Accel glanced to his right as a titan stumbled out the forest. Teit fired off a red flared and a green was fired from slightly up ahead. They were changing direction again. He ignored Gunha's gossiping sister, choosing to focus on his surroundings. His run in with Railgun just over an hour ago had cemented his belief she still hated him for the deaths of her sisters. He didn't blame her, they'd probably end up duking it out in the near future. In all honesty he was secretly looking forward to it, now they were on a more even playing field. He'd sparred with both Teit and Gunha but neither had managed to match up. He hoped Railgun would be more of a challenge.

"We should be coming up to a town soon." called Teit over the wind.

Accel hummed his agreement as 'Shitty Specs' as his brother had taken to calling her started fangirling.

He half turned intent on threatening her to shut up when a familiar black bird landed on his shoulder surprising everyone and shutting Zoe up.

"Kage," he greeted neutrally taking the paper from his mouth and unfolding it.

Colossal Titan breached Trost, Titans are in

"Shit, Teit deliver an urgent message to Commander Erwin. The Colossal Titan has breached Trost."

The group paled.

"On it." said Teit pushing his horse forward.

"Gunha inform the other squads."

"You got it." he steered his horse to the side.

"Sorry Specs, capturing titans is going to have to wait."

"I understand."

It wasn't long before a green flare was fired signalling a change in direction.

Mikoto easily sliced through the nape of her 20th titan. Her gas level wasn't too bad and she still had a couple spare blades, only she was completely alone. He squad had all perished within the first five minutes. Charging at another she dodged the hand reaching for her and swiftly sliced the nape.

If this kept up she would run out of gas and blades. Growling, she wondered why the evacuation was taking so long. She'd easily been out here twenty minutes and the bell still hadn't rung.

She cursed and charged towards another group of titans killing them quickly and efficiently. She was sure if it weren't for her calculation ability she'd be having a harder time. But as it were all she had to do was stay alive until the bell rung and then she could escape. Until then she'd keep fighting.

28.

34.

45.

57.

Mikoto was exhausted. The bell had rung a while ago but she'd run out of gas and blades and was now using every trick in and out of the book to survive. She just couldn't seem to get out of this horde of titans and parkour was only getting her so far. She couldn't head for the nearest section of the wall because she couldn't scale it. To get to safety she'd need to head to the other side of Trost but she'd never make it, her best chance was waiting for the Scouts to show up. According to her calculations they should be nearly back anyway.

She raised her head slightly at the sound of thundering hooves and could've cried when the scouts flew over the wall and started cutting down titans.

"Accel!" she called once she'd spotted his familiar scowling face.

He landed on the roof next to her.

"Mikoto," he nodded looking slightly relieved.

"You couldn't give me a lift up the wall could you? I'm out of gas and blades."

He nodded and threw her over his shoulder easily scaling the wall.

"Thanks, I'll meet you over there," she nodded to the other side of Trost.

He nodded and jumped back into the titan infested Trost.

Mikoto started running, she had to know if Mikasa, Eren and Armin survived.

After jumping back into the fray he, Teit and Gunha started killing titans with a vengeance. They proved once again why they were the Advance Squad. It didn't take long for most titans to be exterminated but more kept coming through the hole in the wall. Erwin soon called for a retreat and his squad landed on top of the wall. Only to see some idiot from the Garrison threatening Mikoto's sister, adopted brother and friend.

"You!" he called the the two soldiers manning the cannon pointed at the three cadets, "if you fire that cannon your dead."

With that he jumped off the wall flanked by Teit and Gunha.

"What the fuck is going on down here!" he demanded walking between the two sides.

"It's the Scouts," whispered the blond kid. 'Armin Arlert' he reminded himself.

"EREN JAEGER HAS COMMITTED HIGH TREASON, HE WAS SEEN FRATERNISING WITH TITANS!"

This caused more than a few raised eyebrows.

"I didn't realise you could fraternise with titans," commented Teit.

"No I didn't either." growled Accel turning to the cadets, "blondie, what's really going on?"

Despite asking he actually had a pretty good idea. Eren had transformed during the battle revealing the existence of titan shifters to society and they hadn't been around to do damage control, leading to the current situation. He didn't want to know what would've happened if they hadn't returned when they did and silently cursed the Colossal Titan for ruining their carefully thought out plans.

"Y-You're asking me?" asked Armin.

Accel's eyebrow twitched, "yes I'm fucking asking you."

"You know this is why Mikoto calls you antisocial," said Teit ignoring Accel's glare.

"As if I give a shit what 3rd rate thinks."

"You say that but you still want her forgiveness."

"Che, that's none of your business."

"Don't worry this is fairly normal," reassured Gunha to the three startled cadets as Accel and Teit kept arguing.

"B-But the Garrison..." started Armin.

"Those guys need more guts. Besides allowing Mikoto's sister, adoptive brother and best friend to be executed is not gutsy," he smiled.

"Nee-chan's dead," whispered Mikasa lowering her head with tears in her eyes.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" demanded Accel stopping his argument with Teit. "3rd rate's not dead, I saw her five minutes ago."

"Huh?"

"OI, 3RD RATE GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE!"

"I'M TRYING ALRIGHT! AND STOP CALLING ME 3RD RATE!" came an annoyed shout from on top of the wall.

"N-Nee-chan," whispered Mikasa before using her gear to frantically scale the wall.

"Tsk, come on brats," called Accel walking towards Erwin. He could only sigh when they hesitantly followed, not that he could blame them. Some pansy in the Garrison thought killing them immediately would be better than waiting until someone of higher rank came along and sorted this mess out.

