SHADOW OF DEATH
Chapter 44: The Return
Zuri and his assistants carefully shoveled warm sand over Shuri's painted body. Candles, incense, and smoldering herbs filled the underground cavern, the sacred birthplace of every Black Panther in the history of Wakanda. Her small frame would emerge as strong and as fast as the great cat she emulated, and her small shoulders would bear the burden of the protection of her people. While T'Challa stayed in exile, N'Jadaka worked outside Wakanda, and Shuri stepped in as temporary ruler in Wakanda, it would be up to her to act as Panther.
Within Shuri's mind, her world descended into swirls of black and violet as she closed her eyes. Where the heart-shaped herb at first flooded her body with tingling pinpricks of pain, now she floated as if disconnected from her body entirely. She opened her eyes and found herself standing in what could have been twilight or dawn. The dark sky showed both the hints of the sun and the marks of the night. She looked up and saw the branches of a towering acacia tree. Black panthers, darker than the night sky, sat upon each of its yellow, horizontal branches and peered down upon her with glowing feline eyes.
One panther leapt down from the tree and came to her, brushing its soft fur against her legs and letting out a resounding purr. She looked upon it curiously but felt no fear. The cat looked into her eyes and as it met her eyes, the cat's face morphed into that of a man. Yellow eyes became deep brown and black face turned a warm chocolate.
While younger, browner, and less-wrinkled, she would recognize that face anywhere. She threw her eyes around the man, her heart overflowing with a joy so strong she thought she might explode or burst into flames.
"Baba! Baba! It's you! Oh, we have missed you! I never told you enough how I love you!" she said, tears and words both streaming from her face. She inhaled the rich scent only ever found upon her father and felt those long-lost but so familiar hands clasp hers.
"Binti," he said. He didn't need to say any more. He stared into her eyes with an equal measure of joy, adoration, and pride and she felt her heart would burst with happiness.
He took her hand and pulled her to walk through the strange twilight of this savannah between worlds, the land where her ancestors dwelt with the spirits, the space filled with the not-quite living, but not quite dead. He took her to a towering eucalyptus tree, branches and leaves reaching higher than her eyes could see. She looked down to her feet and felt even more surprise as she noticed she could see the roots through the translucent earth below. The ancient, gnarled roots of the massive tree seemed as fathomless and endless as the branches above her.
Vultures sat upon its branches, peering down onto the land below. All around her feet, she saw the bleached skeletons of animals and humans. Nothing grew around this tree and even the air around its branches seemed somehow absent of life, as if the leaves itself drew the oxygen out of the air instead of producing it.
"Look upon this tree," he said. "It is an ancient tree, older than our people or any of the peoples on earth. Every few generations, the tree grows a new branch. Its roots creep into the soil of a people and suck out their life and strength. You can defeat a branch in one lifetime, but the tree remains, ready to grow again. You cut off one limb, another takes its place. Sometimes it attacks like a lion lunging upon a zebra. Sometimes it is attacks like a black mamba striking a hare in the shadows. Its aim is always the same: to steal, to kill, to destroy."
T'Chaka turned and led her through the unending twilight to where another tree stood. This time, a bulky baobab, heavy laden with fruit towered over the grasses around her. Where the first tree seemed to drink in the life around it, this one seemed to exude it. The air almost felt intoxicated with life. Its branches were full of birds and creatures chattering and singing as they feasted on the tree's bounty. She could still see endless roots in the translucent earth beneath her feet and she could not see where the branches above her ended in the sky.
"There is another tree-even stronger, even more ancient. It is rooted in the strongest of all magic and gives life to all who find shelter beneath its branches. It gives water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, shelter to those without, and a place for all creatures to gather together. Where this tree is allowed to grow, a people will thrive. You must nourish and cherish this tree. See it grows ever stronger and deeper and it in turn will nourish you, your family, and your people."
Shuri nodded. "Baba, how?" she asked.
"You already know how," he answered, his dark eyes sparkling as he spoke. "Come, it is time to return."
He took her hand and they walked back towards the acacia tree where the panthers lay, their eyes fixed upon Shuri. She blinked and found the panthers had all vanished and she was alone, still in the violet haze of this twilight between worlds. She blinked again and this time found herself facing the dim candlelit cavern and the familiar face of Zuri.
"Welcome back, princess," he said and helped her to her feet.
oooooo
The council meeting sat in the dining hall instead of the throne room- at Shuri's request.
