Reiner was astoundingly fast for his size. He would dash over the forest floor when Annie caught up to him among the trees. The second she'd descend upon him with blades drawn, he'd fly away in a burst of steam. The game of cat-and-mouse was quickly growing old.

He won't transform because it will draw attention, Annie thought. And I won't transform because I could lose sight of him among the trees. I can't let this continue.

Annie didn't appear to be the only one with this opinion. A blade spun through the trees, lodging itself in Annie's shoulder. She fell like a stone; the underbrush did little to cushion her landing.

Shit!

The blade in Annie's shoulder came free alongside a wince. She locked eyes with Reiner before he turned and leapt away. The turbine at her back only let out a weak hiss when she pressed the trigger.

The fall damaged the engine. There still must be …

Annie aimed and fired. Her hooks crashed through the branches, pine needles falling in a cascade. The right hook bounced uselessly against a curved trunk. The left hook found its mark.

I really am sorry about this, Eren.

The hook caught the material of the pack on Reiner's back. The cord retracted, ripping the straps off Reiner's back as it sped toward Annie. The catch was more of a collision as Annie was knocked off her feet. She made quick work of pulling out the hook and flinging the pack open.

Shit … He's lost so much blood.

Annie placed a hand against Eren's cheek. He was pale; clouded green eyes drifting about in an effort to focus. Reiner had clearly drugged him with something that was wearing off but Eren was in a bad state regardless. Being a member of the Nine meant his body in both forms could take abuse far beyond what would kill a regular human being. That wasn't to say he was immortal – there was a chance his heart would give out before he had a chance to recuperate. Transforming into a Titan would heal him instantly, but the question was whether he was lucid enough to do so.

"I'll do what I can, Eren," Annie said. She flicked her wrist to extend the spike on her ring. "Just don't die beforehand."

A gleam of metal came from Annie's left. The edge of a sword stopped just shy of her throat. She whipped her head to the side to regard the figure standing at her shoulder, her eyes going wide as she regarded Captain Levi.

It took the Titan brat a moment, but Levi could see in his peripheral when she slowly turned her head away from him and to the left. She'd followed Levi's gaze to Reiner Braun and the sword Levi had run through his gut. The blade near Annie's throat wavered before Reiner slowly lowered his arm.

"I found your markers," Levi said, keeping his eyes on Reiner. "I assume this bastard is going to transform the second I move another muscle, so act accordingly."

A glint of steel had caught Levi's attention moments before. There had been a knife stuck within a high branch of a tree, skewering a patch displaying the wings of freedom. From there on a series of trees sported long gashes along their trunks to form a trail heading east.

'But I do … trust her,' Celine had said the night before.

The Female Titan had been defenseless. She'd made the mistake of taking her eyes from her opponent for even a second. Allowing her to die would've been simple.

Should I put my faith … Levi had thought, when he'd burst from the trees with his blade held high. … In someone who put theirs in Annie Leonhart?

Levi leapt back as lightning struck. He accepted the pack carrying Eren as it was shoved into his arms.

Levi swung onto the branch of the nearest tree that hadn't been flattened or gone up in flames. He lifted his eyes as the Armored and Female Titan squared off – the Female Titan ducking to jab at the Armored Titan's gut while the other made a move to grapple its opponent.

"Are you conscious, brat?" Levi asked. A weak moan from the pack dangling from his fingers was taken as an affirmative. Levi swung to the forest floor.

"I'll be back," Levi said as he pulled Eren free. He noted the steam rising from the stubs where Eren's limbs used to be before propping him against a tree. "Don't run off while I'm gone."

Trees and flames rushed by in a blur. The Female Titan was doing a fine enough job keeping the Armored Titan distracted; it was simple for Levi to get himself in the right angle. Blades spun as he flew behind the Armored Titan and targeted red flesh between golden plates.

Levi's blades shattered. He tilted his head to avoid the metal flying past.

What the hell? I know I didn't miss.

The spot between the golden plates where he's been aiming was now coated in a glittering, crystalline substance. It was …

The hardening ability?!

The crystal cracked as the plates shifted. Edges of the patch fell away when the Armored Titan took a punch which sent it stumbling back.

The hardening ability is a reaction, Levi thought. He swapped out his broken blades for a fresh set.

Let's see who's faster.

Blood spurted from the Armored Titan's ankles. It stumbled, leaving an opening for the Female Titan to send it flying to the side from a kick. The flesh behind its knees being sliced made the Armored Titan unable to stand. It wasn't until Levi made his way up to the Titan's back did the crystalline patches start making a reappearance. Levi cursed when his swords shattered.

I have one pair left, Levi thought, changing them out. Make it count.

"Annie!" Levi said. He locked eyes with the approaching Titan. "Use your own hardening to break his shell!"

The Female Titan's fists became encased in crystal. It slammed them down on the Armored Titan's nape, the earth shaking as the Armored Titan crashed to the ground. The crystal on the Armored Titan's back cracked, but didn't break apart.

