"...rest here...Be a while...they catch up"
The soft voices reached Rie's ears as she regains consciousness.She felt herself being carried and then being put down in a rough surface
'..a branch..?' Rie deduced
After being fully conscious, Rie opens her eyes to see Bertholdt and Reiner standing atop a branch across from hers
Recalling the events before she lost her consciousness,she remained calm and scanned her surroundings.
She first looked at herself.Her clothes are a bit burnt but the important parts are still covered. Despite being grabbed a giant burning hot hand, her skin is still there.
She noticed she can't move her arms nor her legs.She is tied up.
Next she scanned the area around her,making little to no sound of her being awake to not alert her two capturers.
They're inside the forest. It's the forest of Giant trees.The other branch behind Berthodlt and Reiner, is Eren and Ymir.Both are still unconscious.Their arms and legs had been cut.
'They're wounded.They can just transform right? Even if you cut their arms and legs, they can just transform once their legs are healed and run back to the Wall'.She looked below and retracted her initial thought.
'Never mind.There are titans below...Who knows if they can escape with this many.Not to mention,they're healing. I don't know if that affects their titan form.If they only have their legs to run, how can they defend themselves?
...I also don't have my gun.It was strapped to my back..Did they dispose of it? So that I have no means of defending myself in titan-infested territory if I did escape.
Now, the real question is..why did they capture me?'She glanced at the two who is currently resting.The sun's still out but it will probably set anytime soon.
'Are they going to continue to run once the sun sets?..Of course, titans don't move around much at night.This is also an opportunity for us to escape but as I said, Both of them might not be able to transform with the condition they're in.Reiner and Bertholdt also has 3DMG'
"Hey." Rie's voice caught their attention.
"Mind telling me...Why'd you capture me as well? As far as I know, I do not transform into a titan. I'm just a human."
Silence answered her question.The two only stared at her,not willing to speak. Though, Bertholdt is the only one who looks at her funny as if there is something uncomfortable he found out about her.
"You...who are you?...That time! When I grabbed you, my hand is emitting steam..and the spot in my hand where you laid,slowly disappears..It's like...I'm not allowed to touch you...Just who are you?" Berthodlt spoke out.His face is confused mixed with a bit of fear.
"...So you do talk although...that didn't answer my question" Rie remains calm. She looks at them as if they do not hold any threat to her.
"...We don't know. The one who asked to take you back with us is Annie. She never said why but recovering you is just as important as our mission in recovering Eren.Maybe even more,she says..So I'll repeat Bert's question.. Who are you?" Reiner explains to Rie.He didn't mind her stare at them.
"So you admit Annie Leonhart is an accomplice of yours"
"You'll know it sooner or later when we take you back anyways..as soon as we get in contact with her"
'She's looking for you' Rie recalls Annie's words to her.The girl she is talking about. Rie doubt the two men knows who the girl is.
...Maybe it's better for her to go back with them and find out this girl's identity.
"...maybe it really is her" Rie mutters
The two looked at her in confusion
"Hey!..Well??"
Rie returns her attention to the two and looks at them with deadpan eyes
"..Didn't catch it before? I'm Rie Vricht..Captain Rie for you but..guess you don't need to call me that since you two are not soldiers anymore"She looks at the side clearly being carefree
"That's not what we meant! Who are you? Why did Annie told us to take you back to our hometown? She said you are just as important as our mission.Failing to get you means we fail being warriors!"Reiner shouts out
"...How should I know? Why don't you ask Leonhart?"
Rie glanced a look at them.Based on their uncomfortable and silent expressions, They still haven't known that Leonhart is locked up.They were not told of the mission that day and Annie didn't expect that we were suspicious of her so there was no way of informing them.
"...We'll ask her once we get in contact with her.For now, we'll wait until sunset then we'll continue"
"Then It'll be a while"Rie says,looking at the open grass field.
While waiting for countless hours,Ymir already woke up,asked some questions but Reiner told her to wait until Eren wakes up too.
After some time,Eren wakes up as well.Much different from Rie,He woke up in a panic realizing his whereabouts and his current state of being armless and legless
(Skipping the conversation between Reiner,Bertholdt,Ymir and Eren)
Throughout the whole ordeal, Rie silently listened.
