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Once upon a time, there was a boy. He wasn’t like most boys, for his home was not on land. He lived far out in the ocean, where the water was the deepest blue and the sandy floor was so far below the surface that no anchor could reach it. There he lived with his father, the Sea King, and his siblings.
But their kingdom wasn’t the dark and barre place you now must think it is. No, down there, away from human eyes, the most wondrous flowers, and plants grew, their form so pliant that even the slightest stir of the water let them move as if alive. Fishes, both big and small, glide between those plants like the birds fly among the trees in the sky and the ground is teeming with life, crustaceans, and sea stars, and many more.
In the deepest spot of the kingdom, the palace of the Sea King is built. Its walls are made from coral, bright pinks and oranges shining with fluorescent light, the windows wide and sealed with sea glass, a myriad of colors wherever the eye would fall. The roof is decked in shells that open and close in the current and that each holds a shining pearl, each as big as your thumb.
The young boy was happy living in the palace together with his family. His mother had died many years ago, but his father king Toshinori cared for his six children with love. Also living with them was his grandfather, who was very wise and revered throughout the whole kingdom.
The young boy was the youngest of his siblings. His hair was as green as the seaweed swaying in the current, his skin as white as the underbelly of the great shark, and his eyes were as green and changing as the sea before a storm. But since he was no human he had no feet and his body ended in a fish’s tail covered in scales as green as his hair and eyes.
He and his siblings would spend their days playing through the great halls of the palace, swimming in and out of it through the open sea glass windows and stroking the fish like loved pets.
Sometimes they would play in the vast gardens surrounding the castle, which were filled with forests of seaweed and fields of flowers, with fruits glittering like gems and gold. The sand was of a deep blue and as soft and fine as a feather. Over everything, there was a peculiar blue glow, almost like the sky above the waves. When the weather was calm and there were no clouds in the sky the sun could be seen from down below, looking like a purple flower with a glowing red center.
Each of the young children of the Sea King had their own part in the garden that they could shape as they saw fit. One of them arranged their flowerbed into the form of a dolphin; another tried to recreate their own likeness; but the youngest, the boy with the seaweed green hair chose to plant his flowers in a circle, containing deep purple and fiery red flowers to mimic the rays of the setting sun. He was different from his siblings, more reserved and thoughtful; and while they delighted in the treasures they unearthed from sunken vessels the young boy only cared for his sun-like flowers. The only exception to that was that of a beautiful marble statue that had sunk with the last ship. It depicted a handsome young man with a crown on his head. Even though his eyes were cold stone and there was a frown on his face the young boy couldn’t help himself and be entranced by it. He carefully placed the statue near his flowerbed and planted a garden of flowing seaweed around it, its colors ranging from pink to rose-red.
But even more than tending to his garden the young prince loved hearing about the world above. He bothered his grandfather until he had told him all about what he knew of ships and of towns, the people and the animals.
He loved to listen to his tales of the flowers which grew on land and had the sweetest smell; about the sun that was yellow, not purple and bathed everything into warm light; and about the flying fish, birds as his grandfather called them, who would sing in a melody that was pleasing to the ear. He learned about the things written down and was fascinated by the books that had survived the shipwrecks and were now slowly dissolving underneath the sea. His favorite knowledge was how to write his own name.
“When you have reached your fifteenth year,” his grandfather told him, “you will have permission to swim up to the surface of the sea, to bask in the warmth of the sun or the silver light of the moon; and you will see ships pass you by and you will learn and see about forests, and towns, and humans yourself.”
Each year another of his siblings turned fifteen and each year the young boy had to stay behind and wait for his turn. However, his siblings weren’t cruel and they all promised each other to tell the ones left behind all about what they saw and what they thought to be the most beautiful.
But even though all of the six children longed to see the surface for themselves, none of their longings were quite as great as that of the young boy, who had to wait the longest of them all to see all these wonders for himself. Many nights he would swim towards the windows and gaze up at the world above, through the swarms of fish, and wished to see the moon and the stars. So deep down were they that the moon was only seen rarely and it was only a tiny speck of light purple for them. But still, he longed and he waited.
