Hey guys! I put up a poll a couple of weeks ago, asking if you would like me to publish typed out chapters of another story in between chapters of Sugar and Spice. The people that voted all said yes. I did say I would put Audacity up, but I changed my mind. I think this story is more organized than the other one at the moment, so I hope you don't mind. Audacity will be released eventually.

I hope you enjoy the story! I'll see you at the bottom.

Title: Crystal Ball

Rating: M

Pairing: Eren x Levi

Warnings: Language, sex, violence.

I am using the romanticized versions of gypsies that are found in folklore and literature, not the real life Romani people. I repeat, I am not using the real Romani people in this story at all. All complaints about gypsies and/or the Romani people will be 'tsked' at and deleted. So do not accuse me of any racism. I just have a curiosity about gypsy folklore. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I do not own SnK. Credit goes to Hajime Isayama.

Summary: AU. Eren Jaeger was born to a gypsy family that practices healing magic, doomed to have to fear for his life . There are mysterious circumstances surrounding Eren, and and he'll uncover a dark secret. Levi was adopted by the king and queen of Mitras, destined to take the throne and rule over the country of Sina Through a horrible twist of fate, these two will meet.

"He who lives by the crystal ball will eat shattered glass." –Ray Dalio

Chapter 1

Ten Years Earlier...

"Carla, may God have mercy on your son. No one else ever will."

Carla Jaeger held her newborn son close, stroking his soft brown hair. He cried into her chest, clutching at her blouse.

"What do you mean?" She asked worriedly.

The woman standing in front of Carla studied her tarot cards.

"Our stay in Shiganshina is about to end, my dear. Your son was born at the wrong time. We gypsies will be cast out, never to even think about coming back. We all have a dull fate ahead of us. Your son will bear the worst of it."

"No…" Carla looked down at her sniffling son. "I'll make sure my precious Eren will have a great life. We are nomads. We've been moving from place to place our entire lives. Our ancestors wandered from Romania to places all over Europe. I'll do everything in my power to make sure he's safe. My husband is a healer. I'm sure that in our new home, he could make a business out of his gift like he has here. We will be fine."

The woman slowly shook her head. "Your son is cursed, Carla. Do you see the mark on his back? The black and white feathers represent good and evil. However, the evil may overpower the good. He has an ability never seen by anyone in this wretched world for thousands of years. Every day of his life, he will be hunted, persecuted, and feared."

Carla stood up from her seat.

"Rico, I know you always have the correct visions for all the newborn children, but I refuse to accept this one. This is my first and only son. What kind of mother would I be if I allowed him to go through pain and suffering?"

Rico eyed Carla warningly, her silver eyes piercing her. "Be careful with your words, Carla. If you try to interfere with his fate, it will force you out of his life."

Carla's grip on Eren tightened. "Thank you for your time, Rico. Good day to you."

Carla stepped out of Rico's tent into the dusty road, feeling anger and sadness rise inside her. She knew better than to resist fate, but how could she? This is her son's life they're talking about.

"Carla, what's wrong?" A familiar voice asked. "What did Rico say?"

Carla looked up to see her long-time friend Hannes waiting for her. She could always rely on him when her husband was away.

"My son has an ability that could ruin his life." Carla told him tearfully.

Hannes' face fell. "What is it? Can he do magic? Can he heal people like Grisha?"

Carla shook her head. "No! She said nothing about magic. And if he could heal others like my husband, that wouldn't be a curse! She didn't say what ability Eren has. All she said was that because of it, he's doomed to persecution. I don't want to believe that…"

Hannes put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, Carla. Worrying over this won't change anything. Grisha comes back tonight, right? When he returns, just talk to him about it. Now, let's get you home so you and Eren can rest."

Carla nodded in agreement. Eren shifted in her arms, looking up at her with his huge green eyes. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, she clutched Eren closer to her. Carla did not want other people finding out about his possible future. He could be the outcast in their small community, and she didn't want that to happen.

