"Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that." - Ally Condie
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It was late evening when the Cadets of the 1004th were gathered up and assembled in the centre of the grounds, almost reminiscent of the first day that their training began, the only difference was the now it was a frosty night and there were far fewer of them left.
The lit fire basins casted an orange glow over the area, there was enough to bathe all the cadets in the warm aura showing all their present and serious faces knowing just what tonight was, Graduation night.
The night where they are no longer Trainee Cadets, they become soldiers and, in a month, or two's time they will decide on their regiment but tonight could decide on which options they had to choose from depending on where they ranked.
Originally a rule was enforced that the bottom 10 cadets would be forced to join the Scouts but that was abolished after this made many protests to the idea, due to it being inhumane in many eyes, especially when many of the Cadets are kids, their parents didn't want them sentenced to death for not passing high enough.
Instead, the only rule that was kept in place was the privilege of being in the top 10, those who did this were the only ones allowed to join the Military Police from the entire graduating year in which ever quadrant they were in, granting them accommodation and safety into Interior for relatively little work.
These positions were wildly sought after, especially after the loss of Wall Maria 4 years ago; it made Cadets push even more for the chance to get one of these illustrious positions.
And tonight, was the night they'd get to see just who had come out on top.
Sadies stepped up on a platform that had been put in front of them, just in front of it was a lengthy panel of wood that was slightly elevated, just enough space for 10 Cadets, most likely those in the top 10.
He cleared his though, all Cadets bracing up at the mere sound knowing what was to come next, "3 years of training have led to this moment, three long hard years have finally paid off" he began survey all the graduates.
"In a few hours' time, all of you will officially be the next generation of soldiers ready to serve in the protection of the people, and tonight will decide just how you serve them, whether it be Scouts, Garrison or Military Police, your ranking will give you either two or three options" he continued making sure the Cadets all knew the stakes of tonight.
Sadies kept his hands crossed behind his back, as he looked over them all one last time, "I will now tell you the ranking of the top 10 cadets, these are the top of the class, those who do not get called should look to those that do for advice and guidance, these cadets were not chosen by anything other than their pure skill and capabilities".
"As I call your names, come to the front!".
"Ranking First… Annie Leonhart!" the blonde stepped up and took her position on the far left in front of Sadies.
"Second… Mikasa Akerman!" repeating Annie she took her spot next to the blonde, glaring daggers that were paid no mind, seemingly something else was on her mind.
"Third… Reiner Braun!" A smirk crossed his face as he took his place, dwarfing the other two.
"Fourth… Marco Bodt!" Marco's look of amazement could be seen by all as he quickly took his place and getting a congratulatory nudge from Reiner.
"Fifth… Eren Yeager!" The proud smirk that adorned Eren's face was noticeable, especially from the grumbling Jean as Eren took his spot in the top 5.
"Sixth… Jean Kirschtein!" Jean walked up with a pep in his step knowing he was head of most but as he took his space, he glanced down with anger towards Eren, unable to believe he was behind the suicidal dumbass of all people.
"Seventh… Bertholdt Hoover!" the quiet boy quietly took his spot on the end without even muttering a word and making barely a sound.
"Eighth… Sasha Braus!" a surprised looking Sasha quickly bounded to the front getting an annoyed head shake from Sadies.
"Ninth… Conny Springer!" a quietly cheering Conny quickly got the front, his face gleaming with pride.
"Finally, tenth…" the remaining cadets waited anxiously to see just who the last one was, all of them silently hoping it would be them, "Ymir!".
An annoyed sigh came from the back as did quiet groans of disappointment from the rest of the class as Ymir made her way up the took the final spot with the rest.
"Top 10's, about turn!" he called, all ten tuned on their heels to face the rest of their comrades, "The rest of you should look to these cadets, they are the most exemplary of your class and have earned their positions through hard work, you'd all do well to take notes".
He then began to read off the rest of the class.
