A/N
Another chapter for you all. Just five more and we'll be all caught up here. Again, reviews are greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading!
Summary: The Scouts arrive and put their years of planning into action. Eren finds himself trapped and at the Scouting Regiment's mercy.
The windows shattered as Mikasa, Connie, and Armin crashed through them and onto the tower floor, shocking and startling everyone that had taken refugee there.
Jean nearly jumped out of his skin when the three arrived. He was happy to see them alive, let alone unharmed, but was even more so with Mikasa. Rumor had it that she had been killed by a titan, and the news devastated him. He figured it was because she was saving Eren, which made him steam and plan to attack the idiot if he ever saw his face again. But as most rumors are, it wasn't true.
"Mikasa?" he called out in shock. "You guys are okay?" She looked over at him in question to her name being called. "I thought…" He faded off in his statement, too embarrassed to continue.
Something was still wrong, though; he could sense it. Looking around, he didn't see any sign of the immortal maniac; and him being nowhere near Mikasa was as unnatural as a cadet going up against a titan without his/her gear.
"Of course we're alright!" Connie cheered with a big smile. "Couldn't have gotten here without our newest friend! Lookie out there, that big hunk of beauty is our ticket to win!" Connie said whilst pointing his finger at the gaping hole in the far wall. Two titans had slammed their faces into the side of the tower because of the scent of human flesh dwelling within. Too many people had camped there and that was the result of the action, even if the action itself was reasonably harmless. Then something happened Jean never thought possible. In the midst of his hopelessness the titans had been smacked away…
By another titan.
The teen was speechless when the large fifteen meter had charged in, and from the look of every other cadet, including Annie, Reiner, and Bertolt—who seemed to be more overwhelmed than dumbfounded—they all thought the same thing too.
What was this world coming to? Were they really that hopeless?
"A titan? You want to use a titan to defeat other titans?" He said slowly because he still couldn't believe what they were planning.
"He's not a titan." Mikasa said as she stood, "At least not like others. He doesn't go after people, just fights his own kind." It felt like poison to say Eren and titans were one of the same. There couldn't have been a more wrong statement, but she had to say it in order for them to remain oblivious.
"What?"
"Really?"
"A titan fighting other titans?" The murmurs went through the crowd of surviving and petrified cadets.
"We can use him, train him to fight alongside us." She spoke loudly over the crowd. Though there needn't be much training, she still spoke truthfully. More practice for Eren was better for them all. "Armin has a plan and that titan is executing it as we speak."
"Yeah, Armin, tell them!" Connie motivated with a punch in the blonde's arm. Armin grunted from the sudden pain and rubbed his arm.
"Uh, yeah I do. We led the fifteen meter here so he could take care of all the titans surrounding this building. While he's distracting all the others outside, we'll be able to deal with the ones down below."
Marco looked impressed, "You mean you have a plan for that too?"
"Yeah," Armin stood and walked over to him, "I figured the Military Police had to have some kind of weapons stashed here, so maybe we could use them."
"Hey!" One of the cadets shouted out as she and another carried a crate full of guns out into the crowd. "Look what we found in one of the rooms!"
"Perfect!" Marco applauded, "Armin you're a genius!"
"Uh heh, it's nothing, really." Armin replied in slight embarrassment.
"Alright, let's get those loaded—" Jean didn't bother to listen to the rest of what Marco and Armin had planned for his mind was at the hole. Though he couldn't see what was out there, he could definitely hear the fighting; more importantly, he could here that rogue fifteen meter.
Mikasa was walking pass him when he whispered something that made her stop.
"Where's Eren?"
She looked at him from the side before glancing away, "He's busy."
"Doing what, exactly?" He asked another, his eyes staring at the gaping hole while his mind put the puzzle pieces together.
"Does it matter?" she responded with a calm voice.
"No, apparently it doesn't." He said, allowing her to leave. "Makes sense now." He whispered to himself before turning to join with the others.
Eren's third eyelids blinked before he turned and caught the fist of his fourteen meter attacker. The titan screeched while Eren pulled it forward and twisted around to throw the monster into the side of the buildings.
