A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter! We only have one more episode left until the end of season two! Enjoy!

edited on november 10th, 2021 @ 11:23am

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚃𝚆𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚈-𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙴,
𝓒𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙶𝙴.

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ERWIN TURNED AROUND AND SPOTTED the Armored Titan running out of the forest. "All squads! Let the Titans chase after you! Follow my lead!" Erwin ordered, raising his blade in the air.

"Erwin... You demon! Are you trying to use us as bait again?!"

"That's not my intention! The Military Police have fought well! Now serve your duty as soldiers!" Erwin shouted. "The Armored Titan plans to escape with Eren! We have to stop him no matter what!"

The Armored Titan continued running with the Scouts chasing after him. "He's not fast enough to escape! We'll catch up!" Jean shouted.

"This time, I won't hesitate. I'll kill them both, I swear!" Mikasa declared. "And if Ymir gets in my way, she's asking for it, too. No matter what it takes... I will!"

Ymir releases Historia from her mouth as saliva covered her. Historia could only gasp out as she coughed.

"Christa!" Bertholdt shouted out.

Historia looked over and saw Ymir in her Titan form. "Ymir..." She mumbled as steam appeared and Ymir appeared from her nape.

"Chris—" Ymir paused to cough. "No... Historia. Sorry... for eating you... like that. I bet... you're mad at me."

"Ymir... What is this? What are you doing? We came to rescue you and Er—" Historia began.

"I don't need rescuing!" Ymir cut her off. "Just stay right there. I'm following Reiner and Bertholdt now. You, too. Come with me. There's no future within the walls! Listen to me, Historia... Outside of the walls isn't as bad as you think. Especially... because there won't be anyone saying that you're better off not being born."

"I'm pretty sure Titans won't be saying that to me... because they'll be too busy trying to eat me!" Historia shouted.

"Everyone has at least one or two faults! If you can just overlook that, they're not so bad after all!"

"Ymir! Everything you're saying and doing isn't making any sense!" Historia shouted. "Could it be... that Reiner and Bertholdt threatened you?"

Historia didn't get a response. "It's... the reverse." Bertholdt was the one who finally responded.

"Am I right, Ymir?! I'll fight them with you, so let me out of your hand! I don't care if there's something you can't tell me. No matter what happens... I will always be your ally!" Historia claimed.

"Ymir! Look... The Scouts have already gotten this close. If only we had run right away, we probably would've been able to escape. But because you forced us to bring Christa... at this rate, they'll catch us!" Bertholdt informed. "Hey, Ymir... are you telling us we did all of that for nothing? Did you change your mind? Is that what you really want? Letting Christa rot within the walls? Don't be stupid! Ymir!"

"Ymir! Hurry up and let me go!" Historia exclaimed.

"I can't!" Ymir shouted. It was silent for a moment until Ymir spoke up again. "Historia... To be honest... the reason I snatched you away... was only... to save myself."

"Huh?"

"A long time ago, I stole the Power of the Titans from one of their comrades. There's nothing I can do against them. Sooner or later, they'll kill me. But... if I hand you over and cooperate with them... they said they would see what they could do... and try to make it so my crime goes away. Because you know the secrets of the wall, you're someone important to the Church."

Historia gasped. "Once this world started going to hell... I thought being with you would give me insurance in the future. I almost died during the battle at that castle... and that feeling scarred me for life. I'm afraid to die... I'll do whatever it takes to live... I'm pathetic... I told myself I was doing it for your sake... but really, I did it for myself. Please, Historia... Please... Please save me!" Ymir declared.

It went silent for a moment. "I told you already, Ymir. No matter what happens... I will always be your ally!" Historia claimed.

Eren had finally woken up as he saw Hannes trying to attack the Armored Titan. A soldier tried to attack but was thrown down by Ymir.

Ymir's left eye was slashed by Mikasa. Bertholdt panicked and used his gear to land on Reiner's neck. "Reiner! Protect us!" Bertholdt yelled, just before Mikasa got to him, Reiner used his hands as a barricade.

Bertholdt looked up from a open line in Reiner's hand to see Mikasa giving him a death glare as he stared back with fear in his eyes.

Ymir then headed for her. "I knew it! I'll have to kill Ymir first!" Mikasa thought as she pulled her blades out and headed for Ymir.

