Smoke. Smoke everywhere; flying into the dull air of the Trost District. Living shelters have been crushed. A few blood splatters leftt behind on ground; both human and Titan. Pieces left behind in dust and the essence of the living now deceased. Her dull but impressionable blue eyes looked, as she perched herself on one of the rooftops, already finding herself staring down at the unknown Shifter before her. They just happened to cut the person out, and for the rest of her fellow warriors to terminate the remaining giants that surrounded the now-unmovable form, hunching over a giant boulder. A silent prayer came from her, right as the wind gently blew through her short white locks, and her green 'Wings of Freedom' cape. She had to question herself: Just who was that shifter?

So far, nothing came up to anyone and, as far as she knew, she was chosen to perform such a dangerous task; one of the many reasons of joining the Survey Corps, right to the point of joining up with the Scouts. The task itself was confidential, but her secret wasn't. Commander Erwin was the one who found her in her Titan state, and just by that look in his eyes when she sprouted from her giant form, he spared her, and kept the secret between him and Captain Levi. That's right, the Captain Levi; humanity's strongest soldier. That's not to say that Sarah was never in the same rank; she was just too valuable for anyone's expense.

A cold flare rose from within her soul, just as a roar came from behind her, while she stood atop the roof of a building. Sarah turned halfway around, and coldly looked upon a ten-meter, standing right above her. "Hmm", was all she said, while she narrowed her blue eyes, and slightly tightened her thin lips. 'I try to enjoy a nice moment of sightseeing, and this is what I see: A very ugly welcoming committee' , she thought to herself amusingly before tightening her grip upon the swords in her hands. Just as the giant was about to stretch out its hand, Sarah allows it to miss its mark completely, right as she launched a hook, and propelled herself around, right over its shoulder, where she was right above its nape. Turning her blades around, so they were outwards, she plunged herself right at its mark. A few of its blood splatters hit right upon her cape, right as she landed on the flat ground, before the giant corpse fell before her, right at her feet.

Virtus watched the scene from a roof of a tall building. He was standing beside a man slightly taller and skinnier than him, Tushar Feldt. They could be seen talking back and forth. Tushar had joined the Survey Corps at the same time Virtus did. He immediately started to cling to Virtus for his apparent strength and focus to become better and stronger. It was inspiring to Tushar and he wanted to become stronger like Virtus. Everyone in the Survey Corps was strong. Not everyone could join such an elite team of people, but Virtus, he had some kind of strength beyond the norm.

Tushar’s father was still alive and in the Military Police Regiment. When he grew up, he wanted to be like his dad, but after a while he wanted more. He wanted to go beyond on the walls and explore the outside. The Survey Corps offered that.

When Sarah had downed the titan, Tushar spoke up almost to a yell, “Well done lieutenant!” Tushar didn’t expect anything less. Her face also showed no sign of struggle through out the entire thing.

“She never has an issue killing a titan, her skill is too much.” Tushar said looking down at the lieutenant with admiration. He looked up to her, and to Virtus.

‘Hmph’ is the sound Virtus made acknowledging what Tushar had just said.

“Admit it.” Tushar joked, “You admire her too. She’s not that bad looking either.” Tushar pointed out trying to get a reaction out of Virtus.

Virtus looked at Tushar, “She’s the leader of our team. That’s all she is.” He said.

Tushar rolled his eyes, “Whatever, you’re just a hard ass sometimes.” He argued.

Virtus ignored his comment barely making a grumble, looking down at the lieutenant, waiting for the next move to be made.

Sarah looked upon the vapor that steamed off of the Titan's corpse. With her cold glare, no emotion was evident upon her pale, youthful face. A part of her wondered where these creatures came from, and how she had managed to inherit the powers of Titan in the first place. But that last thing she remembered was a man telling her to "protect an individual named Eren Jaeger". Then there was something else he said but was vaguely heard. The next thing she remembered was waking up from her Titan form with no memory yet with only one goal: Find and protect Eren Jaeger.

