Inside the town just outside the city of Trost, a soldier that was frantic and crying was being comforted and reassured by Marco. The other soldier had a short crop of spiky, gray hair with an elongated, rounded face and light brown eyes.

"Marco, I've had enough," the soldier wept. "I can't fight the Titans anymore!"

"What's wrong?" Marco asked.

"My comrades were devoured right in front of me!" blurted the soldier. "I didn't even feel sad or angry seeing them die like that. I was just thankful from the bottom of my heart that it wasn't me!"

The sadness the cowardly soldier felt was beginning to get to Sasha while she was sitting on a pair of stone stairs with a basket of loaves of bread right next to her.

"But it must be my turn next. I finally realized. Our job is to keep fighting until the Titans devour us, isn't it?!" the soldier questioned in absolute fear. "If that's all I have to live for, I'd rather-"

Marco saw him draw out one of his blades from his sheath and restrained the soldier from killing himself by wrapping his arms around the soldier.

"Calm down and get ahold of yourself!" forced Marco. "You're not alone in this, Daz! Everyone is battling with fear! Look at Sasha!"

The moment Marco mentioned the young girl, she jumped slightly from her seat and sat straight up.

"Even after everything that's happened, she's still a noble soldier."

Unable to handle the pressure a minute longer, Sasha wailed in pain and agony leaning downwards.

"Um, my stomach is hurting, so can I please go to the infirmary?" Sasha grumbled.

After witnessing the 'noble soldier' break down in a stomachache showing that her hesitation to fight once again, Daz pulled his blade out even further.

"That's it!" Daz clamored.

"Stop!", begged Marco. "Stop it!"

Some of the other soldiers that were still awaiting orders heard the commotion that Marco and Daz were in, putting them on edge. Jean took another slurp of water from his canteen and wiped off the drops of water from his chin.

"Keeping it confidential really was necessary," muttered Jean. "With things as they are now, if word about Eren spreads..."

Standing up straight and leaning with his hands on the wooden table, Jean wrenched with apprehension over the horrible situation. Suddenly, he heard a massive cannon blast, followed by an explosion. The other soldiers also followed the sound of the explosions and looked over the buildings to see a large pillar of steam rise from where the blast took place. Jean, Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie walked towards the street to get a better view and saw the smoke as well. The commotion began to outset as the cadets looked at the smoke rising above them.

"Cannon fire?" a soldier wondered.

"But why only one shot?" questioned Jean.

"Look, there's smoke!" a soldier shouted pointing at the pillar. "It's coming from within the wall!"

All of the soldiers glanced over the buildings and clamored in worry and terror.

"What's that?" another cried.

"What's happening? Was the floodgate broken through?"

"It's the strongest part of the wall. There's no way!" answered a different soldier.

"A high explosion shell must've accidentally been dropped," another soldier replied.

"But then why's there so much smoke?" another muttered in question.

Reiner's face started to become stiff after staring at the smoke. Taking action, he grabbed his handles stocked on his sides to use his maneuvering gear.

"Could it be steam from a Titan?" Jean asked.

Reiner shot both of the hooks from his maneuvering gear and flew over the rooftops towards the blast.

"Hey!" Jean exclaimed.

Jean quickly noticed Annie and Bertholdt doing the same and went with Reiner to investigate.

"Hey!" he shouted again, using his gear to follow them to see what happened as well.

Jean ran across the roofs on various buildings in pursuit of Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie towards the smoke cloud, wanting to find out exactly what was going on.

The captain and soldiers surrounding the three humans and ponies were petrified in awe and intimidation to see a partially formed titan, with Mikasa, Armin, and the ponies inside of its ribcage. Anxiety started to overwhelm the captain and soldiers to the point of no return. Meanwhile, Armin was still in trauma after the near-death experience and being caged inside a Titan's skeleton. Mikasa kept a stern and relaxed expression while the ponies looked at the skeleton with surprise and wonder of their extraordinary safeguard. Once Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie, and Jean reached the roof of a structure for a much better view of what just occurred earlier, they all gasped to see the incomplete titan form Eren created.

