Chapter 179: The Battle for Wakanda
It was sunset in Wakanda and everyone who was in the the throne room was there, elders and nobles alike awaiting for the challenge to begin, in the same area where the original ritual fight was at, Zuri putting the black ritual paint on T'Challa's face while Erik held a spear, looking it over before snapping it, breaking it in half so he could more easily handle it.
"He'll never defeat T'Challa." Shuri said. "He should have come to the first one and gotten it over with."
"Don't count him out yet Shuri." Spyro said. "Those trained to be a Navy SEAL are known for being on the highest ranked missions and being proficient with any weapon they have. Including swords and spears." He looked to T'Challa as Zuri made him drink the same concoction that was used to remove his powers the first time, feeling anxious about the whole thing. "This fight might be T'Challa's toughest yet."
"The king will now have the strength of the Black Panther stripped from him." Zuri said, backing away.
They saw the same veins appear while everyone did their dance, dancing and praying for T'Challa's victory as Nakia came to watch, walking next to Okoye and Spyro.
"Where is Agent Ross?" Okoye asked.
"I locked him in the office." Nakia said. "He's not going anywhere."
"I think Ross is the least of our worries." Spyro said.
"This is your last chance to walk away from this." T'Challa said, giving Erik one final chance to walk away. "We can handle this another way."
However, Erik stabbed the ground and stood up, grinning as he started to remove his armor and his shirt.
"I lived my entire life for this." Erik said, removing the vest. "I trained a lot. I killed just to get here." He then removed his shirt, revealing all the scares all over his body, showing how many people he killed. "I killed in America, Afghanistan, Iraq, I took life from my own brothers and sisters here on this continent!" He then reached down and got the spear and sword, ready for the fight, pointing the spear at T'Challa. "All this death so that I can kill you."
T'Challa looked at Zuri, who nodded his head to let him know to begin the challenge.
"Let the challenge... begin." Zuri said.
He hit the bottom of his staff on the ground and a moment later, Erik charged at T'Challa, starting off aggressive, but the king blocked the attack, both fighting their hardest to win the fight and both proving to be equally matched in combat, T'Challa attacking as they both exchanged blows, however, the fight took a turn as a moment later, Erik got too aggressive, pounding at the shield to knock T'Challa down, but he moved to the side and kicked Erik's leg out, making him fall into the water and pointed his weapon at him as he stood over the challenger.
"Yield!" T'Challa exclaimed.
But Erik didn't listen, rolling to the side and getting up as he swung, but T'Challa dodged the attacks and lunged, Erik dodging as the weapon tried to get his face, but when T'Challa pulled it back, he cut his cheek, making Erik yell out and look to his opponent, charging again and getting aggressive before he knocked T'Challa down, swinging to end it, but T'Challa got back up, blocking the attack, but Erik lunged low, cutting his leg and making him slower, so he tried swinging, using his shield to block the spear, but Erik used the sword and cut T'Challa's stomach, leaving a gash as he tried to puch him away, but Erik not only disarmed him, but cut his left arm, forcing T'Challa into fisticuffs, but Erik stabbed him in the gut, making everyone gasp as Erik grinned, looking at his cousin as he dealt a critical hit.
"We have to help him." Octavia said.
"We can't interfere with a worlds affairs." Spyro said. "The rules say only to interfere if heartless, Nobodies, Unversed, or Grublins are involved."
Octavia looked at Spyro, in disbelief that he wouldn't do a thing as she looked, Erik knocking him down and standing over him with the sword, getting ready to finish the fight.
"&*@# the rules." Octavia said.
She called her blade and rushed over, Zuri moving in as if to stop her as Erik raised the blade to finish him, but Zuri didn't stop Octavia, but instead stopped Erik, surprising them as he disarmed Erik.
"Stop." Zuri said.
"Zuri... no." T'Challa said.
"I am the reason for your father's death." Zuri said. "That night, I informed King T'Chaka that his brother was planning on selling Vibranium he stole from Wakanda. He killed your father to save me. Please, take me."
Erik looked at Zuri, shocked to here that his fathers death was due to him, only adding fuel to his anger as he took Zuri's ceremonial spear.
"I'll take you both!" Erik shouted. He stabbed Zuri in the chest, shocking everyone as he killed him as T'Challa yelled in agony for his friend, crawling over to him as Erik tossed the spear away, Spyro horrified that he'd kill the man who had the authority to start the challenge, clenching his fist as he felt his own rage rise as T'Challa took his opponents sword and tried to attack him, but failing to hit. "Is this really your king!?" T'Challa got back on his feet and swung, but Erik just punched him in the gut, knocking him down to the ground before grabbing his head and hitting his knee to his face, knocking him down as Erik looked at the crowd. "The Black Panther!? The Man whose supposed to lead you into the future!? HIM!? The man whose supposed to protect you!?"
T'Challa got back up, swinging again, but Erik hit him in the face again, grabbing him and bringing him to the edge of the waterfall, getting ready to toss him in.
"NO!" Octavia shouted.
She rushed over, keyblade out as Erik threw T'Challa in, turning around and dodging her swing before knocking her to the ground, grabbing her wrist and breaking it as she screamed in pain, everyone watching as he grabbed a sword and looked down at her, lifting it to finish her off, but as he swung, Spyro blocked the attack with his own blade, looking up and seeing him before they got into a sword duel of their own, both fighting like demons, but Spyro proved to be superior as he disarmed Erik and punched him in the gut, sending him flying into a cliff and back into the water. Spyro was about to approach when he heard something click, looking up as he flipped around, dodging some arrows and looking up, expecting to see the Wakandans interfering, but it was Grublins, Orc Crossbowmen who fired on him, preparing more arrows.
"Grublins!" Spyro shouted. They fored more arrows at Spyro, trying to hit him, but he deflected the arrows, getting Octavia as he dodged another attack, looking to the ponies as hepicked up the injured demon. "Go! Get the royal family to safety! We'll catch up if we can!"
Without waiting a moment, Spyro jumped backwards, falling down the falls and into the water, but instead of sinking below the surface, the water swirled around and Spyro emerged, riding the wave down the river as more orcs fired at him, providing a distraction for his friends to get the royal family to safety as Erik walked over to the edge, looking down.
"Save your arrows." Erik said, turning to the group. "I am your king now!"
One of the priestesses brought the necklace of the king over to him, putting it on him as everyone saluted him, acknowledging him as their new king while he smiled over his triumph. In the water, Spyro was riding the wave down the river, looking around for a place they could stay until they came to a very cold section of Wakanda, the cold not bothering him while Octavia was hissing in pain, going to the dry land and setting her down as he examined her wrist.
