Arc One: Flight for Freedom
Chapter One: Escape
A/N: This is a story about Petra that follows closely with the AOT timeline with some things remaining very much the same, and some major differences from the anime. I have tried to keep most people in character, but for the story's sake some people will have to change. I have decided that since I have so much trouble finishing stories I will do arcs for now on. Right now this chapter will be part of Arc one, and so will the next four chapters. I have the first five chapters already written and am currently working on Arc 2. I will post the first five weekly, and hopefully by then will have the second arc done. If not I will wait to post chapters until Arc two is done, and so forth. I am determined to finish this. I hope you enjoy, please feel free to review.
Disclaimer: This story uses characters and timelines of Attack on Titan for non-profit fun!
"Petra!"
The stern, irritated voice pulled her from her reverie. Petra blinked several times before she realized she'd been asked a question. "Huh?"
Bill Wagner rubbed his face, running his fingers through his dark hair, "At least have the decency to look embarrassed. If you were a normal student I'd have you whipped."
Petra smiled innocently, "I'm sorry, sensei, please go on."
Her sensei was already packing to leave, "What would be the point? I can see in your eyes you are not here today. Present body, absent soul, your mind is out fighting titans. I have a family that would like to see me you know."
Now she did feel guilty, her smile dissipated, "Sorry sensei, tell Thomas I said hello."
"I will Princess, and I will not tell your father I had to cancel another lesson."
"Thanks."
She left a few minutes after he had, walking by herself to her room, aware of the maids and butlers watching her every move. She hated it; hated how they stared, how they judged her every movement, how they waited on her hand and foot. They whispered constantly about nonsense concerning her, she could hear their shrill voices gossiping.
She slammed her bedroom door behind her, falling backwards onto her lounging couch by the window.
Her room was luxurious, and she hated that too. The huge bed piled with pillows and comforters, the fireplace keeping it warm, the fresh flowers placed by the window. It made her weak. While she sat around a fortified castle, dining on rich foods and drinking wine, taking lessons on royal protocol, people were eaten instead of eating, every day they fought to survive the tidal wave of helplessness against those atrocities called titans.
She wanted to do something; she wanted to help, she wanted more than anything to fight.
How long would she have to endure wasted days, rotting in a castle, waiting for her own people to die out?
The door to her room opened, and she knew from the lack of knocking it was her father, his loyal butler in tow. The king was a plump little man with an air of great importance about him. His mustache was long and hung down to his collar bone; his eyes were twitchy and nervous as though he expected a real titan to come tromping through her room at any second. Everything about him was unremarkable, without the gleaming crown upon his balding head a person would never guess he was the king.
Petra found it pretentious to wear her crown around the castle. The servants knew who they were, why would she try to keep that thing on her head all day?
"Yes, father?"
"Petra, I saw your teacher leave early again today. Either you're learning faster than any royalty before or you're not paying attention again." He sounded perturbed. "I told Bill not to come back."
"What?" She turned from facing the window, "It wasn't his fault! I told him to leave!"
"Petra if every student told their teacher when to leave nobody would learn anything."
She sat back on her bed, tears filling her eyes, "But he's got a family to feed." Bill had also been with the royal family for seven years as her private teacher, and many years before that as a loyal servant. His son, Thomas, was her childhood friend.
"And I have an heir to teach to be queen." He looked down on her displeased.
"I don't want to be queen! I don't want it! Get someone else to do it!"
"Petra Ral! I do not ever want to hear that sort of talk from you again! You are destined to live inside these castle walls, and you will not abandon that duty!"
He left in a fury, his butler closing the door gently behind him.
Petra felt her resolve harden, she couldn't be there anymore. She'd been born into the wrong family; she couldn't be what he wanted her to be when he was so willing to sacrifice anyone and everyone to get what he wanted. All her life she'd been chastised for her compassion, she was too soft-hearted, a queen ruling a dying breed of people could not afford mercy. A queen needed a heart of stone to keep her subjects on their toes, fear was the best weapon, and ruling people required a fist of iron.
She didn't believe that.
Tonight she would leave and never come back.
She bolted her door to be sure there would be no more unexpected surprises. From under her bed she pulled out her traveling cloak, a pack of clothes and food, some money, and a 3D maneuvering device she'd had her teacher's son steal for her out of the military police armory. Thomas had demanded to know why she'd wanted the device so badly, so she'd told him it was for just having some fun, a harmless game she could play outside the castle, and he'd bought it. Over the last five years since he'd stolen it for her he'd also replaced any broken parts, gas tanks, and blades.
For not having a teacher she'd become as good as someone without instructions could be. Late at night she would sneak off into the forest near the castle and use the trees to practice, pretending she fought against the titans. There was nothing more liberating than swinging from tree to tree, slashing through leaves and rocks, the moon shining to light her path, the wind drying her sweat and blood, and her long, ginger hair whipping about her.
