A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to the first chapter of season three! Also, did y'all see the new episode that came out? I was literally screaming at my tv the whole time. Enjoy!

edited on february 6th, 2022 @ 11:49am

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚃𝚆𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚈-𝚂𝙴𝚅𝙴𝙽,
𝓢𝙼𝙾𝙺𝙴 𝚂𝙸𝙶𝙽𝙰𝙻.

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"YOU JUST TRY TO STEAL some food, Sasha. I'll get Captain Levi to chop you up into nice bite-sized pieces." Jean was saying.

"I won't! Probably..." Sasha replied.

"Hey! Did you guys wipe the dust and dirt off your shoes before you came in?" Eren asked.

"Say what?" Jean responded. "No, we didn't. Can't you see all the stuff we're carrying?"

"Do you seriously think that attitude will satisfy Captain Levi? If I hadn't personally given your sheets hospital corners this morning—" Eren began.

"Quit nagging! Who are you, my mom?!" Jean exclaimed.

"We're back." Josiah simply said, walking in with Mikasa and Historia.

"Wait, were you just chopping firewood?" Armin questioned.

"Gotta stay in shape." Josiah replied.

"You got grabbed by a Titan! You should be in bed." Armin protested.

"I try to stop him, but he won't listen." Eren informed. "I saw him doing sit-ups with Mikasa earlier!"

"How dare you, you peeping Tom!" Jean shouted.

"Huh?! How does that constitute "peeping"?!"

"Josiah, you do know you're not a wild animal, right?" Armin questioned.

"It's almost like we're back in the Cadet Corps." Sasha stated, getting everyone's attention.

"Yeah..." Armin mumbled in agreement. "Why do you think we were chosen for the new Levi Squad, though? Protecting Eren and Historia is such an important mission..."

"Because we're talented, I assume." Sasha answered.

"Sasha... what did you just put in your bag?" Armin questioned.

"Nothing bread-related." Sasha replied.

"Why, you! Give it back."

"Hey, focus! We gotta finish cleaning before the captain gets back!" Eren informed.

"Put back the bread."

"What's this commotion about?" Levi questioned.

"How many times have you done this now?"

"Our food reserves are precious!"

"Cut the crap, Potato Girl!"

Everyone stopped when Levi touched under the table. "I'm quite sure I gave you enough time." He spoke as everyone looked in disbelief.

"Anyways... We'll discuss your lax cleaning job another time. Eren." Levi said, getting Eren's attention. Hange is itching to get the experiment started."

"R-Right." Eren said.

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Eren had transformed into his Titan, but it was incomplete. Half of his body was hanging out of his nape, and his body lacked muscles. Eren's Titan then fell to the ground.

"What's wrong, Eren?! Get up!" Hange shouted. "The future of humanity is riding on you! Get up, dammit!"

"Hey, four-eyes. He's not quite the same this time. He's not even 10 meters, and some of his body doesn't have muscle. Plus, Eren's ass is hanging out." Levi informed.

"I can see that!" Hange yelled. "Eren! Can you still move?! Give us a signal or something!"

"Eren!" Josiah exclaimed, jumping off his horse.

"Hey... That gloomy brat is acting on his own again. Time to think up a punishment?" Levi asked.

"No, there's no signal... We're done here!" Hange responded, using their gear to jump down with Moblit following them.

"Hot! Hot damn, you are hot!" Hange exclaimed.

"Hange-san, wait! Eren is bleeding!" Josiah informed.

"Whoa! Check it out, Moblit! Eren's face! Hurry up and sketch it!" Hange said.

"Section Commander! Are you lacking in human compassion?!" Moblit asked.

Josiah then cuts the flesh from the Titan that was stuck on Eren's face.

"Sorry, I got carried away..." Hange apologized.

"Looks like we've got a long road ahead... before we can use the Titan hardening ability to seal the wall." Levi pointed out.

"Yes... I knew we'd be grasping at straws from the start." Armin said.

"Strategically, it's not a bad plan." Levi informed. "Instead of lugging tons of supplies, all we need is to get Eren there. Whether or not we're grasping at straws... all depends on Eren."

