HEY GUYS THIS IS MY FIRST FANFICTION AND I SUDDENLY GOT THIS IDEA, WHAT WOULD BE LIKE IF EREN IS A WARRIOR AND NOT A SOLDIER, AND GRISHA WAS NOT SENT OFF TO PARADIS. STORY MAY DIFFER FROM THE MANGA BUT HEY IT'S FANFICTION. WE START OFF WITH GRISHA'S PART OF THE STORY AS THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. LET US BEGIN.

Grisha hate the Marleyans, well hate is not the right word for him, he despised the Marleyans. It is all because he and his sister, Faye, went out from the ghetto without a permit and they may also be the one who killed his sister but he can't do anything about it. Not even his parents. All he can see from his parents' reaction when he was trying to deny the Marleyan Soldier's words, was that they were scared, feeling powerless, and oppressed by the Marleyans. He knew that the soldiers were lying about his sister's sudden death and they may be involved. If anyone opposed Marley, they will be sent off to Paradis Island, and become a mindless titan for the rest of their lives and that is what Grisha sees, what his parents are facing right now, the fear of becoming a mindless titan just because their loyalty is not with Marley. All he can do is keep quiet.

Grisha was then presented with hope. A hope that may bring the Eldians to its glory days, and it's the Eldian Restoration Movement. He was introduced into it and learned the truth about his sister's death. That is where his hate for Marley rose and he swore that they will pay. He join them and learn more and more about the truth. He was then introduced to Dina Fritz, a descendant to the royal family where they got married and blessed with a child, Zeke Yeager.

Years have passed and the Eldian Restoration Movement is reaching its turning point. The Marley Government announced that they will recruit Eldians to become Marley soldiers and will only select a few to hold the 7 of the 9 power of titans which are currently under their control. The restoration movement is in disarray because of the announcement made by the Marley Government. Grisha try to calm them down when a door opened and revealed a Marleyan doctor. Gasps made by the other members of the movement. Then he begins to speak.

"Calm down, I am not an enemy here" the doctor said.

"Who are you?" Grisha asks.

"I am an associate of the Owl acting as a Marleyan doctor and I wish to deliver a message from Owl". Everyone is confused. Usually the Owl privately sends message to them instead of sending a representative.

"I bring bad news. The owl won't be helping us anymore". Several gasps are made and some are shocked by the news.

"Why? Does he deem us useless for our inability to restore Eldia to power?" Grisha was indeed disappointed that hope is loss because their only informant can't help them anymore.

"No. It is not about you people unable to do it or not. But the Owl was captured by the Marleyan authoritities." Everyone seem shocked by the revelation. Some began to lose hope.

The doctor continued "He was discovered by a Marleyan soldier for using a titan's power. He is now being held prisoner for the time being and they are now trying to find a suitable eldian to inherit his powers for the time being to avoid being passed over to a random eldian". That made everyone speechless not because he was captured but having one of the powers of the 9 titans was unexpected by them. Seeing everyone was speechless, Grisha began to ask the doctor.

"So the revolution movement is over is it?" he said.

"No it's not over yet." Hearing those words some of the members came out from their shock and sad expression.

"We are putting the revolution movement on hold since we don't have any informant inside Marley other than us doctors. But we are not suitable to be informants because it may raise suspicion of the Marleyan authorities. We also have patients to take care so it's hard for us to find information or pass it up to you people".

"But we have Zeke! He can be a Marleyan soldier and a spy for us!" Grisha said while trying to give hope to the revolution movement.

"Yes I know. But what would you say to him? 'Join the Marley, become a spy for us?' I don't think that is a good idea implementing our ideals to a child like that."

"But what do we have to do? Wait until they trample us and kick us like we are lower class citizens? Now we already lose our informant, with a titan power I might add. What can we do?" Grisha is desperately trying to keep up the restoration movement's hope just because he wants to watch Marley fall for murdering his sister and spread lies to all Eldians here.

"I'm not saying that we should not let your son join the Marleyan army. What I'm implying is that do you intend to put our ideology inside a growing child? It's too big even for him to shoulder the responsibility of becoming a spy for us. Aren't you a doctor? Do you know how a child's mind works? Cause I do. The reason they recruit children the age of 5 to 7 is because they are easy to manipulate. Recruiting teenage or adult Eldian soldiers is hard as they can question Marley's propaganda but children will not. So if you are putting our ideology into Zeke's head and they are putting their propaganda into his head, he will question who is right or wrong, thus making the right or wrong choices in the future. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Grisha just looked at the doctor and realisation came to him that he is no better than his father who is trying to re-educate him about Marley's propaganda and look where he is brought to, joining the Eldian Restoration Movement. If he does that to Zeke he will lose him forever. That calmed him a bit as he looked at the doctor , the rest of the restoration movement members and Dina. He promised that he will bring back the Eldian pride and with his heartfelt speech is the reason why Dina married him. It is the promise that he made to the people. And it looks like it will have to wait.

"You're right. I understand. But still we can send him to join the army right?" Grisha asked.

"Yes. One day he will understand and fight for us eldians. It needs an experience in life to change him instead of forcing him to understand."

The words weigh heavily for Grisha as he already experienced the lies of Marley when his sister was murdered by them. He wonders what it will be like if his sister did not die back then. He will indeed inherit his father's clinic, and his sister, probably married and have a child. He might live a life in ignorance to the Marleyan propaganda. He snaps back to reality and sees this is what his life is now.

