The waters around Atlantis shimmered with life, reflecting the golden glow of the undersea city. Schools of fish darted around coral towers, and Atlanteans moved gracefully through the streets. Everything seemed peaceful, but within the grand palace, Percy and Thalia sat on their thrones, discussing the recent reports of disturbances.

Beside them stood Jason, Nico, Piper, and Will, each donning their royal attire. They exuded an air of authority, their presence a testament to their new divine status.

Before anyone could speak further, a soft hum resonated through the water, growing louder by the second. Guards at the palace entrance stiffened as a group of figures descended from above, encased in protective bubbles. It wasn’t long before the group revealed themselves—Miss Martian, Superboy, Robin, Aqualad, and Artemis of the Young Justice League.

The guards moved to intercept, but Thalia raised her hand, halting them. "Let them through," she said. Her sharp gaze followed the intruders as they entered the throne room.

The Justice League members looked around, their expressions a mix of confusion and apprehension. Aqualad, leading the group, stepped forward. "We’ve come to speak with the ruler of Atlantis," he announced.

Percy exchanged a glance with Thalia before rising from his throne. His regal attire shimmered with the movement, the crown on his head catching the light.

“You’re speaking to him,” Percy said, his voice calm yet commanding.

Aqualad froze, his wide eyes flickering between Percy and Thalia. “You… what?”

“You heard him,” Thalia said, standing beside Percy with her arms crossed. Her silver crown gleamed against her dark hair. “Percy is the ruler of Atlantis now.”

“That’s not possible,” Miss Martian said, stepping forward. “King Orm was the ruler last we checked.”

“Things have changed,” Jason said, his tone sharp as he moved to stand beside his sister. “And clearly, you’re late to the news.”

The Young Justice League exchanged uncertain glances. Superboy’s brows furrowed. “You’re not Atlantean. How did this happen?”

“It’s a long story,” Nico said, his voice flat. “One we don’t have time to explain right now.”

“Wait,” Aqualad said, finally regaining his composure. “If you’re the ruler of Atlantis now, why were we not informed? This is a matter of great importance to the surface world.”

Percy stepped closer, his eyes calm but unwavering. “Because it’s not your business,” he said. “Atlantis isn’t under the surface world’s jurisdiction. We handle our own affairs.”

Robin crossed his arms, his sharp gaze analyzing Percy and the others. “Then what about the recent disturbances in the ocean? Those affect everyone, not just Atlantis.”

“They’ve been handled,” Thalia said curtly. “And if they haven’t, we’ll handle them. You don’t need to interfere.”

The tension in the room thickened as both sides stared each other down.

“Look,” Piper said, stepping forward with a disarming smile. “We’re not here to fight. But if you’ve come all this way to question our authority, you’re wasting your time.”

Miss Martian tilted her head. “We didn’t come to fight, but we need to understand what’s going on. This kind of shift in power can’t go unnoticed.”

Percy sighed, his patience wearing thin. “Here’s what you need to understand: Atlantis is my responsibility now. If there’s something you need to know about, we’ll tell you. Otherwise, stay out of it.”

Superboy bristled at Percy’s tone, but Aqualad placed a calming hand on his shoulder. “We didn’t mean to intrude,” Aqualad said. “But this is… unexpected.”

“You’re not the only ones adjusting,” Will said, his calm demeanor helping to ease the tension. “But trust us—we’ve got this under control.”

After a moment of hesitation, Aqualad nodded. “Very well. But if anything threatens the surface world, we’ll expect cooperation.”

“You’ll get it if it’s needed,” Percy said firmly.

With that, the Young Justice League began to retreat, though their expressions were still laced with uncertainty. Before leaving, Robin cast one last glance at the group, his eyes narrowing as though committing every detail to memory.

As the palace doors closed behind them, Thalia let out a sigh. “Well, that was annoying.”

“They’re lucky we’re trying to play nice,” Jason muttered.

Percy sank back into his throne, his mind already turning back to the reports they’d been discussing. “Let’s hope they don’t make a habit of this.”

Piper smirked. “If they do, I can always charm-speak them into leaving.”

The group chuckled, the tension easing. Though the encounter had been unexpected, they were ready for whatever came next. Together, they were unshakable.