(I'm so so sorry this took so long! Everything has been crazy lately! I finally got an apartment so I'm in the middle of the moving process. Which is every bit as stressful as you can imagine. I'm also starting school up again next month. Hope you're all doing well! We've likely got two more chapters for this story, so we're almost to the finale! Just try to be patient with my inconsistent updating. Love you all!)

Elio let out a war cry. His fossilized minions turned their attention away from the airships, flying towards Shuri and Peter.

Peter looked at Shuri. They both knew what to do next. He ran towards the birds while Shuri began stalking towards Elio.

"You tried to kill my people. You tried to kill my family. You tried to kill my lover. You tried to kill me" She seethed.

"Now it's your turn."

Shuri lunged at Elio, whom shot a ball of flame at her. To his surprise, though, the flame merely fizzled out on her suit. Allowing her to swipe him across the face.

Back on the airships, everyone had begun cheering.

"Come on, Shuri! You got this!" Riri yelled.

"Go on, Aunt Shuri! Kick his ass!" T'Challa exclaimed.

Everyone turned to look at the boy.

"What!? We were all thinking it!"

Peter fired a web at one of the pterodactyls, attaching to it's rib cage. He yanked the creature towards himself. The bird screeched as it spiraled downwards. Peter then used one of his mechanized spider legs to impale it. The being crashed into the water surrounding the volcano. The bones turning lifeless once again.

Elio cried out in pain at this. Peter looked back in surprise. Coming to a sudden revelation:

Elio's power was directly linked to whatever he possessed.

Peter looked up in the sky, scanning the different birds with his lenses. They zoned in on one in particular, the biggest one. It was guiding the other birds in their attack.

Peter used the legs on his suit to propel himself upwards, shooting out a web. It attached to the bird's side. The creature unfortunately caught on quickly to Peter's plan and began zipping about wildly in an attempt to shake him off.

"Oh come on!" Peter yelled in annoyance.

Meanwhile, Shuri was slammed back into the ground by Elio. He repeatedly assaulted her with balls of fire, but it was no use. They fizzled out the instant they made contact with her suit. She lunged at him, which he managed to intercept. He once again threw her off him. With such brute force that Shuri was mildly winded. Unfortunately for Elio, she took that personally.

He hardly had time to react when she kicked him back into a rock, shattering it into pieces. Now Elio was the one winded, gasping for air.

"Oooh!" Everyone on the airship winced.

"Made my lungs hurt just looking at it" Everett hissed.

Peter stuck one his mechanical limbs into the bird's rib. He then used his webs to pull himself onto the bird's back. Despite the creature's protests, it wasn't enough to knock Peter off. It even tried heating itself up to outright scald him, but to no avail. Peter used his web's to create a makeshift bridle. He forced the bird to steer the way he wanted, which made the others follow it.

"Ok! We're getting somewhere. Friday? I know this thing doesn't have a brain, but where's the center of control on it?" Peter asked.

"The lifeline of the pterodactyl appears to be in it's spine" Friday replied.

She zoomed in on the creature's neck, revealing a brightly glowing orb in the atlas.

Peter looked around at the other birds. If his intuition was correct, it would only take this one to destroy them all. He pulled back one of his mechanized legs, jamming it straight into the vertebrae.

Elio screamed in agony, the birds all echoing his cry. The flames on the bird Peter was riding began dying out. In it's place, hundreds of spiders crawled forth. They began eating at the orb buried in the atlas.

Elio suddenly felt like a million tiny legs were crawling on him all at once. Making him manic. The perfect distraction for Shuri. She punched Elio in the face repeated times, backing him towards the volcano.

The spiders finished off the orb at the center of the bird's neck. As a result, the creature went limp. It began falling towards the sea below. Peter slung himself off it just in time, tucking and rolling back onto the island surrounding the volcano. He looked up and watched as the other birds all suffered the same fate. They crashed into the ocean, their bones sinking back into the murky depths. Where they belonged.

Problem was, they weren't the only monster Peter had to worry about. The volcano began to rumble. Peter spun around to face it, eyes widened in fear.

"Please tell me it's not gonna erupt again" He said to himself.

"It's not. There's something else causing this" Friday's voice responded.

