Chapter 26
Rescuing Eren
Jean sat on a box drinking from a water canister. He got back with the Scouting mission to look around the wall. they found nothing. He sighed. Kara was on his mind. She had gone with Hange's group to rescue the rest of the 104th Cadets.
"Hey." Marco said, running over. The MPs were on standby with the Scouts. "Where's Kara?"
"She's with Hange's group out saving our friends." Jean said. Marco nodded. "I just hope she's alright."
"Her father doesn't look to worried. She's one of the best soldiers. I'm sure she's fine." Marco said.
"Damn." Marco and Jean looked at the other scouts. "Can't believe we didn't see one."
"You really saying there weren't any?" Jean asked.
"I know, right? It's unusually quiet out there." The Scout said. Jean looked at Marco.
"Wonder if they're still alive." Jean said.
"I'm sure they are. Stop worrying." Marco said. Some MPs were standing talking.
"What a joke. I thought this was supposed to be an emergency."
"Yeah. We just come here to sit on our asses, or what?"
Jean rolled his eyes as one of the MPs turn to look at Levi who was sitting in a wagon with Pastor Nick. Levi was also worried for Hange's Squad along with worry for his daughter.
"Hey Levi! Where you hiding all the Titans?"
Levi turned and glared at the MP.
"Problem? You seem eager to be eaten alive, soldier." Levi said. The MPs gasped. "Huh? Sorry we couldn't make it happen for you today. Plenty of opportunities outside the wall if you're looking. Lots of Scouting expeditions. I'd be more than happy for the help. We could all fight Titans togheter." Jean chuckled at the scared looks of the MPs.
"How did Levi take you dating his daughter?" Marco asked.
"Surprisenly well, but threatened to feed me to Titans if I hurt her." Jean said. Marco chuckled. "He scares me at times." A soldier comes running.
"Hey! The advance squad is back! Go tell Commander Pyxis!" The Soldier said.
They gathered in a courtyard where Sasha and Phil were catching their breath and drinking water as they explained stuff. Jean and Marco stood with Erwin.
"I see. No breach as far as you could tell, correct?" Pyxis said. Jean gritted his teeth.
"That's correct, sir!" Phil said.
"Mmm. As I thought." Pyxis said, not looking thrilled. Phil and Sasha took a long drink of their water.
"But, sir! A situation has developed! You see, on the way back to Trost. It was a Scout unit led by Section Commander Hange. There were recruits from the 104th Cadet Corps with them, none of whom had equipment. This may sound crazy, sir, but three of them were Titans!" Phil said. Jean gasped.
"What the? Hang on a sec. Seriously? You mean like there were three more? But... who were they? Who, damn it?" Jean snapped. Sasha jumped back.
"Acutally, um." Sasha started. Erwin put a hand on Jean's shoulder.
"Jean, calm down." Erwin said. Jean looked down. "What happened when their Titan form were revealed?"
"The Scouts engaged the Armored Titan and the Colossal in battle as best they could, sir! But by the time our unit arrived on the scene it was too late. They took Eren and a girl named Ymir and disappeared." Phil said.
"Sasha." Levi said. Sasha looked at the Captain. "Whose all injured?"
"Hange and most of her squad are injured. Moblit has taken command." Sasha said.
"What about Kara?" Jean asked.
"She's helping Moblit with the injured." Sasha said. Jean sighed in relief.
Kara helped Christa and Conny strap their ODM gear onto them. They were waiting for oders to come to either go after Eren or head back to Trost. Hange and the injured were laying under blankets. Mikasa had recovered from being knocked out. Its been five hours since Reiner and Bertholdt disappeared with Eren and Ymir. Christa was quiet. She missed Ymir.
Horse hooves clicking came and Kara stood up as she stood with Armin, Mikasa, Conny, and Christa as she saw Erwin leading Scouts, Garrison, and MPs. Jean was behind Erwin.
"Commander Erwin!" Moblit called. Erwin came to a stop. Kara ran towards Jean as he jumped off his horse. She jumped into his arms. He hugged her.
"You alright?" Jean asked as Moblit talked to Erwin.
"I'm alright. I was on top of the wall most of the fight." Kara said.
"Who are the three Titan shifters?" Marco asked. Jean saw the sadness in her eyes.
"Reiner, Ymir, and Bertholdt." Kara said. Jean and Marco gasped. Kara hugged Marco, happy to see him among everyone.
"Deploy the lifts!" Erwin called. Moblic lets out a screach. Kara looked and saw Hange holding onto Moblit's leg.
