PART 1

A reunion

The boat carrying the Allied Nations ambassadors arrived at Paradis port. Security is at maximum while Queen Historia and her governing cabinet are receiving them with diplomatic honors, as they head for the Royal Palace to prepare details about their mission on the island.

A few hours later - Trost

Tensions run high, the Palace in it's entirety is guarded by MPs and the whole city is under martial law, protests are kept under control, while the leaders of the military watch the events with a close eye.

Queen Historia exits the Palace to speak to the press, nobles, military leaders and the citizens behind a barricade, accompanied by the 6 heroes of the Allied Nations: Armin, Annie, Pieck, Reiner, Connie and Jean.

Screams and protests erupt, "¡traitors, murderers, arrest them!" is heard all over the city.

Historia: My fellow citizens, I understand your feelings, we have lived 3 hard years of pain, of change and transformation, for everyone, not just for Paradis. Here with me are the only people who saw what happened that fateful day, a day so many of us still doesn't understand, so please, let's give them the chance to speak, as they just might ease our pain, by giving us the truth.

The crowd slowly starts to quiet down, Historia tells Armin to go head.

Armin: People of Paradis, my name is Armin Arlert, I'm an Eldian like you, I was born and lived in Shiganshina when the Colossal Titan came, I was a member and commander of the Survey Corps, I fought the titans and watched countless of my friends die.. and I killed Eren Yeager, the attack Titan.

Screams renew while the MPs try to hold back the crowd.

Armin shouts: Eren was my best friend, I knew him all my life, he saved me countless times, and he did it again 3 years ago. He saved us all and gave as a new opportunity; I'm here to tell the story of Eren Yeager, a boy who sacrificed himself to free us all, not just Paradis, but all of humanity… the crowd quiets down again.

The morning after

The press is on a frenzy reporting the Allied Nations ambassador's tale of Eren Yeager and the Rumbling, with mixed reactions from all sections of the Eldian society. All the cities of Paradis are in a quiet turmoil, the military leaders and the governing cabinet have been in permanent meetings as how to handle the situation, many not understanding why Queen Historia allowed to break the peace that has ruled over Paradis for 3 years.

The Queen decided to not attend the meetings, preferring to spend some time with her old friends, and to attend a very important reunion later the day…

The Royal Palace

Armin: well, that went just as I expected, created more problems than solutions, but I guess that was unavoidable. 3 years is enough time.

Pieck: I'm certain our boat is going to get sunk now.

Annie: Shut up Pieck, you have the worst timing as always.

Reiner and Jean are brooding over the table.

Connie: I'm worried about my mom, ¿Historia are you sure your personal security is trustworthy enough?

Jean shouts: CONNIE, how dare you speak to Her Majesty that way, you fool!

Historia: It's ok Jean, I'm just Historia to you guys, and yes, your families are safe, you can visit them later, you'll be escorted by my personal guard...

Armin, I think your speech caused more waves that you think. It will take time, but change will come, I know this will probably cause a conflict in Paradis, tensions will be high from now on, but this is what Eren entrusted us to do...

Armin: I made a promise to Eren, to make his sacrifice and of all of those who died worthwhile, no matter what it takes.

Everyone looks at each with resolve and concern.

Historia: Well, I think I think we have made Mikasa wait long enough, we should get going.

Everyone is preparing to leave, with an uneasy look. Armin approaches Historia.

Armin: ¿Historia can I talk to you for a minute? Everyone else keeps walking on, except Annie.

Annie: Armin, don't keep us waiting too long you hear? We are all busy enough to waste time.

She walks off with the rest. Jean is combing his hear meanwhile Pieck and Reiner start to tease him playfully.

Historia while chuckling: ¿You are quite on a tight leash huh Armin? - Armin blushes and laughs nervously – ¿What you wanted to talk about?

Armin: It's about Mikasa, I'm concerned about her wellbeing. I haven't been able to contact her much during these years, and she has not given many details. News about Paradis barely reach Marley. ¿Can you tell me how has she been holding up? ¿Is she ok? ¿Has she had any trouble with the military or anyone?

Historia: She is ok Armin, as a matter of fact she is quite beloved here, so you don't have to worry at all about her being harmed or having any troubles with anyone in Paradis - Armin looks very surprised – let me explain.

