News about the Trost invasion spread like wildfire. The printers could hardly keep up with such high demand from the public. The citizens of the aristocratic districts of the inner walls known as Wall Sina would not stop talking about the main article. Some were exceedingly confused while others were high in doubt.

"Hey, is it true?" a man dressed in a suit wearing a top hat asked while reading the article in the newspaper. "Is there really a Titan and on our side?"

"It's obviously just a rumor," replied another citizen wearing a beige suit and a red neckerchief. "The recapture could've failed, so we might see a horde of people from Wall Rose any minute now."

"If that happens, wouldn't there be a food shortage?" the man with the top hat asked.

As the man with the beige suit flipped the next page of the article, he could not believe what he was reading.

"Hey!" he exclaimed. "What is this they're talking about?!"

The other citizens standing next to him were curious as to what the man was so shocked about and flipped to the next page where the man was skimming. They also responded with skepticism and confusion.

"The success of the recapture is also thanks to the assistance of seven... magical... ponies?!" he read out loud.

"They actually want us to believe a made-up story like that?!" the man in the top hat replied. "Do they take all of us for fools?!"

Most of the nobles refused to believe the article while a few others were astonished about this case. The citizens living within Wall Rose, though, thought of Eren and the ponies as a savior from the Titan scourge. They were hugely excited after reading the article taped on the column of a building.

"This is amazing news!" cried a partially bald man wearing a red shirt. "We have a Titan and magical ponies on our side now! We might even be able to recapture Wall Maria! It's like our saviors have appeared."

The citizens reading the article gasped in delight after hearing such a pleasant outlook. Some of them cried in joy while others cheered in happiness. They thought that a Titan along with magical ponies could be a resurgence in this war.

Outside a massive courthouse where an incoming trial was about to take place, there stood a group of soldiers with both arms and legs held together carrying rifles on their backs. The jackets they wore had a symbol similar to that of the Garrison or the Cadet Corps; only the emblem was embellished with a green unicorn head with a white mane. Within the group was a man with an average height and build as well as short, thin, black hair cut short. He also had a light mustache and a goatee with a red bolo tie similar to what Commander Pyxis wore, meaning that he was chief of the particular branch.

"'Saviors,' huh?" he thought out loud while tapping his foot. "The masses are so simple-minded, no matter the era."

"It sounds like something the rebels could use against Central though," a soldier with short, blonde hair theorized.

"We of the Military Police Brigade will get rid of Eren Jaeger and those so-called ponies before that," the chief replied. "The Scout Regiment eccentrics won't get them either."

The chief was interrupted by the sound of a carriage rolling across the streets along with the hooves of horses clopping. Knowing exactly who was arriving, the chief of the Military Police became much more solemn.

"Attention!" he roared.

The other soldiers stood in attention as ordered with the carriage arriving at the courthouse. One of the soldiers jogged towards the carriage to open the side door for the person inside. The person stepping out of the carriage was an old man with light gray hair, a scruffy beard, mustache, and glasses. He wore a plain white shirt with normal, dark colored pants, a sash and a bolo tie similar to Commander Pyxis', and a brown trench coat that bore a black shield emblem with a white border and cross.

"Salute the Supreme Commander!" the chief ordered.

Doing as they were told, the soldiers gave out a heartfelt salute in respect for the Supreme Commander.

"It's hot today," the Commander stated, tugging his white shirt to cool off a bit.

Back at the Trost district on top of the wall protecting the city, Erwin and Pyxis were walking along the borders having their own discussion during a bright, sunny day.

"Commander Pyxis," Erwin said. "there are those who won't be too fond of you, the Commander of the Garrison, meeting privately with me, the Commander of the Scout Regiment."

"Well," Pyxis puffed. "it seems you're as straight-laced as they say. Why fret? We just happened to meet during a morning stroll. As such, this is nothing more than idle talk, but... are you aware that the Military Police Brigade wants to keep custody of Eren Jaeger and the ponies too?"

"Yes," Erwin answered. "I received word of it yesterday. Apparently, a trial will be held."

"Hmm...", Pyxis responded. "The Scout Regiment or the Military Police Brigade... Zachary has been entrusted with deciding which of them Eren will go to."

"Zachary?", Erwin questioned. "Supreme Commander Dhalis Zachary?"

"The Military Police Brigade, the Garrison, and the Scout Regiment. He's the man in charge of those three factions. He has only one judging criteria: Pros vs. cons - whether something is beneficial or not to mankind. If he's convinced of the latter, he'll dispose of Eren and the ponies without hesitation, right then and there.

"I don't want to let him kill Eren or those ponies," he said, bringing more attention to Erwin. "But unfortunately, there are many amongst the Garrison that fear Eren's powers. The most I can do is withhold my approval for the Military Police Brigade."

Pyxis reached into his jacket to take out his flask containing the liquids inside.

"Think you have a shot?" Pyxis asked while taking a guzzle.

"No," Erwin answered solemnly, looking down. "However, I have a proposal I can make."

Pyxis stopped drinking to look back at Erwin.

"Its viability will depend on the trial's progression."

"In other words," Pyxis speculated. "it'll be a game of chance?"

