Chapter 2: Grief and celebrations.
"princess Shuri please you must hold still." The dress maker complained as Shuri sighed and twitched for the seventh time.
"I don't like this corset!" Shuri complained as she yanked at the thing pushing her ribcage.
"Princess its tradition you know this. Now please let me finish."
As soon as the dress maker was done, Shuri hopped off the stand and looked into the mirror. It was gold dress with a black corset. The sleeves were long and open at the end. Her hair had been put into long braids with gold arrangements put into them. Lastly on her head was the gold necklace head crown.
"A dress fit for a princess." The dress maker said behind her as she observed her in the mirror.
"Indeed, it is."
Shuri turned to see her mother and Okoye enter the room. In her mothers arms was Toussaint, he was playing with her mother dreads. For a six-month-old he was very observant as if he knew what was going on.
"Give me my nephew mother." Shuri smiled. That was something she could say about the past year. Toussaint was a blessing for everyone. She hoped to teach him many thing about science.
Toussaint stopped playing with her mothers hair to reach for her.
"Hello umtshana (nephew). Is your umakhulu (grandma)spoiling you?" she questioned the child.
He didn't respond of course but laughed and pulled on her crown.
"Princess, we are almost ready. We are just waiting for the king and queen. As soon as they are ready, we will convene on the balcony to watch the dance procession." Okoye instructed.
"Very well and what about eric?" Shuri asked wondering where her cousin could be.
"N'Jadaka." Her mother corrected. While her mother had felt betrayed and angry at their fathers deception, she had accepted Eric with open arms and refused to call him anything other but his wakadian name when they were in the presence of others.
"What of him Okoye?" Shuri asked again as she ignored her mother.
"He will join the festivities later; he is tightening up security as we speak. With all our guest arriving and some of them staying in the palace, he is making sure there are at least three guards near the royal families personal quarters. We don't want any mishaps with any noisy colonizers." Okoye said with a scowl.
Shuri nodded in understanding. While all their guest were allies, it was just too risky to relax ones guard.
"Queen mother. Princess Shuri. The king and queen are ready." Ayo announced from the doorway.
That being said, Shuri and her mother made their way to the balcony that overlooked Wakanda.
T'challa and Nakia stood adorned in black and gold.
"My king. My queen." Shuri bowed playfully before her brother and her sister-in-law.
Both of them playfully swatted at her as she held her bow.
"Stop that, Shuri." T'challa warned playfully.
Shuri smiled as she looked at her older brother. He was so happy. For a time, she thought he and Nakia would never get back together, but she was grateful Nakia finally stopped being stubborn. she was good for him, she challenged him in ways others didn't. she was also glad to have another girl to confide in.
The sound of drums brought Shuri out her thoughts. Nakia gently took Toussaint out of her arms and handed him to T'challa. The couple stood before Zuri who smiled and waved his hand for their kingdom to become silent.
Looking out, Shuri could see the screens on some of the building broadcasting the celebration to those who couldn't get to the capital.
"Wakanda!" zuri began "I present to you your king! The Black panther! King T'challa."
The kingdom responded with "our king!" in unison.
Zuri nodded in satisfaction and then put his hands out to hold Toussaint.
T'challa handed him over and zuri began the prayer. The kingdom bowed their head and closed their eyes.
Once zuri was done praying, zuri began the question of acceptance.
"River tribe! Is this your future king?!" zuri questioned from above.
The leader of the river tribe stood tall and said, "We the river tribe accept out future king!"
"Mining tribe do you accept your future king?" Zuri questioned.
"We the mining tribe accept our future king!"
"Merchant tribe, do you accept your future king?" he questioned once again.
"We the merchant tribe accept our future king!"
"Border tribe do you accept your future king?" Zuri questioned one last time.
"We the border tribe accept our future king!"
Zuri was going to continue the ceremony the sound of hooting sounded.
Shuri chuckled. Traditionally, whenever a royal child was born the Jabari tribe would interrupt the ceremony and challenged the king. It wasn't a serious fight, but it was a symbolism of the black panthers strength and his dedication to being Wakanda's king.
"WHERE IS THE KING!?THE ONE WE CALL THE BLACK PANTHER!" M'Baku challenged.
T'challa stood tall.
"I AM THE KING! I AM THE BLACK PANTHER."
"PROVE YOURSELF"
T'challa jumped from the balcony, his black panther suit covering his body.
M'Baku put up half a fight cause he knew it wasn't serious but T'challa laughed anyway when he ripped off M'Baku's monkey mask.
"Surrender!" T'challa ordered.
M'Baku kneeled before him.
