Chapter 10:
Not Him or A Monster
"Ok so, based from the scores I forged from the training corps. Milo, you academic scores are excellent. You done well in the strategy content, work well with the ODM machinery and have nice balance with manuever training. But.. stamina and combat is terrible and would mean you'll get easily crushed. Not to mention, judging by looking at you, I am politely telling you're underweight. I can see why you've been called a few times twig, eh?"
Carla, standing in the barn still in front of Milo, Aimi and Eleanor was reading off the reviews written by Chief Commander in order to categorise everyone from best to the unsuccessful. Milo felt sudden embarrassment about his weight as he was petite for a boy. His frame was, and has always been, relatively small and lacked in muscle that there was barely definition.
"I guess so." Milo chuckled awkwardly.
"Don't worry." Carla reassured Milo Becker, "I'm only pointing this out because I'm going to be training you a little differently from Eleanor and Aimi. My main priority with you is to improve your strength and build. I won't be able to magically transform you in 6 weeks, but you'll better than you were before."
"Good luck with that." Milo sweat dropped, looking at his lanky arms wondering how that would be possible.
"Oh you'll see." Carla smiled, making Milo raise his eyebrow at her. "Now, your turn Eleanor..."
The tone of Carla's voice made Eleanor straighten up as she replied back confidently, "I am ready for my excellent review!"
"Hmm.. Well, you have good combat skills though it is noted that you burn out quite easily, but that can be worked on . Excellent with manoeuvring. Not bad with strategy or technology. Though what brings you down is your lack of strategic work and have little initiative. That means you don't think ahead but seem to rely on others instead...I mean literally this report says you'd be the first person to go if there was a titan nearby."
"Nice.." Milo sniggered, Aimi too was sniggering as she watched Eleanor's face drop.
"I mean, I don't think they're wrong." Eleanor admitted, wrapping her left arm across to other, "So what's expected from me to get better?"
"Well, you'll go through loads of scenarios with me. I'll run over that along with the physique training, but I'll be aiming to make sure you think more with your head." Carla replied, flicking over to the next page and said, "Finally there's yourself, Aimi."
Aimi froze, freaking internally inside at the thought of being told of how terrible she was at everything and just the perfect reason why she shouldn't be a soldier. The young Ackerman gulped, waiting to hear the words of confirmation from what she believed inside her head.
"You have extraordinary combat skills, along with good stamina. You can tell your passionate and strive to do well. But what brings you down tremendously is your balance using maneuver gear and therefore the lack of coordination is the main reason why you were terminated. It's stupid I know, because if you applied for Garrison... they mostly sit on their asses. But, if a titan was to breach the walls we need to know all of our soldiers will be able to use the equipment to fight them off. Then with your academic achievement, they're scraping off the surface of a pass. So...realistically, you're not doing too bad. It's just doing this all under two weeks wasn't enough for you to graduate. So, please Aimi give yourself a little more credit if this was a full duration- you'll probably be scoring steadily better as the term went on. So don't be panicking, ok?"
Aimi was shocked, did she hear everything from Carla correctly, so she wasn't so bad after all. But it was hard to believe based from what Chief Martin made her out to be. It was almost too good to be true.
"But.. If its the maneuver gear that's holding me back... How do I improve?"
"Watch and learn." Carla replied, tossing aside the report and walked her way to the podiums, "The main purpose of vertical manuvering equipment is to be able fight a titan regardless of how they seek to kill us. The simplest move possible with the vertical equipment is simply aiming and firing the grapple hooks at an object and then activating the gas mechanism to reel oneself toward said object."
As Carla was explaining this, she belts herself to the centre podium, adjusting it to fit her waist perfectly, "It takes great physical strength, particularly in the legs, coupled with spatial recognition abilities, as well as the mental strength to not waver in the midst of a panic, are crucial qualities. If you can't do it, like yourself Aimi, you are then dismissed from training. Milo, come here and hoist me up."
Milo walked over, standing by the side and began to pull up the handle to start it lift Carla into the air, dangling up as she continued,
"A lot of this balancing is actually in the core. When you tighten your core, channelling it then into the legs. You'll end up like this."
Immediately, Carla stops swaying, becoming still as if she was on the ground. Eleanor and Aimi were impressed, seeing how perfectly still Carla was.
"Ok, Milo. Put me down. Now, as you can tell I had a lot of control in this perfectly safe scenario with perfectly functional gear. Now, what happens if this gear was tampered with?"
"You'll die?" Milo answered, helping Carla unbuckle herself from the belt.
"Yes, not unless you teach yourself how to work with damaged gear." Carla said, taking the belt in her hand, "See this everyone?"
"Yes," The three replied.
"Good." As Carla said the word, 'good'-she slammed the belt onto the ground and stamped on it viciously, causing the main clasp to snap. Everyone bar Carla gasped, shocked to see what the woman had done as she ordered, "Alright Milo, lets do this again."
There Aimi and Eleanor watch Carla strap herself, and once again hoisted into the air however she was less stable, looking as if she was about to keel over at any second
"Ok, as you can tell. I don't have as much control, however because of years of experience I haven't fallen over. Whereas if it was any of you's, you would easily smack your head. But.. again, it's all about balance, strengthening your core and finally lower body. So when you achieve that, you should look like this."
Just like that; Carla stopped shaking, her body once again still as she was before. It was incredible, for the maneuver gear to be broken. It was impressive to see how Carla made it look like it was perfectly functional.
"Honestly, I do not expect any of you to achieve this. What I will say, if you learn to adapt and use what you have, even damaged. Your chances of survival will double."
Aimi was amazed, seeing Carla now beginning to purposefully and slowly do a backflip to then a front flip all with tampered gear. Then Carla asked Milo asked to lower her down again and heads over to Aimi and Eleanor again.
"We have 6 weeks until the next expedition I will be leading, by then I hope to bring yous along with me as a test run to see if you are ready to survive from the titans. Our routine will be intense. The morning will we'll be working out, followed by combat training. When that is completed, you will do some academic work. However, I won't be expecting you to know everything, just mainly on strategy topics and being able to work with ODM gear and understand fully what it does. Then, at the evening we will do some manoeuvring. Milo, you'll be eating a lot of food on top of intense strength training. So you'll be put on a little more pressure. As for you, Eleanor. I'll be pushing you to think of different scenarios, ensuring you think for yourself. and Aimi, I'll be pushing you to breaking point, that maneuver gear won't be your issue anymore but it will end up being me. One big problem you won't be able to get rid off."