After Hannes made sure Carla was settled in her tent, he left her alone with her thoughts. Carla walked to her old rocking chair and sat down. Eren started to cry again, as if he understood what was going to happen to him.

Trying to calm him, Carla rocked back and forth.

"You can't always believe predictions, Eren. The future is unknown. Things can change. So Eren, as you grow up, grab life by the reins and do with it what you may. Don't let anyone tell you what will happen to you, because the largest determinant of your fate is you."

Carla cuddled her son, finding a small sliver of hope in that fact.

When nighttime came, Grisha Jaeger entered the tent, exhausted.

"Carla?" He called.

His wife ducked out of the makeshift nursery for Eren. "Welcome home." She whispered.

Grisha walked over to her and embraced her. "How is Eren? What did Rico say?"

Carla's cheerful expression fell. "…she said that he's cursed, Grisha. But I refuse to believe that. He's done nothing to deserve such a thing."

Grisha's mouth formed a thin line. "It's my fault..."

"What do you mean?" Carla's eyes widened. "How?"

"You know I come from a lineage that has done magic, Carla." Grisha sighed in defeat. "Gypsies with magic are always in fear of each other. The ones that do black magic could have cursed us at any time, like the Reiss family. They have had problems with my family in the past. I did my best to appease them so they wouldn't hurt you or our son. Their daughter, Historia, was born last month, housing the most powerful black magic I've ever seen. In fear that our own child could overpower theirs, they may have cursed him."

Carla slumped to her knees. "Cursed…" Tears cascaded down Carla's face. "It's so cruel…! We're already discriminated against, forced to live in these poor conditions, some having no choice but to steal just to live. Why would our own kind curse each other?!"

Grisha kneeled next to Carla, helping her to her feet. "I don't know. No one does."

"We have to leave, then." Carla wiped her eyes. "Rico mentioned that gypsies will be forced out of the country soon. I don't want Eren to be in the middle of a possible war. He could be taken from us."

"I know." Grisha replied. "There is a country called Sina that is south of here. Before I took my leave from the Reiss', I overheard them talking about taking Historia there so her magic could be hidden. Eren will be safe in Sina, as there are no laws that cast gypsies out."

Carla trembled, feeling relieved. "We need to pack our possessions now."

Grisha looked troubled. "Our horse is in old age. I doubt he will make it from here to Sina."

"I'll walk if I have to!" Her eyes narrowed in determination.

"Carla, you just gave birth three weeks ago." Grisha tensed. "Your strength has not fully returned. And you still have to nurse Eren. I think we should wait until Eren is bigger."

"We don't have time to wait!" Carla insisted. "If Eren really is cursed, time won't wait on him. Neither will the Shiganshinan laws forcing us out. We have to move now."

Grisha clenched his fists. There were bags under Carla's eyes. He knew she didn't get much sleep with Eren crying almost every night. There was something he needed to tell Carla, something that would change everything. However, the undeniable stubbornness in her expression finally made him give in to her desires.

"Very well. But I refuse to have you walk. You will stay on the horse."

Carla smiled brightly. "Eren will be out of harm's way…"

"Carla, there is something I must tell you-"

Carla had already returned to the nursery, so she never heard what Grisha had to say.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Grisha was brought out of his memories as he stared at Carla's shawl.

Today is the tenth anniversary of her death. I better refocus my thoughts before Eren asks me what is wrong.

Grisha laid the shawl on the small wooden table. Carla died before they reached Sina. She caught pneumonia from the cold rainy weather. She insisted that Eren was wrapped in her shawl. His healing ability could only do so much for her. She died at the same time their horse did. Having a proper funeral was not an option. Grisha had no choice but to cremate her body in an empty field.

"Carla… I think your hopes for Eren are coming true." Grisha whispered wistfully. "He's growing up wonderfully. But... he gets into a lot of fights with the other kids. I just hope things will change soon."

"Dad! I'm ready for school!" The chirpy voice of his ten year old son sang.

