Chapter Four

"They're too dangerous to bring back," Levi said.

"They're too dangerous not to bring back," Jean said shakily. "We shouldn't kill them – it's dangerous for us, don't you see? Morally."

"Morals can't save us," Erwin said grimly.

"You aren't seriously considering it?" Connie cried.

"Is there another choice?" whispered Mikasa. My family is dead again. Armin is dead because of them.

Saskia met Ymir's gaze. She didn't deserve her help, but she needed it. "You'll lose your one advantage."

"I thought that was you," Levi replied.

"You mistake me. With them around, I don't matter half so much. They know much more than I," Saskia said, keeping a hand on Bertolt's shoulder. "You could choose safety and kill them and take only little human me, sure, but I'll take every opportunity to kill myself and I assure you I am creative enough that I will succeed at some point. And I'll do it just for spite. And then you'll have no answers and no advantage, like ignorant insects."

Given her ever-expressionless face, Erwin wasn't sure whether he believed her or not.

"Your comrades were willing to have her devoured to ensure your victory, Commander." Saskia gestured towards Ymir. "Look around you. Are you much different than the Warriors, except for number of victims?"

Erwin stared at the two battered, beaten children in front of him. They were enemies. He prayed for an idea, any idea, to come to him.

"You'll get no information from me, either, if you kill them," Ymir added. She threw Saskia a scowl. Don't think I helped for your sake.

Erwin stayed silent a moment longer.

"Blind them and take off their limbs until we get them underground. Any attempts to escape in Titan form will result in us killing your friend," Erwin decided.

"Gladly." Hange swung her blade, lobbing off the rest of Reiner's regenerating arm.

Who's really the monster here? Jean thought.

Reiner's face betrayed no emotion as Hange reduced him to a torso with a head.

She's taking too long on purpose, Reiner realized as Hange sawed off his thigh.

I'm weak, I'm so weak, Bertolt thought.

"Stop," he whimpered.

"Oh?" Hange lifted her blade and dug it into Reiner's chest as she whirled around to face Bertolt. "Maybe you should have stopped before you killed my squad. Maybe you should have stopped five years ago!"

"Or Armin!" yelled Eren.

"Hange, stop. We can't be monsters, too," Jean said nervously.

Hange's face fell. She already was, but to admit that would be to admit defeat. "I'll blind him quickly."

Reiner kept his eyes on Bertolt as the blade, then blackness, overtook his sight.

"Allow me." Mikasa stepped forward and cut Bertolt neatly, in a matter of seconds, in too much pain to hurt him more.

Levi pulled Saskia away from the warrior children. "Ymir, what is your plan?"

Her gaze would have withered the Colossal Titan himself. "To find Krista. Where is she?"

"Historia Reiss has taken her place as the rightful queen," Erwin said.

"What?" Ymir gasped. "No – how dare you – you can't do that to her."

"She chose it."

"As your puppet."

"I think she would make a good ruler," Erwin said instead.

"I'm not denying that – but you don't understand –"

"What? What do we not understand?" Erwin stepped closer. "Ymir, I can't help Historia if you don't tell us."

Ymir swallowed. "And have you kill Reiner and Bertl?"

The sound of heavy feet stopped them all.

"We're dead anyways," Reiner said.

"DAMMIT!" yelled Eren.

Saskia whirled around. The Mule and – him

Ymir's bony fingers wrapped around Saskia's neck.

"Don't fight," she hissed.

"Come any closer and I'll kill him!" Eren bellowed, digging his blade into Bertolt's neck. Blood seeped down, drip, drip, drip onto his shirt.

"Are you Eren…Jaeger?" asked Zeke, his eyes wide with shock. All his warriors…and Saskia. Damn that treacherous Ymir. He would personally slay Krista and enjoy it. "You don't resemble Grisha at all."

"What?" Eren spat.

"You have to believe me," pled Zeke, an ache in his heart. The poor kid didn't deserve this. "I understand you. We're all victims of your father. He brainwashed you!"

Ymir's arm tightened around Saskia's throat.

"My father?!" Eren gasped.

Zeke – his face – like the lighter version of Dad.

Who are you? Who am I?

Zeke's eyes fell on Levi, who had positioned himself between his precious commander and the Mule.

"You!"

He was dangerous, so dangerous. Zeke's heart pounded.

The captain's black eyes burned back at him. His sword rose slowly towards Saskia's face. A drop of scarlet appeared on her cheek.