"That was brave of you." Spyro said, examining the wrist. "Brave, but stupid."
"We should have stopped him." Octavia said, hissing as Spyro gently touched her wrist. "We should have stopped him and saved T'Challa!"
"And then what?" Spyro asked. "T'Challa would have been disqualified if you intervened and Erik would still be king."
He touched the water and brought over a handl full of it, touching it to Octavia's wrist as it started to surround it, healing the bruising while he used his Chaos healing to heal her broken wrist, the water falling to the ground as Octavia looked distraught over the loss of their friend.
"So what now?" Octavia asked.
"We get the girls and get the royal family to safety." Spyro replied. "We find a way to stop Erik before he carry's out his plan. But we'll need help."
Octavia looked down, crying at the loss of their friend and wanting to yell in frustration, wiping away the tears and looking to her right, but as she did, she spotted something, which it wasn't a something, but a someone, washed up on the same shore they were on as her spirits lifted, raising her head as she saw that it was, to her surprising, T'Challa.
"Spyro, look!" Octavia said.
Spyro looked to his left, wondering what ti was she saw when he saw T'Challa as well, shocked to see him there as he and Octavia both got up and ran over, kneeling down to him as Spyro put two of his fingers to his neck, feeling for a pulse and to his relief, it was there.
"He's alive." Spyro said, relieved to see their friend alive. "But just barely." he put his hand on T'Challa's back, closing his eyes as he allowed his powers to flow from him into T'Challa, healing the wounds, but T'Challa didn't stir, looking at his head and feeling what was wrong. "He's still alive, but he's in a coma. He won't last long."
"What do we do?" Octavia asked.
"Well, well, well." A man said, both turning and fearing it was Erik, having found them, but it was M'Baku and a few of his men who found them, smiling at them. "What have we here?"
"You have got to be @&*#ing with me." Octavia said.
"M'Baku, we don't have time to fight you." Spyro said, standing up. "You want trouble, you got it."
"Relax, I'm not here to fight." M'Baku said, approaching them. "I'm here to help."
"Help us?" Spyro asked, looking at him. "How?"
"Well..." M'Baku asked, crossing his arms, looking to T'Challa. "Let's start by getting the king someplace safe. Then we can go fron there."
Spyro looked at Octavia, not fully trusting the man who cha;;enged T'Challa to a fight, but he knew that they needed help, so without much of a choice, he picked up the unconcious king and carrying him on his shoulders as they followed M'Baku and his Jabari warriors to their home for safety.
Back in Wakanda, Nakia was moving through the halls of the palace, Twilight using her cloaking spell to mask them as they approached the throne, which Okoye was there, looking out to the city.
"Okoye." Nakia said, hugging her. "I'm glad you could meet me."
"Queen Ramonda and Shuri, are they ok?" Okoye asked.
"They're safe." Nakia said, trying to get her to leave with them. "Come, we must leave at once!"
"I can't." Okoye said.
"What?" Twilight asked. "What do you mean you can't?"
"Look, my heart is with you, but I cannot betray my vows." Okoye said.
"We can't turn over the entire nation to a man we only met a couple of hours ago." Nakia said.
"He's of royal blood." Okoye said.
"He killed T'Challa!" Nakia shouted.
"In ritual combat." Okoye said.
"Does it really matter!?" Nakia shouted.
"You know what he's planning to do." Nakia said. "He will bring ruin to Wakanda. We have to fight back. We need to overthrow him!"
"I cannot." Okoye said. "I'm not a spy who can come and go as she so chooses. I am loyal to that throne, no matter who sits upon it!"
"Even if he's evil!?" Twilight asked. "Okoye, he is insane."
"I'm sorry, but I am not a spy." Okoye said. "I am not a spy or anything like that. My loyalty is to the throne."
"And mine is to the people of Wakanda." Nakia said, Nakia starting to walk away before turning to look at Okoye. "I loved him Okoye. I love my country too."
"Then you should serve it." Okoye said.
"No." Okoye replied, walking away. "I'm going to save it."
With that, Nakia and Twilight left the room, leaving Okoye alone in the throne room, regretting her decision, but she had to remain loyal to the throne, even if it meant loosing her friends, though her heart told her it was the wrong decision. A moment later, Nakia and Twilight had gotten to the office that Ross was hidden in, the agent turning to look at them as they entered.
"What's going on?" Ross asked.
"The king is dead." Nakia said.
"What?" Ross asked, looking to Twilight. "How?"
"His evil cousion challenged him and won." Twilight replied. "Spyro ordered us to get the royal family to safety. We're also getting you out as well."
"Now come on, before Erik finds you here." Nakia said.
She tossed him a cloak to drap over himself, walking out of the room with the agent right behind them where they met up with Fluttershy, who was keeping a look out as they entered one of the halls. They then took a secret way out of the palace, going through the forest until they found Rarity, Shuri and Queen Ramonda, who were both grieving over T'Challa when they heard them and quickly spun around, holding a disk blade ot them.
"It's alright, it's us." Twilight said.
"Nakia." Ramonda said, seeing Ross and getting defensive. "Who is this man!?"
"This is Agent Ross." Nakia said. "He's a friend of T'Challa's. He saved my life."
"And Okoye?" Shuri asked.
"She's not coming." Nakia said. "She and the Dora Milaje will serve the new king."
"Then... all is lost." Ramonda said, loosing hope.
She sat down as everyone was silent, not knowing what to do when a small white butterfly flew by, flying in front of Twilight's eyes as she looked at it, following it until her eyes rested on the temple where Erik was brought to, looking at it curiously.
"What's in there?" Twilight asked, everyone looking up.
"It's the temple where the Heart-shaped herb grows." Shuri replied. "It's what gave T'Challa his powers."
"And if it gave T'Challa his powers... what if..." Twilight said, getting an idea. "Nakia, think you can get one of those herbs?"
"Of course I can." Nakia replied. "What are you thinking?"
"We need someone who can match Erik's strength." Twilight said. "Someone who's not afraid to fight."
"I think I know who you're talking about." Nakia said. "Wait here."
Nakia then ran off, leaving the ponies with the humans to go and get one of the herbs and to bring it with them, hoping to turn the tides in their favor. In the temple, Nakia was sneaking through the lower section of the catacombs of the temple, making her way to the chamber with all of the herbs in it and everyone in there was awaiting for Erik to reemerge, which he did panicked before calming down, getting up and looking around to see all of the plants.
"The Heart-shaped herb do that?" Erik asked, which the priestess nodded. "This all of it?"
"Yes." She replied. "When it comes time for another king, we'll be ready."
