Our chance to finish the issue just got worse; Eren's Titan didn't what it planned and goes to punch his dear friend, Mikasa.

It's up to me and his friends to knock sense into him.

*opening starts*

Gustav: We somehow managed to lure the majority of the Titans to the corner of the town, but even after avoiding combat to the best of our ability, we ended up losing about a 5th of our troops.

Pyxis: We didn't lose them. Soldiers don't go off and die on their own. I let them die on his command. Mankind's fate rests on this moment. I'm not opposed to being called a murderer, if that's what it takes to survive.  

On the boulder, Mikasa barely dodged it, receives a cut to her cheek and her back hits against the wall.

Ian and the trio is shocked at what happened. Eren tried to punch OO but it's blocked by his spear.

Y/n: Come on, Eren! Get control!

But Eren tried to punch him square to the face and he just backs away as Mikasa grapples to its face.

Ian: Ackerman! That's enough! Get away from him!

Mikasa: Eren, don't you recognize me?! It's me, Mikasa! Your family! You have to seal the hole with that boulder!

Rico: *picks up red flare* 'Mission failed. I knew that we never had a secret weapon to begin with.'

Mikasa: Eren, you're human. You're-

Ian: *notices* Dodge, Ackerman!!! 

Mikasa followed what Ian commanded and Eren ended up punching himself instead. He's KO'd and he's in a sitting position, smoke coming out from his damaged parts of the Titan. Y/n is watching trying to come up with a new plan for now after Eren is incapacitated.

Mitabi: What's with him? He's just another stupid Titan, huh?

Mikasa:  Eren!

Y/n: He's unconscious for now.

Soldier: Squad leader Ian! Two approaching from the front! A 10-meter and 6-meter class!

Ian gasps at this point.

Soldier: Another at the rear! 12 meter class-!

Something zipped past them, it was the OO, he swings his spear upward to decapitate the head and its right shoulder of the 10 meter and slices the nape.

Y/n: Unleashing Sword Bits!

The sword bits began to fly around and slices the napes of the 6 meter and 12 meter Titans inbound. It looked to them and they shivered in fear, as if they're being looked deep inside their hearts.

Rico: 'I never knew this kind of power, what do you possess to have a great strength?'

Y/n: The mission is not over yet! Don't even think about retreating and just leave him! I have a plan that's underway as we speak!

While all that's happening, the others who are at the top, saw the red flare fired by the Garrison.

Soldier: The elite squad's red signal confirmed. A serious problem seems to be obstructing the plan.

A scared soldier thinks they're dead without even what they died for. Pyxis remains stoic and looking at the battlegrounds.

On the other side, the Cadets saw the red flare as well, meaning failed or something's obstructing the plans.

Cadet: Hey, look at that!

Soldier: What? What's wrong?!

Marco: Did they... fail?

Armin: How?

He grits his teeth and puts down the tanks.

Marco: Hey! Where are you going, Armin?!

Soldier: Commander Pyxis, reassessing the gate's defense is top priority now. May we proceed?

Pyxis: We can't.

Left-hand lady: Shall we have the elite squad to retreat?

Pyxis: No. '*thought*Knowing that man Vidar, he has a plan' Continue to lure the Titans to the corner of the town. As for the elite squad, I've granted full authority to its leader and Vidar. We proceed as planned. 

They have their heads down as they admitted that he's right. If they give up, the whole Wall Rose is done for.

Pyxis: They're more than just skilled. They're the best of the best , with the fate of humanity on their shoulders. Admitting defeat so easily is not an option. If we don't want our fallen comrades' deaths to be in vain, then we must struggle for as long as we live.

The elite squad starts to bicker as to whether they proceed to Vidar's plan or just retreat.

Mitabi: Hey! This is no time to hesitate! Make the call! Ian, it isn't your fault! This whole mission is a long shot to begin with. We all understand about it! It was a worth of shot, and we did the best we could!

They can hear the sword bits flying around to protect the elite squads area, while Y/n is listening to them.

Mitabi: So our teams are going back up the wall now!

Mitabi is just gonna go to the cowards exits, MIkasa is pissed at this point and she's about to kill MItabi when Ian stops her.

Ian: Wait! Calm down, Ackerman. Rico team, take out the 12- 14 meter ones to the rear. Mitabi team and my team will deal with the rest!

Rico: *furious* What?! Are you nuts?!

Ian: We were the ones who put in charge! So do as you're ordered!

Y/n: He's right. We can't just leave him defenseless. Besides the back-up plan is already on the way.

