Armin is crying his heart out in regret for what happened not too long ago. Eren was eaten and killed. At least that's what he thinks. I can't tell him otherwise or else things could get complicated fast. I have to get him out of his depression because we need to keep fighting. The Btalle ain't over yet.

"Armin look at me" I said to him. He hesitates doing so. He doesn't want to see my face in fear that I blame him. "Look at me" I tell him again and he does.

"This is not your fault. Eren didn't die because of you. I know that he would sacrifice anything to save you and anyone else he cares about. I miss him too. More than you can imagine but right now we have a job to do. The Titans have advanced in Trost. We need to keep going or else more people will die. Let's not make Eren's sacrifice be in vain. He didn't go gently into that good night and neither will you" I reasoned with him.

As I said these words, I could see that he was relieved that I didn't blame him. He was also understood and inspired by them. He knew that Eren would fight his upmost for his family and friends. Even if he was killed for it. He may have immense rage for the Titans but if his loved ones were in danger, he would cast it aside and protect them.

Meanwhile Thomas, Mina, Nack and Milieus reach our position. They are accompanied by Conny and his squad.

"Is everything ok here?" He asks us. Armin wipes his eyes to dry the tears.

"No. Everything is not ok" I said in sadness.

"What do you mean? What happened? Where's Eren?" Mina asked me. Armin and I don't say a word. Our silence gave our answer. Everyone was shocked at the realization.

"You mean he's -" Thomas gets interrupted when Armin speaks.

"Another Titan came out of nowhere and was going to kill me. Eren saw it coming and pushed me away. He took my place and was eaten by the Titan. It soon disappeared once I realized what happened" Armin explained what happened.

"And I wasn't fast enough to get here in time to save him" I added.

While this was supposed to lead to Eren's Transformation, I didn't want it to happen like this. I wanted to be able to teach him once I told him my secret. Now I'll have to wait until he appears again.

Everyone was saddened by what was said. Mina then goes to hug tightly with some tears in her eyes.

"I'm so s-sorry John" she said to me. I hug back in appreciation. Everyone else joins in. We became a family after all of these years of training. Losing one of us is something that we may be trained for but it's still a loss in the family.

For a few short moments, we are like this. Trying to get some comfort but we soon separate.

"Thank you everyone. But we don't have time to grieve. Not now. There's still work to be done" I said to them. They all nod in agreement and put on their game faces.

"What's the plan John?" Ymir asks me. Everyone looks at me to know what they should do.

"Why ask me. What happened to your CO?" I ask her curiously.

"He was killed by some Titans a few yards back. We killed them but we have no chain of command now until we found you and your squad. You are right now the only leader we have until another CO comes along." She reasons with me. I look at everyone and see that they agree with her assessment. They'll follow my orders until an authority figure tells them otherwise.

"Very well. Conny, you and your squad keep advancing. The Titans are increasing in number. Take out as many as you can but don't get overzealous. We only have a limited amount of gas. Milieus, Nack you'll join them. Be there backup in case the unexpected happens. If possible regroup with the others and work together. I have feeling that things are going to escalate." I said to them. They nod.

"What about us" Mina asks in regard to her and Thomas.

"You guys will be joining Armin and I to the rearguard. We need to inform Mikasa of what happened and get help on this. With her here, we might be able to push the Titans back or possibly keep it at a stalemate. Once we get her, we will regroup with the others and discuss further what the next step is." I reasoned with them.

"Right" they said in agreement. I then look at everyone and they are ready.

"Move out and stay safe everyone" I tell them as we all start to head in our respective directions.

"You too John" I hear Conny and his squad say as they move.

Using our gear, my squad and I head to the rearguard to get Mikasa. As we move, I notice Franz and Hannah on the ground. I head to them and see if they are ok. My squad joins me in this.

I land next to them and see that Franz looks injured.

"What happened?" I ask them.

