Companions to the End Chapter 2

Mid-Summer, 850 – The day after the Graduation Party, outside the barracks

Annie wasn't looking forward to this. Not at all.

She was meeting up with Reiner and Bertholdt to discuss their plan to destroy the Wall surrounding the Trost district. They were planning to do the same thing there as they did in Shiganshina nearly five years ago.

And Annie wanted no part of it.

Back then, she did it because she was following orders, orders that would save her father and herself from public rejection and ridicule. But even back then, she only did it because she didn't know what else to do. She just followed orders and killed when they told her to kill. She didn't have any friends, and the only person she trusted was her father, a person who practically fashioned her into a weapon for his own use.

But now, now she had friends. She had people who she trusted, people who thought she was a good person, people who looked up to her. She had Eren, someone who admired her fighting skill and techniques, and who was always badgering her for lessons (not that she really minded, she just pretended to not give a damn). She had Mikasa, a pseudo-rival and someone who would relate to the struggles of being hounded by endless hormone driven teenage boys (they've had countless discussions on how annoying they are, the closest thing that either of them have had to girl time). And most importantly, she had Armin. Armin was such an odd individual to Annie, being cruel to outsiders yet overly friendly to the point of being almost child-like to friends. Annie was fascinated by him, and she wanted to figure him out. Afterall, what kind of person could look her in the eye and tell her they thought she was a 'good person' while genuinely meaning it. She had people she genuinely cared for and wanted to hang out with.

And now she had to plan how she was going to help get them killed.

Sighing in a depressed manner, she approached Reiner and Bertholdt in the, who seemed to have already started without her.

Again.

"Glad to see you were patient enough to wait for me before starting. I mean, it's not as if I'm a big part of whatever it is you're planning. We're only terrorists to these people." Annie shouted out, not caring that this was supposed to be a secret meeting.

Jumping up from where they were sitting, Reiner whisper-shouted, "Keep your voice down! We don't want to get caught, do we?"

Rolling her eyes at Reiner, she sat down on a log near their predetermined meeting spot. They had decided on this spot years ago when they first became cadets, so they could discuss their plans for destroying the Eldians. But while it was once a place where they could escape and be themselves, to Annie, it was nothing more than a reminder that she was a murderer.

Looking up at Reiner, she decided to figure out what she missed. "So, what's on the agenda? More mass genocide or the fact that you managed to bang that red-head at the bar?"

Sensing the hostility in Annie's words, Reiner decided to not let them affect him, less he provoke her. His neck still hurt after the last time he did that. "We've decided that we're going to attack Trost. Same plan as Shiganshina, break the outer wall, let the Mindless Titans run amok, destroy the gate, slip in through all the chaos, and then infiltrate their government from within. Only difference is, that this time we won't have to wait three years to get anywhere. We'll already be a part of the Military Police."

Bertholdt seemed to nod along to this, agreeing with this plan to kill thousands. Annie snorted in disgust. "How can you say that so casually? I still have nightmares from my involvement from last time, and now that we have to do it again, you're perfectly fine with it? How?"

Reiner palmed his head as he seemed annoyed by Annie's comment. "We're doing what's necessary Annie, you know what's expected from us. We do this, secure the Founding Titan, then we go home. That was the mission. That's what we have to do. No questions asked."

Annie stood up in anger, glaring heavily at Reiner. "You make it sound like we're nothing more than tools. We may be Titan Shifters, but we're still human dammit. We can't be expected to kill countless thousands and then be ok later on. It's not right!"

It was then that Bertholdt, for the first time since Annie arrived, decided to speak up. "Does that mean you're out?"

This silenced both Annie and Reiner, as shock began to take hold. Neither had considered this as an outcome, so this new information shook them to their cores. But for very different reasons.

For Reiner, it was a threat. Annie's Titan was not the strongest by any means. In fact, looking at it logically, she was the weakest, lacking the armour or the size to be truly dangerous like his and Bertholdt's Tians. But she was the most skilled, being able to best their Titans with pure skill, making her a huge danger if she were to try and leave.

For Annie, it was an escape. It was a way to try and be free from the killing. While she could never repent for what has already occurred, she could say no to doing anything more. She could try and live a normal life, maybe even with Armin.

Despite slightly blushing at that last thought, Annie's eyes seemed to focus with determination. She would be a puppet for a government that didn't care no more. She would be free dammit.

