Funny enough, the idea of Iqadi in this situation came to me in a dream. It was originally planned for Year Five and I had something else for this year, but the storm works better here.

And we have an Emily and Iqadi solo coming up. Only the Matriarch and The Princess of Wakanda come back for a full-feature the moment the story hits 200k published words.

Year Three: The Stark-T'Challa Storm

Before - University of Milan

Iqadi tried to get Emily to stay in Italy but Emily kept on insisting to come. Iqadi sat at Emily's desk in her modest yet modern dorm room, trying to convince her that it's dangerous but she stopped when Emily changed into an outfit like hers. She looked at Iqadi, bare-faced with a black athletic set and sneakers.

"Emily," Iqadi says.

"If I don't join you, I'm telling your husband and your parents," Emily says as she pulls her bag out from her closet.

Iqadi has never seen Emily act so seriously. "That's not fair."

"So is lying to them and making me an accomplice."

"What about you?" Iqadi asks, taking control of the conversation again. "You're still in university, you're engaged, you have the business."

"Okay but you're married and the heiress to the Black Panther mantle which, don't tell my parents, is worth more." Emily's face softens. "Look, you'll have my back and I'll have yours."

-o-

During - Fiji

They arrived hours in advance of the storm's arrival. Major flights have been cancelled but they were lucky to have had their own. They rush through the streets, blending in with emergency crews, keeping their heads down. Their hair is tied up and they cover their faces as the wind picks up, nearly blowing them off their feet. Bits of sand and rocks prick their skin as it flies towards their bodies.

Some trees have already fallen. Commercial buildings and hotels are boarding up their windows and bringing in any outdoor furniture before sealing up the doors. Their power is already out so communication is choppy. Still, journalists and news crews are stationed and making a big story.

Even Emily doesn't have service on her phone. She also declined a few interviews.

"What's your plan?" Emily asks as she follows Iqadi onto a pier across the beach. The area's already been closed off to keep a distance from the ocean, but they ducked through.

"Fight against it with my own powers, diffuse it in some way," Iqadi says as she looks out. "I can change atmospheric pressure. I can handle this."

"You don't sound so sure."

"I've never done this before."

Emily pauses. "Iqadi, we should just get to safety."

"I can handle this."

"I believe you but I don't want to."

Iqadi glances at her. Emily Stark. No powers, no weapons, only came here with her new highlights and because she didn't want to be entangled in a lie. She chose her friend and a tropical storm over a false cover.

"You should get cover," Iqadi says as a spray of ocean water hits their faces.

Emily doesn't wipe it away. "I'll run into town and get people out as fast as I can, journalists included."

"Don't give a quote." Iqadi grins.

Emily smiles. "Dammit."

Iqadi nods and looks back out at the ocean as Emily runs off the pier. Last she checked, this storm was a building Category 5. There are rough seas, growing fierce winds. If she doesn't act, the island will be blasted by a strengthening cyclone, immersed in flash flooding and mudslides.

Everything would be destroyed.

War doesn't scare Iqadi. She doesn't want to fight in them. She's never afraid of the action itself. She's afraid of not doing well, of being vulnerable.

Of failing.

There is no success without risk.

Water pours everywhere and Iqadi is no longer dry. She locks her eyes on the cyclone and holds her hands out, palms open, towards it. She closes her eyes for a second and wills her mind to the winds. They wreak havoc in her mind, messing neutron paths and thoughts. Iqadi keeps her footing and grits her teeth, closing her fists. She can feel swirls of wind and water circling her fists.

Iqadi's eyes burst open, glowing white against the dark clouds. The storm matching the one in her empty womb breaks to land.

Iqadi swipes her arms to the side, raising them above her head. She feels her wind pass through her fingertips, feeling opposing power grow. Iqadi turns around and pushes her hands forwards, wrapping her winds against the cyclone's waters. The ocean crashes into her manmade wall filling up against the beach like a fishbowl.

Iqadi grunts as she tries to hold back the water from the city. People on the other side still making their way out watching with an astonishing fear. Huddled up to make sure they get in the clear together. She isn't sure if they see her or not but it doesn't matter.

Iqadi circles her hands down, fingers curled and palms cupped, she uses her wind to pick up the water and hurl it back out to sea. Her back arches and she loses her footing on the slippery surface. Iqadi expected to fall back and slam onto the pier but she's swept away by the wave.

-o-

"Iqadi!" Emily screams, sounding like a screech straining her throat.

Emily's life flashed before her eyes when she thought a tidal wave was about to eat her and the island up. Her stomach clenched and her body almost toppled to the ground when she thought she'd drown. She nearly fell with many journalists but was confused when they weren't submerged.

Emily saw Iqadi's wall, amazed. She felt like she was in a snow globe but then it hit her that Iqadi and the ocean were the real decoration. Emily tries to search for Iqadi but she can barely see the pier. When the tide returns to the sea, Emily watches the pier appear but Iqadi isn't there.

"Fuck," Emily states as her heart drops.

She notices the wall is gone once the shallow water makes its way past the drenched sand and onto the streets. Emily looks over to the edge of the beach and sees the emergency water rescue crew pop-up station. She runs over and hops on one of their jet-skis.

