*

After our encounter with both Hitch and Marlo, they've cooperated and given their full loyalty to our cause. It may sound weird, but at this point we need every given opportunity of support from others besides us. Though I was battling with confliction and questions about that man, that almost tried to kill me, my main priorities lie in surviving and saving both Eren and Historia's lives.

It sounds rather straightforward, but obstacles will only seize us from time to time.

Finally both the Mp's lead us to the main checkpoint, which was less secure and protected with less occupants within the area. Too easy it seemed, but in our case an opportunity to demand answers. With all regiments targeting us, never have I felt so uneasy and unsafe in my life. 

Two soldiers stood guard outside the gate, feeling it was very deserted.

"Far as I know, this is the least-manned checkpoint in the region," Marlo explains, quietly. Tucked behind the thicket of bushes, and the trees we remain undetected by the Mp's. Rested on one knee and the other propped up, I kept my head low.

"Good, we'll handle things from here," Levi notes, as I turn to the two young ones.

"Just get back to your squad, before they're suspicious of your disappearance," I order softly, while giving them a thankful look.

"Yes, ma'am," they both say in unison. Turning around, they begin to walk off as I noticed Levi wanted to say more. 

"Marlo, Hitch....we're grateful," Levi admits, more softly. This surprised me, and even the two were taken back by his generous words. The two soon stood straight and saluted, with a 'sir'.

Once I initiate them to resume moving on, I turn back to see the rest of our squad in hiding as well. My eyes narrow forward, "Seems like we're gonna get our hands dirty, again," I sigh, discontentedly.

Levi falls silent for a moment, before discreetly patting my knee with comfort.

"It'll be alright," he assures me, feeling my chest flutter with his warmth. He soon lifts his head to the others. "Alright, this time we're picking the fight...."

*

After only a few minutes of a plan being conducted, it was the only best we've got in our situation. With Sasha, Connie and Jean barricading into the checkpoint at full speed, it gave me and Levi the chance to sneak in. Giving the distraction we've needed, it soon was a piece of cake stealing the Interior Mp's captain. Taking a few bruntal attacks to the Captain's assistant and another soldier, Levi managed to fulfill our plan.

Dragging the Captain by the collar, the man tried resisting against us. Hopelessly.

Walking ahead to give the children warning of our approach, they soon all stood down lowering their weapons from alarm. "Captain......isn't he--?" Armin trails off, assuming who this man's position was.

Levi throws him towards me and Armin, with a heavy grunt, "he's with the interior police," he informs the squad. "I've got questions for him.......let's move."

My eyes narrow dangerously to the man, seeing a flicker of fear flash in his eyes when he locks with me.

"Time to get the truth out," I mutter, while clenching my teeth firmly.

*

All the children were on guard around us, as night finally fell upon us. The moon was bright, and the crickets chirped their tune in the distance. Peacefully it was beautiful, but currently a blood trail of blood splatters across the trees. However, this man wasn't being easily cooperative. Stubborn as a mule, and imbecile he was being.

Teeth knocked out, blood heavily coating down his lips to his chin.

"What a sorry sight," I bitterly spoke, before Levi sends a sharp kick to the mans face.

He heaves heavily before spitting blood at us, "Screw you," he sneers, following with another kick to his torso. 

Levi bends down to level with him, "Where'd they take Eren and Christa?" he asks, resting on on knee.

"You bastards....you think you're so brave?" The man bitterly retorts. "That post was manned by recruits. They barely even knew how to wipe their own asses....no one's gonna think you're heroes for beating them down."

I scoff dryly, "Well, looks like your own recruits didn't do a good job defending you," my eyes dangerously glare down upon him, arms folded. He glares back, "These dumbass recruits of ours are far beyond accessible and smarter, if yours are so hard knocks....." my eyes shift back to Levi, before trailing to the man "........we're not messing around."

"What an atrocious thing we've done," Levi sarcastically agrees, standing back up to match my height. He suddenly shoves a foot into the man's mouth, hearing a sickly crack followed with the man's muffled cries of pain. "But what's more atrocious is this mouth of yours. I recommend you start talking while you're still able to use it."

I seethe through my teeth with how brutal it looks, but I locked my jaw and watched.

