Two months later...

"Hey! You wait right there!" Eren, Armin, and Jean, along with myself, watch in amusement as Historia runs after two little boys who she caught sneaking in a snack before the work is done.

"Isn't this...?" Jean ponders.

"...Yeah... Not quite the Queen I was expecting." Armin finishes.

"And it's only been two months since she was crowned. Seems like she's better suited to run an orphanage."

Armin smiles. "Do you know what the people are calling her? The Cattle-Farming Goddess. In a good way, of course."

"So we've finally got a goddess among us."

I sigh. "Great, now all of humanity is gonna gawk at her like the rest of you do."

Jean mockingly sneers at Eren "At this rate, no one will remember the chump who plugged up trost, yeah?"

I scoff. "But we'll always remember you, right, Horse-Face?"

"One of the reasons Historia decided to become queen was...to do all of this." Eren points out, ignoring our banter.

"This, meaning?" Armin asks.

"Taking care of the orphans and needy from underground to the edge of the Walls. Since he was raised underground, the Captain supported her, too. When people need help, she said she'll come to their rescue, no matter who or where. That's...what Historia wants to do."

"Well, in that regard, I guess she is a goddess."

"Oh? You're slacking off again!" Speaking of which, Historia, now with an annoyed look runs to us boys. "It's getting dark, you know!" With her word, the others, even the young blonde start carrying boxes and sacks of food to the orphanage. While Eren tags along with Historia behind us, Jean and Armin bear looks of disappointment.

"She's becoming more and more like my mother..."

"Some goddess..."

"Oh, don't you two be such babies."

"I don't see you carrying anything, Everett!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the lovely redhead I call my own being pestered by a few kids. One of which pulling on her ponytail as she's carrying a few sacks of potatoes. Taking this opportunity, I smirk at Jean. "I have important matters to attend to, actually. Good luck boys!"

"...Dick." I hear Jean whisper.

"Ow! Hey! Knock it off!" Seeing her in distress, I naturally make my way over to help. No one hurts her, not even a kid. But I don't hurt kids either.

"Come on, miss! Play!" one boy shouts.

"Pleeeease?!" another asks as he pulls her ponytail again.

"Sorry, kids." I pull the boy off of Sasha. "I'm afraid play-time will have to wait."

"Aww! Please mister?"

"No. Another time." I say firmly.

They all pout, but ultimately nod their heads. "...Okay." They all say collectively, now moving over to pester our local 'genius' instead.

"My hero," Sasha says as she smiles at me.

I give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "No Titan nor child is taking you down while I'm around."

The redhead barely contains her blush. "Really? With all these kids around?"

"You telling me to stop showing my love?"

"Hell no."

I kiss her once more. "That's what I thought. You need help with those?"

She shakes her head. "I'm okay, but you should do more heavy lifting yourself, mister."

I nod. "Yes, ma'am." With my girl's order, I head back over to Eren, Historia, and...Mikasa? A very...jealous Mikasa? Although, I can't really tell with that same cold look she gives to anyone who crosses her. What the hell did I miss?

"Gimme that." The girl takes the sacks Eren was carrying.

"Hey!"

Mikasa Lifts the sacks over her shoulder, I think more so to show off rather than her concern for the boy. "Eren's tired from the experiments."

"That's true. Sorry, Mikasa."

"Would you stop treating me like some feeble old man?"

'Tired from experiments?' My ass, Mikasa. Historia and I shake our heads as I offer to take her load and leave the pair for themselves. This whole thing almost brings back a sense of familiarity that I haven't felt in two months.

"So, I hear you've been helping change with some new technology, with the glowing ore found in the underground cavern."

"Yeah. She's calling them, 'ice-burst stones'. With those ores, we've been up to a lot with weaponry. Also, I helped along with the Titan guillotine mission outside of Trost, leading the others officially as a squad leader. Still don't know how I ever got this far, but anyway. Thanks to this new development along with it being reinforced by Eren's hardening ability, we can kill Titans without dropping any soldier into a fight. Although, as much as I like bettering our equipment and the Walls... I'm ready to take back my home."

