The Guardian's Tale (AOT fanfiction)

-57th Exterior Scouting Mission-

We rode through the ruins of a city as Hange spotted a 10-meter Titan to our left. 2 people from the Support Squad went to take care of it as we continued forward. As we did, I ran the plan through my head a second time. The Support Squad would only cover us until we were through the old city. Everything beyond that was fully Titan Territory. From then on, we would have to rely on Commander Erwin's long-range scouting formation. 

"Assume long-range scouting formation !" Commander Erwin exclaimed as soon as we came out of the old city.

Eren, Petra, Oruo and I were in row 5, in the center, in charge of standby. Red flares shot all around us and we changed the trajectory as soon as we spotted Commander Erwin's green flare. I looked up and let out a small gasp as I realized that something wasn't right. It had been awhile since the last red flare was shot and this was supposed to be Titan Territory. Suddenly, black flares shot up and my eyes widened. An abnormal ! Eren nudged me and I nodded, training my eyes back in front of me. 

A few minutes later, I turned my head as I heard heavy footsteps.

"D-Do you guys hear that ?" I asked.

"Huh ? What ? You're losing your mind just focus on what you're supposed to do."Oruo replied.

I reluctantly looked back in front of me, hearing the footsteps come closer. Suddenly, Petra handed me the reins of the an extra horses and I nodded. Commander Erwin had given me special orders, I was to stay with my group for awhile then break away to check if anyone needed help. It was almost time and I couldn't help but shake a little. I was going to head off alone into Titan Territory. I gripped the horses' reins tighter and narrowed my eyes. No, it was my duty to go help the others, I had to trust the Commander. I broke away from my group and headed off to the right. I spotted a horse, galloping alone and let out a short but sharp whistle and it started galloping towards me.

Soon enough, I spotted a group of 3 people but spotted only 1 horse. I changed my course and headed off towards them. I whistled to the other 2 horses and they followed suit. I let out a small gasp as I saw familiar faces. There, right in front of me, were Jean, Armin and Reiner. I let out a sigh of relief as I stopped in front of them. 

"Hey that's my horse !" Jean smiled.

"I saw the poor little fella all alone." I said as I wiped some sweat off of my forehead and patted Arashi's flank. "You should've seen him, he looked like he had the Devil on his tail." I joked. "Did you guys fight a Titan ?" I let out a small gasp as I saw Armin's head. "Armin you're hurt ! Are you alright ?"

"Yeah...more or less." He said as he got on his horse.

"I'm impressed you willingly came here after you saw that smoke signal." Reiner said. 

"Well uh...I had different orders and it looked like the right wing spotters may have been wiped out so I came to check." I rubbed the back of my neck.

"You have a way with horses. Not to mention a remarkable sense of virtue. We owe you one." Reiner thanked as he bowed his head.

"I'm just glad that the worst didn't happen to you guys." I smiled as the Sun illuminated my face. "C'mon, we better get back into formation !" I smiled and let out a small laugh as I saw Reiner's red face.

I rode in silence next to the 3 boys and fired a yellow smoke signal to let Commander Erwin know I was alright. All of a sudden, something Reiner said caught my attention.

"Plus, she's headed away from the lead command squad for some reason."

"Huh ? She ?" I questioned, turning my head slightly to him.

Before he could answer, green smoke signals were fire. Our sign to change course but continue the operation. 

"Hang on...they're not ordering us to retreat ?" I asked. "But the right wing spotters were all wiped out." I clenched Arashi's reins. 

"H-Hang on how do you know ?" Armin asked.

"You can easily hear the sounds of horses but when I headed off to the right, where the spotters should have been, there was nothing except screaming." I replied, looking straight in front of me.

"All soldiers have the authority to decide if the operation can't continue..." Reiner said, clenching his jaw. "Have the signals not reached the command squad ?"

"Either way...we have to trust their judgement." I said before I fired off a green smoke signal.

We joined with Sasha's group and noticed that the Center rank was heading right into the forest. As ordered, I changed my course and followed them.

"HEY ! WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?! IT'S DANGEROUS IN THERE !"Reiner yelled as I entered the forest.

"I'll be fine. That's a promise." I smiled at him, then completely entered the forest. "Come on boy...can you go a little faster for me ?" I asked my horse as I spotted the Levi Squad ahead.

As a sign that he had heard me, he galloped faster and we quickly caught up with the center rank. 

"Did everything go well shrimp ?" Captain Levi asked.

"Hai ! Yes sir !" I nodded. "I found Armin, Jean and Reiner and they joined in with Sasha's group."

Eren then called out to Captain Levi and pointed out that in this forest we had no chance of detecting approaching Titans. Especially not this far in. Captain Levi calmly pointed out that this was the perfect environment for ODM gear and that shut Eren up. As I looked around, I noticed that no one knew why we were here or what was going on and I started shaking. What the hell was going on ? Why did none of us know why we were here ?

As a black smoke signal was shot behind us, Captain Levi ordered us to draw our swords and I obliged. Time seemed to slow and as I turned around, I saw a soldier, blades drawn and on edge. All of a sudden, a hand smacked him away and a female looking Titan made her way towards us. She made a go for Eren and I but missed as she slid too far to the side. Petra pleaded the Captain to switch to ODM gear but he stayed silent. Luckily for us, reinforcements from the rear arrived, ready to take care of the female Titan.

TO BE CONTINUED !