SECRET ORIGINS Part 4 – Mermista
Deep beneath the oceans, there lies Atlantis, home of Arthur Curry, Aquaman. Surrounding Atlantis were many smaller Vassal Kingdoms within every ocean of the world. Deep underneath the Pacific, was one such Kingdom, Salineas. Ruled by the Pisces line of Atlanteans, they had long remained loyal to the throne of Atlantis, with the queens taking on the role of the Mermista, Guardian of the Void and the only Atlantean other than the King of Atlantis who can banish and slay Old Gods.
All was not well however, centuries ago, a cult formed within Salineas, worshiping the ancient Old One Icthultu. A Great war was fought in Salineas, between the Children of Icthultu and the Royal army. The battle raged for several months, until the first Mermista used her mastery of Hydrokinesis to turn the very ocean around them against the followers, and they were driven from Salineas, exiled from all Atlanteans kingdoms for eternity. They fled into the darkest depths of the oceans, lead by their Octo-Atlantean leaders, and began to rebuild, and wait….
2019, Unknown location...
Centuries, generations of preparations…. The Children of Ichtultu were preparing their revenge. Their leader, Lokhir Cephelen, known to his people as the Kraken, was suiting up and preparing for war. She strapped on his armor, a deep purple plate chest piece, teal scale arms and leggings, Deep gray shoulders with the pattern resembling Octopus skin, and deep purple greaves and gauntlets. On his back was a blood red cape with a high collar. He strapped his twin, blood red cutlasses to his sides, and grabbed his helmet. It was golden helmet shaped like an octopus. Four tentacles were shaped from the chin area, curling towards the center, the top of the helmet had eight points in the shape of Fins lining it, and the forehead had the image of Ichtultu grafted on. He put the helmet upon his head, his piercing red eyes shining through and he marched out to meet with his followers.
He was met outside his chambers by his daughter, Octavia, a blue skinned Octo-Atlantean, who knelt beside him and bowed. "They're ready for you father." she said.
He nodded and stepped out before his gathered followers, who cheered his title again and again. He held his fit to the sky. "Brothers and Sisters, children of our dark god! Today is the day of our final victory!" he began, his deep voice booming across the hallway. "Tonight, we march on Salineas, we breach the palace, and we cut off the line of Pisces, using their flowing blood to summon our god! We will have no mercy! We will pry the Trident of Mermista from the queen's hands and bring Icthultu to our realm. We will burn the palace and slaughter all who oppose us! They will know the fury of the KRAKEN!" His speech was greeted by cheers and cries of war. "Arm yourselves, brothers and sisters! TONIGHT SALINEAS BURNS!"
In Salineas, Meranda Pisces, young princess of the kingdom, was bored out of her goddamn mind. She was a tan skinned young woman with brown eyes, and long navy blue hair she tended to braid into a ponytail. She had been bored to death of the mundane life in her kingdom. Her mother had been training her to become the next Mermista, to be sure, but nothing ever happened in Salineas. Aside from when she rescued that young Sailor a month ago. Called himself 'The grand pirate known as Sebastian Hawk.' whatever the hell that means. And that even backfired because he kept sailing around, hoping to meet the 'woman of his dreams,' again.
She decided to go speak with her mother again. She entered the throne room, where her mother, Queen Mariana of Salineas, was meeting with the captain of the guard. This understandably worried Meranda, considering the level of panic that the guard was showing. As the guard left, Mariana waved over her daughter. "I have grim news Meranda, The Children of Icthultu have returned." she explained. Meranda kept her mouth shut and silently nodded. "It's time for you to take on your legacy."
"Oh. Joy. No Pressure right." Meranda deadpanned as the two headed down to the Vault. Entering it, her mother opened the large central chamber, revealing the Trident of Salineas and the uniform of her ancestors.
"Suit up, and be ready. We march to war." her mother grimly said.
Meranda grabbed the uniform and got changed. It was a teal and blue sleeveless top revealing her midriff, with gold-trimmed teal shoulder-pads and gold bracelets.. The pants were Teal with blue lining the inside of the legs, and she went barefoot, allowing her to swim unimpeded. She finished off with a gold belt with a gold abalone in the center, the symbol of Salineas. Her mother looked proud to see her daughter adorn the legendary suit and put her hands on Meranda's shoulders. "From this day forward Meranda Pisces, you are the new Mermista, guardian of the Void." she proudly declared.
"Right then. Let's go fight a Kraken..." the newly christened Mermista deadpanned, grabbing the trident and swimming off to meet with the army.
The Salinean army awaited the arrival of the Kraken's army, and their mood immediately brightened at the sight of the new Mermista, They cheered as she swam above them, with her even cracking the smallest smile. In the distance, the armies of the Kraken began to approach. Mermista clutched her Trident tightly. "Salineans! Stand fast! They will never bring their evil to our world!" she shouted, as the armies began to charge one another.
As the armies clashed, Mermista swam overhead and began working her Hydrokinesis to take down as many of the Children of Icthultu she could, while scanning the field for their leader. She was suddenly blasted by a plasma shot from a Kraken skiff, she quickly recovered and used the currents to crush the skiff, and zeroed in on Kraken and his daughter, she swam towards them like a torpedo.
Octavia took a spear and charged at her, yelling a war cry as she engaged the young princess. The two clashed for several bouts above the raging battlefield. Octavia would swipe, Mermista would block, then Mermista would strike, and Octavia would block. Seeing as brute force wasn't getting anywhere, Mermista began to cause a whirlwind of currents around the two, with intent to throw Octavia off balance. She tried her best to swim against the currents, but with the far more skilled Atlantean hero applying pressure to her, Octavia was unable to recover. She didn't have any time to evade as Mermista thrust her Trident. She only managed to put enough distance for the wound to be non-fatal...but the attack still cost Octavia her right eye. The younger Octo-Atlantean screamed in pain and clutched the wound, with Mermista barely batting an eye as she blasted her away and into a rock formation with her Hydrokinesis.
Lohkir gave a roar of rage at the sight of his daughter being injured and charged directly for mermista, his blood red cutlasses flashing as the two began to fight. Mermista was caught off guard at the sheer ferocity the infamous Kraken displayed. He was more beast than Atlantean. Mermista took several hits from the onslaught of flashing blades, and gave back as many hits in kind. She shot towards him and tackled him into another rock formation, swinging her trident down for his head. He evaded and kicked her in the side, before getting to her feet and swiping both sword, cutting her across her chest. She swam back to put some distance on him and catch her breath.
The Kraken began to laugh. "THIS is the Mermista of our generation? How Pathetic. I'll wrench that Trident from your dead hands and with it, finally unlock Icthultu's realm." he declared.
"You want it?" Mermista growled. "Fine." She waited for Kraken to rush at her, and set her Trident, throwing it at high speed like a javelin. Kraken barely had the time to register his pain as pierced his heart, much to the shock of his followers, and the horror of Octavia. Mermista swam over and gripped the handle, looking the mad warlord in his eyes. "On second thought, I believe this is mine." She shoved him off the point of her trident and he slowly floated down among his followers. The Death of their master broke the will off his followers, and they fled in terror from the Salinean army, Octavia recovering her father's body and fleeing as well. Mermista turned to her followers and raised her trident up high, as the soldiers cheered victory.
Not long after their victory, Mermista was training on her own in the field. A guard ran in suddenly and stood at attention. "Presenting King Arthur Curry, the Aquaman. Also, Kaldur'ahm, the Aqualad." he announced as the two entered. Mermista stood at attention, greeting her superiors.
"Meranda, congratulations on attaining your legacy." Kaldur said with a smile.
"Yeah it's something, whatever." Mermista deadpanned. "And Technically it's 'Mermista' now."
"Right, of course." Kaldur noted.
Arthur chuckled a bit, and began. "Meranda Pisces, I am always seeking new ways to improve relations with the surface world." She raised an eyebrow. "You are Atlantean royalty, and a genuine hero down here. If you will allow it, I wish for you to come to the surface under my tutelage, alongside Aqualad, and work to protect the innocent." he finished up.
Meranda considered it for a moment. "Well, be much more interesting than down here." She commented. "I accept, my king."
"Good!" Arthur said, patting her on the back. "I believe you'll find there's a lot to enjoy in the Surface world."
"Whatever..."
2 Years Later….
She sat silently in her father's chambers. News spread quick of the Mermista's actions on the surface. A whole new Atlantean superhero. Octavia scoffed to herself as she thought of the intel her scouts brought. "Fighting for justice. How dare she. How dare Mermista claim to be just, when MY father's blood is on her hands!" The Octo-Atlantean yelled, clutching the golden Kraken helmet tightly in her grasp. "But now, Mermista. I have learned much about my lineage. You're not the only one with special powers." She chuckled darkly, as she set the helmet upon her head, one of the eye-holes sealed with black Iron, over-top of her eyepatch. She grabbed her father's Cutlasses and sharpened them.
"Prepare yourself Mermista. The New Kraken comes for your head!"
To Be Continued….
JUSTICE LEAGUE DATABASE – HERO BIO
NAME – MERANDA PISCES
ALIAS – MERMISTA
SPECIES – SALINEAS ATLANTEAN
AGE – 18
HEIGHT – 5'8"
HOME – KINGDOM OF SALINEAS, PACIFIC OCEAN
POWERS – HYDROKINESIS, INCREDIBLE SWIMMING ABILITY, ATLANTEAN STENGTH AND DURABLITY, ABILITY TO BREATHE UNDERWATER
WEAKNESSES – CAN BE CRIPPLED IF DEHYDRATED, HIGH HEAT, MAGIC WEAPONRY
MENTOR – AQUAMAN
MAN these chapters are kinda short aren't they? SECRET ORIGINS is intended to give a brief look at the DC universe counterparts of each character I adapt.
On that note….Mermista. Oh boy I am terrified. So, she is far more violent than I'm sure people were expecting. I have my reason. Mermista fits perfectly in Atlantean society. Furthermore, the chance to use Octavia as a rival was there, so I took it. IT eventually snowballed into Mermista becoming the main member of the team most willing to take a life. The Atlanteans are a warrior society after all, and if it's a choice between ending a life and the world being consumed by an eldritch horror, I feel she'd go for the kill. Now that's not saying this is her only characterization. She WILL become more like her usual deadpan self among the rest of the team, and will become a much softer person when working with others. It'll just take time.
Also for you Warhammer fans out there, yes, Kraken/Lokhir is indeed based on the Dark Elf character Lokhir Fellheart, the Krakenlord. I look at that design and just think Aquaman mythos.
I do not own She-Ra, or DC. Haven't watched much She-Ra, no spoilers, you know the drill.
If you like, please review ^_^
NEXT TIME: Tip of the Arrow.