Last Time on TLM: Eren had an odd vision about a king od the past. He tells Armin all about his human prince and Levi was very upset, so upset he was barely eating! With a promise from Hange to contact Armin, will he respond?
This Time on TLM: Eren is upset, very upset, so upset he is barely eating! Mikasa attempts to talk to him but does she make it better or worse? Armin has a surprise for his friend that he knows he'll like!

EDITED: 3/30/2020 11:56PM
I'm not too late! It's still our favorite brunets birthday! Here's a gift from me to you guys! (Even if I do Eren dirty here)

Fact: Your favorite song is probably your favorite because you associate it with an emotional event in your life.

Alles Gute Zum Geburtstag
(Alice Goo-teh zum ga-burt-stahg)
Happy Birthday
(Langauge: German)

"Quick, hide!" Her father whispered, pushing the startled girl under the table and throwing seaweed over her. "Listen to me, do not come out, do not move, and be quiet. It's just like those drills we showed you. No matter what happens to daddy and I, stay out of sight, you understand?" He whispered urgently, light blue eyes grave as he stared into his daughters frightened blue ones. She nodded, blonde hair a mess from the bun they had been trying to put it in after she saw her friends with the same style.

"Yes, father." She whispered, scared, but remembering the drills they often had helped her make herself smaller under the piles of seaweed on the floor. Her father smiled sadly, twirling one of the loose strands of her hair.

"Sieger!" Someone called out, her father quickly swimming over to the open entryway to block it. The girl couldn't see much, but she did see a lot of mers treading outside their house. What's going on?

"As according to the laws under his esteemed highness Grisha, I hereby sentence you, Sieger and your partner in crime, Diederick to the trench." Someone yelled, the crowd jeering behind them at her father.
"Where's Derick? He is innocent, it was all my doing! I used magic to seduce him! Please just take me!" Her father cried out, a voice she had never heard before and shook her to her core. She could see part of his face, the reddening of his eyes a telltale sign of sadness. Why is father crying? Where's daddy? This isn't like the drills at all. She thought, watching as two mers in shiny outfits grabbed her father's arms.

"Funny, he said the same thing about you." The one guard said, the two pulling him roughly and out of her sight. The yelling got louder, and she could hear her father calling out for her dad, but the sound of her own heart beating soon drowned everything out. She stayed there like a good girl, unwilling to disobey an order her own father gave. It felt like hours, perhaps even mere minutes. Her stomach ached, her arms hurt from the position she laid in, and her tail was cramped, but she didn't dare move. She could see the lanterns glowing in from outside, and knew that the sea was darkening. What if… what if they aren't coming back? They don't ever leave this long. Do they… not want me anymore? Am I bad? She thought about every horrible thing she had done, from accidentally breaking her dad's pot, to eating the squid bites her father said not to. The memories taunted her, reminded her of how much they must hate her. That's why they left, they hate you. You're a bad girl.

She cried, long and hard. Her wretched wails could be heard all throughout the reef yet that did not stop her. She didn't stop until she felt a gentle hand on her head. She immediately looked up, hoping beyond anything that she would see her dads, but was met instead with the face of an old lady. She was large and with short white hair.

"Aw… you poor thing. I didn't want to believe it but it's true. How long have you been here, sweetie?" The woman asked, holding out a hand for the little girl. She was hesitant but eventually decided that since the stranger was in her cave, she must know them somehow.

"Where are my daddies?" Was all she managed, looking around their home to see if they perhaps were there the whole time, but it was just them. The woman had a sad look on her face, drifting down to be level with the blonde.

"They… the king is making them do a chore for him. They're at the palace as we speak." She said, taking some loose strands of blonde locks and smoothing them back. The action was so comforting that the girl nearly cried, overwhelmed as she was with all these emotions.

"When are they coming back?" That's all she wanted to know. That's all she cared about. The strange look crossed her face once more, this time she couldn't hide it behind her smile.

