Chapter 3:
Return Once More
There was a long pause of silence as Eren Yeager was staring blankly at the tree, he was ensure that this was even real. Eren visually looked like his 19 year old self when he was last controlling the paths with his brother Zeke Yeager. Tall as he was with a muscular build, dark brown hair that touched his shoulders, widened teal-green eyes and wearing the same dark attire bar his shirt underneath his mantle like coat. But Eren wasn't staring coldly at the spirit tree, he was staring at it with fear. The last thing he visually remembered was Mikasa in his Titan's mouth, ending him for the crime he committed against humanity. Yet Mikasa's eyes were shimmering with love and forgiveness because she remembered moments before about the world Eren had created for them both if things would've of been different. In a Alternative Universe where they spent the supposed remaining 4 years and a half of his life in Switzerland, just the two of them. It was a cruel but beautiful ending, in both universes, where Eren at 23 and our main Eren at 19 sees Mikasa one last time. Her heart-warming smile moving closer to him . Where one universe was Mikasa leaning smiling, 'See you later, Eren.' To then the other Mikasa holding her blade that was used to slit him away from the chains of hell, yet freed him and the world from the Curse of Ymir and even Eren himself. That was the result of Mikasa's choice. In both worlds, where he died, he was at peace because he got to see the beauty in the world again, the beauty through Mikasa despite how cruel their fate was. Either by the curse ending him in Switzerland or a result of his own inhumane actions. Those final seconds of Eren's life he felt her against him in their last embrace before his soul left this world. Until now.
"EREN!" Armin roared, breaking the silence and charges full speed at Eren Yeager because he believed it was Eren's doing for what's happened to Kai and the others. What other explanation would their be?
"Armin?" Eren questioned himself, still staring at the tree as he heard a familiar voice, wondering if that too was real or were just voices in his head.
Mikasa was still on her knees unable to move. Her blank expression studying Eren who had his back to her, looking 19 years old from the year 854. Mikasa was dumbfounded, watching Armin getting closer to Eren as he grabbed the 19 year old from behind and swung the body to the ground. All of this was happening in slow motion until Eren managed to sit up and faced Armin eye to eye for the first time, still unaware that Mikasa was behind him too. Eren doesn't speak, his eyes in pure horror as if he was looking at a ghost. When really Eren was the one who died whilst the man who was double his age was staring down at him, looking to beat the crap out of the 19 year old too.
"WHAT THE FUCK EREN?"
"A-Armin? Is that you?"
"YES OF COURSE IT'S ME! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Demanded Armin, standing over Eren as he tried to grab for his shirt getting ready to punch.
"What are you talking about? What you mean, what have I-" Eren, too shocked to react doesn't dodge Armin's attack as he was punched hard in the face.
"What am I talking about? MY SON JUST GOT SUCKED INTO THAT TREE! I LOST MY BOY BECAUSE OF YOU!" Armin was about to reach grab Eren's shirt again, delivering another blow from his fist. Armin was beyond raging at this point, confused on what had just happened before his eyes. Right now he couldn't care less about seeing Eren again when his son was just taken alive moments before. Eren then tries to push himself up from the ground quickly but was stopped by Armin's hand pulling at his shirt. Eren braced himself by shutting his eyes, allowing Armin to have one last go at him before he tried to break free from the mans rage. Though was surprised to not feel another blow against his face but instead hearing and feeling the force of wind. Armin too felt the same and turns around- the two men's mouth dropped to see a certain figure emerge from the tree of light. Mikasa, the most furthest behind, almost felt like fainting as she see's a little girl. A girl with short fair hair, wearing tattered clothing with a cloth headband, sash belt and leathered sandals. Mikasa stands up, feeling the urge to run away from the girl as those shadowed eyes were fixated on her.
"Ymir.." Eren said in disbelief, giving the little girl her name. Ymir Fritz; the Coordinate, the Founder of the Paths.
Armin steps away from Eren to the side, watching Ymir slowly walk past them both, causing them to turn their bodies to the direction she was almost floating towards. Eren's face turns completely white, his heart sinking down to the pit of his stomach as he whispered in pure shock, "Mikasa." Although Mikasa was much older looking, Eren knew straightaway who those eyes belonged to. What was she doing here? Why is Ymir heading towards her? All he knew was for sure something terrible was about to happen. Eren immediately pushed himself to his feet, sprinting for Ymir as he yelled;
"YMIR, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? STOP!"
Just as he's about to touch Ymir's shoulders, chains from the sand strike out for Eren and locks him forcefully from both legs, arms including his neck as his body slapped the floor. Mikasa, unconscious to what is happening stood completely still, her eyes in contact with Ymirs blackened expression. Eren groaned in pain as the chains grew tighter into his body, he then tries to break through them like he did before once with all his might. His left arm tugging forcefully against the cuff that clung to his right wrist, breaking it eventually but was shocked to see it reconnect itself to Eren just as quick when it snapped. This didn't happen like last time, before he was able to run towards Ymir. This struck fear into Eren, watching as Ymir and Mikasa are now only a few steps apart from each other. Armin, taking in what was happening realised this couldn't be Eren's doing as he saw the 19 year old helplessly trying to free himself from the chains in order to stop Ymir from reaching Mikasa. Armin started to sprint for Mikasa, hoping no chains would catch after him too like they did with Eren. As Armin stretched out his hand, Ymir turned her head and with a force like a invisible explosion- Armin is bombed several metres away and falls hard on the sand.
