Connie

"Connie, wait! Calm down! There could be Titans anywhere!" Reiner's calls fell on deaf ears as Connie continued riding faster than the rest of his team toward his village. "Get back here, Connie!"

"This can't be..." Destruction. That is all that remained of the village. No survivors were in sight, and houses were reduced to rubble. Connie frantically looked around while remaining on his horse, hoping that there could be anyone. Especially his family. "Anyone?! Is anyone there?! It's me! Connie!" The boy raises his head and screams up to the sky in desperation. "I came home!" His plea only rings through the now abandoned village...followed by silence. "My house!" Dad...Mom...Sunny...Martin! "Please be okay!" But all Connie found at his home...was a Titan on its back on top of the now-destroyed house. All the boy could do was just look at his home reduced to this Titan's new resting place.

"Connie! Get back!" Reiner, who has now pulled up from behind, tries to pull Connie back.

"It's...my house. My..."

"Connie..."

"Fall back, you two!" Gelgar commands as he has his sword at the ready and gets himself in front of the boys.

"I'll scout the area!"

"Wait, it's..." Gelgar gets a better look at the Titan from around the house, noticing its arms and legs are a smaller and fragile size. "It can't move?"

"Not with those legs..."

"Th-Then... How? How did it even get there?!"

For the next few minutes, the Scouts scoured every corner of the village for any hope of survivors. Meanwhile, all Connie could do was stare at his home flattened by the new uninvited guest.

"Connie! Are there any survivors?"

"No... None at all. It's all over... My hometown... It's gone forever." All The boy could do was unsuccessfully fight back his tears as Reiner tried to offer him his hand on his shoulder.

"Hey! Something's strange here. Has anyone spotted any bodies?"

"No..."

"I haven't."

"How is that even possible? Titans come and not a single drop of blood?"

"Everyone must've escaped! It means nobody here was eaten. Including your family too."

Connie actually takes heart with the Scout's words, almost believing every word she's saying. "I see... That's gotta be it!"

"Yeah. It's unbelievable to think Titans ate everyone without leaving blood behind." That's not all that's unbelievable. Not a single drop of blood or any human remains can be found. If the entire village had been previously evacuated, why would Titans obliterate these houses with nobody in them? But what really boggles the mind is the stables. Every single horse was accounted for. If they tried to escape without horses, their chances of survival would be slim.

"Everyone got their torches? Let's move! Our mission is to locate and assess the breach in the wall!"

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone darts for their horses. Just when things couldn't seem more unbelievable than they actually are, something...peculiar happens as Connie retrieves his horse.

"Wel...come...home..."

Connie's head slowly turns back to the source of that...sound. His eyes filled with horror and confusion. It couldn't have been...could it? His voice shakes as his mind comes to a conclusion. "Just now..."

"Connie, hurry up!" Reiner shakes the boy out of his trance. "We're falling behind Gelgar!"

"Reiner? Did you hear that? The Titan-"

"I didn't hear anything at all. Enough of the chit-chat. Focus on the mission!"

"But it... I think... I don't know how, but... I think... My mom..."

"Connie!" Reiner, cutting him off having enough. "Do you understand the situation we're in?! Hundreds of thousands of lives depend on whether we complete this mission or not! Your family might have escaped, but it's not over yet! If you're a soldier, put the mission first!" Reiner rides off, leaving Connie alone.

"Yeah... Good point. He's absolutely right!"

Elijah

An hour later...

After leaving Sasha and the northern team, I traveled southwest, hoping to meet up with Nanaba, Christa, and Ymir's western team. It took an hour to find them, and after giving my report to Nanaba, I settled in with her team. They too, were done evacuating villages and now heading south to Wall Rose.

"We're getting close to the Wall now," one of the senior scouts told Nanaba, "so there are no people living in the area."

"Right. That didn't take us very long. All right, let's head to the south."

"What for?" Ymir asks. "There shouldn't be any villages south of here."

"We need to find the location where the Wall was breached. We'll ride along the Wall from the west until we find it."

"But Christa and I don't have our battle gear. There are probably Titans roaming everywhere to our south. It's very possible that we'll become Titan fodder. Let the two of us withdraw from the front." Christa, riding to Ymir's left, softly calls her name, while I, to her right, chuckle low. What Titan would want to eat Ymir? Nanaba declines Ymir's request, saying she'll need them in case a report needs to be relayed and that, though she understands how she feels, this is what they signed up for.

