Remember the curse of Ymir? Thirteen years, yeah I managed to found another curse and frankly, I'm not sure if its worse or better (for the characters). Either way I hope you all like it when I introduce it.

I do not own Attack on Titan. All characters belong to Hajime Isayama.

Year 845, few minutes after the breach

"Mom!" Eren screamed when he neared her mother, hoping she is still alive, he breathed out a sigh of relieve when she moved her hands "Eren" she said dazedly "I'm here, I'm here" he said while trying to find something to use as a lever. He was desperate, he just got home, he can't lose her again, "Eren" she cried out again, a lot of these wood are broken or will be broken with some force. There's nothing he can do "Here mom, I'm here" he said, trying to keep himself from crying. She stroke his cheek smiling sadly "The titans are here, aren't they?" He squeezed her hand trying to soothe her that everything will be okay, "Eren, you're a big boy now, you now what to do" her smile was falling, she was trying to keep herself from crying as well. "Keep Cain and Mikasa safe, I love you and nothing will change that" those words broke him "I kill someone, mom" he croaked "That was a bad man right? He tried to hurt you, you're just saving yourself. Just promise me to live on" with a deep shuddering breath and a final squeeze he turned away and run to the inner gate.

The inner gate was what separates Wall Maria and Shiganshina city, in the event of a titan breach in the city, the inner gate will be the only barrier that separates Wall Maria and Titan territory. Cain was running towards his house, Mikasa was just right behind him when they were stopped by Eren running to them "Eren, where's mom. Is she okay?" he asked, way too fast to be intelligible, Eren however understood him. "Mom is dead, we have to go to the boats" he looked as if he was crying just then, Cain was in denial "No, no, no she must be alive" he was about to rant before Eren shouted "She got crushed, Mom got crushed by debris" he stood shock still. Not noticing the giant titan behind him, barely responding when Eren pulled him and Mikasa away from the chaos, 'Mom is dead, why did she have to die' the words kept repeating in his head. They managed to get on the boats, just in time too because it was nearly full, the rocking motion didn't bother him, Armin sitting beside him trying to get his attention, he did however look up when he hears another explosion.

Eren was leaning against the railing looking over the mob of people being left behind, these two boats are the ones that brought the first habitants to Shiganshina, few in the first boat while the second one is for building and food supplies, it will not be enough for them, people were scared of a breach back then so it only filled up to two boats. It is joyful on how much we had expanded but depressing on how unprepared we are, they remember now how dangerous the titans are, why we have to hide behind walls or even why they are so big, there is more than titans out there and they didn't even know it. He heard rumbling as if there was something big running closer to him, he didn't have his weapon but he will fight anything that threatens his brother's life. There was an explosion from the gate and something big sliding to a stop, it was another titan, this one has some form of protective plates its entire body, as the dust and steam disappear there is gaping hole where the gate used to be, Marley is here.

Cain was still standing to watch as the Armoured titan rammed through the gate, humanity is not prepared to fight these behemoths, he sat down "Why did mom had to die?" Cain asked numbly, Eren turned to face him, his brother was sitting against the railing eyes were downcast, not registering anything around him, "She loves you Cain, mom will always loves us" he said crouching down to his eye level. "Its not just the titans fault" Cain said, Eren looked him in the eye "Its because we're unprepared, the walls were never breached, we became foolish we never see the titans as a threat, now we see" Cain continued, Eren put his hand on his brother's shoulder, reassuring him. "I will join the Survey Corps, and I will be one of many that will spearhead the titans' extermination" he finished. Eren hummed, "Rest now little brother, the land between wall Maria and Rose is big" he got up and went to check on Mikasa and a very shaky Armin. Cain didn't notice Armin is here with his grandpa, 'looks like they manage to get here before us', he thought as his eyes felt heavy.

Eventually the two boats cannot take anymore passengers, fear started creeping up, there are still over a thousand of them and the boats have already moved, it became almost palpable as the first titans went through the gate, some screaming for their infant child to be taken with the boats, and some also tried to jump onto the boats. Many fell and many more were pushed into the river, people even started stealing horses from the garrisons and merchants to get away from the titans. It is shocking how fear can force a person to do unthinkable acts, Eren watched them all from the boat, most of them cannot even ride a horse, there was an abnormal running through the crowd crushing unlucky souls that happens to be in the way as it chase its target, which so happens to be a wagon. The driver trying desperately to urge his horses faster, the abnormal catches up to him, upturning the wagon, the driver stuck in its mouth, the wagon was carrying ten passengers most of them died by the abnormal's feet. Eren sighed, this is going to be a long night.

Year 845, few hours after the breach

The boats reached Trost in the middle of the night *, the refugees, tired and fatigue got off the boats, Eren picked up his brother while Mikasa held one to his shirt, Armin's grandpa following behind them, with the kid in his arm. They were given a place to stay in a wooden barn house, it was not enough some had to sleep outside in the plaza, the group of five managed to get in before it was full. Armin's grandpa sitting tiredly after putting his grandson down, Mikasa also started swaying, he gently coaxed her to go to sleep, while he stayed up. He sat leaning against the wall and was quiet for a few moment before the tears began to fall, he should've done something, why didn't he ask Hannes, where is dad. The barn house door begins to rattle and Eren is immediately on guard, looking to the side revealed that Armin's grandfather is asleep, he was alone against a potential attacker.