Historia nods as she folds her hands behind her back. "I understand... I asked Eren what he would do if he met Reiner and Bertholdt again... What about you? Do you think...you'll kill them?"

I bite my lip. "...Are you asking me as a soldier, or as me?"

"You."

"...I would kill Reiner, yes. It's what I swore to myself on that day. Bertholdt...maybe. But before I can even consider it, I have to know... Why do they hate us? I have to know, no. I need to know. Eren's basement may not be able to answer, but I need to know why they spent three years amongst us, why they became our friends, why...I shouldn't kill them. I need to see that there's not a shred of humanity left in them, that I'm killing monsters wearing human skin, not humans only acting as monsters. Then...I'll deal with their deaths."

"Oh..."

I sigh. "Despite everything, it isn't so bad. We have some new recruits, some of whom are from the 104th who joined the Garrison. Like us back then, a bunch of optimistic idiots. Makes sense too, since we're close to reclaiming Wall Maria. As for us... Eren asks 'Who exactly are we fighting against'...and I don't know the answer. Speaking of, we paid a visit to an old 'friend'. Eren's memories of the guy his father met, it's Commandant Keith Sadies himself."

"Really?"

"Yes. Hearing the man talk without sticking a sword up your ass was more terrifying than anything, but he spoke of Eren's father. Nothing of value...but two things stuck out. He was found outside Wall Maria...and he was quite curious about the world. He also had a crush on Eren's mother before she married his father, hehe."

"Guess it explains why he was a hardass on Eren."

"Yeah. It was he who tampered with Eren's harness back then." I look up to the sky, noticing how much time has passed since we began talking and sat in the grass. "Everyone must wonder where we are."

"Yeah...but I don't want to go. If we go, you go back to a soldier, me a Queen." We share a glance and an agreeing smile. Queen's orders and I have to obey. I set the boxes to the side and we silently stare at the lowering sun in silence. No more words, just silent enjoyment of each other's company. For the first time in two months, I finally have a sense of familiarity with happier days.

In two more months, I'll be sent back to hell.

Erwin

"In other words, Eren's father, Grisha Jaeger is likely a human who came from outside the Walls."

"Yes." Hange adds. "Just like Annie, Reiner, and Bertholdt, he possessed the power of the Titans. But different from those three, he was supportive of humanity within the Walls."

A man folds his arms. "If he was so interested to know about the Scouts and such, we could've used more of that support of his."

"I wonder..." Hange thinks. "From the moment he entered the Walls, he was searching for the royal family all alone, I'm sure. And that... That's not something you do without incredible resolve. That same father wanted to show his 10-year-old son, eager to join the Scouts, the basement of their house. On death's door, he said the truth of it all was...in the basement." The Section Commander aims her last question to the commander. "What in the world do you think is down there?"

"...Things which mustn't be said. No... Things Grisha Jaeger couldn't say, even if he wanted to. That which the First Reiss King wiped from our memories...memories of our world...is what I hope, but... Pondering about it here won't accomplish much." The Commander looks to everyone in the room. "The preparations finished today. The operation to retake Wall Maria starts in two days. Want to know what's in the basement? Let's go see for ourselves. Isn't that what Scouts do?" Erwin finishes off with a proud smile. "Let all our squads know."

"Right. Keeping it secret of course, yeah?"

"On a day like this, we deserve some meat, right?"

"Good idea. Gotta show those kids us adults can be counted on."

Everyone minus the commander and one other starts to leave the room. "What about Commander Sadies keeping secrets from us?"

"Forget about him. We don't have time to deal with it."

"I'm shocked, Hange. You used to adore him!"

"Shut up!"

As soon as the rest leave, Levi shuts the door leaving him and Erwin alone in the room. Now leaning back against the door, he stares at the commander with a complex expression.

"What is it, Levi?"

"It's a bit hasty but... What will you do after retaking Wall Maria? I guess a defense plan comes first, but... After that?"

"Eliminating threats. Outside the Walls, there seems to be someone hoping Titans will eat us all. Of course, the answer to who is in the basement, I imagine. It's as I said earlier. We'll plan that after the basement."

"I'm asking this because you might not live that long. You can't exactly move like you used to." Levi gestures to Erwin's missing right arm. "Let Hange call the shots. You'll just be dead weight. Let the good news come to you. We'll tell the others I argued till you gave in. No... That's actually what I intended. Fine with that?"

"I'm not. I'm fine being food. Use me as bait. The chain of command still remains. If I'm gone, then Hange. If Hange's gone, I'll know she'll choose someone. It's true, this operation will be dangerous, but to humanity, it's more important than anything else. That's why I've gone to such lengths. This is all my plan. If I don't do it, the success rate will plummet."

"That's right. The operation might fail, but if you bite the dust in the process, we're doomed. So just sit at your desk and keep using your head. That's the last thing the Titans would want. And for humanity, it's the best thing going for us."

"No, you're wrong. Our best option is for me to gamble it all-"

"Hey, hey, hey, hey! Hold up... Keep using that bluff around me and I'll break both of your damn legs. I'll make it nice and easy to attach them later. But the operation to retake Wall Maria will proceed with you weeping here. It'll be a bitch to get to the toilet though."

Erwin looks down, chuckling softly. "I'd like to avoid that. What you're saying is right. A wounded soldier should stay off the battlefield. However... There will come a moment when we learn the truth of our world...and I must be there for it."

"Is it that important to you? More than your legs."

"Yes."

"More than humanity's victory?"

"Yes."

"I see..." Levi turns away, pulling on the door, looking back to Erwin one last time. "Erwin... I'll trust your judgment."

Elijah...the night before...

"This may be a special night, but, let's not let the public find out! Behave like soldiers without causing a ruckus!"

Everyone, including me, is astonished to see our main course is...actual meat. Venison? No...beef? Who the hell cares?! I can't remember the last time I had anything close to meat that looked this good!

"Eh? Meat? What? Is this...meat?" Connie to my right can't even believe his eyes.

"Am I dreaming?" Sasha sounds like she's on the brink of tears... Oh, shit.

Resting my hand on her thigh, I speak in a low, comforting, and slightly terrified voice. "Sasha... Breathe..."

"Tonight's the night before we retake Wall Maria! Cheers! Huh?! Wait!"

The only thing close to the carnage I'm witnessing is watching the Titans eating our fellow soldiers. Everyone fighting over a piece of meat is terrifying, yet somewhat hilarious at the same time.

"Calm down! We'll split it evenly!"

"Hey! That big piece counts as two!"

"Hell no!"

"But you suck with the spear! You're useless, so gimme yours!"

"Say what?!"

"Elijah! Give us a hand will ya?!"

"Huh?" I turn to Connie calling to me and see... "What the?!"

"Don't you start pulling that shit, potato girl!"

The girl in accusing is held in a head-lock by Connie as she's...fiercely trying to chow down on the entire slab of meat meant for our table. Growling like a wild animal caught with its prey.

"Sasha?!"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"Cut it out, Sasha!" Connie looks like he's on the brink of tears. "I... I don't wanna have to kill you!"

I snatch the meat out of Sasha's mouth, shooting Connie a glare. "If you do that, then you're ne- AH! OWOWOWOWOWOWOW! SASHA! THAT'S MY HAND! THAT'S MY HAND!" I drop the meat thanks to Potato Girl biting the hell out of my hand.

"Sasha! That meat is Elijah! Have you lost your mind!"

"Do the Scouts never get fed any meat?" Marlo sitting across from us asks. "Patheti-" But is cut off by Sasha punching him in the face after she releases her vice-like bit on my right hand.

"Connie," Mikasa speaks up. "would you knock out Sasha already?"

"I'm trying! She should be unconscious, but she's still moving!"

"Ow..." I look down at the bit mark on my hand. "She's lucky I love her so much."

Jean shoots me a worrying look. "I question your taste in women sometimes, Everett."