"Ymir," Christa says as we come to a lakeside, "I'm fine with putting my life on the line. After all, I'm the one who chose to join the Scouts. But...it's not the same for you. The only reason you joined the Scouts was because-"

"Hmph! You think I did it for you?!"

"Then why are you even here? You kept trying to convince me to join the Military Police. Even after not making it into the top ten, you said I'd be better off in the Garrison. There's no way I'm good enough to make the top ten. So why? Why would you go that far for me?" Christa pauses for Ymir to give an answer to her, but the older girl holds her tongue as she looks ahead. Sighing, Christa speaks again, her voice becoming softer. "Does it...have to do with my family?"

Christa's family? Originally paying attention to the conversation just because I'm right beside them, I look to Christa, her body slumped on her horse. I wonder what Christa means by that, maybe I'll ask her later.

"Yeah, it does," Ymir finally says. "Christa… Don't worry about it. The only reason I'm here...is for myself and nothing else."

"...I see. Thank goodness."

Four hours later.

With it being nighttime, traveling is unironically safer despite the lack of light due to the clouds. When? When will they show up? No, the closer we get to the breach in the Wall, the more inevitable that becomes. I'm ready for anything, but with how fucking dark it's gotten, fighting the Titans will prove to be more difficult than normal. Damn it! this is... Wait, what the hell is that?

Seems we weren't the only ones with the idea to follow the Wall. This leads us to where we meet up with Gelgar's southern team, along with Connie, Reiner, and Bertholdt. "Did you follow the Wall here too?"

"Nanaba nods. "Yeah. Where did you find the hole?"

"Huh?"

"We didn't find anything to the west. Didn't you find it your way?"

"No. There's no hole this way either."

"What?" I look to Wall Rose, feeling a bead of sweat on my forehead. That's impossible. How could the Titans get inside the Wall without breaking through? What'd they do, fucking dig underground?

"Is it possible we missed it?"

"No way. Not a hole big enough for Titans to use."

"Should we go back and look again?"

"We'll need to, but the horses and the rest of us are exhausted. If only we had some moonlight."

"Yeah." As if God and the heavens heard the senior officers, the clouds in the sky broke apart, letting moonlight through. In the distance, we could see a large structure rising out of the forest. The decision was made for us to make camp at the ruins.

"We embark four hours before sunrise. We'll take turns to keep watch, so you cadets get some rest now."

Christa looks up to Gelgar questionably. "Um...if the Wall hasn't been breached, then how are the Titans getting in? Perhaps the situation isn't as bad as we first feared."

"You could be right," Nanaba responds. "Titan numbers are low. At least compared to what you'd expect if there was a hole in the Wall."

"We'll figure that out tomorrow. For now, focus on getting some rest."

"How are you holding up, Elijah?" Reiner asks. "You've been all over the place, right? You must be fit to drop."

"You wish." I stretch my arms out, proving I'm not tired yet. I left Stohess early in the morning and hadn't had a good moment to rest until now. That doesn't count yesterday's battle in the district, to which wounds I still have."But yeah, I'm good to go. Don't worry about me."

"Wow, you're amazing!" Christa exclaims. "I wish I had your stamina."

"Let's share more information before we get some shut-eye. If I remember correctly, you have a report from the Commander for us, don't you?"

I totally forgot about that report, and thinking about it sours my mood. How the hell am I supposed to tell the others the truth about the Female Titan? "Yes..." I drop my head to my knees, trying to figure out just how to relay my report. "Well, the good news... We captured the human inside the Female Titan in Stohess. Well, I wouldn't say 'captured', but we have her."

"Really?"

"That so?"

"Amazing!"

"..."

"..."

"And the bad news?"

"Stohess suffered many casualties. We weren't able to capture her before she transformed, and Eren had some difficulty transforming himself. Then, of course, we had two intelligent Titans fighting in a city. Casualties were bound to happen."

"But if you confronted the Female Titan in her human form," Ymir says. "You knew who she was, didn't you?"

I nod slowly. "...Yes."

"Who?"

I look to the fire we built, desperately not wanting to answer that question. Back then, in the heat of the moment, I wanted her dead, even back in the forest. Annie is a traitor if she can be considered as such. She betrayed not only humanity but also our trust...but now... It hurts to think of her that way, knowing she was someone I considered a friend, even when most didn't. Someone I somewhat admired and looked up to... But the others are waiting, and unfortunately, I have to answer. "The Female Titan...is Annie."

