A/N Here's another episode. Thanks to all who favorited, and followed my story!


"Why did Ymir…" Sasha said in a confused tone.

"Well, I didn't really think she was on our side," Jean retorted.

"For some reason, she decided to cooperate to Reiner," Lyla said, "But why?."

They followed Ymir and soon saw Reiner shift into a titan as they escaped the woods.

"Don't stop! Keep following them!" Hannes shouted. Lyla quickly got onto her horse which ran through the woods without her.

"Mr. Hannes is right. Hurry up." She kicked the side of Clover who whinnied and sped up. Soon they were close enough to shoot their hooks and Mikasa lost no time.

"Mikasa!" Lyla shouted but she was already off. However, she was blocked by Reiner's hand. On his back were Ymir and Christa. Lyla soon joined Mikasa. She heard Mikasa say,

"There're a few lives that I can save and that life was decided six years ago. Anybody who gets in the way I will kill. Are you going to get in my way too Krista?"

Ymir growled at this and lifted a hand but Christa stopped her.

"Don't fight! You'll die! Just keep still."

Ymir seemed to conflict but soon obeyed Krista's words. Lyla and Mikasa returned to Reiner's neck where his hands were wrapped protectively over Eren and Bertolt.

"Give me back Eren," Mikasa said in a dangerous tone.

"I can't," came Bertolt's voice. Mikasa's face contorted and then there was Bertolt's desperate voice.

"Keep still Eren! Be quiet!"

"Eh, that's a bit impossible now isn't it?" Came Jean's voice. Soon everyone stood around. They started talking about the old times.

"Man Eren was always a pain in the ass," Jean started.

"You know what Bertolt? You were such an untidy sleeper that we used to predict the day's weather with the shape of your sheets," Connie added but then he cracked,

"What were you thinking? Was it all a lie? The time we talked about the future. To live and meet again when we were adults to have beer together? Huh? Was it all a lie!?"

"Who…!" Bertolt shouted out, "Who would want to be a murderer? I know I did a deed that cannot be forgiven. But someone must do it. It felt nice while I played as a soldier and despite everything, nothing I said was a lie!" There were a few short sniffles.

"Give me back Eren," Mikasa demanded firmly.

"I can't."

Mikasa gritted her teeth.

"Get away from there!" Hannes shouted. Lyla turned her head and found a bunch of titan's charging their way.

"What the…!"

Erwin, that crazy man had led a bunch of titans to them. They all jumped off Reiner.

"Commander Erwin sure is crazy," Lyla muttered to herself. Reiner was soon surrounded by titans. "You'll have to drop your hands at some point." And then Lyla would go get Eren, or maybe Mikasa would beat her. As she expected Reiner dropped his hands, revealing Bertolt and Eren.

"FORWARD!" Erwin roared out. Everybody seemed startled but Mikasa started off. Lyla followed and soon everyone was charging towards the titans.

'The MP's must think we're crazy.' Lyla thought to herself.

Just then a titan burst out from the side and snatched Erwin by the arm.

"Commander…!" Everybody started to stir but Erwin shouted. "Forward!"

Lyla watched as the commander got carried away but set her course.

"As the Commander says. Forward!"

Everybody started galloping again and when they were close enough Mikasa shot out so Lyla just stayed close to Armin and Jean, dealing with the titans in front of them. It was only when she heard Mikasa's cry of agony when Lyla picked up her head. Mikasa was wrapped in a titan's hand.

"Mikasa!" Lyla flew up and cut the hand away. She caught Commander Erwin from the corner of her eye. He pulled Eren free, then, threw him into the air.

"GO!" Lyla pushed Mikasa toward Eren and she caught Eren safely in her arms. Checking that, Lyla landed on her horse and started galloping to Armin and Jean.

"RETREAT!" the Commander shouted out. Lyla rode along Armin and Jean. All seemed fine until a titan came flying in front of them.

"What?" Lyla turned back and saw Reiner throwing the titans towards them.

"EREN! MIKASA!" Armin shouted. She turned her head and saw both of them sprawling on the ground. No doubt Mikasa wasn't able to use her gear just now due to her injury. Lyla immediately changed course and started galloping to them as she saw a titan approaching them, Armin and Jean following behind her closely.

"Oh shit," Lyla cursed. It was the same titan that ate Carla. It extended a hand to grab Eren and Lyla wasn't sure if she'll make it in time. But the next moment Hannes was there. He blocked the titan's hand with his body, then, cut it with his blades. The titan retrieved its hand in pain. He anchored his hook on the titan and started fighting. Hannes evaded the titan's other hand as he soared into the air.

