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EREN STOOD STILL as a board, gawking at the people who were supposed to be his friends transform into the one thing he had devoted himself to exterminate. He watches as the lighting storm grows bigger, stronger, blinding his eyesight.
In no time, he was pushed back by its might, almost falling off, if it weren't for his leg over the wall. His trembling body barely had the strength to hold on at the sight of the Titans. It was surreal.
Suddenly, a lighting bolt struck the Warriors from the sky. A new rush of energy injecting itself in Iris' veins, taking over her mind and body in a blink of time.
The Scouts attempted to fight the waves of burning steam but were soon sent flying away from the transforming Titans.
At last, in all their mighty presences, stood the Colossal and Armored Titans. The Colossal roars, sending powerful shakes to the wall and the trees from below. And just as Eren looses his grip and falls into the air, the Armored's rough hand takes hold of his body.
No one seemed to have noticed Ymir in her stretcher being blown out in the hot wind, except for Christa, who screamed her name out in worry. However, it was too late.
Ymir's unconscious body was trapped in the Colossal's fist, brought up to his mouth and thrown inside, sealing his teeth with a loud clamor. Christa's cries easily flew past the Titan's ears.
Taking their shock into advantage, the Armored Titan jumped off the wall, sliding down its tall structure with Eren in its fist. The young boy struggles in its hold, untamed and angry tears escaping his eyes.
It was then when he realized they had really crossed him.
An uprising of lighting strikes breaks out in the Armored's fist, as Eren escapes and emerges into the Attack Titan, his rage-full heart screaming, "Damn you! You, traitors!"
The Attack Titan's fist crashes against the Armored's face, doing little to no impact on its hardened skin. Both creatures broke into a fight, creating harsh tremors in the ground. Their roars echoing in the air.
Amidst their battle, the Scouts, in a haste to escape the blast of steam of the Colossal, hooked their wires to the side of the wall, analyzing their next move.
Then, Hanji's loud and steady voice yells, "Listen up, everybody! Prepare to attack! This is our chance to take the Colossal! Swarm the bastard!"
Following Hanji's orders, the Scouts swarmed the gigantic Titan, like flies, much too fast for it to strike them with its powerful and fire-blasting fist. The Scouts, no matter how fast they may be, were still no match to the hot steam emitting the Titan's body, letting loose their wires on its red flesh.
"What the hell?!" Hange exclaims, "Is he trying to vanish again?"
Armin shakes his head, "No. Something's off. Last time we saw him he vanished in a blink of an eye, but now, he's maintaining his form and emitting heat like crazy."
Something awoke inside of Armin. Out of curiosity, he shoots his hooks in the Colossal's body, but it couldn't fight back the blast of steam, returning back to its place. He turns to Hanji with worry.
"It's no use! Our ODM gear can't hurt him, so what do we do?"
A sigh escapes Hanji's lips. The crowd of soldiers stay alert for a new order.
"Nothing. We do nothing, for now," Hanji says with lament, "Squad Three and Four, take position behind the target. Rashand, you're on command."
"Got it!" Rashand replies.
"Don't bother keeping them alive. Kill them... and don't hesitate."
Jean stares at Hanji with shocked eyes, anger and confusion rising in his veins. It scared him how there was not an ounce of humor in Hanji's voice.
However, he couldn't help but wonder where or what was Iris up to. They've encountered the Colossal and Armored Titans, but no sign of her.
Armin was more than convinced of Iris' betrayal and alliance to whoever is threatening humanity inside of the walls, so why is she not deliberately attacking them?
Her absence could mean she is, in fact, human.
If only that were enough to keep his heart at ease. A slim chance to go back to the life he knew before all of this mess.
"Armin and Squad One... with me!" Hanji commands, jumping off the wall, "We're going after the Armored!"
The Scouts follow their Commander and now observe the violent fight between Eren and Reiner, their hooks attached to the wall from below, and their eyes set on every movement.
The two Titans have been fighting for quite a while. Both looking on the verge on collapse. Especially Eren.
Mikasa and Armin watched from below, growing eager to see the end of the battle. Their hearts pound in hope when Eren rises from the ground after being crushed by the Armored.
