The Empire Returns Chapter 5

Christa felt her nerves become extremely sensitive as she glanced around far too often in search of her friend as she bolted through the thick snow, not caring in the least for the water that seemed to seep into her boots as snow slid inside from her frantic steps.

She shouldn't have opened her big mouth and allowed her freckled friend to run off on her own like that, these were just observations that she made based on what she saw and she could have confronted Eren about it on her own but because she acted without thinking Ymir has gone after someone who she honestly doesn't know what to make of.

"Your insane." She heard a familiar voice behind the infirmary with Ymir looking rather terrified and Eren looking... unhinged? Gleeful? Sadistic? Maybe a mix of all three? She honestly doesn't know and doesn't need to know.

"Maybe." She heard him admit with a mad smile on his face that was in great contrast to the friendly one that he usually sports.

"So much could go wrong, how can you be sure it'll work?" Hearing the ever sarcastic and teasing Ymir sound so scared is almost unsettling.

Then without warning she gets goosebumps, every hair on her body stands up as Eren actually laughs as though him failing isn't possible, he sounds so arrogant that she can't help but think that whatever he's planning will succeed, and the sound of his usually good natured laugh turning slightly insane makes her view of him as the one who saved her back in their first year promptly shatter and be replaced with that of a madman.

After he finished laughing his eyes seemed to glow giving him a satanic aura as he speaks his next words." Simple. I came up with it." He holds out his hand and seems to be making her an offer.

"Come on Ymir, why don't you shake this Devils hand?"

For a few moments the world seems to freeze as Ymirs terrified facial expression turns indecisive. She's well aware that this is literally making a deal with the Devil, however she also knows that he wouldn't be this sure of himself if he was blowing hot air, he has to know something about what he's doing if he's this cocky, as crazy as he sounds, is, she actually thinks he can pull his insanity off.

To Christas absolute shock and horror Ymir takes Erens palm and she turned her head around the corner to make sure that neither could see her. She let out a massive breath of air that she didn't know she was holding in.

What has Ymir done?

Erens grin seems to turn more genuine as he speaks." You've made a good choice, you barely have to lift a finger. Just keep 'Christa Lenz' safe, but I'm sure that's your plan already." He turned more serious as his grin fades." However there will come a time when you'll have to come out of hiding, to tell the truth, I can only hope you do it on your own terms, until then you can bet on me keeping your secret." He proceeded to walk and disappear around the corner leaving Ymir to stand with nothing but her own thoughts as she stood as though her boots were frozen to the snow.

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"You've improved your slices quite a bit Armin." I commented casually as we walked back to the boys barracks with Armin looking less miserable than normal after ODM training.

He rubbed the back of his head." Well I had some help from Annie so it's not all me." He replied like the modest guy he is.

"Oh please it's not like I don't ask for help all the time, I ask for your help with maintaining my ODM gear, I ask for Mikasas help with working out and how to perform maneuvers. Hell I've even asked for Jeans help with using ODM gear." I gave him a long list of the help I've received to become the best in the class.

There's no shame in asking for help, if I want to beat the Warriors and dethrone the Royal Government then I'll need all the help I can get, be it the future Queen, the Jaws Titan, My superhuman girlfriend. Going in ill-equipped is going to get me killed, both the Founding and Attack Titans lost plus destroy this island I'm not going to try do it all on my own simply to inflate my ego. It was one of Erens weaknesses in Attack on Titan, he wanted to prove he was strong so badly that in several cases he overestimated his strength and became arrogant, which in turn led to the deaths of others. I can't make the same mistakes.

Armin and Annie have grown surprisingly close to each other, I expected that she would isolate herself completely, Annie is probably my favourite of the Warrior trio, not that I particularly like any of them, she at the very least didn't try to act like a hero as she plotted to eradicate everyone in the Walls, to try and gain the respect and admiration of her fellow trainees simply because she wanted to make herself feel good and have people look up to her, that's Reiners forte, and at least she actually had the spine to object to Reiners decisions when he wasn't exactly the most stable guy. Besides I know that her loyalty isn't to Marley, she simply wants to be with her father again. Maybe I could use that.

"Besides it's not like I can kill all the Titans alone now is it?" I joked which got his lips to twitch up.

Graduation is just two short months away, time sure does seem to fly by here, but alas I have a job to do, if I was another man then I'd choose the outside world over rather one inside the Walls, but I reject the outside world.