"I'm not sure sweetie. It might be a long time. But they wanted me to come and take you to my home while they're away." The woman explained, gently pulling the girl into her arms. "Are there any toys you wanna bring?" She asked, but she shook her head. The woman sighed and they started for the entrance. "My name is Vanessa by the way. You can call me Auntie Vanessa or Aunt Vanessa if you want. I'll take care of you while your daddies are away ok? What's your name?" Vanessa asked. The little girl nodded shyly into her shoulder. I've never had an aunt before. This isn't so bad, but I hope father and daddy come home soon.

"Ok… my name's Annie…" With that, she was taken to her new home, where she lived with the kind old woman.

It was only a few weeks later that she learned what had actually happened to her beloved parents. She grieved for months, hoping that auntie had lied to her, but soon learned the true cruelness of the king. It was that day, that Annie vowed to kill those who killed her parents, to make them pay for what they did to them. I will show no mercy, just as they showed none to my fathers. I will make them pay.

This she promised.

~ The Little Merman ~

Eren has been having a shitty time since he last saw Levi. His mood was constantly fluctuating between happy and depressed. His joy was contagious as he twirled about the halls, smiling and humming the song he sang for his human. Of course, he also went through the depressed phases in his room. Crying, not eating, sleeping too much or not enough. Armin and Mikasa tried their best to help, making him eat three times a day and dragging him out of the room. It had been the third day, during a depressive episode, that Mikasa came to cheer him up. Swimming through the curtains of expertly woven shells and into his room, she found him lying on his bed, the soft green mosses covering it of the finest quality. Her carnelian tail flicked up some bits of sand and gems that lay scattered along the floor, concerned grey eyes looking over her brother. His hair flowed freely, scattered about in every which way. His breathing wasn't deep, so she knew he wasn't asleep, but it was calm.

"Eren." Eren groaned and hid his face.

"...go 'way 'Kasa." He grumbled, but she would not be deterred. She swam over and slid right beside him, hugging him and ignoring his splutters and groans. "Mikasa." He whined, huffing when she merely hugged him tighter, her tail moving over his as if to shield it from the outside world. As much as he hated it, the position was comforting. It reminded him of his mother, who had done the same thing when she was alive.

"Why are you so sad?" She asked, voice soft and low. Eren knew he couldn't hide it forever, but he also didn't want to upset her. He'd been debating this for the last few days and decided that maybe telling her isn't the worst thing.

"I did something that you won't be happy about. But for once, I need you to trust me and listen." He began, pulling away to look into her eyes. She sat up beside him and nodded, earnestly wanting to know what has crushed her baby brother to the point he wouldn't eat. While she came on her own will, her father also asked her to find out what's causing this sudden shift, as Eren has remained rather tight-lipped about the whole thing. "Well…" Eren murmured, "I'm gay." She merely stared, confusion coloring her features at the sudden admission.

"... gay?"

"I like men. I can't ever see myself mating with a woman." The nervous mer explained, flicking the long brown strands away from his face in annoyance. She sat silent for a long moment, looking at him like he had barnacles growing from his nose.

"Ah… is that it?" She hedged, looking concerned but not disgusted. She's not mad?

"No… but that's something I wanted you to know so that this next part would make more sense. I… well it all started when I saw a human boat."

He explained everything, the humans dancing, the fire, the man who tried to save him, and about the kiss they shared. The whole time, her face went from shock, to worry, to fear, and finally to horror.

"Eren, you can never speak about this to anyone! Ever." She hissed, tail flicking back and forth in displeasure. She floated up, circling the bed while he began to rise as well.

"Huh? The only ones who know are you and Armin."

"You told Armin?! No, no one else. If anyone finds out what you've done, they'll sentence you to the Trench. You know that interacting with humans is strictly forbidden! Dad will kill you if he finds out!" She chided, Eren's anger flaring at the tone.

"That's why I haven't told him! He'll never know and when I go back to land I'll-"

"Go back?! Are you crazy?! Think for once Eren! If you go back the human will kill you! And if not him, another! You know what humans have done to our ancestors, my family, your mom." She growled swimming around him erratically now, her worry rolling off her in waves. "Humans can't be trusted, Eren. Even if he is a good human, those around him might try to kill you. And what if he's just trying to lure you back in order to kill you? Think Eren! You can't go back!"

