I set the large and heavy steel drum filled with fuel onto the ground. It made a heavy clang as I laid it down. Jean skidded his steel drum across the stone.
"Ugh. All the fuel's unloaded! Here's the last of it!" Jean called out.
"Good to hear! Go ahead and leave it there!" Onyankopon yelled at us.
I stared blankly at the profusely sweating Jean, Connie and Reiner. Connie was on the floor trying to catch his breath. Reiner was hunched over as he did the same. Jean leaned his arms against the steel drum as he rested on it.
"You know, if those were too heavy. Mikasa and I could have done this part." This earned me looks from all three of them.
"I really hate your freakish Titan power strength sometimes. You actually lifted those things and made it look so damn easy." Connie chastised me. His hazel eyes sent me a tired annoyed glare.
I raised a brow and put my hands on my hips, "You say that but the moment I use that power to save your ass, Connie. You change your tune real quick." Connie then collapsed onto the ground with his arms and legs spread out.
"That's different." He mumbled.
"It reminds me of when we were building the railroads years ago. Two of us struggled lifting one steel beam. Meanwhile, Viv and Mikasa could carry two to three of them at a time by themselves. They hardly broke a sweat in that heat to boot. I swear you're not human, Viv." Jean told as he tiredly looked over his shoulder.
"You guys do realize I'm not invincible right? I have all the same powers of a Titan minus the healing factor. Only one of the nine gets that benefit." I said and pointed my thumb to Reiner.
"Healing is the only thing I retain while in human form. I don't have any other Titan abilities when I'm not the Armored. Right now I wish that wasn't the case." Reiner said with labored breath.
That's when a light bulb went off, "Uhhh guys? You know what I just realized. We could have had Pieck do this. You know…considering the Cart Titan can turn multiple times in a day." Simultaneously Jean, Connie, and Reiner let out groans.
"I really hate it when you're right, Viv. I didn't even think of asking Pieck for help. She would have done it too." Jean said in a defeated tone and hung his head.
"Not to point fingers or anything, but we're not use to Pieck yet. Reiner on the other hand. Why the hell didn't you think of it?" Connie complained.
"The thought didn't come to mind to be honest." Reiner admitted. He hunched further over and set his hands on his knees.
"Well, I'm going to see if anyone needs more help while you guys catch your breath. Sunrise is in a couple hours." I announced as I walked by all three of them. The three of them said nothing as I exited the hangar.
"Vivien," I stopped and turned my head to the right to see Annie, "Can we talk?" She asked. Without saying anything, I moved my feet towards her.
"Something on your mind?" I asked as I stopped in front of her. Annie's light blue eyes shifted off to the side. I followed her gaze and saw it landed on Reiner back in the hangar.
"I heard the news about you and Reiner. You really think there's a point to that right now?" She asked. We both faced each other again simultaneously. Her tone was cold as ever but her eyes deceived her in how she was really feeling. She looked concerned and worried.
"Yeah, I do. It's another thing to fight for. Look, for all it's worth I am sorry about your dad, Annie. I get why you've lost your fight. You've always hated fighting without a cause that directly benefited you. It's why you put up such a cold persona. It worked the majority of the time. You had the MPs fooled to the point that Hitch thought you were just a scared little kid. I found that laughable back then but now…I think she was onto something. I think you were just a scared little kid back on the island. Desperate to complete the mission and go back home to see your father. That's why you cried when you failed to get Eren, isn't it?" Annie's eyes widened in shock. Her icy blue eyes shimmered under the lamp above us. Mikasa had told us about that years ago when her and Captain Levi saved Eren from Annie the first time.
"You've always acted like you never cared about anything. It's part of the reason why you've always infuriated me. Then you confuse me when you contradict yourself. Like when you saved Connie when he failed to kill that four meter Titan. It's always bugged me that I could never truly figure you out. Then again, do you even know what you want to be? The cold, isolated lone wolf that only fights for herself. Or the team player that doesn't want to see her friends die." I questioned her.
