"Thirty seconds until the gates open!" a Garrisons member called out. I played with the reigns on Midnight, as we waited for the gates to open. I looked to my left, where the little blonde boy and his sister watched us in awe. "So cool," the sister said. I gave them a fake smile. "Look! It's the captain form last time," the little girl said, and her brother nodded his head, before sending me the salute. I nodded my head, as the gates opened "Forward!" Erwin cried out, and we all began racing past the gate, and into the world of the titans.
I stayed rear center, Levi's squad behind me. I looked to my right as red flares where fired. I looked ahead to see a green flare shot towards the left in response. I veered my horse to the left, looking behind as the squad followed. I continued to scan my surroundings as we continued to travel. When suddenly, multiple yellow flares went off from the troops at right. I grew worried, but pushed the thought to the back of my minds. Right now, I need to stay focused, and get my team, and Eren, to the end of the forest.
Levi POV
I sat on my bed, looking at the ring (Y/N) had given me. What she had said yesterday replayed like a broken record in my minds. I pulled it off of my thumb, and looked at the small shine it gave off from the sun. Then, I noticed something etched into the inside of the ring. 'Ackerman' What?! Why was my last name etched into her ring? I contemplated the thought, falling back on my bed, my head hitting the pillow. I felt something in my chest. I shot up, placing the ring back on my finger, and walked to my closed. I was not about to miss out on this mission. I don't know why, but I had a bad feeling about this mission. I searched through my closet for anything I could wear that wasn't my uniform. I groaned when I could only find the outfit I wore when I lived underground. I disliked it, but it was all I had to wear. I also threw on my cloak, before attaching my 3DMG to my leathers. There were two clasps on the leather that the actual gear attached to. One to the belt, and one on the back pad, which lay against the lower back of the gear. I let out a sigh, running to the stables, where I found my horse. He was the only other black horse in the Corps, aside from (Y/N)'s. I saddled him, hoisting myself up. I kicked into his side, and we were off to the forest. It is beneficial for me that our headquarters was in the same general area as the forest the expedition will be taking place. I sped off, hoping to reach the troops in time.
(Y/N) POV
Green flares went up at our right. "Aurou, you shoot," I said, pointing to the green flares. "Roger," he said, quickly shooting a green flare in the corresponding direction. A cadet came up behind us. "Report! Attack at the rear. The right wing suffered severe losses. Part of the formation is no longer functioning. Please pass on the message to the west!" I nodded, turning to Petra. "Did you hear that? go," I said, and Petra obliged, veering out of formation. I turned back to the cadet, giving him a nod. We continued on, before three black flares shot up from the right. "Shit," I muttered. "Eren, you shoot," I said, returning my gaze forward. "They managed to get this far in. That can't be good," I muttered under my breath. We continued on, as the forest came into view. "Captain, are we going in there?" Eren asked, and I saw the front center squads enter. "Yes we are," I replied. Shortly after, Petra returned, and we entered the forest.
"Captain (Y/N)!" Eren cried out from behind me. "What?" I asked, not turning to look at him. "What do you mean 'What'? Why are we in the forest. from here, there is no way we could see a titan. And besides, there is an attack from the right we should be trying to avoid," he cried out. I rolled my eyes. "Look around you Eren. These trees are perfect for using out 3DMG. The left and right wings have mot of the titans covered. Worst comes to worst, we can easily escape an attack ourselves," I replied. Suddenly..."A black flare. Coming from right behind us," Erd said, and I turned to confirm his statement. "Draw your swords. If that thing decides to attack, there is going to be little to no time. Prepare yourselves," I cried out, holding my swords in each hand. Thumping could be heard from behind us, and I turned to see a 14 meter female titan running towards us. This one was different though. She wasn't abnormal, but...intelligent. "Captain!" Petra cried out, and I continued forward. "Run!" I cried, kicking into the sides of Midnight, as she sped up. "Captain! Let's kill it!" "Captain! Orders!" "It's catching up!" the cadets behind me cried out. I glared in front of me. I knew t was catching up, but we can't escape it, at least yet. "(Y/N)! Orders!" Petra cried out. I glanced up at the completely covered. A smoke signal would be useless. "Everyone, cover your ears," I called out, before loading the gun and shooting a sound can. I cringed at the sharp ringing sound. "A sound blast?" Eren said as the sound slowly faded, covering up all