At the end of the Rumbling, Mikasa was brought back to Paradis by Lady Kiyomi, who took her to me. At that moment she was very much an enemy and a traitor to the Yeagerists. We discussed how to handle Eren's burial and Mikasa's safety, as rumors already were flying around that she had returned and an attack was imminent.

Lady Kiyomi suggested that Eren's burial be handled by us, meanwhile she would take Mikasa to Hizuru. Unsurprisingly Mikasa flat out rejected that idea, saying she would not leave Eren behind and she would do the burial herself. So, I said to her the only way to do what she wanted, was to allow me to tell the military about her story with Eren and present her as a mourning lover of the savior. Armin looks at Historia shocked.

It was the only way that they would believe she never intended to harm or stop Eren and be accepted in Paradis. To my surprise Mikasa agreed to this without much trouble...

After my announcement, the story took a life of it's own. Some leaders of the Yeagerists were members of the 104th class, and very clearly remember that Mikasa and Eren were always together, everyone assumed they were a couple, so they weren't surprised with the news.

They managed to convince the rest of the military leaders that the story was true. After that, the news spread like wildfire, the people were incredibly moved by her story and started to approach her, present her with gifts and asking to talk to her. The people started calling her "The Savior's Wife". Armin looks saddened by the revelation.

Armin: is she bothered by the attention?

Historia: Mikasa welcomed the affection of the people, in her usual gloomy and detached way. She mostly keeps to herself; she lives on the outskirts of Trost, and was given land of her own, she is a noble now as the Ackerman house was restored and because of her Azumabito heritage, Lady Kiyomi was very insistent about this, Mikasa reluctantly agreed and lives pretty humbly.

She has helped on the rebuilding of the cities, crops and training the new cadets. She still is quite strong and skilled. She even gave the military their new motto, although she didn't meant to do that, she just mentioned what Eren had told her as a way to inspire them. She is quite a revered figure, almost divine, it has caused me trouble.

Armin: ¿how so?

Historia: A year ago, some Yeagerist nobles saw Mikasa's popularity as an opportunity to seize control of the government for themselves; they declared Mikasa as the sole heir of the savior and intended to crown her as the new Queen and form a new royal house, the House of Yeager. Needless to say, the idea was quite popular among the military. It was quite a crisis, but Mikasa immediately shut it down by giving her only public statement, rejecting all the offers, saying that Eren's wish was for her to live a peaceful life and for me to lead Paradis, and she intended to do by his wishes. That was all it took for all the commotion to die down.

She has kept mostly out of the public since then. I visit her from time to time and Lady Kiyomi visits her frequently; as a noble she is part of the governing cabinet, but she was given the freedom to intervene only when she wanted to.

Armin looks shaken by the news: It's hard for me to believe Mikasa would do all this…

Historia nostalgically looks at Armin.

Historia: When we were preparing to present her return to Paradis, I asked Mikasa to tell me everything so I could understand and only use what was needed.

I was so moved and angry at the same time by her story. Eren had treated her so horribly. She told me Eren gave her a gift a few moments before his death, but didn't told me much about it, only that after that, she knew what to do and how he felt. Armin sadly recognizes what she is talking about.

Historia: I couldn't believe just how selfish Eren was. He always was a coldhearted idiot. - Historia starts to tear up-

Mikasa asked me to officially name her as Mikasa Yeager. That broke my heart. I asked her why? After everything, why would she do that... She answered very decidedly:

Because I'm free.

Shiganshina

The group gets off at the military station while Historia changes her clothes. She emerges wearing commoner clothes and a hood while accompanied in the distance by many members of the personal guard dressed as civilians.

Historia: Come on guys, we have to walk the rest of the way to the fields.

Reiner starts to slowly approach Historia from behind, meanwhile the guards start to close in on him. Annie grabs him by the collar.

Annie: ¿Want to get killed, you horny dumbass?

As the group reaches the outskirts of the city, a military officer reports to Historia. The entrances are filled with MPs and the military.

Jean: ¿What's going on?

Historia: Mikasa requested me to keep Eren's grave location a secret in order to preserve it, so my personal guard have shut off all access to enter and exit the city under the pretext of a military exercise supervised by me, to prevent any eavesdropping, so we need to keep a low profile.

As the group walks towards the field, in the distance they see Mikasa standing next to the tree that Armin's immediately recognizes, and starts to walk faster towards it.

Armin, gleefully tearing up yells: MIKASA!

Mikasa gives him a slight smile as he approaches...

