Hey there, here is chapter two of this story, this one centers on Connie. Let me know what you think of it.
Year 854
At Fort Salta, southwest of Marley, Falco's Jaw Titan fly to the battefield while Connie and Jean stares at it.
Connie says: "So this is the end…"
Jean finishes his sentence "For us, they leave us. An end worthy of the scout regiment".
Connie recalled "You remember, during the ceremony."
Jean remembered "Yes…"
Connie finishes: "We ended up saving the world….Thanks to you."
They looked at each other as the spinal fluid gas took effect and turned them into titans.
Then everything went black. Was this really the end? Connie never imagined that he would die like that.
(Wakeup!)
And then, Connie wakes up with a start. He is in his bedroom. He would recognize it among a thousand even if he had never set foot there since the last time he visited his family…before that fateful day. The half-termite-damaged wooden bedside table and Connie's bed, which was barely standing and in danger of falling over at any moment.
(Conny!)
Connie is disoriented, that's what it's like to be a titan he thought…."Eren said that Ymir described it as nightmarish…" he thought "That didn't looks so nightmarish….almost heartwarming…that ugly must have lied once again"
(Connie! Come! It's … time )
He thinks for long seconds and then asks himself "No! What if I was dead!?"
He didn't have time to think more than that about his situation before two children's voices sounded in the next room. His eyes widened in surprise, he froze, "No it's not possible…."
At the same time, the door opened and a 6-year-old blonde girl cried, "Connie! Mom has been calling you for breakfast since a while ago! It is not by sleeping in that you will become a soldier"
Connie couldn't believe his eyes, Sunny is there in front of him and she's the same age as the year he started his Boot Camp training. It didn't take more than two seconds to jump on her and hug her, tears in his eyes. Sunny is confused. Connie exclaimed "I can't believe it, it's really you…How is that possible?" he couldn't believe his eyes, how could his sister still be alive?
"Huh, Connie why are you crying?" exclaimed Sunny
"What is happening here ?" cried a grown man's voice accompanied by childish laughter. Connie looked up, knowing that voice all too well…his father Dirk Springer holding his 2-year-old brother, Martin, in his arms.
Connie stared at them for a long time to the great confusion of the 2 people present, Martin laughing at Connie's face.
"Connie, why are you looking at us like that?" asked his father
"I think he had a big nightmare!" Sunny exclaimed.
Connie let go of Sunny and rushed at his father and couldn't help but tug at Martin's cheeks he was so happy to see them.
"Conny! I know you will be missed once you leave for Boot Camp but still!" said Dirk.
Connie let go of them, and wiped the tears from his face. They heard a female voice coming from the main room of the house "What are you doing? Breakfast is not going to eat itself!" she says. Connie rushed to the kitchen and saw his mother put the 5 pieces of bread on the table. He then rushed at her and gave her a huge hug. He hugged her so tightly that he could feel her pulse. "It's not possible, it's a bad dream, I'm going to wake up…" he thought.
Marina Springer, Connie's mother laughed, "Connie, why so much attention?" seeing the confused looks from the rest of the family witnessing the scene.
Connie couldn't believe it "They're here, they're all alive!" he thought
During breakfast, while everyone was finishing the few chicken eggs that the family had managed to harvest during the week. Usually they only had bread but today was a special day.
"It's tomorrow morning that you're leaving to start your training at Southern Boot Camp, you'll have to say goodbye to the whole village," says Marina.
Connie was somewhere else mentally, he wasn't listening, he was just savoring the moment. He who thought he would never see his family again after Zeke had cowardly transformed them into titans but here they are again. He stared at each of his family members for a long time.
"Connie? Mom is talking to you!" Sunny shouted to bring him out of his trance.
Connie came to his senses and replied "Excuse me mum what did you say?"
"I was telling you that you had to make your farewell rounds to the people of the village before tomorrow." she cried
"Oh yes that's right, including old Sara, who takes care of the horses" he joked
His father laughed "Yes her too." then he looked thoughtful and asked, "Connie, tell me what motivates you to become a soldier?"
Connie was surprised by this question. He didn't know what to answer.
His father continued, "Ragako is rather spared from the crisis that has affected humanity since Wall Maria fell and fortunately no refugees have been sent to live there, probably because the village is so lost that it is barely if it appears on the maps."
Connie replied "Dad, if Titans invade Wall Rose, what does he think will happen to the people of our village?"
Sunny shouted "The King will save us!"
Connie had a smirk at that moment. "I have indeed returned to the past… How? "
"Connie is right, I heard from Mrs Britanny that the hunter village to the north has been requisitioned by the Government for farming. How long before they come here for the same reasons. This is a very good reflection my boy. You have the soul of a soldier." Marina said.