"Now, where are Eren and Christa?" Levi repeats himself, holding his foot a little longer he soon releases him awaiting for an answer. Coughing and spluttering out in pain, as his hair messily clung to his sweaty temple.

"It's no use!" The man refuses, his voice raspy and dry with blood running down his nose pathetically. "All that's left for you now is to run and hide inside these walls, covered in mud and shit! If you don't turn yourselves in, every last Scout we captured will get the noose! Starting with the one most guilty of all, Erwin Smith!"

My patience slowly ran out as I sharply grab the man's arm, and twisting his arm sharply behind his back till a sickly crunch reaches my ears. Slamming him up against the tree, the pain in my arm intensifies but my anger was numbing that pain. 

"Shut up, that's not for answering Levi's question," I dangerously warn him, while his body trembles from the torture beneath my grip. "Some Scouts' lives are more valuable than others. Only those dumb enough to acknowledge that join us.....so, answer Levi's damn question."

My grip tightens, while Levi stares down the man dangerously. 

"Where is Eren and Christa are at?" Levi repeats himself, as I slowly release the man knowing Levi was preparing to throw a heavy blow soon. 

The man begins to cry heavily, but for some reason I didn't sympathise or understood to care at all. His eyes reach for mine, with some kind of desperation to stop this. However I stood up, clutching my wounded shoulder and glared heavily upon the man, with a pathetic expression upon his bloodied face. 

"I-I don't know!" He cries out. "I'm not allowed to know! Kenny Ackerman is a very cautious man!"

Surprised by the surname we've been given, my eyes flash back to meet Mikasa's surprised ones for a moment. Turning to Levi, I search for anything but he seemed surprised as I was.

"Ackerman?" Levi repeats, intrigued by the surname of the man who tried to murder us back in Trost. "I know Kenny......Is that his last name?"

"It is, but...."

Seeing Levi's eyes change only subtly, and the shift of his tone brought me concern and worry. "He never was much of one for sharing information," He spoke up. "Not important stuff, anyway..."

There was some things  I've never known about Levi's past, and I've never pushed it past him to tell me. We both have pasts to not want to relive, or rekindle again. The memories must've been either painful, but Kenny Ackerman? He seems to change Levi's only personality a little, his behaviour shifting subtly. Thing was, I would be a hypocrite if I forced him to tell me about his life, than not tell mine. 

The past I guess is meant to be buried, some left unanswered until later it will resurface again.

".........but I bet you have a rough idea.....you'd best try to remember," Levi walks over, tightly grabbing the man's arm while hearing the man cry out. "You still have plenty of bones left for me to break."

Twist it up, the man turns around with horror across his eyes.

"You.....you're in insane!"

"Maybe," Levi implies, indifferently.

Soon my head perks up on the sounds of the grass rustling, about a few metres away. Even Sasha hears them, before swiftly lifting her bow and arrow towards the plains outside the line of trees, drawing the bow back steadily.

"Someone's coming towards us!" She warns us, and in response we hastily hid ourselves behind trees or the growth of grass nearby. My hand automatically slams the man to the ground, with the weight of Levi's knee into his spine. We both press up against each other, ducking near the tree. 

"....and there's more than one, three in fact," Sasha shakily adds.

The man scoffs, "Told you, you're beat...struggle all you want," The man smirks, but I pushed him deeply with my palm. He grunts beneath the pressure. "One way or....another, the Survey Corps will be destroyed."

"You shut yer damn mouth," I scowl, hushly.

After a matter of heavy silence between the two Mp soldiers shifting towards us, my arm begins to throb painfully again with the sudden force for a moment. Slowly it subsides, keeping our movements still and quiet. Lifting myself up I peer behind the tree, seeing both figures emerge from the large growth of tall grass. Trying to lower my breath, I noticed one lifted a hand to their hood.

Once they lower their hood, relief soon washes over me finally seeing familiar faces before us. Stepping out Levi almost hisses at me, before recognising the two that uncloaked their faces.

"Been a while," I comment softly, seeing Lena, Moblit and Hanji before us. Giving Lena a warm hug with relief, she seems to be calm and relieved herself. 