The three accepted the challenge, the first day Carla wanted to prep everything by leaving all the equipment in the barn along with settling into the cottage. Carla then suggested to prepare for dinner, where Milo was assigned to peeling potatoes, Eleanor to the other forms of vegetables such as onion and leeks. To then lastly Aimi was asked to later on put everything to a boil in order to make potato and leek soup. Carla, who had been out for a few hours arrived with a dead pheasant. The trio were groused out as Carla began to pluck and dissect the bird, chopping it up and disposed the parts that weren't necessary. Aimi goes out and chops out wood, bringing it into the cottage in order to create a fire in order to boil the soup and help cook the pheasant. It turned out majority of the meat was given to Milo, to help increase some muscle and weight overall. It was difficult for the boy, he barely would eat normally and when he did it was such in small portions, hence his size. They all sat by the table, the pheasant cooked, the soup now ready and to finalise the meal- Carla puts some bread on the table grinning,
"Got to start the training with a full stomach, mind you we won't be eating like this every night. But I want to make sure you all have enough energy for tomorrow."
"I don't think Milo is able to eat all that.." Aimi chuckled lightly, smiling at Milo who was staring at his plate with slight fear to see the bulk of food on his plate.
"It'll be hard for the first few days, but soon your body should adapt and you'll want to keep on eating. Common, get it in you." Carla ordered, pushing Milo's plate closer to him as it becomes more unavoidable.
"Can I try to eat at least half of it?" Milo gulped, "I think I can do half."
"Milo, eat...it...all." Carla's slow words made Milo's stomach want to expand, nodding panickily to her as the young man began to eat.
Aimi smiled, happy to see Milo eating the food because she remembered Mikasa always telling him off for not eating enough. Suppose Milo has a reason to want to eat more which is to become more stronger and bigger. As for Eleanor, she sniggered at Milo, finding it funny to watch the boy eat the plate as if it was his last day but stopped instantly when she felt a light kick from under the table who happened to be Carla, sitting across from her as she instructed,
"You too, Rako."
"Carla." Eleanor obeyed, quieting herself as she began to eat.
Although Carla was stern, Aimi caught the older woman smile to herself. It was interesting to watch this woman with almost a dual-like personality. Was this the real Carla? The woman she met before, who was Captain Carla. Was someone cold, disinterested and strict to the fiddle. But with Carla as just ordinary Carla. She's here helping them, helping them to train up as soldiers in such a short time frame. What was more interesting was that Carla knew Aimi's mother, but how is something she couldn't figure out. Maybe one day she will.
"So..." Carla wondered, setting down her spoon beside her bowl and placed her hands just below her chin as she sat curiously at Aimi and the other two as they waited to hear what she wanted to say;
"It's quite interesting that you says yous are from the future... I was told something by Kai that has definitely been eating away at me. I didn't want to ask because maybe it would be a bad thing to know about stuff from the future. But.. I got to know..."
Aimi stopped eating, waiting where Carla was getting at. What did Kai say? He could've told Carla anything.
"What's it like..." Carla said slowly, her eyes lowering as if she felt tempted to want to rather see it than hear her curiosity, "What's it like in a world without titans?"
All was positive for Aimi Ackerman, Milo Becker and Eleanor Rako as they spent their few days with Carla Rin. However that was not case for Kai Arlert who was spending time with Hunter Rin. Now returning to the current moment when Hunter goes to Kai, "But to answer your question of proving yourself. Well, Kai Arlert... Where do I start?" Kai didn't know what to say to him and decided to listen carefully to what the Commander wanted from him,
"Listen, and listen good. You say you're from the future. But of course, future events aren't known until they happen. Therefore, I believe if order for me trust you..."
Hunter sat down, his dark eyes hunting Kai to the core, "I want you to prove it to me through events that may or may no longer happen...by showing me something yet to be discovered that we Eldians aren't aware of on the island of Paradis. Now, I don't want just want one thing... I believe that the more you show me, the more I can trust you."
Kai looked down into the flames, feeling its heat making his uncomfortableness worse.
"You said you want a repetition of events... By how much exactly? In fact, I don't even know what you're looking for."
"Doesn't matter what you show me.. As by how much... Hmph."
Hunter glared at Kai, making the younger man look up to the Commander as he knew fine rightly Kai would sense it.
"How many do you think you can show me? After all, I'm sure whatever you have told Carla was enough for her to want you to show me. In fact, what did you tell her?"
"I...I told her the walls and the titans are ceased to exist in the future."
Kai's heart sank, seeing the Commander's unpleasant reaction as if he had told some twisted and false lie. Before Hunter said anything, Kai explained,
"I know I can't show that...It's practically impossible, and I can't explain it because if I do I know it will impact time itself and will prevent that event from happening. However, what I can try and do is show you things that may be in relation to the future, but will not change the course of events."
"I have a problem with that. Why can you not tell me about the walls and the titans? Wouldn't it mean we ourselves can save our own skin? Or are you a twisted bastard as such who wants the Eldians to suffer?" Hunter growled, becoming angry.
"No, Sir. That's not what I am saying, even if I told you. We won't be able to do anything about it because the individuals involved or the events leading up to that result has yet to happen."
"Individuals?"
"Yes... My father, and several others are yet to be born within their timeline. Then when they do, it's them that creates Paradis's goal a reality. Please, Commander...At least.. Trust me on that!" Kai could see on Hunter's face that he wasn't so convinced and tries further as he goes, "My father told me about his past... If I can try show you things based on what he's told me. Would that be enough to believe that Paradis has a future?"
"Go on." Hunter demanded, "You're starting to get interesting now."
"Well, how about I show you..." Kai tried to think on the spot, hoping whatever blurts out of him will be enough for the Commander, "Why...Why don't I try to show you three significant things? I don't know what yet, I rather not rush into them. But each of them will be enough for you to believe that what I know is true, and what yet is to be discovered. Now, if I show them. We cannot interfere, if we do we'll ruin the timeline and humanity on Paradis will never get to experience what I get to live... which is a world without titans, and a world where we aren't caged by walls. Please, Commander... it's all I can offer. But I will make sure it is enough."
As Kai finished his words, his blue eyes shimmered to Hunter, showing this form of hope to him, secrets of knowledge yet to be discovered, a knowing of certainty that a man such as himself could not explain. Hunter for once, wasn't sure on what to do for a brief moment, but reminded himself instantly what he wanted from Kai.
"Fine. Three events, three secrets of the future. But don't be thinking I am patient about this... There's no time to waste. For me to accept what you have to offer. How about you show me one thing right now. After all, I can already think of one."
'What does he mean by that?' Kai thoughts wondered, thinking hard before he realised that Hunter been staring no longer at him but at the cart and just like that Kai knew what Hunter was on about.
"Alright." Kai said, "The first thing I'll prove to you.. Is that titans are humans, more specifically" Kai looked over to the Commander, "That we Eldians can turn into one."
