End of Friendship
The ashes filled his nostrils as the dreamer looked around, dead corpses litter the area rubble scatters across the cobble floor, houses crushed and ruined, but now the four titans tower over the dreamer, the colossal, the female, the armoured and the titan that reached.
As the four tower over, only two reverted to human form, one which is a figure of shadow, no distinct outline, it's eyes pale as the titan its self, the female titan reverted back to Annie, her blonde hair tied into a tail, her blue eyes, looking down, sullen, full of regret as the shadow loomed over her, raising her chin before gazing to the one viewing their state, it's hand raising pointing towards to the dreamer, it's mouth moves yet silence.
The dreamer shook its head, denying the shadow until the figure of Annie disappears as her body fades like mist, screaming for help, until silence.
The shadow now standing in front of the dreamer, forcing it to look at the figure, it's face forming to be the titan that reached.
The dreamer wishes for it to end, unable to carry on until a voice echoes, confusion brought to the shadow, as the dreamer stood tall, knife in it's hands, the shadow watches intently at the knife, the white eyes glancing back and forth.
The dreamer tosses the knife aside, rage filled the shadow as it flashes into the titan that reached, its form looming over, its hand reaching forward.
"Alan!" a voice called out, quickened movements as his Alan's body shook ferociously, "Alan, dammit wake up" a female now recognisable, panic overwhelming.
Until Dark Blue opened to see the night sky, in the distance the blood red sky of dawn approaching.
Heart beating, refusing to calm, breathing heavily as a cold sweat trickle down his spine. Rising quickly forcing his gaze to wonder in his surroundings, they are in a wooden barn of some sort, hay sprawled over them, clothes tossed into a corner, the horses soundly chewing the hay bale nearby as one look at the naked couple in front of them before neighing teeth drawn as if smiling.
"Alan, you need to calm" the voice called out again, reverting his gaze to a pair of grey's, unable to make sense at the moment.
Alan clutched his head, seeing the dream in his head, the shadowy figure, it was human, yet what tormented him is how Annie was in it and how the shadow turned her into mist causing her pain.
Feeling Mikasa's arms wrapping round his shaken form, her chin pressed against his head, humming a small tune, until the breathing slowly calmed the heart head to a steady beat.
"I'm Sorry Mika" Alan whimpered, he hate these damn dreams, he hates the vulnerability he is in, how he has to lean in for Mikasa, she shouldn't have to do this every time, yet her presence as always soothing.
"Don't say sorry over something you can't control" Mikasa replied, before continuing her little hum, pressing his head into her breast, feeling his arms tighten around her waist.
A small chuckle escaped his lips as if what Mikasa said was amusing. "Isn't that supposed to be my line?"
Mikasa still humming, stopping to answer "Your words have wisdom behind them sometimes, no harm in repeating"
Alan raising his head raising an eyebrow questioning her "Sometimes? Mika, I always have wisdom behind my words"
Chuckling to Mikasa's eye roll at the bold statement "What? If it seem to be wise to your standards, then I have to be wise all the time"
"Careful, pride go before the fall" Mikasa warned, seeing all to often when Eren puffs his chest out to prove something which usually backfires, dreading later to the moment when it all have to be played out.
Glancing to Alan once more, her question on her lips "Your dreams have gotten worse, unresponsive to my calls at first, luckily I didn't have to resolve to slapping you" teasing that part until she have to ask "Was it the titan again?"
Alan nodded, yet about to say something, which means theres more to it.
"It's Annie isn't it?" causing Alan to look in surprise confirms it to be true, sighing as she part herself reluctantly "You have to come to terms that what has to be done, has to be done"
Alan refusing to believe it still "But what if it isn't Annie, we could have gotten something wrong" pleading for Mikasa to reconsider her stance on the matter, yet Mikasa wouldn't have any of it.
"Alan, I love you, but you have to understand that Armin came with evidence, pointing to her, if she comes with us underground, then maybe" putting more emphasis on maybe "We can consider her to be a friend"
"And if she doesn't?" Alan dread to ask, Mikasa hate to see him be like this, a friend he had grown to know during his time before her, he will recover from this, as he always said that he always move forward, yet its coming to terms which will be the hard part, she will be there for him, every step of the way.
"You know what would happen Alan" Mikasa said, being gentle as she possibly can, unsure how to proceed as she didn't have friends that would turn out to be the enemy.