"It's a game my men and I are well-acquainted with as we mainly engage in expeditions," answered Erwin.

"Ha!" Pyxis blurted, pleased by Erwin's statement. "It appears there's more to you than I thought."

Pyxis walked away from Erwin as he was left behind.

"This has been an enjoyable stroll, Commander Smith," Pyxis commented, waving goodbye.

In the city of Trost inside a large dining hall, many of the soldiers were sitting on benches having an adequate breakfast of water and edible porridge. Among those soldiers were Armin and Mikasa as they were talking about the upcoming trial. They felt lonely without their friends, especially Eren and the ponies.

"A trial for Eren and the ponies?" Mikasa asked. "Why?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Armin responded. "but I think it's about their intentions with them."

"What do you mean?"

"About... whether they live or die," Armin concluded.

Mikasa stood up from the table and gasped, much to her shock about the idea of seeing their friends being executed. Adding more pressure between the two, three Military Police soldiers, one appearing to be a captain holding a clipboard and two of them being escorts with rifles, entered into the dining hall.

"Mikasa Ackerman! Armin Arlert!" the captain called. "Are you here?!"

"Sir!" answered Mikasa.

"You've been ordered to serve as witnesses for the trial this afternoon."

Armin and Mikasa were confused, wondering why they were being summoned to be witnesses for the trial. Nevertheless, they knew that they would see Eren and the ponies again and hope for the best during the trial.

Back inside the dungeon where Eren and the ponies were imprisoned, Eren sat on his bed with an exhausted look while the ponies laid down with discontented and frightful expressions. Pinkie Pie played a shady tune with a harmonica she got out of nowhere. The guards actually found it rather pleasant and did not care and let the strange pony play her instrument.

While they were waiting, Eren felt an urge inside of him and had to let nature take its course. He turned to one of the guards outside his cell for permission.

"Excuse me," Eren asked politely. "I need to take a leak."

"You just went," the soldier replied.

"Can I have some water?"

"Hey!" called the other guard peeking behind the right side of the cell. "Get ahold of your situation, you monster."

Despite being offended, he didn't dare lash back at the guards as it would only make his and the ponies' situation even worse. Rainbow Dash laid right next to Eren with a sad expression due to the fact that she didn't have any sunlight, flight, or any kind of freedom for some time. Eren still couldn't believe that the rainbow-colored pony was the first to defend him on his behalf out of all of the other ponies.

Eren petted Rainbow Dash to comfort her in any way, but the pegasus still was not uplifted by him. Nonetheless, Eren found it relaxing as his muscles started to relax.

Monster? he thought, looking at his cuffs holding him. While I can't argue with that... is there really a need to cuff me like this? Then again, it's reasonable. I don't get any of this either. Maybe I should be glad that I'm still alive.

Felman and the soldiers surrounded Eren, his closest friends, and the ponies as they accused him of being a 'demon'.

That reminds me...

Mikasa, Armin, and the ponies protecting Eren tried their best to reason with Felman and the soldiers that he is not a monster but fell on deaf ears.

They weren't scared of me at all. I wonder what they're doing now.

He thought of his friends that were probably enjoying themselves as he spoke. He imagined Conny and Sasha eating a potato that they were peeling, much to his irritation. Christa argued with them to stop eating and get back to peeling the potatoes. Jean and Marco were busy carrying a pile of dirty dishes to wash passing Annie, while she poured herself a small cup of soup.

What happened to everyone else?

"Please bear with us for a little longer," Erwin told Eren and the ponies while Levi was accompanying the Commander. "We'll try to sort things out somehow."

How many days has it been since then? What's going on outside? Don't tell me... Am I stuck here for good? And what about these ponies? he continued to ponder looking at all of the ponies. Will they stay imprisoned with me as well? Or will they just be killed on the spot? It's not like they've done anything but help us in this fight. How can they not see that?

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a door opening and closing along with two sets of footsteps approaching their cell. This alerted Eren and the ponies by shooting their heads up and looking through the metal bars waiting to see who it was that was going to meet them. Pinkie Pie placed her harmonica inside her poofy mane as she expected for someone to talk to them.

When the footsteps ceased and they saw no one else through the bars, they all tilted their heads in confusion. Out of the blue, a woman with brown hair wearing glasses flashed right in front of the bars with her face pressed between one of the gaps of the bars along with a startling look, startling everyone in the cell, mainly Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus hid behind Twilight after having such an unexpected welcome.

The man following her was tall and well-built with long blonde hair that had bangs parted down the middle. He also had a small, dark mustache and beard with a serious, calm expression.

After the woman saw Eren and the ponies, her appearance changed into a warm smile.

"So you're Eren, huh?" she claimed. "And the rest of you must be the ponies from many worlds away I've been hearing about, huh? Are all of you okay? Feeling well?"

Eren and the ponies were thrown off guard by the woman's cocky response.

"Sorry to keep all of you waiting," the woman apologized with an encouraging smile. "You're all free to come out of there now."

Eren and the ponies were uplifted after hearing the news as they were finally about to see the light of day again.

"That's assuming you wear these though, Eren," she added, pulling out a pair of cuffs and showing it to him.