"Well go on then. Wake him up." Ordered Hunter, watching Kai nod in response and walked his way to kart to do what needed to be done.
Lying there in a deep sleep, Emet barely moved a flinch. The blanket had been moved away from his face along with his scars no longer visible and the bruise that tarnished his skin had evaporated. Kai was now standing over him, bending over the cart and began to lightly tap several times against Emet's face going,
"Emet. Wake up. C'mon buddy, I need you to get up for me"
In response Emet groaned, flickering his violet toned eyes to see two blue dots looking down on him.
"That's it, Emet." Kai encouraged, pulling Emet up to sit upright.
Emet adjusted his infinity scarf, managing to wake up and realised he was located in some sort of forest. First Emet woke up in a room inside Paradis, now he's out in the open and yet the only thing that remained the same is that he was unconscious about it. The Ackerman moved his head to right, seeing Kai standing beside the cart with a look of uncertainty in his face.
"Kai? What's going on?"
"Come with me." was all Kai answered whilst walking away from Emet towards the fire, pressuring Emet to follow him.
Emet stands up, feeling slightly weaker in the legs but copes to get off the cart as he headed his way to where Kai was. Moments later Emet sees the commander again, reliving a flashback of the very same man knocking him out. Emet frowned, still irritated by this man but told himself to try not cause another knockout session- not when he came to conclusion that there were multiple members of the Survey Corps surrounding the area. Hunter too was staring down at Emet, mutually feeling the same way the younger man felt for him..
"I swore I left a mark on you." Hunter said amusingly, referring to the bruise he caused back at the academy.
Emet doesn't answer, knowing that if he did open his mouth it would end up causing another fight.
"Ah, now deciding to behave?" Hunter grunted, "We'll see if you can keep that up."
The Commander rose to his feet, storming off as he told the soldiers he'll return back soon and commanded the two men by the fire to follow him. Without saying a word, Kai and Emet follow the commander deeper into the woods until they reached an exposed area of land where the moon was able to embrace its light on. Naturally Emet and Kai stopped walking, feeling as if this was where Hunter wanted them to be. Hunter stopped a few few metres away from them, facing them as the moon creates a darkened figure of himself.
"Kai, I suppose you may explain why we brought him here."
Emet arched his eyebrow, turning his attention to Kai in surprise to find this is what Kai also wanted. Kai could read his friend's expression saying to him, 'the hell, man?' It was then Kai knew Emet's mood or thoughts weren't going to change anytime soon.
"Emet. I know you don't remember. But, I want you to try do this for me. Commander, do you have a knife or anything sharp on you?"
Hunter doesn't answer with his words but through his actions as he pulled out a knife from his belt, tossing it over to Kai for him to pass to Emet. Emet now was holding the knife, the moon showing its depth and sharpness.
"Do what?" Emet urged, his eyes still on the blade.
"Father told me that you need a clear goal and must self-inflict or damage yourself in any way possible... It should then allow you to transform."
Tra-transform?" Emet barely worded out, clenching his teeth in seconds and snapped, "God dammit, Kai! Not this bullshit again! I told you, I am not one of those fucking titans! Or titan shifters you yapped on about back at the training corps!"
"Emet, just do it." Kai sighed, "Why would I be persistent with you if that wasn't the case?"
"I don't fucking know! You tell me! No, take the knife." Emet demanded, trying to give Kai the knife but was unsuccessful as Kai backed away. "Kai, stop it. You're really pissing me off."
"Emet. I want you to just do this one thing for me, if you cut yourself and nothing happens then I'll stop. I just want you to give it a shot-"
"KAI I SAID STOP-"
"JUST DO IT, EMET! I'M SORRY TO PUT YOU THROUGH THIS! BUT YOU GOT TO!" Kai begged, shouting in distress to Emet.
Emet growled, grabbing tighter onto the handle as he was almost close reaching boiling point. Why was Kai so tenacious? Emet was taken aback by the fact Kai did scream back at him. It was often something Kai never did. Still, it infuriated Emet that Kai was forcing him to harm himself. Emet's eyes daggered over to Hunter, his arms folded as he impatiently waited for something to happen before Emet returned his vision to the knife in his hand.
"Fine." Emet growled, noticing that Kai immediately began to take a further few steps back. "If that's what you really want from me, Kai. But you're just making yourself, including me, one big idiot."
Kai once again chooses not to speak, making Emet more angrier than he already was that he could feel the adrenaline kicking in- the blood pulsing through his veins along with his heart thumping like a drum.
"I'll prove it to you... that I am not.." Emet placed the blade tight against his wrist, barely shaking before he roared out, "A MONSTER!"
There Emet sliced his skin, expecting to feel pain, the air oozing his fresh wound and the blood to trickle down however did not expect to see a spark of light to zap from his body. Emet's eyes widened, gasping to feel a sudden change of vision occur, feeling his body forcing itself off the ground and something connecting surround his body, almost flesh like. Emet then felt sudden veins beneath his eyes get attached by flesh like veins, causing his vision to immediately see the world again. But this time he could no longer see the stumps and rising trunks of the trees, but now was at level with the mid-trunk and lower branches. Emet felt he was bigger, stronger and almost inhuman.
"W-what the?" Emet gasped, looking around him to see he was deep inside something.
Emet started to look around him through the lenses of something he couldn't make out, eventually noticing Kai was beneath him and suddenly heard a grumble from out of nowhere which sounded like a demented bear.
"No.." Emet stuttered, fearing that what Kai had been saying all this time was true, "How.. do I get out of here?"
Emet thinks of breaking free from this mysterious vessel, fortunately he noticed something from behind him opens up, allowing him to emerge out into the open air but had to do it with force by snapping off the tiny veins that were connected to his eyes in order to do so. Only hearing the steam, seeing a nude like nape in front of him, dark like hair and realising that he was mid-air above the ground. His heart was racing, trying to make logical sense of what was happening, an explanation onto how he couldn't be a titan but knew no matter what he could think of- it turned out to be true that Emet can turn into a titan.
Emet lifted his head up as he hears Kai's voice from below shouted up, "EMET! CAN YOU HEAR ME?"
Emet was trembling, only to shout barely going, "Kai... What the fuck is happening..."
On the ground surface, Kai and Hunter witnessed Emet transform into a titan in seconds. The beginning of it being the sound of Emet's voice to a fearsome roar, a human body to a total monster and making Kai's first significant exposure was true. Hunter, standing still stared blankly at the monster. It's all four individual vibrant eyes shinning and its defined human like body structure towering over the Commander. All Hunter could think to himself was that Carla was right and Kai had proved it. The Commander lowered his head to Kai, staring at the young man before him,
"He really can turn into a titan, then? How come he isn't like the rest? They're nothing compared to Emet."
