Third P.O.V

After the four of them were saved by Dot Pixis-Commander of the Garrison and the South Region-(Y/N) and Eren were offered an option: to help seal the hole in the wall.
They agreed.

Pixis smiled and patted their shoulders. "Well said." He said, turning away from them.

Armin gasped. "No way. That idea depends on so many assumptions, and he's just going to go with it?" He said incredulous.

(Y/N) shook her head. "Maybe but...." She muttered. There is something that is bothering me...it has since I transformed to deflect that projectile....

Eren nodded. "I was just thinking the same thing." He said, Mikasa and Armin looking at him. "But there's no sense in doubting his decision. Commander Pixis must see potential in something the rest of us can't see."

"Something we can't see?" Armin asked, confused.

(Y/N) put her hand on her chin. "There's another issue here that must be addressed, he obviously knows this." She said. But yet, there's still something wrong with all this...

"What do you mean?" Armin asked, his brows furrowed.

"The Titans...aren't our only enemy." Eren revealed.

Armin gasped. That's...

"There's no time to waste." Pixis spoke up again.

Eren and (Y/N) stood up straight. Right.

"I will need your help, young soldiers."

~><><><~

Pixis arranged for everyone to be in the same place, ready for an announcement. Everyone suspected what it was about. They were horrified to think that they'd go back to that hell to try to retake to Trost.
They discussed among themselves, or screamed out protests. The other 104th trainees were among them, but didn't scream like others or discuss with each other.

Pixis, Eren, and (Y/N) were headed to other side of the wall to do the announcement. They walked between the cannons, not too close to the edges.

"They say that before Titans dominated the Earth, there was endless slaughter of humans. 'If a powerful external threat were to appear, humanity would cease its wars and unite.' What do you think of that?" Pixis asked them.

(Y/N) and Eren glanced at each other, not really sure what to say. "I've never heard that legend." Eren replied.
(Y/N) shook her head. "I have. My parents knew a lot of stuff." She said, smiling melancholically.
"It's almost silly." Eren added.

Pixis laughed. "You have a warped mind like mine, young man. You, Evans, are the opposite, more open minded I believe." He said.

"Even when that powerful threat has pushed us to the brink of destruction, we still have yet to unite." Eren stated.

Pixis agreed. "But it's time we did so. Otherwise, we won't even be able to fight."

They reached a set of cannons with Garrison soldiers posted there. Among them was Hannes. He spotted Eren and (Y/N) and raised his eyebrows. "Eren? (Y/N)? You're safe, huh?" He said smiling.

Eren sweatdropped and pointed downwards with furrowed brows. (Y/N) facepalmed, and waved slightly.

Focus on the mission? Hannes raised his brows and grunted. How dare he address a superior officer that way? By the looks of it, Mikasa and Armin must be safe as well. He stared at them following Pixis. But what are those two doing with the Commander?

~><><><~

They soon reached the site. There were flags positioned there, indicating the place.

There was shouting below, the soldiers fighting to escape. They didn't even notice the Commander was already there.

Pixis stepped forward, very close to the edge. He cleared his throat, and yelled loudly, "ATTENTION!!!"

Everyone shut up instantly.

"I shall now explain the plan to retake Trost!" Pixis yelled, his hands behind his back. "For this mission our objective is to seal the hole where the gate was destroyed."
The soldiers stared at him with wide eyes and gasped.
"Let me introduce you to the ones who will seal the hole for us."
(Y/N) gulped, as Pixis gestured to her and Eren. They stepped forward and saluted. "From the Trainee Corps, Eren Jaeger, and (Y/N) Evans."

The soldiers below gasped when hearing her last name. The last Evans. Most didn't know the Evans had had a daughter.
The 104th Trainees below gaped. "Eren?! (Y/N)?!"

"They can create and control a Titan's body!"

Connie-who was below-was confused, and turned to Ymir. "I don't get what he's talking about at all! Am I just too stupid to get it or something?"
"Just shut up, idiot." Ymir replied. She looked tense.

"They will become Titans, pick up the giant boulder by the shattered gate, carry it over, and seal the hole." Pixis continued the explanation. "Your mission will be to protect him from Titans while he moves the boulder, along with (Y/N)!"

Behind them, Armin was explaining the plan to the officers of the Garrison; how they'd use their numbers as a advantage.

The soldiers below were freaking out, screaming out protests and refusals.
"He's lying!"
"No way!"
"Is that even possible?!"
"He's asking to die here, today?! I'm leaving!"
"I'm out of here as well!"
"Me too!"

Soon, dozens of them were turning around and walking away. There was chaos, as officers stepped up to stop them.

Pixis furrowed his brows. "Here is my decision!! Ishall pardon anyone who deserts now!!" He yelled. "Once you succumb to the Titan's fears, you can never fight them again! Those who have learned that fear, should leave! And anyone wishing their parents, siblings, and loved ones to feel that fear should also leave!"

At his last sentence, many of those who had tured around, turned back determinedly, after imagining their families being eaten.

With furrowed brows, Pixis continued. "Let me tell you what happened four years ago. About our attempt to retake Wall Maria." He said. "As I'm sure you're well aware..."

Beside him, (Y/N) was tuning out the conversation, trying to focus on her thoughts. If the plan works, we'll still have to eliminate the Titans left inside. And it'll be humanity's first victory against the Titans. After that, Eren and I will undoubtedly be taken to trial; the Survey Corps will fight for us against the Military Police in the trial, that much I can be sure of. If the Military Police gets the approval to have us, we'll be experimented on and killed, no doubt about that. But if the Survey Corps win the trial....we may be able to recover Wall Maria. I know Uncle and Levi will fight to get us. They won't let the MP scum get us... There has been something bothering me since I transformed and we were saved by Pixis...why hasn't the Armored Titan appeared? Usually, it would've long ago, inmeaditely after the Colossal made that hole....... Unless....no way... something happened they weren't expecting... But... it can't be... there's no way... (Y/N) had her eyebrows furrowed deeply in thought. I'll have to talk to Uncle about this...besides...right now Eren and I...Must become a symbol of of hope for everyone!