...

Grisha and Dina went home while thinking how to convince Zeke to be part of the Marleyan army and saw Zeke waiting for him in the living room. He held his favourite toy monkey that they bought for him on his 5th birthday.

"Hello mom, dad" he greets his parents with a smile on his face. Grisha look at the smile he made, which is an innocent smile. Not knowing how to approach him, to make him join the Marleyan military, if he is going to abandon his child's innocence and childhood just for the sake of freedom. He sighs and put on a smile and greets back his son.

"Hello there Zeke" Dina hugs and carried him. She was also anxious on how to make only child to join the military if they cannot put their ideologies inside his head.

'Can I even let my child to the Marleyans?' she wonders. The doctor's words also weigh heavily on her. She was thinking if her child would even forgive her for forcing him to join. Then, there was a knock on the door which wakes her out of her thinking.

"I'll get it". Grisha opens the door to find his parents outside greeting him.

"Hello there Grisha"

"Hello mother, father, please come in" They came into their house and Dina went to greet their in-laws together with Zeke, who is happy to see his grandparents again.

"Hello mother, father. Sorry we just came home but I will prepare us dinner." She puts down Zeke and he went to his grandparent's side to ask stories from them.

"Oh its fine Dina, it must be a hard day at work" They didn't know about the restoration movement as Grisha told her that his parents are too washed up by Marley's propaganda. She just plays along with it.

"Yes indeed it is" and she went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

...

The dinner went smoothly and while Zeke asks for more stories from his grandmother. Then Grisha's father calls everyone's attention.

"I heard about the Marleyan Government are recruiting some soldiers for the war with the island devils. Why don't we send Zeke here to join them? He can be an honorary Marleyan which will bring up our family name". Hearing those words makes Grisha and Dina almost choked their food. Grisha compose himself and gather his wits to try and disagree with his father. After all, he is still quite unsure about sending Zeke to the military and become a child soldier while losing his childhood in process.

"Father, are you sure about sending him to the military? He is still growing up." That is the only reason Grisha can think of as some part of his mind agrees to send him to join the military.

"Why not, he is smart and I think he would be a valuable asset to the Marleyan military" his mother added.

"Do you agree with us Dina?" Dina is still trying to process what her in-laws are suggesting. She too is having a hard time trying to stop Zeke from joining the military but also agrees with it.

"What? Uh I mean I don't know. It is Zeke's decision if he wants to and Grisha's permission as well". Zeke looks at their elders trying understand what they are saying but there is one thing he understands, making his parents proud. Seeing that his parents are reluctant on sending him to the military, he spoke up.

"I want to join the military". All eyes are on him now as Grisha is slightly shocked that he even agrees to this.

"I mean, I want to join the military and make you all proud" he said in full spirit. 'That was unlikely for Zeke. Maybe this is the opportunity we have been waiting for. 'Maybe we do have hope that we can restore the Eldian nation once more.' Grisha thinks.

"Well there you have it. Zeke wants to join the military. So Grisha what do you think?" his father asks him. Grisha sees Dina putting up a smile to show that she agrees and that the decision is all on him now.

"Well if you want to, I can't stop you". He puts up a smile.

"But we need to talk later about this, alright?" Zeke nods as a sign of agreeing to his request to talk.

...

Grisha's parents went home shortly after the dinner and now he has the opportunity to talk to Zeke about his determination about joining the military. They are in Zeke's bedroom together with Dina. Before they put him to sleep like always, Grisha promised that he wants to talk to Zeke.

"So Zeke, are you sure that you want to join the military? You know that we didn't force you to join. You still have a lot in your life to think about." "Dad I'm sure that I want to join the military. I'm not really forced or anything. I just want to make you all proud that's all." Hearing those words from his son sure brings pride to him as a parent. But he still feels unsure. Maybe guilt, that he sends his son to the military instead of letting him have a good childhood. But that is all he needs right now instead of guilt.

"Alright son, I'm grateful that you want to do that to make us proud. Me and your mother will always support you whatever you need or do" He hugs Zeke and Dina joined in as well and let him sleep. "Good night Zeke" they both said.

...

As they went to bed Dina asks Grisha one last time whether it is a good or bad decision.

"Grisha, are you really sure you want to send him to the military? There is really no need for this, I trust whatever you do is right for the restoration movement and for the future of Eldia, but he is our only son". He looks at her and sigh.

"Well we can't stop him now. It's his decision, whether or not we can use this opportunity for the future of us Eldians. It was unexpected though, but it will be alright" he reassures her with a smile and that is enough to convince Dina.

"Alright then, good night Grisha" she kisses him and begin to sleep. "Good night Dina". Grisha keeps reassuring himself before he falls to sleep.

'We still have hope. It's going to be alright'

SO THAT IS THE END OF CHAPTER 1. I'M SORRY THAT I KILLED OF THE OWL LIKE THAT AND FOR CHILD ZEKE OOC-NESS BUT IT IS FOR THE PROGRESSION OF THE STORY. THE MAIN CHARACTER WILL INDEED BE EREN AND RBAZ. I APOLOGIZE IF MY STORY IS ABIT BAD. IM NEW TO THIS KIND OF STUFF ITS JUST IDEAS POPPING UP NOWHERE HAHA, SO I INTEND TO RELEASE IT. ANYWAY REVIEW PLEASE. THANKS