Growth
Liberio
Sasha had a tight schedule prepared by Armin during her stay. It really was a tight program she was in… this made her feel like a little child.
Monday to Friday: At morning, she would train personal defense and fighting skills with Annie; at the afternoon she would be home-schooled by Falco and Gabi, alternating between them each day and at nights she would chat with Armin. He would mostly tell her about the lives of her mother and father. This is what she expected the most each day.
Saturday: She would be brought to Levi's home to do whatever he told her to do. Usually housework. This was the worst day of the week for her.
Sunday: Her break day. She would mostly sleep and think about what to write to her mother. She sent her a letter every week… as Annie forbade her to do it every day, as it was too expensive to send a telegram daily, the cost depended on how many letters are used.
Monday – Morning
Sasha usually woke up very early in the morning and stayed in bed until it was time for breakfast. She always had trouble sleeping as she had frequent dreams that annoyed her. After a few weeks she had grown accustomed to her new routine, but she still missed her mother and could not wait for a month to pass and be able to go home.
She was very surprised about how much she missed her mother and her boring secluded life.
Sasha was very messy which pissed off Annie. Her room was a mess, her hair and her clothes too. She was too lazy to clean anything and had no problem wearing dirty clothes, so Annie had to do it for her. She never combed her hair so it was in a permanent bed hair state, filled with knots.
Sasha had to prepare her own meals… she never had to do this before. She was too lazy to do it, so she just prepared the bare minimum to survive. This was driving Annie crazy and she was very concerned, as Sasha started to lose some weight and Mikasa would kill her if she got sick.
Christine loved spending time with Sasha and this concerned her, she saw her as a bad influence… but also felt happy to see how great she was with children.
Leo after Sasha's first night had become very anxious and somewhat evasive of Sasha. He was extremely embarrassed. Sasha was too tired all the time to notice it. This calmed Annie, and made sure to keep Leo as emotionally distanced from Sasha as she could. Sasha did not notice this either, but Leo did. He was growing more annoyed, but did not had to courage to act on it… yet.
The courtyard.
Annie had a training complex built in the courtyard of her home. She used it to train Leo since a young age and to use it herself.
Annie: Alright Sasha, enough preparation. We have gone over the basics, you are ready to start learning moves and skills.
Sasha: Hell yes!
Annie: Ha! You are excited? We'll see about that in a minute. - Annie takes her signature fighting stance. - Come on, try to hit me. If you can hit me once, I'll prepare all your meals from now on. How about that?
Sasha excited: Oh I'm going to kill you now…
Sasha was very confident, she had her unique Ackerman strength so hitting her just once would be easy.
Sasha lounged towards Annie. Annie grabbed her arm, twisted it and threw her to the ground and locked her with her arms and legs.
Sasha was shocked and in pain: UF! H…HOW!?
Annie smiling: What was that? I thought you were going to kill me.
Sasha was stressed, her strength was useless as she could not move.
Annie: Come on, again. Try to think this time. I'm not moving. Go ahead.
Sasha got up and tried to think a strategy. She slowly approached her with her fist near her face. She simulated to punch her in the face, while preparing to kick her in her abdomen.
Annie grabbed her leg, threw her to the ground and put her knee on her throat.
Annie: That's all you got? Sasha was choking, but Annie let her go rapidly.
Annie: It seems you are going to have to keep cooking that poison. Come on, one more.
Sasha was pissed off, she was being humiliated: She went straight to her and decided to not hold back, she punched with her whole strength, Annie avoided her, Sasha tried to elbow her but she caught her arm, twisted it and threw her to the ground face first.
Sasha screamed in pain: FUCK! She was bleeding profusely from her nose.
Annie feeling satisfied: Still love me huh?
Sasha had her hands in her nose trying to stop the blooding: NO!
Annie approaches her and gives her a tissue: Don't feel bad. In no time you'll be able to do everything that I did. You need to have patience that's all.
Sasha was very embarrassed and pissed off: Just… LEAVE ME ALONE! She wailed her fists with no direction. She had struck Annie in the face without realizing.
Annie: Oh… it seems I lost our bet. Too bad for me.
Sasha looks at her surprised. Annie smiled at her: That's all for today, go clean up. I'll make you something for you to recover the blood you lost.
Sasha softly smiled and felt warm inside… although she was still very angry at her.
Afternoon
Sasha had paper plugs on her nose, her eyes were puffy and red, her face was inflamed, but felt content as she was having her first delicious meal in weeks.
Leo arrived at his home from school. He saw Sasha and dropped all his books. He felt his body sunk to the ground. He ran towards Sasha with tears in his eyes.
Leo: SASHA WHAT HAPPENED?! ARE YOU OKAY?!
Sasha with her mouth full: Oh hey Leo. I'm fine. Your mom kicked my ass on training, no need to worry.
Leo felt immensely angry at his mother.
