Eren

It's dark, the only source of light I can see is from the lone torch that rests on the wall across the room. behind...bars? Wait...is that?

"Any questions?"

It's the leader of the Scout Regiment, Commander Erwin. And Captain Levi...

"U-Um... Where...am I?"

"As you can see, it's an underground jail cell. The Military Police has retained custody of you. We only recently received permission to speak with you."

I move but only find myself with my hands chained to the wall. Commander Erwin raises his hand holding... "That key..."

"Yes. It's yours. You can have it back later. The basement of your house in Shiganshina, Doctor Jaeger's house, holds the answer to the mystery of the Titans. Is that it?"

"Yes... I think so. That's what my father said."

The Captain speaks up. "You have amnesia, and your dad's missing. Pretty convenient."

"Levi," Erwin interjects. "We already reached the conclusion that he has no reason to lie. There's still so much we don't know." The commander looks back to me. "But right now, we need to ask what you want to do."

I'm taken aback by the commander's last sentence. "What I want to do?"

"To get to your house, we must take back Shiganshina and Wall Maria. The simplest and easiest way to seal the shattered gate would be to use your Titan power. It's likely that Titans will determine our fate. The Colossal and the Armored Titan are the same, in principle, as you. Your decision is the key. The key that can save humanity from despair."

"I... I am?"

From the moment I lost my home, my mother... "I'll kill them all! I'll wipe every last Titan off the face of this Earth!"

"Answer up, you piece of crap. What do you want to do?"

My breath gets ragged, and I can feel my enamel wear thin by how hard I'm gritting my teeth. I can't help but feel a bit of excitement as well. "I want to join the Scouts...and just slaughter the Titans!"

"Oh? Not bad."

Levi steps closer to the bars. "Erwin, I'll take responsibility for him. Convey that to the brass. It isn't that I trust him. If he betrays us or loses control, I'll kill him on the spot."

I gasp at the Captain's threat.

"They shouldn't complain. Because only I can do it. I accept your request. You can join the Scout Regiment."

O mein Freund! Jetzt hier ist ein Sieg. Dies ist der erste Gloria. O mein Freund! Feiern wir diesen Sieg, für den nächsten Kampf!

Elijah

"Eren's inquisition... What's it about?"

"I'm not sure, but I'd guess they're deciding what to do with Eren.

"What to do with him?"

"Probably whether to kill him or let him live."

Mikasa stands from her seat and looks at Armin and me with a face of pure fear and worry.

I honestly don't blame the Military Police for taking custody of Eren. I can't even imagine what would happen if he wasn't on humanity's side, but I know for a fact that he wants to fight for it. That doesn't give those Military Police pigs the right to treat my friend like some wild animal, but unfortunately, I can't do anything about it. It'll be harder for a bunch of aristocratic assholes to believe him too.

"Calm down, Mikasa. We don't know anything yet."

I spoke too soon before a man followed by two other soldiers carrying muskets called out to the room. From the logos on their jackets, they must be Military Police. "Elijah Everett! Mikasa Ackerman! Armin Arlet! Are you here?"

The three of us stand, Armin, being the first to speak up. "Yes, sir."

"You've been ordered to appear as witnesses at this afternoon's inquiry."

Looks like we'll know everything soon.

"Kneel here!"

I along with Armin and Mikasa are forced to watch as our friend is chained in the middle of the courtroom like a wild dog. If his life wasn't on the line I'd beat the living hell out of that smug-faced asshole who just put him there. All eyes in this courtroom stay on Eren, either in fear, disgust, or worry, but the only worried ones are his only friends here.

Eren looks around the courtroom, and I can't even imagine what's going on in the boy's head. He finally sees the three of us, and the look on his face just screams, "What the hell are you guys doing here?". Don't panic, Eren. The three of us got your back.

An older man enters the room, his eyes are sunken and tired-looking, he wears glasses, and he has noticeable wrinkles on his face, and his hair is receding and gray. I'm not too familiar with him, but I think he's Dhalis Zachary, commander-in-chief of the three regiments. Let's hope he's a reasonable man.

