The advanced guard will be here soon.

The Armored Titan ducked, rushing forward to tackle the Female Titan around the middle. It shoved with all its might. The Female Titan slammed into the ground, its head bouncing off a stack of bricks. The split second of disorientation left the Female Titan open for its arms to be pinned down by the Armored Titan's knees as hands wrapped around its neck.

It's too late now for you to form a barrier, Reiner thought, picturing the crystals the Female Titan would grow over its skin to form an armor comparable to his own. It didn't take long for him to discover it had issues creating the substance wherever it was currently being touched, akin to the difficulty of opening a door with no obstructions versus someone else pushing back from the other side.

I'll pop the head off its shoulders, Reiner thought as he squeezed. Then I'll rip your true form out of the stump and rid the world of a backstabbing traitor who forgot what it means to be a warrior.

"A traitor is someone who's turned their backs on those they've sworn loyalty to. Do you claim to be any different?"

Shut up!

Reiner shouted over the voice in his subconscious. He focused on the Female Titan's neck and the sound of a pop as he pulled upward and dislocated its spine.

Just … a little more …

Something rushed in his peripheral. The Armored Titan was knocked to the side by a kick to its collar bone. It tumbled over uneven terrain, grasping the remains of a downed stone column to catch itself. The ground rumbled as the Armored Titan leapt to its feet. Reiner knew better than to give his opponents a chance for a follow up attack.

Eren …

Reiner regarded Eren's Titan, the muscled creature lifting its arms in a defensive stance. The Attack Titan was standing over the Female Titan, giving it the seconds needed for its body to heal so it could rejoin the fight.

They have us at a standstill, Reiner thought. Whenever I get close to taking one of them down, the other steps in. Bertholdt doesn't move fast enough to keep either one occupied for long. He could melt them both to the bone with his steam … but that would risk killing Eren and leaving me useless once the steam reached my joints. Dammit! I have to find a way to end this before more soldiers arrive.

Reiner had spotted a handful in the area, zipping between the few chimneys and support beams which were left standing. None of them had made a move to aid Eren and Annie in any way. They were likely collecting intel – reporting back to their captains and formulating a plan of attack. The goal would be to keep Bertholdt and himself as central to the district as possible, avoiding the gates likely swamped with masses fleeing the scene. Giant nets and cannons had been strategically hidden throughout the city over the past week; they would be getting pulled by horses into position soon, if not already.

Wait, Reiner thought. How do I know…?

Something gleamed to the side. There were a trio of Scout soldiers a few yards to his left, their hands and knees covered in soot as they dug through the debris. Whatever they were doing there didn't matter, what mattered was that Reiner could approach them in a manner free from obstructions.

The Armored Titan turned on its heel, running in the direction of the soldiers. Its towering presence immediately caught their attention. One of them activated their ODM gear and sped off to the left. The other two went to the right. The Armored Titan adjusted its course, following the two heading right. It reached out, the shadow of its fingers falling over the two men.

A roar accompanied the Attack Titan shoving the Armored Titan's arm away. The Armored Titan used the momentum to spin on its heel, ducking below the Attack Titan before reaching out again. Its hand found its mark, the Armored Titan gripping the rope of the soldiers' ODM gear and snapping them free from their grappling hooks. The two men were sent airborne with a flick of the wrist. Without their gear, there would be little hope for a landing which wouldn't kill them instantly.

As predicted, the Attack Titan took its eyes off the Armored Titan to follow the trajectory of the two falling soldiers. It leapt forward, clasping one in each hand as its knees skidded through the debris and left a trail of deep trenches in its wake. The Attack Titan took a moment to unfurl its fingers, inspecting the two men as they cowered in its hands.

The men screamed and fell from the Attack Titan's grasp as its head rushed between them. The Armored Titan had leapt upon its back, causing its face to smash into the debris with a resounding crash. The Armored Titan's jaws came down on the nape of its opponent's neck and bit with all its force.

When the Armored Titan withdrew, a steaming depression of flesh stood stark between pale shoulders. Eren's Titan didn't so much as twitch.

One down, Reiner thought. The Armored Titan set its jaw and raised its fists. If the Colossal Titan hadn't distracted the Female Titan during the commotion, it would've been on the attack immediately with every intention of prying the Armored Titan's jaw open to retrieve Eren.

With her alone, Reiner thought, turning. Bertholdt and I can–

Something latched onto his side. The creature bit down, clamping onto one of the large metal plates lining the Armored Titan's torso.

