The squad make it back to the headquarters as they spot Commander Erwin standing outside of Evelyn's room.

"Levi, Hange, what happened?" Erwin asks as she looks at the two of them, "she came in here running and crying? She's locked herself in her room and she won't come out".

"Evelyn, talk to me!" Eren says as he walks to her door.

"Go away, Eren. I don't want to talk about it!" Evelyn shouts from the other side of the door.

"Well tough shit. You're my family and what we've found out has to do with our family, so we're going to talk about it, so unlock the door, right now!" Eren says as he hits the door.

"Eren, stand aside" Levi says as Mikasa pulls Eren out of the way, Levi kicking the door through.

Evelyn looks up at them all, her eyes bloodshot and puffy.

"Evelyn, what's the matter?" Erwin asks as he goes over to Evelyn and he kneels down in front of her.

"I don't know who I am anymore, Erwin" Evelyn says as she starts to panic again, "I thought I was the daughter of Grisha and Carla Jaeger and Eren was my brother, but I was wrong. My name is Evelyn Jaeger and my Father is Grisha Jaeger, but my Mother isn't Carla Jaeger and my brother isn't Eren Jaeger".

"I'm still your brother. Half or not, we are still blood, so don't you dare abandon me!" Eren yells as he grabs her shoulders.

"How can you say that? You don't even know me. I'm some stranger that wasn't even born within the walls!" Evelyn says as she looks at him, "how can you look at me and say that I'm your sister?".

"Because you are!" Eren yells as he starts to cry, "you are my sister. Evelyn Jaeger, the one who raised me since I was little. The one who took the workload off of our Mother so she could get enough rest. You taught me how to read, how to write, how to fight. You taught me how to do everything I know. Only my sister could have taught me that. You killed people so I'd be safe. You took my friends in and you beat up my bullies older siblings. You protected me so I could grow and when I told you I wanted to join the Scouts, you didn't tell me no. You let me explain to you why I wanted to join them, and you never called me stupid for that dream. So don't give up. We're so close to getting all of your memories back. Everything will make sense after that, so come with me. Come back to our Father's basement and let's find out the truth together".

"Eren" Evelyn says as she wraps her arms around her brother, "I'm so sorry! I promise you I'll never leave you. I'm just scared. What if I don't like the truth of what I find out?".

"Then we think about that when it comes to it" Eren says as he hugs her tightly, "but whoever you are, wherever you come from, whatever you've done, I will never leave your side".

"That goes for all of us" Erwin says as he puts his hand atop Evelyn's head.

--- that night ---

"Sorry I'm late" Commander Zachery says as he walks into the room where Commander Erwin, Commander Pixis, Evelyn, Hange and Levi are all waiting for him, "well?" he asks as he takes a seat, "have we discovered what's in the container?".

"The thing is, with our technology, I'm afraid we can't dig much deeper" Hange says as they look at Zachery, "like we've heard from Evelyn, Eren and Historia, it seems to originate from some kind of body fluid. However, it vaporises when exposed to air, making analysis difficult. Whoever made it must have had technology far superior to ours. If it was the Reiss family, I can't imagine how".

"In that case, instead of tampering with it, we should use it to achieve our current objective" Commander Pixis says as he looks at the box with the injection in it.

"But who do we entrust it to?" Commander Zachery asks as he looks at Commander Pixis, "perhaps to you, Commander Erwin?".

"No. I'm no more than a wounded shoulder" Erwin says as he holds his sleeve where his arm should be, "this box belongs to one of our elite soldiers who has the best odds of survival. Evelyn, would you keep it?".

"No. I know I'm the kind of person to use this selfishly if someone I love gets hurts" Evelyn says as she looks at Levi, "Levi, you have it".

"If it's an order, just say so" Levi says as he looks at her, "why even bother telling me".

"We can't predict what kind of situation we'll have to use this in" Erwin says as he looks at the box on the table, "if you take it Levi, we'll be relying on you to make a decision on the fly. Judging when and who to use it on will be for you to choose. Can we leave that to you?".

"If this dream of yours comes true, what will you do then?" Levi asks as he looks at Erwin.

"I don't know. I won't know until it happens" Erwin says with a frown.

