I stared blankly at the dead face of one of the Scouts from Hange's squad. I never got his name before the battle. I just knew what Squad he belonged to. His eyes and mouth were wide open. His eyes were dull and no light to them. Dried up blood covered his face. His body was crushed by the debris caused by Bertholdt's transformation.

My own body was speckled with bandages. Burn ointment seeped into them in order to provide relief. I got lucky. I only suffered minor burns from the Colossal. Everyone else had it much worse.

Pop!

I turned my head and saw a green smoke signal come from atop of Wall Maria. Armin's finally awake four hours after the battle had ended. I looked back down at the dead Scout. I kneeled down and reached my hand out. I took two fingers and closed his eyelids. I said nothing as I stood back up and shot my ODM Gear to the nearest building.

I stood off to the side of Wall Maria as everyone filled in Armin what he doesn't remember. His memory of everything after Bertholdt transformed was completely gone.

"That pretty much catches you up to speed." Levi announced.

"So, we won. The Beast Titan, Reiner and the quadruped got away. Both the Commander and I were wounded and a choice had to be made. I was chosen and turned into a Titan. I killed Bertholdt, I ate him." Armin said shakily. I turned my head away as Armin began to hyperventilate. This is probably why Titan Shifters don't remember who they ate to get their powers. To spare them the trauma.

"Why did you pick me? Out of everything, Commander Erwin was the one who needed it most. Captain, why did you give me the injection?" Levi scoffed and lightly kicked Eren.

"Hey, I thought I told you to tell him everything Jaeger. There was a short debate. Your friends argued that you were the one that we needed to revive. Then when I disagreed, they staged a little mutiny." Levi informed Armin.

"It's true. Punish us as you will." Eren admitted.

"You'll certainly be disciplined for you insubordination, but getting punished isn't the same as making amends." Eren and Mikasa held their heads down.

"I know." Eren muttered.

"Thing is, I was the one who chose to revive you in the end. Or no, it's more like I chose this as the place where Erwin died." Levi stated.

Armin looked at the Captain with wide blue eyes, "Sorry, I just don't understand. How can letting Erwin die be the right thing to do? What're the Scouts without him? If he's gone then how will we go on?" Armin questioned.

"You're right, Armin. I believed it should have been used on Erwin too. To be brutally honest-nevermind. It's a shame we had to choose in the first place." Hange voiced her opinion.

"What's done is done, Armin. There's no going back now. Captain Levi chose you over the Commander. Instead of moping around and feeling sorry for yourself. You can honor the Captain's decision. By honoring that decision, you'll also be honoring Commander Erwin. That's the least you can do for him now." I made my opinion known.

"I would have phrased it a little harsher to get the point across. But Vivien's right, Armin. That is the least you can do. Accept the decision." Hange agreed with me.

"Wait, does this mean that I have to replace Erwin?" Armin asked.

"Don't misunderstand us. There's no chance in hell that you could replace Erwin. That said, your self doubt aside. You have a strength within you that no one else can claim. Don't let any of us regret this. Not me. Not any one of our mutineers here." He placed his hands on top of Mikasa and Eren's heads.

"Nor anyone else. Especially, don't regret it yourself. Consider that your new mission." Levi stated.

Grunts from Sasha made us look at her, "Shut the hell up." She muttered under her breath. That caught us off guard to say the least.

Hange began to chuckle, "Yep, that's our Sasha. She's always been one to speak her mind. You know, since Erwin chose for me to succeed him as Commander. I'm more or less in the same boat as you. We'll just have to grin and bear it while doing what we can." Hange gave Armin advice.

"I'll try." Armin said and hung his head.

"Good. Now that we know Armin's alright. Let's check out that cellar." Right. Almost forgot about that.

"Eren, Mikasa you two will lead Levi and I. The rest of you, watch out for hostels on the wall." Hange ordered us.

"Got it." Myself, Jean and Connie said simultaneously.

"Eren, you still have the key?" Hange questioned him again. I looked at Eren as he gripped the key around his neck.

"I do. Let's do this." Eren stated.

The four of them geared up and took off from the wall. I walked over to the edge and watched him as they flew across the destroyed city. I heard footsteps next to me. I glanced to my left seeing Armin standing next to me. The wind gently blew our hair as we both watched in silence as the others got smaller and smaller. Until they completely disappeared into the distance.

"Were you able to get any last words in to Reiner? Before he was rescued?" Armin asked softly.

"Yeah. I did. Unlike last time, I got some closure just being able to say what I wanted to. It wasn't everything but I got the point across." I replied.

