"Alan! Where the hell are you!" Shadis shouted looking around. "Alan! Alan!" Shadis frantically looked around the forest for Alan as he rode his horse, he heard screams from all around his men were dying at a rapid pace.
"Commander!" One of the men yelled as Shadis just looked at him and saw the titan bite into his head painting the trees in red.
"Alan!" Shadis shouted, 'He has a god damn child! What the fuck am I going to tell Jane?' Shadis thought as he kept on riding through the forest.
Shadis kept on riding through the forest as he kept on looking around and saw all of his men getting eaten, he paid no mind as he kept on riding. Until, he saw a flare. "No… no no! No!" Shadis shouted, knowing that flare meant that he had to regroup at that area. Suddenly a noise rattled the forest, Shadis looked in front as a huge tower fell in front of him. "God fucking dammit! No! No! No! Fuck!" Shadis shouted as he was red and flustered.
Shadis turned around sighing, "Alan! Come out! Right now!" Shadis shouted as he looked around. Shadis felt like he was going to cry, as he kept on shouting Alan to no avail.
Shadis woke up sighing, and then getting up. "Time to wake the cadets…" Shadis said as he headed out feeling the heat on his head. "Good… the weather isn't going easy on them."
"Man… this is hot…" Connie said as the horse trotted through the desert. It was so damn hot outside, Connie looked over at Armin who had the water. "Armin… I feel thirsty….."
"You just had water a few minutes ago…" Armin said looking at Connie. "I wrote it down."
"Dammit…" Connie said to himself as he kept on riding.
"Look at that… even the lizard is riding on the same path as us…" Jean mentioned looking at a lizard as it kept on walking on the same path.
"Oh! I used to hunt lizards! They taste like chicken!" Sasha said smiling as she looked over at the lizard.
"We shouldn't kill it!" Krista mentioned as she looked at Sasha with worried eyes.
"But Krista… it's still food!" Jean said as he brought out his blades and then rushed ahead. Eren saw this and figured he was going to stop this, Jean raised his blade above his head and then swung the blade at the lizard. Eren blocked the shot though, and the lizard looked back at them as he then skittered away. "What the hell!" Jean shouted.
"Leave him alone." Eren said as he kept on riding ahead, Jean looked pissed but the person who was the most upset seemed to be Sasha.
"That lizard… could've fed all of us…." Sasha said as she then lowered her head.
"Come on Sasha… were not all hunters like you…" Krista said as she then patted her on the back. "I'm sure we will find something that's growing to eat…"
Sasha narrowed her eyes at Krista as she said that, that statement pissed her off Sasha wasn't about to eat some grass because Krista wanted to save an animal.
Meanwhile, Jonathan said nothing as he kept on trotting along. Annie looked over at him, even she could tell that Jonathan was miserable. Bertholdt looked at Jonathan, so did Reiner. Daz seemed to be the most concerned though. "Jonathan. Are you okay?" Daz asked.
"Hmm?" Jonathan asked looking at Daz. "I'm fine, Daz just a bit upset thanks for asking…"
"Why are you upset?" Mikasa asked.
"Nothing!" Jonathan said, but he looked at Mikasa. He just nodded his head at her, and Mikasa knew what was going on. Bertholdt then rode up against Jonathan. "Hey Bertholdt, you thirsty?" He asked smiling at him.
"Yes… actually… but I wanted to talk to you about what happened… I'm sorry I walked away from you. I know that it probably hurt you badly…" Bertholdt said. "Just wanted to clear the air."
"Oh. Thanks Bertholdt, that makes me feel much better… here…" Jonathan pulled out the huge sack of water and then gave it to Bertholdt.
"Did I really make you feel that bad?" Bertholdt asked.
"I'll get over it…" He said smiling widely back at Bertholdt, "See already got over it…" Bertholdt smiled back at Jonathan.
"You're a good friend Jonathan." Bertholdt said smiling as he then started to drink from the weird looking sac.
"Don't mention it." Jonathan said looking at shade up ahead. "Guys… we got time lets rest here… for now…" Jonathan said as he then started to rest in the shade.
"Jonathan." Mikasa called him over and Jonathan walked over. "You okay?" Mikasa asked.
