Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal

Chapter 29: Opening

Just when things were starting to look up for the Scouts with Eren having Reiner pinned, Lazarus displays his quick wit and catches them off guard by smashing into the side of the Colossal Titan, sending it over the wall and plummeting straight onto Eren, Michael, and Reiner.

The impact triggered a huge explosion that obliterated the three Titans in one fell swoop. The shockwave of the blast was powerful enough to send Hange and Squad One up and over the wall. The heat was so intense that some of the Scouts closest to it either burned to death or came out somewhat scorched.

A huge cloud of smoke covered the impact area, hiding the Titan Shifters from the soldiers. The Winged Titan uses the smoke as cover so that he could swoop in, collect the others, and fly off before it clears.

Using his Titan senses, he was able to locate Reiner, Bertolt and Michael. His enhanced eyesight granted him the ability to see their heat signatures within the smoke like how a nocturnal predator would spot their prey in the pitch blackness of night.

The Armoured Titan bites down on the Attack Titan's nape, and wastes no time ripping Eren out of it, keeping him safe in his mouth. It wouldn't be long until the smoke clears and they face the wrath of the Scout Regiment. With Eren secured, Reiner races off in the direction away from Trost. Bertolt, who'd just emerged from the Colossal while carrying Ymir, hooks onto the Armoured Titan's shoulder and rides atop it.

The blast from the Colossal left the Crystal Titan severely injured and immobilised. Even with Reaper in control, he was powerless to speed up the healing process and get back into the fight.

The Winged Titan lands atop the Crystal's back and finishes the task it never got to accomplish in the first place. Using its sharp claws, he smashed through the regenerated armour and slices the nape open, revealing an unconscious and weakened Michael to the outside world. His mouth stretched wide open, he bites down on the nape hard and rips Michael's body out, unaware that he accidentally severed his left leg and both his arms in the process.

The smoke soon started to clear up, giving Mikasa and Armin a clear view of the Winged Titan as it stands up, wings stretched out. Blinded by anger, Mikasa fires an anchor into the membrane of one of the wings and moves around the back of the Titan, aiming for the nape.

But due to the armoured spine on his back, her blades broke on contact. Those were her last blades as she wasted the rest on trying to cut through Reiner's armour.

The Winged Titan flaps its left-wing, shaking Mikasa off and sending her hurtling towards the ground. Armin quickly moves in to catch her just in time, saving her from sustaining any serious injuries. The Winged Titan turns its back to them and prepares itself for takeoff, with Michael still sitting inside its mouth.

"Lazarus!" Armin called out to him, shouting at such a high volume his throat started to hurt.

The Winged Titan stopped in its tracks and glances over his right shoulder, staring down at Armin who was holding a winded Mikasa in his arms.

"Please don't do this! We don't have to fight. If we can talk things over, I'm sure we can come up with a solution to our current situation." He attempted to reason with him.

Since there was no immediate response from him, Armin attempted to try again. Though he knows that'll never work, he hopes it'll at least buy the others time to figure out a way to take him down.

"I don't know if you've been putting on an act the whole time we've known you, or if you have some kind of reason for doing what you did. But if you have any compassion in your heart, then you'll tell us what this is really about. Why do you need Eren and Michael? Is it because they're like you? Or is it-

"Stop, Armin." Lazarus gently spoke up through the Winged Titan's demonic voice. "Nothing you say can ever persuade me to cooperate. Our actions have gone beyond negotiation, and you know it."

As he was talking, a random Scout swoops in out of nowhere in an attempt to attack his nape, unaware that it was highly protected by thick armoured skin and even thicker armour plating. Without even looking, the Winged Titan caught the soldier midway through the attack and tossed him aside. The Scout hit the ground head-first and died on impact. This display shocked Armin and Mikasa. The expression on Lazarus's face remained the same even though he took a Scout's life without even acknowledging his existence.

"You're not the only one who's smart." He continued. "Your talks of coming to an understanding is just a ruse to lower my guard for a surprise attack. But nothing you do can stop me. My Titan is just too powerful for anyone to defeat. I don't want to have to kill any of you to accomplish my mission. So heed my warnings. Don't come after us. If you do, I can't guarantee your safety… Maybe one day you'll understand why we did all this, and why we needed Eren and Michael. But until that day arrives, forget about us and just live your lives while you can… I know how much he means to you. Had the roles been reversed, I too would've done everything in my power to save Annie. But sometimes we have to lose what we love in order to save the world. That's just how it is. Cruel and unfair."

With that said the Winged Titan turns its back to them once more and leaps off of the ground, kicking up a huge gust of wind that blows over Armin and Mikasa. His wings start flapping slowly, allowing him to gain height until he was out of reach of the Scouts. He flies off in the direction of Wall Maria where Reiner was headed.

This battle belonged to the Warriors of Marley. With the capture of Eren, Ymir and Michael a success, all that was left for them now was to meet up with Zeke and finally return to their homeland. Though Lazarus had not forgotten Annie. Revealing his true identity had complicated things, but he would not let that stop him from reuniting with his beloved. He still plans to rescue her once the other Titan Shifters were handed over to the Marleyans, no matter the consequences.

Five hours after the attack in Trost District, the military divisions are informed of the recent battle that took place. Commander Erwin soon learns of the kidnapping of his son from Commander Pyxis, who learned this from the advanced squad led by Hannes.

He was shocked to discover that Lazarus, Reiner, and Bertolt were indeed the three Titans that drove humanity to near extinction. He takes a moment to let this info sink in and calm himself. Though he was hurt by the betrayal of the 104th's top graduate as well as the disappearance of his son, he was still the commander of the Survey Corp. He cannot show weakness, not while some of the other Scouts were on the verge of despair themselves.

He listens carefully to the informant who described how the battle between the Crystal and Winged Titans played out, as well as the others. But by the time reinforcements arrived it was too late. Erwin had no idea what they were planning to do with Eren and Michael or where they were taking them. But standing around and being upset ain't gonna help anyone.