"Experiment's over! All troops, disperse at once!" Hange ordered.

"Roger! Make sure there's no witnesses!"

"Yes, sir!" Jean replied as he went on his way.

Historia was behind Levi and began walking away before Levi spoke up.

"You ride in the same wagon as Eren. I'm headed for Trost District with Hange's group." Levi informed.

"Okay." Historia simply answered.

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"Eren! You should still be in bed!" Mikasa informed.

"I'm fine. I already slept the whole day. Besides, it's my fault the strategy for retaking Wall Maria got shelved." Eren stated.

"It's not your fault. So don't worry about it." Josiah countered.

"All I care about... is getting a chance to fight that Beast Titan. Whatever that damn ape is, I'll never forgive it." Connie said.

He then looked outside. "It's about time to switch lookouts. Mikasa? Josiah?" Connie told the two.

"Right." Josiah said as him and Mikasa followed Connie out.

Later, Josiah had gathered in the main room of the cabin along with the others, listening in to what Hange had to report.

"Huh? What was that?" Levi asked.

"He's dead... Pastor Nick." Hange repeated. "He was murdered. This morning, in the Trost District barracks."

The Scouts sat down at the table, while Hange sat down by the window as they told everyone about how Pastor Nick got tortured before he was killed by two officers.

"I figured the Church would want to deal with Nick since he was cooperating with the Scouts. That's why I hid his identity and had him stay in the barracks, but... To think they would use soldiers to kill him... I was too careless. It's entirely my fault." Hange finished.

"The Military Police... Did they torture Pastor Nick just to find out what information he spilled to us?" Armin questioned.

"Most likely." Levi responded, placing down his cup. "But it was the Interior Military Police, which means there's something more behind it. So, how many nails did Nick have ripped off?"

Hange seemed taken aback by his question. "You saw, right? How many?" Levi questioned.

"I only caught a glimpse of him, but all the nails that I could see." Hange responded.

"People that talk, talk after one. If they don't, peeling more won't make a difference." Levi stated.

"Pastor Nick... I thought he was an idiot, but... He didn't turn away from what he believed, all the way till the end." Levi continued. "In other words, they have no idea we've caught wind of the Reiss family. Though, someone in the government is up to no good, and their eyes are fixed on us."

The door suddenly opened as Nifa suddenly entered. "Captain Levi. A message from Commander Erwin." She announced, handing him a letter. "I went to tell him about Pastor Nick, but he sent me off with this."

"Everyone, out. We leave now. Leave no trace we were here." Levi ordered, making his squad confused.

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Both Levi and Hange's squads left the house just before the Military Police arrived to inspect the house. They were all wearing coats and backpacks along with being armed with rifles as they watched the house from the cliff.

"That was close... If we hadn't left right then, what would've happened to us?" Connie questioned.

"But why? What would make Commander Erwin...?" Armin trailed off.

"New orders came from the government. There's been a freeze on all Scout Regiment activity outside the wall." Levi answered. "They're telling us to hand over Eren and Historia."

"By the way, right after he gave me the message... the Military Police came for him..." Nifa informed.

"That's treating him like some sort of criminal!" Hange exclaimed.

"Someone's not working from the shadows anymore.  They're moving for all eyes to see." Levi stated.

"To go that far to protect the wall's secrets... What's more, why do they want us to hand over Eren and Historia? Not to kill, but for them to obtain?" Hange placed a hand on their chin in thought.

"Who knows?" Levi responded. "Anyways, it's clear the enemy is after these two. Loitering around here is dangerous. We're moving her and Eren to Trost District."

"Why? That's the same place Pastor Nick was killed." Moblit asked.

"It's worse to head towards the interior. With Trost in a panic, it should be easier to slip in. And if somehow it comes down to it, we can use these in the city." Levi answered, revealing his ODM gear. "Plus, not knowing the enemy puts us in a tough spot. We need to find out who's behind this."

"Hange, lend me some of your squad."

"Of course." They replied. "All right, I'm going after Erwin. Moblit's with me. The rest of you will follow Levi."

"Roger!"