"We were ambushed by some Titans. They came out of nowhere. We got separated from our squad and had to fight some of them. Franz got hurt when facing a small one. Smacked him to a building next to him. I was able to finish it off and help Franz escape. Now I'm checking him over to make sure he's ok" Hannah explained. This is good. This means that Franz death was prevented.

I then go to Franz who was sitting on a building.

"How do you feel?" I ask him.

"Not bad. Only hurts if I move too much" he says with a smile. I smile back.

"You think you can keep moving?" I ask him.

"I might be. Just needs some help to do so" he replies to me.

"Ok, we are heading back to rearguard. Here are some painkillers I brought with me. Figured it'll be useful to have in case I got hurt" I said to him as I gave him some pills

"Why are you guys going to the rearguard? And where's Eren, I thought he would be with you" Hannah asks. My squad and I just look sad.

"Eren didn't make it" Thomas answered. Hannah and Franz look horrified.

"How?" Franz asks.

"A Titan ate him while saving my life" Armin responded. They take the news hard.

"I'm sorry John." Hannah said with some tears forming in her eyes. Franz just has a depressed look on his face.

"It's ok. Eren died a hero. That's what matters. But We need to get going. The Titans are coming in quickly. I ordered Conny and his squad to advance further ahead to slow them down. If we can get Mikasa and some of the others, we can turn the tide" I reasoned to them. They agree to what I just said and wish join us. I don't argue. The more the merrier. Hannah and I pick up Franz from the ground and have him stand.

"Mina you think you can help Hannah carry Franz back" I ask her.

"Yeah I can do that" she said and does so. We then continue our path to the rearguard.

Meanwhile there is a big commotion at the inner gate. A business man is blocking everyone with his huge cargo that can't even fit. The boss of the company wants everyone to help move it through but everyone knows that it's literally impossible.

The civilians try to have one of the soldiers to intervene but the boss threatens the soldier that if they can't get his cargo through then they won't pay the soldiers to eat.

It was then that an abnormal Titan ran towards them. Everyone panicked and was trying to push this cargo or slip through the gate. Elite soldiers can't even reach it to make a kill until Mikasa just pasts them effortlessly. She attaches one of the grapple cords to its neck and proceeds to kill it instantly.

The Titan falls to the ground with Mikasa on its head. Everyone looks at her with stunned amazement. She then observed her weapons to make sure that they are not full in anyway. After that, she takes a look at the people in front of her. The boss then speaks to her.

"Perfect timing. Make these people help me out. I'll reward you handsomely" he demanded to her. Mikasa is just stunned.

"My comrades are dying right now. Because evacuation is lagging, they are fighting the Titans and are dying" she tells him trying to appeal to his humanity

"Of course they are. It's your duty to offer your lives to protect the civilians and property, is it not? Don't get full of yourselves just because you freeloaders are finally doing your job after a hundred years" the boss yelled at her. Mikasa then produces a darkened expression and walks towards him menacingly.

"If you think it's natural for people to die for others, then I'm sure you'll understand that at times, the sacrifice of a single precious life can at times save the lives of many." She says to him.

The boss sends his goons to fight her but she knocks them out easily. She then reaches to her destination in front of the boss.

She raises her blade at his face showing that she will kill him. No matter who he is, he'll die just like the rest of them.

"M-Move the wagon" the commands commands his men in fear. Once they do, everyone was able to leave through the gate.

"Thanks Sis" a little girl said to Mikasa with her mom right beside her.

"We were saved thanks to you. We are most grateful" the mother said.

Mikasa smiles at the thanks and sheathes her blades. She gives them a salute in recognition of her duty as a soldier to protect civilians. The girl and her mother were glad at that. Mikasa then leaves.

Once she does, it starts to rain. It would seem that the heaven weep at the loss of life happening here.

