Chapter Summary: Eren and Grisha explain the truth to the scouts. Levi shares his past with Mikasa. And both Eren and Ymir confront the Armored Titan.

"Ok, so let me see if I have this straight.-"

Erwin Smith just listened to Grisha Jaegers' full explanation, from the origin of the Titans and the Shifters to the truth of the world. He and every other person in the room, from the Scouts to Mikasa Ackerman, listened to every detail.

"-We can be turned into Titans because we are all descended from a woman named Ymir who gained this power from either the devil or God."

"There can only be nine Shifters, so they can't be replicated in a lab." Hange frowns.

"I'm basically an Eldian Super-Soldier that you made even stronger," Mikasa recounts.

"And the reason none of us remember this is because the Reiss Family, the true rulers of the Walls, used this Founding Titan to erase our memories," Levi says.

Eren/Grisha nods.

"That's pretty much everything, yes. I hope you understand why I couldn't reveal all this in front of the Military Police. It was better that they think Eren was still ignorant."

"Hold on, there's a few things I don't understand," Mike says. "If all this is true, how come we never heard about any of this whenever we went outside the Walls? If Marley really uses "You ruled us so now we get to rule over you" as an excuse for their shit, then wouldn't we have heard about it?"

"Yeah!" says Hange. "And if the Titans in the Walls, which by the way would be more like half a million rather than tens of millions, exist to flatten the world if we are threatened then why hasn't Reiss sent them…rumbling by now?"

"Perhaps the first king was exaggerating about the number of Titans," Grisha says. "As for the rest of the world knowing the truth, I believe that you may have already known this."

Erwin furrows his brows in confusion. "What?"

"Explain to me what you do when you infiltrate other countries. When you enter and return home from your missions. What is the process?"

Mike thinks for a moment.

"Well, first of all, we aren't sent into the outside world very often. It's never the same person twice. It's about once every five or ten years. The last time we did it was when Keith was in charge about eight years ago. And only after we have a few years of experience in the Survey Corp before we Scout the other countries. When we're sent into enemy territory, we're given a notebook, false identities to infiltrate the governments and military to gain information, and were told that we won't have any contact with our superiors for the next month."

Erwin clutches his head. He recalls his days as a Scout. He recalls infiltrating Marley as a citizen and writing down what he has learned. Infiltrating the military and gaining information, disguised as a soldier before promptly leaving. He recalls seeing people with a star symbol on their armbands (their people) being harassed by Marleyans for….something.

"Whenever I would infiltrate Marley, they would say things like Eldians deserve to die for…I could never remember," says Erwin.

"Yeah, me too," says Hange. "But when Grisha was talking about Devils and Eldia it seemed…familiar."
"I remember asking a guy what he meant when he insulted one of our kind," says Mike. "Yes, I think they called them Devils. He looked at me like I was crazy and said something about Spawn of the Devil. But I always thought that was just some bull excuse. They did say some other things through, but I cant…."

Hange's eyes light up. "Yeah, that's right! And in every city we went to there was a statue of a guy named Helos killing a Titan!"

Grisha/Eren nods. "Like I said, you probably did learn all of this before. Helos is regarded as a hero in Marley, allegedly being the person who killed the Devil of All Earth where our power supposedly comes from."

Mike snaps. "That's it! The Devil of all Earth. They said that our kind trampled the world and slaughtered thousands! I mean, yes I remember that. I just thought that it was propaganda! Bulls shit to keep us under their thumbs!"

Hange gasps. "I remember it all now! The fear Marley had of the Rumbling! Ymir the Founder! The Nine Titans! I wrote all of that down in my notebook! I thought that most of it was just propaganda when I heard it. I was going to ask the King about some of this when I got back, maybe inspect the Walls."

"But on our way back to Paradis," Erwin continues. "Me and the rest of our crew told Keith all of this. He seemed to…remember things when I told him about Ymir."

"You jogged his repressed memories, just like I have done for you now," says Grisha. "Continue. How did you forget?"

"We got an incoming message," Hange says. "On blimps radio. Keith answered it. It was from the royal council. They said they wanted to congratulate us, and then there was…a scream."

Hange and the others (besides Levi) eyes widen in horror, realizing that everything they were told was the truth.

"And then, we just forgot," says Mike. "We turned in our notebooks to a MP that met us at the landing dock. We remembered what technologies and social issues Marley is going through." Mike's eyes widen. "We learned that they were planning to invade Paradis. AND WE FORGOT THAT!"

Hange growls. "Reiss made us forget the truth! Worse, they made us forget that war was coming!"

"And then he let the Colossal Titan knock down the Wall while were were oblivious as ever," Erwin clutches his fist.

Levi groans. "I always wondered why I was never sent."

"Me and Shadis were both forbidden to send Levi beyond the island," says Erwin. "We were told that our strongest soldier needed to stay to protect the island."

"It might have really been because you're an Ackerman," Grisha says. "The king would not be able to affect your memories if you learned about Eldia or Ymir, then there would be nothing stopping you from sharing that information."

Levi snarls.

"Damn bastards. But then why hasn't Reiss activated the Colossi yet?" Levi asks Grisha. "Which Hange asked you before! No, better question, if Reiss knew that the Shifters were coming beforehand, why didn't he do anything?"

"I believe that would be the previous king's fault."

"The previous king?"

"Rod's brother, Uri. He was…a too marciful. He believed that the Rumbling should never be used unless we are attacked by the outside world first."

"Well, that's a good thing though," Hange says. "I mean, even if we are attacked, flattening the whole rest of the world should never be an option."

"Even so, he placed a Vow of Renouncing War on the Founding Titan," Grisha explains. "He forever altered it so that the holders cannot use it to activate the Colossi without due justification. That is why Reiss allowed the Shifters to attack. He thought that once his people were slaughtered thanks to the Marleyans then he could activate the Rumbling and crush Marley. But when the Colossal Titan attacked, the Vow did not consider them in violation due to the Shifters being Eldians. I confronted him the night the Wall fell. Reiss said that even when he realized that the Vow wouldn't break, he was still willing to let all those people die rather than reveal himself yet."

Erwin frowns and grits his teeth. Grisha/Eren looks around the room, at all the angry and saddened faces that stare at him.

"So, do you agree that the king is not worthy?" Grisha asks. "Your memories must be returning by now and you've seen the Colossi in the Walls. You all must know that I'm telling the truth. Do you truly want Paradis to stay in the hands of such people? Isn't the Scouts about fighting for freedom?"

Erwin lets out a sigh.

"I joined the Survey Corp so I could learn the truth," Erwin says. "My father was a teacher. He shared with me certain contradictions in our history and theorized that what we knew was a falsehood created by the government."

Everyone stares at Erwin surprised as he speaks.

"Our friend Armin realized the same thing," Mikasa says. "Just before the wall fell, he said that he noticed discrepancies in the history books too."

Erwin nods. "Then your friend is smart. However, I foolishly shared this theory with friends at school. When I came home, my house was burnt down, and my father was dead."

Everyone gasps and stares at Smith with wide, horrified, eyes. The most shocked is Levi. He never knew this about his commander.

"I was told that it was faulty wiring, but I knew the truth." Erwin's expression becomes darker. "It was the government, trying to keep their secrets to themselves." Erwin smiles. "And, now I remember, when I learned all about Ymir and Eldia in Marley I was so happy to have learned it." He frowns. "And then the king took that away from me."

Erwin slams his hand against the wall, hard enough to make the light hanging over them shake.

Grisha nods. "My predecessor, the Owl, Eren Kruger. His father was part of a resistance still loyal to the king in Marley. He hid in a cabinet and was forced to watch…as his father and his followers were burnt alive by the Marleyans."

Now the horrific stares are focused on Grisha.

"Barbaric!" Hange shouts.

"And when I was young, my sister was fed alive to dogs just for leaving the Internment Zone without permission," Grisha's/Eren's face darkens. "When Krugert saw me, he thought that my fire could burn down the world. So I remind myself of Faye everyday so I never lose my will to fight."

Mikasa looks at Grisha warily. All this anger and hate that he is displaying. His willingness to possess and take control of Eren's body. The man that she remembered from her childhood was kind and loving, if strict. This was not the Grisha Jaeger that she knew and considered a father.

Erwin Smith stands up. He faces Grisha/Eren and extends his hand.

"Thank you, Dr. Jaeger, for telling me the truth."

