Since I hate angst and anything that makes me cry buckets of tears, here is another chapter just to keep the story going and so I can get my OTP back together as soon as possible. More drama and action and make sure you have a tissue box around your proximity just in case. Little introduction over. On with the story!

Previously: (God this is turning into a film series - wouldn't that be awesome)

"Commodore Dietrich?"

"Yes Commodore Smith?"

"Get that merman… bring him to me. I have a few questions I'd like to ask him"

Dietrich looked at Erwin as if he swallowed a toffee apple in one go.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"DO IT! We're wasting time!" Erwin roared.

Stunned at the outburst, Dietrich merely nodded and saluted.

"Yes sir. It will be done"

"Don't hurt him in any way. I just want to question him"

"Yes sir"

Commodore Ian Dietrich signalled his men to keep quiet in the gnat (long boat) Under the cover of the thick dreary fog, Dietrich prayed catching this merman in his inconsolable state would be easy. At the bottom of the gnat lay a large green rope fishing net, strong and thick when the time came to catch the mysterious creature. In truth, Commodore Dietrich was terrified although he did not show it. His palms had blanched white, sweating profusely. He had always thought the menfolk were nothing but legends, stories from fairytales… myths he grew up with from his many days from being at sea. They were all true… What if they were much more powerful than humans? What was Erwin Smith trying to achieve? Didn't he hear that haunting and alluring lullaby from that merman earlier? It almost made him fall from Wall Trost and tumble into the icy black depths of the sea below their feet.

"Commodore sir, we're approaching the rock"

Dietrich nodded. He wanted his men to attack and catch the merman behind.

"Alright men. Ready on my signal" Dietrich said, eyeing the figure before him.

Eren sniffled and wiped away the remaining tears that had trickled down his tanned face. He had thought of throwing away the earring so he would never remind him of Levi but the happy memories and this gift were too precious for him to discard. He clicked it back in his own ear forlornly. It was then the boy sensed a foreboding presence. It made his skin crawl and he peered through the fog but he could see nothing. Suddenly a large splash of water made him spin around in fright and cried out when he found the eyes of humans on him.

"YOU FOOL! Quick don't let that merman escape!" Dietrich screamed.

Panicking, Eren swiftly dove back into the dark icy water.

"Cast the net now!" Ditrich ordered.

With ease, his men threw out the large square metre fishing net, landing on the water with a large splash where Eren dove into the water. In the darkness, Eren screamed in horror when he suddenly felt the weight of heavy rope burn and chafe his skin. He thrashed and fought but the more he struggled, the tighter the net seemed to become, his tail entangling in the net.

"Levi help me!" Eren screamed, knowing that Levi would not come.

With some effort, Dietrich's men heaved the tugged on the green fishing net and managed to pull the still thrashing and struggling young merman into their longboat. Through the fishing net, Eren stared fearfully at the glares and looks of scrutiny before him. He raised his arms above his head, covering his eyes so he would not see them.

"Please… just let me go! Please I beg you!"

Dietrich was shocked how this creature could speak the english tongue but what hurt him more was how helpless this creature of the sea was. To him, it looked like an ordinary youth going through deep emotional trauma.

"Men get back. I'll see to this"

Dietrich firmly took hold of the boy's arms.

"It's alright I'm not going to hurt you. I won't let my men hurt you" Dietrich said desperately trying to calm Eren down.

"That's what you say. You humans are nothing but liars!" Eren cried out in agony.

"We won't hurt you!" Dietrich said again.

Eren thrashed out and managed to free his tail and lashed out at one of Dietrich's men, breaking his arm and enraging his fellow privates. They held him down tightly, further terrifying the boy.

"Commodore he needs to be sedated!"

Dietrich grit his teeth.

"Alright… Private Hodge, the syringe"

One of the private's handed Dietrich a small syringe filled with a white fluid.

"I'm sorry I have to do this but you give me no other choice"

Eren gasped in pain when he felt a surging pressure in his left arm. Suddenly, everything around him began to spin, the faces elongating and fading into a world that lacked colour. The faces of Dietrich's men and Dietrich grew dark as did the sky above him. Eren's chest burnt with a prickly tingling and his body felt heavy. Eren felt more tears well in his eyes. The only word that left his mouth was the name of his lover before he surrendered to the darkness.

