Chapter 13
The king's celebration.
Levi woke up right as his dream ended. It was still night time, the moon shining luminously trough the window. A figure seemed to be sitting on the ledge, looking out. Levi sat up, ever so carefully reaching for his blade, but the figure somehow heard him, and said, ''Heichou?''
''Eren.'' Levi replied, letting go of the blade, rising and walking up to the teen. Eren stared outside once more, then said in a worried voice, ''They've started the preparations already, or so it seems. It also looks like they've sharpened their defenses. Maybe information that we've arrived leaked out.'' Levi let out a sigh as he took a seat opposite Eren. Before he could say anything, there was a small sound from Mikasa, who seemed to be choking on a bit of her hair, but she removed it quickly, as if getting rid of an annoying bug.
''She should cut it shorter, or wear it in a pony tail.'' Eren said, before turning his attention back to the outside world. ''What if we won't be able to reach the stage, sir. Our cloaks have the emblem of the Survey corps, and they'll be searching for us, because we attacked a guard.'' he added. Levi rolled his eyes, before saying ''I hate to say this, but you're over-thinking it too much. Leave that to your friends, it doesn't suit you. We'll be able to get there, we just need to take a detour.'' Eren demanded, ''And then what? What if the detour causes us to be too late? What if something happens?'' Levi reassured him, ''The captives are pretty capable of fending for themselves, even without their gears, Eren. The only thing that can harm them is a titan and the only ones in the neighboorhood are you and Ymir. These royal runts can't do shit.''
As they prepared themselves for the great task of awaking Mikasa, Ymir woke up, facing a depressed Jean and a sleeping Armin. In a firm but hushed voice, she told Jean, ''Cheer up. Armin is the one using his guts to face a difficult task today, we only have to do what we do best. We've got to fight.'' Jean replied, ''I screwed up already.'' ''How the hell did you manage that? We haven't even started, you mulehead.'' Ymir said. ''I did something wrong, okay. I didn't want to upset anyone.'' Jean said.
Ymir looked at Armin, before letting out an ''Ah.'' Jean looked even more despondent after that, causing Ymir to say, ''So what? Krista hit me the first time I tried to speak to her. She thought I was ready to chop her up and have her for dinner. Apparently, I was creepy.'' Jean frowned at the girl's weird attempt to make him feel better. ''Armin is already seeing someone.'' he remarked. ''You bet your ass he is. But what you did wasn't all that selfish, aside from the fact that your timing is way off. Armin is smart, so he'll understand eventually. And even though he'll reject you, he'll still accept you as a friend.''
''How can you tell?'' Jean asked. ''Because I did the same to a certain titan shifter.'' Ymir replied, before she dropped the subject, and shook Armin awake. ''Armin, sunset is almost here. We've got to be ready.'' she said, as Armin woke up. ''Morning, guys.'' Armin said, rubbing his eyes, before facing Jean. He grinned, before he took Jean's hands, and said, ''Are you ready?'' Jean smiled back, before saying, ''Hell yeah.'' making Ymir smirk.
As Eren shook Mikasa awake, she woke up instantly. ''Is there something wrong, Eren?'' she asked as she saw his troubled expression. ''We have to take a detour, because defenses have been tightened. We should head out now if we want to save the others.'' Eren explained and Mikasa nodded as she got up. Soon afterwards, they tip-toed out, making sure they didn't wake the older lady and sneaked to the nearby tunnels that would eventually lead them to the stage where the king would be celebrating his 'glory'.
The king himself was currently occupied eating his breakfast with his beloved daughter, and suprisingly enough, the three imprisoned cadets. ''It's very kind of your Highness to share this meal with us.'' Ymir said, and even Jean had to admit he was impressed with her acting skills. ''I figured this was the least I could do.'' the king replied, before taking a sip of his tea. Armin leaned towards Jean and whispered, ''Something's off.'' Jean frowned, before nodding.
