Hello, greetings from your fellow writer!

This is the edited version of my previous writings. I hope that you will be able to enjoy this better! And if you are a new reader...uh, this is a lot better than what I had before. Like seriously...[insert maniacal laughing]...Mostly because I am listening to Kingdom Hearts battle music while editing...*heck yes*

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Chapter One: Knight in Shining Armor

Introduction...

The useless destroyed. The needed done. The way of life was simple - in society and the world - we all follow a simple mantra. Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection: The one who is stronger and better suited for an environment will survive over those that are weaker and less fortunate. This is the way all the species worked. She had saw it for herself - Predator and Prey. The life of humanity itself was in the reins of another predator...and they were the prey to be devoured. She had saw for herself the death wreaked upon the weaklings that struggled pitifully, clinging to life, searching for an escape, a hope to survive...but to no avail. Mankind struggles with what little life they possessed, after being stripped down to the bones of their population.

Our numbers decrease as theirs increase...the Titans. They are the fox that hunts for the chickens. The thing that sickens us the most is the fact that they do it not for nutrients - but for the pure pleasure of seeing us scream and thrash, hearing the bones snap under their mighty jaws.

Our only hope of survival is not only by brawn, quite frankly, physically impossible, but by the usage of our minds. We thank the gods for giving us the latter; if it weren't for the fact that we have much more intelligence than the mindless, esurient beasts, we'd all be wiped out to extinction long ago. We live on that single piece of hope. We must fight back with the single shard of it.

That's what we figured. Until that one day. The one day she opened her eyes to see a whole different world.

Ah...the mind that is so ignorant of the world around it. How we ran about with our swords and shields, throwing spears at the mighty monsters, penetrating their hide, felling the mighty timbers of flesh. How we ran about thinking that we were fighting to save ourselves, when in reality, we were fighting a much greater foe than one could possibly imagine. How we fought...how we died...how we killed ourselves in vain of the bitter truth.

Here I lie. My grave is nothing but the hollow emptiness of the existence of whom I was. My grave is the ghost of my past, the lost soul that wanders about, searching for all I have fought for...all I have carried my pride and pain for. My death is all but a mere consciousness seeking the reason why, grasping for a cause, a purpose that was never there.

I had ran about, traipsing my way onto the bloody battlefield, entranced by the thought of patriotism, spellbound by the words of the soldier, fighting for humanity. I had blindly thrown myself into the gates of hell itself...thinking I could grow stronger...

Too late. I was caught, stuck, caged in an existence tied to my own end. How wrong my foolish words were...

I should have known, shouldn't have I? I should've never followed myself, my pitiful heart, my lost tears into the void of oblivion...

It all comes rushing back, the day that I made that grave mistake. I should have listened to Father. I should have followed his ways and not let my stupid dreams cloud the reality of it all. I remember it now, the day. The day I let go of the life that never could be...

"This is stupid."

Hearing the man grumble made me smirk. I ran light on my toes, farther ahead than the man stumbling behind me. I dared not to look behind my shoulder and see the furrowed brow.

"The roster is crowded! I'll never get a spot to sign my name!" I yelled across my shoulder and ran even faster. The long trek from the countryside mountainous, hilly terrain where my family lived, farming within Wall Maria, certainly put a toll on the doctor's aching bones and feeble limbs. I only grinned to myself as my youth budded within me, filling me with an endless fountain of stamina.

"If you're lost, don't blame me. I'll just have to tell your Father that his eldest daughter is a stupid little girl who doesn't know the value of patience."

This time, I stopped and turned around to jeer at him before continuing to the crowd. I could see the swarm of young men and women, mostly being shoved down. The man in the middle looked as if he were in a Titan's swarm. I wasn't surprised; hands of dirty, ruffled children were grabbing at him in every direction. I was surprised at the number of volunteers that came to sign their doom...

Usually, when the recruiter came around every town, very few young adults came to agree for the six-year contract with the Military. Three years of training, similar to a school, starting from age twelve. Three years of commitment to a faction (i.e. Gendarmerie, Garrison, Legion), and you're free to live your life with the monarchy's provision of 30 P. a month...that is if you're not dead.

Most of the Gendarmerie stay in service for the rest of their lives...because they live in pure luxury.

The recruit's only objective, usually, is to obtain the position of Gendarmerie, being top ten in their class, and with that, they can escape the usual horrible life of a commoner, or a lowly expendable soldier, with included perks.

However, I wasn't on the list because I wanted to be an exploited Military Police Officer in the highly corrupted system. I was on the list because I simply wanted to become a soldier. God knows what inspired me...but the only thing I wanted...

Was to become stronger.

I had a little sister...frail, vulnerable. I lived in the outer walls...I lived where I could so easily die. In my heart...I wanted to become that knight that Mother always read about...in shining armor, riding on a steed of magnificence, saving the damsel from the evil dragon.

I would serve my three years and come back, ready to defend my family from all dangers of this cruel, yet beautiful world.

My parents always wanted an older son to inherit their land. They didn't have an older one, and ended up never getting a younger one either. They settled on the tall, fierce-eyed, thick-skulled older sister. One stubborn little girl, ready to take on the world as a boy.

So...I wanted to become stronger to protect the family I, the weak being I am now, cannot currently.

I slowed my pace, mostly because I took heed to the Doctor's words, and because my breaths were short, my lungs aching for oxygen. I saw that, truly, if I waited, the line would clear much faster, rather than troubling myself to a fight for the pen and possibly, taking much longer than if I wait.

