Author's Note: This collaboration between myself and RianMoeru was written for Mer May. It's an older fic that I'm sharing here for the first time. I will update once a week on Sundays.

Izuku sighed as he read through the last of the pages of his book, the glyphs glowing as he scrolled the screen up. After setting the datapad down, he leaned back in his spongy chair, his green tail flicking in a listless movement when he glanced out the window of his room. Sunlight was streaming through the water from above, casting rays down onto the watery kingdom of Yuei below.

From the royal chambers within the tower he resided in, he could see other mers darting about. He spotted a few nobles, swimming at a slow pace as they talked. In the training grounds to the west were soldiers training with one another, practicing formations, maneuvers, and swordfaire or lancefaire.

His eyes lit up when he saw the soldiers intermingling magic into their attack stances, enraptured by the brilliant luminescence of the sparks as the incantations were spoken. The water around them would twist, forming torrents of whirlpools that they directed at their sparring partner, which was then blocked by a conjured shield or swiftly dodged. Electricity flowed off their fingertips in erratic bolts, or crackled along the length of their swords. There were even spears of acid being flung about by a mer of pink coloration, hitting the targets dead on.

Izuku couldn't help the stirrings of envy that bubbled up inside him. All his life he had been surrounded by wondrous magic, an innate ability within every mer upon birth. Magic allowed their race to flourish, grow and advance, having long since been an integral component of their society. A life without magic was unimaginable to their kind.

Unimaginable to everyone, except for Izuku.

Despite his status as a prince, he had not a spark of magic within him. Izuku could remember being treated as though he was incredibly delicate since he'd been a small child. Everyone maintained a distance because of his perceived weakness, and more than once Izuku had heard them gossiping amongst themselves about how challenging it must be on his mother and father to raise a child as fragile as him.

His parents had been his only source of comfort and companionship, as his efforts to reach out and make friends ended in repeated failures. They were the only ones Izuku could confide in, engage in conversation, and just be himself, rather than the brittle child the others believed him to be.

Or at least, they used to be.

Izuku drew his eyes away from the sparring yard, crossing his arms and resting his chin atop them as his gaze shifted to the city beyond the castle gates. Beyond that was a dome-like barrier that encased the entirety of their civilization, preventing would-be threats from invading their kingdom. And past the barrier was the vast, untamed expanse of the open ocean beyond, filled with fauna and flora that Izuku usually only ever saw in the datapads.

He remembered going beyond the city limits, after begging and pleading with his mother on his birthday. His mother's frail health had been better that day, and he had thought going for a swim in fresh waters would be good for her, while he got the chance to find ingredients for his alchemic studies.

That was before his mother had…before she…

Izuku dashed a tear from his eye. The other children his age already considered him a crybaby, and he didn't want to give them proof of it. He didn't want to give anyone more reason to doubt his fitness as crown prince. His father had enough to deal with already, between managing the affairs of the kingdom and maintaining a strong front to defend their people from the dangers that threatened them. Such as the recent attacks from a ravaging kraken that was laying siege to the northern fortress on the edges of the kingdom.

Outside his bedroom door, his father called, "May I come in?"

Izuku shot up from his chair, fins swishing through the water in his haste. "Of course, Dad."

King Toshinori Yagi entered the room. The golden scales of his tail matched his gleaming trident with a huge ruby in the pommel. A spiky black and gold crown sat on his brow. That particular crown meant he would be going into battle. Sure enough, his father confirmed his words with, "The Northern Fortress needs my magic to fortify their walls after the last attack. I'll be back in a few days. I'm sorry for missing dinner. But I wanted to say goodbye before I left at the very least." The king looked tired, from the lines on his face to the bags under his eyes.

"I understand. You have to protect our kingdom. I have something I wanted to give you." Izuku looked around. "I know I left it somewhere…" He unearthed a datapad from a stack on his desk. "Here! I've been tracking the reported movements of the kraken from the reports you were given. See?" He traced the pattern with his fingers. "Most krakens follow the food supply but this one has been moving in an irregular pattern, almost as if avoiding our guard patrols. I think someone might be magically controlling the kraken."