Annie furrowed her brows and casted her eyes on the ground, "Who knows?" Her eyes glanced back at me, "To be honest, I wasn't really a fan of yours either back then. I didn't get what Reiner saw in you. You were just some Island Devil to me. Then you manage to beat me during the combat training. It had been years since I was ever taken down like that. I gained mutual respect for you after that. Everyone else in the cadet corp was training how to run away. While you were training to fight back. You proved that when you almost took me out solo on the battlefield. All of you Ackermans are the same. You're not people when you fight. You're wild animals ready to pounce on their prey." Annie stated. We exchanged cold looks to each other. Neither of us breaking our eye contact.
"You got a point in all of this? Or are you just wanting to call me names because I've attempted to take you out twice without a second thought?" Annie's eyes flicked behind me before narrowing on me.
"I could ask you the same. I already got my answer out from you. You're the one who started throwing the past back at me. I just returned the favor." With that Annie turned her back to me and walked off. My eyes narrowed on her retreating figure as I felt that familiar aggravation with her build up in my chest.
"That seemed tense. Everything alright?" I heard Reiner's voice come from behind me. That's why Annie left the way she did. She saw Reiner approaching and dipped.
"Not sure. Not when it comes to Annie." I answered truthfully. I heard a small sigh come from Reiner.
"Yeah…I hear you on that one." He mumbled in agreement.
"She only left because she saw you." I turned my head over my shoulder, "Might have to do with something about wanting an apology from you. She did ask you for that earlier. You never responded. I don't fully know what exactly happened between you two in the past. But whatever it is, she's pissed at you." I informed him. Reiner stared at me with a knowing look before his gold eyes flickered to Annie.
"Yeah…I know why…" He muttered softly.
Hours had passed and the sun was now starting to rise up in the sky. Onyankopon and the Azumabito worked tirelessly all night to get the flying boat ready to go. They were loading up the last of everything before it was time to leave. All of us that were leaving on it had our ODM Gear on and ready to go.
I clipped my Scouts cloak on as I stopped in front of Levi. He was sitting down on a crate. The said man lifted his head up. His single piercing steel blue eye stared at me.
"Sure you're in fighting shape?" I questioned him.
Levi's one eye narrowed on me, "I'm well enough. Don't think I'm about to leave the fate of the world in the hands of a bunch of brats." The corner of my lip went up in a small smile while a chuckle passed through my lips.
"Any more mess ups on your part and these bunch of brats will end up as your caretakers." Levi's single eye softened a slight breathy laugh left him.
"Guess you have a point there. That's what family's for isn't it?" I gave Levi a knowing smile before glancing my eyes at the others. They were approaching Levi and I.
"Hange! We'll be ready for the take off sequence in about an hour!" Onyankopon called out to us. We turned our heads towards the hangar where he was at. I could see him loading up the explosives onto the flying boat.
"Got it!" Hange called back out. She turned to us, "Well you heard the man. Everyone give your ODM Gear a final check." Hange ordered.
"Roger that." We chanted back.
I unholstered the handles and tested each of the triggers. Each one responded as I liked. My eyes glanced down to Levi. I frowned slightly seeing Levi struggle using his right hand with the gear. I was just joking earlier but now I'm actually concerned for our Captain. The rest of us were also giving concerned looks to Levi.
"Two fingers is all I need to get the job done. Good to go." Levi assured us.
"Speaking of checking ODM Gear. Viv, has Reiner checked his?" Jean asked me. The others stared at me wanting to know the same answer.
I turned my head over to where Reiner and Pieck were talking to Annie, "He did before he went to go talk to Annie about something." I said and crossed my arms over my chest. The others turned their heads where I was looking.
"Wonder what they're talking about?" Connie commented.
"If I had to guess, he's apologizing to her." I spoke plainly.
"Apologize? For what?" Armin questioned. He turned his head to me with a raised brow.
"Reiner's been really beating himself up lately. He's blaming the Rumbling solely on himself. He was the one that forced Annie and Bertholdt to push on with the mission after Marcel was killed. His thinking is if he had never done that. Eren would have sought out revenge since the wall would have never been breached. He hasn't told me everything that they did. But I can tell he pushed Annie pretty hard." I explained.
"That big idiot. He's seriously thinking the Rumbling is his fault? It's not any of our faults that Eren is a Suicidal Maniac." Jean muttered under his breath.
My brows went up in surprise seeing Annie giving a hug to Reiner. Reiner returned the hug as well. Well that's a good sign.