Grisha smiles and shakes it. "If you want to make sure that you can keep it, get me some Titan serum. Or better yet, fresh Titan spinal fluid. I will need to make capping serums to give you all so that the Founder cannot Titanize you or control your minds."

Erwin nods. "Absolutely."

"Oh! I just captured two Titans from the Walls for my experiments We can use them!" Hange drools, then frowns. "Oh, I apologize in advance if they were people you knew, Grisha."

"It is fine." Grisha waves it off. "The Titan whose nape I crystalized was an old friend of mine. If you recovered the crystal I made then we can use him as a spinal fluid source."

"YES!" Hange shouts. "Oh, but after you make the capping serum, can you tell me everything you know about your Titan!? About the other Shifters!? The serums you make!? How you did…THIS!?"

"Easy four eyes," Levi says. "And as for you, Dr. Jaeger, I still don't know if we can trust you, let alone this talk about goddesses and Founding Titans."

Grisha/Eren narrows his eyes. "And why is that?"

"What kind of creep takes control of his own child's body?" Levi asks.

Mikasa cringes. "Wait, Dr. Jaeger! Does that mean I was kissing you whenever I kissed Eren!?"

Grisha gags.

"I assure you, Mikasa, I went FAR back into Eren's mind when you two were "kissing". And as for my current situation with Eren, I did it for him."

Levi scoffs. "Yeah right?"

"I needed to disappear, to protect my family from Reiss," Grisha says. "I wanted my son to become strong so he could protect himself and those he loves. But then he would have been all alone without anyone around to guide him. Now, I can be with my son forever. I am his guide and mentor. And together, we will master this Titan and take down both the Reiss family and Marley once and for all!"

"And how do you propose that we do that?" Mike asks. "You said that the Founder can only be used by the royals."

"Not unless the Founder is touching a Royal Titan," Grisha says. "Aside from possession of the Founding Titan, the Reiss family converted themselves into Pseudo-Shifters."

Hange's eyes light up. "Pseudo-Shifters!?"

"They can change into Titans at will like true shifters can," Grisha explains. "But they are normal Titans without any special features. The entire body gets absorbed by the Titan flesh so they have less time before they lose their minds. As an illegitimate child, Historia had her ability capped. But I know the formula for unlocking it. So, after Eren and I consume Reiss, we will use Historia to activate the Rumbling and send it to Malrey. We will crush the capitals. Everywhere that has a military base or an industrial facility. Make sure that they free every Eldian on the mainland and never bother this island again."

"Sounds like a plan," Erwin says. "Although, we can't take down the government on our own. We will need help from the Garrison."

"I have also seen in my visions that we will have one other ally," says Grisha. "I will contact him soon. But first things first, I need Historia and Titan serum."

"You got it!" Hange shouts. "We will get you both first thing in the morning." Hange trembles and squeals. "A Pseudo-Shifter, how exciting!"
"Oh, and Hange," Grisha says. "I think that with my hardening ability, I can enhance your blades. That way you don't have to waste Thunderspears on the Armored Titan."

Mike's eyes light up. "Well, that would be helpful."

Hange walks away, squealing to herself.

"We should also bring in Reiner Bruan as quickly as possible," says Grisha. "And try to locate the Jaw Titan."

Erwin nods. "Tomorrow we will bring in Annie and Hange will get her out of her crystal. We will then question her thoroughly about everything she knows, including the location of the Colossal and Jaw Titans."

"We need to move fast," says Grisha. "I'm sure the Interior is planning to go after them and take down us at this very moment. Make an announcement that Eren's test will be starting immediately. My vision included us fighting Reiner outside the Walls, so he must decide to ambush us then. We can capture him and bring him in."

Mike nods. "Say we do, how are we going to keep Reiner from transforming?"

"In Marley, they built specialized cells for shifters. They are underground and narrow so a shifter can't become a Titan without being crushed. There are also spikes at the top to stab them if they tried. But in the capital, I also discovered the formula for a drug that can temporarily paralyze people. I think I can recreate it so that we can use it to keep a shifter from activating their powers."

"So you're going to be making us three formulas?"

"While you bring Historia and Annie here before we go after Reiner. Yes."

Mike scoffs and walks away.

"To think we would be taking orders from a ghost to capture monsters," Mike mumbles.

"Before we do anything, we will need to meet up with the rest of the Scouts and explain the situation to them. It will be a pleasure working with you, Dr. Jaeger," Erwin says. "Except there is one point to your plan that I might want to change."

"Oh, what is that?"

"You and Eren becoming the Founder," Smith states. "In light of evidence revealed at your son's trial, I am not sure if he is the right person to inherit such power. Even if he will only be able to activate it by holding his sister's hand."

Grisha nods. "Ok, well let's focus on capturing Reiss for now. We can discuss the logistics of who the Founder will be later."

'Except we won't,' Grisha thinks.

Erwin nods. "Now, if you don't mind. I would like to speak with your son."

Grisha allows Eren to regain control over his body. His/their eyes stop glowing and Eren shutters. It was a disturbing feeling, being not in control of his own body like that for so long. He hadn't known what it would be like when he agreed to let his father "explain" things to everyone else, but this was horrifying. He could see, hear, and smell, but he had no control over his actions. Like someone else was using his mouth to speak and moving his arms while he was just watching (though Eren supposed that is what was happening).

"Oh man…It's good to be able to move again."

Eren looks up at Erwin, and then at Levi (who is glaring at him with his arms crossed) to the side, and Mikasa staring at him in the doorway.

"Eren, I understand that you and your father have a unique relationship right now," Erwin says. "I just want you to know that you don't have to be forced to do anything you don't want to."

"No, it's ok Commander Smith," Eren says. "Last time my dad wasnt in control of my body, I went berserk and tried to attack my friends."

In the back of Eren's mind, Grisha smirks. Something that no one else, not even Eren, is aware of.

"Dad is going to help me control my Titan and win against Marley. We need to do anything he says."

Levi scoffs. "Disgusting attitude, Jaeger. You can't rely on your daddy's guidance for the rest of your life. As soon as he whips up those serums for us, we are going to work with YOU to control your Titan. Not him, YOU."

"I agree with Levi, Eren," Mikasa says. She gives Levi a brief glare before talking with Eren again. "Dr. Jaeger may know a lot, but you need to have faith in yourself too. I know you can control this without him."

Eren suddenly recalls a memory from the Battle of Trost in his Titan form (courtesy of Grisha). He was filled with so much rage and he was about to attack Mikasa and Armin as they were dangling helplessly.

Eren gasps and closes his eyes.

"No, Mikasa. It's for the best. I promise I won't let anything hurt you ever again. Not even me."

Mikasa frowns.

"Eren, please tell Dr. Jaeger to go as far back into your subconscious as he can. I am going to kiss you."

'Noted.'

Eren feels his father's consciousness drift farther into the back of his mind until he can no longer feel his presence.

"Ok, I think he's gone now."

Eren closes his eyes and puckers his lips. However, Mikasa instead gives him a light slap on the face.

"Ow! What? Mikasa?"

"Eren, this isn't you," Mikasa says firmly. "You are brave, headstrong, and sure of yourself. You made a mistake, but you can learn from them and be better."

Eren nods, feeling slightly elevated by Mikasa's words. Mikasa leans in and whispers into his ear.

"Also, I am not entirely sure if we can trust Dr. Jaeger."

Eren is genuinely shocked. Mikasa has never had anything but the utmost respect for his father.

"What?"

"He basically just admitted that he only took in Krista so he could use her."

"For a good cause," Eren says. "And Krista is part of her family now. It's a win-win."

"I also find it strange that he didnt think to tell any of us this beforehand."

"Dad says it was for our own protection."

"He also won't go into any details about why his first plan with the restorationists didnt work. Also, as grateful as I am, I also find it disturbing that he said he was proud of you for killing my kidnappers."

Eren is about to protest, but then he remembers his mother's words to him at the courthouse. The looks of fear and distrust on everyone's faces after he had told his story.

"We need to be cautious, ok?" Mikasa asks.

"Ok. I'll let you know anything else Dad tells me."

Mikasa kisses Eren on the cheek and walks away. Hange immediately rushes to Eren to bombard him with questions about Shifters and Eldia while Mikasa locks eyes with Levi. She glares at the shorter man who looks at her with disinterest. She turns her head away from him in a huff and walks into the hallway. Levi follows her. She tries to walk faster to get away from him, but Levi catches up to her regardless.

"I don't trust Dr. Jaeger either."

Mikasa stops in her tracks and turns to the angry midget.

