Issue #25: "King's Reign, Conclusion: The Monarch"

Kings come and kings go. Our teachings will remain.

-King Neptune



War raged outside the domes of Poseidonis, its thunderous hands clapping at each death that bloodied the waters; its eyes watching each and every splash with great interest.

But inside the breached metallic dome walls of the city, where the water from outside had begun to rapidly pour in…almost all was calm.

Orm Marius, better known to the rest of the seas as Ocean Master, sat on the golden throne, staring intently at the glimmering weapon he held in his hands, the legendary trident that had been wielded by King Neptune long ago. And now the weapon had become his, a symbol of his rule over the undersea city.

Though it had not been an easy task to claim the throne.

Many had died and many more were left betrayed.

But it mattered not. Everything had ended as he hoped it would. He had taken what should have been his from the start.

And now he could call himself king.

So he had thought.

Orm believed his opponent, the only one stopping him from his attaining the throne, his own half-brother, Orin, to be dead. But it had only been minutes since he gazed across the reef outside the city and found his brother looking right back at him.

Orm glanced over at the mask of the challenger sitting on the counter next to the throne, a mask he had worn for so long and had hoped to have no need for anymore. But now, he knew he still had need for it. He would until he knew there was no one who would dare defy him.

Gently, and without a word, Orm Marius slipped the mask of the challenger over his face.

Suddenly, a banging erupted from the large throne room doors. His cold eyes peered over at the entrance from beneath the mask and slowly, he climbed to his feet, The Trident of Neptune clenched in his white-knuckled hand.

Ocean Master walked across the carpet that led to the doorway, his long purple cape flowing behind him. With each step, his heartbeat picked up a notch, anticipation filling his body. He was only inches away from the tall doors and after taking a breath, he reached for the handle.

The doors swung open with a crash and Orm was knocked onto his back, the trident slipping from his hand as he fell. He skidded across the carpet a short distance before looking up at who had entered.

His brother stood before him in the doorway, his very appearance immediately sent hatred flaring in Orm’s mind. With a swift kick, Orin, who had become world renowned as Aquaman, tossed the trident up into the air, catching it with ease.

Orm bit his lip, still a heap on the floor, while Aquaman stood proudly with his weapon, the trident fitting his appearance so well, it seemed to be a natural part of his body.

“Hello, Brother. I believe this belongs to me.”



Millions of sea creatures darted through the battlefield in the waters outside of the city. The Oceanics were outnumbered and fighting for their lives, barely keeping up with the numbers of enemies they were facing.

Among the millions of sea life, a group of Atlanteans were swimming from the direction of the prison tower a short distance from Poseidonis.

“What the heck is going on around here?” the young Javen said in awe.

“Thanatos did say Orin was back…this proves that he really was speaking the truth.” A bright, tearful smile stretched across Queen Mera’s beautiful face. “Orin has returned.”

“That’s fantastic news, my queen!” one of the Atlanteans in the group said. He turned to the rest of the group. “Did you hear that!? Our king is back!”

The escaped prisoners cheered merrily before returning their attention to the battle at hand.

“What should we do, my queen?” Duncan, a high ranking general of Poseidonis, asked.

Mera scanned the area nervously, watching the inhabitants of the ocean defend their home from the Oceanic forces. She had never seen anything quite like it before.

Such unity.

“My queen?” Duncan repeated.

“We have to help them. The exiles took our homes from us. My husband would want us to take it back. So that’s exactly what we are going to do.”

“Couldn’t agree more.”

Aqualad descended through the chilly depths to meet the group.

“Garth!” Tula swam up and hugged him happily. “I was wondering what was taking you so long.”

Mera looked past Garth to the waters that surrounded him, searching for something.

“Where’s Thanatos?”

Garth froze, his lavender eyes avoiding Mera’s piercing green eyes. Tula waited for a response but after a moment looked up at the young man she was embracing uncertainly. She stared hard into his expression when she suddenly realized something had gone wrong.

“Garth,” Mera said forcefully this time, “where is Thanatos?”



“Gorgon…”

Thanatos’s back leaned against the metal door that led outside of the prison tower. It had been locked by Aqualad due to mistrust after rescuing him and many others.

Now, the doppelganger of Aquaman who had been created by the darkest of magic, stood face to face with the Oceanic leader, General Gorgon, who he had fought alongside since his creation. Gorgon’s scaly body twitched with anxiousness, his hideous face contorted in a wicked smile.

“I always knew there was something I didn’t like about you, swordsman,” Gorgon advanced, swinging his axe a few times as he walked in preparation, “but I never thought you’d wind up being a traitor.”

Thanatos drew his cutlass with incredible speed, the tip of it pointing threateningly at Gorgon who continued to walk down the hallway towards him.

“I was going to make sure we had enough protection of the prisoners but funny enough, when I got down here…my soldiers were dead. And it appears you were behind it, Thanatos.”

“I was. I won’t deny that,” Thanatos said. “But I had good rea-“

“I don’t want to hear it, traitor. After everything the master did for you…after you were his little pet project, after you suddenly became his precious right-hand man…you dare betray us?”

“Is that was this is all about, Gorgon? Envy? I didn’t ask to be turned into his minion.”

“It was what you were created for!”

Gorgon leapt forward, his blade barreling down on Thanatos who managed to block it with his own sword, keeping it at bay. They both stared hard at each other’s expressions, their weapons locked together.

Thanatos’s face grew red with anger, having used this naïve ‘created for’ excuse himself all too recently. “I may have accepted that at one time but I’ve realized that I am capable of making my own decisions just like anyone else. Unlike you, I don’t need a master!”

Thanatos pushed his sword up against Gorgon’s weapon, pinning Gorgon’s arm against the wall with his own strength. Gorgon let out a small hiss, smacking his head against Thanatos’s brow. The swordsman staggered back briefly and Gorgon disarmed him with a quick slice.

“You’re not much without that sword, are you?” Gorgon threw a downward attack but Thanatos caught his wrist, stopping his axe in the air.

“Guess we’ll have to find out.”



“Well, I can’t say I’m surprised to find you here, Brother.”

