Welcome to this fic! I hope that you enjoy the first Chappy. By the way, there will be some spoilers from the Manga!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own SNK or their characters.
Without further ado…
Chapter 1: To you, in 2000 Years – The Fall of Shiganshina
On that day humanity remembered…
"Elliot!"
"Melody! Hurry up and get out, why are you here?!"
"To get you - what are you doing?! The titans have broken into Wall Maria!" I screamed on the top of my lungs.
"I was getting this, and it's for you." My brother handed me a small pocket knife with a small ice-blue sheath to fit it, as I looked up, I – perhaps for the last time – took in my brother's features, his short and spiky, blond hair framed his face as he stood towering over me, with his steely-blue eyes piercing my soul.
"Why?" I asked him, my brown curly locks bouncing everywhere as I shook my head in confusion.
"Don't question it and take it. Don't lose this, I'm sure you know that this is mum's locket, and that is Dad's pocket knife. I want you to have it. Whether we get out of this or not, which we will, I need you to be strong. Now, let's hurry!" He told me as he grabbed my hand and we ran out of our house, towards our supposed safety.
*? POV*
"Melody! Hurry up, or else we'll leave without you!"
"I'm coming, just wait Eren."
"It doesn't seem like that."
"Shut up, Mikasa!"
"I'm older than you."
"I know!"
"Then hurry up, you idiot!"
"You be quiet, Eren!"
"No, I can do what I want."
"Stop arguing, you know you both sound like idiots."
"No, we don't!" Eren and I exclaimed together, as I slammed the door open, and made my way towards my so-called best friends, my curly brown hair bouncing about as I walked and glared at Eren.
"You took your time." Eren commented again, as he handed me my wood-carrier-thingy.
"I couldn't find my shoes, that's why I took so long." I replied snatching it out of his hands.
"Come on, let's go before you two cause more of a ruckus for Ell." Mikasa calmly stated as she made her way out, "Goodbye, Elliot!"
"See you later Ell!" Eren chimed.
"Bye Ell, we'll come back soon!" I yelled as well, as my brother came and gave us all a pat on our heads.
"You all better be back early ok, I don't want you guys to be late for lunch ok, Carla and I are making a very special treat!" Ell exclaimed, ruffling our hair, and I pouted remembering that Armin and his Grandpa weren't going to be able to make it to lunch at the Jaeger's, and that there was a distance between our house and Eren's, as his house was closer to the wall whereas my house was more west. Ever since Mum died, and even after Dad passed away, we had been having lunch at the Jaeger's with the Arlert's every Tuesday and Friday, and when Mikasa joined, lunches only became even merrier, even though the reason we all started this tradition was not a pleasant reason.
"Ok, ok we won't be late. Now enough with the nagging! We need to go collect wood." I replied, shooing Ell away so that we could leave.
*Eren POV*
Making our way through the forest to collect wood, I felt jealous of how strong Mikasa and Melody were, as they were carrying at least twice the amount I was. I knew that they were strong, after all Ell taught Melody self-defence, and a lot of other techniques that a 10-year-old shouldn't know like how to paralyse someone within 7 seconds, and many other things. Mikasa on the other hand, when I met her she was already super skilled and strong, and even though I've known Mikasa for a year and we've lived together, I don't think it would be wise to ask her about her family. To add to my embarrassment, every time me or Armin (my other best friend) got into a fight, Mikasa and Melody would come to save us, and when we got home Ell, my Mum and sometimes my Dad would tell us off, whilst Armin's Grandpa would just give us the look.
"Hey guys, shouldn't we take a break for our shoulders?" I asked Mel and Mika, who just nodded in response.
"I'm not that tired so I'll go get some more logs, and then we should just be done for the day." Mel said as she looked into the distance. "I won't go too far, so you guys can just rest on a tree nearby."
"I'll stay here with Eren on the lookout, Eren you get some rest." Mika added, stone-faced as always.
"Yeah, sure." I replied, sighing as they still treated me like a child that needed protecting, I wanted to do something that would make them rely on me but before I could even make myself comfortable, I found myself falling asleep.
"Eren!" I heard someone call for me, and I jolted awake – it was Mikasa. "Why are you crying?"
"What? Crying?" I asked as I suddenly felt a lone tear fall down my face, however I was quick to wipe it away. "It must've been my dream, it felt like it was going on forever. It was definitely a strange dream. How long was I out for anyways?"
"Like, 12 minutes. You should be glad that I woke you up before Mel got here, you know she would've teased you for it."
"Yeah – where is she?"
"She – "
"Guys, I found more logs!" Mel sang, as she ran towards us.
"Speak of the Devil, and she shall appear." I muttered sarcastically.
"I heard that, Shorty!" She glared at me with her almost-intimidating stormy eyes.
"Come on now, we should probably head back before they start lunch." Mikasa called out to us, as she had already began walking back to town. "By the way, Eren you should probably ask your Dad about why you were crying earlier in your sleep."
"Mikasa!"
"Eren you were crying?!" Mel asked me, before poking my cheeks. "Aww did wittle baby Eren have a nightmare?"
"Shut up!"
"Oi, Eren! Why you crying? Did Melody tease you or did Mikasa tell you off?!" Hannes asked me as he rested a hand on my shoulder and I could easily tell from his flushed face, his slurred speech and the smell in the area, that those so-called guards were slacking off and drinking.
*Melody POV*
"You guys shouldn't be slacking!" Eren yelled at the guards at the sight of seeing them so drunk on duty, I tried not to get annoyed as they made fun of Eren while he just responded with anger, as it also made me furious seeing them be inattentive to the monsters that they outside the wall. Before they could say anymore spiteful things to Eren, I dragged him away holding him by the arm as Mika followed quietly behind, and although she looked like she was unaffected I could tell from her eyes that she was also irritated at those guards.
"Don't even bother picking a fight with them, you know that they're idiots." I told Eren, as we continued walking towards to his house, and as we trudged along the path, we heard the bells ringing signalling that the Survey Corps had returned from an expedition. Excited, Eren and I tried to find something to stand on, so that we could see them from over the large crowd that had suddenly appeared whilst Mikasa just stood behind us as she was not as eager to see them. I wasn't as excited as Eren, because I knew that they would come back with much less people back than when they left, but I believed that even though so many people died, it was definitely for a good cause, to save us from this cage that we, humanity have been put it.
"Look, Commander Erwin!" Eren whispered in awe.
"There's Captain Levi." I added in admiration, there was not a scratch on them. They were such amazing soldiers, one could only try to be as skilled as them and the rest of the elites. Just as I was thinking this, I met eyes with Captain Levi and it felt as though time stood still as his intimidating aura made me sweat a little, although it seemed as though he was testing me in some way and so I stood tall and confidently looked him in eye.
"Look at them, pathetic!" Hearing this, I frowned in disgust and glared at the idiot who spoke so rudely to those who had just faced death in the eye, inevitably ending mine and Captain Levi's staring contest.
"They just waste all our taxes."
"Just go die already!" At this Eren grabbed one of his logs and hit them on the head, and from the corner of my eye, I could see that Commander Erwin had widened his eyes at the sight of a young boy picking a fight with boys who were a lot older than him. To add to this, I punched one of them in the gut, the other I kicked in the stomach and the last one I gave him a nasty bruise with a killer uppercut. Before Eren and I could continue though, Mikasa had grabbed us and dragged us away from them into a small alleyway. She threw me and Eren with her crazy strength, luckily due to me being extremely agile I was able to catch my feet however Eren crashed straight into the wall, and both our logs went tumbling all over the place.
"I don't care what you two think or say, you two are not joining the Survey Corps."
"Mikasa!" I exclaimed. "I understand that you're worried, but you can't decide for us!"
"Whatever, let's just get going." Eren grumbled as he picked up his logs and some of mine as well to add to his load.
"Eren, isn't that to heavy?" I asked him.
"For once, just let me take the heavier load." Eren complained.
"Not until you become this height, Shorty." Mel replied as she reached on her tiptoes to reach around almost a foot taller than she was, for some reason Mel found fun in teasing me that I'm an inch shorter than her.
*Melody POV*
Reaching the Jaeger's, we all put our logs away and sat down at the dining table to begin eating. Lunch was going really well, we were all laughing and joking about but just as soon as we had finished eating, and we were about to start washing up.
"Eren and Melody want to join the Survey Corps." Mikasa comments, and Carla drops the plate that she was holding and grabbed the both of us.
"You can't do that! Those things outside are monsters! Why would you sign yourself up for death!" She yelled at us.
"Come on Mum!"
"Please Carla, please listen to our reasoning!"
"Wait, Darling please. Let's listen to the kids. Eren, Melody why do you two want to join the Survey Corps, even when you know that it's dangerous?" Dr Jaeger asked us, to which Eren responded immediately.
"Isn't it obvious?! I don't want to live my life caged like live-stock! It's my birth-right to explore this world and not be restricted!"
"Ok, and Melody, what about you?"
"I-We don't deserve to live like this, we should be able to be free without question, do whatever we want and those titans are stopping humanity from being free! It's not fair, not right that those monsters get to have their way with the world whilst we cower in fear. I don't want anyone to live like that!" I replied, my throat slightly raw from the amount emotion I put into that, but it was true – we, humanity did not deserve to be caged.
"I see." He replied, and gave my brother a meaningful look, yet I couldn't tell what Dr Jaeger meant. "We can't stop these children Carla – "
"Darling, you don't understand! Outside of those walls is death! Come on Elliot, tell these children how wrong they are to throw their lives away!" Carla exclaimed, her eyes brimming with tears as she begged us to reconsider.
"Eren, Melody when I come back from this trip I will show you both what Ell and I have been working on in the basement."
"Grisha! How can you encourage them?!"
