The First Scream
The road to Ragako
A heavily guarded convoy of automobiles travels through a secret road through the woods.
Mikasa and Ymir are sitting facing each other… both of them looking outside in gloom. Ymir was thinking of her encounter with Sasha. Mikasa was reminscing off a dark omen she had kept secret for months…
The Paths – 4 months before
Mikasa and Levi suddenly found themselves in the paths, much to their shock. In the distance, a figure was standing looking at them, in front of the Tree of the Eldians, now the tree of the Ackermans, with only three branches.
Levi distraught: What… this place… again…
Mikasa is looking at the figure: Sasha…
Levi: Why did you brought us here?
Sasha at the distance kept quiet.
Mikasa tried to reach her, but her position wouldn't change, no matter how much she walked.
Sasha: Mom… Levi… I know I have no right to speak to you. I've brought back the hell you fought to end. I cannot face you again… but I need you, if I'm going to end the legacy of the Founder.
Mikasa shaken: Sasha what are you talking about… not face us again? What do you mean?
Sasha: I'm sorry to bring the weight of the world upon you again… but I… have no one else. I don't know… why our family had to bear this burden… but I intend to end the curse placed upon us…
Levi: You are talking like Kaspar…
Sasha: Yes… I guess so. Was he really wrong about us? The plight of our family?
Levi: Get me out of here… I don't need to hear this bullshit…
Sasha: All of us… have suffered because of our family… haven't we? Loss of parents… struggle to find an identity… our name is one that brings pain…
Levi and Mikasa kept quiet.
Sasha: Our family has been tasked for ages to shape the world… regardless of our desires… sacrificing our freedom… our desires… to fix an irreparable wound… this probably brought Kaspar to do what he did… force this fate upon me… but now… I see a different path… one that he couldn't… one that only me… and the previous founders could see.
Eren… my father… did not fail… mom.
Mikasa is shocked.
Sasha: Eren tried to take the pain of the world for himself and free you of it… yet you cannot live alone and disconnected from the rest… so I was born… out of will… a will of hundreds of years… to live a peaceful life. So I…
Mikasa notices Sasha started to tear up.
Sasha: I… will end our plight…
Levi: Then end it. Erradicate all the titans… you don't need us for that.
Sasha: Were the titans the source of evil? After all these years… I think you realize where it comes from.
Levi keeps quiet.
Sasha: I need you… to make sure the future I see… comes to be. And for that… certain events need to happen. Those who have ruined the world… need to be eliminated.
Levi is surprised: Aren't those your trusted servants?
Mikasa: Captain… aren't you being childish?
Sasha: I understand you don't trust me… so I'll let you see… when we leave this place… for now… I'll guide you into your roles in this story…
Present
Mikasa to herself: Sasha… why didn't you let me see? What are you hiding?
Ymir: Lady Mikasa?
Mikasa: Yes Ymir?
Ymir longingly looking outside: Do you think… this could have been avoided? Maybe If I… we… acted differently? Somehow?
Mikasa feels saddened: I think… the hardships we endure… all the pain… at the end… will be rewarded.
Ymir is surprised by the answer.
Mikasa: I don't know why… but everyday… just for a few moments when I wake up… I feel that way. It must mean something right?
Ymir smiles a little: Yes… I believe so.
Meanwhile, on another vehicule, Jean and Connie sat together.
Jean bothered: Hey… what's that smell?
Connie: What smell?
Jean: WHAT YOU MEAN WHAT SMELL?! It's you isn't it?
Connie: Hey! I'm VERY clean. Gotta take advantage of what we have now you know? I don't know about you… but I don't miss the smells of the old years.
Jean: Damn then what is it?! He sniffs around. The smell is stronger around Connie.
Jean: IT IS YOU! DAMN LIAR!
Connie: I BATHED TODAY! Oh wait… I know what it is.
Connie opens his coat revealing a small package.
Jean: What is that? I hope it's nothing weird.
Connie takes it out and opens it carefully: Nope, it's just a bit of meat.
Jean is distraught: What the… why you have meat on you? Are you crazy?
Connie: Not at all… have I not told you about this?
Jean: No. I would not have forgotten something like that.
Connie: Well... it's for Sasha you see…
Jean is surprised.
Connie: Ever since meat became accesible to everyone, since it's no longer a commodity… I thought "Sasha would have loved to live in these times… there is much more variety of food!"
Jean feels saddened. He notices Connie's eyes start to water, yet his voice and demeanor kept giddy.
Connie: So… since then… everytime I go into a potentially dangerous situation… I take with me a piece of meat… you know… just in case. I want to bring her something when I see her again… I don't know if where she is… she… can eat her favorite food… heh… you must think I'm dumb.
Jean: No, I don't…
Connie smiles at him happily: When the time comes… I'll tell her it's from both of us!
Jean: No Connie… this… it's just from you…
Connie looks down smiling.
Jean: I understand you a bit more now…. Jean places his hand of Connie's shoulder.
Ragako – a few hours later
The Restoration Front was at work to prepare the field, following Pieck's instructions, digging trenches, adapting the weapons for long range.
Jean, Ymir, Marco and Pieck were discussing strategy. Mikasa was overseeing the preparations of the field… she had not spoken to anyone since arriving. Connie approached her.
Connie: Hey Mikasa… care to help me? I need your ridiculous strenght.
Mikasa: Sure.
As both of them walked towards some crates, Connie started to talk to her.
Connie: You seem gloomier than usual Mikasa. Something's wrong?
Mikasa: Everything is wrong Connie.
Connie: Yeah… you are right… how dumb of me.