The door opens to reveal his father, Grisha, his face full of worry immediately cleared as he saw his son standing there amidst the sleeping pile of bodies "Eren" he said relieved as he closed in to give him a hug, Eren stood unmoving hesitantly returning the hug "Where's your mother?" he asked looking around, "She's dead dad, I'm sorry I couldn't save her" he turned to look at his son, there are tear tracks on them, he hugged again "Its okay" Eren let the tears fall again "Shhh, its okay, you live for her, right?" he nodded. After Eren stopped crying he asked again "Where's Cain?" he pointed to him sleeping on the ground "Wake him up, I need to give you two something" he said going outside. After waking up Cain and following dad into a forest, dad told Cain to wait here before Eren and dad walked a little deeper, he saw a shadow of a person, he also saw dad pulled out a needle syringe, containing a liquid he recognised "Dad, why did you have titan fluid?" He seemed to be staring off into nothing before chuckling "So you joined them, huh. Don't worry " he said as he holds him "You made a good choice" he said as he sticks the needle into his skin.

Year 845, the next day

Cain was having a dream, whether it is a nightmare or not he cannot tell, his dad holding his arm fiercely there was a needle in his hand, he saw Eren before a blinding white flash. He woke up with a gasp, Mikasa was leaning over him again, watching him sleep "Mikasa" he said with a groan "You were dreaming again" she stated, he nodded "Its about dad and... Eren! Mikasa, where's Eren?!" She puts her hand on his chest to stop him from jumping around, he still can't believe how strong she is. "He left, saying he has a job and will be busy most of the year" she eventually said "Oh" he said looking down "Where are we?" he asked "We're at Trost, one of the periphery city at Wall Rose, the house I'm not sure. Eren got a letter then took us here" she answered, Cain nodded then looked down to his hands, were dad in his dream pierced the needle "Did Eren leave anything?" she pointed to a book with a letter on top of it, he picked it up to read.

Dear brother,

I'm very sorry to leave you like this but I do have a job now and it requires me to work most of the year, as Mikasa had told you. I will visit from time to time meanwhile you will stay here in this warehouse a friend of mine owns it. He doesn't need it anymore so you're free to live here with Armin if you like. I just ask one thing from you, be stronger, train yourselves, you want to join the Survey Corps, you can't go there as you are now. Well you can but you will not be stronger heh, remember the training we did, be better at it you still haven't win yet.

Your big brother,

Eren

"Cain! Mikasa!" someone shouted, both of them turned to look at the caller, it was their friend Armin running towards them carrying three loaves of bread "Grandpa managed to get three, said its for the kids. So I bring it for you" he said out of breath. He hands the two loaves to us, Mikasa steps forward to take the breads and gave Cain one, he just hold it in his hands looking at it before eventually eating it after a comment by Mikasa and Armin. The weren't enough shelter and food for the refugees, food shortage was common as well as thief, the trio had to stop a bandit from taking the warehouse. In an effort to reduce the shortage they sent out the refugees to work the fields, as most of the land is a wasteland, there weren't enough harvest as many plants died. The shortage was terrible that the populations within Sina felt it, desperate to reduce it, the government declared a Wall Maria reclamation campaign, the poeple of Wall Rose and Sina as well as the refugees knew the true reason for this campaign.

The campaign consisted of the refugees that were 20 years and older, only the ones with children below the age of 8 are not allowed, Armin's grandfather joined in with the other 400 000 refugees of Wall Maria. Most of these 400 000 souls are from Shiganshina, the titans stayed close to Wall Rose as they moved North, blocking the route, there were no response from the other three cities, only some from the villages close to the south as the titans travel north to surround the wall. Wall Maria contained more than half of the walls' populations, a mere 400 000 make it out alive, only to send back into hell the tried so desperately to escape. Wall Sina and Rose loses 15% of its population that day, out of the 400 000 conscripts and 1 000 soldiers, only 100 soldiers and 10 returned.

Armin's grandfather did not survive the 'purge' as people started claiming it was, Armin weeps as je holds on to his grandpa's hat he had given to him. It wasn't fair, all he wanted was to explore the world, to see the ocean, the flaming red river and the endless sand, what did he get? His home is destroyed, his parents is dead killed by the Military Police, and his grandpa died by the purge. Cain sat next to him offering comfort as best as he can, "The military have lower the recruitment age" Cain said, he looked up "In two years, we can enlist" he continued motioning towards himself and Mikasa. So in two years, they will also be gone to become soldiers, what is he going to be in two years, they're both his only family, he knows the choice to make but can he do it?

"I'll join with you" he declared, Cain's eyes widen "But-" he cut him off "No. You're my only family left. I can't go on alone" he said before breaking down again. Cain hugged him as he continued to cry on his shoulder, gently shushing him, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" Armin kept muttering "Its okay, its okay, I'm not mad, just concerned" he assured him. After Armin had calmed down, he said "You should be, I'm weak, I can't fight" Cain shook his head "You're not weak you hear me, you are not weak. We need someone with your brains Armin, I can fight, Mikasa can fight, we just need you to lead us" he said "But the military wants someone who is fit" he said motioning to his frail arms and skinny body. Cain puts a hand on his shoulder "Don't worry Armin, Mikasa was exploring and found food and other stuff... Apparently this place was used as a training ground" he said pulling him up to show Armin the equipment in the storage.

*I'm going to guess that the boat travel at around 10 to 11 knots so it is like 4-5 hours(is it too fast?)

While writing this I did the calculation of the inhabitants and here is what I found. (From the Manga)

Population in Wall Rose and Sina : 1 000 000(after the failed reclamation)

Population in Wall Maria : 1 250 000

Split that into four, North, East, West and South : 312 500

Population in Shiganshina : somewhere around 310 000

So thay means the;

Villages in the South : somewhere around 2 500

Refugees : somewhere around 280 000 (possibly less)

My fanfic's population will probably be more than I had calculated here.