04x02 - Midnight Train

[bunniefuu]

Four years we wasted squabbling over a peninsula's sovereignty.

And our two main battle Titans were nearly shredded by the enemy fleet.

"Human ingenuity surpasses and shatters Marley's Armor at last."

The press from other nations is commending the Mid-East Forces.

Does this sound like a victory for Marley to you?

Magath, do you care to comment?

General, I'm afraid the time has come.

That is, humanity has eclipsed the Power of the Titans.

While we've been relying heavily on Titans and colonial expansion, other nations have been developing weapons to counter us.

As a result, our strategy has come back to bite us on the ass.

For the time being, our Titans remain unrivaled when it comes to land battles.

However, if aircraft keep advancing at this rate, bombs will soon fall like rain.

All while Titans, the devils of the earth, can do nothing but look up and watch.

Do we not have any Titans with wings?

General, I'm trying to say that the era of Titans...

I know.

In the near future, we will lose our initiative in w*r.

No, perhaps we already have.

Though once the heroes who crushed the Eldian devils, look at what we've become.

If I may, General?

Requesting permission to give counsel.

Zeke, the wonderboy. Go ahead.

We should resume the Paradis Island Operation and recover the Founding Titan.

As Commander Magath was saying, Marley needs to develop better weapons.

However, the world will not stand by and wait.

Our m*llitary needs time to completely restructure.

But for that, the newspapers of the world must read this:

"Marley Occupies Paradis and Wields the Power of All Titans."

You have one year left in your term, correct?

Yes, and I'm concerned that Colt can't inherit the full power of the Beast Titan.

I see.

In your last year, you wish to redeem yourself for your defeat four years ago?

That is correct.

The sick exploits of Grisha Jaeger should be brought to an end by none other than me, his former son.

"Midnight Train"

Sorry I bashed you to further my agenda, Colt.

Don't be. You were amazing.

To think, an Eldian being heard by the general!

There hasn't been a Beast like you in its history.

Sometimes it reminds me of the Founding Titan.

Why are you so special?
It's not like you have any royal blood.

Who knows? Guess I'll be dead before we figure it out.

Oh... But when you inherit my memories, you'll find out my big secret.

Secret? What is it?

The special way I wipe my ass.
Hope you don't tell anyone.

Too late. I want a report.

- Commander!
- Commander!

Everything down to the hairs on your ass.
Do you think Eldians get privacy?

No, sir!

You can conquer Paradis in a year?

It's more like I only have one year left to try.

These past three years, every scout ship we've sent to Paradis hasn't returned.

Zeke, what do you think of that?

Considering ships were sunk, I can't imagine a single Titan was responsible.

At least two Titans, including Eren Jaeger, must have blocked their escape.

I agree. If we att*ck the island, our ships will need support.

Yes. But it's more than their Titans that pose a thr*at.

Wai...

It seemed like you were having a good dream, so I didn't wake you.

I still haven't thanked you for back then. Galliard...

Thank you.

Don't thank me.

If I inherited the Armored Titan nine years ago, this wouldn't have happened.

My brother wouldn't have protected you and been eaten by a Titan, either.

You saw Marcel's memories?

No, but I learned enough from that girl before me, Ymir.

What an impressive name for such a pitiful woman.

Isn't it thanks to her that we got my brother's Jaw back?

Yeah, that's right.

What the hell were you doing on that island?

Getting saved by someone new every day?

Yeah.

I saw how you acted through her memories.

What's with that?
Pretending to be a reliable guy, huh?

I'd say you were imitating my brother!

Pock, let's not pick on people who just took cannons to the face.

Quit calling me that, Pieck.

You all right?

It's been two months since I've been a human.

I kinda forgot the whole bipedal thing.

By the way, Reiner...
You oughta see Gabi and the others.

They're worried about you.

Think I will.

I'm pooped.

Feels like ages since I've seen you.

Really? Even though we're always fighting together?

Well, we might not have to for a while.

Let's hope so.

- This way.
- Sure.

Hey, if Titans lose their usefulness in battle, what will happen to the Warrior unit and us Eldians?

