Let's do the time jump again
The last time we did this, we jumped ahead 15 years to a time in which the children of the world's greatest super heroes fought alongside their famous parents to battle the deadliest villains known to man. Now, having told tales of their great triumphs, it's once again time to propel our stories further into the future: an era 10 years after the Contest of Champions. Many members of the Avengers and Justice League have retired from crime-fighting due to age and other responsibilities. Who will safeguard the world in their stead?
Ironclad, Sunburst, Shield Maiden, Quickdraw, Torunn and Selena Strange, of course!
Join us, now, for an all-new era of imagination as LJ takes a big, bold step in her ongoing development as a writer. No longer content to merely intertwine and build on the creations of others, the kidlet is raring to share her all-new, all-original concepts with her readers. The inspiration of Marvel and DC still loom large, and always will, but this is where she shows her chops as an independent thinker. Expect new heroes, new villains, new worlds and undreamed-of scenarios. Expect fun, adventure, drama, tragedy and triumph. But before we get into any of that, expect...
----------
LJ presents:
THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY
Written and directed by LJ
Novelisation by SF
Theirs was a love story that had captivated not just one world, but all worlds. The royal courtship between Arthur Orin Curry Jr, prince of Atlantis, and May Anna "Mayday" Parker, daughter of international super-model Mary Jane Watson-Parker, was as high-profile throughout the universe as it was on planet Earth. Had the adoring masses known Mayday was also the stunning Spider-Woman, the frenzy of attention would be unbearable. And so Peter Parker, the doting father of the bride who'd once worn the costume of the amazing Spider-Man, was thankful his family had worked so hard to conceal their true identities. It was one of the few things he was finding bearable in the lead-up to the wedding of the century.
Watching your only daughter get married is hard enough. Watching her get married to the next king of a magical, undersea kingdom was something else altogether. Never overly comfortable in formal settings, Peter now found himself attending state functions, clad in Atantean/human "hybrid fashion" (designed by another erstwhile super-hero, Janet Van Dyne) and... annoyingly... sitting alongside King Orin. Though his days as Aquaman were over, Orin's love of storytelling (read: boasting) had not abated. Peter's ears were sore and his heart was heavy. He was convinced the "old Parker luck" was coming home to roost and something would go wrong at the wedding.
His gorgeous wife (looking resplendent in her coral-accented dress) told him not to fret. His brother Ben (snazzily dressed in clothes he'd stolen from Peter's closet) echoed the sentiment. And his beloved daughter (breathtaking in a wedding gown that, somehow, floated both in and out of the water) constantly squeezed his hand - reassurance for them both. Despite himself, Peter started to relax. Ben was right, he reasoned: no one in their right mind would attack a super hero wedding surrounded by hundreds of armed Atlantean soldiers!
Just a few leagues away, however, two people who were decidedly not in their right minds took the first, tentative steps toward doing just that.
Professor Tobias was an oceanographer, an environmentalist and a good man. He cared deeply about all living creatures - so deeply that he often let his fears get the best of him. Tobias believed the polar ice caps were at imminent risk of destruction. He also believed a catastrophic tsunami, capable of eradicating all life on Earth, was both inevitable and likely to be unleashed at any second. More than anything, he wanted to study King Orin's royal trident - a mystical object capable of controlling the tides - so he could create a scientific copy and use it to safeguard coastal populations.
His assistant, Roger Cartwright, was more of a mystery. A gruff-tempered man who spoke in short, sharp sentences, Cartwright served as both research helper and bodyguard. His particular area of expertise was cephalopods, in particular the 304 species of the order Teuthida - commonly known as squids. Cartwright was fascinated by the creatures and, most especially, their inks. He had adapted the ink of each species for his own use and carried them in the tank on his back and the cartridges on his belt. Some of the inks remained in their natural state for use as defensive screens, distractions, numbing agents and chemical alarms. Others had been altered, by Cartwright, into offensive weaponry capable of poisoning or otherwise harming those exposed to them.
Had Professor Tobias been in a calmer state of mind... had he not become so consumed by his research, so desperate to analyse the trident... he might have realised Cartwright was not the sort of person in whom he should place his trust.
