The wooden door to the cabin creaked as I walked back inside. I had my head bowed and closed the door behind me. I wore a solemn expression as I lifted my head up. The rest of the squad minus Levi and Hange, who were still downstairs, looked at me. The sole candle in the middle of the table illuminating the dark space.
"I'm sorry, for lashing out at you all like that. It was uncalled for." I apologized.
Armin offered a comforting smile, "It's alright, Vivien. We know it wasn't directed at us. We just wanted to let you know how worried we were about you. We're all still trying to cope with what's happened these past few days." He stated.
"Well, you just missed some important information we just got. The Captain and Hange went back down. Get this, the Reiss family is the true royal family. King Fritz is just a figurehead." My eyes widened as Jean fed me the information.
"Seriously? Does that make Historia..?" I trailed off.
"The next Queen? Yeah. It does. That is if we assume there's no other siblings in the picture." Armin answered.
I crossed my arms in thought, "And here I thought Ymir calling her "princess" was just a pet name. Ymir knew more about Historia than we thought. It wasn't a pet name, she called her by her technical title while none of us were the wiser." I stated.
"The two of them were close. She hasn't been taking this any easier either. Ymir leaving to save her messed her up more than she would admit." Connie commented.
The door that led down opened to reveal Levi and Hange. Levi's eyes found mine before focusing on everyone.
"Listen up, everyone. Hange's about to explain a lot more." Levi announced to us. What more have they found out?
"So they plan on to eat Eren?" Armin repeated.
"Yeah. Eren remembered a conversation between Ymir and Bertholdt. He overheard them speaking about not remembering who it was they had eaten. Based on this, we can speculate. Ymir use to be a mindless Titan just like the others, until she consumed someone. Someone from Reiner and Bertholdt's group. We've never seen a Titan turn back into a human by eating someone before. That said, Reiner's comrades aren't normal humans and there's a different set of rules for humans that can turn into Titans. My thought is this. If the Titan eats someone with that power then it'll transform back into a human. Once more, they'll obtain whatever powers that human had." I furrowed my brows as I stared at the floorboards.
If Ymir did in fact consume someone part of Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie's group. Then does that mean there were originally four of them? Their numbers dwindled down to three when Ymir showed up and ate one of them. Is this why Titan's eat us when they don't need to? Is it the need to try and become a human again?
"In the battle the other day," My eyes looked back at Hange, "Reiner was throwing Titans at Eren while he tried to run away. He knew Eren had the power to take command of all nearby Titans with his scream. If Eren's death meant that, that power is lost. He wouldn't have risked it. I think he hoped one of those Titans would eat Eren and take his power. My point is, the government has a Titan of their own. They'll use it to eat Eren." My eyes caught Mikasa as she made for the exit.
Levi was quick to grab her shoulder, "Calm down. I know you want to get Eren back, but going on a rampage won't help with that. " He ordered her.
He turned back to us, "Anyway, we're headed to Rod Reiss' estate. Prepare to leave at once." Levi ordered.
"Sir!" We chanted and filed to the bedroom door.
We began getting our equipment on and ready to go. No words were said, only sounds of metal clicking together as ODM Gear was put in place.
"Anyone else finding this weird?" We stopped and stared at Connie, "That the reason why Titans seemed to eat us is because they were…trying to turn back into humans?" Connie asked quietly.
"Who knows. Titans are still a mystery to us. We're piecing the puzzle together, but man. It's seriously screwed up." Jean spoke up.
"My question is, if you have to a be Titan and consume someone with that power. Then does that mean that at some point Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie, and Eren were all Titans? If they were, then how? Especially in Eren's case. Mikasa and Armin would have known." I questioned.
"Nothing like that happened to Eren." Mikasa stated confidently.
"Well, not that we know of. It could still be possible." Armin argued, "Hopefully we can get some answers to those questions after we get back Eren and Historia." We all nodded our heads in agreement.
