As they flew through the air riding on Falco, Connie raised an eyebrow, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! GABI?!" "WHAT DID YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU LEFT US BEHIND LIKE THAT!? YOU KNOW THAT WE CAN FIGHT TOO!", Gabi shouted back. Aila slowly sat back up, her legs still healing from being bitten off, "Annie, what happened to Kiyomi and Yelena?" "The ship sank, it couldn't withstand Falco's transformation. We weren't even sure that he could fly, but Kiyomi was ok with it all and let us go", Annie replied as she held Aila up by her waist. Gabi frowned, her eyes filled with desperation, "THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO STOP THE RUMBLING! WE NEED TO REPAY HER KINDNESS!", everyone stared at her, sadness in their eyes as they saw how desperate a child was pleading to stop the world from ending. Annie looked at Mikasa, "So, how's Armi- no, how's Pieck? What's her status?" "Armin's been captured by the titans, his life is in danger. The titan that took Armin should be by the tailbone, I know you shouldn't be transforming at all or even moving too much right now... but please, help us", Mikasa explained, looking down as the status of Armin lay in the balance. Annie looked out at the sky, "Your childhood friends just love getting kidnapped don't they? Of course, we'll get him back" "WHAT ABOUT PIECK?!", Gabi shouted as Annie finished. Ymir frowned, "She's by the skull, we tried to blow the nape up, but the warhammer titan is stopping us. We've wrapped explosives around the nape, but we couldn't hit the trigger", Ymir explained. Levi gripped onto Falco's titan, "Both... we're doing both. One group will rescue Armin, we can use the colossus titan's explosion. The other will go after Eren and attack the nape at the same time, we'll split into two teams, and do it simultaneously" "Captain?", Mikasa asked as she looked at him, fear in her eyes. Levi looked away from her, "We're not in a place where we can be concerned about Eren any longer... no.. we never were to begin with" "But-" "BUT?! BUT WHAT!? WE WOULDA DIED BACK THERE IF NOT FOR THIS MIRACLE WE'RE ON NOW!", Connie interrupted Mikasa, not letting her argue any further. Jean frowned, clenching his teeth, "Yeah.. without having done a thing...", he said, his face filled with sorrow, little did they all know... they all felt sorrow.
Mikasa stared at him, eyes wide with horror as she realized she was going to have to stand by and let them kill Eren, or she would be the one to put them down if they tried. Levi looked back at her, a frown on his brow, "There was... a whole lot I wanted to tell that idiot but.. dammit" "I'M THE SAME! I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP ON EREN! BUT... IT'S MY FAULT THAT THE CAPTAIN CAN'T EVEN FIGHT NOW! WHAT'S MORE, WE'RE UP AGAINST THE FOUNDING TITAN HERE! DO YOU REALLY THINK WE'D BE ABLE TO GO EASY ON IT!?", Connie shouted, tears brimming his eyes as he stared at Mikasa's desperate look. Jean clenched his teeth tighter, "Mikasa... we need to..kill Eren", he said as he closed his eyes, not wanted to gaze at her heartbroken expression. Sasha noticed her expression, she pulled Mikasa into her arms, embracing her, "Mikasa... you just need to focus on saving Armin, you don't need.. to think about anything else...", she assured her, Mikasa gripped onto Sasha's shirt, ".. Okay...", she said in the crook of her neck. Everyone prepared for their last deployment onto Eren to save Armin... and attempt to put an end to the rumbling.. to Eren Jaeger. Just as they were about to leap off, Gabi spoke up, "When Eren's head went flying..." "What?", Annie asked confused, "I shot Eren's head off with an anti-titan rifle right before he managed to touch mister Zeke. When I did... something jumped out of Eren's spine.. it looked like a shining centipede or something, and it connected to Eren's head". Ymir raised her eyebrow, twisting her face in disgust, "What? Gross" "That's the founding titan... no.. if that's the true nature of the power of the titans... we might see it again.. if we decapitate him", Gabi continued, bringing hope that Eren may be able to live through this. As they flew, they flew over Marleyan soldiers below, prepping canons, aiming to shoot Falco down. But in a knick of time, the remaining Eldians gathered and tried to stop them, they didn't have time to stay and watch what would happen, but as they neared the rumbling, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Gunfire was heard from the compound. Jean spun around at the sound, "Huh?! WHAT WAS THAT!? They're stillat each other's throats?!", he asked. Nanaba scooted up slightly, "Falco! Watch out for projectiles! HERE THEY COME!", she shouted, seeing as a line of warhammer titans formed on Eren, aiming bows, spears and crossbows at them.
