38Put to Rest
(Play Opening Smash into Pieces- Let me be Your Superhero.)
Arno is floating amidst the vast empty ocean with the rays of the sun illuminating the different creatures of the sea as they surrounded him. From behind him the Unagi appeared and its eyes glowed a bright blue. Arno then propels himself forward with a boom in the water holding out his dagger in his hand. A large storm falling upon the ocean.
Arno jumps out of the ocean and into a large pirate ship. As pirates begin to circle around him he sprints into action. With his golden dagger he blocked their blades and countered with a direct jab to the stomach of one of the pirates crashing into more pirates. He then jumps over another group landing behind them. Arno swipes his leg behind them bringing them to the floor.
A row of spears came from behind causing Arno to dodge them and then catch them. He then used the spears to throw the pirates overboard. Just then a pair of red eyes light up from the darkness causing Arno to narrow his eyes. Arno grips his dagger in an iron grip as the storm cleared and the lights of Republic City cut through the darkness. Arno charged as an army of sharks and the Unagi followed him from behind.
Arno's eyes creaked open as he regained consciousness, he immediately realized a few things. Firstly was that he was still underwater and the light of the rising sun shone down through the water, thankfully his eyes adjusted right away and could easily see within the darkness. Secondly he wasn't near the surface of the water, he was on the sea floor laying in what felt almost like a bed. Turning his hand over he felt a pile of something soft cushioning him. Third was that his tattered remains of his shirt were gone, and the pain he felt on his back was absent as well.
Sitting up from his makeshift bed, he reached over his shoulder and found that the burns on his back were healed. "What the hell?" he asked, he knew he healed fast but something like those burns would take a few days at least. As a clown fish swam by, it looked at Arno, looking down at what he was laying on he saw it was a an large yellow anemone, it's soft flanges that would cause a painful sting to most sea creatures didn't harm him in the slightest. Arno looked at the small orange and white fish with a smile, "This your spot?" he asked jokingly.
"It was, but he was happy to let you use it." Arno jumped at the feminine voice and looked behind him. Once again he was struck by just how gorgeous she was, her blurry visage from before he lost consciousness did not do her any credit. She was beautiful, her face heart shaped with perfect red lips and stunningly deep blue eyes which currently glowed brightly with power, the glow receded showing that her true eyes were a…less intense shade of blue. She had long, flowing, bright red hair that went down past her shoulders and upper back, it made his look short by comparison. Her figure was eye catching because it was so…on display, proportions like a curvy hourglass, a skin tight green outfit covered her body from around the back of her neck and to the arcs of her feet with her toes and soles poking out of the green material that resembled some sort of old armor that used scales.
Upon her strong, bare arms were a set of golden gauntlets with fins jetting out back down her arms, similar to what the soldiers before had, the front of her outfit was a little…..scandalous, showing off the skin of her cleavage and upper torso while also leaving less to the imagination similar to how a bathing suit would be. Swallowing the lump that formed within his throat, "Who…..who are you?" he asked almost timidly, the last people who could breathe underwater like him tried to kill him. So being cautious around others like him seemed to be a valid response.
The redhead landed onto the seabed before giving a slight bow of her head, "My name is Y'Mera Xebella Challa." she introduced, she watched as Arno paused to completely digest that name, trying to silently pronounce it himself. The woman's lips curled a little as he tried to properly pronounce it, "Call me Mera, much easier to say and actually possible to pronounce." she added dismissively with a wave of her hand.
"I didn't want to be rude." Arno said sheepishly, "But better question how are you…..like me? And why were those guys trying to kill me? And why did one call me a half breed?!" he asked, his voice slightly raising in pitch with each question, suddenly the memory of her completely butchering the soldiers came to mind as though to remind him that despite her visage this woman was dangerous. "I…I'm sorry I just…you're the first person I've met whose….like me and your actually answering my questions…..and not tried to kill me." he apologized, breaking his gaze from her eyes to look down at the seabed.
Mera however was calm as she approached him and knelt down in front of him, "Arno it's fine….I'm surprised that your father never told you about…where your mother came from." she said, trying to be delicate with her wording. Arno's eyes shot wide open, looking up at her with disbelief, shock, and awe. She realized what that look meant right away, "He….he did tell you? But then why would you stay up here?" she asked as the blonde raised a hand to his head.
It was real, Atlantis, it was a honest to Spirits real place, with people! And his mother….she was….she was-I….I can't breathe…I can't- "I'm sorry." Arno said before launching himself upward, much to Mera's shock. She quickly took off through the sea after him, she had never seen someone swim as fast as Arno except maybe his mother. Ahead of her, Arno skimmed beneath the surface of the water before swooping down and bursting up through the surface of the water, flying through the air and landing upon the shoreline.
Taking a deep breath of air, he let out a shaky breath. My mother is alive….Atlantis is real…..oh Spirits dad I'm so sorry. he thought mournfully. He had thought for years now that his father, on what turned out to be his deathbed, was babbling nonsense from a hazed mixture of medication and suffering from a heart attack. But instead of fevered dreams he experienced he was telling Arno the truth and he just….didn't believe him. He said as much to Korra and Tenzin, he only humored Shin's questions because it might have been on the path but…..Dad…..please forgive me. he thought, falling onto his knees, sinking into the sand a little.