Eren, in his Titan, roars, sending a strong punch to Reiner, who imitates his action, but he took everyone by surprise when he suddenly ducks and locks the Armored's head in a lock with his arm, slamming him to the ground.
It can't be, Iris thought, as she continues to witness everything.
There was only one person in this whole world Eren could've learned this from: Annie.
Iris chuckles internally, finding Eren's comeback to this senses
amusing.
The Attack Titan keeps the Armored tight in its hold, and in no time, it manages to rip off its opponent's arm. Blood splatters into the air.
Mikasa and Armin approach it, yelling at Eren to avoid any more problems and return to the wall. Just as Eren reaches his comrades, Reiner attacks him again. Their wrestling seems to not have an end.
Eren now has Reiner on top of him, legs wrapped around him in attempt to break through the Armored's armor. Mikasa takes this opportunity to swing down and slice the back of his knees, cutting his flesh.
To destroy him.
But Reiner does not back down. Weakly, but determined, he starts moving forward, dragging Eren with him. Armin frowns at his actions, wondering what exactly is Reiner planning to do. He keeps a close eye.
After what felt eternity, Reiner stops. Raises his head. Breaks into a choir of powerful roars, confusing everyone.
There it is. The signal.
A abrupt roar perks everyone's ears, echoing and pounding. From the wall, Jean squints his eyes at a swift movement beyond the Colossal's clouds of steam that was beginning to fade slowly, clearing up his sight.
Then, the steam stops. Jean gasps.
A Titan stood before his very own eyes. Somehow, his breath was nowhere to be found. It was not like any other Titan he has ever seen. He should be feeling scared. Cautious. Yet, he is mesmerized.
The Titan seemed to be around 17 meters tall. It's toned and muscular body holding an aura full of power. Certain parts of its body seems to be made of hardened skin, such as the front of its calves and knees, its abdomen, that connects to the chest and shoulders, unlike the Armored that has almost all of his body covered in it.
The crystal-like hard skin have the Titan a sort of glow under the sun, which anyone could think of as ethereal, if it were not a deadly creature.
It had claws too, sharp and slim. Short, dark hair, grazing at its neck. Long, pointy ears that had the same crystal skin at the tips, and elongated, glowing green eyes, in a way resembling an animal to Jean's view.
As he stares into its eyes, Jean couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity in them.
For the rest, time had stopped. All sets of eyes set on the new Titan, waiting for its move, yet startled by its appearance.
"What is that?" Mikasa asks, glaring at it from below the wall.
"I don't know," Armin says, admiring the Titan, "I think it was hiding behind all that steam. I've never seen it before."
To their side, Hanji says, "It must be that girl Iris. If it wasn't, she would've been blasted from the transformation. Do not engage. We don't know enough to go against it."
Mikasa's gaze softens for a split second at the her friend's mention, except she isn't her friend anymore, instead, her enemy. The root of all her pain.
She takes a deep breath and reminds herself of her priorities, and grips her swords tighter, awaiting for any attack.
"If it is, I won't hesitate to kill her."
Armin could only stare at her with shock, fearing how determined she is to annihilate the girl she once considered a great friend. It made him reflect.
Is he also able to make such decision? Will his friendship with Iris stop him from saving humanity? Can he become a killer and still be at ease?
"Look! Someone is coming out!" a soldier yells.
They all turn their heads to the Titan. Its head lowers and steam comes out of its nape. A figure emerges from the inside. Jean's heart shatters when he recognizes them.
Iris is the one looking down at him. Her face had strange red marks on it, starting from her ears and spreading across her cheekbones and down her neck, as if they were veins. Her black waves moved gracefully with the wind.
Beautiful, he thought, cursing himself for thinking such brutality despite everything that has led to this moment.
And those eyes. How could he dare to look away. Her gaze held no emotion. Cold and penetrating, showing him how he truly knew nothing about her.
Iris didn't bother in begging for forgiveness as she stared at Jean's angry eyes. She figured behaving as her betrayal didn't have an effect on her would make things easier. Soon, she would realize it was all meant to be.