Finally, I reached the edge of the roster, and the line had cleared significantly, or rather, the mob of unruly people...but there were still a few who were bickering as usual. Dr. Jaeger slowly padded up a few minutes after me, a fierce scowl imbedded in his face. But I saw the twinkling of kindness in his worn eyes, full of mirth and well-being to me.

"You're more antsy than my eight year old son...I wonder if you're actually twelve sometimes."

"This is my dream...don't step on a child's dream, would you?"

"Dream...did you not see the armless men pass through the city a few days ago?" Jaeger said, miffed at my word choice.

"Those people are in the Legion...I'll probably serve in the Garrison, and maybe the Gendarmerie. And besides...if I die, it's for the sake of humanity, right?"

"Humanity my ass," he scoffed, pushing his glasses up his nose, "What I see is a bunch of kids not knowing what they're doing. Parents just accepting the fate of their children, letting them out, having them killed just like that. Go for the Military Police. Your family will thank you, if anything."

"Dr. Jaeger, I thought you agreed with Father I would make my own decisions...I'm old enough." Despite my young age...those of that time believed me to be old, and even then...I was much more mature than the others around me.

"I did. He agreed in the first place that you shouldn't even go through training. But I said to let you have it. I agreed to let you see how bad it is, so you'd come running, safely back with your parents and your younger sister."

"Mikasa? I'm going through it so I can protect her too."

"What? Leaving her alone like that? For 3 years?"

"They're not going to be like, murdered anytime soon."

"You don't know, Mizuki. Anything could happen, and it's your responsibility as the eldest sibling to take care of your family."

"That's why I'm serving - so I CAN protect them."

"You don't understand my point...the time you leave them is not worth the amount of training or dying or whatever just to make yourself stronger. Being with them is the best you can do."

I ignored his logic. "W-whatever. I just...made my decision already. I'm not going back."

The doctor looked at me, his mirthful eyes slowly condensing into a calm, yet chillingly cold and icy gaze. "One day, I fear you may learn to regret your decision."

At the edge of the thinning crowd, those who were impatient began to grow restless. A few young boys were beginning to shove and push, causing a ruckus. Murmurs arose as the scene began to grow rowdier.

"Hey! Cut that out! Stop shoving me!"

"I'm not shoving you. You're the one stepping on me."

The boy glanced downwards at his brown boot, eyes flaring when a visible scruff adorned the cap of the shoe. He glanced upwards again, his eyes locking onto the culprit, a scowl beginning to form, eyebrows knitting together. From the look of his expression, I could tell he was not comfortable waiting in line, and had been here for awhile. Something about him caught me off guard...but I could not tell what it was.

He seemed to be like the rest of the children gathering around here...

"Stepping on you? You mean you cut in front of me?" The other boy's voice grew louder by the second. The first one remained his composure.

"I never cut you, boy. I was here first."

Something about the way he said boy.

The other boy's expression registered denial of the statement. "What? You were not!"

"Yes, indeed I was. I would most appreciate it if you get your face out of mine..." The first boy stared defiantly at his intruder, eyes a stormy shade.

"Got a problem? You want to fight?! You're so puny I could flip you upside-down in a second."

The insult to his stature seemed to trigger an anger in the boy, and he stepped forward to oppose the other boy. "You've said the wrong thing now." His voice was eerily calm, yet with a strange, almost murderous intent...like a storm ready to break.

The boy had dark hair swept across his forehead, messily parted in the middle, choppily undercut behind the mop of tousled, raven locks. His pale complexion intensified his dark features- stormy dark cerulean eyes, a deep, angled jaw, a sharp nose, and his lips, now taut with anger.

Looking at him, I registered what I found so different...He had seemed to be our age...but looking at his deep-set eyes, hollowed and darkened, his visage, rough and dark...he seemed much older. His tiny frame of a body did not match his shadowy face.

I could be wrong...there are some peculiar children who have gone through the horrors of this world and come out looking ten years older...that grim, dark look in their eyes, knowing all that we don't know.

The other boy had a quick flash of long, messy blonde hair, a darker complexion, and bright, viridian orbs. He was tall and lanky, obviously a farm boy from his build, hands, and tan.

I quickly dubbed them Blonde and Dark Hair.

The fight that ensued was brief, very much one-sided.

"Said the wrong thing...what about this, you cocky little twerp..." the Blonde growled, quickly stepping forward to strike out. The strike was unexpected, and very hastily swung, resulting in the punch landing, but it hooked downward, snagging the other's lip on his own teeth.

Dark Hair's head snapped back stiffly and he narrowed his eyes, darkening with rage. He touched his mouth, where his lip was cut and wiped away the small bead of scarlet forming.

"You want a fight? Well, you've got one." he said between gritted teeth, and landed a punch in Blonde's stomach. The punch landed well - one that could've only been done by experience, I noted grimly - swift and to the point. The strike was so quick, I could barely catch it as it happened. Blonde staggered back, coughing dryly from the air forced out of his body, raggedly dragging himself upright again and put his swinging hastily once again. He aimed for Dark's already injured face...a big mistake in the other's experience.

One, it was too slow to match the other's swiftness. Two, the high and wide swing left him vulnerable for another crucial and perhaps critical strike from Dark.

Dark Hair ducked and slid to the right, moving to Blonde's side and punching him in the gut again, this time, with his entire body weight behind it. Blonde gasped and was pushed down by the sheer force. He hit the ground with a loud thud and cried out in pain. After a confused second, he got up warily and returned to his fighting stance. Dark Hair made an annoyed sound and cocked his head to the side.