Maybe there is only a meager million people in the Walls to the two billion outside but still, why should they get to live whilst we die? Why should they have more of a right to live simply because they outnumber us? I can't agree with Armin and Hanges way of thinking because their actions, or lack of, very nearly led the island to ruin. I can't accept anyone as my leader who isn't willing to do anything if it means securing this island and its peoples lives. Erwin would have definitely been more proactive in using the time they have left to plot against Marley rather than look for a diplomatic solution like Hange, if he lived through the battle of Shiganshina maybe the rumbling would never have had to happen. Maybe Paradis wouldn't have overthrown their new Government after just four short years if they actually did something with what time they did have instead of betting on the open mindedness of a world that tortured, beat and butchered their people for over a century and Marley that used them as a scapegoat for all their horrible warcrimes against other nations, how can they possibly expect their people to be okay with letting the world get away with murdering hundreds of thousands of their partners, siblings, children and parents.

Overall there were too many risks and factors at play for peace to ever be an option with the way things were.

The only way to guarantee peace is by making the idea of war seem hopeless. That's my belief.

So instead of allowing Marley to get away with all of their crimes I'm going to make them pay and bleed for the damage they've done to prove that they can't get away with killing our people. Pure. Simple. Logical.

No matter how you slice it people die, better them than us.

Apparently my inner thoughts reflected on my face as Armin read me like an open book.

"We don't have to kill them you know." I didn't let my irritation at such a naive remark show and opted to answer another way.

"Perhaps, but if we don't everyone in the Walls dies, humans are violent, the only way to guarantee peace is to take war off the table, by force if necessary." Armins eyes seemed to sadden at my words and he let his eyes travel down looking neither convinced nor accepting.

What am I gonna do about Armin? How is he meant to be the new Colossal Titan, you know the God of Destruction, Armin does the opposite of destroy things and he's the type to avoid conflict at all costs even if that isn't the optimal move at that moment. I remember in the battle of Shiganshina he tried to reason with Bertolt even though he'd  already resolved himself to kill them all. I wanted to scoff at the Colossals words, he tried to talk as though he were strong, brave, sure of himself but in his final moments he was none of those things as he screamed, cried and begged his victims for mercy, he was positively pitiful right to the end. I couldn't imagine a more fitting death though, to die alone surrounded by the people he betrayed, his enemies, in a foreign land at the hands of a Pure Titan. The only difference this time is that Bertolt won't be alone. Reiner will be there squirming right alongside his comrade.

"These aren't people that will talk things out with us, and why would they? It's convenient for them if we're Devils, because how can Marley be the bad guy in this if Paradis exists? If we want to talk things out with them we'll have to chain them to a chair." I spoke with certainty and depression, the only difference between me and Armin is that I accept when diplomacy simply isn't an option, I need him on my side though, once the war is done we'll have all the time we need to negotiate and Armin has the passion for peace that we could need. However now is not the time to talk. Now is the time to fight. If we don't fight we can't win, if we don't win then we die, the only choice we have is to fight, fight, fight, fight.

I headed to bed that night with a head full of thoughts and ambitions to the future as I ran scenario after scenario in my head to prepare for anything and everything that could possibly make me fail or hinder me. I wasn't a fool, nothing ever goes exactly to plan in this world however why should I leave things up to luck and chance when my own strength can secure our victory. The time will soon come when the Warriors make their move and when I do these hundred years of hatred will end.

It's about time those bastards picked on someone their own size.

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Annie felt her anxiety and fear grow as Reiner told them of their plans.

'We break Wall Rose' those words made her internally crack slightly. She might not care for the people of the Walls but that doesn't mean that she likes snuffing the lives of these innocent people out like a cloth over an open flame. She doesn't show, or really feel, emotions very much but the idea of killing half a million innocent people makes her skin feel tight and her head feel light.

She thinks of Armin, she likes the boy, she's long since given up on trying to repress her feelings for him. He makes her feel like she doesn't need to do this, like she can act better. That she can be better.

She wonders how he'd look at her if he realised just how hideous she was on the inside, that everything Eren went into in messy detail was completely true, they might have been only children at the time, they might have not had another choice if they wanted to live, but all those excuses that she can give herself, all the reasons and logic behind her actions, in the end it's all feeble and pathetic when faced with the Walled peoples justified anger.