"You're wrong!" He yelled, eyes glowing gold with his anger. How dare she accuse Levi of anything like that! He would never! "Levi would never! He's sweet, sarcastic, really blunt but he's kind and brave. He saved me, Mikasa. He ran back into the fire to save someone he didn't even know! He would never kill me. I think that just as there are bad mers...there are bad humans. We can't judge them all by the actions of a few. I… love him, Mikasa." He was breathing hard, the emotions sweeping around him almost tangibly now. Gold and silver streaks like a million small schools of fish swimming around the room. Her eyes widened, anger and fear more prevalent as she stalked closer.

"Love him? How could you love him? You just met. You can't be with him, it's impossible. You'll never even see him again." She snarled, grabbing his shoulders to shake him. "It's not love, it's an infatuation with what he represents to you. Your love for any and all things human." She spat. Eren stiffened, practically seeing red with how angry he was.

"You can't stop me from seeing him."

"I can and I will. I would do anything to protect my family, my friends, and my people." With that, she spun around and swam out in a flurry of bubbles, leaving Eren on his own to stew in his anger. He growled and swam to his bed, burying himself as much as he could in the soft mosses. His anger soon turned to sorrow, thinking of the beautiful human he so desperately wanted, and knowing that when Mikasa set her mind to something, she would not be deterred. Hours passed, the sullen prince lying awake in what was starting to become his tomb. A servant came to his room to deliver some food, but Eren just thanked her and turned away. His stomach was in so many anxious knots there was simply no room for food. That was hor Armin found him, a small ball of sadness among emerald moss. That was until Armin admitted to having a surprise for him.

"C'mon Eren! I swear you'll looove it!" Armin crooned, trying to ruse the brunet curled up in his bed. Eren groaned, feeling shaky and tired but unable to fall asleep.

"Ok…" He whispered, stretching and slowly floating up. Armin grabbed his arm and they left, swimming wherever Armin steered them. Eren felt out of it, almost sick with his heart pounding weakly in his chest. Armin tried to make small conversation, but Eren was mostly unresponsive. Levi… why couldn't you be a merman? We could've swum away together, found an island… made little guppies. The thought earned a small smile from the prince, the notion not going unnoticed by his blonde friend.

"Thinking about him?"

He nods. Armin chuckles and Eren finally realizes that they're in front of his cave. The large boulder that covers the entrance was where it was supposed to be, covered in coral and seaweed. The untrained eye would readily dismiss it, but Eren's mark below a single white brain coral was what identifies it. Armin moves to roll the boulder, but after a few moments of pushing and nothing happening, Eren smirks and swims over. He gently moved Armin out of the way and with one mighty heave, pushed the boulder to the side.

"Show off." Armin huffed, but smiled and lead the prince into the opening. Eren chuckled and followed him, realizing that this must mean that his best friend had found a human trinket for him. Eren buzzed with newfound excitement, zipping right past his friend in a whir of bubbles. Armin laughed, glad to see just the mention of new thingamabobs was enough to get his friend back to his usual high spirits. Wait until you actually see it!

Eren followed the twists and turns of the short tunnel and finally burst through into the main cavern, gasping when he saw Armin's wonderful gift. His prince, his human, cast in immortal stone. Eren could merely stare at the chiseled and smooth features, Levi's sharp jawline, mysterious hooded eyes, furrowed but delicate brow, and his resting bitch face. For a moment, Eren thought that maybe it had been the real Levi, but was quick to recognize the statue for what it was. Eren squealed in delight swimming right up to the statue and making laps as he studied it. His heart panged, a little sad that for now all he had was a mere imitation of the man he was quickly falling in love with, but was glad nonetheless that he could look at his beloved's face, even if it was made of stone.

"Surprise!" Armin called out with a giggle, happy now that he finally got to show him. Eren's birthday was in two weeks so he had planned on giving it to him then, but seeing him so distraught made him give it a little early.

"Armin! Thank you!" He yelled, barrelling into his little blonde friend with a laugh. Armin returned the gesture happily and they twirled in their excitement.

"Of course! It was supposed to be your birthday gift but…" he trailed off when he realized that Eren was studying the statue and not paying any attention to him. He was staring into the cool unseeing eyes, hoping that if he stared long enough they would stare back. They did no such thing, but Eren had a great imagination. He maneuvered until he was sitting on his raised knee, the sword that pointed up from his side serving as a backrest as he looped his arms around the neck.