"ARMIN!" Eren yelled, growing angry as he tried yet again to break free from the unnatural chains.
Mikasa at this point finally snapped out of her trance, turning her head both ways to see Armin recovering from a sudden blast of air and Eren who was losing his shit. Mikasa then catches her attention to Ymir, now standing face to face with the little girl. Like a snake lengthening and raising its body higher into the air, Ymir began to grow taller and aged into a young woman, reaching her hands for Mikasa's. Mikasa's eyes were trembling when their hands touched, watching Ymir's sunken eyes turn into normal sky blue. To then sudden tears beginning to appear in the Coordinate's eyes, forming a weakened and pained smile at Mikasa as if she had something to say. A female's voice speaks into Mikasa's mind, matching the tone of Ymir's face as it apologised;
'I'm sorry.'
"What?" Mikasa replied aloud, trying to hide the fear in her voice. What was she 'sorry' for?
In Mikasa's a point of view, a blue light blurs her version but only lasted for a few seconds. Left in utter confusion, Mikasa's eyes shrunk as the Founder Ymir disappeared into dust before her. Eren's chains collapsed too into nothing, pushing himself onto his feet to hurry over to Mikasa but stopped midway as he sees a different version of Mikasa to the one he met seconds ago. No longer was Mikasa an older woman, but was now the Mikasa Ackerman in the Year 854, her hair now short again but also her clothes somehow transformed into the uniform Mikasa wore in the Battle of Heaven and Earth. 'I'm sorry?' Mikasa recalled in her thoughts, now looking down to her hands- the same hands who Ymir was holding onto before disappearing.
"Mikasa! Are you alright," Armin shouted, running over to her but also stopped because of the different versioned Mikasa who stood before him. Then Armin realised he sounded different, he looked down at himself. His suit was no longer on him but instead the scouts uniform he wore at the age of 19, noticing too how much leaner he was a well. "What the-" Armin interrupted himself and gasped as he noticed his voice sounded younger too, "How is this happening? What happened to me-"
"Armin." Eren manged to speak, seeing his pal looking the same age as him now.
Armin turned over to Eren, their eyes filled with a mixture of awkwardness and pain. Armin begins to walk to Eren and gulped, "You didn't do this, did you?"
Eren also started walking over to Armin and replied, "No. Why would I cause this? I thought..."
The man stopped himself before he could finish, now face to face with Armin Arlert who was no longer a 47 year old man but instead 19 again. The reason why Eren couldn't finish was because of all the memories he remembered before he died. The rumbling, the moment his head was blown up by Gabi, fighting Reiner and Porco, himself sitting by the windowcill after he fought his bestfriend and broke Mikasa's heart as he lied about her Ackerman blood. To then the attack on Marley, the memory of him standing at the ocean for the first time right up to that exact moment. The Medal Ceremony, kneeling down as he kissed Historia's hand and where his hell truly started. Eren thought he ended it all, ended his hell, Mikasa ending him and the curse. But here he was, standing in the Paths where he somehow lost the control over Ymir and witnessed her disappeared into nothing and hearing that his closest friends children had vanished. Guilt began to fester in Eren's chest; was this his fault?
"Then.." Armin began, "Why is this-"
"WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!" Mikasa roared, splitting the pair up as she stormed her way to the tree.
Eren and Armin jolted scared at the engaged Mikasa, her voice filled with venom as her eyes glaring towards the orbiting tree. Both men try to reach for Mikasa, panicking on what she was going to do next.
"Mikasa, please!" Eren begged, reaching her first as he placed his hand on her shoulder only to be knocked off as Mikasa screamed;
"WHY ARE YOU SORRY YMIR? I SACRAFICED EVERYTHING FOR YOU! I BROKE THE CURSE, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU DO TO ME! COME BACK HERE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH MY KIDS! WHERE'S EMETT?!"
Mikasa was inches away from the light, Armin and Eren both have their dear friend by the arms, gently holding her so they didn't provoke her. Nobody wanted to mess with an Ackerman, particualry Mikasa. Mikasa's eyes were boiling hatred as she continued on,
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH AIMI! TELL ME, YOU BAST-"
"AIMI, AIMI WAKE UP!"
Mikasa's legs turned numb at a voice she recognised screamed for her daughter's name in thin air as it caused her to collapse into Eren and Armin's arms. The men were too shocked. Armin asked,
"Did you hear that?"
"Oh my god, it's Milo!" Mikasa realised, stopping herself from saying anything more as Milo's voice continued;
"AIMI! PLEASE, WAKE UP! WE GOTTA GO-"
"MILO, SHE ISN'T WAKING UP!" the second voice shouted, it was Eleanor.
Mikasa's mother instincts starts kicking as as she turned her body to Eren, hands holding on to his shoulders even though her knees were on the ground. Eren had already lowered himself to her, their eyes for the first time in years were now in each others view. Sadly, it wasn't in a way they'd hoped for as Mikasa begged to Eren,
"They're at the other side of that tree! Please, Eren- for me, doing something!"
