In the year 845, a Colossal Titan and Armored Titans suddenly appeared, destroying the walls and ruining our daily lives. Humankind abandoned Wall Maria. 20 Percent of the population and a third of their territory was lost. The resistance pulled back their operations to Wall Rose. Then, in the year 850, in the Trost District, humankind came under Titan attack once more. Eren Yeager, who had fallen prey to a Titan, re-emerged from inside a mysterious Titan.

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"I'm going to ask you once more! What exactly are you?!" The Commandant yelled out to Eren. Eren looked up at him with confidence in his eyes.

"A human being!" Eren yelled out.

You, Armin, and Mikasa looked back at him for his response to what he is. You then looked back at the Commandant with strong eyes.

     'I'm not going to let you take away Eren from me. I let him go once...and I'm not gonna do that again!' You thought to yourself.

"I see..." The Commandant said while raising his hand up slowly. "Don't begrudge me." He finished.

     Eren gasped in shock for knowing that he's gonna give the command to let them fire at him.

With Jean~

"Hey, Marco... I can't do it anymore. I'm done with fighting the Titans!" The guy told Marco.

     "What's the matter?" Marco asked him.

     "My buddies got eaten before my very eyes! They were eaten alive, but... I didn't feel any sadness nor hatred! I was just glad... that it wasn't me!" He shouted out.

     Sasha heard his rant about how he didn't feel terrible after seeing his comrades eaten in front of him.

"But then, I realized I'm going to be next. Our job is to fight... until we get eaten by the Titans, right!

     Well, if I'm going to be eaten alive, I'd rather kill myself right now!" He was taking out his sword and holding it close to his neck.

Marco was trying to hold him back, making sure he doesn't go completely insane.

"Stop it! Pull yourself together! You're not the only one! We're all battling our fears!"

     Marco then turned to Sasha. "Look at Sasha!" Sasha flinched when her name was called out. "Despite all she's been through, she's still a proud soldier!" Marco said.

Sasha then screamed and put her arms over her stomach, while bending over. "Uh... my stomach hurts so bad. Can I be placed on the casualty list?" Sasha asked herself.

Both Marco and the guy were confused at Sasha's reason, why she was upset. "That does it!" The guy said, continuing to kill himself. "Calm down!" Marco said trying to stop him.

In the background, Jean, Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie can hear the convention between the two.

"Stop it you have to stop it!" Marco yelled out to the guy.

Jean drank his water and looked back down. "The gag order was definitely necessary. I mean look at us now. If people found out about Eren, they'd..." Jean trailed off.

Then an loud explosion was heard by all the soldiers near the area and started to run more closer to the explosion.

"What was that?!" "What happened?!" The soldiers were saying.

"Cannon fire." Reiner said. "Just one shot?" Jean asked himself.

"Hey! There's smoke. That's inside the wall!" A soldier pointed out. "Hey!" "What happened?!" "What was that?" "What happened?!" The soldiers kept saying.

"What's going on? Was the floodgate destroyed? That's the most reinforced section. There's no way. Somebody probably dropped a shell by accident.

     Still... That's an awful lot of smoke!" Jean yelled out. Reiner was breathing hard and got his gear ready. "I hope it's not... Titan steam?!" Jean asked himself.

Reiner then used his gear and went straight to the huge amount of smoke. "Hey!" Jean then saw both Annie and Bertholdt following Reiner.

    "Oh...hey!" Jean then started to follow them.

Back To Eren~

Everyone was shocked and scared at seeing a half looking Titan in front of them.

     Inside the ribcage, Mikasa kept a straight face while crouching down. Armin was on the ground holding you next to him.

In The Background~

Reiner, Annie, Bertholdt, and Jean were shocked at what they were seeing. "What's going on down there?!" Reiner said.

In The Ribcage~

Mikasa kept a strong grip on her swords and looked left and right to see if anyone was at her sight.

Armin was still holding on to you still terrified.

Then the head of the half Titan body was starting to move, you and Armin looked up to see it move.

The Titan head looked towards the soldiers and they were all afraid. "It's alive!" A soldier pointed out.

    "Captain Woermann!" Rico said to him. Woermann looked at the Titan's eyes and it looked straight at him.

     He backed up in great fear. "B-Be vigilant! It's too risky to approach just yet." He yelled out to Rico.

     "Stay on guard and hold your positions! Hold your positions! Order Artillery to load the next round!" He commanded.

The eye moved all around and inside it, Eren was trying to open up his own eyes. He then opened his eyes and gasped.

     He breathed hard and was getting out of the Titan by the neck. Eren broke free and saw that his right arm was still connected with the Titan.

     Eren then pulled his arm out and looked around him.

"What the hell happened?!" Eren asked himself.

In The Ribcage~

"Armin are you okay?" You said to Armin still feeling afraid at what just happened. "The last thing I remember is the sound of the cannon.

