(Greetings, Author here. So, this is, by far, the longest chapter in the history of this fan fiction. It almost doubles the length of the second longest, coming in at just above 6000 words. I am very happy with this chapter. Very pleased by it and what goes on. I really like this chapter, and so I hope you all do as well. This is pretty much the end of the first part of this fan fiction. I am unsure where the next chapter will begin, as there are a couple possibilities I have to consider. So I would call this the end of Act I. Anyways, I want to thank anyone who has read all of this. I'm actually pretty pleased with the general thing although certain parts aren't as good as I would really want them to be. But that's all besides the point. The point is: Thank you, for reading. So, without further ado...)

"Welcome to Stohess, Leonhart." Kurt Weissingman said to the girl as he met her out in the midst of the streets, "We didn't get as many new members this year as we thought we would."

Annie nodded, "A lot of Survey Corps."

"That Eren boy really inspired the fellows. Did you know him?"

"Same as I knew all the other Trainees."

"Ah, but I did read in the report on you that you were friends with a certain...Blase?"

Annie tensed up. Even on the way back into the walls the thought of that face bought with it a moment of fear followed by a brief second of that stupid emotion she sometimes felt when he was around and then she was confused. "I knew him. Yes."

"You saved his life in Trost, he told me."

She tensed up again at the memory. The first proof she had of his powers. "It's more like he saved me."

"Really?" Kurt smiled, "How so?"

"The man was hit by a titan, falling over ten meters to crash into the ground, and yet still got back up and killed a titan in that state."

Kurt smiled, "You're kidding me? He just kept going after that?"

Annie nodded, "With just a quick rest.

Kurt chuckled, "Ah, it's too bad he didn't join up with us."

Annie gave a weak smile, "Quite the shame." The two walked along the road. They were heading towards the Military Police Headquarters in the District, as Kurt often had new recruits do small tasks for him to get a feel for their usefulness. It was his duty to analyze members and report back to the Boss.

"I was very fond of him, in all honesty. I was sure he was gonna join the Police. I thought that one day he might even be the man to succeed me." Annie said nothing, just continued walking along, not really wanting to talk about him. "And what of you?" Kurt asked, "You wouldn't have happened to be fond of him as well, would you?"

Annie looked up to him, her eyes admitting surprise at the question, "I...I'm sorry?"

Kurt nodded, "Not my place, apologies." There was silence between the two for a little bit as they walked. Then Kurt paused in the middle of the road, and looked to Annie, "Angel said he was quite fond of you. Seemed to really like you. Or at least, that's what it looked like back in Trost. But what do I know?"

He resumed his stroll, Annie kept quiet as she walked. She just wanted to be free of him for one moment. She just wanted to have Angel out of her thoughts. She hated his stupid face. He was always in her thoughts. Always there, and always on her mind. She just wanted to be free of any mention of him. But at the same time, she didn't. Oh, how she hated how confused he made her.

"Did he really?" She found herself ask, her voice barely audible.

"I think so. And if I didn't know any better, I'd wager you're pretty fond of him as well." He paused once more, his eyes caught by something in the distance, "Well damn, speak of the devil..."

And Angel Blase was walking towards the two, coming down the street from the opposite way they were going. Annie felt a flutter of fear in her heart at the sight of him, along with a flutter of the heart in general.

He really must not have realized that the Female Titan was me. He would never threaten me. He must not know. Otherwise, what could be the truth?

Angel waved to Kurt, the two men smiling as they saw each other. Angel and Kurt had not known each other very significantly. They talked when Kurt visited the 104th, they talked after Trost, they fought together, apparently, in Trost. But for some reason, Kurt did not consider his status as a soldier, even less so than he normally did. The two were friends, real friends, for some reason. In Kurt, Angel had a mentor. And in Angel, Kurt had a student.

They approached each other and greeted with a strong handshake, Kurt giving the boy a pat on the back as they did so. "Angel! I thought the Corps were on an expedition?"

