“Hahaha, that Ratna deserved it!” boasted Pak Utam as he slapped Onays’ face with both his hands.

“That’s great and all, but I’m starving.” Said Onays’ rubbing his burning face.

“What’s on the menu Mak Husnita?” Anissa asked.

“My princess, a royalty like you shouldn’t be at a sad home like this for too long.” Said Mak Husnita surprised. “Ever since Naiz came along, I noticed that you have been smiling and looking at him endlessly and make frequent visit here. We are just a family of fishermen.”

Onays covered up his shyness by gaping out the window.

“Oi, watch your mouth Husnita. This house was from my ancestor. Fishing is part of our family’s legacy you know?” Pak Utam stared at Mak Husnita. “Anyways, what would our hero would like to eat?”

Onays smiled, it was the moment to not eat ambuyat once in awhile. “Have you ever heard about chicken chop?”

Mak Husnita was curious. “Never heard of that Naiz. How about we eat ambuyat with some minces of prawns?”

Onays was petrified. “No, no…. it’s really easy to make. All you have to do is get a piece of chicken breast, coat it in flour and fry it… I guess and pour some pepper sauce all over. It tastes amazing!”

Mak Husnita shook her head. “Ambuyat it is.” Announced Mak Husnita. She went to the kitchen and returned with a large bowl full of those transparent-slime gooey ambuyat with a treat of a smaller bowl of minced prawns and cabbages. Onays held his tears of sorrow. Pak Utam scoffed on his food while Anissa ate appropriately. The devious eyes of Pak Utam made Onays leaning on the wall, knowing that he had to clean up the stains and plates after dinner. In the end, he was finally used to it anyways after two weeks in Kota Batu.

Settled with the dishes, Onays decided to stay up late near the docks playing sepak takraw, as he balanced the rattan ball on his feet and let it levitate in the air before it bounces again. Pak Utam was mending his fishing net and storing his bubu back into a bamboo compartment saw him doing so. Pak Utam approached him with a torch in his hand.

“Pass the ball.” Said Pak Utam. They went into a conversation as they both played bola takraw. “So, you like to play huh?”

Onays gave a sheepish smile. “Yeah, not much of a pro really. I only play just for fun.”

“You are quite good, even for a sad looking boy like yourself.”

“Knock it off Pak Utam.” Said Onays chuckling as he kicked the ball high in the air. Pak Utam stretched his leg but he failed to rebound it back.

“You did it on purpose did you?” said Pak Utam agitated.

“Are you saying that because I’m foolish or you’re just making a lame excuse that every whiney people out there says?”

Pak Utam chuckled back as he showed Onays at the bright city of Kota Batu at night with merchant ships flocking in from west and east. The calming splashes of water under the docks and the wistful breeze that soothed their skins.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” said Pak Utam.

“Wow, wish that I could see it more often.” Applied Onays.

“Of course, take as much time as you need before the White Men come.”

“Pak Utam, you haven’t finished talking about the White Men to me yet.”

Pak Utam let out a long breath of regret. “Are you sure you really want to know?”

Onays nodded.

“A few months ago, there were double the merchant ships arriving here in Kota Batu as the waters were at peace and the air were untouched by shrills. Then, they came in large vast numbers. Their wooden ships almost the size of our palaces, taller than our mosque’s towers and bolder than our walls.” Said Uncle Utam challenged.

“On their sails, they had a red zig-zag cross over their white banner, and their wore these hats that reflected light. From their ships, they shot their cannons at our ports, they landed, pillaged, raped and plundered our riches. I fought them and that was my last hours of battle. It was such a shame. They shot me with their long barrels and I couldn’t much as much then and now.”

Onays unplugged his ears wider and listened. “What happens next?”

“Each of our coastal cities they have captured brings our Sultanate closer to our end. That is why Anissa had brought you in. Our savior. Only a person from the future could see the past and that person is you.”

“I’m nothing Pak Utam. I did not even beat Ratna fair and square. I only ran around until he got so angry, he was defeated by his own steps. Then, I had to figure out a cheap story to the sultan that I beaten him.”

“I know, you’re a very bad liar. Sometimes my boy, fighting does not always require you to engage it face to face. Sometimes, you have to run away from it. In the end, you’ll find your path and in the end, the destination will represent itself.”

“It’s easy when you say that.” Onays chimed.

“Hear me my boy. The White Men are closing in. This very city is our last bastion before they come and wipe us all. I’m afraid that they already have the golden crocodile and will use it against us. I was careless and they have stolen it from us, and the sultan had almost punished us with death sentences. As a result of that, my reputation and dignity was tarnished. So I resorted to being a normal fisherman for the rest of my life. We swore to the sultan that we would find the original crafter of the golden crocodile. This secret was kept between me, Anissa and my loyal troops. Somehow, we managed to find… you.”

“They have it? What could it possibly do?” asked Onays worried.

“With it, they are able to control the waves, the current and the flow of all seas, lakes, streams and ponds. In other words, they will possess the power of a million crocodiles in one singular person and it would be impossible to defeat him. I should have destroyed it, but the royal house rejected it even though pious missionaries, muftis and kadis had forewarned them about it being khurafat and astray from the our religion doctrine.”

“Can they be stopped?” asked Onays.

“Only through sheer hardship and struggle, blood and bravery. If they do possess the golden crocodile, they can only be defeated with they have an even match.”

“An even match?” said Onays skeptical.

“His foe must also have the power of the golden crocodile in order to fight back. That is because, there will be an existing force of equilibrium and both these forces could be destroyed if one force is stronger than the other.”

“How will that be determined Pak Utam?”

“That, is up to the golden crocodile to decide. The golden crocodile will flourish unprecedented strength to those whom it believes fit and able. For now, I have not seen a tense battle between two massive giants. My boy, if you still have the time to spare, please do find another golden crocodile, albeit in your era. In the future. I have stronger faith in you. You are a fast learner.”

“Thank you Pak Utam, I will try my best.” Said Onays delphic.

Pak Utam gave him a pat on his shoulder and headed back home as Onays pondered at the beautiful Kota Batu, balancing the bola takraw.