Chapter fifteen-The final one
The last man standing
Eren Yeager shook his head, his mind still fuzzy from the fact that his head just slammed through some bricks. Before he could bring himself to get up, someone pushed him away, and he heard two people digging trough a pile of rubble. ''Eren.'' he heard a familiar voice say. ''Connie?'' he asked, and suddenly Connie and Mikasa were next to him. ''Eren, are you alright?'' Mikasa asked, as she tried to help him sit up.
Eren groggily shook his head, but stopped when he spotted Levi and Jean still digging frantically. ''Wha'z going on?'' he asked, a slight slur present in his voice. ''Well, I don't have a clue, I just arrived.'' Connie told him. ''Mikasa?'' Eren asked, but only faced Mikasa's grim expression. ''Just rest, Eren.'' she said, before getting up. ''Connie, where are the others?'' she asked. ''They are outside of the gate, I'm supposed to bring them a report of what's going on.'' Connie told her, but Mikasa replied, ''Stay here with Eren. I'll be heading back to give that report. After all, I witnessed what happened.'' than she ran out of the ruined building. ''Mikasa!'' Eren screamed after her, wanting to know wat was going on.
Armin heard a faint cry in the distance, but wasn't focused on what the person was screaming. Marco was still holding out his hand, expecting Armin to take it. ''You... you are joking, right?'' Armin asked. ''No, that would be a terrible joke Armin. Come, Annie has been waiting for you. She wanted to explain her side of the story as well.'' Marco said, reaching for Armin's hand, but Armin slapped it away. ''I'm not dead. I can't be dead. There is so much to fight for, and... I promised Levi I wouldn't leave him.''
''Petra made the same promise, and she died too.'' Marco said.
''Marshall Fubar, with all due respect,'' Erwin started, but the Marshall glared and said, ''Shut it, Smith. You've endangered the citizens of Sina by disobeying the law.'' Hanji spoke before Erwin could. ''Oh, please,'' she rolled her eyes before adding, '' We're all on the same side here, we all want to protect humanity! The only problem here is that His majest...'' one of Fubar's elite managed to point a gun towards Hanji, who shrieked. ''Don't speak badly of our liege.'' the Marshall said, before taking a few steps towards Erwin.
Erwin's innitial reaction was to put his hand near his blade, preparing for battle, in case this was necessary. ''You and your band of misfits are disbanded, Smith. I'd suggest you leave to the rotten slums where you came from this instant, before I allow my men to send you to a place beyond earth, wherever that may be.'' The Marshall said, before he drew a document, sealed by the king, from his coat, and threw it towards Erwin, before stepping behind his men, and signalling all his soldiers to aim their guns at the convicted.
''You've exactly ten seconds to do as you've been ordered, Smith.'' Marshall Fubar said, but all of the survey members held their positions. ''It has been a pleasure serving under you, Sir.'' Hanji said as she saluted Erwin, many Surveyors following her action. ''And it has been a pleasure commanding you.'' Erwin said, as he saluted back. ''We're not leaving, Marshall. Holding your position until you die, is the vow you make when you become a member of the army. You owe it to the people that you protect and love to keep that vow.'' Erwin said.
The marshall narrowed his eyes, as he raised his hand, and said, ''Men, on my signal.'' But before he was able to lower his hand to give said signal, a mop of black hair flew by and chopped the arm off. The Marshall's eyes widened as he spotted a raven-haired girl, holding his arm up in the air. Everything became a blur before his eyes as the other survey members took their chance to attack his men as they were distracted. Marshall Fubar closed his eyes for a split second, and when he opened them, he reached for his gun to shoot Mikasa.
''Armin, I...'' Marco tried to stop Armin before he could hurt himself or run off. ''SHUT UP!'' Armin yelled frantically, making more people look at the scene. ''Armin?'' Reiner asked, but Armin refused to look at him. ''Armin, just accept it. It's easier that way.'' a female voice said, as she gingerly placed a hand on Armin's shoulder. ''No, I can't.'' Armin said, as he pushed her hand off. He heard some footsteps, and the others turned very quiet. ''Then, if you are willing to fight, come with me.''
''Sasha!'' Mikasa screamed, as she saw the brown-haired girl tumble onto the ground, right before her eyes. Mikasa didn't even spare the Marshall one glare, but instead tossed away his arm and dropped to her knees to aid her friend. ''Sasha!'' she said again as she took Sasha's cold hand into hers. ''It's going to be alright, I promise. Why did you take that shot for me?'' Mikasa asked, but Sasha shook her head. ''Face it, Mikasa, this is where everything ends for me. There is no way I can really survive this.'' she said, as she petted her belly. It bore a large wound which was bleeding profusely, and the bloodstain on her clothes continued to expand. ''As for why I took the shot, I think you know why.''
Despite all that, Sasha gave Mikasa a goofy grin. Mikasa didn't understand her, staring ever so confused at Sasha. ''Sasha, you'll survive. Please try to hold on.'' Mikasa said. ''Tell Connie to save you a few potatoes when you get freed from these walls.''Sasha said, before closing her eyes. Mikasa narrowed her eyes, before letting go off Sasha's hand. As she looked behind her, she spotted an enraged Erwin drawing his sword from the Marshall. 'This won't do.' she thought, before moving to support Erwin.
