Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal
Chapter 58: Midnight Train
Following the loss of their fleet, The Mid-East Allied Forces had no choice but to sign a peace treaty under Marley's terms. It may not have been as long and difficult a war compared to the one they had with Britannia, but it did come with its share of predicaments.
Just like their first attack against Courland, the Omega Warrior Unit had once again achieved victory for Marley. However, the war also made it clear to the whole world that the power of Titans would soon be eclipsed. Conventional weapons have advanced to the point that they're stronger than most of the Eleven Titans. One day, they may become stronger than the Winged Titan, The most powerful weapon ever conceived by science.
Knowing this, the leaders of Marley would resolve to obtain the Founding Titan as quickly as possible. Especially now that they're competing against the very powerful weapon they've created as well as the Crystal Titan. Both Marley's military and Lazarus's Wings of Crystal desire the Founding Titan for their own reasons, with the Warriors caught in the middle. The only question was… Which of them will reach it first?
A few days after the war ended and things had quieted down, the Marleyan brass were discussing the future of their nation. Though they've technically won, it wasn't a true victory for them. All it did was tell the whole world that the power of the Titans would soon be surpassed. The once-feared Titan powers Marley heavily relied on are now obsolete in the eyes of the public worldwide. What's more, they've grown even weaker now that they've lost control of the Winged and Crystal Titans.
"What do you make of all this, Magath?" One of the commanders asked as he glanced down at the newspaper that read "Marley's won, but at the cost of exposing their weakness". Those words alone forced him to scrunch it up in anger.
"As I've stated before, we all knew this day would come and it has. The power of the Titans has been surpassed. Our time has run out." He gets up from his chair and stares out the window, gazing upon the town.
"We've been content to rely on the power of the Titans as we expand our colonial holdings. Meanwhile, countries that lack Titans rely on developed weapons to oppose them. And now our complacency is about to bite us in the ass. When it comes to ground engagements, our Titan forces should reign supreme for a while. But after Lazarus's defection from our ranks, enemy aircraft have become the least of our worries. We're all forced to allow him, his partner, Michael, and any others supporting him to continue to roam free out of fear of being wiped out."
All the officers look up at the hole in the ceiling and watch a flock of seagulls fly over them. Hard to believe that looking up at the sky used to be a sign of peace, freedom, and relaxation. But now whenever they look up, all they feel is fear. Fear of the Winged Titan circling over their heads and raining down fire on their beloved nation.
Running wouldn't help either. The Crystal Titan could easily seal them inside by constructing huge walls around Marley's borders. Those two boys from Odiha could bring about their end if they don't do as they please. Maybe the rest of the world was right. Maybe they have grown weak if two meagre Eldians could mean the difference between life and death.
"General Magath." Another random officer spoke up as he stood up from his chair. "Is there any way to restart the False Founder Project and create another Winged Titan? One that is truly loyal to Marley?"
The general shakes his head with regret. "The Eden's Nest, and all the research behind Ludwig's projects, have been destroyed in the Odiha explosion. I've had teams search the ruins and they found nothing. The chances of creating a second Winged Titan are absolute zero."
"What about the Tybur Family?" Another commander spoke out. "They're the ones who started the project. Provided the equipment and resources, as well as chose the candidates. Surely, they can figure out a way to start again, or at least develop new Titans that can't be beaten."
"Except they can't." Zeke interrupted. He too stood up from his seat, drawing the attention of the brass members. "The Tyburs may've started the project, but they didn't create it. The False Founder serum was developed by the head scientist, Professor Ludwig Oppenheimer. And he, and his team, went up in flames with their life's work. He was the only one who knew the secret behind the serum. Without him, any hopes of recreating it is dead."
Zeke held his nerve as he spoke before the brass. Most of what he was telling them was true, but he did withhold one vital piece of information. That being the old briefcase he found in the secret room in Tom Xaver's office. It contained notes, diaries, files, and test tubes full of blood samples relating to the project. That information alone wouldn't be enough to restart the project though. But it could be of potential use to him in the future when the time comes for him to carry out his plan and put a stop to Lazarus's.
Another vital truth he withheld was the fact that Erwin Smith was not only a citizen of Paradis but was the former commander of their military. Back when they returned to the motherland, Zeke didn't think much of exposing his true identity. It would've been a foolish errand. For one, Michael would declare war on Marley if they executed him, and Lazarus would most likely help him. Secondly, he was essential for his alliance with Paradis to unleash a small-scale Rumbling to scare the world into not attacking within the next 50 years or so.
He could return Erwin to them alive and well as a show of good faith and win their trust. However, the former commander of the Scout Regiment was not one to be easily fooled. Lazarus saving him over capturing Eren had become an even bigger setback than he initially thought. It annoyed the hell out of him.
"If I may, General. I have some thoughts on what our next move should be."
"Go ahead."
"It's time we resume the Paradis Operation. So that we could take control of the Founding Titan" He declared to the surprising faces of the others. "It is just as you said, sir. We have to adapt. Marley needs to modernise her military starting now. However, the world, nor Lazarus, will not stand by and wait for her to do it."
"Reforming the army will take time. And the best way to buy that time is to give the newspapers of the world a new headline to publish. Something like this. "Marley defeats the devils of Paradis and seizes the power of all Titans."
"And what about Averbach and Suurvalta? What's to stop them from stopping us?" Magath asks calmly.
"Lazarus may have the power to destroy us all. But I doubt he actually has the balls to follow through on that promise. I should know. I grew up with him in the academy. I know him better than he knows himself. Deep down he's still a growing boy with a childish dream of living in a peaceful world with all the people he loves. He's never had a family, which is why he's desperate to hold onto the one he currently has. Fortunately for us, I'm still his big brother. Which makes it easier for me to control him."
"If that were true, how would you explain his actions during our last board meeting four years ago? If he did put his faith and trust in you, he never would've gone against your orders to begin with." Magath pointed out. He briefly thinks back to the look of seriousness and determination he saw in his crimson eyes that day. "Those eyes said it all. He doesn't confide in you as much as he used to."
