Chapter 2: Trost…

"Eren get out of there!"

SNAP!

"No!" Armin cried out at the scene playing before his very own eyes. Eren's decapitated forearm fell haphazardly next to Armin, then slid down the roof and fell all the way to ground. It had happened so quickly.

Flashback

To many things happening at once, that squad 34 didn't have time to think when an Abnormal launched itself off a distant roof and ate Thomas. The group of six was now reduced to only five. All of them witnessed the pained look in Thomas's eyes before he was swallowed whole. That image alone had left the group shaken, except in the case of Eren, it was due to blind rage that he was shaking unlike his team who were shaking from fear.

The 'Suicidal Bastard' lived up to his nickname and dived headfirst into the battlefield, fully intent on avenging his now dead comrade by slaying the very beast that ate him. Armin and the rest of the squad didn't have time to react when they finally managed to get their heads in the game to see Eren heading straight for the Titan.

"Eren, wait!" Armin shouted as he released a burst of gas and grappled a nearby building with his 3D gear in the hopes of catching up with his best friend before he got himself killed.

Such wishful thinking.

Everything went downhill from that moment on. When a 5 meter class titan that had been hiding in an alley suddenly appeared flicked its finger at Eren, making him lose balance and skid across the roof. His hair stuck to his neck with a mix of sweat and blood. So much blood in fact that he blinded him as it fell onto his eyes and just short of his mouth.

"Eren!" the group screamed, rushing as fast as they could to their comrade. This would prove to be their downfall as they were ambushed by Titans. Mina, Nic and Mylius were killed and eaten in the blink of an eye. Armin was so grief stricken and fearful that when he was in the grasp of a titan, he didn't even struggle.

'Why can't I move? I have to keep my promise to Annie!' Armin thought but it would be for naught as he was already in the Titan's mouth and was sliding down towards its throat. Armin came to an abrupt stop when he felt pressure on his wrist. There at the entrance of the titans mouth, holding up the top row of teeth, was Eren, looking to save his best friend from death itself. With all the power he had left, Eren threw Armin out of the Titan's mouth and on to the adjacent rooftop.

"Hey Armin… tell Mikasa that I love her…"

Flashback End

Eren was dead. Armin had a front row seat to his death. The look of sadness in his best friends' eyes before his final moments would forever be burned in Armin's memory. He could see all of the things Eren wanted to say just by looking into his eyes and knowing that it was Armin's fault for the death of his best friend was too much to bear for him that he eventually passed out.

Subconscious

A large white, western, dragon was in a forest clearing, laying its large head on its claws. It was staring at Armin with a look of disapproval, as though Armin had not made a good first impression. Armin on the other hand was beyond shocked. He had read stories that depicted the very being in front of him. He could sense no hostility radiating of the beast, so he made his way towards it and sat next to its huge head. The two sat silently for what felt like forever before the mighty beast blew out a gust of wind from its mouth that was so strong that it made Armin stumble backwards a few meters.

"You are weak human but what makes you weaker is your self-doubt. Man up before you end up like your friend."

Reality

Armin's eyes fluttered open and his breathing become irregular. When he managed to calm himself down, his gaze landed on a very familiar face which had an uncharacteristic look of worry.

"Annie… is that you?" Armin asked hoarsely.

"Armin… I-I t-thought I lost you…" Annie said as she pulled Armin into a hug where his head was resting on her chest. Armin was glad to see his girlfriend but the fact that his face was buried in her chest did little to stop his massive blush. When he felt something wet on top of his head, he knew that she was crying so without any further thought, he wrapped his arms around her. He wished he could remain like this forever.

"Armin, where's Eren." Armin instantly froze and his face became pale. He could tell who's voice that belonged to anytime and in the moment he was embracing his girlfriend, he had completely forgot about how he was going to tell Mikasa that his best friend and her boyfriend died trying to save him. Armin reluctantly let go of Annie and stood up facing his childhood friend. She didn't even have to hear what he was going to say with the look in his eyes, she fell on her knees and started crying. The other squad 104 members didn't know what to do but all of them followed Mikasa's lead and started crying for their lost comrade. Armin bent down on one knee and placed a hand on Mikasa's shoulder prompting her to look up at him.

"Mikasa… I know what you're feeling but please listen to me. We have to get to HQ otherwise we won't have a chance to fulfil Eren's dream. Everyone here will die, if we don't get our asses in gear so I know this is going to sound harsh but… forget about Eren for the moment so that we can grieve properly when we're safe." Armin said sternly, he knew this was a tall order but he, and everyone else, needed Mikasa to be focused so that they had a fighting chance against all the titans that had surrounded HQ. Mikasa quickly wiped away her tears and gave Armin a firm nod. Armin helped get up to her feet and walked to the edge of the building then turning around to face everybody.

"It's simple. We can't stay here and wallow in despair. We've trained for years and just because we are in a bind doesn't mean we are going to give up. We are 104! So let me ask you this… will you stay and die or will you fight and live?" Armin didn't even wait for a response as he jumped of the roof and made his way straight to HQ with Annie and Mikasa not far behind.

"104!" Jean shouted as he jumped off the roof and rushed to Armin. The rest of the squad gave each other a nod before following suit and rushing of to assist.

Everyone couldn't believe what they were seeing as Armin was killing several titans with skills on par with Mikasa and Annie, if not then better. It didn't last long before the squad shattered the windows and successfully made into HQ with no one falling victim to the titans. The group made their way to the basement to refill their gas but soon discovered that there were seven 5 meter class titans milling about so yet again it was up to Armin to devise a plan.

"Ok I've got it. Annie, Mikasa, Reiner, Bert, Connie, Jean and I will be positioned on the railings above the titans. Marco, you'll lead everyone in the elevator, with rifles aimed at all every direction. Make sure that all the titans notice your presence and lure them in until they are right at the elevator. Fire shots into their eyes so that you blind them, giving us the opportunity to execute the killer blow. Got it? Great. Let's go."

The quickly made their way to their respective positions but not before Mikasa asked Armin how he was so skilled all of a sudden.

"I don't doubt myself anymore."

Everyone was in position and when Marco and the rest of the trainees fired the blinding shots, Armin and his group were quick to react. All the titans were killed, leaving the trainees able to get all the equipment needed to head over the wall and rendezvous with the Garrison. When everyone was set, they left HQ but when the group caught sight of a red armoured humanoid being, they jumped to the closest rooftop to investigate. What they saw left them flabbergasted. The odd armoured being was killing all the titans that surrounded HQ. It took all of five minutes before the red armoured creature killed the last of the titan in the vicinity. During this time, Armin was shaking uncontrollably but nobody even noticed since the armoured being had their undivided attention. Then the beast turned its head to the squad and everyone held their breaths as it flew towards them. It landed in front of Armin and it was only then that everyone saw that the blonde was shaking but most of them assumed it was from fear. That was until they heard him say one word that left their jaws on the floor.

"Eren…"

Then all the armour disappeared revealing a smiling, emerald eyed, suicidal maniac that everyone knew before he fell unconscious.

End

Chapter 3: Walsh and Vanishing Dragon