Chapter 58
With Eldia now taking over the nation of Marley, the Scouts and the Military Police are helping the reconstruction of Liberio. At the same time, Reiner, Gabi, Falco, Colt, and Porco are back to their families.
Reiner is now facing his mother, he says, "Mother... I... I no longer have the power of the Armored Titan..."
"Are you sure, I'm so glad." Karina suddenly hugs Reiner, much to his shock.
"I'm sorry, Reiner. I... I just need you by my side."
Reiner is having tears in his eyes as he hugs his mother.
While the Warriors and the candidates are back with their family in Liberio, however, Eren and the Titan shifters are now back at Paradis.
Eren, Katrina, Aya, and Floch are standing on the bed of Louise, one of their devoted followers.
Katrina says, "Louise...I'm sorry... I tried my best, but..."
"It's a pity... I'll never be able to see the free world... that you guys will make." Louise says. "I became a soldier because I admired you. I have no regrets... because I chased after you... as I lived... devoting my heart..."
Eren and Aya do a salute to Louise, "You devoted your heart, we won't forget it..."
Just then, not a reply comes from Louise, and Katrina says, "She's dead..."
Aya then burst into tears as Eren pulls her into a hug, after mourning the deaths of a lot of soldiers, they decide to head outside. The streets are cheering for the victory against Marley, as they cheer for the Eldian Empire.
The four of them find Annie and Armin sitting at a table, Eren asks, "Do you mind if I sit here?"
Armin says, "Not at all."
Aya notices Annie's frown and asks, "Annie, are you okay?"
Annie says nothing, and Armin says, "She's the one that ends Commander Magath's life. However, it is the Commander's words that cause her to be in such pain."
"I see... I think I might feel the same thing when Commandant Shadis died as well..." Katrina frowns.
Just as the pie is now on the table, everyone is surprised to see Annie gobble down the pie by herself. Eren asks, "Um... Annie, are you alright?"
Annie drinks the water and says, "I'm fine... I really need that. It is just... I'm glad... Eldians in Marley is free..."
"But it is not over yet." Eren says. "Now that we get all 12 powers of the Titan, we have something that we need to do."
Armin nods and says, "You're right. The Curse of Ymir. We still need to find a way to end it."
And then they decide to take action as they bring all 9 Titan Shifters, Aya, and Mikasa to the Paths.
Dina asks, "So we're going to begin to break the Curse?"
"Are you sure it is going to work?" Sasha asks.
"We don't know unless we try." Eren says. "And let's all do this together."
But why is Mikasa here?" Odom asks. "I know Aya is here because of the Neumann bloodline, but what about Mikasa?"
Eren says, "Mikasa, do you still have headaches these days?"
Mikasa touches her head and nods, Eren says, "The reason for your headaches... it is because our Founder Ymir is choosing you to watch what the world is like."
Mikasa widens her eyes, and she asks, "But why me?"
"Because you're special." Aya says. "And that's why you're here with us because you were chosen."
Just then, they see Ymir walking alone in the sand, Pieck asks, "So that's the Founder..."
"Indeed." Katrina says.
Zeke says, "Long, long ago...when nothing but mere matter existed in this world, as countless masses of some unknown things appeared, disappeared, and then appeared again... one of them eventually survived. We now know it as "life." The reason that life ultimately survived was that it was in its nature to multiply. Life took new forms in order to multiply, adapting to every kind of environment and eventually leading to us as we are now. It sought numbers, it sought spread, it sought abundance, and so, this is to say the purpose of life is to multiply."
Dina says, "This said, these pebbles, the water, they don't seek to multiply, but life never stops in its frantic quest to do so. After all, death and extermination of the species run counter to the goal of multiplying."
"That is why we face the punishment known as fear. And why that child so desperately sought to avoid such pain. Something stronger. Something larger, she gave birth to an undying body, and then she escaped to a world that was free of even death." Erwin says.
"And that girl was Ymir, the Founder, and this is that world free of death." Peter says as they see the person.
"In spite of all the strength she had, she could never defy King Fritz, for thousands of years, she remained here, obeying him, but she still feels attached to the world she left behind." Katrina says.
"The Sun was starting to set, we were running to a tree on the hill. The seven of us... were racing." Eren says, causing the other six to be surprised.
"Eren brought up the idea and took off out of nowhere with Aya and Katrina. Mikasa ran too, but she stayed behind him on purpose. Peter and Odom are next, and of course, I was dead last." Armin says.
"But the breeze was nice and warm that day. Just running felt good...leaves fluttered everywhere and for some reason, I thought then." Odom says.
"Maybe... the reason we were born was so that the seven of us could be racing there." Mikasa says.
"We thought the same thing when we fed the horses, walked around the market... these trivial moments might actually be precious. Even if there's no need for something like this in order to multiply, it is still something incredibly precious." Aya says.
"You're right... I would have much rather just kept on hunting with my family..." Sasha says.
