Chapter Text
Hange was gliding through the air, zooming past the trees into the clearing, wind ruffling her hair. She was in awe of a new world she's discovered. What an exhilirating feeling! The world is so vast. The land just stretches to infinity! Flying, Running, tumbling down the hill, rolling on the grass, and now she was lying flat on her back, sucking in the freshest air she's ever breathed in her whole existence, while basking in the sun, taking it all in. It was all so wonderful, she thought. If only... the ground was greener. If only the air wasn't mixed with the stench of death and decay. If only the meadow was full of flowers instead of dead bodies. If only she was bathed in the warmth of the sun alone and not with her comrades' blood. Her ears were ringing with screams her vision clouded with smoke and her field goggles tinted red. Whose blood was it again? Evania's or Henry's?
She lay there thinking of what happened just moments ago...
The monster came from nowhere. There were suddenly long arms in their way, a couple of soldiers were knocked off their horses immediately. Evania was suddenly up in the air, grabbed by the titan, but Henry was faster. Henry was a Good fighter, not as good as Mike Zacharias, but was still one of the best in the corps. She was lucky to be in his squad. The titan was already lifting Evania half way through the air when Henry lauched himself onto the monster's hand prying the titan's hand open to free her, and in that instant, Ida was at the monster's nape. Ida was vice squad leader and was a really good fighter, too. Henry and her made an excellent team. They were at their strongest together. Hange was already there below all the action on her horse ready to break Evania's fall and as she did, she spotted Blaz meters away from them, out of gas with his steed wounded. She went to him got down from her horse and handed him the reins, told him to take care of Evania and retreat.
There were three of them left on that part of the woods and with only one horse, She would have to make it through the forest and would find a ride when she got out into the clearing, the gas on her ODM gear was still full since all she did all throughout the expedition was take care of the wounded she wasn't asked to go to the front lines because she was new but most veterans on her team were out of gas and blades by now. It was time to step up. She, herself, was down to her last pair of blades because even though she never got into battle, she had lent her blades to Ida.
As Evania and Blaz went ahead, she shot her gear and made it up on the trees and followed everyone else in retreat. Ida and and Henry were a little ways behind her aiding the other comrades, they would meet up with the rest of Squad Mike near the end of the forest and a little further down on the next set of woods after the clearing would be where Squad Erwin is waiting. The sight of Mike and Nanaba made Hange feel a sense of comfort. Maybe we could all make it safely after all, She thought. Blaz and Evania were out in the clearing now. And by this time she had just passed the last member of Squad Mike. The relief that washed over Hange was short-lived as she heard a familiar shriek from up ahead.
Hange Wheezed through the air as fast as her gear would take her. When she was finally out in the clearing, she saw Blaz on the ground, or she thinks it's Blaz, what's left of him that is. A 12-meter titan was holding Evania and was lifting her to its mouth. At that, she released both hooks anchored into the last of the trees propelling her in the air and aimed her gear at the titan's forehead and launched herself straight unto its face, a bold move. She horizontally sliced the titan's eyes in one swift motion using both swords. Now to try to get Evania out of the monster's grasp. Hange hurriedly tried to cut its arm but the her steel was beginning to dull and couldn't cut through bone! Oh no. She was taking too long. Before Hange could form a new plan, Evania was in its mouth, and was swallowed whole. She could hear the muffled screams from inside the titan. Hange froze. After a few moments it just stopped. The monster's eyes have fully healed by now, and she was next.
