The Guardian's Tale (AOT fanfiction)

-The Night of the Battle to Retake the Wall-

I sat outside and freed my hair, letting the wind get tangled up in it. I looked down at my ring and my heart tightened. So this was it...we were gonna retake Wall Maria and possibly come face to face with Reiner and Bertholdt again. But when the time came...would I be able to take the chance...and kill him ? I rubbed my forehead and shook my head. I shouldn't be thinking about something like this just now. I stopped and my heart skipped a beat when I spotted Marco's handkerchief on my arm.

"This is it Marco..." I said, looking up at the stars. "We're gonna retake that damn Wall and learn the truth...but you better be there to watch over us."

I sighed and got up, I almost forgot that I had to go talk to the Commander. I stretched and walked over to his office, clenching my fists. If I was to die on this mission...so be it. There wasn't much humanity would lose with me gone anyway. But if I did die, I'd lose to the Titans and there was no way in hell I was gonna let that happen.

(..........)

Captain Levi stormed out of the Commander's office and I stood there, in shock, for a few seconds. I then shook my head and saluted.

"Commander...Yuki Uchiha." I called out.

"Come in child." He said softly. "What is it ?"

"Commander...I wanted to talk to you about something." I slowly sat in front of him. "Please stay out of this mission...I know you want to see what's in the cellar but...you can see it without having to fight. Please...if we lose you...humanity loses its best shot at winning and I...never mind." 

"...I understand." He said as he got up. "But you must understand. I HAVE to fight. Being there is more important than anything." He pulled me up and hugged me tightly. "Now go eat my child."

"I understand Commander..." I walked over to the door but stopped. "If you die...I would lose my father AND you'd die to those ugly bastards. But...I guess this is just another gamble...but this time, the price is much more than your life."

(..............)

"This may be a special night but we DON'T need the public knowing our plans." A soldier spoke up. "So behave like the disciplined soldiers you are."

We all stared in shock as we saw what was laid on the table in front of us. That was...meat...no way. This couldn't be real. After the soldier was done his speech, Sasha shoved a large roast in her mouth as Jean yelled at her and Connie tried to pull her back without killing her. Jean managed to get the roast out of her mouth but she bit his hand instead, making him let out a loud scream as I tried to contain a laugh. 

"Does the Scout regiment never get any meat ? Huh that's just sad." Marlo was interrupted by Sasha punching him in the face, making his nose bleed. 

I sighed and quietly finished my plate as Eren and Connie managed to restrain an unconscious Sasha. I walked over to them and pointed out how she was willing to share the meat back when we were servicing the cannons 4 months ago but now...well she tried to eat Jean. After I said that, Eren zoned out and Connie tapped his shoulder to snap him out of it. I walked back to Jean and leaned my arms on his head as he talked to Marlo about something.

"Don't you get it ?" He asked. "You've got no experience that's why you're in the rearguard rookie."

"I may be less knowledgeable than the rest of you but...isn't the vanguard the best place to learn how the enemy moves ?" Marlo pointed out.

"What's this ? You think you can lecture a veteran about self sacrifice ?" I asked, plopping my head down on my arms, making Jean's head slightly tilt. 

"Isn't that what makes us effective ? Being willing to put ourselves in harm's way ?" He asked naively. 

"Listen...everyone starts out as a recruit okay ?" I sighed. "If we throw recruits into battle like cannon fodder, then they'll be too dead to learn. That's why for now it's your job to watch and learn from the rear so that you can make it back in one piece. Unless of course we fail and you die...but that's a side thing."

"She's right." Jean added. "The ones who really suck are the suicidal maniacs who think the only way to fight is to charge in blind. Right ?" He asks, staring straight at Eren. 

Of course, Eren took the bait and the two begun a fist fight. Just like old times huh ? I sighed and sat in front of a shocked Marlo, resting my cheek on my fist. Armin asked if he should stop them but Mikasa and I told him not to. Finally, after a few minutes they started to get tired and, much to their misfortune, Captain Levi interrupted their fight by knocking them both to the ground.

As we all broke off for the night, Mikasa and I picked up Eren, helping him out of the mess hall. After we sat him down on a set of steps outside, he asked us why we didn't help and Armin simply said that he knew Eren would heal. After a bit of silence, the emerald-eyed boy spoke up, saying that he was glad we had gone to meet Commandant Sadis. Apparently he used to wonder why he wasn't as strong as Mikasa, Levi and I but he finally realized that no one does anything by themselves. 

"E-Eren..." I looked down. "About what I said before I...I'm sorry. I really am." 

"Nah...I needed that." He said as he pulled me in for a tight hug.

I buried my face in his arms, somehow feeling like I was in my brother's arms. A few moments after, Eren loosened his grip and we spotted a Garrison soldier passing by who kinda reminded me of Hannes. I really missed him...he might have been a drunk freeloader but he found my brother and I and became an important person in both our lives.

"Once we've retaken Wall Maria...and defeated every last one of our enemies...can we go back to how things used to be ?" Mikasa asked. 

"Some things will be the same but...some things have changed forever." Eren replied, fully letting go of me. "And we'll make them pay for that."

Armin added that there was more out there. He wanted to see the ocean which was apparently a lake so large that a merchant could never obtain all the salt within it. He started getting carried away with excitement and I let out a small laugh as Mikasa took me into her arms. Well...here we go again.

(..............)

Just before sunset, we were all preparing to leave and I stood on top of the Wall, next to Commander Erwin. Suddenly, just as I was about to say something, I heard voices shouting from below us. When I looked down, I saw a huge crowd cheering for us louder than I've ever heard before. Jean, Connie, Sasha and I didn't restrain our excitement and cheered right back at the crowd. When I looked over at the Commander, I saw he was smiling and he started cheering as well. He then drew his blade. 

"THE OPERATION TO RETAKE WALL MARIA BEGINS...NOW !" He then turned to me and hugged me tighter than ever before. "Stay alive my child...come back to me in one piece."

"I promise...you do the same...father." I smiled before heading down the wall with the rest of the Scouts.

"I will...I swear to you my dear." Is the last thing I heard him say.

TO BE CONTINUED !