What …?

The metal plating shattered. The Armored Titan stumbled back, putting distance between itself and the Titan now spitting out pieces of gold.

Ymir?!

Ymir's Titan opened its mouth, pointed teeth at the ready.

The Armored Titan took an unsteady step back. There was movement from the corner of its eye and it could tell the Female Titan was getting itself in position to attack from behind.

A massive hand slammed down from above. The Jaw Titan had been able to dodge the blow, its hunched form running on all fours as it climbed the length of the Colossal Titan's arm. The Colossal Titan tried to fend the smaller Titan off with concentrated bursts of steam, but the Jaw Titan leapt from its arm to its torso with the ease of a squirrel between trees. Its jaws came down on the muscle around the Colossal Titan's armpit, a shower of blood accompanying pulling forth strings of flesh. The Colossal Titan's arm shuddered, its hand falling to the ground as it lost the ability to control the appendage.

She can rip through him as if it's nothing, Reiner thought in terror. If she gets to his neck …

A sound from behind caused the Armored Titan to whip about. The Female Titan had shifted into a crouch, watching the Armored Titan steadily through hooded lids. It'd gained companions in the forms of two figures, one gracing each shoulder.

"Reiner, you maggot!"

Conny bared his teeth, fighting back the tears forming in the corner of his eyes. He reached out a hand, steadying himself against the Female Titan's neck. "I'm still … I'm slow, so I'm still taking everything in about Annie here, but … Marco told me what you did, and that you're the reason Sasha never came back. I was hoping she was holding up somewhere until it was safe, or maybe she'd even had enough of all this to run … but you … you and Bertholdt …"

Conny drew the swords at his hips. He tightened his grip on the hilts.

"She trusted you!" Conny shouted, ignoring all pretenses of putting on a tough face to hide the pain coming through. "We were like family! She would have died to protect both of you! Any … Any of us would have …"

"Are you a warrior? Or are you … a soldier?"

"Please, Reiner – Bertholdt!"

Armin had perched himself on the Female Titan's opposite shoulder. He forced a smile as he opened his hands, palms-up. "You two can stop this. The military has worked out a deal with Annie and Ymir; they can do the same for you! Whatever hardships you two have to face concerning where you're from, let us help you. Please, just give Eren back and we can talk."

The mention of Eren's name prompted a figure to step out from behind a half-demolished chimney. If looks alone could kill, Reiner would've died a thousand deaths from Mikasa's stare. A hand on her arm appeared to be the thing reminding her to keep herself in check, Marco taking a step forward as he looked up at Reiner in worry.

"Will you ignore your sense of duty to them, Reiner Braun?"

I … I can't …

"Reiner!"

Reiner looked down. A figure approached by foot, their chin held high. Long, blonde hair billowed around the girl's face as she placed a hand on her chest.

Christa … no – Historia.

"I know you have a good heart, Reiner!" Historia said. "You saved us at the tower from that Titan who busted down the door. Back in Trost, you and Mikasa were the two we all trusted to kill the Titans surrounding the Engineering Corps Headquarters so we could pass safely. Even before all that when we were in the cadets … we could depend on you! I know what it's like to live with a false identity … to be unsure of who you really are. But I would hope that's something we could all find out together, if you let us."

"What an eloquent young lady. Perhaps you'll still get that chance to marry her if you take her up on that offer."

SHUT UP!

Reiner dipped his head. His thoughts were jumbled – scenes and voices racing through his mind he couldn't place. It was becoming harder to distinguish where they happened, or who said what. Some of them felt like they weren't even his.

I've already made up my mind.

The Armored Titan jolted into a run. It reached down, scooping up Historia in one hand as it sprinted.

"Historia!"

Armin's cry in distress was drowned out by a high-pitched scream.

The Jaw Titan had taken a cue from its gathered companions, lying in wait behind the Colossal Titan to see how everything played out. It was now right on the Armored Titan's heels, running in a crazed manner to reach the girl struggling in the Armored Titan's palm.

I've given you an opening, Bertholdt, Reiner thought. The Armored Titan took a sharp left, the sound of the Jaw Titan crashing into a stone wall at its back. They continued to run, heading south.

You can use your steam to keep everyone at a distance before slipping away. I'll divide their attention until I make it through the gate and find somewhere I can take Eren and dissolve into the crowd. Ymir will stick to me like glue, but she'll hesitate to attack as long as I have Historia.

