I do not own Attack on Titan. All characters belong to Hajime Isayama.
A lot of these fight are unlikely or never will happen with normal human strength, but the people of Paradis are not normal people.
845, few hours before the breach
Shiganshina was built as a sacrificial city, designed to attract Titans to one place so their defence can be focused there. During the first few years, there were few people in the city, many feared the Titans will somehow get inside the walls. After many years the population increase from a village to a city, where children and parents can go about their daily lives without fear, many had forgotten the reason a city was built here, they can sleep soundly knowing the titans cannot get in, not knowing other horrors beyond titans.
One such example is a boy whom was sleeping soundly under a tree, a lone tree atop a hill, as a girl was picking up kindling. Eventually she finished, she stand next to the boy, leaning over to look at him, he looks tense as if he would wake up any time. She was right, the boy gasped eyes unseeing for a moment before focusing on the girl "Mikasa, please stop that" the boy said, the newly discovered Mikasa said "Cain its nearly noon, Mrs. Yeager would be worried". The boy now named Cain sit up, mind still hazy from waking up, picking up the kindling pack, he was about to take a step before being stopped by Mikasa's word "Cain, you're crying again" raising his hand to his cheek, he could feel the tear tracks.
Shiganshina is a city, meaning there are no forest in it, to get kindling, people have to go into Wall Maria were the forest of giant trees are. They are called so for it sheer size with some surpassing the height of the Walls which is 50 metres. As Cain and Mikasa were at Wall Maria's entrance to Shiganshina they saw a familiar face walking to them. It is Cain's mom friend Mr. Hannes walking with unsteady feet with redden cheek, he was drunk again "Whoa, Cain why were you crying? Did Mikasa scold you again?" He said with a slur. While drunk, he can still see Cain's tear-stained tracks on his cheek, Cain would be impressed if Mr. Hannes didn't let out a loud burp. "You guys are drinking again" he stated evenly, Mr. Hannes looked at him sadly before answering "Yeah, all this standing around in the sun, guarding the wall, we'll bound to get thirsty" Cain just looked at him and his comrades impassively "How do you guys expect yourselves to fight well when you're like this" a moment passed before it was broken by Mr. Hannes "You used to be so passionate about this, protecting the city. After what happened to Eren..." Cain looked down to his feet "I still having nightmare about him. I'm scared" he said, "huh" Hannes said open-mouthed "What I saw, I-I feel like he's telling me something. I want to know what's out there, to make sure it was all a dream" after those words Hannes was left speechless. Even when they left he was still left reeling, Cain whose dream of defending this city, wants to join the Survey Corps, all because of a dream he had. "Oi!" someone is calling out to someone else, Hannes turned to look so there was no brawling but got the shock of his life when he saw the caller.
Cain and Mikasa were walking quietly before she spoke "Cain, do you really want to join the Survey Corps?" He turned to looked at her, as he was about to answer her the bell ring, signalling the Survey Corps return. Urging Mikasa to follow him, they went to the city entrance were the gate is only thing keeping the city and the outside world separated, once they were near the gate there was a crowd, there were too many people in the way to see at all, finding a crate they both jump up on it to get a better view. First they saw a squad leader whose focus was on them for a second before looking away, the next they saw were broken and injured soldier, there was a body on a cart, with a few unidentifiable objects wrapped up by cloths. "Moses! Moses!" A woman voice cried out, breaking out from the crowd into the middle of the street, stopping right in front of the commander of the Survey Corps, "Have you seen my son, Moses?" she pleaded gripping the front of the commander's cloak. The commander looked at her before saying "Its Moses' mum, bring it here" a soldier went to the wrapped up cloths, taking a seemingly random one before bringing it to them. Although Cain did see a letter M on the cloth, the woman, with a shaky hand peel off the cloth, Cain saw a hand before it was immediately covered back up. The woman's sobs increasing "That's all we managed to recover" the commander said sadly.
"Did my son help?" the woman's question left the commander open-mouthed, eyes unseeing, as the woman asked again, he answered "Yes, he did" turning to the crowd he address them "With these soldiers sacrifice, we've managed to get farther, with their sacrifice we've gain new intel, with their sacrifice, we managed to return" he turned to the woman "But I'm sorry" Cain was confused, "By my foolishness, your son died. By my orders, all these soldier had faced new fears. The titans are more dangerous than we thought" as soon as those words left the commander's mouth, Cain remembered a nightmare he had not long ago.
