You watched everyone clean out the small cabin you were all staying in. You helped as much as you could, but you couldn't help but get distracted by your..changing body.
For some reason, strange things are happening to your body. For starters, you tried to fit into your casual clothes, but they barely fit you, especially around your chest. Your hair also grew longer.
Not to mention your appetite was growing, you always seemed hunger. You worried you're starting to become like Sasha.
But you quickly learned that you were going through puberty. Which explains a lot as you did hear from your grandma that you were a late bloomer.
You looked around the room to find everyone hustling about. And by everyone, you meant Connie and Eren. The others haven't returned yet.
It's been a few weeks since Bertholdt and Reiner's attack. Levi got some new squad members, which consisted of Armin, Mikasa, Jean, Connie, Sasha, and Historia.
You were pretty happy about that because that meant you were closer with your friends, but that didn't fill in the deep hole of grief you had for your old squad.
Speaking of the incident, your arm was still recovering from the burns you got from Bertholdt. It still hurt to move your arm in certain way, so you had it wrapped and braced for the time being. But compared to your burns, it wasn't compared to what the commander went through.
From what you've heard from Connie, Erwin got his arm bitten off during the Reiner and Bertholdt incident. If your arm didn't grow back, you would have been missing arm buddies. Maybe he won't feel so much of a burden anymore.
Your thoughts were interrupted by loud voices and footsteps approaching the cabin. Looks like they're back.
You quickly got up from where you were sitting and went to go greet them.
"Hey! Did you guys at least wipe the mud off your feet before you came in!?" Eren yelled.
"Huh? Are you kidding me? Do you not see all the stuff we're carrying?" Jean asked.
Oh boy...
"You idiot. Do you really think an excuse like is going to play with Captain Levi! I had to make your bed for you and now you pull this crap!?"
Jean growled and snapped back.
"Oh shut it! Who are you, my mom now!?"
You heard more footsteps come in and looked to find Mikasa and Historia had return. Historia looking gloomy as ever. Ever since Ymir disappeared, she's never been the same for a while.
"We're back," Mikasa called. They were carrying logs of wood.
"Wait, you were chopping firewood?" Armin asked.
"Got to stay in shape somehow," she replied.
"You got grabbed by a titan! You should be recovering!"
"I think you're just wasting your breath, I saw her to sit-ups earlier too," Eren mumbled. But Jean and you heard that clear.
"Oh, so now you're a nag and a spy!?"
"How the hell is that spying!?"
You decided to ignore their bickering and walk over to where the rest were standing. Your stomach growled hungrily at the potatoes and bread we were rationing, but you brushed your hunger off.
Sasha, on the other hand, gave in to her craving. But she was caught red-headed just as she grabbed it and quickly shoved into her bag.
"Sasha...what did you just shove into your bag?" Armin asked.
"It's something that's definitely not bread," Sasha replied.
"Really!? What did I tell you!?" Jean asked.
You laid your head on the table and watched the scene unfold with amusement.
"Come on, put it back."
"Sasha, we can't do this right now."
"Hey guys, can we just focus on cleaning before the captain gets back," Eren replied, somewhat nervous.
You felt like "saying" something, so you went to write in your journal. You slightly banged on the table, catching everyone's attention.
'Eren's right. Have you met Captain Levi? If this place remains a mess, he'll chew us out for it.' You wrote.
"Glad someone agrees with me." Eren replied.
"That's because she was in the same squad as you! Of course, she would know!" Jean argued.
"If you want this place cleaned up so bad, why don't you help clean it then?" Connie grumbled.
"Hah--!?" You let out a gasp in offense.
"Connie! You forgotten she has burns! They're still healing, and she can't move her arm as much! She's at least trying to help!" Armin defended.
"Oh...right...sorry Y/n."
"Hmph!" You huffed.
"Guys c'mon! Stop wasting around! We gotta clean!" Eren whined.
Of course, he's still scared of him after what happened back at his trial. While you watched everyone bicker, you noticed Historia watching from the background with a bored look on her face. Geez, it's like she's a totally different person.
Actually, this is the real her.
Should you be happy she's at least showing her true feelings. No girl would be this kind after everything that has happened.
You heard another pair of footsteps come in and saw Captain Levi enter. Oh no...you guys were in trouble.
"What's all the commotion?" he asked.
Eren was the only one who heard his voice and stared nervously at him as he walked around.
Finally, the bickering stopped, and everyone turned towards Levi who has now entered the room.
Levi placed his hand on a nearby chair and noticed dust falling from it as he did. He looked back at you all with a stoic expression.
"I'm quite certain I gave you all enough time."
Everyone groaned softly while Eren facepalmed, you hid your face in your arm on the table.
"L/n," Levi called.
Your whole body flinched as you raised your head to look at him.
"Get your head off the table, it's dirty."
You quickly responded with a hum. Levi sighed.
"Nevermind. We can discuss your failure at a later date." he turned towards Eren.
"Eren. Hange is desperate to get an experiment over with."
"Ah, yes sir," Eren responded.
