ᵗᵒ ᵗᵃᵐᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇᵉᵃˢᵗ AOT

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓕𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓷

"The Stohess District?! Isn't that behind Wall Sina?!" Eren exclaimed as he sat down in a chair on Petra's side of the room. "Yes. And I need to get this trunk that holds my Dad's diaries. They might give me clues about my powers."

"But, what about your mom?" Eren asked, Madison looking to the ground, glaring at it. "At this point, I don't care what she thinks. She didn't care when I left and never went back to the house, so why should I care if she doesn't allow me to come back? Besides, I'm just grabbing the trunk and going. That's it."

Eren stared at Madison with a worried look, seeing how much anger and hatred she had towards her mother. It was one thing to be concerned about your child for wanting to go into the Cadet Corps at such a young age, but its another when you tell them to leave and never come. Not to mention not look for them. Madison noticed Eren staring and rose an eyebrow at this.

"What?"

"Huh? O-Oh, nothing. I..I need to go pack my stuff if we'll be leaving soon." Eren replied, his face as red as a tomato and flustered. He quickly got from his spot in the chair, Madison confused as to why he was rushing out so quickly, but she let it go, placing her uniform inside her bag. "Alright. That should be everything.."

"You're forgetting this.." Dhe heard, looking to her doorway and seeing Hange standing with something in their hand. "H-Hange!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to barge in like this. But Erwin thought you'd might like this to take with you." Hange assured, holding out their hand and Madison taking a look at the object they were holding. "That's..that's my Dad's pendant." (Its the same pendant Erwin wears if you're confused.)

"Yeah, Erwin kept it for your family, but now that you're here, he wants you to have it." Hange said, Madison taking it and placing it around her neck, tightening the straps for a snug yet loose fit. "Thank you, Hange. And I'm really sorry about your test subjects.."

"It's alright! I can gather more information with Eren on our way to the Stohess District." Hange replied, Madison furrowing her eyebrows with extreme confusion. "Wait, you're coming with us?"

"Yep, as is Moblit and Levi Squad, of course." Hange informed. "I assumed Levi Squad was going to considering that they're the Captain's squad and all."

"That and also as safety precautions."

"Because Eren might go Titan and try to attack us?" Madison bluntly asked, folding her arms. "Well, yes, to put it bluntly like that. Although..if he could transform into his Titan form again....ooooo...that would be amazing..."

"Um..Hange?"

"Eh? Oh, sorry! Had a moment! But, anyway, because of what happened in Trost, we have to take the necessary precautions for your safety, others, even Eren himself. It's not something we want to do, but we have to." Hange explained, sitting down on Petra's empty bed. Madison looked at them, still not liking this whole idea of 24/7 watch. But she could understand why.

Eren has this unknown power of turning into a Titan. Not knowing if he can control it, or if he will be able to control it. Who wouldn't be afraid? Madison only wished people had more faith in him like they did her Dad. Yes, they're different powers, but they're both deadly, yet everyone in the Regiment believed he was capable of control his abilities.

"Hange.." Madison began, Hange leaning forward, resting their elbows on their knees as Madison sat down on her bed, fiddling with her button-down sleeves. "Did..my dad ever kill anyone?"

"No. Not that I know of. Why do you ask?"

"It's just..my mind always wondered why my Dad was locked up in that cell for almost a year. It couldn't have been just experiments. That's why I asked." Madison asked, Hange shaking their head. "No, I don't think so. If he ever did, I'm sure he had a reason or he just wasn't in control. But see, I didn't know your father until 10 years ago when I joined the Scouts. So, anything beforehand I didn't know anything about."

"Oh.." Madison lowered her head, the question still burning fresh in her mind, but she had set it aside, standing up from her bed and throwing her bag over her shoulders. "Okay..I'm good to go."

"Oh, already? Alright! Since you're done, you can help me with something before we leave." Hange stated, gesturing for Madison to follow them. "What do you need help with?"
--

"Tch..you're late.." Levi said, seeing Hange and Madison approach with their baggage. "Sorry, Captain Levi. Hange wanted to get these on me before we leave."

"What are they anyway?" Levi asked, examining the wristbands from afar, the strange object's metal shimmering in the sunlight. "They're bracelets, but I made them energy-absorb. If any cause comes where we get surrounded by fire or something, those bracelets can absorb thermal energy and she can use it against it. Fighting fire with fire!"

"When in the hell did you find time to make these?" Levi asked, looking away from the bracelets and to Hange weirdly. "Requested by her father a while back. This is actually the draft."

"I don't know what the hell is going up in that shitty head of yours and I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but if those things get Madison killed, I will kill you slowly PERSONALLY." Levi threatened, Madison holding up her hand. "Don't worry, sir. They demonstrated a bit of it not too long again with sunlight."

"That's different. We're talking life threatening, not some kind of sunburn." Levi retorted back, raising an eyebrow at Madison. "Do you want to keep kicking dirt at us or do you want to get moving to the Forest of Giant Trees by dark?"

"Wait, that's what the forest is called? You couldn't call it something else?" Madison asked, giving a 'seriously' look to Hange. "Don't look at me. I didn't make up the name. That's what people call it."

"Let's get moving. We wasted enough time as it is." Levi mumbled, walking up to his horse and hopping on it. "Yes, sir."

"Maddie! Section Commander!" The two heard, both turning around and saw Eren approach, riding alongside him was Petra and Eld. "Hey guys!"

"Nervous about heading back home?" Petra asked, holding up a pair of reins and Madison looked closer and realized Petra had brought her horse. "A little. I haven't seen my siblings in almost four years!"

"What about your mom?" Eld asked, Madison pausing halfway towards her horse, a look of nonchalant spread on her freckled face. "I.. don't like to talk about it. Maybe later."

"Oh.." Eld replied, an awkward silence soon traveled through the four. "Let's go before Levi loses it." Hange reminded, hopping onto their horse which was not too far from the others. Madison quietly hopped on to her horse, holding her father's pendant close to her chest. She was going to get his diaries. She was going to learn the truth of her powers, what she could do.

And if she had to get past her mother to do so, she was going to do it. With everyone's help.