Stohess District

"We began the mission as soon as the carriages carrying the Scout leaders and Jean entered the city. As expected, the Military Police os escorting the carriages through the city, though it seems the recruits are responsible. This makes the job easier, but how easy this mission will be all depends on Armin's ability to get Annie's cooperation." I look away from my journal, looking down at the street from my vantage point on a rooftop. I see Annie and the other recruits saluting as the carriages pass. I wish I could see her face, hoping that Eren is right, that I'm wrong about her. "As you two know, Annie was never the friendliest person, but she wasn't our enemy either. She always kept to herself, but I always thought she was a good person. Maybe she just hadn't talked to many people her age before our training, hence re reclusiveness, but... Never would I ever consider this day. My rage has quelled over the last two days, and the sorrow I felt yesterday of seeing your mother, Mina, is gone, but my resolve is firm. Thomas, Mina, I have to bring our friend in...or worse, I'll have to kill her. Part of me hopes it won't come to that, but I fear that I may not have a choice." Closing my journal, I sigh as I continue watching our target. The escort hasn't begun yet, so I still have time to gather my thoughts.

Annie Leonhart. What can I honestly say about her? She's pretty, but not my type, especially now. Calling her a friend now is more of a formality than the truth, though I believed her to be my friend. We may have only had a few interactions in the last three years, but I barely know anything about her. Her skill is evident in her ranking and actions. She's quiet, speaking with her actions rather than her words. When she does speak, it's at opportune times. She did teach me and Eren that one grapple technique that, to this day, I still have pain from. But I kept going back to her to master it, and in time, I did, thanks to Annie's tutelage.

"Look at that. You picked that up pretty quickly. You've got the makings of a good fighter, Elijah."

I shrug. "I guess, but you're a pretty good teacher after all."

She smiled, a bit like her laugh, it was gone just as quickly as it appeared. "Hmph, Maybe. Maybe not. You wouldn't be any match for the likes of Mikasa yet, of course... I wonder what my father would say if he knew how much interest there was in the technique he developed..."

A complex expression cones across Annie's face as she looks to the ground. There's something to it, most likely stemming from her father. "Your father..."

She shrugs it off before I can fully question her, " I'll teach you more if you like. I can think of worse ways to pass the time."

The last carriage passes by, so the Military Police begin their escort. Annie gets a few steps in before a voice stops her in her tracks. She pauses in place as her fellow soldiers pass her before turning around and heading into an alleyway, facing a cloaked figure. Good, Armin got her attention.

"Hey. You're one of the Military police now, aren't you?"

"Armin... Why are you dressed like that?"

"I'm a pack bearer. I have my Maneuver Gear hidden under my raincoat. Look." Armin holds his jacket out, showing Annie his gear.

"What's going on?"

Armin takes off his hood. "Annie, would you assist me in helping Eren escape?"

"Escape where? If you disobey the monarchy, where will you go inside these walls?"

"We'll just hide for a while. I don't intend to fight the monarchy head-on. It will be reported as a rebellion by a portion of the Scout Regiment. It'll buy time. Time we'll spend finding enough ammunition to counter the other factions at the tribunal. And we will find it."

"Enough ammunition? Is something so convenient just lying around? What's your evidence?"

"...I'm sorry, but I can't say."

Annie sighs. "Sorry, but I can't help you. I won't tell anyone, but you'll have to do it on your own."

Annie starts to walk away, but Armin stops her. "Annie! Please! Eren will be killed!" That stops Annie right in her tracks. I smile, knowing that Annie, no matter what Armin will say from now on, won't allow that to happen. Nice job, Armin. "Clueless people who only care about saving their own skin will unwittingly set humanity on a path toward self-destruction! I know I can't convince you. But even so... I have to make a big wager! Of course, I'll do my best to avoid causing you trouble. But to get through the checkpoints within Wall Sina, I need Military police help! This is the only way!"

Annie looks back to Armin over her shoulder. "Armin... Do I really look like such a good person to you?"

"A good person? Well... I don't really like that term. Because to me, it just seems to mean someone who's good for you. And I don't think there's any one person who's good for everyone. So if you don't help me... Then, to me, you're a bad person, right?" Annie looks back at Armin and then to the ground, taking a moment to decide what to do for herself. She doesn't take too long, as she drops her rifle and faces Armin again.