"That's because of Michael." Zeke immediately retorted. "He knew him long before he met me. He also happened to spend too much time among the Island Devils. He told me he'd put that fake life behind him and swore his loyalty to Marley, but I don't believe it… I'm not sure exactly what Michael's motives are, but I do know that he's been encouraging Lazarus to look past our friendship and follow his instincts."
"Then we must kill Michael!" A random officer declared sternly.
"You sit back down!" Magath angrily talked down to his associate. "If you were paying attention, Lazarus said that if anything were to happen to Michael, Annie, or anyone else he's close with, Marley would suffer the consequences! We CAN'T move against him. Not until we come up with a plan that 100% ensures he can be stopped." He takes a calming breath as he faces Zeke again. "I assume you have a plan for that?"
"Yes sir. The Warrior Unit is still under my control. And my loyalty will always be to Marley. As long as I'm in charge, Lazarus and Michael's actions will not affect the motherland."
"Except you don't have much time left. Your term ends in a year from now." The general reminded him.
"I know, sir. And I'm quite anxious whether or not Colt can inherit the full power of the Beast Titan."
"I get it. You want to use your last year to redeem yourself. You don't want to die without unfinished business. Is that it?" Magath asked.
"You understand me completely. My father, Grisha Yeager, set something great and terrible in motion on that island, and Lazarus's actions may've made the outcome we've all feared would never happen certain. As Grisha's former son and Lazarus's former friend/roommate, I would like to be the end of it."
After the battle, the other members of the Omega Unit spent most of their time resting. That fight took a lot out of them, especially Reiner, who suffered the worst of it. He spent most of his time sleeping in a hospital bed on the outskirts of the Allied Forces' last remaining towns.
Lazarus was sitting beside him, making sure his healing factor did its job and restored him to full health. He would often hear him muttering in his sleep. Saying things like "Please wait!" or "We had no choice!"
This concerned Lazarus, as he saw it as a sign of his PTSD showing itself again. It was bad enough what he had to see his friend go through on Paradis. He'd hoped that coming back would've helped put his mind at ease, but he should've known better it doesn't work like that. What's worse is that Bertolt has been showing signs of depression after the battle ended.
He wouldn't say why, but Lazarus had a feeling it had to do with Paradis. Maybe it was the fact that he came so close to being eaten by a Pure Titan and losing his powers had Michael not saved him. Utilising his Colossal Titan to end the war might've been the cause of it also.
The only one who didn't seem to have been negatively affected by the events of the Paradis Operation was Annie, though she'd always been good at hiding her feelings. Being sealed away in hardened crystal for so long could have repercussions on someone depending on the amount of time. He couldn't even imagine what she would've been like if she was still in there now.
It was around this point that Reiner started to wake up. His eyes had difficulty adjusting to the light coming from the window. He lightly turns his head to the right and sees a blurred image of Lazarus sitting at a small table gazing out the window. He too was wearing the new Wings of Crystal uniform Michael wore on the battlefield, signifying his defection from Marley's military.
But to Reiner's eyes, all he could see was the Scout Regiment's uniform. He started seeing an image of Lazarus sitting atop the bunkbed they shared in the dorms they stayed in during their training years as cadets in the 104th.
"…Lazarus?" He uttered weakly, still feeling exhausted.
Lazarus lifts his head from his palms and looks over in Reiner's direction. By this time his vision started to clear up, revealing the true design of his new uniform to him.
"Ah, you're finally awake. I was beginning to worry you died in your sleep."
"Uhhhh, I'm starting to wish that I had." He uttered to himself."
"What?"
"Nothing." Reiner slowly leans forward and sits properly in the bed. He examines the design of Lazarus's new uniform. It was the biggest change he'd seen of him in the last four years. Other than his hair being slightly longer and him still wearing his black stetson. He also had his black armband with the red star on it around his left shoulder, marking him as the first and only successful test subject of Eden's Nest.
"Feels like it's been forever since we've last sat together and spoke face to face. I like the beard, by the way. It looks good on you." He unconsciously feels his own face which is smooth to the touch. "I wish I could grow a beard. I don't know if it's because of a side effect of the experiments, or I just can't physically have facial hair…
Reiner's ears mostly drowned out most of his words, not because he didn't wanna listen to him, but because his eyes were too focused on the uniform. Looking at it started bringing back more painful memories of Paradis.
"Reiner, you ok?" Lazarus suddenly stopped rambling once he noticed something was bothering him.
"What are you wearing?" He asked.
"Oh, this? Well, you and the others should know by now that I've defected from the Marleyan military so I can't exactly wear their uniform anymore. We have to keep the armbands, so we don't start something in public or try to hide our identities as Eldians. It was Michael who came up with the design. It tells people that we're fighting for the Eldians in Marley but we're not WITH Marley anymore." He slowly explained to help his fragile mind understand.
"Yes, but why make it identical to the uniforms worn by you know who?" Though he was in a rough patch, Reiner had a hunch the Marleyans might be listening in. It would make sense that Lazarus and Michael would have spies watching their every move to ensure they don't do anything that threatens their motherland.
"Like I said, it was Michael's idea. We both wanted to show Marley that the years we've spent on Paradis have opened our eyes and made us realise that we've been on the wrong side all this time. Being one of them was more meaningful to us than being an honorary Marleyan ever did."
"I hear you. But couldn't you have put on some other clothes?" He wondered.
"I uh… don't have any other clothes. All my stuff is back at Michael's house in Odiha." He gets up from the desk chair and decides to sit next to Reiner on the side of the bed. "Enough about me though. How's your body holding up? You've been hit by a lot of artillery."
"I'll live," Reiner uttered under his breath as he felt his chest. He could still feel the phantom pain of the bruising he'd suffered from the barrage of anti-Titan shells. "Where are the others?"
"Annie and Bertolt are still resting in their rooms. And Pieck and Galliard should be here soon. As for Michael, I haven't seen him since after the battle ended. He didn't even tell me where he went… I hope he's ok."
