Chapter 2: The Animal-Like Titan
Warmth.
'It's so warm...why?'
Sleep.
'It's so warm, and I'm so sleepy...'
Sleep.
'It wouldn't hurt if I slept here, will it? I don't think anyone would mind.'
Sleep.
Armin closed his eyes, he felt very warm and very comfortable. His body screamed at him that this place, what or where ever it was was a very dangerous place, but his brilliant mind convinced him it was safe and nothing bad will happen to him.
'Just a quick nap...'
"NAAAGGHHH!"
Armin was jolted out of his sleepy trance by a sudden scream that wasn't his own and what he saw made him wish he hadn't been 'awaken'.
Bodies!
Bodies everywhere, were floating around him. He trembled greatly as limbs without a body floated past and bumped him.
He felt itchy all over as his stomach churned at the strong smell of iron, and the putrid smell of rotting flesh, he gagged and clamped his hand over his mouth trying not to vomit.
He knew where he was, and he didn't want to be there "EREN! MIKASA! ANYONE!" he said frantically, his breathing quickens as his eyes widen "Please..." he said, his panicking only made him feel worse, he knew he was going to be sick if he kept freaking out.
Tears pricked at Armin's eyes at the sickening feeling of once again being completely useless. He hated himself more than ever right now. He let himself become Titan fodder and now his friends are suffering because he was to much of a coward to fight back!
"Th-This would have never happen to Mikasa, and the only reason why Eren was eaten that time w-was because of me! If I had never joined...if I...I'm such a coward! A scary-cat! Everyone has to save me! Me! Because I'm always seen with my tail between my legs! I'm such a useless waste of space!"
Armin's voice broke and tears rolled down his face and that's when it happen, a light, a soft yellow light appeared over him catching his attention. The light didn't scare him which surprised him, it hovered over him and then it dropped to his eye level.
Armin watched the light with tear filled eyes and the light floated up and rested on-top of his head filling him with a sense of peace.
Armin sniffled, the light, it seemed familiar some how "G-Grandpa?" he whispers softly and the light flutters and fades causing the tears that lingered in Armin's eyes to fall as the light helped him remember why he joined, why he is aiming for the Scouting Legion.
Why he keeps going and giving it his all despite his physical weakness, but despite how he often he wanted to give up, and didn't and he recalled pushing himself to the point of exhaustion (and illness) and because he couldn't stand back and watch others die the way his parents and Grandfather had.
He also recalled the time Eren and himself vowed to see the sand fields, the seas that never end, and to play in the salty waters!
Armin's gaze harden to one of sheer determination!
"I will help restore humanity from that wretched Titan race!" Armin said in a wobbly voice as he threw his fist into the air "I, Armin Arlert will no longer fall prey to those bigger than me! I will stand my ground and fight no matter how scared I am! I shall not wait for Eren or Mikasa to save me, I will be the one to rescue them! I shall no longer be a victim! I am a soldier! A scout in the Scouting Legion!" Armin proclaimed.
His eyes flashed anew light, one equal to the look that Eren had when he announced to kill all the Titans.
"A PROTECTOR OF HUMANITY!"
Meanwhile the storm that brewed up seconds after Armin's death only intensified.
The other Scouting members returned to the Scouting Legion Quarters to rest up and prepare for a day of collecting bodies and body parts.
The lounging room seemed completely different now, as everyone sat quietly, each had a look of pure loss on their faces.
"Armin...I, I can't believe it...I mean I know he was the weakest one but...I never thought." Conny said softly.
"Well at least he doesn't have to face the Titans anymore." Jean said trying to make it sound like he was sadden by the fact Armin had died instead of lucky to be dead.
"Yeah! And now he has the chance to eat all the food he could ever want to eat! Different foods from across the world that I-er I mean we have yet to taste!" added Sasha with a hungry look gleaming in her eyes.
But none of what the others said matter to Eren and Mikasa. Mikasa sat beside Eren, holding him close as Eren sat wide-eyed and dazed much like he did when he was at the mess hall after smashing his face against the ground in training.
"Armin's dead...h-how...!? Why Armin?" Eren stuttered as his eyes stung. He couldn't believe what he had heard, he was hoping so much that this was just a cruel prank and that Armin would pop out of hiding with a grin saying something to the effect of "Wow, I really got you guys good, eh?"
