Al Hudda, a shit heap in Northern Africa, with a population of just one hundred thousand people. Nobody could quite understand why Arthur had insisted that the League help him in handling this. Colonel Mahmoud was a tyrant and an idiot, but he was a US ally, and before now his country hadn't really fit into the mould of what the League considered worth handling. That was something that Arthur suspected was down to both Bruce and Diana more than Clark. They both wanted the glory of the big saves, whether they admitted it or not and Clark? Clark was called the boy scout for a reason. Though his actions against Isis and ending that threat had changed Arthur's mind somewhat. Hence why Arthur had felt somewhat comfortable bringing the League here.
Al Hudda, was really an important part of Arthur's kingdom that had been allowed to be ruled by a Colonel and one of the sand demons for so long merely due to the fact that Arthur could not prove that it was really what he thought it was, but then Mera had found exactly what he'd needed. And now here he was. The people bowed before him as he walked, dressed in full armour, crown atop his head and trident in hand. "Mukallis." That was what they said as they bowed before him, and Arthur found that he liked it, he liked the feeling, the way the words sounded. He stopped walking and turned and sat down on the throne, the one that Mahmoud had had the audacity to build.
"Bring him in." Arthur commanded.
Soldiers who had once fought for Mahmoud, and had deserted him in droves when Arthur had arrived, nodded, bowed, doors opened and Mahmoud and his administration were brought before Arthur in chains. They were thrown to the ground before him. "Colonel Mahmoud, you and your government are here because you have betrayed the oaths that you swore long ago to your God and to your King. You took up arms against your rightful ruler and you swore allegiance to a false God. You have become everything you swore not to be. The people of Al Hudda have suffered for it, and now you are the one who must answer for these crimes. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
There was silence, Arthur suspected that neither Clark nor Bruce would have approved of what Arthur knew he would have to do. But neither of them were here. Eventually, the Colonel spoke. "How can I recognise you as a God, when you are half man? You are nothing more than a mongrel. Your own brother did not recognise you as King, and he is more of a God than you ever would be. So, tell me, boy, what right do you have to come here and judge me? Especially when you serve as a lackey to some foreign government."
"I am not the one who has been accepting American arms to kill and maim my own people." Arthur shot back, fighting to keep his temper in check. He wished that Mera were here to help him, but she had had to ensure that there was someone there to greet their son and daughter. "You were appointed a governor for this province by agreement between my grandfather and the members of the African Council, fifty years ago, and yet you quickly turned against that agreement. Why?"
The Colonel laughed. "I found a new God, one who was more likely to appreciate what it was I wanted to do. If people died, they died knowing full well that their God had forsaken them and that they were never going to join him in his vaunted halls. You people, you Gods, you speak of us as if we are nothing. We are the ones who keep you strong, with our prayers and our offerings. I had had enough. The God I chose; he knew precisely what to say and how to get what he wanted. He knew who he was, and who I was. there were no games. Only war. I like war."
"And if it meant the destruction of thousands of lives in a quest to keep your sick fascination going?" Arthur demanded.
"Then it would have been more than worth it. The people here are infidels. They need a strong hand to guide them and keep them in shape, otherwise they will stray from the path of righteousness that our lord has deemed right for us." The Colonel replied.
"And this God of yours, what did he give to you, in return for the shedding of so many lives? Your sons are dead, your daughters are not speaking to you, and your wife left you. You are hated by the very people you wished to control. You have failed." Arthur shot back.
The Colonel said nothing, but a woman, who Arthur believed was the man's wife spoke. "Allah came and gave us the right way of life. He saved us from sin, and showed us the correct way to live. If others did not appreciate that, then it is they that are at fault. We have never been closer to God than we are right now."
"You are one of the poorest countries in the world. The population do not have clean water, or proper sanitation or food. And you are telling me that this is what your God wanted?" Arthur demanded.
"Yes." The woman replied.
Arthur said nothing for a moment, simply considering this. He'd seen twenty babies, lying on the street, mosquitoes eroding their eyes, and chafing at their bellies. He'd seen children with missing limbs and their bones showing. Whoever this Allah was, if he existed, he was a monster and Arthur intended to destroy him. "I have no other option but to condemn you for this monstrosity. By order of Atlantean law, you are declared forfeit." Arthur stood and banged his trident twice on the ground, it shook briefly and then stopped. When it stopped, the Colonel and his government were dead. Arthur looked around. "Burn their bodies, and take whatever you want from their houses."
The order was passed around and soon enough the throne room was emptied. Arthur sat back down on the throne and thought. Al Hudda had once been a thriving metropolis, a jewel in the Atlantean crown, he could feel the energy still there. He suspected a spell had been placed over the country that would prevent it from resuming its normal place. He took a deep breath, then got up, and summoned his councillors. "I am ready for the conference."
A few moments later, there were a host of press before him. He found himself looking for Lois Lane, but of course she was not there. Instead someone by the name of James Sullivan was there for the Daily Planet, and Iris West for Central City News. Arthur stood, his hand firmly on the Trident to stop it from shaking. "I am Arthur Curry, I am King of Atlantis and the Seven Seas. I have come today to stop a tragedy from unfolding. Many years ago, Al Hudda, this land, belonged to Atlantis, it always has. It was given to Colonel Mahmoud and his government to run as a province, as a means of making things easier for my grandfather. However, with the support of the United States of America and her allies, the Colonel broke Atlantean law and seized Al Hudda. For fear of the harm that could come to Atlantis, my grandfather allowed this to stand. And my mother followed his example. No more. Colonel Mahmoud has been most irresponsible, the famines, the poverty and depredation in Al Hudda has been his work and it ends now. The people of Al Hudda do not deserve to suffer."
There was a barrage of questions, but one stood out. "Why have you decided to act now? Why not act earlier, you have been King of Atlantis for almost two decades now." Arthur scanned the crowd looking for who had asked the question and saw that it was Iris West, Barry's girlfriend.
"The political situation had cautioned me against doing so. When I was a new King I needed to sort out my own house first. I regret not acting sooner, but I have acted now and I promise the people of Al Hudda that things shall be better from now on." Arthur answered sincerely.
"And did you not think that the United Nations could have been used to solve this issue? One that is of such pressing importance?" West asked.
Arthur snorted. "Your United Nations is nothing more than a sham. A concoction of bureaucrats and yes men who do nothing more than postulate on issues rather than fix them. They create the red tape that kills the people they claim it helps."
"And why was the Justice League involved?" Iris asked, and Arthur suspected she wanted to know directly why her boyfriend had been involved.
"They were involved as they believed that Mahmoud was a threat to the international stability that is so valued within society today." Arthur replied.
"And what of the Colonel and his government? Have they been put on trial?"
"Yes. They received their judgement today." Arthur replied. "That is all." He turned and walked away. He moved to one of the rooms where he knew his grandfather had resided when he'd come to visit. He flicked through the books, reading about the lore stored away here, and about the thing that collected worlds. The thing that terrified him the most. He scanned through the archives, finding confirmation of his thoughts.
"Sire, they have gone back as requested." Vortigen said.
"And the people of Al Hudda? They are ready?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, Sire."
Arthur nodded, turned, grabbed his trident and walked out of the room, down the steps and out into the courtyard. Then through the doors, and out into the open, where the people looked at him. "You have served your time, you have been punished for impudence and now you have been freed. You are ready to accept responsibility?"
"We are." Came the reply.
Arthur smiled, he'd waited a long time for this, and if he'd lied to the press, then who cared. They were human press, not his own. "Then prepare to return home." They cheered and he took the trident into both hands and banged it hard on the ground, once, twice, thrice, and then a fourth time. On the fourth time the ground shook, and the light shimmered. Dilapidated buildings fell and were replaced with shining constructs, drains replaced broken sewage systems, and water flowed freely. He felt it break apart from the land mass and move down. Once it stabilised, he looked around him. the people were no longer broken and shackled, they were strong, healthy and most importantly Atlantean.
As one they kneeled before him. "Theós." They chanted, all of them looking at him like he truly was a God. It was a strange feeling, but one he quickly pushed down.
"Return to your homes and ensure that next time this is not required." Arthur commanded, they voiced their agreement and rose and retired. All except for one man, slightly stooped, with black hair and blacker eyes. He made his way over to Arthur, bowed low before standing.
"I have what you requested, Sire."
"Very good Matsya. Where was it?"
"Located in the compound of the library's guards, Sire, where the man would pray." Matsya replied. The man reached into his pocket and drew out a golden locket, engraved on the locket was a serpent, black as night, with men around it, churning milk from within the ocean.
"You are certain this will be needed?" Arthur asked.
"Yes Sire. For when he comes." Matsya replied.
Arthur pocketed the locket. "Very well, you may go." The man bowed, and Arthur turned to look out over the ocean. Humans, they really were so easy to fool.