A dream of sorrow
5 months before – The Throne Room
Viceroy Aganyu requested a meeting with Yelena, in private. This surprised her and found it offensive to bypass the Pontiff, but agreed to learn what he wanted.
Aganyu: Yelena, you are a fighter. You were imprisoned for over 20 years and here you are instead of being dead and rotten in a jail cell. You know why that is? Because of your convictions… your ambition.
Yelena: Why are you telling me this?
Aganyu: For the future. Yours and mine.
Yelena: Hmm?
Aganyu: We now have the tools we need… to rule the world as we please. The mold it to our own convictions… isn't that your true goal… ever since your days with Zeke Yeager?
Yelena: You want to betray our pontiff? After giving you such gifts? Yelena slams her fist in the table and lowers her head. That's something… I won't allow to happen…
Aganyu laughs: Come on now… enough with the theatrics! Are you that naïve… or are you truly insane? Haven't you realized that all Yeager has done… has been her just following the motions? Not really thinking anything? What will happen when she starts to reflect on these past months? When she starts to toy with her powers?
Very likely you and I will be killed… and everything we have done would have gone to waste… you want that? Truly?
Yelena: I HAVE FAITH. IN HER, IN OUR WORK, MY LIFE'S WORK. IT'S HERE, NOW.
Aganyu: Idiot… but I guess that's to be expected. Seeing how you have left the most dangerous people in this country alive and well, left alone to organize a coup.
Yelena: I won't go against her holiness' wishes…
Aganyu: I see… you truly are insane… I guess that's what 20 years rotting in a jail cell will do to you…
Yelena: Was your master insane too?
Aganyu is highly offended by the words she used: What did you say?
Yelena: Kaspar… he made sure you are where you are now… he was imprisoned for a decade… are you saying… he was insane too? Then his decision… to leave Marley to you… was an insanity.
Aganyu: You think he didn't know what I wanted… and what I would do? He did.
Yelena: Even plotting to kill his heir? His nephew? His family? His legacy? The only thing he cared about?
Aganyu: Yes.
Yelena: Then… now I know… why he chose me… of all people… Yelena stands up. TO STOP YOU.
Aganyu stands up: Haha… Maybe… maybe he just wanted to destroy the world… in any case… I'll leave for now. I'll give you some time to think about it. But be sure that… I'll take what I want… one way or another.
Your precious Yeagers might be adored here in the Devil's Island… but in Marley things are different. I'll make sure of that. There's place for only one savior in the people hearts.
After Aganyu left, Yelena sat down for a while thinking what to do.
Hitch: Both of you are straight of a play. Bunch of pompous wackos.
Yelena: For the eyes and ears of the pontiff… you sure are not shaken by threats…
Hitch: If I were… I wouldn't be fit for the job… kinda like you… you are not fit for anything.
Yelena: And yet here I am.
Hitch: Yeah… I don't get it… but that's not my problem.
Yelena: I have to save her holiness… but I'm… I can't see any other way… I'm sorry my lady.
Hitch: She doesn't need saving… I don't think she can be killed to be honest.
Yelena: Where is she?
Hitch: Doing her usual thing of the afternoons… walking through the city…
Sasha, since the beginning of her rule, decided to stop hiding and walk all the places she couldn't before. Every day she visited a different city. She was greeted mostly in a rapturous and kind way by the people.
She sat and ate with the people, heard their problems and helped in every way she could immediately. This actions were exploited and publicized by the government and the Church, so her image and her regal name became extremely popular.
But there were also opposition groups that formed against the government, but left Sasha, the person, alone, instead attacked what her image represented to the government and the church, a corrupt deformation and exploitation of a kind girl.
Yelena: I don't think that's wise right now…
Hitch: Isn't this your ambition speaking now? Would it truly affect Sasha… if all of this were to end?
Yelena: I'm concerned that you are in charge of her holiness… some things.. cannot be taken back… what you think will happen to her… if her rule were to fall… and the old regime reinstated? That she would be left alone? That you will be safe? Or Lady Mikasa? What's done is done.
And you heard that man… it's not only her holiness' safety now that's in peril… it's the nation. A war is coming… heh… before it was for the nationality and race of people… now it's for the ambition of a single man… I guess some things can never change…
Hitch: So what do you propose? What concerns you so much?
Yelena: The state of the nation… there are too many opposition cells spread through the regions… it's taking too much of the time of the military… it can't go on.
I promised her holiness… that I wouldn't resort to violence and killings… but there is no other way… there is no time. And the worst thing is… the opposition is commanded… by the very people her holiness ordered me to protect and leave alone…
Hitch: Heh… just what I thought… I just needed to hear you say it. I'll inform Sasha of this.
Yelena: I won't renounce protecting the pontiff…
Hitch: I don't think she'll do anything… as she is mess… but you'll make her suffer with this. That's for sure.
Yelena puts her head on the table and starts to cry: I'm sorry my lady…
Night – Historia's chambers
Sasha was deeply distressed by the information Hitch gave her about the situation with Aganyu, so she went to Historia's chamber for advice.
Sasha: Why have I done all this? What… is wrong with me?
