Attack on Titan/Zelda crossover - To Hyrule and Back Again

Chapter Twenty-One: Annie

Annie's Point of View

back in the military school days

"Eren, wake up," I say to the sleeping boy. It's about 3 o'clock in the morning. Eren's never woken up this early.

"I-I'm already up."

"Then that means you don't need any coffee. Get up, we have to train earlier than usual because of our exam today."

"Annie, I gotta have coffee. Especially wa- *yawn* waking up at this hour. What time is it?"

"Precisely 3 AM. I'll be downstairs, so be ready in five minutes."

I start to walk out of the room, but before I exit through the door he says, "Wait." I stop.

"Ten minutes," he says.

"Fine."

I walk downstairs as quietly as possible and exit the building. Once I find the spot Eren and I usually train I hide behind a tree. Wonder how he can handle sneak attacks, I think. It's really foggy and wet, not to mention dark, so I have the advantage.

He eventually enters the area I'm in, and l quickly hop out once he's distracted and try to kick him on his side. Eren then turns his head, looks me in the eye, grabs my leg and pushes me back all in a few seconds. I fall to the ground.

"Nice," I tell him. He helps me back to my feet.

"What's lesson that's worth waking up at 3 are you teaching me?" he asks.

"It's about anger. I've never been much of an angry person myself, but I still know how to control it when I do."

"That definitely sounds helpful.."

"Yes. You tend to let your rage take full control of your actions, which can hinder you - instead, you can use it to your advantage. Being angry can race your heart, stress you out, do all sorts of things... If you channel all of that energy in a positive way, then your chances of winning a fight are greatly increased."

"Well then, let's get started," he tells me, as he gets into his fighting stance.

"First off," I start, "is knowing why you're angry when you are angry. Sometimes what makes you angry also makes you determined. It's the reason you fight. Sometimes your anger is what provokes the fight in the first place. Tell me, Eren, what makes you angry?"

"Titans."

"Why?"

"Because they ate my mother."

"Is that it?"

"I-I don't know, why are you asking me this?"

"Nevermind. Okay, Eren, pretend I'm a titan. Pretend like I'm the titan that killed your mother. You hate me."

"What?"

"You heard me. Picture the titan that ate her, and picture that titan's right in front of you."

"No - why... Why would I do that?"

"Trust me. Just do it."

He stares off into space for a second, and when he snaps out of it an angry look appears on his face.

"Fine. Whatever. I'm ready," he says.

"Use your anger, Eren. Don't be controlled by it. You control it now. Feel its power surging through you. Feel your rage, your hatred for me. Now attack."

He charges forward with a furious face. I sidestep, but he predicts this and kicks me to the ground when I do so. He throws a punch, but I duck under it. Then, I grab his torso and body slam him. I latch onto him and hold him to the ground.