𝚈/𝚗'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

"Lada!" I screamed and quickly shut my mouth when I scanned the area around me. I was on top of Wall Rose.

"You had a nightmare?" Armin asked, making me nod as I averted my gaze somewhere else.

I wiped away the small tears that were threatening to fall. I need to be strong. Crying won't help in eradicating the Titans.

Armin and I began talking about what had recently happened and how I passed out.

Mikasa woke up and surveyed the aftermath of the battle. She immediately questioned us about Eren's fate.

Armin informed her that Eren and Ymir were taken away by Reiner and Bertholdt, and five hours have passed since the Titans' battle ended.

Mikasa is shocked to hear that no one is pursuing them, but Armin showed her that we must wait for lifts to bring their horses over the Wall.

I also add that all of the Survey Corps officers were heavily injured by Bertholdt's Titan, meaning reinforcements are needed.

Mikasa's head began to ache, but she insisted that it is from her concussion.

She recalled how Levi and her were able to rescue Eren from the Female Titan some days ago, but hope for Eren's rescue is now bleak since five hours have passed.

"Why...why does Eren always have to leave us like this?" Mikasa sighed, putting on her scarf.

Armin believed that it is natural, but Mikasa expressed her desire to simply be close to him.

"Oh, Mikasa, Y/n, you two are finally awake, huh? You all must be hungry, take this." Hannes announced his presence.

Hannes handed something to Mikasa, who took it. He walked over to me and made sure to throw it at a hard spot.

"Agile as ever." Hannes laughed as I caught the object in between my two fingers. I held it in my hand and stared at it.

"Armin, catch." Hannes threw the object at Armin. Armin clumsily tried to grab the object, but it was tossed into the air when he accidentally hit it up.

It went towards me, so I grabbed it and switched it with mine. I'm guessing the object must be food.

Based on how many times Armin had dropped it, it should be cracked, so I exchanged mine with his.

I wouldn't want him to eat something crushed. I'm sure Armin didn't even notice the swap. That's good.

"It's just the usual field rations, though." Hannes sighed, biting into his own food.

I stared at my ration and didn't bother to eat it. I'm not hungry. I don't feel like eating. I have no appetite for it.

"Things haven't really changed much, have they? Ever since you were kids, you three always had to be the ones cleaning up after that brat's messes. What a spoiled kid he is. I swear." Hannes remarked.

"These may be different times we live now, but things are the same as ever for you kids. Am I right?" Hannes questioned.

"Almost. The bullies we have to deal with now are a little bit bigger than before." Armin lightly chuckled.

"Yeah...but the thing is, that brat isn't even any good in a fight. But he'll still charge in headfirst, whether he's up against three people or five." he sighed.

That's why he's nicknamed, 'the reckless idiot'. He always charging in without knowing a thing or two about fighting.

"He's always got beaten up by the time Mikasa, Y/n, or some soldier showed up to save him. But you know..." Hannes paused, making us turn to him.

"I've never seen him win a fight before, but he never gives up after getting beat, either." he stated.

Now that I think about it, no matter how many times he gets beaten up, he never gives up and just continues to fight.

"Sometimes, he can be so stupidly persistent that even I get taken aback." Hannes admitted, turning to us.

"He keeps fighting no matter what happens. That's just how he is. You think he's just gonna sit tight and let himself get abducted?" he asked.

"No way! He's gonna fight back as long as he possibly can. Especially since he's only up against two people." he answered his own question.

"It doesn't matter who they are, he'll give them a hell of a time. Right up until one of us shows up to help. That's how Eren's always been." he reminded.

I was speechless. What are we doing here? We're worried over a hotheaded young man who'll fight you even if his legs get chopped off.

"I loved the way things used to be." Hannes sighed. Those are probably the days that Eren considered a false sense of peace.

Desiring to return to those peaceful days, Hannes agreed to join us in our mission to rescue Eren from the traitors.

"Things can't go back to how they used to be unless the four of you are all together." he commented.

I wish...no, I hope those days will come back. The days when we used to be happy...the days I used to smile genuinely.

Regaining hope, I opened my food ration and began eating it. Mikasa and Armin followed after.

Shortly afterward, Commander Erwin arrived at the scene with the reinforcements from the Survey Corps and Military Police Brigade.

