While stopped at the ruins of Utgard Castle to take a brief break, the Scouts were overwhelmed by a Titan assault, vanquishing their hope of survival. However, in that moment... Ymir suddenly transformed into a Titan. And then the main force of the Scouts rushed in to engage the enemy. They successfully dismantled the Titan attack. However, upon the ruins of battle, Eren and the others learn a surprising truth.
"My real name... is Historia."
As steady rain began to fall as the Scouts had regrouped on top of Wall Rose. All the Scouts were on top, carefully monitoring the area and slowly bringing up Ymir.
"Bring it up slowly!" shouted Moblit. "Bring it up steadily."
"is Ymir okay?" asked Eren. "What shape is she in?"
"her right arm and leg were bitten off, and her inside are beaten like scrambled eggs," explained Keiji. "If she was normal, she'd be dead for sure."
"Is she was normal, huh?" thought Eren.
Eren then saw Reiner struggling to getting up, due to his injured arm.
"Reiner! Grab on," said Eren, offering his arm.
Reiner grabbed his arm and Eren pulled him back on top of the wall.
"Please, believe me!" pleaded Historia in the back. "I'm telling the truth! Ymir transformed into a Titan to fight off the other Titans and saved us! She did so with no regard for her own life, which proves her loyalty to us, her comrades! It's the truth that her judgement until now is unforgivable. After all, she may know things useful to humanity and yet she kept quiet about it! I imagine she didn't say anything in order to protect herself. But... now she's a changed person! Ymir is an ally of humanity! I know Ymir better than anybody. She's a much simpler person than she looks!"
"I see," said Hange. "Obviously, I hope we can build a trusting relationship with her. Her judgement aside, the information she holds is treasure for humanity. I hope we get along. But you know... even is she is a simple person, this worlds becomes more confusing mess with every passing day. You said... your real name was Historia Reiss?"
"Yes, that's right," answered Historia.
"Reiss, as in that noble family?" asked Hange.
"Yes," Historia simply answered.
"I see," said Hange, placing her hand on Historia's shoulder. "Nice to meet you, Historia."
"Yeah..." said Historia.
Further back, a Scout with short cherry brown hair with straight bangs and straight ends and golden eyes, named Nifa, straps a rope along Ymir's strecher.
"How’s Ymir?" asked Hange.
"She's still in a coma," said Moblit. "Her bleeding has stopped, and we think steam is coming out her wounds."
"For now, take her back to Trost so she can get proper medical care," ordered Hange. "She's in your hands."
"Understood," said Nifa.
"Now then... Our original mission was to seal this wall," stated Hange.
Elsewhere on the wall, Reiner, now overcome with stress, was sitting down tending his arm.
"Damn, it hurts," winced Reiner.
"You alright, Reiner?" asked Eren.
"Not by a long shot," he answered, grabbing his head. "A Titan nearly gnawed off my arm. That was... pathetic. I thought I was done for."
Eren looked back down on the side of the wall. Armin got up on the side of the wall and Eren helped him up.
"Even someone as strong as you gets this way sometimes," said Eren.
"What are you talking about?" asked Reiner. "This is the second time for me! Tell him, Armin!"
"What?" asked Armin.
"Remeber the time I almost got crushed in that Titan's hand?" asked Reiner.
Armin remembers the time where was he almost getting killed by the Female Titan.
"Back then..." muttered Armin.
"That makes twice I've nearly died," said Reiner, holding his head. "At this rate, I'll be dead before I know it. I picked this path on my own, but being a soldier is rough. It's like a soldier's spirit breaks down before their body. Though, until we plug up this wall, there no time to waste time whining about it.
"Yeah, " said Eren. "You two have been driven away far enough away from your hometown. I'm thinking... this is where we gotta draw the line."
"He's right, Reiner!" exclaimed Bertholdt. "Our hometown! Let's return! isn't it about time to go back? Compared to the trouble we've been through, what's left to do is nothing!"
"That's right," said Reiner. "We're so close, it's just another few steps till the end."
'What are you guys talking about?" asked a confused Eren.
Behind them, Mikasa helped Conny up to join up with the rest of the Scouts.
"Thanks, Mikasa," thanked Conny.
"Are you hurt?" asked Mikasa.
"I'm fine, but... Reiner got his hand bitten and Ymir as you can see," informed Conny.
"Who would've thought Ymir was a Titan, too," said Sasha.
