Chater 4:

The Attack Titan

Within the Paths, life or death does not exist. It was a world created by Ymir where she stayed for 2,000 years, there she kept herself trapped, sclupting humanoids from clay for future descendents who welded the power of a Titan Shifter. Even though it took years upon years to create a titan from scratch, in the real world it only took less than a minute. Ymir done this for thousands of years, but this time she wasn't in the paths but instead Armin Arlert, humanity's saviour. Mikasa Ackerman, one of the worlds strongest solider and the one who broken the Curse of Ymir. Then finally, Eren Yeager who held many titles but was famously known as the Attack Titan of Paradis. All of them were powerful in their own rights, yet they stood powerless within the paths as they watched the mysterious aura projecting a story to them. They heard a roar from what seemed to be a Titan Shifter. The question was who and where the Titan Shifter was located.

"Maybe that light can show us?" Armin suggested, stepping closer to the aura.

Eren and Mikasa followed their friend and stood together side by side between Armin. It could work, it worked with Mikasa when she asked the light; "Where was Aimi.." and then it worked for Eren when he demanded earlier "show me where they are." Maybe it has a life of its own, wanting to show the them where the others were.

"It's worth a shot." Mikasa nodded, trying to cling onto her sanity and hope that was standing on thin ice right now.

Armin nodded back to Mikasa and then returned his attention to the aura of light, hoping his theory was correct.

"Show us the titan shifter. Show us where Kai and the others are..." Armin asked, lowering his head to close his eyes before lifting them up again for his final request, "Are they safe?"

Successfully, the aura granted Armin Arlert's wish as it began to rewind seamlessly the scene from when the Captain entered the forest right up to when Eleanor and Milo were running for their lives. It then begins to shifts its view to now Kai and Aimi who were staring at the titan who was about to devour Emet Ackerman. Mikasa's body shuttered in fright having to watch that moment again, Eren noticed and quickly placed his hand on her shoulder even though Armin was still inbetween them but doesn't noticed the two's interaction. Mikasa looked over to Eren, settling slightly despite displaying the fear in her eyes. It was a strange sense of comfort for her as Eren looked at Mikasa as if he was trying to say, 'I'm here.' Mikasa however was unable to respond to Eren because she heard Emet's outburst, causing her to spin her head back to the aura.

There she saw her son still trapped in the titans hand. His faced not showing fear but in deep rage. Emet was never a man for fear, he hated being challenged. Although you could see Emet was in agony due to half his body crushed as well as his blood dripping out of the titans clutches, something unpredictable was about to happen. There in astonishment, Mikasa, Armin and Eren were dumbfounded to see Emet's purple like eyes began to spark electricity as he glared furiously at the titan, managing to roar out to the titan before his whole body began to glow;

"LET GO OF ME YOU BASTARD-ARRRGHHHHH!"

Eren Yeager already knew right away what was about to happen next.

There an explosion happened, the titan who was holding onto Emet and several ones closest were burned alive by the sudden eruption as the rest of the titans had been blown back due to its impact. Aimi and Kai, still under the cave had flew a couple metres back as a gush of air smacked them hard. Kai recovered before Aimi did, helping her up as they returned to the entrance of the cave, covering their eyes due to the sound of lightning and the sound of a crazed roar as a progressively increasing sized figure formed itself from within the light.

"ARRRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The roar boomed, becoming darker and less human.

When the roar stopped, the lightning and it's blinding impact vanished, leaving the remains of another monster. It looked about 15 metres but was hard to tell as the crazed creature was hunching over, standing in a stance of a figure who was ready to attack. Aimi's eyes analysed this creature, noticing it too was a titan. But was much more leaner with defined muscle, a face similar to a human but was more terriyfing looking due to its large fanged teeth, small like ears but more unsettling was it's bright vibrant eyes that scanned the area. Hold on, Aimi then noticed this titan didn't have just two eyes, but actually four as the little blackened oval had tiny purple shaped pupils sitting below the creature's main sight. It couldn't be him, could it? Aimi walked out of the cave, Kai stood completely still as he was bewildered at what he saw. The light tried to blind Aimi, she raised her arm up to try see better, ignorning the other titans starting to stand up again from being on the floor. Kai was now standing beside Aimi, both staring at the unique titan before them. Aimi sees the Titan's hair, styled similarly to her brother's but was instead more longer as its fringe hung long over the side of its face. Her stomach began to twist in tight nots whispering out,

"Emet?"

The supposed Emet, now a titan noticed one of the mindless titans running for him. The titan form Emet began to growl, locking his fist and swung full pelt at the other titan, smashing its face in the process as it flew back the direction it came. The force of Emet's arm created a booming noise when he made contact that Aimi and Kai fall to the ground. Kai then grabbed hold of Aimi, attempting to at least protect her, or at least prepare to run. He was unsure if this titan was his friend but continued to watch the potential idenity of Emet standing tall whilst releasing another roar as he flung his head up to the sky, making all the mildless titans charge for him. With sudden surprise, the titan shifter begins to pose in a fighting stance, facing a 10 metre titan only not to stand a chance as Emet teeped/pushed kicked the titan with remarkable force to then spins round and superman punches the following titan behind him. The two defeated titans were killed instantly. Kai was truly amased by this titan shifter and realised instantly it had to be Emet for sure. For when Emet and Kai used to playfight when they were younger, those two moves were Emet's go to.