"Hange!" Moblit and Kara said. Kara ran towards Hange.
"Don't just stand there. Give me a map." Hange said, through gritted teeth.
Moblit gets Hange a map and they all stood around Hange. Kara stood between Jean and Marco. All three happy to be together again. MPs were hosting the horses down the wall while Hange talked.
"It's a gamble, but the trees in this forest are massive." Hange said. She pointed to the trees on the map. "I say we ride straight for it. See, even if they had a way to cover the Armored Titans footprints this is almost definitely where we would find them."
"Why's that?" Erwin asked.
"They need to recoup. They have the power to assume Titan form, but other Titans on that side of the wall still pose a threat. Especially after putting up such a fight. Yes, Eren was the worse for it, but they've got to be spent. Remember when Annie went out cold? Let's suppose they're headed somewhere beyond Wall Maria. That's not a simple hike. That's not a simple hike. They'll need all the rest they can get before covering that kind of distance. They're in no shape to make it in a single push. And if so, they'll want to catch their breath somewhere other Titans can't get to them. Odds are they'll hold out till it gets dark."
Everyone stood at the side of the wall. Jean grabbed Kara's hand and held it. She squeezed it and he returned it.
"We have until sundown! If we can reach the forest by then, we might just have a chance to save them!" Hange said. They all get on the lifts and head down to the ground. Kara pulled herself up onto Lucky.
"Move out!" Erwin called. Kara rode between Jean and Marco as they rodes with Hannes, Armin, and Mikasa. They rode for a few hours. Red smoke signals kept getting shot. Mikasa was riding ahead, but Hannes got her to slow down. Kara caught Jean and Marco up on what happened with what happened on the wall.
"Can't believe they were traitors among us as Cadets." Marco said.
"I didn't believe it til they transformed in front of us." Kara said. Jean was silent.
They were nearing the trees and red smoke signals came from both sides.
"That's not good!" Conny called. Kara gritted her teeth.
"Soldiers! Prepare to fight!" Erwin called. Green smoke signals were shot off as they approach the trees. Titans were waiting in the trees. Kara's eyes widen as a gold lightning strikes the ground somewhere in the trees.
"That light!" Mikasa called.
"You saw it, too, huh? It's coming from the forest. I think someone's transforming into a Titan!" Armin said.
"But which one." Kara called.
"Soldiers, Disperse!" Erwin called. Soldiers went to the left and right. "The enemy has assumed Titan form! Find Eren and get him out of there!" Titans start coming out and start grabbing at Soldiers. Kara heard the screams. She gritted her teeth.
"Another MP!" Jean said as he rode next to Kara.
"Battle is not our objective! Locate, recover, and retreat!" Erwin called.
"Round up the horses!" Hannes called to one of his friends.
"Right away, sir!" Soldier said. Kara and Jean stood on their horses and sent their hooks flying as Hannes took off. Conny, Marco, Mikasa, Armin, and Sasha right behind them.
"First thing we do is pinpoint the enemy and tell the others! They're fleeing throug hthe woods, so stay sharp! Break!" Hannes said. Kara, Jean, and Marco went one way.
"Damn it. Where are they?" Jean said. A titan roar splits the air making everyone gasp.
"Up ahead!" Kara called, leading the boys towards where the roar came from. They found Ymir sitting on a tree, looking around. Everyone landed on a tree.
"I can see you." A soldier called.
"No, wait a second!" Conny yelled. He landed on a tree next to Ymir. Jean was next to Kara. "It's ctually Ymir! This is her Titan form!" Jean and Marco gasp "She's one of the people they took!" Conny looked at Ymir. "What the hell happened. Where is everbody else? Is Eren okay?" Ymir was looking at everyone. "What about Bertholdt and Reiner?"
"She's looking at all of us." Marco said.
"It's like she's looking for someone." Kara said.
"Did she assume Titan form to take on Reiner and escape?" Mikasa asked.
"Ymir! What the deal? Did you manage to get away from them? What direction did they go?" Jean asked.
"Give us somethign to go on! Anything!" Sasha said.
"Say something already!" Conny said. He jumped onto her head. "C'mon, ughly! We're kinda in a rush!" Conny starts kicking her head.
"Conny! Settle down!" Kara called.
"Is she keeping an eye out for Reiner?" Armin asked. Armin gasps. "Something isn't right. Why... Why is she looking at us one by one?"