Mera emerged from the shoreline behind him, part of her was irritated with how he had taken off but when she walked onto shore and found Arno on his knees…she didn't feel so mad. She stood on the shore, the waves washing over her feet for minutes as she watched Arno. Atlanna warned her that he might be shocked about learning she was alive, let alone that Atlantis was a reality and not some myth from the surface…..but from how he was taking it she could only guess what he knew.
Finally she stepped onto the beach fully, water dripping off her as she approached the sorrowful blonde. Tentatively she reached her hand out and placed it upon his shoulder, "This must be a lot to take in….." she trailed off. She couldn't even try to imagine what the prince has gone through but finding out a truth like this, she could hardly even comprehend what it would be like to learn something she had known for as long as she could remember.
Looking over his shoulder at Mera, there was only one question he could ask, "Do you know my mother?"
She was taken aback by that being his first question, however her smile was soft as she nodded, "Her name is Atlanna." she revealed, Arno smiled at her name before chuckling. Mera gave him a confused look, "What?" she questioned as he sat and turned on the shifting ground to face her.
"My dad told me that her family had this tradition, the first born kid has to have their name start with 'A' for good luck…..I always thought it was kind of weird but….." his somber smile made the redhead share her own as she too sat down on the sand. She watched as his smile soon faded away and his look became thoughtful, "Those men, they called me half-breed….I'm guessing it's frowned upon to have children with people up here?" he asked. Mera pursed her lips at his astuteness to his situation, she nodded, "But why? I mean…we're all people." he asked.
Mera scoffed, "I wouldn't go that far." she said dismissively, taking Arno by surprise. She caught his unexpected expression and explained, "Just because we live beneath the waters doesn't mean we are blind to what goes on up here. The Fire Nation's ego caused a genocide of a entire nation with only few surviving members left by a miracle of a chance." she understated. Arno couldn't ague that point, "And before that, one of the Avatars made their own island, devastating the ecosystem of the sea life for generations. Not to mention what their cities have done to the sea." she pointed out distastefully.
"Um…..I grew up on that island." Arno replied uneasily, Mera gave him a weary look at his defense, "Well how would you like it if I dissed Atlantis?" he asked.
Mera smirked to herself, "You can diss Atlantis all you want. I'm not from there." she explained, causing Arno's eyes to once again widen. The non-Atlantean looked at him amusingly, "Atlantis where I live but not where I came from. I'm from Xebel, it's another Kingdom." she explained, Arno seemed to be blown away by the information. He never actually considered that Atlantis wasn't the only sunken Kingdom. Mera saw his bewildered expression, having prepared for this possibility she reached her hand out to the water, her eyes glowing blue as the wave that came in floated over to her. "You see Arno, Atlantis ruled over four other Kingdoms." she explained as the water formed a rough image of a map of the world with the water representing seas and the empty spaces standing in for landmasses.
"They were all part of Atlantis before it fell to the seas." she began, five spots in the seas glowing blue on the map, "But when our civilization fell, five of our kingdoms rose. Atlantis is the capital of all our kingdoms-" a spot in the ocean where he and Shin mused it would be lit up. "-Xebel, my Kingdom is near the North Pole. We've trained and learned from mystic arts." she said with a hint of pride in her voice.
The word Mystic made him skeptical, however the glow of her eyes and how she manipulated the water? He had never seen any waterbending like that in his life. "Is that how you Waterbend like that? I've never seen such….control." he asked, marveling at what Mera could do. Waterbending compared to this seemed so…..simple, it was like comparing a five year old's finger painting to that of an artist's work.
Mera smiled at his compliment, "It's not waterbending, we refer to it as hydro-kinesis. We don't simply bend the water, we control it." she explained, looking at the water she was using with pride in her eyes. The sea between the Northern Earth Kingdom and the North Pole was highlighted next, "Xebel is where Atlantis studied the mystic arts. Where benders were content with the four elements we looked the more spiritual energies that world provides. And how to use them similar to how the nations use the four elements." she explained.
Arno looked at the map with confusion, "But wait you said you live in Atlantis, why aren't you at Xebel?" he asked curiously. It was such a minor question yet Mera seemed to be taken completely off guard by it.
"As Princess of Xebel I serve the queen of Atlantis, I've known her since I was teenager-" she stopped upon realizing that she let slip that she was the Princess of a Kingdom. When Atlanna asked her to find Arno, she knew that he would have questions and she was prepared to answer most of them. She had rehearsed what he might ask first and how to respond but she let it slip so casually, Ohhhhhhhhh shit. she cursed herself when Arno's mouth hung open.
"Y-you're a Princess!?" he asked in disbelief, "Sh-should I bow? Wait do we even bow? Or do we salute?" he asked quickly. Korra and Tenzin were probably the only people he met who could have a similar distinction, however while Korra held her title with pride she wasn't demanding or snobby when it came to how she was addressed by him. And Tenzin he referred to because he preferred it.
