Author's Note: I want to thank all of you for reading and supporting this story. Celline The Sleeping Beauty, white serpent, quxxn-lou, The Yin and Yang Fallen Angel, Bastable1993, and Lalalala47, thank y'all so much! You have no idea how much I appreciate your reviews. :)

Chapter 20

Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on Titan

Rated M for gore violence, language, and sexuality

Enjoy

Stohess District, Wall Sina, 850...

Historia blinked ever so calmly. She wondered if this was a dream. The man she hadn't seen in 5 years. A man she had met only once...was kneeling in front of her. "Historia," he said as he embraced her. "I can't tell you how sorry I am."

Historia was too shocked to move. She felt the warmth of arms around her, the heaviness of his breath...this wasn't a dream. Rod sat back, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I beg your forgiveness, child. Please know that everything I've done, I did to protect you."

"Fa...Father?"

Across the room, Cassandra sat against the wall. Her mouth was gagged and her hands were tied behind her back. The effects of the tranquilizer had worn off, and she watched Historia and Rod with confusion. Eren was still unconscious, draped across her lap, and tied up as well. "Not a day has passed I haven't thought of you," Rod continued. "Long have I dreamed of a day when I could hold you like this. You are special. The blood of the king flows through your veins."

Historia couldn't believe her ears. Special. You are special. "Is that...true?"

"Yes, Historia. The true royal bloodline is carried by the Reiss family. You see, you are the crown that will lead the people with Cassandra as your sword and shield. The power to save humanity now rests in your hands." Rod got up and held out his hand. "Please, Historia. Come with me, and I'll show you where it all began."

Old Scouts Regiment Headquarters, Wall Rose...

Levi watched over Raisa as she sipped on a cup of tea. She kept her head down. Her hair acting like a curtain, hiding her face. Finally, he broke the silence first. "Are you alright?"

She nodded slowly. "Yeah. I will be."

He knelt down and placed his hands over hers. "It's okay if you're not. You think I don't notice what this does to you, what it puts you through...I know you, Raisa. We're in this together. You don't have to deal with it alone."

She peeked at him through the gaps in her curtain of hair. She nodded again, and brushed her hair off her face. "Thank you."

He leaned forward and kissed her. Softly, at first. In that moment of love, they both felt the spark of passion. It felt like it had been years since they had a moment like this. Raisa began to feel re-vitalized from his touch. The way he would rub his thumb along her jaw, the softness of his lips, the taste of his tongue. But a knock on the door disrupted them. Moblit entered as Levi and Raisa pulled away from each other. "Pardon the intrusion, but Hange is ready to debrief."

Raisa smoothed her hair. "Alright."

Great Room...

"They plan to eat Eren?"

"Yeah," Hange answered. Most of the kids were sitting down save for Mikasa. "Eren remembered a conversation between Ymir and Bertholdt. Based on this, we can speculate that Ymir used to be a mindless titan just like the numerous others outside the walls."

"That's insane," Jean breathed.

"I would've said the same thing. There's different sets of rules for titan shifters. We've seen people get eaten by titans, but they never change." Hange pinched her chin in thought. "Ymir supposedly ate one of Reiner's companions which allowed her to transform back. Thus, whoever it was she ate already had the shifter power."

"So what does that mean for Eren?" Armin asked.

"We know for certain Eren possesses the ability to control feral titans with his scream. You all saw it first-hand." Hange gestured to the kids. "You also saw Reiner throwing titans at Eren, which meant...he didn't care if Eren died or not, he needed Eren's power."

"Ergo, the government wants Eren because they might have a titan of their own somehow within the walls to eat him," Raisa added. "A titan they'll be able to control."

Mikasa pushed herself off the wall and stomped off to the door. Levi quickly stopped her, grabbing her shoulder. "Calm down. I know you want to get Eren back, but going on a rampage won't solve anything."

"Then what to we do?" she growled.