But none of that happened, Armin didn't jump out stating it was all a prank, and the boots with severed feet in them proved to be all to real for Eren to grasp.
"Those could be anyone's boots! I doubt Armin would allow himself to be eaten! He may be scared and defenseless at times but he knows when his own life is in danger to get the heck out of there!" spat Eren, Axel narrowed his eyes "You calling me and Mikasa a liar? We saw him die! We tried saving him! But the Corpse Titan was to fast!"
"I should've been there...I should've protected you!" Eren felt his throat tighten and he tried swallowing past the lump in his throat but failed.
"Tsk. Serves him right..."
Eren looked up anger, no rage, no, in fact there wasn't a word that was far stronger than any that ever existed was enough to describe pure hated that Eren was now feeling.
"What did you say!?"
"You heard me, that punk deserved it. One less mouth to feed, one less useless human to worry about."
Eren ran up and grabbed the newcomer by the cloak, their eyes locking. Green poured into black and yellow "Want to say that to my face!" Eren threatens "Arlert was a failure, being physically weak, its a surprise that the brat managed to successfully enrolled into the Scouting Legion. He was the worst at everything that required you to exert yourself physically, he couldn't even clean his quarters himself it was a surprise he could use the three-dimensional gear and successfully conquer it...then again, he did manage to get it on the first try, unlike you Jaeger..." mocked the newcomer.
Eren growled and attempted to punch the other, but they were faster, too fast. Eren was grabbed under the armpit and flipped onto his back with such force, he found himself gasping for air.
"Who is that?" whispered Conny, he was shaking at the force and speed the other had.
"That's Zaki. He's also a Corporal like Levi." Mikasa said in a soft tone. "He was a kid from the streets, he grew up with abusive parents and they threw him out of the house at a young age along with his sister. He joined the Legion after his kid sister was eaten by a Titan." she added.
Zaki slammed his foot onto Eren's back "It'll be real funny to find that pansy's body won't it. The likes of him and everyone else like Arlert gives this group a bad name, if we let more of his kind join this would become a Legion of Laughing stalks!" Eren tried getting back up but failed for his chest felt like it was on fire.
Zaki kicked Eren in the chest sending him skidding across the floor, Eren didn't make a move to get up this time.
"You losers better get ready for tomorrow, I'm sick of having to force you spineless noobs to leave your dorms because you don't want to find the body of someone you know." Zaki spat and slammed the door as he left.
"Th-That cold-hearted son of a-! He...he doesn't know anything!" Eren was now sobbing, he wasn't able to protect Armin again! He hated it! "Armin gave it his all! Sure he needed saving occasionally but it didn't bother me! He has no right to speak of Armin in such ways!" He sobbed and rubbed at his eyes in a childish manner as he curled into a ball on the floor.
Mikasa knelt beside her weeping friend and rubbed his back "There is nothing we can do about it now...but cherish the memories we have of him." Mikasa helped Eren stand up once they were both standing she sighed her tone not matching the broken expression on her face "Come on, we must rest for tomorrows clean up."
The clean up was like all the others, except this time neither Eren or Mikasa was looking forward to stumbling across the body of their childhood friend, for they both know they wouldn't be able to handle the situation.
"I wonder...I know I didn't ask this yesterday, but seeing all these bodies makes me wonder, how was Armin? What was he like in his last moments?" Eren said as he removed the Scouting Legion cloak from a fallen soldier.
"He..." Mikasa frowns debating on if she should tell the truth about his last moments, but the look on Eren's face she couldn't hurt him further, he'd beat himself up over it "He was amazing...he fought the Corpse Titan with all his might and strength...up till the point of his sudden death." She said deciding that lying was the best.
Eren nods, feeling slightly better and begins to move to another body when a shout catches his attention "Eren! Mikasa!"
Both turn and see Sasha running up holding a bundle in her arms, thinking it has to do with food Eren shakes his head "We're not in the mood to eatSasha...we have to get this done..." he mumbled.
Sasha skidded to a stop "Huh? It's not food. Here, Corporal Levi said you two should have this."
Eren was handed the bundle of leather with a single strand of twine, he stood up straight up and beside Mikasa, they stared at each other as Eren's hand hesitated over the twine which held the bundle close.
Eren swallowed as he braced himself for what was inside. With one quick tug the twine came loose, and Mikasa unrolled the bundle and what laid in Mikasa's and Eren's arms reopened the nowhere near healed wounds.
