Ren sat on the edge of a rock, her feet idly splashing the water. She had been waiting for a while now, wondering where Atlantis had gone off to. Where is he? she thought, trying to push away the sudden pang of insecurity. I hope they're not... doing 'it' right now. She shuddered at the thought. That would be awkward.

Suddenly, the sound of laughter cut through the air, and she glanced up just in time to see Atlantis and Morgan coming into the cove. Both of them were carrying strange-looking plants that she didn't recognize.

Morgan's amber eyes roved over her body, lingering a little too long. Ren's instinct was to cross her arms over her chest, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his scrutinizing gaze.

"So, what do you think?" Atlantis asked, his voice light and teasing as he swam toward her.

Morgan's lips curved into a slow, sly smile. "Mm, yes. I can work with this." He said it as though he were appraising an art piece, his gaze flitting up to meet her eyes briefly before returning to her form.

Ren blinked, confused and a little alarmed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Morgan's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Ren, darling," he said in that smooth, almost languid tone of his, "You're going to a ball."

"A ball?" Ren's heart skipped a beat, her pulse thudding in her ears. "How? Why? Where? I can't breathe underwater! And what does a ball under the sea even look like? What do people wear?" Her mind whirled with questions, her stomach a tight knot of nerves.

Morgan's grin deepened, those sharp teeth just visible beneath his lips. "Don't worry, we'll make you pretty, and we'll find you something to wear," he said, his voice a strange mix of reassurance and calculation. "Now make yourself comfortable. I need to put some meat on those bones of yours."

Ren raised an eyebrow at Morgan's sudden directive but remained silent, the excitement of the prospect of a ball crashing into her nerves like a wave. This is crazy, she thought. I can't possibly go to some ball underwater...

_____________________________________________________________________________

"Kai!" Atlantis' voice cut through the stillness of the royal chambers as he entered, his spear slung across his back. He was calm, but there was a hint of concern in his voice as he floated into the room.

The Emerald King, Kai, sat on a carved stone bench, his muscular green tail draped over the armrest. His posture was slumped, his fingers tangled in his hair as if he were trying to hold on to something—anything—amidst the storm of thoughts swirling through his mind.

Atlantis hesitated, watching his older brother's obvious discomfort. Finally, after a few moments, Kai looked up, eyes weary but sharp.

"Something wrong?" Atlantis asked softly, leaning casually against the wall, though his own muscles were taut with the tension of the conversation he knew was coming.

Kai sighed, rubbing his temple. "Oh, my dear brother," he murmured, "Why ask such a question? You know what's wrong."

Atlantis' brow furrowed slightly, sensing the weight behind Kai's words. "The council?"

Kai nodded, his green eyes darkening. "The council wants me to marry in ten suns. If I don't, the Emerald Kingdom will lose its royal bloodline." His voice faltered, and the weight of those words seemed to hang between them like a thick fog. "I'm running out of time, Atlantis. I have no choice."

Atlantis looked at him silently for a moment, knowing the pain his brother must be feeling, the pressure of a kingdom on his shoulders.

Flashback:

The old Emerald King lay in his moss-covered bed, his body once powerful and commanding, now frail and shrunken. His blind eyes stared unfocused at the stone ceiling above him, his breathing shallow and uneven. The faint sound of his labored breath echoed in the stillness of the room, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging within his son.

"Kai?" The king's voice was a hoarse whisper, trembling with weakness, yet laced with a power that demanded attention.

Kai, still in his golden armor, knelt beside the bed, his hands clenched into fists, fighting the wave of dread that threatened to overwhelm him. His father's illness had been a slow unraveling over the past few moons, but it hadn't made the reality of it any easier to bear. He could feel the weight of his father's failing health like a physical force pressing down on his chest.

"I'm here, Father," Kai said, his voice thick with emotion, though he kept his composure. His gaze was steady, unwavering. He knew he had to be strong for the both of them, even if the fragility of the moment shook him to his core.

The king's hand, weak and trembling, reached for Kai's, his fingers brushing against the cold, smooth metal of his son's gauntlet. His grip was light, but still it conveyed the immense weight of everything he had to say. "Son," he rasped, his voice faint but insistent, "You must listen to me. There is something... something I must tell you. A secret that has been passed down through the kings of the Emerald Kingdom for generations. A prophecy."

Kai stiffened at the mention of the prophecy, the very word sending a ripple of unease through him. Prophecies were dangerous things, full of half-truths and ambiguous meanings. But there was no avoiding this one. His father's urgent tone left little room for debate.

