𝚈/𝚗'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

A steady rain begins to fall as we regroup atop Wall Rose. An unconscious Ymir on a stretcher is carefully raised to the top of the Wall.

How many times do I have to be lied to? No, 'lied to' isn't really the right term to use for this situation.

Who do I trust? No, there is no need to trust anyone anymore. You don't need others. It's fine.

How many more are going to betray mankind? I'm not sure. That will make it 4 if Ymir sides with the other three.

Although Reiner and Berthholdt are still under suspicion, I already know they're the traitors.

How? It's obvious. There's plenty of evidence.

If you continue to submit to your emotions, refusing to believe in the evidence displayed, you will only turn a blind eye.

If you doubt the evidence presented and allow your emotions to take over, then you will never get anywhere in life.

It's okay if you want to believe, but don't allow facts to get out of your line of vision. You will only lose that way.

"Y/n, a little help, please." Armin's voice brought me back to reality. I awoke from my train of thoughts.

I looked down and saw Armin trying to climb the 50-meter wall with only his ODM gear.

"Oh, sorry." I apologized for not noticing him there earlier. I grabbed his hand and pulled him up.

I had to stand up in the process for Armin to get on top of the Wall. I then notice Eren, Reiner, and Berthholdt having a chat with one another.

"What are you talking about? It's already happened to me once before! Right, Armin?" Reiner turned to the man I was holding hands with.

"Wha-" Armin squeaked when he noticed that he was still holding onto my hand. He staggered backward and nearly fell.

I grabbed his wrist and pulled him back, taking my hand back this time once he was steadily standing on the Wall.

He apologized to me and rubbed his nape sheepishly, saying that he shouldn't have freaked out over silly things.

Reiner then recalls the time he was nearly killed by the Female Titan's grip during the 57th Exterior Scouting Mission.

He states that Armin witnessed the horrid scene of Reiner nearly getting killed in front of Armin.

Reiner worries that he will soon be dead at this rate, a soldier's life wearing down his mind faster than his body.

"I made the decision to become a soldier on my own, but it sure as hell isn't easy. I think my mind is going to give out before my body does." Reiner sighed.

"Well, we're not done fixing the Wall yet, so I should save the whining for later." Reiner said. This made me fall silent.

Eren acknowledged that both Reiner and Bertholdt have been away from their hometown for a long while and his stress is understandable.

Bertholdt became...strangely enthusiastic, encouraging Reiner that they should return to their hometown soon.

I wonder, where exactly is your hometown?

Reiner agreed though Eren, Armin, and I are confused by the sudden turn in the conversation.

In the meantime, the mission to seal the Wall should be our primary focus for today.

As Hanji worries over the probable Titan issue, Captain Hannes and the Garrison advance squad arrive with news of the breach situation

However, when Hannes ascends the Wall, he informs the Scouts present that no hole was found in the Wall from Trost to Krolva.

Additionally, the Garrison ran into no Titans throughout the duration of their search.

Armin insists that they had found Titans within Wall Rose's territory, and Eren asks if Hannes was drunk during his search.

Accepting the strange circumstances, Hanji announced that the Scouts will depart for Trost District, and Hannes bids Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and me farewell.

"There's no breach in the Wall?" Eren summarized.

"What does this mean? Why is all this happening now, after 5 years of nothing?" Armin walks away while mumbling the possibilities.

I turn back and made my way to both Reiner and Berthholdt. If they're not going to say anything, then I'll have to get the words out of their mouth.

"Reiner, Berthholdt." I called out. The two turned to me. Reiner replies with a brotherly smile while Bertholdt just stared at me.

"May I ask you two a question?" I requested, staring at the taller men in the eye.

"Of course. It's the first time you've talked to us, so why not?" Reiner chuckled. Bertholdt continues to eye Reiner in worry.

"Tell me, are you a soldier...or a warrior?" I whispered, loud enough for only the two of them to hear.

Bertholdt's eyes widened as he tried to not seem too shocked about my sudden question.

"What are you talking about? We're soldiers, of course." Reiner calmly stated. Bertholdt stayed silent but nodded while avoiding eye contact with me.

"Is that so? Thanks, I guess." I replied, my voice monotone as I walked away from them and followed after Armin.

"Y/n..." Eren called out, grabbing my shoulder to stare at me with a nervous expression.

