.

"Commander, what colour are his eyes?"

Pyxis hummed. "Ah, magnificent eyes. Green, Moblit, green as Mother Nature herself, green as the deepest, rarest emerald known to man. Yes, those eyes have a fire in them, a terrifying fire destined for greatness, make sure you get all that, soldier.

"Yes Commander."

10 Years Later…

Footsteps hurried through the castle corridors, excited and not one to consider the hours of awakening. The little boy swooped under and dodged past servants making their morning rounds and bounded up the stairs.

Once he got to his destination, he didn't think twice before pushing open the heavy double doors and slipping into the room.

Once inside, he raced over to the giant bed adorning the room.

"Mom! Mom!" The boy climbed up onto the bed, shaking the occupant. "Come on, Mom, we got to go, get up!"

A groan resonated from the pile of satin duvet. The boy frowned; eyes narrowed.

"Mom…" he whined. "Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom…" he started repeating the call, hoping to annoy a response out of her.

"Eren…" his mother's voice grunted out.

"Mom!" Eren prompted again. He grabbed a hold of her hair, pulled back into a loose, low ponytail, and tugged at it. "Let's go!"

The woman let out a tired sigh and moved to sit up.

"Alright, alright, I'm up."

"YA!" the little boy jumped off the bed and moved to the closet, throwing random trims and skirts onto the floor, in attempt to hurry his mother faster.

Sliding out of bed, the woman reached to grab a tiny bell on her bedside table. She rang it, a sound tinkling out an echo.

Right away, her chamber doors opened fully, and servants piled in, ready to get their queen ready.

Once the day officially started, the Queen led her son through the corridors and up flights of stairs.

They climbed and climbed, until they reached the highest century tower, open and billowing with the morning air.

Eren ran up to the edge, (I guess you could imagine Utgard Castle in S2 episode 4) and looked out in awe at the arising kingdom. The sky was still orange, but it was just enough light to let any glass, within the royal city, sparkle.

"Wow…" Eren gasped, eyes wide and mouth open in a smile.

"Look around you, Eren. Everything the morning light touches is our kingdom," Carla said, walking to stand beside him.

"Everything?"

Carla laughed. "Yes, Eren."

The little boy moved around the perimeter of the tower, taking in all the land lit up by beams of sunlight. "Everything the morning light touches…"

Eren halted around the East side of the tower, eyes squinting to make sure he knew what he was seeing.

"There's another town over there," Eren pointed. Carla set her jaw.

"That town is beyond our borders. You must never go there, Eren," Carla commanded.

"What do you mean? If I'm going to be King soon, I should be able to do whatever I want," Eren retaliated, turning away, arms crossed.

"There is more to being King then getting your own way. It comes with a lot of responsibility."

"Responsibility? Awe, come on!" Eren whined.

"Oh, Eren." Carla simply shook her head. "Come on."

His mother started to lead him back down the tower. They made their way through the castle and out the grand doors.

"Where are we going?" Eren wondered. Carla put on a cloak and covered her head with the hood.

"No questions, just follow me, Eren."

The boy obeyed, but he wasn't happy about it. He thought getting shown his kingdom would be fun.

He found out; their destination was simply his kingdom in general.

Carla took him around the morning market, bought him a hot apple cider, and lectured him while she was at it.

"A King's time as ruler, rises and falls like the sun. Everything here exists because of a delicate balance. As King, you need to respect that balance."

She sat down on a bench in one of the parks within the city. It was surrounded by a fence with trees in a few sections of the field.

"What kind of balance?" Eren asked, blowing on his steaming cider.

"Well, for instance, the people."

"Yeah, the King protects them and makes laws for them," Eren said.

"Yes, Eren, but let me explain. The people do abide by the royal family's decree, and they do fight for us when the time arises, but just think Eren. What would we be without the people?"

It took Eren a second to think of an answer, one he thought would be easy, but stopped short.

"We would just be…"

"A son and mother living in a giant castle alone," she stated. Eren seemed to grasp on then.

"You see, Eren, the people's money that they earn every day in that city, a job they do that we don't even see. They earn their living, but we take a percentage of that living."

"We take their money?" Eren asked.

"Yes, but that money is used to benefit them in every way we can. That's why people don't starve, that's why people don't fight each other, and that's why our kingdom lives in peace."

"Then why did Dad die?"

Carla paused and stared blankly at her son for a while. She took a sip of her own drink and sighed. "You've met your brother, Eren."

Eren blinked. "Zeke, yeah, but he just lame and lives in the woods by the river."

Carla sighed again. "Well, I just need you to be careful with him. As for your father, he died because the power he held got too great for him." She then narrowed her eyes. "You know all this, Eren."

"Well, I just thought you'd teach me about this power Dad supposedly gave to me." Eren glared and sipped his drink but yelped in pain. "Ow!" He spluttered, the cider burning his mouth and throat.

"Eren!"

"I'm fine, just…" He wiped his mouth with his sleeve, earning a look from his mother. "I wanted to know more about him." The queen looked at him sadly.

Before another word was said, a voice interrupted.

"Queen Carla!"

The two turned to their right, seeing a soldier hurrying up to them.

"Good morning, Hannes," Carla greeted.

"Good morning, your highness. Just checking in with a morning report." He saluted and held his head high.

"Alright, fire away."

"Well, last night we had centuries patrolling the river boundary and so far, no warriors have been spotted. Also, there has been quite an increase in the drunks lately. I don't know if that's paranoia or the opposite. Even so, I took it upon myself to…"

As Hannes rambled confidently to the Queen, she turned to her son.

"You wanna learn how to harness your titan powers?" she whispered. Eren turned to her, eagerly.

"You can teach me?" he asked. Carla nodded and her hand slipped into her pocket. She tried to move discreetly and pulled out a small blade. She handed it to him, while still acting like she was paying attention to Hannes.

Eren took the blade, confused. "What the hell is this for?" he asked. "You want me to kill something?"

Carla gave her son a horrified look. "Heavens no!" she whispered sharply.

"I told them, I did, alas they didn't listen, and I had to resort to violence, which I'm sure you understand my queen…"

"Take the tip and prick your finger and think HARD about what it is you want to do," Carla instructed.

Eren glanced down at the knife, skeptic. "But won't it hurt?"

Carla smiled. "Believe me, you won't care about that once you do it," she promised.

Eren didn't know what that meant, but he really wanted to figure out the powers his father died to preserve. Why, out of everyone, had he given it to Eren? He knew about his older brother, albeit not that much, and he thought that Zeke would make a decent king. He was a lot older and more experienced…

"Are you ready, Eren?"

Eren's grip on the knife blade tightened. "Yeah."

"In the end, the poor bastard ended up in the drunk tank. Wife was furious, as you can imagine. I tried to calm her, but she insisted on keeping him in the tank for a day more. Crazy woman, her. So, my Queen, how is the royalty lesson coming along, then?" Hannes finally paused to take in the mother and son duo but stopped short. "Your Majesty?" The blonde man whirled in a circle, attempting to locate them. "Prince Eren? Carla! Where did ya go?" Hannes felt a little rise of panic. Surely, he would've noticed if something foul had gone down. He wasn't too caught up in his report that he didn't even notice the Queen and her son disappear, right? "Oh God."

Suddenly, before he could react, a blast of lightning struck a few feet away, and a large figure came flying toward him, knocking him down and the breath from his lungs. "Holy sh-."

"Hannes!" The queen's voice echoed from nearby. "Nice work, Eren. Not a moment of hesitation."

"This is Eren!?" Hannes yelped, trying to look past the giant set of teeth lingering in his face. "I thought it was one of the warriors, your Majesty, I would've carved him up given the chance."

Carla chuckled as she made herself seen from behind the giant that had Hannes cowering. "You could try, Hannes, but Jaeger's are a special breed. Even if I let you, Eren wouldn't." Carla placed a hand on the titan, and he moved off the man, and Hannes finally got to see the monster that almost flattened him.

Considering his age, Eren's titan was only about 5 meters tall, with bulging eyes and large set of lipless teeth. His eyes, a feature most admired, was entirely prominent in his titan form. They glowed with such animosity, it's hard to believe a 10-year-old boy resided within.

"Alright, Eren, come on out before you drain yourself. I would say lesson one is a success."

A large hissing sound came, and a burst of heat exploded from the back of the titan's head. The little boy controlling the beast popped his head from behind a shoulder. He had red markings adorning his eyes; the obvious point where the titan makes fusion with the human body nervous system.

"That was so cool!" Eren cheered. He took some time detaching himself from the titan corpse. "I turned into a titan, Hannes, did you see me?"

Hannes remained on the ground, catching his breath and calming his racing heart. "Oh yeah," he said. "I saw ya, kid. I just didn't see ya coming."

Eren cackled to himself and made his way back over to his mother. "How'd I do, Mom?"

"Excellent, my son. You will be one of the most powerful Attack Titan's, I know it."

Eren beamed. "Yes!" He wrapped his arms around his mother's waist. "I can't wait to tell Zeke! I'm going to see him now!"

Carla's eyes widened, and Hannes almost had the wind knocked out of him again.

"Eren-."

"Hey, wait-."

Before he could even comprehend that they were trying to tell him something, Eren took off, back into the city, and through it; all the way to the woods, where a river separating Marley and Paradis resided.

Carla watched him run away, sighing defeated. "Why won't he listen to me?"

"I mean, Zeke hasn't done anything too concerning since the ritual. He seems to have genuine care for his little brother," Hannes explained.

"Yes, but Zeke can be selfish and manipulative. Eren hasn't seen that side of him, yet."

Meanwhile, the man in question was stoking a fire in order to make his favourite drink, black tea. You would assume someone of his status and bloodline, he would opt for a known tranquility of a luxurious life; a life in the woods was preferable for someone with a Beast in their soul.

"Hey, Zeke!"

The man couldn't help a grin from making his way onto his face. He certainly has timing.

"Hey Zeke! Guess what!?"

The little boy came into view as Zeke looked up.

"Oh, Eren, you know I despise guessing games," Zeke said, opening his arms in a welcome.

Eren strutted over, proud to boast about his newest accomplishment. "I just turned into a titan! And I'm going to be King of Eldia!"

Zeke felt a harsh stab in the heart, and reignition of his past anger and hatred of this fact. "Oh, goody," Zeke said. He went back to stoking the fire, but Eren was just getting started.

"My mother just showed me the whole kingdom, and I'm going to rule it all!" Eren laughed to himself. Drunk on the idea of having free reign of a country.

"Well forgive me for not leaping for joy, half a soul, you know." Zeke scowled at his wooden stick, watching the ends char and burn.

"Hey, brother. When I'm king, what will that make you?" Eren came to sit on the log beside his brother, who chose not to dignify him with eye contact.

"A simpleton."

Eren laughed. "You're so weird."

Zeke did look at him this time. "You have no idea. So, your mother showed you the whole kingdom, did she?"

"Everything." Eren crossed his arms to emphasize this.

"Well, you didn't see the town that's beyond the woods and across the river," Zeke said. Eren turned red.

"Well, no! But it's not my fault! Mother says I can't go there!"

"And she's absolutely right, it's far too dangerous, only the bravest warriors go in there," Zeke said, a maniacal plan forming as he spoke.

"I'm brave! What's out there!?" Eren balled up his fists.

"I'm sorry, Eren, but I just can't tell you," Zeke said, crossing his arms, and turning away.

"Why not!? You brought it up!" Eren started to grit his teeth, about to hit something.

"Eren, Eren, I'm only looking out for my favourite little brother," Zeke replied, patting him on the head.

"Yeah right, I'm your only little brother," Eren grumbled.

"All the more reason for me to be protective, a titan infested city is no place for the young prince, oops!" Zeke covered his mouth, attempting to feign guilt.

"A titan what?!" Eren lit up with the revelation and he looked toward the direction of the river. "Whoa."

"Dear, I've said to much." Zeke sighed deeply and put an arm around Eren's shoulders, who now was barely paying attention. "Well, I'm sure you would've found out sooner or later, you being so clever and all." Zeke shook Eren a bit, making the latter look at him. "Just promise me one thing. Promise me you'll never visit that DREADFUL place."

Eren hesitated, then grinned. "No problem."

Zeke felt a mischievous spark in his gut. "There's a good lad. Now, run along and have fun." Eren got up and started to race back into the woods. "And Eren!" Zeke called. The boy turned. "It's our little secret."

Eren smiled and sprinted back into the woods. He just realized what he was going to do today.

The young prince made his way through the castle. He knew precisely where to look and couldn't help his excited shout when he entered the chambers. "Mikasa!" Eren called out.

Within the room, dozens of women and young maidens littered about. They were washing and cleaning linens, and the Queen was seated at a grand couch set with her court.

Within that group of imperative members of the court, was a little girl. She had long black hair, grey eyes and wore a pretty white dress. She sat on a cushion in front of a beautiful Oriental woman, her mother, and her hair was being brushed and styled.

"Mikasa!" Eren came over, the women halting their conversation. The little girl looked up, a delighted smile taking over her pure face.

"Hey Eren."

"Come on, you almost finished? I just found out about this really cool place!"

"Eren, I'm kind of in the middle of something here." Mikasa started to ran her hand through a strand of her hair. "I wanted to try something new."

"Can't you do your girly stuff later?" A bunch of the women started to giggle, causing Eren to redden in embarrassment. "What?"

"Well, where is this 'really cool' place?" his mother suddenly butted in.

Eren winced a little and turned to his mother, who was giving him a sly grin.

"It's just a cove I found by the lake." Mikasa made a sound.

"The lake? What's so special about the lake? We've been there so many times," Mikasa complained. She gave Eren a disapproving look. He glared.

"I'll show you when we get there," he growled out through gritted teeth. Mikasa caught on to his implied message and stood up.

"Oh, well, Mom can I go with Eren?" she asked. Mikasa's mother raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know, what do you think, your Majesty?" she asked, looking at Carla.

"Well…" she looked up, finger on her chin, feigning a deep thought.

"Please?" Mikasa and Eren asked, simultaneously.

"It's alright with me," Carla said.

"Yes!" Eren pounded a fist into the air. Mikasa cheered as well.

"As long as Hannes goes with you," Carla added.

"Oh no, not Hannes," both groaned disappointingly.

On the way to the lake, Mikasa and Eren lingered behind as Hannes led them through the kingdom's core.

"Come quickly," Hannes said. "The sooner we get to the lake, the sooner we can leave."

As they walked Mikasa turned to Eren.

"So where are we really going?" she whispered as quietly as she could.

Eren didn't turn to her, he just kept his eyes on Hannes's back. "A titan city," he whispered back.

"Wow!" Mikasa gasped out.

"Shhhh! Hannes will hear you!" Eren scolded.

The little girl snapped her mouth shut. "Right, sorry. But we can't take Hannes there, he'd-," Mikasa started to speak.

"I know! We have to get rid of him."

They walked for a couple of beats before Mikasa snapped her fingers. "I know."

She started to whisper the plan she came up with to Eren, unaware that Hannes had stopped walking. He turned to make sure they were keeping up and smiled when he saw their heads together in a quiet conversation.

"Oh, just look at you two turtle doves, blossoming in the fields," Hannes commented. Both children halted their chatter and looked up at him in confusion. "Your mother's will be thrilled. With you two being betrothed and all," he said. Eren and Mikasa exchanged befuddled glances.

"Be-what?" Eren asked.

"Betrothed," Hannes repeated. "Intended, affianced."

"Meaning?" Mikasa questioned.

Hannes shook his head, chuckling. "One day you two are going to be married!" he translated.

Both of their reactions were negative.

"Ew!" Mikasa winced.

"Yuck, I can't marry her, she's my friend," Eren defended.

Mikasa nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it'd be too weird."

Hannes scoffed. "Well, I'm afraid you two turtle doves have no choice, it's a tradition going back generations."

"Well, when I'm King that'll be the first thing to go," Eren glanced at Mikasa saying this, and winked. She grinned.

"Not so long as I'm around," Hannes replied.

"Well, in that case, you're fired," Eren crossed his arms. Hannes glared sharply.

"Nice try, kid. Only Queen Carla can do that," the man said. "And how about you-,"

"He's the future King," Mikasa retorted.

"Yeah, so you gotta do what I tell you, and I want to race you in titan form, you on your ODM," Eren challenged.

"Oh, I don't think so. If your mother found out, you were using your titan for child play it won't just be you getting into trouble. And I must say with an attitude like that, I'd say your shaping up to be a pretty pathetic King, indeed," Hannes snapped out.

"Ha! Not the way I see it." At that second, Eren took out the blade he pocketed after his lesson with his mother. Hannes only had time to widen his eyes and open his mouth before he was blasted back from a wave of steam. The people around him started to panic, calling out and coughing from all the dust and steam.

"Eren! What the hell!" Hannes shouted out into the fog. "Where are ya! Kids!?"

The children in question, unbeknown to Hannes, had fled the scene almost immediately. Mikasa, never having seen a titan transformation-or a titan, in general-, had frozen up in fear the minute she saw Eren take out the blade.

By the time Eren realized, maybe he should've waited until they were out in the meadows, lightning had already struck.

Miraculously, Eren had time to change his intent from blasting Hannes away, to making sure Mikasa didn't get hurt during the process. He allowed the steam blast to expand to a larger area and create a fog, instead of his intended funnel of steam, aimed in one direction.

Once his titan had appeared, he scooped Mikasa up and bounded down the wide street, through the royal gates and out into the meadows.

The whole time they ran, Mikasa had curled up in a ball, grasped in Eren's titan fist. Part of her was terrified Eren might accidently crush her to death, but another part of her was thrilled at the prospect of riding a titan. Mikasa knew about Eren's abilities, but to think that this was the power he raved so excitedly about.

She felt Eren halt slowly, and he finally started to put her down. Once he did, she took in her surroundings. They were atop a small hill, a few meters away from the river within the giant forest.

Mikasa shuddered. "I've heard about this city, I thought it was only a myth," she stated. She heard a large steaming hiss and turned. Eren emerged from his titan form, from the nape, and hopped down. He walked up to her, and she couldn't help but stare at the red markings on his face. When the boy noticed, he subconsciously covered his temple and cheekbones.

"I know they look weird, but I can't help it. It'll wear off in a few minutes. On another note," Eren started to take in the surroundings as well, "we lost Hannes, and we can check out this titan city, if there's even any in there. I can't believe that planned worked, I'm a genius." Eren pumped a fist into the air.

The girl crossed her arms. "Hey, genius, it was my idea," she retaliated.

"Well, I pulled it off, you couldn't have done it without my titan anyway," Eren argued.

"But you wouldn't have even thought of it, even I hadn't."

"Oh yeah," Eren gritted his teeth and put his fists up. Mikasa scoffed.