"I've never thought of riding along the wall." Armin mumbled.

"I guess it would be the fastest way to get here." I replied.

Commander Erwin uses the necessary lifts to bring the horses to the other side of the wall so that we can move.

"Voland!" I heard. I turned around and saw Commander Erwin gesturing me to come over to him.

"Yes, commander? You requested for my presence?" I walked over to him and did a short salute.

"I heard about your condition. You had multiple burns and they were the worst among everyo-" he paused, staring at me with wide eyes.

"Is something wrong, Commander?" I questioned, watching as he stared at my face in shock.

"S-Sorry. I must be imagining things. Maybe I heard it wrong. You can go back." he walked away. Well, that was weird, but oh well.

Once all the able-bodied soldiers are gathered, Deputy Commander Hanji proposes the most favorable plan of action.

Speculating that the Titan Warriors will need to recover their strength and wait until nightfall to travel beyond Wall Maria.

She believed that they are resting in a Forest of Giant Trees in the southwestern lands of Wall Maria.

"Y/n, will you be able to fight?" Armin asked me, turning to me with concerned eyes.

"I'll be fine. I rested enough and I'm sick of my body giving up on me." I assured, standing up.

༛༛ ༛ ༛༺༻༛ ༛ ༛༛

𝟹𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙿𝙾𝚅

At the head of the troops, Erwin establishes a long-distance enemy scouting formation as they head for the Forest of Giant Trees.

A red smoke signal is fired, a Titan is spotted at 3 o'clock on the right-wing. A soldier fires a red smoke signal upon seeing it.

Erwin's scouting formation comes across a Titan on the right-wing, but he orders the troops to merge with the center and stick to their straight-forward route towards the forest.

"Y/n, are you okay? Are you feeling well?" Armin asked, noticing how silent Y/n was.

"Why do you say that?" Y/n questioned, staring straight ahead without batting an eye as a Titan is spotted in the right-wing.

"You're quiet...way too quiet." Armin mentioned.

"I've always been like this." Y/n retorts.

"No, as in, you're quieter than usual. Is something on your mind?" Armin fired another question at her.

"You could say that." Y/n replied.

Approaching the forest, the military formation encounters many Titans on the front lines, but Erwin insists that they must press forward.

"All units, prepare for battle!" Erwin commanded. Y/n got ready to use her blades to attack any titan that gets in the way.

No, she wasn't fighting to protect and help everyone accomplish their mission of saving Eren.

She was doing this out of pure hatred. She hated the Titans. She despised every single aspect of them. Their face, their movements, the fact they exist, she despised it all.

She wanted the Titans to disappear, no...'disappear' isn't the right term. She wanted to make sure the Titans die in her own hands.

Approaching the forest, the military formation encountered many Titans on the front lines, but Erwin insisted that they must press forward.

The pursuing soldiers finally reach the outskirts of the forest. Y/n was going to jump off and attack the Titans chasing after them, but Armin stopped her from doing so.

Noticing the light of a Titan transformation, Commander Erwin orders the troops to disperse and enter the forest.

As the soldiers from the Military Police Brigade face significant difficulties against the Titans, the rest of the soldiers avoid combat in favor of seeking out Eren.

A scream is heard deeper in the forest, and the Scouts pursue until they come across Ymir's Titan.

Connie stopped the others from attacking her, asking where the others have gone.

"Hey, Ymir! Why are you the only one here?! Where's Reiner? Where are Reiner and Bertholdt?" Connie attempted to start a conversation.

As more Scouts gather around her Titan, Ymir avoided conversation and looks at each soldier's face.

"Speak up already! Hey, ugly! We're in a hurry!" Connie snapped, stomping on Ymir's Titan head.

"Is she looking for Reiner? Something's not right. Why is she looking at all of our faces?" Armin mumbled.

"Just like the Female Titan, she has to be looking for someone. I'm sure Ymir is looking for Christa." Y/n spoke up from beside him.

Armin's glad that Y/n had finally talked to him. But when he saw her face, his hope was immediately crushed.

Christa arrived at the scene, immediately catching Ymir's attention.

When Christa approached, Ymir's Titan lunges at her and catches Christa in her mouth before making a quick escape.

The others pursue her, realizing that Ymir's allegiance has changed. They now know that Ymir is no longer on their side.