Then Berthodlt saw the familiar flares of the Survey Corps.
"Reiner!" He called out
"Our opponents are persistent" He says as he uses the gear to go over to Eren.Eren notices this and panics.
"Wh-What is up,Reiner? It's not night yet..."Eren backs away from him.
"It's fine. We're leaving.Don't put up any resistance,alright?"
"...Hey.No need to act so violent.I'm in this condition after all" Reiner lets his guard down for a moment and Eren seized this chance to punch him using his stub.
They fought for a while and Eren seemed to exhaust himself and fell in a deep sleep.Reiner proceeded to tie him on his back.Bertholdt went to get Rie.Reiner and Bertholdt used the gears to escape through the forest
"My titan is slow-footed.If we got surrounded, I won't be able to protect you guys" Reiner said
"Then why didn't we wait until nighttime?!" Ymir's voice boomed.It seems that Ymir noticed the flares since she went quiet.
"No way...It can't be...No.It's her...REINER!! IT'S KRISTA! If you're going to take her, now is the time!"Ymir suddenly shouted once again
"How would you know?! You couldn't have seen her!" Reiner shouts back
"I know! She's a good person,to idiotic extremes! She came to save me!"
"Even if that's the case, It's impossible now! We'll wait for another opportunity!Wait for your chance!"
"Like after I'm devoured by your warriors?! No way! I don't trust you!"
Rie's ears perked up. 'devoured '
"Trust us! We need Krista as well!"
"Then do it now! Prove it to me! I want to see her.Right now..." Rie can hear the pain in Ymir's voice.
"I'm sorry Ymir" Bertholdt told her
Then Rie felt Bertholdt shake since she is being carried by him
"Ymir! Stop it! We'll fall"He says
"I know the geography here the best.Don't you think I'm the one in charge? I can turn into a titan and it might not be as strong as yours but I can move quickly.
I can even take Eren and Rie from you guys and go back to the Survey Corps.If you don't take Krista right now, I will get in your way"Ymir threatens them
"Don't get angry.I have a plan.I'll fight as well so it'll be easier to fight...OR SHOULD WE KILL EACH OTHER INSTEAD?!!"
•••
In the end,they went with Ymir's plan.Reiner and Bertholdt were waiting for Ymir on a branch near to the exit of the forest.
Rie is still at the side,tied up.
"Wow, the tide turns so fast.You were the capturers but you were threatened by the captured" Rie spoke after a moment of silence and as usual they did not give any reply to her.
"Hey. Remove these things,will ya?" Rie looks at them with a dead serious stare.
"So you can escape and go back to the Survey Corps? Come on, Captain, we're not dumb"Reiner answers her
"Ahh really?" Her voice having a tint of sarcasm "Anyway, What I mean is...I decided I'll go to your hometown whatever. You won't find me escaping anytime soon."
"Sorry,Captain, but we do not trust that you will do that.After all, Eren is special to you.You would never let him go with us"
"First of all, stop saying Eren is special to me.Sounds gross.Second, If you free me, I'll show you I'm willing to come with you and help you fight them."
Both men stared at her.
"Sorry,Captain" Bertholdt says just before Ymir comes to their view.
Reiner prepares to wound himself and transform.
"Hm.Your loss."
Ymir arrived and clinged to the armored titan's shoulder and on the other is Bertholdt with Eren on his back and Rie on his side
The Survey Corps. emerged from the forest with a pack of titans just right behind them.
'Damn.Of course Erwin would come up with that idea'
Rie hears the conversation between Krista and Ymir but she doesn't care enough to pay attention to it.
Rie sensed that Eren is shuffling,concluding he has woken.A Survey Corps soldier managed to get close but not before Ymir's titan grabbed it's wire and tossed him,hitting the ground on his back giving him instant death.
Mikasa swooped in and managed to slice Ymir's eye.Her eyes moved to Bertholdt who held Rie and Eren.She hooked herself to the Armored Titan's shoulder and swung at Bertholdt
Berthodlt,knowing he is the target, runs to the Armored Titan's neck.