Angel shook his head, "We were forced to abandon the mission due to unforeseen circumstances. I wish I could tell you, but it's highly sensitive. I was sent to tell you Erwin himself is . I guess he thinks you, being Information, might want to hear this."

Kurt nodded, "I see. I was only slightly busy. If Erwin thinks he must tell me, I suppose it's very important."

Angel nodded in response, "I would head to him as soon as possible. He's here in Stohess, with the Corps who are recovering by the Garrison Outpost near Park Road."

"Not quite where I was going to go, but more important matters take precedence, hm? Apologies," He said, turning back to Annie, "I'm afraid I'll have to go for now. Please resume normal duties." He turned back to face Angel, "Are you coming with me?" But Angel shook his head.

"I'm afraid not, sir. I have other business to attend to ." Kurt nodded, noting the way Angel had avoided Annie and she him throughout this conversation. He was slightly perplexed, as he had been quite sure of the two and their mutual...attraction. Ah, but teenage love never fails to confound a man, he thought. And then he was away, quickly heading towards where he thought the Survey Corps were. However, if he got there before he was pulled away, he would find nothing. .

Angel hated this. He hated lying. He hated this plan. And most of all, he hated what was going to happen. He wanted to warn her, but he wasn't sure if that would even help. The trap had been laid. There was little he could do to prevent Annie from getting caught in it.

Erwin decided that since Angel knew Kurt, he would lead Kurt away from Annie. He was supposed to follow Kurt as well, but Angel knew a couple things Erwin didn't.. For one, Angel knew that there were two shifters who could transform and fight Annie. Angel also knew that he was not going to follow Kurt. Instead, he was going to try to maybe make things right before he was forced to fight.

"Annie..." Angel began, "I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you what happened during the Expedition. I just want you to know...whatever happens today? I'm sorry."

"What do you mean?" Annie asked, "What's going on?"

"They know." Angel said. "I swear I didn't tell anybody, but they figured it out. They're coming for you."

"I see." Annie said.

Angel rubbed a hand along his face, "I've delayed them however I can, but they are here. Eren is ready. They are ready. I...I am ready." But Angel knew he was lying with the last part.

Annie moved up to be right in front of him, "Angel..." She whispered, "Whatever happens now, at least I can be happy I got to know you." She took his hand, "Thanks. For everything." There was a moment of silence between them. "So what happens next?"

"Eren and his friends will approach you, asking you to help them with something. They'll try to lead you underground. I'm not certain of the entire plan after that."

Annie nodded, "Then you should leave."

"What!?" Angel exclaimed, albeit quietly.

"If you stay, you will be incriminated. I will follow them. Otherwise they will know you tried to protect me. If I run, I will simply delay this. I must face this now. You must leave. Now."

Angel gave a weak smile, pulling his hand away from her, "Whatever happens today, I wish it could be different." And then he moved away, vanishing into an alleyway.

In the alleyway opposite from him, Mikasa whispered to Armin, "That was weird. Whose idea was it to place him near her?"

But Armin shook his head, "Doesn't look like he said anything revealing. He probably just wanted to talk one last time. And besides, he dealt with Kurt." Mikasa accepted this.

And the mission to lure Annie away began. Annie, aware of the existence of the plan, still followed what they expected. She knew it was too late to save herself, but she could still keep Angel, and the others, safe from harm.

Angel, meanwhile, stood in the darkness of the alley. If Eren could not beat Annie, he did not know what he would do. He could not decide. He had to stop her. But at the same time, it was Annie he would be fighting.

His blood called for him to fight, but his heart cried out against it.

He was now going to wait. Annie would transform, he was certain, and attempt to escape. Angel did not how his blood would handle this. He had determined within the memories of his ancestors and his own experiences that other Titan Shifters caused a change in him. It wasn't always the same, but they caused something to happen to his blood. In time, he was sure he could conquer it, but for now he was struggling to control himself at times.