Just then, they turn around and they widen their eyes in shock, every Titan Shifter that they've eaten are in front of them.
"Mom... Dad..." Eren and Katrina walk towards them. And there are also Jenette, Wade, the Owl, the Shark, the Eagle, Marcel, Bertolt, Ymir, Tom Xaver, and even the other Titan shifters.
"The Founder Ymir wants to be connected. Because she wants something from us..." Pieck says.
Eren and Aya then walk toward Founder Ymir, who is standing in the middle of the crowd. Eren says, "Everyone, once we get in contact with Founder Ymir, transfer all the powers to Aya and we'll try it again."
The others nod as they also chase after Eren and Aya. When Eren and Aya hug Ymir, Eren says, "We will put an end to this! You and Eve Neumann are not slaves. Nor you are not a god! You don't need to obey anyone! You can decide! You get to decide! You choose! To stay here for eternity or to end it all!"
Aya says, "You're the one who led us here, aren't you? You've been waiting, haven't you? For 2000 years...for someone..."
Just then, Ymir starts to cry in tears, and Eren yells, "Guys!"
Katrina is the first as she touches Aya's shoulder, and then Peter puts his hand on top of Katrina's, then Odom, Dina, Sasha, Erwin, Armin, Zeke, and finally Pieck. Mikasa can only watch since she's not a Titan, but she can see how painful they are. All of the Titan Shifters are groaning in pain as Aya begins to yell. "Founder Ymir... This is our power!"
Just then, Founder Ymir starts to glow, and suddenly, all of them are blinded until they find themselves in a castle.
"What's going on?" Armin asks.
"This place..." Erwin says as they turn to see the first King Fritz standing in front of the soldiers one of them throws a spear at King Fritz. Ymir Fritz tries to dodge the spear, but in this outcome, Eve Neumann pushes Ymir out of the way, causing the spear to impale the king.
"Did the history... change?" Mikasa mutters as they watch how Maria, Sina, and Rose cry with Ymir and Eve hugging the three girls.
And just then, everyone is back in the present, except for Eren and Aya, who is still in the paths.
"Everyone?" Aya asks in shock as they look around. "It's just us..."
Eren and Aya see two people in front of them. One of them is Ymir, and the other one has white hair like Aya, meaning she is Eve Neumann.
Eve says, "Eren Yeager and Aya Neumann. Thank you... for saving us..."
Eren says, "Lady Ymir, Lady Eve... Your love for King Fritz has been a never-ending nightmare for you, right? All the lives that were taken can never be regained."
Aya says, "But it is only because you brought your children into this world. That we stand here today."
Eren says, "And now, you can rest. You don't need to make Titans anymore. And the new Eldian Empire will take care of the people right now."
Just then, Ymir and Eve walk towards them and give each of them a hug before disappearing, and a glow causes all of them to be blind.
"Hey! How long are you going to sleep?" When Eren and Aya wake up, they find Levi standing beside their beds.
"Dad? I... what..." Aya asks.
"You have been sleeping for 12 hours." Katrina says. "I guess the two of you must be very tired..."
"Yeah..." Eren says.
"But that means we did it, right? The Curse of Ymir is now gone, right?" Armin asks with delight.
"I guess so..." Aya says, "But I think there is more..."
When Aya touches Eren's hand, Eren the Titan's power isn't absorbed into Aya. "The Neumann's transfer is also gone..."
"I guess it is possible. After we free Founder Ymir, she doesn't need to create Titans in the paths... which means..." Eren says while looking at their hands.
Erwin says, "Eldians won't be able to turn into Titans. And once either of us dies out, the Titan power will also die out as well."
"In other words..." Armin says, "We are the last Titan shifters in the world... and the wall Titans..."
The Wall Titans will also be gone once the two of us die." Aya says. "And that's when people don't need to be afraid of the Titans anymore."
"This is really unreal..." Peter says. "To think we changed the past, and now we are the last Titan Shifters..."
"But that means..." Eren gasps as he tries to hug Carla, and much to his delight, Carla's hair color isn't changing.
"I can hug her with bare hands... I don't need to worry about the Neumann's curse on my children..." Eren says.
"The Neumann Curse will end in me..." Aya says. "So in a way, our souls are still bound, but the children... they'll have a future..."
Odom notices Mikasa and asks, "But what about the Ackermann powers? Are they still activated?"
Mikasa says, "I guess it is still there."
"Dad?" Aya asks Levi, who sighs, "It is still there."
"Anyway, do you think we should celebrate because of the success?" Sasha asks.
"I think we really should." Hange says. "We all deserve it."
"You guys go first, Aya and I need some time alone." Eren says, causing the others to stare at them with shock. Levi says, "Just don't do something nasty."
After everyone leaves, Eren turns to Aya and says, "We did it... we really change the future..."
"Yeah..." Aya says while the two of them lean in for another kiss.
And here is the new chapter, and I've decided that the next chapter will be the final. I hope you like this chapter.