     Then came a loud shockwave and heat. We're inside a huge skeleton..." Armin said to you without looking at you.

"Eren protected us." Mikasa said to you both. "That's all we need to know right now." Mikasa said. Armin looked at her and smiled.

You looked down and saw purple flowers. "Flowers only on the inside?" You asked yourself.

"Hey!" Eren called out. Eren ran over to you three. "Are you guys all right?" Eren asked. Mikasa looked up at him.

     "Eren, what is this?" Armin asked.

     "I don't know! But this is going to vaporize soon...the way Titan corpses do." Eren said looking at the Titan corpse slowly disappearing,

     "We need to get clear of here!" Eren walked away.

"They're either still watching us or they're preoccupied with something else.

     For the moment, the Garrison Regiment isn't taking action." Eren said looking at the Garrison Regiment.

You all got up. Eren turned to look at you all, "In the end, they'll probably continue their attack.

     After what they've seen... I seriously doubt that talking to them will do any good." He looked back at the Titan.

"But... I did recall one thing." Eren held up the key that was given by his father. "The basement. The basement in my home!" He then looked down at the key,

"My father said I'd understand everything if I went there! I became this way because of what my old man did. If I can get to my basement... I'll learn the truth about the Titans!"

Eren then slammed the side of his fist at the Titans ribcage. "Dammit! If he knew, why did he hide it?! Isn't that information the last hope for humankind?!

     Thousands of Scout Regiment troops have lost their lives searching for it! And he kept it hidden away in our basement?! What the hell was he thinking?" Eren asked himself.

Both you and Armin were in shock from Eren's words, and Mikasa noticed this.

"And where's he been these past five years?!" Eren asked himself.

     Mikasa then placed her hand on Eren's shoulder. "Eren, we have other things to do right now." Mikasa said to him. "Yeah." Eren nodded and you all followed Mikasa.

With The Commander~

"The smoke's clearing." "Attack when you can see them! Let's get this over with quickly." The soldiers were saying all at once.

     "Hold your positions!" The commander yelled out. The skull of the Titan was falling a prat from the body. Causing it to create more smoke.

With Eren~

"I'm getting out of here." Eren said all of a sudden. You, Mikasa, and Armin looked at him in shock.

     "Where will you go? How?!" Armin asked Eren. "Anywhere for now." Eren replied quickly.

"But, Eren..." You whispered out, trailing off.

"After that, I'll scale the wall and head for my old basement... After becoming a Titan again." Eren said looking down at his hand.

    "Eh? You can do that?" You asked him.

    "I don't know how I do it... But I have a feeling I can... The way I can't explain how I move my arm. Earlier, I just reacted... All I could think about was stopping that cannon shell.

     That's why that body deteriorated without any functionality or durability." Eren thought about when he stopped the cannon shell with his half Titan form.

     He then started breathing heavily. "This time, I'll make myself stronger... A 15-meter one like the one that kicked Titan ass!" Eren said.

"Eren! You have a nosebleed." Mikasa said to Eren. "You look pale, and your breathing is ragged..." Armin said. "Eren I'm worried, it's clearly messing with your body." You said.

Eren wiped the blood from his nose. "Right now, I don't give a damn about my condition!

     I have two ideas in mind. If you guys don't try to protect me, you won't be killed. I've already put your lives in danger. From here on, I think I should go alone." Eren said.

'What?!' You thought to yourself as your eyes widen.

"No way... I...!" Armin was cut off by Mikasa. "Eren! I'm coming with you." Mikasa said to him.

    "You can't!" Eren replied.

    "If I can't keep up, don't worry about me. That way, I won't have to do as you say either." She explained.

     "I'm telling you... Forget it! I'm not you kid brother and I'm not a child!" Eren replied to Mikasa.

With The Commander~

"What's happening?" Someone asked.

     "Captain, the next shell will be loaded shortly. What will our next move be?" Rico asked. "Wait for my signal!" The commander yelled out. "Yes, sir!" Rico said to him.

With Eren~

Mikasa and Eren were still arguing, and you tried to make them stop.

'For now, the Garrison Regiment shows no signs of engaging us in close combat. Mikasa's cat-like senses would have noticed any sign of that immediately.

     Given that the fastest they could reload is 20 seconds... Eren could make his move and be out of here by then.' Armin thought to himself.

He had a small flashback of all of you as kids, beating up Armin's bullies.

'Why now? Why is it coming back to me now? Is it because it's all over... for us?'

'To the very end...'

'...I was nothing but a coward.'

'These three rescued me many times, but I wasn't ever able to help them... not even once.'

'How can I call myself their friend? What right do I have to say I want to go with them?! I'm not even confident that I can keep up with them.

     Especially (Y/N)... I want to prove to her I'm strong enough to protect her, but I can't even show her that much confidence in me...'

