Chapter 24 The Last Conversation

"So the time has finally come..." Eren says with a frown. "How I wished things aren't turning to be like this..."

"Eren... all the people out there are dead. The Rumbling also killed Jean, Connie, Hange, and the rest of the humans! You got your wish! Isn't that enough?"

Eren says nothing before muttering, Armin, please come with us. Let's spend some time together. One last time, before your soul reaches the afterlife. We can spend as much time as we like here. We can see... whatever we like... we could even... explore the world. Like we always used to talk about back when we were just children, blissfully ignorant of the truth beyond the walls."

"Eren... Mikasa..." Armin frowns. "So I'm dead like the others..."

Then both Eren and Mikasa grab Armin's hands as they all rush towards the tree. When they arrive there, Eren says, "The Attack Titan... it has the power to seek into the future. I told you about that before, right?"

"But did you seriously need to take it to such an extreme? We were looking so hard for other options. You didn't need to take it this far... it shouldn't ever be taken this far."

"What other choice do we have? We've tried diplomacy, with Gloria Tybur by our side, but all of them failed, and the result was the speech Willy Tybur gave in Liberio. And I knew for sure that Zachary, Pyxis, Nile, and the other Garrison and Military Police members were trying to have me devoured by their own titan for their own greed, I assumed that Commander Hange also played a part in it. That's why I can't trust you, who joined their side as high-ranking members..."

"But what about the other lives that the Colossal Titan slaughtered? They're no different from how we were that day..."

"I know that." Eren says, and Mikasa also frowns. "Ereh..."

"Just like us, everything will be taken away from them all at once. No one would have thought it was the day the Titans would come to attack. They might not be ignorant of the world like we are, but the entire outside world isn't made up solely of people who want us dead. The same as there's going to be sinners. There are going to be people who deserve to live too. On the island, beyond the ocean, we're the same. Every group of people is always going to be a mix of all kinds of imperfectly flawed beings. There are people like Nicolo, Onyankopon, Falco... all the innocent children of the world, why should they have to suffer for the sins of their parents?"

"I understand what you're saying, and you're not wrong. Plenty of people out there deserve to live." Eren says. "And that's why it is really regretful that they have to be mixed in with everyone else out there. Four years ago, when I have the power of the Rumbling, I did use Zeke's plan to make Eldians unable to breed outside the walls. And Hizuru has been helping us save as many innocents as we can. I'm also willing to become the devil, and cast aside any semblance of redeemability I still had and stain my hands with the blood of all these blameless lives... to protect our home."

"Eren...did you forget? It is not just you, Historia, Sasha, Floch, and us, we all share the same sins with you. You don't need to blame yourself for it." Mikasa says while turning to Armin, "But we care about our people, and we have to secure the right to live in this world and truly be free. The world is cruel, but also beautiful. Humanity has been the reason why it is cruel. If we lose we die, if we win we live. If we don't fight, we can't win."

Eren says, "And I was being selfish. If the world wants to take my freedom, I'll do whatever I can to take theirs first. Hizuru is the only nation that stands by Eldia's side, so I won't take theirs. All we have to do is make a choice, we can't always think that what we want will finally happen."

"I can't say you're entirely wrong either..." Armin says. "I see where you're coming from. We tried for years and couldn't come up with a solution, and you, as the King of the Walls, risked your life trying to negotiate peace but failed... you waited for four years before unleashing the Rumbling, deep down inside, you were trying to find other options to avoid the Rumbling, right?"

"I did, and I also tried to warn them if they attack then we'll unleash the Rumbling, but none of them listens. They underestimated what the Rumbling is, and this is the result." Eren says, "We also tried to tell them how the first king wiped their memories, and instead, they used me as an excuse to declare war on our island. I was born into the world, and I'm not going to make myself an enemy of the whole world. That's why I gathered the Yeagerists along with the queen, as for the environmental damage... the Founding Titan also has the power to cultivate lands, I'm sure it will all return to normal for a few years later."

Armin frowns and says, "That dream of ours, of what could be beyond that walls... that dream... it became a curse to you, didn't it? It must have been painful for you, all this time. But... I can't spare any sympathy for you, not after what you chose to do with this curse of yours."

"I know." Eren says while helping Mikasa get up. "Let's go."

"Where are you going?" Armin asks.

"To see what we always dreamed of... past the walls. Let's finally go and discover it all." Eren says.

