A Note from the Author: Welcome to the sequel to The Jaguar! Although it isn't absolutely vital for you to have read it in order to enjoy this, it's heartily recommended in order for many things to make sense.
The Burning Titan is slightly AU/AT, so please be prepared for that. Aside from creative liberties because of that, I've tried to be as factually accurate and in-character as possible. Please let me know if you spot anything I missed, or an area that needs improving. I welcome all feedback. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE SPOILERS FOR THE MANGA (AROUND CHAPTER 30 ONWARD); READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Finally, for the obvious: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin / Attack on Titan - only my original characters and plot, and the Burning Titan concept.
Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think!
Chapter 1: Emergence
One by one, Mercedes and her squad followed that of Squad Leader Brzenska off the top of Wall Rose and down toward the mist below. They hovered in a line stretching across the gate of Trost, just above the thick cool cloud. It was almost impossible to see their targets or anything that could act as an anchor for their lines.
"Hey, rookie."
Mercedes turned her attention to Rico a few meters away.
"You're supposed to be good at the stalk-and-destroy type of attack, right? Why don't you go first and get a picture for us?" The bespectacled, ashen blonde suggested. "We'll judge when to join you by movement of your line."
"Why not," Mercedes shrugged. She continued to lower herself with one line, until what little light came from the cloudy sky disappeared. Hasn't been this misty for maybe ten years, why now? Can't see a fucking thing.
The Garrison had set up shifts to protect the workers repairing Trost's gate who, despite the help of the boulder Eren had shifted, were often terrorized by Titans. Some had even figured out to climb onto the boulder and squirm desperate hands through the gaps trying to grab what they could. Add to this that she had been put on the fast-track to help bolster the numbers of Elite Squads within the Garrison, and as a result often shadowing Rico Brzenska, it made for some interesting patrols.
Mercedes focused on the task at hand. She moved slowly, relying as much on her hearing as her eyesight, if not moreso. She estimated that of the fifty-meter height of Wall Rose, she was maybe a third of the way down. For the time being she held out a hand behind her so that her fingertips grazed the relatively smooth surface of the Wall, seemingly the only tangible thing left.
All right, Mercedes, she thought. Is your mental map of the buildings surrounding Trost's gate good enough to suffice for actually seeing them? Otherwise all you're going to be able to work with is the Wall.
She paused when she could hear the sound of bare flesh slapping and slipping on rock, as well as a few gurgles, moans and hisses. It was disconcerting not being able to see their sources, but after a moment's listening, she confirmed that as expected they were to her left. Judging how far down they were – and thus what size – or numbers was a different matter.
For lack of another plan, Mercedes continued to lower herself. The sounds got louder, closer; she could hear a nail or two grating on stone. It made her skin crawl. How much farther would she have to go and how much louder would it have to get? It was so tempting to fire her second line blindly in their direction and hope she hit something.
Just when she thought she couldn't stand it any longer, out of the fog loomed the half-finished, dark shape of what must have been a ten-meter class. Luckily its back was to her – it was only a couple of meters away at best. Mercedes held her breath. She rocked back a little until she was crouched on the Wall, and quietly drew her second blade.
Then, she catapulted herself forward and slightly left at the Titan's back, expertly slashing through the nape of its neck until her momentum on the single line arced her back again. She heard it collapse and a moment later, the hiss of steam that disturbed the mist. When her feet impacted the Wall she sprung off it again, headed left to take her across the gate. She was barely able to jerk her body up and over the head of another Titan, and swung by the face of another. As her momentum propelled her toward the Wall she fired her second line at what she estimated was the gate housing, and retracted. Though hands grabbed for her, they were uncertain, neither party able to get a good glimpse of the other before the fog consumed them both.
Mercedes landed on the boulder that blocked the entrance to Trost. She thought she heard the lines of the rest of the two squads being deployed, but couldn't be sure. The fog made all of her senses suspect.
Just as she was debating how next to attack, three Titans of varying sizes came out of the mist, hands and gaping mouths first. She retracted her line swiftly up to avoid one, and then bounced herself off the gate housing to resume the attack on another. The other Garrison members swung into sight, blades drawn.
Suddenly a huge blast of fire hurtled up from the ground, dispelling all of the fog. Mercedes fired a line at a nearby building to swing out of the way and avoid being singed, and when she landed on the roof tiles she turned and watched as the fire grew and grew until it must have been as tall, if not taller, than the Armored Titan. The other Titans seemed just as surprised as she was. The watch-bells began to ring.
With horror, Mercedes realized that she wasn't staring at an explosion, but rather a Titan covered in flames. It had a slim, wiry frame and little skin to speak of, and seemed unaffected by the fire surrounding it even though some were blue-hot around its joints. Its angular skull was topped with black hair running down the center only; she could not see its face. The heat even at this distance was suffocating and made the air around them whirl and roar.
This…this shouldn't be possible, she thought, recalling all she and Hanji knew about the Titans' physiology and everything they'd speculated. How can it be on fire, for fuck's sake? How are we supposed to attack that?
Abruptly the flames appeared to weaken; it leant forward a little. Mercedes blinked and it was as if it had been snuffed out – rather than steam, it disintegrated into ash that filled and choked the air. As she coughed violently she squinted, trying to make out what remained. By the time it settled, there was nothing. Mercedes regained her composure and at Rico's call, went back to the task at hand. They finished off the five Titans that had been harassing the gate, and retracted their lines to bring them back to the top of the Wall.
No one said anything for what felt like an age. The two squads simply grouped together and stood staring at the charred road where the Burning Titan had appeared. Flecks of ash eddied in the air and caught on their clothes, hair and skin. Even the warning bells seemed uncertain now of what they'd witnessed.
"This changes things," Rico said into the quiet. "We're going to Commander Woerman. Now."