Mera despite her blunder had to try not to laugh at how suddenly panicked Arno became amused, "You don't need to bow. We do but your entitled to a pass….this time." she replied, a hind of playfulness in her voice. "But yes, I serve the Queen of Atlantis. My father entrusted me to her so I may learn how a true Queen rules the Kingdom." she clarified, her voice soft with a small smile tugging at her lips. Arno found it a little strange, most royals taught their own children how to lead by observing their own King and Queen. But then again the only royal lines in the world were the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation, one being fairly xenophobic and the other known for controlling with an iron fist. Cooperation, let alone a trust of that level with another's heir was unlikely at best.
"What about the other Kingdoms?" he asked inquisitively, Mera's content demeanor shifted to a more disconcerted one. "Sorry I just…..I have so much to learn….." he admitted somewhat sheepishly. "I've…..all I knew about me was what I found out on my own with help from my father and a friend…I thought I was alone for the longest time and now….." he gestured to her with a slight gesture of his hand, "I'm talking to someone like me…..a princesses for spirits sake…."
Mera was quiet, her still shining blue eyes observing him as he confessed to her. She suddenly sighed, "I can't imagine that…..that sounds awful." she sympathized.
Yet Arno shook his head, a fond smile crossing his face, "It sounds like it but…..no, I had my father…..my friends from the Island I grew up on….and even the Avatar and others I've met recently…..and they've done a lot of good for me." he acknowledged proudly. Mera though didn't seem either impressed or convinced, "Trust me, when you feel like your alone in the world…..one person just taking interest in you can help." he said wistfully. He shook his head as he dismissed those thoughts, "I'm sorry, I got off track, what about the other kingdoms?"
Mera refocused her attention, "R-right. The other Kingdoms are Triton, when Atlantis sank they embraced their new life at sea. Their bodies even adapting to the water in more…..diverse ways than the others." she explained, the water highlighting the Sea North of the Southern WaterTribe before splitting and reforming into a trio of forms. One was a humanoid with fins on their arms and legs, the second had a female's torso with a lower half resembling that of a dolphin-fly. The third and final was huge in comparison to the others, it's body was humanoid but the shape and size of it was like of a man had a kid with a shark, it's head having a fin atop it with it's snout matching.
"They're a simple people, but they face a harsh stigma due to their appearance." Mera said distastefully. Triton was nicknamed the 'Fishman Kingdom' by citizens and nobles alike. She personally found it deplorable, they were all one people and something as trivial as appearance shouldn't divide them.
Arno didn't seem surprised, "Well that's one thing the surface and Sea have in common. 'You're different? I hate you.'." he said sarcastically. Mera's lips twitched at his remark but continued onto the other Kingdom located to the West of the Fire Nation.
"And Finally there is the Melath Kingdom, it is here where technology for all the Kingdoms are made. From simple devices like our Unity Clips-" she gestured down to the metal clip just above her pelvis, the symbol identical to the one on the hilt of Arno's blade. "-to weapons like the plasma rifles the soldiers you fought used." she added, looking out to the ocean. She had gathered the weapons from the corpses and destroyed them, by now the predators of the sea would have taken care of the bodies, leaving no trace of any Atlanteans.
"Which leads me to my next question, why were they trying to kill me?" Arno asked as Mera released her hold on the water, her eyes no longer glowing as the water fell onto the sand between them.
Mera knew this part would most likely be the hardest to hear, "Arno…..your mother, Atlanna…..she is Queen of Atlantis." she said slowly as she could. Arno's curious visage slowly faded away and was replaced with one of bewilderment, for a second Mera thought he was going to take off again but instead it seemed that this revelation paralyzed him.
My mother's a….a Queen….that…..that makes me a…..but…..I….. "I'm a…a prince?" he asked, stunned by the information. Mera slowly nodded, making Arno swallow the huge lump that formed in his throat. "So…..my mother is alive…Atlantis is real and thriving….and my mom is the Queen of the Seas." he repeated. He looked at the redhead with and off putted look, almost looking scared for whatever else he would discover. "Anything else?!" he asked loudly with his voice raising in pitch.
Mera's first instinct was to snort at how his voice suddenly became higher but thankfully didn't, Ok well better be like a leech and rip it off. "You have a half-brother." she quickly added.
Arno fell back onto the sand, his hands covering his face, "Of course I do!" he yelled out, his words muffled from his hands. Mera couldn't help but chortle a little, the prince of Atlantis was having….whatever this was and it was honestly a little funny to witness. Slowly dragging his hands away from his face, Arno let that information sink before releasing a chuckled, "I….I always wanted a brother…." he admitted happily. The Xebel princesses giggled back, Arno's questions increased tenfold about his brother, did he look like him? Was he younger or older? What was he like? But before he could ask any of them it dawned on him…he could see for himself. "I feel…..I feel like I'm dreaming." he admitted.
