Eren

Eren growls as the Jaw and Cart Titans escape the headquarters, leaving him with nothing but to stare as the aircrafts above his hometown deploy soldiers. Marley's invasion...they shouldn't be ready for such a feat, not even after a month of recovery. "Could it be… That Marley has come for an ambush that puts their lives at risk? These bastards would not be committing this danger with just the info they have."

"Eren! Can you hear me?" Turning his head, he looks down at the leader of the volunteers, Yelena. "Please come out of your Titan! Go hide inside the building and escape underground using the power of the Warhammer Titan! It's disadvantageous to fight like this!"

Eren takes note of their worries, but he has never backed down from a fight. Moving forward, he leaps off the roof of the headquarters into the street below. Looking up, he spots a single parachute heading his way, and based on the number of already shifted Titans, it doesn't take any time for Eren to figure out who it is. "Come on… Reiner. Is it you? The one who pushed Marley to commit this idiotic act?" A flash of light and a cloud of steam later, the Armored Titan makes his way to the Attack. With two roars, the clash of the Titans begins.

Gabi

"Reiner," the young warrior candidate shouts as she recognizes the roar of the Armor. "He came for us…"

"Pieck! Over here!" Pieck climbs a building and releases Gabi from her mouth. Not a moment later she's grabbed into a hug. "Gabi!"

"...General Magath?"

Is he...showing affection? If he is, it is gone a moment later as he holds her shoulders with a stern expression. "Braun, you imbecile! Who ordered you to run into enemy territory?"

"I-I'm sorry!"

"Just acting as you please."

"Gabi!" A younger soldier approaches her, one that puts a smile on her face.

"Colt!"

"What about Falco? Where is he?"

Gabi gasps as she turns towards the building she just left and points to it. "He is still inside that building. He ingested Zeke's spinal fluid and is imprisoned there."

"What?"

"Falco is being imprisoned with 300 enemy soldiers who also drank the spinal fluid," Pieck, still in Titan form, informs. "Aside from them, there are currently 500 soldiers here. It also appears Zeke isn't here yet."

"We came here in accordance to Reiner's worries," Magath states, "but what about the possibility of the enemy exercising the Power of the Founding Titan?"

"I don't know. But it seems certain the Founding Titan is their hidden card. My guess is since they still haven't used it seems to show that Eren is still not in a state to trigger it."

"Is there a necessary condition to trigger it?"

"But all those sacrifices made for the Founding Titan and the Titan carrying royal blood will all be worth it once they bring the freedom of the Eldian people." Gabi gasps as she looks up at the general. "'But all those sacrifices made for the Founding Titan and the Titan carrying royal blood'... I heard Zekek say those exact words inside the airship that was withdrawing from Marley."

"What does that mean," Colt asks. "That Zeke is a Titan that has royal blood?"

"...It would be possible if his parents were leaders of the Restorationists."

"If there's a basis for his abilities then wouldn't it be true? If the reason they can't use the Power of the Founding Titan is related to Zeke's absence, then we can't let Zeke and Eren come into contact!"

A crash from behind Gabi but far off from the group alarms her. Reiner is currently engaged in a fight. "General Magath! Reiner is-"

"Marley's shield isn't that soft," Magath states as he climbs aboard the installed weapon on Pieck's back. "No, he is not the shield protecting Marley. Right now, the whole fate of the world is on our shoulders. We're not going to kill the Founding Titan and postpone solving the problem. Today, we're going to eat the Founding Titan here and put a stop to the 100 years of hatred!"

Eren

Holding Reiner's head, Eren socks him with a crystallized fist, breaking the armor plating on the Armor Titan's right side of the face. Reiner tries to respond with a fist of his own, but Eren hits the same spot again with his left fist, almost removing Reiner's mandible. As he throws another punch, the kneeling Reiner ducks and tackles Eren, forcing him to the ground. Eren, however, kicks Reiner away and gets back to his feet.

