☆☆☆

The arrow fits perfectly in the leg of the fake bull. Carla groans as she knew she missed again and Micheal chuckles.

"This is impossible." Carla says as she gets another arrow from her bag and aims the bow to her target.

"Your only what...four?... and you're already better then most hunters. Don't be so hard on yourself. And besides, you're the one who wanted to learn." Micheal said but Carla doesn't answer but focuses her aim on the fake bull again. She lets go of the string and the arrow flies. "Be lucky I'm even teaching you this, if your mom or dad found out I would totally be killed."

"Like they'd care..." Carla muttered quietly though Micheal heard loud and clear but chose not to say anything as Carla kept shooting her arrows. "Where did you learn how to do this anyways?" Carla asked and Micheal looks up at the sky and smiles.

"I came from a hunting village. Dauper Village. My family was filled with hunters and me and my younger sister learned how to use the bow and arrow at around your age but a little older. Anyways, she ended up joining the Military though died recently when going to the front lines in Marley." Micheal says while smiling bitterly but there was sadness hidden within his tone.

Carla stops her shooting of arrows to look at him for a second. "I'm sorry. My mom and dad are in the Military, too so they're never here." Carla says as she aims again.

"Ohhh, right. Speaking of the Military, my family got invited to a Marleyan restaurant. But... I'm not sure how I will take you and go at the same time... might have to cancel." Micheal says.

"Marleyan restaurant? What's that? Is that a type of food? I wanna go." Carla says.

"Only if your mom allows me. Though, I'm not sure if it's safe since your father is not doing so well right now." Micheal says and Carla's face scrunches up.

"My father? What did he do?" Carla says as she stops her aiming and looks up at Micheal.

"Oh, uh... nothing you need to worry about. When you get older it'll all make sense." Micheal says and Carla groans.

"I'm four in like a month!" Carla whined.

Micheal smiles lightly and pats her head. Carla aims again at the bull and shoots her arrow. She then sees that her arrow strikes perfectly in the nape of the bull.

☆☆☆

As Y/n hums to herself peacefully, all that stops when she hears distant shouts from HQ. Her face scrunches in confusion as she goes to investigate.

"Why was Eren Yeager wrongfully contained?!"

"Release Eren Yeager!"

"Yeager can save Eldia!"

"He made us get back Wall Maria and Trost District! Release him at once!"

There stood many Paradis civilians at the gate of HQ protesting that Eren should be released. But all that was running through Y/n's mind was how in the world did they even know that information?

Y/n tried her best to sneakily walk through the crowd but that was impossible to not be noticed. After all, she was the girl who came from Marley and is the holder of the Thunder Titan and the mother of Eren Yeager's child.

"It's Y/n Kruger!"

"It's the girl who whored around with Eren Yeager!"

"I bet she only wanted the glory for having his child."

It was true, not many people liked the fact that she had a child at such a young age but Y/n has no regrets at all. And it wasn't common for people letting out rude remarks at her when they didn't even know Y/n and Eren at all.

Suddenly a man came up to Y/n and grabbed her by the shoulder.

"Miss Kruger! Why is Eren Yeager being detained?! He's helping the new Eldian Empire grow! Release him at once!" the man yelled in her face and some of his spit clashed onto her cheeks.

She stares stoically as she casually grabbed a handkerchief and wiped the spit off. "I'm not the Commander of the Survey Corps so I have no authority to release him or not. Get out of my way." Y/n says coldly and pushes the man away.

As she was about to reach the gate the man then went up to her and grabbed her wrist. "No! You're not going anywhere until you answer our-" he was then cut off with Y/n sweeping his feet and making him fall go the floor as everyone falls silent. Y/n only looks uninterested and pats the dust off of her long military green jacket.

"I think you all forgot who I am." Y/n says then glares at the crowd. "Know your place." Y/n says and opens the gate to walk into HQ while everyone was still silent after the scene Y/n made.

As Y/n was about to walk to the corridors she hears faint footsteps running towards her. She turns her head to see Armin running towards her. "Armin?" she says.

"Y/n! Follow me quick! Floch, Marlene, and others have released information about Eren!" Armin says and Y/n's eyes widen.

"Marlene? Why would Marlene do that?" Y/n asks.

"I don't know! This is full of chaos, hurry!"