'The four of us...'

'...will never be together again.'

"Eren, I..." Mikasa was cut off by Eren. "Wait, Mikasa. I said I had two ideas, remember?" Eren said to her.

     He then turned to look at Armin, "Armin, the rest is up to you." Eren said.

     Armin came out from his thoughts and looked at Eren. "Huh? What?" Armin is confused at what Eren said.

    "I know that what I'm about to say is ridiculous..." Eren then looked down at his hand,

     "The most effective use of this Titan power would be to strategically use it on behalf of the troops." Eren looked back up at them,

    "This might sound crazy...but if you tell me you can convince the Garrison Regiment that I don't pose a threat... I'll believe you and do as you say.

     This was my second idea. If you tell me you can't, I'll go with. my first plan as my last resort.

     You have 15 seconds to decide. Whether you can, or you can't. I'll respect your opinion either way."

Armin just looked at him with a shocked expression on his face, "Eren...how can you leave such a huge decision up to me?"

     "Because you know what to do when things get hairy. I want to rely on your judgement." Eren said.

     "Eren's right, there without you, we've never would've gotten this far in surviving." You said with a warm smile.

     "When did I ever...?" Armin trailed off. "There've been lots of times. Like five years ago.

     If you hadn't called Mr. Hannes at that time. All three of us would've been devoured by the Titan and be dead by now." Eren said smiling at him, along with you and Mikasa.

Armin was shocked, and behind him, the part of the rib broke and caused another massive wind along with some smoke,

     'I had convinced myself...gotten it into my head...that I was powerless and a burden.' Armin looked down and then looked back up at them with tear welding up in his eyes,

     'But the three of them never felt that way at all.' Armin thought to himself.

"Armin! We're out of time!" You said to him. "(Y/N)'s right, you have to make the decision now." Eren said.

With The Commander~

"The cannon is reloaded. We can fire at any time." Rico said to the Commander.

With Armin~

Armin had his face down, with his bangs covering his eyes. 'These three are willing to put their lives in my hands... I'm the person they trust the most in this world.

     What more proof do I need?!' Armin then got up from his knees.

     You three looked up at him. "I will convince them! You three do your best to show no resistance." Armin said.

     You all nodded in agreement.

     Armin then walked off to convince them that Eren is no threat at all. You blushed at this side of Armin. 'He's so confident, just like always.' You thought to yourself smiling at him.

'There was something about the way Eren fought as a Titan... I don't have all my thoughts together yet, but I'm gonna do this!

     I'll reason out as I speak!' Armin then unbuckled his gear and went out with no gear.

"What?!" "Huh?!" The soldiers were confused at what they heard. Armin then ran out of the smoke making the Commander a bit frightened.

     "Stop right there!" The Commander yelled and his soldiers positioned guns at Armin's direction. Armin came out with his hands up.

"So you've finally shown yourself, monster!" The Commander yelled out. "I'll do it! I'll give the signal!" The Commander threatened.

"He is not an enemy of humankind! He is willing to share everything he learned with you!" Armin yelled out.

"I won't let you beg for your lives! He's shown us what he is! It's too late for that now!

     If you claim he's not our enemy, then prove it! If you can't, then I'll just eliminate the threat!" The Commander yelled out.

"There's no need for proof!" Armin replied. 'That's it... I don't need to show proof!' Armin thought to himself. "The issue here is not how we regard him!" Armin continued.

"What did you say?!" The Commander replied in shock of his words.

"I understand that many people saw him! If they did, they saw him fight the Titans!" Armin yelled out while looking at the other soldiers around him.

     Knowing that they saw Eren fight the Titans. "They saw the other Titans gang up on him! In other words, the Titans regarded as prey like they do humans!

     No matter how you rationalize it, that fact is irrefutable!"

"He has a point." "A Titan on our side?" "That's absurd!" The soldiers were talking, taking Armin's side by lowering down down their weapons.

The Commander looked at his soldiers seeing that they're being convinced by Armin's words.

     He looked down and looked back up, "Prepare for attention attack! Don't fall for their cunning trap!" The Commander yelled out, making you four shocked at his words,

      "Their behavior has always been beyond our understanding! They take our form, and they use our language. That means they can trick us, as well!

     We can't let them have their way with us any longer!" The Commander yelled out, making all his soldiers bring their weapons back up.

'It's no use...He's abandoned rationality. He's to frightened to think.' Armin thought to himself then looked back at you three,

     'Eren! Mikasa! (Y/N)!' Armin thought in panic.

     Eren and you nodded and smiled at him. Armin grind his teeth and looked back at the Commander doing the salute at yelling out to him,

     "I am a soldier who pledged his heart in order to resurrect humankind! If I perish while serving that pledge, I can ask for nothing more!

     By combining his "Titan power" without remaining troop strength, it might even be possible to retake this town!

