This is a re-write of the Trident Story. This time I have a lot more direction than I did when I began last time (and much more time to write it!). There ended up being far too many storylines in the first version and it became too confusing to keep up with, so I've split it into three stories.
A Prince Is Born
(Poseidon POV)
"It must be just about time," Ami protested, rocking back and forth on the bed next to the bassinet. The doctor did not reply, his eyes remained fixed on the little egg lying in the bassinet. I sat beside Ami, wringing my fingers together nervously. Weren't pre-hatching nerves meant to get easier with the more hatchlings you had? I felt just as anxious as I had when our eldest was born, and I still had no idea why I was so worried. Nothing would go wrong. Nothing could go wrong. Right?
"The singing is just about right, isn't it?" Ami continued, trying to get a response from the doctor.
"Yes, ma'am," the doctor agreed. I tried to concentrate on the little egg's singing, so sweet and pure. I couldn't help but to smile, taking my wife's hand in my own, squeezing it gently. Our other two children, Oceanus and Crustacia, were asleep in the nursery. Tomorrow morning, they would awake to the news of a new baby brother or sister. The little egg rocked back and forth, but no cracks had formed it its shell yet. This little egg was bright blue and dark red, significantly smaller than its two elder siblings had been. But its singing was almost the same as ours. Its little lungs would not last much longer inside of the little shell. It was time for hatching. The fighting outside had not ceased for the hatching; I could still hear it in the distance. It didn't seem right; it was too much to deal with. How could all this be going on at the same time?
"Why is it taking so long?" Ami asked anxiously, biting her bottom lip. We all fell silent for a moment, waiting for the doctor to reply. He exchanged a look with the two midwives, who both looked worried, eyes fixed on the little egg.
"There might be a problem with the baby," the doctor finally said gently, though it did not soothe Ami or me.
"A problem? What do you mean 'problem'? What's wrong with the baby?" I demanded worriedly, gripping Ami's hand tightly. How could there be a problem? We had never had a 'problem' with the other two hatching. But then, it had never taken this long before. Why hadn't the shell cracked yet?
"It's hard to say prior to the hatching, your Majesty," The doctor said apologetically, "we might have to break the shell, if he cannot hatch himself soon."
"It's that dangerous? For the baby?" Ami's voice rose, her eyes widening in horror. Instinctively, we both leaned towards the little egg, looking fearfully up at the doctor.
"It's a last resort option, your Highness, if the child's is in dangerous of asphyxiation," the doctor assured her, "we wouldn't attempt it in any other circumstances."
But it would be just our luck, during this terrible time that our little baby would be in trouble before even hatching. The war was even closer; there had been a riot in the slums of our very own city!
"Did you meet with Kai today?" Ami asked, desperate for something to keep her mind off the baby. I had called in Lord Kai, my head advisor, to discuss the rebelling and the rioting across our nation, and evacuate my family and me to somewhere safer.
"The rebellion is getting stronger, Lord Kai. There are riots in the city," I announced, watching his face carefully. He nodded, but didn't seem nearly as concerned as he ought to have been.
"Your Majesty, the riots are all under control," Lord Kai insisted.
"We need to get out of the city. We need to escape, my family and I. We cannot stay here waiting to be slaughtered!" I insisted.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't leave the city. It would be a sign you had given up and all hope is lost! You cannot let yourself be defeated," Lord Kai countered.
"Can you not evacuate my wife and children at least? I know that the war is much worse than you say! Certainly, for I can read and I can hear and I know what is coming for us!" my voice rose as I spoke, and I struggled to keep it from wavering. There was a deep and terrible silence, as he bowed his head and was perfectly silent. I had never felt so vulnerable in my life, knowing that whatever came after would change my life forever.
"There is no longer any safe route to evacuate you or your family," Lord Kai finally said. There was a long and dark pause, as he looked up at me, his face expressionless.
"So… what will happen now?" I asked softly.
"The revolutionaries are expected to arrive at the palace by the end of the week. Your family will be taken captive and be stripped of your position and titles before your execution. I will assume the role as President, and your council will form our first government until an election is held," Lord Kai replied, so coldly and calmly, I felt sick to my stomach and gripped my throne to keep myself from falling apart. How long had this been planned for? How long had he and my other officials planned to form their own government? How long had they known that my family and I were going to be killed? Oceans almighty, were they working with the rebels? Had they left us here to die, knowing that the rebellion was much stronger than anything my army could defeat? Had we even fought as hard as we could? Was the army even still fighting? I was King Poseidon; I was the protector of the Arctic, the supreme autocrat, the voice of my people and the ocean itself! My name proclaimed that I was the sole leader of my sea, but my power was gone. In less than a week, I would not even have my name anymore.
"How many children do you have?" Lord Kai suddenly asked. I blinked at him, biting my lower lip.
"Two. Almost three. You… you won't let them be killed, will you?"
Lord Kai shrugged, "I have no idea what the rebels intend for the children. We already have enough orphans here."
I shuddered at that, as though a frozen wave had crashed upon me. My poor little babies… how could this happen?
"Your Majesty… I must go. I have a meeting to attend to," Lord Kai informed me. I waved him away without even asking about his meeting, suddenly entirely drained of energy and hope. We were all going to die. There was only a week left, and we would all be gone. We had lost, before the war was even over, we had lost.
"Darling?"
I almost jumped at Ami's voice shaking me out of my thoughts, and I offered her a weak smile.
"Yes, sweetheart. I talked to him today," I agreed.
"Are we going to be evacuated?" she prompted me. I paused, wondering what I ought to say. How could I possibly tell her what was going to happen, while she already had so much else to worry about? How could I tell her that we were all to die, when our own little egg was dying before us? Certainly, the little one was dying underneath the shell, the singing seemed strained, softer and hoarser than before.
"Doctor…" one of the midwives said suddenly. The doctor nodded.
"Your Highnesses, we need to take the baby," the Doctor said suddenly, "We need to break the shell."
I simply nodded, and waved him away with the bassinet, off out of our vision to his dreaded medical equipment to shatter the tiny egg. The smell of blood wafted through the water, and Ami started to cry. I wrapped my arms around her, and kissed her forehead.
"Oh, my oceans… my baby… my baby, my baby, my baby," she sobbed into my shoulder. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly,
"The baby will be fine, Ami," I whispered, trying to convince both of us, "It'll be fine. It'll be fine."
Suddenly, there was a loud cry from the baby, as the shell was shattered. The newborn cried terrible heartbreaking sobs, a stark contrast to its pure and sweet singing. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, and rest my head on top of Ami's, trying to block out the sound of my wife and my newborn child's sobs. The hatching's tears were subdued by the midwives and doctor, and there was stillness in the water, a great terrible nothingness. I looked up, and exchanged a fearful look with Ami. Finally, the doctor and midwife returned, the baby in the doctor's arms.
"Your son, your Majesty," the doctor handed the baby to me, wrapped in a white fluffy cloak. The downturned crescent moon on the baby's forehead confirmed his gender, a baby boy.
"Is he okay? Is everything okay?" Ami fretted, looking up at the doctor worriedly.
"There seems to be no signs of serious physical damage," the doctor replied, "there is some minor trauma at the base of his spine and the upper tail, but it unlikely to be permanent. And of course, as always with hatchings medically removed from shells, he could develop lung conditions."
Ami and I both nodded, as the tiny baby cooed in my arms. The baby boy blinked up at me, long dark eyelashes fluttering. He had his mother's colouring: the same bright, bright blue eyes, the same head of dark red curls, and the same shining blue tail.
"He's so beautiful," Ami whispered; her voice thick with tears.
"He looks just like you," I told her, handing her the little boy and kissing her cheek.
"He's got your face," Ami replied, gently brushing a red curl from the baby's forehead.
"Sire?" the doctor interrupted us, "What is the child's name?"
"Prince Neptune Triton of the Arctic Kingdom," I told the doctor. He nodded, and waved off one of the midwives to record the newborn prince's name.
"I will be back tomorrow to conduct further tests," the doctor replied, "the nurses will remain behind to observe the child."
"Of course. Thank you, doctor," I said gratefully, as he bowed and left us alone with the midwives and our new little son. So tiny and beautiful, each tiny finger and fingernail perfect. If only there was a better world for him to be born into.