"What the hell's going on here?" asked Reiner.

Mikasa, Armin, and the ponies silently watch as the titan attempted to move. The soldiers heard the creaking and grating coming from the Titan.

"It's alive!" said a soldier in the formation.

"Captain Felman!" the gray-haired exclaimed, awaiting further instructions.

Captain Felman gasped once he saw the left eye of the Titan stare directly at him, paralyzing Felman in fear. He instantly backed away a few feet in perplexity.

"W-we're on standby!" the captain answered. "It's too dangerous to approach! All units are to stand by on full alert! Stand by! Have the cannoneers ready another round!"

Eren's Titan eye began to twitch as Eren tried to open is real eye inside the Titan body. Eren's actual body was surrounded by bone and muscle holding him tightly inside with his arms, legs, and face attached to the muscle fibers. Eren's eyes shot wide open once he got to his senses and realized he was inside the Titan he formed to protect his friends and the ponies. He gasped and began to pull away from the muscle attached to his limbs and face.

Outside of the Titan's nape, the nape shot open with steam pouring out allowing Eren to gasp for air. As he tried to lean back out of his Titan form, he was still linked to the Titan where his left hand was, exactly where he bit himself to transform. He held onto the spine with his right hand and pulled his left one, tearing it out of the Titan flesh. Eren took a few deep breaths while looking around the Titan he conjured before.

"What is this?" he said to himself.

More steam continued to produce as the Titan body started to deteriorate and evaporate into thin air. Mikasa, Armin, and the ponies began to deliberate the circumstances that just took place.

"W-what is going on?" Starlight murmured to her friends.

"My goodness," Fluttershy exhaled, fanning her face with her hoof to cool her from the immense heat. "It's so hot in here."

"And this heat is ruining my mane," Rarity complained.

"All I remember is the sound of cannon fire," Armin whispered. "Then there was a tremendous crash, impact, and heat. We're inside a titan's skeleton right-"

"Eren protected us," spoke Mikasa. "That's all that matters now."

Armin looked down at the ground and noticed a tiny patch of violet flowers sprouting from the ground that wasn't previously there before.

"Flowers, inside here?" wondered Armin.

"Hey!" called Eren walking around the skeleton to meet up with his friends and the ponies. "You guys okay?"

"I think so," Twilight answered. "We're safe now thanks to you."

"Eren, what is this?" Armin queried.

"How the hay is this even possible?" Applejack questioned.

"No idea," answered Eren. "But it's evaporating already. Just like a Titan's corpse. Let's back away a bit."

"With pleasure!" Rarity responded as she galloped outside the ribcage just to keep her mane in better condition.

Mikasa, Armin, and the rest of the ponies did the same to make sure that they would not be crushed by the collapsing skeleton. Eren looked through the mist to see the figures of soldiers still waiting to attack.

"Whatever they're figuring out what to do or just distracted, the Garrison can't see what we're doing now," Eren theorized. "But in the end, they'll probably continue attacking. I don't have the confidence to talk them down after showing this."

Eren put his hand on the top of his shirt to reach the key around his neck that he noticed earlier, bringing interest to Mikasa, Armin, and the ponies.

"It reminded me of something though. The basement. The basement of my house. My dad said I'd understand everything if I went there. He's also the one that turned me into this."

Eren turned his attention to the decaying Titan skeleton he produced earlier.

"If I get to that basement, I'll probably learn the truth about the Titans."

Realizing this fact, Eren emotions switched from revelation directly to anger.

"Damn it!" he cursed slamming his fist on the rib of the crumbling Titan skeleton.

"What's wrong?" Starlight asked with unease.

'Why did he keep it all a secret?" pondered Eren. "The Scout Regiment searched for that information at the cost of thousands of lives. It's mankind's only hope! And you're telling me it was locked away in my basement? Just what was going through his mind? Come to think of it, where did he disappear to for five years-"

"Eren!" Twilight spoke. "We're not so sure either, but we have more important things to worry about. Our lives are still at stake here."