With the royal wedding just hours away, Professor Tobias and Cartwright barged into a conversation between King Orin and Prince Arthur. The groom-to-be had yet to choose a best man and did not want to, given his best friend could not be with them. Orin understood, but urged his son to put aside his grief over Damien Wayne and focus instead on making the day as happy as possible. With a smile, Arthur decided the only other person who could be his best man was his father - an honour the king happily accepted.
As they embraced, the babbling oceanographer demanded immediate access to the trident. Unwilling to interrupt the celebrations and angered by the academic's tone, Orin reacted harshly. He not only gave the "air breathers" a lecture in the trident's importance - it had an essential ceremonial role to play in the wedding - he ordered they be kicked out of Atlantis until well after the festivities. Tobias and Cartwright were dragged away by the royal guard, and Orin assured his son he'd "cool down" and speak with them once the wedding reception had concluded.
Tobias was inconsolable... but Cartwright had a plan. He suggested they "just steal" the trident. He was confident he knew his way around Atlantis and could find a path through the kingdom's security measures. Again, Tobias should have asked how his assistant came by such knowledge. Blinded by his cause, he did not. Instead, he meekly followed Cartwright into a ventilation system - the amazing ducts that turned the sea water outside Atlantis into breathable air inside the city - and toward the trident.
Meanwhile, in the great hall of Atlantis, the wedding was about to commence.
The guest list was distinguished. Thor, Allfather of Asgard, and Queen Sif were in attendance, as was King Konkar of Jotunheim. King T'Challa of Wakanda sat at the same table, accompanied by his old friend Ms Van Dyne (representing Queen Ororo, who could had matters of state she could not put off). Rounding out their table was Queen Diana Wayne of Themyscira. In spite of the tragedies she had endured, the "lonely queen" looked as radiant and happy as ever. King Orin greeted her with a kiss and his condolences, which she gratefully accepted.
John Stewart attended to represent the Green Lantern Corps while Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer, had come on behalf of Galactus. Wally West, once known as the Flash, laughed and joked with them (age can't change one's core personality). They were all surprised, and delighted, when a beam of pure sunlight stabbed through Atlantis' dome and reformed into Superman! The Man of Steel had descended from his solar Fortress of Solitude to be part of Arthur and May's big day. It was a rare occasion when the guardian of the universe took a break from his duties, and further showed how important and special the wedding was to all. Superman embraced Diana; their bond only strengthened by mutual loss.
The mood in the hall lifted once more when Tony Stark, aka the "Iron Mayor" of Super Hero City, sauntered in. Accompanied, as always, by his wife Pepper - chief executive of Stark Industries - the civil servant was determined to get the party started. The Starks were delighted to be seated with their old friends Steve Rogers, Director of SHIELD, and his second-in-command, Sam Wilson. Their table was rounded out by the Sorceress Supreme, Wanda Maximoff, and her husband, the Vision.
The next set of guests, however, showed time could not heal all tensions. Erik Magnus Lensherr, lord of the House of M, and Raven Darkholme wore their customary smirks. The once-and-former Magneto even tossed an ironic salute toward Wally West, irking the retired speedster. Tony Stark was much more cordial, even comfortable, with his fellow civic leader. Lensherr and Rogers shared a look and nod of mutual respect. It was not a gesture that T'Challa, or any of the other royals, copied.
And then, at last, it was time for the wedding proper! First down the aisle came Torunn, princess of Asgard, and her best friend Selena Strange. Though they were not truly part of the wedding party, Mayday wasn't about to leave any of her friends out. Selena could barely contain her glee, as she'd never been to a wedding before. The duo took seats alongside Lensherr and Darkholme as Mary Jane began to walk the aisle, accompanied by her brother-in-law. Ben looked natty in Peter's suit (an in-joke not lost on those in attendance) while Mary Jane set hearts aflutter. She stopped to peck both Arthur and Orin on their cheeks, causing the men to blush.
Lara Kent, Iris West, Maria Stark and Peggy Carter were the maids of honour. Mayday considered them her "little sisters" and there was no question she wanted them by her side. The crowd ooh-ed and ahh-ed as the beautiful young women paraded toward the altar in their Van Dyne originals (which, as far as Iris was concerned, rode up in all the wrong places). But the moment to top all moments came when the bride herself entered the great hall. With her somewhat teary father at her side, Mayday was an utter vision of bridal perfection. Arthur was agog; the woman he loved looked even more amazing than usual. He was more than a little convinced it was she, not he, who had magical heritage. "Face it, Tiger," she whispered as she drew close, "you just hit the jackpot."