"Here's the deal, we will make sure that Grisha creates those hardening swords first thing tomorrow. Using those, we can take down Grisha if he steps out of line, and protect your boyfriend. But while you might be strong and fast, you lack the experience that I have. You don't have to like me, but suck it up and agree to train under me. I'll make you stronger so you can make sure nothing hurts the people you love. Not Dr. Jaeger, not the Founder."

Mikasa narrows her eyes at him.

"Fine."

The Next Day

After talking with Krista, or Historia now apparently, Reiner took his beautiful girlfriend on a nightly stroll. "Reiner, this is amazing!" Krista shouted as she held onto him. He used his ODM gear to fly around the city. He was happy that Krista was having a great time. He was glad that she told him her real name and where she came from. And he thinks that she looks more beautiful than ever in the moonlight, laughing.

Now, Reiner and Krista are cuddled up next to each other on the top of Wall Rose. After a whole night of flying, they spent the rest of their time gazing at the beautiful moonlit landscape and succumbing to their teenage hormones. The light shines on Reiner's face as he starts to awaken. He feels the cool morning air against his skin as he feels Krista cuddled up against his body. The wall was hard, so they fashioned a makeshift cushion for them to lay on with their clothes. They didn't need them for what they did late that night.

Fully awakened, Reiner looks down at his beautiful lover Krista, or Historia, as her hand unconsciously lays on his morning wood. His eyes drift from her beautiful face to her small but perky bare breasts that press against his side. He smiles happily, yet with a layer of sadness underneath. Being with her last night made him forget some of his pain, even just for a moment. If Reiner was entirely honest, he would love to forget everything forever. Nothing would make him happier than to be Reiner Braun of Paradis all the time and spend the rest of the time he has left with this angel in his arms. But that hope gets drowned out by the voices of Bertolt, Commander Magath, and his mother.

"No, Reiner! You're not a soldier, you're a warrior."

"You have a job to do! If you don't, then the Founder will destroy Marley and your family will be executed for your treason."

"How can you betray your home like this? Your family? Reiner, you make me so disappointed."

Reiner frowns and gently moves Krista's bangs off of her face. He opens her eyes and smiles at him.

"Good morning. Reiner."

He forces himself to smile. "Good morning, Krista. Or would you prefer Historia now?"

She giggles. "You know, it is kind of nice to hear that name again. It feels good coming from you."

"Historia Reiss, illegitimate child of a noble," Reiner muses. "Here I am, just the illegitimate son of a cook and a liar."

Krista/Historia frowns. Reiner had told Krista before about how his mother told him stories about how she and his father were in love. But after he, accidentally, met his father for the first time he made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with either of them.

"...Maybe your mother actually thought-" Krista/Historia's eyes widen. "Oh no! Mom!" Krista frantically picks up her clothes and begins putting them on. "Mom must be worried sick!"

Reiner watches as his girlfriend slides on her panties and her skirt before putting on her bra and shirt. While she is busy worrying herself about what she is going to say to Carla, Reiner is in deep thought. Annie has been captured and the Paradisians are probably working on getting her out of her crystal as we speak. Bertolt is still missing and more than likely has been captured as well. Reiner figures that it is only a matter of time before they realize that he is the Armored Titan and come after him too.

But not all is lost. He now knows of one other Titan Shifter on this island who seems to not be involved directly with the king, Eren. If he brings Eren back to Marley, the best-case scenario is that he is the Founder and that is the real reason why the King has not activated the Rumbling yet (its a slim chance, but its the best that he can hope for). The worst case scenario is that he is the one Titan power beside the Founder that Marley was not able to capture, the Attack Titan. It won't be much, but with Reiner's intel on the island's structure, the Paradisian's obliviousness, and the retrieval of the missing Attack Titan, the Marleyans might consider that good enough to let him live. And if he takes Carla and Krista back to Marley as well, he can keep them safe while using their lives as an excuse to get Eren and maybe Mikasa on Marley's side. Then he can come back with Pieck, Zeke, and the whole Marleyan Military. Once they know that the Founder can't or won't use his powers they can send every airship they have and seize the island by force. And maybe, just maybe, he can convince Magath to spare most of the civilians if they surrender if they agree to swear loyalty to Marley. Either way, Reiner can protect the people who matter most to him (Krista and his family), even if one of them hates him.

Reiner gazes out at the open landscape that is Wall Maria. Beyond the Titans and in the Forest of the Giant Trees, there is a flying boat that he, Annie, and Bertolt were able to steal and sneak out of the Walls during their training days. Annie had snuck into the facility where the airships are built and distributed and took one of them to outside the Walls. After that, she and Reiner used their Titans to carry it into the forest and on top of one of the trees. The loss of the airship was a great mystery among the military branches, but it is the Warrior's ticket home.

"I'll talk to you later, Reiner."

Krista/Historia kisses him on the cheek as she walks to the stairway.

"Wait, Historia, why don't I go with you?" Reiner asks.

"Oh, yeah. I guess you want breakfast."

"...Yes, breakfast. Hey, when we get there I'm going to use your phone too if that's ok."

That morning, Eren and the others traveled to an abandoned castle that serves as the Headquarters of the survey corps. He and Eren had a nice laugh when a particularly obnoxious corps member, Oluo, bit his tongue when his horse tripped. Then another was when they (Eren) had a talk with Petra about how Levi turned out to be a clean freak. After cleaning, because Levi insisted they do that first, Levi and Mikasa went outside to train while Grisha took control of Eren's body again and explained the situation to the rest of the Scouts. They were scared, some didnt believe him, but Erwin insisted that they listen to Grisha and follow his instructions.

Grisha is now in the lab with Hange. In front of him are dozens of vials of Titan spinal fluid and various chemicals that Grisha requested that Hange bring with them the night before. And Eren has not been able to move himself for a few hours now.

'Dad, is this how you feel when I'm in control of my body?' Eren asks.

'More or less. I normally just browse through your memories with me in it. I can walk there.'

'I can't browse through memories.'

'Oh…well then-'

Hange snaps her fingers in front of him.

"Hello, Earth to Grisha."

Grisha snaps back to reality and turns to Hange, who is holding a vial of a chemical he needs.

"Oh, right."

Grisha takes the vial and turns to the heated Titan serum on the flame. Grisha adds the chemical to it through the opening and turns off the flame. He puts on a heat-proof glove.

"Sorry about that, I was talking to my son."

"Oh, sorry. How is Eren?"

"Impatient. He wants control of his body again soon."

Grisha shakes the serum and it glows blue before returning to its off-white color. Grisha sets the vial on a rack labeled "Capping" along with four others like it. Behind it is a rack labeled "un-altered" which has ten vials on it, and three lone vials labeled "Un-Capping" beside it.

"Well, you just finished the last serum that is supposed to protect us from the Fouder, so that should be about right now." Hange grabs the fourth vial and feels it. "Yeah, this is cooled down. I'll call down Petra for her shot. Your positive that this will keep the Founder from turning us into Titans?"

"And altering your memories, yes. It's the same formula that Reiss used on Historia as a baby to suppress her Pseudo-Titan form. But the most important vials are out Un-Capping ones." Grisha holds one of the vials in "his" hand. "These are the keys to our victory. Its is how are are going to unlock her power so we can use the Founder. It will also be how you will be able to turn into Titans again so you can inherit the Nine."

"By the way, I've been thinking about that," Hange says. "Are you sure that we have to eat them? Can't we just have the Founder transfer their Titans into us?"

Grisha narrows at her. "Ms. Zoe. Don't you think if it was that easy then the Titan War would have lasted as long as it did?"

Hange shrugs. "Maybe he has to be touching them?"

"Well… let's get the Founder first, and then we can play around with it."

Hange smiles and allows him. "Hey, maybe we can use the Founder to make you a new body. That way you don't have to take up rent in your son's head anymore."

Grisha chuckles. "Yeah, that would be something. But what I really wanna do is change all the Titans outside the Walls back to humans."

"Like your friend over there."

Hange points to the corner of the room. There is a crystalized chunk of Titan flash which contains the nape of the Titan that nearly swallowed Armin and Mina. Grisha frowns when looking at it. He explained to the others that the Titan happened to be one of his comrades as a restorationist.

"Yes, him. But also the rest of the restorationists too. There was one named Dina who will be VERY helpful to us."

'Dad…'

"Oh, sorry Eren. I'm switching you back now."

Eren regains control of his body. His eyes change from purple back to green, and he moves his fingers in relief.

