The general grabbed Arthur by the hair and pointed forward, signaling the limousine to depart. They watched the car drive away as they stood next to each other, now alone. Tension arose between them.

Arthur clenched his teeth. "Where are we going?"

"I don't trust you folk," the general said. "How convenient is it that you humans make your way into our land on the exact day we're having the young master take their rightful place? One hell of a coincidence, if I do say so myself. Almost unbelievable."

Arthur said nothing, pressing his lips together. His anger grew as the general pulled his hair, but nothing could change the situation, especially considering one was handcuffed while the other had all the control.

Another car drove towards the general and Arthur. It was a small yet fancy black sedan. The vehicle stopped near them while the back doors opened and an individual in the back pulled Arthur inside, placing a blindfold on him.

The general entered the front passenger seat and spoke loud enough for Arthur to hear. "Boyo, I hope you enjoy feasts because you'll be having your last if you're lying to me."

The car drove off. No one could see inside the vehicle since the tinted windows were too dark. They headed towards the royal palace, an establishment for the royal family and their monarchical activities — parties, meetings, and such fancy pants affairs.

However, the general took Arthur to the royal building for one primary reason: to find out if Arthur was lying or not by having the king verify if he was someone he knew. Once he figured out Arthur's identity and he was indeed someone the king knew, he'd kill the rest of the intruders. He would leave Arthur alive for his young master — the king's child and rightful heir to the throne. Arthur would be the sacrificial goat for the young master to claim their legitimacy as king.

An Atlantean's route to kingship was simple, be the successor of a fallen king and spill the blood of an alien. Usually, the heir would do this by slaughtering an animal, but Arthur presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Killing Arthur was a chance for the general to symbolize the birth of the prophesied monarch, the one true Atlantean that will extend above the sea. A ruler that's not confined is the legend of Atlantis's true king. Atlanteans hoped for the current king to be that ruler, but he brought nothing but the stigma of being known as ill, which humiliated them all.

Since today was the annual dinner honoring Atlantis, many citizens watched the palace behind the building's fence. There were many guards present around the border to ensure no trespassers entered.

The front yard was bright green with freshly cut grass, arranged artistically in different shapes, and a fountain in the middle sprinkled water — without it, the body of water would look like a swimming pool. The extravagant land only befitted the finest, a multi-story structure with a paint combination of turquoise, white, and gold layers — an architect's wet dream.

The guard took off Arthur's blindfolds and pointed a dagger at his throat, but he brought his weapon towards Arthur's fluid cuffs and cut them, shattering the white sap.

The general opened Arthur's door and stared him dead in the eyes. "Act happy and walk with me."

Arthur stepped out of the car and put on a fake smile, his teeth showing. He stood side by side with the general as he neared the palace's entrance, trying his best to appear ordinary. But it was difficult, considering he was a human, not a fish... Or at least, fish featured.

All the guards standing near the entrance shifted their sight to Arthur. They all concentrated on him, but they stopped once the general coughed. The guards refocused on their job.

One guard opened the palace's door, a potent smell of alcohol filling the air. The general and Arthur walked through a hall packed with the warmth of thousands of guests that wore grandiloquent clothing. They spoke to one another in the hallways and banquet gallery, considerable noise emitting, and even the taps of moving butlers serving guests appetizers and drinks equaled the talking. It was chaotic, to say the least.

Arthur and the general passed the lobby and approached a secluded section of the palace. It was a small room full of art and mounted figures, many depicting sea creatures, but the most fascinating part was the floor that incorporated a painted octopus-like creature with a fish head — it spanned the whole room.

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The general nodded as he touched a sculpture with a fish's body and a giraffe's head. "Arthur, no matter what you do, if you tell the young master about our plans..." He gripped the statue's neck and pressed it until the gray stone broke, dust scrambling in the air. "You and your friends will wish that you had died."

"I won't," Arthur said with confidence, his sight darting to the broken rock.

The general stretched his lips with his fingers and showed his teeth. "Don't forget to smile. The young master doesn't need any more negativity."

Arthur nodded, closing his eyes as he tried to remember something worth smiling about. He recalled Meth and his foolish antics. He couldn't help but present a slight natural smile.

They left the room and made their way to the top floor, where two guards safeguarded the entry. The guards carried lances, creating an "x" at the entrance to the floor.