Mikasa is then congratulated by her CO, impressed by her skill. She then raises her scarf to her face. The meeting with the girl and her mom brought back memories of a life that was taken from her. Her family murdered in front of her but was saved by two brothers.

She will always be grateful to the Yeagers for taking her in. Giving her another family so she could protect.

Few moments later, Mikasa has been killing Titans left and right. A good number lay dead but more are still coming. Her CO is commanding her to withdraw but she decides to help the vanguard and keeps going, ignoring her COs call to her.

As she moves she notices that some soldiers are still inside the town despite the order to retreat. She then notices that HQ is surrounded by Titans trying to find their meal. Inside some Titans had gotten into the gas storage chamber. Some of the some cadets and soldiers were able to kill a few but had to retreat. Now they are hiding to make sure that are not spotted. Their weapons are ready to attack should the Titans find them but so far they are safe. They are waiting for reinforcements before things go from bad to worse.

Meanwhile, Jean is depressed by the whole situation with him Conny and other cadets on the rooftops.

"Great, we are given the order to retreat but we can't because we are out of gas. Damn it, this is not looking good for us." He said to Conny.

"What the hell happened to our support squads?" Conny asks out loud.

"Probably either dead or unable to get to us with the increased Titan activity." Jean responded.

"Then we need to wait for John and Mikasa to get here. They are the best of us. With them we have a chance." Conny reasoned to him.

"Even if that's the case, there are too many Titans in the area to make much of a difference." Jean retorted to him

"We can't give up. John told us to kill as many as we can. We still have enough to at least do that. If we don't then we might as well be dead." Conny said.

"Most of the vanguard was wiped out. Only the cadets we've trained with and a small number of low ranking soldiers remain. They seem absolutely terrified compared to us and don't have any inclination to give orders on what to do." Jean said in observation.

"Yeah, despite them being actual soldiers we are more mentally prepared than them. We owe John for that. Wish he was here at the moment. He would know what to do." Conny said.

Meanwhile, My squad and I along with Franz and Hannah meet up with Mikasa. She was closer to us than anticipated. Once she sees us, she gives a happy smile.

"John, Armin you are ok" she says as she gives me a hug.

"Yeah we are ok but... something happened" I said to her which gets her a bit scared.

"What do you mean? Where's Eren" She asks and yet again no one answers. Tears form in her eyes through our lack of response.

"N-No, no, no, no, no. Tell me that isn't true" she said on the verge of breaking down.

"I can't." I said to her. She immediately collapses but I catch her bring her to a hug as she cries hysterically. Her brother and friend is dead. Another body dropped because she failed to protect him.

Everyone starts to tear up with her. It's been a very emotional day.

"Shhh, shhh, shhh. It's ok Mikasa. Eren may be gone but he is not forgotten. He will remain in our hearts and memories. As long as we hold that to be true, then he's always here with us, fighting for a dream." I tell her to sooth her. She still cries but it's starts to die down little by little. She then looks at me.

"You think that's true that he's with us?" She asks me with a slightly broken voice.

"I do and it's given me great comfort or else I would really be broken" I tell her. She does like the idea of Eren's spirit fighting with us. This seems to give her a second wind.

"What should we do now?" She asks me. Everyone is curious on the plan.

"We regroup with the others and get some gas from HQ. We are running low and will need to refuel once we discuss a plan to take on the Titans" I said to her. Everyone nods in agreement and we go to find our people.

It takes us a bit but we eventually found them. Over 200 cadets and several soldiers are on the rooftops. Not knowing what to do next. As soon as my squad and I land, everyone notices and were estactic on my arrival.

"It's John" I hear some cadets say. People start to surround me as if I'm some kind of Messiah. I mean I don't mind the attention but this is kind of weird to be honest.

"It's about time John." Jean said to me as he approaches. "I heard about what happen to Eren. I'm sorry."

"I appreciate it Jean but why is everyone looking at me as if I'm some revered hero?" I ask him.