The flashback faded just as she heard the giant stomps of a walking Pure Titan, ahead of her. Having to stand in the open may not have been the best move, but as she was looking around for a spot to launch one of her hooks, she took notice of a few fellow Scouts in the distance, just on a building from above her standing position. Making a small smile, Sarah waved a blade back in acknowledgement, but the thumps in front kept her focused. It was a smaller Titan-vermin; a seven meter. For her comrades to just stand there, it wasn’t what she wanted to see in a soldier. Oh, no. “Get our comrades and the townspeople out of here!”, she instructed, not wanting them to stand around.

The female waited for the smaller Titan to move closer, and just as this thing started to set eyes on her, she was already on the move. Launching a hook to a building, she propelled herself around it, and aimed for its Achilles. She watched the Titan get distracted after spotting a cadet, who appeared to be injured. Putting a spike into the giant's leg, she pulled herself towards her mark, and made a clean cut. This made it fall forwards, so its nape was wide open. With a flip in the air, Sarah striked, making a huge slice, before landing on the ground, slightly panting.

Virtus listened when she had given instructions and he moved from one building to the other, looking for anyone who might be in danger. He saw a little boy running from a titan. It was a smaller 5 meter one. Virtus grunted as he jumped off a building onto the ground, looking around to make sure no other titans were around. As he ran up to the boy he passed him, shooting out a hook, attaching it to the titan's hip. He flung to the side and around the titan, firing another hook on it's back. He was firmly on his back and sliced out the nape of his neck. The titan instantly fell down.

Tushar had run up to the boy and started escorting him away from Trost district. "Come now, we'll get you to Ragako Village." The boy nodded and wiped his tears away from his eyes. Tushar could only imagine what kind of deep trauma the boy would have to deal with in the future. They jogged away from the scene.

Virtus looked around for more. It only took him a second to see that a Survey Corps member was taken a hold of by a another titan. 'Shit.' Virtus thought before running into action. He didn't know if he would have enough time to make it. The Survey Corps member was screaming, the only thing she could do before getting eaten. The 10 meter titan drew its hands closer to it's mouth. All she could was scream and try to out-muscle the titan, which was nearly impossible.

The titan opened it's mouth and stinky breathe flowed out. Jagged teeth were exposed. The Survey Corps eyes opened wide from fear. She couldn't move, scream, or even think. This was it. The end of the line. The titans mouth began to close and her eyes squinted shut.

The next thing she knew was hearing a flesh being tore apart. Was it her head being ripped apart from her body? She figured the adrenaline would help kill the pain receptors. Or did the titan decide to chew her in half? Either way, she was scared to open her eyes.

"What are you doing? Let's go." A very familiar voice spoke to her. Her eyes flew open. The titan's jaw had been severed. Virtus grabbed the girls hand and swung her away from the titan. She looked up at him as they moved away from the horrific scene. She was trembling inside his arms. "V-Virtus." Her shaky voice sounded, her eyes watered. She pulled herself close to his chest and began crying.

Another gust of wind blew through Sarah's white locks. She trusted the chain of command, mainly because they saw her as a well-respected soldier, having to beequal in the same way they see Captain Levi, probably more on a statistical level rather than by personal means. Gratefully, they continued to help her remember what happened before her mysterious amnesia. From that moment onwards, Sarah held complete trust in them, as much as she silently did for her comrades.

With a sigh, the female looked to the unconscious boy in the distance. What was so important about that kid? Why are the other Titans moving into his direction? Clearly, he was a shifter, but why are they moving towards his position? Up ahead, she took notice of a Titan that another scout seemed to manage blinding. It just opens the door for Sarah to launch a hook onto the back of its neck, and propelling herself forward towards her mark, and making a clean cut.

With this move, she jumped atop of the still-standing Titan's head until it fell face-first onto the ground. With a thud, right as it landed, Sarah was crouched atop of its head; her swords steaming due to the creature's blood on the blades, the young woman stood to her full height before jumping off the head.

Running across the remaining stretch between the buildings and the now-sealed hole, Sarah jumped atop the unconscious body of the boy's Titan form, and took notice of the two cadets, and the unconscious host of the evaporating Titan. Sheathing one of her swords, that was now clean of blood, she crouched down, and stretched a free hand to the young Armin, really to help him up. "Don't worry. All of us have it covered here. Let's get you somewhere safe", she said all of this softly, though it was rare, because of her cold exterior. But that didn't mean Sarah didn't have a care in the world for others.

