Power to Strive

Distress

Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on Titan or this story.

Previously: The recruits learn the veterans have been keeping an eye on Ymir. Ymir finds out the Talking Titan was one of her followers.

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"As intended…" A brown wheel was spinning, seemingly belonging to an overturned carriage. "…the exercise wasn't supposed to be that difficult."

Two bruised jaws appeared.

A curved blade was held to a blonde-haired female's neck.

"Hey, I think I know when this is taking place," Armin said.

Sasha, Connie, Armin, and Mina stood behind Jean and Eren, their knees low, shoulders leaning forward, tensed looks on all their faces.

"If they'd left the forest, eventually everyone would come back."

Christa's hands were tied in front of her, a large man holding her hostage.

"It's that training exercise," Eren frowned.

"What happened?" Hange raised an eyebrow.

"You'll just have to wait and see," Connie said quickly. "This time we know what's going to happen and you guys don't."

All recruits quickly masked their expression, unwilling to give anything away.

"What's the point? We already know everyone makes it out okay." At Levi's words, they deflated.

Sasha pouted. "Oh yeah…"

"That…" Eren and Jean were glaring fiercely. "…was their only instruction."

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Eight horses ran across a relatively flat rocky area with limited trees near rocky formations. Armin looked up from a clipboard. Marco and Eren ran along with him with Sasha, Mina, Connie, and Christa behind them, and Jean at the very end. "That time, the 104th Trainee Corps were split into two groups."

Levi was a little disappointed. A part of him had been hoping there might be something about the Ackerman family. He still wasn't sure how to confront Mikasa about this theory. Would've been easier if the TV revealed it clearly to them. But he'd take not having his own private life be put on display for them again.

"They were to make a roundtrip to their target location and record their progress within a given time period." A drawing appeared, showing a group of horses crossing the flat land and heading toward a red medal with a gold star and returning with it. "The journey to the destination goes about 40km."

Marco was leading the group. "Marco was their group leader, while Armin was in charge of record-keeping."

Still gets me. Jean thought. He tried not to dwell on the sour feeling in his chest. It'd only put him in a bad mood for the rest of the episode and longer if nothing distracted him.