A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter! Enjoy!

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH! Proceed with caution!

edited on december 13th, 2023 @ 12:09pm

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚂𝙸𝚇𝚃𝚈-𝚃𝚆𝙾,
𝓣𝙷𝙴 𝚁𝚄𝙼𝙱𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶.

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THE SHIP CARRYING THE SCOUTS and the warriors finally arrived in Odiha as they rushed towards where the flying boat was. "Remove the cover! Hurry!" Jean ordered.

"Dammit! These explosives are in the way." Connie informed.

"Let's cut 'em off and toss 'em." Reiner suggested.

"Wait. We might be able to use them. Let's load them on the flying boat." Armin said.

Josiah and Mikasa were walking by Annie, the two of them carrying a crate full of supplies. "Annie, check your equipment." Mikasa told her.

"You're still not used to the new ODM gear, are you?" Josiah questioned. "Go with Reiner and zip around over there to get accustomed."

Annie looked down. "Why?"

"We should... do the things we can... so..." Josiah started to say.

"I believe I told you that I'm backing out."

"You don't even intend to get on the flying boat either?" Mikasa asked.

"Sorry, but I'm staying behind. Wanting to save humanity... I don't really get that. If anything, us Eldians in Marley were persecuted by the 'humanity' you want to save from the moment we were born. Even if hypothetically the rumbling stopped now, with Marley gone, there's no one left to protect the Eldians." Annie looked over towards where the others were preparing the flying boat. "I truly do feel sorry about this, when they're putting everything toward the slim hope of saving their homeland. But... I can't fight anymore. I want to spend the time I have left living peacefully."

Josiah turned to look at Annie as she blushed, which made Josiah and Mikasa blush as well. "When did this happen?" Mikasa questioned.

"When did what happen?" Annie asked.

"Okay. We get it."

"Get what?"

"You don't have to suffer anymore. But... Armin is going to board the flying boat with us and head for Eren." Josiah informed.

Annie looked down. "I know."

"What about you? What do you want?" Annie asked the brunette. "Are you gonna go kill Eren to save humanity?"

"I won't kill him." Josiah responded. "Eren's gone far away, and I'm bringing him back. That's all I'm doing."

Josiah and Mikasa started to walk away. "By the way, did you lose the engagement ring Eren gave to you?" Annie asked.

This caused Mikasa to stop, realizing the blonde was right. There was no ring on Josiah's left ring finger.

"I have it." Josiah simply replied as he continued walking.

Levi was walking down the stairs as Armin was trying to stop him. "This is crazy! You should still be in bed!" Armin protested.

"Stay in bed? If I lie down any longer, you shits are gonna forget all about me. And that bearded bitch who passed out after her arm was broken is awake. I'll be damned if we don't make her tell us where Eren's going." Levi claimed.

Connie and Reiner sigh in exhaustion while Jean moved a barrel. "This is the last of the fuel we brought on the ship." Jean announced.

"Go ahead and leave it there." Onyankopon instructed as the Azumabito mechanics were working.

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It was soon the next morning. "Hange!" Onyankopon shouted, waving to get their attention. "In about an hour, we can begin preparations for takeoff!"

"Got it!" They replied before turning around. "You heard the man. Each of you, inspect your gear."

"Yes, Commander!"

Levi was struggling as everyone looked at him in concern. "Two fingers is all I need. I'm ready." He said.

The group then saw Annie about to go on the ship again.

"Annie!"

"Annie, take care!" Connie called out.

"See you later!" Hange said.

Annie glanced at Armin, who looked back as he held a hand up in farewell. Annie turned around and walked towards the ship. Mikasa and Josiah joined Armin's side.

"Armin, are you all right with this?" Mikasa asked.

"This will be the last time you'll ever see her." Josiah added.

"What are you talking about?" Armin blushed as Josiah smirked teasingly, getting the blonde's attention. "And what are you smirking for?"

"To be honest, I was relying on her." Jean admitted.

"But Annie has fought enough." Connie said.

"I am. I... I want Annie to stay Annie." Armin stated.

"Are you two sure you want to come with us?" Hange asked Reiner and Pieck, who walked towards them. "Assuming the rumbling stops, Eldians won't find themselves in a great position..."

"I hate to admit it, but you were right, Hange. General Magath was leaving us a final order: to work together and do what needs to be done." Pieck said.

"Pieck..." Hange trailed off. "I'd love to ride on the Cart Titan's back sometime and its body heat as we—"

"No." Pieck stepped aside. "That took a sudden, creepy turn."

Everyone was soon walking towards the plane. "I see your love of Titans is still unrequited, four-eyes." Levi said.

"We'll be pals soon enough." Hange stated. "Tell me, Levi. Do you think they're all watching? You think we can stand proud before our fallen comrades as we are now?"

"Don't go and start sounding like him." Levi replied.

An Azumabito mechanic checked to see if everything was in order. "Good. Begin the fueling process!" He ordered.

"Yes, sir."

"Thank goodness. We're gonna make it before the rumbling gets here." Onyankopon muttered to himself. He suddenly turned around, seeing a drenched Floch, who began to shoot.