And sure enough, within a few minutes he heard the unmistakable clap of thunder which marked the transformation. Annie Leonhart and her Female Titan were unleashed upon Stohess, and the full fury of her form would light the flames to burn the city down. Her wrath would wreak havoc and destruction upon the innocent men and women, and the children too, living out their daily lives in the place. Angel had once been like them. He had once been a denizen of a city that had known peace. He had once never seen a titan before.

Hell had invaded Stohess.

Angel moved away from the alley. He had a place in mind for where he wanted to be, and while Annie tried to escape, he would wait. When the time came to face himself, he would do so, and in that moment he would know what decision he had to make. Until then, the uncertain boy moved to join up with the Corps.

Annie, on the other hand, smashed through the first obstacles of men. She had to get out of here. There was only one real option, and that was to climb over the wall and make it to the others. She could not expect help from Reiner, nor could she expect Bertolt to provide assistance. She could expect help from nobody. Her survival relied entirely on her own ability and skill to make it out. There were a multitude of challenges to overcome on her escape, but Annie was a veteran Titan Shifter who had beaten many opponents before.

In theory, Eren couldn't beat her. He had posed a challenge back in the forest because she was tired and did not know the details of his form or technique as a titan. It hadn't proven very different from training, and he had only held an upper hand due to her fatigue and the tiny bit of surprise. His pure strength was what had allowed him to capitalize on her weakness. Annie would easily take Eren down now. He didn't have the experience to defeat her one on one. With a tiny bit of luck, she'd just climb over the wall after beating him up.

The only thing she could not predict was Angel. His actions have been erratic. There must be some struggle for power inside his head, between himself and perhaps his memories. He seems to...like... me. But whatever else is in there wants only to fight. If he intervenes against me, I'm not sure I can defeat him. I'll have to try. And if he doesn't intervene, I'll be fine. And if he intervenes on my side? I'm sure I'll be fine. He may not be, however. I should have asked him not to get involved.

Annie smashed through the feeble defenses the Corps put up. She was aware of their restraining device now, so when the tried to pull it out she easily defeated it. She broke the net. She broke some people's backs. All this, it didn't feel like attempts to beat her. No, they're trying to slow me down. For what? And rising from the ground to her ears, she heard the sound of Eren transforming somewhere behind her. Of course. What else could it be? She continued to run. She just had to outpace him and find a favourable position to confront hi- she went slamming into the building in front of her as he rammed full force into her.

The poor church shattered into pieces under her weight, the wall of it completely caved in and pieces and splinters scattered everywhere, like the blood of the people that had been praying inside. She winced just a little as she saw the innocents death. She stood up, as Eren approached. Annie... he thought to himself, All this time. Your attitude of not caring, your wish to just see things over with. Even when you showed off your fighting skills. I see it now. I see through your pitiful act. I see you for the monster you are. And I shall put you down like the monster you are. But first, what has this all been for? For what reason...did you cause all this DEATH AND DESTRUCTION! Eren leaped at her. She blocked, threw him into the building, and ran.

Eren leaped forward and toppled her down, but in doing so he went flying forward and slammed into a building. Annie straightened up, only a little dazed, and quickly ran past him, but he reached out and grabbed her leg. She shook it hard, and slammed him against the building opposite where he had laid. He let go for a brief moment, letting her kick him away and continue to run. Eren got back up, and resumed the chase.

They reached a large circular building, which Annie reached out to and grabbed a circular part of it, taking her forward energy and circling it to send her flying backwards, kicking Eren smackdab in the middle of his chest with the full force of the attack, and he flew head over heels backwards, his head dragging against the ground as he skid.

You bastard. He thought as he slid, You're a monster. You never really cared about me. You never cared about any of us. You're a monster. All you ever knew was how to fight. You were the best fighter too, except for... Eren stood up slowly, both due to fatigue and a dangerous thought crossing his mind. That's who you're with. I'll kill him too. I'll kill all of them. Every last one. It doesn't matter how good at fighting you are. It's about what you're FIGHTING FOR!

