Note: I don't own any of the characters in this story
Authors Note: Hello readers! It's taken me some time to get this done. But the idea is unique and I'm hoping that you'll enjoy it.
Also, since this is the first chapter, there's going to be a lot of boring introductions. But bear with me. Give it a shot! Who knows, you might find something you like!
THANATOS:
Rating: T (Though some chapters might get an 'M' in the future)
Category: Shingeki no Kyojin
Main character: Eren Yeager/Mallow Archer
Summary: Humanity struggles to survive as do the Titan Shifters from the village. They fight a war which neither side hopes to win, a war which has brought the world to its knees. A God rises to the task, determined to put an end to this meaningless bloodshed once and for all. And Eren finds himself in a dangerous game of hide and seek. One where he cannot trust anyone. Not even himself.
As the dazzling sun appeared over the horizon, golden rays of light fell upon the lush greenery atop the cliff. A gentle breeze blew past, swaying the trees and bushes as if to the smooth rhythm of music, past the dense forest which stretched as far as the eye could see. For a moment, there was no sound except for the soft chirping of birds and the swirling of the wind.
All of a sudden, earth-shattering thuds and roars tore the tranquility of the morning. A large flock of birds fluttered away from the treetops, startled by the uproar that erupted from the ugly clash right at the center of the cliff.
Two colossal beings stood tall and grappled together, fighting for dominance in the heat of the battle. The Rogue Titan struggled to pin his nemesis down, locking his hand over his opponent's head and pushing downwards.
His opponent retaliated by gripping Eren's other arm and pulling him down. With a swift kick to the head, he freed himself, nearly knocking Eren out with the intensity of his attack.
The Rogue Titan took a step back, trying to regain his bearings.
Eren's adversary towered over him. His muscles rippled beneath his bluish-green skin. A white, long mane covered the majority of his face. Behind the mass of hair, lay two scarlet orbs gazing back at Eren with an intensity that made his skin crawl.
The Blue Titan growled at Eren Yeager menacingly.
"Eren Yeager." He rasped. "I will annihilate you."
Eren roared back at him defiantly.
He dug his feet into the ground, then charged forward. His adversary mirrored his movements.
Fists collided. There was a violent explosion. The trees were buffeted by the shock-wave. Eren was sent flying. He landed hard on the ground, meters away from the edge of the cliff.
He gritted his teeth as he got up, staring at the smoking stump which used to be his hand.
Then his opponent was upon him, raining powerful blows, destroying Eren's body, sending up dust into the air which further obscured the Rogue Titan's vision.
By the time he stopped, Eren was in a pitiable condition. His dislocated jaw dangled aimlessly. His disfigured face was shrouded in steam as it slowly regenerated. His hands hung limply by his side.
The Blue Titan lifted Eren by his throat and looked him straight in the eye.
"You wish to fight me…." He growled. "And yet there are some things you simply cannot fight."
Eren gritted his teeth in frustration.
He tried to grab hold of the Blue Titan, but found nothing.
"Strength dictates the ways of the word." A voice rang out from behind the veil of dirt which hung in the air.
Eren charged in the direction of the voice, only to receive a crushing blow to the small of his back.
He whirled around, trying to locate the source.
In a flash, his enemy stood before him, a malicious smirk on his face.
"The Mighty make their own destiny… and the rest are dragged along."
A sudden spurt of pain. The sound of flesh ripping through flesh.
Eren fell to the ground, his hand covering the gaping hole in his chest. He felt dizzy, watching his blood trickle through his fingers. His vision turned red.
The Blue Titan guffawed loudly, as if he was relishing Eren's pain.
"I am the unconquerable tide that sweeps away cities." He thundered. "I am the inferno which consumes everything. I am that which can be seen, but not conceived, that which can be experienced but not comprehended. And you think you can defeat me? You, a simpleton who was born and brought up in a cage!"
Eren exhaled.
As his enemy flickered in and out of focus, his thoughts were a blur.
'I am weak.'
'I am alone.'
Images flashed inside his head. His parents, his sister, his friends… everyone he had ever cared for.
'No one to help me. No one to be by my side.'
The Rogue Titan lunged at his foe- who disappeared once again, leaving a trail of smoke in his wake.
Cuts erupted across Eren's body, and he brought up his hands in a defensive stance, trying to counter the crushing blows being dealt to him.
