Chapter 22: Battle of Shinganshina Part I

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin

Previously: Petra and Mikasa spar. The military heads discuss retaking Wall Maria. Levi tells Mikasa about the Ackermans. Zeke and Ymir talk, confirming the trade will happen.


"I wish I could go with you guys," Historia said longingly. She had come over from Mitras to see them off. Here at the HQ in Karanes was the closest the queen was allowed to get to the front lines. While the preparations to retake Wall Maria were being finished outside, the Levi Squad was inside Erwin's office, which Historia had taken over so they could talk in private.

Armin shrugged and said, "It can't be helped. You're the queen."

"You already did your part and got us here," Mikasa said from next to him.

"Yeah. Leave the rest to us." Connie pointed his thumb at himself. "We'll take it from here."

"What I wouldn't give to be a soldier again. Just another grunt."

"What, don't you like being the most powerful person in the land?" Jean asked in amusement.

Historia sighed wistfully. "I'd rather be running my orphanage out in the country than ruling the Walls."

Eren knew her orphanage had taken in all the orphans from the Underground City as well as the poorest parts aboveground and given them a beautiful home full of food and comfy beds. As promised, she had used the funds confiscated from the Assembly and their allies to help out the less fortunate and vastly improve the quality of life for the Walled people.

"Er, no offense, but don't your advisors do all of the work?" From what Eren had heard, they advised Historia on all matters and presented her with options and she went with whatever they recommended.

Historia shrugged. "I feel like I'd be shirking my responsibilities if I leave everything up to them, even though I know absolutely nothing about ruling."

Eren had a feeling Historia keeping herself firmly planted on the throne in Mitras had less to do with any duty or sense of obligation and everything to do with Ymir. If he was in her place, as much as the thought of being in charge scared him shitless, he'd hold his power as tightly as he could to ensure his wishes were met. Mikasa's safety would have taken priority over his fears. Once he had her back, he'd see about weaseling out of his position. He'd leave the running of the land to adults whom he trusted and who actually knew what they were doing while he was a leader in name only, free to run around doing whatever he wanted.

"But you're learning to get better, right?" Sasha said to Historia.

"Frankly speaking," Historia confessed, "ruling scares the crap out of me. I'm afraid of making big decisions and on such a large scale at that. It's too much responsibility and beyond me. I'm not cut out to be a leader. I'd much rather be a soldier. Or a caretaker. That's my true calling."

There was a knock and Moblit's voice came from the other side of the door. "Excuse me, but it's time."

Historia stood and they followed suit. "Good luck," the queen said. She looked like she wanted to say something more but refrained.

"We'll do our best to get her back," Connie vowed, guessing what she wanted to say but felt hesitant in asking. "I owe the old hag a kick in the butt for ditching us. Even if it was for our own safety."

"Thank you," Historia said, smiling gratefully.

Outside, it was almost pitch black. Fires blazed in the walled sconces around the courtyard, providing light. They'd yet to finish their transition to the glowing ore with its artificial light.

Eren scanned the large group of soldiers, hurrying toward the stage where Erwin stood, talking with Levi and Hange in preparation for his speech. Eren spotted Eld and waved excitedly to the tall blond man. "I'll be right back," he said to Mikasa and Armin.

"Eren, how're you doing?" Eld asked, smiling. "It's been a while."

"I'm good. It's great to see you back! I heard you're a squad leader now. Congratulations."

"Thanks. I thought they'd give me command of my own squad one day but I never thought it'd be like this."

"Speaking of your squad, where's Petra? I haven't seen her in weeks." Eren wondered if she'd been hanging out with Levi. He hadn't seen his captain around much either. But that figures.

Many soldiers had spent as much time as they could with their friends and lovers in the past month. Eren remembered a few weeks back, about a week after Petra had received a nasty gash during her spare with Mikasa, when he'd gone to check on her and she had opened the door expecting Levi. It was late and she had been rather flustered, hair wet and face clean and clear from a recent shower. Eren and the rest of Squad Levi had gossiped and made bets on who was going to be losing their virginity that night, Levi or Petra? Majority vote was Levi.

"We're transporting the Female Titan, remember? My squad's been on babysitting duty the last couple of weeks. Petra's in the wagon we'll be escorting," Eld told him.

