A/N This is a story that uses the idea of the Multi-verse. This story follows an Eren Yeager who has won the war against Marley and has successfully reunited all 9 Titans, but the cost of this war was too high. Losing everyone (friends, family etc.) in the process to reach that goal. A second chance is given in another universe where everything seems the same but is slightly different. So, some timelines of events will be changed to fit the story and different events will happen, this AU universe thing gives me that flexibility.

I hope you enjoy this journey! I'm not much of a writer but I just wanted to put this idea out there.

Edited 31/05/2019: More adjustments to my writing. Removed the location at the start of each block of text.

Chapter 1: Free but Broken

"This is it… We are free…" Eren whispered to himself, his eyes stared up at the sky as rain fell on his face. He had finally reunited all 9 Titans within himself, he now had the opportunity to get rid of these powers for good by entering the 'Unknown Land'. To do this, he will seal himself away forever, the same way Annie did but he will seal himself in his Titan Form.

'But at what cost' Eren thought sadly, his heart pained as he thought about what he had lost along the way. He's 23 now, the Curse of Ymir will take him soon, but he had finally reached his goal, to rid this world of all Titans and save Eldia from the world, forming alliances with other nations. Bringing peace to Eldia.

He fell on his knees, sobbing quietly as tears flowed down his face. 'Mikasa… Armin… I miss you guys so much… I wish we could be together again, just the three of us, one more time. It's all I want…' he thought to himself as his shoulders shook, the last 7 years finally hitting him all at once. The faces of innocents, friends, and comrades dying rushed into the mind.

He thought back to the two deaths that hit him the hardest; Mikasa and Armin.

Flashback

Eren had just defeated Reiner, Porco, and Pieck in another battle in Shigashina and consumed their spinal fluid to gain their Titan powers. The last 4 years has been leading to this opportunity, since wiping Paradis Island clean from Titans, this was his best chance to gather the rest of the Titans and free Eldia and begin its healing process. Only one Titan left, the Beast Titan.

He looked to his right, looking at the Beast Titan, his half-brother Zeke Yeager, as he dispatches the rest of the Marley troops, using his throwing ability, that had invaded Shigashina. This was his chance; he had put up this act long enough now. He had made hard decisions, he put his friends in a cell. He had pushed Mikasa and Armin away, he had killed innocents. To bring change, he had to let go of his humanity, all for the name of freedom. This was his chance to take that freedom and make it a reality.

'This is it' Eren thought, as he continued to glance at Zeke.

With a mighty roar, Eren used his War Hammer Titan ability to create a sword and swung at Zeke, going for the neck. Zeke, hearing the roar, pulled his attention away from the Marley troops. His eyes widened as he saw a large sword coming rapidly for his neck. In a panic, he ducked but was then met with a knee, sending him flying into a building.

"Eren, you traitor…" Zeke said, identifying the threat. Standing up, his eyes full of rage. He raised his arms, using his ability, he screamed, turning all the people that drank his wine into mindless Titans. Unfortunately, some of these people were residing in the building where the Levi Squad was being held.

Eren roared and swung at Zeke relentlessly while he dodged as best as he could but eventually, one of Eren's swings catches Zeke, slicing off one of Beast Titan's long arms straight off. With a roar, the Beast Titan made a run for it. Seeing this, Eren chased after him, his slightly smaller and more agile Titan catching up. What he didn't expect was for Zeke to throw a backhand using his one remaining long arm. The backhand struck Eren, sending him flying backwards into a building. Using this opportunity, Zeke grabbed a large chunk of a building, balling it up into a ball like it was nothing. Using the power from his long arms, he threw it at Eren as he stood up, the ball splitting up into smaller pieces as it flew at him at lightning speeds.

Eren's eyes widened as the pieces hit him on the chest and head, the force of the hits sent him flying onto his back, landing with a loud crash. When he looked back up, Zeke was already climbing, getting closer to the Top of the wall. With a roar, he used his War Hammer ability, creating a spear and with a small run up, he threw it with as much power as his Titan form can muster.

Zeke's eyes widened as he looked back into Shigashina, hearing the roar, as the flying projectile flew its way straight at him. With a mighty lunge, he jumped to the left just in time as the spear smashed at the spot he was just hanging from, one of his hands slamming into the wall to regain grip before making his escape. He will not die today.

