Summary:

He is done with humanity. After the Military Police doomed his lover to a slow and agonising death, Levi decided enough is enough. Now, he is given one more chance to return to before everything has begun and change things. But the people whom he'd once known aren't quite as how he'd remembered them. And this time, Humanity's Strongest doesn't desire humanity's salvation, but their…destruction. Levi/FemEren

The rewrite of my original A Second Chance. Yes, I know that I've been rewriting quite a few of my stories of late. I don't like seeing my stories on hiatus anymore than you do, so I've been revamping the ideas for awhile. This version will be quite different from the original, as the theme will be darker.

I've also stopped reading the manga from around the time when Eren and Krista were kidnapped, and I've already planned this story out even before I've started writing it, so this story will likely go off canon—this means that do not hound me on the spoilers in the manga!

Like with the first version, this is a Levi goes back in time story, as I've honestly not seen a time travel story in the SnK fandom before. Unlike the first version however, he will not be the only one who remembers for lack of a better word. Also, the OC that I've made Gunther's girlfriend in A Second Chance will take a much larger role in this story, but I've also tweaked her name a little so that she don't sound so Asian.

Additionally, this story will have some fantasy elements weaved into it. And in regards to female Eren's name—I've been searching for feminine names for female Eren for awhile. I was originally going to use 'Ellen' as it seems to be the default name for female Eren. But then I came across the name of 'Helen' in a site that I used to browse for character names. The name 'Helen' is also the more modernised version of the name 'Ellen', so I'm using Helen as female Eren's name. Besides, I also kind of like how it sounds, and this name suits her better to how she is going to be portrayed in this story.

Additionally, she is going to look more like Carla than Grisha in this story. In other words, black hair, not dark brown.

Pairings: Levi/Helen. Jean/Helen.

Warnings: AU Universe. OOC. Gender swap. Character deaths. Slight humanity bashing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin and any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me

Chapter One: To Live

[Remember, remember, please remember who I used to be
Who am I, who am I, who was I supposed to be]

XXXXXX

Levi is so done with humanity as a whole.

It isn't the first time that he had been disgusted with humanity. He had already lost count of the number of times when he had honestly believed that humanity is beyond saving. He had thought that the first time when he was still living as a thug in the underground and saw just how corrupted the officials and nobles are. He thought that again even after he had become a soldier of the Survey Corps. He thought it more often than not after Helen had joined his squad, and he had seen the number of higher-ups clamouring for her death despite the number of times when the teenager had proven her loyalty to humanity, and not the Titans.

But this time…

He is really done with humanity this time.

Their fight with the Titans had just about reached its peak. Imagine the Survey Corps' surprise and horror when they found out that the Titans were originally humans—and thus, all that they've been doing all along is just killing fellow humans. The tale that Krista, or Historia Reiss had told them after she and Helen have been rescued from being kidnapped put things in a whole different perspective.

Apparently, there were still people living outside the walls—a secret to everyone but a scant few. And probably, they hold the knowledge to ending the Titan threat.

Unfortunately however, as what Krista had so kindly informed them, they aren't too fond of the people within the walls. And chances are that the Titan Shifters who have revealed themselves not even a month ago—Annie Leonhart, Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Hoover were part of the human clans outside the walls.

This knowledge opened an entirely different clan of worms.

The people within Wall Maria and Wall Sina all panicked, especially the nobles.

It is one thing to have Titans as your enemies. They are mindless and senseless creatures that are easy to defeat and take down (despite being former humans). But if your 'enemy' is as human as you, and also pissed at you for some unknown reason, it caused a crack in the belief of the impenetrable walls that humanity have believed to be invincible for over a hundred years.

And from their enemies being the Titans, it somehow shifted to the 'people outside the walls'—the Titan Shifters, as they're thus far the only people from 'outside' that the people 'inside' the walls have seen.

And once more, the masses are calling for Helen's head. Only this time, unlike with the Trost incident when the common populace have seen Helen as their saviour—a Titan on their side—they now too see Helen as their enemy despite the fact that she had never once done anything that had portrayed her as their enemy.

It took Erwin everything that he had to keep Helen in their custody still. And even amongst the Survey Corps, she isn't exactly safe either, as there are quite a few soldiers amongst the Survey Corps who have acted like sheep, and have believed in the words and rumours running rampart around the walls, much to Levi's disgust.

