Four Years Later
Explosions and gun fire erupted as men ran forward, the sand beneath their feet weighing decreasing their haste, screams and wails could hardly be heard as many are mowed down under heavy machine gun fire, cannon fire rained down from the fort Slava belong to the middle east allied forces who is at war with the nation of Marley.
The mission was simple take out the armoured train before the imminent arrival of the bombardment.
A young blonde boy ran as his feet would carry him, men nearby by having their bodies ripped to shreds as they pushed forward, until something close by turned the ground into dirt and red mist erupted, the force knocking him off his feet, debris impacted his head, dazed, as his vision blurred, head bleeding, he lay still it isn't something he wished to do but gazing to the blue sky, it is quite beautiful, yet something else caught his blurred eye, as it hover in the air, maybe two? Possibly or it could be one.
A bird? It is very hard to concentrate, but it shouldn't be here, his hand outstretched as if trying to warn it.
"Get away..." his voice weak, struggling heavily, still he had to warn it, ignoring the explosions and death "It is too dangerous here….. you have to fly away….".
Foot steps ran with full haste as an older woman ran seeing the boy hit the ground, instantly hitting the ground as bullets shot over her head, in one swift movement picked the boy up before running back, as her breath grew heavy.
"Quickly! Get Falco here" an older man cried out as he fired from his rifle, hoping to suppress the enemy, watching the woman run faster than ever as her eyes remained fixed on the trench, before using her remaining strength to leap towards the deep hole that was dug, narrowly missing the mortar fire impacting nearby.
Rolling inwards using her arms to cover the boy's head, poor kid had enough damage already as she rolled with her shoulders, before placing the kid to the side sitting up straight as his fellow comrades come to his attention.
"Thank you for saving my brother, I owe you allot" the older brother sighed in relief, as the woman regained her breath.
Her blonde hair has gotten dirty and her light blue eyes pierced the boy she saved on the behalf of this idiot, but still relief to see him still alive and conscious, at least she can save at least one life from this shit-fest of a battle.
"Colt, he's fine just try not to get yourself killed, or his for that matter" as she reposition her red armband on her left arm, her eyes gazed over to the boy, reminding him of someone she used to know, shaking the thought as she walked off.
Falco blinked as he is now seeing three children before him, his vision still blurred, they all have twins, until water was splashed over his face, the shock waking him slightly as he is now faced to faced with a younger girl, her hair brown along with the same eye colour as her hair.
"You're lucky to get out of there alive" she spoke with irritation as she looked at the wound "Zofia clean his wound, Udo grab a bandage and wrap it around his head"
The taller boy, his hair like a bowl cut, as he pushed his glasses up as he rummage through his satchel to his side, before pulling out white material, outstretching it.
"Who are you?" was the first question he asked as he felt the blonde girl dab his head, cleaning the wound, following by the taller boy with the glasses, wrapping the bandage round, the question irritated the brown headed girl, as she she eyed him sceptically.
"Huh? Did you get memory loss while your out there?"
"Gabi, calm down" Zofia spoke, her tone mono as she knelt over Falco.
"Why? We are warrior candidates, we should be able to pull our weight twice fold" Gabi frowned as she peered her head over the trench wall, her eyes scanning for their target, bingo the armoured train is coming out of it's fort, all they need to do is get rid of it.
"You guys can wait here for all I care, I have an idea" her grin formed, maybe this time she will get his notice if she tries hard enough.
The blonde woman gave pace as she walked to where command lies in wait, scanning past frightened soldiers as they cower behind the protection of the trench wall, she hated being here, nor did she care about the country she is fighting for, looking to the sky, the blimp is making it's way slowly, her eyes filled with sorrow for a brief moment, before seeing an even more older man filing out, binoculars in hand along with the fat slob next to him, their eyes meet.