"Oh, this is very well-done." Toshinori crouched down to look over his teenage son's shoulder. "Thank you."

Izuku swallowed. "You don't sound surprised." He'd hoped to impress his father with his research.

"I had some idea. Krakens don't normally attack us unprovoked."

"Oh! Well, I have more." Izuku shuffled through the stack of datapads. "See, I came up with designs for a trap to catch the kraken."

Toshinori smiled. "Excellent idea." He patted his son's head. "I have to meet Mirai now, but I will look over these."

Swallowing again, Izuku summoned all his courage. "Actually, I hoped…I hoped that maybe I could come along with you? Since you said my research was useful. Um! I can learn even more if I see the kraken personally. I'd like a chance to gather potions ingredients, since kraken scales are very valuable. And I could watch the warriors fight, to pick up tips for my martial arts." And maybe even help them in battle if he had his way.

Toshinori's face developed more lines with each word. "I'm sorry, Izuku. It's too dangerous."

Izuku hung his head. Not looking up from the floor, he whispered, "It can't be that dangerous. I'd be staying in the fortress. I'd be with you the whole time. And there would always be soldiers around."

Toshinori hugged Izuku. "After losing your mother, I can't lose you too. I need you to stay in the palace until the danger has passed. Please understand."

"I understand," Izuku mumbled. He understood that his father thought he was useless because he didn't have magic, just like everyone else. Toshinori was a doting father who would hear no ill word spoken of his son in his presence. But when his father wasn't there, Izuku heard the royal court speak with worry about the prospect of a magicless king. The guards treated him like he was incapable. His classmates were more open with their sneers, too young to be diplomatic. Mer society valued marital accomplishments. No matter how smart Izuku might be, no one would respect him if he never saw battle. Izuku needed this, but his father persisted in overprotecting him.

Toshinori kissed the top of his son's head. "I love you."

"Love you too, Dad," Izuku mumbled. As Toshinori turned and left, he didn't seem to notice the grimace on his son's face.

Once alone, Izuku fished out a history datapad hidden under his pillow. For nearly a year now, he'd been researching how to obtain magic, combing through the library for any hint of information and purchasing old and worn datapads from travelling merchants that might hold a speck of hope for him. And, to his relief, one name had appeared frequently: All For One. A name that had been stricken from mer history. But Izuku believed if he could find All For One and finally obtain magic, then his father would find him worthy to become a great warrior.

As Toshinori swam down the hallway, he almost turned back to talk to his son again. Izuku had looked despondent about being left behind. But Toshinori steeled himself not to be fooled by those baby seal eyes. Izuku didn't just want to come along and watch the battles–he wanted to fight. He was too young, still only a child. Toshinori knew that mers often saw combat younger, and a lot of his court considered him overprotective, but he didn't care. After losing his beloved Inko, he could not bear to lose his son as well.

Toshinori had a strong suspicion that Inko's death had not been accidental, but rather arranged by All For One. The deadly Cecaelia had been presumed dead for decades, but the recent increase in monster attacks fit his modus operandi. He had not told his son yet, waiting until he knew for certain. It was vital that Izuku remain in the palace, safe behind the magical wards, until All For One had been dealt with.

Ever since he'd been a child, Izuku had been a natural trouble magnet. Toshinori knew that if he took Izuku along, Izuku would be fighting a kraken in no time. The thought almost brought a smile to his lips, but he suppressed it. This was no laughing matter. All For One longed to eradicate the royal line, due to an age-old grudge between mers and Cecaelia from when their species first came into contact. If he controlled the beast, then Izuku would surely be targeted. Toshinori gripped his trident, taking deep breaths. He told himself that Izuku would be perfectly safe inside the castle walls. The guards stationed within would keep his son safe, even in the event that something somehow managed to break through the barrier. An unlikely event, but Toshinori was nothing if not cautious. He would not lose his son as well.

The gills along his neck flared as he took a deep breath, oxygen coursing through his systems as he fought to reassure himself. Everything was fine. Izuku was safe, happy, and well-cared for. So long as he remained within the castle, no danger would befall him.

