Attack on Titan/Shingeki no Kyojin belongs to Hajime Isayama.
Slumped against the bathroom wall, Porco raked a hand through his hair. The disheveled strands were disturbed further from its usual combed back style, but that was the last thing on his mind.
Now all alone on the tiled floor, he could see why Zeke wanted to lock himself away in here. The quiet gave him a moment to think and fix his composure when it crumbled bit by bit. Faint chatter from the main room was still audible, but he rather have that than let the others see the pathetic state he was in.
"No, what could have… But I don't understand why then…" he mumbled. A knock at the door ripped him out of his trance.
"Porco," he heard Pieck's voice, "are you okay in there? You left all of a sudden without saying anything to us after the episode ended."
"I was fine until you bothered me," he said, narrowing his eyes at the door as if she could see him.
There was a pause and he almost thought she had left. "You're worried about Marcel, aren't you?"
"What made you guess that?" Porco's tone dripped with sarcasm. "For all you know, I just wanted to use the bathroom like a normal person." He pictured her face was the same neutral expression in contrast to the ideas on how to approach the situation racing through her mind. Unfortunately for him, Pieck didn't do the option he had to admit was naive to expect.
"Then why did your whole body tense up only when Eren and Reiner were talking?" she asked, still standing on the other side.
He added this moment to the rare occasions where he cursed Pieck's eye for detail. Dammit all, why can't she just take the hint and leave already?! He smothered down the rising irritation in his chest and considered his options. As weird as Pieck could be, her insight on the matter might settle the problem he's been brooding over episodes ago. Or he could ignore her and let the issue fester in the back of his mind. The last thing he wanted was to have a debate or God forbid, a heart-to-heart.
"...Do you have any ideas on what happened to Marcel?" The words came out almost painfully. "And don't give me that crap about him being safe because we believe in him or I need to be patient. He should be there infiltrating with them already, just how much longer do I- we have to wait?"
"But maybe we will see him in this episode or the next one. Porco, I can't guarantee he's safe or he'll ever make an appearance, but remember the note said we can change the future. We have the opportunity to prepare everyone for anything right at our fingertips."
"Yeah, that's great and all but how are we supposed to change things we don't even know about?" His back straightened and he balled his hands to tight fists. Captured by the devils, his cover blown, eaten alive by Titans, and the unlikely chance of starvation were all possibilities going through his mind, but which fate was right?
"...I wouldn't have to think about this if I was on the mission," he said before he could stop himself. The implication would have made his brother chide him, but he wasn't there and neither were their superiors. I can do more than bust down a gate or play soldier. I could protect Marcel for once from whatever could've hurt him…
"I'm sorry to say this, but you can't blame everything on Reiner without coming across as a hypocrite."
A flare of anger rushed through him, but he found himself unable to make a retort that didn't involve snapping at her to take back what she said. Emotions lost to experience this round, which told him any stress caused by her wasn't worth shouting over unless he wanted a headache.
"Who said I was only blaming it all on him?" he grumbled and then regretted it. What am I a five-year-old throwing a tantrum?
"I know you think you're better," Pieck continued, "but getting angry at him and the government won't change their decision. Annie, Marcel, and even Bertholdt might face a situation where the power of the Titans won't be enough. So having you there wouldn't make any difference." She let out a barely audible sigh. "It's brave of you to want to help your brother, but there might be nothing we can do unless we gather more information."
Not wasting a second, Porco got to his feet and opened the door with an unneeded amount of force. "Then let's start the next episode already," he demanded. Instead of replying, she pointed and stared at the top of his head.
"Your hair doesn't look too bad when it's sticking out," Pieck reassured when he rushed to smooth it out. A doubtful look got sent her way as a result.
He glanced at the mirror behind him and brushed off his uniform for good measure. "I'm surprised none of you watched ahead without me," he snarked.
"Well, all of us were waiting for you to come out. Zeke's five-minute break ended while we were talking."
Porco's brows shot up. "What the- why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?! You made us waste so much time now!"
A small smile, which could almost be called sly if he didn't know her any better, grew on her face as they walked back to their seats. "I wouldn't say that. You looked like you really needed to vent to someone."
"What in the world were you two talking about that took so long?" Zeke asked them in a scolding manner after they sat down. "You're extremely lucky the only thing that stopped me from sending Annie over there to drag both of you back by your collars was the page you told me to read over, Pieck!"
"It's because Porco wanted some advice for a new hairstyle. I suggested he should stop brushing it back to look like his brother, but he argued it makes him look cooler." Pieck promptly picked up her notebook from Zeke's outstretched hand and paid no attention to the incredulous look the other boy gave her.
"You have an...interesting choice for hair consultants, Galliard. Not that I should judging, I barely give my appearance much thought at the end of the day," Zeke admitted.
Ignoring him, Porco glared at the source of muffled laughter on the other side of the room. "What's so funny, Braun?"
"Imagining you with a bowl cut, Pock," he shot back.
His blood began to boil the moment he heard the taunt fly out of his mouth. Pieck may have saved Reiner from being blamed for now but she couldn't predict the boldness- or in Porco's version, audacity- of his actions later. Much to his ever piling frustration, why did Reiner not only receive higher status but also a huge ego boost out of all of the chosen in recent years?
"Says the one who has-"
"I will not repeat myself," Zeke said. "If neither of you will behave then I won't hesitate to throw and lock you in the bathroom while we continue watching."
Effectively shut up by their Warchief, they settled for sending a side-eye look daring the other to mess up first.
"Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," they replied, albeit with the same energy of a bored child in school, before the screen powered on.
"In the year 845-"
"Hey, Zeke, is there a skip or fast forward button?" Bert asked over the narration, unsure if doing so was allowed. It was less for the reason there was a stubborn pit in his stomach whenever he saw the future event, and more to save time rather than watch things they already know about.
"Nonsense," he instantly brushed the request off. "There might be something of value in this regardless of how long we have to suffer through it."
"I see..." Bert held back the disappointment in his voice and prayed it would be over soon.