They were her assignment and she has just completed her duty as the Warrior she was born to be, and that is why Iris faced no hardship in announcing her next words.
"I hope you realize that this... whatever it is you're feeling... is nothing personal."
Jean's eyebrows narrowed. His fists clenched so hard, his nails drew blood in his palm. His chest heaved up and down, breathless with anger. His entire self was in disbelief, slowly turning into rage that curled inside his veins, as if the sun itself was threatening to explode within him.
He wanted to say so many things in that very moment. He wanted to demand an explanation from her, to ask if betraying him was worth breaking his heart to accomplish whatever it is she wants.
Now, he knew, he was nothing to her, just as she will be to him.
Iris sinks deeper into the Titan's nape and soon, she is gone.
Iris sinks deeper into the Titan's nape and soon, she is gone. The Aural looks down at the wrestling Armored and Attack Titans and turns to the Colossal. Then, it lets out a long screech.
It was not like any other Titan screaming. It was ten times worse, piercing through the Scouts' ears as if it were an explosion right next to them. A horrible, horrible shriek.
Many fell to their knees instantly, gripping their ears to prevent them from falling, crying out in pain. Jean was one of them. He shut his eyes tightly, pressing his ears with all his strength, but it was not enough to silence the Titan's thunderous roar.
Lips trembling. Head on the brink of flames. Nails digging on the sensitive skin of his ears. Tears threatening to roll. An unbearable and gut wrenching torture.
Jean and the Scouts didn't even notice when the screaming had stopped, all of them left behind with a terrible ringing in their ears that drowned them in agony.
He couldn't hear anything. He felt something wet run down his ears and down his neck. He lowers his hand. Blood. His ears were bleeding.
Though, deafness had taken over all his body, in the corner of his eyes, Jean saw movement. Weakly, he turns his head and lets out a gasp that was silent to him.
The Colossal's gigantic body was leaning sideways, its ribs that were attached to the wall shattering, falling off the wall. It crashes right on top of Reiner and Eren, but it was inaudible to the Scouts.
Jean spots Iris' Titan jumping off, sliding down the wall with its claws. When it touched the ground, it runs to the Armored and Iris comes out of the nape, ripping off the veins attached to her own and hopping on the Armored's shoulder, joining Bertholdt in his human form with an unconscious Ymir in his arms. Iris had Eren in hers.
And as the Armored escapes away with the Warriors, Jean manages to blurt out, "I-Iris..."
But she was far too gone.
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It was quiet.
The warm breeze tingled her body, passing by with such gentleness. From across her, the trees stood gracefully under the scorching sunlight, and far beyond them the mountains. The faint bird songs were a melody to her ears.
Her shoulders got rid of their tension, her heat beat slows down, her hands stretch in her lap, and a calmness fills her being. Iris breaths in and out.
Needless to say, she was at ease after a long time. She would kill to remain as she is, staring out to the wide and surreal horizon.
They've come to a stop in a forest beyond Wall Maria. The trees were the perfect place to stay safe from the Pure Titans roaming around, considering they are extremely tall and thick.
Bertholdt and Iris shared a branch. Reiner stood below theirs. Ymir was sitting on one across, a bored look on her face as she waits for her leg and arm to heal completely.
But she was brought back to reality by Eren's panicking voice, "Huh? My arms! What the hell is going on?!"
Iris looks over shoulder. Eren stared at his half-healed arms, then at the Warriors, holding an intense glare on them, especially Reiner.
To his right, Ymir calmly says, "Eren. Look. We're in the same boat right now. Guess we've both had a rough day, huh?"
She waves her own arm nub for him to catch on. Eren looks down.
"Ymir... why don't I have any arms?"
Reiner grunts, standing up on his branch, "That's, uh, my fault. You see, I was in a rush and I cut them off when I bit you out of your nape."
"So... I lost, then," Eren says in an oddly calm manner. Normally, at least to Iris, he would've broken out in anger already.
Iris shrugs, "Something of that sort."
Technically, Eren was winning. Iris joining in and slamming the Colossal's body on him was simply misfortunate to his case.
