Hey guys, here is the next update of this fanfiction. Hope you have enjoyed the read so far and now we are in SEASON TWO territory.

Enjoy the read.

Chapter Cover : Sarah on the ground on a horse as multiple Titans were reaching down toward her.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Invasion

I was bored.

There was no other way of saying it.

With the main people of the Scout Regiment out toward the interior with Eren along with Mikasa and Armin, the rest of us where staying in an old Scout building on stand by. It wasn't uncommon for soldier to be on stand by when there is nothing going on, however, we were not given any order and were told to stay in our civilian clothes despite the hot sun that was shining down form the sky out of the window.

The mess hall was filled with the rest of the new recruits that were with us and I was seating in the room looking out toward the window at the empty lands in front of me. My attention was drawn toward a blonde woman who was on the rooftops dressed in her uniform. I stared at the woman, recognizing her as Nanaba, one of our superiors in charge of us here. She had only introduced herself when we arrived here some hours ago along with the other leader that was given command over us, Miche, one of the tallest men I have ever seen.

Letting out a soft hum, I turned my gaze toward the room that I was in with the rest of the group. They were little conversation going on around us as most of the Cadets were simply bored out of their mind given that we were not allowed to train and there was even some that were lying down upon the table they were seating on and sleeping and even I was starting to feel the boredom of the situation we were in right now. If I had known that this was going to be what we are going to do then I would have asked Eren and the guys if I could come as well.

Thinking about the group, however, it made me think about the real reason Eren was going to the Interior of Wall Sina and being used as bait again for that Female Titan that I fought in the forest. From the way the trio had reacted when I brought it up, they had figured out who she was but then again, Armin seems to have been the one who figured out who that Female Titan really was.

And that she was part of our class.

Considering the carnage she created during her entire attack while we were outside the Walls, I would say that she is in league with the Colossal and Armored Titan as well.

It was a grim way of thinking, and we have three spies within the Walls rather than just simply two then I first thought but then again, I had only thought that my Titan along with the Colossal and Armored were the only ones that existed but then Eren revealed that he could transform and then the Female Titan appeared…

Just how many of us are they out there hiding in plain sight?

I let out a sigh again, glancing out toward the window again taking notice of the soldiers out there. I stared at them, wondering as to why we were told to be staying in only our civilian clothing. While I can understand that we were still recovering from the Expedition but that was no reason to ground all of us rookies into a single room just for that.

There was something going on and I didn't like being in the dark. Letting out a soft hum I turned my attention toward the flute case that was on the table beside my arm. I had taken it earlier so that I could play some notes mainly to pass the time, but the boredom had taken the winds out of the sails of that idea.

It's not like playing the flute is going to cure my boredom.

"That was a pretty big sigh," a familiar voice told me.

I turned my gaze toward it finding Berthold there along with Reiner.

"Hey guys," I said, taking notice of the bag that Bert had under his arm, "What you've got there?"

"A gameboard," Berthold said, "Given the situation…I think it would be a good way to past the time…want to join us?"

I chuckled.

"Well, it's not like I have anything better to do," I told him, "I'm game."

"Sure, let's seat around here," Reiner said, "Sasha and Connie are at an empty table over there."

I stood up joining the two boys making my way toward where Connie and Sasha were. The two clowns of the 104th were feeling the boredom of the situation as well as they were glazed in the eyes from where they were seating and Connie didn't even glanced at us as we all took a seat around where they were. Berthold opened the bag and pulled out the boardgame from within it as well as the pieces.

"Huh?" Reiner said, "Chess eh…?"

"Armin would probably love this," I said, "Never played any before."

Berthold had placed the pieces in position and Reiner was across him.

"I'll have first game," he said, "That should give you an idea of how to play."

I nodded at him and the two started on their game.

"I never knew you played," I told the blonde guy.

Reiner laughed.

"Yeah, not something that I like to brag about," he said, "But it keeps my mind sharp about making decisions on the field."

"So you're using chess as a way to simulate situations?" I asked frowning lightly.