"Well then, let us begin." The man adjusts his glasses as he looks over a lone sheet of paper. "Eren Jaeger, yes? You are a soldier, sworn to sacrifice your life for the public good. Is that correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"This is an exceptional situation. This tribunal will be held under military law, not civilian, law. The final decision rests entirely in my hands. Your fate will be decided here."

Straight to the point I see, at least the man is straightforward about this.

"Do you have any objections?"

"No, sir."

"I appreciate your perception. I will be direct. As anticipated, concealing your existence has proved Impossible. We must make your existence public in some form, or a threat to humanity other than the Titans may arise. What I will decide is which force will have custody of you. The Military Police? Or the Scout Regiment?"

I can already tell that this is not going to go smoothly. knowing the Military Police, they just want to kill Eren. I have somewhat of an idea of what the Scouts would want to do with him, but then again most wouldn't see the same potential as others.

"Then, I ask the Military Police for their proposal."

"Yes, sir." A man with narrow and dark eyes and a light mustache and goatee speaks up. "I, Commander of the Military Police, Nile Dok, will present my proposal. After a thorough investigation of Eren's body, we believe he should be eliminated immediately."

Called it. You MPs are all the same.

"It's certainly true that his Titan power overcame our previous peril. However, now his existence threatens to spark a civil war. So we ask him to die for humanity's sake, leaving behind all the information he can."

for humanity's sake? What kind of pathetic excuse is that?

"There is no need for that!" Another man speaks up immediately after Dok's proposal. A taller, older-looking man, and he wears a black cassock. "He is an invasive pest! He has deceived the Walls that embody God's wisdom! He must be killed at once!" This man is already on my shit list and I don't even know his name yet.

"Priest Nick. Order, please." Zachary speaks up, and the man apparently known as 'Nick' holds his tongue. That's right, you better watch your damn mouth. "We'll hear the Scout Regiment's proposal next."

"Yes, sir." Erwin speaks up. I really hope his proposal can sway him, I know it'll be entirely better than what the MPs want to do with Eren. "I, 13th Commander of the Scout Regiment, Erwin Smith will present my proposal. We would welcome Eren as an official member of our forces, and use his power to retake Wall Maria. That is all."

Straight to the point, no bullshit. Well said, commander. I doubt everyone else thinks the same.

"Oh? That's all?"

"Yes, sir. With his power, we can retake Wall Maria. We believe it is clear what our priorities should be."

"I see. And where do you plan to begin this mission? Pyxis, the Trost wall has been completely sealed, correct?"

The Garrison commander speaks. "Yes, it can never be opened again."

"We would like to set out from Karanes, in the east," Erwin says. "From there, we will proceed to Shiganshina. We will determine the route as we go."

Wow, that's actually not a bad-

"Wait a minute!" My inner thoughts are interrupted by another man who doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut. "Shouldn't we seal all the wall gates once and for all? The Colossal Titan can only destroy the gates. If we can strengthen them, we needn't endure further attacks!"

"Shut up, merchant dog!" A different man shouts. "With that Titan's power, we can return to Wall Maria!"

"We can no longer indulge your delusions of grandeur!"

Sounds to me that this guy just wants another excuse to not fight, to just grow fatter and slower in this concrete cage.

"You talk a lot, pig." Captain Levi speaks up. "Where is your proof that the Titans will wait while we seal the gates? The "we" you speak of are only those you wish to protect, your "friends" who help line your pockets. The people who starve, because there isn't enough land to sow, don't even figure into the thoughts of you pigs." At least someone has the balls to say it.

"We just thought that we could survive by sealing the wall gates-"

"Silence! Impious traitor!" Nick interjects. I can only imagine what this piece has to say. "Mere humans altering Wall Rose, walls that were a gift from God?"

"A gift from God?" what the hell is he on about?

"Can you truly see those walls, God's work far beyond human capabilities, and not understand? Humanity is not fit to lay a single finger on those walls!"

Armin speaks up, but only so Mikasa and I can hear him. "Thanks to them, it took ages before we could even mount weaponry on the walls."

"They have a lot of support and power, which makes them difficult," Rico adds.

"A man like him has no place to speak of God's will," I mumble.

"Heresy!"

"I'll have you be quiet, priest!"

"What?!"

The ponding on hardwood brings all of our attention back to Zachary. "Silence. You may discuss your personal philosophies and opinions elsewhere." He says in a calm yet firm voice.