''Ymir?'' Armin asked, but the girl silently kept striding towards unfamiliar places. 'Where is she taking me? I don't have time for this, I need to go back.' Armin thought, before he stepped into a puddle of something. As he looked, he found hot steaming flesh, and Armin's eyes widened, and he tried to pull his foot away, but the flesh remained sticking to it. ''Ymir, help!'' Armin desperately screamed, but the girl turned and said, ''You said you were willing to fight.'' Armin nodded, not seeing where she was going with this. ''Armin, do you know at what cost you become a titan shifter?'' was all she asked.
'Mikasa is taking a long time.' Eren thought, as he watched Connie, Levi and Jean still digging trough the pile of scattered bricks. 'Maybe something is wrong. I don't know what is going on. My mind is a huge blur at the moment.' Eren thought. ''Jean, what is going on?'' Eren shouted, but the stupid horse ignored him.
''The secret to become a titan shifter is that you need to be eaten by a titan and survive, right?'' Armin asked, but Ymir shook her head. ''You're correct in a way, but it's dangerous and many people don't actually survive being eaten by a titan.'' she explained. Armin frowned, if there was another way, then why didn't Bertholdt and Reiner use that instead. ''Most titan shifters have been at this point, you know? On the verge of dying, winding up in this place. But usually when they come here, they still have something or someone they want to protect. Or something that they want to achieve.'' Ymir said.
''I think I understand it so far. But what has that to do with becoming a titan?'' Armin asked. ''Titan's are nothing more than giant infants, controlled by a human. Basically they represent the regrets of a human, who gets to have one more chance to achieve what they want, but then in an other sense than humans do. Titan's are free, Armin, not locked up by walls, or being ruled over by some king. But being an intellegent titan comes with a price. If you truly don't want to die yet, if you really want to fight, if your heart is really into it, you'll leave this place easily.'' Ymir said, before smirking. ''Since you're stuck, why don't you take a moment to think it over.'' she said, before leaving.
Eren sighed, as he got up. He still was a bit dizzy, but managed to walk over to the three others. ''Heichou, who are you searching for? If someone is underneath there, then he or she may have passed on already.'' Eren said, and Levi stopped for a moment. ''Heichou?'' Eren asked, as he saw his superior shaking slightly. ''Don't you dare say that ever again.'' Levi said, as he gave Eren a murderous look. As Eren stood dumbfoundedly, he spotted a tear run across Levi's cheek.
Suddenly everything clicked in Eren's mind, and he realised that Armin was somewhere underneath. ''Armin...'' he whispered. ''Oi, Eren, stop it. The last thing we need is you going berserk again.'' Jean said, but when Eren wanted to reply, some bricks suddenly moved, before a small figure crawled out of it. ''Armin!'' both Eren and Levi shouted before rushing towards the blond. But as Levi took Armin in his arms, he noticed that the blond was at least twenty degrees warmer than he usually was. ''Holy shit, you're burning up. We need to get you a doctor.'' Levi said worriedly.
''There's no need, I'm alright, Levi. Would you mind telling me what the current situation is. We need to escape as fast as possible.'' Armin said. But Levi picked him up, carried him to a chair that had survived somehow when Eren collapsed through the ceiling and said, ''You should rest first, Armin. You've been shot, and a ceiling just collapsed on top of you.'' ''Levi, we don't have time to rest.'' Armin said urgently.
''You may be my love, but I command you to slow down, Armin. You've been injured.'' Levi pressed, but Armin stubbornly shook his head. ''I don't know how to explain what's going on, Levi. But we can still escape these walls, like we intended to in the first place.'' Armin said. ''Armin..., I know you want to go on, but-'' Levi started, but Eren placed his hand on the vice-commander's shoulder.
''Once his mind is set, there isn't much anyone can do to change it.'' Eren explained. Levi sighed, Armin did have that look in his eyes. The same look he had, when he really wanted to go on, no matter what. And Levi never gave up himself, even after Petra had died. He sighed, before looking into Armin's eyes and asked, ''What do you believe we need to do, Armin?''
Christa was still crying as she looked around. This had not gone as she intended. She never once had wanted to join the Survey, all she wanted was to be free. Ymir had offered her that freedom. But once they had joined the survey, she had returned to this hell-hole, and it had taken Ymir. 'Ymir would tell me to go on.' Christa figured, but she couldn't find the strength to get up. Suddenly she heard some noises, and fearing the worst, she made herself as small as possible.