"Fine." She turns away from Armin, fiddling with her fingers. "I'm in."

I land by some of the Scouts at the designated location Armin and the others will take to enter the tunnel. "They're by the tunnel. Be ready for anything." I watch the exchange along with the others equipped on the rooftops and those posing as civilians on the ground. Armin, Mikasa, and Eren are down in the tunnel, while Annie stands outside.

"What's happening?"

She's smart. I knew that, but part of me hoped that she wouldn't be this smart. "She knows it's a trap. Be ready. On the movement of those on the ground, we'll make our move." I watch with intense anticipation for the signal to move as Annie looks like she's...laughing? Why the hell is she laughing like that, and why the hell does she sound...hurt? A moment later, Mikasa draws her blade, Annie raises her arm, and Eren fires the acoustic signal. I nod to the Scouts with me, and we drop down the street, running as fast as we can around the corner to Annie's location. The disguised Scouts have her restrained, so there's no way she can-

BOOM!

Lightning hits the ground around Annie and the others, debris and bodies fly everywhere. I fall on my back due to the force of Annie's transformation and being hit by debris. My head feeling heavy, I try my best to see what's happening.

Rising out of the smoke is the Female Titan...no, Annie's Titan. I rise up despite the pain in my body and the blood dripping down my face telling me to stay down. "ANNIE!" I draw my blades as she towers over me, wiping my forehead. We share a staredown, in which I believe that smile on her face is to mock me. She begins to run, stepping over me like the bug I am to her. The force of her feet meeting the ground kicks me to my back and knocks me unconscious...

"You're still not bored then? I didn't think you'd keep coming back, to be honest."

I shrug. "Well, I get to learn something new, plus being around you isn't so bad."

Annie looks at me dumbfoundedly. "...Are you crazy? When my father taught me this stuff, I was not a willing student! I mean what's the point nowadays? Hand-to-hand combat is useless. Personally, I can't understand people like you and Eren." Annie looks away for a moment then looks back up at me. "I mean, I don't know how to be friends with people like you. People who like playing soldiers and dumb stuff like that."

"Well, don't you think you think too much about this whole thing i mean-" What she said raises a thought I never thought possible. I ask though I'm sure my answer will be a kick to the jaw. "Wait, so you...want to be friends with everyone?"

Instead of a kick in the jaw, Annie just stands there, barely making eye contact with me. Out from behind me comes a familiar voice, catching us both off-guard. "Really? Because I did not get that." When I turn around, my lips form into a smile as I see our local genius and foodie. Although, Annie, believe it or not, looks a little embarrassed.

"Connie, Sasha, What are you doing here? Training's finished for the day."

"We heard you had something interesting going on after training." The genius smirks. "But forget that. Is that really how you see it, Annie?"

Annie continues to perplex me with how flustered she's getting. "Huh? No, I mean..."

"Come on, why are you so cold all the time?" The potato-loving redhead gets an idea. "Hey, I know! Why don't we all go out someplace together?"

The cold-hearted blonde looks away but speaks in a hushed tone. "Okay, if you want"

"Honestly, this can be good for us. Plus it can be a way to thank you for all your teaching."

Annie scoffs at me. "Oh please, spare me!"

Connie enthusiastically speaks up. "It's decided then! Next day of leave we have, we'll meet outside the barracks, okay?"

Sasha nods. "Don't stand us up!"

Annie only looks down and sighs as if she's just been beaten. "...Okay."

I've never seen Annie looking so confused. It's not really a bad thing, but it's not normal to me either. Regardless, part of me is looking forward to our day out. Perhaps the other two are as well. Although, one of them might be looking forward to what we may eat that day.

I cough as my senses return to me. I reach for my swords, then attempt to stand up. I manage to weakly get to my feet, standing long enough to gather my surroundings. I'm still on the street that we tried capturing Annie on, the bodies of my comrades around me are a reminder of our failure. How much time has passed? Am I too late? What was I dreaming about? Did our second plan succeed or did we fail again with the interior wall now endangered? Overwhelmed, I fall to my knees, dropping my weapons. I don't remember Eren and the others coming out of the tunnel after Annie's transformation, yet I don't believe that they got hurt. But I must find out...If only I can get back up.

