As today is my 23rd birthday, i'm releasing one half of the chapter early, and the second half on Sunday. Enjoy.
I'll answer some of the reviews here too.
ClassyUlysses- The Jaeger's reunion will be many things, especially when you add a fritz to the mix.
thomquiri- Thank you for reading it and I think everyone will be looking forward to that part. Question is, who's Pieck going to scare?
SilverArrow123- The actual population is something I purposefully messed up, it is something that will be brought up later.
RudraRasengan- You only get one of those things today.
Nerf585- not a dumb question and it's definitely something i have considered but that probably won't be a thing for a few months.
navyfield858 and Shinra0- I'm healed enough that my girlfriend is allowing me to use the laptop but the ankle is still crap.
BIGV4065- My head is killing from keeping track of all the characters, the interactions and the inner thoughts.
marichatprincess and ikanisfish- I was going for the Kenny part to be funny and audible. Glad it worked.
guest- Eren and Mikasa did react and Bertholdt will bring it up in a later chapter.
'Future' Eren was bored. It had been a full hour and nobody was able to disentangle Kenny and Levi yet. There were at least 10 scouts on either side trying to pull them away from each other; Erwin, Mike, Hange included. As soon as Kenny caught the first, second, third and almost ten more knives thrown by Levi, the short man responded by throwing himself at the man.
Those that had given up on breaking up the fight or just simply didn't even try, were sitting idly on the couches; such as the Warriors and Magath and Eren's fellow cadets. Shadis, Pyxis and Nile were watching the fight from the kitchen alongside a few of the veterans and were happily sipping at some fine liquor.
'Future' Eren shook his head and stood up. 'Enough of this. It's time to rip the bandage off.'
He took a deep breath and shouted, "CAPTAIN LEVI. KENNY IS YOUR UNCLE AND MIKASA IS YOUR COUSIN."
Levi had paused mid-swing at Kenny's face. It was enough time for the Scouts to finally drag the two Ackermann's away from each other. Levi's face contorted into one of pure rage, "YOU LIE! HE'S NOT MY FAMILY. MIKASA MIGHT BE BUT HE ISN'T!" The man struggled against his comrades as they held him back. Kenny barely fought against the ones holding him back.
"I know there is a lot to discuss here. But we need to carry on with your future. It will all be explained soon. I promise."
Levi was frogmarched back to the front by Erwin and Mike, while another couch had appeared in-between Hange's and Connie's couches, for Commanders Nile and Pyxis, Commandant Shadis, and Kenny. Magath had chosen to sit with the warriors.
Eren had turned to Mikasa and held back a snigger, the look of repulsion on her face was too funny. Apparently she didn't find it funny that she was related to the midget.
Everyone quieted down when the screen began.
The Smiling Titan stalked towards Mikasa and Eren. Eren gasped in shock before Mikasa pushed him out the way. "Eren!" She yelled as the Smiling Titan swung its arm. Hannes suddenly appeared, placing himself between the Titan's hand and the teens, blocking its attack.
Bertholdt gasped. He hadn't realised it at the time, but that was the same Titan that had ignored him. From what he remembered from Eren's story, that was the same Titan that killed Eren's mother. Bert couldn't help but wonder why it ignored him and instead went straight for Eren's mother.
"Hannes!" Eren said from the ground, Mikasa shielding him with her body.
Hannes sliced off the Titan's thumb, making it move back. Eren gasped. Hannes turned to grin at the two teens. "What are the odds of this?! Check it out, you two!" He turned back to the titan, with a gleeful look on his face. "You just watch. I'm about to avenge your mother and butcher the shit out of this!" Hannes shouted and shot a hook into the Titan's chest, flying toward it and expertly dodging a swipe.
If Eren had noticed Mikasa holding him close, he didn't say anything. "Do you think he has a chance?" He heard Mikasa whisper. Eren half-heartedly shrugged, "He's different from... from back then. I'd prefer to do it though. I can't lose anyone else to that titan. Whether it was human or not."