"Another king?" Erik asked, almost laughing at them. "Yeah, go ahead and burn it all."
"But my king, we cannot do that." The priestess said.
However, this angered Erik as he grabbed her neck, lifting her up while Nakia watched.
"When I tell you to do something, I mean it." Erik said, dropping her. "Burn it all!"
He then left the room, which gave Nakia a chance to get into the chamber and get one of the heart-shaped herbs, putting it gently into her pouch before sneaking back out of the room as the servants began burning all of the herbs, though they wished they didn't want to do it, but they had to out of fear of their new king. In the morning, everyone had managed to regroup and were all moving to the mountains, however, it was freezing cold, moving as fast as they could to get to their desitnation.
"So, where are we going again?" Ross asked.
"We're taking the Heart-shaped herb to Jabari land." Nakia replied.
"And what exactly is the Heart-shaped herb?" Ross asked.
"Yeah, I'm kind of curious about that myself." Twilight said.
"It's what gave T'Challa his abilities." Shrui replied. "Giving whoever takes it heightened senses. That's what made him so strong."
"Nakia." Ramonda said, getting her attention. "I don't like this. The herb belongs to us. We may be creating a bigger monster if we give it to M'Baku." They looked to the pass, seeing the monkey shaped head there and knew they were getting close. "Nakia, you should take it."
"I am a spy with no army." Nakia said. "We need all the help we can get."
Ramonda still did not like the idea of asking for the aid of one of the people who tried to kill her son the first time, but she nodded, agreeing to the plan as they continued onward, but they didn't get very far when Jabari warriors started to surround them, chanting their call as they all surrounded the group, the ponies getting their blades out to protect the family from them as one Jabari approached, the others moving aside as he came.
"M'Baku is expecting you." The Jabari said.
They didn't understand what he meant by hat, but he motioned for them to follow him, which they didn't have much choice in the matter and decided to follow them through the pass. They walked for hours upon hours, starting to feel exhausted when they spotted the Jabari city, which it was carved from mountain ranges and built from Obsidan, which was strong and in the cold of the mountain, would almost never wear away. They were taken to the throne room where M'Baku was sitting on his throne, M'Baku starring at them as Ramonda walked to him.
"M'Baku..." Ramonda said, feeling her voice start to break as she talked. "My son... was murdered... in ritual combat."
"Were the odds fair?" M'Baku asked.
"They were." Nakia said. "But-"
"So it was more of a defeat than actual murder." M'Baku said.
"Do not rub our noses in it!" Shuri said.
"Silence." M'Baku said, silencing Shuri. "I make the pronouncements here girl. Not you."
"Uh, your majesty." Ross said, getting M'Baku's attention. "The new king is a-" M'Baku then did his war chant, silencing him once and spooking Ross, so he cleared his throat to try again. "The new king is-"
M'Baku continued his chant, other joining in and startling him to silence, stopping a moment later when M'Baku stopped.
"You cannot talk!" M'baku said, giving him a death stare. "One more word and I will feed you to my children."
Ross gulped loudly, feeling his blood freeze and his heart stop, but it wasn;t from the cold as he backed away, M'Baku looking at all of them before he started snickering, his snicker turning into all out laughter as all the Jabari laughed, having their fun while the others stood there confused.
"Was that really necessary M'Baku?" Spyro asked, walking up behind the group and everyone looking to him.
"Spyro!" Twilight said happily, Octavia coming up behind him a moment later, relieved to see they were both ok. "Octavia, you're here!"
"Wait, were you here the whole time?" Shuri asked.
"Of course we were." Spyro replied. "Despite the Jabari's sick sense of humor, they're actually good people. And they won't eat you. They''re vegetarian."
"We're glad to see you're both alright." Fluttershy said, flying over and the two hugged.
"But why are you guys here?" Spyro asked. "This is the last place I'd expect to find you here."
"This is why we're here." Nakia said, presenting the herb to M'Baku. "We're here to present to you, great gorrila, the Heart-shaped herb. An outsider sits on our throne. Only you can help us to stop him."
M'Baku looked at the herb, looking to the group as Ramonda then knelt down before him, followed by Shuri and then Ross, the ponies still standing as they didn't know what to do as M'Baku stood up, looking to the herb before looking to Spyro.
"Will it help?" M'Baku asked Spyro, who walked over and saw it.
"Might be the only thing that'll save his life." Spyro replied, confusing the group.
"Save whose life?" Rarity asked.
"Come with us." M'Baku said, getting up.
Not understanding what was going on, they followed the leader of the Jabari out of his throne room, Spyro and Octavia following close behind while the ponies followed everyone else, heading out and down a pathway until they reached a tent, walking in and to everyone's surprise and shock, they saw T'Challa, laying in a bed of snow as if to preserve him.
"Impossible." Nakia said.
"Nothing is impossible." Spyro replied.
"Is he alive?" Nakia asked.
"Just barely." Spyro replied. "He's in a coma. The river took us to the river near Jabari territory where we ran into M'Baku. The snow he's laying in is the only thing keeping him alive."
"We need to take him to my lab." Shuri said.
"We can't afford to move him." Spyro replied. "Hypothermia is the only thing keeping him alive right now, slowing his heart rate to where his body is able to keep him alive. But there is one thing that'll save him that my powers of healing couldn't do. And you brought it to us."
Ramonda looked to Nakia, who looked at her in return as she brought out the Heart-shaped herb and gave it to Ramonda, who got a mortar and pestal and started to crush the herb, turning it to liquid and held it up, closing her eyes to pray.
"I call upon the ancestors." Ramonda said. "I call upon Bast. I'm here with my son T'Challa. Please, heal him."
She then brought the bowl down and put the liquid into T'Challa's mouth, which his body subconciously allowed him to drink as they started to cover him in the snow to compete the process, Spyro walking to M'Baku and Ross to talk.
"Erik, the new king, was trained by the Navy SEALs." Spyro said. "Those guys don't mess around. They're deadly in ranged combat and in close combat. Using every tactic and dirty trick in the book to win. And now he has Grublins by his side."
"Grublins?" Ross asked.
"Monsters made of earth and plant, held together and animated by dark magic." Spyro replied, looking to T'Challa. "If T'Challa survives, Erik will have the powers of the Black Panther and Vibranium. Making his suit useless if he wears it."
"Then how do we fight back?" Ross asked. "If Vibranium and pierce Vibranium, he'll be dead in seconds if he fights Killmonger."
Spyro knew Ross was right, thinking the scenario over in his mind when he got an idea, a crazy one, but it was one that he knew might be their only chance, looking to Shuri as they finished burying T'Challa.