"She's right, Eren," Mikasa replied, putting her hand on his left shoulder. "We have other things to discuss."

Eren nodded in agreement and followed his friends and the ponies away from the Titan skeleton.

The soldiers outside the smoke continued to observe as it started to fade away.

"The smoke is clearing," A soldier noticed.

"We'll attack immediately on sight!" replied another soldier.

"Let's finish this quickly!"

"Remain on standby!" Captain Felman ordered the soldiers.

The skull of the Titan skeleton snapped from the spine, falling to the ground with a giant cloud of debris covering the area. The soldiers were blinded as they covered their eyes to protect themselves from the dust. Inside of the steam, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the ponies squatted down among one another to hear Eren's plan to make it out of this terrible ordeal.

"I'm... leaving this place," Eren told his friends.

They all looked at Eren with puzzlement.

"Where to?" asked Armin. "How?"

"Anywhere will do for now," replied Eren. "I'll climb the wall from there and head to my basement. But I'll turn into a Titan first."

"Turn into a Titan?!" Rainbow Dash asked.

"How are you able to do that?" Starlight wondered.

"I'm not too sure how to do it myself, but I think I can. Just like how a person can't explain how they move their arms," explained Eren, looking down at his hand. "Earlier, I unconsciously focused on blocking the cannon. That's why the body had no other function and easily fell apart."

Twilight and Armin began to ponder on the masterminding of Eren's Titan powers.

This is incredible!, thought Twilight. Think about what we could do with his powers; combining it with our pony strength could really be a turning point in this war!

"This time, I'll go for something stronger," Eren panted. "The 15-meter-class that I kicked around all of those Titans with should suffice!"

Mikasa, Armin, and the ponies noticed some blood that was dripping from his nose, and his face started to look pale along with his breath becoming raspy.

"Eren, your nose is bleeding," Mikasa uttered.

Eren wiped his nose with his index finger and looked down at it to see some blood smeared on his finger, bringing him to caution.

"And your face is starting to look pale," added Twilight.

"Twilight's right," agreed Armin. "Not only that, your breathing's heavy too. You're not in good condition, Eren!"

"Transforming into a Titan is taking a toll on your body," Twilight surmised.

Despite knowing this fact, he disregarded it and expunged the rest of the blood off of his face.

"I couldn't care less for my well-being," Eren responded. "Listen. I've got two ideas in mind."

"Well, what is your plan?" questioned Twilight.

"If you guys don't try to cover for me, you'll be spared at the least," Eren continued. "I've already gotten you guys in a real mess, so I'll be moving solo from here on out."

Armin and the ponies gasped slightly.

"No, I-" Armin opposed.

"Eren," spoke Mikasa. 'I'm coming too."

"Count us in, too!" Rainbow Dash stated.

"You can't," Eren quipped. "You guys are staying here, and the same goes for you freaks!"

"Forget it!" Rainbow Dash retorted. "You're not gonna let you fight alone. We're in this together!"

"Rainbow's right," Applejack agreed. "Ain't no way we're gonna leave you by yer lonesome."

"If I can't keep up, you can just abandon me," Mikasa said. "But I don't have to listen to what you say."

"I'm telling you to cut it out already!" Eren disputed. "I'm neither your little brother nor a kid!"

"You're right!" answered Rainbow Dash. "But we are friends; and as friends, we stick together, no matter what!"

"Shut up!" Eren yelled. "I don't even know you guys, or know what you are for that matter!"

"True," Applejack interjected. "But we know that yer in quite a pickle, and we ain't just gonna let those goons put ya down like a wild animal."

"Why are you horses even trying to help us?" Eren questioned in anger.

As they continued to quarrel, Armin remains silent knowing that they were running out of time if they don't think of something soon. The other ponies didn't do anything other than watch Eren, Mikasa, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash go out on each other. Meanwhile, the captain and the soldiers outside the steam were still positioned around Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the seven ponies in defense against any assaults.