"Hannes!" Eren screamed.
"Give the old man backup!" Jean yelled, Armin riding next to him.
"OLD MAN?! I'm not even 30!" Hannes shouted in outrage. Carla snorted, "It's the beer belly Hannes." Hannes grumbled but accepted it.
Grisha was whimpering, "Why? Why did it have to be you?" Carla glanced at her husband. "Grisha? Did you know this person before they were turned?" Grisha nodded but for some reason found himself unable to tell the full truth. "They were a member of the resistance I was with." Grisha couldn't figure out why he was unable to speak the truth until he saw through the glass that their host was staring at him intensely. Grisha could feel the invasion ins his mind and was scared when a disembodied voice spoke in his head. He knew what the host sounded like, and this wasn't the host.
'Calm yourself Grisha. They'll find out soon enough. In the mean time shut the fuck up.' While the elder Jaeger didn't appreciate the rudeness, he could feel the power of this being through their mental link and kept quiet. It felt strong but at the same time, weak. That's when he realised just who spoke to him and inhaled deeply.
He looked up and noticed a Titan coming down. "Huh?!" It landed to the left of the two boys.
Armin cried out as another one fell in front of him. They looked off in the distance to see the Armoured Titan surrounded by the mindless ones, Bertholdt hanging on to him. "Reiner? What's he doing?! Does he not care if Eren is eaten?!"
Everyone looked at Reiner and smiled sheepishly, "I mean, I think anyone is better than Eren. Right?" The Scouts glared but didn't disagree with the statement either.
"Don't get in our way, you big sack of shit!" Jean glared at the Armoured Titan before he and Armin charged at the three Titans that Reiner had thrown their way.
Hannes sliced at the Smiling Titan's face and lead it away, screaming at it as he did so.
Mikasa struggled to stand, the crushed ribs taking its toll on her body.
"Ackerman or not, getting your ribs crushed by a titan will hurt." Kenny confided to the Commanders he sat with. "What's the deal with Ackerman's?" Nile asked, partially intrigued of where Levi's inhumane strength comes from. Kenny shrugged, "We just have some enhanced abilities."
Mikasa whipped a blade out in her left hand. "Don't, Mikasa!" Eren said, face down. "You're injured! Untie my hands!"
"Hands?" Mikasa repeated, sweat pouring from her head. Steam rose from Eren's hands.
"Hurry up! I've gotta be the one to do it!" Eren shouted, determined. Mikasa glanced back at her sword, trying to make up her mind.
"Who said I was done with you?!" Hannes sliced through the Titan's left ankle.
Mikasa cut through the ropes and Eren sat up. "That one's…mine!"
"Eren!" Mikasa reached out but winced and clutched herself in pain. "Wait! We're trying to get you out of here!"
"It's time to settle the score!" Eren held up his right hand, fingers still regenerating. "Just watch!" He bit his hand, blood spurting and pooling around the bite.
Eren stood in front of Mikasa. Hannes was in front of them, dodging the Smiling Titan's grabs.
'Why isn't he transforming?' Levi glanced at Hange who appeared to look equally perplexed. "He's motivated enough. Given his and Mikasa's reaction, then that is the titan that ate their mother in front of them. Why the hell isn't he transforming?"
"Because his body is trying to heal him." Everyone turned to look at Magath, "Every titan shifter is different. They all have a few abilities in common. One of those abilities is regeneration, as you all know. However when a shifter is severely injured as a human, those powers are giving its absolute all to heal itself. Which is why Mr Jaeger cannot transform, despite having the motivation needed. Biting into his hand now will just delay the healing time more." Hange quickly wrote the valuable info down.
Eren pulled away from his bleeding hand and stared at it in disbelief. Mikasa watched confused as Eren cried out.
A Scout dodged another Titan that flew through the air.
Falco stared at the flying titans with a strange look on his face. 'Flying titans. I feel like I've seen this before. Titans flying through the air... with wings... and feathers.' Falco shook himself out of his daze, he didn't know what he was thinking of but knew it didn't exist.