"Haven't you got the idea? I don't want to waste my breath...and perhaps hurt you permanently. Stop your foolishness and apologize for your mistake already."

"ARAGGH! You piss me off, with that disgusting face of yours and that knowing look like you're better than me. How dare you-

In the middle of the fight, the line had completely cleared, and even the bystanders that wanted to watch knew from the first hit who was going to win. The roster was completely empty except for a man who looked to be Blonde's father, impatient and even unwilling to stop his son's fight. Nobody seemed to accompany Dark Hair.

I sighed and frowned at the scene which blocked my way. "Hey...may I please sign up now?"

They turned to face me. They both looked startled at the higher pitched voice. Blonde stared at me with a scowl. Dark Hair straightened up to look at me with a questioning gaze.

"What?" Blonde questioned me with complete and utter annoyance.

"I said can you move? It's useless to just stand there and trade blows. Weren't you both going to do something here? I have business as well. You're the over angered one, from what I've seen." I said, my voice coming out louder than I expected. He looked taken back. Dark Hair rolled his eyes, returning to his own tasks.

"Tch. Just move out of the way...girl. Don't interfere." he retorted, turning back to face his opponent. I only smiled sweetly and glanced at Dark Hair, who was completely ignoring Blonde and concerning over the spot of blood that started to well up again.

To this day...I still do not question why I extended my kindness to him. I turned to Dark, removing a handkerchief from my pocket. I held it out to him.

"Here, you still have blood on your lip. You can keep it." I said and he stared at me before frowning and scoffing. He swatted my hand aside quite roughly and the handkerchief fell to the dirt. I let out a small gasp and snapped back my stinging hand. I bit back the lump in my throat and the tears in my eyes.

"Keep your words to yourself, girl. I don't need your sympathy." he said darkly and turned away to the soldier at the roster. He was a Garrison by the uniform. He stared curiously at Dark while he signed the slip in his hands. The boy stalked away with the shady looking man.

Blonde scoffed at my attempt to reason with him, and I still stood there, finally stiffly bending to pick up the fallen white lace. Blonde signed his name and left just as quickly, and the quarrel was ended just like that. I squatted in the dirt there, holding back my confusion and tightly gripping the handkerchief.

"Hey, Miss? Are you signing up too?" the Garrison man called. I stood up quickly and walked over to the man, a strange anger boiling up in me. I snatched the quill away and carefully scrawled my name on the last blank at the end of the page. I saw his name and muttered it to myself.

I looked at the columns next to the blank for the name. Guardian; Age; Date of Birth. Details will be sent to your residence.

I quickly scrawled my Father's name. 12. April 21st y. 809.

"Ah, well, then, hmm, Miss Mizuki Ackerman, you are the last to sign up! Hope to see the greatest of you." The man smiled and I left, still muttering his name to myself.

"What a strange person." I breathed, saying his name one last time, full of an insatiable curiosity.

"Rivaille. Levi Rivaille. It'll quite a pleasure to acquaint."

I watched as the time flew. It slipped through my fingers like sand, falling faster than I could catch up. I turned 13 in a blink of an eye. Mikasa was eight. Dr. Jaeger still came up the hilly mountainside, our grazing farm and tomato garden to check up on our health regularly.

The Doctor's son came around sometimes; he was Mikasa's age. There were very few children around who the Doctor's son knew, and the quiet little boy had the brightest eyes, full of adventure.

My little sister was quiet, sticking behind my skirts every single time.

I did not forget that person's name. It made my excitement boil within me...to exact the question that had been within me the moment he slapped my hand.

"Why?"

A person would normally accept kindness, would they not?

The letter came a month after the sign-up. It explained what I was about to face against, the physical requirements, and the ramifications if I failed to meet standards. It explained the contract...that I would sign my name to insure that I would stay for those required six years, and that my death if in any case was on my fault and not the government's. It explained what I needed to do, where to go, when to go, what I needed to do, what my family could do, what they could not do.

I was to pack a limit of ten pounds of my belongings into a bag that I could carry comfortably and would be able to fit whatever I brought into a box of 5 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet. I should not bring many personal items, because whatever we had would be open for burgling. In any case, I should bring very little, it said, because the majority of our clothing would be our uniform. However, as students, and depending on the regiment we enlist to, we would usually be able to return to our families for holidays, and on certain weekends, have free time within range of the city.

I was to prepare myself for rigorous physical training that if I was not ready, would suffer greatly and be cut from the squad. That was optional of course, but it was highly recommended we prepare. Living quarters would be uni-gender, so if I had any problems, I should quit now. Families were allowed to send packages up to five pounds to the trainee limited once a month, and thus would depend once we join our faction. The Training Compound was located on the inside of Wall Rose, outside of Wall Sina. It was located directly outside the Erhmich District and above the Trost District, more towards Wall Sina, on the farthest northern edge of Southern City of Wall Rose.

I was to be there in four months. My thirteenth birthday would pass; we would begin the training towards the beginning of August. I signed the paper, "I understand all the consequences of my decision and the information provided through this telegram. If I fail to oblige to the requirements listed, I will face the consequences above understood."

I had hurriedly accepted anything...too willing to risk my life just to achieve my little dream, my little ambition, having no idea what I was to face...thinking all this was just for me to get stronger...a little workout session, a bit of time to pass and I would be back before I knew it.