"For starters, check your attitude," Raisa warned. She turned to Hange. "We'll head to Lord Reiss' estate. You ought to head back to Trost and update Erwin on everything we've learned. His plan might still work."

"Right," Hange agreed. "I'll find you when I can."

Levi released Mikasa, and addressed his entire squad. "Prepare to leave at once."

"Sir!"

Outside Stohess District, Wall Sina, two days later...

Raisa and Jean had managed to sneak out of the city without gathering any attention. They made their way into the small camp the squad had made. Conny, Sasha, Armin, and Mikasa were keeping guard while Levi was going over a map. "We brought supplies," Jean announced.

Raisa set her bags down and walked over to Levi. She held out a piece of paper to him. "The MPs were handing out these fliers."

Levi took it, reading over the MPs' version of what had transpired during their incursion with Kenny's squad. "The MPs will be canvasing the mountains starting tonight," Raisa continued. "They're also posting guards on all the vital roads. No one can enter or exit without a pass."

"Wait, does that mean the Scouts are gonna be disbanded?" Conny asked.

"What do we do now?" Armin added.

"We need to hurry and find Eren!" Mikasa insisted. "They're going to-"

"He'll be fine," Levi countered. "They're taking him by wagon. That gives us one day before they reach the Reiss estate."

"We need every second we can get to come up with a plan," Raisa added. She pinched her chin in thought. "Perhaps if we're able to sneak past the checkpoints somehow. That would be a start."

"Commander, I hear footsteps," Sasha announced. She pointed westward. "Sounds like they're approaching."

Mitras, yesterday...

Erwin followed the guards without resistance. They took him down to the dungeons, down a hall where they kept their most dangerous prisoners. Erwin was suspicious as to why he was considered dangerous, but decided against questioning them. The guards stopped before the second to last door on the left and unlocked the cell. Inside, Gerald, one of the Royal Councilors, was waiting patiently in the middle of the room. But what surprised Erwin even more was the woman chained to the far side. Gerald smiled upon seeing the surprise on both of their faces. "What a reunion this is. Didn't I promise you'd see your husband soon, Mrs. Smith?"

Katya said nothing as the guards brought Erwin to the wall across the room from her, and shackled his wrist to the chains there. He was examining Katya from head to toe. Her clothes seemed a little dirty, but she looked otherwise unharmed. "I know this is sudden, but it's time for your interrogation, Erwin," Gerald informed. "Soldier, please check Mrs. Smith's chains."

"Yes, sir."

The soldier went over to Katya. Her hands were shackled behind her back and chained to the wall. It wasn't a long chain, only allowing her to walk to the center of the room where Gerald stood. Erwin did his best to remain calm and collected. "You only need to speak to me. There's no need for my wife to be here."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," Gerald assured him. "We know fully well what Mrs. Smith is capable of, and we know how futile and frankly, despicable it would be to torture such a beautiful woman. However, there are other ways to get the information we want. A different approach, if you will."

Katya raised an eyebrow. Gerald turned to one of the guards and nodded. The guard nodded back then slammed his fist into Erwin's face. Katya gasped in shock. She rushed towards them, but the chains held her back. The guard picked Erwin up by his shirt collar and punched him again. Katya struggled against the metal shackles, ignoring the pain in her wrists. "Stop it! What're you doing?!"

Gerald smirked at Katya's horror. "A different approach."

Outside Stohess, present...

Armin knelt down by the creek. He was alone and he was gathering water into wooden pails. He heard the footsteps approaching from behind, as well as the click of their rifles. "Don't move!" came a male voice. "Turn around slowly."

Armin obeyed. He raised his hands and stood up, turning around. Facing two young MPs, a boy with black hair and a girl with dirty blond hair. "You must be a Scout," the male MP noted. "Don't say a word. Listen and do exactly as I instruct you-!"

Suddenly, Levi and Raisa swooped down. They moved in sync and pressed their blades against both of the young MPs' necks. "Don't move," Raisa ordered. "Now, hand your guns him."

