p data-p-id="4b037e1f9699abd9fb9ca314a63d4b81"There never seemed to be any true evil on the Neverseas./p
p data-p-id="f6ab364da4134f58956251aac8404e8b"Of course, there was Captain Hook, who was more of an unsuccessful robber than a villain, Doctor Undergear, who was just an old mechanical building whacko, Shiverjack, who just had a really cranky attitude, and many other "villains" that actually seemed threatening, but were easily defeated by Captain Jake, a young kid. No one knew exactly how old he was. He appeared to be around 10, but had the maturity and problem solving skills of an older, wise adult. Always thinking things through, always knowing what to do./p
p data-p-id="06b4e1880e42522285ac11240d52fc9a"But no one had ever seen true evil here before./p
p data-p-id="2e079fdb11816c31405b7c710c9aa577"True evil, pure evil. Not broken nor shattered, not rethinking if prompted or threatened, not tired easily or prone to surrender to a bunch of cuckoo-minded pirates./p
p data-p-id="f2b5566c1b929d0bfb84ff46f13a4903"But there was one villain that was different. Sure, he seemed different, as he was harder to beat. He had the upper hand of magical knowledge, years upon years of evil wisdom, and the will to hurt people to get what he wants. He wasn't easily defeated, but he was in the end by teamwork./p
p data-p-id="2665e6741e6edda9e50aea890aee9ae6"But who is this "he?"/p
p data-p-id="5276a79ecd03de492b180284ea143c41"This "he" is Lord Fathom, the evil merwizard of the fathom depths. The one who was jealous of Captain Colossus's success. The one who sought after power and fame, but never got what he wanted./p
p data-p-id="1e5fa4f9c6caac3343d27fa7ae2445ef"It's unknown why he acted the way he did. It could have been a rough past, or it could have just been a dark heart. Whatever the reason, he was greedy. Nothing was ever good enough for him. Always needed more power./p
p data-p-id="b8370017486499f458bf44d1a33045a1"His time away from his defeat, he realized the emerald, the ancient artifact he had stolen, wasn't good enough if he wanted to rule chaos over the oceans. The shattered piece had fully developed back into his trident, but it wasn't enough. He took it out to wear around his neck so he could still use it if he had to./p
p data-p-id="7930ea5be2d2f8408c656245875f0b16"All his waking hours (or hours, does this guy even sleep?) he would search for knowledge of something more powerful, and more strong. He was never ready to give up until he got what he wanted. Power, rule, infamy. And he was willing to do anything to get what he wanted./p
p data-p-id="60ce412cce014aac31ad7a342b121fbf"No one on the Neverseas had ever seen true evil until now./p
p data-p-id="2f43b42fd833d1e77420a8dae7419000".../p
p data-p-id="dca41f0c5b2370aaea1996947e76dc62""Sheldon, pick up the pace! There's no sea creatures around here fast enough to antagonize, and I'm hungry!" Fathom yelled at his companion, a skittish, orange squid with yellow spots named Sheldon./p
p data-p-id="f6d49d8a4b69ff6c77e25360be066a41""You could always eat those sardines over there, King Fathom. They swim in schools, love to confuse ya, and are fast!"/p
p data-p-id="f05679b6306ba801e8c761a28dd95b59"Fathom sighed. "One, we discussed the name 'King Fathom' and that I'm no longer interested in that title. It sounds stupid now that I have a clear conscious and haven't been stuck under the rocks. Two, sardines? I have standards, Sheldon, standards!"/p
p data-p-id="e95a1cd66e4823d2800c14ea6e2dfe05""Yessir," Sheldon stuttutered, saluting nervously./p
p data-p-id="ab216c281fe3363cd87b93326c79430a"Fathom started mumbling something to himself about how "squids are dumb and lowly creatures." Sheldon surprisingly didn't hear that one, since he hears almost everything./p
p data-p-id="c4df26b8b924cba78543479e1497ae99"A while had passed looking for food that fit Fathom's "standards," they came across a large place in ruins. It looked like some sort of abandoned underwater city that had been sitting there for years. Soaked, broken wood, broken glass, and tumbled building structures. It looked older than the very sand around it. Fathom seemed to be interested in this place. He couldn't take his eyes off of it./p
p data-p-id="82f9b2a3f2993ca439a55c6e763a297a""I thought we were looking for food," Sheldon said./p
