[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/M71Y3TQ.png[/img][/center]
[hr]
In Jackson Hyde's opinion, Amnesty Bay on a sunny afternoon was one of the eight wonders of the world. Anyone who thought otherwise had never been to Amnesty Bay before. As he stepped onto the ivory sand of the beach, the golden sun beamed down on him. And like a lizard under a lamp, he embraced the heat. The tides rhythmically pushed forward and receded. The water was a stunning array of blues, ranging from light blue seafoam to the darker blues closer to the ocean. Trapped in landlocked New Mexico and isolated from bodies of water all his life, the bay was a marvel Jackson got to re-experience every day. It had been a year since he had left the dull, rust-colored landscape of the adobe state behind, and he never wanted to look back.

Shoeless feet dug into the sand with each step he took towards the ocean. As soon as he was close enough, a bronze hand reached out to it, the tide calming down until a small section of the water lapping at his feet was still. Looking down at the clear water, Jackson was met face to face with his reflection. A wide smile grew on his face as he admired himself. All the training he had been enduring was paying off. Lean muscles rippled beneath his orange tank top and shorts. His other hand ran through his nest of blonde dreadlocks. The new look suited him, but he was still getting used to it after all these months. Jackson waved his hand over the water and it resumed its flowing and ebbing. Today was a gorgeous day indeed, but there was one thing missing before it could truly begin. Right around this time, a certain underwater monarch was supposed to meet him by the water for another day of training. According to the conversation they had last night, today was going to be a big day. Why it was going to be big, only time would tell. In the meantime, Jackson looked out to the horizon, waiting patiently--

[b][color=00aeef]*SPLOOSH!*[/color][/b] 

The tranquility of the deeper waters was disturbed by a plume of water bursting upwards, an orange bolt rocketing out of the ocean. Even as his eyes followed the bolt and squinted in the face of the sun, Jackson already knew exactly who was making a dramatic entrance. Landing behind the young man, a small gust of sand spread outwards from the landing spot of a man garbed in orange, scaly armor, green pants, and crowned with his own head of flowing blonde hair. To the surface world, he was the Aquaman, a metahuman who hailed from the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. But to Jackson, he was Arthur. Mentor, friend, and by far the most badass guy he had ever met.

A wide smile on his face, Jackson graded the entrance with some applause. "Impressive, king. Is this why today's going to be a big day? We're practicing our superhero landings?"

Turning around to face Jackson, a toothy grin emerged from beneath a golden beard. "You wish, Jackson! That's at least a level 10 lesson, and you're barely a five."

The duo of student and teacher reached out with their arms at the same time, clasping the other's forearm in greeting. "Considering we've been doing this for a year, I think that reflects more on you as a teacher than me as a student."

A hearty laugh emerged from Arthur's chest as he took in the banter. "Point taken. Then how about in the spirit of speeding things up, we skip the conditioning and get straight to some high intensity exercise!"

With that, Arthur released his grip and began to create distance between the two of them, pivoting on his right leg when he got far enough and spinning back around. He pointed his left arm at the ocean. As is being slurped through multiple invisible straws, streams of water transferred from the sea into the air above Arthur's arm. Twisting his palm upwards, the rapidly growing blob of water took shape into a perfect sphere the size of a tire. "Your physical strength has always been excellent. But your mental has always needed some work. So, how about a few rounds of your favorite game?"

Aquaball never was and never would be Jackson's favorite segment of training. Lifting heavy boulders? Doable. Mile-long sprints on sand? Piece of cake. But aquaball required mental fortitude that he was still working on developing. The rules were simple enough. The two would launch a ball of water between each other in an attempt to knock the other down. But you couldn't let a single drop spill from the orb, even when it's getting shot at you with the velocity of a speeding bullet. Oh, and it didn't help that the matchmaking was rigged because his opponent was the King of Atlantis himself. Nonetheless, not a peep was heard from Jackson as he got into his own position, both hands raised and both legs spread apart. Knowing Arthur, he would start with something fast and hard. [i]Alright, we can do this. Today is the day that we beat the King...right?[/i]

"And before we start, I just want to remind you that you're facing off against the man who is letting you stay in his home," the King trash talked in a joking manner.

[i]Okay, now we definitely have to win! Don't you dare psyche yourself out, we can win this![/i]

...

He had given it his all. But after four exchanges where Jackson managed to hold his ground and return Arthur's shots, the King let off a nasty hit that felt like a grenade explosion as it dug into his body and sent him flying onto his butt, shell shocked and soaking wet. As he laid on his back, gazing at the sky. Aquaman's voice started increasing in volume. "I think I'm starting to see your problem, Jackson," Propping himself up on his elbows, the younger man accepted his mentor's outstretched hand and was hoisted to his feet. "Hesitation. You're catching the ball, then pausing before throwing it back instead of doing it all in one motion. You're analyzing every move you make, which has its benefits. But you need to rely on your instincts sometimes."

Jackson nodded and took in Arthur's advice, spitting out a water fountain arc of water before responding. "Instincts? Honestly, I don't think I have any. All I've got is this training. And training is nothing compared to real world experience."

Arthur looked to the sea, not immediately touching on Jackson's reply. "True that. But today, that's all going to change, Jackson." There was another pause that lasted a beat before Arthur put two fingers to his forehead and another to the sea. The King's young ward watched in confusion as his mentor proceeded to stand there, seemingly posing and doing nothing.

"Uh, Arthur?" He began gently. "What's going on, what're you do--"

For the second time today, Jackson was interrupted by commotion in the ocean. Out in the distance, a large tentacle shot out from the deep, bending its curled top back before flinging a brown object towards the shore. In another cloud of sand, it made impact on the beach, surprisingly not shattered by being tossed by a large sea creature. His head filled with even more questions, Jackson gawked at the former projectile, the most gorgeous treasure chest he had ever seen, off-white and studded with pearls.

"That right there is why this is a big day." Arthur said, no longer communicating with the creature. "Don't just stand there, go ahead and open it!"

Looking at Arthur, then the chest, then back at Arthur with an ever increasingly giddy smile, Jackson eventually broke out of his stupefaction and advanced on the chest. Getting down on his knees, he put his hands under the top and slowly opened his gift.