"Eleventh Cadet Thomas Wagner"
"Twelfth Cadet Nack Tierce"
"Thirteenth Cadet Christa Lenz"
A few more names were read, each cadet was bracing for where they would be ranked and while it didn't really matter as the all-important ranks were gone, there was still a level of pride wanting to know where you'd come from.
"Seventeenth Cadet Armin Arlelt"
"Twenty Cadet Floch Forrester"
"Twenty-first Cadet Daz Dau"
"Twenty-fifth Cadet Hanna Diament"
As more names were read out Milieus at the back was sweating, the Commandant was at Thirty and still his name was nowhere in sight, so far in fact the only one of his friends who hadn't been called out was Mina meaning he was far behind the rest of them.
As Sadies reached Forty, the cadet looked over to Mina who seemed to be in far calmer mood than him, not even caring that her name was yet to be read out.
"Forty-fifth Cadet Samuel Linke-Jackson"
Milieus looked to the front as the list neared its end, it was obvious he was close to the bottom of the class but just how low did he and Mina rank.
"Fifty Cadet Milieus Zeremski"
"Fifty-first Cadet Mina Carolina"
Milieus' head immediately sunk upon hearing the words, not even paying attention to the rest of Sadies speech.
"You have all graduated as of today, well done" he offered the small praise for the first time in three years, "When you're dismissed, I expect everything to be packed away from your move to Trost district in one hour, is that understood!"
"Yes sir!" all cadets echoed back.
"Good, for the final time, Cadets Dismissed!".
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It was two or three hours later when they made it to the Trost Armoury and guided inside, they were directed to their shared accommodations by the Garrison soldiers where they unloaded before being directed to the meal hall where they could have their 'Celebratory Graduation Meal'.
It was a regular meal just at an official armoury with slightly more food available but it was still the same stale bread and potatoes with water or cheap tea but there was a tiny bit of cheese here too, only enough for the exact amount of people there in small portions, but it was something.
They were also allowed to conversate louder than usual and enjoy themselves as much as they could with no instructors around and the walls being thicker which was too as pleasant change of pace.
As the cadets turning Soldiers chatted and enjoyed themselves there was one Cadet who wasn't really enjoying the festivities.
One blonde cadet was reverting to her old distant self, Annie walked across the room to a table in a dark corner to avoid everyone, from now on they could only be distant to her, they were no longer cadets, they were soldiers and thus could no longer be friends.
As she took her seat, Annie couldn't help but think back to the three years they'd all been together, she couldn't lie that they were fond memories to her, while most of them involved hurting Eren, there were some better ones.
"Eren…" she couldn't help but murmur though did resist the urge to look up at him. Many of her memories involved him, in the end he did help her to open in his own way.
"Mina…" she too muttered, the one who was the most influential in the most irritating of ways, she got Annie to even try and be friends with people in the first place and though that circle was small, it was more than she'd ever had.
But they all had to be pushed far away to the back of her mind, it was time they all went their own ways, while not in regiments yet, as soldier they'd have more duties, and a friendship would get in the way of that.
A small smile Annie had gained faded as she looked at her plate, "Everything has to end doesn't it…." She muttered to no one, "…That's just the life I'm bound to live…".
THUMP
Her lamenting is interrupted by the sound of something dropping in front of her, looking up she saw a plate having been dropped on the heavy wooden table by none other than Mina Carolina who was talking idly away like nothing was wrong, "Y'know, that First ODM lesson was fun, aside from the injuries" she laughed to Sasha who seemed to agree as the potato lover set her own plate down.
"You may have liked it Mina, but that's because you didn't have to be carried down by Scout Lynne after smashing your head into the trunk" Eren said setting down next to Mina opposite Annie with Mikasa swiftly following casting a small glare before focusing on Eren.
Next to Annie both Milieus and Thomas took seats with Nack taking a spot at the end all in their own talk, the other side of Annie was Armin who gave her a small smile, "W-What are you all doing?" she questioned realising they weren't planning on leaving.