p data-p-id="0e340743b8d12441ec3bc0aa6d011ebd""Sheldon, forget the food! I won't starve. I've never heard of this abandoned place before, nor have I seen it! There could be ancient artifacts hidden here, Sheldon!" he said, trying not to flap his tail excitedly./p
p data-p-id="a374c8332c9925f0404e536f76fe7372""King Fathom-"/p
p data-p-id="432053e8b829b1d2533fa80e6a2cd2ca""Lord Fathom."/p
p data-p-id="66ee3f7d08244d259e5a71662174b948""Excuse me! Lord Fathom. It's just that... every time you find an abandoned city, you find nothing!" Sheldon protested./p
p data-p-id="2ebf3f3c90280bfbec44417de5e49797""I got a feeling about this one," Fathom said, rolling his eyes./p
p data-p-id="f9973e913b57f97cf05d65b4b0eb5c0c""You say that every time, and there never is anything!" Sheldon argued./p
p data-p-id="451a005e2b212d024d08bf4dcd55843f"Fathom grabbed the squid by the tentacles, and gritted his sharp teeth. Sheldon let out a yelp of surprise. "You dare argue with your master?!" Fathom shouted, his pupils narrowing into slits./p
p data-p-id="8b5156674e7d97b9786a9eb9a8cef479"Sheldon gulped. "N-no sir," Sheldon stuttered./p
p data-p-id="415a4db9f8036648d0943e42d5a2e53e""Good." Fathom said, letting go of the squid. Sheldon swam backwards a bit, not wanting to get yanked by the tentacles again. Sheldon was half-sure if Fathom had yanked any harder, his tentacles would have popped off. Again./p
p data-p-id="b4376c1465e5b2d6b9cf1b5b9129d072"Fathom scoffed before swimming off into the abandoned city, swimming through opened windows and broken entrances. Sheldon followed behind, but not too closely./p
p data-p-id="e628b949733dcaf066afd1f05dfa8f77"After a while of swimming and checking under and over everything, Fathom skidded to a halt with his tail, which slapped Sheldon backwards. Sheldon was awfully confused when Fathom started to dig in the sand./p
p data-p-id="6e028344ab65bac3db879b1d0a401932""What are you doing?" Sheldon asked in a hushed voice, not wanting to anger the merwizard./p
p data-p-id="0eeb888e592458d7f895513be5708506"Fathom didn't answer. He stopped digging, and his eyes widened. Sheldon thought Fathom was mad at him, but then he realized Fathom had found something under the sand and wood./p
p data-p-id="b628b4bb7145fb8ed5dee77522402946"Fathom found a pitch black coin with a pirate symbol on it, suggesting it was some sort of Doubloon. Scanning his claw over it, he realized it felt awfully smooth, like a pearl-like substance. It had seemed to be hidden away in an old, rotted out chest was made out of hardwood and metal, meaning it had to have been there for a very long time in order to dissolve./p
p data-p-id="f7c3f3396d388e95704ccfb1449c4650""Sheldon, I think I got somethin'," Fathom muttered, while picking up an old, ancient script of some sort. He sighed at the script, as it was written in Latin. "Sheldon, read this," Fathom ordered, handing the scripture to the spotted squid./p
p data-p-id="4385ed9e7d119f459954845497f6a2ab"Sheldon began to read; "'The Midnight Doubloon. It was created by an evil sorcerer, and is a very strong source of dark magic, so much so that it had to be hidden away very cautiously, as it will cause havoc if it falls into the wrong hands.' That's what I got out of it, anyways. My Latin is quite rough."/p
p data-p-id="0f0c013585f21359003fb5ab5c56b9a5"Fathom laughed a bit. It was never good when he laughed. It meant he had a terrible idea. He tried to fit the coin into the slot of the emerald-shaped hole in his trident./p
p data-p-id="48df7f1d44b760bbd8da5029f784b535""C'mon, fit... fit!" Fathom hissed as he struggled to fit the coin in the hexagonal hole./p
p data-p-id="ab1fd7ceb9e21ebcc337de04e7c0b05e""That's not going to work, boss," Sheldon inquired./p
p data-p-id="c35ba4a5214637ced8e69b564d3cf4c2""Shut up you lowlife squid!" Fathom shouted, not bothering to look at his loyal companion. Sheldon just shuddered in place. I'll just stay here and watch you struggle then, Sheldon thought./p
p data-p-id="fabf997648489d3c6e7a6e59445755c1"After a long few moments of struggling, a loud click was heard. The coin was stuck in the trident diagonally. Fathom muttered some sort of curse word./p
p data-p-id="60eb825f630097aa4cbd4ef3574e4468"The trident took the coin, changed the hole shape, and locked it in place. Black lightning bolts stuck the trident from the sky, and the trident's sharp end plunged out of Fathom's hand into the ground, which made the merwizard tumble backwards. Fathom looked up (which strained his neck), and the water was bright as the black lightning bolts continued to strike the trident. Sheldon hid behind Fathom's head in fear./p
