~Long Live The King~
With the sounds of soft footsteps coming from Ven's white lace up stiletto heels echoing on the big floor tiles, the elegant woman arrived at the throne room with her notebook and clipboard pressed against her chest like a schoolgirl. King T'Challa had requested his personal advisor to join him after he himself heard about the news of an unexpected guest coming to the palace and so here she was, positioned next to her king as she watched the Tribal Council argue.
"Is this man Wakandan or not?!"
"Tell us what's going on." The elders of each tribe began stressing out over an American or Wakandan intruder that was being transported to the golden city right as they were speaking and T'Challa sighed.
"Everyone, please, calm down-...." Venery laid her elegant and colourless hand on T'Challa's shoulder in a friendly way and then tried to shush the room when the two huge doors suddenly opened.
From behind the doors a broad and confident man was revealed standing alongside W'Kabi and they stepped inside together slowly. The man wore NWU type II cargo pants, a blue colored shirt that was perfectly wrapped around his muscles and a piece of chest armor on top of that with his dreads combed to one side.
It all suited him perfectly.
As he walked down the small stair steps, his dark narrowed eyes immediately landed on the gorgeous woman next to his cousin and he noticed her light golden eyes looking him up and down too which made him smirk at her.
"Speak." The Wakandan king spoke in Xhosa and W'Kabi translated it for the man, but the woman could already sense that that was unnecessary.
He stopped paying attention to the woman and instead watched both men again.
"I'm standing in your house. Serving justice to a man who stole your vibranium and murdered your people. Justice your king couldn't deliver." The man spoke calmly, but there was a threatening tone behind the calmness and T'Challa immediately got up, making Ven retreat her hand from his shoulder.
"I don't care that you brought Klaue." T'Challa leaned into the man's personal space so he could whisper to him and no one could hear what he said. "The only reason I don't kill you where you stand is because I know who you are. Now what do you want?"
"I want the throne." The tribal elders scoffed and rolled their eyes and Ven let out a shaky breath, somehow knowing that the man meant it for real. "Y'all sittin' up here comfortable. Must feel good. There's about two billion people all over the world that looks like us, but their lives are a lot harder. Wakanda has the tools to liberate them all."
"And what tools are those?" The king took a step back and raised his brow lightly, a bit curious even though he didn't really show it.
"Vibranium. Your weapons." The confident man watched Ven again, but now as if she was a prey he was hunting, a trophy he had to conquer, and she swallowed nervously.
Oh, what kind of plans he had in mind for her, big plans, but first he had to retrieve the throne.
"Our weapons will not be used to wage war on the world. It is not our way to be judge, jury and executioner for people who are not our own."
"Not your own?" He seemed offended and held his chin up at the king. "But didn't life start right here on this continent? So ain't all people your people?"
"I am not king of all people. I am king of Wakanda. And it is my responsibility to make sure our people are safe and that vibranium does not fall into the hands of a person like you."
"Son, we have entertained this charlatan for too long. Reject his request." Ramonda, the Queen Mother, took a step forward and tried to get her son's attention to end this all.
"My apologies, Queen Mother, but that's not truly allowed." Venery cleared her throat and was cut off by Killmonger.
"Oho, I ain't requestin' nothin'. Ask who I am."
"You are Erik Stevens. An American Black Operative. A mercenary nicknamed Killmonger. That's who you are." Shuri confirmed, joining her mother's side.
"That's not my name, Princess. Ask me, king."
"No."
"Ask me." Killmonger repeated and T'Challa opened his mouth while pointing at him, probably wanting to give him one last warning, before he suddenly changed his mind and slowly backed away instead.
"Take him away." T'Challa held his hand up at his advisor and she nodded at the guards after smoothening her white dress, happy she was allowed to stop and put an end to this mess. Unfortunately, before the guards could take action and listen to the woman, the River Tribe Elder could not contain his curiosity and shouted the question that Killmonger wanted to hear so badly across the massive throne room, the words echoing and bouncing off of the walls for everybody to listen to.
"I am N'Jadaka! Son of Prince N'Jobu!" He yelled back to the Elder and Ven instantly sent the guards back to their former positions, a sign of respect for the young prince.
"You are the son of Prince N'Jobu?" She watched him closely to see if he was lying as she walked towards him.