Eren groaned, his head was pounding with a dull ache, causing dizzy spells. His body was a leaden weight and nausea gripped him and it took him every fibre of his being not to be sick. His body trembling, he unsteadily lifted himself up from the damp, frigid cobblestones. His eyesight moving into and out the darkness, he did his best to survey his surroundings. He seemed to be in some sort of isolated prison cell. Solid walls of black granite enclosed him. The only source of light was a tiny wind in the top right hand corner of the middle wall.

"Where am I?" Eren asked out loud, his voice echoing.

"You're in the Utopian navy prison quarters" a clear and unfriendly voice answered him.

Startled, Eren followed the voice. He wanted to cower back into the shadows when he found his captor was none other than Levi's nemesis, Commodore Erwin Smith. He bared his sharp canine teeth, turquoise eyes feral and animalistic, filled with hatred towards the man who had wounded the person he loved. The Commodore sat cross legged on a stool in front of Eren's cell, his ice blue eyes fixed on Eren with keen interest. If it weren't for the black iron grate in front of him, Eren would have ripped Erwin's throat.

"So you're Levi's lover I'm assuming. How surprising he would have a romantic relationship with a merman… well it just goes to prove he truly is an animal in the guise of a human. It's only natural" Erwin goaded.

Eren snarled but could do nothing, his head spinning from the drug still present in his system.

"If you hurt him!" Eren spat.

"Relax boy. I've only brought you here so we can discuss a few things… and to make a bargain. If you agree with our terms, then I'll let you go" Erwin said in a unfeeling and professional voice. It was all tactics and business with him.

"And what if I don't?" Eren replied, his aquamarine eyes sparking with anger.

Erwin smiled sadistically.

"Let's just say your friend Levi will earn more than a few lashes to the back. I'll make sure he's hung, drawn and quartered before your very eyes? Do you understand where I'm going?"

Eren was horrified at the prospect of the person he loved going through such undeserved torture. Yes he did bad things, but he was still a man. No one deserved that punishment, even if you were a monster. It would kill him.

"Alright! Alright… what do you want from me?" Eren said frantically, giving into his threats not wanting to see Levi in pain.

"What I want?"

Erwin leant forward on his stool.

"What I want boy is your voice"

Eren's eyes widened then clutched his throat, that horrible nightmare crashing in on him.

"My… my voice. But how can I-"

"My men and I heard you sing. Your voice is a truly powerfully thing. It unleashed so many hidden emotions and anguish inside of me. I want your voice, all your merman abilities and give them to me… they will be my ultimate weapon for the benefit of the Utopian navy"

"But… but you can't! Controlling a merman's talent and his abilities… it will lead to consequences. Even you won't be able to control them! If you take them-"

"Very well. I'll make sure Levi is slit from naval to nose, his liver burning before his very own eyes-… No not only that, I'll make sure every person you love, you cherish suffers the same punishment" Erwin brushed off.

"ALRIGHT! I'll do it! Please don't hurt him!"

"Here's my deal. Give me your voice, I don't care how you obtain it in exchange for your Captain's safety and life. Take it or leave it?"

Eren shivered and cried out in desperation. He felt so utterly useless and helpless… but he would never betray Levi, even if it meant sacrificing his merman abilities and voice. At least the one he loved will be safe. Tears of utter hatred and anger streamed down his face. He was over wrought.

"I'll do it… but how can I know you're not lying to me?" Eren asked skeptically.

Erwin sighed and rubbed his eyes. Taking a small knife from his pocket, he made a small cut on his palm.

"See, blood truce. Now you do it"

Glaring at the Commodore but filled with a determination to keep his Captain safe, Eren roughly bit into his own palm wincing at the pain. (NO HE'S NOT TURNING INTO A TITAN!) Blood immediately flowed from the small bite wound. Resentfully, he shook the Captain's hand through the bars.

Erwin smiled, satisfied with the results.

"You give me your voice and abilities Eren and I promise to not lay a finger on him. Deal?"

Eren's scowl darkened, feeling only contempt and extreme loathing for the man in front of him.

