Chapter 1
The oceans were calm that day, a rare moment of peace for the kingdom of Atlantis. King Arthur Curry, known as Aquaman, sat on his throne, his wife, Queen Mera, by his side. The throne room was a symbol of power, where decisions that shaped the fate of the ocean were made. The air was heavy with duty, yet for once, it was not filled with the pressure of war or conflict.
Arthur Curry Jr., then just a child of seven, visited the palace with his grandmother, Atlanta, from the surface. His wide eyes wandered across the towering marble pillars and glowing coral lights. He felt the weight of the world around him, yet he did not know that his presence in these waters would soon be a catalyst for chaos.
And then it happened.
An echo surged through the waters. It was not a sound that could be heard by ears, but one that pierced into the minds of every being within the seven kingdoms. Atlanteans froze in their steps, eyes widening in horror. The echo carried a voice, ancient and powerful, far beyond the reach of mortal comprehension.
The voice began to chant in a language lost to time, its rhyme both ominous and chilling:
“Doom shall descend, the depths shall quake,
All shall perish, their fate they'll forsake.
In decades' time, the abyss shall claim,
Prepare for obliteration, for sins are to blame.
“One hope remains, a warrior so grand,
Stronger than any, in all of the land.
Find him, unite, and form Thalassia’s might,
A glorious empire to end the endless night.
“I name him Aquaris, this warrior of lore,
To quell the wrath that shall plague evermore.
Yet heed this warning, let not folly steer,
For darkness awaits, and hope is unclear.”
The voice was harsh, the syllables grating like ancient coral scraping against bones. A sudden, stabbing pain pierced into the heads of every Atlantean, sending them reeling in agony. People clutched their skulls, their minds flooded with nightmarish visions. Blood-streaked waves, shattered cities, and bodies floating lifelessly through the abyss. The images were so vivid they felt real—too real.
Arthur Jr. clutched his head, his young mind overwhelmed by the grotesque pictures, his voice too weak to scream. His parents, even the mighty Aquaman and the fierce Mera, winced under the torment of the prophecy's assault.
---
Present Day – The Surface, Lighthouse on Amnesty Bay (Early Morning)
Five years had passed since that day. The prophecy was never forgotten, though its words remained a mystery. Arthur Jr., now twelve, lived with his grandparents in their lighthouse on the surface, attending school like any normal human child. The tranquility of the surface world, the laughter of his best friend Leo, and the lessons of his teachers seemed so far removed from the terrifying world beneath the waves.
On this morning, the lighthouse gleamed in the early sunlight, waves gently lapping against the shore. Yet Arthur Jr.'s thoughts were elsewhere—back in Atlantis, back to the haunting echo that had shattered the peace of the ocean. He had returned to the surface soon after the prophecy, but his visits to Atlantis were frequent. Each time he did, the burden of that eerie voice weighed heavier on him.
Was it about him? The question gnawed at his mind constantly, though he never voiced it aloud.
He stood on the sandy shore, his uncle Orm—once a fierce enemy of Aquaman—now his secret mentor. Orm had been banished to the surface for his crimes, yet he found solace in training his nephew, shaping him into a warrior.
“Focus,” Orm’s voice pulled Arthur from his daydream. “You can’t protect anyone with your mind elsewhere.”
Arthur Jr. blinked, looking up at his uncle. The beach was empty, save for the crashing waves and the gulls above. He took a deep breath and resumed his stance. Orm was right—he needed to focus.
But even as he trained, his mind kept drifting back. Aquaris. Thalassia. What was he meant to do?
---
Xebel, Throne of King Nereus (Late Night)
Far beneath the ocean, in the kingdom of Xebel, King Nereus sat brooding in his coral-encrusted throne. The prophecy had haunted him for years, festering in the minds of his subjects. The oceans were restless, and though no immediate threat had surfaced, Nereus could not ignore the signs.
Garth, his most trusted warrior, knelt before him. A tall figure with strength and loyalty unmatched in the kingdom. Nereus eyed him with a calculating gaze, as though weighing his next move carefully.
“We have searched all the kingdoms, my liege,” Garth began, his voice steady but carrying the weight of years of frustration. “No one knows who Aquaris is.”
Nereus' eyes narrowed. "I will not be content until Xebel is the ruler of the seas. If this prophecy holds truth, this ‘Aquaris’ will unite the kingdoms. We must find him first... sway him to our side before Atlantis gets him."
Garth lifted his head, a glint of realization in his eyes. "My king, Atlantis' prince—Arthur Curry Jr.—he has the blood of two royal lines. He will grow into a warrior feared by all. Perhaps... he is Aquaris."
Silence filled the throne room, the currents still as Nereus considered this possibility. His lips curled into a slow smile.
“Arthur Curry’s son,” he mused. “Yes... it’s time to take action.”
---
Back to Amnesty Bay – Beach (Late Afternoon)
Arthur Jr. wiped sweat from his brow as his training session with Orm came to an end. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting golden rays across the waves. Orm sheathed his weapon, glancing at his nephew with something akin to pride.
"You've improved," Orm admitted, a rare compliment from him.
Arthur Jr. simply nodded, though he felt no joy in the progress. His mind remained heavy, haunted by a sense of impending doom. He felt it in the ocean, in the whispers of the waves every time he dipped below the surface. Something was coming, and he wasn’t sure if he was ready to face it.
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Xebel, Command Chambers (Late Night)
King Nereus leaned forward, eyes gleaming with intent. He had made his decision.
“Send Garth to the surface,” Nereus ordered. “He will act as Arthur Jr.’s personal guard. But in truth, his mission is to discover whether the boy is indeed Aquaris. If he is... we will sway him to Xebel. Atlantis will fall, and I shall rule all the oceans.”
Garth rose from his kneeling position, a loyal servant to his king’s ambitions. He would go to the surface, and he would watch over Arthur Jr. But his loyalty was first and foremost to Xebel, and he would do whatever was necessary to bring the young prince under Nereus' control.
The fate of the ocean depended on it.
---
End of Chapter 1.
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