Mr. Braun will be fine.

I know.

Huh? That's...

They're probably enemy soldiers that survived the Pure Titan att*ck.

Once they get home, they'll talk about how inhumane Titan warfare is!

It'll just make things even worse for us Eldians!

"People of the world! Let us k*ll the Subjects of Ymir!"

sh*t! sh*t! sh*t! sh*t!

- Cut it out, Udo.
- sh*t! sh*t! sh*t! sh*t!

Don't b*at up the city.

Reiner!

You're okay to walk?!

Yeah. Are you guys all right?

- Gabi.
- Yup!

- Udo.
- I guess.

- Zofia.
- Same old.

Falco.

Hello.

Hey! They said we're going back to Liberio!

Let's walk around till then!

Hey!

We never get chances like this!

Shouldn't Mr. Braun be resting?

I'm all right. Don't worry.

You go home and rest!

I'm coming, too!

Hold up, Gabi. Commander Magath said that's not a place kids...

But I just saw him walking that way.

You worrywart.

Wait!

Huh?

You kids are too young for that store.

Aww!

Did you guys witness the bravery of our Eldian goddess?!

Gabi took on the armored train in place of Eldian soldiers!

Man, Colt! You stink of booze!

Why'd you do it, you big idiot?!

Comrades! Do you have any idea why this idiot risked her life?!

Well, I do! She did it to save all your asses in the Eldian unit!

Yeah!

I'll go shut 'em up.

Let 'em have it.

Just this one night.

- Gabi! Gabi! Gabi...!
- Me! Me! Me...!

They're lifting her up again.

They shouldn't let my brother drink.

And Gabi gets carried away too easily.

Still, it's looking like she'll be the one who inherits the Armored Titan.

Yeah. The girl who adores you will inherit your Titan...

...and will live till she's .

If cannons don't shred her first, that is.

Are you fine with that?

What did you say? Are you insulting the honor of inheriting one of the Nine?

If I report this, you and your whole family will become Titan weapons.

W-Wait! Let me rephrase what I said!

I, Falco Grice, hope to be freed from the evil blood of Ymir and my ancestors!

I pledge my life to Marley!

And what about the honor of inheriting one of the Nine?

I would be proud to be an Honorary Marleyan and be given the chance to display my loyalty to our motherland!

Do you want to inherit the Armored?

Thank you!

The one who should inherit it... is me!

Yes.

Huh?

You have to rescue Gabi from the dark future that awaits us.

We're back!

We made it back alive!

It's our beloved hometown, Liberio!

We're home!

- Gabi...
- We're home!

Could you please tone it down?

Ow, ow...

You should've known you can't hold your booze.

Who's the one who gave him the drinks?

He looked like he wanted some.

Unbelievable. How dare you spew Pieck's kindness all over the train.

We should've shut 'em up last night.

I heard they kept hoisting you up.

Because of Colt!

I think it's fine. You deserved a bit of fun. What you did was impressive.

Pieck!

Vice Chief Braun...

What if he's thinking the same as me... and he wants us Eldians to be free from w*r?

Can I... trust him?

Later. Take it easy and enjoy the break.

Not me! It's back to training tomorrow!

Trying to boost your grades? Gimme a break.

I am not!

Hey, you two. Don't push yourselves too hard.

Dad!

Zeke...

Grandpa! Grandma!

I'm home!

You achieved great things, Zeke.

No, not yet.

Colt! Falco!

Colt!

Dad! Mom!

- Gabi!
- Gabi!

Reiner.

You must be tired. Come home and rest.

Mom... I think I will.

Go on ahead!

For crying out loud!
Do you not know how to stand?

Are they injured soldiers, Mr. Koslow?

Huh? Stay outta the way, brat.

They're Eldians with emotional trauma.

Even our guys?!

It's from digging trenches on the front lines too long.

All those b*ll*ts and bombs do it to you.

Boom!

Look! They fell over again!

You okay? It's all right!

Your armband's on the wrong arm.

It's okay. I'm sure you'll get better.
You don't have to fight anymore.

Boom!