"The Colossal Titan along with the Armored Titan appeared out of thin air and destroyed everything beyond the first Wall. Liberated from their century-long hunger, the Titans overran humanity once again. The abandonment of Wall Maria resulted in the loss of twenty percent of humanity's population and a third of its territory, and was forced to retreat behind Wall Rose."
[Year 850: Two Years After Enlistment]
Rain poured over a forest, soaking everything beneath it. Unlike the trainees running through the muddy path, Keith kept pace with the horse he rode. "Too slow! Run faster, you blockheads!"
Having broken off the unspoken challenge during the recap, Reiner, alongside everyone else, viewed the training with a sense of familiarity.
"At least we're not carrying any rifles this time," Reiner said relieved. Though he couldn't help but search for wherever his future self was onscreen. The possibility he could still be lagging behind others even when he would develop the build of an ox, was mortifying to say the least.
"What's wrong, Arlert?! You're falling behind! Too heavy for you? Maybe you'd prefer if I let you drop your gear? If this were a real mission, you'd be Titan food already!" Keith galloped ahead of the fatigued trainee.
"Damn..." Armin gasped.
"Hand it over!" Reiner slung Armin's bag over his shoulders. "At this rate, you'll be joining the dropouts! We're being graded today!"
Zeke turned to the younger, scrawnier Reiner. "I understand you're keeping up appearances, but that could have been one less soldier in their ranks," he pointed out.
Reiner gave him a weak shrug in response to his disapproval. "How am I supposed to know why?" Minus the few glimpses of training seen last episode, he expected to act more aloof or curt, not outright help them much to his bafflement.
"Considering this is you not even a decade from now. It isn't too outlandish of me to assume you would have some idea."
"I mean sure, but we're not the same though even if it's just by a few years." He's not going to lie, there were plenty of traits his other self had that he would love to share. But he was aware there were experiences he had yet to live through which shaped the older him physically and mentally.
Zeke eyed him for a moment before letting the matter go. People change overtime, he was a shining example of the phrase, after all. Followed by the reminder of said phrase was his question of if or when his allegiance will change in order to save everyone just as he and Mr. Ksaver planned. If I have to abandon Marley, so be it. He crossed his arms as scenarios on how to reach the island passed through his mind.
I'll be playing hardball for every side, but the Founding Titan and the future of Eldians will outweigh the consequences, Zeke justified whenever a plan with possible casualties occurred. Plus I can alleviate the pain of anyone who opposes me along the way.
"But your score will get lowered too, Reiner."
"Make an effort not to get caught then."
Porco watched the interaction with a sour taste in his mouth. His brother was most likely dead. Alright, it's a bitter pill to swallow- in fact, it still was- but he acknowledged it was the future. He'll try his damned hardest to prevent it, but it was the future nevertheless. However, what Reiner was trying to pull went beyond unacceptable for him.
What kind of game does he think he's playing here? Acting as if he's someone reliable or brave to make them adore him, he sneered. If this is his way of paying homage to Marcel, then why do it for a race he's been spouting nonstop is evil? What's there to gain from making "friends" with a bunch of rookies who probably haven't seen a Titan in their whole lives? Does he get some sort of sick satisfaction from this? Each question added a small layer of bitterness on his opinion of the Warrior.
Unbeknownst to them, Keith observed the entire exchange. Reiner Braun. He has both a robust physique and mental strength. His comrades also have great trust and respect for him.
Robust and respected were the last words Annie would use to describe the boy who sat next to her. If anything those apply to Marcel more, she thought, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. She'd be a fool to not connect the sudden leader-like qualities in him to the disappearance of their actual leader. The question was why and how this turn of events came to be.
A glance around the room told her she wasn't the only one who had a similar thought.
While he was glad his friend would experience a positive transformation, even if it was a mere act. Something felt wrong with this new behavior in Bert's eyes. The lack of their fourth teammate combined with Keith's description of Reiner only supported the feeling.
I'd rather die than be a burden! Armin gritted his teeth and ran faster, snatching back his bag along the way.
Armin Arlert, Keith continued. Although he lacks physical strength, he demonstrates an extraordinary aptitude in the classroom.
Their interest piqued when they realized what Keith was doing.
"What do you guys think he'll say about Annie and Bertholdt?" Reiner asked since his evaluation was already stated.
"He'd be crazy not to mention anything about either of your combat abilities," Porco said in disbelief.
"Do you think they have shooting practice? It would really boost my score or at least his opinion of me," Bert said, his face brightened at the prospect.
The discussion was cut short when the screen abruptly resumed playing to another training area. "What?" Zeke asked when they all stared at him. "I'm not going to pause for every little thing one of you notices. We already lost plenty of time thanks to Galliard, and in case all of you have forgotten we're on a time limit with no knowledge of how many episodes there are," he tutted at the flicker of guilt on their faces. Honestly, did they think the world revolved around them like who or whatever's fixation on Eren's journey?
A dummy Titan was pulled upright for the trainees ahead. Flying through the forest; Annie, Bert, and Jean locked onto their target.
Bert watched with silent awe at him swooping down to slice through the fake nape. It must be incredible flying through the air with the wind rushing right against your face! It kind of reminds me of something I would've dreamed of when I was a kid. Similar to most children around his age, he once imagined what riding in one of the occasional blimps or planes that passed over Liberio would have felt like. The view from such a height was quite a fun thing to picture while dashing down the stone streets, back in the days when he still had time for such silly games.
Then he was given the ability to reach the same view with a simple prick of his finger. Except there was no prosperous city and rolling hills to admire from above, only the remains of men and buildings. Perhaps that is why the gear they used felt more personal and fantastical to him. No sluggish movements to test his patience, or worse, a bittersweet sting when thinking of his powers to dig into his chest.
Coming in late, Jean sliced down on the dummy. Although his cut was shallower than the others.
Annie Leonhart. Though her slashes are flawless, her isolated nature makes working with others difficult.
Bertholdt Hoover. Posses exceedingly high potential but lacks assertiveness.
The Warriors in topic listened with rapt attention. Annie and Bertholdt didn't disagree with their faults, but neither had much idea on how to fix it, and the former didn't care enough to.
"I wonder if that's what Magath and the other instructors thought about us," Zeke said in a mix of curiosity and amusement. "So far, his evaluations sound spot on to me."
