Attack on Titan and its plot do not belong to me. Artwork for cover is also not mine. only Charlotte belongs to me and any fanart i may produce.

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The woman gasped. The air tasted foul and the clouds were restless. The wind was stale. Her horse sniggered and scuffed the earth below him and she patted his neck comfortingly. The woman's skin was ghostly pale and her eyes a vibrant green. Worn but clean clothes hung on her skinny frame/ eyes darted around the area and she clenched on the dilapidated leather reins. Breathing steadily, she fixed her gaze on the wall miles in front of her.

"Almost there," she mumbled. Her horse trotted nervously. "Shh, Cher Ami."

The wall had a huge gaping hole and the woman's eyes honed in on it. It was still there. Blood. Blood had been spilled. Although retreating, its metallic scent was still overpowering and holding strong.

"Che," the woman said in sudden irritation. "Hya!"

The crack of the reins sent the horse flying. Dark brown hair fanned behind and the woman quickly tied a cloth around her head to keep it out of her eyes. Her maneuver gear thudded against her sides.

"It's not going to last long around here," she whispered, biting her lip. "Where are you? You disgusting creatures."

The earth began shaking with large footsteps, more joining as the seconds passed.

"Heh," the woman's mouth curled into a smirk. "Bring it."

She steadied herself and put the bottom of her feet on the saddle, before she stood she leaned into the horse's ear. "You know what to do."

The first one appeared, as grotesque as she remembered. Large teeth and blank eyes, red skin and disproportional limbs. It looked at her and for a second stared, then, as if losing interest, it started to walk away again. Grappling hooks attacked its back and with the sound of wires running, the gas whizzed and the woman flew into the air.

Spinning in the air, a section of flesh dislocated from the Titan's neck and the giant fell to the ground.

The woman smiled in pleasure and landed lightly on her feet. "And down you go."

_

"What?!" Levi's hands slapped onto the surface of the table. "Charles is back?!"

"Huh?" Eren said, looking between his Captain's face to the soldier who came to give them news. "Who's Charles?"

"Where?!" Levi said, completely ignoring him and reaching for his maneuver gear.

"Last we saw of the Captain, was outside Wall Maria," the soldier answered.

Levi's last belt secured on and he was already out the door.

"Fast!" Eren said, taken aback.

"Oh, right," the soldier said. "You new recruits haven't met Captain Charles, yet."

"Why is he outside? And why's Levi-heichou acting like that?"

"The Captain's been living outside the wall for 6 years."

"Eh?!" Eren said, eyes enlarging. "That's... that's not possible."

"Not for her."

"Her?"

_

"Charles is back?!" Hanji said, a bright smile spreading on her face.

"Y-yes..." the young soldier said, overwhelmed at her disgruntled state.

"Huh?" Hanji looked down at herself and laughed exuberantly. "I've been researching and as a result I haven't slept, or showered for that matter."

"I see..."

"But anyways, where is she?!" Hanji said, her face a bit too close for comfort to the boy's.

"O-outside the wall..."

"For how long?" Hanji said with a knowing grin.

The soldier looked surprised that she knew. "A-an hour."

"That's Charles for you," Hanji shouldered her gear. "I'll be joining her."

_

Erwin's eyes were daggers, making his messenger tense in nervousness. His fingers were laced in front of his face, thinking hard about something.

"Charlotte Schatten... at last you've come to join the fray."

_

"Yahoo!" Hanji said, plunging her swords into flesh. "Too bad you aren't needed at the moment, Titan-san."

The titan fell to the ground, steam issuing from its body.

"Rest in peace," Hanji said before jumping out of reach from another titan.

"'Ey, Hanji!" the brown haired woman said, pouting. "You're stealing my fun!"

"They don't pay attention to you anyway!"

"And you seem to attract them like moths to a light!"

"At least I don't look like a miniature skeleton!"

"How mean!" Charlotte said, another unsuspecting Titan falling at her hands. "After I've been away for 6 years."

"You're still annoying as hell though," Levi shouted.

"Oh," Charlotte looked up to see Levi on the wall. "Shorty!"

"You're even shorter!" a tick mark appearing on his forehead.

"Come on!" Charlotte waved at him. "Let's take these bastards just like old times!"

"He can't, he's sprained his ankle," Hanji said, joining her side.

Charlotte gasped. "The great Levi-sama?!"

"I know right," Hanji grabbed her wrist, pulling her along. "We have to go now."

"Why?"

"Or else we'll be surrounded."

"That's not like you, Hanji."

Hanji smirked. "Time changes you."

"You can let go. I'm not in grave danger."

"I know that, but," Hanji turned to her with a closed eyed smile, "It's just so good to see you again."

Charlotte was surprised at her words but then she grinned. "Same to you, Hanji-heichou."

They flew up the wall, the wind roaring in their ears. They both landed at the same time and straightened in front of Levi.

"I win!" they both said. "No, you didn't! Yes, I did!"

Hanji and Charlotte glared at each other before suddenly bursting out laughing. Hugging their stomachs, they got their last giggles out, tears of joviality in their eyes.

"Are you idiots done?" Levi asked, darkly.

"Y-yeah," Hanji sighed, wiping away a tear.

Charlotte turned to Levi and smiled.

"Isn't this great, Levi! Charlotte's back—"

Hanji was cut off short when Levi grabbed Charlotte's wrist and pulled her roughly to him. The slap reverberated and Charlotte's head snapped back from the force.

"Levi!" Hanji said in rage. "She just came back—"

"It doesn't fucking matter!" Levi yelled, gritting his teeth. His grip on her wrist so strong it was bordering on breaking it. "Six years!"

Charlotte's eyes met his evenly.

"You left us for six years!" Levi snarled. "So many lives could've been saved if you were here. So many..."

Hanji's anger deflated a bit, knowing where this was going.

"Petra and the others wouldn't have died if you were here you piece of shit!" Levi shouted.

He took shaking breaths, his nostrils flaring. Charlotte's eyes widened at his words then went back to their original size.

"Go ahead," she said. "Do it."

"Charles—"

"No, Hanji," Charlotte said, raising her free hand to stop her. "Seems like I've come at a delicate time. It's my fault."

Hanji kept her mouth shut.

"Do it," Charlotte repeated. "Take out your anger. You couldn't have forgotten all those fancy kicks."

Levi clenched his other fist and Charlotte waited. Thoughts raced in his head, emotions passed in his eyes like never before. How dare she show her face? How dare she come when it was too late? He let her go.

"I don't have time for this," he said, walking away.

"You're the one who came here! And what's with the 3D maneuver gear when you can't even use it!" Hanji said, steam blowing out of her nose. "Oi! Levi!"

"Leave him alone, Hanji," Charlotte said, her right hand shaking. Red marks from Levi's grip turning into green bruises. "He had to let loose his anger somehow."

"He already did, according to Mikasa. Hmph!"

"Hanji... what's this about Petra?" Charlotte's eyes shadowed.

Hanji froze up. Damn it all, Levi. Leaving all the explanation to me.

She turned to Charlotte and replied bluntly. "She died."

There was a pause as the wind blew their hair and snapped their clothes.

"I see..."

. . .

The uniform slid onto her arms smoothly and she pulled her damp hair out of the jacket. She had taken a long bath and drank a cup of water, but her stomach still growled. She stared at herself in the mirror. It had been so long since she's seen herself. Dark brown hair and dark green eyes that almost glowed like always. Her cheeks got hollow and her ribs were sticking out. She sighed and then forced a smile.

"I'm home."