"Emet! It really is you!"

One by one, Emet continued to battle off the titans single handily. Either by punching, kicking, or brually grabbing one of the smaller ones by the neck and snapped it in seconds. Eventually there were only now two titans for him to finish off. Emet is once again in his fight boxing-like stance, ducking his knees slightly, driving his back leg to transition into a impactful undercut punch at one of titans face. The jaw of the titans was instantly broken, but Emet isn't finished with it and pounced on the weakened humanoid to the floor and began to violently punch the titan until it's face began unrecognisable. However Emet doesn't hear the last and final titan coming for him, drooling uncontrollably with a psychotic look for Emet's nape.

"EMET! WATCH OUT!" Aimi cried out, managing to catch Emet's attention for him to spin round and grab hold of the attackers neck.

Emet begins to stand up, raising his arm and the 7 metre titan in the air, growling darkly to it. His four intimating eyes were locked into the mindless dumb one. Emet begins to squeeze his hand tighter against the throat, causing tension too eventually crushing the neck entirely as the titans body slammed to the ground and its head had roll over Emet's grasp.

"EMET IS A TITAN SHIFTER?" Armin panicked, his hands on his head in pure astonishment as he witnessed Emet fought the mindless titans with little to no effort.

Mikasa, was experiencing a reoccurring sensation. That sensation she had when she was saved by a titan shifter for the first time when she was close to a near death experience. At 15, Mikasa thought she lost Eren back at the Trost District when they were under attacked by titans, remembering Armin sobbing to her that Eren saved him and was eaten alive. It almost mentally broke Mikasa, close to almost accepting her own death but quickly remembers what Eren had taught her from the first day they met. The little boy who saved her from thieves as he wrapped around her, allowing Mikasa to feel the beauty in the world again even after the brutality she faced when her parents were murdered and was nearly made into sex slave. Mikasa can remember herself holding a broken blade as she screamed to face this monster head on but was rescued by the a titan who appeared from behind her, punching the titan into clean air. Only soon to find out it was Eren all along. That it Mikasa's Eren who came back, who came back and saved her from death but only to become what he hated most; A titan.

Eren surprisingly wasn't as freaked out about Emet's transformation. But instead was wondering how that was even possible, who did Emet inherit this titan ability from? He studied Emet's titans features. It looked similar to his Attack Titan, the only difference was his facial features- especially the two pairs of eyes that this titan shifter had, making it look awfully daunting. Eren also noticed that Emet's titans had no ears but instead cut in ear like holes on the outside of the head. Whereas Eren's had devilish like ears, though it doesn't come to surprise that each titan shifter contains their own attributes despite inheriting at least one of the 9 titan abilities. But which titan shifter was Mikasa's son?

"Eren." said Armin, waiting for Eren to look over to him. When Eren does Armin said in a calmer tone compared to earlier,

"I don't know how this is possible, but based on what we're seeing, Eren. I suppose you already know which titan Emet posses?"

Mikasa had a rough idea too, it was pretty distinctive features though she waited quietly for Eren to comment on his view on things. She could see how uncomfortable Eren felt about Emet's Titan. Eren was not looking at either of his friends, instead his eyes were pinned to Emet's Titan, letting out a sigh showing nothing but a blackened expression and answered,

"Emet has inheritied the Attack Titan."

Emet's lets out a thunderous roar as he lifts his head into the air like he was calling out to the sky, screeching his triumph for killing off his enemies. Kai and Aimi were feeling amazement but also uncertainty on what to do next. They were still metres away from Emet's Titan. Aimi stepped forward, extending her hand up midway and called out to the familiar titan for its attention,

"Emet!"

Emet instantly stopped roaring, his face darted down to the ground as he heard the tiny noise beneath him. The eyes shifted focus as it finally saw two figures looking at him. Kai felt immediately unsettled when Emet had registered their prescence, seeing him turn his body and was now head in front of them.

"Aimi," Kai whispered, starting to regret trying to get Emet's attention. "I don't think that was a good idea."

"No, it's Emet though!" Aimi hushed back, "Emet! It's us, it's me- your sister!"

Emet began to growl, slowly stumping over to them. The aggressive sound was enough for Aimi and Kai to start backing away. Why did Emet look like he could't recognise them, that they were nothing more but something to stamp on.

"Aimi, I don't think he knows who he is.." Kai gulped, grabbing Aimi's arm and turn his head to the cave. His plan to run back inside, all he has to do is to pull her by the arm with all his might whether she wanted to or not.

"But.." Aimi said quietly before shouting out, "Don't you remember Emet? Common! Emet, it's me Aimi. Snap out of it!"

Nothing was working, it was like the more steps Emet's titan took, everything surrounding Kai and Aimi felt smaller and tighter as their view was dominated now by the monstrous Ackerman. Then Emet stopped, hovering over Kai and Aimi- his purple eyes wasalmost creating a a light above the two tiny beings. Kai knew this wasn't going to end well, tugging Aimi forcefully and shouted,

"GET IN THE CAVE QUICK!"

The two panicked individuals started to run, Aimi didn't want to but was left with no other choice thanks to Kai. She felt her brother was still inside that titan. Emet, now angered roars after the two, extending his hand out for the beings however they thankfully managed to skid into the cave.

