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

edited on march 29th, 2022 @ 6:42pm

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚁𝚃𝚈-𝚃𝚆𝙾,
𝓝𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙱𝙰𝚃𝚃𝙻𝙴 𝚃𝙾 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙰𝙺𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚆𝙰𝙻𝙻.

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The Scout Regiment hurry their preparations for retaking Wall Maria. There came another... One more thing to shape their fate had been found.

ON A TABLE THERE LAID a syringe with Titan serum left by Kenny Ackerman. Around the table stood Erwin Smith, Dot Pyxis, Hange Zoe, Simon Laurent, and Levi Ackerman. Soon after, the door opened to reveal Dhalis Zachary. The door shut behind him.

"Sorry I'm late." He apologized, walking over to the table and sat in the chair, holding his hands together. "Well? Have we discovered what's in the container?"

"The thing is... With our technology, I'm afraid we can't dig much deeper. Like we've heard from Eren and Historia, it seems to originate from some sort of human bodily fluid. However, it vaporizes when exposed to air, making analysis difficult. Whoever made it must have had technology far superior to ours. If it was the Reiss family, I can't imagine how..." Hange explained.

Zachary hummed in thought as Simon cleared his throat. "It also has to be injected a certain way, or otherwise the effects would be much similar with what happened to Rod Reiss." He explained.

"In that case, instead of tampering with it, we should use it to achieve our current objective." Pyxis stated.

"But who do we entrust it to?" Zachary asked as he turned to Erwin. "Erwin, to you?"

"No... I'm no more than a wounded soldier. This box belongs with one of our elite soldiers who has the best odds of survival." Erwin replied, turning to Levi. "Levi, would you keep it?"

Levi looked up to him. "If it's an order, just say so." He responded. "Why even ask the question?"

Erwin turned away. "We can't predict in what situation we'll have to use this. We'll be relying on you to make a decision on the fly. Judging when and who to use it on will be for you to choose. Can we leave that to you?" He questioned.

"If this dream of yours comes true, what will you do then?" Levi asked.

Erwin thought for a moment. "I... don't know. I won't until it happens." He answered.

Levi gave him a look. "I see... All right. I'll do it." He agreed before closing the box and picking it up.

Zachary furrowed his eyebrows. "By the way, I'd like to unveil that work of mine soon. Have you given it a thought?" He asked.

Pyxis tilted his head. "You still haven't given up on that? If the public saw that repulsive display, trust in the military would hit rock bottom." He replied.

"You don't know art when you see it."

Simon covered his mouth to hide his smirk. "I don't know. It was highly amusing to me." He commented as Zachary looked over to him.

"Thank you Section Commander. At least someone can see art the way I see it." Zachary said.

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Later on Erwin, Simon, Hange and Levi met with some other officers. Erwin placed some papers down on the table. "In other words, Eren's father, Grisha Yeager... is likely a human who came from outside the walls." He said.

"Yes. Just like Annie, Reiner, and Bertholdt, he possessed the Power of the Titans. But different from those three, he was supportive of humanity within the walls." Hange stated.

"If he was so interested to know about the Scouts and such, we could've used more of that support of his."

"I wonder... From the moment he entered the walls, he was searching for the royal family all alone, I'm sure. And that... That's not something you do without incredible resolve. That same father wanted to show his 10-year-old son, eager to join the Scouts, the basement of their house. On death's door, he said the truth of all of it was... in the basement. What in the world do you think is down there?" Hange questioned.

Simon crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes in thought. "Whatever it is, it may be the answer that we've been searching for all these years." He said.

"Things which mustn't be said. No... Things Grisha Yeager couldn't say, even if he wanted to. That which the First Reiss King wiped from our memories... memories of our world... is what I hope, but... Pondering about it here won't accomplish much. The preparations finished today. The operation to retake Wall Maria starts in two days. Want to know what's in the basement? Let's go see for ourselves. Isn't that what Scouts do?" Erwin smiled as everyone else did to, minus Levi.

"Let all your squads know."

"Right. Keeping it secret of course, yeah?"

"On a day like this, we deserve some meat, right?"

"Good idea. Gotta show those kids us adults can be counted on. What about Commander Shadis keeping secrets from us?"

"Forget about him. We don't have time to deal with it." Hange answered.

"I'm shocked, Hange. You used to adore him!"

"Shut up!"

Levi closed the door behind him, leaving only him, Simon, and Erwin in the room.

"What is it, Levi?" Erwin questioned.

"It's a bit hasty, but... What will you do after retaking Wall Maria?" Levi asked. "I'd guess a defense plan comes first, but... After that?"

"Eliminating threats. Outside the walls, there seems to be someone hoping Titans will eat us all. Of course, the answer to who is in the basement, I imagine. It's as I said earlier. We'll plan that after the basement." Erwin answered.

"I'm asking this because you might not live that long. You can't exactly move like you used to. Let Hange call the shots. You'll just be dead weight. Let the good news come to you. We'll tell the others I argued till you gave in. No... That's actually what I intend. Fine with that?" Levi questioned.