"Levi…" He murmured, head resting against his shoulder as he admired the artistry placed in his collarbone. Armin smirked, swimming silently behind the statue.

"Eren, run away with me my love!" He proclaimed, his voice a few octaves deeper to try and imitate what he imagined Levi to sound like. Eren snickered but decided to play along.

"Run away? With you? How suddenly you ask this of me…" He replied breathily, cupping a cold cheek and enjoying the feeling of smooth stone on his fingertips.

"But you must! I can't live without you! The pull is too strong!" Armin replied.

"Oh, Levi!" Eren cried out dramatically, "I will my love!"

"Have my guppies, Eren!" The two couldn't handle it and began laughing hysterically. His heartfelt light for the first time in the last few days, and Eren was beyond grateful for his friend who could do this for him. After the giggling subsided, the two entered a sort of silent calm, Eren content with nuzzling into Levi's shoulder while Armin studied a candelabra of forks. After a few minutes of peace, Armin let out a loud hum to gain his attention.

"I think I found a source for the electric you felt with Levi." He revealed, the brunet sitting up from his slumped position, verdigris tail possessively twining around his lover's leg.

"Oh? In those tablets of yours, I assume." Eren asked, bringing the arm not looped around Levi's neck to instead curl around the arm holding the sword.

"According to my research," He began, putting down the fork to instead play with the beads of a simple necklace. "From what I can tell, there is a condition, so rare that the Elders got into a very heated discussion as to how reliable the tablets were on the topic. It's called the pull and has only been documented a few times throughout history. It causes two individuals to become highly attracted to one another in a short amount of time. The difference between the pull and regular attraction is that both individuals become highly unstable and sick when kept apart. They physically need the other to survive." Armin explained, slowly floating down until he was sitting on one of the many smooth boulders covering the floor. Eren couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What happens when they are separated? How do they know if they are connected through the pull?"

"Well," He said slowly, "The most recent tablet depicting this phenomenon happened four centuries ago, and it claimed that both mers, Sevda and Mahzun, were kept apart on purpose to see their reactions. They were fine at first until those conducting the experiment began telling Mahzun that they would never see the other again. He was beside himself in sorrow, and apparently so was Sevda. They never told Sevda this, so they weren't sure why she suddenly began begging to end the separation. Eventually, they let them go, and the two lived for a hundred years. Another thing was that upon being reunited, the scribe at the time noted that it felt like they were in an eel's den." He explained, Eren perking up at the last part.

"An eel's den? As in, it felt like electricity?"
"Exactly what I thought. It wasn't detailed much, but I think that whatever shock you and Levi are feeling, is what Sevda and Mahzun felt as well. Which makes me wonder… you said you went north to get to land right?" Armin asked, hand reaching up to gently finger the conch shell around his neck. Eren nodded, attention already back on the statue of his human.

"Yeah, about 2 hours at full speed. Maybe 1 and a half if I hadn't been carrying Levi." Armin is quiet, contemplative as he studies the small conch. With a small swipe to the outer edge, it glows for a moment, confirming that Hange had indeed been calling for him. Maybe I can ask her about Prince Levi. She did once say that she had very strong connections, so surely she'd be able to find him. He sighed, already dreading the knots he'd feel in his tail from swimming such a long distance. From the amount of light hitting the rocks through the opening at the top of the cave, Armin figured it to be well past noon. If I leave now, I can probably make it back just past midnight. Hopefully, I can bring back some good news for Eren.

"I have to go." Armin suddenly announced, turning tail towards the cave entrance, celeste pallido tail sparkling as he suddenly rushed past Eren. Eren perked up, confused at his sudden exit.

"Armin?" He called out, earning a small wave and a huge smile.

"I have to go check something! Stay up for me, I'll be back around midnight." With that, he left his confused friend behind. What was that about? Ah well, more time alone with Levi!

He sat there for a while, not noticing the passing of time, nor the sound of his rock being moved. Blissfully unaware of the angry and stern gaze that watched him from the entrance. That is until a voice that filled him with dread spoke up.

