[Part 1: The Trap]

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. Levi aims upwards and with a shot form his flare gun a a ringing is heard.

"Was that an acoustic round?" Eren asks.

"Remind me, what is our mission? Is it to simply act on impulse in the heat of the moment?" Levi asks rhetorically. "Let me answer that question for you. It's not. This squads mission is to keep this brat alive, whatever the cost. Don't forget it. And since you're here recruit, that's your mission now too."

Marco nods. "Yes, sir."

"We keep pushing forward, on horseback. Is that clear?"

"As a bell, sir!" Petra shouts.

"But for how long? We can't keep running forever!" Eren doubts them all.

"Eren, just trust in your Captain. They know what they're doing. After all, Marcel would put everything in them, and so will I." Marco then turns forward and rides next to Levi his eyes focused on the trees.

Eren continues to speak much to both his and the squads annoyance. Marco then spots Marcel in a tree with Erwin and he ducks down. Marcel seeing them arrive smirks and looks to his three years worth of notes. He looks at Marco then flips to his page on Marco.

Marco Bodt
Age 15
From Jinae Wall Rose
Smarter than the average person, he's also quick witted and has great reflexes with the ODM gear. If anyone in the cadets could feasibly make it to the Military Police and do so earnestly it's him.

"Well, they did good." Marcel murmurs still looking down, doing his best to avoid the loud rumbling noise of the Titan stomping towards him.

Erwin lowers his arm. "Fire!" He orders. They watch as wires and hooks are launched into the female titan and lock her in place. As they ride on Levi speaks.

"Everyone, hitch your horses further on. Switch to OdM hear. Recruit your with me. We'll be breaking away for a little while. Eld's in charge 'til I get back. Tuck Eren somewhere out of sight, away from the Female Titan. And see to our horses." Levi & Marco both jump away using their ODM gear to blast away towards Marcel & Erwin. As they land Levi speaks to the pair with Erwin standing on a branch while Marcel is crouched looking down at her.

[Part 2: The Female Titan] (Marcel POV)

Hm, strange she's not putting up a fight.

"She's not putting up much of a fight." Levi voices my thoughts.

"That's not a reason to let our guard down. Good job leading her here." I praise Levi and his squad.

"I'm more than a little impressed." Erwin comments before turning to Marco who landed next to me. "And you, recruit, why are you here?"

"Well, to inform you that she wiped out the Right Wing spotters sir." Marco admits earnestly. "We believe she's able to bring titans to her, but, we don't know how."

"The ability to bring titans to her? Can she control them, or is it simply that she can summon them to her? Both would be dangerous either way." I say quietly contemplating how this effects our plans.

"We couldn't have brought her here without the rear contingent whose lives bought us time. This belongs to them. I don't intend to ever forget that." Levi says staring at father and I.

Erwin glances to Levi. "That so?"

"Yes. Because of their sacrifices, we can expose whoever this really is."

"Purely, by her hair, I might have a theory, but, that theory scares me to my core." I say quietly.

Marco turns to me. "Who?"

I take a deep breath. "I hope I'm wrong..."

Marco's eyes widen. "Annie?" He asks.

I only nod in response, the others looking to me. Levi with no emotion and Marco with some concerns. However it's the look of concern from father that makes me worried about this.

"Ten to one they're in there pissing themselves right about now." Levi bets.

"Yeah, probably. Say, Commander, each of the squad leaders has their own right hand, right?" I ask father.

Father nods. "Yes."

"I think I have my new assistant since my old ones in the Military Police."

Erwin raises a brow. "This recruit?"

"Yes. Marco Bodt. My right hand."

Marco smiles and rubs his neck. "Thank you, Marcel, but I think Jean would be better suited."

"No, cause once I'm C.O, Jean would best be served as a section commander, and I'd need my own right hand. That leaves you."

"What of Mina?"

"Honestly, I'd see her as a captain under Jean."

Marco nods with a smile. "Alright then. I accept."

I smile and we fist-bump. I look to Erwin who nods on recognition before we all get serious again and look back to the Female. Levi then draws his blades along with Marco, however I stop Marco and shake my head as Erwin speaks.

"Not quite yet, Levi. A little more insurance. Second wave!" Erwin shouts.

"Third Wave!" I order.

"Fire!" We shout together. "All reserves!"

We watch as they're all firing for a few minutes. Once it ends I sigh and jump off landing using my ODM gear to land on the titans face as Levi & Miche go to cut her out.

"Well, now, you certainly have been a nuisance to us today." I stare into her eyes. "But it's alright dearie, I'll make sure you don't die on us. Just don't kill anymore of my future men and well, you'll be all fine and dandy in the gallows."

"Marcel! She can harden her skin!" Marco shouts from the tree line.

