Outside the Walls (Attack on Titan fanfiction)

Chapter 16- Remember me?

Years Ago, Ayano's POV:

"You can come down now, it seems that Regesa recognised me. He's under control," Mavis sais and patted the beast's nose - it purred in reply. Ayano climbed down stiffly, her wide eyes never leaving the titan. She quickly hid behind her mother, her heart beat audible in her ears.

"Don't be afraid. That's how they locate you," Mavis whispered. Ayano gasped and looked at her mother with wide eyes. "Their eyesight isn't that good, so they rely on their sense of smell and hearing most of the time." Mavis winked. "That's why the regiments' death rate is so high. They don't know my secret." The last sentence was whispered, but it was like it was shouted into Ayano's heart, sending sparks of fear coursing through her.

***
Present Day:

Ayano held her head in pain, wincing as another ache ran through her brain.

If these memories don't kill me, then it'll definitely be a titan.

Ayano slowed her horse down when a cabin rose on the horizon. She came to a stop about seven yards from the cottage, its cracked wood staring her down like some sort of monstrous deity. She dismounted and lead her horse forward, Ayano's curiosity stronger than the sudden urge to retreat that had blossomed inside of her. She came face to face with the door, the rusty bronze doorknob glaring menacingly in the last rays of the day.

Ayano took a deep breath, let go of the reigns that connected her with the mare and took hold of the handle. It didn't budge. Ayano pushed against it, but the door still wouldn't open. She then raised her foot and kicked it about three times before the door slammed inside, revealing the possible secrets that it hid.

"Tch." Ayank clicked her tongue in frustration. She stepped inside precariously, looking around the dusty room for-

Dusty. The place was dusty.

"Filth." Ayano scowled. She immediately grabbed a rag from her bag after she had unloaded her horse. Using the rag, Ayano found an old - but still usable - sanitary mask, a forgotten cloth in the sink, a lonely broom in a closet and a bucket. Grabbing the bucket, Ayano jogged outside to the well that sat left to the house.

She could vaguely remember her mother building it while she played with Spots.

Ayano returned to the house with a newly filled bucket. After a vigorous shaking to remove excess dust, Ayno slipped the sanitary mask on her pale face. She grabbed the broom and started with the floor. She swept it furiously, the making sure to get every corner.

Levi lurked in the back of her mind comically. This would have been right up his alley. Ayano threw the windows open for extra measure, certain that it looked as if she was preparing for a war.

Next came the surfaces of tables and counters. Ayano tackled the surfaces with a newly wetted rag and a gleam in her eye. She wiped away dust and grime alike, leaving the neglected surfaces shiny and spotless.

Ayano dumped her broom in the water and sweeped the walls and ceiling. As high as she could reach, of course. Her horse peeked through one of the open windows, wondering what her mistress was doing and where her dinner was.

Ayano dropped down, laying on her stomach on the now sparkly wooden floor. She rolled over to observe her work. The forgotten cottage had once again been restored to its full glory.

"Even Heichou would be proud of this." Ayano smiled to herself. Her grumbling tummy brought her back to reality, so she stood up and fed her horse first.

"Good girl. You did good today." The mare puffed at the girl as she spread some hay. "I just realised- I haven't named you yet. How about..." Ayano had a name lingering in her mind, her mother's voice whispering it regularly through her memories.

"Petra," she said. The horse snorted in response, answering to her new name.

***
Eren's POV:

Eren had been laughing his ass off at the sight that played out before him. Ayano looked exactly like Levi had when they arrived at that giant, castle-like structure a few years ago. She even threw the windows open and dust was seen flying out of the door.

He had written everything down while his sides ached from that much laughter. Eren now watched her from his scope inside a tent - it had been made from the materials he had brought along. Ayano was currently lying beneath the stars next to a fire, her horse grazing not far from where she star gazed.

Eren looked up at the heavens and the light show that it presented. The stars twinkled, lighting up the plains below along with the half moon. Eren yawned and stretched out, enjoying the cool breeze that snaked through his messy brown hair.

"Maybe this isn't as bad as it seems," Eren said. "As long as she doesn't die, humanity has a chance. We have a chance again at freedom." His green eyes burned with determination and hope. Eren's eyelids were heavy and they drooped to a close, his tired muscle relaxing as he lied down.

His blurred sight hadn't seen the titans lurking at the edges of the forest, a few yards from where Ayano rested.

***
Eren's POV:

The sound of Ayano's horse neighing in panic woke Eren up with a jolt. He bolted into a sitting position, his eyes wide and awake.  He looked down the hill. The sun that had just started to rise, lighting up the atmosphere. Ayano was shouting and clawing at a titan's fingers, which now blocked her like some sort of cage.

'Her life isn't in danger, her life isn't in danger,' Eren reminded himself. He gripped his trousers tightly to keep himself from attacking the frowning titans. More titans slowly started to crawl towards the trapped girl.

Where the hell were her blades? Eren's green eyes flicked to the metal box lying next to the panicking horse.

"Shit, this wasn't supposed to happen," Eren muttured, sweat beading on his forehead as his mind raced to think of a solution. "Dammit! If only Armin were here-" Eren clenched his jaw in anger.

'No. I don't need him in situations like this. I don't depend on him or Mikasa! I'm not a child!'

Eren stood up and quickly attached the metal box containing his blades and gas to his thighs. He stalked closer and hid in the closet patch of bushes. Ayano kicked the titan's fingers.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you even recognise me?" Ayano yelled. "I mean, if you wanted to eat me, you would have already done it..."

Ayano groaned in anger and sat down, the titan lifting its fingers-like cage. It hummed and inspected the tiny girl. She then looked at her own frosty hair.

"Oh? My hair?" she asked, lifting a lock of hair to look at it. Ayano defiantly stood up and lifted a handful of her white strands. "Yeah! Take a good look you bastards! I'm like Mavis!"

The titans seemed to react to the name. Eren hastily took his notebook from his pocket and started to record the scenario. Hanji would have had a fit if Eren only sat and watched.

"You know that name?" Ayano asked, uncertainty lingering in her voice. The titan in front of her bowed its head slightly as if answering. "Mavis! I'm her daughter! I'm a- I'm a different version of Mavis. My name is Ayano!" The titans all seemed to make some sort of guttural noise resembling surprise when hearing this. Eren couldn't help but smile slightly.

"It's like she's some celebrity," he muttered under his breath. The titan that had once caged Ayano then bowed its head. It took a position that showed respect.

Eren stared in awe as the rest of the titans - ranging from weak class five titans to intimidating class tens - all followed the first one's lead and bowed as well. Eren's hand furiously scribbled down as his eyes darted from his messy handwriting to the scene in front of him. Ayano walked up to the closet titan and placed a hand on its forehead.

"My name is Ayano... and I... need your help."

***

Author's note: I salute all that have gotten this far into the story! I appreciate all of you and your sacrifices. Leave a comment, slash that star and happy titan slaying! 💕