After they arrive at the volcano and lava, all three of them are gasping in surprise. Mikasa says, "So this is the Flaming Water..."

"It really is flowing like a river..." Eren says.

Then they all go to the Tundra, watching the snow and the aurora in the sky. Then they also see the desert, with so much sand that stretches out forever. Eren says, "The Colossal Titans were supposed to destroy all of them, but just after they leave the place, the power of the nine together will also return that environment back to normal. What you see right now is real."

"The only difference is that there's no life around here..." Mikasa says.

"No, life is growing." Eren says as they see some small animals coming out from the trees and popping from the ground. Plants are also growing. Eren says, "With Sasha being the Beast Titan, the animals are able to avoid the Rumbling, so our people who want to form a nation here will still be able to have meat to eat. We might save some people from the Rumbling, but eventually, the population is going to be massive. So in the end, we've decided to expand our territory outside, we're giving the people their own choice to form new nations and negotiate for peace. We won't be the same as the old King Fritz, using the Titans to bring terror to the world."

"I see..." Armin says with a slight frown. Then they realize that they are now back to their nineteen-year-old selves, and Armin notices Mikasa's belly is a little bigger than normal, he asks, "Mikasa... are you..."

"Mikasa is pregnant." Eren says. "She's also having my child. Ever since the fight with Rod Reiss' Titan, I have been dreading it for a while, I always think of Mikasa as my big sister, and when Historia drops her fake Christa personality, I was also attracted to her. But I couldn't choose any of them. When I kissed Historia's hand that day, I've seen all kinds of futures, some of which resulted in my death and the one who killed me is Mikasa. As for others, it resulted in your deaths. Ymir doesn't want my death, that's why she gives me the full control of the Founder. She also wants to be my daughter, and I know Historia will want to name our daughter Ymir as well. That's why I married her first."

Eren closes his eyes and says, "But deep down inside, the way Mikasa cares for me... I still can't forget... so I talked to Historia for a while and we've also decided to make her the second queen."

Eren waves his hand and shows all kinds of future in the air, Armin says, "Are those..."

"These are the futures that I've seen, let's say that there are multiple worlds out there. In one world, you all destroy the Colossal Titans and save the rest of humanity, but the result is the destruction of Paradis Island and Hizuru." Eren says while pointing at one, which Eren was crying over the dead bodies of Mikasa, Historia, Ymir, and a lot of people.

"And this is the one that I didn't take away your Titan powers." Eren points at another one with the giant skeleton Titan. "Ymir decides to be the one who controls the Rumbling and takes my powers away. Ymir is going to be my daughter, so I won't let it happen."

Then he points at the large one. "And this is the original one. Back at the restaurant, I decided to be mean to Mikasa, so she'll be the one who kills me in the end. I also followed the Rumbling as that giant Titan, wanting you to be the heroes. But in the end, it was the same result as the former ones, Paradis Island being destroyed."

Eren says, "I know I can't save everyone that I care about the most. So I decide to prioritize Mikasa, Historia, my daughter Ymir, and Mikasa's unborn child. I'm sorry, Armin. I will need to sacrifice you because no amount of talking is going to change your mind."

"Eren..." Armin frowns. "I understand... But of all the deaths, at least Captain Levi is still alive. Onyankopon is bringing him back to Paradis Island."

"We know. Our new Eldia Council has decided that we'll leave Zeke's death to him. Despite him being my brother, I still can't forget how many people he has turned into Titan and how many people he's killed."

Eren says, "With his wounds, and with my power of the Attack Titan, Captain Levi won't be able to kick and punch me like he used to. But I doubt he would want to join the Military again."

Then Armin feels that he is being lighter, and Eren says, "I guess it is time for you to go. Armin... you're free from this cruel world."

Armin sighs as he knows the time has come, Jean, Connie, Marco, Annie, and the others are waiting for him. "Eren, Mikasa... I don't know what will happen, but please... lead the remaining humans into a life of peace."

"We promise." Both of them then salute Armin before Armin's soul finally leaves.

Back at Paradis Island, Eren, and Mikasa hug each other, tears coming out of their eyes as a new beginning arrives.

Here is a new chapter, and this is the end of the story. The next chapter is going to be the Epilogue of this story, and I know that there is a lot that Eren wants to talk to Armin, but I think this is enough and I hope you like this chapter.