"Really now?" I say looking from Marco back to her. "Well dearie, you just made it harder on yourself. We weren't planning to kill you. Hell, I would've let them actually not torture you. But... you've made this far more complicated than it needed to be. My, my, what should we do with you now? Commander!" I shout jumping to the top of her head.

"Yes?" He asks.

"I say we load the canons. Remove her hands from the equation. It's an impressive ability ain't it?"

Erwin nods. "Indeed."

I smirk and look her in the eyes as they remain glued onto me. "Well, I'm sorry, sweetie, but we need you alive. I must go now dear, I'm needed with father." I zip away and land next to Marco and Erwin as I see Levi land on her head. I turn back to face her as she lets out an ear piercing roar. "That might be a problem." I mutter.

"You don't think-?" Marco begins to ask.

"Where's Miche?" I interrupt.

He then lands next to Erwin and speaks to him and I. "They're coming. I can smell them."

"From what direction." Father asks.

"From every direction. Fast. Dozens." Miche warns.

"Well, Marco, you were right. She can call other titans."

"Faster on the artillery, gentlemen!" Father shouts.

"Here they are. First wave's closing in from the east, and coming in fast!" Moche shouts.

"Marco, stay with dad. Commander! I'm joining the defenders." I say.

"Right. Wagon defense squad! Intercept, now!" Erwin shouts.

I jump in and kill two of the three headed in as Levi kills the last one. We rush in attacking dozens of titans killing all of the ones we can a few of us dying in the process however they still manage to eat her until, Erwin calls for a withdrawal. I return to Marco & Erwin alongside Levi and sigh to myself kicking the tree I'm on,

"Damn it!"

Erwin exhales. "We've been bested."

"Don't give me that crap. Not now, not yet." Levi says.

"Think about it. The enemy was prepared to make sacrifices. Enormous ones. So committed to maintaining her secret, she would rather let herself be cannibalized then exposed."

"That whole song and dance in the courtroom, and this is what we've got to show for it. We scurry back now with our tail between our legs, Eren's right back in chains, or worse." Levi says.

"We'll jump off that bridge when we come to it. Right now our only concern is getting back without sustaining further casualties. However we can."

I don't like it. We didn't see a body, and there's an excess of steam. Even then I doubt smoke signals will be able to get through it. I scan through the carnage of the body mostly I try to find what would've been the nape of female Titan, but it's to crowded I can't get a good look.

"I'll gather up my squad." Levi says turning away.

"Not yet, Levi. First, you and Marcel replenish your blades and your fuel." Erwin says.

"Sir?" Why have us replenish?

"I can deal with what I've got. We're running against the clock as it is. Why?"

"Because I said. That's an order. Recruit, you'll gather Levi Squad. Tell them it's on my orders."

Levi scoffs. "Whatever you say, sir."

"I agree with the decision made, but, not on the exact personnel choices. I'll follow your orders though, Commander." I admit my personal feelings to father. Myself & Levi jump away leaving Marco to go after Levi Squad.

[Part 3: Welcome to the Jungle] (No POV)

A series of blue smoke signals are fired signaling a withdrawal to everyone as Marco arrives and tells Levi Squad that under the commanders orders he's to travel with them. Despite a bit of protest they all leave peacefully.

"Oruo! Petra! I gotta hand it to ya both. For someone who wet themselves first time out, you've come a long way." Eld jokes.

Petra screams. "I thought we agreed never to speak of it again!" She shouts back to Eld.

"Whoa! Seriously?!" Eren asks.

"Don't just ask her!" Marco shouts at Eren.

"Relax. Incidentally, I've never once pissed myself in battle." Eld says.

"How dare you! I have the highest kill-count of anyone in the damn squad! Argh! Imbecile!" Oluo shouts.

"You wanna hide that stain behind your kill-counts, be my guest." Eld jokes.

"Shut your hole!"

"Ow! My earholes!" Marco says from being next to Oluo.

"So did it, like, rain down on everyone midair, or what?" Eren again asks for too much info.

Gunther scoffs. "Enough! No one cares who pissed who's pants! Focus on the job at hand! For the record, my shorts's always been dry."

They then all notice a green smoke as Gunther says it must be a signal from Levi, Marco voices his concern.

"But it's too close?" Marco says concerned.

"Huh? Are you doubting me?"

"No, I'm not doubting you, sir. It's just that Commander Erwin ordered Captain Levi and Marcel to refuel on both gas and blades. And forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't it to early for them to be that close?"

Eld nods. "Well, we'll find out shortly. Petra, Oruo, stay on high alert. Gunther stay ahead of everyone. Recruit, you and I stay a bit behind. Eren, stay in the middle of them all." He orders.

"Sir!" Everyone aside from Eren says in unison, himself stammering for a moment behind the others. Everyone follows his orders until they run into a cloaked figure and immediately everyone is on high alert.