The land outside the walls were quite surprisingly peaceful, with it vast land and abundance of the forest of the giant trees, in this serenity a lone giant humanoid creature walked aimlessly having no clear direction, a titan, people called it. As Cain watched from a branch nearby he heard a thud and a whiring sound before a blur shot past him, seeing the Wings of Freedom insignia on their cloaks easily gave away who they are. There were ten soldiers but the titan still continue to walk aimlessly, seemingly content to ignore them, a soldier went behind the titan and slashed its nape, the titan let out a roar before falling. "Congratulations, with this we can mark a new territory for humanity's conquest to retake what once ours!" A soldier, possibly a commander said joyously. Cheers were heard, loud and victorious war cry rang out, they never heard it but Cain did, it scared him. The thumping, the ominous thumping that continuously increased in volume, before he woke up, he saw shadows, outlines of giant humanoid creatures all around them, surrounding them.
As Cain came back to the present by Mikasa's continuous shaking, they started walking back home, "Do you still want to join the Survey Corps? After what they said" the silence broken by her question, he glanced at her before answering "What they said gave me more proof, I need to know if there's more" she was quiet for a moment "Is this one of your dreams that you can remember?" he was quiet but him readjusting his kindling pack was enough of an answer for her "Did you remem-" her last question was cut off by his head shaking no. They reached the house without anymore question "We're back" Cain announced once inside the house, he stored the kindling they have gathered, Cain's mom, Carla Yeager complimenting the amount gathered.
Cain ducked his head "I slept halfway, mom" he muttered embarrassed, she puts her hand on her hip "Well young man, was it a good sleep? How dare you let Mikasa do all the work" she jokingly scold with a smile. The smile disappeared when he stayed quiet "Look I know you don't get much good sleep recently but don't be all gloomy" she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. To distract him she told him to get ready for dinner, their father was already at the table reading a newspaper, everything was quiet "Um, Cain-" whatever Mikasa wanted to say was cut off by three consecutive knocks on the door. Carla got up to greet them, as she opened the door she gasped, the other occupants concerned turned to look at her when they too saw who was at the door, standing there wearing a simple button-down shirt, black trouser, a coat with lots of pockets and an impish smile was their lost first born, Eren Yeager.
"Eren!" Cain cried out as he jumped up from his seat, rushing and hugging him, holding him tightly and never letting go "You're back!" he said happily, it felt like the curtains had been pulled back allowing the sun shines upon the room he calls life. Eren merely chuckle and return the hug, looking up he gave his father and mother an apologetic smile, "Mom, Dad, sorry I'm late" he said, Carla merely shook her head "You're here now, that's all that matters" she said. Dinner seems a lot more livelier now that Eren is back, Cain looked happier, mom felt relieved, dad' frown seems less prominent, while Mikasa was hiding her face behind a red scarf. A red scarf Eren distinctively remember Cain wearing it, after dinner was done Cain wanted to go out to tell Armin the good news, dad needed to go to the interior as his client is residing there.
"You three kids behave and be good to your mother while I'm gone" after kissing mom, dad picked up his briefcase and went to the door, he stopped at the door before turning around to Eren "I will catch up with you Eren, also since you're old enough I will show you what's under the basement" he said as showed a key. When dad had left Cain immediately jumped open his brother, "I can't believe dad is going to let you into the basement, why didn't he let me too?" he almost whined. Eren whose focus was at the door before turning to his little brother "maybe because I'm old enough and you're not" he said, raising an eyebrow at the end, Cain pouted before smiling sweetly "You will tell me right?" Eren seems to be thinking about it before saying with a firm "No" with a smile, "Besides, Armin still didn't know yet" Cain's eyes widen and after a hug from mom went to find Armin.
Cain and Mikasa were walking the streets trying to find Armin to tell him the good news, Eren's return really did bring up his low spirits as he was walking more confidently, more cheerful. Mikasa also felt herself being less tense, Eren will protect both of them, she is sure of that, hearing the sound of grunts and flesh hitting flesh. She was a little bit concerned when Cain became tense before sprinting down the street, but with the fire back in him, she felt as if she was seeing the real Cain again. The one who always concerns over everyone more than himself, the one who didn't hesitate to give a hug to them, to talk with them, letting them release all their frustration.
