Fight to live. That was what she'd been taught. Fight through all the hardships life threw at you. Fight to hold onto what you hold dear.
Fight to live.
But what about live to fight?
Live to fight. Live through all the hardships life threw at you and keep fighting. Live for those you hold dear who did not live.
Live to fight.
Mikasa Ackerman had been alive for long enough...and she was tired. She didn't want to live anymore. It took too much from you to be worth anything. It took so much...Until she had nothing. Not a family, not a friend, not the love of her life.
The streets of shades and flames held nothing as she walked past and the rain pitter pattered on her head. Nothing. Not a sound. Not a movement. All that was there were the screams of the dead, and the fear in hearts that long ago stopped beating.
And she kept walking.
Fight to live.
Why live?
What was there to possibly live for?
She shuddered as more rain hit the top of her head. It was so cold. Her hands moved to cover her head, only to give up. Letting it hit her hands wouldn't warm her.
This rain...Thomas was in this rain. Marco was, too. And Gunter, Petra, Auruo, Erd. So were Carla, Grisha, and her parents.
Eren was in this rain. All of them were shouting at her. Chanting in some sort of sick mantra that stung like a thousand cannons. Their rage and hatred thundered down from the clouds with each lightning bolt. Every flash was like a slap to the face, all of them surrounding her, beating her. Punching and kicking and hitting and unleashing the wrath of Hell upon her for failing.
'Why didn't you save us, Mikasa? Never strong enough, never fast enough. Why can't you ever hold on to anyone you love?'
"B-because..."
No. She wouldn't cry. She couldn't cry. She didn't have anything left...And yet the tears flowed regardless. She fell to the ground, curling up and sobbing for what seemed like an eternity.
Fight to live.
Why live?
What was there to live for?
Live to fight.
She wiped her face ever so slightly, then looked up at the apparitions still assaulting her. She stood up.
And then, Mikasa drew her blades and slashed them all back into mental dust.
Live to fight.
She yelled at the sky, a primal sound that would send any Titan running.
Live to fight.
Mikasa flew off using the 3D Gear, towards the sound of the thunder.
Live to fight.
She'd kill them all. The ones who brought down her friends' wrathful spirits on her.
'The world is a cruel place. But I am crueler.'
Live to fight.