Disclaimer: I don't own Shingeki No Kyojin, nor the image. They belong to Isayama Hajime.
Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone that has kept reading this story, and special thanks to missstampede and for reviewing. Hope you like this chapter! Enjoy!
Title: Brave New World.
Prompt: Beautiful World.
Summary: They finally get to see the ocean. EreMika with friends.
"O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world
That has such people in't!"
The first thing they feel is the strong smell of salt, and the breeze that keeps disheveling their hair. Excited, they start running, the constant salty smell guiding them towards their destiny. And there, in all its blue glory, is the ocean. The books lied when they described this majestic body of water, it is so much bigger than they ever imagined. It's also not calm, as the waves crash, one after another, on the shore. They all took a moment of silence to take in the beauty of the scenery, admiring the way the golden rays of the sun contrast over the whites and blues of the sea.
"It's so beautiful, isn't it?" Armin is the first to break the silence.
"Yeah, it is." Eren answered back, for a moment staring at something, or more like someone, who wasn't the ocean.
"And it is so big! I wonder how deep it is…" Sasha murmured, looking happily at her friends.
"Probably as deep as your stomach." Connie retorted, causing Sasha to blush in embarrassment.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Sasha exclaimed.
"Shut up, you're ruining the calm atmosphere. Damned brats…" Levi said angrily, sending glares to the pair.
"Oh, come on Levi, they are just excited! Don't you feel excited too?" Hanji asked him.
"I suppose. Look at the beautiful color of the sand! And the immaculate state it is in!"
"You never change, Levi." Hanji sweat-dropped.
The conversations continued, but Eren wasn't paying attention. His focus was on only one person. Mikasa was standing right next to him, silently admiring the place she had often dreamed of visiting with Eren and Armin. She looked so beautiful, with her blushing cheeks, parted lips, white dress, her black hair moving with the wind, and the red scarf that was out of place in the hot weather.
"Do you like it?" Eren asked her. Mikasa turned to look at him, and gave him a tiny smile.
"I love it."
"Is it as you imagined it would be?" Eren asked again.
"No." Eren's face fell. "It is better." Mikasa chuckled when Eren's crest-fallen face turned into a full grin.
"Thank God! I was worried that it wouldn't be the right setting for…"
"Hey guys, do you want to do it now, or should we wait?" Armin interrupted unknowingly interrupted his best friend.
"I think we should wait until sunset." Mikasa answered him.
"Then, until sunset it is. Let me tell the others." Armin departed, leaving his two friends alone once again.
"Do you regret it?" Eren suddenly said.
"Regret what?" Mikasa asked, surprised at the sudden question.
"Ever following me in my quest to kill all Titans. Joining the military for me. Getting hurt… because of me…" Sadness adorned his voice, which minutes ago had been full with happiness.
"Oh no, Eren! Never think that! I did it because I wanted to and, because, not being with you would've been worst." Mikasa told him, looking him straight in the eyes.
"Mikasa…" He blushed, not expecting to hear such emotion in her voice.
"I will never regret any minute I've spent with you." Mikasa admitted, holding Eren's hand.
"I'm glad, since you will be spending the rest of your life with me." Eren smirked, entwining his fingers with Mikasa's.
When sunset came, they all put themselves in their positions. Eren stood in the middle of the beach, with Levi at one side of him, and Mikasa at the other. Armin stood between Eren and Mikasa, with Sasha standing next to Mikasa, with Connie, Krista, Jean, and Hanji looking at them.
"We are gathered here together" Armin began saying, "to join this man," he pointed to Eren, "and this woman," he then pointed to Mikasa, "in holy matrimony." Armin paused for a second, before continuing.
"Since the beginning, they have been joined by a strong and unbreakable bond. And though they constantly fight, and disagree about various things, never in my life have I met two people more destined to be together than this two. If I were asked to define the word soul mates, I'd say that Eren's and Mikasa's relationship describes it best.
I was so happy when they finally admitted that they loved each other. In this dark world, I was glad that love could still exist, despite everything. As their best friend, I silently watched as they fell in love with each other, and was more than excited when they asked me to marry them, here at the ocean, the place we always dreamed we'd visit when we were older. Now that it is a reality, I just want to say that I'm happy we all made it and can be witnesses to the joining of these two people."
By the time Armin finished his speech, Sasha and Krista were already crying, and even Connie started to tear up.
"Now, I understand Mikasa and Eren wrote their own wedding vows. Please Eren, begin."
Eren swallowed hard thrice before starting. "Even before we met, when I realized this little girl I didn't know was in danger, all I wanted was to protect you, to be there for you when you needed it most. I realize that most of the time it has been you who has protect me, instead of me being your hero. I have to admit that it annoyed me endless to be protected by you, but it was because I felt so useless, always being the reason you got hurt.
Now I understand that you felt the same way as me, because when you love someone, you want to cherish and protect them for the rest of your life. Thank you for staying by my side all these years, thank you for taking all my shit, and thank you for just loving me even when I act like an asshole, and thank you for wanting to spend the rest of your life with me. I love you, Mikasa, more than I've ever loved anyone."
Tears started gathering in Mikasa's eyes, and she needed a moment to regain her composure. Few had ever seen her like this, so they were all surprised when her voice broke as she started talking. "Eren, despite what you think, you have always been my hero, my savior, the person who gave me a home and a reason to keep on fighting. I'm happy that I got to be part of your family, even if it was only for year. I'm happy that you have let me stay with you all these years, even when I did nothing but annoy you. Thank you for teaching me so many lessons, and thank you for loving me. There were times when I thought I would be happy by just being your friend, but when you told me you loved me, I burst with happiness. I didn't know what love was until I met you. I will always love you, Eren, even after I die."
After her vows, everyone started crying, even Levi began tearing up.
Sniffling, Armin said, "The rings, please."
Sasha and Levi passed Eren and Mikasa the rings, which they put on each other's fingers.
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Eren, go ahead and kiss your lovely bride, I know you want to!" Armin grinned.
They all laughed, and Eren and Mikasa smiled as they kissed. Everyone clapped in glee. Next, Sasha passed Mikasa her bouquet, and went to stand next to Krista and Hanji.
"Prepare yourselves!" Mikasa exclaimed, turning around. "One, two, three!"
Mikasa threw the bouquet, and Hanji ended up catching it.
"Look Levi, it's now our turn!" She exclaimed, and Levi paled, horrified at the idea.
Everyone laughed once again, and went to congratulated the happy newly-weds.
"Did you like it?"
"I did Eren… I'm really happy we got here, despite everything."
"Me too."
"I'm also excited."
"Why?"
"Don't you see? We have the entire world to ourselves now. A whole world to explore with everybody. A brave new world."
That quote is from Shakespeare's The Tempest. Thought it was fitting.