When the first of the siblings returned from their trip above they had hundreds of things to talk about. But for them, the most beautiful things had been to lie in the moonlight on a quiet part of the shore and to gaze at a nearby town, where the lights in the windows twinkled like the stars above their heads. Music had drifted over to her, together with the noises of animals and the voices of humans.
Each year the young boy’s siblings would bring back the most amazing tales from their time on the surface; from tales of the sky, of ships, of towns, of humans and children, of animals big and small, from smells to sounds, from warm weather bathing in the sun to cold weather and swimming next to mountains of ice; each tale just stirred the boy’s desire to see all of it for himself a little bit more.
As time passed and his siblings grew up their fascination with the world above waned. They had seen beautiful sights but now that they were grown up and could go whenever they pleased they had become indifferent to it. They held more love for their underwater kingdom than for the wonders above and were happy to be home. Yet, sometimes, when the moon was high in the sky, the siblings already old enough would twine their hands together and swim up to the surface to sing to the moon and the stars and the lone vessels passing by them.
Whenever his siblings rose to the surface the young boy would stare after them, sadness and longing in his gaze, and would wish he would be able to cry, to find a way to let his sadness out. Instead, he was forced to hold onto it and suffer even more in turn.
“Oh, how I wish to be fifteen so that I could swim above and see all these things for myself,” he would whisper, his eyes following the tails of his siblings. “I know I would love the world above as much as our kingdom below, maybe even more so.”
Finally, the day came that the boy was of age and received permission to swim to the surface. His grandfather came to him, holding up a wreath made of white flowers and pearls, and placed it atop his head. Next, he wrapped his tail with strings of pearls and gems to show his status as a prince.
“Must I be adorned this way?” he asked as he dragged his tail through the water. “They are heavy and get in the way.”
“You are the son of the Sea King,” his grandfather replied. “You must look the part when you ascend, for all of your fathers subject to see and take pride in your appearance.”
The young boy would rather shake off all this splendor and his title as a prince but he knew his duty and didn’t complain. He was afraid that they would refuse him the right to see the surface if he misbehaved.
When his grandfather deemed him ready the young boy bid his farewells and swam up to the surface. Even though the sun was setting and the light diminishing, the water around him started to become a lighter blue, lighter than he had ever seen it.
His head broke through the waves and he was greeted by a sky colored in pinks and oranges and deep purples and the clouds were tinged in crimson and gold, just as his siblings had described it to him several times before. The sea around him was calm, the air mild and fresh and still it burned his lungs when he breathed in for the first time in his life.
Not far from him he spotted a large ship, three masts reaching high into the sky, only one sail unfurled; since no breeze was to be felt and he could see the sailors sitting idly on deck. He could hear strange music and laughter in the wind and decided to swim closer. As he approached darkness fell over the sea and the sailor hurried to light a hundred brightly colored lanterns who twinkled like the stars far above.
Now and then the waves would lift him far enough that he could peer into the cabin windows and he was able to see several well-dressed people within. Among them was a young prince, the most handsome of them all, with striking ruby eyes and hair so light it almost looked to be made out of the same gold as his crown.
When he entered the deck, the sailors rejoiced and danced, and in his honor, they fired a hundred rockets into the sky. The noise was so sudden and startling that the young merboy dived under the waves in fear. When he reemerged, it looked as if the stars were dancing in the sky, just as the sailors were; and they were falling into the sea, touching everything with their warm and colorful light.
But even more stunning than the falling stars was the handsome young prince standing on the deck. He had a grin so feral it reminded the boy of the most fearsome shark but his hands seemed to be gentle when he received the well-wishes of all of his guests. He was unlike anything the boy had ever seen before and his presence was much bigger than those around him.
The time flew by. All thoughts of exploring the sea, of seeing more of the human world had fled the young boy's mind, his attention caught by the ship and the beautiful prince on deck. Slowly the lanterns were extinguished and no more rockets or cannons were fired. But still, the sea wasn’t calm. The waves became restless and the sudden wind was moaning into his ear. Still, he hovered by the boat, and whenever a wave raised him high enough to peer into the cabin windows he did.
Shortly after the sails were unfurled and the majestic ship was on its way. But soon the waves rose even higher than before, heavy clouds rolled through the sky, and in the distance fork-like lightning illuminated the dark night.
The sea now formed mountains and valleys through which the mighty ship tried to find its course, diving and rising like a fish under the sea, always threatening to be overtopped by one wave or the other.