In a blink of an eye, Ida was there, as fast as ever, on the titans back and sliced open its nape, but there was another titan. It had caught both of them by surprise as it took Ida from the back. Hange quickly shot her grappling hook to the hand holding Ida and started slicing at it but the last of her blades were just too dull and could no longer even pierce the titan's flesh. Hange was in panic. NO! NO! NOT IDA! ANYONE BUT IDA. As the titan opened its mouth, Henry was suddenly there, but had no time to attack. All he could do was use himself as a human shield and put himself in between the two girls and the titan's mouth, pushing Hange and Ida out of the way. One of ida's hands got loose and started lashing at that titans face, narrowly missing Henry. Hange was still close enough to Henry's scabbard, and took the chance to quickly buckle his last two blades to her own sword hilts and took them as it would've been physically impossible for Henry to use them himself since both his swords were cutting through the monsters head and were the only things keeping him from getting crushed by its jaws, hange quickly slid down slicing along the monster's fingers to free ida and used the momentum of the drop to swing to one side of the titan, she sliced through the wrist to stop it from pushing Henry further in its mouth. She was going for the nape now. She had just enough momentum remaining to propel herself upwards but when she saw the titans severed wrist attempt to shove both Ida and Henry in its mouth, she instead plunged through its arm, successfully cutting it off. But then, there was a snap as Henry's blades gave way and was crushed in the titan's jaw, spilling hot blood on both Hange and Ida's faces. The next moment, the titan was falling to the ground as Nanaba finally got to them, slicing at its ankle. And in a split second, Mike was there for the kill. The monster disintergrated sending both Hange and Ida falling from the height of more than 10 meters rolling down the clearing, both covered in Henry's blood.
...
October 3, 838
Today is the day of the 22nd Expedition beyond the walls. The objective of this mission is to scour beyond Wall Maria for bases left behind in the hopes of finding something out about the history of these humanoid creatures. I don't have anyone in mind to send this letter to, so instead I would like to address this to my remaining comrades who are more likely to return than me. To Squad Leader Henry, and Vice-squad leader Ida and the rest of my comrades in the fourth squadron.
To be completely honest, I do not know what to expect. I have been preparing for this for years and now time has come to see the effects of that training. I have already seen these things while I am atop the walls, but fighting them head on would be a different story.
According to statistics, For every expedition roughly only 30%, come back alive and of that 30%, only 2% of that are new recruits, so odds are actually against me, but I'm a very optimistic person! Even a one in a million chance is still a chance, after all! I would make the most of what is given, I suppose. and I will hope to stay alive.
If only there weren't these monsters. The world would've been so beautiful. If I were ever lucky enough to live to see a world without titans, I would never take it for granted. I would look for a meadow covered with a variety of exotic flowers and run, and tumble, and roll and lay there enveloped in different scents and learning about all of them for days on end. I would ride my horse in the day and feel the sun on my face and feel the cool night air on my skin as a the stars twinkle above me as I slept. I would not allow myself to be tied down to one place, instead I would explore these new lands beyond the walls until I was old and gray and find out whether or not these unknown lands were as endless as the opportunities that come with freedom.
Sgd. HANGE ZOË
Levi closed the first letter and huffed in frustration a dead woman's letter was making him feel things. He's ashamed of himself, wasting his life away. Even before she knew what was waiting beyond the walls, she already dubbed it wonderful. She had this beautiful mind that always viewed the world unconventionally. On her first expedition and she was already looking forward to exploring the unknown. She was truly one of a kind. He smiled to himself, feeling warmth in his heart at the mere memory of her.
There is so much more to life than just fighting and dying. She was right. She was always right. He had to make the most of this time here. He's lucky and should celebrate this peace and celebrate her by making the most of what life has left to offer. Besides, Living for her would be the next best thing to actually living with her.
This will have to do.
...
"Hey Levi would you rather have this or the othe--"
Onyankopon dropped the tray he was carrying to the ground.
"LEVI!"
"Tch. You better clean up that mess."
"You're standing?!"
"The doctors never said I wouldn't be able to."
Of course Onyankopon knew that. He was the one who took care of levi after the battle in Fort Salta and was the one who took him to see those doctors.
"Yes, Of course." and I also know that years have passed and you were never interested in the therapy doctors suggested for your leg and just gave up on walking-- on everything.
"But this is going to take a while. And I'm going to need some help from time to time." Levi added.
There was a pause. Onyankopon was staring at him in surprise but recovered quickly and said:
"Not a problem! Take all the time you need. Gabi, Falco, and myself would gladly help you. Maybe we could get you crutches?"
"Maybe a cane, just until I can stand on my own again."
"Understood. Want to go get one now?"
Levi plopped back down on his wheelchair and nodded at him. It had been so long since he tried to use his legs so now he couldn't keep standing for more than a couple of seconds at a time.
"Clean up the mess, first."
"Right! Of course!"
Onyankopon smiled warmly at him. He still couldn't believe it. Levi was trying to walk again after so many years and was even willingly asking for help! I'm going to have to report to Armin about this.