But it was to no avail.
The Blue Titan moved faster than the eye could follow.
To Eren, the world was just a blur of blue and white, encompassing his entire vision.
"Use your strength!" His opponent urged. "Show me if you have what it takes to carry my burden! Unleash your rage! Obliterate your limits!"
Eren closed his eyes. A moment passed in silence.
What was he without his friends? What had he ever achieved on his own?
He had lost track of the number of times he had failed, the number of times someone else had been forced to step in to save his life.
Eren resented every bit of it. He resented how he'd let so many people die. He resented the fact that he always failed to protect those who were close to him.
And then, from the deepest recesses of his mind, a single thought rose.
'No longer.'
He could not lose.
He would not lose.
Eren's muscles relaxed and his hands dropped down, abandoning their defensive stance.
He was no longer searching for his enemy, but trying to find patterns...
He was rediscovering himself.
'What does it mean to be strong?' He wondered.
A punch to his jaw sent him sprawling.
'What does it mean to be weak?'
Another blow to the back of his head, dangerously close to his nape.
'What is power?'
'What is responsibility?'
Warmth spread from the base of his skull to the rest of his body. He could feel his blood pounding furiously inside his head. His skin stretched across his body. His bones started clicking back into place, damaged limbs being repaired at unimaginable speeds. The hole in his chest was gone, concealed by his skin.
At that moment, Eren found answers. At that moment, he attained enlightenment.
Red hot burns sprouted on his skin and Eren could feel a new found power surging within him.
He let out an unearthly shriek. The dust dispersed, sending ripples through the sky
He opened his eyes.
His opponent was still too fast for him.
But this time, Eren instinctively knew what he had to do.
He pulled his head down, and the Blue Titan's arms swung above him.
Time slowed down. Eren swerved around and his hand shot up, ramming his adversary in the face.
The Blue Titan recoiled, the smirk wiped of his face.
An uppercut straight to the chin.
A crushing knee to the gut.
Slowly, Eren pushed the Blue Titan towards the edge of the cliff. His nemesis fought back violently, but this time, Eren was the one in control.
Their hands grasped each other and Eren pushed forward.
The Blue Titan growled in frustration as his feet slid backward until they were no longer on solid ground.
And now, he hung in the air, his only lifeline being the hand that grasped his throat.
Eren felt hope surge into him. He had won! He had overpowered his enemy!
For a moment, the Blue Titan stared at him, red eyes boring into green.
Then he threw his head back and laughed heartily, unmindful of the fact that he was about to fall to his death.
"Well done!" He boomed.
Eren recoiled, taken aback by the sudden change in the atmosphere. He almost let go of his opponent, but he found two arms grasping his own, with a grip as hard as iron clamps.
"I see now, why you're so special simpleton! You may be weaker than the others, but your determination knows no bounds. Your will is what keeps your heart beating even in the darkest of times."
Bolts of uneasiness wreaked havoc on Eren from the inside.
The Blue Titan was the one whose life was in peril. And yet, he had somehow managed to gain control of the situation.
Fingers dug deeper into Eren's arms. Blue tendrils made their way from the Titan's body and plunged themselves into the Rogue Titan's wounds, spreading their dark hue to his pale, clammy skin.
"Together!" The Monster roared as its body lost a part of its color. "Together, we will purge this desolate place of Evil! Together, we will right the wrongs of this world!"
His voice lowered to a whisper.
"I will protect you, Eren Yeager. I will guide you through this cruel world. And when the time comes, I will return to reap the seeds I have sowed in you today."
Flecks of skin broke off from the Titan's body. His face slowly started to droop as if it had lost it's cohesion.
He let go of Eren's hands. For a second, he remained suspended in the air.
Then he descended, the fog clinging to him as he fell. Bits and his pieces of him kept falling apart, and his body dissolved before it could hit the ground.
For a second, Eren was alone. For a second, there was peace.
He looked at his hands, covered in the Blue Titan's blood. His skin had taken on a darker hue.
To Eren, it felt unnatural. It felt as if he had been tainted, as if he was no longer wholly himself.
Then he was encompassed in blinding white light and a voice spoke in his mind.
"Eren Yeager, You will be my salvation."
And Eren's world flickered out.
Chapter-1
Who is Eren Yeager?
Mallow Archer woke up to the familiar din in the barracks.