Connie thought "She is talking about Dauper….If I went back in time, then….."
"SASHA!" he shouted, startling everyone as Martin began to cry.
"Conny! Why are you screaming?" says Dirk
"Who is Sasha?" Sunny asked innocently.
"Connie, are you sure you're okay?" cried his mother.
Connie panicked "I'm back in the past and with my memories of the future but I can't tell them anything….This information is too valuable…One wrong word from me and Sunny tells the whole village and then the Interior Police knows about it and arrives here…I have to be careful what I say…"
"Sasha?! I said that ? No that's the name I gave to our hen, you know the only one who still lays, besides it's time to brush her teeth " he said with an extremely scary embarrassed smile as he stood up from the table and heading for the exit. The rest of the Springer family looked at him puzzled, not knowing how to react.
Meanwhile, Connie sits against the wall in front of the chicken coop and tears well up in his eyes as he watches the chickens. "She's alive too...I'll see her again tomorrow!"
A little later, Connie is plowing their carrot garden with his father and his father tells him "Connie you have been acting strange since this morning. What's happening to you?"
Connie looked puzzled, he knew he had never been a very good actor, little Falco had understood his trap very easily.
"I am worried about you all. The world we live in is dangerous and so cruel… We don't know who to trust anymore" he says thinking of Reiner, Annie, Bertholdt, Yelena and Eren. "I want you to be happy and safe."
Dirk was very touched by these words, his son spoke like an adult, he hugged him and said "Don't worry about us. Do everything to become the best soldier possible and fight for what you believe in".
Connie held back tears, it all seemed so unreal. He hugged his father just before a voice interrupted them.
"Hey Dirk, congratulations on your son! Connie, try not to get fired on the first day of your training" this caused his blue-eyed, brown-haired 4-year-old son to snicker.
Connie looked at them and smiled, the younger 'him' would have protested but seeing that father and son again somehow relieved him "I can even remember what titans of Utgard they were…."
Dirk paid no attention to the neighbors and watched his son, surprised not to see him react. That's so mature of him…almost too mature.
The next morning, Ragako was still asleep as the Springer family said goodbye to Connie as the convoy was tasked with bringing the recruits back from the Southwest to Training Camp.
Connie hugged Martin and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Then he hugged Sunny and said, "Take good care of Martin and the parents. You are the big one now."
"Why are you talking like you're never coming back" Sunny asked.
Connie felt a pang in his heart. Dirk answered in his place "But don't say that Sunny! Connie will just be away for 3 years. He's not going to join those crackpots from the Survey Corps." That made Connie's smile fade a bit "Yeah I almost forgot what does he think about them..."...
Marina interrupted them and took Connie's hands in hers, "Connie, I'm counting on you. Humanity lives in very troubled times. I am sure and certain that you will do everything possible to become the best soldier you can be. Don't listen to the teasing people of the village," she said, visibly moved.
Connie was trying hard to hold back the tears. "What would she say if she knew I couldn't save our family…And left her rotting like a titan on the roof of the house….Before I tried to feed her a child.." he thought, recalling his memories that will haunt him forever.
He then took a determined look "No! I won't disappoint her this time. I will save them. I will prevent these events from happening and I will protect them!" he thought
"I will not disappoint you mom, I will become a good soldier!" he said
As the convoy pulls away with only Connie in the back, he watches as his family waves to him. "I promise you will be proud!" he thought.
Later, as the sun beats down on the Southern Training Camp. Connie arrived and positioned himself for the introduction, he couldn't take his eyes off Sasha, he stared at her constantly
Shadis is busy traumatizing new recruits. Connie thinks as Shadis humiliates Armin. "I was transformed into a titan by the spinal gas of this strange creature….What was it anyway? Gabi said she came out of Eren's neck…". He looked at Eren and recognized that determined look. "Eren…". He continued "Anyway I was taken back in time, 7 years ago. I have kept all the memories of my life, I know when each event occurs, as well as the initiatives of the warriors of Marley. I can prevent all these deaths." He then looked at Bertholdt, Annie and Reiner seriously.
Then he heard Shadis shout "I'M TALKING TO YOU CATTLE!"
He turned and saw Shadis yelling at Jean. "Oh, I don't remember that?" Connie thought.
"I'm Jean Kirstein from the District of Trost! I'm here to protect those I love and save humanity!" exclaimed Jean.
Connie was surprised, he was speechless "It's different from what I remember? Jean had taken a headbutt from the instructor the first time" . He saw that Shadis was just as surprised as he was as he watched Jean return that look.