"I see, alright" Levi says as he looks away, "I'll do it" he says as he closes the box and puts it into his pocket.

"By the way, I'd like to unveil that work of mine soon" Commander Zachery says as he glares into the distance, "have you given it thought?".

"You still haven't given up on that?" Evelyn asks in disgust, "if the public saw that repulsive display, trust in the military would hit rock bottom".

"You don't know art when you see it" Commander Zachery says as he looks at her.

"Art is perfectly cutting out men's eyeballs, ripping off their fingernails and toenails, crushing their privates and degrading them until they're nothing but a shaking mess" Evelyn says as she puts her hands on the table in front of her".

--- the next morning ---

"So what you're telling me is that you and your Father, Grisha Jaeger, are both likely humans who came from outside the walls?" Erwin asks as he looks down.

"Yes. Just like Annie, Reiner and Bertolt, my Father possessed the power of the titans" Evelyn says as she looks at the table, "but different from the three of them, it seemed as though my Father and I were supportive of humanity within the walls".

"If your Father was so interested to know about the Scouts and such, we could've used more of that support of his" the man across from her says.

"I wonder. From the moment we entered the walls, my Father started searching for the royal family. And as soon as I joined the Scouts, I probably did the same" Evelyn says as she looks at the man, "and that's not something you do without incredible resolve. My Father wanted to show Eren, who was so eager to join the Scouts, the regiment I was a member of, the basement of our home. Maybe I knew something about the secret of the titans before my Father erased my memories. But why would I keep that away from you all? On death's door, our Father said the truth was in our basement. I just want to remember what's down there".

"Things which mustn't be said" Erwin says as he looks down, "which is why if you did know the secret of the titans before you lost your memory, I can understand why you never told us. Actually, it was probably things you couldn't say, even if you wanted to. That which the First King Reiss erased from our memories, memories of our world, is what I hope, but pondering about it here won't accomplish much. The preparations finished today. The operation to retake Wall Maria starts in two days. Do you want to know what's in the basement? If so, let's go see for ourselves. Isn't that what Scouts do? Let all your squads know".

The rest of the people in the room start to leave as Levi and Evelyn stay in the room and shut the door.

"What is it... you two?" Erwin asks as he looks at the two of them.

"It's a bit hasty, but what will you do after retaking Wall Maria?" Levi asks as he leans against the door, "I'd guess a defence plan comes first, but after that?".

"Eliminating threats" Erwin says confidently, "outside the walls, there seems to be someone hoping titans will eat us all. And if Evelyn can recover her memories from outside of the wall, she'll know exactly where to take us. Of course, the answer to who will be in the basement, I imagine. It's as I said earlier. We'll plan that after the basement".

"I'm asking this because you might not live that long" Levi says as he looks at Erwin, "you can't exactly move like you used to. You're lucky you didn't die from blood loss. Evelyn practically saved you. Let Hange call the shots. You'll just be deadweight. Let the good news come to you. We'll tell the other I argued until you gave in. No, that's actually what I intend. Are you okay with that?".

"I'm not" Erwin says as he remembers his Father for a moment, "I'm fine being food. Use me as bait. The chain of command still remains. If I'm gone, then Hange. If Hange's gone, then you Evelyn. It's true this operation will be dangerous, but to humanity, it's more important than anything else. That's why I've gone to such lengths. This is all my plan. If I don't do it, the success rate will plummet".

"That's right. The operation might fail, but if you bite the dust in the process, we're doomed" Levi says as he looks down, "so just sit at your desk and keep using your head. That's the last thing the titans would want. And for humanity, it's the best thing going for us".

"No, you're wrong. Our best option is for me to gamble at it all-" Erwin says persistently.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hold up!" Levi says as he interrupts Erwin, "keep using that bluff around me and I'll break both of your legs. I'll make it nice and easy to attach them later. But the operation to retake Wall Maria will proceed with you weeping here. It'll be a bitch to get to the toilet though".

"I'd like to avoid that" Erwin says with a small chuckle, "what you're saying is right. A wounded soldier should stay off of the battlefield. However, there will come a moment where we learn the truth of our world. I must be there for it".

