Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit, fan based story. Attack on Titans is owned by Hajime Isayama. I do however own Elena and Lance as well as any other OCs that may occur during this story. Thank you
It finally begins. I am so excited to bring to everyone this story. I have been working very hard on it. I hope everyone enjoys and thank you all for stopping by and spending some time here. We have a long journey ahead of us. *wink wink*
Chapter 1: Breached
I could hear the cicadas chirping as they perched on the trees. The sun baked its surroundings as a gentle breeze grazed my body, slinging my wavy copper hair into a frenzy like leaves in autumn. Reaching up, I mustard the strength to pull the beast into a semi-tamed state as the wind began to calm. I jumped when a hand touched my shoulder. Glancing up, I smile as my father's short brown hair covers the sun's rays.
"Hurry up Firecracker! Mom and Lance are at the vegetable stand."
My father is a kind man who I acquired a few similarities from. We both share the same hazel eyes. He is tall, standing at six feet. He isn't much of a fighter despite his broad size. We share the same warm peach- colored skin and tendency to put others before ourselves. He had given me my nickname 'Firecracker' because he says that my hair is the flames and my personality is the explosives. After that, it kind of stuck and I've been going by it ever since. Even though only my father gets away with using it.
Giggling, we jogged to catch up with my mother and brother.
"Seems as though we win again," my mother gleamed, hugging my little brother while she spun around in a circle. My father chuckled, patting me on the back before walking towards everyone else. My mother is a cheery character. My father always told me that I may have his eyes, but beyond those, is only my mother. I don't see it. My mother is ten times worse than I am. She is known for being overdramatic and wild. Her bright smile and forest green eyes could light up any room and she sure as hell always makes her presence known. She speaks what is on her mind, few have experienced her silence, and they have never repeated that mistake again. According to my dad, she has always been this way. He described their first meeting as, "special" because it seems that when they met, my mother was the outspoken one. She was dared to approach my father and kiss his cheek, but she missed, and in the process of falling, she grabbed my Father, taking him to the ground with her. Which led them to where we are now.
My brother, Lance, is a shy child. Never can you see him far away from mother's leg unless we are playing. She is the first person he runs to when something bad happens and she is always there to fix the problem. Either with soothing words or her bubbly personality. Mother always wins. Lance shared the family's brown hair. I am the one singled out. I do not know where the red hair came from, but I would like to meet that person and tell them a thing or two about it.
"You cheated! You got a head start," I retorted, trying to contain my happiness. Mother laughed, finally stopping her twirling session, and turn to me. She stuck her tongue out and replied, "It's not cheating. It's called strategy."
"Yeah, the strategy of cheating." We all laughed. Walking into the store, I noticed the owner. An elderly woman whose son is usually here to help her run the place. But today seems as though he has something else to do. The family was sweet. Their store contained many items, mostly foods grown from the farmers outside of town. My Mother began her usual morning of chitter chatter while Father actually did the shopping. I walked towards the elderly woman.
"Good morning! Where's David?" I questioned. Her eyes dropped before she let out a breath. Glancing back at me she spoke, "He just had to go see the Scout Regiment return today. Left early to get a good seat. Boys these days." Her voice trailed off. The Scout Regiment. I almost forgot. I casually said my goodbyes and walked over towards my Mother and Lance. Squatting down to eye level, I see Lance staring back at me with the same hazel eyes.
"Still want to go see the Scouts?" I asked Lance, knowing that his face would light up at the suggestion. He loves the Scouts, so much that he begs Father to tell him stories about them before bed. He nodded his little head over and over, causing a giggle to escape my mouth.
"Mother, can we go see the Scout Regiment return? I promise we will be back before dinner, "I asked, displaying the biggest set of puppy dog eyes possible to hopefully increase our chances. She looked over the both of us as if surveying for something. Her right hand rubbing her chin in a thinking manner.
"Hmm. I don't know-" she started but was cut off by Father who had just walked over from grabbing some fruit.