Toshinori forced himself to push the thoughts away so that he could focus on his current task, though as always, they lingered just within reach in the back of his mind. Regardless, he entered the strategy room and turned towards his second-in-command, a mer with deep green scales splashed with splotches of yellow who was pouring over screens of data and the maps of geography they displayed, red dots alight. The information his son had given them would help them narrow it down.

"Mirai," Toshinori began, scanning through the datapad briefly. He grimaced upon the report of yet another outpost having been attacked by the kraken that had been plaguing their borders for many moons now, fins flaring agitatedly before regaining his composure. "What's the status of the kraken? Have you managed to track its current location?"

"Yes, My King," Mirai answered, golden eyes flickering away from the datapad. He ran his fingers across it, zooming out of the image and pointing to a dark strip along the image of the map. "It is currently residing in the trenches, deeper than our soldiers can follow safely given the depth pressure and lack of light. When night falls, it will attempt to leave its abode and attack another village, utterly decimating it."

"You're sure?" Toshinori asked, his frown deepening.

Mirai nodded. "I am. A glimpse into the future has assured me of this much, at least."

Toshinori turned to his third-in-command, leveling Sorahiko with a determined look. "Gather the troops and prepare to station them near the trench. Ensure they remain hidden within the rock formations so that the kraken remains unaware of our positions."

The older mer nodded in confirmation, gesturing with two fingers at his forehead. "Aye aye," he quipped with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Mirai glared at Sorahiko for his casualness, opening his mouth to no doubt chide the mer, but Sorahiko was gone in a burst of bubbles before he could even get a word out. Mirai blew out a sigh, eyes rolling up in annoyance as he shook his head.

"Make sure everyone is accounted for and ready," Toshinori continued on, unbothered by the older mer's actions. He had long since grown used to Sorahiko's flagrant attitude and lack of decorum towards royalty. "We can't take any chances here. I would like to have as little casualties as possible."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Mirai conceded, tucking his datapad to his side and bowing before Toshinori, then swimming off to do just that.

No matter what, Toshinori would do everything in his power to protect his kingdom. His people. His son. He did not know for certain if All For One really was behind all this, but if he was, Toshinori would find him and finish the Cecaelia once and for all. He only regretted that he had not been able to do so all those years ago. If he had, his wife might still be alive.

Toshinori stifled a shuddering breath, grip tightening around his trident as he once again tried to push the thoughts away, to no avail. He swam off to organize the troops, ignoring the lingering ache in his chest and the heavy weight upon his shoulders, threatening to drag him down to the sea floor.

He would find him, Toshinori reassured himself. He would find All For One, and make him suffer for all the misery and misfortune he had wrought.

The Royal Library held a countless number of golden pillars decorated with swirling coral. Each pillar had a cabinet attached, containing datapads inside each bin. A librarian sat at the desk in front, her tail curled around the chair as she read. Her pet octopus, a library mascot, clung to her desk leg. Lanterns with glowing magical balls inside had been attached to each pillar. More ran up the ceiling overhead. The library had three doors, one in front, one in back, and one on the ceiling for people swimming overhead.

Izuku had been through every relevant datapad already. The library was far too large for him to have read everything, but he'd skimmed the entire list of titles at the front desk. Yet his search had been fruitless. Sighing, he swam to the Legends section. That was the only place he'd ever found any mention of the Cecaelia, a race with an octopus lower half. Most people didn't even believe Cecaelia had ever existed. Maybe Izuku was chasing a myth.

"What are you looking for?" a newcomer asked, startling him. Aoyama floated next to the pillar, twirling a lock of blond hair.

"Oh, nothing," Izuku said. Aoyama had always been kind to Izuku, never mocking him during magic class and welcoming him to sit at the same lunch table. But Izuku was embarrassed to admit his dreams of obtaining magic.

Aoyama swallowed. He looked green around the gills. "A-Are you sure you're not looking for anything in particular? Or information about…anyone?"

"Nah, it's nothing." Izuku started to swim away.

"Wait!" Aoyama's hand shot out to grab Izuku's wrist. "I-I know it's been difficult for you at school…" His Adam's apple bobbed. His cheeks puffed up as if he might vomit.