Porco smirked at him. "Is that right? How about you make one up for the rest of us then since we'll never meet Keith?"
His amusement increased tenfold with even a grin to show. "Alright then, Galliard, you're up first. I'd say you're too brash to get along well with others, and in terms of thinking you're not always the bullet that hit bullseye. But your bravery and skill in combat always shine through."
"Eh, fair enough," Porco shrugged.
"Pieck, your deduction skills are impressive and your intelligence in general is something no one doesn't take seriously. Though your demeanor gives off the impression you could care less about the situation you're put in."
She nodded in agreement. "Let's come up with one for you before we continue, please," Pieck suggested.
Zeke crossed his arms and quirked a brow for the incoming flood of answers. "Go ahead."
"You're the most powerful Beast Titan in all of history," Reiner started.
"You always have the goal in mind, even more than our safety sometimes," Porco said.
"You would look great with a beard," chimed in Pieck.
"I'd say your intelligence makes you stand out too," Bert said.
"People listen to you but you don't listen to us," Annie said after a second of prodding.
He listened with the grin still on his face. "You're flattering me," Zeke scratched his ear. "Now that we all got it out of our systems let's finish this."
Jean Kirstein. Top-class 3D mobility but his hotheaded personality tends to cause issues with others. Keith wrote his evaluations on a clipboard.
"I can't slice as good as those two! I'll just have to find my own Titans first!" Maneuvering past rows of trees with ease, he found another dummy. "If anyone gets into the Military Police it'll be me!"
"Thanks, Jean!" Connie interrupted the moment. "Following you was a good call!"
Before he could slash through it, someone else had suddenly hacked out a chunk.
Mikasa? Reiner guessed the culprit. There was a bit of focus on her talent if he remembered correctly.
"I got it!" Sasha cheered, then propelled herself upwards.
Aw, dammit potato girl! he cussed.
Sasha Braus. She has unusually good intuition, though her teamwork is poor as a result. Next on Keith's notes was the initial dummy thief. Connie Springer. Skilled at quick turns but is a bit dim-witted.
"Here they come," one of the helpers said to the another. More training Titans were set up.
Mikasa sliced through both in less than a minute. Trailing behind her was Eren. His cut was noticeably smaller next to hers.
Damn! Shallower than Mikasa again!
Zeke didn't feel too sorry for his brother's plight. It wasn't like last time where Eren was so bad at balancing he would've been kicked out. This was more of a personal competition that would most likely cause more frustration in the long run than encourage him to improve.
Though he was interested to hear Eren's evaluation. His insanely high drive will garner attention, yet it also makes him appear to be a hotheaded fool. Not exactly someone I would call a leader either, he thought. In fact, he ticks almost every mark on what a leader should not be. Still Eren was young and hopefully time would lift some of the red clouding his vision.
Mikasa Ackerman.
A hum from her left made Pieck turn towards the source. "Is there something wrong, Zeke?" she asked him. For someone who acted enigmatic in most situations, the pensive expression on his face was clearer than day.
"Her surname, Ackerman, sounds familiar," he said.
Completely proficient in every area. It's no overstatement to say she's an unmatched, unprecedented genius.
Keith's thoughts on the girl surprised them. When Eren stayed upright with faulty gear- which to them was the equivalent of still hitting a target during a firearm malfunction- all he received was a pass and basic advice.
How good could she be if Keith had nothing but total praise for her? Well, the notion of a perfect trainee and soldier caught the interest of most of the group.
Ackerman and powerful...Zeke frowned. Damn, where did I hear those two words together? Was it in passing? No wait, that doesn't sound right.
"I'm sure you'll remember later," Pieck said after she saw his face was still in thought. Must be a really old or obscure topic if it's taking him so long.
"Thanks." He glanced down at the notebook in her lap. A metaphorical light bulb clicked over his head. Aha! I read it somewhere in a book before. But I think it's nowhere near as simple and new looking as hers.
Eren Yeager. He has no talent, but he's improved his marks through pure effort. And he possesses a sense of purpose higher than anyone else.
In another training field, the trainees tested their hand-to-hand combat abilities. Reiner charged at Eren who then threw him to the ground.
"Sorry." He offered him a hand. "I'm terrible at holding back."
Reiner held back a groan. His hand-to-hand combat skill had improved over the years and frankly, it was getting tiring to see his ass get kicked again.
"Now it's your turn to be the bad guy," Reiner said and held out the wooden knife. "Something wrong?"
"What's the point of this training?" Eren took the knife after a moment. "Why would soldiers fight other people? Only an idiot would take down prey barehanded."
A flash of Eren standing over bodies made them jolt.
"Di-Did he kill someone?" Bert blurted out.
"Maybe he stumbled onto some corpses at some point," Reiner suggested but his tone was unsure.
Porco shook his head to get rid of the lingering surprise. "Forget it for now, guys. The scene's already moved on. If it wanted us to focus on whatever that was, it would have stretched out how long it appeared."
"That's irresponsible thinking," Reiner scolded him. "We're soldiers, aren't we? There are times we can't run away, no matter how bad the situation is."
"No matter what the enemy is," he said while those around him continued training. "We need to be ready for it, whether it means using close combat or cannons. I believe that's the responsibility of us soldiers."
Bert listened to every word and grew more amazed with each one spoken. Maybe I should've told him to be an actor when we were younger. If I didn't know any better, I would've assumed he was a model soldier.
"You're really into this whole soldier persona, aren't you? I guess it has it's perks for infiltrating, but personally I would've kept my distance from them," Porco huffed.
"Anyway, look over there."
"Oh, it's Annie," Eren said. "She's slacking off again."
Though the others overlooked it, Annie took notice of how tired her counterpart was. There were subtle differences between this and her usual demeanor, but years of being pushed past her limits and hiding her fatigue helped her find the signs.
"Alright, Eren, that slacker also needs a lecture. Let's teach her how a real soldier is supposed to act."
"The hell?! I take back the compliment I said earlier. What part of infiltration and not drawing attention don't you understand?" Porco snapped at him.