She can't stop though, she's already so deep in blood that does it really matter if she keeps killing or not? Can she even be better. She only has, what was it now seven? No more like six years to live, maybe inevitably being eaten to pass on her power is an inevitable fate, and one she definitely deserves, but she can't help but feel like anything she comes up with doesn't matter, there's no excuse for their actions at the end of the day, they're beyond help.

One day she'll slowly be eaten by a Titan in her youth, with the sound of her flesh being chewed out and her bones breaking against the teeth of a monster being the final things she hears.

She'd say that's a pretty merciful way to kill them, considering how they stole so many lives.

But she has to return to her father, she has a reason to go home, she needs to get back alive, whether or not she continues to live afterwards she isn't sure of but she knows that she needs to get back alive.

That doesn't stop her from quietly sobbing to herself as the others in the girls barracks enjoy, peaceful, unburdened rest with the blissful cushion of ignorance serving as a nice shield for them.

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Armin has no idea what's troubling Annie but it can't be good.

Annie isn't a girl that's easily spooked, she has a nigh unbreakable poker face that she uses to hide her true feelings from others but when she's alone with Armin she knows that he's gained enough trust for her to lower her guard, if only a little.

They've technically been in a relationship for the past year with it never actually going beyond kissing. She seemed to get incredibly emotional whenever they locked lips though with varying reactions which varied greatly. Sometimes anger, sometimes sadness, sometimes happiness but no matter how many times he asked he never seemed to get a clear answer.

He likes to think that he's a patient guy but he can't help the irritation that he sometimes feels at her unwillingness to tell him what's bothering her. She often says that she's a bad person, and she even once confided in him that she once left her friend Marcel behind to die in order to save her own skin when their village was attacked by Titans. He could understand why that would bother her, but he's also sure that that's not the end of the story, something about the way she acts just doesn't add up to him.

'The biggest mysteries in the world are women not the Titans' Eren once told him that and he can't help but find himself agreeing with his best friend.

He's talked about this with Eren and his friend did his best to lend a listening ear and offer up what advice he can. Him and Mikasa have actually been together for quite a some time. He doesn't know exactly when their relationship began but anybody who knows them knew it was a long time coming and were all happy for the two. Well all except Jean, he honestly feels some pity for the boy, he was clearly infatuated with Mikasa but it was doomed to fail from the beginning since Mikasa only has eyes for Eren, it's why, despite her looks, none of the other boys ever develop crushes on her and focus on other girls like Christa or Sandra, he knows that Annie is extremely attractive but her cold demeanor crushes any feelings of attraction most boys, she's a heart breaker and a bone breaker.

Armin never minded that Annie was by far the better fighter between the two, in fact he kind of liked it, it just meant he didn't have to worry about her as much as than if she was some bubbly helpless girl that was incapable of defending herself. He has a feeling that her sudden change in behaviour is due either to something that has happened recently or will happen, she could just be sad that they'll soon be separated when she chooses the MP's and he goes with the Survey Corps but it feels a whole lot deeper than that for some reason.

He also worries that their relationship will take a hit when he joins the Scouts, he's dead set on his decision but he can't deny that being away from Annie would make him falter slightly. Eren has plans to join forces with the Survey Corps to help take back Wall Maria by using his Titans hardening abilities to seal the hole in the wall, however he personally doubts the Warriors would stand idly by as a new Titan reveals themselves so they'd likely take action against him. At least three versus one isn't a fight he can handle, even if his Titan is strong, so with the Scouts there with them they'll have a higher chance of successfully beating them and getting more of the nine on their side. Eren has already talked about the weaknesses of the Shifters in great detail with them to help counter the Warriors should they ever find them on the battlefield.

Erens plan is essentially to try and smoke out the Shifters and steal their powers by any means necessary. Armin can't deny that the any means bit makes him slightly uncomfortable but it's only logical. Either some of us or all of us, Marley has to be stripped of the power to breach the Walls because otherwise there's no point in sealing the gate.

If he really loves Annie then he should focus on helping stop the Warriors, if Paradis loses Wall Rose then half the population dies and he doesn't even want to think about the other consequences of if that happened and what the Royal Government might do to save their own Hide.

"Annie what's bothering you?" They're sitting in their usual spot inside the woods around the back of training camp, with graduation just around the corner they've been trying to spend as much time together as possible before they end up being separated by their different individual duties.

