Chapter 2.5

Failure

Meanwhile just before...

Thabisa was speaking with Odin, Thor and Frigga discussing important matters of the future of the two Kingdoms to be a way to rekindle their friendship.

"So on about the merge of the Oasis and Asgard, of course we can provide even your own land and territory but I figure a political marriage be useful..." Thor fell silent as there was a problem.

"But the view of people, though they are one of the key points of this conversation, if anything I hope marrying off my child could be the last thing I could do as a Queen and his...mother-" She sighed while Thor did a half nod as that was maybe part of it. He went on explain but Thabisa seemed distracted as she wondered what was taking Peter so long.

She took a moment to look outside; seeing her people enjoying themselves, but something felt off.

But she shook off the tension for the moment, she apologized for her distracted nature and returned back to the conversation.

"If we go through this political marriage and that problem I did hear about; I assume your daughter; Torunn feels is-?" Thabisa looked at the three as Odin looked at Frigga, Thor sighed as it was obvious.

Thabisa sat back down, frustrated both as a mother and as a Queen was hard to deal with people healing from their wounds.

"Is there a possibility that Torunn could consider getting to know my son?" She looked at Thor, he had a small pause judging how his daughter would react, Thor looked at Thabisa, he explained again that Torunn had a lot of spunk as a little girl and strength was part of Asgard's culture especially after hearing the tales of Thor's adventure and the death of Loki or that is how she thinks that is.

"She-well...has a hard personality because of listening to Father and my stories, majority of the kids growing up had...mmh. Difficulty is really the only word to describe it"

Thabisa chuckled dryly a bit down, she couldn't stop feeling bitter as she spoke. Times been rough with keeping a low profile and trading with outsiders. Peter has also been distracted with Wakanda and their technology and ever since he found that spot where he could mess with their boundary and look in; He's been mostly gone at days at time.

"Ahem...anyway, We should probably have them meet before deciding their fates but this is for the sake of...my Kingdom." She couldn't help but feel like it was a joke to even call herself a Queen with how little her people has of respect and dignity. Things have been just been piling up one after another, and it's been taking a huge toll on her.

She excused herself for the moment, Thabisa needed to calm herself. She went into her private office and out of the cabinet, she pulled out the purest and richest chocolate that the Asgardian's gave her.

She bit into the chocolate feeling the dry, dusty crunch of the chocolate working with each bite. Thabisa took a moment to breath, pondering about all the potential danger. The threat of an attack by Wakanda, or the threat of outsiders, or how Peter has been sneaking out easily.

Thabisa adjusted holding her head, headaches been plaguing her recently; she's been stressed and with the public could careless of having a prince when they rather have Thabisa remarry. It frustrated her as a mother, seeing how he was treated but Thabisa had to endure it for the time being.

She sighed, Thabisa looked at a picture of Hunter; it was after their wedding when times were simpler, a time where her people were strong and at peace; the very thing she is striving for. Thabisa nodded, regaining her composure and Thabisa felt the pain easing as she refocused herself on the goal at hand. She walked away to Odin discussing some matters about Torunn with Thor, just few suggestions to help if he could.

Thabisa apologized for her disruptive behavior they said it was alright, they could see she needed a moment.

"Oh no that is alright. You're also are recovering as well, first time I took hold of the throne, I had endless worries and add that with Torunn getting into trouble, HA!." Thor bellowed a good laugh, She smiled in reply but lost it. Thabisa wondered what was taking Peter so long.

"By now Peter should of been here." She wondered where he could be off by now, due to his absent, Thabisa wondered what was taking to long. Frigga entered the conversation noticing her worry over Peter.

"If you like-maybe Torunn could help go find him? Odin dear, why-." Thabisa stared at Frigga it was weird that she could basically read her like a book but she did say she was raised by witches.

Frigga told her it takes a bit before getting used it, Thabisa couldn't help but chuckle as Frigga smiled, only for it to stopped abruptly; a vision appeared as an echo filled Frigga's head. It struck her with huge amount of voices echoing in her head jumbling up most of what she could see.