He couldn't help but smile underneath it all. Fighting was so much easier now with his new titan form. He was bigger, faster, stronger, eye sight was spot on, and to top it off, the world didn't seem surreal. Often times when he was younger, his world as a titan felt like a dream—a livid dream, but a dream nonetheless. He'd find himself loosing focus or blacking out; he'd feel tired or weak. It was why he choose to shift more so that he wouldn't feel that way anymore. But now, he didn't feel it at all and he loved it. Now he was a force to be reckoned with and the titans didn't stand a chance!
Two smaller ones ran up to him; their height and speed making them look like children in Titan Eren's eyes. He simply kicked them away as he did before, gearing up for another brawl against a larger one. So far he slaughtered twenty titans total. His soon-to-be-number-twenty-one was backed into a wall as Titan Eren slammed his right fist into its chest. The titan managed to grab a hold of his other arm, but Eren rotated his arm within the grasp, twirled around, and threw the thing onto the ground. Another fourteen meter rushed at him and Eren grabbed its face with one hand and sent the thing down into the ground as the other. He was about to finish the two off when something tackled him from behind.
He screeched in pain as nails dug into the flesh at his nape. His hand swung up in a frantic to grab the titan on his back, but the thing was squirming. He managed a grip, finally, and pulled it off by throwing it over his head. One hand covered his steaming nape as he hissed angrily at the thirteen meter abnormal.
It was down on all fours, limbs obviously bent the wrong way for it to move correctly in such a position. It hissed back at him before launching at his midsection. The force of the blow pushed Titan Eren back up against a building, his hand still covering his nape protectively. The other came up to hold the jaw of the abnormal in which was gnashing and gnawing thin air in attempt to reach his face.
Out of the blue, gas hissed from metal canisters and the glimmer of silver blades came into Eren's view. Within a second, the nape of the abnormal was cut clean open. Titan Eren's eyes widened when he spotted a green fluttering cape marked with the wings of freedom.
The abnormal fell to the ground in a heap of steam, allowing Eren a better look at his surroundings. On the roof of the building across from him was the kind, yet crazy, burnet lady he met many times before. He always found her alongside the Corporal, so he knew the other was close by. And he was.
Levi launched up from the other side of the building Eren was leaning against, terrifying Eren in the process. With his back to him, the Corporal would have him killed in less than a second, nape covered or not. He flinched away when the man darted forward, prepared to feel the edges of his blades slice his skin again, but it never came. He heard the jeer of steam fly by his ear and it was only then that he dared to look and see what was going on. Levi completely ignored him and flew down towards the two still alive near the ground. They were up on their knees when the Corporal twirled and performed a double kill, ridding the area of the remaining titans.
It was quiet now, and through the streams of vapor, Eren could see Levi land on the building he was still leaning on. Walking slowly over to him with blades in each hand, Eren shivered underneath the skin and got away from the building. He stopped out in the middle of the street with his back away from the two elites. This way, he'd at least have a moment of warning.
"Ah, I'd recognize those green eyes and serrated teeth anywhere." Hange said with glee in her tone. "You've certainly grown since we last met like this." She clasped her hands together and squealed, "How exciting! I never realized how much you could adapt."
Though she seemed pretty enthusiastic now, earlier she was enthralled. The moment they saw the flash of green light channel down from the sky, she shook with pure joy. It had to of been Eren, which meant he turned into a titan. Just what she wanted.
They followed the light and found a lean, fifteen meter behemoth covered head to toe in muscle with pointed ears and a lipless jaw with serrated teeth. If that wasn't a dead giveaway, Hange didn't know what was. They both knew that was Eren's titan, the boy looked exactly like he did before except it appeared his titan form grew like his human form.
Another thing that caught their attention was Eren's female Asian friend, Cadet Mikasa Ackerman, kneeling down on the ground near Eren's Titan. Certainly Miss Ackerman and Mr. Arlert knew of their friend's abilities, it wasn't a mystery even when they first found the three at the Training Camp.