Annie has been looking more tired than normal lately with her hair more messy, her eyebags move prominent and her responses more brief, even for her standards she's all but completely withdrawn from making any contact with other human beings.

She shook her head and tried to look reassuring but Armin couldn't bring himself to be convinced by such a half hearted response.

"Look Annie whatever it is that's on your mind you can tell me, I won't judge, I won't tell anyone else, I'm sure it's not as bad as you think?" Annie paused for a second but to his surprise instead of looking relieved she just looked miserable as she started to cry and sob to herself.

"I'm sorry Armin, I just wanted to return to my father." Her voice seemed to crack as he looked at her in confusion, seemingly lacking the context of the situation.

"Five years ago, me, Reiner and Bertolt did something we weren't proud of, it seemed like the right thing to do at the time, looking back it obviously wasn't, we'd just lost Marcel and we couldn't go back after we lost Jaws so we kept on going and now I just regret what we did."

The gears in Armins mind seemed to shift as he came to a horrifying realisation of what precisely Annie could be talking about.

Jaws? Five years ago? No choice?

He thought back to a conversation that he and Eren had about the Marleyan Warriors.

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"They couldn't stop even if they wanted to."

Armin didn't speak as his friend elaborated." They were sent here by Marley with a primary and secondary goal. The primary to recapture the Founding Titan and the secondary to kill everyone in the Walls. Even if they learn that we're just ordinary people it's not like they can just stop, Marley wouldn't show them mercy or leniency if they failed to retrieve the Founder, they have families back home that they want to return to and to do that they need to complete their mission."

Armin felt a wave of worry hit him at the predicament the Warriors are in, if they want to go home then they need to kill everyone in the Walls? The thought is terrifying and pitiful at the same time. He can sympathise with their circumstances but he knows that if they want to survive then they need to take their Titan powers and pass them on to people who they can trust.

Eren looked at him knowingly." It's okay to pity them but try not to sympathise too much, they won't stop until every person on Paradis is dead and hesitation will get people killed." Eren had an intense look in his eyes when he spoke next.

"Whether or not we deserve to live isn't up to them."

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Armin felt frozen in place as he sincerely hoped that Annie wasn't what he thought she was.

Why did he have to have such bad luck? Why did he have to fall for the girl who may very well have trampled all over his and his friends home?

Maybe he's wrong though, there's no proof that what he's saying is right and it could all be just some big coincidence. Yeah that's probably it.

He gazed at the crying girl in front of him.

But hypothetically he'll entertain the idea that she is indeed one of the Warriors why would she be so miserable? It could be that the anniversary of Maria's fall is coming up and that's reminding her of what she's done but it's wishful thinking if that's enough to make her this withdrawn-

Wait the Fall! All the Cadets will be in Trost doing jobs as part of the Garrison with Annie included. It's safe to assume that the Armoured and Colossal are also part of the Cadets, as horrifying as the idea of children being the ones to commit mass genocide is, and that will give them the opportunity to-

Armin felt cold sweat drip down his face involuntarily. They're going to break Wall Rose that day.

Oh no.

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"Do you have heart?!"

"Sir!" Every Cadet from the hundred and fourth Cadet Corps was either standing on a stage or in a crowd inside the graduation hall with several torches being the only thing illuminating the darkness in the pitch black night.

"You have three options for ehich regiment you choose to join! The Garrison regiment tasked with defending and reinforcing the Walls! The Survey Corps whose job is to venture out into Titan territory to regain back what's outs! Finally the Military Police whose job is to maintain order inside the Walls! But only the top ten Cadets in your class can join the last one! Those of you watching in the crowd this is the top of your class.

A total of ten Cadets stood up on a podium from left to right with their fists over their hearts. These Cadets were, Connie Springer, Sasha Braus, Ymir, Jean Kirstein, Annie Leonhart, Bertolt Hoover, Reiner Braun, Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman.

I felt my blood boil with anticipation as my thoughts revolved entirely on how to halt the attack tomorrow in the most efficient way possible with me getting the same answer ever time I asked myself.

Tomorrow I wanted to send a message to Marley, to the Warriors, to the Walls and to the world.

That Paradis isn't an island full of Devils

But The Devil does live here.

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In the Mess Hall activity was bustling with Cadets exchanging pleasantries and talking about which regiments of the Military they were planning on joining. Usually this would be an easy decision, because of the high mortality rate in the Scouts every year without fail the Cadets would go through exactly this process.

Those in the top ten go to the Military Police more often than not, most are content with Garrison which practically never join the front lines, and an extremely small minority will consider joining the Survey Corps.

This group of trainees however are a lot more undecided than usual.

Many in the top ten can't help but think back to their classes second bests words, how the Scouts would have better results should all the best soldiers be put on the front lines, that the only reason their mortality rate is so high is because most of the talented individuals join the Military Police and end up wasting their talent with human greed.

They can't seem to poke holes in his logic either. The Survey Corps commander, Erwin Smith, was the number one in his class and he chose the Scouts, they have marginally fewer casualties than they used to because of the strategies he came up with. If a single number one can do that what could they do with all the cream of the crop?

They also think back to all of the speeches that he's made, how if they don't find a solution and overcome the Titans then it's only a matter of time before they lose the Walls and humanity won't last very long if that happens.

But then they think about what they want, that if they become Scouts they will constantly dance on a thin line between life and death, and for every speech Eren made about driving out the Titans he made another about just how dangerous they are and how miserable they'd make themselves if they chose the path of the Corps.

They have two options in their minds. Either ride into death or wait to die. Neither seems very appealing to them.

"So your still joining the Scouts Eren?" Thomas asked though from the tone of his voice he already knew the answer.

The green eyes boy nodded." Of course, I didn't practice a speech to tell you every day so that I could join the MP's and laze around in the interior now did I?"

Thomas honestly felt extremely worried for his friend and couldn't help but yell out." How though?! How are we meant to beat then?!"

Every Cadet fell silent as they all turned their surprised gaze on Thomas who spoke more quietly as he grimaced at their own actions.

"If all that you've said is true then what's the point of fighting? We all die anyway and somehow it's better if we all die fighting? What's the point?" Thomas just didn't think he had it in him to go out and fight the Titans, he might not be in the top ten but he could join the Garrison and live comfortably for the rest of his life, even if it'll be short, and spend some time with his family so why should he risk his life.

Eren sighed as he closed his eyes and knew that to reignite that fire of resolve he'd need to tell an inspiring speech, and he knew only one that would do the trick.

"Your right." Many flinched at the unexpected words; not expecting the resident Scout supporter to say such a thing.

"Whether you die fighting to the bitter end or hiding in a corner begging and screaming for mercy, none of it matters when your facing down a Titan, none of it stops those monsters from eating you alive, from showing you no mercy. It's all the same at the end of the day, we are all equally dead." Many seemed dejected and were about to speak up but Erens green eyes almost seemed to glow as he spoke with immense passion.

"But does that mean that we should give up? That we should take off our gear and hop into a Titans open mouth? What about our dead comrades and those who fell because of the Titans? Were their deaths pointless?" Thomas no longer knew what to say to that question.

"They weren't pointless! Because whether or not they died heroically or not didn't matter but even if they're gone their fight isn't done! Men, women, children they all died in agony and fear but it wasn't pointless because humanity still lives on, by remembering who they are and continuing to fight this battle that they started all their deaths had meaning! Only the living can bring meaning to the dead and their deaths are only pointless when either we give up or we perish! If I'm the last man alive I'll continue to fight! If I'm the only one who hasn't give up I'll continue to fight! Because the moment their lives and deaths were pointless is when humanity dies!"

He was out of breath by the end of it with several Cadets openly gaping at the boy. He's given plenty of inspiring speeches but this one definitely take the cake.

He looked around and decided to leave the silent hall with his words lingering in their minds and several trainees feeling their confidence and courage swell up from his words as they absorbed all his passion like sponges.

His Asian girlfriend and his blonde best friend saw that he got up and left so they quickly picked their jaws up off the ground as they ran after Eren.

Meanwhile Reiner, Bertolt and Annie felt guilt bite away at them as glowing green eyes were imprinted in the back of their minds. This might not be an island full of Devils But their are certainly some Devils living here.

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I stood with my face angled upwards at the night sky as I heard a pair of frantic footsteps approaching me from behind.

"That was quite a speech." Mikasa was surprised at the intensity at which he spoke, she knew he had a passion for fighting but that was something else.

I shrugged as I put my hands in my pockets and sat down on the steps beneath my feet feeling mentally tired of the night and what I have planned for tomorrow.

