Thanks for the reviews. I hope you all like this next chapter.
Troy and Gabriella laughed and smiled as they watched the parade go by. Today was Atlantis' Founder's Day. Centuries ago, Atlas' ancestor discovered the island and began to create its city. The highlights of the festivities were the parade and the city-wide picnic on the beach. Everybody dressed in their formal robes and had a fun and enjoyable day.
"Here comes, Papa!" Gabriella cheered.
Atlas was in a chariot. He smiled and waved to the citizens. He looked up at Troy and Gabriella and nodded. The two children reached into a large brown bin that contained colorful flower petals. Together they began to toss the petals into the air. The wind caught them and scattered them all around the town's square.
"Today, we celebrate the founding of our Atlantis. May we continue our peaceful way of life for centuries to come." Atlas declared to the cheering crowd. "Now let us feast together."
Troy and Gabriella abandoned their petal throwing and raced down to join their fathers. Troy quickly fell in step as he marched along side Copernicus. Gabriella was lifted up to Atlas' shoulders. She smiled and waved to everyone as they continued on their way to the shoreline.
While the adults prepped for the feast, the children splashed in the water. As always, Troy and Gabriella were side by side. A group of sea-lion pups swam to the shoreline and joined the human children in their play. Squeals of laughter filled the air well past when they were told to come eat by their mothers and fathers.
"They're having too good of a time." Cleo laughed as they watched.
"I'll take care of it." Atlas chuckled.
"Does this pup have a name?" Gabriella's friend, Mika, asked.
"Her name is Lily." Gabriella answered.
"Does she have any brothers and sisters?"
"Troy's playing with her brother and her two sisters are somewhere around here."
Just then Gabriella screamed in surprise as someone grabbed a hold of her. Atlas popped to the surface and held his young daughter high above his head. Gabriella giggled as he tickled her sides causing everyone to look over at them.
"You all better go get something to eat or else Princess Gabriella is going to be tickled all night long." Atlas playfully threatened. "And then the tickle monsters are going to come after you."
The children playfully screamed as they swam back to shore. Atlas placed Gabriella on his shoulders and walked back. Lily swam beside them. Kida met them once they got back on land. Atlas placed Gabriella back on her feet and the girl instantly wrapped her arms around Lily in a hug.
"And who's this?" Kida asked her daughter.
"This is Lily." Gabriella answered before turning to the pup. "There's no need to be scared, this is my mama. She's very nice."
"Gabi, will you sit next to me?" Troy asked.
"We'll save all of you places." Cleo offered.
"Thank you, Cleo." Atlas replied. "That would be perfect."
Five minutes later, Gabriella was making her way to find Troy and his parents. She walked through the seating area trying to locate their table. Just then the same boy from earlier approached the young girl.
"Come sit next to me." he ordered gently. "My father is asking yours join us at our table this evening."
"I'm sorry, Tin." Gabriella said meaningfully. "But we've already agreed to sit with Troy and his mother and father."
"How come you always want to be with Troy? I thought we were friends."
"We are, it's just that Troy's my best friend. I don't know what life is like without him and I don't want to. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, but that's how I feel."
"Ah, Princess Gabriella." Tin's father, Apollo, greeted. "So glad that you've chosen to join us for dinner."
"Actually..." Gabriella started to say before her father's treasurer took her plate and placed it on their table. "I'm sitting with Uncle Copernicus and Aunt Cleo."
"Nonsense, you just sit with us, right next to Tin." Apollo instructed taking Gabriella's arm to lead her to her seat.
"No, I don't want to." Gabriella said loudly as she tried to move away, clearly upset about being forced to do something she did not wish to do.
"Excuse me, is there a problem?" Copernicus asked approaching the scene.
Apollo instantly dropped Gabriella's as he saw the general. The young girl quickly ran to her father's best friend. The general picked her up before turning his attention back to the second adult, waiting for his answer.
"No, everything is fine." Apollo stated.
"Troy's waiting for you, Gabriella. You ready to go eat?"
"Yes." Gabriella agreed.
The moment she had been reunited with Troy, Gabriella quickly forgot about what had taken place with Apollo and Tin. Copernicus, however, did not. As they dined, he leaned over and whispered to Atlas about what he had witnessed. Atlas showed no change of emotion, not wanting to upset the two children near him.
"You all stay here and relax, the two of us are going to take a short stroll down the shore." Atlas told Kida, Clean and the two children as he and Copernicus stood up. "We won't be long."
"How come we never get to sit with the emperor?" Tin asked Apollo.
"Because General Copernicus always weasels his way there. He ensures that no one else gets the chance."
"Hold your tongue." Apollo's wife, Octavia hissed. "The Emperor is making his way towards us now."
"You're Highness." Apollo greeted as he stood up. "It is a pleasure to have you stop by our table."
"I hope you and your family enjoyed supper." Atlas stated.
"We did, thank you."
"Copernicus and I were just about to take a walk. Care to join us?"
"It'd be an honor, Sir."
Apollo instructed his wife and son to stay where they were as he left with Atlas. The three men began to walk down the beach. After a few moments of silence, Apollo decided that then was the perfect chance to ask his very important question.
"You're Highness, I wonder if I could have a word with you about our children's future." Apollo said.
"What is it that you wish to discuss?" Atlas asked.
"The possibility of arranging a marriage between my son and Princess Gabriella."
"You're suggesting of an arranged marriage?"
"I am, Sire." Apollo agreed. "That way the royal bloodline will continue with a member of your cabinet and not be contaminated instead by a lowly son of a member of your army."
"You bastard!" Copernicus growled at hearing Apollo talking about his family in ill will and lunged at him only to be held back by his friend.
"Calm down, my friend." Atlas told him.
"He insults my family."
"I will handle this. You calm yourself before you do something you might regret."
"Yes, Sire."
"Apollo, I am not seeking to arrange any marriage between my daughter. She is free to marry whoever she wishes."
"With all respect, Sir, the only person she is always around is Copernicus' son, Troy." Apollo argued. "That is hardly fair to any other possible suitors."
"Gabriella is four years old, just because she is always with him doesn't mean that they are certain to be married. Anything could happen between now and then. And I don't wish to discuss the possibility of forcing my daughter into an arranged marriage. Is that clear?"
"Yes, You're Highness." Apollo agreed.
"Now, on to what I wish to discuss with you." Atlas stated firmly. "If I ever find out you were forcing my daughter against her will to do anything, you will be exiled from Atlantis for the rest of your days. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, You're Majesty."
"Where did Papa go?" Troy asked Cleo.
"He went for a walk." his mother answered. "He should be back before too long."
"Mama, I've got to take Lily back to her mommy."
"Alright, but be careful." Kida agreed and warned kissing the tip of Gabriella's nose softly.
"Can I go too?" Troy asked.
"Go on, but stay together." Cleo instructed.
"We will!" the children agreed.
Troy and Gabriella followed Lily out of the pitched tent dinner was being held under. The little pup let out little barks as they left as if she was bidding everyone goodnight. As soon as the trio stepped outside, they ran into the children's fathers.
"We'll be right back." Troy said. "We're taking Lily back to her mom."
"Ok, you two be careful." Atlas said as the children ran off.
Troy and Gabriella watched as Lily was reunited with her mother. Mother and pup nuzzled each other lovingly before going back into the water. The two children waved goodbye as they watched them swam away. Gabriella looked up at her best friend and smiled.
"I'm glad you're my best friend, Troy." she said.
"Me too, Ella."
Just then they began to hear a loud argument coming from a rock formation. Curiosity got the better of them and Troy and Gabriella went off searching to see what was going on. The closer they got, they were able to see that it was Apollo and Pompadour, who were in fact arguing. Apollo angrily grabbed the other man by his robes and Troy and Gabriella knew they needed to keep quiet.
"You swore to me that my son would be betrothed to her!" Apollo yelled. "My son is too good to only be a member of the cabinet while that boy becomes Emperor."
"Apollo, I merely informed you to talk to the Emperor about it." Pompadour stated. "I never swore anything to you."
"This cursed island will have the best Emperor ever with my son! He'll bring more power and wealth is has ever seen."
"Why are you so upset, I told you that it was going to happen this way."
"But it was your job to convince him that it was best for Atlantis."
"I couldn't do that because I'm not even sure it would be the best!"
"Then I'm not sure it would be best to have you around."
Apollo then took out a dagger and stabbed Pompadour in the abdomen. The fatally wounded man stumbled to the ground. Apollo stood there, holding the bloodied dagger. Suddenly, a loud scream filled the air alerting everyone around for at least a mile. Gabriella closed her mouth as Apollo turned to her and Troy. To say he was caught off guard would be an understatement. Gabriella and Troy stood there in shock at what they had just witnessed, even as people arrived around them.
"What is the meaning of this?" Atlas demanded as he saw the ocean before him. "Apollo, what is the meaning of this?"
"He killed Pompadour!" someone shouted.
"He's a murderer!"
Before Apollo could say anything, the men of Atlantis rushed him. They grabbed him and forced him back to town with most of the women and children cheering behind them as they followed. Atlas and Copernicus stood there in shock at trying to figure out about what had just happened.
"Atlas, go after them." Kida pleaded as she picked up their sobbing daughter. "This isn't the way to get justice."
Atlas and Copernicus quickly ran after the angry mob. Their wives followed behind with their children. By the time they reached the town's square, the mob was about to hang Apollo in their form of quick justice. Tin and Octavia were begging for mercy for him. But their pleas fell on deaf ears as the hanging was prepared.
Before Atlas could get the chance to intervene, the whole ground began to shake violently. It ceased all moments of the execution. The children began to cry to their parents as they tried to figure everything out.
"Everyone take cover!" Atlas ordered.
People quickly did what they were ordered. Atlas ran to make sure that his family was getting to safety. Once meeting Kida and Gabriella, he led them to safe cover. Gabriella buried her head in Kida's shoulder in fear. Kida went into protective mother mode and placed a protective hand on top of her terrified little girl's head. Atlas led them into the palace. Copernicus, Cleo and Troy were close behind them.
"Papa, what's happening?" Gabriella asked tearfully.
"I don't know." Atlas answered truthfully.
Atlas looked around and noticed that there were no cracks in the ground like in most major earthquakes. Just then the waves were crashing over their heads, Everyone looked up and around and noticed that they were surrounded by water. The island of Atlantis had dropped into the ocean, it was as simple as that. But the water did not submerge them. In fact everything was as dry as it was before. The shaking and rumbling stopped and Copernicus and Atlas hesitantly walked back outside. The two men looked up and noticed that they were in fact submerged underwater but a mysterious dome protected them from drowning and keeping the city itself fully intact.
"It's safe to come out now!" Atlas announced.
Slowly people began to venture out of their safety. Kida and Cleo were among the first. A head count was made and it was discovered that there was only one fatally, Apollo. Atlas took a look at his surroundings and his fellow country men. For the first time since he took the throne, he honestly did not know what to do or what should be done.
"What happened, You're Highness?" someone asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Are we safe here?"
"For the time being." Atlas answered.
"What's going to happen to us?" a young child asked.
"I don't know."
It was as if they never existed to the world above. Nothing remained of Atlantis and her citizens. Not one home, road or any other shred of evidence was left behind for clues. Atlantis now belonged in that place where legend and folklore existed. In a span of five minutes, the legend of the Lost City of Atlantis was born.