"Do you ever think…you'll see him again?" Armin asked his follow up question.

"Who knows. Wherever Reiner, Bertholdt and Annie came from. They clearly want Eren because of the Founding Titan's powers. I'm sure they'll be back one day. Hopefully by then, we'll know more about Titans then we do right now." I said honestly.

"Yeah…" Armin agreed softly.

I stared down from Wall Rose as the crowds from Trost were cheering us. The Garrison unit was unloading our horses that managed to survive. Incredibly, Wisteria had somehow survived herself. Floch had found her inside Shiganshina by the rivers. She wasn't the only horse that fled there either. Part of me wonders if she led the others to safety. The water would have kept them cool against the hot steam from the Colossal.

I stared blankly as the crowd continued to cheer. They were cheering for humanity's victory. While we were still mourning the ones we lost. Over a hundred of us left and only ten of us made it back. That's a gruesome number.

My eyes glanced over at Eren. He held the three books he brought back from his father's cellar. He hadn't told us yet what they had discovered. Captain Levi said they would explain more once we got back to Trost. Hange also stated that she would give the letters intended for me and Historia once we arrived. Reiner's final words to me are written down.

"So, let me get this straight. We've been stuck on an island which is land that is surrounded by this sea. And the name of the island we're on is called Paradis?" Jean questioned.

Myself, Jean, Connie, and Sasha sat down in the Scout's commanders quarters. Hange and Levi were in front of us. They had the three books from Eren's family cellar in front of them. They were explaining everything they learned from the books to us. Eren and Mikasa were still being held in the stockades as punishment. Armin had been staying with them since yesterday.

Hange nodded and pushed the book with a map on it. She pointed to a small land mass next to a bigger land mass.

"This is where we're located, and over here." She moved her finger to the bigger land mass, "This is where Reiner, Annie, and Bertholdt came from. As well as Dr. Jaeger. They call it Marley. It is supposedly a large country. Which is a nation of people much like the people living in the walls. Just at a much bigger scale." My eyes stared at the book. That's where Reiner is from…that's the hometown he spoke of.

"So Reiner and the others are really from outside the walls?" Connie questioned.

Hange nodded again, "They are and there's more we learned about the Titans from these books. You see, apparently two thousand years ago. Ymir Fritz was somehow given god-like power by being able to turn into the first Titan. Eventually her power was passed down to Eldian descendants, or known as the Children of Ymir. That's us by the way. We're a race of people called Eldians, and it's our people that somehow also house the power to become Titans." We all looked at each other before going back to Hange.

"The power of Ymir split into nine different forms. Nine different Titan forms to be exact. There's the ones we've already known about. The Armored, the Colossal, and the Female Titans. The one our Ymir could turn into is called the Jaw Titan. Then you have the two new ones we met just a day ago. The Beast Titan and the quadruped is known as the Cart Titan. There's another one we've yet to see called the Warhammer Titan. The Founding Titan is another one that we already knew about. But get this, we finally have a name for Eren's Titan. It's the most elusive one of them all and never fell into Marleyan hands. It's called the Attack Titan." Hange informed.

"The Attack Titan?" I repeated.

"That's right. This all apparently started because the Island of Paradis has resources that Marley wants. However, the first King of the Walls left the mainland with a warning. If they were to follow his people, he would unleash his Titans upon the world. In response, Marley began a new practice within their military called the Warrior Unit. They began training children in hopes of one day they would take on the power of one of the Nine Titans. Reiner, Annie, and Bertholdt were all warriors from that program. That's how they became the Armored, the Female, and the Colossal." Hange explained.

"So that's what Reiner and Bertholdt meant when they kept saying they were warriors." Jean stated.

"Here I thought it was just something they claimed to be." Sasha commented.

Levi picked up his teacup and took a sip on his tea, "There's something you all need to know about. The power that all the Titan Shifters have is limited." Levi stated.

"Limited how?" I questioned.

"It's called the Curse of Ymir. According to legend, Ymir had died thirteen years after she gained her Titan powers. Ever since then, once a human takes on the power of one the Nine Titans. They start a countdown of thirteen years. That Titan Shifter only has thirteen years left to live." My eyes widened hearing this revelation. Just how many years did Reiner have left?

"Seriously? Only thirteen years? That means Eren has what? Eight years left?" Jean questioned.

"And Armin just started his countdown." Connie added. I said nothing as I stared at the table beneath me.

