Author's Notes

So I've decided I think this FF will be one of which the "bad guys" win.

7

As I made it back to my tribe, many workers were busy mining the vibranium, while others tended to the homes and fields so that our hard workers knew peace and rest once done. Even though I was happy to be home, I still felt like something was missing. My body felt empty and tired. I gently ran my fingers over the wooden animal toys I used to play with as a little girl as I was deep in thought. I hated this. I hated feeling like I am missing something.

"You are troubled."

I closed my eyes and lifted my head nodding as I turned to face my mother. She was in her usual red robes with a matching headdress. She must have come back from a meeting. She came closer looking at me with worry.

"What troubles you?" she asked. I inhaled and held my breath some.

"Mama… Namor's people, his elders, they told me something. Something I will believe or not only if you tell me it is true or not." I replied, eyes watering and she looked even more concerned.

"They told you about the Talokan blood inside you." she concluded. My eyes widened some as I nodded quickly, and she sighed turning and moving toward my door.

"Come with me. I want to show you something." she said, and I watched for a second before following wondering where it was we were going. We left our home. Mining warriors were stationed at our door and as we walked a few feet away they followed. We took a familiar path far from our tribe's home until we were at the Mining Graveyard. We buried our dead elders here in coffins of red and orange. Others we smeared with fat and laid them in the land so that they would be eaten by predators. Dead bodies are bad for the soil. I was confused as to why my mother led me here. She walked slowly across different graves, silently blessing them as she did. I quietly followed showing my own respect to the dead. Finally stopped at a grave in what felt like the heart of the graveyard. I looked at the plot. Flowers were on either side which meant a woman was buried here.

"This grave belonged to a very powerful woman, Ukumay. She was wise and honorable and was my best friend. Had she had been a man she would have made a great warrior, but even the greats make mistakes." she said. I looked from the plot and over to my mother. She looked so sad and withdrawn as if there was a heavy burden on her shoulder. "She was the daughter of one of our chief minors: smart and talented. She loved to dance and help our tribe in anyway possible. During one of the hottest years in Wakanda, the women were tasked with ensuring both the livestock and people had enough to drink. Ukumay went to get water in the morning, but when she returned, she seemed very put off, but not upset. She told me she met a man and had fallen in love. I did not know this man, never met him either, but she said he was unlike any man she had ever met. I thought thank Bast she found a man to marry. But she said he wasn't a man from Wakanda. I thought she had maybe gone outside the perimeters to meet this man, but how could she if she met him fetching water. She said he came from the water; his skin was blue when the air touched him. One thing led to another, and soon she became pregnant." she said. I didn't like where this story was going but I wouldn't dare stop her. Her eyes never left the grave plot.

"Her father was furious that the man did not step up and take responsibility, but also upset that Ukumay wouldn't tell him who he was. Her father was a man of strength and size. He wanted to make this man marry Ukumay. She told me that this man came from an under-water world who had technology much like our own. I didn't believe her at first, but she was my friend and I supported her through the entire pregnancy. But by the ninth month she grew sick and weak and made me promise- no swear, that if she did not survive the birth that I would take care of the child."

"NO!" I cried out shaking my head and taking a step back from her. She nodded quietly, a single tear falling from her cheek.

"Ukumay died giving birth to you. When the doctors put you in my arms, I did not see my friend's child. I saw my child." she said. I covered my mouth looking away feeling my heart was heavy and pain overwhelmed me. I cried out some and shook my head looking at her.

"Why… why didn't you ever tell me?" I asked and she took a step closer to me.

"Oh child I wanted to. I wanted to on many occasions, but whenever I would start, my heart would grow with fear that the truth would upset you. When you'd look up at me and ask "Mama, what's wrong?" I felt I was preparing to crush your whole world. I couldn't do that to you." she said taking my hands in her own and crying more. "I may not have carried you in my body, but I was the one who placed bandages on your wounds when you would fall, I made sure you were warm at night when you slept, and I dried your tears whenever the world upset you. I was ready to die and take the truth with me so it would not hurt you but make no mistake!" she said strongly as she looked at me proud eyes, "the power that resides in you is from Bast and Bast alone. I saw the panther that struck you that horrible night at the beach. When it seemed you had drowned, I preyed to Bast to not take you from me, and she heard my prayers!" I closed my eyes slowly and looked down taking in all the information she had just given me, and I looked at the plot of land and then at her and she was watching, waiting to see what I would do.