"Come on, Eren, you know I'm stronger than you. Why do you keep doing this, don't you get sick of-,"

"Shut up!" Eren then tried tackling Mikasa to the ground, but the latter saw him coming and swept his legs from beneath and he fell with a thump. Mikasa straddled him and held down his shoulders.

"Pinned ya," she grinned. Eren flushed red.

"Whatever, let me up," he said, pushing her off him. She stumbled a little gaining her footing, and Eren took the opportunity to attempt another tackle. Unfortunately, they both didn't realize how close they were to the edge of the hill, and when Mikasa hit the ground, they tumbled down the hill in a large, spinning heap.

When they reached the bottom, Mikasa managed to shift her weight and grab onto her friend. Once they stopped tumbling, Mikasa pinned Eren back down and straddled him.

"Pinned ya, again."

Eren glared up at her. "Fine, you win."

She nodded and shifted off him.

They got themselves situated and started to move on.

They watched the flowing river, the barrier separating Eren's kingdom, to a wild one. Eren looked at his companion, hoping to see the same excitement he was feeling on her face, but instead she looked slightly anxious. He felt a need to comfort her, as this was his idea.

"Hey, don't worry, Zeke used to live here, he told me, and besides, no one has seen any warriors in a while. We made it this far," he gestured. Mikasa pulled her bottom lip between her teeth but nodded.

"Okay, let's go," she said. Eren smiled.

"Come on."

They waded across the calm river and climbed over the bank on the other side.

A few more minutes of walking brought them to the edge of a crumbling stone city. They walked slowly on guard, even if the place seemed completely abandoned.

As they explored, Mikasa drifted closer to Eren, arms crossed in a defensive gesture. "So, how many titans are there besides you and your brother again?" she asked.

Even the boy couldn't help a feeling of uneasiness as they pushed deeper and deeper into unknown territory.

"Six, I think, but not much is known about them. My mom told me everything she could," Eren explained.

They halted once they reached a giant courtyard, one where festivals, markets, and parties once took place.

"Well, what did she tell you?"

"That each one was unique in their own way, and that the people with those powers are unknown. Zeke apparently didn't personally choose his warriors; he chose at random. The people he turned meant nothing to him," Eren said. Mikasa gulped.

"That's sick…"

As they wandered the courtyard, taking in the destruction, they heard a low rumble coming from one of the nearby houses.

This had both kids freezing.

"Eren, did you hear that?" the girl asked.

Eren put on his brave face and stuck his hand into his pocket. Worse comes to worst, he will transform, grab Mikasa, and hightail out of there.

Another rumble sounded, making Eren step in front of Mikasa, unconsciously protective.

"Stay back, Mikasa."

Eren gritted his teeth, his heart pounding and eyes flared; each nerve was alight. He started to walk towards the villa that the sound originated from.

"Eren, don't, it's dangerous," Mikasa said.

"I thrive in the face of danger, I just need to turn into a titan and-,"

Suddenly, a monstrous bellow sounded, and loose stones from the already decaying city, fell, bouncing from the vibrations.

"Eren! Mikasa!" Both children turned, hastily, and sighed in relief.

"Hannes!"

The blonde man came sprinting in, disheveled and red from exhaustion.

"Hannes, I'm sorry, I just-," Eren started to make excuses, but Hannes grabbed his shoulders, a crazed look in his eye.

"Eren, it doesn't matter right now, we have to get out of here, now!"

"But-,"

"Now Eren! You have no idea what you've just done, kid. You just exposed yourself to them, we are in their kingdom now-,"

"Oh, Hannes, you never were very bright, alas, we're pleased you at least know where you stand with us."

The man went rigid, and he roughly shoved the two children behind them.

"I must say, if the tables were turned you would be in cages right now, hey, Annie?"

A dark, feminine laughter trembled the air, and a shadow, a giant shadow, about 7 meters tall, loomed from the doorway.

Eren heard Mikasa suck in a sharp breath as the titan started to make her way over.

"Well, well, well, Hannes, I never thought you'd be trusted with any children, but I'm guessing these aren't ordinary children, don't you think, Reiner?"

A large bang sounded, and the three trespassers whipped around to see a large, armoured titan clop his way over.

"Gee, I don't know, Annie. What kind of children would willingly step into our territory?" the Armoured Titan asked. "What do you say, Galliard?"

From a neighboring villa, a titan on all fours, with a jaw bigger than it's own head, came out, growling.

They were surrounded.

"Let me think, I'd recognize that fire in your eyes anywhere, you must be a Jaeger, which means your-,"

"Future King!" Eren snapped, attempting a brave face.

"Do you know what we do to King's who step out of their kingdom, especially a Jaeger?" Annie questioned, starting to close in.

"You can't do anything to me," Eren retaliated.

"Yes, they can, Eren. I just said that in their territory we are considered-,"

"The enemy," Reiner growled.

"And you should already know, young prince, what happens to our enemies," Annie looked about ready to pounce, but Eren's reflexes moved involuntarily. He whipped out his blade again, and sliced his hand, deeper than intended, but it did the job, nonetheless.

The sudden transformation caused enough confusion among the warriors, that Eren managed to scoop Mikasa up with Hannes and run as far as he could.

Unfortunately, with Eren having transformed twice already that day, he was very weak. He made it a few feet from the forest entrance before he was forced back into his human form. When he collapsed, Mikasa hurried over.

"I think we lost them, but I don't know where Hannes is," she said, slightly panicked. Eren almost sat up, but black dots scattered his vision and he slumped into Mikasa's lap.

"Damnit! I thought I had him!" he cursed.

"Maybe he went to get your mom-,"

"God, I hope not, she's gonna kill me."

"She won't get the chance, kid."

Both children went cold, as a rustle from the forest behind them echoed.

Another titan emerged, another on all fours, a long flat snout of a mouth protruded from its face. It almost looked like it was smiling.

"You made a big mistake coming here," it said. Its voice was so distorted and animalistic, and its appearance gave the other titans enough time to catch up. Annie came from down the same direction they did, Galliard was on one of the roofs to their left, and Reiner had shifted position to their right side. They were surrounded.

"Poor little prince," Annie growled.

Eren shakily sat up, Mikasa was trying to stop terrified tears from flowing, and the boy faced his enemies.

"I'm not scared of you. I'm a titan, too!" he bit out.

"Yes, you are, aren't you," the Cart titan chuckled.

"Why don't you show us your little titan form?" Reiner suggested, slyly. Eren gritted his teeth and stumbled to get up.

He managed it and hefted the knife tightly in his grip. He nicked his hand, drawing blood; nothing happened. Eren stared down at his bleeding hand, horrified. He tried again, slicing the skin between his thumb and index finger, his wounds steamed, but lightning didn't strike.

"No, not now!" Eren growled.

The titans started to laugh, tightening their circle around the two children.

"That was it? One transformation, and you're finished?" Annie berated.

"I would say, it was good effort, but it was for not," the Cart stepped forward completely, about to snap up Mikasa, when suddenly a bellowing shout called throughout the area.

"Get down!"

Eren and Mikasa reacted instantly. Eren grabbed Mikasa head and shoved it to the ground, and threw himself on top of her, in order to shield her head.

A giant explosion lit up the atmosphere, electricity sparking, making hairs stand on end.

The battle was so blinding, Eren had no idea what was happening, and he and Mikasa were in the middle of it all. He could hear the titans screaming and shouting; flesh being ripped and blown apart landed beside them, left and right.

"Eren, what's happening?!" Mikasa shouted over the numerous explosions.

It took Eren a second to respond, as his face was not protected by another body, so steam, dust and debris was fighting to enter his mouth.

"I think those are Thunder Spears!" he answered. "My father created them, apparently. Nothing makes an explosion like that except for the Thunder Spears!"

For what seemed like hours, the battle raged, but eventually the last spear was thrown, and silence enveloped their surroundings.

The dust remained lingering, and Eren carefully got up and off Mikasa.

The girl coughed a little, and Eren looked her over. "Are you alright, Mikasa?" he asked.

The girl shook out her hair, stones and dust falling, and nodded. "Yes, I think so."

"I'm sorry, Mikasa, this is-,"

"Eren Jaeger!"

Eren paused. "Uh, oh."

Out of the fog, the Queen, glowing with fury marched over to her son. "Eren Jaeger, how dare you deliberately disobey me!" she snapped. Eren stood up, walking to her.

"I'm sorry, Mom, but I-,"

"I don't want to hear a word about it. We are going home right now! And you are going to get taught a lesson!" she didn't raise her voice, but her disappointment was clear. She didn't even dust her son off, before turning and marching back to the soldiers; the soldiers she had just ordered to open fire on four titans.

"Good job, men. You fought well. It will take a couple days for their human bodies to heal, so they won't be bugging us anytime soon," the Queen explained. She was assisted onto her steed, and she got situated.

"Hannes, Mikasa will ride with you. Eren, you will walk beside me, and not move, do you understand?"

Eren wanted to retort, saying how it was exhausting even getting here in titan form, but his mother's cold look had him staying silent.

He moved to stand beside her horse, and once everyone was ready, the Queen moved her horse into a walk, Eren followed closely beside.

Hannes, taking some small amount of pity on the boy, had moved to ride beside him.

The little boy looked up, appreciatively. "Thank you," he mouthed. Hannes nodded, looked forward.

"I thought you were very brave," Mikasa whispered.

Despite the trouble he knew he was going to get into, knowing that Mikasa was impressed with his bravery was enough for him to think that maybe this risk was a little bit worth it.

The walk back to the kingdom was long and dragged on Eren's feeling of dread and guilt. He felt so stupid for thinking they could get away with visiting Marley, along with Mikasa, who almost got eaten by a titan. He was never going to be allowed to leave the palace again.

They entered the courtyard, where Eren's ritual took place, and the Queen started to dismount her horse. Once she did, she turned to her soldiers.

"Take the horses to their stables, and restock our weapons, Hannes," said man jumped, and stepped forward.

"Yes, your highness?"

"Take Mikasa inside, I need to teach my son a lesson," Carla commanded. For the first time since they started the trek home, Carla looked at her cowering son.

"Yes, your Majesty." Hannes bent into a bow and helped Mikasa down from the horse. "Come, Mikasa." He took her hand and started to lead her towards the grand doors. "Eren, good luck," he muttered, placing a hand on the little boy's head as he walked past.

The boy watched them both walk away, locking in eye contact with Mikasa for a while, her face twisted with concern, Eren's with guilt.

"Eren."

That simple word had Eren dismissing any further thoughts. He saw that his mother was a few feet away now, watching as the gates closed slowly. He started to move toward her.

He tried to think of a justifiable excuse, but everything came to the same end. It was his fault.

He stood beside his mother, not daring to start speaking.

He eventually heard her sigh. "Eren, I'm very disappointed in you."

"I know," Eren replied.

"You could've been killed! You deliberately disobeyed me; and what's worse, you put Mikasa in danger!" she said, eyes wild with worry at the very idea.

Eren felt tears sting in his eyes. "I just wanted to be brave, like Dad."

"Eren, your father was only brave because he had to be." The Queen finally turned and knelt to his level. "Eren, being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble."

"But Dad wasn't scared of anything," Eren retorted. "He died to protect his kingdom and-,"

"He would've been scared today," she interrupted. Eren halted.

"Really?"

"Yes, he would've been scared to lose you

"Although, your father had the ability to turn into a titan, also, he was an outstanding King, and he was true warrior."

Eren felt elated at the thought and couldn't be prouder to be his son. "So, are you still mad at me?" he asked, suddenly.

"I'm not mad, Eren, I was just very upset that you didn't listen to me, you have a habit of that. If something happened to you, I don't know what I would've done. Those warriors cannot be trusted," she explained.

"What about Zeke?"

Carla hesitated. "Your brother has made some mistakes, Eren. Almost unforgiveable, if I had the power to stop you from connecting with him, I would."

Eren frowned and looked down. "You'll always be here for me, right?"

"Oh, Eren." Carla wrapped her arms around her son, squeezing him lightly. She leaned back. "Look up, Eren." He did but saw nothing of interest.

"What?" he questioned. "I don't see anything."

Carla chuckled. "No, it's not something you see, it's something you feel. If you listen and feel for long enough, you can hear the voices of your father's memories, and every other King and Attack Titan that flows through your veins. The people who die don't disappear forever, they live inside of us, in our hearts, our memories. There will come a time, Eren, when I am no longer of this world, but just remember, I will never, ever truly leave you." She kissed her son on the forehead, and Eren leaned into her touch.

Meanwhile, back in Marley, the victims of the Queens assault moaned and hissed as their wounds steamed and mended. Galliard lost an arm, Reiner got punctured in the stomach, and Annie broke a leg. The Cart Titan, Pieck, managed to minimize her casualties by leaping into the trees.

"Lousy Thunder Spears, I'm not going to be able to eat anything for a week," Reiner complained.

"At least you can feed yourself!" Galliard snapped holding up his stump of an arm and his three lost fingers on the other.

"Would you two knock it off, no wonder we're dangling off the edge of starvation," Annie growled.

"I hate dangling…" Galliard muttered.

"You know, if it weren't for the Jaeger's we'd be running this place."

"I hate that bloodline," Reiner spat.

"So angry," Annie said.

"So hairy," Galliard supplied.

"And their titan's are-," Pieck started to get into the playful mood.

"UGLY!" they all cackled madly at their mockery.

As they did this, a dark voice cut through the chaos like a steel blade.

"Oh, surely we Jaeger's aren't all that bad?"

The four shifters froze and looked into the doorway of their stone villa.

"Oh, Zeke, it's just you," Galliard said.

"Yeah, we thought it was somebody important," Annie added.

"Like Queen Carla."

Zeke gritted his teeth. "I see."

"Did you see her throwing those spears, I never thought I'd see that," Pieck said.

"I was even a little scared for a second," Galliard laughed. "So, Zeke, did you bring anything from the market, huh, did ya?"

Zeke tsked, and from beside him, out of view previously, he pulled in a wagon, filled with meats, pastries, sweets, and bread. The warriors started to leap forward, but Zeke leapt in front of it, his Beast form materializing. His voice grew deep, distorted and his eyes glowed with annoyance. The four warriors leapt back in shock.

"I don't really believe you deserve this," he grumbled. "I practically gift-wrapped those two brats for you; and you couldn't even dispose of them." He moved away from the wagon and gestured to it. All four warriors raced forward, grabbing with intent and greed at all the different foods.

"Well, you know, it wasn't like they were alone, Zeke." Pieck strolled toward the Beast, picking off a T-Bone.

"Yeah, what are we supposed to do, kill Queen Carla?" Galliard spat through his mouthful, which had Annie smacking him upside the head. He gnashed at her.

Zeke grinned manically. "Precisely."

This caused them to stop eating and turn to him.

"You're not being serious, right?" Reiner questioned, hesitant as Zeke still hadn't transformed back.

"I know that your powers are still growing, and your instincts aren't even close to mine. But young as you are, pay attention to my words and facts that I say."

Each warrior took their fill from the wagon and scattered to devour into their meals.

"It's clear from today that you have potential to become titans capable of taking over this kingdom. But we're talking royalty and assassination, even you could get caught unaware." The Beast started to pace. "So, I want you to prepare for this chance to change your lives and prepare for sensational news. A shining new era is tiptoeing nearer," Zeke continued.

"What exactly are we supposed to do then?"

"Just listen. I know it sounds impossible, but I'll teach you the way, and then you'll become my personal muses, and justice will be screaming in the air. So, be prepared."

"Yeah, yeah, be prepared, we'll be prepared," Galliard swung a bone behind him before moving onto another piece of meat, "for what, exactly?"

"For the death of the Queen," Zeke growled.

"Is she sick?" Reiner wondered.

"No, fools, we're going to kill her. Eren, too."

"Great idea!" Galliard said, turning to his fellow titans. "Who needs a ruler, anyway?"

"I can get behind that," Annie agreed.

Pieck and Reiner agreed.

"Idiots! There will be a King!"

"Hey, wait, but you said that-,"

"I will be King; stick with me and you can go through the kingdom in titan form if you wish!"

"That sounds awesome! But there's only 7 of us, and like a thousand soldiers all armed with anti-titan gear, how are we supposed to get even close enough?"

Zeke thought for a moment. "You can leave that to me. Of course, you're all expected to take certain…duties on board. Our future is littered with prizes and although they're my own living family, my goal that I must emphasize is that the world will forever bow to me." He finally transformed back into a human. "So, prepare for the coo of the century, be prepared for the murkiest scam. With my meticulous planning, and my army expanding, their screams of denial will echo while I let you all wild. I'll be a God of a ruler, a King that's saluted and I'll prove that my father was wrong. My teeth and ambitions are bared, so be prepared!"

"Well then, you got 6 more sets of jaws on your side," Pieck said. "What's the plan?"

The next day was a quiet sunny day, and the young prince decided to take a walk through the meadows. He had another long talk with his mother the other day, and the aftermath affects still haunted him.

They had discussed Eren's role of future King and in order to still have some personal freedom, Eren had promised that five days a week he would dedicate his time to lessons with his mother and learning the ropes of becoming a good ruler. As much as the idea had Eren almost groaning with displeasure whenever his eyes opened in the morning, he could appreciate days like this, where he didn't have to worry about anything and he could just walk through the fields, alone.

Eren hadn't seen Mikasa since the incident, and he felt a little terrible. He was avoiding her a little because he felt embarrassed about what went down, and he didn't want to get back into it with her.

Eren wandered for a good while, until he realized that he had ended up near the forest where his brother lived. Taking a gander around, he noticed that there was a familiar figure sitting atop one of the rocks adorning the field.

"Zeke?" Eren called.

The figure turned, and indeed, his brother's speckled face smiled back at him.

"Hello, brother."

Eren started to run over, and Zeke leapt down.

"How are you?"

"I'm alright, just wanted to be alone for a bit," Eren replied.

"Oh, yes, fighting against another titan for the first time can be quite draining and scary," Zeke agreed. Eren winced.

"You know about that?" he asked.

"Oh, Eren, everybody knows about that."

"Really?" the younger boy said.

Zeke nodded. "Oh, yes, but it was a good thing your mother was there to save you, huh? Without her command over the soldiers, you might've been seriously hurt."

"Yeah…" Eren crumpled in guilt.

"Well, I suppose if you had a better handle on that Attack Titan of yours then maybe you could stand a chance, but you can barely transform twice at a time," Zeke shrugged.

"How do I get stronger?" Eren asked, desperately. "I want to be able to fight for myself and protect my mom and the kingdom!"

"Well, the only way to get stronger is to practice and practice. The more you transform, the stronger you get," Zeke explained, his mischievous grin mistaken for a heartwarming one by the little boy.

