Disclaimer: I own nothing except this current gender bender for Ariel and any alterations to the original storyline plot this creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
Savior Of The Seven Kingdoms 2 Chapter 5
The natural astounding beauty and luminescent elegance inside and out aren't lost on Ariel. Despite her initial misgivings about the kingdom, she can't help but admire it immensely as Mera takes her deeper and deeper into the interior.
There was some initial apprehension about the two of them being granted admittance through customs and border control. Mera wanted to use her diplomatic clearance to acquire entry unhindered, but Ariel is deadest against the idea. She's in earnest that they do things legal and without any sneaking around. She doesn't want Orm to have any ammunition against her should he decide to be hostile toward or accuse her of any criminal activity. Mera is incensed about the irrationality behind this decision but is forced to adhere to her wishes and comply. Because of Mera's high-ranking status in Atlantean society they are admitted into the city with Ariel passing on a request to the border security that they inform King Orm about her arrival. The guard Ariel speaks to says he will make sure the message is passed along and delivered.
Ariel suspects it won't be long before she is eventually brought face to face with Orm.
Currently Mera delivers Ariel to a safe house down in the Old City where Vulko is already patiently waiting for them to show up.
The safe house turns out to be a huge sunken sailing vessel, centuries old from ancient times, long forgotten and unused.
Docking alongside it, Mera and Ariel swim to the blown-out hole on the side. As they enter Ariel is met with open air inside an enormous air picket and is now standing inside the ship breathing pure oxygen instead of inhaling sea water.
Awestruck, Ariel said "What is this?"
Moving deeper into the structure, Mera said "We use this air pocket as an extra layer of precaution. Only the Hightborns can breathe water as well as air."
"Plus, it keeps the animals out," added Vulko, tossing a fish that had accidentally swam inside by the tail. "They get kind of messy."
Digging the trident into the floor as she approaches Vulko, Ariel said "Vulko. Here I am, old man. After all these years, you finally get what you wanted."
She and Vulko then share a warm embrace. They haven't seen each other for a long time.
"Ariel, I wish it was under better circumstances," said Vulko, gravely.
In disbelief, Mera said "I can't believe that Orm attacked. Not even the late King dared to do that."
Shaking his head, Vulko said "It wasn't an attack. Legally, he's not allowed too yet. What he did to your surface warships was merely a warning."
"Then what provoked it," said Ariel, brow scrunched in bewilderment.
Speaking to Mera, Vulko said "King Orm and your father were ambushed by the surface. It fired upon them as they met in the old King's Gathering."
"By the surface? I don't think so," refuted Ariel, incredulous. "They still think Atlantis is a fairy tale. Those that do speak out with their theories are labeled as crackpots. Many of them can't show their faces in society for their respective fields anymore."
"I was there," stated Vulko, silencing Ariel. "A surface warship fired at us. Now, Xebel, sides with Atlantis, giving Orm a fleet enough to force the other two kingdoms to join him. If we're going to prevent this war, you must dethrone him now."
Hold on, Ariel never agreed to that.
Rolling her eyes in annoyance on the repeated topic, Ariel said "How many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to be queen. As long as Orm stays peaceful regarding land I am content with my lot." She spins angrily on Mera. "You brought me here under false pretenses. I made it clear you that all I was just supposed to do is come down here to talk to Orm. This is not what we agreed."
"You don't understand. Once he is named Ocean Master, it'll be too late. The power at his disposal will be unlike anything you have ever seen," pressed Mera, anxiously, emphasizing the formidable capacity behind this blatant corruption.
Bluntly in brusqueness, Ariel argued "I'm from the surface. No one is going to take me seriously. Okay? I don't even know where to begin."
"By winning the hearts and minds of the people, by proving to them that you're worthy and retrieving this," said Vulko, unfurling a large piece of aged shark skin on a nearby table, revealing a drawn picture of an ornate trident.
Shrugging in disinterest, pointing at her own inherited trident in accordance with her birthright, Ariel said "I've already got one of those. I have no need for another."
Grinning, Vulko insisted "Not like this one, you don't. This is the Lost Trident of Atlan."
"Oh, I know this story," said Ariel, a faint memory coming to mind from a time long passed.
"It's more than a story. It's real," said Vulko, intent on providing her an important history lesson. "It was forged by the greatest weapon masters in history. Crafted from Poseidon's steel for King Atlan, the first ruler of Atlantis. Legend says the trident was imbued with the power to command the sea."
"So what happened to it," inquired Ariel.
