Disclaimer: I don't own The Black Panther. The character are the soul property of Walt Disney and Stan Lee! Please Read and Review

"The Beginning"

"On the way to Wakanda, 1992"

King T'Chaka sat and contemplated the events that had happened over the last 24 hours. 24 hour ago, he had a younger brother and now he didn't. Why did N'Jobu think that Klaue would be the way to the future? All it did was destroy himself. Selling vibranium to a madman, he betrayed his people. His death was justified.

So why did he feel like he ripped apart his family? Why would his heartache for not only killing his brother in the form of justice but also leaving his young nephew alone to fend for himself?

T'Chaka could only think what would happen to his teenage son T'Challa if something were to happen to him. At 15, T'Chaka felt that he prepared his son enough to rule but he would not do it alone. He would have his mother Ramonda and Zuri to help guide him.

"What are thinking about so hard, your Majesty?" Zuri asked from the pilot's seat, having spelled one of T'Chaka's personal bodyguards a couple hours before.

"Did I do the right thing Zuri?" T'Chaka asked as he made his way over to his agent, spy, and friend.

Zuri sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity but was only a couple of minutes. His answer could go either way. It could either help or make the situation worse. "I think you did what was necessary your majesty. But this situation was going to happen eventually."

"But he had a son Zuri! He's family! How could leave N'Jobu son in exile, alone?!" T'Chaka exclaimed, his heart breaking with each word.

"It couldn't be helped your highness. N'Jobu knew what he was doing when he went to Klaue in the first place. He knew the consequences of his actions. He knew that he was never leaving Oakland alive. He knew all this and yet he still went to Klaue anyway. You did the best you could any situation, your highness." Zuri finished and then turned back towards the windshield.

T'Chaka stood and made his way over to stand beside his friend. "Your very wise Zuri and I'm very proud to have your counsel." T'Chaka began. "But as to the events that transpired in Oakland, it never happened. What happened there, that secret will die with us. Understood?"

"Yes, your majesty!" Zuri said. It was dire situation all a way around. He felt the King's pain at leaving his nephew to fend for himself but it couldn't be helped. This blame was placed solely on N'Jobu's shoulders.

Zuri shook his head. N'Jobu must have known that his brother would find out where Klaue got his intel from. He must have known the consequences of what his actions would rot. He felt bad for N'Jobu's son but justice needed to be served.

He would have been the first person to tell you that he had no idea that N'Jobu would radicalize himself by moving to America. N'Jobu had been the best spy Wakanda had, but money became his new god. And Klaue sought to full N'Jobu's ambitions with the promise of weapons if he gave more vibranium. And didn't even hesitate.

There was a sense of relief now that the traitor had caught and killed but that didn't stop both of Zuri and T'Chaka's hearts to break at the sheer weight of his actions. Zuri had practically grown up with T'Chaka and N'Jobu when they were younger, so N'Jobu's betrayal hurt him the most.

But in the process of all of that, Zuri also took on T'Chaka's pain of the situation as well. He was glad that they were going home because it meant that both he and T'Chaka could reflect and heal.

All of sudden the distinct sound of RPG's and bullets ricocheted off of the shielding of the cloaked Wakandan jet. Zuri kept the aircraft straight as he maneuvered his way through the convoy on the ground.

"Let me take over Zuri." Nairobi, one of T'Chaka's elite member of the King's personal guard known as the Dora Milaje and the best pilot he had ever seen.

"What is happening Zuri?" T'Chaka exclaimed as he made his back towards the front of the jet.

Zuri looked outside and watched the destruction all around him. He turned back towards his King and sighed. "It appears to be an attack, your Majesty. But the ground soldiers are not ours."

"Who would be so bold to attack a convoy of women and children this close to the Wakandan border?" T'Chaka asked. The frustration of the situation rolled off of him like a fire.

Zuri turned to T'Chaka, raised an eyebrow and gave him an injudicious look. "Can you think of no one my King?" Zuri asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. "There is no one that comes to mind who would have the access to this many men and has no qualms about the loss of human life?"

T'Chaka only had to think for a split second before his face morphed into one of pure fury. "Klaue!" Was all the King said!

"Nairobi," T'Chaka growled. "Land this plane just outside the center of the skirmish and remain cloaked. The then turned to his friend and confidant. "Zuri, we will bring this fight to Klaue."

Zuri smiled and then grabbed his weapons. The song of battle began to sing through his veins. Knowing that Klaue had no respect or honor on the field of battle, made his blood sing more.

The battle raged on as the jet landed. Even though the party was small, they would have an advantage. Klaue had no idea that T'Chaka and his people would show up. Some of these people weren't even Wakandan, and yet the King was defending them anyway.