"So, just keep transforming and I will get stronger?" he asked. Zeke nodded.

"Oh, and just between us, a titan's roar is a very powerful weapon, it's almost a call of some sort, a war cry. Maybe practice that, too." Zeke started to walk back into the forest.

"Oh, okay," Eren said. He watched his older brother move back into the woods, but suddenly called again, "Hey, Zeke! You think I could be stronger than you one day?"

Zeke halted in his tracks. "Oh, Eren, that will cost you your lifetime." And with that he melted into the trees.

For a while, Eren waited there. He had his hand in his pocket, and around the blade his mother gave him. He's developed a habit of keeping it close to him for protection.

He pulled it out and traced a finger down the steel blade.

"Just got to keep practicing."

Eren took in a deep breath, put the blade to his skin. With a quick slice, blood pooled and lightning struck.

His Attack Titan materialized and Eren's breath left his lungs, overwhelmed with pressure and power. Every nerve in his body sparked with ignition, as if he was being recharged. But almost as soon as the adrenaline hit, it dissipated, and Eren was left feeling strained and exhausted.

He withstood the pressure and weight for as long as he could, but eventually he burst out of his titan form, gulping in the fresh air, feeling reborn.

He ripped his body away from the steaming carcass, and fumbled off the body, slowly decaying.

As he watched, he stomped his foot in frustration. "Damnit! Not even 2 minutes? Are you kidding me?"

In frustration, Eren sliced his hand aggressively, blazing determination racing through his system. This time, when his full body materialized, he let out a deafening screech that scared birds from trees and seemed to make the Earth tremble. He let out all his anger in this scream, and everything seemed frozen in time once he ran out of breath.

In his form, now slowly seeping away his strength by the second, he took himself in.

He was still the same size, but in all the other times he was titan, he had other people around, taking his attention away from it; but now he could appreciate just how amazing this feeling was.

'If only I could stay in for longer than a minute,' Eren thought to himself. 'I won't push myself too hard today, I already feel like I just ran around the kingdom three times.'

Suddenly, the world around him seemed to shake. Eren, at first, thought maybe his titan form was making that sound and that feeling, but he wasn't the origin.

Glancing hastily in a circle, Eren had time to see 6 giants bounding toward him.

Eren couldn't believe what he was seeing, they were coming from inside his kingdom, about to chase him into the forest Zeke disappeared into.

"Jaeger!" the titan with the massive Jaw screamed at him, faster than his brethren and closing in fast. Eren started to panic.

'I can't fight them alone!' Eren thought. 'I already transformed once, I'm not strong enough. Oh God.' Eren looked around. There were a couple things he could do. Turn and run to hide somewhere, exhaust himself and risk being found; run toward his kingdom and try and get a message to his mother about the warriors being in their territory, or…he could go looking for back-up.

The warriors were 10 feet away at this point, and Eren finally broke out into a run. He burst into the forest, hoping the wild terrain will aid in his escape.

'If I can find Zeke, maybe I can get out of this.'

So, putting all his trust in that idea, Eren desperately searched for his brother.

Despite how much he wanted to, he couldn't turn around and see how far away the warriors were. If he did, he might stumble, and he knows some of them can climb trees.

Breaking through into a clearing, Eren finally caught up to his brother, who turned startled at the sudden intrusion.

"Eren, what-,"

Before he could finish his sentence, the other six titans broke through the treeline, and halted at the edge of the clearing. Puffing out steam, and growling lowly, the warriors started to circle the two brothers.

"Son of a bitch, Eren, what have you done!?" Zeke demanded. "You called them to you!? You know you're not supposed to transform without the Queen present!"

Within his titan form, Eren felt tears prick his eyes. "What do you mean, brother?" he asked, unaware that his titan's mouth had no lips, so absolute gibberish was being voiced. "I didn't think the scream was that kind of call!"

"I hope you don't expect me to transform, brother. You know, I can barely do it right now!"

"The Jaeger brothers have finally met their match; we're taking this kingdom!" Pieck snapped out, her titan's voice scratching on Eren's senses. The warriors started to close in.

"Eren, you must keep them busy; I might be able to get to your mother. You must keep them off me though, alright, keep them in the clearing!" Eren's titan nodded, and he faced the others. Zeke took the moment to slip away, back into the trees. Once he was out of eyeshot, and he heard the battle between his brother and his warriors start, he transformed himself and bounded through the forest.

Fortunately, the Queen was already out and about, in search of her son. She knew he'd been down about the incident and hoped that some time with just the two of them would prove to serve them well.

As she was making her way through the city, Hannes had elected to join her in her search for Eren. Hannes felt partially to blame, and of course, he was, because he was the one in charge of the two kids, and he allowed terror to overrule him, luckily, he came over it and found Carla when he did, or else the situation might be a whole lot worse.

"God, usually he doesn't leave you alone." Hannes chuckled half-heartedly as Carla paused, at a loss of where to look. "You don't think he would've…" Hannes trailed off. The Queen gave a sigh.

"No, I don't think he went back to Marley, willingly, that is. I'm worried, Hannes. Eren gets so reckless while in his moods. The boy needs to be protected from himself." Carla started to move on again and Hannes followed obediently,

"You think he can do it?" Hannes asked. Carla kept walking. "Become King, I mean."

"I believe my son is perfect the way he is, for no other reason than that he was born into this world. He will be an amazing King, I know it."

Hannes grinned to himself. "Yeah, I don't doubt his strength and determination. He falls down, he gets right back up again; it's in his blood. So, if you think that Eren-,"

"Queen Carla!"

The voice had dread falling heavily in Carla's chest. "Oh, no."

"Queen Carla, please!"

She turned, along with Hannes, and together they saw Zeke Jaeger making his way toward them, looking panicked.

He stopped before them, out of breath and steaming.

"Queen Carla! My warriors, they're back!"

Hannes spluttered in shock, while Carla stared horrified.

"They've cornered Eren in the forest, he's in titan form, but I'm afraid he was practicing transforming and is very, very weak. He called them, accidently. Please, you need to help, he won't last much longer!"

"Where is he, damnit!" Hannes snapped.

"Come with me, come!" Zeke took off in the direction he came, not even looking back to see if they were following. Before they could question if this story was fabricated as a trap, in the distance, a tree toppled down, disappearing behind its brethren and landing with a loud crash.

The two didn't think twice before running after Zeke.

Back in the forest, Eren was attempting to hold his own against 6 titans intent on killing him. One by one the warriors would charge Eren and beat him down, before backing off and giving another one a turn.

Eren had heard about the warriors, damnit, his father died because of them, but he never imagined he would meet all 6 of them at once, and in such a state.

He was throwing fists and kicks as best he could, but the warriors were just more experienced in their titan forms.

It eventually got to the point where Eren couldn't even maintain his titan form anymore, and he emerged bleeding, broken and exhausted.

"You're defeated, Eren Jaeger," Lara, in the Warhammer Titan form, said. "There is no one here to save you, your bloodline is about to come to an end."

Eren fell out of his titan's carcass and landed with a thump. He tried to regain his footing, but almost lost consciousness. "Why are you doing this?" he muttered, as best he could.

"The power within our veins is almost unstoppable, we deserve to rule. A weak little boy like yourself would never become King. Zeke harnessed his titan way sooner. You're nothing, Eren," the Warhammer seethed.

Eren grit his teeth, eyes ablaze, and was about to tear into his flesh and transform again, even though he probably would've failed, but a voice stopped him.

"You dare speak to your future King that way, Lara!"

The titan's stepped back in shock as a figure, almost levitating from fury, emerged from the forest. Queen Carla in all her glory, stared down the warriors.

"Carla-." Before Lara could say a word, a Thunder Spear came hurdling from the shadows and struck her in the nape. The explosion caused the other warriors to scatter, and Hannes came flying out of the foliage. He started chucking as many Thunder Spears in a row as possible.

The Colossal Titan, the biggest at 9 meters tall, took off for Marley almost immediately; the Warhammer was out for the count, obviously. Reiner had attempted to flee, but a Thunder Spear had caught him in the leg and he was now dragging himself away very slowly, with Galliard attempting to assist.

During all the chaos, Carla had run over to her son to examine him.

"Eren, are you alright, what happened!?" she interrogated.

"I'm sorry, Mom," Eren sobbed. He was so tired, and in pain, and he just wanted to go home and drink apple cider with his mother in the parlor. "It's all my fault, I shouldn't have tried transforming without anyone there, I just wanted to get stronger so I could protect you, and-."

Eren was interrupted by his mother hugging him tightly.

"It's alright, Eren. We can talk about it when we get home." She stood up and started to help her son stand.

Unbeknownst to everyone within the clearing, Zeke had transformed and was watching within the treeline. He didn't quite know exactly how this was going to play out, but he had an idea of how to end it himself without anyone noticing.

As he watched Eren and his mother struggle to maneuver through the battlefield, he saw it before it even happened. By this point, only Annie, Pieck and Galliard remained fighting, and within a split second, Galliard had swatted Hannes out of the air, and he came barreling down, and knocked right into the escaping prince. Both tumbled a few feet away, unconscious and helpless; the Queen stood alone.

Zeke took that moment to reveal himself, and the sight had Carla reeling.

"Zeke, what is the meaning of this? Why are you in your titan form? You said you-."

"Yes, a lie you and my father so arrogantly believed." The Beasts voice made the world around her stand still, and Carla quickly glanced at her son, laying in a heap with Hannes. She noted, he had one Thunder Spear left, if she could get to it…

"By all means, go for the spear, Carla, but I'm afraid it won't save you. This is where you die."

Carla took the chance to run for the spear, the titans let her. She grabbed it, secured it, and aimed it at the Beast, starting inch away from Hannes and her son.

"Eren, wake up," she demanded, fruitlessly. "A King must get up when he's knocked down, Eren, so get. Up." Even biting out the last words, like she did, proved to do nothing, but aggravate the warriors. With her spear still aimed at Zeke, she halted in the middle of the clearing, a safe distance away from the others.

"You're not going to kill me with that. To land a decent shot, you'd have to catch me by surprise and be above and behind. It's useless, your Highness." Zeke held his arms out. "I can promise my dynasty will be set alight in the history books, I will not fail the Eldian people." He bowed to her. "Long live the Queen."

He turned swiftly and walked calmly back into the forest.

Carla was about to heft her spear when all at once, the remaining three warriors lunged.

Galliard came from above while Annie and Pieck came from either sides.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

"This is it," Carla said. She stared down at the Thunder Spear. She couldn't aim at one without being killed in the process. So, does that mean…

The Queen's eyes darkened, and she turned to look at her son, just behind Annie, he was stirring, she had to make this quick.

"Eren…my son…I believe you will become an outstanding King…" Her arms started to rise. "You will forever march in the vanguard, fighting for freedom. You will lead the Eldian people into an era of tranquility and solitude, such as your father wanted. I believe…" She pulled the plug on the spear, causing an electric build up of pressure. "You will do the right thing, when the time comes."

All at once, the titans were completely on top of Carla, Eren opened his eyes, and the Thunder Spear ignited, causing the three warriors to get blasted back, and Eren to seek cover behind Hannes's body; the explosion rocking Eren's universe.

The dust settled, and Eren moved to untangle himself from Hannes's body. He had no idea what happened. One second, he was running and the next he was waking up to the sound of an explosion. He tried to take in his surroundings, but a slight fog had moved in.

"Mom!" Eren called. He hesitantly moved throughout the clearing, wondering how badly hurt the warriors were. "Mom!" he called again.

Coming to the middle of the clearing, he saw blood had scattered on the ground, and a large scorch mark stained the grass. He stared at the spot, mind racing for a conclusion.

"Mom…?" he muttered out.

A scrap on the ground, had Eren turning quickly, hand at his mouth, but he paused.

"Eren…" Zeke looked horrified as he made his way over. This horror was not fabricated, he had not believed that Carla would willingly sacrifice herself, the act appalled him. "What have you done?" he asked.

At this point, tears were streaming down his face.

"I didn't…I'm sorry…I…I didn't mean for this to happen…" he said.

Zeke came over and knelt. "Of course, of course, you didn't, but nobody ever means for these things to happen," Zeke hugged him tightly, "but the Queen is dead."

Eren tensed.

"And if it weren't for you, she'd still be alive." Eren pulled back. "What will the kingdom think? What would Mikasa think?"

Eren didn't seem to realize the consequences until now, and now he started to panic.

"What-what do I do?"

"Run," Zeke replied. "Run away, Eren. And never return."

Eren didn't need to be told twice, he broke away from his brother and started barreling into the woods.

Zeke watched him run, smiling madly. When he heard a rustle within the forest and moaning, he didn't even need to turn around.

"My brave warriors…"

Annie, Porco, Reiner, and Pieck came to attention.

"Kill him."

Even in human form, the warriors were fast and deadly. They didn't hesitate to take off after the kid.

Eren had never sprinted so fast in his life, not even when he was being chased by the warriors. He had just caused his mother's demise; the anger and grief were enough to motivate him.

He only paused for a second when he broke into another clearing and was figuring out which way to go.

A crack of a stick had him turning around, only to see the warriors had chased him.

"God, leave me alone!" Eren roared, and he took off in a random direction, the warriors on his tail.

Fortunately, Eren could weave easily through the trees, dodging low branches, and logs, but with the warriors being human, they moved almost as easily.

"You're not going to get away, Jaeger!"

Eren couldn't tell who said it, all he knew was that it was a male voice.

"Damnit!" Eren cried out when he had to slide to a stop. Before him was a 40-degree cliff face, and Eren's odds of tumbling down unscathed were next to zero.

But the shouting from the warriors made him lose track of his conscience and take the plunge. He tumbled down the cliff, wincing and grunting in pain whenever he hit the ground particularly hard.

He reached the bottom and almost immediately got to his feet. He was going to get out of here, no matter what.

On the top of the cliff, the warriors had halted to a stop at the edge, watching as the small figure of the young prince faded back into the trees below.

"There he goes," Pieck commented.

"So, let's go after him," Galliard started forward.

"Idiot!" Annie snapped.

"Pock, we can't make it down the cliff face in the shape we're in, we'd need to be titans, and besides, he's a good as dead out there anyway," Pieck explained, her calm voice, making Galliard obey.

"Fine, but we better tell Zeke we killed him, or else we're not getting fed for a week."

Back at the palace in Paradis, the news about the death of the Queen and her son broke like thin ice and spread like a virus.

Zeke, being the only remaining family member from the bloodline, had arranged for a memorial service for the duo in the throne room, and this is also where he would make the grand announcement.

Everyone who lived within the castle, gathered in the throne room, before Zeke, who wore a simple tux. Mikasa was among them, silently crying into her mother's shirt, as said woman pet her hair soothingly.

"Queen Carla's death was a terrible tragedy, but to lose Eren, who barely begun to live…and so, with a heavy heart, it's only curtesey that I assume the throne…"

The throne room doors crashed open, startling everyone. In walked the group of warriors, and people started to react.

"What are they doing here?"

"How did they get past the guards?"

"Out of the ashes from this tragedy, we will rise, as the dawning of a new era of Eldians and Titans coming together, in our great and glorious future!" Zeke held his hands up, the warriors coming to stand beside him.

Horrified, the people could only watch as the worst had happened.

That night, Pyxis had retired, or technically, was forced to retire, to his chambers. He never imagined a situation like this would play out. Pyxis saw hope in the Jaeger family, but it seems it didn't apply to all those of that bloodline. What Zeke has done will never be forgotten.

Only over the course of a couple hours, Zeke has managed to overthrow anyone, including yours truly, within the royal court, and allowed his warriors to enslave the people. Times were tragic.

As the older man paced his room, he happened to glance at his desk. On it, was the finished portrait of the young prince, that was to be painted in completion. Moblit had left it with Pyxis, afraid Zeke might see it and burn it, who knows at this point?

Pyxis stared at the drawing, at the eyes that were captured so beautifully. He sighed.

Picking up the portrait, he folded twice and shoved it into a drawer. It hurt to look at it.

"Our last hope is gone…" Pyxis murmured sadly. "Nothing can save us now."

Miles and miles from the kingdom, unconscious and steaming, Eren Jaeger lay beside his decaying titan corpse. He had run as fast as he could as a human, but eventually he had gained enough strength to become a titan for a couple minutes.

This decision was a desperate one, and most likely not in Eren's best interest, but he knew he had to get away as fast and as far as he could.

The second he'd exited his titan form; his world went black.

He had no idea how long he had been sleeping for, but nonetheless he could feel himself starting to awaken.

He could briefly hear voices talking close to him, but he was much too drained to even attempt to open his eyes or move in general.

"Do you think he's still alive?"

"Yikes, I don't know, let me have a look."

Eren felt a small hand grab his wrist, and obviously his arm was blocking the sun from his eyes. Once his face was revealed, Eren felt warm air and a screech.

"Geez, it's a warrior! Run Connie, move it!"

"Come on, Armin, it's just a little titan, he's hurt and all alone! Can we keep him?"

Eren wanted so bad to say something right about now.

"Connie, are you nuts!? Titan's eat kids like us!"

"But he's a kid, too!"

"He's gonna get older!"

"Maybe he'll be on our side?"

"Don't be ridiculous, what if he's on-, hey, I got it, what if he's on our side? Having a Titan around might not be such a bad idea."

Eren felt a pair of hands start to shift his torso.

"Geez, this guy is heavy…"

"So, we're helping him?"

"Connie, who's the brains in this outfit?"

A long, drawled sound of confusion sounded in response. "Ugh…"

"My point exactly, now come on, let's get out of here and find some shade."

Eren was hefted into a kneeling position, and his arms were wrapped around two necks.

"He weighs as much as a titan…" one of the boys grumbled into his ear. Eren was about to try again to open his eyes, but all the blood finally started to circulate again, and he lost consciousness.

The next time Eren woke up, he felt damp. His head was aching a little, and his body was screaming at him. This time, he found and mustered enough strength to open his eyes.

When he did, he noticed his vision was half-lidded. Movements of silhouette's caused him to tense up.

"Hey, I think he's awake!"

"Are you okay, buddy?"

Eren started to move his arm, in attempt to reveal his vision, but he didn't need to.

Someone reached over, and took off a damp cloth that was resting on his forehead.

"I'm fine, I guess." He started to sit up, when suddenly there was multiple people at his side.

"Whoa there, pal."

"Hey, you shouldn't sit up…"

"All that work and this is the thanks we get?"

The last comment had Eren looking up and actually taking in his supposed healers.

There was 4 people total, three little boys, and a little girl.

"Armin and I saved you." A boy with a buzzcut jumped in suddenly.