She blinked as a tear rolled down her eyes, she blinked again as the vision became a bit clear on one factor "Peter". Thabisa looked at her as Thor realized something from that reaction.

"Frigga?" Odin looked at his wife as she wiped the tears away, she began apologizing to Thabisa. Thor realized something bad was happening while Thabisa took note of it; in shock of realization after putting the puzzle to herself.

Thabisa hair tendrils fell down as they shook violently with thorns appeared on them as she stormed out of the meeting room.

She looked around in the waiting room, noticed Amora was sitting with a bored Torunn. She turned to Thor and ask if she could have Torunn go fetch Peter, it'd be faster. Thabisa had her heart racing, she was denying something bad happened and maybe it was a fluke.

Thor agreed and thought it was a good idea and asked Amora who was sitting with Torunn to keep her from running away.

"Yes I think that is a lovely idea, it will also help her to show more compassion." Amora smiled as Torunn didn't like the idea of being forced into a marriage.

"Mother do I have to?"

"Yes it would be nice to meet someone new and you do not half to marry him, just get to know him first."

"And then marry him."

Torunn adding more to Amora's words, Thor explained that is the best scenario but the main point is just to know what he is like and just make friends, Torunn was gonna protest as Thor stared, his eyes filled with intent for her to go.

She sighed floating in the air reluctantly as she opened the door. Torunn pulled out a device and asked it to locate Peter, a scan the entire area before a blue light shined through the crowd going into the deep parts of The Oasis, near the drainage system they've installed years back.

She arrived a bit confused why she was brought here, but shrugged it off as she started hearing voices, she floated in the air, looking down and saw two figures arguing over something. Torunn floated down, getting a closer look at the two seeing something was off. They seemed to be arguing over something.

But she spot down Peter on the ground, Torunn felt a bit relieved finding Peter easily, but the situation clearly was dangerous. She pulled out her sword as clouds formed over with lighting crackling.

"Have at thee Villains!"

She let gravity take her; falling as she thrusted her sword lightning building up. Eddie looked up with the on coming Torunn, She slashed her sword taking off Prowler's arm as shock wave erupted from the ground, sending everyone flying.

It shook them, Eddie had to be quick. he ignored Torunn, looking at Peter's body from the damage of the lightning shockwave, it tore off his arm and took half his face as burns were over his chest and bleached the remaining amount of hair.

"Wow great work girl, your friend here seems to really feel your "Caring" nature-." He stopped in reaction leaped away as a lightning bolts struck at him. Eddie grumbled at her, while Prowler got back up, he looked down seeing his arm was on the ground.

"If he was strong and had a warrior spirit, he would not have any worry about him. But all I heard about him is he's weak, a slacker during his lessons and he sneaks out putting his whole tribe and kingdom in danger."

Eddie baffled at this girl wondering if that was a good excuse to tear off his limbs.

while Prowler taking the moment of being distracted leaping at her. Striking at Torunn. She swatted back him down like a fly. Eddie realizing this girl had no sense of preservation.

Eddie taking the moment swiftly picking up Peter putting him in a make shift sling on his back that Venom made, while quickly escaping into the drainage system.

Torunn turned looking as Peter was gone, so was Eddie as she looked seeing the drainage door torn apart.

"They have access to the Oasis!" Torunn wondered how many could got ahold of this information. She had to tell Thabisa but for now she stopped.

Torunn turned away seeing Backlash getting up as Torunn met his gaze. Torunn grabbed Backlash startled trying to run, but she grabbed him by his symbiote and Prowler. Torunn returned to the castle with them kicking and fighting there away all the way. Torunn entered through a skyline to keep the people from seeing them. She threw them in front of Thabisa.

She kneeled under Thabisa, revealing what she found.

"I found two rats as they found a way to access The Oasis." Thabisa looked down as anger started to rise. She looked down, Thor and Amora start speaking with Torunn as Fregga tried consoling Thabisa.

"Thank you, but you should go lie down." She smiled to Frigga acting fine.