He could hear people muttering under their breaths, some whispering silent prayers to themselves while others discussed several topics enthusiastically.
'Another dream…'
It took some time for his eyes to adjust to the bright light which filtered through the blinds of the window. It took him even longer to remember what he was doing here in the first place.
They were all that was left of the 105th trainee squad. The ones who had chosen to join the Survey Corps. The ones who had opted for a life of adventure over safety and comfort in the Military Police or Garrison regiment.
For many years now, humanity had been forced to hide behind these gigantic walls- to protect themselves from… Titans.
Those creatures that frightened many and fascinated a few.
Those creatures that bore several striking resemblances to human beings.
And yet they couldn't possibly be more different.
They varied in shape and size. They could sustain themselves solely on sunlight and were less active during the night. They lacked well-developed vocal chords and couldn't speak. They preyed on human beings, despite having no particular motive to do so. They had no digestive tracks, so whatever they swallowed was eventually regurgitated once their stomachs were filled. They were extremely resilient. They could regenerate entire limbs if need be.
Most of them showed almost no signs of intelligence. But Mallow had heard that there were a few who were nearly as smart as human beings. And that made them dangerous. Apparently, the ones they called the Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan fell into that category. And there were other examples too.
It was the Garrison's duty to defend the walls. It was the Military police's duty to maintain peace and order. And there was the formidable Scouting legion whose job it was to expand their territory, learn as much about Titans as they could, and maybe even free humanity from the confines of these walls someday.
Mallow's train of thoughts was broken as someone rapped him hard on his head.
He looked up and spotted a thin, gangling teenager with a grin plastered across his face, a toothbrush stuck in his mouth and foam dribbling down his chin.
"So the zombie lives."
Mallow nodded in acknowledgement. "It's good to see you too Greg."
Gregory wasn't one to talk. His wide, droopy eyes, his prominent nose and those huge spectacles which rested on them, made him resemble an owl. He would have been the quintessential nerd of the group, if not for his hot temper and blatant straightforwardness.
He wasn't exactly the type who could get pushed around easily, but he'd gotten himself into quite a few tight spots, simply because he was the sort of person who was extremely frank about his opinion. Meaning he'd be the first one to tell someone if he thought they were acting stupid.
Greg continued to stare at Mallow, his eyes narrowing.
"Bad dream, huh?"
"Yeah…" Mallow confessed.
Greg nodded wisely. He opened his mouth, probably to say something uplifting to Mallow, but he choked on his toothbrush and his face turned green. He gestured to Mallow, telling him to get ready, before making a beeline for the restroom.
Mallow stared at him as he ran, knocking into some of the other trainees on the way.
He was Mallow's best friend. His only one, to be honest. And though they hadn't known each other for long, Mallow enjoyed his company, especially since Gregory actually seemed to be bothered about him.
He was one of the only people who treated Mallow like he was a normal person.
But Mallow knew he wasn't normal. Not even close.
His problems had started when he'd woken up in these very barracks with no recollection of who he was or how he got there. He'd found himself among the members of the 105th trainee squad.
It was crushing. Not knowing who he was. Not knowing if he had a purpose. Not knowing if he had a reason to live.
Sometimes, Mallow wondered if his life was just a big hoax. Why was he so different? Why couldn't he be like the rest of them?
He'd heard so much from the others…about honor, about laying one's life down for humanity…
And Mallow couldn't relate to any of it. He couldn't understand why most of them seemed so eager to join the survey corps. He couldn't understand why everyone seemed so eager to put their lives on the line.
He understood nothing.
Which is why he didn't have many friends. Few people enjoyed talking to a person whose mind was the mental equivalent of a blank slate.
How could someone survive in a world he knew nothing about?
The answer was simple. One had to go with the flow. This was especially easy in a place like this, where the recruit's lives where governed by strict rules. All Mallow had to do was follow orders.
As time passed, Mallow learnt to adapt. He learnt to blend in with the others, to become one with the crowd.
In the end, he almost managed to become like the rest of them.
Almost…
Mallow was constantly badgered by nightmares. None of them made much sense, but they were vivid enough to scare the hell out of him.
In his dreams, he wasn't himself.
In his dreams, He was Eren. Eren Yeager.
Mallow had seen Eren's mother die. He'd seen Eren transform into a 15 meter tall humanoid and unleash vengeance upon the Titans.