Thus, it isn't too much of an uncommon sight to see Helen Jaeger with one of her former classmates from the 104th with her, usually it being either Mikasa or Armin or even Jean.

And then it came—the order from the higher ups.

And that order is a pretty peculiar one. Now that Levi thinks back on it, he should have argued more against it, as when it concerns the higher ups and the Military Police, things are never as simple as it seems! Shouldn't he have learned this by now?

To ensure that Helen is still on their side, as Erwin had put it when he had first told Levi and Hanji their newest set of orders, the higher ups have ordered that Helen visits the Military Police's certified medic for her monthly scheduled check up that every single soldier goes through. The good side is that Levi is at least allowed to accompany her to those 'check ups', and he took a particularly sadistic form of pleasure in watching the MP medic squirm even as he did those 'check ups'.

It was Jean Kirschstein who had first alerted Levi to his concerns.

Helen doesn't look as healthy as she ought to be—especially with her Titan healing ability and all. Her movements are almost sluggish, and she always seems pale and sickly looking. Her body temperature—that should be above a normal human's heat temperature due to her ability as a Shifter had also fallen alarmingly low.

Hanji was also concerned, especially after one time when Helen had gone for her 'annual check up' that Levi wasn't able to go with her, and thus, Mikasa had gone with her sister instead. Mikasa had told Hanji that the medic had drawn some of Helen's blood and had also injected something into Helen that that said medic claimed is something to help with Helen's health. It might even would have worked as an excuse if Levi hadn't known that with every single one of Helen's 'check ups', the same goddamn thing happens. They fucking drew blood and injectedsomething unknown into Helen.

Hanji had done her own check up on Helen without alerting anyone outside of Levi and Erwin, and what she found out after a blood test almost caused Levi to see red.

The Military Police had slowly been poisoning Helen.

They've wanted Helen dead since day one, and it only got worse after the entire truth with the clans beyond the walls have came out. Levi had actually punched the Military Police guy whom they've gotten their hands on—with the bastard claiming that it is what everyone had wanted.

And out of everything, the Military Police used the one poison herb extract that the Survey Corps wouldn't have an access to an antidote. The Morning Star plant. It is an extremely deadly poison—one that effects wouldn't be as obvious.

But the damage is done.

Helen is slowly dying, and it took Levi and the rest of the 104th everything that they could to restrain Mikasa when she had heard about it. The last thing they need is to have Mikasa executed.

And with their intentions out in the open as it is, the Military Police and those fuckers within Wall Sina didn't have to pretend any longer. Civil war was just on the verge of the horizon, and even amongst the Survey Corps, outside of Erwin, Hanji, his squad and one or two others, Levi honestly doesn't know whom he could trust.

It was then when they showed up again.

Reiner and Bertholdt.

Apparently, the village that they're from—the person whom they were serving sent them back within the walls to retrieve Helen before she gets lynched alive by the people within the walls. And as what Reiner had informed them grimly, Helen is coming with them this time whether she agrees or not before she meets her death by the very people whom she's trying to protect.

And surprisingly, Levi didn't refuse. In fact, he had asked to follow them, as he is so done with humanity by this point.

XXXXXX

That was over three months ago.

Much to Levi's surprise, he wasn't the only one who had declared 'enough!' and decided that if the people within the walls could do all that they did to their own people, then just who are the evil ones here?

Mikasa and Armin have followed Levi when he had insisted on following Reiner and Bertholdt to their 'home village'. Armin had later informed Levi whilst making their escape from the walls that Jean had agreed to be their inside man of sorts. He is the only one who actually knew where they are. Even as much as Levi trusted Erwin, he knew the blonde well enough to know that he had always placed humanity's survival above everything. And Levi isn't sure that Erwin wouldn't give Helen up to be killed if he thinks this could save humanity.

That was more than three months ago.

And even now as Levi resided within Avalon, the home village of the Titan Shifters—Reiner Braun, Bertholdt Hoover and Annie Leonheart, he honestly wondered just who are the evil ones here.

Their healer had been to see Helen the moment that they've barrelled through the gates of Avalon, and he had grimly informed Levi that there is nothing more that they could do. What makes the Morning Star extract so deadly is because the toxic can spread alarmingly fast. The fact that Helen is actually still alive is already a miracle in itself.