Then, all eyes shifted to the brunette, widening as they catch him bite his growing arms, chomping down with a strength that made Iris actually concerned.
Bertholdt was the first to react, shouting, "Eren, stop!"
Ymir, being the closest to Eren, yanks his arm out of his mouth, "Idiot, will you calm down and take a look around? We're stranded in this forest, way far from the wall, and deep in Titan territory. See for yourself."
Eren follows her gaze. A couple of Titans stared at them with hungry eyes from the ground, but what caught his attention was the Abmornal laying down with his arms crossed behind his head.
"That one has been here for quite some time," Ymir nudges her head at it, "Even if he seems to be lounging around, he hasn't taken his eyes off us. Let's not forget the small ones and our friend back there. He's a lil' shy, as you can see, but still a threat."
Eren looks behind him. Another Titan had its eyes on them. It hid behind a tree, gawking with desperation.
He slightly flinches when Ymir rests her shoulder on his, scoffing, "And of course, we have the dirty bastards, who conveniently have their own ODM gears, unlike us. Reiner took yours. Who knows about the other two. Maybe they took it off dead corpses."
Eren's green eyes scan the three's bodies, glaring. Iris grunts, finding his expressions unsettling.
"I don't think resorting to your Titan is smart. Those three can either do the same and take you down, or escape with their gears. Not to mention, we're surrounded by Titans... Trust me. Whatever you're thinking won't help us out."
"You should listen to her," Reiner says, "Besides, you two can't even turn into your Titans. Your bodies are too busy repairing the damages."
Eren's gaze darkens at his words, "You're one to talk. Why should I believe a single word coming out of your filthy mouth?"
"Iris," Ymir calls, "Reiner said he would talk once Eren was awake. Why hasn't he?"
Iris lets out a sharp sigh, too exhausted to deal with her bitterness.
"There's not much to say, other than we're taking you to our hometown," Reiner tells her, "I'm aware you won't do what I say, but it's just like Ymir said, this place is swarming with Titans. Unless you want to beat the shit out of the other and have the Titans eat us once we're weak, I suggest you stay still and wait till night."
Ymir chuckles dryly, "I'm guessing you were too tired to you ass back to wherever you came. Probably why we're stranded here, is it not?"
Reiner remains silent for a moment.
Then, he says, "We wait until nightfall."
But that didn't mean it was time for Ymir to shut up, sparking annoyance in Iris.
"Why, though? You saw those Titans at the castle move just fine at night. What makes you think these won't?"
"Relax. These Titans won't move at night. You, of all people, would know about this, wouldn't you?" Iris comments blankly, hoping it was enough to silence Ymir and enjoy her peace.
Eren frowns at that. He glances at the two girls repeatedly, trying to figure out Iris' words, but he fails to do so.
Iris rests her head back on the tree trunk, admiring the fields again. Her fingers played with the pendant of her necklace, tracing the lines of the stamped pine cone.
What could he be thinking right now?
"Oi, Reiner. You don't have any water with you?" Ymir asks, fanning herself. "I'll dry out any second now, you know."
"You're right, it is hot. I'm sorry, but I don't," the blonde replies, "Speaking of which... Ever since those Titans showed up at the Wall, we've been working our asses off. I'm one minute away from collapsing from the lack of sleep."
"Reiner?"
Iris watches Reiner wipe his forehead sweat with the calmest expression, as if he didn't hear her. Her mouth hangs open, unable to find the right words to say. She just couldn't figure him out.
Bertholdt looks mortified. In the corner of her eye, Ymir whispered into a confused Eren.
Still, Reiner continues with his rant, oblivious to the puzzled stares, "I mean, we've been risking our lives all morning, have we not? Surely, a little recognition would suffice. Actually, a well deserved break would be better. Iris, what do you think-"
"Reiner."
He turns to her. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I...," she blinks, "what are you talking about?..."
He furrows his eyebrows, confused."Well, what happened, of course. I'm only saying how we're all exhausted from fighting Titans all day and wish to rest," he laughs nervously, "There's nothing wrong in that."