The young boy found great fun in riding these waves as he had never done so before down under the sea. He thought the screams and shouts of the sailors were in joy when in reality they were born from their fear.
Then suddenly there was a groaning and with a large, ear-splitting noise the main mast of the ships snapped in two, and planks and robes were flying everywhere. The ship toppled over, lying on her side and still being tossed around like a children’s toy. The water rushed in and the screams grew louder.
Slowly the boy understood the peril the crew was in. His grandfather had told him that while the merfolk were able to breathe air, the humans couldn't survive underneath the sea. Because of that, the only human visitors they had had in their kingdom below were those that had died at sea. He tried to get closer, but the planks which were still getting tossed around by the waves made it a difficult and dangerous endeavor.
The sky was so dark that it was hard for him to see even his own hand before his eyes but with a flash of lightning, the whole scene was revealed crystal clear in front of his eyes. He could see all the sailors and all the guests in tinier boats, trying to stay afloat on the waves.
Everyone but the handsome prince.
Fearing for his safety the young boy dived under the waves, weaving masterfully around parts of the wrecked ship until he saw a lone figure drifting further down into the abyss of the sea. He swam with all his strength and at last managed to grab the young prince and pull his head up above the waves so that he may breathe again.
His form was limb and weak, his eyes closed, but his heart was beating and small puffs of air escaped his slightly parted lips. The young boy continued to hold him, helping him stay afloat in the rough water and let the current push and pull them where it went.
The storm calmed and the sun rose with a new morning and still, the prince did not wake. His cheeks were flushed and rosy, his breathing steady, but his eyes remained closed. Shyly the young boy stroked back the golden hair from the prince's brow and looked upon his noble face. He reminded him of the beautiful marble statue that he had placed by his garden down below in his father’s kingdom.
He pressed his lips against the prince’s face and whispered into his damp and cold skin: “Please, live. The world is vast and beautiful and it would be an unjust thing for you to depart from it so soon. Please, I beg of you, live.”
After many more hours, they drifted near land. The young boy saw mountains, topped with white, forests in the lushest green and near the beach a large building which looked like a palace. He noticed the sea forming a little bay, where the water was still but deep and he dragged the still unconscious prince towards there. He took great care in laying him out on the sad, his head higher than his body so the waves couldn’t get to him.
From up on the palace he heard approaching voices and he threw himself back into the ocean. Near the bay were high rocks in between he could hide and watch the prince. He didn't have to wait long as the still form was discovered by a girl, who was surprised for a short moment before she hurried away to get help.
It didn’t take long after help arrived for the prince to wake up again and even though he didn’t smile he thanked the people around him each. Only the young boy didn’t get any thanks since the prince didn’t know he had saved him in the first place and he couldn’t see him, hidden as he was.
That thought made the young boy very sad and he watched as the prince was led away, to a place where he couldn’t follow and wished with all of his heart he knew how to weep. He dove back beneath the wave and returned to his father’s castle, no smile on his face and his heart heavy with his sorrow.
When his siblings asked him about what he had seen up above he wouldn’t answer them and instead vanish into the gardens. There he spent many a night and day wrapped around the beautiful marble statue with its stern brow and handsome face that reminded him of the prince he had left behind in the human world.
When he wasn’t in the gardens he would rise to the surface to the cove where he left the prince behind and watched the big building in hopes to see him again. The white of the mountains disappeared, the fruit ripened and was gathered, and still, the prince never returned.
It wasn’t long after that he couldn’t bear it any longer and confessed to one of his siblings all about his first trip up above and about the human prince. Shortly after all of his siblings knew of his peril and soon it became known to two other mermaids who happened to know of someone who knew who the prince was. They too had watched the festival, but furthermore, they had seen from which harbor the ship hailed and where the prince’s palace stood.
“Come, little brother,” his oldest sibling said and took him by the hand. And together they rose to the surface, all six of them, and the waves were filled with their song and the young boy's heart was beating wildly with his hope to see the prince again.
The palace was splendid indeed, with towers so high they seemed to touch the sky, steps that reached down almost into the sea, and tall windows made of glass that glimmered in the morning sun. Through those windows one could see into the noble rooms, all covered in beautiful paintings and tapestry.