Michael was one of the best things that's ever happened to him. He showed him the joys of what it means to be a father as well as a leader. Before meeting him he was obsessed with learning the truth behind the Titans and the world beyond the walls. But Michael helped take his mind off of it and he focused more on raising and teaching him about his world within them. Without him, not only would he lose a son to pass his ways onto, but humanity would lose its greatest weapon against the enemy and its only chance to patch the holes in the wall. From this point on, he will make the recovery of Eren and Michael their top priority above all else, even himself and his men.

Back atop the walls, Mikasa, Hange, and most of the others are resting while being treated by the soldiers who weren't hit by the blast akin to those who were. Their cheeks and arms have been badly burned from the heat of the Colossal explosion. And Mikasa was in worse shape as she sprained her ankle after being thrown by the Winged Titan. Had Armin not caught her in time, she would've broken her leg.

Armin thinks back to the last words he heard from Lazarus before he departed with Michael. What he said about the world being cruel and unfair kept on repeating in his head. He wanted to protect the world, yet he was willing to sacrifice the lives of those within the walls to do that. Just what the hell are they fighting for? What could be worth the amount of blood they've shed?

Whatever the reason, it wouldn't stop them from chasing after the traitors and rescuing their captured comrades. They didn't care about Lazarus's warnings. Eren was their friend, and he would've come for them had they been taken instead. What kind of friends would they be if they didn't at least try to save him?

Eventually, Mikasa awakens from the dream she had about her and Eren as kids beating up those delinquents in the market square back in Shiganshina. Around that same time, Erwin and the rest of the Scout Regiment arrive to begin their mission to recover Eren and Michael from Lazarus and his followers. Behind him was a squad of MPs with horses and carts carrying gas-replenishing canisters and replacement blades for their ODM gear.

"Never thought they'd ride on top of the wall," Armin uttered.

"It's probably the quickest route here." Christa/Historia replied as she continued to stare out towards the lands beyond the wall where the Warriors had taken Ymir and the others.

After learning from Hange that Historia is part of the noble Reiss family, he thought it would be a wise decision to have her sit this next mission out. But Historia refused, claiming that as long as Ymir's in danger, nothing could keep her here.

Connie was still in the process of wrapping his head around what had happened before. Now that things have calmed down and he was no longer in an agitated state, he started to think clearly over why Lazarus, Reiner and Bertolt did what they did. Like everyone else, he had a reason for going, as he wanted to confront them face to face and ask them himself while looking them dead in the eye.

Erwin orders the men to ready the lifts for their descent, preparing to head out after them. But they still burnt up Hange uses all her remaining strength to drag herself over to him and grab a hold of Moblit's leg, scaring the crap out of him.

"Don't just stand there… get me a map."She weakly instructed her right-hand man.

Once a map was in her hands, Hange places it flat on atop the wall. She traces the edge of Trost upwards to a large collection of trees. It was another forest of giant trees identical to the one where they encounter the Female Titan. Everyone gathers around her as she thoroughly explains her hypothesis on where the Warriors might be.

"It's a gamble, but, the trees in this forest are massive. I say we ride straight for it. See, even if they could've used the Winged Titan to cover their tracks as well as distance, this is almost definitely where we would find them."

"Why is that?" Erwin asked in a slightly annoyed tone, still thinking about his son's safety. "How do you know the Winged Titan hadn't flown them back to Shiganshina?"

"Like all flying creatures they need to recoup. During the fight with Michael, Lazarus was able to assume Titan form twice like it was nothing. He may be powerful, but even he doesn't have unlimited stamina. The fighting may've weakened him to the point where he can't fly long distances for hours on end. The Titans on that side of the wall will also pose a threat to them. Eren and Michael may've suffered the worst of it, but they've gotta be spent. Remember when Annie went out cothey'reet's suppose their headed somewhere beyond Wall Maria, that's not a simple hike or flight. They'll need all the rest they can get before covering that kind of distance. They're in no shape to make it in a single push. And if so, they'll want to catch their breath where other Titans can't get to them. Odds are they'll hold out until it gets dark."

Hange was right. The Warriors have chosen to rest up in the forest of giant trees for the rest of the day, waiting until nightfall to head back out with their prisoners.

Bertolt was resting on the branch behind the one Lazarus and Reiner were standing on, sitting under the tree trunk thinking over the huge shitstorm they'd been through to get here. After getting away from Trost, the Armoured Titan was being chased by a dozen Pure Titans. Had Lazarus not arrived and burned them to a crisp, he'd have been Titan fodder.

Reiner had taken Eren's ODM gear and attached it to his waist. Lazarus still had his Cloud Zero gear, so he was all set. They were sitting, legs crossed, on the tree branch opposite where Ymir, Eren and Michael were. They took this time to rest up, gather their bearings and keep a close eye on their prisoners. Ymir was the first to awaken, and Eren came after. His arms were just nubs still in the process of healing, due to Reiner ripping him out of his Titan form in a hurry.

His dramatic announcement of having no arms was what finally managed to wake Michael up from his sleeping state. The sounds of Eren's crises ringing in his ears, forcing him to toss and turn as he'd just woken up with a nasty hangover.

"Hrrmmgg… shut up, Eren. I'm trying to sleep here." He muttered still half asleep.

Michael attempts to go back to sleep, but Eren's persistence stopped him from doing so. Annoyed, Michael attempts to reach for a rock, a stick, or something to throw at him to shut him up. But he was shocked to realise that he was also missing a pair of arms.

His eyes shot wide open as he sits himself up in a panicked state, no longer caring about being tired. He looks down at what's left of his arms. Up to where the wrists end, his nubs are for some reason covered up by metal plates, preventing his hands from growing back.

"You're awake. Welcome back, Michael." Lazarus addressed him from atop the higher branch across from them.

"What the hell did you do to my arms?!" Michael shouted up at them.

Ymir waves her severed right arm and leg to get his attention, showing him that she and Eren aren't in any better shape either. Until their wounds have healed, all three of them are unable to use their Titan forms to fight back or escape. They're powerless to do anything.

