Rain pattered down fiercely, and combined with the clatter of hooves and the flapping of wings, the noise in the forest was deafening.
A company of men and women wearing military uniforms of tan jackets, white pants and brown boots with dark emerald cloaks stormed through a forest of giant trees on horseback towards where a wall lay. On the back of these cloaks was an emblem of an upside down pentagon depicting a white wing and dark blue wing outlined in silver.
By all of their sides, bizarre creatures resembling those of animals either ran or flew by their sides. On their shoulders rested a tan uniform shawl much like the jackets the soldiers wore with the same crest as on the back along with a band of the same color as the emerald green cloaks around either their neck, head, arms or legs.
"It's just ahead!" the leader barked, "Stay close! We're nearly there!"
Just then, a creature-similar to that of a bird with a green body, yellow beak, two long red feather on the back of it's head, a strange tattoo resembling that of a face on it's front body, white wings with black outline flew up to the leader. It's eyes glowed a soft pink as it glanced at the leader before returning to normal.
"A 10 meter class is coming in at 921 meters southwest!" the leader bellowed. "Flight squad, move to intercept!"
At that, a small group broke away from the larger company, the creatures by their side quickly turning around with them, flapping their wings quickly. In short enough time, the squad saw a giant resembling that of a human, completely naked and lacking any reproductive organs as it lazed forwards.
One man with dirty blond hair and dark brown eyes briefly shared eye contact with the bird-like creature with the dark and pale tan body, and red plumage on it's head by his side. It's beak clicked together in a clipped and ordered manner, making the man smile.
"The same goes to you too, girl," he said back to the creature before his expression became serious once again.
He fired off the mechanism at his waist which shot a grappling hook high into the air and embedded itself into the trees above. A whirring came from the contraption and in the next second, the man shot off his horse and into the air, the tan bird flying up right beside him. He joined up with the squad, all with bird-like creatures by their side as they shot to the giant.
The man gritted his teeth before he drew forth his swords and the cable whipped him behind the giant, it's neck on full display. The bird creature flew down with him, expression grim as her wings flashed grey and the man swung his swords.
"Take this," he roared. "The power of humanity and Pokemon united!"
"See you later... Eren."
"...ren."
"Eren!"
Eren Jaeger's eyes flew open and a sharp gasp came from his mouth. He took a few moments to steady out his breathing, still startled from... whatever he just saw. That's when he noticed the girl with black hair and pale black eyes by his side from where he had shaken him awake.
"Mikasa... when did your hair get that long...?" the boy, Eren asked dazed.
Mikasa Ackerman looked back at him for a few seconds before she sighed, "Just how deeply were you asleep to say something so silly?"
"Well, it was a pretty long dream," Eren protested halfheartedly as he got up from against the tree to pick up the sticks he had gathered, "but I don't really remember much of it..."
That was when he noticed Mikasa looking surprised. "What?"
"Eren, what's wrong?" she asked, concerned. "Why are you crying?"
The brunet was confused but a moment later, he realized that were was indeed tears rolling down his face. He tried to wipe them away, but they just kept coming. Even so, he and Mikasa got up and started their way back home. The sun was still high in the sky, visible even with the walls around them.
People walked around them, going about their business, and the two children would catch every so often, the glimpse of a purple rat-like Pokemon, or the trilling of a pale tan bird Pokemon with plumage nearly the height of their knees. They mostly went ignored, except for the smaller children, who giggled as they played with them in the streets.
Eren grimaced as he wiped a bit of snot that had started to drip down his nose before noticing Mikasa looking at him.
"Not a word to anyone," he groused. "They don't need to know I was crying."
"Of course not. Still, to shed tears without a good reason," Mikasa said. "Perhaps you could have your father look at it?"
"No way! As if I'd tell him something like that!"
"Hey, what've ya been crying about, Eren?"
Just then, a man with slightly curly blond hair and beard with a uniform and crest with two roses came over to them. By his side was a creature with a burgundy red coat, beige undercoat, yellow stripes on it's body and tail, which had a white fluff on the end, white hands and feet, bulging cheeks, red eyes with a black and yellow outline and buck teeth.
"Hannes," Eren greeted the man before looking at the Watchog. "Theo."
The Watchog smiled at that and clicked his teeth together in greeting.
"So, did Mikasa get mad at you?" Hannes asked as he knelt down to eye-level. "Is that why you were-"
"Who's crying- Ugh, your breath reeks of booze!" Eren snapped, trying to cover his nose from the nauseating smell of the alcohol coming from Hannes's person, before he noticed the other guards sitting around on some crates, drinking while other Watchogs, along with dog-like creatures with dark grey coats and giant mustaches (Herdiers, the brunet thought on instinct), were trying to nudge them back on their feet.
"Unbelievable," Eren said, sweat-dropping. "You guys're still lazing around?"
"Why don't you two join us?" Hannes asked jokingly, grinning.
"Aren't you on duty?"
