[Part 1: Utgard Castle Stage 1]

"Marcel! Why the hell are the three of us going alone? Why not wait for the others?" Jean asks as he rides alongside Marcel & Marco.

"Because, we have the fastest horses in the entire Regiment. Well, us three and Mina do. If anyone can get to Miche and the others quickly to prevent deaths it's us three. Marco, Jean there's a castle to the southwest near to the wall. It's called Utgard Castle, likely if they chose to look for the breach in the south they'll hold up there for the night. You two ride for there, I'll meet back up with you there once I check out the holding area."

Marco nods. "Yes sir."

"Fine. Just make sure you survive, Marcel."

"You got it. Jean, you're in charge!"

"Damn it." Jean mutters. "Yes, sir!" The pair ride on together as Jean grabs from his pocket a map one that Marcel had placed in there just before they left.

"Make like the wind, Marco. It's likely we'll run into titans so be prepared for combat whenever that happens."

"You got it." Marco says continuing to ride alongside his best friend. The pair ride in relative silence as Marco follows Jean. The pair arriving at the castle before the moon's even risen.

"Marcel said they'll make camp here if they go to check the walls, so... we'll camp here for the night. Don't put the horses in the stables. If what he said is correct then it'd be best if we hid our horses somewhere they couldn't be seen easily even from atop the wall."

"Yeah. Why not hide them in the towers?" Marco suggests.

"Yeah." Jean agrees.

The pair both enter the castle and spend the next few hours waiting inside the building. With Marco watching for anyone from near the top as Jean waits by the bottom. Once the moon is high in the sky they hear hooves approaching many of them. As the door opens Jean turns just as Marco comes down the stairs. "Jean they're-!"

"Jean? Marco?" Reiner asks entering the tower.

"Good. Your here."jean says approaching his elders. "Marcel sent the two of us here to find you guys. He said that you were likely to camp out here for the night. If things went to plan. He'll be here with Section Commander Miche."

Bertholdt, glances between the pair. "How did you guys get here so quickly where even where you all?"

"We we're dealing with an issue with Eren. Don't worry. We'll be fine. Marcel and us are filled on gas and blades. If any titans come at us in the morning then we can handle them."

Jean nudges Marco. "Shut up Marco."

Gelgar hums. "Well, until Section Commander gets here I'm in charge."

Jean nods. "Sir." Happy to give up command.

The group all stand together as they hear a large thud. "Up top." Gelgar orders. They all rush over to the top of the tower where the Beast Titan walks away as the last bit of it's hands heal. Meanwhile they notice a bit of smoke in the distance.

"So, uh... what in the hell is that thing?" Jean asks.

"I, uh, don't know." Marco mutters. As the group arrive at the top they look out to a sea of titans all moving at night.

"I couldn't see them in the dark. But with the moonlight..." Lynne says staring out into the horde.

"How can they move? This shouldn't be happening! The sun went down hours ago!" Gelgar shouts.

Christa turns around unable to see over the wall. "Whats going on?"

"Where the hell is he going?" Jean asks staring at the beast.

"I don't know, but look, isn't that ODM gear?" Marco points out.

"Where did it get ODM gear from?" Jean mutters to himself.

"Did... Marcel give him his? That looks like..."

Connie steps forward slamming his hands on the building. "No, that's mine! How do we...?" Marco takes a glance to Reiner and Bertholdt as everyone notices the pair. "Wait, is it? It's headed for the wall!"

As they watch the Beast Titan walk away a Titan slams into the tower.

Jean turns drawing a blade. "We can gawk at it later. For now, if you have ODM gear defend the tower!" Jean jumps down alongside Marco and the veterans rush in the group all killing Titan after Titan.

"An order to all the scouts from Marcel & Erwin! Use as little gas as possible! If you don't need to don't go for a Titan. Kills don't matter as much as survival." Jean alone rushes down killing a trio as one reaches for him and it's nape is sliced off by Marco. The pair then climb the tower when a noise is heard that slams into the horses. "Huh... I guess we were right to hide our two inside the tower."

Marco glances around. "Yeah, but where's the sound coming from."

