The shadowy figure swings the trident at your group. Grim hops off your shoulder as the others all dive out of the way. Jade wraps an arm around you as you both duck for cover.
Jade lays on top of you, shielding you from the attack. He looks down at you. "Are you alright?"
You nod. Jade helps you stand back up but keeps a protective arm around you. You watch as the Savanaclaw boys fight the shadow monster while Deuce, Ace and Grim try to avoid Azul's tentacles.
Floyd appears next to you. "What should we do?"
You point at the monster. "We have to break the glass vial in order to break Azul out of this. I'll distract Azul while you two sneak up on the monster."
Floyd shakes his head. "No way would we let you do that, Little Shrimpy."
"Are you sure this would work?" Jade asks you, concern in his eyes.
"Trust me." You say to the twins.
The two look to each other and nod, seeming to communicate without speaking. The both run to help the Savanaclaw boys with the monster.
You take a deep breath and run towards Azul. "Hey! Azul!"
Azul turns away from Deuce and Ace, laughing as he looks to you. "And what's this? The little guppy comes to save the day?"
You hold your ground. "You need to stop this!"
"And why should I?" Azul glares down at you. "If I stop now, I'll be a just nobody cephlo-punk to you!"
You take a step forward. "Azul, I-"
One of Azul's tentacles wraps around you and pulls you towards him. You're almost nose to nose with each other. Azul grins down at you, running a hand along your face.
"Let's make a deal, you and me..."
Leona notices and roars to Azul. "Azul! Let her go!"
Azul smirks, turning you around so your back is pressed against his chest. He wraps his arms around your waist. "No. She's mine now and I'll never give her back!"
"Azul, you don't have to do this..." You say to him.
"Oh, but I do darling." Azul holds you tightly, pressing his head against your shoulder. "This way, you'll be mine forever!"
A crash and a loud screech comes from the monster. Azul holds his head, shouting as his hold on you loosens and drops you to the floor. Leona catches you before you hit the ground.
Leona runs to a safe distance and grins down at you. "You've got to stop falling for me, little herbivore."
Leona sets you down. You look back and see the monster is holding its head, ink flowing through its fingers. A large crack on its glass vial head. You realize that must be Jade and Floyd's doing.
"We have to hit that thing again. "You say to the lion.
Leona stares down at you. "Stay here. I mean it." Leona rushes back to the fight, leaving you there.
Azul glares at the boys. "You all just keep bullying me! Is it because I'm a slow, dimwitted octopus? All I wanted was the power to get back at my bullies... I... I just wanted to..."
You feel your heart break. Something bad must have happened to him to make him feel this way. Leona and the twins both fire a blast of magic together. With their magic combined, it smashes into the glass head.
Azul cries out and crumbles to the floor. The ink monster collapsing behind him into an inky puddle. The ink crawls to Azul. You run to Azul, trying to make it before the ink consumes him completely.
Leona tries to run towards you. "Y/N! Stop! I thought I told you to stay put!"
Before he could reach you, you slide on your knees and take Azul's hands in yours. You feel a jolt go through you and everything fades to black.
You open your eyes and find yourself in the black, inky room. You spot Azul standing in a spotlight. You walk over to him, he gives you a sideways glance before looking to the screen in front of you both.
"The only place I ever belonged was inside an octopus pot."
The screen shows a classroom. Little mermaids and mermen all giggle and laugh together. A group of merkids gather around a younger version of Azul.
"Hey, Frazzled Azul, ink-spewer!"
Azul's eyes become full of tears. You feel your heart aching at the sight of the bullying. The kids continue their taunting.
"Aw, you gonna cry? Why don't you use one of your eight legs to wipe those tears away?"
"C-cut it out... Why are you being so mean to me?" Azul asks.
"Run for it, quick! He's gonna ink us!"
The kids laugh as they swim away. "He couldn't keep up with us if he tried."
The scene fades away and Azul looks away.
"Unlike other merfolk," Azul continues. "I have lots of feet with suction cups. I'm an introvert, and I never assert myself. I'm hopeless in both studies and athletics. I'm always alone. A silly little octo-twerp."
The classroom appears back on the screen. Kids gossip and throw glances at Azul.
"The water gets all cloudy when he's around. He spews ink every time he cries!"
"He's always the first to get caught when we play tag. Playing with him is just boring."
The scene fades away. Azul balls his fists tightly, the gloves in his hands squeaking in protest.
"Ah, is that a fact? In that case, leave me alone. Keep running around in your little circles. Enjoy your utterly unproductive games! I have no tailfin to let me swim quickly. What I DO have are ten limbs I can freely control."
Azul runs a hand through his hair. "I'll just transcribe five times as many grimoires as people with merely two arms. I can generate my own ink for inscribing magic circles."
Azul glares up at the screen. "Just you wait. One of these days... I'll show every last one of you airheaded merfolk!"
The screen shows the class again. This time, you see younger versions of Jade and Floyd swimming around a pot.
Floyd peeks his head in. "Heya, Octy. Whatcha doin' all crammed in that teeny little octopus pot?"
"Shut up." Azul says from inside the pot. "Just leave me alone."
Jade reaches in and takes out a couple of shells. "Wow. There are spells and magic circles drawn all over every shell here. A spell to change species, a spell to steal someone's voice..."
Jade looks to Azul. "Have you been doing grimoire research with all eight of your tentacles this whole time?"
"Don't touch any of it!" Azul swipes the shells back with a tentacle. "You're asking for an inking! I'm gonna study harder, and become as powerful as the Sea Witch herself! So go away and stop bothering me!"
Floyd laughs. "Octy here's pretty funny, Jade."
Jade smiles. "I agree, Floyd. He's quite fascinating."
You look to Azul as he shuts his eyes.
"Then," Azul tells you. "after spending years studying everything I could get my hands on..."
The screen shows Azul and the twins but a little older. They walk into a classroom.
"I hear one merman in the class next door suddenly got a girlfriend!" Floyd grins at Azul.
Jade nods. "Yes, and I hear that in return, his fine tenor voice now sounds more like a honking seal."
Azul sits down, looking not interested in the conversation. "Is that so?"
Jade and Floyd sit in either side of him. Jade leans close to Azul. "I've also heard that someone got the silky-smooth, gorgeous locks they've always wanted."
"But the tradeoff was that they lost the big tailfin they used to dart through the water." Floyd finishes.
"I see." Azul looks through his notes.
"Fascinating work, Azul." Jade grins. "Assuming that WAS your doing, I mean."
Azul looks to him through the corner of his eye. "And why would you say that?"
"These foolish minnows couldn't hope to use such powerful magic." Jade answers.
Floyd smirks. "But you've been brushin' up since you were knee-high to a guppy, Octy!"
Azul laughs. "Yes, I see. I wasn't expecting the jig to be up quite so soon."
Floyd tilts his head. "So, is this what we think it is?"
"Yes, that's right. I've finally perfected it." Azul grins, holding up a golden piece of paper. "See this magic-infused contract scroll? I can take any power from someone, so long as they sign it. I call it, It's a Deal. This is a spell I'll use to show them all who's boss! Your fortes will all belong to me!"
The screen fades with Azul laughing until it disappears entirely. You look back to Azul, carefully putting a hand to his shoulder.
"I never forgot for a second. The sight of those who mocked me. Those who bullied me. I've observed them for many moons. Now I have their weaknesses, their insecurities... I have it all!"
Azul turns to you. "Once I know what foils him, I can take the tailfin of a fast swimmer. Once I know what troubles him, I can even take the voice of an adept singer. As long as I have this contract scroll, I am invincible! I'm not the same silly, lonely little octopus I used to be. With this power, I will rule over all. I'll make everyone who ever mocked me quaver and beg for mercy."
"But Azul," You gently say. "This cup you choose to fill has no bottom. The more power you take, the more it will never be enough."
You look into Azul's eyes. "You are already incredibly talented. You've been able to use what makes you different from everyone to your advantage."
"That's not how they saw it."
"It doesn't matter what they think." You take Azul's hands in your own. "Those who bully you don't deserve your attention. You never should be treated treated like that just because you're not like everyone else."
Azul stares into your eyes. Shock and disbelief flashing through his eyes. Azul holds your hands tightly, bringing them to his chest.
"You really think so?"
You smile up at him. "Of course I do."
You hold Azul in a tight hug. He's surprised at first but he wraps his arms around your waist. He rests his head against your shoulder.
"I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that."
"Sometimes we all could use a reminder." You smile into his hug.
Azul chuckles. "You're something special, Y/N."