They grew closer and closer, waiting for the arrows to be fired, until Falco dipped down and sped past all the arrows. Ymir stood up, "LET'S GO! YOU GO HELP ARMIN!", she shouted at the others. Gabi looked at her, "WE'LL COME BACK LATER WITH FALCO TO BACK YOU UP!", Gabi shouted, Ymir then jumped off Falco, biting her hand as she fell transforming once again, Jean followed soon after, landing on Eren. Mikasa looked down at them, "Jean... Ymir.." "PLEASE! DON'T DIE ON US!", Connie cut in as he stared down at his friends. Aila and the others flew past, watching as they fought, flashes of lightning repeated over and over, signaling what seemed to be Pieck continuing to transform over and over. Annie looked at the titans on Eren, she frowned, "Even Bertholdt's being used as a puppet... unforgivable..", she muttered, Aila rested her hand on her back, trying to comfort her. "There! That one! The pig... or whatever that titan is!" "WHICH ONE!?", Annie cut Mikasa off, "That one! Over there.. that thing!" "WHERE?! WHICH OF THE TEN TITANS WOULD IT BE?!" "The cart...? Maybe the jaws" "THAT DOESN'T HELP! MIKASA YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY!" "I AM!", Annie and Mikasa shouted at each other, bickering as they were trying to pinpoint the titan that had Armin. Aila sat up, looking out at the titans, "Only one is running away!", she shouted as she pointed to a titan fleeing. Annie squinted as she looked, "That?! That's an Okapi!" "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS!", she shouted back, "SOUNDS TASTY!" "SASHA, NOT NOW!", Connie shouted at the glutton who drooled at the sight of a pig like titan. Annie leaned down to Falco, "GO, FALCO! We'll corner that pig or whatever it is while it's on the tailbone! Then we'll stop it!", she shouted as they jumped off of Falco's back, just above the titan. Annie and Aila made sure they were distant from Connie, Nanaba, Sasha and Mikasa before slicing their fingers on their rings, transforming before they landed. As they landed, they were immediately met with titans, left and right, they fought generations of titans, trying to reach the titan that held Armin in it's mouth. Aila turned her head, noticing the titan fleeing, "Oh no.. it's going to run away toward the head", she said to herself as Sasha zipped past and sliced the titan's nape that she held.
Mikasa flew above, slicing and dicing through titans, "ANNIE!", she shouted, Annie raised her hand, letting Mikasa pierce it with her ODM hook. With a swing of Annie's arm, she tossed Mikasa at the titan holding Armin, "STOP IT RIGHT THERE OKAPI!", she shouted as she flew closer. But just as she was about to finish it off, two titans toppled over it, protecting it from her, but she wouldn't let them stop her. She growled, "OUT OF MY WAY!", she screamed as she sliced through all of their napes, another titan came charging at her, she flew past it's reach, and sliced it's nape. CLCK! Her blades broke! It was a past armored titan, the titan spun around and was about to grab Mikasa, "MIKASA!", Sasha shouted as she watched the love of her life about to be crushed. Suddenly, BOOM! "ERAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHH!!", Aila roared as she spun around, using her hardened spikes on her knee to slice it's head off, making it fly. Mikasa looked at her, "AILA!", she shouted as she neared her, Sasha soon following, "YOU CAN'T GO OFF ON YOUR OWN! THEY'LL KILL YOU IN NO TIME FLAT!", Nanaba shouted as she zipped up to Mikasa. Aila stared at the Okapi titan, "SHIT! IT'S HEADING FOR BERTHOLDT!", she shouted in her titan. Mikasa landed on her shoulder, "AILA! LOOK AROUND! WE'RE SURROUNDED! LINK US TOGETHER!", she shouted. Aila grunted as she nodded, she closed her eyes as she focused on feeling everyone's consciousness, linking her own mind to them, and their minds to each other. They all kept fighting and fighting, tossing, punching, kicking, slicing titans left and right of them. BOOM! Aila spun around to see Annie being tackled by an armored titan, "ANNIE!", she screamed. Aila turned around to charge at them, but was stopped when a giant arm swung at and knocked all the titans surrounding her away. When she looked up, she was shocked to see none other than Bertholdt protecting Annie on his own. Connie landed on Aila's shoulder, Mikasa on the other, " Did he just save us?!", he asked confused, Mikasa frowned, "I don't know... but.. I'M NOT WASTING THIS OPPORTUNITY!", she shouted as she launched off after the titan that held Armin.