"Sorry, that was our fault." Reiner addresses the disarmed duo. "You can pin your injuries on Laz and I. Guess we were in kind of a hurry back there. We bit your napes without thinking about your arms. As for the metal plates, Lazarus put those on to prevent you from using your hardening powers to make prosthetic limbs."

At first, Michael was surprised to learn that they'd known about the last serious tests Hange had him go through alongside Eren. But then he remembered that Lazarus had the power to read his mind. Though he was able to keep any indication that the Scouts suspected him since the assault on Stohess, he knew anyway through his mind.

"The Crystal Titan power allows its user to construct anything out of pure crystal, even outside of Titan form. But there's a limit to how much crystal you can conjure. And you can only channel that energy through skin contact. With your wounds covered, you won't be able to harness your powers. Just let your body rest."

Eren and Michael look up at Lazarus with intense anger in their eyes. Both of them had the same thought right now. To go over there, wring his neck, and kill the lying bastard as slowly and painfully as possible.

Eren attempts to bite his still-healing arm in the hopes of transforming again, but nothing happened. Since Bertolt's warnings weren't getting through to him, Ymir pulls his arm away and points him in the direction of the many Pure Titans below them.

"Easy there, hothead. Take a look at where we are. This is the giant forest within Wall Maria. Wall Rose is leagues away. Which means, we're in the heart of Titan country." She points him and Michael over to a large Abnormal that looked like it was kicking back and relaxing on the ground, though its eyes were focused entirely on them. "See that Titan down there? It's watching us, making sure we stay put. There's also another big one hiding behind that tree."

Michael looks over to the right, quickly spotting the Titan that was peeking out behind the tall tree next to theirs. Other smaller Titans were all wandering around the area, just waiting in anticipation for someone to make a move and fall right into their mouths.

"And then there are these chumps." Ymir points over to the Warriors. "They had the foresight to suit up in full gear. Of course, Reiner took yours. And with your wrists covered, Mike, you can't do anything. The point is, changing into a Titan isn't going to accomplish very much right now. One, they can do the same thing if they want. Two, they could just zip into the trees if not. Three, we're surrounded. And Lazarus said that these Titans were under his command. That's why they're staying put instead of trying to get at us. Power or no power, getting outta this would be tricky as hell, even at the best of times."

"She's right." Lazarus intervened. "Neither of you can turn into Titans right now anyway. Don't count on that ability coming to the rescue. Your body can only take so much. It's a little preoccupied with healing at the moment."

"Ha! Nice try. You expect us to sit here and take the word of a liar?!" Eren responded angrily.

"I hate to say it, but Lazarus's telling the truth… for once." Michael coldly admitted. "I've got a good bullshit detector. Or at least… I thought I did."

"It's not the fact that you're reading skills don't work. It's that I've been trained to hide my true intentions, even from the most skilled of interrogators… Believe what you want, but we've had years of training with our Titan powers. We know how they work." Lazarus stated.

Ymir sighs as she lets her eyes wander at the Titans below. No matter what she tries to come up with, she could see no way of them escaping the Warriors. Lazarus was right, she was clueless on how this whole thing works.

"Hey, you guys said you'd start talking once Michael was up. Don't ya think it's about time one of you explains what you plan on doing with us?" She asked.

"We're gonna be taking you to our home town. Of course, we know for a fact you won't be doing as I ask. Like Ymir said though, these Titans are under my control. I have them patrolling the entire forest. I don't want to have them kill you, but if you try to run I'll have no choice. We can beat the living shit outta each other if that's what you want, but I wouldn't recommend it. Try to cut and run or stick around, it doesn't matter in the end. Your only option is to wait until nightfall." Lazarus explained thoroughly so that they could properly understand their situation.

"Huh, I guess our fight took a lot out of you. What's wrong? You get winded and need to take a rest?" Michael sarcastically remarked.

"If we are to safely make the trip back home, I need all my strength… Until nightfall comes, I suggest you listen to what I have to say, Michael."

"I've got nothing to say to you!" He responded angrily. He then turns himself around and faces away from them, no longer able to look Lazarus in the eye. Every time he does, he's reminded of the hurtful betrayal which only deepens his anguish.

He thinks about all the others he'd left behind after getting abducted. Most of all Erwin. He wonders if he's gathered the entire Scout Regiment together to launch a rescue mission. Part of him wanted to get away from here, but most of him wanted them to stay away out of fear of what Lazarus would do. His Titan had the power to turn them all into ashes with a single breath of his flames. He couldn't bare to see his father, friends and allies die while he was powerless to help them.

"Wait a second," Ymir spoke up suddenly. "How are you able to control these Titans? Are you bluffing to scare us out of escaping or something?"

Lazarus narrows his eyes at her, holding back the hatred he had for her after discovering she'd killed Marcel.

To prove he can control them, he orders one of the smaller Titans to start jumping up and down atop the large Abnormal's chest. Eren, Ymir, and Michael were shocked to learn that he wasn't bluffing at all. The Titan soon stops jumping and returns to its normal sitting position atop the lying Abnormal.

Without looking back at them, Michael decided to ask Lazarus one thing that had been on his mind for quite some time. By this point, he'd made up his mind. He needed information, anything he can get. And whether he likes it or not, Lazarus, Reiner and Bertolt were the only ones who could provide that information. He had no way of removing the plates nailed into his arms, so all he could do was keep his eyes and ears open and make a break for it when the moment comes.

"How did you do it?" Eren, Ymir, and the Warriors all turn their attention to Michael. "How did you manage to read my mind? Were you able to do it all this time? Or did you do something to me when I wasn't looking?"

Lazarus waited until Michael was able to glance around his right shoulder and look directly at him before providing him with an answer.

"No, I wasn't able to hear your thoughts the whole time. I started hearing them after I visited you in your cell. The day I visited Annie in Stohess. I can't tell you how I did it, but that was when I was able to hear you."

That day? Michael thought. Why was he only able to start hearing his thoughts right then and there? His mind wanders back to that moment, trying to piece together what it was that he did to him. But as far back as he can remember, Lazarus never did anything to him.

Suddenly, he remembers the part of the memory where Lazarus brought him a breakfast tray that morning. Maybe it was something he put in his food. Or it was something he…drank?