"Hey, it's not my fault if she decided to slack off and look like she's lost!" Reiner's body stiffened when he realized what he said. He leaned closer to Annie. "Look I'm sorry for bothering you but-"
She knitted her brows together in annoyance. "Stop putting your face so close to mine and others, then I'll accept your apology." He immediately backed away from her.
"I'm siding with Reiner on this," Pieck said. "You may not like it but he really is helping you blend in this way." Annie looked less than thrilled.
The groups went back to watching the confrontation, though with a new spark of interest on what the outcome would be.
Not watching where she was walking, Annie looked up at the sudden appearance of Reiner. "Not too fond of the commandant's headbutts? If you don't wanna shrink even more, think back to why you enlisted and put in some actual effort."
Annie knew he was trying to make her stand out less, but the unnecessary comment on her height irked her more than she would admit. Was it really that hard to ask for one stupid spar then walk away?
"Hey, why'd you say that for?" Eren caught up with them and got to see her face.
Some of them felt a stab of fear at their comrade.
Even Zeke was taken aback at his no longer little Annie's furious expression. If looks could kill, they would all be a pile of ashes by now.
Whoa, she's pissed. And I thought she looked scary before.
Huh, so that's what people think of me, Annie thought with a raised brow. She wasn't upset at the perceived insult at all honestly. If it meant less people approached her then she'll give it a pass.
Behind him, Reiner grabbed his shoulders. "Well then, get ready, Eren!"
"M-Me?!"
Annie shifted into a fighting stance.
Alongside the endurance training, the sight of her familiar stance brought a sense of comfort. Even if years passed away from their homes and they changed in more ways than one, at least some parts remained the same.
"You know what to do right Annie? Here I come!" Eren charged. She downed him with a single kick. "Wh-What?! She kicked my leg!"
"Can I go now?" Annie asked in a bored tone.
"No!" Reiner barked. "The drill isn't over until you pick up the dagger."
She sighed in irritation.
"Wait, Annie! There's a method to this!" Eren yelled before she flipped him over and took the knife.
Those who had sparred with Annie in the past let out a wince. Reiner, in particular, felt a twinge of sympathy for the boy, having experienced it the most during training.
"Here." Annie tossed the knife to a nervous Reiner. "Now it's your turn to attack me," she said while pushing her bangs out of her face.
Y'know, I think I have a shot at beating her for once! Reiner thought. He was not only taller but also weighed as much as a barrel compared to her. Plus if his spar earlier was chalked off as a fluke because he held back. Winning against Annie would be the highlight of my day- no wait, week! Might even be better than the first time I talked back to Porco!
"N-No, I..."
"Do it, Reiner," Eren said still on the ground. "I thought you wanted to teach her what being a real soldier is about?"
Eren's challenge got a chuckle out of them. No one could take him seriously with the position he was in.
Reiner calmed himself down. "Yeah, there are times when a soldier can't back down."
"Now's one of them!"
Balling his fists, Reiner wholeheartedly cheered himself on.
He was instantly knocked down.
"Oh, come on!" Reiner groaned aloud and facepalmed. His hand over his eyes made him thankful he didn't have to see the faces accompanying the laughter around the room. And Bert's pat on his back didn't help when he peaked to see his guilty grin at the silliness of the situation. "Couldn't you at least let me put up a decent fight?!"
"I seem to recall you were the one who approached me first," Annie deadpanned.
"Yeah, but like they said I was helping you!"
She gave him a flat look.
"...Is it because I made fun of your height?"
"Zeke, can you continue when everyone's ready?"
"Your technique is amazing. Who did you learn it from?" Eren asked.
"My father."
Her response made Reiner snap out of his sulk. All the Warriors knew she had a dad from his brief appearances in town whenever he needed to go shopping- which usually consisted of exercise gear, bandages, and groceries- but none of them were aware he taught her everything. With her insane skill one would believe she was under the tutelage of top class mentors. Now that I think about it, I don't remember me or anyone really talking to her about anything. Then again, whenever Bert and I tried to strike up a conversation she seemed so disinterested.
"Your dad taught you those moves?"
Reiner took all of a second to mull over his words. "Hey, Annie can you teach me the stuff you learned from your father?" he asked. For all Reiner knew, he stepped into dangerous territory because of his innocuous question. But if she said yes, then the extra training would both help the mission and give him the chance to finally be on par with her skill.
Annie frowned a bit. "...I don't-"
"Congrats Reiner, you came up with a decent idea for once," Porco accidentally interrupted her. Crossing his arms, he looked Annie straight in the eyes and ignored the boy glaring at him. "So, do you mind extending that offer to me and Marcel? We used to talk about your fighting style a lot, but whenever I tried to confront you, he told me to leave you be. Something about privacy or whatever."
"I'm interested in being apart of this." Pieck waved her hand at her.
"Is it okay if I join in, too?" Bert spoke up, cheeks tinted red.
Zeke didn't take part in the group, but he did watch in amusement at a bewildered Annie be at a loss for words under all the stares sent her way.
"Please Annie," Reiner begged after the lapse in silence. "I think your moves are really cool- well when I'm not the one kicked to the ground- but still!"
Her eyes flickered to each of their expecting faces before she let out a sigh. "...Sure...but I'm warning you it won't be easy or really exciting if you aren't committed to learning the forms."
"Then how about you give us some training tips to do on our own time or together?" Pieck suggested.
Annie flipped through her mental portfolio of lessons her father taught her. "First," she said, "we need to work on your endurance and strength. The training the program gives us is good but it doesn't utilize different parts of your body like my techniques do. So you'll need to get used to kicking, elbowing, and clinching. You can start by practicing the forms and stances I'll teach you on padded bags...or you can spar someone, either works really."
Registering the genuine interest in her comrade's voice, Pieck said, "I think it would be fun if we took turns sparring each other. If I had to pick, I would go against Bert first."
"Uh, why me? Annie and Porco are more your height."
"But that's what makes it a challenge."
"Challenge?" Porco said exasperated. "Pieck, you looked like you were about to pass out when we ran laps last week. For being the Cart Titan holder your endurance sure is awful."
Pieck shrugged. What can she say, it was hard running upright sometimes.
Before the group calmed down and the episode continued, none of them noticed a small smile spread on Annie's face.