"Thank goodness," Lyla exclaimed but she continued to gallop. Mr. Hannes would need help.

Hannes continued his attacks as he sliced through the titan's ankles, effectively taking away its ability to walk or run. But his luck didn't hold out as the titan's hand shot out, curving around Hannes's body. His face paled and Lyla's face filled with panic.

"Faster Clover, faster!" Lyla urged her horse. But a titan landed in front of them, effectively separating her from Armin and Jean. She looked at Reiner who was ready to throw another titan.

"Don't get in my way, Reiner!" Lyla shouted out furiously but the Armor Titan kept throwing obstacles. Lyla weaved her way through the titans as cold sweat trickled down her back. She could see Eren from the distance biting into his hand repeatedly. But all was to no use as the titan bit into Hannes, cutting him in half. Lyla watched in horror as she saw the life leave from Hannes's eyes. She slid off her horse and fell to her knees.

"What…?"

She couldn't save him. Eren couldn't save him. Lyla saw the titan gobble Hannes up and stretch its hand to Eren.

'So, are you gonna take Eren too?' Lyla thought to herself. No way. She wouldn't let that happen. She won't let the titans take away her family anymore. Not her family or anything that was precious to her. Not anymore.

'Why did you start this? For what?' She felt the anger build in her. 'What do you want? Why do you take everything special from me?' Lyla slowly got up.

'WHY!?'

Lyla felt the anger explode and everything went white.

...


...

Eren sank to the ground and started laughing hysterically.

"I didn't change a bit! I couldn't do anything! I'm still the useless shit I was before."

"That's not true." Eren turned to Mikasa. She was smiling.

"Eren, thank you for staying beside me. Thank you for giving me a reason to live. Thank you for being my family." By this point, tears were glistening in Mikasa's eyes. She took hold of the hem of her muffler. "Thank you for wrapping the muffler around me!"

Eren's eyes widened. He stood up, new determination and anger burning in his eyes. He saw the titan's hand come closer.

"I can do that kind of stuff as much as you like."

This time, he would protect Mikasa. With a raging cry, he punched the titan's hand. A spark went through and when he threw his next punch a titan came running right to the other titan accompanied with large shards of what looked like diamonds.

"What…?"

Both Eren and Mikasa stared out in bewilderment. Soon all of the titans were attacking one titan and shards of that diamond looking rocks continued to shower over them. Eren snapped out and started running with Mikasa on his back. He soon realized that the shards were not only coming down on the titans but randomly everywhere. He spotted Lyla lay unconscious on the ground with a ring of shards around her.

"LYLA!"

He saw Reiner coming towards them.

"Don't come any closer or I'll kill you!" and with that, the titans came running towards Reiner.

After a moment Armin showed up with an extra horse and an unconscious Jean on the back of his horse.

"Lyla!?"

Lyla's horse was still nearby.

"Mikasa, get on this horse! Eren, get on Lyla's horse with her!"

Both did as told and soon they were heading to the walls. Eren looked back as he still couldn't believe what was happening. The titans were actually attacking Reiner. Not one strayed away.

...


...

Levi sat beside Erwin's bedside on the left. He looked at the place where his right arm used to be. A knock situated from the door.

"It's Hange. Come in."

"Erwin," Hange noticed the other person on the right and saluted, "Commander Pixis." Hange then explained why she came, "There has been a very suggestive theory and as the investigation processed, it seemed to be credible. This is a soldier from Ragako Village."

"Isn't that the village where this titan attack started?" Erwin said in interest.

"104th Survey Corps, Connie Springer sir!"

Connie pulled out a picture from behind.

"When I went to the Ragako Village to warn about the titans the village was totally wrecked. But there were no people, bodies, or blood. The horses were still in their stables. I found one titan crushing my house who looked very like my mother."

"Moblit was sent for further investigation and he said the titan did match the picture a lot," Hange added. A heavy atmosphere settled in the air.

"Then, are you saying that I've been killing humans all this time?" Levi said with a sick face.

"It's not fully confirmed yet," Hange said.

Commander Pixis stood up and said that he might as well want to know about the matter more thoroughly, taking Hange and Connie with him out of the room. Levi stared out of the window then glanced at Erwin.

"Oi, what are you smiling for?"

Erwin seemed startled, "Nothing. With this, we have gone one step forward to the truth of the walls."

Levi stared at Erwin with wide eyes then resumed staring out the windows.

"Just one step? That doesn't balance with the lives of the titans and humans."

His thoughts then wandered to Lyla. Two days ago when the Survey Corps returned and the moment he saw Lyla's unconscious body. He felt a shiver go down his back.