[H2][Center][Color=FFA500]Salutes and Seizure Part II[/Color][/Center][/H2] [B]Atlantis Four Months Prior[/B] Blasting down the aisles of the marketplace like mice through a maze, a trio of aquatic urchins fumbled their way through the path of highest visibility, with castle guards on their tail, only getting closer with every forced breath. The sudden gasps from merchants huffing as their stands are knocked over could empty a diver's oxygen tanks in a tenth of a second, if these were normal humans that is. The disgruntled Atlantean people in Poseidonis began to fight back, hurling garbage at the youths like confetti. "Stupid, street rat!" The leading runner crumpled when his skull was punched by a flying piece of shelled fruit. So the runner-ups grabbed their friend and drug him through the water, holding each hand, kicking up a cloud of mud as they struggled to gain traction. With the guards about to close the distance, the pressure was on. So the oldest of the three let go of their friend and instead turned around, waving his companions off and buying them time. "You better run boys!" Decked out in gold and silver with overlapping scales, a pair of guards stopped to inspect the gamin. A tan cloak wrapped around his shoulders hid his face well, and its length made him look much taller than he truly was. With a knife the guard with higher seniority reduced the cloth to ribbons. "Hope they kill you, kid!" a merchant barked, overly worked up about his stand. "By the authority invested in me by King Orm and Queen Mera, you are under arrest." That said, he strong-armed the youth before cooperatively dragging him off to the city's jail, a subterranean level of the castle. [Center]*******[/Center] The waves of the ocean's floor were as mighty, if not stronger than those above them. Escorted by an unnamed soldier, loyal to the core, Vulko floated beneath the crossing of countless schools of fish. Finally, they found their destination, a volcanic vent. With lava flowing and light leaking upward out of it, it seemed like a pit of everlasting destruction, a well of doom even. [Color=6495ED]"Take us down,"[/Color] Vulko ordered the nameless soldier at his command. Having orchestrated a distraction with the assistance of a few youths, they went unspotted. Without taking another step, the soldier raised his forearms, covered in golden shackles, toward the surface before bashing them together. The chains that hung on the shackles shook madly before a current of light swam back and forth between them, climaxing in a golden flash, a burst that surrounded both the soldier and Vulko with a golden bubble. The pair descended, hopping downward and standing directly in front of it. [Color=6495ED]"Excellent."[/Color] At that, they both hopped directly into the vent. Suicide under most circumstances, but a key to survival under present ones. Vulko flinched every time they got any deeper. The golden bubble would hum as molten rock hissed against its surface, all while the shackles kept growing brighter as more power was drawn from them. Finally, the light began to die down. Rubbing his eyes, Vulko found that they had gone past any traces of the inferno they'd just ventured through. They'd slipped through a crevice in the vent's sides. Despite a minimal amount of magma sneaking in, the walls of the room were cooled by some sort of algae that thrived in such conditions. Without a word, but giving a bow, the soldier released his shield and left Vulko behind before reactivating them and seeing his way to the exit. [Center]*******[/Center] [Color=8B0000]"Just when you believe that it can't get any darker.. nevermind, it's actually better now,"[/Color] Garth began to snicker as he and Arthur made their way through the maintenance tunnels that cross one another beneath the castle. Lighting had been sporadic and scattered with little brightness. The corpses of various glowing fish filled jars, used as torches. They were one of the rare things that Atlanteans had acknowledged as useful, having originated in the surface world. But, because of his experiences away from the waves, he had a biased inclination towards both societies. As the light gently got brighter, they heard a din of stomping feet and the clashing of spatulas against bowls. Cooking, amongst the most dangerous tasks an Atlantean can perform, given the fact that the water must be boiled rather than having the option to roast anything over an open flame. The chamber that Garth and Arthur stood in was beneath the wooden floorboards of the kitchen. As well built and sturdy as it was, light still escaped through the smallest of spaces between the slats. [Color=FFA500]"Go on, we'll reconvene in the royal chambers."[/Color] [Color=8B0000]"Yes, my lord,"[/Color] Garth said, before scurrying off to a railed staircase on the side of the passage. A moment later he waited at the top, cracking a door open to peek into the kitchen, and waited for an isolated chef to approach the vicinity of the maintenance entrance. Meanwhile, Arthur had ventured on. [Center]*******[/Center] Mera, technically a princess, was the full equal to King Orm. Sitting alone in her chambers, she had been mulling over recent news of an invasion plot. Such rumors were plentiful, and her confidence in such an operation's success was beneath minimal. To her, a full scale invasion was simply preposterous. "Princess Mera," a tired servant burst into the room, "the Prince of Mu has arrived!" [Color=688E23]"For what reason,"[/Color] Mera asked, offset by the news. "He did not say. He only requested your audience." [Color=688E23]"So be it, arrange for him to be escorted to my chambers at once,"[/Color] she ordered imperatively. While it would be unusual for a princess to welcome a man into her chambers, Mera had no fears of violation. If anyone's freedoms or rights would be at risk, it soul indubitably be her guest. "And arrange for a meal to be served to him." Moments later the servant returned, accompanied by their guest and a group of guards. "Your highness, I present to you the Prince of Mu, clothed in glory and bathed with excellence." Mera looked upon him, admiring his grooming. Black hair with enough waves to throw a hurricane out of the water was met by pristine scale coverings, she imagined them as having been carved from volcanic rock. And the gold decorating him was the highest quality she'd ever seen. [Color=FFFF00]"Hello Lady Mera,"[/Color] he kneeled, [Color=FFFF00]"I'm afraid I come bearing bad news."[/Color] Rising off of his feet, he rose his arms, smacking his forearms together. Through his sleeves, a golden light radiated like a miniature sun, burning the fabrics off of his arms before a giant shining burst surrounded him. At once, Mera lurched out of her throne before flipping behind it. From the tips of her fingers, bubbles formed, pockets of air the size of pinpoints gathering. Reaching around the chair, she flicked her wrist and they all who out. The barrage of rapid-fire bullets streamed out and shattered against the intruder's shield. Recoiling, the assailant rolled to the side, hidden behind a statue of the princess herself, not willing to risk penetration. Then the door crept open, a chef with a bruised eye slipping in, holding a large saucer in hand. [Color=688E23]"Get the guards, servant!"[/Color] [Color=8B0000]"Afraid I cannot, m'lady!"[/Color] At once, Garth destroyed his guise as a chef and tossed aside his dish's lid. Immediately, the young soldier formed a tentacle out of super-condensed pseudo-solid water. It reached out and grabbed Princess Mera, slipping around her wrist, slithering around the air and extending in every direction, wrapping her like a mummy, with an aquatic appendage squeezing her core and stiffening every limb, restricting every muscle he could. The princess fired a secondary barrage directly at Garth's throat, but the soldier with the shackles interceded, shielding him before he completed wrapping her. When her will to resist died out, Garth raised her and drug her toward them. [Color=8B0000]"Mission complete."[/Color] [Center]*******[/Center] [B]Atlantis The Present[/B] Sitting on the throne, reigning King Arthur of Atlantis had been slowly hammering his fingertips against the seat of his throne, deep in thought about the possible whereabouts of the previous ruler, Orm. It had been a difficult few months, building unity within his nation. As a show of good intent, he'd even agreed to wed the former Princess Mera. Though some of his subjects weren't so inclined, Garth for example. [Color=8B0000]"My lord, we are under attack!"[/Color] that very subject burst into the room. [Color=FFA500]"What! From who?"[/Color] immediately the Monarch sat up, clenching his armrest. [Color=8B0000]"An unknown army from beyond the surface."[/Color] Arthur stood up, trident in hand, yet he knew not of what course of action to take. So he took a moment and mulled it over. [Color=FFA500]"Ready the army!"[/Color]