Shadis walked up to Connie and shouted "Hey! you there! Who are you?"
Connie bit back a smile. "I'm doing it right this time !" He saluted correctly and exclaimed "Connie Springer from Ragako Village, southern wall rose!"
Shadis was surprised and replied "Good morning Springer. With some luck, you'll maybe survive one hour outside the walls!". Connie thinks to himself, "We'll see about that." and looked back at Jean, who was looking at someone else. He looked at Sasha. Connie did the same and his eyes widened in surprise "Why isn't Sasha eating a potato?!" he thought. "I guess not everything has to be exactly like the first time...Who knows, it might be a good thing."
A few hours later, as the sun goes down. Connie stands at the door with Marco, Eren, Mina and Armin. They hear them talking about Shiganshina and going into the dining hall to talk about it in detail. "Reiner is going to make a fuss of listening to all this.." he thought. He saw that Jean was on the other side, busy observing the meeting between Ymir and Historia "Or rather Krista at that moment."
He saw Jean and looked at him "It was with him that I spend what I thought were my last moments" he thought. He approached him and wondered "But why did he answer differently just now?". He stood next to him and said to himself, "Second meeting. It's almost funny…"
"My name is Connie Springer," he said. Jean replied with an expression of surprise followed by a smile and "Jean Kirstein".
He slumped his elbows on the cabin railing and looked at Sasha too. He asked "Do you remember during the introduction ceremony? You said you wanted to save those you loved and save humanity? What motivates you to do this?"
It reminds him of his last words, he found it very moving.
Jean seemed surprised by this question and replied ""I want to save the people I love from this cruel hell and dark future that awaits us"
Connie smiled
"The same."
He looked at Sasha and said
"This girl is really amazing all the same. You saw how she eats that bread. She would be able to peel a whole lobster with her teeths and bite into ice cream like an animal."
Jean jumped, his eyes wide with shock.
Connie wondered why Jean was looking at him like that and realized he was talking about lobster… They stared at each other for what seemed like long minutes.
Jean took him in his arms suddenly. Connie took a while to understand and said to himself "Nooo….Not possible!" he says to him
"Jean…Is…Is it really you? Finally, the you I know" he cried
Jean tightened his embrace and said "Yes, you fool. You too have returned to the past after the Battle of Fort Salta!"
He let go. Connie says "I'm so glad to see man…I thought I was alone"
Jean looked through the cafeteria window and said "Eren is telling the others about the fall of Wall Maria…Let's get away from the building. No one must hear us."
Connie smiles "I recognize you there"
They moved away and approached the well where Sasha was just now, not far from an empty shack. They sit against the wall below the window and sigh as the smell of cooking hangs in the air.
Connie asked "Do you think they managed to stop the Rumbling from continuing?"
Jean answered "It depends on Armin, Mikasa and Corporal Levi"
"And if they were able to kill Eren…" Connie added, which made Jean frown.
Connie "What do we do? Do you think we'll ever be able to go back to our future?" he said, without much conviction.
Jean replied "What's the point, we are here, we have a second chance to do things right and we can save all the people we have lost."
Connie sighed, he suspected that would be what they should do.
"How do you want to go about it?" he said
Jean's face calmed down and he sighed holding his ears, as he does whenever events are too much for him to bear. "I don't know, everything that happens from now on depends on what we decide to do, Connie. The whole world depends on us 2 there".
Connie joked "The whole world rests on our shoulders….They bet everything on broken arms like us"
Jean answered him by tapping him on the shoulder. "You always joke at the worst time"
Connie "Relax. We are prepared this time"
Jean says "We'll have to take care of the case of Reiner, Bertholdt and Annie….They are the most imminent threats. "
Connie frowned, he wondered if they had no other choice. Jean added "Then we go Rod Reiss and the Government….If we want to get out of this we will have to concoct a plan to get rid of them and the Interior Police. We may need Erwin's help for that."
Listening to that, Connie realized all the people that were now alive again "Not just my family and Sasha...All those scouts that died can be saved..." he thought
Connie then, after a deep sigh, says "What a burden we have."
Jean reply "Yeah..."
They were silent for a little over a minute when suddenly the door swung open and someone jumped on top of them and hugged them. This person had a potato in his mouth. Connie noticed that they had landed in front of the vegetable supply booth.
The person shouted "Guys it's you! I can't believe it's really you!" she cried with a half-chewed potato in her mouth.
They couldn't believe their ears, if Sasha could recognize them , it could only mean one thing.
They both shouted "SASHA!".