I reviewed the plan in my head over and over. I was invited to the ceremony. But Eren wasn't invited. Just as they would push her down into the headlock to chop off her head, I would stand up and begin the speech. I would sneak Eren and Jean before the ceremony. If anything goes wrong, Eren would burst in and back me up. If Eren gets shot down, then Jean backs him out. If this works, then Eren will finally be happy. If not.....I am toast. I look in the mirror and tighten my jacket collar. Sweat runs down my brow. I feel a lump in my throat. The door opens. Levi. "Are you ready Arlert?" He snaps. I nod. It was now...or never.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The doors open. Everyone floods in. The court room smells musty. The judge stands tall in his seat. Levi takes his seat up around the front. I look around to find Mikasa sitting toward the top row. I climb up the stairs and join her. She's rubbing the dies of her temples with her fingers. "Mikasa...are you..okay?" She looks up at me. "Oh...hey Armin" she mumbles. I sigh and sit down and next to her. The last few people file in. I arch my neck to see Eren and Jean crouching behind the door. Eren meets my gaze. He smiles and braces his crutch farther onto his arm. I smile back and give a thumbs up. I see Mike walk up to the gong. He raises the mallet and hits it. The ceremony begins now. He bangs it again. The doors to my right open. Two soldiers with guns lead Annie in chains out to the platform. They force her to kneel down. 

The judge stands. "ANNIE LEONHARDT!" he barks. "YOU ARE CHARGED FOR MASS MURDER OF MANY OF OUR FINE SOLDIERS, AND BETRAYAL OF THE MILITARY POLICE!" Annie closes her eyes. I see her mouth something. "I love you Eren" she mouthed to herself. My time is growing near. "ANYONE WHO REJECTS THIS PUNISHMENT WILL BE EVICTED FROM THE COURTROOM!". They force Annie down in the headlock and shut it. The door opens. The executor marches in, with his ginormous blade in his hand. Blood still is stained on the tip. My time is almost here. Annie is silently crying. The two soldiers place a basket under Annie's head. The executor stops in front of Annie. He raises his blade. I slowly stand up. He keeps it high for a moment. Then he grips it harder. Then prepares to swing down. Just as he was about to slice down. I stand up. "EVERYONE STOP!" The executor freezes. Annie gasps in relief. The judge stands up. "ARLERT....SIT DOWN!" Levi snaps. "NOT UNTIL YOU HEAR ME OUT!". I stand up straight and run down the stairs on the platform. Levi stands up. Mikasa does as well. "ANNIE LEONHARDT SHOULD NOT DIE!". "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" the judge yells. I feel scared. But then I remember something. Eren is standing in front of me. I had just been beaten down. It was before Mikasa came to be apart of the group. Eren has a black eye from taking down the bullies. He hoist me onto his back. "Don't worry Armin, I'll never let anyone hurt you anymore". 

I feel a burst of courage. I see Krista out of my eye. She's looking at me nervously. Eren and her were the only ones I would ever need. I close my eyes and do the salute. My eyes snap open. I clench my jaw. "SHE MAY HAVE DONE TERRIBLE THINGS-". "SHE DID ARLERT...SIT DOWN OR BE EVICTED FROM THE COURTROOM!". I tremble. "No...". I feel like I want to go back to my seat, curl up in a ball, and drown out the sickening sound of Annie's head rolling across the floor. But Eren was my best friend. And I never leave him behind. For after all he did....it's my turn to repay him back.

https://youtu.be/f30s4geHN3M

Just to build suspense 

I breathe in hard. I see Annie stare up at me. She shakes her head. I turn to the judge. I won't...give...up. "Just think as you go" I whisper to myself.  "ANNIE LEONHARDT HAS THE ABILITY TO TURN INTO A CLASS 3 TITAN!" I begin. "BUT SOMETHING AT A HIGH RANKED CLASS IS HARD TO CONTROL!". Annie's eyes widen. The judge is furious now. "I MYSELF HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT TITAN FORMS ARE UNSTABLE!". "WE ALL REMEMBER EREN JAEGER LASHING OUT AT MIKASA!". My words grow stronger. "BUT HE GOT A HOLD OF HIMSELF AND PLUGGED THE WALL,SETTING US A STEP FORWARD TO SAVE HUMANITY!".  Levi stands up. "BUT ANNIE NEVER HELPED A SOUL!" The judge barked. "IF WE PUT IN OUR EFFORT LIKE WE DID TO EREN, THEN WE CAN USE HER TO ACHIEVE STEEP GOALS NONE OF US CAN EVEN GET CLOSE TO CLIMBING!" Mikasa's eyes widen. "ARMIN STOP THIS....SHE DESERVES TO DIE FOR WHAT SHE DID TO EREN!" I clench my fist. I turn back to the judge. "ANNIE COULD BE POWERFUL...AFTER ALL......SHE EXCEPTED THIS WITHOUT A FIGHT!". "BECAUSE SHE HAD REALIZED HOW FOOLISH SHE IS!" The judge screams loudly. "THAT'S BEYOND THE POINT....YOU ALL SAW HOW SHE CARED ABOUT EREN AND SCREAMED ABOUT HOW A TERRIBLE PERSON SHE WAS ALL THOSE NIGHTS SHE SPENT LOCKED AWAY!" Mikasa slowly makes her way to the stairs, anger on her face. I ignore her. "SHE WAS APART OF SOMETHING SHE NEVER WANTED TO BE IN........SO WHY CAN'T WE TREAT HER AS IF IT WERE ALL A MISTAKE!?" Mikasa is halfway down the stairs now The judge stands tall. "SHE MURDERED MANY OF OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS....WHY WOULD WE GRANT HER A PLACE BACK IN THE SC?!" Sweat runs down my neck. "EREN TRUSTS HER.....HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT BEING A TITAN...SO I BELIEVE IN HIS DECISIONS....AND I WILL GLADLY FOLLOW ANNIE IN THE SC ALONG SIDE EVERY OTHER PROUD CADET!" My throat burns from yelling. This was the best I could do. The judge is silent. Levi slowly walks up to me."EVICT HIM!" The judge barks. My heart sinks. Levi swings a kick into my face. I fall to the ground. Blood dribbles out my nose. Just as I sit up, he shoves his fist into my chest. I choke. I see Krista out of the corner of my eye gasp. Then she gets angry. I see Connie hold her back as she screams with fury. Levi grabs me by the shirt. "You're foolish Arlert" he spats. Just as he was about to throw another kick. The doors swing open. "EVERYONE STOP!" Eren.