Naive and Damned

Epilogue

Falco

The port was bustling with people and vessels, crowds surging in greater chaos than if a storm had breached the shore. The small island's capacity had long been breached; a single train line no match for the crowds. Instead, they would have to travel in wooden carriages, or even on foot. Only the elderly and equally disabled were privileged to take the train.

Giant cargo ships, Falco counted three more, appeared in the distance to meet the already brimming harbour. Upon the rooftops overlooking the chaos, he and Gabi observed it all with a handful of the scout's new recruits. Many had left the chaos behind after wishing the two of them some luck. Roaring engines, loud commanders and a wild crowd left him and Gabi mostly silent by now, voices strained from trying to make themselves heard.

A loud horn joined the party, the train marking its near departure. Despite restrictions, the train in the station had every seat taken, the majority standing crowded together before the crammed doors shut and the engine began to huff loudly with a hiss. The crowd around it complained loud enough for him to hear them, even with a large distance between them.

Six thousand Eldians immigrated to Wall Maria. Over half of his former internment zone. Falco could barely believe it. This was a giant operation, three months in planning. While Hange and Armin dealt with the negotiations to allow it, Pixis had prepared for their arrival.

Many of the newcomers will have skills needed within the walls – teachers, plumbers, builders, electricians, engineers, doctors... countless jobs the more advanced world required could now be used by the rapidly changing world within the walls. Others were simply to be given jobs on farms or factories, newly established in reclaimed land.

For such an event, even the Peace Ambassadors had come home. Looking to his left showed some of the members upon the nearby rooftop -the more established members of the scouts, including Eren, Mikasa, Connie and Sasha. Armin was below, helping to organise the newly arrived crowds, giving them vital information about how the next few days would play out before asking them to hand over their vital documents. Members of the Garrison flipped through the documents, rapidly inspecting them for approval, and checking for the expected individuals before handing them back with instructions of where they'd be heading.

Gabi raised her binoculars to the cargo ships. "See that boat coming in? I think that's the one Hange said has our families." She took a breath. "And even better? Magath permitted Colt to leave."

"What?" Falco felt faint. "Th– they're letting him leave?"

"Yeah!" she bit her lip soon after. "Still. Udo and Zofia... they're in danger, even now."

"Then we just have to make sure war won't break out," Falco said firmly. "That was something Hange said. More mingling with the outside world like this means more sympathy."

"Please. The only tourists that actually got that stupid holiday program were thrill seekers disappointed not to see actual devils."

"Yeah..." No denying that the exposure plan was a bust. Even those who were curious ended up being entitled and quick to start fights when not treated like Gods. Only approved Hizuru citizens could travel to Paradis purely for tourism now, and even that was a strain upon the economy with all the policing needed, rather than the expected boost.

Journalists were the absolute worst, however. Given the freedom to travel the island, they were free to make up bald-faced lies and spread them as fact. It drove Commander Hange mad, but they had learned restrictions on any free press could only make them look worse. Instead, they simply invited more forward-thinking papers, with everything already paid for. It was a small victory to a towering problem, but what more could they do?