The Sweetest Night Flower of Wakanda Chapter 24
T'Challa's condition is potentially very serious. He is in a deep coma. He must be tended to now or else they would lose him.
Tamu won't let that happen. T'Challa is Wakanda's only chance of survival. He cannot, he will not perish this day.
On M'Baku's order T'Challa was immediately taken to a separate temple for healing. Far different than the one Tamu had been taken to when she first arrived here yesterday. This one holds more spiritual property's making it sacred to the Jabari. Here he was partially buried in snow that would keep him alive. If at any time he is removed then T'Challa will be dead in seconds.
Others left, but Tamu stayed by his side.
Except for the guardsmen M'Baku had there for her safety and the handful of priestesses there to tend to T'Challa, Tamu was left on her own with her brother. With good reason, too. By all appearances Tamu is trying to stay strong, but inside she is a wreck.
T'Challa in this condition meant only one thing. Erik had one the challenge meaning he is now King of Wakanda. He's probably gained the mantle of Black Panther by now.
Tamu nearly wept for Wakanda alone. Erik on the throne means Wakanda is doomed as is the rest of the world. Only T'Challa perhaps had the only chance of stopping Erik's mad conquest, but he's stuck in this condition for who knows how long.
In Tamu's eye's it is hopeless.
These emotions of depression are about to do a total 180.
It was night again when Tamu received some unexpected visitors to the temple.
"Tamu," said M'Baku, entering first, announcing his presence to her.
The moment Tamu raised her head from where she's kneeling at M'Baku stepped to the side revealing those hidden behind his massive frame.
Eyes wide, Tamu gasped "Mama!"
Queen Mother Ramonda, Shuri, Nakia, and Agent Ross, taking up the rear, are here. The last two were insignificant to her right now compared to her mother and little sister.
They were just as shocked to see her here as she is to them even more so when they zeroed in on T'Challa.
Queen Mother Ramonda and Shuri immediately went to Tamu embracing her while Nakia is focused dead on him.
"Impossible," said Nakia, in something of a denial.
"My Daughter," said Queen Ramonda, tearfully cupping Tamu's face in her hands. "I am so sorry."
"I know, Mama. Please don't be sorry," said Tamu, aware what she is apologizing for.
There's no way Queen Mother Ramonda had been partial to her late husbands and Zuri's deception. No one could've faked the type of reaction she had to the news laid on them so suddenly like that. So much is being left unsaid, but there isn't any time. At present T'Challa's wellbeing is the main priority.
Queen Mother Ramonda took a position on the opposite side of T'Challa's head and placed a hand on his forehead, checking him over.
"Is he breathing," asked Nakia, shakily.
"He is in a coma. Barely clinging to life," said M'Baku, grave. "One of our fishermen found him on the edge of the river border. He brought him to me."
"Why do you have him in the snow," demanded Shuri, rudely indignant, the fear coursing through her system temporarily making her forget to be grateful for the gift that T'Challa is even still here thanks to M'Baku.
"It is the only thing keeping him from joining the ancestors," said M'Baka.
Making a plan, Shuri said "We need to get him to my lab. I can heal him there."
"Take him. He'll be dead in seconds," stated M'Baku.
Wincing at how painfully blunt he was about it, Tamu agreed "He is right."
Thinking quickly, Queen Mother said "Nakia, the Herb."
Nakia then extracted the sacred Heart Shaped Herb from where it was hidden on her person. She'd managed to save at least one before Erik had burned all the rest so no one could challenge him for it as he did T'Challa.
Tamu immediately knew where Queen Mother Ramonda is going with this. During his transformation back into the actual Black Panther the Herb will heal T'Challa at the same time.
Queen Mother Ramonda ground and mixed the Herb until it was in a liquid form to be consumed.
Steam rising from the wooden cup it was in, hefting it above her head towards the stars in tribute to the spirits, Queen Ramonda said "I call upon the ancestors. I call upon Bast. I am here with my son, T'Challa. Heal him."
The concoction was then poured into T'Challa's mouth. Nakia massaged his throat to simulate the esophagus to swallow. They needed to make sure he drank it all.
"We must bury him. Cover him. Cover him," said Queen Mother Ramonda.
As one all four women proceeded to bury T'Challa completely in the snow.
"Praise the ancestors," said Queen Mother Ramonda.
"Praise the ancestors," said Nakia.
"Praise the ancestors," said Shuri.
Lastly, Tamu said "Praise the ancestors."
Softly, with all the love she possessed for him, Nakia said "Wake up, T'Challa. Wake up."
It's up to T'Challa now. Whether he moves on to join the ancestors or return to them is his decision to make.
The rest is just a waiting game.
T'Challa opened his eyes to find he is in the astral plane where he met his father and the past Black Panther's before him when he accepted the mantles of King and Black Panther.
"My son."
T'Challa turned to find T'Chaka and all of the past Kings, Queens, and Black Panthers from other generations surrounding him. They have come accept him as one of their number.
"The time has come for you to come home and be reunited with me," said T'Chaka, sober.
Distraught and broken, T'Challa whispered "Why? Why didn't you bring the boy home?"
It's more than obvious T'Chaka knew exactly what T'Challa is speaking of. T'Chaka has no idea what to say.
"Why, Baba," said T'Challa.
Saddened by the disappointment he detected from T'Challa, T'Chaka said "He was the truth I chose to omit."
Barely keeping his composure as a tear dripped from the eye down his cheek, T'Challa said "You were wrong to abandon him."
"I chose my people," reasoned T'Chaka, futile to justify his actions.
T'Challa shook his head in anger and downright disbelief of the excuses his father was laying on him.
Continuing, T'Chaka said "I chose Wakanda. Our future depended-."
"You were wrong! All of you were wrong! To turn your backs on the rest of the world! To take an innocent child from her home, her family," shouted T'Challa, passionate, voice catching on the last one.
All of the previous Black Panthers were silenced face to face with T'Challa's verbal assault against them. T'Chaka bowed his head in shame, grief, and guilt.
Not pulling any punches, speaking truth from the heart, T'Challa said "We let the fear of our discovery stop us from doing what is right! No more! I cannot stay here with you. I cannot rest while he sits on the throne. He is a monster of our own making. I must take the mantle back. I must! I must right these wrongs."
A sharp intake of breath and T'Challa was returned to life fully healed and restored.
Immediately all four women were on him, hugging T'Challa and reassuring themselves and him that he was there.
Agent Ross was gapping in astonishment and M'Baku looked on in satisfaction.
Now feeling the chill in the air, humorously, T'Challa chuckled "Do you have a blanket?"
The four women broke down into giggles.
Authors Note:
Hope you all like this one! ;D
Do you all think she should return with T'Challa, Shuri, and Nakia or with the Jabari when they invade?
Another thing here is that I'm in desperate need your shared opinion over a new story idea that I came up with recently while watching two of my favorite franchises.
I'm considering doing a Venom story for the 2001-2003 Justice League Series. Do you guys think I should make it a crossover or just put it in the Justice League Universe? Another thing is about an idea of the symbiote completely taking over the host or if the relationship is a lot like Eddie and Venom's in the 2018 movie? Another thing is I'm having trouble with figuring out a title and a name for my character. If anyone has suggestions I'm more than willing to hear them.
As per usual with stuff like this the person/readers that offer the winning suggestions gets a question answered for the story in mind. In this case it's the Justice League 2001-2003 and Venom 2018 story.
I really want to get this idea up and running soon, but I'm kind of all over the place.