A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to the first chapter of season four! Enjoy!

edited on june 4th, 2022 @ 5:20am

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚈-𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙴,
𝓓𝙴𝙲𝙻𝙰𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 𝙾𝙵 𝚆𝙰𝚁.

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《 𝖳𝖧𝖤 𝖸𝖤𝖠𝖱: 𝟪𝟧𝟦 — 𝖫𝖨𝖡𝖤𝖱𝖨𝖮 𝖨𝖭𝖳𝖤𝖱𝖭𝖬𝖤𝖭𝖳 𝖹𝖮𝖭𝖤 》

AN OLDER JOSIAH WAS STROLLING through the Liberio Internment Zone. Four years had passed since the Survey Corps reclaimed Wall Maria. Josiah was now nineteen years old, and his appearance had slightly changed. He was now standing at 196 cm (6' 5") and his hair was now styled into a mullet. He was also wearing a gray cloak in order to cover his black Scouts uniform underneath. His ODM gear was safely stashed somewhere no one could find it.

He had been tasked to persuade Eren to come back to Paradis — Commander Hange and Captain Levi's orders. He recalled what had happened when he got called into Hange's office.

"Commander Hange, Captain Levi." Josiah saluted to his two superiors. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes. We suspect Eren is planning his own attack on the people from the other side of the sea." Hange explained. "Levi and I want you to go there with Yelena to persuade him not to attack."

"Forgive me for saying this, Commander, but..." Josiah blinked in confusion. "What makes you think I can persuade Eren? Why not Mikasa or Armin?"

Levi lets out a scoff. "You're engaged to the brat, aren't you? If anyone can persuade him, it's you. He might not listen to Mikasa or Armin." He explained.

"All right." Josiah finally agreed. "I'll do my best."

That was a month ago. Josiah had adapted well in Liberio, despite not knowing much information about it. The Marleyan city reminded him of how Shiganshina once was.

Josiah suddenly heard cheers coming from the gate. "Shit. It's the Warriors. If Reiner takes notice of me, I'm fucked." He thinks to himself.

He pulls his hood further down, covering his eyes and pretended he was interested in a newspaper.

Josiah noticed a young boy, who looked about twelve years old, with short, shaggy light brown hair and large downward-sloped light hazel eyes with rather long eyelashes.

His outfit consisted of a light jacket and pants, along with tall combat boots. He was also wearing a yellow armband on his right shoulder, making Josiah guess he was one of those warrior candidates.

He watched as the boy approach a group of men who seemed to be injured soldiers.

One of them was a man with long brown hair with a missing leg and missing eye. It may have been a while, but Josiah knew those familiar features anywhere.

"Found you... Eren." Josiah noted.

He walks away from the injured soldiers. He decided it wasn't time to confront his fiancé yet as he was in a place where there are ears around that could hear their conversation. Josiah needed to confront him when he was alone.

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Now that Josiah knew where Eren was located, it made his mission a lot easier. He got up the next day, placing his gray cloak over his Scouts uniform once more, and headed out of his apartment that he was staying in.

He hoped he wouldn't get noticed by any of the Titan shifters. Wearing his hood around town would be too suspicious, so he just had to hope he wouldn't bump into any of them.

Josiah walks to the hospital where the injured soldiers were, seeing Eren with the same boy that he saw the other day.

Eren looks over, his eyes widening when he notices Josiah.

"What are you doing here?" Eren asked him, the boy next to him blinking with shock.

"Mr. Kruger knows him?"

"It's been a while. We need to talk." Josiah informed.

"Hello. I'm Falco." The boy — now known as Falco — introduced himself. "Do you know Mr. Kruger?"

"You could say that." Josiah replied. "Him and I go... way back. I'm Clayton Brandon."

Josiah winces at the use of his childhood friend's name. It was the only name he could come up with on the spot, since he didn't want to use his actual one.

"Do you mind if I talk to Kruger privately? Him and I have some things to discuss." Josiah told Falco.

"Of course. See you later, Mr. Kruger. It was nice meeting you Mr. Brandon." Falco bid farewell to the two men before leaving.

Josiah sat down next to Eren. "Do our comrades know what the plan is?" He questioned.

"Falco has been sending my letters to them. You'll be with me to talk to Reiner. When I transform, I want you to wait with Mikasa until I give the signal." Eren responded.

"Got it." Josiah agreed in a bored tone. "You know, I was sent here to stop your attack by order of Commander Hange and Captain Levi. But I know it's no use."

Eren only hummed in reply. "I hope you know that once you get back, you're going to get jailed... again." Josiah informed.

"I know. I already planned ahead."

"Of course you did."

