AN: Well Attack on Titan season 2 is over, now to wait for season 3. Overall I felt it was good, just a little short and the small amount of Manga it used made me think it could have easily been made much sooner. That's beside the point though, I decided I would crank out another chapter because why not?
Forest of Giant Trees
Silence prevailed through the forest, no one dared move. The members of the Levi Squad, were frozen in place, Link had just been stepped on by the Female Titan.
Although they had only known the soldier for a short time, none of them wished death upon him. Eren was the most shaken however, he was beginning to see Link as a friend, and now he was gone.
The Female Titan had a smug look on her face as she looked down at the now motionless Scouts, ready to continue her slaughter. Eren's shock quickly turned to anger, and he raised his hand to his mouth.
The Female Titan noticed this and dove at Eren, attempting to grab him wth her mouth.
Before Eren could bite down, the Female Titan was stopped right in front of him, and then promptly swung into a tree.
While Eren was attempting to see what had stopped the Female Titan, he was grabbed by Gunther.
"Get Eren out of here," Levi began, "It's obvious she's after him."
"What's the plan of attack sir?" Petra asked, drawing her swords.
"There isn't one, you, Eld, and Oluo are going with Gunther to keep Eren safe," Levi responded mounting his horse.
Oluo looked dumbfounded, "But what about the Female Titan, she's getting back up right now!"
"Leave her to me," a new voice called out, making the Levi Squad freeze. Link was standing in the same spot, showing no sign of injury or fatigue whatsoever.
"I'll keep her busy, you just get Eren to safety."
Oluo was wide eyed, "How are you still alive?!"
"There's more to him than I thought, this may be a good opportunity to see what he's truly capable of," Levi thought. "It's time to go, Oluo stop gawking and get a move on."
"But sir, are we really going to just abandon him here?"
"He's made his decision, we should respect that. Go and protect Eren, I'll meet up with you once I report to commander Erwin."
Link watched as Levi rode off, while the other members zipped through trees with their 3DMG. "Good," he thought, "Now I won't have to hold back on her."
Link began walking towards the rising figure of the Female Titan, drawing his Gilded Sword while he moved.
The Female Titan was up by this point, and, enraged at losing her prey, brought her hand down in an attempt to crush the Hero. Before she could make contact, Link sliced the top half of her hand clean off.
As the Female Titan drew her hand back in pain, Link sunk his sword into the remaining bottom half of the hand, going up with it. Flipping himself up on top of her arm, Link began to run up the limb.
When the Female Titan began to try and shake him off, he fired his 3DMG hooks right on her face speeding towards it.
The Female Titan brought her other hand to intercept him, and Link prepared himself to go through this one as well. Drawing his 3DMG blades he attacked the hand, only to have his blades shatter against the palm.
Immediately after, the Female Titans fingers curled around the Hero. She had hardened her skin, preventing Link from going through her hand and allowing her to trap him.
Caught in her hand, Link began to push against the force that was attempting to crush him. Straining as hard as he could, he managed to pry the fingers apart enough to fall to the ground.
Landing with a roll, he looked back with a grin, "So she can harden her skin huh? That could be annoying." The Female Titan brought her hand down again, once more trying to crush Link.
Link backflipped away, catching one of her fingers as he did so. Landing the ground, he began to spin with the Female Titan in tow.
Once he had picked up enough speed he released, sending the Female Titan crashing into another tree.
"Man, the Golden Gauntlets are really proving their worth today," Link thought to himself as he rushed to the downed titan.
Jumping up he pulled out the Megaton Hammer, and, as he predicted, the Female Titan's nape hardened to protect the shifter inside.
"Let's see how tough your skin really is," Link then swung the Megaton Hammer directly down, causing the hardened skin to crack. Sensing that she was in danger, the Female Titan begun screaming wildly.
Outside the forest, the titans that were trying to get the Scouts at the start begun running in. Link continued to strike the nape with the Megaton Hammer, but before he could get it to shatter, he had to jump out of the way of a 13 meter titan's mouth.
