A Wall Of Blue Roses(Un Mur de Roses Bleues)

Epilogue

"Squad Leader Boyer, we're here."

Belle nodded to the carriage driver as she opened the door and stepped out to her destination. It was a clear day in Spring and it was very mild as she made her way over to the cemetery. The cobblestoned path felt bumpy against her feet as she walked through the gate and passed many graves and tombs of the deceased as her scouting cloak trailed behind her in the calm breeze. Having reached the graves of Levi's squad and his friends, she leaned downwards and placed flowers on one each, even a beautiful bouquet on Petra's grave alongside the other flowers that were wilted, before standing up and looking to the clear sky, lit by the sun and whispering softly that only 'they' can hear her.

"He'll see you all again...someday. You've all made great progress in the Survey Corps and tomorrow..your strength will never die with you. The torch will be carried on by your captain and all of the Survey Corps. One day, the titans will all be defeated, humanity will win and you will all be avenged and remembered. I swear this on my heart and soul as well as my life and we will be safe beyond the outside world. Outside the walls..."

Kneeling down to Petra's tombstone, Belle placed a hand on the smooth marble, that had her name inscripted on as well as her year of birth and year of death. Closing her eyes and bowing her head down, she softly whispered, hoping she can hear her.

"Thank you, Petra...I will keep my promise..."

Standing up and looking to the sky again, Belle gave one last salute to them, before turning to board the carriage to return to HQ. After boarding and closing the door, she looked out the window and saw Petra's spirit standing by her grave along with the spirits of Oluo, Eld, Gunther, Furlan and Isabel, all in their Survey Corps uniforms with angel wings that resembled the Wings of Freedom crest, silently bidding her farewell before they departed on their way to Heaven as the carriage drove out of sight from the graveyard, not before Petra's voice echoed in the breeze as she departed.

"Thank you, Belle..."

~~~

Years later...

"Will thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?"

Belle could barely believe it. The titans were now eradicated, the world was safe again and humanity had won the battle.

Now here she was, in a white strapless wedding dress with a bow at the back of her waist, long white silk gloves that reached to her elbows to match, a dark blue ribbon choker with a blue teardrop gem hanging and a beautiful white veil with a blue rose in her hair, standing at the end of the aisle with Levi, before a priest who uttered the question, the cadets and superiors all in attendance as well as her family as Levi answered clearly yet tenderly.

"I do..."

The soft organ music and candlelight in the church was soothing to Belle as the priest turned to her.

"Will thou love him, comfort him, honour and keep him in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"

Eyes welling up with tears of happiness, Belle couldn't hesitate to answer, softly as she could.

"I do..."

Turning to Levi, the priest closed his bible. "You may kiss your bride."

Turning to one another, Levi lifted Belle's veil to reveal her face as she tried her best not to cry and get too emotional. Gently placing a hand under her chin, their eyes met as he leaned in, closing the distance between him and his bride and their lips met in a kiss of marriage.

She kept her promise to Petra through all the years and in the years to come, should the titans ever return.

Despite all the trials and tribulations she went through, from finding her brother to winning her captain's heart, it was all worth it in the end.