Attack on Titan: A Blacksmith's Tale

Chapter 41: Coordinate

Nothing prepared Historia for what she saw with wide eyes in Annie's hand. It was so hard for her to believe, yet the evidence was right in front of her. Ymir not only captured Dillon, but she ate him. Swallowed him whole.

"Dillon?" she asked quietly, finding it hard to form sentences. "But why would-how...?"

"His life for hers," Jean growled in disgust. "Still want to be on her side after that?"

Historia was at a loss for words as it continued to sink into her mind. Ymir.

"Holy shit," Hannes swore as he and the cavalry slowed to a halt, dumbfounded. "How the hell is he still alive?"

With a snarl, Annie kicked the motionless body of Ymir aside as her eyes went back to her boyfriend, her gaze softening to concern. "Dillon?"

Gasping for air, Dillon opened his eyes as he let out violent coughs. He rolled to his stomach, regurgitating the contents from his ordeal. His throat felt like it was on fire and his body ached as the injuries caught up with him. All in all, he was very fortunate to be alive... or unfortunate depending on one's point of view.

"You're okay," she assured gently before her eyes drifted to Bertholdt, who was getting up with Eren still attached to his back. As much as she wanted to take care of her lover, there were far more important things to do first.

"I've got him," Mikasa said darkly as she ran with her swords drawn, ready to finish the job.

However, the taller Shifter thought fast. Detaching Eren, he quickly zoomed away onto a tree just as Mikasa nearly took his head clean off. To make matters worse, Reiner thrust his head forward and trapped Eren inside his mouth, inches away from Mikasa.

"Eren!" she yelled, staggering back in horror.

The Armored Titan lifted his fist and brought it down towards her, but she managed to jump out of the way, a crater forming where she once stood. She grappled to a tree opposite of where Bertholdt was, glaring at him. She might not be able to kill Reiner yet, but the other traitor was wide open and exposed.

Annie's expression going back to cold and determined, she lowered him to Jean. "Get him out of here."

"Annie," Dillon said quietly, not wanting her to go.

"I'm coming back," she promised as Jean relieved her of him, standing up at the same time Reiner did. "Now go."

"Come on, Dillon," Jean grunted, carrying him to his horse. "We're getting out of here."

Knowing what was about to happen, Hannes took charge. "Soldiers, steer clear of the Armored and Female Titans unless you want to get flattened and keep an eye on the Colossal."

Taking the initiative, Mikasa catapulted from the tree straight for Bertholdt, though Reiner decided to try and swat her out of the sky. Fortunately, Annie pulled him away just in the nick of time as Mikasa was forced to get out of the way. The price for that intervention was an armored fist to the gut, causing Annie to roll across the ground in a heap.

"Damn it, Mikasa," she growled, steam emitting from her stomach. "Pay attention."

She's right. The impulsive woman realized, keeping her distance as Reiner stood between her and Bertholdt. All Bertholdt has to do is run to Reiner for help, and I'm finished.

Sure enough, the tall Shifter grappled onto Reiner's shoulder, looking like a kicked puppy as he stared at the Female Titan. "Annie, why? Why did you betray us?"

Annie's mind drifted back to that horrible Expedition when she was asked the same thing. She couldn't betray how she was feeling about this whole thing, so she kept her expression cold and determined as she slowly rose to her feet. Three years of training with the 104th made her a master at it.