It was in that moment that Zuri saw the measure of a true King. A King that he was proud to call his friend, a king he was proud to serve and a king he was willing to die for. He would follow T'Chaka into battle and they would both live to tell the tale.

The jet floated down just at the edge of the battle and the exit ramp began to descend. The small party began to follow the ramps descent and then bolted towards the fight. Bullets whizzed by there heads, swords were struck, as well as the metal from the Dora Milaje's spears.

Klaue's men were caught off guard as a black streak leaped through the air and began to claw and throw men around. The Wakandan's guardian The Black Panther turned at the sound of a scream through the den.

A tall man about 6'4" with blonde hair and dark blue eyes, was in the process of fighting two mercenaries at the same time. But it was the second merc that he should have kept his eyes on. He battled the first man hand to hand and in the process, the merc lost his gun.

The blonde didn't hesitate. He pulled the trigger, three times secession. Before the blonde could turn towards the second, he felt the piercing pain of a machete being stabbed into his side. He slowly fell to the ground gasping in pain.

"JARROD!" A female screamed while clutching a tiny bundle to her chest. Her strawberry blonde hair blew in the breeze and her green eyes began to fill with tears.

"ABBY!" Jarrod yelled. "Take Nattie and run. Save yourselves." He exclaimed, trying desperately to get to his knees as he watched his wife and 4-month-old baby daughter flee the ambush. 2 seconds later, a merc began to give chase.

Jarrod knew in his heart of hearts that he wasn't making it out this alive. With a quick glance at the stab wound, he knew by just looking at it that there was to much damage. He was so lost in his thoughts, he hadn't heard one of the mercenary's come up to his injured right side.

"Do your worst," Jarrod growled at the merc, not batting an eyelash.

It was in that moment that he saw a pair of metal claws sticking out of the merc's chest and then the man was thrown through the air until he hit a low hanging tree branch and snapped his neck. Jarrod stared at the black figure in shock.

"Try not to move." A deep north African accent came from his rescuer.

Jarrod's breathing began to become labored and his eyesight began to drift in and out. He knew he was dying. He would never again see his beautiful Abigail. His golden strawberry blonde angel whose eyes were as green as the Emerald Isle.

No longer would he hear her laugh, see her smile or feel the passion that had drawn him in like a moth to a flame. Then there was his daughter. Natalia, his little Nattie. He would never see her grown up and get married. He would never gaze upon his grandchildren.

He grinned when he remembered her birth those 4 long months ago. The wisps of blonde held various shades of red and copper. He knew that they wouldn't have found out what color Nattie's eyes would until she was a year old, but Jarrod somehow had a feeling that his little girl would have his dark blue eyes with flecks of her mother's green.

But now it would be wishful thinking. He knew he was going to soon leave this world. And so would his wife, if the way the mercenary went after her and their daughter was any indication.

"Let me see your face," Jarrod asked weakly. "I'm dying, so you need not worry about me telling anyone your identity. I have a favor to ask of you."

T'Chaka sighed. It was a simple request from a dying man and one that he couldn't deny. He slowly pulled off his Panther helmet and gave the dying man a good look at his face.

"I know you, your King T'Chaka of Wakanda," Jarrod said humbly. "Well I guess my request is going to the right person."

"What is it you want, Coloniser?" T'Chaka asked, his voice a deep rumble in the back of the throat.

Jarrod weakly placed his hand on T'Chaka's chest and took a deep breath in. "My wife and I have a daughter named Natalia or Nattie for short. She 4 months old. I can feel it in my bones, both my wife and I are never going to make out of this ambush alive. But our daughter will. She's special. Even at 4 months, she's showing signs of being a mutant. She will never be safe in America, they still despise mutant's there and I don't think the X-men will have the means to protect her and raise her. But somehow for some inconspicuous reason, you appear. I don't know if it was God or destiny, but you just saved my daughter's life and you don't even know it. I'm begging you, Your Majesty, please take my daughter and raise her as your own. Give her a good home and cherish her because she has mutant power, never fear her."

With his last breath, Jarrod gasped. All T'Chaka could do was stare as Jarrod's eyes rolled in the back of his head, he stopped breathing and slowly fell back against the hard ground.

T'Chaka bowed his head in reverence as he said a small prayer to the gods, hoping that Jarrod would find peace. He would make sure that Jarrod and if his hunch was right, Abigail, would get a proper burial.

After taking a few deep cleansing breaths, T'Chaka placed his helmet back on his head, turned and followed in the direction that Jarrod's wife and the mercenary went. Before he helped Jarrod, he had the presence of mind to place a tracker on the mercenary's back to track where he went.

He reached up and touched the side of his head where eyes were and pressed a button. Instantly, display popped up and he was able to see the highlighted footprints as to where his prey went.