"Does it matter?" she said. "There's no point to any of this."
"You mean this training?"
"They're not grading our hand-to-hand combat skills. Most people like them brush it off, because the only ones allowed to join the Military Police and serve in the interior are the top ten."
Porco scowled when a shot of Jean slacking off appeared. The same also applied to all the trainees who aimed for the top but only put in the minimum effort.
"Huh, I guess that explains last episode," Bert said. "When I started talking about giving up if I can't join the MP's. If none of us make it then what?"
"Well there's the Garrison, but I don't think it's closer to the king. There's also the Survey Corps but I don't see any gain besides sabotaging their efforts and keeping an eye on the Attack Titan," Pieck deduced.
"The only ones who take it seriously are naive idiots like you or just ordinary idiots."
Connie and Sasha were playing around. "Crap, it's the commandant!" Their fun stopped when he squeezed Connie's head.
Annie moved to attack him. "Amusingly enough, in this world, the better you are at fighting Titans, the further you can get away from them. How do you think this farce came to be?"
The more they thought about it, the stranger it felt to realize she was right.
"Wouldn't it make more sense if the top ten were in the Scouts?" Reiner asked. "There would be an unbalanced amount of members in each branch otherwise and we haven't seen any of them on guard duty in cities. Good thing for us but it's design flaws bug me."
"You forgot to mention how those who didn't make the cut into the MP essentially become fodder. From what saw I so far, the Garrisons' construction is stagnant if they aren't able to mount more than cannons on the Wall. The Survey Corps return broken and battered when their results could have been better if they had highly trained members, who so happen to already be in a different branch." Zeke made a circular motion with his hands. "It's a cycle of unequal power distributions, which I hope all of you are taking advantage of."
"I don't know." Eren yanked her arm and almost had the upper hand. "That's a good question."
She swept her leg under his, making him fall. The knife in her hands held just above his neck. "Isn't it because of human nature?" Annie got off of him. "I'm not stupid enough to play soldier in this meaningless world."
Annie nodded along. There's no point in playing soldier if the island is going to be destroyed anyway. I don't need to have a 'give your hearts' attitude if I can pass by just fine without it.
"Looks like you're not much of a soldier at all," said Reiner.
I was so caught up with getting stronger that I never realized the contradiction. They're honing their Titan killing skills for the sake of getting away from them.
"It can't be helped," Armin said to him later in the evening. "Before Wall Maria fell only the Scouts needed 3D gear, and they're a small regiment." His friends attention wasn't on him however.
"Give it a strong blast for a second," Jean advised to Marco. "If you rely on inertia it'll save you more gas."
"Pieck," Zeke called out. "Did you ever catch what were the components of their 3D gear?"
He gave her a moment to go through her memories. "I...don't think so. But I'm certain they're made of ultra hard steel if it can cut through Titan skin," she said.
Zeke gave her a thanks for the effort. Paradis has arguably one of the largest caches of fossil fuels in the world. Though why aren't they advancing technologically if they have a gold mine of resources under their feet. Not even their equipment seems to use oil or coal; both are too heavy and emit black smoke.
"I'll just add this one to the Ackerman mystery to solve for later," he sighed. It was simpler to let the memory come in its own time than agonize over the answer for the whole episode.
"You make it sound so easy," Marco said.
"Yeah, maybe not everyone can pull it off but there's no harm knowing it, if you want to join the Military Police."
"I'd love to get in! Working near the king, there's no greater honor than that!"
"C'mon, Marco!" Jean smacked his back, making him spill his drink over his face. "Quit lying to yourself and say what you really think. I know you want to join the MP is so you can live a safe, comfy life in the Interior!"
"But I really do want to-"
"It's nice in the Interior, huh?" Eren interrupted. "Five years ago, this used to be the interior, too."
Zeke pinched the bridge of his nose. Maybe it's best if they went their separate branches if it meant never arguing again. As someone in charge of a unit yet also held in lower esteem by most leaders outside of the Warriors. He either dealt with problems swiftly or had to tiptoe his way around war room etiquette. Either way, arguments never had the chance to turn into shout offs with him so long as the situation was in his control.
"Your point, Yeager?"
He took a swig of his drink. "Jean, I think the inside of your head is nice and spacious wherever you are."
Reiner and a few others joined in on the chuckles.
"You little-"
"Don't you think it's strange?" Eren started. "How we're honing our skills to get away from the Titans."
Bert was confused by Eren's logic. Who baits someone into a fight then tries to ask questions? That's like torturing someone first then interrogating them.
"You're only saying that now? For my sake, the stupid system ought to stay."
"You piece of trash!"
"Shut up and face reality!" Jean yelled back. Eren grabbed his collar, ready to start a fight.
Armin tried to stop them but it was Mikasa who succeeded. "Stop it," she said and broke up the two.
...Then it immediately started again when Jean saw her still holding Eren's hand. "Don't screw with me, you bastard!" It was his turn to grab Eren's collar.
Zeke rolled his eyes behind his glasses at the scene.
Next to him, it took everything in Porco to not snatch away the remote. Eren gets mad at Jean then the long-faced trainee would later get jealous, and the whole cycle starts again. Honestly, he didn't know how he would handle witnessing three years of the same rivalry crap. The first few times? Sure it would be fun to watch. But the next few dozen times? It would make him want to bang his head against a wall.
If it weren't for Zeke's statement earlier regarding skipping, then a quarter of the episode would be passed without a second thought.
"Let go! You'll tear my shirt!"
"Who gives a shit about your clothes! I'm jealous!"
"What're you talking about?!" It hit Eren faster then a punch from Mikasa. All eyes were on him at that moment. I get it now. Just like me, he always has to take his feelings out on others.
Not this time! He broke Jean's hold on him. I'll control the situation using technique!
Both Annie's eyes widened at seeing their move be used to sweep him off his feet. Maybe Eren does have some skill in fighting if he can copy me from a few measly fights, she thought almost impressed. That idiot just keeps getting more and more interesting.
Jean sat up from the floor. "Ow! What the hell was that?!"
"It's a combat technique I went through hell to learn while you were screwing around," Eren said down to him. "You think kicking back is your idea of reality? And you honestly call yourself a soldier?"