"I'm a temporary ruler, while our new King is kept busy elsewhere. We should have a temporary space to meet in to reflect that," she said with a forced cheerfulness and they abided by her wishes. The long, cushioned wood benches were pulled into a circle facing a tall set of windows overlooking Birnin Zana. Shuri sat on a carved ebony chair on a seat made of a leopard skin. She wore a golden dress embroidered with scarlet patterns of gazelle along the hem and square neckline. Golden hoops dangled from her ears and wrists and she wore a tall, scarlet hat upon her head. She tried to stop fidgeting with her bracelets but she couldn't help it. She thought of the confidence and authority T'Challa so effortlessly exuded and she stretched her head a little taller.
"Good elders," she said, rising and formally addressing the gathering of tribal elders and advisors around her. She tried to hide how her hands trembled by burying them in the folds of her dress. She cleared her throat and continued. "We are here to discuss the current state of Wakanda. First of all, as you know I travelled to Kampala to meet Director Fury, the leader of SHIELD."
At the chorus of muttered curses and grumbles she heard, Shuri gave a rueful smile and clicked her tongue. "Come, good elders. We are now reluctant allies with this SHIELD, even if they have done us no favors. As I was saying, I met with this Fury and spoke with him about the mgeni's weapon and communication prototypes. At first, he was reluctant to comply out of distrust. He was not willing to agree until I explained about the destruction of the Infinity Stones… and he received transmissions of possible threats from our common enemy. He still does not trust Wakanda, but he is willing to expand their technological potential in order to be prepared for this coming threat."
"What transmissions?" asked the elder for the River Tribe.
"General Okoye- your report, please?" Shuri said. She motioned to the bench where the General sat. Okoye momentarily dropped her stoic expression to grant Shuri an encouraging smile. Then Okoye rose and resumed her previous impassivity.
"Elders, Princess, I am afraid I have bad news," the General said. "Our satellites have noticed large, unidentified spacecrafts, approaching Earth as we speak. It will only be a matter of days before they arrive. The approaching ships are also transmitting a message for any within range."
Okoye pressed a button on her kimoyo beads and projected a figure into the gathered company. It was a terrible, violet being with piercing blue eyes who spoke with all the somber ill-tidings of a vulture. On one hand, a golden Stone glowed as bright as the sun.
"Greetings, Terrans. It is my solemn duty to inform you of your glorious purpose and the sacrifice you have the fortune to make. The universe in unbalanced and your deaths will soon help correct this."
oooo
The trio sat in a circle inside Mrs. Johnson's greenhouse, each debating what their next steps should be. While it was true they now had an Infinity Stone, they did not know what it could be used to accomplish or how to properly wield it. Also, there was the challenge of defending both Midgard and Asgard.
"I do not believe she will come to Midgard first," Loki said. "It is more likely Hela is already in Asgard, preparing to take over the realm herself. If she tarried before arriving in Asgard, it is possible Thanos would strike first, but I do not think she will wish to postpone the acquisition of the Power Stone."
"If she has the Power Stone, can't she just, you know, snap, and Asgard is gone?" Jane asked.
"True, Lady Jane, but it would hardly serve her as a base for her military expansion into the rest of Yggdrasil and beyond if she destroyed it with the Power Stone. However, that does not mean she will do overmuch to help Asgard survive," Loki said. "Thor, I fear Asgard will fall. How can the realm survive the battle of two Infinity Stones? When Power and the Soul war against each other, will they not destroy all in their wake?"
"Aye, that is a danger."
"Is this to be our end, then? Will this indeed be our Ragnarök, the 'Twilight of the Gods'? To end Asgard is to extinguish our strength. Thor, without the magic within the realm, it is true that Hela's magic will fade, but our own magic will flicker and simmer and eventually die out. The Aesir's days, over the generations, will shorten until we are little different than the Midgardians… unless we take refuge on a planet similarly endowed with magic like Asgard's. Regardless, this will be the end of Asgard, the end of the ages, the end of our lineage, and all who survive will be uprooted. It is the ultimate chaos. It is the death of an entire realm."
"No, Loki. It is the rebirth of the realm. It is the opportunity for something to begin again. It is the spring that follows the winter's snow. Asgard is a people, not a place, and it will remain, even if our days are shortened and our strength diminished. Our days will continue, and we will continue to live, and our strength will be found together," Thor answered. He leaned forward on his crooked stool and gave such an expression of perfect earnestness that Loki scowled.
"Sentiment," Loki muttered.
"Aye, Perhaps. It is also truth."
"You are not bothered by the potential loss of Asgard?" Loki asked.
"What have I to fear? I have already faced both death and loss. Hela seeks to drink from the power of death and use it to grant her unending life and ever-increasing strength, but hers is a cursed half-life. Her own death is her greatest of fear, followed only by a fear of impotence. These fears keep her captive. It is time we unbind her and let her face that which she has fled from for thousands of years."