''Is there something wrong, Arlert?'' the king asked. Armin shook his head and said, ''I was telling Cadet Kirchstein that this bread is rather tasty. Our fellow cadet named Sasha would have loved this.'' The king replied, ''I see. Unfortunately, we seem to have run out of time for breakfast. I'd like you to gather at the stables, as my daughter and I will prepare ourselves.'' Some guards then rose to guide them to the stables. Ymir frowned, observing how eager the guards seemed to bring them there. Armin rose, feeling it would be for the best to cooperate for the time being. Jean and Ymir hesitated before following his example.
Krista stared at her father, getting a funny feeling. ''Daddy?'' she asked, and her father looked up. ''Is there something wrong, sweetie?'' he asked. As she was about to reply, she could swear she heard some muffled screams, followed by complete silence. ''Nothing father.'' she said, before returning her attention to her plate. Her father smirked, before finishing his tea.
''Holy Titan.'' Hanji suddenly said, as they were still heading towards the great wall of Sina. They had succesfully avoided Marshall Fubar, and Erwin prayed they would be able to force their way through the gate. Hanji's sudden exclemation had startled Connie and Sasha, but Erwin seemed to be smiling about her enthousiastic outburst. ''Did you spot a titan?'' he asked her. ''No. I was just thinking, it'll take at least half a day to arrive at the gates from wall Sina. Who knows what kind of wicked plan Levi has come up with, and I don't want to miss it!'' she said, before speeding up a little. Erwin smirked, before ordering the cadets to do the same.
''How long before we get there? We've been walking for at least an hour.'' Eren complained, causing both Mikasa and Levi to shush him. ''Not so loud, Yeager. Someone might hear.'' Levi hissed, before whispering, ''It would take us at least another half an hour to get there, and that's if we keep making progress like we just did. The real trouble is what we'll have to face there.'' Mikasa nodded, then resumed walking, and Levi did the same. 'The real question is what the others have been doing until now. God knows what Ymir's antics may be.' Eren thought, before following the other two.
Levi thought something similar. He couldn't imagine the three imprisoned cadets wouldn't try anything. That was just not their style, but, knowing Armin, it would have been chosen with tact. If it had been anyone else, say Connie, or Sasha, they would have planned for Ymir to become a titan and just flee. Levi wasn't even sure they would find the captives at the celebration. What if the king left them heavily guarded in the dungeons of the castle? Levi shook his head, the king would require nearly all of his guards at the celebration.
There simply wouldn't be enough guards to supervise the cadets as well. 'What if they've executed them already?' Levi's mind wondered. Somehow, he refused to believe that. As they drew near to an illuminated area, Levi looked up, before over-hearing two guards talking on the upper levels. He stopped, and as Mikasa looked at him, wondering what caused the abrupt stop, he pointed up, and the three of them listened in.
''So, the king has found more titan-shifters? How many more do you think the Survey hides from us?'' a male voice said. ''My guess is they hired plenty. I think their missions were just to feed these monsters, instead of fighting with real titans.'' another voice replied. Levi's fists clenched, how dare they talk about the corps like that. Those deaths were sacrifices for the good of humanity.
''Did you hear some men of the corps entered wall Sina last night? They took out Mike, and scared the shit out of Neil. I think they are here to save their fellows before they dare to attack us.'' Mikasa shook her head, and Eren was about to start shouting something, but Mikasa quickly put her hand over his mouth.
''Anyhow, why would the king bring them to the celebration today?'' the first voice asked. ''Maybe to lure those others out, and to kill all six of them on the spot. Even if they don't show up, it would be for the best to execute the imprisoned ones today. Better safe then sorry.'' Eren bit Mikasa's hand, who refused to let go, preventing her friend from starting a ruckus. ''Eren, calm down. If we start now, we won't be able to save Armin.'' she whispered angrily. Eren sighed against her palm, but before Mikasa could say something, Levi turned around and whispered, ''We better hurry. The earlier we arrive, the sooner we'll be able to save our friends, before things can get out of control.'' before firmly stepping towards the exit.