"That's not- Oh shit!" They turn suddenly and slice Gunther's throat as everyone stops and lands on a pair of trees.

"It's her. The female titan." Marco says.

"How do you know?" Eld asks.

"We never saw the person getting eaten. If she equipped herself in gear in advance then she could hide among us."

"Yeah. That would explain why Erwin sent Levi & Marcel to refill. Alright then, we need to survive until Captain Levi arrives. No one else die! We'll mourn Gunther later!" Eld orders.

Petra stares back horrified. "Yes sir!" She turns around away from Gunther's body.

"Gunther..." Oruo murmurs.

"No..." Eren's eyes remain on Gunther. "Eld, sir please allow me to transform!"

"Hold on, Eren. The only way that'd work would be if you didn't give in to anger. Can we confirm that you won't." Eld asks.

"I can try."

They watch as she lands and transforms the team immediately begins running away using their ODM gear and foregoing the horses.

Marco looks back to his horse for the briefest of moments. "I'll return for you, Antoinette."

"You two make a run for it, We'll handle her!" Eld says.

They watch as Levi Squad is able to cut her arms however Marco shouts before they can go for the kill. "Wait! She's only healing one eye! Don't go for the kill!"

The others noticing this as well get the message however, the brief moment they had stopped allowed her to regain that eye and take out Orou. The two remaining members of Levi Squad ran for Eren and just as the female was about to crush Petra, Marco grabbed her and she stopped just long enough for Marco to blast away carrying Petra who landed for a brief moment and screamed in pain.

"Ah! My leg!" Petra shouts in agony.

"Don't worry, I'll get you to safety, Eren, Mister Eld, we need to wait for Captain Levi & Marcel!" He says still helping Petra.

Seeing this state of affairs, Eren rushes in transforming, giving into anger despite the protests of Eld & Petra. The pair now on a tree branch with Marco watching on.

"What the hell! Why didn't you stop him!" Eld shouts at Marco.

"I should be dead." Marco says falling to his knees staring at the titans in front of him. !We both should be dead." He murmurs collapsing to his hands and knees. "She stopped the moment I got between her and crushing your friend... I think... I think I know who it is..."

"You do?" Eld asks.

"It can't be... you were supposed to be our friend... why...?" He lifts his head shouting. "Why?!"

Eld watches as Eren fight the female as Marco holds his own head tears streaming down his face. Meanwhile, Eren's Titan screaming alerted everyone and those on the way to the location are as follows. Levi with Marcel directly behind him, and Mikasa with Mina behind her. Eld and Petra watch as the female titan starts beating on Eren the pair fighting as Levi & Marcel pass the bodies of Gunther & Oruo with Marcel getting angrier with each of the corpses. That is until they land by Petra, Eld & Marco.

"So, she killed them?" Levi asks.

Marco nods. "Yeah."

"I see..." Marcel closes his eyes for a moment turning his head down. "Anything... any new developments?" He asks turning back to the fight.

"It is her. Marcel.. it's-!"

Marcel nods. "Annie." They watch as the fight continues. Until she takes up Annie's pose from training and she kicks Eren's head off. His Titan's head, but still.

"Should we go in?" Eld asks.

"No. we'll take her by surprise."

"Eren, No!" Mikasa shouts passing them seeing the events unfold the same as the others.

"Fucking hell." Marcel murmurs. "Eld, stop her. Now."

Eld takes the orders and blocks Mikasa who tries to pass him however he directs her to Levi & Marcel watching along with Petra & Marco.

"What you all doing?!" Mikasa shouts.

"Watching... and strategizing." Marcel takes a breath. "Only a good plan will bring her down. Mina, get Petra out of here she's wounded. Marco, Mikasa, you'll be with us."

"Shouldn't you be with the commander?" Eld asks.

"I killed at least seven titans when she summoned them. If she attempts it, I can be useful. Don't go for the kill. Take out her jaw, and her legs. I didn't want to believe it was her... Marco, think you can fight her?"

"Yeah... I've come to terms with it. I guess it really was Marcel squads last day together."

"No... it was her last day of humanity." Marcel says a single tear falling to the grass far below them. "We at least know he's alive. We all saw it. She put him in her mouth, she didn't swallow." He smiles looking up holding back tears. "Leave it to her, she never would swallow, I guess." He says through a slightly cracking voice.

"Seriously, here, now?" Marco turns to Marcel.

"Well, I just lost some of my friends. I've lost many friends today actually. Ugh, god I wish I drank."

"But-?"

"I said, I wish I drank, Marco."

Marco shakes his head. "Right."

"Oh, Yeah, Hange found this in your room. She wants to talk to you tomorrow, Marcel." Levi says holding up Marcel's flask and he sighs knowing that he's about to get yelled at.

"Marcel? You're the one who's been stealing from Gelgar's stash?" Eld asks.