His eyes widen once more as he remembers seeing Lazarus eyeballing the glass of orange juice he brought him, hoping he'd have drunk it all. Furious, he turns himself back around whilst trying not to fall to express his anger towards him.

"You- you poisoned me!" He cried out in anger, shocking Eren and Ymir slightly. "You tricked me into drinking whatever it was that allowed you access to my mind. You lying winged rat!"

"It's not a poison. All I did was form a connection between your Titan and mine. It's harmless. I did the same thing with Reiner, Bertolt, and Annie. That's how were able to stay in touch with each other. Unfortunately, the effect doesn't fade away over time. The connection will remain until one of us dies." He attempted to reassure him.

"Then I'll just simply have to kill you!" Eren butted in. "What about me, huh? Are you able to read my mind too?!"

Eren then shouts out a bunch of rage-filled slurs within his mind expecting to see a reaction out of Lazarus. But he was unable to hear his thoughts. Nor could he hear Ymir's. If he had, Ymir would've called him out on it or something. So there was a silver lining for him. Since his mind was free of Lazarus's presence, he can plan out his next move without them knowing.

"There's just nothing you give a damn about, isn't there, Laz?!" Michael spoke out again. "You're just so determined to get what you want, that you don't care who you kill to accomplish your mission. You once told me you wanted to be a hero to the world! That you wanted justice! Well, is this what you call justice?! I call bullshit if you think THIS is justice!" He roared up at him.

"… It doesn't matter what I say to you. You'll always see me as evil." Lazarus calmly responds. "But I can tell you this. I made a promise to someone who means a lot to me to complete this mission I was given. And if I could go back and do things differently… I'd do it all again! That's how much this person means to me."

"And who, pray tell, is this so important person you promised to destroy our home over? Who is it?!" He demanded.

"You are, Michael… You're the one I made that promise to."

"What?!" Michael and Eren both responded at the same time. There's no way he's telling the truth. How is that possible? Eren thought. Michael has always been a resident of the Walls since he was born. He didn't know Lazarus until the 104th Cadet Corps. How could he have made such a promise when he's a dedicated soldier like he and Erwin were?

"What are you- Michael attempted to question him, only to be cut off by Lazarus who was one step ahead of him with the answers.

"Your name is Michael Suurvalta. Your parents were Jonas and Victoria Suurvalta. You all lived next door to me and my parents in our hometown. We've been childhood friends since the moment we were born because both our parents had known each other for years. We've been inseparable ever since. You've always loved music. You once told me you wanted to start a band with me and bring music to our townspeople." Lazarus's voice increases in volume and intensity the deeper he delves into it.

He reaches down his shirt and removes the crystal sword necklace from around his neck, holding it up for them to see clearly.

"Your grandfather, Noah, made this for you the day he died. He told you to give it to the one person in the world you trusted more than anyone. And you chose me! You still have the shield necklace don't you?"

Eren and Ymir look to their left at the speechless Michael. Since he had no hands, Michael was forced to use the underside of the metal plates on his nubs to pull his shirt collar down enough to allow the shield necklace to pop out. Upon seeing it, the three hostages stare at it in shock.

"You gave me this the day before you left. You used your Titan powers to erase my memories of you, removing yourself completely from my life. All so you could come here… At first, I couldn't understand why you did it. But now I do. It was because you wanted to keep the Crystal Titan power hidden from threats that wanted to use it for evil. But by coming here, you ended up losing all memory of your own life. Your parents! Your hometown! Even me!" Lazarus shouted down at him, tears starting to form in his eyes, signifying how genuine his words were. Despite his manipulation and lies up to this day, even Michael can't say, not even to himself, that Lazarus is acting.

"Even though you erased my memories, I was slowly able to regain them after I obtained the Winged Titan power. Somehow, it was able to undo your alteration and remind me of the promise we made to each other that day… The promise that if ever you were lost and alone, I would come to find you and bring you back home where you belong. This necklace has been guiding me to you ever since we first arrived in these lands…I aim to bring you back home and help you remember who you truly are. And I will fight anyone who gets in the way of that. Whether they're foe… or friend." He looks over at Eren and Ymir as he finishes that last sentence.

The whole forest fell silent as Michael and the others let Lazarus's words sink in. Even Reiner and Bertolt were surprised by their leader's outburst. They had no idea at all how special Michael's friendship was to him. They knew very little about Lazarus's past, only meeting him after he was put into the Warrior Program. Beyond that, his life has always been a bit of a mystery. On many occasions they attempted to ask, but always backed out at the last second, fearing it would dig up some horrific memories he'd preferred to stay buried.

Michael's head started flooding with many questions. Everything he thought he knew about himself was just revealed to be a lie. At first, he saw this as yet another manipulation from the Winged Titan. But he spoke so wholeheartedly, so sure of himself, so passionately, that there was no way he was making it up. Even the most convincing of liars showed little signs of lying, signs he did see in Lazarus before. He just chose to ignore it.

But this was no lie or manipulation. His head started to hurt in response to him thinking too deeply into it as if some kind of force is preventing him from trying to remember. Every time he attempted to look back before being found by Erwin, his headaches grew worse and worse. He didn't know what to think anymore.

"How can you control my power when you can't even control yourself?"

The words of The Reaper echoed through his mind, remembering his first proper encounter with him. How he looked down on him and called him the weakest of all the Crystal Titan users. But why now? What made him think back to that moment?

"If your memories remain incomplete, so will the Crystal Titan. Until you remember who you really are, you can never harness my power to its full potential."

"So that's what he meant." Michael thought to himself, only to stop thinking out loud immediately, reminding himself that Lazarus can hear his thoughts.

"Michael." Lazarus addressed him, startling Michael out of his train of thought and focusing his attention back on him. "It's clear to me that you want to remember who you used to be before you came here. We can help you do that. There's someone we know who possesses the power to alter memories like you can. He can help you get them back. But we need you to cooperate with us. Joining our side is the only way you'll be able to recover them."