Mera smiled at the comparison, "I can understand. I can't imagine what being forced to live up here would be like." she said, looking around the small island they had occupied. Granted it was a small sandbar poking out from the water with but a few palm trees sprouting out of the sand, but she was not blind to how the rest of the world was.
Arno however was more taken aback by her comment than anything, "I mean it's not perfect up here but…I still like it." he admitted, his hand reaching down to the sand and running his wet hand across the tiny rocks. He hadn't been on a beach in months, not a proper one anyway, and he missed the feeling of sand between his toes.
The princess looked baffled by his confession, "What? How? The people up here? All that they care for is greed and power, they even forced you to surrender to their army." she pointed out.
That sentence made something click in Arnos' head, "Wait! The ship!" he stood up from the sand, looking around for any sign of it, "It sank! What about survivors? Is everyone ok?" he asked Mera. In his rush for answers to learn more about himself he had completely forgotten about General Kota and his ship!
The redhead was even more shocked that he was asking the questions in the first place, "Why do you care?" she asked as she stood up as well, making Arno stare at her, "They're not your people Arno, they certainly don't care for you so why should you care for them?" she asked, rising a brow at him in confusion. He opened his mouth to retort but he slowly closed it, "Arno, I came here to bring you back to Atlantis. Back to your family…..forget the surface….it's time to bring you home." she said, her hand reaching out to his shoulder. Arno looked her dead in the eyes, they looked back at him sympathetically, as though he had been subjected to horrors unimaginable.
Reaching up he took her hand, "Mera…..I want to….more than anything…..but I can't…not now anyway." he told her, surprising Mera as he dropped her hand. "My father….my human father, he was lighthouse keeper. His job was to lead the ships on the water safely to shore….he was proud of what he did but I didn't get why for the longest time but…..it's about responsibility. My mom came from the sea…..but I was raised on the land….they're both my responsibility." he said with a sincerity to his voice that surprised Mera. Seeing the expression on the redhead's face Arno rubbed the back of his neck, "I know that might not make much sense but…I got friends back in Republic City, and they need my help…..and I hope you can understand that."
He watched as Mera's shocked face gave way and she looked at him oddly, "No I do…..but I've never met an Atlantean who tolerated surface people. Let alone wanted to help them." she admitted. Looking at Arno she could tell there was no dissuading him, the resolute he held plain on his face. The newly discovered prince waited for Mera's response, waiting as she looked over him before letting out a sigh with a small smile from the blonde's passion, "Well…..I can't stop you. But I also can't help you." she stated firmly, the small smile vanishing. "Atlantis cannot risk being discovered by the surface, they haven't connected you to it as of yet but if I show up with you? Then people will start asking the right questions."
Arno nodded, "I understand." he said, walking past her towards the water. Just before he reached the waves however he stopped and looked over his shoulder at Mera who watched him like a hawk, "Thank you for saving my life, Princess Y'Mera Xebella Challa." he said respectfully, clasping his fist against his palm in front of his chest before bowing in front of her. The Xebel princess was taken aback, both by the fact he had correctly pronounced her name and that he was humble enough to be grateful, a smile crossed her face before she returned the gesture, mimicking the surface way of bowing before they both looked back at one another.
Their eyes met, and despite herself Mera felt her throat become dry as he dove into the water and took off beneath the waves. She summed it up to being on the surface too long.
It took a half hour for Arno to get his barring correct and head towards Republic city, and about another hour for him to reach the Yue Bay.
But the sight of airships bearing the Equalist Logo on the side of them flying over the city didn't bode well. Shit! Amon must have just started the attack. The prince reasoned when he saw the smoke clouds bellowing from the City. As he sped towards the city however he saw one of the Airships above was heading on a direct course for Air Temple Island, Amon must be going after Tenzin and his family, if he gets them then that could be the end of the Airbenders! he realized, making a U turn in the water to swim back towards the island.
Swooping down towards the bottom of the Bay he turned back upward at an angle towards the island, shooting out of the water and into the air Arno braced himself for landing. Hitting the stone ground of the temple's main ground and rolling onto a knee before standing up…..right in front of a group of white Lotus Guards and Chief BeiFong. "Wha-where did-" Lin began before shaking her head, "Doesn't matter, can you fight?" she asked. Arno answered her by reaching back and pulling out his knife and holding it in reverse. Lin nodded sternly, "Good. Korra and the others went to find Tenzin in the City, and Pema's having kid right tight now!" she explained.
Arno started at her then glanced at the house, he could just hear Pema screaming out in bursts, "You know on any other day that would surprise me." he replied dryly as he looked up at the Airship, two cables fired down towards the lower level of the stairs leading up to the front of the house where they were. "Alright we gotta hold these asshats off until Pema is ok to move." he started, seeing the Equalists use the lines from the Harpoons as ziplines and landing on the island in squads at a time.
"I know." Lin said sharply, the White Lotus Guards got into position around her and Arno. When the first of the Equalists reached the top of the steps the White Lotus attacked first, using fire, water, and Earthbending to try and subdue them but to no avail, the Equalists weaved around the attack of the Earthbender, only for Lin to send a large stone to him in midair.
