Chapter 36: The Final Decision

~Mikasa, Eren, and Armin knelt before the courtroom, chained to poles. Levi and Erwin sat beside them handcuffed. Slight murmurs amongst the crowd echoed softly through the room. Zackly entered the room, and everything went silent~

Zackly: Court is back in session. The charges against Levi and Erwin for having an illicit relationship with Eren Jaeger will be dealt with after we discuss the situation of the children of Shiganshina as suspected titan shifters. Zoe Hange has come forth as a witness. Zoe, please tell the court what you witnessed regarding Mikasa's miraculous recovery.

~Eren leaned over to Levi and Erwin to whisper~

"Is this part of your plan, too?
~Erwin shushed him without turning to look at him. He kept his eyes fixed in front of him, collected and concentrated~

Hange: Yes, thank you. I saw for myself that Mikasa Ackerman's legs were truly broken.

Zackly: And how exactly was that?

Hange: She interrupted an experiment with Eren Jaeger in titan form, sir.

Zackly: Explain.

Hange: Erwin, Levi, myself, and a few other non-officers, conducted the experiment. We were prodding and, simply put, torturing Eren's titan form in attempts to get him to crystallize his skin. Mikasa didn't understand, and didn't trust that we had good intentions, and attempted to set Eren free. She freed one of his arms, which later grabbed her and crushed one leg almost completely and broke the other.

Zacly: One of her legs was completely crushed?

Hange: Yes, in fact I was told by Erwin, who performed the surgery with Mike, that her leg was barely hanging on to her body and the chances of her walking anytime soon were slim to none.

Zackly: Is this true, Erwin?

Erwin: Yes.

~Eren looked at Erwin with an angry look~

Eren: She wasn't going to be able to walk? When were you planning on telling me that?!

Zackly: Silence!

~Eren quit talking but continued glaring at Erwin~

Zackly: When did Mikasa begin to show signs of rapid healing?

Hange: I personally think that Mikasa had been healing quickly from the moment after her legs were broken.

Zackly: What do you mean?

Hange: The manner in which Eren's titan form grabbed her should have caused severe internal damage, but the girl didn't have so much as a bruise on her stomach. But that is only speculation. Later, however, I thought it was strange that Mikasa was able to get into a wheelchair on her own so soon after her injury.

Zackly: How soon?

Hange: I believe it was the day after.

Zackly: And you saw her get into it yourself?

Hange: No, but Erwin told me that Mikasa had been wheeling herself around the fort when there was no one there that could have helped her get into her wheelchair. Not to mention her legs should have been kept elevated for much longer before she would even be able to sit up.

Zackly: Could this all be attributed to the possibility that Mikasa Ackerman is a titan shifter?

Hange: it could, but I highly doubt that is the case.

Zackly: How so?

Hange: When poor Mr. Jaeger had his face so cruelly kicked in here in this very room after the battle of Trost, not even an hour after you made a decision did Eren's knocked out tooth grow back.

Zackly: What does this have to do with Mikasa?

Hange: Titan shifters have the kind of healing power to grow back limbs and bones in minutes. Mikasa's legs were still very much broken for longer than a couple days. It wasn't until Mikasa had another exposure to Eren's titan form that her legs began to heal to the point of allowing her the ability to walk.

Zackly: I see…

Nile: May I say something?

Zackly: Yes.

Nile: Zoe, during the experiment, were you successful in getting Eren's skin to crystallize?

Hange: We listed that experiment as a failure. It was interrupted.

Nile: Then in any other experiment?

Hange: No.

Nile: Then could it be possible that some titan shifter's abilities are stronger than others?

Hange: We haven't drawn any conclusions.

Nile: Oh have you?

~Nile hands a stack of papers to one of his underlings, who walks over to Zackly and hands them over~

Zackly: What's this?

Nile: While I was inspecting the Survey Corps a few nights ago, I discovered the records of experiments that Hange keeps and confiscated it as evidence of incompetence.

~Zackly adjusts his glasses and begins to read~

"The experiment on Friday seemed like a bust, but after discussing the outcome, we decided we probably got enough information to draw a conclusion: Eren may not be able to crystallize his titan skin like Annie's…"

~Erwin stares at Nile, and Nile stares back at him. Eren leans over to Levi and whispers again~

Eren: Okay this really seems like it's not part of Erwin's plan…

Levi: I'm not sure…

Zackly: So Mikasa could still be a titan shifter.

Hange: The possibility is still there, but as I was saying, Mikasa only regained her health after a second exposure.

Zackly: But you don't know that the second exposure could have simply accelerated her healing process because she is a titan shifter.

Hange: Actually, we know that exposure to Eren while he heals himself or while he transforms can begin rapid titan-like healing, for anyone.

Zackly: How do you know this?

Hange: Levi was experiencing fevers when we discovered that he was being exposed to Eren healing during intercourse, and since Levi had nothing to heal, the energy simply was released as heat and steam.

Zackly: So if Levi had been hurt, he would have shown signs of healing similar to Mikasa?

Hange: Precisely.

Zackly: That still does not eliminate the possibility that Mikasa is a titan shifter.