"I'm sorry Carla, but they are right. Outside of those walls may lie death, but there is certainly freedom." Ell told her but before she could say anymore Eren had run out of the house with Mikasa on his tail but just before I could follow, Ell had pulled me to a side. "Melody, my darling baby sister. You really have all grown up, haven't you? So, I know that you're ready. When you join the Survey Corps, remember everything that I've taught you, it will be extremely useful."
"You don't need to worry about me!"
"Alright." He sighed. "Now go find Eren."
"I can't believe you Mikasa!" Eren complained. "I can't believe that you ratted Mel and I out to my parents and Ell!"
"It was to keep you safe." Mika replied, not sparing Eren a glance.
"Hey you guys." I interrupted, and Armin just smiled back. "Eren's right though, why?"
"I said, it was to keep you safe."
"I'm guessing that it didn't go well, then?" Armin said, as he skipped stones with Eren.
"Mum especially wasn't happy about it." Eren muttered.
"I figured. It is true, that those who think that the walls will forever provide a life of peace need to face reality. Just because these walls haven't been breached in 100 years, it doesn't guarantee the fact that it won't be destroyed today… Not in the slightest."
The breeze that had accompanied us so far today had suddenly stopped, and there was a moment of peace, stillness and calm that felt out of place to what Armin was saying. Suddenly, the earth shook beneath us and we were thrown up into the air before plummeting down.
"Was it an Earthquake?" People muttered, yet the voices all stopped as people saw steam coming from outside the wall, then there was a hand that gripped the edge of the wall, and then… a face.
"No way… That wall is fifty metres tall!" Armin whispered, dread engulfing everyone. The peace, stillness and calm that once stood beside was replaced with trepidation, fear and horror. I, we, humanity, was done for.
"It's a titan." All at once, our world came crashing down upon us again, the titans had entered Shiganshina, our home.
A cacophony of screams filled my ears, this was it - the end of humanity.
"My mum, our house!" Eren shouted fear evident in his eyes, body-language and speech and yet I was paralysed as he ran towards his house, Mikasa behind him. Armin tried to stop him, but he knew that there was nothing we could do. But before I could wallow in my pity, I remembered my brother and I ran as fast I could to make it to my house. Luckily, it was not crushed by the boulders but as soon as I entered my house, I saw my brother looking out of the window.
"Elliot!"
"Melody! Hurry up and get out, why are you here?!"
"To get you - what are you doing?! The titans have broken into Wall Maria!" I screamed on the top of my lungs.
"I was getting this, and it's for you." My brother handed me a small pocket knife with a small ice-blue sheath to fit it, as I looked up, I – perhaps for the last time – took in my brother's features, his short and spiky, blond hair framed his face as he stood towering over me, with his steely-blue eyes piercing my soul.
"Why?" I asked him, my brown curly locks bouncing everywhere as I shook my head in confusion.
"Don't question it and take it. Don't lose this, I'm sure you know that this is mum's locket, and that is Dad's pocket knife. I want you to have it. Whether we get out of this or not, which we will, I need you to be strong. Now, let's hurry!" He told me as he grabbed my hand and we ran out of our house, towards our supposed safety.
On that day, mankind remembered… The fear of oppression under them, and the humiliation of being caged like birds…
I hope that in this chapter, you've gotten to grips with the Dietrich siblings, Melody and Elliot. Just for a reference, Melody, Eren, Mikasa and Armin are all 10, whilst Elliot is 15 and so that basically makes him Mikasa, Eren and Armin's older brother since they spend so much time together. Here's just a bit of information about them.
Elliot Dietrich:
Age – 15
Hair Colour – Sandy blond.
Eye Colour – Steely-blue or a mix of grey and blue.
Height – 5 ft 5 in.
Personality – Very mature and caring, nicknamed 'Shiganshina's Sweetheart' because he's very kind and generous to everyone, but what people don't notice is that he is extremely observant and intelligent. Elliot is also very strong due to some training from his Mum, which he taught to Melody. Mother and Father deceased, worked with Grisha in the basement but unlike his father, he wasn't a doctor.
Extra Info – Nicknamed 'Ell' because he looks a lot like his mother Ellie except for his eyes.
Melody Dietrich:
Age – 10
Hair Colour – Light brown.
Eye Colour – Steely-blue or a mix of grey and blue
Height – 4 ft 6 in.
Personality – She is very confident in herself and looks up to her brother a lot because everything she knows is because of Elliot. Almost as strong as Mikasa, very agile and knows a lot of techniques, she is very versatile with her fighting style although she always starts with a defence before switching to offense, she also always has her fists in front of her face at the start of a fight. She loves to tease people because she finds that getting under people's skin is a talent and very funny. Mother and Father deceased, best friends with Armin, Mikasa and Eren.
Extra Info – She has given the nicknames 'Shorty' to Eren, 'Muscly' to Mikasa and 'Smarty' to Armin, she says that she is 'Cutie' but they all call her 'Meanie'.
Axoxo