Historia: I'm sorry you have to deal with this… but I understand how you feel… I was suddenly given the burden of leadership like you… with no warning… no preparation…
Sasha: But you did not act like a spoiled child and potentially wrecked your nation…
Historia: Yes I did… I knew… what Eren would do. He told me. And I went along with it. The whole thing. I didn't do anything as the entire world was being massacred… including my own country. This whole… rotten situation… was slowly created by my incapacity… and my egoism.
Sasha: What you mean?
Historia: I… did everything Eren told me… so that I could be safe... me and my friends. I did not… really cared about anything else. To be honest… Heh… Even now… I'm lying…
I got pregnant… so I would not inherit Eren's Founding Titan… it's true that it served a purpose… by the real reason for me was… that I wanted to live… a long life. I did not want to die in 13 years… Pathetic isn't it.
Historia starts to tear up.
Ymir… was conceived… out of selfishness… and not love. I guess all of this is my punishment.
Sasha takes her hand: Thank you… Both of them give each other a slight smile… filled with regret. Leo, as Sasha's personal guard, was by the door, hearing the conversation.
Sasha's Chambers
Sasha was sitting in her bed reflecting about her conversation with Historia. Leo was standing outside by the door of the chambers, like he usually did.
Sasha: Leo… can you talk to me… please?
Leo had not spoken to Sasha since she created the Pillar and Sentinel Titans… yet he remained by her side and kept his duties as her personal guard.
Sasha presses herself against the door: Leo… please.
Leo heard everything that happened, so he could not hold back anymore.
Leo: Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?
Sasha: No…
Leo: I told you… how could you do such things…
Sasha: I… don't know what to say… there is no excuse…
Both of them stay silent for a minute.
Sasha: Can you come in for a moment?
Leo hesitantly enters the chambers. Sasha is sitting in the bed with a distraught expression. She is only wearing a nightgown, shocking Leo.
Leo: W…what's this? Why aren't you dressed?
Sasha: Leo… have you ever felt alone? Truly alone? Even if people surround you… you have that sinking feeling… that there is no one by your side?
That's how I felt… this past month. I've never been around much people… just my mother… or uncle Armin… the Queen… Ymir… Hitch… you…
Even Hitch has been distant these past days… like she was forcing me to feel this… is it a punishment?
Leo is speechless.
Sasha: To be honest… even when I was with my loved ones… I felt alone. Sasha starts to tear up.
There was always… something different about me… I could feel it since I can remember… the only one who could soothe that feeling of emptiness… was my mom… and now she… hick… she… sob… I haven't seen her in nearly two years…
Sasha starts to cry inconsolably. Leo kneels in front of her and hugs her tightly. Sasha wraps her arms around him.
Sasha softly: The only other person… who has made me feel at ease… is you.
Both of them stare for a long time… and kissed. They laid in the bed… and could finally express their true feelings.
Sasha sees herself sitting by a familiar tree… it's her father's tree.
Sasha: Ah… I haven't dreamed in a while… but it feels different.
At that moment she sees in front of her the child.
Sasha: You… it's been so long…
A massive shadow appears behind the child. The atmosphere became stranger, it no longer felt like a dream.
The child: Your true power has been sealed by me… until now.
Sasha is shocked: Huh? What you mean?!
The child: The moment has come… to receive this curse. It's up to you now… what future unfolds.
Sasha receives a flood of images that overwhelm her.
You are not alone… I believe in you.
The next morning Sasha wakes up in a daze. The world no longer feels real. She has seen what will and what could happen at the same time.
She then hears a slight grunt. She looks besides her and sees Leo sleeping next to her.
She snaps back from her dazed state and remembers what happened. For the first time in a while… Sasha feels truly happy. She starts to think about one of the images she saw.
Sasha: I have a lot to think about… She lightly smiles to herself… and tears up in sorrow.
Present – The Azumabito Palace
Leo came back distraught from everything that happened… but his mind was solely focused on the letter from Sasha.
He hesitantly opened the envelope and started to read:
Leo,
You must be so confused and angry with me… nothing about me must make sense to you… but trust me when I say… everything I have done since that night… is with purpose… it's for our happiness. Including me sending you to Marley in such hurry…
I now know what to do, and I have to thank you for that. Everything changed for me since that night, in more way that you can imagine. I no longer feel alone… although what I must do now… requires me to be alone.
I must ask you now to trust me… and to trust your father. You surely saw how he got ahold of this letter right? That must be enough a message for you to realize… I'm no longer just shooting in the dark.
I must abstain to give more details in case anything happens to this letter but I can say for certain that… if everything goes along how it's supposed to… it will bring our loved ones and us… a long and full life.
Funny how I ended up trying to achieve what my father tried to… but I'll do it differently… because I'm not alone.
Be safe Leo… you are always on my mind
Sasha.
Leo stared at the distance with the letter in his hands.
Armin: Feel better?
Leo: … I can't help but feel… what she wrote… is not entirely true…
Armin: Nothing goes exactly how we wish for… but that doesn't mean… we can't wish for it to happen.
Leo: A sentinel titan gave you this… right?
Armin: Yes. It's not the first.
Leo: Then… I'll no longer doubt… what is the plan?