"Leonhart, where have you been? You are to wait with the Cart and Jaws titan" The commander spoke with an authoritative tone, seeing the female titan holder having a stroll amongst the trenches, his eyes gaze over her shoulder seeing the wounded Eldian boy looking to Gabi Braun, his brow furrowed "You best get to it, I will turn a blind eye just this once"
"You have no choice" Annie shrugged as she casually walked past, eager to get away, being blocked by the commanders stooge.
"You best watch your tone, Eldian scum, your friend's protection have it's reach" the man sneered under his helmet "And he's not here either"
Annie scowled, as her thumb hover over the ring on her finger, contemplating, but decided not to as the Commander cleared his throat for their attention.
"Enough the pair of you, Lieutenant make sure the 800 men are ready to charge that train, we have so much time before the aerial bombardment arrives" Commander Magath ordered, seeing his man salute and march off his eyes drifted to Annie, resisting the urge to groan at her defiance "Go to where the Cart and Jaws titan are holding out, this is the only time I will not report of your defiance, that is my only warning, dismissed"
Watching the woman skulk off, his hardened gaze turned to the moving train, as it reared to the front slowly, equipped with multiple anti titan guns, this would be a difficult operation if they don't succeed here, they have to capture the fort if they were to take out their naval fleet on the other side, once they destroy the fleet victory is assured in their four year war, but it can only happen if they can take out that blasted train, hearing footsteps to his right, seeing Colt and Gabi coming along, grumbling to himself, preparing to hear their ideas, it better be worth his time.
"Colt, Braun, what is the situation?"
Colt began first "The machine and mortar fire are tearing our men apart, I would say to have them pull back" his eyes are frantic, no doubt if they were to push again his brother wouldn't survive the second time.
"So an Eldian is calling the shots now? Denied, the mission is still the same, take out that train at all costs, even it means sending 800 Eldian's to make sure it happens" Magath dismissed the idea.
Colt still determined "Use the power of the titans to take it out, surely they are faster than ever"
Magath eyes hardened again, irritated but still kept his composure, let's humour the man.
"Colt, was is the source and military power of Marley?"
Colt blinked form the question, it is simple every Eldian knows this if they were to fight for the fatherland they swore to fight for ever since the titan wars.
"The power of the titans" Colt replied.
"Correct, say we did send them out, what happened if a stray shot from their anti titan guns hit their nape?" another question asked.
"We would potentially lose our titan holder and its power with no guarantee it would return in Marley's hands" Colt grim expression moved, a no is obvious.
"We have lost the colossal and armoured titan, we best not lose any more" Magath declared his final answer to Colt, watching the battle before him, waiting on the younger one's opinion of the matter.
"Sir, permission to take out that train myself" hearing this Magath paused, turning to young Braun as her posture and her expression more serious than ever.
"Gabi!" Colt exclaimed shocked from the young girl's mouth, she's just as suicidal in her plans as the big guy that would soon be coming down upon their heads, already knowing she is not only doing it to save her fellow Eldian's but also to gain his notice.
"What can you even do in a situation like this?" Magath questioned, his interest piqued but he did not show it "What can one lowly warrior candidate yourself can possibly achieve?"
"I can take out that train without the need to use all our men in one swift attack, that might not be done as quickly as you want it, all I need is just this bundle of grenades and you will won't need to sacrifice the men" Gabi declared as the two eyes meet, a battle of wills "What is one warrior candidate compared to 800 men that would be needed in the future"
Magath would give her credit, she has a lot of guts and a handful of crazy, maybe crazy is all they need to complete the mission, which reminds him of another crazy fool that would defy death, high command hated him being on the front lines seeing how he is far more valuable then ever, but then again it never stopped him from doing what he wants.
"Granted" Magath stated as he turned to the other end, needing to tell his subordinate to hold the charge.
"Permission to remove my armband, it is required for me to pull this off" Gabi requesting permission again, Magath turned hiding his shock, seeing her plan already, this would break many rules of engagement and war crimes, but then again the people would blame the Eldian's and not the people of Marley.
"granted, you have this one chance Braun, don't let me down" Magath ordered seeing the grin form on her face, as she proceed to undress.
