[Part 1: Scouting Regiment]

The morning after joining the scouts we're taken to the castle where they've been keeping Eren. And most of the Cadets are brought to meet with Ness. However I'm to help guide them around as well.

"Attention!" I say standing in the middle of my fellow new recruits already saluting at captain Ness. The recruits all salute as Ness pats my shoulder.

"Good job, kid. I'm Section Commander Ness. And this girl is my horse, Charrette. Fair warning. Charrette is rather partial to pulling hair. So I'd watch out if you don't wanna go bald. We're glad to meetcha." As he finishes his horse bites on the bandana on his head and I smile helping him with his horse.

Their training began in earnest the next day. However the lessons were rarely combat-oriented. And an emphasis on memorizing Commander Erwin's long range scouting formation. Despite being such a precisely detailed, meticulously calculated formation, Eren Jaeger's position somewhat less than clear. With many of the soldiers and recruits being given wildly different locations. Most of the rookies will be between the Wagon defense squad and the Scout support squad, running spare horses and relay signals. Instead of attending class I along with Hange, Levi, Miche, and Nanaba sit with the commander discussing where we will each be.

"Okay, I get why we're all where we are, but why are you here, Marcel? Aren't you going to be placed with the recruits?"

I chuckle at Nanaba's question. "That's what I expected as well, however..."

"Marcel will be placed in my squad." Father interrupts me. "He is the next commander and he needs to see how to act accordingly first hand. Any questions about leading the scouts is best answered by myself."

"And he'll be in the second safest location." Levi says with some annoyance.

"It has nothing to do with safety. Even then, the safest spot is your squad."

Miche hums. "Which is concerning. Why is our best team in the safest spot of the formation?"

"Because of Eren Jaeger. Commander Erwin and I believe someone may be after him." Hange comments. "Which is why Sawney and Beane were killed. It is likely that they'll attack and if they can shift like Eren, then by not having anyone know where he is apart from us..."

"We can keep him away from potential traitors."  Erwin says his hand planted firmly on my shoulder.

"Levi, you've kept her healthy, yes?" I ask.

"She'll be ready to go when we leave." Levi answers.

"Good." I smile. My horse was specially bred to be one of the fastest horses inside the walls.

"It's getting late everyone. Should we call in, Commander?" Hange asks.

"Yes. All the planning has been completed. Return to your squads."

"Sir." We all salute. We all leave and I rejoin with my cadet corps as we walk I silently join them when Eren calls out to them.

"Hey, Mikasa! Armin!" Eren says excited to see his best friends.

Mikasa turns suddenly. "Eren!"

"Man, am I glad to see you guys!" He smiles.

Mikasa immediately begins to check him for injuries. "Eren. Have they mistreated you in any way? Like subjecting you to any cruel experiments, or some sort of mental anguish."

"I don't know, did sis get a hold of you?" I ask.

"Marcel. I've spoken with Hange, but no. Nothing of the sort."

Mikasa frowns. "That pipsqueak took things way too far."

"Oi, Mikasa. I'm the only one allowed to call Captain Levi anything resembling short. So watch your mouth about the best damn soldier."

Levi walks by annoyed. "I thought I told you to stop, Marcel."

I grin. "Not happening, Captain Shorty."

Levi clicks his tongue. "Damn brat."

I smile as Connie and the others arrive. "Hey, Eren." Connie remarks.

"Long time no see!" Sasha says.

"Oh, hey guys. You're all here! Whoa, wait. If all of you are here then does that mean— you're saying that you guys all joined the scouts?"

"Well, yeah. Why else would we be here?" Connie retorts.

"Of course. So then Jean, Annie and Marco went to the Military Police then and the others are in the Garrison?" Jean and Marco then arrive with Mina and stand behind me. "Wait a sec. you all joined, too?" Eren asks.

Marco frowns seeing Eren. "Loren is dead."

"He what? Wait, what are you saying? Loren's not dead, he was eleventh. You're just kidding around, right." Eren asks.

"I wish I could tell you he died nobly or heroically. Truth is, none of us even know how he went out. He died alone. There was no one there to see it happen."

"Loren's... dead." Eren repeats it sinking in properly to him.