One of them got behind the firebender guard, before they could block their chi however, Arno slammed his fist into he side of their head, knocking them out cold before they even hit the ground. "Everyone pair up! They can only focus on one target at a time!" Arno yelled out over the fighting as another charged at him, this one wearing a glove like the ones at the arena and palmed the blonde in the chest. The electric current ran through Arno, the Atlantean gritting his teeth from the stinging pain before jabbing him quickly in the gut, making him release the swimmer before Arno's blade came down on the back of his shoulder. The man yelled in pain before Arno lifted his knee into his face.
Out the corner of his eye he saw Lin use her cables to dispatch two more Equalists, he also saw that a few of the Guards had been defeated by the Equalists and they were now charging towards him. "Guards fall back! Make sure the Airbenders are safe!" he yelled out as one of the firebenders swept low to make a wave of fire for the Equalist to leap over then for the Waterbender to attack in midair. They looked over at Arno like he was crazy just as he charged at a trio of Equalists, slashing his knife against one as he threw his elbow back into another that tried to get around his flank and headbutting the third one. Arno turned back at them before pointing at the building, "Well move your asses! Go!" he ordered.
The two guards nodded as they rushed off to guard Pema and the kids with the other remaining guard, leaving Arno and Lin to face down the next wave. "You should head back too. I can deal with these guys." he told her, Lin gave him a defiant look but Arno met it with his own, "Worst comes to worst you can sneak them out while I draw the Equalists to me." he reasoned. Lin glanced between him and the Equalists before nodding in agreement and falling back to the house while Arno faced down the staircase as the next wave of Equalists, led by Amon's second in command.
Arno let out a chuckle, Well Ming did describe him as the Mustache guy. he thought as the Lieutenant pulled out his electrically charged batons and charged with the six other Equalists fallowing behind him. Well better them than Manta. Arno thought before leaping across the square, catching the Equalists off guard as he landed right in front of them, slashing his knife at the Lt.
He wan' aiming for anything vital but it did make the second in command put distance between them as one of the Equalists flipped into the air and brought his foot down towards Arno, only for the blond to grab it in midair and slam him down int the ground and throw him at another Equalist and into a tree. The prince felt a quick series of soft Jabs hot his side, he threw his elbow back as he pivoted, the Equalist dodging under only for Arno's other fist to crash into his face.
The Lieutenant took the open to rush behind Arno and strike him with his batons, sending surges of electric shocks into the Atlantean, Arno raised his forearms to block the strikes, the electricity stung but didn't leave any serious damage. Arno parried one of the batons with his knife and elbowed the Lt's face, stepping back he kicked his other leg out into the Equalist commander's chest, kicking him off over the staircase. The remaining four Equalists all charged at once, Arno once again leapt forth, driving his knee into the chin of one of them as he threw his knife into another's leg.
The last two came at him from either side, attacking every chi point that they knew of and to their credit they brought Arno down onto a knee with a strong jab to the back of his leg. They continued their attack until Arno grabbed both of them by their outstretched hands and slammed them together as he stood back up. Holding his arm out he swung his arm out int the both f their heads, clotheslining the both of them at once before dropping his knee down onto one and his elbow down onto another. Standing up from the last two Equalists, Arno let out a quick huff of air, "Good fight guys, good fight." he said, a little out of breath as he turned his attention to the airship.
Leaping down the staircase to where the harpoons were embedded to the ground, he grabbed one of the anchors and pulled it free of the stone. Hoisting them over his shoulders he looked out to the bay before taking a few steps back and getting a good grip on the steel rods before getting a running start and throwing it out to the water, the force from the two lines pulling the ship causing it to turn towards the direction the harpoons where thrown. "Equalists dealt with, Reinforcements cut off. Thank you Sun Tsu." he said gratefully as he jumped back up the steps of the temple.
As he approached the house to tell Lin that it was safe, the roar of a sky bison made him stop in his tracks. Turning around he saw the large animal land in the Square with Korra, Bolin, Mako, Asami, and Tenzin climbing off, "Arno!?" the group collectively exclaimed before being rushed by Bolin of all people. "Oh thank goodness! We heard that the ship you went on went down, I mean I guess that wouldn't be a problem for you, you know, water breathing and all? But we were still worried and why aren't you wearing a shirt?" he asked, pulling away from his embrace somewhat awkwardly.
Arno chuckled at his friend, "Good to see you too Bolin." he said happily before Tenzin walked over with a relived look and clasped him on the shoulder, "Equalists are taken care of but Tenzin? Your wife went into Labor you better get in there." he said, pointing his thumb over his shoulder, making the Master Airbender's eyes widen before taking off so fast that he lived up to his title.
Turning back to the group, Korra was the first one to ask, "Where have you been?! We heard the ship you were on sank two days ago….you didn't-" she began with a hint of accusation in her voice.
"No! Why would…..no. It wasn't me." he clarified, a little offended that Korra would assume it was him behind it. He had thought of what to say on his way back to the city, Mera's warning about exposing Atlantis to the world…. "Apparently some Equalists planted bombs and set them to detonate on a timer. I got hurt and was out of it for a while." he lied.