Nodding, dejected Alan can only lie back down.
A moment pass as Mikasa thought about the events that would happen "You should go with Reiner and Bertholdt" Mikasa spoke suddenly, Alan jolting back up in confusion.
"I don't want to see you hurt, I don't want you to fight someone that you consider a friend for part of your life" Mikasa calmly told him, Alan looked down in thought.
"But I have to" Alan whispered, Mikasa closing her eyes as she listened "If I can save her then everything will be ok"
Irritated yet Mikasa said nothing, she could only listen.
"I know your annoyed but what if we can convince Annie to come with us instead, I mean that's what Armin is planning to do right?"
Mulling over the words, he is right in a way, Armin is always the type to talk it out and persuade them to be on his side, avoiding any necessary bloodshed, Eren would go along with it as well, just to prove she's not a traitor.
"We will have to see" Mikasa finally said over lingering silence "Promise me one thing Alan"
Hopeful that Mikasa is willing to try "Yeah, name it, Mika" such a cute nickname he gave her.
"Promise me that you won't lose yourself if she turns out to be our enemy" Mikasa spoke, her eyes pleading, if she is like herself, loss, betrayal it will be hard to overcome, "I will be your strength during this" planting her lips on his before he returned the favour.
The day would truly be challenging for the both of them.
The sun rises, as Erwin looks to the sky, as the red hue of the sun bearing through the clear sky, if they were to set off now they will arrive before noon. Noticing Levi limping towards him, in his black long sleeve and black pants, not wearing the cloth around his neck he usually wore.
"Erwin, you sure its wise to bring the kid" Levi asked, referring to Alan and his instability.
"Your concerned he will jeopardise the whole plan?" Erwin inquired; his face unmoving as he studied his most trusted officer.
"More like get himself killed" Levi passing off his concerns, remembering too much of the girl that cause him to break his damn ankle, her personal feelings nearly got herself killed if he wasn't there to prevent it.
"I have complete faith in him Levi" Erwin declared, as Levi shrugged at the statement.
"Your call Erwin" hopping into the carriage to see Jean dressed as Eren, from a distance he is spitting image but up close you might as well look into the horse's ass.
"Why do I have to be the decoy" Jean grumbled, trying to figure out why he has to be Eren's placement, they look nothing alike.
"Commander said so, so shut the fuck up and play the part of the brat" Levi harshly spoke, not even going to entertain the thought, for this to play off Levi has to be in the carriage with Erwin to play up appearances, a few scouts on horses would ride along the carriage as an escort.
Hearing the Commander entering the carriage closing the door behind him. Sitting in silence as he knock the wooden plank behind him, signalling for them to ride towards Stohess.
It will take an hour or two to get to the district of wall Sina, if everything is according to plan and their information Annie Leonhart will be there as well. Erwin already sent a dozen scouts ahead to disguise themselves as civilians the night before, under the cover of darkness, enough time to blend in with the populace.
At the rea of the formation as they trod along the path towards Stohess, Armin, Alan, Eren and Mikasa kept their distance, their mission is to sneak in under the disguise of being part of the escort and while the Military Police are too focused on the carriage, slip away to find Annie.
Armin filling in the plan as Eren and Mikasa listened carefully, Alan remained silent looking forward at the long road.
Armin began to sweat as being near Alan's presence making him nervous, the information he have been forced to conceal is nerve racking as it is but necessary to not unhinge him, he felt sorry for him to be in a position to betray his friend.
Ironic really, deceive and betray the friend that betrayed them, Armin could not even imagine the turmoil storming in their friend's head as he rode in silence, hood up concealing his eyes, unable to see the emotions fighting within him.
Eren looked on in concern, before glancing to Mikasa nodding his head back, Mikasa who have been staying at Alan's side, looked hesitant at first before relenting to hang back a fair distance, enough for Alan to not hear them.
"Is he ok Mikasa?" Eren asked, knowing they have been together all night and the good part of the early morning.
"He is about to betray a very close friend who in turn to be the traitor we have been looking for" Mikasa bluntly spoke, no harshness no emotion just stoic but blunt.
Eren fell silent, of course a stupid question but even Eren couldn't believe it himself. "Do you believe it's Annie?"
