Eren
"Have I ever lied to you in my life?"
Eren drags the severed torso of Bertholdt along a rooftop as Armin's words replay in his head. "Dammit, I should've known."
"Hey, why don't you fight back?"
"Huh?"
"They pick on you 'cuz you don't hit back. Are you fine with losing forever?"
"I'm...not losing."
"Huh?"
"...Because I don't run."
"...Hey, what's your name?"
Stopping by the charred body of his best friend, brother, and the only few he considers family, Eren fights back tears as he kneels down.
"I knew...you were more of a hero...than anyone else... I should've known this would happen. But… I had no other choice but to rely on you. Armin… Why don't you run away?" The tears run down Eren's face as he allows his sorrow to overwhelm him. Before he can get peep a whimper, a crash behind him catches his attention. Through the rising debris, he spots a quadruped beast on a nearby rooftop. "A Titan?" Not just any Titan, but the one they named 'Cart Titan'. Upon him is a blond-haired man with his limbs removed.
As it makes its way to Eren, he grabs Bertholdt and holds a sword to his neck. Once it arrives, Eren glares at it while pressing the blade in. "You just try coming closer! Make one move to take him and he's dead!" Upon the Cart Titan is a blond-haired man with his limbs removed. "What's that? He's got… Titan marks around his eyes. Is he the Beast Titan?!"
"Are you...Eren Jaeger?" In defense of having his own identity revealed, Eren draws blood from Bertholdt's neck. The man, however, doesn't seem affected by that action. "You look nothing like your father." That loosens Eren's grip. This man...knows his father? That thought runs through his head as the man continues to speak. "Believe me, I know what you're going through. We're both victims of your father. You've...been brainwashed by him."
Something about the man's eyes reminds him of Grisha Jaeger. "My…dad?"
The man suddenly looks up. "Argh, You're kidding me! He chased me all the way here? Let's call it a draw, Levi. We're in no shape to fight." He looks away from wherever Levi is back to Eren, or should he say Bertholdt. "Bertholdt, I'm sorry, but I think it's the end for you. Eren! Someday, I'm coming back to rescue you!" The Cart Titan and the man depart, leaving Eren with questions that now cannot be answered.
Captain Levi lands in front of him seconds later. "That was the last of my gas. I'll chase him! Hand over your gas and blades!"
Eren begins to take off his ODM. "Right!"
"Hurry!" As Eren loosens the first strap, he hears a low, pained gasp of air from behind him. Gasping, he turns around slowly, unsure if he believes his own ears. There's no way in hell...Armin is alive.
Elijah
Let me finish this... Let me finish this... Reiner continues to live as Hange analyzes a metal case from Reiner's chest pocket. She hasn't given me any order to kill him yet, but the blade is shaking from gripping it so firmly. This angers me immensely. Bertholdt should be alive, we should be interrogating him and let Reiner die already.
"Reiner… What's this metal case you had in your left chest pocket? Before we chopped off all your limbs, you tried to grab it with the strength you had left. Suicide pills? Or perhaps a bomb?"
"A letter," Reiner speaks in a dry, weak voice.
"A letter? What kind of letter?"
"A letter...from Ymir. You have to...give it...to Christa…"
Hange sighs. "Only after we've inspected it. Now then," she stands while putting the case in a pocket of her own, "I've got a mountain of questions for you, but your lips seem as tight as your armor is hard. Are you going to cooperate and tell us everything that we want to know?"
"No."
"Thanks. It helps that you're prepared for this. Elijah." My blade has never moved faster. Blood spurts from the small pressure of my sword in Reiner's chest. I want to savor this. I want him to be fully aware of who is the one who brought him down. Exactly who will be the one to end-
"Hold on!" Nearly jumping out of my skin, I leave my sword in place but relieve the pressure as I listen to Jean's sudden plea. "Elijah, are you sure? We might be able to steal his power." I frown. Yes, we have a syringe with that Kenny stole and gave to Levi. Commander Erwin's orders were clear, if we captured any of the enemy shifters alive, we hold them in case we can steal their power.
