Prologue:
Erwin
Erwin Smith was missing and he didn't know where.
A light wriggled into his consciousness and gradually came into focus. And then reality struck him, and Erwin fell to his knees. How could reality have such weight?
His hands felt his side, but there was no hole, no blood.
Hands.
He had two.
Am I hallucinating?
He was still wearing his Survey Corps uniform. Right. Was he unconscious, bleeding out from blood loss? Oh, but hadn't he just been talking to his father?
"Hey, friend."
At such a familiar voice, Erwin's head jerked up to see Mike Zacharius, extending a hand and a smile. "Mike? You're…"
Mike crouched next to him and sniffed. "Hmm. Yep. You're definitely dead."
"You were hit pretty hard by the Beast Titan's rock. Levi's in quite a state, but it looks like he and the Survey Corps will get out alive for now." Nanaba strolled up behind Mike with a soft smile. "How're you doing, Commander?"
"Is this…heaven?" He deserved hell.
"Yes, and there's a even God waiting, but you've got a number of friends waiting, too. Besides us."
He stared at her in shock. "I caused your deaths."
"What?" Mike wrinkled his nose. "No, I ran off on my own to save those kids. And that Beast Titan thwarted me. Makes two of us, I guess."
"Levi and the Corps will be fine, we promise," said Nanaba.
Mike's arms lifted Erwin to his feet. "Follow me."
The gates were wrought iron and he could taste, feel, and smell them just by sight – and same for the grass beyond, a grass plain for once with nothing to fear. The reality of this place burned so strong he hurt, and if he hurt…he couldn't be hallucinating.
He was really dead. Ready for hell once God was through with him.
"Oh look, it's the guy who took good care of bro." Isabel Magnolia elbowed Farlan Church, smirking at Erwin.
She wasn't angry.
Lynne, Gelgar, Ness, Dimo Reeves, a sea of soldiers, long and newly dead…they all hurried over. They didn't blame him.
Mike beamed at him. "You have a lot of admirers up here."
"But none as big as me." A bespectacled man appeared behind Erwin.
Erwin spun around and gasped. "Father!"
Younger than he remembered, but definitely Father.
He was too frozen to move. How could he even begin? How could he apologize? How could he tell all these soldiers his dream, let them damn him before God saw his stained soul?
"Kidwin, I'm so proud of you." Father used the nickname he hadn't heard since the night Father had told him the truth.
And then his father's arms were wrapped around him, tighter than Erwin could bear.
"You were so smart, so brave. Then and always."
"Father!" Erwin pulled back as tears choked his vision. "My foolishness got you killed. I – I used everyone here for my dream of proving you right. I have no right to be admired."
"Oh, please, like holding onto a dream is a bad thing." Oluo strode forward with a sniff. "I always held onto the dream that Petra would marry me."
"You fly!" Petra swatted his shoulder.
"Everyone has a dream, sir, and you're delusional if you thought otherwise." Kenny Ackerman, of all people to be in heaven, sauntered over with his hands on his hips.
"Commander, none of us blame you. We admire you for having your dream, and we're sorry you weren't able to handle it in a healthy manner," said Eld.
Erwin gaped at these kind faces – people rejoicing to receive him.
"Son, I couldn't be happier about anything than being your father. Your dream helped keep you going, didn't it?" His father touched his new right arm. "Erwin, I love you."
And then Erwin found himself wrapped in his father's arms, and he felt as safe and idealistic as a child. A sob rose in his throat. Maybe – this reality was real, and it was good.
He was home.
When they finally pulled apart, Father's eyes were wet. "Think it's time you fulfilled your dream. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
A slender, dark-haired man sat at a table not far away, a dark haired child on his lap, a blonde woman on his left and a dark-haired woman on his right. A man and a woman resembling him stood behind him.
The man swallowed hard and stood to offer his hand. "Commander Erwin Smith."
Erwin gripped his hand, realization dawning on him.
"I'm Grisha Jaeger. I, uh, would tell you about the basement now, but that would require a long talk – and Carla insists and deserves to tell the tale. More than I, I think."
The dark-haired woman swung out a chair with a bright smile. "Sir down, sir, if you'd like to listen."
He sat.
Yes, this is the beginning of a story where the arrivals of everyone from the Snk universe in heaven will be documented. Featuring lots of tears and happiness.
