You didn't expect those three little kids to cause such a huge ruckus, especially for you. Especially not on the day of the festival. When you arrived back at the Sanctuary, a large crowd of people were waiting in front of it, desperately calling your name. Lukas was at the front, trying his best to keep them at bay, and from trampling him. You opted to go around the back. Quickly and quietly. You slipped into the church to see the Disciples in the foyer, crowding around the entrance. Something as big as your arrival could stir up trouble for you and the Survey Corps. There's not doubt that word got back to the Warriors and Marley Military. There wasn't much you could do. There wasn't a chance in hell that you'd jeopardize the mission, nor allow any Marleyan or Eldian to trust you. The only people who needed to trust you were Levi and the others. 

You took a moment to calmly exhale. There was only one way. You've done it before, you could do it again. Silently, you unsheathed your sword. Darla, one of the disciples, turned her head just in time.

"Goddess?" She asked, her eyes going to the blade. "What are you doing?" The inquiry drew the attention of the other Disciples. With your blade fully drawn, you lifted the hood over your head.

"Cleansing you."
Lukas was having a hard time keeping the citizens at bay. Some of them were news reporters, wanting the inside scoop of Red Ember's residency in the church.

"Now now, I don't think Goddess Red will be a fan of so many people..." Lukas said nervously. The sound of the church doors opening quieted them. Lukas was grateful you showed up. With a smile, he turned. "Goddess, I--" Blood trickled down the blade of your sword before dripping to the ground. Lukas's eyes focused behind you. Blood slowly leaked out of the foyer and onto the wooden staircase, staining it a deep red. The reporters and citizens were stunned into silence, wide eyes staring up at you as if you were a harbinger of death. They weren't far off. Hood over your head, you walked forward. Lukas stumbled away from you.

"Goddess, why have you--?!"
You took quick steps to him, grabbing his shoulder and thrusting the sword into his chest. The crowd let out audible gasps of horror. His eyes looked into yours. You offered him no words of comfort as you pulled the blade from him, letting him fall face-first into the ground. You looked at the crowd of people.

"I am not a god," your distorted voice said. "I am not here to be worshipped or praised. I will not help you, I will not grow your crops or water your gardens." You took slow, carefuly steps towards them. Blood was soaked into your clothes like a second skin. The crowd took steps back, like they were being herded.

"I am a monster, a demon... a devil." You slashed your sword, whipping off any droplets of blood. "I am Red Ember, and I will take down anyone who stands in my way." Without another word of delay, you launched towards the group.

~
You shed your clothes a while back, now taking shelter in the shadows of buildings. No doubt people were out looking for you. It's a good thing the only ones who knew what you looked like were your allies, and the Disciples, who were now all dead. You wiped your blade clean from spare cloth you found before sheathing it again. It was a miracle no one asked you about it. Perhaps it wasn't that obvious, but you don't remember seeing someone with a sword in Marley. It was mostly guns. Everyone was more focused on the big production that Willy Tybur was going to put on. You would be there as well, but not in plain sight. 

You were instructed by Commander Hanji to not strike until the Survey Corps arrive. Only in the case of the operation going wrong were you allowed to act on your own judgement.

~
The stage was completed and it was grander than anything you'd ever seen on Paradis. You didn't care for the details, but what you did care about, was the amount of people in attendence. Hundreds, maybe even a thousand people, were sitting in the audience and at their windows. You didn't realize how powerful the Tybur family was. Able to gather so many people from different countries and nations with just an announcement. 

You sat on the roof of a building, farther away from the stage--and far enough away from the military's eyes. Music started blaring into the night, signalling the start. Willy appeared on stage after the curtains were lifted. Immediately, applause and flashes of light surrounded him. You merely sneered at the sight of him, but couldn't doubt his fame. He bowed to the audience briefly before standing upright.

"Let's look back in time," he spoke, his voice projecting over the entirety of the audience. "Roughly 100 years ago, the Eldian Empire ruled the world with the Power of the Titans." Dramatic percussions began playing.

"From the rise of Founder Ymir until today, titans have robbed enough lives to eradicate humanity three times over."

'A history lesson, huh?' You thought, pulling a leg into your chest. You rested your cheek against your knee and closed your eyes, but still listened closely.

"Countless cultures and peoples have been wiped out by titans; their histories stolen away. The Eldian Empire's path of slaughter became humanity's history. And when the Eldian Empire ran out of enemies, they soon began slaughtering one another. The Great Titan War had begun."
Your eyes opened for a brief second, gaze searching the crowd.

"Families holding the eight titans waged a bloody war. Using this to his advantage, one Marleyan sought victory. It was the hero, Helos."
Your eyes didn't find a prominent Warrior.

"Thanks to his clever manipulations, the Eldian Empire was tricked into killing each other, one by one. By joining hands with the Tybur Family, they forced the unbeatable King Fritz to flee and retreat to the island. However, though he fled to Paradis Island, his power still remained."

'Where is Reiner?' You thought, narrowing your eyes.

"Tens of millions of titans await on the island to trample the world. To this day, the only reason we haven't been trampled is merely a fluke. Our scholars have no other explanation. To eliminate this threat, our motherland Marley sent four titans to the island, but they were beaten back, and only the Armored Titan returned."
You snapped your fingers and a crow sitting on a nearby roof flew over to you.

"The darkest blot on humanity's history, the Eldian Empire, is alive and well."
You ripped off a piece of cloth from your clothes and pulled out a small knife.

"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've learned for the first time ever. 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."
You slowly and carefully slit your wrist, catching the blood onto the tip of the blade.

"He anguished over the Eldian Empire's vicious history, tired from the endless infighting, and above all, he was pained by the endless oppression 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."
You soaked the fabric with your blood, writing a message.

"However, this was never his intention. King Fritz made a vow renouncing war so his idealogy would be inherited. Because of this, Karl Fritz' idealogy has been passed down, and the titans 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."
It was kinda hard to see with the weird positioning of the lights, but you managed to write what you wanted to.

"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."
Whispers of disbelief echoed through the theatre.

"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 that I stand here and willingly part with this sham is because I know our world is in great peril."
You tied the cloth to the crow's leg, making sure to choose black cloth.

Eren met with Reiner. Be prepared for preemptive attack

You made sure to guide it so that it wouldn't be spotted. It was getting near the finale. You stood, checking your gloves and all of your weapons.

"His name: Eren Jeager!"
You couldn't help but smirk lightly, beginning to walk away from the theatre--gaining distance.

"But currently, this 'Eren Jeager' who possesses the Founding Titan may begin this rumbling 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 into the ground."
You turned back around the face the stage, having gained enough distance.

"Lend me yout strength! Those of you who wish to live! Those of you who wish for a future!"
Cameras began to flash again as the applause and cheering roared to life. 

"If we work together, we can overcome any obstacle in our way! I want you to join me in the fight against the devils of Paradis Island! Here and now, as representative of the Marleyan government, I proclaim..."
You readied yourself.

'Here it comes...'

"To the enemy forces of Paradis--a declaration of war!"
You heard the rumbling over the cheers of the crowd, the vibrations traveling up your feet. Eren's titan burst forth from the building behind the stage in a yellow light, its roaring echoing through the sky. It stunned everyone into silence, debris flying into the audience. Eren's titan leaned down and grabbed Willy before tossing him up into the air, effectively crushing him. You released your hooks and ran forward into the midst.

Ja ne!

 {Ruby Red}