INeedAUsername8: Indeed, oh you didn't respond to my offer to read my other story I'm working on right now. Are you uninterested in it? (Just curious).
Guest: Thanks, Samuel L. Jackson's personification is ideal for Fury.
Chapter 11: The Grand Feast
(The Royal Wakandan Palace, yesterday mid-day)
White Tiger had toured the city streets with T'Challa. There were so many sights and people. She noticed there weren't any poor people, she found that quite interesting. White Tiger had seen many in poverty within New York City, but she didn't see any here. Of course she wasn't familiar with this foreign culture, but she believed she could spot a poor individual when she saw one…but there were none to be seen. After a few hours of going through the streets, they arrived at the palace. The steps up to the building rise upwards at an angle, going up about 50 feet. At the top of the staircase, on either side are two huge statues. Both are black panthers about 30 feet long and 15 feet at the statues' shoulders. The palace itself stood several stories tall, and several meters wide. At the entrance is what one would call the welcoming part. One is an older woman that looks to be in her 50's with braided black hair with a few gray strands, and is wearing a long violet silk gown. Beside her stands a younger woman in her early 20's, with short black hair, similarly shaped to T'Challa's. She's a lean built woman, obviously in great shape, and is wearing a violet gown like the older woman beside her. Next to her is a man around T'Challa's age, he is a few inches taller than both women. He's wearing a warrior's headdress, the hair flowing from the woven material come from the fur of silverback mountain gorilla. Also, the man is wearing a purple silk cloth across his lean built chest. A golden sash is tied around the man's waist, holding another silk cloth to flow down the man's lower body. There are scars on his arms and exposed torso. Beside him stand two young women around the same age as the woman standing between the older woman and young man. These two have thick black hair tied back by woven ribbons. They have lean builds, but have healed wounds on their arms and legs. They wear vibranium braces around their torsos and limbs, holding together tightly fitted black robes that cover their torsos. Also, each of them held long vibranium crafted spears. Behind them lay something dark, but not something definite to identify.
"Well it's about time you got back." The young woman with the violet robe grunted. "Good to see you to Shuri." T'Challa sighed. "Pay no attention to your sister; it is wonderful to have you back my son." The older woman said, coming up to hug T'Challa. "Mother." The king chuckled, hugging the older woman back. "My king." The young man said, bowing to T'Challa, ant the two women beside him did the same. "My friends, please rise. Not in front of our guest." The king laughed as he took off his mask.
The three of them stood. T'Challa and the young man approached each other. They shook the other's hand, smiling.
"Good to see you, W'Kabi. How has everything been?" T'Challa asked. "Serene, my friend. The people have calmed since the…incident...and M'Baku, that monster, is still chained and awaiting trial. As you decreed, the conviction will take place within one week, during the anniversary of the Ape Tribe's banishment." The man said. "Good." The king replied. "My king." The two young women said. "No need for such formalities. How are you two?" The king said.
They smiled, and the king did as well. Then T'Challa's gaze fell on the black form on the ground. T'Challa chuckled. The form slowly fidgeted.
"Vyeo, I'm surprised. I thought you'd be the first to greet me." The king said, a smile on his face.
The black form stood up on all fours. It is an actual black panther. The feline's orange-yellow eyes fell upon the King of Wakanda. The beast leapt at the man and knocked him to the ground. Tiger was about to leap to his defense when she saw what is actually happening. Vyeo, the panther, nuzzled his large head against the king as he purred affectionately. T'Challa laughed as he playfully wrestled with the cat.
"Vyeo is T'Challa's companion. Don't worry yourself child. I am Ramonda. I'm not actually T'Challa's biological mother; she unfortunately died in childbirth when he was born. But I love him as my own. Shuri is my daughter though." The Queen Mother chuckled. "Oh." Tiger gasped.
Tiger just learned of this. Hector had not told her of the man's mother, she realized why. T'Challa rubbed Vyeo's head as he finally stood up. The panther approached Tiger, who stayed calm. The feline is as large as Zabu, but Tiger knew to well the power of any big cat. Vyeo stared into her eyes for a few moments. The cat then walked up and rubbed up against her legs like a big house cat. Tiger smiled under her mask and rubbed the cat's head. Vyeo purred.
"He likes you, that's good. The last one to be tested by my friend didn't have such fortunate results." T'Challa chuckled. "Rightfully so, arrogant outsider." W'Kabi grunted.
T'Challa sighed.
"You must be the daughter of the legendary Hector Ayala. Nice to meet you, as you know: I'm Shuri. I'm T'Challa younger half-sister." Shuri said. "Yes, nice to meet you." Ava replied. "I am W'Kabi, head of security." W'Kabi said as he approached Tiger. "Ava Ayala…aren't you..." Tiger tried to say politely, but the man interrupted, "Your father and his line are considered fellow Wakandans. He saved my life on multiple occasions on our missions in the jungle. He was a fellow Wakandan in my eyes, and so are you. After all, you are his daughter and the White Tiger." "Thank you." Ava chuckled.