"Looks like they made up." Hange commented with a slight smile on her face. After a second, Annie began walking to the stairs to the ship.
"Annie!" Connie and Hange yelled out. Annie stopped and turned around towards us. Hange and Connie both waved their hands at her.
"Take care of yourself alright?" Connie followed up.
"We'll see you around!" Hange said.
Jean lifted his arm up in a slight wave. I lifted only one hand up in a way of acknowledgement. Armin and Mikasa were the last two to hold out their hands in a wave goodbye to her. Annie turned back around and headed for the stairs.
"Hey Armin, you'd let her walk off like that?" Mikasa questioned.
Armin's face immediately began turning red, "Like what?" I gave a smirk and placed my arm on top of his shoulder.
"You know…" I trailed off and gave a wink to him. Armin's face turned a brighter shade of red.
"Viv..!" Armin weakly scolded me. I gave a snicker and patted Armin on the shoulder.
"Now I'm worried. This may not work without her." Jean muttered.
"Yeah, it'll be hard but she's been through more than enough." Connie reminded him.
"They all have." I added softly.
My eyes looked to Reiner and Pieck who were walking back to us. Reiner was only five years old when he started training to become a Warrior Candidate. His entire childhood consisted of nothing but military drills, propaganda pushed on by Marley, and thrown into war after war. Him and the other Warriors had their childhoods completely stripped away. At least the Eldians of Paradis had somewhat of an actual childhood. Well some of us…not all.
"This is for the best. I want Annie to just…keep being Annie." Armin admitted. I said nothing and walked up in between Hange and Levi as Reiner and Pieck stopped in front.
"Are you two sure you want to join us? If we do stop the Rumbling, our lives as Eldians won't be getting any easier." Hange questioned. Hange then side eyed me.
"This goes for you too, Vivien. I was more unfair to you than anyone else long ago." I raised a brow at Hange with a small smirk.
"And let the rest of the Levi Squad have all the fun? Not happening, Hange. But seriously, even when I had to make hard decisions before. I wouldn't have done anything different even if I could change things. I'm a Scout, and I always will be. I'll follow my Commander into the field of battle when I'm called to." Hange gave me a smile and nodded her head.
"We understand what you're saying, Hange." Hange and I turned to Pieck, "But even so, we have a mission to finish. General Magath's last order to us was clear and we'll carry it out. It's time to work together and do what must be done." Reiner and my eyes met while Pieck spoke. He gave a small warm smile in my direction which I returned.
"Pieck I…I hope someday you'll let me feel the Cart Titans bodyheat under me as we ride!" My face deadpanned at Hange's insane Titan fascination coming back.
"Cut it out! Of all the times to be creepy." Pieck scolded and walked off.
"You really couldn't help yourself…could you?" I gave a sigh and started to walk back towards Armin and the others, "You haven't changed a bit Hange." I called out to her.
I heard footsteps following behind me as I approached my squad. I already knew it was Reiner right on my heels.
"I take it your apology to Annie went well?" I asked quietly.
"In a way it did. You know, she admitted that she convinced herself not to kill me back then." I came to a dead stop and stared at Reiner. I pointed my finger at him.
"It was when she caught you wasn't it? During our first expedition with the Scouts." Reiner gave a shrug with his shoulders.
"What about our first expedition?" Jean asked as the others came up to us.
"Annie just admitted to Reiner earlier that she had to resist wanting to kill him back then. Remember when Annie grabbed him?" I said and looked more at Jean and Armin.
Jean and Armin raised their brows in surprise, "Yeah, but we just thought that was just an excuse back then. To rely on the information he got from us to give to her." Armin admitted.
"It was. It's why I pulled my hood back so she knew it was me. The squeezing part wasn't necessary. I did have to cut my way out." Reiner admitted.
"You know, if it weren't for Armin or Vivien that expedition sabotage plan of yours wouldn't have gone that well. They're the ones that figured out where Eren would actually be positioned in the formation." Jean pointed out.
"Hey guys, we probably want to eat and drink anything we can now. We'll need the energy." Mikasa pointed out to us.
"Oh yeah, there's some canned food and water the Azumabito left for us in the hangar." Connie mentioned.
"Good point, we can go down memory lane later." Jean said and began walking into the hangar. The others followed with Reiner and I pulling up the rear.