"Elijah! Hey! Are you alright?" Two sets of feet land near me, and I look up to see Jean and Armin. They kneel in front of me with concern, but I wave them off.

"I'm fine, just a little dazed, my body hurts," I reach my hand to my forehead, and when I look down at it, there's blood. "I'm still bleeding, but I'm feeling good. What's the situation?"

Armin loks to his right. "Our first mission failed... We have to go on to the next stage."

"Your ODM gear is working, right?" Jean stands up, walking around Armin and me. "Then snap out of it. I'm going to distract the Female Titan, you're coming too!" Jean zips away from us. Armin helps me to my feet as I look towards the departing Jean. Distract the Female Titan? What does he...oh no.

"What's wrong with Eren?"

"He couldn't transform...but he's alive We need to buy him time to get himself together."

"So, it's Plan C then?"

He nods with a sigh. "Yes. Unless Eren gets up... This is our last chance to capture that thing. Hurry!"

Armin flies off, leaving me alone with my thoughts. He's right, we only have one shot left at this. I dust myself off, check my equipment, and dart into the air after Armin. By the time I catch up, Armin is back on the ground, standing before the Female Titan. "Annie! If you can't kill me this time, you can't make the same bullshit excuse that your bet's just beginning anymore!"

I have no idea what he's talking about, but whoever gave Armin a temporary shot of testosterone, make it permanent. As soon as Armin stops speaking, I dash right over him making a beeline for Annie. However, at the last second, I dive low to go between her legs while Jean attacks her from above. She protects her nape, of course, but now we have her attention. "Elijah! Armin! This way!"

"Got it!" The three of us join up and fly away from Annie, who follows us perfectly as planned. She's fast, but she's not chasing us as she did the Levi Squad. I guess I should consider myself lucky, but in a moment, luck won't be needed. We made it to our destination. I turn around, give Annie a smug look, then zip to my right, close to where Hange and Moblit are hiding.

Before Annie realizes it, she's nailed by several restraints fired from barrels by the Scouts, the same restraints used in the forest. Armin and Jean barely escape the Titan's reach before the restraints hold her in place and force her to her back. Some Scouts drop a spiked net on her, hoping to hold her on the ground. Nowhere to go, no way to get up, I sigh in relief. We got her.

"Okay! I thought there'd be no need for a plan C, but nope... That's Commander Erwin for you, I guess."

I look over to the rope-twirling Hange. "Really? Of all people? You thought this was overkill?"

"Mhm. Now then..." Hange drops from the building, landing by Annie's face. I can feel Moblit's nervousness, which for once, I'll have to concur on. I follow Hange, but to a different location: Mikasa's. We exchange no words, just a glance and a nod. I can see she has her fair share of wounds from taking on Annie. I'm still bleeding from my forehead quite a bit, but I take care of that with a bandage. Something about seeing the tougher of us two hurting a little makes me smile a bit, but I say nothing.

I turn my attention to the crazy Section Commander as she approaches Annie. "Be a good girl. Stay put." She touches Annie's eyelid and holds her sword in front of the organ. "Here, you're too far in to get Titans to devour you like before. But don't worry... I'll be the one devouring you instead. I'll devour all the information that we can drag out of you."

Next thing I know, Mikasa, Hange, and I are on a roof together, breathing heavily as debris clouds the street. Annie kicked away her restraints, which is why we rose off the street.

"She broke free?"

"We needed more traps!"

I clench my jaw. Plans A and C failed, and Plan B is not an option right now. "What now, SC?"

"Don't let her escape! Follow her!" All at once, we trail the Female Titan like moths to the flame. To create some space, Annie flings debris at us, causing us to scatter and dodge. Mikasa gets the easy way out of the debris field and zips towards the fleeing Titan. She hooks onto her and attacks the lateral left side of her torso, but Annie kicks her away and tumbles on the ground.

"Mikasa!"

"So what are you two always doing together then? Eren and the others said you were practicing hand-to-hand combat."

I nod. "Yeah, that's basically it."

Connie raises an eyebrow. "Really, is that it? Hey, want to see how we train?" He then looks to Sasha, while she already knows what he's about to do. "Come on, Sasha, the usual routine... Hyah!" The pair strike poses that I'm guaranteed Sadies has not found funny, but I sure as hell do. Connie leans back and raises his hands while Sasha raises her arms over her head while her left knee rises.

