Chapter 2
It has been a month since Eren's return, and Mikasa is still holding the head of Eren as she is buried under the tree. She is depressed, she promised her adoptive mother that she will protect Eren no matter what, and now she is the one who killed Eren. Dread and guilt appear in her mind as she decides to also leave the Scouts.
A month after the so-called burial, Mikasa is being summoned to the capital with the queen's orders. While sitting on the wagon, she notices that the Yeagerists are not that aggressive anymore. And just after arriving at the capital, Historia is already waiting for her.
"Mikasa, welcome back." Historia says, "I guess that Armin and the others aren't with you guys?"
Mikasa slightly nods with a frown, "Armin and the others are trying to negotiate with the rest of humanity, they won't return until they are sure that everything is fine."
Historia says, "There are some things I would need to talk to you about. Before leaving Marley, Eren also told me everything. His own plan of doing the Rumbling, and how he is going to massacre 80% of the people outside of the walls."
Mikasa widens her eyes and asks, "Why would Eren tell you this and not us?"
Historia sighs, "You remember that the old military regime wants me to become a Titan Shifter and bear as many children as possible. He refuses the plan and despite my saying that I will do it, deep down in my heart, I don't want this as well. Back in the Reiss Chapel, I swore to Eren that I will become an enemy to humanity, but I will always be his ally. Of course, I refused the plan at first, but in the end, I decided to support him instead because of the pain that he holds in his heart."
Mikasa realizes that she never realizes how much pain Eren has deep inside his heart. Historia continues, "The Attack Titan has the ability to see the future. Even before seeing the ocean, he saw the whole memories of what happened. Sasha's death, your talk back in Nicolo's restaurant, the attack in Liberio, and also in Shiganshina. He saw everything since that day."
Mikasa now has a lot of questions, if Eren did see everything from the past, he should have told them as well. Historia says, "And don't worry about the Yeagerists. Eren used the Founding Titan's powers to inform all the Yeagerists, they are now under my command. And to be honest, I refuse to become the puppet queen."
"I see." Mikasa says, "But we killed a lot of the Yeagerists with Reiner and the others, are you sure that you're not going to punish us?"
"Even though we are not going to punish you, but there are still some soldiers who treat you as the one who "betrayed" our nation." Historia says with a sad frown. "So what are you going to do then, Mikasa?"
"I was never one to join in the corps. I only joined because I want to protect Eren...but now that Eren is not here, and the Titans are no more, I don't think I have the power to fight again."
"I understand." Historia says. Deep down inside, she really wants to tell her the news of Eren still being alive, but she already promises Eren that she is not going to reveal anything, not even to her. Historia says, "Mikasa, I want to really ask you, Eren told me that he was going to say that "he hates you" in the restaurant. I want to know do you really believe what he said?"
"I don't know..." Mikasa says, "I want to believe that it is not true..."
"Eren really doesn't want to say those words as well." Historia says. "Seeing the future and having no power to change it pains him and he has no other choice but to say it. But I just want to tell you that Eren never hates you, and he is grateful to have a sister like you, just like a sister like me..."
10 years have passed, and Mikasa is also living in a house isolated from the other districts. It has been 10 years since she beheaded Eren, and even then, she still misses him. 7 years ago, she married Jean and now they have a girl named Carla. Jean has been working with the military after returning to Paradis, and it seems that Eren has asked him to take care of Mikasa once he's killed.
Armin and Annie have been visiting them a lot of times, the two of them have been married and they also have a boy named Erwin. Their whole family lives on Paradis Island as well, but they are also the ones who help with Eldia's negotiations with the other nations. It was hard to negotiate with the other nations because of how Eren did the Rumbling and killed 80% of the people. But now that the Titan powers are gone, and how Eldia has been suffering because of them, the negotiations are thriving.
The four of them sometimes visit Eren's grave, and they are talking with him about how the other nations have been doing. But just as they decide to leave, they notice two kids carrying firewood.
"Fay, just don't tell anyone that I was crying." The boy says to the girl, who says, "I won't. But Erich, crying for no reason, why don't you have your dad examine you?"
"Don't be stupid! Like I can tell my old man about this?" Erich retorts, but then they notice Jean's family and Armin's family at the same time. They are staring at them, and Fay asks, "Um... excuse me, why are you staring at us?"
Realizing the boy and the girl are asking them, Armin says, "We're sorry, it's just that you two look like our deceased friend... Are you two carrying firewood?"
Fay says, "Yeah, we're bringing them back to our family. We lived not far from here."
"Your family also lives not far from here? What a coincidence." Jean says.
Erich says, "Fay, why are you telling them about where we're living?"
