Marley

Rain's hair lifted in the wind then lay on her shoulders. Her eyes remained locked on the gravestone before here. So much time had past since he passed away upon that rooftop. She still missed him everyday. Most mornings she woke expecting him to still be there before remembering he wasn't and never would again.

The pain remained sharp, sometimes to the point she would throw up. But then, without warning, one day Levi pulled her outside and to this graveyard. Through her blurry eyes she saw her dad's name carved in stone. Levi had gone back to the house where he had left her dad's body and got him a proper grave. The pain had lessened considerable after that point. The majority of the heaviness lifted from her chest and mind. It felt as if giving her dad a proper burial gave her a sense of peace. Of course she still missed him. She always would. He had done so much for her.

"Hey, Daddy," Rain said. "Just came by to see you for a moment. We're about to head out to Marley. Can you believe it? We're actually going there. Again."

Rain's mind shifted back to the first time they had ventured out to sea and into the enemy's territory. It was, for the most part, an uneventful trip. Thanks to her connections to that place she had to dress as a man. It was the only way to make sure no one noticed her. And it worked. No one noticed her at all.

"Anyway, Eren sent us another letter. He's about to make his move. So we have to rush over there and make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble. I wish I could say I have more information about my past, but I don't. Eren says there's something he has to talk to me about, but he couldn't, or wouldn't, put it in his letter. He promises he'll tell me as soon as he can when we're back together."

Rain wrapped her arms around herself and lifted her eyes to the sky. "You won't believe how much things have changed. We're able to travel on a flying machine called a zeppelin. It's fast than horses and ships. And it's supposed to get us to Marley in one day or around there." She paused for a moment. "It's weird. I expected I'd be nervous about going back to Marley. I guess I don't because I don't really remember it. Not even when we first went there. Or maybe I'll get nervous by the time we get there. After all this time we're going to be fighting in the heart of enemy territory. It doesn't seem that Eren has been discovered though. But who knows? Maybe he has been discovered and a trap is being laid for us since they know we won't give up on Eren."

She breathed in. "I even have a new horse. He's great. Really fast. And I think Flame's getting use to not riding so much with me. She's so relaxed. I wish Levi were relaxed. With all this stuff Eren has pulled… I think Levi might really hurt Eren when we get him back. Or he'll think about it. You know I won't let him get too rough. Though I think everyone has had the thought to strangle Eren a time or two. Well, that's about it. In half an hour we'll be heading off to Marley." She placed her fingers upon her dad's headstone. "I know you're still watching over us. Still, wish us luck, Dad."

Rain stepped away from her dad's grave, her fingers lingering as long as they could on the cold stone, and swung upon Dasher. With a tap of her heels they were off.

…

"About time you got here," Mikasa said upon Rain's arrival at the zeppelin site outside of the walls. Maintenance men rushed around, finishing up last minute safety checks, while soldiers loaded extra weapons and ammo for the trip.

Rain glared as she dismounted.

"We were concerned you might not make it," Armin said before more heat could pass between the two women. He had become a solitary buffer between the two of them since Eren had left.

Rain passed the reins over to a soldier who was going to take Dasher back to the headquarters. "I was talking to my dad."

Armin nodded. "I figured as much."

"Are we ready to go?" Rain asked.

"Any minute now." Armin glanced back at the zeppelin.

Rain followed his gaze. Despite seeing this beast of a flying machine, she still found it hard to believe it was real. Being cut off from the world made them miss so much.

"All right! Let's load up!" Hange called out a few minutes later.

Rain's eyes shifted to Levi as he walked over to her. He stared into her eyes, searching. "I'm fine, Levi."

Levi nodded. "If you feel overwhelmed by anything, come to me at once."

"I will. Don't worry."

"I'll always worry about you." Levi kissed her temple then led her inside of the zeppelin.

Rain watched Levi walk away before taking her seat. Ten minutes later the cables holding the zeppelin down were released and they lifted into the air.

"Hey, Rain?" Connie said.

"Hm?"

"Will you eat any of the other titans?"