Eren and the ponies, with Eren being cuffed in place behind his back, were being escorted by the strange woman and a few other soldiers down a stone hallway with a barred, glass ceiling of an unrevealed location. Two of the soldiers were taking extra precautions by carrying rifles in the event Eren or the ponies may strike back. Despite that, the ponies did not have any cuffs or restraints unlike Eren since they appeared to be more in control of their abilities.

"I'm Hange Zoë," the woman introduced herself. "a Squad Leader in the Scout Regiment."

Eren was uncomfortable with the man sniffing on the left side of his neck.

"He's Miche Zacharius," Hange introduced. "The same goes for him."

"Um..." Eren uttered.

"Oh..." Hange chuckled in humor. "He has a habit of smelling people he's met for the first time and snorting afterward. But I'm sure it's nothing more than just that. Mind you, his skills have earned him his position."

Eren and the ponies found this habit very unusual. Afterwards, Miche leaned over to smell Starlight, who also found it uncomfortable like Eren thought by leaning away slightly from Miche.

"Uh... personal space, please?" asked Starlight.

Afterwards, he leaned over to Pinkie Pie to do the same while the pony found it amusing rather than odd. The pink pony giggled and hoped that the whiff of cotton candy or any kind of sweet.

"Do I smell good, huh?" Pinkie questioned in a peppy tone.

Miche answered by nodding in approval, causing Pinkie Pie to squeal with joy. Hange found Pinkie's attitude very amusing while the other soldiers thought it was just as awkward as Miche's weird habit of sniffing new people.

"Oh man," Hange exclaimed as they all reached a set of two wooden doors. "sorry for wasting all our time. We're here already. Well, no worries. In fact, going in clueless is better."

Once Hange opened the doorway, the two guards forced Eren and the ponies inside the room by pushing them in. They all looked back at Hange and Miche in perturbed sensitivity.

"Wait!" yelled Eren.

"It's selfish of us," Hange said. "but we can only put our faith in all of you. Best of luck."

Hange closed the doors shut, leaving Eren, the ponies, and two guards inside the room. They now realized they were in an extensive courtroom. There were also large glass windows that allowed lots of sunlight to peer through into the courtroom. On the ceiling was a painting of soldiers fighting to the bitter end in a bloody battle, which was found frightening to Eren and the ponies.

There were several soldiers from the Scout and the Garrison Regiment standing behind a court table on the left side while soldiers of the Military Police and many citizens of the wealthy class were standing on the right side. Right where Eren and the ponies were standing, a huge audience attending the trial ready to take place on both sides. On the other end of the courtroom was a massive bench with three chairs arranged formally with the emblems of every faction on the walls high above them. The center composed of an extensive, wooden, square pen with a square platform and metal bar in the center of it.

As the crowd looked at them, they all remained silent from their own conversations. For some of the citizens, seeing Eren and the ponies for the first time made some of them timid while others were amazed by the ponies' presence. Twilight, Starlight, and Rarity looked at the interior design with fascination whereas Fluttershy quivered by the many eyes staring at the poor pegasus. Pinkie Pie waved at some of them with a goofy smile just to be halted by Applejack shaking her head telling her not to do anything foolish. Rainbow Dash tried to ease her mind telling herself to do what they say and things would work out in the end.

A courthouse? pondered Eren. We were under a courthouse?

"Get a move on!" one of the guards ordered.

Doing as they were told, Eren and the ponies walked to the center of the courtroom inside the pen. The two escorts walked on the platform as one of them removed the metal pole in the center by lifting it out of the marble floor.

"Kneel down," demanded the soldier.

Eren obeyed his orders and fell to his knees if he wanted to be proven innocent. The soldier holding the pole locked it between Eren's cuffs through the chains tied together inserting the pole back in place, holding Eren firmly where he was positioned.

"The rest of you," the soldier called out to the ponies while pointing at the pen behind them. "Over here!"

The ponies followed his order and walked to their own place. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were placed on the left side of the banister while Starlight, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie were positioned on the right side. The soldiers escorting them from before restricted the ponies by their necks with metal collars attached to the banisters one after the other. Since the chains attached between the railings and the collars were only about five inches, the ponies had to sit on their haunches to restrain them from any further movement.

The soldiers took additional safety measures by binding the pegasus' wings with harnesses. Twilight and Rainbow Dash let the soldiers restrain them calmly whereas Fluttershy was more hesitant and afraid to oppose them. With Eren and the ponies now pinned from further movement, waiting for the trial to commence.

Eren examined the people around him to see who was attending the trial. On the right side, he saw the captain of the Military Police, who held a sheet of paper in his hand with several other Military Police soldiers, with one of them equipped with a rifle. Glancing to his left, he saw Commander Pyxis dressed in his casual uniform garb accompanied by several Garrison soldiers. Afterwards, he noticed Commander Erwin with Captain Levi behind him where Erwin was standing in the front of the assembly where the Scout Regiment was situated.

Why are these people here? thought Eren. What's going to be decided anyway?

When he scanned the audience to his left, he caught Mikasa and Armin standing next to Rico, Ian, and Mitabi from the Garrison Regiment gasping in surprise. He noticed that they still looked anxious for him and the ponies.