"Alright, rookies! Form up! Your uniforms are here!" Ness announces. Everyone else begins to walk for their uniforms and I stay back letting them all go.

"Don't let their deaths be in vain. Got it?" I say looking at Eren.

Eren stays for a moment stunned. "Yeah." He murmurs.

We then all meet together and speak with Eren where it's revealed that the new cadets will be in the operation as well.

"Hey, Eren. I heard that while in your Titan form, you intentionally tried to crush Mikasa." Jean says. "You mind telling us what that's all about?"

Mikasa turns to Jean. "You're wrong. He thought he was..."

"We don't need your biased standpoint, Mikasa." I interrupt her.

"He's right. I wasn't asking you." Jean looks to Mikasa noticing the cut on her cheek. !Oh, by the way that cut on your cheek looks pretty deep. Just how did you get that, again?"

Eren sighs. "Apparently, its all true. When I was a Titan I— I tried to kill Mikasa."

""Apparently?" As in you don't remember  whether you did or not? So basically, you can transform into a 14-meter tall monster at will, but when you do, you don't actually have full control over it?"

"Oi, Jean, you're not the one researching this stuff. Save some questions for Hange & I to ask." I try to lighten the mood a bit. "But I will be documenting this conversation."

"Not yet. But that's right."

Jean turns to the rest of the recruits. The only ones conspicuous by their absence is Reiner and Bertholdt. "Do you hear that everyone? What a fine situation this is. Our lives and the fate of all mankind rest on his shoulders. I'm guessing we'll probably end up like Loren. Dead well before Eren even knows it."

"Oi. If you die before I become commander I'll find you, bring you back, and kill you again." I sigh. "Jean, let's be clear, these are these cadets of the 104th... well minus one of them."

"Your soft spot for Annie is getting annoying." Jean comments.

"Besides. You're whining won't make it any less annoying to deal with this, horse-face. Unlike Mikasa most of us won't die for him on a whim." I comment. I stand from the crate I was seated on. "Prove to us Jaeger, make us believe in you. Show us why father has put so much faith in you restoring Wall Maria. If you can, then we're with you. All the way!"

"Right..." He says hesitantly.

[Part 2: The 57th Expedition]

One Month Later

It's been a month since we joined the scouts. And now all we have to do is wait here until the gates open for us. Most of my comrades will be in supporting roles, while I get to sit comfortable here in one of the safest spots with Commander Erwin. The gates open and upon Erwin's order we charge forward.

"It's officially begun. The 57th Recon Mission! Scouts, move out!" He shouts.

We moved out of Calaneth District the publicly known objective of this mission is to carve a route to Shinganshina. However for those of us in the know something greater is on the line here.

As we ride Miche turns to me and father. "Ten Meter on the left."

"Ten meter! Closing in from the left!" I shout to everyone else.

"Gah! I want to know what's rolling around in that glorious belly!" Hange shouts back to me.

"Sis, you can learn that once you've grown old. Until then let the support squad do their thing."

Once we clear the city, Erwin calls for the long range formation I extend my arm and raise a thumb and glance back seeing four thumbs in the air, Jean, Mina & Marco. Good luck you three.

After everyone split up the members of Marcel Squad went with their new teammates for now. Mina joined Bertholdt & Connie on the left. While Marco & Jean we're paired together on the right. Marcel held right behind Erwin was surrounded by some of the best. Every few minutes Commander Erwin or Marcel fire a green signal. Marcel doing so under the orders of Erwin. Jean and Marco near the tail end of the right center both simply stay near each other and discuss what's happening. Eventually, Jean and Marco come across Armin. Alone with Reiner and watch as a Titan runs away from him. Jean then fires a yellow signal before Marco can get his off.

"Man, that's not good. Apparently the right wing spotters have suffered to many casualties to carry on." Reiner says riding alongside Marco.

"Yeah, apparently most of them were wiped out by an ambush." Marco laments. "We don't know how it happened but it was bad. I just hope Marcel & Mina are safe wherever they are."

Jean scoffs. "Marcel's in the front of the formation with the commander. And Mina's on the left side. Sons-of-bitches were lightning fast. The spotters didn't have time to react. Whoever's left is trying to hold them off, but that means now there's no one on lookout duty. Talk about a setback, right? If we don't watch ourselves we're all gonna get wiped out."

