The Killer Butterfly - an Attack on Titan Story

Chapter 2 - An Unexpected Answer

Year 843

"I want to join the Survey Corps."

"Yes."

"Ah, that's what I'd thought you'd say..." Amelia blinked, "Wait, what?"

Amelia's father smiled at her, "We were waiting for when you'd ask."

Then her mother spoke, "We've already talked it over, so if it's truly what you want to do, then you can."

Amelia ran up to her parents and hugged them tight, "I never thought that you'd say yes. Didn't you disapprove of it a few years ago?"

Her mother chuckled, "Well yes, but you are technically a woman now. You can start to make your own decisions with guidance from us."

"Now, off to bed," said her father, "it's market day tomorrow and you always want to be up early for that."

Amelia said goodnight to her parents, and went to bed. She could barely believe it. Her parents had approved of her joining the Cadets, and that meant they were alright with her eventually joining the Survey Corps. She was now even closer to seeing the world. To expanding the borders of her imagination with all that she would find out there. 

She ended up lying awake for a long time before finally drifting to sleep, because who would be able to sleep straight after your parents told you that you can do something you've wanted to do for years?

That night she had the same dream again. The dream of riding through a paddock of wildflowers on a beautiful chestnut horse. The wind blowing into her face. It was all the same. But this time an eagle soared high above her, as if it were the freest thing in the universe.

~~~

When Amelia woke in the morning, she felt nervous. Had she really asked the question? Had they really said yes? She spend a minute gazing outside remembering the conversation, and she remembered it too in detail for it to be a dream, so she got up and got ready for market day, excited to tell her best friend Ella Luther about the news.

As the Springer family left their home and walked to the centre of town, they could see that the market was already in full swing. Kids ran around going from store to store, while parents were chatting with friends. Market day came once a month, and it was highly anticipated by everyone living in Ragako. Connie soon noticed his friends and ran off to join them, whereas Amelia was surveying the crowds looking for her best friend, but she didn't need to for long before she heard a high pitched voice yelling, "AMELIAAAAAAA!"

Amelia turned to see her short best friend Ella Luther running full speed at her. She was a beautiful girl with dark brown hair cut to above the shoulders, with brown eyes that glinted with excitement. She wore the same beaded necklace that Amelia did, as well as a dark green skirt and a grey shirt.

Amelia looked at her parents for permission to go with her, and they nodded. "Just be careful sweetie!" said Julia as her eldest daughter ran off with her friend.

"Ella! How are you?" asked Amelia as she approached her.

"Good, yeah. Anyway, now Miss Twelve Year Old, how was your birthday yesterday?" asked Ella in return, "Sorry I couldn't make it over to wish you a happy birthday, I was stuck in the house all day doing chores."

Amelia smiled. Ella was often stuck in the house doing chores because whenever she finished them she would cause some sort of trouble and get more work as a punishment. "It was really nice," said Amelia, "I spent most of the day gardening, and at night..."

She trailed off, knowing that Ella loved suspense and guessing games. "Hmm let's see," said Ella, "you could say that you had an awesome dinner, or you got an amazing present from someone." She looked at Amelia knowingly, because she did have several admirers in the village. But then she realised what it was.

"Wait. You're saying you asked? You asked to join the Cadets in Autumn?" she looked at Amelia, excited. "And did they say yes?"

Ella said the last sentence a little more nervously, but the nervous look disappeared when Amelia nodded. 

The two friends immediately hugged, excited. Ella was the first person Amelia had told about her dream to see the world, and she was the one who helped Amelia gather all the information she could. And now it was happening. In two months, Amelia would leave for at least three years for training to be a soldier.

"I'm sorry I'll be leaving you," said Amelia. Ella was happy in Ragako, and had no intention of leaving the walls, and not even her best friend could get her to do that.

"Eh, it's fine," said Ella, " We'll just have to make the most of the few months you'll still be here before leaving!"

Amelia laughed, at ease. She had thought about the fact that if she left Ragako to become a soldier, she may never see her friends and family again. But whenever she would bring up the topic Ella would always say, "Well, we'll just have to make the most of the time we have together!"

"Now, come on!" said Ella, "We've got to get to the square or there'll be no space for us!" She then dragged Amelia through town to get to the centre of the village, where musicians would be playing for anyone who wanted to dance. It had become a tradition for the two of them to dance together, and they had never broken it, not once. 

As the two of them twirled around each other, Amelia truly felt happy. Happy to be with the people she loved, and content in Ragako. But she knew that this feeling came every market day, and wouldn't last for long before she felt the need to explore.

When the two best friends parted that afternoon to go home, they hugged again, because they knew that their days from that point on were limited.

"Bye Amelia," said Ella.

"See you tomorrow," said Amelia

~~~

As she lay in bed, Ella let her tears fall. She had been holding them in all day, because she didn't want to make Amelia feel even guiltier about leaving Ragako than she already did. She thought about all the times they spent together. 

The first day they met, at the market when they were eight. Ella had recently moved to Ragako, and ever since then, they had stuck together. Ella remembered when Amelia had fallen over in mud, and she had laughed and gone to help her up. But Amelia was holding a handful behind herself, and when Ella helped her up she had thrown it in her face, and they spent ages throwing mud at each other. When they went home, they were both covered in mud and were laughing.

Now, those days may never be relived again.

Authors Notes

Well that got sad. Anyway, thanks for getting through this chapter!