The night had passed and we were now in the middle of a forest. We weren't too far off from the interior. Captain had sent Armin, Jean and Mikasa on a supply run. They rest of us stayed at camp until they returned.
Levi and Connie sat on the ground by the extinguished campfire. Sasha rested on a rock close to them. I perched on one of the bigger rocks. My eyes were not resting as I kept an eye on our surroundings.
"Captain, we bought the supplies." I turned my head slightly as Armin, Jean, and Mikasa approached us. All three had bags over their shoulders.
"MPs were handing out these flyers." Armin stated and handed it to Levi. He took it and began to read it.
"If this is true, then the Scouts will be disbanded." Armin iterated, "It says they'll be hunting us in the mountains tonight. They're also posting guards on all the vital roads. No one can get through them without a pass." Well this just went from bad to worse.
"What're orders going to be, Captain?" I asked from atop the rock.
"We need to hurry and find Eren." I narrowed my eyes on Mikasa. Eren clouds everything including her judgment. We can't be looking for Eren while the MP's are hunting us down. We need to figure out the MP issue before we can rescue Eren and Historia.
"He'll be fine. They're taking him on a wagon. That gives us one day before they reach Reiss' estate, and we need every second we can get to come up with a plan." Levi stated. It's a good thing our Captain is level headed. At least Mikasa doesn't argue too much with his orders anymore.
"Captain, I hear footsteps." Sasha whispered loudly to us. I immediately stood up and stared at the direction Sasha was looking.
"Sounds like they're approaching." My eyes darted to Captain Levi. His piercing blue eyes met mine before he gave a curt nod.
I hopped off the rock and quickly used my ODM Gear to get a higher point. I pulled myself to the side of a tree and looked out below. My eyes caught two MP's walking along the path. I released the wires and glided back down to the ground.
"Two MP's are approaching. They're armed with rifles." I stated as I ran back to the group.
Levi narrowed his eyes, "Armin, Jean, Mikasa, and Vivien. You four with me. Connie, keep a look out for any more MP's. Sasha, let us know if you hear anything else."
"Sir!"
Mikasa and I waited above in the trees just behind Armin. He purposely left himself out in the open. To the MP's, he's just harmlessly collecting water but to us. He's bait for the MP's.
"Don't move! Put you hands in the air and turn around slowly." My eyes trained on the man with a black hair cut in a bowl style. He had his rifle aimed at Armin. The other was a woman with short brown hair. She also had her rifle aimed at Armin.
Armin turned around as the MP's began to speak to him. I tuned out what they were saying and looked at Mikasa. She nodded her head signaling she was ready. I nodded back and both of us springed into action. Mikasa went for the woman while I went for the man.
I landed behind the man and lifted my parry blade so it was against his neck. Mikasa did the same next to me.
"Don't move. Unless you want a close shave." I threaten the man.
I heard boots hit the ground behind us, "Nice work. Now, hand your guns to the one in front." I heard Levi's voice behind Mikasa and I. Armin walked up and grabbed the rifles from both MPs.
"Don't say a word, right?" Armin retorted to the MPs.
"ODM Gear next." Levi ordered. He walked around to the front of the MPs.
"You're…Captain Levi of the Scouts." The man said in shock.
"That I am. Now, I won't ask again. ODM Gear. Drop it." Levi ordered once more. Both MPs lowered their hands and unhooked the belt for the ODM Gear. The gear clattered against the pebbles below us.
Both Mikasa and I shoved the MPs, "Move it." I instructed. We began making them walk where the others were hiding out.
"You've completely disarmed us. Is the blade really still necessary?" The man questioned me.
"Considering you can still run off? Yes." I answered.
"You just stripped us of our ODM Gear. Even if we ran, you could catch us within seconds." I narrowed my eyes on him. Simultaneously, I put away my blade with my right and grabbed his left wrist with my left hand. I squeezed as I forced his arm behind his back. He let out a grunt and stumbled.
"Better?" The MP was now surprisingly quiet.