"Eyes up! Large rocks falling from the sky!" Jean shouts.

Lynne seeing this jumps down however, Henning is hit which leads to Nanaba shouting his name out. Jean and Marco rush up grabbing him and placing him on top of the tower as everyone gathers around even the recruits from the tower.

Connie stares at Henning's body. "Oh! Shit!"

"Damn it! He died instantly." Jean growls.

Christa backs up fearfully. "This can't..."

Connie gasps. "He did this! The one who made a B-line for the wall!" Connie turns to the Beast Titan. "Hairy son of a bitch is randomly- ah! Heads up, guys! We've got twice as many as before!"

Gelgar looks at Connie. "You're kidding!"

Nanaba frowns pondering as she looks down at the titans. "It's like they're timing these attacks as part of a large strategy!"

"Son of bitch, he's here." Jean says looking out past the titans rushing them, a small glint that appears every once and a while.

"Who? Who's here?" Nanaba asks.

"Marcel. And he brought Mina with him?!" Marco shouts.

Marcel and Mina abandon their horses and zip through the tree lines killing several titans until they attach to the tower and swing up to the top.

[Part 2: Utgard Castle Stage 2]

Marcel lands next to and above everyone else. "How much gas has everyone used?"

Nanaba is the first to respond. "About half."

Gelgar sighs. "2/3rds."

"Only a quarter." Mina admits.

Jean steps forward. "Enough."

Marco smiles. "Not too much."

"Their attacks aren't random." Marcel guides everyone's attention to where the beast was. "That big guy, the Beast Titan. He's an intelligent tian. He's like Eren. Christa, Connie. Take care of Section Commander. The big guy wounded him. He should be able to recover in time, but he's out of commission for now."

"You mean, you spoke to the big guy?" Connie asks Marcel.

"It's the only reason Miche's alive. Alright, I still have most of my gas. Nobody else dies." Marcel orders.

They all look as the beast Titan roars and the titans start attacking the tower. After a bit, Everyone with their ODM gear is hanging to the side of the tower as Gelgar speaks to Nanaba.

"The towers not gonna hold." Gelgar admits.

"Hey, my ODM gear's low on juice. Yours?" Nanaba asks.

"Fresh out. And I've worn my blades down to the nub. Please tell me those aren't the only ones you've got left? The kids Jean and Marco retreated back up. Marcel is the only one with plenty of juice left." Lynne explains the situation.

Gelgar sighs. "How many dead titans the eight of us rack up?" He asks, his voice is hoarse, and slowly petering out.

"Couldn't say. I was too preoccupied to keep count."

"Yeah, well. I'm thinkin' I didn't do too bad." Gelgar sighs. "Heh. Oh man. What's a guy gotta do to get a drink around here!" He complains.

Nanaba turns to her teammate and friend. "This isn't the time for-!" She gasps seeing blood drip down from his head.

"I'm sorry, Nanaba. Tell the squirt... I'm proud of the soldier he's become. I don't think I can hang on." Gelgar's voice gets quieter and quieter with each word. He falls down as Nanaba screams for him, Lynne rushes down and saves him however doing this causes her to use the last of her gas.

When Nanaba goes to follow she's grabbed by Marcel who stands above her tears falling down his face. "Nanaba... I cant lose the four of you all at once... three is too much, not all four." He cries.

The pair look down seeing Lynne being eaten, everything but the head, the same happens to Gelgar as Nanaba looks down tears falling from her face as Marcel sheds a single tear for the both. As it falls the face of both is reflected on it before it hits the ground.

"They never do eat the head, huh." He comments seeing the fates of two lifelong friends. "Get back up the tower. Neither of us can fight any further. I'm out of blades and have just enough to get back on top. You're not faring any better." Marcel orders.

"No... I'm not." Nanaba says staring down at her squad.

"Then come on. I can still save Miche and you. Wouldn't you say, Nana?"

Nanaba nods slowly retreating. "Yeah."

Once they reach the top, Miche looks at the pair himself now sitting against a wall. "Are you the only survivor, Nanaba?" He asks.

Nanaba sits next to him. "Yeah."