Peter scanned the surrounding area. It was strange. His lenses weren't picking up on any-

Something suddenly shot out of the water, snatching Peter and dragging him into the water. Shuri noticed and tried to come to his aid but Elio body slammed her to the ground, tussling with her. He swatted her across the face with such force it cracked her mask.

A massive Mosasaurus skeleton had risen of out the sea, capturing Peter in it's jaws. It was trying to drag him towards the ocean floor. He jammed his mechanical legs into the roof of it's mouth but it wasn't enough to to make the creature release him.

"Peter, you could lose consciousness if it takes you much deeper" Friday's voice spoke.

Peter was doing his best not to panic. He was desperately trying to think up a plan, when he heard the unmistakable sound of a repulsor charging up.

The creature screeched when Riri landed a hit on it, blasting one of it's ribs. She latched onto it's spine, stopping it's descent.

Peter was thrown back by the force of the sudden stop. Now that he was at the front of its jaw he began prying the teeth out of it's mouth to make a hole for himself to escape.

The creature set itself ablaze, thrashing violently in Riri's hold. She strained to maintain her grip.

"Hate to rush you, but I can't hold this thing forever!" Riri exclaimed.

"I'm trying my best!" Peter called.

The water was basically boiling now due to the creature's temperature. It was starting to wear on Riri's suit. Thankfully, Peter crawled out of the opening he'd created just in time for the Mosasaurus to slip out of Riri's grip. He began swimming towards Riri, who grabbed his hand and jetted towards the surface. The angry animal in hot pursuit. Literally.

"How do I kill this stupid thing!?" Riri asked.

"You gotta hit the atlas!" Peter yelled back.

Riri looked down, scanning the creature's head and neck, her lenses zooming in on the atlas as Peter had said.

"When we breech the surface, I need you to let go!" Riri said.

"What's your plan?" Peter asked.

"You'll find out."

Right as they hit the surface, Peter flipped out of her grasp. Riri shut off her prepulsors, letting herself plummet downwards. As she did, the creature breeched the surface. Mouth agape, ready to finish her off. Just as she entered it's maw Riri spun around and set the prepulsor off. Blasting the creature perfectly in the atlas. It's bones shattered to pieces and collapsed back into the ocean.

"Hell yeah!" Peter exclaimed as he landed back on the island.

The Wakandans aboard the ship cheered as well.

"That's that black magic, bitch!" Riri exclaimed.

She high fived Peter before flying back up towards the ship.

Now it was time to finish off the real threat.

Since his other minion had been destroyed, Elio had gotten weaker. Shuri took advantage, swiping him across the face again and kicking him off her. He let out an agonized cry as he fell to the ground. Shuri stood over him, pressing her foot to his throat.

"If you surrender, I'll let you live" She snarled.

Elio suddenly smirked. He vanished in a burst of flame, surprising Shuri. She then heard someone cry out. The sound making her blood boil. Shuri slowly turned to face Elio, finding him now holding Peter by his mechanical legs. When Peter tried to fight back, he pried one of the legs off tossing it aside like it was just a toy.

"I may not have been able to kill all of your people, but I'll most certainly kill him" Elio growled.

Shuri let out a literal roar. It sounded far more like a real panther than it did a human.

This man, this monster, just wouldn't quit. He was truly determined to take everything from her.

Shuri lunged for him but he once again appeared behind her in a plume of fire. He backed towards the volcano.

"He'd make a far greater sacrifice anyway" Elio continued taunting her.

Peter made eye contact with Shuri. He very cautiously motioned towards his neck. The lenses on her suit picked up on the glowing ember in Elio's spine.

It was then she realized what had to be done.

She put her hands up, getting down on her knees.

"I surrender. Sacrifice me. Just let him go" Shuri said.

"N-No. What is she doing!?" Riri exclaimed, nervously watching from atop the ship. She wanted to fly down and help, but her suit was too damaged.

Elio cackled like a mad man, setting Peter down. Peter stumbled for a second. He took a deep breath before turning around and straight sucker punching Elio.

The flaming demon snarled. He grabbed Peter by the throat and slammed him up against the Volcano wall. Impaling him on a protruding rock.

Peter gasped in pain, everyone on the airships gasping with him.

Elio tightened his grip, full on throttling Peter.