"I guess someone has to be with her," Eren said. Unconscious or not, Annie couldn't very well be left alone. A soldier had to be with her at all times, either in case Annie woke up, or if someone managed to get into the wagon by force or by stealth. "I'm sorry it had to be you two whose squad got stuck with this job," he said sympathetically.

"I'd have preferred to be with your squad, protecting you, but orders are orders," Eld said, speaking like a true soldier.

"If she had killed Mikasa, Armin, and Jean, my closest friends, and I had to protect her and safely escort her back to her friends, I'd lose my fucking mind." Annie would have needed to be protected from him instead of by him. "I have no idea how you're so composed."

"It can't be helped." Eld shook his head. "The brass wants the Female Titan to be kept under surveillance by veteran soldiers in case things go awry. It's why we've got Thunder Spears in the wagon as a precaution."

Precaution if something goes wrong, huh? Like killing Annie if the trade falls through so her friends can't get her power back, Eren thought. Eld was far too good a man to say he wished the exchange would fail, thus allowing him the right to kill Annie and avenge Gunther, Oluo, and all the soldiers who had died by Annie's hand.

Eren's attention turned to the stage when the crowd started to quiet down.

Erwin was about to begin his speech so Eren quickly said his farewell to his former squadmate and returned to his friends.

The commander started out with how the Colossal and Armored Titans had broken through Wall Maria five years ago, then moved on to the losses they'd suffered since, all leading up to this moment.

Eren barely heard it, starting to feel the anxiety kick in. He wanted to reach out to his other self but held himself back, wanting to wait unit they were close enough to Shinganshina so Eren II could hang around for as long as possible. It had steadily increased over time, how much time Eren II spent here with him. But there was no point in risking it considering what they were about to attempt. So Eren shoved his nervousness back and tuned back into the commander's speech, which was just getting to the main goals of the expedition.

"For this mission, we have three main objectives. The first and most important one is sealing the two gates of Wall Maria." Next to Erwin was a large map of Wall Maria and its territory, held by two soldiers. There were two red circles on it, one on the inner gate and one on the outer. "With that, Shiganshina will be isolated. We'll exterminate any Titans left inside. If the enemy knows our plan they'll go straight after Eren, but we'll have hoods covering the faces of all one hundred and forty of our soldiers. By the time they find out who Eren is, we'll have the outer gate plugged."

One hundred and forty. Eren tried not to feel disheartened. It wasn't like his world. He couldn't expect whole battalions of soldiers fighting with him.

"The outer gate will have to be sealed first to ensure we don't all get trapped in. We will wait at the inner gate for Eren to do his part. Then it'll be up to the enemy to either come after Eren or reveal themselves to go through with the trade, if they so choose, which is the second objective: getting Ymir back. Once the exchange is made, keeping Ymir safe will be easiest atop Wall Maria's inner gate." Erwin went on to review the Thunder Spears before arriving at another crucial detail. "Levi will be the one safekeeping the injection with Titan serum. When we have an enemy with Titan power in custody, any injured soldier can inherit it. We have to add another Titan power to our side at all costs. The higher-ups have only authorized this transfer if the situation is desperate. But it's up to our best judgment if we turn a soldier into a Shifter on the battlefield."

Levi had told Eren and the rest of them the brass would prefer to be able to carefully pick and choose the best candidate for receiving Titan power. However, they all knew how chaotic a battle could get. So they'd decided if an enemy Shifter was captured and the situation wasn't ideal, anyone in the Corps whose life could be saved right then and there would inherit the captured Shifter's Titan. Although the soldiers were to at least try and bring a prisoner back if at all possible.

"It is imperative we get another Shifter on our side. So be aware of Levi's location at all times. That is our third and final objective: stealing a Titan power from the enemy."


Unlike with the 57th Expedition, this time when they passed through Karanes's gate there was no loud, cheering crowd. Barely anyone was there to see them off. Night had fallen several hours ago and most of the people were in their homes, tucked into their beds. Only a small group, families of the soldiers who lived nearby, were there to quietly see them off with terrified and hopeful faces.