Erwin straightened up, dishevelled. Behind him, a Scout stood with his swords out, staring at a titan while on his right another Scout flew by him. In Erwin's remaining arm he still held a sword.
"You must be feeling the pain by now." Mike said, shaking his head in disbelief.
The Scout behind him called out "Commander! The Armored one is—"
Erwin turned to see the Armoured Titan slowly coming their way with 4 titans still attached to it. It pulled another Titan off of its right leg and threw it.
"It's coming!"
The recently thrown titan soared over Armin. He gasped and seeing its projected landing zone, threw out his hand. "Jean!"
Jean glanced back too late. The Titan landed too close in front of him. The shockwave sent him off his horse and bouncing on the ground. Blood erupted from his nose.
"If you die from falling off a horse I'll never let you live it down." Eren joked but Jean heard the worry in his voice.
"Jean!" Armin jumped off his horse and ran to him, a sword in his left hand. "Are you okay?! Hold it together!"
Armin picked Jean up. His face was bloody. Two Titans stalked toward them.
"This isn't looking good. Jean will probably die. That guy Hannes too." Oluo morbidly said. His three squad mates looked at him and simultaneously smacked the back of his head. "Hey. Just speaking the tru-" Everyone ignored the squawking tongue biter as he stuffed tissues in his mouth.
Hannes swung at the Smiling Titan's ankles again before flying up to its face and moving out of the way of its hand.
"Shit! Shit!" Blood dripped onto the ground. "What's wrong?!
Mikasa closed her eyes when he ripped off part of his hand.
"Holy crap."
"He's not healed enough."
"He's desperate."
None of the shifters, Zeke and Grisha included, could imagine being desperate enough to rip off a part of them away to shift. Ymir, Pieck, Porco, Colt, Falco, Udo and Zofia visibly shuddered at the sight. Bertholdt almost looked to be sick. Gabi, Annie, Reiner, Grisha and Zeke were slightly taken aback at the violent self-mutilation. The rest of the Scouts were visibly disturbed at Eren's attempts to shift.
"Eren!" Mikasa held her hand up as if to stop him.
Eren's eyes were focused and full of rage as he continued to bite and rip his hand off.
Many Scouts, Mike and Hange included, looked apprehensively at Eren's eyes. It was as if it stared into their very souls.
Hannes continued to fight the Smiling Titan in front of Eren while Mikasa was behind him, trying to stop his brutal mutilation.
Armin had backed up against a tree, clutching an unconscious Jean in one arm, waving his sword at the approaching Titan with his other hand. He screamed in panic, using the sword to keep the Titan away.
"Armin. Save yourself. You're more important than I am." Armin shook his head, "You would never leave me behind."
The Armoured Titan finally tore away the last Titan and began running at full speed towards the Scouts.
Peer took out a Titan, blood spurting from its neck as it landed in front of Erwin.
"Commander!" Erwin watched as Peer screamed before a Titan ripped his body apart. A tree hid most of the bloody death from view.
Peer took a shuddered breath before shouting, "How many would die for you commander?! HOW MANY?" He immediately regretted his outburst and sunk into the couch, looking at the ground. Erwin lamented at the death of his personal assistant for a moment before regaining his composure. Ness sighed sadly and glanced at Moblit, "Gotta admit Moblit. I thought you would be the first of us to die. And not because of a Titan." Ness's eyes darted to Hange and back to Moblit. Peer and Siss chuckled, Moblit joining in when he realised Ness was trying to cheer Peer up.
Hannes delivered a third cut to the Smiling Titan's ankle, finally cutting through its achilles tendon and sending the Titan to its knees.
Eren smiled, 'Even if I can't do it, Hannes can.
Carla placed a hand on Hannes shoulder, "Thank you for that day Hannes. You repaid your debt when you saved my children." Hannes nodded, but when he looked back to the screen, his face turned to dread.
Hannes grinned but his expression turned to shock when the Titan grabbed him midair.