The ceremony, presided over by King Orin, was a tasteful merging of land and sea traditions. Orin restrained his storytelling (after a not-so-subtle nudge from his son), and the couple's vows were tender and heartfelt. When Arthur and May were pronounced husband and wife, the guests erupted into applause. Their joy was echoed throughout the world - and the universe - by the billions of life forms watching the centralised, not-for-profit media coverage organised by the Hero Times.
"That is but the first part of the ceremony," King Orin announced. He lifted the trident reverently. "May is now the bride of Atlantis' future king but she is not, as yet, a princess. That honour, that responsibility, can be conferred only by a coronation with this trident. The prince will now take the trident and tap it against his bride's shoulders. With that act, the power of Atlantis - and the power to breathe underwater - will be bestowed upon her. With that power, May will become this kingdom's princess... and its next queen!"
May, a nervous smile on her lips, bent forward at the waist. Arthur took the trident in both hands. The young couple had practiced this moment over and over again (with a broomstick, yes, but it counted) because they knew how important it was. Trying not to think of the billions of people breathlessly anticipating this moment, Arthur raised the trident...
... and had it snatched out of his hands by Cartwright!
The ink-loving diver had popped out of a ventilation duct beneath the altar and leaped, firing the jets on his backpack for extra propulsion. Even out of the water, the powerful fans had rocketed him forward and allowed him to strike before anyone could react. May, her father and uncle hadn't even sensed his attack because it didn't pose any danger to them personally - just to the trident! Cartwright snagged the artefact, ducked, rolled and then dashed toward the great hall's exit. King Orin, roaring with fury, blocked his way. Cartwright fired an ink-laced spear from his harpoon gun; the poisonous barb savaged the Atlantean's immune system and he crumpled to the floor in agony.
Chaos ensued. The guards rallied around Orin; Arthur and May had to struggle through them. Tony Stark tapped a button on his watch; instantly, the Hero Times feed went dead. Their privacy restored, the retired superheroes prepared to give chase. "No," boomed Lara, shedding her dress to reveal the iconic S-shield beneath. "This is our fight!"
Superman smiled. "Go get 'em," he said.
Lightning flashed, magic flared, armour snapped into place and the speed force crackled to life. Over the sound of Janet's low sobs, wedding dresses disappeared and heroes stood revealed. Sunburst, Quickdraw, Ironclad, Shield Maiden, Torunn and Selena Strange stood ready to avenge their friend's loss. A split second later they were joined by Spider-Woman and the new Aquaman. "If you think some turkey is going to ruin my wedding without a fight then, sister, I have news for you," Spider-Woman fumed. "Let's get that jerk!"
Cartwright hadn't made it far. He'd had to drag Professor Tobias along behind him and the academic was inconsolable. "I can't believe I agreed to this madness," he wailed. "We've committed treason! We've ruined that young couple's wedding! I didn't want this, not any of this! I've never believed the end justifies the means." He dug in his heels. "Turn around, Cartwright. Right now! We're going to give the trident back and we're going to apologise. Hopefully King Orin will forgive us and..."
The crystal dome above them shattered and a torrent of water poured into Atlantis. Before Tobias' uncomprehending eyes, the water reformed into an enormous fist. One blow sent him hurtling back the way he'd come and he crashed into the unforgiving masonry. Cartwright, his face alight with malice, laughed cruelly. "This was never about you and your cause, old man," he snarled. "This was always about revenge, about righting the wrongs of the past! With this weapon, I will succeed where my mentor failed and scour the abomination that is Atlantis off the surface of the Earth!"
Tobias gasped. "Your mentor? You mean..."
"Black Manta," Cartwright nodded, reveling in the moment. "Yes, Tobias, I was a 'Manta Man' and I believed firmly in his vision of an Atlantis-free world. What better way to achieve that than with Aquaman's own weapon? What better time to eradicate these water-breathing fools than on their great day of celebration?" He pointed the trident at Tobias and the water-fist flexed, ready to deliver a killing blow. "Thank you for your 'help', fool. Out partnership is over."
