Chapter Forty-Two

A light was behind the person who had joined us and that's when I noticed that the sky was cloudy and dark. I could see Arlo lunge at me in the corner of my eye, causing me to react slowly. We fell against the ice and slid, almost falling back into the water.

"Enough!" The voice of the person who joined us yelled. Arlo didn't move, just held a trident against mine and choking me with both. Where had he gotten this trident? Did someone bring it when I wasn't looking?

"You are weak, sister. When you finally die, I will become king." Arlo growled in my face. I clenched my jaw, pushing against him. My trident grew hot, but it didn't affect me. The head caused his trident to bend and melt at a fast rate. Nearly a second later, his trident snapped and someone grabbed my feet. I was pulled through his legs, my trident tripping him. Jason had yanked me then jumped to Arlo before he turned. Putting the Atlantean Prince in a headlock, Jason turned him to look at the person who had yelled. Arlo only struggled for a moment before he looked up at them. I watched him pause then drop his arms, Jason releasing him. "Mother." I stood from laying on the ice to join his gaze. She wore jeans and a t-shirt, holding a happy smile on her face.

"I thought... you had died." Arlo peered up at her as if he had just been scolded.

"I survived. Arlo, I don't want you fighting you sister anymore. I want you to get along and stop threatening war on the land." She touched his face. He looked up at her like a puppy begging for a treat. The water orb was still around his face, but when she touched it, it collapsed and fell to the ice platform. "You can breathe the air. You have convinced yourself that you couldn't because you despised those who lived on land." Arlo gasped as if he couldn't breathe.

"Breathe, Arlo. Breathe." Mom stroked his face. I studied him, seeing his chest fill then deflate. He stopped gasping and just looked up at her with awe. "Come. Stop this fight." Arlo nodded and the both of them went into the water, leaving Jason and I on the platform.

"Do you think he will actually stop?" Jason didn't look at me.

"Mom will make him." I sighed, suddenly tired. I laid down on the ice, Jason laying next to me. We glanced at each other for a long moment.

"We should get down there." He stated.

"We should." I pressed my free hand against the ice causing thick cracks and making it melt rapidly. Plummeting into the ocean, we heard Arlo yelling. We approached him and my mother as Arlo hollered at them to stop. He could project his voice well. The remaining ships ceased fire and the fighters of the Brine Kingdom halted their process of hurling hot rocks. Jason took my hand as we gazed upon the scene.

"This war is over! I believed that targeting the land was the best decision because I thought my sister caused my mother's death. She lives! I was wrong!" Arlo spoke. "I apologize for the destruction I caused and will do my best to fix it."

"You better, Atlantean Scum!" The large crab that I had spoken to earlier snarled.

"The Brine have always disliked the Atlanteans." Jason whispered in my ear.

"Maybe because they live in the saltiest part of the ocean?" I half joked, but it was also a real question. Jason chuckled softly and hearing it caused me to smile.

"Where is the Ocean Master?" The large crab looked around. Jason and I swam forward, pausing next to Arlo and my mother. "What do you have to say about this?" I don't know why I was silent. I knew what I thought.

"I think that if Ar... Prince Arlo is calling a truce after attacking you, it is a good thing. I will make sure that repairs are made to your land and that the Prince doesn't cause any more destruction." I pushed my voice out so that everyone could hear me.

"I can cheer to that!" He lifted his claws and everyone else on the hot ground cheered. I looked to Arlo and my mother who nodded in response. A large, dinosaur looking, creature swam over and they both got on it. As they left, the ships rotated and followed. Jason grabbed my arm, gently tugging me to face him. Placing his hands on my sides, he kissed me. The Brine Kingdom cheered again and I called over an Orca Whale. I wasn't sure how it got over here because it was so hot and we were far beneath the surface. We got on it's back and swam off quickly. I made a list in my head of things I needed to do. I had to visit Atlantis, form a crew that included Arlo to rebuild the Brine Kingdom, reunite my mother with my father, and after all that was done, I was going to take a very long nap. Jason wrapped his arms around me from behind, his warmth soaking into me. A smile crept over my lips as I felt him. I was happy that there weren't a lot of casualties. There were a lot of injured, but we could handle that. I was just happy that neither of us died or were severely injured and that soon, we would be home. Home without the threat of war. The thought made me happy and allowed me to relax on the way to Atlantis.