But Thabisa hair start to flicker in anger as it was ignited. She excused herself, Thabisa went past the foyer to the audience room.

She approached the door with two guards, they were gonna greet her happily only to meet a scowl as a jolt of fear appeared with each step like a river pushing over them. Thabisa's hair was filled with spines as a calm flow of anger dripped from her body.

The Queen step pasted them echoing a feeling of dread with her hair shaking behind; not a word was said to them, and with each step to the audience room; it alerted all the guards in the palace and brought all of her guards in the palace rushing to the audience.

The noises of clacking feet echoed in the chamber as Thabisa took a seat crossing her her legs as harsh and indistinctive whispers filled the room.

Thabisa looked down simmering in the moment, taking what felt like an eternity as she peered down, Laying her eyes on the guards among the palace.

They all kneeled down the best they could from anger pressing down on their chest, everyone fell silent with the piercing glare of her sharp gaze making herself known.

They clenched their teeth, holding in their strength to with hold their fear. The feel of dread filled the air like a blanket smothering them.

"Where is my son?" Her voice echoed in the silence, it was such a simple question that broke the silence and any mother would want to know, any parent who tasked anyone with their child would expect these adults, She entrusted her child to them and wait for them come up with an answer. But when the silence continued from the guards. That's when the fire began to burn.

"uh-we...don't" one trying to break the silence.

"Don't?" She questioned him, her voice sharp like a knife cutting him off, she tilted her head, holding it up on the arm rest.

The guard tried to speak again but stopped unable to able to give a good answer besides they have no knowledge of his whereabouts and that's the last thing they wanted to say.

Thabisa noticed his hesitation as he fell silent again.

"No...go on, please. I am listening. Very...Carefully." Thabisa spoke sharply with a subtle bits of anger her voice that cut through the heavy atmosphere. They all felt like children with a parent waiting for them to confess their wrong doings.

The guard looked up seeing her in dim light, as her eyes sharp as nails glint through softness of the darkness. This was Thabisa, the mother of Peter and she stared down at them, waiting. Watching, as no one else could speak.

The man's throat was knotted at the sight, cold sweats dripped like melting icicles. The pure ambience of anger she made. made it hard to come up with anything, something that would satisfy her as one finally spoke, Solider spoke lying that he was playing with one of the kids right now.

Thabisa drifted her sight to him, she looked at him. She flicked her finger as a sharp edge of symbiote appear near his neck.

"Now...now that is a problem." She stood up, she released kept the spear near the Lier's throat, and kept walking past them. Now in the crowd held herself up, walking slowly like stalking prey if any of them move.

She moved through silently as they all were frozen, as if time froze with them. all eyes fell to the floor, her presence was stifling with each passing moment of silence, it felt like an eternity need, they couldn't do anything, not a word was uttered but guilt covered the entire guards. Thabisa stood and her voiced cut the silence.

"We recently found two intruders." She turned to the Lier as she looked at him, asking how do you explain how two intruders got in. He couldn't say anything, he had no answer

"yet...-you are the personal guards of Royalty-each and every one swore an oath-so if you break that oath, there should be...Judgement." She whispered to him but word echoed in the silence. Each and every one had felt gripping of their guilt they felt like they betrayed her expectations.

Thabisa felt like her rule was playing charades and to leave this without discipline especially with how populace treated her son felt like a slap to her face, Thabisa knew she could only do so much without going into tyrannical rule, so she needed an examples.

"All your families will be rationed to the bare amount of chocolate to keep the symbiotes stable. Each will family member no matter how young or old will do work they can do, and will take rotation to clean the drainage system for four moons."

"Any in disagreement?"

"NO!" They said in unison as no relief was felt.

Thabisa turned as they were dismissed, while quickly scouring the city of holes in their security. She left the palace with Lier taken to the "depths" while a few guards remain; they carrying Prowler and Backlash in chains following Thabisa's lead.

The doors opening to the public opened slowly as heavy mist appeared as wafted from the entrance with Thabisa cutting through it.

Everyone felt her presence immediately, turning to the center of their attention onto Thabisa.