A thick glob of webbing snagged the end of the trident and drew taught, pointing the artifact down toward the floor. The water fist mimicked the movement and slammed harmlessly - but noisily - against the polished tiles. "Uh uh uh," Spider-Woman quipped as she swung into view. "That doesn't belong to you, buster. It's the property of my... uh, friend... and you're giving it back. One way or another."
The heroes went into action but soon discovered the power of Atlantis was no trifling matter. Armed with the trident, Cartwright could use the entire ocean as his weapon - and that included its inhabitants. As water filled the pavilion, he summoned sharks, manta rays and other deadly aquatic creatures to form a makeshift army. Such was the influence of the trident, Aquaman's own telepathy could not override its mental domination. Eventually, Torunn and Quickdraw broke away from the battle to check on Professor Tobias.
"Inks," the intellectual muttered groggily. "On his belt... in his tank..."
"The base villain hath surrounded himself with chemicals," Torunn exclaimed, a glint in her eye.
"How sad for him," Quickdraw grinned, "that you and I know just what to do with chemically-enhanced villains!"
Quickdraw took off at top speed, skimming across the surface of the water like a stone. Her velocity, combined with the distraction of fighting the other heroes, ensured Cartwright didn't even notice her. Moving faster than the eye could track she looped around him, reaching out with one hand to brush her fingertips against the ink tank and cartridges. Her touch hyper-accelerated the molecules within the liquids into a state of extreme agitation. Once she broke away, Torunn summoned two immense bolts of lightning and fired them directly at Cartwright.
The results were explosive. The cartridges and tank exploded as the ink erupted from them. The viscous substances coated and enveloped Cartwright, who howled and scrabbled at his eyes, nose and mouth. He dropped the trident and Aquaman lunged forward to snatch it, then turned its magical power against the thief. All of the water that had leaked into the pavilion suddenly reversed direction and swept back out of the crystal dome, carrying Cartwright along in its torrent. The heroes watched as the mystic current carried Cartwright back toward the surface (at a perfect rate of decompression, of course) and dumped him on the shore. "I think he's learned his lesson," Aquaman smiled. "And besides, I've something much more important to do right now."
The wedding resumed a short time later. Professor Tobias' expertise, coupled with Atlantean science, quickly cured King Orin of ink poisoning. Professor Tobias was given a royal pardon for his foolishness, invited to attend the rest of the wedding and promised all the time he'd need with the trident once the festivities were done. The heroes donned their wedding gear once more (to Janet's relief) and re-took their places. Tony Stark tapped his watch a second time, restoring the Hero Times feed, and once again the eyes of the universe were upon Atlantis.
After a hurried retelling of the battle (excising Spider-Woman's involvement), Orin handed the trident to his son. This time there was no hesitation - with a sparkle of light and power, May Anna Parker was crowned Princess of Atlantis!
Bride and groom... princess and prince... embraced and kissed. The guests celebrated; the billions watching at home cheered and clapped. Teary-eyed parents hugged their children, emotional friends embraced, Orin and Peter shook hands and grinned. And above them all, well out of sight and shielded by sophisticated technology, a dark figure watched. Damien Wayne, son of the Batman, took in the happy scene through the red lenses of his mask. A rare smile twitched at the corner of his lips. "Well done," he whispered. "All of you." Then, with a swirl of his cape and a puff of smoke, the vigilante vanished.
As the revelry moved on to the wedding reception - a time for speeches, for laughter, for good food and questionable dancing - far away, back on land, Roger Cartwright regained consciousness. He instinctively took a deep breath... and choked as if the air were poison! Gasping like a fish out of water, Cartwright grabbed at his throat and pitched back toward the ocean. In the briny waves, he saw his reflection.
The combination of chemically-altered squid ink, speed force energy, mystic lightning and the magic of Atlantis had transformed Roger Cartwright. He pulled his diving equipment back on and flushed the helmet with all the ink left in his reserves. To his horror, he found he could breathe normally once again. The wretched super heroes and that traitor, Tobias, had mutated him, transformed him into a hideous ink-sucking freak! No, they'd done more than that... they had murdered Roger Cartwright! All that was left now... was Inkus.
Sucking greedily on his dwindling reserves, Inkus shambled away over the sand dunes - his black heart dripping with vengeance.
-----THE END-----
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF
Ironclad, Sunburst, Shield Maiden, Quickdraw, Torunn and Selena Strange, of course!
Join us, now, for an all-new era of imagination as LJ takes a big, bold step in her ongoing development as a writer. No longer content to merely intertwine and build on the creations of others, the kidlet is raring to share her all-new, all-original concepts with her readers. The inspiration of Marvel and DC still loom large, and always will, but this is where she shows her chops as an independent thinker. Expect new heroes, new villains, new worlds and undreamed-of scenarios. Expect fun, adventure, drama, tragedy and triumph. But before we get into any of that, expect...
----------
LJ presents:
THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY
Written and directed by LJ
Novelisation by SF
Theirs was a love story that had captivated not just one world, but all worlds. The royal courtship between Arthur Orin Curry Jr, prince of Atlantis, and May Anna "Mayday" Parker, daughter of international super-model Mary Jane Watson-Parker, was as high-profile throughout the universe as it was on planet Earth. Had the adoring masses known Mayday was also the stunning Spider-Woman, the frenzy of attention would be unbearable. And so Peter Parker, the doting father of the bride who'd once worn the costume of the amazing Spider-Man, was thankful his family had worked so hard to conceal their true identities. It was one of the few things he was finding bearable in the lead-up to the wedding of the century.
Watching your only daughter get married is hard enough. Watching her get married to the next king of a magical, undersea kingdom was something else altogether. Never overly comfortable in formal settings, Peter now found himself attending state functions, clad in Atantean/human "hybrid fashion" (designed by another erstwhile super-hero, Janet Van Dyne) and... annoyingly... sitting alongside King Orin. Though his days as Aquaman were over, Orin's love of storytelling (read: boasting) had not abated. Peter's ears were sore and his heart was heavy. He was convinced the "old Parker luck" was coming home to roost and something would go wrong at the wedding.
His gorgeous wife (looking resplendent in her coral-accented dress) told him not to fret. His brother Ben (snazzily dressed in clothes he'd stolen from Peter's closet) echoed the sentiment. And his beloved daughter (breathtaking in a wedding gown that, somehow, floated both in and out of the water) constantly squeezed his hand - reassurance for them both. Despite himself, Peter started to relax. Ben was right, he reasoned: no one in their right mind would attack a super hero wedding surrounded by hundreds of armed Atlantean soldiers!
Just a few leagues away, however, two people who were decidedly not in their right minds took the first, tentative steps toward doing just that.
Professor Tobias was an oceanographer, an environmentalist and a good man. He cared deeply about all living creatures - so deeply that he often let his fears get the best of him. Tobias believed the polar ice caps were at imminent risk of destruction. He also believed a catastrophic tsunami, capable of eradicating all life on Earth, was both inevitable and likely to be unleashed at any second. More than anything, he wanted to study King Orin's royal trident - a mystical object capable of controlling the tides - so he could create a scientific copy and use it to safeguard coastal populations.
His assistant, Roger Cartwright, was more of a mystery. A gruff-tempered man who spoke in short, sharp sentences, Cartwright served as both research helper and bodyguard. His particular area of expertise was cephalopods, in particular the 304 species of the order Teuthida - commonly known as squids. Cartwright was fascinated by the creatures and, most especially, their inks. He had adapted the ink of each species for his own use and carried them in the tank on his back and the cartridges on his belt. Some of the inks remained in their natural state for use as defensive screens, distractions, numbing agents and chemical alarms. Others had been altered, by Cartwright, into offensive weaponry capable of poisoning or otherwise harming those exposed to them.
Had Professor Tobias been in a calmer state of mind... had he not become so consumed by his research, so desperate to analyse the trident... he might have realised Cartwright was not the sort of person in whom he should place his trust.
With the royal wedding just hours away, Professor Tobias and Cartwright barged into a conversation between King Orin and Prince Arthur. The groom-to-be had yet to choose a best man and did not want to, given his best friend could not be with them. Orin understood, but urged his son to put aside his grief over Damien Wayne and focus instead on making the day as happy as possible. With a smile, Arthur decided the only other person who could be his best man was his father - an honour the king happily accepted.