Now that the young boy knew where his prince lived he visited the palace often, getting bolder each time. He would swim nearer than anyone else would dare, going so far as to swim up the narrow channel that flowed below the prince’s balcony. There he would sit and watch the young prince and he learned a lot about him.
He smiled rarely but still, his face was beautiful, especially under the full moon. He was a being of passion and fire, magic flowing freely from his hands when he was angry. He was frightened when he learned that the shadows over the castle didn’t belong to birds but to giant, winged beasts, covered in scales, not unlike his tail, but instead of beings of the sea they were beings of fire and air, allied with the prince and his kingdom.
The prince was everything the young boy wasn’t and there was nothing he wished more than to be close to him again. He followed him when he sailed the seas on a boat, not quite as large as the first one had been and he listened to the fishermen who praised their young prince for all of his accomplishments and the good he was doing for their kingdom.
The young boy rejoiced and learned these things and was even happier that he had saved someone so good and just. He remembered how he had held the prince through the storm, how he had shielded him from the floating debris. He remembered how he had rested his head against his body and how he had kissed the prince’s face. But the prince didn’t know of him and of how he saved him and so he was the only one caught in dreams and longing for something he couldn’t have.
The longer he spent near the prince and his people, he grew more and more fond of the human world and all it entailed. He wished once again with all his heart to see the surface but not from the sea but from the land. He wanted to wander through the green forests, to climb the highest mountains and fly through the sky and touch the clouds like he had seen his prince do on top of the back of his mighty beast.
He had so many questions and none of his siblings could answer them. In his need, he turned to his grandfather who knew all about the world above.
“I know that humans can not survive underneath the waves,” he said. “But does that mean they can live forever on land like we can under the sea?”
“My child, every living thing has to die at some point,” his wise grandfather answered. “Even we can not live forever. Our lives are long, much longer than humans, and when we die we turn into the foam that dances on the waves and live out our eternity that way. Humans are different. Their lives are short and when they die their soul moves on to a place where we can never go.”
“Why can our souls not join them when we die?” the young boy asked mournfully. “I would gladly give up hundreds of my years if it meant to walk underneath the sun.”
“You mustn’t think like that, my child,” his grandfather chided him. “Down here we are not touched by the terrors of the human world. We can live out our long lives in happiness and bliss and be reunited with the ocean when we die.”
“This is not the life I want. Is there no way for me to gain a human soul and live as they do?”
“No,” the old man said, “not unless someone loves you more than anyone or anything else; so much that they would be willing to marry you and swear to be true to you for as long as you both shall live and beyond in the next world. But that can never happen since you can live on land as long as you have a tail and no human can live underneath the wave. And if you can’t live with one another how can you be true to each other?”
His grandfather took his face in between his hand and smiled at the boy. “Let us be happy and sing and dance tonight my child.”
And sing and dance they did. The whole kingdom was merry and joyful and no one had a voice as sweet as the young boy and for a moment he forgot all about his heavy heart. But as soon as the moon rose in the sky and the feast was over the young boy was falling silent again and stared longing up at the surface.
A shadow passed overhead, hiding the moon from view, and without a doubt, he knew it had to be the prince, either in one of his grand ships or on top of his majestic beasts. And he decided right then and there that he would do anything in his power to join the one that had stolen his heart, up on the surface. No sacrifice would be too great, no challenge too dangerous for him to try and win his love.
His mind made up the young boy left the garden and followed the road out of his father’s kingdom past the foaming whirlpools, which would drag everything they seized down into the dark abyss, and past the volcanic rock that bubbled with foul-smelling substances, and finally, he reached the cave of the sea witch. Her home was surrounded by strange plants, almost sentient with how they reached for him and tried to drag him down into their midsts.
The young boy was so afraid he stopped on the spot, not able to move closer. But then he thought of the prince, with his proud face and his gleaming red eyes and he found his courage again. Quick like the smallest fish, he darted past the grasping plants, ignoring the glimmer of white bones already clutched in their grips.
The interior of the cave was dark, barely lit up with fluorescent plants and in the middle, the sea witch floated and looked at him out of her dark, deep eyes.
“I know why you are here; I know of your heart’s desire. But it is a fool’s wish, boy. So turn around and leave; swim back home towards your father and your siblings, your golden palace under the sea, and live out your life like you are supposed to.”
