Prologue: Shinganshina Part II

Outside the Yeager Residence, Shiganshina

Year 845

Eren was waving at his father as he was walking away from the house. "Have a good trip!"

Carla Yeager crossed her arms and let out an anguished sigh. I don't care what Grisha says! I won't let my boy join the Scouts! She then walked up to Eren and pulled at his left cheek.

He glanced up at her and scowled, "Hey what was that for!"

Carla sternly spoke, "You listen to me mister! I don't care what your father says! You are not joining the Scouts!" Eren turned away from her and loudly huffed. "I don't need this!" He then ran off.

Shinji then walked out of the house. He had a confused look on his face. "What's going on?"

Carla shouted out after him. "Eren wait!" She let out a sigh. That boy. She then glanced at both Shinji and Mikasa with a worried look in her eyes. "You two! Please come here!" She then placed her hands on both of their shoulders. "I need you both to promise me that you two will protect Eren at all costs, even if it's from himself. The boy will get himself killed if nobody watches over him!"

Mikasa clutched tightly at the red scarf around her neck and nodded dutifully. "Of course Mother. I'll protect him with my life."

Shinji gave Carla a brisk nod. "Of course ma'am! You can count on us!"

Mikasa then shot a glance at Shinji. "Come on! He went down that alley." She then ran off after Eren. Shinji followed.

Back Alley. Shiganshina District, Wall Maria

Year 845

Eren Yeager was running as fast as he could through Shiganshina District. The pent-up rage he was feeling inside was almost fueling his gait. As he was headed down a walkway, he spotted Armin getting bullied by a group of bullies. He focused his gaze on them and yelled, "Hey assholes! Leave him alone!"

The lead bully then let go of Armin's shirt and switched his gaze towards Eren. He let out a laugh. "Well look who it is! Eren Yeager! Have you come back for another beating?"

They then noticed Shinji and Mikasa behind Eren. The lead one's eyes then widened in horror. "Shit! Mikasa and Shinji are with him! This isn't worth the headache! Let's get out of here!" The group of bullies then hightailed it.

Eren shouted back at them. "Yeah you better run!" He then ran up to Armin and helped the boy pull himself up off the ground.

Arimin didn't look at him and kept his eyes focused on the ground. His whole body was shaking uncontrollably. "I'm sorry Eren! You have to save my skin again!"

Eren half-grinned at his longtime friend and put his hand on his shoulder. "Ah it was nothing! That is what friends are for!"

Shinji and Mikasa finally stopped in their tracks and took a breath. Shinji looked up at Eren with irritation in his eyes. Moron.

Outskirts, Shinganshina District, Wall Maria.

Year 845

Shinji, Eren, Mikasa and Armin were all sitting on the steps in the outskirts of the district.

Eren, Mikasa and Shinji had just gotten done asking Armin why the bullies had targeted him. Apparently, he had been targeted by them because he had been going off about life outside the walls again. This had caused a huge argument between Shinji and Eren over whether there was actual life outside walls.

Eren then got in Shinji's face and screamed, "Why can't you people just let us dream? We don't even know what's out there."

Armin let out a rueful sigh. "Eren please calm down. You're making a scene!"

Eren took a moment to calm himself and turned his head away from Armin. "Right sorry."

Armin let out a sigh and continued, "I don't blame Shinji for being skeptical. The walls have been a part of our lives for so long that it is hard to believe life itself exists without them. The government and humanity as a whole would rather believe in a false sense of safety than take the chance to go beyond the walls. I can't blame them for not having faith like you or me do. It's part of human nature."

Eren then tightened one of his fists until it turned white. "Yeah well to hell with those cowards. If they want to live in this prison, then let them. I refuse to die like human cattle!"

Shinji grunted in frustration. Idiot! People can hear you! He was about to yell at Eren.

Mikasa, however, beat him to it. She stood up and spoke in a stern tone, "Eren that's enough! People are going to hear you!"

