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Soulina crossed her hands in front of her as she entered K'uk'ulkan's office. "Papa. I have retrieved the Princess and the scientist. They're both unconscious in the guest area, two of the guards are keeping watch. What do we do from here?" Soulina spoke, watching her father paint. She smiled at the big painting of her mother on the wall, it always reminded her of how beautiful her mother really was.

"Namora informed me of the conversation you were having with the princess. What was that all about?" Namor turned around, setting down his paintbrush and looking at his daughter with curious eyes. "It was nothing father. She was just trying to get a reaction out of me." Soulina looked down, a bit ashamed of her behavior and mad at Namora for snitching on her.

"Do you like the princess?" K'uk'ulkan asked, raising a brow.

Soulina scoffed, "No, frankly she kinda irritates me. Why do you ask?" Soulina crossed her arms over her chest, expressing annoyance in her tone. K'uk'ulkan did this with anyone she even acknowledged. She had tried making friends with a boy and K'uk'ulkan immediately asked if she liked him. It's like anyone she talked to that was around her age was suddenly questioned as a crush. She assumed it was just him being over protective but it was really because she hated people in general so anyone she talked to was lucky to get a full sentence from her.

"Just curious, Namora said you were flirting. It's out of character for you." K'uk'ulkan shrugged, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips and Soulina rolled her eyes. "She requested that I bring her to you in return for me to not kill the scientist. So, I assume you wish to see her?" Soulina pursed her lips, wanting to know what K'uk'ulkan was going to talk to Shuri about.

"Yes, Namora will have her dressed and sent here. You will keep an eye on the scientist." K'uk'ulkan said. Soulina nodded and went to walk out but paused, furrowing her brows, she turned to look at him. "You're gonna show her Talokan, aren't you?" Soulina looked at him, disappointed that he wanted to show a Wakandan their nation. Let alone a young princess who could use their information against them.

"Once I know she's trustworthy. It's for the best, Lina. You're mother would do the same. She did the same the same for me." He said, sensing the Soulina was dissatisfied with this plan. "But she isn't here, is she?! Trusting a Wakandan, father? Have you learned nothing? Mama trusted King T'Chaka! And he left scars across her face! Imagine what this girl could do to you the minute she sees us as the threat. You're being delusional if you think she won't sell us out!" Soulina hardly ever snapped at her father but her anger was clouding her judgement.

"This nation has survived for so long because of my leadership, do not ever question that now. You are still here solely because of my protection. King T'Chaka is dead and it doesn't mean the princess is like him. This is my decision and you will deal with it." Soulina clenched her jaw, she scoffed before walking out with a eye roll.

Soulina leaned against the wall off the cave, watching with curious eyes as Shuri had woken up and looked at her surroundings. She got up off the hammock and walked to the other one where Riri was laying in, still passed out. She gently shook the girl awake and it took a moment before she finally woke up, and then of course she began to freak out. "Oh my god!" Riri exclaimed.

"Okay, breathe. Breathe." Shuri said, trying to get the younger girl to calm down.

"Don't tell me to breathe. Where the hell are we?" Riri asked.

"We're in a cave. I'm not sure where." Shuri answered. She didn't have her Kimoyo Beads on her as Soulina had ripped them off before they were "kidnapped".

"Oh my god," Riri breathed out, suddenly looking up and gaping. "What is that?"

"Glow worms, their larvae gives off light," Shuri explained. Soulina watched, slighly amused as Riri was practically hyperventilating.

"Well, is there like a new Black Panther that you can call to come and get us?" Riri asked. Soulina wanted to scoff hearing that. The Black Panther claws are exactly what permanently scarred her mother's face. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't work like that anymore. Black Panther is gone," Shuri said, her tone a bit disappointed.

"So y'all stop havin' Black Panthers when I get kidnapped?" Riri deadpanned.

The sound of footsteps made them turn their head towards the sound. Namora walked in holding some clothing, another woman behind her. Soulina clenched her jaw, annoyed that the princess was gonna wear their traditional clothing. Shuri stood up, leaving Riri's side.