"I found my daddy with panther claws in his chest! He ain't the son of a king! Your king is the son of a murderer!"
"You're lying! Lies!" Queen Mother bit back instantly with a sharp tone, but W'Kabi shook his head.
"I'm afraid not, Queen Mother.... Mrs. Gold." He signed for Venery to come over to him while the Elders were all shocked and she listened, having him whisper something to her while pushing a beautiful golden necklace into her hand. The woman then sighed and returned to her place before opening her hand and letting the necklace glide through her slender fingers until the royal ring was visible.
"He indeed is the son of Prince N'Jobu." Ven spoke quietly and lowered her head while passing the necklace over to Ramonda.
"Hey, Auntie." He smirked as everyone watched the necklace now laying in the Queen Mother's hand. "I'm exercising my blood right. The challenge for the mantles of king and Black Panther."
"Do not do this, T'Challa."
"Queen Mother-...." Venery gently grabbed ahold of the older woman's hands that were still holding onto N'Jobu's ring. "As the son of Prince N'Jobu, the man is within his rights to challenge our king for the throne.... but it will take weeks to prepare and-...."
"Weeks? I don't need weeks." Killmonger interrupted the woman and rolled his neck with a confident attitude, visibly annoyed by all the judgements. "The whole country ain't gotta be there. I just need him and somebody to get me outta these chains."
T'Challa slowly slumbered into his throne and admired the necklace that once belonged to his uncle after his mother gave it to him.
"I accept your challenge."
~~~
Anxiously, the colourless woman made it to the challenge with Zuri, the Warrior Shaman, and sat down on one of the rocks, fixing the side slit in her white dress so that only her right leg was visible from hip to toe and nothing else. After that, she stared into the horizon, watching the beautiful sky turn into different kinds of colours as the time passed by while she got lost in her thoughts. She had never thought this was the day she would perhaps lose her stable life again, but she had to keep faith, no matter what happened. She knew T'Challa would never make reckless moves if it came down to his people so he probably knew he was going to win.... he had to win.... or else Ven and the Dora Milaje had to pledge their loyalty to a wrong type of king.
She began to shake a little while the dark thoughts consumed her and inhaled deeply when she felt T'Challa's hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, it's going to be okay." He smiled down at her and squeezed her shoulder which made her look up at him. "Don't worry, okay?"
"I know it'll be okay." She nodded, not wanting to destroy his optimism and confidence. "But I'm just worried for your safety, my king."
"Don't, Ven. I'll come back unharmed, I promise."
"How many times have I told you this before.... don't make a promise you can't keep, your highness. It could get you in trouble." He smiled a little and hummed, patting her on the back gently before walking back to Zuri to get himself ready for what would follow. Venery let out a long sigh after he left and a small summer breeze made her straight white hair float in front of her face. It annoyed her eventually and she quickly put a bun in her hair so she could watch the strong men properly again. Both men were now standing in the middle of the Warrior Falls while preparing themselves for the upcoming battle and she paid close attention to both sides.
On the left Killmonger was given a long tribal spear and sword, but he didn't seem that content with it and broke the spear so he could move around with it faster. And on the right Zuri was busy with preparing a special potion to take away the powers of the Black Panther from T'Challa.
"The king will now have the strength of the Black Panther stripped away." Black and purple veins trailed up the king's face and down his chest as he drank every last drop of the potion that would take away his abilities, now leaving both men on equal footing ready for the challenge.
"This is your last chance. Throw down your weapons, and we can handle this another way." T'Challa tried to persuade the man to stop once more, but instead of listening to the Wakandan king, the determined man only grew more pestered and bore his weapons deep into the ground beneath him before standing up straight again.
"I lived my entire life waitin' for this moment. I trained, I lied, I killed.... just to get here." Killmonger began explaining while unzipping his bulletproof vest and removing his shirt, revealing his Tribal Crocodile Scarring. "I killed in America, Afghanistan, Iraq. I took life from my own brothers and sisters right here on this continent." He pulled his weapons out of the ground with aggression and pointed the spear at T'Challa, watching him with narrowed eyes. "And all this death.... just so I could kill you."
Ven wanted to stop the challenge so badly.... do something about this mess, but knew it was strictly forbidden.