They followed the two when Titan Eren rushed to saved his friend, his feats in action were making Hange's body tingle all over. It was such a joy for her to watch him, every movement, every sound; if only she could touch it!
They continued to follow and listen in, Eren showing a great sense of awareness and intelligence while being a titan. And when she grew more excited for her newest experiment, Levi grew more uncomfortable with Eren's increasing danger levels. If their plan was to go accordingly, then Levi's life wasn't the only one on the line. And any threat against his team was going to be dealt with harshly.
Eren kept his eyes on the two, darting them back and forth between Hange on the right and Levi on the left. Hange didn't have her swords out and acted relaxed more so than Levi who was the complete opposite. So Eren kept most of his attention on the Corporal while listening to what Hange was saying.
"Military training definitely did a number on you." She commented with a finger on her chin, "Tell me, How good are your eyes? Can you speak?!" she asked with anticipation. Eren only narrowed his eyes and backed up a step, his hand tightening over top his nape. Even if his father said they were friends, he still didn't trust them. They were giving him mixed signals.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Don't run, we're friends. We won't hurt you." She reassured him with open arms.
"Enough of that, four-eyes, he's not stupid." Levi stated as he stared daggers up at Titan Eren. Eren glared back and huffed out a puff of steam.
"If you're going to give me a fight, you better make it a good one, brat." Levi commented as he started walking towards Titan Eren.
What are you doing? Eren thought in panic, Stay back! His titan growled while backing away from the approaching Corporal. He took one last glimpse of the short man before veering around to make a run for it. As soon as he did, Levi and Hange gave chase.
Steam bellowed from the ducts as the two Scouts flew through the air, zipping pass buildings as they kept up with Eren's new found speed. Eren let his hand drop from his nape in knowing they wanted him alive; the free arm allowing him to run faster.
Levi came in close, shooting out his cables to hook onto Eren's left shoulder before he dashed towards him with both blades ready. Feeling the cables, Eren darted to the right and continued to run down that street leaving Levi to have only cut off a few strands of his hair.
Hange kept up with him, being able to make the turn sharper then Levi due to her proximity. She screamed in joy as she flipped in the air, her cables keeping her stable. She shot them out to attach to Eren's leg and swung in for a slice at his ankles. She managed to cut a few layers, but once again, Eren felt the hooks on his skin and turned just in time.
What are they doing? Why are they missing all of the sudden? I can't be that good in evading them.
Suddenly, Levi came out of nowhere on his right and sliced at his face again causing Eren to whip his head away and turn left. His eyes widened in realization.
They're leading me… Oh yeah, well two can play that game.
When Levi came in on his left Eren twirled around and swiped at him. Of course, Levi was too fast to catch—or hit for that matter—and used his steam to propel himself out of reach. Eren took this opportunity to completely turn around, almost running into Hange in the process.
"Whoa!" She spouted as she veered to the right to avoid getting hit.
"He knows what we're doing!" Levi yelled as he continued to chase Eren. "Revert to plan B!"
Hange reached into her coat and pulled out a flare gun. Holding the gun straight up, she fired a green flare high up into the sky.
The gunfire caught Eren's attention, Uh oh, that can't be good. He thought as he looked behind him. When he pulled his attention back to the road ahead, two Scouts were flying straight for his eyes. He noticed these two, well, remembered them anyway. They were Petra and Oluo.
In a second's reaction, Titan Eren performed a limbo and Petra and Oulo flew right over with surprised expressions. When he straightened his back, he found himself near a small park—a perfect opening that'll give him room away from the Scouts.
If they don't have anything for their 3DMG to hook onto, they can't pursue. He reasoned, quickly heading for the grassy area. Another green flare shot up into the sky as soon as his feet touched the grass…
"Our points of interest are here and here." Erwin stated as he fingered Wall Rose and a small park in the Trost District. The map was laid out on a round table in which Erwin, Hange, Levi, and his squad were standing around; the underlings patiently listened to Erwin's plans.
"Hange and Levi will team up to initiate plan A: lead Eren Jaeger to point A so that we may secure him against Wall Rose. If Eren discovers the plan, we will switch to site B. Hange," She looked up at him when he called her name, "You will release a green flare when this happens, passing along the information for Levi Squad to come out of hiding and aid in the capture.