Eren charged her, bringing his right arm forward in a powerful blow. Annie blocked it with her arms, and skid very slightly due to the immense strength. She countered with a punch to his chest, but she just did not have the physical strength to really hurt him with normal attacks. She had to rely on using his own momentum against him to win. He tried to come forward again, launching a powerful blow towards her, but she simply dodged it and then grabbed him and threw him away from her, playing on his forward motion to spin them around before letting go of the poor boy sending him crash landing into a roof, but he was immediately pulling himself up again, as Annie turned to run once more.

"She's making a dash for open space." One Corps soldier said, "Our gear will be useless there!"

"Hm..." Hange replied, "Split up into two groups. Circle around. Quickly!" The group split up, dashing off into the city.

Eren chased after Annie, but could not overtake her easily. Eventually, as they moved down a street, Annie turned to face him, knowing he was about to get close enough to grab her. Crystallizing her leg, as Eren leaped at her, she bought it around in a strong kick, smashing through the right knee and crippling Eren. He rushed at her again, but a well placed kick smashed him into the building, and Annie turned to move only to find Eren was clamping down on the crystal section of her leg. She crystalized her hand and smashed it against his head, bashing him until his jaw loosened it's grip and she shook free.

She ran. She was right there. The wall was so close. All she had to was get over it. All she had to was get out of the city. She was almost safe.

Behind her, Eren continued to come. Something had changed. Flames had erupted around him, his eyes were more violent. He was more violent. And he was stronger to boot. Even without a couple of limbs, he leaped across the ground to smash into her back, sending the two titans sliding across the large open area, large tracts of it now crushed underneath them. But as this all happened, atop a tower overlooking the area, a certain brown haired man stood, watching the vicious and primal fight.

"What is this anger I feel?" Angel asked the wind, "Is it because she is there getting hurt and I am here doing nothing, or because she is there causing deaths and I am here doing nothing?" In the light breeze, his hair flowed gently about his head, quickly kissing parts of his face just to retreat away playfully.

Annie kicked Eren off of her, and rose but was again assaulted by Eren leaping onto her. She grabbed him and threw him away, breaking apart even more of the already tortured floor as Eren sailed through it. He was strong, but he had no limbs left to really utilize that strength. "And why do I enjoy this?" Angel also asked, "What do I find in this that causes me to become excited? What am I that I can feel this way about the slaughter of so many? My heart is racing. My body tingles."

On the rooftops from which the rest of the Survey Corps was watching, Armin pointed to Angel, turning to Mikasa and saying, "Hey, look at that."

She did, her eyes narrowing as she recognized the man. "I told you earlier," Her tone carrying traces of hostility and a tinge of anger, "There's something odd about him, and Annie, and the two of them together."

Armin nodded, "I know, but...don't you think he would've told her? She fell for the trap. Wouldn't he have warned her?"

Mikasa did not have any physical expression or reaction, "Maybe he did." She said, quiet and just loud enough so Armin could hear, "And this is the counter trap."

His heart raced. His blood seemed to be on fire. His entire body urged him to act, to fight. But he restrained it. For now, he restrained it. "There are so many questions," He whispered to the wind, "That I don't know the answers to." Annie began to climb the walls, hardening her fingertips to break through. Eren reached up and gripped her leg, but she bought the other one down on his face and he went falling down. She climbed higher.

"The Blase defended. We guarded the old kings. This is what I know. This is what we are." Mikasa came flying out, moving parallel to the walls and slicing through the fingers of Annie, sending her returning to earth. "But we did not wait around for the enemies to come. We went to them before they got to our lords, and we murdered in cold blood." Eren and Annie grappled once more. "We were not guardians. We were not protectors." The two wrestled on the ground, each one looking for an edge. "We were killers. We were born to destroy, yet we've shirked our duty. We abandoned the form which gave us our strength, and no longer did we kill for royalty and powerful men."

Eren popped the eyes of Annie's titan, prompting a vicious, painful, and slightly saddening howl. Angel felt the noise wound him. He felt it anger him. And then he was certain of where his allegiance laid. He could not let her die. He needed her.

