Revamped!

I know all these chapters are short but I promise that they do get longer when the climax comes.

[Copyright - Mulan II (Lesson Number One)]

Chapter Seven: The Balance

"Being a defender isn't defined by only physical strength, but mental strength as well," Mother says as she walks in front of the lineup of suitors.

Mother is a fighter with the power of the elements at her fingertips. She already knew how to defend herself. Father could confirm that from the very first moment he laid eyes on her. What I admire most about her is the grace and poise she has all while unleashing a thunderstorm. She's the most beautiful and strongest woman I have ever seen. There is truly none other like her which is why my father is so lucky, and he knows that.

As Mother trains the suitors today, I stand to the side with my father. He's supposed to be watching the suitors but his eyes are on their instructor.

"The more powerful you are in your mind, the more you can control your abilities in a way that can protect yet cause harm which will create trust between you and your people," Mother explains, folding her hands downwards. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Let's begin."

Mother begins leading my suitors through a series of aerobic exercises to teach themselves willpower. She always tried to get me to do this with her to make me relax but I prefer fast movements as opposed to purposely slow ones. My suitors seem to prefer these routines better probably because my mother isn't as intimidating nor is the task as tolling on the body in comparison to Father's.

"Iqadi," Father whispers to me. I take my eyes off of my suitors to face him. "I don't recall telling you this but in the case that I have, let me tell you again: in every person, there must be a perfect balance in mental and physical strength. If a person fails to find equilibrium, they marry someone to restore what is missing. That is why arranged marriages started decades back. The parents would choose acceptable suitors who they believe will help their heir be the absolute best they could. From there, it's your choice. You must understand what you need, Iqadi."

"I know," I reply, taking a sharp breath.

Father always seems to repeat the fact that my prince is my choice. I'm very well aware of that. A part of me believes he has a suitor in mind that better be my choice. This is my first major and influential choice as queen, even without the title.

I distract myself by looking at my mother to watch her. She carries herself tall as she maneuvers herself around my suitors like a soothing fog. Her touch is so gentle which is ironic since it can be a lightning bolt in the blink of an eye. I have my confidence in myself and my abilities as a woman (especially since I was lucky to inherit her mutation), but I still aspire to be like her.

I've mentioned this before, but my mother wasn't a suitor for my father and he knew that. It didn't stop him from choosing her the moment they met. His council and elders thought that she would contaminate the bloodline, but then I came along and it was a powerful blessing.

"You knew Mother for barely a day when you made up your mind," I say to him. "How did you know she would be the perfect queen in such haste?"

And with that, I catch Father watching my mother once again. Only she can change him from someone strict to someone soft. I know she had to prove herself worthy to Wakanda since she was an outsider to them but besides her wonderful leadership and her heart, she was able to open up my father and make him a better leader. But that doesn't stop some from doubting her.

"Father?" I ask, getting his attention.

"Yes, dear?" He responds.

"I asked you a question."

"Right." He clears his throat, trying to remember what I asked him before he lost himself in my mother. Again. "I married your mother because I saw something in her that I haven't seen in any other woman presented to me. When I noticed that, I looked up to her. I could tell that she needed me, even if she'll never admit such a truth, so I brought her back with me. I wanted to marry her the moment I met her, yes, but I gave her permission to leave when and if she wanted. Thankfully, even to this very moment, she never left."

"What did you see?"

His eyes never leave my mother. I watch the smile appear on his face as he thinks back to the moment he first saw her, his Wind-Rider. Mother catches his eye and smiles back before turning her head to focus on my suitors once again.

"I saw a perfect balance in her," Father tells me.

That one sentence makes my heart stop. I look down at my feet and suddenly find it hard to breathe as tears form in my eyes and my throat begins to clench up. I hope Father is too distracted by his beautiful wife to see me and my emotions.

"Yet she still manages to give me the elements I lack," Father concludes.

A single tear falls down my cheek as I watch the ten suitors set before me. All of them are for me and only one of them will be my husband - my prince. Learning how to fight was hard for me, learning how to control my mutation was challenging, but picking my future?

That will be difficult.

I wipe my tear and take a deep breath to regain my composure. I need to be strong. I can do this. I will do this. I have to do this.

"Are you alright, Iqadi?" Father asks me, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I look at him with confidence. "Always."

[I don't care what anyone says, I love writing Iqadi's parents]. [2019: We've noticed].