Chapter Text
The Princess of Fang's life was mostly a blur. training to be a warrior, making Fang a Druun proof land, being the nation's pride, protecting the said nation and so on. Everything sort of happened too fast. She simply didn’t have the time to ponder on things. But a handful of memories that are burned into Namaari's heart, the ones that plague her mind every now and then, ironically consists of the Princess of Heart herself.
Now that she’s standing in front of the bridge connecting to Heart alongside the other tribes, much like they did six years ago, all she could think about was the moment Raya looked at her and smiled oh so tenderly. It was contagious. For a second she had forgotten all about their ulterior intentions behind agreeing to visit Heart.
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“..and she’s the same age as Princess Namaari”
“Is that so? Excellent information General Atitaya” Namaari heard her mother say.
“Mom?”
Chief Virana hadn’t noticed her daughter sneak into the war chamber and was a little startled by her presence.
“What are you doing sneaking into councils my little morning mist?” She asked smiling.
“Well I was playing with Nyla and then she ran off so I came looking for her.. have you seen her?” Namaari asked peeking past her mother.
“No I haven’t love; but I’ll ask the guards to look for her okay?” She said while waving off General Atitaya who only nods subtly and leaves the two of them alone.
Virana paced around the table trying to figure out a way to make her daughter understand the depth of what she was about to lay on her.
“Namaari.. do you know why we are headed to the land of Heart today?”
“Chief Benja invited us and the other tribes for a feast.. sort of like a reunion, right ma?” Namaari replied nonchalantly.
“A reunion.. I doubt that.” Virana scoffed. Namaari looked up at her confused. “Im sure Chief Banja has what’s best for his land behind this gathering.. we must be one step ahead of him Namaari..”
“What do you mean ma?”
“What I mean is, who ever possesses the Dragon Gem is naturally the most powerful and has the most fertile land. I couldn't care less about the power, but I do care about our land.. our people.” Virana said while motioning her daughter towards the palace window.
“What do you see?” She asked pointing at the civilisation of Fang.
Namaari’s eyes landed on a couple of kids playing catch while their mother tries to feed them, then on to farmer towing a trolly of paddy who seems happy with this season’s harvest, then to a Fang warrior who is helping an older citizen carry a rather heavy looking box of goods. After a short pause Namaari said “Our people on with their life?”
That’s what the 12 year old princess saw. But her mother, the Queen, saw otherwise.
“I see people struggling to live. Our land is not rich, Namaari. There’s only so much the farmers can provide. Sure we can go on for a couple of years but things will get.. laborious”
Namaari looked back at the farmer. Now that she’s observing him wearing the chief glasses, he does seem more tormented than pleased. His smile didn't reach his eyes. Not everything is as it seems.
Chief Virana followed her daughter’s line of sight and studied her expressions “Our people are going to starve one day Namaari. And only you can stop it.”
Namaari’s brows shot up and her jaw dropped slightly “m-me!?” She stuttered turning sharply to her mother.
“Yes my morning mist. You’ll have Fang Army’s help of course, but you will have to do the bigger part”
Namaari stayed quiet waiting for her mom to finish the sentence.
“Chief Benja's daughter, we learned that she’s your age. I’m sure you can easily befriend her and get her talking about the Dragon Gem and it’s whereabouts. After you do, signal us and we will bring it back to Fang safely.” She paused before adding “The fate of our land rests in your hands”
That was the exact moment Raya had left a permanent mark on Namaari’s life. She didn’t know her name nor what she looked like but she had to become her friend. Only to betray her for the sake of her tribe. She had no other choice.
“Remember Namaari, be smart, not emotional.”
Those were the last words spoken by Chief Virana to her daughter right before they set foot on Heart for the feast.
What Namaari did not expect was how effortless becoming friends with Raya was. She was all prepared to initiate friendship but Raya beat her to it. When Raya looked at her and smiled Namaari almost forgot about the mission she was on. All she could do was smile back ever so slightly and look down. The intensity Raya’s eyes possessed must be something her mother forgot to warn her about.
It was not part of her plan to give Raya the Sisu necklace. Namaari didn’t have many friends back in the Fang Royal Academy, at least not anyone interested in Dragons. They are mostly nice to her out of respect. But with Raya the conversation flowed smoother than the rich oils of Tail.
Be smart, not emotional.
