Sasha and Rarity rode alongside their squad leader, an older man with his straw-colored hair pushed all the way back and out. Riding the path they found, they came across a small, modest town with an expansive forest behind it, looking for people that hadn’t escaped if any had escaped at all. Sasha also knew her village was coming, and while she was dreading the reason for going, she wasn’t dreading the opportunity.

“Do you see it?” Sasha asked. “All that’s left is that village!”

“Alright,” her squad leader confirmed, “leave that village to me. Is it really the last one?”

“No. Inside the forest there… is my village.”

“Then I’ll leave that to you and Rarity. Once you’re done, escort them to the closest district; that should be Yalkell!”

Rarity gasped slightly, suddenly remembering her friend Kirill by the declaration of his residence.

“Roger!” Sasha called.

“Good luck you two!”

As the squad leader slowed down to enter the village, Rarity and Sasha galloped on, heading into the forest, the branches and leaves blocking much of the sunlight, providing an ominous atmosphere that brought dreadful memories into Sasha’s head.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Sasha, about three years younger, burst from the door of a small wooden shack with a straw roof, which stood amongst similar buildings of similar sizes. Over her shirt, she wore a green, blank cloak. Chasing Sasha out of the shack was a middle-aged man wearing a brown hunter’s hat, a brown vest, a white shirt, dirty white pants, and heavy brown boots. He had a bullhorn slung over his back which was hollowed out to carry the arrows he had, as well as a small bag hanging from his right hip.

Sasha mouth was filled with a piece of smoked beef, which she tried to chew as she ran from the man. Before Sasha could escape, the man took a firm hold of her arm and pulled the struggling girl closer until he grabbed her by the shoulder.

“Yer scavengin’ ah’ food agehn!” the man yelled in a thick accent.

Sasha didn’t listen, grabbing the meat in her mouth and holding it far from his reach.

“Cud i’ out!” he demanded. Ah’ sehd stahp wulfin’ it down!”

As the man wrapped his arm around Sasha’s chest, Sasha dropped the meat out in front of her, putting her into a frenzy.

“Tha’ meat was ah winta’ pravisions!” he continued.

Sasha watched the meat bounce off the ground, collecting dirt and bits of leaves as it rolled away. Sasha placed her hand underneath the man’s chin and pushed, sliding her out of the man’s grasp and pushing him away. Now free, Sasha grabbed the meat off the ground and gobbled the rest in her mouth.

“Ya…” grunted the man furiously, “stewpid dawter!”

Sasha’s father pushed her away, where she ran off and hid behind a tree, still keeping an eye on him like an animal guarding its hunt.

“Sasha,” her father tried to reason, “‘ave ya aver thawt wut’s happ’nin’ wit’ this wurld? Whah this fawrist’s bin shrinkin’ and da prey we hunt bin gyettin’ fewa and fewa? ‘Ave ya aver aven gyiven id a thawt?”

“Dat’s ‘cuz…” Sasha responded, her mouth full of meat, “lawtsa awtsahdas ‘ve come an’ stahted takin’ ah’ fawrist an’ captrin’ ah prey! …at’s whah ah’m awlways hungrih.”

“Yeh…” he said, much calmer now, “that’s raht. But… they came ‘ntoo dese lainds ‘cuz they ‘ad nuhwehre ailse ‘ta go.”

“‘Tis thare fawlt they lawst thair lainds! They shud awl just piss awf!”

“Buht ‘twuz taitins ‘dat stohle da’ lainds frum ‘um, y’knuh? D’yah theenk ‘dose peeple gaht aniwaire ailse ta’ go?”

Sasha’s brow unfurled, beginning to understand what her father was telling her.

“‘Dey cu’ down da’ fawrist an’ clear ‘da laind ‘ta sow crawps ‘cuz crawps kin’ feel mawr pipple’s stuhm’cks than hunt’n’. Maybe… Maybe ah’ clahn shud stahp hunt’n’ an’ give up on dis’ fawrist. ‘A’ve bin towld bah thuh kaing’s peeple ‘dat we shud staht braidin’ hawrses in exchainge fer’ guds.”

“Eh?” Sasha screamed, running to her father. “Way cayan’t! If way stahp hunt’n’, way’ll stahp bayin’ uhs, naw? Wah shud way ‘ven do anithang fer payple ‘oo tayke ‘s fer fools! Way shudn’t, aind way wowun’t, raht?”

“…Wail, ya’ say… wut provides us, awl ‘f ss, with the mains tuh s’vive is the world ‘round us.”

“Uh… eh?”

“Hoom’ns ah’ ainimals ‘oo s’vive ‘n groups. In a ‘veirnment such ‘s this, the m’norty’s gotta’ ‘dapt tuh the m’jorty.”

“NAW!” Sasha screamed, throwing her arms down. “Ah don’ wahnna! We bin liv’n in the way ‘f ah’ aincesters paissed awn ta’ us! Way don’ gotta do buwl fer’ awtsahdas! Way ‘ave our awn way ‘f liv’n! Naw’n ‘as naw rayson ta’ stahp ‘s fruhm liv’n ays way loik!”