"I don't think all the conditions for that have been met," Hange says. "We don't know the situation with Levi and the other side. Neither do we have the time to go confirm it ourselves. Reason being, there's no way for us to gauge the full depth of their powers!"
"Jean...are you really asking me this now?" I cut my eyes at Jean, furious that he'll stop me at this moment. "You're really going to make me reconsider after all he's done?! Just look around you! This is all his fault! He took everything from me!"
"Elijah..." Jean drops his head. "This isn't you, Elijah. If they were here...if Mina was here, she would say the same thing to you. She would tell you that you're acting out of your anger, not with your heart that we've seen in the past few months. The one we all care for and respect. You have him beat. You beat the Armored Titan, and for now, until we can get this sorted out, isn't that enough? I believe you don't truly want to kill him either...because if you wanted to, he'd be dead already by now. There's something within you holding you back..."
"...You have no idea what he really took from me."
"What? Elijah, we know-"
"NO YOU DON'T! NOT EVEN I KNEW!" Using my free hand, I take out a small slip of paper from my jacket pocket, handing it over to Jean.
Two days ago...
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Yes. Please, sit."
I do as the Commander says and sit. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm sure you're fully aware of our mission to reclaim Wall Maria, but there's an important matter I must discuss with you beforehand."
I nod. "Of course, sir." Erwin slides over a slip of paper on the small table set between us. Confused as to what it is... "Commander, what is this?"
"A letter, from your father." A light gasp escapes my lips. "It was given to me the day after Wall Maria was invaded by the Titans. I'm sure you're wondering why i have kept this from you until now, the letter will have the answer to that question. As for others... Well, I suggest you read what your father had to say, first." I glance between my Commander and the letter for longer than I should until I shakily pick it up, unfolding it, seeing its true extent.
Erwin,
Old friend, how long has it been now? Only a few years since our last encounter, I believe. How time truly flies. You'll be returning from the Scout's recent expedition soon, by the time this letter reaches the Scout HQ I imagine. I can only assume that you're one step closer to finding the truth outside the Walls, though it may be one step out of one million. But I know someday our...no, your dream will come to fruition. Even though I traded that dream for another, part of me still yearns to see you find it.
My son is now ten years old as of six months back, he's gotten quite tall at his age, not to mention strong as well. He gave a few delinquents quite a thrashing just a month ago after they stole some kid's food. Kids these days. Elijah wants to become a Scout, you know? Claims he wants to be 'just like me' someday. I may have been a decent Scout, but you were stronger than I could ever hope to be. Hell, even my own son has more potential than me. So...I want to ask a favor of you. When the boy finally comes of age to join the military, and if he does, I want you to keep an eye on him. Not as a special case or giving him special treatment. I want him to experience the same hardships of training as we had to in our time. I would like you to just keep your eye on his progress as he's a cadet. I'm telling you, the boys gonna be a natural.
When he does become a Scout, keep him safe for me. I'm not asking you to give your life for him, I could never ask that of you. I know as a Scout, survival among us is slim to none, but I know you'll look out for him as you did for me all those years ago. Just...make sure he comes home to his family...and his new little brother or sister. Oops, did I forget to mention that Lyra is pregnant? We only found out a few weeks ago and we are so happy that God is blessing us with another child. Though the doctor was a little surprised we were having another child.
Elijah will become a great soldier, and an even better man. Who knows? Maybe he'll be the one who discovers the truth of what's really outside the Walls. Maybe he can see our dream come true after all these years. When you think he's ready to hear it, be sure to tell him about our dream. Promise me, Erwin. Above all else, I can't wait for you to meet him.
Your comrade, and loyal friend, Moses
"..." So many questions...so much revealed in a singular letter...and all I feel is nothing but pure, unfathomable hatred. I can feel my blood begin to boil as my fingers nearly tear through the paper of my father's last letter to his former comrade. "...Why... Why didn't you show me this sooner? Dad...why didn't you tell me about this? Mom...you...were... REINER!"