Miche leans his head back. "Damn." He mutters holding his side.

"Connie. Where's that knife you had?" Ymir asks.

"Huh? Why?"

"Just give it here." Ymir orders.

Connie shrugs handing her the knife. "Fine. Whatever."

"You're very sweet, thanks." Ymir pats Connie on the head walking past him.

"What do you even need it for?" Marcel asks, looking down from the tower to the horses away on the tree line.

"Hm. Not much." Ymir steps on the towers ledge. "I'm, uh- just gonna give 'em a little hell."

"You have a plan?" Marco asks grabbing her arm.

"If I do, we'll find out what it is together." Ymir says pulling her arm away.

Christa steps forward. "Ymir."

"Christa. Listen to me. I realize you've probably forgotten it, since we're facing the end, try it think back. Remember that oath that we made on the snowy mountain. I have no business telling you how to live your life. It's not my place. So, I guess when you break it down, this really just more of a hope. Christa. Live a life you can be proud of. Never forget the promise we made."

[Part 3: Utgard Castle, The Final Stage]

Everyone watches as Ymir jumps off the tower slicing her hand as a bolt of lightning strikes her, Jean, Marco & Marcel all watch in a stunned silence.

Marcel quietly speaks to himself. "Her too..."

"Jean and I have our horses inside the tower. We can carry at least one more." Marco points out.

"I can carry Miche, our horses are still around. There's too many for just four horses."

Reiner steps forward. "I'll stay."

"No. I will." Christa says determined.

"All you recruits go. Miche & I will stay." Nanaba orders.

"I'm not abandoning you two. Jean, Marco get your horses out of the tower." Marcel says firmly. He watches as Ymir transforms and in her Titan form destroys dozen's of titans as Jean & Marco seeing this run on horseback away from the tower as Marcel stands on the tower looking down at Ymir along with those who remain as Nanaba helps carry Miche.

"Squirt. We need to get Miche off the tower. You and her are the only ones with gas. I hate to say it, but you two need to get him off and away." Nanaba orders.

Connie smiles. "Go ahead. We won't judge you. Survive damn it."

Mina turns to her captain. "Marcel?"

"Evacuate the tower, Mina. We need Miche to survive. He's far more experienced than any of the recruits. As soon as we can reconvene with the others who'll be headed here, we'll return."

Reiner nods. "Yeah."

Marcel grabs Miche and carries him on his back while the pair rush away with Mina directly behind them. Once they land by the horses Marcel then places Miche on his horse and sends it to the scouts as he uses his gear to climb a tree and pull out the last blade he took from Miche along with the gas tanks as he quickly exchanges them.

"Hm.. that'll add another half a tank to mine I guess I can get a few more- Huh?"

He watches as the tower then collapses and with it, the others in the hair of Ymir. He sighs and swings from the tree killing a pair of titans as Eren and the others arrive. Hange is helping Miche off the horse and into a wagon. When he lands it's next to Nanaba.

"Well... considering the fact we could've lost you and Miche as well... today will hopefully be far better." He says as the sun begins to rise over the Wall.

Nanaba nods collapsing to her knees now that the adrenalines passed. "Yeah, I hope so too." The pair look towards everyone arriving killing titans Jean, Marco & Mina all ride up to him with his horse in tow as they also bring one for Nanaba. "Thanks squirt. Never thought I'd be thanking you for saving my life."

"Yeah. Either way... I need to know. Did any of you find the hole?" Marcel asks Nanaba.

"No. none of us found a breach."

"So that confirms a theory." Marcel mutters as he turns to start approaching Hange.

"A theory?" Nanaba asks.

"If there was no hole in the wall then that means one of the nearby towns had their civilian population transformed into them. It's the only reasonable explanation."

"The recruit, Connie I think. They said they found no trace of blood in his town despite the buildings being damaged as well as the stables being full." Nanaba helps Marcel with information.

"Then the civilian's of Ragako Village did all of this." Marcel says looking at the destroyed tower.

Nanaba realizing this as well does so too. "Yeah."

"Okay. We ride for the wall." Marcel orders.

Chapter End.