At first she'd been careful to hide her injuries, she'd fallen so many times that first year, and with no trainer she'd only guessed how to work the instruments. She'd broken fingers and toes, carefully hiding them beneath gloves and stockings. Thomas had been the only one to notice, she could remember how infuriated he'd been…
"What is that?" Thomas demanded, eyeing her gloved hand.
Petra pulled Thomas down a deserted hall, away from the prying eyes of maids and servants upon them.
"Thomas, please, not in front of the servants." Petra hid her hand behind her back, but Thomas grabbed her arm pulling the silk covering off. He looked angry and distressed when he saw her swollen, black and purple fingers.
"I thought you said you were careful."
"I am!" She looked down guiltily when she saw the dismayed expression on his handsome face. "I just fell; I'm not very good yet. I'll get better."
He shook his head in disbelief, "Get better? Is this even about playing some stupid game? You need to stop this now. You're going to kill yourself, do you want to die?"
"Of course not," She whispered harshly. "But this," She held up her twisted fingers, swelling so badly now she knew she wouldn't get the glove back on, "This makes me feel alive, it's like I can go anywhere and do anything, nothing else makes me feel this way."
His brows creased, and the absolute hurt in his brown eyes broke her heart. "Nothing at all?"
"Thomas, I-"
"Come runaway with me," He said suddenly, squeezing her shoulders. "You don't need the stupid maneuvering device, just me. I'll take you anywhere, all you need is me."
Petra stood speechless, her mouth agape. A minute passed and she could stand his pleading eyes upon her any longer. "I can't Thomas, I can't go with you, I can't give you what you want."
Things between them had never been quite the same after that incident. He'd helped her when he could, but there was a rift between them neither could cross nor dare to try. Now he would be graduating that very night, and last she heard he would be joining the military police. It was a strange mixture of disappointment and relief she felt when he'd told her his choice. Disappointment he lacked the courage to join the Corps, and relief he would be safe living in the interior.
She'd give up everything to join the Survey Corps; her crown, her comfort, even her friendship with Thomas. She'd inherited more than a kingdom, more than a crown could offer. She'd inherited her mother's dream of living in a world free of the confines the titans put on humanity. A world untainted with the fear the titans brought upon mankind.
When she was sure everyone was asleep, and the candle light had grown dim she went to her mirror with a pair of scissors in hand. Inside she felt nervous, hesitant, but the face that stared back was a girl with steeled resolve, her amber eyes confident in her decision.
Strands of lovely auburn hair fell to the stone floor, slowly piling at her feet. Her new hairline stopped right below her chin, she shook her head enjoying the weightlessness. Looking down she felt a pang of regret thinking of how her mother had loved her long hair, how disappointed she would be to see it lying dead on the floor.
She gathered the hair and went to her window. The moon was full and yellow, and the summer wind blew gently. The coppery strands flew on the updraft, sparkling prettily in the pale light. Her mother would have been so sad, but she would have also been proud had she known the reason behind her actions.
Petra dressed quickly, changing from her silky gown to capris pants, leather boots, a long-sleeved shirt, and her 3D maneuvering device. Her black cloak covered her from head to toe, with the hood shadowing her face. She wasn't overly worried someone would recognize her, very few people outside the palace walls had ever seen the Princess Petra, Thomas being among those that had.
One last time she counted her money, and slung the pack over her shoulder. Crouched in the window sill she felt a rush of jittery exhilaration. She thought again about leaving a note, and again dismissed the idea. She couldn't afford to leave any clues as to where she had gone. There were only so many places to hide within the walls.
Her father thought so lowly of her, he would laugh at the idea of her becoming a soldier. It would be the last place he would search.
Petra hopped from her window onto a tree branch nearby, it swayed with her weight but she maintained her balance. Slowly she climbed down as she had done for the past five years nearly every night.
Once on the ground she easily avoided the military police, most were drunk or sleeping on the job. It disgusted her, but as long as no titans entered Wall Sina nothing would be done about their discrepancies.
Once in the stable she saddled her prized horse, Rageous. He was one of the fastest horses in the King's stable, and by far the largest at nineteen hands tall. His silky black coat and silvery mane and tail had won him the attention of the king's visitors. Unfortunately he was also intelligent and volatile, and this made him difficult to work with. As a colt his mother had rejected him, and the stable overseer had deemed him too much cost to be worth the work, but Petra had insisted she would take care of him. Every day and night she fed him his mother's nursing milk until he was old enough to eat solid food. He'd been loyal to Petra for all of his life, and she found she couldn't leave him behind.
Gently she kicked his side to get him into a slow walk, pulling her hood further down her face. Hopefully no one would see her leaving and report it to a senior officer, her journey ending before it even began.