"What is that?" The king hissed, his larger form swimming into the light of the main cave. Eren immediately darted off the statue, treading in front of it and hoping to Poseidon that Grisha will leave quickly. How did he find this place? What is he… oh. The glint of carnelian scales gave her away, just behind their father Mikasa hid within the shadows. Her face remained impassive, but he could see the fear and resolve in her eyes. She told him? How could she… that means… he knows. A chill ran up his spine at the look in Grisha's eyes. Absolute disgust and anger filled them.

"Father… I-"

"Quiet! Mikasa has already informed me about your little adventure the other day. How many times have I warned you about humans? How many of our people have told you the horrors the humans have subjected them to? Do you think them all lies? Do you not believe your Mikasa when she says she saw her parents get gutted by fishermen?!" His voice became progressively louder until he was shouting, glaring at the young prince when he opened his mouth to retort. "Do not speak! This is inexcusable. To think my son would even want to associate himself with a human, a man no less! Disgusting. If anyone were to find out, I'd be forced to throw you in the Trench. Is that what you want Eren? To die horribly and alone? How dare you even think of going to land!" He spat, looking around at the human artifacts nearly spilling off the shelves. "I've let you be long enough. Clearly this collection has allowed you to think that humans are anything but disgusting and abominable creatures!" Grisha raised his trident, pointing it to his left and blasting a long and dangerous laser of magic. The wall cracked and the jewels and forks shattered under the blast while Eren could only look on in horror.

"No! Stop! You can't do this!" He cried out, darting to stop his father but Grisha threw him to the ground. Blast after blast rang through the cavern, all the items he cultivated over the years lay shattered and broken, melted and destroyed on the sandy ground. Sand covered everything, slowly beginning to settle to the bottom to show one last item. His statue. Pearls from his tears only quickened as he looked at the gorgeous face of his human, realizing then that this may be the very last time he can look at it. "Father please, I'll do anything! Don't destroy the statue! It's all I have left!" He pleaded, reaching up to hold his arm but was surprised at the hard slap he received instead.

"Pathetic! Crawling around like a low crustacean! Is that the human man that tricked you? Why must you act like a fool?" He demeaned, already raising the trident to aim. In a panic, Eren could only say the first thing that came to his mind.

"Because I love him!"

His father paused, shock on his face as he looked at Eren big pleading eyes. That shock quickly became grim determination. Eyes locked on the disgusting human that corrupted his son, he took aim and fired, relishing in the flurry of sand that came in its wake. Eren let out a sob, watching the debris drift to the bottom of the now destroyed bits of the statue. He slowly swam over, finding bits of arm and sword scattered along the floor.

"I expect to see you tomorrow morning for breakfast. Princess Mina has agreed to be your mate, and you will be escorted to your island tomorrow to begin the rituals." Grisha said coldly, watching every pearl that fell from his son's eyes in disgust. Rather than demean him further, he turned and swam from the cave, calling Mikasa with him as he left. Mikasa looked at her distraught brother sadly but knew that in the end this was for his safety, and nothing is more important than that. With one last glance, she turned and left behind her father, questioning if it really had to be this way.

~ The Little Merman ~

A series of sharp knocks on his door drew Levi's attention away from the book he was reading, his brows furrowing at the sudden interruption. That was until he heard the litanies of his name being repeated over and over. Goddammit, Hange. His annoyance quickly became hope when he remembered that Hange had promised a way to find his merman soon and he found himself bolting to the door. Opening the door, he saw that Hange had the same crazed look in his eyes as he always did, but now he had an edge of seriousness.

"What is it?"

"She/her pronouns and we've gotta go to the beach." Hange said quickly, holding up the slightly glowing shell around her neck. He tilted his head, looking at the shell and remembering what she had told him earlier.

"Is he…?"

"Here? Yes, Armin is here."

How'd y'all like it?

Fact: Psychologists examined internet trolls and found that they are "Narcissistic, Psychopathic, and Sadistic".

Feliz Cumpleaños!
(Fe-Lee-z Coo-m-plea-ah-nyo-s) (Think of the way you pronounce Canyon and use the nyo for it.)
Happy Birthday!
(Language: Spanish)