Cody

As I stood in the throne room, a heavy weight pulled me into the gutter of my mind and started to drag me through the mud.

The events of today were tougher than they had ever been, but to make it worse, it was the aftermath that was the true nightmare. The choice I would have to make. Earlier today, I thought I'd have to make the most difficult choice ever, but now I knew, it didn't even compare to what I had now.

Rasmus brought up a point, and now I had to deal with it.

It's for the good of Atlantis... I kept repeating to myself.

However, it didn't make it any less terrible.

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Many Hours Before

My whole body stiffened as the knife was brought up to Sam's throat. The woman holding her had a crazed smile on her face, and held her in place with both that knife and one really strong arm. You could see the woman's muscles.

Her eyes held a devious side to them, glowing brown slightly. In her arm, while still holding onto Sam, she had a detonator for bombs placed everywhere in Atlantis, including on people.

"Hello, King~" She sang, making shivers run down my spine. "How about a little game?"

Despite the knife at her throat, Sam looked annoyed if anything. She attempted to wiggle her way out, but when she couldn't, sighed deeply and slumped in place.

"What do you want? Just let Sam go and we can negotiate something! Just let her go and don't set off the bombs." I added in the last part, remembering the threats at stake. However, the lady only laughed, making me shrink just a bit.

"But King! She's part of the deal!" I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She went on. "I want to give you a choice. You see, as you know there are bombs all throughout the area. I can set them off at any time and we can all watch your empire crumble, or," She grinned even wider, her pointed teeth showing. "I can kill this one!"

I nearly fell over. "What?"

"Oh, I know she's your girlfriend, that's what makes this so fun! Make a choice! Atlantis, or love?"

I glanced at Sam, but she only gave me a stare back that clear said, "You're choice, Cody." Which made matters even worse. She was expecting me to make the right choice, but what the right choice was was something unknown to me.

"Can... Can I have a minute?" I stuttered. The lady snickered to herself, like it was an inside joke.

"Sure, just don't leave my sight!" I nodded and staggered to stay standing. All the pressure of decisions was making me dizzy. I managed to get a little whiles away while also staying within her view and casually slipped my hand to my ear, pressing on the device on it.

"Serpent! Chemical! Come in! Do you copy?" I hissed, keeping my voice down.

"Why do we need nicknames again? And why does he get to be Chemical while I just get Serpent?"

"Serpent! We are trying to defuse a bomb here! Don't distract me!"

"You're just saying that so I'll dismiss the fact that your nickname is better than mine!"

"Shut up and defuse some bombs! I'm getting more than you!"

"Is that a challenge, Chemical?"

"No, it's a promise, Serpent!"

"Will both of you shut up and cooperate!" I nearly screamed but held it down. "They might kill Sam." That put both of them in silence. "Good, you understand now. They're either going to kill her, or blow up Atlantis. Defuse as many as possible! I don't want to choose!"

"On it!" Both said at the same time before cutting off. I sighed and began to rub my head. About ten minutes later, she called me back.

"Well, King? What's it going to be?"

I hesitated, thinking of what I would say until it consumed my mind. The words nearly left my mouth when two voiced made me jump, confusing the girls in front of me.

"DONE!"

The male and female voice mixed together, blending until I couldn't tell them apart. Though a little out of it, I grinned. "You lose, lady."

Before she could react, I tackled her.

******************************************

Lucky for me, I didn't have to make a choice, but I couldn't deny one thing.

I was very close to choosing Sam over Atlantis. Too close.

I found myself concerned and decided to talk to Rasmus about it. That's when he put me in the place I was now. He expressed his concern, then told me something that would stop my heart.

"Cody, if you were going to choose her, you need to break it off."

Of course, I protested. "WHAT? Why? I love her!"

"I know you do but... You need to have your head and heart in your city. Atlantis needs a king that will dedicate his life to them, and if Sam is keeping you from that, you need to break it off."

The worst part was that he was right, and I knew it.

For the good of Atlantis...

"Cody? What's this about?" Just hearing the mermaid's voice made my heart turn to lead. I whipped around to face her, getting her head to tilt slightly. "Everyone is cleared out... Why are you being so serious?"

I took in a breath. "I-... How are you feeling? Are you alright?" I could barely get the words out, much less tell her what I needed to do.

Sam shrugged. "Fine I guess. Could be worse, I could be dead. Thanks by the way."

This was it, my chance.

For the good of Atlantis...