The soldiers rode their horses in almost complete silence as they left Wall Rose. The Titan Guillotine had been executing Titans day after day for the past month. Satisfied by the lack of any giants being sighted in several days, they were optimistic they had likely wiped out almost all Titans wandering around nearby. Only the ones deep in Wall Maria's territory were still safe from Hange's lethal machine.

The forest was a lot harder to navigate in the dark and since they were closing in on their destination, the soldiers had gone from riding their horses to walking them. It was quieter and safer. In the morning, they would switch over to horses again as it was impossible to hide such a large group just by keeping quiet. They would be spotted easily when they reached the open area before the town that sat at the inner gate's northern side. But for now, they traveled as sneakily as they could so their enemies wouldn't be alerted too quickly, which would give them more time to prepare.

"Are you scared, Eren?" Armin asked quietly. "Your hand's shaking."

Powered by the glowing ore that was mined from the cavern below the Reiss family chapel, the lantern trembled in Eren's hand. Around them, everything was silent except for the soft footsteps of soldiers and horses. "Damn straight I'm scared," he answered as quietly.

"We're on our way to reclaim Wall Maria. This is no time to be a chicken," Eren II said, crossing his arms. He'd join a few minutes earlier, too antsy to stay away any longer and feeling the pull of anxiety wafting off his more easily frightened twin.

"That's exactly why I'm scared. I feel like we're heading for a boss fight. I can't believe you aren't afraid."

If his weak-hearted twin wasn't relying on him to be the strong and brave one, Eren II was sure he would have been feeling the jitters too. But if he gave into his worries, Eren would freak the fuck out and exhaust himself with worry. "One of us has to be the brave one," Eren II said.

"I just don't like the dark."

Eren II rolled his eyes. "What are you, a kid?"

"Hey, I wouldn't be as scared wandering around the woods at night in my world, but here there are actual monsters lurking around that eat your face." Just the thought of it made Eren wish for a blanket to hide under. Or a Thunder Spear. In all honesty, though, he was more likely to use it to blow himself up than kill a Titan.

"Those Titans that attacked Utgard Castle were just a freak occurrence," Eren II said dismissively.

Naturally, that was when a Titan was spotted and Jean yelled, "Titan on the left! Everyone halt!"

Eren let out a pitched sound and nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Did you just yip?" Eren II slapped his face. "That's it. Move over." At the rate things were going, Eren was going to reduce his reputation to tatters before he got his body back.

"No, no. I'll try to stay calm. You need to rest. Who knows how long the fight might last?"

"Fine. But no more yipping, understand?"

Eren got an idea and fell back until he was walking alongside Mikasa. She was taking care of both her horse and his horse, The Batmobile, because they wanted him fully rested. Eren held out his hand toward her. "Mikasa, hold my hand."

"It's okay. I'm not scared."

"I'm not asking for you."

Jean, Connie, and Sasha guffawed, overhearing him.

"Hey, shut it back there!" Levi's stern voice came from ahead and they piped down.

"Whatever happened to you keeping your distance and being respectful of the fact that she's my Mikasa?" Eren II grouched, his jealously leaking to Eren. Even if it was his own version from another world—who was inside Eren II's own body—seeing Mikasa be so caring and holding hands with anyone but him bothered him greatly.

"We're just holding hands, that's all." Eren had to fight the urge to grin like an idiot and prance all the way to Shinganshina.

It wasn't long before they neared their destination and Mikasa and Armin started to recognize the area. Eren pretended he did too.

The sun began to rise and they switched over to horses.

Eren shuddered as they rode through the desolate town. Using the 3D gear, they scaled Wall Maria. It may not have been his home but seeing the wrecked town below tugged at his heartstrings. The sense of abandonment that hung in the air from the weed-infested homes just made him sad.

"Don't stop," Levi said, approaching them. "You need to head for the outer gate."

Eren nodded and left Levi behind, Armin and Mikasa following.

"My house is right around there," Eren II said, eyeing a neighborhood near the water. "That's where...we left everything behind." He remembered sitting at the dining table with Mikasa, his mother, and his father.

"Let's switch," Eren said before he jumped from the Wall.

Eren II took over. He looked back to see Mikasa flying parallel to the Wall, gaze focused ahead. It's okay, he thought. I'll take it all back!


