Humanity's Turmoil Chapter 2: The Story so Far, an attack on titan/進撃の巨人 fanfic

Plot Summary and Character List

In the year 845, the Colossal and Armoured Titans appeared. These new breeds of titan displayed a previously unseen level of intelligence, carrying out a deliberate assault against the outlier city of Shiganshina. The city's outer gate was breached by the Colossal Titan who suddenly appeared in a cap of thunder, and just as suddenly vanished. The Armoured Titan then charged the inner gate of Shiganshina, smashing it into pieces in a single assault. The Titans flooded into the city and then into boundaries of Wall Maria beyond that.

Living in the city at the time were four ten year old children: Eren Yeager, Armin Arlert, Mikasa Ackerman and Matthias Quinn. When the gate was first breached Eren ran towards his house where his mother was trapped by a fallen boulder, followed by Mikasa his adopted sister. Armin and Matthias being left behind decided to send help to rescue them in the form of Hannes, one of the Garrison soldiers. Hannes was able to rescue Eren and Mikasa from the Titans, but Eren was forced to watch his mother be devoured by a titan.

The four children were lucky enough to be among those evacuated from Wall Maria to the interior space of Wall Rose. Swearing an oath to slaughter all of the Titans in revenge Eren decided to join the military, and his three friends chose to join him. They along with over two hundred others were drafted into the 104th Cadet Corps. Over the course of the next three years they formed numerous relationships with other cadets such as Jean, Marco, Annie, Reiner, Bertolt, Connie, Sasha, Ymir and Krista. Matthias's connection with Krista became a far more personal one during this time.

Five years after the overrunning of Shiganshina, the Colossal Titan reappeared and breached the gates of the fortified city of Trost. The Cadets who had only graduated from training the previous night were pressed into combat along with numerous other soldiers of the Garrison Regiment. Hundreds of soldiers died during the ensuing battle against the Titans. During the early stages of the combat Eren was seen to be devoured by both Matthias and Armin, much to the great distress of the two.

Later in the fighting however, a strange Berserker Titan intent on killing only other titans appeared. With the unwitting help of this titan the soldiers trapped inside the city were able to retake the overrun supply centre and escape the boundaries of Trost. To the surprise of everyone present, the Berserker Titan collapsed, releasing the unconscious body of Eren Yeager. During a near encounter with less trustworthy elements of the Garrison, Armin was able to convince them that Eren with his new ability to summon a titan body was not a threat to Humanity, but in fact a potential aid to them during their hour of need.

At this time, Krista Lenz chose to reveal a particularly important piece of information to Matthias regarding her past. Her real name is in fact Historia Riess, the illegitimate child of a nobleman treated cruelly throughout her upbringing. After the fall of Wall Maria she was forced to watch her own mother have her throat cut before being sent to spend the rest of her life as a soldier under a new name. Her true persona as Historia Riess is in fact a far more hollow and vindictive individual. Despite his initial shock, Matthias promises to help Historia in any way he can.

With the operation under the command of General Pixis-commander of the southern territories-Eren was dispatched into Trost to use a huge boulder to reseal the broken gateway. Shortly after transforming Eren suffered from a total loss of control, and was only rescued from it by the counselling words of Armin. Eren then proceeded to seal the gate, cutting off the only entrance the Titans had into the city.

During the battle Matthias begins to suffer from visions in which numerous strange events take place. At first he believes that they are some kind of hallucination, but eventually he sees that are in fact long suppressed memories. In the cleanup operation following the battle Marco is killed, his body being found by Jean the next day.

The cadets are then faced with the choice of which regiment to join. In the end, all of them choose to join the Scout Regiment. This is particularly a surprise in regards to Jean who had up until that point declared that he was only looking out for himself, intending to join the Military Police where he would be safe from the Titans inside Wall Sina.

Eren is handed over to the custody of the Scout Regiment after a trial in which he is nearly handed over to the Military Police who intended to execute him. Eren meets Levi, Captain of the Scouts 2nd Company and Humanity's mightiest warrior. He assigned to his special operations squad with whom he develops a budding friendship, once Eren earns their trust.

One month after the Battle of Trost the Scout Regiment departs on the 57th Exterior Reconnaissance Mission outside of the Walls. The idea being to use it as a test run for Eren's titan abilities. The Regiment comes under attack from the Female Titan, another intelligent human piloted 'titan shifter'. During this encounter Matthias discovers that he has the ability to hear the thoughts of titans. Armin has an extremely close encounter with the Female Titan, in which she voluntarily chooses to spare his life.

The Regiment retreats into a forest of giant trees and attempts to capture the Female Titan. She escapes by summoning a swarm of normal titans which devour her titan form and allow the human pilot to escape. Eren and the special operations squad are then pursued by her. The entire squad is killed when attempting to combat her, prompting Eren to transform in the Berserker Titan in an effort to combat her. The Female Titan defeats him with ease in his rage fuelled state and tears Eren's body out the nape of the Berserker Titan with her mouth.