"Hey, we helped!" a light brunette snarled.

"A little…" the other boy muttered.

"Thanks for your help, I guess." Eren ignored their protests and started to get up. His past situation finally sunk in, and he was reminded, cruelly, about why he was out here and needed saving in the first place.

"Hey, where are you going?" the girl, a brunette, hurried over and stopped in front of him. "Couldn't you do with some grub right about now?" she asked.

At that moment, Eren's stomach grumbled with hunger, and the little girl crossed her arms.

"I suspected as much, come on, Dad's baking fresh bread!"

She took his hand, and started to lead him through, he's now noticed, a forest, thick and green.

"Where am I?" Eren asked, attempting to take in his surroundings and identify them as familiar.

"You're in Dauper Forest, and right now we're heading to Dauper village," the girl explained.

"Oh, okay, also…" Eren suddenly stopped walking, the 4 tailers paused as well. "Who the hell are you guys?"

The four children exchanged looks.

"My name is Eren."

A blonde boy stepped forward. "Sorry about the late introduction. I'm Armin, that's Connie, Sasha, and Jean." He pointed to each kid in turn. Armin then scratched his neck. "I guess being a titan isn't all that awesome if you can't even move after."

"Yeah, what happened to make you so exhausted, anyway?" the boy, Jean, asked.

"Something terrible, but I don't want to talk about," Eren replied.

"Good, we don't wanna hear about it," Jean complied. Eren had the energy to glare.

"Jean!" Sasha hit him in the shoulder. "I'm sorry, is there anything we can do?" she asked.

"Not unless you can change the past…" Eren started to move again.

"Well," Connie came up to keep pace with him. "Like our buddy, Armin, here always says, "You gotta put your behind in your past…" Connie paused, when he noticed Jean and Armin slap a hand to their foreheads in exasperation.

"Idiot…" Jean grumbled.

"Connie, it's "You gotta out your past behind you"," Armin explained.

"Oh, well, I was close," Connie shrugged his shoulders, indignantly.

Armin came up to Eren and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to talk about it, but just know, that bad things happen and you can't do anything about it, right?" Armin prompted.

Eren sighed, heavily. "Right…"

"Wrong!" Eren, even Sasha, jumped. Armin continued. "When the world turns it's back on you, you turn your back on the world. What we fight we become, Eren. Remember that."

Eren stared blankly. "That's not what I was taught," he said, wincing remembering his teacher was now in pieces.

"Maybe you need a new lesson," Sasha said.

"Yeah! We can teach you the ways of the forest life, you don't need a big city." Eren was about to tell them, he actually came from a castle, but for some reason, he didn't want to bestow that knowledge onto him. If they found out he was the Prince of Eldia, they'd most likely get their parents to contact authorities to bring him back. He'd probably get locked up, or worse.

"So, come on, I don't want my bread getting cold." Sasha took off in a run, Connie closely behind. Jean elected to follow and a more decent pace, and Armin chose to walk beside Eren.

"Don't worry about a thing, Eren," Armin said, bringing up a conversation. "I'm sure whatever happened, it won't seem so bad once you have a full stomach and some rest."

Eren chose not to answer, because he knows that isn't true in the slightest.

For a few minutes of walking, Armin and Eren said nothing, that is, until Dauper village came into view.

A giant drawbridge separated the wild from the social loomed, and the village was bursting with noise and life.

As they walked through, Eren noticed a lot of trades stalls.

"I've never heard of Dauper, is it a Trades town?" Eren asked.

Armin waved a hand, and Eren noticed the three others were waiting by the bridge.

"Sort of, it's more of a hunting village, farms as well. No one really visits and no one really needs to leave. We kill, grow, and sell our own produce, so it's easy to get by without contacting the outside world, although my friends and I love to."

They reached the other three, and Sasha gestured dramatically.

"Ta-dah! Dauper village, mi casa e su casa."

Eren blinked. Did he hear that right? He's probably just hearing things based on homesickness.

"Watch your step, please," Connie announced as together they crossed the bridge. (As I'm sure all you Disney fans know, at this point, Timon and Pumba are singing "Hakuna Matata" and during the bridge of the song, they're walking along a log and Simba grows up? That what's just happened here. Them walking over that bridge, was the link connecting the time-skip, so now we get 19-year-old Eren, and everyone in their S4 forms.)

Nine Years Later…

Over the past nine years, the kingdom of Paradis had drastically declined in almost every aspect of its beauty. The animals started to be overhunted, the gardens over-harvested and fertilized, causing the ground to become almost toxic with chemicals and the nutrients hasn't had time to regerminate before new plants go in. Not to mention, almost all their harvest goes to the palace to sustain and satisfy the monstrous appetites of the warriors.

On that note, those giants have completely overrun the kingdom and its cities. The luxuries and history of this kingdom's dynasties have been wiped from the books. Almost all the buildings were abandoned and unkept. Most of the families had left to start new lives, as they were starving and being enslaved.

Despite the ruling powers of their Red King and his warriors, they couldn't have eyes everywhere all the time. These lucky families chose to take a road to the unknown, then to take the road where there's no light at the end of the tunnel.

There was no ending this dynasty. It would take a miracle.

So, with the cities majorly abandoned, the forests and meadows dormant of wildlife, and the food supply decreasing rapidly by the day, the people of Paradis cried, they prayed, and they hoped, more than anything, that one day, this hell might freeze over.

The day was damp, gray, and hopeless, but this was the way King Zeke wanted it. His name struck fear into every soul who had those syllables enter their head and exit again.

On the way through, it would ignite every nerve so fast and hot, that electricity seemed to strike down the spine.

The people, those who were left, were starving, and willing to do anything to live through their next meal. This made it easy to inflict power over these sorry folks.

Within the throne room, this greedy king sat atop his source of power, reveling in the misery and joy his rule gave. He tended to do this a lot. He couldn't shake that feeling of euphoria and accomplishment every time he sat down.

The crown of Eldia glittered on his head, and it seemed every five minutes he was calling in his footman to bestow a golden hand mirror in front of him, and he would spend 5-10 minutes adjusting the jewels and admiring his reflection.

Said footman, would sit patiently, but roll his eyes whenever he got the chance to.

He used to be a soldier, damnit! The second in command only to Pyxis, and the royal family, naturally. Hannes used to think he was the best position you could be. Personally trusted by the royal family, but he had the reign to do what he pleased and wasn't expected to be as professional or on top of everything as Pyxis, as that was his job.

Now? He had the same position he had before, but he wished he didn't. Zeke barely let Hannes leave his sight, and every time Hannes would mention Eren or Carla, Zeke would go Beast mode, and give him a scar for how many times he said their names.

Hannes had never properly grieved for his family, the minute their deaths were announced was when Zeke had taken over, and Hannes was recovering in the medical wing from the battle with the warriors.

He woke to 2 of the warriors guarding the exit to his room. They grabbed him, and took him before Zeke, who explained every event that had taken place since the Queen's death. Hannes was horrified, and guilty of fault.

And now, he paid the price.

"Hannes, it is too quiet in here!" The king lazed in his throne, picking at his fingernails. "Hannes!" he shouted again.

Echoing footsteps hurried into the throne room, and the man in question stood in simple white shirt and slacks. Believe it or not, the Beast Titan has a dress code.

"What is your request, your majesty?" Hannes tried sounding obedient, but his jaw couldn't help but clench through it.

"I want you to sing to me, Hannes," Zeke demanded.

Hannes blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Hard on hearing already, old man? I said, 'I want you to sing for me, Hannes'."

Hannes still stared, disbelieving. "I can-,"

"I don't care! You dare defy your King!?"

Hannes growled and cleared his throat. "Okay, uh, any…requests?"

"Surprise me." Zeke waved his hand, carelessly, and Hannes sighed deeply.

"Don't blame me if your ears start bleeding," Hannes mumbled.

"Don't be so modest, Hannes. I'm sure you sing like an angel."

Even Hannes heard that sarcasm, but nevertheless, he did what his King commanded.

"She lost her brother months ago…his picture on the wall, and it reminds me."

Zeke raised an eyebrow.

"When she brings me coffee, I smile…I wish I could be with her till my last day…"

"Oh, cry me a river! Hannes, come on, sing something with some excitement."

Hannes felt a vein pop, and he took in a deep breath.

"RUMBLING, RUMBLING, it's coming, RUMBLING, RUMBLING, BEWARE!"

Zeke covered his ears, and he swore he felt his ear drums burst.

"GODDAMNIT HANNES!"

"All I ever wanted to do was do right things-,"

"ENOUGH! Anything but THAT song!" Zeke was red in the face and attempting to get his hearing back in one ear. "Something upbeat and not about a literal global genocide."

"Sounds like a song you could behind, forgive me for not reading the signals right," Hannes sassed.

"Hey! Let me remind you who you are talking to. What did we say about "respect"?"

The blonde tsked and attempting to end his suffering by choosing a song and getting it over with. "Okay, I think I know one." Hannes cleared his throat again.

"Was it a shock for you, something is scaring you…"

"There we go!" Zeke said.

"Enemies will hunt you, no matter what you do…"

Hannes carried on through the song until the chorus, and shockingly, Zeke got into it and decided to join in.

"But we're gonna fight for you, 'til we defeat them all, if not…there's no way out! Keep your weapons aimed!"

By this point, Hannes had stopped singing and cursed at the ground. "I never would've done this shit with Queen Carla," he murmured.

Immediately, Zeke stopped short on the chorus and snapped his head to look at Hannes.

"What did you say?" he asked. Hannes glared but sighed.

"I didn't say anything," he said. "I was singing along, and my voice broke," he fibbed.

"Let me remind you-,"

"Ugh, you don't have to remind me of anything, your majesty," he attempted it to come out naturally, but instead came out sarcastic and snarky. This made Zeke's eyes narrow. "You remind me every day that you have completely enslaved me and this entire country. We hold no strength against those warriors and no will against you. Now, do you want me to finish the damn song, or am I being sent to the dungeon for insubordination?" Hannes crossed his arms, heart pounding and eyes closed. This was the first time since Carla died that Hannes had blatantly defied Zeke.

"Hannes…"

Suddenly, the doors to the throne room flew open, and six figures appeared, storming toward the two occupants.

"Hey, boss, we gotta bone to pick!" Galliard growled starting to raise a hand to his mouth.

"Pock, hey, I'll handle this," Pieck stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.

The man crossed his arms, glaring, but obeyed.

"Zeke, listen, there's no food, no water, almost everyone has abandoned the cities, this is bad. Your reign is-,"

"Not another word, Pieck. Not one more. I still have my royal staff. Everyone within the castle remains; they are all I need. Begone with you."

"You can't be serious! You'll starve to death! You need to-,"

"Enough! I said not another word! Out!"

"But-,"

"OUT!"

The warriors scuffled hastily over each other and bolted out of the room. They had enough experience with Zeke to know when to back down.

"Not one person in this castle leaves my kingdom. I am the KING!"

*Dauper Village

Throughout his years living with his newfound friends in the prosperous village- now, city- of Dauper, Prince Eren has learned the way of the common folk and convinced them that he had always been so. No one ever questioned Eren's presence, or interrogated him for a recount of his history, and Eren could live out his years, no longer haunted by the ghost of his mother.

Eren has refused the power he was given and promised himself he would never reveal the monster that lingered deep inside him. His friends knew it was there, laying dormant, sizzling with anticipation, but never pried their friend.

There was a day or two a month where Eren would become jumpy and prone to outbursts. During that time, his friends gave him space and whatever he did with it seemed to pull him together the next day.

At night, Eren would still have nightmares of an explosion; every time it felt like his whole world was disintegrating into ash. He's dreamt of his mother, waiting for him in the abyss of his past; his father, berating him, scolding him for being so weak, and he's, shamefully, dreamt of Mikasa.

It wasn't as often as his stomach-wrenching nightmares, but they twisted his insides just the same.

It started out of the blue when Connie had jokingly commented on Sasha's need of wrap around her chest when she was 15. He had said that she looked like a mummy, and Sasha had clearly taken it the wrong way.

After that point, Eren had noticed how much Sasha had changed, and he had just passively wondered what Mikasa would look like now that she was 15. Would she need a wrap, too?

He had slapped himself, literally, causing questions from his friends, and Eren promised he wouldn't think about it again.

But that night, he had a dream where he was back in his room in the castle, and there was a knock on the door. His childhood friend came in, wearing the wrap…and nothing else.

Eren was surprised his imagination could conjure a decently accurate older version of Mikasa. Her hair was longer; her legs, too, she was tall, and…well, Eren only got that far whenever he reminisced because just thinking about it made him hot and bothered, and it made Eren feel vulnerable and embarrassed.

The time for Eren to remember his past, and to remind himself why he will never go back, is at night, behind closed doors, where he doesn't have to feel justified to explain it to his friends.

Eren's attempted to do as Armin had suggested the minute they met.

"You can't change the past, just keep moving forward," Eren said this one morning, to himself, in the mirror while getting ready to go hunting with his friends.

His hair had grown to shoulder length, so Eren had tied it up, halfway. He washed his face off, to wake himself up and to feel at least a little clean, as he didn't have time to bathe.

"Breakfast is almost ready!" A knock sounded on his bedroom door and Eren jumped.

"Thanks, Connie, I'll be out in a second. Just getting dressed."

He heard Connie walk away, and Eren moved to his armoire to gather his clothes.

Throwing on a tan shirt and black pants, Eren hurried out of his room and down the hall into the kitchen.

"Good morning, Eren!" Sasha's mother greeted him, placing a pot of breakfast stew on the table.

"Morning," Eren said.

He always loved the mornings on the Braus's ranch. Sasha's mother was always having breakfast ready at the same time, Sasha's father had fresh bread rolls for every meal, and was always in the process of alternating pans and plates of them. Sasha herself had the table set and was sorting out the day lunches for the orphaned children housed on the property, Connie and Jean would be keeping those children out of the kitchen by playing a game they invented, Scouts; and Armin would be either helping with the kids, in the kitchen, or planning for his friends day.

This morning, however, Armin was at the kitchen table, studying a map of Dauper forest.

Eren offered to help in the kitchen, when his offer was politely declined, he sat next to the blonde.

"Did the market give you the requests yet?" Eren asked. "Rabbits in season, but we could get a decent price on boar if we tried."

Armin hummed in agreement. "Every year there's more and more demands, if we keep moving at this pace, the animals are going to migrate to a different forest."

Sasha heard this and scoffed. "That's because the idiots who run this town are greedy, they don't care about our main food source, they just want us to keep multiplying and bringing people in. Makes more money."

"Simmer down, Sasha," her father said, taking mitts off after placing another bread batch in the oven. "There's ain't a need to get all riled up, now. You know that those folks in the Royal City have all fled ever since the Red King took over."

"I'm sorry, Dad, but those jerks are taking away our way of life! I don't want to have to-,"

"Is breakfast ready yet?" a couple of kids escaped the game and poked their heads into the kitchen from the garden outside.

"5 minutes, kiddos," Sasha's father replied.

The children cheered and went to tell the others.

Armin sighed and folded the map. "Today should be fine, but Sasha is right to be a little concerned about how fast we are expanding."

Eren said nothing but smiled when a bowl was placed in front of him.

Lunches were packed, weapons were loaded, and Eren and his friends were ready to venture into the forest.

"Sasha, save the bread for lunch!" Armin snapped, batting the brunette's hand away from the crate that held their lunch.

"What? I'm willing to sacrifice it!" Sasha replied.

"Yeah, right! If you eat it now, you'll be disappointed that we all get one at lunch, and then you'll ask for ours," Jean said. "That's how it works every time we let you do this, Potato Girl!"

Sasha whined, pouted, but did not fight them…they were right.

They piled into the wagon, Armin whipped the horses into a trot, and they headed into the wood.

Eren grew fond of the adventures with his newfound friends almost immediately.

As children, naturally Sasha's father would take them hunting, for only a couple hours at a time; never carrying home more than a few rabbits.

But as they grew older and stronger, they opted to do hunting not only for their family, but for the town as well. They had designated hunters for this purpose, but with young minds and bodies combined, they carted back more than a family's worth.

They were trusted to do good on their part.

For the first couple hours, the group did some tracking, Sasha shot some birds, Connie collected the eggs, Jean defeathered them, while Armin and Eren talked over the forest blueprint.

By the time lunch rolled around, the group had gathered 20 birds, 3 dozen eggs, 13 rabbits, 1 small boar and 40 fish. A few more hours would allow them to complete their quote for the day.

Armin and Jean laid a ratty stable blanket onto the ground, while Sasha and Connie unloaded the lunch supplies from the wagon.

Eren was standing a little way away, gazing up at the sky, with his eyes closed, hands beside him.

His friends noticed that Eren has developed this habit, never minding enough to ask; eventually, they noticed he did it almost every day, and always when they were out in the wood, where everything was still.

"Eren?" Sasha called. The man looked back down and turned. "You okay?"

He nodded and made his way over. "I'm fine, just hungry." He sat down beside Connie and together they circled the edge of the blanket, their feast the centerpiece.

At first they ate silently, watching the forest, listening, but finally Armin spoke.

"Eren, what are you doing when you stand there quietly?"

The green-eyed boy glanced quickly at Armin, but then continued his lunch, shrugging. Jean scoffed.

"Oh, come on. Without fail you do it every day when we're out here, don't tell me there isn't a reason," Jean said. Usually, a spiteful comment from Jean would render Eren enraged and demanding a confrontation, but instead he glared.

"Why do you care, Horseface?" Jean seethed.

"Well, if you're gonna be immature about it!"

"Fine then! You want to know?!"

Everyone stayed silent, and Eren realized that, yes, they did want to know, truthfully.

He sighed. "I lost my mom when I was young." He had never revealed that information. They never asked about Eren's family, assuming because he had been found by them alone and as a child, he didn't have any parents. "One of the last things she ever taught me, was that if I stood still long enough, not saying a word, I could hear the voices of my father, who died when I was barely born, and the voices of…" he hesitated. "The voices of all the Attack Titan's that came before me."

His friends stood silent. "You're…you're the Attack Titan?"

Realizing the mistake, he made by revealing his titan's origin, he buried his head in hands.

"The late king was the Attack Titan, wasn't he? Before he died, then the queen took over, then she died, and…" Connie, usually not as quick as the rest, seemed to piece it together pretty quick.

"You're Prince Eren JAEGER of Paradis?" Sasha asked. "Is that why we've never seen you transform? Gods, I was convinced Connie and Armin were lying! Connie I could understand, but Armin never fibs!"

"Hey!"

"What the hell, Eren!? You were just gonna go on living like you weren't a royal with everything at your hand!? We gave you so much, but you could've done way more for us!"

