My apologies for the foot-note in the last chapter. I had planned for it to be this Sunday that I would upload. It would appear a lot of you were expecting it last week. I finished the chapter earlier than expected though. I will try and make my update schedule clearer from now on. Enjoy.
(New chapter planner in foot-note)
SEASON 3 AND 4 SPOILERS IN THIS. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
Eren screamed as the Smiling Titan reached out its hand. Eren punched the open palm. The Titan's hair swayed to a stop as everything went still.
The main room was just as still. Everyone was expecting Eren to transform and rip that Titan apart.
Orange lightning crackled on a black background. Reiner, Bertholdt and Ymir reacted to it. The lightning spread out like a star as a blue ring of lightning, burst out like a shockwave.
The Warriors and Magath gaped. 'No fucking way.'
Zeke's jaw had dropped. Well, this might make the plan a little easier.
Grisha gasped quietly, 'Of course. Dina was a descendant of the royal family. Eren holds the founding titan. Together they can use it. Although,' Grisha frowned, 'I don't see Dina surviving for much longer, especially if she's the titan that kills Carla and Hannes.
"What was that?" Erwin turned to the warriors. Bertholdt cleared his throat, "That was... that was the um..."
The Smiling Titan moved its hand back slowly. Eren stared at it, teeth gritted.
"Did his Titan strength transfer to his human form?" Hange enquired. Annie shook her head and gestured for them to keep watching, 'He told us. He told us and yet I didn't want to believe it. So many had control of it and yet... I hoped this one wouldn't.' Annie glanced at Eren sadly, 'The last chance.'
The quadrupedal titan behind the teens growled and started running at them.
Wind and orange lightning whipped around Eren as he screamed. The Titan behind Eren and Mikasa roared. Eren swung and the Titan jumped over them and launched itself at the Smiling Titan. Eren looked surprised.
"WHAT THE FUCK? WHAT THE FUCK?"
"DID HE JUST THROW A TITAN AT ANOTHER TITAN?"
"HE'S IN CONTROL OF ONE?"
They both crashed to the ground loudly, the shockwave rocked the ground under them. All the Titans in the area were staring in their direction. A tall, blonde haired titan and a shorter, brown haired one turned around and started moving towards the Smiling Titan.
The Titan facing down Armin turned around with the others. Armin gasped.
"WAIT!" Ness exclaimed and looked at Reiner, "Didn't you say the founding titan could control titans?" Reiner nodded dumbly.
Everyone was quiet until reality hit them.
"EREN CAN CONTROL THE TITANS."
"WE CAN WIN! WE CAN TAKE BACK WALL MARIA!"
Erwin was more reserved in his cheering, "Didn't the host say Rod Reiss held the founder?" Mike, while surprised at this new revelation, held his composure too. "I don't really trust this guy. What else is he lying about or hiding from us?"
Obviously, Levi also had a calm composure, "I don't think it's as simple as it looks either. The host said only an Eldian with royal blood could hold the Founding Titan. Unless Eren somehow descends from royalty, then there is definitely something else we are missing here." Levi glanced behind him and was surprised to see Annie staring sadly at Eren, and Reiner and Bertholdt looking defeated. 'There is something seriously wrong here. We have to include them in the meeting. All three of them. They know more than they are letting on.' Levi sneaked a glare at the host, 'and he's holding onto something as well. Why the fuck is he so familiar?'
Dozens of Titan feet appeared. In a still shot, Titans of all shapes and sizes, including abnormals were running straight for the pinned Smiling Titan. The Titan's smile was the last thing to be shown before the other Titans threw themselves onto it and began biting and tearing it apart.
Erwin and a Scout watched from afar.
The Jaw Titan, Krista, Connie, and Sasha stared in confusion and shock at the scene.
Blood flew around as the Titans ripped off the Smiling Titan's arm and leg.
"Holy shit. That's brutal." Connie said. Knowing it was once human made it a little difficult to enjoy but at the same time, Connie couldn't really bring himself to care anymore.
Eren, with Mikasa on his back, ran away from the carnage, both watching the violent display. "Why... are they...? They're eating it?"
The Smiling Titan's ribs were visible on its left side. A small Titan had grabbed the Smiling Titan by its eye socket and pulled its head away from its jaw.
Grisha bowed his head and wept silently. The others left him alone, thinking that Grisha was grieving for a fellow restorationist, which was partly true. But it was mainly for his first wife, first love, and first-born. How much Grisha wished, that he could see Zeke and hold him once more.
Porco was sweating. Partially because of the crazy devil holding both the missing Attack and Founding titans but mainly because of Pieck clutching onto his hand like it was her lifeline. The part that confused Porco was that he had no fucking clue why Pieck was holding his hand. It wasn't because she was scared, very little scared Pieck. Hell, she was the one scaring him half the time. Was she upset? Porco quickly glanced at her face and regretted it, her whole face was red. There is no mistaking it; she was angry, and from how much she tried to keep her eyes away from him, she was angry with him. But WHY?
Little did Porco know, Pieck was also struggling to understand the hand holding situation. But she was trying to figure out why Porco hadn't let go yet. In fact, it seemed like Porco was the one who wouldn't let go. She blushed heavily at that thought. Was Porco... Did he have feelings... No. Pieck shook her head, he couldn't be. Pieck glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. She almost gasped, his eyes were watery! Was he crying?! Was he ashamed at how he felt for her? Pieck felt a strange tightening in her chest. Why did it hurt to see Porco cry? More importantly, how could she make him stop crying?
Porco was holding back tears of desperation as he cycled through his mind as he tried to figure out why Pieck was angry at him. He was focusing so hard that he didn't realise it until it happened.
Something soft and slightly wet pressed against the side of his head. Porco's eyes widened, 'NANI?'
Two people stood above the main room, watching the proceedings as they happened. The woman pointed something out to her compatriot. "It's happened again."
The man shook his head, "You know it never lasts. Either Porco dies or Pieck dies. They will never get that chance of a happy relationship. Just like Hitch and Marlowe. Ymir and Historia. Oluo and Petra. None of them will get the chance they deserve."
The woman stared pointedly at her friend, "Why do you have to be so miserable all the time? How do you know the plan won't work?"
The man glared at her, "I'm not miserable, I'm realistic. You know I have had to watch the deaths of basically every single person down there, multiple times. Watching Moblit get torn to pieces by debris. Watching Ness get smacked onto the ground. Watching the decimation of the Scouts when they try reclaim Wall Maria. Other than that bastard Eren, it does hurt seeing them die and being unable to do anything about it. It's meaningless. This is the only chance I've got at stopping it and saving everyone. If the plan fails... Everyone dies! No more chances!" The man shouted, close to tears and sat down.
The woman sighed and sat next to him, "If the plan succeeds, we all win. I know it's a long-shot but it's the only chance we have. We had to lie to the 'First' Eren to agree to do this. He's convinced the Warriors on what they need to do. When it happens, and it will happen, you need to be ready to send everyone back." She turned to look at her friend's face. There was so much pain etched into it, it hurt her heart to look at it.
"It better work." The man's eyes zeroed in on the two Eren's and narrowed. "Or I'm doing it myself."
"Dunno what's going on, but now's our chance!" Connie shouted, mounting his horse.
"Let's hurry and run!" Sasha said, already sitting on her horse.
"Right!" Krista nodded.
'So that's how it is…' Ymir thought.
"Woah. That's what it looks like inside a Titan?" Hange asked. The shifters, including Eren and Ymir looked around at each other. "I guess so," Ymir answered. "I mean, we only see outside our Titan. Kinda looks painful, the way the Titan skin is fused with ours." Reiner added.
'That's why Reiner was so desperate for Eren. Which means, even inside the Walls…' She looked down at Krista, 'there's a future.'
"Why would you look at Krista?" Sasha asked Ymir another question that Ymir couldn't answer. Not truthfully at least, she knew part of the reason why.
Historia was fuming. 'Why did all this have to come up now? They will all be asking questions about it later. I just hoped I can get to my bedroom without any hassle.
Eren continued to run. On his left, the Armoured Titan was running toward him. Eren and Mikasa glared at it.
The Titan continued to run towards them, with Bertholdt standing on its clavicle. 'This is the worst…' Reiner angrily thought.
"Yep. Definitely painful." Reiner said, wincing at his skin being pulled at.
'Why did the Coordinate have to fall into the hands of the worst person imaginable? We've gotta get it back… I can say…without a doubt…the one person in the world I wouldn't want to have it…Eren…is you!'
'Future' Eren sighed, they have no idea how true that is.
Eren skidded and bellowed at them. "Get away from me!" Orange lightening crackled again, getting another reaction from Reiner and Bertholdt. "You bastards! I'll kill you all!" Orange lightning exploded again along with a blue ring expanding out.
As the Armoured Titan ran past, the group of Titans stood as one and with red eyes, charged at the Armoured Titan.
"How can we ever lose now?!" Henning excitedly shouted. He was standing and cheering along with his squad mates.
Reiner stopped, noticing them. The Titans glared angrily. 'Not good! Bertholdt!' Bertholdt was terrified at the multitude of titans approaching. 'I can't protect Bertholdt like this!'
"What? The Titans?" Eren and Mikasa stared.
"Eren! Get on!" Armin stopped next to them, leading an extra horse. Jean was strapped to his back.
"Armin!"
Tears had gathered in Armin's eyes, one flew as he shouted. "Hurry!"
Erwin struggled to his feet. "Don't let this chance escape! Full retreat!"
"Have you even tied your arm off yet?" Levi nudged Erwin.
The Scouts raced off on their horses, Eren and Armin at the front of the pack. Behind them the leaving the Armoured Titan was fighting off the mindless Titans.
Bertholdt yelled, frightened and frantically swung his sword.
The Jaws Titan slid to a halt. "Ymir!" Krista stopped her horse as well.
"Hey, ugly!" Connie yelled. "What are you doing?! We're heading back!"
"You're calling me ugly cueball?" Ymir snarled and angrily turned to Connie. The boy paled and tried to defend himself, "Hey, hey, hey. It was heat of the moment stuff."
The Jaw Titan turned its head to Krista. Connie stopped to wait for them. The Jaw Titan reached out and gently wrapped its hand around Krista, petting her hair. "I…sorry…"
"Huh?" Krista said.
The Jaws Titan removed its hand and raced away.
"Ymir no!" Krista exclaimed, tears in her eyes. Across the room, Mike sighed softly, he saw Ymir's face both on screen and in the room. 'I knew she was going to sympathise with them. As much as she claims to be, Ymir is not selfish.' He scrunched his brow and looked over at her. 'And there is something else as well. Could she feel indebted to them perhaps? If they hadn't come to Paradis, Ymir would still be wandering around as a mindless Titan. That is, if we didn't kill her first.'
"Ymir! Where are you going?!" Krista called after her.
"Leave her!" Connie said, grabbing Krista's reins.
"But Ymir is—"
The Armoured Titan struggled but more Titans kept coming for them. Bertholdt waved his sword and shrank back in terror as a Titan's mouth drew closer. A hand pushed it away.
The Jaws Titan screamed, on the Armoured Titan's back. Reiner and Bertholdt gaped in shock.
"Ymir. Thank you." Reiner smiled sadly at the girl. He knew she hated his guts and yet, she still went and saved them both from being eaten.
Connie and Krista watched as they rode off, Connie pulling Krista's reins with him. Krista held out her arm for Ymir. A tree blocked their vision.
"What is with this music though? It's like it is trying to make you get upset." Connie said, mid-yawn. He was smacked by Sasha as she gestured to Ymir trying to comfort a crying Krista while giving Connie a death-glare.
Gunther held back a chuckle. Connie reminded him of Oluo; always speaking before thinking.
The Survey Corps continued to retreat.
Erwin stared solemnly. 'That's about 30 horses. I counted as least that many dying. How many more would die for me? Simply because I told them they were fighting for humanity.' Erwin would never admit or show it but after finding out most of humanity wanted them dead, he couldn't help but think how many of those Scouts died in vain. That mountain was getting higher and higher.
'In that moment, I couldn't understand the motivation behind Ymir's actions...' Armin thought as they raced across the plains. Jean was leaning on Armin, eyes half-open. Sasha rode next to them as she stared at Eren and Mikasa. '...but the Armoured Titan didn't pursue us any further.'
Erwin's eyes were half shut.
'How the fuck is he still alive?' Kenny was mildly impressed. 'The Scout Commander has the willpower of an Ackermann.' Kenny squinted at Erwin. 'Maybe he has some Ackermann blood in him. It would make some sense. If I can survive getting hit in the face with a knife then Erwin can survive without an arm.'
Mikasa was clutching to Eren, her eyes were shut, as the events of the day hit her. Armin was near them, tears in his eyes.
Eren stared ahead in sadness and shock as he recalled a childhood memory of throwing out punches at Hannes. Armin and Mikasa watching nearby smiling. Hannes was drunk and laughing, and was holding Eren back with a hand on his head.
'That's the last memory of our childhood gone.' Eren thought sadly. 'That won't happen this time. Hannes will live this time, so will Peer, and the other veterans. Nobody else will die for me.' Eren's thoughts were diverted when the wall behind them hissed open. Everyone stood and faced the wall.
None of them were prepared for what came out.
A man with short, blonde hair walked out from the darkness.
Another man followed suit, his glasses were a clear feature on him.
A woman with long, black hair timidly came out into the main room.
Eren's heart stopped. "Mom?"
Everybody was in shock at the arrival of Carla, Grisha and Hannes that nobody noticed 'Future' Eren slip out of the room.
Two more characters have joined this chapter. But who are they? And what is this plan?
Next Chapter is planned to be released on May 22nd. It won't be a reaction chapter, so if you aren't interested in chapters like that, you can give it a miss but it will be a funny read for those of you who are interested.
(Anyone watched Grand Blue? I have to admit, I love it more than AoT. Really on par with my own experiences)
New Planned Chapters
Chapter 12 - Scouts eat, try out modern technology, find their rooms and Erwin's meeting
Chapter 13 - Reaching the sea
Chapter 14 - Grisha on the wall and Smiling Titan true form
Chapter 15 - Levi avenges Isabel and Farlan
Chapter 16 - Levi, Mike, Hange squads deaths. Mike death and Beast Titan reveal
Chapter 17 - Sacrifice of the Scout Regiment
Chapter 18 - TBD
See ya next time