"Good work, Connie." I say as we and Eren manage to tie Sasha to a column inside the mess hall. Something about us having meat set her off worse than anyone. Marlo's tending to his face meanwhile I...question how I bring this up with her afterwards.

"That should do it. She finally ran out of energy."

"Can you believe this freak? And to think she once offered to share meat with everyone."

"I'm gonna ignore the fact that you called Sasha a freak, 'genius'." I can't help but smile alongside ie either. "But yeah, it is hard to believe."

"Huh? When?"

"Four months ago, when we were servicing the cannons."

"Can you guys keep a secret?" We look to an approaching Sasha, holding her jacket tightly on her right side. "'Cause I totally just helped myself to the Officers' Pantry."

We all tense up. We are used to Sasha stealing food over the last three years, but to steal from the officers? "Sasha! They can throw your butt off the clink for that!"

"Seriously, what is wrong with you?"

"What isn't wrong with her?"

Trying to ease the tension, I laugh. "Are you guys really that surprised?"

"It'll be fine," Sasha responds with the most aroused face I've ever seen directed towards food. "I'm willing to share. Oh, can you imagine the sandwiches?"

She begins to shake with the possibilities she can have with the meat, which scares me more than her having it. "Somebody needs to take it from her, but I don't know if that's a good idea."

Eren yells at her again. "Put it back!"

"Yeah," Mina says from behind me. "Do you have any idea how rare meat's been since the Titans took Wall Maria?"

"Um, a little bit. Yeah." Sasha walks towards a pair of boxes and places the meat in one of them. "Just look at it this way. Pretty soon, we'll take back all the room we need for livestock."

A moment of silence is between us before one of us, Samuel, breaks. "I would really like a slice, please!"

Connie follows. "Hey, if he gets one, so do I. Just so you know."

"Me too!" I turn to Mina, herself excited for the prospect of meat. "I'm in on it, too!"

"But…"

"Eren." He turns to me as I smile back. "Let's be honest, they're not going to miss the meat Sasha stole. Sasha, leave it to me. I'll grill it for us!"

"Come on! Don't just stand there." We look to Samuel, sticking a pole inside one of the cannons. Thomas and Sasha walk off as Connie returns to his knees beside the cannon he's paired with Samuel. "If they see us slacking off, we're in for it."

Mina chuckles as she places a kiss on my cheek and walks off. "See you guys at lunchtime."

I lower my brow in remembrance of that day. It's really been four months since… I find my hand unconsciously at my throat, holding on to a piece of string. The necklace...it's been four months since I last noticed it. I keep forgetting i now trade it with Sasha every time I see her. Thoughts of them who died that day and along the way to now flooding my mind. Marco, Thomas, Samuel… Miche, Nanaba, Gelgar, Nifa, Oruo, Eld, Gunther… Ymir… Mina. Part of me believes that Ymir is out there somewhere, trying hard best to find Historia again. So many were lost just trying to get to this place. So many more corpses to place along the road to victory.

"Hey." Connie shakes both mine and Eren's shoulders, waking us up from our trance.

"Only four months have passed since back then?"

"Only four months. But think, in just four months, we're in the Levi Squad. We climbed the ranks in a flash."

Eren smiles as he places his hand on Connie's slick head. "It's 'cuz you're a genius."

"Damn straight I am!"

I scoff. "You may be a genius, and you're in the Levi Squad, but I was a Scout before we even graduated. Take that."

"Lucky bastard you are, Elijah. Anyways, let's eat before our food gets cold." Of course, at that moment, Sasha regains energy, but we choose to ignore her for later. Plus, it's a little punishment for biting me. I'll tend to her later.

"Don't you see? You're the rear guard 'cuz you've got no experience."

"I understand that I may be weak, but isn't the vanguard the best place to learn how the enemy moves?"

"What's this? Trying to act all tough talking about self-sacrifice?"

"But if we're all not of that mentality, how will we be effective as a unit?"

"Listen here... Everyone starts out as a recruit. If we throw recruits into battle like cannon fodder, they'll all be too dead to learn. Which is why it's your job to sit in the back and study, so you can come home in one piece."