"Ymir!" Christa called. Kara looked to see Christa heading towards Ymir. Ymir's head turned towards Chirsta. "There you are. Thank goodness you're all right!" Kara's eyes widen as Ymir jumps at her with mouth open. Soon as Christa was in her mouth she shuts her mouth.
"What?" Sasha said.
"Did she just?" Conny said. Ymir started swinging away. "Ymir, What are you doing?" Jean and Kara took off after her.
"Don't just stand there! Move your asses!" Jean yelled. Mikasa and Armin followed.
"She's fast! We're losing her!" Kara called as she watched Ymir move with ease, using the trees.
"Why would she do that?" Mikasa asked.
"What's wrong with you people? Am I seriously the only one who saw this coming?" Jean asked.
"No. I saw it coming as well." Kara said.
"Well, it's clear where her loyalties are now! She and Reiner are on the same side!" Armin said. Kara gritted her teeth. "We were lured into a trap!" They were nearing the edge of the forest when a gold light comes and the Armored Titan was spotted. He took off running and Bertholdt latched onto him. Ymir jumped on his back. Kara landed on a branch with Jean. The others join her.
"Oh no." Kara me fuck me fuck me Eren was strapped onto Bertholdt's back.
"No! They're getting away with Eren!" Armin said.
"Move it!" Kara looked to see Hannes join them. "Get on your damn horses!" They flew back and joined the others. Kara rode with Mikasa as they rode out of the woods, after the Armored. "This ain't over, you hear me? I'll get him back if it costs me my life!" They were able to catch up to him.
"Reiner's to slow! We've got him!" Jean said.
"I won't hesitate this time. I'll kill them without a thought. If Ymir feels like getting in the way, so much the worse for her. This ends here and now. I swear it." Mikasa said. Kara saw Christa be brought out of the mouth and put on Ymir's head. They were talking as Hannes group gets closer. Mikasa shoots up and goes after Bertholdt, who runs to Reiner's neck. Reiner puts his hands up to protect Bertholdt and Eren as Mikasa goes to attack. She couldn't get them and went after Ymir. Christa had to stop Mikasa from attacking Ymir. They couldn't hear what was being said.
"Let's go." Jean said as Mikasa headed to talk to Bertholdt. Sasha, Conny, Kara, Marco, Jean, and Armin stood up and shot up onto Reiner. They could hear kicking inside the hand as they land on the arm. Kara stood knelt between Jean and Marco.
"Quit struggling! It's not going to help!" Bertholdt said. Jean shook his head.
"Good luck talking sense into that one, Bertholdt." Jean called. Bertholdt gasped. "When something lights a fire under him, that's it. Getting Eren to calm down's a lost cause. Take my word for it. I've been on the receiving end more than you have. What do you say we teach him patience?" Kara chuckled.
"C'mon. Show yourself." Kara called.
"Give him back. Right now." Mikasa called.
"Guys, really? This is some kind of joke, right? No way this is you. You've been lying to us this whole time? We're suppose to be comrades!" Conny said.
"They still are! This is all just a misunderstanding!" Sasha said.
"Where do you think you're going? You can't keep running forever." Marco said.
"We're not gonna let that happen. Rat bastards." Kara said.
"Through thick and thin we slept under the same roof as soldiers for three years. Matter of fact, the positions you could sleep in were an art form, Bertholdt. I'm not kidding. We all loved waking up to see your contortions in the morning. Used to predict the weather with them. How did you do it, Bertholdt? Must not have had a care in the world. Lying beside your victims, yet you slept like a log." Jean said. Kara put a hand on Jean's shoulder.
"Was it all just an act to you?" Kara asked.
"What about the way we used to talk about surviving this together? About growing old, looking back on the worst of it over drinks. Remember? Was that all bullshit? Answer me!" Conny said. Kara could hear whimpering from Bertholdt.
"Go on. What was the point What were you trying to do?" Kara asked.
"It doesn't matter anymore." Mikasa said. Conny gasped. "Shut up and focus on opening the traitor's neck. Hesitate for a moment and we forfeit Eren. Who cares what tehy pretended to be? This was their choice."
"No! You're wrong!" Bertholdt called. Kara gasped. "Who chooses to be this? Tell me!" There was silence for a minute. "What do you think I am? Huh? What? You think this is what we aspired to be? People loathe us. And why woudn't they? We're monsters! We deserve to die for the things we've done. We're lost. We could live a thousand years and never again know peace. Try to imagine that darkness. The only light was our brief time as soldiers. It was never a lie! Do you understand? We're not who we said we were, but it wasn't an act! We genuinely thought of you as our friends! I'm not supid. I know i have no right to ask forgiveness, but please. I beg of you. If we were comrades, someone find us." Everyone stayed silent. Kara discovered that her hand found its way into Jean's. He squeezed it.