"It has, but.....we've got more news," 

Hanji whips out some piece of paper, an article which seemed to be published just this morning. Waiting for Levi to tie up the man, Hanji passes him the piece of paper. Eagerly all the children gathered all around, while Levi and I sat in the middle reading over the rushed news. My eyes linger on every word, registering every labelled good news as my eyes widen. 

"This......this is...." I breathe, my eyes flicker up to meet Hanji's. "......is this....?"

She nods, "The Coup d'etat was successful," She confirms. "Premier Zachary now has full control of the Capital and government. For the time being at least, the nobles seem to be staying in line."

"Son a bitch......." I whisper, feeling this overwhelming weight slightly lift from my shoulders.

"Okay, but what about the incident with Mr Reeves?" Armin asks.

"We got a confession that proved the charges unfounded," She replies. "His son Flegel really pulled through big time. So they just like it's written right there, it shows charges were bogus, they abused their power, and that King Fritz was a total fake. All our actions were justified self-defence..........In other words, we're free people now."

So, what of Erwin? Is he alright?

Gasps soon follow around Levi and I, as the children soon burst out into laughter, cheering with the freedom. The smiles that escalated quickly, made feel light on my feet for once since this whole rebellion started. However Levi stood there still, holding the article in hand.

"Looks like Erwin's gamble paid off," Levi clarifies, knowing he's relieved. Yet, I knew something was troubling him. Ever since finding out about Kenny's surname was Ackerman, I wondered why Levi was bothered about it. 

"That it did, but it wasn't just Erwin who gambled," Hanji spoke up. "Many people had to make a lot of hard choices for this to work."

He sighs heavily, "Whereas my choices got three of your people killed," feeling regret after what happened. "I'm sorry."

Hanji smiles softly, seeing that she herself felt frustrated to lose very good comrades and soldiers. She knew, however she has already forgiven  us already before hand. 

"The things is...." Levi began. "....The interiors may have lost, but not all of them know it. They still have Eren, and Historia, too. We need to find them quickly."

Hanji nods, "Right, I think I know where they might be," She pulls out a book, revealing from her cloak. "Let's get there and put an end to this fight."

Although we clarified our next move, Hanji turns to me after I've been quiet and distilled for most of the conversation. She seemed troubled, as if she wanted to say something. Parting her lips for a moment, she closes her mouth and adjusts her cloak.

"Alright, let's move out!"

*

The rattling of the wagon shook side to side, while Armin led the wagon with a few on horses flanking behind us. Lena and Moblit rode on horseback together, side by side maintain the torches to guide ourselves up the path to where Rod Reiss and the two children's location was.

Sitting comfortably beside Levi, Hanji sat beside Mikasa opposite of me.

"Hanji," Mikasa addresses the Scientist, as she sat opposite of us both. "You said you might know where they are?"

"Oh, yeah, guess I gotta explain how," She replies, raising the book in hand. "Erwin gave me this scout investigation report regarding Lord Reiss' land. Most of it has to do with an incident five years ago that shook up the Reiss Family."

"Five years?"

"That's right," Hanji confirms. "It was the day Wall Maria was breached....I'll summarise the most important parts from the beginning. As lord of his territory, popular opinion of Rod Reiss wasn't all bad. He had five children, and his eldest daughter Frieda was a down to earth girl, that even the peasants adored."

Interested with the story, I shuffle to get comfortable when an arm wraps around my back. Levi casually keeps listening to Hanji, but his hand rubs subtly against the small of my back comfortingly. 

Tilting my chin up to meet Hanji's thoughtful expression, she continues on.

"....But that night, five years ago, disaster struck. With the world having plunged into pure chaos, some bandits raided and set fire to the only chapel around," She explains. "Unfortunately, that night, the entire Reiss Family was there praying together...and so, the whole family, save for the head of the house, Rod Reiss....was massacred that night by the bandits. To top it off, this incident occurred just a few days before Historia's mother was killed by the interior police. In other words, immediately after losing his family, Rod Reiss sought out Historia. There must be a reason he and his lackeys are after Historia."

"Well, she is of royal blood," Levi points out. "Or do you think that bloodline has some other secret?"

"It's possible, but I'm not sure yet," Hanji says, with uncertainty. "What really stood out to me at least, was the fact that large parts of the chapel were destroyed. The chapel was built from stone. It would take a lot of time and effort to destroy it."