"Well, then, let us give Hela something to fear. So, to Asgard it is, but Thor…," Loki began, but he did not have the chance to finish because he was interrupted by the sound of Jane's cell phone ringing.
"Hello?" she answered, almost apologetically. "Shuri? How did you know... of course, you put a tracking device on my backpack. Why am I not surprised? Yeah. We are in New York. It's a long story. You... oh... hold on." She pressed a button on her phone and Shuri's voice soon filled the greenhouse.
"Wewe! If you think we will let you take one step away from this planet without us, then I will let Goose eat you," the princess shouted through the phone.
"Princess Shuri, you cannot possibly...," Loki began, but he was soon interrupted by a furious hiss and meow in the background.
"No, you listen to me. If you think that the rest of us are going to sit here and do nothing while you fight that purple people eater somewhere else, you've got another thing coming. I will find a way, even if I have to steal one of those massive spaceships myself. You come and fetch us now with your little interstellar taxi cab or I am coming to find you."
"What spaceships?" Jane asked.
"Eh? You did not know? Your friend has come. He is threatening to kill us all for our own good and to bring 'balance' back to the universe."
Loki swore loudly and grabbed the phone away from Jane.
"Shuri, when? When did you hear from him?"
"This morning. At least ten circular space ships have been approaching Earth at such a rapid rate that I would estimate they will arrive within two days, if not sooner."
"So, still Asgard first?" Jane pressed.
"Aye. How do you believe Midgard would fare when our pair of Infinity Stones are wielded against each other?"
She frowned. "I see your point."
"Shuri, can you send a transmission back to Thanos in the same frequency you received his communication?"
"It is possible… what are you going to tell him?"
"That I have what he seeks… and the Stone will be waiting for him on Asgard."
"Indio. Kuja, bwana. We are in Birnin Zana."
"We are coming," Loki said.
Then the blue light of the Casket of Ancient Winters filled the greenhouse and poured out into the streets of the city beyond.
Oooo
It only took a half hour before Shuri arrived at the eastern gate to the city. Goose trailed behind her, not quite close enough for her to pet hit, but close enough that she could feel it watching her every movement. The Flerkin had faithfully trailed after her, everywhere she went, but it had not quite forgiven her for her hand in depriving it of its autonomy. It seemed to have a sixth sense for alien invaders, though, because before her sensors were tripped, Goose was already pacing anxiously near the door to the garden.
True to her ringing alarms, three intruders in possession of a large power source were waiting for her just outside the gate. She permitted them entry and grinned. Then she threw her arms around Jane before giving Loki a complicated hand shake and casting a curious glance at their third companion.
"Skadmire does not look quite like I remember him," Shuri said.
"Who is Skadmire?" the tall, broad-shouldered man asked.
"Ah, a new acquaintance," Loki answered casually. "A pleasant Jotun fellow. I set him in charge of invading Asgard with an army of Jotnar warriors."
The man burst into a booming peel of laughter and clasped Loki on the back so hard, he stumbled forward. "Our sister will be well-pleased! I do hope they give her a proper welcoming!"
At Shuri's questioning glance, Jane stepped forward and tossed her head in the man's direction. "Princess Shuri of Wakanda, meet Prince Thor Odinson of Asgard."
"Queen Shuri, actually, but only for a little bit. Engoja kidogo. Nani? Thor… Prince Loki's dead brother Thor?"
"Aye. I am well-pleased to meet one as radiantly lovely as yourself, your majesty," Thor said. He bowed and took her hand to place a kiss on her knuckles and then he grinned.
"Eh, eh, eh, what is this? You do not look like a ghost."
"It's a long story," Jane said. "Basically, their dad helped us get the Soul Stone. In the meantime, the Soul Stone resurrected Thor and here we are. However, their dad kinda died in order to get the Stone so now we have to get back to Asgard before their crazy sister takes it over."
Shuri opened her mouth once, then twice, then shook her head. "Eeeee. This story, I hope, makes more sense when it is longer. You will tell me more as we walk to the palace. Until then, I believe I have found a way for you to contact this Angry Crouton of yours."
"I am glad of it," Loki said.
"Then, I have assembled a team of our best warriors who will travel to Asgard with you."
"You… no. Absolutely not," Loki said.
Shuri grinned.
Translations:
Binti: Daughter
Engoja kidogo: wait a little
Nani: who?
Kuja: come
indio: yes
bwana: sir
mgeni: outsider/visitor
wewe: you