"You're a monster," growled Zeke. How many titans had died because of him? And now he had his wife?

Levi's eyes flickered. As if he didn't know that. As if he cared.

Zeke knew he couldn't save them all. Why did they need to be rescued, like weaklings?

Only one was close enough.

"Well then. Fine. We'll call it even this time, won't we Levi?" Zeke snapped as his hand pointed towards Reiner, who was positioned tantalizingly close.

"No!" Connie dove forward, but the Mule already had Reiner in its mouth.

Jean lurched ahead to grab his friend.

"Connie, stop!" commanded Hange. The last thing she need was Connie in the titan's mouth, too.

"I wouldn't come closer," Zeke said with amusement, amusement that disturbed Erwin more than transforming into a titan.

"What do you want?" Eren fought the urge to run forward and seize every chance to shred this man apart. Frankly, Levi was rather proud of Eren's restraint.

"I want you to join us. Be useful in your life!"

"Join you?!" Eren exploded, shaking Bertolt. "When your crony here killed my best friend?!"

Unsurprised but disappointed, Zeke ignored Eren's outburst. "Sorry Bertolt, but it looks like your end has come."

That boy had always been a waste of serum. "Eren…Saskia…I will find you. And rescue you both."

But not Bertolt? Reiner thought with horror. A scream bubbled up in his throat, a scream he didn't dare release.

Saskia wasn't sure whether he heart sunk from relief or disappointment.

He's just gonna escape? Eren watched in disbelief as the mule scrambled onto a rooftop.

"Oh." Zeke turned around and smirked at Erwin. "And you fight well, Commander. It's a pity."

Erwin stared after him.

"How much gas do you have left?" Hange asked Levi.

"Not enough," Levi said desperately.

"Mine's nearly depleted," Mikasa added. No one was taking Eren from her again, least of all an animal like that.

"We're too bedraggled to chase after him," Erwin said in disbelief.

"I'm sorry," Levi rasped. He could feel Hange's tender eyes watching him, and it hurt to have her know he failed.

Erwin glanced sideways. "Levi. It is okay."

Levi shook his head.

I'm not okay, either, Eren thought in a panic. Armin is dead. And I've been brainwashed. But by whom?

"What now? Return home?" Mikasa asked blankly.

"We'll never make it," Connie grumbled.

"Yes we will," Eren snapped. "We have to."

"Hange, how much did you take from the basement?" Erwin asked.

"Everything." Hange gestured towards a pile of books and notes strapped together.

"We have to return," Erwin said. "To the walls – and here."

They'd had their first hopeful send-off ever, and now this had happened. Sure, they could return, but not really. We'll have to come back. Soon.

"Hold onto the books, Hange. Levi, take Bertolt, and Mikasa, take Ymir." Not that he was much concerned for Ymir; as long as they had Historia, Ymir would ally with them. He turned to Saskia. "You'll ride with me."

"And when titans inevitably encounter us on our voyage?" she asked.

"We'll do what we can."

I don't want to leave Armin. Eren looked towards the walls. Even if he's dead.

Mikasa's hand touched his shoulder. "We have to go, Eren."

"I know." He turned and saw that she, too, had tears in her eyes.


"Put me down." Zeke stretched his new legs on the pulverized cobblestone streets.

At least the soldiers had been treated to a nice explosion! Zeke smirked at the Mule titan behind him. "You are one lucky guy, Reiner."

Reiner said nothing. Bertolt was being taken back…alone. What if they killed him after all? They couldn't use them against each other anymore, after all.

"Cry all you want, but then get back being grateful you're alive," Zeke said.

"Hmm." Zeke's eyes fell on a still-steaming corpse. "Would you look at that."

I actually can't, remember? Reiner thought with as much sourness as he'd ever felt towards their leader.

"Sorry, Reiner," Zeke said with a chuckle, approaching the body. Such a waste.

They might have killed him already, and I'll never know when his last moments are. Tears leaked down Reiner's cheeks.

Zeke nudged the body with his feet. A choking sound emanated from the corpse.

"What?!" Zeke jumped. Ha. Silly me. He knelt besides the body and felt its wrist.

His pulse was weak, his breath weaker, but life was there.

"Well, well, well. Nice to see you, buddy. What's your name? Tch, I forgot you're unconscious." Zeke smiled. "Wonder if you're the best friend Eren mentioned? Now, that could be quite useful."

Reiner could only hear mumbles. Zeke had found something, but what? No one could question him, even now.