"A fine plan. But the Scout Regiment won't make your escape so easy."

"Fire!"

The sound of cannon fire boomed from the left. Reiner turned his head, watching in horror as a volley of cannonballs erupted from the streets below.

. . .

The Armored Titan jumped, avoiding the majority of the cannonballs headed its way save for one that clipped it across the ankle. Its landing resulted in a stumble; the front half of a townhome spanning the length of the block crumbling against the Armored Titan's golden plates. The resulting dust cloud obscured its form just long enough for the Jaw Titan to miscalculate the angle of its tackle. A high-pitch squeal rang through the air as the Jaw Titan's long nails were only able to scrape against the Armored Titan before its opponent dodged out of its grasp.

"My squad, with me!"

The Armored Titan turned its head to look over its shoulder. Hange met its gaze with steadfast determination.

"Thunder spears, fire!"

A series of long, metallic tubes shot forth from the guns attached to the forearms of the gaggle of Scout soldiers at Hange's back. A tangle of smoke trails were left in the spears' wake before making contact with the Armored Titan in loud thuds.

A cluster of explosions flung the Armored Titan forward. The spears striking metal plating along its back did little damage, but the few that hit exposed flesh between the plates opened steaming gashes which left the Armored Titan hitting the ground with a crash.

"Second volley, ready!" Hange said, lifting her arm. She swung it down in the chopping motion. "Fi–!"

The Scout soldiers standing atop the blackened buildings cried out in surprise as the Jaw Titan swept at the rooftops, clouds of ash flying free as the roofs caved in.

"Ymir!" Hange said. She stepped forward, terrified her gamble had backfired. "What are you doing?! Don't tell me you've changed to his side!"

The Jaw Titan turned away with a grunt. It leapt to the ground below, taking off after the Armored Titan's unsteady gait as it continued south. It was at this point Hange spotted something squirming in the Armored Titan's fist.

Hange wiped the ash away from her goggles as she squinted. "He's taken a hostage, huh?"

"It's Historia!" a voice called.

Hange regarded the girl landing at her side. She watched Mikasa grit her teeth, eyes aflame.

"They also have Eren!" Mikasa said.

Hange cursed before activating her gear.

"Moblit!" Hange said. "Get Mikasa armed with one of the extra thunder spears. All of you – be wary of civilians as we get closer to the gate. The second volley needs to hit our target at all costs! I'll take care of the other Titan if necessary!"

Shouts of affirmation followed Hange as she sped away. Neighborhoods flashed by in a blur, the surrounding fires growing fewer in number. It wasn't long before the cobblestone streets widened when they entered the merchant district. More civilians were gathered here, many falling victim underfoot as the Armored Titan raced past.

Even with those injuries from the thunder spears, he's still incredibly fast. We can barely keep up.

The gate loomed ahead. It was swarmed by a writhing crowd, their agitated hum growing to a collection of screams at the sight of the Armored Titan barreling in their direction. Cries of terror nearly drowned out the orders issued for the soldiers manning the cannons atop the wall to fire. Cannonballs flew through the air, a few hitting their mark and creating hairline cracks in the Armored Titan's armor. This did little more than prompt the Armored Titan to duck its head as it plowed onward.

I need to stop him before he flattens that crowd!

"Everyone, ready!" Hange shouted.

The Armored Titan leapt over a building and shattered stone under foot as it came down at the edge of the courtyard surrounding the gate. The Jaw Titan appeared on its arm in an instant, jaws closing on the Armored Titan's wrist in an effort to sever the hand clutching Historia. A large crack formed in the gold plating as it threatened to shatter.

The bite prompted the Armored Titan to swap Historia to its opposite hand. It flung the wrist with the Jaw Titan behind it like a shield. Hange swung about to reposition her squad to get a clearer shot of the Armored Titan's back.

Dammit! We don't have any good angles! We won't make it!

If she fired now, any wayward spears could make contact with the crowd below. Hundreds of upturned faces were regarding the Armored Titan's approach; faces with expressions ranging from shouting, to crying, to frozen in terror. Each of them was an individual Hange would be condemning to death through simple bad luck.

The Armored Titan launched forward to hurdle itself through the open gate.

Make a decision, dammit!

Hange's hand twitched. Before any words could escape the squeezing sensation in her throat, a loud clunk echoed through the square.