"Well yeah! We're guarding the gates t'day!" the blond man said before he got back on his feet. "We're supposed to be here all day, so we brought some food and drink to keep us revitalized. Alcohol's technically a drink so it comes with the water sometimes, so it can't be helped."
"But- but what about when you're supposed to fight when 'they' get it?! You wouldn't be able to do anything in the state you're in!" Eren protested.
Hannes blinked before looking back at his comrades before asking rather stupidly, "Fight who now?"
Theo then proceeded to slap his furry white hand on his forehead and gave an exasperated groan.
"You know who!" Eren growled before he nearly shouted. "When 'they' break down the wall and get in!"
Eren then gestured at the other Pokemon by the other guards as well as Theo as he snapped, "Even they're doing a better job that you guys; don't you feel the least bit ashamed?!"
"Oi oi, don't yell something like that," Hannes said, grimacing.
"If they break in, then we'll deal with it; you kids just worry about getting to safety," one of the soldiers, Hugo, boasted as he scratched behind one of the Herdier's ears. "But still, 'they' haven't broken in even once in a hundred years and soon they'll push the titans off the face of the earth and we'll never have to worry about them again."
"Even so, you can't just let your guards down; that's really dangerous! Dad even said so!"
"Well you've got a good point there," Hannes acknowledged, "I don't claim to know as much as this resident's savior, Dr. Jaeger, but it might help your perceptive if you become a soldier and actually see 'them' prowling outside the walls while you're busy reinforcing them. The walls are fifty meters high, and I really don't see how 'they'll' get past that. Not to mention they would never go near the wall when there are any Pokemon within their line of sight or closer."
"So in other words, you guys aren't ready to fight them in the first place?!"
"Nope~"
"What the hell...! Then you might as well change the Garrison's name to 'Wall-repairmen'!" Eren snapped angrily.
"That actually sounds pretty good," Hannes remarked before his expression became a bit more solemn. "But you see, when soldiers like us get to goof around and called 'useless freeloaders'... it just means that life's peaceful."
He gave Theo an apologetic smile. "I know that these guys are practically made for battle, but I think I enjoy being with them when all we're doing is lounging around. You'd be surprised what good company they give."
"If you wanna see real fighters, you should see the Pokemon that the Survey Corps have," Hugo said before grinning. "Now those are beasts."
"Still, you wouldn't catch me going out there!" Another laughed. "Even though they've taken back territory over the years, you'd have to be insane to join the Corps!"
Eren grimaced angrily at the man's words.
"Even if we can't go outside these walls, we have food and rest. That's enough to stay alive," he said softly. "But a life like that is no different from livestock."
With that, Eren and Mikasa continued on home.
"Geez, what a weird kid," the soldiers snorted, but Hannes looked back at their retreating backs with a sense of foreboding in his being.
"Don't tell me that he's seriously planning on joining the Survey Corps...!"
Eren kept that grimace on his face even as he and Mikasa neared home, deep in thought.
"... Eren," Mikasa said softly, her expression blank, "please forget about joining the Survey Corps."
Eren whirled at her, angry indignation on his face. "So what, are you gonna start dissing them too?! They're the ones who're constantly risking their lives to take territory away from 'them'! They're the ones who made the weapons that can beat 'them', as well as the ones who helped make the alliance between human and Pokemon!"
"It's not so much as making fun of them," Mikasa began before she was interrupted by the bells clanging in the distance.
As they continued to toll, an excited smile spread on Eren's face. "The Survey Corps are back! Come on!"
At that, he grabbed the ravenette's wrist and pulled her in the direction of the front gates. When they came over, there was already a sizable crowd on either side of the streets, blocking their view.
"Can't see a thing-!" Eren growled before he spotted a few crates.
He quickly climbed on the higher stack while Mikasa climbed on the slightly smaller stack and got a clear view.
The soldiers with the emerald green cloaks came back into the safety of the walls. Many of them held neutral or slightly relieved expressions as they came in. By nearly every one of their sides was a Pokemon. Some resembled birds, others lean and powerful fighters. Some of them were in the carts with wounds, human and Pokemon alike. Whispers rang out.
"How long has it been since they left?"
"It's been over a month, I think."
"It's incredible that they go out for so long."
"I wonder if they've covered any more ground..."
"They don't seem to have lost any this time."
"Moses!"
An elderly woman with a magenta shawl hobbled over to the Corps, eyes searching over the soldiers before the procession stopped.
"My son, where is he?" she asked again, her voice rising higher.
Just then, a hand waved over where the wagon was. The woman's eyes widened and a relieved smile came on her face as she went over to where this Moses was. His dirty blond hair was slightly unkempt and his face was very pale.
"Are you all right, dear?" she asked tearfully.
"I'm fine, really mom," Moses said gently, "though can you keep it down? It's a bit embarrassing."
His mother was about to smile when she saw the bloodied stump that was what was left of Moses's left arm. She gave a sharp gasp before the old woman began to shake in horror. Moses gently touched her face, wiping a few stray tears away.