The both of them shakily held out their rifles. Armin took them. "Don't say a word, right?"

They took the hint, and kept their mouths shut. As Sasha and Conny kept a lookout on the perimeter, Jean and Mikasa stripped the MPs of their jackets and ODM gear. Mikasa ordered them to kneel and Armin helped her tie up their hands. She found their identification books and submitted them to Raisa. "Hm. Privates Marlo Freudenberg and Hitch Dreyse. Stohess District," she read. She glanced up at Mikasa. "Since Sasha and Jean are closest to their heights, they'll be infiltrating their rendezvous point. We need information."

"They won't get caught?"

"Not likely." Raisa closed the ID books. "The superiors hardly notice recruits these days."

"Yes, ma'am." Mikasa turned away to trade places with Sasha.

Levi sighed as he circled the prisoners. "Well, we'll need to dispose of these two."

Marlowe and Hitch both flinched at his words. Hitch began to shake, unable to contain her anger and fear. "Because of what...you did, Stohess was a graveyard. Over a hundred people were killed!"

"Huh?"

"Hey," Marlo warned.

"You bastards...I bet you all think you're some kind of heroes of justice, but you're not!" Hitch continued. "You dropped dozens of families straight into hell on that mission of yours!"

Raisa tilted her head, intrigued by the girl's anger. "We did. What of it?"

"Look at you! You're not even sorry, are you?!" Raisa's indifference fueled her anger. Hitch shifted her gaze to Armin and Jean. "Hey...you're from the Southern Cadet Corps, right? So you trained with Annie Leonhart. Were you a friend of hers?"

The kids exchanged glances. Hitch slumped her shoulders, lowering her gaze to her lap. "No, she wouldn't have made friends there either. Way too gloomy and unapproachable for that. She was just afraid of people like a scared little kid. Now, I'll never get the chance to learn anything about her. She's officially listed as missing. You know why?"

Hitch whipped around to glare at Levi. "It's because one of your friends turned her into an ugly red stain on the streets!"

"Actually, no," he said. "Because the titan we captured was Annie Leonhart herself. She's currently being held in the dungeons of the Stohess MP headquarters."

Hitch gasped. Images of seeing the titans running around Stohess replayed in her mind. She recalled one of the titans had blond hair. The Scouts root out a titan, but then Annie goes missing? Levi scrunched up his nose in disappointment at the looks of shock on the MPs' faces. "Goddamn it. Makes me sick. Nobody knows a thing about this world. Not us or anyone else...except the bastards at the center of it all."

Raisa unfolded her arms. "We're going to let you go. Obviously, we'll need a head start, so we'll leave you where you'll be found by your comrades."

Hitch couldn't hear her, still too stunned by Levi's revelation. Marlo felt his heartrate increase. He had numerous questions bubbling in his head. He noticed the Scouts preparing to leave. "Wait, Commander!" he called. "Please, let me join your cause. I believe that the Military Police are in the wrong here. If there's any way I can fight this world's injustice, then that's what I want to do."

"Calm down," she said. "Why are you so eager to join in our little rebellion? You've read the charges, right?"

"Did you actually do it? Murder civilians on your Commander's orders?" Marlo asked dubiously.

"No."

"Then let me help. I swear I won't let you down, ma'am," he insisted. "If you're trying to infiltrate the checkpoints, I'll be far more effective than your disguised soldiers. You think my superiors won't notice, but they will!"

"No," she repeated. "I have no way to tell if you have the resolve to make yourself an enemy of the state. Even if that's how to truly feel now, you might change your mind tomorrow."

Marlo was at a loss for words. "Time to go," Levi announced. "Take them deeper into the woods and tie them up, Mikasa."

"Sir!"

Mikasa stepped away from her lookout spot and walked over to the prisoners. Jean watched with his usual frown. As the others began to pass him, he stopped Levi. "Hey, Captain, won't you let me do it instead?"