"The Jabari accepts our future king!"
"Wakanda forever!" The kingdom cheered.
…..
Shuri drank her water greedily. They had just finished up the last of the official ceremonies and were now in the throne room greeting their guest. The avengers, the x-men, the guardians of the galaxy, a few different diplomats, and important people in their kingdom were in attendance.
T'challa was surrounded by the avengers as they congratulated him on his firstborn.
Her mother was talking to Professor Xavier and N'Jadaka was laughing with bucky and Rhodes.
"Shuri!" Nakia called as she weaved her way through the throng of guest Ayo behind her.
"We have someone here who wants to speak with you."
It was then Nakia turned to reveal…
"Tony stark!" Shuri exclaimed.
Out of all the Avengers Tony stark was the only one she hadn't met. Even at her brother's wedding he wasn't able to make it.
"Princess Shuri. It's an honor. I hear you're the genius of science around here!"
So that's how Shuri found herself for the next three hours talking to tony stark about everything and anything in the matters of science. They even made plans to visit her lab and help update a couple of his inventions.
After a while, Shuri grew tired of talking to people and made her way to the exit however a voice stopped her.
"You didn't think you could sneak out of here and not say hello to me, could you?"
Shuri turned at the women's voice.
"ORORO!"
Ororo Munroe, also known as storm, was smiling proudly ready to embrace her.
Ororo pulled Shuri into a tight hug, her white hair now cut into a short bob.
"Come…talk to me little sister."
The duo walked down hallways of the palace, one of the Dora milaje following behind them.
"Your people are concerned about you. how is everything Shuri?" Ororo asked.
Shuri instantly stepped away from Ororo.
"What is this? Is this some kind of intervention?" Shuri accused.
Ororo's eyes softened.
"In a way yes, your family is worried about you Shuri. I know you're the chief of technological advancement, but I've been told that you've spent countless hours in the lab. Going hours without eating or even sleep. What are you avoiding Shuri?"
Shuri shook her head.
"How dare you. how dare you! you haven't been in my life for ten years! TEN! And all of a sudden you think you can show back up and question my life? That's not fair Ororo! You abandon me! you abandoned your people!"
"I had to help the people, Shuri! They needed my help."
"And what about me! What about T'challa? We awoke one day, and you were gone! You didn't even say goodbye! It took Professor Xavier to tell us where you were and why!"
Shuri turned away from Ororo as tears brewed in her eyes.
She would not cry. She would not cry.
She remembered the day that Ororo left them. Ororo had been born to a royal family in Kenya. They had been allies with Wakanda but then, her family was killed, and her father took Ororo in. Shuri was only 9 when Ororo came to them. She and Ororo were joined at the hip for the next five years. And then by the time Shuri was thirteen, Ororo left them in the middle of the night. No letter, no warning. The only person who seemed to know why she left was T'challa. The two of them had been in love and yet overnight they had broken up.
"Oh Shuri… I-"
Shuri held up a hand for silence.
"It's princess Shuri Ms. Munroe. I thank you for your time, but I thinks its best you head back to the celebrations."
Ororo looked sadden by Shuri's change of tone but complied anyway.
"My apologies princess. Will you at least be joining us for the guardian dedication?"
"No, but I would like to know who was chosen?"
Ororo looked annoyed but answered.
"Captain America and I have been chosen."
Shuri sighed. Her father would have had fit if he had known outsiders were chosen as the next kings guardians.
In their kingdom guardians could almost be seen as what Americans call "godparents." Except the responsibility was much higher. Guardians were expected to be hands on and involved in every part of the child's life. As well as the child's parents.
"Congratulations."
She then speed walked to her quarters, telling the Dora milaje she was not to be disturbed.
As soon as her door was locked and shut, Shuri stripped out of her ceremonial clothes. It took her a full fifteen minutes to get out of the corset, but she sighed in relief when it finally came off. With ease, she opened her balcony and pressed a button on her kimoyo beads.
It was then a small ship no bigger then a car appeared at the edge of her balcony. She pressed another bead and the door opened.
Getting in she contacted her A.I assistant.
"Griot?" she called.
"Yes princess?"
"Take me to Yucatan Mexico, zema village and please turn off my kimoyo beads."
…
Yucatan Mexico
Shuri fell to her knees in front of the shrine. This time she allowed herself to cry.
This was the place she came to often when she wanted to be alone. She lit a small fire and looked at the small shrine of her father.
It had small trinkets, things that no one would know was missing but things that had big meaning to her. first was small picture of she and her father both of them sitting on a rhino. next to the picture was black glove he used to wear.