"Wait, Mikasa!" Historia shouted, putting herself in front of Ymir's Titan as Mikasa used her gear to land on the back of Reiner's head.

"Don't kill Ymir!" Historia begged.

"That all depends on Ymir! What will it be? I'll kill everyone that gets in my way, so choose!" Mikasa shouted.

"No, wait! Ymir will be killed unless she does what Reiner and Bertholdt say! She doesn't have a choice!" Historia argued.

"There's only so many lives that I actually care about. My enemies made deciding that easy six years ago. So... you're mistaken to seek any compassion from me. Because right now, I'm all out of time and room in my heart to care. Christa... do you pick Eren or Ymir? Which is it? Will you get in my way, too?!" Mikasa asked.

Ymir roared as she raised her hand. "Stop, Ymir! Don't fight back! You'll die! Don't move!" Historia said as Ymir looked back at Mikasa before looking down.

Eren was kicking Reiner's hand, trying to release himself from Bertholdt. "Quit it, Eren! Don't struggle!" Bertholdt said as the sound of ODM gear was heard.

"Good luck with that, Bertholdt." Jean began. "It's impossible to get him to calm down. He's the most irritating guy there is! I know better than anyone! I hate him as much as you do. So let's beat him up together. Why don't you come out of there?"

"Bertholdt! Give him back!" Mikasa ordered.

"Hey... You're kidding, right? Bertholdt? Reiner? This whole time... you kept quiet and deceived us? That's so cruel!" Connie stated.

"You guys! Tell us it's all a lie!" Sasha shouted.

"Hey, hey, hey... You think you can just keep running away? That's not gonna happen! For three years, didn't we sleep under the same roof as comrades through thick and thin?" Jean asked. "Bertholdt... Your odd sleeping positions were truly an art form. After a while, we all looked forward each morning to seeing your pose... and tried using it to predict the weather. But you... To think you, the invader... could sleep like a log... right next to your victims!"

"Was everything just a lie? Remember when we talked about surviving this together? And that we'd grow old, and someday we'd all go out for drinks together? Was everything... all a lie? Was it?!" Connie questioned.

"You guys... What were you guys thinking this whole time?" Connie added.

"What's it even matter anymore?" Mikasa asked as Connie looked up. "Just focus on cutting open his neck. If you hesitate for a moment, we won't be able to get Eren back. They are enemies of humanity. That's all there is to know."

"T-Tell me who!" Bertholdt finally spoke up. "Who the hell would want to kill people by their own choice?!"

His statement shocked everyone. "Who the hell would like doing this sort of thing?! Do you think I wanted to do this?! People hate and despise us... We've done such terrible things, we deserve to die. Things we'll never be able to take back... but... we just... couldn't come to terms with our sins. The only time we had some respite... was when we pretended to be soldiers." Bertholdt began. "That's not a lie! Connie! Jean! It's true we may have deceived everyone, but it's not all a lie!"

"We really considered you comrades! Neither of us have any right to even apologize. But... someone... Please... Someone, please... Someone find us!"

"Bertholdt..." Mikasa began, breaking the silence. "Give Eren back."

"It's no use... I can't. Someone has to be the one to do it. Someone has to be the one to stain their hands with blood." Bertholdt said.

"You guys!" Hannes called out. "Get away from there! I can't believe him... what the hell is that Erwin thinking?"

Everyone looked over to see a horde of Titans coming towards them.

"He's leading a horde of Titans this way!"

"You guys! Jump and get outta there!" Hannes ordered as everyone did as they were told.

"All soldiers, disperse! Get far away from the Titans!" Erwin ordered.

Reiner then began to pick up speed, crashing into the Titans. One was about to grab Historia, but Ymir saved her before she could get devoured. The Titans grabbed onto Reiner as he roared while the others watched.

"What's going on? Is this hell?" Jean asked himself.

Ymir was fighting the Titans off of Reiner. "No... but it will be!" Erwin answered, riding past him and taking out his blade.

"All soldiers, charge! The fate of humanity will be determined in this very moment! There is no future where humanity can inhabit these lands without Eren! We recover Eren and immediately retreat! Give your hearts!"

With that, everyone charged forward.