Matthias arrives as this is happening having been forewarned of Eren's danger by his psychic ability. Catching the Female Titan by surprise he is almost successful in killing her, but fails to deliver a final blow due to her unique ability to harden the skin around her nape for protection. Matthias is rescued by Captain Levi and as a result only loses his right foot. Along with Mikasa-whose judgment is impaired by her romantic feelings for Eren-the Captain immobilises the Female Titan and pulls Eren out of her mouth, despite suffering a broken leg in the process.

The Regiment withdraws back to the Walls, with the mission deemed a failure. Armin however produces evidence that determines the identity of the Female Titan to be the heroes' former companion in the 104th cadet corps Annie Leonhart. The Scouts attempt to ambush her in the city of Stohess when Armin, Eren and Mikasa try to lure her into an underground passage. Annie sees through their ploy however and transforms into the Female Titan.

When Eren shows a sudden inability to transform due to his discomfort in fighting a former friend and ally, the Scouts are forced to attempt other methods to secure Annie. During these attempt Matthias has a revelation regarding suppressed memories which prompts him to transform in the Sentinel Titan. The Sentinel Titan then attempts to defeat the Female Titan, but fails.

Eren manages to recover from his reluctance and transforms back into the Berserker Titan. Overcome by an animalistic rage, the Berserker Titan fights savagely with the Female Titan and with the help of the Sentinel Titan defeats her. The Berserker Titan almost devours Annie once she is exposed, yet a sudden rush of emotion prompts Eren to hesitate long enough for Annie to form a defensive crystal. This crystal proves unbreakable by either human tools or the Sentinel Titan's brute force.

During the fighting the Wall is partially damaged, revealing a titan similar in appearance to the Colossal Titan sealed up inside of the Wall. The reaction from the local religion know as the Wall Cult that the breach must be sealed up at once, implies that they had prior knowledge of the titan's existence. Even after being interrogated by 1st Captain Hange the pastor is unwilling to divulge any information to the Scout Regiment in regards to the titan's origin.

With the knowledge that there is likely to be at least one more traitor within the cadets of the 104th, those that joined the Scout Regiment are confined far away from populated areas and placed under heavy guard.

Eren Yeager

Age: 15

Appearance: male of average height with dark hair and green eyes.

Personality: Tends to be stubborn and hot headed when the mood takes him. Is also extremely loyal and courageous to a fault.

Position: One of Humanity's two loyal titan shifters. Is currently ranked as a private in the Scout Regiment's 2nd Company.

Mikasa Ackerman

Age: 15

Appearance: stunningly beautiful oriental female of average height with dark hair and eyes.

Personality: Tends to be reserved around most people but often expresses large amounts of emotion towards her friends, especially to Eren who she is helplessly in love with.

Position: Currently ranked as a private in the Scout Regiment's 3rd Company.

Armin Arlert

Age: 15

Appearance: skinny male of below average height with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Personality: Can be shy and nervous at times. Possesses an extremely keen intellect and can develop a 'take charge' attitude during a combat situation. Has shown great personal courage on more than one occasion.

Position: Currently ranked as a Corporal in the Scout Regiment's 3rd Company.

Matthias Quinn

Age: 15

Appearance: slim male of average height with light brown hair and green eyes.

Personality: a rather dry individual when calm, but exudes high levels of emotion when under stress. Has showed the ability to become calm and logical during a combat situation.

Position: One of Humanity's two loyal titan shifters. Currently ranked as a private in the Scout Regiment's 3rd Company.

Jean Kirstein

Age: 15

Appearance: male of average height, with light brown hair and brown eyes.

Personality: has a short and often exposed temper. Can also be highly sarcastic and grading. Is also determined and brave when the situation requires.

Position: Currently ranked as a private in the Scout Regiment's 3rd Company.

Levi Ackerman

Age: mid 30s

Appearance: very short male with dark hair and grey eyes.

Personality: holds all of his emotions-except occasionally for frustration-very thoroughly in check. Is more than somewhat autistic in aspects of his behaviour such as exhibiting symptoms of OCD and a distinct lack of social skills.

Position: Currently ranked as Captain of the 2nd Company in the Scout Regiment.

Erwin Smith

Age: late 30s

Appearance: tall male with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Personality: a fairly balanced individual who maintains a calm level of composure in front of his subordinates. Has great drive and courage.

Position: Major-General in the Royal Army, Commander-in-chief of the Scout Regiment.

Hange Zoe

Age: early 30s

Appearance: female of average height with deep brown hair, brown eyes and glasses.

Personality: exhibits extreme mood swings switching between a highly serious individual and an excitable, highly enthusiastic person. Her more excitable personality shows very distinct signs of ADHD and probably ASD.

Position: Captain of the 1st Company of the Scout Regiment and second in command to Major-General Erwin. Also plays the role of science officer and titan specialist in the Regiment.

Annie Leonhart

Age: 16

Appearance: female of average height with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Personality: highly antisocial and expresses only limited levels of emotion at any time.

Position: Traitor to Humanity, currently incarcerated in a holding cell deep underground.

Connie Springer

Age: 15

Appearance: short male with buzz cut brown hair and brown eyes.

Personality: excitable individual of below average intelligence. Enjoys making fun, but tends to function less effectively under dangerous circumstances. Has still proven loyal to his teammates.