What was worse, a mindless titan chasing Kai and Aimi into the cave- or a killing machine?

"EMET!" Mikasa shouted down at the Aura, seeing Emet's outburst and feeling petrified to see her son haunt down for Kai and Aimi.

"He must not be conscious." Armin stated, trying to control his panic. He didn't want to get angry at Emet, even though he could be responsible for killing his son. Tnis was only because he remembered when Eren was like that the first time he tried to turn into a titan in the year 850. In that year, Eren was trying plunge a giant boulder in the hole of Wall Maria, but had lost consciousness at first and almost nearly killed Mikasa. Maybe, just maybe- Emet might snap out of it.

"He's not." Eren agreed with Armin coldly, his eyes still on Emet that it made Mikasa low-key question why did he speak in that tone. Was he annoyed at Emet? Eren did feel Mikasa's eyes on him, how could he not ever notice Mikasa's attention on him. Especially like the old days where she could scowl him. But Eren wasn't angry at Emet, he was angry at himself. Why couldn't do anything to stop this? How is that Emet Ackerman has now inhertied a titan shifter that he too once possed, or better yet- is Eren currently still the Attack Titan?

The trio gasped, watching Emet slam his body to the ground, peeking his head into the small whole and heard Aimi's scream at the sight of the murderous eyes to then seeing Emet push himself up, growling as he hooks his hand under the cave's roof.

"No..." Armin, knowing what Emet was about to do next and turned out to be right as the Titan begins to push up the roof of the cave with all of his might. The caves roof was forced up from the rest of the rocks, causing the earth above it to curl back into nothing but soil, there slowly appeared Kai and Aimi as they were exposed to the the light again. Emet lets go of the roof of the cave, causing a load slamming noise as the rock falls on its backside.

"EMET, WAKE UP! PLEASE!" Mikasa begged, putting her hand on her mouth.

All hope seemed lost at this point.

Aimi however doesn't lose hope, she runs to what would've been the edge of the cave and was now below Emet. Her heart was racing. She could hear Kai calling out her name, but she had to try this again. Emet must know who he is and that he wouldn't kill his sister. Now is his chance to prove her right.

"EMET! PLEASE! IT'S ME, I KNOW YOU WON'T KILL ME! YOU'RE EMET ACKERMAN!" Aimi cried out to the Titan, snarling down at her, "YOU'RE MY BROTHER!"

Emet's growl started to reveal his gruesome fangs, the salvia forming in-between. He slammed down one of his knees, causing the earth to rupture and make Aimi lose her balance. Kai was now beside her, holding on to her and now was storing at his supposed best frien, now a titan who was about to end them. All felt lost at this point. Tears started to form in Aimi's pleading eyes at the Titan, hoping for a miracle but instead sees the Titan lean closer and closer to them. The breath of Emet's titan forcing itself upon Kai and Aimi that their hair flowing back slightly. The two closed their eyes, this was their final moment as they clinged onto each other and accepted their fate.

There was a pause, all they could feel and hear was Emet's titans breath, but why hasnt he done anything? Their eyes shot open as they heard a softer grumble, as if it was trying to communicate to them. Aimi looked up to Emet's titan, his violet eyes no longer looking muderous but instead curious as he tilted his head at them.

"Emet?" Kai whispered, starting to stand but stopped midway as Emet pushed himself away slightly- as if the titan was startled at Kai's movement.

Emet's titan continued to grumble, creating a change in atmosphere. Aimi's facial expression changed from fear to sudden as she stands up and slowly stepped over to Emet. Kai watches the two interact with each other, he couldn't believe it. Aimi managed to get into Emet's consciousness, but does he know now who Aimi is to him though?

"Emet..." Aimi spoke softly, letting out a little smile and once again extends her hand to the titan.

Mikasa's eyes shimmered at the sight. Emet was listening to Aimi, watching the titan lower his head steadily to her daughter. It was a sight she never thought she see, seeing a beast come to contact with a girl. Armin's chest was beating at heavily in releif sighing,

"She's done it... I don't know how, but she's done it!" Armin placed his hand on Mikasa's shoulder, sharing a positive exchange at the sight they saw.

Eren was relieved, impressed by the Aimi's miracle interaction with Emet. It was interesting to see that Emet how quickly he stabilished is consciousness. Although it wasn't completely a normal human-to-human interaction, it showed positive signs. Only problem was next was does Emet know how to even disconnect to his titan, or better yet did Kai or Aimi have the slightlest idea to help him.

The three continued to observe the moment between Aimi and Emet. Emet's titan head was above Aimi and Kai, blocking the sunlight from hitting them.

"I knew you wouldn't hurt us." Aimi smiled, "You saved us back there."

Emet's titan rumbled back as if it was response, leaning his head further towards her. Aimi's hand was just about to touch the bridge of the titan's witched like nose. Kai felt like he was witnessing a life changing moment, loojing into Emet's eyes and could almost sense the true Emet's presence deep inside his titan. Kai was paying attention to Emet's new form, noticing the smaller yet creeper eyes gleaming at them two. Kai wondered to himself how come Emet had four eyes now. Just less than a couple of centimetres away, Kai heard a shooting noise from afar becoming louder and closer. Like instinct, Kai grabbed Aimi and pulled her away from Emet. Emet and Aimi were startled by this, but later came to understand why as a figure out of nowhere cuts between the two as a shining blade appeared underneath under its cloak, it spinned round facing Emet. Due to Emet being so low to the ground, in seconds the blade makes contact with him and slashes out one of his vibrant coloured eyes, now gushing out blood along with his pained roar.

