Training

Afternoon - Liberio City Outskirts

Armin and Annie brought Sasha to the outskirts of the city for a very important meeting. Sasha was very tired as she could not sleep at all, she spent the whole night crying and thinking about the pain she had caused her mother.

Armin: Sasha… are you ready for this?

Sasha with an empty look: Let's just get this over with

Annie: That attitude won't do you any good today… trust me about that.

The three of them were sitting at a bench in the border control station.

Sasha: Why did we have to come here? Am I getting murdered and want no witnesses?

Annie whispering to Armin: You know that actually makes sense… you think he told us to come here because of that?

Armin surprised: No! He… just likes privacy… he is not known to be a skilled warrior in here… and wants to keep it that way.

Levi approaching from the woods: Clever as always Armin…

Levi had aged in the 13 years that had passed. He has streaks of grey hair, he wears an eyepatch now as his blind eye started to become a nuisance for his health, he walks with a cane and still has the knee brace on his leg.

Armin excited: Captain! It's so good to see you! You never want to meet with us.

Levi: I like it that way.

Annie: Except when it comes to Gabi and Falco right?

Levi annoyed: Tsk… well yes. They are of use to me.

Annie smirking: Yeah right.

Sasha is curious about the frail looking man in front of her. She thinks: A skilled warrior? This skinny mangled shorty?

Levi is staring at her: So this is her huh? I'm annoyed already… she looks too much like that idiot Eren…

Sasha offended: WHAT DID YOU SAY?!

Levi smirks: Same temper too. That's unfortunate.

Armin concerned: Sasha this is Captain Levi. He is an old friend and superior to us when we were at the Survey Corps. He was known as humanity's strongest soldier. He is going to teach you discipline and how to survive… if he accepts to do it that is.

Sasha cannot believe what Armin just said: WHAT?! This guy? But… he is so short… and uses a cane… At that moment something went behind her so fast she could barely see it.

Sasha suddenly feels she is being strongly held in a lock, being choked by the strength of the arm surrounding her neck. She tries to get the arm off her neck but she is stunned by how strong Levi is. She starts to get desperate and is getting out of breath.

Levi: See how easy it was for me to incapacitate you? No wonder you almost got killed by an idiot.

Sasha is getting red and scared. She desperately tries to get Levi's arm off but it doesn't move an inch.

Levi: You are strong… but that's not enough with me… I am an Ackerman too.

Sasha is startled by what he said.

Levi: I'm not letting go. You have free yourself or I'm going to choke you.

Armin is getting concerned, Annie is watching the scene… she is getting concerned too.

Sasha is out of air… she is getting more desperate. She started to think.

Sasha: I'm going to die… no. That's ridiculous… Armin would never bring me here to get killed… but I have to break free or the shame will be unbearable… think… he is thin and short… but that doesn't matter… he is blind of one eye… no that won't do it… the cane… the brace… THAT'S IT.

Sasha moves one of her legs behind Levi's bad leg and rapidly punches the knee brace. Levi lets go. Sasha drops to the ground catching her breath in pain.

Levi: Ah... you are smarter than you look. That's good. There is something to be done then.

Armin approaches Sasha concerned.

Levi: You can bring her to me on the weekends. I'm bored those days. I'll teach her some things.

Annie: Make sure to not get her killed captain… Mikasa would hunt you down.

Levi smirks: I'm doing her a favor. You heard that brat? I'll make sure you won't be a pain in the ass for your mother anymore.

Armin: Just be careful… please? She is a girl.

Levi: She is Mikasa's daughter… she can take it. But yeah… she won't die… unless she wants to.

Sasha with a raspy voice: Do… I have a say in this?

Levi: No. Get used to that. Be ready.

Levi leaves for the city.

Armin: Come on Sasha, you had enough for today.

Sasha coughs: He… is so strong! That was amazing… how is he so fast? He walks with a cane.

Sasha notices that Levi is walking with more difficulty.

Armin: He really wanted to see if you could take it Sasha… it takes a toll on him to do what he did just now… Take it as his way to show his concern for you.

Sasha: Yeah right… he said he is an Ackerman… so he is my relative?

Armin: Yes he is… but now that I think about it… what is he to Mikasa?

Annie: Now that's a good question. Uncle? He might be too young for that… cousin?

Armin: No idea… I don't think he cares either…

Sasha: Hmmm… so let's settle on him being my uncle.

Armin: Yeah… I wouldn't call him that…

Sasha: Why not? He is my family… and he seemed to be concerned about my mom…

Annie: Yeah Armin… the Ackerman's seem to act tough but are mushy on the inside.

Sasha laughs: So that means you really are my aunt!

Armin laughs: She is right Annie… we both know you love Sasha… you are just playing tough.

Annie blushes: Well… she is the daughter of my best friend… so I HAVE to care about her.

Sasha: Aw I love you too aunt. She hugs Annie.

Annie: We'll see if you still love me when we start our training little devil…

Sunset – Armin's Home

Sasha laid on her bed since she arrived at the house, she started to think about the revelation that she had another relative besides her mother. Even if their first encounter was violent… she felt excited and really happy to have known Levi… her mother had talked about him before… but always pictured him as a tall and strong built man… he was not at all what she expected.

Sasha wonders why her mother never revealed to her that he was a relative… family seems to be a difficult subject for her… and for Levi too. She started to think about what Armin said… it seems her family is connected by pain… she started to wonder what pain she will have to endure in her life…

Leo softly knocks the door of Sasha's room: Umm… Sasha?

Sasha: Hey Leo… what's up?

Leo slowly enters blushing: I was… thinking if you… wanted to take a walk… with me… you know… to get to know the city a bit? Only if you want! I you are tired that's fine! We can go tomorrow or another day, or maybe you don't want to do that and I'm just bothering you, yeah, you must be tired haha what was I thinking about bothering you with that, you m…

Sasha was getting dizzy and confused because how fast Leo was talking, he had not stopped talking for 2 minutes.

Sasha: Uh… Leo?

Leo: …you can go to this ice crea… huh?

Sasha: Can you let me answer?

Leo gets painfully embarrassed: OH! I'm sorry! I guess I got a little carried away… I get like that sometimes… it's not on purpose I hav…

Sasha: Leo…

Leo drops to the ground: SORRY! I'M SHUTTING UP

Sasha laughs: You are funny. Sure let's take a walk.

Leo eyes lighten up: Really!? Oh! Oh… (oh no, what do I do now, I thought she was going to say no… where do I take her… maybe to the ice cream shop? Or to the Hizuru sushi place? Why is this so hard? Why did I even do this? I am not ready!...)

Sasha is confused… Leo had been staring at the floor for 3 minutes without saying anything... he seems to be paralyzed

Sasha: Uh… Leo? Are you all right?

Leo still ruminating: Huh? OH! OH NO! Sorry Sasha, I'll be waiting you downstairs, okay?

Leo runs downstairs incredibly ashamed: (I want to die)

Night

Annie is fuming: Leopold… you get back here in ONE hour. Get it?! I don't care if Sasha doesn't follow you, YOU get here in an hour ALL RIGHT?!

Sasha a bit saddened: Geez aunt, are you not concerned about me at all?

Armin smiles: Don't worry Sasha, she is just a bit jealous that's all.

Annie and Sasha are shocked. Leo is very embarrassed.

Annie: I'm not… sigh… just go.

Sasha: I don't understand? Why are you jeal…

Annie: JUST GO.

Leo takes Sasha's hand and drags her away from his parents.

Armin laughs at the scene.

Annie annoyed: I told you this would happen.

Armin: Come on, it's fine. They are teenagers, let them have their fun… we don't know what will happen in the future.

Annie: I do… I can feel it. Nothing good.

Armin hugs Annie: Maybe… but it's not up to us to choose who Leo likes or not… it's something he has to experience for himself… even if it hurts…

Annie gets saddened: Easy for you to say… maybe I should talk to Mikasa…

Armin chuckles: You think she is going to deny her daughter to experience love?