"It is time to stop running from what I am." Eren climbed on top of Annie's broken form, roaring like a madman, or like a lion that had caught it's prey and was now feasting on the excitement of the hunt.

"I am no Guardian Angel."

Eren roared once more, descending to bit right through Annie's nape.

"I am an Angel of Death."

Angel of Death.

Angel leaped off the tower, plummeting towards the ground for a brief moment before he transformed, lightning striking down from the heavens shattering the clear sky to highlight him accepting the monster his family had avoided for generations. The Blase Titan, which varied from owner to owner. It did not have a clear shape or form or list of powers, but rather each owner was gifted with powers their ancestors hadn't known, and the owner would learn what their titan could do. Angel did not understand the Titan itself completely in how it related to the other nine, but it did not matter. He understood his Titan. He did not know everything he could do, but he knew enough. He knew that he was the Angelic Titan.

We were nothing.

The Titan smashed into the ground with force, causing the tower he had been standing on to crumple as he came down. He stood in the full nineteen and a half meters glory he possessed, with thick dark brown hair cascading halfway down his chest. It was unlike his human form. It was unlike his last transformation. He had short hair back then, and it had been a lighter colour too. But this time, he had embraced what he was. This time he was complete.

The time has come.

He felt the strength in his legs. He could feel an immense power contained within them, as if they could kick through a mountain. His hands had an odd feeling to them. He felt all the little tiny holes in his palms. He knew what they were meant for, based on his first time transforming, but he would have to explore them further to get a sense of it. His chest was very strongly built, but did not seem to have offensive potential like it did defensive. Eren did not look up at him, but Angel moved over, exceptionally fast, and pulled Eren off Annie, lifting up the crippled Titan with ease.

Bear the name.

Eren did not seem taken back in the slightest, as he lunged straight forward to attack Angel, but it was not hard to keep the wounded titan at a distance. Angel threw the boy off of his body, and Eren crash landed into a rooftop, crushing it as he did so. He did not get back up with the same ease he had earlier, but he began to pull himself up as his wounds healed.

Mikasa came spinning around, Angel felt her movements although he did not see her or feel her hooks. He felt her try to come spinning right past his nape, but he easily turned with tremendous speed and caught her gently in his hands, taking care not to crush her and one finger knocking her blades away, sending them twirling through the air down to the ground. Mikasa's expression was one of pure hatred. Angel moved swiftly over to the nearest rooftop, and dropped her on top of it, she catching herself as she fell onto it. Mikasa looked up at him with rage in her face.

"What the hell..." Hange said to Armin, the two watching the sudden change.

"That's...Angel Blase." Armin stammered out, "He was part of the 104th. Mikasa was right. He is with Annie."

"But he didn't kill Mikasa." Hange said, "He made sure she was fine. Why?"

Armin shook his head, "I... I don't know."

Annie, in her Titan, had noticed the sudden change. She could not see what was going on, but her eyes where fast restoring, and she knew that whatever Titan was here for her, there was only one man who it could be.

Eren came back around, pulling himself out of the rubble, his body parts mostly regenerated. He was still flaming. He was still looking quite scary. Angel's heart rate increased when he saw Eren coming back to him, looking as strong as ever. He had waited so long for this. He had shunned this nature of his. But now, oh now, he was getting to live it.

Eren leaped at him, the fifteen meter Titan suddenly seeming small in comparison to Angel's height. Eren's head didn't even reach up all the way to Angel's chin. Angel roared as Eren came through the air towards him, a deep guttural roar. Eren roared in response as he crashed into Angel, causing him to take a step back as Angel absorbed the force of Eren's leap. Angel grabbed Eren by the shoulder, and lifted him right off the ground, holding him dangling above the pavement. Eren tried to punch Angel while held like this, but Angel caught Eren's fist with his other hand, and then took the titan and bought Eren over his shoulder as he slammed him into the ground, sending him flying into a building again.