My mother wanted me to make my own decisions and would support me in all my cause and reason. I was thirteen, the appropriate age of adulthood. My mother did not know what lie before me. She thought just the same as I did. My father however, understood more...but he did not understand the full extent of the terrible decision I had made.

He tried to persuade me...but to mine and my mother's insistence, he agreed.

...would I learn to regret this choice?

I was to leave for almost 6 years. I would graduate at 15, nearly 16, and return, a full-fledged soldier at the age of 20. My ambition blinded me with dreams and fantasies of my strength, fighting against a horrid enemy, protecting my little sister, protecting my family.

The morning came...when I would depart. I had packed most of my simple clothing, along with what my mother had made for me...a few night-slips and button-ups. To my surprise, my parents had given me new clothing...store-bought, tailored, and not handmade. I nearly choked on tears when I realized how expensive it must've been. I nearly decided to quit when I saw my mother, smiling, sadness pooling in her eyes from the thought that her daughter would leave her for nearly a decade.

I buttoned up my white blouse, crisp from the hands of a tailor. I pulled on my fitted riding slacks, perfectly seamed against my thigh. I pulled on and laced up my genuine leather riding boots...specially made for heavy usage. I smiled...crying on the inside...as I embraced my parents, silently thanking them for the gift. Finally, my mother pulled out a red ribbon from her apron, wrapping it around my collar and tying it into a bow.

"Red to remember me by. Red to remember your father. Red to remember your sister."

"I know, mother." I said, pride glistening in my eyes. They smiled brightly and patted my back. Finally, slowly...I turned to my sister.

My star, my light, my little hope within my soul. The only reason I had to survive...

I knelt down to give Mikasa a warm hug. Her little fingers entangled into my long hair. Mother often said Mikasa was my younger twin. I was looking forward to when she would've grown much the next time I saw her. Mikasa, with her innocent, oblivious eyes, stared into mine, sweetly reminding me about my departure.

"Sis, are you leaving? Come back for dinner, okay?"

"Of, course! Mikasa, you behave, I'll be gone for a long time."

"A long time?"

"Yes, I'll be in training!"

"Training? For what?"

"To become a soldier."

Her eyes grew large with wonder.

"Wow! Big Sister is going to be a knight in shining armor! You're going to come back and rescue me, right?" she whispered excitedly. I grinned.

"Yes, Princess Mikasa. Your Knight shall come to save thou from the evils of this world."

I heard her tinkling laughter, like musical bells, for the last time.

Since I lived in the outer walls, there was a soldier to accompany me to the big cart that drove all the recruits who were too far to walk or arrive in a timely manner. The man had arrived at the door promptly five minutes before this scene and began conversing with my father stiffly. I shook with an internal excitement as I said my farewells to my family. The soldier seemed exhausted and weary from his tedious task of leading all the young recruits to some big hay cart in the middle of the city...

"Miss Ackerman? Time to leave." The Garrison man called. Mother smiled one last smile and took the silver chained necklace from inside her blouse to clasp the chain around my own neck, her tears silently falling on the bright jade pendant that hung heavily at the end.

"It was passed down for generations. The Orientals made it as a charm, to keep you safe. Good luck, darling."

Father took from his belt, a worn leather case. I knew it immediately.

"My lucky hunting knife. My father's and now yours. Shame I didn't have a son to pass it onto. Well, this daughter's a good enough one." He smiled brightly, his eyes sparkling as he winked at me. I hugged both of them quickly and pecked Mikasa on the head before grabbing my bags and running out the door.

They saw me go, as a child and an eager lamb, stumbling on its own feet.

When I come back, I thought, they would see me as a skilled soldier, ready to serve the King and save humanity. Ready to serve my family, filling pride in our name.

Little did I know then, of that ignorant thought, little did I know of the truth behind it all.

The soldier led me down the mountainside, past the green farmland, and to a horse.

The trek downwards made the pack on my back jiggle furiously, rubbing sores into my shoulders from the straps digging into my skin. I suddenly wished I didn't bring anything at all...but I soon resolved myself to face the pain, for carrying the pack for military training - including the fighting equipment - much be far worse than this small weight rubbing a little blister on my shoulder.

He led me to a horse and said that he hoped I knew how to ride. Thank the gods Father taught me awhile back. I was never fond of it. It was, simply, riding on a beast that jerked and twisted you around, and you had no control over its mind or body. I could never control the animals...the chickens would rave at me, the horsed kicked and jumped me, the mules braying whenever I came close, and the damn cows would never let me milk them, uttering some loud absurd if I touched them.

I always wondered how mother could do it. I shuddered at the remembrance of the beady eyes of those horrendous chickens. The only time I liked seeing them was on Christmas Night, served with rosemary and potatoes.

I manage to keep my nausea of the moving beast down, but the simple task of keeping myself on the damn beast was a whole other situation. I jerked back and forth, grabbing onto horse-hair, straps, the saddle, anything to keep myself from being thrown off. The horse beneath me was growing more and more uneasy with every step, whinnying painfully, throwing its head around this way and that.

Immediately, the soldier, sensing the horse's unease, jumped off his own and rushed over to mine, pulling me down safely before the horse bucked and kicked wildly, running around, crazed. I lay in the grass by the dirt road, breathing heavily, and glad that I had escaped a painful injury, if not death by horse-fall.

"I see you're not used to horse-back riding." The soldier mused, his voice tinged with a humorless sarcasm, almost annoyance. I stood up quickly, hiding my burning cheeks at his inconvenience.

"Q-quite so. What am I going to do now...?" I said, motioning to the still crazed horse, blatantly unwilling to let me ride on it.