"C-Could at least ask me on a d-date before getting kinky" Peter strained.

"You are determined to die, boy" Elio growled, his eyes glowing with flames.

Peter chuckled through the pain, wheezing for breathe.

"No, but you are. Now, you will."

Elio faltered, making Peter smirk.

The last words he heard didn't come from Peter though. They came from Shuri.

"Wakanda forever, bitch."

Elio didn't even get the chance to scream.

By the time he tried, his voice was gone.

Shuri's eyes glowed blue, her canines stuck straight through the atlas of Elio's spine. She ripped them out, hissing loudly.

Elio dropped to his knees, then slumped onto his side. Peter watched the flames in his eyes flicker out. Along with his life.

Shuri stepped over Elio's corpse, walking up to Peter.

"You ok?" She asked.

Peter laughed. "Don't worry, baby. It's j-just a flesh wound."

Shuri helped pull him off the rock, immediately applying pressure to the wound. They leaned into each other as they gazed down at Elio.

"W-We should at least bury him" Shuri panted, worn out from the battle.

Suddenly, a spider crawled over Elio's face. A bunch more began crawling out of his open mouth. Soon, hundreds of spiders were pulling his body towards the volcano. They climbed all the way to the top, dragging him down into the very lava he had used to harm so many. The very thing that had empowered him, now consumed him.

The flame had been smothered. Once and for all

"No need " Peter said, his glowing blue eyes returning to their normal color.

Neither of them even bothered to look back as the volcano burned out.

Shuri helped Peter back towards the mothership, which positioned itself above them. Beaming them up into the hull.

T'Challa got to them first, hugging them both. Shuri knelt down to his height to fully embrace him.

"I knew you could do it, Aunt Shuri! I know father and grandmother are proud of you" He said.

Shuri pulled back and smiled at him. "I'm certain they are of you too. Someone else is as well."

"Who?" T'Challa asked.

"Bast" Shuri whispered.

T'Challa's eyes widened. "You spoke to her?"

Shuri nodded. "I'll tell you all about it when we get home."

T'Challa smiled at her as she rose back up. Just in time to be tackled by Nakia.

"Thank Bast, you're alive!"

"You can say that again" Shuri replied, chuckling.

After a few seconds, Nakia let her go. She then turned and gently hugged Peter. Careful not to injure him further.

"Thank you, for fighting alongside her" Nakia said.

"It was my privilege, Ma'am" Peter answered, hugging her back.

"I've never seen either of you fight like that" Okoye remarked.

For the first time ever, she was in awe. At both of them.

"Well, we had some help" Peter hinted.

Before Okoye could ask for an elaboration, Riri had landed back inside the ship. She grabbed grabbed both Shuri and Peter.

"Don't you dare scare me like that again" She seethed.

Peter and Shuri looked at each other over her shoulders, smiling softly. They knew she only said it cause she cared. They hugged her back.

"Couldn't have done it without you, Riri" Peter said when they'd pulled apart.

"All of you" Shuri added.

Everyone smiled appreciatively until a loud voice caught their attention. M'Baku strode through the crowd. Everyone immediately stepping aside.

Peter and Shuri both bowed their heads to him. M'Baku glared at them for a moment before stepping in between them. He grabbed one arm each and held them up.

"All bow in honor to your champions! The Black Panther, and the Spider-Man!" M'Baku exclaimed.

All of the people folded their arms across their chests and bowed to Shuri and Peter. Whom looked at each other and smiled.

"Wakanda forever!" Shuri shouted to the people.

"Wakanda forever!" They cried back, breaking into loud yipping and cheering.

"Griot?" Shuri asked.

"Yes, Princess?"

"Take us home."

"At once, your highness."

"Ow!" Peter yelped.

"Oh hush. I barely touched you" Happy replied, rolling his eyes.

"You talk like I don't have a hole in my chest right now."

Happy looked at Peter over his glasses. "Would you like to stitch yourself up then?"

Peter sighed. "Fine."

Happy smirked, continuing with his task. Peter honestly wasn't sure why he'd insisted on stitching up the wound. His accelerated healing would tend to it. Not to mention Wakanda had some of the best Doctors on the earth. Despite several deaths resulting from Elio's attack, they still had plenty of medical staff ready and willing to help.