Erwin doesn't flinch when I flip the table over in a fit of rage. My brain lurched, unwilling to accept the fact that my Mother was pregnant with my unborn brother or sister, that my father knew Erwin to such an extent and never told me, that he wanted the Commander to watch over me as I progressed as a soldier. What the hell is this 'dream' he kept going on about?!
"Elijah..." A hand on my shoulder shakes me out of my appalled state. When I look up, I not only realize that I've fallen to my knees...but the Commander has a lone tear falling down his cheek. "I promise you. We will take back your home." Regaining myself, I get back to my feet, flipping back over the table I threw across the room. I sit back down, and Erwin does the same. "Is there anything you wish to ask of me? I'm willing to answer anything you ask."
"You have no idea..."
I don't know how much time has passed, but I do know a helluva lot more about my father than I have ever known before. From what I've learned, not only did my father train and fight alongside Erwin, but he even saved his life in their first expedition together. A debt, Erwin says, he'll never be able to repay. The Commander has kept a close eye on my progress as I was in training. Seeing how I exceeded in my ODM training, hand-to-hand combat skills, even me being in the top ten of my class. Erwin even admits that he wanted Hange to vouch for me personally before I even became an official Scout. ...This man really has been looking out for me...since day one.
"Now, is there anything else you wish to ask of me?"
"Just one last thing, sir. What exactly is the dream you and my father had?"
"...Are you sure you want-"
"Yes."
"Very well."
Present
Jean...now shocked and appalled by the contents of my father's letter, looks to me with glistening eyes. "Elijah...I...I'm-"
"Save it. This monster has taken everything from me! My home! My family! And this is what he deserves! HHHHAAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH!"
"ELIJAH!"
"..." Why? Why did I stop? My blade was this close to chopping off his head...only inches away from his neck. My hand is shaking from the rage I feel. The weight around my neck grows heavier, my teeth grinding to a point I'm sure I shaved off some enamel. He should be dead right now... So why the hell am I stopping?! Why? Why? WHY?!
"Elijah..."
...No. Mom, please don't-
"Promise me..."
"...To always do...what's right." My hand steadies...and my blade is dropped to the ground. I can't do it...I just can't. I was ready to end it all, but... In my heart, even though I hate it, I know that Jean is right. This isn't who I am. What kind of monster has my hatred turned me into? Who have I become? I step back from the Armored Titan, turning to Hange as she nods, then turns to Mikasa.
"How much gas do you have left?"
"It's almost entirely gone. But it should be enough to reach Eren and Armin at least."
"That's more than me. Mikasa, I need you to go check out their situation. Fill up your gas and bring back the injection from Levi. If for any reason you're unable to do so, fire a smoke signal. That will be my signal to end Reiner."
"Affirmative." Moments later, I remove my gas canister from Mikasa's and watch her head off for Eren and Armin. My anger...now turned to confusing sorrow as I stared to the cloudy sky.
"Elijah, I'm-"
"It's my choice, Jean. You were just a small factor."
Mikasa
"Yeah! Keep it up! Armin's breathing again! Come on! Just keep breathing!"
Mikasa can hardly believe what she sees. One of her closest friends, hovering over another's charred, but barely alive body. Armin's weak and pained gasps for life-giving air bring tears to her eyes as she can hardly move from her position. "...A-Armin?!"
"Captain! Get the syringe!" Levi clearly hears Eren's plea, but his priority is reloading his gas and blades to fulfill his promise to his Commander. Not even batting an eye at the boy. Eren, now more enraged, pulls Bertholdt's limbless body by the neck over. "Make Armin into a Titan and we'll have him eat Bertholdt! Hurry up and inject him!"
Fortunately, Levi pulls out the metal case, containing Armin's last hope of survival. "Yeah..."
Mikasa sees the opportunity. Now that they no longer need Reiner, she reaches for her flare gun, firing red smoke into the air. Just as Levi was about to hand over the case to Eren...
