Authors Note at the end

Chapter 1

A flash of yellow lightning. A blast so powerful citizens swore the entire earth shook. In many ways it did. Because that day, that was the day humanity remembered. As the thousands of citizens all looked up in despair and dread at the horrifying and skinless face of the colossal titan. It's exposed tendons, ligaments and muscles giving it a fearsome look that caused fear to grip the hearts of every man woman and child. It was as if everything stopped. And then the wall was kicked in, debris flying everywhere, the force of kick causing roofs to fly off, people to be violently sent sailing in the air to a terrible death. Everyone finally found the will to move as screams erupted, people trampled over each other as they desperately tried to escape the wrath of the Titans. A young 10 year old boy was pulled by his parents to the inner gates. It was fortunate for them to be so close as when the boy looked back, he saw the gates become flooded with people, bottlenecking it. Men and women crawling and stomping over each other in a bid to escape. No compassion was given, no sympathy as older folks with waning strength were left behind or battered, children crying as they are knocked around unable to find their parents.

Tears fell from the child's eyes even as he and his father catch up to his mother, "Oh Calian I'm so glad you're safe!"

She gives her husband and son a quick hug before her husband asks, "Are you hurt?"

"No but the Garrison is already starting to fill the boats with passengers we have to leave quickly!"

Calian holds his parents hands tightly as they pull him to the boats. For a second he almost felt like they would be alright but the entire world shook once more. Calian looked up behind himself, his mouth dropping in despair as a massive boulder flies to them. His father can tell that it'll be too late and so, in a final act of parental love, he shoves his son away moments before the boulder crushes the two. Having hit his head, the child lays on the ground dazed, his sight blurry as he slowly works himself onto his hands and knees. He looks up once his eyes focus and he his heart drops as he sees the boulder has landed right where his parents stood. He screams out in anguish and desperately runs up and tries t push the rock off. Willing for it to move and for his parents to miraculously be alright. But his efforts sadly are futile. He tries and tries, scrapping his hands on the rough surface but it will not move.

Giving up, Calian drops to his knees sobbing. People are still screaming and running all around him, but he can't even register it. All he can see is the look fright in his mothers face as the boulder hurtled toward them. All he can hear was the sound of their bones cracking and crushing on impact. And all he knows, is that his world has been ripped out right from under him. Calian doesn't know how much time passes as he stays their sobbing until a voice calls out, "Can you stand up?"

A Garrison soldier grabs his shoulder firmly, he can tell that he's trying to put on a strong front, but his eyes can hide the same fright everyone elses eyes carry. Still the contact of his hand on his shoulder jolts Calian enough to find is voice.

"I-I can stand." He answers weakly.

The Garrison Soldier lets out a sigh of relief and starts pulling him.

"Good now we have to get you to the boat!"

His legs move as quickly as they can somehow not tripping or fumbling as they all run for dear life. The sounds of the gates crumbling rips through the sky and Calian can't help but dare to look back. And what he sees becomes permanently seared to his brain, an image that will be in his mind for years to come. Highlighted by the dust of his rampage was a Titan, quite large with what seemed like boney armor all over his body, and his head topped with short blonde hair. It's eyes flash a deep red and it's mouth opens releasing a stream of steam like as if it was a fire breathing monster.

Even as they get to the crowd cowering around the boat, Calian still looks back, a feeling growing in his chest, a feeling he cannot identify or understand. The crowd is pushing against each other as they all try to board but the few soldiers guarding the entrance isn't allowing them,

"The boat is already at capacity we cannot allow more to board!"

"You can't be serious!?" one citizen yells, his voice shaking with fear and anger."There are titans on their way here!"

"please you have to let us go!"

"we're all gonna die!"

Calian finally looks to the soldier who's still holding his hand, an expression of rising despair adorning his face as he looks into Calians eyes, tears starting to fall from his. He scrunches his eyes closed and grits his teeth. "Goddammit!"

He lifts Calian under his shoulders and runs around the side of the crowd, some Soldiers see him approaching the departing boat and they yell at him to stop. He doesn't listen and he valiantly throws Calian on board. Calian grunts as he tumbles hard but his eyes soon widen and he scrambles back, looking directly at the soldier. Tears are streaming down both their face as the soldier tries to smile, "Live. For both of us."