Eren didn't need Mikasa to say no more as he stood up and, trying to channel his power of the founder or at least Ymir to appear to help him. But nothing worked, Armin and Mikasa were anticipated for a miracle as they watched Eren call out for Ymir, to then clenching his fists hand to maybe trigger his power. Nothing worked and instead appeared the chains from earlier, snapping onto Eren's wrists as if they were telling him not to use his founding abilities. Milo and Eleanor's cries in the air began to infuriate Eren, the blood pulsing through his veins. Mikasa became more and more desperate, trying to hold back her tears as she watched Eren realising he was powerless right now. Armin, kneeling down to Mikasa as he tried to comfort her, closing his eyes and calmly said Eren,
"Eren.. It's no use-"
"NO! I CAN'T SIT HERE AND DO NOTHING! ARGHHH!" The hot headed man retorted, using all of his strength to fight his way using his body weight to the tree, finding it hard for himself due to the chains restriction. Mikasa's heart was breaking as Eleanor's voice was crying out her Aimi's name.
Eren was now facing the tree head on, knowing it was hiding Aimi and the others location and furiously screamed;
"SHOW ME WHERE THEY ARE! SHOW ME WHERE AIMI IS!"
Like a wish being granted, the tree shined brighter than before making Eren, Mikasa and Armin force themselves further back. At a distance that was managable, they all adjusted their eyesight to see a aura of white light revealing a scene to them that hovered in front of the tree. The trio couldn't believe what was happening, especially Eren. This never happened before, were they really in the Paths?
"Where are they?" Armin wondered, walking a little closer to the aura to try and make ou twhat was going on. There the aura started forming humongous figures in what seemed to be a forest, progressing further like a developing polaroid picture of two figures of who came to be Milo and Eleanor trying to wake someone up who was lying on the ground. Mikasa automatically knew who was on the floor, her eyes widened in terror as she shouts out the name,
"AIMI!"
Aimi felt her body being shaken as if she was in a earth quake, beginning to wake up to the following screams coming down hard on her. She first sees Milo, the sweat dripping from his forehead, making her wake up quicker as she muttered, "Milo?"
"Get up!" Milo, relieved that Aimi was now awake, "We don't have time."
"What?"
"Common girl, get up!" Eleanor begged, hooking onto Aimi and dragged the girl onto her feet.
Aimi rebalances herself, then panicked asking, "guys, where are we?! What's going on!"
Milo grabbed Aimi's hand, forcing her to sprint with him and Eleanor panting, "we don't have much time! If we don't run now, they'll catch up to us!"
Aimi was now matching with Milo and Eleanor's speed, gradually becoming more and more unsettled. "What will catch up to us!?"
"We don't know what they are! We saw one earlier but managed to run away from it. That's how we found you!" Eleanor panted, jumping over a bolder that rested on the earth.
The three were running in-between the most tallest trees known to man, creating a dark and creepy atmosphere. They stopped, seeing multiple directions they could take however it was choosing the right one that mattered most. Aimi was now freaking out, but no where in a state the other two were in, looking from left to right like mad men. Milo and Eleanor looked like they faced hell, the sweat clinging to their clothes especially Eleanor's hair whereas Milo's hair was hiding underneath his beanie but it wasn't to assume he wasn't sweating. Aimi was wondering to herself how long were her friends running for, and most importantly- what were they running from?
Eleanor asked quickly, "Where should we go?!"
"I don't know-" Milo tried to respond, disrupted due to vibrations coming from the ground, feeling it more intensely at the right side of the forest. This made Eleanor and Milo gasp as if they knew what the vibrations were.
"THIS WAY!" Eleanor cried, turning left that was heading towards the end of the forest as rays of light were seeping through the trunks of the trees.
Aimi and Milo followed Eleanor. Aimi knew something bad was happening and manages ask Milo again, "What did you see Milo?!"
"I-" Milo panted, trying to catch his breath as they're almost reaching the end of the forest.
Milo was looking straight ahead of him, contemplating of what he saw was correct. Aimi was getting more impatient, anticipating what it could've been.
"I think we saw-AH!" Milo stopped talking due to the sun blinding his and the girl's eyesight but at least they knew they have reached the end of the forest.
Eren, Mikasa and Armin are watching the trio's exact moment. The three of them were disturbingly confused onto what Milo and Eleanor were talking about. Armin, beginning to listen to his gut asked his friends,
"Guys, you don't think-"
Eren cuts in, "No. That's impossible!" After saying 'impossible,' Eren was already starting to doubt his own words, trying to finish with, "There's no way-"
Eren stopped talking, only because he and the others heard Eleanor screaming in terror. They turn their heads fearfully to the aura, only to regret it immediately after what they witnessed.
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
"Eleanor, what is it-" Aimi shouted and bumped into her friend, stumbling back.
As Aimi's vision improved, starting to see both Milo and Eleanor. The expressions painted on their face, pure horror and fear. Aimi was confused, moving her head slowly to the direction the other two were looking towards but only leads to Aimi widening her eyes as she stared at the huge nuded body, raising its head back at her slowly. This abnormal body was 10 metres tall, the reason why the trio's eyesight were no longer stung by the suns rays. When Aimi meets eye to eye with this creature, she asked herself; 'Is that thing human?' It had a face, a face of a distorted man as it was heaving above the trio heavily. It's eyes looking down at them like food, its salvia beginning to drip from its mouth.
