Three Months Later

It's been three months since the expedition outside the walls. Every night, the faces from my old comrades fill my mind as I lay unconscious at night, dreaming away.

It was like my dreams was encouraging me to take action upon something. Something big.

So one night, I decided to venture outside the walls on my own in a panic, as I remembered the hypothesis that I had thought of on the expedition. Not long after, I had gone to the Commander and told him everything I knew.

Reiner and Bertholdt were captured and held in confinement, never to be seen again.

You awoke in a cold sweat yet again that night in your own bed, the memories of the Special Operation Squad's deaths playing in your mind over and over, like it was a videotape.

A broken record in your mind, that repeated itself until you lost your mind.

You knew from the moment that you had woken up that you needed to do something to stop your dreams.

"You didn't even try to save us," Petra hiccuped from her spot on the tree, eyes flickering to you in tears. It caused your stomach to churn at the sight of her.

"Face it, Y/N," another voice said behind, causing you to whip around, looking up at Erd's blood-stained face. "It would have been so much better if you died instead of us. Lance-Corporal Levi needs us way more than he needs you."

In your mind, Erd was right.

Hence the reason you didn't fight the hand that wrapped itself around your body, squeezing you so tight that you thought your ribs might crack any second.

With closed fists, you looked you, tearfully, at the horrifying titan that held you firmly in its grasp. You didn't fight against it as it threw you into its mouth. Darkness engulfed you as you slid down its slimy tongue.

That was how your nightmares ended every night, with you becoming a titan's next meal, leaving the world behind.

As you sat in your wet bed, cowering and shaking, two cursed faces appeared in your mind, and you knew that you had to do something.

It was in the middle of the night when you decided to roam the halls of the HQ, eventually spotting the stairs you needed to venture down from.

You held the candle tightly to your chest as you stepped into the darkness below, opening the giant door that was locked.

There they sat, cold and chained to the ground.

The sound of the door opening stirred them from their sleep as you stepped into their visions, scaring them shitless as you held a knife tightly in your hand.

"Reiner. Bertholdt," you said, no emotion in your voice as you saw the traitors wake up completely, staring at you baffled. "We need to have a serious talk."

Hours upon hours passed through the night, and Bertholdt eventually cracked under your threats of death.

"There's a titan nest at the east corner in the forest of giant trees. It's where they always gather and╴"

"Bertholdt!" Reiner yelled, yanking and tugging at his chains as he tried to shut up his friend. Bertholdt crept into a ball and whimpered.

You watched the scene unfold with deadpanned eyes.

"I see," you said, standing up and towering over the traitors. "I was gonna wait with executing you til after I had asked why you killed Marco, but I guess I can figure that out of my own."

You held the knife above your head, staring at Reiner's afraid eyes.

"Y/N, wait╴"

He didn't get a chance to speak out before you swung down the knife, his blood going everywhere.

The early morning sun shone over the walls, waking everyone up who had gotten a perfect night of rest.

Except for Levi, who had been awake during the night, finishing his boring paperwork in his office. He didn't get far as several times throughout the night, his mind would come across the kiss that you had passionately shared in the forest.

A tingling feeling made its way down his spine the more he thought about it, a feeling he never thought he would get to experience.

Levi caught himself lightly pressing his fingers to his lips.

"Levi!"

Levi's short-lived happiness shattered as his door was busted open by Hanji, who seemed to be in a panic. It caused Levi to stand up immediately. She never called him by his first name, unless it was serious.

"It's Y/N!" she cried, cracking the door's debris under her strength. "She took off beyond the walls!"

It's my fault, you thought, tears clouding your vision as you flew into the forest. It's my fault that they all died.

You took off in the direction of east, wishing you had discovered their nest sooner than you had. Bertholdt had told you that around a thousand titans or more would be stood, only waiting for anything to trigger their senses.

And that 'anything' would be you.

The idea of slaying every single titan in cold blood was a brilliant idea in your mind, and you intended on keeping your word to yourself.

But deep down, you knew that it was selfish and most importantly╴absolutely suicidal╴to venture into the remaining titans all by yourself.

You were bound to die, but you've already decided that for humanity╴and Levi, your love,╴you would have no problem in offering yourself for the sake of those who were strapped down by the walls.

Not far until you reach the east corner.

A few minutes later, you landed on a thick branch in the forest, noticing how the trees were beginning to grow further and further apart.

As you landed and turned around, the contents of your stomach begged to escape.

There, right in front of you, lay an ocean of titans, piled upon each other, sat next to each other, and several animals jumping over and on them.

Levi needs us way more than he needs you.

You clicked your tongue and stood up properly, blades ready in each hand as you yelled loudly, acting as the trigger to wake up the beasts.

"HEY!"

Mere seconds after your cry╴moans, groans, and cracking bones echoed in the air. You felt no fear when the several titans within your radius all gazed up at you with smiles, scowls and reaching hands as if they were babies waiting to be fed.