The gates were open, even at this time of night. The whole regime was so relaxed, so at ease with the world they lived in, it made Petra sick. If titans attacked they would be slaughtered in their sleep, but they never thought this would happen. Did they not see Wall Rose was the new exterior? How long would it be until Wall Sina was the exterior and interior?
She passed through without being stopped, goading her horse into a full run when she reached open fields. Only once did she look back to see the castle sleeping, blissfully unaware its princess was riding away forever.
Petra rode south past several villages before coming to the wall that would lead to the Hermina district. The garrison guards gave her no notice as Rageous trotted through the gate, some were playing cards by lantern light, others were drunk and asleep snoring against the table.
Except for a few inns the city was relatively quiet. The streets were dark, and only the moon, high on her pedestal, lit the way. She rode through an alley seeing an orange light near the exit. She hoped to find shelter for the night, but paused at the window when she heard cheering and tankards clanking, with many voices singing together. Cautiously she dismounted and led Rageous to peek into the cracked window where she saw many drunken young people laughing and singing. They appeared to be celebrating, probably graduates if she had to guess.
Inside she saw Thomas standing in a ring of friends, holding a huge glass of amber liquid. Someone told a joke and the whole group laughed. She smiled to herself, pleased to see Thomas looking happy for once. Petra couldn't help but notice one dark haired guy, the only one in the group that looked sulky and irritated. His large blue eyes stared hard at the floor, seeming angry and frustrated.
Thomas said something to him, gesturing with his free hand, and the boy looked up, his eyes flashing responding to whatever Thomas had asked. Suddenly Thomas burst out, "You can't possibly win!"
The whole tavern went quiet, and every face turned to see what the commotion was about, Petra leaned in straining to hear.
It was like the whole joyous atmosphere had been sucked out of the room by her dear friend. He went on to say some other things that had everyone in the room frowning and unhappy. "Good job Thomas."
Petra shook her head, and was about to leave when the other boy spoke and caught her ear.
"You're giving up because you don't think you can win?" His hands balled into fists, his face turning an extraordinary red color. "It's true, we've only suffered defeats so far, but that's only because we know nothing about them, we can't beat them with sheer force! But with those lost battles we have learned so much more about them, that is our shining beacon of hope!" His eyes, full of fire, danced over every person in the room, drawing them in. "Yet you cowards would dismiss the thousands of sacrifices just to hide in safety behind walls!"
Petra could feel her own heart pounding at his speech, her face pressed up against the window completely drawn in by his passion. He went on after a second of silence, "You've got to be joking! You can have your walls, and safety! I will go out and kill every last one of them! I will break free of this prison! That is my dream! Mankind still has hope!"
He looked around the reality of the situation hitting him with each guilty, silent face that stared back. He left, running out the tavern door, with two of his friends calling out, "Wait Eren!"
Petra pressed up against Rageous pulling her hood over her face when she heard the door open and slam shut, she was glad to see they chased him in the opposite direction of her. She leaned against the tavern, listening as the noise in the room resumed.
How many times had she expressed the same sentiments? Maybe not as passionately or eloquently but those same thoughts had passed many times through her head, and she'd said the same to Thomas, though he'd dismissed her feelings calling her a silly idealist.
She continued on past the tavern, making sure to avoid eye contact with anyone exiting. If Thomas happened to come out and notice her it would be a disaster. He'd never quite moved on from her rejection of running away with him, there was tenseness to their relationship they hadn't passed even in four years. She couldn't imagine having to explain to him she was leaving home to join the survey corps after she'd said no to running away with him.
Though over protective and sometimes annoyingly concerned, Thomas was a good man, he was honest, sweet, and genuinely caring. She just couldn't return the passion he felt; just like with her father she couldn't give him what he wanted. There was an instilled fear in her of love and marriage, she'd seen how her parent's had ended with her mother's death. Their marriage had been cursed with betrayal and death, and little Petra had grown up believing love was for fools who were foolish enough to think someone else could love them as much as themselves.
No, Thomas deserved so much more than what a selfish girl with a crown could offer.
There was an inn just a few blocks away from the Wall Sina. Petra rented a room for the day, had Rageous stabled and bought an early breakfast. The porridge was watered down and bland. The King would have had the cook's head if he'd been served him something so tasteless, which was why to Petra it tasted perfectly delectable.
She slept the rest of the day, and by night she had Rageous saddled and trotting through Hermina's exit gate.
By noon Wall Rose was in sight.
A mile away from the wall she stopped to let him rest and eat while she looked over her map of the Trost district. First she planned on spending several weeks in hiding to be sure her father wouldn't find her, and then she really had little idea on what to do next. She'd been so desperate just to leave and not get caught the part about joining the Survey Corps had gone severally neglected.
"What do you think Rageous, want to join the Corps with me? You don't have to if you don't want to." She gave the horse a sly look, admiring the way his sleek muscles rippled as he grazed on his apples.