☆☆☆

Y/n stares angerly at Marlene's figure sitting. Her flat, lanky, and tall body was the sore thumb of all the other people sitting next to her. Not to mention the short fiery red hair, though Floch also had the same color as her but Marlene's was darker. Y/n thought she could trust Marlene. Guess she was wrong about that as well.

Hange takes a deep breath and walks up to the five that are seated. "You're the ones who leaked the info about Eren? Holger, Wim, Louise... you three recruits, and Floch Forster and Marlene Davies. Why did you do it?" Hange asked.

"Because Eren should be freed. He hasn't done anything wrong. He challenged an imposing enemy and grasped victory. Victory in the form of the rumbling, which secures our right to live. Eren saved the lives of everyone in the New Eldian Empire." Floch answers.

"There's no guarantee that the rumbling works as planned and can save us. At this point, it's no more than a myth." Hange says.

"Only because you're keeping Eren locked up. Do we really have the luxury of wasting time? At this rate, our victory will be squandered. Eren Yeager will lead our country. Please, release him at once." Floch demanded.

"Yeah, you might just be right about that. One way or another, I made the decision to carry out Zeke's plan. The full responsibility is mine. Therefore, I won't tolerate disobedience. You will be tried for leaking information about Eren. Have them confined." Hange orders.

"If it's for the sake of humanity, so be it." Floch says.

Y/n and the rest of the 104th get each person and guide them to their cellars. Y/n handcuffs Marlene and puts her in her cell. Y/n doesn't try and make conversion as she doesn't want to. As she places the key in the keyhole, Marlene speaks up.

"Y/n, before you think low of me, just know that it'll all make sense in the end." Marlene says as she stares (down/up) at Y/n. Y/n only looks stoically before walking away and not saying a thing.

☆☆☆

Carla feels someone nudging her as she was halfway asleep.

"Carla." the voice whispered-shouted. "Carla!" the voice whispered-shouted. "Carla!" the voice shouted and Carla jolted up and looked around. She was in the carriage Micheal and her were riding in. "We're here." Micheal says and Carla nodded.

Carla and Micheal get out of the carriage to reveal a farm and a house next to it. Carla has only ever been in the cottage next to Historia's orphanage so it was admiring for her to see a lodge like house and a forest.

"You live here?" Carla asked.

"I do." Micheal responded as he took a bag of bread. "Come meet my family." Micheal said as he started walking towards the house with Carla trailing right behind him. "We can't stay here too long. I don't think your parents would like it if you left without permission." Micheal added.

"...So? The only one who visits me is my mom... But that's only once every two weeks..." Carla muttered as her eyes wondered the place.

Micheal looks down at Carla with a sorrowful frown. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. Besides, maybe I can do some really hunting!" Carla says with a smile and Micheal chuckles.

"We'll see. Oi! Mama! I'm home!" Micheal yells as he entered the house with Carla.

A woman and a man then come to the doorway and immediately brought Micheal in into a warm and family-like hug. Carla watches as Micheal interacts with what seems like his mother and father. Carla could feel a pang of jealousy and sadness as she watched a parent and their child love each other so much.

"So this is what family looks like..." she thought to herself.

"Oh, Micheal. Who's this little girl?" Michael's mother asked as she bends down to give Carla a pat on the head.

"Her name is Carla. Carla Yeager." Micheal said and their faces become surprise.

"As in ther' Eren Yeager and Y/n Kruga'? Well dongatted, whaddya' know?" Micheal's father said and bend down to Carla's height. "Welcome to der' Blouse household. Make yer self at home." the man smiled and Carla could already feel the affectionate love of a father.

Oh, how much she wanted that same feeling from her own.

Carla smiled, "Teach me the bow and arrow." Carla said in her high-pitched baby voice and the man's smile grew more.

"Woah! You wanna be a hunner!" he laughed and Micheal nervously chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck.

"Haha, yeah... I taught her a few things and she seemed to really enjoy it. But we can't stay here for too long or else I am going to get into serious trouble..." Micheal said.

"I'll just tell my mommy that I forced you to take me." Carla says with a blank face which startled Micheal a little. "Anyway, teach me, please! Mister Micheal said you're really good!" Carla said with a big smile as she looked at Mr. Blouse.

Mr. Blouse's heart warms a little as he looked into the girl's eyes. They reminded him of Sasha's.