Mallow had seen so much, he felt like he'd known Eren his whole life.
And he could say one thing for sure.
Mallow and Eren had absolutely nothing in common. Eren was strong, emotionally and physically, while Mallow wasn't. Eren was someone who everyone would look up to, the one who couldn't help but draw attention towards himself. Mallow was the sort of person who tended to hide in the corner of a room.
Eren Yeager had dreams, goals and ambitions. Mallow had none.
Mallow spent most of his free time idling around, thinking about this 'Eren.'
The concept of humans transforming into titans wasn't unheard of. In fact, rumors said that the Survey Corps had already managed to lay their hands on a Titan-shifter. Other rumors claimed that they had used this Titan-shifter's abilities to plug the breach in the Trost District.
So Mallow had tried to mention Eren's name casually in a few conversations with the other trainees. But they simply stared at him with blank faces, as if they had never heard of that name before.
The dreams scared him. They forced him to stay awake at night. They were a huge burden to him, an everlasting source of discomfort.
Not all of them were that bad though…
One of them actually gave him a warm feeling. It made him smile.
He closed his eyes, trying to recollect...
A kind face… a smile… a voice…
'Thank you… for being together with me…'
'Thank you for teaching me how to live…'
'Thank you… for wrapping this scarf around me…'
This was the dream which had the greatest impact on Mallow. This was one of the only memories he had which he actually treasured.
Mallow wanted to see that smile again. Even if it was just a small glimpse. He wanted to find someone who would actually care about him. Someone who might understand him. Someone who might be able to explain what was going on.
Two people. Two people who Mallow needed to meet. Eren Yeager, and the girl in his dreams.
He had to find them. There was nothing else he cared about. Nothing but-
"MALLOW!" Gregory screamed.
Mallow yelped.
"Wha- What happened? Is Inspector Shadis angry with us? Is-"
"It's nothing of that sort!" Gregory scolded him. "I was just annoyed because it looked like you hadn't even moved from your place since I last saw you."
Mallow looked down and noted that Gregory was right. He had been daydreaming the whole time.
Gregory sighed.
"Well, we've got no time to lose. Get dressed as fast as you can. We only have an hour left."
Mallow's brows furrowed.
"An hour? For what?"
Gregory rolled his eyes.
"The selections!" He grumbled impatiently. "The selections for the elite squads."
Mallow stared at him.
"Oh right…" He muttered, secretly cursing himself for forgetting.
Gregory tossed a bundle of clothes to him.
"Here..." He said.
Mallow blinked at the uniform, then gave Gregory a broad grin.
"Thanks! I'll be back in a minute or two."
He disappeared into the crowd.
Gregory felt frustrated sometimes. It had been a few months since they'd been friends, but he'd never gotten used to Mallow's peculiar behavior.
While the other trainees would talk to each other about their dreams and ambitions, Mallow would spend most of his time looking out of the window or sitting next to the table, his head buried in his arms, immersed in deep thought.
He was an oddball, a person who couldn't fit anywhere.
And yet, there were several points about him which piqued Gregory's interest.
Mallow was the type of person who could open his minds to various possibilities. He could see the same problem from different angles. And that's what Gregory admired in him. You didn't see a lot of people like that these days. Most were brought up in such a way that they could only think in one direction.
And though Gregory had reasons for joining the survey corps, he'd quickly discovered that the same problems existed there.
While their training had focused mostly on sharpening their skills and shaping them into ideal soldiers, a part of it had been created with the intention of reducing all possible opposition by robbing the trainees of their individual perspectives and implanting a 'general soldier's personality in them.
While this meant that the soldiers would work more efficiently and follow orders easily, it also meant that there wasn't much scope for flexibility.
To Gregory, it seemed as if he was one of the only people who hadn't been brainwashed completely. And of course, Mallow as well.
Mallow didn't really strike Gregory as a teenager. He was more like a sheltered kid, a person who hadn't seen enough of the world to understand how cruel and twisted it actually was.
Mallow also suffered from some sort of inferiority complex. He always seemed to be upset because he'd think he wasn't good enough. He felt like he didn't deserve to be in the Survey Corps. And to Gregory, that sounded a bit silly because Mallow wasn't a complete pushover. He had talent. He was a fast learner and sometimes, he made Gregory wonder if he had already been trained before.