"EMET!" cried Aimi, feared to see her brother attacked by this figure who literally came out of nowhere.

Emet stumbled back onto his feet, his hands covering his face whilst still roaring aloud. The sounds of gas made Kai turn his head, seeing a figure in a green cloak was mid air, using gear that seemed to help achieve acrobatic moves as it backflipped onto a tree, hanging there unidentifiable. The figure holding its blade that was clarried in blood from Emet's was the Captain from before. Emet, no longer focusing on the pain in his eye, span his head round to see the figure by the tree who was already staring back. Emet was snarling at this attacker, challenged by the unwanted prescence.

"Who the hell is that?" Aimi said to Kai, seeing the figure move again with their hook fired across the air, hitting a tree that was parallel to Emet's left shoulder and begins to fly across the sky. The figure's blades now arched over the person's shoulder, ready to strike at any moment.

Emet swung his right fist so fast that when he reached his left side, it would smack the attacker, but that didn't happen. If only it was that simple. The figure retracts the hooks from the tree, now mid air and spins their body anticlockwise, slashing their the swords at Emet's titan fist, causing his middle and index finger to fall to the ground. Letting out another outburst, Emet stumbled back and watched the figure gliding through the air and lands on a higher tree branch.

"Whoever they are" Kai spoke, "They think Emet is a threat."

"But he's not!" Aimi pleaded to Kai, looking at the blue eyed man in desperation.

"They don't know that, Aimi! I've seen that cloak before though, that symbol.." Kai now was thinking to himself, "Where have I seen that symbol before?"

Questions were almost like a waste of time right now. Just before the Captain strikes again for Emet, the titan runs in the opposite direction of the indvidual and instead is coming at full speed for Aimi and Kai. Left puzzled, Kai asked Aimi,

"Is it just me, or is he running towards us?"

"I..." was all Aimi could reply Emet grabbed them both with his huge hand.

The Captain who saved Milo and Eleanor from eariler tsked to herself in annoyance as she watched the Titan running away with his victims.

"Bring it on." The Captain said darkly, firing one of her hooks for a tree that was dozens of metre ahead of her, now hunting down for the rogue Titan.

Aimi and Kai were crammed tightly against each other as Emet's hand forced them together, not being able to see anything due to the titan's arm swinging motion as he runs at great speed inbetween the trees. Emet leaped over a rive, landing with some force it causes the earth between the titan's feet to explode into the water and stains the river into the colour brown. Emet started to run again, but adjusts his arm at a level to become static across his chest as he heard Aimi and Kai screaming the whole time, experiencing the worst ride of their life. Aimi was close to being stick in the titans grasp along with Kai too feeling unsettled in the stomach.

"I think Emet has managed to get away." Kai coughed, trying to look around the forest as best he could to look out for the attacker. Unfortunately Kai was wrong as figure appeared several trees across from Emet. How the captain reached the Emet was impressive, she swings through the trees using her gear and managed to steer ahead of the titan. All it took was one last use of one of her hooks to catch onto a tree that was pin straight ahead of Emet, with success she back flips over to the tree, lands on it, turns to face the titan and uses the hooks again to stab right onto Emet's chest. Aimi and Kai gasped along with Emet's version of shock as hegrunted at the Captain. LIke the speed of light, the Captain swung her blades forward for Emet as she detached them from her handles. The blades rotating in tremendous speed until it stabbed Emet's other main eye. Emet screeched in pain, causing him to lose grip of Kai and Aimi and were now fallen 10 metres above the air if you weren't including Emet's chest up for reference of height. The pair screamed to see the ground was getting closer to them. Then Aimi felt a gush of air hit against her, realising the figure had caught her mid air and lands Aimi on top of a tree branch in seconds before zooming back down to the ground. Kai was literally just about to smack to the ground but was too saved. Aimi watched as the hooded figure placed Kai beside her, their eyes unsure if they should be relieved to be saved or feared of what was about to come next.

"Are you alright?" The voice asked, reloading her handles with new blades but still hiding her identity underneath the hood.

"We think so." Kai answered, figuring out who this person could be and where on earth did she come from. Aimi was too shocked after what just happened and remained silent as she was staring down to her brother.

Emet from down below was pulling the blades out of his eye that were like flies that were irritating the life out of him. The hollers from the Titan made the Captain look down at the beast, sounding pissed by its noises, "What the hell is that thing?"

"He's a titan." Kai's voice answered to the Captain from the Aura's projection.

"Who is she?" Armin, growing impatient to know who this woman was, fascinated at the capabilities the Captain possessed. "She's incredibly talented with the Maneuver Gear, basically caught up to Emet in less than a minute."

"I'm not interested on who she is, I want to know what's going to do with my son." Mikasa frowned, growing defensive at this mysterious woman. If Mikasa was there herself, now in her current state at 19- she'll tell that woman where to go. Mikasa did understand that the woman probably didn't know about titan shifters, but her mother-like-extinct were hard to tame as she watched Emet try to yank out blades from his eyesight.