Damn... I have to remind myself that Jean can be a good leader when it comes down to it. Marco would be-

"But the most useless of all is the suicidal maniac who only knows how to charge in, Right?"

Eren drops his mug to the table, sneering at Jean. "Jean... Who do you mean by that?"

"..." Never mind. Here they go again.

"Who else but you? You suicidal maniac."

"Actually, I found out something recently. I'm quite a normal person, you know? So if you're saying that to me, that just makes you a coward, Jean."

Not even a few seconds later, Jaeger and Kirstein are at each other's throats. Literally, they both grip each other's shirt collars with Armin caught between them as he stays seated at the table.

"You're so full of yourself, you pig shit!"

"You trying to grow out the hair on your mane, horse-face?!"

"Just don't waste any of the food," I add as they throw each other around.

"You jerk!"

"You're ripping my shirt, you ass!"

"What are they doing?" Marlo questions.

"This is normal, trust me," I answer as Eren and Jean trade punches to the gut with each other.

"Shouldn't we stop this?" Armin aims his concern to Mikasa.

"...I think it's fine." Mikasa adds with...a smile on her face.

"If I didn't know you any better, Ackermann. I'd say that you're enjoying this."

Those two loud mouths rough it out for what seems like all night. No one tries to stop them. They both look exhausted and they might barf up the meat we just ate.

"Hey." Fortunately for the rest of us, the Captain decides to step in, kicking both Eren and Jean in the stomach. Both boys tumble to the concrete ground looking like their one inch away from death. "You're all too damn rowdy. Go to sleep. And clean this up."

"Yes, sir!" Everyone shouts. We shuffle out of the mess hall, or at least I almost make it out before desperate grunting makes it to my ears. "Oh...right. Shit." I turn around, grab my half-full plate from the table, and step over to Sasha. I can't help but find a little amusement in her helplessness as I remove the cloth from her mouth.

"Hey."

"...Please untie me." I undo the rope, letting her free. However, I know my best friend too well. I pull back the plate of food before she can grab it, much to her disdain. I still have a nice slice of meat. "Elijah." She whines.

"Come on, ya big baby." I take a seat at our table, pushing the plate to the space beside me. She sits down but doesn't immediately take part in the meal. Instead, she looks at me with a slight smile.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"...I'm sorry I bit you. Do you forgive me?" She says with a pout.

"Only if I get some recompense."

"Like what?" I place my right hand right in front of her face, making sure she sees the bite mark on it. The redhead gives me an eye roll. "Now who's being a big baby?"

"I think I deserve it..." I pout a little as I give her my sad look. "It really hurt..."

She scoffs, but ultimately abides with my terms, kissing my horrible injury. "Better?"

I nod, smiling softly with a light laugh. "Thank you."

"...Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah? What's wrong?"

She leans on the table, twirling the fork on her plate. "Well...I know we haven't seen each other in recent months much, and when we do, it's because our squads are working together, so it's not free time. But... I heard that-"

"It's not how it is, Sasha." Truly, I don't know what exactly she's talking about, but my mind jumps to the conclusion that a specific...royal was involved. "Historia is...but I would never do that to you." Yes, I am telling her this because I mean it, but I'm also telling her this because I just saw her lose her humanity because of meat. Imagine her angry. I don't want to lose my hand.

Sasha suddenly begins to laugh. "Oh, you thought I was talking about Historia? I mean, yeah, I heard, but I know you wouldn't."

"Then...what did you want to ask?"

"I heard that you went to Dauper to check on my father and the villagers. I've been too busy to do so, and I wanted to ask how they're doing."

I sigh heavily, mostly in relief. "Next time, please be more casual about the conversation."

She chuckles. "So...how is everyone?"

"Everyone's great. Your father has actually taken in the little girl you saved. Her name is Kaya. When I saw her, all she asked about was her 'big sister' and how she wanted to be a hero like you."

Sasha points to herself. "Me? A hero?"

