Three years later

The Merboy had now grown into a Merman in his nineteenth year. His once bright eyes, seemed to dull with every passing day. His pail skin glistened in the sunlight as we looked out in the distances, over the raising and lowering waves he road. He saw a ship in the horizon. From what he could tell, it was a merchant ship.

He slipped under the graying water, making his way down towards a group of other Merfolk. His friend Zoe, among them.

"Erwin, what did you see?"

"You were right, it is a Merchant Ship, but it's heavily armed."

The other Merfolk glanced around at each other. One spoke up, his voice shaking.

"So then let's leave it be. We don't know those whom are in their possession."

Zoe snapped at the man.

"You are a coward, the whole lot of you. What have you! To leave our own kind to the likes of the humans!"

The merman got angry at Zoe, as if she dare call him that. He swam up to her, claws extended.

"I should throw you up there for them to take!"

Erwin narrowed his eyes at the man, ready to strike him down with his powerful tail, but another Merfolk came to Zoe's defense. He put himself between Zoe and the angered Merman.

"The one who should be used as a sacrifice should be you. Zoe is more valuable than a sea cucumber like yourself."

Zoe's bright smile escaped her as her voice sang with laughter. She jumped on her defenders back with glee.

"Moblit! Thank you!"

The man seemed to back down, while Erwin took charge.

"I know the information we received shouldn't be trusted, but the human that gave us this information, used his last dying breath to make sure "we" got it. As much as I hate to admit it, we owe this human his last wish to save those Merfolk held captive on that ship."

Zoe nodded, glancing up at the surface world above them. The ship was almost above them, carried on by the currents of the ocean and the ever blowing winds.

"If any of you want to back out now, do so. I don't want any dead weight to hold us back."

The group of Merfolk broke away, leaving only five to the rescue on a dead man's plea.

Zoe cupped her hands and yelled as the Merfolk that swam away.

"Cowards!"

Erwin glanced over at Zoe, who was beyond fired up and ready for a fight. Moblit, wasn't on his top ten of bravery, but he was shocked about how quick he was to defend the lone Mergirl in the group.

The other two, he only knew as strong men for the king. Erwin raised his hand to his chest and smiled.

"My name is Erwin. Thank you for staying with us…"

The two mermen returned the underwater greeting. The short haired blonde smiled, a little smirk came about. His strong wide shoulders, gave him a menacing look.

"The names Reiner."

His bigger friend gave a side glance, already reading Reiner's mind, his green eyes danced at the thought of the adventure they'd be going into.

"And I'm Bertolt!"

Erwin gave a huge smile, glaring at the two.

"I'm guessing you two have a plan?"

Both men glanced at each other, before grinning evilly. Zoe was starting to wonder if this was a good idea or not.

Bertolt opened his mouth and a call echoed down to the deep. A large roar could be heard, causing Molbit to hide behind the rather excited Mergirl. Erwin looked down into the darkness, a smile cracked as a large roar echoed back.

"Well I didn't know you have one of those…"

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The men on the Merchant Ship held fast to their guns. Their cargo was rumored to be expensive and had to be protected at all costs. The Captain glanced out at the helm with his Wheel Man, looking out at the vast open waters before them.

"The Queen of England should be pleased by the treasure we will be bringing her…"

The Wheel Man glanced at his English Captain, a very grave look graced his appearance.

"But Sir, is it wise to keep them alive. After all, we did kill their human companions…not only that, but wouldn't it be more…kind to dispatch them now?"

The English Captain laughed, leaving the helms man to wheel his way towards home.

"What's the matter? The monsters tears getting to you?"

The Wheel Man did not answer as he watched the Captain go below deck, deep where the treasure lay. The dank smell and nightmarish dark made the man feel right at home.

A smug smile came as he pulled the chains in the dark, causing the moving cargo to try and hide away from the confined space they were in.

A mermaid hissed, extending her claws, protecting her child with her body. The mermaid narrowed her dark eyes, wanting to destroy the man in front of her, but had no power to do so.

"Don't die yet my dears, there so much more in store for you…"

The Captain paled when he heard a roar echo around the ship. It didn't take long for him to fly up the stair well to be greeted by the bright ocean blue. He could hear his men yelling and panicking. His Wheel Man pulled hard, but even he knew it was futile.

"It's a LUSKA!"

The Captain peered over the edge of the ships helm, watching as large tentacles creped over its railings. The English man almost shit himself as the creature, the Luska, pulled itself on board. It looked half shark and half octopus. It quickly ravaged the fearful crew that tried to escape its clutches, to no avail. The Captain pulled out his saber, ready to charge, but a heavy being came toward him with a strange weapon.

In the heat of the moment, he rolled away. His eyes looked on in shock as a Merman charged at him with grace and speed. The Captain was almost taken back by the beast with glowing blue eyes.