Rain lifted her eyes. She stared at the young man for a tense moment. Without looking she knew the others were also waiting for the answer. It was something that was also in the back of her mind. Would she eat another titan to gain its power? No. She had no interest in more power or other titans. But what if someone was in trouble? Would she eat another titan to protect someone she loves? Yes. She wouldn't lose anyone else if she could help it. "No, I have no intentions of gaining another titan's powers. But… if I have to then I will."

"Rain." A door opened to another room on the zeppelin. Levi stepped halfway out the door.

Rain stood and walked to him. He closed the door behind them. "What is it?"

"Rain, I want you stay close to Eren," Levi said.

Her eyebrows rose. It wasn't expected. The last time they were in Marley he wanted her to stay with him. "You don't want me to stay close to you?"

"We need your powers to help Eren if he gets himself into trouble."

"You're angry with him."

"It's taking you all these months to notice that?"

"No." Rain shook her head. "It's just… I know you're upset with him. But don't be too hard on him. I'm part of the reason he went to Marley in the first place."

"He'll get the punishment he deserves for what he's done." Levi crossed his arms, as if waiting for her to challenge him.

Rain placed her hands on his elbows and kissed him. "I know. He will be punished."

…

"That brat," Levi said as they looked down on the mess Eren had already made.

Rain shook her head. She never expected Eren to wait for them. But she didn't expect this either. People had been killed, innocent people. Their blood splattered the roads. Then this was war, right? People died in wars. Scanning her eyes over the debris and the scattering people, she easily spotted him in his titan form. With a silent single from Levi their group jumped from the zeppelin.

He turned to her. "Go."

Rain nodded and jumped. Launching her ODM gear she made her way towards Eren. Mikasa was already there when she landed on Eren's titan shoulder. He had already emerged from his titan form. "Eren."

"Rain." Eren smiled, soft and comforting. "It's good to see you."

Rain relaxed with an exhale before turning back to the battle at hand as Mikasa attempted to reprimand Eren for the damage he had caused. "Mikasa, this is war. Everyone can die. Now get over it. We have a mission here to complete."

"You little-" Mikasa hissed.

"She's right. Look. The war hammer," Eren said.

The warm hammer was regenerating. Mikasa apparently didn't kill it as she had thought. Launching their gear, Mikasa grabbed Eren and they moved away. Rain stuck close to Eren as Levi had said. "Eren?"

"The war hammer…" Eren scanned his eyes to the titan's feet. "When it transformed before, I felt power building from its feet. There."

Rain's eyes followed his point. A thread of titan skin led into a hole in the ground. "Its wielder is underground?"

"Stay here, Rain," Eren said. "I want you close. The soldiers here are still trying to get you back. They have a way of doing it. And there's nothing we can do to get you back if they use it."

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"Stay here." Eren jumped.

"Hey!" Rain moved to followed him but froze. They had something to take her back with? What was it? How could it take her back?

Kill him.

Pain stuck her temples, causing her to flinch.

Kill him. Take it back.

Rain massaged her temples.

He is a danger to us. You must kill him and take back his power.

"Kill him," Rain whispered. Her eyes lifted to Eren. Transformed he was in battle with the jaw titan.

Now is your chance. You are the Beast Killer. You are the only one who can take him down. Do it now. Kill him!

Rain lifted her hand to her horn. Pressing down she sliced her skin open. With a crack of thunder and a bolt of lightning, Rain jumped from the roof. Her body became encased in titan skin. With a loud roar she completed her transformation and shot towards Eren. She rammed him, her horn embedding in his shoulder.

"Rain! What the heck are you doing?!" Mikasa demanded. She launched herself towards Rain, swords raised to attack. "Get away from Eren!"

Rain smirked. The voice in her head continued to tell her to kill Eren, take his titan power, don't let him get away. Kill. Kill! Kill! Eren pulled her from his shoulder. Pinning her down with one hand he batted Mikasa away with his other.

Mikasa spun before planting her feet on a wall. "Eren! She's trying to kill you!"

Eren roared at her then looked down at Rain.

