Finally, his fate has been sealed for good. Seeing the love of his life, still beautiful and fierce as ever, come to him before his death definitely made all of his pain and suffering worthwhile. The world is finally safe and sound with her and his other comrades as heroes. At last, Eren can now rest in peace without any regrets, or so he thought.
As soon as he opened his lustrous gray eyes upon awakening, he found himself floating in a never-ending sea of dark space filled with stars and galaxies.
"Where the hell am I?!" Eren wondered, trying to look around for something helpful, but to no avail as he couldn't see his home world or anything else he could find; just stars, galaxies, and this vast expanse of darkness. He tried to move around and swim, but he couldn't leave his current position.
"Damn it!" Eren cursed as he became frustrated because he didn't know where he was or how to get out of his current situation. All hope seemed to be lost within him at that point.
"You seem to be awake, Mr. Jaeger," a woman politely said, catching Eren's attention.
"WAH!" The only thing Eren uttered as he suddenly flinched upon her sudden appearance.
Just then, his eyes widened as he saw who the woman was. It was Mikasa, and she looked exactly like how she did in the small house from the alternate timeline. He couldn't help but appreciate her sheer warm beauty that she exuded to him. However, he is also aware that there was something different about her, something that he wasn't quite sure of.
"I apologize for my sudden appearance. You must be Eren Jaeger, am I correct?" The Mikasa in front of him asked graciously.
"Uhm, yeah..." he answered, currently having a dilemma on what's going on and why is she here, if she is really who he assumed she is. "Where are we?"
"We are, at present, in my space vehicle, as well as my humble abode. This is my viewing room, which is similar to what your race called a balcony. Time is irrelevant here; if you are interested to know more, please ask."
"Really? What is space? Is it a place beyond the sky or something similar to that?" Eren asked, curious and confused.
"You are correct. Space is a near vacuum that is virtually void of matter and pressure. It is also a boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. In simple terms, space is everything in the universe beyond the top of the Earth's atmosphere, including the moon, the stars, and other planets."
"Other planets exist!" Eren was surprised by what he just heard. "That's something Armin wanted to know! Regardless, do you..."
"Do you assumed I am Ms. Mikasa Ackermann?"
"Yeah, you look exactly like her." he responded as he now wondered why she asked that. "Who are you... exactly?"
"I am an extraterrestrial entity called 'The Visitor'. Along with my fellow species, we travel among various universes to fulfill our desire to explore and observe different planets and their species. Due to us having a body that belongs to a higher form of existence, you would not be able to register us with the naked eye. However, what you see and hear before you is the physical manifestation of the most important and cherished individual in the entire universe. Therefore, you are looking at me as if I am Ms. Mikasa Ackerman." The Visitor explained.
Eren couldn't help but be shocked and amazed at what he just heard. He had never seen or heard anything like this in his entire life, and seeing something beyond his own world piqued his curiosity, thanks to Armin's influence.
"Wow! I never thought there could be life beyond the skies, let alone this." Eren said in amazement.
The Visitor replied with grace, "I thank you for your humble sentiment."
"Anyways, before I forget, did you bring me here for a reason? Or is there something you want from me?" His face and tone became serious as he asked his question.
"Good question. You see, Mr. Jaeger..." she started.
"Eren," he says, "just call me Eren, and if you don't mind, is it okay for me to call you Mikasa since you look like her?"
"It is fine. Well then, Eren, the reason for your sudden appearance after your supposedly transpired death is to meet you personally and gather some information from you as well." She answered formally.
"Wait, what?! Why me?" Eren asked in confusion.
"I recently arrived in this universe and happened to notice you, still clinging with life with only your head within what appears to be a gigantic skeleton-like species that resembles those we observed millennia ago. That piqued my interest and took you at the time of your death." She replied back with curiosity, maintaining her graceful demeanor.
"You mean my Titan form? Is that supposed to be…special to you?" he asked.
"For us visitors, it lets out our curiosity whenever we discover something beyond our imagination. We also record and analyze each planet we discover and present our findings to our fellow race back to our home planet. In any case, may I ask how did you get your powers and turn into that being?"