The general held his hand. "At ease."

The guards looked up and down at Arthur and the general. They slammed the end of their weapons on the floor and stomped with one foot, offering a salute with their free hand. One of them nodded, and both pivoted, facing each other. "You may enter!"

They walked through the guards and down the passageway. The top floor was where the royal family conducted their more intricate life — sleeping, dining as a family, and boring activities that any child would dread. No one but the royal family was allowed in the area, exempt from a few that were allowed in special circumstances.

"Don't speak unless I tell you," the general said harshly, standing in front of a teal-colored door. "And don't act suspicious."

Arthur nodded and didn't say a word, maintaining his smile.

The general knocked on the door and cleared his throat. "My king, we are entering."

Since the king was bedridden, he was treated more like a burden than the once revered ruler he was. He was no longer the Atlantean that became a hero but the one that lost his valor. A failure. Not only as a hero but as a king. He failed both his nation and the country that he used to serve.

The king's room was all white, except for the black bed and small table to its right. Fishman was posed against his bed with a female sitting to his right. He was around seven feet tall and had admirable muscular proportions, his stomach was prominent, but that was due to him being bedridden. However, the bewitching fact was that the king seemed more human than fish. If one couldn't see the gills on his neck and webbed fingers, they'd think he was human, not an Atlantean.

"Young master, why are you here?" the general asked, looking at the adult girl.

She had light blue hair and a pretty face. Her stature was eight feet tall, and she clearly had a more athletic build than her father's. She smiled and hugged her father. "Is it so terrible that I wanted to see my father?"

"No, but the dinner is soon. You must get ready."

"Come on, Benji," she said. "I would rather spend time with my father. After all, I was only feeding him my special smoothie." She pointed to the floor, where an empty cup was.

"I know your father loves your cooking. But he can't see without medications, much less speak."

"But Benji-"

"Stop... pestering my.... dear Elli," Fishman said with a raspy tone, his lips hardly moving.

Elli — Fishman's daughter — twisted her head and stared at her dad. She pressed her lips together and raised her eyebrows, but she shook her head and smiled.

'Who gave him his medications?' the general thought. He was in awe because he was the only one who had access to the medication. He cleared his throat and smiled, trying his best to speak confidently. "My king, you can talk?"

Fishman blinked once, indicating that he could. He used blinks to communicate when he couldn't or didn't want to speak, and for whatever reason, he decided to not talk.

Elli hugged her father. "It's been an entire year since you last spoke."

"Young master," the general said. "I hate to intrude on your time, but your father and I require time alone. And you need to get ready."

"But..." she said, looking at her dad.

Fishman mumbled as his lips barely moved. "Darling... go..."

Her gaze moved onto her father, and she pouted, standing up. "I'll listen, but I'll be back."

Elli left the room without saying a word to the general or batting an eye at Arthur. It was almost like Arthur was nonexistent to her. Or perhaps she was so excited about her father's resurgence that she wished to get other work done so she could spend time with him.

"My king, I have an intruder that claims to be your companion. I arrived here as soon as I could. Does this man speak the truth?"

Fishman blinked twice.

"Are you sure that you don't know him?" The general asked, pulling Arthur in front of him. "My lord, does the name Arthur Penfish not mean anything to you?"

"I... may remember..." the king said. "... If... we... can talk?"

"No worries, my king." The general grabbed Arthur with a smile, his teeth not showing. "Arthur, talk to him."

"No," Fishman said, his dry lips moving. "... alone... we talk."

"Right away," the general said, turning around and walking towards the door. His face scrunched up in anger as he left the room and stayed outside.

Arthur stood in front of the king as he stared at the floor and then at the king. He took a deep breath before he spoke, so he could speak in a clear manner. "I'm Arthur Penfish."

"There's no way that you're who I think you are," he said, yawning with one hand and placing his other hand in the air as water circulated around it like a hula hoop. "I've never met you before. I'm sure of it. No, I know. But as for the individual who used to be you. Well, that's another story, a much different one."

Arthur opened his mouth and stared at the not-so-impaired man.

"So, what brings you here?" Fishman licked his chapped lips and looked at Arthur as he shook his head, but he stopped, his mouth extending into a half grin. "What brings the Wanderer to this failed city?"