The black-haired female cadet was hesitant to move, just tightening her grip on the unconscious boy. 'A dear friend, perhaps?', Sarah thought with her narrow, blue eyes on the girl. Clearly, all three were younger than her, but she wanted to know what had happened. Plus, she never heard about another Titan-shifter on these grounds. It was sad to say, but even though she was naturally stubborn, Sarah will stay back and wait for the outcome.

Virtus brought the young woman on top of a taller building. She eventually let go, collapsing to the ground.

“I- I don’t know if I can keep doing this.” She said talking into her hands. Virtus walked over to her and crouched down, putting his hand on her shoulder.

“You can. You have to remember why you joined in the first place Vivi.” He said trying to motivate her. “You’re still alive.” Vivi wiped a few tears away.

“You’re right.” She said, letting out a huge breath of air, then inhaling just as much. “Alright.” She said standing up and walked over to the edge of the building. A titan stood at the side of the building with it’s hands up in the air, as if it was trying to grab them. A useless effort, but most titans didn’t know any better.

“Look over there.” Virtus pointed to where Sarah was. A trail of titans were slowing all going to that one spot. Virtus and and Vivi had no idea what was going on.

Tushar has been moving around killing titans. He was targeting the ones that were headed for Sarah.

“Do you think we should head over there?” Vivi asked. Virtus shrugged which was like ‘sure’. They hopped off the building and starting moving towards Sarah. Virtus teamed up with Vivi as they moved towards them, taking out titans and saving as many townsfolk as they could. Tushar stayed further back making sure that the people could get out of the district without any issues.

They were tired. It was clear in the sagging of their shoulders, the drooping of their eyelids, and the slowness in their responses. They were still on the battlefield, and there were still Titans dangerously close to them, even if the Scouts were steadily demolishing them. She sympathized that they were fresh soldiers; green behind the ears, and in their first ever conflict with the Titans. Even if they had encountered the Titans before, it was another thing in having to fight them, and come out the other side, victorious against the odds.

The white-haired woman helped the young blonde to his feet. He was the smallest of the trio, probably the youngest, but Sarah didn't want to jump to any conclusions yet. By the look in his big blue eyes, something told Sara from within that he wasn't exactly fighting-material. There was a youthfulness to him; a gentle, child-like soul. He was young; in his prime, at least, his short, somewhat-muscular build was evident that he wasn't really a fighter, but again, Sarah didn't want to underestimate him, or make guesses. "You survive best by always moving forward", she advised to Armin, before narrowing her eyes, and looking behind her at the dead Titans already evaporating steam into the air. She looked back at the smaller cadet, at the corner of her eye, and gestured to the wall before them.

The black-haired girl, who appeared to be around the unconscious boy's age, was on high-alert, even as she clung onto his form. The blade in her one hand was tight in her grip, and the fire in her grey eyes was ever vigilant and burning; a passion to which Sarah recognized, in relation to her own. There was a strength that the white-haired woman was able to determine. It looked as if Mikasa withheld a similar goal. However, it would appear that she made a vow that held the definition of 'die-trying'. Plus, it was evident when the Asian held the boy tighter when Sarah began to approach her, in order to take the boy. If she could observe, it appeared as if the girl was stubborn to her intentions. In a way, that spark of capability within her would never go unnoticed. It seems that Mikasa was able to cooperate when she finally allowed her to take the boy, and hoist him under her one arm, right after she sheathed one of her blades. Sarah made a mental note to keep an eye on her from afar, even after seeing two cadets follow her from behind.

On her way up the wall, she looked before her, in order to see the ugly monstrosities; mindless things, preying the small and weak; wiping out humanity was their urge; a compulsion never ending. Sarah also looked below her to see the three other Scouts, who aided in her and the town peoples' escape.

They made it quite a bit of the way though the titans before Sarah and a little squad started heading for the wall. Virtus stopped running and put his hands on his hips, taking a breather.

“We shoulda got the horses.” Vivi joked catching up to Virtus. Virtus looked back to where Tushar was and he had rescued mostly everyone that they could. He looked back at Vivi.

“Shoulda.” He agreed. “Let’s head up the wall like the lieutenant, we’ve done everything we could here today.” He said looking around one last time. The only things he saw were titans feeding on people who were already dead or roaming over to Wall Rose, or just standing around.

