Date: 15th March 2022
A/N: So, I wanted to release it on the 30th, but by seeing yesterday's episode, I was like "You know what, screw this, I'm uploading it now!"
And based on this chapter, it's quite small, so I think it would be very disappointing to just start everything with this after such a long wait. So, without further ado, here's the first chapter of
"Mikasa's Long Dream."
It was a usual day at the orphanage. Mikasa went about to do the chores around the building. Now that she was old (about 72 years), she had assistants to do most of the heavy-duty jobs. Even so, she insisted on monitoring everything to see if everything was as per requirement. She first went to the storeroom to check on the ingredients, then to the kitchen to taste test the children's meals. She then went over to places where they were reconstructing a section of the building where she was for the rest of the day. Then, she went to the back of the building where she had to water a small lawn of roses for her visits to Eren's grave. It was very dear to her.
As she was watering the plants, she heard a female's voice call loudly to her.
"Lady Mikasa!"
She turned to see her personal assistant Stella (Whom she had chosen because she was the only one who didn't talk ill about Eren) come running towards her. When she came in front of her, she heaved heavily and her hands were on her knees.
"What's wrong, Stella?" she asked her as she stopped watering the plants.
Stella heaved heavily as she slowly looked up. She looked like she was about to cry and tears were hanging from her eyes. She then slowly said
"I-It's…Sir Armin. Someone…tried to assassinate him by bombing his car!"
Mikasa then dropped the watering can and then immediately placed her hands on Stella's shoulders
"Tell me everything!" she demanded
"I…It happened this morning. Sir Armin and Lady Annie were on their way to the Peacemakers' office when the bomb exploded…It's terrible. Both of them were taken to the hospital in Mitras. Sir Armin has a lot of serious burn injuries and Lady Annie…um…she…she didn't make it." She said with tears running down her face.
Mikasa's eyes went wide in horror at this news. Over the years, almost all of her friends had died of old age. First Levi, then Jean, then Connie, and then recently, Historia. Everyone began to go away from her life until only Annie, Armin, and she remained of the 104th Cadet Corps. Mikasa proceeded to enquire more
"What about Albert and Fetta? Did any of those two-"
"No, luckily neither of the two were in the car at the time. They received the news, and are heading to the hospital now as we speak."
"Let's go. I need to be there for both of them. It's not going to be easy for them to accept losing a parent. How long will it take to refuel the car?"
"It was fully refueled yesterday."
"Give me a few minutes."
She then went up to her office in the building to delegate the tasks she had for the rest of the day. Slight tears flowed down her cheeks as the news began to slowly sink in. Annie was dead. Despite the complicated relationship the two had, which shuttled between rivalry and friendship, the two of them had mutual respect for each other and considered each other to be equals. And ever since Annie married her friend, they have been in amicable relations with one another. And now she was gone. She brought her scarf closer to her face as she began to think about Armin. Even if he makes it back alive, she can't imagine how much it would tear him apart with Annie gone. He had been facing all the threats and problems to this island for more than half a century. It had been mentally wrecking him. After his children went on with their own lives, Annie was the only happy thing he had left in his life. So now, Mikasa can't bring herself to accept either of the possible outcomes.