"I just said what I felt." My friends joined me in sitting down on the paths steps as all three of us gazed up at the sky." When we get it all back and all this fighting is done... we should see those sights, the ones in your book." Travelling has always been a desire of mine, to see all this words natural wonders, to grow old and gra-

I shook my head before that feeling of helplessness washed over me. I have eight years to live, maybe there is a way around the Curse of Ymir but I doubt it'll be discovered in the time I have left, maybe if they took my spine apart piece by piece or simply drained my spinal fluid out of my spine I'd lose my Titan powers and the thirteen year limit together. I shook my head, hope for the best prepare for the worst.

Armins eyes seemed to brighten up." Your right, we can start by going to the sea-" He stood up in excitement with that look in his eyes."- we'll go there once we beat the Warriors, we can see everything this world has to offer."

I couldn't help but crack a smile at his naivety. Me and Armin are like polar opposites, you'd think two guys like us would constantly be arguing yet somehow we're thick as thieves.

Mikasa, a natural born warrior, and Armin, a certified genius, if I could have two better allies then I can't think of any.

My gaze turned serious." Tomorrow we'll turn them back, show them that the Walls aren't going to let them have their way, that if they want to kill us all then they shouldn't expect us not to put up a resistance." Quite frankly the very idea that in the anime they didn't even doubt their success, having full arrogance in using Eldias titan powers against her, for so much as a moment makes me want to scream.

Mikasa fiddled with her scarf as she looked down." Just promise me that you'll be safe." She said feeling very anxious and nervous about the risks of his plan. She can't help but worry when Eren is involved in anything even remotely dangerous, the thought of anything bad happening to her is enough to make her feel sick.

I smiled at her words and leaned over to Peck her on the cheek." I promise, you don't have to worry about me. Besides if something bad does happen to me I'll just come find you, you'll probably turn then into mince meat."

Mikasa blushed slightly at his words as he wrapped her scarf around her neck.

She loves Eren more than anything, more than he knows, whenever she meets a new person or sees anything that could be dangerous her first instincts are- ErenErenErenErenErenSafeSafeSafeSafe- to proceed with caution and put herself between them. He used to get really angry with her because of it but after they lost Maria he became a lot less short tempered, maybe he just appreciated her more because she was the only family he had left, maybe he his trauma from the experience made him mature in a way, either way she... likes this change. He'd always be looking out for her now and trys to make her smile, just him trying was enough for that to happen, or if he felt she was really being too overprotective instead of yelling at her she'd receive calm reassurance and gratitude for her concerns. She'd even say that there were a few moments where he himself was being overprotective towards her. She doesn't know how to feel about him protecting her though, she's always been the more physically strong of the two, his guardian, and the though of him not needing her to keep him safe, him being able to live just fine without her. It terrifies her.

She just wants him safe, she loves him but this isn't about her feelings, and if all she can be is his friend or sister then she's fine with that as long as she can protect him. Him saying that he loved her was a shock, but completely welcome, one day earlier in the year he just told her that he had feelings for her, that he's been in love with her since they first met and that he'd love to be her boyfriend.

She wasn't sure how to feel when she first heard this how's she meant to protect Eren if she ends up getting too comfortable around him? If she lowers her guard the world will hurt him, her feelings of love shouldn't matter. She can't be selfish.

But her mouth moved before she could think and the words 'I love you too' were muttered.

She can't even bring herself to regret it, they've only grown closer to each other since that day and just their lips brushing together is enough to make her mind go blank and make her heart heat quicken. Sometimes she curses him for making it impossible for her to contain her selfishness.

As he held her close with his arm drapped around her side to pull her close she leaned her head on his shoulder and let herself let a small but genuine smile blossom on her face.

She just wants to be with him. No matter what.

Watching Mikasa fall asleep on my shoulder I gently tucked her mid length silky black hair behind her ear as I did my best not to disturb her tranquil slumber. Admiring the girl I resolved myself as I picked her up bridal style.

The how doesn't matter to me. This island, these people, must be saved by any means necessary.

Gently tucking the physically powerful woman in to bed I knew what I would become and couldn't bring myself to mind if it meant keeping her safe. One final glance at her serene face only strengthened my will.

I might be a devil but I'm her devil.