Reiner assures him that he'll be fine. Though in his mind he couldn't help but wonder what he was up to as well. After they'd all returned to Marley, he hadn't seen much of him or Erwin outside of the occasional wave as they walked past each other. Though Michael was the only one who waved. Erwin didn't so much as glance in his direction.
He expected as much from the former commander of the Scout Regiment. He made it clear to them that he only came to see the world beyond the walls as he'd always dreamt of and be a father to Michael. He had no desire to befriend him, the other Warriors, or anyone within Marley. The only people he'd confide in are Michael and Lazarus.
"Hey, Laz. I've been meaning to ask. How's Commander Erwin been since we brought him here? Is he … doing well?" He almost hesitantly asked.
Lazarus pauses for some time before answering. He hadn't seen much of Erwin before they were sent off to war, other than all the times he visited Michael's house. He turned down Michael's offer to have him move in with them as he believed it would make things awkward between the three of them. Erwin did say he forgave him for his actions now that he knew the whole story, but he could tell by looking in his eyes that he still thinks about everything he had to leave behind just to pursue his dream. A dream he wondered was even worth fulfilling now that he saw the world for what it really is.
"From what I've heard from Michael, he seems to be doing fine. He's taken up teaching at our academy to earn money. I visited one of his lectures on Paradis and he straight up told the kids the real truth behind that island. As you would expect from most of them, they had difficulty accepting his words as truth. Especially Gabi. She almost had a mental breakdown because of it." He explained slowly.
"Really? Is she ok?" He asked worriedly.
"She's fine." He reassured him. "Took a while, but she came to accept Erwin's wisdom as fact. She and the other candidates' whole view on Paradis had been drastically changed that day. The brass still doesn't know where Erwin truly comes from, and we have to make sure it stays that way... Him being here has done more good than I ever could've done." Lazarus smiles as he thinks back to seeing Erwin in a teacher's outfit inspiring the next generation of Warriors to be themselves rather than be what Marley wants them to be. He then thinks about how much Gabi has changed and grown from the blindly loyal Marleyan soldier everyone hated to the optimistic and mature girl she is today.
"Your cousins changed a lot since Erwin showed up. Honestly, I was afraid she'd never accept the truth and carry on believing the people of Paradis are devils. But Erwin is known to be very persuasive… I've seen her getting very close with Michael lately. She really looks up to him. That doesn't make you jealous, does it?"
Reiner chuckled a little in response. Probably the first time he's done so in a long time. Not much to laugh about these days. "Not at all. It's good she has someone to depend on. I'm not exactly in the best of conditions to occupy that role… Not since, you know."
"Know what?"
The two Warriors spin their heads over to their left at the door where they were unexpectedly visited by Porco Galliard and Pieck Finger. She had a crutch under her left arm to help support herself until she got used to walking on two legs again.
"Hey, guys. How are you?" Lazarus greeted them, completely ignoring Porco's question.
"We're fine, thanks," Pieck replied first with a warm, friendly smile. "It's been about two months since the last time I was human. Kinda forgot how the whole bipedal thing works."
"Heh. Try flying for five hours straight without rest. I'm aching in places I don't even have!" Lazarus cheerfully compared their situations. "Before I arrived at Fort Slava, I had to continuously circle their capital and bomb it with my flaming meteors. It's the longest I've been airborne yet. Sometimes I get this weird feeling my wings are still attached to my back even though they're not."
"Don't ignore my question!" Porco butted in as he leaned closer to Lazarus, looking him in the eye. "Not since what?"
"It's nothing, Porco. We've just been talking about Gabi and the others and how much they've improved since we last saw them. That's all."
"Why are you even here? You're not a Warrior anymore." Galliard reminded him in the most unsettling of ways.
"So what? I'm not allowed to visit my friends and spend some time with you guys?"
"Oh, so we're still your friends, are we?" He replied sarcastically. "I don't think you understand what being "friends" really means. You left us, Lazarus. You were once a great Warrior, which is weird coming from me, and you threw it all away!"
"No, I threw Marley away!" Lazarus raised his voice in denial. "They lied to us! Used us! Treated us as weapons to use against people who weren't deserving of it. They were gonna have Reiner and the others eaten because I decided to abandon our last chance to recover the Coordinate and rescue my friend's father... I did what I did to protect all of you because I care! More than Marley ever will." He slowly stands up from the bed and stares back at Galliard, not at all intimidated by him.
"After we lost Marcel, I vowed to never again let any more of my friends die. I've already killed one too many of the friends I've made on that island. I've risked the mission to save Annie, and now I'm risking more lives just to ensure you all get to live yours. So, I would appreciate a little slack from you, Porco. I was able to give you back your brother's Jaws. So don't you dare say I don't understand friendship. No friend would willingly make life harder for themselves just to make the lives of others easier. You guys, Annie, Bertolt, Michael, Erwin, those kids. You're more than just my comrades. You're my family."
The room fell silent after Lazarus finished his rant. Everyone was unsure how to respond to that. Galliard was the only one among them who never got to see what the island was really like. And Pieck and Zeke were only there for a shorter time compared to the rest of them. They could never understand the hardships Lazarus and his team endured within the five years they've been there.
Lazarus then decided to take his leave now to avoid making things awkward with everyone. The last thing he wanted was to start a fight. He and Galliard may not be the closest of friends, but he was still his ally. He owes it to Marcel to ensure his brother's safety. It was his dying wish.
Once he left the room, Pieck collapsed on the bed opposite Reiner. Porco sat down at the desk and watched Lazarus exit the hospital through the window. He was put off by the sight of the Wings of Crystal logo on the back of his new Scout-looking jacket.
"Man, that was annoying." He commented to himself.
"He's right, you know," Pieck uttered, drawing the boy's attention to her. She was glaring up at the ceiling, too comfortable to move. "I don't trust Marley one bit. I only became a Warrior to help my father… I think it's sweet he sees us all as his family. It makes sense. He's the only one out of all of us who doesn't have one."
Porco turns away from Pieck and continues to look out the window. Lazarus was already gone from sight. He wasn't gonna bother arguing with Pieck as she has a habit of always having the last laugh.
"By the way, Reiner." She sits up to address him directly. "You ought to visit Gabi and the others. They're worried about you."
