Chapter 21: Unity

Talokan was singing a happy song, as they followed behind Kukulkan. Their Queen was coming home. Even if it was only two days. It was the longest she had been home.

He was still amazed at how accepting his people had been. If anything he thought they would have been jealous that he could no longer give them his full attention. He now had to balance the duties of being a king and a husband. He was humble enough to seek out some of the older married men in his kingdom. most he had known since birth. They had been in awe that their king would ask them for marriage advice. But it had been worth it. As he rose from the sea, the first person he laid his eyes on was his wife.

Her hair had been done into pretty long locs, and she wore a green sequin dress and no shoes. Her gills were exposed for all to see. She also wore a jawbone crown and ceremonial beads. On her wrist was his mother's bracelet.

All he could see was her.

…

Shuri was smiling as she finished her ensemble. She refused to allow the royal dressmaker to touch her. not with her pregnancy, or the fact that she wanted to dress herself. Having someone touch her other than her husband made her skin crawl. besides she wanted to put thought into her outfit. She wanted her husband to see that her outfit was intentional. A blend of their two kingdoms.

When she came out of her room dressed in her outfit, her mother gave disapproving looks, and while T'challa was uncomfortable.

"Are you sure about this? You don't have to go."

Before Shuri could answer, Nakia and Eric threw their arms around her shoulders.

"relax T'challa. If anything shuri is our secret weapon. She has a way of reaching stubborn people." Nakia complimented.

Nakia was Shuri's first choice in choosing an escort. Her sister-in-law already knew about her marriage, therefore she wouldn't smother her when she chose to spend time with her husband.

"yeah, come on cousin let's have some faith in our girl."

Shuri smiled.

Ten minutes later, they were all on the beach. Her family and the Dora waiting behind them. To her surprise, the Jabari accompanied them.

"King T'challa trusting our diplomatic agreements to a child?" M'baku questioned as he gave Shuri a look. She gently punched M'baku in the arm. He was only joking. Over time, they had built a respect for one another. He was like another brother.

"Everything is going to be fine M'baku. This will strengthen our alliance."

M'baku clicked his tongue and gave her a serious look.

"Just be careful."

Shuri rolled her eyes.

"do not get so dramatic on me now."

It was then her mother stepped forward, placing a comforting arm on her shoulder.

"Mama, I will be fine."

"We do not know these people shuri. do not be blind to their manipulations."

Shuri stepped back from her mother.

"They are not being manipulative mother. Their culture is a little different, but they just want to protect their kingdom. just like we do."

"my king! The water! They are coming!" Okoye announced.

Everyone tensed as their tentative ally arose from the water. All of them are blue, except for Kukulkan. He was dressed in a formal headdress, a long gold and turquoise cape, and his signature green shorts. Behind him had to be at least 50 blue people. All of them are decorated in gold and turquoise.

Kukulkan came out of the water elegantly and yet an air of intimidation surrounded him. However, to their surprise, he wore a bright smile. His eyes glued onto Shuri. in his hands was a bouquet of something strange.

"Princesa shuri, in yabilaj." He greeted her as he saluted her with his signature sign. ( princess shuri, my beloved.)

Shuri smiled brightly as she greeted him the same.

"I have something for you. As a thank you," he said as he handed her the bouquet.

When Shuri took the bouquet, she gasped. It was alive. The bouquet had pink bulbs and white stems but as soon she touched it, the white stem wrapped around her hand and the pink bulbs opened up to reveal a blue inside.

"it's alive!" she gasped.

Kulkulan smiled.

"it is called a Lool k'áak'náabo' or a sea flower. It often travels on the bottom of the ocean to feed. However, if you put it in an aquarium of seawater, it will reproduce. You can have your own field of sea flowers. They are carnivores though."

"it eats meat!" Shuri said in excitement. " nareema? Can you put this in my lab? I have an aquarium already. Fill it with ocean water and sand. Níib óolal (thank you) Kulkulan."

"you are mastering my language as if it were your own. A princesa bienvenida. (You are welcome princess)"

He smiled at her, the two lovers staring into each other eyes. it was as if no one else

existed.

Excitement buzzed between the two. They would get to spend time together uninterrupted, fully immersing themselves in talokan, with Kulkulan practically thier god and shuri as their queen. She was already scheming to send Nakia home on day two just so she could stay an extra day.

A throat was cleared breaking the sea king and the princess out of their trance.

Immediately, Kulkulan turned to stare at T'challa, but he never left Shuri's side.

"ahh, panther king. I have a gift for you and the queen mother as well."

With a simple motion of his hand, two people a woman and a man walked up to T'challa and bowed. In their hands were baskets.

" These are the finest jade and pearls we have in Talokan. Do with them as you see fit. And for the queen mother, we made you an assortment of pearl and jade jewelry."

Each servant approaches T'challa and the queen's mother with their gifts.

"and don't think we forgot Queen Nakia and Prince Toussaint."

Once again, a servant came out of the water, bowing before Nakia.

" A simple ball made of vibranium, the children of my kingdom use to play. And because Shuri told me about your intellect, I present to you Queen Nakia, a book from my own library."

Once the gifts were sat down, the Talokan servants immediately backed away, but instead of going back into the sea, they seemed to linger near Shuri.

The latter took each of their hands and greeted them properly.

"We thank you for your gifts, Kulkulan. We are most grateful. In regard to today's trip, I have chosen my wife Nakia as Shuri's guard. Once again, I am entrusting you and your people with their care and safety as an ally." T'challa reminded him.

"and once again, I am a man of my word. No harm will come to them." Kulkulan said seriously.

"then we shall have no problem.."

Shuri becoming impatient groaned.

