Chapter 40

Arriving in Shiganshina

It was nighttime when they arrived in the Titan Forest. Everyone had their hoods up and walking with their horses. Kara and Jean were walking side by side, holding each other's hands. Levi was towards the front with others.

"It's almost dawn. We should be getting close." Kara said. Mikasa and Eren were walking ahead. Mikasa had Eren's horse and Conny was walking next to Jean.

"I'm sorry that you got stuck with my horse." Eren said.

"Don't worry about it. You should be saving your energy." Mikasa said.

"Yeah, I get it, but still." Eren said.

"She's right, Eren. We need you at your best." Conny said.

"Don't say his name, dumbass." Jean said. Conny gasps.

"Sorry, I forgot." Conny said. Kara rolled her eyes.

"Act as though we're surrounded by enemies. Always." Kara said. Jean looked and gasped as he shined the light on a Titan.

"Titan on the left!" Jean called. Soldiers gasp. "Everyone halt! Light up the area!" The area was lit up. The Titan was just sitting leaning against a rock.

"It's alright. Pretty sure he's asleep. Doesn't look like this is one of the new types that move around at night." Hange said. She chuckled. "Well, isn't that a shame? Leave him be." Everyone continued their walking.

"I can't believe we had to get that close to notice the thing." Eren said.

"Yeah, I'm with you on that point. But it's worth it. The moonless night is protecting us. Light from the moon is really just reflected sunlight. And from what we can tell that miniscule amount of reflected light is all that these new Titans need to move. It's good that we're using the new moon's cover. There's no guarantee that we won't have to repeat of before. For all we know that sleeper might've been a moonlight Titan himself. Maybe we can capture one someday!" Hange said. They continued to walk through the trees. Jean and Kara share looks as Mikasa, Armin, and Eren talked.

"You two are cozy." Conny said, seeing Kara and Jean holding hands.

"Oh, shut up." Jean said, shoving Conny. Conny sniggered. Mikasa stopped.

"This place. It's familiar." Mikasa said. Everyone looked at her.

"What you mean?" Kara asked.

"I think we came here for firewood." Mikasa said. Eren gasped.

"I see the foot of the mountain!" A soldier called. Everyone gasps. "There are signs of a trail ahead!"

"Well, looks like we're close." Eren said.

"I'm pretty sure I can hear the river." Mikasa said.

"We made it back. After all that's happened." Armin said. They came out of the woods and saw Shiganshina in the distance.

"Mount your horses!" Erwin called. Kara swung up onto her horse and they all took off towards the wall. "There could be Titans anywhere, so keep your guard up! This operation has officially begun!" Erwin moved his hand out. "All troops, switch to ODM gear!" Jean, Kara, and Hange stood up on their horses. Kara and Jean took off up to the wall with Hange and her squad right behind them. They get over the wall and over the houses. The town was now in ruins. They headed towards the Outer Gate to wait for Eren to get there. Kara landed on the wall when they reached the Outer Gate. Jean landed next to her. Levi soon joined them. Eren was on his way with Mikasa behind him. Hange and Levi stood back-to-back as Jean looked through a telescope out across the field. Kara stood watching as Eren was nearing.

"I know we're overdue for some luck, but how have we not seen any Titans yet?" Hange asked.

"We still have to continue." Levi said. Hange pulled out a smoke gun.

"Right." Hange said.

"Here they come." Kara called.

"We have no cause to call it off." Hange said. She shot a green smoke signal into the air. Eren shoots up into the air above the hole and flips over the wall. He bites into his hand and gold light surrounds him. Lightning hits the ground. Eren's Titan started hardening around the hole. Mikasa and Kara watched. Eren bursts from the hardened body. Mikasa jumps down and grabs him. Mikasa and Eren come up to the top of the wall. "The enemy could strike any second! Stay on the lookout!"

"Right!" A soldier said. Hange ran over to Mikasa and Eren.

"Eren. Is your ODM gear secure? Hange asked. Eren had lost his cloak as he checked his ODM gear.

"It's fine. That said, I did manage to shake off my cloak." Eren said. Mikasa took off her cloak and put it on Eren. Eren secured it and put on his hood. Levi knelt on the wall as soldiers went to check the hardening.

"How's it look?" Levi asked.

"Looks good over here!" One soldier said as he shot up a green smoke signal. Kara was kneeling down on the other side.

"How's this side?" Kara called.

"Yeah, our end's plugged, too!" A soldier called as a green smoke signal came up. Kara stood up.

"We pulled it off. Huh." Hange said. She turned to look at Eren. "Eren, are you okay?"

"Not even tired. All that train's paid off." Eren said.

"We shouldn't waste time then. Everyone, head for the inner gate." Hange said. Everyone started running across the wall to head for the Inner gate.

"We're gonna win this." Jean said.

"Don't get your hopes up. We still have to deal with Reiner and Bertholdt." Kara said as they ran.

"She's right." Sasha said.

They used their ODM to start heading for the Inner gate. A gunshot rang out and a red smoke signal came. Everyone landed on the wall.

"What's going on?" Kara asked.

"That's the signal to halt the mission!" A Soldier said.

"Everyone scatter and stand by on top of the wall!" Hange said.

"Understood." Soldiers said.

"My team and Hange's. Let's get to the Inner Gate and find out what's going on." Levi ordered. They reached the Inner Gate and get on top of the wall. Soldiers were going down the walls tapping on them. Kara, Jean, Sasha, and Conny stood back-to-back.

