Creation began on 03-13-24

Creation ended on 03-18-24

Attack on Titan

The Dark Titan: Progressive Rage

There had been a new nightmare to be met with in the darkness, but not the type you could actually run away from. Not when the darkness was all around you, and not just around you…but within you, as well, waiting to come out like an animal wanting to be unleashed. This was the new nightmare that was the Dark Titan as Armin, Connie, Krista and Ymir all saw a new fury in her that was like Hell on Earth as she fought against the Colossal Titan. If they could say something about what they were watching from the safety of the top of Wall Maria, it would be the fact that they were now afraid of what Kaede could do to any of them if they decided she was a threat when she was their ally against this big threat.

"She leapt into the the air," went Krista, "and pierced the Colossal in the chest."

"And sent it falling down against the wall," adds Ymir, "like a sack of crap."

Rising atop the fallen Colossal, the Dark Titan, with its hair around its arms now resembling the blades of axes, walked its way towards its neck.

Blast! Steam shot out from under its legs on the Colossal's chest, surrounding it in smoke as the Colossal watched in absolute fear of this Titan's strength that was beyond unexpected.

But then, from out of the steam, the Dark Titan pressed on, unfazed by the excess heat, causing the Colossal's eyes to widen in total surprise.

"Aaaaurgh!" The Dark Titan yells as it brings its arms back and swings them both across the Colossal's neck.

Slash! The axe-like blades went right through the hardened muscle and bone of the neck like a knife through butter, and the massive head tilted to the left as it fell off its body.

Walking over to the headless neck, the Dark Titan looks down at where it managed to miss its true target, seeing within the wad of muscle, bone and sinew a young man that clearly had a lot to be afraid of right now.

"Why?" Kaede asks.

Inside what remained of the nape, Bertolt Hoover, scared to the point of dying in the presence of this Titan, was shuddering from the presence of this being that was menacing.

"Why did you attack my home? Why did you attack the people?"

Bertolt was too scared to speak up.

The Dark Titan lowered down to face him up close, causing him to lose control of his bladder.

"Answer!" Kaede yells at him.

But instead of responding with words or violent gestures, Bertolt did the next best thing to show his woe towards the girl: He up and fainted.

"Oh, for crying out loud!" Kaede reacts and released her right hand from the hair and plucked the boy from the remains of the Colossal Titan's headless body. "What is with anyone that does what you did?"

-x-

Reiner and Annie couldn't believe it. The mere fact that the Colossal Titan was an intimidating force to be reckoned with made the three assume that this girl would simply be a minor issue, but what they had witnessed was a complete underestimation of what they had initially assumed.

"Marley still needs the Armored Titan," Bertolt had told Reiner, taking the knife to use. "If this Dark Titan is only eighteen meters, it can't be that powerful than the Beast Titan, even if it's a meter taller than it currently is. I'll stay behind while you two get away."

"But…the Colossal Titan is more valuable than the Armored Titan, Bertolt. Plus, it was my decision to press on with the mission. We should have just gone home."

"If I survive this, then you can send reinforcements to come back for me."

That was how Reiner and Annie were in this situation. Because Bertolt chose himself to stay behind, they were the ones to get away.

"Piece of advice, Bertolt," Annie had informed him. "This girl is not to be taken lightly. There's something about her that is…not like what you'd expect from some of these other people. I don't know what it is, but she is…unnatural in her Titan power."

But just how unnatural is this girl? Reiner wonders as ran as fast as his Armored Titan could take him and Annie, away from Wall Maria.

Annie, relieved to be getting away from the Walls and back to Marley, hoped that Bertolt would be alive if they were able to get back here for him.

-x-

"…I honestly don't know what's worse," said Connie as they had done the unimaginable to Bertolt in order to keep him in check. "The fact that he's the Colossal Titan…or that it's possible that he, Annie and Reiner are somehow involved in this madness?"

"If they're involved," went Jean, "the question really is why, though? Damn it all. He razed the entire district to the ground. It's all gone."

Nothing remained of what used to be Shiganshina District. The buildings, the roads, the walkways, all reduced to nothing more than memories of a life people used to have in it. Even as the Dark Titan worked tirelessly to muffle the flames, inside of its flesh and bones, Kaede was unable to forgive the young man that had taken from them what she had hoped to give back to the people that had been forced to run for their lives. With the last of the flames dying down, the Dark Titan sat against a side of the wall and looked down at her hands. They were bruised and burnt by the fire, but she was already regenerating.

It's…all gone, thought Kaede as she felt the grief of this devastation hit her where she lived in more than one sense. My home, my friends' homes… There's nothing left. Mother… Father… I failed you. I'm sorry, I…I failed.

-x-

The people of Trost were curious as to how the Survey Corps had left with only twenty soldiers…and returned with nineteen of them. Of course, they had Kaede Sogen with them, but her expression was one of disappointment, but she was not considered a member of the squadron as she was a civilian that was in a complicated situation that was simply trying to avoid a fate that was fatal for her. But one of the soldiers was bound in a way that surprised the people, indicating that something was not right.

