Mando:"I don't know what you're going on about. I don't even know you."

???:"I know you though, you're the 'Tin-man' everyone talks about. You've adopted a young girl and took her in. You fell from the sky and encountered her when traffickers attacked you. You then made your way to the Wall where you found my families killer, Grisha Jaeger." She summed up what Mando had gone through during the past couple of weeks which caused him to immediately question who she was. In the classic way he would do things, Mando drew his blaster pistol and aimed it at her.

Mando:"If you touch her or do anything to her, there'll be no place for you to hide from me." He threatened. The girl stood there, not interested in his threat.

???:"I'll tell you everything in due time but we have some uninvited guests coming up behind you." She pointed behind him where a 9 meter titan and 12 meter titan showed up. Mando quickly holstered his pistol and picked up the lady. He was hoping for more answers as he got there since this lady seems to know everything about him.

???:"This is an interesting piece of equipment you have, what is it?"

Mando:"Quiet. Since you know everything about me, shouldn't you know what I use as well?"

???:"Well, it tends to become more difficult when it's always on a person."

Mando:"Sure, listen, I want answers when we get to the evacuation site. If you try anything stupid or harm Mikasa, I'll gun you down."

???:"I came to you seeking help since you know the user of the Attack Titan. Is this how you treat all ladies you meet?"

Mando:"I've met many people in my life and they've always tried gunning me down for various reason. Like I've said, I expect answers when I land."

???:"I understand."

------

Dozens of horses could be seen running back to the safety of Wall Maria. It had been another long and hard fought day by the Scouts as they suffered heavy losses and haven't made any success. Erwin and his trusted friend, Levi, were leading the group back when they discovered a heart wrenching sight. The destruction of the front gate on Wall Maria, the same place they left through earlier in the day.

Levi:"Erwin, do you see this or am I imagining things?"

Erwin:"It's real alright, TROOPS, GET READY FOR COMBAT! Hange!"

Hange:"Yes!" She yelled as she rode up next to them.

Erwin:"When we enter the gate, I want you and your squad to take the left of the city and eliminate and titans you run across. Levi, take your squad to the right and deal with any threats."

???:"Erwin, we can't do much with the injured. We'll lose more troops if we encounter more titans."

Erwin:"That's why I'll be having you and your squad protect them, Mike. We've suffered too many already, we can't lose more troops!"

Mike&Hange:"Understood!" They then rode off to their respective squads.

Levi:"What will you be doing?"

Erwin:"Commanding obviously, but jokes aside, after we dealt with the threats. We need to see what caused the damage to the Wall. Go to your squad, Levi."

Levi:"Alright."

Erwin:"ALL TROOPS, SWITCH TO ODM GEAR! CLIMB THE WALL AND ELIMINATE ANY THREATS!" With the order given, Erwin was the first to climb up the wall followed by the rest of his men.

Hange and Levi entered through the bottom gate, taking their squads and heading their different directions. As they were all sweeping through the area and taking down titans, they all noticed that there was a far fewer number of titans than they expected.

Erwin:'What took out the gate? Who took down the titans, could it have been him?'

Scout:"Commander! Captain Levi and his squad finished their section and encountered little resistance. Captain Hange is almost finished with her side and they suffered one casualty."

Erwin:"Thank you, when she finishes tell her to meet back with me. Do the same with Levi and his squad, dismissed."

Scout:"Sir!"

Erwin:'You've certainly proved yourself more than capable. You'll be a great addition in our ranks against the titans.'

Levi:"You called for me?"

Hange:"What happened, Erwin?"

Erwin:"What did you two and your squads encounter? Did you come across any survivors or wounded?"

Hange:"No, my side encountered fewer titans than usual and there were some remnants of Garrison soldiers putting up a fight here. We came across several ODM gear and broken swords, no injured survivors though."

Levi:"Same with my side, my squad didn't report anything unusual with there only being busted swords. I didn't see anything either when fighting, you think it was Shiny who took out the majority?"

Erwin:"Possibly, I know that the Garrison isn't well suited with dealing with titans given their lack of combat experience. We'll continue slowly through the town and head back to base. Hange, you and Levi go out and find where he may have gone, we need to recruit him. With his abilities, I'm sure he can teach our Scouts and cadets new techniques."

Hange:"I'd say he's somewhere in Trost given how it's the closest town to Shiganshina."

Scout:"Commander!!"

The three then turned their attention to another Scout running towards them. The Scout was noticeably shaken with fear and distressed as he made his way.

Erwin:"What is it?"

Scout:"Sir! The inner gate has been busted down! There may also be more titans inside by the looks of it! Also we found several shards of a hard crystal laying about near the inner gate!"

