Freiheit aus dem Käfig
Rated; M (Blood/Gore)
Disclaimer; I do not own Attack On Titan or anything created by the author Hajime Isayama, all rights go to him.
Authors: Eli-er01
Patreon: Elier01
Chapters 2 (Pre-emptive Strike) and Chapter 3 (Conflict) are already available on my Patreon
Summary: Time. A finicky thing that does not like to change, but that does not mean it doesn't bend. A single change, a single different choice by a certain suicidal blockhead during his first expedition, would change the very course of history... yet so much would still remain the same. Will everything be worth it in the end... or will it all be for naught in the face of the flow of time?
A/N: This fic was inspired by CoolerRider's 'Desire To Live', so partial credit goes to them. The first chapter will have a lot of things similar to that fic, as this is sort of like an adoption of his story.
1: A Cruel World
=Forest of Giant Trees, 850=
The deafening sounds of galloping horses and giant footsteps echoed around Eren as the Female Titan slowly closed in on them, meter by meter as the horses were panting.
"It's fast! It's gonna catch us!" He recognized Eld's panicked voice.
"Captain! Orders!?"
"Let's Attack! That thing is dangerous!" Oluo screeched out, gripping the handle on the blades held in their compartment.
"CAPTAIN!"
Honestly, Eren was more than supportive of the idea. His hammering heart fed adrenaline through his system as his brain worked overtime to try to figure out a choice, Captain Levi simply kept his gaze forward, expression unchanging as he kept moving unhindered, not answering any of their words.
The only positive thing at the moment was that the two soldiers who had sacrificed themselves to the Female Titan had bought them time. Not enough, but it was at least something.
"Everyone… cover your ears" Levi's voice entered Eren's ears as he let out a confused sound, turning around from the ice-cold gaze of the titan chasing them to look towards the captain, only to witness him holding up a signal flare.
Just in time, Eren managed to do as ordered and covered his ears as the eas-splicing sound of the flare boomed around them and it shot upwards, silencing the entire group.
"A sound blast?"
"What's your job?" Levi asked, not moving his gaze from the path ahead. "Do they involve getting overwhelmed by fickle emotions? That shouldn't be the case. This squad's duty is to keep this brat from getting a single scratch on him… or die trying." Levi finished, before giving a short nod at Eren, confusing the teen slightly before he gasped.
'I thought their assignment was to monitor me' he thought, finishing his conclusion in his head right as Levi continued.
"We'll depend on the horses from here on, got that?" Everyone couldn't help but agree, much to Eren's surprise as he glanced around at everyone, the fear still present, but now controlled, no, suppressed.
"Depend on…?" Eren whispered to himself, eyes falling down to the mane of the horse he was riding, bouncing up and down and moving in the wind.
'How far are we supposed to go? This thing behind it is catching up and- huh!?' His eyes had glanced back towards the female titan, only to witness two more soldiers moving forward to distract the titan once more.
'No! They're going to die!' He thought frantically before moving his gaze forward.
"Reinforcements! If we don't help, they'll be crushed too!" He shouted and was about to continue, but was silenced by Gunther.
"Eren! Face forward!" He shouted as Eren stared at him in shock and horror.
"Gunther!?"
"Keep going at full speed!" Eld continued for his comrade, almost as if simultaneously ordering Eren and chastising him.
"Eld!? Why…!?" Disbelief colored his face as panic set into his eyes. Why… why were they ignoring their men!? Are they going to just… let them die!? "Who can stop that thing other than Levi Squad!?" He continued, hoping to get his meaning across.
Silence greeted him as they did nothing and a swish followed by a sickening crunch sounded behind him as Eren instinctively turned his head, only to see a body bouncing off a tree, back twisted so far that it sent shivers down his spine.
The second soldier followed as one of the female's fingers wrapped around the soldier's head before crushing it with a squish of blood and grey matter.
"They're dead… but we could have saved them!"
Looking back at Levi Squad, hoping to see at least someone agreeing with him, but none of them did. None of them were arguing with Levi's orders. They didn't have the wish for their comrades to die, that was clear but… to them, it was something that had to happen. Years of experience made them accept that orders were above anything else, including personal attachments, beliefs, or morals. Sticking to them was the best way to ensure success for everyone else, even if it meant laying down your own life.
Eren on the other hand, did not have such experience. The squad learned to keep themselves in line even if they didn't want to, but Eren's shouts were hard to ignore either way.
"Eren!, face forward and keep quiet!" Petra had enough, and ordered Eren to essentially ignore any and all soldiers that may come forward to distract the female titan.
"You're telling me to look away from the battle!? You mean to leave our comrades to die and run!?" Eren shouted.
That was what everyone felt - that they were just running from the new threat, but even if they wanted to voice that very fact, it was what had to be done no matter what.
Orders were orders, and following them was the best choice they could make. To trust in their captain.
"That's right!" Petra answered, shouting back at Eren, frustration mounting. Follow the captain's orders!"
"I don't understand why we have to leave our soldiers! And I don't understand why nobody will explain the reason!"
Eren slowly felt his trust and respect for the Levi Squad fall, losing it piece by piece as the years of hero worship were incinerated before him.
These people who were supposed to protect them, to fight against the titan threat, didn't even protect their own comrades. They'd rather run away than fight in a world of kill or be killed.
"Captain's decision! He decided there was no reason to explain, so trust him!"