As he does so, he senses a presence coming from behind, the Jaws. Forming spikes on his back, Eren hopes to impede the agile Titan's movement, only to have the spikes slashed apart. That distraction allows the Armor to grab the Attack's head, hoping to rip it off while the Jaws leaps on the Attack's back to consume the nape.

Or so they thought.

The Attack Titan glares at the beaten face of the Armored Titan and the Jaws that just joined the fight, both warriors impaled by crystal spikes formed by the power of the Warhammer. Alone, he can take either one, but multiple intelligent Titans will make him ineffective, even with the Warhammer's abilities. But with the Jaegerists coming into the fray, they should be about to-

BOOM!

What the hell just hit his head?

Magath

"Load the next round quickly!"

"Yes sir!"

Magath sighs as he readjusts his aim of the cannon on Pieck's back and keeps his eye on the Attack Titan's cranium. "I'm the commander in chief. To think that the best hunter here in Marley is the supreme commander… The Marleyan Army has also fallen to quite a low point." Near the Titans' gunfire from the ground and the skies hail down on Paradis' soldiers. Reiner and Galliard are freeing themselves, with the latter making it back to Eren's nape. Eren forms more spikes, which Galliard escapes from, and Magath fires again, dealing more damage to the Titan and the human inside.

"I'll make that son of a bitch use his strength. The Power of the Warhammer Titan is strong but his energy will be spent quickly. Don't forget this ambush is only possible thanks to Willy Tyber's sacrifice. Just as he risked his life to tell us, we need a true hero like Heros. A hero who will save the world."

Reiner

Reiner picks up one of the crystal spikes and stabs Eren's left shoulder. Grimacing, he looks at the Attacks horribly disfigured face."Eren, it's over… You lost. You don't have to make any more people suffer more than you already have. You don't have to suffer more than you already have."

"RAAAAAAAAH!"

More crystal spikes appear, some penetrating Reiner's armor. Defending himself as best as possible, Reiner grits his teeth. "In any case, you and I will die in a few years. No matter how much we struggle...everyone dies." From above and behind, Galliard attempts to attack Eren's nape, only to be swatted aside like a fly. Reaching forward, Reiner grabs Eren's head, places it on the ground, and lowers his own mouth upon Eren's nape. "What's left for you...if you keep on living? I'll end it for you, Eren. Give up already. Just...sleep."

With another roar, Eren inserts his hand in Reiner's mouth, trying to dislocate the lower jaw. He struggles, but then Reiner's face is smashed by a projectile from somewhere. Toppling away from Eren. Looking up, he sees a cloud of smoke on top of the wall...and the Beast standing upon it.

"I somehow finally arrived at our appointed meeting place and yet, it seems I was a bit late. You heroically withstood them all by yourself, Eren. Now leave the rest to your big brother…"

Elijah

"Onyankopon!" I say with a slight panic in my voice as the dark-skinned man comes with a key ring and begins to open the cell door. "What the fuck is going on up there?!"

"Marley came flying in on airships. There are about 500 soldiers, plus the Armored, Jaw, and Cart Titans. And Eren is fighting alone. But he's struggling. He's not gonna last," The lock of the prison door clangs against the concrete floor. "Marley will steal the Founder! Help us! We've gotta protect Eren!"

As soon as the cell door is open, Connie snatches Onyankopon and pushes his back against the wall. "Are you shitting me?!"

"Connie..."

"What's this about 'we'?! This is your fight! Why would we listen to you, you traitor?!"

"S-Sorry! But if I went against Yelena, she would've blown my head off!"

"Eh?! You were just pretending to be nice to us while plotting to take over Paradis with your wine! I'm fed up with getting betrayed all the time! By Reiner! Bertholdt! Annie! Eren! I'm sick of it, dammit! Why the hell should we help Eren if it means none of us can have kids?! Well?!"

"Wait!"