"Are you ok?" Hange asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just weird having someone else move your own body, you know?"

"Hmmm, well I can imagine it wouldn't be pleasant." Hange smiles and puts a hand on Eren's shoulder. "Come on, let's work on training with your Titan outside."

Eren sighs. "Ok, but you promise I'll be in a pit, right? No where near Mikasa."

"Mikasa is training with Levi right now. And don't worry, the only people who will be near you are the ones specially trained to kill you."

Eren smiles.

"Thanks."

Mikasa glares at Levi, as the shorter man looks at her with his usual disinterested gaze. They are standing in a dirt circle on the facility's training grounds. Swords are in their hands, and they ready themselves for a fight. This is meant to be a training exercise to help Mikasa sharpen her skills with another (supposed) Ackerman. But Mikasa really wants to knock this man on his ass.

Mikasa and Levi charge toward each other. With flashing speed, they lock blades. Mikasa tries to hit Levi as hard as she can and as fast as she can, but the smaller man always dodges or blocks her attacks. Finally, Levi extends his leg and kicks Mikasa's. The Asian girl falls on her ass.

"YOU were the top graduate?" Levi crosses his arms and scolds Mikasa as she looks up at him and glares. "You have speed and strength rivaling mine, I'll give you that, but you lack focus."

Mikasa roars and jumps at him. Levi blocks her attack with his sword before hitting her in the gut with his palm. Mikasa feels the wind knocked out of her as she stammers back. She wipes her mouth and swears at him.

"Look, if you're still mad about me beating up your boyfriend, you have to let it go," Levi says. "You can't properly fight if you're blinded by rage. If I was going all out, you would be dead already."

"You want me to go all out?" Mikasa raises her blades.

"I want you to focus on actually fighting, instead of just trying to hit someone as hard as you can. Or are you just a brute?"

Mikasa continues to glare at him, but she lowers her blades.

"You know, Dok would have shot him if it wasn't for me and even Jaeger said that he understood. You should thank me. And now I'm trying to train you so you can make sure he's safe from others."

Mikasa continues to glare at him. A part of her knows that he is right, but she just can't admit it.

Levi sighs. "Look, I'm not good at mushy stuff. But you probably aren't going to get over this unless we bond a bit. So here it goes. I grew up in the Underground. It wasn't an easy life. I had to fight and scrape by to survive before Erwin took me in. I had a mentor that raised me and taught me everything I know-"

"This Kenny person?"

"Yes, him. But as soon as I won my first fight he left."

Mikasa lightens up.

"But before him, I had a mom." Levi looks down. "Her name was Kruchel, but to her customers she was Olympia."

"Customers? Was she a waitress?"

"No, she serviced…something else to them."

Mikasa is confused for a brief moment until the realization suddenly hits her. She was a prostitute.

"Oh…"

"She never told me our last name, said no good came from it." Levi chuckles. "If what Dr. Jaeger was saying the Ackermans is true, there might have been a good reason for that. But then again, I wonder how she and Kenny knew each other. I met him when I was a boy, a few days after my mom died. Got sick from one of her customers and no one ever bothered to take care of her, or me."

Mikasa's face drops. She suddenly sympathized with Levi far more than she did this morning. This explains so much of his attitude (aside from the clean-freak tendencies he displayed when the first got to the castle). Plus it turns out they have more in common than she gave him credit for. They both lost their mothers, they were both abandoned by important men in their lives and now they both have someone they are loyal to. Erwin for him, Eren for her. Even if she preferred he saved Eren in a way that didn't involve beating him.

"Ok…" Mikasa says. "I'm ready to fight you for real."

"Good."

Levi and Mikasa raise their swords once more, and they engage once again. This time they are more evenly matched. Mikasa takes her time to analyze his movements and predict his next move as she strikes. They jump, they run, they slash and block. Levi uses his ODM gear to avoid being hit by Mikasa, and she uses her own to chase after him. The two Ackermans fly past each other and hit blades. The soldiers watching from down below look up in amazement as they see two bright flashes (the sun reflecting off their swords) zoom past each other, up and down, left to right, in the sky.

Levi flies up in the air and Mikasa appears behind him. Levi catches her in his peripheral vision and blocks her from behind. He turns around and swings his blade, which Mikasa barely manages to avoid (though her cheek is still cut). Levi uses the distraction to send a solid kick to her gut. Mikasa falls back but uses her ODM fear to grab onto the side of the castle and soften her fall. Instead of landing on her ass, she lands on her feet on the roof.

Levi lands a few yards away from her.

"Not bad, but your reaction time still needs work."

Mikasa pats the blood from her cut with her red scarf. "I've never fought someone as strong as me before."

"In the words of Kenny, that's no excuse. Except this isn't even your full strength, is it? Where's that strength you were talking about that let you lift a roof?"

Mikasa averts her eyes. "I was only able to do that once."

"If you awakened your full power, you should be able to awaken that. I highly doubt that Dr. Jaeger gave you a one-shot dose. What was going through your mind when you did it?"

"I don't know. I just didn't want to lose another mom."

Mikasa's foot is nearly hit by Levi's sword. She jumps back and growls at the shorter man.

"Hey!"

"Pretend I'm about to kill your mom."

"What?"

Levi swings his sword again, and Mikasa is barely able to raise her sword in time to block it. Levi continues swinging his sword at Mikasa and the Asian girl barely manages to block it each time.

"Pretend I'm a Titan about to eat your mom trapped under your collapsed house!" Clank! "Pretend I'm a human trafficker about to strangle Eren!" Clash.

Mikasa gets more and more agitated with each attack. She feels the memories and the feelings she felt at those moments rushing back to her. Carla's near death and the deaths of her parents were the worst moments of her life. The former and the memory of Eren being strangled caused her heart to race once more.

"Fight to win!" Clank! "Try not fighting for someone else for a change, fight for yourself!" Clank! "Act like your life is on the line! If you don't you will die!"

Levi's words hit Mikasa right as he swings his sword.

Everything slows down for the Asian girl. She can feel a familiar power build up inside her. It is like a jolt of lighting that fills her brain and then travels down her spine. Her eyes spark with purple energy, and she sees a vision of a 15-meter (maybe bigger) Titan version of her with large muscles rising up and roaring. And sparks of lighting emit from her body as the cut on her cheek heals.

Levi realizes what is happening for a split second before Mikasa swings her sword. It happens to fast, and with such a strong force, that her blade cuts through his. It looked like a beam of light striking the sword in a split second before it broke. And then Mikasa sends a fast punch (even for Levi) into his gut. Levi coughs up drool, feeling like he just got hit in the gut by a canon, but the pain spreads throughout his whole body. He even thinks, for a brief moment, an apparition of a Titan fist came crashing against him. Levi flies backward and hits the brick wall several years behind him.

Levi's entire body is in pain. It is mostly in his gut, but the rest of him feels bruised. He falls to his knees and weakly lifts his head. Mikasa stands there, eyes glowing and with her sword broken, gapping at what she had done. Her eyes return to normal and she walks over to him. But Levi can only think one thing:

'Incredible…Such raw power.'

"Are you ok?"

Levi stands back up and holds his gut. He smiles at her.

"Now we know what the trigger is. You need the same mindset that awakened us in the first place. A drive, a need to fight. We need to practice activating and controlling it. More importantly, we need to sharpen your skills. Then you'll be unstoppable."

Mikasa's eyes widen. To hear such a thing from Levi of all people was unbelievable.

"Do you think I will be able to protect Eren and Krista from the Founder?"

"Reiss? We'll slice him up together."

Unknown to Levi and Mikasa, a pair of MP's from the First Interior Squad had been watching them spar with binoculars from the distance.

"This isn't good," the one with the mustache says. "That girl looks like she can take on the captain."

"Don't get ahead of yourself," says the slim one. "The captain has way more experience and better weapons. Besides, I think he would appreciate the challenge. What about the Attack Titan?"

The one with the mustache takes out his walking-talkie.

Eren is at the bottom of a pit. It is wide and tall enough for him to activate his Titan, and at the very top is Hange and the rest of squad Levi ready to attack with thunder spears, anti-Titan rifles, and blades. Hange is using Eren to transform, rather excitedly, while the others are on standby in case Eren/Grisha tries any "funny business."

'Go on, Eren. They are waiting.'

'Dad, are you sure I won't go berserk again?'

'Eren, I've told you, it is only the first transformation that is the hardest to control, even worse if you are angry. You're not angry, and this is your second time. So go ahead.'