"Captain...Levi..." A familiar, red-haired soldier...carrying an unconscious Erwin...joins them on the rooftop. "I finally found you. Commander Erwin is badly wounded! His stomach is gouged...and his organs are demolished! The blood just won't stop! I thought that injection might be able to help, but...what do you think?"
"Huh?" Levi stops...taking in the fact that Commander Eriwn is still alive after that massacre. The captain pulls the case closer to him as Floch lays down the commander on his back on the roof. "Captain...?"
Levi hovers his fingers over Erwin's mouth... "He's...still breathing... He's...alive." The captain rises to his feet, looking at the black metal case. "I'm using the injection...on Erwin."
Eren, now on his feet not even a second after the captain's word, gritted his teeth in anger as he towered over Levi with his eyes filled with anger...with small tears at the corners of his eyes. "You said...you'd use it on Armin!"
"I'm...reviving the one who can save humanity." Mikasa, shakily drawing her blade, looks at the pair with an unbelieving look. The girl can't be hearing what she's hearing...Armin...is just going to be left to die? "You guys... Do you have the faintest damn clue...what you're doing? It's Erwin... The Commander of the Scouts. And you're saying to watch him die. There's no time for this. Stay out of my way." Levi would've made his way to the unconscious Commander, but Eren grips the metal case in the Captain's hand, stopping him. "Keep your emotions out of this."
"Keep my...emotions out?" Eren queries the captain's bullshit claim. "Tell me... How come you didn't hand over the syringe right away?!"
"Because I was considering the possibility Erwin might still be alive."
"You couldn't have known Floch would drag the commander here! There's just no way you knew!"
"You're right, but... The fact that Erwin is now here means I use it on him." Eren grips more firmly on the metal case, causing the Captain to knock Eren to the ground with a hard punch to the face. This act of aggression ticks off Mikasa, causing her to tackle Levi to the rooftop flooring, holding her blade to his neck.
"Hey!" Floch calls out.
His strength isn't all there! I can take it from him by force! Mikasa thinks as the captain struggles to get free from Mikasa's hold.
"You know as well as I do. Without Erwin's talent, humanity can't beat the Titans!"
"That's right, Mikasa! Let's stop with this madness already!"
"It's...no different if we lose...Armin." Eren weakly says from his wounded state on the other side of the roof. Bleeding from his mouth as he crawls.
"Eren!"
"Hasn't it...always been like that? He's the reason why we saved Trost by plugging it with a rock. He revealed Annie's identity alongside Elijah. It was Armin who came up with the idea of moving at night! The only reason we uncovered Reiner's hiding spot...and the only reason we defeated Bertholdt...was all because of Armin! The one who's gonna save humanity isn't me, the commander, Elijah, or even you, Captain! It's Armin! Isn't it, Mikasa?!"
Mikasa wrestles for the metal case still ensnared in Levi's hand. "Please give it to me!"
"The one who will save humanity...is Commander Erwin."
"Shut up!" Mikasa yells at Floch.
"I will not shut up. Don't think you're the only one who had it tough! You might not know, but... On the other side of that Wall, there's not a single living soldier. Everyone died when the Beast Titan there boulders at us. I didn't think anyone could be saved... But Commander Erwin was the only exception. He thought of a plan for us to bite back at the Beast Titan...and we did. We were smashed to bits just as planned. And I'm sure the last thing they felt...was fear. When I found the Commander alive, I was about to finish him off. But...that's going too easy on him. I thought to myself that he ought to taste more of this hell. And then...I understood. The only one who can lay waste to the Titans...is a devil! And if I can bring back the devil, that must be my mission in life! That has to be why I survived like a coward when everyone else died! So stay out of my way!"
"Don't do it!"
Hange comes flying in, preventing Mikasa from hurting Floch by holding her back. Jean and Connie with Sasha on his back arrive behind her. Elijah...pushes Floch to the ground, grappling him.