"It's all right," he said. "It doesn't even hurt anymore. Really. It's fine."
"But- your arm-!"
Moses shook his head as he smiled. "I'm alive, aren't I? 'They' couldn't even kill me properly. That says a lot, wouldn't you agree?"
The old woman seemed to calm down a bit but she still looked rather perturbed before she asked, "Where is she? You had Sena with you when you left, right?"
That was when the smile dropped from Moses's face and his head bowed. On his lap, was the bloodied emerald green bandanna of the Pidgeotto who was once his partner.
"She saved my life," Moses stated, a saddened but determined expression on his face. "Sena made sure I made it back to my comrades alive with what little life she had left in her. Sena died... so that I could live. And I'll be damned if I let her sacrifice be in vain. I'll keep living and I'll keep fighting however I have to, so that I can see the day where the titans are wiped off the face of the earth!"
His voice shook as he got out, "I owe her that much."
Eren's eyes widened at his words. Even with his arm gone, in face of those monsters and the death of his Pokemon partner, he wanted to keep fighting. It was because of people like him that the Survey Corps were so strong. As they went back on their way, the crowd began to disperse, the people talking again.
"Even if they do make it back, there's no guarantee they'll live next time..."
"They could have all had a peaceful life inside the walls but they still keep going."
"Is it bravery or stupidity, though?"
"It doesn't benefit us; even though they say they've captured territory, we still can't go out."
"That's only because the king won't allow it."
"Then what's the point of the Survey Corps in the first place?!"
"Still, that one guy put up such a fuss, and over an animal no less..."
The last reply, along with the other disparaging dialogue, made Eren angry enough to smack the last man upside the head with one of the stouter sticks he had collected. Mikasa grabbed him by the back of his shirt and dragged him away before the man had a chance to see who did it, Eren protesting the entire way.
"Dammit- All right, Mikasa, let go of me!" he snapped before she threw him against the wall of the wall of the ally they were by, knocking the firewood out of the makeshift carrier.
"What's the big idea?!" Eren groused. "Now the firewood's everywhere and-"
"Eren," Mikasa interrupted sternly, "you still haven't changed your mind, have you?"
The two stared at each other, both refusing to budge before Eren grimaced as he said, "Help me pick these up, will you?"
The sun blazed high in the sky overlooking a forest, and on the edge, was one of the many outposts humanity had managed to erect outside of the walls, the second to most recent to be built.
A wall of stone around thirty meters high surrounded multiple buildings, including a compound, a stable for horses, some barracks for humans and Pokemon alike and a headquarters, reaching around the size of a very small town. Near the center of the fort was a tall tower reaching far above the wall to look out beyond.
A soldier with black hair and eyes was looking out from the top with a white bird Pokemon with dark grey and black feathers that looked surprisingly intimidating.
"This is getting strange," the soldier said softly. "The next outpost should have checked in by now I know that it's the most recent, but they should know this by now."
The Staravia clicked it's beak softly as the soldier looked back at it.
"I hope that's all that's keeping them, Adrian," he said, frowning worriedly.
Just then, he heard an almost frantic flapping. The soldier looked up, only to be nearly bombarded by another bird-like pokemon with soft grey feathers, a black tuft of feathers on it's head, pink legs and a yellow beak and eyes.
Immediately, the soldier knew something was wrong; the Tranquill's body was covered in bruises, it's uniform shawl ripped and it keep squawking frantically instead of it's normally calmer responses.
"Hey come on, Sonia; calm down a little!" the soldier said, gently running a hand over it's singed feathers until the bird Pokemon began to calm down. "Now tell me what's going on."
Sonia took in deep breathes before she clacked her beak and the soldier's eyes widened in shock. "Y-you're not serious, are you?"
She screeched angrily at that, making sure that the message got across to the soldier. The soldier felt deep terror grind into him before he quickly rang the bell on the top of the tower as hard as he could before turning back to the Staravia.
"Get the message over to Wall Maria; fly with your life!" he told him sternly.
Adrian grimaced before he nodded and flew away from the base at top speed towards the walls that housed the rest of humanity. As the Staravia flew further out of sight, the the soldier felt the ground around them shudder and then something smashed into the fort walls, making cracks appear from the inside.
"N-no way-!" the soldier rasped in shock. "Don't tell me 'it's' already here!"
However, his plea went unnoticed.
When they returned home, the sun had crossed over the sky a good distance. When Eren and Mikasa got near the door, they heard a soft giggling behind it. As Eren opened it up, he saw a little creature with a triangle-like body with a yellow triangular-like cloak, black underbody and blue eyes with a big grin, showing all of her teeth. Around her waist was a black collar with a grey lining.
"Hey Tanya," Eren said, smiling at the Snorunt as she let out another giggle before going over to Mikasa like a puppy.
Even his stoic companion couldn't keep the smile off her face as she greeted Tanya as well. "Hello."