"You know, this does bring me back. We're missing a couple people now, but it feels like old times. The simpler times." I commented and glanced up at Reiner.
His eyes glanced down at me, "Yeah, it does. I never thought I'd be able to do this again. It's…kind of nice." I gave a smile and leaned into Reiner as we walked.
We walked up to the table with the others. Jean handed me an open can which I took. I grabbed one of the spoons and began eating the food stored in the can. I was about to bring the spoon to my mouth when my eyes widened. My senses were alerting me, but why?
I lifted my head up to look over and I could see Floch. Mikasa noticed him as well. Both of our Ackerman senses were triggered by him. Floch aimed a gun up towards the flying boat.
"Get down!" I yelled as I dropped the can and sprinted forward.
Shots rang out as people ducked under cover while Mikasa and I rushed forward past the bullets. Mikasa and I both launched a hook forward and aimed at Floch. Both metal hooks sunk into the flesh of Floch. Mikasa latched in his throat while mine was embedded into his gut.
Choking sounds came from Floch as he was about to fall over. The hooks prevented him from doing so. His hand holding the gun shook until he dropped it.
"What's going on? I heard gunshots!" I heard Hange yell behind us. I could hear her gasp.
"Floch?" She muttered.
"He must have stowed away with us somehow. Talk about a last ditch effort." I commented dryly. Hange ran past Mikasa and I and the rest of the squad followed.
"Mikasa, Vivien release your hooks!" Hange ordered both of us. Both Mikasa and I followed our orders. Hange caught Floch before he fell to the floor and laid him down. Mikasa ran up to them while I stayed put.
"You have a bad habit of running towards bullets being fired." I heard Reiner's voice behind me.
I looked up at him, "When you have battle senses like mine and Mikasa's. It's easier than you think." Reiner's eyes casted back over to the group surrounding Floch.
"Hange! He shot at the tank, we can't fill it!" Mine and Reiner's eyes widened as we stared at Onyankopon. That's what he was aiming at. Not at us but the gas tank of the flying boat.
"We're trapped! The boat is grounded!" Onyankopon shouted again.
"Don't give up. It'll fly if we get these holes sealed." An Azumabito stated.
"Quick, grab the weidling tools!" Another one shouted. I watched as men began to scramble to get repair the holes.
"How long is it going to take?" Hange questioned as she approached the head technician.
"Patching it with tin will be the fastest way. An hour should just-" Sudden tremors and shakes interrupted him.
My eyes widened and I quickly sprinted out from the hangar. No, no! This isn't good. I stopped and my jaw dropped seeing the steam overhead.
"They're here…" I mumbled under my breath.
I heard heavy footsteps, "No, no, no!" I heard Reiner yell out. He stopped next to me as we both gazed at the steam.
"The Rumbling is here." Reiner said in horror.
"We don't have an hour for them to repair the holes. This is bad." I commented. Damnit Floch!
I watched with a pit of dread in my stomach. The Wall Titans were now visible as they appeared over the mountains. Footsteps came up behind us as the rest of my squad joined Reiner and I.
"Armin, do you have any ideas?" Mikasa spoke up.
"Yeah, only one though. I can stay here. Buy you some time." We all snapped our heads to Armin in shock.
"No, that won't work! We're gonna need you against Eren. You're our fallback. Go, I'll cover your rear." I clenched my teeth as I glared at Reiner.
"That's not happening either! Those are fifty meter Titans against your fifteen! Your armor won't help at all! You'll get trampled!" I exclaimed. Reiner gave me a look and opened his mouth to talk but was interrupted.
"Vivien's right. Do you think that's any better?" My jaw relaxed as we all looked to the side. Hange stood there with Thunder Spears attached to each arm.
"If we're going to stand a chance, then we can't use any of our Titan power yet! We wouldn't be facing this situation if it weren't for me. I dragged you all here over the bodies of your comrades. It's time I made it right." Hange stated.
"Commander…" Armin trailed off. We all stared at her in complete shock.
"Hange…what are you saying?" I questioned her. Hange ignored me and walked past us and stopped before Armin.