Eren who was still silent felt tortured by the voice. It sounded so familiar to him, yet was unknown to Eren at the same time. Eren couldn't put his finger on it. As he stared into the aura, listening further to the conversation between the Captain and Kai.

"What do you mean, he?"

The hooded figure in Kai's eyes was now looking at him, for Kai with was looking into a dark whole with a secret voice. She sounded judgemental to the sudden class of gender given to the violent Titan who finally managed to get rid of the blades from his eyes and flung them across the air. However Emet's eyesight wasn't completely tampered with, he lift his last pair of eyes flicker up into the trees. Although they weren't as good as his main pair because everything was in black and white, Emet still manages to see little figures on a great tall tree to his right. Emet roared in the direction where Kai, Aimi and the hooded woman, telling them he's spotted them.

"That is no he, it's a titan which I am going to finish off." The Captain bluntly spoke, ducking down as if she was about to jump off the tree branch.

"NO!" both Kai and Aimi screamed at the woman, their eyes like little dots in hopes the figure would listen. The woman, taking aback and stood tall again. Suddenly the tree they stood on is struck by Emet's fist as he punched it hard into the trunk, causing the three to lose their balance. The Captain turned back to the other two, feeling her eyes glaring at them,

"Why should I not end this titan?"

"He's.." Kai gulped, "He's not just a titan, he's a human being. He's someone turned into a titan somehow when he got attacked by the other ones."

Another, but more powerful punch struck the tree that the Captain nearly falls over the branch, losing her temper as well after hearing some bullshit from the man she saved. The woman shouted at him in reply,

"HE'S NOT A HUMAN BEING, THAT'S A TITAN READY TO FINISH US IF YOU DON'T LET ME END HIM!" The Captain turns round, preparing her legs to pounce off the branch again, "Whether you like it, or not."

As the figure is about to jump off to attack Emet but is stopped by Kai jumping for her, grabbing hold of her hood and yanked it her head. Black hair was exposed from under the hood, but that was all Kai and even Aimi who's been trapped in a haze this whole time could see as the woman elbowed Kai to face. Kai falls back, unable to get up himself but instead felt his chest being pulled up into the air and then body slammed against the tree. Aimi gasped and stepped aside, looking to see a woman with fair-skin, large light brown eyes and long dark hair tied in a loose braid that was hanging on her right shoulder with only a few short hairs kept loose on her forehead. A beautiful yet fierce woman as her eyes were glaring furiously at Kai. Now that the woman was visible, it still didn't identify who she was- not to Aimi or Kai anyway.

However in the Paths, Eren's heart dropped, his stomach turning and his facial expression frozen in horror to see the woman in the aura. No wonder he recognised that voice, it was the voice from his past. It wasn't just any woman. Mikasa too was shocked, letting out a gasp and immediately was looking at Eren. Armin too realised who the woman the captian of the Survey Corps was. Somehow, this person, was someone of great importance. Especially to Eren Yeager, for that woman holding Kai by the tree, was also the same figure in his life who died in the year 845 due to his unintential decision he made when he sent Dina to his destroyed home in order to keep Bertolt alive for that end result. Eren's eyes began to burn up, watering as he said dumbfoundedly,

"Mum.."

That right inside in the aura in whatever world Kai and Aimi were in, were rescued by the one and only Carla Yeager as she roared furiously at Kai;

"JUST WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE PLAYING AT?"

Emet from the ground growing more frustrated, trying to knock the tree over but due to it's denseness it required a bit of work. Kai, regaining his vision from his head being smacked against the tree. Starts to see the woman in front of him who at first looked blurry but slowly starts to form more contexnt. There a woman who appeared to be just abit older than him by a few years was glaring at him who happened to ask him a question but all he could return in response was groan, adjusting his eyesight he finally sees the woman's facial features. That's when his blue hues made contact with the woman's brown tainted eyes. There and then a sudden shock of electricity zapped from both their eyes. The woman hissed, shutting her eyes and lets go of Kai. Inside her mind she's sees a faded image of a little boy. The little child had a boyish face, with large blue eyes and a small pointed nose which is always distinctly a bit red. His blond hair is styled in a long undercut with bangs over his entire forehead. His noticeable defined eyebrows and sideburns, indicating his age. The woman, who she has never met before, somehow was able to place a name onto the face. The woman placed her hand on head, looking down at the floor to mutter aloud,

"Ar..Armin."

Kai was sitting on the tree trunk, he wasn't in pain like the stranger was but did feel that strange sensation. Aimi was kneeling beside Kai, checking to see if he was alright but when they both heard the stranger say a name they knew too made them freak out. Kai scurried up onto his feet and begins to approach the woman saying,

"Y-you know him-"

In seconds the woman had pulled out a sword and swung it over till the tip reached his skin, not deep enough to cut Kai's throat as her voice roared, "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT! WHAT DID YOU JUST DO JUST THERE?"

"Kai!" Aimi finally spoke, everything was crazy right now that she wasn't sure what to do. Kai raised his hands up to the air, trying to stay calm towards the angered woman.

"I don't know what that was. I'm sorry, but how do you know Armin?" Kai asked, trying to step back but felt the blade following his movement as if it was telling him not to even try.

