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"You must work on your aim" Zala said, rubbing her head. "Sorry, sister" Shuri replied as both women watched T'Challa and Erik fall deeper into the mound. She wasn't going to go after him this time. He could handle himself. Right now, she needed to help defend Wakanda. "Shuri?" T'Challa called. "Brother!" She yelled, still looking over the ledge as if she could see him. "Turn on the train on the bottom track" He demanded. The two women looked at each other, slightly confused.
"Those stabilizers will deactivate your suit! You won't have protection!" She said. "Neither will he" T'Challa said. It was a dangerous plan, but Zala believed in the man she loved. He would win. T'Challa did not want to kill his cousin but he would do what was necessary for Wakanda. Shuri complied, squeezing one of her kimoyo beads that caused the tracks to power down. Zala turned away, knowing the situation was handled, and saw Nakia by the hill struggling to stand.
"Nakia!" She yelled, followed by Shuri. Zala slid next to her, placing her hand near the cut on her friend's leg. "I'm fine" Nakia assured before checking the two royals. Once she knew they were okay, she stood, "Let's go!". Zala could her Ross in her ear, speaking to Shuri. The lab where he currently resided was under attack. Despite the fact that the glass would not hold up for much longer, Ross was going to finish the mission. Zala, Shuri, and Nakia jumped right back into battle. They were easily out numbered, but that didn't change anything.
They would not give up. Okoye and Ayo were still standing. Before they knew it, the Border Tribe managed to circle around them and began closing in. Zala could fly and get on the outside of them, but they would shoot her down with their spears instantly. The blue force field from the tribes cloaks glowed around them. All five women continued to stand in fighting stance, back to back, waiting for someone to make a move. They would not take them down easily.
"Surrender now! You have three seconds to lay down your weapons. One, Two.." The sound of barking overshadowed W'Kabi's speech from atop his Rhino. Everyone looked around, searching for the source of the noise. Within seconds, M'Baku appeared, effortlessly snatching up one of the Border Tribe members. Zala smiles, brightly. "Witness the might of the Jabari first hand!" He threw the man into the force field and a Jabari woman stabbed another in the back. The fight had begun again.
They had gained the upperhand. Many of the Border Tribe ran scared from the Jabari who overpowered them so easily. With a single strike of his staff, M'Baku made men fly into the air. "Shuri, the last cargo ship is almost at the Border but they've got me trapped with some kind of cables" Ross said. "Make an X with your arms, now break it!" She said. After a few seconds, Ross screamed out in triumph. "Yes! We did it!" He said. "Good, now get out of there" Zala said.
Less and less Border Tribe members stood every minute, they were winning. Someone wrapped their arms around Zala's mid drift tightly, attempting to stop her from fighting. As he pulled out vibranium cuffs, she slammed the back of her head into his. He released her and stumbled back, disorientated. She then grabbed his hand, flipping him over her back and breaking his arm. M'Baku watched on in awe. He was too busy paying attention to her to notice that W'Kabi and his Rhino were charging him.
When he did, his eyes widened but Okoye slid in front of him. The Rhino instantly came to a halt. He licked up one side of Okoye's face, clearly recognizing her. As M'Baku ran off, W'Kabi got descended the wild animal. He reached for his dagger causing the general to speak, "Drop your weapon". "Would you kill me my love?" W'Kabi asked. "For Wakanda" She raises her spear, "Without question". The man drew his knife, making Zala raise her eyebrow. But then he threw it at Okoye's feet before kneeling in front of her.
All of his Tribe followed suit, repeating the actions of their leader. Even the rhino bowed its head. It was over. It was all over. Zala rejoiced, walking up the hill to speak to T'Challa. She hadn't heard anything on his end in quite the while. "T'Challa?" She called, but no response, "T'Challa?". After seconds of no answer, she summoned the conveyor belt to take her to the bottom of the mound. When it came to the top, there was blood on it. Running in fear that her King was dead, she got on, following the scent of the blood.
Zala was led to the Panther statue where she saw T'Challa sitting next Erik's lifeless body. Next to him was the spear that had killed him. T'Challa looked incredibly distraught. She knew he was hurt inside. Zala approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He turned, looking at her with tears in his eyes. "I tried to save him, but he didn't want to be saved" He said. Zala bent down to his level, holding his face. "There was nothing you could do, my love" She said.
T'Challa gripped to her hand, holding it to his face. The tears slipped out and Zala used her free hand to wipe them away. Slowly, he released her hand and moved closer to his cousin. He picked up his arms and crossed them over his chest. At least he would die a king and possibly spend the rest of his times with his father, how he would want to. In time, the two would leave the cliff and soldiers would come to collect Erik's body. T'Challa buried him on a high mountain, where the sunlight always gleamed.
Days later, Zala and T'Challa would return to the village where they had stood only a week ago, content in their lives. T'Challa was dressed in all black while Zala opted for a dress similar to the color of her ring. The ring was truly beautiful in the sunlight, she admired it while laying her head on her fiancé's shoulder. They stood on a flight of stairs, watching the bustling village with the protection of two Dora. "Thank you" T'Challa said, "You saved me. You saved my family".
"You don't have to thank me, T'Challa. I'd do it a hundred times over again. Just so we could be here, in this moment, together. I just wish things would have worked out differently. Without all of the-" T'Challa cut her off by kissing her so gently. She kissed him back before pulling away to look at him for a second. "You can't blame me, I almost died" He joked. Zala quickly wrapped her arm around his neck, connecting their lips. He placed his hands at the small of her back.
"Marry me" T'Challa said, breaking the kiss. "I must be having deja vu because I recall you asking me this question and me saying yes" Zala laughed. "No, I don't mean weeks from now when the elders set a date. I mean now. I don't want to wait a day more to marry the woman I love more than myself" He said. The woman blinked back tears while trying not to explode with emotion. So many things were running through her mind that she forgot T'Challa was standing in front of her. The roles had been reversed. Now she was the one who froze.
"Zala?" He questioned, lightly shaking her. "Yes, T'Challa. Let's get married. I don't want to wait anymore either" She smiled. He gathered her into his arms and held her tightly. "I love you so much" She said. "I love you more" T'Challa replied, resting his head on hers. A little girl approached the couple but was stopped by both Dora. "It's okay, let her through" Zala said. They moved aside, letting the child walk up the stairs to the two. T'Challa watched as Zala leaned down to the girl, taking her hand in hers.
"Mholweni, what's your name?" She asked. "Imani" The girl replied. "Nice to meet you Imani. I'm Zala and this is King T'Challa" He sent the child a small wave. Imani reaches in her pocket and pulls out a small bracelet. As she places it in Zala's hand, Zala notices how small the bracelet is. The size of a baby's wrist. Meanwhile, T'Challa was so completely zoned out that he didn't hear any of the words they were saying. He couldn't believe within hours, he'd be married to the love of his life.
Seeing her with Imani made him notice how good of a mother she was going to be. He couldn't wait to have children with her. Imani waved at him before running off. Zala stood upright and held her hand out to him. He took her hand, pulling her close, and wrapping his arms around her. With her back resting against his chest, they watched the sun descend upon the sky. "C'mon, we have a wedding to attend" She said, placing her hands over his.