Rico is taken aback of this.

Ian: *nods* Change of plans! We're to defend Jaeger from the other Titans until the back up plan he's talking about has arrived! He holds the most precious chance for humanity. We can't just abandon him just like that, or else Vidar will be pissed at us; even he holds the very chance for our comeback! Because unlike us, those two can't be replaced. 

Rico: Hundreds of people  have died in this mission alone for that failure of a human weapon! Now you wish for us to repeat all that, just to ensure his survival?!

Ian: *roared* Yes, Rico Brzenska!

Rico just step back in shock. 

Ian: No matter how many of us die, we must never stop trying! Even if it costs our lives!

Atop the walls

Jean fall back after he lured the Titans he just aggro'd to the walls and meet up with Jean. 

Jean: The heck's up with the red flare? What happened?

Marco: I don't know, but Armin's gone to see it. But... I think it'll be alright.

Jean: Oh yeah?

Marco: Of course! I mean... This is Eren we're talking about.

Jean: Yeah, right.

Connie: I don't want to be that guy, but this whole thing feels kinda pointless.

Jean: Well, when's the last time a fight against the Titans didn't feel like that, huh? The best thing now?

Jean sarcastically asks Connie about it.

Jean: Do what we can from losing any more.

Connie turns his back and talks.

Connie: I don't like the idea of so many of us being dead for nothing.

Jean: We have to pick our battles. If we want to wage all-out war someday, we have to conserve all the manpower we can. This was the right call.

Connie silences himself

Jean: Just, please be patient.

Connie: Was it the right call, though?

Jean: Yes! Of course it was!

Connie: We live, to fight and die another day, is that it? *smirks and turns to him* Right. I'm in.

Back at the boulder, they still bicker about the change of plan.

Rico: Ian, you can't be serious!

Y/n: Well, tell us what's the other options against the Titans do we have, huh?! Do you have one?!  No, this the only one we have! And deep down, you know we're right! We're the ones who's calling the shots here. If you have a suggestion, the time is now!

Rico: If you two are asking me how else we'll defeat the Titans around, obviously I have no idea.

Ian: See? That's why we can't afford to call a full retreat. Not yet. We may not know what else is in there, but there's hope. As long as that's the case. We're gonna fight 'til the end. 

The two rarely seen this kind of courage from one of their own, they only see coward soldiers but they just masking it. But it's unmasked when the OO came in to them.   

Ian: Look at us. Always scraping by. Always on the run. We already have wounds and scars form the battles because of our comrades dying in front of our eyes! Don't you... Don't want it to be over? Don't you want to make a stand? Well, this is how its done!

Mikasa first time sees one of the Garrison has this level of determination and bravery. Mikasa looks to him she found a sense of respect, with Ian make eye contact with his eyes full of respect to her also.

Rico: Tch. This is... This is madness! *turns back*

Ian: Hey!

Rico: But, I think... both of you are right. I'll follow your plans. If were to stand, this is the only way. I'm going to struggle with all my might and make them taste the ferocity of humanity. Because I refuse to die for nothing. You too, right Vidar?

He just nods with his mobile suit, and puts his Sword Bits back to the scabbard.

Rico: My team will handle the other 12-14 meters to the rear.

Rico is now moving to her team, as well as Mitabi.

Mitabi: Let's go! We have the two and the others in front, right?!

Ian: Y-Yeah.

Mitabi free runs and grapples to their destination. Before Ian could leave, Mikasa talks to him about what he did.

Mikasa: Thank you, Captain Ian. 

Ian: No need to thank me, Ackerman. I was scared stiff there, since there was no telling what you might do next.

Y/n: Or worse, I will.

Ian: *unsheathes his blades* Now you guys act freely, as originally planned. That should make better use of your ability. And let Y/n watch you and Eren until his back up has arrived.

Mikasa: Yes, sir.

Ian: After all, this is to protect your boyfriend.

Mikasa blushed at this and that's not what he thinks it is.

Mikasa: He's family...

Ian ignored it and he moves on to proceed as planned.

Y/n: *chuckles* You better keep your word, Mikasa.

They turn to Eren who's still smoking and remains in stasis. Mikasa clibs up to the OO's shoulder and assess what's happening to Eren.

Mikasa: Huh?

Y/n: What is it?

Mikasa: Look, the damaged parts, they haven't regenerated yet. Is it because of his earlier wounds?

Y/n: I don't know. But that's not it, its plausible.

Mikasa: But how is it affecting him? What guarantee is there that he can turn back to normal at all?