Eren glanced at her for a moment and let out a grunt in frustration. "It doesn't matter if they do! We all know these walls won't hold forever!"

Suddenly, a large bolt of electricity hit the ground in front of Wall Maria. The corresponding earthquake shook the whole ground. Eren, Shinji, Mikasa and Armin were all shaken off their feet. They managed to maintain their balance.

Shinji sputtered out, "What the hell was that?"

Eren glanced back at him wide-eyed. "I'm not sure!"

Armin then realized everyone was running towards the wall. I got to see what is going on! He then ran after the group.

Eren called out after him. "Armin wait!" He and the others followed Armin.

Shinganshina District, Wall Maria

Year 845

Eren, Armin, Shinji and Mikasa had gathered with a large group of onlookers who were watching the wall. The lanterns on the various homes and shops were swaying around. The sound of large footsteps could be heard by the crowd. A giant Titan hand firmly grasped the top of the wall Armin's eyes widened in horror, "No it couldn't happen now. That wall is over fifty meters high."

The Armored Titan then kicked a hole through the Wall. The force from the kick was so strong that part of the town itself was destroyed in a large explosion of rock and rubble. Big chunks of rock were raining from the sky and smashing people to bits. The situation had devolved into major chaos. Titans were slowly infiltrating the city and grabbing at people as they ran. People were running for their lives and grabbing whatever they could with them.

Shinji, Eren, Mikasa and Armin all stood in shock. Armin took a few steps back. There were tears in his eyes. He was shaking all over. "No this can't be happening!"

Shinji stammered out, "D-Damn it! How did they get over the wall!"

Armin then shot a glance at Shinji. "We need to get out of here now!"

Shinji then shook his head sadly. "You guys go on ahead and get out of here! I need to check on my mother!" Shinji then ran towards his mother's house.

Armin cried out, "Shinji wait!"

He then realized something. "Wait where's Eren?" He then saw the green-eyed boy slowly rushing towards the wall. There was a glazed-over look in his eyes. Mom is all alone at the house! I have to save her!

Mikasa's eyes widened in horror. He's walking towards the Titan! "Eren wait!" She immediately rushed after him.

This left Armin all alone. He gripped both sides of his head in fear. "We're all going to die here!"

Yeager Household, Shiganshina District, Wall Maria

Year 845

Eren managed to make it to the house. What he saw shocked him to his core. He covered his mouth with a hand and felt tears sting his eyes. The Yeager home was caved in. Carla was trapped under a mountain of rubble.

Mikasa had managed to catch up with him. She shouted out, "Eren are you alright?" She then took note of the situation. The girl took a couple of steps back. No! How did this happen?

Eren managed to get his composure back and turned back towards Mikasa. "Mikasa help me get rid of this rubble! We need to get Mom out of there!"

Carla noticed her son and weakly gazed up at him with pleading eyes. "Eren wait!"

Mikasa and Eren then ran over to Carla and tried to lift up the large branch that had pinned Carla down.

They tried over and over again to lift it up, but the branch wouldn't budge. The two then heard footsteps nearby. They looked to their left and saw two twelve-meter Titans converging on their position.

One of them had short, baggy blonde hair and a particularly wicked grin on her face.

Eren then turned to Mikasa and shouted, "Hurry up! We don't have much time!" Mikasa replied, "I'm trying!"

Carla let out a sad sigh and looked her son deep in his eyes. There was a fierceness in her eyes he had never seen before. "Listen to me Eren! They are coming for you! Take Mikasa and get out of here!"

Eren tried one one more time to lift the fallen trunk. "Not without you! We aren't leaving without you!" Carla was both saddened and touched by her son's devotion to her. Eren my sweet boy! She could feel herself about to break down in tears, but managed to control herself. She then spoke in a much more urgent tone. "Sweetie please! My legs are completely broken! Even if you did manage to break me out of here, I can't walk my way out."