Eren gritted his teeth. Trust? His trust was waning by the second to a dangerously low level. Looking back, he saw another soldier who had tried to intercept the titan, fighting one one-on-one, managing to dodge an attempt by the female to grab him.
'He's fighting… all by himself- what..'
Eren looked down at his hand, holding it out in a familia manner that was like instinct.
'I could fight on my own… why am I always turning to other people for help? I should fight for myself… after all, if you don't fight… you die'
Eren moved to bite his hand, his teeth inches from his flesh.
"Eren!? What are you doing? That's only allowed when your life is in danger! You promised, remember!?"
Eren froze… but then regained his confidence and was about to transform, ignoring the pleas of the squad for him to stop. That scout needed his help! What was the point of following orders if they tell you to leave your own comrades, your own people to die!? What if the next to die were Mikasa? Or Armin? Would he have to leave them behind too!?
'No…'
"Eren… you're not wrong. If you wanna do it, go ahead." Levi said, breaking Eren out of his thoughts as he blinked.
Did… did the captain just agree?
"Captain!?" Petra called out in confusion.
"No matter how much he's held back"
'Like I am now' Eren thought bitterly.
"No matter what cage he is in"
Just like that prison underneath Trost, and that court where he was held at trial for something he was just as confused and scared of.
"No one can force him to submit." Levi turned, staring into Eren's eyes "The difference between our judgment and yours is experience. You don't have to fall back on that. Choose -to believe in yourself and make your own experience, or follow the experience built up by the survey corps. I don't know the answer, no one does. No one ever could or has. Whether you trust in your strength… or trust in the choices made by reliable comrades. No one knows what the outcome of that choice will be."
He turned away once more, gazing forward.
"So. as much as you can… choose whatever you'll regret the least. It is all any of us can do."
Eren practically drank up Levi's words, his respect rising once more for the man. Levi trusted him to decide. It was something completely unexpected, and it gave Eren confidence as a thought came to his mind.
From the very start, this entire expedition was out of the norm. Their experience is built upon all previous expeditions and the experiences built from those… but this time? With a titan on humanity's side? Everything was different. This was supposed to be the test for Eren's powers - that was what Erwin had said in court.
In order to do that… he needed to not only prove himself- but to trust in both himself and his power… but also in the power of his comrades. And to do that…
"Please! Trust in me!" Eren shouted after a long moment of bated breath as everyone awaited his choice.
"Eren!?" Eld shouterd.
All of them apart from Levi stared at Eren in shock and horror as he switched to his ODM gear, the hooks shooting up and latching onto the trees as he flew into the air.
"EREN!" Petra called out to him.
"Gunther!" Levi narrowed his eyes, moving to respond to Eren's actions. "Take our horses and find Erwin! Everyone else, switch to ODM! Follow Eren and assist him at all costs!"
Right as he finished the forest was painted in a yellow light that illuminated everything and exploded out with force. Flesh formed on top of bones as Eren's titan formed around his body from the nape down.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Everyone covered their ears as the female finally stopped, smashing her fist into the soldier that had been bugging her, splattering his body onto the forest bed.
To Levi's squad, it was the first time they witnessed Eren truly transform into his full titan form. Out of reflex, most of them gripped the handles of their ODM gear even harder as they suppressed the instinct to go for its nape.
Slowly as Eren and the female titan stared each other down, he moved his stance into his natural fighting one. The same one he'd developed from years of grueling training with Annie, one he was proud of.
His hips squared, arms held up and eyes on the female's body, not eyes, attentive to any and all potential movements.
The female on the other hand didn't do the same, just standing there and staring at him, but it was obvious to Eren that she looked… overtly eager, a wide grin on her face as her blue eyes stared into his own.
"Everyone!" Levi addressed his squad members "Don't attack the female directly, and don't send any hooks near her - you saw how she dealt with the backup. Eren seems to be in control given his stance, but I'll make sure of it. If that isn't the case, send a red flare signal, otherwise green. We only attack after him, when her attention is on Eren, make sure she doesn't get the chance to injure him!" Levi commanded.
"Got it!"
"Now scatter!"
The world was cruel, this Annie Leonhart knew. It enjoyed reminding you of this at any and all opportunities.
An Eldian with no parents to call her own, abandoned before she could even remember.
Being adopted by a person whose only goal had been to use her for his own gains, to better his own life to become an honorary marleyean, as much as that title mattered anyway.
The same person who became her father only when she was about to be sent away on this suicide mission on Paradis.
With the only reliable member of the entire team dying before they even made it to the first wall, she had little hope for the rest of her time on this island.
They had slaughtered hundreds of thousands of people within the walls, much to the surprise of Reiner and Bertholdt. Did they not figure out that that, was the cost of the action of breaking down the walls?
The only possible moment of peace Annie had ever gotten was the training as a cadet. Even that was interrupted by Reiner, who continually sent her to spy on the interior for any information about the location of the founder. She honestly understood that it was necessary, but it did not help her ire and increasingly mounting frustration with them. She could easily fault them too. While she was working and spying on the nobles of the interior, they were playing friends with the others back in the 104th regiment. Due to that, she felt justified in her frustrations.
And it did not end there.