Eren was getting really tired of being thrown into buildings, and Angel started to move towards Eren, his feet seeming to glide over the ground with ease, threatening a pounce at any moment. His heart was racing. This is battle... he said to himself aloud inside his titan, his voice lower than normal. I feel so alive. My blood is so excited. I love this. To pit myself against another titan... everything about this, it all feels so right. Come, Eren, join me in the thrill of the fight!

Yet behind him, Annie had recovered her eyes, and was carefully standing once more. She stumbled, so weak and hurt, but she had to get out. This was her chance, here was her saviour. Angel cared more about her than any of the others ever did. They all just wanted to complete the mission. I will save you. I won't let them touch you. This is my promise to, Angel. I will protect you when you need me to, just like you protect me now.

She hardened her fingers, ran to the wall once more, and began her climb again. Angel's ears felt her move. Without needing to see it, he could feel her running. That wasn't right. Annie...I cannot allow her to leave. So many...they are dead because of you!

But...I must have you alive. I must... His titan stopped moving, seeming to pause in time and space in the midst of the courtyard. There is no running from battle. I...I am sorry? Yes. No. Yes. It does not matter. I cannot allow her to leave. She must...stand and fight? Yes. No. She must live. No. Fight. Fight. Yes. Yes. I shall have my battle! He turned, watching her flee. He took a moment to note her desperation. Part of him cried out in anguish seeing her like that. The rest of him revelled in seeing his enemies brought to such desperation. My enemies? Yes. My competition. He moved towards the walls. She was around halfway up. He tensed his legs, braced, and jumped.

He soared up into the sky, easily getting high enough to land right on top of the walls, little bits and pieces breaking off as he did. He looked down at the climbing Annie, and gave an odd roar. It was not a continuous roar, for it was stopping and starting, almost as if he was laughing, in a sick sinister way. He stopped 'laughing' and growled, a deep low growl, and as Annie reached up to continue climbing, she watched him step off the wall, his gigantic form coming straight for her. She let go, and the two went falling towards earth.

She smashed into the ground hard, but just before he did, and she rolled to the side, barely dodging being torn in half by Angel landing on top of her. Eren leaped at his back, but Angel simply threw him away with a swing of his arm. Eren leaped again, and Angel turned to grab him, roaring into his face, and then pulling his leg back and kicking Eren in the chest full force, sending him racing backwards through the air, before he crashed through a building, sending the entire structure collapsing inwards, and then halfway through another one. Eren tried to get up and continue, but his chest had been vaporized by the force and a long segment of barely attached flesh was all that comprised his legs. But he would not stop, not now. He began to crawl.

Annie looked up at the back of Angel's titan, trying to understand what he did, and why he did it. He had betrayed her. There was no other way to look at it. She moved to stand up, but Angel turned around and picked her up instead, and only then did she really appreciate how much larger he was compared to her. At least five meters larger, which was quite a lot. Holding her by his hand, she knew for certain that although he had stopped Eren from killing her, he wasn't letting her leave either.

"Whatever happens today, I wish it could be different." His last words to her resounded throughout her hurting head.

Angel threw Annie back to the ground, right in front of him, and he kicked down at her right knee, smashing straight through it. She howled out in pain.

Angel paused for a moment then. I'm...I'm hurting her. This isn't what I wanted. I was supposed to... but she... I wanted... a fight. And I am not satiated. I have not yet been shown power. You two are weak! Show me a good fight! And Eren came leaping at him once more, moving with just two arms to head across the ground. Angel easily caught him, and barely moved an inch. More! He cried out inside his titan.

Eren bought his fist up and pounded them against Angel, landing blow after blow into his chest, but Angel gave that same almost laughing kind of roar, and in frustration, rage, and pure hatred Eren gave his own roar back. Annie reached up and grabbed Angel's leg, however, and pulled it out from underneath him, causing him to fall to the ground with Eren on top. Yes! Angel said to himself in joy. Eren unleashed a full tirade of attacks onto Angel, lying on top of him. Angel continued to laugh but stopped when Eren punched him in the face then, at which point he bought his fist to smash Eren off him, only to find Annie grab his arm and pull it back. Angel shook her off, and then hit Eren with his other fist, sending Eren toppling over and rolling off Annie.

