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

WARNING: This chapter contains MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH! Proceed with caution.

edited on june 19th, 2022 @ 8:50am

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚈-𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙴,
𝓐𝚂𝚂𝙰𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙽'𝚂 𝙱𝚄𝙻𝙻𝙴𝚃.

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EREN'S TITAN TURNED AROUND TO face Reiner before the two of them charged at each other. Eren dodged his fist before sending a punch of his own, causing him to crash to the ground.

Eren soon appeared from his nape, his arms still in his Titan.

"Eren!" Mikasa shouted, landing down next to him.

"I think the fight's over. We're out of strength. At this point, I can't exactly kill Reiner." Eren informed.

Steam appeared from Simon's Titan as Oliver was at his side. Simon appeared with his arms still in his Titan — just like with Eren. His gray hair blowing harshly in the wind.

"You got what you came here for, Eren." Simon reminded him.

"Yeah."

"In that case, let's go back home." Mikasa told Eren.

"I'll take Simon. Mikasa, follow with Eren." Oliver said as the woman nodded in agreement as Oliver grabbed onto Simon's arm before connecting his wire towards the flying airship.

Oliver grabbed onto the airship's ladder as he banged onto the door. Armin opens it and helps both Simon and Oliver in.

"Simon." Levi breathed out in relief. He saw that his husband's Titan marks were still visible. He paid no mind as he embraced the gray-haired male.

"I'm okay, Levi."

"Thank goodness."

Armin soon pulled Eren up onto the airship, getting Levi's attention.

"Damn, you're a filthy sight." Levi's voice could be heard. "You fall in a pile of shit? Eren..."

"Captain..." Eren mumbled out.

Levi then swings his foot towards Eren's face, knocking him to a wall. Mikasa headed forwards but Armin stepped in front of her, keeping her from interfering.

Two of the Scouts pointed their guns towards Eren. "This brings back memories, Eren. You have such a kickable face. After you're all tied up, we'll have a chat." Levi spoke.

"That's fine, but I explained everything in the letters." Eren glanced up. "Did you not understand it?"

Levi 'tch-ed' as he looked down at Eren. "That face... It reminds me of the rotten shits who lived underground. Never thought I'd see it on you." He replied. "Cheer up. Everything happened like you wanted."

Outside, the Marleyan soldiers were trying to shoot at the last remaining Scouts.

"Everybody, in! They've got nothing to take down an airship!" Jean shouted.

"Jean!" Lobov flew over to him. "You go! I'll hold the rear!"

"It's all you, Commander Lobov!" Jean shouted out.

"I told you, I'm a recruit! Nobody needs the Garrison anymore!" Lobov turned around and began shooting at the Marleyan soldiers below. "Especially not some overpaid geezer!"

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A sound from what sounded like a gunshot was heard from the main room where the other Scouts were.

"They're still celebrating?" Levi questioned, making Dillon sigh.

"I'll go shut 'em up."

Simon held Dillon back. "Don't, Dill. Let them have this. They all deserve it." He informed, causing Dillon to scoff.

"Damn youngsters have no respect for their superior officers." Dillon grumbled under his breath.

A few moments later, the door opened and Jean entered, along with two children, their eyes widening at the sight of Zeke.

"Gabi, Falco... Why are you here?" Zeke asked.

"What do you mean?" Falco questioned.

"They took you alive?" Gabi also asked.

"Where'd these kids come from?" Levi questioned.

"They killed Lobov and got onboard using his ODM gear. And this girl shot Sasha. I don't think she's going to make it." Jean replied as Armin and Mikasa ran out of the room.

"You take it from here, Onyankopon."

"You got it, Hange!"

Hange stepped out of the control room. "Well? Did everything play out as you hoped, Zeke Yeager?" They asked.

"Huh?"

"For the most part, but there were a few miscalculations." Zeke responded.

"Zeke...?"

"Huh? Who are these kids?" Hange questioned, finally noticing Gabi and Falco.

"Miscalculations." Zeke answered.

"Yelena! What the hell happened to trapping the Cart and Jaw?! People died because of you!" Jean shouted.

"I'm sorry. I assure you they fell down the hole, but it's still my fault." Yelena spoke.

"And to cover for that slip-up, the Beast chucked more rocks at us than planned. That was some clever improv for a clown like you. Wouldn't you say, hairball?" Levi insulted.

"Don't glare at me like that, Levi. What if I piss my pants?" Zeke asked in a sarcastic tone. "And you're quite the actor yourself, considering you want to kill me so bad."

"I'm the kind of person who saves the best bite for last. I like to savor the taste." Levi claimed.

"We killed the Marley brass and destroyed their port and fleet. That should buy us some time." Eren informed.

"Until the whole world launches a joint attack on Paradis? Every time you're caught by the enemy, we sacrifice lives to get you back. No matter how many it takes. And yet knowing that, you went as far as to make yourself a hostage. Just like you hoped, we didn't have much choice." Hange spoke. "You put your trust in us and we lost our trust in you."

"But now we have the Founding Titan and a Titan with royal blood. The cost of those sacrifices will be paid through Eldia's freedom." Zeke stated.

The door soon opened again, revealing a stunned Connie. "Sasha..." A tear slipped through his left eye. "...is dead."

In the other room, Armin and Mikasa were begging for Sasha to wake up.

"Connie. Did Sasha... have any last words?" Eren asked.

"She said... 'Meat.'" Connie responded.

Eren widened his eyes as he gritted his teeth, and began laughing slightly.

Eren widened his eyes as he gritted his teeth, and began laughing slightly, recalling a memory.

"I brought some meat from the officers' storehouse!"

"It'll be fine! We can just raise more cattle and sheep once we retake our land!"

"Eren... Sasha only died because you dragged the Scouts into this." Jean informed.

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A/N: Another chapter is completed! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 1025 words.