She tried to keep her distance to not get attached to anyone in case she, Reiner, and Bertholdt decided to drop their facade, and she knew that she failed at that, too. She had truly believed that she did not care, then Trost came, and Marco followed. That was the moment she'd truly realized, that despite all of her attempts to keep distance, to not form any attachments.
She cared… she cared enough to feel the emotional wall on her face break and cry as she watched a titan eat him.
That wasn't even the worst part… if she had cared that much about him to feel such guilt… such distraught. Then what would happen when she was responsible for the death of the one person she cared more about than anyone else apart from her father?
Because, quite frankly, there was one person she did enjoy spending time with more than the others.
Eren Yeager.
Eren, the boy who preferred to wear his heart on his sleeve. The boy who was burning with such vengeance and hatred for the Titans that it was like staring at a burning sun.
It had all started that day Reiner had decided to be the obnoxious idiot that he is and practically throw Eren into her arms, whether she wanted it or not.
After that day, Eren had made it his personal mission to train with her every time he could, practically forgoing having any free time at all. Honestly, she didn't mind, he wasn't bad company per se, just a bit stupid at times, just not at the annoying levels that Connie and Sasha were. He wasn't obnoxious like Jean was, and he didn't annoy her like Reiner did.
He simply was attentive, learning at every chance to better himself and taking her words and teaching to heart. He didn't nag her for conversation, content with comfortable silences as she let her hands speak for her in what to do, but when they did talk, he led the conversation, not forcing her to participate if she didn't want to.
She was ashamed to admit that she had been afraid - afraid that he would die on the very first battle he went out on… and for a moment, she'd believed that.
That was what she'd truly thought… until he had emerged from that titan's nape.
Annie had mixed feelings on that particular subject.
She was glad that he was alive, and that the missing Attack Titan had been found. That was at least something they could give Marley as they returned. It was a step closer to going home… to her father and fulfilling her promise.
Sad, that it was Eren of all people, that he had to be the one they had to drag back to be fed to one of their chosen warriors. To die at the hands of people who viewed him as nothing but a devil that should never have been born.
…and now, she was tasked with capturing him, a monster she'd inadvertently created by training him how to fight, someone that she knew she could beat, but also had a chance to beat her.
She felt excitement, in a way, to have a fight that would actually challenge her given that Eren seemed to be in control given that he was not blindly rushing at her and was waiting for her move, arms held high, hips squared just like in training.
She knew that she couldn't prepare herself, the moment she took her usual stance, he'd piece it together in an instant. There was no way he wouldn't given that he'd seen her use it countless times, most of them resulting in a brutal kick to the face.
With a grin on her face, she waited for him to make his move.
'Why isn't she moving?' Eren thought as he circled her slowly, small step by step.
"Eren! Do you hear me?" He heard Levi's voice above him. As much as he didn't want to take his eyes off the female titan, he looked up, meeting Levi's gaze before nodding briefly.
"Good! Attack when I give the signal" Eren gave another nod before turning back towards the female, his arms shifting into a more aggressive form as he prepared to attack. The female seemed to react, lowering herself slightly as if to prepare for him.
It felt like minutes as he both heard and saw Levi Squad in his peripherals moving around the trees before finally, the sound of the flare entered his ears.
With a heavy thrust, his legs shot him forward as he sprinted towards the female, moving in to punch.
Her neck twisted to the side, letting his fist slide across her cheek as her own crystalized one moved between his arms and upwards towards his chin he narrowly managed to lean backward just in time, only for her leg to slam into his midsection, sending him staggering back.
Trying to capitalize on it, Annie moved to try and get a grappling hold on Eren, only for the sounds of wires and gas of ODM gear to force her to stop, covering her nape and hardening her hand.
In an instant the group of soldiers whom she figured was Levi Squad disengaged, their wires nowhere close enough for her to grab any.
Frustration settled in her gut as she realized she'd lost her chance to end this quickly. Even if that meant a longer fight, with Levi Squad here, it meant that she wouldn't get the fight she'd wanted…
Her eyes locked onto Eren as she parried his fist, before slamming her arm down onto his elbow, shattering it. Undisturbed, Eren smashed his head against Annie's face, crushing their noses against one another and shaking their entire view as the world spun.
The next moment, a tendon in her leg was cut, probably by one of the soldiers of squad Levi as she heard them retreat.
Unable to hold her weight on her left side, she was forced to get down on one knee as Eren locked his arm around hers, throwing her to the ground as they grappled around, trying to one-up one another as the constant movement around them by Levi squad keeping her distracted, much to her ire.
After yet another failed attempt to lock down one of his joints, she figured this was getting nowhere and slammed her foot against his chest, pushing hard and throwing him back hard against the tree.
Getting back up as her tendon healed, she snapped her head around, slamming her fist forward as she expected whoever it was that had tried to sneak up on her to splat across the appendage, only for the person to seemingly disappear in a whirlwind of blades and blood as her every tendon, muscle, and joint was severed, her lower arm completely useless as it fell to her side, unable to be moved, even to block with her upper arm.
Confusion and shock filled her as her eyes widened.
What the hell just happened!? Not even Mikasa would have been able to do anything like that. It was like that person wasn't even human-
A memory came to her mind, of people taking of the supposed humanity's strongest soldier, who was said to have a titan kill count in the triple digits.
Fear filled her as she hardened her nape, just as Eren's roar entered her ear, his fist flying against her face before she could turn around and react, sending her body flying back, gliding across the ground as she rolled instinctively to get back to her feet.