"Is it that important to you?" Levi asks, slightly shocked by Erwin's persistence, "more than your legs?".

"Yes" Erwin says.

"More than humanity's victory?" Levi asks as he takes a step forward.

"Yes" Erwin says.

"I see" Levi says as he looks down, "Erwin, I'll trust your judgement".

--- the next night ---

"This might be a special night, but let's not let the public find out!" Evelyn says as she stands on her chair, "behave like soldiers without causing a ruckus!".

"Meat?" Conny asks as he looks at the spread in front of them, "what? Is this meat?".

"Am I dreaming?" Sasha asks as she holds her head.

"Tonight's the night before we retake Wall Maria!" Evelyn says as she raises her beer, "cheers!".

"Now, we'll split it evenly!" Hange says as they start to cut the meat.

"Hey, that big bit counts as too" Levi says as he looks at Hange.

"Hell no!" Moblit says.

"Don't you start pulling that shit, potato girl!" Jean yells as Sasha holds the entire chunk of meat in mouth as Conny holds back Sasha's arms, "what the hell do you think you're doing?".

"Cut it out, Sasha!" Conny says worriedly, "I don't want to have to kill you!".

"You can't eat the whole thing alone!" Jean yells as he rips the whole chunk from Sasha's mouth, only for her to bite his hand, "you're eating me, eating me, eating me!".

"Sasha! That meat is Jean! Have you lost your mind?" Conny yells.

"Do the Scouts never get fed any meat?" Marlow asks as he watches all of the chaos around them, even the veteran Scout members like Evelyn, Levi, Hange and Moblit fighting over the meat, "pathetic" he says as Sasha punches him.

"Conny. Would you knock Sasha out already?" Mikasa asks as she looks at Sasha.

"I'm trying!" Conny says as he holds Sasha in a headlock, "she should be unconscious, but she's still moving!".

"Hey, I think we've got casualties" Levi says as he, Evelyn, Hange and Moblit all calmly eat their meat after distributing it equally, Hange and Evelyn both with bust lips after punching the shit out of each other for the meat.

"Who's brilliant idea was it to serve meat?" Hange asks as she chews on her piece.

"Sorry. But now we know blowing the food budget for two months in one night results in this" Evelyn says as she watches them all.

"That should do it" Eren says as he manages to knock out and restrain Sasha.

"She finally ran out of energy" Conny says as he puts his hands on his hips, "can you believe this freak? And to think she once offered to share meat with everyone.

"Don't you see? You're the rear guard because you've got no experience" Jean says as he looks at Marlow.

"It may be true that I'm weak, but isn't the vanguard the best place to learn how the enemy moves?" Marlow asks as he looks at Jean.

"What's this? Trying to act all tough talking about self-sacrifice?" Jean asks as he cocks his brow.

"But if we're not of that mentality, how will we be effective as a unit?" Marlow asks as he raises a brow.

"Listen here. Everyone starts out as a recruit" Jean says as he looks down, "if we throw recruits into a battle like cannon fodder, they'll all be too dead to learn. Which is why it's your job to sit in the back and study, so you can come home in one piece. But the most useless of all is the suicidal maniac who only knows how to charge in".

"Jean, who do you mean by that?" Eren asks as he looks at Jean.

"No one else but you!" Jean says as he looks at Eren, "you suicidal maniac".

"Actually, I found out something recently" Eren says with a smirk, "I'm quite a normal person, you know? So if you're saying that to me, that just makes you a coward, Jean".

"You're so full of yourself, pig shit!" Jean yells as the two of them stand up at the same time and grab each other's collars.

"You trying to grow out the hair on your mane, horse face?" Eren asks as he tightens his grip on Eren's collar.

"Just don't hit the face" Conny says as he chews on some breadsticks.

"You jerk!" Jean says.

"You're ripping it, ass!" Eren says as he bats Jean's hand out of the way.

"What the hell are they doing?" Marlow asks as he looks at the two of them.

Eren punches Jean in the stomach, just as Jean punches Eren in the stomach.

"Looks like something started" Moblit says as he looks over.

"And here I told them to behave" Levi says as he looks down.