Everyone watched them in silence until the door creaked open to reveal Keith.
"Holy shit..." Porco gawked. He didn't know which was scarier: Keith's face at the moment or finding Pieck lurking around on all fours in the dark like some monster he'd see in a work of horror. A small shudder ran through him, he hated when she did that.
"I heard a loud noise just now. Anyone care to explain?"
No one spoke up while the two troublemakers sat down. Fortunately, Mikasa had their backs. "Sasha just ripped a giant fart."
Laughter erupted around the room. The suddenness and her monotone voice made it hard to keep straight-faced.
Sasha was horrified. "So it was you again. Learn some self-control," Keith said before he left the trainees who were struggling to hold their laughter.
Mikasa gave the poor girl bread to quiet her down while the two boys glared at each other.
"And so, the 218 trainees made it to graduation."
"Offer your hearts!"
"Yes, sir!"
"You have three options after you graduate: The Garrison Regiment, which reinforces the walls and protects each city! The Scout Regiment, which risks life and limb to venture into Titan territory outside the walls! And the Military Police Regiment, which serves under the king by policing the people and preserving order! Of course, the only ones allowed to join the Military Police were previously named!"
Reiner moved to swing his arms over his couchmates' shoulders, but settled for nudging their sides to grab their attention. Last time he tried to hug Annie, he got a distinct feeling he wasn't safe. "The three years ended up being worth it, after all! Don't you think that's great guys?"
Bert's "Of course it is" and Annie's "We'll see" were said in unison. Rather than being upset, he chuckled. I honestly don't know what else I was expecting.
On the other couch, Pieck erased the smudges on the newest filled page. "Hopefully that's the last big piece of intel, for now," she sighed. No thanks to the information dumped on all of them, her handwriting started to get sloppier.
"Need a break?" Zeke offered. "I can take over for you."
She waved off the request with her sore hand. "I'm fine with it. So long as they don't tell me their entire history or life stories, I should be good."
We've finally made it. Now it's our turn to devour the Titans!
"Yeah!" Connie toasted with his stein. "Now I'm gonna be in the MP!"
"No more worrying about food!" Sasha cheered.
Jean sulked in his seat. "Why was I ranked below Eren? Dammit!" He took a deep swig from his mug.
"He can drink to forget, but one look at Eren at the end of the day and he'll remember," Pieck repeated an old saying she overheard near a pub. Of course, she did change it to be more fitting for the situation and left out the not so friendly comments about the man's wife.
"You're seriously passing up the chance to join the MP, Eren?" Thomas asked.
"Even after you got into the top ten and all?" added Samuel.
"My mind was set since the very start. I didn't spend all this time training to live in the Interior. I did it to fight Titans."
"I'm pretty sure he's made it clear he wants to fight Titans," Bert said exasperated.
"Seriously, did they somehow take all of his yelling for three years for show?" Porco scoffed.
"We can't beat them!" Thomas blurted out.
"You know it too, right?" he continued despite the stares. "About the tens of thousands of victims. The answer was clear after we lost twenty percent of our population. Humanity can't win against them."
The sudden burst of pessimism brought up a curtain of awkward silence for them and the ones onscreen.
And people say I have no self-control, Porco snorted.
"So? You're gonna give up because you think we can't win? Yes, humanity has lost so far. That's because we were clueless about the Titans! Material warfare is useless against them. We lost, but the information we gained in battle will lead to further hope! Are we just going to throw away all the advances in fighting techniques that cost us tens of thousands of lives so we can be Titan fodder?! The hell with that!" he clenched his fist.
This is just a more passionate version of what usually comes out of his mouth, Annie thought with an impassive expression. Under it though, she was somewhere between 'Am-I-really-going-to-listen-to-this-again?' and holding the faintest ounce of curiosity to see where his hopes gets him.
"I'm going to drive out every last Titan and leave these cramped walls! That's my dream! Humanity hasn't truly been defeated yet!" Eren finished with tears in his eyes then left.
Despite the pitiful end and knowing the harsh truth underlying with Eren's dream, the fervor coating his speech alone made them hang onto every word. Somehow, it inspired them in way to keep fighting and saddened them to realize he held a naive dream.
A clap snapped every head in the room towards Zeke's direction. Then another and another until it became a one man ovation. Confusion filled glances were traded between each side of the room. "Should we stop him?" the question was painted on their faces.
"Bravo, Eren! You know, what I think? We need more people like him giving speeches to the officials and recruits alike," he praised.
"Yeah, that's the problem with the Marley government, lack of inspirational speeches," Pieck muttered.
"Hold on, Eren!" His friends chased after him.
If you want to throw your life away, then be my guest! I'm gonna join the MP! Jean thought angrily.
"Eren," Armin said, "that stuff about your dream just now..."
He wiped clean his face. "Yeah, I borrowed those ideas about leaving the Walls."
"I'm going to join the Survey Corps, too!"
"Are you serious, Armin?! You were the top in classroom studies! You should put that to use!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bert asked puzzled. "Armin can work as a strategist or a researcher for the Scouts."
"I think Eren wanted him to join the Garrisons as an engineer. Out of all the branches besides the Military Police, it's the safest since they don't directly interact with Titans much and isn't limited to people who have a special grade," Pieck explained. "I understand he has well intentions, but it wouldn't make sense for Armin to leave his only family because he isn't strong."
On the other side, Reiner leaned forward in his seat to look at Pieck. "Yeah strength isn't everything you know. I get that I have a Titan that can plow down forts like they're nothing, but when it comes to making plans and even just lending some aid in battle, there's no one better for the job than people like you. Honestly, I think a mission wouldn't feel right without your ideas and support to back us up."
Pieck couldn't help but beam at his words. Her Titan possessed no flashy abilities or the body needed to perform fighting moves like Annie, and the thought of doing something like a roundhouse kick on all fours was simply laughable to her. When the time came for her to transform her abilities made her more suited to hauling cargo in the background or carrying her group of gunners across the battlefield. Simple jobs at first glance. But to have someone acknowledge the real work she puts in for everyone brought a small, gentle smile to her face.