"Forget about me, are you sick? You should lie down." Izuku guided Aoyama over to a red couch chained down to the floor to stop it from floating off.

"Thank you." Aoyama rubbed his forehead. The tips of his tail twitched. "Um. Since you've been so kind to me, I want to help you. I've seen what you've been trying to research and…" His tail thrashed harder, chewing his lip so hard Izuku feared he might bite through it. "The truth is…I used to be magicless."

"Oh!" Izuku's tail stood up, eyes widening with shock. Maybe this explained Aoyama's kindness to him. "You mean you were a late bloomer then?"

"No. I had no magic at all. But my parents…" Aoyama sucked in air, leaving bubbles around his gills. His eyes hardened. His fist clenched with determination. "My parents found a Cecaelia named All For One who gave me magic."

"Whoa." After Izuku had nearly given up, this gift had dropped into his lap. "I was looking into rumors of All For One." Renewed hope bloomed in his chest and excitement ran through his veins, barely able to contain it. "You mean he's actually real? He can give people magic? That's amazing!"

For some reason, Aoyama looked even sicker. He put his head down to nearly rest on his lap.

"Seriously, should I take you to the doctor?" Izuku asked.

"I'm okay." Aoyama looked up. "The bad days before I had magic are difficult for me to talk about. I got bullied a lot."

"I see, I'm sorry." Izuku patted his classmate's shoulder. That explained Aoyama's nervousness. It must have been much harder to be magicless if you weren't a prince with a protective king father. Aoyama must have been through a lot. Yet he was still trying his hardest to tell his story. "Thank you for helping me."

Looking at the ornate tiled floor, Aoyama said, "All For One agreed to give me magic in exchange for one small, easy favor. He likes to help people."

That sounded perfect. Desperately, Izuku asked the most important question. "Do you know where I can find All For One?"

"I do." With a small whimper, Aoyama gave directions.

Once alone, Aoyama collapsed onto the couch. Sobs heaved his chest. He knew people around him were staring, but he didn't care.

With this, All For One wouldn't kill his parents…right? He had done everything that had been asked, fulfilled the deal down to the letter! The mark flaking away on his hand was proof of that! That monster had to let his parents go now!

Aoyama curled in on himself further, stifling a choked whine, telling himself over and over again that they would be okay. They had to be! If they weren't…

He couldn't bear the thought. The deal they had made wouldn't be worth it—had never been worth it. Not if it cost him the lives of his parents. And if anyone ever found out what they had done, that they had betrayed the king, that Aoyama was leading the Crown Prince into what was assuredly a trap that would result in his death, they would be fortunate if they were ousted from the Kingdom of Yuei. If they weren't outright killed for their treachery.

Aoyama struggled to regain enough of his composure and gather the will to sit up, forcing down any lingering sobs as he hurriedly swam through the corridors of the palace and towards his home, hoping beyond hope that his parents would be waiting for him there.

Izuku swam carefully through the halls, making sure to not make even a single bubble and keeping an eye on anyone who might see him as he darted about. It was getting dark, the soft, glowing blue lights that adorned the ceilings and walls growing brighter as the waters grew dimmer. Servants were tending to their usual duties, scrubbing the corridors clean of any algae that might have been growing along the fine stonework, delivering meals to the various nobles, attending to the laundry and ensuring the currents were flowing properly through the castle so the water didn't stagnate. Meanwhile the guards were either strutting about during their patrol or stationed at their posts, looking incredibly bored if their wide yawns and relaxed postures were anything to go by.

Izuku peeked out from behind the corner at one such pair of guards, glancing between them nervously. Then his gaze shifted to the large, stone doors that barred the entrance to the treasury.

Aoyama had mentioned that All For One required payment for the deals he made with those he helped. And though he had suggested the amount asked would be small, Izuku wasn't willing to risk having not brought enough to pay for his end of the bargain. Which meant going to the treasury was his only option. His father allowed him a stipend every month, on the rare occasion he was allowed to leave the castle (with no less than eight guards accompanying him at all times), to purchase ingredients, magical items or datapads that caught his eye in the markets. And while that was enough to purchase whatever he wanted, he doubted it would be enough to pay his debt from being given actual magic.

