Chapter 9: Understanding where we come from
As the sun began to slowly set on Trost, the group of six sat there observing the commander as he walked along the wall taking sips from his metal canteen and looking down at a group of Titans clawing at the base of the wall, Ed and Al both examined the man; he was fairly tall, had a bald head, a thick grey mustache on his upper lip and looked to be maybe in his mid to late sixties, golden eyes which were a darker shade than Ed and Alphonse and wore a brown jacket with a insignia of two roses and a red and gold sash around him.
He seemed like a reasonable person thought Ed He did spare us from another cannonball and was willing to hear us out. Though Edward wondered why Armin told them that the Garrison commander of what was called 'the southern territories' was described as an eccentric, he seemed normal enough in a world with man eating humanoids, in fact he was pretty similar to General Grumman who had been the president for a few years now; a bit odd but nothing too peculiar.
"You know being eaten by a Titan wouldn't be a horrible way to go, so long as she was a stunningly attractive one." Pixis remarked with a smile to the group behind him.
Ok, so he's completely insane thought Ed as he and Al both stared questioningly at the man.
"So" Pixis said pausing for a second "Tell me everything you know so far."
It took maybe twenty minutes to explain to the Commander about everything they knew so far; the events from Trost, Eren transforming into a Titan, the basement in Shiganshina possibly holding vital information on the Titans, the arrival of Ed and Alphonse from their own world, a little bit about themselves and a bit about the basis of Alchemy.
"So…This basement of yours, it could hold the secrets to the Titans?" he asked facing Eren who was kneeling down
Eren nodded his head "yes sir"
The commander then turned his attention to Ed and Alphonse "and you two, you're from another world which practices a science called Alchemy which allows you to breakdown substances into new shapes or different substances and importantly you boys were sent here to help."
"That's right." said Edward, he was glad that the commander didn't press them on certain details on their story.
"And you boys came to the aid of trainee squad thirty four when they were ambushed by Titans, which is how you met Cadet Carolina?"
"Yes sir, that's exactly what, happened." Mina replied saluting the Commander.
"I wasn't able to save the other two members of their squad and for that I'm deeply sorry, commander." Said Alphonse apologetically, even after finding out that half of those in the squad had survived, Mina, Armin and Eren, the failure of not being able to save the other two weighted heavily on his conscious.
"Son, during my lifetime I've been able to read a lot of books" stated Pixis, the group of six looked at him, wondering where he was going with this "Some of it was the old religious text from before the Titans, I'm paraphrasing of course but, it said this 'Whoever saves one life, has saved all of humanity' he turned his head to face Mina who was standing next to Armin, Alphonse turned his head to face her "Instead of dwelling on those who you could not save, focus on the fact that you managed to save someone at all."
"Thank you, sir I'll keep that in mind." replied Alphonse as he and Mina still maintained eye contact with each other.
"Now" he paused "Well as it stands I can't validate your stories or claims, so for now I'll keep everything you've said locked up here" he tapped on his temple "of course with that being said I can usually tell between those who are telling a lie and those telling the truth, which is why I will personally guarantee your safety and by the way, it's best if any of what was said here was kept what was said between us for the time being" He turned to face Armin "Cadet Alert?"
Armin saluted the commander "Sir!"
"During your speech to mention something about utilizing your friend's 'Titan powers' and the Elrics' Alchemic abilities to retake the city of Trost, am I not mistaken? tell me Cadet do you believe that such a plan could work or were you desperately trying to grasp at straws to save your skin?" asked the Commander
Armin paused, thinking for a few seconds "It was… both, commander; It occurred to me that both Eren and the Elrics had the potential to seal the hole in Trost, however on their own they had their problems; Eren Titan would need the strength capable of lifting the boulder and from what we know about Alchemy sealing the hole would require using the area of the wall around the hole but that could further weaken the wall leaving a different area vulnerable to a breach, so I figured that Eren's Titan could just carry perhaps a large chunk of the boulder, but not the entire boulder and the Elrics could use their Alchemy to merge it into the wall; sealing it completely." He paused again for a second "I know there are problems with this plan, I was desperate to stay alive.
"Hmmm" said the Pixis looking at Armin, he turned his attention to Ed and Alphonse "So boys, will you do it?
Ed and Alphonse looked into the burning city; the tall columns of smoke rising from the buildings and the Titans wondering around the streets and scratching at the wall. Ed had a fierce look of determination on his face; closing the hole would be a start in completing their goal and making good on their half of the deal to the Truth. "We'll do it." said Edward, still staring off into the distance.
Eren looked at Edward as he stared off into Trost, he could have sworn that there was something familiar in his eyes "And what about you Cadet Yeager? Think you can do your part?" asked the Commander
Eren knelt there in silence for a brief moment Can you do it? He asked himself "I… I'll… I'll do it!" he said his tone of voice possessing a resolve which rivaled Ed's "I'll do whatever it takes!"
"Excellent, you boys possess a truly inspiring resolve" the commander remarked with a soft smile, he then walked over the ledge of the wall facing the lands within Wall Rose "Staff Officers, report here we have a strategy to discuss!"
Armin tensed up "Wha... What?" he stuttered "He's actually going with it?"
"Why shouldn't they?" asked Alphonse "you came up with a plan which was able incorporates both Eren's Titan power and our Alchemy, increasing our strengths and reducing our risks just like the plan during the supply room." He explained "It's possibly the best idea anyone has at the moment."
"But there are obvious flaws to the plan; we're unsure whether Eren can fully control his Titan power for a start and going into Trost without the ODM gear for anyone might as well be suicide." Argued Armin
"Hey, don't worry about us, we can handle ourselves and if worse comes to worse Al and I can always seal the hole ourselves." replied Ed, trying to alleviate Armin's concern
"Still, Armin has a point" said Eren "But it seems that the commander is aware of the situation; Titans aren't our only enemies."
