"Our enemy is the world?" Nile questions as he looks around at everyone, "but if we announce this to the public, the world will be thrown into chaos. We still haven't fully grasped the magnitude of this situation".

"Then will we deceive the people again?" Commander Pixis asks as he looks at Nile, "you wish to follow the lead of King Reiss and ensure the people of the walls stay domesticated and ignorant? If so, then by what ideals did we rise to take the crown from King Reiss?".

"Let's announce it" Historia says as she addresses everyone in the room, "after all, we're just returning the memories King Reiss stole back to the people a century later. We all share the same fate as people of the walls. We must unite as one and bring our entire strength together".

After the meeting, Levi, Hange and Evelyn all go to a meeting with some of the most well known journalists within the walls.

"The true identity of the titans who've threatened us are humans" Evelyn says as she looks at the two of them, "they have the same ancestry as us. We're the 'Subjects of Ymir'. Your King erected these walls one hundred years ago. He then altered your memories using titan powers and made you believe humanity was wiped out outside of the walls. But in fact, humanity hasn't perished. When speaking of 'Subjects of Ymir', they used to call us 'a race of devils'. In the near future, the enemy will invade our lands to obtain resources. Their plans began five years ago with the attack of the Colossal titan".

"I know the article's already published, but is this as credible as you make it sound?" one of the men asks as he looks at Evelyn.

"You want me to carve out my brain and show you? You want to go live how I did in Marley? No, you don't. You're going to believe what I said. Because myself, Eren and my Father's books are the only source you have" Evelyn says as she looks at the two men.

"Evelyn, calm down for a moment" Hange says as they glance over at Evelyn, "at the very least, it's consistent with the doubts we've had this whole time. I don't want to believe it either, but it's true. So, how are people reacting?".

"It's a bit of everything" the older reporter says as he looks down, "some accept it, some laugh it off. Some lash out at the military and insist it's a conspiracy theory. As all of you feared, it's become chaotic".

"Yeah, but there's no helping that" Hange says as they look down, "the reports are what put food in our mouths. The taxpayers decide what to make of it. There's one thing we're doing better than the old King".

"I couldn't be any prouder of you all" the older reporter says as he looks at the three of them, "not only as a person of the walls, but also as a fellow working man".

"Thank you" Hange says as they look away.

"Right... next time, whip up an article that pats us on the back" Levi says as he looks at the two of them.

"What will happen to all of us?" the older reporter asks as he looks down, "just as we've looked at titans with fear, with hate, and with the wish that they would disappear from the world, the people of the world see us not as humans, but as dangerous monsters. And as a result, what if this hell only repeats itself? Until the last of us are wiped out, this hell... won't end".

All of the military gathers in the main hall of Trost District as they all stand around talking to each other, preparing for the funeral.

"Hey, you heroes of the walls" Hitch says as she walks over to what's left of the Scout Regiment, "I just came to see you guys receive your medals".

"I see. Marlow was brave until the very end" Jean says as he looks at Hitch.

"Yeah" Hitch says as she looks down.

"Right, Floch? Tell her" Jean says as he puts his hand on Floch's shoulder.

"Sure. Marlow Freudenberg was an urgent recruit, just like me" Floch says as he looks at Hitch, "but he managed to bring us recruits together. The situation was hopeless and the Scouts were on the verge of ruin. We thought all was lost and we were stricken with fear. But he, only he inspired us. He was an amazing person".

"I know. That's why... that's probably why he never listened to me" Hitch says as she looks at Floch.

"But in the end I'm sure he regretted being there" Floch continues.

"Thanks. I'll laugh if you screw up the ceremony" Hitch says as she walks away.

"Hey, why did you do that?" Jean asks as he looks at Floch.

"Because someone has to tell the truth" Floch says as he looks over at Eren, Mikasa and Armin.

"I know how desperate you were to revive Commander Erwin" Armin says as he looks at Floch.

"That's right. It should have been the Commander, not you" Floch says angrily, "I'm not the only one who thinks that. We all do. Everyone who read the report thinks the same thing: why wasn't Erwin the one picked?".

"What the hell do you know about Armin?" Eren asks angrily, "tell me!".

"Nothing at all" Floch says with a smirk, "I'm not his childhood friend, nor am I his chum, either. But I can still tell you why Armin was chosen. It's because you two and Captain Levi brought your emotions into it. If Captain Evelyn were the one to make the decision, she would have chosen Commander Erwin in a heartbeat. You thought the injection was all yours and made a totally irrational decision! Basically, it was too hard for you to let go of someone important".

"Hey, you should shut your mouth" Eren says as he walks towards Floch.

"Eren, deep down inside, I bet you always think you're in the right" Floch says as he glares at Eren, "that's why you never gave up in the end. Just like a brat that won't listen".

"Eren, just leave him alone" Mikasa says as she puts her hand on Eren's shoulder.

"Mikasa's the one who behaved like an adult" Floch says as he looks at Mikasa, "at least she gave up in the end".

"Hey, what the hell's wrong with you two?" Jean asks as he pushes the two of them away from each other, "Floch, let's not do this at a meeting for our fallen comrades, alright?".

"What's done is done so let's just drop it" Conny says as he comes over.