Eren's father, Grisha Jaeger, was seated at the table in the kitchen going over some notes. He glanced over at the children with a warm expression. "Welcome back."
By his side, was a dark grey-blue creature with four legs, white fur over most it's body, three claws on each foot and elbow, a scythe-like tail, a sickle-like horn near it's feline-like face, red eyes and an oval stone on it's forehead where white fur covered the top as well. A collar similar to Tanya's was around it's neck.
Eren's mother, Carla Jaeger, glanced up from where she was going dishes. "You're late, children," she remarked.
"Um, it's a long story," Eren said nervously as he sat down after he put his firewood into the crates before the Absol came over to him.
"Hi Bec," he greeted him, gently rubbing a hand over the white fur, the Absol smiling gently in return.
Carla went to check on the firewood brought in. "You two got quite a bit this time around, huh?"
Eren blushed slightly while he tried to ignore her by trying to see what his father was writing. However, he then felt a sudden tug on his ear and he recoiled from his mother.
"Your ears are red," she said, smiling slightly. "Mikasa helped you a lot today, didn't she?"
The brunet scowled lightly at the half-teasing, half-smug tone his mother took with him that melted about a minute later before he helped set the table for supper. Carla set up a few more chairs by Grisha while Mikasa put down the food-filled plates and water-filled glasses in front of each, sans the last which she simply set down a large bowl of water. Becquerel jumped onto the chair directly by Grisha and Eren set Tanya on the next.
The six of them began to eat quietly, the only sounds being that of chewing and the clinking of utensils. Tanya let out a low exhale over the water and within seconds, turned it to ice. Eren took his knife and helped Tanya cut up part of the ice so she could consume it properly.
"Hey dad, what are you working on?" the brunet asked as he finished a mouthful, trying to look over his father's shoulder while trying not to jab Becquerel.
"Just getting my things organized," Grisha replied.
"You're going away again?"
"Yep. I'm going into town for some experimentations."
Becquerel and Tanya's previously calm and cheerful attitudes dropped rather quickly as the former grimaced and the latter made a low, sad sound.
"... Eren said... he wanted to join the Survey Corps..." Mikasa said in a low tone, almost a whisper, but loud enough for Grisha, Carla and both Pokemon to hear.
"Mikasa, what the hell?!" Eren exclaimed indignantly, angry that she told them.
Becquerel immediately averted his eyes back to his food while Tanya suddenly became quite absorbed in freezing over her second bowl of water.
"Eren, what are you thinking?!" Carla exclaimed as she went up to him, incredulous worry evident. "Do you have any idea how many die in the Corps outside the walls?!"
"Of course I do!"
"Eren."
Grisha looked at his son from where he sat, a serious look on his face as he asked, "Why do you want to go outside the walls?"
"I want... I want to see the outside world," the brunet said. "I don't want to live my whole life inside the walls like an animal waiting to be slaughtered! And especially because..."
At this, resolute determination crossed Eren's face as he said, "If no one picks off where the Survey Corps left off, then that means everyone who laid down their lives, both humans and Pokemon, would have died in vain!"
"You say Pokemon as well, but why?" Grisha asked, "Aren't they nothing more than animals?"
"Wha-?! Dad, you know that's not true!" Eren exclaimed in disbelief. "You're the one who said that they're as self-aware as, if not more than, humans! Bec and Tanya are proof enough of that! Not to mention that they've been humanity's allies for so long already; it's thanks to them that we were able to take back territory from 'them'!"
Grisha gave a slight nod at that, his glasses becoming opaque from the light for a brief moment before he got up from the table.
"The ship will be here soon; I'll be on my way," he said, gathering his items.
"Wait a minute!" Carla protested. "Grisha please, talk to him-"
"Carla," the bespectacled doctor said gently," humanity's curiosity cannot be contained forever."
Dad...!
A moment later, Grisha gently unhooked a leather string around his neck which held a bronze key. "When I get back, there's a room in the basement that I've kept secret for many years; not even Becquerel or Tanya have seen it. When I get back, I'll show you it."
"Se-seriously?!" Eren exclaimed excitedly.
Grisha nodded, smiling slightly at his son's excitement. However, it faded as he saw Tanya scramble off the chair she was on and Becquerel jump off onto the floor before both went over to him, their expressions pained and saddened.
The doctor knelt down in front of them both, setting a hand each on Tanya's head and Becquerel's shoulder. "I told you both this before; I must go alone this time. I'm counting on the two of you to help look after this family."
Eren and Mikasa were both surprised at this; the two Pokemon accompanied Grisha on an almost 24-hour mark, so why did Grisha want them to stay now?
Tanya looked ready to cry and Becquerel looked like he would follow suit at any moment. Grisha's composure broke for a moment when he threw his arms around them both, hugging them tightly.
The Snorunt really did start weeping and the Absol's expression shook as he tried to maintain himself before he nuzzled Grisha's face. The bespectacled tore himself away, composed once more before he waved good-bye and walked away.