Annie: Sasha! Stop talking with your mouth full!
Leo: Mother… did you… hurt Sasha?
Annie shocked: Mother? Since when you talk to me like that? And what if I did? I hurt you countless times in training. You never got so angry.
Sasha concerned: Leo it's ok, it's part of the training.
Leo cannot calm himself: You… hurt her. That's it. I'm training with you and Sasha from now on.
Annie and Sasha are surprised.
Annie: What are you talking about you have school. I train her at the mornings.
Leo: I'll be late. But I'm training with you. If someone is hurting her, I prefer it to be me. (Oh… that did not come out right) I mean… I want… to be responsible of her.
Sasha is shocked. She gets blushed and doesn't understand why.
Annie sees this and gets angry: You can forget about that. You are NOT skipping school YOU HEAR ME?
Leo: I DON'T CARE. YOU ARE NOT HURTING SASHA AGAIN!
Sasha gets up and stands between them: Leo it's ok really. I agree with your mom. You can't skip school. I would love to go to a normal school. You can't miss that because of me. I promise you I won't get hurt again okay? So don't worry. Sasha takes his hands and smiles at him.
Leo gets extremely nervous, the anger is gone and starts to get scared: A…alright. Sorry I'll leave you. Leo starts to run away.
Sasha: Leo… thanks.
Leo starts to drop blood from his nose and runs to his room.
Annie sits down. She starts to feel very sad.
Sasha sits besides her: I'm sorry Annie… I… didn't know he would get like that. I would have stayed in my room.
Annie: No it's not your fault… or mine. I guess he is growing up… it's natural to confront your parents… It's just… I guess I wasn't ready. She starts to tear up.
Sasha hugs her. Christine approaches them: MAMA! UP! UP!
Annie picks her up and she hugs her strongly: sigh… at least you are still a baby.
Sasha smiles at them. Christine starts to reach for Sasha.
Annie gets up angry: OH NO! You are not taking her too. Stay her and eat! Annie walks off with Christine.
Sasha smiles and feels emotional… in her weeks at Armin's she has felt so many new things… she felt a little overwhelmed. She then started to think about her mother and father… if them ever had time to feel like that… she started to cry at the thought.
Paradis – Ackerman Woods
Thursday Night
Ymir has bruises and bandages all over her arms and face. Her training was harder than Mikasa had thought. But was surprised to see how relentless the princess was, she was not giving up until she could balance herself successfully. But there was one problem…
Ymir crying: Please Lady Mikasa there must be another way!
Mikasa: I told you it was going to be a nuisance. Your hair is so long it throws you off balance... it's too heavy.
Ymir wailing: I LOVE MY HAIR! I have not cut it in years…
Mikasa: Well… then you will keep failing and getting hurt.
Ymir puts her head on a pillow and loudly cries.
After a few hours, Ymir was looking at herself at a mirror… she touches her face. It hurts. Her hair is impeccable, the only part of her body that still is. She started to think what good it does to have such wonderful hair… if her body is ugly and mangled all over.
She started to think… she could be proud of something else than just her hair… or her appearance… it's already ruined… and nothing had changed…
Morning
Mikasa approaches Ymir's bedroom.
Mikasa: Ymir wake up.
Ymir: Go away…
Mikasa notices Ymir is curled up in her bed covered in sheets.
Mikasa: What is the matter with you? She takes the sheets from Ymir… and is shocked.
Ymir hysterical: I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE! GET OUT!
Mikasa goes to Hitch's cabin. She was asleep on a chair with a bottle on her hand.
Mikasa kicks the chair which breaks and Hitch falls over
Hitch: FOR FUCK SAKE!
Mikasa: Hitch I need your help.
Hitch: Well fuck that! I'm not helping you with anything after waking me up like that!
Mikasa takes out a bottle of a 20 year old wine: I guess I'll drink this then.
Hitch takes it: Ok let's go.
Mikasa's cabin
Mikasa went to Ymir's bedroom while Hitch was waiting in the living room.
Ymir screaming from the room: LEAVE ME! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
Mikasa brought Ymir on her shoulder and put her in a chair in the living room.
Mikasa: I need you to fix this.
Hitch is trying not to burst into laughter… Ymir had clumsily cut her hair up to her shoulders. It was mangled, uneven and had no form.
Ymir crying: JUST LAUGH BITCH! DO IT! I look so terrible…
Mikasa saddened: I could have cut your hair if you just told me…
Ymir: I wanted to do it myself…
Hitch: Princess have you EVER held a pair of scissors before?!
Ymir embarrassed No…
Hitch: Sigh… luckily you cut it just up to your shoulders. I can fix it.
Ymir excited with tears in her eyes: REALLY?!
Hitch: Yes. I'll make it beautiful in no time. Just look at my hair, isn't it gorgeous? And it's short.
