After I died

51

Anastasia

"Well no, we recieved a letter from Eren. He's planning somethig rather big, only your friends in Paradise know the whole thing. My part in this is to bring you somewhere safe before the whole thing goes down. I will get you to a meeting point where one of your friends will pick you up and get you on whatever vehicle they have planned to get back to Paradise.", Kiyomi explained while handing me a cup of tea. "And when will this 'something rather big' go down?", I asked.

"As far as I know, he's planning his big show at the big even hosted by Willy Tybur." "Big audience.", I replied and Kiyomi nodded. "And the Tybur family, as well as the Marleyan military, who will of vors ebe present, all have titan shifters. We believe Yaeger wants to take over as many titans as possible. The details are of our concern, you just need to worry about coming to the meeting point with me and getting to your friends unharmed." Sounds easy enough when she put it like that.

After finishing her tea, Kiyomi got up to leave. "Oh, and congratulations for your promotion to a commander.", she said before leaving. I had to attend some meetings within the next few days. The government invited me, along most other higher ups, to a party at the capitol where Willy Tybur would be announcing his event to tell the truth about the Eldians. Said party was rather boring. Many stuck up jerks or drunk idiots. I spent most of my evening with Kiyomi, acting as if it was the first time we met as I watched Falco, Gabi, Zofia amd Udo run around playing waiters. God I hated this evening.

Days passed and Willy Tyburs event came closer. The ghetto Rebellio had turned into a huge market, people selling all kinds of foods and objects on the streets. Falco had invited me to come along as they were exploring all the new things that they'd never seen before while Reiner and I ended up paying almost all the time. I managed to get him to drop his suspension towards me that day, which was very good. I could use all the allies I could get.

I was walking next to Falco on our way to the big stage that they'd set up in the middle of Rebellio wen realising that this light be my last time seeing them, ever. Since I wasn't Eldian, I wouldn't be sitting with them anyway, I used this opportunity to guve my good bye hugs just a little too for someone just excusing themselves to their seat. When leaning down to Falco, I decided to tell him. "Whatever happens tonight. Remember I'm not your enemy, never have been and no matter what, you can come to me when you need help." The boy gave me a confused look but let me go nonetheless.

I met Kiyomi outside the venue and we got into a car. When hearing the fighting noise, the titan roars, I could tell that it was good, that Kiyomi had brought us away far enough. We were met by a soldier in a back alley. "Is that her?", she asked. "Anastasia Ackermann.", Kiyomi replied and the soldier went over to us. "I'll take it from here, thanks for your help Miss Azumabito." The woman behind me nodded as the soldier told me to hold on tight.

As she flew up, I couldn't see a zeppelin from awar that we were flying towards. The woman, who had told me her name was Luise, sat me down inside it. "Commander Zoë is in the cockpit at the front." With that, the woman left and I walked over to the front. Indeed, in the cockpit where Hanji, Onyankopon and Yelena. "Hey everyone.", I said and Hanji turned, staring me down for a second before jumping at me, almost knoking me over with the force of her hug. "Ana. Thank god you're back. I'm so glad to see you.", she said, probably seconds away from breaking my ribs if she hadn't let go in time.

"I'm glad to see you too. Where are the others?" "Still fighting down in the city. Armin should arrive here soon and after him everyone else one by one, so far everything seems to be going fine." Hanji looked at me for a bit in silence before hugging me again. "Being commander is so exhausting when you're not there to cheer me up." "Totally get it. I was promoted to a commander now too.", I replied, laughing as she pulled back to look af me with this absolutely genuis expression of confusion and shock.

"You're a what?!" "I got promoted for my help in the war or something." She nodded slowly. The other indeed arrived, the first people we noticed were a general along with Zeke and- "Levi.", I exclaimed, going over to him. He was caught off guard by my embrace but pulled ke closer without hesitation. "Ana... you're here." We just stayed in silence like this for a bit before he pulled back so we could keep working, tho Levi didn't let go of my hand.

Zeke looked over at us. "Commander Srijokowitsc? Wouldn't have guessed you're on the Paradisian's side." "It's Ackermann actually, not Srijokowitsc. Also, I was under the impression we're on first name basis, Zeke." The blonde man nodded, silently looking between Hanji, Levi and I. "You all seem familiar. How did you oass the blood test if you're from the island?" "I'm not Eldian, just have lived there for long." Zeke was about to say something more but Levi interrupted him. "Enough chit-chat, Yeager. You're not worth her time." He said the last sentence quiet, barely loud enough for even me to hear.

The others arrived in smaller groups, Armin first, then Eren and Mikasa, lastly Jean, Connie and Sasha. Except for Eren they all greeted me with relief that I was still alive and now coming back home. I was in the front room next to the cockpit with Eren, Armin, Mikasa, Levi, Hanji and Zeke when we heard a shot and then people yelling.