"And put my faith and trust in you three? Yeah right!" Michael refused without hesitation. "Even if what you say is true, I don't trust you and you don't trust me. You have no way of persuading me to go."

"That's not true and you know it." Lazarus denied his claim. "I know what it is you truly want… The only thing you care about is protecting Erwin. If we can agree on that, then I don't see the conflict. You and he share the same dream of discovering the truth beyond the walls, do you not?" He asked rhetorically.

"We're not stupid. We know he won't choose you over the Scout Regiment just like that." He clicks his fingers to demonstrate. "But if he truly cares about you, he'd let you try and get your memories back, even if it means he'd be giving you up. He wants the truth of the world beyond the walls. Well, we're from that world, and so are you. Joining us will ensure you get that knowledge back. Knowledge you can share with him… Of course, you could always put your faith in Eren and Ymir, and see where that leads you."

"What you say?!" Eren snarled.

Ignoring his comment, Lazarus continued talking. "You told me that remembering your past was the one thing you wanted more than anything. This is your only opportunity to get it. Are you planning on letting it pass because of some personal grudge you have against us?" He pauses momentarily, allowing Michael to absorb his words like a sponge in a puddle of water. "What's it gonna be? Are you gonna regain your past and ensure you and Erwin learn the truth and create a better future? Or are you gonna continue living the lie you've created inside these walls and abandon the loved ones you left behind in your old life? People like your parents! Parents who're waiting for their child to come home."

Michael gasps in sheer shock. So, his birth parents were still alive. All this time Lazarus has been trying to find their child in the hopes of one day reuniting them in his true homeland. All of this was too much for Michael to handle. So much to that he ended up collapsing to his knees, staring blankly up at the leaves above.

Lazarus notices this and decided to call it quits there. Feeding him any more info may result in him having a mental breakdown. The Crystal Titan cannot be controlled if its user is in a state of shock.

"You don't have to give me an answer now." He calmly reassures him. "Take some time to think it over. You can give me your answer after sunset. For now, rest up. That goes for the rest of us too."

Lazarus turns his back away from the others and goes to sit down under the tall trunk of the tree like Bertolt. Reiner kept his eyes on the others to ensure they stayed put.

Ymir sighs, relieved to see that the squabble between Lazarus and Michael had finally ended. It went on far too long for her liking. At least now she can get some peace and quiet.

Eren just sat there in silence, listening in on the whole conversation. Not like he had an option to not listen to it. He decided not to try anything yet, choosing instead to keep his emotions in check and wait for his body to finish healing so that he could transform and escape.

As for Michael, he was still blankly staring up at the many leaf-covered branches above him. Still thinking over everything Lazarus had told him. He did mean what he said when he told him he wanted to remember who he was. Though he hated the fact that the only way for him to get it was to form a temporary truce with the enemy of the walls.

He needed to think hard about what to do. He had only a couple of hours left until sunset arrives. Whatever happens after that will determine what kind of person he'll become.

Several hours have passed since the big bombshell Lazarus dropped on Michael. Since then, everyone has been quiet. Eren continued to give the Warriors the death stare, still hoping to kill them for what they've done five years ago. His arms were almost fully grown back with only his wrists and hands yet to be restored.

The Warriors of course ignored Eren and tended to themselves, focusing all their energy to speed up the recovery of stamina.

Michael just sat in silence, still thinking over everything he'd just learned. Even with all those hours, it wasn't enough for him to think hard about his next decision. Should he go with the terrorists of the walls and take a risk getting his memories back? Or should he just put the past behind him and return to his father? The more he thought it through, the more it was eating away at him.

Ymir was just chilling on the branch dangling her legs over the side and swinging them forward and back, expressing her boredom. The heat of the sun was making her throat feel dehydrated even though it wasn't even summertime.

"Hey, Reiner, got any water? Help a girl out. I'm dying over here." She complained as she used her only intact hand to fan herself.

"Sorry, but there's not a hell of a lot I can do. Even if it is a matter of life and death."

"Not like you deserve any." Lazarus quietly muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Ymir questioned him.

"I said you don't deserve any help from us! Not after what you did to Marcel!" Lazarus slightly raised his voice at her. Not too loud to the point he was furious but high enough to show he was not on good terms with her.

"That's kinda hypocritical of you, don't ya think? You and your pals have done far worse than me. And you have the nerve to get mad at me? Many people died because of you, yet you don't see me hating your guts as much as Eren and Michael are."

"This isn't hatred." Lazarus corrected her. "I never said I hated you for what you did, Ymir. That's not why I'm mad. At first, I was, but then I put myself into your shoes. Like everyone else, you did what you had to do to regain your humanity. I can't fault you for that. However, most people I've known who've been in similar situations to you were grateful for getting a second chance at life. Hell, I was one of them! When I was given a second chance, I used it to help others who were going through a hard time. Being kind and offering help to them. Helping them realise they should be thankful for the lives they've been given."

"But what did you do with your second chance? Nothing! All you did was look out for yourself, never giving a damn about the people around you. And whenever you do decide to help someone, you do it just to get something out of it. The only exception is Christa. But that's it. Many people who've been in the same situation as you would be grateful for getting their lives back. But you act like you're not… And I find that unforgivable."

Lazarus's words only added fuel to the fire of Eren's raging inferno. He had the gall to accuse her of not being grateful for the lives of others when he caused the deaths of so many innocents. How dare he talk down to them like that, he thought. If only he could transform right now. He'd make sure Lazarus suffers the most for trying to get inside their heads.

"That's comforting." Ymir sarcastically remarked. "At least now I know where you and I stand."

"He's right." Reiner cut in all of a sudden. "People should be grateful for what we do for them. Like us for example. We've been working our asses off. No food. No sleep. No nothing. Ever since those Titans showed up. That was yesterday, right?" He rhetorically asked Bertolt who started noticing a change in Reiner's behaviour.

"Man, we're lucky the wall hasn't been destroyed. Still, you'd think that means they'd give us a break. And don't even get me started on promotion."