"Shuri." Spyro said, getting everyone's attention. "Do you still have T'Challa's necklace? The one that holds his panther suit?"
"Of course I do." Shrui replied, pulling it out. "Why do you ask?"
Spyro looked at her for a moment, not giving an immediate answer, but she slowly pieced together what he had in mind, looking at him like he was insane, but knew it might be the only thing that'll help. A moment later, M'baku lead Spyro away from the group with Shuri following close behind, the prince looking at his bracers as he acrivated something on them, conjuring hard light screens for Shuri as Spyro went to the forge and opened a portal, pulling in his Beskar tools as his ship landed, Twilight bringing a crate over to him as he snapped his fingers, igniting the forge.
"If T'Challa is going to fight Erik, he'll need an advantage." Spyro said, the scenes shifting to him picking up several ingots of Beskar and putting them in a bowl of Obsidian, snapping his fingers again as the flames changed into cold fire, melting the Beskar. "Erik played on T'Challa's emotions, fuel by his rage, it threw the king off balance. And now that Malefor is involved, it's time we got involved." He pressed something on his bracers, Shuri working at a station and providing the suit designs for him as she activated the suit, making it easier for him to while Shuri provided instructions on what to do. "Vibranium can absorb and redistribute kinetic energy, but it's main weaknesses are sounds and Vibranium weapons, making the suit useless against Erik."
"So what do you have in mind?" Shuri asked.
"Erik will have an army of Grublins by his side and he'll definitely hide behind them to finish T'Challa off aling with any Wakandan that'll fight for their new king." Spyro coninuted, banging at the metal while also tempering it to the suit, following Shuri's instructions. "So, to counter this, we can mix the Vibranium with the Beskar, which can absorb thermal energy and it's density will protect T'Challa against any sound based attacks that'll disrupt his suit."
"It's risky." Shuri said, working on the suit while Spyro integrated the last of the Beskar in the bowl into it. "There's a slim chance this succeeds."
"With the two of us working together, we can do it." Spyro said, using his Fear element to produce sound low enough to allow the vibranium to mix with the Beskar. "And if this works, the suit will be invincible."
A few minutes later, the both of them had finished the suit, having one of the Jabari wear it as Spyro lifted up some Beskar that he fashioned into daggers, using the Force to lift them up and threw them, which they bounced off of the Jabari without any damage, the purple light glowing to show it had absorbed the kinetic energy. Then Nakia took her disk blades and threw it, which it also bounced off, revealing no damage to the suit at all as it also absorbed the kinetic energy, the Jabari laughing as he was unharmed. But the real test was when Spyro opened his mouth and unleashed a singular torrent of white hot flames, hitting the suit as the warrior stood there, taking the hit as the suit heated up, expecting the warrior to be cooked, but he stopped breathing fire and it was revealed the suit was red hot, but it cooled down and the Jabari looked at it, relieved that the suit held up as it deactivated.
"We did it." Shuri said, looking to him. "The suit withstanded all twenty six hundred degrees Celsius."
"The suit is perfect." Spyro said, walking over and taking the necklace off of the warrior. "Erik won't stand a chance now."
"Spyro, come quick!" Twilight shouted, flying to them. "T'Challa's awake!"
Without waiting a single moment, they both followed the Alicorn princess back to the throne room of the Jabari people, rushing in and finding T'Challa sitting in a chair, covered in a blanket to keep himself warm when he saw them.
"T'Challa." Spyro said.
"Spyro." T'Challa said, the prince walking over and hugging his friend, relieved to see him alive. "Thank you for rescuing my family. You are a true friend."
"I couldn't let a friend down, now could I?" Spyro asked, ending the hug. "Now we can begin planning."
"Killmonger has the full support of our military." Nakia said. "And... he burned the garden of the Heart-Shaped herb."
"Of course he did." Ross said, walking over. "His unit worked with the CIA to destabilize foreign contries. They would always strike as transitions of power or cause the death of a monarch. He'll get control of the government, the military..."
"Our resources." T'Challa said.
"Right." Ross said.
"The great mountain, Shuri's designs, our weapons." T'Challa said. "He'll send them all across the world."
"Thankfully, the challenge continues." Spyro said. "T'Challa isn't dead, nor has he submitted. He can still win."
"Spyro, you did me a favor getting them to safety." T'Challa said. "Now do me another and get my family to safety."
"What?" Shuri asked.
"It's my duty to kee you safe." T'Challa said.
"We will not leave Wakanda." Ramonda said.
"If he get's control of our technology, nowhere will be safe." Shuri said. T'Challa looked at his sister, knowing she was right, but also wanting to keep them safe when she brought out the necklace that she and Spyro upgraded, looking at it and seeing it was still silver, but it had a grey outline to the teeth. "Spyro and I made some changes to it, but it is now more powerful than before." She then put the necklace on her brother, who smilied at her as she smiled at him. "The Black Panther lives. And when he fights for the fate of Wakanda, I will be there to help him."
"As will I." Nakia said.
"Count me in." Spyro said, walking up.
"I'll also help." Octavia said. "Spyro taught me how to better handle the Keyblade. I can help to fight."
"We're also coming." Twilight said, she, Rarity and Fluttershy walking up. "We're stronger together than apart."
"I'll also come." Ross said, everyone looking to him. "You'll need all the help you can get."
However, the moment was ruined when M'Baku yawned, getting everyone's attention and looking to him.
"You done?" M'Baku asked, looking at everyone. "I'm sorry, are... are you all done?"
"Could you all give us a moment alone with M'Baku?" T'Challa asked, looking to Spyro and indicating he can stay as the others left, leaving the three of them along. "Thank you for saving me."
"I owed you a life." M'Baku replied. "A cost that I have paid."
"And we are grateful for that." Spyro said. "But... we will need help in the fight ahead."
"I wish I could." M'Baku said, sitting forward. "I will not give Jabari lives for your cause."
"It is our cause." T'Challa said. "For all of us?"
"Us?" M'Baku asked, walkign to them. "You are the first king to call upon us in centuries and now you speak of us?"
"I cannot speak for kings of the past." T'Challa said. "But an enemy sits upon the throne. We both know the power Vibranum has. If Killmonger get's a hold of it, who will he come for next?"
M'Baku turned from them, returning to his throne and sitting upon it as he looked to them.
"We will not help you in this fight." M'Baku said.
T'Challa was disappointed to hear that, wishing he could have the aid of the Jabari for the fight as he knew he needed it.
"Then at least permit my mother to remain here for her own safety." T'Challa said, hoping he'd at least grant that.