"Is everyone clear?" asked Hange. "We'll deal with Ymir later. And Conny, I'll arrange for a Scout squad to investigate your village later. For the time being, I want you to focus on the mission to fix the wall. Got it?"
"Got it!" replied Conny.
"Still, I expected this place to be swarming with Titans," said Hange, looking out the wall.
Next to the group, Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Indigo Zap, Sour Sweet, Sunny Flare, Lemon Zest, and Sugarcoat sat along the wall, looking out.
"Have you seen any Titans?" asked Twilight Sparkle.
"If you want to see trees, then no," said Sunset Shimmer.
"This is strange, we haven't seen any Titans after Utgard Castle," said Starlight Glimmer.
"This is strange, there should be Titan flooding the place," said Indigo Zap. "It's impossible to wipe them out."
"You said it," said Applejack.
"This will probably the last time I follow you," said Lemon Zest.
"I thought we were going to be safe if we participate in the Female Titan mission," said Fluttershy. "I didn't think of a huge Titan attack."
"Would you two chill out," demanded Sunny Flare. "Do the job and don't argue for the love of God."
"This is extremely dull," said Rarity. "I rather listen to Mr. Braus' story."
"Sasha's father?" asked Rainbow Dash. "What stories were they."
"Think it's best not to say," whispered Rarity, looking at Applejack.
Rainbow took a minute to figure out the story was about Applejack's parents. As they continued to look around for any incoming Titans. Then, the new Scouts had arrive to help the others, three in particular started running towards the group of girls.
"Applejack!!!" called a female Scout with brilliant amaranth hair with a light brilliant crimson bow on her hair and brilliant gamboge eyes.
"Rarity!!!" called a second female Scout with grayish mulberry hair with with pale, light grayish rose streaks in her hair, and pale, light grayish harlequin eyes.
"Rainbow Dash!!!" called a third female Scout with moderate cerise hair and moderate purple eyes.
Mikasa, Eren, Armin, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity turned around, easily recognizing the three voices.
"Apple Bloom?"
"Sweetie Belle?"
"Scootaloo?"
Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity ran towards the trio and wrapped their arms around them. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo wrapped their arms.
"God, I missed you kid," sighed Rainbow Dash.
"Me too," said Scootaloo. "I can't believe we're now part of the Scouts! I get to be closer my idol!"
"How was training for you, Apple Bloom?" asked Applejack.
"Tiring," answered Apple Bloom. "It was worth it for making it to the top fifteen."
"Who made it to the top fifteen?" asked Applejack.
"All three of us," the three said together.
"I'm proud of you, Sweetie Belle," sighed Rarity. "I didn't make it to the top fifteen, how did you do it?"
"Well, it's call teamwork, not minding any dirty work, and don't be a bitch," smirk Sweetie Belle.
Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo laughed at Sweetie Belle's comment, while Rarity forced a laugh. Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo saw the rest of the girls and new people. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo met up with Starlight Glimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. As they were done meeting up with old friends, they were now about to meet some new friends.
"Hi, I'm Apple Bloom, sister of Applejack," she greeted.
"I'm Sweetie Belle," she greeted.
"And I'm Scootaloo," she greeted.
"Nice to meet you three," said Sunny Flare. "I'm Sunny Flare."
"Sour Sweet."
"Sugarcoat."
"Indigo Zap."
"Lemon Zest."
"Nice to see some new Scouts coming in," said Sour Sweet. "Unless they mess up."
Apple Bloom then turned around to Applejack with concern, knowing three people were missing.
"What's wrong sugar?" asked Applejack.
"Where's Eren, Mikasa, and Armin?" she asked.
"Yeah, we haven't seen them yet," said Scootaloo.
"Maybe you need to look carefully," said Eren from behind.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo turned around to see Eren, Armin, and Mikasa behind them.
"Eren! Mikasa! Armin!" called the trio.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo partially jumped up and wrapped their arms around the three. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin responded by wrapped their arms around Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle.
"We three have really grown," said Mikasa.
"It has been two years you have seen us," stated Scootaloo.
"You girls really came a long way," said Armin.
"Thanks, Armin," said Sweetie Belle. "At least we made it to the top fifteen."
"Let's introduce you to the team," said Eren. "You girls met Captain Levi and Commander Erwin?"
"We met them when we chose our regiment," stated Apple Bloom.
"Right," said Eren. "I want you to meet my other friends."
Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the rest of the group met up with the other group.
"Hi, I'm Apple Bloom, one of the new Scout members," she greeted.
"I'm Scootaloo."
"And I'm Sweetie Belle."
"Nice to meet you three," said Bertholdt. "I'm Bertholdt and this is my friend Reiner."
"Nice to meet you," said Reiner.
"It's nice to meet some new rookies," said Sasha. "I'm Sasha."
"I'm Conny."
"I'm Historia Reiss."
"I'm section commander Hange Zoë, and this is my assistant Moblit."
"Nice to meet you three," said Mobilt, shaking their hands.
"Likewise," said Apple Bloom.
"So, what are we doing here on top of the wall instead of fighting Titans?" asked Scootaloo.
"Their isn't any Titan in sight," stated Hange.
"That's strange, since Wall Rose is breached how isn't there a flood of Titans?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"That's the same question I'm still questioning," said Hange.
On the ground, three Garrisons were galloping near the wall. The group looked down and Mikasa easily recognized one of galoping.
"Hannes?" she muttered.
"It's the Garrison's advance squad," stated Hange. "They came to tell us where the hole is."
Two Garrisons were stationed on the ground, while Hannes started to climb up the wall.
"There's no hole anywhere!" stated Hannes.
"Are you sure you checked it carefully?" asked Apple Bloom.
"We spent all night looking for it, but at least between Trost and Krolva District, there's nothing wrong with the wall," stated Hannes.
"What's you say?" asked Hange.
"We bumped into soldiers from Krolva and retraced our steps," stated Hannes. "we haven't seen any Titans the whole way here."
"But, we know for sure there's Titans on the other side of the wall," stated Armin.
"Did you actually looked?" asked Eren. "Are you sure you're not drunk?"
"i didn't drink!" shouted Hannes, before realizing something. "Wait, why are all of you here anyways?"
Eren and Armin looked at Hannes with confusion, while the others had a concerned face. Hange turned around to Abel and Keiji, placing her hand under her chin.
"If there's no hole in the wall, so be it," said Hange. "For now, we're falling back to Trost District!"
The Scouts started to leave, while Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Twilight, and the others stayed behind.
"Whatever you do, don't let your guard down," said Hannes. "We're going back ahead of you."
Hannes jumped down from the wall and swung along side it.
"There nothing wrong with the wall?" asked Eren.
"It's impossible," said Twilight.
"What could this mean?" wondered Armin, walking towards the Scouts. "There's been nothing like in five years. Why is it all happening now?"
"This world is getting more and more out of hand," said Sasha.
"You said it," spoke Applejack. “Come on Apple Bloom, let’s go.”
“Right behind you,” said Apple Bloom.
The rest started to follow the Scouts, leaving Eren behind. Eren was about to follow, but someone called his name from behind.
“Eren," called Reiner. "Have a minute? We need to talk."
"What about?" asked Eren.
"Five years ago, we demolished the wall and began our attack on humanity," explained Reiner.
"What if there's a Titan that dug a hole underneath the wall?" wondered Hange.
"The hole will be hard to find in that case," stated Moblit.
"I'm the Armored Titan and he's the Colossal Titan," revealed Reiner in the back, pointing to himself and Bertholdt.
"Right now, we need to focus on getting Ymir back safely," said Hange.
"Even with our horses, we still have to worry about the Titans," stated Moblit.
As Armin, Sasha, Twilight, and the others continued to follow the Scouts in front of them, Mikasa stopped and looked back at Eren, Reiner, and Bertholdt.
"What are you talking about?" asked Eren.
"Why are you telling him, Reiner?" asked Bertholdt.
"Our primary goal was to ensure all of humanity was wiped out, but now there's no need for that," continued Reiner. "Eren, if you agree to come with us, we won't have to destroy any more of the walls. Understand?"
“What?! No!” answered Eren. “I don’t understand!”
"What I'm saying is this. Why don't you just come with us?" asked Reiner. "I know this is sudden, but we need to go now."
"Right now? Where will you take me?" asked Eren.
"I can't say that yet," stated Reiner. "Well, it's something like our hometown. So what will it be, Eren?"
"What?" asked Eren.
"It's not a bad deal, right?" asked Reiner. "You can easily avert this crisis."
"I wonder about that..." said Eren.
In the front, Mikasa gave a lethal stare at the three, as she watched the conversation from a distance.