p data-p-id="882237ce671d38599137458db9daa449"Suddenly, the lightning stopped. After a few panicked breaths, Fathom swam over to his trident to observe what happened./p
p data-p-id="acafdece9be9e4ed23f5403d58227900"The trident was covered in black lightning-like marks, and it changed to a darker blue color. The coin was stuck in the (now properly shaped) hole. Fathom pulled the trident out from the sand, and he felt some shocks go up his arm, which he tensed and let out an audible "ow."/p
p data-p-id="0935ebdf14698c15107760ed44c30cea""What'd it do?" Sheldon asked./p
p data-p-id="aa0d2ae48f3b43838296eb48521f2f36""Observe for yourself- actually, nevermind, read me the rest of that script," Fathom said. Sheldon quickly picked up the script and started to read it./p
p data-p-id="e0163436569f3a521107215d1d2eac39""'If the coin is inserted into the trident, Whoever touches it first is the dark magic's new owner, and can only be taken out of the trident or passed onto a new owner when the current owner dies.' They said 'the' trident. It's like whoever wrote the note knew this was gonna happen, Lord Fathom!"/p
p data-p-id="5c8ab799ad9077083c2785725015d1af"Fathom smirked- in an evil way. "Sounds good, go on."/p
p data-p-id="b3a19c45b0f6bb5be779f04457cf20b5""'If anyone else dares to touch it before the current owner dies, it will severely burn them! The coin can be used for both good and evil. Using the coin for good is for fighting off evil. But once again, if it falls into the wrong hands-' the rest is just a repeat, sir."/p
p data-p-id="533bac6f5ad8c7afd87cf8314bbc6a4a""Does it say what I can do with it?" Fathom asked./p
p data-p-id="51093befb41e578c764379f6840052a5""No, as I said, the rest is just a repeat."/p
p data-p-id="8890511bf9763be8d2fef949dfef9294""Well, we'll just have to see what it does! And if it is in fact worthy enough, I can pick off those pesky Neversea pirates one by one until I can finally rule over the Neverseas!" Fathom laughed- this time manically./p
p data-p-id="622811f949d6fd1643bc0275044231d7"Pick off pirates one by one? Oh shoot, Sheldon! What have you gotten into this time.../p
p data-p-id="f6ab364da4134f58956251aac8404e8b"Of course, there was Captain Hook, who was more of an unsuccessful robber than a villain, Doctor Undergear, who was just an old mechanical building whacko, Shiverjack, who just had a really cranky attitude, and many other "villains" that actually seemed threatening, but were easily defeated by Captain Jake, a young kid. No one knew exactly how old he was. He appeared to be around 10, but had the maturity and problem solving skills of an older, wise adult. Always thinking things through, always knowing what to do./p
p data-p-id="06b4e1880e42522285ac11240d52fc9a"But no one had ever seen true evil here before./p
p data-p-id="2e079fdb11816c31405b7c710c9aa577"True evil, pure evil. Not broken nor shattered, not rethinking if prompted or threatened, not tired easily or prone to surrender to a bunch of cuckoo-minded pirates./p
p data-p-id="f2b5566c1b929d0bfb84ff46f13a4903"But there was one villain that was different. Sure, he seemed different, as he was harder to beat. He had the upper hand of magical knowledge, years upon years of evil wisdom, and the will to hurt people to get what he wants. He wasn't easily defeated, but he was in the end by teamwork./p
p data-p-id="2665e6741e6edda9e50aea890aee9ae6"But who is this "he?"/p
p data-p-id="5276a79ecd03de492b180284ea143c41"This "he" is Lord Fathom, the evil merwizard of the fathom depths. The one who was jealous of Captain Colossus's success. The one who sought after power and fame, but never got what he wanted./p
p data-p-id="1e5fa4f9c6caac3343d27fa7ae2445ef"It's unknown why he acted the way he did. It could have been a rough past, or it could have just been a dark heart. Whatever the reason, he was greedy. Nothing was ever good enough for him. Always needed more power./p
p data-p-id="b8370017486499f458bf44d1a33045a1"His time away from his defeat, he realized the emerald, the ancient artifact he had stolen, wasn't good enough if he wanted to rule chaos over the oceans. The shattered piece had fully developed back into his trident, but it wasn't enough. He took it out to wear around his neck so he could still use it if he had to./p