"I have a friend to save!" Emily yells.

She speeds out onto the rough waters, keeping her eyes open. The water is murky with foam and debris, and Iqadi could've sunk or be far out in the French Polynesia.

Emily isn't sure which direction to go or to dive in but she screams Iqadi's name, doubting she'll hear her. She doesn't care if the Panther God doesn't respond to her prayers for Iqadi but she takes the chance. Emily turns back around and sees something shoot out of the water. She thanks the Panther God for listening.

Emily zips ahead and stops right next to Iqadi, pulling her in. Iqadi coughs, hacks, spits seawater as she catches her breath. Emily pats her back, keeping her tears to herself.

"Cyclone's still here…" Iqadi mutters, sounding like she's about to blackout.

Emily looks ahead and sees the spiral further out but coming back. Iqadi must have pushed it out to sea but didn't have enough strength or time to wipe it out. Emily tries to think but she isn't sure. She doesn't have a plan. Hell, Iqadi barely had one. She's out of her element, or better yet, they both are.

"Let me drive," Iqadi orders.

Emily doesn't argue. She should've objected and taken her back to shore but the moment Iqadi got in control, she should've known that Iqadi was heading straight for the cyclone. Emily holds onto Iqadi tight, squinting her eyes shut to avoid looking and to block harsh

The winds pick up the closer they get and the more they speed up, but they're pushed from behind. Iqadi must've summoned more wind to help them stay on their path on the water's surface. The sounds deafen around her as her stomach churns. She almost breaks down and screams until it's silent and her body relaxes.

Iqadi slows down and Emily opens her eyes. Both her and Iqadi's hair are free from their toes, sticking to their faces. They're floating in the water, following the cyclone's path.

Emily didn't even feel them break through the cyclone's walls so fast the winds couldn't pick them up. Now they're in an interior danger zone where the storm wouldn't touch them. They defied meteorological physics.

Emily looks up in pure disbelief and amazement as a tear rolls down her cheek. "We're in the eye of the cyclone."

Even Iqadi's in awe but her face contorts and she hitches over, grabbing her head and muttering in her dialect.

"I don't feel well…" Iqadi mutters.

Emily looks around and sees nothing, which is the point. They're confined in the centre of a storm and Iqadi's claustrophobia's acting up.

"This was a bad idea…" Iqadi says, her voice and body shaking.

"No, Iqadi,"

"I couldn't save our baby…" Iqadi breaks down crying. She crumbles in Emily's arms.

Emily hugs her tightly, making them sit down on the bobbing jet-ski or else they would topple over. Emily leans back against the controls, holding Iqadi. She looks up at the cyclone as if she was trying to find an impossible exit only to fail.

"Panther God, please do something…" Emily mutters. She looks down at Iqadi. "Hey, Iqadi, you said it yourself that you're the only one who can stop this. I believe in you. You could still save Fiji and ourselves."

Suddenly, Iqadi stops moving. Emily's heart drops and she puts two fingers to Iqadi's neck to feel for a pulse. She exhales relief when Iqadi stands up.

Iqadi looks around her and her eyes turn white. She takes a breath as she raises her arms. The wind picks up and builds around her fingertips. Their hair flies around in every direction as Iqadi summons it all to her open palms. Once she's garnered enough, she closes her fists and screams, throwing her arms down.

The cyclone's walls follow, sending it back to the sea.

-o-

After

The waters are calm as Emily sits back. For the first time since Iqadi showed up, she can relax but she's still tense. She isn't sure if she should drive back to shore or if Iqadi will do the honours.

But instead, Iqadi sits beside Emily. They float on the water and Emily sees the distant look on Iqadi's face as the clouds slowly start to clear. Their legs dangle in the calming ocean, their reflections still jagged on the surface.

"So, uh, we took care of that," Emily says to lighten the mood. "I mean, you did 90% of the work but we did it."

"Thank you for coming," Iqadi immediately responds.

Emily pauses, not expecting that answer. "I'm glad I did. Look, I heard what you said about your baby and figured that's why we went."

Iqadi keeps her eyes on Emily but they're glossy. Emily remembers first hearing about Iqadi's miscarriage. Iqadi told her directly with Angela and Merida and they were numb. It was a paralyzing shock to hear their best friend experience that so young.

"I will never understand what you experienced or felt," Emily says, holding Iqadi's arm. "I won't even try."

Iqadi nods. "Thank you. I can't explain it. I feel worse than Imanu does about it. He's still grieving, of course, but he's handled it."

"You carried the baby and felt it."

Iqadi nods, taking a deep breath. "I guess."

"How about we make this a secret between us?"

"Please. All this felt like a weight was taken off my shoulders."

"You mean wave?"

Iqadi groans as Emily smirks a laugh.

"Come on, we needed that," Emily encourages. "We just drove through a freaking cyclone."

Iqadi smiles a little. "Okay but if you don't mind, I'm telling Imanu I came here. I don't want to tell my parents."

Emily nods. "So it'll be between us and Imanu. I'm cool with that."

"Thank you for being stubborn and coming. You saved me."

"You prevented a flash flood, caused minimal destruction on Fiji, and stopped a freaking cyclone with your bare hands, but you'd better tell Imanu that I saved you."

"Deal."