Levi studied the look in Jean's eyes then shrugged. "Knock yourself out."

Jean took the prisoners from Mikasa and headed further into the woods. Levi continued up the trail, but stopped upon seeing Raisa staring off into space. He walked up to her, gently grabbed her arm. "Hey." She snapped out of her trance. "What is it? You alright?"

"Yeah." She blinked several times, shaking off her distraction. "I, uh...I don't know. I just had this random memory pop into my head."

"Of what?"

Raisa thought, furring her eyebrows. She had the memory. Something important. Like a song she had forgotten the lyrics to. Feeling someone's hand running through her hair. A warm smile shining down on her. She could see it clear as day earlier, but now... "I don't know. I can't remember. Shit, I'm losing my mind."

"No, you're not." He slid his hand down her arm to grab her own. "Look, you're running on fumes. We all are. You are the Commander here, but you ought to let met take the reins for you every once and in awhile. You can't do everything yourself. Not even Erwin."

Raisa snorted. "You know me so well. Will you carry me, too? My feet hurt."

Levi blinked. He would've kissed her if they weren't surrounded by teenagers. He hadn't heard her make a joke in almost a week. He suppressed his urge to smile. "No."

Raisa pouted.

"No," he repeated, unfazed.

"Commander, Captain," Armin called. He pointed across the clearing.

Jean was returning with Marlo and Hitch. Levi marched down the trail to meet them. Jean raised his hands, gesturing for Levi to remain calm. "Captain, wait. I can explain. I know how this look, but I swear, they both really want to help in our cause."

"Relax, Jean," Raisa said, walking up beside Levi. "Tell us exactly what happened."

Mitras, several hours ago...

Katya sat helplessly on the cold dungeon floor. Her right hand was free of the chains, but her left hand was still shackled. She didn't care about the pain in her wrists. She struggled so hard that she managed to free her right hand, but at least four guards had to hold her. Her chest ached from where the men pushed her back. They even pulled her hair, squeezed her arms so hard that she lost circulation...anything to keep her from taking another step closer. Erwin was still out of reach. He sat against the wall, his wrist still shackled to the chain above his head.

He coughed weakly and noticed Katya's despairing gaze. "It's not...your fault. It's mine."

"No." She tried scooting closer. "Don't say that."

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this. Do you-" cough "-regret it? Marrying me?"

Katya swallowed her urge to cry. She didn't think she had any tears left. Not after what she was forced to witness. "I didn't expect to have to endure this," she confessed. "But no, I don't have any regrets in marrying you."

He snorted. He knew she was being sincere, but...doubt still crept in his mind. "What kind of man would sacrifice his family for his own selfish dreams?"

Katya scooted closer, ignoring the strain in her shoulder from the shackle. She was able to reach his foot. She grabbed his ankle, touching him as if she was holding his hand. "From the moment we met, I knew what kind of man you were. I know full well how far you're willing to go and what you're willing to sacrifice for the sake of your dreams."

She shook his leg to get him to look at her. "You're not as heartless as you think are you. Fatherhood changed you. I know it did. I remember the look on your face when our children came into this world. When you held them for the first time...they're your not sacrifices, Erwin. They're your driving force. They're your reasons, your motivations for pursuing your goals. I know you want to make this world better for them."

She felt desperate. Worried he would sink lower into the pit of despair. "I know that's the same reason many other men fight against the titans, but the difference is...your trust in me. You trust me, wholeheartedly, to keep our children safe no matter what we may face. Your trust in me allows you to make those difficult choices, to be selfish. It sounds conceited and naïve, but I don't care. It's why this works. Our love, our trust. It's why we're the ones sitting in this cell while our children are safe and happy."

"But am I doing the right thing?"

"I don't know," she confessed with a helpless shrug. Who was she to judge what was right or wrong at this point? She truly didn't know. "But...regardless of what happens, I'm here. I'm with you to the end."

"Till death do us part?"