Calian reaches out but can't find his voice. Even years later, he'll think back to the man who saved his life, regretting that he never even learned his name. Calian slowly walks to the wall nearby and slumps down against it, hugging his knees. Everything hits him then, the pain of his parents death, the guilt of the solider having to stay behind so that Calain can live, and the growing feeling in his chest at the thought of the Armored Titan. He drops his head to his knees and sobs for what felt like hours. He doesn't know how much time passes by as he stays like that. All he knows is that he suddenly hears an angry voice say,

"Those titans… I'm gonna kill them all!"

when he looks up he sees 3 kids around the same age as him. A blonde male wearing a blue jacket and brown suspenders, a girl wearing a now dirty white dress with a red scarf and tan sweater, and the one who made the vengeful vow, a black haired boy with dark pants, a green shirt and red jacket. "Every single one." He vows.

Calian thinks about what that boy just said. And then the Armored Titan pops back into his mind. The feeling that was growing suddenly grows so much that it overwhelms the sadness he felt in his heart. He finally knows what it is. Rage. Pure and vengeful rage. To the Armored titan. He clenches his little fists so tightly his nails begin to cut through the skin of his palm. He grits his teeth with a low snarl as he promises himself right then and there, "I don't care how long it takes. I don't care what I have to do, I will find that armored freak and kill it myself!"

Two years later

It was the year 847, two years after the Colossal Titan appeared and breached the defenses of Wall Maria after one hundred years of peace in humanity's self imposed confinement. Titans infiltrated the safe zone, and the humans were forced to abandon the territory within Wall Maria which lead to them being forced to take refuge behind Wall Rose. The sudden loss of territory and resources lead to a quick shortage of food and housing as Refugees had no where to go. Many people died of starvation, others from attacks form unwelcoming citizens who have had their livelihood effected by the large group of refugees. It came as no surprise to anyone when the government had declared a bid to retake wall Maria… but only sending those who came from the wall. Of the 200,000 that that left, only 100 came back and even less uninjured. Everyone knew that it was doomed to fail, they could all see what the government was really trying to do, cut off the excess.

It had been a rough two years for Calian as well. Having absolutely nothing but the clothes on his back, he ended living on the streets as had many others. He refused to enter any of the orphanages due to the horror stories he had from the few children who had decided to live in the streets as well. And so he did what anyone would do so as to not starve. He stole. He became a 'thieving street rat' as some of the few guards that could catch him said. But what kept him going, what kept him warm at night, was the burning fury at the Armored Titan and his vow.

Which is why he finds himself joining the 04th Cadet Training Camp. Here he would get the tools he needed to exact his revenge. Crafting skills needed to fight titans and surivive. The first day began with their instructor, ex commander of the Survey Corp Keith Shadis ordering the recruits to line up. Calian looks straight ahead, not moving a muscle as Shadis walks between the second and third line of recruits, staring down on them with nothing but contempt and disgust. He stands before the blonde kid Calian recognizes from the boat,

"Hey mop-top!"

Armin stands at attention, his fist firmly placed over his heart as he replies, "Sir!"

"What do they call you!?"

"Armin Arlelt, from Shiganshina District Sir!"

"I see! That's a ridiculous name! Why your parents give you such a stupid name!?"

"It was my grandfathers name sir!"

"Arlelt! Why are you here!?"

"To help humanity achieve victory over the titans!"

Shadis sneers as he looms over the small blonde, "That's wonderful to hear! We can feed you to the titans!"

In the corner of his eye, Calian can see the dark haired girl from the boat, seemingly trying to hold herself back as she took offense to how her friend was being treated. He mentally says, Don't do it. You'll just make it worse for the both of you.

Shadis large palm grips Armins and he forcefully turns him around and orders, "third row About face runt!"

Shadis stalks through the recruits until he finds in front of another taller blonde with impressively bushy sideburns, "What do they call you runt?"

"Sir! My name is Thomas Wagner sir! I'm from the Trost district!" he answers in a soft wavering voice.

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

Flinching, Thomas tries again louder this time, "I'm from the Trost district sir! My name is Thomas-!"

"SHUT UP! Nobody gives a damn! Next you!"

"Sir yes sir!" a much shorter girl with large ponytails salutes.

"Mina Carolina from Trost district sir!"

He leans down until he's glaring right in her face, "is a pathetic worm like you the best cowardice has to offer?!"

She scrunches her eyes closed in a grimace, "Sir I'm afraid so sir!"

A small part of Calian feels bad for the girl, she's clearly overwhelmed, but he understands that this is for the best, if you can't handle someone shouting at you, then you have no business facing man eating titans. The next one to fall prey to Shadis' wrath was a rather tall but thin guy with brown/greyish? Hair. What do we have here?"

"Jean Kirschtein, Sir. From the Trost District!" he answers confidently.

"And why are you here cadet?"

"To join the Military Police sir. The best of the best." His voice is still heavy with confidence.