As they embraced, the babbling oceanographer demanded immediate access to the trident. Unwilling to interrupt the celebrations and angered by the academic's tone, Orin reacted harshly. He not only gave the "air breathers" a lecture in the trident's importance - it had an essential ceremonial role to play in the wedding - he ordered they be kicked out of Atlantis until well after the festivities. Tobias and Cartwright were dragged away by the royal guard, and Orin assured his son he'd "cool down" and speak with them once the wedding reception had concluded.
Tobias was inconsolable... but Cartwright had a plan. He suggested they "just steal" the trident. He was confident he knew his way around Atlantis and could find a path through the kingdom's security measures. Again, Tobias should have asked how his assistant came by such knowledge. Blinded by his cause, he did not. Instead, he meekly followed Cartwright into a ventilation system - the amazing ducts that turned the sea water outside Atlantis into breathable air inside the city - and toward the trident.
Meanwhile, in the great hall of Atlantis, the wedding was about to commence.
The guest list was distinguished. Thor, Allfather of Asgard, and Queen Sif were in attendance, as was King Konkar of Jotunheim. King T'Challa of Wakanda sat at the same table, accompanied by his old friend Ms Van Dyne (representing Queen Ororo, who could had matters of state she could not put off). Rounding out their table was Queen Diana Wayne of Themyscira. In spite of the tragedies she had endured, the "lonely queen" looked as radiant and happy as ever. King Orin greeted her with a kiss and his condolences, which she gratefully accepted.
John Stewart attended to represent the Green Lantern Corps while Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer, had come on behalf of Galactus. Wally West, once known as the Flash, laughed and joked with them (age can't change one's core personality). They were all surprised, and delighted, when a beam of pure sunlight stabbed through Atlantis' dome and reformed into Superman! The Man of Steel had descended from his solar Fortress of Solitude to be part of Arthur and May's big day. It was a rare occasion when the guardian of the universe took a break from his duties, and further showed how important and special the wedding was to all. Superman embraced Diana; their bond only strengthened by mutual loss.
The mood in the hall lifted once more when Tony Stark, aka the "Iron Mayor" of Super Hero City, sauntered in. Accompanied, as always, by his wife Pepper - chief executive of Stark Industries - the civil servant was determined to get the party started. The Starks were delighted to be seated with their old friends Steve Rogers, Director of SHIELD, and his second-in-command, Sam Wilson. Their table was rounded out by the Sorceress Supreme, Wanda Maximoff, and her husband, the Vision.
The next set of guests, however, showed time could not heal all tensions. Erik Magnus Lensherr, lord of the House of M, and Raven Darkholme wore their customary smirks. The once-and-former Magneto even tossed an ironic salute toward Wally West, irking the retired speedster. Tony Stark was much more cordial, even comfortable, with his fellow civic leader. Lensherr and Rogers shared a look and nod of mutual respect. It was not a gesture that T'Challa, or any of the other royals, copied.
And then, at last, it was time for the wedding proper! First down the aisle came Torunn, princess of Asgard, and her best friend Selena Strange. Though they were not truly part of the wedding party, Mayday wasn't about to leave any of her friends out. Selena could barely contain her glee, as she'd never been to a wedding before. The duo took seats alongside Lensherr and Darkholme as Mary Jane began to walk the aisle, accompanied by her brother-in-law. Ben looked natty in Peter's suit (an in-joke not lost on those in attendance) while Mary Jane set hearts aflutter. She stopped to peck both Arthur and Orin on their cheeks, causing the men to blush.
Lara Kent, Iris West, Maria Stark and Peggy Carter were the maids of honour. Mayday considered them her "little sisters" and there was no question she wanted them by her side. The crowd ooh-ed and ahh-ed as the beautiful young women paraded toward the altar in their Van Dyne originals (which, as far as Iris was concerned, rode up in all the wrong places). But the moment to top all moments came when the bride herself entered the great hall. With her somewhat teary father at her side, Mayday was an utter vision of bridal perfection. Arthur was agog; the woman he loved looked even more amazing than usual. He was more than a little convinced it was she, not he, who had magical heritage. "Face it, Tiger," she whispered as she drew close, "you just hit the jackpot."