"Of course, I'll teachya'. Let's go to the back to get em' supplies." Mr. Blouse said and Carla and Mr. Blouse walk into the shed. As Carla stands there waiting for Mr. Blouse to get supplies like targets, bows, and arrows as her eyes wonder around and could see some kids a little bit older than she is, talking with each other. "Hey, err... how about you go talk to them while I find them. These darn arrows... always disappearing on me..." Mr. Blouse said as rummaged through more stuff in the shed. Carla nods and started walking towards there.

"...rom Marley, right?" is all she heard.

The other boy and girl freezes. "What did you just say?"

"Hi." Carla says and the three look down to see the girl blankly staring at them with a stoic expression. "Marley? What's Marley?" Carla asks and the three are absolutely lost for words.

The boy then nervously walks over to Carla and starts patting her head. "Haha... hey! Where did you come from, haha... Marley? It's uh... food! Yes... food. It's really delicious. And uh- MIA!" the boy said and then stopped the girl named "Mia" from sticking a pitch fork into Carla.

"I knew it! Devils can't be this nice! What's your true intentions, huh?! We have to kill her, too! She knows too much!" Mia yelled and Carla's face grows confused.

"Devil? I'm not a devil..." Carla says to the brown-haired girl and her teeth only gritted even more.

"Huh?! What're you?! A Marleyan or an Eldian?!" Mia yells.

"...I don't know what that is, but... I am human..." Carla responds.

"Don't pretend you've forgotten the atrocious things of your ancestors! Our motherland Marley will eradicate you devils from the face of the earth like it should've been thousands of years ago!" Mia said.

"Stop, Gabi- I mean Mia! She's just a child! Just stop!" the boy yelled in desperation as he mustered all of his strength to push the pitch fork away from Carla.

"Are you really siding with the devils of Paradis-"

"Devils of Paradis...?" Carla thought.

"Heyyy!" everyone's commotion stops as a voice calls out from the distance. "What are you two doing?!" some boys called out.

"Mia is jealous because she thinks I am taking Ben away from her!" the blonde girl says and the boys shout back a few "ok".

"Hey, Carla! I found them!" Mr. Blouse shouts. Carla frantically runs back to Mr. Blouse leaving the other kids confused.

☆☆☆

Y/N yawns as she stretches her arms while walking to the main building of HQ. She looks out at the gates and see's people still protesting for Eren Yeager to be released and she rolls her puffy and sleepy eyes as the MP's still try and calm the crowd down and the annoying voices of the citizens.

"It's too early for this shi-" Y/N says but was cut off to the sound of explosions and looks behind her to see the office blow up and out of the explosions comes the torso and the torso only of Premier Zackley/Zackery (ion even know). Y/N'S eyes widen slightly as she cringes in disgusts. "What the hell?"

Y/N immediately goes inside the building to see what happened and see's Armin and Mikasa coughing from the smoke and dust from the explosion.

"Guys! What the hell just happened?!" Y/N yells as she made her way through rubble to Mikasa and Armin.

"We don't know!" Armin yells.

"Are you guys okay?!" Y/N asks.

"We're fine! C'mon!" Mikasa says and the three ran out into the courtyard.

"Hey! Are you guys okay?!" a voice called out. The three look to see Hitch running towards them.

"Hitch! What was that?!" Mikasa asked.

"The premier's room just...!" Hitch said.

"Where is he?!" Mikasa asked.

Y/N tapped Mikasa's shoulder to make her look at MP's covering Zackley/Zackery's corpse with a jacket.

"Give your hearts!" a protester yelled.

"They heard our anger!"

"Give your hearts!"

"Give your hearts!"

"Give your hearts!" the crowds chanted. "Give your hearts! Give your hearts! Give your hearts! Give your hearts! Give your hearts!"

"Give your hearts!" Erwin's voice said in Y/N's head.

Give your hearts... Shinzou sasageyo...

☆☆☆
(Okay is his name Zackley, Zackery, Zachery, or Zachary because my subtitles be bugging rn. Bruv this man safe from Light Yagami bc wth is his name)

"Premier Zachary owned a special chair. We believe a bomb was placed on it. He and three soldiers were lost. The culprit and their goal is unknown." an MP reported.

"The volunteers were on house arrests and this one was with me all day." Hange said.

"Who else could be responsible for it?" the MP asked.

"The premier said some recruits brought it to his room." Armin said.