You guys...

The sound of a door creaking open caught Eren's and the ponies attention. They saw Dhalis Zachary enter the courthouse in the massive bench for the officials. Sitting in the center chair, he took off his coat and placed it on the table with a small jug of water on his left side. Zachary was now only dressed in his white-buttoned shirt with suspenders. Court was now in session.

"Now then," he spoke in a dried voice. "let us begin."

Eren and the ponies, for some strange reason, couldn't help but respect the gentleman.

"Eren Jaeger, correct?" Zachary presumed as he adjusted his glasses to read the document in his hand. "You are a soldier who has offered his life for mankind. Is that accurate?"

"Yes," Eren answered.

"And the seven of you," Zachary said to the ponies. "are the ponies that appeared from another world far from ours better known as 'Equestria' who came in this world to help humanity fight against the titan menace. Is that also correct?"

"Yes, sir," Twilight spoke.

"I will call out all of your names for the ponies being held in trial today," Zachary explained. "Once I call your name, please respond. Twilight Sparkle."

"Present," Twilight answered.

"Starlight Glimmer."

"Here," called Starlight.

"Applejack."

"Eeyup," said Applejack.

"Rainbow Dash."

"Here," Rainbow Dash said.

"Rarity."

"Present," Rarity responded.

"Fluttershy."

"Um... here," Fluttershy said nervously.

"And lastly, Pinkie Pie."

"In the flesh," Pinkie answered. "After this whole trial, is it okay if-"

Zachary's hand was held up, telling Pinkie Pie to silence herself, almost as if it was Celestia's hoof. After Zachary received all of their names, he continued to read down at the document.

"This is an unprecedented case," Zachary acclaimed. "The trial will be a special court-martial in which common law does not apply, with the final decision left entirely to me. We shall also decide whether all of you live or die."

I knew it, Armin said in his mind.

"Do any of you have any objections?" Zachary questioned them.

"I don't," Eren replied.

"No objections, sir," Twilight answered.

"None here, either," Starlight declared.

"No, sir," Rainbow Dash said cautiously.

"None here, sir," Applejack calmly answered.

"No objections, sir," Rarity answered.

"Object, I do not!" Pinkie said in a strange, honest expression.

Armin gulped as he hoped that Pinkie Pie's shenanigans would not hurt Eren's cause more than what it was now. Much to his relief, Zachary ignored Pinkie's confirmation to continue with the case. On a balcony on the right side of the courtroom where other soldiers were listening to Zachary's declaration, Hange and Miche arrived to witness the trial unfold.

"I'm glad you're all quick on the uptake," Zachary replied. "I'll be blunt. As expected, hiding all of you from the public was impossible. Unless we declare your existence in some manner, we may be faced with a threat other than the Titans. Through this trial, we shall decide which military faction will be in charge with your custody - the Military Police Brigade or the Scout Regiment."

Eren and the ponies stared at the Commander in Chief with his honest opinion about Eren being fair-minded. Twilight and Starlight shared a smile seeing that there were at least some people in this world with a good sense of justice, unlike Captain Felman when he had them cornered with Eren and the others. Eren was still on edge as he hoped to answer Zachary's questions in the best possible way to help his case.

"Let us begin with the Military Police Brigade's opening statement," Zachary pronounced.

Everyone's attention was now towards the Military Police, more specifically the commander in charge. Twilight and the others hoped in their hearts that they would be reasonable and just like Zachary. Eren, however, probably knew their answer already seeing how they treated him earlier.

"Your honor," the commander spoke. "as Commander of the Military Police Brigade, I, Nile Dawk, propose: After conducting a thorough examination of Eren's body, we dispose of him in a prompt manner."

The ponies' eyes widened as they heard Nile's outrageous proposal. Eren figured that the Military Police would be unfair and was discouraged with their decision as Erwin, Levi, Armin, and Mikasa did the same.

"It cannot be denied that his Titan power, along with the assistance of these magical ponies, allowed us to repel the latest attack," Nile continued. "However, their existence is also a source of discord that can incite rebellion. Therefore, after having them impart all the information they can provide, we'll have them die as heroes of mankind."

The ponies glanced back at each other about the idea of being put to death with fearful expressions even though they were tolerant ever since they arrived in this world. Eren looked at Nile Dawk with a disturbed look as he also couldn't believe that even though his death was understandable, that he would also decide to execute the ponies as well just for their own engagement in this war.

"There is no need for that!" spoke an old man standing next to Nile.

The man was very tall with some noticeable wrinkles on his forehead and around his eyes. He had short, brown hair combed to the left side and was also much shorter on the back and sides. He was dressed in a black cassock with three golden bands around his shoulders that represented the three Great Walls along with the crests of three crowned women on them.

"They're vermin that undermined the sacred walls by intruding our lands," the man accused. "You must kill them all now!"

The ponies didn't quite understand what the pastor meant by 'undermined the sacred walls', but they knew that the man wanted them gone by execution. Meanwhile, Eren realized who that man was.

He's that Wall preacher, Eren realized in his mind. Five years ago, no one bothered to listen to him. He seems to have support now.