"Yeah! I feel much better." Jonathan said. "I get upset easily… don't always feel like you have to ask me questions…"
"I care about you Jonathan." Mikasa said.
"Thanks… I care about you to… anyways… about the map." Jonathan said.
"Oh.. yeah!" Mikasa remembered about that and then looked at the map, "Alright, if we keep on traveling this way we will make it in no time…"
"But…." Jonathan always knew there was a but.
"Extreme heat, Shadis made us go for this trip during the hottest time. Why did you think he let us rest?" Mikasa asked looking at Jonathan.
"That's right… well, push comes to shove.. we can move quickly at nighttime or at least the horses can." Jonathan mentioned looking at Mikasa as he took a swig of water.
"Shadis." Shadis looked up from his desk to see a woman with white skin standing there. It was Jane Rhodes.
"Jane, how are you?" Shadis asked putting his work to the side,
"I'm sorry is this a bad time I'll come back?" Jane asked rubbing her arm looking at Shadis.
"I have to be at a checkpoint for the scouts in a few but I have time." Shadis said as he looked at Jane, "Did you want to ask something about Jonathan?"
"Of course, you always know that I'm worrying about my angel…" Jane said taking a seat, "Are people treating him differently… you know… because…"
Something that Jane didn't want to talk about… well Jonathan had some African American descent. Alan his father was actually brown skinned, and it was extremely rare to have someone of that skin color inside of the walls. No one really seemed to care though.
"Jane, so far no one has commented on his skin tone. Although, you did know where your husband came from right?" Shadis asked.
Jonathan was kind of like Mikasa in a way she had Asian origins and, he had African American origins although it didn't go back far considering Alan Rhodes his father is African American.
"Also, you know I wouldn't let anyone harass him because of his different skin color." Shadis mentioned.
"Alright… thanks, I appreciate you Shadis." Jane said smiling and then exiting.
"Jane." Shadis stated.
"Yes?" Jane asked.
"As long as I live… I wont let Jonathan die." Shadis said.
"Thank you… Shadis." Jane exited.
Jonathan was taking a nap, they had made it to the forest and Jonathan decided to take a quick nap so that he could stay awake during the night. He really hated the dark and he was paranoid whenever it was dark, especially in a forest with weird creatures.
"Jonathan." Annie called out. "We have a problem."
Jonathan got up quickly, it was his first day as leader and already he fucked something up by going to sleep. "Yes?"
"Our…. 3D… gear… it's gone…" Daz stated.
"Reiner! I told you to guard when I was asleep dammit." Jonathan shouted looking at Reiner.
"I went to help Bertholdt and Annie get firewood. Mikasa? Thomas? Where were you guys." Reiner asked looking over at them.
"I was looking around for food for the night. Thomas was with me." Mikasa said, "I thought you were guarding him Reiner. Were lucky the ODM gear was taken and not Jonathan."
"Should we report this?" Thomas asked.
"No. Finish the mission, Jonathan since you fell asleep were going to count on you." Reiner said looking at him. That pissed Jonathan off.
"Oh so you're actually going to listen to orders?" Jonathan asked raising a brow, "Instead of going off with your friends." As much as Reiner hated to admit it, he was right Reiner didn't follow the correct orders. "It's about to be nightfall we don't have time to get the gear back. We don't even know who stole it."
"Tracks." Mikasa pointed at them, "If we follow these tracks we should be able to at least track where they came from. Come on."
The other group, was fast asleep. Although Krista was still awake and bonding with the horses, she thought that she heard something. She looked around, and wondered what the hell was going on.
Eren was asleep and then woke up to the sound of rustling, as soon as he opened his eyes they saw men. Men with bags over their heads, "Shut up." The man said as everyone started to wake up and panic. They had rifles pointed at their faces, Eren got up with his hands up and so did everyone else visibly afraid of bandits.
"Grab their ODM gear…" One of the bandits said looking at one of the other bandits who had the rifle at the back of Sasha's head. Pushing her along, and all of them were pissed and afraid.
