The Guardian's Tale (AOT fanfiction)

-Attack Titan-

More memories flowed through my mind and I simply looked straight ahead of me, distraught and shocked. So...when someone with the power of the 9 Titans transformed...they only had 13 years to live after that ? I bit my lip and wobbled, breaking myself out of the memories and Eren gently grabbed my shoulders to steady me.

"He said that was the rule." Eren said, explaining the memories to Armin. "Called it the curse of Ymir. The first Titan, Ymir, died that long after getting her powers. Since none can surpass HER, we have to do the same."

"So...Yuki and I have 13 years to live." Armin remarked. "And you ?"

"I've only got 8 left...not even." Eren replied.

From the other cell, Mikasa called out saying he was wrong and that there had been a mistake. After a moment, I added that if one of the Nine Titans was to die without the power being passed on, the power would be inherited by a baby yet to be born a Subject of Ymir. For that to be the case, all Eldians had to be connected by something we couldn't see and I noted that one of the inheritors called them 'paths'. Paths that the naked eye couldn't observe through which Titan flesh could move along with memories and the will to act. These paths were countless and they reached far and in many directions but they all met at one coordinate. The Founding Titan.

"Wait...you said Nine Titans...what about the 10th ?" Armin asked.

"No one knows..." I simply replied, sitting against the wall of Eren's cell. "The 10th Titan, the Guardian, was hidden away, never to be spoken of or seen ever again. I guess in a way...it was lost...so I'll never know what I truly am." I softly smiled and tilted my head upwards. "But it's alright...I don't need someone to tell me what I am...I'll decide that myself." I sighed and closed my eyes. "What if the curse is total bullshit though ?"

"What do you mean ?" Eren asked, as he turned to me. "Did you see another Titan's memory ?"

"Nah...I'm just saying." I simply replied. "13 years...that seems kinda odd. People have passed down their powers after 13 years because of he curse...but maybe it was all fabricated. Maybe if someone tried living past those implemented 13 years we would know for sure...but we don't cuz they all threw themselves in the mouth of the beast...for all we know it's all fake. Also...the Commandant said Eren's dad came to the Walls 15 years before the Attack on Shiganshina...and in the memories he was transferred the Titan right before she left. I dunno...I'm just saying."

I closed my eyes and sighed. So this was what we had...the Colossal Titan, The Attack and Founding Titan and the Guardian Titan. Would we be able to prove ourselves worthy ?

(............)

As we made our way to Historia, memories that seemed to belong to Ymir flashed through my mind and I placed a hand over my eye. Dammit...every time. Levi asked me if something was wrong but I brushed it off and said that I just had a headache. We walked into the room as Historia brushed away a tear.

"Your grace." Mikasa, Eren and Armin all said as they bowed.

Historia pointed out that we had been through so much while she had done nothing but look at the sky and wait. However, Armin reassured her that it was important for her to stay safe and well as Eren and Mikasa agreed with him.

"Yuki...those marks under your eyes..." She commented.

"With all due respect we have something more important to take care of." I said coldly before Jean nudged my arm. "Ow jeez alright. Yes I shifted."

(.........)

I sat in front, next too Hange and Levi as we faced Premiere Zachary, another senior officer and Historia for the military hearing.

"The Early Life of Grisha Yeager, The Extent of our Knowledge of Titans and their History, and Information About the World Beyond the Walls. The only people who know these books exist are those who are in this room now." Premiere Zachary spoke. "These texts were obtained through the efforts of the 10 Scouts before us and the 199 others who were lost. On this day and in the Queen's presence, I'd like for all of us to assess our situation and come to an agreement about our next course of action. Scout Regiment Commander, Hange Zoe."

Commander Hange stood up and summarized the mission before adding that we could no longer consider Titans our only enemies and that we had to consider another civilization, or possibly the world, as out true enemy. She added that according to Grisha's books, we were of a special race that could turn into Titans called the Subjects of Ymir.

"We ruled the world once and some fear we will again." She continued. "So despite our past century of pacifism, most in this world would like to wipe us out."

Hange then talked about how Grisha's mission was to steal the Founding Titan and how he had managed to achieve it, handing the Founding Titan over to Eren. She then motioned for me to get up and to explain what we knew about the Titan.

"The Founding Titan's full might can only be brought to bare when the power is possessed by someone of royal blood." I explained. "However, when a royal comes to possess the Founding Titan, they are overpowered by their ancestor's will and they continue down the path he set before them. However, Eren has commanded Pure Titans once in the past to escape from a dire situation. So despite his lack of royal blood, it's at least conditionally possible for Eren to wield that power too." I sat back down and clenched my fists, of this went on much longer I was gonna lose it.

"There's no way !" Eren yelled, slamming his hands on the desk and making us all flinch.

As the others asked what was wrong, he passed it off as nothing and sat back down but I quickly realized why he yelled. The Titan he touched was Dina Fritz, a woman of royal blood meaning that if he touched someone of royal blood while they were a Titan, he might be able to use the Founding Titan's powers. Dammit and he was keeping this to himself just because he was scared about what they were going to do to Historia...and I couldn't say anything either cuz he'd kill me.

TO BE CONTINUED !