"Pastor Nick," Zachary interrupted. "quiet please."

Pastor Nick obeyed his command and remained silent. Zachary then turned his attention to the Scout Regiment to hear their proposal opposed to the Military's.

"Now then, let us hear the Scout Regiment's opening statement."

"Your honor," Erwin spoke. "as the Thirteenth Commander of the Scout Regiment, I, Erwin Smith, propose: We of the Scout Regiment will accept Eren and the ponies as official members and use Eren's Titan power and the ponies' abilities to recapture Wall Maria. That is all."

Eren and the ponies were now greatly confused. There was no possible way that such a short proposal would help their situation. The ponies even shared baffled looks over a little statement.

"Hmm?" Zachary pondered. "Is that it?"

"Yes," Erwin answered plainly. "If we utilize their powers, we can recapture Wall Maria. I believe it's clear what needs to be prioritized."

"I see," Zachary responded. "On that note, where do you plan to begin such an operation? Pyxis," he said to the commander. "the gate at Trost District has been completely sealed, no?"

"Yes," Pyxis responded. "I doubt it'll ever be opened again."

"We intend to go through Karanese District in the east instead," Erwin answered Zachary's previous question. "From there, we'll head to Shiganshina District. We'll plot out the route as we go."

"Wait a second!" cried a citizen standing next to Pastor Nick wearing a red jacket and white shirt. "Wouldn't it be best to seal all the gates for good now? The only parts of the wall the Colossal Titan can destroy are the gates! If we seal them up, they won't be able to attack us anymore!"

"Silence, you cur from the companies!" retorted another citizen from the left side of the courtroom. "If we can have his titan powers, we can return to Wall Maria!"

"We're sick and tired of you morons playing hero!" the citizen replied in a rough manner.

Erwin and Levi did not change their expressions in the slightest as they stood their ground.

"You've got a big mouth, swine," Levi established.

Eren, the few citizens, and the ponies looked back at Levi with surprised looks after hearing Levi's backlash.

"Who's to say the Titans will sit by and wait for the gates to be sealed?" he questioned him. "The 'we' you're talking about only refers to the friends you grow fat with, no? Are you saying you swine haven't noticed the people suffering from the hunger due to the lack of land?"

The merchant began to stutter as he replied back to Levi.

"All we're saying is that we'll be saved if the walls are sealed-"

"Enough already, you boor!" Pastor Nick yelled at the vendor. "You want mere humans to tamper with Wall Rose, a gift from God?! You gaze upon the walls that defy human understanding and still don't understand?! You think we have the right to lay hands on it?!"

The audience only stared at Nick arguing with the merchant with grim looks as he went on with his preaching nonsense. Eren's rage only grew stronger by the minute.

"Their beliefs are what caused the aiming of the walls to take so long," Armin mentioned to Mikasa in a quiet voice.

"They have plenty of support and influence, after all," Rico added. "A real handful."

Nick and the merchant continued to argue about the walls being sacred or not, being a resentment to Eren and the ponies.

"What irreverence!" Pastor Nick shot back.

"That's enough out of you, priest!" the merchant gnarled back.

"What?!" exclaimed Pastor Nick.

Their arguing was interrupted by the sound of a hand tapping on a wooden bench from Dhalis Zachary, tapping harder on the last bang.

"Order in the court!" Zachary demanded. "You may argue about the differences in principles elsewhere. Jaeger, allow me to confirm: Can you continue to contribute to mankind as you have thus far and utilize your Titan power to that same end?"

"Yes!" Eren answered in a loud voice. "I can!"

"Really?" Zachary replied indifferently. "But in the report for the Battle of Trost District, it said: 'After transforming into a Titan, he swung his fist at Mikasa Ackerman and the rainbow pegasus Rainbow Dash.'"

Eren gasped after hearing what was written in the report and glanced at Mikasa. The ponies gave each other apprehensive looks in grief as they figured that incident would be brought up. Mikasa tried to cover the scar on her cheek with her own hair so that Eren would not notice what he did to her.

He doesn't remember anything from where he lost control, Armin thought.

Mikasa made a ticking sound and gave a cold stare at Rico for writing the incident in that report.

"What," Rico replied silently. "you wanted me to lie in a report? Hiding that wouldn't have benefited anyone."

"Is Mikasa Ackerman here?" Zachary asked the court.

"Yes, that's me," Mikasa responded to him.

"You, huh? Is it true that Jaeger attacked you in his Titan from?"

Mikasa looked back at Eren and tried to put a stern face as she wanted to help Eren's case so badly. Rainbow Dash began to produce a few tears since she was very loyal to Eren and did not want to lose him if she came out and said it. The ponies witnessed what Eren tried to do to Mikasa and Rainbow Dash, quivering by the idea of what would happen to Eren.

"If you don't answer truthfully," Rico mentioned in a quiet tone. "it'll only hurt Eren."

Mikasa hesitated for a moment to consider the circumstances of Eren's fate quickly before giving her final answer.

"Yes, it is," she confessed achingly.

A loud commotion began to flood the courtroom by the many citizens and soldiers. The ponies bowed their heads in anguish as they thought Eren's execution was more likely to happen. Eren was shocked to hear that he tried to kill his adoptive sister, for what reason he did not know.