Asami frowned, her shoulders slumping forward as she crossed her arms and looked away ashamed. Arno placed a hand on her shoulder, "No one got hurt. That's the important part." he said, knowing the Sato heiress would feel guilty that the Equalists probably would have used her father's technology to attack the ship. Asami offered him a small smile for his comfort, "So what about you guys? I'm gone a day and a half and the whole city goes to hell?" he asked, gesturing out to Republic City.
Mako grimaced at the sight, "The day after you left, Tarrlock arrested me, Bo and Asami on some trumped up charges. Korra confronted him about it and…." he looked at the Avatar.
Arno turned his head to Korra, the Watertribe girl crossing her arms over chest uncomfortably as the memories came back, "Tarrlock is…..was, a Blood Bender. Amon captured him and took his bending away. Naga found me and brought me back here and….well you saw." she said disappointedly as she looked at the state that the city was currently in. Just yesterday everything in the city was normal but within a few hours things had turned into a uprising that caught everyone off guard, herself included.
Arno was…..honestly on any other day that news would have surprised him to some degree but that was before a long talk with Mera not two hours ago. Before he could say anything in an attempt for comfort Korra, Meelo zoomed out of the house on an air scooter, "You guys! You guys! You Guys! The baby's here! The baby's here!" he exclaimed excitedly as he circled around the five of them and went back the way he came.
Arno and the others looked amongst themselves before fallowing Meelo, arriving at the room where Pema was taken for childbirth, Arno stood outside the room at the threshold, watching as his friends surrounded Pema and Tenzin on the bed along with their new son Rohan. As they celebrated the new addition to the Airbending family, Arno was in solemn thought, I just lied right to their faces…..some of the only people up here who know me, who know what I am and I just lied to them…. he thought sourly. Would them knowing Atlantis was real really be the end of everything…well maybe not Mako or Bolin…..but Korra, maybe Asami…
Korra was the Avatar, the bridge between the human and spirit world who played mediator with both world leaders and spirits. Her knowing about Atlantis could jeopardize all the Kingdoms of the Sea's safety, she could reveal it and everyone on the Surface could turn against them like they did Arno and unite to attack. But he trusted Korra, she had good judgement in only telling Tenzin about him and not Tarrlock after joining his Task Force, and maybe if he explained to them all that this could never be known they would keep it that way. But there was doubt, of course there was but even the slightest bit of it could mean people wound up paying for his mistake.
So for now, only he could know. He just found out he had a people, and he was their prince, even though he didn't have any clue what that entailed he couldn't jeopardize their safety.
After taking a few minutes for Pema to recover and the Air Acolytes to ready the Sky Bison, Arno was helping Pema and Rohan onto Oogi's back, carrying the both of them up the tail of the beast before setting them both gently down onto the saddle, "Thank you Arno, if you hadn't been here…" she began, shaking her head at the possibility as Rohan's barely open eyes looked up at him tiredly. The blonde smiled at the infant and held his finger out to the newborn infant who gripped it as tightly as it's small hands could and wrapped it's hand around his finger.
Arno smiled fondly at the baby, "I just wish I was here sooner Pema….but I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying with you guys all the way to the Air Temple. I'll double back here when you're all settled in." he said reassuringly, making the mother smile. Hopping off Oogi, he walked over to Korra and Tenzin as the Master put his hand on her shoulder. Noticing his approach, Tenzin nodded at him wit gratitude as Korra turned to address him. "You ok with me going?" he asked.
The Avtar nodded in agreement, "If Amon gets his hands on Tenzin or his family….there's too few Airbenders as is…..and I couldn't think of anyone better to protect them." she said with a smile as Tenzin went to join his family. She crossed her arms confidently, "But I'm not sure about you being however many miles up in the air, I thought you were only useful in water." she teased playfully.
Arno rolled his eyes at the Avatar's rib but smiled nonetheless as she held her hand up to him, "Hurry back ok? We're going to need all the help we can get when we go after Amon." she stated as Arno clasped her hand, both of them giving it a squeeze of reassurance before nodding. Tenzin informed them that he had sent a message to the United Forces to help retake the city but it would be three days until they arrived in port. Arno could make it to Republic City in half the time through the water, so going with Tenzin to the Southern Air Temple was their best move.
"Um, guys!" Bolin called out, the Avatar and Atlantean looked at the Earthbender and saw him pointing towards the city where a trio of airships was heading towards the island. "We better get going!" Bolin shouted as he ran to find his brother and Asami. Arno leapt over onto Oogi's back, making the sky bison groan under the extra weight's impact. Lin climbed up onto the saddle as well as Tenzin used Airbending to lift himself onto Oogi's head and whipping the reins while the remaining Acolytes took off on the other Sky Bison as they did.
Arno felt his stomach drop as they lifted up into the air, suddenly aware that he was one of the many people who had NEVER flown before. He grabbed onto the side of the saddle a little tightly for safety. The Sky Bison was surprisingly quick, they were out of the city limits within minutes and over the open ocean with two of the airships tailing them, Question is which will give out first? The Bison's stamina or the Ships' fuel? Arno asked himself.