'Eren, I'll be back for you' Zeke thought, as he glanced once more at Eren before leaving.

Seeing him escape, Eren's looked back at the remaining Marley blimps as they made their escape. He was about to go after them until he noticed the building, where he kept his friends and comrades locked up in, in complete ruins. Half the building was already rubble. Mindless Titans can be seen inside, Survey Corps soldiers and Yeagerists alike were being killed and eaten.

'Mikasa! Armin!' Eren panicked.

He sprinted over, dispatching any mindless Titans that escaped the building. Eren desperately searched in the rubble for his friends and comrades. Then he saw them, bloodied and unconscious. Gently, he picked up Mikasa, Armin, and Jean's bodies and laid them on the ground, away from the rubble.

Mikasa's stomach was pierced, a sharp piece from the falling building caught her in her attempt to escape. Her breathing was laboured as her body fought for every breath. Both of Armin's legs have been bitten off but was regenerating slowly due to him being a Titan Shifter. Jean was bloody, his arm broken but mostly fine.

Eren quickly made his way out of his Titan and got on his knees next to Mikasa, tears rolling down his cheeks at the sight of her. This was the first time he had cried in 4 years.

"Mikasa…" Eren sobbed, grabbing her broken, dying body and pulling her close to his chest.

Her eyes fluttered open, to see the Eren looking down at her, tears rolling down his cheeks. She knew she was dying; how could she possibly survive this. The sharp object has pierced her internal organs, it was only a matter of time.

"Eren… I'm sorry…" Mikasa croaked out, her breath short as she fought to stay conscious.

Eren sobbed as he hugged her closer, still looking at her.

"Please don't leave me… I'm sorry for everything… Please Mikasa," Eren begged, he can't lose her.

Mikasa smiled sadly, she never found out why Eren put them in there but there was no time for that now, she had always trusted him, maybe that came into question recently, but never once had she stopped loving him.

"I'll always be here," Mikasa said, her hands pressed against his heart, "I'll always protect you. Just… Don't forget about me…"

Eren sobbed harder at the last part, this can't be happening to him, he had already lost so much. His eyes widened a little as Mikasa wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close,

"Please… Just give me this," Mikasa whispered, tears now rolling down her cheeks as she pulled him closer to her. Gently, their lips met in a kiss, their first kiss and their last. Mikasa's eyes closed as she felt Eren's lips move against hers.

Slowly, they parted and Mikasa looked up at Eren's widened eyes. She smiled, she will never stop loving him, not even in death.

"I love you Eren," She whispered, tears flowed down her cheeks as the realisation that she will never have the life she dreamed of, a life with Eren, hit her. It was all being taken away from her. The world was cruel. She looked up at him, 'But so beautiful at the same time' She thought.

Eren's eyes widened at this confession, Mikasa loved him? 'What…' Eren thought.

"I…" Eren stuttered. 'What do I say?' he mused.

"You don't have to say it back, just… Just hold me please," Mikasa whispered, her body was giving up and she wasn't sure how many seconds she had left.

Eren pulled her close, his chin rested on top of her head as he cried silently.

'She deserves to be happy one last time, smile once more' he concluded.

"I love you too Mikasa," Eren whispered.

Mikasa smiled and pulled him closer to him with the little strength she had left. Soon after, Mikasa Ackerman took her last breath as the bliss of the darkness consumed her vision. Eren continued to cry as the loss hit him, clinging on to her unmoving body desperately. What has he done? 'This was all my fault…' Eren thought to himself.

"Eren?" Armin said, gaining consciousness. Jean awake right next to him, having gained consciousness too.

Eren's head slowly turned to look at Armin, Mikasa still in his arms, unmoving. Tears formed at Armin's eyes as he saw his childhood friend lie unmoving in Eren's arms. Jean saw this, his head dropped as his hands formed a fist, gripping it tightly as the loss hit him. Another friend, another comrade gone, just like that.

"I'm sorry Armin, Mikasa is gone. It's all my fucking fault!" Eren shouted, tears rolled down his cheeks as he shook and cried, pulling Mikasa close.