Emet remained silent on the nape of his titan, listening to Kai beneath him explain to the Commander;
"You see, there's different types of titans, sir. The ones outside the walls are called pure titans. Then there would be a few cases of abnormal titans. I was told they have the ability to run, jump, or crawl at high speeds, yet still similar when it comes to behaviour of a pure titan. This then leads me to the third type, a titan shifter."
All Emet could think about was how was even possible in the first place. How himself, from being at home with his family to now being sucked up in a world surrounded by titans and now only to find out that he himself is one them, Emet just didn't want to accept it.
"However, with a titan shifter. There's only 9 individuals who can become one, meaning 9 variants of titans who have their own special ability."
Hunter began to walk closer to the corpse of Emet's titan, standing beside Kai as they look up seeing Emet looking dead inside.
"Different variants? Do you know which of the 9 titans has Emet inherited?"
"Honestly, I can't recall all the 9 titans right now. But... I am familiar with a few of them." replied Kai, thinking back to a childhood memory he shared with his father Armin Arlert long ago.
"Dad, you said you were a titan shifter weren't you?" Kai, aged 8 asked excitedly to his father.
"I was." Armin replied, smiling down to his boy as they walked across the beach, a bright and beautiful day it was as the sun made the sea glisten. A place Armin often went to whenever he had a chance.
"Wow..." Kai wooed, "Which one were you?! The cart?"
"No, no. I was the Colossus titan."
"Oh. Which one was Uncle Reiner, then?"
Armin stopped walking, now facing the sea still holding onto Kai, a boy who was passionately interested in his father's past which Armin openly talked about with his son, not wanting to hide anything from him and made sure he knew the purest truth Armin tried to convey.
"He was the Armored titan."
Kai noticed his father was staring out to the ocean, allowing another question to pop into the curious boy's head as he goes, "Ok... Then which titan did you stop from destroying the world?"
Armin lowered his eyes, making Kai wonder what was going on inside his father's head to finally hear the answer- almost as if he was pained saying it. It was always a memory that stuck to Kai's mind on why Armin sounded the way he did, when he answered going, "The Attack titan."
Suddenly another flashback happened, a scene where Armin is sitting by a fireplace with Kai by his side as the pair of them were reading a book. Kai was sitting on his father's lap, looking at drawings of various creatures inside the book- particularly drawing of titans. The various sketches of the shifters, one caught Kai's attention and points going, "Father, is that the attack titan?"
"Yes, he looks the most similar to the pure titans. It has the ability to obtain various memories of its past and future holders, and has fought for freedom throughout the generations. This one in particular has elongated ears, fleshless jaws, and highly muscular build making have fairly substantial physical strength and endurance."
Now back in the present moment. Those words make Kai think back to time when Emet first transformed, how his speed was impeccable along with the intense strength. Out of the other titans Kai envisioned through his memory based on the drawings as he analysed Emet's titan. It did look more and more similar to the attack titan. However, he was aware that the founding titan can look similar to the attack titan.
"I believe Emet is the current inheritor of the Attack Titan."
Emet froze, still sitting in the nape of his titan to hear Kai say; "The Attack Titan." Emet knew well about this titan, it's basically praised in the current world of Paradis, freeing the Eldians from oppression against humanity. But in his eyes, it was quite the opposite, feeling himself lose consciousness and feeling the complete urgency to do something bizarre.
"No." Emet whispered, sinking himself into his titan and began to to suddenly sprint away.
Hunter from below shouted for Kai to get out of the way, pushing him out of road as they fall to the ground and watched Emet sprint into the dark forest ahead of them.
"EMET!" Kai shouted, getting up onto his feet, "I got to stop him!"
Hunter groaned, pushing himself up onto his feet and started to take of his ODM gear, "You better. Or I'll find yous myself and knock the fucker out again."
Kai quickly puts on the gear and began to run towards the closet tree at reach, it was good he learnt how to use the gear effectively well, it was one of his best scores. He clicks onto the handles and zapped out a hook, beginning to zoom into the air now on the mission to retrieve back Emet.
"EMET! WAIT!"
Kai was now deep in the thick forest, making it hard to see what was around him due to its denseness but thankfully due to Kai's speed he spotted a huge figure storming through the trees.
"EMET! STOP!" Kai shouted, soaring in the air, now catching sight of the rampaging titan, "IF YOU DON'T STOP WE COULD RUN INTO OTHER SOILDERS!"
The earth shook due to Emet's stride, wanting to escape everything around him. Emet from inside his titan was frozen, his pupils were shrunk to almost nothing. He barely could hear Kai shouting from behind in the forest, Emet just couldn't take this anymore. Nothing was making sense, what was sending him off the age was the fact Kai referred to him as the Attack titan. It was all Emet can think in his head, hearing Kai say those words, 'I believe, Emet is the current inheritor-'
"NO!" Emet screamed inside his titan, "I AM NOT THE ATTACK TITAN!"
Suddenly, Emet could see gas 6 metres of ahead of him, forcing him to stop as there flew Kai mid-air screaming;
"EMET!"
Emet's titan arm reached out for Kai, grabbing hold of the wires and makes Kai yelp out in shock for catching onto him so easily. Kai screamed, now dangling but continued to beg out for his friend, "EMET! COMMON, LISTEN TO ME! HEAR ME OUT!"
Kai noticed Emet was no longer running and was now standing still, letting Kai hang awkwardly in the air. It was a sad moment Kai realised, remembering Emet's past and traumatic childhood, to now hearing what Kai had theorised. It was something Kai wish knew wasn't the case,
"Look Emet, I know things aren't looking good right now. But common, you know better than anyone that running away isn't the answer."
Steam emerged again from Emet's titans neck, hearing a voice from behind go; "You don't understand. Why, Kai? Why is this happening to me? How did this happen?"
Kai frowned, looking down to the ground sighing, "I don't know..."
"I... I can come to terms that I can turn into a titan... But.. Why... Why the Attack titan? There's what, 9 of them? T" Emet's voice cracked, almost sounding as if he could lose his head again, "My damn whole life revolved around that bastard... Kai.. I am nothing like him... I... am nothing like him.." Emet closed his eyes, spitting out hatefully, "I am nothing like that monster."
"I am nothing like that monster."
"A monster." Eren said to himself, his eyes on the ground as he listened to Emet.