"Rainbow Dash," Zachary called to her, bringing attention to the multi-colored pegasus with tears flooding in her eyes. "Is it true that Eren Jaeger tried to attack you in like manner?"

Rainbow Dash looked at Eren as he turned to his left to glance at the pegasus to hear her answer as well. As much as she wanted to defend Eren, she was unnerved about what Eren did as a titan back in Trost. Rainbow Dash needed some wisdom and turned her attention towards Applejack. The earth pony only gave her a small nod, telling Rainbow Dash what she had to do in order to help Eren's case. Looking back at Zachary, she gave him her honest answer.

"Yes, he did," Rainbow Dash answered choking in fear.

The outcries from the crowd only grew stronger with terror and disgrace.

"He's just like the rest of them, after all," the merchant concluded.

I tried to kill Mikasa and Rainbow Dash?! Eren thought. Me?

"However," Mikasa continued, bringing attention to Eren and lifting the ponies' heads for them to listen. "Eren has saved me and the ponies' lives twice while he was in his Titan form. The first time, when Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and I were about to fall prey to a Titan, he fought it off and saved us. The second time, he shielded me, Armin, and the ponies from a cannon. I'd like you to take these facts into consideration as well."

The ponies' eyes glimmered with hope after hearing Mikasa's statement, especially for Rainbow Dash. The pegasus thanked her by giving Mikasa a quick nod, who nodded back in response as if she was saying 'You're welcome.'

"Objection," Nile opposed, bringing all attention to him. "I believe her testimony contains too much bias to be considered."

The ponies were confused, wondering where Nile was going with this as Nile was trying to destroy Eren's innocence.

"Mikasa Ackerman lost her parents at a young age and was taken in by the Jaeger family."

Mikasa grunted in defeat as she saw Nile Dawk shatter Eren's probity to bits. The ponies were surprised to the point of gasping greatly. Regardless, they remained silent so that it would not fuel Eren's current position further. Applejack was completely shocked, realizing that she and Mikasa may have more in common than she thought.

"Furthermore," Nile continued. "through our investigations, we have uncovered some shocking events that took place during that time. At the age of nine, Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman stabbed to death three men who were wanted for robbery and kidnapping."

The ponies couldn't hold it any longer and gasped in revelation. The thought of killing men at such a young age was unthinkable to them. The audience began to make a small ruckus once they heard the report Nile read aloud.

"Though this falls under legitimate self-defense, I feel their basic human nature needs to be questioned. Should we really invest mankind's fate, men, and resources to him or those ponies?"

The citizens talked between each other to consider that question.

"That's right!" said one of them. "He must be a Titan that's been hiding amongst us in the form of a child!"

"Her too," the merchant accused Mikasa, pointing at her. "I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't human!"

"Yeah!" replied a man in the audience. "We should dissect her just in case!"

Eren, Mikasa, and the ponies were startled by their ridiculous denunciation just for the sake of surrendering to their own fear.

"Wait!" Eren shouted back towards the crowd. "I might be a monster, but that has nothing to do with her! Nothing at all!"

"As if we could trust you!" the man yelled.

"It's the truth!"

"He's covering for her because it's true!" another man accused.

"No!" Eren screamed.

He banged the shackles that held him, forcing everyone into silence.

"I mean... you're wrong," he said to the audience. "So far, all you've been doing is blurting out convenient speculations."

"Wh-What did you say?!" Nile asked tensely.

I should stop, Eren thought as he spoke.

"To begin with," Eren continued. "you've never seen a Titan before, so what are you so afraid of?"

I can't say any more. No, I'll keep at it. I'll make my stand here!

"Plus, why are you people accusing these poor, innocent ponies of committing a crime?" he asked the crowd while they glanced at the ponies. "They helped us reclaim Trost and saved many soldiers fighting for the sake of humanity and this is how you repay them? By locking them up in chains like a bunch of savages? How can we afford to not let those with power fight? If you're scared of fighting to survive, then lend me your strength! You... damn cowards."

"What?" muttered Pastor Nick.

"Just shut up and bet everything on us!"

The courtroom was silent, and so were the ponies. They could not believe how Eren was defending them to the point of tears. Even Rainbow Dash saw the bravery and loyalty in him and shed a few tears herself. However, they soon realized that he may have sealed his own fate.

"Take aim!" Nile ordered the soldier standing next to him.

"Sir!" the soldier answered, aiming his rifle directly towards Eren.

The ponies' eyes were widened and gasped in terror, pleading in their minds to tell Nick to stop. Before the soldier could fire, Levi stepped in and kicked Eren's left cheek with his boot, forcing Eren to spit some blood along with a bloody tooth to bounce on the marble floor.

Huh? Eren thought as he saw the tooth fly out of his mouth.

The ponies looked back at Eren to see who it was that struck him. When Eren looked back at Levi, he only got a kick on his stomach, letting Rainbow Dash's rage to swell even more. Levi then grabbed Eren's hair and shirt to deliver a knee thrust into his face.

