Work Text:
A week had passed since Literacy Day in Atlantis, and Team Atlantis was enjoying some well-earned downtime before their next adventure.
The week hadn’t been easy for Milo. He’d been plagued by pounding headaches on the right side of his head. After a thorough examination, Sweet concluded they were stress-induced—unsurprising given Milo’s packed schedule. Between leading adventures, parenting two young children, and aiding Atlantis’ cultural revival, it was clear his stress and lack of sleep had taken a toll.
Sweet prescribed mandatory bed rest, and for once, Milo complied. He was in their bedroom, fast asleep, while Kida took their children out to keep the house quiet and peaceful.
The Queen brought Karana and Thaddeus to Atlantis' newly constructed recreational subdivision. The park was one of Team Atlantis’ recent projects, designed to give the Atlanteans and their families a space to relax and enjoy nature. While there, Kida decided to teach her children her favorite childhood game—a strategy board game that was a cross between chess and capture the flag.
The game’s pieces moved like chess pieces, but the board itself was filled with terrains to navigate: rivers, mountains, and deserts, each accessible only to certain pieces. To make things trickier, hidden traps were scattered across the board, randomly placed by the players before the game began. If a piece landed on a trap, it was removed from play. The goal was to reach the opponent’s side of the board, capturing their symbolic game piece.
Kida explained the rules three times before demonstrating, ensuring her children understood how to play. Once they began, Karana quickly took the lead, strategizing with confidence. But midway through, Thaddeus adapted, crafting a clever counter-strategy. The game became neck-and-neck, with both siblings vying for victory until Karana narrowly pulled ahead to win.
By then, the rest of Team Atlantis had arrived, intrigued by the game. Eager to join, they organized a small tournament to crown the champion. After several matches, the final showdown came down to Vinnie and young Thaddeus. To everyone’s delight, Thaddeus outmaneuvered Vinnie and claimed the title of tournament champion.
As the sun set, the royal family returned home, tired but content—only to be met with a startling scene.
Milo was in the bathroom, visibly distressed. He’d spent the afternoon vomiting and complained that he couldn’t see properly. Worse, he couldn’t recognize his family visually, relying only on their voices.
Alarmed, Kida immediately summoned Sweet, who arrived with the rest of Team Atlantis. Sweet conducted a second, more thorough exam, focusing on Milo’s vision. The results were concerning: Milo couldn’t see out of his right eye.
Sweet poured over medical textbooks, searching for answers, and asked Milo detailed questions about any other symptoms. Eventually, one diagnosis stood out: the early stages of glaucoma.
Kida, despite her vast experience as a ruler and her over 8,000 years of life, had never heard of the condition. She was devastated, especially recalling her father’s blindness, which the Atlanteans had never been able to cure. Could they save Milo’s vision before it was too late?
Sweet knew that Milo’s only hope was surgery, but it was a delicate procedure he had neither performed nor seen in person. Reading about it in textbooks wasn’t enough. With no other choice, they decided to send Milo to a hospital on the mainland.
Team Atlantis traveled to Washington, D.C., where they found a specialist with extensive experience in glaucoma surgery. For over eight agonizing hours, they waited for news. Finally, Milo was wheeled into recovery. The doctors assured them that the surgery had been a success—they’d saved Milo’s vision.
However, the road ahead would be long. Milo would need regular check-ups and strict adherence to his treatment plan. The doctors also revealed a surprising detail: Milo’s condition was genetic.
This revelation unsettled Kida. Her children, so full of life and promise, might one day face the same risk of blindness. But as she held Milo’s hand, she reminded herself of her resilience. She’d survived countless tragedies—this, too, could be overcome.
Determined to protect her family and her people, Kida requested all the data the doctors had on glaucoma and other modern medical conditions. While the Atlantean crystals had their limits, she believed knowledge was the key to her city's survival and advancement.
As the royal family prepared to return to Atlantis, Kida vowed to use this information not only to safeguard her family but to build a brighter future for her people. With science, ancient wisdom, and the enduring love of their community, Atlantis would continue to thrive—one challenge at a time.