Orm climbed to his feet, brushing dirt off of his chest plate, while Aquaman followed his every move without easing up for even a moment. He paced around Orm, his footsteps causing small splashes in the water that was appearing on the floor from outside, where Ladon’s entrance had caused water to flush into the city..

“Why did you do it, Orm? Why did you take it this far?”

“Mind being a bit more specific?”

“This!” Orin pointed the trident in a few directions. “All of this. You’ve thrown our kingdom, the place where we have lived for so long, into chaos! Civil war!”

“Where we have lived!?” Orm spat. “You came here after living your early years in the surface world! You can’t even begin to understand this place as well as I can! You didn’t grow up here, Orin! I did.”

Ocean Master was walking backwards toward the throne where his own staff, that he had been using prior to gaining control of the trident, rested.

“And just because you lived here gives you the right to destroy everything the people of Poseidonis have made?”

“Look around you, Brother. Nothing is destroyed. You were the one who threw us into chaos. Not me.” Orm picked up his staff, but Aquaman didn’t even seem to notice or care about it. “If I had been chosen as king in the first place, we would have been much better off. None of the mistakes you’ve made would have ever plagued us!”

“Mistakes?”

“You’ve had far too many dealings with the surface dwellers while they secretly plot our demise! Don’t you see, Brother? With me as king I can ensure the safety of our people, I can protect all of u-“

Orin lunged, throwing a left hook that collided into the side of Ocean Master’s masked face, throwing him onto his stomach.

“Enough excuses! You didn’t do this for anyone but yourself, Orm! This was all out of some jealous hatred you had for me, just because you didn’t get what you wanted all that time ago.”

“Not what I wanted! What I deserved! I had served my country for years! Fighting its battles and defending it from its enemies. But then you come in, a lost prince from the surface. Orin, they called you. But that wasn’t even the name you knew, was it, Arthur Curry?”

“No it wasn’t. But you know what, Orm? I adjusted, dealt with what I was given. Something you should have learned to do a long time ago, Brother.”

“I’m the king now and as far as I’m concerned, you are no brother of mine!” Ocean Master swung his staff, from where he was crouching, at his now mortal enemy.

“Fair enough, Orm. Fair enough.”

And so, the duel between the king and usurper, between brother and brother…

A duel that would forever be burned into the currents of the seas…

Began.





“You left him?”

“We couldn’t trust him, Mera.”

“Maybe you couldn’t bring yourself to, Garth, but I did. We would either still be in those dungeons or dead if it wasn’t for him.”

“And if I hadn’t stopped him, we could all be dead right now. He could have been leading us right into a trap.”

There was a loud boom that shook the waters and the group all watched the ongoing fight and found that the four Devil Ray submarines Black Manta had brought to aid the Oceanics were entering the fray, their cannons unleashing barrages of energy blasts at the sea creatures, forcing them to scatter in fear.

“I’m sorry, my queen, but I honestly can’t argue with you over this right now. We need to start helping, and now, or else we may end up not being able to retake the city…”

“Garth…”

The soft touch of Tula’s hand clasped Garth’s own fingers and he looked down at her, his departure interrupted.

Tula placed her palm on his cheek to which Garth gazed back at her in a strange confusion. He saw a foreign look in her eyes that he had never seen before. She leaned forward and her lips locked with Garth’s. He found himself stunned by it at first but then after a few seconds, he passionately kissed back.

After a moment, Tula backed away from the kiss, leaving Garth to watch her drift back toward Mera, but as she did, she spoke up with sadness.

“Please come back.”

Aqualad smiled, giving a confident nod before he rocketed into the battle, tackling two Oceanics that were pulling an eel apart. The crowd of Atlanteans hastily followed his lead, leaving Mera, Javen, Tramm, and Tula behind.

“He knows what he’s doing, Tula…I know he does,” Mera said, though her expression was filled with concern.

Tula watched the area where Garth had swam to, hugging herself for warmth.

“I really hope so, Queen Mera.”



Thanatos crashed through the walls of the prison tower, feeling the coldness of the ocean sweep over him once more as he tumbled out of the structure, flailing through the murky depths. General Gorgon was close behind him, his large axe raised high above his head.

Thanatos had regained possession of his sword but, since then, Gorgon had been attacking with such ferocity, such hate.

“You have to see what you’re doing is wrong, Gorgon! Even if you are only following the orders your ‘master’ gave you, enslaving the Atlanteans will solve nothing!”

“But them exiling us was the right thing to do, boy? This isn’t just about loyalty to my master. This is about vengeance for the crimes they committed on the Oceanics, on my people!”

Thanatos planted his feet in the muddy ocean floor, sliding across it for a moment before finding his balance. Gorgon’s axe crashed against his cutlass but he held it back with his great strength.

“I know what they did to you was wrong, Gorgon. But honestly, this was a chance to make peace with them, to be their allies against a common enemy.”

“Common enemy? Ha! My master is not an enemy!”

They both struggled to push the other back, their blades trembling from the amount of pressure they were putting on their weapons.

“It wasn’t always that way though, was it, Gorgon?” Thanatos said. “I’ve heard about what happened. The Oceanics were an exiled group who despised the Atlanteans but if that’s the case, then why did you allow one of them to enter and take control of your people?”

The Oceanic general hissed, wildly smacking Thanatos away with the back of his hand.

“Enough of this talk, swordsman! The punishment for treason is death!”

Gorgon swung with great ferocity but Thanatos avoided the axe with relative ease before grabbing Gorgon by the arm and tossing him over his shoulder. Gorgon regained his strength after the unexpected attack and floated in the water high above Thanatos, glaring down at him.

“What’s the matter, traitor? Afraid to come up and face me?”

Thanatos clasped the hilt of his sword tightly, his black eyes fixed upon his enemy. He didn’t move a single muscle for a moment, becoming like a statue on the ocean floor.

Then without warning, he threw his cutlass at General Gorgon, the blade sweeping through the ocean with incredible velocity, unaffected by the gravity of the water due to his great strength. Gorgon’s face lit up with surprise but the sword soared past the right side of his face, completely missing its target.

