A/N: Hey, everyone. This is the Prologue for the story, just to give you some background on the OC. It's one of the shorter one chapters that I already have typed up so I promise there's more to come.
CELICA's POV
When the Colossus Titan and the Armored Titan broke through Wall Maria that day in 845, my world literally came crashing down around me. I woke up to the sound of huge pieces of the wall being littered around my district. The ground shook beneath me with every impact and a huge crash jolted me awake instantly when I realized that it came from my next door neighbors. It was that day that I witnessed the devastation of humanity with my own eyes as I looked upon the crushed house next to mine, blood pooling slowing beneath the rubble towards my feet. My parents had gone next door for a lazy afternoon to drink and socialize. It was rare that we all had the rest day and I knew they were just killing time until I woke up. My sleeping schedule was still weird and they knew I needed the rest. But what I saw before me made my mind swirl in every direction. It was a nightmare. I was still still asleep. It had to be. There was no way this could be happening.
I stood there for a few moment, shock settling into my bones as the ground quaked beneath me feet once more. This time in a steady rhythm; it seemed relaxing almost. That's when I heard a scream and finally turned my head. The sun was being blotted out by something and cast a dark shadow over me. My eyes widened when I realized that a titan was reaching down to scoop me up into its hand. I froze. But in my head I was screaming. Screaming so loud it hurt. Trying to focus my body to move. It wouldn't. So I closed my eyes and prayed that it would be over quickly.
I heard more yelling as the tears finally flowed from my eyes. I felt something connect with my side and hold me tightly and the wind flowed around my body as I was swiftly pulled from the ground and into the air. I felt a warmth emanate from whatever it was holding me but the humid stink of titan breath was absent. Instead it smelled of blood and sweat tinged with trace amounts of emotion. Fear. There was another underlying scent but I couldn't fully understand what it was. It smelled of something natural and earthy. Sandalwood? Cautiously, I slowly opened my eyes and looked up to see a Soldier carrying me through the air, holding me tight with one arm as the other manipulated his 3D Maneuvering Gear as precisely as he could to get us to safety. The wind flowed through his hair as he focused forward, the sun casting a glare against his figure, making me unable to see any distinguishing features of his face.
"You okay?" I heard him ask. It was so low I almost couldn't hear him over the sound of wind in my ear. I closed my eyes tightly and gripped my arm a little tighter around my savior.
"Yeah." I muttered. For a little bit I had thought that maybe he didn't hear but I felt a couple of his muscles relax while still carrying me through the district. Perhaps he had heard me after all.
Apparently my short frame was easy enough to carry since he didn't seem to struggle much to hold me close. A few moments later we had made our way to the edge of the district and he set me down at the edge of a large crowd of people.
"Get on the ferry and take it to the inner wall of Maria. You should be safe there." He spoke before disappearing once again back down the rabbit hole of titans.
"ALL WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO THE FRONT!" I heard a Garrison soldier calling out and I proceeded to push my way to the front. I was eventually let onto the ferry as we packed it to full capacity. I curled up into a ball with my back to a small wall, trying to make myself tinier to fit more people. When we departed, more desperate souls tried to board by jumping from the banks and onto the boat. Most missed and were plunged into the water. A few lucky made it the edge of the boat and were helped aboard. The ferry was slow but it would still be the safest and fastest option out of the destruction that laid behind us. We had made it through the wall and was about to lose sight of it when we heard another loud explosion. I stood and moved to the edge of the boat trying to see what had happened. To my shock, the wall had be charged by a large armored titan and there stood a gaping hole in it's path. I felt the tears brim once more as I realized that we weren't quite safe yet.
Eventually we had made it to Wall Rose and discovered that the Titans hadn't laid siege to us yet. We were a good ways from the initial destruction but I knew it was only a matter of time before they reached this far. As the refugees were fed and sheltered as best as could be for the next few weeks, I grew weary of this new life as I grieved my loss on the inside alone and made a decision. I was going to join the Military. I would get out of this pathetic situation and start living again. Even if it meant losing it to the monsters that took it all away in the first place. To me, it was the best way to spit back in the face of whatever higher power had allowed this to happen. Whether it was any of the Wall Goddesses or not.
Now the year was 848 and I was 20 years old now. Yesterday I graduated from the Academy. My name is Celica and today was the day that the cadets picked their respective Corp; The Garrison, The Military Police, or The Survey Corp. The choice had been obvious to me since the day I was driven from my home. As I stood in formation with my graduating class, I listened to the Garrison and Military Police Commanders give their speeches, only focusing on every few words that spilled from their mouths. I was tired and I was ready to finally serve humanity in the noblest way I could think of and the men standing before me didn't fit the bill I was looking for.
Soon after, I saw a tall broad man with golden hair and blue eyes appear on the stage before the formation.
"My name is Commander Erwin Smith and I represent the Survey Corp." He began. I clung to his words and felt my mind sharpen back up. "As you know, we serve as the first and last line of defense for humanity's fight against the Titans. We are willing to risk everything for freedom and we expect our soldiers to have the same mentality. If you seek safety from humanity's biggest enemy then I suggest you join either the Garrison or the Police. We stand in the face of fear on a regular basis and if you aren't willing to give your heart for humanity, then you aren't wanted. We only want the best. If you are willing to give everything for freedom, then I will gladly welcome you to the Corp. For those of you who wish to join our fight, you may stay behind. The others, you are dismissed."
One by one I saw my classmates turn their backs to the commander and leave the courtyard. It honestly didn't surprise me. Everyone I met was either a coward, joining only to seek refuge within the inner walls, or they were like me, who had seen the damage and lives destroyed and earnestly wanted to fight it somehow. But even a few people that I thought shared that same mentality with me turned their backs and left. I guess you figure out what kind of person someone truly is when the flames start to get hot.
Eventually, only a single handful of soldiers remained in place. My arms shivered with an unknown emotion and I dug my nails into my palms to urge the trembling to stop. I saw another soldier appear on the stage and walk beside the Commander. The top of his head barely reached the man's shoulder but deadly things can come in small packages. I saw them exchange a few words as the Commander looked us all over, sizing us up. I saw a look of irritation pass over the shorter man before he turned his back and walked behind the Commander, standing off set from him a few feet away.
"The 95th Cadet Corp Graduating Class, give your hearts to humanity!" The Commander yelled as he saluted and we returned it eagerly. I could feel the fire raging in my eyes as I stood there among the few in my class that stayed behind. I told myself that I would not regret this decision. At least not a much as if I had stayed a civilian and lived a worthless and desperate life. At least this way, my death could mean something in the end.