Three boys were surrounding a small blonde boy on the ground, beating him black and blue "Why don't you fight back, huh?" a kid said "Or are you too weak?" another punch. The boy stayed curled up into a ball, he took a shuddering breath before answering "Its because I'm right" the punch stopped "I am right and you're too weak to do anything so you beat me up" the bully glared down on him, readying for a punch a shout interrupted him "Hey, let him go!" the three bullies turned to see Cain running towards them. "Hey, its that Yeager kid" one of them said "Why did he care now?" Another questioned "Well I don't care, more to beat up" the leader of the three said. They faltered when they saw Mikasa's expression "L-lets just go, we'll fight them next time" the leader was already running as he finished, the two followed after him.
"Tch, cowards" Cain said, helping Armin up he patted down the dust on him before apologizing, Armin waved him off "You look happy" he commented "That's because I am happy, Eren is back!" He said, turning as Mikasa walked to them he thanked her, she just pulled the scarf higher "Really? I'm happy for you, where was he all this time" Armin asked, Cain scratched his head sheepishly "I didn't ask him yet, I want to tell you that he is back" then suddenly he remembered something "Hey Armin, when you come over please bring the book" he said excitedly "I really wanted to tell him about it" Armin merely smiled. They were resting near a river, the orange glow of the sunset shone down unto the city as the parents calling for their children to come home, some will be working through the night, while other rest in their homes, it was quiet and peaceful.
It was interrupted however by a crack of lightning and a giant explosion near the gate of Shiganshina, a hand can be seen holding on to the wall. Armin, Cain and Mikasa were running towards the sound to investigate when they saw the hand, "No way, the wall is 50 metres high" Armin said disbelievingly, Cain and Mikasa just watch, stunned. A head can be seen now, its face has no skin only muscles and it looks like it is looking down upon them in disgust before hearing another explosion, destroying the gate, debris flying inwards to the city, some landing on people and buildings. Cain watches all of it before noticing something "Mom, and Eren, our house is close to the wall".
Eren and mom turned look at each other after Cain left, Eren stood still as mom watched him, still can't believe her son is alive after all this years, she got closer and reached out a hand to his cheek making sure this was all not a dream. "Where were you?" she asked, Eren looked down on the table and was quiet for few moments before answering "I" he took a deep breath "I was in the Underground City" he suppressed a flinch as Carla gasped. "My baby boy" she hugged him with tears in her eyes, Eren freezes when she hug before tentatively returning it, "Don't worry, I'm not mad, you need to grow up right?" he nodded, she wiped her tears away "We won't look at you different, you are still my son" he relaxed and Carla smiled before hearing a squeak. "What is that?" there was a slight frown, he hesitated before answering "I made some friends" she narrowed her eyes before a cute little head popped out from one of his pockets. It squeak again before popping back in. "What is that cute little thing?" she asked, Eren pulled out the mouse to his hands and she leaned in to get a clear look "Its a mouse, I clean him regularly, this one is Caeg" she straighten up before raising an eyebrow "This one?" she inquired "There are others outside, they kept safe and sane during the Underground" she nodded at his answer before went to clean the dishes. Eren was bout to pick up the plates from the table to help her before they were interrupted by the roof collapsing in on them.
The first thing Eren feels is a pressure on his back, the first thing he smells is blood, and the first thing he hears is screaming, he opens his eyes to see that he wasn't in his house in fact he is on the house. He saw Caeg biting into something before there was movement behind him and the pressure he felt was gone, now that he can stand up he looked around and saw the rubble of his home. Looking down he saw his mice circling a rock with a tail poking out of it, sighing sadly at the lost of his mice he scooped up the remaining mice into his pockets. He then started searching for mom, he found her underneath a boulder, he also saw the face of the titan that broke the wall. "How did they get pass?" He questioned out loud.
Argh, the perspective is messed up I need to check back again and possibly rewrite it all. Anyway this is a weekly update, I am very sorry for the messy POV I'm still very new and was trying out new stuff. Please comment on where do I need to improve, I really don't want your reading experience ruined by my terrible writing.