Eren was extremely angry, and he wasn't going to have this. Eren then looked at the bandit and then charged at him lifting up the rifle forcing it up, the bandit caught off guard was surprised. "Guys! Go!"
"Eren! That's stupid!" Jean shouted, they wanted to move but they were afraid of getting shot. Jean looked around, he saw everyone, except Krista. Everyone was at gunpoint except Krista, what the hell…where was she? Jean then looked at Eren and decided it was time to dash, he got up and attempted to sprint but a gunshot filled the air, and then Jean felt a huge pain in his shoulder as he then fell over.
"Come on!" Eren shouted, then one of the bandits butted Eren in the head with a gun and then the other bandit kneed him in the gut. Eren could barely react as a rifle was swung onto the back of his head planting his face into the ground as he winced in pain.
"Alright, go. We have what we need." The bandit said as he kicked Eren one last time and then decided to move out.
"Where… is Krista?" Mina asked as she started to look around wondering what is happening. Why did the bandits attack? Where was Krista? More importantly why the hell did they take the ODM gear?
"Dammit Jean! Why the hell didn't you do anything?" Eren asked as he got up and looked at him sternly. "You just tried to run!"
"Shut up! I'm thinking of Krista, she is gone!" Jean shouted as he got up and then walked up to Eren. Jean then grabbed Eren. "Think about someone else except yourself for once! Also! I got shot for your ass!"
"Why you little brat!" Eren grabbed him back and then threw a punch at his jaw Jean taken aback by this stumbled backwards and then Jean lunged at Eren but Marco grabbed Jean and then held him back.
"Dammit! Let me hit him back!" Jean shouted as he tried to throw Marco off but Connie grabbed Jean to. "Fuck!" They had to calm down Jean somehow.
"Jean! Not now! We can get Krista back!" Marco stated.
"A-Alright…" Jean stuttered as he calmed down. "But next time Eren, you're dead."
"Come on.., let's devise a plan… you see where the tracks lead…" Marco said looking at the horse tracks, and then started to follow the tracks.
"Come on guys… fighting isn't needed." Sasha said putting a hand on Jean, "Let's just calm down…"
"Sasha…. You're ruining the entertainment." Connie said whispering at Sasha, Sasha just elbowed him playfully.
"Shut up…" Sasha said as she looked down at Connie.
A few minutes later, they were in the trees. Marco and Armin had devised a plan all they had to stalk the people and use the trees to their advantages, since they had no ODM gear they were going to use the branches and some rope in the trees. Most of the scouts had already climbed the trees, and were waiting for the damn bandits to come through.
They did… the horses started coming through and then Connie swung over to Sasha and Sasha grabbed the hand of Connie to prevent him from falling. "This could get some getting used to…" Connie said as he looked at Sasha.
"Shut up and focus on the mission." Sasha said at Connie, she didn't mind Connie but man was he annoying sometimes.
"Alright… Jean… we have to jump..." Eren said, Jean was still pissed that he was shot in the damn shoulder but getting Krista back was more important. Jean did as told and then swung himself into the cart, one of the bandits turned his head and saw Jean land.
"What the fuck!" The bandit shouted as he turned at him. "What the hell are you doing in here?"
Jean, looked over at another cart. Krista was there hanging up and tied up, why did they need her? Jean felt his heart pumping and then he charged at the bandit and then threw him off the cart. He watched as the man fell out of the cart and hit multiple rocks. One of the other bandits attempted to attack Jean but Eren kicked him in the sides and the bandit stumbled. With that Eren then shoved the bandit off of the cart, "Oh you little bastards!" One of the bandits shouted as he then aimed his rifle at Eren.
"Eren!" Jean pushed Eren behind some crates and the gunshot sounded throughout the forest, it missed. But the bandit reloaded again, and then Krista saw this. Luckily the cart hit a rock sending the bullet at the chains, and dropping Krista. The bandit quickly reloaded though, and then aimed it at Jean. This time there was no running, and the bandit attempted to shoot him but then Krista grabbed the gun and then the bandit fired, but it didn't hit Jean it hit a wheel!