"Why would you do that? Are you trying to make them think we're suspicious of them?" he shook my shoulders as if I was a madwoman.

"I know what I'm doing. Just watch, I'm gonna make them do what I want." I replied, shrugging his hands off.

After a few minutes, the wind picks up and a flagpole shatters, sending the flag down the Wall.

We stop to look back at those who had stopped walking, and Reiner remains silent as sunlight peeks through the clouds.

Mikasa keeps a hand on her blade, ready to strike. I decided to do the same as I approach Mikasa.

Reiner openly regretted the past three years he has spent 'surrounded by idiots'. He claims that he and his comrades had once been clueless children.

If he had not heard of the others within the Walls, he claims he would not have become a 'half-butt piece of crap'.

Reiner removes the sling around his arm, which should support his injury, and exposes his wound.

As he uses his Titan powers to heal himself, he says that he will face the consequences of his actions and stay true to his duty as a Warrior.

"Just as I planned." I mumbled. Mikasa turned to me and I replied with a firm nod.

When it comes to situations like this, we don't even use and need words to communicate with each other.

Bertholdt panicked, asking Reiner if they are really acting now, and Reiner said that the time has come, and moved to capture Eren.

Just small actions were enough to tell what the other is thinking or planning in their head.

Mikasa sprung forward, cutting into Reiner's arms as he defended himself with his hands.

"Why?" I mumbled, slicing Bertholdt's neck open. He screams and grips his neck. I could only stare at him with dull eyes.

"If only...I knew your side of the story..." I mumbled, holding my sword up to go in for the finishing blow.

As I lunge my sword forward, Reiner shoves me off of the Wall. I stared at Reiner, his face filled with regret and pain.

"Y/n!" Mikasa yelled, using her ODM gear to catch me. She brings me back on top of the Wall.

𝟹𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙿𝙾𝚅

The Scouts rush to Eren's aid and Armin tells him to escape, but Eren can only watch helplessly as energy begins to surround the two Warriors.

"Y/n!" Armin shouted, grabbing Y/n, whose legs had randomly become numb for no apparent reason.

"Why now?!" Y/n furiously hit her thighs to get it to wake up, but her punches were in vain.

Bursts of energy explode atop the Wall, knocking everyone back as the Armored Titan and Colossal Titan emerge in the chaos.

Armin grabs Y/n and holds onto her tight to avoid the two from falling from the gushes of wind that Reiner and Bertholdt emitted.

The Armored Titan takes Eren in its hand while the Colossal Titan grabs Ymir as Historia cries out.

The Armored Titan descends Wall Rose with Eren in its grip, and Eren tearfully thinks back to the days of their training together.

Bitterly accepting that his two friends are traitors to humanity, Eren transforms into his Titan and prepares to battle with Reiner

Atop the Wall, Hanji orders all Scouts to jump from the Wall as the Colossal Titan swings its arm forward.

The Colossal Titan opens its massive mouth, throwing Ymir and the soldier inside before snapping its jaw closed.

"No way..." Sasha stares at the Titans in disbelief, not wanting to accept the fact that her comrades are indeed traitors.

"Bertholdt..." Armin mumbles, not wanting to believe the situation happening right before his very eyes.

"Reiner and Bertholdt are traitors to us. Stop hesitating." Y/n reminded, charging in.

Hanji gritted her teeth and orders all soldiers to follow Y/n's action, reminding them that they are the ones who breached Wall Maria.

The Colossal Titan's punches are narrowly avoided by the Scouts, maneuvering behind the monster with great agility.

Y/n gracefully avoided the punch and circled around its arm. She could feel her heart hardening at the thought of the traitors to mankind.

Hanji's soldiers soon acknowledge the Colossal Titan's incredibly slow movement speed, leaving it at a great disadvantage compared to their quick maneuvering.

Y/n and other soldiers line up for a strike at the Titan's nape, but at the last moment, Bertholdt unleashes a massive continuous burst of steam and scalding-hot air, forcing them to fall back.

"My hand..." Y/n winced, staring at the third-degree burn on her hand. It's only natural, she was the closest one to the nape.

"Y/n, are you okay? Did you get burned? You were the closest one to the nape." Armin grabbed Y/n's hand.

"Oh uhm...yeah. It's just a little burn. Don't worry about it." Y/n lied, hiding her hand behind her back.

"Don't lie to me." Armin grabbed her hand once again and just stared at it in shock. Y/n glanced at it and noticed that the burn was gone.

