I'm writing up a storm here. I want to try and write as much as I can. Am I that desperate to get Levi and Eren back together? I must be… If you want to keep your tissues with you, that's fine. :)

The ocean always seemed so mysteriously dark and threatening at night, even for mermen like Eren himself. By the time Mikasa, Armin and himself entered the barren wastelands of Shiganshina he wanted to turn around, to not go through such an ordeal and just wake up from this terrible nightmare he was in. But courage urged him on, through those towering pinnacles of sharp jagged underwater mountains. Armin held Mikasa's hand tightly and Eren too, was unable to let go go her hand. Mikasa faced forward, her eyes shining with fierce determination and loyalty for her brother's cause. She would help in no matter what fate threw at her.

The trio soon came to a large and sinister looking cave, concealed in the shadows of two under sea mountains.

"In here" Mikasa said, the two following her into the darkness.

"Mistress Hanji? Are you in here?" Mikasa called out into the expanse of jet black, her echo ringing loudly through Eren's ears.

"Princess Mikasa, is that you?"

Out of the darkness emerged an androgynous mermaid with a powerful and elegant tail of a black mako shark. Distinctive circular lines were marked around her eyes giving the impression she wore spectacles. She was once a prosperous mermaid, head researcher of their archives as well as head sorceress in Shiganshina. During her time of banishment due to her intrigues and explorations of the outside world, she was sentenced for a lifetime of banishment in the wastes. It had been two years since they last met. Already, the darkness and isolation had aged the explorer and researcher considerably, shadows hung heavily on her face, lines creasing the woman's forehead. However, her face lit up in a bright smile when she discovered her guests.

She hug the trio tightly.

"How good it is too see you three again. I've missed you so! My you three have grown" Hanji said joyfully.

"Hanji… we're not here to celebrate. Eren is in trouble" Mikasa stated sadly, getting to the point.

Hanji's smiling face left her when she studied Eren's despondent and lost expression. She nodded grimly.

"Come inside before you three are seen. Who knows, someone might have followed you here"

The three looked at one another and followed their elder in the depths of the darkness warily. After two minutes, they found themselves in a smaller cave, brightly lit by a glowing blue orb and considerably warmer. The cave walls were lined with pieces of parchment of spells, alchemy symbols and other treasures from the world above. Above them was a tunnel, cut through the cave leading all the way to the surface. Eren smiled when he saw the moon was full and white, casting an ethereal glow through the light shaft.

Hanji sealed the door behind them.

"There. That should do it. Tell me why you've come children"

"It's Eren. He's in love with a man from the world above but that man is at war with another. Those two plan to fight one last time for honour. It will be the ultimate battle between them. However, Eren has been threatened by his lover's enemy, Commodore Erwin Smith"

Hanji frowned.

"What does he want?"

Eren bent his head.

"My voice and merman's abilities in exchange for the safety for Levi and the people I care for" Eren said softly.

Hanji gasped horrified.

"You mean to tell me, you have bargained with one of the most ruthless men of the Northern borders? How could you Eren?"

"I do this for the person I love and for my friends and family. I've been banished from my own kingdom so I'm as good as dead. The Commodore will see every person I love is tortured before my very eyes. I don't want that. I've already decided"

Hanji gently took a hold of her prince's shoulders and looked into his forlorn turquoise eyes.

"Eren, as noble as it sounds this will only lead to further pain. Commodore Smith is a devil. I have seen what the men above are capable of. They know no mercy"

"The man who I love has changed. He too was once a man so blood thirsty, cold… lacked feeling from what I've heard from his crew. I have changed him. Commodore Smith knows no love or tenderness. He is different from Captain Levi"

"Once the Commodore has your gifts he will become a monster, an unstoppable juggernaut. He will become a hybrid, a creature that God himself wouldn't consider part of nature. He will not honour your truce Eren"

"Even so I've made up my mind. Please Hanji. I know you can make me human. I sacrifice my voice and merman abilities… please. I have to do this!" Eren cried.

"My poor child the only things you will have left are your skin and bones!"

Eren smiled softly.