background noise. "What are your jobs?" I asked. "They are to protect this punk at all costs, even if we lose our lives. This is no time to cry over spilt milk. Everything could happen in an instant," I said. "Yes ma'am," the squad said. "right now, fighting the female titan would prove pointless. So, we will continue to flee on horse. Got it?" I said. "But, where?" Eren asked. He began growing frantic as we continued. "Tell me why?! Why must we continue to flee?!" he yelled. I turned back, to see he had put his blades back, and had his thumb to his mouth. "Eren! What do you think you are doing?" Petra cried out. I growled to myself, facing forward again. "Petra, let him do it, if he wishes," I said. "But Captain," Petra cried out. "Isn't it obvious? If he chooses to turn into a titan, he is proving that he is a monster. Because no matter how you try to talk to him, chain him down, or torture him, he will never fully submit and dedicate hi mind and soul into the Survey Corps, his fellow cadets, or his captain. Eren, the only difference between your decisions and ours is a time and experience gap. But you could avoid such a gap. That all lies in whether you believe in either yourself, or you comrades, myself included. So decide. Don't go looking for the right answer, because none of us have it. Just make a decision you won't regret," I said. Eren took a long pause, as Petra told him to believe in us, just as she had done during the experiments earlier this month. "Well?! Decide!" I cried out, and Eren yelled back, "I'll keep going!" I kept my gaze forward. "Target is accelerating!" Gunther cried out. "Faster! We will outrun it!" I yelled back. We sped up, running past a set up Erwin apparently had prepared. "Fire!" he called out, and we watched as wires flew at the titan, preventing it from moving. "Stop your horses up ahead by the supply carts, and switch to your maneuver gear. I need a word with Erwin. Eld, take charge until them. I'll leave the horses to you," I said, before flying into the tree next to Erwin. "Looks like it is immobilized," I said. "Yeah. Thank you for leading it here," Erwin said. "We were able to buy some time, thanks to the cadets at the right wing who sacrificed their lives," I said. "Is that so?" Erwin said, and I nodded. "Non-the-less, we can't let our guard down just yet," I said, staring down at the beast. "Fire!" Erwin shouted again, as more wires were shot at the female titan. I pulled out my blades, and turned to Mike. I gave him a nod, and he returned it. In an instant, we flew into an attack at the hands, which covered the nape of the titan. The skin hardened, breaking our blades. I caught myself from falling, landing on the titan's head. "Enjoying yourself? I wish you would stop being a selfish bitch, and take into consideration the trouble we are going through," I said, staring down at the blonde hair at my feet. "Do you really think you can get away from this predicament? I heard you killed off my subordinates one by one, in various ways. Did you have fun? Because it's now my turn to have fun," I growled at her. "One last thing. I'm sure it is alright if I sever your arms and legs. They'll grow back after all. I mean your real body, that is. It would be a problem if you died on us, wouldn't it?" I asked in a taunting voice. Suddenly, it yelled a deafening sound. I covered my ears as the cry grew louder. I glared at the monster, it's cries coming to a stop. "Why you. That was quite the scare," I growled, before the area began to quake. I looked around me in shock, as hundreds of titans, all abnormals, came running towards us. I flew out of reach, slashing the three titans closest to us. "What the fuck did you do?" I said, flying back around, joined by the other soldier, attacking the abnormals. But it was no use, there were to many, as they ate at the female titan's body. "All soldiers retreat!" Erwin cried, as we all stopped. I landed against a tree. "Return to Karanese District!" he shouted. I looked over at him, as he watched the titans continue to eat at the rotting corpse. "Look at you," I said. "It proves what the enemy is willing to abandon to win. They'd even have themselves devoured in order to hide information," Erwin replied. "Leaving us here, after all we had said to at the trial. We can't exactly go back empty-handed. Who knows what will happen to both Eren and us," I said, turning back to the monstrosity in front of us. "Let's consider that after the fact. right now, our main goal should be getting back without any more losses. For now at least," Erwin said, ending our conversation. "I'll get my squad," I said. "Wait (Y/N). Resupply your gas and blades," Erwin said. "I do believe we are short on time," I said, looking back at the blue smoke signal in Erwin's hand. "It's an order, (Y/N)," Erwin said. I let out a sigh, nodding my head. I flew down to the supply wagons, replacing my blades, and refilling my gas tanks. I looked above me, seeing the blue smoke signal shoot into the air. I let out a sigh.
