Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on Titan.

Chapter 1

Eren blinked. He saw Zeke kneeling before him, clenching his head in his hands. He noticed where they were. They were back at the Paths that connect to the Coordinate. They had just viewed their father's memories but it felt has if everything had happened in an instant.

"He… he didn't brainwash you…"

Eren looked back down at Zeke. His half-brother was reeling from what he had seen in the memories.

"You developed these views on your own. Our father… he simply let you do it on your own."

Eren merely stared at him in response.

"He learned from his mistakes… and never forgot about his first family…" Tears were now streaming down Zeke's face. He saw the view of his father that he built up his entire life crumbling before him.

He looked up at Eren, "You truly believe this? You believe that all Eldians should be free that way?"

"We were all born into this world after all, Zeke. We are meant to be here."

Zeke's eyes widened in surprise, tears still streaming down. He sobbed. He saw that the people of Paradis were innocent in Grisha's memories and how Marley had inflicted pain and suffering upon them for sins they did not know their ancestors committed. He saw now that Eldians were not the source of all suffering.

Eren waited for Zeke to calm. After a few hiccups, Zeke stood up. He looked at Eren, who felt a sense of new purpose emanating from his brother. Zeke looked back at the girl still kneeling on the sand.

"Founder Ymir, reform Eren's body in the real world." The girl immediately got to work and started sculpting from the sand. Eren looked at her and saw that she was making a new body for him, starting from the head. He looked at Zeke in surprise. Zeke held his hand out to him, "Come, brother, we have Eldians to free."

Meanwhile…

Mikasa watched as Armin shot a thunder spear at the Cart Titan. It landed into its eye. He pulled the pin, causing the spear to explode. The titan yelled as its side of the head was blown off. Mikasa took her chance. In an instant, she sliced the titan's front legs off, causing it to fall forward. She flipped over its body and landed on its nape. Immediately, she sliced at it, releasing the shifter. It was a woman with dark long hair. She looked at Mikasa in panic.

Before the shifter could do anything, Mikasa swiftly sliced her head off. The body slumped down. Mikasa merely sighed. She didn't want to see where the head landed. She got off the titan's body that was now starting to fade away. Armin landed next to her. He looked at her in worry, "Mikasa…"

She didn't respond and looked at where the Zeke and Eren are.

Eren…

Suddenly, she felt a sense of foreboding. Eren needed her help. Using her gear, she flew off the wall and started heading towards their location.

"Mikasa!" Armin shouted. He started to follow her.

Elsewhere…

Gabi landed on her back from the recoil of the gun. She got up and saw Zeke screaming in despair as Eren's head landed in his hand. She slumped onto the ground. She turned her head and saw that Falco's titan had collapsed. She sobbed.

Falco was safe… but at the cost of Porco.

Reiner, seeing that Eren was shot down, started to put his hand down. He saw no point in catching his once friend now that he was dead.

On the other hand, Connie and Jean stared in disbelief.

"EREN!" Jean shouted in grief.

Gabi looked at Eren's headless body. She didn't know what to feel anymore after everything she learned from her experience. This man that Marley portrayed as the devil, who was he really?

She heard a sizzling sound. She turned her head and became shocked at what she was seeing. Zeke was no longer screaming but rather had a determined look. From Eren's head, she could see his neck starting to reform.

"No way…" she said.

Reiner saw what was happening. No, no, no! he thought. This can't happen! Not after everything! He lifted his hand again to grab Eren.

"No! We won't let you!" Jean shouted. He launched a spear at Reiner's neck. It exploded and did some damage, but it wasn't enough to stop him.

"Shit!" Connie cursed. He landed on the nearby house and hastily tried to reload a spear.

Reiner's hand was just over Eren and Zeke when another spear landed into it. It blew off his pinky and ring fingers. It was Mikasa, rushing to aid Eren. She took a quick look at Eren. He was reforming his body unusually fast. He formed halfway of his upper body so far.

Suddenly, another headache came. It was even more painful than the others. Not now… Mikasa thought as she felt her sight become unfocused. Memories flashed before her. From the day he killed the human trafficker to one of the last things he said to her.

Mikasa. I've always hated you.