“No, I shan’t,” the boy replied with a shaking voice, but with determination in his heart. “I care not that it is wrong, it is what my heart desires and I will not leave.”
“If that is your wish I shall help you,” the sea witch answered, her eyes calculating, but not unkind. “You will experience pain like never before, you will suffer in an unspeakable measure, but you will get what you desire. But if it is done, don’t come to me to weep, for this is your own choice.”
The young boy was quick to nod and agree and swam a bit closer, his eyes full of hope.
“I will prepare a draught for you, with which you must swim to land tomorrow before sunrise and sit down on the shore and drink it. Your tail will split in two and you will have legs which to stand on but you will also be in great pain as if a sword passed through you and cut you open. But your legs will be beautiful and your movements will keep their floating grace that no human could ever wish to copy. But every step will be agony, like stepping in a pile of sharp glass. Are you prepared to bear all of this?”
“I am,” the young boy replied.
“You have to be certain, for if you change into a human you may never become a merman again. You will never see your siblings or father again, never visit your splendid castle or play through the waves. And if you do not win the prince’s love and he marries another you will never have a human soul. The first morning after his marriage you will suffer the fate of all mermaids at the end of their lives; you will turn to foam and be one with the sea once more.”
“I will do it,” the young boy said, his white skin even paler in fear.
“But I must be paid also,” said the witch. “And my services are not easy to come by. Since this draught is so rare and valuable you must give me the most valuable thing you possess in return. And I don’t mean your pearls or your gems. What I require is your voice, since there is no sweeter voice to be found under the sea.”
“But if you take away my voice, what can I do? How am I to tell the prince it was me who saved him? How can I convince him to love me?”
“You have pretty eyes and are not dumb, surely you will find a way. You are more graceful than any human and will catch many a gaze with your movement. Well, not so brave anymore, are you? Show me your tongue so I may cut it off as my payment; then you shall have the powerful draught.”
“It shall be,” the young boy said.
Then the witch began to work. The steam that rose from her black cauldron was so horrible they would strike fear into the strongest man. The potion changed color and shape until at the end it looked like the clearest of water.
“There it is for you,” the witch said and pulled out a knife and with one clean cut she cut off the boy’s tongue so that he would never speak or sing again.
Ignoring his pain, the boy carefully scooped up the potion and left the cave of the witch. He returned to his father’s palace and gazed upon it one more time. The windows were dark, everyone asleep and not knowing what he had done. He couldn’t go to them now, because now he was mute and couldn’t explain himself or even say goodbye. With a heavy heart, he swam towards the surface and the palace of his beloved prince.
The sun had not yet risen when the young boy approached the steps towards the prince’s palace and sat upon them. Then he drank the magic potion and it was how the witch had prophesied him; the pain was as bad as if a double-sided sword was cutting him clean in half. He couldn’t stand the pain and fainted right there on the steps.
When he opened his eyes again, the sun was rising in the sky and he still felt a sharp pain; but all that was forgotten when before him he saw the young prince looking at him in confusion. His crimson eyes were fixed upon his naked form and the young boy shrunk back a bit at the intense stare.
“Who are you?” the prince asked. But the young boy couldn’t speak and only shook his head in sadness. The prince took off his red cloak and offered it to him, to cover himself with, and gratefully the boy accepted. He rose to his new feet and every step hurt like stepping in sharp glass but he still followed along happily, and everyone who saw him walk was wondering about his graceful swaying movements.
He was given soft clothing and everyone looked at him with wonder but he could not speak or sing and soon he was overlooked again. The prince didn’t have the time to spend with him so he was put to work in the castle. He had great joy in helping in the library and loved to hear and learn more. He showed off his knowledge and penmanship and wrote down his name, but he seemed to have made a mistake as the prince took one look at it and said “So your name is Deku.”
Even though it wasn't his name the prince had given it to him so the young boy wore it proudly and was henceforth be known as Deku in the castle. Even though he could not speak he wasn’t dumb and he learned quickly and with true joy.
Soon after he arrived in the castle a feast was held and many performers came to entertain the guests. Many sang in voices as sweet as birds and the prince was pleased and clapped for them. That saddened Deku who knew his own voice was much sweeter than those of those singers and he could never show the prince his talent since he had given up his voice to be with him always.
The next performer danced to a beautiful song and many others joined in. Deku also raised his arms above his head and glided over the floor and danced like no one yet had been able to dance. The longer he danced the more beautiful he became and his green eyes were shining like the most expensive gems and the look on his face entranced everyone in the great hall. Even the prince couldn’t stop his staring.
He called him over and asked if Deku wanted to become his personal servant and dance for him whenever he wished. Deku was more than happy to agree, not wanting to waste an opportunity to spend more time with his beloved. And he stood up to dance some more and every step was like dancing on knives but he wanted to please his prince and ignored the pain.
The following months were some of the happiest of his life. The prince took him to see his kingdom and together they rode on horseback through the forests, climbed the highest mountain until his feet were actually bleeding; but none of the pain mattered because the world was beautiful and his prince was by his side.
During the nights Deku would walk down the steps towards the sea and bathe his feet in the salty waters because it helped calm the aches in them. On one of those nights, he could see his siblings rise from the waves, their voices sad and mournful. He waved to them and they saw and they recognized him and they wept in their sorrow and joy because they had thought him lost, and in a way he was.
From then on his siblings visited him every night to tell him of their life under the sea and to keep him company. On one of those nights, he could see his grandfather and father, farther out in the open. They raised their hands in his direction but didn’t dare to come any closer.
With every day that passed he loved the prince more deeply and he could see that the prince cared for him also. He even took him to meet his dragon, a fiery creature as big as a house. Deku could not understand what the dragon and the prince were saying but it had to have been a funny joke. When he looked inquiringly at the prince he smirked and said: “He said you smell like fish.”
In all his time in the castle, he had only been allowed once to ride on top of the dragon together with the prince, but the feeling of being high in the air, surrounded by white clouds and the endless ocean beneath them, while he clutched tightly at his beloved prince to not fall and to stay warm was his most treasured memory.
One evening after the meal Deku was asked to dance for his prince again and, while ignoring his pain, he did. After the prince sat with him on the steps to the sea and stared at it in longing.
“Once I was in a ship that was wrecked,” the prince started to say and Deku’s heart skipped a beat in hope “and the waves cast me ashore near a neighboring kingdom and the youngest of the princesses found and saved me.” Deku wanted to weep. It hadn’t been the princess who had saved him, but him. He wished with all his might to tell this to the prince but he couldn’t.
“But,” the prince continued and Deku looked up at him “I know it wasn’t she who saved me. I remember a voice, sweeter than anything I ever heard, whisper to me, asking me to stay alive. It wasn’t the princess who spoke to me like that, but I’m afraid I will never see the person who saved me again. I will never love another as long as I’ll live, but if I had to choose someone to stay by my side it would be you.”
The joy at hearing this was quickly diminished when the prince told him about a marriage he was supposed to enter for the sake of this kingdom. In just a few days he would take a ship over the sea to meet his intended bride, the young princess who had saved him back at the beach.
“I will never love her, but I will always love my kingdom and I have to do what is best for it,” the prince said, not noticing how Deku’s heart was breaking next to him. “Will you accompany me so that the burden is not so heavy on my shoulders?”
And Deku nodded and smiled even though his heart felt like the glass shards that cut his feet whenever he walked.
The next day they set out to sea on board of a grand ship, decked out in many flags and lanterns, fitting for a prince on his way to meet his future bride. Even though Deku’s heart felt as if it was already broken he tried to stay cheerful for his prince who was even more pensive than usual. He danced and smiled and tried to have a merry time to distract himself from his soon to come demise.
On one of those days on their journey, they passed over the spot where Deku knew his father’s castle was located and he peered down into the blue depths and felt as if he could almost spot it from the surface. Shortly after his siblings rose out of the waves, looking at him with their mournful eyes and reaching out for him.
On the night before they were set to arrive the prince took Deku aside to sit with him at the helm of the ship. The sky was clear of clouds and the stars sparkled around them.
“Wish I wasn’t a prince,” his beloved said, his eyes sad and the furrow in his brow deep. Deku couldn’t bear to see his prince so sad and reached for him. He laid the prince’s head against his body and kissed his face as he had done so many months ago. The prince looked at him with eyes so deep and red that Deku couldn’t find it in him to be sad. Even though he was mute he still formed the words with his mouth.