Mikasa kept quiet for a bit, she realized she was rude: Sorry Connie… I just… I seem to have lost the ability to… talk to the people that care about me…
Connie: Nah… you have always been like this.
Mikasa feels a bit ofended: I don't think I've always been like this…
Connie: Yeah you were! Actually you are much more approachable now! Before you just ignored us haha
Mikasa is getting angry: Well thanks Connie… heh…hah…
Connie is startled: What is it?!
Mikasa chuckles lightly: Nothing… I was just thinking… that you might be right… hah
Connie is creeped out: Yeah… I kinda prefered it.
Mikasa continues chuckling: Thanks Connie…. I haven't laughed… in a while.
Connie: I guess that's my role in here since the very beginning isn't it? Heh Pay me back helping me with these crates!
Mikasa: Sure.
Mikasa carried the extremely heavy crates towards the center of the town. They were filled with canned foods, bottles of wáter and clothes.
Connie was happily greeted by the people of Ragako, which were still not many after the reconstruction of the town.
Night
As preparations continued, a small gathering of the townfolk had formed around Connie. Mikasa was looking at the scene from afar, as Jean approached her.
Jean: He is the informal mayor of the town.
Mikasa: Looks like it.
Jean: He has been helping in the recovery of the town for years now. After his mom passed a year ago… he took care of the town personally.
Mikasa is deep in thought.
Jean: I think… In a way… all of us are trying to stay in the past… helping and doing what we can to restore at least something that was lost…
Mikasa: Or that will be…
Jean: Huh?
Mikasa: Stay close to your loved ones… Jean…
Jean is getting scared: What is it Mikasa? You know something?
Mikasa: Just that… this is a cruel world
Hyoryu Forest
Levi since staying at the fort had taken the habit of looking at the distance at night.
Gabi behind him: MR LEVI!
Levi keeps still: What?
Gabi flustered: Buu you are so boring these days…
Levi: Shouldn't you be with you family?
Gabi: I escaped for a bit. You need a bit of time for yourself being a mom you know?
Levi: No I don't.
Gabi: HAH! Funny aren't we?
Levi: Can't you bother someone else?
Gabi: Nope! We miss you, me and Falco, you have been distant for a while…
Levi: Yeah well… guess it's the age.
Gabi: Well yeah, you are the right age for a grandpa.
Levi is irked by the comment: Tsk.
Gabi smiles: Nice to see a bit of your former self heh.
Levi is reflecting: Gabi…
Gabi: Yes?
Levi: When all of this is over… what are your plans?
Gabi: My plans?
Levi: Yes… what are you and Falco going to do?
Gabi: Hmmm… well if I can… maybe teach again. I liked it. Falco I don't know. Stay at home with Pierre while he reads books I guess haha maybe have another kid… you knows
Levi smiles, still looking at the distance: That's sounds good.
Gabi is stranged: Are you ok? You got ominous all of a sudden? Are you ill?
Levi: No… just making sure the both of you weren't thinking about something stupid like joining the army or something like that.
Gabi: Nah… it was never our thing… being soldiers… it just was something that…. We were born into… and being good at it… well me, not Falco.
Levi: Yeah… I guess you are right.
Gabi yawns: Well Mr Levi… I'll go bother Leo before going to sleep… don't keep up all night!
Gabi walks away, meanwhile Levi keeps looking ahead and says softly: Goodbye… Gabi.
Sasha: In a few months, the course of the world will change in just one day, and it will take a toll on all of us… but it's the only way… the next generations can live a prosper life. It's not just about us.
I will put a stop to the power of the titans… but my mistakes need to be fixed before. I gave a fraction of the Founder to Yelena and Aganyu… I can't take away the power from them… but they are not able to pass it on… with them gone… the power will be returned to me.
I need you to end this… by killing them. Yet it needs to be done… at the same time.
You… who carry the power to destroy the titans… as Ackermans… the last of the line… you are the only ones who can help me with this… to allow me… the last Ackerman, end the curse of this world.
I've seen this future… and it can be done. But certain conditions need to be met… painful ones… for us. For me. Violence. Death. You will have to endure a barrage of pain… and end it the same day…
Morning – Ragako
Connie and Jean were sitting together watching the sunrise.
Connie is drowsy: I couldn't sleep well last night…
Jean: Why? Were you…"busy"?
Connie: Nah… I stopped fooling around a while ago… I kept having weird dreams…
Jean: Care to tell me about them?
Connie: I wish… but I can't remember anymore… all I can recall… is that I felt… full? I don't know it was weird.
Jean: You are weird.
Connie: Yeah I guess haha. So Pieck left everything set right?
Jean: Yeah… it's all ready. Those candle sticks won't be able to touch the town. But let's hope it's enough to deal with Yelena.
Connie: It will all work out.
Jean: Why so sure?
Connie: I don't know. I just feel like it?
Jean gets up: Well, I'll take your word for it.
Connie gets up: "Thumbs up"
Jean: Come. Let's catch up with the rest.
Connie and Jean start to walk… but Connie hears something and stops.
He starts to look at the trees… and notices movement.
Suddenly a shot is fired.
Jean is shocked and drops to the ground, yelling to the guard post nearby: SHOT FIRED! EVERYBODY TO THEIR POSITIONS!
A commotion starts and the prepared plan is put in effect.
Jean: Connie come on let's crawl to the post…. Connie?
Jean looks back and sees Connie laying in the ground… with the top of his head missing.
Jean crawls to him…..
Sasha: You'll know the time has come… when you hear a piercing scream.
Mikasa, as she was preparing her gear, heard the painful screams of Jean… meanwhile, Levi fully geared and armed was walking towards the entrance of the Palace… as he heard the piercing scream of the Howling Titan in the vecinity.