Shortly after many more titans arrived, and begun to devour the Female Titan. Retreating to the branch of a tree, Link was able to make out a hooded figure escaping from the half eaten corpse of the Female Titan.
"On no you don't," Link thought as he gave chase to the titan shifter.
"And that's why the Female Titan isn't here right now," Levi finished.
Erwin was silent for a moment, "You're sure this new recruit can handle something like this on his own?"
"There was only one way to find out, besides he made the decision that he thought was right. So I made the decision that I thought was right, nothing more nothing less."
"I see." A loud scream echoed through the forest, stopping the two's conversation.
"What the hell was that?"
"I don't know, but I don't think it was good," Erwin replied looking down.
"What makes you say," Levi stopped speaking as soon as he saw the horde of Titans that were coming in their direction.
"What are the people outside doing? They were supposed to keep those things out of here," Levi growled drawing his swords.
"Perhaps it was that scream that drew them here," Erwin responded, following suit.
"Either way it doesn't change the fact that we're surrounded by these ugly bastards. Looks like we're fighting our way out."
Both leaders were to busy paying attention to the Titans to notice the two people zipping past behind them.
The Levi Squad were almost out of the forest, they could see the light at the end. Hearing the sound of another 3DMG, Gunther turned his head and saw another person keeping pace with them.
"Captain Levi, is that you?" The figure responded by changing course, and slashing the unsuspecting soldier with their blades, killing him instantly. The other members looked back in shock, Gunther was just killed.
"Could that be the Female Titan's human form?" Eld asked. He soon got his answer as there was a bright flash, and the Female Titan reappeared right behind them.
This enraged Eren even further, after finding out from Oluo that Link was still alive and fighting the Female Titan he had begun to relax a little bit. Now though, the Female Titan was here making Eren believe that she had succeeded in killing Link, and had proceeded to do the same to Gunther.
He could no longer contain his anger, turning around to face the Female Titan, he shot towards it biting his thumb and transforming into the Rogue Titan once more. As he was coming down to the ground, he let out a loud roar that could be heard through he forest.
Mikasa was at the entrance to the forest when she heard it. Her eyes widened and all she said was, "Eren," before taking off.
Levi had just dispatched another Titan when the sound reached him. Levi turned to the direction it came from, "Don't tell me." He killed one last Titan and begun racing to the origin of the noise.
Link was sitting on a tree branch watching the battle unfold. Eren was throwing a barrage of punches, all were easily avoided by the Female Titan. Link sighed, "Just as I suspected, he's too angry to fight effectively."
Looking closely he was able to notice the surviving members of the Levi Squad looked ready to join in. As they were closing in on the target, Link shot forward and intercepted them.
"Probably best just to sit this one out," he warned, "and yes I am still alive, so stop looking like you've seen a ghost."
The four landed on another tree branch and watched as the two Titans continued to fight.
Eren's rage was growing every second, he couldn't even hit his opponent. Every attack he threw she just dodged before countering him. Eren snarled, "There's got to be some way to hit her."
Suddenly a memory flew into his head. It was when he and Reiner attempted to get Link to do hand to hand, which ended with him being flown several feet in the air.
Taking a deep breath Eren calmed himself slightly, before relaxing his stance and turning around and slowly walking away. The Female Titan was shocked and angry by being downright ignored.
Not wanting to waste an opportunity, she threw a punch directly at the back of Eren's head. She didn't notice that Eren was looking back slightly, so when the punch was about a foot away he grabbed her arm.
Spinning around and releasing her arm, Eren threw her into yet another tree. Rushing over to her, he let out another roar before throwing another punch, only to have the Female Titan dive away at the last second.
Eren grabbed the Female Titans leg, attempting to swing her over his head, only to have her kick him in the face.
The Female Titan was still on the ground, anger flaring, Eren charged directly at her.
The Female Titan once more jumped to the side, getting back on her feet while Eren crashed into a tree.
Deciding that she needed to end this quickly, the Female Titan took a very familiar stance, which caused Eren to pause in disbelief.
Finishing the technique the Female Titan proceeded to harden her skin, allowing her to kick the top half of the Rogue Titan's head, and arm off.