Peter gazed over at Shuri. She was sitting on her own examination table, being assaulted with varying questions. Despite her best efforts to quell everyones concerns they hovered over her.

Shuri must've sensed his stare. As she turned to meet his gaze, mouthing a very clear, "Help me."

Peter chuckled before wincing again. Happy had accidentally hit a nerve.

"Ok, that time was my fault" He admitted.

Thankfully, Happy didn't make the same mistake twice. A little over an hour later and Peter was good as new. Excluding the multitude of aches and pains throughout his body, of course.

"Alright, no swinging around for a while. Or taking out bad guys. Honestly, just don't do anything strenuous at all for at least a week" Happy said.

"W-What!? A week!? Anything could happen in that time! You're not even a real Doctor! I have advanced healing anyway!" Peter exclaimed.

"I'm mostly referring to your need for rest. However, since you won't take my word for it, Friday? What do you think?" Happy asked.

"I completely agree with Mr. Hogan's assessment, Peter. You need to get plenty of rest before you'll be ready to start your vigilantism again. Even with advanced healing your body needs time to recover. As does your mind. I'll ensure that you follow his instructions with or without your consent" Friday replied.

Peter huffed while Happy laughed. "Fine. I can't fight both of you."

He looked back over at Shuri. She was receiving a very similar lecture from her own Doctor. As well as Okoye and Nakia. She didn't look too thrilled either. She once again made eye contact with him. Except this time she gave a shy smile, which Peter returned in unison with a wink. Making her giggle.

"No chasing tail either" Happy said.

Peter flushed. "Happy!"

"I said what I said. Last thing I need you doing is getting the Princess of Wakanda pregnant this early into things."

"I'm not gonna! Trust me! Why even would I!?" Peter hissed.

"Because despite the fact you're a superhero, you're also a young man with raging hormones" Happy replied.

Peter sighed, running his hands across his face. "I promise you, nothing like that is gonna happen."

Happy raised an eyebrow. "Ever?"

Peter looked around nervously before whispering, "Maybe in a few years."

Happy chucked and stood up. "That's a little better."

"Since when did you become my dad?" Peter asked.

Happy paused. He leaned down and ruffled Peter's hair.

"Since the day I met you, kid" He replied.

Peter couldn't help but smile at that. "Thanks, Happy."

"I mean it though. Get some rest."

Peter offered him a salute before Happy walked away. He then carefully stood up from the exam table, making his way to a nearby window. M'Baku had taken the people back to the "domain of the white gorillas" to stay for the next few nights. Once the people had recovered from the battle, they'd return to their home to begin rebuilding. They would also bury their dead, to initiate the long and arduous healing process.

Peter watched as some set up tents outside. The stars were out, and many had fires lit. It was a beautiful night. In a way, it was eerie. What had once been so chaotic and volatile, was now peaceful. Obviously the ones who'd died could not be brought back, but at least the people could look forward to rebuilding their lives.

Peter admired the never ending resilience and determination of the Wakandan people. If it weren't for them and all their support, Elio wouldn't have been defeated. Wakanda would not have been able to experience peace.

It took sacrifice.

It took courage.

The people had displayed both perfectly.

"Peter?" Friday asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"I know, I'm going to bed" Peter sighed, turning his back towards the window.

"Princess Shuri has requested your presence before turning in."

Peter paused his movements, looking back at the exam table. Sure enough, Shuri had disappeared. For someone who just got done battling a flaming monster she moved quick! He checked over his shoulder to make sure Okoye wasn't watching. Despite everything he'd done for the people, he didn't want her or anyone else getting the wrong idea about him sneaking off to Shuri's tent.

Peter quietly exited the exam room, heading outside to where the people had begun bedding down. He moved through the camp slowly. Careful not to rip his fresh stitches in doing so. A few people that were still up offered him bows and waves in passing. He happily returned them. He reached the one tent that had a black roof. Making it obvious who the owner was.

"Knock, knock" Peter said.

"You don't have to fake knock. You can just come in" Shuri's voice replied from inside.

"Speak for yourself! I don't need that boy seeing me naked!" Riri's voice exclaimed.

Peter frowned. "Wait, you invited Riri in your tent before me!?"

