Marvel/DC Comics Presents #4

Aquaman

Atlantis, Beneath the North Atlantic Ocean

"Uneasy lies the crown," Mera said as she entered the spacious chambers where her husband, King Arthur pondered the affairs of Atlantis. The underwater kingdom was fast becoming a growing bureaucratic kingdom that vex Arthur. So much so that Arthur did not hear his wife as she entered.

"What," Arthur muttered as he read over a document, oblivious to her presence.

"I said, uneasy lies the crown, or however the surface dwellers put it."

Arthur barely moved from his hunched over position and said, "Uneasy is the head that lieth the crown, is what you mean. Are you trying to tell me something about myself, dear?"

"Yes," Mera replied as she came up to a desk strewn with tablets and scrolls. "You're obviously taking on more than you should right now. Use the ministers to take some of the responsibility off your shoulders. Despite how strong they are, they won't help you here. I'd like to have a husband strong as well as wise."

"Is that wisdom trying to tell me to take a break?"

"What do you think?"

Arthur lifted his head from what he was reading and answered, "Yes." Then he stood up from his seat and gave a short kiss to Mera. "I am assuming that the Queen has a request of her King to come into this place of state business."

Mera gave an exaggerated bow before Arthur. Her scarlet hair flowing like ocean waves behind her. "Yes, my king. It is time for the Royal Storytime. Your most valued minister is awaiting audience with the king."

The pair laughed and Arthur went to the bed chambers of their young son, Arthur, Jr. The five year old dived under his bed sheets as his father entered the room.

"It is I, King Arthur of Atlantis," Arthur said in a stately regal manner.

"Come forth, King Arthur of Atlantis! We've been waiting for you," a young voice said under the sheets.

Arthur walked up to the bed. In the center was a moving lump under the sheets that gave it a ghostly movement being underwater. Giggling could be heard as Arthur stealthily approached and grabbed the covers from the bed.

"Father!"

"Can't hide from me, my little minnow," Arthur said laughing. "Now I believe I owe you a story tonight."

Arthur Jr. sat up on the bed on his knees. "Yes, please. But nothing boring."

"My stories aren't boring." Arthur felt a little surprised by his som's statement. "Since they're boring to you, then you choose what I will tell you about tonight."

Arthur Jr. furrowed his brow and thought as hard as he could on a topic. Then his face lit up and he said, "I want you to tell me why there's two Atlantises. I thought we were the only one? Is one a fake? Are we the fakes?"

"Settle down, settle down, son," Arthur said smiling at his son's enthusiasm. "We here are Atlantis and so is the other city.."

"But how, how, how..."

"Quiet down and I'll tell you."

"Fine," Arthur Jr. said with a huff as he settled into his bed.

"Hundreds of thousands of years ago, before the oceans as we know came to be, tribes of men wondered into a land that was rich and beautiful. The tribes that met there united into one people and became the First Atlanteans. While the rest of the surface dwellers lived in ignorance, Atlantis grew in knowledge, wisdom and power."

"So Atlantis was on the surface," Arthur Jr. asked with a yawn.

"Yes," Arthur replied. "The sea had yet to claim the city in those early days. Most of what we know is scarce about those First Atlanteans. We do know they were rich merchants which fed the city in wealth from other lands. The city was also rich in magic. Atlantis was the capital for all magic in the world and still is today. People came from all around the world to learn, teach, and create magic."

"Like Arion?"

"Story for another night, son. After the Golden Age of Atlantis, the Great Cataclysm came upon the world. No one knows what caused it, but it was big enough to cause Atlantis, the city and the land around it, to fall into the sea."

"What happened to all the people?"

"Most died, but some managed to find shelter in other lands. Our people managed to find a way to breathe underwater and life started over for us beneath the sea. At some point a few of our people founded a new Atlantis now beneath the sea. The other Atlanteans founded their own Atlantis on some of the rubble of the first city. At some point these Atlanteans grew hostile to our band of survivors from the Cataclysm. They believed that Atlantis should be ruling the world as it had in times past. They are also against us for not standing with them in rebuilding the Old City."

"Did they fight us?"

"Yes. Even though they have grown a more peaceful stance than in times past, there are some who would want us to go to war again. They're too divided among themselves since their last king Namor disappeared."

"Who's King Namor?"

Arthur smiled, "Story for another time. You've got to sleep now."

Arthur Jr. adjusted and settled into his bed. Then he let out a wide yawn and said, "Okay, father."

Arthur rubbed his son's head of golden hair and gently rose from his bed. As he got to the doorway he stopped and said without turning, "Was it boring this time?"

"Not as much," Arthur Jr. said from the bed. "Could use editing. Good night, father.""

Arthur smiled and said, "Good night, son."