Kaede looked to the people as she sat in the wagon, and wondered if her mother and stepfather were among them.

"See anyone waiting for you?" Krista asked her.

"Not really," she answered. "You?"

"No."

"You know…they're going to be relieved that you're alive and well. And when they know that you helped reclaim the district…"

"Except that I didn't help reclaim the district. It was burned down completely because of Hoover. I was hoping that the people would have their homes to return to…and I couldn't make that happen. Even if we bring back Hoover to answer for his involvement, what good will it do for the people?"

"Nobody said it would be easy, girl," went Jean to her, "but we did reclaim the district, even if it is charred ruins. We can rebuild it all. We will rebuild it all. Thanks to you, we got back all of the Walls from the Titans. We're no longer at a state of zero or minus one. That's a win in and of itself. I'll take that win because of you, Ms. Sogen."

Kaede gives a small smile.

"Thanks," she replies.

-x-

The government was not pleased that Shiganshina was completely destroyed by the Colossal Titan, but when they learned of the two makeshift structures serving as substitute gates made by Kaede with her Dark Titan, along with the confirmation that Annie Leonhart was discovered to be a Titan along with Bertolt Hoover (which led to the suspicion that the missing Reiner Braun had to be another Titan), they were left with more questions that needed answering. But for now, they had the Colossal Titan in custody and the fact that during the entire time she was with them, Ms. Sogen made absolutely no attempt to do anything to save herself from the surprise attack, the men in charge of the system governing the Walls had to look the other way for now regarding the girl that only desired to live her life, uninterested in whatever it was they were afraid of her wanting for herself. A girl with simplistic interests didn't really seem like an actual threat to the public, but a man with the power to damage the Walls and might've been affiliated with other people with such abilities became a problem that needed to be addressed in a timely fashion.

"What's the final verdict?" Christine Sogen asks Hange Zoe, two days after the Survey Corps returned, concerned for her daughter.

"They spoke with each member that saw Kaede in action, including the new recruits, and after learning that Hoover is the Colossal Titan that we've been looking for, they decided to overlook the fact that she is the Dark Titan for the time being," Hange explains. "Although they still want the Survey Corps to examine her and learn what she can do for future reference, I would say that your daughter here…"

"Is without question," cut in Erwin Smith as he came out of the room, "devoid of any kind of malicious intent or drive to harm anyone with this power of hers. Capable of self-defense? Yes. Judgmental like everyone around her? Very. But crazy and reckless? During the entire time she was with us, she spent more time trying to avoid trouble than to cause it, and when we were faced with two Titans that exhibited similar intelligence as her as the Dark Titan…she didn't run or leave us to our fates."

"Kaede is not that kind of girl, sir."

Meanwhile, in a small room with an armed guard from the Military Police, Kaede sat at a desk pondering her future.

"Hard to believe that you're the Dark Titan," the guard expresses to her, but she stays quiet, not wanting to say anything to jeopardize her future. "Is it true that you smashed up a family's home on purpose?"

The door beside the guard opens and a man in a suit walks in. It was Levi.

"Has she said anything since she was in here?" Levi asks.

"No," he answers. "The quiet type. You sure she's not an enemy?"

"Are you sure you're not trying to harass her?"

"All I really want to know is if she just destroyed one family's home on purpose."

"Ask someone that was there when she was questioned. Anything she could say now would be taken out of context by someone who is likely to misinterpret her words for something else entirely different."

Kaede knew this was true; if she said something that could be misinterpreted by someone that didn't know anything about her and could care less about her cooperation with the Survey Corps. She just wanted this all to be over.

"Miss Sogen," Levi addresses her, "since we now have the person that can become the Colossal Titan in custody, the judges can't find probable reason to believe you're a threat to anyone within the Walls…and are overlooking your position as the Dark Titan until further notice. Beyond this, you're free to return home until we need to evaluate you further."

Kaede looks at him with suspicion.

"R…really?" She asks him.

"Yes," he answers. "We might need you to help rebuild the district later on, but until then, you're free to return to your life. Your mother is waiting for you downstairs."

Kaede slowly got up and bowed her head to Levi.

"Thank you, sir," she praises him, and then proceeds to walk to the door.

-x-

Caged like a wild animal, rendered immobile and incapable of harming other people. That's what Bertolt Hoover was currently experiencing. His arms and legs removed, cut off like amputated limbs in emergency surgery, metal bands placed over the bandaged ends to impede regeneration, and he was in a prison cell somewhere underground; he didn't even know what time of the day it was. But his emotions were of rage towards these people, which masked his fear of the Sogen girl; after seeing her that night, he believed Annie's words when she told Reiner and he that there was something about the gray-haired girl that was not normal. It wasn't like he was facing a devil or a deity…but something somewhere in between, like a blessing in disguise…or a deception in the making. He wasn't sure what it was with her, but Bertolt felt as though the Colossal Titan…or any of the other Titans…wouldn't amount to this Dark Titan unless there was a sliver of hope to defeat it…and there was this rage inside her that he wasn't sure if Marley could survive if she were ever to set foot onto the motherland.