"Princess. Here the royalty wears traditional clothing. We did it for you." Namora spoke in Mayan, obviously she didn't speak English despite how much Soulina tried to teach her it. Namora never really cared for it.

"Do you understand her?" Riri asked, standing up to stand slightly behind Shuri.

"Not completely."

Soulina stepped out of the shadows, causing Shuri to push Riri back slightly. Soulina stood by Namora, "This is why I told you learning English is important. They don't understand you." Soulina smirked and Namora rolled her eyes, annoyed with the mermaid.

"She said royalty wears traditional clothing here. It applies to you as well, princess." Soulina explained in English so they understood. Shuri raised a brow, "And yet you don't seem to wear traditional clothing?"

Soulina looked Shuri up and down with a slighty judgey look. "Yeah well you're not the one with tail. I don't like traditional clothing. And you won't speak to Namor wearing that." Soulina shot back and Namora held out the clothing. Shuri went to take it but Riri stopped her. "No. That is some supervillain shit right there. It's in every movie. Princess Leia. Belle from "Beauty in the Beast", that white chick from "Indiana Jones"." Riri pointed out.

Soulina raised a brow, not sure what she was talking about. "Movies?" Soulina asked Namora in Mayan. Namora looked at her and shrugged, not knowing what it meant either.

"It's fine. You should see what I have to wear at Warrior Falls." Shuri said, Riri sighed still not liking this. Shuri accepted the clothing from Namora. "Come with me." Namora spoke. Shuri looked at Soulina for translation and she sighed, "Go with her."

Shuri went to follow Namora but Riri grabbed onto Shuri's arm. "No wait- you not leavin' me in here are you?"

"I'm coming back. I'm coming back. Stay calm," Shuri reassured calmly. Soulina squinted her eyes not liking how touchy Riri was with Shuri. Riri sighed softly and let go of Shuri's arm. "Call me when he takes her," Soulina said leaning up to Namora's ear. Namora nodded and walked away, Shuri following close behind.

Laila (i js gave her a name) stepped forward with a bowl of fruits. "You want to eat?" She held out the bowl of fruits and Riri looked at them not sure what to do. "She's asking if you want to eat. It's not poisoned sweetheart." Soulina explained, sitting on the other hammock Shuri had laid on.

Riri awkwardly grabbed a peach and nodded in thanks, not wanting to be impolite. Laila held out the fruits to Soulina, silently asking if she wanted any. Soulina glanced at Riri who was waiting to see if Soulina would eat one. "If I eat one will you eat?" Soulina questioned.

Riri pursed her lips and nodded slowly. Soulina let out a soft sigh and grabbed a plum, "Thank you darling." Laila smiled and nodded before walking away with the bowl. Soulina took a bite of the plum and looked at Riri. "See? Not poison."

Riri sighed and took a bite of her peach, humming at the sweet taste. "So...why aren't you blue?" Riri asked quietly.

"Because I'm not fully Talokanil. Only fifty percent." Soulina said, not wanting to give too much information. But it did feel so surreal finally being able to talk to the girl after years of just watching her from afar. "Talokanil? So that's what this place is?" Riri asked, looking around slightly as she spoke.

Soulina chuckled, "Talokan is a nation. Talokanil are it's people. And no, this isn't Talokan. You don't have to worry about going there, because you won't ever see it." The way she spoke told Riri to drop the subject as Soulina was clearly mad about something when she said the last sentence.

"I'm gettin' the feeling you don't like me..." Riri muttered awkwardly.

Soulina scoffed, "You endangered my people with your machine, of course I don't like you." Soulina brought her feet onto the hammock and crossed her legs, taking a bite of the fruit. "No offense, but I ain't even know your people existed." Riri said, raising her hands in defense.

Soulina squinted her eyes but stayed silent and pushed her locs behind her ears. Riri raised her brows at the pointed ears. "Nice ears," she mumbled.

Soulina looked up with furrowed brows, "Are you making fun of me?"