Slowly I shook my head.

"You were always the source of love and protection that I needed growing up. I cannot imagine a world without you in it. You are the only mother I have ever known and will always be my mother." I cried and she cried as we embraced each other hard. I didn't care about this secret, she was my mother and nothing would change that.

That night, I lied awake feeling content for being at home and knowing what I knew. The Talokans could not control and manipulate water. So that meant Bast truly did choose me to bestow this gift. Maybe in her godly eyes I was more Wakandan than Talokan. And that was good enough for me. I closed my eyes hoping my sleep would be peaceful.

Normal POV

The moon had just hit the sky, and Queen Ramonda was waiting on the beach with the full force of her Dora Milaje behind her as they waited. She used the shell to call King Namor from the underwater realm. In seconds, a form flew from the water and high into the sky and standing like a God, was K'uk'ulkan. Ramonda glared up at him, not forgetting the last moment they were truly this close was with a glass window between them. As he looked down on her, slowly his warriors appeared from the water, weapons in hand, ready to use if needed, but they did not leave the water. The Dora did not like this and made steps to surround their queen, but she raised her hand halting them. Ramonda knew he would not do anything reckless here. Slowly, Namor floated down to the ground, the wings on his ankle fluttering careless. Finally, his feet reached the sand.

"Ah Queen Ramonda. You look lovely tonight, radiant even." he said looking over her for a familiar face. He was not threatened by the Dora's presence and so he did not acknowledge them. Ramonda raised her head some.

"Looking for someone?" she asked. Namor continued to look around.

"Eywa." he said lightly. He was not afraid to say what he wanted, because he was used to getting what he wanted. Ramonda frowned.

"She should be far from your mind right now-"

"And yet she remains heavy in my mind." Namor interrupted finally looking down at her. "Queen Ramonda, I have come to give my sincerest of apologies for attacking the savage ship yesterday. But you have to know, everything I do I do to protect my people." he said. Queen Ramonda opened her mouth to speak but Namor continued silencing her.

"And she is a part of my people." he finished. Ramonda nodded.

"Yes. I am aware of her lineage, but that does not stop the problem you have created with the allies outside of Wakanda. They want penance and you and I both know they will want vibranium to make for it. Our vibranium." she said. She knew there was no force on this planet strong enough to try and attack his people and take the vibranium and so it would be up to Wakanda to keep the peace. Namor nodded.

"Yes this is true. Which is why I have come to propose an arrangement to further strengthen our alliance." he said. Ramonda did not want to further strengthen the alliance with the Talokans because she still did not trust them. Wakanda did not trust them, but right now it was without a Black Panther. It had no protector, and she knew she would have to put her feelings aside for the good of her people.

"I am listening." she said respectfully. Namor stepped closer now.

"Combine our worlds permanently through marriage. Me to Eywa." he said. Queen Ramonda visually frowned.

"No. She is Wakanda's only healer and we cannot afford to lose her again." she said. Namor scoffed wickedly.

"She was gone for one day and you thought your nation would fall. That's a lot to put on a medicine woman." he said humorously. Ramonda continued to frown.

"She is blessed by Bast, you will NOT take her from us." she stated. Namor's smirk fell slowly taking in her words as if they were a threat to his people. He further leaned into her.

"She is also of my people, and you will not keep her from me." he said in a threatening tone. Ramonda kept eye contact with her, and he leaned back. "I do not plan to take her to my world, I doubt her body can survive the depth. If you agree to this proposal, she stays here, but this means only I will require access to come and go as I please so I can see her. My people will not come here unless it is to aid Wakanda in a threat or if we need your help. That way our futures are locked: intertwined together permanently and if your allies decide to go against you, then you will not be alone when you go to war with them."

Ramonda stared at him heavily for a moment weighing her options. She did not want to admit it, but two nations with the only source of vibranium coming together as one, would greatly help her and her people.

"You, a God, would agree to marry someone who is not even royalty?" she asked. Namor smirked.

"You have not seen what I have seen in that woman. Her power is stronger than that of even your strongest warrior. And when I take her, she will become royalty." he said. Ramonda looked away thinking for a moment. She knew if she were with her counsel then they would agree to this alliance, and so she could not deny opportunities for further peace no matter how much she disliked the man before her. She looked at him and nodded once.

"I accept your proposal of peace."