Eren walked out of his tiny room with a huge smile on his face.

"Good, son. I'll walk you there. Remember, I may be late coming back home today." Grisha told Eren gently. "So remember to stay inside when you come home."

"I know!" Eren said impatiently. "We've been over this a million times."

Chuckling, Grisha put a hand on Eren's shoulder and led him out of their cramped wooden home. As they walked through the crowded gypsy community, his thoughts grew grim.

I can't help but think we'll be banished from Sina, too. Over the past five years, the population of gypsies increased tremendously. Crime has risen, since most of us have no other way to live but through stealing. Magic has been seen by Mitrans, and has been reported to soldiers. I fear there will be a witch hunt if this continues.

Eren didn't notice Grisha's mood. He was happily walking alongside his father when something caught his attention.

"Get up and stop us, you witch!"

"If you don't like us hitting you, you should do something about it! Use your magic!"

Two boys were bullying a small blond haired girl. Eren recognized her immediately.

"Hey! Leave Historia alone!" Eren shouted, running towards them.

"Eren!" Grisha snapped out of it and went after him.

"Oh look! It's the freak that can regenerate!" One of the boys sneered. "Let's cut off his arm and see if it grows back!"

"You won't get a chance, stupid!" Eren shouted, raising his fist.

Grisha managed to yank Eren back before he could get himself beat up for the umpteenth time.

"You're lucky daddy was here to save you!" One of the boys taunted Eren. "C'mon, let's leave these two losers."

They left Historia on the ground, scratches all over her arms and face.

"Historia, are you okay?" Eren rushed over to her.

Despite the pain, the girl smiled. "I'm fine. I'm used to this."

"That's a good thing." Eren rolled his eyes, helping her up. "You need to stand up for yourself. We may be freaks in the eyes of our own kind, but that makes us special."

"I just want to keep the peace." Historia said quietly. "And if that means getting hit every once in a while, then I'm okay with that."

"I'm not! I refuse to sit back and let others push me around!" Eren's brow furrowed. "I'll fight back!"

Grisha looked solemn. After he made sure Eren and Historia made it safely inside the one room stone school, Grisha took a detour to see Rico Brzenka. He hasn't seen her since Carla told him what she predicted. He walked past fellow gypsies as they talked about the problems that are happening with the King and Queen of Mitras.

"They're both fatally ill." One said. "I heard it was sudden, like a curse had been laid on them."

"Wouldn't surprise me. If it was anyone, it would be the Reiss family. They're thirsty for power. I wonder if they made their bastard child do it."

"She's nothing but bad luck, that Historia. Right after she was born, the gypsies from Shiganshina were forced out. And now she's here. It's only a matter of time before we're ousted, too."

Grisha did his best to ignore the gossip. He approached Rico's familiar tent. Taking a deep breath, he ducked inside.

"Grisha. What a surprise." Rico said without looking up. "It's been a decade since we've last seen each other. You have my sincerest condolences for the passing of your wife. I tried to warn her not to interfere with Eren's fate, but her she refused to listen."

Grisha sat down in front of her crystal ball. "Rico, Eren is growing bigger, and with each passing day, so does his anger. I fear that the secret of the Jaeger lineage will be revealed through him. I never told Carla about all of my abilities, so she didn't understand your prediction of Eren's future. So tell me… what will happen to him?"

Rico looked into her crystal ball. "The specifics of his fate are cloudy. Then again, there is only so much fate will allow me to see. I do know that you cannot keep this secret from him forever. The magic inside of the Jaeger lineage is monstrous. Your ancestors managed to hide it for thousands of years. But that time is over. Eren is unlike any boy I've ever seen. He will embrace the monster inside of him. So…"

Rico looked at Grisha. "What will you do to help him control it?"

Grisha grimaced. "Rico… there is only one definite thing I can do. And… I'm prepared to do it if necessary."

Rico looked dismal. "You do realize how dangerous it is? The power Eren will have will be immense."