Riri blinked at Soulina's innocent look, "No, they seriously suit you. You look like that one chick in avatar." Riri said, assuming Soulina knew what she meant. But this only left Soulina even more confused. Clearly not sure if she was insulting her or complimenting her. Soulina went to speak but Namora entered the room and they both turned their heads to look at the woman.

"He is taking her to Talokan now. If you want to watch over her, you should go now." Namora spoke. Riri furrowed her brows clearly confused by the language Namora spoke. Hearing someone talk about something in a language they clearly knew she didn't understand made her a bit uneasy, and rightfully so. "Can't believe he's actually going through with this. Alright, thank you for telling me, Namora. I'll be there in a second." Soulina said.

Namora gave a small bow and walked away. "What was that all about? Y'all ain't like plannin' a murder right?" Riri chuckled nervously.

Soulina stood up, stumbling slightly but she caught herself. "I'll be right back." Soulina walked away and Riri subtly looked her backside up and down with pursed lips.

Soulina swam down to Talokan, taking her own shortcut than only she knew about. She quickly swam to where she could feel her father presence. She tilted her head as she watched Shuri smile and greet the small children. She wore one of the suits the CIA made to try and discover the vibranium. Soulina swam, following them closely as they came up to the vibranium machine Namor had made to bring the sun to Talokan.

"It's beautiful. It's made of vibranium." Shuri looked at it with astonishment.

"Yes. In the depths of the ocean, I brought the sun to my people." Namor said, a small smile on his face. "I know you want me to spare the life of the scientist, but now you see what I have to protect." Namor said.

Shuri looked down in thought and Namor smiled softly seeing Soulina swim towards them. Shuri smiled, in amazement of the girl. She looked at her tail, all the beautiful colors on it reminding her of Ariel from "the little mermaid". Namor watched closely as Shuri looked at his daughter with admiration.

Namor and Shuri sat down on the cave floor, and Namor turned his head to look at the princess. "You are the first person from the surface to come to Talokan. Please take this as a token of our gratitude." Namor held out his mother's bracelet to the girl and she pulled up her sleeve, letting him put it on her wrist. "It was made with the plant that saved Talokan. You are young, princess. When you age as I do, you realize we all lose everyone we love." Namor spoke, his mind slightly drifting off to his late wife.

"But when I lost my brother, it just felt different. He suffered in silence. When he finally asked me to help him, I couldn't. How does that make sense?" Shuri spoke. Unknowingly and to them, Soulina who was still present in the water was listening. She wanted to know why K'uk'ulkan had put trust in the princess despite not even knowing her. "That the ancestors would give me gifts and skills, to help me save my brother, when I couldn't? Why?"

"I don't have an answer for that question. My ancestors would often say. "Only the most broken people can become great leaders"." Namor said, glancing away from Shuri to look at the water when he suddenly felt a presence. He could tell it was Soulina.

"I admire what you have built here. And how you've protected your people. But as Princess of Wakanda, I will not stand for you killing that young woman. My nation will not rest until I'm returned. I'm not leaving without her. We need to find a peaceful way to resolve this." Shuri stated, clearly she wasn't gonna budge and that irked Soulina just a bit but she also respected it.

"It is no longer about the scientist. For centuries the surface nation have conquered and enslaved people like us. Over resources. Since the day I buried my mother, I have prepared my people for the time they will come for us. And that machine is sign that the time is now." Namor said, but Shuri saw something in his eyes that told her this was more than the machine.

"It's not just the machine, is it? They took something from you, didn't they?" Shuri asked. Soulina took a breath hoping K'uk'ulkan wouldn't say anything.

"Not something. Someone." Namor corrected and Shuri looked down, feeling bad for bringing it up. It was clear Namor didn't bring it up for a reason. "May I ask who?"

"My wife. She was murdered the day of my daughter's tenth birthday. My daughter wished to see the surface world and Monsella just couldn't say no to her. Monsella was different, she wasn't Talokan, she wasn't human." Namor begun to explain, and Shuri listened closely. "Monsella?" Shuri mumbled under her breath, the name sounding familiar to her.