"Y/n, get ready to. In case Eren fails again, they want to try your abilities next."
Hange didn't change the slightest.
-----
You watched as a semi-giant titan Eren laid on the ground, not responding and his legs sticking out from his nape.
This is the second time his transformation failed.
"Eren! Get up! The future of humanity is at stake! You can't give up now! GET UP!" Hange called.
Eren remained unresponsive and you became worried. You quickly, yet carefully jumped your way down. With Hange following behind you.
"Careful, Y/n. Don't get too close, it's hot."
"Hmm!" You hummed, keeping careful.
Hange managed to pull Eren out, but his face looked rather...off.
Your nose twitched in disgust as you held it. Eren reeked with the smell of titan. To this day, it still bothers you. But you managed to cope with it.
"Whoa! Look at this! We need to get a quick sketch of this!!" Hange exclaimed.
A worried Mikasa wasn't gonna let that happen, so she quickly cut Eren away from his titan. Much to Hange's dismay.
After Eren was dealt with, Hange of course turned their attention towards you.
"Luckily for us, we have another titan shifter on our side!"
"Think you're up for it?" they asked.
Everyone began to argue that you couldn't do any test due to your burns.
Apparently, Hange found the truth that the titans, pure ones, were actually humans. You later confirmed this by explaining to Hange that you saw the memories of the pure titans.
When they were still human. This of course, proved to be something useful for them to hold on to. You tried explaining what you saw, but you never managed to see how they were turned.
You only remembered what they've felt last before they turned. This of course was private, but your friends could tell you weren't in your best spirits.
They've noticed how you distanced yourself, always lost in thought. A short while after Historia told her story. You also came clean that Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie shared a history with you.
You explained they remembered you, but you didn't remember them. That truth alone made everyone wary over you.
"I need to report my findings to Commander Erwin." Hange explained.
"But don't you think it's a little risky. She only just discovered she can transform not too long ago." Jean argued.
"That's an even better reason to train her. We need to know everything we can about her titan. How it's different from Eren's."
"But--" They continued to argue.
"Stop arguing." Captain Levi suddenly spoke.
"Let's not forget, both Eren and Y/n are in custody of the Survey Corps. Which means we are trusted that we can prove that both of them are proven useful to us. After what happened, it's best to prepare Y/n if anything like that happens again." Captain argued.
It grew quiet...
"Good, so you all understand." He turned to Hange.
"Do what you got to do..."
"R-right. You ready, Y/n?"
You nodded and got yourself ready.
You weren't able to remember what was happening after that, but you seemed to be able to transform with ease compared to Eren.
Everyone kept their distance, making sure you weren't going to go rogue. Luckily, you appeared to be conscious and didn't pose a threat.
Hange got to work by pointing out the differences between you and Eren's titans. For starters, you were a little taller than his titan.
But his titan looked from human compared to yours, you had some human features but not entirely.
"I saw what you did to the colossal titan. Where you managed to jump incredibly high and try to knock him down with force. I didn't even know titans can jump that high." Hange said.
"You're not going to try and let her do that, right?" Armin asked with wary.
"I'm more curious how she was able to do it. Control her form to be able to do that." They thought for a moment.
"I wonder..." They then called out.
"Hey Y/n!!"
Hange ran up to her, everyone else also approaching but keeping their distance.
"I want you to try that attack you did to Bertholdt. Think you do it again without trying to hurt any of us?"
You thought about it for a moment before nodding. Hange's eyes sparkled when you understood.
"Alright, everyone! Clear out!"
You thought about it for a moment, trying to remember how you did it. You then readied yourself and began running, putting all the strength to your legs and picking up speed.
Once you were far enough, you jumped high and landed on the ground with a boom. Force strong enough to cause a commotion with the trees. The group felt the wind of the impact even from that far back.
The group watched in amazement.
"Wow..."
"That was incredible!!" Hange exclaimed.
"Y/n!!" Armin got on a horse and began to go to your form. Mikasa quickly following after.
It was then Hange realized what you've just did, and it dawned to them how you might have suffered injuries from that.
"Shit." Captain Levi cursed as he followed the group over to you.
Once they've arrived, they found your form in a crater. You weren't moving. They wasted no time cutting you out.
"*Hack!*" You coughed unexpectedly, drops of blood coming out of your mouth.
"Y/n!" Mikasa cried out.
"Shit!"
"What happened!?"
"She's bleeding!"
Hange stood there in shock.
That move basically took all of your energy. Which means your titan must have low stamina.
"I...went too far. She's still a child, how could I--" Hange began to say as Captain Levi approached them.
He remained silent for a moment, watching as the other cadets gathered around you.
"You have, but whether you like it or not, it's a way to get the information we need. Think you gathered enough?"
"Yes...I think that's good enough..."
Hange called everyone off, giving you the break, you needed.
The day was cut slightly short, and you had to ride back to town.
----
You woke up well the next morning at the cabin, you were told to take it easy. Which you didn't mind much.
You needed a break. That move you did was not fun for your body.