Reiner sighs and finally finds the strength to get up from his comfy bed. He might as well go out, stretch his legs and get some fresh air. Visiting the kids might do him some good as well, he thought.
The day was almost over within the homeland of the Allied Forces. A lot of the Marleyans were out celebrating their victory with a beer in hand and an attractive woman under their arm. The Eldian soldiers who survived the war weren't given the same respective treatment. They were shunned by the Marleyans and forced to spend their free time by themselves or with other Eldians.
The sight of those Marleyan pigs feeding on the food and alcohol of the very people they'd just conquered was beyond sickening. It was too much for Annie Leonhart. She decided to get far away from the madness and take in the more serene view of the sea with the setting sun in the background. She was sitting on the edge of a dock all by herself with the wind blowing through her long golden hair that she chose to let down rather than have it in her usual bun.
She was waiting for Lazarus. She hadn't had a proper chance to spend some time with him since the war started. She barely spent any quality time with him ever since he rescued her from Stohess District. She got that he wanted her to catch up with her father first before focussing on their relationship, but she still misses him. Some guys – most of whom were drunk – approached her hoping to have some fun with her. But she showed them what for by roasting them savagely with her words.
Normally the beauty of the sun's light sparkling the deep blue water would make her smile. But her mind was too focused on what went down with Bertolt whom she visited a few hours ago after waking up from her well-deserved sleep.
She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice Lazarus sitting down next to her on the edge of the dock. He even called out her name and she somehow didn't hear him.
Slightly worried, Lazarus gently pokes her left cheek. He was relieved to finally see her snap out of whatever trance she was in and look in his direction.
"There you are. Everything alright, Annie?"
"Yeah. Sorry, Lazarus. I guess I got so bored of waiting I retreated into my mind." She lightly joked, trying to cover up what she was thinking. "What kept you?
"I thought I'd pay Reiner a visit, see how he was first. He's fine, by the way. I hope there still isn't any bad blood between you two."
"No. I'm over it now. He's suffered enough." She assured him. "No use dwelling on the past anymore. I'm home with my father. I'm back with you. This war is over. I can finally relax."
"Yet something is bothering you." Lazarus pointed out. "I know you, Annie. I can tell when you've got something on your mind. You wanna tell me what it is?"
Annie takes a good look out to the ocean for a bit before turning back to her boyfriend. She'd been so focused on what she left behind that she didn't have a proper chance to see what lay ahead. Best to do so now before the sun sets completely behind the waves and the sky goes dark.
"… It's Bertolt."
"What about him? Is he alright?" He asked.
"Before coming here, I went to see him in his room. I hadn't gotten around to talking with him ever since you rescued me. I wanted him to know I was thinking of him." She pauses momentarily as the last image she saw of him appeared in her mind. "When I entered his room, I found him curled up on the bed with his arms wrapped around his legs and staring at a wall. He didn't even check to see who'd entered his room. He only said a few things to me. After that, I decided to leave him alone."
"Oh…" Lazarus uttered unintentionally. Now he was starting to understand why Annie was looking so worried. "Is this about what happened at the battle of Fort Slava, or is this about his feelings for you?" He asked calmly.
"Neither." Annie shook her head lightly. "All he said to me was that he's glad I'm back and he was sorry for not being more useful to the team during the Paradis Island Operation. The way he said it, it sounded like he'd given up on everything. Like he was depressed."
Now Lazarus was starting to feel worried. He'd seen Bertolt a few times before and during the war and he seemed fine. Had he always been depressed since they got back from Paradis? Or was this a recent development? Whatever the case, his friend was going through a hard time, just as Reiner did on the island. The right thing to do is be there for him and be supportive in any way he can.
"Poor Bertolt." He thought to himself. "First chance I get, I should go visit him. Maybe later on during the train ride home."
He scoots closer to his beloved and wraps his right arm around her, pulling her closer to him. Annie blushes slightly in response but accepts the embrace and rests her head on his shoulder. The two of them begin to stare out into the vast ocean together.
"What happened on that island was hard on all of us. We've all faced some serious shit. You getting captured. Bertolt almost got killed. Reiner's PTSD… And me being a failure as a leader and a friend. I allowed myself to get too close to the people we met there. And in doing so, I ended up emotionally breaking them. They didn't deserve that or the things I've done to them."
"No, they didn't… But as I just said, there's no use dwelling on the past. If you focus on all that is bad, you'll only end up like Bertolt and Reiner." Annie stated.
"True. But the desire to wanna do better is what makes us human. That's what separates us from the Marleyans. I doubt any one of them has a single regret about the people they've killed, conquered, or worse." He turns to face her, encouraging Annie to do the same. "As long as I'm still breathing, I will make sure nothing happens to you, your father, our comrades, or those kids. A world without you lot is a world not worth living in."
Annie's smile only lasted moments as her eyes drifted away from Lazarus's.
"Some of us will live longer than others though. I only have a few years left until I have to give up my Titan, and my life, to one of those kids."
"It will never come to that." He spoke up, drawing her attention once more. "Throughout the past four years, whenever I'm not fighting beside you and the others, I've been training myself to master my ability to transfer the power of the Titans… I don't wanna get your hopes up, but I think I'm very close to perfecting it."
"Really?" She asked optimistically.
"It's too early to tell, but deep down I know I've improved since the last time I've tested the ability on Reiner. I just need more time and I'm sure I'll perfect it."
That didn't help raise her expectations, but she decided to take his word for it and trust him to 100% master this ability. If he were to successfully transfer the Female Titan out of her and into her chosen successor, she would be free of the Curse of Ymir and live a full life. She'll get to grow old with Lazarus – provided he'd fixed what had been done to him by then – and maybe even start a family with him.
The possibilities were endless. Some good and some bad. But unlike Bertolt, she chose to focus on the good.
"Well, whenever that time comes, I'm gonna make sure I spend as much of my time with you as possible." She then surprises Lazarus by pulling him in for a gentle and loving kiss. He returns it in kind as he closes his eyes. It only lasted a few seconds as she had something she wanted to say to him.