Eren, Mikasa and Armin tensed. 'NO' They collectively thought.
Eren and Mikasa watched agape as the Smiling Titan brought Hannes toward its face. Eren continued to bite into his hand despairingly. 'Right now…I've gotta become a Titan…or it's all for nothing!'
The Smiling Titan opened its mouth and brought Hannes to its wide maw. Hannes grunted and kicked his legs.
Eren shook, he had to change. Screw healing.
Eren and Mikasa watched in despair as Hannes eyes were shown wide.
There was a loud wet, crunch when the Titan bit off of Hannes lower half.
Mikasa screamed in shock. Armin yelled in disbelief. Eren stayed silent.
Hannes saw the reactions of the three kids he cared about and smiled. "There goes my chance at revenge. But... it better make Eren get his act together. I see good things because of that kid. My death won't be in vain. Eren will avenge us."
Carla smiled as tears fell down her face. Grisha however, was unconvinced. There was something sinister going on here, something worse than he could imagine.
Splatters of Hannes's blood flew over purple flowers.
Hange wanted to rip their hair out. 'Purple fucking flowers.'
Moblit had noticed something else and rapidly tapped Ness's shoulder, not noticing Ness had turned around and Moblit was knocking on his head. "Ow, dude stop." Moblit pulled away apologising, "Sorry. But I just noticed. Remember Eren's dream?" Ness nodded confusedly before his face lit up, remembering the same thing as Moblit. "Holy Maria. His dream had blood spurting on purple flowers." Moblit nodded, "I actually think Hange was right with one of their crazy predictions. Eren can see the future."
The noise started to fade away. Eren stared in shock. Hannes's eyes closed. Mikasa was still. Blood spurted from Hannes' corpse and down the Titan's chest.
Eren collapsed to his knees and brought his head down. Tears gathered in his eyes. The Smiling Titan carried on eating Hannes. Mikasa listened as Eren started to sob louder and louder. He began to laugh and cry hysterically. Mikasa looked down at Eren's form. "Eren…"
"Nothing changed!" Eren screamed, looking crazed. "You haven't changed one bit, dammit! You're still as useless as you ever were! Nothing changed!" He let out a long-drawn-out, agonising scream.
Some scouts covered their ears. It was a horrifying sound. One filled with sadness.
"Oluo. I hate when you're right."
"I didn't want to be."
Zeke shook his head. Eren had suffered greatly, more than he ever did. At least Eren's mother loved him. His father, maybe.
Looking over to his comrades, he was surprised to see Pieck grasping Porco's hand tightly. He held back a snort at Porco's uncomfortable expression and wondered when those two would get together already. Then again, probably best they didn't if he was still going though with his plan.
Eren closed his eyes, tears falling. "Mom… I…can't… I still can't do anything at all."
"Carla we can't."
"That's my baby boy Grisha. He needs me."
"Carla. That's not the same Eren. Even if we tried to leave we can't, unless the host opens the wall up. We have to wait. Besides, Mikasa is still there, she'll bring him out of it."
Mikasa's eyes were full of tears. "Eren…"
Eren lifted himself back on to his knees and slowly turned towards Mikasa.
"That's not true," she said softly, smiling.
Abel turned to Nifa, "Did you just squeal?" Her reply was a slap to Abel's face and, "She's going to confess."
Eren stared at her before moving his gaze behind them. Four Titans were in the far background, some fighting and eating soldiers. A Titan on all fours was creeping close to the pair. Orange rays of light were cast across the horizon.
"It's kinda serene isn't it." Eld said to nobody in particular, "Almost like it's... the ending."
Off to the side, Armin waved his sword at the approaching Titan, still clutching onto the unconscious Jean.
"Armin."
"No Jean. I'd rather die trying to save a friend than die running away."
Levi turned his head and nodded to Armin before glaring at Erwin, knowing he would've left Jean behind.
"Eren…" Eren shifted his attention back to Mikasa. "Listen."
The Smiling Titan finished eating Hannes. "I need to tell you something."