"I-I think we saw a titan." Milo finally got to finish his sentence, tears trickling down his cheek.
Eren within the paths collapsed to the ground, kneeling over the sand as his hands clung onto the granules. The anger raging inside of him. This couldn't be real. This CAN'T be real. How is this happening? Armin's face was white as a sheet, his blue eyes almost invisible as he too fallen on his knees. It felt like a kick in the stomach, seeing what was happening before their very eyes. The titans, have returned.
Mikasa on the other hand started running closer to the aura, screaming with all she had even though she knew her daughter wouldn't be able to hear her,
"RUN AIMI, RUN! GET AWAY FROM THERE-"
As the titan extends its hand for its pray almost in a quick enough motion. Aimi grabbed the two by the arms, snapping them and herself included out of their trance demanding,
"RUN FOR IT!"
The three turn their heels and sprinted for their life's back into the forest. As they get back inside, large thuds are racing behind. Eleanor then began to scream like a madwoman.
"STOP IT, YOUR GONNA MAKE IT EASIER TO FIND US!" Milo screeched.
"YOU THINK I CAN FUCKING HELP IT?!" Eleanor snapped back.
Aimi being the fastest was ahead of the other two, jumping over a broken down tree and lands on her feet and squated down for the perfect land. Before she runs off again, a figure body slammed into her. Aimi winched in agony as her head smacked the earth, looking up in hopes it wasn't a titan who was ready to demolish her. Thankfully it wasn't, seeing a young man getting himself up to his feet.
"K-Kai, is that you!" Aimi managed to say, relieved it wasn't one of those monsters.
Thankfully it wasn't a titan and indeed was Kai Arlert, looking panicked as he lifts her onto Aimi's feet panting;
"Shit! So sorry, thank god you're ok! Quick, we need to hurry!" Eleanor and Milo make it round the tree and reunite with Aimi and now Kai. There they then felt vibrations coming from behind them, the same titan who was already chasing Milo, Aimi and Eleanor. But what made them panic more was seeing another titan but coming from Kai's direction.
"KAI!" Armin shouted for his son, feeling seconds of relief to witness his son alive inside the aura but snapped back into panic mode going, "what's going on! Why are they..."
Armin faced the opposite direction and started to walk away from Mikasa and Eren who were still watching the scene in front of them. Armin furrowed his eyebrows thinking allowed as he continued to walk,
"Why are they being chased by titan? But that doesn't make sense because titans are extinct in our timeline. Unless.. They're not in our timeline.."
Eren and Mikasa doesn't pay attention to Armin's brainstorming because they were glued to what was going on. Armin span round as he heard a loud noise coming from behind, he gasped witnessing the tree that was behind Kai and the others got flattened by the enraged titan, causing the helpless victims to start running for their lives again.
Whilst Kai, Aimi and her closest friends are now running from two titans- the young Arlert looked behind him to see how far ahead they were from the monsters. Only to regret his decision as he seen another roughly 6 metres titan-like woman was crawling desperately for them. Kai sweat dropped, he never felt more useless in his life. He wanted to find a solution onto what they could do. But they literally had nothing.
"WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE!" Kai called out to the the others, jumping over a little stream whilst the others copied him and constantly kept looking back to ensure the three were ok.
Eleanor cried out to Kai, growing tired and exhausted; "We're gonna die here, aren't we?"
"I'm not going to let that happen!" Kai replied, sounding determined but lost his confidence as he stopped his tracks due to another 15 metre titan standing in front of them and then pounced for them like prey. The group were forced to spilt into two, Eleanor and Milo running off in one direction whilst Kai and Aimi in the other. The three titans copied and seperated, the smallest titan being the one to chase after Milo and Eleanor.
"GUYS!" Aimi cried back for her pals yet was still running in the opposite direction as them.
Milo and Eleanor realised they had been separated from Aimi and was about to try turn round but stopped as Kai ordered,
"JUST KEEP RUNNING! WE'LL TRY AND FIND YOU!"
The two done as they were told and continued to run away from the miniature titan stumbling for them. Aimi didn't know what to say or do. The tears began to form in her eyes, she was glad to be with Kai and was leading the mission to get away from the titans. He looked more controlled in the situation as he leads her deeper into the forest, growing dark and thicker due to the trees being bunched together. However, that didn't stop the titans as they were able to just about wriggle their way through. They wanted their prey badly. The question was though how long were Kai and Aimi able to run for because their legs were becoming more and more numb each step they took.
"Kai!" Aimi panted, "What's going on? Where are we?!"
"I don't know! I just woke up and found-" Kai inhaled abruptly, continuing, "found myself awake in front of a titan and I have been running ever since."
Aimi looked behind her, panicking as she noticed the largest titan out of the two was a hand away from grabbing them; "They're gaining on us!"
Kai see's the titans hand hover them, forming a dark shadow like a cloud blocking the light. Kai gritted his teeth together. He spots a landslide to Aimi's side. The titan, lifting it's hand up a little higher in the air and begins to slam it down like a person about to squash a fly.
"SHIT!" Kai cursed, grabbing Aimi and pushed her and himself off a hill slide to avoid being flattened because he had no other choice. The pair tumbled down the ledge of the forest, thankfully there were no trees on the hill for them to body slam into but instead wet muck, broken sticks, stones and even nettles- an unpleasant journey until they reached the bottom.