Because her headache had disrupted her focus, she did not see Reiner lifting his damaged hand and bringing it down onto her.

"MIKASA!" Jean, Connie, and Armin shouted.

It all happened in an instant. Mikasa landed on the ground. She shouted as she felt bones break from the impact. She attempted to get up but could not because of the unbearable pain all over her body. She noted that she had landed a feet away from Eren. Zeke looked at her in shock, but Mikasa did not care. She stared at Eren as his body formed. She felt her vision fading as she tried to memorize every feature of his face. Finally, everything faded to black.

Eren… It was Mikasa's last thought.

Gabi saw what had happened to Mikasa, who protected her from Kaya and treated her kindly despite everything. "No… she didn't deserve this," she whispered. She saw Reiner once more lifting his hand, either to reach for Eren or swat Mikasa once again to ensure she was dead. No… no more of this! Gabi thought. She got up and ran towards them. She stopped in front of Mikasa and spread her arms out. Crying, she shouted, "Reiner, please stop!"

He froze, unable to hurt his cousin. Jean and Connie took this distraction and flew close to his jaw. They launched spears at both sides of his jaw, causing it to drop open. Armin flew close and threw another spear into his mouth. The explosion caused Reiner to fly out of the nape. He landed onto the ground, unconscious. His titan form collapsed as if its puppet strings had been cut.

Seeing Reiner defeated, Jean, Connie, and Armin rushed to Mikasa. Gabi was kneeling next to her, trying to wake her up. Seeing the three coming to her side, Gabi sobbed and said, "I'm so sorry…"

"No," Armin said in horror. Mikasa was laying on her stomach, her face towards Eren. There was a pool of blood around her head. Her eyes were staring blanking at Eren, who was starting to reform his legs. Armin kneeled next to Mikasa and started shaking her.

"Mikasa, please get up." She did not respond, her eyes still staring blankly. He felt for her pulse on her wrist. There was none. Armin broke down.

"No, no, please…" he cried out. He heard a choked sob next to him. Jean and Connie knelt next to him. Both were holding back tears.

"First, Sasha. Now, her…" Connie said in grief.

Zeke watched the scene before him with a look of pity. Everyone did not notice Eren finally regenerating his entire body.

Eren blinked as his vision cleared. He was back and alive. However, he did not expect to see the sight in front of him.

A feet away from him was Mikasa. She was staring at him, her eyes blank and a pool of blood around her head. Armin, Jean, Connie, and Gabi were hunched over her, crying in sorrow.

"Mikasa…?" Eren said in confusion. He lifted himself up and started crawling towards her, not noticing that he was naked. They saw him coming towards them. Armin, Jean, and Connie could not muster their anger towards him and let him come close. Eren put his hand on her shoulder and gently shook her, "Mikasa, get up."

She did not move or respond at all. She continued to stare. Eren looked at Armin, who shook his head. It was as if something snapped in Eren. Tears started to fall down his face as he shook his head.

"No, no, no! Mikasa!" he screamed. He continued shaking her, hoping that Armin was wrong and that she would be okay.

"Mikasa, please, get up!" When she still did not respond, he pressed his forehead onto the ground and punched at it. "Damn, damn, damn! It wasn't supposed to be like this!"

I didn't mean for this to happen…

Armin, Jean, Connie simply watched Eren break down. None of them made a move to comfort him. Gabi and Zeke watched in surprise, not used to seeing him like this. They were used to his calm and calculating demeanor. Eren remembered one of the last things he said to her.

Mikasa. I've always hated you.

Remembering that caused Eren to cry even more. The truth was that Eren did not hate Mikasa at all. In fact, it was the exact opposite. However, if there is one thing that Eren hated above all else, it is someone being a slave to anything. Whether it was to another civilization or to their own bloodline. So that was why Eren said all those things to Mikasa and Armin. He wanted to free Mikasa from her Ackerman bloodline and Armin from Bertholdt's memories. He not only wanted to free Mikasa from her instincts as an Ackerman but he also wanted to free her from himself. He did not want her to be a slave to him. However, it seemed to be pointless in the end.

"Eren."

He looked up, tears streaming down his face. Zeke was holding his hand out to him. He looked at Eren with sympathy.

"Eren, please, we have to start the Rumbling now."