Then, Eren arrived in the kitchen.
"I thought he was supposed to be resting." You thought. Apparently, you weren't the only one who did.
"What are you doing!? You should still be in bed!" Mikasa said.
"I'm fine. I already slept a whole day." Eren responded.
Eren walked in and placed a hand on your shoulder as he walked past you.
"Morning Y/n." You heard him mumble. You let out a slight hum in return.
"I heard what happened. You, okay?" He asked.
You nodded, body still a bit sore from what happened.
"Besides, it's my fault the plan failed. So the least I could do it help out."
You looked at Eren with sad eyes.
"Hey, you tried at least. Don't beat yourself up about it." Mikasa replied.
"Besides, Y/n should be resting too but I don't see any of you scolding her." Eren complained.
You stuck your tongue at him teasingly.
"She's an exception." Connie teased.
"Huh!? What!?"
"He's joking, Eren. I tried scolding Y/n too, but she got her stubbornness from you." Mikasa explained.
"What--? Hey! How is that my fault?!"
"She's calling you a bad influence!" Connie laughed.
"I am not!"
Historia still couldn't not to say anything, just watch. Jeez, it's almost weird seeing her quiet. She talked to you all the time when you two were sharing dorms in training, so having her silent was weird.
It made you wonder, did she ever even like you before? Or was that all an act?
You continued to peel off the potato peels until Connie and Mikasa left the room. Leaving only, you, Eren, and Historia in the room.
It was quiet for a moment before Historia spoke.
"Must be nice...you and others know what you want, even though it won't be easy to get."
You and Eren turned towards her.
"With Ymir gone. I lost my purpose. I don't even know what I'm fighting for anymore."
"Saving her was something to fight for," Eren replied.
You hummed and nodded in agreement.
"Maybe...at the time, I didn't understand what she was doing. I just wanted her to be safe." She continued.
"Since then...I've been thinking. When she left, Ymir chose her own path. I have no right to change that. She doesn't need me to..." she sounded so broken.
You walked up to her and patted her shoulder. She gave you a small smile in return.
"Finally...about time you finally started talking."
You nodded in agreement.
"When we got here, you told us your story. But then you just kept your mouth shut. Stop smiling as well."
"Why should I bother? Sorry, but the sweet little Krista you knew is gone. She's not me anymore."
You couldn't help but feel somewhat relieved. She was accepting her true self, that's what matters, right?
"Good. I didn't really like her. No one is actually as nice as you pretend to be."
"Hah!?" You made a noise before slapping Eren on the back.
"Ow! Hey!"
'Be nice Eren!' You showed him a page in your journal. (You wrote that page specifically for him).
"But it's true!"
You huffed and rolled your eyes.
"It was unnatural and frankly exhausting." he continued.
Historia looked kind of hurt to hear that.
"Oh..." Historia responded.
Geez, Eren, way to call her out.
You glared in his direction; he flinched a bit at your stare but still continued anyways.
"Well, now you're just a normal girl. Stupidly honest maybe, but normal enough. You still don't have to decide about Ymir yet. There's a part of me that still thinks-" he stopped mid-sentence.
"How could I forget that..." Eren turned towards you.
"Y/n. Is your arm doing okay?" he asked.
It was then he noticed you wincing every now and then when you were cutting the potatoes.
"They still hurt!? Why are you cutting the potatoes then!?" he asked.
He grabbed your hands and took the knife from you, you winced again. Eren lets out a sigh, rubbing your arm in a soothing manner.
"I didn't get the chance to say sorry before. I let Reiner and Bertholdt do that to you. I could have prevented it somehow; you wouldn't have gotten hurt too bad..."
"But Y/n's a titan shifter, right? Shouldn't it have healed by now?" Historia asked.
"I think burns are a different case, it's taking longer to heal. And I still feel bad. I just stood there as Reiner tortured her, I could have done something, but I didn't. And I felt like I never really apologized for that." Eren turned to you.
"Y/n, I'm sorry. I really am."
Your eyes softened a bit before you shook your head slightly. There's nothing he could have done, but you didn't blame him the slightest.
Eren opened his mouth to say something else, but his kept his mouth shut. He shook his head, trying to shake the thought from his head.
You raised an eyebrow and looked at him strangely. He noticed your stare.
"Just---why?" he spoke.
"Huh?" Historia asked.
"I can't keep ignoring this! Can't keep pretending this doesn't affect me! You shared a past with them, which meant you came here to cause destruction right? If it weren't for you missing your memories, would you have done it!?" Eren asked.
The air grew tense, of course Eren asked a question you couldn't answer. It was meant to be rhetorical.
"Eren...can we not talk about this." Historia said, having the sense to know you were uncomfortable.
You scoffed, rolling your eyes. He can't be serious...
Eren then realized what he just said.
"Y/n, no. I didn't mean it like that--."
"Hange and the others are back! We're meeting in the main room!" You heard Sasha call.
You wasted no time leaving the room, Historia silently following after you. Eren let out a sigh before walking out as well.