-Wakanda 1999-

The lightening crackled through the sky. T'challa and his sister Ajani ran outside while Shuri stayed inside with whatever she was tinkering with. He was more than happy to spend time with his first-born sister. A sister given to him by a stepmother who came in after his mother had passed and then left soon after. A fact that broke his heart sometimes because she didn't take Ajani, she just ran off and left her. Their stepmother Ramonda- whom T'challa didn't consider a step anything. She was the closest and purest thing to a mother he could have ever asked for. The only things she hadn't done for him is carry him in the womb, and even that wasn't enough to change the fact that he'd called her mother since the time she'd come in and loved him like her son. Ajani was behind him as they ran. She watched as her brother soared across the plains. She laughed behind him and cheered for his fantastic form. Then Ajani caught up "Brother you must be working on your form while I am in studies!" She said with a cheerful smile. Her caramel skin glistening with sweat and her golden eyes full of heart.

"This heat lightening isn't letting up." He said and looked at her "I am not cheating by any means. I am merely noticing what you do and do not when you run. Your body is stiff. You need to relax."

"Is that you or father talking?" She asked looking at him. "He's seen me run and he's said the same thing."

"Then you should listen." He said his young happy face glowing as lightening cracked loudly with thunder.

"You don't suspect we are having yet another storm, do you?"

"I can't say that we are." He said, "We were out of range for the next wave." T'challa said looking at her. "What are you thinking?"

Ajani opened her mouth to speak and then there was a cry. A scream pulled through the plains. She looked at him. "Well I think we should see what that is." She said and looked at him "Ready?"

"Looks like our defense class is going to come in handy today instead of us just sparing." He said stretching.

"It came from the west." Ajani said. "You take low. I'll be the surprise."

"Of course." He smiled and gave her a handshake they made up on their own. Then they ran into action.

Ajani walked up to the trees and took a leap that got her to the first branch. She watched her brother run to the poor girl who looked like she was getting attacked and that was scary enough for Ajani to worry. She climbed a bit more out of the branch, so she could have eyes on her big brother, but before she could the girl lifted her hand her white hair flowing with the wind and lightening cracked through the sky. "T'CHALLA!" Ajani screamed as she noticed he was in its path. She leapt to him and caught the bolt instead of pushing them both out of the way. Everything went black.

T'chakka stood outside on the balcony of his daughter's room. Ajanni was lying there monitors beeped quietly telling him and Ramonda that their baby girl was alive. Though they had Suri, and they loved her more than the world. Ajani was all that Ramonda thought that she would have. She thought that there would be no more after her and then Shuri came along and changed their world. A world they loved beyond words. T'chakka paced and waited. He knew she'd come, or at least he hoped. She owed him one for letting her cast to Wakanda years ago and he burned the card she said to burn if he ever needed her. Now he would wait.

A golden ring cut through the warm spiced air of the subtle sadness like a golden smile. A smile that was misplaced. And along with the misplaced golden smile walked out a milk skinned woman with bald hair and large green eyes. She looked at the king pacing like a scared child. "My king. You've called it's been years."

"You're addressing me as if you live here."

"I check in every now and again. It's been ten years since I've seen T'challa. How is he?"

"He is perfect. He is now the hero of a young girl with white hair."

"You don't say?" She smiled "Very noble."

"I believe he is." He said and looked at her. "He will make a great king."

"You know you can just call if you'd like to make small talk." She smiled and looked at Wakanda's purple skies. "I love this place." She said, "I am so honored to have accepted her."

"If Anyone knew."

"No one does." She looked at him "How is Ajani?"

"She is why you're here." He said with a tightness in his voce.

"What has happened?" She asked deep with concern.

"She… She was struck by lightning." He said.

"Oh goodness no."

"I am afraid so." He said and looked down. "I need her to be… healed. I'd also like you to teach her. Ajani… I don't want her here. Not anymore it has become to dangerous."

"Is there something you're not telling me?"

He looked at her. "Ajani is different. She isn't like the other children. She is intelligent which I can't take any thing away from so early, but her mother ran after showing me that she can manipulate water and air. Anything with oxygen. She says there is a mutation in her blood stream."