"Again?" she mumbled.

"Is he going to disappear again?" Hanji guessed, holding her sword up to attack, just in case.

"No, something is different." Y/n pointed out, slowly taking her hand back from Armin's grasp.

"Before, he was able to vanish instantly, but right now, he's keeping his form and emitting heat." Armin added.

"But what does he even gain by putting off steam?" Y/n mumbled, staring at the Colossal Titan.

Y/n attempts to attach ODM gear to the Colossal Titan to attack it, but it was pushed back in vain.

"We can't approach with ODM gear. Wh-What do we do?" Armin turned to Hanji in panic.

Hanji decides that for the time being, the Scouts will wait, then orders Squads 3 and 4, led by Rashad, to take position behind the Colossal Titan.

Squad 2, led by Lauda will stand guard in front of the Colossal Titan, as ordered by Hanji.

Hanji decides that once Bertholdt inevitably leaves his Titan, they must kill him without hesitation, an order which does not sit well with Armin.

"Y/n, Armin, and Squad 1 follow me!" Hanji leads them to the base of Wall Rose to assist in Eren's fight with the Armored Titan.

𝚈/𝚗'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

It's unfortunate. Reiner would never shut up about the duty a soldier must bear.

I really looked up to him. He never lost his cool, no matter what happened. He always puts everyone else before himself.

I can't see his face to tell me how he feels about all of this, but I know he doesn't want to do this, either.

But...I didn't get attached, so it's fine. It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt as much as it did back then.

Reiner and Bertholdt didn't really talk to me much, so I didn't get attached to them.

Reiner would always greet me when he sees me, he always gives me a small smile when I pass by.

Bertholdt would just give me a small wave, but I have noticed him trying to help me in subtle ways when I need help with something.

It's sweet, their actions were very sweet. I wish...I wish I knew their side of the story. I wish we could all be frie-

Y/n, what are you thinking? Remember. Remember, Y/n. Think back to 5 years ago.

Who caused all of this? Who are you going to blame for your older sister's death?

That's right...if it weren't for the Colossal Titan and Armored Titan breaching the Wall, Lada would still be alive.

"Eren! Stop fighting him! Your attacks aren't doing anything! Come over here! Don't try to fight him!" Armin calls out to Eren.

Eren lets out an angered and pained roar, furious at Reiner and Bertholdt's betrayal to everyone.

"This is bad!" Armin worried, thinking that Eren had lost control and is now moving based on his emotions.

"Don't worry, Armin. Eren knows what he's doing." I reassured Armin, who looked at me with concern.

When the two Titans square off for a cross-counter, Eren dives beneath Reiner's arm, throwing the Armored Titan to the ground, and holding him in a lock.

"That looks like..." Armin mumbled, staring at Eren and the Armored Titan.

"Annie's attack." I continued. She always tried to use it on me, but I always slipped through her attacks.

Reiner attempts to gain the upper hand Eren grabs his arm and locks his head between his legs, squeezing with enough force to crack Reiner's armor.

He swings his legs around to lock around Reiner's arm and pin him to the ground, holding him down as he tears an arm off of the Armored Titan.

I spotted Mikasa chasing after Eren and Reiner, ready to attack when the opportunity comes.

I used my ODM gear to get to her. I could hear Armin telling me to wait up as he uses his ODM gear to follow after me.

"Eren! Can you hear me?" I called out to him. Eren then turns his head to face the three of us.

"Run away! Get closer to the Wall! Their goal is to kidnap you! We need to focus on keeping them from doing that!" Armin informed Eren.

Eren then turned to me, looking for confirmation. I gave him a nod, telling him that what Armin said is true.

"But Reiner isn't going to sit back and let us get away." Mikasa pointed out, noticing Reiner getting ready to fight.

"It's dangerous here! You need to retreat!" a man said. We then retreated, with Eren following behind.

Deputy Commander Hanji approaches Eren's Titan, telling him to find a way to prevent Reiner from pursuing before they make their escape, suggesting he should take out Reiner's legs by some means.

Eren's Titan nods in response to her orders, causing Hanji to blush with awe. Armin gives Mikasa his remaining blades so she can assist in the fight.

Suddenly, the Armored Titan sheds the hardened skin at the back of its legs, gaining enough mobility to charge Eren head-on.

