*Prologue*

Bertolt dreamed of monsters and heroes. He dreamed of himself leaping into danger to save a beautiful princess. But this was not who Bertolt was. Bertolt was the monster he feared.

Ymir could not dream of anything. The only thing she could do was cry into the moonlight.

They didn't understand it but both of them needed to be told that they were not monsters. Even if it was a lie.

Bertolt was responsible for shattering one hundred years of peace and giving Ymir a second chance. Ymir was responsible pushing Bertolt to the edge of madness. Neither of them knew it but their lives were intertwined from the moment He was forced to break down the walls that had kept humanity safe for over a century.

''BERTOLT! Get out of bed NOW!'' Reiner's voice shattered Bertolt's dreams. HIs dull grey eyes shot open at the sound of his voice. Usually it was Bertolt who woke Reiner in the morning but today was no usual day. The sun was peaking above the vast mountains that enclosed the Training Corps barracks. Bertolt slowly raised himself from his mattress and yawned.

''What time is it Reiner?'' His voice was slurred by the sudden awakening.

''Time for you to get up! We can't be late on the first day of training!'' Reiner aimed a pillow at Bertolts head as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. The soft fabric connected with his large forehead. ''So get dressed and hurry up, or you will miss breakfast.'' With that the first day of Bertolt's military training began. As did hers.

He saw her there, standing a mere 15 feet from himself. She was very tall. Almost as tall as himself, her oak brown hair tied back coming to a rest just below her neck. Her tanned skin glinting softly in the heat of the morning sun. Although her eyes seemed lifeless Bertolt saw something in her golden eyes. He just didn't know what. He didn't know her name. He didn't know how old she was. He didn't know anything about her. Yet somehow he couldn't stop his heart from racing whenever he looked at her, which was a lot. She never once glanced at him but Ymir could tell that he was watching her, and it made her uncomfortable. I have seen his face before. Was it in a dream? She didn't let the concern show on her face. It wasn't like Ymir to show her emotions or feelings to anyone, it was the fault of the world that she had been forced to live in.

That evening Bertolt watched as carriages of drop-outs were taken away to work the lands he had ruined. They had taught him to ignore all emotion, his friends Annie and Reiner were more accepting of that lesson. But Bertolt couldn't accept that fact that he would have to sit by and watch as the people around him suffered because of his actions. Although he did ignore his feelings during the day in his sleep he was tormented by horrific nightmares. In his sleep he was haunted by the stories he had been told by people like Eren Yeager, how he had watched as his beloved mother was bitten in two by a titan whom he had let enter his home. These torments would have torn him apart by now if it wasn't for the constant support of his closest friend. But now something else was easing the pain of the memoires, he knew that he was deluding himself with these thoughts but Bertolt didn't care. He had seen enough sadness and he knew he would see a lot more before he was done but Bertolt wanted to feel the warmth of happiness, even if it was an impossible dream.

''Hey Bertie. Who were you staring at during morning drills?'' The question caught him completely off guard, Bertolt immediately broke into a sweat, he turned to face his interrogator already knowing it to be Reiner.

''Wh-What are you talking about? And don't call me Bertie, I'm not a kid anymore.'' Bertolt's voice was more stern than in the past but it didn't hide his nervousness. Reiner looked up at his giant friend with a grin spreading from cheek to cheek on his pale skin.

''It better not be the small blond girl, or else I am coming for you.'' He joked gently punching Bertolts shoulders.

''Small and blond. Are you talking about Annie?'' Reiner fell over backwards laughing hysterically. Bertolt watched on oblivious to the effect of what he had just said. After many minutes of wild laughter Reiner stood up wiping the tears from his now red eyes.

''Oh Bertolt I guess ignorance is bliss. However just to make things clear I don't 'like' Annie. I meant Krista you fool.'' Reiner pulled Bertolt into a crushing headlock. ''When will my Bertie grow up?'' Reiner shouted out. When Bertolt finally managed to break free of his friends arms (Which was no easy task when Reiner is as strong as an ox) He could see that all of the boys had come out of the dorm to watch their fiasco, in the distance he could see many of the girls watching from their own dormitory, however not all were watching the performance. Annie and the other girl; the one Bertolt had been watching were not among the crowd.

A huge smile spread across Reiner's face, Bertolt followed his stare and saw the 'small, blond' He had referred to as Krista. She was indeed very short. If she was standing next to Bertolt then Krista wouldn't make it up to his shoulders. Reiner waved at her, his cheeks turning a rosy pink. Krista giggled in response before giving a small wave in return. That is when she appeared. Ymir walked out of girls dorm, through the crowds of trainees. She leaned down to Krista's ear and whispered something no one could hear. Ymir then stood up to her full height and strolled back inside. Krista followed her and Bertolt could swear he saw a hint of red on her perfect skin.

''Did you see that? She is totally into me right?'' This time it was Bertolt's turn to laugh. He cleared his throat and gave his best impression of Reiners voice. ''Oh Reiner I guess ignorance is bliss.'' Before Reiner could even make a sarcastic laugh Bertolt was already running towards his bed.

Somehow Reiner always knows how to make me laugh Bertolt thought to himself with a wide smile on his face, as he watched the moon rise. But he knew that Reiner could not protect him from the barrage of nightmares that awaited him in his sleep. As Bertolt drifted into a terrifying sleep he dreamed that he was watching himself as a child inside of Wall Maria. He saw himself appear in a skinless body over 50 meters high. He saw his giant foot break a gaping hole in the wall. He saw the titans enter the city and devastate countless lives. He hated himself for what he had done, yet despite all of his rage and fury he directed at himself. Bertolt still thought of himself as a human being. All due to the fact that looking at a pretty girl made his heart beat a little quicker. He wasn't aware about it at the time but these feelings would eventually save his life.

Ymir lead Krista inside the barracks and towards her bunk. ''Krista be careful around here you might attract some of those meatheads we call boys.'' Krista looked up at her tall and slender friend and giggled.

''Oh Ymir its okay I will be careful...anyone that blond one doesn't look so bad.'' She wispered the last part. Ymir sighed and gave her friend a big cheesy smile.

''Oh look my very little Krista is growing up.'' She joked wrapping her arm around Krista's shoulder, then Krista smiled before whispering in Ymir's ear.

''Also I think his tall friend was looking at you...maybe we could find you a boyfriend.'' Pathed of red appeared on Ymir's face, she quickly composed herself before answering.

''I don't think so missy. You are the one and only one for me.'' Ymir winked at Krista before climbing up her ladder and into bed.

That night Ymir was thinking about Krista (As usual) His tall friend was looking at you Her words echoed in her mind. No one had ever given a second thought to Ymir and that is how she liked it, so hearing that someone was looking at her and not her cute blond friend made her very uncomfortable. No one would know it but that night both Ymir and Bertolt were thinking of each other for entirely different reasons.