Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Zala sat in the royal garden, picking a few flowers and placing them in a basket to put in her and T'Challa's room. He had left early that morning before she woke up, so she thought she would spend some time around the beautiful flowers. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see who they belonged to. Okoye approached, staff in hand. They greeted each other with the Wakandan salute before Okoye spoke.
"Princess, the King requests your presence in your shared quarters" She said. Zala snatched up the basket and followed after the general who walked faster. It must have been a serious matter - she hoped T'Challa was okay. When they made it to the room, Okoye opened the door for her and shut it - giving them privacy.
Zala found T'Challa pacing in the main room. His eyes looked a little watery and he looked sick to his stomach. "T'Challa? What is wrong?" She grabbed his face. "My father is not the man I thought he was" he breathed. "What do you mean?" She asked. "Back in America, the man who took Klaue had my grandfathers ring. I questioned Zuri and he informed me of my father's brother, who took a war dog assignment in America.
He had become radicalized. My father did not support this. My uncle betrayed us, he helped Klaue steal the vibranium. Zuri was also a war dog and had been spying on N'Jobu the entire time. N'Jobu tried to kill Zuri but my father killed him first. They left behind his son" T'Challa said.
Zala had been taken aback. She remembers how she would always praise King T'Chaka. This new information was tarnishing his memory. It's as if every moment was replaying in her head, but this time, she knew what he had done. T'Challa knew what he had done. He left a child behind. Innocent and alone. He left behind family. T'Challa's cousin. A cousin he could have grew up with and loved. But instead they're enemies, two opposing forces working against each other.
"T'Challa, you cannot let your father's mistakes define who you are. You get to decide what kind of King you're going to be" she just comforted her fiancé. Let him weep in her arms. His whole life had been chattered. The man he thought he knew had turned out to be the complete opposite of view. His Kingdom had been built on lies.
They laid together on the sofa until Zala's kimoyo beads lit up. She looked at T'Challa and he nodded, signaling to answer. A hologram of Shuri appeared. "Why are T'Challa's kimoyo beads deactivated?" She asked. "Must have been an accident" Zala lied, "Is there something you need?"
"A man showed up at the border claiming he killed Klaue. W'Kabi is transporting him as we speak to the palace" The two rushed out of their quarters and took the ship to Shuri's lab where she and Agent Ross were waiting.
"Erik Stevens, graduated Annapolis, age 19, MIT for grad school. Joined the SEALS and went straight to Afghanistan where he wrapped up confirmed kills like it was a video game. Started calling him Killmonger. He joined a J-SOC, now these units are serious. They will drop off the grid so they can commit assassinations and take down governments" Agent Ross explains.
"Did he reveal anything about his identity?" T'Challa asks. "He has a war dog tattoo, but we have no record of him" Shuri replies.
Soon after, Shuri, T'Challa, and Zala head back to the palace to meet with the council. "Is this man Wakandan or not?" The River Tribe leader speaks. The doors swing open and in walks Killmonger, W'Kabi, and two other Border Tribe members. Zala stands on the left of T'Challa's throne between him and Shuri.
"Speak!" W'Kabi commands. "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" Killmonger says. T'Challa stands from his chair followed by Okoye which causes the rest of the Dora to move in. "I don't care that you brought Klaue. Only reason I don't kill you where you stand is because I know who you are. Now what do you want?" The King asks.
"I want the throne" Erik speaks. Zala balls her hands up so tight that her knuckles turn white. The Miner Tribe elder laughs out loud. "Y'all sitting up her comfortable. Must feel good. It's about two billion people all over the world that look like us but their lives are a lot harder. Wakanda has the tools to liberate them all" He explains.
"And what tools are those?" T'Challa asks. "Vibranium. Your weapons" Erik replies. "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" T'Challa raises his voice.
"Not your own. But didn't life start right here on this continent? So ain't all people your people?" Killmonger asks. "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" He replies. "My son, we have entertained the Charlatan for too long. Reject his request" Ramonda stands.
"Oh I ain't requesting nothing. Ask who I am" Erik says. "You are Erik Stevens. An American black operative. A mercenary nicknamed Killmonger. That's who you are" Shuri speaks. "That's not my name Princess. Ask me King" He says. "No" T'Challa says. "Ask Me" Erik pushes. T'Challa begins to walk back to his throne, "Take him away". The Border Tribe soldiers approach but the River Tribe elder yells out, "Who are you?"
"I am N'Jadaka, son of Prince N'Jobu" Killmonger speaks in the Native language. All elders stand. "The son of N'Jobu?" The Mining elder asks. "I found my daddy with Panther claws in his chest. You ain't the son of a King, you're the son of a murderer!" Erik exclaims. "Shut your mouth! Lies!" Ramonda yells. "I'm afraid not Queen Mother" W'Kabi raises the Udaku family ring. Gasps break out in the room. "The descendant of N'Jobu" The Merchant Tribe elder says.
W'Kabi places the ring in Ramonda's hands. "Hey Auntie" Erik says causing Zala to glare. "I'm exercising my blood-right! The challenge for the mantle of King! And Black Panther!" Killmonger says. A moment of silent passes. "Do not do this T'Challa!" Zala says, placing a hand on his arm. He didn't have to do it. She didn't want him to do it. "As the son of Prince N'Jobu, he is within his birth-right" The Border Tribe elder yells.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"He has no rights here!" Zala yells back. "The battle will takes weeks to prepare!" He replies. "Weeks! I don't need weeks. The whole country ain't gotta be there, I just need him! And somebody to get me out of these chains" T'Challa sits in his throne. "T'Challa, What do you know of this?" Ramonda asks as the King grips the ring on his finger. "I accept your challenge" T'Challa says. And this was the moment that Zala's heart dropped to her stomach.