That question was promptly answered when harpoons fired out from one of the airships towards the bison, Or they could harpoon us like a whale! Arno suddenly thought whilst drawing out his knife from it's sheathe, he had done this dozens of times before with actual whalers in the sea. With how dense his skin was the harpoon wouldn't pierce his skin so as the Harpoon came down he stepped between it and Oogi. The impact against his chest made him stumble back onto the saddle. Lin grabbed the harpoon and twisted the metal apart, making it useless.
Arno grabbed the rope and looked at Lon, "Hold down the fort." he said before looking over the edge of Oogi. There was water below them, so is this didn't work he would at least be ok. Still though he took a deep breath, You got this, you got this, you- he thought to himself as he leapt from the side of Oogi and swung on the rope, -don't got this! he thought in slight panic as his stomach dropped into his feet from the force of the swing.
The wind whipping through his hair, the Atlantean Prince swung up towards the side of the airship and whipped off at the end, flying towards the upper side of the aircraft's shell he brandished his Dagger and sunk it into the side of the hull to catch himself on. Letting out a small breath of relief he dug his hand into the metal and pulled himself up before jamming his knife into the metal above him. Climbing up the side of the Airship he finally reached the crest where he could stand up on. Twirling his dagger around to reverse he slammed it down into the metal and carved out a handhold to grab.
Gripping the metal with both hands he violently ripped it up from the hull and ran with it! Tearing away the top of the airship and releasing the hot air that kept it afloat. When he tore the metal from one end of the airship to the other, he turned his attention to the second one still flying after the Sky Bison. Taking a few steps back, he sprinted towards the ledge of the ship and launched himself across the distance between the aircraft.
Landing with a roll across the hull of the airship, he plunged his knife into the metal once again with the intent on repeating what he did. However as he began to carve, he heard a humming sound behind him, turning his head he was blasted in the back by twin beams of red electricity. Sliding across the top of the ship, Arno hissed at the burns on his back, looking up towards the attack's origin he saw none other than Manta walking out from a entrance into the airship, "I got to admit I only went on the hunch you would stick with the Airbenders with how they let you hide on their island." Manta stated mockingly as red smoke drifted out the eyes of his helmet, "Like it? A few upgrades, Sato's got more ideas than I gave him credit for." He boasted while he raised his forearm, a long blade popping out from his gauntlet.
Arno glanced down at the knife between them before rushing at Manta as he did the same, Manta swung the blade up from his side as they neared the knife but Arno sidestepped his attack, striking at Manta's side with one as his other reached under his arm and uppercutted Manta's helmet while locking his arm around his shoulder and throwing him down onto the hull of the ship as hard as he could before reaching for his knife.
Plucking the blade from the ship he spun on his heel and dropped down blade first towards Manta, Manta raised his forearms and blocked Arno's attack by bracing his arms against Arno's. Kicking Arno off him, Manta swung himself onto his knees and brandished his arm blade. Rushing at Arno he kneed the blonde in the chest while he slashed his blade at Arno's head, the edge sliced through a few strands of his golden hair.
His fist collided with the underside of Menta's helmet, slashing his blade again Arno ducked beneath the strike and retaliated with plunging the blade into Manta's side where the plates of his armor had a gap so he could move. Letting out a grunt of pain, the eyes of his mask began to glow red while a familiar humming noise coming from the back, Arno released his knife only for Manta to slash him across the chest as the humming died down. Manta pulled the knife from his side and threw it over the side of the airship. The blonde gritted his teeth at the loss of his only real possession, turning his attention to Manta however he clenched his fists as he charged.
As he reached Manta he slid on the side of his leg and kicked the other into the pirate's knee with the intent of shattering it, he simply dropped onto it before Arno swung his leg and kicked the side of Manta's helmet while spinning onto his feet. Ruining at Manta the pirate hoisted his arm up, shooting a harpoon out from his other gauntlet which ran an electrical current through it into Arno's body! The prince dropped onto his knees as he held in a agonizing scream from the pain. Manta stood up over the fallen prince, "I have to admit Arno, this isn't as satisfying as I thought it would be." he stated before his foot connected to Arno's ribs with enough force that made a sound similar to a crack. "This is much better. Hiroshi helped me augment this suit so I can stand against you on equal footing, the strength, the firepower, the durability, we're even now."
Manta reached down and grabbed a hand full of the blonde's hair as a yelp escaped the Atlantean's mouth, lifting his head up as he held his other hand out, the blade emerging from the gauntlet, "I beat you, because I know you. I know how you think. So before I finally end you? I'm going to make you watch as Amon takes those Airbender's bending away." he threatened, tilting his helm towards the bow of the Airship as the Sky Bison got closer within reach of the ship. Arno's eyes looked back to Manta with hatred in his eyes, "There it is….that's the exact same look you had on your face when you killed my father….bet you wish you wish you got me instead." he said lowly as his eyes once again glowed the humming from him resumed as well.