“Okay.” Vivi agreed. Virtus looked over to Tushar. He was heading to the Wall Rose gate leading out of Trost with what remained of the townspeople.

He shot a hook up the wall and climbed it. Vivi followed behind him. When they reached the top Virtus looked over to the lieutenant. He ran over to Sarah, “Tushar is helping people through the gate.” He said and pointed over to the gate. “Vivi and I are here to help. I’m not entirely sure what to do from here.” Virtus still had the focus and energy from battle.

As soon as Sarah made it up the wall, she sheathed her other blade, before carefully and gently laying the body of the unconscious boy down on his back, taking off her cape, and wrapping it, so to place it underneath his head. The other cadets were not too far away, having to be by his side. While she did these things, she heard the voice of Virtus behind her, reporting back to her on their current status. Standing back up, the lieutenant looked back upon the city, watching the smoke, and looking down upon the carcasses of both human and Titan, before looking back at the two soldiers.

"Then, by all means, help him. We can't have any more casualties, nor lose anymore of our forces", she recommended with her traditional cold but soft voice, before placing her gaze back on the boy before her. She then looked at Vivi, her blue eyes upon her. "Tend to the boy, as well as his comrades. The Commander would want him alive and conscious".

As much as Sarah didn't want to say, she would much rather be ordered around by Captain Levi, considering that she was part of his Special Operations Squad during her early military years. In truth, Sarah didn't have much respect for Erwin, as much as she does for Levi. Stubborn it may sound, but the captain had a better grasp at ordering others around, in a rather cold-hearted way. Besides, even if she wanted to wait for Erwin or the Military Police, she also wanted to know who this boy is, and why he seemed to be so important.

With that said, she let herself jump from the wall, and spin in her downward descent, before launching a hook, allowing herself to dangle halfway upon the structure.

“Will do.” Virtus responded to her order. He got up and looked on the other side of the wall and saw people flooding in. The military police were already over there making sure the chaos of it all was minimized.

“Vivi you stay here and take care of these kids. I’ll go down to the gate and make sure no titans get inside.” Virtus said. Vivi nodded and he hopped down the other side of the wall and ran over to the gate.

He worked his way to the gate as people ran by him and brushed against his shoulder. It was a fight in itself just to get to the opening. Fighting the current of people was a hard task to do. The military police were making sure everyone that was injured were separated for treatment.

Virtus spotted Tushar. He was on the titan side of the wall, making sure people could run through without the threat of titans. Virtus ran to meet up with him.

“It’s about time.” Tushar said when he approached him, focusing on a couple distant titans.

“The lieutenant is having us guard some kids for some reason.” Virtus said. Tushar rose an eyebrow but shrugged it off when a 7 meter titan approached them.

“I got this.” Tushar said charging in at the titan. The titan took a swipe at him but he shot a hook into the shoulder of the titan swinging around to the neck and cutting the nape.

The titan fell down immediately and Tushar rode it on the way down.

“As long as these are normal titans, it shouldn’t be a problem.” Tushar said. “I wonder how this even managed to happen in the first place.” He said scratching an itch on his head.

Virtus shrugged as they kept an open eye on the people. Eventually the last person came through the gate. Virtus and Tushar ran to the safe side.

“Close the gate!” Virtus shouted to one of the military policeman who had manned the gate. The policeman immediately followed Virtus’s order.

Virtus let out a breath of relief as he looked at all the refugees. Crying kids, crying parents. Everyone was traumatized. Something he’s been numb too.

“I’m glad we all made it.” Tushar said with relief. Virtus nodded his head.

“Let’s go.” Virtus said pointing back up to the wall where they left Vivi. They started climbing the wall and eventually reached the top.

She was there, still taking care of the kids that the lieutenant tasked them out to do.

Scanning the area for a few more moments, Sarah wondered how this all even started in the first place. No doubt that her comrades would have similar thoughts. Although, in her own mind, she wanted to remember what happened, before waking up in the body of a Titan. Lookin over at the closing gate, it became the signal telling her that everyone was safe.

Making a sigh, the lieutenant used her own weight to swing herself back and forth, and eventually give herself a mighty push, giving her the leverage to get propelled up the wall, as if in flight, and land before the three soldiers, and the kids. Safe, and together.

