I spent a couple days in the cell alongside Hila as we waited for Aquaman to confirm our story. I normally wouldn't just sit in a cell like this, but I wanted to be as diplomatic as possible. If things went my way, it could be very good for myself and the league. It will also save us a bunch of time later if I get Orm out of the way now on my own.
Aquaman was like Batman in some ways, but somewhat unlikable. I found his personality to be dull and in my eyes the man was just a strong and angry tilapia that grew arms and legs and wields a Trident, but that was just a first impression. My impression may change with time.
I wanted to be the one to bring Aquaman into the league first and I also was hoping to later get a glimpse into Atlantean technology if I could. To do that, I needed to get along with the Atlanteans and their King.
Over the last few days of captivity, Hila and I had grown somewhat close, our relationship was weird, but I appreciated her company and I could tell she liked mine. She just wouldn't admit it. She has asked me to sing for her each time she went to sleep the last couple of days in a round about way and she is always talking to me.
"Moonlight, why are you a hero? it doesn't seem to fit you" Hila asked out of the blue. We had talked a lot and so she and I now know a bit about each other.
I shrugged my shoulders even though she couldn't see it in the cell next to mine.
"I dunno, I guess because this universe is extremely dangerous with beings you couldn't even imagine and the regular people stand no chance against them. I was and somewhat still am an extremely selfish being, but even if I tell myself I don't care about others, I do to some extent. I just don't want to be that person anymore. Anyone can change if they want to, even you Hila. Just don't expect others to believe you right away, you will have to build back the trust you had broken and it won't be easy. Change is usually a slow process".
"Hmph, who asked for a lecture and who said I wanted to change?" Hila responded.
She wasn't fooling me, over the last couple of days, I've realized she wasn't a bad person, she's just trying to be the Villain everyone expects her to be. There is also a huge amount of jealousy towards her twin sister. Hila sees herself as less than others and has a hard time showing love and care to people because she grew up unloved and just doesn't know how to express herself properly. She's basically emotionally disabled.
She deserves more than to be a forgotten villain nobody cares about, but only she can change her fate, not me. I can only guide her gently. Ultimately, it's her life and her decision.
The day was ending again and so Hila spoke up again, "You can sing again if you want to, i don't care".
I had learned to decode her sentences usually, this was her way of asking me to sing for her. Each time I have sang for her, my voice reverberated off the Atlantis dome walls and reached everyone's ear. Nobody except the guards and Hila knew where the music came from and I wasn't really worried about the guards knowing of my singing talents. They live most of their lives in the Ocean and don't care about the world above.
I brought out everything I needed from the system and bought a couple songs. Each song was 100c so it was chump change to me. I could buy them easily now. After setting things up, I started to sing for Hila, hoping the lyrics could reach her where I couldn't. I started singing man in the mirror by Michael Jackson, but in the form of Jason Chen.
🎶♪🎵I'm gonna make a change
For once in my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind
I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their needs
A summer's disregard, a broken bottle top
And one man's soul
They follow each other on the wind, ya know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
Na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na, na-na
I've been a victim of a selfish kinda love
It's time that I realize
There are some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me pretending that they're not alone?
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed-out dream
They follow the pattern of the wind, ya see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me🎶♪🎵
I sang the chorus again and then finished the song out. I just blessed the oceans ears with the king of pops lyrics. His song being heard in another world far away from his own. It was a beautiful song that inspired people to change themselves for the better and in turn change the world around them by doing so.
"I really liked that song, one more please" Hila begged. It was the first time I heard her use direct words, so I couldn't help but give in and buy one more song for her.
"This is the last song for tonight, Id like to sleep myself". I said as I started singing Hold On by Wilson Phillips but in the style of Josh Gray.
🎶♪🎵I know this pain
Why do you lock yourself up in these chains?
No one can change your life except for you
Don't ever let anyone step all over you
Letting worries pass you by
Is it really fair to feel this way inside?
Someday, somebody's gonna make you wanna
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then, baby, are you gonna let them
Hold you down and make you cry?
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change?
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Someday, somebody's gonna make you wanna
Turn around and say goodbye
Yeah,
You could sustain
Or are you comfortable with the pain?
You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness
You got yourself into your own mess
Just open your heart and your mind
Is it really fair to feel this way inside?🎶♪🎵
I went on to sing the rest of the song, hoping the lyrics of both didn't come off as too preachy. Hila was quiet and so I assumed she was asleep. I put everything away and went to sleep myself.
Little did I know that the songs I had been singing in Atlantis for the last few days had inspired many ocean people in many ways including causing an explosion in the music culture amongst the Atlantean people. The butterfly effect was in full effect, not immediately visible to the naked eye, but instead would show over time, even having visible effects on the surface over eventually.