Liberio Internment Zone, the only place a person of partial or full Eldian blood could live inside Marley because they were hated and seen as devils to the overwhelming majority of Marleyans.
The stoic, intelligent, and serious Honorary Warrior girl, Annie Leonhart, who after rigorous training and passed tests got selected to be the successor of inheriting the Female Titan by eating the former user as a pure titan.
"Your mission is to breach the Walls of Paradis and take the Founding Titan by finding the King in Wall Sina. Do I make myself clear, Leonhart?!?!?" Commander Magath said
"Yes Commander!" Annie nodded
"You, Hoover, Braun, and Galliard are to board the ship to Paradis tomorrow." Commander Magath declared
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The morning she set out her father fell to his knees and apologized,
"Annie, I don't expect you to forgive me."
"Promise me you'll return!" said Leonhart through his tears
Annie knew he didn't care about becoming an Honorary Marleyan he just wanted to know she would make it home safely.
In that moment she knew that her father and her were really family.
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The sky looked as clear as the ocean. A crowd of Eldians cheering for her and the other three Warriors, especially her comrade the Armored Titan, Reiner Braun, who talked excessively about his goal to slaughter all the island devils in order to be a hero so he can.. the rest she didn't pay attention because she purely focused on her training and didn't care about the whole ruckus between her comrades especially between Porco Galliard (brother of the inheritor of the Jaw Titan, Marcel Galliard) and Reiner.
Bertholdt Hoover(the inheritor of the Colossal Titan), on the other hand is very quiet yet friendly and is reassuring including towards Reiner and cares about him.
The sounds of the sea are so serene. The calm before the storm.
"Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie, let's go inside and get something to eat we don't know when our next meal will be on the island." Said Marcel
"You mean we'll be on the island long enough to eat a meal? aren't we supposed to retrieve the founding Titan then go home?"
"No shit Reiner! you sound like a dumbass asking that question that you should already know the answer to!" Annie said annoyed
"I'm not that and I'm going to complete this mission and become a hero to this great country!" Reiner said
"Calm down everyone! In order for us to succeed in this mission we all have to avoid squabbling amongst ourselves and be calm and civil towards one another for this mission to succeed." Marcel stated
"Reiner, it's okay to ask questions, but Annie does have a point you have to carefully think about what you can do to help this mission succeed. It may be longer than we expect and we probably won't be able to find the Founding Titan user in one day. It'll be okay." Bertholdt said
Reiner nodded
"If there's nothing else to be said. Then let's sit down and order what we want to eat." Marcel said
"Tell me, what would you like to order from this fish smelling kitchen?" asked Zeke Yeager(the Beast Titan user)
"I would like basil leaves with cheese, herring, with asparagus." Reiner said
"For me fried omelette with ketchup and some lettuce and cucumbers." Bertholdt said
"Meatloaf sounds great." Marcel said
"Chicken Pot-pie." Annie said blankly
"Your food should be here in about 20 minutes and eat like Marley depends on it." Zeke said
"Bertholdt, why did you order the omelette with ketchup?" Reiner asked
"Reiner, I really enjoy sweet things especially ice cream they remind me of my father because he really enjoyed ice cream and we'd eat ice cream when I was really young. When he died every July 18th I would go to his gravestone and eat ice cream." Bertholdt lamented
"Bertholdt, I'm sorry you had to deal with the loss of your father." Reiner gave Bertholdt a pat on the back
"It's okay that's the past, the present is what's important now and succeeding in this mission as Warriors." Bertholdt said
"Our food is here." Marcel said
Zeke carried 4 plates of food altogether between both arms and opened a folding tray to set down those many plates.
The four Warriors sat at a really nice wooden dining table. Annie was on the far-left seat facing the window, Reiner, was right to her in the middle seat, Bertholdt was on the far-right seat facing the living room, and lastly Marcel sat in the seat closest to the kitchen.
"Here's yours Meatloaf Marcel."
"Thank you, Captain."
"Annie, this is your Potpie."
Zeke said.
Marcel passed the potpie to Annie,
"Thank you, Zeke." Annie said blankly,
"Reiner, this is the herring you ordered."
Zeke said.
He passed the plate to Marcel then he passed the plate to Annie,
"Here's your food Reiner, take it." Annie commanded.
Reiner swiftly took his plate from Annie so then she wouldn't be holding it too long and followed up with a salute to the captain.
Zeke picked up Bertholdt's food and walked straight to his seat,
"Your omelette is extremely hot so don't eat it too fast or you might transform into the Colossal Titan and destroy this entire ship!" Zeke joked.
"Hahahaha! I'm okay I have control over my Titan transformation." Bertholdt replied with a laugh.
Marcel ate his meatloaf slowly savoring every bite of it. Bertholdt consumed his omelette slowly too. Reiner ate it at a normal pace. Annie ate most of her potpie.
"Seeing that everyone is done with their meal. Courtesy for the Marleyans who made your food put your dishes in the plastic bin and get ready for bed." Zeke commanded.
Everyone nodded and left the dining room for the bunk beds.
"Goodnight, if any of you are going to talk, please talk quietly and don't talk for long as we all need good sleep for our mission tomorrow."