We had the MPs drop the rest of their gear. Levi's new plan was for two of us to sneak into the interior with their gear on. Not the best plan but it's all we have. MPs are busy looking for Scouts, not two of their own.
Mikasa and Armin were tying up their hands with rope. Levi and I stood by close to watch them. Jean was going through their gear to find anything. Sasha and Connie were keeping lookout for other MPs in the area.
"Captain." My eyes glanced at Jean who handed Levi some folded paper.
Levi stood up, "Now then you two are Stohess District Military Police. Private Marlowe Freudenberg. Same assignment, Private Hitch Dreyse." The gravel crunched under Levi's boots as he walked around them.
"We'll need to dispose of you." Both Marlowe and Hitch's eyes widened.
"Because of what you did, Stohess was a graveyard! Over a hundred people were killed!" Hitch suddenly yelled out.
"Huh?" Levi said.
I tilted my head and raised a brow, "Oh, you're referring to the Female Titan going on a rampage right?" I questioned. Hitch's furious green orbs glared at my emotionless ones.
"Hey!" Marlowe whispered harshly to her.
"You bastards! I bet you all think you're some kind of heroes of justice but you're not! You dropped several families straight into hell with that mission of yours!" Hitch shouted at us.
"Yeah, we did." Levi stated a matter of fact. Hitch looked at Levi in astonishment before looking back at us.
"Hey you, you're from the southern cadet corp right? So you trained with Annie Leonhardt. Were you a friend of hers? No, she wouldn't have made friends there either. Way too gloomy and unapproachable for that. She was just afraid of people like a scared little kid. Now I'll never get a chance to learn anything about her." I couldn't hold it back any more and chuckled.
"Scared little kid is not how I'd describe Annie. Far from it." I corrected Hitch.
"Laugh it up! She's been declared missing! It's because of you people that she's now a red stain after a Titan ran through the streets!" Hitch yelled at me.
"If you want to be mad with someone for all the death that day. Then you should be mad at Annie herself." I stated. Hitch and Marlowe looked at me confused.
"The Titan we captured that day was Annie." I continued. Both Hitch and Marlowe looked shocked at this revelation.
"Damnit. It makes me sick. Nobody knows a thing about this world. Not us or anyone else. Except for the bastards at the center of it all." Levi lowered his parry blade, "We're letting you go but we need to give ourselves a head start on you." Levi announced.
"Hey Captain Levi! Please let me join in your cause! I believe the Military Police are in the wrong here. If there's a way I fight this world's injustice then that's what I want to do." I stared at Marlowe and an image of Eren passed through my mind. He sounds just like Eren did back in the cadet corp.
"Easy. Calm down." Levi settled him.
"I swear I won't let you down sir!" Marlowe promised.
"No, I can't tell if you have enough resolve to make yourself an enemy of the state." He sheathed his parry blade, "Let's go." Levi ordered the rest of us.
"Take them deeper into the woods and tie them up, Sasha." Levi ordered. He began walking and myself, Armin and Mikasa followed right behind him.
"Sir!" Sasha responded. She hopped across the rocks of the creek.
"Hey Captain. Why don't you let me do that instead?" I stopped next to Levi. I looked at Jean and I could see something in his eyes. He had a plan.
"Knock yourself out." Levi said nonchalantly. Guess the Captain saw the same thing I did. Jean is planning something for Hitch and Marlowe. More than likely, he wanted those two to prove themselves trustworthy.
"Screw you!"
Smack!
A groan in pain was followed after Levi kicked the Military Police Officer. Jean's plan had worked like a charm. Marlowe and Hitch were proven trustworthy. They led us straight to an MP blockade. We ambushed them and grabbed their Commanding Officer. We dragged him to a forest in the middle of the night. The Captain was now getting information out in a very painful way. The rest of the Levi Squad kept watch while also watching Levi interrogate the officer.
"Where'd they take Eren and Krista?" Levi asked and used Historia's false name. We assumed that not everyone knew Historia's real name. Only by her false one.