Footsteps approached him, heavier than typical. Zeke was carrying something. "Good thing I packed those medicine crates. Should be enough to tide him over. We'll give him something stronger when we get back."

Who is it? Reiner wanted to scream. It couldn't be – could it?

"Looks like you're not the only lucky one, Reiner. We may have found the perfect bargaining chip."


"I'm very sorry you had to see that, Ruth."

The child sniffled. "You're so nice."

"Queen Historia!"

Historia handed a slide of bread to Ruth before glancing up. "Commander Dok."

"The Survey Corp has returned."

His voice was dull, too dull. Any why the Commander, rather than a messenger? She straightened, unable to ask her real questions. "What happened?"

"There's very few of them, and most are in a wretched state."

Historia trembled. "I – I have to go to them."

"It's your duty as queen to stay here."

"As queen, my duty is what I say it is," Historia cried. "I'm going to find them immediately."

Nile's eyes narrowed. "Understood."

"If you don't care about your friends, I feel very sorry for you," she continued, to her own surprise. Was that Krista? Or her true self?

He regarded her silently.

"You can leave," she told him. "No, wait! Did they reach the basement?"

He sighed. "Apparently, yes. But that is all I know."

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

She's too kind. How did she survive this far? Nile stormed off. She would need to set up someone to rule while she went off on her little journey, but he sure wasn't going to remind her now.


Saskia had never seen so many bustling streets. So many people. They looked dumb but kind, a trait she had never really been able to fathom. Father had shown it too late, when he'd pleaded with Annie and then with her, and she'd only been confused.

"Who is that?" Someone whistled at her.

Saskia inhaled sharply. Zeke would kill someone for that. Did that mean she wanted him here? Maybe.

Erwin saw the disgust flicker across her otherwise expressionless face, and felt a moment of pity for her rather than himself. "People can be asses wherever, I suppose."

She glanced back at him. He had to be mentally impenetrable to be able to handle this homecoming, with so many dead. Not to mention having turned into a titan and back. Perhaps he would break down away from everyone. She knew that feeling well.

She felt him stiffen behind her. An onslaught of people pressed in around them, demanding to know where Sara and Peter and Rhoda and Jacob all were, and then some were relieved but most of them were screaming and wailing, and regardless all of them were crying, and Saskia just wanted them to shut up, and then an apple flew directly into her face.

"What the –" Saskia wasn't sure if she were angrier that people were actually horrible enough to attack someone they didn't know, or that they were wasting food. Did they not understand hunger?

"Erwin, you bastard!" cried an older man then, hurling another apple at the Commander. "You led them into death!"

Saskia snatched it from the air. Instinct told her to send it right back into his stupid nose, but a sweeter form of revenge beckoned.

She held up the apple. "Hungry, Commander Titan?"

"No." The last thing he needed was that nickname. But maybe he deserved it.

"You're exhausted. You need it more than I," she replied, shoving it back into his belt.

"That man lost his grandson, Max Ritter," Erwin said quietly.

"Oh." She oughtn't have judged him as an enemy so fast.

"Have you ever noticed that he's always the one who comes back?" hissed someone up ahead.

"Fuck him!"

"What could have happened?"

"Who's the girl? Is she another titan?" someone shrieked.

"Never mind her, who's he?" someone pointed at Bertolt, who was very obviously bound to Levi in ways that Ymir and Saskia clearly weren't.

"Shit," growled Levi. Am I seriously going to have to use my blade to protect the Colossal Titan?

"Commander, we need to get out of here," Hange said from behind.

Erwin surveyed the crowds of people who might not know about their loved ones yet. Was there no end to this? "Indeed. Ride to headquarters as fast as you can."

He glanced at the sweating boy tied to Levi. "And get that one underground."

"Really, sir? All of us?" Ymir stared at the cell before her.

"Yes, really. For all we know, you've actually sided with them," Levi jerked his head towards a heavily chained Bertolt, "and are just fooling us."

"You don't believe that." Ymir felt like screaming. Let me see Historia!

"Doesn't matter what I believe."

Saskia watched quietly as Levi pushed Ymir into a cell. They wouldn't have been so stupid as to put her, Ymir, and Bertolt anywhere near Annie. How long would it take for her to see her sister again?

"How's it going, Bertl?" Ymir flopped onto her bed as soon as Levi left. With a small smile, she realized that Levi hadn't actually chained her up. He must trust her to some extent.