The others all slowly turn to face Reiner as they begin to notice something was off about what he was saying. Why was he suddenly acting like he was still undercover when their cover had been blown hours ago? What the hell was going through his head right now? Whatever it was, it got Bertolt and Lazarus worried. Lazarus assumed that now that they no longer had to hide who they are, Reiner would be more focused on the mission. But Reiner had been playing the role of a loyal soldier for so long that he was starting to believe it.

Reiner notices the worried look written across Lazarus and Bertolt's faces, wondering what was up with them.

"Huh? What? Come on, Laz. You, of all people, should know what I'm talking about. Think about all the things you've done for them in the past. You'd think the top graduate would be given more respect. God knows we've done our fair share of heavy lifting, all things considered. I mean, I get it, we're soldiers, duty first. It's just nice to be acknowledged."

Michael's thoughts about his upcoming choice were soon switched out by new thoughts over what Reiner was saying. He hadn't paid it much mind before, but as he got to know him more over the years, he couldn't help but notice little shifts between his personalities. And it was clear to him that he was unaware of what he was even talking about right now. Could it be that he has some kind of mental affliction? He wondered.

"You bang your head or something? What are you even talking about? Seriously?!" Ymir responded in confusion.

"Bah, don't give me that. I'm not saying we should storm in and demand the rank of captain or anything."

"No. That's not what I mean." Before Ymir could say anything more, Reiner, for some strange reason, decided to change the subject, like he was purposely avoiding the reality of their situation.

"Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask you. Where'd you find that cannon? I owe you one for saving my bacon." He turns over to Lazarus suddenly acting concerned for him. "How's your head feeling? You're not still concussed are ya, bud?"

Lazarus was shocked by how bad this whole thing with Reiner was getting. It's as if he was seeing a completely different person taking over whilst the real Reiner had been forced to retreat to the deepest, darkest parts of his psyche.

"It was really nice of Christa to patch me up afterwards. I'm starting to think me and her might become a thing, like you and Annie, Laz. Right? I mean it's not just me who thinks that, yeah? She always treats me like-

"HEY!"

Reiner was startled out of his fairytale rant by a still very angry Eren, who'd finally had enough of just sitting around and hearing the people he despise talk. He did well keeping his emotions in check up to this point. Lazarus's hypocritical rant may've set him off a little. But Reiner's sudden change in character was the final straw that broke the camel's back.

"What's wrong with you?! You've gotta be kidding me!"

"Whoa! What are you getting so pissed about all of a sudden?" Reiner objected, confused as to why Eren was yelling at him. "Take it easy, man. Was it something I said or-

"IF YOU WANNA DIE THEN JUST KEEP TALKING!" He roared back at him. But he was quickly held back by Ymir.

"Hold up, Eren. I think somebody's gone off the deep end. Is that what this is, Bertolt? If you guys know something we don't then now's the time to put it on the table."

Still confused as to what was going on, Reiner turns over to the worried Bertolt still sitting behind him.

"Reiner, snap out of it! You're not a soldier, ok. You, me, and Lazarus… are Warriors."

Reiner's eyes widen, and his pupils dilate as the realisation slowly and painfully hits him. He didn't want to accept it. No matter how much he pretended everything was alright, nothing ever truly goes away. The memories of all the things he'd done upon first arriving at the walls play out before him. The breaching of the inner gate. His involvement in killing Marco. He could even feel the souls of all the innocent people he's killed surrounding him. It was all too much for his mind to handle.

Lazarus grabs a hold of his shoulders and forces him to make direct eye contact with him so that he could attempt to calm his nerves.

"Listen to me, Reiner! The people of the walls know who we are now. This charade is no longer necessary. Don't let your demons break you. You are Reiner Braun. A Warrior! My best friend and comrade. The underdog of our group that rose up and proved himself worthy of being the Armoured Titan. Remember what our teachers told us. Close your heart to the enemy. Don't feel for them. This is a war. And in a war, we fight to protect those we love. Don't you dare forget about that You hear me?!"

Lazarus lets go and backs away from him, allowing his words to embed themselves into the deepest parts of his mind, hoping it'll snap him out of his mental breakdown and allow his true self to take back control.

After a couple of deep breaths and reflecting on his life before coming to Paradis, Reiner was finally able to snap back into reality and look down at the ground in sorrow.

"Right… You're right… I guess that's just how things are." He finally uttered. He then ends up down on his knees, his face buried in his hands and wallowing in self-pity, still emotionally traumatised. Lazarus kneels behind him and places his hand on his back.

Eren just stood there confused as to what was going on right in front of him. But Michael and Ymir had a pretty good idea of what the problem was.

It didn't add up at first. Why would the man who broke the wall risk his life protecting those he considered his enemies? It was like the poor bastard's personality was compartmentalised. Everything he, says and does, is a contradiction in terms. He can't help it. On one hand, he's a Warrior bent on pushing mankind past the brink. On the other, he's pretending to be a soldier. He'd been at it for so long that he started getting himself lost in the role.

Michael can tell that he'd been struggling since then. He can't resolve those assets of himself. Can't bear the weight of what he's done. The only way he could manage his conscience is to fall for his act. He thinks he is a soldier when in reality he was a Warrior. In other words, a split personality. His heart and mind are at war with each other. And judging by Lazarus and Bertolt's expressions, he could tell this wasn't the first stalemate.

He almost started to feel sorry for him. Though he started to wonder why Lazarus and Bertolt aren't as broken up by this as he was. Especially Lazarus, as this was all his idea in the first place. Did he just not care about anyone or anything? Or was he much stronger than Reiner in terms of mental and spiritual capacity?

Ymir started to snicker over the thought of someone as brutally honest as Reiner losing their grip on what was true and what's not. This angered Lazarus, forcing him to shout down at her.

"SHUT UP! Not another word out of your mouth!"

"I'm sorry. I must've hit a nerve." She sheepishly replied, not intimidated at all by him.

"Is this some kind of sick joke?!" Eren sneered up at them. "Where do you get off pretending to be the victim? You're wallowing in self-pity? How dare you!" He then turns to Lazarus. "And you! How dare you talk down to us, acting like we're in the wrong! What was going through your head when I told you my story, huh? Do you even remember that, Lazarus? I'm talking to you, mastermind!"