"Eren."
The brunet looked back at his mother. "Yeah?"
"I won't allow it," she said in a stern tone. "Only a fool would join the Survey Corps."
"Well as far as I'm concerned, "Eren retorted angrily, "is that those who would rather stay inside these walls as nothing more than cattle are ten times more foolish!"
At that, he ran off from the house. "Eren...!"
Mikasa grimaced as she looked between Carla and Eren, conflicted. Carla seemed to notice as she knelt down in front of the ravenette and gripped her shoulders.
"Mikasa, you know as well as I do how Eren has a knack for getting in trouble," she said, "that's why I'm counting on you to help him."
The little girl nodded determinedly before she sped off after him. Carla gave a sigh before rubbing her temple.
My family is just so determined to fly off into the horizon, she thought before her eyes closed briefly, not even knowing what will await them.
She looked down at where Tanya and Becquerel were. The little Snorunt was still crying and the Absol was trying to comfort her. Carla didn't know if she felt jealous of the strong bond between the two Pokemon and her husband, but when she saw how sad they were for his departure, the feeling vanished. She went over and knelt down beside the two.
"It seems we've all been left behind," she said, smiling sadly. "Would you two mind keeping an old woman company?"
Tanya seemed to perk up and even giggle and Becquerel smiled softly and nuzzled her hand.
Hannes gave a long yawn.
The day was finally nearing the end and then he'd be able to return home to his family in just an hour or two. The sun felt warm on his back from where he was seated on the walls. The orange light spread out over the walls and the outside area.
The blond man had to admit, it was pretty beautiful.
Hannes felt a slight nudging at his leg and glanced down at Theo, who held two small cup of water and handed one out to him. The blond man smiled as he took it.
"Ah, you know me so well, Theo," he said as he drank it down, the Watchog following his example.
"Hey Hannes!" Hugo called out over to him. "We're heading down to pack up soon!"
"Got it!" the blond man called back.
Hannes turned to go to the makeshift elevator before Theo suddenly perked up and shot over to the edge of the wall, eyes focused and tail held high in alert. Hannes quickly went over to his side.
"What do you see?" he asked in a low voice.
Theo said nothing but kept looking. Eventually, Hannes heard a faint flapping. He squinted to see the source before he was able to make out a bird Pokemon flying at high speed over to them. The two quickly got out of the Pokemon's way before it landed down in a flop on top of the walls, panting with exhaustion.
Hannes recognized the shawl and emblem the Pokemon wore and he quickly went to it's side. On the back of the tan cloth, was the same upside down pentagon that housed each military symbol, with the symbol of an orange tower that was similar to that of a rook chess piece.
"What news do you have?" Hannes asked.
The Staravia clacked it's beak breathlessly. The blond man's blood froze and Theo gave a low, angry growl. At that, he scooped up the Staravia and ran over to the elevator as fast as he could, Theo right behind him.
"Hannes...?" Hugo said, looking a little surprised at the blond's serious expression.
"Bring it down as fast as possible!" Hannes barked. "This is from the Outpost Guard!"
Armin Arlet winced as he was roughly pressed against the alley wall, the three boys who were tormenting him sneering at his obvious discomfort.
"What's the matter, heretic?" the boy who gripped his shirt collar taunted. "If you don't wanna get hurt, why don't you fight back?"
"Like hell! I refuse to stoop to you guy's level!" Armin retorted.
"What was that?!"
"You heard me!"
Even with tears in his eyes, Armin got out, "You guys... you know I'm telling the truth; that's why all you can do is hit me without actually giving a straight answer! Y-you're just conceding my point, even right now!"
"Shut your mouth, you little-!" the bully growled.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU BASTARDS ARE DOING?!"
At that moment, Eren came sprinting at the boys, burning anger on his face.
"Ha! Looks like little Eren's out for blood this time!" the bullies laughed as they faced him, knowing that an easy victory was right in front of them-
Just then, Mikasa came into view from behind Eren, the flattest, most dead-panned glare on her face as she stared ahead at the three boys, daring them to engage Eren.
"Shit, he's got Mikasa with him; we're screwed!" they all but shrieked and seconds later, they had cleared out of the ally.
Eren stopped at Armin, panting from the running and grinning. "Did you see that?! I don't even have to fight them, they all ran away at the mere sight of me..."
"Actually, it was Mikasa they were running from..." Armin said softly from where he was on the ground before he winced.
"Hey, are you okay, Armin?" the brunet asked worriedly, holding his hand out.
Armin was about to grasp it but saw his friend's expression and grimaced.
"I-I can stand on my own," he got out as he got back on his feet.
"Oh. Okay..."
With that, the three friends went over to the waterways. It was a tranquil place to talk; perhaps it was the water, perhaps it was the air, perhaps it was because more Pokemon seemed to be by that area, but the three enjoyed being there.