Calian, and a few others, stare bug eyed at Jean for his answer. It's no secret why so many people want to join the Military Police. It's the safest place. Anyone who joins lives in the center of Wall Sina, away from the titans. Everyone understands that choosing to join the Military police in and of itself is cowardly so normally people avoid divulging their branch of choice when asked, but apparently this young man did not get that memo.

Shadis' eyes twitch, "That's nice," he nods mockingly, " you want to live in the interior do you?"

Jean smiles slightly, "Yes, Agh!" Shadis head butts Jean roughly and he falls to his knees in pain, clutching his forehead.

"No one told you to sit recruit! If you can't handle this Kirschtein, then forget about joining the Military Police!" Shadis quickly turns to the recruit next to Jean, "And what the hell is wrong with your face you smiling idiot!?"

Shadis continues browbeating more recruits and eventually, Calian starts to zone out. But in the corner of his eye, he sees some movement. Out of curiosity he steals a glance, then does a double take. Am I… Am I seeing this right? Calian is speechless as he witnesses the redheaded girl standing to his left dig her hand in her pocket and pull out a still steaming hot potato? Is this?... Is this really happening? She's not gonna actually eat that here is she?

She does. His jaw drops as she loudly bites the potato, it crunches with each bite and even though she keeps a serious face on, she clearly starts to savor each and every bite. Before he can even decide whether or not he should say something, Shadis catches her. All Anger ceases from Shadis face and is replaced by pure confusion.

"Hey you there. What do you think you're doing?"

The girl continues to munch on the potato and glances left and right wondering who the instructor is addressing, again flabbergasting the boy next to her. Shadis takes purposeful steps toward the potato girl and screams, " You are officially on my shit list! Who the hell are you!?"

Seemingly unperturbed, she swallows loudly and salutes, potato still in hand, "Sasha Braus from Dauper Village, on the south side of Wall Rose!"

… she does know she still has bits of potato on her face right?

"Sasha Braus huh?, what is it that you're holding in your right hand?" his tone is low and deadly as he looms over her.

"A steamed Potato! It sat there in the mess hall begging to be eaten sir!"

Calian's eyebrows are practically at his hairline as he witnesses this girl dig her own grave. Even Shadis is still confused but continues, "The theft I understand… but here. Why eat it here of all places?"

She stands taller and answers in a serious tone, "it looked quite delicious and it was getting cold, so I gave it shelter in my stomach Sir!"

For the life of him, the ridiculousness of the whole situation has gotten Calian to the point where he starts to feel a laugh building in his chest and he firmly tries to keep it down. Shadis dangerous look of disbelief isn't helping his case though. "why? I can't comprehend, why would you eat that potato?" he asks quietly.

Now it was Sasha's turn to look confused, "Are you… asking me why people eat potatoes? I'm surprised you don't know sir."

Calian bites his tongue as he struggles to keep himself from laughing as she unintentionally insults their angry instructor. The entire training corp are actually completely shocked and openly stare at the woman as she practically signs her death warrant. Shadis becomes dangerously quiet but Calian can see the veins in his bald head start to become more and more prominent.

Mistaking his silence for hunger somehow, Sasha actually breaks off a piece of the potato and offers it to the instructor, "here sir have half."

Calian has to really stifle his laughter now, It's not even a half!

In a trance Shadis takes the 'half', "half… really…"

She gives him a doopy smile in return.

Shadis snarls and slams the potato to the ground, "YOU IDIOT! YOU GO RUN LAPS AROUND THE ENTIRE CAMP UNTIL SUN DOWN MAGGOT! AND SINCE YOU HAD YOUR FILL OF FOOD NOW YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT MEAL PRIVILIGES FOR THE NEXT FIVE DAYS!"

Sasha crumples to the floor in utter devastation, "No please! Please I'll do anything you want! Let me eat!" she tries grasping his leg but he smacks her hands off and grabs her by the arm and practically throws her to start running.

"GET TO IT GODDAMMIT!"

She cries but begins running anyway. Calian does feel bad for potato girl but he still is having trouble keeping himself from laughing. Unfortunately Shadis sees his struggle and zeroes in. "Something funny maggot!?"

He clears his throat, "no Sir."

Shadis stands before Calian almost eye to eye. Despite his young age, Calian hit a growth spurt that put him at 6 feet, already mking him one of the taller recruits, to which of course hinders Shadis usual intimidation tactic of looming over his prey. "And what do they call you?"

"Calian Howlett from the Karanese village in the east side of Wall Maria sir!"

"Calian isn't it? Another good for nothing pathetic sounding name! What you doing here punk?!"

A dark look crosses his eyes, "I've come to take out the Armored Titan!"

Shadis shakes his head and scoffs, "Is that so? Setting your sights high, huh? Remember to mark your body somehow so it's easier to identify your corpse!"