The titan noticed her charging it, it turned and leapt off, but was met with a bullet to it's eye. It was Levi and Gabi on Falco, shooting it with the anti-titan rifle, giving Mikasa the opportunity to fly by and slice it's mouth open. As she flew past, slicing it open, she spoke, "Give Armin... BACK!", she shouted, the titan's jaw dropped, and out fell Armin. He coughed out the spit from the titan as he fell, gasping for air, but the titan flung it's long tongue out, trying to grab Armin again. This time, Armin was prepared, he spun around, evading the tongue and launched his thunder spear into it's mouth. But it wrapped it's tongue around his leg before being blown up, as it fell, so did Armin, but Connie flew to his rescue, slicing the tongue off of him. Annie leapt to action, catching him in her hand before he hit the ground, "ANNIE BEHIND YOU!", Aila shouted through her mind link, titans were charging at her, surrounding her and Armin. BOOM! A titan with a brown beard and ears like Eren punched one of the titans, knocking it away from Annie, another with a similar physique pulled one over it's shoulder and snapped it in half. Aila smiled, "It's the titans from the past! Some are regaining their control!", she said. She soon joined in, beating the titans with Annie, Grisha Jaeger, and Eren Krueger, defending Armin and the others as best as they could. Connie and Mikasa landed on Aila, hanging on by her hair as they watched the titans defend them, "WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?!", Connie shouted, "It's thanks to mister Zeke... he woke up everyone who was asleep.. in the world of the path, where neither life or death exists, every Eldian is connected to another by the path. I think.. it's because the founder Ymir, wants to be connected, because she wants something from us... ", Armin said from the palm of Annie's hand. Suddenly, the rumbling stopped, Sasha pointed up, "LOOK!", she shouted from Annie's shoulder, everyone looked up to see Levi flying by, as Zeke's head fell from his body that sat merged on the top of Eren. Once they were sure that it was safe to move, Annie and Aila emerged from their titans once more, joining Gabi and Levi on Falco, and heading back down to the head to aid Reiner, Jean, Pieck and Ymir... in ending Eren.