This entire situation had gone downhill, and she didn't find her chances at the moment preferable.
If whoever that soldier was that had destroyed her arm like it was nothing was Levi, then she knew that there was no chance in hell that she was winning this.
If someone like that was backed up by four other elite soldiers and a shifter on top of it…
There was one more thing she could try.
Hearing giant footsteps running towards her, she got up onto her feet and managed to grab hold of Erens arm, roaring into his face at the top of his lungs, surprising him and forcing the rest of Levi Squad to cover their ears.
"What the hell!?"
"Is she that scared of dying? Hah! That's the Survey Corps for ya!"
"Come on! Let's finish her!" Petra called out as Eld gave an affirmative the group moving in.
"Wait!" Everyone froze as Annie saw them shoot back to the trees. Backing up from Eren who simply stared at her, preparing for whatever choice she makes next.
Eventually, the sounds of footsteps echoed from every direction, getting louder and louder as Titans came into view behind the trees, rushing towards them.
"She called for reinforcements!"
"She can do that!?"
Levi gritted his teeth as he saw the horde of Titans heading straight toward them. "Eren! Keep her pinned! Everyone else, protect Eren and the female titan!"
There was no way in hell they'd lose both shifters at once.
Quickly Eren closed the distance with Annie, using his advantage of two arms to grapple her remaining one as she tried to kick him, only for his leg to hook around it, his arms wrapping around her neck and armpit before throwing her over his shoulder, a perfect imitation of her own technique as he held her in place on the ground, effectively pinning her as she struggled against his hold, thrashing and clawing with her fingers to escape.
As the Titans closed in, one by one they rushed towards the shifters, ignoring Levi Squad completely as they effectively cut them down one by one.
As the ground became painted with steaming titan blood, eventually, one made it through… then two, then three, forcing Eren to let go of his hold, kicking the first one away right at the neck, hard enough to go through and shatter the nape completely.
Annie, taking advantage of her freed arm, hardened her fingers like claws before digging them into Eren's ankle, ripping it apart before slicing across, severing his other one before getting up on her feet and sprinting away at full speed.
Dodging a few Titans, she made it through the blockade of Titans right as she heard a whooshing sound
In what seemed like slow-motion, she witnessed a blur shoot around the Titans, their napes severing before her world went dark as the blur shot past her eyes.
'Did- did they get my eyes…?' Annie wondered, flabbergasted at the reaction speed of whoever it was - probably Levi if she had to guess.
Right before she was about to cover her nape, the tendons on her good arm were severed, rendering it useless before her legs gave out.
Just how fast is this person!?
Thinking of anything to do in a wild panic, Annie froze as she realized there was only one thing for him left to do-
'Harden! Harden!' she screamed at herself as she tried to harden her nape, but then-
Pain filled her mind as her real legs and arms were severed, burning as she screamed out in shock before something grabbed her, sending her flying down, landing roughly against the forest floor, only for a blade to be pressed against her throat.
Right above her, Levi stood, glaring down at her.
"Where the hell do you think you're going!?" Annie's icy blue eyes filled with fear and defeat as she knew there was nothing she could do. She was completely helpless underneath the strongest soldier of Paradis.
"You were having so much fun killing my men- where's that grin you had earlier, huh!?" He spat out, in the background, the final Titans falling underneath Eren's fist or the blades of the rest of Levi Squad.
"Now stay still, unless you wish to die here." With nothing else to do, she complied, not moving an inch as her eyes never left his cold ones.
Moments later, soldiers appeared through the trees as a few landed near Levi.
Erwin inspected the woman underneath his friend and subordinate, the steaming stumps of her arms and legs giving away just who this was.
"It seems the capture was a success, despite the change of plans." Erwin voiced as Levi glanced at him.
"Not yet." Removing the blade from Annie's throat, he smashed the pommel of the blade's grip against her skull as her world spun and slowly was claimed by darkness.
The world truly… was cruel…
"Now, it's a success." Levi finished, Erwin nodding in response as slow, calm footsteps of Eren's titan approached, limping as one of his ankles was still healing, dragging the foot along.
"It seems you're able to control your power, Eren. Good." Eren nodded at Erwin's words before getting down on his knees, steam exploding out of the name as he detached himself from the flesh hugging his own.
Still inexperienced, her fell down, rolling down the spine of his Titan before landing roughly on his back with a thud.
Groaning as snickers sounded around him, he got to his feet before gumbling as Petra approached with her hand to her mouth, Titan blood still present on her scout cape.
"Y-you got to work on the landing, Eren." She giggled as he rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, it's not as easy as it seems, alright!?" The shifter complained before turning and walking around his titan and approaching Levi and Erwin, the former nodding in his direction.
"Commander. Captain! Did you get her?" The moment Erwin stepped to the side and he laid eyes on the face of the female titan's real body, he froze, face paling as his heart plummeted.
"A-Annie…?" he whispered, eyes shaking as he waited… and waited for whatever this cruel joke was to end.
"You know her?" Erwin snapped him out of his daze as he turned to him. Gulping, his emotions flooding his bloodstream, he nodded slowly, shakily as he forced the words out of his throat which had clogged up.
"A-Annie Leonhart… 104th Training Regiment…" Erwin hummed at the word, turning to look at Annie again.
"Another Titan… and from the same regiment as the first? A coincidence?"