"Reiner!! Protect us!!" He shouts and the Armored Titan hurriedly covered it's neck with both of it's hands,protecting Bertholdt.Mikasa's blade snapped upon meeting the armor. She was forced to back away when Ymir tried to hit her.
"As I thought, First, I have to kill Ymir!!"Mikasa decided but before she can attack , she was stopped by Krista.
"Wait!! Mikasa!"
Mikasa tumbles over Krista and landed on the back of the armored titan's head.
While they are fighting, the others have gathered on Reiner's hand.Mikasa goes there and pleads.
"Berthodlt!! Give them back!"
Rie hears Mikasa but she closes her eyes and says nothing.She had already decided to go with them and that means leaving them all.
"It's a lie,right?! Were you fooling us all along?!...That's cruel" Connie asks
"Bertholdt, it was so artistic,how terrible you look when you sleep.We would look forward to your next masterpiece every morning and guess the weather on that day...but...you sure do slept soundly...considering you were the perpetrator..."
'Right...They're the ones who destroyed Wall Maria...They're the ones responsible...for...Angelica's death' Rie slowly opens her eyes.She looked at the guilt-ridden face of Bertholdt.
'There's something I can do' Rie quietly and carefully fiddles with something on her waist.She carefully slips out her knife,looking at Berthodlt from time to time. Using her fingers, she moved the knife up and down to cut the rope that bounds her wrists together.
"Who do you think is okay with all of this?!!"
She got surprised from Bertholdt's outburst but nonetheless continued cutting the rope.
"GET AWAY FROM THERE, YOU GUYS!! Erwin, He's leading the titans here!!"
Rie finally cuts the rope from her wrists.All that's left is the rope on her feet but there's no other way to cut it without alerting the guy who is holding her like a sack.
Rie felt an earthquake or rather a hundred giant footsteps parading around them.
'Truly Erwin's idea.'
"CHARGE!!!" She hears his voice.
Upon the darkness, she sees the light.By light,she means the sun.Reiner released his protective hands from Bertholdt and used to fend off the titans around them
Rie's eyes widen at the amount of titans surrounding them...but there is no time to gawk.She should act now.
Her eyes wandered to the Survey Corps.Her eyes widen once more when she saw Erwin being dragged by a titan from his arm
"ADVANCE!!"He commanded and they obeyed
Mikasa was the first to reach them.She hooked on the Armored Titan and swooped in to kill Bertholdt but he hurriedly evaded her attack.
Mikasa missed and she flew into the hands of a titan.It crushed her body and she screams in pain.
"Aah!!"
"Mikasa!!!" Rie shouts in panic
"Let go of her!!" Jean appears and stabbed both of the titan's eyes out
Rie glares at Bertholdt and helds her knife tightly,ready to attack.
Two soldiers appears and targets Bertholdt but their wires is hit by the Armored Titan's hand.
"We've come this far! We're taking them back to our hometown!"
"Is that so?"
Bertholdt stiffened at the hand on his shoulder.Then he felt the heavy weight and Rie moved quickly.
Rie ,with her knife, stabbed Bertholdt on his chest and dragged it down to his waist,cutting the cloth that tied him and Eren.
Eren fell and Mikasa managed to catch him before any titan does.She waited for Rie but her words stunned her.
"RETREAT!!!!All of you,Retreat!!!"She shouts loud enough for all of them to hear her.
Some of them still stunned on what she said but Rie looked Erwin who is back on his horse and a nod was given.
"All units,Retreat!!"Erwin commanded and some hesitantly followed.
"Commander!! What about Rie?!" Mikasa asks
"She wants us to retreat.I'm sure she did that so none of us have any more losses than we already have"
"But-"
"I trust that she wouldn't get herself killed" Erwin cuts her off.He remembers her words from before
You'll die first before me.I'll make sure of that'
He takes one last look at Rie who is hanging on to Bertholdt before the sight gets covered by a bunch of titans.He looked forward once more.
Then a titan crashed infront of them.
"That Reiner...He's throwing titans at us!" Jean said pissed
Rie is still hanging onto Bertholdt but the sudden movement of the armored titan forced her to let go and drop her knife.
She managed to grabbed Bertholdt's foot but the bad news is she is within the reach of the titans.Her feet are still bound and she dropped her knife.