‘I want you to live. Please, my prince, live and be happy.’ The prince’s eyes were huge, almost in recognition, but he remained silent and leaned his head against Deku’s chest.
The next morning came and with it, the moment the prince was to meet his bride. The young princess who had saved him at that beach was a beautiful as she had been the day she had found him. Deku couldn’t help himself and stopped to compare himself to her. Her skin was white as snow, where his skin wasn’t anymore. The time in the sun had darkened his skin and many freckles appeared, marring his once pristine face. Her hair was long and wavy, her eyes like lovely jewels. Even though Deku was a prince of the sea, here on land he had lost some of his loveliness and become plainer. He had to admit she was far more beautiful than him.
And still, the eyes of the prince were on him and not on his future bride. Since the night before he hadn’t been able to look away from Deku. When he noticed this his heart had been beating faster, but he couldn’t allow himself to hope. The prince had a duty to fulfill and Deku would be by his side until the end.
The prince and princess departed to talk about their upcoming ceremony and Deku made his way down to the beach, the same cove where he had once upon a time laid his prince down to rest, so that he may be saved.
He wasn’t alone for long though since out of the waves his siblings appeared. They looked drastically changed, their hair all but shorn off.
“We gave our hair to the sea witch in exchange for this potion,” they said holding it up in their hands. “If you drink it you can return to being a mermaid. You won’t regain your voice and the pain in your tail will not disappear, but you won’t die at the morrow when the prince takes his new bride. Please,” they pleaded, their eyes shimmering even though they couldn’t shed a tear “come home to us. We don’t want you to die. Come home and live out your long years with us.”
And Deku was torn. Before his eyes was a way to save his life, to see his family again. But it also meant having to live with a broken heart and never be able to see his prince. It would mean leaving the one person he loved more than anything else in this world.
With a sad smile, he stepped into the water until it was up to his chest and took his sibling’s hand. He kissed their cheeks and patted their shorn heads and then he shook his head. They pleaded and begged him to reconsider, to not throw his life away. But he wasn’t to be swayed. His heart had made its decision.
They were interrupted by a voice calling down to the cove.
“Deku!” the prince yelled, “Where are you?” And Deku smiled, for his prince needed him. His siblings saw how happy he was even though his end was near and with a heavy heart, they accepted his decision and dove back beneath the waves.
The prince ran into the cove and upon seeing Deku so deep into the water that had once upon a time almost cost him his life he became afraid and hurried to his side. He pulled Deku back on land with him, never letting his eyes stray from his form.
“You need to be more careful, idiot,” he said, his arms wrapped around Deku’s body tightly. “You could’ve drowned.” But Deku only smiled and shook his head. He couldn’t tell the prince why he wasn’t scared of the ocean, but he knew even if he were to be lost at sea, he would be safe. His family would make sure that no harm would ever come to him.
Somehow the prince seemed to understand what he was saying, as the fear in his eyes subsided.
“You’re not scared of the sea, are you?” he asked, his hand resting upon Deku’s cheek. Once again Deku shook his head.
“Is it because you came from it?” The prince’s crimson gaze pinned him in place and Deku looked up at him, confused. “I know it was you who saved me, back when I was drowning. I knew it since you held me and my body remembered your warmth. I should’ve known you would be the only one who could make my heart soar like this.”
Once again Deku’s eyes burned and he wished that he knew how to cry. But these tears were born from happiness rather than sadness. His prince remembered him, he knew it had been Deku who saved him. Overjoyed he nodded his head.
And then the prince smiled, as bright and radiant as Deku had never seen it before and they embraced. The wedding with the princess was rejected and instead, the prince swore himself to Deku. His parents were cross with him for a while but seeing how happy their son was they forgave him and accepted his decision.
Deku’s life was filled with happiness and bliss and he spent it together with his prince, his husband, traveling the surface world and discovering and learning new things. And sometimes, in the evenings he would go out to the sea to rest his aching and bleeding feet and wave at his siblings who would reach their heads past the waves.
His husband never found out what truly had transpired that fateful day or the things Deku had given up to be with him but he loved him truly and with his whole heart and that was everything Deku had ever wanted.
And they all lived happily ever after.