It was obvious that Emet had a dislike to Eren, for what reason Eren did not know, possibly due to his actions in the past when he was the Attack Titan. Even though that may not be the answer, can you expect anyone to like you after you done the worst thing known to man? The Attack Titan was already a threat to humanity back when Eren was in Marley during the Declaration of War. But Eren too wanted to know how Emet was now an inheritor of the Attack Titan? What did strike Eren was when Emet said, 'My whole damn life...' What did he mean by that? How did Eren's actions impact Emet Ackerman so much? Was it do to with Mikasa? Eren peered his eyes over to Mikasa, who'd be quite this whole time as her face was showing empathy for her boy. 'Was that how you felt Mikasa, when you saw me as a titan for the first time? Or is it because you know how unfortunate it is to be one?' Eren asked her within his thoughts, wanting to know what she was thinking, what she knew about Emet and his clear dislike towards but but knew that now was not the right time.
Eren along with Armin and Mikasa watch Emet release Kai's wires to allow the young Arlet to attach himself to a tree in order to swing across the air and land beside Emet from within his nape. Kai doesn't speak, allowing Emet to pour out his emotions further because it was all he could do.
"Do you think, this his doing?" Emet growled, not looking at Kai as he eyes began to darken.
"No." Kai answered bluntly, kneeling down to Emet; "No, I don't think he'd do that to us."
"How could it not be him though? That bastard was the founding and attack titan. The one who committed mass geno-"
"Yes, but you know the true story as much as me that it wouldn't make sense for him to be doing this. I don't think he'd want to do that to our parents."
Emet tsked, turning his head more away from Kai because he knew damn well that he was right and that pissed the Ackerman off.
Armin turned his attention to the depressed Eren, knowing his friend was trying to bury his emotions about the conversation Kai and Emet were having. It must not be easy to listen when someone is speaking so ill of you, especially when some elements were true. Eren to many was a monster, someone who turned Paradis on its head, splitting the military apart to form two groups such as the Yeagerists and the Alliance. Someone who too killed 80% of humanity, an unjustfiable act through the Rumbling. Though, behind the truth is meaning, and meaning is understanding why those events took place. Armin sighed to himself that caused Eren to attention to the sound, the two looking at each other in silence. Eren looked away first, his eyes furrowed doing so. Armin then looked away also, hearing his son try settle comfort Emet;
"Listen.. I don't know what's going on right now. I can't begin to fathom how you're feeling about this right now. But, in hindsight- the Attack Titan existed before Eren Yeager. There were inheritors before him, therefore each of them held their own identity. You are not defined as him just because you may possibly share the same titan. Heck have you see your titan's features?"
"No." Grumbled Emet, his face still away from Kai.
"You literally got hour frickin eyes, making your titan quite unqiue." Kai chuckled, sadly failing to make Emet find humour in the conversation. "But besides that, there's so much we don't know. There's no time for us to panic, we have to figure out what's going on."
"How are we supposed to do that?"
"Well, I may have negotiated something with Commander Hunter. It won't be easy, but thankfully you made the first one possible."
"I have?"
There Emet's face within the aura lifted, his eyes still however darkened compared to Kai's bright hues looking back at him. The contrast in the two was definitely noted. Kai nodded, putting his hand on Emet's shoulder.
"Yes. I have to prove to the Commander that we're from the future by showing at least three different things that yet to be dicovered. The first one was that Eldina's can turn into a titan, meaning you are a titan shifter I used for that example. I still need two more, but sadly I haven't thought that far ahead. But that's why I need you to work with me and help me gain Hunter's trust. By gaining his trust, we may be able to find our way home."
"How can we find out way home through gaining trust with the Commander? What good will that do?"
"Put it this way, we need all the help we can get in order to try find the answers. The more people on our side, the better." Kai explained, now having Emet's full attention before he continued, "I just need you to try work with me on this. You got to trust me and I will make sure I help us find our way home."
As Eren watched Emet lower his head, he coudl tell Mikasa's son was coming to terms with what what happening.
"Ok. What do you need me to do?"
"Control yourself." A voice from behind ordered, it was Hunter, landing on Emet's left titan shoulder.
Emet and Kai do not pep a word to the Commander, allowing him to speak further, "Pull yourself together and accept that you're now a cursed monster, a danger to humanity. But just because you're a monster. Doesn't mean you need to have a behave like one. You may actually be a use to me"
Emet raised his eyebrow, wondering what the Commander meant by that. Kai too was curious.
"If what Kai says is true that a titan shifter has abilities to be a human. Then I want you to become the titans will fear instead of us scared of them by using your power. Kai, you seem to know a lot about the shifters.. Does that mean you too are one?"
Kai panicked to the Commander "No-no, sir. I don't believe I am one. As for my knowledge, I only know so much because of my father."
"Do you think you can train Emet?"
"Train him?" Mikasa broke her silence, not saying anything more as Kai asked too;
"You want me.. to train him?"
"Well, unlike Emet, it's you providing information of his own ability. Therefore, on top of proving your loyalty to me in order for me to trust you. I expect you to keep Emet at bay. If the military were to find out about him, I'll let them have both of you. After all, your seeking help from us."
"Well, I don't know how to train a titan. But, I'll do my best to ensure he's in full control of his shifting abilities and doesn't get exposed to the public." Kai consented, doubting himself as well as he stared down to the ground.
"Good. So what's the next thing you want to show me."
Kai held up his right hand up in the air, "I'm sorry Commander, but I want to take my time on this. I assure you I'll think of another one. I need to be careful."
"You definitely do." Agreed Armin, letting out a deep sigh, "How much does my son even remember what I've told him."
"Well, what have you told him?" Eren asked, expecting only to say a 'few innocent stories about the survey corps and of course the rumbling.'
"Everything, Eren. Literally everything." Armin replied, seeing Eren's face taken aback by the reply, "Now I told him all of this throughout the years. It's just I never wanted to hide anything from Kai, I wanted him to make his own judgement on things. Even Marleyan history."
"Even Marleyan? Why?"
"Because Annie is from Marley, she may be an Eldian. But I believe it's best to tell future generations both sides to the coin. Even if that nation is almost wiped clean."
"But how will Kai do it? I mean, almost anything he shows could be a shift in the timeline." said Mikasa, folding her arms and felt slight worry, "It could mean everything we've done has been altered."
Mikasa and Armin look to see Eren's reaction, surprised to see that he wasn't angered or stressed by what Mikasa implied.
"No, time happens at once. If I can find a way to bring them home, I'll resume what's been done as if nothing has happened."
"But.. what if there's another way? Isn't this meant to happen?" Armin suggested, "I mean, why would they all be there? There may be a chance that things are not what they seem and therefore it's best to see how this all plays out."
"Hmph." Hunter grunted, standing up and strikes a hook on a far tree, "Let's get back. Though don't expect you have all the time in the world. If you waste my time. I'll return you back outside the walls."
Kai from the aura then helped to pull Emet out from the titan's nape, allowing the Ackerman to wrap his shoulder around him as he used one of his hooks to pull them both in the air- following the Commander back to camp. Emet, holding on to Kai was still lost in his thoughts. It was clear in the aura that Emet was hesitatitant on what he had to become, accepting the reality that he's now a titan shifter.
"Hopefully I won't need to transform." Emet whispered to himself.
"You may have to a few times, only till you have complete stability of it. Then hopefully we won't need to." Kai said to Emet, managing to hear him.
"Hm." Emet groaned, ending their conversation from there as they flew with use of the ODM Gear among the trees.
In seconds, the aura began to change its scene without being told by Armin, Eren or Mikasa within the Paths. The three allowed it, watching it become a scene of Aimi, Milo and Eleanor fast asleep in bunks. Mikasa broke into relief, seeing her daughter was safe and sound sleeping. What intrigued Mikasa then was wondering where her daughter could be. It wasn't before Mikasa sees Carla enter the room, holding a candle light to check if the three were asleep. Eren, Armin along with Mikasa were surprised to see Carla as they watch the woman closing the door again.
"They're.. with Carla?" Armin was first to speak, watching Carla go into her own room and settled into bed.
"Show us when Aimi left the Training Corps." Mikasa ordered the aura, waiting to see what happened right from the beginning.
There they witness Aimi's upset to then Milo and Eleanor standing with her again before Carla arrived in a changed persona. Overtime, the trio witness Aimi's and her friends reaction to Shiganshina, making them all feel like they were back at home whenever they were children. The houses looking just as they were before it was taken away from them, when everyday living stopped for them. Eren out of the three was the most entranced by it all, seeing his mother act more friendly to Aimi, Milo and Eleanor. Almost like a different woman, but a woman he felt more familiar with. His eye felt suddenly heavy when he sees Carla guide them to a house that was once his, standing tall untouched or damaged from the result of boulders and titans trampling over it. He couldn't believe it, this house was Carla's before he was even born, before she met his father Grisha Yeager. For Mikasa, she felt relief to see Carla taking them in, letting them stay in her home.
"She planned this all along." Mikasa said to Armin and Eren.
There during the night when Aimi and Milo were sleeping on the table, a strange event took place. As Aimi was sleeping on the table, she kept tossing and turning, looking as if she was silently in pain and was trying to break free from something.
"She must be having a nightmare." Eren theorised, thinking it was the only logical reason for her behaviour.
"I'm sorry." Aimi muttered in her sleep, sounding as if she was close to crying before turning over to her side, "I'll... end this."
Eren, Mikasa and Armin froze, feeling unsettled by Aimi's words within her dream. End what? Mikasa on the other hand felt like she had heard those words before, but couldn't remember from where and choose not to mention anything, feeling it would be a waste of time doing so. Eventually the scene moved forward to a couple who we knew as Mr and Mrs Rin coming down the stairs along with Carla, their faces shocked to of see a pair of strangers lying asleep in the kitchen.
"That's Milo Becker on the floor, and Aimi Ackerman on the table." Carla whispered, pointing at the individuals.
"Is she alright?" Mr Rin asked, indicating Aimi as her face was dripping with sweat.
"Beats me, should I wake her?" Carla wondered, walking closer to the table but stopped due to Mrs Rin scolding,
"Don't Carla! She's only sleeping, let the girl be. But what's going on? Aren't you supposed to be back later on in the summer?"
Within the aura, Carla turned to face her mother. Her expression lost in her thoughts before responding,
"I decided to take a break now. But I won't be staying here. Reason being is I'll be training those three up at Hunter's place until the next expedition."
Mr and Mrs Rin's dropped, making Carla's mother run over to her and began to shake Carla in frustration. Seeing Mrs Rin do this made Eren think of Carla he knew scold his multiple times when getting in bother.
"I know, but it has to be done." Carla said, arching her eyebrow with a smile.
"Carla, please don't be stupid about this. This is reckless. You can lose everything!" Mrs Rin begged, "Honey, tell Carla she's making a big mistake."
"Carla, you should reconsider doing this. Does Hunter know about this?" Mr Rin, only to make Mrs Rin frustrated because what she hoped from her husband would say was nothing impactful.
"Yes he doe. I'll shall now go get my things." Carla noted, shrugging lightly to hint for her mother to let go before she makes her way up the stairs again.
Like a summary, Eren, Mikasa and Armin see how the morning unfolds when eventually all three of the survivors wake up from their slumber, eat their breakfast and leave once more. Seeing Carla's interaction with Eren's grandmother was something he couldn't help but think of himself living in a perfect world imagining how he and Carla would interact if she was alive when Eren joined the Survey Corps. Carla, trying to tell him not to do it, him, shrugging her away as if too say everything will be fine. But that wasn't part of his world, his world was more darker than that, more complicated and less perfect. Eventually Eren, Mikasa and Armin noticed Carla and Aimi walk up the steps, only to see that Carla was going in the basement, a place Grisha used to hide the truth, a great importance of secret concerning the Titans, Grisha's past, and the world outside the Walls but instead was just an ordinary basement with tools and keeping spare gears- probably from Carla's years within the Survey Corps. There eventually they leave Shiganshina, in peace, arriving to a place far from the wall, a large barn with a cottage nearby.
"That's must be where they're staying." Armin said, figuring it had to be where Hunter use to live.
Near the end, it turned out Carla really was going to be training Aimi, Eleanor and Milo. It was quite an unexpected turn, and it then it became more of a surprise to see Carla instruct everyone how to use the maneuver gear, only to then too show how she was perfectly balancing on broken gear against the podium, not even flinching.
"Honestly, I do not expect yous to do this. But I will say, if you can balance when the gear is broken, any other part of the gear such as the hooks, the wires, the blades snapped in two. If you learn to adapt and use what you have, your chances of survival will double."
'I...Just about balanced on it.' Eren recalled in his memories, that day where he tried so desperately hard to pass the maneuver gear test in front of Keith Shadis, the other cadets and his friends because if he failed- it was for Eren to leave and pack his bags. Even though it was Keith who tampered with his belt, in the end Eren became what he wanted to be at the time. A soldier. Though to see Carla, barely flinching, barely struggling and was still as steel.
"Impressive." said Armin, "She's definitely got better core strength than I did. Could you do that?"
Mikasa thinks for a moment, "Not sure. Do you think so?"
"Mikasa, it's you. You'd probably hang upside down- wow she just done a backflip!" Armin excitedly witnessed Carla's moves before she asked Milo to lower to the ground.
As Armin and Mikasa watch on, Eren remained silent even though his thoughts were running wild. It had grown too much for Eren, watching this aura before him show his mother constantly. It was harder for Eren to see Carla than it was Emet voicing his opinion on him. Eren wish he could take back what he said on that one day, the day he was taken by Reiner and Bertholdt. Where he felt sick to the stomach when he found out that Reiner breached the wall, letting the titans enter his home, killing everyone on sight. He hated Reiner for that, betrayed by someone he admired, was someone like a older brother. Eren remembered roaring at Reiner, telling him he wasn't human, killing all those innocents who never done him wrong. Oh now those tables had turn for Eren, remembering walking down the port of Marley, walking amongst the innocents, the dreams he would crush, the lives he will take away along with their homes. Eren referred to Reiner as a half-hearted piece of shit. Just like after what he did, through the Rumbling, the influence of what caused his own mother to die. It was mentally torturing, but he believe it was what he deserved, seeing his mother in the aura, it may be not what he expected. But she was alive, happy, and unaware that one day like the ones in Marley- will end up being taken away along with her home, her her dreams and her life. Her death gave birth to his hatred, his hatred that led him to create hell, a hell he wished he wished was never his task to fulfil. Eren can remember Emet's words now, 'I am not a monster..' Eren agreed with Emet Ackerman on that one, because he was the monster.
"I can't do this." Eren blurted out, breaking the silence as he started to walk away.
Mikasa and Armin span round to see Eren going the opposite way. Mikasa, first to act called out, "Eren!"
Eren halted, her voice, using his name like Mikasa always did throughout his life- stopping him from disappearing, or getting into trouble with boys being bullies, from titans, risking his life. Bar that one time when he left to Liberio, that one time she didn't call out his name to stop moving away and then on he didn't stop. He kept pushing forward, pushing on and on to that result. Because he was a monster, that couldn't be stopped.
"Please, Mikasa." Eren's cracked voice begged, "I just need to.."
Eren then question what he needed; to run away? To somehow find a way to avoid this all together? He couldn't, not when trapped in the Paths. In the corner of his tale green eyes, there Mikasa too halted and waited to hear what he needed to say but instead replied;
"Just come back when you're ready."
Eren didn't expect her to say those words, he was prepared for her to plead to him to comeback but took it as a form of gratitude and began to walk away from Mikasa and Armin. Mikasa, watching Eren walk through the fast land of sand sighed to herself, knowing at some point would want to be on the move. Armin was now beside Mikasa, watching Eren as well and goes;
"Something has set him off."
"It mustn't be easy seeing Carla." Mikasa agreed, "Especially what happened with Dina."
Armin raised his eyebrow, wondering if Mikasa had known about Eren's sacrifice back in Shingshina. His heart started to beat off rhythm, looking at her face when she continued as if Mikasa was a mind reader, "Yes, Armin. Do you think Eren would keep that part away from me?"
"But.. When?" Armin said slowly, "Was it when he came to visit you?"
Mikasa eyes were still on Armin, shifting her deep eyes away from him to the direction where Eren was walking.
"Well, he tried to keep that part from me. He nearly succeeded if it wasn't for that night."
"Huh?"
"That was long time ago..." Mikasa sighed, thinking back to that night.
Eren and Mikasa had been in the paths for nearly over 3 years in total tranquillity. A world Eren made to share his final years with Mikasa, by now she'd been aware that this was a result of Eren's founding abilities as he created an alternative path, allowing him to experience what things may of been like if she told him her ideal answer. They were happy, content, and at peace despite the other reality. Right at the time, they were present in their world. It was a late night, Mikasa was sleeping in their cabin in the mountains of Switerzerland. She yawned as turns around onto her back, exhaling deeply in her sleep and stretched her arms out across the bed but due to the sudden coldness of which would've been warm if Eren was beside her made Mikasa shiver. Now awake Mikasa groaned, patting the side of the bed that happened to be empty, making her curious on where Eren would be. Mikasa turned her head to the drawer, seeing on her little clock that it was 4 in the morning, meaning Eren hadn't been in bed all night. Mikasa sits up, now more awake as she called out,
"Eren?"
No response, increasing Mikasa's concern for Eren as she gets out of bed and walks over to the edge of it where where her night gown hung on the bedside pole, wrapping it around herself as she was only wearing a cotton night dress. She tipped toed out, in case Eren was sleeping in the living room or kitchen by accident and hoped not to have woken him. But he wasn't there either.
"Eren, where are you?"
Mikasa was close to panicking until she noticed the front door was slightly open, giving a clue that Eren was no longer in the cabin. There Mikasa jogs to the door, ready to run outside to hunt down for Eren incase something had happen, swinging the door open but stopped herself abruptly to see Eren was sitting outside on their picnic table, all alone in the dark as the moon and stars being the only source of light for Mikasa to make out it was him. There was something about his posture that seemed off, making the atmosphere feel different to what Mikasa had been use to for a long time when spending her days with Eren. She slips on her boots that was sitting on the hallway, making her way out of the cabin towards Eren, seeing his head turn back slightly when he noticed the sound of footsteps from behind.
"You're awake." Eren said softly, his face still not visible to Mikasa.
"Was about to say the same thing." Mikasa replied, sitting herself Eren on the bench.
"You should go back to sleep." Eren suggested, avoiding eye contact and that was clear he was doing it.
"Only if you come back with me."
"Can't sleep."
Mikasa raised her eyebrow, pushing some of her hair back to behind her ear, "What's wrong?
Eren's eyes saddened, making it obvious to Mikasa that he was trying to come out with a excuse. Mikasa leaned in and puts her hand onto the back of his nape, lightly squeezing it to comfort him. As Mikasa done this, Eren took a deep breath and placed his hand on her knee and squeezes back.
"There's no point thinking hiding or avoiding this question, Eren."
"I know." Eren chuffed, making himself smile, "I realised after these years you always find a way to get it out of me."
Mikasa faintly smiled at Eren, her eyes softening to him as he now was facing her, but gradually disappeared when the expression Eren had across his face showed he'd been crying for hours. The bags under the eyes, his eyes lightly bloodshot that was fading due to his titan abilities healing its pain. That's when Mikasa realised something truly wrong has happened.
"I... I don't know how to tell you this."
"Tell me whatever way you can." Mikasa encouraged, moving her hand that was once behind Eren's neck to now his hand that was resting on her knee, clasping it tight against her own.
Eren's eyes watered, fixated on their hands holding each other. He closed them, asking her; "You remember... that day?"
Mikasa doesn't answer, for her there were many days that hit differently for her. Eren takes the hint, knowing it wasn't clear as he asked again, "When Bertholdt, Annie and Reiner breached our home?"
'Our home..' Mikasa's inner voice sighed, remembering when as a little girl lost her home, her family and almost everything. When titans managed to break through the walls. All thanks to Bertholdt's Colosus titan.