"Yep," Reiner said, "At least that way, when I lost a pawn in chess, it's not the lives of our fellow soldiers."

I looked at the duo that were playing chess and I paid attention to the game they were playing. It was still better than just simply seating within this hall being bored out of my mind about whatever was happening in the forest.

"Sarah, something I wanted to ask you," Berthold said after a few moments of silence drawing my eyes toward him, "Where did you go after the retreat signal?"

I gave the young man a confused glance.

"Back at the Forest of Giant trees," he asked, "We were given the retreat and yet before any of us realize it, you weren't there anymore. If Ymir hadn't pointed it out, we would have never seen you go."

I stayed silent for a few moments, thinking about how I am going to answer this question. I decided on a half true looking up at him.

"Have you ever had the feeling in your chest that something was horribly wrong?" I asked him.

Berthold gave a light nod.

"Then…that's what I felt back then," I answered him, "We were given the retreat signal, however, I just had this feeling that it wasn't over so I went inside to try to meet up with Levi squad."

"Levi squad?" Reiner asked surprised, "Why is that?"

"The Female Titan…was after Eren. I thought I could land a hand or warn them of the danger…but I was too late to do anything."

Reiner stayed silent for a moment, almost like he was thinking.

"Armin said the same thing," he said.

I gave him a glance.

"You and Jean fought against the Female Titan right?" I told him, "Armin mentioned it."

Reiner nodded.

"Yeah, near damn lost my life when she caught me," he said, "Not going to try that again anytime soon that's for sure. We lost many soldiers about there and the situation with Eren is not helping us either."

"Commander Erwin won't give up Eren that easily," I told him as we focused upon the game again, "Not when there is finally a goal at the end that long tunnel the Survey Corps have been dying for so long."

Berthold added his own two cent.

"You really think so?"

I gave him a light grin.

The two continued their game and it was Reiner who defeated Berthold and I was surprised at his skills. When I was the one who went up against him however, he trashed me since I didn't really play boardgame at all when I was younger. All of my time were given to the flute lessons that my mother wanted me to learn.

Berthold and Reiner were playing again, and I placed my shoulder upon the table, holding my face with my palms.

"God, I am so bored," I moaned, "Connie, Sasha, tell me a joke or something. I want to laugh."

"I'm too bored to even think of one right now," Connie told me.

"I'm too bored to think of anything," Sasha mumbled looking like she was about to fall asleep with how bored she looked.

Connie stayed silent for moment.

"You know…my village happens to be quite close to where we are now," he said, "Just a little South of here."

"My village is somewhere close by too," the brunette mumbled, "Hey Sarah, you live anywhere close to here?"

I chuckled.

"No," was my answer.

"Why can't I go see my people?" Connie asked out loud, "Maybe I should sneak out after dark."

"My people told me to not bother coming back till I'm normal so…," Sasha shrugged.

"I don't think you'll ever be normal Potato girl," I told her.

Sasha let out a groan.

"Can you please let me forget about this nickname?"

I chuckled at her pouting face.

"Connie, if you want to go, I'll help you out."

My head snapped so fast toward Reiner that I swore I pulled muscle. I stared at him shocked at the suggestion that the soldier bound guy was going to break the rules. Thought I was still confused as to what we were all stuck here.

"Why would you want to do that?" Connie asked.

Reiner gave him a stern look.

"Don't you think that all of this is a bit strange?" he asked, "We're on standby in our plain clothes. They won't let us train or wear our uniforms. Hell, we can't even do a simple training exercises and what's even more strange, is that our superiors are armed to the teeth."

It was a strange notion, but we were on standby no matter how weird the orders were. Given that the guy who was looking over us was Commander Erwin's right-hand man, beside Captain Levi, I was wondering if maybe keeping us here isn't part of another bigger plan.

"We're inside the Walls, not the front lines," Reiner continued giving us a glance, "So who are we fighting against?"

Given how much the Commander had been planning since our recruitment drive…I won't put it pass him to not try anything else…however, what is he looking for I wonder?

