Alright guys and gals, the Trost Arc begins now. GuineapigsOP, glad to see ya again, you're getting your wish. There be divergence, but not to the point of completely changing the story. Will be quite a long Arc, and afterward, we will begin the Female Titan arc. As usual, drop a review and tell me your thoughts. Let Us Begin.

Trost- Parallels

Cannon duty was boring as all hell, there was no other way of putting it. James and quite a few of the other recently graduated soldiers were given orders to clean and maintain the cannons set atop the wall facing away from Wall Rose. You think they would've received some free time for their recent accomplishment, but even newbies weren't spared a break.

James was working alongside Connie and Eren, talking about how things were back home with their families. He couldn't really put in his thoughts, because Sasha, who was a few feet away, was his only family. But the rest of them were pretty much his family now, in his eyes. He hoped at least some viewed him the same way, he knew Connie, Eren and Reiner all did. Then again Reiner was a big brother to them all, but that didn't damper James thoughts.

"Yeah she's proud that I had what it took, but she still worries about what I want to do now. Her and Mikasa worry too much you know? I keep trying to tell them both that it'll be alright, that things have changed from back then." He heard Eren tell Connie.

James was glad to hear about Eren's mother giving her son praise on becoming a certified soldier, though she still worried about his fate as a scout. He understood, but couldn't relate personally. His parents though loving, raised him to be a warrior without his knowledge. Had he known, he probably never would've become one. It was the only path for someone like him, and he only realized it when he tried to return home.

But he was glad in a bittersweet way that they did, because it gave him a sense of pride. It had made him strong, strong enough to keep on living. Though he couldn't really share it aloud, he knew they would be proud of him now, after all these years. His friends were proud of him, from Annie and Sash to Krista and even Ymir to an extent. Though the later was more of a less sarcastic acknowledgment than general praise.

"Well be glad to hear it dude, she's got her heart in the right place as a mom. It's only natural for her to worry, Eren. Mikasa too, since she's your sister. Don't think of it as annoying, trust me. It's the kind of thing you want to hear when something like this happens." The end comes off as a bit bitter, but there's no anger at Eren.

He just wishes he could hear it from his own parents.

"Hey James, I'm sorry if I-" Eren tries to tell him, but gets cut off.

"No, it's, it's fine. I'm just not feeling good today, don't mind me." James says brushing off Erens guilt. Eren watches him for a moment, before quietly asking him

"Is it because today's the Anniversary" James stays silent, his mind somewhere else as he just stares out at Trost with empty eyes. '5 Years, has it really passed that fast?' A memory rises from the depths of his mind, an unpleasant one.

5 years ago, Shinganshina

Wails were heard throughout the city, dusk had fallen by then. The city was silent aside from the pained sounds coming from the Titan holding 3 humans in its hands, laying them side by side. Two adults and a child, a small girl. All of them had been crushed by rubble, though at different times and places, but the result was the same. The ground was pulled away as claws tore at three spots, large enough for the bodies.

With the utmost care, it laid each body into their holes and pulled the dirt over them. It sat there on its knees, just staring at the graves of its family, staring at nothing. The Titan and the shifter inside felt only two things an overwhelming sense of loss...and an unbearably hot rage. A desire wormed its way into the front of his mind, the desire to kill.

He noticed he could hear a few titans approaching, their footsteps telling him they only stood maybe 8 meters at most. He rose to look at them and his vision went red. His slit pupil eyes narrowed in absolute hate, and he screamed in rage as he charged without pause. He tore at their bodies with his claws, caring not for hand to hand combat. He only wanted to tear them apart with sheer ferocity, ripping out napes with his teeth, or crushing them with his feet.

One larger 14 meter lumbered its way towards where the graves were and he ran towards it on all fours. His claws tore earth out as he leaped and landed on the Titan, his claws pierced its body and he remembered tearing chunks of its body with his mouth, like some savage animal.

He wanted to taste its flesh, for it to feel his pain. He stabbed at its chest and pulled out, ripping it nearly in half. He tore out its nape and swallowed it, still hovering over its body like a wolf. He reared his head back and roared at the sky, a terrible vengeful cry of distraught loss. He rose and walked back to the gate, where on the other side more of the monsters and maybe even the one responsible for his sister's death lie in wait. His walk turned into a jog, and then into an all out sprint at the possibility of avenging them all. His mind went blank as he crossed the entrance, and one thought stayed in his mind: Kill.

End.

Trost Year 850

He's brought back to Eren's words when he notices the boy is still standing by him. he shakes his head and tells him "It's alright Eren, I'm just remembering it all. It's hard to believe its already been 5 years, alot's happened since then."

"True but even then we all saw something we thought we would never even think of," Eren says with a lighter tone.

"And that is?" James asks.

"Well, I mean we saw a Titan fighting its own kind. Hell, that's why I'm here right now, why my mom's alive. It helped me and saved my mom when she was trapped. I saw that things can change when you least expect them, either bad to good. If it weren't for that strange Titan, I would've been carried away with Mikasa by Mr. Hannes. But it came and helped get us to the gate. I can never thank it, because we never saw it after we got on the boats. But if I ever saw it again, I just hope it would fight for us again." Eren explains with a bit of excitement.

James wants to laugh, bitterly because he can't tell him that he was the titan, but he also wants to reassure him that he might see him when they all become scouts. The expeditions they go out on would give him ample chance to shift and fight without being caught. But it would take careful planning, which James was good at since he's kept his secret from them all this long.

James was brought out of his musings by seeing Sasha approach the group, hiding something in her jacket. He already has a bad feeling, and its confirmed when she brings out a slab of meat that only the higher-ranking officers got to see. James and the rest of the group widen their eyes at the girl, not believing what they're seeing. Immediately panic sets in, though they all try to keep from making a scene.

"Sasha, what the fuck? Are you crazy? You trying to get arrested when you just graduated?!" James exclaims as quietly as he could without drawing attention. He knew she was crazed for food, but this was too far, not to mention too damn risky.

But the girl has a glazed look in her eyes as she tells them "What guys, it's just a little bit of meat. Once we get more land we can raise more cattle. No one will even notice that it's gone. Cmon, who wants some, I'm willing to share if you keep it a secret."

James sighs in resignation, knowing full well they all would want a piece. James himself could smell the meat, probably beef, and knew he wanted a taste of the good stuff. But maybe it'll turn out alright, maybe they won't all get caught. The wind is slowing down, and it's quite a serene sight looking out at the city from this high up. It could be better today, because he had Annie, his friends, and the knowledge that he is now a certified soldier to the people in the walls. But he's still a warrior in his heart, and he knows his parents would say the same if they could see him now. 'Yeah, today isn't all bad. Maybe-'

But his thoughts are stopped when a massive flash happens close by, and all the cadets turn to see a form towering almost taller than the wall they're stationed at. Skinless blood red, teeth and muscle exposed in a grisly manner, and the eyes. The same eyes that stared out at Shinganshina 5 years ago. The same eyes that had a blank look that betrays a hint of guilt as it stares at them. No one moves, paralyzed by the sight before them... All except James. He stared at it with anger. Before him stood the reason he was here at all, the reason he was a warrior, the reason he was an orphan.

The Colossal Titan had reappeared. Hell had returned, and it was today.