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"You want to join the Survey Corps?" I questioned in a 'surprised' tone as Connie cleaned the cannons on the Walls with him mentioning it out of the blue.

Connie had his back turned to me." Well I've thought about it a lot and a guys allowed to change his mind okay." I raised my eyebrows at that but chose not to comment.

"I think your speech last night swayed him over." I looked over my shoulder to see the kind hearted girl smiling warmly. The Titans don't care if your kind though, if they did then mum wouldn't have been eaten alive.

"Well he's not the only one." Thomas scratched his sideburns sheepishly as he admitted to being swayed by my words.

I recalled the night before, I'd like to think I gave a better speech than Eren in the anime so will any more people choose to go with the Scouts than originally.

I memorised the group which stood on Wall Rose with me. Connie, Sasha, Thomas, Mina, Samuel. Out of this group only Connie would survive in the original way things went, Mina and Thomas would both die in Trost after eagerly following Eren to their deaths because of his arrogance and foolishness. Samuel would die four years after by Connie for trying to stop them from attempting to stop the Rumbling and finally Sasha would be killed by Gabi Braun after they finally struck back against Marley after allowing them to rally the world to their cause.

They were too young, Thomas and Mina are both only fifteen, still children in my eyes, even Sasha and Samuel who died four years later weren't even twenty. They'd have their lives taken from them like newly sprouted flowers that were denied the chance to bloom because of harsh winds of fate.

"Eren are you okay?" I snapped out of my day dreaming to the voice of Thomas with the blonde boy and several others looking at me strangely.

With a shake of my head I looked out into Wall Maria, spotting a few Titans in the distance with most likely being drawn away by the Scouts or been picked off by the Garrison to make way for the Survey Corps." If you become a Scout it should be your choice. If it isn't then don't bother, fighting Titans is something you have to choose to do." I lamented, mentally counting the seconds as I stopped gazing into Titan territory.

The others seemed to nod to that, whether or not they actually understand or are simply ignorant is something I can't claim to know, but all halted their duties when Sasha pulled out a decent sized piece of meat.

"Oh Sasha you stole from the officers pantry didn't you?" I pinched the bridge of my nose at the red headed girls goofiness and stupidity which reminded me that we are indeed in an anime world because that's the only explanation as to how someone can act so consistently moronic.

At my words the others all, in unison, gasped in horror as they all berated the food lover.

Sasha drooled with a blush to my disgust." Oh come on, just think of the sandwiches we could make with this thing."

I sighed, feeling like going along with the girls idiocy for some reason." You know what? You've already stolen it, might as well get in on some of that."

They all collectively gaped at my words, seemingly stunned that usually so well disciplined second best in the class would agree to sharing stolen meat.

I looked at them with a slight smile on my face." What? We're gonna be taking Maria back soon enough, we'll be able to raise more livestock then."

They looked at me, then each other, and then back at me.

Samuel was the first to crack." I'd really like a slice please."

Connie followed." If he gets some so do I!"

Minas smile widened." I'll have some too, of course" Soon enough every Cadet in the group was an accessory to the crime.

"Alright then how about this-" their eyes fell on me as I spoke."- we'll take all the land that we want back, and eat meat together when it's done." My words seemed to lighten the mood as the Cadets all went back to work.

They're so young, so innocent, so ignorant. But I can't find it in myself to keep quiet about what the world has in mind for these youths, both their Government and the world wants to kill them.

My hatred for the Warriors increased even more as I felt righteous anger flow through my veins. It's true that on some level I feel a small amount of pity for them, if they don't kill these people then they can't go home, they won't accept that Marley is in the wrong so they say the world is wrong. The world isn't wrong it's the people who live in it, humans are violent and sadistic creatures, at least Titans have no intent, they'll only eat you alive a human can do so much worse. The Warriors are full of blind hatred and fear that drives their actions.

I gazed down at the town of innocent people, children, babies, mothers and families, if I do nothing then they'd all die, if I let the Warriors get away with their actions because of some pity I happen to feel then my friends and the family I've built will die, these people will die.

Fear is no excuse for that.

I will end the Warriors tyranny, I will burn Marley down, I will free the people of the Walls no matter the cost.

The world seemed to still as a bolt of lightning crashed behind me. The others looked on in horror and shock but I glared in rage and hatred as the Colossal Titan looked down at us with cold, cruel and calculating eyes.

Hello Bertolt.