Mikasa groaned, casting her stare to him 'not you too' "If she cooperates then I can have room for doubt about her intentions, but if she is what we claim her to be then yes"
"Still, there's something else, something Armin refused to say in front of him as well" Eren spoke, he asked Armin if Mikasa should know but even then, it is risky due to her relationship.
Interest piqued yet somehow, she already knew the answer, it was obvious that Armin was nervous around Alan ever since he figured another piece of the puzzle to this mess, they are bound to wind up in.
"Please Eren, I prefer that you don't say what your about to tell me" Mikasa quietly muttered, if Eren tells her what she already suspects, her heart will break knowing a secret that she will have to keep from him, glancing up to the back of his hood, as the thought passed through.
She will hold doubt on that piece of evidence for his sake.
"So, do you believe that…" Eren getting the hint but asked anyways before being interrupted abruptly by Mikasa, as she closes her eyes.
"No, I will not believe it" opening her eyes to lay upon Alan once again "For his sake"
Eren glancing back and forward, nodding, he will cast doubt as well Reiner was always there to help them, been there for them, mostly for Alan, his sworn brother. Perhaps it was pure coincidence about what happened on the expedition was just that, coincidence.
During the private conversation Armin kept by, glancing back to Alan and forward to the escort in front, with the distance the military police would think of them as backup in case the fake Eren think on escaping.
The wall in view, Armin gulped down bile that he never knew he had stuck in his throat, Eren and Mikasa finally riding up towards them after their chat. Alan only have been silent the whole journey, Armin would hate to be in his shoes about what have to happen. The grinding of the cogs began whirring inside the walls as the gate of Wall Sina lifted as if in agony from lifting itself up continuously.
Once in, Alan suddenly removed himself from the horse, handing it to a citizen, before going down a narrow alleyway to the right between two buildings, Armin alerted at his sudden movements, this wasn't part of the plan, they meant to sneak out of the formation. Watching Mikasa and Eren doing the same Armin was forced to do so as well.
"Hey Alan" Eren called out, noting how his pace quickened, once reaching the end of the alleyway turning left "What are you doing?"
Jogging behind to catch up, until Mikasa came to his speed, grabbing onto his arm, halting his movements his head swung round, his eyes stoic and dead, his face unreadable.
"Detour" Alan muttered, before turning round continuing his movements, avoiding Military police by blending in with he crowd, moments of removing his hood to no look suspicious, apparently having hoods up will be like a shining beacon in a field full of hair.
Eren keeping his hood up not wanting people to notice his identity, Mikasa copied Alans movement, trying to understand his thinking, why he's not going with the plan, his sporadic walking is like he's trying to get lost in the crowd, as if he's being watched or he's up to something.
Armin looking around nervously, not enjoying this detour he claimed to have, he have a second thought to grab Alan again, until seeing him stop, looking to the side street to his left before heading in that direction, it's like he knew his way around this place, as they are near the place they were need to find Annie, with the information they required she should be in that general direction.
Entering the alleyway yet again, Mikasa went for his hand, grasping it tightly, before stopping herself to a halt, halting his movements yet again.
A groan escaped his lips as he lift up his hood, hiding his face yet again.
"Alan, what are you thinking?" Mikasa asked, first time in their relationship, she couldn't read him, it's like a different person stood before her and it frightened her.
Another groan escaped his lips before turning round to look at the trio yet again.
His eyes are tired, or annoyed by something "If you like to know, I find it stupid that we have to sneak off just before the planned destination"
Blinking in confusion Mikasa, remain her grip on his hand, Eren rubbing his head trying to figure it out until Armin let out his voice.
"Alan, we have to stick to the plan, that's the point, we don't know how long Annie will be there when the carriage goes by" Armin said, trying to see his idea.
Alan sighed before pinching the bridge of his nose "Whoever made the plan, did not even think on the damn target" before muttering to himself.
"What do you mean?" Mikasa asked, relaxing her grip before releasing.
"What are you saying Alan?" Eren asked, confused at the irritation.
Alan opened his eyes, looking into the confused eyes, before motioning them to follow.
"Haven't you thought to get me to help with the stupid plan when I basically know who we are dealing with" Alan's voice harsh and very authoritative, Armin can only part his mouth a bit at the sudden unusual tone.