Eren was staring at her with tears in his eyes. He was practically shaking with anger. "Then I'll carry you!"

Carla then glared at him with pure fury in her eyes. "Will you just listen to me for once in your life? I'm asking you to do one thing for me Eren! I want you to stay alive! You hear me!" She then turned her gaze to Mikasa. "Mikasa please make him see reason!"

The raven haired girl, however, was too shaken up to muster a response. She tried again to lift up the branch. "I can't."

Carla then started sobbing. She looked up at Eren with watery eyes. " Listen to me Eren. Do you want all three of us to die here?"

Suddenly, Hannes swooped in with ODM gear. Carla noticed the man's presence and sent him a pleading look. "Hannes take the children and get them out of here!"

The blonde, mustached man half-grinned at her. "Come now Carla! There is no need for that! I'm a trained soldier! Killing Titans and saving lives is what I do!" He then drew out his blades and made a direct run towards the lone Titan approaching the four of them.

Carla yelled after him. "No please don't!" Hannes had a determined look on his face. C'mon now. You are a soldier. This is what you trained for. Make good on the debt you owe. As he got closer and closer to the Titan, however, Hannes felt his resolve shrink in a matter of seconds. The Titan had him beat by several feet. It was also grinning at him with an unflinching smile that never seemed to go away. The smile practically unnerved the man and had him shaking in his boots. Hannes felt his whole body freeze at that moment. There is no way I can take on a big Titan like that without becoming its next meal. But I can't just abandon Eren and Mikasa. He let out a rueful sigh. Carla I hope you will forgive me one day! I'm so sorry! He then quickly rushed back, grabbing Eren and Mikasa and running as fast as he could from the Titan approaching them.

Carla looked up at the blonde-haired man with a grateful smile on her face. Her eyes were swimming in tears. Her voice was a bit shaky. "Thank you Hannes!"

Eren was screaming his lungs out and trying to wriggle his way of Hannes's grasp. "No! You bastard! What are you doing? We have to go back! We can't just leave her!"

Carla then outstretched a hand towards her only son. "I love you Eren! You hear me! Please stay alive!" The well of emotion then burst within her. The memories of her family flashed within her mind. Tears flowed from her eyes and she covered her mouth in order to quiet her sobbing. "Don't leave me!"

The tall, blonde haired Titan then picked her up with relative ease. Carla then stared at it with rage in her eyes. "Let me go you brute!" She then began banging her fists on its giant hand. The Titan then used a couple of fingers on its other hand to snap her neck. She slumped back.

Eren could only watch on in horror. "No!"

Mikasa couldn't bear to keep watching.

The blonde-haired Titan then opened its gaping jaws and chomped down on her. Bits of blood went everywhere.

Eren was just too stunned to react. I failed. I couldn't save her. Memories of his past fights with her flashed in his mind. I was such a brat. I was so focused on my dream of seeing the outside world. I never realized how important she truly was to me. How much she truly cared? I threw it all away like it was nothing! And now I have nothing.

Eren then started wailing uncontrollably.

Mikasa was sobbing quietly to herself.

Hannes let out a sigh. I'm sorry you two. I failed you both.

Kaorosu Household, Shiganshina District, Wall Maria

Year 845

Luckily for Shinji, the road to his house wasn't far. He quickly found the house. What he found had him in stunned silence. The house was complete rubble.

Shinji's eyes widened in horror. Mom! He quickly ran to the debris site and sifted through as much rock as he could.

He found Mikoto Kaorosu barely alive and breathing. Her dress and chef's apron were soiled with dirt and rock. He quickly took her hand in his. "Mother it's me! I'm here to get you out!"

The woman let out a series of weak coughs. Her voice was raspy. "S-Shinji my dear son! You must go! Get out of here while you still can!"

Shinji looked at his mother with fury in his eyes. "The hell I am! I'm not leaving you here!"

