Disclaimer: Please read this ENTIRE italicized section.
This is likely to be the ONLY time I break immersion, and include an author's note etc. Contact me personally or in reviews.
Do NOT READ if you are not okay with the following:
Minor/Major plot changes. (surviving/dying characters)
Eren being more individually capable of his own abilities.
Romance
Levi being a little more open to others, but still the same coldness.
Incest? MikasaxEren (I don't consider it incest, but w/e)
A real Fanfiction, not just lemon and love scenes. This will be a story. Combat, everything.
Cliffhangers :3
3. The story takes place with the same arcs as the manga/anime, except takes different plot twists and turns, but has the same end goal.
The sun, the witness to all of Earth's cruelty shone upon the figures shifting through the trees. Their wires and cords danced like shadows, as they stalked their prey. Survey Corps littered the forestry, slaying titans in great number. The 57th Expedition beyond the wall was in full swing, and the female titan was running rampant. She was pursuing Eren and his protectors.
Eren's teeth clenched, slicing his gums from the ground pounding behind him. The female titan was only 50 feet behind him, chasing him at full speed.
"Almost…"
His grapple connected to another tree, surging him forward.
"Almost… not yet!"
Eren unsheathed his blades, and propelled his gas canister on his 3DMG, and prepared to strike.
Armin, lagging behind, looked in horror as the female titan made her move.
"Look out! She's going for your wires!" He screamed.
Time froze, Armin let out a silent scream, and Eren smiled.
- 4 Years Ago
"I heard you and Mikasa were fighting earlier, everything okay?" The bright blond boy asked, poking Eren with his foot.
Eren was lying on his back, staring into the sky of Shiganshina. He and Armin Arlert had always been friends, and often spent their time together. He was helpless at times, but Eren had found a brotherly love between them, deeply caring for his safety.
"Yeah, she was trying to boss me around again. She can be such a brat sometimes, you know?"
"Mikasa is usually right though, you should listen to her more often." Armin responded, while picking a flower on the ground to pieces.
"... You too, huh?" Eren closed his eyes, and let out a deep sigh.
"You may be right, Eren. But that still doesn't mean she doesn't care about you."
Their conversation ended immediately, and Eren shot up from the grass, excited as ever. The gates to Wall Maria were opening, and his heroes were returning home. The Survey Corps.
The boys bolted towards the commotion, spectating the green clad protectors marching in the streets. Despite Eren's ecstatic nature, the Corps' heads were solemn, and offered a defeated posture. Eren's ignorance as a youth shielded him from the truths of their defeat.
"Look at them! Armin!"
"Yeah yeah, I see them." Armin rolled his eyes as Eren continued to shake his arm.
A brunette amongst the corps met the youthful Eren's eye, and gave him a friendly wink and smile. She seemed to be the only person in the regiment who was chipper.
Little did the young Eren know, that his smile and awe of the Survey Corps was the only reason Hange was smiling.
"I'm going to join them one day, Armin. We don't have to be trapped in these damn walls like pets." Eren affirmed. "If I did, would you join too?"
Armin gulped. He always wanted to support his friend, but something about the expressions on the heroes' faces made his blood run cold. While frozen, Armin found the green gaze on Eren's face, and gulped once more.
"I-I'd be scared, but yes. I don't know what I can offer, but anything to help humanity."
Eren smiled, and quickly made a horrified expression.
"I'm going to be late for dinner, I've got to get back!" He scooped up his pack and began to run.
"W-Wait, Eren! What's the big rush!" Armin followed.
"Imagine the look *huff* the look on her face if I get yelled at *huff* get yelled at by mom. She'll think she won or something!" Eren kept running, at a reckless pace.
"Who, Mikasa?" Armin wheezed, falling behind.
"Of course, who else!"
The sun was setting, and Eren gave Armin a quick farewell. They had taken a detour, but it should be fine. Dusk was approaching, as the sun hid under Wall Maria's tall walls. Eren kept huffing and puffing, trying to beat the clock.
Upon roughly reaching the halfway point, he remembered that Armin may have gotten lost due to the path he took him on. He growled, and followed his instincts on going back.
"Damn, I'm going to be late for sure." Eren rolled his eyes, and started drafting the various responses he would need to deal with Mikasa's sass, as well as his mother's for being out so late. Would he use an excuse? Would he tell the truth? What did it matter, he would get yelled at anyway-
He slipped, and crashed onto the ground, carelessly. His knees were scraped, and burned. It was nothing serious, but enough to make a twelve year old's eyes water.
"Hey there buddy, you okay?" A hooded figure asked. A second behind him.
"I'm fine." He sniffled. Eren glanced up at them, unable to see their faces.
One unhooded himself, along with the other, and extended a hand.
"I've got you buddy, the name's Reiner, Reiner Braun. This is Bertolt Hoover."
Bertolt offered a small wave, and a smile. Both of them were equipped with a lot of gear, most likely water, food, and other supplies.
His knee burned, but Eren recovered. "Thanks." He winced. "Are you guys going hiking or something?"
"Heh, not quite. We're going to meet one of our friends, Annie." Bertolt nodded.
"Ohhhh, I see. Is she your girlfriend then?" Eren rubbed his knee.
"Not quite." Reiner added, rubbing the back of his neck in an armored stance.
"He wishes, I bet." Bertolt added with a colossal chuckle.
"Can it! Anyway, I hope you're feeling better, We've got to get knowing. What was your name bud?"
"Eren Jäger." He smiled, shaking their hands.
"Until next time, Eren. Ciao."
"See you guys." And with that, the two departed.
After checking that Armin was safe, Eren made his way home, finally. The day caught up to him, as he felt his pace slow down substantially. All he could think about was his bed, and maybe a hot meal. With roasted beef and curry on his mind, he slipped into his home.
"Mr. Jäger, where have you been?" His mother rushed at him, and immediately gave him "the look".
Annoyed at how she always called him mister, he rolled his eyes for the upteenth time that day.
"I was walking Armin home, it got dark." He sat down at his place at the table, seeing his cold meal. He didn't mind one bit though, food was food.
"You made Mikasa worry, you know." His mother went back to her duties, continuing to lecture Eren.
"What's new?" He chomped down hard on the meat, his mouth savoring every bite.
"She made dinner tonight, the very dinner you're eating."
"It's cold." He retorted.
His mother, Carla, sighed and sat down across from him. Rather than continue her lecture, she tried a different approach.
"I heard the Scout Regiment got back today, how were they?"
"Armin and I saw them come through the gates, they looked as proud as ever, and I'm sure they fought as hard as they could. One of them was so confident, she looked right at me!" He continued to blabber on, his eyes sparkling in excitement as she just nodded and nodded, thinking about other things.
"... And hundreds of people were there to greet them, and I really thought-" His rant was finally ended as his adopted sister entered the room.
"You shouldn't get your hopes up, Eren." Mikasa sat down adjacent to him.
"I have to! Armin and I already sore to it!" Eren kept his confident gaze, eating away at the food in front of him. Mikasa found joy in how fast he was scarfing down the meal she had prepared, but discomfort to the whole Survey Corps ideal.
"Ugh, Armin too? Don't worry. I'll talk to him." She shook her head in disbelief.
"Hey! It's our decision, not yours-!"
"Alright, Eren. That's enough. Finish your meal and head to bed. Are you all done with your chores, Mika?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"Good girl, I want both of you to get some sleep and be ready for tomorrow, we've got a big day ahead of us, especially with community service!
Eren groaned, but complied.
Mikasa hid her smile as she continued to watch Eren eat, and the Jäger household would soon go to sleep.
Outside wall Maria, titans mustered. The invasion would soon begin.