The audience was dumbfounded by Levi's reckless actions and were too paralyzed to say a word. Rainbow Dash even tried to pull towards Levi to try and stop him, only to be held back by her restraints. Mikasa was startled as well as she saw Eren getting pummeled by the Captain and decided to put a stop to it while she clenched her teeth and scowled in anger. Before she could advance, Armin grabbed her arm forcing Mikasa to halt.

"Wait, Mikasa!" Armin bellowed.

Mikasa looked at Armin and asked herself why he was stopping her. She glanced back at Eren as Levi continued to batter Eren to a pulp with his mouth and nose bleeding profusely. Levi stomped his foot on Eren's head to restrict him from any further useless struggle. Rainbow Dash gazed at Levi, seething furiously as she was still locked in chains.

"This is just my pet theory," Levi spoke. " but I think pain and discipline go hand-in-hand. What you need now isn't a lecture, but training. You're in a good position for me to kick too."

Levi continued his onslaught by kicking Eren's head once again, followed by a few stomps. Erwin, Hange, and Miche only watched Levi deliver the most efficient way to perform obedience through Eren. Rainbow Dash shook violently as she couldn't bare to watch any further.

"Leave him alone!" she cried.

Levi turned his attention to the blue pegasus without the slightest change in his expression as he had another idea in mind. Levi walked away from Eren to let him gag on his own blood spilling from his face.

"Perhaps she could be an example too," Levi stated.

Once he was close enough to Rainbow Dash, he glared at him viciously while Rainbow Dash tried her hardest to keep a brave face on. Levi performed and uppercut with his foot right below Rainbow's chin, causing her to slam the back of her head on the railing of the banister. The ponies winced as they saw one of their friends receive the same treatment as Eren. Fluttershy whimpered in horror, hoping she or any of her other pony friends would not be disciplined as such.

Rainbow Dash panted in pain while she got a blow from Levi's kick on the side of her face, followed by a boot straight into her chest. The force of Levi's last hit focrced her back into the banister. Rainbow Dash looked up at Levi with shivering lips, which was enough for Levi to let her know her place.

"Alright, where was I?" Levi asked himself while walking back to Eren.

Eren hissed through his teeth in anger seeing Rainbow Dash's beaten condition. This caused Nile to have concern for Levi's well-being.

"Stop, Levi..." Nile warned as Levi placed his foot right on Eren's face pushing him back on the pole.

"What?" Questioned Levi.

"That's dangerous," Nile stated. "What'll you do if he gets angry and transforms?"

Levi delivered one last kick at Eren before responding to Nile's question.

"What are you saying?" he asked while lifting Eren's head by the locks of his hair. "You guys are gonna dissect him, right?"

This caught Nile off guard. Trying to deal with Eren in such a way would no doubt cause problems for the Military Police and the citizens likewise. Levi dropped Eren to discuss with the audience accordingly.

"In his Titan form, he apparently killed 20 other Titans before he ran out of gas," Levi verified. "As an enemy, his intellect could pose a problem for us. He still wouldn't be a match for me though. How about you lot? Those of you speaking against him should really think it through. Can you really kill him?"

"Supreme Commander," Erwin said to Zachary, raising his hand. "I have a proposal."

"Yes?" Zachary asked.

"Eren's Ttitan power has many uncertain points to it, furthermore the existence of these unique equines are perplexing, which poses a constant threat. So I propose they be entrusted to Captain Levi and taken out on an expedition."

"You'll bring Eren outside?" questioned Zachary.

"Yes," Erwin replied. "I'd like Eren's control over his Titan power and his worth to mankind to be judged based on the results of that expedition. As for these ponies, I'd ask that you allow them the freedom to do as they wish since they have more control of their powers than Eren does."

"Handling Eren Jaeger..." Zachary considered. "Can you do it, Levi?"

"I'm certain I could kill him," Levi responded. "The problem is that there'll be no alternative."

"Sir," Pyxis spoke to Zachary. "I have one last thing to say before we postpone this trial."

"Hmm, and what reason do you have to delay my final verdict?" Zachary queried.

"After successfully recapturing Trost, Twilight and her friends told me that she and her friends left some baggage that they brought from their world. We were able to recover their bags and held onto them for safekeeping."

"Yes," Nile replied. "We also confiscated them to check the contents inside to make sure that there wasn't anything dangerous."

"And what did you find, may I ask?" Zachary questioned Nile.

"Of course," Nile responded, taking out a sheet of paper that listed the items inside the ponies' saddlebags. "In the bags that were labled 'Twilight Sparke', there were three books titled ‘History of Equestria,' ‘Anatomy of Ponies,' and ‘Equestrian Geography.' There were also several sheets of paper, two large quills, and two bottles of ink. Also, there was a scroll with inscribing that was hard to understand."

Hange, standing on the balcony, rubbed her hand together, anxious to read those books.

"'Starlight's' bag contained a few books that the same kind of inscribing for what appears to be simple spell casting. 'Applejack's' bag contained a pouch full of seeds labeled 'Apple Seeds'. The bag labeled 'Rainbow Dash' carried two books titled 'Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone' and 'Daring Do and the Griffon's Goblet'. Nothing more than just children novels."

Rainbow Dash snarled at Nile's accusation of the Daring Do series for children to read. Nile continued to read the list.