'Great fucking day!'
Bertholdt keeps swinging and since she is also holding on to him,she is being swung quite forcefully.The Armored titan is throwing titans.
Her hands slipped and she fell.
On her way down, she hit some titans but not one managed to catch her at least.Her head is hurting and she feels tired.She was ready to meet the ground in incredible pain.
But before that could happen, a pair of arms grabbed her and carried her.The person rode on a horse and they ride away from the commotion and finally Rie closed her eyes and lost consciousness.
•••
"What do you mean she's not here?" Levi asks the three childhood friends when they went back.
He notices the usual White-haired woman is not with them though at first he brushed it off as nothing since she tends to wander off somewhere else.
But after a few minutes of resting, he decided to ask her three friends.Upon asked,They all looked down unable to answer.Only Armin responded that Rie is not here.
"...Rie was not with us when we came back.She...freed Eren so that we can get him but once we got him, She told us to retreat."Armin answers him once more.
"And so you did left her behind?" Levi asks as he grows irritated at the actions of the said missing woman
"We didn't want to! But Commander Erwin ordered us to do so and to trust in Rie"Mikasa answers him.She is worried for Rie.She does trust Rie but it doesn't change the fact that she is deathly worried of her.
If this was Eren, she would never leave him behind in the first place no matter what he says but Rie is their Captain and she is skilled and knows how to survive.Ever since they were kids, Rie didn't need help and can do things on her own.She trusts Rie to be alive.
"Get my horse ready. I'm going to conduct a search mission" Levi orders a nearby soldier who saluted and went off to get his horse
"Corporal!! Your leg is still healing!" A soldier exclaimed but Levi didn't care
"I'll go with you!" Mikasa exclaims
"Not you too! You just got your ribs broken!"
"I'm fine"
"I'll go too" Eren said
"No.You just got back from being captured and you want to go outside to give them another chance in taking you? Even Rie wouldn't like that. You will stay here" Levi glared at him.
Eren shuts up and thought to himself.He is right,Rie wouldn't want that and he could just imagine what she's going to say
"Dumbass.I just fucking saved you and risked my life just so you could go back to the Walls and here you are being the dumb fuck you are...What?..You were worried for me?...(punch or a kick ,Eren doesn't know either)...Are you saying you don't believe I can survive? Huhhh?? Are you underestimating me again??
Yeah.She'll probably say those.
"I'll go.Mikasa, you can stay"Armin raises his hand
"I said I'm fine"Mikasa says as she is determined to go
"We're not wasting anymore time until you decide who's going with who.We're just searching for one troublesome brat,not looking for a fight with a titan.Let's go"
Levi rides on his horse and Armin and Mikasa followed
•••
and yeaaaahhh I'ts been 4months sorryyy
Graduation happened andd then it's summerrr
though I'll probably be busy this time as well :((
I'm improving my drawing skills as much as I can since I love art and decided to pursue it as a career.
Writing is just a hobby for me so i'm sorry for not being a great writer.
anyway enough about me,
So after this chapter, It will branch off from the canon story and finally to Rie's own story
also Sorry if there might be details that are missing or there are loopholes. I'm not a great writer, I just want tell a story :0
also also when i started this story, I didn't want any ships with Rie that I would do.There are moments but it does not go any further than that
Not that I don't like Romance but I remember reading a story I like but the canon couple is not something I like
Of course, I respect the author's wishes with anything to do with her characters and I still read the story cuz its good but you just have this uncomfortable feeling while reading it
So I didn't bother putting ships in my story
Why am I saying this? Hoho, I'm sure it's pretty obvious.I guess I'm changing my mind.
But it's not too much Romance that it blocks the plot of the story (you know like how the romance is kind of pointless and doesn't contribute to the character nor to the plot)
Also also also I don't like "sudden love" (like literally nothing happened then they just suddenly fell in love)
I'd like things to be slow.Give em a moment. and etc
so um yeah :DD
hint: there are 5 of them
hint hint: they are now shown in the story
hint hint hint: all of them already had a moment with Rie and is shown in the story
hint (4x): Out of 5 of them, 1 Rie already loves
hint (last one I swear): Rie is bisexual (I mentioned this in one of my arts of her)