"Hey!" called Armin. "We're leaving!"
Eren crossed him arms and looks up in the sky with exhaustion, thinking to himself that his mind was already racing the previous day.
"What the hell?" wondered Eren. "And here I thought I had enough to think about yesterday..."
12 hours earlier
In the Ehrmich District, the Scouts had loaded their supplies ready to head towards Utgard Castle.
"Eren," called Hange.
"What is it, Section Commander?" asked Eren.
"Oh well, I was able to get my hands on the background for Annie Leonhart," stated Hange, reading the report.
"Annie's?" Eren wondered.
"Yeah," said Hange. "It's taken so long to get it because managing these reports is such a mess right now. According to this, there were two others belonging to the 104th cadet Corps who came from the same area as her. And those two are... Reiner Braun... and Bertholdt Hoover."
Everyone was in a state of shcok at the two names, including Eren.
"Thanks to the chaos five years ago, pretty much all of their family records are spotty or missing," continued Hange, looking through the reports. "However, during the long-range scouting formation, their unit was given false information. They were among those purposely told that Eren was in the right wing."
"The Female Titan attacked from the right wing!" realized Armin.
"What does that mean?" asked Sasha.
"That it's possible they passed on that information to Annie," suggested Armin.
"Why would they tell Annie?" asked Sasha.
"Hey, hold on a minute, Armin," said Eren. "You can't just--"
"I know that, Eren," Hange broke in. "By itself, that's not enough to prove anything. So just in case, I'd like to hear from you how these three interacted during training. Know anything?"
"I knew Reiner and Bertholdt were from the same place, but... they didn't seem close to Annie," answered Armin.
"I agree," said Eren. "I don't recall ever seeing the pair talking to Annie that much. Well, Annie didn't talk much in the first place."
"When we ate, Annie would always sit alone and munch on food by herself," added Sasha, before realizing something. "Oh! I've got something! I heard a rumor she liked sweets, even though she looks so grouchy!"
"I... don't remember," said Mikasa.
"The only time she interacted was close combat training," added Rainbow Dash. "She's a professional."
"As their comrade, I'd find it hard to believe," stated Eren. "Set aside Bertholdt, who doesn't say much. Reiner is like everyone's big brother, and he's not devious enough to deceive all of us."
"I agree," said Armin. "Reiner gave everything he had fighting the Female Titan with me and Twilight. He mould have gotten crushed in her hand if he hadn't--"
Armin then stopped talking and realized something.
"What is it, Armin?" asked Twilight.
"Reiner managed to escape, but... Annie suddenly changed her course... and ran in the direction of Eren," stated Armin. "I did mention that Eren might be at the rear of the center rank. But Annie was too far away to hear..."
"Seriously?" asked Eren.
"Did Reiner seem overly interested in Eren's location?" asked Hange.
Armin then remembers the exact words coming out of Reiner's mouth.
"Then... Where the hell is Eren?"
"I only started talking about Eren's position, because Reiner was the one who asked about it first," said Armin. "Furthermore... when that happened, the Female Titan was staring at her palm."
"He might have written a message with his blades in her left hand," realized Twilight. "Reiner could've..."
Everyone was slience and were in a state of shock.
"What the hell?" asked Eren. "Why are you two saying things like this?"
"Everyone listen up!" shouted Hange. "Supposing that we find Reiner and Bertholdt, act in such way as to not reveal any suspicions. Of course, do not make any mention of Annie Leonhart either. regardless if they're Annie accomplices or not, we need to lead them deep underground and confine them."
"But the last time we did that, it backfired," stated Indigo Zap.
"This is different," stated Sugarcoat. "Annie is different from Reiner and Bertholdt."
"Does everyone understand?" asked Hange.
"Yes!" shouted all the Scouts in the room.
Back in the present, Eren dismissed Reiner's words and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"You're just tired, that's it right?' asked Eren. "Help me out Bertholdt. You've been through so much, you don't know what you're saying."
"Yeah. Reiner's just really tired," said a Bertholdt panicking.
"You're okay," assured Eren. "Beside, if you were the Armored Titan, what's the endgame here? We wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place. What did you think would happen? That I'd and say "Sure, let's go"?"
Reiner looked at Eren with complete shock, while Bertholdt was visibly panicking.
"Right, not think straight am I?" chucked Reiner. "Barely knowing what I'm saying here. Have really gone crazy?"