"Oi, Gabi, what are you even doing?" Gabi heard Falco getting up, hearing her plan already, worry was there.
"I see your memory have returned" Gabi refuted as she tied the grenades to her ankle.
"You can't just go over the top, you will be killed!"
"We are warrior candidates, we must go above and beyond to show what we Eldian's can do for our country" Gabi shot back angrily "If you don't mind we have a mission to complete"
"Why are you acting crazy? Are you trying to gain his attention after so long?" Falco bit, as Udo and Zofia gaped as they walked from behind, seeing Gabi stood for a moment, her eyes grew angrier as the remark, breathing in just as she watch him do it, before heaving herself over the edge.
"Gabi!" Falco trying to get over himself before being grabbed by his older brother.
"Don't Falco, your still injured, just let her do her bit and when it comes, we do ours" Colt said as Zofia and Udo took him down as they comfort him, looking over to the girl holding her hands up as she slowly walked, again glancing to the sky, the blimp getting ever so closely.
Titan Trench
Annie walked into the room dug out just to make sure they are close to the action but out of harms way, scanning around she can only see a young man sitting, waiting patiently as his arms are folded, his brown hair slick back as he glances to the one who entered their little sanctum.
"Galliard, where is Pieck?" Annie asked as she noticed one less warrior in the room.
"She pulled out just to transform and have her gunner crew ready for when the train is busted" Galliard replied as he looked her over, noticing the dirt and sand on her uniform before huffing in amusement "How the fuck did Magath let you get away with your shit, I don't know why"
"My sparkling personality" Annie dryly replied, having an amused snort from Porco "So did Magath tell you the plan?"
"We go in and run their defences into scrap once the train is destroyed" Porco spoke with a bit of a sour tone "I heard his side bitch getting all the men readied up, all 800 just to destroy that armoured train"
Annie hummed in reply, 800 lives to be sacrificed just so they can be transformed and gain a few more inches, not that they can get anywhere near the walls with more anti titan cannons on the wall shooting at them, still that's where the blimp would come in just so they get the victory they need and she can go home and see her father.
Annie eyes dropped for a moment as the thought turned to him, she still haven't thanked him for getting her out of that crystal, still she saw her father who was overjoyed and full of remorse, then the war came and the focus was on that, she hate fighting for something she doesn't want to but she did it for her father, so he cold remain safe and spend what remaining time she has left in peace, if the bastards let her of course.
"Thinking about your old man?" Porco asked sensing the change of mood, only to receive only silence in response, until a massive explosion shook the foundations, causing both of them to jump from their respective spots, that was way too loud to be mortar fire, seeing Magath running in.
"You two get out there, the armoured train is destroyed, get out there and destroy their defences and fortifications" Magath ordered, as the two warriors rushed out, nodding to each other as they run over the trench, giving the space needed to transform as they sliced their hands.
Bright yellow flash of lightning erupted as the titans grew into shape, the jaws titan bone white face with blondish brown mane streaked across it's head as it rushed on all fours across the battle field.
The female titan stood tall as her form took shape, the blonde hair overshadowed her own face, muscles bare as Annie clenched her fist, crystallizing for extra hardened damage it could bring, seeing a half naked young girl rushing back cackling in glee, the boy she saved rushing forward, she could groan from the stupidity, until seeing from the wreckage a soldier getting up from the rubble pulling the machine gun up to fire on them into fits of rage.
Rushing forward as they just land into a crater, she thrust her crystallized hand in front of the machine gun fire, as it rebound off effortlessly, not even scratching the blue crystal formed, the man screamed in both rage and fright as he continue to fire only to be taken out instantly by the jaws titan as Galliard thrust his claws killing anything within, as red mist swooshes into the air where the soldier once stood.
Gabi and Falco gaped at the towering titan that saved them yet again, her eyes looking unamused as she moved forward into a sprint, noting a few cannon fire coming her way, using her speed and agility dodging them effortlessly.