Erwin lunged forward, as he thrust his triton forward towards the land walker, digging its sharp edges into the man's guts. He gave a smile as he pulled away, leaving the Captain pinned on the ships dash board, gasping in pain.

It didn't take Erwin long to make his way down to the cargo bay, going on by the calls he heard from the captives. His eyes fell upon an exotic mermaid and her young child. The two looked quite different from him and the others. The same and yet different waters changed their appearance.

His hands clasped the metal bars but pulled away. He looked at his hands in pain. Whatever was on the bars, burned him. He hissed at the sight, watching as his skin started to blister. He quickly glanced back at the mother and child, noticing the mother was using her body to protect her child at all costs from the bars that damaged his own body.

Erwin glanced around, before his eyes fell to the keys in which he needed to open the gate. He made his way over and lifted himself up, grabbing them before quickly throwing his body back to the horrid cage.

With a large click and the clattering of the discarded lock, the mermaid and her daughter were free. Erwin reached in and pulled her daughter out first, making sure she didn't touch the bars, her mother came second. He pulled her close, feeling horrified on how light she felt under his arms.

"Mikasa, go up…"

Her mother spoke, even in pain she was able to give her daughter a reassuring smile. Erwin admired that. He watched as the girl crawled her way up the stairs, dragging her purple tail in the process. Erwin then had to support not only himself, but the wounded woman. He placed her on his back as he made his own crawl up the manmade nightmare.

He gave a huge smile when he saw the Luska still revenging the ship, breaking the mast. The Luska's handlers seemed to be having a blast themselves, throwing off the land walkers into the waters. He dragged the woman with him to the side of the boat. The two were almost water bound, but a sharp pain pinned Erwin's tail town to the ship.

Erwin held his scream as he pushed the woman away from him, to defend himself against whomever stabbed him. The Quartermaster of this ship had jammed a spear deep into his tail flesh to the deck below. He watched as the land walker reached into his pocket to pull out a pistol. Erwin lifted his pinned tail up has hard as he could and freed himself. With the powerful upward swing, his fin hit the Quartermaster under his chin, breaking his neck. The man dropped and slipped down the staircase.

"Mama!"

The young mergirl called out as a Crew man held her in his arms. The wounded merwoman changed, her once pail skin turned gray and black, in her anger, she lunged forward towards the Crew man. She pulled her daughter away from the man, but in that moment, a shot rang out, knocking the woman and her child down to the deck. The Crew man had fired a shot, killing the mother. He raised his pistol back at the girl, but was dropped by a spear.

Zoe jumped on the man, plunging it deep into his chest cavity. She grabbed the crying Merchild and jumped ship. Reiner grabbed Erwin and pulled him over board too. The Luska still hell bent on its destruction. Bertolt gave a deep bellow, causing the Luska to grow even bigger and stronger. A deep whirl pool appeared underneath the ship.

The six merfolk quickly swam away from the pulling vortex. Bertolt watched as his Luska did its magic, before glancing back at the rag tag rescue team.

"It's best we leave, when the Luska is like this , not even I have the power to stop it."

Moblit barked in anger.

"So you just neglected to tell us this till now?"

Erwin glanced out at the Luska, its size now doubled that of the ship, dragging it down, crushing it to fit into its ever growing mouth. He glanced over at the only one they were able to save. The crying child in Zoe's arms. It seemed with her sadness, like her deceased mother, her once pale skin changed from gray to black.

It didn't scare Zoe any, but it caused the other Mermen to have a wary eye on the child. Zoe brushed the child's hair as she held her close to her chest, trying to calm the child.

"It's alright. It's alright…."

Rainer sighed, glancing down at Erwin's bloody tail.

"We need to leave before the sharks come. "

Erwin glanced his heavy eyes towards the survivors of the ship.

"Good Riddance, let the beasts of the sea pick them off one by one…"

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An angered, elder merman yelled at the tired merfolk who made up the rescue team.

"What were the five of you thinking?! I expect this kind of behavior from the woman, but not you two!"

Zoe narrowed her eyes but kept her mouth shut, the kings two Guards swam at attention; not flinching at the older man's anger.

Bertolt spoke up.

"But my pet was hungry, I figured it was the best option to take her out hunting…"

"Without MY ORDRED!"

Erwin frowned, not happy with the tops feelings towards the rescue plan.

"Forgive me sir, but it was my plan. I felt it was wrong to leave our own kind to the likes of the humans."

Zoe spoke up.

"Besides, this merchild is unique. She's lived among the humans, she knows their customs, their history, their…"

The old man roared.

"She's a damned freak! She isn't human nor is she mer, a damned crossbreed. One that should be put down!"

Zoe clenched her fists, angered by that, Erwin had to move fast.