"Jaeger, I wish to confirm something. Can you continue to serve as a soldier, using your Titan powers to benefit humanity?"

"Yes, I can!" Eren firmly says.

"Oh? But the report on Trost's defense says this... "Immediately after turning into a Titan, he swung his fist at Mikasa Ackerman."

Wait, Eren...attacked Mikasa? I look over to Mikasa, who's trying to cover her recent scar with some of her hair. Is that how she got it in the first place? Mikasa looks aggravated to Rico, i guess that was part of her report.

"You want me to lie in a report? Hiding the truth wouldn't help humanity."

"Yeah, and it doesn't exactly help Eren either!" I say in a hushed shout.

"Is Mikasa Ackerman present?" Zachary asks.

"Yes, that's me."

"You are Ackerman? Is it true that, as a Titan, Jaeger attacked you?"

"Lying isn't going to help Eren one bit," Rico whispers to Mikasa. I hate that she's right. It would only create more problems.

The entire courtroom goes silent, awaiting Mikasa's answer. "Yes, it's true."

Murmurs and other people's unneeded remarks fill the room, I even hear a man a few rows back of me say, "I knew it... He's just another Titan." Making me more aggravated than I already am. Eren looks over to the three of us, most likely at Mikasa, and his face just screams pure shock and horror. he says he doesn't remember much after transforming into his Titan, so it doesn't shock me that the thought of him trying to kill Mikasa is baffling to him.

"But on the previous two occasions, Eren saved my life in his Titan form. The first time, mere seconds before a Titan would have had me in his grasp, he stood between us, protecting me. The second time, he saved Armin, Elijah, and me from an HE shell. I would like these facts to be considered as well."

"Elijah? As in, Elijah Everett? Is he present here?"

"Yes, sir," I speak up.

"Well, Everett, it also says in the report... "Before Eren Jeager was discovered to be the one in the mysterious Titan, he attacked another Abnormal while Elijah Everett hanged from the Titan's head." is this correct?"

Damn, I need to answer this as best I can, my friend's life is on the line. "Yes, sir, it's true. But as the report states, Eren targeted the Abnormal Titan instead of me. I believe that he was fueled by revenge like I was. That specific Titan killed a very close friend of ours, Thomas Wagner. We both wanted to avenge our fallen friend."

"But he still attacked without regard for your safety. Is that correct?"

"...Yes, sir. but-"

"I object." Dok interrupts before I can continue. "I believe these comments are greatly colored by Ackerman's and Everett's personal feelings. At an early age, Mikasa lost her parents and was taken in by the Jaeger household. Elijah lost his parents on the day Shiganshina was invaded by the Titans, and since he has always been by Jaeger's side."

I began to grit my teeth and clench my fists. I can imagine that Mikasa is doing the same. Leave our dead loved ones out of this matter, asshole.

"Our investigation has also revealed a surprising fact about the underlying events. At age nine, Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman killed three robbers who tried to kidnap her. Even if it was self-defense, I must question their fundamental humanity. Is it right to entrust humanity's fate, resources, and lives to him?"

How dare you? All Eren ever wants is to fight for humanity!

"That's right. He's just a Titan that infiltrated us by pretending to be a child!"

"So are they!" The merchant pig points to me and Mikasa. "Do we know that they are human?"

"That's right! Just to be safe, we should dissect 'em!"

My patience finally runs out. "You want to say that again asshole?!"

"Wait!" Eren shouts. "I may be a monster, but they have nothing to do with it! Nothing at all!"

"We can't trust that!"

"It's true!"

"If you're covering for them, it means they're one of you!"

"NO!" Eren pulls on his restraints, causing a loud bang to ring out through the entire courtroom. Some of us go quiet, others quiver in fear of what he might do. "I mean... You are wrong. But you're simply coming up with theories that fit whatever it suits you to think."

Eren? What the hell are you doing?

"What did you say?" Dok questions.

"Besides, all of you people... You've never even seen a Titan! What are you so afraid of?

Eren now's not the time for that.

"What is the point if those with the means and power do not fight? If you're afraid to fight for survival, then help me! You... cowards!"

Eren stop!

"Just shut up! And bet everything you have on me!"