"I love you, Lazarus."
"I love you too, Annie."
They share another kiss soon after, only this one lasted longer and was more passionate than the first. Their hands intertwined. Neither one of them was ready to let go of the other. Their journey had shown them that anything could keep them apart when their guard was down. So, they decided to treat every intimate moment as if it could be their last. Lazarus will always live on, but she won't. Best to enjoy it while they still can, they both thought.
Their love for each other was so strong that it drew the attention of four of the Warrior Candidates who just happened to be in the area. They all saw their two superiors basking in each other's love by the water. Udo was grossed out by the public display of affection. Zofia slightly blushed. And Gabi was just confused. For some reason, she was completely oblivious towards the thought of two of her predecessors being together. She thought it was forbidden or something. She didn't know how to respond. She was speechless.
As for Falco, he couldn't help but feel happy for Lazarus, and a little jealous. He always saw him as a big-shot hero amongst Eldians. The women would want him and men would want to be him kind of person. But out of all the women in the world, he ended up picking the emotionless and ruthless Annie Leonhart. It would've made more sense if he'd ended up with Pieck instead, he thought. She seems more his type.
As he watched them, his mind started fading them out of the picture and replacing them with himself and Gabi. His whole face turns red at the thought of him and Gabi kissing. He frantically rubs his eyes, trying to get that image out of his head.
"Wow. Mister Averbach is so cool! I wish I could be like him one day." He glances over at Gabi who appears to be in the middle of an argument with Udo and Zofia. "One day, Gabi. I'm gonna tell you how I feel."
He turns back to Lazarus and Annie. They broke off their kiss and are now embracing each other as they sat in silence and watched the sun setting behind the water.
"One day… That'll be us."
Michael spent most of his time alone after things had quieted down after the conclusion of the war. A war he only fought on behalf of Lazarus and his friends. If things went his way, he'd take everyone he ever cared about away from Marley and let the Mid-East Allied Forces destroy them. But like it or not, this country was their home. And it was his too once upon a time. But home is where the heart is not the place itself. And his heart was always with Lazarus, Erwin, and Sasha, the latter of which he left behind on Paradis.
Ever since he'd returned, he thought things could get easier from here on out, then the four-year war happened, and conventional weapons have grown strong enough to overpower Titans. Before the Winged Titan was created, his Crystal Titan was regarded as the most powerful next to the Colossal and second to the Founding Titan. But now that no longer seems to be the case.
Now Marley is more determined than ever to seize the Founding Titan as well as the resources of Paradis. He can't let that happen. He still has a purpose to fulfil to ensure future Ackermans never have to succumb to the Curse of Joseph. He needs Lazarus to inherit the Founder's power so he can allow him access to the heart of the Paths Realm.
Right now, he was sitting at the top of the town's bell tower. He has a full view of the whole town – or what's left of it – from his perch. It was the only place he could find where he could carry out his experiments in peace. And with the actual bell itself gone from the battle, he didn't have to worry about it ringing behind him at a certain time.
He was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed and his hands on his knees. Crystals covered his bottom half, holding him in place and a few strands of it were attached to the side of his head just like before when he and Lazarus transported their souls to the Paths.
His goal was to return to the Crystal Cave and visit his grandfather, Noah, and see how he was. But no matter how much he focused, he couldn't do it. The crystals attached to his body shatter into dust and particles and his eyes snap open as he gasps for air. He checked his surroundings and concluded that he had failed yet again.
"Damnit! That's the 20th time I tried this now." He sighs in defeat as he wipes blood from his nose. "I think my original hypothesis was right. I can only travel to the Paths when I'm in direct physical contact with Lazarus. His royal blood and fraction of the Founder's power was what allowed us to go there before… The only problem is the place we went to wasn't the true Paths Realm. It was only his parents' branches and Laz's flaming tree."
His mind wanders back to the last time he saw Noah, Joseph, and the rest of his imprisoned ancestors within the Crystal Cave. He started to imagine seeing himself sitting within the inner circle of chained Ackermans. What confused, and frightened, him even more was seeing Levi and Mikasa sitting next to him. They too were bound by chains. They were just sitting there looking down at the sand-covered ground with despair like they were drained of everything that made them who they were and all that remained were empty husks.
That mental image spooked Michael out of his trance, almost causing him to lose balance and stumble over the edge of the clock tower.
"MICHAEL!" A familiar voice called out in terror and rushed to catch him before he could fall to his death.
That someone was revealed to be Gabi who managed to grab Michael's hand just as he went over. She struggles to hold him up yet somehow is strong enough to keep him from falling without going over herself. He was twice her size and much heavier. So how the hell is she able to save him?
"Gabi?" Michael uttered in bewilderment.
"Please don't jump!" She pleaded with him, completely misunderstanding the situation.
"Gabi." He attempted to speak up again, only to be interrupted.
"You've got so much to live for! How do you think Lazarus would feel if you killed yourself?! What about your dad?! What about me?! You promised you would take me to the island one day and show me what it's really like! That you would help shape me into the perfect Warrior! It's because of your teachings that I've become the most promising candidate the military's ever known! That I-
"GABI, SHUT IT!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, finally silencing her. "I'm fine. Look."
He nudges his head to the left, pointing Gabi in that direction. She was surprised and relieved to see that his feet were standing on a crystal platform attached to the side of the clock tower. That would explain how she was able to hold him up, she thought.
"Well, you gonna pull me up or you just gonna leave me hanging?" He teased.
Gabi frowned in response to his terrible pun. But she helped him up, nonetheless. As soon as Michael was back on his feet the crystal platform shattered and turned to dust behind him, blowing away in the wind.
As he was about to address her, Gabi threw a punch at him out of frustration for making her believe he was attempting to commit suicide. But Michael anticipated her movements and caught her small fist with ease. He follows it up with a little spin until she has her back to him and gently pushes her forward. Enough to make her stumble but not straight up push her over.
"You're still throwing your punches too slowly. You need to be quicker if you wanna take out an experienced fighter. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were pulling your punches."
"I was!" She quickly retorted. "I didn't wanna send you over the edge again… Why were you trying to kill yourself just now? Did you and your dad fight?"
"No, you've got it all wrong! I'm not suicidal. I just lost my footing and slipped accidentally, that's all it is." He explained calmly. "Thanks for saving me though. That's probably the most noble thing you've done since we first met."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She huffed up at him.
"Well, let's be honest, Gabi. You weren't exactly the humblest of kids I've met since my return. You were kinda an arrogant, annoying brat." He playfully mocked her.
Gabi pouts angrily as she glares up at him with such intensity. She was so mad she almost wished she hadn't saved him just now.
"But, before you get all pissy at me, I said you were an annoying brat… But you've changed. You've come a long way since I started mentoring you." He spoke softly, lowering her anger levels. "I am proud of the Warrior you're growing into."
Gabi gasped. Her cheeks started to blush slightly from hearing his compliments. Michael sits down on the edge of the tower and pats the ground to his left, encouraging her to sit down beside him. She does just that and takes in the beautiful view of the bright orange of the setting sun resting atop the water. It almost looked like the sea itself had turned to orange juice.
"Tell me, Gabi," Michael spoke up without looking in her direction. "What do you truly think of Paradis now? Do you still believe it is an island of devils?"
Gabi lets out a deep sigh. She figured he would ask her something like that one day and she wasn't ready for it. Had he asked her four years ago she would've told him "Yes" without a shadow of a doubt. But the more she heard about the things he'd seen/been through, and the lectures Erwin taught in her school, her opinions changed.
She thinks back on the lecture given to her, Falco, and the rest of the Warrior Candidates. They were all sitting at their desks ready to take in the info required to become the members of the soon-to-be Zeta Warrior Unit.
What the candidates did not expect from their new teacher was him filling their heads with denial about Marley's view on Paradis. That it was NOT an island of devils. That it was home to Eldians like them trapped within the three walls constructed by Eldia's 145th king. But what surprised them was his telling them that the people living there were born and raised to believe that only Titans roamed the outside world and that they were the last of humanity. Completely unaware that other nations existed beyond their walls. That their island is small compared to the much larger continents.
Falco was the only one who accepted these facts as a possible truth. But Gabi was enraged at first. She would never accept the fact that Marley had been manipulating her all her life. Hating Paradis and praising Marley was all she knew how to live. It was downright evil.
That was when Michael decided to take her under his wing and help her see the light. He shared his story with her. The story of how he'd been cursed by the Crystal Titan and had to abandon his family in Odiha to break it, only to lose his memories and live a false life believing the same beliefs as the rest of Paradis. It was only thanks to Lazarus and his unit that he was able to remember his whole life and grasp the true concept of the world. Paradis were as much victims of Marley's actions as the Eldians living in their motherland.
"… There are no devils." She finally spoke softly. "There never were. They're just people. People like us… I see it now. I finally get how Reiner feels… We just mindlessly agreed even though we've never met these people. I didn't wanna believe it because it's hard! It's not easy forgetting everything you were taught. Everything you believed in, only to learn it was all a lie… I- I."
Michael places his hand on her shoulder, hugging her to himself and allowing her to lean on him. He sensed she was still bothered by this revelation and needed a shoulder to cry on.
"It's ok. I understand better than anyone what it's like to discover your beliefs were false all along. That's how I felt when I discovered Lazarus's true self as the Winged Titan. Back when I was one of them, I was consumed with so much rage. I wanted him, Reiner, and Bertolt to suffer for what they've done. But I was only seeing half the picture… When I got my memories back, I completely understood why they did it. I remembered that Marley was to blame, not them. To be honest, I originally planned on killing them the moment I got my memories back."
"But you didn't." Gabi finished for him.
"Yeah. Because Lazarus is still my brother. He and Erwin are the only family I have left. Reiner and the others I grew to accept as friends as well."
"Why though? You only knew them as the bad guys who came and destroyed your home. Lazarus I can understand, but why would you forgive them?" She asked.
"Because they were there for Lazarus when I wasn't. They helped him accept what he'd become after the experiments and looked out for him all the way. Even today when Laz and I defected from Marley they still supported him." He explained. "Well, apart from Zeke."
"I am glad to see that I could do the same with you. Now Marley has one less Eldian to manipulate."
"But I'm still destined to become one of their Warriors. I can't just quit. I'd only end up sending my parents to be turned into Titans." She fearfully replied.
"That won't happen," Michael assured her. "Lazarus made it clear to them that if anything were to happen to the people he cares about and their families he would burn this nation to the ground. That includes you and your family too… Everything will work out, Gabi. Trust me."
Gabi looks up at him and smiles. Michael responded in kind and tussled her hair. The nice, peaceful moment was soon disrupted when Gabi just remembered her reasoning for being up here in the first place.
"Oh no! I completely forgot! I came up here to tell you that the train that'll take us back to Marley will be leaving soon. Everyone already packing up. We have to hurry back, or we'll be left behind!"
She quickly gets up, grabs Michael's arm, and pulls on it, encouraging him to get a move on.
"Ok ok, I'm coming." An amused Michael responded as he was pulled up on his feet.
The mentor and student duo soon make their way downstairs and exit the clock tower. As they walked towards the train station, Gabi had another realisation she thought needed to be addressed.
"Hey, Michael. What were you even doing up there in the first place?"
"Oh, I just wanted to get one last view of the town before we left." He lets out a deep sigh. "I just wish Marley didn't have to destroy it. I bet it would've been so much better when it was thriving with people."
Gabi nodded in agreement. The two of them eventually meet up with Reiner, who is babysitting the other candidates. They wave in his direction before joining them for the rest of the journey back.
"Sorry, I can't tell you the real reason, Gabi. You're a good kid. You deserve to live a long life with your friends… I know you're trying your hardest to become the successor for the Armoured Titan. But you'd only end up shortening your life… At least until Lazarus has mastered his transfer ability and-
Michael abruptly came to a stop in the middle of the road as the mother of all epiphanies smacked him in the head like a bullet to the brain. He started theorising in his mind, comparing what he'd just discovered with all the research his grandfather left behind about the Crystal Titan. It was a theory so revolutionary. So obvious, that he felt the urge to punch himself in the face for not coming up with it much sooner.
He'd been so dead set on his secret goal that he hadn't considered the possibility of dying before accomplishing said goal. But this discovery may help ensure his purpose is carried out even if he were to die.
"Hey, Michael! You ok back there?" Gabi shouted back at him.
"Yeah, I'm coming, calm down." He picks up the pace and catches up with the others.
In his attempt to catch up with the others, he accidentally bumps into a random Eldian soldier who survived the war. But like most of them, he only narrowly escaped with his life. He'd lost his left leg and his right eye. His hair was long enough to cover up half of his face.
Michael managed to catch him before he could drop his crutch and fall over.
"Sorry, sir. Didn't mean to run into you. Are you alright?"
"… I'm fine." He quietly muttered under his breath without even looking at him.
"Good." He takes his leave straight afterwards to not keep the others waiting anymore.
He only walked a few steps before another possible realisation caused him to look back. He was shocked to see that the injured soldier was gone. He scans the area for him but there is no sign of him or the unit he was with.
Whoever it was must've gone off in another direction. Probably taking a different route to the train station. Michael would've dismissed him as some random guy, but there was something familiar about him. Particularly the sound of his voice. He started to wonder who he was. But the Warriors and their families were the only Eldians within Marley's lands that he knew of. The only other Eldians he knew were from… Paradis.
"No. It couldn't be… Could it?" He immediately shook his head in denial. "No. There's no way. If he were here Lazarus would've sensed something."
"Michael, let's go!" Gabi cried out once more. "Don't make me drag you!"
"Sorry, guys. I thought- Forget it. I'm coming."
As they walked on Michael made a mental note to share his discovery with Lazarus. As well as share with him the new idea he'd come up with. It was essential as he is the key to ensuring this new theory of his is true or not. He'll also need to persuade him to take them back to the Paths once Laz takes the Founding Titan.
The train ride back to Marley was a long one. It was midnight and they didn't even make half the journey back. But that didn't bother the Eldian and Marleyan passengers aboard as they had already found a fun way to pass the time. By getting completely drunk. Some of them at least.
Inside the car all the Eldian soldiers and Warrior Candidates were in, Colt, in his drunken state, was telling the other Eldian soldiers about how Gabi managed to take out an armoured train by herself, and even started calling her a goddess.
He had Gabi wrapped around his arm whilst holding a half-empty bottle in the other as he babbled on about how awesome she was, completely unaware he was making her uncomfortable.
"Comrades, do you know why this idiot risked her life to destroy that train?!" One of the Eldians attempted to answer his question, only to be rudely shushed by Colt who wanted the pleasure of telling them himself. "I'll tell ya why! She did it for all of you! To save your sorry Eldian asses from the enemy's bullets!"
All the other drunks in the room began to cry in response as if they were listening to a heartfelt and emotional speech. They all let out a roaring cheer for Gabi and helped her up onto Colt's shoulders.
General Magath, the Brass, and the Warriors were all in the next car behind them sitting in silence. Or at least it was silent for a time. One of the officers attempted to put a stop to the obnoxious noise, but Magath stopped him.
Those men and women have given this war their all. He reckons they deserve this one night of celebration.
Michael and Lazarus were in the car in front of the Eldian soldiers. Because they weren't Warriors anymore, and are technically enemies of the nation now, they were not permitted to sit with the Brass. But they didn't care. They got to have a whole car to themselves. The perfect place for Michael to explain his epiphany. All the noise also helped drown them out to avoid eavesdroppers.
"YOU'RE DOING WHAT?!" Lazarus shouted, flabbergasted by whatever it was Michael had told him.
"Yep. And I'm serious about it too… I have decided to make Gabi my successor for the Crystal Titan." Michael declared proudly.
"Bu- But Michael. You know she can't inherit your Titan. Only members of the Ackerman Clan can inherit and control the Crystal Titan. Gabi is not your blood. You'd only end up killing her if she ate you… Just like what happened with Armin when the Scouts fed me to him."
"I know the rules behind my Titan, Laz. I have memories of all of my grandfather's research. Using that and what I've read on Titan anatomy, I've come to a realisation." He pauses a little bit to help Lazarus understand what he is theorising. "The rules are that only those of Ackerman blood can inherit my Titan, that is true. But the other nine Titans all have parts of the Crystal Titan within them which granted the power of hardening. Even the nine Titans were originally one before it was split."
"So? Where're you going with this?" Lazarus asked.
"What if pieces of my Titan can be split as well?" He speculated. "As far as I know, none of the past wielders have ever thought to try it."
"That's different. The Founding Titan is essentially a God whilst yours is more like a servant of said God. The Curse of Joseph was developed to ensure all its users would submit to the Founder and serve them. That's why you and your grandfather were so desperate to break it."
"The rules of transfer are the same. An Ackerman has to eat the current user to inherit the power. The only other way is for the current user to die, and the power is randomly transferred to the youngest member of the Ackerman Clan. For so long I always wondered why that's the case with my Titan and none of the others. Now I finally figured out why."
Those words intrigued Lazarus. He could tell he was about to reveal something really big. Before letting him proceed, he uses his enhanced hearing to listen for anyone who may be spying on them. But all he could hear were the sounds of the Eldian soldiers chanting Gabi's name over and over again.
Satisfied with the results, he gives Michael the all-clear to proceed with his discovery.
"Think of the Ackerman blood as a magnet. When the current host dies, the power is immediately drawn to the youngest member. The history books say that Eldia's first king, Karl Fritz, had Joseph's Titan altered so that it would always be reborn in the youngest host to ensure a long life of servitude to him and Ymir until their inevitable death. Our blood controls our Titan… So, what do you think would happen if an Ackerman were to donate some of their blood to another Eldian?"
Now Lazarus understood what Michael was planning. He wants to perform a blood transfusion on Gabi to ensure she would have Ackerman blood. That way, if Michael were to die, his Titan would automatically transmit itself to her, registering her as the youngest Ackerman. This would also prevent the power from going to Mikasa, assuming there are no more Ackermans younger than her. And Levi was much older than Mikasa, as far as he knew.
