THE KRAKEN

They are taken to a village and waiting at the entrance to the village is Arthur's mother, Queen Atlanna. "My Queen!" Mira says running up and hugging her. "Come meet your son Arthur."

"Mother? Is it really you?"

"Yes son…It is I…"

"But you died…They said they sacrificed you to the Trench."

"They did…But I survived using my magic to keep the Trench away…They cannot stand light."

"Why didn't you come back?"

"I tried…But the Vortex only flows one way…The only way out lies through Last Ocean."

"Last Ocean?" Mira asks.

"The domain of the Kraken…Zeus used the Trident to create a Creature that can only be controlled by the Trident, but it also guards the Trident to keep away the unworthy…I tried once to get it and almost died in the attempt."

Arthur looks at Trevor, "Is there any other way back to the surface?"

"No there is not."

"Can we sneak pass the Kraken?" His mother shakes her head. "Then I must go…If I fail perhaps you Mira are worthy." He grabs her and kisses her on the lips. She slaps him, "Been wanting to do that since I met you."

"The journey to the entrance of Last Ocean is long perhaps you should rest and eat first."

Later Arthur finds Mira standing outside her hut looking up, "Sorry about earlier."

"No, you're not."

He smiles, "No…Admit it you liked it."

She sighs dramatically, "Travis Morgan says that they are diamonds that shine like stars."

"Beautiful." He says looking at her.

"I am betrothed."

"So was my mother…Do you love him?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Arthur looks up at the starlike diamonds, "My father walks to the edge of the pier every evening looking for my mother…He still loves her."

She looks at him. The next morning they set off riding Dinosaurs towards Mount Kraken. "The cave slants down into the water." Atlanna says. "Swim for a mile…The Kraken will find you. The Trident lies at the heart of Last Ocean…If the Kraken attacks you…Run away."

He sighs, "Wish me look."

Before he can take a step, Mira grabs him and kisses him, "For luck."

Arthur enters the cave and walks down for a quarter of a mile before he reaches the underground beach. He enters the water and swims down and forward. As he swims Arthur feels as if something is watching him. Then something starts to move and a giant eye opens.

"I don't want to fight! Can we talk." Arthur asks using his telepathy, "Do you talk?"

"From the day I was spawned by Zeus through the Trident I have never encountered anything like you…Nor has any ever spoken to me…What are you?"

"My name is Arthur Curry…They call me Aquaman…My father was human and my mother Atlantean…"

"And what do you want Aquaman?"

"The Trident…If I am worthy of it…If not safe passage for my mother and friends…"

"And what of yourself? If you are not worthy do you want passage…Suppose I say you must remain here and keep me company?"

"If it will get my mother and friends home so be it."

"Why do you want the Trident?"

"To stop a war. I am both human and Atlantean…"

"You may pass Aquaman…Like all Tridents…Posiedon's Trident amplifies your powers and it will give you power over the seven seas and all life that lives there in…"

Arthur swims forward and he does, he gets a look at the Kraken. The top half of its head looks like a Lobster and the bottom half a Great White Shark's mouth. It has eight octopus like arms, an armored body like a Dragon, four legs like a crab, and four crab arms with a huge, long tale. The Trident sits among some ruined buildings. There are skeleton bones scattered around the area. The Trident stands up in a stone hand with a metal armband. It has a thunderbolt on the metal armband.

When Arthur places his hand on the Trident, it starts to vibrate and the stone hand opens. Bolts of lightning run across his body and an armor of golden, orange scales appear on his torso. Green leggings with shark fins also appear.

"I am yours to command my King." The Kraken says.