The entire courtroom falls silent for what feels like the tenth time today. Until the commander of the Military Police shouts, "Weapons ready!"

An MP officer quickly pulls out his musket that rests over his shoulder and points it straight at Eren. "Shit." Before anyone could do anything, Captain Levi walked over to Eren, and kicked him across the face, knocking one of his teeth out.

I, along with the entire courthouse am forced to stand by and watch as Levi beats the living hell out of Eren. Kicking his face, and his stomach, pulling his hair, kneeing his chest, and even punching him multiple times. I want to help him, but I know that it would only make things worse. As for Mikasa, she looks like she's ready to kill Levi on the spot for hurting Eren like this. As she was about to go for the kill, Armin and I held her back. "Wait, Mikasa!"

Levi ends his ruthless beating with his right boot stomping on Eren's head. "This is my personal opinion. But I believe pain to be the best way to train someone. What you need is to be trained like a dog, not a man. It's easier to kick you while you're kneeling, too." Levi goes to give a few more hard kicks into Eren's head. Of course, I'm pissed off that my friend is being hurt like this, but there's nothing I can do.

"Wait, Levi..." Dok says with slight fear in his eyes.

"What is it?"

"That's dangerous... What if he gets angry and turns into a Titan?"

Levi kicks Eren one last time. "What are you saying?" The captain kneels down and lifts Eren's head up by his hair, with blood pouring out of his nose and mouth. "Aren't you going to dissect him?"

What are you getting at Captain?

Levi drops Eren. "When he turned into a Titan last time, he killed twenty other Titans before collapsing. If he is an enemy, his intelligence makes him a more formidable foe. Still no match for me, of course. But what will you do? Anyone persecuting him should also consider that fact. Do you really think you can kill him?"

I hate to admit it, but Levi has a good point. There's no one else more skilled enough than the Scouts to take down Eren if he ever loses control again. Keeping him in check may not be such a bad idea, but if it means him being treated like this every day? But a part of me thinks that the Captain is going the right way about this. But I wonder... Was this the Captain's plan, or perhaps... Commander Erwin's?

"Sir, I have a proposal." Commander Erwin speaks up as he raises his hand.

"What is it?"

"The details of Eren's Titan power remain uncertain. Making it dangerous. Thus, I propose to have Captain Levi take responsibility for Eren's control, and embark on an expedition outside the walls."

"With Eren in tow?"

"yes, sir. Based on the expedition's results, I'd like you to judge whether Eren can control his Titan power and whether he is a boon or bane to humanity. "

"Control Eren Jaeger... Can you do it, Levi?"

"I'm certain I can kill him. The only problem is I doubt I can do any less."

"Then my decision is made."

Eren

"That was really terrible. It hurts, right?" Section Commander Hange Zoe asks as she's cleaning the blood and bruises off of my face.

"A little."

"So, how does it hurt?" Hange asks excitedly.

"Uh..." I've only met her today, and I already forgot that she's not like any soldier I've ever met. I remember she scared the hell out of me when she first introduced herself back in that underground jail cell.

"I'm sorry." Commander Erwin speaks. "But thanks to that, we had you turned over to us."

"Yes, sir."

"The pain you endured allowed me to play my cards at the right moment." The commander kneels down to eye level with me and reaches out his hand. "You have my respect. Eren, I look forward to working with you."

"Yes, sir! Thank you!" I take his hand and shake it firmly. Before Levi sits down next to me, looking a little too relaxed like he didn't kick my ass only half an hour ago.

"Hey, Eren..."

"Yes, sir?"

"Do you resent me?"

"N-No... I understand why it was necessary."

"That's good."

"But you took it a little far," Hange adds. "You lost a tooth." The section commander then unfolded a cloth to reveal what I guess was one of my molars. "See?"

"Don't pick that up... It's creepy." Levi says.

"Even this is an important sample."

"Eren, it's still better than getting dissected by people like Hange, right?"

"I'm not like them. I wouldn't kill him. Hey, Eren. Let me see the inside of your mouth."

"Huh?" I'm taken aback by her request, and how close she got to me. But I reluctantly just open my mouth wide so she can look. Hange's expression goes from a curious look to a shocked one, along with Erwin's

"The tooth... It's already grown back."