"Captain," spoke the grey-haired, female soldier standing next to the captain. "The high-explosive shell is almost loaded. How shall we proceed?"

"Await my signal!", Captain Felman ordered.

"Sir," the woman accepted.

Armin looked hopeless as his friends pursued to argue amongst each other. He knew that it wouldn't be long until all of the smoke cleared up and the soldiers would be fully prepared once again.

There's no sign of the Garrison planning to launch a close-quarters attack just yet, Armin pondered in his head. If there was, Mikasa would've picked up on it faster than a stray cat. Even if they loaded the cannon as fast as possible, it should take at least another 20 seconds. Eren will probably act within that time and depart from here.

Armin's childhood memories started to come back to him.

Eren and Mikasa, both at a younger age, fought back against three other kids that appeared to be local bullies. Eren was struggling with two of them as one of the kids held him back by his jacket, yet he managed to shove one of them onto the ground; whereas Mikasa restrained one of them with his arm behind his back and restricting his movement on a wall.

The memories haunting Armin brought an expression of sorrow on his face.

Why am I remembering that now? he asked himself in thought. Is it because this is the end for us?

Armin whimpered in the corner made by the wall of a building and a large crate as he witnessed Eren and Mikasa fight against the local bullies. All he could do was cower in fear by covering his face with his arms and shed some tears.

So even up to the very end... I was nothing more than a coward after all., Armin continued.

Once Mikasa and Armin chased of the bullies they walked to the fearful Armin with warm smiles with Eren offering Armin a free hand. After Armin was lifted to his feet, they walked through the alleyway with Eren still escorting Armin to safety. Using his free hand, Armin wiped off the tears from his face, showing gratitude for his closest friends once again.

They've saved me countless times already. But I've yet to return the favor even once.

During his training days, he jogged in the rain with a poncho over him and a heavy backpack on his shoulders. As he became tired, we watched his comrades jog further away from him, leaving him in the dust.

How could I consider myself a friend who's on equal terms with them? How can I say, 'I'm coming too?' I don't even have the confidence to keep up.

Eren, Armin, and Mikasa read a book describing the wonders of the outside world. They both read it with astonishment and wonder. Mikasa, however, looked at it with hardly any emotion.

With time running short, Armin fell to his knees and looked down with contempt and then closed his eyes.

After... all this... he thought. the three of us will never be together again.

"Say what you want!" Rainbow Dash squabbled. "Titan or not, I can outfly you without breaking a sweat!"

"Eren, I-" Mikasa spoke.

"Wait, you guys," Eren interrupted. "I said I had two ideas in mind, didn't I?"

Mikasa, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash stopped themselves from arguing at Eren and waited for him to reveal his plans. Eren turned his attention towards Armin with determination on his face.

"Armin, I'll leave everything for you to decide," he stated, bringing Armin out of his discouragement and his full attention at Eren. "I'm well aware of just how unrealistic my plan is. It would be the most effective to use this titan power systematically under the army's command. I know this is a lot to ask, but if you think you can convince the Garrison that I'm not a threat, I'll put my trust in you and stay. That's my second idea. If you think you can't, then I'll have to resort to the first idea."

Armin was left in confusion as to why Eren would put such responsibility on someone as weak as himself. During that time, the cannoneers were aiming the cannon precisely at him, his friends and everyone else, readying another high-explosive round.

"You have fifteen seconds to decide," Eren pointed out. "Whether you can do it or not, I'll respect any opinion you have."

The cannoneers positioned the cannon into place and were just about ready to fire another round at the humans and ponies.

"Eren," Armin said in a low voice. "Why would you entrust me with such a decision?"

"The worse a situation is, the better your decisions are, you know?" Eren replied with a reassuring smile. "I'm willing to bet on that."

"When did I ever..." Armin stumbled.

"Lots of times," Eren answered.

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash acknowledged with her own smile. "It was your idea to use Eren's Titan form and take back the HQ."