Y/n: He remains in stasis, and whatever's happening to him. We need him to knock it out of that.

Mikasa: *heavily sighs* For now, I have to do what I can do!

Y/n: Yeah, me too. Also, I need to find the back up. I'll place Sword bits around him to make sure he's not eaten.

Mikasa: Sword... Bits? 'I remember he sad about it when he fought the incoming Titans...'

She saw how his Sword Bits works, she was eye widened and amazed by the blades being manipulated and controlled by Y/n.

Mikasa: 'It looks... beautiful.'

Some time later

Armin, now running to the fastest route to the boulder. He begins to worry about them.

Armin: Eren... Mikasa... Vidar... What happened?!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inside Eren's Titan, Eren remains in deep stasis while his heart is still beating. Eren's illusions  began to form. 

Eren: 'Huh? What... am I doing now? Am I sitting? I can't see anything What day is today?'

Eren in his mindscape, opens his eyes to see the past family.

Eren: 'Where am I? Oh... I'm home... I'm gonna sleep'

In reality, Armin arrives just in time and sees Eren in deep sleep while 7 sword bits is spinning around him. Armin remembers Y/n's words when getting near him.

Flashback

Armin reaches to Rico's squad who's with OO at the moment.

Rico: Cadet?! What are you...?!

Armin: OO! *lands on his shoulders*

Y/n: About time, where have you been?!

Armin: I was gonna ask you the same thing. What happened to Eren or even Mikasa.

Y/n: Eren's in deep sleep, with my Sword Bits guarding his spot.

Armin: Sword Bits...?

Then Armin saw what is his Sword Bits' functions are, he was eye widened by this.

Armin: Those things?!

Y/n: Yeah... If you got the plan, go there now! And also, don't worry I've managed them to recognize the Cadets like you as an ally for now! I can't lift the boulder if you're gonna suggest that. The armor I have is not capable of lifting something that massive. 'Although maybe if I can go back, I can create a heavy-lifting armor but still capable of providing assistance' 

Armin flies off while Rico asks him.

Rico: That's your back up?

Y/n: He knows what to do... But come on, we got more incoming!

They continue battle while the cadets are now relying on their other blades assistance, the Sword Bits.

Flashback end

Armin is now exhausted going too fast to see the situation.

Armin: Eren... What are you doing, Eren?!

While Armin tries to knock some sense into Eren. Other soldiers for luring the Titans are in position. A squad captain is evaluating the plan.

Captain: Listen up! We can't let any Titans leave this corner of town, no matter what! Focus on that and keep luring them! You don't need to fight them! Is that clear? You'll run along the ground, 3 cadets per team. When you reach the wall, you leap back up. Don't die out there.

Jean, Annie, Connie and the other two are in position with the captain.

Captain: If by some slim chance a Titan goes astray, we'll take it out.

Jean: *mutters* "By some slim chance?" There's a pretty good chance, if you ask me.

Annie: If we sense any risk, are we free to act on our own discretion?

Captain: If it'll help somehow.

Then they hear thuds and a dust erupts.

Captain: Kirschtein team, go!

Jean: Yes, sir!

On Mitabi's squad they keep aggravating the Titans, one of them is about to grab him, but Mikasa deals with it and kills the Titan. But Ian alerted the others.

Ian: Crap! Behind us!

Mikasa: *gasp*

They see a 13 meter Titan on the roof of their position.

Garrison: It's headed straight for Jaeger!

Mikasa is getting pissed at this point, and the next alert was worse.

Garrison: We have more Titans coming through the gate! 4 of them, around 10 meter high types!

Ian: Ackerman! You can take the rear!

Mikasa: Understood!

Ian: Don't let it  get to Jaeger! We got to hold them off here!

Ian & Mitabi Squads: Yes, sir.

Mikasa runs to their rear and thoughts to herself.

Mikasa: Elite soldiers or not,2 teams can't handle 4 at once; except the OO... But he's currently helping other squads like Rico's.'

She jumps and saw 3 Titans getting too close to Eren. She latches on one of them and slices the two but her slice is shallow on the third one. 

The third one didn't care as it gets closer to Eren but the blades reacted and 3 of the Sword Bits slashed its full back body in one slash. The blades returned to its formation while the blood on its blades evaporates.

She lands on the rooftop and saw many Titans scattered around Trost.

Mikasa: 'What's going on? Where are they coming from all of a sudden? There aren't enough of us to attract this many. Unless...' *gasp* 'Unless they're coming for Eren! If they're really coming for him, those blades won't last long!'