She smiled softly at him. "And even after."

Erwin mirrored her smile. I truly don't deserve you. Her hand on his ankle soothed him. Her love warmed him from the coldness. He truly would be lost without her. The sound of a key sliding into a lock drew their attention. The door opened and Nile stepped inside with a couple guards. "Hey, guys...am I interrupting something?"

Katya removed her hand off Erwin and sat up as straight as she could. "Another interrogation?"

"No," he said, twirling the keys in his hands. "You are being brought before the king first. One last opportunity, so to be speak...before the council determines Erwin's sentence. And what to do with the Survey Corps."

"Very well." Katya got up, dusting some dirt off her skirt. "Wouldn't want to keep His Majesty waiting."

Nile nodded to the guards. They walked over and unlocked Katya's shackles. She stayed put as they put new ones on her, but kept her hands in front. They instructed her to exit, and as she did, she gave Erwin one last look. Not one of fear, but of determination. The walk from the dungeons up to the throne room was long. She held her head high, ignoring the gawks of the nobles she passed by. Their whispers surrounded her, but she paid them no mind. In the throne room, the king was slouching in his ornate chair, resting his head on his fist. The Royal Council was gathered in a semi-circle in front of him.

The guards stopped Katya just before the steps leading up to the councilors. The shortest of them, Aurille, got up from his chair and stepped forward. "Katya Smith, you have been charged with murder and conspiracy of treason in aiding and abetting your husband's selfish betrayal of humanity. The punishment for these crimes is death. However, we understand the position you're in."

Katya softened her frown in curiosity. "You are as dutiful as any wife would be to her husband," Aurille continued. "You have obligations to think of, and we are willing to give you a chance to see those obligations have a future."

He waved for the retainers to bring a podium to Katya. The men gently set it down and placed a document and quill atop. Katya began scanning through it, and her frown deepened and deepened as she read. "What is this?"

"This is not your fault, Mrs. Smith," Aurille said, sounding genuine. "As many women often are, you were at the whims of your husband. You were duty-bound to obey and follow his every desire and order-no matter how treasonous or horrible they be. We cannot fault you for upholding your vows as a wife. But we will uphold your vows as a mother."

Son of a bitch. Katya was slightly impressed, but more pissed off than anything. Aurille gestured to the podium. "That document there is your only path to freedom, my dear. A chance to save not only yourself but your children the shame your husband will bring about on all of you. His crimes are severe, I'm afraid. You know what awaits him. This is your salvation."

"An annulment?"

Aurille nodded. The other councilors nodded as well. "Annulling your marriage will render your children bastards, but...they will be free of the Smith name. As will you. Free to marry someone else. Someone significantly more worthy."

Katya shook her head. "I won't sign it."

Aurille's nostrils flared in disappointment. Gerald leaned forward, keeping his arms folded. "Mrs. Smith, if you refuse this gracious opportunity, you will die alongside your husband. Leaving your children orphans...how can you let them grow up without a mother?"

"My children will grow up knowing what their parents died for," she assured him. "I will not sign this."

The councilors exchanged glances. Gerald sighed. "It really is a shame. You are so beautiful." He glanced past her to the waiting MPs. "Bring Erwin Smith here before the king."

Outside Military Police Checkpoint 8, present...

Raisa waited with Armin, Jean, and Mikasa in the woods several hundred yards from the checkpoint. It had been a few hours since they let Marlo and Hitch go after receiving all the intel they had and willingly gave up. As they waited, they heard a few screams and a few gunshots coming from the checkpoint, but it was otherwise quiet. Mikasa suddenly whipped her head towards the tall grass and aimed her rifle. Raisa walked over. "Stand down. They're back."

Levi, Sasha, and Conny exited the grass. Levi was dragging a man by his hair. Armin noticed the man's military jacket. "Captain, is he...?"

"He's with the Interior Police," he informed. "Eren and the girls weren't there. But he might know where they actually are."

