Author's Note: The time line of this story was before Eren and the others joined the military, so no Colossal Titan, Eren Titan form or Female Titan in the story. I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin or its characters.

Some other notes: Letter in italicizes format are for thoughts and flashback of the characters. (ex. "Blah blah blah")

Prologue

The smell of sweat lingered in her nose.

It was disgusting.

All she wanted was a normal life yet how could she have one if even outside this underground world she was forced upon was also in chaos?

Although in her opinion, she felt humans were more disgusting than titans.

"In the name of the king, you are to open this door now! If you do not comply we are forced to take actions deemed fit for the situation!"

Those words echoed in her ears as she stood there aimlessly. People inside the shady room who were previously drinking, gambling, and enjoying their sexual desires with each other were now screaming and making a run for it.

To her, everything was like watching an old movie. Her surroundings turned black and white as she stood there, at the very center of the room.

Soldiers, wearing uniforms with the insignia that represented them as the Personal Guards of the King, had barged in the door; which filled the dark hazy room with faint traces of light. One by one soldiers entered the place as they reprimanded every person in sight. Some were cursing profanities while others demanded to be released.

"Let go of me! Do you not know who I am?" A man's voice shouted at one of the soldiers. "The king knows me, he will have all of your heads for dinner once he finds out about this!"

His outburst resulted to the man, now clutching his stomach in pain with his hand, brought down to all fours by the soldier, who knocked him down with the opposite end of his rifle.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and have an attorney present during any questioning. If you can not afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at the expense of the government."

Once everyone was chained and subdued, a man with short black hair entered. His beady black eyes scanned the room as his lips were pursed into a thin line. Hands intertwined at his back, he looked at the people inside the room with a face of disgust.

"By order of the king, you are all guilty of prostitution and illegal trade of drugs. You are to be tried in court." Nile Dok, commander of the Military Police Brigade, spoke. "Take them away men."

"Yes sir!"

Nile Dok watched his men take out every person in the room. He placed a hand near his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. A look for disdain donned his facial features. Usually he and his men would be walking around the grounds of Wall Sina, drinking and laughing their asses off. But much to his displeasure his commanding officer, Darius Zackly, noticed a great rise of illegal medicine circulating within the Walls of Sina.

"I see you got everything handled well." An old voice spoke with a hint of amusement.

Nile turned around and gave an acknowledging nod. His eyes filled with intense mixture of irritation and boredom. "Pixis, Smith; fancy seeing the both of you here. Aren't you supposed to be watching your precious wall that keep our districts safe?" He looked at the old bald man. "And you being a crazy fool by giving yourself your own death sentence?" Now he turned over to the blonde towering man next to Dot Pixis.

Erwin Smith's face remained stoic despite the snappy remark while Pixis seemed to adorn his face with a kind smile.

"General sent us here to make sure the job is done. There are ten brothel houses hiding underground. He wanted to make sure every single one was taken down." Erwin said in his usual serious voice.

"Yeah, I got it all covered. You can all leave now." Nile said nonchalantly as he waved his hand lankily. He was about to walk out of the door until one of his soldiers spoke up.

"Sir, she won't move."

He whipped his head around and saw two soldiers holding a little girl by her upper arms. She stood there, head low and eyes casted vacantly to her dirty feet. Her platinum blonde hair draped past her shoulders while strands of it stuck on her face. Straps of leather latched on to her body, imitating the 3DMG they use quite often.

"Well of course she won't move! Can't you see she's terrified?" Pixis beamed. He walked towards the girl. She looked about twelve years old as she barely made it pass Pixis' hips. He bent down to be at the same eye-level as hers and gave her a wide smile. "Hello, my name is Dot Pixis. What's yours?"

The girl with glassy grey eyes slowly looked up. Her skin was white, in contrast to the dark room. She was now looking a Pixis right in his eyes though her facial expression didn't change.

"Don't you dare touch her, she is mine!"

The three commanders turned their backs around to see an old fat man looking at them with anger. Two soldiers were trying to hold the man back put he kept squirming out of their hands.

Pixis stood up from his place and walked slowly near the man. "Oh? How so?" He asked with a curious eyebrow up.

"This! I bought her and now she is mine!" The old man growled with a smirk on his face as he shoved a piece of parchment to Pixis' face.

Pixis scanned the document in silence as the two commanders walked near him to read what was written on the paper.

"Well?" The man raised an eyebrow as he watched the three men who were silent for quite some time.

Erwin took the piece of paper to his hand and looked at the man with steely eyes. "You are guilty of child prostitution and illegal trade of human beings." Within seconds the paper that once held ownership to the little girl was torn into shreds. "And with those crimes I suppose death penalty would be a deserving punishment."

Fear etched on the eyes of the man as Erwin turned his back and proceeded to walk towards the silent girl.

"Take him away." Nile said with annoyance.

"No! You cannot do that! She is mine! Terpsichore is mine, get away from her!" He shouted as four soldiers came to collect him.

Faint screams of murder was heard outside but the three men didn't seem to mind since their attention was now glued to the tiny girl in front of them.

"So, your name is Terpsichore." Pixis said gently.

No response.

"How'd you get here?"

No response.

"How old are you?"

No response.

"Are you-"

"The stupid brat won't talk, so shut up already." Nile looked at Pixis with arms crossed above his chest.

Pixis frowned slightly but still retained a kind face. He looked at Erwin and Nile for an answer on how to be able to get this girl to talk.

Nile remained quiet while Erwin inched in closer and squatted down in front of her. His facial features turned soft and he patted the girl on her head. Which resulted a flinch from the girl. Her whole body was now trembling as her pupils were now like tiny dots.

Seeing this, Erwin immediately grabbed the girl's wrist and enveloped his arms around her frail trembling body. With one hand stroking her hair he whispered, "That's enough. You are safe now. No one is going to hurt you."

Her body tensed up at the sudden touch. She began to squirm as her mouth now wide open, trying to create a scream but no voice left her. He cooed more soothing words next to her ear and it seemed to work because soon her body began to limp and tears now welled up at the corner of her eyes.

Erwin slowly parted his embrace but kept his hands on top of her shoulders. He looked at her and smiled, "Let's get out of here, what do you say Terpsichore?"

The little girl looked at him with a tear stained face. She slowly shook her head to the side.

"Is she saying no?" Erwin thought in his mind.

"Hallinor…" A small raspy voice emitted from the little girl's mouth.

"What?" All three said in unison with surprise.

"Hallinor. Hallinor Bismarch."