Arno looked between Manta and Oogi, he couldn't let them get to Tenzin, but with the pain from the harpoon's current just kept him- Wait…back at the Arena….. Arno thought as he remembered How Manta used the same device to pull himself back onto the glass dome. Well here's hoping I weigh more than he does! Arno thought before using the last of his strength to hurl himself down the hull of the blimp as Manta's eye beams finished charging.
The red electricity cut into the hull of the ship as he was pulled off balance by Arno, the two dropped through the air towards the sea as the ship above turned towards back, there was better chance of surviving a crash near land than out in the middle of the sea. Arno smirked triumphantly as he watched the airship turn around as the Airbenders and Lin escaped from the Equalists.
Arno and Manta hit the water like stones. The harpoon's electrical current flared up violently before cutting out, yanking the weapon from his flesh, he didn't even have time to register Manta slam into him, taking the both of them deeper into the water. "You think that'll stop me!? I told you before! I'll keep coming Arno! No matter what trick you manage to pull-" the blade on his wrist stabbed into his shoulder, making Arno yell out in pain as he was pinned against the ocean floor. Manta's knee pinned against Arno's abdomen, the pirate's helm looming over him with the red eyes casting a glow over Arno's face before headbutting the blonde.
The blood drifted up through the water around Manta as Arno grabbed the blade and tried to pull it out, only for Manta to lean more weight down onto him, the blade sinking deeper into him and making the pain skyrocket! I can't grab the blade! AGH! Come on Arno think! Think! he thought, his eyes darting around for something to use against Manta, a piece of coral, driftwood, anything! But there was nothing, the only thing he could see were the Whale Sharks circling the above them, Arno's blood attracting the predators to the both of them.
I can't-I can't do anything! There's nothing I…..I need…..
HELP.
With that thought it was like a shockwave went through the water, it felt like he was releasing a gasp of air out and it traveled for miles through the water And Arno could feel….everything, he could feel the octopi miles away skimming the floor of the sea in search of food, he felt a school of swordfish on the hunt for their prey, he felt creatures he's never seen before. It was like his mind had burst apart, like something finally clicked into place for him.
One of the Whale Sharks turned down towards the pair, it's massive form blocking out the sun shining through the water. Manta didn't notice, the rent tint of his helmet lenses made the sudden shade unrecognizable as he just leaned more into Arno. It was only when he saw Arno's eyes widen with their gaze trained behind him that Mana turned to see the Whale Shark's huge open mouth rushing towards him, "WHAT THE FUC-" before he explicative could be finished the Shark swooped down along the ocean floor and swallowed Manta in a single bite, pulling the blade out from Arno in the process as the Blonde watched the predator circle back.
Holding up his hand as a meager sign of defense, Arno braced for the same fate as Manta, Stop. he thought, causing the animal to stop dead in the water right before him. Arno stared at the shark is disbelief, shutting his eyes he tried doing that again, Leave?it came out as a question but the creature fallowed it like a order and turned around, swimming away from the wounded blonde. Holding the gut wound he stood upright as he watched the shark leave, It…it did what I wanted…..wait my headache…..it's gone! he realized, the soreness that perforated his mind for years now was suddenly gone, it was like the sun finally shining through the clouds and he could finally think clearly.
But more than that he could….sense better, he could feel the school of fish approaching him from a few feet away. Looking at the dozen or so small fish he tried what he done before. Up. he thought, another pulse emanating from him which the Fish obeyed, all of them suddenly turning upwards towards the surface of the water, Down. he commanded with more force. The fish immediately dived down towards him, Move Along. the fish resumed on their course away, past Arno as he rose up towards the surface of the water.
I can…..control fish….with my mind…..ok. he thought acceptingly. Atlantis is real, I'm a prince, and I can control the will of fish with my mind alone, yeah why the hell not? Just wait, Manta will….have been, my uncle or something. he thought with biting sarcasm. However a thought crossed his mind which caused a grin to spread across his face, if he could control sea life…..that meant ANY sea life. And he had just the creature in mind that could help with the Equalists.
AN: Ahem…so- (gets fire, earth, water spikes, and spears lodged at me.) OK OK. Look, I am late…..I'm not going to make excses, I got caught up in my Spider-Man story that this got pushed to the wayside….in fact this has been done for a while…..but it originally was going to be longer…..much longer…like WAY TO DAMN LONG longer. So I decided to split this chapter up into two parts. Thankfully because of that I have a decent start on the next one, which I shall be working on from now on for the foreseeable future in my free time.
A lot has happened with the Aquaman…wait…..hold on a sec….
….huh….wow so a quick internet search and it turns out they took a real left turn with him after Drowned Earth…..but he's back now, so…good.
So anyway working on the last chapter and then I'll start working on a in between the books chapter after that and then probably back to the Spider-Man/RWBY crossover.
I'm also drawing out Atlantis…not literally but worldbuilding wise. I got the early history written out, I'm working on the class system, it's a whole thing. Anyway, see you guys soon…..promise.
