Ymir's Legacy

Ch. 37; Conflict

They rode all the way to the outskirts of Paradis, nearing the shores of the port, and the sun began to set. As they rode, Mikasa shouted, "Heads up... we're here", she said in a cautious tone, everyone was wary of their new allies, especially Annie and Gabi. Hange stood in front of Pieck in her cart form, waving at them, Jean, Onyonkapon, Yelena and Ymir were all waiting for them. "You guys made it, Aila! You're ok!", Hange said as she practically jumped with happiness to see her comrade. Aila couldn't help but smile as she and the others got off of the carts, "I'm glad to see you Hange... I thought you were.." "Dead? Yeah, almost. A few recruits nearly killed me and finished Levi off", Hange said as she pointed to the captain wrapped in bandages behind her. He was bed ridden, laying in a farm cart, barely able to move or speak even. Despite their past disagreements, Aila couldn't help but feel sorry and anger for the captain, and especially at Zeke. Annie came up from behind her, grasping onto her hand, Aila looked down at her wife, smiling at how happy she felt to see her again. They all unloaded things they needed silently, not even glancing nor speaking to the other side, all still filled with pent up resentment. Once the sun had set, Hange had started to make their food, cooking soup over a fire, Pieck lay in her titan form near them, Magath, Falco, and Gabi were the only ones willing to sit by her. Yelena and Onyonkapon sat in their own area, distant from the Marleyan side but closer to the scouts. Jean sat near Hange, Mikasa lay in Sasha's lap as she looked at the stars in thought, Connie sat near Armin, playing with the grass on the floor. Nanaba lay her head on Gelgar's shoulder, both glaring at their recent enemy, Annie lay in Aila's lap, taking in her touch and scent after being worried for so long. They all glared at each other, not sure if this alliance would work, feeling uneasy and without trust for the other. Hange could sense the tension, "Instead of staring each other down... could some of you help me?" "Hmph, to think we'd all be here taking a meal together after all the time we spent trying to kill each other... it's interesting", Magath said as Hange finished. Everyone still glaring at each other, Sasha was the only one who got up and walked over to help Hange with supper.

Magath turned his head and looked at the other side, "What changed your mind? You know you'll get the world you want if you just let Eren Jaeger go. We were so close to keeping Eren and Zeke from coming into contact, if only you hadn't helped them out", he said as he glared at every one of the scouts, hate filling his eyes and heart. Hange's face twisted into a sadness as she looked over at Magath, "Like I explained general, none of us want genocide. We wouldn't have scurried off to a forest to lay low and make stew if we did" "So you're saying you finally see whose side justice is on", Magath said as he looked down at the bottle of wine in his hand. Aila couldn't help but grow angry at the comment, "Justice? Were you just talking about... justice? You?" "Aila honey don't", Annie tried to plea with her wife, knowing what was about to happen, but the anger in Aila was too hot to cool now. "SO WE WERE THE BAD GUYS FOR FIGHTING AGAINST THOSE TITANS YOU PEOPLE KEPT SENDING OVER TO US?! LISTEN UP! THE REASON WE FOUGHT AS HARD AS WE DID IS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE EATEN ALIVE BY TITANS! AND YOU'RE OVER THERE TRYING TO SAY THAT'S SOMETHING ONLY DEVILS DO?!", Aila shouted at the Marleyan commander sitting across from her, Annie stayed silent, she knew all too well the cruelty Marley enjoyed to savor. Magath frowned as he took a sip of the wine, "Yeah... you do look like devils to me. All our concerns about Paradis have come true, and now you're working on destroying the world. This is the result of all your hard fought battles, it it not?", Magath asked with arrogance and pride. Aila clenched her teeth and fists, feeling only a burning hate in her heart for this man, "Listen here... IF HIS MOTHER WASN'T EATEN ALIVE AFTER THE WALLS WERE TORN DOWN, EREN WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE ANY OF THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE! YOU'RE THE ONES THAT BACKED HIM INTO USING THE RUMBLING, AREN'T YOU?!", Aila yelled, she wasn't in control of her emotions any more. All of her own and her friends pain was flooded into her mind, fueling her to fight back more.

Magath frowned, "Oh, so now you want to talk about history? You at least understand that Eldia was the first to devastate Marley and make its people suffer right?", Aila growled, clenching her fists hard enough to penetrate the skin in her palms. But Annie stood up next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder and staring into her eyes, telling her to calm down before she transforms without knowledge. Aila calmed down, her breathing slowed and her hands slightly relaxed, Annie slightly pushed her down to sit, relaxing her further. She then turned around and looked at Magath, a frown of anger and hate never seen on her before was plastered onto her face. "How long are you going to play the victim over an incident that happened over a thousand years ago GENERAL? You are guilty of far worse than we have ever done in our lifetime, forcing children to inherit the power of a god and master it, knowingly shortening their lifespan in the process, then proceeding to murder and imprison tens of foreign countries, forcing war onto them. Destroying them and their land until they bowed to Marley's rule because of their possession of the titans, MARLEY is just as guilty as the previous Eldian empire, you're BOTH tyrants", she said in a calm and serious yet angry voice. Magath rolled his eyes, "Ugh, it's like I'm talking to a child. Do you think that nonsense hold water in the face of two thousand years of real history?" "EXCUSE ME General, but they are now BOTH real history. Regardless of how old it is, it is common knowledge for the entire world to know of what Marley forced four twelve year old children to do nine years ago, committing mass genocide on thousands of innocent men, women and children. Yes, Eldia's ancestors are plenty guilty as well, but Marley is as well despite how deep in DENIAL you are, I am FAR older than all of you here, I know more than you will ever know", Ymir said as she sat up from her slumber next to Nanaba and Gelgar, frowning at Magath who didn't dare to say anything else. Annie sat back down with Aila, leaning her head on her shoulder and letting out a sigh of exhaustion and frustration.