Eren took one last look at Mikasa.

I'm so sorry…

He took Zeke's hand. He closed his eyes and then screamed at the top of his lungs. Armin froze. Reiner and Falco woke up. They felt as if a bolt of electricity had shocked them.

It begins, huh… was Armin's thought.

No… no… we failed… Reiner lamented.

What's going on? Falco wondered.

The earth started to shake. The soldiers from both sides immediately tried to find cover while avoiding the titans. It seemed as if the shaking would never stop.

The wall started to crack all over. A distance away from Eren and the others, they see a hand shoot out of the wall.

"We have to get out of here!" Connie shouted.

Jean and Armin picked up Mikasa while Connie grabbed Gabi. Eren picked Zeke up and carried him on his back. They ran to get away from the walls. They passed Reiner, who was slowly getting up.

"Reiner, get Falco and run!" Gabi shouted. He nodded and picked up Falco, who was still disoriented.

The walls were crumbling down, revealing the Colossal Titans surrounding Shiganshina. The Rumbling had begun…

A week later…

Eren sat in front of a gravestone with a red scarf in his lap. He fingered the material. Louise had given it to him, telling him that Mikasa had purposely left it. The implication was not lost on Eren.

I'll wrap that thing as many times as you want.

He smiled bitterly. I never even done that.

The Rumbling had been successful and the Marley soldiers immediately surrendered. They and the remaining Warriors were taken into custody. Now that the Rumbling had been demonstrated, the rest of the world was silenced. They would not dare to invade Paradis. The island's safety was ensured. The Eldians were free.

"But at what cost?" Eren lamented quietly.

After the Rumbling, Eren immediately put an end to the Yeagerists since his mission was now finished. He let the military arrest them. Floch being less than happy was an understatement. He was enraged, believing Eren was betraying them. On the other hand, Eren could care less and it wasn't his fault that Floch misunderstood his intentions. While Floch believed that Eren should rule a new empire, it was never Eren's intentions. He simply wanted the Eldia's freedom. Unlike Floch, Eren saw that the people from the outside world were not much different from the people of Paradis. But to complete his mission, sacrifices had to be made. However, Eren still couldn't decide if it was worth it in the end.

With freedom ensured, the government immediately tried to restore peace. First, they dealt with the titans made by Zeke. To their surprise and suspicion, Zeke was willing to help them by commanding the titans to stay still while the soldiers cut them down. The government would have imprisoned Zeke and Eren for their actions, but it was Armin who pointed out that it would be pointless. They could simply use their powers to escape. The public still hold a positive view of Eren, so imprisoning him would not help. It helped that the brothers were cooperating.

Due to her pregnancy, Historia could not directly do her official duties. Darius Zackly was dead. Hange, who turned out to be alive, was chosen as the new Commander-in-Chief. She was busy reorganizing the military, which had lost so many soldiers due to the battle.

Levi turned out to be alive as well. He barely survived the explosion from Zeke and was still recovering. However, he lost his fingers as a result, effectively ending his career as an active soldier. His face was scarred from the shrapnel of the spears. After hearing about Mikasa's death, Levi refused to see Eren, who didn't blame him.

The same went for the remaining Special Operations Squad. Other than a beating from Connie, they avoided Eren and refused to talk to him. Zeke was the only person who would talk to him. This was why Eren was surprised that Armin still defended him and Zeke after everything that had happened.

So this is the price of freedom… Eren thought. His friends and comrades refused to talk to him. The person who stood by him despite his flaws and mistakes was now dead. He looked at Mikasa's grave in front of him.

"I'm so sorry, dad. I failed. I couldn't save her…" he whispered. He had three years left due to the Curse of Ymir. He wanted nothing more than for the three years to come quickly.

"How much did she mean to you?"

Eren turned to see Zeke standing behind him. His half-brother was nothing but sympathetic towards him. Eren turned away, "I did all this to make sure everyone will be free. I did this especially for her and Armin. But she's gone and I don't know if her death is worth the sacrifice."

