Enjoy ~ { these chapters are technically filler chapters- while I think of ideas for the current storyline. '

Recollection of the Past' chapters will include details of Reiner, Marco, (Y/N's) burns and info about Chi itself } *note* these chapters aren't very long*

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

"Reiner... Marco?!"

Thick, grey smoke clouded my vision- flames of bright orange slowly consumed my precious house, turning all my possessions to ash.

"Reiner! Marco!"

A low creak sounded above me- hinting my thatched roof would soon collapse. I rose my hand to my lips, attempting to shield the flames from burning my face.

"Marco! Reiner... please!"

My desperate cries remained unheard yet my voice felt hot and scratchy. Am I yelling loud enough? I might be whispering... I've breathed in too much smoke... the doorway is my only clear escape...

Reiner and Marco are clearly not inside... I watched red flames slowly embrace my home, the roar of the fire deafened me as I stumbled out of my house and fell into the cold mud.

"......"

Desperate breaths for air escaped my lips, my lungs felt tight and heavy - my village sky - once a soft blue now a thick, cloudy grey from all the smoke - hinted the fire was out of control. Village Danba is no more.

"Run! The fire is travelling over the hills!"

Desperate villagers alerted many others of the fires relentless attack. Where are you Reiner? Marco can't speak to tell anyone he's okay... My heart ached for my friends, my only family... missing.

Cries of agony filled my ears as the fire consumed another soul- the most painful death imaginable- being burnt alive. I tried to focus on the positive. Reiner is a good climber, maybe he's hiding with Marco somewhere?

"Run woman! Run to the river and don't look back!"

A stocky looking man, armed with a large bucket of water- threw the contents over me- snapping me out of my fear and hydrating my body and mind. Even my soul feels a lot better.

"Run!"

I scrambled to my feet, but instead of fleeing to the river, I ran towards the furious flames of death. My apple tree! Surely the two would be there! Hot sticky mud splashed up my legs, staining my yellow gi.

I won't leave my village without my friends. Violent cries of my villagers rung deep within my brain- I'm sorry... you can't be saved.

Loud crackles from burning houses or... flesh... hurt my insides- the sight was so grotesque, I felt like vomiting. Droplets of water trickled down my face as my eyes widened upon seeing two familiar individuals sitting underneath a charred black tree- now completely dead and burnt out from the fire.

"Reiner, Marco!"

I reached our once leafy green tree and collapsed beside my beloved family- who remained scarily silent.

"Reiner..."

Reiner sat shaking, his face smudged black from ashes- his clothes torn and burnt. Marco attempted to comfort him, but with his muteness, he could only place his hand onto Reiner's shoulder and try to temp him out from the void.

I quickly noticed Reiner's hands were bright red, skin fell from his fingers like sheets of tissue paper. He's burnt badly...

"Reiner! Reiner, wake up!"

I placed both hands onto his shoulders and violently shook him- he remained lifeless.

"Reiner, the fire is about to reach us from over that hill- we're going to die if you don't move!"

Marco coughed, wiping black spit from the back of his pale hand. I glanced worriedly at his clearly hard time breathing but he gave me a reassuring nod- confirming he was in good condition.

Reiner sat under our apple tree completely lifeless, mumbling incoherent sentences about handling a curved sword. Suddenly his condition clicked deep within my very being.

Reiner won't be able to wield a sword... all his training... I quickly removed my silver flask and unscrewed the lid- ignoring the chants of the dreaded fire- which drew closer by the minute.

"This will hurt, Reiner... but might save your hands."

I emptied my flask onto his burns- a scream of agony leaving his lips and snapping him back into reality. Water dropped from his palms- as did his pink skin- but his hands looked a little better.

"(Y/N)? You're alive...?"

I smiled gently as Marco lifted Reiner to his feet- the three of us looked bad- our clothes burnt and smokey- our faces smudged with dirt.

"Of course I am."

Marco began to push forward, moving bodies and wooden debris out from our path. We're alive... all three of us...

"I thought you'd died, (Y/N)... me and Marco searched for you..."

I wiped my face from tears threatening to fall, clearing my throat with a croaky cough. I kept my head facing forward- knowing if I looked at Reiner, I'd most definitely cry.

"I searched for both of you, too... I'm glad I found you by our apple tree..."

Reiner examined his hands with a painful grunt, his eyes dull and empty. Reiner knows he will never touch or wield a sword again...

