Chapter 7
Seeing the smoke that was raised, most of the nearby soldiers had turned their attention away from Rolf and to it, whispering rumors about what it could be. The fact that it was on the inside of the wall was most distressing.
That was when Rolf noticed that Reiner was very intently staring at the smoke, than activated his Vertical Maneuver Gear and launching himself up, with Bertholdt and surprisingly Annie following. Rolf saw that Jean had a look on his face, one that seemed to imply he knew what it was but didn't like it, before following.
Rolf activated his own gear to follow when he heard Mina behind him.
"Wait Rolf, what's going on?" She asked, looking up at the others and the smoke. "Where are they going?"
"Clearly to the smoke, surely you're not that thick in the head." Rolf said, shaking his own head. "Maybe it had to do with why Mikasa and Armin-boy didn't follow us. Either way, Rolf sees that Rolf could help, if everyone really is as namby-pamby weakling as they seem." Activating his hooks he shot up, with Mina following after.
After they ran after the others, they arrived at the edge of the buildings right before the wall. Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie, and Jean were standing there, but their eyes were widened.
"Tell Rolf, why are your eyes jutting out like a chicken laying an eg-" Rolf started asking, then that was when he saw it. Looking down, almost obscured by a pillar of smoke, sat what looked like a massive, half formed body. Partly skeletal and muscular, with a single staring eye. It was then that Rolf noticed back near them was a line of Garrison soldiers, led by Commander Kitz Woermann, who was in charge of the defense of Trost at the moment. Unsurprisingly, they were all on edge.
"What...what is going on here?" Mina asked, speaking up as she looked down at it.
"I...think that's Eren..." Jean said slowly.
"Eren-boy? But Rolf thought Eren was no more, devoured by those accursed beasts!" Rolf asked, looking back at them.
"Well...remember that Titan that was helping us out and killing those other Titans? Well...after it collapsed, Eren just...stepped out." Jean said slowly. "I...bet that's why this is happening, they're afraid of hi-"
"Oh hoh! Eren-boy is alive! Rolf must go congratulate him!" Rolf said, grinning as he fired off a hook right at the smoke.
"No Rolf wait-!" Mina shouted and tried to grab him, but she was too late as Rolf shot down
"Eren!" Rolf said as he landed right between the massive half-skeleton and the Garrison line. The soldiers were all stunned and didn't quite know how to respond as this tall, blue haired cadet just walked in front of their guns and cheerfully ran into the smoke.
When Rolf ran inside of the smoke, he saw that Armin, Mikasa, and sure enough Eren sat under the massive ribcage. They all three looked over at him, stunned.
"...Rolf?" Eren asked gasping as he was picked up in a massive, spine-crushing hug.
"Ah, the Son of a Shepherd is so glad t see you and not digested, hair-trigger-temper-Eren-boy!" Rolf said, grinning.
"Rolf...it's...good to...see you...too but...ghag!" Eren said, feeling his eyes bulge a bit. Rolf eventually put him down, causing Eren to gasp and cough a bit.
"So, Eren-boy can turn himself into a large Titan creature, yes? Rolf congratulates you!" The excited boy said, patting him on the back, when Armin spoke up.
"Rolf, what are you doing? Didn't you see the line of guns?"
"...Hello?" Rolf said, and peeked his head out of the smoke, seeing the garrison soldiers.
"Cadet! Get away from there and out of line, or be considered a fellow enemy of mankind!" Kitz shouted at Rolf.
"But why are the soldiers here aiming their shooty guns at Eren-boy? Surely they must know that Eren would only harm a Titan fly, yes?" Rolf asked, back in the smoke.
"They're scared of Eren. They don't know what's going on, and panicking. They've got a cannon aimed right at us!" Armin said, pointing up on the Wall.
Rolf looked up at it, and saw that there was, in fact, a cannon being loaded and aimed at the group. "Ah, so that's what caused the big boom interrupting Rolf's explanation of his strength. Well don't worry, Rolf will help settle matters, yes?"
"What, but how do you-" Armin said, although Rolf shot up and out, heading up the Wall.