As they flew closer, they saw what Gabi mentioned, the centipede that emerged from Eren's head. Jean had successfully blow it up, however the centipede emerged, and Ymir was the only thing stopping it from putting Eren's head back on. Connie saw Jean, "JEAN! PIECK! WE NEED TO GET AWAY QUICK! ARMIN'S GONNA BLOW THOSE BONES TO PIECES!", he shouted as they flew closer. Jean turned to look at them, "WAIT BUT YMIR!" "Get on Jean... Falco, fly down with breakneck speed, I'll pull Ymir out and fling her into the air, I'll tackle that nasty ass centipede", Aila said as she looked at the others, standing on Falco. Annie grabbed her hand, "AILA NO! We don't know how strong your armor is!" "I know... but Ymir has a lesser chance of surviving the blast than me so.. wish me luck my love, I love you", Aila responded as she looked down at Annie and smiled, bending down and placing a quick kiss on her lips before leaping off of Falco and slicing her finger on her ring. BOOM! She landed near Ymir, she jumped onto the centipede, holding it with one arm and her legs, reaching over with her other arm and ripping the nape out of Ymir's titan, tossing Ymir into the air as Mikasa and Jean both caught her. Aila made sure they caught her, smiling when she saw them flying away, she then used her other arm and gripped onto it tighter, planting her feet into the ground and forcing it back from Eren. She clenched her teeth, "RAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!", she roared as she fought it, "EREN! I WILL STOP YOU! AND I WILL FREE YOU!", she shouted in her titan. With a sudden flash of lightning above her, Armin began to transform, Aila closed her eyes, "Mom... dad.. I'll see you soon", she said as she smiled, bracing for the impact. BOOM! Armin's titan emerged from the giant blast, and Aila's titan was crushed under it, but she was barely alive, hanging on by a thread as her titan was left in pieces and steam. She looked over, and her eyes widened when she saw it, "It's... still alive.. after the... explosion?!", she weakly said to herself. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Aila weakly looked behind her to see Armin walking over in his titan, ready to crush the remains of Eren.
Just as Armin neared the centipede, BOOM! FSHEW! A flash of lightning struck the ground once more, and out emerged Eren's very own colossal titan. Armin turned around, facing Eren one last time, ready to fight him, but just as he turned around, FSHHHHHHHH! The centipede began to emit a gas like substance! Aila frowned, "What... is that? No.. doesn't... matter.. I have to... stop it", she weakly said as she forced herself out of her titan, using her remaining arm and slicing her finger once more, transforming for what seemed to be the final time. She rose from the steam, staring at the centipede, she began charging at it, picking it up as she looked for the hole the gas was being emitted from. When she found it, her eyes widened in realization, "NO! NOT AGAIN!", she shouted, it was the same thing as the gas used in Ragako village, the same thing that turned Connie's mother and the entirety of his village into titans. She snapped her head to the top of fort Slava, ready to mind link, but she was too late, Falco was flying away with Pieck, Mikasa, and Ymir on his back. She turned her head back towards the fort, "NOOOO! JEAN! CONNIE! SASHA! NANABA! STOP IIIIIT!", she screamed in her titan with tears streaming from her eyes. With tens of flashes of lightning... the remaining Eldians atop the fort were transformed into titans, and fell down to Aila, "Eren... HOW DARE YOU YOU SON OF A BITCH!", she screamed through her titan as the titans charged her. Aila tackled the centipede again, stopping the titans from grabbing it, her eyes widened as she saw familiar faces, "Jean... Connie... Gabi... Nanaba... Sasha... ", she said as tears flowed down her cheeks like waterfalls. Suddenly, BOOM! FSHEW! Pieck, Ymir and Annie came rushing down, transforming as they too had tears in their eyes. They tackled the centipede, aiding Aila in defense, they let the titans rip them apart, not wanting to kill the innocent people who were caught in the crossfire. Aila felt a sharp pain in her side, she looked to see Annie's father had bitten her nape, taking a chunk of her out. She coughed, "AGHCK! AAAAAGAAAAAAAAHHHH!", she screamed in pain, this seemed to be her end.