Iris was far more than bewildered. "Reiner... you can't be serious."
"Well, I am," he says, as if to say duh, "Look, I'm not asking to be promoted to captains or anything. Just a little praise."
Ymir crosses her arms before her chest, raising at eyebrow at him, "Yeah, I don't think that's what she meant."
Either he didn't listen or chose to ignore it, Reiner proceeded, "That reminds me, where did you get that canon? You really saved my ass back then. It's a good thing Christa was there to help afterwards. I'm starting to think she has a thing for me, considering how she's always treated me differently. I wouldn't mind dating her, you know-"
"Reiner!... Are you fucking with me?," Eren yells, raging eyes struck on him. "What the hell are you doing?"
Iris could've sworn steam was going to start coming out of Eren's ears. This is the most angry she has ever seen him, and note that he's angry most of the time.
"Me? What the hell are you doing? I didn't say anything wrong. Calm down. Unless... you have a thing for Christa."
"If you want to die, keep talking, bastard!"
"Hold on, Eren. Something was wrong since the start, and now I know why," Ymir grasps his arm, her gaze on Reiner. Then it shifts to Iris and Bertholdt, "Looks like your guy has officially lost it, am I right? And it seems you two already knew that."
Iris forces her eyes to avoid Ymir, struggling to convince herself otherwise. All this time, it was as if she didn't want to believe Reiner had changed, but deep down, Iris knew it was true.
The boy she grew up and build a friendship with was slowly fading away.
The truth untold.
"Reiner," Bertholdt says softly, "You are not a soldier... remember? You are a Warrior. We are Warriors."
The sound of shudder breathing makes Iris turn around. Reiner was chocking back cries, his eyes growing wide as he takes in his harsh reality, his whole body shaking.
"More or less, I've figure it out," Ymir announces, "Why would the guy who invaded the walls risk his life for Connie? Everything he does is contradictory, even if he doesn't realize it. I'm guessing he was a Warrior, as they call it, sent to break the walls, but after he pretended to be a soldier for so long, he lost sight of who he was. Warrior and Soldier. He couldn't tell which version was real."
Iris wastes no time and jumps off her branch, landing on Reiner's. She kneels before him.
"Reiner, listen to me," she whispers, feeling her gut twist the longer she stares at him, "She's just trying to mess with your mind, to...to find a way to break through you and gain her escape ticket."
His breaths could only become shorter and shorter. Iris resorted to her last option. She gently cups his cheek, rubbing her thumb on it, holding him as if he were made of glass.
"You are a Warrior. Remember. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise," her soft voice caught his eyes, his chest slowing down. Iris looks deeper into him, searching for her friend through the golden sea of his orbs, "I promise you that you will go home. I will get us home... but I need you with me... Reiner, are you with me?"
Ymir had no intention of stopping, angering Iris to the core, "No... Perhaps, he was unable to handle the burden of his sins and convinced himself he was a soldier protecting the walls to keep his sanity. As you can see, Reiner believed it. Due to that, his heart was split and his memories broken."
Whatever progress she might have been making was gone. Reiner's heart speeds up again. His shoulders shake uncontrollably. Iris couldn't control him anymore.
Iris glares at Ymir, "One more word and I swear I will kill you, Ymir. Shut up before I shove your tongue down your throat."
Ymir smirks at her frustration, "And of course, Iris and Bertholdt became aware of his... condition. It's amazing, really. For someone excessively honest as you to be like this-"
Like a switch goes off, Reiner suddenly snaps, making Iris flinch and drop her hand off him. "Enough!... That's enough."
Iris stands up, distancing herself from Reiner.
Ymir looks amused. A smirk grew on her face, "Sorry about that. Seems I might've pried too much."
A silence took over, to their luck. And then, Eren says, "Are you really pretending to be the victims here? Who do you think you are?... And to think I considered you my friend, my brother, when you are the reason why my life's a rotting hell! Huh?! Answer me, you bastard!"
And you, Bertholdt. When I told you about that day... the day my mom was eaten alive, how did you feel? If it wasn't for the piece of wall you kicked straight to my house, she wouldn't have died. She didn't deserve to die! You remember, right? When I told you that story... what were you thinking?"