Josiah charged forward, attaching his wire to Floch's throat as he choked on his own blood.

Everyone soon gathered around Floch. "Floch..." Hange mumbled. "Don't tell me you clung to the ship all the way here—"

"Hange!"

Onyankopon's sudden shout grabbed everyone's attention. "There are holes in the fuel tank!" He announced, leaving everyone stunned. "We can't fly like this!"

"Don't lose hope. If we cover the holes, we can make it work!" One of the mechanics said.

"Get the welding tools!"

The Azumabito mechanics soon got to work. "How long will it take?" Hange questioned.

"With tin plates, we could do it in an hour, barely."

The table rumbling soon got the mechanic and Hange's attention as everything began to shake.

"This sound..." Hange mumbled.

"Don't tell me..." Reiner turned around and rushed outside. "It's here. The rumbling... is here."

"Don't do it." Floch mumbled. "Please... don't..."

"Inspect the engine! Hurry!"

"Floch..." Hange muttered as them and Jean kneeled down.

"Be ready to start fueling at any moment!"

"Every... one... on the... island... will be... killed... Our devils... are our... only... hope..." Floch spoke weakly.

"Come on! Floch!" Jean said.

"He's dead." Hange informed, closing Floch's eyes with their hand. "It's as you said, Floch. But I just can't give up. Even if it's hopeless today, maybe someday..."

Gabi and Falco were banging on the doors while the Azumabito mechanics got to work. Armin, Josiah, and Mikasa stared at the Titans coming their way.

"Armin, do you have any ideas?" Mikasa asked.

"Only one." Armin replied. "I stay behind and slow them down."

"It can't be you. You're our sole trump card for stopping Eren. I'll do it." Reiner said.

"That's obviously not the play." Hange cuts in. Their Scouts cape blew in the wind as everyone turned to look at them. "We can't afford to expend another shred of Titan power. I'm the one who led you this far. And we killed many friends and comrades to get here. I'm taking responsibility for that."

"Hange..."

Hange walks forward towards Armin. "Armin Arlert. I hereby designate you the 15th Commander of the Scout Regiment." They announced, causing Armin to widen his eyes. "The position calls for a certain quality— a mindset of continuously pursuing understanding. There's no one more suitable than you. I leave everyone in your hands."

Armin was speechless. "Well, that's that. See ya, everyone." Hange bids farewell before stopping and turning back to Armin. "Ah, yes. Levi's your underling now, so really put him to work."

Hange soon walks away to where Levi was. "Hey. Four-eyes." Levi said.

"You understand, right, Levi? My turn's come at last." Hange stated. "I'm giddy with the desire to make a supremely cool exit. Don't stop what I've got going."

Levi stayed silent for a moment before placing his fist on Hange's chest. "Give your heart." He said.

Hange laughed. "That's the first time I've heard you say that." They stated before using their gear to charge forward. Everyone rushed after them.

"Hange!"

Hange continued propelling themselves using the buildings at a rapid pace, flying in front of the Titans. They stared in awe.

"Ah, Titans truly are marvelous!" Hange commented, hooking their wire onto one of the Titans cheekbones and throwing a Thunder Spear at its nape, knocking it down and knocking more down in the process while knocking down some more. Everyone just looked in shock.

Hange connects their wire to another Titan and flew down, moving swiftly below the Titans feet before throwing their second Thunder Spear at the legs.

"It's sealed! Start fueling! Hurry! Hurry!"

Hange ended up getting thrown back as they used their gear to keep themselves from falling. They looked back and saw that the debris went through a couple of houses.

They charged forward and sliced one of the Titans nape.

"They're right on top of us!"

"There's no more time for fueling! Start the engine!"

The flying boat began to start. "Push the fuselage forward!"

Hange charged at a Titan before slicing at its nape. "They need more time?!" They asked themselves.

They pushed themselves forwards at the Titans as they began to burn. "Hot!" They exclaimed as their Scouts cape caught on fire.

Hange swung through the Titans and sliced at two more as their body continued burning.

"Launch the ship!"

"Grab my hand!" Connie said, grabbing onto Jean.

Hange's whole body continued burning as they screamed.

An explosion then occurred.

"Hange..." Jean said, looking out of the window of the boat and seeing Hange's burning body falling down.

Armin was in tears as Josiah had his head in his hands. Everyone else was either sobbing or had sorrowful looks.

"So long, Hange." Levi muttered. "Watch us."

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When Hange woke again, they saw that they were laying down, looking at the bright, blue sky. They jolted up in alarm.

"The flying boat!" Hange exclaimed.

"It took off."

Hange looked over, seeing Erwin, Miche, and Moblit. "Hange, you fulfilled your role." Erwin said.

"Erwin?" Hange questioned. "All of you..."

They looked back up to see the boat flying. Hange closed their eyes and sighed.

"I see."

Moblit offered a hand as Hange grabbed it. "I'm tellin' ya, I really had my hands full after being named commander. With Eren's idiocy, that is." They complained.

"Yeah, you had it tough. You can tell us all about it."

"Yeah."

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A/N: My apologises for not updating in 6 months! Sorry my apology came with Hange's death, however. Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 1846 words.