But the problem with Mallow was that he lacked initiative. Inspector Shadis had pointed it out as well. Though Mallow was definitely capable of completing most of the tasks he was given, he withheld himself, preferring to allow others to do it for him, just because he wasn't confident enough.
And that was probably one of the reasons why Mallow had barely missed a spot in the top 10 trainees, though Gregory himself had managed to secure the sixth position.
Gregory was secretly excited about the selections. And he knew he wasn't the only one.
Every year, the elite squads of the Survey Corps were invited to take a look at the trainees. If a particular squad found a candidate they deemed worthy, they had the right to add that person to their teams.
Gregory knew all about the squads. Some of them were led by living legends- soldiers who could single-handedly slaughter legions of Titans.
Like Lance Corporal Levi- the head of the Special Operations Squad and the one they called Humanities' Strongest.
And Mikasa Ackerman, the leader of Squad-104.
Gregory wasn't interested in any of these teams though. He had already decided which squad he wanted to join….
Just a few more hours, and he'd be a full-fledged member of the Survey Corps.
He noticed that the trainees were leaving the room, meaning that the selections were about to start.
Gregory's heart was thumping hard. This was his chance to show them all what he was made of. This was his chance to prove himself.
He followed the rest of them outside, thoughts racing through his mind.
He felt as if he'd forgotten something. Something important.
But he let it pass. Things would work out for him. They had to.
A few minutes later, Mallow came hurtling into the room, wearing the survey corps' uniform.
He frowned.
'Where is everyone? Have they left already?'
He bit back a curse and rushed outside.
He needed to be there in time or the inspector would have his head.
His thoughts were a blur as he rushed towards the training grounds.
And suddenly, he was no longer running. He was flying in the air. Flying towards the one who had destroyed his home. Flying towards the one responsible for his mother's death. Flying towards the Colossal Titan.
Mallow tripped and hit the ground face-first. The pain had disappeared, as abruptly as it had started, paving way for a vast sense of discomfort and unease.
He pushed himself to his knees and stared at the ground,
'Another memory? At this time?'
Things were slowly going out of control. The dreams had been even more frequent than usual recently, but he had just dismissed it as some sort of a coincidence.
He wasn't very sure about it now.
He shook his head violently, pushing the thoughts away..
He could worry about it later. Now, he needed to move.
He got up, brushed the dust off his pants and took off towards the training grounds, praying that he wouldn't be late.
Orion stared at the bright sky, trying to decipher the patterns made by the clouds which floated above him.
'Creation… Preservation…Destruction…'
Those were the pillars that supported the cycle of life. Without them, worlds would collapse and entire civilizations would fall.
Orion knew that his race faced extinction. With the passing of time, the Celestials had grown weak. Through the ages, they had lost the drive... the fighting spirit once possessed by their ancestors.
And yet, he was aware of the fact that his race was merely a blip in the vast plane of existence- the plane of existence which threatened to crumble away.
He delved into the depths of his sub-consciousness, searching for answers.
The humans had already made their move. So had the warriors of the village.
Orion's blue skin glinted in the sunlight.
A single question rose to his mind.
"Eren Yeager… Will you deliver? Or will Thanatos destroy you?"
Authors Note:
And that's the first chapter, folks! I apologize for the lack of dialogue and action in this chapter, but bear with me- I simply had to introduce some of the characters before the story gets going.
For those of you, who've been following my previous story- AOT revolution and decided to give Thanatos a try, thank you! I hope you find this re-write as interesting as the original.
I'd also like to thank my beta-reader Forschia for helping me out with this chapter. If you're interested, you should try out her story-'Attack on Titan: Left Behind' as well. It's a story about the Survey Corps as a whole and describes the various ups and downs of their lives as they endeavor to expand their territory and rekindle humanity's hopes through the eyes of a new character.
Now, before I conclude this, I've got a thing or two to talk about.
Thanatos is a re-written version of another story? - Yes, though it deviates significantly from the original plot. The original story is called 'AOT revolution' and if you readers are interested, you can check it out! (Though I'd like to put out a huge spoiler alert.)
Eren Yeager? Mallow Archer?- The character we all know and love or a complete stranger? Not going to say much here, but this part was heavily influenced by the concept of Ken Kaneki / Haise Sasaki from Tokyo Ghoul RE:. I'm not entirely sure if Mallow would qualify as an OC though...
Next chapter, a few familiar faces pop up!