"Honey, let the kids explore. We can't keep them sheltered their entire lives. They will be fine," he patted her shoulder. Grinning, he looked back to us. With a puff, Mother wrapped her arms around Father.
"Be home for dinner…and watch your brother!" Mother said while grabbing dad's hand while he is whispering something in her ear that causes her to slap his shoulder while smiling.
We ran as the town's bell rung signaling humanities return. Around us, people were chatting and playing. A lot of the citizens were already on their way to the "event".
"Elena?" a voice called out. I slowed down to a stop.
"Hello, Mrs. Sofie! How is Katerina?" I questioned, exchanging greetings with my parent's friend. Mrs. Sofie and her daughter Katerina use to come over to our house for supper before her husband died. Now my mother meets with her every week as a reminder that they are not alone.
"We are doing well, do not tell me that you two are going to see the Scouts?" she asked like she already knew the answer, placing her hand on her hip while she pointed the other towards us. "The Scouts are nothing to be happy about. My husband-," she cut herself short, probably remembering something that involved Greg. Her pointed hand moves to cover her mouth.
"Yes, ma'am. We were just stopping by." I don't want to linger. Mrs. Sofie is a kind person, but she places her views on everything based on her husband. She does not understand anything herself, just by what her husband told her to believe. He was a part of the military police. How he died is beyond me. Maybe an illness?
"Hmm, well tell your mother that we enjoyed the soup. She always does a fine job." She sighed, giving up on the previous conversation.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied being pulled by Lance. "I will."
"Be careful" I hear as I wave behind myself.
I'll admit, I am excited. I might not show it as much as Lance does when Father tells stories about the Scouts in his days, but I sure as heck am interested. Not that I ever would join the Scouts. I do not have the patience to be precise and cunning.
Arriving, we quickly climbed some steps to a house by the gate. There they are. I beamed, picking Lance up so he could see clearer. The town's people gathered to welcome them home and left little room for the small crowd. The Scout Regiment came into town on horseback. Their green cloaks soaring in the wind as they trot down the road of town. People all around are whispering. I could not make out much of what they were saying, I was focused on the soldiers.
"This is so cool. Right?" Lance looked to me. His face full of excitement. I can bet that my face wasn't any different, I smiled back nodding. This is so cool. They look so bad ass. Coming from outside the wall, where many people have never been. They fight for our safety. That has to be an honor to be able to do that.
It was not until an elderly woman ran up to them that I could finally focus enough to hear and evaluate the situation. She was asking about her son. Moses. I leaned a bit forward, wanted to see and hear for myself a little more.
What is that? I couldn't make out what was going on. The soldier handed her a cloth. The rest of the Regiment stopped as well. The elderly woman opened the cloth, gasping, and quickly covering it back up. The soldier, only looking at her, started crying. The whispers were becoming louder and more detailed. Here and there, mummers of "This is what our taxes are going for" and "A bunch of nonsense if you ask me". After looking around, I finally came to the realization. There were many injured scouts. Some even laid on carts with their legs gone. My excited expression turned grim. This is not what we came for.
"Arm," He pointed to the street.
"What?" I looked to Lance who spoke. Arm? What is he talking about? I changed my view back to the elderly woman to see her break down in the middle of the street. My eyes shot open. In front of her was an arm wrapped in the cloth. Is that her son? But how? I gripped Lance tighter. He should not be here… should not be seeing this. No one should witness this.
"Let's go home… mom and dad are expecting us." I spoke softly, knowing this is not going to get any better. As I began to turn, the Scout shouted.
"We achieved nothing at all but needlessly sending soldiers to their deaths. We haven't found anything about them!"
Everyone was on the same page. No one knew what to say. We believed they were accomplishing something, not just dying. There has to be more to this besides endless death for no gain.
"What does he mean Elena?" Lance tugged on my shirt. I feel horrible telling a young boy who idolizes the Scouts these next words.
