Jim swam towards the sand on the ocean floor.
Jim: “Talk! Start breathing. I’m getting some boots.”
Arthur opened his mouth, and water rushed in. He quickly closed it. Jim dug through the sand, near a large rock. He grabbed something, and pulled out two pairs of boots. He swam towards Arthur.
Jim: “Here, put these on. Hope you like green.”
Arthur, again, opened his mouth, but quickly shut it.
Jim: “They’ll keep you grounded, but just as mobile. Don’t worry.”
He put them on, and sank to the ground. He started walking. Arthur stayed afloat, holding his boots, with his mouth shut. He slowly put them on, and sank to the bottom. He said something, muffled, and with his mouth closed.
Jim: “Come on. Okay, breathe. Breathe. Dammit Arthur, if you don’t breathe, we all die!”
He grabbed Arthur’s head, and forced his mouth open. He breathed.
Arthur: “Don’t do that again. How am I talking? Can you please tell me how the hell I’m talking?”
Jim: “Walk. You’re half Atlantian. You can do everything a human can underwater, but also above. So can I. Full Atlantians, well, air to them is what water was to you. An Atlantian comes into contact with air, the sun, anything above sea level, and they pretty much die. Ground is fine, the sun burns their skin, and air is like poison. Not poison, just , it destroys their interiors if breathed in.”
Arthur: “So, do they have tails?”
Jim: “Land isn’t a problem for them. If you put an Atlantian on the beach, it won’t flop around. Their human. Just, underwater.”
Arthur: “Okay. How did this...happen?”
Jim: “Easy. Atlantis was Venice. Only, hundreds of years before Venice. We were much more advanced than other humans. Back then, we were still fully human. We evolved at a much faster rate. Our surroundings had us evolve into a fish-man, but mostly man. We could breathe and talk underwater, all that. We evolved over the coarse of centuries. Then the tsunamis came. Most were wiped out, or city was plunged underwater. It was on an island. Some survived, however. They revived the city, and reproduced. Centuries later, you have Atlantis.”
Arthur: “Well, that’s...interesting.”
Jim: “We’re at the gates. Welcome home.”
Arthur walked past large, stone buildings, some with open roofs, others with chunks of wall missing. People walked through the streets, looking at Arthur, and whispering to each other.
Arthur: “Why are they whispering? Because of their ‘king’?”
Jim: “Let’s just say Atlantians aren’t a big fan of blonds.”
Arthur: “Why? Some ‘ancient prophecy’?”
Jim: “Yes. Keep going.”
Arthur: “Where are we going?”
Jim: “You didn’t see the castle?’
Arthur: “Ca-castle? Oh man.”
Jim: “You need to meet Orm.”
Arthur: “The guy who wants to kill me? That’s a good plan.”
Jim: “You have to.”
They continued to walk.
Arthur is at the castle’s door.
Arthur: “After you.”
Jim: “Go.”
He opened the door, and walked inside the castle. He looked back at Jim, then forward.
Arthur: “Please wake up. Please wake up.”
He went up a set of steps, and saw a large throne. A tall, dark-haired man, with a scar running down a dead eye stands near it. He’s wearing dark armor, and a gold trident in hand. He frowns.
Arthur: “Who’s he?”
Jim: “I think you know.”
The man walks towards them.
“Hello.”
Jim: “Arthur, this is Orm Marius.”
Orm: “Pleasure.”
Arthur: “Yeah.”
Orm: “So, who is he? Did he escape from Xebel?”
Jim: “He’s the king.”
Orm: “Really? I didn’t...expect that. Tell me, has he been trained?”
Jim: “Trained? Well...no.”
Orm: “Hmm. So, this boy, who is not trained, and has most likely never been in a fight, is our new king? It amuses me.”
Jim: “How so?”
Orm: “Well, does he even understand monarchy? Do we vote, or not?”
Arthur: Um...not?”
Orm: “Well, at least you know that. Let me train him.”
Jim: “No.”
Orm: “Why not?”
Jim: “Damn it Orm! I said no!”
Arthur: “Stop!”
The stopped arguing, as soon as Arthur said.
Arthur: “Okay, look, Jim, let him train me. Okay? Is that okay?”
Jim: “But-”
Orm: “Jim, the king of Atlantis has commanded that you let me train him.”
Jim: “Are you sure?”
Arthur: “Would I say it if I wasn’t?”
Orm and Arthur are standing in a room full of targets, and stuffed mannequins.
Orm picks up a trident from the ground, and hands it to Arthur.
Arthur: “So, what are we gonna do? Fight?”
Orm: “Of course not. Throw that at the target.”
Arthur: “That’s it? Simple.”
Orm: “Extremely.”
Arthur held the trident with one hand, in the center. He lifted it vertically, on par with his head. He pulled back his arm, stepped forward, and threw the trident at a target. It missed the actual target by half a foot.
Orm: “Well, that was disappointing.”
Arthur: “Yep.”
Orm: “Again.”
He did it again, with the same results.
Orm: “Again.”
The same.
Orm: “This is sad.”
Arthur: “Break?”
Orm: “Hit the target first.”
20 minutes later.
Arthur is sitting at the top of a staircase. Orm comes up behind him, holding two glasses. He sits next to Arthur.
Orm: “Here.”
He hands him a glass.
Arthur: “What is it?”
Orm: “Water.”
Arthur: “Water? How is it...you know.”
Orm: “We’ve made it a separate density from the surrounding water. The water surrounding it isn’t able to absorb the water. You wouldn’t understand.”
Arthur: “But...the city looks ancient.”
Orm: “It is. We don’t waste materials on unnecessary renovations. We use them on technology. Unlike humans.”
Arthur: “Shut up. Atlantis is great, but it’s no Metropolis.”
Orm: “Don’t lie to yourself. What did Jim say?”
Arthur: “About?”
Orm: “You know what about.”
Arthur: “Oh. Well, he said you want to kill me.”
Orm: “We’ve been surrounded by weapons for thirty minutes, why wouldn’t I?”
Arthur: “Well...did you kill your father?”
Orm: “Everyone suspects that. They have no proof. I don’t care what others think. I don’t, however, want to be executed because of rumor.”
Arthur: “Execute?”
Orm: “You wouldn’t want to die. You would have the power, as king.”
Arthur: “You sir, are paranoid.”
Orm: “Never take any chances. Get the trident. I want you to stab that dummy. Anywhere. I’ll judge the place you go for.”
Arthur: “Yes sir!”
He got up, and grabbed the trident.
One Hour Later
Orm walks to Jim, who is standing by the throne.
Jim: “Where is he?”
Orm: “He’s coming. Arthur isn’t the best fighter. Give him a week, and he should be decent. I don’t plan on murdering him.”
Jim: “You’ve said that before.”
Arthur ran into the room.
Orm: “See?”
Arthur: “Sorry I’m late. What time is it?”
Jim: “Time to rest.”
Orm: “I believe he should see the castle first.”
Jim: “That can wait.”
Orm: “And if he has to navigate the grounds?”
Jim: “I’ll be there.”
Orm: “And what if you aren’t?”
Jim: “I will be.”
Orm: “And if you aren’t?”
Jim: “What makes you think I wouldn’t be?”
Orm: “It was a question, Jim. Why must you over think everything I say?”
Jim: “You’re lucky you’re still in Atlantis.”
Orm: “Well I’m sure the king will change that very soon.”
Jim: “You’re overreacting!”
Orm: “You’re breaking. Notice how I’m staying calm?”
Arthur: “Shut up! Both of you. Look, just take me to the ‘royal chamber’, or some crap, and we can argue tomorrow. Okay? Good.
Orm smiles as Arthur and Jim walk away.
Jim points to a doorway.
Jim: “Go in there, everything should be fine. There’s a bed, made, bathroom, everything you need. If there’s something you want, just call.”
Arthur: “Thanks.”
30 minutes later
Arthur is asleep, snoring. Jim walks into the throne room, not looking happy. Orm looks at him, and smiles.
Orm: “Hello Jim.”
Jim: “Stay the hell away from Arthur.”
Orm: “Why wouldn’t I?”
Jim grabs Orm’s shoulders, and shoves him against a wall.
Orm: “Don’t do that again.”
He kicks Jim’s ankle. Jim let’s go of Orm’s shoulders, and Orm grabs Jim’s neck. He pushes down on his throat, staring into Jim’s eyes. Just ass Jim is about to die, Orm throws him against a wall. He walks away, scowling. Arthur runs in.
Arthur: “What happened?”
Orm: “You know.”
Arthur: “You...you bastard.”
Orm: “It was painful for him, but quick. I will make your death last long enough for you to know just how much you will lose.”
Arthur: “You bastard. Don’t walk away.”
Orm: “You want to fight?”
Arthur: “No. I want you to prove that you aren’t a coward!”
Orm: “You amuse me. After seeing what I have done to a grown, trained, Atlantian, who trains regularly, how can you possibly beat me?”
Arthur: “I can try.”
Orm: “And fail.”
He walks to the training room.
Arthur: “Get back here!”
Orm: “You think you can give me orders? You cannot. You are not a king, and you are not mine. Do you understand?”
Arthur looked at Orm, and Threw a punch. Orm grabbed Arthur’s fist, and twisted it behind his back. He slammed him into a wall, pulled him back, and slammed him into the wall again. Orm laughed. He pulled Arthur back, and shoved him. Arthur stumbled, and fell to the floor. Orm walked past him, and down a stairway.
Arthur: “Leaving so soon?”
Orm: “I want to kill you. But I want to enjoy it. Not have my victory last one minute.”
Arthur breathes heavily, lying on the floor. He rolls onto his back, and looks at Jim. He lifts his head, and lets it drop to the floor, as guards rush in.
The Next Day
Arthur walks through Atlantis, and out of the city. He looks at it from a distance, and swims upwards. Arthur reaches the surface, and, subconsciously, gasps for air. He swims towards land.
THE LIGHTHOUSE
Tom is sitting on a bed, a hand on his forehead.
Arthur: “Hi.”
He quickly looks up, with wide eyes.
Tom: “No.”
Arthur: “What?”
Tom: “Get back to...you...dammit Arthur, what happened!?!”
Arthur: “Orm, he killed Jim, and tried to kill me. Noone knows where he is, and I don’t care. Apparently this is real, and I shouldn’t have gone. Okay?”
Tom: “You don’t understand! If Orm finds out, he’ll take Atlantis, and then, well...”
Arthur: “Then what?”
Tom: “Expansion.”
Arthur: “What?”
Tom: “Orm is insane. He wants more. He wants to rule, but he isn’t okay with just, oh, 75% of the world. He wants more.”
Arthur: “You can’t expand the ocean.”
Tom: “Have you ever paid attention in school? If Orm were to use Atlantians technology, and wait a little bit, allow nature to do what it does, combined with human stupidity, he could completely melt the Arctic.”
Arthur: “And that would...”
Tom: “If he were to melt enough ice in the ocean, more water would be created. This would lead to either the ocean getting deeper, or every coastal city being wiped out. If he were lucky, tsunamis would be created, leaving less survivors. Good-bye Miami, good-bye Boston, good-bye every city with a beach connected to an ocean!"
Arthur: "How do you know?"
Tom: "I don't, not for sure, but me and Jim have talked it over, based on what Orm has said and done in the past."
Arthur: “So, this is a ‘save the world’ thing now?”
Tom: “It always was Arthur.”
And that was Part 2! I hope you enjoyed it! Part 3 is coming soon! Check out my new series, 'The Tournament' if you get the chance!
Until next time,
Comiccow6.