Ymir: Well yes… I always wondered why you keep such good care of your hair… you are a soldier and you are not married.
Hitch: HA! SO?! I'm still a woman! I like to look my best! Mikasa here also takes care of her hair and she is no princess…
Mikasa blushes: I do like my hair…
Hitch: See that's the spirit! Your hair truly might have been too long for the training you are having, but that doesn't mean it must look bad! So sit tight! I'm saving that head of yours!
After a while
Ymir is ecstatic about how her hair looks: HITCH THIS IS AMAZING! It looks better than before!
Hitch: This is my real talent princess! Not just killing people, BUT KILLING WITH STYLE.
Mikasa: All right that's enough Hitch. Thanks. Ymir, let's go we are late.
Hitch is left alone in the cabin: I can ruin hairdos too you know Mikasa…
A bottle of whisky was thrown from outside and it hit Hitch in the head.
Noon - Ackerman Woods Military Training Center
Ymir was suspended on the maneuvering training apparatus. She had a very hard time keeping her balance. She had fallen many times on her face, nearly breaking her nose.
Ymir: I have to do this. If my mother could do it, then I can. I'm not a useless wimp!
Mikasa is silently watching. She was concerned but liked how determined she was.
Ymir manages to finally balance herself, she starts to cry: YES! I DID IT! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! ARE YOU SEEING THIS LADY MIKASA!?
Mikasa: Yes princess, congratulations. But do not lose focus or yo…
Ymir lost balance. She fell flat on her face.
Ymir woke up with a black eye. She got up excited: I did it… I… am not useless! But how did I get here?
Mikasa: You lost focus and knocked yourself out. It's been two hours.
Ymir embarrassed: Oh… I failed again then…
Mikasa: No. You just need to keep your emotions in check. We will advance to the next phase. You can start practicing with gear.
Ymir tearing up in excitement: REALLY?! Oh… I'm… so happy… sniff.
Mikasa: Keep your emotions in check.
Ymir: Right… sorry. It's just… I've never done anything by myself. This is the first time… I did something… completely on my own.
Mikasa puts her hand on her shoulder: Your will princess… is what made you do this. Don't lose that…
Ymir smiles at her.
Historia was silently weeping next to the bed.
Ymir: GEEZ MOM! You scared me! You are like a wailing ghost…
Historia: Sorry dear I'm just so proud of you… and I feel guilty… LOOK HOW BANGED UP YOU ARE!
Historia hugs her strongly weeping.
Ymir is in pain: Mom you are hugging me too tight, it hurts all over…
Afternoon
Mikasa and Historia are chatting about Ymir's progress while she was resting.
Historia: I'm quite angry at you Mikasa. Can you just take it easy with her? She is in the worst shape of her life.
Mikasa: She needed that.
Historia: Still… she is my baby… and she is all scratched and banged up. It breaks my heart.
Mikasa: But she understands why. She never gave up. And she did it for you.
Historia puzzled: For me?
Mikasa: You are her mother. She cannot let you down. She understands that if she were forever a prissy princess… she would fail as a Queen.
You have managed to surpass all obstacles in your reign, because you understand how it is to come from nothing and needing to do what must be done to achieve your goals. You are relentless… so she must be too.
Historia reflecting: I forget at times that I used to be Krista… It seems a lifetime ago.
Mikasa: Ymir needs to find her true self. Just like you did.
Historia: I guess so. Thanks Mikasa… I wish I had more time to just sit here with you. She leans on Mikasa. How is Sasha by the way?
Mikasa: I got a telegraph from her today… she got beat up by Annie.
Historia: Well that's to be expected haha
Mikasa: The captain is making her clean his house. She hates him.
Historia: HAHAHA. Poor thing.
Mikasa starts to feel emotional: She wrote that she is feeling things she has never felt before… that she feels she understands me more… about my pain… about me and Eren…
Historia: She is growing up isn't she?
Mikasa with tears in her eyes: Yes…
Historia is thinking: Well this got depressing fast… oh… I GOT AN IDEA.
Historia starts to whisper at Mikasa's ear.
Night
Ymir: WHAT?! You are letting me go home until Monday?!
Mikasa: Yes, I think you need a break to heal.
Ymir: Oh thank you so much! Bye Lady Mikasa, bye Mom!
Historia: Are you not even going to ask why I'm not going with you?
Ymir: I don't care BYE. Ymir departs in an official car
Historia: Well all that progress went down the drain
Mikasa: Have faith in her Historia.
Historia: Yeah you are right... well… shall we?
Mikasa and Historia approach Hitch's cabin.
Hitch was a bit drunk and had a bandage on her head: Huh? What are you doing here?
Historia giddily: Hey Hitch! Mind if we join you? Mikasa and Historia raise their arms, they have very expensive alcohol bottles on each hand.
Hitch feels moved and starts to tear up: I love you guys so much…
A few hours later the three of them have passed out on the floor…