The ceremony, presided over by King Orin, was a tasteful merging of land and sea traditions. Orin restrained his storytelling (after a not-so-subtle nudge from his son), and the couple's vows were tender and heartfelt. When Arthur and May were pronounced husband and wife, the guests erupted into applause. Their joy was echoed throughout the world - and the universe - by the billions of life forms watching the centralised, not-for-profit media coverage organised by the Hero Times.
"That is but the first part of the ceremony," King Orin announced. He lifted the trident reverently. "May is now the bride of Atlantis' future king but she is not, as yet, a princess. That honour, that responsibility, can be conferred only by a coronation with this trident. The prince will now take the trident and tap it against his bride's shoulders. With that act, the power of Atlantis - and the power to breathe underwater - will be bestowed upon her. With that power, May will become this kingdom's princess... and its next queen!"
May, a nervous smile on her lips, bent forward at the waist. Arthur took the trident in both hands. The young couple had practiced this moment over and over again (with a broomstick, yes, but it counted) because they knew how important it was. Trying not to think of the billions of people breathlessly anticipating this moment, Arthur raised the trident...
... and had it snatched out of his hands by Cartwright!
The ink-loving diver had popped out of a ventilation duct beneath the altar and leaped, firing the jets on his backpack for extra propulsion. Even out of the water, the powerful fans had rocketed him forward and allowed him to strike before anyone could react. May, her father and uncle hadn't even sensed his attack because it didn't pose any danger to them personally - just to the trident! Cartwright snagged the artefact, ducked, rolled and then dashed toward the great hall's exit. King Orin, roaring with fury, blocked his way. Cartwright fired an ink-laced spear from his harpoon gun; the poisonous barb savaged the Atlantean's immune system and he crumpled to the floor in agony.
Chaos ensued. The guards rallied around Orin; Arthur and May had to struggle through them. Tony Stark tapped a button on his watch; instantly, the Hero Times feed went dead. Their privacy restored, the retired superheroes prepared to give chase. "No," boomed Lara, shedding her dress to reveal the iconic S-shield beneath. "This is our fight!"
Superman smiled. "Go get 'em," he said.
Lightning flashed, magic flared, armour snapped into place and the speed force crackled to life. Over the sound of Janet's low sobs, wedding dresses disappeared and heroes stood revealed. Sunburst, Quickdraw, Ironclad, Shield Maiden, Torunn and Selena Strange stood ready to avenge their friend's loss. A split second later they were joined by Spider-Woman and the new Aquaman. "If you think some turkey is going to ruin my wedding without a fight then, sister, I have news for you," Spider-Woman fumed. "Let's get that jerk!"
Cartwright hadn't made it far. He'd had to drag Professor Tobias along behind him and the academic was inconsolable. "I can't believe I agreed to this madness," he wailed. "We've committed treason! We've ruined that young couple's wedding! I didn't want this, not any of this! I've never believed the end justifies the means." He dug in his heels. "Turn around, Cartwright. Right now! We're going to give the trident back and we're going to apologise. Hopefully King Orin will forgive us and..."
The crystal dome above them shattered and a torrent of water poured into Atlantis. Before Tobias' uncomprehending eyes, the water reformed into an enormous fist. One blow sent him hurtling back the way he'd come and he crashed into the unforgiving masonry. Cartwright, his face alight with malice, laughed cruelly. "This was never about you and your cause, old man," he snarled. "This was always about revenge, about righting the wrongs of the past! With this weapon, I will succeed where my mentor failed and scour the abomination that is Atlantis off the surface of the Earth!"
Tobias gasped. "Your mentor? You mean..."
"Black Manta," Cartwright nodded, reveling in the moment. "Yes, Tobias, I was a 'Manta Man' and I believed firmly in his vision of an Atlantis-free world. What better way to achieve that than with Aquaman's own weapon? What better time to eradicate these water-breathing fools than on their great day of celebration?" He pointed the trident at Tobias and the water-fist flexed, ready to deliver a killing blow. "Thank you for your 'help', fool. Out partnership is over."