Aimi and Kai gets onto their feet, catching sight of the titans but then became petrified to see more emerging titans as they hauntedly stared down at them. There was no way out for them, no where to run bar behind them was pile of rocks and what seemed to be a small cave but didn't appear to be safe enough for a place to hide. Not when the humanoids had already spotted them completely exposed.
"Kai.. What are we going to do.." Aimi whispered fearfully, exhausted as her body was aching immensely from all the running as the adrenaline left her.
Kai looked back at Aimi for a second, unsure on what he could do. There was no where to run. A human versus a titan with no weapons to at least try to fight them off. Kai deep down was fearing that this was it, but he didn't want it to be the end for him or Aimi. The young man had to think of something- think! However hell was one step ahead as the titan began to charge down the hill, the ground almost becoming an earthquake with bashes of thunder growing more powerful the more the monsters got closer.
"GET IN!" A voice from behind shouted, startling Aimi and Kai to turn around to see Emet running straight for them and grabbed his sister by the arm as they head for the cave. Aimi, unable to think or speak a word followed Emet before she felt her brother push her inside the dark cave.
"Emet!" Mikasa said in deep relief, developing subtle tears under her eyes. Her son is there and alive, watching him grab onto his little sister for shelter. Perfect timing.
Throughout this unbearable experience, Mikasa had been praying internally for her children to make it. Though the chances of that actually happening are growing increasingly slim.
Eren on the other hand felt tortured mentally as he watched his dearest friends children trying to fend for themselves. He has to save them. As Eren composed himself, locking his fists together and closed his eyes. He tries to imagine in is mind the location on where Aimi, Kai and Emet could be. Eren did grant power of the Founding Titan after when he freed Ymir two decades ago. He has to use it now, he needs to or Eren will never forgive himself if Mikasa's and Armin's kids don't make it out alive. Eren remembered when he had the full Founding Titan abilities, he was able to see everything, his coherent thoughts bleeding into one scene. As he tried to focus on this mystery like location by picturing Aimi, Emet and Kai through the aura, hoping the light will tell him where they are and that the Paths will transport him there. Eren begins to almost feel part of the reality within his mind, he can see Kai standing just a couple of metres away from him and feel the vibrations from the titans shake into his legs but what was pissing him off was this blurring force blocking him from actually entering their world. Whilst Eren is trying to push his way through, Armin and Mikasa noticed the sands in the Path begin to push themselves part, forming once big circle around him. Eren growled to himself, he can feel his power, but why wasn't it strong enough? Suddenly the chains of irritableness appeared again and snapped onto Eren by the waist and dragged him to the ground. Armin runs over to Eren and takes hold of the link of chains and just like that the metal turns back into granules of sand as they flop to the floor.
"Why aren't you able to use the power of the Founder?"
Armin asked Eren, already knowing that his old friend didn't have the answer to. In a way he was relieved to see Eren trying his hardest to save his son and that none of this was his doing. But the question still hung in the air unanswered, why couldn't Eren use the power of the founder like he did before? Or better yet, why couldn't he even use his Attack Titan as well. The two abilities would be able to jump into time, manipulate the situation and influence the future. But why not this time?
"Eren." Mikasa whispered tearfully, "Please, keep trying." As she stared painfully at the Titans charging full speed for Kai, Aimi and Emet. The three of them looking feared of what's to come, especially her daughter's eyes. Mikasa, feeling helpless began to cry, she couldn't allow this to happen, Mikasa can't let her daughter die.
Eren, watching Mikasa crumble and making his heart string tugged painfully in his chest began to panic. Once more he tries to channel his founding abilities, yet as predicated the chains attackked Eren but this time there were even more of them as one of them clung round Eren's neck.
"FOR FUCK SAKE!" Eren viciously roared, beginning to growl frustratingly as he tried to break free.
"Eren stop! It's not working." Armin said, sounding defeated.
"ARMIN, BUT YOUR SON!"
Mikasa was balling at this point, falling onto her knees and cried out to the Aura, the spirt tree and even to Founder, "PLEASE YMIR, LET ME SAVE THEM!"
It was a pointless request.
"AIMI, GO DEEP INTO THE CAVE AS YOU CAN!" Ordered Emet, pushing Aimi further into the cave.
Kai is not long after, the corner of his eyes seeing how the titans were inches away from reaching him.
'I'm going to die, aren't I?" Kai thought to himself when he desired not to but forced acceptance upon himself. Kai then felt a hand grabbing his bicep and yanked him to the floor with all their might, forcing Kai to tumble deeper into the shallow cave. He was stopped by Aimi's body who was already lying on the ground, preventing his face from being smacked into the rocky walls. The only person to have pulled Kai to the floor was Emet himself, standing at the entrance of the cave. Aimi and Kai both looked back at Emet, who almost was about run further in the cave but failed to do so as a huge hand swiped in and grabbed his torso and yanked him out like weed in the soil.
"EMET!" Aimi squealed for her brother, jumping over Kai and begins to exit the cave.
"AIMI NO!" Kai shouted after her, forcing himself up to reach for her because he knew it was a stupid move to make when the titans were literally seconds away from reaching their monstrous hands into their hiding place.
"SHIT!" Emet yelped in agony as his ribs, shoulder and arm were crushed into the grasp of the mindless titan, the blood seeping out of its hand by the force and noise of Emet's bones breaking.
Aimi screamed at what she just witnessed before Kai slammed her to the ground, pinning her down from moving any further to ensure no titan caught her but noticed all of titans had left the entrance of the cave and instead were fighting amongst themselves to try get the hold of Emet who was being inside a titans hand who stood centre amongst the cannibals.
"EMET!" The pair inside the cave cried in hysterics for Emet, their face masked in horror to watching Emet's final moments as the titan opened its mouth- ready to devour him.
Mikasa, screaming like she never screamed before as she watched the titan try to eat her son. Armin and Eren were gobsmacked, their pupils shrank into tiny dots. They couldn't believe it. This couldn't be real. Mikasa was crying repeatedly the word, "no" as she hunched over the ground, wrapping her arms around herself as her tears dropped down onto the sand.
"NOOO!" Mikasa whaled, unable to look up in fear she'd catch glimpse of her son get eaten by that fucking titan, hearing Emet roar back to the titan;
"LET GO OF ME YOU BASTARD-ARRRGHHHHH!"
There was a moment of silence as Mikasa predicted the titan had already finished Emet off. Yet.. that's not what happened. Instead the aura began to shine and changes scenes to Milo and Eleanor running desperately out of the forest as you could hear their screams for 'help.' In confusion Mikasa raised her head, watching Aimi's friends run away from the small titan who was as expected was waddling after them.
"HELP!" Milo screamed, "SOMEBODY! ANYBODY! HELP US!"
"IT'S CATCHING UP WITH US!" Eleanor shouted at Milo, not noticing a large stone, trips over herself, and falls to the ground.
"ELEANOR!" Milo panicked, stopping his tracks to help Eleanor up.
Just as they were about to run again, the small titan was behind them opening its mouth ready to bite at least one of their heads off. Eleanor lets out a pitching scream and clung onto Milo who's face had turned completely white as if his soul already left him but to their surprise a sound of a blade slicing through the beasts skin, caused the titan to stop moving. Milo and Eleanor were frozen like stone, managing to see a black figure swoop past behind the titan, supposedly the one who caused the titan to stop. The titan collapsed to its side and fall to its stomach, its neck revealing a deep wound as the blood flowed out like a stream. Milo heard the noise of gas, a blade piercing in the air to then a sudden swift like noise above them, lifting his eyes to see a figure who appeared to be soaring in the sky like a bird landed on a thick branch on one of the giant trees. The figure turns their body to Milo. The face hidden in their deep green cloak. Eleanor was crying into Milo, hiding her face thinking she already died.
"What..." Milo managed to speak, unable to think straight on what was going on.
"ARE YOU ALRIGHT!" A random voiced asked as they grabbed onto Milo from behind, causing him and Eleanor to jump out of their skin.
The voice then moved over to face the two scared individuals, revealing a woman with dirty brown hair pulled back into a tight bun with thin framed glasses, wearing predominately the same cloak the previous figure was wearing as she pressed her hands onto Milo and Eleanor's shoulders. The concern in her eyes as it makes Milo reply timidly,
"There's more of us..."
The sound of men and hoofs from behind started to emerge. Eleanor, turned her head and spotted a whole squad of what appeared to be soldiers were heading towards them. At least 15 of them on horses, they surround Milo and Eleanor and random the woman who was still holding onto their shoulders.
"More? Where?" The woman asked, showing sudden confusion at Milo.
Distracted by a sudden crowd of men on horses, Milo noticed a familiar symbol embedded on one of the cloaks. A symbol of metal like wings on top of a shield. Milo's eyes widened, concluding on what that symbol could be. His head wondered, 'Is that.. The wings of Freedom symbol?' He'd only known because it looked awfully similar to the Yeagerist symbol back at home, his father and grandfather who worked as Lockheed Martins throughout their life. They were men who were able to manufacture top weapons for the military. The differnce between the Yeagerist and the current symbol that Milo is looking at is that symbol didn't have guns on top. Therefore Milo was able to recognise who these soldiers were.
"The Survey Corps." Eren gasped, recognising the uniform instantly as the squad saved Eleanor and Milo. Armin was standing beside Eren, unable to speak as he was trying to make sense of everything. Titans are back. The Survey corps just saved Eleanor and Milo. But who killed the titan? Amrin couldn't recognise any of the soilders. Mikasa on the other hand was still kneeling on the ground, her eyes hurting from all the crying. She was completely numb at this point, the only thing she could think about was her beloved Emet, yearning to know what has happened to him and the others but was in too much pain she remained silent facing the aura.
"Answer me, where are the others?." The woman demanded, snapping Milo back into reality.
"I... I don't know." Milo spoke hazily, staring at the member of the Survey Corps and believed for a moment he had already died and entered some sort of afterlife. He definitely wasn't in heaven. Milo then wondered what sins did he comment, maybe there was no heaven. No hell. Just another life, but then Hell might actually exist because he was just hunted down by titans.
"Can you point in the direction where they are?" asked the woman, furrowing her eyebrows at Milo's slow response as time was becoming more slim if the surviviors were gonna make it.
Eleanor who was a little more stable at this point, lifts her hand and points back to the forest, trying not to tremble doing so as her eyes were pinned to the woman.
"There..." Eleanor mumbled but was still loud enough to be heard before half a second later a struck of lightning followed with the sound of thunder occurred inside the depths of the forest. The light from the lightning was shooting right up above the trees that made Eleanor, Milo, all the soldiers including the mysterious figure still standing on the tree branch lift their heads up to see the change of atmosphere in the sky darken due to the impeccable light. There then soon followed piercing shining sound that came, but what caused everyone to gasp in shock was a booming roar of a demented creature had awoken that lasted nearly 10 seconds. The darkened sky disappears back to blue, leaving only traces of smoke of where the commotion occurred, where that creature could be.
"Captain!" The woman stood up in panic, turning her body to the mysterious being who had their back from her and was facing the darkness of the trees, "What was that thing?"
Eleanor hooked herself onto Milo, becoming panicked again in case that thing was gonna come for them. The soldiers were talking amongst each other in deep concern, asking themselves was it another titan? Has a fire just started? What do they do?
"Get the boy and girl out of here." Ordered the Captain, a voice of a young woman, "Gather more troops and I'll signal when ready."
"CAPTAIN! DON'T GO IN THERE ALO-" begged the woman, about to run after the hooded figure but stopped due to her Captain's stern command;
"We don't have much time, that's an order."
The Captain jumped off the tree, pulling out two ultrahard steeled blades from under her cloak and started using her gear that made her look like she was flying, slipped herself into the forest at great speed. There left behind were members of the Survey Corps, Milo and Eleanor. Who were all trying to make sense of what just happened.
"What was that thing?" Eleanor whispered to Milo, shaking like a leaf against him who doesn't respond to her.
Only a few moments before the Captain had spoken to the squad on what to do. Eren, Mikasa and Armin's faces were too in horror as they were only just witnessing the creatures outburst in the middle of the forest and repeating the same question in their mind, what was that thing? Eren couldn't''t believe it, but was quickly to make an assumption that the creature was a Titan shifter because the mindless titans are only able to make subtle noises whereas this monster was capable of roaring and had a underlying tone of a person screaming alongside it. But who? Better yet still, which titan is it? There were so many questions with unexplainable answers. Eren puts his hand through his hear, pulling it slightly by the scalp in frustration as he tried to make sense of the situation but only tsked to himself when he couldn't even figure out a single thing.
That's when the Captain ordered out to her squad,
"Get the boy and girl out of here."
The voice made Eren' break out of his thoughts, recognising that voice and listened out further;
"Gather more troops and I'll signal when ready."
"The Captain is a she?" Armin said, raising an eyebrow as he never recalled a Captain during the years of the Survey Corps being a woman. Although there were female soldiers, some were leaders of a group in minor squads. But this woman was the Captain and was credited due to the other woman who must've been second in command who was tending to Milo and Eleanor. The Captain being a woman wasn't the problem, it's just records never obtained in Armin's memory back when he studied Survey Corps' history during his younger years, never recalled a woman being a Captain. The only woman who was enlisted with such a high status was Hange Zoë, the 14th Commander of the Survey Corps. The Captain didn't sound even close to Hange.
Mikasa on the other hand after hearing the 'I'll signal when ready' felt she knew that voice too. Mikasa makes eye contact with Eren, they both felt an unsettling familiarity. Why did they only question who the Captain was as if they may know them? Who could it be? Eren breaks contact with Mikasa and answered to Armin going,
"I don't recall a captain who was a woman either, I suppose that's not the important question we're dealing with here though."
"Your right." Agreed Armin, "My next question is, was that a titan shifter?"
"Had to be." Eren replied, "I don't understand how though, the only titan shifter I can think of is the Founder, but that doesn't make sense because it's suppose to be hidden away by the Reiss family. Unless... my father?"
No, it couldn't him either. Eren recalls his old mans memories who was Grisha Yeager, only used his titan once before passing on his abilities down to Eren when he had retaken the Founder from Freida Reiss (the last Founding Titan Shifter) in the year 845. Therefore, it would be impossible for it to be Grisha.
Both the young men were thinking to themselves, as both they too were shifters at a point. Armin however stopped thinking about who the titan but where the shifter could be, realising it was in the deep forest, meaning it might be close to Kai and the others. Armin gasped and goes, "Wait." Armin furrowed his eyebrows before turning his head to Mikasa to see her and Eren noticing Armin's sudden change of tone.
Armin gulped, making the two grow worried as he finally continued, "The titan shifter is in the centre of the forest, right?"
"Yes it is, Why, what's wrong Armin?" Eren asked, sounding confused by the comment because it was already something they knew whereas Mikasa was beginning to panic because she twigged on to what Armin was trying to get at. Her eyes expanding as she heard Armin speak with fear yet hidden with potential hope as he asked her directly,
"Mikasa... Could that be where our kids are?"