"This is your element!" Levi shouted. He grit his teeth as he watched the Female Titan pull back its hands for another blow. "Show this bastard what happens when you try to be a cheap imitation of a real soldier!"

Levi leapt out of the way when the Female Titan let out a piercing scream, its fists breaking through the Armored Titan's shell in shards of crystal and gold. Its hands dug into flesh, the Armored Titan letting out a roar as crystalline spikes shattered its armor and jutted from every part of its body.

She's breaking him to pieces from the inside.

Levi landed on the crest of the Female Titan's head to get a clear view of the Armored Titan's nape.

The Armored Titan continued to roar as spikes pushed from its flesh, its face splitting in two when a spike grew from its eye and another broke open its jaw. Its limbs flailed in violent convulsions; control slipping away. A final deep bellow of anguish rang through the air before the Armored Titan fell still.

She did it. Levi's eyes scanned the giant figure which looked more like a sculpture than a Titan. Do we have to wait for his body to dissolve?

There wasn't time to react when the Armored Titan's body flipped, its spike-crusted fist making contact with the Female Titan's face. A chunk of golden debris struck Levi in the shoulder, his left arm flopping limply at his side. The sight as he fell caused his eyes to widen – the Female Titan's head had been skewered by a cluster of spikes. It came away from its shoulders with a sickening sound, showering Levi in a fountain of blood.

Shit!

Levi's maneuverability with only one arm was less than desirable. He narrowly avoided being crushed by the Female Titan as its body came crashing down with enough force to cause a wave of dust. The dirt flying in his eyes was the least of Levi's problems as he weaved between falling shards of crystal. The armored Titan was getting back to its feet, and he was at a loss for how to get past its defenses … but admitting defeat wasn't an option.

The Armored Titan suddenly jerked to the side. A spike shot from its neck, towering high above the others. Impaled upon the tip was Reiner's human form, the spike emerging from his back gleaming red with his blood. His hands struggled in a feeble manner to grip the crystal piercing his gut. All he accomplished was leaving bloody handprints as panic laced his features. His body shuddered, his golden eyes rolling back in his head before going limp.

Levi perched atop a blackened branch. His eyes drifted down until he spotted an object protruding from the Armored Titan's back – the Female Titan's fist, which had remained lodged in the Armored Titan's spine even after the Female Titan had been decapitated. Through whatever form of will … The Female Titan had been able to direct a final burst of crystal which had skewered Reiner through.

"These damn monsters ..." Levi said. The clearing below filled with fog as steam leaked from the Titan's bodies. He leapt to the ground, craning his head about as he searched through the haze.

"Annie!"

The head of Annie's Titan form had already deteriorated into a skull. A series of snaps and pops emitted from the rest of the shell like a log tossed into a fire. Something broke away, Levi's eyes tracking a shadow as it fell through the fog. He ran up to the object as it hit the ground with a thick thud.

"Oi," Levi said. "Come on, brat. We need to check if he's–"

Annie twitched. Golden hair fell around her face in a halo. She looked almost serene, if one were to ignore every part of her below the ribcage being missing.

"Hey," Levi said, the word heavy on his tongue. "This is just a scratch to you Titan brats, isn't it?"

A pale hand lifted into the air. Annie's lips began to move.

Levi only hesitated for a moment before grasping her hand. He leaned forward so he could make out her words. Despite himself, a heavy feeling grew in his chest.

"You can't be serious." He loosened his grip and watched Annie's hand flop to the dirt. Taking in her features of long eyelashes, a sharp nose, and bags beneath her eyes, she seemed surprisingly human now that he'd taken a moment to truly look at her.

"Hold on," Levi said. He gave her one final look over before turning on his heel.

Levi disappeared into the mist. Or perhaps the mist had broken and Annie could no longer make out the world around her; it was hard to tell. She couldn't distinguish whether she felt hot or cold, numb or in pain, happy or sad. For now, Annie simply was.

'I know you're scared, Annie! But it's alright; I'll make sure it's alright. I promise.'

Don't worry, Marco, Annie thought. Her strength was gone; she couldn't lift so much as a finger. It didn't bother her.

Marco … you made everything alright, just as you said. You saved me.

"He's here."

Levi's voice sounded like Annie was hearing it from underwater. She felt her hand being clasped again.

"I'm going to make sure he does it, whether he wants to or not," Levi said. The grip on Annie's hand intensified. "Are you ready?"

Just two words. There were only two words Annie wanted to say. She moved her lips, lifted her tongue, and contracted her throat in a way which she hoped meant she was saying what she needed. Her sense of hearing was gone, so she could only hope.

The silver ring slid off Annie's finger. Relief washed over her in a wave.

Thank … goodness …

It was hard to say how much time passed before the ground trembled. Annie grew warm. The warmth increased, enveloping every part of her body that remained.

It's alright … Eren.

Annie smiled as she went to sleep.

You did what had to be done, didn't you?