I'm barely able to hold back my laughter at their antics, but Annie just stands there and rolls her eyes. "Great form guys..."

A while later Sasha gets that look again. "Hehe..." She pulls out... You guessed it. "I've got a treat for you guys today. Meat!"

"Where did you get meat from, Sasha? Don't tell me..."

"Haha, that's my little secret." Meaning she stole it, again. "But I tell you what, I'll split you off a portion, Annie. And the rest is for me!"

"Oh? So you guys get to pig out and Connie and I get to starve?" I'm only messing with her of course, but I just like the way she gets sometimes about food.

Sasha looks away, feeling embarrassed. "Oh... Um, yeah, okay then. Here guys, have half."

The "Half" she gives Connie barely fits in the palm of his hand. "Half? You call this half? It's tiny!"

She brushes it off like it's nothing. I don't care, but I can't speak for Baldy. "Let's just stop talking and start eating, okay?"

I chuckle. "Sure thing."

One nice meal later. We are back outside of the barracks, and overall, I'd say it was a good day. This kind of day is just what we all needed. Maybe I'm imagining it, but Annie looks less hostile than normal...

"We should do this again sometime. Maybe go downtown next time!"

"Hey, I like the sound of that! It's a deal!"

"Definitely."

Sasha and Connie take their leave. I wave to them before Annie looks up at me... Is she...smiling? "Um, Elijah... Thanks. I had fun today. I guess I've been too hung up on my values or my approach to life or whatever... But just hanging out like this sometimes isn't so bad."

For some reason, behind her smile, she seems...sad. I drop it for now, not wanting to bring down the mood. "It's what friends do, Annie."

Was everything always just a lie to you, Annie? Did our friendship really mean nothing to you? What the hell do you have to be sad for when you killed so many of our comrades?! You betrayed all of us...no. You were never on our side, were you? You never wanted to be our friend. I'm sorry, Annie...but capturing you might not be my option today. I Burst forward ahead of everyone, coming up to Annie's right side. She reaches back, grabbing me in her hand, but I easily break out with my blades. My chase continues as I fly up from the ground to a roof and then back to Annie, this time aiming for her nape. Like before, she hardens her hand to protect the nape, breaking my blades. "Dammit!" I pull back, replenishing my swords. What the hell is it going to take to bring her down? We tried capturing her as a human, then as a Titan, and Eren...oh.

The sky flashes yellow, the telling sign of a Titan transformation. We all pause as the light vanished, waiting for the one who transformed to show up. He didn't make us wait long. With a mighty roar, Eren enters the area, running towards Annie. she turns to face him, but she's too late as he punches her through a tower in the middle of a courtyard we're outside of. She lands on her back, possibly dazed from the strike to her face.

"Let's hope no one was in that building." I turn around, heading to the street where Mikasa landed. She sits upright, staring at Eren, which means for me she's alive and well. "Mikasa..."

"What are you doing here?"

I reach my hand out to herm helping her to her feet. "I came back for you, hoping you were dead or something."

"Oh." She brushes off the dust on her white shirt, then turns to me, with the hint of a smirk but much gratitude in her eyes, "Say anything else, I might think you're starting to care about my well-being."

I roll my eyes. "Shut up." Seeing Mikasa stumble on her feet, I catch her, holding her as I lower us both to our knees. "You sure you're alright?"

"Yes," she says, but she doesn't let go. Deciding that making sure she's okay is more important than watching Eren beat Annie, or vice versa, I chuckle as i sheathe my blades.

"Jean would love to be in my shoes right now."

Mikasa scoffs. "Would he now?"

"Yeah, I'm sure many guys would love to be the one that Mikasa Ackermann, the toughest, badass girl we know, is wounded and leaning on for support."

"Then, I guess the same goes for my position, for who wouldn't want the support of Elijah Everett when they can't stand on their own." She smiles, this time a full grin. "Lucky me."

"Don't get used to it. Maybe one day...when killing Titans is gone from his head, he'll notice you."