Link was impressed by the use of the Mortal Draw by Eren, though was disappointed in the hesitation causing the loss.
Seeing that Eren was about to be captured by the Female Titan, Link decided that now was a good as time as any.
Turning to the remaining members of the Levi Squad, he threw a Deku Nut, blinding them for a moment, before switching back to his green tunic. Falling off the branch, he put on a grey mask.
The Female Titan heard a scream behind her, but she paid it no mind. It was probably just one of the Scouts that had been caught by a Titan and was being devoured.
No she was too focused on grabbing Eren. Tearing off the nape, she was about to grab him with her mouth, when she felt something tap on her shoulder.
Surprised, she turned around, only for a devastating punch to send her several feet in the air. Getting to her feet, she got a good look at what she was up against.
Standing in front of Eren was a giant figure clad in green, with a grey mask covering his face. On his back was a longsword that was currently sheathed, and a green hat sat upon his head.
Growling, she charged at him, she would not come so close only to fail now.
Link stood his ground as the Female Titan rushed him. Reaching out, he grabbed her head before pivoting, and smashing it into the forest floor.
Raising her head, he once more slammed it down, again, again, and again. The Female Titan reached up, and grabbed his tunic, pulling him down with her.
Quickly rising to her feet, the Female Titan threw a punch directly at Link's head, hardening her skin while she did so.
Link's hand shot up and caught the punch, much to the aggressor's surprise, and rose to his feet as well. The Female Titan threw another punch with her other hand, which was also caught by Link.
Now in a power struggle the Female Titan attempted a leg sweep, causing the Hero to back away a bit. Pressing her attack, she attempted to do her spin kick on him, only to be kicked in the torso by a powerful push kick.
The Female Titan staggered back, before falling to the ground on her back. Link rushed forward to try and smash her head in, but she was expecting that. Wrapping her legs around his head, she flipped him onto the ground.
Getting on her knees, she dove attempting to pin him on the ground. Link quickly rolled over, and kicked directly upwards, catching her in the stomach and sending her over him.
Standing back up, Link turned to face his opponent, who was now back on her feet as well. The Female Titan let out a roar and once more charge at Link, arms raised to protect her head.
Link just slid his right foot back, and waited. Once she was close enough, Link performed the Mortal Draw, swinging the enlarged Biggorn Sword.
Seeing the incoming blade, the Female Titan hardened her arms to deflect the blow. It didn't work, the sword cut right through her hardened arms, as well as her head, sending them dropping to the forest floor.
The Female Titan's body stumbled for a moment, before dropping to the ground, nape exposed.
Link began walking over the headless titan, removing the Giant's Mask as he did so, returning to his normal size. Stepping up on the nape Link drew the Biggorn Sword once more.
"Time to come out, Annie," Link taunted enunciating the last word. He had figured out her identity during her fight with Eren, he suspected it from the look and the fighting style downright sealed it.
Slicing open the nape, he saw the blonde girl sitting there, eyes closed with tears streaming down her face.
Before Link could grab her though, she disappeared in a purple mist.
Snarling Link sheathed his sword, switched back to his Scouting Legion uniform, and went to go meet up with the others.
Mikasa arrived just in time to see a giant human in green take on the mysterious Female Titan, but that's not what she was worried about. No, she was too worried about finding someone she couldn't afford to lose.
Scanning the area, she saw Eren slumped on the defeated form of the Rogue Titan. Hurrying over, she found that he had passed out from exhaustion, but was otherwise unharmed.
Sighing a breath of relief, she picked him up, and proceeded to head back to the main forces of the Scouting Legion.
Levi stood with his squad, they were currently trying to retrieve Gunther's body. Petra, Eld, and Oluo were all mournful, but Levi was another story.
He felt no regret, he had made a decision, and there was no changing that now.
His thoughts were on his newest squad member, and how he had managed to hold his own against the Female titan, and survive.
"There really is something special about him, he may even be as good as me," Levi thought, looking down at where Link was standing on the ground.
