Shuri got down on one knee in front of the shaman, allowing him to paint a black stripe down either of her cheeks and across her forehead. She nodded as the shaman stood tall and left the room.
As she stood up, she looked at herself in the mirror, admiring her face-paint and the light ceremonial clothing she was wearing. The tight sleeveless top and thin black skirt resembled that of a ceremonial Dora outfit, though it was coloured and patterned in the black and purple style of her family's symbol. A Vibranium bracelet was wrapped around either of her wrists as her arms and exposed shoulder blades were painted with black and grey spots of paint.
"It's a good look for you." Ayo snarked from behind her, standing in the doorway. Shuri laughed as she saw her, saying "so, you're seeing me off? T'Challa was not available?"
Ayo was holding the hollow panther-shaped mask for Shuri to wear in the ritual. She tried to keep a grin on her face as she passed it to the princess, saying "well... here we are..."
Shuri nodded, Ayo standing nervously for a moment before saying "Shuri... I am not sure you're ready to do this..."
"Come on..." Shuri scoffed, saying "don't be so overprotective. You've taught me well enough."
"Well, I just wanted you to have this." Ayo said as she reached into her belt. Shuri looked at what she pulled out, a sharp, shining Vibranium dagger attached to a Jabari-wooden hilt. "This dagger has been passed through my family for generations, Shuri... I... I would be proud for you to wear it in the ceremony."
"Wow, Ayo, I... yes! Yes, of course I'll wear it." Shuri took the dagger off of her, putting it into the small scabbard on her belt before wrapping her arms around Ayo, who warmly returned her embrace. "Hm... good luck, Princess..."
The cliffs of Warrior Falls were filled with thousands of chanting and cheering Wakandans of all the tribes. Ayo stood with Okoye and the rest of the Dora Milaje, waiting for the warriors to be presented. T'Challa helped Ramonda onto the platform behind the Dora, as she said "I'm so proud of your sister... it is her time..."
"Hm... let us hope so, Mama." T'Challa answered, a slight hint of reluctance in his voice. He turned to where the River Tribe were chanting, noticing their elder standing alone at the front. He walked over to him, saying "Ngaba uNakia akakho apha nawe?"
The elder shook his head, saying "Andiyiboni, kumkani wam."
Finally, the chanting grew even louder as the group of eight young warriors stepped out onto the water, all of them wearing the paint and masks of their respective tribes. T'Challa squinted a bit to try and see which one Shuri was, before the drums and chanting stopped as the recruits all stood in a line.
They made an X-shape with their fists across their chests, shouting insync "WAKANDA FOREVER!" before getting onto their knees.
A shaman stepped forward, carrying Zuri's spear as she said "today, these children make their rite of passage... from student... to warrior!"
T'Challa and Ramonda noticed one of the kneeling students quietly waving to them, grinning as they both realised who it was. The shaman continued, saying "I, N'Yami! Daughter of Badu... sister of Zuri... give to you... the new protectors of Wakanda!..."
The first student, a young man from the Jabari Tribe, lifted his ape-shaped mask and stood up, shouting "Emi ni M'Abiodun. Arakunrin ti M'Baku!"
M'Baku and the other Jabari chanted proudly as Abiodun placed his mask back over his face. The next warrior, of the Border Tribe, removed her mask and stood up, saying "Ndingu Akhona! Intombi ka Anathi!"
As the Border Tribe chanted for their warrior, Shuri realised that she was next, looking up nervously at her family and tribe. She noticed Ayo looking at her, nodding to her proudly. As Akhona put her mask back on, Shuri stood up and removed her own mask.
"Ndingu Shuri, intombi ka T'Chaka!" she called out as the Golden Tribe chanted and cheered loudly.
"Ngokwaneleyo oku!" a voice suddenly called, echoing loudly throughout one of the caves as the crowd went silent. A figure stepped out of the cave, wearing a black robe with a hood that covered her face. T'Challa and Okoye looked wide-eyed as the figure pulled down her hood, revealing the white, green and yellow circles painted onto her face.
"I am Nakia, of the River Tribe... daughter of Achebe and Imani... and I am here to make right a great injustice committed by the royal bloodline!"
Shocked commotion spread throughout the audience, dying down slightly as T'Challa stepped away from Ramonda and walked forwards. "Nakia... what is the meaning of this?"
"Hm... did she not tell you?" Nakia scoffed as she reached to the scabbard on her back, pulling out Achebe's sword. She shoved T'Challa out of the way as she walked towards the audience, holding the sword up as she shouted out.
"Many years ago, the king T'Chaka murdered my mother, Imani, and cast my father into exile in his grief. I stand here today, because I will let this crime go unpunished no longer!"
She turned the sword upside down and thrust it into the ground, it's hilt sticking out of the water as she turned to Shuri. "A life... for a life..." she said as she reached into the pocket of her robe, pulling out Achebe's mask and hanging it on the sword's still-upturned hilt. Shuri kept eye contact with her as Nakia began untying the strings and sashes on her robe.
"For my family's blood that T'Chaka spilled, I will take the life of one of his descendants..." she continued before peeling the robe off of herself, revealing her ceremonial Warrior Falls corset with her bare arms being decorated with the same white, green and yellow circles as her face. Nakia then grabbed her father's cheetah mask and sword, before pointing the blade towards the Princess.
"That is why I challenge you... Shuri, daughter of T'Chaka, to ritual combat." she concluded her speech, prompting many members of the crowd to gasp loudly. Okoye turned to Ayo, sharply saying "what is she doing?!"
"Nakia, this is insane." T'Challa grabbed her arm, Nakia forcing his hand away aggressively as he continued. "Your parents planned to betray Wakanda. I cannot let you endanger Shuri for this petty rev..."
"I accept... your challenge." Shuri suddenly interrupted T'Challa, who walked to her adamantly. "No, sister. I will not let go through with..."
"You don't have to let me do anything, brother! In this waterfall, I am the one who chooses!" she snapped at him. T'Challa groaned, before Nakia grinned smugly as she moved towards the other end of the water, directly facing Shuri and T'Challa.
T'Challa leaned into his sister, whispering "you don't have to prove anything, Shuri..."
"I... y... yes I do..." Shuri said, a forlorn hint of sadness and shame in her voice. She nearly let a single tear run down her cheek, but simply swallowed as she straightened up, grinning confidently as she said "and don't you worry, lover-boy... I'm only going to make her yield!"
T'Challa groaned as he walked away to stand with Ramonda and the Dora Milaje, while Shuri and Nakia placed their masks over their faces as the other young warriors stood back with their tribes. Shuri left Ayo's dagger in it's scabbard and clenched her fists, while Nakia held her sword with both hands.
N'Yami stepped forward, holding up Zuri's spear and preparing to slam it onto the ground. "Let the challenge... begin!"
