Part 42
Retrieval

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Erwin?!" Barked Nile Dawk, Commander of the Military Police. "You can't just keep taking what you want!"

"We need all the spare soldiers we can muster for this mission." Was Erwin's calm response, mounting his horse. "We've established that Eren has been taken by two more Titan Shifters."

"So you're taking my cadets as bait?! To think you couldn't sink any lower."

"This is for the benefit of humanity, Nile." Erwin continued. "Brave soldiers give their lives every day to keep your own life safe behind Wall Sina. Commander Pyxis will also giving a handful of Garrison men to the Scouts so that we can retrieve Eren."

Nile, for all he could do, was simply scowl at the towering Commander before him as he said his point.


"Tch! What's taking so long?" Mikasa hissed, sat upon her horse along with the rest of the 104th Cadets. Armin placed next to her. Eyes glazed forward to see the likes of Fury next to Erwin as he readied himself to give the order to charge.

"Calm down, Mikasa." Armin encouraged quietly. "People are going to die today for the sake of Eren. They need all the time so that they can say goodbye."

Mikasa did not respond, her eyes remained focused and narrowed, despite her earlier concussion.

"…Why did they have to take Ymir, too?" Krista fretted, gripping onto her horses reins.

"I'm sure she'll be fine." Armin continued, trying to be a form of reasoning. "Ymir has evaded us for this long, I'm sure she'll think of something if Reiner and Bertholdt give her trouble."

"I need to keep an eye on that Fury…" Interrupted Mikasa, now gritting her teeth. "Her and Levi are as bad as each other. Why she's aiding us in retrieving Eren is beyond me, she doesn't even care about him!"

"You don't know that." Spoke Sasha, wiping her mouth for it was covered in the remains of a potato she just devoured. "She's probably just like the rest of us! We're all scared of things. I bet she has fears too!"

"I dunno, Sasha," Connie laughed. "Fury seems pretty set on reminding Eren that he's a, what is that she called him, a shithead?"

The two of them sniggered until Mikasa turned her gaze towards them both. "If I hear her call him that again…"

"Wow, are you about to threaten her?" Gasped Jean until a smirk grew upon him. "What am I saying, there's no way she'd stand a chance against you."

Connie coughed. "Lover boy!" And he coughed again, creating a small whistle as Jean then used the boot of his foot to kick Connie's shin, making him yelp.

"Be quiet, you two, take this seriously!" Armin pleaded. "No more fighting each other, we should all be on the same side!"

"I'm not sure Fury has ever had a side…" Krista muttered. "Did you all know that she spent 4 years beyond the Walls?"

"I still don't buy it." Jean scoffed. "I mean… Okay, yeah, she has some weird abilities. Just as weird as Eren being a Titan but… Come on, 4 years on your own out there? No damn way."

"Don't think you could do that, Jean-Boy?" Sasha mocked.

Jean huffed in his retaliation. "I'm a realistic person. No way in hell could I be out there on my own for 4 damn years, let alone a day."

"Did you just admit you're a coward?!" Barked Connie, wheezing.

"Shut it, baldy!" Jean hissed, kicking his shin again.

"For Eren!" Cam the sudden howl from Erwin, raising his cutter into the air as the gates to the outside began to rise. "For Humanity!"

The charge began. All horses bolted forward in a linear line, all with one goal, to retrieve Eren who Erwin had earlier surmised would be somewhere within the Forest of Giant Trees by now, should Reiner have reverted to his human form.
Before her own horse galloped forward, Fury made one last look behind her. How all of this seemed familiar to her.
Her own vision could so clearly picture the likes of Levi, Isabel and Farlan atop of their own horses behind her.

What a tragic day that was… Fury was truly worried that it was about to repeat itself. And there was no Levi this time either.

Clenching her eyes shut and gritting her teeth to remove the image of her friends behind her, Fury ordered her horse forward and remained beside Erwin yet again. Only difference this time was that she was protecting him and not out to kill him.
And Fury knew, in the back of her mind, should Titans surround them, she'd have to reveal herself to be the monster most of the soldiers believe she is.
They'd all have to witness the power of one Bloodborn. Was that something she was ready to let more of the world see? A part of her still couldn't accept this fate of hers. And yet, those in that small village…
Where she met Hexis and others alike… They all accepted her the moment she arrived. No judgements, no fear…

… Even little Isaah…
Who she has not yet spoken of.
The little boy who looked up to her as someone who could keep him safe.

Why couldn't everyone be like those villagers? Who they themselves had no luxury of being behind walls.
What happens when there's no enemy left to fight? Would people within the walls turn on each other? Heck, would history repeat itself in terms of attacking those who are different from the rest?
That's all the Blood Purge ever was… A mass murder against individuals who weren't normal like the rest of them.
Who says you have to be normal anyway? Even Fury could agree that being normal was too ordinary. It's those who are different that can make change. Even if it was the likes of Eren.

"Fury!" Exclaimed Erwin, pulling her out of these thoughts. Her stoic gaze moved over to the blonde male.
"Keep your eyes front. Don't look back. This isn't the past."

Her eyes widened. It's like he knew what she was thinking. However, it didn't surprise her that much. There was a reason Erwin was still Commander and his intelligence was proof enough.

"Yes, Sir!" She called back and did just as he ordered. Her eyes remained looking ahead of her. This time, there was no reason to be looking back.