"You can ride behind me on mine...but you have to hold on tight."

I reluctantly agreed, barely knowing this man...but it would save more time than having to walk me by foot all the way to the city. We were still far into the countryside...and it wouldn't be another twenty to thirty minutes on horse-back, if we were quick, to the edge of Wall Maria's South City Port. Hastily, we tied my pack onto the now more calmed horse and tied him to the soldier's horse. Then, with the help of a boost, I got on behind him and to his instruction, wrapped my arms around his waist.

I suddenly noticed the soldier's face. He wasn't more than 19 or 20. Perhaps...he wasn't even 16 or 17. His face wasn't the worst either...in fact, it was even handsome...attractive. I was glad I was behind him, so he couldn't see my red face, pressed against his Garrison jacket, smelling the masculine scent...

Without thinking, I shook my head furiously, trying to clear my childish thoughts. He was much older than I, and I was nobody...just someone he was escorting, I would never see him again in my entire life...

"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice soft. I quickly responded, realizing he must've felt my head shaking.

"N-no, I'm fine. I was trying not to get a headache...er...yeah..."

He laughed. "That's only going to make it worse. Well, I'm on a time schedule...so I'm going to go as fast as I can, alright? Do you mind?"

"No...It's fine." I said, still wondering about his voice...so soft...when I was thrust forcefully as he giddy-upped the horse.

"Hold tight...you might fall off." He whispered and off we went, sailing past the scenery I little saw in my entire lifetime. Not once had I ever seen the city within Wall Maria, only the Shiganshina district. The world whirled around me, disappearing quickly in blurs of color. Finally, what seemed like the entirety of time, we finally arrived at the edge of the city, and he entered, clopping slowly. A crowd of people busied themselves around several large hay carts, where many other guides and recruits were stationed. The soldier helped me down, then he untied my pack and handed me my belongings.

I could see worry in his eyes as he saw my unsteadiness, unused to hard ground after the lengthy ride. I smiled, nodding my thanks silently. But he stopped me.

"Hey, good luck on your training. You'll eventually learn to get used to horse-riding. Take that from an upperclassmen like me. My name is Wren...Wren Heinrich. Maybe I'll see you again." He said with a playful smile, turning to leave.

"Mizuki. Mizuki Ackerman." I said, a grin of amusement on my face. I saw him smile a bit, stopped by the announcement of my name, but he jumped on his horse and rode off without another word.

I couldn't stop myself from grinning like a madman. Only later, did I find out about Heinrich. Heinrich...that poor soul.

A soldier's life calls not for games. The game of infatuation only causes one to lose your true purpose.

I checked my items to see if I had missed anything and saw the knife sticking out of my bag. I grabbed it and stuffed it deeper within my belongings. Father would probably liked if I kept it safe. I took another look at Mother's pendant and examined it. It was a small square piece of shining, brilliant green jade. The purest kind.

Tiny veins of white and light green ran through it. Engraved in the center was a strange writing. It had a bunch of lines connected to each other. Mother said it was Oriental writing, 'Characters'. I just shrugged. It apparently was good luck.

"Hey! You! You're supposed to get to the Compound, right?"

"Yeah-"

"Get on."

I was quickly shoved onto a hay cart, already stuffed with other rural kids like myself. The recruits were jammed into a few hay carts, hasted by the impatient authorities, tired of all the kids already. Almost as immediately as we were herded into the carts, the driver was hustling the horses on. It wasn't going to be long...

The wall loomed before us. Wall Rose...its magnificence shined gloriously, and with a large creak, the gate was opened. Light shone, bright, blinding...and suddenly I was through the other side. The city, bustling with soldiers, filled to the brim with other humans...it was surely an awesome sight that inspired one's excited spirit.

The carts quickly caused many to jump away from the streets, the horses neighing at their unsteady cargo. I held onto my own bag tightly, tightening my jaw as I was bumped against one kid and another. We hit a bump, and I saw a kid nearly fall off the edge of the weak hay cart. Instinctively, my hand whipped out and grabbed his tunic. With all my effort, I heaved the poor kid back onto the hay cart. He breathed heavily. His blonde hair plastered to his sweaty forehead.

On closer inspection...It was the blonde kid. Blonde. The one who had picked a fight. He registered the same recognition as I, and he softly smiled at me.

"Thanks." He mumbled, and I nodded. The hay carts jumbled along the cobbled streets, spreading farther and farther into the city walls. We were in the Trost District, the Southern Port Gate of Wall Rose. The walls had four port cities for four directions. They were the 'bait' cities that allowed the Military to save time and assemble forces. If any threats were detected, they'd have to breach the walls twice to get inside the actual vicinity of said wall. The four Districts per wall each assumed a bubble like shape, resembling half of an ovular pill. Their length also were militarily designed to buy time. The bubbles were designed to conceal and quarantine any breach if it ever happened.

We moved through the Trost district within a few minutes. In every District lay the main street - usually for the Military Forces to move through at a faster rate, and for the trade and production rates to decrease in time. Along the main roads were usually man-made canals that trickled into the rivers and streams that crossed the little bubble of humanity that we left. Ferries lining the waterways crowded the air with thick steam and smoke.

Once again, the wall loomed before us, and the few who had seen a wall awed in sight of its fifty foot trellises. Cannons lined the tops, Garrison troops milling about, directing drivers. They were expecting us.

With the faint yells above us, the wall shuddered, and an opening slowly appeared. Horses were whipped forward, spurs digging into their flanks, their high pitched screams of anxiety filling the air.