With more soldiers to worry about, Eren will become panicked and search for a place that we cannot go. This park serves that purpose; open area, our 3DM gear will have no use. It is in this spot that Eren will fall into the cables of our long range Titan Capturing cannons, immobilizing him so that we may transport him into Wall Rose."
"What if he struggles, or at least tries to. With that distance, some of the cables may not hold, even if they are long ranged." Levi asked.
"If that happens, we will use two of the regular cannons to blow off his arms and, if necessary, his legs as well. But that is precisely why he must be standing directly in the center of this park; to allow all the wires a direct hit. The cannons will not be fired unless this happens, so it is up to you six to get him there as quickly as possible. Use whatever tactics you deem necessary, but by all means do not hit the nape."
Eren slowed down as he reached the grass, turning around to see if the Scouts were crazy enough to join him. Just as he figured, they veered, and started circling him around the park. Two more Eren recognized from five years ago joined in making it a total of six Scouts circling him like vultures. With them being in front and behind him, he covered his nape with his left hand. Green eyes darting to and fro as he tried to keep watch over all of them.
Levi came in, hooking onto Eren's skin for support as he swiped at his feet. Eren swung his hand out to bat him away whilst taking a step back to avoid injuring his muscles. The Corporal returned to the circle just as soon as another took his place and swung at his face. Eren was forced to take another couple steps backwards…
It was an action that cost him dearly.
Within his stride, time slowed in his eyes. As his heel was coming down upon the grass his eyes caught a glimmer of metal from within the windows of the surrounding houses. Realization came to him too late and all he could do was move his other hand up to protect his nape when a shout echoed out into the sky.
"FIRE!"
The thundering sound of a thousand canons plummeted the air around Eren, wire after wire shot out of the windows and embedded in his Titan's skin. A thousand attached to him and a thousand more. Within seconds, he couldn't move his arms, couldn't pivot his hips or twitch his legs. He was completely immobilized and at the mercy of the Scouts. And thus, he cried out in frustration.
From the crackling canons came smoke as they died down into silence. More numbers then Eren could count came out of hiding to look upon his vulnerable form, one of which he recognized almost immediately. Commander Erwin Smith, the leader of the Scout Regiment, stood tall upon the building of his right. He stared at Eren with respect before turning to the blonde on his left—Mike.
"Have the canons moved in place, and prepare for the second round." He ordered and Mike nodded his head in affirmation.
Hange stood with Levi and his squad on the opposite side of the park. She was dancing and squealing from the success, happy to know that she'd soon be able to perform all of the experiments she planned for the past four years. Of course, they weren't deadly or fatal tests, she wasn't going to kill the fifteen year old cadet or put him through torture. She was sensible and compassionate.
Oluo shrieked in fear when Hange got too close to him and quickly rushed behind Levi for protection. No one was paying him any mind, or Hange for that matter, but rather keeping their attentions on Titan Eren.
"We're not hurting him, are we?" Petra asked in concern.
"Nah, I'm sure he's fine." Gunther replied to her, calming her worries. "He's a titan right now, remember, they can't feel pain. It's the nape you have to worry about." He reminded whilst tapping the back of his own neck.
Erwin kept a watchful eye on Titan Eren, thinking heavily on the next phase of his plan to recruit the young shifter with the approval of the Central Council. Due to the current events, however, he figured the court herring would take place under military law only, and that would work in Erwin's favor more so then going straight to the King. The next phase of the plan was the most important and critical point. It would be the result of Eren's survival or demise. If things did not play out accordingly, they could lose everything.
"Two twelve meters coming from the south!" A soldier announced hastily, alerting the area of the impending threat quickly approaching the park. The Scouts turned their heads to see the two large titans running toward their location. Levi growled before he launched himself off of the rooftop and down the street in which the thin twelve meter was approaching. Petra and Erd took on the other plump titan.