A bag of gold coins would suffice, wouldn't it? Izuku chewed his lip worriedly. Maybe a few pieces of jewelry too, or a couple gems; something valuable, but not enough to be noticed by anyone who wasn't paying close attention. Maybe—

"Hey! You there!" A stern voice suddenly snapped him out of his thoughts, startling him with a yelp and sending him head over tailfin as he stumbled through the water. He heard the shifting of metal, and water being displaced as they rushed forward. "Halt! What business do you—oh. My apologies, My Prince," the guard said once he realized it was just Izuku, relaxing his grip on his weapon and lowering it to the side as he blew out a disappointed sigh. "I had hoped, err, thought you were a vagrant or some thief wandering the halls and trying to sneak into the treasury. It wasn't my intention to draw a weapon on you." The guard's voice became laced with concern as Izuku untangled himself from the floor with a groan. "Uh, my apologies once again, My Prince. I hope you can forgive my brashness. Do you need help?" He held out a hand to help him.

"I-I'll be okay," Izuku assured the guard, finally managing to right himself, using the offered hand to pull himself up. It took a moment to regain his balance, eyes spinning a little. "Just my usual clumsy self. Nothing to be worried about."

"Ah, thank goodness, My Prince," the guard said, sounding greatly relieved. "Do you require anything else? It is unlike you to be wandering the palace at this time of night."

"Um," Izuku began, wracking his brain both for an excuse and a way to distract the mer long enough so that Izuku could get into the treasury. "I um. I heard a noise outside my room! I thought it might have been someone uh, sneaking about. I went to ask the guards outside if they heard it too, but they weren't there. S-So I had to leave my room to find a guard to investigate! Please, can you help me?"

The guard hesitated. On his face, desire to assist the prince warred with the need to follow regulations.

Izuku sweetened the bribe. "I'd be sure to tell my father what a great job you're doing. I'm sure he'll be pleased to know you helped protect me from being potentially attacked!"

"I suppose I could look, as long as you stay here and shout if anyone comes near the treasury." The guard didn't sound too worried about theft, not this deep in the palace where very few people were allowed.

Perfect. "Thank you so much. You're a hero. I know I'll feel safe with such a powerful warrior on the job." Izuku clasped his hands together and looked innocent. That wasn't very hard when everyone treated him as if he was younger than his real age.

The guard's chest puffed out. "Of course, Your Highness." He swam away.

Izuku counted the seconds after the guard rounded the corner. Then he pulled out a key that he'd "borrowed" from his father's desk and opened the treasury.

The royal treasury was less dazzling than Izuku had hoped. He'd wanted to see piles of ancient treasures stacked up in a dizzying golden heap. Instead, everything was packed into a series of metal boxes reaching up to the ceiling. Glowing lines of runes danced around the boxes. All precious metals in the kingdom were spelled not to tarnish underwater. Most coins circulated around the kingdom first picked up their magic in here.

The only items on display were the royal crowns sitting in the back in glass boxes. The king's official golden crown stretched so tall it would reach above his hair tufts when he wore it. Izuku's heart felt a pang as he saw his mother's silver crown with blue sapphires, now unworn for many years. The prince's crown was made of rose coral with rubies intertwined, and Izuku had last worn it at his birthday celebration.

Izuku opened up his backpack and shoveled in coins rapidly. He didn't know how much time he would have. Since octopuses were supposed to like shiny objects, he wanted at least a few jewels. He tried a couple more drawers, finding only more coins, before he struck upon a display of diamonds in all colors. Izuku took those, too.

As he zipped up his backpack, Izuku's fingers shook from guilt. But he knew his father would consider the price worth it if he could obtain magic. He would confess to what he'd done later, and promise to repay all of it. But Izuku wanted magic more than anything, and he wanted to obtain it all on his own so his father would finally take him seriously.

Gills fluttering as he anxiously gulped in air, Izuku sprinted for the door. He closed it, narrowly missing his own tail. Then he straightened his hair. When the guard returned, Izuku was the picture of innocence: relieved there had been nothing, sorry to have disturbed the guard, and so very grateful for the help.

Next, Izuku had to sneak out of the palace. Fortunately Aoyama volunteered to help (what a true friend.) Aoyama came by Izuku's room with a Go board and pieces to play. Hidden in his bag, Aoyama also brought a blonde wig and a heavy cloak.

The two boys swapped clothing. Then Izuku left the room with his hood pulled low over his face. No one paid too much attention to a child. No one suspected that he was the prince. Waiting back in the bedroom, Aoyama had agreed to tell everyone that he had a cold and didn't want to be disturbed. He looked a bit green around the gills as he pleaded with Izuku to return soon.

Izuku went to the stables and took Aoyama's seahorse without being challenged. Then he set off.

The map led Izuku to a brilliant giant coral reef. The area was still well within mer territory, to Izuku's surprise. He thought a legendary figure would be harder to find. The coral reef was beautiful and giant, towering well above his head. Fronds waved above the cluster of brain coral. Strangely, there were no fish. Usually such a healthy reef would be bustling with life.

According to the map, All For One lived in a crevice under the reef. Izuku tied up his seahorse to a piece of elkhorn coral. Then he swam low, looking for a crack. He found one big enough to wriggle through if he turned his body sideways.

This was dangerous. Izuku's father would have told him to never venture into such a crack alone, because he might get stuck. But Izuku had come this far in order to prove himself. Taking a deep breath, Izuku dove in.

It was dark inside, but at the end of the tunnel, glowing green lights glistened. The air became colder as Izuku swam toward the light.

He emerged from the tunnel into a larger den. This place looked homey, with a desk and shelves of datapads. A portrait of a white-haired Cecaelia with luminescent white tentacles sat on the desk. The youth in the painting looked not much older than Izuku himself. Straight white hair fell over one green eye as he smiled.

"All For One?" Izuku called. "Are you here?" It certainly looked like someone lived here. A tunnel in the back led to more rooms, but Izuku did not want to trespass uninvited in someone's home. Especially not when he needed a favor. "Um, I'm sorry for intruding! I brought gold and gems." He shook his backpack. "I want to strike a deal with you."

The room remained silent. Glowing green coral grew all over the walls. It cast funny shadows across the many cabinets. The glass-enclosed shelves held all kinds of treasures: embalmed fish, petrified coral, a wooden mermaid carving, eyes in a jar. A glass case held a strange rusted chandelier with wax sticking out. How would anyone get light from wax? It reminded Izuku of a book he'd once read about the mysterious above-water world and something mystical called fire. He swam closer to take a look. His hand reached for the glass.

"Do not touch my possessions uninvited, little guppy," said a deep, dark voice.

Izuku whirled around, searching for the owner of the voice. "I'm sorry! Are you All For One?"

No one was there. Izuku's heart beat frantically. Had he disturbed a vengeful ghost? His tail twitched, longing to take flight.

But no, this place was too clean to be uninhabited and the glowing coral regularly needed their magic renewed. Izuku wracked his brain for his memories about octopuses. "A-are you using camouflage?"

"Very good, little guppy." The sand and cavern walls seemed to shift and change, except it wasn't the sand changing color. Someone had been standing behind Izuku: a giant of a man even taller than King Toshinori. The Cecaelia had white curly hair, gleaming red eyes, and the lower half of an octopus. His many white tentacles seemed to emerge out of a cloud of darkness, suckers waving. He did not wear a shirt, which most mer would have considered shockingly barbaric. Only a golden chain with an empty socket hung around his neck. His teeth bared in a not very friendly smile. "How shocking, that the mer would allow such a small little morsel to wander about alone and unprotected."

Izuku stiffened. "I'll get a growth spurt any day now." Or so he hoped. His father might be tall but his mother had been short. In a meeker voice, he said, "I'd like to strike a deal with you. I want magic."

"A deal?" the Cecaelia repeated, regarding him with amusement glinting in his vermilion eyes. "And why would a mer such as yourself possibly want to make a deal with a Cecaelia like me?"

Izuku gulped nervously, trembling head to tail, his scales lightening to a pale shade in his fear. But he steeled himself, fighting past his terror to speak. "I-I wanted to ask you to give me magic," he managed, and hated how his voice wavered a little. "A fr-friend of mine said you gave him magic in exchange for a favor. I wanted to ask for the same."

"Oh?" All For One hummed curiously as he swam about the room, stopping before a patch of coral with his back to Izuku and renewing its dimming green glow with a brush of his hand. A surge of envy flowed through Izuku at how effortlessly the Cecaelia breathed magic into his surroundings. "And what do I have to gain from such an arrangement? What you're asking is hardly a simple thing to do."

"So you can do it!" Izuku felt his hopes soar, his fins twitching and his pulse raced. "That's…that's amazing! How can you give others magic? Is there a process involved? How strong is the magic you give—"

The Cecaelia waved his hand, a wave of red flowed through the water and wrapped itself around Izuku's face, sealing his mouth shut as All For One lazily swam forward. Izuku's hands shot up instinctively, trying to pull the magic from his face in alarm, eyes wide and fearful.

"So many questions," All For One drawled as he swam past Izuku and towards his cabinets. The Cecaelia hummed to himself for a moment, seeming satisfied with something before he continued speaking without even looking at him. "But you have yet to answer mine, little guppy. What do I gain from giving you magic?"

Izuku tried and failed to speak. All For One paused for a moment, head tilting slightly as he waited for an answer that didn't come, before he chuckled. "Ah, right. My apologies," he said, snapping his fingers.

The magic fell from Izuku's face, and he gasped, gills flaring from his panic. He struggled to gain enough oxygen to speak, as well as his courage. His hands shook as he pried the pouches of gold from his person and set them down into the sand, struggling to untie them for a painfully long minute. But finally he managed, pushing the heavy pouches forward in an offering.

"I-I have gold to pay you with!" Izuku proffered hastily, watching with increasing worry when All For One finally turned to face him, looking unimpressed by the shining coins and priceless stones before him. "A-and silver, if that's your preference! Jewelry and cut gems too!" Izuku added quickly. "If this isn't enough, I can go get more!"

A white tentacle underlined with inky black reached forward, snatching up a pouch. Hope fluttered in Izuku's chest as he watched All For One observe the offering in consideration. That hope plummeted to his stomach when All For One dropped the pouch in disinterest, the coins spilling out.

"What use do I have for such things?" All For One mused. "I have no use for coin I cannot use, nor a frivolous display of meaningless wealth."

Izuku gulped. He hadn't thought of that—what good was money if you couldn't spend it anywhere? In the stories Cecaelia were always villains, though these days no one thought they were real. That would make it difficult for All For One to show up at the market to shop. Izuku wondered if the Cecaelia feared mer or simply wanted to keep his privacy. Personally Izuku didn't believe in branding an entire race as bad. He felt sorry for All For One being all alone. No wonder he wasn't fond of merpeople. Still, Izuku was undeterred. He hadn't swum this far just to return home empty handed. "Then what d-do you need? Whatever it is, I can get it for you!"

"You?" All For One scoffed, the sound derisive and mocking. A too familiar sound that Izuku had heard all his life from his peers and fellow nobles. He shrunk in on himself slightly, hands fisting. All For One continued, "I hardly think a small, magicless mer like you would be able to do much of anything, let alone anything that would be helpful to me."

"I can!" Izuku snapped, surprising even himself with how his voice rose, his fins sharpening in response to his anger. "Just because I don't have magic doesn't mean I'm useless!"

He was so tired of being called that. Of being looked down on by everyone around him. Of always struggling to prove himself strong in the eyes of his people and gain their acceptance. Even his own father thought he was weak and incapable.

He would show them. He would prove to everyone that he wasn't the useless prince they all thought he was. That he wasn't weak or helpless.

Straightening himself up and emboldened by courage or stupidity, he looked the Cecaelia right in the eye, his voice firm.

"I can do it. Name your terms."