And Levi cussed out everyone and everything that he could think of and name the moment that the healer had told him that—that he might soon be losing his beloved.

He cussed out the Military Police for destroying Helen's life. He cussed out the Survey Corps for being what they are. He cussed out Historia Reiss for looking away from things the way she always did, and being indirectly the cause of that fucking civil war. He cussed out Erwin for having a part to play in destroying Helen's life.

And…

And Levi cussed out the fact that he had even met Helen. If she had never met him, then this might never have been her fate.

"…You're thinking out loud again."

Levi managed a small bitter smile as he looked at the teen lying beside him in the bed. Honestly, Helen Jaeger looks almost one step away from death at this point. Ever since heading to one of the villages beyond the walls, Levi hadn't left Helen's side even once.

"…Sorry." Levi murmured even as he wrapped his arms around Helen, inhaling in her scent and burying his nose into her nape. He almost cringed as he could almost feel Helen's bony frame digging into his arms, and even how cold she felt. Even three blankets, one jacket, one shawl and one scarf don't seem to be enough to stave off the cold that Helen is constantly feeling.

Helen coughed harshly, and Levi has to force himself to look away even as Helen discarded the blood stained disposal wipes that had been stationed almost permanently by her side in the room where they have placed her to live out her final moments in peace.

It is a great sight better than the treatment that Helen would have received within the walls, where they would never have left her alone even on her deathbed. Ever since her ability to shift into a Titan had come out, they have never once treated Helen as a human—this much, Levi could admit.

Probably, apart from Levi, his old squad and even the old 104th outside of Hanji and Moblit, there isn't anyone who had treated Helen as human.

Honestly, why had he never seen this before? If he had, then Helen wouldn't be dying now!

"…Sorry." Levi looked at Helen who had a sad smile on her face. Her cheekbones are now so sunken that she looks almost like a skeleton. Mikasa Ackerman almost always looks ready to cry whenever she visits her sister. This is one battle that even Mikasa wouldn't be able to win and save Helen from.

"You damn brat. What are you apologising for?" Levi demanded harshly, blinking quickly to ease away his tears. Though with how much Helen's sight is deteriorating—no thanks in part to the poison that had been slowly robbing her of her life; she likely wouldn't be able to notice Levi crying even if he did. "You did nothing wrong."

"I said that I wouldn't let myself die. And I wouldn't let you die either." Helen rasped. "Looks like…I'm failing my promise… Heichou…"

"Levi." Levi interrupted, feeling a lump form in his throat. "Say my name. We're no longer in the military. I'm no longer your commanding officer. I am just…your lover now. Say my name… Helen."

He felt more than saw Helen smile within his arms. "…Levi," she mumbled sleepily. With the state that her health is in, Helen had been sleeping a lot more than usual. Levi had never told anyone, but he is always afraid whenever Helen goes to sleep—that she would never wake up again if she does.

"…Tell me the tales that to me were so dear. Long, long ago. Long, long ago." Levi hummed the lines of the only song that he's familiar with. "Sing me the songs I delighted to hear. Long, long ago. Long ago…"

Helen's breathing is starting to even out—one of the first signs of her starting to fall asleep again. Levi rubbed his thumb against her cheek. He looked up even as the door to the room swung opened silently, and he saw Reiner and Bertholdt peering in, apologetic looks on their faces.

"Sorry. I know that you're with Helen. But the lady is asking for your presence. Mikasa and Armin are with her and Annie." Reiner answered Levi's unasked question, judging by the glare on his face. "She has some things that she needs to tell you. Bert will be with Helen. So go. It will answer a lot of questions that you've been asking."

Reiner was the one to lead Levi to their village leader.

From what he had observed during the past three months, and from what Armin and Mikasa have said whenever they've visited Helen and talked about anything and everything under the sun, Reiner, Annie and Bertholdt seemed to be her guards slash vassals. One of them would always be with her.

Reiner and Levi have to cut across the village to get to the village leader's residence, and unlike when Reiner and Bertholdt have first brought them to Avalon; they weren't greeted by glares anymore. More of curiosity since Levi, Mikasa and Armin have long proven that they aren't anything like most of those that resided within the walls.

