A/N: I was so hyped by the Aquaman movie, so I just wanted to type something up for it. I checked FanFiction, and there are so few stories about Aquaman, so here's a fanfic to try to resolve that.
Disclaimer: I don't own Aquaman nor its characters. I only own my OCs, and any changes to the plot that I have made.
P.S.: This fanfic will be movie-based, so there may be details that are different from the ones in the comics. Other details on characters like Orvax are based on the DC Wikia.
PSA: The chapters may switch POVs among significant characters such as Arthur, Mera, and Orm.
They sounded the bells that signified that it was time for us to go into the study. My sister and I hurriedly stopped what we were doing, heading over to the room next to ours. The study was well-lit, contrasting greatly with the rather dark waters that our part of the kingdom is situated in. Numerous bookshelves lined the walls of the room containing books ranging from history to Mathematics. In the center of the room was a large, rectangular table where Queen Atlanna and Prince Orm were currently sitting in.
We curtsied to the Queen and the Prince, who stood up to greet us. Prince Orm came forward and kissed my sister's hands before kissing mine. Mera, my sister, blushed lightly at his actions and I did my best to hide my giggles. She had always been smitten with the Prince, and I could understand. He had nice looks, but he just wasn't my type.
"It's good to see you again, Mera, Mira," Queen Atlanna told us, gracing us with a kind smile. The Queen was always so nice to us. She was like the mother I couldn't remember having.
"It's lovely to see you too, Queen Atlanna," Mera and I chorused.
We then took our seats next to Prince Orm, while Queen Atlanna shuffled through the books before sighing.
"Today will be a rather different learning session. We shall be focusing on the surface-dwellers." Queen Atlanna said, making Prince Orm frown.
"But Mother, why do we need to learn about barbarians?" Prince Orm asked hesitantly.
Queen Atlanna's mouth narrowed into a thin line. "Why do you call them so, darling?"
"Father calls them that. He says we should get rid of them."
Queen Atlanna sighed. "Your Father has perhaps had some untoward experiences with them. However, not all surface-dwellers are terrible. There are kind ones, who would treat even Atlantians with the same level of respect that we give to each other."
"Really? How would you know, my queen?" Mera asked.
Queen Atlanna's eyes grew distant before replying, "From stories. Peace can be achieved with surface-dwellers. We just need to educate them on their wrongdoings, on our history and culture, and in turn, we should do the same. Understanding begets respect. Perhaps, one day, an understanding between our worlds can be reached."
"I would love to see that," I told them, shyly tucking my auburn-colored hair behind my ear when they all looked at me. "I mean, well, it would be nice, too, to not have to hide like this. If they understood us, and we understood them, we could co-exist and maybe they'd stop polluting our waters."
Queen Atlanna smiled at me before nodding. "Precisely. That's a good line of thought, Mira."
I beamed at the praise and the lesson continued. My mind swirled with stories about manmade vessels that could carry you across land and air, about four-legged creatures that roamed grassy lands, and the like.
I'd love to see the surface one day, I thought as our lesson ended. Queen Atlanna informed us that she had to speak with our father, King Nereus, so we were left with Prince Orm in our room.
Our room's walls were colored white, divided into two sides by different color schemes. Mera's side contained more green shades and accents, while mine contained purple shades and accents. The room was neat — Father would have scolded us if it weren't — and fit for princesses, with closets for our gowns, shelves for our books and toys, and the occasional rare item that Father would have collected from another kingdom for us.
Prince Orm sat on the edge of Mera's bed — to my sister's delight — while Mera and I shared mine. He looked a little down today.
"Is there anything wrong, Prince Orm?" I asked him curiously.
"What makes you say that, Princess Mira?"
"I just noticed you seemed rather upset today. Forgive me for my curiosity."
Prince Orm shook his head. "No, it is alright. We are friends, anyways."
He ran a hand through his light-colored locks. "I've been hearing stories lately about a possible brother of mine."
"The Queen is pregnant?" Mera gasped in surprise.
Prince Orm shook his head. "That would have been a better alternative. No, rumors say I have an older brother."
I blinked. An older brother would have been saddening news, indeed, for Prince Orm. He was supposed to be the heir to the throne, but the existence of an older sibling would mean he would be second in line instead.
"The problem," he continued before grimacing, "is that he is a half-breed."
Mera and I inhaled sharply in surprise.
King Orvax detested surface-dwellers, if Prince Orm's reaction to today's lesson was any indication. He would never have even let the thought of procreating with a surface-dweller enter his mind, unless —
"It was the Queen, wasn't it?"
Mera turned to me in shock, but Prince Orm nodded.
"Years before she married my father, it was said that she went off to the surface and remained there before she was brought back here by force." Prince Orm frowned. "I suppose it isn't that farfetched that she would have had another son there."
It must have hurt for him, to find out that another child had had his mother's affections before he did. But Queen Atlanna always seemed so happy here, especially with Prince Orm. Did that mean she left his supposed other son on the surface?
"Still, it is merely conjecture, perhaps an attempt to shame my mother from those envious of her. I will await further updates on this rumour, but otherwise, I will choose to remain neutral on the issue and remain as I always have been."
But behind that statement, Prince Orm was probably hoping that it wasn't true. I wouldn't be surprised. If my mother had had another sibling without me and Mera knowing, I would have been jealous, too, knowing that my mother hadn't loved my father first, or that my mother hadn't loved me and Mera first.
Mera, in a rare show of pushing aside her crush on Prince Orm, gently held his hand. "No matter the outcome, Mira and I are here for you, my prince."
Prince Orm smiled at us and nodded.
TBC