"Connie! Release him." I command more firmly. As much as I agree with him and share his sentiment, choking Onyankopon won't get us anywhere. Begrudgingly, Connie follows my order, allowing Onyankopon to breathe, but I'm not done with him. "Explain yourself. Now."

"I honestly had no idea. The wine, the euthanization plan... The Volunteers didn't know!"

"Eh?!"

"He's telling the truth," Nicolo confirms before Connie can do anything. "Yelena told us to keep quiet. She said not to tell the Volunteers."

"Besides," Onyankopon continues. "I don't want Eldians to get euthanized! I want to build Paradis together and beat Marley side by side! That's why I threw everything away to come! I gave my all to the people of this island! And I did it because I believed this island had a future! Kids are the future! If the euthanization plan is carried out, what's the point of all our effort?!"

"..."

"Please... Believe me!"

"I believe you," I say. "You once told me that everyone exists because we were wanted, even Subjects of Ymir. Because having different kinds of people exist makes our lives more interesting, right? Right now, you just showed that your stance completely stands against Zeke's ideology. You're that kind of person, and I'll be damned if my future is taken away by some blonde beardy son of a bitch."

"Elijah..."

I reach my hand down to the man I still respect. "Now, stand, Onyankopon."

Onyankopon takes my hand and I help him to his feet. That's when I hear Armin speak up as well. "I believe you, too. But if we help Eren and Zeke, the euthanization plan will be executed, right?"

"No, we can stop the plan. But if we lose those two, we can't protect the island."

"So, what the fuck are you saying we do?!" Connie shouts.

"...If nothing else, show off the Rumbling's might to the world."

"...What?" I say in disbelief. "We can't just-"

"I'm not saying we use it against the world! Just enough for Marley's forces to fall back."

"..." As much as I hate it...we may not have another choice, but...

"Mikasa," Armin says, "What do you think? Do you want to help Eren?"

She looks away. "I want to. But like Eren said, it's probably because of that... Because I'm an Ackermann. This isn't my own will."

"I think Eren lied and made that up." Armin states.

"But it's true that I get headaches from time to time. Why do you think it's a lie?"

"'Why'? Huh? You guys honestly think Eren wants to stop Eldians from having children?"

"..."

"..."

"...I-"

"Well," Jean says before I could speak, "While I don't think it's like him, it's not that outrageous..."

"It is outrageous! This is Eren!"

"So why doesn't he oppose Zeke and Yelena?!" Connie counter-argues.

"Because he doesn't have to! The Founding Titan's power is ultimately his to use! When Yelena brought up the idea to him, he had no other choice! If he refused, who knows what Yelena would've done? But if he goes along with it and convinces them he's their ally, he can protect the island with the Rumbling! Nobody will dare touch Paradis Island for fifty years!"

"..." Armin may be right, and that's what I hate about it the most. With the Rumbling, we can fight Marley and save everyone on the Island...but at what cost? Just how many more people have to die in this war? How many more children must suffer because of some ancient-

"Tsk!" Jean clicking his tongue catches my attention. "I've been saying Eren's dangerous since we were Cadets. That he's a shithead who would lead us into hell. Still, I always envied that asshole for being so cool. And it pisses me off to say it, but I don't want him to die just yet."

"Yeah," Connie nods angrily. "If he dies like this, I can't slug him in the face."

"And despite everything he said to hurt us," I add, looking to Armin and Mikasa. Eren has a lot to answer for, and he can't do that if he's dead. "...He's still my brother. So let's go help that suicidal maniac. Onyankopon, release the other soldiers and get us to Commander Pyxis."

He nods. "Let's go! Wait, Elijah."

As the others start to leave, I turn to Onyankopon. "Yes?" He reaches into his jacket pocket, handing me... "My mask?"

He nods. "Yes. Floch wanted this as a...'trophy' of sorts. Said he wanted to show that he was stronger than the 'Conqueror of the Armor'. I managed to swipe it away when we brought you all here."

I take it, putting it in my back pocket. "Well then, I guess I have a reputation to uphold."

