Ascendancy

Chapter I

Chapter 1

T'Kia
2041

"T'Kia, ndixelele yiphi imbali yethu?" My titshala or teacher, Uuka, asks me in our native Wakandan tongue. (T'Kia, tell me what is our history?)

"Titshala, the Kingdom of Wakanda formed eons ago with six warring tribes— the River Tribe, the Border Tribe, the Merchant Tribe, the Mining Tribe, the Golden Tribe, and the Jabari Tribe." I answer in English. (Teacher)

"Kwaye kutheni simkhosi?" Titshala asks, not happy with my short reply.

"We were at war because a meteorite hit our land. The meteorite was filled with a precious substance called vibranium. The six tribes warred until Bashenga, leader of the Golden Tribe, had a vision from the Panther God Bast. Bast told Bashenga where to find the Heart-Shaped Herb that would give him extreme powers. Each tribe except for the Jabari bowed to Bashenga. The Jabari fled to the mountains as Bashenga became the first Black Panther and swore to protect all of his people, their land, and vibranium.

"Since that time, the Black Panther mantle has been passed down from generation to generation— mostly father to son— to rule over Wakanda and protect its people and secret. Until the rule of King T'Challa— the current Black Panther— Wakanda hid away its secret and most precious source of power." I answer without missing a beat.

"Kuhle kakhulu, T'Kia. Utata wakho uya kuba nekratshi." Titshala nods and allows me to leave our tutoring session. (Very good, T'Kia. Your grandfather would have been very proud.)

"Thank you, Titshala. I will see you later." I smile and leave the vast tutoring room that I have used all of my life.

"Nkosazana yam, it is time that we get to training." Okoye, the general of my father's army called the Dora Milaje, quickly comes to my side. (My princess)

I nod and follow Okoye. My father, King T'Challa, has ruled over the Kingdom of Wakanda since 2018. For the last twenty-five years, my father and aunt, Princess Shuri, have been spreading Wakandan knowledge all over the world. With vibranium and my aunt Shuri's technological inventions being implemented all over the world, Wakanda has soared to become the number one country in the world. Our technology, education, life expectancy— everything has made Wakanda the best country ever.

It has also earned us a lot of backlash. Because Wakanda had been an isolationist country for hundreds and hundreds of years, we have been blamed for all of the world's problems. Outsiders have said and are continuing to say that we could have solved everything years ago. We can solve some things, but we what we cannot solve are things like human greed and emotions. Many cities around the world have been modeled to look like that of Wakanda's. Hover trains, weapons, and the works have made their way into almost everyone corner of the Earth.

Of course, my father (along with the Avengers, X-Men, and Team S.H.I.E.L.D) has policed the world to make sure no weapons can be used to plunge the world into a war. My father and aunt Shuri have made sure that vibranium has only been given out in small increments, and even still the price alone is enough to halt most.

"Yam ntombazana!" My father holds his arms open for me when I enter the training room. "T'Kia, come to me." (My baby girl)

"Baba!" I do the standard Wakandan greeting. We cross our arms over chest then sharply bring them down to our sides. My father does the same before I rush to his side only to have my legs kicked from under me by my eldest cousin, Khethiwe. She stands above me with a laughing smirk. "Why?" (Father)

"You must always be prepared, N'Kia," Baba shakes his head. "What if someone used me as a way to trap you? You cannot come running toward me with no hesitation."