"At least the majority of them are well preoccupied." Mike commented, making Erwin glance back up at Wall Rose where the Garrison was stationed. A large number of them clustered in the corner, distracting hundreds of titans to their location as the monsters clawed up at the wall in a fruitless attempt at reaching them. On top of the gate further down was Dot Pixis, the Commander of the Garrison, and a few of his most trust men and women.
Erwin remembered their conversation earlier in the year well, for it was Commander Pixis that was among the few he entrusted the secret to…
"I must admit," Pixis said while he pulled out his canister of alcohol and poured a good bit in a glass. He sat down in front of Erwin with the glass in his hand, the two of them alone in a private study. "I never expected us to even meet face to face again. Some would consider this suspicious considering our paths would likely never cross." He took a sip of his brandy.
"We're good friends. There's no reason we shouldn't be able to talk to each other." Erwin stated confidently. Pixis raised his glass and laughed.
"That's true, that's true. Now, what was it you wanted to talk about?"
"Not so much as talk, but rather confess." Pixis halted mid swallow and looked up at Erwin. He finished what was in his mouth and smiled again.
"Oh, ho, ho, Erwin Smith's finally joined the real fight, huh?"
"Not that at all."
"Oh, well, it was fun to entertain the thought while it lived." Pixis replied and placed his glass down on the end table next to him. "So what is this confession you'd like to share?"
"We have a means to put an end to the titans and rid them from this world." Pixis was studying him closely now, the news coming through as though it were from his own dreams.
Pixis cleared his throat and closed his eyes, "You mean to tell me, you've finally found a method of effectively killing titans?" Such whimsical thinking, could it be real?
"In a sense, yes. We'd also be able to uncover more about our otherwise veiled enemies. The only problem is that his life would be on the line."
"Hmmm?" Pixis repeated, implying he caught the noun. "He?"
"Yes. Five years ago, while coming back from an expedition outside the walls, we ran into a titan inside the walls." Pixis processed every word to its core, placing his hand on his chin as he listened intently. "This titan possessed high levels of intelligence, attentiveness, problem solving, and had a means to grow and better its own physical form. We attempted to capture this titan and failed, but now that we know more about him, we can re-capture him and recruit him into our ranks."
Pixis stared at the ground in thought. Erwin studied his face for a while longer before continuing.
"There is more I haven't told you." Erwin informed, earning a quiescent glance from Pixis, "This titan isn't a titan, he's a shifter; someone that can turn into a titan at will. He was just a ten year old boy when we first ran into each other, but over the years, my men have kept their eyes on him. He's been residing within the Training Camps, growing and learning to become a soldier—we believe to join the Scouts. In that decision alone, its imperative that we take this golden opportunity so that he may fight by our side. Because I believe there is no other way around this, we either ally with him or die."
The room was left in an air of silence as both men studied the other. Finally, it was Pixis who broke the peace.
"Hmmm, this is… rather impressive." He said, his mind at a loss for the appropriate words to use for such a finding. "What is this boy's name?"
Erwin leaned back and relaxed in his chair. "That is to remain undisclosed."
"I see, understandable." Pixis copied Erwin's movement and relaxed in his chair as well. "I will keep your secret until given reason to break it, however, you must promise me that I'll get to see this boy's "shifting" abilities in person. If what you're saying is true, it's unbelievable."
"That can be arranged if you are willing to help in the political sense. Though the idea itself is a miracle, the people will no doubt become scared of him and wish for his immediate demise." Erwin reasoned.
"That, and the MP's will most likely try to dissect him in some fruitless adventure for more knowledge before killing him off." Pixis added with a disdainful smirk toward the mention of the other regiment. He returned to his silence before standing up from his chair, his glass back in his hand. "Very well, Erwin, I accept your proposal." Erwin stood from his seat as well and shook Pixis' free hand.
"If you believe this is our last chance at survival, I'm with you 100% of the way."
The sound of steam returned Erwin to the present. Steam began to rise up from the injection points of the cables, the boy apparently trying to see if he could escape. The belief was made correct when he attempted to move, but was only met with the resistant creak of the canons securely connected to the ground and wall of the houses.
