Chapter 1: Arise

Author's Note:Yo! So I've had this in mind for awhile. I'm really motivated to do it and hopefully finish it. My grammar leaves much to be desired so ya. This is a love triangle! Criticism is appreciated.

Year 845

'I'm scared. I'm really scared. I…I don't want to die.'

Those were her thoughts as many of her fellow trainees, friends walked past her. Commander of the Survey Corps Keith Shadis, had just finished speaking and basically the choice was given. Join the Survey Corps, fight and die for humanity or leave and live. Alexandra was overwhelmed by exactly how many of the recruits had quickly turned away with little to no hesitation. It took every ounce of will power not turn away herself, it felt almost painful to do so. Though just when she lost all her nerve, and was about turn on her heel a familiar voice from her memory made her stay put.

'I fight because this world is worth fighting for. I fight because I do want to live.'

With those words embedded in her head and her heart, her feet planted themselves back to the ground with the other handful of soldiers who decided to stay as well. The commander saluted the remaining recruits which they all but respectfully returned. "FOR HUMANITY!" Then she cried silently.

She knew why she was here, she knew why she went through those three years of mind and body numbing training, and more importantly she knew she would join the Survey Corps. She made this decision when the Commander himself paid a visit to her home to inform her and her mother that her older brother, Daniel died in battle. The news had devastated both women. Daniel had been her idol, a dearest brother and replacement father figure. He had joined the Survey Corps in order to follow their father's footsteps. Their mother of course disapproved of her only son putting his life in constant danger, but Daniel would not budge in the decision nor ever voice regretting it. It was a relief to see him every time he came back from expedition. Though the look in his eyes had changed drastically. It was from seeing the horrors that the titans could do, but he still managed to smile and be optimistic with hope they would take the world back.

"How can you smile?" she once asked.

"Because I still have hope. Besides, if I don't I might break." He smiled at her patting her head lightly. "So do me a favor huh sis? Smile. Smile because you're alive today to enjoy something as precious as living." Every principal of life Alexandra had today was based off the teachings of her brother. Life was worth living and worth fighting for. So she would smile despite that she could very well die at any given moment.

"What the fuck are you smiling about?" came a gruff voice from next her. Emerald eyes met steely grey. This man had a small built with raven black hair, and he wore a deadpan expression on his face. From what she had heard he joined the scouts a year or so ago and was already getting quite the reputation for titan killing. 'What did they call him the other day…? Humanity's-'

"Problem Cadet?" The tone in his voice was obviously irritated for not only had he not gotten a response from her, but now she was staring stupidly at him. Flustered, she could only smile wider at him.

"Oh! I apologize, sir! I was just thinking how lovely the weather is today!" She rubbed the back of her head out of embarrassment. "It's hard to appreciate things like that behind the walls! It's very nice!"

Her answer just served to annoy him even more, and he rudely clicked his tongue at her.

"Tch. Idiot. Keep your eyes ahead of you and stay alert. Unless you wanna get killed for gawking at the weather." She managed squeak out a 'yes sir' before he rode ahead of her in attempt to distance himself from her stupidity. Her smile faltered just a tad and she gripped the reins of her horse tighter. She had barely joined a week ago and now she was on her first expedition…and possibly already her last. When the gates opened up for them moments ago, she was in complete awe. The sun shined so brightly down on her and the land seemed so big and green with endless distance. The air smelled differently too. It was not muddled with different aromas; it was simply just clean and fresh. Seeing it all at once was so overwhelming that she could not help but smile. In that moment she was able once again to understand why her brother gave his life.

"Don't mind Levi! Shorty's just mad cause he's not gonna be able to take a tea break today~!" Once again, Alex turned her head to meet another voice coming from her right. A woman with brown hair and glasses grinned cheerfully at her. The friendly grin was returned with a pleasant smile.

"No, he's right. I should pay attention to my surroundings. Can't really be getting distracted at a time like this." She said, straitening up her position as a show of a respect to the woman. The woman continued to grin at her and galloped a little closer so she rode right next to Alex.

"You're new right? I'm Hanji Zoe!"

"Cadet Alexandra Johansson, ma'am! I am happy to meet you!" Her formality made Hanji laugh; she reached out and gave Alex a rather powerful pat on the shoulder, which nearly made her fall off her horse.

"Ohhh youuuu! No need to be so formal! You any good with that?" She asked, motioning to your vertical maneuvering gear. Sparing it a quick glance Alex shrugged sheepishly.

"It took a couple of falls, but I managed to get the hang of it." Again she looked at the gear this time focusing on her weapons. "As for the blades I have the technique down, but I would be more efficient with a gun."

The other women leaned in, her curiosity peeked. "Really? Why is that? You don't seem the type to go around shooting guns."