"...What?"

"Is that so?"

"N-No way!"

"..."

"..."

"Yes. Even though I was so sure it was her, I didn't want to believe it either. But when she transformed... She's being held in a secret place. I haven't seen her since." I don't know why I lied, but telling the others we succeeded sounds better than saying that she got away from us...again. It won't serve me any good in the end, will it? I look around, Seeing Connie's and Christa's disbelieving faces, Bertholdt's in sheer pain, Reiner's in a hardened frown, and Ymir is...well, Ymir. She simply looks at the fire. Lying to my friends...not that it'll change anything. We'll never see Annie Leonhart again.

"Why were we kept in the dark?" Connie asks. "You, Jean, Mikasa, and Armin got to go, but not the rest of us."

"Because the four of us were cleared of suspicion of colluding with Annie. Being she's part of the 104th, it makes sense that she'd have allies in the same class."

Nanaba nods. "That's the real reason we kept watch over you."

Christa shakes her head. "But there's no way any of us are like Eren and Annie."

"I know. Annie talked to no one in particular. There's no way any of you guys are the Colossal and Armored Titans." We sit around in uncomfortable silence, trying to make sense of the situation. I truly believe no one here is an ally of Annie, even Sasha couldn't be...there's just no way. But they're out there somewhere. We have to find those monsters. I still have to make that Armored Abomination pay.

"Hey Connie," Ymir says to break the silence, "how was your hometown, by the way?"

Now it is Connie's turn to feel down. "Devastated. The Titans trampled everything."

"I see… That's awful... I'm sorry." Ymir...being nice to Connie? I remember a month ago in Trost, they butt heads every second of the way, annoying me and Christa to no end. Maybe they've secretly become friends. Actually, this wasn't the first time I've seen Ymir show kindness to...well, anyone besides Christa.

Why do I feel like those kids are staring at me? "Hey, you guys okay?"

"It's the same uniform... Maybe we're going to get more food!"

"Huh? What's this all about?"

We were always so hungry before because we didn't have enough to eat," the little girl says. "My belly was always rumbling. But that's all changed since that lady started bringing us food. It's so much better now!"

I raise an eyebrow. "And she was wearing this uniform? What does she look like?"

The boy answers me. "Oh, she's got really scary eyes! and freckles on her cheeks."

The children ran off before I could ask anything more. There's no way, I mean, that would explain- "Elijah." Speak of the devil. "You shouldn't be hanging around here. I was looking for you, though." Ymir glances behind me. "Oh, it's those kids... Um..."

"You really gave food to those kids, Ymir?"

She scoffs. "What do you think? Do I look like the kind of person who gives out rations?"

I don't buy that, so I just smile. "I think I'm starting to see what Christa sees in you."

The girl just rolled her eyes at me, but she couldn't hide that faint blush. Though, I could be just seeing things. "Whatever..."

"But nobody there was eaten." Being brought out of my daydreaming, I pay my attention back to Connie. "I think they all escaped, so there's that to be thankful for."

"Wasn't the village destroyed?"

"The houses and stuff were wrecked, but the villagers made it out safely. If anyone was eaten, then...there would've been blood and remains. But there wasn't any of that, so it's the only explanation."

I speak up. "Let's just hope that's the case."

Connie nods. "Still... I can't stop thinking about it... There was that Titan at my house. It couldn't move on its own, but it was lying right on top of my house."

"Then how the hell did it even get there?"

"I don't know. But it's weird... I don't know why, but it reminded me of my mother... What does that-"

"Conny..." Reiner interrupts. "You're still saying that? You-"

"What an idiot! HAHAHAHAHA!" Guess I was wrong about Ymir and Connie. "You think your mother might have been that Titan?! Then how come you're so damn short, huh? Come on, Connie! I knew you were pretty stupid, but this is taking it to another level! HAHAHAHAHA!"

Connie places his head in his left hand, too tired to yell at Ymir. "Would you just shut up? This is absurd."

"If this theory of yours is correct, that means your father had to be a Titan, too. Otherwise, you know... They couldn't have-"

"Shut up! Go to sleep, you wench!"

I sigh. "Titans can't even fornicate in any kind of fashion, Ymir."

"Yeah, so just shut up, Ymir! Seriously!"