Zeke couldn't help but hurt for his brother. Since Xavier, he desperately searched for a similar connection he had with his mentor. He was ecstatic when he thought Eren agreed with his euthanasia plan. He was hopeful that he found someone who understood the experiences he went through or so he thought. He did find the connection he was looking for, just not in the way he expected. While he still struggled with his former nihilistic views of Eldians, he was willing to support his brother. He didn't want to lose this connection he searched for. He sighed. He hoped his theory worked.

"Ever since our time at the Paths, I couldn't help but wonder how we can influence the past," Zeke said.

Eren frowned. Why was Zeke talking about this?

Zeke continued, "When we were looking at our father's memories, Dad called out to me. You saw that. He called out to me. Me from the future relative to his time. It's as if our times had intersected in that moment. It was like we unknowingly affected the past with our own memories."

Finally, Eren turned his head, "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying what if we can send the memories we have now to ourselves in the past using the Paths? So that our past selves will know what to do to prevent as much deaths as possible."

"This sounds insane," Jean said.

After Zeke presented his theory to Eren, the younger man immediately jumped at this chance to undo as much tragedy. Remembering his mistakes, Eren wanted to let Armin, Jean, and Connie know about it.

"I know it does, Jean, but it's possible. I've seen how we can influence the past. I've seen it happen with Dad and Eren Kruger," Eren said.

"What do you mean?" Armin questioned.

"When Eren Kruger was about to pass on his powers to Dad, he said that Dad needed to save you and Mikasa. How the hell did he say that when he did not even know who you are?"

"And Dad called out to me when we looked at one of his memories," Zeke added.

The three men were stunned at what they heard.

"And how would you do it?" Connie asked.

"We use the Founding Power and the Paths. When we came into contact, Eren and I ended up at the Paths. We can use the Founding Power to order the Founder Ymir to send our memories back down the Paths."

"But isn't Ymir's only purpose is to sculpt us and our titan forms?" Armin countered. The three had learned the truth about Ymir and her purpose as a slave from Eren and Zeke earlier in their discussion.

"That's just it. That is the only thing we know that Ymir does. What if there's more she can do?" Zeke said.

Silence filled the room. Armin, Jean, Connie all sat back, processing what they had just heard. After a while, Armin spoke up, "Let's do it. We have to save them."

"Yeah, we owe them this much to do this," Jean agreed.

"Especially Sasha and Mikasa. They deserve this," Connie said.

Eren nodded, "Thank you, all of you. Zeke and I will send our memories back to the past."

Armin looked at him sharply, "What about me? You need as much help as you can get."

"I know, I know, it's just…" Eren smiled sadly, "I want to prevent you from ever becoming the Colossal Titan. I want you to live a long life."

Armin choked, touched by Eren's admission. It was relieving to hear this after their last encounter.

Jean spoke up, "Eren… even if we send those memories, there's no telling what will happen after that. History may repeat itself and we could end up in a similar situation when we passed on the Colossal Titan to Armin."

Eren was struck by this. He hadn't considered that.

"So what will you do if that happens, Eren?" Jean questioned.

Eren sighed, "If it comes to that, then I'll let the titan power be passed on to whoever because it'll mean that they'll get to live a little longer. I really hope it won't come to that."

Jean nodded, satisfied with his answer. "This brings me to my next point. Eren, even if we don't end up with a similar situation and we capture a Titan power, there's the issue with who to pass the power onto."

"I'll take it," Eren immediately said. He didn't like where this was going.

"That's the thing, Eren. You don't have to shoulder all of this responsibility on your own. We stood by you knowing the dangers, especially Sasha and Mikasa. If passing a Titan power onto one of us means preventing as much tragedy from happening, then so be it. All we ask of you is to trust us, Eren."

"I agree," Armin said. Eren looked at his old friend. He continued, "The thing is, Eren, I don't ever regret becoming the Colossal Titan. True, it terrified me that I only had thirteen years to live as a result, but… I wouldn't change a thing about it if it meant taking a bit of weight off your shoulders."

Tears started to form at the corner of Eren's eyes. He was touched that despite all the tragedy, his old friends were still ready to stand by him. He didn't deserve this.

"I think we can agree on one thing," Connie cut in. Everyone looked at him. "Sasha and Mikasa cannot become titans unless we can't help it. They, out of all of us, deserve to live as long as we can help it. Hell, if people had to choose between Sasha and me to become a titan, I would volunteer in a heartbeat for Sasha to live just a while longer."