Elijah... Moments Earlier...
I step away from Jean, back to Reiner, kneeling down in front of the Armored Titan. "I let you live, Reiner. You once said you didn't have a choice...back when you and Bertholdt destroyed my home, but here I am...and I let you live. You've taken everything from me. My home...my family...my friends...and you almost took away the woman I love. I once saw you as a brother, Reiner. And somewhere, no matter how small, there's still that same soldier I grew to admire and respect, but now he's replaced by this... You call yourself a warrior...but there's one thing that you fail to realize, the harsh reality is, no matter what you claim, no matter what your comrades say you are back wherever you come from, it's you that's the real monster. My mercy will eat away at your very soul. All the death and destruction you've caused will haunt your nightmares like you did for me."
"E-Elijah!" I feel Jean's body collide with mine, grabbing me as he gets us away from Reiner. We tumble a few meters away, with me landing on my back. I glance up, seeing the Cart Titan from earlier in the battle along with a blonde-haired man on its back and Reiner in its mouth. No… No! No! No!
It runs off with Reiner, with Connie initially giving chase before Hange calls him off. As I get back up, Jean beats his fist on the ground. "Shit! It's my fault! I've...done something terrible."
With my head clouded in anger, I disregard Jean's claim. "It was my choice...now I have to live with it. We need to regroup with the others."
The others start to leave, but I take one long look at the setting sun behind the clouds with exhausted eyes, my vision blurred by my tears. I let out a few exhausting, sorrowful, and heartbreaking laughing sobs as the memories of the last five years play in my head. Everything up until now...my hatred...my promise for revenge...only to let him get away at my mercy.
"...My mercy...prevails...over my wrath..."
This sight before me is a nightmare not even the Titans could create. I stand in shock as I look at Eren beaten and hanging off the building, Mikasa on top of the Captain with her blade at his neck, and one of the new recruits, Floch, standing over a wounded Commander Erwin. When the rookie makes a move, I'm on him in a second while Hange holds Mikasa back. This whole thing seems to be about bringing the commander back, but why are they arguing? Wait...where's-
"..." No...that can't be... Armin... don't tell me that charred corpse...is you... "Armin...?"
"Hey… You've got to be...kidding me…" Jean says.
"Oh my God..." Petra can't believe her eyes.
"No way…You can't...be serious..." And neither can Connie.
Levi opens the case and begins to assemble the syringe for use on the commander, in which Mikasa begins to shout angrily. "Mikasa!" Hange says to her, "You have to know how much we need Erwin! We can't let the flames of hope extinguish inside the walls!"
"But… Armin could…do that, too!"
"It's true, Armin is exceptional, but he doesn't have Erwin's experience and leadership." Mikasa tries to break out, but Hange prevents it. "There are people I want to bring back, too. Hundreds of them. I've had to say farewell since the day I joined the Scouts. But… You know, don't you? No matter who it is, there comes a day to say farewell. I know it's impossible, but you have to accept this. There will be times when you can't keep your sanity. It's tough. Very tough. Even so, we have to keep moving forward."
Sobbing, Mikasa turns to me, tears flowing down her face, pure desperation to save our friend in her irises. "Elijah...please..." I look to Eren, that same plea in his eyes as well. I release my grapple on the recruit, take a few steps away from the group, and look to the sky, searching for any kind of answer.
"...It's not my choice to make."
"Elijah! Armin-"
"You don't think I know this, Mikasa?! Armin is my brother, I can't bear to lose any more of you! But I can't lose Erwin either! Every day since we joined the fight, we lost so many people I wish I could bring back. Friends we've known for years died at Trost. Friends we made since putting on this cloak." I take off my necklace, holding the wooden art and gem in my hand. "I can't choose who should live and who should die! Armin...without him, I don't know if I'll be alive minus my own recklessness... He was always determined to never be left behind, despite not being as capable as some of us...When all hope seemed lost, Armin found it...I trust him more than myself to make the hard choices...we never would've figured out Annie...And we definitely wouldn't have beaten Bertholdt without him... He's my friend...my brother, he needs to be saved."