"There we go, good job cadet, now team I want-CADET, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Kitz said, as he saw Rolf landing next to and walking towards the cannon.
"Excuse Rolf, but Rolf will need to borrow this. Rolf knows dangerous tools should not be in the hands of those without a mind as blank as a cow." Rolf said, as he reached his arms under the cannon, the two cannoneers also confused by this.
"Hey wait, Cadet what are you-" That's when the cannon gave a slight groan as Rolf hefted and pushed his knees up, the cannon in his arms.
"There...Rolf goes...wheh cannon is heavier than a horse. Rolf shall make a note of this." Rolf said, then embedded a hook back on the Wall and lowering himself and the cannon to the ground. Rolf set it down, when he looked back at Captain Kitz. "There Captain! Rolf apologizes if Rolf may have taken a step first, but Rolf will make his way out now. Rolf hopes without the big gun, all can think more like the great squid and not shoot about like a sheep with no watch. Rolf shall see if Rolf can scrounge up eels for the Eels of Forgiveness." Rolf said, as he took a few steps forward, only to have the muskets turned on him.
"W-What did you just do?! How did you take away that cannon? Are you in line with the enemy as well?! I will bring you down as well, I will-"
"I think that's enough, Captain Woermann. And might I suggest doing something about that nervous disposition?" Came a calm voice behind the captain. Said captain turned around, eyes widened as he saw the bald, older moustached gentleman.
"C-Commander Pixis?" He said, surprised to see him.
"I must say, being able to lift a cannon up and bring it off the Wall is quite the impressive trick. And he has quite the right idea about keeping dangerous weapons in calm hands. Maybe it'd be worth hearing him and his comrades out."
Rolf had been informed by Armin that Commander Dot Pixis was the commander and leader of the entire Garrison Regiment, and was in charge of the southern defense. And...that he was completely and utterly eccentric.
"Mmm, nope none of you." Pixis said, as he looked down the wall at the group of Titans clawing at it, trying to get through or get to Pixis. "Although getting eaten by one wouldn't be so bad, if it was a sexy lady Titan." He smirked at that.
"...Commander, Rolf must beg of the pardon, why would anyone think of shimmy-shake the skin of a swine Titan? Rolf cannot see it ending other than messily devoured like Wilfred at his grub." Rolf asked confused.
Pixis looked back at Rolf, staring at the foreign boy for a moment, before reaching into his jacket and pulling out a flask, unscrewing the cap, and taking a quick swig. "I get the feeling I didn't bring nearly enough of this."
Right now, Rolf, Armin, Eren, Mikasa, and Pixis were standing on top of the inner gate of Trost, looking over the wreckage left by the Titans. As of now, the Armored Titan hadn't shown up so Wall Rose itself was safe, but they were not just going to abandon Trost District, not like this.
Eren had just gotten done saying something about a cellar in his old home holding answers, or something. Pixis did guarantee their safety though, and said that he'd put this information away for later, seeing as it was irrelevant to the current situation. Rolf was just wondering why he had been brought up as well.
Is Rolf possibly getting recognition for stopping the cannon blasting of Titan-in-human-clothing-Eren-boy? Rolf thought, as Pixis spoke up.
"Now, Cadet Arlelt, you just now mentioned you had a plan for using Eren's Titan power to help retake the city. Were you being sincere, or begging for your life when you were unaware of where my position on Cadet Jaeger lied?"
"Um...well both sir." Armin answered truthfully. "I was thinking that if Eren could, in his Titan form, lift that humongous boulder and use it to block off the wrecked gate." Armin suggested slowly.
Dot Pixis stared intently into Armin's eyes, trying clearly to get a bead on him. He nodded slowly, and turned to Rolf.
"And you, Cadet Yonick. You have some incredible strength there. Not only able to lift a cannon, but propel it down off the Wall is...well, it's beyond anything human." He said, then smirked. "But I suppose it would be too much to think even you could lift up that boulder."
Rolf nodded, also saluting like Armin. "Rolf regrets to inform you, Commander bald but big in the upper thinking. Rolf feels if Rolf even tried, the boulder of great girth would squash Rolf like one of Papa's back pimples."