And it isn't really that difficult to guess why they've abhorred the people within the walls.

Levi saw Mikasa and Armin first.

Unlike the houses within the walls, the houses in the village beyond the walls were built with wood and had more of a traditional feel to it—more like one of those houses that he'd seen in the books that Farlan had shown him once when they were still living in the underground.

Mikasa and Armin were both seated on the porch, talking to the village leader. Much like Levi, they were no longer in their Survey Corps' uniforms, but in their casual clothes. And leaning against one of the supporting beams was Annie Leonheart.

She was also dressed in casual clothes, but those are also clothes that will let her move easily in combat. And much like Reiner and Bertholdt, she had a sword by her hip. The blonde is currently watching over Mikasa and Armin talking with the village leader, an almost bored look on her face before she looked over at Reiner and Levi. Reiner nodded to Annie before she nodded back.

Annie then said something that Levi couldn't hear before the four on the porch of the house looked towards Levi and Reiner as they approached.

"I've brought him, my lady." Reiner said respectfully.

Levi stared at the black haired young woman seated on the porch, dressed in a loose fitting white blouse and black shorts. For years, he had known her as one of his comrades in the Survey Corps, albeit one who didn't really stand out much. And it wasn't until the entire civil war was close to breaking out, and Reiner and Bertholdt have arrived to take Helen to Avalon when he found out that Kristel Nightray is the leader of one of the villages beyond the walls?

"I understand that you have a lot of questions." Kristel said hesitatingly, meeting Levi's eyes even as he leaned against the supporting beam opposite the one that Annie is leaning again, eyes never moving away from Kristel.

"Damn straight." Levi scoffed. And with that unwelcoming sound, both Reiner and Annie's hands fell onto the hilts of the swords by their sides. "You said that you will explain 'in due time'. You're going to explain now, Nightray. How the fuck are you the leader of Avalon when I know you better as one of the Survey Corps' squad leaders and Gunther's girlfriend for years?"

"Levi-heichou, please calm down." Armin tried to diffuse the situation. "Please listen to her."

"Whatever it is, she at least saved Helen from an even worse fate that could have befallen her." Mikasa said softly. "Let's grant her that at least. Enemy to those within the walls, they might be. But they are not our enemy."

Levi's face softened. "…Fine. But I want answers."

"I'll start from the beginning." Kristel said with a sigh. "You know of course by now that there are civilisation beyond the walls. There aren't many of those villages. But those civilisation has been there for hundreds of years—way before the walls were even constructed, and the people within there started worshipping some non-existent goddesses."

"We are more commonly known as the nature clans." Reiner interrupted, arms crossed over his chest. "Unlike the people within the walls, we lived with nature and believed in the nature spirits. Every single person in Avalon was trained in combat since before we could walk. And considering the fact that we lived with such close proximity with the ones that are a threat to the earth, it isn't really that difficult to believe."

"But as you know, the walls were constructed. Our ancestors knew that there would come a time when it is like the people are being imprisoned inside the walls. And thus, they refused to be caged." Kristel added, with her words ringing a chord with Levi as Helen had said something similar before. "Those people that remained outside the walls are what you know as the nature clans. Our existence is kept a complete secret for a good reason." She met Levi's eyes. "Because we are the ones that came up with the mechanism to construct the walls." Levi's eyes widened. "Including Avalon, there are three other villages. Avalon is the northern village. My clan has been protecting and leading this village for generations. The same goes for the remaining three villages. Like with my clan, there is a leading clan for each village. The members of those clans are known as the guardians of the land. The secrets within the walls and all… We were entrusted with it."

"What were you doing inside the walls then?" Mikasa asked. "And Reiner and the other two… Their presences are no coincidence, right?"

There was silence for several moments.

"…I didn't like how the village and the other clan guardians talked about the people within the walls." Kristel said at last. "'Evil ones', they called you. Cowards that feared the unknown. Heretics that insult the teachings of the Lady. I wanted to see it with my own eyes. That's why I left. I ended up in the Survey Corps. And then… I somehow forgot my own duty when I met Gunther and all the others. I started living as one of you. Slaying the Titans like it is my sworn duty. Even so, I was free. I was happy."