"What are you thinking?" Levi asked, turning Annie around onto her front before motioning for Eld to get him some rope.
"Eren, can you think of anyone close to Annie? Someone who may have helped her?" Erwin asked, gaze fixed on Eren as the question only fueled his inner turmoil.
He'd trained with her… he'd joked with her… tried to connect with her. He'd cared for her, goddammit! Why- why would she do this? Why would she betray them!?
Eren's thoughts went back to the training days, the times when they trained, and the talks they had which she contributed to whenever she felt like it.
It all hurt so much, like someone had taken a knife to his chest.
"No… she was a loner. I was the only one she seemed to talk to…"
Erwin nodded, accepting his answer with a bit of disappointment, but understanding. That would have been a bit too easy, but it was worth a shot.
"This is now classified information, it doesn't leave the soldiers present here. Is that understood!?" Erwin called out, gaining nods and affirmations from everyone around before turning back to Eren.
"Eren, it is imperative that you do not talk about this. The more people that know, the worse our chance is to find whoever else there may be among us like her."
All Eren could do was nod. He hated it, but this… he honestly didn't know how to describe it. They'd been betrayed… by one of their own. Erwins request made sense, so much so that even if he wanted to scream and declare it to the world, he couldn't say anything about what had happened here.
Not until all traitors had been weeded out…
Clenching his fists and his teeth tightly, he forced his anger down with incredible willpower before opening them again with the fire burning in his eyes.
He would find every single one of them… and rip them apart with his own two hands.
=Liberio, 854=
Annie opened her eyes as she stopped reminiscing, that time had long passed.
Four years was a long time for a shifter, literally a third of their lifespan.
Looking around the empty room she stood in, the only source of light in it came from candles that flickered from time to time and the stage lights outside, shining into the room through the windows.
Walking up against a window by a corner, she leaned on the wall as she looked outside, her gaze hard and cold as she viewed the building crowd down below.
She found it amusing that the very countries that not too long ago had been at war with Marley were now sitting peacefully in one of their largest cities, inside an interment zone to boot.
She could see the disgusted expression of most non-eldian as they passed the supposed few 'sub-humans' who'd gotten the 'privilege' of witnessing this event on a seat.
How none of them understood what this entire show was about, was beyond her. It was always the same. The Island devils are bad and deserve to die.
That was the message that had been shoved down their throats all their lives… a message she'd had shoved down her throat.
On this day, she knew that Marley would declare war on Paradis, trying to recruit as many countries to the cause as possible to crush the Paradisians before they could unleash the rumbling onto the world.
Glancing back around the room, she sighed out in frustration.
'Where are they?' She wondered silently.
As if some higher being was taking pity on her, a knock resounded through the room, making its only resident pull out a pistol, its barrel pointed at the door.
She honestly had no love for the weapon, but it had its uses, mainly for intimidation purposes.
Opening the door, a tall woman with short blonde hair greeted her with a smile as the pistol lowered back down, Annie let the woman step inside, the door closing behind her.
"Yelena… you're late." Annie commented as the woman nodded at her.
"Obviously. You and Eren scared the hell out of the scouts when you just vanished. Of course, Eren worried them the most. Without him, Paradis' government is helpless." Yelena smirked as Annie didn't give anything away with her expression.
Putting her bag on a table, Yelena opened it as she pulled out a military outfit and a fake beard.
"How did you manage to hide for so long anyway?" She asked, her gaze moving to Annie's who had turned to look out once more, smiling as she already knew the answer.
"Wasn't hard. With Zeke's help and my experience from Paradis, blending in was easier than expected."
Yelena smiled at the answer with a nod as she began unbuttoning her shirt and dressing herself in the military uniform she'd prepared.
"It seems you had it easier than Eren though." Annie almost scoffed as a small smile played on her lips.
"As if a man like him would ever send a girl as weak and frail as me to a battlefield to receive light injuries to infiltrate the enemy as a war veteran with PTSD. Not that the last part isn't true."
"No matter how many times I hear it, I still cannot fathom how people like you can treat the loss of limbs as light injuries." Yelena chuckled as Annie shrugged in response. She was trying to remain calm, to not show what she was thinking, but she knew that the storm that she and Eren had started was approaching. If the letter made it in time, the scouts were on their way, and Eren was about to answer the declaration of war, by decapitating the Marleyan military.
Yelena herself could feel it as well as she managed to strap the fake beard on correctly finally. The anticipation, dread, excitement, and the like were making her hands shake, and causing her heart to beat erratically.
"Are you ready? The operation starts in forty minutes. Azumabito will leave soon." The taller of the blondes asked as Annie stared out the window, her gaze latching onto a certain man, walking with a limp and a cane. Dressed in a dark jacket and-
"Annie?" Yelena asked again.
The girl brought her blue eyes from the man and sharply turned them towards the tall woman's questioning gaze. The long blonde hair tied in a ponytail as it swayed from the sudden move, her pale complexion even paler than usual from anxiety.
"I've found him." Was all she responded with as Yelena nodded after a moment, closing her eyes as she did.
The time had come… for years on Paradis, she'd fought to return to him, to fulfill her promise to him… then she'd lost, and defected. He was the only reason she had been kept as far away from any battlefields, even if it had just been on ships scouting the island.
Any chance of them finding out about it and killing him was… it was not worth it.