T'Challa led the group into the palace. Ava stared at the great pillars and artwork of past Black Panthers, no doubt T'Challa's ancestors. The king walked up a staircase and sat on his golden throne. The seat also has black cushions on the literal seat and back to keep the king comfortable. At end of the throne's arms are fashioned each into a panther's head. Vyeo walked up and sat his friend's feet. The rest of the group walked up and stood around the king. Soldiers and civilians walked into the palace. The king stood up.
"People of Wakanda! Since the White Tiger has returned to the city of the Panther, a great feast shall be held in her honor! May it represent the ties between the Panther and Tiger! Their friendship is eternal just as their spirits are strong!" T'Challa announced.
The people cheered.
(About an hour later)
Within the streets, the people ate, drank, danced, and sang as the festival of the White Tiger's return went on. Earlier, the royal family, their closest allies, and Ava joined them in the streets. While T'Challa explained they would feast in the palace, they joined in with the Wakandan people in games and dances. The usual Ava Ayala would not participate in these sorts of festivities; she knew it would be rude if she didn't. Through it, she found she enjoyed it. She playfully chased children around like a hungry beast hunting its prey. She danced and sang with the women and bested the men in feats of agility, speed, and strength. But the men took it well; they were more honorable than the guys back in NYC. She and the royal family now are in a private center of the palace, enjoying their own feast. W'Kabi and the young women, who Ava learned are the king's personal guard: the Dora Milaje, stood watch outside joined by a few soldiers with the robo-panthers. The table had an arrangement of various foods. Boar, beef, chicken, fish, bananas, oranges, etc. consisted of the food ate by the group. On either long side of the table sat Ramonda and Shuri. While T'Challa and Ava sat at the 'heads' of the table, now dressed in 'casual wear'. T'Challa now wore the same necklace and cape as before, but his torso is otherwise exposed. His waist has a golden sash which holds a black silk cloth flowing to down his lower body. Ava now wore a long white silk dress.
"Are you enjoying Wakanda?" Ramonda asked. "Yes, your home is beautiful. It's still hard to believe I'm actually here." Ava replied, her voice full of joy. "Thank you dear, it's a wonderful place to call home." The Queen Mother sighed. "So you're going to be trained by my brother? You're missing out, I'm the better fighter." Shuri laughed. "Really? Than why do I beat you in all our sparring sessions?" T'Challa chuckled, before taking a sip of wine from his golden chalice. "You cheat and you know it!" Shuri hissed, but there was still that hint of playfulness in her voice.
Vyeo growled as he chewed on the boar leg T'Challa had given him from the table. But the cat had stopped to watch the two arguing siblings. Tiger thought she saw the cat shake its head, but she wasn't surprised by that. Ava giggled. All seemed well, until a horrible noise rose from a hidden place. The sound was awful. While it sounded much like the scream of a man, part of it didn't sound exactly human. Growling escaped the throats of T'Challa and Vyeo. While Tiger didn't flinch at hearing the noise, she was surprised by it.
"Your majesty?...What was that?" Ava asked. "M'Baku…" The king sighed, then returned to eating as did Vyeo. "It's a bad table conversation, dear." Ramonda said. "Sorry." Ava sighed. "Tell us, what is life like in New York City?" Shuri asked. "Interesting. I've had some crazy things happen there. Working for SHIELD is different, but does have its share of adventures." The teen chuckled. "It must be hard to leave behind the friends you had there. Don't worry dear, you will see them again. And when you return, you will be better than ever. MY son will see to that." Ramonda chuckled.
Ava nodded, then she didn't feel like eating for a moment.
"Is there anyone close to your heart?" Ramonda asked. "Mother, don't pry into her business." Shuri hissed. "Nonsense! It's a simple question! Go ahead; a beautiful young woman like you must have dozens of suitors lining up." The Queen Mother replied.
Ava blushed heavily. While Ava knows she is beautiful, her personality intimidated most guys. But she couldn't help but feel there was someone there for her, she just didn't recognize it.
"I uh…" She grunted, blushing even more.
Ramonda turned to look at T'Challa who shared a look that told her everything. Shuri saw this too, but kept quiet about it.
(30 minutes later)
The meal had ended. Ramonda and Shuri left to their bedrooms. T'Challa, W'Kabi, and Vyeo escorted Ava to the room she'd stay in while in Wakanda. The bedroom is quite large, about 30 feet long by 40 feet wide. Her bed is, in American terms, a queen sized bed. The sheets are white and the supports are made of strong wood found in the surrounding jungles. There is a cabinet made of the same wood with a mirror above it for Ava to check herself while 'preparing herself'. There are many other features, but she was too tired to notice.
"Get some rest, Ms. Ayala, for tomorrow morning…your training begins. I know you'll make your father proud. Good night." He said, as he closed the door behind her. "W'Kabi, have some guards and the Mech-Panthers guard the door and the area outside her room." T'Challa said from the other side of the door. "As you command, my king." The man's friend said.
She could hear the three of them walk off. She climbed into the bed and pulled up the sheets as she rested her head against the soft pillow.
'I'll be back before I know it. Be safe everyone.' She mused in her mind before falling asleep.
To be continued…