Flashback end

After that battle, he used his Jaw Titan ability to break Annie free from the crystal, where she locked herself in, before consuming her and then he had to consume Armin to gain his power after he suffered considerable damage at the hands of Zeke in another battle. They lost that battle, he lost his other childhood friend that day and gained nothing, but he kept on fighting throughout that year, losing battle after battle to Zeke but eventually defeating him and consuming him. He had kept his Titan powers to protect Eldia from further Marley attacks initially, but throughout the years he had worked relentlessly to establish Eldia as a powerful nation once more. There was peace now.

"Eren?"

Eren whipped his head around, snapped out of his thoughts.

"Jean, what is it?" Eren said.

"Have you been… crying?" Jean asked tentatively as he noticed the tear streaks on his cheeks.

"No, no… I… I just miss them you know," Eren replied.

Jean looked at him sadly. "I understand," Jean said as he laid a hand on Eren's shoulder, giving him a comforting squeeze.

Throughout the years, Eren and Jean grew closer as Comrades and eventually becoming friends. A friendship built up from loss and suffering. Who would have thought when they started Cadet training that Jean and Eren would be the final ones, from 104th Cadet Corps, standing? Definitely not Eren or Jean but here they are now, standing side by side as comrades, friends, survivors.

"I think it's time," Eren said suddenly.

"I'm ready to do this," Eren said, clenching his fists.

"You know what Yeager?" Jean said smiling.

"What?" Eren said, looking at him in confusion.

"I'll fucking miss you," Jean said, chuckling to himself.

"Who would have thought? After all these years, it would be you and me," Jean said, still chuckling.

Eren started chuckling. "I know what you mean. Do you remember all those fights we had?" Eren said, fondly remembering all those arguments, how he missed those days, it was so much simpler. His friends were still alive, Jean and himself always at each other's throats, those were the good times.

"Yea…" Jean said, also remembering those years.

Eren put his right arm out, looking at Jean expectantly. Jean grasped his arm with his own.

"Thank you. Before I go, I just wanted to say Thank you, Jean. Thank you for being my friend and comrade. Together, we made sure our friends' deaths were not in vain. Thank you," Eren said.

Jean looked at him, smiling sadly. "And Thank you for saving the world,"

Eren smiled sadly. "Let's go, we've wasted enough time," Eren said.

Quietly, they both made their way towards the Titan Forest, where the rest of the Survey Corps was waiting. His final resting place.

Eren and Jean rode towards the centre of the Titan Forest. Upon seeing the entirety of the Survey Corps surrounding the area, their fists on their hearts in a salute as a sign of respect to the two war-torn Heroes.

Eren and Jean got off their horses. Eren walked into the centre, every eye on him. He slammed his fist on his heart in a salute, looking around, nodding at all his comrades.

"Before I go, I want to say Thank you all. Without every single one of you here, without all the comrades we have lost over the years, without the Survey Corps, this day would not be possible. We are the Heroes of Eldia!" Eren shouted, with fire in his eyes.

The Survey Corps cheered in response to his words.

"Thank you, Captain Yeager!"

"We wish you the best, Captain Yeager!"

"Good luck, Captain Yeager!"

It wasn't long before the crowd quieted down.

"For Freedom!" Eren screamed before biting down on his hand, the surrounding soldiers shouting the same words in response as a bright light blinded them and lighting struck where Eren stood.

As their vision cleared, a 15-meter Titan stood in the centre. The Attack Titan. Eren leaned his head back, his Titans mouth opening before letting out a mighty roar one last time as his body started to Crystallise.

Jean looked at the now frozen form of Eren's Titan sadly. He slammed his fist against his chest in, what will be, his final salute to Eren Yeager as a tear slowly made its way down his cheek. 'You will never be forgotten'

Eren woke up with a gasp. Looking around, he saw light coloured soil with wispy, cloud-like trails of light in the sky. 'This must be it, the Unknown Land' Eren thought to himself.

"We finally meet, Eren Yeager,"

Whipping his head around, his eyes widened as he saw a young girl wearing white robes, with dark hair staring at him.

"Who are you?" Eren asked.

She smiled, "I am Ymir Fritz, the first Titan,"

His eyes widened at this, 'She's the Original…' Eren thought to himself.

"I've been following you ever since you came across these powers Eren Yeager. So much suffering… So much sadness in such a short life," she said, looking at him sadly.

Eren's looked at her sadly as he thought about all that he has lost.

"As the first person to reunite the Titans, I can give you a choice. Look at it as a favour," she said, smiling.

