Struggle For Trost(5)

"It's over for you. Eren Yeager! ", Reiner chuckled to himself inwardly from the armored titan as he reached his hand towards the hapless, bloodied person lying on the ground, preparing to deal him a finishing blow.

However, he was unaware that the clouds right above Eren had already darkened in anger, swirling together in the shape of a whirlpool.

BOOOOOMMMMM

A crackle of lightning zapped across the sky that instant, a flash of yellow and thundering sound dominated the entire atmosphere, drawing the eyes of everyone towards it.

Reiner could feel that his palm had been stopped in its motion.

Right at where the thunder struck , a huge hand had emerged from the cloud of smoke, meeting his hand that was headed towards him.

As it slowly cleared away, a gigantic figure that was about 15 meters tall was revealed, he was half kneeling, his huge eyes seemed to burn with fury as he lifted his head and met the armored titan's gaze.

"Im-m… pos...sib-b….ble-e …." Reiners' widened eyes froze as he stared at what was before him, his mouth forcing syllable after syllable as it stuttered uncontrollably, trying to convince himself that what he saw wasn't real.

How could "that" thing be inside Eren?

=====

[Atop the inner walls of Trost]

"Eren … is a titan? What in the world …. "

All kinds of emotions - Nervousness, shock, worry filled the air as the soldiers atop the walls saw what happened.

Many of them were simply at a loss of what to make of the situation, the Flash Blade: Eren that they adored, who stopped the aberrant horde, slew numerous titans, even fighting and delaying the armored titan from destroying the inner gate … was actually a titan all along?

"Is Eren … an enemy … or a friend ?" That was the question going through the minds of all the people who saw Eren transform.

"Didn't he fight against the aberrant horde before? He should be on our side right?" A garrison soldier asked his friend beside him, seemingly pleading for someone to affirm his shaky belief.

"But-t-t he transformed into a t-titan." .

"Yet he's the one holding up the armored titan. If he's on the enemy's side he should have already let him through ."

"But aren't all titans supposed to be our enemies? " A third person said as he joined the conversation, his gaze jumping from one set of eyes to another back and fro.

Armin, sensing the uncertainty and palpable fear in the air, was already thinking of how to convince them that Eren was on their side. He had flown back atop the walls upon seeing Eren transform.

"I ... have to help Eren! He still may be alive after this, I have to convince as many people as I can to see him as an ally, to increase his chances of survival when this is over." Armin contemplated to himself as he bit his lips.

"Even though it may not mean much ... But I have to do what I can! I will make myself useful."

Armin took a deep breath, tightening the fists in his hands, he yelled at the top of his voice as he stood up, pointing in the direction of the 2 titans fighting each other.

"Eren is definitely on our side! Look at how he is fighting the armored titan, to protect us!"

The wandering gazes and chatter of the soldiers around him, who were still lost and struggling to process what was happening, were instantly drawn to him.

"Armin…" Christa, who too was taken aback by what she saw earlier, focused her attention on him as well, her slightly shaky breaths earlier were now returning to normal.

"Did you forget how Eren fought the aberrant horde ?"

"How he killed the titans ?"

"How he brought time for the evacuation that is still going on?"

"The reason why humanity is still standing is because of HIM!" Armin continued, now in a steady and low-pitched voice.

Since he had captured the attention of the people surrounding him, there was no need to carry on yelling. He placed emphasis on his final word to drive home the point.

The slumped shoulders and glazed looks on the garrison soldiers around him started to vanish as realization dawned on them, life could be seen now in their previously flat gazes.

"Wall Rose is still standing, and the inner gate is still standing, because of …"

"EREN!"

Clearing his throat, Armin concluded his speech, his eyes maintaining contact with the gazes concentrated on him as he jabbed with his finger in direction of Eren in a distance.

"GO-O ERENNN!!" Screaming, he punched his fist into the air, sweat was breaking out all over him, especially on his hands.

He wasn't sure if it would work, but he had to try! He didn't care if he looked stupid, he had to do something, his best friend was in trouble!

"You can do it! Eren!" Another sweet voice broke out, it was Christa. Whilst cheering Eren on, she gave Armin a glance from the corner of her eye as her mouth curved into a smile.

"Go for it EREN! Get the Armored Titan!" Ymir chimed in as well, enthusiasm showing on her face as she followed along with what Christa was doing.

"EREN!"

"DO IT EREN!"

"GET HIM!"

The atmosphere was slowly but surely transformed, as the euphoria and cheering infected one soldier after another, like an unstoppable wildfire. The commotion was so loud, that it even attracted inquisitive glances from the soldiers behind the inner gate of Trost - unaware of what was happening.

Armin could feel an unexpected release of tension in his body, this was the best outcome he could for.

"Your name is … is Armin Arlet right ?"

A hand could be felt on Armin's shoulder as he heard a breath that stank of alcohol right beside him.

Turning around, he could see that it was a bald man, he had a grey mustache, with some wrinkles around his gold eyes. A red sash with gold trim was worn diagonally across his uniform.

The person was flanked by two other garrison soldiers that were beside him, one of them was a short woman. She had blonde platinum hair and wore a short pair of glasses over her silver-colored eyes.

