Chapter Text
It was about two years after Raya, and her band of…unlikely companions, saved the world and kickstarted Kumandra again. More specifically, it was a Friday evening. Even more specifically, it was the third Friday of the month, which meant that it was time to get the ‘band back together’. Every third Friday, the chief of each land came to visit a host region and they always brought a few villagers with them. To Princess Raya’s delight, the families of Boun, Noi and Tong were always accounted for at these shindigs. Sisu and her siblings also showed up, whenever they could, in order to represent the dragon population of Kumandra.
The Heart princess was elated to have her Ba back, but she was even happier to finally have some companions. They’d sit together at these gatherings and catch one another up on everything that had been going on in their lives. This month, Sisu figured out she could hold her breath for almost a whole day (don’t ask); Tong was expecting his second child; Noi just enrolled into an actual children’s academy in Talon; and Boun was going through some pre-teen hardships. He was now about fourteen and it was clear that his life was starting to become very confusing.
The young chef was currently telling Raya and Tong all about his issues with this one girl from his academy class.
“There’s this girl,” he began, fidgeting with a loose thread from his shoes, “…and I think she likes me.” He didn’t make eye contact with any of the people around him as he spoke which just made the admission that more endearing to his adult friends. “I just really wanna talk to her…but talk to her in a way that she knows I’m interested.” Raya just shook her head. She didn’t get to experience all this teen stuff – she had to grow up really fast in order to survive on her own.
“Well, Boun, I wish I could help you,” Raya said, adding more rice to her stew, “but I am drastically lacking in the ‘flirting’ department.” The princess started to stuff her face with food. She only realized the others were still staring at her in disbelief when she went to put more food in her bowl. “What?” she asked.
“I swear on Sisu that you’re always flirting with Namaari, whenever she comes around.” Boun answered, genuinely confused. At this admission, Sisu nearly choked on her soup and Tong didn’t even attempt to hold back his loud and boisterous laugh. The ruckus caused some other Kumandrans to look their way. Raya blushed furiously but stood her ground anyway.
Like a fool.
“I – what?” the princess gasped, setting her bowl down onto the rug that she was seated on, “I do not flirt with Namaari.”
Boun, Noi, Tong and Sisu just sat there – staring at the Raya – as she continued to stumble her way through her denial. Tong shook his head and stuffed some roti prata into Raya’s mouth to save her from digging herself into a hole.
“You have always been the most terrible liar, Princess.” Tong stated with a smirk. Noi just babbled in her toddler gibberish (she was now about 5, but still chose to say less words if the situation allowed for it).
“Uhuh, uhuh,” Sisu said after placing her soup down on the rug she was using, “I agree with everything Noi just said. You got it bad, girl.”
Raya huffed defiantly, “I do not know what any of you are talking about.” Boun just crossed his arms and raised an inquisitive eyebrow at the Heart princess.
“So…what was that last month?”
~Last Month’s Gathering~
This month's festivities were being hosted by Tail. Princess Raya was assisting Boun in re-painting the giant shrimp atop his family’s congee boat. It had suffered some damage because of the weather that Tail has endured. When the dragons came back, Tail started to endure regular rain again and Boun’s boat was not accustomed to it. There was no better time to help him out than when the lands got together for the festivities that took place every month.
Coincidentally, Fang and its people decided to arrive during Raya and Boun’s painting project. Chief Virana waved at the two heroes and they shared some small talk. When the Fang chief left them, Namaari showed up to chit chat.
“Boun.” The Fang princess addressed, with the traditional sign of respect. She then turned toward the Heart princess – who was covered in paint. “Looking colourful, dep’la.” Namaari teased, “Couldn’t decide what to wear?” they were long past fighting at this point; a majority of their interactions consisted of just teasing one another.
“Says the princess who has had the same haircut since we were twelve.” Raya quipped.
Namaari just chuckled and shrugged, “If it works, it works.” The Fang princess looked at Boun and winked at him. “At least one of us doesn’t have commitment issues.” Boun laughed so hard he nearly dropped his paintbrush into the water.
“You know what they say,” Raya said with her characteristic hair flip, “can’t hold a girl like me down.”
Boun looked between the two awkwardly and quickly realized that this conversation had taken the turn it always does, whenever the princesses got within speaking distance of one another. Before Boun could escape this third-wheel energy, Namaari chuckled and walked up to the other princess. Both of them stared intensely into the other’s eyes. Once Namaari was just two inches in front of Raya, she smirked and said,
“I don’t know, dep’la,” she said in a low and sultry tone, “If I recall all the fights we had, I can remember holding you down at least twice.” Before Raya could even make a coherent reply, Namaari stepped back with a jovial laugh. She reached for Boun’s hair and tussled it a little. “See you both at dinner.”
Boun watched Raya as she stared after the Fang princess with her mouth open like a fish on a hook. He shook his head.
“Weirdos.” He said, continuing to finish his paint job.
~End of Flashback~
“Pssssh!” Raya said, brushing off the undeniable proof of her blatant pining. “That was nothing – I was just…thinking of a better…comeback?” Sisu laughed and pushed Raya away by her head.
“Yeah, yeah, okay – sure thing girl.” The dragon ran a large paw through her mane and began to think of her own story. “What about the time when you and Princess Big Flex went to camp in the forest with Me?”