Jean got up and threw a carrot stick at him. "Screw you!"

"I'm sorry, okay! But you don't understand! I can't go back!" Eren snapped.

"I don't give a shit, cause you're not coming back with me!" Jean started to storm away, into the woods.

"Jean! Don't be so petty you'd lie to yourself saying you're not curious as to WHY he lied to us?" Armin said, crossing his arms. Jean paused.

"You're not angry, Armin?"

"Of course, I'm angry, but I need to know why. Think about it, why would a prince up and leave his own kingdom, never saying a word to anyone that he was royalty…" Everyone slowly looked to Eren. "Now, why would anyone want to do that?"

Eren looked up. They were watching him, waiting. His defence crumbled.

"It was my fault…" he admitted, quietly.

"What was?" Jean snapped, arms crossed, still standing over them.

"Everything…my father died giving me the power of the Attack Titan, I didn't know why until now; my mother…" Eren closed his eyes, his lips trembled and his breath shook. "My mother died, because I was an idiot and she was trying to protect me, I…killed her. That Red King that Mr. Braus referred to, is my brother, Zeke Jaeger, the-,"

"Beast Titan," Connie growled. "That son of a bitch is taking everything from us, people are going to starve, all the animals are fleeing."

"If nothing happens soon, Eldia is going to be a wasteland," Armin said. "But I don't understand, Eren, why did you run away?"

"I killed my own mother!" Eren snapped. "I was fooling around with my powers and that resulting in my mother being blown to bits defending me and herself against the warriors."

"We heard about that, but they said the young prince died!" Sasha said. "When Connie and Armin found you…"

Eren look up desperately. "Please, don't make me say anymore. I know I was a fool and childish, but I'm not going back."

"You have to, Eren-,"

"NO!" Eren stood up. "I'm not going back; I can't help them! Zeke has full control of the kingdom, his warriors, and every soldier in the army, and he can transform into a titan. I can't do shit! I'm weak and it would've been better if I really was dead! I shouldn't have said anything to you!"

Eren took off into the woods, too overwhelmed to look them in the eyes.

"Eren-," Armin started to get up to go after him, but a large gold blast blinded him, and blew him back along with his friends.

Dust was swirling around them, when Connie coughed. "Did he just do what I think he did?"

"Yes," Armin replied, breathing heavily, attempting to locate all their strewn about belongings. "Eren just used the power of the Attack Titan, for the first time in nine years, to ruin our lunch and throw a tantrum."

Ex-General Pyxis, opened the door late that afternoon with a cup of tea in hand.

A year ago, Zeke had grown fed-up with Pyxis's input and guidance and dismissed his position, persecuting him to the outliers of the Royal City.

Every day, the man would brew a cuppa, get dressed, and stand on his porch watching the horizon. Hoping to see a glimmer of a new dawn; it was the same every morning, blood red with no sign of relenting.

In his breast pocket, a single parchment sat, warm on his heart, pulsing with hope, but each day that pulse grew weaker.

Has he given up? Does he really believe that this era is set in stone? Nothing can save them?

"What has this world come to?" he wondered aloud. "Are the people of Paradis really cuffed to this belief in the Jaeger family? Even though their heir is so cold-hearted?"

Pyxis stared up at the sky, over the horizon.

"We need a savior, someone who would defy laws of nature to ensure Paradis's freedom, someone willing to become both a God and a Devil to stand up to a force such as Zeke. Someone like…"

BOOM!

In the distance, an arcane blast of lightning echoed, sending a shockwave far enough for Pyxis's mustache to sway slightly.

His golden eyes stared relentlessly at the sky where the blast had originated. It was so far away, no one in the city would've seen it. But they weren't allowed to.

Only Pyxis was allowed to see the birth of a new age.

Shaking, Pyxis retrieved the parchment from his breast pocket, and unfolded it.

From years of being creased and hidden from sunlight, the quality of paper was less than adequate, but the contents drawn within were timeless.

The portrait of the young prince stared back up at Pyxis.

That face, those eyes, so fierce.

Pyxis started to chuckle, and then it grew into a laugh.

Pyxis put the cuppa down and held the picture up to the sun, cackling madly.

"He's alive!" he shouted. "He's ALIVE!"

Dropping to his knees, Pyxis faced the direction of the blast. "The time has come!"

"Eren!" Sasha called out, stepping over a root. "Eren, come on, it's almost time to head back!"

"We don't have time to play hide-and-seek, you maniac!" Jean growled out from Sasha's left.

"Does a titan corpse really decay that quickly?" Sasha asked Armin as the blonde moved into step with her.

"I don't know, Connie and I only showed up after it was already decayed, and we don't even know if Eren exited his titan form yet," Armin explained. Sasha bit her lip.

"Maybe we should split up more? Cover more ground?" Sasha suggested.

"Might be preferrable, we need to get our stock to the market before they shut down," Jean added.

"Alright then, meet back at the cart in an hour, with Eren or not, he's clearly a big boy who can take care of himself."

Despite the fact, that they were still cross with Eren over such a deep secret, they still wanted their friend to be alright, and know that no matter what he says or does, they are always going to be on his side.

So, the group of 4 split up, in hopes of bringing the prince back to Dauper.

Connie wasn't one to hold grudges, nor was Connie one to realize the wrong doing of certain situations, but even he knew that a lie like this that lasted as long as it did, was certainly considered wrong.

He didn't know how to react with this news about Eren. He didn't plan on bowing to him any time soon, but he still was a little rattled that he sometimes shared a roof and meal with a royal prince.

Connie couldn't grasp the reasoning behind Eren's silence. He understands that having a family member die because of you is haunting, but to conclude that you are never going to face that part of yourself again? After all these years? Who would ever think that was a good idea?

"If I were a prince…" Connie continued to mumble about his personal fantasy of being royalty, but paused when he heard a rustle to his right. He froze and listened.

For a couple beats, there was nothing, but eventually he heard it again.

Whipping his head around, Connie searched fruitlessly for a reason behind the sound. He felt a cold dread leak down his spine.

"Last time I felt like this was when Jean, Sasha and I were being hunted and stalked by wolves…" In order to comfort himself with his own voice he called out into the wood, "Hello?"

Nothing.

Connie continued to walk, faster now, and back in the direction of the cart.

"Nothing's wrong…" Connie murmured.

Hearing another crack, Connie sped into a jog.

"There's nothing here. All the animals have…" Connie glanced behind him, and was about to turn back around, when he saw it.

A flash of hair and the gleam of eyes peaking through the foliage. The only other being he's seen those eyes on were…

"WOLVES!" Connie broke out into a full-on sprint and he heard his hunter to the same. "GUYS!"

Connie was tearing up the forest, tripping, hitting his head on anything in his path.

He could hear pounding footsteps behind him, but he was too terrified to turn around to see how many there were.

Yelling at the top of his lungs, Connie tripped into the clearing where his friends had gathered after hearing his scream.

"Connie, what the hell?" Jean questioned going to help him up. "Did you see a goose again?"

Connie shook his head, breathing heavily. "Worse! They almost ate me!"

"Huh?" the other three looked back in the direction of Connie's trail of destruction, and just barely saw a figure making their way towards them.

"Who's they?" Sasha asked. "There's only-,"

"It's going to kill us!" Connie cried out hysterically.

Before they could say another word, the figure chasing Connie broke into the clearing, and the trees behind the group toppled as Eren came through, in titan form, screaming a threatening warning.

This caused the group to run back towards Eren, distancing themselves from the figure.

The Attack Titan stepped forward, leg blocking his friends, and growled lowly into the wood.

They couldn't really see what was happening, but Connie seemed to calm down with Eren's arrival.

"Connie, how much of an idiot, are you?" Jean whispered harshly, attempting to see what was going on.

"I'm sorry, I just saw these terrifying grey eyes and they looked like a wolf's, after that I kind of just…freaked out."

"Freaked out is an understatement…"

As they attempted to get more info from Connie, Armin decided to peek around Eren's leg. Before he could though, a breathless, tearful voice said, "E-Eren?"

The titan had ceased on growling, and seemed to freeze in time.

Steam erupted from the monster's neck, and Eren revealed his disheveled self, and glared in the direction of the voice.

The group decided to come out from the titan's cover and look as well.

A few feet away, a person stood, wearing all black, with two blades on their back, and wearing a dark red scarf around their face, covering them from the eyes down.

"Who the hell…?" Jean whispered.

"Who are you? How do you know me?" Eren demanded, staying within his titan in case of a quick reaction. "Answer me!"

The figure looked down at the ground, and Armin observed they seemed sort of, sad?

"It's been so long, I guess you don't remember me. Nine years apart, although to me, it seems like I only saw you yesterday."

The person pulled down the scarf and revealed a woman's face; proud, serene, beautiful, with dark eyes, lashes and hair to illuminate her ivory complexion.

Armin heard Eren suck in a breath and looked up at him.

Eren's eyes were as wide as an infants laying eyes on it's mother for the first time. A look of awe, hope, disparity, and adoration stuck to the titan-shifter's face. He seemed to sway, almost like he was in a dream.

"There's no way…" Eren said.

Quickly, almost desperately, Eren climbed out and off his titan.

His friends stayed back, while Eren slowly neared the woman.

"M-Mikasa…"

The woman seemed just as incredulous. "They said…they said you were dead." The woman took a step forward. "Eren, is it really you?"

The brunette nodded. "Yes, Mikasa, it's me."

At this, the blackette's eyes pooled with tears, and her composure broke. She broke out into a run. "Eren!"

She leaped into his arms and embraced him. Eren swung her around, feeling lighter than he's ever felt in a while.

Her body in his arms, her scent taking over his senses, the look of her face, her smile, the sound of her voice, oh, Eren missed it all.

"How did you-,"

"How have you-,"

Both stared at each other, at a loss for words.

"What's going on here?" Connie asked aloud. But the two didn't seem to hear him.

"What are you doing here? How did you find me?" Eren asked.

"What do you mean 'what am I doing here'? What are YOU doing here?"

Connie stomped up to the couple.

"Hey, what's going on here!?"

This caused both to pause and consider their audience.

All four stared at the two, bewildered and confused.

"God, sorry, guy's this is Mikasa, she's my best friend!" Eren introduced.

"Friend!?" Connie blurted.

"Come on guys, get over here, she's not going to hurt you."

Armin, Jean, and Sasha glanced at each other, before making their way over.

"Mikasa, this is Jean, Sasha, Connie and Armin, guys…" He gestured to the girl.

"Pleased to meet your acquaintance," Jean bowed and kissed her hand; Mikasa flushed.

"The pleasure is all mine," Mikasa replied.

"How do you do-, wait, whoa, whoa, time out!" Sasha put a T-sign in the air. "Let me get this straight, you know her, she knows you, but she tried to kill him," Sasha pointed at Connie, "and everybody is okay with this?"

They stared at her.

"Did I miss something?"

"Relax, Potato Girl," Jean scoffed.

"Wait, til everyone finds out you've been here all this time," Mikasa said to Eren. "And Hannes, what would he think?"

Eren glared. "He doesn't have to know, nobody has to know," he said.

Mikasa's eyes narrowed. "Well, of course, they do, everyone thinks you're dead!" Mikasa said exasperatedly.

The group was silent.

"Seriously?" he murmured.

"Yes," Mikasa said. She sighed. "Zeke told us about the warriors."

Eren looked at her, horrified. "He did? What else did he tell you?" he demanded.

Mikasa shook her head. "What else matters? You're alive! And that means…" her eyes glazed over, widened, and she smiled, "you're the King."

"King!?" Connie shouted. "Lady, I think you've got your Jaeger's crossed."

"You're…"

"You said you were the prince, not the King!" Jean snapped.

"I'm still the same guy!" Eren defended.

"But with power!" Sasha said.

"I'm not the King, maybe I was going to be, but that was a long time ago."

Eren turned away from his friends and sighed, rubbing the nape of his neck.

Mikasa bit her lip and turned to his companions. "Could you four excuse us for a few minutes?" she asked.

"Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of us, right Eren?" Connie said.

Eren turned back with a look of guilt. "Maybe you better go, the market closes in an hour."

The four narrowed their eyes.

"It starts…" Sasha mumbled turning to pack up the cart.

"You think you know a guy…" Connie agreed.

As Eren watched them load up everything, Mikasa moved past him back towards the woods.

With one last look at his friends as they started to pull away, Eren followed her.

"Hey." She stopped at the edge of the clearing.

"Your titan has grown, I have always been confident that I'd beat you in battle, but even I think I wouldn't stand a chance against the Attack Titan, at least not alone."

Eren said nothing.

"I always watched the morning sky…" Mikasa turned to him now. "Watching, waiting, for anything. A lightning strike, a battle cry, even just a surprise tackle like when we were kids. Anything that could tell me you lived on. That the life I was living without you…was just some long, painful nightmare."

"Mikasa…"

"Now, it's like you're back from the dead." She stepped up to him. "You don't know how much this will mean to everyone…what it means to me." She placed a hand on her chest and closed her eyes. "We need you, Eren."

She wanted to touch him. "I need you."

"It's okay, I-,"

Mikasa threw her arms around him again, burying her face into his neck.

"I've really missed you," she confessed, tears pooling again.

Eren didn't want to, but he succumbed to her. "I've missed you, too…"

He held her tight, letting her absorb this newest development of his arrival back into her life.

Before long, she leaned back, looking into his eyes.

Eren knew she wanted to kiss him; he could see it in her face. Turns out the dreams he had about her had some truth in them. He recognized that look in her face from his dreams, right before she laid her precious lips on his, or…right before she was about to enclose around him and give him a ride he'd never forget.

He wished, so hard, that one day these dreams could become a reality; but he didn't believe it to come true.

Now, she had just spawned right out of his memory, but glowing even more beautiful then he thought.

His imagination did her no justice, in fact, it insulted her.

She was beyond imagination, beyond comprehension.

She deserved the world and more…so, he didn't let the moment take him, he took the moment.

Grabbing her hand, he started to pull her into a run.

She was shocked at this sudden move but said nothing and allowed the lead.

"I want to show you what I've done with my freedom, if you'll let me?"

Eren looked back at her, saw her forgiving grin, her emotional eyes, and knew.

Together, they barreled through the wood.

Meanwhile, Armin, Jean, Connie and Sasha had arrived at the market for the last quarter of their hours. They were questioned about their tardiness, but no clear answer was given.

The four friends themselves had no idea what to make of the situation.

"Have any of you heard him mention this chick?" Connie wondered, loading the last crate of fish from the cart.

"Looked more than an average chick, if you ask me," Jean added, taking the crate from Connie.

"I've never heard him mention any Mikasa, but we haven't exactly had him mention anything from his past to us." Armin thanked the fish vendor as their payment was fulfilled and turned back to his group. "Did you see the way he looked at her?"

"Yeah, you'd think a girl that gave someone like Eren that kind of feeling, he'd mention it." Jean then scoffed. "Then again, the bastard could have mentioned that he was the King of Eldia, but that never came up, did it?"

This caused a silence to envelope the group, and together they started to depart for the Braus Ranch.

As they walked, Sasha voiced the one question that circled in each of their heads.

"Does this mean he's going back with her?"

A few steps were silent.

"I think she'll try and convince him to, but it didn't look like he was entirely fond of the idea," Armin said.

"Do you guys really think he killed his mother?" Connie asked.

"There's more there, I know it, but…" Armin trailed off, gazing off into the forest as they passed. "I think he needed this."

"What? Needed a harsh dose of reality from his attractive blast-from-the-past?" Jean scoffed.

"Yes, but also, his time here with us," Armin elaborated. "Whatever happened to Eren nine years ago never left him. It was simply put on hold. If Eren really is King, and his brother really is the Red King behind all this carnage and poverty, who are we to stop him from taking his rightful place?"

"So, we just let him go? Never to be seen again?" Sasha wailed, hands on her head.

"Of course not, we're his friends, aren't we? He won't be able to do this alone."

As everyone silently agreed all around, they heard a chuckle from behind them.

The four friends whipped around to see an unfamiliar man.

"I must say, only true friends of Eren could join him in one of his many battles. You've taken great care of our heir, young ones, but please, he must return home."

The group stared at this man, awestruck.

"Where…where the hell did you come from?" Jean demanded.

The man smiled.

"My name is Dot Pyxis; I came from the city of Paradis, in search of the rightful King of Eldia. He is here, correct?"

"Yes, he is, but he's with some girl he knows," Connie said, waving off in the direction of the woods.

Pyxis's eyes narrowed. "That "some girl" happens to be Eldia's future Queen, Mikasa Ackerman. She came to me some days ago after a harsh argument with her King. She wanted to leave, so I covered for her when King Zeke came looking for her," Pyxis explained.

This caught the group's attention. Stepping up to the man, they circled him.

"She never said anything about why she came all the way out here. We just assumed she was looking for Eren," Armin explained.

"She was, she believed more than I that Eren lived on, but it was simply an excuse she told herself in order to leave her poor mother in the shackles of Zeke, for once he knew Mikasa had gone, he'd be enraged."

"Why did Zeke even want her? He thinks Eren's dead, doesn't he?" Jean questioned.

Pyxis sighed.

"Yes, fortunately King Zeke is unaware that Eren breathes on, as with everyone else within Paradis, aside from myself and Mikasa. Although, it seemed that Zeke wanted to take one more thing from Eren, something he knew Eren would've cared about more than his own life…"

"His woman…"

Pyxis nodded, sadly. "He had proposed to her only a few days ago, you can imagine how it went down."

He sighed again, before looking at the group pleadingly. "Please, where are they?"

Back with Mikasa and Eren, the latter had just bought them a hot apple cider each, from his favourite fruit vendor. This was the one small joy in his life that he allowed himself to continue after his mother's death.

He was appreciative of the fact that Mikasa said nothing about their earlier conversation just yet, but he knew he'd need to address it soon.

Currently, they were walking along the river that ran through Dauper forest, all the way from the mountain to the ocean. They walked in silence, but Mikasa finally grew the nerves to break it.

"Did you ever think about us? Hannes and I, your kingdom?"

"Of course," Eren answered, gazing at her. "I thought about you every day." He cleared his throat quickly, to conceal his slight blush. "I thought of Hannes, maybe every other day."

Mikasa laughed. This made Eren look at her again, and he caught her eye.

"You…You have really grown," he said. Her face reddened slightly. "I thought your hair would be longer," he said, grabbing a strand while they walked.

"My hair? I never dreamed you'd have longer hair than me!" she said. "You've grown, too." At this, she paused mid-stride. Eren stopped a little in front of her.

"What is it?" he wondered.

"Are you happy here?" she asked.

"I am happy, but it's because I'm free, Mikasa. I don't have people expecting things from me, no one judging me, no one talks about me. I'm just a person out here," he explained. "I don't have a kingdom depending on me to save them."