"Those crazy Scouts. Something's wrong with their heads."

"Hey!"

"Huh?"

A Military Police soldier got eaten as his comrade rushed off in fear.

"What's happening out there? What the hell's going on?" Eren asked himself.

"I can't move... Unless I tear these Titans off of me, it'll only get worse. In that case... Brace yourself, Bertholdt!" Reiner thought, releasing his hands from his neck and began punching the Titans.

"It worked! His hand's gone!" Jean announced.

"Now's our chance!" Mikasa claimed.

"Hey, Mikasa?! Can't you see all those Titans?! How do you plan on getting through that mess? You'd have to slip through a horde of 'em." Jean said.

"Advance!" Erwin shouted before he was caught by a Titan.

"Commander Erwin!"

"Advance!" Erwin ordered. "Eren is just ahead! Advance!"

Everyone followed his orders as they continued to charge forward. Soldiers were killed one by one.

Mikasa dodged all of the Titans as she tried to swing at Bertholdt who dodged. A Titan ended up grabbing hold of Mikasa as she screamed when it crushed her ribs.

"Mikasa!" Jean called out as he used his gear. "You piece of shit! Let her go!"

Jean sliced out the Titans eyes. Soldiers tried heading for him but ended up getting unhooked.

"We've come this far already. We're taking Eren home with us. We're going back to our hometown." Bertholdt declared.

"Shit... This is all because I got caught. Everyone's gonna die because of me." Eren thought.

"Bertholdt!" Armin called out, getting Eren's attention. "What is it? What do I have to abandon? Is it my life? Or something else?" He thought. Armin suddenly gasped, remembering something.

Armin suddenly got a crazed look on his face. "Are you two okay with this? Leaving behind your comrade and returning home?" He asked as both Bertholdt and Reiner's eyes widened.

"You're abandoning Annie? You know where she's at? Far north, deep underground in the Utopia District... and being tortured. It was her screams that taught us something. That even with her body's healing, you can never get rid of the pain. They're taking special care to ensure she doesn't die. And as we speak, they're not giving her body any rest. They're torturing her every way they know how."

"You spawn of the devil! I'll pulverize you!" Bertholdt shouted.

Erwin then came in with one arm as he slashed at Bertholdt's torso, releasing Eren.

Eren fell forward as Mikasa caught him on time. Bertholdt caught himself using his gear.

"All soldiers, retreat!" Erwin ordered.

Historia was about to head towards Ymir until Connie rode by her. "Christa!" He shouted, grabbing onto her.

"What the hell are you doing?! We're leaving!" Connie informed.

"Let's hurry home and chow down!" Sasha added.

"Connie! Sasha! Leave me be! Lemme go!" Historia told them.

"Huh?"

"Ymir said if I don't go with her, Reiner and Bertholdt are going to kill her! If she hands me in, they'll let her go free! We were gonna go with them!" Historia informed.

"What the heck? Ymir said that?" Connie questioned.

"Yes, so let me down!"

"It's a lie! Of course that's a lie! She's lying to you!" Sasha informed.

Connie looked over to see Ymir chasing them. "Sasha is right. You think the one who fought like a maniac to save you would do something like that?" Connie asked as Historia looked back.

"The only time Ymir ever shows some effort is when you're in trouble. I don't know about her getting killed, but... For now, just calm down." Connie continued.

"That's right! If you two stay here any longer, there's a huge chance that you'll die and it'll only get worse!" Sasha agreed.

"You know, even an idiot could figure that out." Connie stated as a Titan suddenly flew over them. Everyone could only stare in shock as an explosion was made. Jean was able to get out safety.

"Damn that Reiner! He's tossing Titans like a madman!" Jean commented.

Another Titan was thrown as Jean got caught in the explosion.

"Jean!" Julian shouted out, worried for his younger brother. "Damn it all! If Jean dies, I'll never forgive that bastard Erwin!"

"Eren! Mikasa!" Armin called out.

Mikasa groaned as she got up while her horse ran away. "Eren..." She mumbled as she clenched her jaw in pain from being grabbed by a Titan earlier.

She heard the sound of footsteps coming towards them as she looked over. Eren widened his eyes in the familiarity of the Titan.

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

Word Count: 2407 words.