"What are you going to tell the Commander and Captain Levi?" Eren questioned.

"Already sent a letter to them earlier saying I was unable to change your mind and that you were dead set on your plan." Josiah responded. "I should get going before I raise suspicion. I'll meet up with you soon."

Josiah stands back up, walking away from Eren.

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"Hey. It's been four years, Reiner." Eren greeted a shocked Reiner the next night as Josiah ditched his cloak, revealing his Scouts uniform underneath.

"You know, I really wish Connie could see the look on your face. It's hilarious." Josiah commented from his spot next to Eren.

"Um, huh? Aren't you two supposed to be old friends? Isn't that right, Mr. Kruger?" Falco asked, confused about the whole situation.

"Yeah. There's so much to catch up on." Eren agreed. "I don't even know where to start."

Falco looks back at Reiner, who still had a look of horror on his face. "Impossible... Eren!" Reiner exclaimed.

Josiah could hear the noise of chatter from up above. "Sit down, Reiner. They're good seats, right? You can hear everything on stage. The building above us is all housing. It's behind the stage, but it's full of people waiting for the curtains to rise." Eren pointed his finger upwards. "Directly above us."

Falco noticed there was blood dripping from his hand. "Huh? Kruger? Did you hurt your hand?" He questioned.

Eren opens his palm more. "Yeah. It's just a scratch." He responded. "Reiner, sit down."

Reiner sighs before sitting down across from Eren. "Well, I think I'll head back." Falco informed.

"No, Falco. You should stay here and listen." Eren told him.

"Huh?"

"Falco... Just do as he says." Reiner said, holding his hand out towards him. 

"Okay."

It was silent between the two men for a moment as Josiah stared at them with his arms crossed. "Eren... How? Why did you come here?" Reiner asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Same reason you did." Eren answered as Reiner shakily brought his hands up towards his head. "Don't you get it? The same reason you did. Because I had no other choice."

Clapping was soon heard from above. "Sounds like it started. Let's listen." Eren said.

Willy Tybur soon began his speech as Josiah listened in. Eren was still staring at Reiner, who clenched his head. "You hear that, Reiner? Isn't that why you destroyed the wall? You guys were trying to save the world. Weren't you?" Eren asked.

"What's going on here? Why is Vice Chief Braun so scared? Isn't Kruger an old friend of his?" Falco asked himself as he suddenly widened his eyes. "Old friend? Like, how many years ago? If it's more than four, they met on Paradis Island! No, there's no way! Because that means..."

"Impossible..."

"Could it be—?!"

Willy then continues his speech. "Now then, the story I've told thus far is common knowledge. However, the truth is somewhat different. In passing down the War Hammer Titan, the Tybur family inherited its memories. I will now reveal the truths we learned for the first time ever." He spoke. "Some 100 years ago, it was neither Helos nor the Tyburs who ended the Great Titan War. The one who ended the fighting and saved the world... was King Fritz."

"He anguished over the Eldian Empire's vicious history, tired from the endless infighting, and above all, he was pained by the endless operation of Marley. When he inherited the Founding Titan, he schemed with the Tybur family and they fabricated a Marleyan hero. His name: Helos. The King moved as many Eldians as he could to the island and closed the gates. He claimed that if they were threatened, thousands of Titans would be unleashed as revenge. However, this was never his intention." Willy continued on.

"King Fritz made a vow renouncing war so his ideology would be inherited. Because of this, Karl Fritz's ideology has been passed down, and the Titan have never left the island to attack. That is, the one keeping our world safe is the "vile" King of the walls— Karl Fritz, and his desire for peace. Peace was all he wanted. But if Marley grew strong and came to take the Founding Titan or his life, he would accept it. He believed the sins of the Eldians were so grave, they could never be atoned for."

"'However, until that day of retribution, let me savor a brief paradise, free of conflict within the walls. That is all I ask of you.' That was his last request." Willy continued speaking. "Yes... in exchange for our safety, the Tybur family joined hands with Karl Fritz and sold out the Eldians to Marley. We're no more than traitors lavishing in crookedly earned honor. The reason I stand here and willingly part with this sham is because I know our world is in great peril."

The drums then began pounding. "Using the power of the Founding Titan, Karl Fritz erected three walls. These walls, formed by tens of millions of Colossal Titans, have served as a shield and spear, safeguarding peace. But recently, an uprising took place on Paradis Island. King Fritz's peace was undermined by a person who stole the Founding Titan. Once again, there's a threat to our world— a rebel against peace!" Willy continued once more.

Eren's leg started regenerating. "His name: Eren Yeager!" Willy's voice was heard from above.

"You tricked me... And here I respected you... But you tricked me!" Falco exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, Falco. I needed your help."