"No harm shall come to her." M'Baku said. "It's the least I can do."
T'Challa bowed to him and walked out, Spyro walking behind him before stopping and looking to M'Baku and smiling.
"You could have left him to die." Spyro said. "Or refused to help us at all. But you didn't. You saw something in T'Challa and you still see it now. Why else would you permit his mother to remain here?"
He then turned and walked after T'Challa to get ready for the fight ahead, M'Baku remaining in the throne room to think over what was said and looking at his new friends, knowing he could still help. In the morning at Wakanda, Erik was at Shuri's lab where several transport shuttles were ready and loaded with Vibranium and weapons, smiling as a black crystal levitated next to him as they walked.
"Is everything ready?" Erik asked.
"Yes my king." Wakabo said. "The spies have been informed and are awaiting instructions."
"Good." Erik said, picking up a spear that had sonic energy coming off it. "A hand held sonic cannon. Untraceable by metal detecors. The world will soon know who we are."
"Indeed." Malefor said. "And my army is at your command. As long as you have what I requested."
"Indeed." Erik said, one transport lifting off. "The first batch of Vibranium is on it's way to you now. You can send your Golem through now."
"It's already on it's way." Malefor said, changing the image of ther Golem moving through the earth. "Once it's there, none will be able to stand before you."
However, the transport carrying the Vibranium promised to Malefor exploded, everyone looking up to the sky and watched as it fell tot he ground, skidding across the field as everyone rushed forward to see what had happened as the smoke form the transport rose up, making everyone wonder what had happened. A moment later, from the flames, T'Challa walked out, wearing his new and improved Black Panther suit as Spyro walked up next to him, followed closely by Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Octavia, everyone standing amongst the flames in their armor, except for Octavia as regular human flames had no effect on demons.
"Impossible." Erik said.
"he lives." Okoye said, smiling.
"N'Jadaka!" T'Challa shouted, everyone getting off of the burning wreck and walking forward. "I never yeilded! And as you can clearly see, I am not dead!"
"Nah man, that challenge shtick is over with!" Erik shouted. "I'm the king now!" He then turned to his troops to address them. "Get those planes in the air! Carry out the mission!"
However, as some of the men tried to get to aircraft, the clouds above got violent and from them, bolts of lightning shot down, striking several of the aircraft and destroyign them instantly, wth a lucky few gettoung out of the storm and to safety.
"Shrui, a few of the fliers got through the storm." T'Challa said.
"Copy that." Shuri said. "We're almost to the lab."
"W'Kabi, kill these clowns." Erik said.
"W'kabi no!" Okoye said. "The challenge is not complete!"
But W'kabi had already made up his mind, looking to T'Challa and his friends as they approached them, W'Kabi drawing his sword and getting ready to attack.
"Border Tribe!" W'Kabi shouted, everyone raising their weapons. "Attack!"
The warriors of the Border Tribe then charged towards everyone, T'Challa's helmet reappearing as the army of Wakandans charged to them, but Okoye turned to Erik, pointing her spear at him.
"You!" She shouted, makign Erik reach for the weapons on his back. "Your heart is so full of hatred! You are not fit to be king!" All of the Dora Milaje there stood with Okoye, getting into a battle stance, but Erik grinned, pulling out his sword and his spear as his panther suit activated and covered his body, ready for a fight. "Ayo, the king!"
A majority of the Dora Milaje rushed to aid the true king, going to fight the Border Tribe while a few of the Dora Milaje remained with Okoye, all four of them rushing to attack Erik and provide time for their allies to get to them. With the group, the Border Tribe were charging towards them, having a flying machine coming at them and firing at them, which T'Challa was dodging and weaving the blasts while Spyro kept on walking in a straight line, one of the blasts nearly hitting him, so he reached out with the Force and the engine of the machine exploded, causing it to crash to the ground as the Border Tribe flicked their patterned blankets around activated a shield, trying to block T'Challa, but he leapt over them and with all the kinetic energy he had stored up, knocking them down. However, the second wave came running, W'Kabi engaging T'Challa while the others focused on Spyro and his friends, which Spyro just Force pushed a group away and ducking another's swing while Twilight and Fluttershy flew up high, the alicorn firing a beam of magic and knocking another away while Rarity and Octavia engaged another couple of the Border Tribe wariors, disarming them and then knocking them away as the Dora Milaje came to help, engaging the Border Tribe warriors and helping them out.
W'Kabi slashed at T'Challa's armor, but due to the recent addition of Beskar, the armor had no damage to it as T'Challa knocked him away, making him slide across the ground and to a rock as T'Challa deactivated his helmet.
"W'Kabi, stop this madness!" T'Challa shouted as W'Kabi got up. "Stop this now!" But the warrior refused to listen and he got onto the rock, holding a horn in his hand, which t'Challa knew what it was. "No!"
W'Kabi then blew in the horn and as he did, Spyro heard a rumbling and looked ot the wreck, from it, three rhino's wearing Vibranium armor came charging in and towards T'Challa and Spyro, both rolling out of the way while W'Kabi got onto the back of one of the rhino's, riding it.
"Are you freaking kidding me!?" Spyro shouted. "Rhino's with Vibranium armor!? What the literal heck!? That'd be cool if it were on our side!"
The rhino's then started to go through the Dora Milaje, knocking them away while leaving the Border tribe wariors alone, one of the rhino's coming right for Spyro, but he grabbed it by the horn, getting slide back as the rhino pushed him, but he just lifted the mammal up and threw it to the ground, moving on to help handle the other two, which Erik was fighting the Dora Milaje still as Shuri and Nakia came out of the lab, both wearing armor and having weapons as the scientist threw a control bead on the larger transport to allow for Ross to get control of it.
"Ross, you need to take control of the transport." Shuri said. "I made the controls American for you. You need to prevent those transports from leaving Wakanda."
"I'm on it." Ross said.
Ross took control of the transport and knocked a couple more warriors down as he took off, heading to get the transports carrying the Vibranium while Okoye and her warriors were still fighting Erik, one of the Milaje getting slain and fueling Okoye's rage as they fought harder, getting him to his knees as they used their spears to trap his head in a triangle, eletrocuting him to subdue him while trying to get the necklace, but the energy being stored in the suit and he released it, sending them flying into the battle field right as T'Challa got knocked away by a rhino that W'Kabi was on, causing a slight malfunction in the suit, but to handle the other rhino, Fluttershy flew down and used her stare on it, making the rhino stop and back away while Spyro knocked more warriors away, dodging the attack while Erik fought with Nakia and Shuri, grabbing Shuri as she used her gauntlets to hit him and caused them to malfunction, throwing her to the ground and looking up to see Spyro overwhelming his warriors and got infuriated, looking to the crystal as Malefor watched.