"Deal. I expect you to keep your word Commodore Smith"

Erwin grinned malevolently.

"Oh I intend to my boy. I intend to"

In the depths of Shiganshina, realm of the menfolk, a beautiful young mermaid darted frantically through the kelp in search of her brother, Eren Jeager. Mikasa Ackerman, adopted sister of Eren Jaeger was a pretty girl with black shoulder length hair, soft dark brown eyes filled with worry for her lost brother, clear pale skin and a perfect oval face. Extremely slender and streamline in stature and build, she swam with ease through the current. Her brother Eren Jaeger had gone for more than three days. Ever since she had discovered his growing attachment and romance with a human, the young merman had grown more distant and herself, more protective and devoted. She had qualms or doubts of him falling in love with the same gender. If he wanted to be with a man, then so be it… but a human was an entirely different story. So far she had kept Eren's love affair a secret from her people. As blood royal and heir to the Shiganshina throne, she had sought to rule fairly and wisely. Now her people grew suspicious of Eren's mysterious disappearances to the surface. Her wanted to banish him, or worse kill him. She had to warn him that he was no longer safe in this realm. He needed to be with Captain Levi and away from the water… to keep safe until the heat had died down.

"Do you see him Armin?" Mikasa called to her male companion.

Armin shook his head.

"No. If he enters our kingdom, he's as good as dead. He must not enter our borders" Armin replied.

Mikasa swore softly and continued searching through the kelp. In the distance she spotted a lone merman approach her. THe unmistakable aquamarine eyes looked back at her joyfully, full of relief. Her heart lifted. Eren had returned.

"Eren! You're safe"

She swam quickly and welcomed the embrace he offered her, Armin following close behind.

She gripped her brothers hands tightly, her voice trembling.

"You can't stay here Eren. I've come to warn you… our people are threatening to kill you if you don't accept exile. They're suspicious of your travels to the surface. You have to get back to Captain Levi!" Mikasa said urgently.

She was surprised when Eren's face became crestfallen.

"What's wrong? What happened Eren?"

Eren shook his feelings of loneliness. His eyes flashing with determination and fear he explained what happened a few hours ago. Being captured by the Navy's men and threatening to torture and murder every person he cared for if he did not surrender his voice and his merman abilities to Erwin. Mikasa listened, completely dumbstruck, her brown eyes wide with fright.

Alarmed she tightened her grip around Eren's hands.

"Doesn't that man know the consequences and the occurrences that will happen if he tries to tamper with nature itself? It's not to be! Why do you have to sacrifice yourself? You don't have to go so far!"

Eren sighed and rested his hands on his sister's and his friend's shoulders.

"I know… but I have no choice. Sacrifice one in exchange for the lives of others. Its how the world goes in this day and age… and I'm resigned with my answer. Please don't give me the pleasure of seeing your bodies burned in front of my eyes. I can't go back home. I'm a good a dead. I have to sacrifice my abilities and become an ordinary human. Maybe I can be with Levi that way"

Armin let out a string of queries why he should not go ahead with his plan but Eren paid more attention to his sister's silence. Her head bent low, her hair dancing in the water, Mikasa did her best to try to cover her anguish and desolation of losing her brother all because of a naval officer's desire for conquest and power.

Eren hugged his sister tightly.

"Please… Mikasa I have to do this"

Mikasa hugged her brother tightly and lovingly kissed his forehead.

"Bless you Eren Jaeger. No matter what decisions you choose, I will always follow and do my best to help you. You do this for your kingdom and for the people you love… a true prince of Shiganshina" Mikasa said, her heart brimming with love and pride for her brother.

Eren pouted playfully but his heart hurting more than ever.

Mikasa took his and Armin's hands.

"Come. Let us go to Sea Witch and Mage Hanji. She will know what to do"

"Sea Witch Hanji? Isn't she exiled though?"

"She is still our ally and friend. Just so you know, you will always be my brother, even when you become human and leave this cage of a life" Mikasa explained gently.

Eren tightened his grip on his sister's hands knowing the battle was not far away. If he didn't make it out alive, this would probably the last time he would see his sister and his best friend ever again.

Ooooohhh! Suspense! There's a lot more to come