Distant Memory | An Attack On Titan and How to Train Your Dragon Crossover

Chapter 2

Almost as quickly as my world began to vanish, I felt the warmth creep into my body again. But this time, it was cozy. Comforting even. Was it all just a nightmare? It was quiet and subtle, but in the distance, I could hear the chaos. One would hardly notice it over their own breathing. But it was there, slowly pulling me from my state of unconsciousness.

There was a deep rumbling in the darkness: an intermingling of beasts roaring and people shouting. As Armin began to arise from his slumber, the room around him became clearer, as well as the faint glow from the burning village outside of his window. He jumped to his feet in a panic, pushing a thin sheet of furs off his bed before running to the window.

Something isn't right. Everything felt foreign to me. I didn't like feeling in the dark. It scared me.

Instead of looking out into the city streets of Trost or even the ruins of Shiganshina, he was met with a primitive village made from wood and rusted metal. Below him, warriors scattered, brandishing steel weapons and chasing after the shadows of the creatures that loomed viciously above them. Armin looked up cautiously, holding back a gasp as several, gigantic dragons flew overhead, spitting out columns of fire and lava to the village below.

Where are the walls? Eren? Bertholdt? Where am I? I desperately scanned my surroundings, analyzing my situation.

A man stopped below Armin's window and waved frantically. "What are you doin', Armin? They've been lookin' for you down at the forge!"

The forge? Who are "they"? And why does this all feel so familiar? I could hardly think over the pounding in my skull, and the temperature was only growing hotter as the flames that were surrounding me had gotten more aggressive.

"Where am I?" Armin questioned immediately, ignoring the man's pleas. He was met with a look of disbelief that quickly morphed into anger.

"Now's not the time to joke around! We need weapons! Make yourself useful for once in your life and go!" The man gestured to a building no more than fifty meters away that was, thankfully, untouched by the blazing fires that seemed to have imprisoned the rest of the island. Armin swallowed heavily, forcing the lump in his throat to fall into his stomach before turning on his heel. He hesitated in the room, scanning it methodically before spotting a pair of brown fur boots tossed carelessly by the door frame. He made a mad dash towards them, pulling them on as quickly as he could, before making his way downstairs.

"Maybe there will be answers at the forge. At least, I hope there will be." He gulped as he headed towards the door. "I could really use a friendly face right about now."

Armin ripped the front door open, only to fall frozen in his tracks. Before him stood a nasty creature, murder flashing in its amber eyes. It was a dragon of considerable size, decorated in rows of sharp, almost quill-like, spines. It reared its head back and opened its fanged mouth. Sparks crackled against its throat and the room suddenly got unbearably hot.

"Oh shi-!" Regaining his senses, Armin slammed the door shut as the dragon attacked and stumbled backward. When the dragon had stopped bombarding the smoldering door with its flames, it roared, almost as if to warn Armin of what was in store if he were to leave the comfort of the home he didn't recognize. The dragon bounded off as flames began to consume the interior of the home. Armin searched desperately for some sort of water source but fell short on luck. Instead, he took notice of a window, barely pushed ajar. Sucking in his remaining courage, he ran towards it, throwing it open all the way and jumping through it with agility he didn't even know he possessed.

"Fifty meters. That's all I have to make. And then... Maybe I'll be safer?" I mumbled as I ran with all my might. I still didn't know what was going on, and whatever twisted version of Hell I was in. I couldn't seem to find a way out... If there ever was one.