Meanwhile, Abigail was praying to any god that could hear or was listening, to send her some help. She gasping for breath but she knew she couldn't stop. If she stopped, then she and Nattie were dead. But she knew her life was forfeited but Nattie's was not.

Run and breath, run and breath, run and breath! That had become Abby's mantra as she continued to push through the underbrush as she reached the ascent towards the largest mountain in Wakanda. She could hear the mercenary behind her picking up speed.

"It does not matter where you go or how far you run little girl!" The mercenary screamed. "You are dead anyway. And so will your daughter."

"Over my dead body asshole!" Abby screamed back, all the while clutching Nattie close to her chest as she continued her trek up the mountain.

She heard the man growl as he started to follow. She wasn't making this out of life. He was going to catch her and she and her daughter were going to die. But then she became determined, there was no way in hell that her daughter wasn't going to see her first birthday.

Abigail stood tall and began to climb again. Nattie was going to live, her baby was going to survive this, even if she wouldn't. Abby knew that Jarrod was dead, she could feel it. That meant her time was up as well. But first, she needed to get her daughter to safety.

But halfway up the mountain face, the mercenary behind her took out his whip, reared it back and let it loose with a mighty crack.

Abigail let out a scream as she felt herself lurch forward but had the presence of mind to spin so her back was facing the ground and clutched Nattie close to her chest. When she felt her back hit, the ground was unforgiving.

The mercenary grinned down at his prey as he made way towards her with slow deliberate steps. All of a sudden the man stopped or had been forced to. He tried desperately to get his feet working but when he looked up, he got the shock of his life. There in front of him, not 20ft away, was a giant wall of fire.

But from the abyss on the other side, he heard a baby giggle and cue. Abigail could only stare in shock. She knew her daughter was strong for a baby mutant but she had no idea that Nattie was this powerful. Never the less, her daughter was buying her some time to get back on her feet so she would take it.

Very slowly and painfully, Abigail made her way back to her feet. She gently picked Nattie up and started back up the mountain. With a good head start, baby Natalia let the firewall dropped and the mercenary started on them again.

It was at this time that T'Chaka had caught up with his prey and silently followed the three of them through the trees, swinging from branch to branch, not making a sound. He binds his time to strike on the man that would dare harm a woman and child.

When he heard the crack of the whip followed by a woman's scream, he started to make his move. But then he was stopped in awe, to witness a great feat. To a baby, no more than 4 months old, produce a full wall of fire, well this little sprite was blessed by the god's themselves.

With the proper instruction, she would do great things, for either her people or his, if he decided to take her in. He watched silently from the trees as the mercenary gain speed towards them and T'Chaka knew this time that this female would not escape his second assault.

That was when he heard a gunshot. He could only watch in horror as the strawberry blonde screamed and fell, tossing her baby in the safety of the reeds to her right.

T'Chaka didn't hesitate. He took off like a shot. Praying to the God's to give him the speed to make it before it was too late.

Abigail gasped in pain as she clutched the gunshot wound to her leg. She instantly that the prick in front of her had his femoral artery. She was going to bleed to death, slowly.

"Well, well! I guess the little magician does not have anything up her sleeve to save her now." The mercenary chuckled. "I'm going to enjoy making you beg before you die."

"You and what army!" Abby growled back as she spat on the merc's face.

The mercenary jumped back. With a snarl, his hand drew back and her back-handed Abigail across the face. He drew out his military knife and allowed her to see the stainless steel gleam in the sun.

"I was going to let your death be slow and painless, but a quick death is the only way to put bitches like you down." He growled. "But first," Fast as lighting, he straddles Abby's waist.

At this point, Abby fought like a wildcat but it was no use. The mercenary was just too strong. He grabbed both of her hands in his large one and placed them above her head. He spun his knife and then slashed a deep cut across her chest from right to left.

Then the knife so it pointed at a downward angle and then brought it down towards her stomach and buried it to the hilt. Abby released a blood-curdling scream at the sheer agony.

It was that moment, that the mercenary was ripped off of her with a mighty yell. Before he could comprehend what was happening, a black mass had surrounded him, fighting back was not an option. Whatever and whoever this thing was, he was stronger.

T'Chaka wasted no time. He came at Klaue's mercenary with a series of punches and kicks that gave the man in front of him no reprieve. This vile creature needed to be destroyed if only for the sheer reason of attacking a defenseless mother and child.

The Merc took a breather and then tried to attack T'Chaka again but it was no use. T'Chaka would give opponent credit, he was a formidable force but he was no match for T'Chaka. It was a one-sided fight that the merc knew he couldn't win.

T'Chaka let him have a few more blows before he went in for the kill. His claws struck their target with deadly accuracy. The merc never saw the blows coming. Before he could react in some way to defend himself, he found his chest sliced open and then a loud SNAP could be heard throughout the surrounding area.