"Who? Armin! I don't know him- well.." The woman begins to feel unsure with herself, feeling like she was lying to her subconscious. "Maybe. I don't know. I've never seen him befor-"

Emet interrupted the woman as he screamed in frustration to the tree, time was running before the tree was going to end up snapping in two. Kai noticed the woman's sudden confusion to herself, maybe this is his chance to form trust with her. He too found it strange that this woman happened to know his father, maybe there were friends of the past. Then Kai remembered his fathers stories, all the adventures he has and the tales Armin told. Kai was able to recite a lot of stuff. Right from his fathers roles, friends, enemies, the titans and even his mothers' version of events but most importantly the Curse of Ymir and the titan shifters. Maybe that is what Kai needs to use by applying his knowledge in hopes for the best outcome.

"It's ok if you can't remember. But you got to help us! Someone we know is trapped inside that titan's body and we need him out of there! He's what to be considered as a titan shifter. Please help us!"

The woman was becoming more hesitate by the second, she peered down to the ground and makes eye contact with Emet. Was there really a person inside that thing? How could there be one, those freakish purple toned eyes and fangs of a demented cat that looked like it wanted to finish them alive. But then how is it that when the woman, who we knew as Carla Yeager had a strange occurrence too of a boy who she definitely doesn't recall appeared in her mind. This had to mean something. The woman shook her head, fighting the contemplation and snarled,

"No! Why should I believe you. That thing is trying to kill us!"

"He's not a thing-" Aimi retorted, feeling brave all of a sudden and reached out for the woman's arm. "He's my brother!" Again, the same occurrence happens as Carla stumbled back, groaning in agony to now see another person inside her mind unwelcomingly. Aimi stepped back, unsure of what she had done to the woman. Kai then pushed Aimi back until she was behind him. They watched the woman clench her teeth, squeezing her head in what appeared to an unbearable migraine and spoke out in pain,

"At least obey me this last time... Mikasa...!" The woman opened her eyes in shock to the pair as it what she appeared to have woken up from a nightmare and demanded in anger, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME!?"

"We-we don't know what's going on!" Kai pleaded, his hands in preparation for the woman to attack, "Mikasa is Aimi's and Emet's mother. Please help- AGH!" Kai screamed as a strong thrust from the tree almost caused him to topple over but was pulled back due to the woman.

There the woman stood, staring one second at Emet who's almost fisted halfway through tree that in a minute it will collapse to the ground to then back to the pair who were causing her the most intense headaches she's experienced in her life. What does she do? What choice does this woman have? She grabs her sword tighter, she had to make a choice, a sacrfrice for herself and those random tortourous strangers who's making her see these random faces. Yet somewhere deep in her heart something was telling her to listen to them.

"Fine." The woman sighed, feeling defeated as she continued, "How do I get 'Emet' out?"

"Wait! You'll help us!" Kai said, almost happy after convincing this stranger to listen to him.

"YES, NOW HURRY UP!" Demanded the woman, lifting her blade up to Kai as a reminder she could easily change her mind, "HOW DO I GET HIM OUT?"

Kai was about to answer but realised he couldn't remember, beginning to panic as the tree beneath him was losing its strength to Emet's outrage. Aimi was sweat dropping, her eyes pinned at the woman. How does she know her mother? This all felt surreal, seeing how the woman looked like she was about to look her cool and could strike at Kai at any second if he didn't answer. Kai was thinking of random parts of Emet's location, saying the stomach, head, heart, but not the one place where Emet is actually located.

"HE'S IN THE NAPE!" Armin shouted at the aura, like a man screaming at a TV show in frustration. "COMMON KAI, NO! NOT THE HEAD, DAMMIT HE'S CLOSE!"

Armin was pacing from left to right as he watched Kai trying to solve the puzzle of 'where's Emet.' Whereas Mikasa and Eren remained frozen in their thoughts, unable to process what they were seeing. When they saw Carla spoke 'Armin' it just confirmed who the woman was, that she really was Eren's mother. However more younger, and completely different to how Eren remembered her. But she still was able to recall; 'Armin.' How was that even possible? It hit the pair harder when she said Mikasa's name, feeling like it was the same woman who screamed for her back in Shingshina for her survival, running away as the woman laid trapped under the rubble to then devoured by Dina, the smiling titan and once was Eren's fathers wife. That was the memory Mikasa kept seeing in her head over and over again.

Erem was sitting on the ground, almost hiding his head between his knees supporting his headache. It all felt too much for him, lifting his pained eyes to the aura, only to see a solider, not his mother. But somehow, this woman was his mother. Did she lie to him all this time? Had she too hid a past from him like his father did? But that didn't make sense. What' hurts more is he had to watch his mother helplessly die by that smiling titan, the fuel that drove him to his goal to end the titans. Then eventually finding out in his twisted future that Eren, Eren Yeager himself sacrificed his own mother in order to fuel his younger self. Sick to the stomach, Eren lowered his head back down and was disgusted at himself. He couldn't help but think, 'Why didn't you tell me you were in the Survey Corps? You never wanted me to join them... Why?'

"HURRY UP!" Carla's impatient voice filled the air in the isolated place.

It was now or never, the tree was now halfway broken as its strength was had dramatically weakened. Aimi was beginning to lose breath as she feels that familiar sense of death, watching Kai panicking to himself on why he couldn't remember. Kai was talking to himself, begging himself to figure out the location of Emet inside his titan form. He placed his hand on the back his neck cursing,

"Why can't I remember. It has to be-" realising his hand was on his neck, "HE'S IN THE NECK! EMET IS IN THE NECK!"