"Vivien," I looked up to Hange who passed me a letter, "I apologize for opening it but we had to verify what Reiner had written to you. The letter was actually a big help. Reiner confessed a lot in the letter that lines up perfectly with the books Dr. Jaeger wrote. According to his letter. Reiner first obtained the power of the Armored Titan seven years ago. Leaving six years left for him to live." Only six years left? I took the letter from Hange and stared at the writing. It was Reiner's handwriting alright.

"You can read it later. There's still more we need to tell you all." Levi instructed me.

"Yes, sir." I said and placed the letter on the table.

I stared at the front of the letter that laid on my desk in front of me. The only light coming from the glowing crystal lamp next to me. In Reiner's handwriting, the name "Viv" was written across the front. I took a deep breath before grabbing the letter and opening it.

'Dear Viv,

I'm sorry I couldn't have said any of this in person. If you're reading this then it either means I was able to see you one last time to hand it to you, or it was found on my corpse. If by some chance you don't get this, then I guess I'm just writing this to myself. Or yet, the better outcome is that I managed to convince you to come back home with me and I could explain this letter in person. I'm not sure which option it could be, so I'll try to cover as much as I can. There are some things I can't write. You're part of the military. You know how the military keeps their secrets close to their chest.

I guess I'll start with how I became the Armored Titan. My mother enlisted me into the Warrior Unit Program when I was just barely five years old. I trained for five hard, grueling years alongside Annie and Bertholdt. At the age of ten, I was selected to become the next Armored Titan. I had two years of learning how to use my Titan powers before four of us were assigned with a mission. A mission to infiltrate the walls and locate the coordinate. The warriors assigned this mission composed of myself, Annie, Bertholdt and a dear friend of mine who sacrificed his life to save mine. He's the one that Ymir devoured to gain her powers. His name was Marcel Galliard, the Jaw Titan.

From there, I don't need to explain the rest. You know what happened five years ago. You saw it with your own eyes. I remember you telling me on the first day of cadet training. You watched as I broke through the inner gate of Wall Maria. I'm sorry for the fear I probably put you through that day. Back then, I blindly believed what my country and mother had taught me for years. The people of Paradis are Island Devils and deserve what's to come to them. That they're all lesser beings and need to be wiped out. That was our mindset going in. I can't speak of that being our mindset now.

At first, adjusting to our new lives undercover within the walls was hell. I've said as much when I first explained some things on top of Wall Rose. Then, we joined the 104th Cadet Corp and our opinions on the Island Devils changed. We had moments of denial, it was the only way we could push ourselves to continue the mission. Then there were some days where we fully committed to playing the role of soldiers. Those days were some of the better ones I've had. The three of us found ourselves becoming friends with the Island Devils we were supposed to hate. But it's hard to do that when they look and act exactly like anyone else would on the outside. Growing up and being persecuted for being what we were born as. Then coming to Paradis where none of that existed for us. The kindness that was shown to us. Compassion and care. It made us realize what we were taught about the people of Paradis…was wrong.

Then came you, Viv. When I first met you across the table in the mess hall. It was the look in your eyes that intrigued me. So when Eren involved you in the conversation you wanted no part of. I took my chance to talk to you. You interested me even more with how nonchalant you were when talking about the Armored Titan. The irony of the situation is not lost on me. But even with that scowl on your face. The first thing I noticed about you was just how beautiful you were. I knew then and there that I wanted to get to know you more. So, I started finding every excuse I could to be around you. If I couldn't find one, I would make one.

The training we did together, the partnered exercises, the group missions and more. I wanted that closeness with you. Especially the more I learned and discovered about you. The more I realized the kinship we had. Both raised by single mothers who did everything they could to ensure our futures. Being labeled as outcasts by the rest of our societies just because we were born. And knowing next to nothing about our fathers.

The days I spent with you these past three years were the best memories I have on this island. Remember that year the blizzard hit? We got snowed in at the guard's station. We were both freezing and there was only one blanket in the emergency kit. We agreed to share and keep each other warm that night until someone could get us out in the morning. I remember being grateful that it was dark. You wouldn't be able to see how red my face was when you cuddled up against me for warmth. That was the first time that I knew I started to develop stronger feelings for you.

Bertholdt and Annie caught on to what was happening between us. That's when I tried to stop myself. I began acting coldly to you and kept my distance. That went on for about a week until you had enough of my new attitude. You purposely swapped guard duties with Connie that night to confront me. You really let me have that night but at the same time you were also insecure. You never really had friends before any of us. So you weren't sure if you had done something wrong to me. I couldn't keep up my act anymore seeing how much it hurt you. It pained me knowing that I had caused you pain.

Then, that night happened. The night that I realized that I had fallen head over heels in love with an Island Devil. We were partnered together for another mock mission. The only difference this time was that it was an overnight mission, instead of a day one. We had set up camp in an open field because there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The stars were in full view and you wanted to gaze up on them. We laid there in our cots under the stars and talked for hours. I don't remember the entire conversation but I remember the question you asked me. "Isn't it beautiful?" is what you said. When I went to respond to you, I stopped. The way your gray eyes shined. The smile you had on your face. The glow of your blonde hair and skin gave as the campfire illuminated you. I knew then and there that I wanted something more with you. More than what we already had because I was selfish.

Then we had our talk that night at the guard tower. I was thrilled that you wanted to see where our relationship would grow. Being able to hold and kiss you made me want even more. In turn, I became even more selfish with you than I already was. After that, everything happened so quickly. I had to return to my original mission but I also had to keep it a secret from you. It tore me apart more and more the longer I kept my true identity from you. Then, the day after the hole in Trost was plugged up happened. I wanted to confess to you that day and reveal that I'm the Armored Titan. That's why I insisted on you meeting with me. However, Bertholdt had overheard our conversation. He had a hunch of why I wanted to meet with you so badly.

That was the argument that you saw the two of us had in front of the barracks. He convinced me not to tell you the truth, so instead I made up that question if you would return home with me. To my surprise you said yes then you floored me when you confessed your feelings to me. I'll never forget that and I'll never forget the kiss that followed it. It gave me hope that our relationship could still possibly work. Even though I knew that eventually, I'd complete the mission and return home. Like I said before, I've been selfish with you and I didn't care at the time what it would do to you. I wanted to know what it was like. What it felt to love somebody unconditionally before my short life was up.

Now I'm paying for my selfishness and I deserve it. I wronged you, Viv. I wouldn't blame you if you hated me now, I would actually expect it. Even with that thought in mind, know that how I feel about you won't change. I'm still deeply in love with you and I know I can never love another woman like I do with you. If I am to return back home and you didn't come with me. With only six years remaining of my short life. There's a good chance that we might never meet again in person. Know that I have not blamed you once for fulfilling your duties as a soldier when it comes to facing me as your enemy. That's not your choice but the choices made by your commanding officers for you.

If you can Viv, find it somewhere in your heart to forgive me. Even though I don't deserve your forgiveness after what I've done. It might be better for you to forget about me and move on. Find another man who will love you, cherish you, and treat you better than I ever did. I love you, Vivien. I wish you the best of luck in the future.

Goodbye,

Reiner'

Tears fell freely down my cheeks as I finished reading his letter. He had multiple pages to it. The hurt bubbled to the surface as I let out a choked sob. I bit my lower lip as I laid my head in my arms. My shoulders shook as I tried to hold back another sob. My heart was completely broken and it hurt…so much.

I knelt down before Queen Historia with the other surviving nine Scouts. A lot has happened since the first day Hange and Levi revealed everything to us. We held new council meetings with Historia and the rest of the military higher ups. Everyone now knew about the Eldians and the Marleyans. The true nature of the Titans and where the powers came from. That there was an entire world we didn't know about outside these walls. All because King Karl Fritz believed he was doing the right thing. Nothing about the Ackerman clan was revealed in anything. All we know is what Kenny knew before he died. The Ackerman clan was once bodyguards to the royal family. Until we were declared enemies because our clan was immune to the memory wipe of the Founding Titan. That thought still disgusted me.

I stood still as Historia placed the emerald pendant with the Wings of Freedom etched onto it around my neck. She gave me her hand and I kissed it before releasing. I kept my eyes closed as the ceremony continued.

Seconds passed and I hadn't heard Historia move in a while. I opened my eyes and looked to my right seeing Eren holding Historia's hand. He had a look on his face like he just saw something horrific.

"Eren?" Historia whispered at him.

1 Year Later...

Wisteria's hooves pounded on the ground as she ran. I held the reins as my Scout's cloak flapped in the wind. It had been an entire year since we reclaimed Wall Maria. The Titans were now essentially completely wiped out. We have been traveling for a day now and not single run in with a Titan yet. Hange's contraption was used day and night to kill Titans for months until it finally stopped. Now people within the walls were rebuilding what they lost six years ago. The Scouts were given the all clear to continue our operations and once again survey the land past the walls. Even still, Hange had us take the long range formation just in case we did run into some Titans.