"I-I don't go around shooting things or a-anything like that! It's just…my brother taught me. He said it was important that I learn how to protect myself." She looked up towards the sky thinking back on her childhood. "But when we started I was too small to hold a sword properly so he started me off with a pistol." She giggled at the memory of her small chubby self struggling to lift her brother's sword. Hanji smiled at the new recruit, and then realization seemed to wash over her features.

"So your brother was good with guns too, right? And didn't you say your last name was Johansson?" Upon realizing exactly what she was discovering on her own, Alex turned white and her cheery mood began to deteriorate. She could not talk about her brother's death at this moment. Though it had been a good three years since his death it was not really ideal to bring up while they were on expedition, in one of which he was killed.

Eaten.

Hanij opened her mouth to finally ask the dreaded question of her brother's identity, her eyes were sad. "Are you by any chance-?"

"Zoe! Get to your unit; we are going to start the formation."

Both women looked over to see a man with neat blonde hair swept to the side, and he had the most piercing blue eyes. He had a stern look to him though it looked rather well on his handsome face. Strong eyebrows, strong chin and polished head to toe.

"Yes sir Squad Leader Smith!" Hanji replied smiling over at Alex first. "We'll talk later okay?" Then she rode off to where ever her unit was going to be stationed, and the cadet let out a breath of relief. She found herself now looking at this Smith person, and to her surprise he was staring right back at her. Though he wore a frown on his face it was in no way unfriendly. She offered a smile in the hopes he would look away, but his cold eyes remained locked with her bright green. Alex felt she began to lose this little game, and her face become hot with shyness. Only when a blush appeared on her face he decided to look away and he and his horse went to the very front.

It did not take long for the horror of this expedition to start.

The clouds became dark and the warm sun had all but disappeared into them as it if did not want to see the bloodshed that was happening. The first titan had jumped out unexpectedly and it had been an aberrant, eyes bulging and mouth dripping with saliva. It had killed three of their own before finally begin taken out, though like a Hydra more soon came. Then came the rain and there were voices all around. A shout of plan of attack, battle cries, and then there were just cries for help. As for Alex, she had been frozen in place when the first titan had appeared and only reacted when the first man was killed. Her squad leader had given her orders to cut an Achilles heel of oncoming titan, she had help of course with the task but even then it was terrifying experience to be that close to one. Though a couple of titans were killed humanity was still losing this current battle once again. There were too many and the ground was far too flat for any gear to be of any use.

"RETREAT!"

"FALLBACK!"

Once the order was given the troops on the ground immediately got their horses to bolt while the few brave took out a titan they were currently battling. Though when Alex made her way to join the rest of the retreating troops a familiar voice caught her attention and her eyes widen with horror.

"HELPPP! SOMEONE PLEASE!"

A young man was in the grip of 8 meter class titan. She knew him. Richard Nicholson, another new cadet that had joined that was with in their training days. They would share meals and conversations, and he would also tell jokes that would liven up the spirits of the other trainees. The look on his face was one she never seen him have before; pure terror.

"HELP ME!"

His cries halted her and after a brief hesitation she made her horse turn and head straight for the titan. Adrenaline pumped through her entire body as she came around the titan and used the 3D maneuvering gear to latch onto it's back to her target; the nape. Her swords were drawn and just as she leapt up to make a deep slice the titan suddenly moved causing her to stumble, her back hitting the shoulder blade of the monster. It was then she noticed that Richard's screams had all but stopped. She was filled with dread knowing she had been too late to help her comrade. She could not even properly grieve because a large hand came around and tightly seized her form. The hand brought her face to face with the monster whose mouth was stained with the blood of her comrade. She could not scream and tears flowed from her eyes knowing that this was her end; it was going to be painfully gruesome. The creature paid no mind to her tears and opened its mouth wide to which Alex shut her eyes tightly. She waited for the painful bite of its jaws but it suddenly made a disgusting gurgling sound. The sound made the young girl open her eyes and she found hot blood spraying from the back of its neck. Its grip became loose over her then she found herself falling. A figure came flying out from behind the titan just in time to catch her around the waist, using the titan's flaying form as means to get closer to ground before reaching hard impact. When the two landed safely on the ground the young cadet looked up to see her savior.

Squad Leader Smith.

His face was still stern, but his eyes were grim as he gazed down upon her shivering form. "Get to your horse. Hurry!" She all but obliged the order and found that she had great difficulty getting on her horse due to an immense pain in her side. The remaining squad galloped away as the titans charged towards them arms out stretched to grab another meal, but the horses speed beat their legs. When the titans were no longer in sight the troops stopped to tend to the major injuries that some had suffered, and also to calculate the many casualties. The rain had finally stopped, and Alex noticed that the air was no longer fresh and clean, but it now was mixed with blood. She was seated on a log a little ways from the rest of the squad. Her body was still trembling and all she could see Richard's terrified face and his screams for help. He had been eaten, a fate that many of the Survey Corps had been dealt including her beloved brother. A thought struck her suddenly and her heart twisted.