My eyes blink, keeping more tears from falling at the sight of my barely breathing friend, then gaze at the Commander. "...But I can't say that Erwin doesn't need to be saved... Though it seemed that Hange picked me single-handedly to be brought into the Scouts, it was Erwin all along who chose me...He trusted my judgment on many occasions as if I was an officer...and he...was willing to make the choices no one else wanted to make... But every choice he made, if it costed lives, especially his own, he was right there with us... He still needs to know the truth of this world... And...all along, I never knew how truly close he was to my family."
I look away from the Commander to the sky above. "Erwin trusted one man to decide who should be the one to obtain the power of the Titans. I already chose a life to spare today...I can't do it again." I look back to that one man. "Captain... It's your choice. But willing to live with yourself with whatever choice you make... That's all on you. I'll have to live with the choice I made today... Will you?"
"Captain..." I hear Eren say to Levi. "Do you...know about...the sea? No matter how far you look, it stretches past the horizon. It is a gigantic lake. Armin said-"
Floch drops himself on Eren to remove his grip on Levi's heel. "Hey! Cut it-"
I grab him by the back of his shirt collar, pulling him off my friend and throwing him across the roof. "Back off..."
"There's a sea beyond the walls and he said we'd go there together! But...that was our dream since we were little, and I forgot about it long ago! Avenging my mom… Killing the Titans...The only thoughts in my head are full of hate! But...he's not like that! Armin cares about more than just fighting! He has dreams!"
Levi stands up with the syringe completed. "Everyone get out of here! I'm going to have Erwin eat Bertholdt!"
"Come on, let's go, Mikasa..."
"Shit...Shit...!"
"Armin..." Connie turns, still carrying Sasha. "See you..."
I move away from Levi with the others, letting my own personal choice wage an inner war inside me...but not with one more look at the Captain. "It sucks, doesn't it? That ultimatum... Hope you're ready to live with it. 'Cause I sure as hell wouldn't be able to be."
"Let's start by seeing the sea! You'll see! It does exist!"
...I love you, Brother...and I'm sure gonna miss you.
Levi
"If this dream of yours comes true, what will you do then?"
"I don't know. I won't know until it happens."
Good grief. They're all the same. Whining like brats after one another...
"Everyone had to be drunk on somethin' to keep pushing on... Everyone was slavin' to something."
The Captain is on the verge of giving Erwin the injection, the needle only inches away from his skin...until the Commander's arm rises high above his head. "Erwin!"
"...Teacher..." The commander bearing a weak, breathless voice. "How do we know...there's not more humans...outside the walls...?"
"Give up on your dream and die. Lead the recruits straight into hell. I will take down the Beast Titan."
"...Levi. Thank you."
Elijah
The new Titan rises and Levi escapes with the one who will die. The rest of us watch silently as the Titan grabs Bertholdt, but he must have awoken prior as he begins to scream. He looks in our direction, ceasing his tantrums as he spots Jean, Mikasa, Eren, Connie, and me watching the scene. "Guys! Help me! Please!"
None of us dare move.
He screams again as he is pushed into the Titan's mouth. "Annie! Reiner!" As Bertholdt's last words echo in the air, I feel a single tear wash down my face. It is remorse for Berthodlt? Yes. Yes, it is. He was my enemy, but like Reiner, he was once my brother.
I bow my head and take Sasha in my arms from Connie as the Titan collapses and he and the others head down to the rising boy out of the Titan's corpse. Turning to Levi, Petra, Floch, and Hange on a nearby building.
"Is he...?"
"...He's breathing...but it's weak."
Good. That means there's still time.
Armin might be the one who lives, but before Erwin dies, I will give him the truth of this world. I'll make his dream a reality before he joins my father in the afterlife. For now...
I let out a light chuckle as I see him, letting a tear fall down my cheek. "Good to see you, Brother..."