"No, Father, you can't—" Kai began, but his father cut him off with a sudden, rasping cough, the effort racking his frail form. He was so thin now, barely a shadow of the imposing king he had once been.

"Hush," the king said, his voice stern despite his weakened state. "You will listen to me. You must." He paused, a jagged breath escaping his lips. "You are the last of the royal bloodline, Kai. You are the one who must carry the weight of this kingdom, whether you wish to or not. And the prophecy... it's yours now. Your reign, your choices, they will determine if the Emerald Kingdom survives or falls."

Kai felt his throat tighten, the words choking him. He wanted to deny what his father was saying, to say that it couldn't be true, but he couldn't. The inevitability of the prophecy hung in the air like a dark cloud, suffocating him.

The king took a deep, painful breath, his voice lowering, as if he were speaking directly to Kai's very soul. "This is what must be known, Kai." His eyes, though clouded and blind, seemed to see something beyond the present moment, as if he were looking into a future that only he could glimpse. "Listen closely."

Kai leaned in, his face mere inches from his father's, his golden eyes filled with a mix of fear and reverence.

"'The calling of two souls; One from an ancient race, the other from an Emerald Kingdom. A hoary heart bleeds for war, While the other begs for mercy. One must die for the kingdom to survive.'"

The silence that followed felt like an eternity. The words hung in the air between them, their meaning so dark, so heavy, that Kai could feel the weight of them pressing down on him.

One must die.

Kai opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. His mind raced as he tried to process the prophecy. Who were the two souls? What did the "ancient race" mean? And the most terrifying part of all: who would die? Was it him? Was it someone else?

He could feel his chest tightening, the breath caught in his lungs, as though the air itself had thickened with the gravity of the prophecy. He could not breathe.

The king's hand squeezed Kai's slightly, pulling him back from the abyss of his thoughts. "This is not a choice, son," the king murmured, his voice now barely audible. "It will happen. The prophecy must be fulfilled. The future of our kingdom lies in your hands. Your actions will determine the fate of us all."

Kai swallowed hard, blinking rapidly to stave off the tears that threatened to fall. He had never been one for tears, never one to show weakness. But in this moment, before the heavy weight of his father's words, it felt impossible to hold it all together. His father was dying, and with his death, the kingdom was at risk. He was at risk.

"What am I supposed to do, Father?" Kai's voice cracked, and for the first time in years, he allowed himself to feel vulnerable, to feel the crushing weight of the responsibility that had been thrust upon him.

The king's eyes softened, his grip loosening, and he spoke with a quiet intensity, as if imparting his final piece of wisdom. "You must find the one who is meant for you, Kai. Only with her will you fulfill the prophecy. She will be your strength... and your salvation."

The words pierced Kai's heart. A mate? A woman who would somehow determine the fate of the kingdom? He had never believed in such superstitions, but now, with his father's life hanging in the balance, the idea seemed less absurd than it had ever been before.

The king smiled faintly, his hand slipping from Kai's grasp as the last of his strength faded. "Remember, my son... choose wisely. You may not have much time."

Kai sat back, a churning storm of emotions swirling within him. He knew that the prophecy would not be so easily dismissed. His father's words echoed in his mind, as did the heavy silence that filled the room.

And as the weight of the future pressed down on his shoulders, Kai vowed that he would not let the kingdom fall. He would do whatever it took, no matter the cost, to fulfill the prophecy—and protect the Emerald Kingdom.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Back in the present, Atlantis stood in front of his brother, his eyes narrowing with thought.

"May I make a suggestion?" Atlantis asked, his voice softer now, the playful tone replaced with a hint of something more serious.

Kai looked up at him, the tension in his shoulders palpable. "Please, brother. At this point, I'll listen to anything you have to say."

Atlantis nodded, his golden eyes reflecting the same intensity that had driven him to speak. "Why not hold a ball? Invite every eligible maiden in the kingdom. There's bound to be someone who will suit you. If anything, you might meet your mate in the process."

Kai's face remained passive for a moment, but then his expression shifted. His lips curved into a smile, a flicker of hope lighting up his eyes. "Of course. Why didn't I think of that?" he murmured. He stood up from the bench, pacing now, the weight of his responsibilities easing slightly with the new plan. "A ball... I'll host one tomorrow night. Send out invitations, have everything ready. The Grand Hall must be prepared!" His voice grew more animated as he worked through the details. "We'll make it a grand occasion."

Atlantis chuckled softly. "Yes, your Royal Majesty," he teased, bowing dramatically before dashing off to make arrangements. As he swam off, he couldn't help but think that this ball might just be the perfect distraction for his brother—and, perhaps, an opportunity to push his own plans forward.