"We're eating our meals together of course" Armin smiled before taking a drink, nothing seemingly concerning him about her question.
"No but why are you sitting here?" Annie asked seeing other available tables with space but also getting Mina's attention, "With me…".
"Cause that's what friends do of course" Mina said in a caring voice looking right into Annie's eyes, "Just because our time as Cadets has ended doesn't mean we have to stop being that" she smiled sweetly.
Annie was taken aback for a moment, "Mina…" she tried to begin but the pigtailed girl wouldn't let her.
"I've spent three years getting you out of that shell of yours and I'm not about to let you get back into it because training is over!" Mina partly snapped, "It doesn't matter how far we go from each other, we'll always be friends, just like I told you that night remember" she smiled sweetly, "Yeah, we might not see each other much, but one day we will, and we'll party again just like tonight".
She didn't understand, they never could understand the mind of Annie, words like that didn't mean anything to her as most of the time they weren't true, how could anything last that long in this world of theirs, empty promises were all that could be given, whether they knew it or not.
"I…" she tried to begin going to walk away before another cut her off.
"Oh come on Annie how much more are we going to go through this" Eren cut in staring her down, "We're your friends now, so if you get up we're just going to follow you and keep trying to talk to you and if you try and fight us I can take you now remember that" he grinned cockily, "After all the training we've gone through can't you just take a moment to relax and just sit with your friends, and sure let's say once we go to our regiments we never see each other again, wouldn't you want one last time to see us all again".
Annie looked back at him taken aback weighing his words up in her head, would it be so wrong of her to indulge in this moment, just sitting with her friends with nothing going on, after all, there was nothing happening now and as Mina said, they were in the 'here and now', she had to make her memories to last forever just like the pigtailed girl had insisted.
"Do you really think you could Eren?" she questioned slowly sitting back down and getting comfortable in her seat, "I may not have taught you everything" her small smile returned.
"Looks like I won't have to find out" he laughed as everyone cheered as Annie sat down bar Mikasa who gave her own glare instead.
"Why are the rest of you here though?" Annie couldn't help but question looking to the other she had never really interacted with much.
Thomas beside her laughed, "What? Just because you only got along with Mina and Eren doesn't mean the rest of us have to be cast out" he continued to laugh.
"If you make friends with one of us, you're kinda stuck with all of us" a confident Sasha piped up taking some more food from her questionably filled plate, "It's the rules I've learned" she added with a full mouth.
Annie looked around at everyone laughing and talking idly, not a single worry was cast about her, for once Annie didn't feel she had to be at the side lines, for now, she was a part of them, she had her group, "I like these rules" a tiny smile spread on her lips as she looked down at her plate to hide it.
Meanwhile however, another member of their table Milieus had his head hung low feeling sorry for himself, he was busy going over his ranking in his head barely registering the conversation going on around him, responding with one word answers as he idly picked at his food while resting his head in his palm.
He simply couldn't believe he was second lowest in the class, he thought he'd been doing well, maybe not top ten but at least more in the middle, was he really that bad; while sure it didn't really matter where he came as he was determined to join the Scouts, it still hurt him to know he was the lowest of all his friends bar one but even worst was knowing that a good few of them now had the opportunity to join the MP's instead of the Scouts, he couldn't lie about how much that worried him.
"Alright Mili what's wrong with you?" Thomas asked shoving his shoulder to get his head out of his thoughts, "You've been out of it since the ceremony!" he commented.
"Oh, it's nothing to worry about Tom" he tried to hastily say to avoid admitting what was happening quickly looking back to his food, wanting to avoid a conversation, and getting the attention of the rest of the table.
"Oh, come on Mili, I've known you for years now, I know when something is on your mind, just get it out the way and tell me" he said with a deadpanned expression as he pushed his food away to focus solely on his best friend.