"All Carla wanted for Eren was for him to live. And I'll do anything to grant that wish." Grisha replied firmly.

"The Reiss family will be after him." Rico warned Grisha. "You already know about the problems they've head with your ancestors. Historia could be forced to hurt Eren."

"Eren is a descendant of one of the most powerful gypsies across the land. His will to live is great. He will pull through."

Rico closed her eyes. "As you wish. But heed this warning. He must know his ancient lineage by his fifteenth birthday. That is the only way he has a chance of survival."

With that final foretelling, Grisha left Rico's tent.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Ten Years Earlier...

King Ackerman of Mitras didn't know what to say when he heard that his Uncle Kenny Ackerman was sentenced to death for murder. But what shocked him more was there was a kid he was supposed to be caring for.

Kenny had taken an orphan from the streets in to train him as an apprentice. However, he didn't get very far, as he was arrested for murder two years later. When the court issued the orphan to live with the king and queen, everyone in the palace didn't know what to expect.

"So, what is your name?" The king asked the orphan warily.

The fifteen year old boy looked at his new caretaker disinterestedly. "Levi."

Levi Ackerman. He was short in more ways than one. Not only was he lacking in height, he had a short temper. His way of communication was crude, and his manners needed a lot of work. The only refined thing about him was his cleanliness. Every place he occupied was spotless. Levi didn't tolerate any sort of mess anywhere. His short black hair was always neatly trimmed, and his dress was always poised.

Since the king and queen had been trying to have children without success, there were discussions about making Levi the heir to the throne.

"With some training, he could be a well-polished king." King Ackerman had told his wife.

Thus the preparations began. Levi was indifferent to what happened to him, thinking that he had lost all human emotions long ago. However, after taking a look at the poverty-stricken Sina, his humanity was touched, remembering his own situation.

During his stay in the palace, he met two people that would end being his closest friends: Erwin Smith, the head of the royal guard, and Hanji Zoe, the palace doctor. He also met his betrothed, Petra Ral of Trost. However, their planned marriage will be postponed many years as Trost is currently in the middle of a war. Since Sina is a neutral country, they do not want to get involved.

However, the Ackermans received another unexpected surprise five years later: a daughter.

Mikasa was not planned, but Queen Ackerman was pleased nonetheless. However, the peace and happiness in Sina was about to end.

~.~.~.~.~.

"Hanji! Use your fucking brain and tell me what the hell is ailing the king and queen!" Twenty-five year old Levi snapped.

The doctor frantically flipped through her medical books. "They show no sign of sickness or disease, Levi! Whatever is ailing them is nothing medicine can heal!"

Five year old Mikasa blinked as she stared at Levi. "What's wrong with mother and father? Why are they so pale, Levi?"

Levi tensed at Mikasa's innocent questions.

Hanji was exasperated. "There are no internal or external signs of sickness. I've checked every book and conducted every test I could on them. There's nothing I can do, Levi. It's like a spell was put on them or something!"

Those words haunted Levi for the rest of his life. Because the next day, the king and queen both died. And that same day, word of gypsies using magic had reached the palace.

"I don't believe in magic." Levi scowled. "It's not real. Gypsies can't do magic."

Hanji shook her head. "It does exist, Levi. That's why it's illegal here in Mitras. I'm the most methodical person you know, so I wouldn't tell you this unless it's true. As long as there is proof, I'm willing to believe anything. And Levi, as the next king, you should have the same attitude."

With grief in his heart, Levi locked himself in his room, unable to even attend the funeral of his caretakers.

If this damn magic does exist… I swear to put whoever is responsible for this to death.

None of them knew that when Eren Jaeger turns fifteen, the entire country of Sina would have their proof that magic exists.

That's it for chapter 1. Did anyone get the Lion King reference that I put in here?

Shit will hit the fan in chapter 2. You will learn more about Eren's mysterious abilities and what Grisha was so afraid of.

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See you in the next one!

PRK