The sweet scent of morning dew combined with the heavenly smell of radiant Wakandan flowers to create an aroma that so many kings of so many nations would never be blessed to enjoy. But not T'Challa. Wakanda's king was graced with the opportunity to rise early every morning to smell this amazing scent, to see the sun rise over his glorious land, and to watch as his people – families and neighbors and friends – awaken to begin another day in their beloved country. Just the thought alone was enough to bring a smile to his face.

"I thought I might find you here," came a familiar voice from behind.

The corners of T'Challa's mouth only rose further. "Ah, Shuri, I hadn't been expecting you to arrive for another twenty minutes yet."

For that, he received a punch to the shoulder. "As if you were expecting me at all," his sister retorted, though a smile could be heard in her voice, and when T'Challa finally met her eyes, he could see that her voice wasn't the only thing that held a smile.

"Of course, I was. I just didn't expect you to awaken so early." His smile contained a touch of mischief which earned him another slug to the shoulder.

"Some of us prefer to actually get a little sleep, Mr. I-rise-with-the-sun. It's as though you think the day won't come again if you aren't there to greet it."

Glancing back out over his awakening land, T'Challa sighed. "It's beautiful, is it not?"

"Of course, brother. But don't you get tired of it coming out here every morning?"

He shook his head, eyes still locked on the rainbow sky. "Life is only so long, Shuri. And with a land like this, I don't want to miss any of it. I want my people to see that I have lived every moment from my first sunrise to my last sunset. Perhaps by that I can make Wakanda a better place."

Shuri released a rather crude, snorted laugh for a princess. "Only you, brother, can achieve a peace and perfection such as this in your country and continue to look for ways to make it a 'better place'."

T'Challa couldn't help a smile. "I love my country, and when I'm gone, I want them to remember what I gave them."

"Don't worry, brother. You have left your mark on this world. When you are gone, not only will Wakanda remember who you are and what you did, but the whole world will be inspired to follow your example."

His eyebrow arched as his dark eyes flicked to his little sister. "My example?"

"Of course!" Shuri beamed at him, the slightest teasing glint in her gaze. "You know, how you went from being a little, booger-eating boy to becoming one of Wakanda's greatest and most paranoid kings."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not paranoid." He lifted one hand and fiddled with his beard, entangling a finger or two in the tight coils. "Do you really think I'm one of Wakanda's greatest kings?"

For the first time since this whole conversation began, Shuri gave a real, tender smile. No mischief nor the slightest teasing glint in her eye, just pure sincereness. "I don't think. I know."

T'Challa smiled right back. "Thank you, Shuri. It means a lot."

"Of course."

His eyes drifted back out over the ever-awakening land, the smile remaining on his face. "And I did not eat my boogers."

Shuri laughed and T'Challa received a final punch to the shoulder. "You weren't always as sneaky as you are now, brother.