"Wait. She came from that direction. Does that mean- Could she have led the titans here like a commander?" Armin asks.

"Her?" Marco shifts focus back to the Titan in front of them. "Why is she running from us? She an abnormal?"

"No, she isn't. I still don't know how it's possible, but she's another human who's taken Titan form." Armin says. "Someone who has the same power as Eren."

Marco sighs. "Wonderful. And it seems she's not on our side." Marco frowns.

"Please say you're not serious." Jean says somewhat pleadingly.

"Really?" Reiner asks. "Why do you think that?"

"Titans eat people, but they're not murderers. Sure, they kill us in the process, but that's not their intent; they just feed on instinct like any creature." Armin points out to the others. "This one was different. When Ness & Cis went for her nape she struck them down in cold blood. Swatted them like flies. She didn't eat them; she killed them and moved on." Armin says pointedly. "That's out of character, even for an Abnormal. The titans that took out the right-wing? I think she brought them here. Just like the colossal and the Armored when they struck. I just know it. She's not just simply satisfying bloodlust. She has it in for us. Or perhaps more specifically, I think she's actually after someone in particular. At which point the question becomes who and why?"

Marco turns to Armin. "The answer should be obvious to anyone with a brain. Wouldn't you all agree? It's Eren."

"Eren? He's with Levi Squad. They're spearheading the right-wing, or they were." Reiner says.

"Levi Squad? I think you're wrong Reiner. My copy of the plan had them in the left wing." Marco points out.

"That's odd, cause my plan had them at the front of the right wing, too." Armin says. "Which now that I think about it, doesn't make sense. Putting them at the vanguard like that wouldn't be smart strategically."

"Then where exactly are they supposed to be?" Reiner asks.

"If I was a betting boy, which I'm not, it would be in the center." Marco says. "Not the carts, but not the front either. Likely..."

"The safest position in the formation." Armin says quietly.

Marco & Armin speak together. "Center Rear."

"Armin, Marco!" Jean shouts to the pair. "Now's not the time to be chasin' our own tails about this! We got to get word out how dangerous this one is. Smoke signals aren't gonna cut it! At this rate she'll cut down the command squad. Which isn't good, Marcel's in that squad with Erwin. We let that happen, the formation goes to hell."

Marco thinks for a moment. "Try to slow her down. I'll head for Marcel, inform them of what's coming. Don't go to kill her. If you do she's likely to kill you."

"You're going on your own?!" Jean asks.

"I have the fastest horse here." Marco says. "And the fastest horses in the entire Corps were given to Marcel Squad. Meaning you, Mina, Myself & Marcel have the four fastest horses in the entire Regiment. If anyone has a shot of reaching them it's us. And let's be honest, if not for Annie & Marcel, I'd be dead several times over. I'll be a hinderance here. So I'm trusting you three to stall her."

Jean nods. "For Marcel Squad."

Marco nods with a grin. "For Marcel Squad!" Marco rushes off and begins to make towards the center of the formation. On his way he's checked by an Elite.

"Recruit, why have you left formation?" He asks Marco.

"Urgent news from the right wing. The spotters have been mostly wiped out. There's a female titan headed for the front. She's a human operating a Titan. This news needs to be passed to the commander and quickly. I'm Marco Bodt of Marcel Squad."

"Marcel Squad?" The elite chuckles before nodding. "You'll arrive there faster, hurry go!"

Marco continues down the chain until he runs into Levi Squad as he starts to pass them they start asking him questions when Levi turns to him.

"Why is a recruit like you here?" Levi asks.

"News from the right-wing. A human in a Titan body is headed for the command. At least as far as I know. Recruits Armin Arlelt, Reiner Braun & Jean Kirstein are currently playing a decoy to distract her. I was sent ahead to inform the commander of the danger she poses."

Levi hums. "Stay with us and don't worry. I'm sure Erwin already knows."

"Sir?"

"Don't question Captain Levi, Greenhorn." Oluo shouts at Marco.

"Sorry, sir." Marco says falling into rank.