Milieus awkwardly chuckled, it was true they had known each other for a long time, not the same time as Eren, Armin and Mikasa but a long time now especially after the training so it was pointless trying to hide anything from one another, they'd learned each other's signs very well.
Letting out a heavy sigh he decided that if he had to tell anyone it might as well be Thomas, "It's just, after all this time I can't believe I came at the bottom of the class, I thought I was training just as hard as you guys, I thought I was on par with you all but in the end I couldn't be further behind you all" he sadly answered crossing his arms on the table and resting his head on them.
"I get that must suck, but it's nothing to worry about, you still graduated with the rest of us, remember how many started the training, you outlasted all of them" Thomas said cheerily shaking his friend's shoulder.
"Barely…" he muttered in response seemingly lost in his own world as his eyes cast over to Mina on the other side of the table, "How is she so happy and upbeat still, she's the very bottom".
Thomas let out a small chuckle "You're asking why Mina is so happy, that girl is the embodiment of joy, nothing brings her down" he answered looking at her too, "Mili, what's really on your mind, I know this wouldn't get to you as much as it is, there must be something else?".
Milieus sighed, he knows Thomas wouldn't give in until he was answered with the rest of the truth, it just wasn't in his nature to let a friend feel down, "Who's going to the Scouts with me…" he muttered.
This caught Thomas off guard allowing Milieus to continue, "Eren, Sasha and Mikasa are in the top ten, Nack isn't going to join, and neither is Mina and Armin I think is already considering backing out, I'll be on my own" he said, glancing up to Thomas, "And you placed eleventh, why should you come to the Scouts now if you got so high, you could easily get into the MP's with a few years behind the Garrison".
"What the shit are you on about?" a small chuckle came from his right before Thomas could answer; Milieus looked to the noise to see a chuckling Nack swirling a small cup, "Who said I'm not going to join" he continued making Milieus' eyebrow cock in confusion.
"That night we were all camping out, you said you were going to join the Garrison?" he questioned very sure he was remembering right.
Nack chuckled a little more while looking a little sheepish, "Yeah, I did say that but that was years ago now, and my views have kinda changed, Scouts Lynne and Henning helped with that" he said rubbing the back of his head before looking to him directly, "Short answer is you're wrong Milieus, I've decided to join the Scouts, ain't no way I'm letting you all go out there without me backing you up!" he smiled taking Milieus aback.
"I'm still joining too" Eren said looking across to Milieus having overheard the conversation along with the others, "I could've ranked first or last it doesn't matter, I came in to join the Scouts and I'm not backing out now" he smiled clutching his fist in confidence.
"If Eren is going, I'm going too" Mikasa said with a small nod as Eren glanced in her direction.
"Me too, Scouts sounds more fun than any of the others!" Sasha cheered in.
"Scout Henning motivated me to do my best, so I'm not going to abandon joining the Scouts now" Armin said with a confident smile.
Mina looked sheepish in deciding what she wanted to do while Annie seemed to be deep in thought so eventually Milieus looked back to Thomas.
"What did I say so long ago" he smiled "I've had your back for year's so I'm not going to stop having it now" he grinned gripping Milieus' shoulder and shaking it, "So stop feeling down about yourself, this is a celebration, eat up, we don't always get cheese" he laughed pushing Milieus' plate back to him.
He couldn't help but smile at the action knowing he was stuck with most of these lot till the end, but one question was still on his mind, "Hey Eren?" he asked getting his attention, "The others said why, but you never specified why you want to join, is it just about the Scout you met years ago?".
Eren's look changed to a serious one, "No, it's not just that…" he muttered, his tone becoming darker, "I have to be outside the walls" he said confidently looking to everyone, "I have to see the ocean, I have to see the open fields with no wall in the distance, I simply can't stay trapped like this anymore".
"We've spent 1000 years behind these walls, I refuse to stay in here any longer, to only know the life of cattle, I have to be fr…" he went to continue before a small look from Annie cut him off.
"What stupid shit are you on about now!" Jean shouted from the table behind them looking around, "Why can't you just take the simple life, you always have to make some sort of fuss!" he said rather bitterly, something was obviously eating at him.
"Maybe because I don't want to be a pig trapped in its pen ready for the slaughter; I want to know what the outside world is like!" he exclaimed getting the rest of the room's attention, "Although maybe you'd be more complacent, after all, it's just like a tamed horse to be!" Eren hissed making the taller boy look furious.
"You little…" he jumped up to get face to face with Eren.
"No Jean" Conny tried to cut in before a hand from Marco cut him off.
"Let them get it all out now Conny, it's better they blow off their steam now then later when we're on an assignment, at least there's no officers around currently to discipline them" he said looking round at them, "Besides, soon they'll never see each other again, so it's for the best they get it all out the way now" he instructed getting an understanding nod from Conny.
"You think because you place higher than me you have the right to say crap to me!" Jean snapped leaving Eren confused.
"Is that all this is about! I got higher than you in the ranking!?" Eren snapped back to the furious looking Jean, "Well maybe if you tried more than slacking off you would've gotten a higher score!".
Jean gritted his teeth, knowing inside that slacking from the hand-to-hand combat is probably what cost him, but he'd never admit that to anyone, especially Eren, "Why the hell are you so desperate to run to your death huh? We have everything inside the walls, all we could need, what is so wrong in your head to think there is anything out there for you anyway, for anyone!".
"My home is!" Eren exclaimed lounder than anyone thought he would be, "My home is out there, our home, the home you all used to have before the Titan's came and stole it from us, trapping us like cattle, they had no right to take what was ours yet here was stand giving it up for the fake safety of the walls, how long before they come through Trost Jean, or any of the other outcrops, what then!".
"What about when they come through Stohess, what will be left then, unless we stand up and fight, they will take more and more from us until nothing is left, no land, no home, no humanity; we don't have the choice but to fight if we want back our home, hiding away will not delay the inevitable, the Scouts are the only way humanity's future is secure!" he finished letting a silence fall over the room.
Eren looked around at the shocked and surprised faces before he abruptly stormed past Jean and went outside for some air leaving a dead room behind, "Tch, suicidal dumbass!" Jean commented before turning back to his table and food.
Outside Eren sat down on the steps taking in the fresh air and dragging his hands down his face, "Eren!" Mikasa said running up to him, "Are you okay?" she asked sitting next to him and checking him over visually.
"I'm fine Mikasa, it wasn't a fight after all" he said looking up at the stars as he heard other footsteps come behind him.
"That was quite the speech" Armin commented take the spot the other side of Eren, "Where did it come from?" he asked much like everyone not expecting Eren to come out with that.
"It's kind of something I've been thinking about for a while but never really had the opportunity to say it" he laughed knowing he'd livened up the night now, "Is everyone still quiet?".
"There were when I came out…" Armin muttered joining the others in watching the stars, "Do you really think we will do it Eren?" he asked.
"Do what?".
"Everything you said, take back out home, get outside the wall… see the ocean…" he trailed off.
"I know we will" he smiled.
"How do you know though, we have no idea what's out there, how can you be so sure?".
"Because we'll have each other" Mikasa smiled, "We've been together since the beginning, and I know that if we stay together, we will see our dreams come true".
Armin's pessimistic part of his mind knew he should doubt Mikasa's words, but he couldn't deny they had an ability to get through everything together, they all gave something to one another, Eren and Mikasa gave him Courage, Eren gave both hope and he wasn't sure what he gave them, but he hoped it would reveal itself in time.
"You'll have me too!" a cheery voice exclaimed pouncing on Eren from behind and digging her knees into his back making him let out a yelp in pain.
"Mina!" Eren yelped as her arms were around his neck, "Too tight!" he tapped her arms, so she'd let him go.
After she relented to put herself between him and Armin, "I did tell her not to do that" Thomas laughed as he walked over followed by the others all taking their seats on the stairs.
As Annie walked over, she couldn't help but stop at a small alley nearby and looking down it, the hairs on her neck had stood up but a look revealed nothing until a cat suddenly bolted past, "Just a cat…" she mused before walking over to the others.
"Quite a scene you made in there" Milieus laughed, "I only asked what I thought was a simple question, didn't expect that" he continued getting a few small chuckles.
"Damn it Milieus, always getting us in to situations" Nack laughed throwing his arm around him.
"Pretty sure that's you Nack" Sasha laughed from across the stairs making Nack look fake hurt and a few more chuckles go around.
In the light of the doorway stood a large figure watching them all, "Hey Reiner, should we…" Bertolt said walking up to him.
"Nah it's fine Bert, let her have a moment" he grinned, "Deserves it after all" he said keeping his warm grin as a small figure approached him.
"Is everything alright with them?" Christa hesitantly asked with a concerned expression.
"They're just fine" Reiner said stepping back allowing her to view them sitting silently, "They're just enjoying the peace and quiet".
"Oh good, I just had to check, sorry if I interrupted anything" she said before receiving and hand up and a head shake from Reiner to confirm it was nothing but as she turned to go a thought popped into her head, "Oh I forgot to say, well done the both of you for getting into the top ten, I thought I was doing pretty well but it seems you were all well ahead of me" she smiled sweetly.
Reiner could help but be enamoured by her, there was a reason she'd earned the nickname 'Goddess' is was almost as if she had this permanent glow about her making her seem almost divine, "Thank you Christa, don't go feeling down on yourself because you didn't get the top 10, they all look for something particular in each person, some are favourites and the such, but in my eyes you have showed great improvement since beginning" he smiled patting her shoulder.
"You think so?" she said her eyes wide in glee.
"Oi Reiner, why don't you keep your hands to yourself" Ymir cut in swatting his hand before he could respond and Bertholdt made a quick exit from the conversation as Reiner opened his mouth to retort.
"I was just reassuring her!" he snapped.
"Yeah sure…"
"Stop Ymir! Reiner wasn't doing anything wrong!" Christa cut in before another argument could break out tonight, "Can you both just be friends for the rest of the night, for me; please" she said looking between the two much larger individuals.
Ymir rolled her eyes, "Fine" she muttered shoving her hands into her pockets as Christa nodded her head in thanks.
"I say let's get more to eat" Reiner cheered with a deep laugh, "Not every day we get such a selection" he put his arms around both women and guided them into the food hall again as Ymir threw his arm off and Christa made polite conversation.
"To think it's been three years already, time flies don't it" Mina said sitting back enjoying everyone's new favourite hobby of watching stars, "So much we've done together".
"And now the real stuff begins, think you're all ready?" Thomas asked the group.
"Definitely" Eren said confidently, "It's time to put all out hard work to good use!" he grinned
Sounds off agreement echoed out briefly before everyone silently agreed to just enjoy the moment with their friends, not knowing what the future held but knowing they'd be there together.
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"Be a soldier they said, it'll be fun they said" Mina whined as she cleaned the barrel of another wall cannon by hand, "I thought there would be more to this than y'know, cleaning!" she exclaimed.
"Its maintenance actually Mina" Armin piped in from the next cannon along, "If we don't make sure all the cannons are in their best condition, the smallest fault could cause serious damage, to it and the users".
Mina just puffed her cheeks out and continued her work.
It was the next day after their celebration and they were now in full uniform; all performing tasks for the Garrison while they are waiting selection night, "Hey did you lot see the Scout's leave this morning?" Nack asked from carrying a few boxes over, "Their formation had changed up a bit".
"Probably due to casualties and injuries, tell you what I'm not looking forward to learning all the different formations as a Scout, sounds like a headache" Reiner commented going over a paper as he inspected some kit.