Annie: Yeah… you are right… fuck.

Armin: Everything will be fine.

Annie tried to believe Armin… but something made her feel very sad. She started to think that some things always repeat themselves… she remembered Mikasa's face on the aircraft… after Eren brought them to the paths…

Armin: Come, let's eat.

Annie reluctantly went inside the house with him.

Paradis – Mikasa's Estate

After a few days, Princess Ymir had settled at the Ackerman estate. Historia, in order to be closer to Ymir, decided to reside at the Royal Palace for the time the princess would remain with Mikasa.

The Queen visited her daughter everyday and returned to the palace at sundown.

Ymir: Mom why can't I go with you at night?

Historia: Aw dear… it's for the best. You are supposed to learn how to survive on your own. And living in a castle surrounded by guards It's not going to help with that.

Ymir is annoyed. She has none of the luxuries she was accustomed at her home.

Mikasa: You better get some rest… we will start early in the morning.

Ymir is shocked: WHAT?! But I… wake up at noon…

Mikasa: Not anymore.

Ymir is regretting having agreed to being trained by Mikasa.

Historia smiles at her and talks to her ear: I want you to help Mikasa… she is very sad. Try to be nice ok?

Ymir softly nods. She had noticed Mikasa had a much sadder look than usual. Being apart from Sasha was affecting her very much. She decided to not being a problem to Mikasa and do what she asks.

Morning

Mikasa: Ymir… wake up.

Ymir is profoundly asleep.

Mikasa pours a glass of water in her head. Ymir wakes up startled.

Ymir: WHAT THE HELL!?

Mikasa: It's late. Get dressed and meet me outside.

Ymir: COULDN'T YOU JUST SHAKE ME OR SOMETHING?!

Ymir after a few minutes gets outside with messy hair and dressed with house clothes.

Mikasa: Are you training in that?

Ymir annoyed: WHAT?! Now? But we haven't eaten anything!

Mikasa: Here. She throws Ymir a field ration cracker.

Ymir: Wha… what is this?

Mikasa: It's what you are eating from now on. Field rations.

Ymir drops to the grounds: I'm going to die…

Afternoon

Ymir has her head completely submerged in a sink filled with water. She had exercised the whole day and she was feeling like she was going to die of dehydration.

Mikasa picks her head and drags it out of the water: You are going to drown.

Ymir: I was trying to…

Mikasa: Come on. I want to show you something.

Ymir and Mikasa walk towards the advanced military training center of the estate. There are new training sets in there. They looked a bit old and rusty.

Ymir: What's this?

Mikasa: Your training equipment.

Ymir is puzzled: This seems too advanced for me?

Mikasa: It actually isn't. This is the vertical maneuvering basic training equipment.

Ymir is shocked: What?! How did you get this? The survey corps were dissolved years ago! Nobody is training with this anymore.

Mikasa: I asked your mother to bring this here. Ymir, you are in terrible shape. You are too old to begin a physical type of defense training like Sasha did. So I'm training you like a survey corps cadet. Prepare you in balance, skill, decision making, agility and to use your limited strength for efficiency. That should be enough for you to take care of yourself.

Ymir is concerned: But… I don't think I can pull that off…

Mikasa: Ymir… you are your mother's daughter. She was not born a princess, she had a very humble life, she also was a member of the survey corps and very skilled at it.

Ymir is slightly surprised, her mother had told her about that, but she didn't actually believe her.

Mikasa: You might have been born a princess… but you do not have the blood of one. You have the blood of a warrior. Your mother's. It's time for you to honor your blood ties.

Ymir is deep in thought. She had never seen herself that way. Other people always did everything for her… as comfortable as that was… she never liked it and longed for a life of her own. Maybe this was a way to get that… her mother… she was a bastard… unknown to everyone in the country… yet her strength managed to make her rise to the throne… all by herself.

Ymir: All right. I'll do it.

Mikasa smiles at her.

Ymir a bit embarrassed: Do I… have to cut my hair?

Mikasa sees her hair is very long: Well, it might be for the best. It could be a nuisance.