We were jolted as they sped up, already impatient once more to get to the compound - on the far side of the wall. The city that encompassed the wall after the Trost District soon thinned out to a few misshapen buildings. The road soon dwindled to dirt, and the only others on the same route were the merchants driving their goods to Wall Maria. The countryside inside Wall Rose was significantly flatter than that of Wall Maria. We drove across it for a good three or four hours, passing villages and farming communities galore.

I watched as the poverty decreased, the closer we got to the inner wall. This was the workforce of our tiny Humanity, the ones who gave their grain and flour to the nobles, the ones who sacrificed their hours of harvesting and sowing to give to fat officers at their Military Police Banquets in honor of their "Lord Savior Monarch" that did nothing but sit on a regal throne, watching as the Officers made their corrupted deals, advised by a council of selfish gluttons that only wished to feed the little world of humans lies and glorious thoughts of sovereignty and revolution in serving our government so they themselves could hide away in their safe little island, eating the finest, clothed in the finest, bathed in nothing but the finest -

And yet the whole of humanity is sacrificed to save their petty little bottoms. The whole of humanity is slaughtered before one of their hairs may touch a Titan.

At last, the Stohess District is in view, and the looming compound on the barren land, off from the city. The military compound lay in the valley of a hill, the city connected by the shallow valley across the hill. The hay carts stopped us at the city, where the Military Compound's large iron gates were visible. From there, one could walk to the training compound.

I followed the crowd, and a long line trailed into the gates, stopping by the little box constructed out of pieces of wood, information given there. From there, one could receive Barracks info and obtain your passes.

The line was tremendously long. I happened to stop by the end of the line, when not many people were arriving anymore. The majority of the recruits were done...and I was the last to arrive. The line loomed before me, a task of patience I don't think I could withstand...

Thinking about my own misfortune, I walked straight into the person in front of me. I realized my mistake and began uttering a long line of apologies.

"Hey-" He stopped abruptly.

"S-sorry." I said, embarrassed, and began bowing furiously. When he didn't speak I looked up to see that it was...

Him.

My breath caught in my throat. Part of me wanted to apologize for my action so many months ago, no matter how brief the interaction, yet half of me angered at his impudence. I wanted to ask him why...he had rejected my kindness...why he seemed completely different from the rest of the people here.

He stared at me for awhile before the recognition sparked in his eyes.

"Y-You're-"

"You're that girl. Hmph." He said roughly and turned around again. Once again, the pang of embarrassment ran through me as my ears turned red, and I frowned deeply. I didn't want to pick a fight, so I shut my mouth and hoped that I would have a better chance later to approach the strange boy.

The line moved up at a steady rate. It wasn't long before I was at the gate. "NEXT!" The man called obnoxiously.

"Name?" he said lazily.

"Ackerman. Mizuki Ackerman."

"Lodge 13, Bunk 3. Here's the map. Ah, here's the lineup. See your name? Yes, that's where you'll be standing for the Commander to do the first assessment. Get there after you put your stuff in. Get your jacket on, it should be with your bunk as you arrive. Don't you dare be late." the man said. He looked tired and weary from telling every person this.

With a small glance from the hastily drawn map, I could make out the buildings resembling boxes on the paper, arranged the same. The Iron Gate was behind me now, and the Fountain Square lay directly before it, and beyond that was the Central Hall, where the commerce of the three Military Forces gathered. The Hall was mostly a spacious and open room that opened on many sides, adjoining the three offices and correlating with the Training Grounds. On the far left was the HQ of the Scouting Legion, complete with their dormitories and warehouses, stables and own grounds. The Garrison and Gendarmes HQs were located elsewhere - but their central Organizing Central Offices were located next to the Legion HQ.

The Training Compound was located next to the Legion Headquarters because the Legion were the top-class fighters. They shared the vast grounds specially engineered to train a soldier in the ways of defeating the monstrous Titans. The looming wooden structures jeered at the passing soldiers, creaking back and forth in a strong gale. Only the strongest survived the Legion. The average life-span of the soldier there lasted, if you were lucky, a year or two. The veterans were hailed the strongest of humanity, the best and top-class killers of our dwindling numbers. That is...because they ventured past the walls that protected us to seek answers of our enemy, to harbor hopes of survival in their breast, burning bright in the passion that flew on their capes.

The Wings of Freedom were the symbol of hope - yet to all, we knew that it was the symbol of a short and tragic, vain life.

The Garrison were the Wall-defenders. They had the job of keeping the Walls intact, preventing breaches, and were the first to go if there were threats detected. They were the soldiers in the front-lines sacrificed if the threat of our walls falling ensued. But, for nearly a century, the walls held strong. The Garrison was the most common occupation taken up after graduation from Training School...the top ten usually all took their head at the Military Police, and the rest of the pack either signed up to die quickly, or pray to God for the easy job and get off duty after three years, living on a meager wage of the government. That was my intention. Even if I made the top ten...the fat Officers on their thrones disgusted me.

The lone windmill stood, the two rows of seven barracks behind it. The dining hall stood across the lonely podium.

I looked at the map and looked ahead of me. I could see the numbers painted on each of the barracks. I quickly shuffled to the far back, where mine was. As I entered, I immediately took notice of two familiar figures, Levi and Blonde, whom both took the same recognition to each other and I. Rows of bunks lined the two sides on the long room, the ends served as bathrooms for the opposite genders. I was slightly surprised the barracks housed both genders and they didn't have separate ones for each.

