Chapter Four: The Test.

Two weeks, six days before the attack on Shiganshina.

As the sunlight beamed through Armin's window he began to wake up slowly. Stretching his muscles, he made his way out of bed and dressed himself in his new outfit that Zoe had gotten for him. It was almost the excate same as Levi's but without the ascot. The small child then made his way down to the lab where both of his friends were dicussing the weapon idea. His used his undamnaged fist and knocked on the door large wooden door as they stopped talking. "Zoe, can I come inside?" He asked the young woman. As a normal, non crazy smile came onto her face she said: "Sure Armin."

"Thanks." He said as he fully opened the door.

"Armin." Levi said as he walked up to the boy with his handes in his pockets. "I saw your weapon idea and I think it's a good idea. The prototype is being developed now. It should be ready in about two or maybe to three weeks." He told the child as he knelt down to his level. "I only have one question: Why did you want to make another weapon for the S.O.S.?"

"I made it so we have another way to help fight the Titans. I may be only five years old but I'm smarter then most adults. By useing a cone shaped bullet and the same kind of steel that the blades are made out of I thought it would work better then the normal musket. The idea for a ejectable clip came off of the top of my head and the use of eight bullets gives the S.O.S. a better chance of staying alive. I know the only place that will be able to be harmed are the eyes or the hands."

"I see." Levi said.

"That is a great idea Armin. I can't wait to see what the gun can do when it's ready for use."

"Niether can I. Levi, when it's done can you test the prototype?"

"Fine." Levi said as both Armin and Zoe smiled.

"Yay!" Both Armin and Zoe said together. "After all Levi, I was hopeing that you'd say yes to testing it." He said right before his stomach growled. He then blushed as he put his hands on his stomach. "Hehe, sorry." He said with a nervous laugh as Zoe smirked and Levi almost, and I repeat, ALMOST, cast a very small amused smile.

"Let's eat before we decide to do anything else." The man said as they headed to the mess hall and ate at the head table. Nobody else was there so they talked to each other. After they ate they went outside to the training ground. Armin stood agenst a rock, Zoe leaned on a wooden pole as Levi brought out a combat knife.

"Armin." He said as he held the weapon in his left hand. "I want you to pay very close attation to what I'm going to tell you. Fighting is about one thing and one thing alone: Surviving. Now, attack me!"

"What?!"

"Captain?!"

He started walking back and forth, cleaning his fingernails with the blade, while saying: "If your gonna survive then you need to learn how to defend youself. Attack me like I was one of those street thugs!" He says as Armin takes a running charge at him. He side steps out of the way as Armin hits the dirt. "Try again!" He yells as Armin slowly get's back up and rushs at Levi again. This time, Levi jumps up and Armin hits the dirt once again. "Try again." He repeated without looking at him.
Growling in a low tone, he grabs Levi's leg and tries to knock him down, only for him to struggle. "Sigh, not good enough."

"Captain, maybe Armin's not ready yet. He's only five years old." Zoe said from the sidelines.

'I can do this!' Armin thought to himself as he got back up.

"No Zoe, he needs to learn how to protect himself. It's better for him to start now so when's he's old enough to be on his own he'll live without fear. It's why I'm testing him now so I can help him inprove his skills in the future." He told his friend as Armin backs away, grabs a stick and take's a swing. He took another swing as Levi used the knife to counter the incoming blow. Levi took the chance to sweep Armin's legs and missed as the five year old backed up just in the nick of time and aimed his next swing at Levi's hand in an attempt to knock the knife away.

"I, will, hit, you, Levi." He told him as he huffed.

Backing up from a swing he tells the young child: "Keep trying Armin."

"I am!" He says in anger. 'Focus Armin, Levi's just trying to get inside your head. He's jsut testing you right now, but still, if this were a real fight I'd be dead by now.' He thought to himself as he planed his next attack. 'Let's see, I can't get behind Levi beacuse he'll expect it. Can't attack from the front since he'll see me and counter. That leaves me with only one way to hit him. The side. That's how I'll get him!' He thinks as he smiles.

"Thought of a plan yet Armin?" He asked, already knowing the anwser.

"Yep. But I'm not telling."

"Well then, show me how you plan to beat me." The Titan killer said as he readyed himself for anything that Armin was gonna try and throw at him.

"Let's go Levi!" He shouts as the man once again almost smiles. He then breaks the stick in half, taking one in each hand and running at him. He tosses one of the sticks and watches as Levi blocks with the knife. Throwing the other one, he spreads his arms out and trys to tackle the man. As he takes a chance to attack back Armin moves to the side and grabs onto Levi's legs again.

"Just give up Armin. You can't be me." Levi tells him.

"No. I'm gonna win agenst you Levi. I must. I will. I... won't... give... up!" He yells as he shocks both adults by casuing Levi to fall on his side and drop the knife. "I did it. But," Armin says out loud as he scratches the left side of his head with his non broken finger. "Just how did I do it?"

"You used all of your body weight to force me onto the ground." He tells the child as he stands up after picking up the knife. "Well done." He says as Armin smiles at the praise.

"Nice job Armin." Zoe tells him as he and Levi rejoin her.

"You think so?"

"Yeah. You did well for your first test."

"And the next time we train, I'll be blindfolded." He tells Armin as he gets a puzzeled look from the child.

"Why?"

"Nighttime practice. You'll be able to see but just barely enough. That should be a little more fair for you."

As soon as Armin heard the words 'Nighttime practice', he smiled. Waiting for the chance to fight Levi in the dark.