"What do you mean? Choice? How can I have a choice? Am I not dead?" he asked, confused.

"Normally, this would be the case and you would rest here for eternity just like all the titan shifters that came before you. However, you died while holding all 9 Titans. You have returned them to me. This has never happened in nearly 2,000 years. With the complete power of the Titans returned to me, I can give you a choice. As a thank you," she answered.

He opened his mouth to respond. Ymir put a hand up, quieting Eren.

"It is simple. You may decide to rest here, free from your pain for eternity." she started, "Or I can send you to another… Universe, another life. Most things will be similar in this other universe, but a certain event separates this other universe with this one," she finished.

Eren's eyes widened at this. 'A new life? Does that mean I get to see Mikasa and Armin again, my friends… everyone? But what event is she talking about? What is different?' Eren thought to himself.

"What is different in this universe? What event are you talking about?" Eren asked, curious to know.

"In this new universe, their Eren Yeager suffered a mortal wound in the battle against Annie Leonhart in the Stohess District raid. The Survey Corps, however, did successfully capture Annie Leonhart but their Eren Yeager fell into a coma because of a head injury he suffered in the battle. You will arrive the moment their Eren Yeager dies, you will be yourself but your body will be what it was during year 850, you will keep your memories, you will gain their Eren's Attack Titan and Founding Titan," she explained.

"So, the choice is- "

"I'll do it," Eren said instantly, interrupting her.

Ymir just smiled, expecting this answer from him.

"Give me your hand," she said.

Eren held his hand out to her. Grabbing it, she traced across his palm with a knife she seemed to have retrieved from thin air. Eren winced as his palm was cut open. His eyes widened as a golden mist seem to seep out of the cut and made its way towards Ymir Fritz as she slowly breathed the golden mist in.

As soon as the golden mist seems to run out, she sighed. Slowly backing away from Eren, she looked at him and smiled, her eyes golden, flaring like the Sun.

"Thank you for returning this power to me," she said.

Eren nodded at her.

"Good luck and I hope you find the happiness that you long for," she said as she raised her hand, her palm pointing at Eren as the same golden mist that came out of his palm surrounded him like a whirlwind. With a boom, blinding lightning struck Eren and then silence.

"Eren!" Mikasa screamed as she saw the Female Titan bite Eren out of his Titans nape before grabbing an unconscious Eren and in her attempt to escape, she flung Eren far away, towards a wall to buy her some time. Mikasa watched in horror as she saw Eren's head collide with the wall, blood splattered on the wall.

"No!" she screamed, "You will die Annie!" Mikasa shouted, her eyes flashed dangerously as her grip on her blades tightened. Rage filled her body like an uncontrollable fire as she burst forward towards the Female Titan.

With great agility and inhuman speed, she swung around the Female Titan in pure rage using her 3DM gear, slicing and cutting at her legs and arms. Immobilising the Female Titan within seconds. The Female Titan, in her panic, did not notice Humanities Strongest Solider, Levi Ackerman, come from behind at inhuman speeds and sliced her unprotected nape. The last thing Annie's panicked eyes saw from her Titan was the rage behind Mikasa's stormy grey eyes before she was pulled out from her Titan body.

Levi grabbed Annie, throwing her to the ground. With no hesitation, he swung his blade and sliced off both of Annie's arms. She screamed in pain and cowered in fear as she stared up at Levi, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Take her away," Levi ordered nearby soldiers. He looked around for Mikasa, then he saw her, running towards the unconscious form of Eren. Sighing, he made his way over as well. 'This brat better be okay'.

'Please be okay Eren…' Mikasa thought desperately as she dropped her blades and ran as fast as she could towards the limp form of Eren, bleeding from his head.

Desperately, she gathered Eren in her arms whose breaths were shallow, she pressed her head against his chest. Praying for the familiar sound of his heartbeat.

Thump-thump Thump-thump Thump-thump

Just like before, tears gathered in her eyes as a small feeling of relief washed over her body. It was slow but it was a heartbeat, he was alive. With all her strength, she picked Eren up in her arms and made her way towards the rest of the Survey Corps that has gathered around the decaying Female Titan, quietly sobbing the whole way.

"Eren needs help!" she shouted as she got closer. She dropped to her knees, sobbing as she clutched Eren to her chest.