"Well, sure I guess," Eren answered as he started explaining his powers, how he got them, the other types of Titans he knew, their history, and other things related to them, including the ODM Maneuver Gear and its mechanisms.
"Fascinating! I never thought humans could be so resourceful and creative during such primitive times! Even your modes of transportation are on top notch for that period of time as well! Your titan shifting powers are immaculate and interesting! I want to make a research thesis about it!" The Mikasa-doppelganger gushed and mumbled like a certain Fourth Squad Leader and Commander as she listed down all of the information through a holographic screen, which made Eren baffled and amazed by their level of technology they had. "Regardless, there's something else I want to understand."
"Well, what is it?" Eren responds, prepared for what he's about to hear.
She asked, "Why did you let her kill you?"
Eren was caught off guard yet again by the question this time. It took him a while to think about it before he gave his answer.
"At first, it was to save the Eldians from Ymir's Curse, set Ymir free, and make my friends, especially her, live peacefully... I had to be the villain they needed and expected me to be, so that they could live... But deep down, I also wanted to be with her until my time is up. I knew what was going to happen and all, but I kept wishing it would be different. Seeing her with another man makes me want to punch that guy senseless, and I absolutely hated it!" His tears came down on his cheeks as he answers her question.
"I know that on an alternate timeline through the Paths, we could live together and spend the rest of my life alongside her. But still, I'm such a damn idiot!" he cursed himself as he wiped his tears. He had never thought he would do this again, and for that reason, just like what he told Armin back at the Paths, he wouldn't let anyone he cherished see him like this. "I'm sorry if I suddenly burst out..."
"No, it's not a problem. I understand your predicament," The Visitor wearing her appearance affirmed. "I must say, you have experienced a lot for such a tender age. You are supposed to be nineteen years old, correct? It must have brought you a heavy burden, I assume?"
"Like you have any idea what I've been through!" Eren questioned, doubting his companion's empathy.
"Believe me when I say this, Eren. We may not be as empathetic or mindful when it comes to life experiences in a general standpoint. However, we do not invalidate the feelings of the races we encounter. That is one of the lessons we have come to conclusion as we travel through every universe." She answered and Eren let the information sink in, contemplating on what she just said.
"Not that I completely trust you on what you have just said, but I'll let that slide." Eren concluded with firmness.
"I'm very pleased that we reach a proper conclusion. It doesn't sit well with me if both of us have an argument, even if it's small." The Visitor commented.
"Yeah... Can I ask you something?" Eren asked.
"Yes, you may do so."
"Why me? Out of all people you could have asked about things like this, you chose me, a mass murderer and a liar. Why?" Eren asked, full of wonder.
"It is because I wanted to. As I explored the different universes more and more, there was also an occurrence of meeting multiple people of that race that happen to have the same identity but different lives. That includes you, Eren. There is you who lives with the one you love, similar to your statement from earlier, but only different in time frame. They happened to live in a modern era. There's also another that is a pirate. There are multiple variations of your lifestyle as well such as being a student, an enemy spy, a pilot, a doctor, a lawyer, a musician, a craftsman, and anything else that I could not include on this list."
Eren didn't expect to be so surprised and learn about the existence of the other versions of himself out there beyond the alternate timeline. He was kind of expecting that another version of him exists, but not this many.
"Are they, by any chance, in love with someone?" Eren shyly asked.
The Visitor was musing. "From all of the versions I have met up until now, they all do. It also appears that they also fall in love with the same person, and that person is whom you are still in love with."
Eren blushed deeply at her statement. "Really? All of them?" he flabbergastedly asked.
"Yes. It is as if you are destined to be bound with her. Your life may be tragic due to your circumstances, but you are definitely fated for her. It has a term in one of your race's language... I think it is called "soulmates," if I'm not mistaken."
"Soulmates… That's a nice ring to it." Eren muttered and smiled at the thought.
She nodded in agreement as well.