The massive barrier to close the gate came hurling down amid the chorus of clanging metal and grinding stone. It crashed to the street below, a spray of blood coating those nearby from the masses unfortunate enough to have not escaped in time before being crushed. There was hardly a second for Hange to process the horror of what she'd just seen before the ground shaking made her nearly lose her balance.

The Armored Titan had slammed head-first against the barrier. Its form crumpled, the crowd at its feet scattering as it fell before the barrier now sporting a crack nearly splitting it in two. The Titan worked to right itself in a slow, dazed fashion.

Ignore it, Hange thought, biting her lip. She shouted, urging her squad to approach the Armored Titan.

Ignore the bodies below.

A wail unlike anything Hange had heard before pierced the air. The closest thing she could compare it with were the dying cries of a bull-elk, a high-pitched scream interlaced with a resounding bellow. What set this cry apart was something heart wrenching … something human.

Ymir's Titan was crouched against the side of the cracked barrier. Its clawed feet were slick with the blood slowly oozing from below the gate, causing it to slide as its hands peeled something from the stone. Upon closer inspection, Hange discovered the pieces had clumps of long, blonde hair attached.

The Jaw Titan threw back its head, letting out another long, trembling wail.

'I want Historia and I … to be a part of something.'

Ymir's voice echoed through Hange's head. She shook the thought away, returning to the matter at hand.

"Section Commander!"

Hange watched the young private landing on the rooftop to her side. Her brow furrowed.

"Jean?" she said, regarding the boy in confusion. "What are you doing here? I thought you were assigned to the mission at Wall Rose."

"We found out about halfway there we weren't," Jean said. His eyes narrowed. "A letter arrived from the Commander. He wanted to make it look like we were out of the area so the enemy would let their guard down. I came here to tell you to hold off on firing at the Armored Titan for now."

"Hold off?" Hange asked, her confusion growing.

"Reiner has Eren!" Mikasa shouted, stepping forward. "We're not falling back!"

"Just wait," Jean said. He turned toward the gate, his eyes tracking up. "This probably won't take long."

An object shot from the top of the wall. It flew down in a flutter as a cloak billowed about the face of the figure landing on the Armored Titan's back. The effort the Armored Titan made to swat the figure away was dodged in a graceful side-step.

"It looks like you've caused a lot of trouble, shithead," Levi said.

Levi dashed forward, sinking the blades he had in hand into the flesh between gold plates. The cut reached from shoulder to shoulder, the Armored Titan's attempts to snatch Levi from the air unsuccessful as Levi swung down to create another long cut in the opposite direction. The large, gold plate protecting the nape of the Armored Titan's neck hung slack.

The Armored Titan took a step back, slamming its back into the wall. It was uncertain whether this was an attempt to crush Levi or protect its nape. The Armored Titan found itself unsuccessful in both efforts – Levi having found refuge on its shoulder, one of his swords wedged into the side of the gold plating. Levi pushed down, connecting the cuts he'd put in place above and below. The plating slid down like a shutter on a broken hinge. Whatever Levi saw inside caused his eyes to narrow.

"There you are, you filth," Levi said. He adjusted his footing as the Armored Titan's hand shot up.

Between the two, Levi was faster. He yanked a figure wearing a Scout jacket from the Titan in a fluid motion. Steam erupted in all directions as the Armored Titan slid against the wall, falling to the side in a heap.

"Go retrieve Eren!" Hange barked over her shoulder. Her eyes tracked Mikasa and the others as they activated their gear and flew overhead. She followed their lead, changing course at the last minute to touch down in the courtyard below.

"Levi!"

Hange jogged toward the steam, squinting to make out where Levi had landed. The steam combined with the ash blocking out the moonlight made her surroundings a solid wall of gray the closer Hange got to the Titan's corpse.

"Hange!"

Hange whipped her head about. She broke into a run. Levi's voice was familiar; the tone was not.

"Hange!"

"I'm here!" Hange said, finally locating Levi in a patch of grass. She found him staring at the person laid out before him, eyes wide.

"Tell me …" Levi said, the words slow to float to the surface. "... You see what I see."

Hange stopped at Levi's shoulder. She leaned down to get a better look and froze.

"What …?" Hange said, voice wavering.

"How is it …" Levi said. He slowly blinked, dumbstruck.

"… I've come to pull Erwin out from a Titan?"

A/N: Happy holidays! And uh ... Sorry if you're a Historia fan ¯\_(ツ)_/¯