"Yes, you do." Eren narrowed his eyes. "Eren, no matter where you go, there's still a home and family waiting for you in Paradis. In fact, most of them have honestly given up hope. Zeke has completely taken over the kingdom. The warriors run rampant day and night, scaring people to death. There's been casualties. He's cut Paradis off from the entire world; there's no food, no water, Eren if you don't do something soon, everyone will starve!" Mikasa explained.

Eren kept walking again. "I can't go back."

"Why?" Mikasa asked.

"You wouldn't understand," Eren replied.

"What wouldn't I understand?!"

"Please, Mikasa, don't do this. I'm not going back. I don't belong there. I'm putting that part of my life behind me, so why worry?"

Mikasa ran up to stand in front of him. "Because it's your responsibility!"

Eren glared down at her. "What about you? You left!"

"I left to find help, and I found you! Don't you understand? You are our only hope."

He said nothing for a while, but eventually he sighed. "I'm sorry."

Her eyes widened. "What happened to you? You're not the Eren I remember."

"Well, maybe I'm not, satisfied?" He pushed past her.

"No, just disappointed." She stood her ground and didn't follow.

"You know, you're starting to sound like my mother," he snapped.

"Good, at least one of us does," Mikasa mumbled. Eren finally snapped.

"Do you think you can just show up here and tell me how to live me life?! You don't even know what I've been through!" He started to storm deeper into the woods.

"I would if you just tell me!"

"Forget it!"

"Fine!" Mikasa tsked and turned back toward Dauper, tears streaming down her face.

Eren had broken through the forest into a wide valley that usually held lots of deer, but the setting sun had them seeking shelter.

As the golden orb sank deeper and deeper below the horizon, Eren paced murmuring to himself.

"What does she know? Going back won't change anything!" he said. Eren kicked the ground and crossed his arms. "You can't change the past." He tsked and turned toward the sky. "You said you'd always be there for me! But you're not! And it's because of me…" He turned back toward the ground, glaring at the spot between his feet. "It's my damn fault."

Eren was about to sink to the ground and take some time to think, when he heard a small crack in the treeline behind him.

He turned. "Leave me alone, Mikasa! I don't want to talk right now!"

He started to speed walk away, back into the woods and at the bank of a small pond.

He did settle there, certain that Mikasa knew to leave him alone.

He sighed, gazing over the glassy surface of the murky water, watching dragonflies flitter about in the dim blue of the coming night. Mosquitoes buzzed and the wind rustled slightly in the cool evening breeze.

And he heard it again.

Eren turned around, ready to bite out a remark when a familiar voice had him halting.

"Now is that any way to speak to a woman? Especially one that you shall call yours?"

Breath caught in his throat, nothing came out of Eren's agape mouth, as Dot Pyxis revealed himself.

"My, what a man you've become, Eren Jaeger."

The two stared at each other, 5 meters apart. Pyxis was smiling warmly.

"How…" Eren began.

"I knew you couldn't resist the power of the Attack Titan forever." He put his hands behind his back. "It was only a matter of time before I saw that lightning flash across the sky. I knew it was you, for who else could it have been? I felt it, all that anger, all that pain; no dead man feels that much."

"General Pyxis," Eren greeted, having enough emotional capacity to smile awkwardly. Pyxis took his usual metal flask out of his jacket and started to pace around the brunette.

"So, this is where you have been hiding, my King."

Eren's arms crossed. "Spare me, Pyxis. I am not your King."

Pyxis said nothing, but gazed down into the pond water, nodding.

There was an intense silence, consuming them, and Eren was suffocating.

Pyxis stood comfortably, smiling slightly, taking sips from his flask periodically. Until finally…

"There was something your father said, the day he died… He said, 'I proved myself, did I not? To the king and to all of you, that I could rule an empire, the power of a titan harnessed in my soul.'"

Eren felt his heart leap.

Pyxis chuckled. Facing back toward Eren, he put his flask away and placed his hands behind his back. "You had only been born a week or so before, all of Eldia was alive. Your father had reigned successful and wanted to ensure he continued to do so."

"So, he decided to die? That was a success in his opinion?" Eren scoffed. Eren has heard this story many times over, he did not necessarily need to hear it again. "His reign ended the minute his blood painted the cement."

Pyxis frowned then and sighed.

"Correction, his reign had just barely begun." He walked close to him now.

"I hate to break it to you, old man, but my father is gone. There is nothing that can bring him back." Eren's eyes found the ground between Pyxis's feet. "Nothing can bring either of them back."

The older man continued. "Your father boldly stood in front of your kingdom, greeting them as he did; no ounce of fear was seen on his face, only determination. He said that he had tried for years to achieve peace for Eldia, thwarting the ways of his titan brethren, and leading Eldia into a new light."

Eren watched him.

"He fought many battles, but eventually won the war against his own kingdom, himself, and his future."

"Where are you going with this?"

"Pay attention!" Pyxis narrowed his eyes. "He had said he had succeeded, but I knew he secretly disagreed. No one King is going to achieve so much in so little time, so he had to make sure that this peace would carry on; that his spirit, his compassion would also live on."

Eren was about to open his mouth when Pyxis held up a hand.

"You believe that your father, even your mother, died in vain; that their sacrifices meant nothing except to save you."

"It's true…"

"Wrong again. Your father, and your mother, put their lives, their love, their compassion, their strength in you. They are alive."

Eren foolishly let himself believe it for a second. "Don't play with me…"

"I can show them to you." Pyxis held his hand out. Eren stared at it, wistful, confused, and wondering if he'd fallen down a hill and passed out while leaving Mikasa.

Figuring that the situation couldn't get any more bizarre, he walked up to the man, and let him lead him to the edge of the pond.

Gesturing, Pyxis had Eren kneel.

Hesitant, Eren gazed onto the surface of the water, waiting, but eventually sighed.

"That's not my parents, it's just my reflection," he murmured.

"No," Pyxis said sarcastically. Chuckling, he pointed to the water again. "Look harder."

Doing so, Eren grabbed the bank in order not to fall in, and almost leapt back when the water around his reflection rippled. Spreading through the water were tentacles of pure light, of pure hope, stretching and dancing across the surface. Eren reached down to grab one.

"You see?" Pyxis asked. "They live in you."

Eyes widening, Eren's hand made contact with the water, and it was like a gust of wind had blew the world away.

He stood alone, in a desert of silver sand, those amazing strands wisping through the air, all leading to a single coordinate. Everything glowed like the moon.

Eren…

Drastically, Eren turned in a circle. "Mother?"

Eren…you have forgotten us.

Still not seeing a source of the voices, Eren shouted into the air.

"No! How could I?!"

This time his father's voice echoed in his head.

You have forgotten who you are, and so forgotten us. Look inside yourself, Eren. You are more than what you have become.

"I am nothing, Dad! Why me? Why couldn't you stay here and defend your kingdom? You-,"

You must take your place in this cruel world.

"How can I go back, Mother!? I am not who I used to be. How can you ask this when you know what I did to you!?"

Eren was feeling a little lightheaded. For some reason, he knew he did not have much longer here.

Remember who you are, you are my son, and the one true King.

His mother's voice reverberated in his brain. He almost forgot what she sounded like…

Use what we gave you, son.

"That damn titan took you both away from me! Why would I want to let that thing consume me?"

The Attack Titan marches towards freedom, forever fighting those who try and contain it, control it. Eren, you are the only hope to this world. That titan is a part of you, as it was a part of me, and every other King and solider that embraced it. But you are a Jaeger, remember.

Eren started to feel tired and heavy, and he knew his time was up.

"No! Mother! Father!" Eren tried to run forward, but his legs gave out and he started to drift away. "Don't leave me…"

For what seemed like years, Eren waited in the darkness. Listening to his own thoughts, his own heartbeat, before he heard a chuckle, and his world came alive again.

"What was that? Low blood sugar?"

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Eren's droopy eyes pried open and he was sitting up with Pyxis holding out his flask.

Taking it, he took a whiff, gagged, then tipped it back.

"Hey, that's got to get me home," Pyxis said, taking the flask and capping it. "What happened, Eren?"

"The winds are changing," Eren said, still utterly bewildered.

Pyxis hummed knowingly. "Ah, change is good."

"Yeah, but it is not easy." Eren ran his hands through his hair and turned to Pyxis. "I know what I have to do, but going back means I'll have to face my past. I have been running from it for so long."

Not saying a word, Pyxis helped Eren up, then suckered him in the gut, sending him back down.

"Son of a bitch, what was that for?!" Eren coughed.

"It does not matter! It is in the past," Pyxis cheered.

Eren glared darkly. "Yeah, but it still hurts."

"Oh, yes, the past can hurt," Pyxis agreed, helping Eren up. "But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it." At this, the older man went to repeat the notion of a sucker to the gut, when Eren sidestepped and dodged it. "Aha! You see!" Pyxis cackled. "So, what are you going to do?"

The brown-haired man at first said nothing, but finally, Pyxis saw a fire light in his eyes, and grinned.

The brunette took off in a run.

"Where are you going!?" Pyxis called after him.

"I am going back!" Eren shouted back.

"Good!" Pyxis replied. "Get out of here! Go take back what it yours!" Pyxis laughed, manically, watching as the King returned.

The next morning, Armin and Connie had been sleeping peacefully in the bedroom that they shared; there was only so much space the Braus's ranch could spare. It was about 8:30 in the morning, and this was the one day they could sleep in without needing to go hunting or harvesting. Although, they were expected to help with the kids and tend to the horses.

It was a beautiful, sunny morning and everything was quiet. Until…

"Are you freaking KIDDING ME!?"

Both boys shot up in their beds, instantly alert.

They heard pounding footsteps, the slam of a door, and then the crashing of their bedroom one opening.

A fuming Jean was in the doorway, Sasha went racing into the kitchen from behind them saying "Oh, my God, oh, my God…"

"What the hell, man?" Connie said, rubbing at his golden eyes and yawning. "Did Sasha walk in on you in the bathroom again?"

Flushing at the traumatic memory, Jean fumed even more.

"No! I just woke up and found Eren gone! So, I went to ask Mr. and Mrs. Braus where he was, and they said he hadn't been home all night!"

Connie and Armin glanced at each other and then tore out of their beds, not even caring they were half naked, only wearing shorts and a T-shirt each.

"What do you mean "never came home"? Sure, he gets in his moods, but he's never disappeared without saying anything!" Armin said, everyone moving toward the kitchen.

As they did this, they almost barreled into Sasha, who had stood frozen at the end of the hall, staring dumbfounded into the kitchen.

"Oi! Potato Girl, move your ass!" Jean snapped out. "Don't you want to-,"

The brunette paused when he looked over Sasha's shoulder.

In the kitchen, was Mikasa Ackerman. Sitting at the kitchen table, looking upset and both Sasha's parents were talking to her in quiet voices, a couple pieces of toast and a glass of milk in front of her.

The girl, sensing their presence, looked up at the four.

"He's gone…" she said. "I've been looking for him all night. I'm sorry, I…I shouldn't have left him."

The four friends gathered into the kitchen, sitting around her.

"I think some tea is in order," Mrs. Braus said.

"Make it coffee, darlin', poor girl has been outside all night, she's chilled to the bone, doubt she got much sleep either," Mr. Braus answered. As she did this, Mr. Braus got up to take some fresh rolls out of the oven, and butter them for breakfast.

Armin stared at the girl, who looked like she'd been crying. Her eyes were all puffy and red.

"Mikasa…"

She didn't look up from the table.

"Mikasa, what happened?"

Still with her eyes down, she explained what had happened once they had headed back into town. How she and Eren had gotten into an argument, and how he'd stormed off.

This wasn't too surprising to the group, as Eren had done this on numerous occasions, but they always received word from him sooner rather than later.

"This doesn't make sense," Connie said, thanking Mrs. Braus as she placed a cup in front of him. She did the same to everyone else, and then proceeded to pour in some coffee. "He seemed so excited to see you, we know he gets angry in the moment, but why just leave without a word?"

Mikasa seemed to try and sink into herself. She wrapped her hands around the warm mug.

"I guess he hasn't changed as much as I thought. It was my fault. I put too much pressure on him to come back to Eldia's kingdom. I barely got to see him and it took me, what? An hour to piss him off." She put her head down so her hair was curtaining her face. "Now I've lost him again, and you have, too."

There was a brief silence, only filled with Mr. Braus transferring rolls from pan to platter.

"We need to go out and look for him," Sasha put in.

"Sasha…" Armin started.

"No! This isn't fair, on us or on Mikasa! We've all worked so hard for him, and now he's just gone? Not a word said?"

Another silence filled the atmosphere, when suddenly another voice broke it.

"I'm afraid he is gone."

Heads whipped around to the door leading to the garden, and everyone stared, blankly, at the newcomer.

"General Pyxis?" Mikasa asked. Her demeanor change was almost instantaneous. She leapt up from the table and raced over. She wrapped her arms around his form and started sobbing into his jacket. "I'm sorry, I couldn't do it, sir."

"Now, now, there's no need to be like that, your grace. You know Eren better than anyone, he just needed a nice beating."

Her head snapped up to look at him, frozen in shock.

"You beat him!?"

Pyxis laughed. "Of course not, at least not with fists. Eren just needed to get his thoughts sorted."

"Where is he? Cause I could use a nice dose of beating him with fists," Jean said, arms crossed.

Pyxis gave a warm smile. "The King has returned."

Mikasa stepped back from him. "I can't believe it…" She turned to the rest of the group. "He's gone back!"

"Gone back?" Sasha questioned. "Where?"

"Eren's gone back to challenge Zeke," Mikasa explained, quickly, getting over the shock.

"Who's weak?" Connie asked.

"No, no, no, it's his brother."

"Pyxis is his brother?" Sasha wondered.

"NO!" Mikasa snapped. "Eren's gone back to challenge his brother to take his place as King,"

The four friends looked at each other. "Ohhhh…"

"General!" Mikasa turned back to the older man, who was beaming. "When did he leave? I could still catch him if I tried," Mikasa explained.

The man chuckled. "Knowing you, my dear, I don't doubt it. He left a while after he left your side. He's probably just coming up to the kingdom now. And for the record, your grace, Eren has changed. If he hadn't, I might have just had to drag him back to the kingdom kicking and screaming," Pyxis explained.

A soft smile spread on Mikasa's face. "That is truer than I'd care to admit."

"So," Jean butted in. "He can do that then? Just walk into the kingdom and demand his rightful place on the throne?"

At this, Pyxis frowned thoughtfully. "I'm afraid it is not as easy as that. Zeke will not bow down quietly, in fact, he might just try and kill him."

The group stared horrified at the man.

"But Eren's the Attack Titan, there's no way he could…could he?" Sasha wondered aloud.

"Zeke has had a manipulative hold on Eren for some time now. Despite your friend's resolve, Zeke knows exactly what to say to him in order to get what he wants, not to mention he has the Warriors on his side. Eren's already faced them twice, and barely survived either times, the lovely Mikasa can attest to that."

The said girl shook her head. "If he hadn't transformed once already that day, Eren and I might've escaped. It was dumb luck that caused our downfall, but he's stronger now," Mikasa countered.

"Indeed," he thanked Mrs. Braus when she handed him a cup of coffee, which he simply topped off with what remained in his metal flask. This caused the parents to look at each other, bewildered. "But may I remind you, Eren, sadly, has not accustomed well to fighting for the good of the kingdom, he knows that it will come down to that in the process, but Eren has always been a little selfish with his power. He uses it, when it not only benefits him, but those of the people around him. When you were kids, Mikasa, you were there, in danger, and Eren had more resolve than ever to see to it that you got out safely."

"Well, that's stupid," Connie said. "He knows it'll help her if he wins, it will help all of us."

"Right now," Pyxis continued with a sad smile. "Eren is simply fighting in anger. He was shown up, by me; he was challenged. And he is fighting alone. He needs to know there are still people relying on him, personal people who he would give anything and everything for. Zeke will say and do anything that would make Eren lose control; lose his head in rage. As you've noticed, it is not hard for anyone to do this."

"So, what are you saying, sir?" Armin wondered, finishing his cup of brew.

"I'm saying, Eren cannot fight alone. He needs you there to remind him what he's fighting for. He knows he can't have his old life back, not without his mother, but he's found a new family in all of you. He needs you to fight beside him; to give him your strength. And, my dear…"

He turned solely to Mikasa, who couldn't help more tears to well. "Whatever he said to you, was said in anger. He didn't want you to give up anything just because he was being difficult. Eren has run away for a long time, and you and what you represent, had chased him all this way, so he believed it was all for nothing. I know, he feels guilty about a lot of things, but you should know, Eren would always do everything in his power to protect you. All of you."

"Well," said Jean, stepping forward. "I always knew that maniac would get in over his head sooner or later, what do you guys say "hunt him down"? For old times sake?"

"Just say the word. Eren may be the King, but I ain't letting that stop me from giving him a piece of my mind for scaring us like this," Connie agreed.

"You guys…" Mikasa muttered.

"You can't do this alone anymore than he can. You may have known the old Eren, but we've grown up with the new one. He can't escape us that easily," Sasha said.

"Well, let us pack you kids a decent lunch before ya go," Sasha's father said.

Meanwhile, the man in question had indeed come up to the outskirts of what he once called home in a heartbeat.

Eyes wide with bewilderment, Eren scanned the horizon of what was left of Eldia's royal city.

Everything looked…destroyed.

The buildings were crumbling, the grass was withering, the trees were dying, and there was not a soul in sight. Gazing down from the hill he once ran through as a child, Eren's heart lurched and panged from the nostalgia.

How long was he gone? How long did it take Zeke to render this once beautiful city to dust? How much did it take to do to Eldia the same thing he did to Marley?

Eren sank down, sitting upon and among the long blades of grass that was usually tended to by the soldiers and kept down by children playing tag and ball.

"What have I done?" Eren muttered to himself.

Part of him didn't want to believe Mikasa's words when she'd stated that everything he'd known was gone, in cinders. He couldn't bring himself to accept that Zeke was capable of doing the thing his father feared he would. And Eren let him, by running, by ignoring his destiny. This was the end result; his hometown reduced to a memory of another life.

He didn't know how long he sat there, taking in the destruction, getting lost in his own twisted mind. He could've stayed there forever, if not for the sound of hoofs on dirt, and a melodious voice calling his name.

"Eren!"

Turning, Eren, stood up to greet Mikasa as she hauled up the other side of the hill on horseback.

"Mikasa," Eren said.

Heeling to a halt, she jumped off the horse and walked to stand next to him.