Small moon-shaped cuts formed into her smooth hand palms from how hard she was clenching her firsts and she inhaled deeply once she heard Zuri announce that the challenge could begin.
T'Challa immediately began on the defensive side as Killmonger attacked him multiple times by swinging his two weapons, landing a deadly blow against him.
Ven could clearly see that the dangerous man was well trained thanks to his service in the military and as an assassin, but T'Challa wasn't badly trained either and so she kept on hoping for her king to win this fight.
A few heavy assaults coming from Killmonger got the stressed woman sitting on the edge of her seat, but then T'Challa suddenly got the upper hand. He managed to lock Killmonger into a block and hold him back to give himself some space, using his shield to defend himself. The other man clearly became frustrated by this and began making big mistakes. Several heavy strikes were launched at T'Challa in an attempt to beat him into submission, but he didn't give in so soon. After a few more attacks, T'Challa was able to use all Killmonger's rage against him at once, knocking him off balance and onto his back.
"Yield!" T'Challa once again tried to get the strong man to give in, pointing his sword at him and waiting for him to surrender, but Killmonger of course refused to back down and got back up.
It was immediately visible that he was so full of hatred and anger which was a very good thing because he could be easily taken advantage of that way and Venery smiled a little, her hands relaxing.
T'Challa had to win this, there was no other way.
Perhaps everything was going to be okay after fall.
Killmonger's cheek was sliced with a non-fatal strike coming from T'Challa and the king continued to gain the upper hand at first. However.... unfortunately not long after, Killmonger was able to perform a very powerful kick into his competitor's stomach and then managed to cut him across his inner thigh.
"Snap out of it T'Challa!" Despite the fact that her brother was already slightly giving up since he was beaten down every single time when he tried to get back up and he was hurt, she still tried to encourage him.
Sadly.... there was just no way out of the violent attacks that rained down on him anymore.
T'Challa groaned loudly when he was cut by the merciless spear over and over again and then ended up on his back after attempting to hit Killmonger.
"This is for my father."
Ven couldn't help but watch while Killmonger raised his blade, preparing himself to finally execute T'Challa until Zuri suddenly blocked the final blow.
"Erik!"
The woman gasped just like the rest of the crowd and covered her mouth in fear, afraid of what would happen to the reckless man that had interfered.
"Zuri, no." T'Challa whispered softly while holding onto his chest in agony and Venery slowly got up, not knowing what to do.
"Stop!" He hissed and then tapped the violent man's sword with his spear to make it fall out of his hands. "I am the cause of your father's death. Not him. Take me."
"I'll take you both, Uncle James."
"Sir, please don't-....!" Venery rushed to the scene, wanting to stop the dangerous man from causing even more damage, but she was too late to jump in between them. Zuri's own spear impaled himself and in shock he fell to his knees before falling numb. Ven got on her knees instantly, tears ruining her mascara and the water and blood dirtying her white dress while she tried to help Zuri. "Please, Zuri, please. Don't leave us...."
"No!! No! No! Zuri no! No! Zuri! Zuri!" Distraught over Zuri's death, T'Challa lunged at Killmonger once more but missed and fell over.
"T'Challa, it's over!" The woman tried to get him to stop while still holding Zuri in her arms, but she knew he wasn't going to give in. She just didn't want him to make it worse for himself either. Perhaps Killmonger would spare him if he just gave up the throne after all, but of course the only time the king wasn't listening to her was this moment.
"Is this your king? Huh?" He dodged another lunch coming from T'Challa and hit him in the diaphragm in return. "Is this your king? The Black Panther, who's supposed to lead you into the future?"
"Come on, Brother!"
"Him? He's supposed to protect you?" Killmonger pointed at the weak and bleeding king on the ground who once more tried to gather enough strength to try and fight back. However, of course Killmonger saw it coming and dodged it in time, picking him up with ease before walking up to the edge of Warrior Falls. With tears already soaking her cheeks, Ven watched him do so and her lip trembled, already knowing what was about to come. Her eyes closed in shock after watching how her king and best friend fell off the side of Warrior Falls and no sound came out of her mouth as she sobbed, just like the rest of the Elders. "Nah. I'm your king." He yelled and turned around, his dark eyes landing on his new adviser in front of him while he walked up to her.... the words secretly being meant for her in particular.