"Huh?" Falco questioned as he soon seemed to realize something. "The letters! The ones you had me send! What were they?!"

"They didn't reach my family, but they did reach my comrades." Eren responded.

Falco looked like he was about to cry any minute as he collapsed to his knees. "No way! You're kidding!" He exclaimed.

"Y-Your comrades?" Reiner repeated.

"The threat of Paradis Island is the stampede of millions of Colossal Titans— a rumbling. As I mentioned, the vow renouncing war prevents the King's bloodline from fully using the Founding Titan. But currently, this "Eren Yeager" who possesses the Founding Titan may begin this rumbling at any moment. Once the rumbling is set into motion, there is nothing that we can do. Nothing but tremble at the footsteps of doom, fleeing in vain. All lands and civilizations will be trampled, literally razed to the ground."

"That's right."

"Huh?"

"It's like Willy says— I'm the bad guy. I might just destroy the world. But to me, you were the bad guys, too." Eren looks over towards Josiah. "Same with Josiah."

"That day, when the wall was destroyed and Titans invaded my hometown, I watched my mom get eaten. Josiah watched his childhood friends and mother die." Eren continued on.

"Do you want to know how Soren died, Reiner?" Josiah spoke, getting Reiner's attention. "Debris came flying at him, trapping him underneath. But that wasn't what killed him, no. It was the foot of the Armored Titan crushing him. That was you, Reiner."

Falco could only look in shock. "I couldn't understand. Why, Reiner? Why was my mom eaten by a Titan? Why were Josiah's childhood friends and mother killed?" Eren questioned.

"Because... on that day, we broke the wall."

"Why did you break the wall?"

"To sneak in during the chaos and see how the King would react." Reiner answered.

"What was your mission?" Eren asked.

"To retake the Founding Titan and save the world." Reiner responded.

"I see... If it was to save the world, you didn't have much of a choice." Eren said as Reiner glanced away.

"Back then, you told me: 'I'll make you guys suffer and die in the worst way possible.' Isn't that why you came?" Reiner questioned.

"Oh, I vaguely remember saying that." Eren replied.

"Huh?"

"Just forget it. True, I saw everyone on the other side of the sea as my enemy. But then, I crossed the sea, slept under the same roof as them, ate the same food... Reiner, I'm the same as you." Eren declared. "Sure, there're jerks here, but good people, too." Eren glanced over towards Falco, making him wince.

"Across the sea, within in the walls... it's the same. But you guys were taught everyone in the walls was a devil. You were children who knew nothing, but it was drilled into you. You were just kids. What could you even do? Right, Reiner? Hasn't that been eating away at you?" Eren asked.

Reiner gritted his teeth as he lowered his head, before standing up, causing the chair to fall back. "No! You're wrong, Eren!" Reiner then bowed down.

"Jeez... I forgot how dramatic you are..." Josiah mumbled under his breath.

"That day, when Marcel was eaten, Annie and Bertholdt tried to turn back and end the mission. But I... I talked them into it and made them go on! I wanted to be a hero! I wanted people's respect! It's my fault! Your mom was eaten by a Titan because of me!" Reiner cried out before looking towards Josiah. "Josiah, your friends and mother were killed because of me!"

"Tell me something I don't know. I pointed the blame on you the moment you betrayed us." Josiah told him.

"I cursed the blood I was born with. More than anyone, I wished the Eldians were wiped out."

"I'm sick of this... of myself! Just kill me!"

"But I do not wish to die. And that is because I was born into this world. We are people of different races and nations! However, it's time to join as one and face this dreadful enemy! Lend me your strength, those of you who wish to live! Those of you who wish for a future!"

Cheers then came from up above. "If we work together, we can overcome any obstacle in our way!" Willy cried out.

Eren stood up. "Like I thought, I'm the same as you." He claimed before looking at Josiah. "Josiah."

"Got it." Josiah muttered, uncrossing his arms and stepping off of the wall he was leaning on so he won't be caught in Eren's transformation.

The brunette soon walks past Falco. "I'm sorry for what's about to happen. If you want someone to blame, blame your corrupted military." He told Falco.

"Huh?" Falco muttered in confusion as Josiah left the room.

"I want you to join me in the fight against the devils of Paradis Island!" Josiah heard Willy's voice exclaim. "Here and now, as representative of the Marleyan government, I proclaim... to the enemy forces of Paradis— a declaration of war!"

Josiah could hear the roar of Eren's Titan in the distance.

"In order to beat the monsters. We must become the monsters." Josiah muttered to himself, before taking off with his ODM gear.

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A/N: The first chapter of season four is completed! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2708 words.