Mikoto sighed, currently the lift was being used by the Scout Regiment transporting wounded so if she wanted to use it she'd have to wait. Accel's comment really irked her, he knew she was out of gas and the lift was her only option. Now thanks to him people were giving her weird looks.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a black blur crashed into her, knocking her to the ground.

"Nee-chan," sobbed Mikasa having buried her face in her chest.

"M-Mikasa," she stuttered, realising her sister was crying. "Hey don't cry, I'm alive just like I promised remember."

She felt more than saw the nod and heard the muffled, "I love you nee-chan."

"I love you to imouto," Mikoto smiled wrapping her arms around Mikasa's shaking form.

They stayed there for a while ignoring the people around them until Commander Erwin of the Scouts and Commander Pixis of the Garrison landed on top of the wall, followed by the Advance Squad and Eren and Armin.

"Hey guys," called Mikoto as Mikasa reluctantly released her.

"Hey Mikoto," greeted Gunha and Teit as Eren and Armin breathed sighs of relief.

"So you're Mikoto Ackerman," spoke Erwin.

Mikoto stood and casually saluted, "yes sir."

"I've heard good things about you. Although I am curious how you all know each other."

Mikoto grinned, "we met in a past life, sir."

Gunha choked back a laugh, whilst Teit tried to hide his smile and Accel scoffed. He childhood friends sighed whilst the two Commanders stared in disbelief.

"I see," said Erwin attempting to regain composure, "I am also curious how you knew of the situation over here," he addressed Accel.

"3rd rate sent a message."

"Stop calling me 3rd rate!" growled Mikoto.

"A message?" asked Erwin.

"Kage delivered it." informed Mikoto.

"Who is Kage?"

Mikoto whistled and the familiar black eagle landed on her outstretched arm.

"This is Kage, Kage say hi."

The bird screeched and Mikoto grinned at the look of awe from both the Scouts and Garrison.

"Oh my god, the bird actually did it," came the awed voice of the Garrison soldier who'd confronted her after sending the note.

"Captain Dietrich would you care to elaborate," asked Pixis.

"Yes sir," he saluted, "just before the Cadets left for the battlefield Cadet Mikoto Ackerman summoned that bird and sent it off with a note claiming it would reach the Scouts."

"What note?" asked Erwin.

"Here," Accel passed it to him.

He glanced at the note before turning his attention back to Mikoto who was letting her friends pet the bird.

"Thank you for indulging me. In any case we still have a serious problem on our hands," said Erwin bringing everyone's attention back to the current situation. "Cadet Jaeger would it be possible for you to utilise your titan ability to plug the hole."

"Wait, what?" asked Mikoto, she'd had no idea Eren had transformed.

"Jaeger turned into a titan 3rd rate, keep up," growled Accel.

"Oh," said Mikoto, breathing an internal sigh of relief. This was the last place important life changing secrets should be revieled.

"As he is now that's impossible," stated Accel, "from what I heard he wasn't in control when he first transformed so why would he be now."

"Unfortunately we don't have a choice, unless you can think up another way to move that bolder," said Teit.

"In that case the mission objectives has changed slightly," announced Erwin, "the first is to aid Eren Jaeger in gaining control of his ability and the second is to move the bolder and plug Wall Rose. Failure is not an option, is that clear."

"Yes Sir," saluted the four Cadets and surrounding soldiers.

"In that case Commander Erwin, I offer the Garrison's full support," said Pixis.

"Thank you Commander Pixis, to minimise casualties the Scout Regiment will lure the titans towards the wall where the Garrison will bombard them with cannon fire. During this the Advance Squad and the Special Operations Squad will escort Eren to the bolder where he will transform. If Accel's prediction come's true then I'll need you three," he turned to Mikoto, Mikasa and Armin, "to help him gain control. I know it's a lot to ask three newly graduated cadets to willingly go back out there but I believe you are vital for the mission's success."

"I'm in," agreed Mikoto.

"So am I," said Mikasa.

"I'll do it," said Armin.

Erwin nodded, "all of you have my respect. After Eren has gained control we will continue with the original plan and plug the wall. Any questions?"

"Eren was reportedly swarmed by titans when he first transformed and there is a strong possibility of this happening again. If that's the case the plan to lure the titans might no work," said Teit.

"I agree which is why both the Advance Squad and Special Operations Squad are escorting Eren, any other questions?" He looked around, "in that case get ready, I'll inform the rest of the Regiment and we'll begin."

"Yes Sir," saluted the nearby soldiers before rushing off to prepare.

The plan went pretty much as expected. Once the other Scouts had sufficiently captured the other titans attention and drawn them away, the Advance Squad partnered with the Special Operation's Squad and four cadets raced through Trost towards the bolder where Eren transformed and subsequently lost control.

It took a good 15 minutes and a lot of encouragement/threats for him to come to his senses and move the boulder. After that it was just a matter of killing or capturing the leftover titans which was quickly taken care of.

However due to the nature of the situation Eren was taken into custody, whilst everyone else scrambled to write up reports and plan custody speeches. His trial would be held in three days and the former Esper's would be damned if he wasn't in the Scouts by the end of it.

Just to clarify Kage is Japanese for Shadow.

Phoenix 7.49 in response to your comment stating Accel shouldn't be as good as I've portrayed him due to only him only ever relying on his ability and guns in canon. Well in the AoT universe he's about 30 years old, an Ackerman and has received training from Kenny Ackerman. So whilst he may only have his knowledge from the ACMI universe he's gained his fighting ability and instincts from the AoT universe.

Hope this clarifies things.

Big thank you to all those still reading and reviewing this story it's really appreciated.