As they sat on the grass before it, Eren noticed a slight movement by the water. A moment later, one of the many Rattata he saw on a daily basis scamper by the bank. However, unlike the normal purple coat and red eyes that the rat-like creatures had, this one was colored a pale yellow-brown with light indigo eyes. It looked at them cautiously before it finally approached Armin.
"Hi," the blond boy greeted the Rattata before he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small crushed biscuit. "This is all I could get this time and it's a little smashed but..."
The Rattata didn't mind as it sniffed at Armin's hand before it nibbled the food, careful not to bite the blond's hand.
"You know, there's nothing stopping you from taking care of her at your own home, you know," Eren remarked. "Even if it's not official."
Armin shook his head. "Rillo would only be seen as a pest and chased away. Besides, we all know what would happen if anyone found out I had a Pokemon without a license."
Rillo finished the biscuit before she gently nuzzled Armin's hand. The blond boy smiled softly before he gently petted her head and back, making Rillo sigh gently.
"So... why did they start beating you up?" Mikasa asked.
"I had told them that humanity had to go outside the walls eventually, and that's when they hit me and called me a heretic," Armin explained.
"I don't get it; how the hell do you get looked down on for saying such things?" Eren wondered.
"It's because we've spent a hundred years behind these walls and life has always been peaceful," Armin explained. "Even though the Survey Corps actually managed to capture territory from 'them' and the Outpost Guard has been able to protect it, no one wants to go out because they're wary of doing anything to invite 'them' in. Even the king declared that outside of the highest military affairs, manifesting interest outside of the walls is taboo."
"Then the king's a coward, end of story," Eren snorted.
"You're right about that much, but is that all there is? I mean, what if the reason that we can't go outside is that the Survey Corps actually haven't made that much progress?"
"Don't say something like that!" Eren snapped angrily at his friend, "Why would they lie about something so serious?! Besides, the Survey Corps can be gone for weeks at a time, and the Outpost Guard is almost always outside the walls anyways! They can't keep away from 'them' for months at a time, even with Pokemon."
"Good point..." Armin conceded.
"Besides, it's our own lives we risk, so it's our business," the brunet said shortly.
"I don't think so; just forget it," Mikasa said. "It's not happening."
"Eh?"
"Oh right; Mikasa, just what made you tell mom and dad?!" Eren snapped at her, angry all over again.
"I don't remember ever agreeing to cooperate with you."
"So how did your parents take the news?" Armin asked.
"Well, it wasn't exactly all cheers and applause..."
"I can imagine that..."
"Oh come on, Armin!" Eren protested. "Don't tell me you're gonna start preaching to the choir to me too!"
"It's still really dangerous, but I see where you're coming from, I really do," Armin said. "But we have to look at it from those who want to protect us from anything outside the wall's point of view, the ones who truly believe that staying inside these walls will protect us forever."
"The wall may not have broken in a hundred years, but there's no guarantee it'll stay that way. The walls could break any day, even today."
"And you have to remember as well," Armin added as he gently scratched Rillo behind her ears, "the only reason humanity has been able to fight so well against 'them', that we've been able to take back territory; we owe it to the creatures called Pokemon. If we weren't allied with them, then there's no telling what kind of setbacks we might have."
This brought on a somber silence to the group.
Carla looked out from the porch.
The sun was slowly setting, bleeding butter yellow, soft orange and hot pink against the sky. The air was beginning to cool down as a soft breeze fluttered through. Tanya was fast asleep in her lap and Becquerel's head laid on it as well, red eyes drooping lazily.
The tranquility of the space made Carla smile softly.
Perhaps one day he'll understand, she thought, her eyes sliding closed, why there are people who would choose this life and why they would never trade it for anything in the world.
Just then, the bells began to clang harshly from the distance. Tanya stirred in Carla's arms and Becquerel raised his head in inquiry. Carla recognized the warning bells but didn't understand why they were being sounded.
Eren, Mikasa and Armin looked up with the other people around as the bells tolled out loudly.
"Why are the bells being sounded?" Armin wondered, "The Survey Corps are already inside and there doesn't seem to be a fire anywhere..."
Mikasa said nothing, but frowned softly before shuffling closer to Eren's side.
Just then, the sky lit up with white light, like a lightning strike before the air was filled with a deafening crash.
Tanya gave a startled yelp and Becquerel shot right on his feet and in front of Carla as she stood up with the Snorunt in her arms.
"What was that...? Was there an accident with one of the cannons?" Carla wondered, looking over to the walls where the noise came from, the bells still clanging.
Smoke billowed out from the walls in a rather large amount. However, Carla realized with a jolt it wasn't coming from the walls, but behind them. Then, a giant hand grasped the wall, the stone crumbling beneath the digits.
"N-no. It's not possible-!" the woman gasped in horror. "The wall- and the Outpost Guard-"
But it was possible and the next moment, a giant face came up. Much of the outer skin was missing, revealing the muscles beneath, it's mouth and teeth stretching out against it's face, bites of remaining skin forming a slight expression over the teeth. It's black beady eyes looked down on the city as if it and the inhabitants were nothing more than dust.
