The Outsider: Shuri x OC

2016: Hall of the Mountain King

"So  are we going again?" asked Ross as he, Akoni, Shuri, Ramonda, and Nakia passed through the frigid mountains. "We're taking the Heart-Shaped Herb to Jabari land," Nakia answered.

"Heart-Shaped Herb? What is that?"

"It gives whoever takes it heightened abilities. It's what made T'Challa so strong," she explained. "Nakia. I don't like this," Ramonda worried. "The Herb is sacred to us. We may be creating an even bigger monster with M'Baku. Akoni, you should take it yourself."

Akoni looked shocked at her words. "Even with the herb, I wouldn't  a chance," he argued. "I may know the Dora Milaje, and the border tribe, but what are the four of us going to to against a hundred soldiers?"

Ramonda sighed defeated. "We'll go."

"Oh, boy," Ross said, chattering. Nakia shushed him, and the five of them could hear the barks and grunts of the Jabari. "Oh, sh*t," he said silently.

"Look down. Stay calm," Nakia whispered. "Look down." Akoni and Ramonda wrapped their arms around Shuri as they were brought in to M'Baku's palace.

"My son... was murdered in ritual combat," Ramonda explained.

"Were the odds fair?" M'Baku asked. "Yes, but-" Shuri started, before being cut off by M'Baku. "So it was less a murder than a defeat," he replied smarmily. "Do not rub our noses in it!"

"Silence! I make the pronouncements here, girl."

"Look, uh, Your Highness," Ross started. Akoni knew this wouldn't end well. "The new king is a U.S-" He was cut off by a series of barks and grunts. "The new king-" He was cut off again. "You cannot talk! One more word, and I will feed you to my children," M'Baku threatened, making Ross gulp.

"I'm kidding. We are vegetarians," he said laughing. "Great Gorilla M'Baku!" Nakia exclaimed. "This is why we are here. To offer this to you," she said, pulling out the last remaining Heart-Shaped-Herb. M'Baku's mood changed drastically. "An outsider sits on our throne. Only you can help us stop him."

Silence.

"Come with me," he said, walking to another room. Ross and the Wakandans followed. Ramonda gasped as she looked upon her son, now frozen in ice. "Impossible!" she exclaimed.

"Is he breathing?" Ross asked. "He's in a coma. Barely clinging to life. One of our fisherman found him in a river at the edge of the  border. He brought him to me," M'Baku explained. "Why do you have him in the snow?" Shuri asked.

"It is the only thing keeping him from joining the ancestors."

"We need to get him to my lab. I can heal him there."

"Take him. He'll be dead in seconds."

"Nakia, the Herb," Ramonda gestured. Akoni ground the Heart-Shaped Herb into a liquid and poured it through T'Challa's mouth. "I call upon the ancestors. I call upon Bast. I am here with my son, T'Challa. Heal him."

"We must bury him. Cover him!" Shuri exclaimed as the four of them buried T'Challa in the snow.

"Praise the ancestors," they chanted in Xhosa.

"Praise the ancestors."

"Praise the ancestors."

"Praise the ancestors."

"Wake up, T'Challa. Wake up," Nakia pleaded.

Suddenly, the true king of Wakanda abruptly rose from his slumber, shivering as his mother gasped again. "Do you have a blanket?" he joked.

~~~

"Killmonger has the full support of our military. And he burned the garden of the Heart-Shaped Herb," Nakia briefed.

"Of course he did. That's what he was trained to do," Ross explained, making Ramonda shake her head. "His unit used to work with the CIA to destabilize foreign countries. They   strike at transitions of power. Like an  election year... or the death of a monarch. You get control of government, the military..."

"Our resources," T'Challa said, finishing his sentence.

"Right."

"The Great Mound. Our Vibranium, all of my designs," Shuri added.

"He will send our weapons all over the world. You must get them out of Wakanda safely," T'Challa told M'Baku. "What?! What about you?" Shuri asked. "The challenge will have to continue."

"T'Challa, we will not leave Wakanda," Nakia demanded. "It is my duty to keep you safe," she reminded him. "If he gets control of our technology, nowhere will be safe," T'Challa argued.

"The Black Panther lives, and when he fights for the fate of Wakanda... I will be  there beside him," Shuri promised. "As will I," Nakia added. "Same here," Akoni said.

"I'm in, too." Everyone just stared at Ross. "What? You're gonna need all the help you can get." M'Baku yawned loudly. "Are you done?" he rushed. "A-a-a-a-a-a-are you done?"

"Could you give me and Lord M'Baku a moment?" T'Challa suggested.

Akoni and Shuri obliged, walking into another room. "So we have one extra person. We're gonna die," Akoni sighed. "Well if we do, there's no one I would rather die beside than my brother... or you," she responded. "You know, if we're gonna fight, I'm gonna need my armor," Akoni added. "And you're gonna need those gauntlets."

"So let's get them then," Shuri replied with a smirk.