"You are a hero, to us. You have helped us become warriors. Despite my aggravation on the whole thing and you setting my ass straight, I've always respected and trusted you. And so do they. You gave us courage to be more that what we were so that we can fight. When Keith broke us down, it was you that built us back up. We are willing to follow you to hell if you asked us and right now we are in it. Now more than ever, we need a strong figure to follow and as you can guess, thats you." Jean explained to me. I was a bit shocked by that.

I knew that everyone respected me but I didn't think that they were so certain of me to lead them. I look around and see that everyone is in full agreement to what Jean had said. The low ranking soldiers seem desperate for someone to give orders

"Wow, I don't know what to say" I say to him.

"Hopefully, a plan because we are running out of gas and possibly time. Best bet is to resupply" Jean retorted. He's right we do need to resupply or else we are screwed.

"Alright everyone listen up" I call out to them. "As you know, the Titans are moving in Trost in great number. Many of you have fought them, but I can imagine that you also saw your comrades get killed in the process. Right now, we have no time to grieve for the dead. Right now, we have to resupply in HQ. Mikasa told me that it's surrounded by Titans which means we have comrades inside trying to stay alive. Once we get the gas we can climb the wall to retreat" People start to mutter about the situation.

"Look I know that none of this has been easy. We've never faced the Titans after a long time and because of our unwillingness to believe that they could breach the walls, we've became unprepared. Not anymore. We will prove to ourselves that we are in fact ready for them. Today, we will show these bastards that they made a mistake in coming into our walls, killing our people, taking our lands. Today, we will make history and fight till our last breath to defend our home. Now, are you with me?" I ask them.

They all cheer in agreement. I then arm my blades up and everyone does the same. I then turn in the direction of HQ.

"CHAAARRRGGGEEE!!" I exclaim as I zip away to get to HQ. Everyone else is inspired and gladly follow my lead. 200 or so people are now heading back to HQ in force. I'm leading an army. I feel like Leonidas from 300. Only thing is I'm not facing the Persians. I'm facing something much worse.

As we move, there are several Titans in our line of sight. I go for the first kill swiftly.

"Everyone kill the Titans quick before we lose gas" I hear Jean order and everyone agrees. I nearly forgot that he has very good leadership skills.

Everyone is killing a good amount of Titans as we get closer to HQ. There are no casualties in our pursuit. Everything looks good so far. Then I sense something. It feels familiar. I then hear something from the distance.

"RRRRRAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH" a monster roared. That's when it hits me. It's Eren, he's finally transformed. Everyone hears the roar but keeps going. More focused on getting to HQ without distractions or else they could get killed.

We then see a Titan's head fly over us as we keep moving. This causes all of us to stop and see the direction of where the head came from. We look and there stands a Titan killing another Titan. It was Eren but only I know that. Everyone is amazed.

"There's another Titan killing Titans? What happened to the Black Titan?" I hear one soldier ask.

"This one must be his backup which means the Black Titan isn't far behind." Jean reasons. I'll admit it's a very observant thought.

"Let's keep moving. We are almost there" I ordered and everyone keeps moving.

Eren has finally made his appearance in his Titan form. Now things will get better. At some point at least. Everything is about to get hectic but with my friends and allies behind me, I think we can make it.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Ok guys another chapter done. You see I wanted to show John leading in this chapter. All of the cadets he has trained survived because he made sure that they prepare for the worse possible scenario. He guided them and inspired them to be warriors. He has been their rock for the years he has been with them.

They will follow him implicitly no matter the terrain or hopelessness in the mission. Even Jean knows that John is someone he would follow. So that's a big one. The question is will they still follow him when they learn of him being the Black Titan? Who knows.

Anyway, I hope that you guys enjoyed the chapter. I'm doing my best to make John make the Attack on Titan universe a bit brighter. People that died in the show are alive now. That's a win in anyone's book and hopefully he continues doing that.

Have fun, this is me signing out