"Maybe they're worried about bears?" Connie suggested.

"Yeah…bears," Sasha agreed half-heartedly.

I couldn't help the light snort that escaped my lips as Reiner crossed his arms.

"The one thing you need for bears are guns," he said simply.

"Well maybe when the Commander get back from the Capital with the rest, we'll get a better idea of what's going on," I said with a light shrug.

From beside me, Sasha had let her head slumped down against the table looking like she was about to fall asleep. I gave her the curious glance before refocusing my attention upon the flute case I had in my hand. I was thinking about how the others were doing now that they left with Eren…

Suddenly Sasha pulled herself to her feet, a shocked expression crossing her features. Then she looked at us, her voice having a light tremble.

"Hum…guys, I think I'm hearing footsteps," she called out.

The conversations that were going around us stalled as everyone's attention was drawn toward Sasha's exclamation. I stared at the girl, completely taken aback by what she had just said feeling a sudden apprehension falling upon me.

Footsteps…but that's impossible…

Reiner seems to be on the same wavelength as me as he addressed the girl.

"Knock it off Sasha," he said, "What you're trying to tell us Titans are here? C'mon, that'll be only possible if Wall Rose has fallen."

"Yeah…there is no way that could have happened," I added hoping against hope that Sasha was just joking around, "Don't scare us like that."

But the girl was adamant.

"Look, guys I swear I heard something," she argued.

Suddenly a shadow appeared by the window and it was thrown open. The blonde Scout lady I saw earlier had landed there by using her ODM gear and the look on her face was pale and yet there was this urgency in her tone as he addressed all of us.

"Is everyone here?" she asked, looking at all of us.

"What's wrong Nanaba?" Krista asked, her tone worried.

"We've got company," Nanaba said, "Approximately five hundred meters to the South and closing, Titans are heading this way. There is no time to suit up with your ODM gears, I want everyone on a horse stat. Evacuate every settlement and holds in the area. Get to it."

I can feel my eyes widening in shock at this.

Titans…here inside Wall Rose? I thought shocked, Is it the Colossal Titan attacking again…did one of the Outer District fall…

"From the South…?" Connie whispered, shocked, "But that's…"

"Do we know the Wall's been breached?" Reiner asked Berthold from behind me.

Nanaba then turned away.

"Ride, I'm afraid lunch is going to have to wait," she said before jumping away from the window and toward the building across us with her gear.

That was the order as everyone started to run out of the room and heading out toward the stairs. Clutching upon my flute case, I made to follow them, feeling my heart pounding inside my chest. There was no way a situation like what happened at Trost a month ago could have happened again.

There is no way that something that terrible could have happened again would it?

I pushed it out of my mind as I reached outside the hot sun shining down from the clear sky which had few clouds dancing upon it. I didn't mind it at all as I ran straight for where Souris was, wasting no time to place a saddle upon the horse. The animal let out a few huffs almost like he was nervous as well but I pulled him out of the stall as a Scout member landed down in front of us.

It was the man that was placed in charge of us Miche and his horse was already prep and ready to go as Nanaba also landed down on the ground.

"Quickly," he said, "Everyone on a horse, and we ride out of here now."

I climbed on Souris placing the flute box into one of the pockets that were on the saddle before riding out with the few superior members that were with us, leaving the building behind completely. The wind danced through my clothing and since I didn't have my hair in a ponytail, all of it was flying around my face but I barely paid it any attention at all as we were all riding on the trail that was leading out of where we were stationed.

I turned my head looking at the direction that the Titans were coming from and even in the distance I recognized the tall humanoid forms of the lumbering figures that they were. I couldn't help the shiver that ran through me as the reality that I didn't want to happen was happening.

The Wall…has it really fallen?

"When the Titans reach the woods," Miche bellowed somewhere in front of me, "I want you to spread into four separate teams, recruits and soldiers alike. When I gave the signal, you will spread out and warn nearby settlements. Get the words out to the civilians and Do not engage the enemy."