It was Armin's robe, it was still in perfect condition and still held his scent. Mikasa brought it close to her face and she couldn't help but feel helpless as she remembered his cries and pleas.
Eren felt his breathing quicken and he started to tremble, he looked up at Sasha, he was about to ask her where the cloak was found but shouts of terror echoed throughout the area.
"Its another Titan!"
"Kill it!"
Eren's eyes glowed with pure hate "They will pay! I will kill them, KILL THEM ALL!" Eren didn't hesitate to chomp down onto his hand, so he would become his Titan form.
'I will kill this blasted Titan! I will avenge Armin, my mother, and everyone else who died because of them!'
"AARRGGHHH!"
Sasha sweat-dropped and looked near fainting "Did...Did I just see that!?" She said breathlessly, Mikasa was unfazed, having seen it so many times.
'ALL OF THEM! ALL MUST DIE!'
Titan Eren roared and took off running at full speed, nothing stood a chance against Eren as he shoved his way through.
'WHERE IS IT?!'
"AGH! IT'S THE CORPSE TITAN!"
Eren snarled turning around only to come face to face with the beastly, ghastly creature. It's eyes were bulging and its mouth void of lips looked like it was smiling with its unnaturally white teeth.
The greenish black flesh hung loosely on it skeletal like frame as its bony rotting fingers clutched the wall where Mikasa and himself were stationed.
"NNAARRRGGGHHH!"
The Corpse Titan roared, its foul breath hitting Eren in the face causing him to shake his head. Eren roared back and both Titans collided, shoving one another and clawing at one another.
The Corpse Titan howled as it sank its teeth into Eren's neck, Eren roared grabbing at the walking dead Titan and tossed it to the ground followed by him slamming his foot into the creature.
The Corpse Titan hissed as it was crushed beneath Eren's weight. Eren grabbed the Titan by its throat and sank his teeth into the flimsy rotten flesh, crush bone as he bit down, and spraying black blood as he tore out the neck.
He delivered quick and fatal blows to the Titans head and stomach before grabbing it by the shoulders and threw it across the circular town.
Mikasa, and Sasha watched in horror as Eren was relentless to punishing the Corpse Titan, they could only watch as he stepped, ripped, bit, punched, and gouged at, on, or into the Titan.
"He's not letting up...that Titan has taken sever damage! Look at it, it can't even regenerate the parts Eren's attack blow off." Conny said to Jean.
"Hm...to be expected...but I didn't think he was going to lose it like this..." Jean added.
"OH NO, EREN!" Sasha screamed out.
Eren had slowed and his breathing became labored but it was just enough for the Corpse Titan to regenerate it's lost limbs and heal it's wounds. Once fully healed it made a move to grab at Eren and shove him backward onto the ground, Eren lands with a crash and before he could roll out of the way the other Titan was on him.
'D-Did it just heal itself!? What kind of Titan is this?!' Eren thought frantically.
Eren struggled beneath the rotting Titan, both roared and screamed at one another, the Corpse Titan reached and strained its neck to bite Eren, as Eren turned his head to avoid the attack.
The Corpse Titan reached forward a bit more and Eren closed his eyes but the second he did, he heard the smack of flesh, he heard the earth shattering boom of something very large hitting the ground and the cheers of his friends.
Eren opened his eyes and he saw before him, what looked to be an Abnormal for how it was on all fours, the size was quite small for a Titan, it looked about two or three meters tall. Its ears were long and pointed much like a elf would have. Its teeth were like all other Titans except for the canines, those were long and pointed. Its nose was animal like, yet unlike other Titans it seemed to have a tail of some sort, each foot and hand had long sharp nails almost like it had claws.
The new Titan growls and it crouches low and in front of Eren as if it's protecting him. Eren roared at the new Titan, but it simply stayed in the same position.
Eren growls but makes no move to fight the newcomer, for some odd reason this Titan reminded him of...of Armin and fighting it would be like hurting Armin...in some sick way.
'Why? Why do I feel like this Titan is an ally? Why? I shouldn't feel this way! Not after what these things did!'
But seeing this Titan, he couldn't help but second guess himself. All he could think about with this animal like Titan was Armin!
Maybe it was because it had shoulder length blonde hair or how it was defending him.
He didn't know.
The Animal-like Titan roared and watched the Corpse Titan, watching, waiting, for the moment it makes a move.