Her gaze returned back to the man down below-
Her father.
She promised that she would return alive to him. Then, it will be his turn, to fulfill his promise to her- to be there for her, even if the whole world was against her.
Because in the end, she put her bet on Paradis. The people that despite her atrocious actions of the past, had moved on from them and forgiven her. She'd killed so many of them, and yet, they'd been able to throw away the subsequent hatred and hunger for vengeance. Something Marley… and the rest of the world were incapable of, even after one hundred years.
Thus, she will watch the world that hates her and her kind burn to the ground, right beside the man who would orchestrate the very march that would bring forth their own doom.
The very same man she wanted to spend the rest of her short life with calmness and peace.
Eren Yeager.
Yelena walked up to Annie, putting a soft hand on her shoulder as their gazes met, the taller girl nodding at her comrade.
"Our man will get your father."
"Ah, Mister Leonhart. It's nice to see you again."
A middle-aged woman greeted, her first, but short hair hidden behind a scarf she had on her head. Approaching the bench where sat, she took a seat next to him. It was thanks to the red armbands, signaling that they were an honorary Marleyan, that they were allowed to sit here at all.
The man she'd sat down beside was a relatively short one, but well-built. His jacket was light with a white shirt underneath paired with dark pants. His receding hairline thanks to his age, was hidden underneath a beret, cane held in his hands.
"Miss Braun. I suppose we haven't met since the day we welcomed your son home… it would have been a shame to turn down the honor we're being given and not come here."
Karina Braun tried to hide the shame on her face. She couldn't relate to his loss… never could. She didn't lose her son to the Island Devils like he lost his daughter.
"By the way, I knew old Hoover was bedridden… but I heard he up and died."
"Yes" Karina answered sadly, remembering the kind man who had raised the colossal titan whom they'd lost on Paradis as well. "He passed away peacefully, in Marley's caring hands until the very end. He always spoke of how proud he'd been of his son and his devotion to all that Marley is… and I'm sure your daughter was just as splendid when she-"
"She's not dead." He cut her off, his voice crude, almost as if she was insulting him. His eyes were soft, but the voice spoke all that needed to be said.
She honestly had no idea what was better, for her to be dead… or be captive to those devils. She shuddered at the thought of what they'd do to her.
"Excuse me. Are you Mister Leonhart?" A voice cut in, a man, Asian-looking, had approached them, much to her and Leonharts surprise.
"Yes."
"Please follow me. We have a very important message for your ears only."
"More important than Willy Tybur's statement from the scene?"
The man felt sweat rolling down his head but kept his composure with an iron grip as he nodded.
"The Hizuru ambassador truly believes that this information would be more valuable to you than the speech. It concerns your daughter." Leonhart's eyes widened slightly, his frame going rigid before his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"If that is the case, you should notify the military, not me." He answered back, his gut getting the feeling that something was off… that there was more to what was going on here.
"Trust me, sir. They are notified. However, knowing the way Marley treats Eldians, the ambassador made the decision to notify you personally as well, just in case the government of Marley decided to neglect your right to receive the news about her."
Listening to the exchange, Karina figured that needed a little push in the right direction, wondering why he was so anxious about information on his daughter.
"Don't worry, Mister Leonhart. From what I know, you still have about twenty minutes before the start of the event." She smiled at him encouragingly.
The older Leonhart looked at the woman for a moment before sighing. Getting up, his heart was beating faster and faster as he followed the man, fearing the worst news possible.
The Asian-looking man opened the door to the room of the Eldian residence complex overlooking the square where the speech was going to take place, Leonhart behind him.
"He's here. You have five minutes."
The moment walked into the room, he noticed that it was dark, barely lit up by a candle that was about to extinguish. By the wall, near the table a figure stood, looking out the window, her blonde hair, ovular face, and Roman nose all too recognizable as his eyes widened in disbelief.
"A-annie?"
Her head slowly moved to face his own, as if fearing the action itself, her own eyes growing glassy despite the well-trained stoic face she'd built up over her years. Not trusting her clogged-up throat, she nodded slowly. Nine long years separated her from him, and here and now, finally, here he was, with her.
"Annie, is that you?"
His voice was slightly shaking, unsure if this was a hallucination or a dream. The girl he'd longed to see for so long approached him slowly, her arms wrapping around his frame as she hugged him with all her might, but was mindful of his leg.
Returning the hug, he dropped the cane to the floor. He was still in shock and barely could form words in his head at all. At this point, she was twenty years old, and even then, was shorter than him. He chuckled slightly at that fact.
Annie herself sighed in his arms. On her way here, she committed irredeemable sins. Slaughtered hundreds of thousands of people with the help of Reiner and Bertholdt. However… if it meant that this… was where it led, then she'd do it all over again.
Thankfully though, she did not need to worry about that in the near future. Only one more irredeemable sin was left for her to commit… this time with someone else at her side… someone she truly cared for.
"It's me, father." Her voice was quiet and soft, almost like music to his ears as he heard it for the first time since that fateful day she'd departed and they'd made that promise between them. She only allowed herself to show this softer, more caring side to two people in the world, the two men in her life.
"Annie, I thought you'd- where, no… how… have you been? What happened?"
The girl didn't break the hug but froze rigidly in response to his questions.
"I'll tell you once we get you to a safe place." She deflected the question.
"Safe place? What do you mean, Annie? We're home, we're safe."
