~The Flood~
"Mama!"
Shuri's screams filled the hall.
"I come bearing warning - heed it however you wish," Ofelia had stated. "My people have always been peaceful - in six hundred years it was not until Wakanda's full might was revealed to the world did we have to rise against people who sought our resources. I should like to keep it that way. I do not wish to see us plunged into war with Wakanda. But know that you brought this fury of Talokan upon yourselves. Ku'ku'lkán and the might of Talokan are coming for you."
"Mama!"
But her warning was not enough for what was to come.
"Shuri," Kalyna cried. "Evacuate the city, engage all defenses-"
Shuri nodded. "Let's go."
The vibranium of Kalyna's new suit was strong, so she could carry a few people at once, flying them up to the balconies of taller buildings, far from the flooding ground and bursts of water exploding across the inner city. Shuri and Aneka, piloting a skybird aircraft, carried up a train car full of civilians.
The great flood had descended upon Wakanda.
"Mama - Mama!"
The final phase of the attack was centered on the throne room, where Ramonda was working to protect Riri.
"Mama!" Both the Queen and the girl were found still in the water.
"Keep her back!" With help from their Kimoyo bead bracelets, Nakia and Okoye performed CPR on the two women. Aneka, M'Baku and Kalyna held the still screaming and thrashing Shuri back.
"She did this!" Namor floated outside the shattered window, pointing to Ramonda. "You brought this upon yourselves!"
In fury, Kalyna leapt forward and hurled a fistful of flame towards him, it striking him right in the chest plate. At least it got him to leave.
Riri spluttered awake, choking up mouthfuls of water. Kalyna rushed to her side to help her while Nakia went to assist Okoye with Ramonda.
"MAMA! MAMA!"
"Please Ramonda, we need you," Kalyna begged, her voice already heavy with oncoming sobs. Your daughter needs you... Your people need you... I need you - your grandson needs you...
Ramonda's Kimoyo beads were glowing red, not green, and that could only mean one thing.
Shuri's screams turned into sobs. "MAMA!"
The Queen was dead. Namor had killed her.
Ramonda was buried in the royal burial grounds, alongside her husband and son. Wakanda was once more plunged into mourning at the loss of another member of the beloved royal family. Shuri herself plunged into an even deeper grief.
Following the ceremony for the fallen Queen, Kalyna visited her husband.
"Hello, My Love," she said aloud, kneeling before his plot. "Toussaint sends his love. He is back home in Haiti. He knows about his grandmother - your mother has joined you now. Please, look after Shuri, this has destroyed her. It has wounded us all, but her-" She trailed off, not needing to say anything more. There were no words for the grief of that moment.
Nakia joined her and greeted T'Challa in their own language. "I'm not sure anyone but you would understand," she continued to Kalyna, "why I had to leave Wakanda after Thanos's attack, after T'Challa was taken away from us just like that."
Kalyna nodded. "Yes, I understand. And it felt like we just got him back, and then he got sick." They had thought they had lost him twice, once with Killmonger, and then again with Thanos, but in the end it was sickness which had taken him from them so suddenly.
"Yes." Nakia's eyes were locked on the king's grave. "He was King and Black Panther to everyone. But to me, he was everything."
A sob caught in Kalyna's throat and burst forth from her lips. Nakia, crying too, knelt down beside her. The two women wept and held each other over the grave of the man they both loved.
"Princess." General Ayo strode up to Shuri, who had removed her mourning clothes and swapped them for a simple back dress, two other Dora behind her, leading Ofelia of Talokan. "She was found lurking at the River Border."
Shuri seethed. "Lock her up. I don't care where or how just get her out of my sight." The Dora nodded and hauled the water woman away, while Shuri escaped to the comfort of her lab.
"You're still here?" she asked upon entering the room and finding her sister-in-law already there.
"Of course I am. I am here for you in your time of loss and need."
"I thought you would be back in Haiti by now."
"And leave you without saying goodbye?" When Shuri did not respond, she continued. "I have good reason for going to Haiti, you know. Come join me sometime and I'll show you."
But Shuri clearly wasn't interested in that.
"Shuri," Kalyna said, her voice now lowering with concern, with warning. She could practically see the wheels turning in Shuri's head, and the anger boiling beneath her skin. "What are you going to do?"
Shuri didn't miss a beat. "I'm going to kill Namor."
Whew, I'm sorry, for the sad chapter and unintentionally abandoning this story! Avatar: The Way of Water has claimed my life lately - another wonderful movie about blue people and water! :)
Ramonda's death shocked me so much the first time I saw this movie, and it still does :( I will miss her so much - rest in peace and power, Queen.
As always, thank you so much for reading (and your continued patience with and support of this story) and I hope you enjoyed this chapter despite the sadness.