“Ha! Perhaps you should work on your aim, traitor!” Gorgon laughed maniacally from where he was drifting in the water, unaware that Thanatos was standing very casually, a smirk pasted on his usually stern face.

There was an explosion, the great sound of which had been mostly muffled by the ocean depths, but it remained loud enough to get Gorgon to stop laughing and turn, letting out a gasp of awe.

“Wha-?”

One of the Devil Ray submarines was descending through the water, explosions of bubbles and debris rolling off of it as it fell. Gorgon couldn’t find an explanation for it until he saw the cockpit window which had been impaled by something…

Thanatos’s sword.

Gorgon dropped his axe, holding out his hands in front of him as he became engulfed in the shadow of the crashing manta-ray-shaped submarine. The vehicle slammed into the proud Oceanic leader, bringing him down with it into the seaweed-filled ocean bottom, exploding on impact.

Thanatos swam over to the wreckage, which would have been an inferno if not for being underwater. The young man pulled his still-intact sword from the rubble, noticing a scaly hand reached out from beneath the destroyed machinery, unmoving.

“Let’s see your master do that.”



Using the magic he had been learning, Aqualad formed a ball of swirling water above the palm of his hand, throwing it at an Oceanic that was preparing to stab at him with a spear. The ball of water made impact with the creature, its power knocking him far away.

Garth nimbly avoided a surprise attack from behind, swirling a little higher in the water before kicking two Oceanic soldiers away. He fought his way through another squad of Oceanics, ricocheting from enemy to enemy, unleashing dozens of punches and kicks as he did so.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a shark-man approaching him in the thick of the battle and he silently chanted to himself, forming another water ball in his grasp. Before he managed to throw it, a large gray hand wrapped around his wrist.

“I mean you no harm, young Atlantean. We are allies,” Rhin, the tall, bulky, and toothless whale-shark-man, said.

“Yeah? Says who?”

“Your king. We rescued him from his impending death in your last battle with these disgusting Oceanics. He brought us here with him to help get his crown back. Like I said, we’re not your enemies…today,” Rhin explained, though sighing a bit on the last word.

“Well, shark-man, sorry to tell you but I heard someone say pretty much the same thing only a little while ago. I didn’t believe him either!”

Garth swung his free arm out at the shark-man but someone else caught this attack. Garth turned to face his new opponent and found King Shark, his beady eyes cold with hatred and his bone sword tightly clasped in his other hand.

“For the last time, boy, we are not here to spill Atlantean blood…but if you give us no other option, I’ll gladly make an exception,” King Shark said.

Aqualad waited for a moment, trying to make a decision, before he backed down, seeing in their hideous faces that they were truthful, especially about the exception part.

“Okay, then. Do you know where King Orin is now?” Garth asked.

“I last saw him in battle with that sea serpent. They crashed into that dome to your city over there.” King Shark pointed his jagged bone sword in the direction of a large hole in the metal dome wall. “He may still be in there.”

“Thank you,” Aqualad said hesitantly, shocked that he was being helped by one of the creatures he had grown to despise while living in Poseidonis.

Garth nodded to the two shark-men who had let go of his arms before beginning to swim toward the city.

“Good luck,” Rhin called, watching the young man depart.

There was a loud yell and a blur darted across the currents, rising up to grab Rhin and then crashing back down onto the ocean floor. Rhin blinked rapidly for a moment, taken aback by the sudden ambush.

When he finally regained his senses, Rhin discovered who his attacker was.

“Well, look what we have here.” The Shark floated above him, pinning the whale-shark-man to the sandy bottom of the sea with one hand. “I see that I have been banished from your tribe at a good time. Negotiating with Atlanteans. Bah! What have you all become?”

“You’re one to talk, Karshon, considering that your orders are coming from one.”

“Ha. I’m only in this to satisfy my needs…my hunger. He promised me a fine feast once we took over this place. And I have been fed quite well these last few days. This city…it’s like one big buffet.”

“You’re sick, Karshon. You devoured our own people, which forced our king to be rid of you, but you have learned nothing, have you? You continue to feast without a second thought.”

The Shark’s brownish-orange face frowned for a second but then stretched into a wide smile filled with his bloodstained teeth.

“That was always the problem with you, whale shark. You and your breed. You’re too soft. You’re supposed to be sharks! No remorse! No mercy! But you, you treat your enemies like they’re equals. It’s sickening!” The Shark said.

Rhin tried to throw Karshon off but the tiger-shark-man continued to restrain Rhin from above.

“Me, I’m everything you’re not. I’m what all of our kind should strive to be! I’ve stripped myself of all pathetic distractions, even my own name, and have become pure instinct…a real shark…the only real shark!”

The Shark leaned in close, opening his jaws and preparing to feast on his old comrade but then, a deep voice interrupted from behind.

“You’re no true shark, Karshon! By following Ocean Master’s lead you’ve broken one of our race’s codes…”

The Shark didn’t even have a chance to see who had spoken when he felt a sharp, horrifying pain shoot through his entire body. He felt cold fangs sink into his side and in seconds, his own blood surrounded him in the water. His attacker, King Shark, continued to bear his teeth into The Shark, finishing his proclamation triumphantly.

“NEVER BOW BEFORE AN INFERIOR SPECIES!”





Aquaman’s heels splashed in the continuously-rising water in the throne room. He swung his trident furiously at his brother who defended his strikes with his own staff and fought him with just as much aggressiveness, possibly even more.

The two warriors of the sea were locked in a deadly dance that had no end in sight.

Orin had forgotten how great a fighter his brother was and struggled to find a single opening in Ocean Master’s defenses. For years, Orm had been a brave defender of Poseidonis and that was something that had only faded to a small spot in Aquaman’s memory after everything that had happened since Orm’s betrayal.

Orm had been finding just as much difficulty in halting Aquaman’s flurry of attacks, barely managing to keep up with Orin’s incredible speed and stamina. Nevertheless, he was confident in his abilities and matched his hated brother blow for blow.

“You’ve gotten better, Orin. Grown stronger. Had you not been such a fool, I may not have been so against your rule.”