Riri poked her head out of the tent, smirking. "What's the matter, Spider-Boy? Jealous?"

Peter inhaled deeply to stop himself from correcting Riri.

"No. Not at all."

Peter knew Riri could see right through his lie. A small part of him was a little jealous that Riri knew what Shuri looked like without clothes on and he still didn't. However, he was too tired to fight her on it.

"If you say so. Don't worry, she's all yours" Riri said, exiting the tent. "I've already got someone on my radar anyway."

"What? Who?" Peter asked.

"Calm down, dad. You'll get to meet him when we go back to MIT" Riri replied.

"Ugh, don't remind me! I don't know how I'm gonna be able to get myself back into my "normal" schedule after everything that's happened" Peter groaned.

"I'm right there with you. Well, Shuri hooked me up with some painkillers and sleeping pills. So if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go to my tent and be dead to the world for the next twenty-four hours."

"You sure it won't be longer than that?"

"Hilarious, Parker."

"Hey, Riri?" Peter asked with a more serious tone.

Riri turned back to face him. Peter extended his hand to her. She raised a skeptical brow before taking it. Only to be yanked into a hug.

"Thanks for everything. We couldn't have done it without you" Peter said.

"You guys did most of the fighting" Riri argued.

"Yeah, but you still helped. All of the people did, but you..."

Peter pulled away to look at her.

"You're the best friend so many want, but so few get. You've really got an iron heart. Thank you."

Riri smiled, her eyes getting glassy. "Geez, Parker. You got me out here crying."

Peter chuckled. "Sorry, I know you're already spent. Get some rest."

"You do the same. You'll have plenty of time to rendezvous with Shuri when you're well" Riri teased.

Peter shushed her as he, once again, turned red. "You're no better than Happy."

"I take offense to that!" Riri yelled over her shoulder as she walked in the direction of her tent.

"Good!" Peter yelled back.

He chuckled to himself before entering Shuri's tent. She sat on the edge of her cot mattress, pulling up the sleeves to her nightgown.

"Hey, gorgeous" Peter greeted.

"You do know I just had my shit rocked like six hours ago, right?" Shuri asked, looking over her shoulder at him.

"And you know what? You look incredible for it" Peter replied. "I mean it. You always look stunning."

"I suppose I shouldn't complain. I'm not the one with a crater in my chest."

"You still love me despite it, right?"

"Honestly, I love you even more cause you got it fighting for my people."

Peter blushed and smiled. Shuri laid back on her cot, patting the other side.

"You're welcome to join me" She said.

"Yeah uh...give me a second" Peter tried to ignore how flustered he felt. He turned his back to her, carefully pulling his shirt off.

Shuri spotted the vicious claw marks on his back. Her gut twisted at the sight. Peter turned back to face her, noting her distressed expression.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"The marks on your back, the ones I left are...are they permanent?" Shuri would genuinely hate herself if the answer was yes.

"No. My accelerated healing will tend to that."

However, Shuri didn't look any less guilty. Because she didn't feel any less guilty. Peter obviously sensed it. He sighed, sitting down beside her on the cot. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her forehead.

"Baby girl, it's ok. I don't hold anything against you. You were under Elio's control" He assured.

"I know but...what if I lose myself again?" Shuri asked, staring down at her own hands. She was supposed to be a protector. Not one who did harm to her own lover. Her own people...

Peter tilted her chin up with his hand, gazing lovingly into her eyes.

"I love you, Shuri. That's not going to change no matter what you do. You are the most beautiful, powerful, and wonderful woman I've ever had the privilege of knowing."

He gently folded his hand in her own, smiling bashfully. "A woman I hope to spend the rest of my life alongside someday."

Shuri smiled softly. "You're in luck, Spider-Man. I'm not leaving your side any time soon."

"That's great to hear, Black Panther" Peter replied, smiling back.

The two heroes rested their foreheads against each other, closing their eyes. Just being together was more than either of them could ask for.

After laying down for the night, the two continued holdings hands as they gazed up at the stars.

"Do you think Bast and Anansi are watching us right now?" Peter asked.

"I'm sure they are" Shuri replied.

"Won't that be kind of awkward when we...?"

"When we- Oh my gosh! Peter! No!"

"What!? It's a genuine question!"