"He means…we lost" I sighed, turning around, and taking a few steps to the nearest corner. Everyone else just stood silently as the Scout Regiment continued their pathing along the road.
I did not want to be there anymore. Hearing the whispers of regret and the soldiers… the soldiers were the hardest to look at. Most were crying, well the ones that were conscious. The man's words replayed in my head as Lance and I was heading down the alleyway. "needlessly sending soldiers to their deaths... Haven't found anything about them". All this time, we were hoping for a way out and it seems that all our wishes were for nothing. We gain nothing by losing so much. Is it really that bad on the outside? I have never seen a Titan and from the looks of the soldiers, I pray that I never will. I heard from others that titans eat humans. Why? Also, we were told that these creatures are very big. Some standing at least 15 meters. What is someone suppose to do to something of that size? I couldn't imagine what I would do. Panic? I glanced down at Lance. He was swinging our arms without a care in the world. His face clear of distraught. Carefully crafted into a smile that embodied all the emotions that everyone else has forgotten. I wish the world was as peaceful as Lance made it out to be. How I wish I could shield him from reality. Somehow finding a way to keep him innocent and pure for just a little longer so humanity has time to figure out how to successfully fight back against the threat.
Honestly, now I just want to go home. I want to go back to my loving family where nothing wrong could happen. I could already picture mom bouncing around in the kitchen while father chases her. It was getting later into the afternoon when we turned a corner, coming across a small boy, around my age with blond hair and blue eyes. I've seen him before but never held a long enough conversation to consider anything really of him. He was a nice guy, a bit shy, but held intelligence. I adverted my gaze, not wanting to get mixed in with the situation that had already developed before our arrival.
"Elena, why are they picking on him?" Lance questioned. He is so pure. I tried to speed up the pace, pulling Lance a bit because his tiny legs couldn't handle it. I do not want to get involved and definitely do not want Lance involved. I'm sorry boy, but you have to fight this battle on your own today. "Please Elena help-"Lance is more kindhearted than I am. I remembered when he found out that the baby bird egg had cracked and wouldn't hatch. He cried for three days, waking up each morning to go check on and try to mend the egg.
"Fine," I huffed, turning around, but before I could say anything a new voice appeared.
"Back off!" Eren Yeager came running, passing us and straight towards the kid and his company. The bullies got into their fighting stance and started spouting off little nothings towards Eren as he ran towards them. But he wasn't alone, behind him, another figure ran. Someone who I knew better than others in town. Still not well enough to consider them a close friend, more so an acquaintance.
"Let's go, Lance, we are not needed here." I grabbed his little hand and continued on our way, but not before hearing my name.
"Elena."
I smiled, turned back around, and waved, "Mikasa."
While walking, we come to some small fields of grass. I remember playing here when I was younger. Running back and forwards, chasing butterflies. I sighed. Good times.
"Let's get Mother some flowers." I requested from Lance who let go of my hand and took off towards the fields. The wind began to pick back up, blowing the grass to the side. So peaceful and beautiful.
Jogging to the field before plopping to the ground, I took a deep breath and exhaled. Today has been a wonky day. The Scout Regiment's return was anything but good. I believe they cause more questions than solving answers, but I am not out there, I am not one to declare who is right. I sit down and just enjoyed the breeze. Laughing at Lance, who was running back and forth, eyes glued to the ground searching for his masterpiece, he finally let out a loud "Yeah" and shot into the grass.
"Look I found a blue- "behind us a big shock went off. The vibrations causing us to wobble a bit. I jumped up, expecting to see something to tell me what was going on. Did something just blow up? I rush over to Lance, grabbing his hand. Several people began to run from their houses to the cause of the noise.
"What was that?"
I am tempted to follow to figure out what exactly caused that loud bang. Running back into town, we came to a stop a little way away from a group of people. I glance around seeing nothing.
"Elena, look," Lance pointed up to the wall.