"Thanks Reiner, that's really sweet of you to say."
"Aw, don't mention it. Everyone here is amazing in their own right," he grinned.
Next to her, Porco practically rolled his eyes into the back of his skull and Annie looked at them like they grew two heads.
"I won't be a burden. Even if it costs me my life."
And just like that, Reiner's grin fell.
Him and Bertholdt couldn't bring themselves to look Armin in the eyes at the moment.
For the former, he thought back to the vow he made to reunite his family. There's no test I won't give up on. No sacrifice I won't make, if it meant seeing mom's face when dad comes home... Reiner's expression hardened
The latter, however, thought back to Keith's evaluation. Assertiveness was a trait in him that got replaced with compliance the more time went by. Whether it was the influence of his Titan or the toll of so much bloodshed, it didn't change the fact he had changed. The question he couldn't help but ponder was if he'll be a burden to Reiner, Annie, and everyone else.
"I'll join the Scouts, too," Mikasa said.
"Hey! You're top of the class! You should join the MP!"
"If you join the Military Police, then so will I. If you join the Garrison, I'll do the same. Because you'll die an early death without me."
"I never asked for you to protect me."
"I don't want to lose any more of my family," she said. The night ended with them looking up at the stars beyond the Walls.
"They're here! The main unit of the Survey Corps!"
"Well aren't they happy today," Zeke drawled at the awe filled crowd
"Commander Erwin! Give those Titans a good beating for us!" a crowd member shouted to the man.
"I feel like we've seen him before."
Zeke adjusted his glasses, squinting his eyes more for show than to help see better. "He's the one who looked away when he saw Eren a few hours before the Wall fell. From commander Keith Shadis to Erwin, interesting."
The crowd including the trio watched them with bright eyes. "Look! It's Captain Levi! They say he's as strong as an entire brigade!"
"That has to be an exaggeration," Reiner said in disbelief.
"What else could it be?" Porco asked as if Reiner said the dumbest question in the world. "He's only human."
Said man was less than happy. "Ugh, shut up already."
"This is nothing like five years ago!" Eren smiled. "There's so many people supporting the Scouts now."
"You'd think they'd be more upset."
Pieck tapped her chin. "Considering they're the only faction trying to reclaim their lands, it would be more surprising if they didn't get more attention."
"Everyone's mood cheered up since then. Nothing bad happened in the past few years," Hannah said.
"They've upgraded the mounted cannons, too. I doubt the Colossal Titan will show up anymore,' Franz said.
Bert wiped off the beads of sweat on his forehead with the sleeve of his uniform. Ah, why does this have to be so nerve-wracking?!
"Someone's geting a bit too confident-or should I say naive?" Zeke rose a brow at the two. "Taking into account what Eren said before the fall, it's starting to make me think these words are a bad omen."
"More like a summoning ritual for our local God of Destruction," Reiner chuckled.
"So you're telling me all I have to say is," Porco started, "'This sure is a lovely day! Gee it's a good thing there are no colossal sized Titans here' for Hoover to show up five seconds later? That would have made my life so much easier."
"Guys..." Bertholdt covered his face to hide his embarrassment.
"Yeah!"
More than one of them rolled their eyes or winced. The irony was not lost on them.
"That's a load of crap, you stupid couple!" Eren admonished them.
"Wh-What? We're not a couple..."
"You're getting ahead of yourself, Eren!" he said, blushes on both their faces.
"Hey, guys!" a familiar voice called them.
"Huh, he's still alive," Porco said. "Last time we saw him, there was a horde of Titans ahead. A miracle he survived the more I think about it."
"Hannes!"
"Heard you all graduated yesterday. You squirts really shaped up."
"Same goes for you! You went from a drunkard to a Garrison Caption," Eren grinned.
Now that piece of news was a genuine surprise for the group.
"Will the miracles ever end?" Zeke asked half joking.
"I guess he really changed after the Wall fell. That," Bert second guessed, "or there were a lot of empty positions."
"Hopefully it's the first one. He seemed like the only guard who really listened to Eren," said Pieck.
"You little." Hannes gave him a lighthearted flick on the head. His expression suddenly turned solemn. "I'm sorry I couldn't save your mom."
"It wasn't your fault," Eren said, his calm attitude surprising the captain. "We're not ignorant anymore. We won't let another tragedy like that happen. We will defeat the Titans!"
Zeke stared at his brother after the end of his little spiel. Eren definitely matured over the years enough to not keep screaming his head off. A shame he's still an idealistic fool, he thought disappointed.
I don't know if I should be happy you've grown up or not. Don't go dynin', now kid.
"What you're going with the Survey Corps?" Eren stopped cleaning a cannon. "Connie, you were set on joining the MP!"
"Yeah, I was."
"Seems like your speech yesterday won him over." Mina came up to him.
"Shut up!" Connie snapped. "It's a decision I made for myself."
"Wait, so let me get this straight. They hear one admittedly inspirational speech and then change their life goal to join a branch that's been ridiculed and beaten almost every time we saw them until now. Did I get everything right?" Porco said, not really caring he was talking over them.
"Don't be so embarrassed. You're not the only one," Thomas said.
"Sounds accurate to me," Annie replied. Frankly, it was amazing to her how little they all thought about themselves after one person planted their dreams in everyone's heads. Still though...she thought, they all made their decision out of their own choice. That's more than I can say for any of us. My father, Marley, who else will use me?
Porco made a face at her words. "They wouldn't be so eager to join the Suicide Corps if their memories weren't so messed up."
"Thomas, you..."
"Um, guys?" Sasha walked up to the group. "I brought some meat from the officers' storehouse!"
"Sasha! Do you want to end up in solitary confinement?!"
Reiner, Bert, and just about everyone else in the room agreed with the accusations she was crazy.
"Will she ever stop being hungry?" Reiner gawked.
"Does the sun rise at night?" Zeke asked.
"Uh, no?"
"There's your answer," he deadpanned.
"We can all share it later. All sliced up, and between some bread." Drool and a red flush adorned her face. She shuddered in delight.
Annie told herself she didn't feel the slightest bit grossed out and succeeded...Well, on the outside, at least.