"'Fluttershy's bag carried a brush and a few bags of bird feed. 'Rarity's' bag contained a brush, hair rollers, a pair of glasses, two bottles labeled 'Shampoo' and 'Conditioner', and facial makeup."

Applejack gave Rarity an irritated scowl, only to be ignored by the fashionista as she pointed her head up towards the ceiling and closed her eyes.

"Lastly," Nile concluded. "The bags labeled 'Pinkie Pie' had a large number of colorful pieces of paper and rubber pouches with open ends, that for which purpose I do not know."

Pinkie Pie tilted her head to the side as she did not understand how the humans never heard of confetti or balloons.

"So after a thorough examination," Nile settled. "Their belongings appear to be perfectly harmless and are still in custody by the Military Police."

"I see," Zachary responded. "After this trial is over, make sure to have the bags along with the contents sent to the Scout Regiment so that they can be returned to their rightful owners."

"Yes, sir!" Nile answered.

"Is that all, Commander Pyxis?" Zachary asked him.

"Yes, that is all," Pyxis returned.

"Very well," Zachary approved. "I've made my decision."

Inside a small room consisting of a wooden desk with a wooden chair, a couch, two windows, a fireplace, and a dresser. Hange tended to Eren's and Rainbow Dash's wounds that Levi inflicted on them before. Levi leaned against the wall with Erwin standing next to him while Miche stared out one of the windows in deep thought. The ponies excluding Twilight and Starlight gathered around Eren and Rainbow Dash to comfort them while Hange dabbed their wounds using a cotton ball and tweezers. Rainbow Dash only had a noticeable bump on her forehead and bruised cheek.

"Honestly," Hange said as she dapped the cotton ball on Eren's cheek. "he went overboard. Does it hurt?"

"A bit," Eren replied, holding a small cloth on his face.

"So, in what way does it hurt?" Hange asked, only confusing Eren slightly.

Twilight and Starlight entered the room with two cloths filled with small blocks of ice held with their magic, giving them to Eren and Rainbow Dash to soothe their wounds more easily.

"Thanks, Twi," Rainbow Dash replied, putting the cloth of ice on her forehead.

"Huh?", blurted Eren. "Where did you get that ice from?"

"Just a freezing spell Starlight and I used to freeze some water," the alicorn answered.

"It's disappointing you guys don't have the technology to make your own ice," Starlight admitted. "so we made our own to help you two with your wounds and all."

"Wow!" Hange exclaimed. "That's amazing!"

"Oh, you've seen nothing yet," Pinkie replied in a cheery tone.

"I apologize," Erwin said to them as he approached Eren and Rainbow Dash. "But thanks to that, we gained custody of you."

"Yes," Eren answered.

"We couldn't have made that proposal go through without your tolerance. You both have my respect," he announced while giving them his hand for a proper handshake. "Eren, we'll be counting on you."

"Yes," Eren answered enthusiastically, shaking the commander's hand. "I'll do my best!"

"The same goes for you ponies as well," Erwin said to the equines as he shook Rainbow Dash's hoof. "I look forward to working with all of you."

"We won't let you down, Commander Erwin," Twilight ensured him.

Afterwards, Levi walked through the crowd of ponies and sat down on the same couch right next to Rainbow Dash while crossing his legs and placing his right arm on the back, alarming Eren and the blue pegasus.

"Hey, Eren," Levi called to him.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Do you hate me?"

"N-No," Eren answered. "I understand what you did was necessary."

"Good to know," Levi acknowledged. "What about you, Rainbow Dash?"

As much as Rainbow wanted to get revenge, she knew that if it weren't for him, Eren, along with her friends, could have fallen into the hands of the Military Police who could have just ended them without hesitation. She gave a small smirk of gratitude.

"No biggie," she replied, pawing with her right hoof. "Thanks to you, we were able to get out of that mess. I can't thank you enough."

"Glad you get it."

"But don't think I won't get back at you after that little brawl you had with me," Rainbow appended. "You were lucky I was chained up, but you should be careful when I'm not tied up. So, I'll even the score with you eventually."

"I look forward to it," Levi answered with a smirk on his face, knowing that he could take anything she could possibly throw at him since he fought against Titans.

"But you took it too far," Hange argued, holding a cloth to unviel a tooth inside. "You broke a tooth, you know? See?"

"Don't pick that up," Levi ridiculed. "It's disgusting."

"But it's a valuable sample."

Eren and the ponies looked at the knocked-out tooth from earlier.

"Eren," Levi called to him. "Aren't you glad you didn't end up getting dissected by her kind?"

"Don't bunch me together with those guys. I wouldn't kill Eren."

Hange wanted to check something of Eren real quick.

"Say, Eren," asked Hange. "Let me take a peek inside your mouth."

Eren opened his mouth agape to let Hange see where the tooth flew out of his mouth. Suprisingly, she was mystified to see the gap where the tooth was knocked off have a white surface sticking out of his gums.

"It... already grew back," Hange stated.

Everyone's attention was drawn to Eren to see his regeneration capabilities in spectacle, though Levi was more repulsive about it.

"Bizzare," Starlight whispered.