I know that the previous chapter was depressing enough, sorry to do this to you all who have just recovered but this weeks chapter is also kind of sad. Don't worry though! The next few chapters is going to be a lot more happier! :D

I DO NOT OWN SHINGEKI!

4 years later

Alice's POV

I stood there with a broom sweeping the front of the house, gathering the fallen leaves into a small pile. I looked up to the trees, shafts of light escapes through the gaps of the rustling leaves that was being swayed by the cool spring breeze. I leaned my arms against the broom stick.

Ah, today's weather is really great!

I stretched my arms out. Enjoying the morning sun, letting it's warmth seep into my skin.

Alright! Now all that's left is to water the plants.

I pumped myself up as I curled my hands into a fist and did a fist pump. I can't say that I love doing chores but it was a good way to kill tome since there isn't much to do and it was a good excuse to go out. It's noisy and rowdy inside, not that I hate it. It's always really lively but I guess there are times where you just want to have some alone time.

I grabbed the watering can from the shed and placed it underneath the water pump, I held on to the handle and pulled it up and down, pumping the water out. The handle was a little rusty so it made a squeaky noise. The water gushed out and flowed into the bucket which made a loud crash as it hit the metal bottom. After it was filled to the brim I took a seat leaning against the wall, my hands were a little tired from all the pumping, so I decided to take a short break. I closed my eyes a little and breathed in the crisp air. A few birds came and perched itself onto a nearby tree, they chirped cheerfully at each other. It almost seemed as they were talking to one another. Then, they flew away. It seemed that something scared it off, I suspected that it was a dog since I could hear a dog barking in the distance, it sounded aggressive. Oh well, not that it matters, I got up and as I reached for the watering can I noticed that a few ripples had formed on its surface, I thought it was weird but then again I might be overthinking, yeah that's it. I'm overthinking. I carried the watering can over to a small flower bed. I had always admired flowers, these were a mix of pink and white cosmos. They were really pretty by its sides grew a few small fritillaria. I don't recall them being planted here. It's droopy bell had distinguishable checkered patterns, if I remembered correctly in the language of flowers they meant persecution. I wondered how people come up with this kind of thing, they must have had a lot of time to waste. Just then I felt a small rumble coming from underneath my feet, was it just my imagination? I waited for a while but nothing happened, so I shrugged it off but the ground started shaking more violently. I dropped the watering can out of shock, it tipped over causing the water to spill out.

What was that? An earthquake?

Then once again silence filled the air but it was interrupted by chiming of bells followed by a few more rumbles, the sound got louder and louder. The window panes shook vigorously.

The warning bells?

My head was spinning.

What on earth is going on?

A few villagers came out to investigate, they gathered on top a small hill that over looked the town and the road that leads to it. As if it was separating the outside world from us. The adults stood there frozen, Nina and some kids came out too but they too just stood there upon reaching the top. Panic tighten my heart, I had a bad feeling. I ran over to them wondering what they were so afraid of. My heart stopped for a moment, I understood the fear they felt. In front of us, just a few meters away were a group of giant humanoids. Their faces were scary, they all wore a cynical smile. I wanted to scream but no words came all just stood there with our legs glues to the ground. Then suddenly a man shouted that threw us all in a panic.

"I-i-it's a titan!"

As if it was a spell to free us from our trance, everyone started screaming and running the opposite direction desperate to seek protection. They ran past me some even knocking my shoulders, ignoring my existence, I was lost for words. I didn't know what to do. Titans, real actual, living titans were coming to invade our village.

How did they get in? Are other towns like this? Is help going to come? But we're a small village that's far away from the city, the nearest town is a few hours away. It'll take at least an hour at best for help to come. It'll be too late!

"Alice! We've got to get out of here! Run! Run as far as you can! We need to get to the inner wall." It was Nina who had brought me back to reality.

Then I remembered. Eren! Eren was still in the house! I need to save him! I can't leave without him.

"Let's go!" Nina shouted.

"Not without Eren!" I shouted back before running off.

It was chaotic, people screaming, running and people were even getting to trampled to death but the only thing that I had in mind was to save my stuff toy. I just need to get him before the titans invade the town. I burst into the orphanage but everyone was frantically trying to get out. Somehow I managed to push myself in.

"What are you doing? We need to escape!" a kid said as he pulled my hand.

"Eren's still in there!" I pulled my arm free.

"You're crazy!"

That's right, I am crazy! Everyone is trying to run away and here I am wasting my time trying to save a stuff animal but it doesn't matter, Eren was important. It was worth risking everything, if not I won't be able to face…

Just as I came up to the first floor, the walls were suddenly being tore apart. I grabbed hold of the railings to avoid being pulled away by the force. I opened my eyes to find a set of lustful eyes staring back at me. I was scared, so scared that my body wouldn't move. (the first floor is upstairs not on the ground floor.)