Whoa!

Just like I planned, I blew the armored train right off the tracks!

It actually worked! But as I ran away, they fired a machine g*n at me!

And just before I ate lead...

...Galliard protected me with the Jaw Titan!

Amazing, Gabi!

You and your bravery saved a bunch of our soldiers! You're the savior of Eldia!

I'm so proud of you!

Reiner. Do you think Gabi will become a Warrior?

Yeah. It's almost a given she'll inherit the Armored Titan.

That's good to hear.

To think our family would have two Warriors. I'm so proud.

If only those island devils disappeared, we Eldians could finally be happy.

But, Reiner... Even you barely escaped from the island devils, right?

Don't, Dad!

He survived on that island of rotten devils for five years!

Even if it wasn't classified, it's stuff he wouldn't wanna talk about.

You're right. Forgive me, nephew.

No, I can talk about it.

I infiltrated their m*llitary.

Every last one of 'em was a savage, heartless devil.

During the entrance ceremony, one of them started eating a potato.

The instructor yelled at them, but they hardly seemed to care.

Said they stole it 'cuz it looked tasty.

Realizing they crossed the line, they said they'd share half with him.

But the piece of potato they offered wasn't even close to half.

Being considerate doesn't even cross their minds.

They're truly beyond all help.

There was an idiot who forgot why he went to the bathroom...

An insincere jerk who only thought about himself...

An uptight oaf who only cared what others thought...

A single-minded fool who charged ahead and the chumps who followed him...

There were all sorts of people there.

And we were there, too.

My days there were true hell.

I've said too much. Forget it.

What do you mean, "all sorts of people"?
They're bad people, right?

That's right, Gabi. Those island devils turned our world into hell.

There's no knowing when they'll att*ck with giant Titans and flatten the world.

It's up to good Eldians like us to make sure they never do.

Mmm.

Those who left us and fled to the island deserved to be punished.

They're the ones who abandoned us.

What's wrong, Gabi? You seem down.

Aunt Karina's worried about you.

She says you changed after coming back from the island alone.

Her -year-old son came back a grown man. You can't really blame her.

It feels like you're lying.

Lying? About what?

I don't know, but I think Aunt Karina does.

I heard it was a soldier.

That's awful.

Good morning.

Everyone's here?

It's not every day we meet in the w*r chief's room.

Where's the brass?

Not in this room.
Can't we just meet for some tea?

Right...

Now then, the last battle made it clear that normal weapons will overtake Titans in the near future.

The weaker Marley becomes, the more the Eldian race is threatened.

Our existence is in danger.

To rectify this, Marley must obtain the Founding Titan and Paradis' resources.

The world must be strongly reminded of the thr*at that island poses.

To tell that story, we need a narrator.

The Tybur family will fulfill that role.

The family holding the w*r Hammer Titan?

It's said the Tyburs have never sent the w*r Hammer Titan to enemy soil.

They're influential abroad for driving away King Fritz during the Great Titan w*r.

The world will listen to them.

That's Pieck for you! Precisely!

But the Tyburs have been living the life in their huge mansions.

Why come out of the woodwork now and pretend to be heroes?

I know how you feel, but the Tyburs are concerned about Marley, too.

But we...

If it saves our motherland Marley, I'll be grateful.

Our Warrior unit can cooperate with the Tyburs and serve as the backbone for restoring Marley.

Indeed. Here in Liberio, there will be a festival soon.

Festival?

VIPs from abroad will be invited to hear an announcement from the Tyburs:

"Within a year, we'll control Paradis Island."

The fate of Marley and all Eldians rests in this plan. It cannot fail.

For the future of our motherland Marley, we must join our hearts as one.

Galliard seems to have some complaints, but he always gets the job done.

If that's all they're saying, I'm not concerned.

Except that one line of Zeke's.

Hmm?

"Not in this room," huh?

Am I going back...

...to that island?

Honorary Marleyan. Esteemed Warrior.

What he wanted to be. What he couldn't be.

Is the path that he's walked down truly the right one?

"The Door of Hope"

Next episode: "The Door of Hope."