Reiner lunges Eren forward to hit the Wall. I lifted my knees and Eren makes contact with the Wall, but it didn't harm me, because I dodged it.

I then backed away from the Titan fight to avoid any more near-death experiences that may happen.

"Don't stay on the ground, Eren!" Armin shouted.

"Stand up!" Mikasa yelled.

"Fight!" I encouraged.

Eren is knocked over and is nearly overpowered, but manages to throw Reiner aside.

Some wondered how the Armored Titan is suddenly so fast, but Deputy Commander Hanji states that armor of any kind must have exposed areas to allow for mobility.

Recalling armor used in ancient wars, she notes the unarmored areas of the body are typically the armpit, groin, and behind the knee.

Eren is then charged and he grips Reiner's head beneath his arm and locks his legs around Reiner's torso.

"Y/n." Mikasa called out to me and points to the back of her knees, telling me to help her in her plan.

"Mikasa." I reply, nodding, telling her that I will gladly participate in her plan.

𝟹𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙿𝙾𝚅

They then maneuvered to where they were fighting and Mikasa cuts the back of his left knee while Y/n handles the right.

Eren uses the advantage to squeeze Reiner's head with all his might, and the armor at his nape begins to shatter.

Using what mobility he has left, Reiner drags himself forward with Eren for a short distance.

The others cheer Eren on, believing Reiner's actions to be useless. However, Reiner stops moving after a moment before letting out a roar.

"Scan the area! They're calling in Titans!" Hanji orders. Y/n nodded and began to look around for Titans.

She then reports back to her after a few minutes, informing her that there are no Titans in the area and it's clear.

The Armored Titan's nape plating shatters and sprays blood. Eren continues to use all of his strength to rip his head off.

Y/n maneuvered her way to Mikasa to assist her in case anything happens. She's sure Mikasa will request back up since they liked to work together.

"Above you! Look out!" someone cried out. They looked up and noticed a skull crashing down.

No, that isn't just a skull, it's the Colossal Titan's body.

The Armored Titan, able to withstand the wind, pins Eren's Titan to the ground and bites him out of the nape.

Once the storm settles, Bertholdt emerges from his Titan, equipped with new ODM gear and carrying an unconscious Ymir.

He grapples onto Reiner's shoulder as the Warriors make their escape. Unable to pursue, Armin cries out for Eren.

Back at Wall Rose, Armin watches over Mikasa and Y/n, who had fallen unconscious after the battle.

Hannes regrets the outcome of the situation of those who had witnessed Eren's battle now.

They were heavily injured from the Colossal Titan's explosion and have received small burns.

He asks for Mikasa's condition, and Armin speculates that she may have suffered a concussion.

"How about Y/n? She doesn't look that well." Hannes pointed out, noticing the pain in Y/n's face.

"Her burns are the worst. All of them are third-degree burns. They're all over her neck and arms. There's a small burn on her face." Armin mumbled.

He stared at Y/n's face, regretting everything. He wished he was strong enough to protect her.

Hannes notices that Armin hasn't eaten yet, so he leaves Armin to gather some rations.

The Survey Corps carries high nutrition rations. High-calorie crackers and canned goods ate the standard.

They provided necessary energy without the need for a fire and are easy to produce. Proper use of flavoring keeps them from tasting bad.

Armin stood up and just stared in the direction where Reiner escaped with Bertholdt, Ymir, and Eren.

|| 𝙵𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 ||

"Mikasa!" Armin yelled, catching Mikasa's attention as she hands the vendor her money.

"Mikasa! It's Eren!" Armin informed, trying to catch his breath from running a lot.

"What happened to him?!" Mikasa is suddenly interested in what Armin has to say.

"It's those three bullies again. They stole the bread I bought." Armin informs.

"Who stole your bread?" they heard. They turned to the voice to see a girl smiling at them.

"Y/n! It's those three bullies! They stole my bread." Armin answered.

"Eren went after them all by himself. I tried to stop th-" Armin was interrupted when Mikasa showed the basket of goods towards him and ran to where Eren should be.

"Let's go, Armin." Y/n gave him a grin which reassured him that everything will be okay from now on.

"We don't want to leave Eren, now don't we?" Y/n grabs his hand and drags him as they follow Mikasa.

Eren confronted the bullies, starting a fight in the marketplace while the drunken Garrison soldiers watched in amusement.

"Gimme a