"Yeah, actually. I'm out."

As Annie tried to turn away, Reiner grabbed her arm, forcing her to turn back to him.

"Don't try and walk away from this. You know what we're going to do, and if you try and stop us, we will kill you."

In response, Annie flicked her hand, causing the spike in her ring to jut out. Staring Reiner clean in his eyes, Annie growled out, "I am not afraid of you, or your Titan. We both know you're only here because of Marcel. You were never meant to get that Titan, and I'm much more dangerous than you."

Not wanting to risk a Titan confrontation so close to a military position, Reiner let go, deciding to back off. Convinced that he wasn't going to try anything, Annie lowered her arm, allowing the spike on her ring to slip back into place.

"You don't have to worry about me getting in your way. I'll be looking out for myself more than anything. When you attack Trost, I'll be making sure my friends survive, and when we get to Wall Rose, I'll be starting my new life with them. You won't have to worry about me. Just get the Founding Titan and leave."

And with that, Annie turned from the duo, making her way back to the other Cadets, who were preparing for the long trip to Trost.

As she left, Reiner sat down next to Bertholdt and put his head in his hands. Bertholdt began to pat his back, knowing that he was stressed out and trying to avoid him slipping personas again.

"It's ok Reiner, we can do this. This isn't the end of the mission. You heard her, she isn't going to stop us. We'll destroy Trost, get the Founding Titan, and go home. Right?" Bertholdt soothed.

With this, Reiner looked up again, seemingly much calmer after taking a minute to breathe. "Right. We'll kill every Eldian who tries to stop us. Starting with Trost."


Mid-Summer, 850 – 2 days after the Graduation Party

Eren began to stretch his arms as he exited the carriage. The cadets of the 104th just spent the last two days travelling from the Training Facility they called home for the last three years to Trost, where they'd be positioned for about a week before they decided on which Regiment they wanted to join.

Not that there was any doubt in Eren's mind of what Regiment he was going to join, with the Scouting Regiment calling him ever since he knew what they were. The idea of travelling beyond the walls was too appealing to him.

Mikasa was just getting out of the carriage now, relishing the chance to stretch her legs. That, and she was looking forward to spending some time in Trost.

Trost was very much like Shiganshina, just much cleaner and with bigger buildings. While still somewhat alien to her, it was much more similar to her than the Training Facility was. She was going to enjoy very much being here for a few days.

"Hey Mikasa, over here!"

Oh, never mind. Jean's here.

Turning to look him in the eyes as he ran towards her, Mikasa deadpanned "What do you want Jean?"

Jean took a moment to reply, taking a moment to catch his breath before responding. "I was just wondering if you wanted to catch a drink sometime. I've heard they do some really nice home-made cider round these parts."

Sighing at the desperate attempt to earn her affection, she turned away from him. "Not interested Jean."

Angry at how she had dismissed him so casually, yet again, Jean decided to step after her. "Hey, I wasn't done talking to you."

But as soon as he went to follow her, he found his path blocked by Eren, who looked pissed. Which wasn't exactly new.

"Back off Jean, she said she's not interested." Eren barked, fists already clenched as he prepared for a fight.

"I'm not interested in you, freak. I'm speaking to Mikasa." Jean retorted, also getting ready for a fight.

As Mikasa turned around to stop Eren from throwing a punch, a loud *CRACK!* sounded out, accompanied by a bright flash just outside the walls. Everyone stopped what they were doing as they turned to where the flash had just appeared from. Everyone had their breaths held as they looked to see what the cause of the flash was. But no-one was as afraid as the Shiganshina trio, who have seen this flash before.

"Oh no. Not again" Eren slowly muttered.

At this sight that she has unfortunately seen before, Mikasa was nearly brought to tears. She remembers what happened the last time this happened. She couldn't let it happen again. Not to Eren.

Armin, who had been waking up from a nap, was now fully on edge. 'There's no way. It can't be here.'

Annie, who had been eating her breakfast, was in complete shock. 'They didn't wait at all. The pair of idiots!'

Eren, now focusing completely on the wall, was grinding his teeth together, rage boiling through his veins. It was back.

The Colossal Titan.

"We meet again at last, you bastard. I finally get my chance to kill you, once, AND FOR ALL!"

And with that, the gate exploded as the Colossal Titan kicked it in, beginning the Defence of Trost.