"Okay," Nanaba says as she stands up. "I think that's enough chat for one evening. Now get some rest, you guys." Gelgar and the senior Scouts rise with Nanaba and leave the chamber within the castle's interior to us cadets. We ourselves begin to drift apart from each other, yet Connie lingers in place. Feeling bad for him, I walk over.

"You okay, man?"

"Just forget what I said. You probably think I'm crazy too."

I shake my head. "After what I've seen in the past twenty-four hours, nothing seems crazy to me right now." I doubt things will not get any crazier...

"Everyone, wake up! Get to the tower! Quickly!" We quickly rose from our sleep to our feet, except for Christa, she was out like a light. We rushed up the tower, and as we got up to the top, we could hear loud noises coming from below. Loud, impossible noises. "I couldn't see them in the darkness, but then the moon..."

I blink six times, five to make sure I'm not dreaming, the sixth to make sure I'm seeing this right, that we are not surrounded by active Titans at night... But we are. "You gotta be fucking kidding me..."

"Why? Why can they move? It's been so long since the sun has set!"

"What's going on here?" Christa ponders softly.

"Hey! Look at that!" Connie points to the side, where an enormous, hairy, long-armed monstrosity of a Titan casually walks past. "It's huge! What the hell is it? A Titan? No, it's more like... It's like a beast! Right?" Not believing it myself, I take a glance at Reiner, Bertholdt, and Ymir, the boys look like they just saw a ghost while Ymir is...well, Ymir. "It's...headed for the wall!"

I turn back to the beast Titan. "No way... It's gonna... No..." It can't break the wall like that, can it? There are Titans within... There was never a breach, or at least there isn't one close by. But if there is one at all... Then how the fuck did these Titans get in?!

"Hey, wait! Wait, wait, wait up! Don't you be coming up here!" Titans try to ascend the tower, try to push it over, and try to enter the door to the interior. If we wanted to leave or hide, we were trapped on all sides. No wonder Gelgar is freaking out. "You're fucking kidding me. Gotta be fucking kidding me. I'd be drinking right now if it wasn't for you! This is all your fault!" He draws his blades and the other senior Scouts rush in behind him. We have no choice now but to fight the Titans off.

"Stand back, rookies," Nanaba says before she turns to me. "Not you, though. You're going to put your ODM gear to good use."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Let's go!"

The Scouts run ahead and jump off the tower. Drawing my blades, I turn to my friends, nodding silently to them. My eyes then cut to Wall Rose, where that beast now perches himself. He's no Abnormal... Like Eren, Annie, the Colossal and Armored Titans, he has to be a human shifter. He's our enemy. I have no fear or guilt in killing this one. "Guys... Stay safe, please."

"You too, Elijah," Christa says.

Connie nods. "You better come back alive."

The others silently nod, to which I smile. Just like Sasha and the others. "Promise." Drawing my blades, I leap off the top of the tower and make my descent into battle. There are only a few of us, but we'll have to make do and hold out. Hopefully...we'll get reinforcements.

And hopefully...we'll be okay.

"Let's start with the Titans around the tower. Sorry to put you in this position, Elijah, but I'm counting on you!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Damn those things! Let's get this over with!"

Five Scouts against a large amount of Titans, what could go wrong?

I watch as Gelgar and Nanaba take down a Titan together, a big one that lands on three smaller Titans heading for the tower's door. A lot could go wrong, but as long as we protect the inside, we should be fine. For now, I concentrate on killing the Titans around the tower.

However, even with the adrenaline pumping in my arteries and veins, I was getting tired and the number of Titans was not stopping. After killing this huge-eyed small-class Titan, making it my sixth, I retreat to the tower's wall beside Nanaba and Gelgar, pointing to the north. "More are coming in from the north."

Gelgar sighs. "Can't we at least get the chance to catch our breath?!"

I look at the tower's top for my friends. "Where are the others?"

"Inside," Nanaba says. "Some have entered the tower."

"What?! I need to help them."

"You can help them out here. They're soldiers too, you know. Besides, your friends seem to be somewhat special."

"What makes you-" As I say, I see a Titan Falling out a window...or more like tossed out. Swinging around, I see Reiner holding his right arm, Connie with a bloody knife, and everyone else in awe. "Did you guys just..."

"Yeah," Connie says.

Damn. "...Hurry up and get that door barricaded."