"Plus," Starlight budded in. "You were the one who formulated the plan to kill all of those Titans in the storage room."

"Not only that," Eren counted. "Five years ago, if you didn't call Hannes, Mikasa and I would've been devoured by a Titan."

The moment Armin realized that fact, the entire decomposing Titan skeleton snapped and crumbled, causing more steam and smoke to form. Armin was in trauma and realization to know that he was not a liability after all.

It was just me convincing myself, he thought to himself. Convincing myself that I was powerless and a burden.

Armin glanced at Eren, Mikasa, and all of the ponies and noticed that they all looked at him with confidence and assurance.

That thought didn't cross their minds at all! Armin thought. And these ponies, even though we hardly know each other, they're still okay with me to take responsibility for their lives.

"Armin," Eren called out. "We're out of time."

"Well," Twilight spoke. "What's it gonna be, Armin? Do you think you can do it?"

One of the cannoneers on the wall manned the rope to fire the cannon after they finished loading the next round. A female soldier standing next to him raised her arm signaling that they were ready to fire.

"The cannon's been loaded," the gray-haired soldier responded to the captain. "Ready to fire at any time."

Eren, Mikasa, and the ponies entrusting their lives to me now are the people I trust most in this world., Armin told himself in his mind. How could I possibly doubt myself now?

Armin stood up on his feet with a scowl on his face and a flame burning inside his spirit, knowing precisely what to do. Eren, Mikasa, and the ponies looked at him hoping for his final decision.

'I'll convince them no matter what," Armin announced. "Do anything you guys can to show that you're not a threat."

Eren, Mikasa, and the ponies nodded in approval with warm expressions on their faces.

"Woohoo!" Pinkie Pie cheered. "Go get 'em, Armin!"

Armin turned around and began to walk out of the steam towards the captain and other soldiers. The smoke started to fade away entirely.

Something's been on my mind since I saw Eren fighting as a Titan., wondered Armin. I still haven't figured it out, but I'll pull this off. I'll think while talking if I have to!

As Armin got closer, he unbuckled his maneuvering gear around his waist, causing it to fall on the ground with a massive bang and clacking sound. The sound followed by Armin coming out of the smoke caused the surrounding soldiers to become tenser.

"Halt!" the captain ordered in anxiety.

The two soldiers standing right next to the captain aimed their rifles at Armin in self-defense. Armin slid to a halt and raised his arms in the air to use as his only approach necessary.

"So you've finally revealed your true colors, monster!" Captain Felman disregarded. "I'll signal... I'll signal the cannon!"

"He is not the threat of mankind!" Armin shouted while shuddering slightly. "We're willing to share any and all information that we have!"

"I have no intention of hearing your pleas!" the captain claimed, clenching his fist. "We've seen everything we need to know! There's no room for discussion! If you claim he's not our enemy, then prove it! If you can't, we'll simply eliminate the threat!"

"There's no need for proof!" Armin declared.

That's right, Armin analyzed. It's unnecessary!

"Besides, how we see him is not an issue!"

"What?!" the captain yelled in rage.

"I've heard that many have seen him in action!" Armin continued. "If that's true, they must've also seen him fighting the Titans! And that includes the sight of the surrounding Titans swarming him!"

This fact Armin brought up made the other soldiers realize that this case would possibly make Eren an ally to mankind.

"In other words," Armin concluded. "the Titans saw him as a target of predation, just like the rest of mankind. No matter how we go about it, that fact cannot be denied!"

Everyone, including the ponies, was amazed, shocked, and motivated by Armin's words. The soldiers began to stand down after hearing Armin's reasoning of Eren's innocence, except for Captain Felman.

"He has a point," whispered a nearby soldier.

"A titan as an ally," muttered another.

"That's ridiculous," breathed yet another soldier.

The soldiers aiming their rifles at Armin stood down as well. The captain, realizing that he was losing support from his troopers, was unwilling to believe these facts and then fumed in anger while clenching his teeth.