"...So that's a no, got it." He said, before reaching into his jacket again as he kneeled down by Eren.
"And you, Cadet Jaeger, appears to be our best shot at ceiling this hole. So are you willing to do it." He asked, staring down at Eren for a moment. Rolf grinned, knowing the answer already, even before Eren responded to that.
"Yes sir. I don't know if I'll be able to seal the hole, but I'll do it."
"Excellent." Pixis said, then headed back to the Wall and calling his staff officers.
Pixis and his officers were busy fleshing out a plan for the next while, before Pixis went to talk to the crowd of assembled soldiers. Rolf and Eren were tasked with standing beside him as he explained his plan.
Telling the crowd that Eren was a scientific experiment, he would lift the rock and use it to seal up the hole. However, he also claimed that Rolf was a back-up plan, and once again Rolf was asked to lift a cannon in front of the entire crowd to showcase his immense strength. He did, however, claim that the soldiers were totry to defend Eren against other Titans. While the earlier demonstrations seemed to ease the soldiers, this latest revelation once again put their minds at edge, and many threatened to leave with Pixis's blessing. However, that was when he told them that by leaving, they were fine with the possibility of Titans breaking through Rose and killing their loved ones, which succeeded in bring almost all, if not all, of the deserters back.
Soon after, the operation began to go into effect. Rolf and Mikasa's former squad leader, Ian Dietrich was assigned to lead the operation on Eren's side of things, leading the elite Garrison soldiers who were to guard Eren. As the squad left to run over to the other side of the town, Ian turned to Rolf.
"Now Rolf, I want you to stay and listen to orders this time. If anything in this crazed plan goes belly up, you're our best hope of success with that strength of yours. So obey orders and stay where you're supposed to." Rolf nodded to Ian's orders.
"Rolf swears on the burning blisters of Nana's foot that Rolf will follow orders and stick with hope-of-all-Eren-boy." Rolf said as he ran, where he was interrupted by Mitabi Jarnach, one of the lead soldiers in the elite squad.
"I don't get it, how could any of ya possibly understand this guy?" He asked, looking over at Rolf, when Ian once again interrupted them.
"Everyone stow it, we're arriving at the boulder!" He said as the group ran over to where the boulder lay ready. The squad stopped there as the last leader of the of the elite squad, Rico Brzenska, pulled out a signal flair and fired a green smoke signal. Once that was done, Ian turned to everyone.
"Alright, let's go!" With that said, all of the soldiers leaped off, firing their Vertical Maneuvering Gear at the nearby buildings. Rolf launched off, flying through the air, kicking off of and running across some of the buildings in their way. Looking to his left, he saw that Eren was still within sight, and soon the boulder was coming within it as well.
"Rolf sees that it is time to go!" Rolf said, as a blinding flash of lightning struck down where Eren was, and a tremendous explosion ripped through the air. Rolf landed on a building across from the boulder, looking to see Mikasa landing on another across from him. And sure enough, standing there right next to the boulder was the massive Titan that had helped the cadets earlier, Eren Jaeger.
"Rolf is mightily impressed, Titan-Eren-boy!" Rolf said, grinning as he looked at what was normally an adversary of his. Rolf grinned as he sat down watched Eren turn to the boulder...before just stopping.
"...Hello? Eren-boy, why have you frozen stiff like a chicken outside of her coop? Pick up the boulder, very easy one two three." Rolf suggested, just when the Titan form of Eren turned around to face Mikasa...then slammed his fist right where she was standing. Looking and seeing that Mikasa had been able to leap out of the way, Rolf grimaced.
"Poppycock! Eren-boy, you're supposed to attack Titans and lift boulder! Let Rolf beat some sense into that cloudy over-sized head!" Rolf fired his hooks into Eren's back and flew towards him, slamming his fist right into the back of his head, knocking Eren down into the building. Rolf reached around and yanked on his hair back and stepping over to Eren's cheek.
"Had enough, miscreant?" Rolf asked, before Eren sharply snapped his jaws at Rolf, who leaped back. And landed in front of him. Rolf grimaced and fired both of his hooks past both sides of Eren's neck, then leaped forward. Using the momentum, Rolf was able to slam right into Eren's face, smashing him back into the boulder on his bottom.