"She was a siren, she, including my daughter were the last survivors of Atlantica. The surface world took down Monsella's nation, her home when Soulina was just a child. They were the last two left and once the surface people knew of their location, they striked. Monsella was overpowered and killed in front of Soulina. I managed to get there, but I was too late. I had to leave my wife's body lying in water and save my daughter. That day changed my perspective on everything."

"Monsella was always willing to give others a chance. It's what I loved most about her when we met. But seeing my daughter's face that day, I realized that giving people a chance to change never turns out in your favor." Namor finished. Soulina sighed quietly, hating how much K'uk'ulkan blamed himself for her mother's death and for her own trauma.

"I need to know if Wakanda is an ally or an enemy. There is no in between."

"So you plan to wage war on the entire world? And you want Wakanda to help you?" Shuri questioned, looking at Namor who held a serious face. Soulina glanced up realizing how bad that actually sounded now. "That's madness."

"There isn't a nation that would plunder Wakanda if given a chance. If we make an alliance, we can protect each other by striking them first. And then, when the threat of this nation have been eliminated. The scientist will be returned to Wakanda."

"And if Wakanda does not accept, what then?"

"The scientist will die. And Wakanda will be the first nation to fall," Namor stated.

"An attack on my people?"

"Yes. I want you to listen to me. Wakanda cannot win a war with Talokan."

Soulina suddenly flinched hearing the sound of the seashell they had given to Wakanda to call them. Namora came up to the surface and Namor and Shuri looked at her. Soulina quickly swum away and back to the cave Riri was being held in.

Soulina emegered from the water and Riri jumped hearing her. Soulina pulled her body out of the water and Riri watched with curious eyes. "Holy shit you got a tail." Riri put her hands over her mouth in shock. Soulina sat onto the floor and waited as her tail turned back into her legs.

Soulina stood up and walked over, her face emotionless, she walked over to Riri who tried backing up only she realized she was on a hammock. "I will fry you like a fishstick and grill yo tail like steak if you don't back up!" Riri exclaimed.

Soulina squinted her eyes at the threat and leaned over Riri, grabbing the towel hanging on the wall before backing up. Riri let out a sigh of relief and looked at Soulina who was wiping down her body that was wet from the water. Usually it took a minute to dry off but she didn't feel like waiting. "I'm not a fish," Soulina mumbled, slighly offended.

"Oh....well you got a tail so I just assumed-" Riri stuttered, scared of the girl now that she seen she was an actual mermaid. "Shouldn't you be naked like "in the little mermaid"?" Riri asked, looking at Soulina up and down.

Soulina raised a brow, "Do you want me to be naked?"

Riri choked on air, taken back by the question. "Uh-oh um I mean-" Riri stuttered over her words, suddenly becoming flustered.

Soulina laughed and Riri smiled slightly, admiring Soulina's smile. "Relax, I'm just messing with you." Soulina sat down on the hammock and crossed her legs, leaning her head on her knees with a sigh.

"So uh I never exactly caught your name?" Riri spoke after a second of silence.

"Soulina Quintanilla."

Riri raised her brows, "Like Selena Quintanilla?"

Soulina furrowed her brows, "Who's that? Is she a movie?" She asked, tilting her head at Riri, genuinely curious.

Riri gaped at the mermaid, "Oh girl you need to be educated. Selena Quintanilla is the "Queen of Tejano music". She's literally an icon." Riri ranted. Soulina blinked, still confused. "So she's a queen?"

Riri sighed, realizing Soulina wouldn't be able to understand. "Yeah let's just say that." Soulina nodded, an innocent smile on her face which somehow warmed Riri's heart. "Can I call you Soul? For short?" Riri asked.

Soulina looked up and smiled softly, "Sure." Soul glanced down at her necklace, remembering when her mother used to call her Soul. K'uk'ulkan didn't use the name often as he called her Lina so she only really remembers her mom calling her it.

"I'm Riri. It's nice to meet you, Soul."

"It's nice to meet you, Riri."

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a.n: hehe they're on the nickname stage im crying

soul gonna be pissed when namor kills the queen istg

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