Jean groaned as he opened his eyes. He tried to move his hands, but it seemed they were stuck. As he looked around, he noticed Armin and Ymir were still unconsious and tied to chairs, and Jean assumed he had shared the same fate. There were plenty of people staring at them, as if they were animals. Jean spotted the king, instructing a few guards that surrounded Christa, before the king walked to the center of the stage. 'Wasn't Armin supposed to give a speech? What use are we, if we're like this? Does this king even think about anything aside from his status?' Jean wondered, as the king scratched his head, before speaking up.
''Good afternoon, beloved citizens from wall Sina. It's a pleasure to see you gathered here to enjoy this celebration with me. It has been yet another year that the titans have not reached wall Sina-'' Suddenly the king's voice dropped, ''But I fear I have some dire news regarding this matter.'' These words caused many people to talk, and Jean picked up a few unkind words. As soon as the king resumed speaking, the commoners listened eagerly to whatever he had to say, ''As most of my court knows, circumstances have forced me to make the decision to disband the Survey corps.'' Jean's eyes widened at this, why would the king disband humanity's only protection!
Just now, Ymir woke up as well, glowering at the king when she spotted how desperate Christa seemed to be. ''Armin, wake up.'' Jean hissed, hoping the blond would wake up and come up with a plan to help them. Much to Jean's dismay, Armin's state remained one of unconsiousness. ''Why would you disband the survey?'' a brave fool asked the king, and Ymir narrowed her eyes, as she whispered to Jean, ''What's this bullshit about the corps being disbanded?'' Jean whispered back, ''I don't know. We'll have to hear him out.'' He hissed once more, ''Armin, wake up. We need you.''
''That's a very sharp question, my good man.'' the king replied, a smirk present on his face. ''You may have heard about the trial of a certain shifter named Eren Yeager. Recently, two more members of the survey have been executed at the charge of being Titan shifters. Their names were Bertholdt Hoover and Reiner Braun.'' the king explained. The people let out an ''oooh?'' before he could continue, ''We fear that commander Erwin Smith may have hidden a few more secrets, and for the safety of humanity we had to take the precautionary measure of disbanding his organisation. After Marshall Fubar had informed them of this, three members of the survey entered the city yesterday evening in a rather rude and demanding manner.''
'What?' Jean thought. The people couldn't be seriously buying this shit, could they? He also wondered who would have entered the city, and what would be their real reason to come here. As the king told more stories to paint the survey in a bad light, Levi, Mikasa and Eren finally made their way out of the tunnel, and were now listening in as they stood behind a large building. ''What in the world is this baffoon going on about? Can't we just go there and kill him.'' Eren asked. ''I wish, and I'd also wish you'd keep your buffoons and babboons separated.'' Levi said, before explaining, ''We can't attack him recklessly, we'll only get one clean shot at this.'' Miksa shook her head, before saying, ''We can join the crowd. It may gain us easy acces to the stage, if they 'capture' us.'' she then took a few steps, and blended in with the back of the crowd.
''Anyhow, going back to those dratted ex-survey members who entered the city.'' the king said, and Mikasa froze in her tracks. ''I believe they have come here to save these rascalls that we've imprisoned. Once they would have saved them, my guess is that they would have created havoc, and attacked us no matter the consequenses.'' the king said. ''Oh, no.'' A woman said, sounding genuinely scared. When Mikasa looked, she saw the older woman, gasping and seemingly horrified. ''Therefore we have brought these prisoners. Usually we do this where no one can see us, but I fear we've to execute them here and now. Maybe it'll draw out the others, maybe it won't. But we can't allow their existence to threathen us any longer.'' the king spoke.
Ymir grimaced, and Jean was horrified. Christa screamed in denial as she fell to the ground, but the guards surrounding her dragged her off, and before Mikasa could even react, a cable flew past her, then Levi suddenly landed on the stage, Eren going in right after him. ''Stop this nonsense this instance.'' Levi said, as he kicked the king down, and pointed his blade at the king's face. The guards aimed their guns at them, but Levi merely shrugged and said, ''I'll come clean with you. If you mess up what's mine, I'll personally cut you in half and feed you to Eren over there in his titan form.''