"Come on, let's go," said Eren.
Then, the wind started to pick up. The gust of wind was strong enough to break a flagpole. The flag fell down from the wall and crashed to the ground. Everyone stopped and looked behind at Reiner, Eren, and Bertholdt. Mikasa tightly gripped her handle, ready to strike. The clouds started to clear up letting some sunlight shine.
"That's the problem..." hissed Reiner. "I've been here for too long for my own good. Three years of this madness... surrounded by idiots. We were kids... We didn't know anything. Why should there have to be people like this. Why?! Why did I let myself dissolve into such a half-assed piece of shit!"
Eren looked at Reiner's injured arm. Reiner began to take the makeshift sling on his shoulder off, unwrapping it from his arm.
"It's too late now... I don't know what's right anymore," Reiner stated. "But the only choice for me now... is to face the consequences of my actions..."
Reiner’s bite wound was now visible, but for all its gore and blood, it was the vapor that began to pour from the hand that scared the other soldiers, the confirmation of his identity all but absolute. The bite wound had regenerated.
"... and as a warrior..." concluded Reiner. "No road left but the one that leads to the end!"
Eren could only look in horror as the all the pointing, all the evidence was true.
"Riener! Right now?! Here?! Were doing this?!" asked Bertholdt, panicking.
"Yes," answered Reiner. "Right here, right now! We settle this once and for all!"
Mikasa practically leapt over Eren as she swung her right blade at Reiner’s head. Reiner placed his hands up in autonomic reaction. Mikasa’s blade cut straight through Reiner’s right forearm as the blade continued its path into Reiner’s left hand. The blade cut into the center and got caught in the center of his arm, splitting it down the middle towards his elbow. Mikasa then sliced the side of Bertholdt's neck. Blood sprayed from the two warrior's injury.
Bertoholdt screamed in agony from the searing pain shooting from his neck. As Bertholdt tried to get up, Mikasa stomped on his neck, keeping her weight on it and crushing his throat.
"EREN!!!" she shouted as she aimed the tip of her sword at Bertholdt's head "GET OUT OF HERE!!!"
Just before Mikasa could drive her sword into Bertholdt's head, Reiner checked his body into Mikasa, sending her over the edge of the wall. She quickly latched on to the side of the wall.
"Bertholdt!" called Reiner.
Eren could only watch in shock and horror, as energy begins to surround the two warriors. Bertholdt had tears in his eyes with all the trust in his comrades was gone, Reiner on the other hand had a blank stare. Then flashes of the Armored Titan and Colossal Titan appeared in their faces. Seeing the two warriors beginning their transformation all of them ran towards Eren.
"EREN!!!" called Armin "RUN AWAY!!!"
But it was too late, a giant lightning bolt struck down on top of the wall, creating a strong gust of wind. The strong gust of wind, blew all the Scouts that were near the transformation. Historia rolled on top of the wall and grabbed the wall, preventing her to fall off. Then a huge rib cage clamped down on the side of the wall.
Eren looked in horror as Bertholdt had transformed into the Colossal Titan and Reiner had transformed into the Armored Titan. The Colossal Titan roared loudly as the wind blown Eren off the wall. The Armored Titan then grabbed Eren. He could only look in horror as he was in his hands.
On the other side of the Colossal and Armored Titan, Ymir's stretcher was blown away from the Colossal Titan's transformation. The Colossal Titan reached out his hand and grabbed the stretcher. Historia looked up and saw Ymir in the Colossal Titan's hand.
"YMIR!!!" she called.
With no time to lose, the Armored Titan jumped off the wall and slid down it on its free hand and left leg, taking Eren with him.
"EREN!!!" shouted Armin.
As the Armored Titan slid down, Eren had tears falling from his eyes. His mind flooded with all the happy memories he had with Reiner and Berthoildt when they were cadets.
"I'm going to return to the hometown that was taken from me," declared Reiner. "I will do it. No matter what."
"Bertholdt... Reiner..." Eren thought.
Eren opened his eyes, filled with anger and betrayal. Eren then bit down on his hand.
"YOU DAMN TRAITORS!!!"
A bright light emanated from the Armored Titan’s hand as it exploded, blowing its arm off to the elbow. Muscles enveloped Eren, and then skin formed. Eren had transformed into his Titan form as he was falling. Eren's Titan lets out a loud roar, reeling back his fist, and was swung at the Armored Titan.