Everyone starts to happily chat to Mikasa about their lives, meanwhile Armin, as glad as he is to see Mikasa again, he starts to look over Eren's grave...

Armin: I think we should start saying hello to Eren as well don't you think?

Everyone quiets down, and a nostalgic mood settles in, agreeing to start paying their respects to Eren.

Armin approaches first and kneels in front of Eren's grave, with Mikasa standing by him.

Armin: Hello Eren, I'm sorry it took me so long to come to visit you, but you left quite a mess, it's been hard to do what you asked me, but I think I'm doing all right, I hope you think so too.

Armin reads the epitaph on Eren's grave:

Here forever rests peacefully, my most beloved, my dear – 854

Tears start to run down Armin's face.

Armin: Look what a beautiful place to rest Mikasa has given you Eren… you idiot…

Armin breaks down in tears.

Mikasa holds him and softly says to him: It's ok Armin, I know...

Annie, Connie and Jean tear up; Pieck is respectfully standing still asking herself what is she going to say to Eren's grave; Reiner nostalgically looks up.

Reiner: I hope you found peace Eren… I will never forget what you have given me. I hope I can deserve it someday...

Everyone takes a moment to pay their respects to Eren's grave and sit still for a while around the tree.

Historia's personal cottage

Historia's husband is leading the servants in the preparation of a banquet, meanwhile a child is playing with the horses of the field, as a carriage is arriving.

Mikasa, Armin, Historia, Reiner, Annie, Connie, Jean and Pieck are gleefully enjoying the feast while talking about their lives and happily remembering their experiences with each other and Eren, when suddenly Mikasa feels a light yank, which startles her. She looks down and sees a little girl playing with her hanging scarf.

Historia yells: YMIR!

The child asks gleefully: Lady Mikasa why are you wearing a scarf? It's not cold today.

Mikasa with a loving smile responds: My husband gave me this scarf... it's very special to me, so I wear it all the time... makes me feel at home...

Armin softly smiles at the scene, while everyone else at the table is welling up, moved by Mikasa's words, meanwhile Historia stands up and starts to approach Ymir.

Ymir laughing says: But it's old and all patched up, your husband must be a real blockhead.

Armin, Jean, Connie and Reiner tear up, Annie sobbing gets up and leaves the table, Pieck is looking at them dumbfounded.

Meanwhile Mikasa with a smile answers to Ymir: Yes he was.

Historia takes Ymir by her hand yelling at her: You sure honored your name today, you little brat.

Sunset

Jean and Connie are saying their goodbyes to Historia, who are departing to visit their families.

Annie and Reiner are scolding Pieck for being so insensitive and clueless.

Meanwhile, Armin and Mikasa are taking a stroll on the fields, talking about their lives during the last 3 years…

Armin: ¿are you sure you'll be fine here Mikasa? I know you are strong and all, but I'm worried it might become too much, you should think about yourself...

Mikasa: I'm fine Armin, even if I stay isolated sometimes, I'm not alone, I do not feel lonely, I have a lot of things to do, you don't need to worry about me.

Armin looks at her disappointed, and replies: …all right.

Mikasa: So… you and Annie... want to talk about it?

Armin blushes and chocking up responds: What about Annie?

Mikasa silently stares at Armin.

Armin nervously responds: well, it's complicated. I don't understand her a lot of the times, she gives confusing messages to me about it, even for me it's hard to make out what she is feeling or what she wants.

Mikasa stops walking, stares ahead at the fields, and says: Have patience Armin.

Armin looks at her puzzled.

Mikasa: She has been through a lot in her life, she has lost so much, so it must be hard for her to welcome new feelings… give her time… and stay by her side Armin.

Armin nostalgically nods at her and looks ahead too; the wind is blowing the leaves of the trees; horses are prancing along at the fields all while the sun is setting.

Armin: It's all so beautiful… even the smallest of things.

A moment of peaceful silence settles in.

Mikasa looks nervously at Armin and softly asks: Armin have you… ever noticed… strange things happening close to you… from time to time?

Armin, still looking ahead, with a faint smile responds: ¿so he visits you too?

Mikasa looks surprised at Armin, gives him a slight smile and starts to tear up.

Armin: I think he likes to check if we are keeping our promises.

Armin welling up looks at Mikasa and says: he is persistent as ever, ¿isn't he?

Mikasa, with tears streaming down her face, with a smile says: yes he is.

Armin warmly holds Mikasa's hands and the two of them look at the sunset, while a bird flies past them.