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The world we know is but one of many in the vast multiverse. In some, most even, the changes are so small that you could stumble into a near identical universe to your own and be none the wiser. In others, the changes are vast and incomprehensible, where the only proof that you are in an alternate of your own is in the very fabric of reality.
In one, a King, son of a Queen and brother of a Princess, dies unexpectedly. They mourn but the world does not mourn with them. It takes advantage of his family's weakness to try and reap his country of its precious resources, but when his country remains strong even in this, the world turns to other means. In doing so, they anger a kingdom forgotten so long ago, it was as if they had never existed at all. In this universe, the King of the seas places blame not only on the world above but on the kingdom of the mourning family. It leads to the death of many from both kingdoms and above all, that of the Queen. It leads to bloodshed and violence and anger and vengeance. It leads to the creation of a new Black Panther, who, without the guidance of those she can trust, nearly incites a generations long war.
We are lucky that the universe our story takes place in is far kinder.
In this, there is no illness that cannot be cured in time. There is no mourning. There is only a family, of blood and of choice. There is a white wolf that hunts with a golden jaguar alongside a black panther. There are no infinity stones and there is no snap.
That’s not to say that some things aren’t the same.
The world still hungers for vibranium. An MIT student named Riri Williams still does everything in her power to prove her metallurgy professor wrong. Her technology still gets used outside of her purview. Special agents still die aboard a ship to spears and water. A man dressed as a feathered serpent god still arrives in Wakanda.
But instead of finding a mother and daughter alone in mourning, emotionally hurting and weak to intimidation. He finds a family celebration together in a hut alongside a river. He faces a King, a Soldier, and a Mercenary alongside the Queen and a Princess. They, together, do not fall prey to intimidation and threat. Instead, the King on land proposes a civil conversation with the King in the sea. And instead of being heart set on violence to the world above, the King in the sea agrees.
King Namor of Talokan meets with King T’Challa of Wakanda on a beach where the water is clear and the sand soft and white. It is a hidden treasure of a place, as Wakanda and Talokan are to the world. They come to an agreement after hours of calm level-headed discussion. That’s not to say there isn’t some shouting or disagreement at first, it turns out that one of Namor’s advisors is just as hot headed as N’Jadaka is. Nevertheless, the first of many treaties with the countries outside of Wakanda is drafted along with the first, and for now the only, vibranium trade agreement signed. T’Challa and Shuri present Namor with a specially crafted set of kimoyo beads and in return Namor gifts them both bracelets of green stone woven between fibers of Talokan’s heart shaped herb equivalent.
Wakanda had already nearly perfected their out-reach centers by this point but even those held only the smallest amount of vibranium, really only for use in the tools and tech needed by the scientists. With Talokan, no such caution was needed. Both cultures had plentiful supply of the material, the reasons of which Shuri had already begun looking into, which meant the exchange of knowledge and technology happened with an ease neither kingdom had expected. Soon enough there were Talokanii citizens roaming the streets of Wakanda in awe and wonder, and pressure suited Wakanda’s hitching rides on whales to explore the depths and beauty of Talokan. It was in all ways, ideal.
In this universe, the agreement made between Wakanda and Talokan still involves an unaware Riri Williams. But in this far kinder world, she is not marked for execution simply because she wanted to develop something that everyone told her was impossible. She still is brought to Wakanda but instead of a nation in turmoil, she arrives to a nation in a tentative period of peace. Under the watchful eye of the Kings of vibranium she explains herself and her part in this all. In front of them all she erases all files pertaining to the technology and goes as far as to hand them the laptop that all her digital work had been done on. It is with her help and Shuri’s tech that the systems of those who had purchased all her work are hacked and every last trace of her machine deleted. She is sworn with blood to secrecy by the King of Talonkan and with threat of her death should she ever break her promise.
And finally, after many months spent developing relationships and infrastructure, King T’Challa asks King Namor one question.
“Will Talokan share their culture with the world?”
It is known that Talokan will not share their vibranium in any way, unlike Wakanda who is willing to share what would better the greater world.
In another universe, The K’uk’ulkan, King Namor of Talokan, would have refused at the mere thought.
In this universe, he pauses, looks thoughtfully out across the sea towards where his Kingdom lay and asks a question in return.
“Did doing so help your people?”
Because in the end, the Kings were the same in that regard, they only wanted what was best for their people.
In another universe, there is no Black Panther, King T’Challa of Wakanda, to answer.
In this universe, he pauses, moves to stand at Namor’s side, though facing the jungle and mountains of his own kingdom instead of the sea.
“I believe it did, despite the hardships we now face.”
Namor looks away from the sea to meet T’Challa’s eyes, and the King of the land can see uncertainty in the King of the sea.
“Wakanda protects her own, even those who are not of Wakanda. You know this to be true. Your people will be safe and your home protected whatever you decide.”
Wakanda has an interesting relationship with the UN. They are a recognized nation and have been for many years, long before the world knew them to be the strength they were. But many in the UN have trouble reconciling that the ‘small farming nation’ is actually more advanced than any other member. Which member of the royal family that attends the session depends on the topics to be discussed. Today, there was no other choice but T’Challa.
“The council welcomes King T’Challa, son of T’Chaka to the floor.”
The hall falls silent as T’Challa enters and takes his seat at the speakers table.
“Esteemed members of the council, it is with great honor that I speak before you today. For many years, Wakanda has maintained a quiet and isolationist place among the countries of the world and the members of this council. In recent months, we have been honored to be the first to welcome another society like our own into the larger world stage and have spent many months building relationships with her leaders and her people. Today, Wakanda moves to have the nation of Talokan recognized as a member of this council and welcomes King Namor of Talokan to the floor to state the case for his people.”
In another universe, the Princess of Wakanda, not yet the Queen and the King of Talokan reach an impasse in a trial of combat and the King of Talokan yields to the Princess in hopes that one day Wakanda will call upon Talokan for help.
In this universe, the royal family of Wakanda and all its members, blood or otherwise, become friends with the King of Talokan and his councilors.
In this universe they work together to introduce the world to their technologies and share what they can to help the world as a whole.
In this universe there is an ending to the story that does not involve blood shed unnecessarily or the death of not one ruler but two.
In this universe there are still those who try to acquire vibranium and use it for their own gain but each time they find themselves facing members of both nations sworn to protect it.
In this universe it is the shared knowledge of vibranium and its uses that instead of driving them apart, brings Talokan and Wakanda together.