Raisa scanned the field. "Let's move."

The squad moved out while Levi continued to drag the man. The found a clearing another hundred yards away and Levi tossed the Interior MP against a tree. He didn't try to run. The kids circled around the 3 adults, keeping an eye out in every direction. Raisa began rolling up her sleeves, but Levi stopped her. "Let me do this."

"We don't have much time," she pointed out.

"True, but you don't have to do everything yourself."

Raisa studied the look in his eyes, sensing his concern. She sighed and took a step back. "Fine. Mustache is all yours."

"Fuck you!" Mustache snarled.

"No, thanks," Levi said as he knelt down in front of him. "Where are Eren and the Reiss girls? We know that you know we know the girls' true identities. Where are they?"

Mustache pressed his back against the tree, trying to create distance from Levi. "Did you kill my men?"

"No one's coming to your rescue, if that's what you're hoping for," he revealed. "Killing your men would've been troublesome, but they'll be off their feet for a good while."

"You bastards. Think you're so brave?" Mustache spat. "That post was manned by recruits. They barely knew how to wipe their own asses. No one's gonna think you're heroes for beating them down."

"Yeah, the guilt's tearing me apart." Levi kicked, shoving his foot into Moustache's mouth. "But what really gets me is this mouth of yours. I'm gonna suggest you start talking before you're unable to use it. Now, where are Eren and the girls?"

Levi shoved his foot harder, then withdrew. Mustache coughed, rubbing his aching jaw and spitting out blood. "You can't win. All that's left to you now-" cough "-is to find some filthy corner to hide in. Covered in mud and shit!" He turned his glare to Raisa. "If you don't turn yourselves in, then every last Scout we capture will get the noose! Starting with the guiltiest one of all! Erwin Smith! No one's going to object! The people will cheer and applaud as all of your bodies hang!"

Mustache panted, his throat sore from yelling. He held Raisa's gaze. "Of course...if you admit to acting of your own accord in addition to turning yourselves in, your comrades could be spared." He wiped his chin and got up. "You're both high-ranking officers. Especially you, Section Commander. You know how this works. Your lives for theirs. I'll even speak on your behalf."

"Pass," she said. "Answer the question. Where are they?"

"What?" Mustache growled and reached out to grab her. "Look, you-"

Levi grabbed the man's arm and twisted it behind his back. Mustache cried out as Levi pressed him against the tree, continuing to twist the man's arm. "You heard her. Refusing to answer will earn you more pain. Where are Eren and the girls?"

Tears were streaming down Mustache's face. Levi let go, and the man hugged his arm. "I don't know, okay? Nobody told me. I swear," he confessed. "Kenny Ackerman doesn't like to make his business known."

Mikasa whipped her head to look back at them. Ackerman. Levi hid his surprise better than Raisa. "Ackerman? I know Kenny. So that's his last name..."

"It is, but-"

"He was never one for sharing information. Not important stuff, anyway." Levi knelt back down. "But I bet you have some ideas. You best try to remember."

He reached for Mustache's left arm, but Mustache resisted. "No! Stop!"

Levi grabbed hold of his wrist. "You still got plenty of bones left for me to break."

Mustache continued to cry. "Damn it! Are you insane?!"

"Maybe."

Mustache looked to Raisa. "You're just gonna stand there and watch?! Make him stop! Please!"

His words did not faze her. "Answer the question."

Sasha snapped to the east, aiming her arrow. "Somebody's coming towards us. And there's more than one!"

"Everybody down," Raisa ordered.

Everyone ducked into the grass. Levi pushed Mustache down behind the tree, keeping low himself. Mustache no longer struggled. Instead, delight filled him. "Told ya. You're beat. Struggle all you want. One way or another, the Survey Corps will be destroyed!"

Raisa peered through the darkness at the advancing figures. She widened her eyes in recognition then smirked, rising to her feet. "Everyone up. Time to find out if Erwin's plan paid off."

End of Chapter 20