She was about to start munching on her own apple when the whole ground shook knocking it out of her hand. "What the-"
Simultaneously an orange streak of lightening lit the heavens, striking just on the other side of the Trost district. The earth trembled, and there was a tremendous crashing noise. Plumes of smoke rose from inside the wall. Even from a mile away she could hear terrified screaming.
"Titans," Petra's whisper was drowned out by shrieking. "Rageous, let's go."
Her horse showed no signs of fear or of bolting, which impressed Petra. She could only hope he didn't change his mind long enough to get into Trost. Quickly Petra put on her 3D maneuvering device, and mounted Rageous covering the mile in a matter of minutes. People were already streaming out of the inner Trost gate, the garrison guards attempted to keep order but panic was an epidemic.
People were shoving and stampeding to get past the gate, children cried and mothers wailed. Some people were already covered in blood. Petra guided Rageous through the gate slowly pushing against the tide of hysteria. The guards were too busy dealing with the citizens to care she was headed in the opposite direction of safety.
Her blood ran cold when she saw what awaited her on the other side. Titans, everywhere, wondered the streets of Trost, so tall they peek-a-booed over buildings. Never had Petra imagined them to be so huge, the size was staggering and made her knees weak. She nearly fell off Rageous when he suddenly charged forward.
"What are you doing?" She pulled on his reins but he refused to stop or even slow down, he'd never done this before. "Rageous, please, stop!"
She gave up yanking on the reins and hugged his muscular neck to keep from falling, her legs tightened around his girth. Where was this crazy horse taking her? Was he panicking and running wildly?
It seemed his movements were deliberate, and the screams of children were drawing nearer with each turn he made. Rageous finally stopped, and Petra opened her eyes to see three pairs of scared, teary eyes stare up at her. Two boys and one girl, none of them older than nine, all were watching her from behind some rubble of a broken building.
The pounding of the ground alerted Petra to a titan no more than two hundred yards away running straight to them. "Oh dear God." This was not how she imagined her first encounter would be with one of those monstrosities. She felt frozen with a terrifying sense of her inevitable death, she could picture herself between those yellow teeth crushed in half.
The girl screamed and hugged the boys closer when Petra realized it was not only herself that would be eaten, the children would be devoured as well. Rageous could have easily carried all of them, but he could not have done so and outrun the titan now only a hundred yards away.
Petra slid off quickly, picking up each child and placing them on her saddle. The eldest and biggest was the girl and she sat in the back, her arms wrapped tightly around the boys. "Hold onto these! On your life do not let go!" Petra handed her the reins and turned Rageous the direction opposite of the titan, smacking his hind quarters, at first he neighed disobediently stamping his hooves. "Go you stupid horse!" Petra could feel her fear give her voice an angry shrieking quality. She hit him harder on the behind and Rageous took off at a slow gallop.
His lackadaisical speed would have to do because the titan was now fifty yards away. Petra froze standing in the middle of the street, trying to remember what to do next. What did you do to fight one of these things? How did someone fight something so huge? The sheer size made her mind numb, her thoughts frozen and refusing to thaw.
Its speed was something Petra had never thought possible for something the size of a house, she had always thought they meandered slowly, the fact they actually sprinted made the prospect of fighting one all the more intensely terrifying.
The earth shook with incredible force and she found herself on the ground staring up into the wide round eyes of the titan. At the last second, when its ginormous hand reached down to grab her, she found the courage to eject a cable.
It missed.
She couldn't even scream as that gigantic hand wrapped its bloody fingers around her entire body, it squeezed hard and Petra heard a rib snap. A sharp pain rent her sides, and she would have screamed if she could. The titan held her up to its face, its whole expression creepily stony. The jaws opened and a blast of hot rancid air hit her face. Rows of dulled square teeth lined its gums, she could see several arms and hands stuck between the teeth.
Petra shut her eyes, unwilling to see her own death play out before her. She hoped it would end quickly, maybe it would bite her head or break her spine. With her luck it would swallow her whole and she'd digest slowly, painfully aware of each agonizing moment.
At least she'd saved the children; she could only hope Rageous would carry them to safety.
Petra heard the smooth sound of steel slicing through flesh, and she found herself falling backwards cocooned in the giant's hand, the landing jarred her and she rolled several feet, gulping in air as she went. Coughing she did her best to sit up, only to lay back down on her back. The wretched pain in her side made it seem as if it was on fire.
What had just happened?
"Hey, you," A voice, irrationally calm, called out. She winced turning her head to look up to see a small figure standing on top of the melting titan head, a blade held out in each hand. "You're a terrible fighter."
Shocked she stared at his serious expression in wonderment. Had he just insulted her?
And then she laughed at the absurdity of it all.
Absolutely absurd.