"Yep. You saved her life, Sasha. Not because of what you are, but because of who you are. You help those who need it even at the cost of your own life, Sasha. I just think you don't realize it. To Kaya, your father, to Dauper, your their hero."

Sasha smiles through the piece of meat in her mouth. "I guess... But that was all thanks to you."

I shake my head as I stand up. "No, Sasha." Leaning down, I kiss Sasha's forehead. "You were a hero before you even realized. Because you were mine."

Sasha doesn't let me leave before capturing my lips in hers. Once she releases me, she whispers, "And you'll always be mine, Elijah."

"I'm glad we met the Commandant," I hear Eren say as I sit down on a set of steps to the right of Mikasa. "I... It doesn't... Whether I'm spunky or not, I'll do what I have to do. But yeah, it's easier now. Kept thinking about stuff I can't change and wondering why I can't be strong like Mikasa, Elijah, and the Captain. I was jealous. But even you guys and the Captain...alone, you can't do much. Which is why we've all gotta find the things we can do and by joining together, that's what makes us powerful. Every person is different. And it's for times like this."

"Yeah, Armin says with a smile. "I think you're right." The four of us look ahead, simultaneously gasping as we see...Hannes with a woman across the street. No...someone who we believed was Hannes.

"Once we retake Wall Maria and defeat all the enemies coming for us, will they come back? Those days?"

"We'll bring it back," Eren tells Mikasa. "But some things are forever changed. We'll make them pay for that."

"Right."

"Yeah."

"But there's more than that. The sea. A salt lake so big that merchants could spend their whole lives and still not get all the salt. There's more than just Titans outside the walls. Firey water, lands of ice, sandy snowfields... I joined the Scouts so I could see all that."

"Y-Yeah. You sure did."

Armin suddenly stands up. "Right? Let's start by seeing the sea! You still doubt it's real, Eren! You'll see! It does exist!"

"Alright then. Guess we'll have to go see."

"It's a promise, then! You have to! We can explore the outside world! It's gotta be way bigger than inside the Walls!"

"Okay, I get it."

Mikasa turns to me. "Another conversation only those two get."

I chuckle. "When we finally get there, I think we'll finally understand."

Why did the earth and heavens separate from one another? Though the world may be cruel, it can also be beautiful.

Just before sunset the next day...it's finally time.

Below us are the civilians of Trost, gathered to give us our send-off. But unlike before, it seems to be more than the normal mood. For the first time that I can recall, the Scouts are being celebrated. "Weird, isn't it, Eren? All these years, no one cheered for the Scouts, but on this day, we're championed as heroes."

He nods. "That means we must deliver." Several screams come from the top of the wall, some from our friends, and even one roar comes from Commander Erwin with a raised fist. Deciding to let myself have this one moment of glory, even if I feel like I don't deserve it, I let out my own triumphant roar. Raising my right fist to the sky.

Those who throw the stones and those who are in turn hit by them, between the two sides stand a fence not crossed so easily.

"We have a lot riding on us," Armin softly says. "So many expectations. If we fail…"

"We won't," Mikasa sharply says. "We will win. We will retake Wall Maria. We will retake our home."

But by changing where we stand, justice will come to bear its fangs. So who is it really that's been left howling within the cage?

Commander Erwin turns to us Scouts with a drawn blade. "The final operation to retake Wall Maria will now commence!" Immediately we use the lifts to lower ourselves and the horses to the ground outside of Trost, lining up in formation. Minutes later, with one hundred Scouts wearing the wings of freedom on their backs, Erwin saddles his white horse and gives his first order. "Advance!"

Tomorrow morning, we will arrive at Shinganshina. Tomorrow morning, our fight for freedom comes to an end. Mikasa is right, no matter the cost, we won't let humanity down. We will reclaim the wall, then we will explore the world as Armin desires. Humanity's last requiem rides with us.

The hearts offered to a dusk we can no longer get back. Will paradise wait for us at the end of this ever-continuing night? Requiem, Requiem, o' nameless flower who lost its petals tonight. Please, rest peacefully when dawn breaks.

As we advance, Reiner and Bertholdt wait...