"You've always been…at my side," Mikasa spoke, smiling with tears in her eyes. Many beautiful purple flowers were by her hand. "Thank you."
Hange hit Mike's leg, making the giant man turn towards them in confusion. "Purple Fucking Flowers." Hange gritted out quietly. Mike slowly nodded and looked away.
Erwin was holding his shoulder with the missing arm, a Scout behind him. The Jaws Titan was fighting a Titan, Historia, Sasha, and an upside down Connie helping.
"You showed me…how to live with purpose. Thank you."
"Now's not really the time for this." Magath said off-handedly.
"If they're going to die then they might as well." Gunther replied.
Eren stared at her as tears ran down his cheeks, his mouth open.
A quadrupedal Titan came from behind a tree and glared at them from behind.
"No, get away."
"Let it happen."
"Its tiring watching them dance around each other."
"The music is sort of nice for this. It's terrifying what's happening in the background but nice for the conversation." Everyone turned to Pyxis, "What? I can be romantic when I need to be."
"And you…" Mikasa grasped the red scarf around her neck fondly. The screen flashed white and an image of a younger Eren wrapping the scarf around a younger Mikasa appeared. "You wrapped this scarf around me. Thank you." Mikasa lifted her head and smiled cutely.
'Eh? He gave her that damn scarf?' Jean thought. He quickly kicked those thoughts out of his head, now is not the time for jealous thoughts.
Levi glanced at Erwin for confirmation, with Erwin nodding once.
Sunlight shone on the purple flowers that danced in the wind.
Hange was going red in the face.
The same Titans stood behind Eren and Mikasa.
Erwin raised an eyebrow, "It looks like they haven't even moved."
A gentle breeze ruffled their hair. Eren's green eyes focused on Mikasa's smiling face. Their faces moved closer.
"Go on."
"Just get it over with."
"No time like the present."
He sniffed and then stood while she looked at him, surprised.
"OH COME ON."
"GODDAMNIT."
"DID HE SERIOUSLY BLOCK HIMSELF?"
Armin fell to the floor and shouted in disbelief into the carpet. Jean was holding his heart. Ymir and Krista had face-palmed, Sasha rolled her eyes and Connie repeatedly smacked himself in the face.
The rest of the Scouts and the people in the other rooms were having different reactions.
"Zeke. Your brother is an idiot." Porco deadpanned. Zeke couldn't help but agree, even if his plan would've made them all unhappy anyway.
Colt was actually that they hadn't kissed. He really didn't fancy explaining to the kids what it meant. Looking at them, it appeared they weren't eager to see anyone kiss anyway. The sooner they were out of here the better.
Hannes guffawed as Grisha and Carla sighed. "That kid will always make me laugh."
"I'll wrap that around you…as many times as you want," Eren looked at her over his shoulder. He stared back at the Smiling Titan as it reached out to him. Eren was more determined than before. "Now and forever… As much as you want!"
Carla smiled as tears cascaded down her face, 'My little boy could say the right thing sometimes.'
'Now and forever?' Mike thought. 'You got 8 years left kid. Better make them count.'
'Future' Eren was counting in his head how many times he wrapped the scarf around Mikasa. 'Must've been at least... one hundred and fifty thousand times now?'
Colourful lightning crackled and his fingers regenerated instantly. Eren clenched his fist.
"That was quick." Magath was surprised, 'How is that possible? None of the warriors ever showed regeneration that quickly. Not even Zeke. What is so different about this boy?'
Eren screamed as the Smiling Titan reached out its hand. Eren punched the open palm. Everything went still.
Next Sunday will be the next post (Hopefully). Sorry to do it to you but I do like to tease you all.
After the founding titan reveal chapter, there will be one or two chapters with no reactions.
One is planned to be Erwin's meeting and the other will have a second room reveal plus everybody going to the kitchen to eat and going bed. And you know someone is going to mess around with a modern invention and cause chaos. (We know who that will be.)
Until Sunday, see ya.
