Disclaimer: I do not own SNK (AOT). This is just fan made fun. Enjoy!
Graduation
Artemis stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her long Trainee Corps jacket wrapped around her snugly as she stared out over the 104th trainee graduates. She smiled, looking from person to person as she named the top ten off in her head.
First we have Mikasa Ackerman, second Reiner Braun, third Bertholdt Fubar, fourth Annie Leonhardt, fifth Eren Jaeger, sixth Jean Kirschstein, seventh Marco Bodt, eighth Connie Springer, ninth Sasha Braus, and tenth Christa Renz.
Artemis allowed the 'I told you so' look spread across her face as Jaeger's eyes made contact with her own. His head tilted a bit, but his serious expression never moved. He was a good kid, and he was going to make a great cadet. Regardless of whether he still wants to join the Legion or not, I think I'll always have some amount of respect for him...
They were soon loudly congradulated and wished luck, and then disbanded for whatever they had planned for their last night as Trainees. Artemis stepped away from the other instructors, holding a hand out to Jaeger as she approached him. "I told you you'd all make it through. Congratulations, to all of you."
Jaeger shook her hand, a twinkle of gratitude present in his eyes. Then she proceeded to shake and congradulate everyone else who hadn't immediately sprinted away, stopping at Mikasa lastly.
"I expected no less then first from you, Ackerman." She smiled.
The teen nodded, the tiniest of smiles crossing her lips. "I had a good teacher."
"That you did." Artemis laughed, pulling the girl into a small embrace. "Good luck to you and your friends, wherever you all might be heading."
"Hey, Wilde, why you packing so soon?" One of her roommates inquired, giving her a strange look.
"As I've mentioned, I only had leave for a week, and if I can get back before tomorrow, then I will do so."
The instructor scoffed. "Oh please, you just worked your ass off. You got one more day, right? So use it, stay another night and come drinking with the rest of us. Unless, you know, you think your better then the rest of us..."
Artemis sighed, looking down at her already neatly packed bag. I guess I really don't have to return tonight... Sighing again she turned around. "I guess I can stay another night, besides, I have to return the coat anyways, right?"
Artemis woke up, her head aching like hell from the alcohol she'd consumed the night before. What the hell am I doing under the bed? She thought incoherently, staring up at the wooden underside of her bed. Or at least, she hoped it was her bed.
She slid carefully out from under, the sun shining in through the small window. Pulling herself up she looked around, surprised to see that no one else was in the room. Shrugging it off, she picked up her travel bag that was thankfully still at the foot of her bed.
Looking down at herself for a moment she inspected her uniform. A little dusty, but it would probably do for another day, right? Artemis rubbed her eyes, stumbling out of he dorm and towards the stables where she found the instructor that had convinced her to stay past out beside the trough. Concealing a giggle she nudged them awake with her boot lightly.
"Hey, wake up, lazy ass. You don't want Shardis to find you like this, do ya?" She teased in a low tone, knowing they must have one hell of a headache.
They murmered something, rolling over and smacking their head against the wooden wall. "Ouch, dammit!"
Artemis exhaled a small laugh, shaking her head as she began saddling up Finnie. "That's what happens when you drink irresponsibly."
"Oh shut up. We deserved it didn't we?" The muttered, sitting up and leaning against the wall. "I mean, we had to do just as much work as them brats, huh?"
"Huh." She mumbled under her breath, squeezing her eyes shut as she leaned against her horse. "Oh, Finnie, never let me drink again..."
The horse snorted as if in agreance, making Artemis smile. "Thanks, bud, good to know someone's got my back." She chuckled, running a hand across his back in a petting motion.
"Who the hell names their horse 'Finnie'?"
"A twelve year old girl, apparently." Artemis replied, tightening the saddle, so it was snug, but not tight enough to pinch. "Besides, there are some people that don't even name their horses. Which personally, I think is just plain rude."
The other instructor laughed. "Of course you would... Well," the said getting up, and dusting off their white pants to no avail. "It was a pleasure working beside you and all, but I need to go throw up somewhere. Have a nice day."
Artemis watched with faint humour as they stumbled and tripped towards the dorms. Turning back to Finnie, she paused, looking at her arm. Shit, I'm still wearing my instructor jacket. She began to let out a long sigh, then stopped. "Maybe they won't noti-"
Loud noises and horrific screams cut her off mid sentence. The entire sobriety that reached her ears sounding painfully familiarly. Trost was under attack.
A/N: Chapter 15: My Burden To Bear will not be coming out until I finish chapter 16 so I want to put them out together because they are a two part breakdown of what happens to Trost. More to the point, I do hope to update soon and until then, farewell!