"Recruits from where?" Nile, the Commander of the Military Police, asked.

"He never said from where. But when me and Mikasa were leaving the room, we saw recruits leaving HQ. They were... Scouts." Armin says and everyone's eyes widen.

"Speaking of Scouts, I hear some of them leaked the info about Eren." Nile commented but then the door to the meeting room slammed opened.

"It's an emergency! Eren Yeager has escaped from his cell!" an MP reported while panting and Y/N - everybody - eyes widen. Y/N could only feel confusions as to what Eren was even doing and why was he doing it.

"Mobilize everyone and find him!" Nile ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

"Hurry! Let's go!"

"What..." Y/N said. "...is even happening?"

☆☆☆

"Floch Forster, Marlene Davies, and some 100 soldiers and guards vanished from the prison. They're thought to have defected time with Eren's escape. I'm sure they're behind the premier's murder, too. They need a name. Let's call these anti military insurgents "Yeagerists." And the goal of the Yeagerists... is what, Hange?" Nile asks.

"They're hoping to bring Zeke and Eren together. They'll reform the military with Eren on top. Murdering the premier shows their resolve. It's obvious what provoked them. The military schemed to take the Founder from Eren, all without telling us." Hange says.

"We knew what would happen if we had. In any case, many of the Yeagerists are from the Scouts. How will you take responsibility, Hange?" Nile asks.

"I'll take any punishment. But resigning now would be an irresponsible thing to do. Besides, we don't know how many Yeagerists are still in hiding." Hange says.

"Indeed. There might even be a suicide bomber standing in front of me." Roeg says.

"Roeg, don't be ridiculous." Hange says.

"Can you be trusted? Until we know, we can't let you Scouts roam as you please!" Roeg protested and the door slammed open revealing Pixis and the Garrisons.

"Enough! We have a guest here! We have more important things to do than bicker! Hange, who knows where Zeke's being held?" Pixis asks.

"Levi and the 30 soldiers with him. Also, three soldiers who deliver supplies. Lastly, there's me." Hange says.

"Have those three brought here. Nile, is the Queen's residence safe? Along with the safety of Carla Yeager?" Pixis asks.

"Only a few know the location, but I'll check it out. As for Carla, she's in danger. She resides at the Queen's orphanage." Nile says and Y/N'S eyes slightly widen.

"Eren will attempt to contact Zeke and Queen Historia and Carla could be used as a hostage or bait. Protecting those three is an absolute must!" Pixis orders.

"Yes, sir!"

☆☆☆

Historia's orphanage was a big wooden house with plains and hills of grass and children running around it. Eren and Marlene stare out into it as the wind billows.

"You got it, right? Check if Historia is there... after that... see if Carla is okay and bring her back. I can't have the military or the volunteers use Carla as a hostage or bait so they can get what they want from me." Eren says and Marlene nods.

"Of course." Marlene says and starts walking towards the orphanage.

Eren watches as the tall woman goes to the orphanage to see if Historia is there. His gaze shifts over to the stone cottage not too far away from the orphanage and see's more changes from before he used to go there. There's flower beds, painted rocks, water fountains, all sorts of things he missed out on. Out of the corner of his eye he see's a man walking Carla back to the cottage. Carla was laughing and doing weird gestures that the man was also doing and Eren couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. That should've been him and Carla, not whoever that guy ways.

That should be him and his daughter.

Although he want to go down there and see Carla he couldn't. He just couldn't.

Marlene checks in every room of the orphanage but it was no surprise that the Queen Historia wasn't there. She was probably at another residence taking care of her pregnancy so she walks over to the cottage to see Carla. Marlene knocks on the door and the door opens to reveal a man with brown hair and hazel eyes.

"Can I... help you?" the man - known as Micheal says.

"Are you Carla Yeager's care-taker?" Marlene asks as she towers over him.

"I- Well... uhm... Not exactly?" Micheal stuttered for words.

"Elaborate."

"I- Well... I actually work at the stables of the orphanage but her original care-taker is in the hospital because she suffered from a seizure so I guess I am her temporary care-taker...?" Micheal said and Marlene nods.

"Well here's a message from Y/N Kruger. I am Carla's knew care-taker now and you can go back to working at the orphanage. Thank you." Marlene says and Micheal looks at her with a little bit of sadness and defeat in his eyes before sighing.