It wouldn't matter anyways, I had nothing to hide, and it wasn't like I was the type to care. I had nothing to show either...

I found my bunk number and looked to my sides. Levi was on my right, while Blonde looked un-amused as he assembled his items below him. I looked under my bunk and perceived a frail figure slipping on his jacket. He caught my glance and looked away just as quickly, hurrying out the door.

I was surrounded by idiots, if I put the thought to it.

I set down my items and saw that the headboard behind my bed was actually a chest and had a small shelf surface behind the hinges. I took out my father's hunting knife and placed it down next to a small paper photo of my parents. Then a framed one of Mikasa. I set that one inside my chest, wishing not to break the glass, but took out the photo out to gaze at it once more.

"Your knight is almost ready." I said, smiling as the motionless face stared back at me.

I checked the colossal clock on the wall and quickly stuffed my little clothing I brought and rushed outside, pulling on the Trainee's jacket. The fresh thick cotton was stiff on my limbs, the sword-insignia shining brightly on my back. I headed to the line, memorizing my place by a simple glance at the paper previously. I was in the second row, third from the left. Levi was right on my right and Blonde on his right side. He was the far edge of the left.

An aged man came out, and the last stragglers rushed to their positions. He looked dark and ominous, full of a dark history. His eyes were sunk in, though his eyes were shining and bright, sharp like a hawk's. His eyes never ceased to observe every minute detail. I could tell his dissatisfaction at the late comers by the way they stormed, glinting dangerously in the bright sunlight.

I remember the pose for salutes in the presence of authority and as the signal of pride in military. Right first curled up over the heart. Left fist on the small of the back, feet a shoulder width apart, back as straight as a ruler. I quickly took on the sense to salute in presence of the Commander, his aura looming and commanding without uttering a single word. A single glance could send a Trainee to knees, groveling at his feet. He stepped on a high podium and his voice boomed out.

"Today, you are all officially Trainees. Trainees for the greater of humanity. To become soldiers, men and women who will fight for the King. Our dearest monarch has provided all of human-kind a safe haven from the dangers you all know about this world. In return, you all have signed up to repay his priceless duty to rule us, and you will serve under his authority, supreme and sovereign. Our duty as Soldiers is to protect him, and protect the people he cherishes. We are the King's pawns, and from this point on - it is crucial you understand that your life is very much expendable. Because you have signed that paper, you are now a life in sacrifice. To disobey this duty will mean irreversible punishment."

His eyes glinted once more, daggers piercing into us with every word. "Punishment, as several of you will learn today, means you will be...sacrificed to increase the chances of survival for those who obey. Duty is to the monarch. Duty is to protect and defend humanity. To serve in humanity's stead is the greatest honor. To die in service of your fellow humans is not in vain, you have contributed to the day when we will conquer the Titans! You are serving, from this day on, to save the world! That is your goal! Your mission! Let's see if you are worthy!"

I listened, though I seriously wasn't paying attention much. Silence was brief before he scanned the ranks, waiting for our response. Almost instantly, we knew that it wasn't a game. It was something much worse than that...

We held our fists over our heart and accepted his authority with a loud, "Yes, Sir!"

He went to the first man on his left, the first row. All eyes followed him in curiosity. He stopped before the mousy boy.

"Name!"

The boy saluted him quickly.

"Ronald Karis, sir!"

"Well, Ronald, where are you from?"

"From the Trost District of Wall Rose, Sir!"

"Then you've probably never had to fear the Titans?"

"Um...Not...not really." The boy trailed off, confused by the question. Commander took it as an act of disobedience and his eyes glinted malevolently.

"Say Sir behind every sentence!" He bellowed. The boy shook under his piercing gaze

"Y-Yes sir!"

"Answer my question..."

"No! I don't fear Titans, sir!" The boy said, terrified. Commander resumed to question him, satisfied with his answer.

"What are you here for?"

"My Father sent me here to join the Military Police, sir!"

"Oh, so you want to escape and become safe and sound, eh?"

"Uh, no sir! I just want to serve the King, Sir!"

"Oh? What a lame excuse, hmm? Karis?"

Ronald's lip trembled and he shivered, trying to look away.

"I don't...Y-yes...it's a b-bad reason..." Karis said, his voice on the edge of tears, confused, dazed.

With a satisfied grunt, he moved onto the next person. And the next, and every one of them fell down, losing themselves, not even sure what their true goals were. I got his point, he was breaking them, renewing them, and making sure they understood that this wasn't a game. I saw many, after he left, with fear, doubt, and disappointment in their eyes. Finally, after what seemed like a tense while, he reached me. I was before Levi and Blonde. I swallowed.

He didn't even have to ask. I stood pose and stared fiercely into his hawk eyes.

"Ackerman Mizuki, sir!"

"Hm. You're quick."

"I'm from the Farmlands from inside Wall Maria, sir!"

"Yes. You're quite safe. Have you ever seen the Titans?"

"No, sir, but I have seen the Scouting Legion return, Sir. I have saw the agony they have wreaked upon us."

"Are you scared?"

"Quite a bit, Sir!"

"My, an honest answer. But even if it's a bit, can you take it?"

"Huh-"

Before I knew it, he punched me in the gut. I nearly doubled over, but I gritted my teeth and knew that if I submitted, he would only see me as weak. I took a deep breath and stood up straight again, though clearly pained, and shakily held my pose.

He eyed me curiously. They all stared at me in wonder. Levi looked unimpressed. My lip quivered and I blinked hard to keep the tears from falling down.