The horse got spooked and then detached from the cart and then ran off into the forest. The cart itself then tumbled into the forest, and then crashed into a tree. Eren then looked at the boxes and there was the ODM gear! "Great!" Jean said as he grabbed the ODM gear, he saw Sasha, Connie, Marco, and Armin drop down. Along with Mina, they grabbed the ODM gear and then put it on.
"Alright they still have Krista!" Eren said, "We have to save her and then we can complete the mission!" Eren activated his gear going off with all of them.
"That dick…" Jean muttered as he then started to use his ODM gear to blasting off and then attaching to the trees. Everyone else followed Jean.
A few minutes later Jonathan's team stumbled upon the ODM gear. "Wow… Mikasa you were right.." Jonathan said as he grabbed the ODM gear and then put them on.
"Good, now we know that the people aren't that far away." Mikasa stated as she started to put her gear on to, "Jonathan I know these forests. I know a shortcut, Annie Jonathan with me. Bertholdt, Reiner, Thomas, Daz I want you to follow Jean."
"Yes ma'am." Jonathan said as he then followed Mikasa through the forest, along with Annie. "Alright, Mikasa. I'm not sure if this is true but I heard that the bandits have one of our guys."
"Really?" Mikasa asked.
"Of course, why would they just lave their ODM gear. Something else is happening!" Jonathan said as he then went ahead of Annie.
"You care to much about the other group," Annie mentioned looking over at Jonathan.
"What do you mean, at the end of the day we are all just one team…" Jonathan mentioned, as he boosted ahead of Annie and through the trees Mikasa spotted the bandits,
"Alright… we are going to derail them!" Mikasa said as she then charged at the cart.
"Careful! They still have Krista! God knows what they are doing." Jonathan said slowing down.
"God… these kids are so persistent…" The bandit muttered as he looked back at one of the bandits who still had Krista. Suddenly the bandit felt something, something had shifted. "What the fuck is going on back there?" The bandit shouted looking back at the man who had Krista.
"The fuckers hit the god damn cart!" The bandit shouted as he then felt the cart shift and then the lead bandit turned his head to see Jean right there cutting the horses loose.
"What the fuck!" The leader yelled as he then pulled out his rifle, but felt the cart then derail and tip over. It fell into the forest and he looked at the other bandit, the fall had presumably killed him he was there limp and Krista was still there on the bandit's body. The bandit then got up and then attempted to run but the leader grabbed her shoulder and then held a knife up to her.
"Hurry!" Eren shouted running to the cart, he froze. Right there was the bandit leader, and he had Krista in his arms, he kept on walking with Krista knife to her neck.
"Stop right there…" The bandit said as he sighed deeply, all of his plans had went to shit. He had nothing left to loose, "Or I will kill this woman.."
Team two stopped realizing they could do nothing, the bandit had them in their sights. If they made any moves Krista could be dead, suddenly they saw another man move in the rubble with a gun. Krista saw him and she gasped, she thought that the man had died. She guessed that he didn't… the man raised his rifle.
They were going to die… suddenly they heard a swift sound as Annie and Mikasa swooped down. Annie dropkicked the man with the rifle and then Mikasa knocked the knife out of the bandit's hand and then looked to slice him open as she swung her blade at him. "Wait!" Krista shouted, and the blade stopped at the neck cutting him slightly.
"There is no need for that." Jonathan said as he landed right next to the bandit and then grabbed some rope. "Turn him in." Jonathan said as he then tied up the bandit's hand.
"Good idea." Reiner said as he landed right next to Jonathan.
"Jeez… you guys are dropping in so damn quickly." Jonathan commented as he also saw Bertholdt drop down and Daz. "Alright… I think that's enough action for the night." Jonathan stated as he rubbed the back of his head, "Let's turn him in and then get some sleep…"
"Good idea." Marco said putting his hand on Jonathan.
Back at the cadet camp, Jonathan was sitting down and drinking. Suddenly, he heard a sound next to him and he felt someone sit next to him, he turned his head and saw that it was Mikasa. "Oh hello Mikasa!" Jonathan said smiling at her. "How are you doing?"
"Tired." Mikasa said, "Shadis gave us a day off especially after that encounter."
"Really? That's nice of him, I guess he isnt that bad." Jonathan said.