"Carla! Come here!" Micheal calls out and Carla comes running to the door way.

"Yes?" Carla asks.

Micheal bends down and made quick chat with Carla but Marlene didn't really care to listen.

"You're leaving?" Carla asked with teary eyes.

"I know. I'm sorry." Micheal said with hurt in his eyes as well.

"First dad, then mom, now... you?" Carla asked as a tear strolled down her face.

Micheal patted her head. "I'm sorry." Micheal said and stood up to Marlene. "Let me get my things and I'll be on my way." Micheal said and left the mudroom to go to another room. Carla hesitantly stares up at the Marlene in the doorway and gawks at how tall and slim she was. Marlene didn't noticed but she was giving Carla a cold stare making Carla runaway.

Marlene then realized and groaned. "I'm never good with children..."

☆☆☆

"Bye, Carla!" Micheal waved and closed the door. Carla stood there for a moment before walking over to the couch where Marlene was sipping tea.

They sat there in silence as nobody said a word to each other as the only sound that could be heard was the sound of Marlene's sipping. Unlike Marlene, Madam Cordelia and Micheal always made small talk with her and asked her questions and made her feel comfortable. But Marlene didn't make her feel comfortable at all. It was like she was silently being judged. Marlene being her new care-taker was like getting a sucky substitute teacher in your favorite class.

"Orders from Y/N Kruger. We're moving you over to another cottage in Shiganshina. We're leaving tomorrow morning." Marlene says as she stood up to put her teacup into the sink. "Pack your things."

☆☆☆

"Why would Eren do such a thing?" Connie asked.

"We don't know if it was Eren for sure!" Mikasa defended.

"Hey! Be quiet... We're already getting suspected as Yeagerists... especially Y/N... She's close with Marlene and has a child with Eren... sheesh." Jean mutters.

"Can you just shut up." Y/N said harshly with no joking matter in her voice. "Please."

Everyone stops their talking as they know out of all of them, Y/N was taking this the hardest.

"Enough. Like Pixis was saying, infighting will be our downfall." Hange says.

"So you're okay with entrusting everything on Eren and Zeke?" Jean asked.

"No, it's not good. Zeke and Yelena took precautions and we're ready for this sort of situation. We have to expect they took other precautions, too. We need to figure out Zeke's intentions before he makes fools of us. Let's just hope my concerns turn out to be nothing." Hange says.

"Something's worrying you?" Jean asks.

"Yelena secured work for Marleyan prisoners in odd places. Like restaurants, for example." Hange says and Y/N straddles her horse.

"Y/N... what do you think about the situation?" Connie asks.

"...I don't think we know enough to have an opinion." Y/N said and the group falls silent.

☆☆☆

"Get up. We're here." Carla's eyes open to the sound of Marlene's demanding voice and awoke from the wagon she was napping in. Marlene was driving the wagon they traveled in. Carla got out of the wagon and looked at the house.

It was musty.

Broken down a little bit and dusty. Carla didn't like it but didn't whine or complain. Marlene was rummaging through the wagon and Carla started to think... why was there a sudden change in care-takers? Micheal was fine to begin with... but... why her? Carla thought she was so intimidating and scary. Carla went and peaked over the wagon to see stuff that Marlene brought and saw a newspaper. Micheal taught her a few words so she thought she could try and practice.

On the newspaper she saw a headshot of Marlene and another man with the same shade hair-color as Marlene. She read the symbols of it.

"Escape... prison..." was all Carla could read. Carla's eyes widen as she looked back at the head-shot newspaper then back up at Marlene then back down again.

Carla carefully and slowly backed away from Marlene as she dropped the newspaper. Marlene looks down in confusion.

"What are you doing?" Marlene asks. Marlene looks down to pick up the newspaper and read it. Marlene's eyes widen as she realized Carla must've read it so she threw the newspaper into the wagon to see if Carla was there but she was gone. "Carla! Carrrla!" Marlene yelled "Where is that damn brat!" Marlene cursed.

But hiding behind a tree was a petrified Carla holding her knees to her chest with a hand over her mouth as she tried to stop herself from breathing too loud or making a noise.

"Someone... save me."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I cannot wait until
Sunday to watch
the table scene and
the wine scene.
Especially Sasha's
father's speech to
Gabi. 🥺🥺

Anyways I hope you
enjoy.
-poopiebutt6901