Soon enough, something poked her in the back. She looked up, fearing it would be one of her fathers former henchmen or soldiers, but all she found was raven melancholic eyes staring at her. ''Christa.'' the girl said, and Christa nodded. ''Mikasa?'' she asked, hoping that her eyes weren't deceiving her. Mikasa gave a firm nod. ''Did your knees give out?'' Mikasa asked, and Christa nodded. ''Do you want me to help you?'' Mikasa asked, not even waiting for her reply, but instead lifting Christa up
''Ymir died.'' Christa murmered, barely coherent enough for Mikasa to hear. But Mikasa understood her, and said, ''I'm sorry, it must hurt. Sasha has passed as well.'' Christa felt a lump in her throat, and said, ''Why did good people like them die? There was so much they could've achieved.'' Mikasa sighed, before saying, ''They died, because they were willing to sacrifice themselves for another life. All we can do is get out of here, and live that life to the fullest.''
Before Christa could reply, Erwin called everyone to assemble, and Mikasa rushed over, with Christa in her arms. As she arrived, she spotted Eren and Levi supporting Armin, as the three stood next to Erwin. ''Sir, what's this about?'' Hanji asked, glad to see that Levi and the others were doing fine. ''I believe I have an anwer to that. If I may, Sir?'' Armin requested, and Erwin nodded.
''I think we can all agree that this mission hasn't been a succes so far. But we're really close to regaining our freedom again. Near these walls, there's a gateway leading to the outside world. My grandpa told me about it when I was younger, he and his former fellow soldiers had dug it. But the king knew that if people learned about its existence, they would doubt the danger posed by the Titans. This gateway has been sealed away, but we can find it. All we need is our will and strength.'' Armin explained, before adding, ''Please, don't question it, but I think I'll be able to locate this gateway.'' There was a silence, before Connie said, ''But even if we do find it, then what? We get out, only to face titans. We have gone through enough, haven't we? Whether we die out there, or here, does it make any difference?''
''It does, and I'm willing to take the chance.'' Levi said, before he and Eren made their way, moving Armin as he directed, towards where he thought the gateway was. Soon enough, Erwin, Hanji and Mikasa followed. It took a while, before plenty of other members decided that having faith was all they needed. It was nighttime when they reached a large barn, standing before the wall. ''If I'm correct, the gateway should be behind this barn. This is all that stands between us and freedom.'' For some reason, Eren nodded along, getting the same feeling.
''But, what if this is what keeps the titans out? We really ought to reconsider this.'' someone said, but her voice went ignored as Erwin asked, ''Armin, are you sure?'' ''A hundred percent, Sir.'' Armin replied. ''We have done enough damage here, we can't afford to be wrong.'' Hanji said, but Armin nodded firmly. ''It's nighttime, they won't attack. Besides, I don't think the titans know about this place, because if they did, why didn't Annie and Reiner use this.'' Armin said weakly. ''That's about all the confirmation I need.'' Erwin said, before turning to Mikasa and Levi. ''Would you please force these doors open for us?''
Mikasa nodded, and Levi allowed Eren to hold Armin, before he stepped forward. It took them quite a while, but eventually, they managed. As the broken doors swung open, they peered into a cavernous darkness, an even darker void in the back might be a tunnel. It was dark, so no-one could be sure, but the fact that there was something, meant that Armin could have been right. ''Any who wish to stay behind, can.'' Erwin simply said, before adding, ''But for freedom, it's a small price to pay to encounter whatever there may be on the other side.'' No-one left, though some quivered in fear. But this was what they had been fighting for, and they'd be damned if they didn't go through with it, when they were this close. Erwin took the lead, and the others followed. Levi took Armin from Eren, and said, ''You've been through enough today, allow me to carry him.'' Eren only nodded, before setting off. Armin only smiled weakly, allowing Levi to give him a piggy back ride to the other side.
When they finally reached the other side, after days of stumbling in the dark, the sun was shining, temporarily blinding those that came out of the tunnel first. As they squinted, they realised they were on a beach, viewing the water that was reflecting the sun, no sign of other life at all. Levi and Armin were the last to arrive. ''We made it.'' Levi said, shaking the slightly slumbering Armin awake. ''We did?'' Armin asked, opening his eyes, and staring in awe when he saw the water. ''We really did.'' he repeated as he stared fondly at the panorama. ''What is it like to see your dreams realised?'' Levi asked, and Armin replied, ''Can we talk, apart from the rest?'' Levi nodded, siddling away, as no-one noticed them leaving the scene.
He laid Armin down on the soft sand, before sitting next to Armin, allowing the blond to rest his head against Levi's thigh. ''First things first, I really do love you.'' Armin said, and Levi ruffled trough his hair fondly. ''I know you do, I love you too.'' Armin smiled weakly as he said, ''That's good to hear.'' He followed those words with a deep sigh, before adding, ''That's why I need you to forgive me.'' Levi swallowed, before asking, ''What do you mean?''
Armin allowed his eyes to fall shut and felt his heart ache. ''Armin?!, Armin, answer me!'' Levi demanded. ''Ne, Levi, can you promise me something?'' Armin asked, his voice slightly fading. Levi only nodded, feeling tears welling up as he realised what was going on. ''I'll be watching all off you, that's my promise. But I need you to look after Mikasa and Eren.'' Armin said, as he played with Levi's right hand. ''I promise that I will keep those nitwits safe, Armin.'' Levi said hoarsely. ''Thank you.'' Armin said, before his breath ghosted out, and then, Armin died.
The end.