Chapter 51
Reunited
Athena's eyes sprung open, making Levi and Mikasa gasp.
"Mama!" Sara said, throwing herself onto her mother.
"Falco. Land on the ground and quick, before you lose your Titan body." Athena called as she hugged her daughter.
"You did it?" Mikasa asked. Athena nodded.
"Along with bringing people back 10 years, yes." Athena said. Levi's eyes widen. "All our military, former Titan shifters and civilians." Falco headed for the ground. Smoke was coming off him and Athena saw people that were Titans now back to their human selves.
"Eren?" Levi asked. Athena shook her head.
"He knew the consequenses that would befall him if he survived. Him and Zeke both won't be coming back." Athena said. Athena looked at Mikasa. "I'm sorry." Mikasa nodded and looked away. Falco landed and they quickly jump off as his human body came into view. Athena stood with Sara in her arms.
"LEVI!" Hange's voice called as she ran and hugged Levi.
"You weren't joking brat." Levi said as Erwin, Petra, Oluo, Eld, and Gunther came over. Erwin gave Athena a smile.
"Good work, Athena." Erwin said. More and more people were coming out of the smoke that were lost. Jean nearly tackled Marco to the ground. Athena laughed in pure delight. Sasha and Conny were in shock. Hange screamed seeing Moblit. Mikasa was hugging a man with glasses and a woman with brown hair. Grisha and Carla were back. Armin was hugging an old man that Athena figured was his grandfather. Colt ran towards Falco and hugged him. Falco was crying to see his brother.
"She actually did it." Erwin said seeing Scouts coming out of the smoke.
"She's come a long way." Levi said.
"Reiner!" Bertholdt came towards him. Galliard was hugging his parents and a boy with brown hair Athena felt tears in her eyes. Friends and family were reunited. Pyxis and Nile with MPs, former Scouts, and Garisson were among those brought back. Sara hugged her mother as they watch.
"Athena." A familiar voice said that Athena hadn't heard in a long time. She turned to see Frieda standing behind her with a smile on her face. She came over and hugged Athena.
"Frieda. It's been so long." Athena said.
"It has. I saw what you did. You did what our uncle and I couldn't do." Frieda said. She looked at Sara.
"Frieda this is Sara, your niece. Sara this is your aunt Frieda." Athena said. Sara hid her face in her mother's neck. Frieda couldn't help but smile.
"Where's Historia?" Frieda asked.
"Back home. She took over as queen. You don't know how happy she will be to see you." Athena said. Reiner looked for Athena as Faclo tackled Gabi into a kiss to the ground. Kira and Conny were embracing not far away.
"She's over there." Levi said, seeing Reiner looking. Reiner saw Athena holding Sara standing talking to a girl that almost had the same hair color.
"Athena!" Reiner called, running towards her. Athena turned and was pulled into a hug by Reiner. Sara giggled. Reiner pressed a kiss to her lips. Athena returned it. "I never doubted you for a second. Families and frieds are reunited. And Titans are gone from the world." Athena touched his face.
"And you can live a long life now. You don't have the Armored." Athena said. Reiner smiled. Sara giggled. Reiner pressed a kiss to his daughters head.
"Reiner." Karina said from behind.
"Go." Athena said. Reiner turned towards his mother. Athena and Sara watched.
"Mom. I.. I'm no longer the Armored Titan anymore." Reiner said. Karina smiled.
"Is that so? That's wonderful." Karina said.
"Huh?" Reiner said in surprise. Karina hugged her son.
"I'm sorry for everything, Reiner. This is all I ever needed." Karina said. Reiner felt the tears in his eyes.
"Mother. There's some people I want you to meet." Reiner said, looking towards Athena and Sara. Karina looked at the girls as they came over. She looked at the little girl who looked at her with Gold eyes like Reiner's. She gasped. "Mom. This is Athena the girl I fell in love with over on Paradis Island and our daughter, Sara." Athena gave a small smile, still nervous and not sure how his mother would react to her. Karina goes to say something when Military Soldiers start to approach. Everyone turned. Reiner put a hand out to protect his family as the soldiers aimed guns at them. Annie's father stepped forward. Gabi and Falco held each other.
"Please Secretary Muller. Eren Jaeger is dead. The power of the Titans has vainished. We are nothing more than people now." Mr. Leonhart said.
"Can you prove that to me? Right here and now?" Muller said. Everyone gasped. Reiner gritted his teeth. Athena set Sara down.
"Go by Jean." Athena whispered. Sara ran to Jean and held his leg. Jean put a hand to Sara's head as they stared down the soldiers.
"If it's a blood test you want!" Mr. Leonhart said.
"Here... Now. Please prove it." Muller said. He held up his arm as the soldiers got ready. "Are you human or are you titans?" Clanging of ODM gear came as Athena dropped her gear to the ground as she pushed past Reiner and Mr. Leonhart. Her friends gasp.
"Athena." Reiner said.
"If we did still have the power of the Titans, we'd be using it to fight you. But the fact that we continue to be powerless even as you point your guns at us is the greatest possible proof of our humanity." Athena said. Everyone looked at her in surprise.
"Who are you?" Mueller asked.
"My name is Athena Reiss. My sister is Queen Historia of Paradis Island and I'm second in line for the throne." Athena said. There were gasps from people. Karina's eyes widen. "I was the one that ate Eren in my Titan form and took the Founder from him. I used the power of the Founder to rid the world of Titans and power of Titan shifters from the world and brought back those that were lost because of the Titans. We are all humans."
"She's right." Armin said. Athena looked at her friends. They all took their ODM gear and took it off, letting it drop to the ground.
"I don't trust you." Mueller said.
"But I want to hear the story." A voice said. Athena turned and saw Willy Tybur stepping out of the smoke. Athena smiled. "This young lady saved the world of Titan rule and I saw her memories of what happened. I like to hear them out." Armin and Athena smiled. Karina came to her sons side.
"You got a good woman." Karina said.
"She is something. I'm sorry for lying to you, mother. I was trying to protect us." Reiner said.
"I understand." Karina said. She felt a tug on her skirt. Karina looked down to see Sara looking up at her.
"Grandma. Do you hate me beacuse of what I am?" Sara asked. Karina felt tears in her eyes and didn't miss her son giving her a concerned look. Karina knelt in front of the little girl.
"I could never hate you." Karina said. Sara threw her arms around Karina's neck and hugged her. Reiner smiled. Athena watched the exchange and a smile came to her face.
"Athena." Ymir's voice called for her through the smoke.
"What is it?" Armin asked.
"I'll be back." Athena said as she headed into the smoke. Ymir stood in the smoke. She had a smile on her face.
"Thank you for everything. I can rest at peace now with my daughters." Ymir said.
"You didn't have to go through what you went through, Ymir. You deserved better. Now my daughter and future children won't have to worry about eating their parents or loosing their father when his time was up. Thank you for helping us." Athena said. Three girls appear, hugging Ymir. Athena felt a tear slide down her check. It was Sina, Rose, and Maria, Ymir's children. Ymir closed her eyes as she embraced her daughters. A tear slid down Ymir's check as they disappear into the smoke.
"Athena!" Reiner called as he came through the smoke. Athena looked at Reiner. She smiled at him.
"Its finally over." Athena said. Reiner grabbed her face in his hands. He whiped the tears from under her eyes.
"It is." Reiner said. He pressed his lips against hers as she wrapped her arms around his neck and they kiss.
AN: Three more chapters to go in this story. Thinking they will be going back to the island a month after the battle since they got people to take back to the Island. LOL. Think I missed some people if I do. I will mention it in next chapter. Till next chapter.