Legacy
Sasha: So… I'm a divine figure to a lot of people?
Mikasa: Yes. You had to stay here to be safe… It's the reason I had to train you since you were so little. You have to be ready.
Sasha is conflicted: I still don't understand it… I get it, I'm father's daughter… I look like him… but why?
Mikasa is getting scared
Sasha: Why do I look like him? It's impossible… he… was not here… when you got pregnant… Mom… how… I came to be?
Mikasa is speechless… she is not ready to tell her the entirety of her origins.
Mikasa: It's… complicated… it has to do… with the power of the titans… but I don't really understand it either…nobody really understood that power, how it came to be, and what it meant… we only knew it was real.
Sasha saddened: I'm… a titan?
Mikasa touches her cheek: No my love. You are as much a titan as me. We have that strange power within us… but we are people… normal people… with unique abilities…
Sasha: Unique abilities? You mean my eyes?
Mikasa: Yes. But so much more… it's just that they haven't been awakened… maybe they'll never will be… as there is no need.
Sasha: I don't understand… what abilities do you have?
Mikasa: I'm very strong and skilled. Just like you. Didn't you find it strange?
Sasha: I just thought you worked out a lot. I mean you do.
Mikasa smiles: Yes… but our strength is supernatural. It has allowed me to help many people… it's the same with you.
Sasha is deep in thought.
Sasha: Using the power we have… to help others… but… is that what… my father did?
Mikasa looks at her saddened, this is too hard for her.
Sasha: Mom… do you agree with what he did?
Mikasa starts to cry.
Sasha feels ashamed. She has tried to talk to her about this at other times in the past but couldn't bring herself to insist… as it was too painful a subject for her mother.
Sasha: Sorry mom… forget it.
Mikasa trying to talk: Please… forgive me… it's just… too painful.
Sasha hugs Mikasa: It's ok mom… I know he loved me… that's what's important.
Sasha is laying on her bed, thinking about her upbringing and the reason she had to stay isolated in their estate.
She felt very conflicted, there still were too many questions without answers, but she doesn't know where to get them. She has tried to get answers from Queen Historia and her aunt and uncle… but all of them said that was something her mother… and only her… should tell her.
866 – Mikasa's estate
Sasha is 8 years old. Armin, Annie, Connie, Jean and Pieck had come to visit Paradis in an official matter. They had left their children under the care of Hitch from a suggestion from Mikasa, as she was surprisingly very motherly. This did not sit well with Hitch.
The official automobile arrived at the estate with Armin and company. Historia had arrived earlier.
Armin noticed that on the fields, Hitch was on the ground screaming. Sasha was riding atop of her pulling her hair, Leopold was yelling at Sasha telling her to get off, Jean and Pieck's son Marco was biting her leg.
Armin runs towards them: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!
Marco releases Hitch ands runs towards Pieck: Mommy! Daddy! Hitch is so much fun! We chased her all day!
Pieck picks Marco up: What have I told you about biting people?
Marco: But I have seen you bite daddy! You tell him they are love bites!
Jean blushing: Geez Pieck do you have to scream everything!? I don't want to imagine what else he has heard…
Leopold approaches Armin: Dad, I tried to get Sasha off Hitch but she is so strong!
Annie picks Sasha and gets her off Hitch, whose face is planted in the ground.
Annie: SASHA! WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU? WHERE IS YOUR MOTHER!?
Sasha laughing: Hey auntie! She is in the house with the Queen and Ymir!
Armin approaches Hitch: Hey… are you okay? I'm sorry about this…
Hitch looks at Armin hysterical: I'M. NEVER. DOING. THIS. AGAIN. GOT IT?!
Hitch stomps off to the military station in the estate.
Armin: Sigh… Sasha… you must be such a handful to your mother…
Sasha: Not really! She makes me train a lot! I'm so tired after school and training that I just want to sleep… so I had to take my chance today!
Annie and Armin are puzzled about what she said.
Sasha approaches Jean, Pieck and Connie: HEY! LONG TIME NO SEE!
Connie: SASHA! -They high 5- How have you been little rascal!
Sasha: GREAT NOW THAT YOU ARE HERE! Everything is SO boring here!
Jean: I guess so little one… being here alone with a bunch of old people.
Sasha: Well there are a few children but they are older than me… and there is Ymir. But she hates me.
Pieck: Why you say that dear?
Sasha: We used to play together, but now she keeps yelling at me to get away because I ruin her hair and clothes…
Pieck: She sounds like a little princess alright… don't worry dear. WE'LL PLAY WITH YOU! Right Connie!
Connie excited: YEAH! Come on kids! We'll switch places with Hitch.
Sasha and Marco excitedly start to run as Pieck and Connie run away very fast. Jean is checking the kids don't get hurt.
Leopold: Dad I'm going. I want to make sure Sasha doesn't hurt anyone.
Armin laughs: All right Leo. Just be careful. You might have fun by accident.
Annie annoyed: See what you have done to your son? A 7 year old acting like an adult.
Armin smiles: Oh come on… I think he just likes her and is concerned about her.. that's all.
Annie: THAT'S EVEN WORSE! I'm not bringing him here anymore.
Armin: WHAT?! Why?
Annie: What you mean why? What if he falls for that little devil when he is older? She will RUIN his life. It would be Eren and Mikasa all over again!
Armin: Going a bit too far don't you think? They are little kids still.
Annie: Mark my words. If that happens… you will suffer. You are warned.
Historia and Mikasa approach the rest.
Historia: Hey guys! I see the children are getting long well!
Annie: Sasha was trying to kill Hitch Mikasa
Mikasa: Oh. That happens sometimes.
Armin: She said you are… training her? For what?
Mikasa: For life.
Armin concerned: Just… take it easy. She is a little child…
Mikasa: I know… but she will have a tough life… I want her to be strong.
Annie: Raising another gloomy Yeager Mikasa? At least she seems pretty happy
Historia: Oh come on! All our children are fine and happy. That's what is important!
Armin: Where is the princess now that you mention it?
Historia ashamed: Well… she is in the cabin… she wants to be alone.
Annie: She is at that age huh? Must be tough…
Historia: Yeah… she is even more temperamental than usual… and meaner. The loss of her father has affected her a lot I think… That's what we were talking with Mikasa… I needed her advice…
Ymir barely opens the door of the cabin: Would you be so kind to not talk about me behind my back? THANKS. She shuts the door.
Mikasa: I like her.
Annie: Yeah what's wrong with her Historia? She seems perfectly fine.
Meanwhile, the kids continue playing. Pieck is chasing Sasha running in all fours, Connie is playing catch with the boys.
Marco: I'm catching now! I'm a titan! So run from me!
Leo smiling runs away while being chased by Marco. Connie takes a break and notices Sasha has stopped running.
Pieck: What's wrong dear? You tired?
Sasha is deep in thought watching Leo and Marco. They are screaming: Titans! Run from the titan!
Pieck notices what is happening: Come on dear. Let's go with your mom.
Jean approaches them: What's going on?
Pieck: Connie watch the boys. Jean come on.
Jean looks at Sasha. She has a very serious face. It reminds him of Eren… he is disturbed by this.
As they approach Mikasa notices something is wrong.
Mikasa: What is it?
Pieck: She… felt uncomfortable.
Jean: They were playing as titans…
Armin and Mikasa look concerned
Mikasa: What happened my love? What did you think?
Sasha ashamed: I… started to think… about my daddy.
Armin looks saddened: Mikasa… it's time.
Mikasa hurting: I… don't know… how…
Armin kneels in front of Sasha: Want me to tell you about your dad?
Sasha nods.
Armin: Well… your father was a very brave… very determined person… who did everything he did… right or wrong… out of love of his family and friends… You have seen the statue of him as a titan yes?
Sasha nods again.
Armin: He was always looking to help his loved ones and his main goal was to rid the world of the titans, so his friends and your mother could live in peace, even if he could turn into one himself… but when he was a bit older… he came to realize that there were some bad people in the world…
Sasha is very concentrated hearing Armin
Armin: Sasha… sometimes people… in order to do something they think is for the best for their loved ones… do some very very bad things… This was the case of your father…
He… was responsible for the deaths of many people…
Sasha is shocked.
Armin: The bad people I told you about… many of them lived in Marley… where me and your aunt live now… it was a place with lots of people… much more than here in Paradis… after what your father did… there are now very few people there.
Sasha is heartbroken and is starting to tear up. Mikasa is crying inconsolably hiding her face on Annie's shoulder.
Armin wipes the tears out of Sasha face: Sasha… you need to understand something. Your father was my best friend…I loved him… he was my family alongside your mother… I think about him every day…
He was a very special friend to all of us here, isn't that right?
Annie and Jean nod, Pieck does not. Jean pulls her hair looking at her angry. She then nods.
Armin: See? You think… a bad person… would be so loved by the people who knew him best? If your father was a bad person… then why your mother loves him so much still? Even after all these years…
Sasha is deep in thought.
Armin: People are not perfect Sasha… sometimes they make mistakes… some more grave than others… but that doesn't mean they are bad or devils. They are just people. In the end, all that matters… is how the ones closest to us feel about us… now you know how we feel about your father.
At night, after everyone had left, Sasha and Mikasa spent at their cabin, not saying much to each other.
Nearing the time for bed, Mikasa is brushing Sasha's hair in silence… she has in her hands a little handmade doll of Eren made by Mikasa when she was little…
Sasha: Mom?
Mikasa: Yes dear?
Sasha: Do you… really love my father… even after all he did?
Mikasa: Yes… I do.
Sasha turns and puts her hand in Mikasa's scarf. The story of the scarf was the first one her mother told her.
Sasha: Then… I will love him too.
Mikasa breaks down in tears and hugs Sasha strongly. Sasha feels at peace… but still a little bit conflicted.