Mikoto then flashed him a weak smile. She then gestured for him to get closer to her. Shinji did as she asked. With all the strength she could muster, she caressed his left cheek and kissed him on the forehead. She then brushed his cheek with a couple of fingers and gazed up at him with teary eyes. "Please Shinji. You are the last of our line. The only one other than Eren who can save humanity's future. If you die here with me, the nightmare of the Titans will never end. The Kaorosu clan must do its part to build humanity a new future someday. That means you must go."

Shinji's eyes widened at her. "How do you know about all that? I wasn't under the impression Father had told anyone else but me." The older woman smiled again at him. "When you were a baby, I was given a vision. It showed me your true purpose." Shinji raised an eyebrow. "And that is?" Mikoto smiled warmly at her boy. "You are the one destined to be the second in command to the one who commands the Command Titan. Your destiny is to decide humanity's fate alongside that person. That is your fate." She then let out a chuckle. "Judging by the realization in your eyes, your father has already told you. So you know my words ring true!"

Shinji felt his fists shake with anger. I don't want to leave her behind! But she is right! I have a duty to my ancestors. I have a duty to my great-grandfather to save humanity. He then gently wrapped his mother in a hug. Tears were streaming down his face "I'll miss you Mother! I love you so much!"

Mikoto then put a hand on her son's back and started gently rubbing it. "And I love you my son! I'll be watching from above!" She then went limp in his arms. Shinji's eyes opened in realization. "Mother!" He then put an ear to her chest. She isn't breathing! No! Don't leave me now! He then began shaking her relentlessly. "Mom!" He finally started sobbing uncontrollably.

Two Garrison soldiers then spotted the young boy and his mother. They had been observing everything beforehand and just sadly shook their heads. One of them, a Garrison soldier by the name of Roarke, dropped down and walked up to Shinji. He then put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on kid. We need to get you out of here and on the last transport outta Maria! It's the only way out!"

Shinji didn't say a word. He just gave his mother a final kiss on the forehead and laid her to rest on the ground. At least she is free of this nightmare. I can take some peace in that. He then allowed for the two Garrison soldiers to pick him up and lead him to safety.

Shiganshina District, Wall Maria

Year 845

Hannes was still busy carrying Mikasa and Eren to safety. He was struggling with every step. The initial look of shock on Eren's face suddenly gave into rage. He glanced back at Hannes with rage in his eyes. He then struck the blonde-haired man violently in the back of the head.

Hannes let out a frustrated grunt. "Damn it! Stop!" The man was suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Mikasa then looked up at Eren in shock. Eren.

Eren yelled back, "You son of a bitch! We almost had her! Why did you come! Why!" He then elbowed Hannes hard in the back of the neck. Hannes grit his teeth. Stupid kid! That hurt! He then threw Eren off his back. The green-eyed boy then hit the gravel hard.

Mikasa's eyes went wide with worry. "Eren!" She managed to wriggle herself out of Hannes's grasp and immediately dashed towards her adoptive brother. She gingerly put a hand on his back and helped him stand up. "Are you alright?"

Eren was shaking all over. Hannes let out a sigh and approached the both of them. He then kneeled before them. "Look there was nothing you could have done for her you understand. You are just a kid. You're weak."

Eren felt his temper rise up again. How dare you! He then raised up a fist and tried to throw a punch at the man.

Hannes easily caught it in his hand. He felt tears roll down his cheeks. "I'm no better! When it came down to protecting you three, I couldn't stand my ground! Your mother died because I am nothing but a coward!"

Eren's eyes widened in shock. There was an uncomfortable silence between the two. Hannes then stood back up. He then led the two adoptive siblings by the hand and began walking them towards the evacuation point. "I'm sorry."

Mikasa suddenly felt a headache come on. Memories of her parents' deaths flashed in her mind. She stared back at the ruins of Shinganshina. It's happening all over again.

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