The Fight for Mankind

The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall

RIAN

Landing on the grass with a skidding halt, I panted in exertion and watched Eren's Titan form shake with rage before he ran at Reiner with a feral scream as Aurora used her gas to rocket herself away from the clashing Titans.

Running forwards, I shot my grapple upwards in a move we had only ever executed once before due to how dangerous it was and waited on bated breath as Aurora threw her own grapple out and snagged my line with hers, allowing me to reel her in towards me. Disengaging at the last moment, Aurora flipped herself backwards to slow her momentum and landed on the grass hunkered over, sliding back a few more meters as she watched Reiner pummelling Eren down.

"He's too heavy to win in a fist fight, he's going to have to get in close and use his weight against him!" Aurora grunted as she righted herself and took off back towards Eren's prone form, throwing her arms around her head to get his attention, "EREN GET UP! GET UP AND TAKE HIM TO THE GROUND!"

What the hell is she talking about?!

As if hearing our sister's words, Eren's Titan forced himself back up to his feet and screamed once again though this time the steam leaving his body seemed to double as his hands rapidly regenerated.

She's egging him on? Why? What good could that possibly do?!

"NO!" Armin's voice boomed from upon the wall, contradicting Aurora's words, "BACK DOWN YOU CAN'T WIN IN A FIST FIGHT! EREN PLEASE, DON'T BE RASH!"

"SHUT IT ARMIN!" Aurora snarled as she turned around and jabbed her finger at Armin up on the wall, ending his protests, before she spun back around to Eren's Titan, "EREN! REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE TAUGHT! THE BIGGER THEY ARE THE HARDER THEY FALL!" 

*********

"I don't know about this Rowan, isn't he a bit young for this?" Carla fretted as she eyed her only son and the fresh black eye he was sporting from her husband's side as he too watched Eren with worried eyes. He had been brawling again with the town bullies after they had tormented my cousin Armin just like always, except this time Aurora and I hadn't been fast enough to stop the one punch that had connected with Eren's small head, leading us to our current situation of Eren's parents coming to my Grandfather of all people for help. 

I wish they had chosen someone else...

"Rian and Aurora were younger when I began teaching them, and as Grisha put it if he is old enough to get his ass handed to him, then he is old enough to learn how to defend himself" Grandfather grunted as he pulled Aurora forward by her arm and spun her around to face him as Carla shot Grisha a scathing look. 

"Those weren't my exact words" Grisha defended as he narrowed his eyes at Grandfather, "But he isn't wrong dear, A day will come where Aurora and Rian won't be able to help him, and Eren may have to protect them instead, this is a cruel world we live in my love."

"True enough" Grandfather nodded before he gestured for Eren to step forward and shuffling forward, the 8-year-old pulled at his clothes as he came to stand before my Grandfather and Aurora, "Right then just the basics as agreed. For today Eren, you're going to watch Aurora and then tomorrow we are going to see what you have learned. Aurora is a lot smaller than me, just like you are against those bullies but that doesn't mean she can't win," Grandfather lectured before he turned to his granddaughter expectantly, "What is the first and only rule of combat?"

"There are no rules" Aurora answered immediately and continued on when Grandfather nodded to her with a slight smile pulling at his lips, "When in combat never assumed your enemy will fight with honour and as such use every opportunity to stack the odds in your favour. Attack the enemy when and where they least expect, where the ground and environment favours you and not them. Attack them when they are at their most vulnerable to cause maximum damage. Always cheat and never give your opponent a fair chance, because if you do, your finished."