I was there when it all started. I was there when they broke down the Wall, and I vowed to be there when we drove them back into the fiery pits of hell they came from. My destiny was lain before me since I was pushed out of my mother's womb, and I will fight for every man, woman, and child who live in fear of those monsters!

My name is Desmond Pixis, and this is my story…

The year is 845, late summer. The Pixis family have moved into their home in the Shiganshia District. Though they also had a home in Trost, Commander Pixis believed that it raised the morale of the people, seeing the commander live among them.

"Desmond, where are you?" A young voice called out. The name owner chuckled, and slid further into his hiding hole. It was a pleasant day, the sun was out, and people were enjoying their day. And a boy with scruffy red hair poked his head around the bend before skulking into the alley. "Come on, you're way better at this then I am!"

"Yeah," another voice rang out, another voice, almost identical cried, joining the first one. "Father wants us back at the house!" Desmond wasn't going to fall for their tricks, and he looked up at the rooftops. A soldier was sitting on the roof, chomping on a slice of dried meat. "Hey Seamus, have you seen Desmond?"
"Mason and James?" Seamus, the Garrison Regiment captain looked down at his younger brothers. "What're you doing out in this area! Mother told you not to come around the south wing!"

"We're looking for Desmond" Mason said, trying to blame it on the second of the four brothers. "Have you seen him?" Seamus was sitting right above the hiding brother, who looked at him and shook his head, quickly signing to him to tell them he was elsewhere.

"Um… yeah, I saw him earlier," Seamus nodded, pointing back towards the north of Shiganshia. "He was on his way to deliver a note to Dr. Jaegar of father, then he was heading home. If you hurry you'll catch him!" The boys thanked the soldier and ran of, back home. Seamus tutted and jumped down into the alley, and helped his younger up from barrels he was sandwiched behind. "Desmond, what're you doing? If dad caught you out here, he'd have a fit!"

"No he wouldn't!" Desmond protested childishly. "I'm just getting some exercise!" Seamus looked at his brother and nodded suspiciously.

"Which is why you're wearing that custom Three Dimensional Gear you got for your birthday last year?" On his tenth birthday, Desmond received a set of Three Dimensional Gear that was customized to his small body. Though both the set and wearer weren't fit for fighting titans, Desmond used it often, training to follow in his father's and older brother's shoes.

"I stole their sweet rolls and made a run for it," Desmond admitted with no shame, causing his older brother to laugh.

"Father would be proud that you're learning so fast. Why don't you cone with me on my patrol?" Seamus and Desmond walked out onto the street, sharing the stolen treats together.

"Has Father said when we can go back to Trost?"

"Our father, the Commander, said that we'd leave in a few months," Seamus answered, noticing how the civilians gave both of them looks. Desmond because of the fact he was a child in a soldier's attire, and how they both looked like Commander Pixis, and walked with his authority. "Though I'm staying here for a while. My squad was stationed here. I kinda like it here more. It feels like I'm on the front line of the battle…" Desmond looked at him with admiration, and also like he was crazy.

"But titans are scary, who'd want to fight them up close?" Desmond asked, but they both knew the answer. No one did, even though it was the most successful way of killing them, despite the human casualties.

"Anyway, I thought you liked it here, you've got those friends of yours. What're their names? Aaron, Albert and Marrisa?"

"It's Eren, Armin and Mikasa," Desmond corrected. "And they're pretty cool. Better than those pompous pricks from Trost, like Jean…" This made his older brother burst out laughing, needing to stop and actually collect himself.

"Baby brother, you're gonna be a commander one day, and you'll probably have to work with people like that, or even end up like that!"

"If that day ever comes, please throw me of the Wall…"

Later that afternoon, Desmond found his three friends playing by the river, reading a book.

"And there's a huge lake that's bigger than the land canned an ocean!" Armin said excitedly. "And the water is made of salt!"

"That's impossible," Eren dismissed, whilst Mikasa sat and watched on. "If there was such a thing, people would've used it all up by now!"

"But that's the thing, it never runs out!" It was at that moment that Desmond chose to approach them, looking over their shoulders.

"A book on the outside world? You know that's illegal…" All three of them turned around in surprise and shock.

"I-it's nothing!" Armin held the book closely to his chest, hiding it from view.

"Relax, I'm not going to report it. I came to bring you these." He handed them a small bag, and sat down next to Armin, his ODM gear at his house and put away.

"Wow, sweet rolls!" Eren gasped, taking one out and biting into it. "It's delicious! How'd you get these?"

"His father is Commander Pixis," Mikasa mumbled, nibbling on her own. "He can get just about anything." Desmond nodded simply, trying to play down his father's rank. Eren and Armin were shocked by that news though. They thought he was just another kid from Shiganshia, despite the fact that every six months he left for Trost and stayed there.

"You're seriously the Commander's son? That's incredible!" Eren said, pushing past Armin so he could get closer to the newcomer. "Does that mean you're going to join the military?"

"I don't really have a choice in the matter," Desmond admitted, lying back and staring at the sky. "My older brother Seamus is already the leader of the garrisoned troops in Shiganshia, so I don't have much choice."

"When I get older, I'm going to join the Scouting Legion!" Eren announced, smiling happily at the thought. "So I can see all the nice places in this book!"

"Wherever he goes, I go…" Mikasa mumbled, looking down into the river. "That is all that matters…" Desmond and Armin couldn't help but give each other a concerned look. Mikasa was always like this with Eren, and they both knew of the trauma she suffered underneath her calm exterior.

"I-I'm sure that he'll be alright, really!" Desmond laughed awkwardly, trying hard not to mess up. He was a social outcast, and had few friends, so he always worried about making himself look stupid. "What about you, Armin? Do you have any idea what you want to do?"

"My grandfather is a merchant, so I want to do lawn the trade too, although it isn't as impressive as the Scouts…"

"Nonsense, a merchant is just as important! Who do you think is able to supply the military with the supplies it needs to operate? Merchants! Who delivers food and other stuff to all of the towns? Merchants! Who pays for a majority of the militaries efforts? The merchants!" Desmond slumped back, staring up at the clouds drift by and over Wall Maria. "The way I see things, is that we're all part of a giant tribe, like a big pack of wolves! And we all have different roles: Some of us are the providers, like the hunters and farmers. Some of us are the caretakers, like Dr. Jaegar and Commander Pixis. While we're… we're the…"

"The next generation of soldiers to protect the rest!" Eren grinned. Clenching a triumphant fist.

"Yes, you could say that!" Desmond chuckled, clenching his own, weaker fist. "One day, we'll make it to the very top, you'll see!"