"Yeah, now you mention it that's not gonna be fun" Thomas commented looking over one of the cannons, "Milieus can I back out, or no?" he comically asked only getting a head shake in response and a small laugh.
As they worked making idle conversation, Armin couldn't help but notice the one Cadet trying to sneak past the others with something in her jacket, "Sasha!" he called out stopping the girl in her tracks and getting everyone else to look, "What are you smuggling this time?" he said exhausted as this wasn't the first time, he had caught her.
"Nothing!" she tried to pass off tightening her jacket, but her drooling gave away what she had.
Seeing none were convinced she relented knowing there was enough to go around, "So I may have snuck into the officer's pantry and may have accidentally stumbled out with this…" she opened her jacket to reveal a small hunk of meat tied in a string.
"You stole that from the officers?" Mina said unbelievably thanking the one keeping an eye on them had to step away for a while, "How?".
Sasha simply waggled her finger signing she wasn't telling her secrets, "I mean if you don't want a slice" she trailed of going to hide the meat again.
"I didn't say that!" Mina exclaimed bounding up to Sasha along with all the others, it had been so long since they'd even smelt meat much less seen it or even tasted it so this was a luxury none could afford to waste.
Eren chuckled at their antics as a person stepped up beside him, "Didn't think a small bit of meat would cause all this" Annie mused watching as small bits were being sliced off with the blades of the ODM gear.
"You'd be surprised what missing something so much does to people" he said not taking his eyes of the crowd, "Are you going to get some?" he asked.
"I'll be fine" she muttered, not really interested in meat at the moment as something more pressing was on her mind, "What would you say if I were to join the Scouts too?" she asked so quietly Eren almost missed it.
"You want to join? But I thought you were for the MP's?" he questioned bolting his head to face her, not sure if he heard her exactly right.
"Nack changed his mind, why can't I" she said looking over at Eren, "I wouldn't like it, knowing you were all going out there and risking your lives while I hide away" she answered surprisingly honestly to him.
"Where did this come from, you've been dedicated to going your own way after cadets, why change now?" he asked focusing only on her now.
Annie looked to the floor as she tried to find the right words to respond with, "I suppose you helped me change" she muttered looking back at him, "All of you" she hastily added looking to the group now as a blushing Eren rubbed his head.
"It simply doesn't sit right with me anymore, I've spend all of my life hiding never stepping away from what I know, I can't stay like that anymore" she looked back to Eren, "You became my friend even after all I did to you, no matter how much I blocked you out, you and Mina still tried; I know she'll be safe but I can't let you charge out those walls alone, it just would sit right with me" A smile came across her lips.
"I don't suppose this changes your thoughts on freedom at all?" he chuckled to her.
"No, I still think it's a lie" she started to walk away, "But I'll be eagerly awaiting your answer" she added before walking away, heading to finish her tasks.
Eren looked at all his present friends with a large smile, "Finally, this is it" he thought, "All those years ago, I promised I will wipe them all out and I'm not going to back down on that, but I won't do it alone; together we will free Humanity from our imprisonment", he looked over Trost.
"Today's the day, we all take the fight back to the Titan's"
A crack of thunder echoed out behind him as a light steam engulfed the area, the top of the wall heated up as Eren felt a presence behind him making his eyes shoot wide.
No sound was made, all the birds fled the area, and every cadet was frozen still as the sky above seemed to darken, Eren looked to his right as he slowly turned his head, dread taking over his body as a feeling he felt four years ago engulfed his body.
As he barely turned just enough to see the other side of the wall, his breath hitched in his throat, there it stood, taller than the wall itself, no skin only bright red muscle pulled over the large bones beneath, its dark eyes peering down at the innocent town of Trost below not caring about the cadet's just in front of it.
The Colossal Titan had returned.
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Next chapter, The Battle for Trost begins.