"And you guys, you didn't stand up to your superiors" Floch says as he looks at Jean and Conny, "you didn't even stop Mikasa and Eren. All you could do was watch. Medals for what? A funeral for who? You guys better start telling the truth when you go to enlist more recruits. That way, you won't get cowards like me joining by accident. What the hell are we supposed to do now without Commander Erwin? Because even fodder like me, I get that I'm completely expendable, but even fodder like me... has a right to decide if it's worth dying for!".

"Floch is right" Armin says from behind Eren and Mikasa, "Commander Erwin is the one who should have lived. I'm not the one who can turn this situation around".

"How can you be so sure of that?" Eren asks as he puts his hand on Armin's shoulder, "I really can't say if it was the right decision or not. None of us know what the future holds. For starters, have you even seen what's beyond the walls? What is there beyond the walls?".

"A salt lake that covers 70% of the Earth's surface" Evelyn says as she walks over, "it would set salt merchants up for life. There are beautiful houses, sandy dunes. The world out there is beautiful, but the people aren't, unfortunately" Evelyn says as she hugs Armin, "now if it were down to me, I would have saved you in a heartbeat. Do you know why? It's not because Eren and Mikasa wanted it, it's not because Erwin would have wanted me to, it was because I wanted to. No matter how much I cried and begged for Levi to revive Erwin, it would have been you in the end. Because the one thing I don't want to do in my life is cut young lives short".

"Hey, brats. It's time, line up" Levi says as he comes over.

The Scouts kneel to Historia in a line at the front of the hall as Historia stands in front of them. She presents each of them with a medal as they all kiss the back of Historia's hand.

What did we find in the basement? Was is hope or was it despair? Our enemy was extremely powerful. If nothing changes for the better, that hideous scene will happen again. I'd easily give up my life if it meant changing something. But I am not about to sacrifice Historia. What should I do? I can't tell anyone.

Eren says. Historia stands in front of Evelyn and Eren as they both take a hand into their's as they kiss the back of her hand. They both gasp as they see visions of the night their Father stole the Founding titan from Frieda. Everyone looks at the two of them as they continue to hold Historia's hands, both of them kissing her hand.

"Eren? Evelyn?" Historia asks quietly.

"Sorry, Your Majesty" Evelyn says as she and Eren let go of Historia's hands.

Evelyn and Eren look at each other, the exact same look on their faces.

--- one year later ---

The Scouts start their first expedition past Shiganshina, Evelyn leading them as she remembers the exact way she and her Father made it to Shiganshina in the first place.

"It was like you said, Hange. All of the titans within Wall Maria were the majority of the titans" Levi says as he looks around, "we just thinned out the majority in a single year".

"In that case, we can continue to follow Evelyn" Hange says as they look at Evelyn who rides on Kanmori in front of them all.

They continue to ride on until they make it to some kind of stone wall.

"This is it" Evelyn says as she sees flashes of the events in her head, "this is paradise".

They all follow Evelyn as she goes over a hill of sand as they come face to face with the sea for the first time. They all gasp as Evelyn smiles, getting off of her horse. She takes her shoes off and all her gear, only left in her uniform as she runs towards the water and jumps in, diving underneath the waves.

"Evelyn!" Levi yells as Evelyn comes to the surface.

"Levi, you've really go to the try that!" Evelyn says happily as she looks at them all, "come on, don't be shy!".

Armin takes off his shoes and rolls up the legs on his trousers as he stands in the shallow water, the cold water coming up to his ankles. He looks down as he spots some white shape in the sand. He picks it up as he studies it.

"Evelyn, what's this?" Armin asks as he walks over to Evelyn.

"That's called a shell. Here, put it up to your ear" Evelyn says as she holds it to his ear.

"Evelyn, I can hear the sea" Armin says excitedly.

"Exactly" Evelyn says with a smile.

"Aye!" Conny says as he splashes water into Sasha's eyes.

"My eyes!" Sasha says as she covers her eyes.

"It's salty!" Jean yells as he drinks some of the water.

"Woohoo. Is this seriously all salt water?" Hange asks as they splash water around, spotting something in the waves, "huh? What's that?".

"Hey, Hange. It might be poisonous so don't touch it" Levi says as he watches Hange.

"Ah!" Mikasa says as she comes into the water.

Armin looks back at Mikasa and smiles and she smiles back.

"Look, I told you, Eren!" Armin says as he looks at Eren, "a salt lake so big that merchants could spend their whole lives and still not get all the salt. The stuff I talked about wasn't wrong after all!".

"Yeah. It's so damn big" Eren says as he looks out to sea, "on the other side of the sea is freedom" Eren says as he points out to sea, "that's what I've always believed. But I was wrong. On the other side of the sea are enemies. Every part of this is how I saw it in my Dad's memories. Hey. If we kill our enemies over there, will we finally be free?".

"Maybe" Evelyn says as she comes over, "but for now, be thankful that we're here, and we're not in the walls anymore".

Eren looks at Evelyn and nods as he starts to splash around with Armin and Mikasa, completely forgetting about what he just said.

"Hey, Evelyn" Levi says from behind Evelyn as she turns and sees Levi down on one knee, a ring in his hand, "we've waited this long, so are we doing this marriage thing or what?".

"Of course we are" Evelyn says as she walks to Levi as he puts the ring on her finger.

Levi stands up as he grabs Evelyn and kisses her, not caring about how many people they're in front of.