"I imagine that the Military Police would want to speak to the kid. We better know what we're dealing with before we make any other advancements", Sarah told them, although her eyes showed a bit of respect. "I thank you all for your effort in making humanity's first victory".

Virtus rose an eye brow when she said that the Military Police needed to speak with the kids. He wondered what they had to investigate. What does the lieutenant know that he doesn’t? He looked at her then down at the people at the bottom of the wall. They were still being organized. Probably a hassle to integrate one’s life into another place at a moments notice.

He nodded when she thanked them for making an effort today. She was too formal for him. She did as much as they did. Virtus glanced over at Vivi.

“You work just as hard as us lieutenant!” Vivi spoke and tried to thank her back. She wanted her to feel good. “I wish I could’ve seen you in action. I bet you were fantastic.” She smiled, but then it faded as she thought about what had happened to her earlier. She shuddered thinking about the breath and teeth of the titan.

Tushar kneeled down beside Vivi and put a hand on her shoulder.

“We all did good today.” He said reassuring all of them. Virtus looked at them, then down at the people below. He sat down and let a leg hang off the wall while he watched the people.

Vivi let out a breath. “Tushar and I can bring the kids down to the Military Police, lieutenant. Unless you want to bring them down to headquarters for interrogation?” She asked. She didn’t really know. This was new to her. New to everyone honestly.

Sarah watched as the three soldiers (sort of) exchanged the same respect. The scene made her give off a small, thin smile. She tries to socialize with the lower rank, but with all of her time focused on the war at hand, while trying to remember her past, it became a whole lot harder for her to casually socialize with others. For the most part, she only spoke in the way that one would speak while in the chain of command. She was just too business-like. For that thought, and for Vivi to question her, it only made her frown...not in an intimidating way, but passive.

"As I said before, we don't know what we're dealing with. We don't know what this child is capable of, and we don't know how the Titans are more attracted to him than us", she repeated, along with a lengthy explanation of her point, as well as her observations. "We are handing him to the MP", it was good to be cautious, although she really needed her comrades to know how to deal with a Shifter, to which they have to yet to experience one, like herself. They needed to know what they are going to face.

“Okay..” Vivi said slightly trailing off. She stood up with the boy and walked over to the edge of the wall, jumping off the edge. She shot a hook on the side gradually lowering herself down. When she reached the bottom she walked over to a MP.

“This boy needs to be taken to headquarters for interrogation. Lieutenant’s orders.” She said. She looked down at the boy, almost reluctant to hand him over, but she did.

“We’ll get him to headquarters. Thank you.” The MP said taking the boy in his arms. The boy looked up at both of them, not really knowing what was going on. He reached out for Vivi, as she was more familiar. Vivi couldn’t do anything but shake her head at him. She gave him a sympathetic smile and the boy’s eyes teared up a little.

“It’s going to be okay.” She said putting her hand on his head and groomed his hair a little before the MP took a step away from her.

Her heart sank a little. She didn’t know if it was just the whole toll of today’s emotional trauma taking effect or if it was just because it was a little boy. She was in a daze when she came back up the wall to where everyone was.

“I sent the boy with the MPs. They are taking him to headquarters for interrogation.” She told the lieutenant. She looked back at Virtus and Tushar. She was ready for the day to be over. She wanted to cry in her bed.

Virtus over at Vivi meeting eyes with her. He could tell she was severely distressed from today, but there was nothing he could do. At the end of the day, they all belong to the mission of the Survey Corps. Virtus would remind her of what it meant to be part of the group, but he’d still try to comfort her, if, she actually wanted comfort from him.

For some reason, Sarah continued to have continuous thoughts on the boy that Vivi had taken away. She watched as the girl lower herself from the wall, and towards society, down below. She needed to know who this boy was, and why he was so important. For the safety of her comrades, she needed to know what they were up against, and how they should become prepared for possible conflicts, surrounding it.

Her facials relaxed, with her hair gently blowing in the breeze, she looked back at the other kids, who followed after Vivi, down the wall. She watched from above, like a bird, with remarkable sight, upon the scene. When Vivi returned, Sarah nodded in acknowledgement, before descending down the wall with ease.

--------------

The rest of the day was normal, although it became dark rather quickly.