Seeing this, Levi quickly made his way towards the sobbing Mikasa. Upon seeing Eren's injuries; the excessive bleeding from the head, shallow breathing, probably a few broken ribs from that throw. One thought went through Levi's mind 'Shit'

"Hange! We need medics, quick!" Levi shouted.

It had been one month since Eren fell into a coma. During that time, it was revealed Krista Lenz was Historia Reiss. Ymir was discovered to be another Titan Shifter but was captured by Reiner and Bertolt after they revealed their identities to her and attacked the Survey Corps on Wall Rose. The Survey Corps were forced to hide as the government tried to plot against them.

So here they were, the new Squad Levi; consisting of Jean, Sasha, Connie, Armin, Mikasa, and Historia. Currently residing in a hideout, an abandoned cottage far away from the population, away from the First Interior Squad, away from the watchful eyes of the Government.

Eren lied unconscious in one of the rooms, as he had done so since the Stohess District Raid. No signs of improvement. With every passing day, the chance of him regaining consciousness slowly slither away, the hope for humanity slowly going with it.

Next to the bed, sat Mikasa. Her hands desperately held onto Eren's, clinging on to him like a lifeline, scared to let go. Her eyes were full of fear, cheeks marked with dried tears. The thought of losing Eren haunted her mind every night and it's killing her. How could she cope? All she wanted is to be with him and now all she can do is pray that he comes back to her.

'The world is cruel' she thought to herself as she looked at Eren. His face looked so peaceful, so different from the angry look he always wore nowadays. She hasn't seen him so peaceful since that fateful day five years ago.

'Please come back to me…' Mikasa begged in her mind again and again. Her hand tightening around Eren's. Her head dropped as another tear rolled down her cheeks.

"Mikasa?"

Mikasa slowly raised her head at her name being called, her eyes looked at the form of her other childhood friend in response; Armin.

"You need to eat Mikasa. I know it hurts seeing him like this. It hurts me too, but he would want you to take care of yourself. You know that to be true," Armin said.

"No… It's fine, I just… want to stay with him for a while longer," Mikasa responded, she turned her head back to Eren.

Armin looked at her sadly, she had done the same thing every day since arriving at this abandoned cottage. Always by Eren's side during their free time, hours a day just sitting there, holding his hand. Armin worried about his childhood friend, it's not hard to see how hard Eren's condition hit her. She hasn't been the same since that day, her eyes were always so lifeless now.

Armin sighed, knowing that there was nothing he can say that would change her mind. "Just eat something later, okay?" Armin said as he backed away from the room upon seeing Mikasa nod.

Armin made his way towards back towards the table, where Jean, Sasha, Historia, and Connie were sitting, who were eating their food in silence. They looked at him with expectant faces.

"I'm sorry guys, she won't be joining us again," Armin said sadly, he sighed as he sat down on his seat.

"What!" Jean shouted, standing up.

"She has to! She has eaten barely anything for days!" Jean shouted, angry at the situation.

Armin sighed, "And what can I do? She's hurt Jean, I think… I think she's giving up," Armin said.

"Giving up? What do you mean giving up? She's Mikasa! She never gives up!" Jean said, his voice raised.

"Not when it comes to Eren," Armin replied simply.

'God fucking dammit Yeager, why is she so attached to your suicidal ass.' Jean thought to himself, angry at Eren. He dropped back down on his seat with a sigh, he knows Mikasa is heavily attached to Eren and he could never figure out why but there is nothing he could do now. He just hopes Yeager pulls through, because the truth is, personal feelings aside, Jean knows Humanity needs them both.

A few hours later, Armin checked Eren's room again. He found Mikasa asleep whilst holding Eren's hand, her head lied on the space next to Eren, her body leaning forward from the chair she's sitting on. He looked at them sadly before quietly closing the door.

It was the next morning when the squad was met by a soldier bursting through their door.

"Commander Erwin has requested Squad Levi to immediately make their way to Trost! Trost is under attack from the Armoured, and Beast Titan! We must go now!" the soldier shouted.

The squad looked at each other before rushing off to get their gear. Levi made his way towards Eren's room, knowing that's where Mikasa was.

"Mikasa, we need to go," Levi said simply.

Mikasa simply nodded before getting up from her chair, she heard the soldier shouting from the other room, she knows what must be done. She glanced once more back at Eren before leaving with her comrades.