When Ymir neared the edge of the forest, Reiner transformed into the Armored Titan and began their escape.

Bertholdt carrying an unconscious Eren grappled onto the Armored Titan's back alongside Ymir's Titan.

The others watch in disbelief as Eren is once again carried away by the Warriors, but Hannes rallied them into action.

The soldiers return to their horses and begin a final pursuit for Eren's rescue from the traitors.

Y/n gracefully gets on her horse and her horse begins to move, catching up to the rest of them and slowing down her pace when Armin is next to her.

Hannes is determined to rescue Eren, even at the cost of his life. Y/n is determined to get rid of the traitors, even at the cost of her life.

Y/n gets ahead of them, fury burning in her heart. She recalled the fun memories she had with her older sister.

She remembered the days they lived happily.

Mikasa protecting Eren from the bullies and always scolding him whenever he does something he shouldn't do.

Eren getting into trouble wherever he goes, causing fights and refusing to give up no matter how injured he is.

Armin filled with hopes and dreams, always ranting about the ocean and how they should go check it out when they get there.

But what Y/n missed the most wasn't just Lada. She didn't know this herself, but she missed the old her.

The one who would cheer up your day no matter how bad your day was, she never failed to put a smile on your face.

The one who was hopeful and still had dreams for when she grows up and becomes an adult-like her older sister.

The one who didn't glare at everyone just because they were talking about her or just because they wanted to start a conversation with her.

The one who smiled and reassured you when you're worried about something that's been bothering you.

She missed the old Y/n...and she missed the person who made her that way.

"Darn traitors...I'll make you pay for murdering Lada." Y/n cursed under her breath, glaring at them.

Immediately formulating a plan, Erwin rallies the Scouts and Military Police into action, urging them to follow his lead with the pursuing Titans.

Despite initial outrage and hesitation from the Military Police, the soldiers follow Erwin's lead as Hannes leads the recruits in pursuit of the Armored Titan.

The Scouts attempt to slow the Armored Titan. Ymir keeps them away until Mikasa arrives, going for a killing blow against Bertholdt.

Y/n's heart had been hardened enough. She didn't need to show mercy on them.

Die. Die, you traitors. Die, you murderers.

Such thoughts ran through Y/n's mind as he left her horse. A few words even slipped out, cursing them to die.

Y/n attaches herself to Ymir's back, trying to cut her nape off. Ymir grabs ahold of the string and tosses Y/n away.

Y/n doesn't give up and instead of faltering, she continued her attack and managed to cut one of her eyes.

Ymir lets out a pained roar before grabbing Y/n's string once again and throwing her more harshly this time.

"Y/n!" Armin called out as he noticed Y/n's body rolling on the ground before her head and back collides with a huge rock.

Armin stops to get off his horse and runs towards Y/n, whose head was now bleeding from the impact.

"Y/n, that's enough, you're bleeding! At this rate, you're gonna die!" Armin pleaded, but he knew it was too late.

Y/n's eyes filled with bloodlust, the only thing on her mind was to kill the traitors.

She didn't care if they had parents waiting for them at their home. She didn't need to hear their side of the story.

They killed and murdered a bunch of people who made her the young girl she was before.

"Out of the way." Y/n gently pushed Armin away. He was about to chase after her, but she had already left.

Reiner shields Bertholdt within the Armored Titan's hands and Mikasa breaks her blades trying to get him, giving him a death glare.

Y/n made her way to assist Mikasa in killing the traitors who had destroyed the gates of Walls and reminded them of the terror they had ignored over 100 years.

Ymir swings at Y/n and she, prepared to kill Ymir, turns her attention towards her.

"Don't get in my way." Y/n growls, gripping her blades as she avoids a swing Ymir was about to throw at her.

She kept avoiding the attacks until Ymir's arm grew tired of throwing swings at her that won't even make contact with the young lady.

Y/n took this chance to attack, circling her arm as she dragged her blades across it to injure and weaken her even more.

Y/n was about to temporarily get rid of Ymir's vision and deal with the finishing blow until Historia stands above Ymir's eye.

Historia comes in between them, making Y/n back away from them as she lands on Reiner's head.