"There has been a misgiving-I seem to have neglected my duties as a Queen and most importantly as a Mother, but that is my fault." Thabisa's words fell down like a hammer as it sparked disagreement among the people saying she was wrong.

Thabisa raised her voice cutting them off as she explained how lax she became from royalty and subjects.

"So am I in the wrong then? The very action of speaking against the Crown is considered treason, is it not?"

Her words cut into the people as they dreading their actions. Thabisa drew her gaze over her people, she has so much power but she couldn't do much more than to just speak to them she can't correct them without ruining The Oasis.

She took a breath calming herself down.

"People of The Oasis-we are have been through twenty years of tribulations and you have relied on me and recognize me as your leader and Queen, so you agree with my judgement?" Her people nodded as they would give their lives for her. She gestured to wardens as they brought out Prowler and Backlasher.

The audience shocked as the atmosphere became like that of weights heavy and painful, they all whispered among themselves as it was two men in symbiote form. What could this mean for them, do they need to move again? or are they gonna die? were questions that drifted among the whispers.

Thabisa had them walk in front of her, her tendrils flicked into a needle stabbed into stabbed into them, sealing the symbiotes for a moment.

"These two are offenders against the crowd, and this is the example of what will happen to the Isigcawu and I will no longer be the Queen you once knew." She gestured again as they brought a box from with in the castle. It was shaking as the guards were in some type of armor to protect themselves

Thabisa was given the same type of material and gloved her hand, a low hum appeared as the crowd started to grow restless.

She pulled out a greyed out blade that hummed lowly, the crowd gasped as some fell unconscious from the memories resurfacing, others grabbed their family protectively. Memories of the past, dewed on them like fresh rain that poured pain and misery.

"You all know this blade, the infamous Demon hunter's used against us "The Antium." Thabisa's people had fear filled into them as she pulled out one blade.

"You know the pain. The fear. What it does to our families and what it did to children." She calmly pressed into Backlash as a calm moment blew over the crowd as Thabisa watched and waited.

The blade absorbed into the symbiote and not the body, hearts thumped as restrains were tighten over Backlash as he felt something as needles start pressing over his body, He jolted shaking the restraints everyone gasped. Backlash felt knives tearing into him.

He screamed as the symbiote roared echoed fear and memories of men and women begging the Wakandans for mercy.

It filled the people with dread remembering the fear. Backlash shook the restrains, snapping at the fresh meat that was near.

but impatient, he cannibalized himself. A sight horrifying; tear flesh, bones cracking, snapping and cracking of bites from each second.

Children crying and people stuck to watch, as it left leaving nothing but a red pile of scraps of minced nerves and bones and nothing but a crazed symbiote with the taste of human. The people trembled in terror, as blood dripped from the stage she made.

"This is what happens to disobedient people who attack the prince. but this is an outsider, hope for anyone who is part of the litter of Void to never breaks the law."

Thabisa looked at the people as, they were shock, trembling and all held to each other. They looked at each other realizing their mistake as her guards shivered in fear and respect.

Thabisa left a huge impression on her people that reminded the people who was their Queen and the Asgardians were awestruck. She stood in front of the crowd as Torunn trembled at the sight, everyone was Shaken as they all started kneeling in repentance

Thabisa eyes laid over them, not just Oasisians, but Asgardians as well, among them were Warriors three, who trembled under her gaze as they barely could keep their stance. A glare of power was shown, Thabisa gazed over her people.

Frandral thought Asgard had their own punishments there were harsh, but they never wanted to break the law again in Oasis ever.

Thabisa turned her gaze back, seeing Thor and Odin ready to attack giving any moment. She looked at them as Torunn could see a sad gaze, like the one Odin had during the attack of the Dark elves.

Thabisa gripped her hand trembling as feeling the grasp of her power that it brought but; fear, terror, and pain.

"No more further negotiation. leave for your people. While I deal with mine." Thabisa's voice harsh and bitter she felt distraught and enchained but she kept her appearance made, entering her castle as the doors swiftly closed with a thud that echoed through the fear and awestricken people.