Time passed by, and the two of them continued to chat nonstop. They laughed, argued, and shared their thoughts and feelings. Eren had never felt so open and honest about his thoughts and feelings ever since he was born, and he was grateful for having someone he could share those feelings with. Eventually, they both fell silent, feeling content and contemplative as they watched the stars above them.
He said, "That was fun. I never thought I could be so free and honest in a conversation like this."
"I do believe I enjoyed it as well. I have learned quite a lot from your world, and you are a good person to have a conversation with as well. This is the best one yet, in my opinion, and you have my deepest gratitude for that." She gladly compliments. She never felt so happy with someone's company in years of expedition. "If I may be bold this time, may I make you hear this... request of mine?"
"I don't mind," he said. "What is it?"
"Because of your company, I was able to become more joyful and interesting. I will give you two options and you must choose one of them." The Visitor says.
"Options?" he asked.
"Yes. The first option is for you to come with me to the cosmos and continue this journey with the two of us. We can see more planets and stars in every universe we visit. You can also meet other races and my own kind. Perhaps, you can also meet your other doppelgängers as well. You are also allowed to call me "Mikasa" if you wish." She explained.
"What's the other one?"
"The second option is to go back to your home world and reincarnate into a new life form, either as a human, animal, or plant. You may retain your memories after the reincarnation, and you are free to do whatever you wish to do."
Eren was confused by the generosity of the outsider. "Why are you giving me these options?"
"This may sound a bit strange coming from me, but my heart is overflowing with adoration for you. From all of the other variations of yourself that i have encountered, you are the only one who have this tingling sensation inside my stomach and it has a good feeling on my own right." The Visitor blushed slightly in response.
"Which means..." Eren said, puzzling as he tilted his head sideways.
She then blushed even more. "I think... I like you," she clarified in embarrassment.
Eren couldn't help but be astounded and turn red at her sudden confession. It didn't help either that in his eyes, she was doing her confession with Mikasa's face. It took them a while before The Visitor cleared her throat and spoke.
So, what is your choice, Eren?
Eren thought deeply about it and eventually came to his answer.
"Thank you for the kind offer, but I think I will stay on my home world. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate your feelings for me... But I don't think I can leave my world... My home... Besides, I can't just leave her alone, even if I'm dead and rotting." Eren answered wholeheartedly.
"You do really love her, don't you?" She asked him, a hint of hurt evident in her voice, though she didn't want to make him feel guilty nonetheless.
"Yes, I do. The world I belong to may be cruel, but I still love her." Eren replied with a sad smile.
"Is that so?" She clarifies and takes a deep breath. "So this is how a romantic rejection feels like. I thought it was just a simple pain, as I had heard, but I never expected it would hurt that much. she said, trying to keep herself together on the outside while feeling completely shattered on the inside.
"I'm sorry that I ruined your first confession and I understand that it hurt you a lot. I also felt the same way the first time I did it."
"It is fine, Eren. It is tolerable." The Visitor replied back and sighed deeply. "So this is it?"
"Yes. I have to go back now," he replied to her. "I still need to watch her after all."
"Very well. The reincarnation process will give you a brand new life. As promised, your memories will stay intact and you may do as you please." She explained while preparing her machinery, in which Eren was mesmerized and curious with for a little bit.
The structure and appearance is quite similar to the elevators on some of the Earths she had explored once. After a little power boost and test run, she let the hatch door open for Eren to enter.
"Well, this is goodbye." he pauses a moment until he sets himself up inside and looks one las time to her. "Until we meet again...Mikasa." Eren said his farewell to his companion with a heartwarming smile on his face.
"See you later, Eren." she said, smiling genuinely in return. Eren was quite surprised for a moment before returning to his smile. Just then, the door closed and the machine he was in lit up. She pressed some buttons before the process began.
After a while, a yellow comet-like light was ejected from one of her spaceship's cannons and crossed the stars like a shooting star.
"Until we meet again, my first love..." The only words The Visitor spoke, mesmerizing him as he gazed upon the starry view of the universe, hoping that they would meet again... someday.