"Yes." Mikasa answered, furrowing her eyes now to their hands holding onto each other, feeling her instincts telling her she wasn't going to like what Eren was about to tell her.
Eren's eyes lifted up to Mikasa's unsettled expression, "Well... When I gained access to the power of the founder within the paths, I remember visiting my memories.. I realise this was before I created this reality. But because time all occurs at once for me due to the Founder's power, depending where I place my complete consciousness too- I am unaware sometimes to everything that is going on because all events are coherently are happening at once."
Mikasa listened, understanding that Eren was inheritor of two titan shifters in which both impact time. The Attack Titan could receive memories from both past and future inheritors of the Titan. Then the Founding titan; by screaming, could turn Subjects of Ymir into Titans, control the minds of Titans, and alter the memories and bodies of Subjects of Ymir. This meant because Eren is within the paths, he's possibly dealing with different timeline of events, such as his current state within his world with Mikasa for the past few years.
"Well, I visited that day, whenever it was... Has reached my consciousness here...I remember what truly happened that day."
Eren's words somehow made the world around them feel like it froze in time. Mikasa didn't want to say anything, wanting to know where Eren was getting with this.
"When I was there, I watched Bertholdt return back to human after creating a hole in the wall. The titans coming in. All of it made sense, like I seeing everything in a bigger picture of what happened. Until... Until I saw Dina. Bertholdt had seen her too, making her way to him."
"How..." Mikasa wondered, feeling like she had an idea was supposedly would happen next, "How did he survive? After all he survived all those years until Armin-"
Eren lowered his head, making Mikasa's heart beat at a much slower rate that caused her to stop talking, her stomach turning; "Eren.. How did he get away from Dina?"
Tears began to fall down Eren's cheek, shaking almost instantly. Mikasa felt Eren's hand squeeze hers, almost like it a physical way of him telling her something dark, something twisted and something that Mikasa couldn't help but gasp as her eyes widened. Eren's voice was cracking at this point, trying to hold himself back from having a meltdown;
"It wasn't his time to die... That was something I realised there and then, and therefore I used my founding abilities to steer Dina away from Bertholdt. Saving his life but... ended up leading her in the direction to.."
"Eren...To where?" Mikasa cracked, her eyes beginning to burn as she realised tears were streaming down her face, "You mean.." Mikasa managed to choke out, "Our home?"
The words 'our home' snapped Eren, beginning to sob hard as he used his free hand to cover his face as his other one was still holding Mikasa's. It was then Mikasa realised that due to saving Bertholdt's life, it ended up sacrificing Carla's when she was trapped under the rubble. That day, when Carla Yeager, a mother figure to Mikasa was eaten by the smiling titan, Dina Fritz. Mikasa looked emptily at the scenery in front of her, trying to take in what she came to know whilst Eren was balling his heart out crying,
"I didn't realise until I watched Dina head her way... I couldn't stop it because it was the way it originally happened in our time of events. All these years, I was fuelled to avenge my mother's death, asking myself why did she get eaten by a titan. I loved her so fucking much, I wanted to make a difference. Only to find it was because of me. I'm sorry, Mikasa. I..." Eren gasped for air before crying further, "I'M SORRY! I UNDERSTAND IF YOU HATE ME! I HATE MYSELF AND WHAT I HAVE DONE! I DON'T DESERVE YOU, I DON'T DESERVE ANY OF THIS! IT'S A GOOD THING I'LL BE DEAD SOON! I DON'T DESERVE-"
"Shut up, Eren." Mikasa tearfully pleaded, holding Eren's hand a little more tighter as he froze from his outburst.
"I know you loved her.." Mikasa sobbed, "That day, you wanted her to live more than anything."
Tears from Mikasa drops onto Eren's hand as he listened to Mikasa, "You cried for her when Hannes died. I know... You loved her. And I know another thing too, if this burden.. This fate that you've been given was placed on your hands and knew what had to be expected from you.. You never would've saved Bertholdt if it meant Carla's life. But just like you told me.. If that day in the first place never happened... all the lives that have been slaughtered, we would never reach that end result. What I must do. That beyond hell, there may be hope. I won't lie to you, you may not deserve this... Or me. But I deserve this. I deserve to be who I want to spend my days with until it's not possible anymore."
Mikasa could see that Eren's heart was breaking right now, understanding what Mikasa was trying to say to him. Eren wouldn't end his or anyone who he loved dearly if he knew he had to. Eren would rather end his own instead. But life didn't give him that choice, despite inheriting the power of the founder because everything was set in stone from the beginning. That Eren Yeager's life, his fate, his mission was a cruel destiny unfolding. Why Eren was the chosen to carry out this burn was something Mikasa desperately wanted to know more than anything as she watched Eren sob painfully, making it harder for herself to stop crying. It was true that Eren for some parts didn't deserve the peace and the time to be with Mikasa. But she deserved it, she deserved the life she wanted, the wish she held close to her heart before any of this hell truly started- and that was to be with Eren until death. Mikasa pulled the broken Eren closer to her, letting him cry into her neck as he clung to her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Due to him now being a lot bigger of a build, Mikasa was able to bury her head into his neck. Where for the rest of the night, Mikasa allowed Eren to cry in agony for forgiveness from Mikasa and his beloved mother, begging for things to be different and telling Mikasa he loved her more than anything. To live a long life, a fulfilled and free life, a life Eren could never experience and a life he will never deserve again.
Mikasa stood now in the paths beside Armin, what really was only seconds after she said, 'that was a long time ago.' Mikasa could now see how far Eren had walked, she then wondered if there was a limit and Eren would end up back where he started. Mikasa and Armin exchange looks of sympathy, knowing Eren's truth and what he had to endure, knowing too Carla's sacrifice.
"Do you think, he would change Carla's fate.. if he could?" Mikasa asked Armin.
"If it meant that the curse could be broken another way.. Then yes." Armin answered, now turning his view back to the aura as he watched Carla talking to Aimi within the projection; "But if it costed Eldia's future, still trapped within the walls and the continuation of titan domination... I... I don't know."
My longest chapter to date.
Author's note:
The reason why I have a large chapter done so quickly is due to me dying after my covid vaccine. I have never felt so crap in my life I was able to type away and finish off this chapter. Now I am currently preparing the following chapter, which I feel like is another beast of a chapter. But, I am excited for it! I have been debating for a long time if Eren would still commit mass genocide, unintentionally sacrafisicing Carla in waht not if he was shown the visions before any of the events occured. Like the dream he experienced in chapter 1 of the manga and anime. But, thats the essence of AOT isnt it?
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!
And also, *salutes*
Shinzou o Sasageyo!