The sudden news shocked the three as Erwin then dismissed the Scout. He pondered at what could've broken down the gates of the wall as no ordinary titan could've pulled off such a feat. The news of crystal shards also had him curious but for now, he'll have to take his troops back to base before he can do anything.

-----

Mando and the young lady finally made it to Trost as she told him to follow the river stream. He wondered how Carla and the kids were doing as he worried for their well-being since they no longer had anywhere to go. Upon arrival, many turned their heads toward the incoming approach of the two. The survivors of Shiganshina immediately broke out into cheering and applause as they welcomed their savior.

Man:"Thank you armored man! You saved us!"

Woman:"You're our savior sir, thank you!"

Woman 2:"You're our hero!"

???:"They really like you, don't they?"

Mando"Yeah, now, where are my answers?"

Frieda:"So moody, fine then, name is Frieda Reiss, pleasure to meet you."

Mando:"Frieda, huh? Well...Frieda...I'm still wanting answers, not your name. I want to know how you know so much about me and who gave you the information."

Frieda:"Fine, but can't you be more caring towards a young lady like me?" She looked up at him, Mando looked down and wasn't impressed.

Mando:"No. First question, why did you say Grisha killed your family?"

Frieda:"Well, can I get your word you won't kill me or anything?"

Mando:"I won't, now tell me." He promised as he crouched down to pick up a flower.

Mando:'Just in case she's mad at me.'

Frieda:"Well, I'm the holder of something that can control certain things. Because of this thing, Grisha wished for my help to give back to the people of the island. I disagreed and he killed my family, leaving me alive with the help of my father's bodyguard, Kenny."

Mando:"Now I'm even more curious, who's Kenny, what thing are you going on about, and why would he even know who you are?"

Frieda:"I can't tell you my background since I still don't trust you well enough, but I can tell you about Kenny. Kenny was my father's bodyguard because he was an Ackerman, the Ackermans were superhuman soldiers that guarded the royal family...!" She went into too much detail and realized her clumsy mistake. She held her hands over her mouth causing him to piece it together.

Mando:"So you're royalty, why didn't you tell me? For all I know you could be needed back in your government."

Frieda:"That's exactly why I don't want to go back! Many people, including Kenny, have gone to my family wanting the power so they could hold control of the whole island! But without anyone of the royal family, the power is essentially useless."

Mando:"Well, sorry to bring that up. Alright another question, how did you survive and how did Grisha even kill your family?" When asked she tightened her hands into a ball and looked away.

Frieda:"I survived because of Kenny's help, without him I would've died. In no way is he my hero but I can thank him for saving me. Grisha was holder of the Attack Titan which allowed him to quickly kill my family."

Mando:'Attack Titan? What?'

???:"Papa!!" A voice called out causing the two to turn their heads. They only saw a crowd of people with a little blur slipping past them all. The little blur crashed into Mando and squeezed him in a tight hug.

Mando:"Hold on kid!!"

Mikasa:"Papa, don't do something so dangerous again! I don't want you to leave me alone, I don't want to be alone, please!!"

Mando:"I won't...let me go...you're squeezing me to death!" She then reluctantly let go of him but was in a sour mood.

Mikasa:"You said you would come back quick! Why did you take forever, you had me worried!"

Mando:"I'm sorry but come here, I got you something." She came closer per requested which allowed him to place the flower he picked up earlier in her hair.

Mando:"There, better?"

Mikasa:"No, you can't do that again."

Frieda:"Aw, who's this little cutie pie. Is this Mikasa?" She butted in making the two look her way. Mikasa felt shy and hid behind his leg causing her to chuckle.

Mando:"Yeah, it's her."

Mikasa:"Who's this lady, papa?"

Frieda:"I'm your new mama!"

Mando:"Don't joke around like that. I saved her during the evacuation and she'll be staying with you and me, alright?"

Mikasa:"You can't have papa, he's mine!"

With Mikasa's sudden outburst, all eyes turned towards the trio. Mando noticed this and picked up Mika and took Frieda by the hand, leading them away. He doesn't need more attention now that they're closer to the second wall, he suspected there may be more shitty noblemen and women that he might have to deal with. For now, he asked Mika where the others were at to which she hop off and led them. Not long after, they arrived at a refugee camp where they saw Carla, Eren, Armin, and an old man. Carla and Eren were ecstatic to see he was alive and well but questioned the young lady next to him. She nonchalantly said that she was his lost lover which surprised them, Mando told them the truth of saving her which ended Frieda's little joke. Soon, Mando will have more on his plate as both Levi and Hange were out looking to recruit him.