Like hitting the jackpot, Kai couldn't help but express a form of excitement to the woman but was looking at him as if he was an idiot.

"Wouldn't that kill him though? That's the titans weak spot?" asked the woman, doubting Kai's certainty.

"It could! But don't cut as deep, it's the only way."

The woman stared down at the titan, noticing how the "apparent" human-titan was backing away from the tree, standing in what seemed to be ready for a charge. Their time was up, the Captain turned around getting ready to jump off the branch,

"Fine, not promising any miracles here." The woman very coldly stated, making Aimi panic as if she meant she'll not try not to save his life as her main priority but rather stopping the titan in general, meaning a higher chance of Emet getting killed.

"Please!" Aimi reached out to the woman, tears in her eyes, "For Mikasa, she's our mother. We can't lose Emet!"

The woman had already jumped, widening her hazel toned eyes at the name, 'Mikasa.' She could hear the younger girl screamed, "Please don't kill him!" Who were these people, forcing these random faces upon her mind along with the painful headaches as all she's been doing is trying to save their life? Who was Mikasa? Who was Armin? Who were they? The woman is almost above Emet's head, his titan face looking up to her growling. As Emet's titan arm is about to reach out for her, the Captain arched her swords and falls backwards toward to the tree trunk. She uses her legs to rocket her into the air, flying past Emet and dogged his hand, backflipping until she was behind her opponent. The captain released a hook from her gear that stabs into Emet's wrist, pulling her in at great speed and begins to spin round like a tornado until her ultra steeled blades made contact with the titan and cuts Emet's hand right off. From above, Kai and Aimi were watching this woman somehow fighting off this titan with appeared ease. Emet snarled viciously, quickly to using his other hand to chase after the human, turning his torso to do so and and managed to grab hold of the woman's wires that was connected to her gear. Aimi gasped, thinking the woman was about to lose to Emet.

The Captain frowned, however didn't seemed worried for the titan's catch. She instead uses one of her swords and cuts through the wire, causing her to fall mid-air and used the other one to aim for the trees behind her. This woman, using her half working gear to get away from Emet pounced for her, almost like he was trying to catch her with his mouth. Due to the gear not functionally properly, the woman is now surfing the grass, she stopped in the exposed air and faced Emet.

"Oh my god, Emet is going to kill her." Armin panicked, watching Carla standing on the ground.

"I don't really want to hear it, Armin." Eren replied, trying not to lose his head right now.

"No." Mikasa stated, looking at this new version of Carla in somewhat having a reason to feel confident in her, "She knows what she's doing. Carla knows what she's doing. But.."

"But what?" Armin asked, facing Mikasa in confusion.

"That doesn't mean she'll know how to help Emet get out.. Carla could kill him."

Mikasa was right, the tree witnessed Emet diving down for Carla, giving the woman an opportunity to use her available hook aim for the trees behind him and was now flying in the air again. Carla double backflipped, her blades still in her hands as she faced the back of Emet who had slammed his face into the earth due to Carla's dodge. Now was her chance, for her only fighting a skilful titan as Emet was for the first time. It was quite impressive. However, Carla remained stoned cool towards the titan, victory isn't announced until she slashed his neck. Armin was gobsmacked, witnessing the skills this solider had. Carla wasn't even an Ackerman, yet she pulled off stunts that majority of soldiers couldn't do. Especially with half damaged maneuver gear.

"She's gonna do it. Carla is going to finish Emet."

Armin turned to Eren to see what reaction his friend was making, but all he could see was a broken hearted man. Armin believed he was the only person who knew about Eren's choices and 'sacrafice' he made when Eren was in the paths, witnessing how his mother really died. Armin then looked back to the Carla in the aura, thinking to himself why is that this woman was nothing Eren had described or even Armin himself knew when they grew up. Still, it did feel like a miracle to see this version of Carla fight off a titan, being what Eren always wanted to be as a child. A member of the Survey Corps. It still didn't explain a lot of things though. How is it she can fight a titan now, but not in the near future? 'I'm sure you're thinking the same thing as me, Eren.' Armin thought to himself, staring at Eren who didn't seem to notice, seeing this pitied man drown in his own guilt mentally.

They watch Carla fire her hook for Emet's shoulder, soaring down for Emet at great speed. Kai and Aimi couldn't believe what they were seeing. They saw Emet fight off those other titans like he was on top of the foodchain, now it was some random soilder putting Emet back in his place. Mikasa was standing up, quietly begging to the Aura with her hands closed together, resting on her chest like a prayer;

"Please Carla, don't kill him. I know you can do it."

Eren heard Mikasa's whisper, peering up to her as he appreciated her confidence in his mother. It gave him the courage to look at the aura, seeing his future mother in action. Only 5 metres away from Emet's neck, swinging her blades to the back of her as they crises cross each other. He couldn't help but think, imagine if this was her in the year 845, fighting off Dina that damn titan. Eren felt a tug in his heart, his eyes swelling in tears and falls back into his deep guilt. 'I really am a monster.' Was all Eren could say to his head and heart.

