Having to stay with his new friends in a cell was irritating, definitely not for the company. Hot Asian girl in cell number 7 made sure of that. And Eren too he supposed. It simply reminded him too much of the hospital.
The voice of Eren narrating what they learned from Grisha's books was keeping him grounded though.
He was highly tempted to ask if he could sleep on the roof. But thought better of it. Instead he kept doing his pushups quietly. Humming from time to time for them to know he's listening.
Pushing himself upwards with both hands, lowering his chest, spreading his arms further, descending, and rising in that manner. He was making progress. having a healing factor from his shifter status was a true asset. Now if only they could finish their jail time, then he could then ask the Hot super soldier for spars. Armin muscle memory was good at some level, but fighting an Ackerman day in day out was bound to be productive. Probably debilitating for most humans though. He did have a memory of her throwing a kid three times her size like a bloody pillow.
"He said that was the rule. Called it the "Curse of Ymir". The first titan, Ymir, died that long after getting her powers." Eren's defeated voice bounced on cell walls.
"Hmm" Up, down.
"Since none can surpass her, we have to do the same. Meaning, i got eight years left, not even. "
"No. You're wrong. There's been a mistake. It can't be true." Mikasa's words were barely audible but Both Cadets heard her.
Desperate truly doesn't suit her.
A spark of irritation dabbed at him, but was swiftly quelled.
*sigh* finishing a last Rep he went to the corner of the cell and sat.
" Eren, we're not going to die like this. There has to be a way. Call me naive, but I think I'll take your own advice and throw it right back at you: If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. If you don't fight, you can't win."
"Armin..." Mikasa's eyes sparked.
" You're right, Armin." he spoke with a look that spoke of pride in his friend's choice of words.
"Argh, please don't tell me I have to deal with teenage drama." A cold voice that could only belong to Captain Levi came from around the corner.
without much fanfare he started opening the cells.
"Get out"
"What? But I'm not done, I still have ten full days"
"I'm satisfied. Hange just gave you ten days' worth of pain."
"We had a talk with Premier Zachary, so don't worry about it. If we jail the heroes who toppled the Armored and Colossal Titan, it kind of sends a bad message, you know?" Commander Hange added.
Walking past Eren, he spotted the other part of the trio.
"Mika you lost weight." She looked beyond depressed. Even with an outside perspective and an inside one courtesy of his previous owner's memories he still taught that the relationship between Mikasa and Eren was anything but healthy.
"Starving yourself isn't making any of us happy Mika." he said with a frown.
"Sorry..." voiced Mikasa while keeping her head down.
He rolled his eyes good naturally. "Guess I'll be cooking you extra later."
"Thanks…"she looked up appreciatively.
"Let's go. Get dressed, you damn kids."
"Where are we going?"
"A state meeting her majesty has come to Trost."
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[40 minutes later]
"Your Grace!" the trio said with the best bow they could muster.
"Oh stop it! I'm not actually ruling yet." Spoke the queen of Paradis island.
God help us when you do.
"Why don't we get the ball rolling" Commander Hange voice cut through the chase.
"You have been through so much and I have just been watching the South sky from inside the walls..."
Spare me your drama.
He almost eye rolled. It took considerable amount of willpower to hold it in. He supposed it mostly stems from his mixed bag of feeling about the character. Historia Reiss. The living embodiment of the word hypocrite. He hoped they wouldn't question his disinterest. He was glad Eren volunteered to break the silence.
"You have an important job to your grace." God, his eye began to twitch.
As Future broodmare and Puppet Queen.
"You three are particularly the same...am glad." He wasn't, but he wouldn't correct her.
Well, my healing factor would make Wolverine blush. I can turn into a 60 metre tall monster, and I've got future knowledge of the series. The problem is, I can only use one of those to my advantage. To acquire the Founding power I would need to eat Eren, not to mention having someone of royal blood basically be used as a PC to access the Paths.
"I think… it's just because none of us really felt it yet" Eren said with a sombre tone.
So my primary objective is to protect Eren. He did remove the Curse in the Manga. Plus, he's a Bro. worst-case scenario I eat whoever ate him. Oh! And kill Gabi Out of fucking Spite.
"Why don't we get going?" Commander Hange asked after finishing preparing for the upcoming meeting.
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"The individuals in this room are currently the only ones that know the existence of these books." Commander-in-Chief Darius Zackly stated. His eyes slowly swept the attendants making sure that everyone was paying attention before continuing. High officials from all over Paradis, attending arguably the most important meeting since the creation of the walls. Satisfied that everyone is paying attention he moved on."The Early life of Greisha Yeager", "The extent of our knowledge of titans and their history." and, "Information about the world beyond the walls." We owe their retrieval to the nin-.. "
God, a month, that's all it took. I went from being a terminally ill orphan to executing high-grade military strategies. On second thought, I'm still an orphan. I wish I had time to thank Edith for teaching me the piano, maybe tried some rich people's food before I died. Focus! fuck, Eren started the Rumbling at 19. This leaves 4 years of training Strength, Hand-to-hand, and Fire-arm handling an- LIVE- and pleasure.