As Hange was at their horse, Eren suddenly called out to them. "Hange-san! Here..." He said, handing them a piece of paper. "I remembered a conversation with Ymir and Bertholdt. Didn't get time to tell you, but it's here."

"All right." Hange said, tucking the note in their pocket. "I'll take a look at it later."

Hange got on their horse before riding away with Moblit following right behind them, leaving the rest of Hange's squad with Levi.

Meanwhile, up on a hill, three people were looking down at the house.

"They're rather quick on the move."

"Hmph... It's because that little runt is actually disciplined."

"An acquaintance of yours?"

"An old one." The first man replied.

"Josiah... It seems we're meeting again after all these years. What have you been up to, son?" The second male thinks to himself as his gun shined in the light.

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It was now the next day as Josiah was in Trost District with the others. "Try not to walk in a cluster. We'll stand out." Levi informed. "Eren and Historia, just walk normal."

"Why is the royal family's flag hanging everywhere?" Connie asked.

"Oh! Today must be the anniversary of the King's coronation. Once a year, they hand out a haul of rations." Sasha explained.

"Oh..." Connie mumbled.

"We'll begin handing out rations! King Fritz has heard of Trost District's hardship and will donate the royal family's reserves! There's enough for everyone! Line up orderly!"

"Thank goodness!"

"Long live King Fritz!"

"What a King! He sure is generous!" Sasha commented.

"He's got more than he knows what to do with. People are weak, especially when baited with food." Levi explained as the group walked away.

They were walking by the alleys again, passing by stalls until something grabbed Levi's attention.

"Watch out! Behind us!" Levi warned.

A cart ran past them and grabbed both Jean and Armin, who were disguised as Eren and Historia.

"Armi— I mean, Christa and Eren! They got snatched away again!" Sasha shouted.

The Scouts soon followed the wagon to see it lead to some warehouse. Mikasa and Josiah stood in front of the window as they saw Armin and Jean tied to chairs, while Armin was being touched inappropriately by one of the kidnappers.

"Let's report back to the captain, and quickly." Josiah informed as Mikasa nodded in agreement. They both used their ODM gear to fly up and land on the building where Levi was.

"How's it going inside?" Levi asked.

"If we don't hurry, they'll see through Armin's disguise. And I feel bad for him..." Mikasa replied.

"I see." Levi answered.

"How is your leg, Captain Levi? Any better?" Josiah asked.

"I can move well enough. It's not bad. More importantly, these kidnappers... They're nothing but amateurs. Why would they be using guys like this?" Levi asked himself before standing up. "You can handle the rest on your own. I'm heading for Eren."

"Once you've dealt with the trash, come and meet up with me."

"Roger." Both Mikasa and Josiah responded.

"One more thing... I'll tell you both, just in case. Tell Armin and the others, too." Levi stated as the two looked at him.

Josiah enters through the window first before knocking out the guard who was groping Armin.

A cart stopped from inside as both Josiah and Mikasa hid behind some crates. Four men entered the warehouse, looking at the two.

"You sure, without a doubt, it's Christa and Eren?"

"Yes, they match the description."

"Huh? Where's the guard?"

Mikasa and Josiah appeared from their hiding spot as Mikasa hit one of the men at the back with her knee, knocking him out. Before grabbing onto the other man and harshly throwing him down to the ground.

The other man tried to pull out his pistol, but Josiah was faster as he sent a kick to his face, some of his teeth being knocked out in the process.

Armin and Jean removed the rope from their hands and used it to tie it onto the kidnappers while Mikasa tackled the boss to the floor.

"Connie! Is it really just four of them?!" Mikasa asked.

"Yeah, that's it!" Connie replied from above them. "Nobody else in the area!"

The boss pulls out a pistol, but Sasha was quick to shoot the pistol with her bow and arrow.

"If you move again, who knows where I'll hit?" Sasha said.

"All right! First, we tie these guys up, then we meet up with the captain." Mikasa informed.

"What do you mean?" Armin asked.

"Captain's orders, and he sends a message, too." Josiah was the one who replied.

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A/N: The first chapter of season three is finished! Josiah's dad will show up in the next chapter! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2312 words.