"Prepare to attack!" the captain ordered in a loud voice. "Don't be fooled his cunning lies!"

Armin gasped in fear as he did not understand the position he and his friends were in right now. Eren and Mikasa grunted for the captain's unreasoning while the ponies simultaneously gasped.

"Their actions have always been beyond our comprehension," the captain shouted. "It must be possible for them to imitate our form and speech to delude us! We cannot allow them to do as they please any longer!"

With full determination, Captain Felman silenced his derogators while the soldiers alerted themselves to attack the three humans and ponies. Armin just stood in front of everyone with fear overwhelming him once again.

It's no good, thought Armin. He's abandoned all reason. He's too scared to think.

He looked back at his friends and the ponies for one last time.

Eren... Mikasa... Everyone!

Regardless of their final moments together, Eren and Mikasa looked directly at Armin with full devotion, knowing for certain that he can still fight. The ponies looked at Armin with gleaming smiles telling him that they were proud of him standing up to the captain and soldiers, despite the outcome. With their spirits remaining strong, Armin's spirit began to arise with dedication and courage that he had never experienced in his entire life. Clutching his teeth, Armin quickly faced the captain and soldiers, clenched both of his fists, and placed his left arm behind his back. He then struck his chest where his heart was with his right fist, giving out a heartfelt salute.

"I am a soldier that has long since offered his life for the revival of mankind!" he declared in a roaring voice. "To perish while obeying that conviction would be my life's greatest glory! If we were to utilize his titan powers in addition to our remaining forces plus the abilities of these ponies, recapturing this town would no longer be impossible! Praying for the glory of mankind, I shall elaborate on his strategic worth with all the time I have left!"

Eren and Mikasa were flabberghasted by Armin's passionate and touching speech. The ponies were far bewildered and spiritually touched by Armin's powerful words to even cheer, even for Pinkie Pie. Some of the ponies even started to shed tears in astonishment. Jean, Reiner, Annie, and Bertholdt were also stunned by Armin's speech and were too immobilized to do anything. The captain, however, suppressed his emotions since he was still holding Eren as a menace to make sure his enemies would not defeat him.

"Captain Felman," the blond-haired soldier spoke. "perhaps we should consider his-"

"Silence!" the captain rebutted at the soldier, silencing him.

No matter how they plea, they're still rebels! the captain thought, raising his arm to signal the cannoneers. Those who transgress must be eliminated. That's the duty of a soldier!

Armin's eyes widened in terror knowing that the captain was too ignorant and fearful to comply with Armin's reasoning. Eren and Mikasa were about to put their second plan into play. Mikasa was about to ready her blades and Eren was about to bite his left hand to transform into a Titan again. The ponies stood to attack any soldier that was about to advance on Eren and the others. The tension became so high that no one noticed an old, bald man with a distinguished mustache grab Captain Felman's arm right before he could give the command to fire the cannon.

"That's enough," the man said in a groveling voice. "As always, despite having a large body, you're as feeble as a fawn."

Felman looked at him to see who grabbed his arm and gasped in total surprise. His eyes were golden with wrinkles under them and light skin. The man wore a white-collared shirt under his jacket with a purple bolo tie around the collar. He also had a broad, red sash with gold trim around it since he was the highest ranking officer in the Garrison Regiment. Behind him were several more soldiers with rifles around their shoulders.

"C-Commander Pyxis?" Captain Felman stumbled.

Pyxis had a relaxing smile while he lowered Felman's arm down and passed by him to get a better view of Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the ponies.

"Are you blind to the brilliance of that salute?" he giggled. "I just arrived, but a messenger filled me in earlier. Go take command of the reinforcements. I think it'd be best to hear what they have to say."

With that being said from the commander, Armin fell to his knees and breathed heavily knowing that their death sentence was spared. Eren, Mikasa, and the ponies stared at the commander with astoundment and sighed in relief, and the pressure from their bodies faded away.