"oh by bast, enough with the pissing contest and the Testosterone! Can we please go? Some of us have things to do?"

Kulkulan laughed and held out his arm for Shuri to take. She did so and squeezed.

"queen nakia, we have a mask for you," he told nakia. She was wearing an all-green diving suit.

"And what of Shuri?" Queen Ramonda asked.

"she's has gills, she will not need one."

"but she does not know how to breathe in the water!" Queen Ramonda argued.

"Mother, please. Kulkulan has been helping me practice. Now if there are no other interruptions. We are leaving!"

With that said, Shuri allowed her husband to pull her toward the sea.

When they got farther out, Kulkulan stopped her and Nakia.

"Are you both ready?"

"This isn't my first time you know… I want to go home…" she pouted.

Something flashed in her husband's eyes when she talked about home.

"of course, my Queen, but you must remember your sister hasn't been to Talokan yet."

He then turned to Nakia who was watching them intensely.

"Queen Nakia, we are going to descend. The further we go down, the more pressure you will feel. But we are going to my underwater cave, where the pressure will be released. Are you ready?"

"yes. let us go. We don't want Shuri to explode."

The three of them laughed before Shuri and Kulkulan dived down.

Nakia took one last look at her husband who was on the shore watching her and waved. She then descended into the water.

…

Kulkulan looked at his wife in awe. Her eyes were closed, as they made their way to his cave. Just as they were about to ascend again, she stopped.

She let go of his arm and twirled around in the ocean. A gentle laugh escaped her lips. To his surprise, a school of very colorful fish swam around her. when she opened her eyes, she was face to face with a mandarin fish. It was a blue and orange fish. It was face-to-face with his wife, watching her.

His wife gently stroked its head and then it swam away.

As he watched her, Kulkulan felt his heart swell with love. This woman, she was his wife and she had turned his world upside down.

Very quickly they were ascending into his cave. Immediately, servants were at the edge handing them towels, not that he needed them.

"thank you, my child," he told her.

The servant nodded and was quick to approach his wife.

"my queen! Welcome home. Talokan has missed you. we have prepared you and our guest a feast if you are hungry?"

"Oh, I would love that! Thank you. I missed you all as well. So very much."

The servant smiled, as she led them to a table. It held rice, fish, fruit, and assorted vegetables.

"ch'ah? How do you grow fruit and vegetables? Do you have any seaweed?" she asked no one in particular.

Immediate seaweed was given to her, and she began to fill it with rice and fish.

"We have underwater greenhouses, where we can grow fresh fruit and vegetables, my queen. Our ancestors brought the seeds and planted them years ago. Some of them have actually evolved to grow underwater. We just recently added mangoes for your satisfaction." Her husband answered as he grabbed a piece of fruit.

A plate was made for Nakia, but she was currently looking around the cave.

"You live here?" she questioned Kukulkan.

"Yes. Most of the time, I am up here in my office. Or painting in my art room. I have two homes. One is up here and the other is underwater. The water is drained out of it, so I can stay when I want to. But it easier to be up here sometimes."

Nakia nodded and looked around again.

"All right I am going to cut to the chase. How long do you two plan to keep this up? how long do you think you can hide this marriage? And do you know what Wakanda's courting customs are?"

Kulkulan regarded her cooly as she spoke.

"Trust me, Queen Nakia. I am well prepared. Shuri and I plan to approach your husband as soon as the ink on the treaty is dry. Now, shall I show you my kingdom or would you like to continue to stare at the glowworms?"

"mmm, yes let us go. I must put up the barrier. I-" shuri began.

But then her eyes widened. She quickly put her hand over her mouth and gagged. She looked around and was quick to run into her and her husband's hut.

She pushed past the golden doors and was grateful when she came upon a bathroom. This one was all white instead of coral-like the one underwater.

She couldn't admire it's beauty before she was hurling into the toilet.

"Mia amore?" her husband questioned in concern.

Mitnal and Nakia were standing in the doorway.

"I'm alright. I promise. I guess my body hasn't quite recovered from that cold."

"we don't have to go today, we can wait." He offered.

But Shuri shook her head.

"no, we need this. Our kingdom needs this."

As soon as she stood, mitnal handed her a glass of coconut water.

"my queen." She greeted.

"mitnal. I have missed you. come tell me what you have been up to."

However, as Shuri and mitnal talked. She failed to notice her sister's suspicious stare.

…

The kingdom of Talokan cheered as they watched the energy barrier spread across their whole kingdom.

Nothing could get in or out without a special mark. And that mark would only be given to the guards, or some citizens in special circumstances. They would not be detectable no matter how far someone sent their technology, which included the vibranium.

As the kingdom celebrated, Kulkulan surprised Shuri with her very own lab, and scientist to help her. She could now bury herself in her work, even underwater.

After a tour of her lab, they showed Nakia, the temple, and the king's private library. Shuri introduced her to the children, who loved Nakia just as much as her.

After a few more hours, the group retreated back to Kulkulan's cave. He assigned mitnal and another servant to keep Nakia entertained while he whisked his wife away to their private chambers.

"what would you like to do for the rest of the night my queen? I have some fun things planned for you tomorrow. But tonight we can just rest." He told her.

Shuri's eyes brightened.

"I have the perfect plan. Have you ever seen the little mermaid?"

"The little who?" her husband questioned.

"Exactly. I am going to educate you, my dear husband." Shuri said as she took off her beads and a screen appeared.

"Can I have some more seaweed?" she asked as the movie started. Her husband looked a little annoyed to be getting up when the movie started but he complied.

She couldn't wait to hear his complaints about the movie and she on the other hand would have to ask him about mermaids.