"Father…" Annie's voice was turning more and more serious- trying to hide her fear with it. "Throughout those years… I've been through a lot of shit. Done a lot of things that I regret. I've killed so many people that I've lost count but… I went through all of it to get back to you. To keep the promise we made… and I kept up my end… I am back, however…"
She broke the hug, looking into his eyes, hardening her gaze as she knew the seriousness of the words she was about to utter.
"Now, it is your turn to hold up your end of the promise. You promised me to be there for me, even if the whole world would be my enemy."
It took a moment for him to piece it together, but once he did, it sent a grim shiver down his spine of the implications. Shocking… terrifying… but…
He reached forward, pulling her back into a hug, closing his eyes before nodding.
"I am a man of my word… Annie." He told her as he felt her nod against his shoulder.
"Then please… follow the man behind the door. When we are safe… I'll tell you everything. I promise."
And he knew, better than anyone… Leonhart's… kept their promises.
As Annie's father left the room, escorted away to the Azumabito's ship awaiting them at the docks closest to them, she finally got out of her shelter.
For once in her life, she was finally at peace. She had everything she'd wanted for the past nine years… and now, she had a clear goal in mind. Get Zeke to Paradis with the help of the scouts, and decapitate Marley's military.
Yelena would take care of the Cart and the Jaws, the two more annoying opponents in their current environment. Zeke won't be an issue as he'll pull his punches with the intent of losing.
It was the Warhammer that worried her more than anything. For one hundred years, the titan had never been seen in its form even once. Its unique power was wiped from the history books to keep its ability hidden as a way to ward off any potential assassination attempts.
An unknown enemy was far more terrifying than a known one. At best, they could only speculate on what it can do.
With access to the founding titan's power still out of their grasp, Eren's ability to defeat it was not guaranteed. He might still need her help if that comes to pass.
As she walked down the street towards the square, She saw a certain one-legged soldier limp across the street with his crutches, a bandage covering one of his eyes as they met each other's gazes, subtly nodding at each other.
It was time.
Having found a good place to the side that gave a decent view of the stage from a staircase inside a residential building, she was surrounded by other Eldians who were clamoring to see through the window as well, though it was big enough for everyone to get a good view. She had noted that there was enough space for her to transform when it was time.
At first, she'd wanted to get to the roof, but with every nearby roof being occupied and watched by soldiers, it wasn't possible. If a single one of them saw her and had done even the tiniest amount of research, her cover would be blown.
As the instruments began playing around them and the lights began to flicker and move towards the center of the stage, Annie knew that the show was about to begin. To the side, she could see Yelena leading Zeke and the rest of the present warriors away, Reiner down in the basement with Eren and Falco.
As Willy Tybur began his speech, Annie, once again felt anxiety build up. A surprise attack on Paradis, and now a surprise attack on Marley. Somehow, she'd managed to participate in both.
She didn't enjoy the senseless killing of people but in both these cases, that was something she had to do… has in this case.
"...but though the king retreated to the island of Paradis, he continued to reign…"
Even then, if it will lead her to a future which she desired, one spent with Eren, and her father by her side- she'd do it again in a heartbeat.
'Oh?' she thought as she spotted the Marleyan soldiers at ground level start to move around more than usual, as if restless. Had they already noticed that the warriors were missing?
Willy continued his speech, and letting her curiosity get the better of her, she decided to listen.
"Who ended the great titan war? Was it Helos? Was it the Tybur family? It was neither."
Well, she'd clearly missed the initial part of the speech. They didn't teach that in the academy, instead deciding to drone on about the virtue and importance of Helos like a god.
"The man, who in order to save our world by putting an end to the great titan war… was King Fritz himself."
Annie's eyes didn't move, despite the tiny shock she felt. It was one thing to hear about it from the patriotic perspective of an Eldian restorationist in their book of the outside world… but to hear it from what was effectively the highest authority in Marley cemented it as fact.
She noted that the man was, quite frankly, risking his neck out there revealing this right now. He should be all too aware that there are paradisians here in Marely, hidden among them given that their ships have disappeared. It would only be logical to assume they'd reverse-engineered their systems and made their own port, giving them access to travel across the sea.
Yet, the man, an Eldian like herself, managed to gather so many people on stage. It felt weird… had he realized the imminent danger he was putting them all in?
"...Karl Fritz swore his vow to renounce war…"
Annie once more ignored him, the man was speaking too much. Leaning on the window, her shoulders brushing the people around her as she stared out with a disinterested look, she wished for Eren to appear from that basement already and reign down hell on them.
What was there to even talk about with Reiner? That buffoon would be lucky to connect two words with Eren after all the shit he put himself through.
"In recent years, a rebellion has occurred from within Paradis' walls, suppressing King Fritz's peaceful ideology. Someone has stolen away the founding titan."
Annie scoffed slightly, though not enough to alert anyone around her. It was hypocritical of him to talk about stealing away the founding titan from the royal family when they themselves had sent their warriors to do just that for their own gains.
They are just afraid because its power isn't in their hands, and in the hands of the people they want to slaughter.
As she looked back out, she saw a shadow appear on stage, vaguely resembling Eren in his titan form, and somehow, they tried to recreate his roar.
It wasn't bad per se, in Annie's opinion. Though it was nowhere close to the real thing. Hearing his roar in real life was fear-inducing on a whole other level. The pure rage behind it was something else. That didn't even mention his appearance.