"Hm…" All For One hummed in thought, looking slightly intrigued now. "Very well then. There are a few things I need to acquire for a magic transfer ritual that I cannot retrieve myself. Powerful as I am, I do not have the freedom of movement I would prefer, given the animosity between our species," All For One explained. "There are rare plants and animals that I currently cannot get my hands on, alongside a few artifacts and trinkets. I would need them in order to give you magic."

"That's all?" Izuku asked, eyes shifting over to the glass cases of various ingredients and preserved specimens. "If I manage to retrieve these ingredients, you'll give me magic?"

"It is not so simple a task as you make it sound, little guppy." All For One chuckled, his mouth pulled in a wide smirk. "Some of the ingredients are rare."

"That's not what I meant." Izuku bit his lip. "Don't you want anything from me in exchange?" He'd felt so worried when his treasures had been rejected.

All For One shrugged, his many tentacles rustling. "One such as me doesn't need anything from a tiny guppy like you. All I ask in exchange for my help is that you spend time in my company. I grow bored all alone in this cave."

Oh! What a good deal! Almost too good to be true. Izuku insisted, "Are you sure I can't do anything else for you? It doesn't seem fair. I know I might not be much now, but someday I'll be the King of the Yuei. I could use my power and influence to help improve the reputation of your people and make you welcome in my kingdom."

"I don't care about merpeople acceptance. All the others of my kind died a long time ago." There was a note of genuine sadness in All For One's tone. "I'm merely offering you this deal on a whim. You can take or leave it."

"I'll take it! Thank you so much!" Izuku wouldn't have turned down his one chance at magic no matter how onerous the conditions. Besides, he thought he understood All For One's motives now. The Cecaelia must be sad and lonely, the last of his kind living in an isolated cave. Of course he would be desperate for company. All For One was probably too proud to admit it. According to Aoyama, All For One was a very kind and generous person despite his gruff exterior. In fact, Aoyama had been passionately insistent that Izuku shouldn't judge All For One by appearances or be scared of him, insisting that his stinger looked worse than his venom. To have inspired such a strong loyalty in Aoyama, All For One must be a good person. Izuku would be happy to keep continuing to visit even after he'd obtained music. And he'd work on rehabilitating the Cecaelias' reputation after he became king, for free.

All For One hummed in satisfaction at Izuku's acceptance. He held out a hand. There was a strange dark dent in the middle of his palm. "Shake to seal the deal?"

The feeling of power in the cave felt so strong that even someone magicless like Izuku could sense it. He hesitated. But he would have put his hand against a burning hot iron to obtain magic. Izuku lunged forward and shook.

Red and black energy crackled around their hands. Izuku cried out in alarm, even though he felt no pain. Only an intense tingling running all over his arm.

With great satisfaction, All For One said, "The deal has been struck." He released his hand.

Izuku felt shaky on his feet. He looked down at his hand. There was a black mark on his palm with interlocked red "A" and "O" letters. This would have to be hidden. He would have accepted the deal regardless but he wished All For One had told him in advance.

Turning to his desk, one of All For One's tentacles pulled out a datapad. "I'll write up a list for you." He typed rapidly, then carelessly tossed the datapad at Izuku. Then he turned away.

It appeared that Izuku had been dismissed. He gathered up his treasures and fled.

OMAKE TIME!

Omake: Little Red Riding Hood

Izuku: Why do you have so many tentacles?

All For One: The better to grab you with, my dear.

Yoichi: Yeah, he's not joking about that. The octopus variant is even more clingy than usual. Start swimming now.

#

Omake: A Generous Description

Izuku: I met All For One.

Aoyama: Oh, no. Um, about everything I told you…I might have understated his personality a little…

Izuku: I can see why you like him, he's even kinder than you said.

Aoyama: Can I feel your forehead to check if you have a fever? No fever? It must be mind-control, then.

Author's Note: I'm also posting an exciting new collab only on Archive of Our Own called "The Ringmaster and his Rabbit."

Summary: After Izuku volunteered to assist with a magic show at the circus, he never expected the menacing ringmaster All for One to decide to keep him.

Delete the spaces to get the link:
archiveofourown.
org/
works/55359718/chapters/140452774