Eren tries to shake the memory of him attacking Mikasa and Armin out of his mind. He needs to learn to control his Titan if he is going to have any shot against Reiner or the Founder. And he especially needs to take care of the former as soon as possible to get him away from Krista.

"Come on, Eren! Show me your magnificent Titan!" Hange calls out.

Eren groans. "Ok, here it goes!" Eren raises his finger to his mouth to bite. "I need an injury and a motive. My motive will be…reaching Hange at the top."

Eren bites his finger, and there is a spark. Eren feels power flow from his spine all throughout Eren's body. He feels parts of his face and wrists become tingly as new flesh grows out from them. The flesh breaks out and forms giant bones, tendons, muscles, and skin as Eren rises higher and higher.

At the very top, Hange looks at the lit-up pit with wide eyes while everyone else flinches in fear. Soon, a giant Titan hand rises out of the hole and crashes down in front of Hange. Hange laughs in amazement as one of the Titan's giant fingers brushes against her leg. The Attack-Titans skull-like face rises out of the hole as well. The soldiers besides Hange all panic and point their guns at the Attack Titan. His eyes are neither purple nor green, instead, they are Eren's.

Inside his Titan, Eren breathes heavily. He shifts between looking through his Titans eyes and looking around him. It doesn't feel like he has gotten any bigger, instead, it feels like he is being compressed by something soft and squishy while bands stuck to his skin tug on him as he moves his head and hands. If Eren was claustrophobic, he would be very uncomfortable. But Eren is just happy that he is still in control of himself and not going berserk.

'I'm doing it…' Eren thinks in relief. 'I'm in control.'

'There you go, Eren.-'

Eren feels his father's hand on his shoulder. Actually, through his Titan there is an actual hand of flesh and bone that manifests.

'-I knew you could.'

"Eren!" Hange screams like an excited little girl. She drools. "Can I touch your arm!? It's ok, right? Right!? Just let me touch it!?"

'She will burn herself,' Grisha warns.

On that note, Eren lifts his body up and tears through the skin on his Titan's nape. His arms and legs remain stuck in Titan-flesh and fleshy strips are stuck to his face, but he exits his Titan and it steams.

"Hange, wait-"

Hange ignores Eren and touches the Titan's finger with her hands. There is a sizzle and the woman pulls her hands back with a yelp.

"Ow! It's hot!" She gets on her knees and raises her arms in the air. "The newly formed flesh is hot!"

"Squad leader, you're too reckless!" Molbit cried out.

"Eren! Do you feel hot too!?" Hange asks the disturbed teen. Doesn't it feel hot inside the whole Titan!?"

"Uh….not really."

'That's because our Shifter bodies adjust to the heat.'

"My dad says it's because A Shifters body adjusts to the Titans heat."

"It's weird that his dad is inside his head, right?" Oulo asks Molbit.

"What's weirder is that Eren's girlfriend was adopted by his parents," says Petra.

The three of them cringe.

Eren does his best to ignore them.

"Can you make a crystal for me!?" Hange asks. "Or can you only do it inside a Titan?"

'Only inside a Titan.'

"Only inside a Titan."

Hange pouts.

"Aw. Oh well, can you make those swords for me now!?" Hange pulls out her sword. "Oulo! Get the cart of swords for Eren to crystalize!"

Mikasa and Levi run-up to the group. Eren becomes nervous seeing Mikasa come here.

"Captain, what's going on?" Petra asks.

"We heard an explosion and Mikasa insisted on making sure her Titan boyfriend was all right."

Mikasa gazes at Erens Titan, as well as him sticking out of the nape. Eren hopes that she isn't too disgusted by what she is seeing, but she gives no indication she is.

"How is your testing going, Eren?"

"I'm fine, Mikasa," Eren says. "Just practicing with my power? What about you?"

"I activated my full strength again," Mikasa says proudly.

Eren's eyes light up. As does Grisha's inside his head.

"Oh! Mikasa that's great!"

"I'm still learning to control it. What are you doing?"

"Eren is about to make the crystal swords for me!" Hange says excitedly as the cart is brought up to her. "But he needs to be inside his Titan to do it."

Mikasa waves him on. "All right then, go ahead."

Eren is hesitant to go back into his Titan now that Mikasa is here. He fears losing control of himself again and attempting to crush her.

"Eren, back into the Titan now please," Hange says.

'Eren, you'll be fine. Do it.'

Eren takes a deep breath and sinks back into the nape of his Titan. The opening seals back up and Eren looks at Mikasa through his Titan eyes. She lightly gasps, seeing him for all his monstrous glory.

The Attack Titan gently raises itself out of the pit. Everyone stands back. Mikasa watches in amazement. Hange watches in excitement and amazement. Levi is neutral while everyone else is watching with fear. The Attack Titan looms over them casting a massive shadow over Hange and Mikasa.

The Attack Titan bends down and places his massive finger on the blade of Hange's sword.

'Now, just focus on your skin. Imagine that you are tensing a muscle and move it like you would a joint. Your flesh will generate hardening and take whatever shape you want.'

Eren hears his father's command and focuses on covering the blade. The tip of the Attack Titan's finger turns white and spreads onto the Sword. Hange drools as the white Titan crystal bends and spreads around her blade until it is completely white. The Attack Titan pulls his finger away and Hange swings her new sword around excitedly, scaring her comrades. The Attack Titan then lowers his hand and creates a shell as thick as the Armored Titans. Hange slams her new sword against it, and the shell breaks, cutting Eren's Titan flesh.

Hange screams in excitement.

"Oh, my precious!…I'm going to have so much fun with you!"

She chuckles maniacally and Levi sighs.

"Easy there, four eyes. You're scaring your squad."

"Eren! Do you think you can make me a crystal in a specific structure!? I wanna see Titan Crystal's effectiveness as an optical pump for my laser gun project!"

Eren raises an eyebrow. He has no idea what a laser is, but right now he is focused on not hurting his girlfriend again.

The Attack Titan looks at Mikasa, who shows no fear. She steps closer toward the fifteen-meter Titan she knows contains her boyfriend. Eren gulps and gently touches her with his fingers. Mikasa smiles and leans into the Titanic digits and Eren smiles inside his Titan, trusting himself a whole lot more now.

Meanwhile, the Interior Squad spies are not happy with what they are seeing.

"This could be an issue," says the one with the mustache.

"We need to move, right away," says the thin one.

Meanwhile, Erwin Smith prepares a letter that he is going to send to Commander Pixis. He would call, but he isn't sure if the phones are going to be tapped or not and he can't risk anyone else finding out about what he is planning. He hopes Pixis and the Garrison will help him plan.

The letter reads as follows:

Dear Commander Pixis,

After you read this letter, I recommend that you burn it and come straight to my office right away to meet with me. The Scouts and I have gained more information from Eren Jaeger than we ever hoped to achieve. And, more astoundingly, from his father Grisha. Whose consciousness lives inside him. What I have learned from them can be summarized in six words. Everything we knew was a lie.

Titanism is not a mutation and the world does not hate us merely for it. We are all descended from a woman who obtained this power nearly 2,000 years ago, and our ancestors built a great power called Eldia that spanned the planet. The Colossal, Armored, and Female Titans were our greatest weapons, among others. But when one of the families holding these Titans, the Tyburs, betrayed the king to Marley our empire fell apart and Karl Fritz was only able to save a handful of Eldian's, which is us. Karl Fritz built the Walls and the Titans within using the Power of the Founding Titan. According to Dr. Jaeger, we do not know any of this because the Founding Titan can erase our memories. Even worse, is that this power can change us into Titans at will and command the ones within the Walls to flatten the world.

This power resides with Lord Rod Reiss, whom the true authority of the king lies with. However, Lord Reiss has proven to be an inefficient king. Instead of using the Founding Titan to stop the Shifters from attacking us five years ago, he allowed it. Instead of using the Power of the Founder to clear Wall Maria, he sent thousands to their deaths to keep his secret.

It has become clear that the Power of the Titans is in the wrong hands. That is why Dr. Jaeger, myself, and the Scouts have proposed that we do something about it. At this moment, Dr. Jaeger has created an altered form of Titan Serum which will protect us from the Founder's Power, and we can replicate enough to share with every member of the Garrison. Once we are protected, we can confront Reiss with our own Shifters and take the Founding Titan.