Then Armin calls out to her

Armin: Mikasa!

Mikasa looks to him, who's standing on Eren's Titan nape. Then she saw OO's squad near Eren. Including Mina, Franz & Hanna.

Franz: Is that Eren?

Hanna: I think so...

Mina: It looks like.... 

But they saw Armin.

Armin: What happened to the plan?!

Franz: Armin! 

Mina: Armin, what happened to Eren?! Why is he like this?!

Mikasa: Get away! It's dangerous there! That Titan isn't acting through Eren's will!

Armin points it out in his head.

Mikasa: I called out to him, but he wouldn't respond! There's no getting through to him anymore!

Armin: What about the plan?!

Mikasa: It's a bust! We're fighting the Titans right now because we can't leave him behind! Vidar's red color ability can't be activated at this point because he doesn't have enough of those stars gathering to him! 

Mina: There are too many Titans coming in... At this rate, we'll all be wiped out!

Armin gasped about it and he remembers Eren getting out of the nape 3 hours ago.

Armin: *mutters* From the back of the head to the nape of the neck... 1 meter high and 10 centimeters across! *unsheathes his blades*

Mikasa: Armin!

Hanna: Wait, what are you doing?!

Armin: I'll get Eren out of here! You just protect us from the other Titans!

Mikasa: Huh? What are you trying...?

Armin: Last time, Eren came out of the Titans' vital spot! *pulls the trigger and latches his grapple hooks to the upper back bones*My guess is that has something to do with whatever makes the Titans tick. 

Mikasa is watching him clueless on what's he gonna do to Eren.

Armin: But it's okay... *preps the blade in a stabbing position* As long as I can avoid the center... he won't die. It's just... *proceeds to do it* This is going to sting you a lot!

Mikasa: Armin, no!

Mina: Wait, don't!

Armin stabs the nape, inside, Eren in deep slumber, the blade stabbed to it's left arm. 

This made Eren jolt it's eyes and its heart beat from the stab and his Titan screamed in pain.

Eren Titan: GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!! 

Mikasa: *gasp*

Franz: What the hell are you thinking, Armin?!

Hanna: Did you just hurt Eren?!

It's limping and flailing its body from the pain while not being able to get up, making Armin almost fell off. But Armin holds tight to the blade not letting go to prevent him from getting flied off.

Mikasa: Armin, stop it! You'll get yourself killed!

Armin: I'm fine! Just do what you guys can to keep the Titans at bay! Leave Eren to me and go!

Mikasa looks at the other Cadets but the Cadets looked at her and Franz talked to her.

Franz: He's got this. We gotta help the others.

But then their position rumbled as they looked behind them to see Titans being kebabbed by Y/n using his spear.

Mina: *points to 00* Or provide assistance.

Mikasa: Fine...

Mikasa and the others leave to assist Y/n and others. Armin is now calling out to Eren.

Armin: Eren! Can you hear me?! 

Inside the nape, Eren can hear Armin's voice, being echoed from the stab wound.

Armin: Pull yourself together! We're all going to die if you don't come out of there! Don't give in to the Titan's body! Now just hurry and get out of this lump of flesh! 

Eren: 'Get out of here? Why? I'm sleepy now...'

Armin: Eren! Come out! Hurry! *hammering his hands to the body* Eren! Eren! What happened to avenging your mother being not able to walk because of the Titans?! Thomas, Nac, Mylius, everyone who died?! You were gonna drive out all the Titans, remember?!

Inside his mindscape, Armin is knocking loudly at the window of his house.

Eren: What are you talking about, Armin? My mom's right here...

Armin: Eren! Eren! Wake up, Eren! You're in there, aren't you?! 

The blade stucked on the arm is shaking from the knocking of Armin.

Armin: Eren! If we stay here, the Titans are gonna kill us! It'll all end here!

Eren: Seriously, you're not making any sense, Armin... Why should I have to go outside?

Back outside, Armin saw a bright light emitting, it was the OO but this time, it activated the Trans-Am.

Y/n: Trans-Am, engaged!

As it emitted the light from the Gundam starts to spread throughout Trost. The soldiers are witnessing the Angel's Advent.

Garrison: That light....

Left-hand lady: That's the same reports from the elite squads...

Pyxis: Hmm. Let it be... I think its trying to provide an opportunity for the Cadet to wake up....

Gustav: What do you mean, sir?

