Chapter One
The Announcement

I wish I could remember when me and my family had a peaceful time together, when the titans weren't such a big deal. But for a very long time it's just been me and Armin fighting titans, it was just my 24th birthday. Armin was younger than me and I had to make sure he was safe but this kid decided to follow into my footsteps. I promised our parents to keep him safe since he's still a kid but I really couldn't stop him. I could just hope he didn't get himself into any trouble.

I've killed about 30 titans in my 6 years of being here, I wasn't able to kill any as a cadet but I've been trying to really get there. I want to get a higher count than Hange and every Captain combined. I want to be the best of the best. 

It's really hard working here especially because of the traumatic events that take place every week, I wanted to avenge my parents and make sure every titan is dead. This year will be the year I kill more than 30, I will make sure of it.

"Athena!" Hange rushed to my side as I sat down for breakfast.

"Yes?" I groaned as I began to eat my bread. 

"Okay, you have to agree with whatever I'm about to tell you right now." She gleamed and passed me a flyer. "The King and Queen have decided to start a ball for everyone! It's a masquerade and it changes theme at the end of every month because it will go on for 5 months." 

"Huh? What? A ball at the end of every month for 5 months, why a masquerade?" I questioned and I turned to her. 

"Woah, you look like you haven't slept at all!" Hange gasped. 

"I haven't, you know I stay up late on paperwork." I sighed. "But anyways, I don't even know how to dance so why are you so excited about this?" 

"There's small classes of dances currently, it's not the best but a lot of people from the castle have been teaching them to people. I say let's go!" Hange clapped her hands. 

"I mean, sure?" I replied to which she smiled brightly and ran out the room to tell other people probably. 

Uh, I was going to have to take dancing classes but I hope to learn more things in life than just work. Everyone seems to find fun activities to do when the real world could be so miserable. 

That's what I liked about people here.

Shit, I needed a gown. 

I remember when I was a kid my mom taught me the basics of making certain clothing items like gowns, I'm not sure if I can execute it well but I'll try. 

I look at my pocket watch and see it's currently 10am so I decide to finish up my breakfast and heading to the training room. I needed to get my combat skills at a perfect score. 

"Hey Athena," Mikasa waved as I entered the room. 

I love Mikasa, she's my favorite partner to fight with because she's actually better than me and can hold a fight.

"What's up? Oh, have you heard about the ball that the king and queen are hosting?" I replied and begin stretching. 

"Yes, it seems quite stupid but I wouldn't mind working during it." She chuckled. 

"Working? What would you be doing?" I asked. 

"I would probably be scoping the area for any titans and make sure everything runs smoothly. I know some of the cadets will be the staff on the inside making sure everything runs smooth and no fights break out, who knows maybe they'll start one." Mikasa snickered. "But forget about that, are you ready to fight?" 

"I'm ready." I smirked as we both begin to fight.

* * * 

"What.... The..... Fuck...." Mikasa was huffing and puffing as she sat down finally, I was also out of breath by the time it was 2PM. 

"Mikasa, how did you not dodge?" I groaned.

"You're getting quicker every time we train, I could barely keep up." Mikasa shook her head. 

"I hope I am, I need to gain more titan kills than everyone." I replied.

"More titan kills? That's crazy, why would you set that bar so high?" She looked at me like I was crazy.

"Because I want the world to be a safer place by the time I'm 26." I admitted. "I want to get married and have kids." 

"Huh? I mean- What?" Mikasa scoffed and did a double take. "Athena are you really serious about that?" 

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I frowned.

"Because no matter what we do this world will still remain shitty. There is no way we can end all the titans but we can reduce them bit by bit, definitely not in 2 years." Mikasa stood up. 

"Mikasa, I want to have my family and I want to be in love. It's now or never." I explained. "Don't you want to get married too?" 

Mikasa grew a small blush in her cheeks as I turned it back on her, I was right. 

She had a crush on Eren. 

Didn't she want to grow with him and get married?

"I just never seen you as the type to think about this stuff, you're a lot colder than that." Mikasa shot me a small smile. 

I shot her the same smile back, yeah I really don't look like the type to think about these things but my parents told me to promise them something before they were murdered. 

To get a partner and have my own family and protect them like most people couldn't.

I want a family soon, even in this messed up world I'll make sure they won't go through what I had to go through. 

* * *

"Okay, Hange I can't keep up I seriously can't." I sighed as I sat on the bench for our small break in the dance room. 

Hange and I have been in this class for about 30 minutes and I already want to quit, I'd rather have a battle with someone to pass the time. This dancing thing wasn't so easy but I was a quick learner.

"Come on! Everyone is going to be there even our dear Captain Levi." Hange gloated with her eyes twinkling. 

"Is that supposed to motivate me to try even harder? Because I have no idea who you're talking about-" Hange punched my arm to my statement. 

"You know who he is, maybe you've never met him but you know how well respected he is." She replied.

I guess he is, but what do I care? Hange is just as great as him and I'm lucky I get to fight with her instead of others. I need to be the best of the best.