"But you wasn't even in the right mind to even come up with a plan" Eren blurted out, true enough Alan was not in the right state of mind, as Alan looked to Eren, lifting his eyebrow then towards Mikasa.
"Yet you fill me on the way to wall Shina?" Alan scoffed "Tactless and not very organised"
"That's not fair Alan, we are thinking of your own wellbeing" Eren spoke, affirming his stance.
Alan stopped yet again, his shoulders tense, Mikasa noticing how his fist clenched and released a few times, before giving out a long sigh, his form relaxed, before he continued walking.
"Yet if we went with that plan Annie would see it coming from a mile away, plus she be seeing me" Alan holding up two fingers as he noted the faults. "It's best that we catch her unawares, more believable that way"
"What do you mean she be seeing you?" Mikasa asked, unsure how to tread with this new behaviour, it seem very soldier like.
Alan halting at the end of the alleyway looking left and right before turning around. "The entrance to the underground is to our left, Annie should be further down the street, Armin, Eren"
Mikasa blinked at the question being ignored, yet going along with it, this might be those times where Alan wants to remain focus, yet him calling the shots now seem like he's taking control.
"You two draw her attention, me and Mikasa will be nearby keeping lookout, that way we be playing the part that we need her help in smuggling Eren out" Alan concluded.
"But we be asking her anyways, the four of us" Eren spoke, confused at his strategy.
"Yes it is definitely not so obvious at wanting to help to be smuggled as the group of us hold hands and ask" Alan shot back, annoyed "You guys don't know Annie like I do, just do as I say and don't mess it up" before motioning Armin and Eren to move ahead.
Armin nervous at the change of plan, accordingly they still need to get her undergournd but the way he wanted them go about it, it's like he done this before, knowing how to act, knowing how to move. But followed his intrsuctions with Eren following along.
Alone with him again Mikasa, satyed quiet as she looked around, the disguised survey corps, surprised and caught off guard at the new stratefie taking place, they were to suppose to wait for civilians to be out the area before moving yet Alan seem to fast track the schedule.
"Alan, there are still civialins about, if she were to turn, they will be killed" Whispering, concern obvious in her voice.
Alan dark blue eyes scoured the area, streets quite busy as civialins still doing their trade, the disguised scouts quickly ushering them away from the area quickly.
"Good" Alan spoke, before trailing Eren, his heads moving side to side, keeping eyes out.
"What do you mean good?" Not believing what she is hearing "Are you willing to sacrifice innocent lives to make things believable?"
Catching his eyes, unmoving, stoic, watching his brain go into overdrive, remaining silent. Mikasa catching Eren's eyes, motioning him to come back to them.
To her relief Eren nudged Armin to return to them, unaware from the growl emitting from Alan.
"What's up Mikasa?" Eren asked looking towards Alan, confused yet again.
"There's still civilians around, plus the carriage hasn't gone far yet" Armin spoke, noticing until realsing Alan's plan "Alan why?"
Three pair of eyes landed on him, his face as stone, a lingered silence as the disguised scouts sighed in relief with the delay, enough time for them to get the remaining innocents out of the area for them to move into positions.
"To make the plan convincing, the lack of civilians will arouse suspicion, if she were to refuse, she will turn and the civilians that we 'manage' to get out the area will die, maybe more anyways due to her transformation" Alan spoke.
"Alan, we do not sacrifice innocent people" Eren harshly spoke, grabbing onto his arm diverting his attention to him.
"We already did" Alan spoke, his voice cracking. Removing his cloak rubbing the back of his head. "We already sacrificed thousands of innocent people, to get where we are"
Eren stood silent, not realsing he had no longer nay grip as he watched the man walk away.
Mikasa, lips drooped, her eyes filled with sadness at the sight of him.
"Mina, Thomas, Marco, Eld, Mitabi, your mother Eren, your grandfather, Armin" Alan listed "Petra, thousands that were sent to die"
Stopping himself before looking to the skies "Were they not innocent people?" a question that stopped Eren's track of thought, Alan is right they sacrificed innocent people.
"But my mother was murdered by those titans" Eren hissed out, Mikasa looking to Eren, her heart breaking at the two men on the verge of mental relapse.
"So were the others, yet were they not sacrificed the good of humanity" Alan scoffed "Our Duty".
Armin remained silent through the episode, there was something Alan that said, that unnerved him "Why do you think we should sacrifice more?"