Steam rose from Ymir's arm stumps. She ignored her slowly healing injury and kept her eyes focused north, the direction the Corps would be coming from. Despite knowing the Warriors wouldn't be talking about anything significant with her around, she still kept one ear on the conversation between Reiner, Bertolt, and Zeke.

Bertolt was worried for Annie and hoped the trade would go well.

Reiner was quiet at first before asking about Gabi again, sounding homesick.

Zeke had a weariness to his voice and wanted to get the Coordinate.

She had to fight back a snort at Zeke's strangely naive mindset. What exactly would getting the Founding Titan accomplish in regards to Eldians and "putting an end to this cursed history" as he had put it? Getting the Coordinate, especially if they also got someone of royal blood, did not mean things would get better for the citizens of Liberio, and definitely not for the Subjects of Ymir around the world. In fact, that's the most deadly scenario for Eldians.

"Let's...end this. I want to end all this, with us," Zeke said almost tiredly.

What makes him think that'll happen? No Eldian would be safe if the Marleyans won today. Now at least some Eldians were able to hide their heritage and survive. It was already becoming difficult with apparently some new technology that could identify Eldians by their blood, but those could possibly be avoided or faked. There was just no hiding from the Founding Titan's power, though. Things would only get much, much worse if Marley got its greedy hands on Eren. Perhaps Zeke was referring to the long search and capture of the Coordinate finally coming to an end.

"War Chief Zeke." The Cart Titan's garbled voice came from below. Ymir watched the three immediately run to peek over the edge. "Enemy troops are approaching," she reported.

"It's time," Zeke said, kicking off the portable stove and mugs of coffee over the edge.

Bertolt carried her down to the ground using his 3D gear. Reiner did the same with Zeke.

"Before we go further." Zeke held up a hand to stop Reiner. "Pieck, hide Ymir in your mouth so she can't see or hear where we'll be positioned and relay that information to her friends."

Ymir shot Zeke an annoyed look before the Cart Titan's mouth closed around her.

Gross. Ymir shuddered at the heat and moisture in the darkness, getting coated in saliva. Sorry, Historia, she silently sent an apology for when she had kidnapped the other girl in her Titan's mouth.

Ymir couldn't tell how long she was inside the Cart Titan's mouth. The heat, the darkness, and the motion of her quadruped prison made it difficult to tell. Pieck, thankfully, was smart enough to realize Ymir would need fresh air, opening her mouth slightly now and then, but it was too quick for Ymir to figure out where they were or what was happening.

Finally, Ymir was spat out. She coughed and happily inhaled the fresh, clean air. Looking around, she tried to find out where she was. About halfway between the inner gate and the edge of the town, huh? That's weird, she thought. It had felt like the Cart Titan had moved quite a bit. It should have been quick for Pieck to come here from the base of the Wall. The Cart Titan was the only one that could match, or even surpass, the Jaw Titan in speed. She was probably helping others get to their places.

Awkwardly, Ymir sat up. Not an easy task when one was missing most of one's arms. In the distance, far behind the inner gate of Wall Maria, she could see a fading green flare high in the sky. Most likely it was coming from the outer gate. I see, she thought. Pieck waited to confirm Eren wasn't around before revealing our location. And now they also know where Eren is. Reiner and Bertolt knew what the flares meant and must have shared it with Zeke and Pieck.

The soldiers atop Wall Maria's inner gate were turning toward them, having noticed her and Pieck.

"Let's see if they truly have Annie or if it was just a bluff," the Cart Titan said. Projecting her voice, she spoke to the soldiers. "Send down one person with Annie so we may proceed with the trade."

A red flare shot up toward the sky.

A single soldier jumped off Wall Maria, carrying someone over the shoulder.

"Is he the one they call Levi? He fits Reiner's description."

"That's him," Ymir confirmed, not seeing any harm in it.

"Just as the war chief predicted," she said, satisfied.

Levi landed on a nearby building but moved no closer.

The Cart Titan tilted her head. "Do you not want to do the trade?"

"You could have set up traps there. Why don't you follow me?" Levi started to move, flying a couple of blocks away.

Smart man, Ymir thought in approval. The Eldians Zeke had brought to turn and control as Pure Titans were hidden around somewhere. For all she knew there was a group inside this very building and as soon as Pieck had Annie, Zeke would change them, ambushing her and Levi and getting the Jaws back, along with killing one of Paradis' biggest threats to them.