Marcel said right before he moved to the right-side bottom bunk bed.
"I'm going to sleep if I get woken up by one of you talking, I swear I will kick one of your dumbasses back to Magath!" Annie deadpanned and then went to her right-side top bunkbed.
Reiner chose the left side top bunk bed and Bertholdt chose the bottom bunkbed.
"Hey Bertholdt, what do you think Paradis will look like?" asked Reiner.
"I honestly don't know Reiner, and it's getting late, and you'll see Paradis tomorrow so let's get some sleep goodnight, Reiner." replied Bertholdt tiredly.
Meanwhile, Annie as she was falling asleep felt this wavy feeling in her head unbeknownst to her comrades.
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On a partly cloudy and somewhat chilly day in the Alcauld Plains, a treeless grassland surrounding the forests in the western part of the small Balamb Continent.
There stood a distinctive man named Squall. Wearing a black leather jacket with a fur-lined hood over a white shirt, his light blue eyes conveyed captivating depth. His quiet intensity made him stand out in the unpredictable landscape.
An immediate threat surfaced. A massive blue creature, resembling a hornet, loomed menacingly before Squall. He quickly recalled his lessons, identifying the creature as a Bite Bug. This airborne threat was far from an ordinary insect, but a significant adversary, its bright blue exoskeleton shimmering under the partly cloudy sky. Squall fixed his gaze, prepared to face the impending danger.
"Bzzzbzzzzz!" And the creature lunged at him.
Drawing his gun blade, he inflicted a substantial wound on the creature. However, it wasn't enough to deter it, as it attempted to bite his shoulder.
Swiftly and meticulously, he cleaved the buzzing monster in half, thereby avoiding a trip to the infirmary.
Only a novice would aim to slice off the head or stinger, ignorant of the fact that such actions would be impractical and too late, given the limited space and time one has when in the creature's clutches.
Just as Squall finished off the creature, Seifer's familiar voice echoed through the vicinity, disrupting his solitude.
Seifer unveiled himself from his hiding spot, his short blonde hair catching the sunlight and his blue-green eyes flashing with a challenge. Squall immediately recognized his rival's trademark arrogance.
"Staying alive, Squall... I respect that... Take your time to catch your breath," Seifer taunted, his hand nonchalantly resting on his revolver sword's hilt.
Despite the danger, Seifer's audacious spirit was undeterred. Squall watched as Seifer reveled in the fight's aftermath, clearly impressed by his rival's determination and skill.
"Seifer... we'll fight another time... I'm exhausted from hunting monsters today," Squall stated.
"Are you backing out now, Squall? We were supposed to fight!" Seifer protested, rushing towards Squall, ready to strike.
"I never agreed to a fight today, Seifer. I need to study to become a SeeD," Squall countered, parrying Seifer's strike.
"Fighting is my way of studying!" Seifer retorted, pulling back his sword for another attack.
Their escalating fight was interrupted when their instructor, Quistis Trepe, intervened, gripping both their hands.
"Enough, both of you!" Quistis admonished.
"But Instructor, we were just getting started. You should let your students fight!" Seifer argued.
"No, Seifer... This isn't the time or place for brawling. Remember, our training should be used for the missions," Quistis firmly replied, her voice stern but with a soft undertone of concern.
"Then I'll start a war," Seifer threatened.
Quistis met his gaze, a faint smile on her lips as she retorted, "Good luck with that, Seifer." Her words were layered with an unspoken meaning.
Seifer walked away, hiding his anger.
"Squall, you look tired. Why didn't you just walk away or try to settle it peacefully?" Quistis asked.
"I never back down from challenges," Squall replied.
"Is there never a time when you'd rather resolve issues peacefully rather than resorting to violence?"
"I don't want to discuss this," Squall dismissed.
He then walked away, leaving Quistis alone. His message was clear: he was done with the conversation.
"Sorry Seifer... we'll fight another time... right now I'm about exhausted from the monster hunting for today..." Squall stated.
"Don't leave me hanging now!? We were going to fight Squall!?!" Seifer piped up as he ran toward Squall to strike him.
"I didn't say anything about fighting today I have to study to become a SeeD, Seifer." Squall said as he blocked Seifer's strike.
"So do I and fighting is how I study!"
Seifer responded with pulling back his sword and thrusting it towards him.
As their fight was about to really start their Instructor, Quistis Trepe interrupted their next move by grabbing both their hands.
"Stop it the both of you!" Quistis yelled.
"My dear Instructor, it was about to get really good. You have to let one of your dearest students fight!" Seifer said.
"No Seifer... No brawling is allowed inside the Garden unless in times of war." Quistis solemnly stated.
"I'll start a war then." Seifer said.
Quistis met his gaze, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she said,
"Good luck with that, Seifer."
The words carried an undercurrent of something more.
Seifer walked away concealing his expression of anger,
"Squall, you look worn out. Why didn't you just walk away or talk it out?" Quistis asked.
"I don't ever run away from challenges." Squall said.
"Aren't there times when you just want to talk it out rather than respond with violence?"
"I don't want to talk about this anymore." Squall said. He walked away, leaving Quistis standing alone. He had made his point clear. He was not willing to engage anymore.
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After a lengthy, restful nap, Squall left his dorm and made his way to the cafeteria, a space often filled with people, adorned with plants and numerous tables.
He fetched his preordered meal from the pick-up shelf, choosing to sit at an empty table to avoid the noise of others.
However, his solitude was interrupted by the entrance of a spiky blonde-haired guy, who loudly asked the lunch lady, "Do you have any hot dogs left?"
"None left," she replied.
"Ahh man!" Zell grumbled.
"Sorry, but we do have fish and fries," the lunch lady offered.
"Alright!" Zell accepted the alternative.
He approached Squall's table. "What's up, Squall!"
Zell, animated as ever, continued to fill the silence, "You know, I've never witnessed you spar with Seifer. I've only heard the stories. They say your fights are... intense."
Squall didn't respond, simply continuing to eat his meal with a calm demeanor. Zell didn't take offense, he was used to Squall's reticence.
"And you know what else, Squall?" Zell continued, "I've always wondered how I'd match up against you in a spar. But, I guess we'll never know unless we try, right?"
Squall looked up from his meal briefly, considering Zell's words. He didn't verbally respond, instead, he gave a slight nod - as close to an agreement as Zell was likely to get.
"Fantastic! We'll figure out the details later. For now, let's just enjoy our meals," Zell concluded, returning to his fish and fries with renewed gusto.
Despite Squall's reserved nature, Zell's lively chatter filled the cafeteria with an energetic buzz. His unabashed enthusiasm was a stark contrast to Squall's quiet, yet intense presence, creating a unique dynamic between the two.
As the day began to wind down, the trio found themselves in the Garden's training center, a place teeming with greenery and the occasional creature. Squall, Zell, and Quistis sat on a bench, observing the area with a relaxed demeanor.
"Squall, are you sure you're not up for a friendly spar?" Zell asked, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
"I think I've had enough action for one day," Squall replied, leaning back on the bench and closing his eyes.
Quistis chuckled softly. "I think we could all use a little rest. It's been quite an eventful day."
Just then, a loud commotion echoed through the training center. They looked up to see Seifer, Fujin, and Raijin causing a ruckus, seemingly in the middle of their own training session. Seifer was swinging his revolver sword wildly, while Fujin and Raijin were trying to dodge his strikes, their laughter ringing through the air.
Squall shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Some people just never learn."
Zell jumped up from the bench, ready to join the chaos. "Well, if you guys aren't up for a spar, I might as well join them."
With that, he ran off towards Seifer and his crew, leaving Squall and Quistis alone on the bench. They watched as Zell dove into the chaos, his laughter merging with the others'.
Squall turned to Quistis, his gaze thoughtful. "You know, I think we should let them be. Let them enjoy this moment."
Quistis nodded, a soft smile on her face. "You're right, Squall. Everyone has their own way of dealing with things."
As the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and purple, they sat there in comfortable silence, simply watching their friends create memories. The day's events had been treacherous, and the future was uncertain, but for now, they had this moment of peace, and that was enough.
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The fleeting images of the dream faded, leaving Annie Leonhart in a state of confusion and disorientation. Squall's life, his experiences, his battles, had felt so real, so vivid. But they weren't hers. She was not some man named Squall, standing in the tranquil Alcauld Plains; she was Annie, a warrior from Marley, a girl of Eldian descent, who had been forced into a life of servitude and warfare.
Annie shook her head, attempting to rid herself of the residual emotions from the dream. The last thing she needed was distractions. She was aboard a Marleyan boat en route to Paradis, her mission clear: to capture the Founding Titan. She didn't have the luxury of time for dreams, nor the freedom that appeared abundant in Squall's life.
Beside her, Marcel, Bertholdt, and Reiner seemed oblivious to her internal struggle, remaining in the dark about the dreamscape that had haunted her.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by Zeke's decisive voice. "You're moving out," he declared, his tone commanding. "You can't afford to fail this mission."
As Paradis loomed closer, a mix of determination and longing took hold of Annie. The island, with its daunting walls, represented not just a perilous mission, but the barrier between her and the return to her father. Success was her only path back home.
The haunting words of Squall echoed in her mind, a ghostly whisper from the dream, "I don't ever run away from challenges."
Annie set aside the haunting thoughts. She was Annie Leonhart, a warrior with a mission. Though the details of Squall's quests remained obscure, his unwavering resolve was something she implicitly understood and shared. She, too, would not falter.
The sight of Paradis stirred a whirlwind of emotions within Annie - fear, determination, and dread. As the boat edged closer, a pressing question lingered in her mind: Was she truly prepared to confront the immense challenges that awaited her?
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Greetings my fellow readers, I really enjoy Attack on Titan and there's so many things that are worth writing about. As for my Naruto story (Destruction and/or Creation) you've might have read, it hasn't been updated since last year it's because I've had severe writer's block. Though, now I have a better idea on where I want to go with the story, so the next chapter will be posted very soon. Back to this story. I think Annie Leonhart is an awesome character in AOT, also to write about especially. I hope you really enjoyed this first chapter.
- Animefan1912