Minutes later, within Castle Utgard

"What will we do when another one comes through?" Connie wonders as he hammers down one of the wooden poles leaning against the door with a brick. "We won't be lucky to kill a second one."

"Yeah," Bertholdt responds as he looks to the wounded Reiner being treated by Christa. "I'm with you there."

Reiner grunts in pain as Christa pours alcohol on his wound to sterilize it. "Sorry... I'm sorry. I think it's broken."

"Yeah, just my luck."

"We'll need a splint and a bandage... I know." Christa stands up and begins ripping the bottom of her skirt, much to Reiner's embarrassment. She sits back down and begins wrapping it around Reiner's arm. "Sorry. All I've got is this dirty cloth. Sorry."

"No... It helps." Gotta marry her before Jean or Elijah.

Connie walks beside Ymir and Bertholdt, overlooking Reiner's medical tending. "Are you alright, Reiner?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"By the way, Christa. My hand got scraped up a bit, too."

"Huh? Just spit on it or something." Connie and Ymir share an animosity-filled glare before the boy faces Reiner again. "Sorry about that, Reiner. It seems like you're always saving my ass. Speaking of which, Mikasa risked her life to save me once, too. I'm sure Elijah is fed up with doing so as well. I gotta pay you back sometime."

"Not really. It's... It's the normal thing to do. Because we're soldiers."

"I'm not so sure about that. I doubt I could ever be that brave. Hey, Bertholdt. Has Reiner always been like this?"

Bertholdt looks away. "No. In the past, Reiner was more of a warrior. Unlike now."

Before Bertholdt can explain, Ymir interrupts as she walks up the stairs. "For now, let's try to gather anything useful we can find. That way when we die, we can do so without regrets." She climbs up and leans out the window to see the battlefield. The Scouts, Elijah included, have made a mess around the tower. "That's the Scouts for you. They're on a different level from the other soldiers. Even you, Elijah."

"HYA!" Jumping off a big Titan's nape, I retreat back to the tower, breathing heavily as the blood of the Titans evaporates off my skin and uniform. Gelgar and Nanaba land close by, regrouping for a brief breather. "How are we doing?"

"We've taken care of most of the big ones."

"It's thanks to the tower. We don't often get to fight in such favorable conditions."

"Yeah. I think we got this."

The other two Scouts come to us. "We'll go check on the recruits!"

Nanaba nods. "Okay."

"What's that sound?" Gelgar looks around, seemingly alarmed by something other than the Titans below us. Nanaba is next, then so am I. There's a weird sound, much like a large projectile flying through the air. BOOM! We look off to the side to see part of the castle suddenly destroyed. We gasped as we saw it was the stable where the horses were staying for the night...including Spirit.

"NO!" Before I could get more upset than I already was, I saw a lone horse manage to escape through some of the rubble and run off, its familiar golden coat shining in the moonlight. A sense of relief washes over me. Thank God, but where the fuck did that come from?! We hear the same sound again, resulting in the same sound of breaking rubble. However, this time it came from above. Those other Scouts...were heading to the top!

"Lynne! Henning!" Their bodies fall down with the stone bricks of the castle, and we retreat to the top of the tower. Gelgar and Nanaba catch the fallen's bodies while I'm greeted by Connie and the others.

"What was that?"

"It's no use," Gelgar mournfully says as he and Nanaba lay down their comrade's bodies. "They died instantly."

"This can't be."

"It's him. The one that walked off towards the Wall! That Beast Titan did it." As Connie walks to the edge of the tower, I stare at the Beast Titan, having already figured out who's responsible for those flying projectiles. It makes me furious we can't get close to him. "A group of Titans approaching! More than twice the number from earlier."

"What'd you say?!"

"Their timing is too perfect, like it's part of some strategy. I have a feeling they've been toying with us from the start."

"That thing..." I say as my ears are pounded by the Beast Titan's roar. "That monster is under their command." The Titans below, in response to the roar, begin to charge the tower, ramming into it. At this point, I watch as the Beast Titan disappears over Wall Rose, back to the territory between Rose and Maria. Why the hell was it even over here in the first place?

That doesn't matter now. Right now, I need to defend this castle and protect the others.

I duck under a blonde Titan's arm to his back and fire my hooks at his nape. "Fuck you too!" As I burst forward, one of his friends raised its arms up and tried to snatch me with its mouth. At the last second, I divert my flight up, reattaching to the tower and getting out of reach. That was way too close. Looking down, I see Nanaba and Gelgar take down my initial target before joining me up on the tower. I think we've come to terms with the fact now, even if we're the most skilled soldiers in the world, defending Utgard Castle is damn near impossible.