Fay asks, "They seem to be nice people. Why not? Besides, I want to be a doctor just like Papa, having interactions with people is the first step to becoming one."
"So your father is a doctor and he lives near here?" Mikasa asks.
"He is, and we're heading home so that both our mother and father won't be worried about us." Erich says while dragging Fay, "Let's go, Fay."
"Hey! I can walk, you know!" Fay yells at him.
After they leave, Annie asks, "Something feels off about those two."
"I know... they look just like Eren and they also act like him as well..." Mikasa says.
Jean asks, "Should we investigate?"
"I guess we should." Then they decide to stalk the two children.
Back at the small village where Eren and the others are living, Erich and Fay manage to bring the firewood back. "We're home!"
Aya is doing the dishes when she turns around, "Welcome back. You two are late."
"Yeah, well, some stuff happened. Where's Dad?" Erich asks.
"He's still on the way back here. He just finished giving the children at the orphanage a checkup." Aya says. "We should wait for him before we have dinner. Why don't you go play with Laura and Wade?"
"Yes, Mama." The two of them rush out of the house, and Aya can only smile at them.
When Mikasa and the others arrive at the village, they are surprised to see walls that are similar to the former three walls on the island. The walls aren't fully surrounding the whole area because of the forest trees, and they can also see some houses inside the walls along with training grounds, farm fields, and so on.
"Jean, Mikasa. You lived close to here, have you noticed this village before?" Armin asks.
"We haven't noticed...but why would there be a village?" Jean asks with confusion.
Just then, they see four kids coming out from one house and they recognize the two kids as the same two kids. Wade asks, "So you guys manage to bring the photos?"
"Of course we do!" Fay says, "These are the photos of us going to the ocean together."
"You mean the giant saltwater that covered most of the world?" Laura chuckles. "But I have to admit, it was much more interesting than the fiery water that we saw last month."
"You mean "Lava" right? Lava was actually dangerous so our parents won't let us get close after all." Wade says.
Seeing how the four children are conversing with each other brings back memories of Mikasa and Armin, tears are going to form in their eyes.
Just then, two people come back with their horses, and they stop in front of the walls. They are Gloria and Eren. The two of them were just back from the orphanage, and the four children quickly rush to their parents.
"Mama! Papa!" Erich and Fay hug Eren, while Wade and Laura hug Gloria. Eren says, "How are you two? You didn't give anyone trouble, don't you?"
The four who are hiding recognize the voice, and they can't believe what they're hearing. Erich says, "Of course! We didn't cause any trouble. We managed to bring the firewood back."
"We were just trying to show the pictures about our ocean trip the other day as well! Can we go to the ocean again?" Laura asks.
"Of course, but you will need to wait until we have free time." Gloria replies.
"So what did you bring back from the orphanage? Surely the queen must have given you something, right?" Fay asks.
"She didn't give me something, but she did lend me something that I want to show you for a long time. A story. How about we sit around the fire and talk about the story that she gave me? That way the two of you can also listen as well."
"Can we, Mama?" Wade asks.
"Of course." Gloria says.
Just then, Eren feels like someone is watching him, he turns around and sees nobody. He thinks, "Was that my imagination?"
Then they all walk back into the house, and it is also when Mikasa and the others come out from hiding.
"You guys have seen it, right?" Jean asks.
"That man... both his voice and his face... there's no doubt about it... it's Eren..." Armin says.
"But how is that even possible? Wasn't he dead 10 years ago?" Annie asks.
Mikasa can't believe what she's seeing, she wants quickly rushes forward, and Jean yells, "Hey! Mikasa!"
She manages to stop in front of the door of Eren's house and knocks on the door. The one who comes to answer is Fay.
"Ah! You were the same people we met before!" Fay gasps. "What are you doing here?"
"Fay? Who's in the front door?" Mikasa and the others hear the voice of a woman, and when she comes, they are surprised to see a raven-haired woman with amazing beauty coming to her daughter.
"Mama! These are the people that we met this afternoon." Fay says.
Aya notices Mikasa and the others, of course, she recognizes all of them, but for Eren's sake, she decides to play dumb and says, "Oh my. Is any of you sick or wounded?"
Armin says, "Not exactly. We're all fine."
"I see... then what brings you here? I mean, usually, people come here to ask my husband for treatment." Aya says.
"Can we see your husband? I mean, we're here because we need to talk to him." Annie says.
Aya frowns and says, "I'll ask my husband about it. Please wait at the doorway please."
Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, Mikasa and the others find Eren's hiding spot and they demand to see him. Will Eren reveal the truth to them or will Eren lie to them? I hope you like this chapter.