p data-p-id="7930ea5be2d2f8408c656245875f0b16"All his waking hours (or hours, does this guy even sleep?) he would search for knowledge of something more powerful, and more strong. He was never ready to give up until he got what he wanted. Power, rule, infamy. And he was willing to do anything to get what he wanted./p
p data-p-id="60ce412cce014aac31ad7a342b121fbf"No one on the Neverseas had ever seen true evil until now./p
p data-p-id="2f43b42fd833d1e77420a8dae7419000".../p
p data-p-id="dca41f0c5b2370aaea1996947e76dc62""Sheldon, pick up the pace! There's no sea creatures around here fast enough to antagonize, and I'm hungry!" Fathom yelled at his companion, a skittish, orange squid with yellow spots named Sheldon./p
p data-p-id="f6d49d8a4b69ff6c77e25360be066a41""You could always eat those sardines over there, King Fathom. They swim in schools, love to confuse ya, and are fast!"/p
p data-p-id="f05679b6306ba801e8c761a28dd95b59"Fathom sighed. "One, we discussed the name 'King Fathom' and that I'm no longer interested in that title. It sounds stupid now that I have a clear conscious and haven't been stuck under the rocks. Two, sardines? I have standards, Sheldon, standards!"/p
p data-p-id="e95a1cd66e4823d2800c14ea6e2dfe05""Yessir," Sheldon stuttutered, saluting nervously./p
p data-p-id="ab216c281fe3363cd87b93326c79430a"Fathom started mumbling something to himself about how "squids are dumb and lowly creatures." Sheldon surprisingly didn't hear that one, since he hears almost everything./p
p data-p-id="c4df26b8b924cba78543479e1497ae99"A while had passed looking for food that fit Fathom's "standards," they came across a large place in ruins. It looked like some sort of abandoned underwater city that had been sitting there for years. Soaked, broken wood, broken glass, and tumbled building structures. It looked older than the very sand around it. Fathom seemed to be interested in this place. He couldn't take his eyes off of it./p
p data-p-id="82f9b2a3f2993ca439a55c6e763a297a""I thought we were looking for food," Sheldon said./p
p data-p-id="0e340743b8d12441ec3bc0aa6d011ebd""Sheldon, forget the food! I won't starve. I've never heard of this abandoned place before, nor have I seen it! There could be ancient artifacts hidden here, Sheldon!" he said, trying not to flap his tail excitedly./p
p data-p-id="a374c8332c9925f0404e536f76fe7372""King Fathom-"/p
p data-p-id="432053e8b829b1d2533fa80e6a2cd2ca""Lord Fathom."/p
p data-p-id="66ee3f7d08244d259e5a71662174b948""Excuse me! Lord Fathom. It's just that... every time you find an abandoned city, you find nothing!" Sheldon protested./p
p data-p-id="2ebf3f3c90280bfbec44417de5e49797""I got a feeling about this one," Fathom said, rolling his eyes./p
p data-p-id="f9973e913b57f97cf05d65b4b0eb5c0c""You say that every time, and there never is anything!" Sheldon argued./p
p data-p-id="451a005e2b212d024d08bf4dcd55843f"Fathom grabbed the squid by the tentacles, and gritted his sharp teeth. Sheldon let out a yelp of surprise. "You dare argue with your master?!" Fathom shouted, his pupils narrowing into slits./p
p data-p-id="8b5156674e7d97b9786a9eb9a8cef479"Sheldon gulped. "N-no sir," Sheldon stuttered./p
p data-p-id="415a4db9f8036648d0943e42d5a2e53e""Good." Fathom said, letting go of the squid. Sheldon swam backwards a bit, not wanting to get yanked by the tentacles again. Sheldon was half-sure if Fathom had yanked any harder, his tentacles would have popped off. Again./p
p data-p-id="b4376c1465e5b2d6b9cf1b5b9129d072"Fathom scoffed before swimming off into the abandoned city, swimming through opened windows and broken entrances. Sheldon followed behind, but not too closely./p
p data-p-id="e628b949733dcaf066afd1f05dfa8f77"After a while of swimming and checking under and over everything, Fathom skidded to a halt with his tail, which slapped Sheldon backwards. Sheldon was awfully confused when Fathom started to dig in the sand./p
p data-p-id="6e028344ab65bac3db879b1d0a401932""What are you doing?" Sheldon asked in a hushed voice, not wanting to anger the merwizard./p
p data-p-id="0eeb888e592458d7f895513be5708506"Fathom didn't answer. He stopped digging, and his eyes widened. Sheldon thought Fathom was mad at him, but then he realized Fathom had found something under the sand and wood./p