According to the Scout Regiment's reports, the Titans were predicted to approach from the south. Specifically, Shiganshina, the southernmost district of Wall Maria, was attacked. Therefore, the town that was the most likely to be attacked next was the southernmost district of Wall Rose, Trost.

On the wall around the inner gate of Trost District, Commander Pyxis walked along the edge of the interior wall of the city to look down at a dozen Titans that were trying to reach him to no avail. While doing so, he took out a small, metal flask from his jacket to take a quick sip of the contents inside. Meanwhile, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the ponies were right behind him as they checked Eren while he was squatting down to see if he was in better condition after transforming into a titan twice already.

"I guess I won't find one, after all," Pyxis murmured. "I wouldn't mind being devoured if it's by an exquisitely beautiful female."

Starlight and Twilight looked at each other with raised eyebrows in slight confusion.

"Who is this fella, anyway?" Applejack questioned in a quiet voice at Armin and Mikasa.

"His name is Commander Dot Pyxis," answered Armin. "He's the chief executive in charge of all the southern territories including Trost District, the city we are in now. He's also the man given full authority over the defense of mankind's most important districts, and he's uh... quite eccentric."

"Yeah," Starlight replied. "I think we gathered that already."

"Anyway," Armin continued. "he's given authority to protect the southern districts after the Titans were more likely to attack the southernmost district of Wall Rose ever since the titans attacked Shiganshina five years ago."

"Shiganshina?" Rarity asked.

"Shiganshina was our hometown until the Colossal Titan appeared and destroyed the outer gate. Another titan called the Armored Titan destroyed the inner gate, and we had no choice but to give up the lands held behind Wall Maria."

"Oh my," Fluttershy exclaimed. "I'm so sorry to hear that."

"It's fine," Eren said in agony. "But I'm going to put a stop to this."

The ponies looked at Eren wondering what he meant by that exactly.

"I swore to exterminate every last Titan from this world!"

"Well," Rainbow Dash spoke. "we'll make sure we'll help you guys fight back and win this war!"

Eren was suddenly reminded that he had no clue as to what these strange creatures were, especially the blue, rainbow-maned pegasus. He had a strange feeling that he had seen her before.

"I'm sorry, but who or what are you guys?" Eren asked.

"I am curious to know as well," Pyxis said, walking towards them. "Who are you strange equines anyhow?"

Below the wall, where hundreds of soldiers were lined up in formation to await further orders, Captain Felman looked up to where the commander, the three humans, and ponies were, still bristled how he was unable to execute them.

"What's the commander thinking?!" he raved. "How could he accompany such suspicious people up there?"

"Well," responded the gray-haired soldier. "the commander's thoughts are beyond the comprehension of average people."

"Captain," called the blond-haired soldier. "the soldiers are in formation."

"Right. Good work," the captain replied.

He took a quick glance at many of the soldiers, only to see grim and squeamish expressions on their faces.

"Well, now that we know your names, would you care to tell us where you came from exactly?" Pyxis asked the ponies.

"Certainly," Twilight responded. "We came from another world far from yours, but the land that we came from is known as Equestria. We ponies are the dominant species of that land ranging from earth ponies like Applejack or Pinkie Pie, unicorns like Starlight Glimmer and Rarity, pegasi like Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, and alicorns like myself."

"Extraordinary," Pyxis replied. "I would like to know more about this place and you folk."

"Well, we do have books regarding useful information about Equestria, but we left them in our saddlebags inside the headquarters," Twilight informed the commander.

"I see," Pyxis answered. "I'll make sure to take note of this that way you can reclaim your belongings."

"Anyhow," Twilight continued. "our rulers, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and my sister-in-law Princess Cadence discovered this world of yours while they were searching the cosmos for signs of life. After seeing the horror and state that this world is going through, the princesses asked my closest friends and me to step forward into this world and help your species fight against these Titans."

"The only thing on my mind right now is why your rulers would send you ponies here, let alone have any passion for learning about this world."

"I asked myself the same question," Twilight replied. "They were so ambitious to know about your kind and your advanced technology, such as your omni-directional mobility gear."