Sarah didn't exactly approve of the whole Military Police Brigade. As far as she knew, they were the most controlling out of all of the military branches. As a result, she didn't really favor them, either. In her perspective, those of high command were rather intimidating to them, so thankfully, they back away in her presence.

It wasn't hard to get into the dungeons where she had heard about the boy being held captive. In fact, the guards let her through, with no trace of resistance. Reaching to the end of the hallway, where they kept him, she stopped before it. "Are you conscious?"

The trio huddled by a fire outside their little barracks they stayed in. Virtus stayed further outside the range of the fire, enjoying the night sky. He leaned on a tree nearby, looking outwards towards the sky. There weren't to many trees by Ragako village, not compared to when Wall Maria was actually intact.

"The lieutenant seemed a little too curious about the boy. Don't ya think?" Vivi asked. Tushar had his hands flayed out on the fire warming them up. He looked over at Vivi.

"Yeah she seemed a little..uptight." He said rubbing his hands together, getting them warm. "What do you think Virtus?" He asked looking over at the more shadowy area with the tree.

"Hm." Virtus said, barely making a sound looking out at the stars glistening. "I don't know the woman too well. I don't know her past either." He said crossing his legs, getting more comfortable. "Sometimes people in positions of power, burden themselves more than they should." He looked down at the ground and picked up a stick and played with it against his clothing, messing with the wrinkling of the clothes. "I don't know though, nor is it my business." He said looking back up at the sky again.

Tushar looked at Virtus as he explained himself, but didn't really have anything to say to that. He let the subject go. Vivi looked at the both of them while she warmed up by the fire.

"I want to cry." Vivi opened up. Virtus looked over at her when she had said that. He knew why. He stood up and walked over to her, sitting down. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and not a moment later she put her head between his chest and pit, crying. She let out everything, and all Tushar and Virtus could do was sit there and comfort her as best as they could.


The air was cold. The dungeons were a little deeper than the normal jail cells. The MP's had taken precautions with the boy. The echoing of footsteps had reverberated down the stone hallways of the dungeon, waking up the boy before Sarah even arrived. As her footsteps got closer he continued to lay not wanting to do deal with any kind of crap. What happened earlier was complete accident.

When she arrived at the cell, he looked at her, "What do you want?"

Sarah pulled up the chair that was leaned up against the wall, behind her. Sitting upon it, in front of the cell, the lieutenant looked at the boy rather curious yet with interested eyes. She narrowed her eyes a little, as if she was examining a subject before her. “As far as I heard, the Military Police are placing you on trial”, she commented.

“My name is Sarah Reinhardt, first lieutenant to Commander Erwin of the Scout Regiment. He demands answers, and I intend to gather”, she told him, rather gently, reminding herself on the amount of trauma that this boy may have endured.

“May I ask for your name?”, she had to know.

"I expected as much." he said standing up from the bed, walking over to the door of the cell. "I figure you want intel. I didn't think this would happen." He said, "I don't blame you if you want to kill me..." he paused a moment then looked into her eyes, "But I hate titans more. I'd gladly kill all of those bastards for you!" he almost yelled it. The hatred in his voice was apparent.

"I'm Eren Jaeger."

Sarah patiently listened to the boy, as he spoke. She stood her ground, even though she sat in a chair on the other side of the bars. Her blue eyes looked into his own. “I believe you”, she said simply, and she did, as if she had faith in him.

However, the discovery of his identity made her stiffen on the spot. ’That name. I knew it. It’s him. The individual I was meant to seek out. He’s the answer to everything’. After some time, Sarah calmed herself, momentarily tearing her gaze away, and closing her eyes. “I see”, she finally said, after a moment.

Opening her eyes, she looked back at him, and standing up from the chair, kicking behind her, and letting it slide across the floor, and back to where it was only a couple of moments before: Against the wall.

“What happened out there?”, she was back to her cold yet soft voice.

"Beats me." Eren scoffed. "Last thing I remember was being in a titan's stomach." He said focusing back on the history of it. "Slowly being digested. Disgusting creatures." He grew a little more angry. "We were all going to be dead. Then something happened." He paused a moment, "I must've transformed into a titan. My memories are blurry, and I'm very worn out." He said rubbing his eyes.

"Mikasa..." He looked up at Sarah and gripped the bars, "Is she okay!?" He asked loudly.