"Where is that Golem you promised!?" Erik shouted.
"Relax your highness." Malefor said. "It has arrived."
A moment later, the ground beneath everyone erupted and from it, an Ancient Earth Golem rose from the ground, roaring out as lava spewed from it's mouth, roaring out as it swung it's hand and knocked Dora Milaje and Border Tribe warriors alike away, Spyro looking up and seeing the massive beast and freezing in fear.
"An Ancient Earth Golem." Spyro said.
"Shuri!" T'Challa shouted.
"T'Challa wait!" Spyro exclaimed.
T'Challa released the kinetic energy that his armor had stored and rushed striaght for Erik and his sister, the Golem having the king in it's sights as it reached for him to destroy him while T'Challa ran to save her. Spyro slammed his foot into the ground and send a series of ground spikes towards the golen, hitting it in the eye and making it roar in pain, looking to Spyro as it thrusted it's fist at him to hit him, but Spyro jumped up and dodged the attack, running to the golem to do more damage to it as Nakia was thrown away, Erik standing over the princess as he smiled.
"What's up princess?" Erik asked.
"You'll never be a true king." Shuri said.
Erik just smiled and raised his arm to finish her, but T'Challa tackeld him, sending them both down the massive hole and itno the mountain with all the vibranium in it, Shuri looking down to see them fall.
"Brother!" Shuri shouted, looking to the battlefield and seeing the golem. "Spyro, T'Challa needs help! He's going to fight Killmonger alone!"
"Relax Shuri, the suit will protect him." Spyro said, dragging his keyblade across the golems arm and making it screech at him, trying to smash him with his other hand, but Spyro used the Force to catch it and rip it's two fingers off, making it screech in pain as he used those fingers, jabbing it in the eyes to make it howl as he leapt off. "The Beskar will protect him. For now, we got bigger problems to deal with up here!"
"Shuri!" T'Challa said on the comm.
"Brother, are you alright!?" Shuri asked.
"I'm fine." T'Challa replied, the scene shifting to him and Killmonger fighting. "I need you t turn on the train on the bottom section of the mine."
"But the Stabilizers will deactivate your suit!" Shuri said. "Even with the Beskar, you might not have any protection!"
"Neither will he." T'Challa replied.
Shuri understood what he had in store and activated the tram, the stabilizers activating as thetwo of them fought, T'Challa looking and seeign the tram heading their way, so he knocked Erik away and as it ran by, both of them looking at one another when he saw that the suit on T'Challa was destabilizing, looking sat his own before looking to the stabilizer and smiling, looking to his cousin almost laughing.
"Clever, but I don't need a suit to kill you." Erik said. "You're reign is over! You sat up here safe and protected!"
"You want to see us become like the people you hate so much!" T'Challa said, his suit fading, but not as much as Erik's. "Divide and conquer the land as they did!"
"Nah, I learned from my enemies." Erik said. "Beat them at their own game."
"You have become them!" T'Challa shouted. "You will destroy the world, Wakanda included!"
"The world took everything from me!" Erik shouted. "Everything and everyone I ever loved. "But I'mma make sure that we're even. I'll track down anyone who'd even think of being loyal to you and put them in the dirt next to Zuri!"
This got under T'Challa's skin as he got his suit to work again, the two engaging in their fight again to fight and kill one another. Meanwhile on the surface, Spyro was running around, using his earth and water magic to hit and injure the golem, which it started to grow infuriated as it unleashed a storm of lava at him, but the heat had no effect on him due to the Beskar and his immunity to fire, slamming his foot again and sending a massive earth spike into it's mouth, making it recoil back as it struggled to get the spike out of it's mouth.
"Yeah, suck on that pebble brains!" Spyro shouted. The Golem then got the spike out of it's mouth, roaring at him again as it thrusted it's fist towards Spyro, attempting to hit him, but he just rolled out of the way and motioned his arms around, the earth absorbing it's arm and making the golem roar in rage as it tried to pull itself out, but Spyro called a second Keyblade and closed his eyes, a purple aura appearing around him as he called upon the power of the Aether, surrounding himself in it's power as he put it all into his Keyblade and the Oblivion blade he called, throwing them both at the same time as they spun around and turned into destructive disks, cutting clean through the Golem's arm and making it fall backwards, roaring in rage as it held it's severed arm, the arm itself turning to pebbles and smoldering ash as he laughed. "Come on! I thought you Golems were meant to be tougher than that!" As if to prove it was tougher than he thought, the golem got back up and plunged it's arm back into the earth, dark purple clouds of dark magic going into the ground itself and when it raised itself back up, it had a new arm, but instead of being made of rock and molten lava, it was made out of pure Vibranium, roaring in rage as it looked back down at Spyro, wishing he hadn't gone and provoked it. "Ok, really need to work on not provoking my enemies."
"Spyro!" Rarity shouted.
Spyro turned around to see what was wrong and saw that the Border Tribe had them surrounded, using their shields to block them in.
"No!" Spyro shouted.
However, the Golem used it's new Vibranium fist and smashed him, punching the ground where he was while the others were surrounded, Shuri trying to blast their way through while the others heled the weapons in front of them, ready to protect themselves if needed.
"It's over!" W'Kabi shouted, looking at them. "You have three seconds to throw down your weapons and surrender!" They looked at W'Kabi, who looked to Okoye, regretting having to fight her but he was loyal to his new king and had to do what he had to. "One!" As he said it, eveyrone looked at one another, ready to hear what the other had to say in getting out of the predicament they were in. "Two!"
However, he was interrupted when he heard the chanting of the Jabari, everyone looking around to see where it was the chanting was coming from, but a moment later, M'Baku grabbed W'Kabi and pulled him up and off of the rhino, everyone looking to him as he held him up.
"Witness the might of the Jabari!" M'Baku shouted, making Nakia and Okoye smile. "First hand!
As he said it, he threw W'Kabi away as the entire Jabari army came out and attacked the Border Tribe, causing them all to scatter and flee, breaking the shield that held everyone inside and join their friends in the fight as the enemy all scattered to put some distance between them and the Jabari. As they fought, the Ancient Earth Golem looked up and saw the commotion, moving away from a downed and unconcious Spyro, lying on the ground as the Golem went to finish the fight, burying Spyro as it's tail scrapped some dirt behind it. In another part of reality, Spyro was falling into the darkness, but it felt different for him this time, looking up slightly to see a purple light ahead of him, falling unconcious again before waking back up, pushing himself out of the dirt and looking around, finding that the area looked like a Savana, tree's spaced out while the sky looked to be night, but the sky looked like it was filled with lights and colors of all sorts, confusing him as he stood up and looked around, wondering where he was.
"Where... am I?" Spyro asked.
"You are within the Ancestral Plains." A womans voice said.
Spyro quickly turned around, trying to find whoever just spoke to him, but found no one there, and only a tree right behind him, which had a single black panther resting on the trunk of the crooked tree, looking at him.
"Whose there?" Spyro asked, looking around. "Who are you?"
"I'm right here." The woman replied, Spyro turning to see the panther again as it leapt down, walking to him as he backed away.
"As for who I am..." The panther said, freaking Spyro out. "I am Bast."
"Bast?" Spyro asked. "As in, the Egyptian Goddess of protection?"
"Some know me by that." Bast replied. "They also now me as the goddess of pleasure and good health."
"Why am I here?" Spyro asked, looking around. "Am I dead?"
"Not yet." Bast replied, going back into the tree. "But I called you here to askyou , why are you helping Wakanda?"
"Because T'Challa asked me to." Spyro replied.
"Is that all?" Bast asked, looking at him. "And not for the Vibranium?"
"What?" Spyro asked.
"You came to Wakanda, asking for Vibranium." Bast replied. "You wanted it for armor, seeing how effective it is and all of it's capabilities."
"I... I did." Spyro replied. "But... this is different."
"How?" Bast asked.
"Because Erik is going to destroy Wakanda and the world." Spyro replied.
"He is a king." Bast said.
"He's a monster!" Spyro shouted, the wind picking up as his anger rose. "He doesn't care about his world, his people, even about his home! All he wants to do is destroy and hurt others, willingly handing Vibranoum to a being of pure evil to get what he wants and not caring who he hurts or kills!"
The plains then started to storm, lightning coming down all around him, the lighting hitting the tree that Bast was on, but she had disappeared, having gotten onto another tree and looked at him.
"You hold a lot of fear in you." Bast said.
"Of course I'm afraid." Spyro said. "Everyone's afraid."
"Then, what are you afraid of?" Bast asked.
"Of loosing my friends." Spyro said, kneeling down. "Of loosing those I care about. That's why I came to get the Vibranium. My enemies now have Beskar weapons and I'm afraid for the safety of those I love."
"Is that all you're afraid of?" Bast asked, hopping down and walking to him. "What else do you fear? Why else do you come and wish for Vibranium? What else... are you afraid of?"
Spyro looked down at his hand, seeing the energy coming off of him before looking to his bracers, his reflection showing in them as he saw his sith eyes appear, seeing his reflection returning to normal as he looked at the panther.
"Myself." Spyro replied, surprising her. "I'm afraid of myself and how powerful I'm becoming. I know I can control my power, but I know that I can also harm and kill those around me, bringing harm to my friends, my family, and to my herd." he then closed his fist, looking down as he felt his fear, but it started to fade as he looked down. "I... I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Bast said, making him look up at her. "A true king is one who admits he is afraid, who cares for his people and understands the kinds of danger their power can bring. They are wise, humble, king, and above all, caring." She then sat down infront of Spyro, smiling at him as he sat on the ground. "Erik only knows hatred and anger, but T'Challa is kind and caring, which is why I allowed for him to have my gift. To have the power needed to destroy Killmonger and save Wakanda. And now, he has friends who he can depend on to help him. Now, awaken, and save Wakanda."
"But... the golem has an arm made out of Vibranium." Spyro said. "How do I compete with that?"
"His arm is made of Vibranium, but not it's body." Bast said. "You will need your friends help to destroy the Ancient Earth Golem. And... you will have my help as well."
A moment later, a herb grew in front of him, shaped like a heart as he looked at it.
"A Heart-shaped herb?" Spyro asked.
"Not like the others before." Bast said. "This herb will not grant you the powers of the Black Panther, but it will strengthen your connection to what you call, the Aether. No longer will you be weakened after using it to it's full strength, awakening power in you that you never knew you had before. The golem is powerful, capable of restoring itself, but it doesn't have what you have."
"And what's that?" Spyro asked, looking at her.
"A heart." Bast replied. "A pure, kind heart that cares about everyone and everything around it. You are a truly good friend, and a loving man to your herd."
He looked down at the fruit, unsure of if he should take it or not as he looked back up to Bast, feeling unsure of himself.
"But... I'm not a Wakandan." Spyro said. "I can't take it."
"You don't need to be a Wakandan to be one." Bast said, pushing the herb to him. "All it takes to be something is to do something. The herb is only something that grants improved abilities. It's the heart of the one who has consumed it to use it to it's full potential."
Spyro looked at the herb, seeing it glow before him as he picked it out of the plant, looking at the herb before looking to Bast, who nodded at him to take it, so he popped the herb into his mouth, chewing on it as he felt a burst of power spread throughout his body, feeling something he never felt before as his entire body glowed, feeling everything around him as he stood up, looking down at Bast as the light consumed them both. Back in the real world, the Jabari and the Border tribe were fighting one another still, the Golem making its way to the battle field while W'Kabi had gotten back on the rhino, starring down at M'Baku as he struck down a few more of his men, getting the rhino to charge straight for the leader of the Jabari, but before he could mow him down, Okoye got in the way and the rhino stopped, recognizing Okoye as it licked her face, allowing for M'Baku to get out of the way as W'Kabi dismounted, reaching for his sword as he approached.
"Drop your weapon W'Kabi." Okoye said, telling him what to do.
"You would kill me my love?" W'Kabi asked, surprised that the woman he loved would stand against him.
"For Wakanda." Okoye said, pointing her weapon at him. "Without question."
W'Kabi then drew his weapon, ready to fight the woman he loved, though his heart wasn't in it, looking around and seeing the absolute carnage that was happening around him, seeing his own people fighting one another, finally realizing that what he was doing was wrong, looking at the woman he loved, who was ready to fight him to the death. He then threw down the sword he was holding, no longer wishing to fight hs own people, which his men saw him and did the same, no longer wanting to fight their own people for a mad king when the Golem roared again, slowly approaching as everyone watched, Twilight and the other Keyblade warriors getting ready to fight, but as it got closer, the dirt and rocks started to float in the air, the sky growing dark as clouds swirled around above the area Spyro was burried in until a beam of light purple Aether energy shot out into the sky, making the Golem stop and turn towards the pillar of Aether energy as within the energy, a pair of dragon wings came out, covered in the same energy as it wrapped around the pillar.