Titan Eren growled when his efforts failed, Oh, come on! There has to be a way out of this! A small weight suddenly landed on his head.
"You're not getting out of it, brat, so I suggest you stay put and shut up." Levi told him. Eren relaxed in defeat and closed his eyes, his titan doing the same. His heart was racing faster than ever and he felt weak from the fight in protecting the tower. He only wished Mikasa and Armin were alright, that they were able to defeat the titans inside.
"We did it!" the cadets cheered as the last titan fell to Mikasa's blades. "We cleared the tower!"
"We're going to survive this! We really are!" The cadets sang as they refilled their canisters and restocked their blades. Armin replaced his broken pair with new ones before refilling them to the brim. Not like he was going to use all of it, but it never hurt to be prepared.
"MIKASA! THANK YOU!" Sasha cried as she knelt down in front of said Oriental whom had just saved her life. "MY LIFE IS IN YOUR DEPT!"
"Stop it." Mikasa replied dryly. "We aren't gonna get anywhere with you acting like that." She said as she helped Sasha up from the floor. "Now go, we need a soldier, not a cry baby."
"Yes sir! I mean, ma'am." Sasha saluted before darting off to get the supplies she desperately needed.
Soon the cadets were flying out into the battle field with Mikasa going straight for the wall to find Eren. Armin had just finished with his straps when he looked up to find her standing there.
"Mikasa?" He asked before he zip lined up to her. "What's wrong—" He said before his words caught in this throat. Looking out in the street, the ever decaying bodies of the twenty or more titans Eren slew were laying on the ground around the depo, but that was all. No sign of Eren's Titan anywhere.
"Armin…" Mikasa announced with a shiver as she lifted her finger to point out at the horizon of the city. Armin followed her gesture and saw what she was staring at in horror. A lot of steam was coming up from the northern end of Trost; within it they could make out a fifteen meter titan.
Mikasa's heart skipped a beat at the thought of Eren being in immediate danger. He could be overwhelmed with dozens of titans tearing at him, he could be dying!
Her body shook with anticipation to move and it didn't take long for her to react, neither did it Armin, as the two of them jumped off the edge at once to make their way across Trost. They could hear the shouts of their friends calling after them, but they didn't care. They needed to find Eren, and fast. The one thing that kept bugging Armin was this simple fact: where were the Scouts?
When the park came into clear view, Mikasa notably gasped, a shiver running down her spine. Her mind wavered as it tried to cope with the damage her heart was enduring. At the sight of Eren in figurative chains, like some sort of monster they all knew he wasn't, her will snapped. Friendly or not, the Scouts were going to pay for this.
"LET HIM GO!" She screamed as she rocketed down towards their commander, swords pulled out as she readied herself.
Levi veered his head in the direction of the screams and shot off to intercept the assailant. When Mikasa landed on the roof near Erwin and Mike, the two turned around in finding her presence a surprise. Mikasa ran towards them and Mike pulled out his blades, but he didn't get a chance to act as Levi beat him to it.
Jumping out in front of her, Levi crisscrossed his blades with hers when she attempted to counter against his sudden appearance. The two shoved the other away before getting in their stances again.
"TRAITORS!" Mikasa yelled as she glared daggers into Levi's skull.
"The only traitor here will be you if you act. Don't do it." Levi warned with sincerity, pointing his left sword at Mikasa as the other rested by his side.
"MIKASA!" Armin yelled as he rushed to her side. "Stop! It'll only make things worse!" Armin reasoned as he grabbed a hold of her arm and tried to pull her back from her aggressive stance. "Grisha would've never allowed this if he didn't approve of it." He whispered to her, making her look him in the eye for guarantee. "Please, don't." he begged one last time. She looked up at Eren in regret, allowing her shoulders to slouch and her grip on her swords to lighten.
I'm sorry, she apologized mentally while holding back the tears that threatened to cascade down her soft cheeks.
Armin looked up at him as well, his mind racing for ways of freeing him without becoming humanity's enemy. Right now, the only thing they could do was allow the Scouts to continue with whatever they planned and hope for the best. If anything, all he wanted was for Eren to get out of this alive.