"kutheni tata? ndikuqumbele kakhulu! undishiyile ! undishiyile! ukanti bendingekho apho ukuze ndikusindise!" (i am so angry at you! you left me! you left me alone! and yet I wasn't there to save you!)
Of course, there was no response. Shuri didn't understand. Why had her father killed her uncle? Why had her uncle betrayed them? Why did Ororo leave? Why hadn't see say goodbye but the question that bothered most?
Why couldn't she have saved her father? she was one of the smartest scientist in the world, maybe she could have saved him?
Shuri was so focused on her grief; she didn't see him come out of water. She definitely didn't know he was there until he touched her.
She didn't freeze, she knew it was him. She knew his touch.
With gentle hands he curled his fingers under her chin.
"In ki'ichpanil meentaj cicatrices ti' a puksi'ik'al. Mataré u je'el máaxake' ba'ax ku atreva in beetik a wu'uyik tanta su'utalil" (my beauty, so many scars on your heart. I will kill anyone who dares make you feel such sorrow)
"Ch'ah. Hi…" she greeted softly and then proceeded to greet him with his customary greeted putting her hands together and open, almost like a shark.
Ch'ah, smiled at her and said "you my beauty don't ever have to salute me. we are equals."
Shuri leaned into his touch. He sat down next to her bringing her into his arms.
"Tell me the song of your heart."
Shuri breathed him in. He smelled like salt water and soil. She almost wanted to lick him. With his scent she felt herself relax. nothing mattered right now, not her responsibilities or the people around her. Just the two of them.
"…I want to know why. That's my only question. Why? Why the death? Why the pain? Why the abandonment?"
Ch'ah, held her tightly as he looked up at the night sky. The stars shining brightly.
"Do you remember what I first told you when we met?"
Flashback:
Shuri landed her ship on the small island. She was far from home, but the beauty of Yucatan was too hard to resist, especially the small island she had found. On it she had found one single grave. She couldn't read what it said bit every time she came here, she made sure to put a few African iris's on it.
She had been to this island four times. Once a month every time she could get away.
It was where she could cry in peace, especially with today's date. It marked two years since her father was killed. She missed him terribly.
"I miss you father." she cried aloud.
It was then a splash from the water was heard.
Shuri turned around and gasped. Standing before her was a man. A man with wings on his feet. He wore turquoise shorts, turquoise earrings, and a turquoise nose ring. He also had pointy ears.
"You…you came out of the sea!" she exclaimed.
He stood before her studying her. he then looked towards the grave she was sitting in front of.
"You? you are the one who has been putting flowers on my mothers grave?" he asked with wide confused eyes.
Shuri nodded cautiously ready for an attack.
"Why? Why tend to a grave you do not know. "He asked with a tone of anger.
Shuri looked back down at the grave in front of her.
"I understand what it is like to lose a parent. I lost my father two years ago. I discovered this place a few months ago. It was isolated and quiet, somewhere I could think. But then I saw this grave, and I could only wonder who this person was, I felt sympathy for them. So, I began to come here talk to- well your mother."
The man from the sea stepped a little closer as he looked at Shuri and then his mother's grave.
"My mother… she died a long time ago, but it feels like I lost her just yesterday. I am sorry for the lost of your father, I understand your pain." He comforted quietly.
"What is the point of it? the pain? the grief?" she asked him as tears poured from her face.
The sea man looked at her with tears of his own.
"I do not have an answer."
The duo sat in silence for a while before Shuri spoke.
"…my name is Princess Shuri …of Wakanda…what is your name?"
"My people call me Kukulkan, my enemies call me Namor. But you, Princess Shuri of Wakanda, will call me Ch'ah Toh Almehen. "
End flashback.
Shuri was just here to grieve her father, yet here this king of the sea sat. somehow, he became a soothing balm to her aching soul.
"I do. I do. I remember." She told him. That had been three months ago. For three months twice a month they would meet here. Ch'ah would tell her stories of his family and his kingdom and she would tell him the creations she would make in her lab and the jokes N'Jadaka would make behind her brothers back.
Ch'ah kissed her neck and whispered "princess Shuri…it's time to let go..."
Shuri allowed a sob to escape her. He was right, it was time to let go. It didn't mean she was forgetting, but she had to let go of the pain.
With that decision in her heart, she pulled out the white dress she had buried under a rock.
It was custom after grieving a loved one that you burned your funeral clothes to show that your time of grieving was done.
Shuri kept hers. At least until now.
"ndiyakuthanda tata."( I love you father.) She whispered and threw the dress into the fire.
Once the dress was burned, her lover pulled her back into his arms and began to sing a soft slow song in her ear.