~Camping Under the Stars~
The stars always shone extra bright out in the meadows of the great rainforest between the territories of Fang and Heart. Princess Namaari wanted to take advantage of her two-day break from assisting the rebuilding of Fang and accompanied Sisu and Raya on their camping trip. Sisu was setting up some of the bedding areas while Namaari and Raya chit-chatted about their weeks.
“There’s no way your mom said that joke twice in the same meeting.” Raya deadpanned, while she rested against Tuk Tuk’s shell. Namaari was resting beside Sannan, her serlot.
Namaari just sighed, “I wish you were right. She kinda just says whatever she wants and the guards all laugh because she’s the chief.” Raya laughed – she knew that feeling.
“It’s the same back at the Heart palace,” Raya said while petting Tuk Tuk, “Ba will say some joke and everyone laughs because it was cringey or because they are new staff.”
“I mean…it could be worse.” Namaari supplied as she readjusted her position. She was now sprawled out on her back, with her hands behind her head, just watching the stars above.
Sisu noticed that the conversation had died down and when the peered over her shoulder, at the two princesses, she saw Raya gazing goofily at the Fang princess. The dragon simply smirked knowingly and crossed her arms.
~End of Flashback~
“That sounds rather...” Tong trailed off, trying to be as careful as possible. Unfortunately for everyone, Sisu was not that careful.
“Super gay.” Said the water dragon. Raya just groaned in annoyance; she had had enough of this conversation.
“Guys!” huffed the Heart princess, “There are children present!”
“Hey!” Boun shouted, “Who are you callin’ a ‘children’? I’m a man!” he corrected as both Tong and Raya rolled their eyes.
“You’re a man now?” a voice said from behind the group. Everyone turned around to see none other than the princess of Fang, herself. The taller princess had her arms crossed over her chest while her facial features sported a smirk. “Did I miss a few birthdays, Cap?” the Fang princess questioned. Boun just huffed.
“Well,” Sisu began, “he’s old enough to have some girl troubles, that’s for sure.”
“Sisu!” Boun cried, suddenly embarrassed. It was enough that he was already telling these guys about his crush – he didn’t need Sisu sharing the details with everyone that passed by. Namaari just hummed and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You’re right,” Namaari said, “that does seem like a manly problem. Mind if I weigh in?” the young chef just nodded. He had come to trust Namaari as time had passed and he appreciated how much she treated him as an equal and not a child.
The Fang princess knelt on the rug beside Boun. “No matter what you do, you’re going to be nervous and you may even say the wrong thing.” She told him. Boun just huffed, for what seemed like the millionth time that evening.
“Gee, thanks for your wisdom.” He retorted.
“You didn’t let me finish, dinda.” Namaari chuckled. “You mess up harder when you think too hard about things.” The princess explained, “The key to being brave, in this scenario, is to just be yourself. If you really feel this way, there’s no use in planning out what you wanna say if your heart tells you it wants to say it anyway.” Boun looked down at his hands, taking in the advice from the princess. “You have a good heart, kid. Just be yourself around her and when you’re comfortable, ask her if she feels the same.” Namaari laughed as she patted the young teen on his back. He nearly coughed out his food, considering Namaari was stronger than she knew. “If she sees what we all see, I bet all the jade in my room that she does.” Boun blushed and chuckled at her statement.
Suddenly gaining his signature charm back, he stuck his hand out at the princess. “Care to wager that?” Namaari just laughed and shook his hand.
“Gladly, dinda.” Namaari said as she and Boun just laughed at one another. Boun had older siblings, but neither of them were as patient and wise as the Fang princess seemed to be. He’s glad that he got to know her as this and not just the ‘backstabbing binturi that ruined the world’.
“But…” Boun began, “what happens if she doesn’t?”
“Then it’s not meant to be.” Namaari told him, simply. “And if she laughs, just tell me about it.” She winked and he laughed hard.
“Wow,” Raya said, cutting into their moment, “who knew you were such a romantic?” Namaari just rolled her eyes but the smile on her face indicated that she was anything but annoyed.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, dep’la.” The Fang princess just winked at Raya. Before the Heart princess could make a comment, Chief Virana entered the chat.
“There you are, anak.” The tall chief said, “could you come along with me in a few minutes?” before the short-haired princess could answer, the Fang chief began walking off towards a group of other officials. Namaari watched her mother’s retreating form before laying on her back and groaning into her palms. At this display, Raya grew concerned.
“More mother-daughter issues, dep’la?” she asked, more concerned than the phrase initially sounded. Namaari’s hands fell to her sides as she looked up at her friend.
“Come with me, for a…” Namaari made eye contact with their friends, trying to make this as private as possible. “…for a ‘princess’ talk?” taking the hint, Raya pulled the Fang princess up. Once Namaari was on her feet, they promised to be back as soon as possible. Tong, Noi, Boun and Sisu just watched them retreat from the room. They didn’t even wanna know what was going on, so they turned their attention back to their food.
“Well,” Sisu said, pulling a scroll out of Tong’s vest. “I’m putting this moment down in the books.”
Origin/meanings of terms used in this chapter:
Anak: Filipino word used to describe a child or children (Masc. or Fem., it doesn’t really matter).
Dep’la: …y’all know what it means by now 😉 jk but just in case – it means “strangely beautiful” in Vietnamese.
Dinda: Comes from the Malay term Adinda, which means “younger sibling”.
Roti Prata: a type of roti dish popular in Malaysia. Google it, it’s delicious.