"Not planning on dying anytime soon Sir!"

Shadis tilts his head, "that confident in your ability already?"

He then does a leg swipe while simultaneously elbowing Calian in the face. " You overconfident fucking idiot! Right now all of you're good for is feeding to the titans to slow them down!"

"Get yourself up maggot!"

Grumbling and glaring Calian gets himself up, embarrassed but getting back into position.

"We're here to teach you how to fight titans! If you don't wanna end up as titan fodder like this moron here," he points at Calian, " I suggest shut up and learn fast!"

Later that night

The frist bit of training had been to get used to wearing the ODM gear, which was easy enough to handle but no one was holding out hope for it to stay so simple. Soon enough it was time to wash up and had to the mess hall. Calian was just about done changing and at the steps of the mess hall when he sees a small group of recruits watching potato girl continue her laps. Wow its been 8 hours and she's still goin at it? I'm actually kinda impressed!

Armin comments, "man I thought Shadis was gonna kill potato girl!"

The black haired kid from the boat, who Calian now knows is called Eren, replies, "I know. What a helluva first day. It's funny, being told to run till the sun sets didn't seem to bother her nearly as much as losing meal privileges for the next 5 days."

That's when Calian enters the conversation, leaning on the rail, "I'm pretty sure we all can agree that starvation isn't exactly a fun time."

They all nod at that, everyone is unfortunately familiar with having to go days without eating due to the food shortages that have plagued the walls.

Connie, the bald recruit notes, " I think she said that she's from Dauper. If I remember right, that's a small hunting village up in the mountains."

Eren looks at the cairrage in the distance, "Hey what's that?"

"They're dropouts," mina explains, "They're dropouts. They'd prefer to work in fields."

"But it's only the first day?"

Eren shakes his head, "That's the way it is. If you can't handle the pressure, you've gotta leave." He watches the carriage go in disappointment, "I can't believe anyone would rather pull plants than fight."

"What would ya prefer, someone who can have you're back or someone who ain't got the nerve?" Calian asks.

Eren actually thinks about it and concedes that he does have a point. Marco looks at Eren and says, "I know about some of us but you never mentioned where you were from Eren?"

He smiles and places a hand on his best friends shoulder, "Same as Eren, from

Shinganshina."

The group is shocked by this revelation, everyone had heard about the destruction of the wall Maria and the devastation that was brought upon Shinganshina. To know that someone has actually lived through it and seen it themselves…

From there everyone surrounded Eren and began asking questions. Not really caring for how this conversation will go, Calian just goes ahead and enters the mess hall, giving himself a full plate and sitting in whatever seat was available. The food was pretty tasteless but he'll never complain about having a plate in front of him. He digs in while others continue to pepper Eren with questions. Calian feels someone take a seat near him and he sees that Thomas and Mina had joined him. He smiles at Calian and says, "Can you believe it? He's actually seen those titans!"

"Yea, yea they're a lot uglier in person."

Thomas is taken aback, "you've seen them too? Don't tell me… were you in—"

"Shinganshina? Yea." Calian looks at his plate sadly.

"but, you said you were from a village near the east side of Wall Maria?"

"I am. But that day my family had to move to Shinganshina. My old man was a hunter and provided for us by selling pelts. But business got stale over time cause of competition so it was getting harder and harder to provide. But found out a friend of his in Shinganshina offered him a job and he took it. Same day we moved there… same day the titans attacked. I was the only one who made it out."

Mina looks at him sympathetically, "I'm so sorry."

Calian shrugs, "Don't be. I don't need any pity."

She puts hand over her mouth, "I'm sorry I wasn't—"

"it's ok, I didn't mean to sound like an asshole."

Thomas smiles, "ruefully, given the circumstances I think ya get a pass just this once."

Calian raises an eyebrow, "just this once? Pretty bold of ya to assume I'll act like an asshole frequently."

"Call it a hunch."

The three share a genuine laugh together and continue conversing with each other, a wonderful friendship already blooming.

Authors Note: Hello everyone and welcome to Chronicles of attack on Titan! I kinda joined the AOT fandom recently thanks to COVID and fell in love with it as a whole! Characters and story are amazing! I even loved it so much i got Attack on Titan 2 and played it religiously for 6 months straight, which is what motivated me to write this fanfiction based on the video game. OF course i'll use the anime and manga to help make my fanfic have substance to the story. I may change some things i may not, i'm keeping it vague cause i don't want to spoil anything. And i am aware there are other authors who have written fanfics similar to this and probably much better but i still loved the idea so much that i just had to try it. I will admit i'm not the bets writer so please bare with me! Anyway i hope you enjoy the first chapter, second is coming very soon!