"Give him back. I won't ask again." Mikasa said.
"I'm sorry. I can't." Bertholdt said. Kara and Mikasa gasped. "One of you has to do it. One of you has to stain your hands with my blood!"
"Guys!" Kara looked to see Hannes riding next to the Armored. "Get down from there and take cover! What the hell is Erwin doing?" Kara looked and her eyes widen to see Erwin leading Titans in their direction. "He's off his rocker! Look!"
"Jean!" Kara said, clutching his arm.
"Damn it." Jean growled.
"The lunatic's leading the Titans straight for us!" Hannes yelled. Kara stood up, letting go of Jean. "Jump, damn you! Get the hell out of there!" Kara and the others jump off. They land on their horses.
"Squadron break! Make the Titans scatter!" Erwin called. The Squadrons scattered and Reiner charges into the Titans. Kara gasped seeing Christa still on Ymir's head. Titans jump onto Reiner. Ymir attacks a Titan to protect Christa. Reiner's titan roars as Kara and her friends watch as the Titans held Reiner in place.
"What's going on? Is this hell?" Jean asked from next to Kara.
"It's worse." Kara said.
"Not yet. But it will be." Erwin said, riding by. Jean and Kara share looks. "All soldiers charge!" Erwin pulls out a sword. Soldiers gasped.
"Huh?" Conny asked.
"What?" Kara asked.
"We've come to the moment of truth! Mankind's fate is decided now!" Erwin said. He lifts the sword into the air. "There is no future in which we reclaim these lands without Eren and there never will be." He turns to look at the Soldiers. "Go! Recover Eren from the Armored Titan and retreat!" He put his hand over his heart and gets his horse moving. "Your heart and soul to the cause. Mikasa and Kara kicked their horses sides and go after Erwin.
"Mikasa! Kara! Wait!" Conny called. Armin and Jean gritted their teeth. Soldiers soon join them as they rode towards the Armored Titan. Reiner was pinned. Kara smiled as she saw the hands starting to lower and the Armored starting to punch Titans.
"It's working! His hands are down!" Jean called.
"Now's our chance." Kara said. Mikasa nodded.
"Uh, Kara? You can see those Titans, right? I mean I get it, you and Mikasa are strong. But that's one hell of a mess. Slipping through isn't gonna be easy." Jean said. Kara shot him a glare. "Kara. I promised your father. I bring you back alive."
"I'll be fine. We both will get back alive." Kara said.
"Adavnce!" Erwin yelled. A titan comes out of nowhere and Kara gasps as the Titan grabs Erwin's arm and pulls him off his horse. Everyone gasped and pulled their horses to a stop. Kara watched in horror as the Titan ran off with Erwin.
"Commander Erwin!" A soldier shouts.
"Fuck." Kara said. Erwin turned his body in the air.
"I said advance, goddamn it!" Erwin yelled. Everyone gasped. "Eren's right in front of you. Do not falter!" A soldier jumped off his horse to go after Erwin. Kara gritted her teeth as the others nodded. Mikasa and Kara were in front as the Soldiers charged as the Titans came towards them. Kara dodge the Titans hands. Screams filled the air as soldiers were eater. Kara gritted her teeth. Kara moved out of the way of a hand and saw Reiner right in front of her.
"Kara." Miaksa said, jumping up. Kara jumped up and sent hooks flying. Mikasa was ahead of her and slashed at Bertholdt who jumped out of her way. Kara slashed a neck of one of the Titans as it went after the soldiers as she tried to get to Eren. Mikasa screams and Kara saw a Titan grab her and squeeze.
"Mikasa!" Jean yelled. He jumped off his horse and went after the Titan. He stabbed it in the eyes. Kara got behind it and slashed the neck as soon as it dropped Mikasa. Soldiers were knocked out of the air. Mikasa landed on her horse.
"Are you alright?" Kara called as she landed behind her.
"My ribs hurt, but I'll be fine." Mikasa said. Armin was talking to Bertholdt, trying to get Eren or least give them time to get to Eren. Kara jumped off the horse as she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Mikasa saw it as well and gritted her teeth in pain as she moved the horese.