The imitation they'd made didn't have even a hundredth of the sheer power Eren radiated with his presence. One she'd felt and fought against.
And-
Oh… she had been wrong. Now the soldiers had noticed the warriors were absent. They were running around like headless chickens. Honestly, she was a bit disappointed it had taken them so long to notice. They'd gotten sloppy.
She smirked slightly as the ruckus made it up to where she was.
About time.
Willy Tybur finally got over the boring part that she knew. Now came the turn of things that she was privy to, but gave her goosebumps anyway from just imagining it. The sheer power of the possibility.
"In other words, Eren Yeager could bring this living earthquake to our doorsteps. All that would remain for humanity would be to flee in terror of the rumbling footsteps of doom that would signal our end. These massive creatures would trample our cities, our societies, they would crush all flora and fauna in every ecosystem. They would literally- Flatten. Our. World." He accentuated the final three words as Annie checked the time again.
The scouts should arrive soon. Slowly, she backed up from the window, pushing the people back just enough to give her space to jump, but not giving up her spot for someone to take.
"I've hated my blood. More than anyone else." Her father should be far enough away with the Azumabito. He should get to Paradis unhindered with all the commotion that was about to unfold.
"I wished for the extinction for all Eldians… but I do not wish to die- Because… I was born into this world!"
Annie stopped, looking in the direction of the scene. She could practically feel Eren's surprised face from here caused by these particular words… ones he got from his deceased mother.
It perfectly expressed the position of Paradis. Their struggle to simply exist, fighting for the right to do so, simply because they were born into this world. It even resonated with her- a traitor twice, a woman fighting for her right to live the life she wants… because she too was born into this world.
"We may belong to different nations and races!" The cameras flashing grew exponentially as the news outlets visiting began taking pictures in a frenzy at his perfect stance and expression. "But I ask any of you who do not wish to die- lend me your strength! Please… I want to ensure our future, together!"
People were standing up, clapping wildly, even those around her. She couldn't really blame Eren for not transforming, she herself was motivated by Willy's words as well.
Such is the power of words.
"I want you to fight with me, against the devils of Paradis!"
Annie closed her eyes, a slight chuckle escaping her as a thought passed through her. She too, would count as one of these 'devils' now, wouldn't she? Someone who needed to be exterminated for the 'good of mankind'.
Funny how one loss… led her here.
The feeling of anxiety waned before disappearing completely- the fire within Annie's heart returning with vengeance. The guilt she felt over her sins was gone. Somehow, Willy Tyburs words gave her willpower as well… only for a different cause, one she knew he would hate to be an inspiration towards.
It was a shame… really, it was. That a man like him was an enemy with a titan shifter mere meters behind him.
Down in the basement, Reiner bowed on his knees, begging for Eren to just end it as the man took in Willy's words, his eyes softening as the shock waned.
"I think… we were simply born this way." Eren uttered.
The holder of the Armored Titan looked at Eren, at a loss for words, his mind blanking completely, stupified, even.
"As an ambassador for the Marleyan government, I, Willy Tybur wish for world peace!"
Eren took a step forward and leaned down, holding his bloodied hand out towards Reiner, his eyes soft.
As the larger man took hold of it and got to his feet, still stupefied, a flicker of a spark spread across his hand as Reiner's eyes widened.
"I just keep moving forward…" The sparks expanded, shooting in every which direction as his green eyes glowed as Reiner moved to look in horror in Falco's direction "... until all my enemies are destroyed."
"And so, I proclaim on this day! To the enemy forces on Paradis! THIS! IS A DECLARATION! OF WAR-!"
In a violent sequence of events, Annie watched stoically as the building behind Willy cracked and spread apart as bricks flew into the air wildly, and from the ground up, an explosion rumbled and shook the street.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
The titanic roar was followed by a fist that destroyed the scene and Willy Tybur with it, his body flying into the air as Eren crushed his stomach, splitting him in half as the audience's shocked gazes looked on at the unfolding events, no power in their brain to move their limbs or comprehend the turn of events.
To them, the very same person Willy Tybur had been talking about, warning them about was here. Eren Yeager, The Attack Titan… was here.
And so it began as his jaw snapped shut and Willy's body dropped down his throat.
Cracking her neck as all hell broke loose, she sprinted and jumped out the window, much to the shock of the people around her, her trusty ring opening, revealing the tiny sharp edge as she slit her finger with it.
Yellow lightning followed next, covering her entire body as her titan began forming, bones, muscles, flesh, and skin alike before she landed on the ground, the female titan was seen by the outside world for the first time in nine years as she splattered a few civilians underneath her.
Her eyes immediately locked eyes with Eren, she could see the confused, and slightly hopeful looks on the Marleyans and resident Eldians around her, recognizing her form.
Only for it all to come crashing down as she nodded at Eren, the two knowing what needed to be done.
It was time to paint the streets in blood.
And, done! That's the first chapter of this new fic I've been thinking of for a while.
I just wanted to mention that a few others inspired this fic, the beginning mainly being inspired by CoolerRiders 'Desire to Live'
Another thing to mention, if missed at the top of the chapter, chapters 2 and 3 are already available on my Patreon named at the top.
I'll mention the others when the time comes when the parts that were inspired passes as not to spoil anything going forward. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it and to see you next time!