Daze

I do think Kingdom is a pretty complete story, but it really seemed like they planned on doing more with Noa and Mae. Especially since they were teasing a sequel/trilogy for them back when it released, so I was a little upset (crashing out) when they said the next movie won't be a continuation. It sucks to get attached to these characters then learn we might not see them again, which is why I'm gonna cope by sharing my theories on what I thought was gonna happen:

Mae was going to get the redemption arc that Preacher in War didn't. She's presumably spent her entire life underground, probably being taught that apes are violent, dangerous beasts who took what belongs to humanity, nevermind that humans started everything in the first place. And at first, it seems to be true because her group is slaughtered by Proxy's raiders. Until she meets Noa and Raka, two apes that show her kindness at no benefit to themselves, and one even gives his life to save hers. Then after everything, she goes back to see Noa because a part of her does care about him, but she still holds a gun behind her back thinking, 'Maybe this is it. This is when he snaps and shows that he's just an animal like the others.' Only for Noa to prove her wrong and show her kindness once again by giving her Raka's necklace, even after her betrayal. So Mae is left with the realization that she's the one with blood on her hands, and she's the one that used him for her own gain. She still thinks the world belongs to humans, but there's some doubt creeping in. Maybe apes and humans aren't as different as she thought.

As for Noa, I thought that since Caesar was ape Moses, he was going take on the role of Bible Noah. With the bunker humans regaining communication, they were almost definitely going to try taking back the world. Noa was shown to be a strategist rather than a fighter, so he was going to figure out some way to save his kind rather than face humans head on. Maybe it even leads to a little bit of a villain arc for Noa where he starts falling into Proxy/Koba's line of thinking? Some of the bunkers probably have weapons left (possibly nukes?) and were going to use them against the apes like in the original movies. Maybe Mae redeems herself by turning the weapons on her people to help the apes? Sort of like what Taylor did in Beneath.

Anyway, rewind back to Proximus' kingdom specifically the moment when Mae comments on Noa liking Soona. I thought that was a little out of nowhere because even though I like Mae and I'm a huge nomae shipper, she did not gaf about his personal life and she barely even saw them interact. Lowkey, I think it was partly because they want to stay away from human/ape romance (cowards), but mostly, I believe they were going to do a time skip to where Noa and Soona were together and possibly had kids. Then either Soona or one of their kids was going to get killed and kick off the human-ape conflict for the next movies. I know that's pretty similar to Caesar and I'm probably overthinking it, but I just thought that line about Noa liking Soona was weirdly thrown in there.

Growing up within the thick, concrete walls of your bunker, you were taught apes are rash, dangerous creatures, with a mind only for violence. That they tear frail human flesh and bones apart for their own entertainment, leaving what’s left of you to rot on the soil.

Generation after generation, children listened and believed the words of their instructors, including you. Every lesson painted the same picture: massive silhouettes emerging from the shadows of the forest, ripping apart unfortunate wanderers with terrible ease.

As a child, you were terrified, waking up crying after nightmares of enormous hands reaching into your room. You'd cling to your blankets whenever the emergency drills simulated breaches, convinced furry monsters lurked just outside the thick doors.

You had promised yourself you would never set foot outside. But time passed, you grew up, things changed. It has been give or take 300 years since the fall of the old world, since what was left of intelligent humanity surrendered their life on the surface.

Perhaps, it’s time for a change of view?

The elders continue to teach the same lessons, but the monsters in your imagination slowly turned into question marks. The archives were of little help. Access is restricted, which only added to your growing curiosity. So naturally, you figured out system bypasses, stole keycards, and sneaked into the restricted areas as much as you could get away with.

Piece by piece, a different story emerged. There were fragmented photographs, videos too damaged to fully play. It became clear the old world had not simply fallen overnight. Apes had once been... simple creatures. Animals, as much as you are anyway.

Then a serum, or virus, as sources differ; It cut down the human population by ninety percent, while the other primates seem unaffected, aside from an increased intelligence and the ability to speak.

You never spoke of your discoveries. Curiosity, after all, borders on heresy. So you buried it, your research, your curiosity, all of it. Or, tried to, at least until the announcement of another surface excursion, the first in your lifetime.

Supplies dwindle, they say, they are in dire need more outside resources. The quiet room immediately filled with worried whispers as volunteers were requested. Your mind spins. Outside. Actually outside. You could see the world with your own eyes instead of through an old computer screen...

For several long seconds you stared at the registration sheet lying on the table, the butterflies in your stomach making you feel physically ill. But curiosity won, and your hand moved before your fear could stop it, and with shaking hands, you signed your name.

The bunker doors open with a heavy groan. Fresh air floods in and it smells… alive. There’s a bright light, and your eyes need a second to adjust, but then… You’ve been sent to work in the greenhouse plenty of times; you’ve seen plants, shrubs, trees even. But not like this. No artificial recreation could ever replicate this.

You step beyond the threshold. The sky stretches endlessly overhead, impossibly blue, the occasional cloud drifting overhead. Sunlight kisses your face with genuine warmth, not the fluorescent imitation of overhead lamps. Wind tickles your skin, carrying scents impossible to separate.

Leaves whisper high above. Branches swaying together in a slow dance. Somewhere unseen, birds sing beautiful melodies. For a moment, you simply stand there, overwhelmed. For the first time in your life... you understand why people once lived here.

Your assignment is simple: Observe and record. You dutifully scribble notes between stolen, wistful glances at the world around you. It’s different from what you saw in the bunker, wilder. Massive ferns unfurl like feathers, vines wrap around ancient trees thicker than the hallways you used to walk, flowers blooming from cracks in fallen stone.

The old world hadn't completely vanished, it had returned to the wild. You wanted to keep walking out here forever. Your senses yearn to experience everything this world has to offer. To see everything. To understand everything.

Then someone screamed, the sudden noise shattering the peaceful chorus of birds, followed closely by a second scream. "RUN!" The word echoes through the trees. Branches snap overhead as dozens of figures drop from impossible heights as horses gallop through your company.

Apes.

They are everywhere, swinging effortlessly through the canopy, leaping between branches with terrifying speed. Others charge across the forest floor on horseback. Their shouts and commands fill the woods. They don armor pieced together from rusty metal, armored with spears that spark with electricity.

Everything you learned, from your teachers or by your own choice, nothing could have prepared you for this. Your group scatters, many vanishing beneath charging figures with bone-chilling cries of fear and pain.

Your body finally remembers its ability to move. Your legs stumble into a running pace, notebook long forgotten. Your lungs burn, thorns claw at your boots and branches whip across your face, but you don’t stop, you can’t.

Something catches your arm. Pain explodes as you cry out. You are bleeding, heavily. There’s a long gash across your upper arm and shoulder, instantly soaking your sleeve crimson. Warm blood trickles down your fingertips. You stumble, but keep running as the sounds behind you grow louder.

You throw yourself behind the tangled roots of an enormous tree just before several apes rush past. You press both hands over your mouth. Holding your breath, you press yourself closer to the ground, the smell of petrichor invading your senses.

One ape stops in front of your hiding spot. You squeeze your eyes shut. Please, please, please... After what feels like an eternity, the footsteps continue, their voices fade, and you are left alone with the forest.

Slowly, you lower your shaking hands. You stay on the ground, your arm throbbing as blood drips steadily onto damp leaves. You can’t stay hidden forever. So, with trembling limbs, you crawl from beneath the roots, and freeze.

Someone stood only a few paces away. No. Not someone, an ape. An orangutan, to be precise. Unlike your armored attackers, he wore a simple shawl. A satchel rests against his side, and around his neck hangs a necklace with a metal symbol.

His eyes meet yours. He makes a curious cooing sound deep in his throat, his head tilted slightly to the side. Your heart nearly stops. Your mouth opens, but refuses to let out any sound. Your voice has abandoned you.

You scramble backward, panic seizing every muscle in your body. Damp leaves sticking to your palms as your injured arm screamed in protest. The orangutan immediately lets out worried chuffs and raises both hands, palms facing you. Not advancing or threatening, simply... Showing they are empty.

His voice is slow and calm as he starts speaking. "Don’t be afraid." Every instinct inside of you screams that this was a trick. You stare. He knows human speech. Perfectly. "I am Raka." He motions to himself. Raka slowly gestures toward the blood running down your arm. "You are hurt."

He waits several long moments before moving again, slowly. One hand carefully reaches toward the pouch at his side. Your muscles tense up. He pauses immediately. "I only want to help."

From the pouch he removes a small container. Still trembling, you can’t move. Raka kneels several feet away first, giving you every opportunity to flee. Only after another long pause does he inch closer.

He looks at you one last time, silently asking permission. You can’t answer, but you also don’t pull away. Gentle fingers spread the cool paste across your wound. You flinch despite yourself. It stings briefly before soothing the fiery pain. The salve smells strongly of crushed herbs; earthy and sharp.

You watch suspiciously as Raka works carefully, smearing the soothing salve on the gash before layering broad medicinal leaves over it.  Not once did he cause unnecessary pain or did he force you.

When finished, he leans back again, giving you space. You stare at the neat bandage, then at him. Nothing about this makes sense. The monster from every childhood nightmare has just treated your injury more gently than any of the bunker medics had.

Raka quietly begins gathering fallen branches and twigs. He hums to himself while arranging a small fire. You watch as he makes camp, refusing to let your eyes wander. He keeps mumbling to himself, or you rather, though you can’t find it in yourself to react.

Exhaustion settles over you like a heavy blanket. You fight it, listening to Raka as he speaks softly about someone called Caesar, whose name carries unmistakable reverence. Your eyelids droop anyway, vision blurring around the edges.

"I will keep watch." Raka says quietly, noticing your exhaustion. "So you may sleep." You want to argue, to stay awake and keep watching the ape in front of you. Instead, the warmth of the fire, the ache in your body, and the overwhelming weight of the day finally claims you.

The last thing you see before darkness takes you is Raka sitting peacefully beneath the trees, hands folded in his lap, keeping silent watch as your subconscious drifts off into a dreamless sleep.

Next part (TBC)

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