"Shut your mouth, hell spawn! I'll kill you!" Bertholdt shouts. Erwin slashes into Bertholdt, cutting Eren free. Eren starts to fall and Kara collides with Eren in the air.
"Hold on, Eren." Kara said, slashing the ropes.
"Kara!" Mikasa called as Eren pulled the gag from his mouth as Erwin falls towards his horse. Kara put Eren on Mikasa's horse. Jean had her horse waiting as she landed on the horse.
"All soldiers, retreat!" Erwin yelled as the Soldiers charged away as the Armored Titan roars. Conny and Sasha were going after Christa who was trying to defend Ymir. Kara looked back and saw Conny had Christa in his arm while they charged away. Ymir right behind them.
"They got Christa." Kara said.
"Good. Let's..." Jean gasped as a Titan is thrown over them.
"What the?" A soldier said. Yells came as the Titan hits the ground. Jean pulled his horse to a stop and Kara follows.
"He's tossing titans now?!" Kara yelled, looking back at Reiner.
"That son of a bitch has gone berserk!" Jean said. Reiner tosses another Titan. Kara gasps as debree and dust fly at her and Jean. "Kara." Kara coughs.
"I'm fine!" Kara said. Hands grabbed her reins and she looked up to see Jean holding onto them through the dust.
"Let's go!" Jean said. They rode out of the smoke and followed the other soldiers.
"Shit. Jean!" Kara pointed. Mikasa and Eren were on the ground with a smiling titan on them with Hannes trying to back them.
"Shit." Jean said as they join Armin in heading towards Hannes. Kara yanked her horse to a stop as a titan is thrown across the path.
"Damn it!" Kara yelled. She looks back at Reiner. "He is throwing the Titans at Eren!"
"Your right. Why? Does he care if Eren gets eaten or not?" Armin said.
'Something isn't adding up.' Kara thought.
"Move it or lose it, asshole. I'm tired of your shit!" Jean yelled. Jean, Kara, and Armin rode forward as Titans were in their way. Kara jumped up in the air with ease and flipped through the air and slashed through the Titan.
"Damn she's fast." Jean said with proudness in his voice, watching his girlfriend kill Titans.
"Jean!" Armin yelled.
"What?" Jean said as a Titan lands in front of him and he's trown off.
"Jean!" Kara screams as she slashes through another Titan.
"Kara. I got Jean. Get the Titans!" Armin yelled, jumping off his horse as more Titans approached. Kara gritted her teeth.
"Damn it. Reiner." Kara yelled as she saw him approaching, still tossing Titans that still clung to him. Kara latched onto one of the necks and slashed through as one of the Titans reached for Armin and Jean. Jean laid unconsious in Armin's arms. More yells came.
'We need to get out of this!' Kara thought. Her heart was racing.
A scream comes and Kara turned to see Eren facing the Smiling Titan. A titan comes running and tackles the Smiling Titan. Kara lands on the ground next to Armin as all Titans seem to stop.
"What's going on?" Armin asked.
"I don't know." Kara said. All the Titans start running for the Smiling Titan. Kara whistles and Lucky comes running. "Armin. Help me get Jean on. I'll take him back." Kara said, getting on. Kara and Armin get Jean on behind Kara. Jean leaned against her back. She could see Titans tearing into the smiling Titan. Eren was running away with Mikasa on his back. Reiner was running towards Eren as Armin got on his horse and grabbed an extra horse for Eren and Mikasa. Eren pulled himself to a stop.
"Get away from us." Eren yelled. Kara saw Reiner almost stumble. Something was going on. "Rat bastards! I'll kill you where you stand!" Titans charge towards Reiner. Armin rides towards Eren and Mikasa and pick them up.
"Soldier's retreat!" Erwin called. Kara made sure Jean was holding onto her as the soldiers took off. Kara saw Ymir pat Christa on the head and then she ran towards Reiner and Bertholdt. A tear slid down her check. Ymir chose to go back, but why. Marco rode up to Kara. He had been with Sasha and Conny most of the fight.
"Is he alright?" Marco asked.
"He'll be fine as soon as we get him to Trost." Kara said. Marco nodded.
Night was starting to fall as they rode on. Jean's arms tighten around Kara's waste and she felt his face bury in her neck. She smile lightly. She lifted her face to the stars. They had lost soldiers and lost three friends, but the people Kara cared for were with her.
AN: One more chapter and we are done with Season 2. I'm not starting Season 3 right away. It is a few filler chapters. Till next time.