Rolf then landed right at his neck and began to press his legs hard into Eren's neck, while also pushing up to keep Eren's jaw at bay. Grimacing as Eren struggled, Rolf was able to keep him pinned for now. Rolf looked back as the elite soldiers were talking on the building.
"Rolf...will hold...Eren-boy until he decides to not be an ornery rooster in front of a hen!" Rolf shouted back as he kept the struggling Eren on the ground for a moment, pinned. But he could hear the rattling of the gear as he kept grasping onto him. Staring up, Rolf pushed his hand up quickly.
"Eren...boy...after today Rolf will deliver you a merciless thrashing with Rolf's shoe!" Rolf threatened as Eren roared and tried to swing a fist up at Rolf. "Not today, shrill of the plan ruiner!" Rolf shouted as he swung a leg up and snapped Eren's arm up. However this move jostled his equipment, and sent his right hook free and reeling back to him. Growling, Rolf moved and pulled the trigger on the handle that was holding up Eren's jaw. Rolf could feel the sweat going down his face as he struggled on to hold Eren in place. That's when Rolf saw someone land on the building next to him.
"Smart in the head Armin-boy, why are you here?!" Rolf Shouted as he swung his arm up to push Eren's head back up as he roared.
"Rolf what's going on?! Why are you blocking Eren like this, he's supposed to be bringing the boulder to the hole!"
"Rolf knows this! Eren-boy tossed the melon but splatted the hips on the head, and burnt the mallow! Rolf is...protecting the others as assigned, when Eren-boy tried to chop the liver on Mikasa-girl and drown the snake!" Rolf said, before shouting and kicking his legs up to swing them back into Eren's chest to knock him back fully on his rear. However, it was clear Armin didn't get that by his slack jaw and wide open eyes.
"Rolf, of all the times to not make sense, now is not a good time!" Armin shouted, where Mikasa answered for Armin instead.
"Rolf means that the plan went wrong, somehow Eren lost control!" Mikasa said, then looked back. "Right now we can only protect him, but there are just so many Titans..."
"Rolf is not sure how long the Son of a Shepherd can keep cry-baby attitude Eren-boy in check!" Rolf shouted through his teeth, feeling his left hook rip out, forcing him to shift to fire it back.
Armin then jumped up onto Eren's squirming shoulders and ran over to the nape, who then started pulling one of his blades out. "I'm getting him out of there!" Armin yelled, walking over to the nape, and aiming it slightly then plunged it deep into his skin. If Eren was struggling before, now he went ballistic.
Rolf cried out as Eren's spasming tore both of Rolf's hooks out of the boulder and then slammed his head into Rolf, sending the recruit flying into the building.
"Rolf!" Mikasa shouted out when Rolf's hand shot up out of the rubble. "Rolf is...not okay but Rolf shall stand again. Mikasa-girl...go do the hummidy and the soaring before Rolf needs to kick your love-boy in the stroodle face again." Rolf said, before falling back and groaning.
Rolf lay there panting for a moment, groaning as he felt his bruises swell up a bit, when he sat up and rubbed his head. Looking up, Rolf saw that Eren had stopped struggling and was staring down at the ground intently, as Armin lay on his shoulder, holding his sword tightly.
"Armin! Has that Eren knocked the fillings of your marble loose?" Rolf shouted when suddenly Eren looked up. Rolf gripped his handles tightly, watching Eren stand up. But then instead of charging at the Son of a Shepherd, Eren turned around and reached under the boulder. With a mighty heave, Eren began to lift the monstrous rock, with Armin zipping back to where Rolf was.
"...Armin why is Eren back to how he was supposed to be?" Rolf asked.
"I just had to remind him why he was fighting." Armin said as Eren placed the boulder on his shoulders and above his head, with Eren stomping forward. Rolf grinned and threw his hand up in the air.
"Victory for the meek Armin-boy!" Rolf said and slapped him on the back, almost sending him to his knees. "When we return, Rolf will feed you the victory shavings from the membrane of a sow!"
