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The morning came quick. I had gotten ready in traditional Zoyan garbs. The cloth turban wrapped around my hair. The one golden earring that hung from my right ear. The faux leather and cotton skirt and top that drifted to my midsection of my stomach. I smiled as we went down the river. I watched Shuri and the queen dance with one another. The Dora Milaje yelled out and we got closer to our destination.
We made it to the ceremonial battlegrounds. T'Challa had come out looking ready for what was to come. Everyone sang out a chant it was all around joyous. "I, Zuri, son of Badu give to you Prince T'Challa the black panther," Zuri started T'Challa knelt to the ground as Zuri continued with the ceremony "The prince will now have the strength of the black panther stripped away," He put the stone bowl to T'Challa's lips helping him drink the liquid. T'Challa skin covered itself in black veins. He started to convulse. Everyone crossed their arms and bounced including me. T'Challa stood and the veins dissipated. "Praise the ancestors," Zuri said in Xhosa and everyone repeated what he said. "Victory in ritual combat comes by yield or death if any tribe wishes to put forth a warrior. I now offer a path to the throne," Zuri finishes
One of the tribesmen stepped forward yelling out before the tribe leader speaks "The merchant tribe will not challenge today," She spoke
W'Kabi steps forward yelling and his tribe leader speaks "The border tribe will not challenge today,"
Nakia steps forward yelling out, everyone repeats the words and they continue with saying "The river tribe will not challenge today,"
Another man makes a noise that everyone once more repeats, the tribe leader continues "The mining tribe will not challenge today," I sighed out looking at T'Challa with a smile on my lips.
"Is there any member of royal blood that wishes to challenge for the throne," I looked around my jaw dropped when the teenager next to me hand slowly raises. Everybody stares at her in shock.
"This corset is really uncomfortable, so could we all just wrap it up and go home," I watched the queen pinch her and T'Challa smile at her antics "Mother," she squeals the happiness lasted a second before our attention was drawn to the loud chanting that sounded like it was getting closer. Men came out of the dark cave with white paint covering their shoulders and face. M'Baku took off his mask. "Are they Jabari?" Shuri asked her mother Romanda responded with a yes
"M'Baku what are you doing here?" Zuri asked
"Its challenge day," he spoke calmly before turning around "We have watched and listened in the mountains! We have watched as your technological advancements have been overseen by a child!" He continued he pointed his stick at Shuri. I pulled her behind me protectively. I stare down M'Baku. "Who scoffs at tradition and now you want to hand the nation over to this prince who could not keep his own father safe," I growled my lips pulling over my teeth as I went to step forward. Shuri grabs my wrist shaking her head "We will not have it, I said we will not have it," He yelled out "I, M'Baku, leader of the Jabari-" T'Challa didn't let him finish
"I accept your challenge, M'Baku," T'Challa spits out
"Glory to Hanuman," he speaks once more Zuri fastens the black panther mask over T'Challa's face as M'Baku does the same with the gorilla mask. I picked at my nails nervously watching them get ready to fight. "Jabari," they get ready
"Dora milaje, onward," Okoye taps her spear twice on the ground and the dora milaje moved into the water. They stood at ready positions
"Let the challenge begin," Zuri said and it had started. M'Baku made the first move swinging his staff around, T'Challa made good moves to dodge it completely but M'Baku got the hit on him causing him to fall. I let out an audible gasp but was relieved when he stood once more. They advanced for each other once more T'Challa swung his blade for M'baku before landing a kick into his stomach. M'Baku stood swinging his staff for T'Challa he hit him hard and his mask flew off and he landed. I gripped Shuri's arm tightly and nervously. T'Challa stood once more and M'Baku taunted him as they fought. M'Baku swung his staff T'Challa used his on staff to flip and kick him. He swung his staff again T'Challa punched him a few times causing him to lose his footing. I yelled out as did many of the tribesmen. M'Baku picked up T'Challa holding him up most likely making it hard for him to breath. He slammed his head into T'Challa's as he yelled.
"No powers," slam "no claws,"slam "no special suit," slam, I held my hand to my mouth as my breathing unevened "Just a boy, unfit to lead," T'Challa's eyes stared toward us before he yelled out slamming his elbow into his head twice he brought his head down to hit his own. This disoriented him for a moment before he used his staff again stabbing him in the shoulder. I screamed out for him Shuri grabbing me again as we watched in horror.
"I am Prince T'Challa, son of King T'Chaka," he shouted out
"You can do this T'Challa," Shuri yelled out for her brother, T'Challa pushed the staff out and ducked under kicking M'Baku before using his legs to grab him in a choke. We yelled out once again as he held him there. We watched as he told him to yield. We yelled out his name in a chanting manner as we watched. We watched M'Baku tap his legs 3 times and we yelled out in glee. I hugged Shuri tightly
"I know present to you King T'Challa the black panther," Zuri yelled I screamed out as he put the necklace around his neck to signify his status. He looks over his people before crossing his arms yelling out
"Wakanda forever," everyone joining him in this notion. He came up to me.
"Congratulations, my king," I said smiling at him he pulled me in for a kiss that I happily took and everyone shouted once more.
