Chapter One - A Warning

My father was a lighthouse keeper, and my mother a queen. They were never meant to meet, and yet their love spanned the depths of the ocean and across to the far reaches of the world...

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, you already know all this. Blah blah blah.

Then there's Orm and I, once childhood friends, then secretly (to me at least) betrothed while also being rivals for the throne (awkward!) But then we said "screw that!" and decided to do things our own way.

And so we saved the world, fell in love, got married, and here we are. Things are good, but a little complicated...

We've battled pirates, sirens, a tyrant king, but we may just be up for our biggest challenge yet: uniting Atlantis and the Surface World.

United Nations

Geneva, Switzerland

The Chairperson addressed the whole of the council chamber. "It is an honour for me to invite her majesty, Queen Aurelia, daughter of Atlanna, ruler of the Kingdom of Atlantis."

Her mother at her side, Aurelia strode into the chamber, flanked by guards. She could feel the stares of each and every member state burning into her so hard she shuddered, but she knew she wasn't the one at fault here.

As soon as they were seated, the U.S. Secretary of State started the discussion. "Mr. Chairperson, I believe I speak for all the member states here when I say that I am deeply disappointed in Atlantis's failure to stand by promises to participate in global efforts, to tackle international challenges, to share resources, and full cooperation when it comes to its claims."

France was up next. "France has information that Atlantis has access to weapons of mass destruction unlike anything we have ever seen or heard of before. It is a threat to global security."

The Chairperson addressed them all again. "I now give the floor to Her Majesty, Queen Aurelia."

"I hear you, and yes, there is a lot about us that you don't yet understand, and may never understand. But we're keeping that under wraps, not because of their dangerous potential, but because the dangerous potential of you." She paused, letting that one sink in. "You perform civility here, but we know what you whisper: their claims are false, it's all a front, let us strike while we can." Again, a pause. She shared a glance with her mother, Atlanna giving her a reassuring nod. Thank Poseidon her mother was here with her. "Last night there was another attack on one of our research facilities. Proof of the involvement of a member state is being uploaded to your mobile devices as we speak. And as for the identity of the attackers-" She rose to her feet, the guards following her lead.

Right on cue the chamber doors opened and a procession of captured French military men, flanked by Atlanean guards, and led by Orm, entered the room.

"Kneel!" Orm ordered, stopping in the centre of the chamber for all to see.

Aurelia turned to the French Secretary. "Je vous en prie." You're welcome.

"Let our gracious response to this incursion be an olive branch," her mother continued, sounding much more like a leader addressing the UN than she did. "Any further attempts on our resources will be considered an act of aggression and will be met with a much steeper response."

"We're aware of attempts at seeking our resources and knowledge, and all we can say to that is good luck," Aurelia put in. And without further ado, she stalked out of the council chamber, her mother on one side of her and her husband on the other, the Atlanteans once again leaving a shocked silence in their wake.


"Damn, this shit is exhausting."

Aurelia, Orm, Atlanna and their guards had boarded one of Orm's high-tech vessels which would take them back to Atlantis.

"Need I remind you, My Dearest, that it was your decision to open us up to the surface," Orm said.

She responded by poking her tongue out at him. "All those smug leaders - I mean I knew there were some idiots running the show but this is something else!"

"Well I think you did wonderfully," Atlanna said. "I'm proud of you."

After so many years without her mother, she never wanted to get used to hearing that. "Thanks, Mom."

"You did Atlantis proud as well."

"You did," Orm agreed. "You showed them."

"We showed them." This was broken by a huge yawn. "Whew, I'm beat. I could use a beer. It's been a long night - and day. Let's go home."

Home - she'd never expected to think of Atlantis that way, and yet here she was, doing exactly that.

So much had changed so drastically over the last few years, and she wouldn't change any of it for anything.

So excited to be back - hope you are too! :)

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)