Sasha and her father were now at a stalemate, neither one able to convince the other for their ideals.

“Ah say…” Sasha’s father responded, pondering his next choice of words. “‘At’s one way ta’ look ayt it; ta’ lihve in this fawrist in ah’ awn way with ‘ah awn valyuhs ‘till way dah, ownly uhs and ‘ah clain. Howayva’, Sasha, d’ya ‘ave ‘nuff r’sawlve ‘n yer hart ta’ guh through wit’ ‘dat? Ta’ nayver ask fer’ hailp naw matt’r wuht daynjer maht b’fawl ya’?”

Sasha finally begun to realize what her father was saying, her clenched hands and furrowed brow loosening.

“Those ‘oo don’ f’fill der oblagaishins ta’ uhthers ‘ave naw raht ta’ aisk ‘em fer’ such a priv’lige. Dat’ wuht ah’ thank. Ah’ wanna’ live an’ ‘ave a fyooture t’gether wit’ mah clain, ayven if it mayns giv’n uhp a’ way ‘f lahf ta’ do so. Way ‘ave ta’ ‘xept dat ev’rythang in this warld ‘s tahd t’gether.

“Sasha, yer’ a bit of a cowrd. Ta’ layve this fawrist and fayce all those strainjers? ‘Tis diff’cult fer’ ya, ain’t it?”

Sasha knew at that moment that she wouldn’t allow her father to call her that again. Her fists and face clenched back up, but not of hatred for her father, but to earn his pride.
________________________________________________________________________________________

After that, Sasha thought, I joined the Military. It’s been three years since then.

Sasha ceased her musing and kept her focus back on the path. Sasha and Rarity continued looking, but there didn’t seem to be any life in sight.

They must have noticed those abnormals and left, guessed Sasha.

As the two of them rode, Sasha noticed a large human footprint in the ground. Sasha could even judge by the print’s definition that it was fresh. Titans had passed and were nearby. What’s more, they were headed near Sasha’s village.

No! Sasha thought. The titans have already come this far? Does this mean that the titans that came from the south weren’t the first? I can’t believe that they’ve made it this far into human lands.

“Sasha,” called Rarity, “is this your village up ahead?”

Sasha looked forwards. The village that Rarity referred to was far from the one she remembered, the buildings and a large windmill settled outside the forest rather than inside of it.

This is a new village, Sasha concluded. It doesn’t matter. Humans will not be able to live here any longer. That means… I’ll never be able to return to my village.

Sasha’s right eye produced a single tear, but to keep her resolve focused, she wiped her face and galloped faster towards the town, Rarity just managing to keep up.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Inside one of the meager wooden houses, a young girl with short, blonde hair sat upon her knees and faced the wall. To her left, a three-meter titan was devouring the thigh of a pregnant woman. The woman tried to break free, but the titan kept a tight hold of the woman’s calf and arm, keeping her from moving. With the blood flowing out of the wound and spilling into a large puddle on the floor, the woman’s struggle was only diminishing.

The woman finally set her head down, her eyes tiredly closing as she turned to look at the girl, gasping like a suffocating fish to call for her help. The girl didn’t even dare look the woman’s way, her eyes fearfully gazing at the wall and away from the titan. The woman shut her eyes, succumbing to her blood loss.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Sasha and Rarity rode through the town, quietly but briskly trotting as they trailed the footprints.

“Sasha,” Rarity whispered, “are you certain this is a good idea? We have no weapons at our disposal and I’m not nearly the magic wielder that Twilight is. Besides, didn’t you hear Mike? We’re supposed to find survivors, not fight the titans.”

“I know,” Sasha quietly responded, “but my father gave me some very important words before I left to join the Military: Those who don’t give help don’t deserve it.”

“Sasha…”

“I’ve spent my entire life being scared of titans and until just a month ago, I was going to continue being scared. Now that we’ve been pushed this far, I want to finally give the help that I’ve never given. Please, Rarity, I must do this.”

Sasha, while finding her sudden gung-ho attitude to be reckless, smiled for her newly emerging bravery.”

“Alright, Sasha,” Rarity agreed, “I’ve got your back.”

Sasha couldn’t help but chuckle, happy to receive her friend’s approval.

“Look!” Rarity hissed, her eyes on the footprints, bending off the dirt cart-path. “The footprints! They’re going towards that house!”

Sasha, while resolved to go through with her plan, still gulped, not knowing what would happen. Sasha and Rarity slowed their trot as they followed the footprints which lead into one of the houses. Sasha couldn’t spot any other prints around, telling her that the titan was inside the house. Sasha’s apprehension was diminished as she found a tree stump with an axe dug into the center of it.

Sasha nimbly dismounted her horse, tying it to a post next to a tree, careful not to be spotted. Sasha and Rarity stood against the wall next to the doorway leading inside. Sasha peered over to see the titan continuing to feast upon the now-dead woman’s leg, as well as catch a glimpse of the child inside. Rarity jerked back, quickly hoping the titan didn’t see her. Rarity could see Sasha breathing heavily, concerning her.

“Sasha,” Rarity questioned, “what did you see?”