"I told you everything! You looked me straight in the eye! Watched me relive the memory of seeing my mother being eaten alive! Do you remember, Bertolt?! Well, it just so happens that the chunk of wall you kicked out fell on our house! It's what kept her from being able to run away. Ring any bells? Take you back?!"

Bertolt just glances over at Eren in response to his hate-filled questioning. Eren once again looks over at Lazarus, the brains of this outfit, and looks him dead in the eye as he awaits his answer.

"So let me ask you again. What was going through your head when I told you that story?!"

Lazarus looks away from Eren as he thought it over. Nothing he says will change his opinion of them. He might as well just tell him the truth as lying would only make matters worse.

"You want me to be honest?" He asked rhetorically. "In the moment I felt… sorry for you."

For a few moments, the forest fell silent. Michael and Ymir look over at Eren, awaiting his response. Even though they knew it wouldn't be a good one.

Eren's loathing expression hadn't changed at all on the outside. But inside, it looked as if Lazarus's answer only deepened his hatred. Like a black hole was forming within his soul, sucking in any sense of reason and logic and spitting out spitefulness.

"Sorry for me?" He finally spoke up slowly. "So then, you're not warriors or soldiers. You're just murderers! Psychotic mass murderers who snuffed out the lives of countless people who never did you any wrong!"

"DON'T YOU THINK WE'RE AWARE OF THAT FACT?!" Reiner suddenly burst out in a fit of rage, no longer able to hold in his anger. "WE DON'T NEED YOU SHOVING IT DOWN OUR DAMN THROATS!"

"THEN STOP ACTING LIKE YOU'VE GOT ANY RIGHT TO FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELVES! WE'RE LIVING IN A HELL YOU THREE CREATED! ARE YOU PROUD OF YOURSELVES?! YOU'RE NOT ONE OF US, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN! YOU'RE NOT EVEN HUMAN ANYMORE!"

Now it was Lazarus's turn to lose his composure and start yelling back at Eren. "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US?! DO YOU WANT AN APOLOGY?! YOU WANT US TO FEEL BAD?! WANT US TO FEEL LIKE THE SCUM OF THE EARTH BY CALLING US MURDERERS?! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TALKING TO!? DO YOU THINK SAYING A COUPLE HURTFUL THINGS WILL BREAK ME? WELL, I'VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU! MY SPIRIT'S BEEN BROKEN A LONG TIME AGO SO THERE'S NOTHING LEFT FOR YOU TO BREAK! IF SCREAMING IS THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL UNDERSTAND, THEN HERE'S YOUR GODDAMN ANSWER!"

Eren, Reiner, and Lazarus all take a moment to regain their composure and calm themselves down. The rest of the group was overwhelmed by the unpleasant and earsplitting exchange of argument.

Michael was slightly shocked by Lazarus's outburst. This has to have been the first time he'd ever seen him get this angry before. It was almost terrifying.

"You're right." Eren slowly responded after what felt like an hour-long pause. "Who am I? What do I know? But still, I got to do something. Anything" He raises his head ever so slowly, revealing a deranged and vengeful smile creeping across his face, with his eyes staying the same as before. "I swear to you. One way or another, the three of you will pay. And it's gonna hurt!"

The Warriors all glance over at him, unaffected by his threat. Or at least Bertolt was. Lazarus and Reiner could tell that there was a hint of seriousness in his tone of voice despite his being consumed by blind hatred.

The look in Eren's eyes reminded Lazarus of one of the visions he saw relating to Eren. He remembered seeing himself and the Attack Titan engaged in a fight that appeared to have taken place in Shiganshina. He started to wonder if this was the match that lit the torches leading towards that vision becoming a reality. If so, he would need to be wary of any actions he would take around him. Though a part of him saw the pointlessness in it. Destiny has a way of finding people no matter what route they take to avoid it.

"Oh, would you just shut up, Eren. I thought you were smarter than that."

After being quiet for several hours, Michael finally decided to get involved in this conflict and break things up before they got any further out of hand. Not in defence of Lazarus, Reiner and Bertolt, but to ensure Eren sees the bigger picture that he had just witnessed.

Eren practically spins his head in the direction of Michael slightly shocked by what he'd just heard him say.

"Eren, grow up! Keep spouting out childish bullshit like that and I've got no hope for you."

"What you say?!" Eren growled at him. "Don't tell me you let Lazarus get into your head again with his lies! Are you stupid enough to believe what he says about getting back your memories? Memories that might not even be real?!"

"THEY ARE REAL!" Michael yells back at him. Once he takes a few calming breaths, he continues. "Don't get the wrong idea. I don't trust them any more than you do… But after taking some time to clear my mind and think logically, I've concluded that they're not the bad guys we made them out to be, at least not completely. It's clear to me they have some regrets for their actions. And they're not the type who takes pleasure in killing people and stomping over their graves. No! They did this against their own free will. I can tell by the way they act. Someone else is pulling the strings. And I want to know who it is and ask them directly why sent them to do this."

"Are you kidding me?!" Eren shouted down at him in anger. "Are you seriously considering joining their side and turning your back on the Scouts? On humanity?! On your friends?! … On your father?!"

That last one triggered Michael to the point he felt the need to stand up and stare down at Eren intensely, putting him in his place.

"Don't talk about him! I'm doing what I think is best for him! I joined the Scouts because I wanted to protect him for once. I wanted to find a way to pay him back for not only saving my life but for taking me under his wing and teaching me, an empty child with no memories apart from his first name, everything he needed to know about this world to survive. Getting my memories back of who I used to be and where I came from is the only way I can repay him. If I truly am from a world beyond the walls, then I want to remember so I can tell him about it. And YOU are NOT gonna ruin this chance for me, got it?!" He sternly scolded him like a parent would scare their child into behaving.

Eren just stood there flabbergasted by Michael's straightforward, honestly harsh response. He unknowingly takes a few steps back away from who he thought was his friend. But it would seem that the Warriors were able to get into his head in the end. The thought alone started to worry Eren. If the Crystal Titan defected over to the enemy's side, it would spell disaster for all mankind, as its hardening powers were the key to sealing up the holes in Wall Maria.

