A very short story based of this comic done by  asuraludu. What was going through Zahra's mind when Yul proposed? What was her response? Read and find out.


Jaden Fairview , Zahra Tameri and story (C)

Yul Alexo Aner, Nayyer Alexo Aner and thumbnail image (C)

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While Howliana days could be unbearably hot at times, the desert kingdom's night were considered some of the most beautiful in the world. The scorching heat giving way to cool breezes, the moonlight reflecting of the sand and few scattered oasis, the warm glow of fire light from buildings. It was even more so around the palace.

Zahra Tameri had always loved night time at the royal palace, even when she had been a member of the palace harem. She would find time to sneak out and explore, enjoying the quietness that seemed to permeate through the long halls and corridors, only the shuffling of the guards feet to break it up.

Her favorite place to go during these times had been the palace garden. It was simply so romantic at night with the moon casting pale light over the berry bushes and flowers, the soft sound of hooves pawing at the ground echoing a bit through the open space and the light crackling of fire that came from the torches that lined the inner columns surrounding the garden.

Even after having left the harem and leaving the palace itself she would find herself missing the comfort that came from there. In the many years since coming back she had made sure to spend her nights just strolling along the garden path. During the summer, she often would find her grandson sitting quietly by himself under a tree or joined by the sultan's second eldest child, Nayyer.

She smiled to herself and glanced to her own current companion. Yul Alexo Aner, Sultan of Howliana, father of four, husband to many. One of the most fearsome figures in the country and one of the most easily embarrassed if one knew what buttons to push.

Zahra adjusted the pink shawl she wore over her head and smiled once more. So far their walk had been quiet, the sultan shifting almost nervously as they made their way to the garden. That something was on his mind was plain to see, that he was being so quiet told the ninetails morph that whatever lucario companion had to say involved her in some way.

The pair continued their quiet stroll through the garden, both enjoying the light breeze that flowed through. Zahra did notice that the sultan seemed to be leading her towards the most secluded corner of the garden. She was about to ask him why they had come when he stopped and faced her. Stopping, she tilted her head and looked at Yul curiously.

"Zahra, I wanted to ask you," he started. What he may have originally ask was cut off however as something caught his eye. "I-Is that Nayyer and Jaden? Together?"

Zahra blinked a few times and followed the lucario's gaze. Sitting a distance off she could make out the silhouette of her grandson, the smeargle's tail swaying lightly behind him as he rested his hands on Nayyer's shoulders. Neither noticing their presence so far.

That her grandson and the young princess spent so much time together had been no secret for many at the palace. Rumors were abound about how close the pair were. She was surprised that finding them like this had caught Yul so off guard.

"Sire," she said softly, noticing the incredulous tone in Yul's voice, "Yul, they have been spending together during his visits. It is just young attraction. . ."

"Where is her top?!"

Zahra blinked once more at his slightly raised voice. They had moved a bit closer to the pair and more details could be seen. The cause of Yul's outburst seemed to that Nayyer's sari was slipped down, exposing much of the hippopotas' back and she admitted that it did look as if she had it pulled all the way down. She doubted that she did though, as nervous as she could get, Zahra doubted that the princess would expose herself like that.

"I'm sure it's not what it looks like Yul," she started. "You're. . " Her words fell on deaf ears however. The sultan ground his teeth together and muttered darkly under his breath. Around him, his aura had started to become visible, dark blue tinted with the red of anger flowing upwards.

"To treat my hospitality as such." He stated. "To go behind my back like this. . ."

Zahra swallowed a bit, fear that he might do something rash washing over her. She reached out to stop him, but Yul moved out of her reach. His eyes narrowed as he marched towards the young couple.

"NAYYER ALEXO ANER!" The sultan's voice rang out loud and clear across the garden. Both smeargle and hippopotas suddenly when rigid, Nayyer's arms moving up as a mini explosion of sand came from her and obscured her from sight.