"A-a titan-!"
A feral expression crossed Becquerel's face before he growled lowly, and Tanya looked angry as she jumped down from Carla's arms to join Becquerel. Just then, a rumbling came out and the titan seemed to pause before a giant crash ripped out and the gates to the wall were smashed away, rocks flying everywhere and sending a shockwave out, nearly knocking the three backwards.
Carla only had a moment to look up and her eyes widen as she saw a stone hurtle toward herself and the house before she felt something warm throw itself over her body and a shriek rang out.
Eren, Mikasa and Armin stared in shock from where they had run to see what was happening. Before them and the crowd, was a giant gaping hole from where the gates used to be, completely obliterated.
"The- the wall...!" Armin choked.
"It kicked a hole through the wall...?!" Mikasa whispered in shock.
It took a moment for it to sink into the crowd gathered there, before nothing short of mass hysteria broke loose. People screamed in fear as they ran away from the walls as fast as they could. The Garrison soldiers acted quickly as they began to herd people towards the gates, trying to keep order.
"Get out of here!" Armin shrieked. "Those bells are for the titans! We have to get out of here!"
However, as he yelled this out, Eren ran the other way at full speed.
"Eren?!"
"Th-the debris landed over where there are some houses!" Eren cried out as he shot away. "Mom! Bec! Tanya!"
Mikasa's eyes widened before she ran after Eren's retreating form. "Mikasa-!"
Armin's arm shook horribly as he reached out to his friend's backs before they disappeared through the crowd. Rillo looked up at him with wide and confused eyes as the shaking got worse.
"It's over...!" the blond boy choked. "If there's even one titan here, then that means that the Outpost Guard- they-!"
"The titans will invade this town any second!"
As the words came out of his mouth, Armin felt the ground shudder beneath him at that moment. It was only for a moment, but it was enough to put his legs on auto-pilot. Armin ran as fast as he could towards his home.
The people were beginning to panic now and screams of sheer terror rent the air. They began to shove and even punch others out of their way, desperate to get by while the Garrison and their assigned Pokemon tried to keep order. As Armin passed by a woman clutching a child to her, he was knocked out of the way by a sharp elbow, hitting the ground hard.
He felt a sharp tug on his jacket sleeve and saw Rillo frantically pulling on it with her teeth as if urging him to stand. The blond boy scrambled onto his feet and picked up the tiny rat Pokemon before he tucked her into the jacket and kept running. Tears started to fall from his eyes as he thought of his friends.
Mikasa, Eren-! Please, get out safely!
Eren ran through the streets as fast as his legs could carry him, muscles straining and breath running ragged. Garrison soldiers quickly ushered people over to the gates leading into Wall Maria's main section, the Pokemon doing their best to keep them calm.
I-it's not as if it fell on our house.
Some of the other people weren't so lucky, as the two children passed by a woman wailing in anguish over a boy with half his upper body crushed beneath a piece of stone.
When I turn the corner- our house'll be the same as it was when I left!
As Eren turned the final corner to his house, his eyes widened in dismay.
A giant stone had landed in the middle of the house, reducing his house to wreckage. A little further in and Eren saw a bruised Tanya beneath some wood, trying to get free. Eren frantically moved the bits of wood and stone off her and Tanya then all but hurtled herself at the rubble in front of the house, crying out frantically as she tried to remove the wood, but was too weak.
Eren and Mikasa shot over to her side and began pulling away the debris until Eren caught a glimpse of white fur. Further cleaning revealed Becquerel's limp form draped over Carla, a thin line of blood trickling down his head and across his face and muzzle.
A ragged gasp came from Eren's throat as he grabbed Becquerel and lifted him off his mother, who looked up through pain-glossed eyes from where she was pinned. He gently set the Absol on the ground where Tanya ran to his side, her breath shuddering out as ice-cold air wafted around the wounds, trying to soothe them. Carla's eyes opened fully and she looked up as Eren came back over to Mikasa.
"I-Is that you, children?" she murmured lowly, pain on her face.
"Mikasa, grab that pillar; we're going to move this out of the way!" the brunet said as he gripped the other part.
The two tried to lift the wooden pillar off their mother, but it refused to budge. Their backs ached and their hands became cut but Eren and Mikasa refused to stop. The brunet grimaced as he tried to lift it again, only to notice Mikasa had stopped. He glanced over at her, seeing the ravenette's black eyes wide and locked over by the other buildings. Two titans were in view, lumbering through the town, their footsteps making the ground shudder.
"Mikasa, hurry!" Eren yelled, redoubling his efforts.
"The titans- they're inside, aren't they?!" Carla asked, her voice shaking before she turned to Eren.
"Take Mikasa and the others with you, hurry!" she cried out, reaching out to the brunet with her good arm.