My eyes narrow, "The fire itself wouldn't be powerful enough to destroy a stoned chapel, there's gotta be some other explanation,"

Hanji nods, "Exactly, and if it was bandits, they'd have taken what they could and made a quick escape.....also, Lord Reiss was the only witness. No one confirmed his story.......The Lord Reiss rebuilt the chapel with his personal fortune almost immediately. What was his rush?"

There is something incredibly suspicious about this, especially when he rebuilt again in the exact spot. What was so important about that location?

"When you think about it, the story could only make sense if it involved a titan attack," Hanji assumes. "It may turn out that I'm jumping to conclusions, but it's suspicious enough to merit investigation, and it's the only lead we have."

Running my fingers through my messy locks, a drawing sigh passes by my lips.

Levi's hand soon rests upon the curve of my hip, while shifting slightly closer for me to rest against him. I've felt myself fading in and out, still not used to the bullet wound I've received about a night or two ago. Thankfully it didn't painfully annoying me all the time, but sometimes it would falter my movements in anything I try to do.

"Before the night is over, Reiss' land will be crawling with our soldiers," Hanji informs us. "Unfortunately, we can't expect him to wait that long. We have to get there as soon as possible.....before Eren ends up in someone's stomach."

My attention focuses on ahead in the direction we were following in, feeling the coolness of the night tickle my skin. Thoughts, assumptions began to rumble in my head. I couldn't help but wonder, who Eren had to eat before becoming a titan. It couldn't be anyone I know, right? 

Then again, people have a complete poker face these days.

Also, Kenny Ackerman was also another threat and obstacle to our goal. But....even him stood in our way as well. He may of continued following beside Kenny since the attack, or he didn't. Thinking about him, Levi seems to think the same thoughts.

"You should understand this is Kenny the Ripper," Levi spoke up. "If he's there, he's our biggest obstacle.....In terms of his threat level, it'll like you'll be fighting me and Akira....or wait. With those weapons of his, he'll be stronger."

"He's not the only one......" I spoke up, causing Hanji to glance up in confusion. My hand reaches to my wounded arm, recalling the ambush. "......a man, no name was give, but a man such like Kenny yet far brutal.......will also be there. I guarantee it."

"A man? No name?" Hanji questions, when she notices the look in my eyes. 

To be honest, I've never been this afraid before. I don't understand why I fear this man, than titans alone. It's as if an instinct.......or more, a warning.

"Then those two combined, he's unbeatable.....at least for us," Sasha shakily admits.

"Maybe we should wait and meet up with other soldiers...?" Connie suggests.

"No chance in hell!" Mikasa cuts him off.

"Right, course not!" Connie replies, correcting himself. "if we wait for reinforcements, then Eren might get eaten."

Armin glances back, "You know, based on what the captain just told us and the Corporal....the odds won't be entirely in Kenny's favor,"

"You really think so?" Jean asks, not believing his assumption.

The blonde nods, "Yeah, his squad is well-trained, but we have way more combat experience,"

Hanji sighs heavily facing Levi, "Have to ask, how is it that you lived with Kenny the Ripper, but know next to nothing about him? Did the two of you never talk?"

"Not much," Levi says. "I only just learned the man's last name. Dunno if you heard, but it's Ackerman......" he turns to Mikasa. "Might be a relative of yours."

Mikasa lifts her head, "I remember my parents saying that my dad's side, the Ackermans, were persecuted when they lived in the cities," She says, recalling some little history. "My mom said her ancestors were Eastern, same as the Yamasaki's I assume. Her family's appearance made it difficult for them to fit in, and both groups were chased deep in the mountains, near the edge of the walls...that's how my parents met.....but my father never told me why the Ackerman's were persecuted. He looked the same as all of you, so I don't think he was of a different race."

"Tell me this," Levi lifts his chin, to meet Mikasa's thoughtful expression. "Have you ever suddenly felt a 'power' awaken inside you?"

Her eyes widen in realisation, before her voice lowers, "I have......" she was rather hesitant, even to admit something everyone would find it hard to believe.

"This has happened for Kenny Ackerman as well," Levi spoke up. "Suddenly, out of nowhere he felt an absurd amount of strength surging through him....and in that moment, he knew just