Rain grabbed Eren's ankle and threw him off balance. Jumping to her feet she sunk her teeth into his shoulder.

"Rain! Stop it!" Mikasa shouted. "Eren, let me stop her!"

Eren snarled at his oldest friend then struggled to pull Rain off of him.

Rain held tight with her teeth. She needed to get to his neck. An image of her playing with Eren as children flashed through her mind. Her grip on him loosened. She collapsed to the ground, holding her throbbing head. What's wrong with me? Why am I attacking Eren?

Kill him! Stop falling to weakness! It's your job to retain the founder's ability!

Stop it! Eren is my friend! I won't kill him!

Kill! KILL!

Rain threw her head back and roared. Sharp nails ripped through her titan skin. Fingers wrapped around her body, pulling her free. Lights flashed through her eyes before everything when black.

…

Levi's heart jumped into his throat when Eren pulled Rain into the zeppelin. She was unconscious. From a distance he was able to see her transformation but had no idea why she had done it. He knelt down, taking her in his arms. "What happened?"
"She tried to kill Eren," Mikasa said with a glare.

"Knock it off, Mikasa," Eren said, his eyes staying on Rain. "It wasn't her fault."

"How can you say that?! I saw her go right for you! She didn't go after the others titans! She went after you!" Mikasa swiped her hand through the air.

"Mikasa," Armin said.

"It wasn't her fault," Eren said. "They have a way of controlling her."

"Control her?" Hange asked. "How?"

"What's important right now is getting her as far away from here as possible before she wakes up," Eren said. "Remember what her titan form is all about."

"Right. I'll tell the pilot to hurry up." Hange rushed from the room.

Rain groaned and opened her eyes.

"Rain." Levi locked eyes with her.

Rain licked her lips, unable to find her words.

"Relax. We're aboard the zeppelin," Levi said. "We've retrieved Eren and Zeke."

Rain nodded and relaxed.

Levi helped her lean against the wall before turning back to Eren. "You're filthy. You look like you just crawled out of a latrine, Eren."

"Captain," Eren said.

Levi pulled his leg back. With lightning fast reflexes he kicked him. Eren flew across the zeppelin, hitting the side hard.

Mikasa growled. Her eyes glowed with hatred as she moved to attack Levi. Armin grabbed her to keep her from getting into trouble.

"This brings back some memories, Eren. Still easy to kick around, I see," Levi said, unconcerned about Mikasa.

"Levi." Rain shook her head.

Levi cast her a glance. "I would love to arrest you. But, first, you need to spill how they can control Rain. Then we're going to arrest you. We'll save the other talking for later."

"That's fine." Eren lifted a hand to his face. His eyes flittered to Rain then to Zeke before going back to Levi. "Those horns on her head. They are connected to her brain."

Rain's hand lifted. Mindlessly she fingered her horns.

"The soldiers of the Marley army hold a piece of her horns. The markings are an old incantation. All they have to do is speak those words then Rain will do whatever they say," Eren said.

Levi looked at Rain. Her hand was frozen on her horn. Her eyes widened with panic and fear. He clenched his hands. The Marley soldiers were trying to get her to kill Eren and take his powers back. But what would have happened to her? Would they have let her keep the powers or have another titan eat her?

"Rain is actually the first to survive," Eren said.

"What do you mean?" Armin asked.

Eren locked eyes with Rain. "They have tried to make a Beast Killer titan a hundred and seventy five times."

Rain's skin paled.

"However, it's not without consequences," Eren continued. "With the procedure of attaching the horns it messes with the recipient's brain. Before Rain the recipients of her powers became childlike again. When they would be given an order they would cry or throw a tantrum. Some lost complete brain function which led to them being killed."

"What was the purpose of doing this? I mean if they already had all the other titans, why put people through such a procedure?" Armin asked.

"They wanted a more controllable titan," Zeke said, earning everyone's attention. "And they wanted to be able to extend a titan shifter's lifespan. As you can see, they were successful, in a way. They still don't know how long Rain will live. It was an accident that happened during the procedure. An accident they haven't been able to repeat since then."