Eren looked at her mother, before throwing a quick glance over at Becquerel. He saw that his back right leg had a piece of wood jammed in it, the blood from his head staining the white fur on his head and spilling onto the ground.
"Eren, please-"
"We'll all get out of here together!" Eren snapped back stubbornly as he tried to lift the pillar on his mother again.
"My legs have been crushed beneath the rubble," Carla said with a despondent calm. "Even if you could get the pillar off me, there's no way I'd be able to run. You understand, don't you?"
Eren's eyes pricked with tears at his mother's words before he screamed, "I'll carry you myself then!"
"Why won't you listen to me?! Just this once!" Carla shouted back as tears fell down her face. "You can still save them both if you just listen to me! Mikasa-!"
Carla turned to the ravenette, only to find her hunched over, tears trickling down her face, eyes squeezed shut tightly.
"No... no..."
Suddenly, the thudding became more direct. The three looked up to see a titan look in their direction before it began lumbering over.
"Get out of here, now!"
"Mikasa, go help Bec and Tanya!" Eren snapped at Mikasa as he continued to try and get the pillar off while she ran to the two Pokemon.
"Come on, now," she whispered softly as she tried to list the Absol up as gently as she could so not to aggravate his injuries. The ruby red eyes of the Absol fluttered open as Becquerel gazed at Mikasa and Tanya. However, it's body was too heavy for Mikasa to carry and she nearly ended up dropping him.
No... Carla realized with utter terror, At this rate, it'll eat all three of us!
Just then, she saw a soldier shoot over to them. Carla recognized him as Hannes, as well as the Watchog Theo, as they shot by via 3D maneuvering gear and foot.
"Hannes!" Carla cried out to the blond man. "Take the four of them with you and escape! Please!"
"Have you no faith in my skills?" Hannes said back as he drew his swords out, "I'll kill that titan and then you'll be able to escape with them!"
"PLEASE HANNES!" Carla screamed frantically as she reached out to him, but Hannes was already running forward.
Do I save the children and Dr. Jaeger's partners, or risk everything to bring down that titan and save all five of them? Comply with Carla's request... or repay my debt to them?
He glanced over at Theo as he ran by. Amid the other bruises he had gotten during evacuation while trying to herd the people to safety, there was a pink scar on Theo's back that stood out like a sore thumb with the faintest signs of careful stitching around the skin.
The blond man gripped his blades tighter, determination flooding through him. However, the next moment, Hannes froze where he stood, a choked gasp in his throat.
It's arms were thin, it's ribs prominent against it's chest. It's head was cocked to the side, pale brown hair hanging loosely below it's ears, a giant mouth stretched out in a yellowed grin, it's pale brown eyes glazed and blank as it looked down on the two.
Hannes couldn't move, he couldn't breath, eyes wide and body frozen as he gazed up at the creature. He couldn't even get himself to run as it reached down toward him.
Theo shot up, swinging his tail at the hand, said appendage now grey and and plated. It smacked the hand back, the bones in the titan's hand breaking and even cutting part of one of it's fingers off.
Hannes snapped out of it as he looked back at Theo, who glared at the titan with nothing short of fury before he nearly collapsed where he stood. He ran back over to them as fast as he could make his body move, scooping up Eren and Mikasa both.
Carla smiled gratefully. "Thank you so much..."
Theo pulled Becquerel over his shoulder with Tanya following him close behind as the Watchog got by Hannes's side.
"Hannes, wait!" Eren cried, trying to get out of the man's grip from where he was nearly sitting on the man's shoulder. "Our mom- she's still!-"
But the blond man wouldn't turn around and Eren could only watch his mother get smaller and smaller as she reached out to them. "Eren! Mikasa! Live on!"
As she saw her children and the two Pokemon get further and further away from her, the thudding become sickeningly loud and the ground shuddered violently beneath her body.
The woman saw the days before go by; where she was able to be with her husband, her children, and the two Pokemon. Every action, however mundane, was flitting before her eyes.
Something inside Carla Jaeger broke. Her good hand came to her mouth, stifling her sobs and the scream that begged to be released from her throat.
"Please," she whimpered. "Please don't leave me..."
Eren could only watch now.
Watch as the titan pushed away the rubble of their ruined house.
Watch as the titan's hands closed around his mother's torso.
Watch as his mother tried to break free futilely.
Watch as the titan squeezed her in it's grip before she slumped backwards, twitching.
Watch as it opened it's foul mouth, teeth gleaming.
Watch as it's jaw snapped over his mother, snapping her body in two.
Watch as it swallowed her down, Carla Yaeger's blood staining it's chin and chest.
Watch as it continued to grin.
That day, humanity received a grim reminder:
They lived in fear of the titans, and were disgraced to live inside these cages called walls.
Nothing would change that fact.
...
No.
I believe that with these two races, as different as day and night, can change this.
I believe in the potential of humanity and Pokemon have when united.
I believe they can save this world and the ones who inhabit it.