"I thought you hated that name."

"I do." I turn to the Braus family, then to the chef who Sasha adores. "Nicolo, I'm trusting you...please, keep this...no... Keep my family safe, promise me."

The chef nods. "Of course."

I walk over and kneel down in front of Kaya. "Hey, kiddo, I need you to do me a favor, okay?"

"...Yes?"

I take off my father's Scout jacket and put it on Kaya, it's a little bigger but the sleeves are almost perfect. "This belonged to a great soldier and an even better man," I take my necklace off and place it around her neck. "You see this carving and crystal?"

She nods, bearing a worried look in her eye. "...Yes?"

"The carving was a gift from a friend of mine before I graduated from training, the crystal is my mother's. They both have served me as a good luck charm for the past nine years, and I know It'll serve you well, too. So...in case you don't ever see me again, give the necklace to your Big Sister, okay?" She nods as I tug on one of the sleeves of the jacket. "But this? I'm trusting you with it. You're a good girl, you're strong, brave, kind, and a damn good hunter. Wear the Wings of Freedom proudly for me, okay?"

She nods...then hugs me, not holding back her tears. "Be careful...Big Brother."

"..." Those two words nearly cause me to cry with her, but I settle for a warm hug. After I release her, I pat her head one last time before I turn to Mr. Braus. "The doctor is in Stohess. Show him the letter I gave you, he'll know what to do."

I turn away, but before I can take another step, Mr. Braus turns me around and holds me by my shoulders. "You betta' fight like hell, son. You betta' come back to us, too, ya hear? You always gotta family with us."

"..." For the first time in over a month, with pride, hope, and determination, I salute. "Thank you, sir."

Minutes later, I walk outside followed by the rest of the 104th. The five of us aren't alone either. Yelena sits on the ramparts, enjoying the show as an airship descends in a firey cloud towards the inner wall of the town. "The gate has been blocked... Zeke brought down their ships! The moment that shall change history is at hand!" I stand beside her, seeing Zeke throw debris towards the city. Following the projectiles, I can see the top of Eren and Reiner's Titans, the latter battered by the projectiles.

"Um..." Connie speaks up. "I think Reiner's the one that needs help."

"Why...is Zeke...here?!" Jean questions. "There's no way Captain Levi would let hi, go free!"

"Hey!" I yell at Yelena "What happened to Levi and Hange?!"

"It seems they were beaten by Zeke. He promised to meet Eren at a certain time and place."

"...There's no way!" Connie shouts in disbelief.

"We don't have much choice!" Armin suddenly shouts. "Only Zeke and Eren can save the world! We've gotta help the Jaegerists bring them together!"

Yelena suddenly stands over Armin, glaring at him with the freakiest face I've ever seen in my life. I swear If I didn't know it already, I wouldn't assume she was a woman. Then she smiles. "Please help Zeke and Eren. I believe in you."

"No one asked for your intake," I say as I turn my attention to my hometown. I frown as I look towards the northern inner gate where Zeke stands, remembering Reiner smashing through and killing my family. Remembering us standing on top of that wall, and my descent as I struck first against Reiner in a failed killing attempt. Remembering Erwin's and Scouts' final assault against Zeke that resulted in all but Floch and Levi's deaths. Turning to the south, I spot the location where Bertholdt bombed the city, killing Moblit and most of the Scouts in the area, with Hange as the only survivor, but blinded in one of her eyes. "Mikasa...Armin...Jean...Connie...you all know the plan. Whether we like it or not, we protect Eren at all costs. We can't let Reiner and the Marleyans take the Founding Titan. We have to win."

"The fate of humanity will be determined at this very moment! There is no future where humanity can inhabit these lands without Eren!"

I really hope you're right after all this time, Erwin. I put on my mask, then slam my fist against my heart, and the others follow suit. "Give your heart!"

Gabi and Falco

"Why care about her when she hurt my Big Sister? I wish I could kill her..."