In slow motion, the blades makes contact with Emet's nape, cutting through his skin and in seconds an individual sprung back like a surprised figure in a jewellery box. The Captain gasped, surprised to believe what the man from above told her was true. She lands behind the figure in what appeared to be a man similarily aged to her. His eyes closed with deep reddened scars imprinted under his eyes, proving he was unconscious this whole time. Kai and Aimi, still standing on the tree gasped in amazement, seeing the body of the titan collapse to the ground on its stomach face down. In victory, they watch the woman who was now standing over Emet, noticing he was somehow still connected to the monster was pulled out. Emet, unresponsive to the fact his body was being ripped apart from the flesh of the titan, made the Captain concern if he was even alive. She laid him on the back of the titan, placing her hand on the side of his neck to check for an impulse. There a steady heart beat calls to her, she grunted and stands up again, noticing the steam surrounding her and the man on the ground.

"So, he was right." Admitted the Captain in reference to Kai. She moves her attention to the damaged maneuver and tsked in annoyance to see how brokenit was. "Isn't it good I manged to last till the end?" The Captain sarcastically commented to the unconcious individual, glaring at him because it was his fault.

She grabbed the chest of his shirt, pulling his torso up as he head flung back, trying to represent him looking back at her but continues saying, "You must be Emet, then. The name is Carla Rin, you can thank me later."

Now giving her name in the present world, Carla Yeager is not yet to exist but instead her maiden name; 'Rin'. Carla manages to see the other two individuals above in the tree looking down at her and Emet.

"I got three questions for you. Let's start with the first one. Is he yours?" Carla shouted with dry humour, not trying to sound funny in the slightest.

"Yes!" Kai shouted back, "That's Emet Ackerman, is he alright?"

Ignoring the man's question, Carla pulled out a gun and aims it for the sky, shooting up green powder into the air as it explodes up above the trees. It was clear she was signalling her location, putting the gun back in the slot of her jacket. Carla looks down to Emet, noticing the scars on his face had faded tremendously quick, was he healing?

"Impossible." Carla gasped, shocked to see that Emet was regenerating.

Carla realised there and then that things weren't as what they were supposed to be, that things were about to change from this moment on. She needed answers now,

"Here's your next question." Carla shouted to the individuals above, thinking about the first mystery that popped up to her head.

There Carla could see a little girl from the vision she had when the young woman touched her arm, giving her the name of 'Mikasa.' Mikasa had pale skin, grey-charcoal toned eyes, shaggy black hair that was long and resembling a different heritage as well but Carla couldn't recognise. But she felt a strong connection to this little girl in her mind, the sweet little face smiling lightly as if they were in the middle of doing something. It couldn't be someone from the past, it had to be in the present or … somewhere in the distant future. Suddenly a sudden piece of random knowledge tapped into Carla's head, making her freak inside but continued coolly,

"Don't answer me this now, when my squad arrives we'll continue our chat. You have a lot of explaining to do." Carla paused, looking up the the figures in the tree who were listening to her, "Who is Mikasa and Armin? Am I suppose to know them? How... "

Carla trails off and faces Emet, pinning her final and third question to him so the others were unable to hear, seeing his scars had significantly shrunk into little lines. In all honesty Carla had over 100 questions to ask, but focuses on the one from the very start when she saved the random boy and girl from outside the forest. Carla begins to ask the unconscious man, feeling uncomfortable as she couldn't hide her disbelief,

"How the hell did you's manage to get outside the walls?"

*Cries in relief to have finished this chapter*

Author's Note:

Sorry if my grammar is to crap, I have been recently brain dead due to exams. This chapter for me was a challenge to write. I don't know why, I think it's because it's action related, making it harder for me to write in the context of what I'm visualising. I did reference some clips from attack on titan and was also teaching myself some Muay Thai. Look at me, by the time I finish this fanfic I can fight myself haha. As for Carla... tehe... I am petrified to see how you will all react to me using Carla Yeager in this story, or shall I say "Carla Rin." I had to make up a surname for her because I tried to hunt down what Isayama would've referred her as Carla's maiden name. But he never stated so that was annoying. I do hope as the story progresses, you'll like how I will develop Eren Yeager's mother. In a way that isn't expected and most importantly show "how much" of a impact she truly is to the manga and especially Eren. Plus, the irony of how Carla turned out to be a solider in her younger days when she never even wanted Eren to be a part of the survey corps.. Hmm.. wonder why? The answers will come I will assure you.

Disclaimer:

I do not own the characters of Shingeki no Kyokin, they belong to the rightful owner. Other characters later mentioned in the story will be referenced also as the fanfic progresses. The only characters I have ownership are ones created from scratch. Also, IF YOU ARE ANIME ONLY OR HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE MANGA, PEASE DON'T CONTINUE TO READ THIS STORY. Unless, you love spoilers then that's fine by me!

Also, Volume 2 is uploaded now as well. Not sure when I will have chapter 5 done as I need to do some intense reading on Attack on Titan, knowing me it won't take me long since I have finished University. I am basically trying to organise my plot further, ensuring what I am talking about is as close to the manga as possible. Please feel free to ask any questions about the fanfic. BTW, if you know Carla's maiden name in the manga please comment or message me because I will happily update this chapter, but based on the resources I found I couldn't find anything. Though that's it, Volume 1 is FINISHED!

And also, *salutes*

Shinzou o Sasageyo!