Suddenly the commander appeared, this time with a small group of officers at his side "Let's get to work; we're running out of time, Cadet Yeager and Elrics come with me; we have a battalion to address, while the rest of you work on fleshing out Cadet Alert's plan"
Eren, Edward and Alphonse tailed the commander as they walked along the long stretch of wall that separate Trost from the rest of Wall Rose territory, Alphonse kept his eyes on the vast expansive lands within Wall Rose; the green countryside leading up to large hills in the distance, it also resembled something like a less technologically developed Resembool.
"Elrics, tell me if you can confirm this; it was believed by many that before the Titan's took over the world humanity use to consist of many different races, creeds and nations all tearing at each others' throat for reasons which now must seem very petty, is this true on your world?"
Standing to the left of them Eren observed their faces when they were asked, they had a look of disappointment on their face "Yeah, it's true; we live in a country called Amestris, it's surrounded by three other nations to its north, west and south which has seen fighting over boarder territory" said Ed "its not a stretch to say the whole history of our country was conquest and wars with others." Of course, the whole purpose of Amestris was to be just one big transmutation circle... he thought to himself
"And it wasn't that long ago that a civil war took place on the eastern side of Amestris; a race of people in the east, the Ishvalans who are a race of people with brown skin and red eyes, were almost wiped out during the war, things have gotten better recently and old wounds are beginning to heal but the scars remain."
Eren kept looking at them, taking in what they had said; humanity at war with itself over who owns what land and the differences that they may have, the history of their world "Tell me, Cadet Yeager, what do you think?" asked the Commander
Eren was silent for a second; trying to gather his thoughts "I think it's terrible sir, but if I'm too be honest it seems like something not out of character for humanity."
"Precisely, it was once said that in order for humanity to survive we would need an enemy far greater than ourselves to finally unite."
"I doubt he had a clue about what he was talking about, look at us were currently backed into a corner by an enemy greater than ourselves and we're hardly united."
"I don't think that's the case." Alphonse interjected "Yes we told you that there are wars occurring in our world, but we've had people come together to stop an evil greater than ourselves, my brother and I even teamed up with people who were our enemies in the past; perhaps not now but people do come together."
"A very optimistic view you have there, young Elric, a far cry from the cynical views of ours." Remarked the Commander "Though if the people here don't come together now, then we would be responsible for our demise with the Titans being the tools of it."
Hannes watched as the Titans crawled at Wall Rose trying in vain to reach for him and the other Garrison soldiers peering at them from on top the wall, he turned his head when he heard footsteps coming from his left side, he involuntarily gasped when he saw Commander Pixis with Eren and two other boys following the Commander.
What's Eren doing with the Commander? And who are those two next to him?
Eren turned his head to face Hannes, he then moved his hand and pointed in a downward direction, signalling him to get back to work, Hannes gave Eren an annoyed expression and still kept on staring at them.
"Who was that?" asked Ed
"That's captain Hannes, I knew him back when my friends and I were kids living in the Shiganshina district, when the Titans broke through he saved mine and Mikasa's life." Eren said softly
"I'm sorry to hear that…the Titans destroying your home." replied Ed apologetically
"Don't be" said Eren "I'm gonna drive them out and take back what was once humanity's." his voice possessing a deep sense of conviction and anger in expressing his ambition.
Ed's eyes widen listening to Eren's words; he spoke with a mixture of conviction in his goal and the deep sense of hatred for the Titans, he knew exactly what he wanted to achieve and was going to do whatever it took to accomplish it.
I'VE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH HELL
"Looks like we're here, the entrance into Wall Rose" said Commander Pixis, standing on the ledge of the Wall facing what looked to be a town center, which was crowded with a large mass of hundreds of people, on top of the wall with were multiple green flags with a woman's head facing the side and two large cannons "You two should stay a bit away from the ledge, seeing as you don't have nor, I assume, can use ODM gear; it would be terrible for you come all this way and die from falling off the wall." The Commander said with a smirk
Both Ed and Alphonse peered down from the high wall and almost immediately they took a few steps back from the ledge "yeah, you're right, we'll just stand a few steps away." said Ed, a bead of sweat falling from his forehead.
Eren took his place at the right side of the Commander and the Elrics took their place on the left "Oh, by the way boys, when I announce you it'll be good if you salute, though you may not be part of the military you are taking part in a military operation."
"Oh, right." Said Ed and he and Alphonse immediately saluted the commander, placing their right hand over their right eye. The commander raised his eyebrow at their peculiar salute and Eren looked at them in a confused manner.
"What an interesting salute" the commander remarked
"Guys" said Eren "you place your left arm behind your back and right hand in a fist directly on your heart." He said demonstrating it for them; the two of them clumsily mimicked Eren.
"Alright then, now that that's sorted" said the Commander as he turned to face the large crowd, Ed and Alphonse noticed that there looked to be a lot of commotion; yelling and screaming, a real chaotic and disorganized mess for soldiers.
Pixis cleared his throat, took a sharp inhale of breath and slightly leaned backwards "ATTENTION!" yelled Pixis as he stretched out the word his voice easily overwhelmed the loud commotion on the ground, what immediately followed was a still silence in the air.
"All soldiers take note our strategy to retake Trost is this; our primary objective is to seal the hole! Once more it shall be done manually!" the commander announced
"On how we will be able to accomplish this immense task, that's where these fellows come in, allow me to introduce to you Cadet Eren Yeager, Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric!"