Annie found this completely boring to be fair, dodging cannon fire is nothing compared to what she faced back on the island, memories flashed as she saw HER rushing forward with rage, and that Captain tearing her to pieces, and the echoing roar ripping and gouging her titan eyes out before accepting defeat to imprison herself.
Shaking the dreaded memory away, returning her focus at the combat at hand, a huge slam of concrete drawn her attention as the Cart titan soon to appear, with twin mounted Iron fortresses on Pieck's back with the iron helmet covering her face and nape as they tore the hunkered down defences, the fire team taking out soldiers out in the open and those revealed by the Jaws, this is a massacre, the power of the titans is truly a force to reckon with, gazing to the blimp soon coming over head.
Blimp
Not much room in the drop cargo hold, as rows and rows of men and women in body bags, with their heads sticking out, their faces distance as they drool, oblivious from their own minds and the fate they await for.
A man sat crouched, his hair long past his shoulders if he let it down, opting to have it tied up into a bun so it wouldn't get in his way as he held a peculiar knife in his hands, his fingers slide across the sharp blade, feeling it threatening to draw blood as he examined it, markings etched into the steel sides of the blade, this blade was passed down through generations, taking many innocent lives.
The reflection gazed upon the eyes, bearing two colours, one Dark Blue as the deep ocean, the left eye bears a bright emerald Green as the finest jewels, clenching the grip of the knife casting the reflection aside.
"Are you going to keep looking at it or are you going to do something about it?" a voice crept over him, looking up to see another man, his hair long and a light beard, thin hair across his lips and lower chin, yet his eyes piercing him hard, as he adjust the parachute to his back.
"Might decide sooner if you shut up" the man replied as he stood up his eyes now laid upon the sad sods waiting to be brought to the slaughter, he envy them, they wouldn't feel any pain as they are all induced to not do anything, no feeling, no pain, just motionless husks.
"When you look at them, what do you feel?" The man asked, as he walked to the other end, examining the faces, disgust etched his features, a sight to behold.
Before he could answer another voice drawn their attention.
"Alan, are you ready?" A blonde man with a fully grown beard, pushing his glasses back, Zeke Yeager as he glanced to the other end to where the other man stood then back to Alan, a frown made.
"We are about to jump into a Fort Slava with a shit load of Anti titan guns, I'm more ready I can be" Alan spoke, his face not showing any emotion "Let's finish this war and have it over with"
"Truer words said, even though high command would not be too pleased your here" Zeke spoke as he took his glasses off for a clean "If you wasn't so stubborn, they have you sit back out of harms way"
"What can they possibly do to me? The bloody Tybur family can't stop me" Alan replied as he carefully handled his knife again, holding it up for close examination.
"Be as it may, you hold the founding titan power" Zeke spoke boldly, reminding him of his position "And as a subject of Rufus, we don't know how your power and the founding titan would react, but then again it is fortunate that you are not subjected to the curse of Ymir, so we wouldn't have to worry as much for you dying"
"It's the first time a subject of Rufus ever took one of the nine titan powers, scratch that, TWO titan powers" Alan in return reminded Zeke, four years ago, he made one of the most hardest choices he ever made which cost him his brother and best friend just so Marley can have their fucking founding titan.
Zeke's face sullen at the words, slight pain shown in his eye's, the chance he could have with his now deceased younger half brother, Eren Yeager, son of Grisha Yeager, still what is done is done, there's no point in reminiscing the what and ifs of the past, for now they move forward, yet ever since their return, Alan has changed, his eye's was the first, a side effect of a subject of Rufus taking a titan power?
"You did free Annie from her crystal prison" Zeke spoke as Alan slightly turned his Emerald eye towards him, Zeke looking away as the eye reminded him of Eren.