"You're still a weakling. I can see you're about to cry. So, what do you want to do?"

"I want to become strong so I can protect my younger sister, and my family."

"Oh? Strong? Can you? Isn't that the boy's job...or is because you are the oldest and there is no boy in your family...?"

"I believe I can, Sir. My parents never had a boy, Sir...I-I am strong enough to take that place." I choked out, straining against the pain and blinking fast to keep in the tears.

"Good." he said and moved onto Levi. After he left me, I relaxed and coughed slightly, I looked in my hand to see a few droplets of blood. I was horrified. I clutched my stomach and grimaced, hoping I could stop this dangerous swaying of mine. Thank the gods that I recovered quickly enough to remain upright.

Levi stood slack until the man came to him.

"Levi Rivaille, sir. From the Stohess District." He did the pose. His eyes never left those evil hawk eyes.

"Oh? It's one of the inner walls. Surprising, surprising." Commander's eyes took on another shade...of interest.

"Yes."

"Hmm. What do you plan to do?"

"I'm expected to join The Legion. Smith will say otherwise if he wishes so. I'm just here for the minimal training before he sends me off...it's the bargain, if you haven't heard."

"Irwin? That's right... You're the young one the whole compounds' up in flames of gossip...Good luck, boy." Commander gave an air of indifference and moved on wordlessly. I gaped at him in astonishment.

Irwin Smith, the Commander of the Scouting Legion. Humanity's Steel Soldier. The one who has survived and led the most fearsome group to battle the Titans. How could he possibly have recruited under the most prestigious name in military history?! The more I was around this person...the more astonished I grew towards him...the more the mysterious aura of curiosity seem to reach me...the insatiable waves of interest hitting me.

He moved on to the Blonde. Commander barked out his orders.

"Name?!"

"Lucas Bertson, Sir."

"And you want?"

"To save humanity."

"What?"

"That's right, sir."

"You god-forsaken liar. You're probably one of those pricks who wanted to join the Police...but after hearing our good man Levi here, you up and go with besting with your pride, eh? Scum, lowliest of scum...you don't deserve a place in these ranks."

It ended with Commander scowling. Lucas didn't flinch, however. His face stood still by his answer, still prideful and honest, his eyes unwavering. And by that, I saw the slightest glint of approval as Commander moved onto the next man.

I stared at the Blonde. So his name was Lucas.

I stood there until the rest of the people were assessed. It took no longer than a few seconds for every person to break. I realized there how easily our facade of honor and pride was shattered. It took a few words in the right cracks, where everybody had their sense of doubt, and you fell, defeated, lost, unable to find your true meaning anymore. I had almost succumbed when he questioned my ability to truly go through with this...he questioned whether my decision was right or not...he questioned the validity of my argument I had used to come here, that was it truly all going to end out well? Was I really going to just come out six years later with my achievements and it'll be the end?

I pushed away the doubts as they swirled, mingling the atmosphere of confusion of my surrounding Trainees. Only Levi seemed unperturbed by the air. Finally, the last boy was beaten, and Commander stalked off. He called out a short order before truly leaving.

"You'll have the rest of the evening easy...take it, it's a rare gift, trust me. Line up in single file on your way past the gates to the barracks - based on my assessment, I shall pick out the ones whom will receive the punishment. But don't keep your hopes up if you were not punished immediately - you may be sent sooner or later, ha, be prepared. Tomorrow, show up in your lines at 6:00 am sharp. You are dismissed."

We followed his instruction and assembled the long single-file line. As we went past the gate, Commander would inspect each and every one of us. I remembered the first boy - Ronald Karis...he passed safely. Quickly, however, Commander began pulling aside others...and whence he came to our line, us three, Lucas, Levi, and I walked through. The girl behind me was not so lucky. She began sobbing when Commander stepped in front of her, nodding softly. I didn't look back.

I knew immediately what the "punishment" was. The familiar carriages, not hay carts, but covered wagons, stood by the road behind the podium and barracks...They came to pick up the sick and elderly every few months...especially when there were droughts or famines, if the harvest weren't very good that year...or if the merchants failed their trades...

Then soldiers would herd the sick and elderly, often orphaned children as well, onto these wagons. They said to the people that they would be sent to somewhere for them to be away from the town, special provisions for their needs...But in reality, we all knew where they would go. We all knew that they would be led outside the walls to be fed to the Titans. It was so that they'd have less to feed, have less to care for...and increase the survival rates of those "worthy" to live.

Most of these recruits were orphaned children of dead parents anyways...parents that had served their pitiful terms in the military, dying "for humanity" but dying in vain, leaving their young children to die...So even if they were sacrificed to the Titans, it didn't matter, nobody would remember them, nobody would miss them...

Once the last person passed the gate and the wagons drove away, their black and somber covers fitting their destination...like a hearse driving away its morbid package, those who had passed the first assessment began to socialize as if nothing happened. Though, there were certainly those who had just lost their friends and kept their mortified faces. I was silent, watching the world around me...wondering what sort of life I would carry out from now on.

Chapter 1 END

AN: I would really like to thank all of my supporters and friends who have helped me so far. From the countless hours of rereading and criticism and tons of advice, I finally was able to commit myself to revise my story into, the ultimate Fiction in my own little Shingeki no Kyojin world...All my friends have done so much, and I really thank them from the bottom of my heart for putting out their time to even read this little fan-fiction of mine. ;) It's a pleasure to have you read this.

Read on! It gets better, like Chapter 4 is fucking badass...

Till the next.