Continuing, Vulko said "To know that is to go back to the time before the Great Fall, when King Atlan ruled over all that was, when the Kingdoms of Atlantis were one. It was a time of great prosperity and technological advancement. We had unlocked the secret of unlimited energy at a time when the rest of the world still thought the earth was flat. But we became too ambitious, too hungry for power. The ocean swallowed us, and Atlantis sank. But the very power that collapsed our civilization also paved the way to our future. It gave us the ability to breathe underwater. And so, we evolved. Others regressed, became savage. And the king lived out the remainder of his days in self-imposed exile. Neither he nor the trident were ever seen again. One of our archeological teams uncovered this a few months ago." He then pulls out a cylinder he'd been carrying on his belt. "It's an ancient recording dating back to the First Dynasty. I believe it contains Atlan's final message to his people and the whereabouts of the Sacred Trident."
Motioning toward it, Ariel said "So what does it say?"
"We don't know. The technology's too old," said Mera.
"The cylinder bears the markings of the Deserter Kingdom. You must take it there and retrieve the message. The clue to Atlan's resting place is inside of this," said Vulko, holding it out to her in offering.
Ariel reaches out to take it. Just as she is about to touch it the three of them are ambushed.
A concussive blast of water from the neighboring wall throws them back. The cylinder launches from Vulko's grip, landing not too far away.
As Ariel staggers on shaky legs, she spots Vulko and Mera concealing themselves. The latter snatching the cylinder as they quickly jump into hiding. Neither of them can be seen here with her, putting a risk to their placements at Court.
In walk soldiers bearing white armor of the Border Defense. Behind them are those bearing copper red armor that shows their higher placements in the army.
Standing before them straight and poised, taking her mother's trident in hand as she is surrounded, Ariel said "I take it King Orm has been informed of my arrival?"
Nodding, addressing her, the leader said "Ariel Curry, also, known at Aquawoman, I am Murk, Captain of the Royal Guard. In the name of his highness, King Orm, you are hereby summoned to the palace."
"Well then, by all means, lead the way. It is impolite to keep the King waiting too long," said Ariel, curt and cordial.
This surprises the officials from in Border Defense and the Royal Guard in light of her respectful and composed attitude instead of being lost to temper. To show a disagreeable land dwellers disposition. They'd probably been suspecting more of a fight from her in this encounter, rendering her apparent capture to their own amusement. Instead, they got something entirely different.
Her passive behavior is putting them off.
As the soldiers escort her away Ariel glimpses Vulko and Mera swim away in an opposite direction on a faster route to the palace.
Finally, Ariel is going to be introduced to a younger brother she has longed to see for ages. Hopefully they can make it out of this without killing each other as Ariel so wishes.
Authors Note:
Heads up everyone there's someone on fanfiction you need to seriously watch out for. Early a couple of days ago after I woke up I was checking my email and I saw I had a new guest review on my A Dog's Purpose Is Strange Magic 2 sequel. I took a look at it and got a very big shock. Some random person I've never spoken to before on here or anywhere else in my life was basically threatening me. Intimidating and practically ordering me to write a threatening letter to someone on their behalf, telling to stay off of for life or else they and everyone else close to them would be killed, disgustingly telling them to kill themselves. And at the bottom of the message this crazy person wasn't done. Warning me that if I don't send the letter then they would kill me and for confirmation to email them to make absolutely sure I complied with their demands. Of course I did nothing of the sort. Instead of doing what they wanted I reported them to the website, sent copies of this deplorable guest review message to police officer cousins of mine so they could have it on file, and I went to a nearby police station and reported it.
When I spoke to the police officers and they checked everything on the message they saw, that while the address and names of business were accurate the people and their names were not. They agree it was more than likely a scam because of the email address on the bottom in order to perhaps get access to personal information or potentially hack my computer. Despite that I'm still very happy they took it seriously as I showed and told them everything. All the same I'm still very happy that I brought this to the attention of law enforcement. Even though the entire thing might be fake I'm still very happy to have brought this to the attention of those who can do something about it if it was legit in some way. This may have been a scam, but it's obvious these people are beyond irresponsible if they try to goad people into sending death threats to random strangers just to get access to info.
Be that as it may if this does unfortunately happen to you do not send any messages to the email addresses they put down and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you bring the message to the authorities immediately whether it is legit or not.
Because it's a guest review it might not be visible for a couple of days as it loads if it is sent to you. But when it does you should definitely pressing the report abuse button and send it to the email that leads to the support staff that is available.
Just a heads up to those of you who aren't aware of this yet, Email alerts for this website are now only active if Email opts is enabled in account settings.
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.
So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.
I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.
