The rain spilt steadily over the top of Wall Rose as Hange and her group managed to save the rookies at Utgard Castle.
Ymir had secretly been a titan this whole time, Christa Lenz turns out to be a direct descendant of the royal family called "Historia Reiss", and worst of all?
Reiner and Bertholdt were about to reveal themselves:
Eren had been pulled aside by Reiner & Bertholdt as the rest of the regiment started walking off, with Ymir on a stretcher and unconscious.
The reveal was as unexpected as it got.
Reiner: "So yeah, anyways I am the Armored Titan while Bertholdt is the Colossal Titan. We want to destroy humanity as you know it and need your help. Do you want to return back with us, Eren?" He asked casually, his soldier persona in full display as the words spill out of his mouth.
Bertholdt, meanwhile, was in full panic mode.
Bertholdt: "R-Reiner! Are you sure we should be telling him this now?" He voiced his concern, unsure about what Reiner was thinking.
Eren: "Reiner... s-surely you've gone crazy, right? I mean, all that fighting and trauma must've gone to your head." * He replied, refusing to believe those words.* "I-I mean... even if you were the Armored Titan and wanted to destroy all of humanity, why would you be telling me? Did you really think I'd say sure, lets go?"
Silence. Reiner looked conflicted while Bertholdt was panicked. Mikasa was stopped a few meters away from the trio, overhearing the confession with sharp ears.
Eren placed a gentle hand on Reiner's shoulder, trying to snap him out of it.
Eren: "Come on, Reiner. Let's go home, alright?"
Just as Eren started to walk back towards his group, the wind picked up aggressively. A red flag nearby had snapped in half, falling down the wall with a heavy, reverberating clatter sound.
Everyone had stopped. Hange looked back at Reiner & Bertholdt in quiet distrust, Mikasa's fingers were gripping her blade, and Eren let out a small gasp at the noise.
Silence. Reiner had slowly started to come to his senses, realising just how badly he had messed up In truth, they had been found out ever since Annie's capture thanks to Hange & Armin.
Reiner: "Right, you're right. What am I doing? I've been here too long for my own good." He muttered, voice low as his Warrior persona came back to the spotlight.
He slowly discarded his sling, his injured arm pouring with steam as it healed in mere seconds.
Reiner: "Only thing I can do now if to face the consequences of my actions as a Warrior... and fulfill my duties to the bitter end!"
Eren was too shocked to do anything, a deep sense of betrayal filled him.
Bertholdt: "Reiner! Are we doing it? Right here and now?"
Reiner: "Yeah, we settle this right here, right now!"
In a flash, Mikasa moved. Slicing Reiner's arm and cutting Bertholdt's throat, ready to finish the latter off.
Mikasa: "Eren! Run!—" Right before she had the chance, Reiner manages to barge her off the wall. Mikasa's ODM Gear screeched into actions, hooks latching to the side of the wall.
Lightning arced through the air as Reiner and Bertholdt began their transformation, ready to fight once more.
Armin, Hange and Sasha sprang into action, running at full speed towards Eren.
Armin: "Eren! Get out of there!"
It was too late. An explosion sent all the scouts flying back as the duo transformed right in front of their eyes.
Eren was flung back, and mid air was grabbed by Reiner, who took refuge behind Bertholdt. Bertholdt meanwhile, had reached out to grab Ymir's flying cot and place it inside his mouth, eliciting a distressed cry from Historia
Historia: "Ymir!"
Reiner jumps off the wall with Eren, fully prepared to run off with the boy. Eren was devastated, memories of their time in the 104th cadet regiment came flashing before his eyes.
But it didn't matter, not anymore.
Eren: "YOU DAMN TRAITORS!" He cried out, biting his arm and transforming into his own Titan, punching Reiner back and landing safely.