Chapter Two - A Warning

"Crazy Atlanteans."

Her, Aurelia Curry, a queen? Heir to the throne? Oh, come on! That was ridiculous! So ridiculous she almost snorted out loud.

She cast an affectionate glance over at the passenger seat where her father now slept soundly, snoring softly. She was kind of glad he had been asleep during her conversation with the red-head for he would only tease her, and probably urge her to go with the woman. That, and she didn't want him to worry any more than he already did.

What the red-head had said tugged at her thoughts though...

Why now, after all these years, did Orm suddenly want her to visit? It had been ten years since she had been banned by his father, Vulko trying to convince the king to allow her entry, and now this. Why now?

She was pulled from her thoughts and pondering by a squawking noise from overhead. Peering through the windshield she saw a flock of seagulls flying madly in the opposite direction of the ocean, their squawking like sounds of distress.

Their calls were soon drowned out by a great roaring, and she turned to see a sight that chilled her to the core:

A massive wave was charging towards the shore, carrying a ship with it, and it was heading right for the Bay.

Aurelia stepped on the gas pedal, pushing the truck to go as fast as was possible. She felt the rumble through the road as the wave struck the shore, and it was now chasing them.

She was forcefully thrown from the truck when the wave finally hit them and engulfed everything in water. It was dark, and debris flew around, threatening to strike her. She forced her eyes to adjust faster, scrambling to locate the truck, a sickening feeling of panic settling within her gut, tightening her chest.

"Dad!" She swam around the best she could within the thrashing current, frantically searching for any sign of the truck or Tom. "Dad! DAD!"

She felt the water sucking around her, and saw that the current had changed, was changing. Following it, she ended up stepping outside of the water, into a large air pocket. What the?

There was a splash and she turned to see the red-haired Atlantean woman, eyes and palms glowing with blue light, commanding the water.

Aurelia had seen hydrokinesis before, but not to this scale.

As the water retreated, she caught sight of the truck's peeling orange paint. Racing over to it, she felt a rush of relief at finding Tom still inside. Seat belts really do save lives. This was quickly followed however by a stab of worry. She tore off the truck's door, ripped off the seat belt, and dragged her unconscious father out to lay him on the ground. "Dad - Dad!"

"Move! I can help-" The red-head was suddenly at her side. Aurelia did as she was told, watching the woman hold a hand hovering above Tom's face. She watched in awe as the droplets of water on his face began to rise, followed by water coming out of his mouth, followed by him spluttering and coughing madly, trying to catch his breath.

"Oh God!" Aurelia threw her arms around him in a crushing hug, tears filling her eyes. That had been way too close.

When Tom had managed to catch his breath some, she turned to the other woman. "Who are you?"

"Princess Y'Mera Xebella Challa. You may call me Mera."

"Thank you, Mera. Aurelia Curry." She helped Tom to his feet.

"Dear God..." Tom breathed as they surveyed the damage. The washed-up ship's klaxon blared eerily like a wounded cry into the night.

"This was Orm's doing," Mera told them.

Aurelia sighed. "Great."

"Friends of yours?" Arthur asked her as they, along with half of the Bay, crowded around the TV in the bar, watching recaps of the worldwide coastal damage. It was the same everywhere, all over the world, garbage and ships dumped back onto land, causing colossal damage and panic.

"My rival for the throne, apparently."

"Oh, damn."

Aurelia shook her head. She barely remembered travelling to Atlantis as a child and befriending the prince, but this couldn't have been the same boy, her playmate. A lot must have changed in ten years.

"I'm going to go."

"You sure that's the best idea? I thought you said they hated you?"

"They do, at least most of them. I've got a few 'allies' there: Vulko, Aria, and now this Mera. And who knows, maybe Orm will do a favour for an old friend." She sighed. "Plus, maybe I can find out what happened to Mom." Arthur gave her a comforting pat on the back. "One thing's for sure, I have to make sure something like this doesn't happen again."

He nodded. Then he cracked a grin. "Otherwise they'll face the wrath of the 'Aquawoman.'"

"Oh, shut up." He laughed as she hugged him. "Watch out for Dad?"

"Of course."

"Thanks."

"I'll buy you a drink when you're back."

"Thanks, I'll need it."

Aurelia met Mera at the beach below the cliffs. Mera was to take her to meet Vulko and Aria, who would then take her to the rendezvous at the palace. She had her mother's trident strapped across her back - she wasn't sure she would need proof of being Atlanna's daughter, but she decided it couldn't hurt. And who knew, she might need to use it.

"Hope you don't mind, but I invited some friends along for the swim." Mera gave her a confused look to which Aurelia just grinned. She placed her thumb and index finger to her lips and whistled, and a few moments later three long, grey noses peeked out of the water.

"Hey girls!" Aurelia went over and knelt down. The dolphins called out to her. "Well, looks like I'm finally doing this-" She was cut off when Daphne, the leader of the trio, spit some water in her face, followed by a mocking chitter. "Hey, don't use that tone with me. You know very well why I haven't gone back before now. I'm only doing this to avoid another mess like last night. I don't even want to go. But I have to."

"You're talking to them?" Aurelia looked up to see Mera staring down at her in astonishment and wariness.

"Yeah."

"But they're animals."

"Uh uh, careful what you say around them, they can understand you," she warned. "These three were just babies when I met them. Vulko and Aria were teaching me how to use and control my Atlantean abilities. These three helped me with my swimming."

"Okay, you talk to animals too. You're crazier than I thought."

"Well good, we understand each other." Daphne gave another chitter. "Oh... He is, huh?"

Mera crossed her arms. "Now what are they saying?"

"That Orm's excited to see me again, apparently."

Now Mera raised her eyebrows. "What's the deal with you two anyway?"

Aurelia shrugged. "Honestly, I don't really remember. I was five when Vulko and Aria brought me to Atlantis. I vaguely remember we would play together, me and Orm. But that's it."

"Well, he obviously remembers you."

"Yeah... Hopefully that's a good thing..."

The women began wading out into the water, the dolphins dunking back under.

"Just so we're clear, I'm just going to see what they want, that's it, that's all. Then I'm coming back."

"Maybe for the best. Probably." She could tell Mera was bitter about her lack of want to go along with Mera's plan of thrones, birthrights, and rightful heirs and being queen.

"Look, I'm sorry I can't be of more help, okay. But I'm really not what you're thinking. Besides, why should I help? What has Atlantis ever done for me but steal my mother and destroy my family?"

"Whatever you say." The red-head shrugged. "But just wait until you see it for yourself."

Yay, here comes Atlantis! And Orm! :D Haha I'm so obsessed! ;) Hope you enjoyed this chapter, thank you so much for reading! :)