"Uh...I mean, you know victory isn't quite assured yet..." Armin said, trying to get out of whatever Rolf had planned, but these fell on deaf ears as Rolf was already on his way zipping over to where Ian, Mikasa, and most of the elite squad were waiting, who were staring in astonishment as Eren carried the massive rock to the gate.
"Hello everyone!" Rolf shouted as he landed with Armin following him. "Armin-boy was successful in bringing moping around Eren back into the thick of the swarm!" Rolf said, pointing over to the gate. "Now we can follow the plan, yes?"
"That's exactly right." Ian said, before shouting out loud to every soldier. "All soldiers, defend Eren to the last! I don't want a single Titan near him!" Ian then turned to Armin and Mikasa cadets. "You two, go! I want you with Eren immediately, that's an order!" He said, before turning to Rolf. "As for you, you are our best bet! Keep running interference, take down any Titans you can, but prioritize Eren!" He said, rushing down to the edge of the building.
Rolf quickly leaped off of the edge of the building, nodding at Ian as he zipped forward. Looking ahead, he saw that there was a group of Titans moving towards Eren. Rolf smirked and zipped forward. "Back Rolf says!" Rolf shouted as he shot forward, kicking the Titan in the face, knocking the hulking beast back onto its back. "Your pastors are overgrown, and your meat is rancid!" Rolf insulted as he leaped backwards, towards a smaller one. Slamming into its head and knocking it to the ground, Rolf fired back at Eren, hooking into the boulder. Zipping back, he met with Mikasa and Armin who were running ahead of him. Landing down on the bolder, Rolf leaped towards a small group of Titans.
"Rolf shall help end this infestation as easily as ending the parasites that infest Wilfred's tuchus! This Rolf promises!" Rolf said, digging his blades into the Titan's eyes before kicking it in the jaw line. This knocked the beast backwards as Rolf swung around it, aiming to dig his blades into its nape. Once done however, Rolf looked up to see one of the Titans looming in to bite him. Kicking up, Rolf kicked off of the Titan and leaped backwards, pushing it backwards. However, that was when Rolf saw that he was heading towards another set of outstretched Titan arms.
Looking around, Rolf realized he was surrounded. Trying to maneuver his hips to get another shot, a giant palm swatted him in mid-air, squeezing hard. Rolf cried out, feeling the hands. He pushed his hands into it, forcing them open, only to jump back onto his back on a Titan's arm, looking up at a it looming in to bite him. That was when it suddenly stopped and went limp, allowing Rolf to jump onto a nearby roof, crashing and rolling. Looking up, Rolf saw that Mina was jumping across from the Titan next to him.
"Yes, my first Titan kill!" She shouted, and looked down. "I figured you could use a hand! Jean's squad is out here helping the elite squad keep Titans off Eren's back, and I just so happened to see you in a bit of trouble." She said, leaning down to offer her hand to help him up. "Seems even you can get overwhelmed."
"Ugh...Rolf thanks you Mina girl for assisting Rolf! For a moment Rolf thought he was but a squash at Papa's special supper." The two looked in front of them, seeing the Titans began to walk to them. "Quick, we cannot let these humpty dumps crash in on Eren-boy's parade!"
"So let's go around another way." She said, rushing away from where Eren was. There was one Titan on the edge of the pack, between buildings. Rolf stopped at the edge and saw it.
"Mina girl, jump!" He said, to the confusion of Mina, who however did jump. Rolf then pushed up at her legs, sending her flipping over the Titan. Rolf grinned and leaped up into it, smashing his head into its forehead, stumbling it a bit.
Mina somewhat got control and was able to dig her hooks into its back and send her down on its distracted body, where she could swing her swords at its nape. The two cadets then landed on the building. Rolf looked back over to Eren, seeing he was making his way there.
"Rolf has to aid in protecting of Eren-boy! Lead the beasts away as well, Rolf is sure you can plumb the lettuce!"
"Uh, right, thanks Rolf! I think..." She said, as Rolf zipped away, zipping past the Titans who focused on Mina, landing with a skid next to Armin.