"It's awful, isn't it?" she questioned, after observing the look of utter defeat on his face. The man sighed deeply.

"I…I didn't want to believe you."

She let the silence linger for a second, before asking, "What made you come back?"

Eren shook his head, chuckling. "I finally got some sense knocked into me, with the bruises to prove it. Besides, this is my kingdom, if I don't fight for it, who will?"

The black-haired girl took his hand, causing Eren to look at her in surprise.

"I will," she said, squeezing his hand.

Eren turned to her, took both of her hands in his. "Mikasa, it'll be dangerous."

This caused the girl to smile. "Danger? Ha! I laugh in the face of danger."

Eren couldn't stop the laugh that issued from the memory. He placed his forehead against Mikasa's and sighed again.

"God, I've missed you," he whispered.

"Okay, lovebirds, now's not the time to get all cuddly!"

The two snapped their heads back down the way Mikasa came, and 4 more horses joined them.

Armin, Jean, Sasha, and Connie leapt off their steeds and regrouped.

"You guys!" Eren said. "What are you doing here?"

Connie marched right up to him and pushed him in the chest as hard as he could, though Eren only took a step back.

"Well, first, we wanted to give you a nice punch in the pretty face because you not only left us for some girl, but you then left that girl for some crumbling city!"

"Come on, Connie, we can worry about fighting Eren later," Sasha said, shouldering a bow and arrow. "But for now, we're at your service, your majesty." Sasha did an exaggerated bow.

The other two men came up to join the rest and scanned the city as Eren had.

"We're fighting your brother for this?" Jean wondered; arms crossed.

"Yeah, Horseface, this is my home." Eren gave him a quick glare.

Before Jean could retort, Armin placed a hand on his shoulder. "Well, Eren, if it's important to you, we're with you until the end."

Eren gave them all a gentle smile, before retaking Mikasa's hand. A plan was starting to form in his head.

The team of rebels made their way quietly through the abandoned city. They heeded Eren's warning about not being seen by anyone, but it didn't seem to matter as the town was almost completely deserted.

"God, where is everyone?" Sasha muttered as she held an arrow in her quiver, ready for the slightest hint of a threat.

"They're gone," Mikasa answered. "A few months after Zeke took over, everyone was being harassed by the Warriors, so they left in the dead of night. Not all at once, but they seemed to coordinate with each other who would leave when. I believe Zeke knew they were leaving, he just didn't care."

"No wonder he chose to marry you, there isn't any women even left," Connie stated.

Eren started to laugh, but Mikasa stopped short and turned to them.

"How did you know that?" she wondered.

This caused Eren to halt his laughter and turn to the girl. "Wait, it's true?"

Mikasa half-shrugged. "Why do you think I finally grew the guts to leave?"

Eren started walking again, glaring harshly at the stone as he did, muttering to himself.

"We actually met with the General shortly after you two left to…"catch up"," Connie explained. "He told us you were the future Queen, why you actually left Paradis and all that."

"Future Queen, huh?" Mikasa questioned, stealing a glance at Eren. "He never said anything about that to me. Eren?" Mikasa said.

It was Eren's turn to shrug. "Did he have to?"

At this Mikasa remained silent but smiled brightly behind the coverings of her scarf.

They reached the castle courtyard and hid behind a hedge that encased it.

Peeking over the top of it, Eren glared down the figures that lazily guarded the front doors.

"One…two…three…four," he counted, before turning back to his team. "Alright, those are four of the Warriors."

Connie and Sasha took a chance to peek up, and then scoffed.

"Can't believe all the fuss about those guys," Connie said.

"They don't look much older than any of us," Sasha agreed.

"That's because they're not. They may not look threatening now, but just like me, their titan's can appear like that. If I'm not mistaken, that's the Cart, Armoured, Jaw, and Warhammer. The Colossal won't appear in the city, Zeke won't risk destroying what's left of it, despite how he seems," Eren explained. "I've got a plan."

Armin crossed his arms. "I don't know if I like your plans."

"You haven't even heard it yet!" Eren countered. The blonde shrugged.

"Maybe not, but I've heard enough of your plans growing up that I can admit that I don't like them."

"Well, do you have any ideas, genius?" Eren snapped. Armin grinned.

"Actually, I do."

So, it was decided. Sasha, Connie, Armin and Jean would lead a distraction on another side of the courtyard to lead the Warriors away from the door. First Sasha and Connie would cause a raucous on the right, while Jean and Armin did the left. They expect that the Warriors might catch on to the plan, but the team has a strong belief that they will abide by the commands most likely given by Zeke and investigate anyway. Plus, would they really assume that Eren Jaeger has returned and he's trying to break into the castle to make a come-back?

Not likely…

So, that's what they based their plan off of.

After the Warriors were led away, Mikasa and Eren would sneak in through the front doors, and locate Zeke.

Once the team split off, Mikasa turned to Eren.

"So, do you have a plan once we actually get in there?" she whispered.

She glanced up over the hedge and saw the Warriors glancing around, confused.

Eren gave a shrug. "Not entirely, but you know me," he answered. He glanced at Mikasa. "But I can count on you be right beside me."

It wasn't a question, more of a statement. Eren's unconditional faith in Mikasa was profound.

"Well, if you are just going to go in there, guns blazing, then maybe I should think of something," Mikasa said.

"Were you and Armin best friends in a past life, or something?" Eren teased.

"Eren, it's not that, but you don't know Zeke anymore. I hate to say it, but everything that he has said to you was a lie. In reality, he's an unforgiving tyrant, bent on wiping Eldia from the map. We need a plan to go in there. I think I may have an idea," Mikasa explained.

As she explained her plan to Eren, the rest of the team put out a couple of distractions in the meantime.

Sasha had shot an arrow just beside the Cart's head, causing the black-haired woman, Pieck, to freeze up. She whipped her head into the direction of the perpetrator and scowled. Sasha and Connie had ducked below the side of the hedge and began to edge towards the back of the castle.

Pieck had brought this to the attention of the other Warriors, and the Armoured followed her towards where Sasha and Connie had been a moment earlier.

Meanwhile, Jean and Armin had made a "not-so-secret" attempt to run towards the back of the castle as well.

Lara the Warhammer had caught a glimpse of them, and after a moment's hesitation, she took the Jaw with her to investigate.

As this happened, Eren and Mikasa started to close in on the front doors, sneaking low and quick. Luckily the royal courtyard was filled with old, decaying plants so there was much at their disposal when it came to cover from the Warriors line of sight.

They reached the doors and tried to sneak in through the tiny crack in the door.

They hurried, sly-footed, through the corridors of the castle, not pausing unless they heard a sound of footsteps coming down opposing halls.

"Zeke is bound to be in the throne room," Mikasa whispered. "He barely leaves it, except to go to bed and use the restroom. He even eats in there."

Eren scowled as they hid in a doorway after the distant sound of voices echoed down the corridor.

"Okay, Mikasa, try and gather some people who are willing to oppose Zeke. No doubt there is at least a few. Try and meet me in the throne room once you've done it."

Mikasa nodded, but paused, giving Eren an anxious look.

Noticing this, Eren took her hand. "I'll be fine, but I'm not going to be able to do much alone. I'm going to need to count on you, Mikasa."

She nodded, determined. "Of course, just Eren…" She kissed his cheek, causing Eren to look at her, surprised. "Please, whatever you do…don't get yourself killed." With that, she hurried down another hall in search for some allies.

I didn't plan on it, Eren thought to himself, watching Mikasa disappear. I won't allow myself to get killed. Not until I know what it feels like. Not until Zeke is no longer a threat.

With a newfound fire, Eren continued to quietly trek his way to the throne room.

It was easier than he thought. He'd reached the throne room without running into anybody. This was cause for a little concern for Eren, because it just proved how many people had left Paradis. Were there even enough people to have a fighting chance against the Beast? Would they all simply die trying?

Squeezing his eyes tightly shut Eren shook his head. He couldn't think about that now. Everything was riding on this fight. If he couldn't stop Zeke, everything that was the Eldian Empire would be extinguished. Everyone had already left, it seemed like. He needed to give them a reason to rally again, for a better future with Eren as the King. Only simply because, it was his birthright. He needed to accept and use the one thing his father had gifted him.

Following Mikasa's plan, he didn't make himself known quite yet. He needed to get a feel for the situation; figure out how much of a chance he really had.

As Eren waited patiently on the other side of the doorway to the throne room, he listened as hard as he could for any voices or conversation. He needn't have a hard time doing so.

"Hannes!"

Eren flinched at the echoing voice, but mostly from the use of such a familiar name.

He peeked over the side of the wall where he was hiding and watched the room.

As Mikasa had stated, Zeke was seated in the throne, lazily twirling the Eldian crown on his fingers. A ball of anger clenched in Eren's stomach at the nonchalant action, but he stayed put. There were only a few groups of people within the room, and all seemed quite unkeen to be noticed.

Eventually, the familiar figure of the blonde man from Eren's childhood came staggering out from a previously hidden corner of the throne room. Eren's ball of anger turned into one of hollow dread.

Hannes looked terrible. He looked exhausted, in both his face and the way his body moved. He was thinner than Eren remembered, and paler. There were dark bags under his eyes, and his posture no longer stood proud, but hunched and it seemed like he was limping.

Eren couldn't get much more detail from this far away, but it was enough to prove to him that Hannes is close to dropping any minute.

"You called?" Hannes drawled, and this wasn't purposeful. It was almost like the words were fighting to get articulated and spoken.

"Yes," Zeke snapped. "I need you to bring me some iced tea, it is too hot in here," Zeke demanded.

Eren gritted his teeth. This was what one of the best soldiers in the military was reduced to? Fetching drinks? Polishing the shoes?

Hannes looked like he wanted to sigh, exasperatedly, and do anything but that.

Instead, he obeyed his King and started walk away, towards the kitchen.

"Thomas!" Zeke called out again.

Eren perked up at the familiar name.

A blonde man stepped forward, Eren's age. The brunette remembered him from around the castle when he was a child. Thomas's mother was, well, used to be, part of the Court. Clearly circumstances had changed, and Eren wonders if his mother was even still within the castle, presently.

"Yes, sire?" Thomas answered, bowing low before Zeke.

"I need to know if any of the centuries have located Mikasa Ackerman, yet?" Zeke asked.

Eren tried to ignore his heart leaping into his throat.

"Not yet, your majesty. We are keeping a lookout along the outliers, but sir, if I may be frank?"

Zeke growled. "What?"

Eren could tell Thomas had physically gulped.

"I-I don't believe she would be daring enough to return. She knows that you won't stop looking for her, and it doesn't seem as though she was too keen to-,"

"I'm going to stop you right there, Wagnar." Zeke held up his hand. "Whether or not, she is keen is not the issue. Mikasa has been educated and molded to become the perfect Queen. She was originally supposed to marry by dear late brother, but as he is no longer around, she must marry the throne. These were the conditions for Hizuru to join with Eldia."

"Yes, sire, I understand, but there are other women who I'm sure would make a lovely Queen, and bride."

Zeke slammed his fist on the arm of the throne, causing Thomas to flinch and the already quiet room to somehow get quieter.

"I don't want any other woman, I want her. Don't you understand the gold that runs through her veins? She is an Ackerman, and I, of royal blood. Our children would be even more powerful than any of the nine titans. Not to mention, she is most beautiful. I will not be seen ruling with some common pretty on my arm."

"I understand-,"

"See that you do, Wagnar. I want her found!"

Thomas than hurried off, and Hannes entered the room again. He presented the King with his cup of iced tea and moved along to the right side of the throne.

"You don't blame me, do you, Hannes?" Zeke asked, sipping from his drink. "You don't blame me for using my soldiers to find some woman? It's a shame you have to stay all cooped up in here, running errands for me with that limp of yours. Of course, you only got what you deserved, as the little birdie had told me you were the one to help my lovely Mikasa escape. Are you almost ready to tell me how and why you did such a thing?"

Suddenly, two warriors, who Eren had not seen yet, Annie and Bertoldt, hurried up and seized Hannes before he could say or do anything. They took him before the King and knelt him into a bow.

Eren couldn't stop the growl of hatred from escaping his lips. Just one more thing you want to yourself, Zeke? Eren thought. Taking my home, my throne, my friends, and now my girl…Nothing is ever enough for you, you piece of shit.

"I don't know what you mean, your majesty. Your…little birdie, simply said that the last time she had seen Lady Mikasa was with me. I have known Mikasa since childhood. Is it a crime to exchange words with her?" Hannes rasped out.

Zeke chuckled. "Of course not, but the means of your conversation are what I am concerned about. Do you really wish to sit here and lie to me again about how she managed to escape from my Warriors. Three, if I recall correctly, were guarding her, and she managed to slip past them, or for lack of better terms, you caused a diversion and she managed to slip by them," Zeke explained.

"I don't see you beating them…" Hannes mumbled.

Zeke grinned broadly and stood up from the throne. "Of course, you don't. My Warriors get a much worse punishment, I can assure you. Not to mention, they heal over a span of a few hours, but that can be both a blessing and a curse. My Warriors lose a couple limbs when they fail or disobey me. I trust that the agony of losing and regrowing an arm and a leg is much worse than a sore limp." Zeke stopped in front of Hannes and bent a little lower.

"But I can promise you this, Hannes. If you fail to tell me one more time, what you said to her and where Mikasa is going, than you will be losing a limb. I'll do you justice and let you choose which one."

Tension hung in the air as Zeke and Hannes stared down the other. Eren closed his eyes, waiting, anticipating someone to speak first. But the words said, had him wishing that he'd made an appearance sooner.

"Never…"

Zeke grunted out a curse and gestured to Annie.

The blonde waited until Bertoldt had Hannes secured before leaving, then coming back with a long blade.

"A shame Hannes, a real shame. See, I don't know why you wouldn't want Mikasa to have a comfortable life. Everything would've been at her whim, food, drink, maidens, anything. Not to mention, a man willing to give her all that and more. I believe I will find her, and when I do, I will paint a portrait of her with your blood. She's never taken off that red scarf, there's plenty of that colour."

Annie approached with the blade and leveled it with Hannes's face.

"Do a leg, Annie. He needs those arms to abide by my commands."

The two shifters manipulated Hannes's arm so that it was against the floor. The man made no sound.

That's it! Eren thought. Screw the element of surprise. Eren was not about to sit here and have his father figure as a child be butchered all because Mikasa had come looking for him. Although him being found was an accident. Her life had clearly taken a dark turn once Eren had left and Zeke took over.

Before Annie could swing down on Hannes's arm, the latter screwing his eyes shut, a golden blast caved in the doorway into the throne room, and everyone was swept off their feet.

Eren's titan materialized with a deafening roar. It shattered the windows, caused half the ceiling to cave in, and every person within the throne room to run for their lives.

Eren's titan ducked into the room, coming up to full height and snarling, steaming with an animalistic fury.

Zeke had fallen against the throne and stared at the titan looming only feet away from him.

"Father, no, you're dead!" he shouted, narrowly avoiding a chunk of the ceiling falling toward him.

Annie and Bertoldt had moved toward the right wall, awaiting their King's instructions.

Eren's giant arm moved forward, scooped up Hannes, and lifted him out of the way.

Coming only partially out of his form, Eren bent low toward the man, who gazed up at him with terrified awe.

"Grisha?" Hannes wondered aloud, squinting against the hot steam rolling over him.

Eren shook his head. "No, it's me."

Realization dawned on him, and Hannes gaped. "Eren? You're alive? How can this be?"

"It doesn't matter," Eren shook his head. "I'm home."

This had also occurred to Zeke, who stared shocked. "Eren?"

The green-eyed man turned toward him, a glare so dark the room dimmed.

"I'm a little surprised to see you…alive," Zeke growled out the last part, sending a nasty look toward the two titan shifters, who gulped and backed away.

Eren shifted so that his body was blocking Hannes, and spoke, voice dripping with venom. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't rip you apart."

"Eren…Eren please, you must understand, the burdens of running a kingdom are-,"

"Are no longer yours," Eren snapped. "Step down, Zeke."

Zeke chuckled nervously. "Oh, yes, of course, I would, naturally, but um," Zeke shrugged. "You see them?" He gestured to a doorway where the Warriors and a few soldiers stood, cowering. "They think I'm King." Zeke pressed both his hands to his chest, as if wounded by this fact.

"The Warriors might, but we don't." Eren whipped around and caught sight of Mikasa entering, along with a few of the women from the Court and a few soldiers. "Eren's the rightful King."

Eren couldn't help his heart flutter but remained vigilant. "The choice is yours, Zeke, either step down, or fight!"

At this point, Zeke got up, grinning manically. "Oh, must things always end in violence? I would hate to be the cause of a death of a family member, wouldn't you agree, Eren?"

Eren scowled. "That's not going to work, Zeke, I've put it behind me!"

"But what about your faithful subjects, have they put it behind them?" Zeke questioned.

At this, Mikasa looked up to Eren. "Eren, what is he talking about?" she asked. Eren felt his confidence leaking away.

"Ahh! So, you haven't told them? Not even Lady Mikasa. By the way, it's good to see you again, my Queen, I hope once this little scuffle is over, you will think twice before you leave in such a hurry again. But now's the time to tell, Eren. Tell them who was responsible for Carla's death!"

His voiced echoed to a silent room, all looking toward Eren to give some kind of answer to this accusation.

Eren hardened his resolve. Glaring at Zeke like he was the only person in the room, he murmured out, "I am."

Eren heard Mikasa gasp, and a couple people murmur in disbelief. Hannes limped forward attempting to look Eren in the eye, as he was 7 meters above his eye level.

"It's not true," Hannes said, eyes wide with horror. "Tell me, it's not true!"

Eren winced. "It's true…"

"You see he admits it!" Another golden blast shook the room, and the Beast Titan appeared, eyes glowing red. "Murderer…" he growled, voice distorted and dark.

"No, it was an accident!" Eren snapped out.

"If it weren't for you Carla would be alive, it's your fault she's dead!" Zeke lashed out. "Do you deny it!?"

"No," Eren growled.

"Then you're guilty!"

"No, I'm not a murderer!"

Eren had grown so wrapped up, that he wasn't quick enough to stop Zeke from snatching Eren out of his form; his titan body fell, motionless.

"Looks like you're in trouble again, little brother." Zeke carried him towards the broken windows. "This time, mummy isn't here to save you. And now everyone knows why!"

He thrust Eren out onto the balcony, causing him to slide toward the edge of the crumbling stone.

Struggling to regain his footing, Eren froze when the Beast placed his bearing weight onto the balcony, causing cracks to appear.