Once again the Cart Titan carried her. She spat her out on the flat grey roof of a large building. Near the opposite edge, Levi stood with a small figure sprawled at his feet. Ymir squinted to see better. Annie was dressed in a long-sleeved, dirty white shift, blonde hair greasy and dirty and messy. Her skin looked like it hadn't seen the sun in a while.

Levi's boot was on the back of Annie's head. "I'll be confirming she's the real Ymir before we do this. I've never seen her face."

"I, too, want confirmation first that she's Annie before we proceed."

"Oh, don't worry. I'm happy to prove she's the real deal." Levi reached down and grabbed a pale arm, pushing down the sleeve before flicking out his switchblade. Slowly, he dragged the knife across her arm. Within seconds, the wound healed before their eyes, steam rising from it. "Want another demonstration? Across her face, maybe?"

There was barely concealed rage in his voice and Ymir had no doubt he'd happily skin Annie alive to provide them further proof. "Ask me a question," she said before the Cart Titan could react.

"How did you and Historia first meet?" Levi straightened, casually resting his foot on Annie's back.

"On our first day at the Training Corps," Ymir said loudly so he could hear her, "I saw her hide bread for Sasha. I followed her when she went to sneak it to Potato Girl. Sasha wasn't supposed to be given dinner as punishment for back-talking the commander so nobody knew about this but the three of us. I asked Historia if she was trying to do something nice then carried Sasha back."

"Good. That settles it."

The Cart Titan growled.

"What?" Levi pressed his boot down and ground it like he was squashing a bug. "Does it piss you off when I do this?"

The Cart Titan sneered in anger. "You lowlife."

"This is nothing. I'm nicer than the MPs who interrogated her. He told me the little bitch squealed like a pig when they were tearing off her limbs. It's a shame I couldn't be there," Levi said, greatly disappointed. "I told her I'd be the one to torture her. I would have made her scream in agony until her vocal cords snapped." He started hitting the bottom of his boot on Annie's back.

"Remove your foot," the Cart Titan threatened him furiously. "Or I will."

Levi pretended to consider it. "I suppose you're probably right. Annie Leonhart, scum piece of shit is too disgusting even for the filth at the bottom of my boot." He stepped back. "Here, you can have her back." He delivered a kick to her ribs, sending Annie rolling to the side. In a flash, Levi had his swords out and ran at them with incredible speed. He swiped his arm, sending a blade flying out before him.

The Cart Titan avoided the blade that came spinning at her legs. Ymir heard it bury in the taller brick building behind them. The Cart Titan ran toward Annie's now twitching and whimpering form, curled up in pain and terror.

Ymir cried out in surprise when she was tossed over Levi's shoulder.

They were airborne seconds later. The world spun as he turned and headed back toward the inner gate.

Ymir could see the Cart Titan running off toward the edge of the town, Annie probably safely tucked in her mouth. "You didn't have to treat her like that," she said quietly.

It seemed Levi had heard her. "Two of my subordinates and dozens of other soldiers, all good men and women, were killed by Leonhart. You think my actions just now can compare to the atrocities she's committed?"

"No," Ymir admitted. "They can't."

A couple of times Ymir's heart stopped and she thought she was about to fall to her death. Thankfully, they reached the top of Wall Maria without any incident and he set her down.

Levi made a face. "I'll be smelling like the inside of a Titan's mouth until we go home and I clean up."

"Welcome back," Commander Erwin said, kneeling before her.

"Thanks for getting me back. I can't believe you actually took this risk. You really brought Annie here and did the exchange."

Erwin shrugged. "Trading the Female Titan for you, we simply carried out the order given to us by Queen Historia."

Ymir's eyes bulged from their sockets. "I'm sorry, what?! Did you say Queen Historia? When did that happen? I was gone for maybe three months!"

"You missed quite a bit," Levi commented, eyes chasing the Cart Titan suspiciously.

"Zeke said Historia was of royal blood, but, wow, this development I did not expect." Ymir put the news behind her, though, moving on to what was more important at the moment. "But that can wait. Zeke—the Beast Titan—brought at least fifty Eldians with him. He told me once that he can turn them into Titans at will and control them."