"Yeah. He shouldn't be drunk on the job."

"And your not?" Eld doubts.

"No, actually. I rarely drink from it. Even then, if I do it's when I have time to kill."

"You could've at least shared some."

"Eld. You're not supposed to promote this type of behavior." Levi scolds. "Let's get started. Eld, Marcel and I will deal with her arms and legs. Recruits cut her cheek muscles. Either Eld or I will get Eren out of the mouth. Do not try to kill her."

They do as their told and follow his instructions Marcel wastes a pair of blades to take out her eyes however him doing this was seemingly out of defense as she seems hesitant to strike him. This allows for Levi & Eld to destroy her arms. In only a few blows she's already open for attack. At this point Mikasa & Marco both simultaneously cut the muscles keeping her jaw shut. Seeing this Mikasa goes for her nape however, she healed a single eye and moved her body in a way that her arm would be in position to crush Mikasa. Seeing this Levi pushes her out of the way saving Mikasa however a noticeable groan of pain is heard from him. All the while Marcel rushes in and grabs Eren.

"What have you been eating?" He says grunting to lift Eren. "Oh, right, my family." He mutters shoot8ng away.

As they launch away Marcel notices a few tears leaking from her eyes, he hurries away a single tear escaping his eyes.

[Part 4: The Aftermath] (Marcel POV)

A few minutes later Marco & I got to our horses and are riding along with most of the recruits.

"So, hot-shot! How'd it feel to be right in the safe zone." Jean asks to both Marco and I.

"It felt nice. How'd you survive the female? You had Reiner & Armin, right?"

Jean sighs. "By dumb luck."

"Funny, I cut the shit out of her." I say trying to repress the knowledge of who it is.

Jean's goes slack jaw. "You're joking."

"To be fair, it was along with Captain Levi and Eld, so, I don't get full credit."

"So, you're just a piggyback?" Jean rebuffs.

"No, he did his fair share. It's just a shame we didn't know how she brought titans to her. Could've avoided their deaths."

"They died protecting humanities future. As much as we may wish they didn't die, all we can do is fight on so they didn't die for nothing. Gunther, Oruo, Ness, Cis... and many others... they won't be coming back. I don't think I'll ever get used to not seeing some of them ever again."

"How? How do you deal with it?" Jean asks.

"I don't..." I answer honestly. "I've remembered the name of every person who's not come back to HQ after an Expedition. I have them all listed... every name since the fall of Shinganshina... a few extra ones before that point but, those we're added in after the fact... I guess... I'll be adding in more tonight."

I open my journal and start writing more names, I'm forced to stop as we keep moving. That's not all of them but... that's a start. I place the journal back in my pocket and start riding as we take off. Eren's by Levi with Eld & Petra. And I've been placed with my squad as a spotter. I look back seeing a red flare. If they get to close we'll have to start dumping bodies. I then turn and watch as both Oruo's and Gunther's bodies are dropped. As well as a few others and we are able to escape the titans. We take a break and I circle around with my squad getting near to Levi's Squad.

"Ne, Captain Levi. They dumped their bodies." I say sadly.

"I know. I gave the order myself." He sighs.

"I noticed. It's written on your face. We can't always carry them home, huh?" I ask.

"No... no we can't."

"I guess." I hum. "We just gotta hope that we can have as few regrets as possible, right?" I ask.

"Yeah. As few as possible."

"You and Petra both hurt your legs. Any knowledge on how bad they may be." I ask.

Petra sighs. "I may be out of action for a few months."

Levi hums. "Same here."

"Alright then. Let's hope we can have enough time before you're needed again."

"Yeah." We continue to ride, until we arrive at Calaneth District and slowly enter the district to jeers.

Marco and Mina seem to get annoyed quickly. However before they can say anything I turn to them and shake my head. "Getting angry about pissants will do nothing. Just keep going and they'll eventually be quieted out by your own thoughts. Just try not to let those get to you." I say turning away.

"Our taxes hard at work ladies and gentlemen. Bravo." A merchant says, himself fat and stuffed like pig.

"Heh. He can make the jokes he wants. A real man wouldn't just cower and hide away from his enemy. He'd at least have the courage to push back a little." I mutter, the only person able to hear me, Jean.

"Marcel?" He asks.

"What am I talking about... if push came to shove I don't think I'd be able to fight the female titan."

"Why not?" Jean asks.

"I can't.." I lower my head.

"You're kidding?" Jean turns to me.

"I saw her fight Eren in Titan form. The exact same pose, the exact same everything." I say, Jean's eyes remain glued to me.

The casualties incurred during the Scout regiments latest incursion beyond the Wall were profound. So much so that what little public favors they still held was all but crushed. Within hours of their return. The pigs of the Military Police and the captial, called for Erwin and the battle weary survivors. The scouts' custody of Eren was summarily revoked.

Chapter End.