"Put it back!"
"Yeah, after we lost all that land, meat's become really valuable."
"It'll be fine!" Sasha put the meat in a box. "We can just raise more cattle and sheep once we retake our land."
Why is food so important to her? The perpetually hungry teen was fascinating in which her dream had a different focus from the others. Not eradicate all the Titans or live the high life. Not even explore beyond the Walls. Perhaps Pieck was over-analyzing things and the complexity of Sasha's mindset, but there was no harm in entertaining the question.
While she didn't believe in every Eldian on the island was a cookie-cutter devil. It was jarring to witness just how different they could all be.
The others rushed to ask her for a piece.
"Guys..." Eren trailed off.
"Why're you just standing there, Eren?" Samuel asked. "We'll get found out if we don't get back to work! Lunch isn't for awhile!"
The prospect of lunch got them more excited than they realized.
"I haven't eaten anything for lunch yet." Reiner picked up a slice of bread from the table. "How about you guys?"
They all said the same, except for Porco and Zeke who ate at the start. Following this, each of them grabbed something on the table, whether it be a drink or pastry. Not much of interest happened for awhile, anyway, so there wasn't any issue.
Five years have passed since then. Eren looked over Trost. Humanity is finally regaining its dignity. We can win! The wind picked up. Humanity's retaliation starts now!
Lightning crashed down behind him.
There was a second where no one moved a muscle. The food and drinks in their hands hovered half-way up to their mouths, some of which had their jaws drop open. Then it finally registered the Colossal Titan was right behind Eren and was no trick of the eyes.
Zeke fumbled to press the buttons, nearly spilling over his glass in the process.
"I-I..." Bert muttered, transfixed at the image of the Training Corps looking up in horror.
Annie took a moment to collect her thoughts. "What was the point of enlisting if we were going to bust down the gates anyway?"
"...I think," Zeke began, "all of you took this as an opportunity to either destroy Wall Rose and force the Coordinate to show itself. Or you're trying to infiltrate the Interior, which I'm gambling is the most likely plan in action."
"But why?" Reiner asked. "We were going to join the MP and get access to the king." He rubbed the temples of his head. "Am I missing something here?"
Pieck's face scrunched a bit while she concentrated. "The Survey Corps are gone so all you would have to deal with is Garrison and maybe the Military Police."
"I remember the Garrison man cannons, right?" Porco said, a connection forming in his mind. "If you're sent there first, then the best you can do is destroy all of the Wall mounted artillery and gate."
"Definitely," Pieck affirmed. "With those gone and the Titans inside there would be a lot of chaos. No one would focus on a few missing trainees possibly being eaten."
Bert frowned deeply. "But we're still ending up in the Interior because there's nowhere else to go. They couldn't do anything when Reiner and I broke the gates so all that'll remain is Wall Sina."
Zeke snapped his fingers. "I got it. Every single refugee will flood the capital by the end of this, which means all of you were systematically wiping out the population in each Wall. At that point, the Coordinate has to respond unless he wants everyone on Paradis to die. You're essentially killing two birds with one stone."
"That doesn't answer my question, though." Annie said coldly. "What was the point in wasting five years to play soldier if we could have done that from the start?"
No one had a response, except for Zeke whose answer was to press the unpause button. "Maybe our questions will be solved in a few minutes. There's still a sliver of time left before it ends."
Steam blew them off. The gate exploded, its debris and the wind destroying nearby structures. Ah! Hot! Eren and the others stopped their plummet. What the?!
Bert imagined the feel of the winds blowing past his gigantic leg and the always present steam coming from his skin. Speaking of, the steam he sent out was nothing compared to most of his controlled transformations. Honestly, the trainees should be glad he didn't incinerate them with a blast.
Though the thought of the trainees dying, made him squirm in his seat.
Unlucky for him, Samuel was knocked unconscious. Sasha released her hooks and ran down after him.
"Sasha!" Mina called out.
She shot out a hook that embedded itself in his leg. "Samuel! Don't move!"
None of them were medical experts but they wondered why Samuel didn't die from whiplash.
"My god that sudden of a stop should've scrambled up his insides," Reiner muttered.
Annie recalled the glimpses of the 3D gear in action. "Their training might've required them to prepare their bodies for sharp turns or drops," she explained.
"Close one..." Eren gasped when he saw a hole where the gate was. "The Wall, it's broken!"
"It's happening again! The Titans are going to get in!" Connie panicked.
"I'm going to kill every last one of them!" The vow echoed over the death of his mother.
Kill...every...last one... Eren's resolve came back full force. "Mounted Cannon Maintenance Squad 4! Prepare for battle!" He launched himself into the air. "The target is the Colossal Titan dead ahead! This is our chance! Don't let it get away!"
"No, he isn't doing what I think he's doing, right?" Zeke asked, surprised his brother could live up to all his boasting and from the extreme danger of his stunt.
"I think he is!" Bert's eyes widened when he reached the top of the Wall.
Unlike their counterparts, they knew Eren is an important target and a Titan shifter. Bert really hoped he won't burn him to a crisp or flatten him with a fist. He could only imagine the outrage he'll get from everyone in the room.
"Hey, there." Eren glared, steam blew around them. "Been five years since that day."
"Zeke c'mon let's get to the next episode already!" Reiner urged him.
"What about reviewing over everything?" Zeke said flatly.
Pieck gave him a thoughtful look. "Nothing of significance really happened in the beginning, though."
"Didn't you say something about wasting time?" Porco asked, his arms crossed to hide his impatience.
"Sorry we can't review right now," Bert apologized. "But I really want to know if I accidentally kill your brother or not." It could end the other way around, but he didn't want to think about his own death no matter how unlikely.
Zeke sighed long and obnoxiously. "Fine, fine, I understand." He pressed down on the buttons for the fifth episode. When did I start taking orders from children?
I'm so sorry it took me this long to update. Things got a bit crazy during the last few weeks, but that isn't really an excuse is it? Anyway summer is coming to a close and I'll have to juggle multiple projects while working on the next chapters.
Also basing off the quote from Zeke had about the Ackerman Clan. I'm assuming because of the legends to the royal family part they're not common knowledge.