"What do—" Erwin began but was cut off.

Countless explosions sounded behind him and the ground shook lightly. In the grassy area past the edge of the town, the steam cleared, revealing the Beast Titan, on one knee and surrounded by Pure Titans. Around Ymir, the soldiers stared in shock at the scene. No wonder he told me he can do that, Ymir thought. He planned to unleash them soon as the trade was made. Her telling the Corps about it seconds before it happened wouldn't make any difference.

The Beast Titan lifted a large boulder and braced before sending it toward Wall Maria.

"Boulder incoming!" Erwin yelled at the large projectile headed their way. "Get down!"

A cloud of dust explored and the ground trembled when the boulder hit the Wall with a resounding boom. Ymir could hear the frightened horses and soldiers that were on the ground. We got lucky? Somehow, she doubted it.

"Did he miss?" Dirk asked.

"No," the commander answered. "That was a good aim. He plugged the entrance. Now the horses can't pass. They'll aim for the horses and surround us in order to block our escape and annihilate us here."

Where the hell is Reiner? Ymir thought warily. And Bertolt?

The Beast Titan straightened.

"We're both hoping for the same thing." Erwin stared at him. "To settle it here once and for all."

How is he not panicking? She was not expecting the commander to retain such a calm demeanor. There wasn't even a hint of trepidation on his face or in his voice. But if he panics it'll crush his soldiers' morale. Above all else, the commander had to maintain an air of composure, no matter what.

"Aren't you going to give the signal to attack, sir?" Dirk asked him. "So Eren will know to join us?"

Erwin didn't say a word.

Ymir could practically see the gears spinning behind his eyes.

Done planning with surprising speed, Erwin turned to face them. "All troops, engage the Titans on the ground. Make sure to protect the horses. They're trying the same strategy they used at Utgard Castle: to kill the horses and destroy our chances of escape. I've got a plan to deal with the Beast Titan."

"Yes, sir!" They started to head down.

"Wait, Levi." Erwin stopped him. "I need you to stay."

Levi stopped and frowned. "To protect the horses? What about Eren?"

"Eren has the power of hardening and the rest of your squad as well as Hange and her squad to watch his back. We're deep in Wall Maria and it's still Titan territory. We'll need those horses to escape. They die and it'll sever our supply lines. Our enemies could simply wait us out until we can't move, then attack when we're weakened. So protect the horses for now and" —Erwin pointed his blade at the Beast Titan— "strike him down when the opportunity arises."

Levi furrowed his eyebrows. "And how am I supposed to get to him?"

"You might want to be careful," Ymir warned Levi. "Monkey breath over there is their war chief. Meaning Zeke is the superior of Reiner, Bertolt, and Annie. As well as the Cart Titan, Pieck, who's a noncombatant type. Watch out for her. She's extremely fast. And Pieck's very sharp. I don't think her Titan has any other abilities aside from providing support. None that I'm aware of, anyway."

"Are there any other assholes like them we have to worry about?" Levi asked, crouching in front of her.

"There's a total of nine Titan powers. One's been missing for ages so I can't say much about it. The only one Marley—I'll explain that later—has left is the War Hammer Titan. But that one has never taken part in any wars—that info's sixty years old, though. But I doubt they'd leave their home without at least one Titan to defend it. So safe to say the War Hammer shouldn't be here."

"Thank you for the intel." Erwin nodded in appreciation. "That's good to know. Now, Levi, here's the plan..."

Her mouth fell open when Erwin explained what he had in mind. No way, she thought, flabbergasted. Ymir turned her head to face the Beast Titan. He's not gonna see that coming. She focused on the 15-meter Titans. I never would have thought of it even when it's right in front of my eyes. The large Titans made for perfect pillars that provided a straight path toward the Beast Titan.

Levi left and it was only her and the commander atop the inner gate, watching the battle.

Ymir attempted to stand and he helped her up. "Thanks." She surveyed the battle taking place below. "They seem to be holding them off."

"The Corps used to be stronger than this. A lot of the veterans died during the 57th Expedition. I suppose after everything we went through after that, things could have been a lot worse."

"I wish I could fight." Ymir was antsy to jump into action. "But I'm going to be useless while I heal." She glared at her arm stumps. "I hate just sitting around." While knowing Historia was safe meant she wouldn't need to worry about her, it gave Ymir more time to think about her own uselessness in this situation.

