No Way Back
Mikasa: What will you do?
Armin: I'm going to exile in Tongo. Onyakopon was kind enough to take us in and give us protection… I can't believe this is happening…
Mikasa is deep in thought: Disappointed… he… would be so disappointed of us…
Armin saddened: There is no time to grovel… we need to figure out what to do…
Mikasa: How? We don't even know what is that he wants… every time we have been wrong… and I'm afraid it's already too late…
Mikasa and Armin are standing outside his home, meanwhile the rest are packing.
Sasha is sitting alone by the stairs. Nobody had talked to her for a while due to the hectic situation at hand.
Leo: Sasha? Um… h.. how are you? Are you… ok?
Sasha: Yes Leo. Not a scratch…
Leo: Oh… Yeah… sorry…
Leo feels terribly guilty. He wants to speak to her but is afraid to.
Sasha: You don't need to feel guilty Leo… this was going to happen anyway… including Reiner's death…
Leo is shocked.
Sasha: Can we escape our fate Leo? Is this truly all there is? Death and horror? Is that all I am?
Leo is scared about what Sasha is saying: What are you talking about?
Sasha: Nothing… don't listen to me… go help your mom… thanks for thinking about me…
Leo suddenly hugs her: SASHA! STOP! This is not you! Do not let that man's word twist your mind! How can you say such things about yourself!? All your life you have been a shining light for everyone around you!
Sasha tried to listen to Leo… but the words weren't getting to her…
Sasha: You can't understand… I wish you could… I wish… someone could…
Leo: I'm not leaving you Sasha… you are never going to be alone again.
Sasha: What do you mean?
Leo: I'm going with you and your mother. Marco, Munir and me are going to Paradis
Sasha surprised: What?! What about your family?
Leo: They agree with me. I will act as a communication link.
Sasha: You sure about this? You know when you'll be able to come back.
Leo: I'm going to where I'm more needed.
Sasha: You should stay with you family Leo… you don't know what I would give… to have a family like yours…
Leo is silent.
Sasha: My family… heh… what family? My mother cannot even tell me how is it that I came to be…
Sasha stays quiet… she is trying to stop her mind… but so many questions come out…
Leo is concerned: What's wrong Sasha?
Sasha: I'm not ready to talk about it… don't be concerned about me.
Leo: Sasha…
Sasha: You… are not afraid… of me? I'm… a monster…
Leo grabs her by the arms, surprising Sasha: Don't say that! Don't even think about it, how can you think something like that about me? About us? Both my parents were shifters! Are you saying they are monsters too?!
Sasha is speechless: I… uh…
Leo looking at her intensely: Don't ever think about yourself in that way… don't dare say that to your mother… you are talking about your father too…
Sasha feels ashamed of herself: I'm… sorry… -She starts to sob- I don't know what is happening to me… I'm sorry.
Leo hugs her strongly: Sasha… you are not alone… you don't have to carry this burden by yourself… share it with all of us…
Sasha hugs him while silently crying.
Leo then realizes he is hugging her and gets extremely self-aware: Damn I got carried away… she smells good…
He does not let go.
The next day – The Ackerman Woods
Historia is with Mikasa in her cabin.
Historia holding Mikasa's hands: Are you ok?
Mikasa: I don't know… I don't know what to think or feel…
Historia is concerned: But Sasha is ok! That's what matters right?
Mikasa: I don't know if she is ok…
Historia: What do you mean?
Mikasa: It feels like I've been manipulated… since the beginning… it feels like today… was the end of a long plan…
Historia is confused.
Mikasa: It's my fault… he knew… just how weak I would be…
Historia is even more confused: What are you talking about?!
Mikasa: I have to… tell her the truth now…
Ackerman Woods Military Center
Pieck: I'm taking charge of the Survey Corps.
Jean: WHAT?! YOU HAVE NEVER EVEN WORN THE EQUIPMENT!
Pieck: So? This is an intelligence corps now. And your management has given ZERO new intel.
Connie: Damn… that's rough. Not really a lie though Jean
Jean ashamed: Just shut up Connie.
Pieck: You are a good military leader, you are reliable and brave, but this job needs now a cool headed villain to understand the enemy's goal and tactics.
Connie to Marco: Did she just call herself a villain?
Marco: Surprised?
Jean deep in thought: I guess you are right… but this is a Paradisian institution… it wouldn't sit well for the troops to be commanded by a Marleyan, there is still bad blood in here, especially in the military.
Pieck: That's no problem. You just do what I tell you to do. That's not too hard right? *Wink*
Marco: That's what dad does best HAHA!
The fields
Ymir: What the hell is wrong with you? You have been weird ever since you came back.
Sasha: I guess that how I really was all along… it shouldN'T be a surprise to you right?
Ymir getting frustrated: HUH?!
Sasha and Ymir were walking by the fields of the estate. Sasha did not want to listen to anyone, she wanted to be alone, but Ymir kept pestering her.
Sasha: You knew who I was since we were kids… a monster.
Ymir is shocked and ashamed: H..hey! That was me being an immature child! How can you say that!?
Sasha: Children tell the truth… you were righ… Ymir then slaps her so hard Sasha falls to the ground.
Sasha: HEY! WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU!?
Ymir is looking at her with tears in her eyes: Have you ever been this weak?
Sasha is puzzled.
Ymir: All that time when you kept doing whatever you wanted… being whomever you wanted… was all that an act?
Sasha: Ymir…
Ymir: Do you realize… how much you have influenced me? How much your strength… your tenacity… has helped me… be who I wanted to be?!
Sasha feels ashamed.
Ymir: So you are a shifter… SO?! Have you killed anyone?! Have you tried to conquer the world or something?! You are still Sasha! And nothing will change that! So just… STOP BEING SUCH A WHINY BITCH!
Sasha quietly chuckles: Heh… I guess I'm being a blockhead…
Ymir sits next to her: Well, your father was too… my mom told me.
Sasha looks at her with tears in her eyes.
Ymir smiling: We really needed more of our fathers… right?
Sasha hugs Ymir strongly. Both of them start to cry.
Meanwhile, Leo and Munir were watching the scene from afar.
Leo feels desolated, he feels he can't help Sasha at all, he thinks of his family, he wanders if he made the right decision.
Leo: Why did you and Marco came here too?
Munir: I never felt at home in Marley… my people always have been outcasts, even more after the Rumbling… so leaving a place you don't consider your home… isn't hard at all… maybe I can find it here…
Leo: Hmm…
Munir: I understand why Marco came here… even if I met both of you not long ago, I always understood Marco. He is very clear. But not you… I don't understand you at all.
Leo: Really?
Munir: You left your family for Sasha… and you are here with me, and not with her. You barely have spoken today… What am I saying? I'm presuming to much I'm sorry.
Leo: No. You are right. What am I doing? I left my family at the center of a conflict… am I a coward?
Munir: Do you trust your parents?
Leo: Well... yes. Ever since I was a child… I've always felt a strong sense of duty and responsibility. I always did my best to help my mom and dad in whatever they needed, especially with my sister… I never really rested at home. I kept constantly busy doing chores and helping my mom… even if she didn't need to.
Now that I think about it… she always gave me things to do at my insistence… she trained me so hard at my request… not hers.
Munir: It seems your parents trust you a lot to make your own decisions…
Leo: My mother… told me something before I left.
Annie: Leo… we will be fine, don't worry about us. Christine will be safe with us, your father and I are much tougher than you, even if you think that's not true.
Leo: I never…
Annie: I'm sorry you never felt at ease here at home Leo… I guess that's my fault. A family trait I'm afraid. So… don't be afraid to go after your happiness.
Leo feels overwhelmed.
Annie: It's hard to realize that for a mom you know? It's even worse when you knew it… since you were just a boy… no accounting for taste I guess.
Annie strokes Leo's cheek: Go get your happiness Leo.
Leo looks at Sasha as she is hugging Ymir: I'll talk to her tomorrow…
Night – Mikasa's Home
Historia and Ymir returned to the castle. Meanwhile the rest stayed at the Ackerman estate for the night as they decided what to do next.
Mikasa was arranging Sasha's bedroom. Suddenly she walks to the doorstep.
Mikasa: Your room will be ready in a bit. Ymir had been staying here sometimes and I know you hate how she leaves things.
Sasha: Mom…
Mikasa: Yes?
Sasha: You… killed my father… didn't you?
Mikasa froze. The moment she feared the most had come.