"That's one good thing that came off that fucking island" Alan replied, no venom in his tone, saying it as casually as always "Still even after four years in this war, I am left slightly disappointed, you think having the founding power would benefit us greatly yet it just feels like another titan"
"Maybe it is best that we don't explore that, after this war, we would have secured peace and Freedom of not only for our fellow Eldian's, but for the whole world" Zeke smiled yet not reaching his eyes, a feeling Alan has gotten off him that something isn't right, ever since the boat Alan had kept his distance, not letting the man touch him, for reasons unknown it awakened something for a brief time, as if allowing Alan to access a small portion of it's power, but awakened something far worse, something he would keep to himself till his dying breath.
"Hmm, Freedom…." Alan muttered to himself, the very word felt foreign, but a long yearn for it at the same time.
Ignoring the man watching the exchange as his eye's drifted calmly back and forth, observing the interaction, as he looked as the sound of gears whirring as the cargo door opened, the edge of the fort slowly coming into view.
"Looks like it's time" the man spoke as Alan nodded, Zeke cracked his neck, a green light brightened up, and the sound of hooks slide and the sound of the bags scraped off the floor as the Eldian's were shoved off the blimp, parachutes opened up as they left to slow their decent, as they are coming on top of the fort.
Until all is off, Zeke, Alan and the man stood side by side as they watch the parachutes drift ever so slowly down to their target.
"Shall I do it, or do you want the honours?" Zeke asked, chuckling to the disgusted expression Alan made, even the man next to him, as if they asked him to do something so repulsive, Zeke had to find this amusing seeing some form of emotion on that man's face, Alan have always been kept to himself and only a small few seen him smile on a rare occasion since their return.
"Very Well" Zeke spoke, as he once again cleared his voice "AAAAAAAAAAGH!" bellowing at the top of his lungs, as soon as his voice escaped his throat, blinding bright light illuminated the sky as the poor slobs were transformed into free falling titans, as they crash down upon the fort, at the distance seeing many ants and the titans on the ground retreating rapidly away from the fort with the titans falling.
"See you at the bottom" The man spoke to Alan as he jumped, with Alan allowing a low amused grunt as he jumped down before making a free fall, releasing his parachute, enough to give a good view of the chaos.
"Few of the poor sods died on impact" Alan stated to himself as he saw the pure titans munch down on the enemy, pity, guilt raised in his gut, as memories of Trost and Shiganshia popped in his head, people being eaten for no fucking reason, Alan glanced to the walls, smoke irradiated as the anti titan cannons destroyed what remains of the pure titans that are drawn to the people, he could have them go for the titans, but something is stopping him from doing so.
"I'm counting five, no ten cannon positions on the walls, right I have sight on what I need" Alan noted his targets as his eyes cast to the walls "I hate fucking walls"
Slicing his hand with his knife, allowing his transformation taking hold as a bright yellow lightening hit the sky, as Alan can feel flesh and bone forming around him, as he closed his eyes, feeling everything happening before the Immortal titan open it's eyes, no longer is it hidden in white haze but a clear view of the Blue and Emerald Iris, the armour forming on the body.
The Immortal titan landing in the middle of the fort as the dust and rubble scatter around it his eyes penetrating the cloud, hearing soldiers screaming in terror as they recognise the Devil arriving, as they swivel their cannons quickly to take it out.
Shots fired quickly as the titan dodged with ease, before rushing forward, his armoured arm held out taking out a few gun placements, seeing a few pure titans munching happily, at the corner of his eye seeing cannons on the other side preparing to fire upon him, the Immortal titan roared, spurring the pure titans out of it's trance, in an instant their bodies twisted as they spun in the air, before charging to the cannon placements, drawing it's fire away from the Immortal titan.
Soldiers screamed as they divert fire to the pure titans charging them down, as they pounced on top of them as they devoured the soldiers, and destroying the cannons in one fell swoop.
Satisfied Alan proceed forward to the other cannon placements as they focused fire on the pure titans until hearing a shot fired into his direction, lifting his arm to protect his face, a deep penetration pierced his arms, seeing a huge hole within, Alan growled as he saw a second armoured train with their turrets emerging from inside the fort, when did they have a second train?