Mikasa's smile drops as she rises, looking to the sky. I stand beside her, watching as her head falls in sadness. "It's not-"

"Lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me, Mikasa. Take it from me." I take out my necklace, holding it up to her. "There are things in this world that actions are louder then words, but in this time we live in, sometimes words are more preferable. I never got that chance with Mina, because I didn't understand her actions until after Trost. I'll never get that chance again for a long time. And I'll never be able to thank my parents for all they've done for me..." I set the necklace back in its place under my shirt, then I turn to Mikasa. She raises her hand to my face, wiping underneath.

"You're crying..."

"...So I'm not made of stone. Got a problem with that?"

"No."

"Good." laughing, I step away. "Come on, we're missing the fight. If we hurry, we might catch the rest."

I'll... kill the Titans... Every last one of them!

We get up in the air, trailing everyone else following the two Titans. I enjoy the looks of the aristocrats and Military Police of the city, appalled by the presence of Titans. For too long they've lived a comfortable peace...even after Maria fell, those living in Sina did not suffer much, if at all. Now they all get a taste of the hellish reality I went through twice.

By the time we catch up, Annie turns away from a beaten Eren, but after a few steps, Eren revives himself and chases her down. Annie, stunned by Eren's relentlessness, is unable to escape her raging enemy and is caught, the pair of them sliding close to the wall.

We land beside Hange, Armin, Jean, Moblit, and other Scouts. Mikasa takes a cautionary step forward, concerned about Eren. "Eren!"

'Don't!" We face Hange, who gave the order. "Right now, we don't know if Eren can recognize you..."

Like back in Trost? We face the Titans, seeing Eren on top of Annie, however, he looks different. I gasp, recognizing the darker skin and glowing orange hues. "He's...like an Abnormal Titan now."

Hange nods. "What we thought about them is true. They're regular Titans with more aggressive tendencies. In Eren's case, his aggressive side has taken control." We watch in awe as Eren squishes Annie's face with a mighty roar. Annie responds with a cry of her own. She hits Eren with her elbow and kicks him away just underneath us. Despite the impact, we maintain our footing, the building, and its integrity. Annie, now realizing her chance, hardens her fingertips and heads for Wall Sina. With a large leap, she attaches to the Wall.

"She's on the Wall!"

"She intends to climb over it!" We follow Hange, hoping to prevent Annie's escape. Eren manages to get up in time to weigh Annie down and prevent her from ascending before Annie kicks him off, losing one of her feet in the process. However, that's all the time we needed, for while Annie does get high on the wall, she can't escape the two fastest flyers.

"I won't let that happen!" Mikasa and I run as fast as we can on the buildings leading to the wall before taking flight, pushing our gas expulsion to the maximum. We make it to the Wall and swoop on each side of Annie, aiming for her fingers. Mikasa gets to the right hand, striking just underneath the hardened layer of skin to cut Annie's fingers off. I do the same to her left hand, then bounce off the Wall as Annie begins her descent. We land on Annie's face, looking down on her just as much as she looked down on all of us.

"Annie..."

"...Fall." We leap off, watching as the Female Titan hits the ground. As she tries to get up, the enraged Eren grabs her. He punches her so hard he severs one of Annie's arms. Now with her nape exposed, her only means to protect herself against Eren gone, Annie is vulnerable. Even with both of his hands gone, Eren still has the upper hand. He bites down, ripping off the head of the Female Titan plus the skin and muscles around Annie, much as she to him. Crap... He's going to eat her!

The real Annie shoots up surrounded by muscle tissue. Eren growls as he looks at her, knowing his prey is defeated and defenseless. "Eren, don't!" Wait...why am I now deciding she's better off alive after all she's done? I was ready to kill her myself mere minutes ago...so why now?

"Promise me..."

Dammit, Mom... I ready myself to make a move on Eren, not caring if he tries to kill me in the process. Annie may have betrayed us, but she's better off alive than dead. But Eren hesitates. Looking closer, I can see why. "Is she...crying?" Blue light escapes where the Female Titan's head used to be. The phenomenon is unknown to us, but after a moment, we see what's happening. Eren's Titan and Annie's, they begin to merge. "Get him, now!" Mikasa and I fall to the ground, hoping to get to Eren in time, but from out of nowhere the Captain arrives. Levi excises Eren from his Titan. With one problem taken care of, I turn to the source of the vanished blue light. We never saw that ability with Annie in the forest, so I wonder what its true purpose was supposed to be. I walk over to the Female Titan, prepared to capture Annie once and for all.

