***Benatar***
"You sure about this?" Rocket asked nervously. The group had flown to Africa and followed the coordinates that Jamie had given. But those coordinates were currently telling them to fly straight into the tree filled side of a mountain, and that didn't sit so well with Rocket.
"What, didn't you do this when you first came back in 2018?" Jamie asked, confused at his hesitance.
"Yeah, but it was through that frickin' space portal Thor's axe back there made."
Looking over to Stormbreaker that was leaning against a wall, Jamie now understood. 'The Bifrost.'
"Oh...Well, don't worry. It'll be all right, trust me."
With an uncertain face, Rocket gulped as he turned from Jamie and looked forward. "Okay. I hope you're right. Or else we're gonna be landing a lot harder than you may want...oh boy. Strap in, everyone! This might be bumpy."
And with that, Rocket pushed his shift forward and the Benatar flew straight towards what seemed to be a treeful mountainside. Just before they got close to hitting the mountain, Rocket squinted his eyes and waited for the upcoming crash. But surprisingly, instead of crashing into a mountain, they flew threw what seemed to be a camouflaged barrier and into a whole new country that was completely invisible to the naked eye earlier.
"Whoa!" Rocket exclaimed, amazed by the sights down below.
"You got that right, pal," Bruce added in agreement, joining them in looking at the beautiful country, "Welcome to Wakanda."
***Wakanda, The Palace***
"General!" One of the Dora Milaje warriors, Ayo called out to the general of the great warriors, "A vessel has just passed through barrier and is making its way to land here."
The stoic General Okoye processed the information with a glare and replied, "Unannounced?! Do we know who it is?"
"I have never seen it before."
A look of surprise came to the General, and she nodded to her lieutenant. "Get to the launch pad, I will notify the prince."
And the two parted ways.
***Throne Room***
Making her way to the throne room, the general ran in crossed her arms over her chest and bowed her head to the prince.
"My prince, it appears we have guests." She stated.
"Outsiders?" He asked.
"Yes."
"Hmm...are they a threat?"
With a shake of her head, Okoye replied, "I am not sure, my prince."
From his throne, the prince balled his fists and stood up with a firm look. "Let's give them a proper greeting."
The Benatar hovered over a big field before it descended and landed. It was actually the battlefield of the Battle of Wakanda way back in 2018. It had since then been rid of the dead Outrider bodies and debris of battle and resorted to its original fine-pastured look.
The ship's engines turned off and the ramp door opened and steps descended for the passengers.
Jamie, Bruce and Viv came out first with Torunn, Kate, and Frankie tailing behind.
"So do we, do we bow?" Kate asked confusingly. Jamie and Bruce had told them that they'd be seeing a prince
"Well yeah," Frankie replied matter-of-factly, "he's a prince!"
"Duh!" Torunn blurted with a smirk.
As they all walked onto the field and towards the palace, they saw a group of people moving toward them. Quite fast too.
"The Dora Milaje," Bruce said knowingly, instantly recognizing the spears, the uniforms, and the...well, the lack of hair.
Jamie recognized them too. And from the look of how they were approaching, they didn't look too happy.
Soon, the warriors were right in front of the group and surrounded them, their spears point to them in unison. And then they froze, holding fast and awaiting orders. Everyone's hands went up, Frankie though pulled out a jackknife and got into a defensive stance.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Bruce exclaimed, "Easy, easy! Let's all stay calm now."
He pushed Jamie behind him just in case something bad went down. And it seemed like it was about to, until-
"WAIT!"
A pair of hands poked through the walls of Doras and through walked a young African boy. He stood tall and proud, roughly the size of Jamie. He also had a good head of hair too. And yet there was something familiar about him. Looking behind this green giant, he noticed the boy with red hair and his eyes went wide. "Jamie?" He called curiously.
Upon hearing his name, the redhead poked his head out from behind his "uncle" and looked right at the boy and felt the familiarity from his face. Looking upon his face, for a second, Jamie thought he was looking at King T'Challa. But taking a closer look, he saw someone entirely different. Someone he hadn't seen in a long time. "Azari?"
The boy grew a smile so wide and happy and nodded. He was Azari. Azari T'Challa, and he was also Jamie's friend.
"Oh my gosh, Azari!" Jamie ran from behind Bruce to the prince as did he and the two childhood friends embraced one another. "Bast! It is so good to see you! You've grown so much!"
"So have you! Your hair too, wow!"
The prince shrugged with a smirk at the compliment. "It's like a natural crown, isn't it?" He joked, playfully combing his hair back. Jamie laughed at that and rolled his eyes.
Reminded of having to step in, Azari ordered the surrounding Dora Milaje to stand down as these people were not threats, rather guests.
"Viv!" He recognized the dark skinned girl and her colorful hair-strands almost instantly and ran over to hug her too, to which she returned the gesture.
"Kuhle ukubona kwakhona, mhlobo wam!" (It is good to see again, my friend!)
"Ewe kunjalo, dade." (Indeed it is, sister.)
Behind still stood Torunn, Kate and Frankie. The last two stepped forward and awkwardly bowed, grunting as they did to get the princes attention. It worked and he smiled and let out his hands to put them at ease. "It's ok, we-we don't do that here." A suppressed laugh as he did.