They were coming up on the home stretch, just one more straight shot and the wall was ahead of them. That is when Rolf looked and saw that Mikasa and Armin were looking over to one side. Rolf looked as well and his eyes widened as he saw that Ian was in the jaws of a Titan, pulling a soldier who'd been in there. Ian surely had to know that doing such a thing would most likely be a death sentence, and indeed the massive hands were reaching up to him.
"Not today!" Rolf shouted as he looked at them. "Rolf trusts in the skills of she-who-could-kill-with-a-glare and more-brains-than-a-two-headed-calf-Armin-boy!" Rolf said as he fired off his hooks and shot forward to the left. "Rolf shall stop this, in the name of blanched rhubarb!"
Ian gasped as he felt his body pushed into the Titan's mouth, feeling the sharp teeth on the back of his neck, looking up as he saw the other set baring down on him. He froze in fear as he realized this was the end, feeling it more as the cold instruments of death brushed his throat. Then...they stopped. And slowly began to open.
"What?" Looking over to his side, he saw Rolf grunting as he held tightly on them pushing up with his hands and down with his feet.
"Rolf knows that Ian ordered the Son of a Shepherd to guard Eren like the stench on half-a-house-Ed-boy, but Rolf knew he could trim the turnip at the same time!" Rolf said, shoving his feet down, with a crack the Titan's jaw was forced open. Ian then slid out of the hanging tongue thanks to the slippery saliva. He fell on his back on a rooftop, grunting as tiles cracked and shattered under him. Rolf looked down at the Titan's throat and shook his head.
"Not today, teeth-sharper-then-his-head beast. Rolf will have to get out now." Rolf said, slowly trying to step back, when suddenly he heard the sound of blades digging into flesh. The Titan fell limp and tumbled to the ground. Rolf leaped out of the jaw before that and landed on the roof next to Ian and saw Mina was standing on top of the body.
"Alright, so is that two today I've saved you?" She said, as she joined him on the rooftops.
"Excellent work Mina-girl! Rolf thanks your great timing in this matter." Rolf said, before Ian shouted out.
"Hey, chat later! Rolf I may be grateful that you saved my life but you left Eren open!" He said, pointing to the large Titan, the only thing standing between Eren and the hole. Rolf looked back.
"Don't worry, Ian-boss! For Rolf shall expel the intruder like a fox in Rolf's henhouse!" Rolf said, leaping down and firing off a hook towards Eren. Digging it into the ground, he shot a burst of gas to speed up towards the Titan. Landing on the ground, the boost allowed him to shoot past Mikasa who was moving in. "Rolf shall handle this miscreant!"
Charging in, Rolf shot his hooks up at the Titan and squeezed on the gas trigger as hard as he could, sending him flying as fast as possible towards it. "Out of the way urchin of processed cheese spread!" he shouted, lowering his head down and ramming into it as fast as he could. Kicking off of it, he watched it go soaring back out into the hole in the Wall. Rolf grunted as he landed hard on the ground, rolling to a stop.
Slowly sitting up, Rolf looked back and saw that Eren was right there. With a mighty roar, Eren's Titan body swung the boulder down right in front of the hole, sealing the breach.
Rolf sat back down and looked up at the now plugged hole. Rolf grinned and raised an arm triumphantly as he leaned back.
"Hah hah! Eren-boy, Rolf sees that you have succeeded in honoring all of our ancestors today!" Rolf shouted with a grin as he saw a trail of yellow smoke flying up into the air, signaling to all their victory.
AN: So, now we've got a chapter written down after a lot of talk and discussion about change and plot differences...by not deviating from the original plot very much. Hmm…
But don't worry, things do not and won't stay static. After all, the butterfly effect does start with just butterfly flaps, you don't get the hurricane until later.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, another action heavy one with our favorite toon bruiser, and hope you can't wait for the next one!
Also, to my readers on Fanfiction, I would like to let you know I did do a very minor rewrite of chapters 3 and 4. If you don't reread them, you wont' really lose anything, but I would suggest you do so. Helps flesh out Rolf's relationships with the other recruits a bit more.