It was not her who asked about the location of the Dragon Gem but Raya led her to it anyways. It’s like she knew what Namaari was here for and was willing to help her out, making it really hard for Namaari to do what she was told to. Raya really thought she made a friend that night. Namaari thought so too.. but she also thought about her people.
Be smart, not emotional.
Namaari kicked Raya down. Among many things that happened that night, she would never forget the look on Raya’s face. The emotions her eyes reflected. Hurt. Confusion. Realisation. Betrayal. Anger.
Be smart, not emotional.
Flare was shot. All hell broke loose.
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Cut to almost seven years later, Namaari is standing on approximately the same spot and so was Raya. Raya proudly showed her Ba what she had accomplished and looked at each tribe. She lingered a little too long at Fang though. Precisely when she locked eyes with Namaari, a little smile playing on her lips. And all Namaari could do was look down with a similar smile. History is repeating it self in many ways today huh.
~~~Namaari’s POV~~~
Soon I found myself standing idly in the halls of Heart’s council room just looking around, feeling like I’m not supposed to be here. I noticed how demolished Heart looked and yet how it had a lot of light to give.
“You’re the reason Heart was destroyed.” the voice in my head echoed.
“You’re the reason everything was destroyed.” The voice echoed louder. I suddenly felt the urge to leave and took few steps away from the crowd but that’s when I heard that all too familiar voice.
“You’re not leaving so soon are ya?”
“Huh?”
“hey uh.. are you okay?” Raya asked concerned, tilting her head a little.
“Uh.. sure yeah.. why not..” I said unable to meet her big brown eyes.
“Okay I know we’re not exactly best friends but I think even that little cat of yours can tell you’re lying” a lopsided smirk rolled on Raya’s features.
“She’s not little!”
Raya let out a hearty laugh. “Well compared to Tuk Tuk..” She said in-between laughs.
“Now that we’re.. friends, I thought this whole provoking banter would have stopped” I narrowed my eyes at Raya who could only laugh a little bit more.
How bold of me to assume we were friends now. Maybe that’s all I want with Raya but that doesn’t mean she has to feel the same way. I opened my mouth to correct what I said but she interrupted me.
“Oh come on, It’s fun and you like it. Just admit it!” she said still laughing a little not noticing, no, not caring how annoyed I am.
“besides I don’t know how else to talk to you.. hello there Princess, how do you do on this fine day? Is there anything I can assist you with?” Raya spoke in a high pitched voice with her head tilted up while bowing down a little. I laughed along with her this time. She’s so silly.
“but are we though?” She asked as our laughter died down and looked down at her now fiddling fingers.
I was taken back by that “What?”
“Friends. Are we.. friends now?” Raya asked looking at me with soft eyes.
People who know me have always admired my brutal honesty. Whether they like it or not I tell them as it is. And right now all I want is to be her friend again. There were plenty of smart remarks I could have replied with but I chose to go with the truth.
I took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes this time and held my sight. She looked so vulnerable. I realised I was staring but she doesn’t seem to back down either. Stubborn.
“Yeah” I whispered and saw her expressions relax at my answer.
But just to be sure I quickly added “I-i mean I don’t know.. I’d like to be your friend.. if you’re okay with that. But given our past, I totally understand if you don-“
“I’d like to be your friend too” she cut me off with a warm smile; the kind of smile that makes everything inside you oscillate till you can feel the warmth radiating to every nook and cranny and you feel both light and heavy at the same time.
This is not the first time I’ve felt the weight of her smile. It was when we had our little moment in Fang, in that ditch we fell into with the fate of the universe in our very hands. When we came back to life and I immediately looked at her but she was already looking back at me with that same smile and squeezed my hand.
Everything changed in that moment. I felt the shift in our dynamic and I’m certain she did too. Every time she looks at me with those stupid pretty eyes I feel the weight tugging at my heart, weighing me down, making it hard to breathe but then her smile lifts me up making everything light as a feather.
Is that a valid feeling? All I know is that it was too much to handle and now I was smiling back at her, and thus commencing a smiling contest. Why does everything have to be a competition between us?
Raya was the one who looked down this time and I swear I saw her cheeks redden slightly. Or I could be seeing things. Or it could be the the lights from the palace.. or it could be..
“Wait here, dep la” she said squeezing my hand again before getting lost in the crowd. Now I was the one with the flushed cheeks.