"Oluo, shut up." Petra scolds her teammate. "Which squad do you belong to, recruit?" She asks.

"Marcel Squad, Ma'am."

"Marcel Squad? He doesn't have a squad yet."

Levi clicks his tongue. "That brat. Already picking the members of his squad."

"He speaks very highly of this squad. I for one am very interested to see this squad in action." Marco says tentatively.

"He should. We're the best." Eld proudly says.

"Then I hope you don't mind when Marcel Squad takes that title." Marco shares in the ego.

Levi hums. "Cocky brat."

Eren moves to be next to Marco. "Hey, Marco since your here, can you tell me what's up?"

"We believe that she's able to bring titans to her, how though, I don't know. She wiped out the right wing spotters. Killed Ness & Cis by herself from what Armin said." Marco admits.

"And how's Armin?" Eren asks.

"As far as I know, they chose to stall the Female so I could get my message to someone. I just hope Jean & Reiner are still alive." Marco mutters.

"And Armin, yeah."

As Marco rides with Levi squad he thinks of the rest of Marcel Squad. How Jean is doing against the Female Titan, Jean currently rides with Reiner, Armin and Christa, meanwhile Mina on the left wing continues to follow her position staying near her teammates for this mission, Ymir & Sasha. Marcel rides directly behind Erwin as he looks down for a moment thinking of his squad and how they're doing.

'I wonder how things are going for you, Annie. Are you doing well in the Military Police?' Marcel thinks to himself. Marcel then focuses as he and Erwin approach the forest of giant trees. "Titans have used this path. Lack of vegetation's a give away. It should be a cinch for the wagons." He says to Erwin.

Erwin then raises his body shouting. "Inform everyone behind us. Only the center wagon defense squad is to enter this forest. Marcel, you're staying with me."

"Yes sir." The rest of the squad separates to inform others. The soldiers break off as Marcel and Erwin rush in.

After a few minutes everyone else stands in the trees except for Marco who's with Levi Squad and Marcel who's still with Erwin.

"Ne, dad? The forest, is it to hide what's in the wagons? Or is it to deal with this threat from the right?" Marcel asks.

"It should be obvious, no, Marcel?" Erwin says to his son. Marcel goes silent as he thinks about the situation

Meanwhile, with Marco with Levi Squad.

"Captain! Captain Levi!" Eren shouts.

"What?" Levi asks.

"C'mon, sir! We're in a forest! We won't see a Titan 'til it's right on top of us! The Center ranks totally cut off! The female titan is coming from the right, Marco?"

"Assuming it's headed here, yes. If not, then it's likely still after the right flank." Marco says trying to remain calm.

"Then what are we supposed to do. Avoid titans or defend the wagons?" Eren asks.

Marco turns to Eren. "We ride. Plain and simple Eren."

Levi nods. "He's Correct. Quit whining and move on from the obvious already. Neither of those is an option anymore."

"Wha-? What are you talking about?"

"Haven't you noticed what's around you? Take a look at these big ass trees. Perfect environment for ODM gear, wouldn't you say? Take my advice, Eren. Like your friend here and like Marcel, calm down and use your head. The best survival tool is your brain."

"Yes, sir!"

Marco however goes silent thinking to himself. 'If she is after Eren then this will become one the least safe locations in the formation. I can only hope the commander and Marcel have a good plan.' They ride for a few more minutes when a black smoke signal is fired directly behind them. "No, she's here already?" Marco murmurs.

Eren looks behind them noticing the smoke as well. "Black Smoke?"

Oruo grumbles. "It's right behind us!"

"Damn things been on our ass since we came in here." Eld complains.

"Blades drawn. Now. It'll happen in the blink of an eye. Be ready." Levi orders.

Marco looks back as a Scout appears overhead before they're turned into a red paste and the female titan appears now chasing after the squad. He doesn't look back instead biting his lip and continues to ride his horse speeding up and catching up to Levi's as his grip tightens his breathing starts to deviate from the calm self he normally maintains.

"Everyone! Cover your ears now!" Levi shouts. Everyone is confused for a second, however they follow quickly after Marco does so without a second thought. As Levi aims upwards with a shot from his signal gun.

Chapter End.