"Hey… Jonathan, was your father a commander?" Mikasa asked.
"No, he was just a regular soldier." Jonathan stated as he looked back at Mikasa taking a sip from his water, he then raised the canteen in Mikasa's direction. "Want one?"
"No… thank you… and… Jonathan you should become a commander you're a good leader." Mikasa stated.
Jonathan blushed at this. "Oh Mikasa you are pulling my leg, stop making me blush." Jonathan rubbed the back of his head.
"No… I'm serious." Mikasa said, "Even though it was your first time you showed some leadership, especially when you considered to turn the man in instead of killing him." Mikasa said. "You're a good man Jonathan, and there are little good people left in the world."
"Thanks… Mikasa." Jonathan mentioned, "You sure that you aren't some super beast from another planet? Because you are sure fast!"
"I'm sure." Mikasa raised her fist at Jonathan.
"Oh you remembered!" Jonathan fist bumped Mikasa smiling at her.
Jonathan Rhodes, has the ability to bring people together and does extremely well with ODM gear, as seen in the wilderness test and all the other tests Jonathan rarely cracks under pressure. As seen in the wilderness test, soon they would be graduating… Shadis looked at his papers. "I have done… all that I can… to raise that boy." Shadis stated as he got up.
It was graduation night, and everyone was in a formation. It was a orderly formation and nobody was talking, Jonathan wondered why he was excited to join the scouts. He wanted to protect his mother inside the walls and go out so she didn't have to, he knew Mikasa, Eren, and Armin were joining with him. Jonathan really had no fear, knowing his best friends would be there.
"Hey… Jonathan. What are you joining?" Conny asked looking at him.
"Scouts, weren't you going for the military police." Jonathan asked.
"I… I changed my mind. Plus you will do much better with me out there!" Conny said with a smirk.
"Same here." Jonathan turned to see Sasha right there. "I really would have no place in the military police. Plus, I heard there is better food in the scouts!"
"We are stronger in numbers guys…" He said smiling. "I'm happy to have you guys with me, and a bunch of other people join the scouts."
The top ten was as following. 10. Krista 9. Sasha 8. Conny 7. Marco 6. Jean 5. Eren 4. Annie. 3. Bertholdt 2. Reiner 1. Mikasa.
Jonathan was pretty bummed out because of the fact that he didn't make it. Mikasa always comforted him though, and he always felt happy when he was with Mikasa. Jonathan wondered if she felt the same way. When he heard about the scouts staying… he knew that a lot of people would stay.
They didn't.
They started moving, moving the other way. Everyone started leaving, he looked over at Annie. Even she started to leave, but he saw Annie look at him in the eyes. Jonathan gulped as he kept on looking at the people as they left. He wanted to leave, but something grabbed onto his arm he looked over. It was Eren, Jonathan nodded at Eren.
It was time, everyone had left only few people were there. Jonathan looked up, it was the commander. Commander Erwin, he was taller than expected and he had blonde hair and blue eyes. Jonathan was still in shock, that everyone had left… all he heard was. "Welcome to the scouts." Mikasa tapped on Jonathan because Jonathan looked like he was going to fall.
"Jonathan…" Eren looked at him he was the only one who wasn't doing the scout salute. Jonathan did it, and felt like he was apart of some family when he did it. He smiled, and so did Eren.
Year 850
Jonathan was on top cleaning some cannons with Sasha, Conny, and Eren. He smelled something, something strange. "Sasha… you smell that?" He asked looking at her.
"Yeah…. I was right there is good food…" Sasha took out some meat out of her sleeve.
"Sasha…." Jonathan face palmed.
"I'm assuming you don't want some?" Sasha asked looking at Jonathan.
"N-No! I want some!" Jonathan said looking at Sasha.
"Me to…" Conny said looking around making sure no one was there, Jonathan out the corner of his eye saw Eren. Looking over at the city, he was smiling.
Jonathan walked over to Eren. "Hey. What's the matter?"
"Nothing, it's just that. This is humanity's chance… to make a comeback Jonathan! We can do this!" Eren said looking at him and smiling.
'We can..' Jonathan thought as he looked over with Eren.
They heard something, then… lightning struck…