"This tower's not going to hold," Gelgar says.

"I have a small amount of gas left. What about you?"

"No gas here, and I used up all my blades. Those blunt ones the last you have left?"

"Yeah. Elijah, what about you?"

I tap my tanks. "I'm running low too, and I only have one more set of blades."

"How many did the five of us kill?"

"I don't really count, but I know not damn near enough."

"Well, I don't think I did too badly, all things considered. But the thing is... I wish I could have a drink before I go."

Nanaba and I turn to Gelgar. "Gelgar..."

His body slumps down. "Sorry, Nanaba, Elijah... I can't hold on...any longer." His hooks disconnect from the tower and Gelgar free falls down into a Titan's hand. Nanaba flies down after him, breaking her blades just to cut the Titan's nape. I descend as well, but before I can make a move, the large Titan I target grabs me tightly.

"GaaaAAAAAAHHHHHH!" I feel my bones popping in ways I know is not healthy. Outside, I hear the cries of Nanaba and Gelgar. Did she not save him? Did she get caught? That means...no. This is it for me? Is this...how I die? Caught in some Titan's foul-smelling hand? Does this mean...I'll see them again? Mom? Dad? I'm finally coming home? Thomas? Mina? Marco? Will I see you again?

The sound of breaking stone gathered my attention, and I looked back to see the dust fly out from the inner gate, covering the boulder that is now my parent's grave. At the epicenter of the cloud stands a figure, one of Titan size, but its behavior and appearance are atypical. In the brief glimpse I get of it, I can see blonde short hair, an armor-like body, and eyes that flash red in the cloud of dust. A titan that would continue to haunt me for years, even just mentioning it sends a chill down my spine and sends pure hatred into my soul.

The Armored Titan... I swore that I would kill him. That's been my goal since that day.

I smile warmly for a second before I address everyone. "We might not be able to get them back, but we will avenge them. My parents, Eren's mother, Armin's grandfather, everyone we cared about, we will carry them in our hearts into battle. We will take back what's ours." I face forward, looking up to the starry sky that is bordered by the Wall Rose in the Trost District. We have hope, vengeance, and desire in our veins...and I'm glad to know I'll have the three people I trust most by my side.

Eren, Armin, Mikasa... The only people I have left from my home... Without them, I wouldn't be here today.

"Elijah, no matter where life takes you, no matter what you choose to do with your own, you have to promise me you'll always do what's right. Not only for yourself but for everyone you may meet in your life. I want you to promise me, Elijah."

"I promise. I love you, Momma."

"I love you too, my sweet boy."

Mom... Without you or Dad, I'd be dead along with you both.

I look away from the elder Braus to his daughter. "Sasha was the first friend I made outside of my homeland on our first day of training, and I to her as well. For the last three years, I've always been there for her even when I attended to my other friends in need. But... Ever since I lost two people close to me, I've realized I haven't lost the person I've known since day one. Dare I say one of my best friends."

She looks at me with a smile of her own. "I promise I'll repay you for everything. Just...not with food. So don't die out there, okay? Promise."

I smile right back. "I promise you, Sasha Braus. Even if I'm the last one standing against a horde of Titans, I will prevail." I lean over on my horse to hug her, but in the middle of it, something...unexpected happens. Sasha pulls away, her face red as an apple.

"I...uh... I'll see you soon! Good luck! Hya!"

Sasha... I have a promise to keep for you...and something to tell you...

"Guys... Stay safe, please."

"You too, Elijah," Christa says.

Connie nods. "You better come back alive."

The others silently nod, to which I smile.

And I still have to protect my friends. "AUUUGGGHHHHHYAH!" Despite the pain I'm in, I manage to swing my blades, cutting the Titan's fingers. Now free, I zip to the top of the tower, nearly landing on Christa and Connie before rolling on my back. "Damn it..."

"Elijah!"

"Hey, I think he's still alive!"

I raise my hand up to wave. "Glad to see you still care, Ymir."

Christa kneels beside me, holding my shoulder. "Thank goodness! How are you?"

"I'm fine... More or less. Nanaba, Gelgar. Are they..."

Connie shakes his head. "The others... The officers have all been killed." Angry, Christa picks up a rock and throws it down to the Titans, just for Ymir to pull her back.