"Well, how touching. So how were you able to arrive here in this world?" Pyxis asked in wonder.

"The princesses used a magic spell to teleport us into this world. We even have contact with the princess, but the scroll that I need to contact her is in the HQ. Mikasa was the first to accept us and lend us a hoof, or in your case, a hand."

Pyxis responded by nodding once and giving a grunting sound of agreement.

"Commander Pyxis," Twilight asked. "If there is anything we can do to help, we'll gladly accept."

The other ponies gave a confident 'Mmhm' in response. After getting an answer, Pyxis looked at Eren to ask him something.

"So, Eren was it?" Pyxis inquired. "You were looking at the key wrapped around your neck when we were escorted up the wall. What is it for exactly?"

Eren took out the key from under his shirt to examine it again. The ponies also looked at the key Eren was holding.

"I don't remember much," he replied. "But I do know that this key unlocks the basement of my home back in Shiganshina. My dad told me that all of the answers are there once we reclaim Wall Maria. I'm also not sure how I became a Titan, but I think my dad had something to do with it. When that day comes, once we finally learn the truth about the Titans, we could finally end this nightmare."

Pyxis stayed silent for a moment evaluating Eren's words as he looked over the city.

"I see," Pyxis responded. "So you say that all of the answers lie in that basement?"

"Yes," answered Eren. "Do you believe me?"

"As long as you yourself aren't certain, I'd say I can only keep it in mind at best," noted Pyxis tapping the side of his head with his index finger. "However, I believe myself capable of seeing the truth of things. I shall guarantee your safety."

Everyone gave a sigh of relief after hearing the commander's promise to protect them. Pyxis turned his attention to Armin.

"Recruit Arlert, was it?" asked Pyxis.

"Sir!" Armin replied while saluting him.

"Earlier, you said that if we utilize this 'Titan power', it'd be possible to recapture this town, did you not? Did you truly believe that, or was it a vain act of desperation?"

"It was..." Armin tried to answer correctly. "both! What I was trying to say back then was that Eren could carry the large boulder to seal the destroyed gate in his Titan form. It's an idea that I came up with on the spot, but I hoped the possibility to break out of this deadlock could be seen in Eren's power."

Eren, Mikasa, and the ponies looked at Armin to determine if this plan was insane, or crazy enough to work. Pyxis turned around to look back in the city at the boulder Armin was talking about.

"Of course," Armin continued. "it was all a genuine attempt to survive."

"A genuine attempt to survive..." Pyxis mused taking his flask out of his jacket. "The most trustworthy words I'll ever hear."

While Pyxis was having another drink, Eren and Mikasa waited for any advice Pyxis would tell them. Pyxis walked to Eren and crouched down to his level, looking at him straight in the eyes.

"Well, Recruit Jaeger?" he spoke in a relaxing voice.

"Sir?" Eren questioned.

"Can you seal that gate?" Pyxis asked.

Eren was not so sure how to answer that since he was still new to his Titan powers and all.

"I..." he hesitated to answer while looking away in shame. "Well... I don't know. I'm just as clueless as the rest of us present here. So, regardless of whether I can do it or not, I can't answer half-heartedly."

"Oh, that's true, I apoligize," atoned Pyxis. "That was the wrong question."

Eren looked back at Pyxis and waited for the real question.

"Will you do it or not - which is it?" the commander asked.

Eren jumped up slightly knowing that the answer was more blunt and outright. Pyxis glanced at the land behind Eren where the territory of Wall Rose was protecting. Eren looked out at the land behind him and realized that losing the territory behind Wall Rose would be yet another major blow of humanity, only worse that five years ago. The ponies also looked at the land guarded by Wall Rose, knowing that losing such beautiful land would not be tolerated. Eren turned back at the commander to give him his answer.

"I'll do it," he answered. "I'll do it! I'm not sure whether I can or not, but I'll do it!"

With determination, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the ponies looked at the breach of the outer gate in high hopes that Armin's plan would be a success. There was no turning back now.