The other person was taller and had brown hair along with a short beard. He was biting at his lips and occasionally rubbing the back of his neck, it gave a very obvious impression to any onlooker that the man was nervous.

Based on the position they were standing in, it was clear that the bald man was their leader and a high-ranking garrison official.

"Sir! Yes!" Armin quickly gave him a salute.

If he could get this man to help Eren …

"My name is Dot Pyxis. I'm the commander of the Garrison Corps. The two behind me are Rico and Mitabi, Ian should normally be here as well, but …." He was about to continue speaking, before he stared down at his empty hands, letting out a sigh.

Rico and Mitabi's expressions also became sober upon hearing that. It had already been hours since they heard from Ian, the last being in the morning. It was most likely that he had perished in his line of duty.

"You've done well, Armin Arlet, to rally the soldiers here atop the walls," taking a pause, his eyes now turning to the ferocious fight that seemed to be reaching its conclusion soon.

His forehead frowned a little.

"Eren is definitely an ally ... and an invaluable ally at that. We cannot let him perish here."

Armin's face beamed with joy upon hearing that, he knew Eren would be safe at least, for now.

"Rico, Mitabi, gather your squads, assist Eren in taking down the armored titan as soon as you are ready to move … provided there's an opening, " He ordered as he looked at them directly in the eye, determination rang in his voice.

If they could take down the armored titan here …

=====

CRASSSSSSHHHH

A beautiful mansion was crushed to smithereens, with only the walls and gates around its perimeter still standing.

Atop the huge rubble, the armored titan right now had after much difficulty, wrapped himself around the attack titan.

"RAAAWRRR."

The armored titan let out a howl, keeping the attack titan locked in his arms, he began to charge forward.

CRASH ...

CRASH ...

CRASH ...

With the attack titan serving like a meat shield in front of him, he pushed forward, raining destruction and mayhem upon the buildings that stood in their path as they collapsed like dominos, a huge cloud of dust was left lingering in its wake.

CRASSSSHHH

The attack titan was forcefully smashed against a huge towering building, as the armored titan lunged forward before retreating slightly and letting go of him.

The momentum of the charge caused the structure to start collapsing. The innumerable collapsing rubble and bricks that fell all over the attack titan was a sorry sight.

His huge eyes no longer had the same life as they had earlier, his left arm was missing, his right foot was nowhere to be found, half the teeth in his mouth were gone.

The armored titan, with cracks all over his body, now walked towards the attack titan that laid motionless on the floor as he reached out his right hand towards it.

It seemed like it was over.

"EREN!!!"

A voice that was choked with tears sounded out as a figure flew across the armored titan's wrist at an astonishing speed. It was Mikasa, she was finally able to join the fight.

She slashed at them with all the strength she could muster, her unblinking eyes widened as her chin quivered, the murderous fury emanating from her causing the air around her to turn cold.

SPLLLATTTT

Blood flew everywhere as she severed the tendons linking them, causing the hand to drop and face downwards like a puppet that had lost its strings.

The drawn-out battle had caused plenty of gaps in the armor covering the armored titan to be exposed - such as the right wrist, but the nape was not one of them.

The armored titan paused for a moment, before lunging himself forward once more.

"NO! EREN!!!!!" Mikasa let out a strangled cry of frustration and helplessness, flying off recklessly to try and stop what was happening.

She started to press her right hand tightly against her forehead, trying to deal with the emerging headache.

The memories that were closest to her heart started to flash before her mind.

…

She vividly recalled, on that cold night, where the piercing frost added pain to her already numb heart - still reeling from the loss of her parents. A figure wrapped a red-colored scarf clumsily around him.

...

She could remember, the gentle warmth as she rested her head on his chest.

...

She would never forget, the hairpin he gave her on her birthday and put it on for her.

….

I just want to be ... by your side.

No, don't go away … don't … please

Please …

As her figure got closer and closer, she could see that the armored titan had flipped Eren's body over, his nape was facing him. Her eyes started to redden and grow wet, she could feel her heartbeat in her throat.

If Eren died … she would die with him as well. How could she go on living without him?

It was Eren that gave her the strength to survive in this cruel world.

The world was beautiful, because of him.

Her chest felt so hollow, but yet so heavy.

She touched the hairpin that held part of her fluttering hair, pulling up her scarf with the other hand.

Certain that the armored titan was about to finish Eren off, she prepared herself for one more suicidal charge. There was not a speck of calmness left in her red and raw eyes.

"PA"

A line of green smoke rescued her from the abyss of despair in her heart this instant.

"PA" "PA" "PA"

Three more green smoke rounds rose up in the skies, beyond the walls.

"PA" "PA" "PA" "PA" "PA" …

The sky was now covered with innumerable green signal flares.

Hope had arrived.

The Survey Corps have finally returned.

A/N :

Next chapter will finally be the conclusion of the Trost Arc . I actually wanted to end it with this chapter but it would be too rushed and I would probably have to include ton of monologue to explain(which is sucky to read).

I apologize if there are some plotholes in the story so far. It's my first time writing a fanfic, hopefully, they are not so big that they spoil your experience.