"Okay, play the silent game. It won't help you."

"The annoying game won't help you, either," Saskia said with a shrug.

"You're creepy, you know that?" Ymir sat up to glare at Saskia. "You never show any emotions or act like you care. It's like you're hollow. And then occasionally you do something like save Erwin or Bertl and suddenly you're hollow again. You remind me of Krista – Historia – minus the nice façade. I don't mean that as a compliment."

"Thank you."

"Maybe you're more a monster than me or Bertl. More than your sister."

Anyone who used the words "Annie" and "monster" in the same sentence was an idiot. Pure and simple. It always was. Until it wasn't. Saskia turned her face from Ymir so that cruel girl wouldn't see her cry.

But the tears wouldn't come, no matter how much she missed them. Maybe she'd forgotten how. Was Annie able to cry in her prison, wherever she was? Did she cry when they tortured her?

She'd gone from Ymir's captor to captive to fellow captive in one day. Saskia choked on laughter, hard enough to cause tears. Well, it was a start.


"We're in trouble this time." Erwin turned the apple over and over in his hand.

"We've always been in trouble," Levi said.

"No word from Hange?"

"Shitty Glasses is still pouring over ever detail. She'll be up all night."

Erwin half-smiled. "I'm glad we have her."

Levi nodded. "We all are."

He was especially, but keen-eyed Erwin knew that already.

"How long before we're summoned?"

"We could make a bet on it," Levi suggested with a grimace.

Silence fell. "You want to say something. Say it."

Erwin glanced up, surprised.

"Say it, or I'll break your legs for real this time."

Erwin chuckled. He felt like such a coward. "I – I think I should have died. The serum should have gone to someone else. Armin. He was so young…and his intelligence…he may not have been strong, but his brain was perhaps even a better weapon than Eren."

"We didn't know Armin's fate until too late."

"Would you have spared him if given the choice?"

"No. We need you, you and Eren." Levi stared straight ahead as he slumped against the wall. "Maybe. I don't know."

The two men fell silent again.

"We're heartless bastards," Levi said suddenly. "I killed so many titans to get to you. So many people. And I would do it again."

"We learned something. It wasn't for nothing this time," Erwin said at length. "But it's never really for nothing."

For all the ghosts before him, it had to matter. They had to win.

"Commander!" A garrison soldier hurried in and thumped his hand over his heart. "Queen Historia is here."

Erwin leapt to his feet and place the apple back onto his desk.

"Shit." Levi stepped away from the wall.

"Let's go." Erwin strode out of the room.

Connie Springer met them. "Uh, Commander."

"Where is Historia?"

"At the cells. Jean heard she was here and thought she should know about Ymir before anyone else."

Of course that boy did. He never kept his thoughts to himself.

"Ymir! Ymir!"

Ymir was on her feet quicker than lightning. "Historia?!"

"Ymir!" A blonde even smaller than Annie flung herself against the iron bars. Her arms reached through and up to hold Ymir's shoulders.

Ymir dropped to her knees to be closer to Historia's level. "I'm – "

"I've missed you so much. I can live for myself but still need you, right?" Tears streamed down Historia's cheeks. "Ymir, are you hurt? What can I do to help you?"

"You can be here." Ymir smiled. "I mean, letting me out would be nice, too, but you're what I need the most."

"Did they hurt you?" Historia frowned. "Don't lie to me."

"It wasn't pleasant, but I'm unharmed," Ymir said honestly.

"I'm so glad. I'll get you out – I'll save you –"

"You aren't supposed to do that anymore!"

"Shut up and let me help you! I'll do it because I love you, for you and for me and all of us." Historia stomped her foot.

She's still sweet, but there's fire inside.

Saskia noticed Commander Erwin and Levi observing from the entrance, Bertolt watching with desperation and shame. She felt as if she was seeing something holy and universal. Is this what they call love?

"I'm the queen, I'm sure I can do something," Historia said.

Longing shone through Bertolt's face. Saskia had misjudged his expression.

Or hope? She wondered after a second look.

And Erwin's haunted face seemed a little less shadowed. Or both?

Ymir laughed. She sounded ever world-wise and fierce, but not cruel, not anymore. "Did anyone ever tell you that you aren't just a queen, you're a goddess?"

Okay, okay, so I apologize for saying Armin was dead in the first chapter. In all honesty, I might not have kept that part if he wasn't alive in the manga, too. But now I feel justified. :)