Iris sucks in a shaky breath. Her stomach turned ill, hitting her with a wave of dizziness and nausea. Her ears couldn't believe what Eren was saying.
Reiner and Bertholdt kept this information to themselves. They knew she would have this reaction.
"Back then," Bertholdt replies, a tremendous guilt painted on his face, "I thought... I thought I felt sorry for you."
"Sorry?... You felt sorry for me...," a dark chuckle left Eren's lips. Then, his cold eyes moved to Iris. "Don't think I forgot you, Iris. You are as much of a traitor like these two... I can't believe I once listened Jean ramble on about how much he likes you... He's annoying as it is... but you... you are nothing like the girl he made you out to be. You are a murderer."
She could her heart sink for a moment. A murderer?, she thought, bitting the inside of her lip.
The mocking and rage in Eren's voice had a strange effect on her, creating a black hole in her stomach.
"All three of you... you are not Warriors or soldiers. No... You're murderers who've killed countless of innocent people who did nothing wrong!"
"You don't think I know that?! That any of us don't know what we've done?!" Reiner screamed at him.
"Oh, don't be acting like you deserve forgiveness! You have no right to think you have emotions like you're one of us! Like you were human! You're the ones who turned everyone's world upside down and left us with nothing! How does that make you feel, murderers?!"
"Well, what do you want us to do? Do you want us to regret it? To apologize? Tell me, Eren! Would that be all right with you? Face it! The people you thought you knew are gone! Everything was a lie! But if screaming helps you feel better, then go ahead and scream your damn head off!"
Just as Iris thought their fighting was over, she catches a smile creeping on Eren's face.
"That's right... I've gotta do what I can... to make you suffer and die in the worst way possible... I promise you..."
"Quit it, Eren," Ymir hisses, then she turns to the Warriors, leaning back, supporting herself with her hands on the trunk. "What's up with the monkey, huh? Surely, you must know something."
Reiner blinks, confused, "Monkey-what monkey?"
"You tell us, big guy," Ymir scoffs, "That night, the three of you were staring at it with little starts in your eyes like children."
"Huh? Monkey?" Eren repeats.
"Yeah. That monkey, Beast Titan, whatever, is what caused this recent fiasco. It made Titans appear within the walls. It's as if he's trying to asses our strength. And he is exactly who these guys are trying to get to. The perfect one way ticket to home."
"What?" Eren raises his voice. "What do you know? Tell me everything! Now!"
"Just wait," she closes her eyes, thinking, "You're not the only one with situations to deal with."
"What the hell do you mean by that?!"
"Eren... If you think killing these two will bring an end to your and the world's suffering, you're gravely mistaken... You don't know anything."
"Then who's the enemy, huh?! Why is no one telling me anything?!"
"Well-"
"Ymir!" Reiner buts in, "I'm sure you know there's no future for this world. If you truly care for your life, you joining our side would not be out of question."
"And trust you? Please, Reiner, don't make me laugh," she smirks, "You two don't even trust me, much less Iris."
"But you're forgetting something. Your one true goal in your petty life is to protect Christa, is it not? So happens that we want the best for her as well. Putting your trust in us shouldn't be that hard of a decision to make, then. Or... is Eren a more reliable ally to your cause?"
It was interesting to see Ymir completely change at the mention of Christa. Her eyes narrowed and her body tensed. If her looks could kill, Reiner would dead as hell right now.
"And I won't stand here and lie to you because we need to trust each other. If you come with us, we won't be able to guarantee your safety, that's true, but we might be able to keep Christa from harm. What will it be, then? Your petty life... or Christa's tomorrow?"
Ymir remained silent, igniting a desperate Eren.
"Ymir! Say something! Who's the enemy?"
At last, she turns to him with a blank face. It was clear whose side she chose.
"Who knows..."
"It's settled then," Reiner says, as Bertholdt joins him and Iris on the same branch.
Out of nowhere, a gun shot was heard. Iris look back, cursing as she sees four trails of green smoke in the sky. It was too late.
The Scouts are here.
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