"COULD IT BE?!" Eren shouted. He clearly forgot that he wasn't the only person in the room. Here comes my favorite part. Armin mused
"You startled me. What's the matter all of a sudden?" Commander Hange asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Ah ...a … I just…" Eren stuttered from all the sudden attention.
"oh… alright. I see. I'm sorry sir he's going through a phase where he strikes out a pose and mouths off for no reason'' Commander Hange spoke with eyes full of pity for her charge.
"That's unfortunate to hear… he's getting to be that age." Commander-in-Chief Darius Zackly said with a voice full of understanding.
He couldn't help it. He snorted. He's lucky his friends slash seat-mates were in their Sasuke phase and didn't pay attention. Brooding like their life depended on it.
*Sigh* Life is truly strange. Titans. Marely. My hate boner for the "warriors". My real boner for Mikasa.
He took in a sharp breath, shaking his head as he prevented the thoughts from clouding his mind.
He noted that maybe he should pay attention.
"But the walls will fall in Chaos if we informed the public."
"That's right! We aren't even able to assess the scale of what's going on here."
"So we should deceive the people again?" Commander Pixis asked. his tone full of disapproval, and well disguised anger. Most seemed to shy away from his stare but he asked again "You're suggesting that we keep the people ignorant and domesticated, just as King Reiss did?" his stare hardened "If that's the case… what cause are we fighting for when we snatched the crown from his head." Many looked down with guilt and contemplated his words.
"We will make an announcement. We will be giving the memories king Reiss took from the people a century ago, back to the people a century later. We are all the people of the wall, we have a shared fate. We must now unite as one, and work together." Queen Historia finally spoke.
I need to get started.
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2 weeks later.
Hundreds of Paradis soldiers gathered in The Royal Hall, for today was marked by a ceremony to honor the sacrifice of not only the survey corps, but also nine brave Survivors who uncovered the truth. The attention of all gathered was Solely focused on the individuals kneeling before the Queen.
The atmosphere is filled with a mix of anticipation and solemnity. Some happy by the truth shared with the public, finding out they weren't the last humans reignited the sense of wonder and drive to explore. but most seemed disturbed by their fate and the hate the world projects on them.
More importantly Theories and rumors being exchanged about if Captain Levi made the right decision by giving the Titan power to a clear inferior choice to Commander Erwin.
Their glares are really something.
He was genuinely amused by their actions. He wasn't blind nor was he deaf about their underhand insults. He couldn't keep himself from comparing them to the YouTube comment section. Once you validate them with your attention they already won.
For fuck's sake it's not even a medal. A fucking Bolo-Tie.
He almost laughed. His hands unconsciously trembling. He just couldn't find any other reason for him being here then it being a dumb joke.
I'm trapped in an insane world of Monsters, an alien God, and Nazis, all are out to see me controlled or dead, but here I am wasting my time on a fucking Bolo-Tie. Trapped like a helpless damsel in a B-rated horror flick -Stripped of my basic, simple right, to as much as leave.
The trembling increased. One by one the Queen places the medal around the recipient's neck, bestowing upon them
the highest recognition the kingdom can offer.
Ymir...Are you there? Listen to me, I have to tell you. I think you made a mistake. I'm not one of the good ones.im not part of the sheep. I will burn this whole fucking world if it means I'll live. If you care about your people even a second, Kill me now!
He begged her to end him before it was too late. Before he accepted this reality. Before he becomes a monster.
Suddenly the Queen halted before a certain green eyed cadet as soon as his lips reached her hands he reared back as if struck. His widened eyes speaking of untold horror. Next to him the blonde haired Cadet finally couldn't control his trembling.
He knew if anyone touched him he'd go into a full on panic attack. He definitely thought he looked pathetic to the onlookers, but he couldn't stop, to him these people didn't matter for he's key to survival just saw a glimpses of the future.
He knows! He knows! NO NO n- focus, focus, focus
The trembling slowed down gradually. He reasoned that even if he knew, all his future actions would benefit Paradis. Plus, Eren wanted his friends to live and be free.
Fine then, Ymir, I'll take your inaction as acceptance.
He knew that the second he woke up in this world he was destined to be a cruel. It was clear that Ymir Fritz did not care. It wasn't any sense of justice or loyalty for Paradis or the Eldians that drove him. it was Survival. his shame, morality, and loyalty will get him killed. He simply couldn't win without making sacrifices.
Faced with a choice between a world he didn't belong to, people he didn't know, and a second chance at life after being robbed of his first, he chose to sacrifice the world.
The rest of the world needed to die, So Armin Alert could live.