"You're still helpful. It's good to know we have such a high profile target in the Beast Titan. Intel is also vital."

"Now that could mess things up with your brilliant plan, Commander," Ymir said when she noticed the Beast Titan sending half the 15-meter Titans into the town to kill the soldiers who had survived the initial attack by the smaller Titans. If Captain Levi was trying to use those Titans, he'll have to go across the entire town and see if he can use the Titans on Zeke's right side to get to him. But if Zeke sent those ones into battle, too, Levi would have no way of reaching him.

The Beast Titan roared.

"What was that?" Ymir said when Zeke quieted.

"I don't know," the commander replied. "But it doesn't sound good. Looks like he's planning on throwing a...a barrel, I think."

A figure jumped up on the Wall using 3D maneuver gear.

"Ymir, you're coming back with me," Reiner said, lightning crackling in his bloody hand. "Now."


"Everyone, stop!" Hange called out when they spotted the red flare. It came from the top of Wall Maria's inner gate. "That must be Erwin."

Eren II waited with his squad and Hange's squad, suspended from the side of the Wall.

"Looks like the exchange is about to go down," Armin said from behind him.

"They're all looking into the town on the northern side," Mikasa observed. "Are Reiner and the others over there?"

"Huh," Hange said. "I thought they'd come from the outer gate's other side. This throws a wrench in our plans. But it should still work in our favor if all goes well with the trade. Maybe Ymir can share some good intel that'll help us out."

"What should we do in the meantime?" Jean asked. "Do we head over there or wait here?"

"Since we don't have visual on Reiner and Bertolt, I don't want to put all of our greatest assets in one place and risk losing them in one go. For now, let's wait until the exchange is made, after that we'll see." Hange led them to the top of the Wall to wait.

"We should just go straight to your house," Eren suggested, not seeing the point in wasting time.

"You don't want to wait until after the battle?" Eren II asked.

"Why wait? I seriously doubt it's something like the door to Narnia in your basement. I'm sure whatever your dad left behind can be carried, so we can just grab it and join the rest of the Corps on the other side of the Wall."

"We don't know that for sure. Let's just wait and see. This probably won't take that long."

They waited for a few minutes in tensed silence.

"They got Ymir!" Connie said excitedly when a short figure returned to the Wall, carrying another person.

"They did." Moblit verified, lowering the spyglass.

"The trade was a success, it looks like," Hange said, appearing relieved. "Not quite how we planned as far as locations go, but no matter."

"What're they all looking at?" Sasha asked, eyeing the soldiers above the inner gate.

Suddenly, there was a booming sound.

"They're trapping us!" Armin gasped while the rest tried to figure out what had just happened. "That must have been the Beast Titan, throwing projectiles like he did at Utgard Castle."

"What're you saying, Armin?" Eren II asked.

"He's blocking the inner gate. The outer gate is sealed with your hardened Titan, the inner gate probably has a boulder now making it difficult to move horses through, and I bet the enemy is inside the town on the other side. They're trapping us," he repeated.

"We assumed they would be attacking from the outer gate because logically, we'd have to seal it first," Hange said. "But obviously we were wrong. Their plan was to trap us over there. But why wouldn't—"

"Look," Sasha said, pointing. "All the soldiers are going down!"

"Let's go," Eren said, but before he could move, Hange threw out an arm to block his way.

"No, wait. Let me think." She stared off thoughtfully. "I feel like there's something I'm missing."

"They're all obviously on the other side of the Wall," one of her subordinates said. "Which means we're safe here on this side."

Connie nodded. "I say we make use of this opportunity and raid the basement."

"That's what I said," Eren said. "I'm with Connie."

"Maybe. Eren, where's your house?" Hange asked him.

"It's closer to the outer gate. Way over there." Eren II pointed in the general direction. "Should we go for it?"

"Let's go. But everyone, keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious," Hange advised. "One of them may be hiding around here somewhere in Shinganshina. They know our goal is Eren's basement but they probably don't know where his house is."

The group started to move, Eren II and Mikasa taking the lead. His stomach twisted and turned, wondering what they would find in his family's basement. It felt wrong, running off in the opposite direction of the enemy and avoiding battle, but he kept going.

The sound of a Titan transforming forced them to stop on the brown-shingled roofs of a couple of houses.

"Oh shit, shit, shit," Connie cursed, eyes wide. "What the hell? Where'd he come from?!"

Eren groaned. "How the hell did Reiner manage to sneak past all the soldiers and get to the commander and Ymir?"

"Why isn't the commander moving?" Mikasa readied her Thunder Spears, glancing around warily. "And where's Bertolt?"

"He should take Ymir and—" Jean started but was interrupted.

An acoustic shell was fired, followed immediately by an orange flare heading into Shinganshina.

"What does that mean?" Armin asked, puzzled.

Connie shrugged. "Did he fire the wrong one by accident?"

"I've never seen an orange flare before," Mikasa said, sounding as confused as Eren II felt.

"Oh good," Sasha laughed nervously. "You guys don't know, either. I got worried for a second there that I might have fallen asleep during the debrief and missed that part."

"Hange?" Jean turned to her. "What're we supposed to do?"

"We keep going," Hange decided, staring at the orange smoke trail. "I understand what Erwin wants us to do."

Eren II glanced at her. "It was a message to you? Well, if it's what the commander—"

"Hey, what's that?!"

"What now?" Jean looked up at where one of Hange's subordinates was pointing.

"It's gotta be Bertolt!" Armin exclaimed in panic.

"Retreat toward the Wall!" Hange shouted. "He's gonna transform!"

Hastily, the group flew back east.

"We won't make it! Get between the houses!" Hange ordered, diving down.

The two squads braced themselves on the ground and against the stone houses, waiting. Then the ground shook violently and a brilliant light so forceful appeared that it forced them to cover their eyes and hide their faces behind their arms.

Eren II kept his eyes squeezed shut, hearing the loud rumbling from the sheer force of a 50-meter Titan being produced out of thin air.

"Everyone alright?!" Hange asked after the painfully bright light and the vibrations receded.

"We're alive," Jean replied, looking around. "And without injury."

"Where did the Colossal Titan land?" Armin asked fretfully. "He might have destroyed Eren's house."

Moblit went up to the top of the tallest building around. "By my guess, he landed somewhere near the middle of the district."

Sasha exhaled in relief. "Not only did he land away from Eren's house, but it was also far enough away from us that we didn't get caught in that explosion."

"We got lucky," Mikasa said. "If we hadn't been distracted by Reiner we might have moved further into the town and gotten caught in that explosion."

Hange shook her head. "No, I don't think it was completely by luck. I'm sure he spotted us from that high up. He couldn't risk killing Eren so he gave us time to get just far enough away before transforming. And we were almost at the edge of his range, anyway."

"It's like Armin was saying, they're trying to trap us in," Jean said. "For that, they'd need a Titan here on this side."

"I had thought one might be hiding around." Hange exhaled sharply. "But I never expected him to be launched here."

"Squad Leader, he's headed this way!" Moblit said from the roof. "And he's destroying everything in his path!"

The group moved up to the roofs to see the enormous Titan slowly coming over.

"Holy mother of..." Eren's eyes were huge. "Dude, he's like four times your size!"

Hange readied her Thunder Spears. "We have to stop him from approaching the inner gate. Otherwise, our soldiers on the other side will be stuck. Bertolt could throw houses on them." She turned to him. "Eren, can you transform?"

"On it." Eren II moved away and bit his hand, transforming midair.

"You know you could have used the knife Mikasa got me so I didn't have to bite my hand," Eren II pointed out.

"What do you think happened to Commander Erwin and Ymir?" Connie asked and Rogue noticed the Wall was bare of those two and the Armored Titan. "Did the commander take her and manage to run away? Or did Reiner kill him then kidnap Ymir?"

"Forget about them. We don't have the luxury of worrying about anyone but ourselves right now." Hange pointed at the approaching threat. "We've got our hands full with this guy."

Rogue focused on how the Colossal Titan swept out his arm, creating a crescent shape of destruction. He tossed the fiery houses casually. It sparked a familiar rage in him and he let it consume him, filling him with determination and giving him a boost.

"You ready, Eren?" Hange asked.

Rogue threw his head back and roared in response.


Please Review~