To achieve this, we need to bring in Eren's sister, Krista. Her true name is Historia Reiss, she is who we are going to use to activate the Founder once we have it. We will also need to locate Reiner Braun. He is one of the recent graduates of Class 104 and the top ten along with Eren and Annie Leonhart. He is also the Armored Titan, according to Dr. Jaeger. We will need his Titan along with Leonhart's to increase our chances against the Founder.

But before we can take down Reiss, we need to rid ourselves of the Council that supports him. My proposal is a coupe. If we expose the King currently on the throne as a fake controlled by the council then we can arrest them for treason. Meanwhile, the Garrison can use the altered Titans serums that we provide to stand up to the Military police and keep them at bay while we act. We can overthrow the government without shedding any blood.

I know I am asking alot, but please hear my proposal out. If it helps, I would like to talk to you about this with Grisha Jaeger in person.

Sincerely,

Commander Erwin Smith

Erwin folds the letter and slides it into an envelope before stamping on the Survey Corps seal. He intends to deliver this letter himself to Pixis' office as soon as he goes back to the city.

RING! RING!

Erwin's phone rings. He picks it up and answers.

"Hello? Commander Smith."

"Ah, Erwin. It's Pixis."

'Huh? Speak of the Devil.'

"Hmm, Pixis. It's funny, I just finished writing you a letter."

"You know what's also funny? I just finished reading a letter right now. It was written by an anonymous sender and left right in front of my office door."

Erwin is surprised to hear that. Though, he fears that it might be some ploy by the government.

"Oh, and what does this letter say?"

"Allow me to read it." Pixis clears his throat. "Dear guy in charge of the Garrison, I should have said something a long time ago but with the breach of the Walls, I realize now that I have no other choice. I cannot give you my name,-"

…...

Flashback

Ymir is at the shelter. It is night and everyone else is asleep, but she is writing this very letter using a flashlight to see as she lays in her bed.

'-However, I can give you the names of the shifters from Marley. Do not ask me how I know this information. But I swear to you that this is the truth-'

…...

Present

"Five years ago, a Marleyan ship dropped off four children with the ability to become Titan-Shifters. They were called the Colossal Titan, the Armored Titan, the Jaw Titan, and the Female Titan. The Female Titan, Annie Leonhart, has been defeated and imprisoned. And the Jaw Titan is no longer a threat. Trust me, the boy who held that Titan is dead. But the Armored and Colossal Titans are still out there. They are Bertolt Hoover and Reiner Braun. Both are recent graduates in the Military. Keith Shadis can tell you who they are. You should go after both, but Reiner needs to be arrested as soon as possible before someone he has gotten "close" to gets hurt. Signed, Anonymous."

Erwin blinks. He is not sure who wrote that letter, but they just made things a whole lot easier for them.

"So, what do you recommend?"

"...I was just about to tell you in the letter that we need to go after Reiner Braun and retrieve his girlfriend, Eren's sister."

"Oh, well then. I guess it all works out then. I shall call Keith and have the Garrison escort him to you."

"I think it's best that the Scouts be there. This will be Eren's mission."

"Very well. See you soon. And I guess I'll take that letter when I see you."
"By the way, we are yet to receive Ms. Leonhart."

"She should be arriving shortly. My men are making sure of that."

"Thank you, Pixis. The sooner we have Annie and Reiner in the better. See you soon."

Erwin hangs up the phone and smiles to himself, feeling as though everything is happening according to plan already.

"Remember, you have ten minutes most then back to training," Levi tells Eren and Mikasa.

Mikasa rolls her eyes. "Yeah, we know."

She and Eren have been allowed to talk to their mother and Krista via a phone call. However, they are being watched by the Survey Corps to make sure they don't give up any sensitive information. Eren picks up the phone handle and uses the rotary to put in his mother's number.

"So Dr. Jaeger, are you doing to tell Carla you're alive?" Mikasa asks.

'Eren, please tell Mikasa that we cannot risk that information getting out.'

"Dad says he doesn't want that to get out."

Mikasa crosses her arms. "You were never keen on doing what he said before."

"Mikasa, Dad helps me use the Attack Titans powers and thanks to him we have a shot against the Founder and Marley. We need to do whatever he says."

Mikasa does not like Eren's new attitude one bit. He was too culled by his father now. A father who they let think was dead and inserted himself inside Eren's head. Mikasa still shivered at the thought of him technically being present whenever she was with Eren (even if he claimed he ignored everything).

The phone rings. Eren puts it up to his ear and Mikasa leans in close to him so she can hear as well. Someone answers.

"Hello?"

Eren blood runs cold. He turns to Mikasa who has the same horrified expression as him.

"Reiner….?"

The Scouts all glance at each other. They lean in, intent on getting every detail of this conversation.

"Ah, hello, Eren. How is it with the Scouts?"

"Reiner, where is my mom? Krista?"

"Krista is fine. We came to your mother's house for breakfast and she wasn't there."

"What do you mean Carla wasn't there?" Mikasa asks.

"Oh, Mikasa. Hello. Well, me and Krista found a note on the table. It said: "Dear Historia, If you want to see your fake-mother again, please meet us at the gate leading into Wall Sina. Come alone and don't tell anyone about this. Sincerely, Kenny". Whoever Kenny is."

Mikasa's iris' shrank hearing that name. Kenny. He must work for the Interior, or else he wouldn't have kidnapped Carla. Mikasa turns to Levi, who is sheathing with anger. His hand trembles as he clutches his sword and his teeth gritt. She could only imagine how much Levi resents this man, a serial killer turned Interior Police, and likely a relative of both of them.

"Kenny…." Levi snarls.

"Reiner! Where is His-Krista now!?" Eren asks.

"She's a wreck," Reiner admits. "She was going to rush over to Sina right away, but I told her that we need to make a plan first. I'm glad you called, I had already planned to contact you. Why don't you meet me and Krista at the top of Wall Rose. We will plan to rescue your mother together."

"Wall Rose." Hange gasps. "He's going to grab you and run into Titan territory," she whispers.

Eren nods. He was not entirely sure that his mom even was taken in the first place. Eren waits for his father to confirm or deny this. Give him some advice. But he does not.

"Ok, Reiner. So I should probably bring Mikasa too, right? Maybe also the Scouts since I'm already here?"

"No!" Reiner shouts. "I mean, it would look suspicious. The fewer people, the better. Besides, I think Mikasa should confront this Kenny person. I'm sure the top graduate of class 104 can scare some more information out of him."

"Braun's full of crap, but he is actually right about that," Levi says. "Mikasa, you and I will confront Kenny. Eren will go talk with Braun on the Wall. I suggest the rest of you hide nearby. Jump in when things go to shit."

"But, I want to protect Eren and Krista," Mikasa says.

"I didn't ask you what you want," Levi snaps. "You and I might be able to take Kenny if we work together. Eren can create crystal structures, he took down the Female Titan on his own. He will be fine. We're back up at most."

"But-"

"I can handle this, Mikasa," Eren says. "I will rescue Krista, you find Mom."

Mikasa hesitantly nods.

"Ok, Reiner, I'll see you in an hour at most."

"Swell. I'm looking forward to it."

Reiner hangs up the phone and Eren faces the Scouts.

"We better inform Erwin of what just happened," Petra says.
"Oh! I always wanted to try out our Thunderspears," Hange gushes.
"Well, congratulations Jaeger," Oulo says. "Looks like your test has come."

Reiner hangs up the phone and rubs his palm. He had cut himself with a kitchen knife while Krista was distracted (freaking out over the loss of her mother) and discretely put a bandaid over the bleeding wound so Krista wouldn't notice. Reiner turns to Krista, who is sitting at the dinner table looking distraught at the note that was left for her. Reiner hates seeing her like this. He wanted to grab her, her mother, and Eren then leave the island with them.

'Well, looks like now I can only take two. Oh well, I guess we can look for Mrs. Jaeger once I come back with Marley.'

"I talked to Eren. He's agreed to meet with us."

Krista faces Reiner. His heart clenches seeing her teary eyes.

"Reiner…are you sure that your plan will work?"

Reiner nods. "Yes, I'm sure. I've thought everything out."

Krista wipes away a tear. "Then, can you tell me how we're going to rescue my mom?"

"Later. For now, we need to get to the farthest edge of the Wall. Who knows who might be after us. If your father was willing to go to such extremes then-"

"What are YOU still doing here?"

Ymir crawls into the house through the open window.

'Ah, Ymir. Krista's good friend, who is in love with her. Yes…I think she would appreciate me taking her too. She can look after her long after I'm gone.'