"And Mikasa may not be able to become a shifter anyways because of her Ackerman bloodline," Jean pointed out.

Zeke grimaced, "Actually, there is something I wondered about her and Levi."

"What is it?" Eren asked.

"Well… the Ackerman family have been within the walls for one hundred years, right?"

"Yes, what does this have to do with anything?"

"Since they went on the run from the King of the Walls, have you considered the possibility that they intermixed with Subjects of Ymir while in hiding? A lot can happen in a hundred years."

Eren slowly widened his eyes, realizing what Zeke was implying. "So you're saying…"

Zeke nodded, "Yes, there's a chance that Mikasa is descended from Subjects of Ymir through her Ackerman bloodline, so there is a possibility that she can become a titan. The same applies to Levi."

Eren banged his hands on the table, "Then we make sure she doesn't become one, unless we can't help it."

"Then it's agreed. If a situation comes that we have to pass on a Titan power, Sasha and Mikasa cannot get it unless it's the same that happened with Armin," Jean said.

All of them gave their assent. For Eren's part, he was reluctant. He didn't want any of his comrades to take on a Titan power and shorten their lifespan. Despite the agreement he gave, he was still going to ensure that his friends live long. Titan powers be damned.

Zeke leaned forward, "Good, now we have to come up with a plan for our past selves to follow to prevent as many deaths as possible."

A few days later…

"Remember our plan for the past, Eren?" Zeke asked.

Eren scoffed, "Of course I do. We spent days discussing it."

"Sorry, sorry, it's just that we can't fail."

"Let's hope your theory works first."

"Right…"

They were getting ready to come into contact again. Armin, Jean, and Connie were in the same room to watch.

Zeke held his hand out to Eren, "Are you ready?"

Eren nodded. Before he could lift his hand, Armin called out, "Eren."

He looked at the blonde man. Armin said, "Save her, Eren. You have to save her."

Eren blinked in surprise. He responded, "That's why I'm doing this, Armin."

Armin nodded, satisfied. Then, Eren took hold of Zeke's hand.

Five Years Ago…

Some of the images come in flashes. Others stay longer.

Eren can make out many of the words.

I'll wrap that thing as many times as you want.

If I go on living, everyone will keep suffering!

If we kill every last one of our enemies out there, will we be finally free then?

I just keep moving forward… until my enemies are destroyed.

Mikasa. I've always hated you.

It wasn't supposed to be like this!

Save her, Eren. You have to save her.

Finally, a final image comes and it stays the longest. Eren sees Mikasa laying on the ground, her eyes staring blankly. There is a puddle of blood around her.

He screams.

"Eren!"

"What the hell, you crazy bastard?!"

Eren looks up. He notices that he is sitting on a bed. Armin and Jean are in the same room, looking at him in surprise and worry.

What just happened?

"Eren, are you okay?"

He looks to see the person sitting next to his bed and doesn't expect to see Mikasa Ackerman. Unexpectedly, a sense of relief and joy overwhelms him. He doesn't know where the feeling comes from. He doesn't notice the tears going down his face.

Mikasa looks at him in worry, "Eren?"

Without a second thought, he leans forward and hugs her tightly.

So this idea came to me after Chapter 120 came out and I couldn't just not write it.

Anyways, I hope I kept things accurate with all the characters. I realize that Zeke may be a bit off, but I have a feeling that he would change his mind since things are backfiring on him in Chapter 120.

As for the whole Ackermans becoming titans, I think that a pure Ackerman won't be able to turn into a titan, but like Zeke said, a lot can happen during the 100 years they were in hiding. For example, we're assuming that Levi's father was one of his mother's clients. There's a huge chance that said father was a Subject of Ymir. In the August 2018 edition of Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine, Isayama actually answered a related question in what would happen if the Ackerman and royal bloodlines mixed. He answered that he thinks both bloodlines would be reflected in the offspring. I think the same applies if an Ackerman and a Subject of Ymir had a child such as Levi. I would assume that while Levi could turn into a titan, he would also be immune to the Founding Power.

Whew, sorry that was a bit long. I had to get this off my chest. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!