"Good. We don't need more people like Rain around." Mikasa crossed her arms over her chest.

Rain glared at the young woman.

Before a fight could break out, Levi ordered everyone, who wasn't needed, out of the room.

"Other than that, I already wrote out everything I had to say in that letter I send you. Will that be all, sir?" Eren said, his eyes were soft, sad, and full of despair.

"That face… I've seen that same expression on people in the underground city. So many of them it could rot my eyes out. Don't tell me that you can gloat now. Seems as if everything is as you suspected." Levi looked at Yelena. "Hey, how long are you going to wear that thing on your face?"

"Why? I kind of like it." Yelena pulled off her fake beard. Muffled noises came from the other side of the door.

"Those guys are still making a racket out there?" Levi said. The door swung open and two kids were ushered inside.

"Children?" Rain said.

"Gabi… Falco… why are you here?" Zeke asked.

"Why are you here?" the boy asked.

"So you're alive! But… you were captured by these devils?" the girl said.

"Who are these brats?" Levi asked.

"They killed Lobov and used his ODM gear to get on board," Jean said. "And this one shot Sasha. And it looks like she might not make it."

…

"No." Rain gasped. It wasn't possible. They were back on the zeppelin. They were supposed to be safe. Mikasa and Armin rushed for the door to see their friend. She wanted to go as well but stayed where she was. Her body was suffering from enough shock as it was. She couldn't stop trembling. Her brain had been messed with. All for what? Why was all this happening? Why did it have to happen?

"I'll leave the rest to you, Onyankopon." Hange stepped back into the room. She looked at Zeke and closed the door. "Well? Did everything go according to our plan? Zeke Jaeger?"

"Almost everything did, but it seems I have miscalculated quite a bit," Zeke said, nodding towards the two kids.

"Commander Zeke?" Gabi gasped.

"Eh? Who are these kids?" Hange asked.

"They're the miscalculations," Zeke said.

"Yelena! You were supposed to make sure the jaw and the cart titans were restrained. Our comrades died in vain because you didn't do your job!" Jean shouted.

"I'm sorry. I did drop those two in the pit, as planned, but someone got them out. It was my mistake," Yelena said.

"Because of that we had to take the heavier fire from the beast titan's rocks, much more than we had planned. You had to improvise quite a bit of acting there. Isn't that right, Beardo?" Levi bore his eyes into Zeke.

Rain knew she should be upset with Zeke as well. But, in the moment, all she could think was how much he knew about her. Was he part of her transformation? Was he there for it? How old was he anyway? Could he have put a stop to her transformation? Would he have if he knew what happened to those before her?

"Don't look at me like that, Levi. What would you have done if I had backed down from our little act? It's not like you had to do a lot of acting. You had a good reason for wanting to kill me and all," Zeke said.

"I'm the kind of guy who saves his favorite part of the meal for last. I like to savor the taste, you see," Levi said.

"We've killed the majority of the Marleyan army's top branch, and destroyed their naval forces and major ports," Eren said. "This must have bought us some time."

"You mean time until the world launches an all out attack on Paradise Island?" Hange said. "Every time you're captured by the enemy, we put our lives on the line to save you no matter how many lose their lives in the process. You knew that, and still chose to take these extreme measures, intentionally getting yourself caught by the enemy in the process. You leave us no choice but to react according to your own selfish whims. You may still put such trust in us, but we can no longer trust you."

"That may be so, but all those sacrifices made for the original titan and the titan carrying royal blood will all be worth it once they bring about freedom of the Eldian people," Zeke said.

The door opened. Connie walked in. His eyes were red and full of tears. "Sasha… she's dead."

"What?" Hange gasped.

Rain clenched her teeth. Tears stung her eyes.

"Connie, did Sasha… say anything before she died?" Eren said.

"She said meat," Connie said.

Eren lowered his eyes and laughed.

"Eren," Rain mumbled.

"Eren, do you realize Sasha died because you got the Survey Corps involved in all this mess, right?" Jean said.

Rain covered her ears. She didn't want to hear anymore about what happened. All she wanted was to go home and sleep.