"Ymir?" Krista stands up. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to make sure you were all right." Ymir directs a glare at Reiner. "But why are you still with him?"

Krista crosses her arms. "Because he's my boyfriend Ymir. And he's trying to help me with a big problem I have."

Krista hands Ymir the letter. Ymir takes it and reads it. As she does, her face softens.

"Oh, Krista I'm sorry."

"Reiner just talked to my brother, Eren," Krista tells her. "He's going to meet us on Wall Rose so we can figure out what to do. Mikasa is going to confront this Kenny person and try and get information out of him. We'll meet up later."

"Or maybe we can go to the Garrison," Ymir suggests. "I bet they will be REALLY happy to see Reiner. They might already be looking for him right now."

Krista cocks her head in confusion, and Reiner ignores her statement.

"Ymir, why don't you come with us?" Reiner suggests.

"What?" Krista turns to her boyfriend. "Reiner, Ymir's not a soldier." As Krista speaks, Ymir discretely places her hand over her pocket knife. "She can't-"

"I'll go." Ymir wraps her arm around Krista and glares at Reiner. "I swear, Krista, I'll protect you from ANY threat."

Reiner ignores her glare. "Then we should get going. Quickly."

Meanwhile, back at the trainee's HQ. Jean absentmindedly stirs his oatmeal as he listens to Connie and Marco talk.

"So, what do you think they are doing to Eren right now?" Marco asks.
"Probably training with him," Connie suggests. "Did you see what he could do with that white stuff? If I was a shifter, I would probably give myself a shell like the Armored Titan."

"I hope he's ok," Sasha says. "Armin too. I don't think anyone has seen him since the trial."

"His heart is broken," Mina says. "He really liked Annie and then he found out she was the enemy all along. I can understand how that feels."

Jean's eyebrows tense.

"How so?" Connie asks.

"Well, don't tell anyone, but I used to have a crush on Bert."

Everyone but Jean stares at Mina.

"Bertolt Hoover?" Connie asks. "Really?"

"What? He's cute and tall. But he's been missing for so long everyone thinks he might have been the Colossal Titan." Mina looks down. "I hope that isn't true."

"So, where's Thomas?" Marco asks.

"Therapy," Mina says. "He was swallowed alive by a Titan you know."

Everyone is silent for a minute.

"So…" Sahsa breaks the silence. "Everything has been so crazy lately that no one has hosted the…event. You know, the ceremony where we choose which branch to align with?"

"I'm sure we will get around to it once everyone stops gushing over Jaeger," Jean says, still not looking up from his bowl.

"So, where was everyone thinking of going?" Sasha asks. "I still think I'm going to go with the Scouts." Sasha's eyes light up. "I hope that they can figure out what Eren's dad did to him and give me a Titan of my own!"

Connie cringes.

"Sasha. You as a Titan….That's terrifying. That would cause the end of the world. Nothing would be scarier than you as a giant human-eating monster. Your appetite for food is fear-inducing enough."

Sasha playfully scoffs at Connie's words.

"I'm not joking," Connie says.

"So you're going into the Military Police then?" Sasha asks.

"I…I'm not sure. I was thinking the Military Police. The Scouts. But now I'm not sure."

"I think I'm going to be a Garrison," says Mina.

"I still wanna serve the king," says Marco. "Although now I will have a few questions to ask once I meet him."

"What about you, Jean?" Sasha asks.

"I said before, Military Police?" Jean says. "I've had enough with Titans for one lifetime. And the Military Police only accepts the best of the best."

Kenny Ackerman leans against the Wall leading into Sina. He plays with the knife in his hand, looking at the sinister smile in his reflection. On the other side of the Wall are a dozen MP's ready to escort Historia Reiss to her father's estate.

His mind briefly flashes back to when he arrived at the Jaeger household that morning. He kicked down the door and Carla, who was eating breakfast, gasped. Carla grabbed a knife and tried to threaten him with it, but Kenny could tell that she didn't have the killer instinct in him. He muffled her screams with a rag after knocking the knife out of her hand and proceeded to tie her to her wheelchair. Kenny literally rolled her out of her own house.

"Dumb woman was all bark and no bite," Kenny mutters. "How did a dame like that give birth to a killing machine?"

Kenny chuckles recalling reading the notes from the trial. Particularly, Eren and Mikasa's recount of how they met.

"Kenny!"

Kenny lifts his head up and sees two familiar faces walking toward him, and he smirks. One he recognizes from her file as Mikasa Ackerman. The other is someone he hasn't seen in person since he was a kid.

'Well, isn't this a nice little family reunion? Guess I better say hello.'

"Yo, Levi!" Kenny calls as the angry short man approaches him. "It's been a long time." Kenny looks him up and down. "I see you're still a runt."

"And you're an old goat," Levi snarks. "I'd like to introduce you to someone."

"Mikasa Ackerman," Mikasa introduces herself. "When I was young, I had an awakening."

"One just like you described," Levi says. "Same as mine. You said you knew my mother, anything you wanna share?"

Kenny shrugs. "Ok, I'll spill. I am also an Ackerman. As for you, Runt, sorry. You'll have to figure it out yourself." Kenny looks at Mikasa. "I read your file, Mikasa, but there wasn't much about you family-wise. Do you know your grandfather's name? it might help."

"My fathers-fathers name was Terence."

Kenny smiles. "Ah, I remember cousin Terry. Grandkid of my gramps' brother. You know, I heard that a branch of the family moved to Shiganshina. Course they didn't change their last name so most of them got screwed, except for you it seems." Kenny smiles at Mikasa. "You have ME to thank for that."

Levi smirks. "Let me guess, by you becoming Reiss' lap dog."

Kenny frowns at Levi's words.

"Yeah, that's right," Levi says. "We know Reiss is the real king. And he's the Founder too."

"And he put you up to this, didn't he?" Mikasa asks, drawing her sword. "What do you want with my sister?"

Kenny crosses his arms. "First of all, I'm no one's lapdog. And I got my first job being his brother's bodyguard. Uri was a real king. As for the bastard-"

Mikasa jabs her sword at Kenny's neck. The tip is the blade is just an inch from the man's throat, but Kenny doesn't even flinch.

"Don't you dare call her that!"

"Easy, Mikasa," Levi tells her.

Mikasa ignores him.

"Levi told me all about you on the way here," Mikasa tells Kenny. "Kenny the Ripper. The Monster of the Capital. Killer of over a hundred MP's. Well, guess what? I'm not shy of killing either."

Mikasa's eyes glow and sparks emit from her body. Kenny's eyes widen in awe of her power. Mikasa stops glowing and glares at the man.

"Why does Reiss suddenly want Krista, and where is our mom!? You better talk or I'll cut you up."

Kenny lets out a chuckle.

"I like you. Your mom is fine. Don't worry, I didn't hurt her. We got her in a nice comfy room at the Reiss Estate in Wall Sina. Reiss thought that this would surely lure his daughter in, but I guess now we'll have to take her the hard way."

"Hard way?" Levi asks. "Well too bad, because the little princess is with the Armored Titan right now. And the Attack Titan is headed toward them as we speak."

Kenny smiles wickedly. "You dumbass, who do you think we were planning to go after next?"

In a quick motion, Kenny knocks away Mikasa's sword with his own and kicks her in the stomach. The Asian girl grunts as she is knocked back. Levi draws his sword, but Kenny pulls out one of his Anti-Personnel guns.

"Watch your step, Runt."

Mikasa looks up and sees a group of people scaling the Wall. They all have anti-personnel guns, their eyes spark (indicating that they are Titan-Enhanced members of the Military Police) and they all are aiming at either Levi or Mikasa.

"We've already captured the Colossal Titan. Some of my men are already currently the Female Titan and soon we'll have the Armored and Attack Titans too."

"I won't let you anywhere near Eren!" Mikasa shouts.

Kenny aims his gun at her.

"Let me guess, over your dead body?" Kenny smiles wickedly.

Meanwhile, Eren uses his ODM gear to fly to the top of Wall Rose, right over the sealed entrance where his Titanized crystal-form continues to seal the exit. He was headed to the Wall with the rest of squad Levi, but they broke off to hide elsewhere and wait for his signal to intervene or not. They are all armed with either Thunderspears or Anti-Hardening blades (courtesy of him and Grisha).

'How did we not foresee this, Dad?' Eren asks. 'We spent all night searching through future memories.'

'You know it's not easy, Eren,' Grisha says. 'Even with our combined willpower, we can't get everything.'