"Now, where have I seen this before? Let me see…" Placing another foot onto the stone, it bounced Eren a few feet into the air, before he came crashing down again, gritting his teeth from the pain. "Ah, I remember. That was almost the same look that your mother gave before she died." The Beast slammed a fist onto the balcony. The fissures expanded, and Eren started to slide toward the edge, slipping as rain started to pour down and wet the stone. One more step and the balcony would break off, Eren tumbling down with it. "And here's my little secret…"

Zeke's titan gave a large, toothy grin. "I killed Carla…" Another fist came crashing down, the balcony cut loose from the rest of the castle, and he started to fall.

Eren's universe froze. He felt as if his life was flashing before his eyes. He started to relive the moment when he lost his mother. How everything went dark, pain engulfing his very being; the absolute powerlessness he displayed when faced with a threat. The explosion that awoke him unknowingly to a nightmare he never wanted to fathom. A life without his mother…

Everything was silent for what seemed like forever. He could feel himself free-falling, but couldn't even bring himself to be scared.

Instead, Eren let out a bloodcurdling scream, another golden blast of lightning crashed.

The Attack Titan reappeared, grabbing the ledge that the Beast was still standing on. Before Zeke could react, Eren grabbed his ankle and pulled him down with him.

The landed with an earthquake, demolishing a century tower in the process.

Eren regained his footing first and straddled his brother. His skin hardened to crystal, his fingers becoming pointed. In a rage Eren jabbed out Zeke's eyes whilst screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Eren!"

He heard her, but he couldn't even think about Mikasa right now. Everything Eren had known, everything he had blamed himself for, beat himself up for, gave up everything for, was a lie.

"Murderer…"

Without a set of lips, no words came from his mouth, but Zeke could hear him. His voice echoing within the cavity he resided within.

"No, Eren, please…" Zeke attempted to make up for the blindness by hardening his nape and swinging fruitlessly at his younger brother. "Have mercy, brother."

"You don't deserve to live." Eren pinned Zeke's arms, and leaned so they were eye to eye.

"But…But…Eren, I am…family!" Eren growled low and deep. "It was the Warriors!" Zeke spat out. "It was all their fault! It was their idea!"

Unbeknown to both brothers, Annie and Bertoldt, who had just been about to jump down and join their King had frozen on the spot, expressions darkening, growls leaving their throats.

"Why should I believe you? Everything you ever told me was a lie!"

Zeke was at a loss of what to do. He couldn't see, he couldn't move and a part of him was convinced he couldn't even breath. "What are you going to do?" Trying to keep his voice from shaking in fright, Zeke tried to muster up some of that manipulative confidence. "You wouldn't kill your own brother."

At this, Eren seemed to ponder. "No, Zeke. I'm not like you."

"Oh, thank you, Eren. I will make it up to you, truly, I promise. What would you ask of me, tell me, I mean anything."

"Run," Eren snarled. "Run away, Zeke, and never return."

Breathing heavily, Zeke gulped hard. "Yes, of course. Anything, your majesty!"

Zeke let out a giant bellow of fury. Eren was thrown back in surprise. Steam erupted from Zeke's eyes as he stood up.

Almost at once, four more lightning blasts shattered the atmosphere.

With pounding footsteps, the Armoured, Cart, Jaw, and Warhammer appeared, starting to surround the Attack Titan, poised for a fight.

Zeke started to laugh.

Meanwhile, up in the throne room once again, Mikasa watched in horror as Eren stood surrounded by clearly more titans than he could handle.

"No, Eren," she murmured. She turned to the people rallying behind her with a look of sheer determination. "He needs our help!" she commanded. "There is gear in the armoury, grab all the Thunder Spears you can carry. It doesn't matter now if you were once a soldier, we must help the rightful King if we want to stop this poverty!"

"Mikasa!"

Four more figures came hurrying into the throne room, dodging past ceiling debris that was still crumbling away.

"Jean!" The black-haired girl hurried toward her team. "What's going on? I thought you were keeping the titan-shifters away from-,"

"It wasn't our fault! As soon as Zeke screamed, it was as if they couldn't even choose to transform or not, they were titans before we even knew what was happening!" Jean explained. "Where do you need us?"

Mikasa took a breath. "Eren needs our help. Can you get some gear and suit up? Have you ever even used 3DMG?" she asked.

"No, but we can figure it out. We've seen soldiers use them before!"

"Right! Follow the rest."

The four friends obeyed and hurried to follow the small flow of people moving toward the armoury.

Mikasa, on the other hand, turned toward the two figures still looming silently within the throne room. She drew her twin blades along her back and scowled.

"Why didn't you two transform with the rest of them? Don't you want your precious King to win?"

Annie and Bertoldt glanced quickly at each other.

"Bertoldt couldn't transform, even if he wanted to. He'd kill everyone. I on the other hand, chose to defy my King long ago. All I've wanted to do is survive. For as long as it's been, Zeke was my only way to do that. But…" Annie stepped forward. "I believe that Eren is the rightful King. If anyone can save Eldia, it's him."

As Eren battled against the many titan-shifters, the team led by Mikasa entered the fight with an explosive fury.

Before anyone knew it, Thunder Spears were raining down upon the enemies of Paradis with unrelenting force. Eren and the Beast were fighting each other. The Cart was being taken down by a squad of soldiers including Armin and Jean; the Warhammer was against Sasha and a few more soldiers; the Armoured was being battled by Connie with a squad; Mikasa took the Jaw by herself and seemed to be winning already.

"Don't you know what's happening right now?" Mikasa asked the Jaw, not that she thought he could hear her. "Do you understand that history is about be rewritten? How can you stand to live this life? Don't you see that your persecution only happened because of your loyalty to Zeke!?"

The Jaw swiped at her, but Mikasa turned into a whirlwind of destruction and spun, cutting along his arm and moving to his eyes, which got sliced before he even had a chance to do anything.

"Join the other side, Galliard! Your powers would be useful in the new era. You and the other warriors would be the highest ends of the Court, I will see to it, personally!"

The Jaw merely screamed back at her. Mikasa's eyes narrowed.

"Perhaps we should talk about this without the heat of battle looming. Rest for now, Galliard." Mikasa swung high into the air with her gear and unleashed to Thunder Spear, aimed for his nape. They hit their mark dead on, and Galliard crumpled.

Mikasa swung down and carved out the remaining body from the titan, and lifted Galliard easily.

"I'm putting you in the throne room for now. You have friends there who will attend to you."

As Mikasa did this, screams of the battle echoing across the city, the Cart fell with a cry, her body completely blown to smithereens from the Thunder Spears.

Seeing now that he only had two Warriors left, Zeke let out a scream of fury. He swung hard at Eren, but the Beasts long arms were not meant for their speed. Eren managed to catch the fist, putting a foot to his chest, pinning him. With a roar of rage, Eren started to pull the arm. It came off with a sickening squelch and crashed into a neighbouring building.

With shocked fear, Zeke came to a conclusion that made his teeth grit. He was fighting a losing battle. If things kept moving at this pace, he would fall.

But I would rather die than be exiled again. I finally took my rightful place and you decided to come back with a dramatic bang, hey, Eren? Your parents were fools to never tell you the real reason I wasn't allowed to claim the throne, and that led to their own downfall. After I lost my own mother, Grisha went into a dark rage. He set out into Eldia from Marely, leaving me, as a young 14-year-old, in charge of the kingdom that he ruled. He spent days away, drinking in a little bar along the outskirts of Paradis, where he met Carla. They fell in love almost instantly. You can imagine the shock when he returned to the same sight you did today. You honestly believe that our father had you because of the love he had for your mother? I can tell you that you are wrong. He failed in the first family, so he set out to create another, better one. And this is the end result. A man too caught up in his past that he refused to admit any wrongdoing, until cornered. Were you really going to live on without telling your pretty, little friends what the truth was?

I still have an Ace up my sleeve, little brother. She could turn the tables instantly on your comrades. I'm sure you'd love to see her again.

"Annie!" Zeke screamed. The battle seemed to freeze. "Annie, prove your loyalty and join this fight at once! I will make you Queen, Annie! I will make you have complete rule over everything, including your own fellow Warriors!"

There was absolute silence enveloping the area.

A bunch of the still fighting soldiers had turned toward the direction of the castle. A figure stood by the cavity that was created through the Beast's transforming and Eren falling from the balcony. Everyone waited.

Meanwhile, Annie stood, staring out into the battlefield. Galliard at her feet and Bertoldt hunched over him to assist if he were to come back to.

"Annie," Bertoldt said. The blonde said nothing. "Annie, please, you can't honestly believe that he is telling the truth."

She turned slightly.

"You have been saying it for the past 9 years. I was with you on that front, I should've stood by your side instead of saying nothing. There is no future for Eldia if Zeke wins, you know it. Please, Annie, we need to be the ones to end this. If I could fight with you, I would. I will always fight by your side because-." Flushing, Bertoldt turned back down to Porco, who was groaning and stirring. "I care about you more than anyone, more than anything. If not for me, do it for you."

Annie chuckled after a minute of silence. "Don't worry, Bert. I already knew all of that. I don't want to be seen as just a "Warrior" anymore. I want to be me, Annie Leonhart. I'm tired of fighting, I'm tired of starving. The idea of being a Queen never appealed to me, for they only think of their people and abiding the King's word, through and through. That's not like me at all. The one thing I want…"

Annie took out a blade from her hoodie pocket and flipped it open.

"Is to finally live for myself."

She jumped from the balcony, slicing her hand, blood raining, as she did so. The golden light encased the area almost immediately. With a bellow of anger, the Female Titan slammed down onto the ground floor, steaming and glowing with unsurpassed power.

She entered the battlefield, surveying the area with a dangerous glint in her eyes of ice. As the Female did not move right away, some soldiers were apprehensive to get her fighting.

"Well done, Annie." The Beast grumbled. "I'm glad you're still as obedient as when you were first training to become one of my Warriors."

A low sound resonated from the Female. If only he hadn't said that, Annie thought, and she charged forward.

Eren, somehow realizing what was happening, leaped out of the way. Annie came barreling toward Zeke; the skin on her foot hardened into crystal and she kicked, with every ounce of strength. It hit the mark of the Beasts head, taking it clean off.

Shocked by the sudden movements, Zeke had no time to react.

Annie placed the still crystalized foot across Zeke's chest to hold him down. Using her hands, she dug and ripped Zeke's body from the now disintegrating form and held him aloft.

"Annie, no, what are you-,"

The earth shook as the battle had stopped screaming, and the remaining Warriors started to gather. Eren as well, who watched ominously from the sidelines.

"My friends," Zeke said. He would've spread his hands in a welcome gesture if not for both being pinned by the Female's giant fists.

"Friends?" Annie questioned with a glare. "I thought you said we were the enemy. That's what I heard, hey, Eren?"

Zeke's face took a dark turn as his brother stepped up to the Female.

"I think that was exactly what he said," Eren replied. Eren's hand started to reach for his older brother and Zeke squirmed in Annie's grasp.

"No, no, you don't understand, I was merely-, Eren, please-."

Eren's fist took hold of the top half of Zeke; Annie let go. In one motion, Eren raised his brother's body upwards, mouth open. With one last kick of effort, Zeke fell limp as Eren's hand released him and he went falling into his mouth. Eren's teeth snapped shut, taking off Zeke's legs to ensure there was no way he would survive Eren leaving his form; his teeth snapped his spine as well, and he was swallowed.

An eerie silence loomed within the atmosphere; everyone waited for something else to happen. Some believed that Zeke would appear again from the remains of the Attack Titan, but no more lightning came.

"Eren!"

The Attack Titan turned and Mikasa came hurdling toward him on her gear, landing on his shoulder. He glanced at her, and she could almost see him smiling at her.

"Or should I call you, "Your majesty" now?" She gave him a soft grin. To answer her question, Eren let out a cry. The crumbling buildings started to worsen but Eren did not care. As King, his first order of business would be to assign a good team of builders to reinstate the city, that is, if he managed to bring anybody back to Paradis.

The titan shifters started to leave their forms, kneeling and letting them fall in a steaming mass, Mikasa, Armin, Jean, and Connie took to a shifter and assisted in helping them out and down from their corpses.

Armin pulled out Lara who thanked his begrudgingly; Reiner was assisted by Jean; Connie helped out Pieck; Mikasa allowed Annie to lean on her as she was flown down to the ground again.

As the battle died, everyone started to move toward the castle again. Bertoldt met them with Galliard on his arm, leaning and steaming from his wounds.

Eren led the way, and was stopped by the Colossal.

"Eren-, I mean, your majesty-,"

"I think under the circumstances you can call me Eren. I'm not King until all the details have been fine-tuned," Eren said.

"Either way, you have a refugee already returned."

Bertoldt turned and let another man come through the doorway from inside the castle.

"My King," he greeted. Eren let out an exasperated laugh.

"Pyxis, how long have you been here?" Eren asked.

"Long enough." Pyxis walked to stand beside Eren. "It is time." He bowed deeply, encouraging the others to do the same. Eren glanced around and saw even Mikasa and his friends bowing low. "Long live the King."

1 Year Later…

Hurried feet echoed against the newly constructed walls of the castle. Breath heaving and body aching, Sasha Braus was shooting through every corridor until she found her destination.

Heaving open the heavy oak door she burst in to see the previous known Warriors and her team.

"It's happened!" she said.

Everyone was on their feet instantly.

"What?"

"About time!"

"What is it? What is it?"

Sasha held up a finger to allow herself to catch her breath but beamed brightly.

"It's both!" she squealed.

Everyone exchanged glances with each other, stunned.

"Wait-,"

"Do you actually mean-?"

"She's had twins!" Sasha cheered. "A boy and a girl, her majesty sent me to fetch you guys. She wants to see all of us in her chambers."

Not a word more was said as the group followed Sasha out of the drawing room and down the corridors she had just sped through.

Upon reaching said room, Sasha knocked.

"Enter," came Eren's gruff response.

The door opened slowly, and the squad was greeted by the sight of a grand bedroom with towering ceilings and beautiful décor and furniture. Mikasa Ackerman lay in her bed, holding a bundle of blankets to her chest. Eren was standing and holding another one identically to his chest.

"That was quick," Mikasa commented. She looked exhausted as she watched the royal doctors packing away their things and Pyxis looming quietly in a corner of the room overseeing everything. Her eyes were glazed, her face as well with sweat, but she looked happier than they have ever seen her.

The squad came further into the room, Annie, Sasha, Pieck and Lara went to the Queen's bedside and gathered around her.

"Can we see?" Pieck wondered. Mikasa nodded.

"Of course," she answered. Shifting, Mikasa moved to replace her gowns position covering her breasts, as she was just feeding the baby. "She just fell asleep. Do you want to hold her?" Pieck looked apprehensive, Lara looked a little surprised, but Sasha nearly jumped onto the bed.

"I do, oh, please let me hold her!"

Chuckling weakly, Mikasa handed Sasha the bundle of blankets, the latter taking it gently as if it were made of glass.

Once she got herself comfortable, Sasha stood up to let everyone else observe.

A little baby girl was nestled in the blankets. Her hair was a dark brown like her fathers and Sasha nearly cried.

"She looks like Eren," she whispered.

"She's got her mother's eyes though," Eren replied, handing his son over to Armin who took him carefully.

"My son has the black hair, but his father's eyes," Mikasa said, giving a loving glance at her King, who returned it. Eren walked over to Mikasa and sat beside her on the bed, arm around her. She leaned into him with a small smile.

Jean, who had been observing the baby boy in Armin's arms spoke up. "Did you name them yet?"

The King and Queen looked at each other.

"It wasn't official, but I think we can both agree what we name them," Mikasa answered.

"Of course, my love, Sasha," Eren said, turning to the brunette still cooing the little girl. "You are holding Princess Carla of Paradis, and Armin," he turned to the latter, "you are holding Prince Hannes of Paradis."

Grinning broadly, Armin looked back down to the little boy.

"You hear that, little guy?"

"Princess Carla," Sasha repeated the name. "It's a beautiful name. Your mother would be so happy, Eren."

"Hannes must have had a field day," Jean speculated.

"Indeed," Mikasa replied. "He was most jubilant to hear we were considering naming our baby after him, if it were a boy, but I think Eren and I both agreed that if it was a girl, she would always be named Carla."

"Can I hold her?" Annie suddenly asked Sasha.

"Oh, yeah, shouldn't be hogging this little sweetie all to myself." Sasha shifted to allow Annie to take hold of the baby girl. The blonde looked a little apprehensive, but settled once the baby was safe in her arms.

"She's…" Annie looked at the couple. "She's really the picture of you, Eren."

Suddenly, a cry echoed from the bundle of blankets Armin was holding, and the blonde looked panicked.

"I-I didn't do anything, he just-,"

"It's alright, buddy," Eren said, moving from his wife's side to Armin's. He took his son and carried him back to his mother. "He's just hungry, he hasn't been fed yet." Eren handed the prince off to Mikasa, who lay a blanket over her chest and secured him onto her breast. She watched fondly as he ate and rocked herself back and forth.

After a couple minutes of the princess being passed carefully around and Mikasa feeding her son, the group decided to take their leave and allow the couple time with their children.

Eren placed Carla into her cradle and watched her as she blissfully slept.

The door closed, leaving the King and Queen alone.

Eren retook his place beside Mikasa and ran a hand through her damp hair fondly.

"Are you feeling alright?" he asked. Mikasa nodded.

"Better than I ever thought I could feel after giving birth to two children. Eren," she looked up at him. "I must say this, as it has been on my mind for a year. Do you feel that I've taken your freedom?" she wondered.

Eren gave her a stunned expression. "Mikasa-,"

"You seemed happy out in Dauper, had everything you could have ever wanted. Do you believe that if I hadn't found you when I did, that you would still be out there? Living with the Braus's?"

Eren didn't answer right away, merely because he didn't exactly have one. He watched his son for a beat before sighing.

"I believe that I would've eventually returned. Despite how I'd left and how young I was, I knew that my home was here, I knew my home was you. I truly thought of you every day I was out there, even if I tried not to. During my time there, every once and a while I would transform and travel back to Paradis. Naturally I'd assume human form when I neared it, but I would just sit on that hill, watching the city. I didn't see it crumble though; the pain had gotten too much after a time. My answer to your question is that maybe not as soon as I had, but I would've gone back, even if it was to say good-bye."

Mikasa nodded. "Take him," she said, as she passed the sleeping boy to his father. Eren gratefully did so and placed him with his twin sister in the cradle. "I would've found you either way. I will always do so," Mikasa murmured. Eren grinned.

"I know."

There you have it! Sorry for the late update but this truly was harder than I thought it would be. I apologize if the ending seemed a little rushed, but this was just dragging on and on and I just wanted to get it done so I could start another! I hope you enjoyed though, thanks for reading!

-RavenJaeger