"Before I start with how everything happened and how I almost died by falling down into a river and almost drowning..." Here Armin shot a glare to Slade who brushed it off as if it didn't mean anything to him, which was obviously the case here. "Back in my home, we, humanity live within the confines of three walls. Maria, Rose and Sina. Each wall surrounds a massive area of land and stands about 50 meters tall. The purpose of these walls is to keep humans in and Titans out."
"Titans? As in the old gods of greek myth?" Steve asked curiously.
"No. The Titans are a race of giants that eat humans."
"How big are they?"
"They're usually 3 to 15 meters tall."
"Then I take it from these walls, they're usually not a problem because it's 50 meters?"
"That had been the case for a hundred years..." Armin said as he looked down and remembered that day. The massive head that fixed it's gaze upon the entire Shiganshina district and with one mighty blow, destroyed the gates of the wall letting in hundreds upon hundreds of titans. "5 years ago. A Titan... it's size... it was 60 meters tall."
"60 meters?!" Raynor asked with disbelief. Whatever this thing was, it could probably eat ultralisks for breakfast with it's size.
"So... what happened then?" Slade asked impatiently as he Armin continued.
"The titan destroyed the gate and the other titans came in... it was a massacre then. We were all too powerless to do anything. The military had set up cannons to defend the other gate but it was overrun by an armored Titan which shook off the cannon balls like they were nothing. I've seen those same cannons tear 15 meter classes in two but this... the story was they didn't even scratch it. It destroyed the other gate and it was all over then."
Armin paused for a moment as he looked at the table and his cup. He grasped upon it tightly, the wooden thing began to creak and splinter as he grasped it tighter and tighter.
"My parents died that day. But that's not the worst of it. A year later, the government decided they needed to take back the land we had lost. In the campaign that followed... it took my grandfather and the lives of 250,000."
He wiped his eyes for a moment as the long suppressed memories came back. For a moment, he thought of it all. Until the thought of his friends came to him.
"My friends, Eren and Mikasa joined the military. I went with them but that was... I don't know what that was. Because... the colossal Titan, the 60 meter one came back...."
The room hushed into silence as everyone displayed a stony silence. Armin didn't need to go any further as he received sympathetic gestures from everyone.
"We lost too many people that day... but what was important was... we won... for the first time in history... humanity had won against the titans!"
Armin once again stopped talking, this time to allow himself a small repose.
"I don't remember what had happened. But after the battle, I was told that I had mail. When I opened the box... there was a purple diamond inside of it... and the next thing I knew, I was here in the forest."
"And that's when I guess the two of us come in right?" Slade asked as he took a swig of apple cider.
"Indeed. I met these two in the forest when I was being attacked by a giant snake." Armin pointed at Slade and Steve. "The three of us got together and for a while decided on what to do. Unfortunately, those two didn't get along too well and couldn't decide on anything. I think... you..."
"Slade." Slade said. "I am surprised you don't remember by name."
"I will. I almost died because of you."
"Ha."
"Anyways... so he had heard about how one of our kind had ended up in the castle. So he wanted to investigate but we first had to go across a bridge. Though..."
"Steve." Cap said. The boy hadn't heard his name.
"Right. Steve said that the bridge wasn't safe but Slade insisted and said that I should go first to see because I was the lightest. I did and... the bridge broke."
"I thought you died." Steve said as he shook his head. "It's a miracle you're alive."
"It is. I couldn't swim as I never learned how to, but I managed to get saved by... I don't know what her name was... she had a yellow coat and a pink mane..."
"Fluttershy?'
"Right. I was saved by Fluttershy. You can image how surprised I was by a talking hor... I mean pony." Armin said. "But she was really nice. She made me supper and nursed my injuries. That afternoon, the military was told of my presence and I was summoned here in Canterlot. I was really worried at first until of course it was just that Princess... um..."
"Celestia."
"Right. Princess Celestia wanted to see if I was okay. I was fine thanks to Fluttershy and I really have to thank her for pulling me out of the water. I think I may have died if it hadn't been for her."
"I am sure you'll get a chance to thank Fluttershy later." Twilight said. "But..."
"Hey kid." Slade cut in. "If you have cannons, why is it so hard to kill these giants?"
"Because there's only one way to kill them. It's their weak spot at the nape of the neck. Other than that and they'll just grow back. I've seen some Titans that had been snapped in two grow back in just moments. Their regeneration abilities..."
"Is fascinating." Medic commented as he wrote this down. "Herr Armin, if possible, I vould like a sample of these... Titans..."
"A sample?"
"Ja. I vood like blood, skin, bone marrow, organs..."
"The problem is, Titan bodies like melt away when they are killed, and having a live one is a really bad idea."
"Hiss..."
"And I take it because you can't seem to use those swords of yours very well... you have quite some trouble with these titans?"
Armin ignored that one for the time being. Bullies. Best not feed them.
"So... who would like to speak next?"
"How about the doctor?" Slade suggested.
"Nein. There's nothing interesting about it save for a problem with my machines... a man of science making mistakes..."
"C'mon. I am pretty sure you have things to share."
"Nein. I don't... but I do have this really funny story..."
"Why don't we hear it?" Slade suggested.
"Hold that thought." Twilight said as she turned to Steve. "You were with Armin, why don't you say something?"
"I promise you, it's literally the same thing."
"Just say it? Please?"
"Fine." Steve said as he gave a small sigh. "Can someone get me some more apple cider? I am feeling a bit thirsty. Oh hey. Armin... your things..."
"RIGHT!" Armin said. "Twilight... that 3D maneuver gear I had..."
"I am sorry Armin. But it was broken... but we still got the swords..."
"Give him swords? He'll cut himself most likely." Slade said as he placed his own pair of blades on the table.
"You're all talk." Steve dismissed. "You have anything better to do then put other people down?"
"Really now?" Slade replied. "The truth hurts some times."
"Like how the world's greatest assassin got beat up by a twelve year old?"
Lets be frank. Its more of the other way around but frankly, whichever way it went, Slade wouldn't of have been proud of it.
"I am actually thirteen..." Sanya mouthed but no words came out.
"I don't condone hitting little girls unless they hit me first. But I can tell you, that blow hurt. But you know what? If you think you're better then, you can always fight me any time. Any arena of your choosing and any..."
"GUYS! STOP!" Twilight shouted causing both Steve and Slade to put off their argument. "Roger... whatever your name is..."
"Steve Rogers..."
"Can you please just go?"
"Fine..." Steve said grudgingly as he shot a glare at Slade who replied non-verbally with his own death(stroke) glare.