"Talk. Make it quick." Y/n demanded, making Historia cower in fear as she stared into Y/n's bloodlust-filled eyes.

"Ymir will be killed unless she obeys Reiner and Bertholdt! She doesn't have a choice!" Historia pleaded.

"That's it? Do I look like the person who would care about your love story?" Y/n stared at them with no sympathy.

"I don't have the time or energy to care about you both." Y/n sighed, dodging another swing from Ymir.

"Tell me, how are you so sure that Reiner and Bertholdt won't steal Ymir's power? They could be dragging you to their hometown just to take back what was theirs." Y/n mentioned.

This caused Ymir to stop her attack. Historia stared at Reiner's back, not being able to utter a word out.

Y/n was right. How can they be so sure?

"But I don't really care about you. So do whatever you want." Y/n left to assist Mikasa in attacking the Armored Titan.

That was Y/n's way of sparring them. Y/n didn't have time to deal with them. She has to kill the actual traitors.

The traitors that attacked her hometown and killed almost everyone she cared about in her life.

When the other recruits catch up with the Armored Titan, Jean attempts to convince Bertholdt to come out.

Connie and Sasha are still in disbelief of their betrayal.

Jean recalls the years they trained together, notably Bertholdt's absurd sleeping positions that they would use to predict the weather.

Connie reminds him of the conversations they shared about growing old and drinking together.

Mikasa shows no compassion, reminding the others that he must die for them to rescue Eren.

Bertholdt breaks, telling the others that he never wanted to commit the atrocities he has done against humanity.

He admits that despite their deception, they truly thought of the others as comrades, and he begs for someone to find them afterward.

"Bertholdt, give Eren back." Mikasa demanded. Y/n was there the whole time, listening to their conversation.

"I can't...do that." Bertholdt replied. Mikasa glares at him, her face darkening at his reply.

"Someone has to do this. Someone has to be willing to stain their hands with blood!" Bertholdt cried.

"Then come out." a soft, but demanding voice had finally spoken up. They all turned to it, knowing who it already was.

From inside, Bertholdt was shaking, trembling at Y/n's tone. It sent shivers down his spine, even Eren knew that this wasn't the Y/n he knew.

Y/n didn't care about his backstory. She didn't care if he's doing this because he has to or he has been forced to.

The normal Y/n would feel bad and would even spare Bertholdt, but this wasn't Y/n anymore.

She had abandoned the kindness she had with anger. She used her anger as a driving force to fight and exterminate the traitors.

She's even willing to kill her comrade, just because her only family member, who hadn't abandoned her, died in the most pathetic way.

It was so pathetic that it was almost embarrassing. She died because a boulder hit her in the head.

Although Lada managed to slightly dodge it, her head was caught in the attack, thus, injuring it and putting her in a concussion.

For a soldier, who was recognized by the Commander and even friends with Levi and many others, this was the worst way to die.

"Come out. I'm willing to stain my hands with blood." Y/n demanded, staring at the small gap that revealed Bertholdt's terrified expression.

"I can't..." Bertholdt whimpered from inside Reiner's hands, his shaky voice was slightly muffled.

"I said come out!" Y/n snapped as she began to kick Reiner's hand furiously. Her angered kick cracked a bit of Reiner's armor.

Y/n panted, sweat trickling down from her forehead. Y/n was tired and Armin noticed it.

He wanted to stop her, tell her to calm down, but he couldn't. Is there even a way to calm her down if she's not even herself anymore?

Hannes interrupted Y/n's conversation, warning them of an incoming attack from the front.

Erwin and the soldiers, luring a horde of Titans, are heading straight for Reiner and the other Scouts.

"All soldiers, disperse! Get away from the Titans!" Erwin commanded. The scouts left Reiner's hand.

"Y/n!" Armin called out to the young lady who was still staring at Reiner's hand with dead eyes.

Due to Armin being distracted by Y/n, he didn't manage to land on the horse correctly, making him fall off.

Hearing the sound of Armin grunting, even though he was far away from her, broke her psycho state.

"Armin!" Y/n called out, maneuvering to Armin and catching him before he fell off and get hurt in any way.

"Y/n, your eyes..." Armin sighed in relief, noticing how Y/n's eyes had changed.

"What about my eyes?" Y/n questioned, helping Armin stand up. Their horses ran back to