Michael's mention of there being someone else pulling the strings behind what's been happening forced Ymir to ask the Warriors one last important question that she knows will answer honestly.

"Tell me something. What's with the giant monkey?"

The Warriors froze for an instant, not expecting her to start bringing up the Beast Titan out of nowhere. Michael was also intrigued to hear what they had to say after his encounter with it a while back.

"Monkey? What are you talking about?" Reiner questioned her, pretending he had no idea what she was on about.

"Huh, I thought for sure you'd know. That's surprising. From the way you guys were ogling it all slack-jawed I figured we were seeing some kind of living legend. Weird."

"A monkey? Don't be cute!" Eren rudely spat while Michael said, "What the hell is a monkey?" While looking confused.

"Shut up and listen. Monkey. Beast Titan. Whatever you wanna call him. He's behind this latest fiasco. He's the reason Titans have been cropping up out of nowhere. I get the feeling he's gauging our strength… Reiner, Bertolt, and Lazarus are trying to get wherever he is. That's how they're getting back home. Feel free to correct me if I'm way off base." She explained.

Both Michael and the Warriors were surprised at her deductive skills. He figured the Beast Titan was another Titan Shifter, but he had no idea he might be the true leader of their group. This meant he had power over Lazarus, despite the Winged Titan being the most powerful he went up against. He never got to see the Beast Titan's true strength as he was too weak at the time to give the fight his all.

He then briefly remembers what it had said to him during their short fight. He told him that even Lazarus couldn't beat him in a fight before. The thought caused him to shudder. The Winged Titan was a highly skilled fighter. So, the idea of there being one stronger than him sent shivers down his spine.

"Wait! How did you know?" Eren uttered before directing his anger towards Ymir for a change. "Who are you?! What else haven't you told me?!"

"Be patient. I'm caught up in circumstances of my own."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

Ymir ignores his outburst and looks over at the Warriors. Then over to Michael. Like him, she too came from the world beyond the walls. Therefore, she knows what lies beyond them. Though it had been over 60 years since she'd seen it, the fact that the Warriors were sent here on their behalf told her that it hadn't changed at all since her absence.

"Look Eren, Michael's right. If you think killing these morons will put an end to all this, you are sorely mistaken."

"What? Then who's the enemy?!"

Before Ymir could explain why she couldn't tell him or Michael, Reiner decided to interject and discuss his plans for her on behalf of his team.

"Ymir, there's no future for this world and you know it. You have a solid grasp of things, what do you think comes next? Joining our side wouldn't be out of the question if you were so inclined… Judging by what Michael just said, he's already made his decision."

Ymir scoffed at the idea of putting her faith in them. Neither of them - especially Lazarus – could trust her as much as they could throw her.

But like Michael, Ymir too had someone she wanted to protect. Historia. Upon learning who she is, Reiner saw the importance of bringing her with them as well. If what Annie was able to dig up about the Reiss family was true that is.

"You're probably leaning towards escape, aren't you?" Reiner addresses her directly. "Better to take a chance with Eren than throw in with us, right? Because if we end up taking you, there's not much hope of being rescued. The same goes for you too, Michael. If you're being truthful about coming with us."

"That's right." Lazarus continued. "Even if you both came with us willingly, we're not in a position to guarantee your safety. But if it's Erwin and Christa we're talking about, we might be able to do something."

With that said it looked like both Michael and Ymir had been won over by the Warriors' proposition. Whatever doubts or plans they had to back out at the last second had been permanently removed from their minds. Or at least Ymir's mind.

Michael was serious about going with them to regain his lost memories, but only because he saw helping them as a necessary evil to make himself and the Crystal Titan whole. Once that was done, he plans to turn on the Warriors and use his full power and knowledge to crush them once and for all. It took everything he had to not think up this plan in one go. Instead, he thought bits of it over whilst using Lazarus's explanations and shouting match with Eren as an opening to think it over while his mind was distracted. All that remained was to play along with them until they get to wherever they needed to go and get his memories back.

Eren found himself in the minority of this group. At first, he was enraged over the two people sitting next to him choosing to join the enemy's side, but instead, he was confused by what Reiner had mentioned earlier. Was there really no future for this world? Why? And the Beast Titan? How does he figure into this? He wondered.

The stress of not knowing was churning him up inside. Since Ymir seemed to know a lot more than she let on, he didn't think twice to ask her once again.

"Come clean! Who's the real enemy? Tell me what you know… Who is it?!"

Ymir just blankly stares at him and responds with an empty "couldn't say." Which caused Eren's anger to begin to emerge again.

"Alright then. Sorry Eren, but the majority's in favour of us." Reiner added.

The Warriors start to begin making preparations for their trip back to Shiganshina. Hopefully, Zeke will still be there when they arrive. Once they get in contact with him, everything will be playing along much smoother than before.

As Lazarus was about to discuss their next move with his comrades, his enhanced hearing picks up the sound of what appeared to be a gunshot in the distance. Quickly turning to his right, he and the others were shocked to see plumes of green smoke in the distance.

"The Scouts are here? Already?" Bertolt thought to himself.

"Son of a bitch!" Reiner whispered, trying to keep this discovery hidden from Eren, Ymir and Michael. "What do we do?" He whispers to his white-haired leader.

"We have no choice but to leave now."

"Have you recovered enough to fly?" Bertolt whispered after jumping to the branch he and Reiner were on.

"Yeah, but it won't be enough for a full two-hour flight back to Marley. We're gonna have to get to Shiganshina on foot. If I fly us away now, it'll take a while for me to recover enough to fly us back home. Enough time for the Scouts to catch up with us and recapture Eren and Michael."

The others were completely oblivious to what they were discussing on the branch across from theirs.

At this point, Eren started seeing Ymir and Michael as his enemy as well. He could no longer count on their support to escape. He was on his own. He's only got one hour left until sunset. If he doesn't think of something by then, he might as well kiss his dreams of killing all his enemies and seeing the outside world goodbye.

To Be Continued