I heard a distant pop as I looked at the red smoke signal ahead.

"There's actually one up ahead? This far away from the walls?" I questioned myself.

I slowed down Wisteria as I approached where Levi and Hange were staring at the Titan. Its limbs were tiny and its body was huge. It wasn't moving at all. It made the trek all this way here then just seemed to stop. The path it dug was already starting to grow grass again. This thing had stopped for a while now.

Eren began to approach the Titan. He placed his hand on the Titan as we all watched. Eren had been acting differently ever since the medal ceremony. He didn't seem like himself anymore. Then again, he's gone through a lot within the past year. Can't say I really blame him.

"It was shipped to Paradise, which means it was a fellow patriot." Eren stated. Another one huh? So the Marleyans are still sending people here and sentencing them to become a Titan?

"We're close. Let's go." Eren stated. I kicked the side of Wisteria and she took off to follow Eren.

We rode for another hour and we were now riding through a desert. The grass and trees long behind us. As we turned a corner you could see built up walls in between mountains. I looked up at the barrier as the horses continued to run around it. We turned around another bend and the horses began to climb up a steep hill. My eyes widened as Wisteria reached the cliff with the rest of the Levi Squad.

I stared out at the sea, where the water seemed to go on forever. The way the sun shimmered on the surface. The cool breeze that passed through us and the smell of salt in the air. None of us made a noise as we all stared in amazement.

Hange was the first to dismount her horse and the rest of us followed. We climbed down the cliff towards the sand below. The others began to remove parts of their uniform. I followed their lead and also removed parts of my Scout uniform and set it all on a rock. I rolled up my pant legs and then my sleeves. I stopped as I stared at the jagged scar on the inside of my left forearm. I gently caressed the scar with two fingers. It's a constant reminder of that day in Trost.

"Hey Viv! You joining or not? This feels great!" I looked up at Jean yelling for me. Connie and Sasha were next to him as they played around in the water.

"Yeah, I'm coming!" I shouted and ran through the sand with my bare feet. I stopped when I felt how cold the water was when it hit my ankles. It also felt nice at the same time.

"Hey Viv." I looked up just as water splashed my face. The water tasted salty in my mouth and it slightly stung my eyes. I gave a glare to Jean who was smirking like an idiot at me.

"Don't start something, you can't finish Jean." I warned him. I ran into the water and splashed back at Jean.

"Hey! That's cold!" He yelled at me and began to splash me back. I started to smile and laugh as Jean and I went back and forth. It had been a while since I smiled or laughed this much.

"Get'em Sasha!" Jean and I turned as Connie and Sasha charged at us.

"Oof!" I let out a sound as Sasha practically jumped on top of me. I stepped back and caught my balance. Connie did the same thing to Jean and jumped on him.

"Hey!" Unlike me, Jean couldn't keep his balance and fell backwards into the water.

"Aw, no fair. Viv caught herself." Sasha said in disappointment. I had started letting ones in the Levi Squad start to call me Viv as well. It use to be a name reserved only for Reiner but…who knows if I'll ever see him again.

"Not for long!" My eyes widened as Jean and Connie charged at me from behind.

My arms flailed up as I tried to keep my balance. Connie and Jean had piled onto me. I'm strong but I'm not that strong!

"Guys, this isn't fair!" I yelled as I finally tipped over. All of us landed in the water in a pile. Cold water splashed on top of us.

"Man that's cold!" Sasha yelled as she sat up.

I sat up and leaned against my arms. The water splashed against my back as I stared at my friends. I tilted my head and smiled seeing everyone having a good time. Even Captain Levi even though he refused to get in the water it seems. Hange sure is trying though.

I felt a nudge to my arm. I looked over to see Jean, "There's the Viv we've been missing. Been about a while since we've seen her." He commented.

I chuckled and shoved Jean back, "You're an ass, Jean. I'm still me, I just haven't had much reason to smile and laugh lately. That's all." I pointed out.

"Yeah I know. I just hate seeing my best friend so down in the dumps. It's a nice change in pace." Jean admitted. I gave a warm smile in Jean's direction.

Jean had been my rock since everything that happened with Reiner. I even showed him the letters weeks after I read them. He supported me through the highs and lows of the year. In turn, I did the same for him when he had issues come up. Mainly when it came to my sister. Jean still had feelings for her but as long as Eren is around. Her attention remains on him and it hurts Jean in the end. He's done so much for her and Mikasa is blind to it. Maybe one day she'll notice him instead of Eren.