As the first titan, a 16-meter class stood up and stepped on the other titans to get to you, you clenched both your teeth and your blades, jumping down into the entire swarm of titans that was now running towards you.

This would be where your story ends.

Or so you thought.

"Y/N!" Levi yelled, anger pulsing through his veins as he sped through every tree in his way. How could you have been so stupid as to go on your own?!

Levi had quickly gone ahead of the temporary squad that Erwin had sent with him, desperate to find his beloved sunshine.

The battle cry that echoed through the trees, scaring animals to flee, caught Levi's attention as he immediately recognized the voice.

It couldn't have been anyone else's than yours.

Levi made a sharp turn to the left, using little of his gas as he sped to where you were. Within a few seconds, he had reached the moment he would never forget.

Just in time, Levi had watched as you swirled in the air with your last pair of blades, slicing the napes of at least 5 titans at once.

He watched with cold blood when you swung 30 feet above the titans, only to have movement catch his eyes before you did.

He watched with horror as a crawling titan jumped from its space beneath you, jaws wide open as it engulfed half of your body in its mouth.

"Y/N!"

The titan chomped on its way down, taking your right leg with you. Your eyes went wide as warmth spread throughout your knee, crimson liquid coating the air. It woke up the remaining titans.

Only a moment after, when you were falling down, did you find yourself in the arms of a desperate Levi, just in time for his squad to finally catch up too.

He landed on the highest branch he could find, quickly and carefully setting your body down as you lightly laughed. How pathetic.

"Y/N," Levi grit his teeth, furious at the situation. "How many have you killed?"

You gazed up at Levi with a still-beating heart. "I stopped counting after 55."

A gasp left his mouth as he turned to his squad, clicking his tongue in annoyance for not only your stupidity but his slowness.

They all gaped beneath themselves with pale faces.

"Split up and get back to the HQ and the walls. Tell everyone that we need all three of the military regiments. We've found the remaining titans. Tell the Garrison to bring the cannons."

With a gulp and a 'yes, sir!', the cadets split up and headed to their respective directions while Levi stayed with you, pressing his handkerchief to your oozing wound.

"Hey," you sighed heavily, sliding your hand into his. "I'm sorry you must see me this pathetic. I figured I owed it to the Special Operation Squad to... avenge them."

Levi blinked without emotion but squeezed your hand nonetheless. You looked away and smiled, ignoring the moans that was approaching you.

"I wasn't afraid to throw away my life for humanity, you know. Imagine everyone's faces when there would have gone a week without any titan sightings at all."

"Imagine my face when there would have gone a week where you were gone from my life."

Your stomach did flips when Levi mumbled those words, now looking at you with a face extremely deadpanned. You pinched your lips together and looked away.

"Imagine a life with freedom," your smile wavered and wobbled as you felt your eyes sting, trying your best to hold onto a grin.

"A life without the love of my life."

"You're so cheesy."

"And you're an idiot, but you don't hear me complaining, do you?"

You broke down right then and there in tears and laughter, not paying attention to the burning sensation in your leg.

A few hours had passed, with only light sentences and titan moans exchanged between the two of you, when suddenly a startled voice called your name.

"Y/N!"

You weakly looked in the direction of the voice, locking eyes with Armin, Mikasa and Eren, an army of soldiers flying behind them towards you.

Everyone landed on thick branches above the titans, while the trio plus Commander Erwin and Squad Leader Hanji landed beside you.

Without hesitation. Armin slid on his knees beside you, grasping your hand firmly between his own as he rested his forehead on them, him and Eren yelling at you for being so moronic.

Mikasa dumped down beside you, stroking your hair tenderly as her eyes filled with tears.

"Armin, Eren," Mikasa snapped, running her fingers through your hair. "Look at her. Your yelling is making things worse."

Armin shut up immediately and apologized, while Eren clenched his teeth and dropped to his knees beside you, burying his face in his hands.

Levi, who had been watching the whole time, suddenly took Armin by the neck and yanked him beside himself. "Oi, Arlert. Put pressure on her wound."

The trio all looked towards Levi in confusion, but when they saw your leg missing, they all gasped.

Armin nodded and pressed on the wound.

Levi then stood up and waltzed to Erwin and Hanji, who was discussing their next plan while gesturing like crazy mad people.

Levi cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the man and woman, who turned abruptly towards him. "Y/N told me this is where Bertholdt informed her the remaining titans would be."

Erwin nodded and followed the path of the thousands of titans lined up upon each other, now slowly waking up and crawling around.

He then turned towards the thousands of cadets, all from the three different military regiments.

Erwin took a deep breath, and when Hanji patted his shoulder once, he shouted; "Cadets!"

Everyone looked slowly at Erwin. Some cadets had pale faces, some had angry faces, some were scared and some actually fainted.