On the other side, Cadet Corps are witnessing that light once again, the Titans on the edge of the town stopped moving and they only see the light of the Gundam. It raises their hands and begins to play the light that emits from afar. Like playing a lit up candle.

Marco: That's from Vidar's position...

Annie: What's with that light and its stars?

Krista: His chest and back...

Hanna: I feel like... my heart is warm and... its melting my fear...

Franz: I felt it too... What's with that light of Vidar's?

Mina: *eye widens at amazement*

The particles starts to fill the entire Trost. Armin felt it's GN Particles and then he saw the Sword Bits starts to spun around fast but not fast to make a tornado.

Armin: These stars... It feels like...

Inside Eren's mind

The GN particles started to form around his house and Armin is inside the GN Particle ring.

Eren: Yeah? Why would I want to leave? 

But then his eyes starts to widen as he sits up straight.

Eren: Why would I want to join the Scouts...?

Then his illusion Mother looked at him.

Reality

They get back to what their doing, thinking it as a opportunity to rescue some of their comrades.

Jean's squad targets are just keep staring at the light, not moving. After they ate their pray, leaving Connie, Annie and Jean are the ones who's still alive.. They see in their eyes particles moving. So they walk and follows it.

Annie: Great! Like it or not, we're on our own now!

The titans that are after the three are just following the GN particles trail that the trio left.

Mikasa saw one of the soldiers are about to get eaten after seeing a massive GN particles on the Garrison.

Ian is enroute to rescue him

Ian: Got you, now!

He slained the Titan and the Garrison backs away in fear.

Mitabi: That's what I thought, you bucket-head Titan!

They seen a Titan who's leaning to the left, they dodged it's impact or else it might've gained their attention and devour them.

Ian: Make distance for now!

Mikasa: We've got this, Captain! We'll help Team Mitabi!

All of them jumps to create a coordinated attack.

Meanwhile on Jean's position, it's not going well. Connie just dodged a hand grab from the Titan.

Connie tries to grapple with his ODM but it just deflected and it has not enough fire power rate to crack a wall a little bit for grappling.

Connie: What in-?

But then, someone grapples the Titans hand. It was Jean, who missed aiming at the nape.

Connie: Jean!

Jean: Get up the wall! 

Connie just runs to go to the wall, letting Jean buy him some time. Jean runs to the other side.

Jean: 'I'm sick and tired of people dying because of me!'

The Titan tries to turn to his direction but it can't as it saw that it's too narrow for the Titan. Jean smirked at this and tries to pull the trigger to grapple. But the grappling is not responding, meaning its malfunctioning.

Jean: Not now!

 He doesn't have any time as he saw a Titan behind him. He dodged it and continues running.

Meanwhile on Armin's side. Armin can feel it, Eren's being clouded by his decisions and his purpose right now. He begins to whisper to Eren.

Armin: Eren... Eren... Eren... Eren...

Inside Eren's mindscape, he can hear Armin's whisper to him.

Armin: We're supposed to explore the outside world someday, remember?

Eren's eyes are widened even more.

Armin: Far beyond these walls, there stretch fiery waters, lands of ice, and sandy snowfields... The world my mom and dad planned to venture into.

Armin is smiling in sadness as he keep telling Eren about his promise to himself, and Mikasa. 

Armin: I figured you'd just forgotten, but you actually stopped talking about it because you didn't want me to join the Scouts, huh?

Inside Eren's mind, he begins to mutter the words Armin said.

Eren: The outside... world...?

He begins to stand up and his blanket falls off.

Armin: Eren... Answer me... Even though just one step outside the wall lies a hellish world... And even though it might mean dying a gruesome and cruel death like my parents... Why did you want to venture into the outside world?!

As Eren flashes a memory inside his mind.

Grisha: Eren. Why do you want to go to the outside world?

And he heard another voice, it cam from Y/n who everyone thought he was dead.

Y/n: Tell me, Eren. Why do you wish to travel to the outside world?

Eren turns around to see Armin and the GN particle ring is slowly fading away. In other words, Trans-Am has reached its time limit. Making Y/n's question its last push to wake up Eren.

Eren: Why? Isn't that obvious? Because... *eyes filled with courage and determination* I was born in this world!!

Eren's illusionary house is destroyed with fires surrounding Eren as the illusion of his family is burned and turned into dusts.

Back to reality, Eren's Titan began smoking rapidly to slowly heal its injuries, his eye began to glow green. The Sword Bits are gone around him, via Y/n's control. Its now growling in anger.

Titan(Eren): *growling*

TBC