"I'm sorr-"

"Don't even say it, (Y/N). I'll heal. I'll master the curved sword- don't worry about me."

I glanced down at our footprints in the increasingly warming mud, the distant flickering from the fire hinted proving getting over the hills to be a difficult task.

"You're right-"

A sudden blast of heat struck my body as furious yellow flames erupted from a large, wooden house- something flammable caught fire.

"(Y/N)?! Marco- go get something to lift that off her!"

My ears rung loudly, which I found to be rather strange. I continued walking, only I'd been laying down for some reason. Wasn't I just walking with Reiner and Marco?

I felt my back ache with excruciating pain, a crushing sensation overpowered my shoulders- forcing my face into the warm mud. Oh... the house exploded and something landed on me... My shoulders immediately came into contact with the wooden flames as a scream erupted deep within my chest.

"(Y/N), it'll be alright- we'll lift this off you!"

Reiner studied his clearly useless hands as Marco attempted to lift the beam instead- but he wasn't strong enough. The flames travelled across my lower back, making light work of my clothes and scolding my right shoulder.

The intense, brutal agony broke my voice box, my skin felt like mush as the sharp, smoky torture continued. Marco tried again for a second time but the beam was just far too heavy.

Eventually, the pain became too much as my face remained coated in mud, my shaking beginning to calm- a gesture to Marco and Reiner that I'd clearly given up trying to stay conscious.

"(Y/N). Don't do this. Just please... don't do this."

|~~~~|

"Nn~"

My eyes slowly opened, the air felt far cooler than the grounds of Chi. A soft trickle of running water relaxed me as gentle splashing of what sounded like- people wading through water alerted me I wasn't alone- where ever I was- clearly other people are too.

Voices of people crying, playing the flute and whispering softly- lead me to believe I'd been carried to the safe haven of the river- my mind reflected to when a fleeing villager instructed me to run in first place.

Why didn't I...? Reiner and Marco! I hastily sat up, a low cry of pain escaping my lips as I felt an intense, sharp sting travel across my shoulders- my reflection from the river informed me of several wrapped bandages across my back- slightly brown from burns.

"(Y/N)? You're awake!"

I met the ecstatic eyes of Reiner, who sat with his hands in a bucket of water. Marco sat beside Reiner- asleep with a little drool travelling down his chin.

"W-What happened?"

Reiner furrowed his brows, removing his hands from the bucket of water and began to slowly wrap his palms in clean cloth.

"A beam fell on you... me and Marco couldn't lift it... but luckily General Pixis saw what happened and came running to help..."

My eyes widened. General Pixis...? Ruthless, demanding and harsh, General Pixis...? Reiner chuckled at my look of complete disbelief and shrugged his shoulders.

"Seems he likes us more than he lets on."

Reiner looked completely different, his eyes filled with admiration and complete happiness.

"He even made me this medical herbal water."

Reiner eyed the bucket- which at first I assumed had water in- but a subtle green tinge hinted otherwise. I don't believe this... General Pixis helped save the three of us...?

How odd... Village Danba is ashes... where are we going to live? My mind raced with thoughts for the future, only my sharp burn slowly distracted me.

"I bet that hurts. I'm sorry I couldn't lift that beam off you... my hands were... just skin."

I shook my head and smiled reassuringly, glancing downwards at Marco who snored lightly- then rolled over onto his back.

"It's okay. We all survived at least."

Reiner snorted, his eyes searching around the river- not many villagers had survived- lucky mothers sat cradling their children and lone survivors sat in silence- reflecting on the memories which will haunt them for life.

Some younger children hadn't realised the severity of our villages condition and happily played games in the cold river. An odd scene... people are at a loss, I suppose...

"Chi's strength isn't it? How fortunate you survived!"

An older women, who sat with her baby, admired us for surviving the fire - even asking if her child could become a member - once he grew older, of course.

"My Chi three. How are you healing?"

A loud, deep voice cut off the women as she returned to nursing her baby. I looked up and met the eyes of General Pixis himself - who seemed completely unharmed by the fire - only smudged black with dirt.

"........"

I remained silent, General Pixis is ruthless - the fire may of made him even more so. I winced when I attempted to stand - only the General instructed me to sit still.

"You've been burned badly, (Y/N) as have you, Reiner. Just rest for now- like Marco's doing."

I cast Reiner a confused glance, only his eyes were glossed over in respect- total obedience.

"General Pixis... have you considered having a guard to protect you?"

Reiner's question caught me completely off guard, my mouth hung open in shock as General Pixis chuckled deeply and sat down onto a small log opposite Reiner.

"No... not really."

Reiner hummed in approval, leaning forward into a deep bow. What in the world is he doing? Reiner never shows anyone respect like this!

"I wish to serve you. Please let me. I'll keep you safe."

General Pixis stiffened, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck with a sheepish smile.

"Well, when you request so formally... I have no choice but to accept."

I shook my head and counted to ten. Surely I'm dreaming right now? Or am I dead? Probably the second one.

"I must ask you two something, especially you, (Y/N)..."

General's smile faded as his expression turned dark - clearly this is a matter of importance.

"Where will you go? I plan to stay here and rebuild Chi. Reiner is free to stay with me or leave with you."

Reiner cleared this throat, awkwardly smiling towards me. I knew from the guilty look in his eyes he'd already made his decision. Reiner's going to stay and serve the General. My heart felt heavy - almost as if my blood had stopped pumping. I'll miss you Reiner...

"Forgive me, (Y/N). Chi is my home. I wish to serve General Pixis here."

I shook my head, lying back down with a loud sigh, gently closing my eyes. Why...? What caused the fire? My friends are vanishing...

"It's fine... we don't owe each other anything... we're free to go where we please... we'll always be friends though."

General Pixis smiled gently, lightly patting Reiner on the back. I'll miss you, Reiner... Marco... I never thought we'd separate. I thought we'd be happy in Chi forever.

"I couldn't of worded that any better, what a clever young lady you are, (Y/N)."

I smiled warmly, nodding to Reiner a single time as I slowly rose to my feet with a tired, painful grunt.

"Until we meet again, you two. I'm going to travel far away... I'll return to see new, glorious Chi - rebuilt by you, General."

General Pixis chuckled loudly, rising form his log and pulling me into a gentle embrace - Reiner joined too, even shaking Marco awake, who clumsily joined the hug.

"The fire will only make us stronger... I'll take good care of Marco and Reiner... don't you worry (Y/N)."

I nodded, feeling the urge to cry overpower me, but I tightly clenched my fists and turned on my heel to leave. I'll miss you, Reiner, Marco... my village is gone... but our friendship will never fade.

"You may have the title: 'master of the curved sword' under your belt, (Y/N), but I'll be the next one to earn my sword."

I smiled gently as the two waved- looking oddly distressed yet warm and content as the same time. I gently ran my fingertips down my old and rusted scabbard.

"We'll see, Reiner... we'll see-"

A deep, strangled cough erupted from Marco's chest as thick black saliva dripped from his mouth- tears spilled from his eyes. This isn't right... Marco should be breathing normally... the air is clear by the river...

"Marco?! Marco!"

Our third mute companion collapsed onto the grass- clutching his throat in complete agony. His saliva is black, meaning he's inhaled a large amounts of smoke...

Marco shook violently before us, extending out his hand for Reiner to hold. I watched the life slowly drain from his eyes, his chest gasping for oxygen that his lungs just couldn't provide. He's dying...

"Marco... forgive me... I didn't notice."

Reiner tightly clutched his hand, his head bowed in deep distraught. Marco slept in attempts of forgetting the pain - he couldn't breath for all that time...

My eyes welled with tears as I slowly lowered myself beside him. General Pixis remained silent throughout the process as Marco slowly began to fade away - his breaths became inconsistent and tight before he exhaled for a final time. He's gone...

"Marco?! Marco! Please... I'm sorry... I didn't notice... you didn't tell me!"

Reiner lost himself to grief, shaking Marco's lifeless body in complete disbelief- tears streaked his usually smiley face, his eyes and face red from shock.

I watched Marco's peaceful resting face, his light freckles dusting his nose, making him look like an angel. I lowered my head - a loud sob escaping my lips.

Marco suffered for all that time... he couldn't tell anyone he was struggling to breath because of his muteness...

"Marco... please..."

General Pixis lowered himself onto a wooden log, burying his head into his hands- completely silent. My heart broke at seeing Marco's throat tainted black- his eyes wide and glossy.

"Marco! I'm sorry!"

Goodnight Marco... we'll meet again one day...

                            •~•~•~•~•~•

Please vote and comment :3