I gasp at the sight before me. "No..." Annie is there, still within her Titan...and surrounded by that hard material she produces. If she's even alive in there, we're not getting to her.

"Eren..." I hear Eren coming to behind me, but I pay more attention to Jean striking Annie's crystal coffin. Dammit...all the blood, sweat, and tears the last few days, and we reach the climax, and this is how it ends?

"Mikasa? Where's Annie?"

"There..." I step aside so he can get a look at Annie's self-imprisoned state. Jean's sword is nothing more than a brittle, dull knife at this point, but that only serves to make him angrier.

"Damn it... What is this?! We've come this far, and you still won't say a word, Annie?! Come out! Come out and finish what you started! Hey, this isn't fair... Annie! Annie!"

Though Jean is right, Levi stops his rant while Hange gives out orders for transporting Annie. Sighing, I let it go for now, looking down as Mikasa and Armin prepare to leave with a few Scouts and a once-again unconscious Eren. Armin steps up to me. "You okay, Elijah?"

"Yeah. I just...wish it didn't end this way. But hey, we won...right?"

Armin sighs. "Right... You coming or staying?"

I nod my head. "I'm coming." We escort Eren to a secure location, most likely the Military Police's headquarters of Stohess, staying in the room he slumbers in. Mikasa sits beside the bed, Armin and I sit on a nearby couch, and Jean who arrived later on stands by the windows. Eventually, Eren wakes up, possibly two hours after his fight ended.

"Are you doing okay?" Mikasa asks him.

Eren rises up. "Yeah... I've healed so fast, it's almost creepy. I heard that Annie's still frozen."

"Yeah."

Jean clicks his tongue. "Damn it. We got nothing from that operation!"

"She was willing to go that far to protect the information."

"Yeah, she got away from us."

"No, she didn't." Placing my journal in my pocket, I look down to Eren, My sight mixed between disappointment and understanding for what he did, for what I'm accusing him of. "You let her get away, didn't you?"

Eren looks down, but he nods as well. "Yeah, you're right. I couldn't do it. When i saw Annie, I froze."

"Armin Arlert... Jean Kirschtein." We turn to a Military police soldier standing in the doorway. "It's time for your questioning."

"Yes, sir."

"They're starting with us?"

"Okay, see you later."

"Yeah." Armin and Jean leave the room, I follow right behind. "Elijah?" I turn to Eren, who now looks to me. "Where are you going?"

"Hange might need my help, so I'm going back to do what I can. I'll check on you both later." I step away, but not too far away from the door.

"It felt good at the time, you know... It even felt good to get all beat up. I thought I wouldn't even mind dying."

"Eren!"

"That isn't how I feel now."

Mikasa leans forward, taking both Eren's hands in hers. She holds her head low possibly to hide her face. "I'm glad... that you came back..." Eren looks at Mikasa, not saying a word. I stare back a moment longer, unconsciously holding the piece of wood and sapphire crystal dangling off my neck. I turn away to lean against the wall, taking it off and holding them in my hand. This is the second time since the aftermath of Trost... I miss her...so much. My parents... I write to her, to all of them, in my journal, and I do miss Thomas, but Mina... I have to move on

"Mina Carolina... I wish you could come back...so I can say those words to you... And Mom... I really hope I'm making you proud...and glad that I'm keeping my promise."

After a few minutes, I arrive back at the Scouts getting Annie prepared for transport. I find myself hating Annie for all she's done, but part of me wonders why she did it in the first place. Just...why, Annie? I walk towards my favorite Section Commander and her subordinate. Hange happens to turn around and see me, waving me over. "Anything I can do to help, SC?"

"If you have time to spare, then-" A loud rumble emits near us, the culprit a piece of rock. No, not rock, but stone, the same material the Wall is made of. It came from the part of the Wall that suffered from Annie's fingers. Normally, we wouldn't pay much attention to it, but some of the other Scouts seem to have a surprised look about them as they look at the Wall. Wondering what the hell all the clamor is about, I take a few steps towards it before looking up.

If I could manage words, it's too late since all possible air to do such a thing has left my body. "Is that...a Titan... Inside the Wall?"