p data-p-id="b628b4bb7145fb8ed5dee77522402946"Fathom found a pitch black coin with a pirate symbol on it, suggesting it was some sort of Doubloon. Scanning his claw over it, he realized it felt awfully smooth, like a pearl-like substance. It had seemed to be hidden away in an old, rotted out chest was made out of hardwood and metal, meaning it had to have been there for a very long time in order to dissolve./p
p data-p-id="f7c3f3396d388e95704ccfb1449c4650""Sheldon, I think I got somethin'," Fathom muttered, while picking up an old, ancient script of some sort. He sighed at the script, as it was written in Latin. "Sheldon, read this," Fathom ordered, handing the scripture to the spotted squid./p
p data-p-id="4385ed9e7d119f459954845497f6a2ab"Sheldon began to read; "'The Midnight Doubloon. It was created by an evil sorcerer, and is a very strong source of dark magic, so much so that it had to be hidden away very cautiously, as it will cause havoc if it falls into the wrong hands.' That's what I got out of it, anyways. My Latin is quite rough."/p
p data-p-id="0f0c013585f21359003fb5ab5c56b9a5"Fathom laughed a bit. It was never good when he laughed. It meant he had a terrible idea. He tried to fit the coin into the slot of the emerald-shaped hole in his trident./p
p data-p-id="48df7f1d44b760bbd8da5029f784b535""C'mon, fit... fit!" Fathom hissed as he struggled to fit the coin in the hexagonal hole./p
p data-p-id="ab1fd7ceb9e21ebcc337de04e7c0b05e""That's not going to work, boss," Sheldon inquired./p
p data-p-id="c35ba4a5214637ced8e69b564d3cf4c2""Shut up you lowlife squid!" Fathom shouted, not bothering to look at his loyal companion. Sheldon just shuddered in place. I'll just stay here and watch you struggle then, Sheldon thought./p
p data-p-id="fabf997648489d3c6e7a6e59445755c1"After a long few moments of struggling, a loud click was heard. The coin was stuck in the trident diagonally. Fathom muttered some sort of curse word./p
p data-p-id="60eb825f630097aa4cbd4ef3574e4468"The trident took the coin, changed the hole shape, and locked it in place. Black lightning bolts stuck the trident from the sky, and the trident's sharp end plunged out of Fathom's hand into the ground, which made the merwizard tumble backwards. Fathom looked up (which strained his neck), and the water was bright as the black lightning bolts continued to strike the trident. Sheldon hid behind Fathom's head in fear./p
p data-p-id="882237ce671d38599137458db9daa449"Suddenly, the lightning stopped. After a few panicked breaths, Fathom swam over to his trident to observe what happened./p
p data-p-id="acafdece9be9e4ed23f5403d58227900"The trident was covered in black lightning-like marks, and it changed to a darker blue color. The coin was stuck in the (now properly shaped) hole. Fathom pulled the trident out from the sand, and he felt some shocks go up his arm, which he tensed and let out an audible "ow."/p
p data-p-id="0935ebdf14698c15107760ed44c30cea""What'd it do?" Sheldon asked./p
p data-p-id="aa0d2ae48f3b43838296eb48521f2f36""Observe for yourself- actually, nevermind, read me the rest of that script," Fathom said. Sheldon quickly picked up the script and started to read it./p
p data-p-id="e0163436569f3a521107215d1d2eac39""'If the coin is inserted into the trident, Whoever touches it first is the dark magic's new owner, and can only be taken out of the trident or passed onto a new owner when the current owner dies.' They said 'the' trident. It's like whoever wrote the note knew this was gonna happen, Lord Fathom!"/p
p data-p-id="5c8ab799ad9077083c2785725015d1af"Fathom smirked- in an evil way. "Sounds good, go on."/p
p data-p-id="b3a19c45b0f6bb5be779f04457cf20b5""'If anyone else dares to touch it before the current owner dies, it will severely burn them! The coin can be used for both good and evil. Using the coin for good is for fighting off evil. But once again, if it falls into the wrong hands-' the rest is just a repeat, sir."/p
p data-p-id="533bac6f5ad8c7afd87cf8314bbc6a4a""Does it say what I can do with it?" Fathom asked./p
p data-p-id="51093befb41e578c764379f6840052a5""No, as I said, the rest is just a repeat."/p
p data-p-id="8890511bf9763be8d2fef949dfef9294""Well, we'll just have to see what it does! And if it is in fact worthy enough, I can pick off those pesky Neversea pirates one by one until I can finally rule over the Neverseas!" Fathom laughed- this time manically./p
p data-p-id="622811f949d6fd1643bc0275044231d7"Pick off pirates one by one? Oh shoot, Sheldon! What have you gotten into this time.../p
