Vengeance Of A Human

Finale: So Ist Es Immer

Upon seeing Mikasa and I walk out the dense steam of the Attack and Colossal Titan, with Eren's severed head carried in Mikasa's arms, Armin bawled for his fallen friend.

Unable to shed tears anymore, I stand a few steps away, letting my green cloak whip in the quiet wind as Armin takes Eren from Mikasa. She kneels beside him, letting Armin weep. "Armin... You remember now too, don't you? When Eren...came to visit us."

"Yeah. I heard the result of your choice would make the Power of the Titans vanish from the face of this world."

"In the end... Eren did as he said he would. He defeated and destroyed all the Titans who enslaved us." I turn to the distant shouts hidden from our sight. Like Armin, every Titan has reverted to their human selves, including those who possess the ability to shift. Jean, Sasha, Historia, Connie, Gabi, and the Eldians at the fort are fine.

But what I see, or think I see, causes my mouth to drop. In the veil stands familiar faces, faces I haven't seen in four years or, in one case, not nearly a day ago. Thomas Wagner, Marco Bodt, Mina Carolina, and that scum bitch Ymir Fritz. Behind them are Moblit Berner, Hange Zoe, and Erwin Smith, all saluting their hearts. And if the tears might've returned just at the appearance of them, two more figures appear, two people haven't seen since they were killed by the Armor Titan outside of Shiganshina.

"Mom... Dad..."

The figures vanish before I can let a tear fall. Wiping my eyes, I turn back to Armin, seeing Mikasa walk away from us, carrying Eren. Armin faces me with a pained smile. He'll rest where he always rested. It's appropriate, right?"

Understanding, I nod. "Yeah."

"So...who is the hero here? Who will lead us to what Eren wishes for us?"

I sigh and look up to the sky. "You, Armin, are the one. I'm done."

"But... How? How can I do it?"

"Mikasa and I have done our parts as soldiers. It may be a lie in the end, but no one is better with words than you. So the one who killed the Attack Titan Eren Jaeger and saved the world should be the one to lead the world to peace, and that, Armin, is your task."

Armin looks in the direction of the fort, knowing his task begins there, then back to me. "What will you do?"

"For now, stick with Historia. No telling what the Yeagerist faction has done, but I do know they believe in Historia. We still have our people too, so...at best, we can prevent retaliation both at home and abroad. Heh, guess I'm not done."

Armin smiles and extends his arm. "Well, good luck to us both, huh?"

I nod. "Indeed."

xxxxxxxxxx

Three years later

Three years have passed since the day known as the 'Battle of Heaven and Earth'. Those who have suffered after an unfathomable number of lives were taken still seem to be tormented by their unhealing scars. As the world suffers through this loss, their worst fears have, so far, been held at bay.

On Paradis Island, the Yeagerist and their opposition, the leaders siding for peace, wage a political war. Fearful of retaliation from what is left of humanity on the other side of the sea, the Yeagerist and their supporters yell out as one, "If we win, we live. If we lose, we die. If you don't fight, we can't win. Fight. Fight. Fight." The fight may not be over until either Eldia or the world is defeated. Eren once said that and he might be right...but some believe otherwise.