Eren kept glancing at her secretly. Can we do this? The two of us, together? We may be able to... If we don't make it out... I wished I had told her..

~><><><~

A bit after that, they were getting ready to go. The gang stood behind some crates, discussing the current situation.

"Eren, (Y/N) I'm sorry..." Armin said. They raised their brows, confused. "I ended up making you responsible for everything."

(Y/N) shook her head. "No. It's like I said before, Armin. You have the ability to find the right answer. I believe in you." She said, patting his shoulder.

Mikasa furrowed her brows seriously. "Eren, I'm going with-"

"Don't tell me you're going to come with me." Eren snapped. "You've been assigned to the decoy team."
(Y/N) nodded. "Yeah. Mikasa, calm down. He'll be fine, I've got his back."

"But I can't leave you alone! If you are alone, you'll-!" She protested.

"Enough!" Eren exclaimed angrily. "I'm not your little brother or a child. I told you that!"

Mikasa flinched, and looked down, ashamed.

But an officer came up and said, "Ackerman, you'll join the elite force protecting Jaeger and (Y/N). We need your skill."

Mikasa smiled and her eyes lit up in relief and happiness.

"Let's go, it's time."

(Y/N) gulped. She sighed. Before she trotted away with Mikasa and Eren, she turned around to look at her worried brother. She smiled softly, and hugged him tightly, squeezing his breath out of him. Then, she ran away with the others.

"Bye Armin. Don't die."

"Yeah. You neither."

Armin gulped, eyes wide as he watched them go. "Be safe..."

~><><><~

The squad ran along the wall, in the direction of the boulder, while the rest distracted the Titans.

"Listen, Jaeger, Evans." The female officer spoke up. "During this operation, more than just a few will die. For you two."
(Y/N) gulped. I am aware.
"They will be our fellows, ranked both above and below us. As soldiers they're prepared to die, of course. But they aren't pawns without a voice. They have names and families. And all the feelings that those entail. Alyosha, Dominic, Phine, Isabel, Ludwig, Martina, Guido, Hannes.. They're all humans as alive as either of us." She said. The shifters could only stare at her as she spoke. "I've known some of them since my trainee days. And today, many will die for you. You have a responsibility to ensure that their deaths mean something. No matter what. Never forget that. And be prepared to die for that responsibility."

(Y/N) furrowed her brows. Right. They depend on us. They're counting on us.

"Right!"

Eren furrowed his brows too and gritted his teeth. I'll do it! I'll make it happen!

They reached the place and got ready to jump.

"Here! Go!"

Eren and (Y/N) jumped down first.

And the female officer shot a round of green smoke to signal the beginning of the mission.

Eren and (Y/N) raced through the buildings, they ran sideways on walls, and jumped from roofs, remembering what Pixis had said before they left.

(Y/N) clenched her fists, and when they reached the boulder, she bit down on her fist. Harshly.

There were two bright bolts of lightning. The light was soon gone, and it left the titan bodies of Eren and (Y/N) in its place, who crashed against buildings.

But the rest weren't aware of what was happening inside the shifter's minds.
They were trapped in a dream.

~><><><~

Your P.oV.

I woke up with a gasp. I looked around.

I was at home. Back home, in the mountains. In the house where I used to live before my parents' death.
Before it all.

I was on my bed, I noted. What...? Home...? I looke around. This is...my room. Indeed it was.

The wood walls of my room were painted blue. My bed was in the middle of the room. It was dirty and old and it used to be my mom's, but it worked. The floor was covered in toys and some dust.

I gaped in awe. "This is my home..."

I stood up from my bed slowly, cautiously. I heard humming coming from the kitchen, and my eyes widened.
Mom!
I ran outside my room and into the kitchen, my feet pattering on the wood floor. I panted, as I stared with wide eyes at the sight in front of me.

"M-mom?" I stuttered softly.

There she was in all her glory, wearing her apron. Her (H/C) hair was tied up in a bun, as she mixed ingredients in a bowl while humming a melody. I realized she was humming the song she used to sing to me at night, when I was scared she wouldn't return from her mission.

I stared at her with wide, glossy eyes. My mom...Mommy... I gasped and ran to her, hugging her waist tightly. I noticed my body was like a child's again; small and undeveloped.

She chuckled and turned to look at me, putting down the bowl. "What is it, hun? Is something troubling you?" She asked, hugging me back softly, smiling.

My lips quivered and I whimpered, the tears slipping out. "M-mommy!" I said with a sob, hugging her waist tightly, not wanting to let her go. I sniffed. She smells like lavender... My mommy... I whimpered, buying my face in her apron.

She awed and frowned, smiling softly. "Oh honey, what's wrong?" She asked me, kneeling down to my height.
I stared at her bright, gentle (E/C) eyes with my teary ones.

I was mesmerized. I was too happy to care that it was a dream. An illusion. I forgot about what I was supposed to be doing.

I sobbed, my salty tears wetting her apron. "M-mommy, I-I thought you died."

My mom frowned sadly and picked me up in her arms, cradling my five year old self. "Oh love, it's okay. I'm never going to leave you." She cooed softly, as I wrapped my arms around her neck tightly.

I cried, and cried in her arms. I didn't know what was going on. But my mom was back. And if she was back, then my dad was back. Maybe it had all been a nightmare. Maybe I was just having a nightmare.

If that's the case, I won't sleep. I want to stay with my mommy and dad.

I want to be with my family.