The ninetails sighed softly though a small smirk did cross her lips. She couldn't help but feel that perhaps she had been wrong about Nayyer and Jaden's affect on her. Still, she followed quickly after Yul, wanting to get between him and the pair.

"What is the meaning of this?" The sultan's attention had shifted fully to Jaden. The smeargle firmly between Yul and Nayyer, the female hiding behind him in fear. "Where are your escorts Nayyer?"

Zahra flinched at that question. She hadn't noticed at first, but Nayyer's normal escort was nowhere to be seen. Though, that had been her doing along with Malkiah Banafrit. The hippowdon queen had made orders to Nayyer's guards to leave her daughter while she was with Jaden.

Zahra sighed at seeing her and Banafrit's plan to encourage Jaden and Nayyer's relationship farther backfire in such a way. She made to explain but again could not get a word in through Yul's tirade.

"You are my guest, boy! I allow you to stay in my palace as a service to your grandmother and mother and you repay my kindness and theirs with THIS?" He stared coldly at Jaden, aura flaring up even more.

"S-sire! It's really not wh-what it looks like. . ." Jaden pleaded as he held his hands up protectively in front of him.

Zahra twitched and hardened her eyes, placing a hand on Yul's shoulder, gripping it firmly. "Yul," she hissed through slightly clinched teeth, "calm yourself! For aura's sake they are clothed and are in a public place!"

Yul shrugged his shoulder out from her grip, eyes never leaving Jaden. "As far as we know!" He exclaimed. "By Arceus, I would break taboo to learn the truth, Zahra!"

"You would not!" Zahra placed herself between Yul and her grandson and glared at the sultan. Her body tensed up and she snorted. "You would not and will not do any such thing to my grandson, Yul. You were no better when you were his age and I should know! We should be happy that Nayyer has opened up to someone finally!" She poked him in the chest and stared into his eyes, ignore the indignation she saw there. "If showing a bit of breast was so horrible and dire that it would only be resolved by marriage, you would have proposed to me long ago!"

The anger and indignation evaporated from Yul's eyes and were replaced by a look of exasperation. He threw his arms up as he exclaimed, "THAT WAS MY INTENT!"

"Wh-what?" Zahra stumbled back a bit and stared in shock and confusion at Yul. Had he just said what she thought he had?

Yul's expression softened and sighed before dropping to one knee and took hold of her hand.

She felt herself go numb and her heart leap in her chest as she looked down at him.

"Zahra Tamari, I brought you out here to ask if you would marry me."

She felt her mind go blank as the words left his mouth. He did say what she'd thought and now she had no clue how to respond. Marriage? At her age? She continued to stare at Yul in shock, seeing him as a young child then as the little riolu enveloped in a pink aura while trying to hide behind a pillar and watch her dance and then as the young lucario who she would often tease before finally giving herself to him and making him a man. Tears began to form in her eyes as she recalled leaving the palace, escaping really, to be away from his tyrannical father finally only to be tracked down by Yul himself a few years later after Sultan Bedros passed from illness to come back and teach dance at the palace. She'd watched him go from shy child to strong ruler with the pride of a mother her own feelings conflicted about how she'd felt towards him.

And now here he was on bended knee proposing to her. Asking her to be his seventh wife. After so many years. She blinked away tears and took a breath as a small part of her mind told her to say no, that she was not worthy of being a queen.

"Yes," she stated softly, drowning out the objections of her mind and admitting to herself that she honestly had fallen in love with Yul and had for sometime. "Yes."

Yul smiled and stood up, embracing her. She smiled back and looked down slightly before leaning in to kiss the sultan.

Before she could, however, she was interrupting by Nayyer giving a gasp and calling out Jaden's name. She quickly looked towards her grandson and blinked a few times before giggling. Jaden laid flat on his back, a dazed expression on his face and the end of his tail bristling, leaving small specks of blue paint on the ground.

"I think this was more of a shock to him then it was to me," she stated, placing a hand on Nayyer's shoulder. "After all, his grandmother is going to be a queen." She paused and then giggled more. She was going to be a queen!