Chapter 34
In Capital Mitras, the Military Police Regiment begins construction on an outdoor platform for Historia Reiss's coronation ceremony.
Aya and Levi are searching the ruins of the Underground Chapel. He finds the remains of the Anti-Personnel Control Squad, crushed by falling debris. Levi says, "Hey, brat. You said that Kenny says you have Ackermann blood inside, huh?"
"I guess so, so that means we really are related to Mikasa, huh..." Aya says.
Just then, a scout comes and says, "We found Kenny Ackerman, he's still alive!"
The two of them are surprised as they rush toward the location of Kenny.
(Flashback)
Some years ago, a much younger Kenny Ackermann encountered someone stronger than him for the first time. It was a man, Uri Reiss, with the power of a Titan, which he used to partially transform and grab onto Kenny before he could kill him. Uri's brother Rod wanted to shoot Kenny, but Uri asked him to wait, noting that whoever told Kenny about them was likely part of their council. When Uri could not compel Kenny to divulge information, he correctly concluded that he was a descendant of the Ackermann family.
Upset by how much Uri was reading into him and his motivations, Kenny threw his dagger at him, but Uri blocked it with his human arm. Rod said he would kill him, and Kenny began whining about forgiveness, that Uri is the true King, and wants to escape. However, his expression changed, making it clear that Kenny was not remorseful and simply wanted another chance to kill Uri. Despite his ranting, Kenny was well aware that Uri could kill him in a moment, and he could do nothing about it.
To his surprise, Uri set him down and tore himself free of his Titan. Rod asked what Uri was doing. Since Kenny was an Ackermann, Uri would not be able to erase Kenny's memory. Shaking, Kenny drew a gun he still had on his person, but Uri knelt in front of him.
"Considering how the Ackermanns have been persecuted in our name, your hatred is justified. However... I'm afraid I can't die right now. Please, forgive me. Even within such tiny walls, to be unable to build paradise...I'm a fool..."
Kenny was deeply moved by the fact a King with so much power would bow down to someone like him, and offer to help him. He replaced the person on the council who had ratted out the truth about the Reiss family. It became his new job and ended the persecution of the Ackermanns.
"Kenny, tell me, did the Neumann sound familiar to you?"
"Ha? How the hell am I supposed to know them?" Kenny asks.
"My apologies, like Ackermanns, the Neumanns were also being persecuted." Uri says.
He also tells them how the Neumanns on the island were gone forever and how sorry he was, but Kenny doesn't seem to care since they are all gone, or so he thought.
With fewer enemies, he was able to visit his sister, Kuchel, only to discover she had passed away, leaving behind a young son, Levi, who did not go by anything else. Kenny understood why she did not give Levi their family's name.
He introduced himself to Levi as "just Kenny" and explained that he knew Kuchel. Kenny took the boy in and made sure that Levi was fed, but he did not consider himself fit to be a parent. What he did though, was teach Levi how to survive, with lessons like learning how to hold a knife, how to handle himself around the neighborhood, and how to cut a deal.
At a meeting of the Order of the Walls, Kenny met Djel Sannes of the Interior Police and apologized for killing so many of his compatriots. Sannes was unbothered though because Kenny now served the King. It was because of Sannes's own reverence for the King that he was able to do his job. He asked if Kenny was any different, and on thinking about it, Kenny supposed he served Uri simply because he was the strongest around.
As Kenny watched a slightly older Levi beat down another man, he reflected on that statement and how the one on top is the one who is the strongest. Or at least, a person who would not end up like his sister, Kuchel. Kenny chose that moment to leave Levi behind.
Years later, Kenny found Uri sitting by the river. "I don't have long left...anyone could tell that at a glance."
"Funny how you're a monster, yet age and disease do you in. You disappoint me."
"It's not that. The power will be passed down to Rod's children. But I should live on inside of their memories."
"What does that mean? You can pass down the power?" Kenny asks.
"Kenny... In the not-too-distant future, the world will crumble. And in humanity's fading twilight... I wish to build paradise. You believe in violence, do you not? It's the unavoidable truth of our world. Do you know about the power of the Neumanns? I'm glad I didn't come in contact with any one of them."
"What do you mean by that?" Kenny asks.
"I wouldn't want to rob their life. When a Neumann gets in contact with the Founding Titan, their powers will awake and they will start to absorb the power of the 12 Titans... However, if the Founding Titan that they contacted died, they would also die at the same time."
Kenny widens his eyes in surprise. Uri says, "However, just because there isn't any Neumann within the walls, what about outside the walls? We're not sure...I just hope none of them get in contact with the Founding Titan..."
Then he sighs, "I said too much, though. When we were at each other's throats, what was it that made us friends? Was it violence?"
"No idea. But if you hadn't squeezed me in that stupidly big hand of yours...I'd have stuffed your skull full of shit for sure. Before we became friends, you know?"
"Yeah... It's the unavoidable truth...Even so, I... I believe in the miracle that happened back then."
Kenny never agreed with Uri on that, but saw the result of him passing down his Titan in Frieda Reiss, who had taken on his demeanor to the point Kenny could see from looking at her that Uri was inside. Frieda even talked about love and peace in the same way that Uri had. Kenny wondered if being powerful was what gave them the freedom to talk about such things and if it would work for someone else, possibly even him.
However, after a while, he accidentally heard a conversation that a Neumann had been causing trouble with the MPs, and how she joined the Survey Corps and Levi was her father. He laments that if he had stayed longer with Levi, maybe he would be able to see the Neumann member.
(Flashback Ends)
Aya says, "The Titan Serum?"
"I swiped this little one right out of Rod's bag. Seems if I inject this... I'll turn into a Titan." Kenny says. "One of those dumb Titans... unfortunately. For a while... it should extend my life..."
"You've had the time and strength to inject yourself." Levi says. "Why haven't you?"
"Yeah... I wonder... If I don't inject it... I might end up as he did... all messed up." Kenny says.
"I know you're not sitting here waiting to die." Levi says. "Don't you have a better excuse?"
"I... I don't wanna die..." Kenny mutters. "But... I see... I think I understand why he did it, at that time..."
"Huh?" This causes the two of them to look with confusion.
"Everyone I've met... was all the same. Drinking... Women... Worshiping god even... family... the king... dreams... children... power... Everyone had to be drunk on somethin' to keep pushing on... Everyone... was a slave to somethin'... even him... and even you..."
Aya widens her eyes and sighs, "Yeah... because I'm a Neumann..."
Then he coughs blood again, before asking, "And what are you?"
Levi grabs Kenny's shoulder and says, "Kenny. Tell me everything you know! My last name seems to be Ackermann, too. You...What are you to my mother?"
"Heh, you idiot... Just her brother." Kenny says.
"So that's why he called me his grandniece..." Aya thinks.
"That day, why... why did you leave me?" Levi asks.
"Because... I'm not meant to be...someone's father... however, maybe if I stayed... I might be able to see your wife, who was a Neumann..." Kenny shoves the box with the syringe into Levi, who looks down as he takes it. When he raises his eyes again, Kenny has passed away.
"How ironic...me being descendants of both families that were nearly persecuted..." Aya thinks.
In the capital, Historia receives her crown from Dhalis Zachary before a crowd of people and high-ranking members of the military. The story of her slaying the Titan in Orvud District and overthrowing her father has spread throughout the crowd.
After the ceremony, her squadmates walk with Historia. Katrina says, "You're amazing there, Historia."
"Indeed. You're a true queen now." Peter says.
"Yeah. And I'm glad that you're going to help me out, right? Eren, Aya, Katrina, Ms. Dina?" Historia asks.
"Of course, but before that, remember what Mikasa and I want you to do?" Aya asks.
"Hold on... You're seriously doing it, Historia?" Eren asks.
"Yeah. I am." Historia says.
"Mikasa and Aya were just joking about it! Right?" Katrina asks.
"After you smack him, tell him this... "I dare you to hit me back." Mikasa says.
"Damn you...! If it's not a real grudge, just forget it." Eren mutters.
"If I can't do this, how can I call myself Queen?" Historia asks.
"Hell yeah, Historia. That's the spirit." Jean says.
Just then, Levi is standing in front of them. Historia psyches herself up and punches Levi in the arm. Everyone has shocked expressions except for Aya and Mikasa.
"How'd you like that?! I'm the Queen! If you got a problem-" Just then, Levi laughs and says, "Thank you... all of you..."
"You really should smile often, Dad." Aya smiles at him.
Elsewhere, Reiner Braun's Armored Titan lies face down in the ruins of Shiganshina District. His armor has been torn in places and he does not appear to be conscious. Bertholdt Hoover runs up to him, calling his name. He pulls Reiner out of his Titan body and turns to see the Beast Titan squat beside them.
"I won. Saving Annie can wait for later. Retrieving the Coordinate and Aya Neumann are our priority, as they should be." The man turns out to be Zeke. "If we just wait here, it'll come to us."
Two months after Historia was crowned, on a rural farm, Historia and Aya are chasing after the children with the others watching.
"Not quite the Queen I was expecting." Armin says.
"And it's only been two months since she was crowned. Seems like she's better suited to run an orphanage." Jean says.
"And what's the matter with that? After all, people call her the Cattle Farming Goddess." Dina smiles.
"Yeah. We've finally got a goddess among us." Peter says.
"At this rate, no one will remember the chump who plugged up Trost, yeah?" Jean tries to tease Eren.
"One of the reasons Historia decided to become queen was to do all this." Eren says, "Taking care of the orphans and needy from the underground to the edge of the walls. Since she was raised underground, the captain supported her, too. When people need help, she said she'll come to their rescue, no matter who or where. That's... what Historia wants to do."
Then they also watch Aya and Armin says, "Looks like Aya can make a good mother someday."
"You think so?" Eren asks with a slight blush.
"Clearly she's good with the kids here, so of course." Jean scoffs.
Dina frowns as she remembers Zeke, and Eren notices it and says, "Mother. I know you were harsh on Zeke, which was the reason why he betrayed you... but you don't need to worry, you still have Katrina and me... we're also a family."
"I know..." Dina says. "Though I can't believe we have become enemies..."
Aya and Historia notice the others and Aya says, "Eren! Come and help me, please?"
Eren nods as he goes towards Aya, and Historia turns to Armin and Jean and she says, "You're slacking again! It's getting dark, you know!"
Jean and Armin groan as they are carrying things, while Eren, Aya, Historia, and Dina are walking behind them.
"So why is Ms. Dina sad again? Is it because of the Beast Titan again?" Aya asks.
"Yeah... I'm sure that we're going to face them sooner or later in our hometown... Shiganshina...along with Reiner and Bertolt." Eren says.
"What are you going to do? If you met them and had to face them again?" Historia asks.
"Since My Dad got the Titan Serum from Kenny, I can try to take Reiner or Bertolt's powers and give them to either one of us." Aya says. "As for the Beast Titan... I was thinking about persuading him to join our side..."
"Though it might be difficult." Eren says. "In my memories, when Zeke and I contact each other, he wanted to save Eldia with some sort of euthanasia plan. Meaning we couldn't bear children and wait until all the Eldians die out..."
Dina says, "But that doesn't benefit us Eldians... that's why you decided to use the Rumbling in the future, right?"
"But that future is just some sort of an alternate reality. Maybe Zeke was still thinking the same thing right now, but I'm not going to let him do it. Besides, if I wanted to activate the Rumbling, why couldn't I just do it right now since Mother is a titan with royal blood?"
"Indeed." Aya says.
Historia says, "I want to help you out as well." This causes the three to look at her with confusion. "I want to revive the Eldian Empire. I know how our ancestors did a lot of sins that caused the world to hate us, but we're different from them."
"You're right. Because we're born in this world." Eren says. "And welcome to the group, Historia."
Historia smiles as they see children running. "Even the kids from the underground have been smiling lately. This can't have been the wrong choice."
"Yeah. You've done a great job. Though you're the one who said that we should activate the rumbling to wipe out humanity."
"Th-that was only because I got carried away." Historia says.
Just then, Mikasa, Katrina, Peter, and Odom walk toward them. Aya asks, "Guys? What's wrong?"
Mikasa takes Eren's stuff and Katrina does the same to Aya. "We'll carry it. Eren and Aya are tired."
"Again? Would you stop treating me like some sort of old feeble man?" Eren asks.
"Now that you and Aya's souls are bounded, if either one of you dies, it will be over for another and we don't want that." Odom says.
"Geez..." Aya mutters as they all walk back.
And here is a new chapter, and the next chapter is going to be the visit of Shadis and some things to explain.