"What are they doing? Is this safe? Feel like a sitting duck." Conny asked.

"I don't know, but this doesn't seem like much of a surprise attack." Kara said.

"Agreed." Jean said. Kara was watching as they tapped on the wall. Kara came up to her father as he stood watching.

"Did Armin figure something out?" Kara asked.

"Probably. Just be ready." Levi said. Kara nodded as they stood watching as soldier lowered themselves and continued tapping. Everyone was holding their breath.

A gunshot rings out.

"Right here! This part of the wall is hollow!" The soldier said. A sword went through the man's chest. Kara gasped. The body fell. Reiner jumped out of the wall. Levi ran towards the edge.

"Reiner!" Armin said. Reiner looks up to see Levi heading straight for him. Jean came and stood with Kara as they watched as Levi put a sword right through Reiner's neck. Levi ran down the wall and put his sword into Reiner's chest. Levi sees the whites of Reiner's eyes and then his eyes looked right at the Captain. Levi gasps and releases the swords and Reiner falls towards the ground as Levi lands back on the wall.

"Shit!" Levi said.

"Captain?" Armin asked.

"What are these guys made of?" Levi said. Reiner's body was twitching on the ground. "A blade through the neck and the bastard still won't die." Reiner let's out a yell as gold light surrounded him. The Armored Titan laid on the ground below. Kara gritted her teeth. Soldiers gasp.

'Here we go." Kara thought as she turned to look at Erwin.

"Keep your eyes open! We still need to find his allies." Erwin yelled. Kara's eyes widen as a lightning struck behind them. A repeat of line in a row around the ruins of a city and some in the forest came in a repeat.

"No." Sasha said. The Beast Titan was kneeling on the ground with Titan surrounding him. Kara gripped her swords tighter. The Beast Titan grabbed a rock that was next to him. He took aim and threw the rock right at the wall.

"Incoming boulder! Get down!" Erwin yelled. The boulder hit the ground in front of the wall, shattering it.

"Looks like he missed!" One soldier said.

"Not so. That was a well-placed shot. He blocked off the entrance. There's no riding through it now. They have us all but surrounded. They plan to target our horses, block our escape routes, and slaughter us." Erwin said. Jean and Kara share worried looks. The enemy hopes for the same thing we do to end this conflict once and for all." Erwin pulls out his sword. "It's our side or theirs now." Reiner was getting up. "We can let the Titans crush us or bring them crashing down.

All the Soldier came up to the wall. Levi went up to Erwin. Kara was watching the Armored Titan as it got ready to climb the wall. He was hardening his hand and foot. Reiner charges for the wall and jumps on the wall and starts to slowly climb.

"Soldiers. You are not yet to engage the Armored Titan! Maintain a safe distance." Erwin said.

"Yes, sir!" Soldiers called. Kara was looking at the Titans. She gasped. She saw a Titan on all fours with something strapped to its back.

'Is that a shifter like Reiner, Eren, and Bertholdt?' Kara wondered. Kara grits her teeth. 'Looks like we'll have to keep an eye on that one.'

"Hange. Why doesn't he have us attack? What's he thinking?" Eren asked.

"The enemy prepared quite the welcome. He's watching their movements for now. Erwin doesn't want to act until he understands their strategy." Hange said. Everyone stood waiting as they waited for Erwin's command.

The Beast Titan roars as he lifts up his arm and brings his fist to the ground, hitting the ground. The smaller Titans start running towards the ruins of houses.

"Get ready. Multiple two to three meters approaching." Hange called.

"Damnit. Their going after the horses." Jean said.

"That's not good." Kara said. Reiner was getting close to the top now. Erwin got a look on his face as he came up with a plan.

"Dirk Squad and Marlene Squad, too! Join Klaus Squad and protect the horses at the gate." Erwin turned towards Levi and Hange squad. "Kara. I want you over here right now."

"Yes sir." Kara called as she ran over to the Commander.

"Levi Squad and Hange Squad! I need you to take down the Armored Titan. Employ the Thunder Spears at your own discretion." Erwin said.

'Damn. I don't get to use them. Next time.' Kara thought as she stood with Levi and Armin. Do whatever it takes to achieve your objective. This is our moment. Our chance to strike. The fate of humankind depends on this battle!" Erwin said. Jean looked at Kara who was looking at him. Kara gave him a small smile. He returned it. "Lay down your hearts and lives one final time, for humanity!

"Yes sir." Soldiers call as the Squads went in their directions. Kara, Levi, and Armin went to join.

"Hey. Hold on, you three." Erwin said. Levi, Armin, and Kara stopped. "Hange can lead your squads. I'm going to need you right here, Levi, Kara."

"So, I'll protect the horses with Kara instead of Eren?" Levi asked.

"Sir?" Kara asked.

"That's right." Erwin said. He pointed his sword out towards the Beast Titan. "And when the chance arises, you and Kara will strike him down. You and your daughter are the only soldiers I can trust to dispatch the Beast Titan." Kara and Levi looked at the Beast Titan. Kara gripped her swords a little tighter.

"Understood, sir." Levi and Kara said together.

"I wasn't fast enough to finish off the Armored one earlier, but I'll atone for that by taking the Beast Titan's head. Let's go help the others, Kara." Levi said.

"I'll let Jean know where your at." Armin said. Kara nodded as her and Levi jumped off the wall to join other squads to protect the horses. The battle for Humanity was about to begin.

AN: New chapter up. Hope you enjoyed. Till Next time.