Hange: You're right. In fact, there's no real reason to tell if Mikasa is a shifter… unless we do further investigating.

Zackly: Such as?

Hange: We have one shifter from Shiganshina who vaguely remembers the source of his abilities and another suspected shifter, also from Shiganshina. From the same household even. I believe if we were allowed to work our way to Eren's home, we'd find more answers.

Zackly: And about Armin?

Hange: Suggesting that Armin is also a shifter because he's from the same town as the other two is ridiculous. Mikasa and Eren are understandable because first, they're from the same house, and second, there are actual legitimate reasons for suspecting Mikasa. But if we're going to follow this preposterous logic, then why don't we also investigate Reiner and Bertolt?

~The brats turn to look at Reiner and Bertolt. Bertolt starts sweating~

Zackly: Why it that?

Hange: They're from the same town as Annie, and if I'm correct, neither has been injured in battle. Not a scratch… Even though, and this is according to Armin, the female titan grabbed Reiner in her hand and seemed to have crushed him. Now, all of this, and no one has even thought to suggest investigating them. By this logic, I think Armin should not have to face charges until we get to the bottom of this in Shiganshina.

Zackly: That feat is unrealistic.

Hange: Not necessarily. Once we find a path to the Trost gate we could reclaim what we secured in the past. It would take a matter of a few years.

Zackly: …You would need Levi and Erwin to lead the expeditions, wouldn't you?

Hange: Yes, we would. Levi's titan killing abilities and Erwin's genius brain have kept us alive all these years and there is no way of making it to Shiganshina without them.

~Zackly sighed before speaking again~

Zackly: The charges against Levi and Erwin are to be handled by Zoe Hange at her discretion. Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman are to remain in the custody of the Survey Corps, and all charges against Armin Arlert are hereby dropped.

~The Survey Corps members all take a sigh of relief~

Nile: But sir, what if Levi and Erwin can't handle controlling Eren?

Zackly: Which is why I'm making Zoe Hange the new commander.

~Hange blinks and shakes her head, thinking she heard wrong~

Erwin: What?

Zackly: Zoe Hange, you will be the new commander of the Survey Corps because of your clear judgment and frankly your ability to metaphorically keep it in your pants. You will take the Survey Corps to Shiganshina and you will end the titan shifters.

Hange: I'm sorry, sir, but I don't think I'm cut out for-

Zackly: You will gratefully accept, or I will doom humanity by throwing Levi and Erwin out of the military.

Hange: Yes, sir.

Zackly: officers, unchain them. This court is over.

~They're all unchained and let out of the courtroom. They meet up with the other brats in one of the rooms in the courthouse. They all hug Armin, Eren, and Mikasa while Levi and Erwin stand a few feet away~

Armin: Nice freaking out, Sasha.

Sasha: Thanks! Did you think I overdid it though? Jean says I went crazy.

Eren: No, it was totally believable.

Sasha: Yep! Armin and Erwin are such crazy geniuses.

Jean: So everything went as planned?

Hange: Not really.

Reiner: What do you mean?

Hange: I wasn't expecting him to name me as commander… which reminds me… cough it up, eyebrows.

Erwin: Cough what up?

Hange: You know, the commander bolo tie thing.

~Erwin reluctantly takes off his bolo tie and hands it over to Hange, who puts it on slowly and poses in front of a mirror~

Erwin: That's something I didn't think I'd ever live to see.

Levi: Please kill me now.

Hange: Please, it couldn't be that bad, right?

Erwin: My neck feels naked.

Connie: So, wait if Erwin is still going to be planning everything, why does it matter if Hange is commander?

Erwin: The duty of a commander entails many things… One of them including being diplomatic when discussing with other commanders and higher ups.

Levi: She'll be the one trying to appease the higher ups now.

Hange: Hey, I think I did a pretty good job today.

Erwin: You had a general script today. That might not always be the case.

Hange: So what, I'll have to wing it. It'll be fine. I'm smarter than them anyways.

Levi: Whatever. Let's just get back already. I need to poop.

Eren: Why can't you go here?

Levi: I can't. Who knows what kind of filthy butts have been sitting on those toilets…

Erwin: Well it's going to be quite the ride back.

Levi: I can make it.

Erwin: Then let's go.

Hange: ONWARD, CADETS!

Erwin: We're leading them to the castle, not into wall Maria. Calm down.

Hange: They'll need to get used to it.

Levi: Seriously, someone kill me.

~Hange laughs as they walk out of the courthouse~

~Chapter 36, Fin~

~~Author's note~~

So Hange's the new commander! Erwin feels naked and Levi has to poop. It's a weird day for everyone.

I'm finally done with finals. I was supposed to be busy writing chapters but since I'm back home for the holidays my family wants to do stuff so I've actually had less down time than I thought I would have :c

So idk If you want to follow me on tumblr I have the same username that I have here on fanfiction and I reblog a lot of ereri and dramatical murder. If you don't want to follow me that's cool you don't have to but I do check tumblr more than I check my PM's here so if you have any questions about the story or anything in general just send me an ask and I'll get back with you pretty quick.

Until next chapter,

Fluffy Out