Erwin stayed silent for a moment, as if he was in deep thought. "I'm not." He replied, making Levi look up in shock. "I'm fine being food. Use me as bait. The chain of command still remains. If I'm gone, then Hange. If Hange's gone, the next. It's true, this operation will be dangerous, but... to humanity, it's more important than anyone else. That's why I've gone to such lengths. This is all my plan. If I don't do it, the success rate will plummet."

"That's right. The operation might fail, but... If you bite the dust in the process, we're doomed." Levi countered. "So just sit at your desk and keep using your head. That's the last thing the Titans would want. And for humanity, it's the best thing going for us."

"No, you're wrong. Our best option is for me to gamble it all—"

"Hey, hey, hey, hey! Hold up..." Levi interjected. "Keep using that bluff around me and I'll break both of your damn legs. I'll make it nice and easy to attach them later. But the operation to retake Wall Maria will proceed with you weeping here. It'll be a bitch to get to the toilet though."

Erwin chuckled. "I'd like to avoid that. What you're saying is right. A wounded soldier should stay off the battlefield. However... there will come a moment when we learn the truth of our world... and I must be there for it." He informed.

"Is it that important to you? More than your legs?" Levi threatened.

"Yes."

Levi narrowed his eyes. "More than humanity's victory?" He asked.

"Yes."

"I see..." Levi said as he turned around and opened the door. "Erwin... I'll trust your judgment."

With that, Levi left the room. Simon sighed before getting up and following him.

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"Tonight's the night before we retake Wall Maria!"

Everyone bolted towards the meat and tried taking as much as possible, arguments broke out and the whole mess hall had turned chaotic in a matter of minutes.

Simon was sitting with his squad members at a nearby table. Simon managed to get a piece of meat as he started to chew on it.

"Hey, I think we've got casualties." Dillon commented.

"Whose brilliant idea was it to serve meat?" Oliver questioned.

"Just be glad we were able to get some." Simon mumbled.

Sasha had to be knocked unconscious and tied to a pole since she tried eating Jean and gave Marlo a nosebleed. "At least they're excited." Rachel smiled.

A fight ended up breaking out between Eren and Jean, they had worn each other out but kept punching each other.

"Geez, how noisy..." Simon said, getting up from his seat.

"Hey."

Levi and Simon swooped in. Levi kicked Eren while Simon punched his Jean in the guts.

"You're all too damn rowdy. Go to sleep." Levi informed as Jean then vomited. "And clean that up."

"Yes, sir!"

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It was late at night as Simon went out to clear his head. He looked over and was surprised to see Levi drinking something that wasn't tea.

Simon sat down on the steps next to him. "Out of all the years I've known you, I never thought I would see you drinking something other than tea." He commented.

Levi let out a chuckle. "I guess you didn't know me as well as you thought, Simon." He said.

The two sat in comfortable silence as they stared up at the night sky. "It's kinda funny. Just before our expedition. Farlan, Isabel, Sean, you, and I looked up at the night sky, just talking about things. Then they had to go ahead and die." Simon spoke up as Levi stayed silent.

"I did the same thing with Sean, you know? Before I knew it, I lost him, too." Simon said, looking down in guilt. "It just feels like every time I look up at the sky, someone I care about dies."

"How many times do I have to drill it into your head, Simon?" Levi asked. "Their deaths were not your fault."

"I know." Simon told him. "Do you ever think about them? Farlan and Isabel, I mean."

"Sometimes." Levi admitted.

"I think they would be proud of us. Sean, too." Simon stated.

"Yeah."

Levi sighed before standing up. "I'm heading back to my room. You coming?" He questioned.

"Nah. You go on ahead. I'm gonna stay here for a bit."

"All right then."

Simon heard the sound of Levi's footsteps walking away as he looked up at the sky once more.

"Farlan, Isabel, Sean, and Alastrine... Things are finally looking good for us." Simon thought. "I just wish you guys were here to see it happen."

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It was the next day as the sun was rising up. Simon was in his Scouts uniform with his ODM gear along with his green hooded cloak. He was with Erwin, Levi, Hange, and a few other officers as they faced Zachary, the Garrison, and the Military Police.

Zachary then saluted to them, followed by the Garrison and the Military Police as the Scouts returned it.

Simon was with Levi and Hange as they heard someone shout out.

"Hey! Hange-san! Good luck!" Flegel shouted.

"Flegel?" Hange questioned.

"Take back Wall Maria for us!"

"The future of humanity is in your hands!"

"Captain Levi! Thank you for saving our city!"

The rest of the Scouts then stood on top of the wall.

"You all come back in one piece, all right?!"

"But go and reclaim our territory!"

"Someone's got a big mouth." Levi commented.

"Well, with the commotion we've made, of course they'd find out." Hange stated.

"The thing is, all the meat we ordered was from the Reeves Company."

"Damn that Flegel."

"Yeah!" Sasha shouted.

"You can count on us!" Jean promised.

"You know we will!" Connie exclaimed.

"How long's it been since the Scouts got a send-off like this?"

"Who knows? I don't think we've ever..."

"As far as I'm aware, this is the first." Erwin said before raising his arm and letting out a battle cry.

Erwin then extended his sword. "The final operation to retake Wall Maria... will now commence!" He shouted.

The soldiers got their horses and the ground as they gathered.

"Advance!" Erwin shouted as the Scouts headed towards Wall Maria.

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

Word Count: 2054 words.