"And then Helen came." Levi interrupted, starting to piece together the pieces. "Three Shifters that are also coincidentally your guards. I'm going to assume that the ability to shift into a Titan isn't exactly uncommon in these parts."

"We are not born with the gift if that's what you're asking." Reiner grunted. "Our clans have served the Nightray clan for generations. Like our fathers to the lady's father, we swore ourselves to her when we were old enough to start holding a sword. Only those that serve the leaders of the nature clans as their guards and vassals were given the ability to Titan Shift. It is a secret that stayed within the four nature clans."

"Dr. Jaeger came here once a long time ago." Annie spoke up. "He was entranced with our way of living and wished for freedom. Much like how Helen did."

"…He either stole or was taught the way to Titan Shift." Armin concluded. "Then the three of you… You entered the walls to find Kristel?" He looked at Annie who nodded.

"It was the order that we were given, yes." Reiner sighed. "'Find the lady and bring her home'. We entered the Training Corps because it was the fastest way to find her. But our orders changed during the Trost incident."

"Helen." Mikasa murmured. Everything changed after Helen revealed her ability as a Titan Shifter. It should be around that time when nearly everyone started treating Helen as a monster rather than as a human.

"We knew what is going to happen to her once she'd revealed her ability as a Titan Shifter." Kristel said heavily. "Unlike the nature clans, the people within the walls have turned corrupted and are too narrow minded. They stabbed each other in the back—polluting the air to the point that I can't fucking breathe in the walls. I gave the order to Reiner, Bertholdt and Annie when they've joined the Survey Corps and the Military Police respectively. 'Retrieve Helen Jaeger and bring her to Avalon'. Outsider or not, she is a Titan Shifter. She will be much safer with us than leaving her to those vultures within the walls."

Levi grimaced even as Mikasa and Armin exchanged looks. They can't deny a word of it. Being as long in the military as they did, and especially after what had happened to Helen, they knew that every word is true. And Mikasa knew that if she'd known Annie's intentions and had known what is going to happen at that time, she would likely have just let Annie carry Helen off during the 57th Expedition. Better that than having Helen live amongst a pack of wolves.

"What changed?" Armin asked suddenly, and as one, all heads swivelled towards the solemn blonde. "You wanted Helen to be in Avalon so you could keep her safe. What changed?"

Kristel looked at Levi. "You," she said, much to Levi's surprise. "I know you. And I know that Helen will be in good hands with you—safe even. I thought that it would be fine leaving Helen with her family…with those that love her. And if she mastered that power that her father left her—using that power to control the mindless Titans… You might even end the era of the Titans on your own without utilising our help. But then the legitimate heir to the crown within the walls leaked the snippet of news about the nature clans, and as we expected, the two walls panicked. It was no longer safe for us. And it is no longer safe for Helen. And I could finally admit the truth to myself: that the people of the walls are like what we imagined them to be. As such is human nature when exposed to power and greed. That's why I sent Reiner and Bertholdt for the last time into the walls to retrieve Helen. I didn't think that the Military Police would stoop as low as trying to kill her using underhanded methods."

There was silence for a long time.

Levi sighed loudly. "…Just tell me one thing, Kristel," he said at last, looking straight at Kristel. "I understand that it is all for 'the greater good' as Erwin used to say so often. He often makes his decisions by choosing the needs of the many above the one, as he used to say. Just tell me one thing. Did you ever love Gunther at all?"

If she answered in the negative, Levi is going to cut off some heads.

"I did." Kristel said at once without any hesitation. "I truly did love him. I think Gunther actually suspected something. He probably knew that I was from beyond the walls. But I didn't want to lie to him. So I said nothing. I know there will come a time when I have to return to Avalon. I wanted to take him with me. But we also have our duty. I as good as killed him, it's true."

"That's not true, my lady. You told me not to kill anyone. I disobeyed your orders as I felt that it's better if we just take out the ones within the walls before they could harm us." Annie said at once. "It's because of my actions that…Helen is in the state she is now." She looked at Levi. "You can hate me and blame me. I'll take it on. But don't blame the lady. She isn't to blame. We all made some mistakes along the way. But this is the truth of the world as it now is. So I'll ask you this now: do you still think that humanity is worth saving?"