Alan blinking, back to the street where Annie might be "Because sometimes the most absurd plans have the true promise of having no casualties at all"
Mikasa, looking into his eyes, his plan on using civilians sound very absurd, yet from what he is saying came from experience from a great many things, whatever he endured he learned, looking around the civilians are nearly gone, there will no longer be time for Alan's plan.
"Just go with our plan Alan, just this once" Armin pleaded, watching Alan's conflicted expression, as he looked around before submitting, Armin smiled that Alan relented his idea, he at least have some sense.
"Let's get this over with" Alan sighed, noticing the same dwindling people leaving the area. Feeling a hand grasping his own affirming her presence.
"We did the right thing Alan" Mikasa, whispered, the less civilians the less chance of anymore people getting killed.
Alan can only look forward "I hope your right" was all he can say.
In the main street, Annie was watching the interaction between Commander Erwin and Commander Niles, scanning around for anything out of place, until a hand tapped her shoulder, swinging round to see four hooded soldiers their eyes visible, looking onto her.
"Armin, what are you doing here?" noting how the four just came out the blue from behind in a nearby alleyway.
Armin glancing around "We need you help Anne" Motioning her to follow.
Taking note at the expressions, Mikasa stoic as usual, no surprise there, Eren had a scared expression, this must be troubling, knowing it be involving him yet the one that caught her sight is her long time friend, his eye's dead, face stoic.
The last time she saw that loom is when something bad is going to go down, their eyes connected for a moment.
"Come on Annie, we desperately need your help" Armin pleaded, drawing Annie's attention away.
"I don't know what I can do for you exactly" Annie questioned.
"We need help smuggling Eren away from here, with your position as MP you can get us pass no problem" Armin spoke, it is true that MP soldiers can get them pass most checkpoints with no trouble.
Annie noting that Mikasa is very attentive towards her, yet Alan narrowed his eyes towards Armin, Alan is right to be like that Annie mused, it is obviously a trap, looking around to see the soldiers distracted, Annie agreed to follow, as they go down the empty street, Annie noticed how the street was scarce of civilians, a very obvious trap.
Looking over to her friend "It is good to see you Alan" smiling towards her, Alan paused his steps for a second, before turning towards her.
"You too Annie, it's been a while" Alan putting a fake smile on, Annie knew this is not the Alan she knew during training, his change of expression is too obvious.
Playing along she puled a smile as well mirroring his "Not long enough" joking hoping to ease his mind.
As Mikasa listened to their voices chatting, her heart wept and her stomach turned, sickened at how casual she is talking to him, seeing him forcing himself to pretend everything is ok, this might be one of the reasons Alan wanted to keep his distance as lookout, just to avoid this interaction.
Coming towards the entrance to the underground, Annie looked down at the dark staircase, as she stood at the top of the stair case, alarm bells ringing in her mind, the way Alan expression is, the way how everything was obvious from the get go, if they wanted her help they wouldn't come to them as a group but have two on lookout from soldiers, the streets should be populated with civilians to provide cover for their movements if they want to hide away in plain sight.
"Here?" Annie questioned, curious why they would bring her here.
"Yeah we be heading through here, the remains of the underground city, they planned and abandoned are still down here" Armin explained as they head down, Annie remaining at the top, her eyes focusing on the tallest as he moved further down.
Eren noting how Anni wasn't following decided to lighten the moment "Hey are you coming? You're not scared of the dark and cramped spaces?"
Annie's eyes looked onto Alan's eyes as Alan looked to her face, his expression saddened, then glancing to the group and back at her.
"I am" Annie can muster as her expression became fearful towards Alan dark expression forming on his face, recognising it instantly.
"I am not as brave as you, suicidal bastard" Annie spoke "you wouldn't understand a weak girls feelings" flinching at Alan's narrowed eyes as the three turned to move down while he stayed.
"A weak girl wouldn't flip men in the air" Eren causally replied, annoyed with the delay "Stop being an idiot and hurry up"
"I will not" the next words halting their steps.
Mikasa noticed how Alan didn't even move with them, he knew this plan was doomed to fail.
Annie now turning her head behind "The again, there has been nobody around for quite a while" not noticing the scouts lying in wait for the signal to intercept.