Eren shifted into sitting position, the movement caused the Corpse Titan to suddenly dash forward and leap over both Eren and the Animal-like Titan. The Animal-like Titan let out lion like roar before twisting around, leaping over Eren standing near him, its pink fleshy body stood long ways as if it was going to protect him.
The Corpse Titan lifted its large hand and brought it down with great force, the new Titan leaps up and grabbed the Corpse's hand biting down onto it and tugged backward causing the much larger Titan to fall.
The Animal-like Titan leaps into the air once more and landed much like a cat on top of the other, raking its large claws into its back.
"Look at that, another Titan like Eren and Annie. But this one is more like Eren since its only interested in killing that Corpse." Conny said as he approached Mikasa and Sasha "Funny thing is, that Titan is very much like a cat...or something."
"What do you mean?" Mikasa asked not taking her eyes off the Titan.
"He means its movements."
The threesome turned to see Axel and Cornelius approach "That Titan leaps the wall with ease and it did it like a cat would when leaping onto or over stuff. Its body structure is a give away too, it looks human but look at its legs and arms. The arms are longer than the legs and the legs have the curvature only seen in animals." Axel said his eyes scanning the beast.
The Animal-like Titan howled as it was thrown off its prey, it landed with a crash as it skidded across the brick road on its side. The Corpse Titan picked itself up off the ground as black tar like blood oozed from its wounds, it stood and staggered towards Eren, who was picking himself up off the ground.
Yet before the Corpse Titan could get anywhere closer the Animal-like Titan tackled it to the ground with a pounce, this time tearing into its throat devouring the rotting flesh, its massive clawed, paw-like hands crushing the rotting Titans skull as the beast Titan tore out its nape and mutilated its body, each massive paw crushing its limbs which were tore and ripped clean off while other limbs were half eaten.
All the while the others could only watch in horror at the massacre before them.
'W-Who is this!? A-And why are they so frightening?' thought Eren.
When the Animal-Titan finally killed the Corpse Titan (and by killing it we mean half eating) its body was dripping in the others blood, its long snout like mouth opened revealing a long pink pointed tongue lapping at its fangs.
Eren stood and took up a fighting stance, he couldn't trust this Titan, even if it did just save his life. This Titan, despite its animal look was very intelligent. Eren ran forward ready to strike but that moment the Titan decided to face Eren, what he saw slowed him down to a stand still.
Aside from its blonde hair, its eyes were a dazzling blue, much like Armin's own.
'This Titan...'
The Animal-like Titan suddenly yowled weakly as its eyed rolled into the back of its head as it crashed to the ground and smoke rose from its body.
Everyone watched as the smoke grew thicker and thicker, as it climbed higher and higher into the sky.
"Huh? Hey everybody look! The Titan, in the Titan! It's...it's..."
"ARMIN!" Mikasa cried out as she used her three-dimensional gear to make way to the timid boy faster.
She stopped near the body and watched as the blonde boy fell out of the nape of the Titan that formed on its own.
Eren, now back in his normal form ran up to Mikasa who was now cradling Armin.
"Wait, Armin was that Titan? The crazy Animal-like Titan who was tearing apart the Corpse Titan?" Conny said nervously, he didn't like the idea of how Armin, sweet, kind, and physically weak Armin was suddenly this crazy strong, nightmare of a Titan!
Eren dropped down to his knees and stroked Armin's face "Armin...that was Armin...He protected me...and he killed..." Eren said nervously as he looked up at the dead Corpse Titan.
"He looks different." Sasha said pointing to Armin's tiny frame.
Eren looked at him his eyes widening at what he saw, his eyes traced over Armin's body, his eyes stopping at the torn trousers 'That must be where his feet were torn off...' he thought.
'What happen to him? Is this what it was like when I emerged from the Titan?!' all these thoughts swarmed Eren's mind as he took Armin into his arms.
"He's burning up, he has a fever and it is really high, we need to get him back to the Headquarters!"
With that in mind everyone head back to the base with Armin in tote.
Little do they all know, that now with Armin back, their life in the walls will greatly change once again!
Another Chapter is done, so what drastic change did Armin under go that has Sasha freaking out? And how will the people feel knowing there is yet another Titan-shifter? Stay tuned to find out. *Oh and as you guys may already know Zaki, Axel, and Cornelius are my OC's.