"Michael, this is crazy. You're going off assumptions and hypotheses. Do you even have any evidence of this being possible?"
"No, but-
"Then it's not worth the risk to try anything." He quickly cut in. "I understand that you dying would be a really big problem, not only for me and Erwin, but the world too. If Mikasa were to inherit your Titan, she'd most likely help Eren unleash the Rumbling. When we fought, your Titan was evenly matched with mine. We were both holding back then, and I doubt she'd do the same. And what's worse, she'll fall under the curse and your spirit will be trapped in the Crystal Cave. I won't let that happen to you!" He responded determinedly.
The mention of Eren reminded Michael of the random soldier he bumped into on his way to the station. He can't explain why, but his Ackerman instincts were telling him that there was something off-putting about him.
"… Hey, Laz. Remember a while back the day after we went into your parents' past?" Lazarus nodded in response, prompting Michael to continue. "You said you had a bizarre sensation. You had this look on your face that said "I have seen… visions. Like the ones you used to have of me when I erased your memories."
"That's the thing. These visions weren't of the past… I saw predictions. Visions of the future. But I couldn't make out what was going on in them or what would happen. They flew by so fast and were obscured. It was like something was trying to prevent me from looking." He thoroughly explained.
"To this day I still don't understand what it means. But I feel it is connected to Eren… Why're you asking anyway?"
"Earlier today I bumped into some wounded Eldian soldier. I dismissed it as an accident and kept on walking. Until my instincts awoke like a surge of electricity passing through my brain. I turned around to see what was causing it, only to realise the soldier has vanished."
"How strange." Lazarus thought. Now he's beginning to wonder if there's a connection between his blurred future sight and the mysterious soldier Michael saw.
"Lazarus… What if it's him?" He hesitantly uttered under his breath.
"Impossible." He immediately denied it. "If Eren were here I would've sensed him. No one can mask A Titan's power from me. My eyes see everything relating to them… Then again, we haven't heard much activity from Paradis since we left… Other than…" He stops himself from finishing that sentence out of fear.
"… Other than the news of Marleyan cruisers going missing the last four years we were at war." Michael finished for him.
Various possibilities behind the missing ships emerged within the two brothers – in arms – minds. Most of them revolve around the ships being intercepted by the Scout Regiment and the crews being either captured or killed by them. The former is the most likely.
If the Scouts had those captured Marleyan ships under their control, then travelling to the motherland was possible. And because it was so long ago, they could already be there undercover.
The thought of that alone scared them. If Eren was in Marley right now, nothing could stop him from turning Titan and exacting his revenge.
"We both know what Eren will do if he comes here. He'll kill us, our families, our comrades, and even innocent civilians. He'll want us to feel the same despair he felt when you and the Warriors broke the wall." Michael looks Lazarus dead in the eye to show him how serious this is. "All the more reason why I must formulate a backup plan in case I die before accomplishing my goal."
"You mean our goal. The goal is to erase the power of the Titans." Lazarus reminded him.
"Yes, "our". I meant our goal. It may be a hypothesis, but my gut tells me this could work. And with your help, I'm sure we can pull it off."
"My help?" Lazarus recited.
"Your ability to transfer Titan powers." He clarified. "What if you transferred a piece of the Crystal Titan power to Gabi? We'll have her drink my blood and spinal fluid to increase her chances. Then you create a link between the two of us and ensure she gets my power if I die. By now Eren must know you're immortal, so he'll settle on killing me first, hoping the Crystal Titan will go to Mikasa. With my soul inside Gabi's mind, I can help her control it. And the best part is the curse won't affect her because she's not a pure-blooded Ackerman… I know I'm just clinging to false hope here, but it's better than letting my Titan fall into the wrong hands. Mikasa will just become Eren's slave if he ever unlocks the Founder's full power."
The car fell silent as Lazarus pondered over Michael's assumptions and the likelihood of Eren being in Marley. Between the two of them, he wished the latter was the most unlikely to occur. He can guess why he would even choose Gabi in the first place. The two of them have grown close enough to confide in one another, just like his relationship with Falco.
Falco was to him what he was to Lucia in his youth. An innocent kid who needed a parental figure to help guide them through the hardships of becoming a Warrior. Colt was the only family he had left. But he was too focused on preparing himself to become the next Beast Titan to spend proper time with his little brother. Forcing Lazarus to occupy that role. He wanted to become a Warrior so Gabi wouldn't have to. He wanted her to live a long life. He encouraged him to train harder and surpass Gabi so he could inherit the Armoured Titan. At least with Michael's Crystal, she won't die in thirteen years.
The way he saw Michael and Gabi depend on and put all their trust in each other was touching. He even trusted her with his secret of Erwin being a resident of Paradis and he was one of them when he lost his memories. Gabi never reported him or told any of the other candidates. Learning the truth had turned her into an honest, dignified young woman. If Michael trusts her, then he can too.
"I still think this is a bad idea and won't work. But I would be a burden to your father if I don't at least try. Truth is I still don't know the ins and outs of the transfer ability. There's a strong possibility that transferring only a portion of your power could have devastating results. Not only would you or Gabi be killed, but I could accidentally erase the Crystal Titan too.
"If it does happen, at least we won't have to worry about Eren and Mikasa using it." He attempted to look on the bright side of things. "Whatever the case, the stakes are too high not to consider my proposition."
Lazarus nodded in agreement. At the end of the day, they both decided to go through with the experiment. Once they return to Liberio, they will begin making preparations for the possibility of an attack from the Scout Regiment. To keep their comrades and Eldian citizens safe, they'll have to take every precaution they can think of.
By now the party in the car next door had quieted down a bit. The others must be asleep by now. Or passed out drunk. They both decided to follow their lead and turn in for the night. They've still got a long way to go until they reach Marley. They are gonna need all the rest they can get if they're gonna prepare themselves, and their comrades, for what may be the start of another war… With the people they once called their allies.
To Be Continued