"Why?" Her voice echoed in his mind. "Why did you attack my home? Why did you attack the people? Answer!"

Even if he had answered her, there was still a chance that she would've tried to kill him, even if she denied any desire to want his death.

What are you? He wonders.

"Answer!"

-x-

Standing outside her home in Trost felt like a dream of sorts for Kaede. She was about to knock on the door when it opened to reveal her stepfather. He had a look of elation on his face.

"You're back," he expresses, seeing Kaede and Christine.

"For the time being," Kaede replies; until the Survey Corps needed to see her again, she was off the hook with the government.

Sig came over and hugged her, which surprised Kaede; she rarely allowed any man to touch her out of fear of becoming a Titan or worse, including her stepfather, someone she didn't really have any negative thoughts or feelings toward since her mother remarried.

"Welcome home, Kaede," he tells her, relieved to have her back.

Still, she wanted to tell them both about the current state of Shiganshina, which was a hollow victory for the Survey Corps and for the people. She turned to look at her mother, but then widened her eyes at who she saw further up the street.

"Has he been causing y'all problems while I was away?" She asks, pointing over to where Christine stood, and her mother turns to see who her daughter was pointing at.

"He's been keeping his distance since two of your friends came by a few days ago," she tells her, "but every once in a while, he just…stands around and makes himself known."

Sig let go of Kaede and looks over at the Yeager boy.

"It's public knowledge that he hasn't let up about you or anything, Kaede," he tells her. "But since he's been keeping his distance, he hasn't exactly caused issues. One of your friends, Julietta, actually threatened him when he disrespected you."

"Julietta? Julietta was here?"

"Her and Mimi," Christine reveals to her daughter. "And Julietta's daughter, Charlotte."

"Why were they here?"

"Believe it or not, they were worried for you. Even when separated by distance and problems, they still consider you a friend."

Kaede sighs and then goes over to Eren, who then runs off.

"I'd say leave him alone, Kaede," Christine tells Kaede. "He's just a bitter youth."

"Bitter or not," she tells her parents, "youth or not, if he's causing trouble, even for only two people, he has to answer for it."

"Except he's not worth a migraine, Kaede," Sig tells her. "He's already seen as a public nuisance. Don't bother with him. Someone else is going to get the idea and have him reigned in."

"Until that time comes, I feel the need to make myself heard by him," she responds; it was one thing to be a pest to herself, but to be a pest to her loved ones was another line that had been crossed, and Eren Yeager needed to answer for it.

-x-

Slam! The Armored Titan fell with the left side of its facial armor destroyed, exposing its muscle and sinew in front of the Female Titan, who raised its arms up to assume a fighting stance for the next round.

In front of the two Titans, a larger Titan, more beast than humanoid, with dark brown hair covering the majority of its body, looked down at the pair and had a look of disinterest.

"It looks like I'm winning," it uttered in a male voice, and the Female Titan nodded its head in the negative. "Whoever or whatever this Dark Titan is, we'll get it for our own purposes."

This Titan wanted them to go back to the Walls and acquire this Dark Titan that had appeared five years ago when they first attacked, but Reiner and Annie wanted to go home and return with reinforcements to rescue Bertolt; they didn't care about the missing Jaw Titan or whoever had it for the next eight years, as it was pointless to try and reclaim it if they didn't even know who possessed it. So they were fighting it out to decide whose choice took precedence over all else in this operation. If Reiner and Annie won, they would retreat and return with reinforcements, but if this Titan won, they would be forced to go back to the Walls, something neither wanted to do without backup. Not that this Titan was really giving them much of a choice.

It was a good idea of them to refrain from revealing that the Dark Titan was a meter taller than this Titan; they weren't sure how well they would respond to the fact that there was a Titan that exceeded the total height of the Beast Titan by one meter, a feat that had been passed only by the Colossal Titan once upon a time.

As the Armored Titan slowly got back up, the Beast Titan shook its head in disappointment over their stubbornness at wanting to leave Paradis when this opportunity presented itself to them to take what was up for grabs and needed to be acquired with interests. And this Dark Titan was the interests that they needed to acquire.

A Dark Titan, hmm? Whatever abilities it may possess, we must have it for the sake of our survival. Whoever this Kaede Sogen is, she will either yield…or be broken.

To be continued…

A/N: On the bright side, Bertolt still has a chance of living to see old age if he plays his cards right. As for Kaede, I want her Dark Titan to evolve over time and became adaptable, so she'll have other abilities that she has yet to experience, like a combination of the Nine Titans, less the ones that have questionable abilities that come at a higher cost. And Jean needed to have his moment where Kaede felt like they had lost when it was still a win because they took back a district they had lost and could rebuild it from scratch like any village, reinvigorating her faith. Any responses are welcomed.