Attack on Titan: Power of 12 Titans

Chapter 13

After escaping the Female Titan, Jean, Armin, and Reiner are now sitting on the grassy fields. They only have one horse, so they won't be able to leave. Reiner asks, "How's your 3D maneuver gear looking, Armin?"

"It's okay..." Armin replies. "The clasp released as intended, so it seems it's not broken."

"I see..." Reiner unrolls a bandage. "I'm glad to hear it. But what do we do?"

Reiner looks over at Jean, who is still whistling loudly. "We only have one horse. If Jean's horse comes back, the three of us can move, but..."

"Damn it, why?" Jean glances at the horse beside him, it belongs to Reiner. "Reiner's horse returned, so why didn't mine? We can't stay here any longer."

Fingers in his mouth, he begins whistling again. The field before him lays empty and peaceful, with no sign of life. He pulls out his fingers, coated in saliva.

"In the worst case, we'll have to leave someone here..." He turns to Armin and Reiner, "But how would we decide who to leave? Armin, since he's wounded? Reiner, since he's big and would have trouble riding with someone else? Or should I run and try to find my horse?"

Jean lowers his head, "Damn it...why the hell do I have to think about this?! We all made it through that fight alive. This isn't fair..."

He starts to whistle again, and Armin is in deep thought, he recognizes the Female Titan's face. Reiner notices him spacing out and asks, "Armin, are you still out of it?"

"Yeah, my head's still a bit fuzzy..." Armin mutters.

"I see. But we must decide. It's a hard choice, but someone will have to stay behind." Reiner says.

Armin stands up, "Wait! First, let's fire a smoke round... If the formation continued straight ahead, the 4th row's 3rd team should be nearby."

A purple flare shoots up to the sky, and some horses are seen running fairly close to the trio.

"That's the signal for an emergency..." Jean says. "But I can't imagine they'll understand our intentions just from that."

"Armin, we can wait another three minutes." Reiner says after Jean leaves. "By then, we must decide-"

"I'll stay." Armin says. "But there's something I want you to tell them for me... Preferably to Commander Erwin alone-"

"No, Armin. You should tell him yourself." Jean says while watching from afar, "Looks like someone's coming. And with two Horses!"

The person who comes to their rescue is Christa Lenz. She asks, "Is everyone okay?"

"That's my horse!" Jean says as the horse nuzzles him.

"He ran toward me, terrified..." Christa says, "Did you engage the Titans? Armin, what happened to you? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think so." Armin says.

"I can't believe that smoke round brought you here." Reiner says.

"I was nearby, and I already had Jean's horse." Christa says.

"Even horses like you." Reiner remarks. "It seems you have a strong charisma. You saved our lives."

Christa says with tears in her eyes, "But I'm so glad that the worst didn't happen to you. I really am glad."

She smiles cutely at them and sunlight suddenly strikes her, causing the three boys to look in surprise.

"God..." Armin thinks.

"A goddess." Jean thinks.

"I want to marry her." Reiner thinks.

"Well, we should rejoin the formation as soon as possible." Christa says.