"Get back, Christa. The tower is about to collapse. You'll fall."

"But they're being killed! And we're just standing here! Nanaba... And Gelgar..."

"No! No! Father, stop! Father! I'm sorry! I won't do it again! Father! No!"

I can hear their cries from my prone position, and it's too much for me to bear. For the second time this week, I feel powerless, but this time, I'm actually unable to fight. I tighten my fists in anger and sadness, cursing myself for not being strong enough. "Damn it... Damn it! GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!"

Connie sits down with his back against the tower wall, smacking his fist against it. "Damn it all to hell! Hey... Do we gotta wait here until the tower falls and we get eaten alive? Is there nothing we can do about it? This sucks. We'll be wiped out without even finishing our mission."

I stand up against my body's will, making it between Christa and Connie. Gritting my teeth, I look down on the bastards below us. "I'm not done yet... My mission now...is to protect you all."

Christa nods. "I...want to keep fighting, too. If only I had a sort of weapon, then I could fight and die alongside them."

"Christa... You're still saying things like that?" We look to Ymir, her face sharp with seriousness. "Don't you dare use their deaths. They didn't die so you'd have an excuse to get yourself killed."

"That's not... That's not what I-"

You're not like Connie, Elijah, or the Scouts! They don't want to die, but you don't even care. All you want to do is die in a way that makes you seem like a hero."

"Th-That's not-"

"Connie, give me that knife you had."

"Huh? My knife?"

Ymir stands over him, reaching her hand out. "Just give it to me."

"Fine. Here."

Ymir pats Connie on the head. "Thanks."

He swats her hand away. "What do you want it for?"

"Hmm? Well, you see... I'm going to fight with this."

"Ymir," Reiner says with an equal amount of surprise as the rest of us. There's no way she's serious. "What are you planning?"

"Who knows? I don't even know myself." She walks away from the others, back to Christa and me.

"Ymir..."

"Christa." Ymir grabs the blonde's shoulders. "You've probably forgotten all about it by now..." A crash shakes the tower, even making Ymir look a bit nervous. "But this might be the end, so... Try to remember...that promise we made training on that snowy mountain." Oh, yeah, that mountain. I remember it being some sort of extra points opportunity and we nearly got caught in a blizzard trying to get shelter. Ymir, Christa, and Daz were still out there when most of us arrived, and in hopes of finding them, we searched. Luckily, everything turned out okay. "I have no right to tell you how to live your life. So, actually, this is nothing more than a hope of mine. I want you...to live a life you're proud of." Ymir's face glows with the light of the rising sun as she steps away from Christa. She then turns to me with the first genuine smile she's ever given me. "Still trying to play the hero...even after almost dying again, huh?"

On any other day, I might've laughed, but not knowing what Ymir is planning, plus the present situation has my humor at an all-time low. "Ymir..."

"Elijah... Do you remember what I told you back in Trost?"

I turn to Ymir, who still stays away from me, but unlike as she will with others, she doesn't keep Christa away or try to mess with her. "Ymir. Do you still stand by what you told me? That in the end, we're all just Titan fodder?"

Ymir closes her eyes. "Do you still believe we can overcome them?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then believe in that. Many of us are going to die in this fight anyway, probably all of us, but the day we are truly defeated is when the last person changes his belief. Plus, after all you've done today, I know you won't give up. Knowing you, you'll attack a horde of Titans yourself."

I turn away from Ymir. "I'm not that stupid."

"But if it was to protect Mina, Thomas, Sasha, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Christa, or any of us, you would. That's who you are... A leader. A warrior. An inspiration. A hero. Heroes are stupid...but never die, do they?"

I nod. "Yes, I do."

"I'm going to prove myself right. But can I ask you one thing...for me?"

"Yes."

"When the time comes...please protect Christa, okay? Can you do that? Don't answer that, I know you will." She turns around again to Christa, tapping the tip of the knife. "Remember our promise, Christa." Ymir runs towards the edge of the tower, just out of Christa's desperate reach. She leaps off, much to my surprise, and I prepare to make the jump to catch her.

"Ymir!"

She swipes the knife against her palm, blood spilling in the air. For a split second the air changes, and by this point, I'm familiar with this change. No way... Yellow light surrounds Ymir as her descent continues. A roar erupts from the ball as light becomes muscles, tendons, skin...a Titan...