"You bastards. You think you're so brave? That post was manned by recruits. They barely knew how to wipe their own asses. No ones gonna think you're heroes for beating them down." The officer tried to goad Levi.
"Yeah, the guilt's tearing me apart." Levi said sarcastically. Levi swiftly kicked the officer in his mouth. The officer's teeth were kicked out and blood ran down his mouth.
"But what really gets me is this mouth of yours. I suggest you start talking while you're still able to use it. Now where are Eren and Krista?" He finally removed his foot from the officer's mouth. The officer coughed as he caught his breath. He spat out some of his teeth and blood.
"You can't win! All that's left for you now is the filthy corners for you to hide in. Covered in mud and shit! If you don't turn yourselves in, then every last Scout we've captured will get the noose! Starting with the guiltiest one of all! Erwin Smith!" Levi was quick to turn the officer around. He gripped the officer's arm behind his back and with one yank. A loud pop could be heard and it was clear that his arm was now broken. It was disfigured and pointed in a direction its not suppose to.
The officer let out a wail in pain, "Hurts right? That's what you get for not answering my question. Some Scouts' lives are more valuable than others. Only those dumb enough that agree with that join us. Again, where'd they take Eren and Krista." Levi repeated himself again. He released the officer and the latter slumped against the tree trunk.
The man turned with tears streaming down his cheeks. Front teeth missing and mouth all bloody.
"I-I don't know! Nobody told me I swear! Kenny Ackerman doesn't like his business being known!" My eyes widened. Ackerman?!
"Ackerman? Seriously?" I questioned as both mine and Mikasa's eyes were on Levi. So if Kenny said I looked like someone, he meant someone on my father's side.
"Kenny. I know him, that's his last name?" Levi questioned the officer.
"It is." The officer said honestly.
"He never was much one for sharing information. Not important stuff anyway. But you have a rough idea, and you best remember. You still got plenty of bones left for me to break." Levi walked back to the officer and grabbed his other arm.
"Damnit! Are you insane?!" The officer demanded.
"Maybe."
"Someone's coming toward us!" Sasha called out and readied her bow. In an instant, we all drew our weapons while Levi sent the officer to the ground.
"There's more than one." Sasha called out again.
I hid behind a tree with both parry blades drawn. I peaked over the trunk. I could see two cloaked figures with guns making their way through the tall grass.
"I told you would all be hunted down! There's nowhere for you Scouts to run or hide!" The officer yelled before Levi shut him up again.
My eyes widened as the two figures lowered their cloaks. It's Hange and Moblit!
We crowded around Captain Levi as we all tried to read the report that Hange just handed over.
"And there you have it. The coup was successful. Premier Zachary now has control of the capital and government. For the time being at least, the nobles seem to be staying in line." Hange informed.
"Okay, but what about the incident with Mr. Reeves?" Armin questioned.
"We got a public confession out of one of the interior Military Police. Reeves' son, Flegel, really pulled through for us. It's all written right there. The abuse of power, the bogus charges against the Scouts, and that King Fritz was both a puppet and a fraud. It's clear we only acted in self-defense. In short, we're no longer criminals!" Hange announced.
Members of the Levi Squad looked at one another. Huge smiles grew on our faces with the exception of Mikasa and myself. The others jumped and cheered. Connie jumped with his hands in the air. Sasha jumped on Mikasa who had to hold onto her so she wouldn't hurt herself. Armin had his arms up as he cheered. I felt myself get dragged to Jean with his arm going around my neck as he cheered.
For the first time in days, a small smile formed on my face. It was nice to see everyone so happy for once. We've had a shitty week and we needed this win in all honesty.
"We still have the issue of finding where they're keeping Eren and Krista." The cheering stopped as we heard Levi say this. Jean released my neck and I stood up straight next to him.
"Actually," Hange held up a book, "I have a pretty good idea where they're keeping them. Let's get there and put an end to this fight." Hange announced.