Author's Note:
Ooof. Btw, I am triggered by Isayama and the whole leaks situation. A potential sequel? My dude, let the characters rest XD. Let Eren Yeager be at peace. (Then there's me and my fanfic) YES I KNOW BUT I AIN'T OFFICALLY TORTURING THE CHARACTERS! But yes, I have 3 out of 4 chapters completed of Volume 1- which is great because I am so grateful to see a few of you liking the story for it only just starting up. It'll be interesting for me to see how you as the readers will react to future volumes. Also, with Eren's AU lifespan, I believe himself and Mikasa were together already in Switzerland around 6ish or more months from when they went to Marley and that very night he asked, "What am I to you?" Hence when he said "I should just live the last four years I have..." with Mikasa in Chapter 138. Plus you can tell that they have been there a while, Mikasa's hair was much longer compared to previous chapters, or how cosy their cabin looked with the bench and cutlery, the garden etc. You get me? If not. I thought I would spend an hour gathering dates. Here is my crappy quick maths of the two timelines, the main timeline and the AU/Paths timeline. It's just hard to do when it isn't so directly stated. Feel free to scheme over it if you want,
Timeline of Events
Eren had 5 years Remaining in both Timelines
-The night the Railway open, Eren had a secret meeting with Yelena about Zeke. Shortly after, Eren talks with Floch about his true intentions to peruse the Rumbling.
-Eren and Historia meet, telling her about not allowing her to inherit the Beast Titan and commit ruins to the world. Which in short concludes with Historia asking, "How about me having a child" (remember that drama of who the baby daddy XD)
-Chapter 123 (Mikasa's POV) and Chapter 130 (Eren's POV) in Marley. Eren was contemplating his actions, whilst Mikasa was with the others at Kiyomi's. They reunite at the refugee camps where Ramzi was reunited with his family. Eren then asked the bold question of, "What am I to you?"
Now this is when things spilt. Underline means= Alterative Universe. Normal =Main timeline. Italics mean= Happening at once.
-In Chapter 123, Mikasa tells Eren he's family, they were interrupted by Ramzi's parent and shortly after Armin and the rest appear. They spend their night drinking, the following day Eren departs and goes into hiding from Mikasa and the gang due to the nations wanting rid of Paradis. Where in AU, Mikasa gets to tell Eren her Ideal answer, leading them to run away.
Eren now has 4 years to live at most
-Eren infiltrates Liberio after the Marleyan War Ended. He then is in the Mental (or just hospital I need to look into it) Hospital as he soon meets Zeke, discussing their plans (probably in a couple of occasions) and says to his brother he will end the 2000 years of history with the Euthanasia plan.
-Eren meets Falco, getting to know the boy. Eren was quick to notice to share a similarity of wanting to be a better solider in order to protect someone they care for as Falco wants to be the Armored Titan so that his friend (crush) Gabi can live a long life but couldn't because she was the better soldier overall. (The similarity there is Eren wanted to join the Survey Corps and be better than Mikasa, at the time when he was younger he was pretty jealous of her. But then came to realise it was Eren wanting to protect her based from Chapter 50- but founding it too challenging as Mikasa is a talented soldier herself and doesn't need protecting as such.)
-In Chapter 130 again, Eren and Zeke later discuss behind Mikasa's protective and kind natured action towards Eren. Eren proposes a theory that it could be due to her Ackerman genes (protecting its Host). But is quickly debunked by Zeke as it's due to her affection (love) for Eren that is behind her motif. Zeke then asks Eren what does he plan to do with Mikasa's feelings, knowing that Eren may have feelings for the Ackerman girl also. However, Eren avoids his answer with, "I've got four years to live at most."
-Within the span of a couple months. Eren attacks Marley, is in prison for a month due to his rebel. Then uses his theory against Mikasa in order push her and Armin away in Chapter 112 stating he, "hates her and is a slave." This was their last conversation in person before the Rumbling Arc.
-Whereas in Chapter 138 during the battle of heaven and earth moments before Eren's death, Mikasa awakens to see Eren in a place she's never seen before after having, "A long dream." This is the memory of the AU world. Where Mikasa asks herself and Eren if they should be really there. Eren then explained it's too late, that the Marleyan War ended 2 months ago and that he couldn't commit genocide, put Historia through hell etc. That after when Mikasa was able to give her ideal answer, Eren just wanted spend the remaining "four years" in peace as it was her idea. Eren then tries to make a promise with Mikasa and asks her to move on when he dies, to live a long life and to get rid of the scarf. Mikasa declines his wish, particularly forgetting about him.
-The remainder of Chapter 138. As Mikasa makes the decision to kill him in the main timeline, she is in his titan's mouth and there another memory appears. This time it shows Eren's final moments after four years, where Mikasa leans in close and says "See you later Eren." Mikasa, in the main timeline, is smiling farewell at Eren as she remembers the memories they shared in the AU. Eren, allowing Mikasa to end him- share their departure in both timelines with a kiss. The "see you later Eren" moment is a scene that is also referenced in Chapter 1 of AOT that's Eren's version of a long dream..
BOOM. (I hope this makes sense, my brain hurts).
Disclaimer:
I do not own the characters of Shingeki no Kyokin, they belong to the rightful owner. Other characters later mentioned in the story will be referenced also as the fanfic progresses. The only characters I have ownership are ones created from scratch. Also, IF YOU ARE ANIME ONLY OR HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE MANGA, PEASE DON'T CONTINUE TO READ THIS STORY. Unless, you love spoilers then that's fine by me!
Chapter Four will be released soon along with preview of Volume 2. See you till then!
And also, *salutes*
Shinzou o Sasageyo!