I turned my face forward, the implication of the severity of the situation falling upon me. Could we use the same tactics as before to seal the Wall again? From the South…there was no district there, at least as far as I knew…however, could it be, instead of attacking a district this time, they just destroyed a part of the wall itself…

"As you have guessed," Nanaba announced, "Today mark the darkest chapter in humanity's history. Look sharp for if there was ever a time to give our all, that time is now. Don't lose heart."

I narrowed my eyes, tightening my grip upon the horse's reigns.

She is right, I thought, Can't allow my thoughts to run wild…I got to focus and do my job and warn as many people as I can.

"Titans have reached the forest," a voice yelled out drawing my eyes toward where the Titans were and sure enough, the small forest that was behind the building we were in I could see the Titan's head and their forms from within the trees.

"Scatter now," Miche bellowed, "Ride for everything you've worth."

The group scattered all of them choosing a direction as I made to follow the team that comprised of Krista, Ymir and Nanaba. I followed them riding Souris hard to keep up with their horses. I chanced a glance the direction that the others were riding catching sight of Connie along with Reiner and Berthold and there was even Sasha galloping away from where we were…

Be careful…okay guys…

We rode hard through the forest and the trees aiming straight at where the nearest villages were and it was starting to move quickly as well and after an hour of riding, we reached the first place. They were people moving on about as we were riding hard and then Nanaba pulled her horse to a halt along with all of us. The people stared at us curiously probably wondering why we were in such a hurry on what was seemed to be a peaceful day.

"Evacuate this village immediately," Nanaba called out, "Titans have been sighted within Wall Rose. Make sure the words get sent out to the nearby villages."

The fear that quickly etched upon the people's face was starting as everyone started to run and heading out toward their stable so that they could grab their horses. I stared at the panic I was seeing for a few moments as we were riding through the place leaving it behind and then we were separated from Nanaba and Krista along with Ymir as I took another route with the Scout member that was with me so that we could warn more people of the danger that had presented itself.

"Be careful Sarah," Krista had called out to me.

"You watch out for yourself to," I smiled at her before following the man both of us riding out through the path that lead further North.

It was a quiet ride safe for the sound of the hooves and my own hard breathing. I was focused now on simply doing my job, warning as many people as we can so that we could save as many as we could…thought if the Wall had really fallen, then even with our efforts, how many people were going to perish this time.

The last time a disaster like that happened, more than 10,000 people perished and that was followed by the Wall Maria Recovery Operation who even more people were slaughtered…

If Wall Rose fell, the territory within Wall Sina wouldn't support half of the citizen living now today…

The words from Pixis speech at the battle of Trost returned to my mind. If the Wall had truly fallen then, more than half of the people alive now are going to perish.

I blinked out of my thoughts as I found another village in the distance. I urged my horse forward once more aiming straight for it however my attention was drawn by the sight of what remained of a mansion seating upon a slight hill in the distance. I stared at the place and it looked like it was covered in vines and long abandoned however something within me reacted at the sight of the mansion…

This place looks…familiar. Have I been here before?

I shook my head turning my attention toward the village finding an older man there.

"Listen, you have to ride out now," I called out to him, "Titans have been sighted South of here, you need to evacuate this village immediately and head for the safety of Wall Sina. This is not a drill."

"Are you certain of this girl?" the older man asked, "Titans…?"

"I'm certain," I told him staring down at the man, "Evacuate the village right now."

The man seems frightened, but he did what I asked, and he went out to try to help his people. However, I found my gaze returning to that old mansion in the distance. I don't know why this place seems to familiar but part of me seems to recognize it somehow…how could something like that be possible, I had no idea, but I didn't have time to ponder it for I needed to keep moving and warn the rest of the settlements within the walls.

"C'mon Souris," I said, spurring the horse forward.

The horse followed my guidance and soon enough I was galloping away from the strangely familiar mansion, eager to continue the mission I have been given.

A sudden invasion of Titans...a mysterious mansion who sprung some strange familiarity within Sarah...

Next Time: Suspicions.

Jacques0 out.

R&R