I see, Angel whispered to himself, his voice gleeful and a dark smile crossing his face, you are not strong. The two of you are weakened from your battle with each other, and as such cannot provide a good fight. Then I shall simply end this, and await my battle another day. Angel flipped over on top of Annie, looking into her eyes, and pausing again. He couldn't reconcile his thoughts of her with the bloodlust which consumed his every thought. I was supposed to...to protect her. He moved from her and picked up Eren again. The titan struggled feebly at him, but the flames around him had already almost flickered out. He was weak, too weak. There was no challenge anymore.

He placed Eren down on the ground, gently, and turned around to return to Annie. Eren tried for a moment to continue, but without legs it was very hard to move, and Eren just collapsed back, unable to lift his titan up any more.

Angel came back to Annie, sitting down next to her defeated form. She looked up at him, her eyes seeming to call him traitor. He felt bad. He felt sorry. She reached out for his hand, and he gave it to her. A little bit passed like that, as Annie thought. I promised I would return home. I promised I wouldn't be defeated. And I promised Angel that I'd protect him. I promised I wouldn't let the others hurt him. But he's betrayed me. There is no one in my life I can trust. This world...Dad. You were right.

This world is against me.

Angel felt his blood cooling, rapidly. The fight was over. Everything he had done. All he had ruined. It was coming clearly to him. The red that tainted his thoughts was starting to fade. Even Angel...I thought I could trust him. I thought maybe, just maybe, I didn't have to fight the entire world. But I was wrong. I was a fool.

"Whatever happens today, I wish it could be different." His face, and his voice, it played inside her head. Even you. This world is cruel. This world hates me. But do you? I...I wish it could be different. I have to return home. I promised my Father. But Angel, how can I protect you now? For I... I need you in my life. I promised you. I promised. Angel Blase...I promise...

Inside the warm nape of the Female Titan, one single tear made its way down Annie Leonhart's face. It started in her left eye, and slowly crawled it's way along her nose. It descended down, falling down into the sweltering heat of the nape, hugging Annie's body. It dropped along her chest, making it's way past her midriff and continuing down past her legs. It rolled off the edge of her foot, hung for a moment on her toe, and then let go, dissolving upon the hot flesh of the titan's insides.

There was a blinding light, a brilliant light that appeared directly from Annie's nape. Angel turned his eyes away, his hand still grasping hers. He felt his hand begin to crystalize, and tried to pull away but found it was attached to Annie's by crystal. He considered what he knew he could do. Drawing on a faint idea of something he could do, he thought about his palms. He focused, and out of them poured incredibly hot steam, jetting right out and melting through the crystal before it got very far up his arm. He looked back down, to see his love locked away in faintly blue crystal. Her face set guilt in his heart.

His bloodlust was gone, replaced with sadness and guilt. He stood, picked the crystal up from the decomposing nape of Annie, and looked at it. He gave a faint smile, one clearly a remorseful smile, and then placed her back onto the ground. He looked around at all the people gathered on rooftops, watching him. He didn't know if anyone had seen him transform, but he could feel the confusion, and he could feel their accusing stares. He couldn't stay here. Not anymore. He turned to face the walls, tensed, and jumped, to gracefully sail overtop them, crashing down outside on the other side of Wall Sina. Somebody might come looking for him, however, as he was still inside of human territory.

Moving fast, he retreated into a nearby large forest, and got into the tree's, way up high, and wondered about what he'd done. He was an angel of death for a brief moment, but now he was just some kid, who had made an enemy of the entire world.

He leaned back against the trunk, lying down and looking up to the stars. His body quivered slightly as he began to cry, the weight of what he'd done crashing down upon his head.