Aila looked up at Armin and the others, Levi and Mikasa jumped off of Falco, using their ODM gear to fly to Eren. Levi swung his thunder spear into Eren's teeth, making an opening for Mikasa to go inside his mouth, and kill Eren who lay inside. Suddenly, a flash of lightning struck everything, taking Aila to her younger self, she looked around confused, "What.. Eren?", she asked as she looked to her side to see him sitting next to her. Eren looked at her, "Yeah.. Ail... listen.. I don't have much time, but... I want you to know I'm sorry, for everything. I controlled everything from the beginning, it was the only way to save everyone, to save Eldia and the world" "No... you.. you're lying" "I wish I was... I wish it was all a dream", Eren responded. With a flash of speed, they were sent to the tree when Reiner and Bertholdt kidnapped them, "I knew this would all happen the moment I touched Historia's hand, I saw the future. But... thanks to you.. you changed it as much as you could, saving who you could, even I was surprised. Thank you.. Aila... Mikasa was the key to stopping it all, and you helped slip it in the lock". Aila stared at him with wide eyes, they were then taken to a place above the clouds, staring out at the sunset. Eren, looked down at his feet, "Please... take care of Mikasa, she may not be my biological sister but.. she's still family... and Armin.. the love of my life... make sure, he lives his own life, all of you", Eren said as he looked up at her, tears in his eyes. Eren began to fade, Aila rushed to him, stunned in silence not sure what to do or say, she just hugged him as tears fell from her eyes, "You... you did good Eren.. now go... be the boy who wanted to be free", she said, shaking with sobs. Eren placed his hands on her back, melting into the embrace, before finally fading away. Aila collapsed to her knees, sobbing as she felt the light grow brighter, she gasped for air as she snapped her eyes open, "Er- AGHCK!", she coughed, looked down at herself, seeing her titan steaming into nothing. She was still bleeding, and her wounds... weren't healing, she snapped her head around and teared up with joy as she saw every titan being turned to steam, and her friends returned.
She knew she was in bad shape, she looked down at herself, seeing that half of her torso had been bitten off, she was missing her entire left leg and half of her right, she was bleeding, bleeding for the first time in eight long years. She heard pitter patters running up to her, "AILA!", Annie screamed in horror as she sprinted to her, sliding to her, lifting her head up and resting it on her lap. Her father was following after her slowly, Jean, Connie, Ymir, Mikasa, Sasha, Levi, and Nanaba all came sprinting to her, "Oh god, no no no no no! NO! Stop it! Stop the bleeding!", Annie frantically shouted with panic. Aila coughed up more blood, her vision began to fade, Mikasa and Sasha knelt down on her right, while Jean and Connie knelt on her left, Ymir knelt by Annie placing a hand on her shoulder. Nanaba held Levi up behind Mikasa and Sasha, Annie's father stood behind her, "Ann- nie? Heh.. you're... ok" "Y-Yeah I'm fine, an-and so are you, you're g-gonna be just fine", Annie said as she moved the hair from Aila's face. Tears began to stream down her cheeks as she held her in her lap, Mikasa sobbed in Sasha's chest as Sasha sobbed into her head. Jean sobbed into his knees as he bent down, Connie stared with tears flowing down his cheeks in shock. Ymir was, for the first time ever, sobbing behind her hand, Aila smiled, she weakly reached up and caressed Annie's face, "Did... we win?", Aila muttered. Blood surrounded her body. Annie shakily responded, "Y-Yeah, we- we won.. thanks to you and Armin" "No.. we all... did it.. that's good... hey.. Mikasa, Sasha", Aila called out. Mikasa lifted her head, "Y.. Yeah?" "Take... take care of Annie.. take care of my kid... please", Aila pleaded as she reached her hand towards them. Sasha clutched it, "Y-You got it...", she said shakily. Aila smiled, "Thank you.. Annie... for being my wife.. for existing... I.. love... you", Aila's vision turned black, and her hand fell from Annie's cheek, Annie clutched onto her hand, her eyes wide, "No.. nonononono... NOOOOOO!", she screamed as she broke down into Aila's body, that was to soon grow cold. When all was lost, there lay Aila Brandt, smiling up at her loved ones as she peacefully passed in the love of her life's arms.