'Is…that what it was like for you, Daniel? Did you scream and cry for help too? And no one could save you..?'

Just when the tears began to fall a tall shadow loomed over her and a deep, but soothing voice that belong to squad leader Erwin Smith broke her from her distressing thoughts.

"Cadet Johansson?"

Alex immediately looked up at him, before bringing herself to her feet and ignoring the pain in her side that protested to stay put. She heart saluted him out of respect and gratitude. "Sir! Thank you for saving my life!"

He stared at her a moment before reaching out and placing a hand on her shoulder, slowly seating her back down. "You're injured." He stated, before taking a seat next to her on the log. Suddenly feeling shy she placed her hands on her knees and looked down at her boots.

"Well it had a very tight grip." She said and winced when he reached out and touched her side before retracting it back upon her reaction.

"Could be a broken rib or two." Was his only analysis, then there was nothing but silence between them. She looked at him and waited for him to say anything else, but he didn't just simply looked ahead at the scenery before them.

It was uncomfortable for Alex so she broke the silence. "I really am grateful to you for saving my life sir. I could have been-" He cut her off.

"You wanted to save your comrade even though you knew you had little to no chance." It was a fact. Alex knew the moment she saw Richard in the grip of that titan and the distance that was between them…there was just no time.

"So why did you did you try?" He asked, still not looking at her.

"Why?" she repeated to herself. She stared at him then turned her attention downwards. Her light brown bangs covered eyes. "He was my comrade and I just hoped…I hoped…"

"Hoped for what?"

She smiled grimly. "That's just it sir. I just hoped for anything. Hoped for something. It was what I held onto."

"You're just like your brother." Her eyes widen at that, and she could not help but feel that mixture of sadness and happiness. "I had the pleasure of fighting alongside him…." He finally tore his eyes away from land the look at her before he continued. "He was a fine solider. Always spoke of morals of life and hope. When he died we lost the strength that humanity desperately needed."

He pushed himself up and stood in front of her, towering over her and his eyes bored into her soul reaching out to pull her from the despair she was in.

"Seeing you today in that act of bravery has confirmed it. Your brother is gone, but with you here I have reason to hope again." The sun began to peak out from behind him, and the wind blew causing his green hood to flutter like wings. Her hair blew in the wind too along with the smell of blood that tainted the air only moments ago. They stared at each other for the longest time neither wanting to disconnect from the other. Tears had nearly come when he finally said.

"Humanity needs your strength."

They were back inside the walls of Maria with the citizens crowding around them with eyes of disappoint that they had accomplished nothing except more loss of human life. It made her feel ashamed. Commander Shadis himself had a break down in front a mother of one of the fallen soldiers. It was just depressing and she could not find the courage to look up at their faces.

"Look Mikasa! The heroes are back!"

Her head whirled around to the right of that loud voice to see a boy with bright green eyes smiling widely at the troops, the girl next to him merely stared in awe. His eyes were so wide and they were filled with admiration and…hope. It was so familiar…

"Look Alex! The troops are back!" Cheered a twelve year Daniel lifting up his four year baby sister so she could see better. She stared at the soldiers then at her brother who was smiling so wide that it made her smile too. "They fight for us! I'm going to join one day ya know." He told her. "I'll fight for you and mom! I'll fight so we can live!"

When the memory passed she noticed the boy's smile had disappeared. No doubt he noticed the gloomy state of the troops.

'Smile.'

It was difficult, but Alex managed to smile and wave at the green eyed boy. The boy's eyes widen at her acknowledgement and more so at her hopeful smile. He smiled back and waved animatedly at her. When the boy was out of sight she looked up ahead to see Erwin Smith who rode in the front of the soldiers with the commander. Her thoughts went back on his rescue to his kind words that made her realize she made the right choice in joining the Survey Corps. She stared at the back of his head and made a silent vow that she would not let him down. She wanted to fight alongside a man like that. Help him reach goals that he wanted to accomplish. These thoughts were only encouraged more when he paid a visit to her in the infirmary. Just like he said, two broken ribs. She was flustered by his visitation her face scarlet red when he said he wished for a speedy recovery. It all felt silly. But she was smiling though she was soon reminded of horror when Wall Maria was breached by titans. She laid there in bed knowing that squad leader Smith was on his way to battle and she could not be there with him.

What did you think? Was it bad?

Seemed pretty long, right? Probably won't do too many long chapters O.o

The title of the story and chapter it inspired by the song 'Arise' by Flyleaf! It was such an AOT FEEL!

Anyway PEACE&LOVE