Orm performed a sweeping swing of his staff, the circular end of it slamming against Aquaman’s ankles, knocking him down but, before he hit the floor, the hero of the seas put a hand out in front of himself, preventing himself from tumbling onto his stomach.

Ocean Master took a few hasty steps backward when Orin leapt back up onto his feet, jabbing at Orm with the tip of his trident blades. Ocean Master continued to retreat, feeling how much deeper the flooding water had grown with each step back. He parried his brother’s constant wave of strikes but was being pushed back to the throne.

The water that flooded in continued to steadily rise and the two enemies stayed in a constant state of combat, their respective weapons clattering against one another violently.

The throne room began to be filled with a salty smell when the water rose above their waists. Orin glanced down for a brief moment at the rising water and his brother let out a malicious chuckle.

“What’s the matter, ‘Aquaman’? Afraid of a little water?”

“Boasting is a sign of weakness, Orm. I seem to recall that you taught me that when I first came here.”

“Indeed,” Orm said, his concentration shifting back into focus.

They slammed their weapons together, stuck in a stalemate of strength and will. They each tried to force the other back but neither could overpower the other. The coldness of the water grew more frigid when it was up to their chests.

“Give up now, Brother. You cannot hope to beat me.”

“I don’t need to hope, Orm. I know I will be able to. Because as long as I hold the Trident of Neptune, as long as I am this kingdom’s true ruler, I will not surrender to any tyrants like you!” Aquaman said, starting to push Ocean Master back a little.

“You won’t win…” Orm’s jaw tightened while they continued to push their weapons together. “Not like this.”

BOOM!

An explosion rocked the room and both of the combatants turned to gaze at the large hole that had been made in the throne room walls.

A shadowy figure stood imposingly in the opening, his eyes red and his entire body covered in a black wetsuit. His echoing breaths could be heard through the large helmet he wore concealing his face.

There he stood.

The man who had raided Poseidonis.

The man who had nearly killed both Queen Mera and even Aquaman himself.

There…stood Black Manta.





The Shark plummeted down into the icy depths, a long trail of red water following in his wake. The wound in his torso was deep and the blood continued to seep out uncontrollably. He let out a low groan as he dropped, his face paralyzed in complete surprise and anguish.

King Shark and the other shark-men all watched their former comrade’s plight but they all were surrounded by the crimson mist that had spread in the water where Karshon had been. King Shark took a deep breath, sucking in the scent of the blood and losing himself in it.

“We may have a code that does not allow us to kill our own brothers. However, seeing how he’s no longer one of us, maybe it’s time that we rid ourselves of this disgrace,” King Shark said hungrily.

“I agree, my lord. Karshon has been nothing but a hassle. We would benefit from his demise,” a hammerhead-shark-man said in reply.

“Agreed,” said another.

King Shark and his warriors began to swim down to retrieve The Shark’s body, an excited grin stapled onto each of their hideous faces.

“Stop!”

King Shark halted his approach and the other shark-men followed suit. Rhin floated in place, blocking their path. His height and build towering over the others, the whale-shark-man looked over all of his fellow shark-men with disgust.

“Look at all of you. You’re no better than Karshon,” Rhin said to the others who all stared at him with starved expressions, looking like they were ready to pounce on anyone who got in their way. “I hate him for what he has done to our people too, but I, for one, will not lower myself to anything even close to what he has now become. Surely, you have not all become monstrosities?”

The shark-men all looked at each other, wishing for someone to have an answer. Then, King Shark spoke up, his black beady eyes glaring harshly at Rhin.

“Maybe Karshon was right, Rhin. You have become soft.”



The Devil Ray submarines continued to blast away at the creatures of the sea, vaporizing a few fish into nothingness with a single blast of one of its cannons. The waves of sea life scattered in a wild state, desperately trying to avoid the seemingly unstoppable submarines.

Aqualad cut across the ocean, forming one of his pressurized water balls after muttering an incantation in his mind. He avoided contact with a few cannon shots from the submarine before hurling his magic attack at the metallic juggernaut. It collided into the submarine with little effect.

“Not good!”

Garth shouted when one of the blasts skidded in the water to the left of him, meters away from severing his arm. He peered over at the wide opening in the metal domes to find a pale man dressed in red robes and with a large bloody wound on his head swimming out of it.

Aqualad’s thoughts came to a halt and a terrible picture invaded his mind. If that serpent man was still alive, maybe…no. He couldn’t let himself think like that. He would help his king no matter what the obstacle.

Another blast from the Devil Ray submarine soared past him and Garth picked up his speed through the water, racing to get to the domes as fast as he could. He narrowly avoided the cannon fire from the pursuing vessel and when he was almost within reach of the dome wall of the city, the attacks suddenly came to a halt.

Aqualad gazed back and saw an enormous octopus, the size of a house, wrapping its tentacles around the submarine. It engulfed the vehicle and brought it down onto the ocean floor, trapped by the great creature.

“Thanks, Topo!” Garth called before turning back to the entrance to the city where water continued to rush in from the outside. Aqualad swam up to it and held onto the edges of the opening, staring through the hole into the city he knew so well.

He prepared to jump in through the opening when what looked like green fire suddenly flew at him, slamming against his chest and throwing him back outside. He flipped through the water for a moment before recovering and then straightened up, staring at the opening in surprise.

A woman, a beautiful woman, with long strands of white hair and white retinas floated from out of the city, her hands glowing and her expression calm.

“Hello, young mage. I’ve heard a lot about you. I hear you have talent,” the woman said. “But I, Merganys, Witch of Atlantis and mother of Orm Marius, am unimpressed. After all, you’re still an amateur.”

Aqualad’s own hands began to glow with a fiery hue and his violet eyes narrowed.

It was finally time.



Surrounded by his two greatest enemies.

“Manta?” Aquaman said in surprise.

The masked figure stepped out of the debris-filled hole in the wall to the throne room, his pulsing crimson eyes fixed on Orin, while Ocean Master looked from his brother to the new arrival in surprise.