     In the name of glory for humankind, in the few moments I have left to live I argue for his value as a fighting asset!" The soldiers are shocked from Armin's side of the argument.

"Captain Woermann, I think his words are worth considering..." The soldier was cut off by the Commander.

     "Silence!" The Commander yelled at him.

     He looked back at the four, 'They can beg all they want for their lives. They're traitors!'

     The Commander then slowly brings his arm up to signal fire at them. 'Those who violate regulations must be eliminated. It's a soldier's duty!'

     Armin's eyes widen at the sight.

     You and Mikasa were preparing to fight by slowly reaching out for you weapons and Eren was slowly bringing his hand to his mouth to bite it and transform into a Titan.

The Commander was about to give the signal but was stopped by a certain Commander.

     "Stop. For a big guy, you're as fragile as a fawn." Pyxis said with smile. "General Pyxis!" The Commander said surprised the fact that he's here.

"Can't you see the magnificent salute he's showing you?" Pyxis said while walking slowly to them,

     "I just got here after being informed of the situation by an official messenger." Pyxis then looked at Woermann,

     "You go and take charge of the reinforcements. I think I should listen to what those people have to say." Pyxis said as Armin dropped to his knees and smiled at Pyxis.

You were so proud of Armin that you couldn't control yourself. You got up and ran to Armin. Eren noticed this.

    "(Y/N), what are you-" Eren was ignored and Armin heard you coming towards him. He was tackled down by you.

     Armin then blushed hard from your actions. "(Y-Y/N)...! What are do-" Armin was cut off by feeling soft lips against his cheek.

    "I'm so proud of you Armin. Thank you." You said with tears in your eyes. He blushed red and smiled at you. "Y-Your welcome." Armin stuttered out.

According to reports from the Scout Regiment, the Titans appear from the south. Titans previously attacked Shiganshina District, located on the south side of Wall Maria. Therefore, the most likely next target was believed to be Trost District, a city on Wall Rose's south side.

At Trost District - Inner Gate~

Dot Pyxis was the highest -ranking commander of the southern territories, which included Trost District. He was invested with full authority for the defense of humankind's most important district.

Pyxis looked down at the wall and saw the Titans trying to get in. "I should've known I wouldn't find one...

     I wouldn't mind being eaten if it were by a knock-out female Titan." Pyxis smiled to himself.

And, he was known as a hardcore eccentric.

With Commander Woermann~

He was walking back a forwards thinking over about Pyxis' decision. "What's the General thinking?!

     Meeting up with those unknown elements up there without even his bodyguards!" He complained.

    "Well... the General always thinks outside the box." Rico said to him.

     "Captain! I've completed the squad assignments." The soldier said to him.

     "Oh... thanks." The Commander replied then saw the dead expression looking faces his soldiers are wearing.

With General Pyxis~

"I see... We'll know everything if we go to that basement." Pyxis responded to Eren.

     "Yes... Will you believe me?" Eren said with hope in his voice. Pyxis was silent for a second then spoke up.

    "Since you have no concrete proof of this, I'll just keep that in mind for now." Pyxis said while pointing g to just head.

     He then turned to look at them. "However, I think I can tell when someone is telling the truth. So I will guarantee your lives." Pyxis said, making everyone but Mikasa sigh.

"Cadet Arlert, was it?" Pyxis asked. "Yes, sir!" Armin replied.

    "Earlier, you said that if we used what you called "Titan power," it might be possible to retake this town. Do you really think that's possible?

     Or was it a last-ditch effort to save your lives?" Pyxis asked Armin.

     "It was both. What I was trying to say in that moment...was that Eren, who became a Titan, could carry that large boulder to seal the gateway that was destroyed.

     It was just something I thought of on the fly. I hope you would see.. how Eren's powers could change our present situation." Armin said.

     Pyxis just turned around and looked back at the city. "Of course, I said it in the desperate hope of saving our lives!" Armin said quickly to him.

    " "In the desperate hope" of saving yourselves. Now those are words I can believe." Pyxis said.

He then took a drink and walked over to where Eren was and bend down to his eye level, "So, Cadet Yeager..." Pyxis said.

     "Sir?" Eren replied. "Can you seal the hole?" Pyxis asked. Everyone gasped at this.

     "Huh? Well, I... I really don't know. I don't know anything more about myself than these people here do.

     That's why, I may be able to, or I may not. I don't want to give an irresponsible answer." Eren said looking down sadly.

     "Yes, you're right. Forgive me. That was the wrong question to ask." Pyxis said. Eren looked up at him.

    "Will you do it, or won't you? Which will it be?" Pyxis asked him. Eren was shocked then looked back, and started thinking real hard about his answer.

     "I'll do it. I'll do it!" Eren said standing up. "I don't know if I can seal the hole or not. But... I will do it!" Eren said.

To Be Continued...