In the end, the expedition was called off, and the Scouts were ordered to return to Wall Rose. There were too many injuries and casualties too keep going, and the unknown whereabouts of the Female Titan was enough to dishearten most of the unharmed soldiers.
The ride back was fairly uneventful, except for when two of the veteran scouts went back for a friend's body, resulting in the death of one and the loss of all the recovered bodies.
Link just looked on in disgust, he couldn't believe the selfishness of that man, risking the lives of everyone just for a corpse.
Returning inside the wall, he could hear all the insults and remarks against the Scouts, how there were fewer of them, and that they were accomplishing nothing whatsoever.
What really caught his attention though, was that the amount of people in the district seemed to have increased. He could also feel a great amount of tension in the air, almost as if people were about to turn on one another at any moment.
"Something big happened while we were gone," Link reasoned, "I hope I'm wrong about the cause."
?
Two hooded figures stood looking down, replaying the fight between Link and Annie. "I see the Hero has not lost any of his flare, nor his skill," the first one spoke.
"No he hasn't, which is both a blessing and a curse," the second one responded.
A third figure appeared next to them, "Sorry for my absence, I was preoccupied with…other matters."
The first figure turned to the third one, "You interacted with him didn't you? You know we aren't supposed to interfere with their lives!"
"There was too much at stake for me not to, if we don't do something then-" the third figure was cut off by the first figure.
"Then what? What could be so important that you felt the need to break our own rules to show him the future?!"
"The fact that he could return if I didn't!"
Silence fell across the three, before the second one spoke up, "Are you sure about that? Is that even possible?"
The third figure nodded, "He was never truly defeated, and has been trying to return for millennia. He's become closer than ever, and with the events that are yet to come his return could be very soon."
"Well then," the first figure spoke up, "Let's hope that our Hero is ready for the challenge."
"There's no way anyone could be ready to fight him," the third figure spoke before walking away.
The second figure turned to the first, "If we could hardly stop him, what makes you think that the Hero can?"
"He can't, he can only be ready to use his life to give us the chance to do so," the first figure responded solemnly.
The second figure looked down, seeing the determined face of Link, "It's a shame, after all he's been through, and will have to go through, he really deserves more."
Scouting Legion HQ
Link was walking outside enjoying the night sky. He was originally going to talk with the Shiganshia trio about his past, but after the fight against Annie, Link decided that Eren needed rest the most.
"Link, over here," a voice called out from the woods. Link's eyes widened, he knew that voice anywhere.
Sprinting into the forest, he came found the source of the voice. Link leaned against one of the trees, "To what do I owe this pleasure, Princess Zelda?"
Zelda gave a small smile, "I finally found you, please walk with me for a moment." Rolling his eyes Link began walking forward, "Your wish is my command."
The two Hylains began to walk throughout the forest, Link catching Zelda up to speed on what he had been doing for the past two years.
"Anyway enough about me, what are you doing here," Link finally managed to ask. Zelda looked Link directly in the eye, "Link, Ganondorf is here, right now."
Link stopped, "Are you sure?"
"I snuck into his castle, and took his portal to get here, when I came through he was finished with preparations, so it wouldn't be much longer before he followed."
Link froze, "Why were you sneaking around Ganondorf's castle?"
"Well when you disappeared, we began trying to make our own portal to find you ,but we didn't have to power to do so, only-" she was cut off as she felt Link's sword against her throat.
Link glared directly into her eyes before speaking slowly, "What did you just say?"
AN: Well that one took some time to write. Now to clarify the Giant's Mask. Before I even began writing this story, I checked how much the Giant's Mask makes Link grow. In the N64 version, it makes Link grow about 9 times his original height, as Link is about one third of a segment of the stone pillars in the Twinmold fight normally, and around as tall as three segments with the mask on. Now he grows a little bit bigger in the 3ds version, but again I haven't played that one, so I had the Giant's Mask make Link about 15 meters tall. As for the use of the sword, in the N64 version Link uses his sword for attack while giant, in the 3ds version he does not. I tried to make a compromise of this by combining hand to hand and the use of the sword when fighting against Annie. Until next time!