Levi closed his eyes briefly. He had already had his answer three months ago when he'd found out that the Military Police had been poisoning Helen—dooming her to a slow and agonising death. 'A death befitting for a monster', like what that Military Police fool had said before Mikasa had struck him with her blade.

Mikasa was the one who answered for Levi.

"…No."

XXXXXX

It had been coming for a long time, Levi knew.

Helen had been dying, and she is ready for it. But he isn't. He never will be.

Thus, when Levi woke up one day only to realise that Helen will never respond to him again, he just doesn't know what to do.

So here he stood on the cliff that overlooks the ocean that Helen and Armin have always spoken about, and Levi had often seen the old 104th surrounding Armin and his books as he showed them the pictures of what he'd imagined the ocean to be.

"There is a tradition that we have around in these parts."

Levi remembered Kristel telling him those words even as she told him how to get to the ocean when he'd asked.

"If you put a message in a glass bottle and throw it into the ocean from the cliff, then your wish will come true."

Levi watched the waves crashing against the rocks of the cliff, his face already wet with tears. "…Helen, you're gone. But the world is still turning. Tell me. What should I do? What can I do? I…" His voice choked. "I only wish…that I had more time. If I'd known… If I'd known what is going to happen… Then I would have taken you with me."

"Do you really mean that?" Reiner asked from behind him. "If back then, you had known what is going to happen, would you truly have left and betrayed everything that you know?"

"…I don't know. But I know that I wouldn't just sit back and watch. They call me Humanity's Strongest for a reason. Maybe it's high time they learn why." Levi's eyes are full of rage even as he turned to face the four—Kristel, Reiner, Bertholdt and Annie. "…If what you say about the ocean is true… Then I wish… That I could see Helen once more. If I could just go back to…before everything… I will change things." He swore. "I will protect Helen, like what I'd swore to Ackerman when she had first found out about us."

Kristel, Reiner, Bertholdt and Annie exchanged looks.

Kristel approached him, and Levi raised a brow. "…We'll risk it then," was all that she said, much to Levi's confusion. "…Send our regards to Helen."

Then before Levi even knew what is going on, Kristel gave him a hard shove, and he was sent sprawling over the side of the cliff and into the ocean itself.

For several long moments, there isn't anything to be heard but the ocean's waves even as Kristel raised her eyes skywards where there is nothing to be seen but the stars in the night sky. "…Our Lady who dwell in the shadows, I call upon you as one of the Children of the Earth." Kristel murmured. "If my faith and belief in you is enough, then please… Give him another chance. Let him change things. You've never once let me down. If this is considered a wish, then let me bear the sacrifice. I am willing."

Several long moments passed before Reiner approached Kristel. "…My lady…"

Kristel sighed and turned to face her three vassals. "…I'm sorry. It's because of my selfishness that it had come to this. Leo's right. The people within the walls are beyond saving at this point. This will become the last war. The last battle. This world is doomed. Or at least, this timeline is."

"My lady…"

"People's decisions cause waves." Kristel murmured. "In one world, it might be that Levi Ackerman had never joined the Survey Corps at all. And in another world, Mikasa might never have joined Helen's family. And in another world, Helen Jaeger might never have joined the Survey Corps, as her mother never died. Which world and which timeline would Levi have gone to? I don't know. But it will be one where he can change things. But the people whom he knew might not be the people whom he knew. But the me over there…likely wouldn't be content to just sit back and watch. He can change things." Kristel turned her attention back to the ocean. "…Save Helen, Levi."

After all, this time, Humanity's Strongest won't be fighting for humanity's survival.

He will instead be seeking their destruction.

A/N: I know that this chapter is a tad confusing. And I honestly have no idea where I'm going halfway into this story. This chapter is a little more OC-centric for certain reasons. The focus will be on Levi and Helen for the upcoming chapters.

Also, once more, this story will be going off canon, as I honestly have no wish to follow the manga storyline. I honestly can't foresee a very happy ending for the manga, seriously. For one, I'm pretty certain that either Eren or Levi is going to die at the end, or maybe even the entire cast.

The whole 'nature clans' thing is an idea that a friend and I made up sometime back. Like 'where the hell do they get their supplies when they live inside the walls'?

Anyway, I hope that you like this chapter and story, and please read and review! Reviews give me inspiration to update!