Aila opened her eyes, she looked around to see nothing but light, "Aila", a voice called from behind her. Her eyes grew wide, she spun around to see her mother and father, waiting behind her, "Mom... dad..?", she said as tears flooded from her eyes. She sprinted to them, running into their arms as she sobbed with joy, they held her, smiling with joy to see their daughter once again. She backed out to see them, her mother reached her hand up, caressing her cheek, "Oh... look at you, all grown up! You're such a beautiful young woman", she said with tears, her father tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, "We're so proud of you, you fought to the end and fulfilled our family's titans name. And you married a beautiful, strong young woman! You really are so lucky". Aila jumped at his sudden term, "Are?", she asked as she raised an eyebrow, "Yes, your time on earth, your time with Annie and your unborn daughter is not finished", a voice said from behind her. She turned around to see Ymir standing behind her, this time, her eyes were full of life, and she stood with a smile, there standing behind her were her four daughters, all with peace and joy on their faces. Ymir walked up to her, placing her hand on her cheek, "Oh my dear Aila, you are more than just a soldier, you are a freedom fighter, what fair would it be if you lost your chance to be free at the cost of my own foolishness?", she said with a soft smile. Aila's eyes were wide with shock, "You mean.." "Yes, I saved the last of my power to heal you, one final time", Ymir said as a window opened, showing Aila laying on the ground with the others mourning her. Suddenly, Aila's body began to steam, and her body regenerated to what it was once before, she spun around to look at Ymir and her daughters who stood next to her parents. With sudden speed, Hange, Gelgar, Thomas, Mina, Reiner, Bertholdt, Daz, Samuel, and more of her friends and family appeared, saluting her. Her eyes, brimmed with tears, she spun around and saluted back, everyone began to fade, but one new face appeared. It seemed to be a child, around the age of thirteen, it was a boy, he smiled as he looked up at her, "See you another time, big sister", he said as he faded with a salute.
Aila jerked awake, gasping for air, "AILA!", everyone shouted with joy and surprise, all embracing her with tears flooding down their cheeks. The day was saved, all with Eren Jaeger's sacrifice, the people of Eldia were now free, to live on their own without fear of titans or the rest of the world. Five years had passed since that fateful day, Armin, Jean, Marco, Pieck, Moblit, and Connie all toured the world as ambassadors of peace, negotiating with other nations and signing treaties. Mikasa gave birth to a daughter named Kana a year after the rumbling, and birthed a son named Grisha a few months prior. Historia and Ymir lived as Eldia's rulers, having a daughter named Frieda as an heir to the throne once they pass on. Hitch and Marlo wed a few months after the rumbling, and now have twins name Jack and Klein, Hitch is now the military police's commander. Nanaba was given the torch of command by Armin once he left to tour the world, she now commands an united military of combined garrison and scout soldiers. Her daughter, Emelia, is healthy and visits her father daily with her mother after school. Gabi and Falco started to be romantically involved, and help Levi with his needs due to his injuries. Annie's father moved to Paradis to live with her and Aila, who are well, why don't you see for yourself. Aila came up behind Annie, hugging her as she washed dishes, "Armin and the others are returning today, Mikasa and Sasha are gonna take Kana and Grisha to see Eren before meeting with them" "Ah well then we'll meet with them at the docks", Annie replied as she placed the plate on the dish rack, spinning around and wrapping her arms around Aila's neck. Aila bent down, kissing her softly with a smile, she placed her head on Annie's staring into her eyes, she looked down at Annie's stomach, which was enlarged, "So, how's Elena?" "Oh you know, not giving me a moment's rest", Annie replied as she walked to the couch, sitting down with Aila's help. Aila laughed, "Yeah well, you are her mother" "Shut up", Annie retorted as she slapped Aila's back, only making her laugh more. BOOM! Suddenly the door burst open, making Aila jump, "Jesus! Dammit Thea I told you not to do that!", she shouted, she turned around to see her's and Annie's four year old daughter running inside with her toy plane, pretending it flew. Aila tackled her, picking her up and spinning he around, "You wanna fly on a plane huh?" "Mhm! Just like you and Mommy", Thea said with a smile. Annie rolled her eyes, "Yeah well, want me to tell you about it?" "Yeah!", Thea shouted as Aila placed her down on the couch with Annie. Aila reached to the coffee table and pulled out the middle drawer, pulling out a battered leather notebook, filled to the brim, of the story of Attack on Titan.
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Thank you all so much for reading this beloved story of mine! I enjoyed writing it as much as you all enjoyed reading it, as always, we give our hearts! Please check out my other stories before leaving, have a wonderful day, until next time!
- Spiceyicedtea
Annie, Aila and Thea 💙