Chapter 1

This is it. The moment Mikasa used her knife to slash through my neck, I felt relieved, I was finally out of this nightmare. My friends, they're going to live a world without Titans, and Ymir... she finally found her freedom.

Am I going to hell? Even though it sounds like a horrible place, I don't regret it. As long as the people on Paradis are safe, it doesn't matter where I go. However, when I open my eyes, I find myself lying on a bed.

"Thank goodness you're awake!" That voice... isn't that Historia's voice? As my vision got clearer, I realized that I was inside Reiss Farm, Historia was sitting next to me, with a baby in her arms.

"You really made me worried... you idiot..." Historia cries, and I need to process everything. I ask, "Historia... I don't understand..."

"That's what I want to tell you! You broke the walls that caused the Rumbling to happen! I even heard from Hitch that Mikasa and the others are trying to stop you as they chase you outside..."

"Mikasa... where is she? And where are the others?" I ask with confusion.

"They haven't returned yet. The whole island is a mess, and the whole military chain is long gone because they drank the wine with Zeke's spinal fluid... all that's left are the Yeagerists who still believe that the whole world is a threat to our island..."

As she continues to rant, I just stare at my hand. I decide to put my hand in my mouth and bite it, there is no smoke coming from it. "Eren?" Historia notices my hand and stops her ranting.

"My hand... it's not healing..." I mutter. "I... I'm not a Titan anymore..." I mutter.

"Wait, are you serious..." Historia asks, and I mutter, "How? Why? I shouldn't be alive right now... Mikasa should have killed me... why am I still living? Why can't I just go to hell for what I've done?"

Then I start to hold my head, the screams of 80% of people are now haunting my mind. Historia gives the baby to her husband and says, "Eren... calm down... take deep breaths..."

"But why? Why am I still living? There are people who want to keep living, and I robbed them all!" I say. "How can I be the one who lives..."

Historia frowns before saying, "Eren. I won't say that what you've done is completely wrong, I volunteer to go along with your plan. We are the enemies of humanity. If you want my opinion, I think maybe this is your punishment for trampling the world... to live in regret for the rest of your life, to be haunted by the nightmares when you're still living."

Does Historia want me to continue living? But why? I'd better be off dead... Historia says, "That reminds me, Eren... meet my daughter, Ymir. She's cute, isn't it?"

I look at Ymir, other than the slight brown hair, she looks just like Founder Ymir herself. Founder Ymir... everything is because of her... it is because of her love for King Fritz that causes the whole mess. Does Founder Ymir let me live because I played a part in freeing her?

"Historia... can you do me a favor? I need to gather all the Yeagerists." I say.

Historia is confused, but she sighs, "Fine. But you've better do something to clean up this mess..."

After I arrive at the Capital Mitras, all that's left in the military are Yeagerists and nobody else. When they see me, they all cheer at my return. One soldier asks, "Mr. Yeager. Since you've come back, does that mean the Rumbling is complete?"

I say, "The Rumbling has killed 80% of humanity outside of the walls, however, we decide to spare the remaining 20% of people because what's the point in killing everyone outside the walls when they already know that they're guilty and they won't have the resources to attack Paradis Island?"

This causes the soldiers to be surprised, I say, "Since my mission is done, the name Yeagerist shall be no more. Right now you are the remaining military on our island, and Historia here is still the queen of Eldia. She is still your leader, so listen to her."

Everyone stares at Historia, who shows her resolve, and then they all salute her. I also continue, "I also wish to keep the fact that I'm still alive a secret between all of you. I have been planning on retiring and I don't want more rebellion to happen because of me. I don't have the power of Titans anymore. If the secret is out, I won't be able to protect you."

The Yeagerists are surprised to learn that I don't have any titan powers, but they also know that I've done enough for them. After they disperse, I'm approached by a female soldier.

"Eren Yeager, I have always wanted to meet you." The girl says.

I look at her and she looks familiar to a person that I know. She continues, "My name is Aya Neumann, and I'm the leader of the Yeagerist faction. I represent the whole Yeagerist faction to thank you for all you've done for us."

"Aya... sorry that I might offend you. But are you related to Akira Neumann?" I ask.

"Yes, he is my brother who died during the mission to retake Wall Maria." Aya says. "My personal rage with the Warriors made me a Yeagerist and after Floch's arrest and death, I've become the leader."