"Actually, I need to speak with you about that." Sam waited as I found the courage to say, "I'm breaking up with you."

The teal mermaid froze but then eyes squinted. "Is this a prank? It's a crappy one if it is." But my head shook. "What... What?"

So badly I wanted to do something that would betray my true feelings, but I kept it all in. "Sam, I can't be with someone like you. My duty is to my city, not to you. I cannot have people distracting me. You're a major distraction and I just can't do this anymore. We're done."

Sam stared at me for a long time before narrowing her eyes. "No. Cody, I'm not just going to give up on you like that. Do you know how much you mean to me?"

I turned away a little, avoiding her eyes. "I said we're done, Sam."

Suddenly, she grabbed my shoulder and forced me to face her, locking eyes with me. "And I said we're not done. Cody, what's this about? I thought you loved me! You've done both before, why am I a distraction now?"

Sam was too stubborn for her own good, I realized. She's not going to give up... Unless I... Fear gripped my soul but I swallowed it down and forced myself to become stoic. I didn't want to, but I stared into her eyes and forced myself to show no emotions, no matter how much it was killing me.

Sam backed off a little, eyes wide from shock, most likely from seeing my change of emotions. Cold looks weren't something she had ever received coming from me. I slapped her hand away, getting even more of a reaction out of her. "Who says I love you?" I challenged, her face dropping. "Who says that I love you as much as my city? I'll tell you what, Samantha, I don't. My city comes before all of you. Pikalus, KrakenKid, Tanith, Selena and yes, you."

I could see Sam's heart start to break and so badly I wanted to stop, take it all back and cry but I held all of it in.

For the good of Atlantis...

"Sheesh, I never took you for the, "Look at me! I'm a special snowflake!" type but I guess I was wrong about you." I mocked and started to die on the inside by how much hurt was in her eyes.

"W-w..." She stuttered to find the words, drawing back. "Why'd you date me then? If you didn't love me?"

I do love you! I'm sorry! You're amazing!

I bit back all the things I wanted to say and instead said something else. "Better for appearances. People like when the king dates a lower class citizen. Besides, it was fun making you fall for me. Boy, did you fall hard."

Sam couldn't even move now. I could tell she was angry, but still shocked more than anything. However, I saw loyalty lingering in her eye. Anyone else would have left by now, but Sam was too loyal for that.

Sam still cares, I realized. Even after all those things I said, no matter how real I made them seem, she wasn't going to leave me right now. Some part of her still sees me for Cody, the man she fell in love with. I didn't want to ruin any of that, but Atlantis needed a king worthy of them, and Sam needed someone better than me.

That's when I knew what I had to do. I needed to strike so deep that all of that loyalty would break.

"However, I regret all of it." Sam suddenly became so much smaller than normal. "All the money spent on dates, all the wasted time in "Bonding" moments. I don't really see how anyone could ever love you."

I had nearly shattered her, but something still held on.

That's when I knew what I had to say for the finishing blow. The thing that would make her snap.

"The only person worse than you is your sister."

I watched as kindness was stripped away from her eyes and replaced with rage. She marched forward, getting me to take a step back and soon, reeled her arm back before delivering a solid punch to my jaw.

Sam was either really strong, or fueled by rage, possibly both but I was knocked off of my feet. My back hit the ground with a crash and I let out a cry. As my eyes flipped back open, Sam put her hand on my windpipe and began to crush me throat. I could barely breath, but she wasn't trying to kill me, I could tell.

Her eyes locked with mine again, enraged and spoke up. "Don't you talk about my sister like that." She didn't raise her voice, but she was still intimidating. Suddenly, I could breath again and I choked for breath.

Sam left the room without a second word, but for a second, it looked as if she glanced back, but then she was gone.

Then I was alone on the floor and full of hurt. Not just physical, but emotional as well.

Tears escaped my eyes as a sob escaped me. I looked up at the entrance, knowing she wouldn't be there and whispered something.

"I love you... I'm sorry!" My voice broke and I began to sob.

For the good of Atlantis...

And for you.

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Alright, this was downright cruel but I don't think it's as bad as my other chapter *COUGH LASTWORDS COUGH*

Still though... Ohhhh boy... What did I do?

I came up with the ending at like 1 AM mind you so blame 1 AM me in a "Let's explore the universe!" mood and started to go downhill.

I hope you enjoyed a fist full of feels! Be sure to comment your reactions and g'bye!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter