"Yeah.. but still." Harleen pouted. She did not like Max's answer. "No reason to be all rude."
"I am not being rude. I just rather not participate." Max responded and turned to face her. "Cheerleading is nice, football is also nice. I just do not want to do either of them. I rather have the time after school and Friday and Saturday to myself."
She relented and moved to her seat. John was behind Max sleeping away till class starts.
"Attention class, we have two new students. A bit of a prodigy it seems. Give a warm welcome to Selina Kyle and Claire Selton."
"Huh!?" Max asked shocked. Selina came in with a smile on her face. She gave him a wink standing in the front of the class. Claire was quiet as she came in but gave Max a glare. 'Ehh what are their ages?'
(Selina is one year younger than you. Currently 13. You are a grade behind Max due to your birthday.)
"Hi everybody." Selina said cheerfully. Claire opted for a slight wave.
-Lunch Time-
"Max suprised huh?" Selina sat on the desk opposite of him. Most students went to go to the cafeteria to eat. "Mom convinced them to let me take a test, aced it. Not really a prodigy since I am now in the grade I am supposed to be in. Just scored high on all the tests they threw at me." She leaned forward to tell him about Claire. "The documents for her made it easy for her to get in. The part of the contract has her masked for people doing name searches on her. So we know it works."
Max felt a little sad she doubted his contracts. But he left it alone. "A little still. But glad this works for you." Max looked to the side and saw Harleen walking over with a few others. "Don't look now, but the popular kids are here for you two."
"So you know Wayne here, that might not be great for what I am going to ask. Please do not be a social pariah like him." Harleen said fingers crossed. "We could really use more people on the cheer squad. You interested? You look athletic. So does she. But she does not look friendly." She points at Claire who smiled.
"Hmm, I do not mind trying out. But.. I may have to miss a few practices in the future. My mom is really strict." Selina said giving herself and out for future tasks. The group nodded understanding. "How about you Claire, want to join with?"
"No way. I do not like the idea of getting tossed in the air." Claire said giving a panicked look. "Besides I have a lot of things to study for. I need to brush up on my science a lot."
"Edward," Max called out to the young man. "Come here for a bit." Seeing someone actually put the effort to talk to him, Edward walked over head down on instinct. "Man look when I am talking to you. I want to know if you read the report on the "Sun Creation" by George Faust?"
"Yeah!" Edward said enthused. he did not expect Max to read such an article. "What do you want to know?"
"Do you agree with his theory about miniature suns creating a small chance of unlimited energy in the future? I myself think it will not work due to distortion effects." Max said leaning forward. Claire actually looked up and listened in. The others not so much. They left with Selina taking off with. "The properties would never remain stable dont you think?"
"Hmmm." Edward sat on the desk and thought about it before speaking in length. Unknown to them, Pamela leaned back and started to listen. She was interested in a few aspects that the sun provided. Especially since her father was reading the same article recently.
*Snore* Behind them, John was slumbering as he slipped into a deep sleep.
-Atlanna & Norm-
In the Aquatheater a performance had just ended terribly. The magic guards went out of control and caused a siexmic shift. As the guards move to make sure every one was safe the unexpected happen. Guards were frozen in place from terror as a large Kraken reached out and grabbed prince Norm.
In quick speed, Queen Atlanna charged to retrieve her son. A ook of panic on her face that shocked even her Aide. For he even thought she would not risk herself against the Kraken. Driven to madness by an outside force, the beast swung countless tentacles at her. A few nicked her clothes here and there.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Atlanna released her full magical might. A shockwave stunned the Kraken long enough for her to grab Norm and flee back to the others.
"Mother!" Norm cried scared. He placed every bi of his magic around them both. He was trying to heal her and to speed them up. It fluttered out of control before stopping. "I am sorry mother." Atlanna smiled at his effort. Despite the risk to his life, Norm tried to help her.
*Duum Dumm!* Large torpedos shot at the Kraken from behind. It did nothing but tickle the ancient beast.
*Bzzt* The Aqua theater platform was not done malfunctioning. Arcs of magical energy traveled throughout the stadium. The people fled as best they could but kept running into magical distortions.
Black spheres formed and kept pushing them back. But not all of them. A few of them noticed that those that were loyal to the throne could leave with no issue. Those who plotted rebellion could not. Every member of the 3rd and 4th sea looked on in horror. They would die today at this rate.
'No!' Queen Atlanna called on the power of the trident to shield the audience. In her hand, the trident shuddered. 'What is going on?' Each arc of magic turned and headed towards her and Norm. Fleeing back, she ran straight into the Kraken.
"A sacrifice must be made!" A voice boomed from out of the trident. It glowed hot and ate away at Norm & Atlanna. "Those of royal blood."
*Bzzt!* As she disappeared into nothingness, Queen Atlanna smiled at her subjects. The Trident shot towards the Kraken and pulled it inside. Imprinted on the handle was the queen holding onto Norm.
*Tink!* The trident stabbed into the remains of the Aquatheater stage. A barrier-forming around it. The citizens looked on for a few moments. Hopeing that she would appear again with little Norm.
They did not. The Aide looked everyone over and felt a voice push past his mental guards. The voice he recognized from the meeting. Max told him the Queen would return one day. If the Atlanteans deserved to be saved. They must learn to evolve pass the silly hatreds. They are human just magically inclined more.
If they learned they could return to their rightful place topside. In ten years' time, the kingdom of Atlantis would be no more. Swallowed by the sea if it did not change it's ways. Destroyed by its own hand.
*Bwoom* A screen appeared showing the fall of Atlantis. Ancient Sea creatures rising up to eat them all and the kingdom. Monsters that have not been seen since the God Poseiden walked the Earth.
*Crack!* From the depths of the Sea, several ancient monuments formed. Written in Ancient Atlantean. Each telling stories of the old days when the Kindom was topside.
The Aide looked on with everyone else. At the end, they watched two men stand tall and correct the wrongs that were done. The ancient creatures bowed to one in obedience. the other man wielded the trident. But it was not the current one.
"What now?" An Atlantean asked.
"Now... we search and study." The Aide looked over to the "King" next. "You are the King now. Having seen what we have, you know the future is perilous."
"To work with surface dwellers..." A nearby General said. His King remained quiet. "This is madness my King." Seeing his lord still say nothing the General turned angry.
"Find the monuments!" The Aide announced. The people looked on and obeyed. For the Aide was the half brother of Atlanna. The child of the Mistress of the old King. Atlanna went against all customs and kept her brother close by. Instead of killing him. 'I will do my best sister. To think we did not have to fake your death in the end.'
-On an Island-
"Hello, young Norm." Max said softly. He was dressed as the Watcher and kept himself in arms length of the two. He looked at the boy in fascination. Seeing the young him was interesting. Originally he was seen twisted into several different crazy things. Usually mad or extremely vengeful. "Tell me, what would you like for yourself and your mother now?"
"I wish for my mother to love me." Orm said.
"She already does. But it is shrouded by your crazed father. Even you have seen enough I take it? You must know something is wrong."
"I wish my mother were free of Atlantis." Orm said. "For good this time!"
"Your wish, is granted young Norm." Max's eyes glowed as a contract formed it then shot off to Atlanna. She looked it over as hot tears came down her face. She felt ashamed as she read a part of it.
"Orm, my son." Atlanna gave the boy a strong hug. It was quite intense by the way he tried to squirm free. One of those mother bearhugs.
*Fwoosh!* The contract disappeared after she acknowledged it.
"Time to change you two up." Max felt the rush of power from the contract and went to work.
"Snap!" A snap of his finger and the facial features changed for the two. Orm had blonde hair and green eyes. Atlanna now had dark brown hair and amber gold eyes.
"Where would you like to live now?" Max asked as they got use to the changes.
"Where do you want to live now Orm?" Atlanna asked. She hoped for one place in particular but left it be.
"Can we live near my half brother?" Orm asked excitied. Atlanna gave a smile and agreed. Orm had learned a great deal from the contract.
*Bwwwoom!* Max teleported them away. Giving them a new identity and documents. As well as a way for Atlanna to contact him. Walking into their new home was to much for Orm. He shot off checking every room excitied.
Atlanna watched her son run off. Her eyes lingering a little to long for Max's taste. The woman had dropped her guard already and did not understand the future dangers.
"Atlanna be careful. Orm is young. He may slip up every now and then. Getting use to this may be to much. I suggest a little homeschooling for awhile. Your names are shielded by magic. Others will hear something else if you slip up." Max said seriously. He dropped a second inscribed phone just in case. "Call if you need help. Good luck and never stop training the two of you."
"Wait! What do I call you!?"
"Just the Watcher." Max disappeared.
"Hmm Watcher." Atlanna pondered a little. Her eyes caught of something down the road. A man was driving up to the cabin. His pickup truck had a ladder on top. "Ehh did he give us a damaged house?" Seeing the man step out and the passenger door opened, she felt her heart seize up. "It cannot be?"
"Mom!" Orm came running back out. Seeing the other boy he smiled. "Hey mom, it's my brother Arthur!"
"Brother?" The other boy looked confused. Staring at his dad who stopped, he couldnt help but try to figure out what was happening. "Umm, dad what is going on?"
"It cannot be.." the man droned out. He rubbed his eyes seeing the silhouette of the woman he once loved. Seeing it flicker to the new woman, he chalked it up to the hard day. "I must be working to hard."
"You always were to hard on yourself." Atlanna walked forward. "Come inside and let's talk. The job can wait till later." Orm was already bothering Arthur who couldnt help but smile at the boy's enthusiasm.