"You're joking." Ancient One looked at the window that showed Ajani lying in her bed barely breathing. Her brother and sister lying beside her. She loved them so and the love they had with her was just as deep and powerful she could feel the magic between them. "She doesn't need to be separated from them."

"She does. Just until she can control whatever it is that could burst through her at any time. This was trauma. Trauma causes mutations to form…."

"What will you tell them?"

"I-I don't know."

"I will wait until they are asleep… I will take her… When she is done… I will return her."

"How long?"

"There is no limit to what she can learn… She needs to know who she is and what has happened so I will tell you that it will take a long time."

T'chakka nodded. "I suppose this is best."

"Are you sure?"

"What will I tell Ramonda."

"Tell her you put her somewhere safe… Tell her the truth."

"I don't know if I can…" He said honestly. "I don't know if I can be honest with her about this."

"Tell someone." Ancient one pleaded. "I need you to see that this is an important choice."

"I know."

"Then someone else should know… What if she comes back and is killed for being an imposter?"

"I suppose…. I'll fix this."

"You will… And you will do so before I leave."

"I will." He said, "Thank you."

"I will retrieve her at dusk. I need you to give me proof of everything. I will put her in some of the heaviest training I can think of so that she doesn't have to worry about her mutation if there is one… How often is the parents and child's mutation the same?"

"Her mother said that it was the only one that they had." He said, "I heard nothing else."

"Well if there is one then I will get to it as soon as I can, but for now lets just get her to her new home." She looked at the window with the children. T'challa reading to his sister as if she could hear him, and Shuri listening intently so that if she had any questions she would be able to answer them. The love between them was so pure. "These will be the memories that she will count on for solstice."

"I hope…. I hope she doesn't hate me."

"Ajani has a reasonable soul. I feel she will understand the things that you've done for her."

"I don't want her to hate any of us."

"Then perhaps you should tell her the truth." She replied, "I am excited to come back." She said honestly "I do love the sunrise here."

T'chakka smiled "Until the morning."

"Until then." She said and waved her hand and walked into the hole that cut through the atmosphere.

T'chakka turned his daughter on her side. Her body stiff and limp. He took a needle and needlepointed a vibranium panther flower in the middle of her shoulder blades. It would glow blue and it would make a lovely edition to her already impeccable beauty. He covered it with a cloth and then he sat beside her and wrote her a long meaningful letter explaining why he had to do this. He loved her and it was only right that he would protect his daughter through all costs. After all she was his first-born daughter and she deserved all the love a princess needed, she should have been able to get the best training that she needed, and this was as perfect as she could get.

He took his brother to the secret throne room and told him everything. He made him vow that no other soul would know until she returned, and she could control her powers if he was there for that or if he wasn't, he still wanted her to know that he loved her beyond reason, and her uncle would have to tell her. Sun rise came, and he kissed her good bye. The Ancient one looked at him "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

"Yes." He said, "I want her to be the best of who she is and that's with you."

"I can not promise she won't hold a grudge."

"I can't promise she'll be okay." The ancient one said looking at him "I can't promise that she won't resent you because she will."

"I hope not." She said and smiled and looked at him. "Say goodbye."

"Goodbye my sweet girl." He said and kissed her to her head. With a flash and dash she was gone. T'chakka sighed and let her go. His heart broke, and he sealed off the room.

"Father where is Ajani?"

"Shuri… She... She's gone somewhere to help her. Until she returns… This door is not to be open. Is that understood?"

"Brother!" She ran to T'challa.

"Shuri what is wrong?!"

"Ajani is gone!"

"What?" T'challa looked at his father. "What do you mean she is gone?!"

"I mean she is gone and this conversation is over!" T'chakka said and then walked out of the hall.

"Father." T'challa caught him out. "What have you done?"

"When you are a father. When you are a king. You will understand."

"Well help me understand now!"

"No. T'challa you have to be the man your sister would want you to be and not the sad boy she expects!" He said "You've got a larger more important kingdom to look after and now is not and it will never be the time for you to bring this up to me! Is that understood?!"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now get prepared you have classes." He said leaving T'challa angry, hurt, and so very lost.