Armin, Eren and Mikasa, now on high alert, Alan was right, she would notice. Armin clutching on the gun, his hand shaking at the thought of using it, if only they need to convince her, to come.
"Why Annie?" Armin asked, "Why did you have Marco's ODM?"
Alan looked back at Armin in surprise to look back at Annie's surprised expression as well.
Alan's expression saddened even more, Annie knew now that if he were to do anything it will not end well for all of them. Her focus still remaining on him. Her guilt building, she didn't want to do this to him.
"How could you of known?" Annie asked.
"I recognise the dents, the scratches after the amount of times I helped him repaired it" Armin spoke, if he couldn't concivince her, he would at least try and understand why.
The wind blowing as Annie's fringe moved with it.
"You also killed those two titans along with someone else" Armin talked, watching her reaction, yet it remained calm as she listened.
"Also during the expedition, you didn't kill me then, if you did we wouldn't be standing right here" Armin spoke, as Annie's eyes sullen.
"He was right" Annie muttered "I should have killed you right then and there"
"Who was right?" Mikasa spoke up, demanding to know "Who is he?"
Annie looking into empty space as the titan that reached appeared before her eyes, its gaze unmoving, disapproving her actions berated her actions.
"The Immortal Titan" Annie whispered, how she remembered him, feared him if she were to fail now.
"The what?" Alan finally spoke, narrowing his eyes, Annie catching his eyes no longer speaking as if froze in place.
Finally having enough of the delay, Mikasa drawn her sword "Enough of this, give yourself up Female Titan" the tip of her sword pointing towards Annie as silence fell.
Eren face contorted in anger and denial yet again, Armin stern and ready to signal the scouts hidden.
What stopped their train of thoughts is the burst of Annies laughing as the group watch her in confusion, until Alan start to slowly move forward, holding his hands up, Mikasa widened in shock, procced to move for Armin to stop him, their plan failed, maybe Alan have a trick up his sleeve to fix this mess.
Annie smiling as she saw her friend slowly moving up, her eyes glistened as sadness rose within her, his voice hurting her heart.
"Annie, come on now, we don't have to do this" his voice now quivering in hesitation, denial even, as he pleaded to her, pleading to her as Alan is relying on his friendship with her would convincer her.
Annie watching his eyes full of fear and concern hearing his words as he slowly walked up the stony dark steps.
"We can fix this Annie, you and me" Alan spoke holding his hands in front, ready to do anything in case she does something yet unwilling to do anything even if she did.
Her smile dropped for a second, the next action she will come to regret.
"I'm sorry Alan, I wish we could fix this, I treasured as a friend I could ever ask for, yet this is where our friendship ends" freezing Alan on the spot, his eyes widened in fear even when her laugh came out of nowhere once more.
"You should know me better than that Alan, what happens when you back a monster into a corner" Annie eyes widened in madness, as her hand moved to her mouth.
Armin instantly shot the gun alerting the rest as the scouts scrambled towards her as the hurried to prevent her from transforming.
Alan stood in shock not believing what his eyes is telling him as the scouts grabbed hold of her arms pinning her legs from moving and gagging her mouth from biting.
Mikasa watched everything unfold until Alan started running towards them, confused Mikasa looked at Annie's eyes full of determination as her hand flicked at a small ring, a sharp edge sprung open, seeing this she grabbed Armin and Eren dragging them further down.
Alan looked back one more time to see Annie's eyes turn from sheer determination to sadness as their eyes connected, as her palm covered in red.
A Flash of Yellow brightened the darkness of the tunnel Alan fell towards in and the gushing of ferocious wind.
Lightning struck as the ceiling to the entrance cave in on top.
A/N: I planned the titan fight in this chapter but due to how this turned out, I feel the fight would ruin the impact i'm going for that happened between Alan and Annie. Anyways Enjoy this chapter
McBastable: Yep he's taking it hard that a friend he trusts turns out to be the traitor, We have to see when it comes to Reiner in future chapters, it is to somewhere after the 30+ chapters, there's a while to go for that part.
Myzor: You are right Alan would have lost it if Armin said it in front of him, Annie he would recover from, but doesn't stop him from trying to convince her. You would think that Reiner wanted Alan to be in the MP's but Alan's mind was made up way before Trost, Mikasa, well Mikasa would want Alan near her, they have an influence on each other surprising due to Mikasa's nature.