"Armin Arlert, as of now I appoint you 15th Commander of the Scout Regiment." Armin's eyes widened alongside mine. Hange's planning on holding back the Rumbling. A human wouldn't last long against the amount of heat they're all putting out. She's not planning on coming back.
"There's one quality this post requires above all else. An uncompromising desire to understand our world. No one embodies that more than you. They're in your hands now." Hange said seriously.
A smile then formed on her face, "Short retirement speech, I know. Alright, bye guys. Oh yeah! This also means Levi is your subordinate. Better work him to the bone." Hange began to walk off.
I shut my eyes and balled my hands into fists. We're losing another comrade to this and it's Hange. The one person that held us together after Erwin's death. She took on the challenging task of being the Commander after him. She did a hell of a job. She helped reform the Scout Regiment from the ground up. She spearheaded all of the expeditions beyond our borders into Marley.
I opened my eyes to show tears had formed. I held my head up high, "Hange!" Hange stopped halfway and looked back at me.
My right fist thudded against my chest as I gave the best salute I could, "Dedicate your heart!" I yelled out.
I heard other thuds and boots hitting the ground behind me. I didn't need to look to know the rest of the Levi Squad was also saluting. One final salute to our Commander before she met her end. Hange gave a smile before returning the salute to us.
"It was an honor to fight alongside all of you. Watching you grow from fresh new recruits to seasoned veterans of the Scouts. Good luck in all of your future endeavors." Hange said her final words.
She dropped her salute and continued walking down the port. I brought down my salute as she stopped next to Levi.
"We better get on the flying boat." I muttered under my breath. I watched with sorrowful eyes as Hange took off into the sky.
She dashed her way to the Wall Titans coming in. I could barely make her out anymore. An explosion on one of the Titans sounded and that Titan fell to the ground. Multiple Wall Titans fell down on top of the downed one by tripping over it. Another explosion went off and another Wall Titan collapsed onto the ground.
"The tank is sealed! Start fueling up, hurry! Let's move!" I turned my head towards the hangar.
"Everyone get on the flying boat now!" Armin ordered us. He had a look of pain and sadness in his blue eyes. We all looked at one another before back at Armin. We gave a nod and ran for the flying boat. Armin's our Commander now, we follow his orders.
"They're here! It's now or never!" Someone yelled.
"Stop fueling, we're out of time! Get the engines turning!" The roar of the engine of the flying boat began to start.
"Push it onto the ramp!" I went to lend a hand with pushing the flying boat. I felt a grip on my wrist and it brought me back. I turned my head to face Reiner.
"Get on board, I'll help push it out. Go!" I furrowed my brows but nodded and climbed up the metal staircase.
I felt the flying boat begin to move under me as I took a seat. I gave a solemn look at Levi, Pieck, Armin and Mikasa who were already on board. The flying boat eventually went down the ramp. I stood up and ran over to the side door. Mikasa joined next to me.
"Get on!" I yelled out and held out my hand.
Connie was the first to run over. He jumped up and I caught his hand before pulling him up. Mikasa did the same with Jean after Connie was up. Reiner was the last one and jumped just as the flying boat began to go further into the water. I pulled Reiner up as Mikasa grabbed the door and slammed it shut. The roar of the engine was heard as the flying boat picked up speed on the water.
"Hange!" Armin yelled out. He was looking out at one of the windows. I hurried to a window of the flying boat. My eyes widened seeing a human size figure ignited in flames fall to the ground.
My jaw clenched as a sad frown formed on my face. I could feel my eyes begin to water. I felt a comforting hand on my shoulder. I looked over to see Reiner. He had a sympathetic look on his face. I turned around towards him and pressed my head against his chest. I felt his arms wrap around me and give a reassuring squeeze. I felt tears escape and fall down my cheeks.
I felt the flying boat jerk as it began to fly into the air. Jean, Connie, Armin, and Mikasa were all bracing themselves as we all mourned for Hange. The inside of the boat was completely silent aside from the quiet sobbing from us.
We all sat in silence now on the boat. Connie, Jean, and Mikasa sat on one side of the plane. Levi, Pieck, and myself sat on the other. Reiner was standing next to me while staring out the window. Armin had went up to speak to Onyankopon in the cockpit.
"We're half empty?" My steele gray eyes glanced over at the back of Armin. I silently listened to their conversation.
