Nyx's pov
I had finally gotten my confirmation that Zofia was going to be my successor. I was leaning against a barrier writing notes for her on the command Titan's abilities and role. She'd more than likely end up as the vice captain or possibly captain since Zeke would be gone.
My mind kept wandering. Zofia would see my whole life from start to finish. She would see my mother being murdered infront of me, she would see my time as a slave, she would see the training I went through, she'd see my time on Paradis and all my interactions there and she'd see every moment from my return to Marley. She might even pick up some of my habits, the nervous babbling or distaste for eating, either or would be bad.
Flashback
' Annie, Reiner, Bertholdt, Marcel and I were sat around a campfire after stopping on our way to the walls.
"Here. Let me fix your hair." Annie said as she patted her lap.
"Thanks Annie! You're the best." I said as I moved to sit in her lap.
"You really should learn to do this yourself." Annie said. "I might not be around to do it for you later on."
"I've seen you do it enough times to help her with it." Reiner said.
"Don't you guys think we're babying her too much? What happens if we all get separated and there's noone to help her?" Bertholdt said.
"Nyx is smart, she'll figure it out. Today's her birthday though, let her have this." Marcel said.
"I wish I could have spent it with papa. But he needs me to do this for him." I said.
"There's no turning back, when we reach the wall tomorrow..." Marcel trailed off.
"Huh? What's wrong? Don't tell me you're feeling hesitant about killing these devils, they're a threat to our entire world! The greatest nation in the world chose us to save it, to punish these devils for their crimes!" Reiner said.
"I'm sorry..." Marcel said. "Listen Reiner, the truth of it is, you were never meant to be chosen. I influenced the army's decision by making my little brother look bad and putting you up on a pedestal. I'm sorry, I only did it so that pock would... be safe. I'm sorry Reiner."
Tears began to fall from his eyes and he quickly tried to wipe them away.
"Don't cry Marcie, everyone got what they wanted from what you did. Except Pock but I'm sure he'll understand. Reiner wanted to be a warrior and because of you he is. You want to keep Pock safe and right now he's safely at home, it's a win win, right?" I said but Annie shook her head no causing me to frown.
Just then a titan appeared from nowhere from behind Reiner. I let out a scream of terror as Marcel pushed Reiner out of the way.
Annie quickly scooped me up into her arms and took off in a sprint after Reiner. I watched in terror over her shoulder as Marcel was eaten alive.
"Not bad, you just beat me in a long distance race, you've never done that before." Annie said to Reiner as she set me down. "If we had transformed and defended ourselves, we wouldn't have lost the jaw titan. Shit! He's gone for good now."
"There weren't supposed to be any titans this far from the walls." Reiner said.
"We need to go back, let's track down jaws and leave. The titan that ate Marcel should be human again, come on, without Marcel to lead us this mission is doomed." Annie said.
"Wait, we can't! We can't go, we've gotta continue the mission as planned!" Reiner said.
"Oh yeah, if you go back now you'll be stripped of the armour. The next warrior will eat you, though that isn't really a problem for me." Annie said.
"You think it'd just be me? You and Bertholdt ran away too so why would I take all the blame? What makes you so confident that you three won't get eaten right along with me? Going after jaws isn't such a good idea anyway, if they use its power to run then our titans are way too slow to catch up to it." Reiner said.
"But how could someone learn to use it that quickly?" Bertholdt said.
"You mastered the colossal on your first try so you tell me! Anyway, if we go back to the dock as failures we're doomed. We need to find the founding titan. There's no going home without it." Reiner said.
"You know, if you had even been a fraction as composed when that titan came at us we wouldn't have had to loose the jaw titan or Marcel. You think the three of us will be killed for coming after you, huh? Then why don't you come clean to Magath! Its your fault this happened so own up to it!" Annie yelled as she attacked Reiner.
"STOP!" I yelled using my titan ability and causing all three warriors to freeze. "Please just stop it. Don't hurt eachother."
Annie then backed off and Reiner stood up, blood dripping from his face.
"Reiner is dead now, if we need Marcel then he's who I'll be." Reiner said. "Nyx was second in command so I'll help her take over the mission."
Time skip
We were all attacking the walls that protected Paradis. Bertholdt was in his colossal form and I was also transformed. Reiner and Annie were waiting for us to start the operation to transform.
'Now Bertholdt!' I said through the link.
Bertholdt then swung his leg through the gate, making a hole for everything to get through. I let out a scream, ordering them through the hole, Annie had used her titan ability earlier to gather them nearby for this very moment.
'Reiner, you're up.' I said through the link.
There was a flash of light as he transformed and then the armoured titan entered the city with the rest. I allowed myself to leave the nape of my titan, steam surrounding me as the body began to disappear. I panted slightly, I was exhausted.
I looked around and quickly began to worry, all the others were nowhere in sight. Panicking slightly I dropped to the ground and took off I a stumble to try and escape the titans I had invited in.
"Hurry kid, come on!" A man with roses on his jacket yelled at me as he grabbed my arm and began dragging me with him. "Where are your folks?!"
"I don't know." I replied, tears brimming my eyes, I was away from home and without Annie and the others, I was scared.
"There's no time to cry right now kid, we need to get you on a ship out of here." He said. "Fuck it."
Without warning the man picked me up and began running faster. I watched over his shoulder as titans grabbed and devoured people, I did this and they didn't even seem like devils.
I clutched his jacket and began to cry. I shouldn't feel bad but I did.'
"Miss Betzner, what are you doing out here?" Gabi asked, catching my attention. "Are you ignoring me?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry Gabi, not at all, just distracted by my mind." I said.
"What were you doing?" Gabi asked.
I looked at the book I was holding, I had subconsciously written pages and pages on the command Titan. I guess getting lost could sometimes be beneficial, it helps you find what you need.
"Just writing instructions for my successor." I replied.
"Jeeze! Zofia has to read all of that?! I hope Reiner doesn't do that to me." Gabi said.
I laughed and ruffled her hair.
"I doubt he will, you've already got what you need to be the armoured." I said.
"Really?" Gabi asked.
"Yeah, you've got a strong spirit and great talent on the field. I have no doubt you'll do great." I said and she grinned.
"Miss Betzner, I found you." Colt said as he approached us holding out a lunchbox. "Zeke sent me with food for you."
"Thanks Colt, you didn't have to bring it all this way. Tell Zeke I'm grateful, it was very kind of him." I said as I took the box from him.
"Oh yeah! Reiner sent me with lunch for you too! That's why I was out here." Gabi said as she handed me a clear bag of sandwiches.
I smiled and shook my head.
"Those two worry far too much." I said.