Eren internally groans. 'I wish we could have seen more! We could have brought Krista in last night and stopped her from being kidnapped by Reiner.'

'What's important is that we face him, together. Up ahead.'

At the top of the Wall, Eren sees three figures. One is Reiner, another is Krista, and then there is a tall freckled girl that Eren does not immediately recognize. However, as Eren gets closer, he gets a better look at her face and smiles.

'Dad, look! It's Krista's friend, Ymir. We saw her in a vision last night, right.'

'Yes, we did. This will be interesting.'

Eren looks down. He sees a dozen Garrison members looking at him wearily as they are hiding down below.

'We got the Garrison, the Scouts, and us.' Eren smiles. 'Let's do this! And if he dares hurt Krista, I'm going to make Reiner pay. And it's gonna hurt.'

Eren lands on the Wall in front of Reiner, Krista, and Ymir. Eren stares at Reiner, right in the face.

"Reiner."
"Eren," Reiner nods.

"Eren!" Krista lunges at him and wraps her arms around her brother. "I missed you."

Eren wraps his arms around her as well.

"I missed you too."

Ymir awkwardly steps forward. "Uh, hi."

"Oh, Eren." Krista points at Ymir. "I don't think you've met. This is Ymir. She's a friend of mine from the shelter. She agreed to help us rescue Mom."

Eren shakes her hand.

"Nice to meet you."

"Same," Ymir says. "Have you cut yourself by chance?"

"I like to bite my hand," Eren tells her. "I take it you're gonna put that knife to good use through."

Krista is confused by the exchange.

"Actually, there's been a change of plans," Reiner says.

Reiner shows everyone his bandaged palm. Eren instinctively gets in front of Krista and Ymir gets between the two of them (Eren, her, then Krista).

"Reiner, did you cut yourself at the house?" Krista asks.

"I have something to confess," Reiner says to the three of them.
"No shit," Ymir snarks.

Reiner sighs. "Five years ago. Me, Annie, and Bertolt demolished the Wall and began our attack on Paradis under the orders of our country."

Krista's eyes widen as Ymir and Eren's narrow.

"Reiner…. What are you trying to say?" Krista asks.

"I'm the Armored Titan, and Bertolt was the Colossal Titan," Reiner continues.

Down below, the Garrison and the Scouts that are hiding ask themselves: "What is he doing?", "Did he really just admit that?", "Is Braun mental?", "Is he tired or something?", and "Why is he telling them this?"

"Huh?" Krista asks. "What are you talking about?"

"Our primary goal was to capture something of value from the Interior and wipe out this island," Reiner says. He looks into Krista's eyes as he says the next part. "If we refused or failed, then we would have just been replaced, and our families back home would have suffered."

Krista looks down.

"But now there's no need for that," Reiner tells Eren. "Eren, if you agree to come with me right now, we won't have to destroy any more walls. Understand?"

Krista looks at her boyfriend gobstruck.

"Huh?"

"Krista, I know this is sudden. And I know you must hate me." Reiner closes his eyes. "I can accept that. But we need to go now."

"Right now?" Eren asks. "Where will you take me? Back to Marley? Won't I get eaten as soon as you hand me over?"

"Not if we play our cards right," Reiner says. "I can convince my superiors that you're more valuable alive. For one thing, you're a package deal that comes with Mikasa. If we plan things right I can convince them to let Krista and Ymir live comfortably for the rest of their lives and for the rest of ours. The next batch of Warriors won't have to wait long for your Titan anyway."

That catches Eren off guard.

'Dad? What does he mean by that?'

'Now isn't the time, Eren.'

Ymir scoffs.

"You're full of it. Bertolt is missing, and guess what? I sent an anonymous letter this morning telling Garrison that YOU are the Armored Titan."

"What?" Krista asks. "Ymir how could you have possibly known that?"

"I'll explain later. But soon enough the Garrisons are going to be here to bombard your sorry ass."

"That's why we have to leave, NOW."

"Who says they are on their way?" Eren asks. "NOW!"

Down below, the Garrisons and the Scouts draw their weapons.

"That's our cue," says Petra.

"This is it!" Hange says, excitedly.
"Soon we will have two shifters in our custody," says Pixis.

"Speaking of which, who did you send after Leonhart?" asks Erwin.

The Scouts and the Garrison freeze in their spots as a massive explosion goes off behind them. They turn around to see a burst of lighting emit from one of the buildings, completely demolishing it, as something big starts to come out.

"That's…where we were keeping Leonhart," Pixis says.

Emerging from the wreckage of the building is the Female Titan, Annie Leonhart. The charred pieces of debris and bodies fall around her as she gets up, standing on her feet.

"Ok, new plan," Pixis says, raising his sword. "The Scouts will take care of the Armored Titan, the Garrison will handle the one with the breasts. Shouldn't be too hard since we already saw her lose once."

"Wait!" Hange says, focusing her eyes on the fire. "Somethings different now."

Indeed, when the Female Titan emerges through the wreckage, her arms stretch and morph into a pair of bat-like wings. The wings flap, and they create a gush of wind that puts out the fire and blows away everything not attached to the ground away from her. Wreckage, cars, people, anything. She then lets out a terrifying scream. While they knew that the Female Titans' screams were loud, this time it was worse than before. Her scream is much more deafening. The sound waves that the Female Titan releases are so powerful that the Garrison and the Scouts have to cover their ears despite being far away from the Titan. Nearby windows shatter to pieces, buildings, and trees shake, and nearby civilians cover their ears before falling unconscious on the ground.

The Female Titan flaps her wings and lifts herself off the ground.

Hange blushes.

"A FLYING TITAN!? And that scream, she turned it into a WEAPON!? HOW DID SHE DO THAT!? Did she just change her Titan? Is this an ability we haven't seen yet!? Is it-"

"Kill first ask questions later!" Oulo says.

The Female Titan flies through the air like a gigantic bird, carrying something in her left foot (using her toes to wrap around it like talons). Petra focuses in on the "thing" the Female Titan is carrying, and she stops Mike from aiming his Thunderspear at her.

"Wait!" Petra shouts as she slaps his weapon away.

"Petra, what!?" Mike shouts.

"She has a hostage! Look!"

Pixis sees the hostage clearly before anyone else does. Followed by Hange who gasps. In between the Female Titan's toes is Armin Arlert. Unmoving and bloody.

From the Wall, Eren, Krista, and Ymir gasp seeing the giant mutant Titan headed toward them. Eren stutters.

"A-A-Annie?"

Reiner is shocked as well, but he snaps himself out of it realizing that he has an opening. Reiner holds up his still cut palm and his eyes spark. Lighting falls down from the sky and strikes him on the spot. The force is so strong that Eren, Ymir, and Krista are nearly blown off the Wall. The three of them gasp, but a giant hand reaches out and grabs all three of them at once. Eren, Ymir, and Krista look in absolute shock at the Armored Titan. Reiner Braun.

"Reiner!?" Krista shouts, tears forming in her eyes.

As the Garrisons and the Scouts try to engage the Female Titan down below, Reiner slides down the side of the Wall into Titan territory, with Eren, Ymir, and Krista in his hand. Eren tries to break free from the Armored grip, while Krista cries.

"Reiner…."

Eren turns to his sister, distraught by her sadness. He can only imagine what must be going through Krista's head right now. Memories of her and Reiner together. All the times he lied to her, pretending to be a Paradisian when he was actually Marleyan. Knowing that she was dating one of the people who crippled their mother for life and how stupid she must feel for sleeping with him.

Eren growls and brings his hand to his mouth.

'Reiner! You damn traitor!'

'No! Eren!' Grisha scolds. 'You're too close to Krista, you will burn her. Wait until we get to the ground, and then make your move.'

Eren lowers his hand. '….Right.'

The Armored Titan falls closer and closer to the ground until…

CRASH!

The force is strong enough to nearly give Eren, Ymir, and Krista whiplash. Eren feels like the vibration rearranged his guts. The Armored Titan takes a look at his three captives before beginning his run into the forest. Eren turns to Ymir.

"Ymir, a little help please?"

"I don't know what you mean?" Ymir says.

"I think you do!" Eren frowns.

Ymir sighs. "Krista, I'm sorry. Like Reiner, I was keeping things from you too."

Krista sniffles. "Ymir? Wha-"

"I know your name now, so it's time I told you my secret." Ymir prepares to bite her lip. "Remember, Historia, be true to yourself."

Ymir bites her lip, and her eyes glow.