"So I assume you're the one who commanded the Yeagerists to bomb Darius Zachary's office?" I ask.

"Yes, and I'm not regretting everything. My only regret is that I wasn't able to meet you in person until now." Aya says. "However, about your retirement, I'm sure that some of the soldiers might want you to stay because you held the memories of the past Founding Titans, you have the memories of the past kings and how they ruled the land, right?"

I look at Historia, who sighs, "With most of the royals dead and the military government killed... there are only a few left who know how to rule the island... food shortage has been a problem since the Colossal Titans from Wall Sina and Wall Rose have trampled the fields."

"I see..." And fortunately, I have the memories of the past kings who've dealt with the problem before... "Here's what I thought..."

After explaining the solution to them, Aya immediately leaves for work. As for Historia, she says, "So what are you going to do then? Where are you going to live?"

"I think I'll live in the forest near Shiganshina. I want to leave the crowd's sight, but I also want to stay close to my home." I say.

Then I was given a home and I decided to stay there. The house reminds me of my old house before Bertolt destroyed it and trapped my Mom there, and I've decided to make some of my own furniture to make it fancier, I guess.

After a few days, Historia writes me a letter that the food shortage problem is solved thanks to my plan, and she also asks me to be a part of the new government. At first, I want to refuse, but I also thought that Historia alone can't do anything for the whole people, and Armin and the others haven't returned yet. So I sometimes head to the interior to help Historia with some regulation planning or problem solving.

And for Aya Neumann... she has been the most active one to help me and show me around the areas that need help. She is also good at medical skills which reminds me of my Dad. She explains that her mother is the one who taught her as she worked as a nurse, but she's dead because of the day when Wall Rose was breached with the Colossal Titan kicked the gate open. That was also the time when I first turned into a Titan, she's an orphan and I feel sad for her.

Speaking of medical skills, I also gain Dad's memories of how to treat patients, which is why I decide to also put my skills to the test. When the patients ask my name, I decide to tell them my name is Grey Kruger, the same name that I used back when I'm spying in Marley. Helping others actually helps me feel better after the whole nightmare thing.

"So this is where you're living right now." Aya says after I decide to bring her to my house because it's too late to go back to Capital Mitras. I say, "Yeah, I want to stay away from the crowd as much as possible, but I also don't want to be far from my hometown."

"It is not bad, just a little lonely..." Aya says with a sigh. "You know what? Maybe I should move in here and help you out as well."

I am surprised at the sudden decision, I say, "There's no need to do that, Aya. I mean, I'm fine living alone."

"No, Eren. You're not fine." Aya suddenly says, which causes me to look at her with surprise. "Back when you asked me how I felt when I killed Premier Zachary with the bomb back then, I felt horrible. Killing one person is not easy to cope with, what about you who killed 80% of humanity? I'm surprised that you're still sane..."

"Actually... I..." I want to tell her that I'm not sane as the nightmares are still haunting me, and she says, "See? That's why I should be by your side. You need someone to take care of you and make sure that you're not doing anything stupid."

"You sound a lot like Mikasa..." I mutter, but then again, being together with Mikasa is impossible. I did tell her to forget about me, she probably has moved on from me and be with that horse face or someone else.

"I heard about her, it's a shame that she didn't join us. Considering she cares more about you than the whole world." Aya says.

"I don't want her to get involved with the Yeagerists. That only feels like she does it because of me... at first I really thought she was a slave that only listened to my command, but she proved me wrong when she tried to kill me." I say back. "But can I be loved again? I mean... after what I've done, I don't deserve to be loved..."

Aya says, "But you are feeling guilty, and you didn't want to do the Rumbling as well. We Yeagerists also share the same sins as you. You have been trying to protect us all the time, and that's why you deserve to be loved."

"Do you really think so?" Eren asks her with a surprised tone.

"Of course. You also tried to make Armin and the others heroes as well." Aya says.

I now give up and decide to let Aya stay with me, ever since that day, she has moved into my house and we basically go to the capital together until she has to do the soldier work while I'm working with the papers with Historia, and then going back together once we finished our jobs.

Here is the first chapter. After the end of the anime Attack on Titan, I decide to make a story that's similar to the Isolation Second Chance but more different. I want to say that I'm expecting the ending being the same as the manga, though I still want Eren to live, which is why I'm writing this.