"Sir, I think that would be the waste of an amazing opportunity. What Zoe says is correct. We can learn from the girl. Learn the weakness and strengths of man. Use the girl as a catalyst. Besides, it would also do you well in the long run. To show kindness to a child born of man and mer. It would give you…"

The old man hissed, his gills started to glow in anger.

"Water is their weakness. Just pull them under and they die…."

The old merman gulped in the water around him, calming his flaring gills.

"Fine, do as you please. That child has my blessing, but if she steps out of line, I'll finish her myself."

The rescue team swam out of the room, sighing at the taboo in which could have gotten them punished.

Zoe pushed her hair back, glancing over at Erwin.

"Thank you for helping that girl out…"

"It's the last thing I will do for her. Her blood is tainted and I'd rather not get involved anymore then I have too…"

Zoe sighed, not pushing the subject any further. Moblit swam up, questioning the two.

"Now we have the girl, who's she going to live with?"

In a blink of an eye, both Bertolt and Rainer swam off into the distance, the two quickly abandoning the situation. Erwin turned and made his way out of the towering hallway.

"She's Zoe's responsibility now…"

"Erwin, you just can't let me…"

Erwin turned, his eyes looked like his anger was about to spill.

"I don't know why I even bother listening to you half the time, your flounder-brained excuses get people hurt or killed. I'm getting tired of bailing you out. Now take the girl, feed or kill her, I don't care."

Zoe looked away, crestfallen by her old friend's words. Moblit rested a hand on her shoulder, giving her a smile.

"He's just hurt and confused right now. What you did was amazing and I know that child is grateful for what you have done. Don't let him get you down ok?"

Zoe nodded, her bright smile came a crossed her face.

"Alright then! Let's take care of the child!"

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Erwin glanced at his wounded tail. It was healing already, but it would scar. It made him pissed, knowing that a human had marked him. He was too full of himself, thinking he could have been a hero. It just resulted in him making the girl an Orphan.

He was growing frustrated. He hadn't meant to say those things to Zoe, didn't really blame the girl for her dirty blood either. He was just not over the events of the day.

The youth made his way, away from the place he called home, a coral bed surrounded in bright blues and orange, up towards the black surface. He broke the boundaries, glancing out at the shattered remains of the ship. Few men clanged to the wreckage. It made Erwin joyful that not all the humans were dead yet. He'd take his time for what they did.

Erwin swam back underneath the water, making sure no lingering sharks remained. Even if he could heal rapidly, he was still wounded, making him an easy target for those meat eaters. He swam in the dark waters, with only the bright moon illuminating the wavy surface.

He slowly made his way up, watching as the people lay broken, against each other, their faces could almost match that of the dead, if it wasn't for the soft breathing that escaped their mouths. He reached his hands out, ready to drag the sleeping men under one by one. He reached, nearly grabbing the nicely dressed man's ankle, before he pulled away. A sharp whistle sang in the night and made the Merman's heart race and his ears ring in pain.

He hid in the wreckage, watching as a ship neared the survivors. He was angered, caught off guard by the ship. A new fleet full of people and nothing he could do about it to sink it. His eyes glanced up at the flag that danced in the moonlight.

"Pirates…"

He watched as the ship was lit up with lanterns, the calls from the Pirates down to the survivors below. He watched as the men on the wreckage looked like fate had taken another blow to their already fleeing life. His blue eyes watched as the boat was lowered to them, men coming down either to help them or to kill them.

Pirates were a tricky thing. They could be respected or feared. Kind or Murderous. Erwin hoped it was murderous, he wouldn't have mind seeing human spill the blood of another. He had seen it before and it was pleasing. To his dismay, the pirates pulled the water logged English men onto the ship, hearing something of "monster" "pray the god" .

Erwin sighed, giving up on seeing the blood shed he had hoped for, ready to leave from the mess he helped create. He would have too, if it wasn't for a familiar tune he heard being whistled on the ship above him. It was one he heard 3 years ago, but less old sounding. Either way, it was making his blood boil.

A booming voice called, silencing the song.

"Levi, fetch the water!"

"Yes…Sir!"

The soft tone was silenced, replaced by a sarcastic boyish call. He watched as the youth vanished from the bow, down to the decks below. Erwin gave up for the time being, having anger fuelling his passion of hate. All it took was that one tune, the familiar one he had nightmares about, to awaken his anger.

The merman sank beneath the waters, already plotting for another day. All he needed was the power and he already had a plan on how to achieve it. The Sea Witch that hid herself away in a crystal cave. There he'd get his powers, there he'd finally be able to take revenge.

Erwin glanced up at the ship above him, a dark smile seemed to glow in that darkness. His Blue eyes seemed to glow with a burning hate.

"Till we meet again…"

He faded away into the darkness, leaving the ship on its safe passage back to land.

TBC.