Alan growled even more, trust to have Marley intelligence to not get everything right, if only they let him scout would be able to get the weaknesses and all military personnel on paper, but no they don't want to risk their founding titan being taken away, already regretting having the stupid power, being more of a hindrance than a fucking ultimate power, roaring again just as the train fired again, this time, the pure titans leapt in front of the shot, soaking in all the damage before dropping down dead, their bodies starting to dissipate, steam clouding the trains view.
Rushing round towards the train Alan ducked and used his own arm to take the blows, covering his nape from the cannon on the walls, his main focus being the train, take that out and he could focus on the wall.
Before Alan can reach the train, the corner of his eyes caught sight of a cannon he missed aiming directly at him, the faces of the soldiers manning it, unadulterated hatred as their lungs pierced their rage, until a crystal hand wiped them from existence, Annie came in at the nick of time, taking out the cannon, their eye's meeting as they gave their thanks, Annie's titan face smiled slightly as if it say you owe me one, Alan can only grin from within as he charged forward to the train, Galliard pouncing on the walls taking out more of the cannons and defences, drawing the train's fire away from the Immortal titan, with it's reflexes and agility pouncing one wall to the other avoiding the blast.
"Hurry the fuck up" Porco growled as one came close to comfort.
Alan roared as he charged into the train's front, dislodging it from the tracks, flipping it on it's head, the ammunition and explosives inside the turrets erupted into a ball of flame as the impact set of a chain reaction.
Chaos ensued from below as Zeke watched in pique interest, amusing how he can easily control the pure titans, commanding them to his bidding, one of the few powers they learned during the war, yet Zeke can wonder if he could control all Eldian's and not only Eldian's transformed into titans, another thought came to mind as Zeke hummed to himself, as if another question have been answered, but that can wait, they have a war to win after all, transforming into the Beast titan, it's Ape like fur and long arms towering over, turning to the immortal titan.
"Well done in taking out the defences" Zeke congratulated before turning to the horizon, the open sea and the enemies fleet all waiting to be annihilated, Zeke lifted up titan rounds from the nearby stockpile that the warriors have not destroyed thankfully "Let's not waste time shall we"
Zeke smiled as he carefully clenched the rounds in his hands, before taking a baseball pitcher stance, before throwing the rounds at hastened speeds, not noticing the ships already firing upon him.
"Huh?!" Zeke exclaimed in surprise as the ships rounds hurled towards him, it happened so fast as Zeke's body was suddenly protected by the armoured titan as multiple rounds penetrated the body causing him to collapse, the ships destroyed.
Pain, is all Alan can feel, as he felt his titan ripped to shreds, one round ripping his right arm off, fucking Zeke, should always expect the ships to retaliate, feeling the rounds penetrating the titan head, absorbing all the rounds, before collapsing down.
Steam irradiated quickly, as Alan cough blood, forcing his nape open with one arm, as he crawl out, about to fall to the ground until something held him up on his knees, the man that was with them on the blimp, dirtied and bruised, his eyes turning to his.
"Thought you be all so powerful, Subject of Rufus, or did you grow soft over the years" his voice asked calmly, yet dangerously as his eyes looked over him, the beast titan over watching, the female titan kneeling down, Annie removing herself, as concern is on her face, terrified at what she was seeing.
Looking down to see his arm healing, but his waist took a good hit, looking back to the man, his vision darkened.
A/N: Bet you all are wondering what just happened? Well reading reviews the one that are constructed well, it made me rethink on the whole story and where i want it to go, obviously the previous sequel was shite, i admit that hence why i am redoing the sequel to Duty and Freedom, this time hopefully far more enjoyable, I will be alternating between this story and Force unleashed. Why i did that story? Well i won't be making A/N for Force unleashed since it be my story that i like to get all chaotic and stupid with and it helps me relaxed as i can go full retard for my own amusement and hopefully yours.
Obviously i am going with the second ending to the first story since it held high regard making it AU, which i agree with, so enjoy and hopefully you guys enjoy it as well.