'Alice!" I heard a scream. I turned my head to find Nina standing there panting.

She had came back. Her scream not only attracted my attention but the titan's as well. It shifted its target to her. It almost seemed like it was aiming to save me for later as I was already immobile. Its hand reached over to Nina, she tried running away but its hand was quicker. Crushing her in its grasp, she let out a horrifying deafening scream as it crushed her bones. I sat there powerless. I wanted to scream for help but fear grasp my words, and besides it was futile. No one was going to come.

It began to eat her alive, she kept screaming in agonizing pain till her last breath, taking its time to enjoy its meal.

Eren… the least I can do is save Eren.

I tried standing on my wobbly legs as I grabbed the railings for support, I ran with all my might, trying to erase the terrible image from my head. I ran up the last flight of steps that led to the attic, slamming open the hatch to it. I was greeted by a messy room, the titan had broke down the walls and windows of this room as well. Broken shards of glass and chips of wood covered the floor along with broken furniture and books scattered everywhere. My eyes darted side to side then I found what I was searching for. I ran over to the drawer where Eren was sitting on, my hand reached out to grab him but a lager hand was aiming to grab me. It's fingers were already hovering over me. I closed my eyes out of fright, awaiting to be crushed to death and eaten but a loud crash was heard and the large tremor knocked me off my feet. I fell on my bottom, my hand got cut some glass. I opened my eyes to find a hand lying beside me with smoke coming out from it.

"Oi, what are you still doing here?" a familiar voice barked at me.

"Rivaille?"

Without finishing my sentence, he sheath his blades back into its holders and ran to my side and threw me over his shoulders. He started running away with me.

"Wait no! I need to save Eren!"

"Idiot now is not the time for jokes! More titans are coming, you need to get out of here!'

True enough a few titans had started to group around the house.

"No! I have to save Eren! Let me go!" I trashed my arms and kicked him.

"Stop it! It's just a stupid stuff toy!"

"It's not!" I screamed. "It's not…" tears flowed out of my eyes. "It's the only thing I have left to remind me of papa. It's important." I lost all strength to fight back.

As soon as we got out Rivaille threw me on the back of his horse and rode it at full speed. I clutched tightly on to his back and buried my face without saying a word until we had reached the boats.

"Take her." Rivaille ordered one of the soldiers.

"No! I don't want to go!" I said as I held on to his arm.

"Let go!"

"I wanna go with you!"

"I need to get back!"

"No! Please don't leave me!"

"Alice stop being stubborn!"

"No! I'll be a good girl from now on, I'll listen to everything you say, I promise! Just stay with me! I don't want to be alone!"

"That's enough!" He shouted which stunned me as he has never raised his voice like that before. "Stop being so selfish! Unlike you there are thousands of people who want to live. So, shut up and get on the boat!"

I loosened my grip.

"Make sure she gets on." He said to the soldier and he started trottling off.

"Wait Rivaille!" I ran after him but I was held back by the soldier. I watched as his silhouette driften further and further away.

"Miss, please get in." He said as he ushered me into the boat.

I took a seat but my eyes did not avert from the ground. Tears fell onto my palm and I cupped the together like I was praying.

Please don't die.

After a while we reached the dock of wall Rose. Nothing much had changed since I last came here but there was one drastic change this time. The passengers had lost their sanity, not that I could blame them. All of us had just seen a glimpse of hell. Most of us had our beloved ones eaten right before us. We refuges were gathered in the town square where we were each given some food but there was not enough to go around. I looked at my share of bread, I knew food was going to be scarce but I just had no appetite to eat it. I looked over to a few kids that were comforting a little boy who was crying, I walked over to him.

"Don't cry." I said to him in a gentle voice.

"Don't say it like it's so easy! My parents are dead! You don't know how it feels!"

"I do. I know the pain because mine are too."

Immediately he stopped crying and dried his tears.

It's not like I wanted to comfort him or to fulfill my sense of justice, it was nothing that heroic. It's just that when I looked at the boy, he reminded me of myself. Honestly, I wanted someone to say those words to me.

"Here take it." I handed my bread over to him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm not hungry. Make sure you eat and live on with your brothers. At least you still have part of your family."

I walked away.

That's right. I can't keep on being depress like this, I'm not the only one who has lost people who are important to me. Crying won't make a difference, I want to change. I don't want to be a cry baby forever, I don't want to be protected for the rest of my life. I'll be stronger. Strong enough to protect others.

Yeah time skips!

Awhh Alice is finally growing up. I'm so happy TT^TT -tears of joy- but I feel kinda bad for Eren (rabbit) but oh well. She can't possibly bring Eren to military. Oh shit I spoilt the next chapter but I think most of you already guessed it. Lots and lots of OCs are on the way! Actually there are less than 5 but to me that's a lot. Don't worry they only make a short appearance for the next arc. Yes! New arc starting next week!