"And I have a love, an unstoppable love that even God and nature can't shake"

Hanji was lost for words. She hugged the younger merman tightly in her arms. He had grown so much the past few years. He had become a man of integrity and promise. Eren was determined and she knew his personality. Fiesty, impulsive and hotheaded but extremely loyal holding a strong sense of honour and honesty. She would help him and when the time came when he needed her guidance, she would be there no matter what.

She looked at Mikasa and Armin.

"You two, protect him with all your might. That's all I'm asking" She ordered.

The two nodded.

Taking Eren's hand, she lead him to the west side of the room.

"When you become human, you will lose the ability to breathe underwater. Of course you should know that by now"

Eren nodded at this weak way to lighten the mood.

Hanji pointed up to the skylight.

"That is the only direct way to the surface. It should fit all three of you. It's far up so Mikasa, Armin I'm counting on you two to help him get to the surface"

Mikasa nodded stoically whereas Armin looked as if he wanted to pass out.

From the counter, she took a beautifully wrought golden jewelled vial from a small chest, empty.

"This is for your voice and powers Eren. I'm asking you again. Are you sure you want to do this?" Hanji asked.

Eren nodded, his decision resolute.

"Very well. Stand back you two."

"Ventorum et aquae … in nomine, solvere eum... Vox se liberum esse" Hanji mumbled softly at her shining blue orb. Eren watched in awe as the orb glowed brighter, pulsating and changing texture, glimmering and vibrating in the water.

A warm bright electric blue shaft of light formed from the glowing sphere of blue and circled Eren briefly. Unexpectedly, it then gently entered his mouth, cool and soft in the back of Eren's throat. It felt as if an unknown fiery energy was slowly being pulled away from his chest and gradually taken out of his body. Eren stared sadly at the crystalline jewel in the shape of a tear drop that had come out from his body. The glittering light left the teardrop, following the orb's blue light and quickly harvested into the small jewelled vial.

"Your voice is gone now Eren. In this vial, this shimmering light is your voice. All is left now is the jewelled case that held it"

Taking a small golden chain from her chest, she strung the shining diamond like drop pendant onto it attaching the pendant around his neck.

"A small reminder from me and to help your cause. Now hold onto your voice Eren. I'm afraid the next step is going to be excruciatingly painful" Hanji said.

She took a purple flask from the bottom of her chest and sighed.

"I kept this only in great need. I never imagined myself using it let alone on the Prince of Shiganshina" Hanji said sadly.

Eren clutched the vial tighter in his right hand and watched Hanji unscrew the lid. A pungent smell of sulphur invaded the cave.

"Drink" Hanji ordered.

Taking the flask in his free hand he gave one last rueful smile to his companions and gulped the bitter liquid quickly without a second thought. The moment the last drop touched his lips, his whole body turned frigid, his body stiff and rigid. A searing pain in his lower abdomen and tail made him double over in agony, his body was on fire. His lower body felt as if it was being ripped into two, bones cracked and muscles spasmed. Eren looked down and for a brief moment, he saw the body of a human he so desired. But now a new burning sensation formed within him. The dire need for oxygen.

Without a second glance, Armin and Mikasa quickly grabbed Eren's waist and immediately started swimming up the light shaft, following the light as fast as they could so Eren could breathe. Eren's chest felt as if it was about to burst, his body craved for air. The three broke the surface of the water. Eren gasped and inhaled his first true breath of oxygen as a human. His body still in pain, trembling uncontrollably, Mikasa and Armin supported him gently as he coughed up the salt water that he once breathed.

"Let's get you to land quickly before you freeze to death!" Mikasa said.

In the distance, Eren could see Wall Trost.

Devoid of speech, Eren could do nothing but nod.

"Where is that cove you told me about? Can you show me the directions?"

Eren made hand gestures, showing the cove was a little due East of Wall Trost.

"Okay. Don't worry… it's not that far Eren. Just hold on tightly okay. We'll get there!" Mikasa comforted.

Eren could only nod, cold, weary and more frightened then he had ever been in his life. All he could do now was pray for the day he could see Captain Levi again.

What am I writing here? The Little mermaid? The spell is latin… which most of of the stuff I've learnt has gone out the window. XD