“A…” Sasha whispered, her voice shuddering with her body, “three-meter class titan. It’s eating a pregnant woman… there’s a child inside.”

“A child? Is it alive?”

“Yes, she is, but she’s terrified… just like…”

Sasha couldn’t stand it any longer. Her trembling began to cease, and her face and arms relaxed. Her eyes drew a path to the axe in the stump and then the entrance to the house, planning her attack.

“Alright,” whispered Sasha, “you come in after me. While I distract the titan, you grab the girl and leave. Is that alright?”

“But what about you? You’ll have to face that titan alone.”

“I know I will, but at the very least, we’re going to save that girl.”

Rarity was about to retort, but Sasha was already sneaking to the stump. Rarity reached out and tried to call her back to reason with her, but she was too far away to call without alerting the titan. Sasha effortlessly pulled the axe out of the stump and tiptoed towards the house.

Sasha knew that once she entered the house, it was do or die, stopping her just outside the door. Sasha couldn’t delay any longer. Sasha ran into the house and rose the axe over her head with the blade behind her back. With a loud cry, Sasha swung the axe into the titan’s neck, spurting its blood about the room. The shocked girl turned to see Sasha attacking the titan, her face wrought with fury.

Rarity, hearing the strike, rushed into the room and towards the girl. Upon hearing the pony’s hooves upon the wood floors, the titan’s focus instantly centered on Rarity. Sasha pulled the axe out of the titan’s neck, only for the wound to seal itself back up almost instantly.

It’s no use! Sasha determined. I can’t kill it if I cut the nape clean out.

Rarity stopped to the girl, who was genuinely surprised to see the pony approach her.

“Darling,” Rarity quickly cooed, “what is your name?”

“B– Beth,” she stammered.

“Beth? Come with me. I’ll get you out of here.”

Beth stood up as both turned to leave, only to see the titan approaching them both. Both Beth and Rarity screamed, the former hugging the latter tight.

“Rarity!” Sasha screamed, winding her arms back.

Before the titan could touch them, Sasha swung the axe, the blade cutting halfway through the back of the titan’s ankle and cutting the Achilles tendon. The titan fell forwards, leaving Rarity to grab Beth by the collar of her simple dress and run around the titan. Rarity tripped as she felt something grab her back right hoof, throwing Beth to Sasha.

Rarity turned back to see that the titan, while still on its stomach, had a hold of Rarity’s hoof. The titan pulled Rarity forwards, its mouth opening to devour. Sasha froze up, scared to see Rarity get pulled towards the titan’s face as she kicked and screamed.

Impossible! Sasha thought. Why is the titan going after Rarity? Titans don’t attack ponies! What’s happening here?

“SASHA!” Rarity shrieked, feeling the breath of the titan on her leg. “HELP!”

“AH!” Sasha yelled, raising the axe up. “I’M SORRY!”

Rarity thrust the axe down on the titans wrist, severing it off clean. Rarity crawled and flailed her legs as hard and fast as she could, just managing to avoid the titan grabbing for her with its left hand. Sasha tossed the axe down and pull Rarity further away, keeping her even further away. Rarity stood up, kicking the hand off her leg.

“Rarity!” Sasha sobbed, kneeling down. “I’m so sorry I almost got you killed! Can you forgive me?”

“Perhaps at another time,” Rarity answered. “We need to leave, now!”

Sasha looked to the titan as it began to stand, the wound on its ankle finished steaming and healing.

“Right!” Sasha answered.

“Beth!” Rarity called, sitting down for Beth to mount her. “Get on!”

Beth ran behind Rarity, hugged her neck, and straddled over Rarity’s lower back. Rarity stood back on her fours and galloped out of the house as the titan stood up straight. Sasha ran out right behind her. Sasha was able to catch up to Rarity and Beth as they made it to Sasha’s horse.

“It’s…” Sasha assured Beth, “going to be fine now. Please, trust me.”

“What is?” Beth asked.

Sasha couldn’t answer her, especially as Sasha’s horse began to buck about, frightened and hysterical.

“Ah,” Sasha exclaimed, turning and untying the horse’s reins from the post, “hey, easy! Easy!”

Sasha finally got the reins off, but as she tried to grip the reins, they slipped out of her hand. Allowing the horse to run away.

“What?” Sasha shouted as she tried to chase after her horse. “Wait! Come back!”

The horse was too quick for Sasha, and it soon disappeared off into the backwoods.

“Oh please!” Sasha cried. “You have to be kidding me! Not now! Please, come back!”

As Sasha whistled for her horse, Beth looked at Sasha confusedly.

“Why are you speaking so politely?”

“HUH?” Sasha yelled back at Beth.

As Sasha looked back, she saw as the titan crawled out of the entrance to the house. Sasha looked feverishly for another solution, and as if a light shone upon it from Heaven, Sasha found a bow and four arrows lying on a crate next to a building.

Sasha darted to the cart, grabbing the bow with the right hand and the arrows with the left and ran back to Sasha and Beth.

“Rarity,” Sasha called, “please, follow me. And what’s your name?” she asked to the girl. “Beth? Don’t you worry. Everything will be fine.”

“Why?” Beth asked. “Everybody’s already run away.”

Sasha and Rarity was shocked at the collective cowardice of the village.

“They all knew my mother’s legs were bad… but no one came to help us… I didn’t even do anything to help.”

Sasha froze again, possessed by yet another memory.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Krista and Sasha, both in their cadet uniforms, were drawing water from a well in the center of the lodges where the cadets trained. Krista carefully pulled the rope that brought the bucket out.

“Please,” Sasha cooed, “be careful when you pull the string. You don’t want to spill too much water. Thanks.”

“C’mon,” honked the voice of Ymir as she approached the two, “stop it already.”

“Eh?” Sasha asked, genuinely confused.

“I mean that stupid, 'goody-goody-two-shoes' way you speak.”

Sasha, her mouth agape in a smile, tried looking away, hoping that ignoring Ymir would get her to leave her alone.

“Why use all those ‘pleases’ and ‘thank-yous,’ even when you’re talking to us?”

“Umm,” Sasha nervously stammered, her smile still etched on her face, “well… I don’t really… I, uh…”

“Wait, let take a wild guess… you’re too embarrassed about how you and the rest of the people where you come from talk, aren’t ya’?”

Sasha tried to keep her smile up, only for the grimace to force its way on, becoming the tell-tale sign that Ymir needed.

“Eeyup!” Ymir exclaimed with a shit-eating grin on her face. “All things considered though, you’re pretty damned sensitive… for a retard. All you know about is hunting and being afraid of everything and everyone else around you, right?”

Sasha’s grimace added an extra feeling of nausea as Ymir railed into her.

“I bet the reason why you became a soldier is as equally dumb… like your mum and dad!”

“Ymir!” Krista shouted. “You’re taking it too far!”

“Sasha,” Ymir asked in annoyance, butting Krista out of the way, “how long are you going to continue living behind that cheap act of yours? It’s just stupid! You’re you. Exactly what is wrong with that? Talk the way you want to, dammit!”

Sasha was surprised by the final words Ymir gave her, sounding less insulting and more supportive. Ymir still looked away from her in a huff, but Sasha couldn’t help but feel strangely indebted to her for her words.

“I…” Sasha began to say, awkwardly, “I am… grateful…”

“Huh?” Ymir exclaimed, bugged that she still didn’t get the message.

“I mean… thanks. It will… It’s going to take a while for me to speak normally again…”

“What, do you still have a problem with me?”

“Sasha still won’t be her true self,” Krista butted in, pushing Ymir out of the way. “There are as many ways of thinking as there are people, so you should just choose to say the words however you think them, Sasha.”

Sasha wasn’t exactly sure what to think of Krista’s words, but Ymir didn’t feel like arguing with Krista.

“I guess smooth words make smooth ways, huh?” she relented. “Oh well, even if you do change the way you talk, you’d still be just as annoying.”

“At least she’s not rude and blunt as you are, Ymir,” Krista scolded.

Sasha, hearing Ymir get insulted by Krista of all people, began to chuckle. Ymir sneered as Sasha’s chuckle turned into a hearty laugh.

“Hey,” Ymir spoke with a lethal glare, “who do you think you’re laughing at?”

“Ah?” Sasha exclaimed , returning to a mousy demeanor. “I’m sorry…”
________________________________________________________________________________________

Why am I remembering that now? Sasha wondered, conflicted by the memory’s purpose.

“Sasha!” Rarity yelled. “It’s coming!”

Sasha turned to see the titan running at them. As Rarity began to run, Sasha followed closely behind. As they left the town, they continued the winding road to the forest with a small ridge along the left side.

Such a trifle thing; everyday life, mused Sasha. My memories… are full of moments like that.

Sasha’s eyes then widened, feeling that she understood the memory’s purpose. Taking Krista’s words to heart, she felt like she wanted to be polite, but Ymir’s words also resonated: to be her. Sasha knew what she was and always would be: a hunter.

“Beth!” Sasha called. “Listen to me for a bit. Rarity’s going to carry you down the road. It’s okay if you’re weak, because Rarity is strong, and so are the people who will come to your rescue.”

“Sasha…” Rarity tried to speak, confused by Sasha’s words.

“Just hang on to Rarity and keep by her at all times,” Sasha said, tears forming in her eyes. “She’s the best friend I could ever ask for.”

“Sasha?”

Sasha put her leg down, sliding to a stop as Rarity continued to run ahead.

“Rarity!” shouted Sasha. “Keep running and don’t look back!”

“Sasha!” called Rarity, stopping to wait for her friend.

Sasha grabbed three of her four arrows in her left hand along the front of the grip of the bow and pulled the fourth arrow back in the string, aiming it at the titan.

“RUN!” ordered Sasha.

Rarity hesitated, her legs wanting to follow her orders, but her mind eventually caved in, running down the road with Beth in tow. Sasha let her first arrow fly, striking the titan in the left side of the neck. The titan was completely unaffected, still coming for Sasha. Sasha readied her second arrow and ran to the ridge.

If I can blind it, Sasha planned, we can still escape.

As she leapt up, her bow aimed at the titan’s eyes, she shot the arrow, but it whizzed to the right of the titan’s head, missing it. Sasha stood upon the ledge as the titan changed its course to the ridge.

Oh no, she thought. I only have two arrows left.

Sasha placed her penultimate arrow’s back into the string, pulling back and aiming in fierce concentration.

Calm down, Sasha, she told herself. The prey is big… but slow.

Sasha took an exhale, relaxing her troubled mind as she let the arrow go and let it soar. The arrow struck the titan in the left eye, sticking in and blinding it halfway.

It worked! Sasha thought, readying her final arrow. But I only have one arrow left. If I miss… I can’t escape from the titan. If I miss, me, Rarity, and Beth will all be killed.

Even with the titan coming closer to her, Sasha couldn’t focus due to the excessive risk. As the titan began to climb the ridge for Sasha, Sasha hissed and tossed the bow away, holding the arrow like a spear.

As the titan reached for her, Sasha ran forward and thrust the arrow into the titan’s left eye, now blinding it completely. However, the titan wrapped its left arm around Sasha, keeping her from moving. Sasha struggled to get away, but remembered her father once again, serving to fuel her determination.

Putting her right hand under the titan’s chin, Sasha pushed down and slid out of the titan’s bloody, slippery grasp. As the titan tried to hunt for Sasha in the dark it was left in, Sasha broke for the woods, hoping to find Rarity and Beth soon.

Now, Sasha planned, I need to find those two and my horse. Then I can–

Sasha’s thought was broken as she heard the sound of horses galloping in the woods to her left. Turning around, the sight she saw made her gasp and nearly break down. About half a dozen people, being led by none other than her father, were riding by. Rarity carried Beth beside him as the man looked to see Sasha for the first time in three years.

“Sasha?” cried her father.

“Father!” cried Sasha.

Rarity was shocked, completely unaware that Sasha could have had such a rural upbringing. Sasha’s eyes then looked to a horse just behind her, not having anyone ride it. Sasha could recognize the saddle and the reins, though.

“Way fownd dis hawrse run’n ‘lowng the payth ‘n way picked it up. Howp awn!”

Sasha smiled as she ran into the forest and quickly mounted her horse. Sasha looked down at Rarity and nodded, assuring her that she was alright. Rarity nodded back, happy for her well-being. With a flick of his reins, Sasha’s father continued to lead the others out of the forest and continued to travel north.

“Way’ve bin gon’ ‘round giv’n hawrses ta peeple in the aerya. Thayt kyid and thayt pownee towld ‘s thayre wuz steel a parson in the aerya. I cuda’ nevah ‘magined ‘twas you. Ya’ tuk awn dat tahtin ta’ sayve dem both?”

“You’d better believe it, sir,” Rarity answered. “She’s a fantastic hunter and an even better friend.”

“Shay shoor is,” he said. “Sasha, you’ve really baycayme a splayndid parson.”

“Dad…” Sasha happily wept.

The search party continued up to the Sina districts, Sasha riding with them to help.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Nanaba continued to lead Ymir, Kirsta, and the short brown-haired soldier south towards the wall, looking for other villages or people to warn.

“This area is close to the wall,” the short brown-haired soldier warned, “so people don’t live here.”

“Right,” Nanaba agreed, “it looks like we’re done with our mission sooner than expected. Now, let’s head south.”

“But why?” questioned Ymir. “No one lives south of here anyways.”

“We need to determine what part of the wall got destroyed. We’ll run along the wall from the west side to find the breach.”

“You seem to forget that neither Krista nor I have Manuever Gear, didn’t you? Everything south of here is probably swarming with titans, and we’ll become their lunch if we keep going. Please, allow Krista and I to withdraw from the frontlines.”

“Ymir?” shouted Krista, shocked by her request.

“I can’t,” Nanaba answered. “Anything might happen. I want to have at least one member that I can use as a messenger. I understand how you’re feeling, but you chose to be a soldier, so you’re staying with us through thick and thin. Everything depends on us at this time.”

Ymir grimaced, dissatisfied with Nanaba’s answer.

“Ymir,” spoke Krista, “I want to make the best of our situation now. It was my decision to become a scout, after all. But… in your case, it’s different, isn’t it? The only one who decided to go to the Scouting Legion was me, not you.”

“Huh?” Ymir exclaimed. “What are you trying to say here? That I’m here because of you?”

“How else do you explain it? Why was I put into the top ten of our cadet class when you had the tenth best scores of all of us? In fact, why are you even here now? If you don’t want to be here, then leave!”

Ymir couldn’t answer without revealing the truth, instead deciding to stay silent.

“I knew it,” Krista hissed. “You always urged me to join the Military Police, and you even made it so I could. Why? Why are you willing to go through such lengths for me? Is it because… of my family?”

“…Yeah,” Ymir answered. “That’s right. But Krista… rest assured. I’m here for my own sake.”

“I see…”

Ymir looked behind, hoping that her answer would sat Krista.

“What a relief!” Krista finally responded with a smile.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Gelger led Reiner and Bertolt and an equipped female soldier with brownish-red hair in a ponytail Son the path towards a village in the distance. Reiner couldn’t help but look extremely anxious.

“Reiner?” Bertolt asked. “What’s wrong?

“I can’t be certain,” Reiner answered, “but this might be Conny’s village.”

“Do you really think?”

“Conny said his village wasn’t far south from here, and this is the first town we’ve found since we left HQ. With him and Pinkie Pie left behind, who knows if he’ll be around to see it again.

“Let’s just be careful. Titans might still be around.”

“Bertolt’s right,” yelled Gelger to the rear soldiers. “Everyone be on your toes. If anyone sees any sign of life, human or titan, report it immediately.”

As the soldier’s entered the town, the soldiers were devastated by the sheer desolation and destruction of the town. Roofs, walls, and in some cases, entire buildings were destroyed. Trees were felled, carts were broken, and even the horse stables were still populated with horses.

“In this case,” Reiner hushed, “I kind of hope Conny isn’t alive to see this.”
________________________________________________________________________________________

Conny and Pinkie Pie continued to gallop. Despite the speed and size of Conny’s horse, Pinkie Pie still didn’t seem to have trouble staying by Conny’s side. Both were still traumatized by the titan they now called the Beast Titan and the death of Mike. However, there was still one thing giving Conny hope.

“We’re almost there!” Conny yelled. “My village is just over that hill!”

“That’s good!” Pinkie Pie said, mustering an assuring smile. “Then you can give your mom and dad a great, big hug when you see them!”

“Yeah,” he responded, a hopeful grin appearing. “A great, big hug.”

As Conny and Pinkie Pie came over the hill, Conny’s eyes shrunk in fear, seeing the state of his home. Pinkie Pie suddenly felt a painful twinge in her stomach upon seeing Conny’s village, still riding alongside Conny.

“Oh God,” Conny stammered as his horse galloped in, “you have to be joking!”
________________________________________________________________________________________

As Reiner and Bertolt carefully examined the buildings for survivors, a familiar voice called out.

“Somebody?” called Conny’s voice. “Is anybody out here?”

Reiner and Bertolt turned to see Conny and Pinkie Pie riding from behind the buildings.

“Conny?” Reiner questioned. “Pinkie Pie? They’re alive?”

“It’s me, Conny!” Conny continued to yell. “I’m back!”

As Conny and Pinkie Pie came closer, Reiner and Bertolt jumped to the side to make room for the two.

“I gotta’ find my house!” they heard Conny exclaim as he and Pinkie Pie passed by.

Reiner and Bertolt, seeing Conny’s scared face and reckless entrance, whistled for their horses.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Gelger and the female soldier observed a house where a dead titan laid upon the house, having demolished it. Its eyes and mouth were left wide open like a living dummy. What scared Gelger the most was that there didn’t appear to be an ounce of muscle in its arms, legs, hands, or feet.

This titan… Gelger commented, there’s no way it can move. So how did it end up here?

The sound of galloping sounded out from behind the two soldiers, who were shocked to see Conny approaching with Pinkie Pie.

“Mom!” he called. “Dad! Sunny! Martin!”

“Conny!” exclaimed Gelger. “Pinkie!”

Conny leapt off of his horse and ran to the house, slowing down as he came closer. As he stopped, his eyes began to bleed tears and his knees grew weaker. Pinkie trotted up beside him, wondering what happened.

“Well,” Pinkie Pie spoke as sensitively as possible, “I’ve heard of crashing the party, but…”

Conny was in no mood to laugh, instead staring at the titan that landed on the building.

“Uh, Conny,” wondered Pinkie Pie, “who’s house is that?”

“It…” Conny trembled, “it’s my house.”

At hearing himself saying it, his legs finally gave way, sinking to his knees, and letting it all out. Pinkie Pie’s guilt was in full swing now. She sat beside Conny and cried with him. Conny couldn’t help but notice the crying pony, but he needed comfort more than ever.

Reaching over, he wrapped his arms around Pinkie’s tummy and pulled her to him, allowing him to sob into her mane. Pinkie Pie, still feeling guilty, wrapped her own arms around Conny and cried into his shoulder.

Conny and Bertolt rode up to see Conny and Pinkie Pie crying while Gelger and his female accomplice watched, unable to do anything.

“Gelger!” called Reiner. “Are there any survivors?”

Gelger walked up to Reiner’s horse, wanting to make sure that neither Conny nor Pinkie Pie heard him.

“No,” he answered.

Conny tried standing up while Pinkie Pie helped him up.

“I’m sorry, Conny,” Pinkie Pie continued to bawl. “If it weren’t for me, we could have saved your family.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Reiner said, trotting up to the two of them. “We found this village in this state. Even if Conny were with us the entire time, we still would have been too late.”

“That’s right,” Conny sniffled as he began to walk towards the house and lean against the wall “there’s no one here… not anymore. My home is gone…”

Reiner winced, wishing that such a fate wouldn’t have befallen his friend. Pinkie still wanted to be there for the the friend she still felt she betrayed, walking up standing beside Conny.

“Hey,” Gelger spoke, “I just realized something. Have any of you seen any dead bodies around?”

Conny and Pinkie Pie turned around, having not realized this before.

“No,” Reiner answered.

“I didn’t see any either,” Bertolt answered.

“Is this even possible?” asked Gelger. “For titans to ravage through a village without even killing a single person?”

“I’d say this means that they managed to escape in time!” the female soldier spoke, sporting a slightly forced smile. “If anyone was eaten, there’d be some trace left, so they can’t have been eaten. They probably saw the titans coming and escaped in time!”

Pinkie Pie’s smiled returned, overjoyed by this news.

“See Conny?” she asked sympathetically. “Your family’s still okay. Just think of it like a giant game of hide-and-seek!”

“That’s,” Conny realized, cheering back up, “that’s how it has to be, right?”

“It must be!” the female soldier added. “They all escaped a few hours prior and are probably at Wall Sina as we speak!”

Gelger knew that for all of the woman cheering Conny up, the chances that Conny’s family being alive was realistically very slim.

It’s not just there being no visible casualties; Gelger thought, there’s a lot of things that don’t make sense. I mean, if they had escaped, titans wouldn’t have even touched these houses.

Not to mention the stables. If humans had escaped, they would have taken the horses with them. Even if the villagers escaped on foot, that would only make their possibility of surviving more unlikely. Whatever the case, I cannot let Conny see those stables, if he hasn’t already.

“Conny, Pinkie Pie,” Gelger ordered, “you stay here and gather as many torches as you can find. The rest of you, split up and find more torches. Night should be coming in a couple of hours and we’ll need a way to see in the night, got it?”

“Yes, sir!” everyone called, giving the salute.

“Hurry! We shouldn’t stay long.”

Conny and Pinkie Pie, having seen some torches by the house, walked over to them and began picking them up. The others searched around, Reiner looking around by the buildings across the street. As Conny gathered a bundle of torches, Conny looked to see that Pinkie Pie still looked rather grim.

“Pinkie Pie?” Conny questioned. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you hear Gelger and Joan? My family got out okay!”

“I know,” Pinkie Pie said, “but still… I’m sorry about running off back at the headquarters. All I wanted to do was make people laugh. I guess all I ended up doing was almost getting us killed. You must really hate me…”

Conny, as true as her being at fault for their near-deaths was, couldn’t stand to see Pinkie Pie upset. Even then, they still made it out alright.

“It’s okay,” Conny said, gently ruffling Pinkie Pie’s made and rubbing behind her ears. “We’re alive, aren’t we? Besides, I’m an idiot; if I didn’t die back then, it would certainly be soon.”

“Quit saying that!” Pinkie cried, about to shed more tears. “You’re not an idiot! You’re my friend, no matter what! And don’t say that you’re going to die!” she demanded, the tears already beginning to flow. “That just means I have one less person to brighten my day!”

Pinkie Pie lifted herself up and hugged Conny, crying over his shoulders. Conny, in his surprise, dropped his torches. However, he knew he was going to make Pinkie Pie happy again even if it did kill him. Putting his hands on her back, he pulled her close, hoping to make her feel warm.

“I’m sorry,” Conny sighed, his own tears flowing, “and don’t worry. I forgive you… for everything.”

Conny couldn’t see it, but Pinkie Pie smiled contently, happy to be back in her friend’s good graces.

“Weeelcome baaaack…” gurgled a voice near the two of them.

The two immediately stopped their embrace and looked behind them where they heard the voice. Conny ran out into the street and turned to look at the titan that laid upon his house. There was not a soul around him other than Pinkie Pie, only raising his suspicions of the titan there. Pinkie Pie came out to look at the titan as well, unsure if she heard properly.

“Just then…” wondered Conny, “did it just –”

“Hey, Conny!” shouted Reiner’s voice as he felt Reiner spin him around by his shoulder to face him. “Hurry up, or we’re going to still be here by nightfall!”

“Reiner… didn’t you hear that titan?”

“I didn’t hear anything!”

“Hey!” Pinkie Pie angrily called out, putting her face in Reiner’s. “Are you calling Conny a liar!”

“I didn’t say anything of the sort!” Reiner proclaimed as he pushed Pinkie Pie off of him. “Now, both of you, focus on the mission!”

Conny looked back to the titan, almost as if begging it to speak and prove him sane. However, anther thought occurred in Conny’s head.

“Why…” he stammered.

“I know it sounds crazy,” Reiner tried to reason.

“Why does that titan look like mom?”

“Conny!” bellowed Reiner, shocking Conny and Pinkie Pie. “Do you have any idea what’s happened? Do you know how many lives will be lost by each moment we waste? Or are you going to continue feeding into your bizarre delusions? If you’re going to use your imagination, then think about your family escaping! You’re a soldier, so act like it!”

Reiner stormed off to look for more torches, leaving Conny and Pinkie Pie alone.

“Conny…” Pinkie Pie consoled.

“No!” Conny shouted. “He’s right! Come on, Pinkie! Let’s get those torches and leave here!”

Conny ran back to the alley to pick the torches he dropped up, leaving Pinkie Pie confused and alone with the titan that Conny suspected as his own mother.
________________________________________________________________________________________

A titan chased a Garrison soldier and his horse through a town as he approached a hill. Atop the hill was Felman and Ian as they kept command over the cannons that were ready to fire.

“Not yet!” Felman ordered. “Wait until it’s closer!”

Once the soldier ran past the last set of buildings, passing two spiked wooden fences on both sides, he steered his horse away from the cannons’ lines of fire, providing a completely open shot.

“FIRE!” Felman shouted.

As a seven-meter titan ran through an abandoned town past the spiked fence, two cannons were fired at the titan’s legs, slowing its run. With the titan now stopped, Riko latched onto the titan’s back and pulled herself to the titan’s neck, cutting off the nape.

As she landed back on the closest building back of them, Mitabi swung to the same roof.

“He’s finally dead,” she said.

“You’re amazing, Riko,” he complimented. “If this continues going smoothly, we’ll be able to hold off the defense.

“No,” she disagreed. “The worst part about these titans are their numbers. If they come all at once, they’ll mow right through us, no doubt. Only, how do I put this, it feels… strange.”
________________________________________________________________________________________

Hannes and another Garrison captain rode along the inner side of the wall. The sun was setting quick and night would fall in a little while. However, there was still something in Hannes’s mind that troubled him.

“Captain Hannes,” his comrade spoke, “is there something wrong?”

“Since we started checking the wall,” Hannes answered, “we haven’t encountered a single titan. It’s unthinkable, considering the fact that we should be reaching the breach soon. Yet… it’s still very quiet. Last time, a lot of them gathered to the wall before the breach happened. I wish,” he sighed, “that things could just stay like they used too. I suppose that’s asking too much…”
________________________________________________________________________________________

Sasha and Rarity continued to ride through the plains towards Sina, providing help to anyone as they came across them. Sasha figured that it would be about another hour before they reached Yalkell. As they went on with their trek. Sasha and her dad saw a cart riding towards them in the distance.

“Look!” called Sasha. “It must be a farmer! Look at the size of his cart!”

“Parhayps we kin aysk ‘m fer sim grub!” Sasha’s father asked.

As the cart came closer, Rarity looked upon the driver, her eyes widening upon seeing who it was. Red hair, glasses, red shirt. It was Kirill.

“Kirill!” called Rarity as she jumped up.

“Rarity?” Kirill wondered, surprised to see her.

“You know that man?” asked Sasha.

As Kirill stopped the cart, Rarity broke away from the group as they too came to a halt.

“Why, yes,” Rarity said. “Kirill developed the 3D Maneuver Gears for my friends and I.”

Kirill and Rarity paused their introductions for a quick, friendly hug.

“3D Maneuver Gears?” Sasha wondered. “You’re the person who makes them?”

“I am,” Kirill answered. “Pretty comfortable living if you ask me… until this happened, of course.”

“Pawrdon may,” interrupted Sasha’s father, “I down’t mayn tah ‘mpose, but dih ya’ hayve ehneh food ya’ kin laynd tah’ us?”

Sasha was surprised to hear her father talk so politely. It didn’t seem to phase her as Kirill smiled in response.

“Of course,” he answered. “I had brought extra bread for such an occasion.”

Kirill walked to the back of his card and pulled out a large bundle wrapped in cloth. Unwrapping it, there were about six large loaves of bread inside. Kirill took out four and walked them to Sasha’s father.

“This should feed your men and leave at least half a loaf in leftovers,” Kirill said as he placed the loaves the saddlebags of various horses.

“Thaynk ya’ kahndly,” Kirill’s father spoke.

“In these times,” Kirill answered, “it’s the least I can do for my fellow man.”

“Soh, what brangs ya’ down hayre, Kehrayl?”

“I was going down to assist the Scouting Legion by bringing them fresh equipment and food.”

“The Scouting Legion’s scattered all over the place,” Sasha said. “Eren was summoned to the capital with a bunch of soldiers, and the rest of us our trying to evacuate the citizens.”

“What? Do you know where Hanji is?”

“I believe she went to Stohess with Eren.”

“I see, but the others… they need my help!”

“Sasha!” called her father. “Ya’ go wit’ ‘im!”

“Huh?” Sasha exclaimed. “But what about?”

“Way’ll bay fahn. Kehrayl, ‘ow much furtha’ tah’ Yaylkayl from hayre?”

“About an hour northwest,” he answered.

“Thaynk ya’. Sasha, ya’ aynd yer’ pownee pardna’ go ‘long wit’ Kehrayl now. We’ll be fine here.”

Sasha gave an understanding nod, knowing that even though her chances of seeing her father again were unlikely, she was glad to have seen him at all.

“I got it, father.”

“Now,” her father responded with a smile, “yah’ git illong an’ mayke yer’ fatha’ praiwd.”

Sasha dismounted her horse and walked to her father, giving him a hug at his waist. Her father patted her gently on the back and promptly pushed her away.

“Hurrey!” he shouted. “Yer’ waystin’ tahm!”

Sasha ran back to her horse without a word and mounted it. She led her horse over to Kirill and Rarity, joining them. With a nod from each of them signaling their being ready, they ran off south towards the HQ. Sasha’s father gave one last long glance at her disappearing daughter before he led the party north to their sanctuary in Yalkell.