"Yeah, ran out of time before they could fill it." Onyankopon responded.
"Do we have enough fuel to reach Fort Salta?" Armin questioned.
"I'll find a way to make it happen. Hange died to get this thing flying. You're humanity's last hope on board. So we're going to get to that base, whatever it takes. I swear it. In return, you all have to stop the Rumbling. Please promise me that." Armin placed his hand on Onyankopon's shoulder.
"Yeah, we will. Thank you." He turned back towards us. All eyes were now on Armin as he stopped just in front of us.
"Okay. Let's lay out the plan." Armin fished something out of his pocket and pulled out a piece of chalk.
He knelt down and began drawing on the floor of the boat, "Pieck, you told me earlier you got a look at the Founding Titan." I watched as he drew out the shape of the Founding Titan.
"Based on what you saw, does the Founding Titan's body look something like this?" Armin said as he finished the drawing.
The Founding Titan looked completely disfigured. Its spine was incredibly long and curved. Its ribs must be dragging along the ground when it walks. I remember seeing a long spine forming back in Shiganshina. Is it because Eren was decapitated?
"Yeah, although what I saw wasn't really that much." Pieck informed us
"It's an ugly pile of bones crawling around on its belly. Like some gigantic bug." Levi compared.
"Reminds me of Rod Reiss when he turned into a Titan. Just bigger and no flesh on it." I remarked as I leaned forward with my hands resting on my knees.
"If it works like most Titans, Eren is controlling it from the nape of its neck." Pieck stated.
"But the Warhammer's power is at play here. That changes the game." Levi's right. Eren can control the Founding Titan from anywhere on the damn thing.
"Exactly. We don't know which part of the body he's in." Armin agreed.
"But we don't need to land a precise hit. You have a weapon that will annihilate it. The same weapon that laid waste to the port of Liberio in an instant. We can drop the Colossal Titan on him." Pieck stated. That certainly is a plan.
"That's an option alright, but we'd get caught in the blast ourselves." I pointed out.
Pieck's eyes glanced over to me, "Not if we're far away enough. If we are that close. We've got Reiner. His armor can withstand the blast of the Colossal Titans transformation." Pieck stated. I glanced up at Reiner and he nodded his head at me.
"We could." I turned my attention back to Armin who finally spoke up again.
"It's a guaranteed way to destroy the Founder. But before that, I still want to try and talk things out." I held back a sigh as I stared at Armin. The Levi Squad already knows how I feel about trying to talk this out with Eren. This is none. He's made up his mind.
"If we can't convince Eren to stop the Rumbling himself. I'll be our last resort." Armin confirmed and looked at Mikasa.
She gave a nod in response. I stared at Mikasa and this caught her attention. I knew this battle coming up with Eren is going to be difficult for her. I've been in her shoes before. I don't envy it. I gave her a comforting look. Mikasa returned it with a grateful look and a small smile.
"Coming up with a last resort isn't a bad idea. Zeke holds the Founder's power. Eren's controlling it through him. We don't need to blow his whole body away. Killing Zeke should end the Rumbling." Levi stated.
"You're right. It might work." Armin admitted.
"Let me guess, you want the killing blow on him right?" Levi's single eye glanced over to me. His steel blue eye held a fire in them. Oh yeah…he wants the honors. He made a promise to Commander Erwin years ago.
He glanced back at Armin, "No way to be sure. That was Hange's theory." He stated.
"Still doesn't help unless we know where Zeke is." Pieck pointed out to us.
"Easy enough problem to solve. We dig into that bone heap and force the hairy bastard out." Levi answered.
"We'll find him and I'll cut him down. With your help. Are we agreed?" Levi questioned all of us.
"You know I'm with you all the way." I answered. Levi nodded his head towards me.
"Got it, Captain. I'm with you. We've had to kill so many of our friends to get this thing into the sky. If we back down, we'll have butchered our own people in vain. All this is to stop the Rumbling. I'll do whatever it takes." Jean followed up.
"Me too." Reiner agreed.
"Reiner," We turned our heads to Connie who spoke. He had his head down, "I had to shoot up Samuel and Daz at the port. I had to carve up people we've known since we were cadets. They died cursing my name. Calling me a traitor, while I told myself I was saving the world. Was it the same for your team? You, Bertholdt and Annie? Is this what it felt like?" Connie asked Reiner and lifted his head up.
"Yeah." Reiner answered softly. He lifted his left hand and stared at it.
"I know my sins are beyond redemption. I doubt I'll ever forgive myself. Even if we save what's left of humanity." We all casted our gaze down to the floor. I heard heavy footsteps walk forward.
"Still," I looked up to see Reiner placed his hand on Connie's shoulder, "We've gotta try even knowing it'll never be enough." Reiner comforted him.
"I needed to hear that. Thank you." Connie appreciated Reiner's words. He placed his hand on Reiner's wrist, "It won't make up for all you've done. But still we gotta do what we can." Connie admitted. I could see on Reiner's face he was holding back the want to express his emotions openly right now. He's torn himself apart enough in my opinion.
"Reiner, I shouldn't have judged you." Jean began, "I'm sorry." He apologized. Reiner stood back up and looked at Jean in shock with his mouth agape.
"I became a murderer to protect the lives of other people. Just like you. I can't pretend your sins are greater than my own." Jean said honestly.
"You know, Eren told me something similar. Just before the Liberio Raid." That piqued my interest.
"Wait, before the Liberio Raid? Eren told me then not to worry about you. He said he'd handle you. Is that what he meant? Did he meet up with you before the attack?" I questioned Reiner. Reiner's gold eyes glanced at me and he nodded his head.
"Right now, I feel like I might have some idea what's going on in his mind. Do you think…he might be hoping we can beat him?" Reiner questioned all of us. All of our eyes widened and collective small gasps could be heard.
"What do you mean by that?" Mikasa questioned.
"Not sure, it's a feeling that I can't really explain." Reiner admitted.
A light bulb went off in my head, "Hang on. We've seen what Eren could do with the Founder's power in the past. He controlled Pure Titans to swarm Reiner. Even Reiner mentioned he could feel the Founder's power coarse through him as the Armored. Why isn't he doing that now? Theoretically, couldn't he prevent your three from transforming at all?" I questioned and looked from Reiner to Armin to Pieck.
Armin's brows furrowed, "Viv has a point. It's one I haven't figured out myself yet. Eren can control all Eldians and all Titans. He can control our Titans powers but he hasn't." Armin agreed with me.
Pieck's eyes widened, "Are you trying to saying Eren has been giving us free reign this entire time?" Pieck questioned.
"That's right. It's like he's looking to find out to see how we'll respond to what he's done." Armin answered. My eyebrows scrunched together as I thought.
"Why would he?There's a chance that we'll stop the Rumbling." Mikasa asked.
"If that's the case, then Reiner might be right. Eren might be hoping that we can beat him." I stated.
"If I were in his place. If all that blood were on my hands." Reiner grew a somber look and clenched his teeth, "I couldn't bear it. I… I think I'd want someone to take the Founder's power from me. If nobody could then I'd want somebody to end it." Reiner admitted.
In an instant, we were no longer on the flying boat. I barely caught myself as my boots landed on sand. I looked around with wide eyes. It's the same place we were in before after the walls fell.
"We're back here?" Jean exclaimed.
"Oh yeah." Connie commented.
"We were here just after the walls came down." I said as I took two steps forward. The sand crunched under my boots as I looked up at the starry sky above.
"The hell? Was he eavesdropping on us?" Levi questioned.
"Eren! Listen to me!" Armin cupped his hands over his mouth and yelled, "We've won okay? It's over! Paradis is safe now! The world has seen the terror of the Rumbling! If anyone ever attacks the island again it won't be for centuries! We'd be able to negotiate a non-aggression treaty with the other countries! You never need to kill anyone ever again, Eren! We could go home and live our lives in peace!" Armin paused for a response. We stared at him in silence before Armin continued again.
"We understand that we screwed up! We were wrong to push you this far but you don't have to keep going!" Armin yelled out.
"Eren!" Jean yelled now, "We'll figure out how to handle things from here! Please, stop this bloodbath and let's try to make the best of what's left of the world!" He finished.
"Yeah, that's right. Erin! I hated you for what happened to Sasha! But I know you're hurting as much as any of us! I couldn't have done it if I had put myself in your shoes!" Connie yelled.
My teeth clenched as I felt my face twitch and my brows furrowed, "Eren! I know you only did this to protect us! You once told us that we were all special to you! We didn't say it enough but you're special to us too! Stop this Eren and come home!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. My voice echoed through the desert scene until it faded. A silence befell us once more.
"Eren," I turned to Mikasa, "I want to help you carry the burden of your sins. We all do, because they're our sins as well. We're here! Don't push us away! Please Eren, quit running! Let's go home!" Mikasa called out.
"You heard your friends, Eren. If they insist, I'll let you off with just one kick in the ass. Speak up! You going to let us do all the talking or what?" Levi called out harshly. Another deafening silence befell us. If Eren is listening to us. He's being incredibly quiet.
"Eren!" Armin yelled out in frustration.
"The Rumbling will not stop." My eyes widened and my shoulders slumped hearing Eren's voice echo overhead.
"And the future of the Island of Paradis will not be left to the winds of fate. I will keep moving forward." My hands clenched into fists as I glared out in the sky. I knew it wasn't going to work but for a moment there with everyone's voices being heard. I thought maybe, just maybe Eren would listen.
"Over there." I took a step back to see Levi pointing. We all turned and looked where he was pointing. In the distance of the tree like light. There was a small human figure in the distance.
Mikasa was the first to sprint forward. Myself, Armin, Jean, and Connie quickly followed right behind her. We left Levi, Pieck and Reiner behind us.
"Eren!" Mikasa yelled out as we ran forward.
As we got closer to the figure. It wasn't an adult figure standing there. From the size of the figure, it was more so the size of a kid.
"Wait? What the hell, that's a kid?!" Jean exclaimed.
"You're right, but that kid is Eren!" Armin stated.
"How the hell is he a kid? This place makes no sense!" I said frustrated.
"Eren!" Mikasa shrieked once more.
"Why won't you listen to us? Do you not trust us to handle this?" Jean yelled out.
It was starting to feel like forever to reach where Eren was standing. We were running as fast as we could but it felt like we were getting no closer to him.
"Why Eren? Why are you still letting us use the Titans powers? We can talk as long as we want here! So talk to us! We've been together our whole lives! We're here for you now so stop running away! Eren!" Armin called out.
"I will hold freedom in my hands, by taking it from this world. But from you, I will take nothing. You are all free." Eren's voice echoed overhead again.
My eyes widened seeing three figures appear in front of us. Two were standing and one was sitting down. What? I could make out Reiner's distinct figure.
"What the hell?" I muttered through my heavy breathing.
We came to a stop and my wide steele gray eyes met Reiner's shocked golden ones. He had no idea what just happened to us either. I stood in shock as my chest heaved from my heavy breaths. It felt like we were running forever. What is with this weird place?
"You are free to oppose me and defend the world's freedom. Just as I am free to move forward. Our convictions can never be reconciled and our wills will not bend. There is only one way for this to be resolved. Fight." Eren's voice echoed.
Reiner, Pieck and Levi turned their heads facing forward once more. In the distance now stood two small figures. The first one was Eren as a child but the second one was a girl with blonde hair. Her clothes also looked old and ragged. Who was she?
"But then…why do this? If talking won't help then why bring us here?" Armin questioned.
"I brought you here to say that there is nothing to say. You will only stop my advance when you stop me from breathing. And you are free to try." Reiner was right. Eren isn't stopping us because he wants us to stop him…he wants us to kill him.
Instantly, we were back on the flying boat. Bangs were heard as some of us collapsed onto the floor. My eyes were wide as my arms were out bracing the backs of the seats. Reiner was still standing in the same spot.
"What happened? You okay?" Onyankopon called out to us.
"No. Looks like I had it right." Reiner stated. He didn't sound all too pleased to be right at this moment.
"Damnit Eren." I cursed through my teeth.
Jean placed his hand over his eyes and tilted his head back, "Then there's really…no other way?" He asked. Connie clenched his hand into a fist as his teeth gritted together.
"Think it's safe to say we're done negotiating. So Commander, what's next?" Levi asked Armin.
I looked over at Armin to see him consoling Mikasa who had collapsed on the floor. Armin's blue eyes were wide and his teeth clenched together. He's not a big fan of the corner Eren pushed us into.