"Glad to see you've all grown up, kid," Bruce said, putting a proud hand on Azari's shoulder.
"Thank you, Doctor Banner. It would seem as though we both have undergone an interesting change since we last saw one another."
Knowing he was his new green and cognizant form, Bruce chuckled lightly at that, bobbing his head a little.
"My friends, welcome to Wakanda! Please, come." He invited them towards the palace and they all followed him and the Dora Milaje as well.
***Throne Room***
"Look who's here!" Princess Shuri exclaimed when she saw their guests.
Smiles were everywhere as Jamie, Bruce and Viv engaged in a group hug with the Princess. "Hey Auntie Shuri!" Jamie replied back within the hug. "It's so good to see you again!"
"Good to see you too, Little Jamie." She replied with a giggle. "Well, not so little anymore."
Jamie chuckled at that and shrugged a little at that. He certainly had grown much since the last time they'd seen each other, so it was quite fitting how this turned out.
Shuri then turned to Bruce and took in his new form. "Doctor Banner." She kindly greeted.
"Good to see you, Shuri." He replied with a nod.
"You as well, my friend. And Viv!" The princess then turned to the dark skinned girl. "How are you?"
"Really good, Shuri!" She replied with a wide smile. Looking around, she felt so comfortable being here. "I'm happy to be back in Wakanda though."
Hearing that brought a closed smile to Shuri as she rubbed the girl's shoulder.
"So my friends," Azari began, gaining their attention as he sat upon his throne, "to what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"
Looking to Bruce, Jamie looked for a signal of what to do. And he found it within a nod of encouragement from his "uncle". Taking a breath, he began, "We came to ask for your help."
Without question, the prince replied, "Whatever you need. Name it."
'Well, here goes nothing,' Jamie said to himself. And he began to layout the whole thing. He told him about the idea, the time travel, and the goal of bringing back all who were lost in the Snap.
It had taken all of about eight minutes to tell it all, but it felt like eighteen every time for Jamie. The whole presentation of it was like a heavy weight on his shoulders, but it was one he was happy to bear for the time being.
When he finished, it went quiet. No one in the room spoke. Shuri and Okoye had gone silent from hearing it all as well. The only sounds made were those of Azari's footsteps as he stood from his throne walked over to the large transparent walls and looked out amongst his kingdom.
As he did, he contemplated the details of what Jamie had just relayed to him. His mind immediately went to his parents. To be able to see them and hold them again. That alone was something to convince him. But he also thought of everyone that was lost. All of the other people outside and within Wakanda. The more he thought about it, the more he could see his responsibility as the Prince Of Wakanda.
And with that, he made his decision. "I will help you." he stated. It was just plain, simple and with no hesitation.
The worry that Jamie had was cleared away with that response, though he was still surprised. "You will?"
The young prince turned back to his guests and nodded as he walked up to them. "Yes. If we have a chance of reversing this, then I will definitely help. Plus, it will be an honor to help my friends."
Putting a hand on Jamie's shoulder, he gave him a reassuring nod with a confident smile. That gave Jamie more hope. Especially the part about 'being with friends', that was a real boost. Behind them, Bruce, Viv and Torunn and Kate smiled, as did Shuri and Okoye. Meanwhile Frankie simply bobbed his head in a 'yes' like form.
That one more member for their team, that was one more piece of hope for them all.
***Field***
Shuri held her nephew tight, and he returned the embrace as well. Once they broke it, they brought their foreheads together and held the place there for a moment.
"Look after the kingdom for me, please." He said, knowing fully well she would,
"I will...take care, my Little Z." she said, smiling up at him.
A smirk came to Azari when she said that. "Like Jamie said, 'not exactly little anymore.' Heheh."
Shuri poked his forehead for that. But the two laughed and said their goodbyes.
"Sala kakuhle, umakazi uShuri,"(Goodbye, Auntie Shuri.)
"Usale kakuhle, mtshana wam."(Goodbye, my nephew.) A tear threatened to leave Shuri's eyes as she let her nephew go, but she knew it was his destiny.
And with that, Azari looked behind her to his friend and faithful general, Okoye, who bowed her head and showed him a proud smile. On that he returned before departing and ascending the steps into the Benatar.
As they watched their prince go, Okoye came up and stood next to Shuri and shared with her in shedding a tear. They heard the engines of the ship begin to roar and watched as the craft rose from the ground and flew off into the sky, leaving Wakanda behind.
Now that they were alone, Okoye let herself open up a little emotionally so that she could say, "T'Challa would be so proud. Of both of you."
Shuri smiled tearfully at her words, knowing how right she was. "Yes. Yes he would. Especially of his son."
***Benatar***
"Hang on guys!" Rocket called out to the passengers, "we're goin' home."
'Home.' Azari thought to himself. Instantly, he remembered the Avengers Compound. Thinking back to his memories of when he was there last, he was looking forward to going back. And this time, things. would be different.
Zuri: "I give you, Prince Azari! The Black Panther!" 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
We now have our Black Panther ladies and gentlemen! The son of King T'Challa himself, is here. WHOOO! YEAH! This is shaping up to be quite the roster. I hope y'all liked how Azari was introduced, and trust me, he's got a big future ahead of him. So stick around.
We've got one more person to pick up, and then that's it...Or is it? 👀 😉😉
We'll seeeee.