A thick glob of webbing snagged the end of the trident and drew taught, pointing the artifact down toward the floor. The water fist mimicked the movement and slammed harmlessly - but noisily - against the polished tiles. "Uh uh uh," Spider-Woman quipped as she swung into view. "That doesn't belong to you, buster. It's the property of my... uh, friend... and you're giving it back. One way or another."
The heroes went into action but soon discovered the power of Atlantis was no trifling matter. Armed with the trident, Cartwright could use the entire ocean as his weapon - and that included its inhabitants. As water filled the pavilion, he summoned sharks, manta rays and other deadly aquatic creatures to form a makeshift army. Such was the influence of the trident, Aquaman's own telepathy could not override its mental domination. Eventually, Torunn and Quickdraw broke away from the battle to check on Professor Tobias.
"Inks," the intellectual muttered groggily. "On his belt... in his tank..."
"The base villain hath surrounded himself with chemicals," Torunn exclaimed, a glint in her eye.
"How sad for him," Quickdraw grinned, "that you and I know just what to do with chemically-enhanced villains!"
Quickdraw took off at top speed, skimming across the surface of the water like a stone. Her velocity, combined with the distraction of fighting the other heroes, ensured Cartwright didn't even notice her. Moving faster than the eye could track she looped around him, reaching out with one hand to brush her fingertips against the ink tank and cartridges. Her touch hyper-accelerated the molecules within the liquids into a state of extreme agitation. Once she broke away, Torunn summoned two immense bolts of lightning and fired them directly at Cartwright.
The results were explosive. The cartridges and tank exploded as the ink erupted from them. The viscous substances coated and enveloped Cartwright, who howled and scrabbled at his eyes, nose and mouth. He dropped the trident and Aquaman lunged forward to snatch it, then turned its magical power against the thief. All of the water that had leaked into the pavilion suddenly reversed direction and swept back out of the crystal dome, carrying Cartwright along in its torrent. The heroes watched as the mystic current carried Cartwright back toward the surface (at a perfect rate of decompression, of course) and dumped him on the shore. "I think he's learned his lesson," Aquaman smiled. "And besides, I've something much more important to do right now."
The wedding resumed a short time later. Professor Tobias' expertise, coupled with Atlantean science, quickly cured King Orin of ink poisoning. Professor Tobias was given a royal pardon for his foolishness, invited to attend the rest of the wedding and promised all the time he'd need with the trident once the festivities were done. The heroes donned their wedding gear once more (to Janet's relief) and re-took their places. Tony Stark tapped his watch a second time, restoring the Hero Times feed, and once again the eyes of the universe were upon Atlantis.
After a hurried retelling of the battle (excising Spider-Woman's involvement), Orin handed the trident to his son. This time there was no hesitation - with a sparkle of light and power, May Anna Parker was crowned Princess of Atlantis!
Bride and groom... princess and prince... embraced and kissed. The guests celebrated; the billions watching at home cheered and clapped. Teary-eyed parents hugged their children, emotional friends embraced, Orin and Peter shook hands and grinned. And above them all, well out of sight and shielded by sophisticated technology, a dark figure watched. Damien Wayne, son of the Batman, took in the happy scene through the red lenses of his mask. A rare smile twitched at the corner of his lips. "Well done," he whispered. "All of you." Then, with a swirl of his cape and a puff of smoke, the vigilante vanished.
As the revelry moved on to the wedding reception - a time for speeches, for laughter, for good food and questionable dancing - far away, back on land, Roger Cartwright regained consciousness. He instinctively took a deep breath... and choked as if the air were poison! Gasping like a fish out of water, Cartwright grabbed at his throat and pitched back toward the ocean. In the briny waves, he saw his reflection.
The combination of chemically-altered squid ink, speed force energy, mystic lightning and the magic of Atlantis had transformed Roger Cartwright. He pulled his diving equipment back on and flushed the helmet with all the ink left in his reserves. To his horror, he found he could breathe normally once again. The wretched super heroes and that traitor, Tobias, had mutated him, transformed him into a hideous ink-sucking freak! No, they'd done more than that... they had murdered Roger Cartwright! All that was left now... was Inkus.
Sucking greedily on his dwindling reserves, Inkus shambled away over the sand dunes - his black heart dripping with vengeance.
-----THE END-----
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF