Begins several years before The Black Panther Movie and ends several years after. This is an alternate universe (with certain events from the comic and the cinematic universes which have been altered and intermingled together) containing multiple M...
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Feeling completely disoriented and adrift after that last time-space jump, Shuri held the young boy's hand as she hurriedly made her way through the dark halls of the familiar palace.
Birnin zana "the Golden City". Her home and the capital city of Wakanda was as it had always been before the Great War destroyed most of the grand countryside. The pinnacle of architecture, technology and politics. Completely intact and as beautiful as ever. Named for its towering golden high-rises and steeples set against the lush green backdrop of mountain ranges and valleys, this was utopia at its best. Her paradise. Her home. She felt a rush of nostalgia, happiness, and sadness wash over her all at once. She prayed to Bast this was the year and timeline she meant to land in. She had been through so much in just the last five years. She hoped for even the tiniest glimmer of some luck.
They finally stumbled into the king's expansive chambers. Shuri hoped to find the king alone. It was urgent that she speak to him privately without encountering anyone else in the palace. In and out. Disturb nothing. Fortunately this time, luck was on her side.
The dark tension in this place gave itself away. The upside down-ness of the small countries unwelcome surprise guest was felt in every corner. The jovial palace halls filled with various members of the court and the bed chambers which usually buzzed with busy chamber maids and valets, now lay abandoned. The courtiers and servants obviously scattered and making themselves scarce. There could only be one reason for this. Her constant prayers had finally been answered.
"Eh Princess," A deep unfriendly voice snarled from the darkness behind her. She spun around to find Erik Stevens staring at her curiously from where he stood in deep shadows by the large royal closet door. He lurked silently like a jaguar stalking his prey. The large room seemed to extend for a mile between them, but even so, she could still see the deepening scowl on his brooding face and the fires lit behind his hostile eyes.
Dressed in what was traditionally considered the casual garb of a low born Wakandan man, he made a clear statement to all in the palace. An insult. The average Wakandan would have assumed that as an American, Erik had innocently made a simple faux pas, but Shuri knew her long lost cousin brashly chose those clothes with purpose.
Leaning against the door frame now, he inspected her slyly. "Whatchu doin' back here? Thought you ran off with your momz after I stuck a dagger in your brother's stomach and tossed him off that cliff."
Erik sucked at his teeth and gave a wry chuckle, "Auntie ain't look too happy about that one."
Shuri sighed at the malicious smirk on his face. His sour disposition seemed to be a constant, no matter the timeline. Then she spoke his name. "Killmonger."
"King Killmonger to you sweetheart." Erik corrected using the small sharp dagger in his hand to pick at his teeth. Flashing the dagger was meant as a threat to intimidate her. But he also just came from eating dinner with his council of advisors, all of whom visibly hated and feared him. All secretly plotting a swift execution and the end to his reign.