“Looks like I finally found where all the real fun has been going on.” Black Manta slowly approached, an Oceanic spear held in his grasp, his voice echoing through the helmet that was perched over his head. “I’m hurt that I didn’t receive an invitation but, hey, crashing a party’s just as fun.”

“I thought I’d already had you disposed of like the rest of the surface dwelling garbage,” Orm hissed, his hand tightening on his staff a bit. “But clearly,” he glanced through his mask down at the spear in Manta’s possession, “I overestimated my men.”

“More like you underestimated me, Marius.” Black Manta stepped closer to Ocean Master before shifting his attention to Aquaman. “And you, Arthur…you just can’t die, can you?” Manta’s chilling laugh vibrated through his helmet.

“I guess not.”

“Well, that’s annoying.”

“Enough with the jokes, Manta. Why have you suddenly decided to ‘crash our party’?” Ocean Master said coldly. “You should have run on back to the surface where it was safe.”

“I actually am much more comfortable in the water.” Manta’s deep breaths filled the throne room where the water was now up to their shoulders. “You both have made my life a fair bit more difficult than it should be and that’s cost me a lot.”

“Do you want an apology?” Aquaman said, through with Black Manta’s games.

“No, no. As cliché as it sounds, Arthur, I want revenge. Plain and simple. Usually I’d only be in on something for a paycheck but this…this is going to be worth more than any amount of money.”

“You were loyal to me, remember?” Ocean Master hissed.

“Loyalty? I don’t even know what that word means,” Black Manta said, his emotions hidden by the metallic mask over his face. “So let’s get down to business.”

Black Manta suddenly raised the Oceanic spear in his hand and propelled it at Aquaman who nimbly avoided it with a roll to his side. Manta quickly pulled a machete from a sheath on his belt as Ocean Master rushed at him through the almost-completely-flooded room, his staff held high above his head. Manta blocked the attack but Ocean Master slapped him away with the butt of his weapon.

“I appreciate you letting some water into the city, Brother. I fight much better in these conditions,” Orm said smugly, still facing Manta and his back turned to Aquaman.

“Funny, Orm.” Ocean Master was struck by a strong kick to his back from his brother and he dizzily spun through the water a few feet. “Me too.”

“Feeling a bit left out over here, Arthur.”

Orin turned around just in time to deflect Black Manta’s blade while the distraction allowed Ocean Master a chance to regain his balance. Aquaman parried away Manta’s strikes but soon found himself at a disadvantage when Orm rejoined the fray, his staff darting in and out from his left while Black Manta’s machete slashed at him from his right.

The Trident of Neptune’s golden gleam shone brightly in the now-completely-flooded throne room, its shine reflecting through the chilly waters while the three combatants were chaotically stabbing at one another.

Black Manta leapt a few steps away from the duel, reaching for his wrist gauntlet and aiming his fist at his two enemies. The two Atlanteans seemed too involved in their own feud to notice when Manta fired a mini-torpedo from his wrist.

Aquaman caught the sight of it out of the corner of his eye, shoving Orm back from him, the torpedo passing in between the two of them, where Ocean Master would have been standing seconds earlier. It exploded in a cloud of bubbles on the far wall, destroying that section of the room.

Orm looked over at where it had exploded and then to his brother, surprise and confusion written all over his face as he did so. This man, this man he had such deep resentment toward, such hatred…had just saved him.

“Something wrong, Marius? Don’t get too distracted!” Black Manta was upon him once more, swimming at him with his machete still held in his grasp.

Ocean Master tightened his hold on his own weapon and propelled himself through the water, his cape swaying behind him. The two men clashed their weapons together and both stared at the other’s masked visage.

“You don’t belong here, surface trash. Get out of my kingdom,” Ocean Master said.

“Ha. What kingdom? All I see is that jealous bastard who hired me’s mess. You couldn’t even hold on to what you wanted for a few days. That’s just sad,” Manta’s cold synthesized voice mocked.

“Shut up.”

Aquaman hovered in place, floating gently around the throne, hoping to keep out of this battle between his rivals. He watched intently while the two enemies continued to smash their weapons together.

“Poor little Marius. Not getting what you wanted…tsk tsk.”

“I SAID, SHUT UP!”

Orm’s staff pressed down on Manta’s blade, snapping it in two.

“Wh-“

Black Manta gasped, examining his broken machete in surprise. Before he had another moment to think, Ocean Master was above him in the water, descending down on him. Orm twirled his staff, bringing it down upon Manta’s skull.

The circular tip of the staff crashed onto the top of Manta’s helmet. There was a hiss and three large cracks spread across the helmet followed by a jetstream of bubbles erupting from within. The bubbles poured from the cracked helmet and Manta let out a roar, dropping the hilt of his shattered blade and dropping to his knees.

Orin reached out for Manta but he inadvertently held himself back.

Manta stayed floating weightlessly in a kneeling position in the completely sunken room while Ocean Master floated imposingly above him. Black Manta gasped for air while the seemingly endless wave of air bubbles were escaping the containment of his mask. Ocean Master drove his foot into Manta’s gut, kicking him further to the ground.

“That’s enough, Orm!” Orin hollered from a short distance away, now approaching his brother.

“Consider this your payment for betrayal, Manta. It’s been nice working with you but this is a family matter. And you…are far from family.”

“Orm, don’t!”

Aquaman’s cries fell on deaf ears and Ocean Master swung once more, his weapon smacking Black Manta into the east throne room wall. Manta collided with it with a thud, dropping onto the floor while the part of the wall where he had crashed began to cave in, the rubble burying him.

Orm eyed the mound of debris covering Manta with satisfaction before returning his attention to his brother.

“Now where were we, Brother?”



Infant cries rang through the crowd of Atlanteans who had fled the city shortly before it had locked back down. The people all watched the battle in the distance, having retreated to the safety of the outskirts of the surrounding area.

“Shhh. Do not weep, little Thomas. I have faith your parents will return. After all, it’s not just you who relies on them…I do too.” The elderly aide to the throne, Vulko hoarsely laughed.

He held Orin and Mera’s baby son, Thomas, in his arms when a cry rang out from nearby.