When the mercenary slid to the ground, T'Chaka slowly made his way towards Abby, who was slowly reaching death.

"My..baby," Abby asked weakly. "let...me.. see...my...baby..one..last...time." It was getting hard for her to draw in enough breath so she could talk.

T'Chaka nodded. A heavy feeling settled on his chest as he made his way to a small glen of reeds. He listened and then heard the soft cooing of a baby. He reached and pulled a beautiful baby girl, who stared at T'Chaka in fascination. Her tiny hands reached for his helmet.

If only this tiny bundle of pure joy could see the smile that graced his face as he held her. When T'Chaka kneeled in front of Abby, he tried to place her daughter in her arms, but she refused.

"I'm..dying. There's...no..point...in...me..holding..her...when..I'm..not...going..to..see..her..grow..up." Abby wheezed.

She knew saying goodbye was going to be hard, she just never knew it would be this much. Abby looked at her rescuer with a raised eyebrow. Without even being told to, T'Chaka's hand immediately went to his helmet and took it off.

"Do not worry, your daughter will be well loved and well cared for. She will want for nothing." T'Chaka's deep voice rang through the silence like a calm breeze. "I will love as if she were my own."

"That's...all...I..ask.." Abby said with a weak smile as she slowly began to drift in and out before her eyes closed.

T'Chaka could only watch sad and respectful eyes as he watched Abby's chest slowly take a couple deep breaths until she finally stopped breathing altogether. He looked at the beautiful baby girl in his arms and realized she had no one. T'Chaka didn't even hesitate.

He knew he made his decision. And he also knew his sweet wife Ramonda would love to have a baby around the palace again.
The sound of a Quin-jet engine as it hovered overhead before it landed in the clearing, snapped T'Chaka out of his reverie as the cargo-bay door opened and Zuri stepped out and made his way towards him.

"Did you have any problems, my friend?" Zuri asked as he slowly approached his friend, kneeling on the ground.

"No!" Was all T'Chaka said! In reality, it was really all he could say. He witnessed many deaths over the years, but never one of two young parents with a small baby to raise.

"T'Chaka, what do you plan to do with the baby?" Zuri asked. This would tricky subject for him. Not knowing what his friend had seen.

"I will discuss it with Ramonda when we return. But I'm certain that she will not turn this baby out into the cold."T'Chaka began, his deep with emotion. "If she agrees, then we will adopt this little cub both through legal means and blood adoption."

With that T'Chaka made his way towards the Quin-jet with the baby in his arms, hoping that would be the end of it. Zuri followed, saying no more. The sadness of the day hung heavy on their minds. The only royal command T'Chaka ordered, was that the baby's biological parents would receive a proper burial that only Wakanda give them.

The rest of the trip to the royal palace was in comfortable silence. No one said a word. When the royal palace came into view, the only sound that was uttered through the whole cabin, was T'Chaka's sigh of relief.

When they stepped off the plane, they were immediately greeted by T'Chaka's son, crown Prince T'Challa. His never spoke a word, just gave him nod that he shared in his pain.

The party made them towards his wife. When looked at her, he immediately noticed that her the tracks of tears running down her face. He knew instantly that his wife's clairvoyant abilities allowed her to see everything. As soon as he lifted his arm, Ramonda was in arms and gently stroking the baby's head gently.

She turned her soft, chocolate brown eyes towards him and her lips were set in firm determination.

"You do not even have to ask my love! This baby girl needs parents and that is exactly what she will have. T'Challa will make an excellent big brother." Ramonda said firmly.

T'Chaka's face broke into the first real grin he wore since came back from Oakland, California. And of course, Ramonda worked her magic fast.

She and the council had fast-tracked the legal system to get the adoption passed. In the eyes of the law, little baby Natalia Jesse Thorton, born May 22, 1992, became Princess Nehanda of Wakanda.

Once the legalities were out the way, Ramonda, T'Chaka, and T'Challa took baby Nehanda down to the nursery to begin the blood adoption ritual. Ramonda and T'Chaka cut their palms and bled into a ceremonial bowl. The priest fed it to Nehanda and then poured the rest into the circle.

Then he took a heart flower that was starting to form. He then took the little heart stone that was starting to form and crushed it into a liquid and fed all of it to Nehanda.

What happened next would live in the hearts and minds of all Wakandan's through the generations. The blood the circled Nehanda ignited. The bright orange glow the circled and encased her grew and grew until finally, it burst into a mix of bright orange and purple sparks and then finally settled around her.

When Ramonda and T'Chaka reached for their new baby daughter, they found that Nehanda's skin began naturally tanned, even though she was still white. But T'Chaka felt that her natural mutant powers had been balanced. When she got older, his little Fire Cub was going to be powerful.

The world would not only know the greatness of her older brother Prince T'Challa but also herself, Princess Nehanda.