★ The Prince and The Mermaid [Giant/Tiny]★

V - A Lovesick Shark

"So, this is why the north region is the most important to protect," Cove explained to the Shark King. Mariana sat there, bored, next to the Shark Prince, who obviously liked her. The Shark Clan were like mermen with shark fins. The prince was handsome, she had to admit, but they had grown up together, and she saw him more as a brother, oblivious to his true feelings.

Caleb had found the dainty mermaid adorable since they were kids; she was the only one who never thought he was scary. He remembered how the other merfolk avoided him when he first came to their kingdom, but she didn't hesitate to hold his hand and play with him. She led him towards a path of light, and for that, he was eternally grateful. However, he was forever shy around her. She grew up to be a beautiful young woman, and he was head over heels in love with her—the way she spoke, her personality, her looks, and her tail, it was all so beautiful. Today she seemed different, though; she was in a daydream state constantly with a rosy look on her cheeks. Could it be that she had fallen for him? Impossible, right?

"Hey, Caleb," she whispered up at him, placing her tiny hand on his. He blushed immediately and looked down at her with red cheeks and nodded. "How does someone ask another person to be their boyfriend?" she asked with reddish cheeks, and he blushed further. It was impossible. She rarely talked to other guys; sure, she had friends, but they were mainly girls. So could she be...

"I wanna ask, but I think he's too...you know, manly, and he's so strong and..." she mumbled and looked away from him. Caleb immediately read her; the way she was looking away from him, it must mean it's him she's talking about. His heart pounded as he puffed out his vast chest and stared down at her with his dark blue eyes.

"Describe him," he whispered, grabbing her hand. "We're going for a swim." He announced to his parents and immediately swam out the window with her. She didn't fight against him; he was usually like this. "Well, I don't think that matters, but he's tall, uh, he's handsome, has beautiful deep eyes I can just stare into and get lost in," she described him as best as she could. "I know the feeling," Caleb explained and grinned. His heart ached with every word, but she just carried on, ignoring his obvious feelings.

"Let's make flower crowns," she insisted, sitting down and plucking some sea flowers. She threaded as many flowers together as she could without hesitation and made a flower crown larger than both of them. Caleb was confused as to why the flower crown was so big...could it be to show her true feelings? She was speaking to him happily until she finished, forming a giant flower crown that was too big for either of them to wear, like a giant hula hoop. She happily dragged it towards the shore, thinking he might come get her tomorrow or the day after. She laid the flower crown a few meters away from the shore and stretched. "So...this guy, is he strong?" he asked with a grin, trying to hide the glee in his voice.

"He's really powerful, belonging to a powerful kingdom, and his dad's really nice to me, even though he wants babies already," she grinned as Caleb turned red. WHEN DID HIS FATHER APPROACH HER AND TALK ABOUT BABIES? "I'LL TELL HIM TO STOP RIGHT AWAY," Caleb exclaimed, grabbing her hands.

"Oh no, it's fine. I mean, I wouldn't mind if he ever wanted to..." she flared red thinking about it when suddenly, a shadow appeared, enclosing around Mariana perfectly and dragging her towards the surface as Caleb stood there shocked. The hand also stole the flower crown they worked on and shook the ground as they left. SHE WAS JUST KIDNAPPED.

He swam directly to Mariana's castle, heart pounding in his chest, and began panicking. "MARIANA'S BEEN KIDNAPPED!" He screamed over and over again, and soon enough, the royals in the castle all followed him to the site where it happened. He was freaking out, but her father seemed awkward, like he knew what was happening.

When Cove approached the surface and peeped his head out, he could see Prince Kaine, happily crossing his legs and speaking to his daughter as she sat on his hands. They seemed to be joking around with each other; Kaine had cherry-tinted cheeks while staring at her and soon enough lowered his face to kiss her. She leaned towards him with a happy look but didn't receive the kiss; there was yelling coming from the water.

"KEEP YOUR LIPS AWAY FROM HER UNTIL MARRIAGE, KAINE!" Cove yelled and thrashed around. Kaine immediately stood up with Mariana and held her against his chest. "Sorry...sir? What am I allowed to do with your daughter?" he asked, crossing his legs by the shore. Cove was shocked by his politeness; he would've flicked him over or threatened to eat his daughter before. He couldn't place his finger on it, but Kaine looked...softer. "Well, for starters, no excessive kissing, like whatever that was, and no more of this coming out of nowhere business," he demanded, and Kaine listened carefully.

"how do you always find me?" she asked him, perching herself up on his thumb. "Whenever I'm bored and wanna see you, I just roll up my trousers and look around for a while until I recognize your blue hair, then I prepare myself and snatch you out of the water," he explained, rubbing her head. "That's kinda sweet," she whispered and watched as he fiddled with her. "Can I stay with her for a little while longer, Mr. Cove?" he asked politely, and Cove couldn't help but nod; he finally understood what Wade meant when he said Mariana was good for him.

Caleb just watched in terror, or maybe heartbreak. Was that the man she's been describing all day? His chest tightened as he looked down at himself. She looked so much happier with Kaine. He was wearing the flower crown they made together on his head; this was the one she chose.

"Kaine," she squealed, and he rubbed his face against her, improvising as he could no longer kiss her. She was easily tickled, so when he rubbed every part of her body, she couldn't help but laugh. She tried to push his face away through her infectious giggles, but her tiny arms couldn't fend off the giant prince. He was grinning as he smothered the tiny woman. She was so cute. She squealed happily as she tried to escape, and he eventually pulled away. "Cutie," he mumbled and licked her cheek. She squealed again with a giggle and felt him lower her to the water.

King Cove sighed and took his daughter from Kaine when he lowered her. "Oh right, my dad wanted me to say something to you," Kaine dug around in his pockets to find the note and read it out:

"Dear Cove,

Princess Mariana and Kaine have been invited by Prince Jackson to form an alliance. Our children shall be picked up by Jackson at 2 PM tomorrow.

From, Wade"

Kaine read the message out in a mocking tone to replicate his father. Mariana stifled a giggle while Cove crossed his arms. "That sounds nothing like your father, and you know it," he lectured Kaine, who shrugged. "Meh, that's how I hear him. He asked me to deliver this message this morning; gave me a chance to see Mari anyway," Mariana clutched her cheeks in her hands and looked away bashfully.

"Anyways, Mariana, I'll pick ya up. Cove, I promise I'll be careful with your daughter tomorrow; it'll be a quick trip," Kaine reassured Cove. "Mari, how about a long walk on the beach with yours truly?"

Kaine winked at her and outstretched his palm. She eagerly hopped out of her father's arms and felt Kaine's fingers snugly wrap around her. "Let's go," she whispered. "Okay, we're going," Kaine sighed happily. "She'll be back tonight," he bowed towards Cove, to which Cove reciprocated.

Caleb had already asked his parents to go home, so when Cove dove, he was alone. He didn't mind, of course; he just swam back to his castle with a satisfied smile and settled into his bed, though his heart was heavy. "This is nice," he whispered to himself, trying to find solace in the reality that Mariana had found her happiness, even if it wasn't with him.