Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Tamu and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
The Sweetest Night Flower of Wakanda Chapter 1
It's been over a week since the terrorist attack on the United Nations where many were confirmed dead including the beloved late King of Wakanda T'Chaka. Succession of the throne is expected to fall to the oldest of the King's three children. For the past few days heed been occupied with catching the person responsible for the man responsible for the terrorist attack that killed his father. Now that this was over with the coronation ceremony could proceed.
After his father's death, T'Challa had vowed to find the murderer and bring him to justice. Having done so the new patriarch of Wakanda was returning to his country to become officially crowned. But there was one stop he had to make first before he and his main bodyguard Okoye, the head of the Dora Milaje, reached home. This was to pick up T'Challa's former lover a woman named Nakia whose province was the River Tribe.
Not only is Nakia a member of a royal bloodline she is, also, an undercover spy for Wakanda regularly placed in other countries to complete certain missions. At present Nakia had been sent under deep cover to help liberate enslaved women in Nigeria. Okoye and T'Challa intercepted the transports she and many other women were on to retrieve her in the process freeing the captured people Nakia had integrated herself into.
For the remainder of the journey, T'Challa and Nakia sat in the open passenger area behind the cockpit relishing and enjoying each other's company after so long a separation.
Okoye was the one flying the aircraft and was quick to notify the duo when they finally arrived at familiar landmarks.
"Sister Nakia, my Prince," said Okoye, smiling, "we are home."
Rising from the bench they were sitting on T'Challa and Nakia moved to the cockpit to see the beauty that is Wakanda for themselves. From there they had a perfect view of mountains and rainforests that fortified the nation against outsiders. Below the citizens who lived on the outskirts that upheld Wakanda's image of farming waved at the jet. Eventually, they came to the force field that created the illusion of a mountain range covered in trees and cliffs. The hover jet flew directly for it not slowing down.
"This never gets old," said T'Challa, fondly.
The ship went through the force field and before their very eyes, the mountains were transformed into an advanced technological thriving city that is the true Wakanda.
Okoye took the jet directly to the palace where the rest of the royal family and some of the Dora Milaje waited to greet them upon arrival.
The ramp of the jet was lowered and the trio departed the ship. The Dora Milaje saluted their leader as he walked down their line.
"Queen Mother, Princess," said Nakia, bowing respectfully. "I comfort for your loss."
"Thank you, Nakia. It is so good to have you back with us," said Queen Mother Ramonda, smiling fondly.
"Take her to the River Province to prepare her for the ceremony," ordered Okoye to her second in-command Ayo.
"Yes, General," said Ayo, crossing her arms in an X symbol in front of her chest as a salute.
Ayo then escorted Nakia to a ship waiting nearby for transport to the River Tribe's territory. Nakia looked back at T'Challa once before boarding the ship.
T'Challa watched her go with longing eyes.
Shuri saw this and snickered at her brother. Oh, this would be prime ammunition for the youngest of the T'Chaka's children Shuri to use against her elder brother and now was as best of a time as ever.
"Did he freeze," she asked, smirking.
"Like an antelope in headlights," said Okoye, grinning toothily.
Okoye was referring to when she and T'Challa had fought the human traffickers to retrieve Nakia. All had gone well until he saw her. T'Challa froze in the heat of the moment unable to take his eyes off of her just like now so Okoye had to intervene. He wasn't going to be able to live the embarrassing humiliation of that down for a while to come.
Shuri burst into giggles and even the Queen Mother couldn't refrain from smiling a little. Okoye winked at the Princess.
T'Challa was not amused.
"Are you finished," said T'Challa, peeved, brow raised.
Okoye thumped the butt of her vibranium spear into the ground three times signaling the Dora Milaje to leave granting the royal family some privacy.
"So surprised, my little sister came to see me off before our big day," snickered T'Challa, playfully.
"You wish," scoffed Shuri. "I'm here for the EMP Beads. I've developed an update."
"Update? No. It worked perfectly," said T'Challa.
It was true the EMP Beads Shuri had developed in her lab worked without a hitch. These devices would emit a powerful electromagnetic pulse when activated disrupting all electrical applications within range of contact no matter the type of technology. On the primitive vehicles the human traffickers in Nigeria had used there had been no difficulty in any form.
Shuri would disagree, but not in a bad way.
"How many times do I have to teach you just because something works doesn't mean it can't be improved," said Shuri, holding out her hand.
"You are teaching me? What do you know," said T'Challa, handing her the things she asked for.
"More that you," said Shuri, walking away to prepare for the ceremony herself.
T'Challa just had to get the final word in.
"I can't wait to see what kind of update you make to your ceremonial outfit," jabbed T'Challa, knowing how much she despised wearing such old-fashioned clothes.
In retaliation, Shuri didn't slow in her stride instead raising her hand flipping the bird at her brother.
"Shuri," scolded Ramonda, admonishing her daughter for her unladylike behavior. She hadn't even needed to turn around to be aware of what Shuri had done.
The Queen Mother knew all of her children so well.
"Sorry, Mother," said Shuri, lowering the offending appendage.
"How are you feeling today, Mama," asked T'Challa, concerned for her emotional state.
Ramonda had not taken the news of her husband's death well, but with time to sufficiently mourn and grieve she had come to accept it. Ramonda moved on so she could be of good use to her son and advise him properly.
"Proud. Your father and I would talk about this day all the time, " said Ramonda, wrapping her hands around his arms and squeezing supportive reassurance. "He is with us…And it is your time to be king."
T'Challa nodded and scanned his eyes over the surrounding area looking for someone. A young woman he assumed would've been present on his return.
"Tamu is not in the capital, but she will be joining us for the ceremony," said Ramonda, already knowing who he was looking for.
"Where is Tamu," inquired T'Challa. "I'd expected her to be her to greet me."
"She left to inform the Jibari of your father's death. We were going to send a message to them by a communicator, but she insisted on going herself to ease any tension that may arise from their learning of your succession to the throne, " said Ramonda, a knowing expression on her face.
T'Challa's eyes narrowed upon hearing his other sister was on another diplomatic mission to the Jibari again.
Tamu is the second child granted to T'Challa and his wife Ramonda after T'Challa was born, but she wasn't of royal lineage. She'd been adopted into their family after Klaw's unprovoked attack that ended up killing many innocents in his greed for vibranium upon the King's insistence. So coming from a low-ranking family she has now the appointed ambassador for the Tribes for some years now since her 21st birthday. She went on regular missions to the assorted tribes, but more often than most would've liked Tamu would be sent travel to the Jibari deep in the mountain ranges on their father's command to settle any unease they may create.
Tamu always assured her family before and after these trips that she could handle herself easily around the Jibari and keep things strictly professional, but there were times T'Challa thought he could sense an ulterior purpose behind her many visits to this alienated tribe. Unlike with other ambassadors that had been sent to the Jibari Tamu had been able to appease the restless warriors without too much trouble. T'Challa didn't doubt her skill as a representative, but there was more to it than just her being a good emissary for the royal family. He'd never spoken these thoughts aloud out of respect for all she had accomplished so far, but he wasn't the only person to think this way as his mother just proved.
No matter how many times Tamu would deny it the suspicion was there.
He would be right.
Authors Note
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.
So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.
I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.