"But seriously if you didn't have titan powers, you'd be dead, ten times over" Jean says as he glares at Eren, "and every time, Mikasa or Captain Evelyn would swoop in to save your ass. If you insist on being suicidal, I'll just have to kill you!" he says as he kicks Eren in the stomach.

"That's something I'll have to take to heart!" Eren yells as he punches Jean in the stomach, "you should start showing your Mom some respect, Jean Boy!".

"Would your forget that?" Jean asks as he punches Eren in the stomach.

"Shouldn't we stop them?" Armin asks as he looks down at Mikasa.

"No" Mikasa says as she watches on, "I think it's fine".

"Why isn't anyone stopping us?" Eren asks weakly as the two of them start to grow tired.

"How long will this go on for?" Jean asks as he weakly punches Eren.

"Shit. I think I'm going to barf up that meat" Eren says as he tries to keep his dinner down.

"Hey" Evelyn says as she comes over to them and she kicks each one of them in the balls, "you're all too damn rowdy. Go to sleep". And clean that up".

"It's weird when I say it, but shouldn't you guys watch out for me more?" Eren asks as Armin and Mikasa help him walk out of the food hall.

"I knew if you got hurt it would heal up easily, so I just watched" Armin says honestly.

"That's so cruel" Eren says as the three of them sit down on the steps.

"You're the one who incited it" Mikasa says as she looks at Eren.

"But at least you're spunky again" Armin says as he looks at Eren.

"I'm glad we met the commandant" Eren says as he looks down, "whether I'm spunky or not, I'll do what I have to do. But, yeah. It's easier now. Kept thinking about stuff I can't change. And wondering why I can't be strong like Evelyn, Mikasa or Captain Levi. I was jealous. But even you, Evelyn and the Captain... alone, you can't do much. Which is why we've all got to find the things we can do. And by joining together, that's what makes up powerful. Every person is different. And it's all for times like this".

"Yeah, I think you're right" Armin says with a small smile.

"Once we retake Wall Maria and defeat all of the enemies coming our way, will they come back?" Mikasa asks as she looks down, "those days".

"We'll bring it back" Eren says confidently, "but some things are forever changed. We'll make them pay for that".

"But there's more than that" Armin says as he looks ahead, "the sea. A salt lake so big that merchants could spend their whole lives and still not get all the salt. There's more than just titans outside of the wall. Fiery water, lands of ice, sandy snowfields. I joined the Scouts so I could see that".

"Yeah. You sure did" Eren says as he looks at Armin.

"Right? Let's start by seeing the sea!" Armin says as he stands up, "you still doubt that it's real, Eren! You'll see! It does!".

"Alright then" Eren says with a soft smile, "guess we'll have to go see".

"You promise me? We have to go see it! We can explore the outside world!" Armin says as he holds his hand out to Eren.

"Yet another conversation only the two of you understand" Mikasa says as she looks down.

"It's got to be way bigger than inside the walls" Armin says excitedly.

"Okay, I get it" Eren says as he holds Armin's hand.

--- the next day ---

The Scouts line up on the edge of the Wall and look down at the people of Wall Rose. They all cheer up to them as Levi and Evelyn come over.

"Well, with the commotion we made, of course they'd find out" Evelyn says as she looks over at Eren and Jean who both look down.

"The thing is, all that meat that we ordered was from the Reeves company" Moblit says as he looks at Hange.

"Damn that Flegel" Hange says as they spot Flegel in the crowd below.

"Yeah! You can count on us!" Jean, Conny and Sasha all yell as they look down at the crowd below.

"How long's it been since the Scouts got a send-off like this?" Hange asks as they look at Levi.

"Who knows? I don't think we've ever" Levi says as he looks at them.

"As far as I'm aware, this is a first" Erwin says from next to Levi as he smiles, sticking his hand up in the air and yelling.

The crowd cheers back as Erwin yells again, Levi and Evelyn trying their best not to burst out laughing at the look on Erwin's face.

"The final operation to retake Wall Maria will now commence!" Erwin says as he holds his blade out.

The Scouts make it down the wall as they all get on their horses, Erwin at the very front, Evelyn and Levi on one side of him, Hange and Moblit on the other.

"Advance!" Erwin yells as they all set off.