"Looks like they're gone. Let's go." Colt says to the two kids hiding behind him, Gabi and the recovered Falco, brought to the pair by a man named Nile Dok.

"Gabi?" Falco says with concern as the girl sits sad and quiet, hugging her knees.

"There weren't any devils. On this island...there were just people. I finally understand Reiner. We just decided that these people we never met were devils. Doing the same things! The same things, over and over!"

"..."

"I'm sorry, Falco. You knew, but I dragged you into it."

Falco drops his head and sighs. "I played a part in Liberio's massacre. I didn't know some wounded soldier was Eren Jaeger, and I mailed his letters outside the zone to his friends. lots of people were slaughtered, so... It's my fault Udo is dead...and Zofia is now crippled."

"...Oh..."

"Also, I'm in love with you. I became a candidate because I don't want you to inherit the Armor. So we could get married and be happy together! So you could live a long life!"

"..." Gabi starts to blush. "Why...are you telling me this?"

Falco drops his gaze, hiding his own red face. "Because I might turn into a Titan. I want it to be said."

"..." Gabi reaches out and rips the black armband around Falco's left arm, the symbol of a drinker of the spinal fluid for Paradis' army. Standing up, she smiles at Falco. "Let's go!"

"If Zeke hears you drank his spinal fluid," Colt says as he turns away "that might stop him from screaming."

"...Yeah."

Elijah

"It's no use! There are too many! We can't get near Eren!"

"I liked it better when our enemy couldn't shoot back at us!" Bullets whiz by us as troops of Marley pin us down just a few streets over from Eren. As Jean pointed out, we can't move, or we'll be torn apart by gunfire.

As for our Titan, Eren is nearly approached by the Jaw Titan, but the Beast and his fantastic throwing ability prevented that encounter. But even then, that's the worst of our problems. I can't let Eren and Zeke meet, even if Eren is not on his side. The Rumbling and being euthanized is a risk I'm not willing to take-

BANG!

A powerful shot from somewhere north of us echoes across the city, and it hits Zeke in the shoulder. Following the trail, I see a cloud on the northwestern part of the outer curve. Is that the Cart Titan, Pieck? Makes sense, if it's carrying a weapon on its back. Whatever it did, it caused Zeke to fall down to earth from his mighty perch.

Eren races for his fallen brother, but Galliard and Reiner are right behind him. From the wall, another shot is fired. From my limited range of view, Eren takes the shot to the head. So that's their plan. Kill Zeke, immobilize and eat Eren, but more importantly, prevent them from meeting. But...if they even manage to take the founder, they can't wield its power after Zeke is dead. Unless...do they not know that Zeke is of royal blood?

"The Cart Titan!" Armin shouts. "We've gotta deal with her first!" Armin heads off first, only for Mikasa to come behind him and grab him.

"Armin!" She shifts him out of the way while Connie fires a Thunder Spear at a building, annihilating two Marleyan soldiers.

"They're in the buildings!"

"Fall back!" Jean shouts from our left. "This way's no good!"

I click my tongue as we follow Jean. For now, we'll have to let the Cart Titan hold Eren in place. We need to deal with the soldiers." I look down, seeing Commander Pyxis and the other soldiers who drank the spinal fluid follow behind him.

"Wrap around! Let's get behind 'em!"

I land on a roof with the others. "You heard the man! We'll attack from behind with the others!"

Zeke

"I fell...to the ground. Was...I shot?" Zeke groans as he looks at the battle of Titans just meters away. Eren is now grounded under Reiner's hold as he desperately tries to prevent the unification of the brothers. "Eren..."

"Get up, Porco!" Reiner says. "Find the strength, Galliard!" Galliard, however, doesn't move an inch. His Titan is now brutalized and limp behind Reiner and Eren. But for now, Reiner has the upper hand, and Pieck has that cannon on her. There's only one thing left for Zeke to do.

He lifts himself up on his arms, looking towards Eren. "It's time to summon the Titans."

"Wait!"

"Wait!" Zeke turns, widening his eyes in surprise as his successor, Colt Grice, drags his little brother towards Zeke. "Falco got some spinal fluid in his mouth! Please don't scream, Zeke!"

"...What?"

"I'm inheriting the Beast to keep my family from being sent to paradise!"

"Let go, Colt!"

"To be honest, I rarely understood you, even before you betrayed us! But I don't think you're someone who'd drag kids into this! I'm not saying you should just lie down and die! But wait 'till Falco's out of range of your scream! After that, slaughter away! Kill as many Eldians and Marleyans as you want! Just don't drag my little brother into this!"

Gabi rides in on a horse, looking to the Grice brothers. "Falco, hop on!"

"Get away from here, Gabi!"

Zeke grits his teeth and sighs... As much as he'd like to save Falco... "Colt... Only too well do understand the feelings for one's brother."

"Zeke..."

"So... It's a shame."

Reiner

Zeke faces the sky and bellows a roar that rocks the city of Shiganshina with lights and explosions. Across the city, Titans form from those who ingested Zeke's spinal fluid, unleashed upon both soldiers of Marley and of Paradis. Still able to muster his strength, Zeke, with true sorrow in his heart, issues a command to the tall Titan close by. "Get him...Falco. Kill Reiner." Falco charges at Reiner, only to be pinned down by the Armored Titan.

"I can't fight both of 'em. Eren will get away. The one to end Falco...is...me?" Stuck between holding Eren and Falco, the latter tries to escape, only to be held by his ankle. Distracted, Reiner relaxes his hold on Falco, so the Titan picks itself up and threatens Reiner's nape.

Another shot from the wall penetrates the Beast Titan, this time very close if not exactly to Zeke's nape. Eren and Reiner stare at the smoldering Titan of Zeke. "It's over? Eren can't use the Founding Titan's power now. We fulfilled our duty. I can just let it happen now, right? Once I undo the hardening on my nape, I'm done..." He turns to a young girl nearby as he hears the plating of his nape being crushed. "The one who will inherit the Armor...is Falco. Huh?"

Falco's mouth suddenly lifts off Reiner's nape, and Reiner sees why. Out of the smoldering remains of the Jaw Titan walks out its bearer, Porco Galliard. His face is badly damaged as he walks out, staring at Reiner. "I'm all out of power to heal my body. But I ain't dying for nothing. I saw my brother's memories. He fooled the military to make your lousy ass a Warrior...to protect me.

"Wait, no! PORCO!"

"There's no denying it now. I was always better than you." Falco lunges forward, consuming Galliard mostly in one bite.

"AAAAAARRRGGGHHH!" Eren bites down on Reiner's arm and hardens his body, trapping Reiner. From the hardened body exits Eren, giving Reiner the side eye before running towards his brother.

"Could he be?!" Further ahead, Reiner catches the crawling form of Zeke, the human somehow still alive. With a roar of his own, Reiner breaks free and reaches out for Eren with his undamaged hand, only for it to explode. "What?! Damn those Thunder Spears!" Its user lands in front of Reiner, taking off...his face mask.

"Elijah?"

Elijah

Looking away from Reiner's Titan and my mind cursing my heart for not hitting his nape, I see Eren closing in on Zeke. "Stop him! Kill Zeke before Eren gets to him! Don't let them meet!" I, along with the others of the 104th descend down on our friend and his crawling brother.

"Come here, Eren!" Eren runs as fast as he can as the rest of us descend from the sky. I don't care if he hates us if we get in his way, we are not resolving to the Rumbling or euthanasia! We can- Wait, is that...Gabi? What is she doing? What is she...that's...an anti-Titan rifle!

"EREN!"

BANG!

The boy turns his head at my shout, only for it to be completely blown off his body by Gabi's well-aimed shot...

...And Eren's head flies directly into Zeke's waiting hand...