He gazed with sharp eyes upon everyone. "This is the battle that will determine the faith of humanity! You have all sworn to protect humanity, so now, I ask of you!

Give up your hearts for humanity, and fight with your souls!"

As the Commander ended his speech and raised his fist, thousands upon thousands of cries were heard, as everyone mimicked his gesture and saluted.

"ADVANCE! HUMANITY'S FATE LIES IN YOUR HANDS!"

The ground shook as humans and titans clashed together in a final battle for survival, the taste of victory so close within reach.

Erwin signaled for Eren and Mikasa to follow him and Hanji as they jumped down.

A clash of thunder stroke down a few meters away and the mightiest roar trembled through the world as Eren's teeth penetrated his skin, triggering his power.

Canons from the late-arriving Garrison shot through the air, blowing up the earth with crawling titans.

Gunshots from guns and tiny explosives echoed as the Military Police arrived, ready to slaughter.

Levi turned to look at Armin, who was smiling despite his hands being bloody.

And then his gaze turned to you, your eyes closed while you were breathing heavily.

Without a thought, Levi kneeled down beside you, stroking your hair away from your face. It was you, his sunshine, who had led humanity to its final showdown.

"Arlert," Levi hummed, gazing deeply into your face. Armin shot towards him with a startled face.

"Ye-yes, Lance-Corporal Levi?"

Time slowed down, and the deafening, ear-splitting sounds of war behind Armin drowned out, as he watched with wide eyes as the Corporal smiled while caressing your cheek.

"I love this woman," he said, clear for Armin to hear. He then stood up after stroking away a few stray drops of blood on your cheek, walking over and standing directly at the edge of the final battle.

He looked over his shoulder at Armin.

"I plan on asking for that woman's hand in marriage once this is over, so I'm only gonna say this once.

Please... save my sunshine."

And he jumped down.

The several hours that this battle had raged on for seemed like days for everyone who was still alive. The Military Police had all been wiped out, every single soldier.

Not even half of the soldiers in the Garrison that attempted to fight with their 3DMG remained alive.

Half of the Survey Corps had been wiped out in battle, and amongst those who were alive, almost everyone was injured.

Far too many good soldiers had been eaten right in front of everyone's eyes, begging for someone to save them. But it was too late.

However, as hopeless as it seemed, only ten titans remained.

Ten.

Only ten obstacles remained for humanity to cut down and be able to see everything outside of the walls. Humanity would no longer be caged in.

The ocean no longer seemed like a dream that would never come true.

With that thought in mind, Levi barely managed to cut down the two titans heading for an unconscious Eren and tired Mikasa.

Eight.

Hanji panted but nonetheless managed to slice down the titan that headed towards her wounded friend, Mobilt.

Seven.

The three moaning titans that littered the ground with no limbs was cut away from life by the last HE shell that the Garrison possessed, sending soldiers flying into the air from the pure force.

Four.

A 5-meter titan held a passed out boy in its grasp, ready to chomp down on it at any second. If it hadn't been for Mikasa, who used the last of her gas to plunge her barely-working blades into its nape, he would've been a goner.

Two titans tried climbing the trees up to wounded soldiers, only to be cut down by Erwin and Pixis.

One.

Levi felt his body almost giving out on him and collapsing, but one look at the groaning titan that reached for the branch that Y/N lay on top on, and a final surge of energy coursed through his heart.

With the last ounce of his gas, the short man plunged his wire into the titan's nape, jumping into the air and wheeling himself in.

He positioned the swords at forty-five degrees each, holding them against each other as he held them over his head, only to swing down at full force when he stepped on the titan.

Levi was bathed in crimson blood from the titan, coating him from head to toe as he leaped away from the falling, evaporating titan.

It was done.

After a few seconds of silence, everything was over, and the realization hit everyone like a truck.

"Humanity is free...?"

"Is this really the end?"

"We... we did it..."

The sky seemed to congratulate humanity's final victory when the gentle droplets of water increased, washing away all the blood, grime and sweat from the remaining soldier's bodies.

Humanity was free.

"Humanity is free!"

Cries upon sobs upon yells roared in the sky, so strong that even Erwin was convinced that the humans inside the walls heard them.

It traveled through the wind, urging the skies to pour rich water onto their tear-stained cheeks.

For the first time in a while, Levi couldn't help the genuine smile that made its way onto his lips.

Only to shove his face into his cape. Wouldn't want the brats that saw him pester him about it for the rest of his life, would he?

The salty, victorious tears that cascaded down his cheeks was a sign of humanity's win as the rain washed over Levi's face, and he closed his eyes and opened his palms to soak it all in.

And, oh, it did.

A chill ran down his spine as his eyes shot upwards in fear for something else, his worries drowning out the victorious laughter and cries coming from the brats around him.

"Y/N," he whispered, heart skipping a beat as he raced to the top, only to see...

𝕃𝕖𝕧𝕚 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕔𝕥