It makes sense...everything makes sense now.

The reason why Eren has changed. The reason he's distanced himself from all of you. Specifically you, for you can sense his emotions. The unspeakable fear you felt when you managed to get ahold of him makes sense now. He knew this was going to happen...everything was leading to THIS.

Eren's going to destroy the world. For all of you.

Your arms absentmindedly curled around you as the realization continued to seep in. You felt horrified, sick, distraught, all at once! Your mind drifted back to your home in Marley...your family...your sister.

Oh my god...they were going to die. Your sister was going to die. After everything you have been through, she was one of the only lights in your life. She's your reason for why you're here in the first place. She's the reason you've decided to forget everything they've taught you about this place. Everything they've taught you about the "devils" on this island. The reason you decided to see for yourself if these devils for who they were.

She doesn't deserve this fate. She doesn't deserve any of it! Eren's going to potentially kill her and there's nothing you can do!

You were brought back to reality when you heard zipping and the presence of three other people. It was Jean and Connie...as well as–

"Falco!" You exclaimed, you rushed over to check on his condition.

"He's still breathing." Jean told you, you let out a sigh of relief.

"It's finished. I never thought he'd planned to slaughter everyone outside the walls" Jean began to say as he wrapped a piece of cloth around Falco's mouth.

"But if those people are gone, so will all the hatred they have. All the enemies that ever threatened our existence will be smushed to death. Leaving nothing but a blank, empty land. The thing people beyond the ocean feared the most has happened. Because they deemed us as devils and tried to kill us all. So this was what those people brought on themselves." Jean was trying hard to convince everyone and most definitely himself why Eren's plan was good for all of them.

But you can see it in his face that he isn't happy with this like the rest of you all are.

"There was nothing we could do about it. Isn't that right?" he asks all of you. You looked back at the scene around you, the nauseating feeling coming back.

"But this...this is too far. This is an unprecedented level of genocide." Armin spoke.

"So...are you going to stop him? Eren, I mean. Eren rejected Zeke's idea to castrate us with his Euthanasia plan. He also rejected the idea to sacrifice Historia to maintain control over the power of the Founding. In other words, Eren is sacrificing humanity beyond the walls to protect us. The ones who'll benefit from this genocide are us."

All of you grew deathly quiet, each one of you dealing with the news in your own way.

"My sister..." You quietly voiced out, everyone glanced over at you.

"Is she going to die as well? Crushed to death by something that was caused by the very same people she desperately defended for all her life? One of the only lights in my life and my reason for meeting all of you? This is the fate she gets?" Your voice cracked at that last part.

No one responded, not like they have an answer to those questions. They weren't going to say it to your face that your sister is going to die and there's nothing you can do about it. That answer would hurt more than their silence.

Silence would offer a glint of hope that you might have some control over your sister's fate.

Just then, an explosion came from the distance.

"What's that!? Are those...titans!? They're attacking our soldiers! Did they devour all the Marleyan soldiers? No way...if Eren has control over the Founding Titan, he should be able to control all the Titans!" Armin exclaimed.

"But they're eating our comrades! We have to help them!" Jean added.

"Wait, Jean! What about the boy? What are you going to do with him?" Mikasa asks, gesturing towards Falco who you were eyeing concerningly.

"He probably inherited the Jaw Titan." Your eyes grew wide. The Jaw Titan? Then that must mean...Porco's dead.

"Porco..." you thought. You weren't going to admit it out loud but, the fact that you weren't able to speak to Porco after all these years hurts you. You didn't get the chance to say goodbye...

"We can't just let him be. And we can at least save somebody who's turned into a Titan by feeding this boy to them. Like Commander Pixis—" Jean continued. You gasped, opening your mouth to argue but Connie cut in first.

"No. My mom. We'll feed him to my mom in Ragako village. All right?" He asked, though the way he was looking at all of you made it clear that he didn't have anyone to argue.

But screw him because you weren't scared at his attempt of threatening and was sure damn going to argue.

"You're not going to do that! " You spoke out. Connie gave you a glare.

"Huh?" He asked, baiting you to repeat yourself.

"Don't make me repeat myself, I know you heard me–" Armin cut you off, placing a hand in front of you.

"Y/N, please!" He gave you a pleading look. You held his gaze for a few moments before looking away and scoffing in defeat.

"Connie, Jean. According to Zeke, that boy is a Warrior Candidate, and he's loved by Reiner and those in the Warrior Unit. If we were to kill someone close to them like him, it'd provoke a whole new conflict with Reiner and the Cart Titan. If Marley's done for, there's no point in continuing our blood feud with Reiner and the others. So—"

"Are you two saying my mom doesn't matter?" Connie asked. Armin was taken aback, but you weren't surprised as you understood Connie's feelings.

"That's not what I'm saying–" Armin was cut off when Connie grabbed a hold of his shirt, yanking him over.

"Do you even know how I feel going back to my village again and again just to see my mom being like that?! You're alive right now because you ate Bertoldt, aren't you?! Don't stop me from bringing my mom back to life—!"

Your eyes widened as you noticed something large and fast approaching.

"WATCH OUT!" You exclaimed.

"Connie!" Mikasa shouted as you all moved out the way as a large titan rushed through. The building you all were situated on collapsed, separating you all.

With everyone down, Connie took the chance to grab Falco and run off. You were almost appalled that he actually did it.

"Like you are! CONNIE!" You shouted. But before you could go after him, there were bigger problems to deal with. Titans have now found your location and you guys were surrounded.

"Dammit!" You thought.

"Connie, I swear if you do anything to that boy, you're a fucking DEAD MAN!" You shouted.

—

You and your friends quickly made work of the titans attacking those within the buildings. Jean was loudly instructing all the remaining surviving soldiers to grab what they could (along with the thunder spears) and hold the titans off to those who couldn't fight.

Once everything was gathered, you all dove down from the top of a building and used the thunder spears to strike down all the titans nearby. As you guys were reloading, you noticed a titan that looked familiar.

Commander Pixis...

You've heard rumors about his addiction to wine and you managed to put two and two together. You swallowed heavily. This was going to hurt...

"Let's do this..." Jean instructed, the four of you nodded. And with that, you jumped down and fired your spears...

"Rest in peace Commander Pixis." You thought.

—

You all regrouped with Yelena, Onyankopon, and the others once everything subsided. Now it was back to the subject of the matter, the Wall Titans that Eren unleashed.

You winced a bit as you dabbed a wet cloth against your face, a small burn you've earned from what just happened. You were too distracted in your thoughts to notice another hand pressed against yours.

"Y/N..." You heard Armin softly call your name, you locked eyes with him.

"Need some help?" He asked, you blinked a few times before scoffing and looking away.

"I'm not the same person who I was before. I can handle myself." You tried to argue, but the slight pink across your cheeks made it hard for Armin to take you seriously.

However, you let him clean your wounds anyway, still avoiding eye contact with him. Once he was done, you looked back over.

"...Thank you." You softly replied. Mikasa, who was next to them, had a small smile at your reaction.

"Y'all made it..." A voice spoke out, all of you turned to find a familiar older man.

"Mr. Blouse?" You asked, he regarded you with a tired smile.

"Do yah mind if I can borrow y'all for a second?" He asked, the three of you exchanged glances before nodding. Moments later, you guys were following him downstairs.

"I'm glad you're fine, Mr. Blouse." Armin spoke.

"I feel the same about you." He replied. "But sorry for calling you during all of this." As he turned the corner, you were met with a familiar face.

Gabi...

"You..." Armin began to speak.

"Gabi?" You asked. It was a miracle how she's still alive and standing.

"Why are you here?" Armin asked.

"Please believe me!" Gabi began pleading. "I don't want to fight anymore. I just want you to give Falco back! I promise we will be gone after that!"

You then remembered that Connie fled with Falco a few moments ago. You cursed under your breath. Ah shit...

Mikasa and Armin didn't reply, but you were least going to be upfront about it.

"I'm sorry, Gabi. Falco...one of our friends took him." Gabi's eyes widened.

"...What?" she asks. The three of you explained as much as you could: how Connie's mom turned into a titan and that he planned to use Falco to have her eat him so she can turn back.

"No way..." Gabi was at a loss for words, you couldn't hold your gaze.

"Armin and I argued against it. I wanted to stop him but the damn fool grabbed Falco as soon as we were all distracted. I'm really sorry." You apologized.

"Connie's mother was the only Titan that couldn't move, so she is still there. Connie has been taking care of his mother for four years–"

"The incident four years ago!?" Kaya asked. Gabi fell to her knees, completely distraught.

"I'm sorry..." she apologizes to seemingly no one in particular. "Even so...I still can't give up on Falco."

"..." The three of you still remained silent.

"Hey! Can't Eren Yeager turn Connie's mother back into a human? The Founding Titan can do anything, right?" Gabi grabbed a hold of Armin's pants, begging him for a solution.

"I don't know..." Armin spoke.

"It's not that simple, Gabi. Sure the Founding can create Pure Titans. But turning a pure titan back to a human is...not possible." You answered.

"Why can't we ask Eren himself!? Does he really have to kill everyone outside of the island? He doesn't have to do that, right!? Can't he just attack all military facilities in the world?! Go ask him! He even stripped Reiner's armor! He should be able to do it!" Gabi pleaded with tears in her eyes.

It suddenly hit you how much Gabi has changed since the last you saw of her. Back then, her eyes were gleaming with pride. How she openly talked down upon the "devils of Paradis Island". How she was ready to shoot you dead at any moment.

Now she was on her knees, begging to the same so-called devils for her dear friend's life. She really has changed...

But wait...Reiner!? Eren was able to break his armor!? How!?

"Where's Reiner now!?" Mikasa asked.

"That doesn't matter right now! He's heavily injured and can't move anyway!" Gabi replied. Armin then got to her level and grabbed onto her shoulders.

"The Armored Titan's hardening was undone? When? At what moment?" He asked her again, wanting answers.

"Right as the walls fell." Gabi answered. Armin stared forward a bit.

"Eren said that he has undone all the hardening..." Armin spoke. For a moment, you didn't have a reason for Armin's reaction.

Hardening...like all hardening? Your eyes widened.

"Oh shit...Annie!"