“The queen is here! Queen Mera is here!”

Vulko raised his gaze, glancing down from the small child in his grasp, then to where some of the Atlanteans surrounding him were beginning to gather. Sure enough, Queen Mera was swimming slowly toward her people while the waters trembled from the battle in the distance.

“My queen. Thank Neptune you are well,” Vulko said when Mera floated in front of him. “I took the liberty of taking Thomas from his chamber after you were taken away by Orm’s men. I hope you were not too concerned for his safety.”

“I can’t thank you enough, Vulko. Really, thank you,” Mera said happily, taking the baby from Vulko’s arms.

Mera peered around at the faces that were all staring intently at her, anxiousness stretching across their expressions.

“I know what you’re all thinking. If my husband really is behind this rebellion, and from what I’ve heard it appears to be true, then we cannot let these traitors take our homes. We cannot let them push us down. Together we can-”

A dark shadow loomed over all of them and, when Mera looked up, a Devil Ray submarine was hovering above them, its cannons pointing at each and every one of them.



Pressurized balls of water spun toward Merganys who, with a snap of her fingers, dissipated the orbs in seconds before chanting an incantation, and despite being underwater, unleashing a blast of green flames from the tip of her fingers.

The magic fireball hit Aqualad square in the chest and he let out a scream of agony while the spell seemed to sizzle through his entire body, his blood and bones boiling from the inside. He plummeted through the water backwards and then went crashing into a reef, a few of its corals pricking against his back while he remained suspended against it.

Garth slowly opened his violet eyes, the witch staring back at him with great glee. She raised her hand again and Garth was struck by yet another spell from Merganys who laughed maniacally at her enemy’s pain.

“Did you really believe that your weak spells would be able to even contend with my own, young Idyllist? You only conjure water constructs, something even your foreign queen is capable of without magic. Are you afraid to unleash the secrets of your ancestors….afraid that you’ll be exiled just as they were?” Merganys cackled.

Merganys ceased her attack and Garth dropped from where he had been pinned against the sharp reef.

He didn’t expect to be this weak…this helpless.

After all his hard work, going from only being able to cast healing spells to becoming quite inept at controlling water, after spending so much time secretly learning the magic of his Idyllist people, it had all been for nothing.

Aqualad felt his knees touch down on the familiar sensation of the muddy ocean floor and it was there that he looked up at the rather dark surroundings to find Merganys slowly coming down to meet him, her long white hair spreading out around her majestically in the water.

“I confess that I am disappointed, young mage. I wanted to test the full extent of my magic but I fear that if I do so on you, you will not survive long enough for me to enjoy it,” Merganys hissed, her hands glowing green.

Garth lifted one leg up so now he was kneeling before her, his teeth clenched and his eyes beginning to glow a bright shade of purple.

He shuffled through the thoughts that were spinning in his brain, trying desperately to remember anything from that book he had found on Idyllist sorcery. He had spent those lone days far outside Poseidonis, practicing different spells in secret, but now he was drawing a complete blank.

“I’m sorry you will not be there for the days of my Lord Xthulu’s return to this realm, but now, Idyllist…you will meet oblivion!”

Merganys threw out both of her arms in front of her and a bright white light flashed from the palms of them. Garth’s body froze, his own hands outstretched toward the brilliant light and then, the water around him was turning to steam from the sheer heat of the witch’s blast.

Memories of thousands of spells in that book seemed to be spinning in front of his very eyes while he stared blankly at the white light. So many spells, so many letters, and so many words.

Then, whether out of luck or memory, Garth yelled out the first spell that he saw clearly through the haze of his thoughts.

“Tornok vazerisy!”

He felt a surge of energy flow through his body, moving through every vein, until he felt as if his hands were on fire. A great beam of energy flew from his palms, colliding with Merganys’ spell. The oceans trembled and Garth gritted his teeth.

He was in for one rough fight.





The Devil Ray submarine loomed over the people of Poseidonis, its shadow darkening the murky depths around them. The spotlight on the bottom of the vessel lit up and blinded the hundreds of gathered people.

Some people let out pleas for help, beginning to swim away from the vehicle, but Mera stood her ground with Vulko holding the baby; Tula, Javen, and Tramm a short distance behind her.

Javen’s knees were quivering but he regretfully sucked in a mouthful of water and took a few strokes until he was floating next to his queen. He felt a tap on the shoulder and suddenly Tramm was beside him. Mera looked over at the pair of them uneasily.

“So what do ya say, Lagoon Boy? Ready to earn our medals?” Javen said, his lips shivering.

His scaly mute friend nodded with a smile before they slapped their hands together playfully, the light from the submarine pouring onto them.

“Boys, I really don’t think that’s such a-“

Tramm and Javen propelled themselves at the Devil Ray with stern determination. They swam around the vehicle punching and kicking at its metal shell, which didn’t even make a dent.

“I don’t think it’s working!” Javen called.

He raised his fist again, closing his eyes this time, and when his knuckles made impact with the vessel there was a loud sound of a boom. Javen peeked his eyes open to find the manta-ray-shaped submarine descending toward the ocean floor. Chunks of the machine flew off of it when the true source of the destruction streaked across the water and slammed into it.

Javen looked around hastily and discovered a tube-shaped submarine moving in the water, torpedoes shooting out of its body. After a few more torpedo strikes, the Devil Ray submarine exploded in a blaze of bubbles.

“Looks like I came at a good time,” a voice from the submarine said from within the vehicle. Mera recognized the voice almost immediately.

Cornelius Krell.

“Glad I could be of some assistance. I’ve owed it to you Atlanteans.”

“What are you doing here, Krell?” Mera said, floating up to the submerged transport.

“I was helping a squad of military troops try to retake your city, Queen Mera. Unfortunately, I’ve lost contact with them all. You don’t, by chance, know what happened to them, do you?”



Peter Mortimer never thought he’d feel the prickle of wind again.

He opened his mouth, taking in the sweet feeling of air when he felt himself get pulled up from the bitter depths of the ocean. His stomach lurched when he tried to move even just a little and his lungs felt like they were on the verge of imploding. But worst of all, he couldn’t feel anything in the spot where his left arm should be.

All because of that sea serpent attack.

“Peter Mortimer. Professor Peter Mortimer.”

Peter struggled to focus on a single object, his entire world disoriented now. It took minutes, maybe hours for all he knew, but slowly he started to see a light shining down upon him and he heard, through his bleeding ears, the sound of a seagull’s crow.

“Yes. You are lucky we found you, Mortimer. We thought you were a goner. Better make sure we get all of the water out of your lungs, now!”

Peter felt something push down hard on his ribcage before what may have been gallons of water rose up through his neck and exited out of his throat.

“We’re going to have to knock you out, Mortimer, if we have a hope of stabilizing you. But know this-“

Peter’s vision became clear enough to see two shadows in front of him.

“We will not let you die at sea, Mortimer. We will not let you die because of those Atlantean bastards. Our organization has great need of you and we will take care of you. Our leader, the Fisherman, will take care of you.”



It was something that had not been seen in Atlantis for millennia.

Two wielders of magic…engaged in a battle only one of them would leave.

“Yield, Idyllist. Yield now and your life will cease to exist. Do not, and I will ensure the remainder of your years shall be filled with the greatest horrors you have ever known.”

Aqualad’s knees buckled beneath him and he knew that his moment of hope had passed, and that he should never have believed that he was experienced enough in sorcery to tangle with a woman as renowned for her witchcraft as Merganys.

“I won’t give up,” Aqualad said, feeling his own spell being forced back at him by Merganys’s. “I won’t let the people who have taken me in and given me a new life down. I won’t let King Orin down. I won’t…let Tula down.”

A fire ignited inside Garth’s very soul and he was blinded by the glow protruding from his violet eyes while his spell seemed to gain a second wind.

“I summon the magics of Xthulu, Dark God and destined destroyer of this realm! Bestow on me the power I need to ensure your rebirth!” Merganys cackled wickedly to herself, looking up to the heavens.

Garth’s own powers waned and suddenly his spell broke off from his hands and was overtaken by Merganys. Her magic fire hit him once more and he lost control of his body, succumbing to the pain that sliced across every fiber of his being.

He heard Merganys’s laugh but after a second or two, the pain went away and the witch was no longer laughing.

Garth regained control of his movement and turned to see what had happened.

Thanatos was standing in front of him, his sword held out, its blade pointing threateningly at Merganys, who looked most unpleasant.

“You?” Garth said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Just be thankful that I wasn’t stuck in that tower. I wouldn’t have been able to save you if your plan had succeeded,” Thanatos said grudgingly.

Aqualad was about to reply with a witty retort when Merganys interrupted him.

“What is this, Thanatos!? You turn on your creator!? The person who gave you life!?” Merganys hissed. “I demand you answer me. Speak!”

“You really had me convinced. You made me believe that I was on the right side and that I should listen to everything you said just because you were the ‘person who gave me life’. Well, I’m done listening to you. I know that there is a right and there is a wrong. And I know that I’m on the proper side.”

Garth almost couldn’t believe what he was hearing from the swordsman’s lips. He had mistrusted the man so much. Been so sure that he was still just one of Orm’s minions but now, now he knew that Mera had been right to defend this man.

Thanatos had changed.

“This is your decision then?” Merganys said, disappointment laced in her voice, her white, soulless eyes meeting Thanatos’s black ones.

“Yes.”

Merganys spitefully leered at Garth and Thanatos before vanishing in a flash of black and green. Thanatos stared at the spot where she had been for a moment before turning to Garth who smiled uneasily.

“Thanks?”



“You didn’t have to go that far.”

In the flooded throne room, Aquaman and Ocean Master were both drifting around one another in circles. Orm couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his brother’s frowning face.

“You may not think so. But that’s why I’m more fit. I go the extra mile,” Ocean Master said, glancing over at the pile of rubble Black Manta was buried beneath.

“We’ve gone over this already, Orm. You’re not the king!”

Aquaman launched at his enemy, the Trident of Neptune raised high above his head. Orm easily deflected the trident with his staff and they were trapped in a frenzy once more.

With each strike of their respective weapons, an image of the past flashed in front of Orin.

CLACK

“Orm Marius.”

“Arth-…Orin.”

“I know who you are. After all, we are brothers.”

“What? Brothers?”

“Well, technically half-brothers. Welcome home.”

CLACK

“It doesn’t matter if you spent your youth growing up in that disgusting surface world, Orin. We’re brothers now. We’ll always be.”

CHING

“Looks like I came back just in time to help with this whole Black Manta raid, eh, Orin? Don’t know what you would have done without me watching your back. Ha.”

CLACK

“Orm? It can’t…be you…”

“I’m afraid it is, Brother. You see, Orin. This is something I’ve been waiting for for a very long time.”

CHING

“Look at you, Orin. You’re still talking down to me as if you are in control of the situation. Your time as king must have really given you some confidence; arrogance even. But you aren’t in control anymore, Brother. I am.”

CLACK

“As far as I’m concerned, you are no brother of mine!”

No brother of mine…

No brother of mine…

No brother of…

Orin let out a great roar, tightening his hold on his trident and, with all of his remaining strength, he smashed his trident against Orm’s staff. The staff dropped from Ocean Master’s hand and he was caught by the butt of Aquaman’s trident which slapped him in the face, knocking him onto the floor, the mask of the challenger leaving his face when he was struck.

The mask floated in the water for a moment before slowly falling onto the floor next to its former wearer while Aquaman pointed the tip of his trident at the defeated man.

And for the first time in a long time, Orin finally saw his brother’s face.

He stared into the face of a stranger, a sad reflection of the man who used to be. And at that moment, the truth finally sunk in and Aquaman almost couldn’t bear to look at the man who was on the floor.

Orm Marius, the man he once loved as a brother, had been dead for some time.

Orm lay in a heap, looking up at Aquaman, while his purple cape flowed around him. He leaned on his side, supporting himself with his left arm while he held out his right in defense. His gray eyes gazed up at the true king and though he felt a hotness growing in his eyes, Orm did not weep.

“Go ahead, Orin.”

Orin raised a brow curiously, as if not sure of what this man was saying to him, but then looked at the man he held at bay. Orm appeared neither sad nor upset. Instead, he seemed strangely content.

“You’ve proven your might. Now do the deed and strike down the man who has tried to usurp you,” Orm said.

Aquaman gazed hard at the pathetic man before him, uncertain of how to proceed. He had defeated his enemy but what he had thought would be a happy victory, didn’t feel like one at all. He continued to look down at Orm who returned his stare with the same confused expression Aquaman himself wore.

“Do it, Orin. You’ve earned it.”

Aquaman’s mouth was ajar and his eyes wide. He scanned his enemy’s face more carefully and for a moment, only a moment, he saw a familiar flicker in the man’s pupils. And for just that moment, he saw a friend.

For a moment, he had found his brother.

“…No.”

Aquaman tentatively lowered his trident to Orm’s utmost surprise. He drew his attention away from his victorious brother, his eyes twitching from side to side, as if looking for an answer.

“W-why?” Orm asked, sitting up on the floor a bit more.

“I’m not like you, Orm. I won’t let my life be destroyed by my own hate and envy,” Aquaman said.

Orin let out a great exhale while Orm continued to stare blankly at his brother.

“…hurr…ha ha ha-you are such-hurrrrrrr-fools.”

Aquaman and the now-fallen Ocean Master turned to one of the walls of the room, where Black Manta could be seen, still trapped in the debris, only his arms, head, and the end of his legs visible beneath the rubble.

In his hand, he held a small device.

Manta’s breaths were short, his words interrupted by the wheezing sound coming from within his cracked mask. His beaming red eyes flicked on and off every few seconds, almost in rhythm with his raspy breaths.

“Manta…what are you doing?”

Orin advanced a small way to Manta who just let out one of his chilling laughs.

“Do you-huuuurrrr-recall when I broke into this-hurrrrrr-city not too long ago, Arthur? You-hurr-weren’t home at the time but I-hurr-almost killed that pretty little mermaid wife of-hurrr-yours. That wasn’t all I did-hurrr-though. I had some fun in this fishbowl’s sub-network. Hurrrr. Before your sidekick caught me, that is.”

“I remember. All Garth found was an empty bag…”

“And-hurrr-do you really think that bag had always-hurrrrrrrr-been empty?” Manta chuckled through hoarse wheezes.

Aquaman’s face contorted with shock, his eyes bulging from their sockets. His vision wandered down to the device in Manta’s hand.

“You didn’t.”

“Oh, but I did.”

Manta choked on his own laugh, his quiet and weak voice barely sounding through the surrounding water.

“I could have-hurrrrrr-killed you at any time had I wanted to. But I-hurrrrrr-have to admit, that wouldn’t have been nearly as fun-hur-as seeing your expression now, Arthur.”

Aquaman glanced down at Orm who seemed to be frozen on the floor with realization.

“Now, it’s been a real blast, Arthur, but it’s time to go belly up.”

Manta’s finger pushed down on the detonator in his hand which began to beep rapidly at the feel of his touch. Aquaman gave one last look at Orm who was trying to desperately climb to his feet, before he lunged at his old enemy, flying through the water, his hand outstretched before him, while the sounds of explosives going off rang through the city before…

Everything went white.



BOOOOOOOMMMMM

Enormous bubbles erupted from the domes of Poseidonis while fire could be seen igniting within it. Garth and Thanatos both watched in absolute horror while the explosions spread throughout the city. The ocean trembled around them while the fire lit up Poseidonis.

“What’s happening!?” Thanatos hollered.

“I…” Garth’s skin grew even more pale while the explosion continued to shake the seas, “I don’t know.”

The usually murky bottom of the ocean brightened in a final and large explosion. A cloud of mud-filled water floated where the city usually would be. All of the seven seas seemed to become silent when a wave of mud, seaweed, chunks of what had once been Poseidonis, and other matter of sea life came roaring toward Thanatos and Garth.

“Get down!”



One hour later.

Mera was frozen. Frozen in an instant in time where everything she had come to know and love vanished right before her eyes. Where the man she loved more than anything in the world was swallowed by fire. Where her home fell to the very same enemy as her husband.

Poseidonis was destroyed.

Mera, with young Thomas in her arms, stared at what was left of her former home. Nothing was left besides large pieces of debris shifting around with the currents at the bottom of the sea and soon to be forgotten by the tides.

The oceans were ever-changing.

It was something she had lost sight of but now, with proof of that looking her in the eyes, it was clearer than ever before.

“I sense you cared deeply for this place.” Thanatos swam up beside her, his cutlass lowered to his side. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, Thanatos. At least one good thing came out of all of this,” she replied.

Thanatos wore a puzzled expression and she managed a thin smile.

“You’ve chosen a side.”

Thanatos nodded, his feelings hard to read through his onyx-colored eyes.

“Not all hope is lost, Queen Mera,” Garth’s calm voice said from behind her.

She turned to find the young man, whose face was covered with cuts and bruises, holding a glimmering golden object in his hands. Mera saw a reflection of her own emerald eyes in the reflection of the object and after a moment of her mind not seeming to be able to comprehend what she was seeing, she realized just what she was looking at.

The Trident of Neptune.

“We found it in the rubble…”

“And you think…” she had trouble continuing her sentence, “you think he may still be alive?”

“There’s no way to tell that for certain, Mera.”

Mera leaned away from Garth and he could see in her eyes a sorrow like no other he had ever seen. He slowly put a hand on her shoulder, his other hand still holding the trident.

“But I promise you. If our king is out there, we will find him. I swear it.”

And in the queen’s heart, a small shred of hope began to shine.





A short distance away from the site of the destroyed city, debris from the explosion had floated aimlessly through the ocean, the remnants of the great war journeying across the waters.

But also amongst the destroyed structures, a shape loomed in the dark currents.

In the almost endless reaches of the sea…

Surrounded by the world he had once ruled…

There drifted a man…

There drifted a hero…

There…drifted a king.

END.



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