As the wings wrapped around the pillar, the energy was absorbed into the center of the wings, which once the pillar disappeared, the wings unfurled themselves and from it, a pair of purple eyes appeared in the dark as the wings completely opened up to reveal Spyro in his purple dragon form, but instead of a yellow underbelly and horns, they were dark blue and purple with what seemed to be sparkling stars in them, the wings doing the same thing, the membrane matching the night sky in the Ancestral Plains as did the horns. Along his forlegs was tendrils of Aether energy flowing up his legs and across his torso as he starred at the Golem, which it seemed to take his presence as a challenge as everyone looked at him in awe and surprise, Twilight lowering her blade as they looked.
[REALxEYEZ from Kamen Rider Zero-One by Mark De Groot, found in iTunes and Youtube]
"What... is that?" Shuri asked.
"It's Spyro." Twilight said. "That's his dragon form. Or at least, I think that's his dragon form."
"Wait, he can change into a dragon!?" Octavia asked. "Since when!?"
"Oh, he's always been able to do that dear." Rarity said. "But this form is new, even for us."
"Wonder what kind of powers he has now." Twilight said.
Spyro starred at the massive golem, which it starred baxck at him, waiting for one or the other to make the first move, which the golem clenched it's fist and charged towards Spyro, unleashing a torrent of magma at him, but Spyro just moved out of the way and as the golem threw a punch at him, he turned into mist and moved along it's arm without any issue, reappearing next to it's head and using his tail to smack him, causing it to stumble a bit before looking back and grabbing some earth and throwing it at him, but Spyro just smacked the rock out of the way of the way as the golem reached for him to try and crush him, but Spyro folded his wings in and dropped, just avoiding being caught by the golem before unfurling his wings again and flying to the Wakandans and his friends, pulling up and looking back to the golem as it roared in anger, approaching him, but Spyro extended his wings and from them, arcane missiles of Aether energy shot out and bombarded the golem, doing some damage, but it continued to approach, holding it's Vibranium arm up to try and block some of the damage, but the missiles just went around the arm and his the golem's body, causing it to stagger backwards, but then roar in rage as it approached, getting faster and faster as it reached with it's other hand and grabbed Spyro, trying to crush him.
However, the golems hand started to crack as the Aether energy flowed out, causing it to explode and the Golem to screech out, looking at it's hand before lookign to Spyro with pure hatred in it's eyes. It then opened it's mouth and released a torrent of magam at him, but the molten rock just hit a barrier, sliding down harmlessly as Spyro raised his wings and flapped hard, taking off into the air and coming around, his wings getting encased in Aether light as he flew to the golem and into it's mouth, cutting the jaw off and bursting through the back of the head and making the Golem roar again as it fell to the ground, hitting it hard. Spyro then flew over and above the golem where his wings started to glow and he flapped them hard again, this time sending two massive crescent shaped blades towards the golem and cutting it's arm off again, making the golem screech again as it held it's arm, plunging it back into the ground again to acquire a new one like it did before, but SPyro glared at the golem as the clouds started to disburse.
"Not this time." Spyro said.
He flew high into the air as the clouds fully disbursed, revealing that the sky was now the same as the night sky that was in the Ancestral Plains, everyone looking to the sky in amazement and wonder, watching as Spyro flew in front of what appeared to be a nebula and hovered their, his wings fully unfurled as he looked down to the golem, who now had a new Vibranium arm, just like the other one and it turned to Spyro. However, as it did, the nebula started to send clouds of what seemed to be energy into his wing, the energy going across the tendrils of Aether energy and up his neck as his mouth started to glow purple, opening his mouth to release a burst of aether energy towards the golem, which it raised both of it's arms to block, but that ended up causing it to fall again, hitting the ground and rolling away before stopping, looking up at Spyro and then to it's right arm, seeing that it was actually damaged, looking back at him as the tendrils of Aether energy continued to enter his body, getting back up to do something, but Spyro opened his mouth again anbd unleashed a torrent of pure Aether energy, the golem crossing it's arms to block again and taking the hit.
However, as it blocked, it's own arms started to crack, despite them being made of Vibranium, it couldn't take the force of pure Aether energy as the cracks got bigger and bigger, making the golem move backwards from the force of the Aether's energy until the arms were completely destroyed, splitting in half as the golem fell backwards, the beam of energy stricking the golem's head and destroying it completely, the golem's headless body stumbling as it tried to remain in motion, but it ended up crumbling, having lost the crystal that held it together before crashing down, exploding into nothing more than pebbles, ending the fight.
[End of REALxEYEZ]
Spyro hovered in the air for a moment, making sure that the golem was good and dead as he set down, looking at his friends as he turned back to his human form as he walked to his friends, who all looked at him with a misture of fear and confusion as he approached.
"Since when could you be able to do that?" Okoye asked.
"Since I first got my powers." Spyro replied. "But this... this is completely new."
"But wasn't it the Aether you were using?" Twilight asked.
"Aether?" Shuri asked.
"Long story." Spyro replied. "But yes, it was the Aether, but I didn't feel tired or powerless after using it."
"Whatever you call it, it is beyond anything I've seen." Shuri said, looking back to the building. "T'Challa's still fighting Erik."
Without waiting, Spyro ran to the guilding, leaping from the edge and free falling down the chasm towards the rails that the trains were on, flipping around and landing on the rail to see if he could find his friend, finding him still fighting Erik on the rail, which the train came by and the magnetic field from the stabilizers disrupted their suits, Erik pushing T'Challa back to the edge as he held the broken end of the spear to his neck, smiling at him.
"This is the end for you cousin." Erik said.
"T'Challa!" Spyro shouted.
Erik looked to see him running their way, which T'Challa took the opportunity and pushed back, causing them both to roll while knocking the spear into the air, which T'Challa caught it and used to pierce Eriks chest, hitting the heart and causing him to gasp in pain and surprise, looking to T'Challa as both their masks disappeared and he smiled.
"Hell of a move." Erik said, T'Challa sitting down as Erik collapsed while they both looked at him as he struggled to breath, a tear rolling down his face as he sat there. "My pops said Wakanda was the most beautiful city he's ever seen. Promising to show it to me one day. Can you believe it? Kid in Oakland running around believing in fairy tales?"
"Sometimes, fairy tales hold some truth to them." Spyro said, kneeling down. "You just need to believe."
T'Challa sat there, looking at his cousin as he was slowly dying, feeling bad for him for what his father did to both his cousin and his brother, getitng up and looking to Spyro.
"Help me to move him." T'Challa said, taking Killmonger's arm.
Spyro didn;t hesitate, helping him up and to the elevator where they rode it up, but not to the lab, but to the mouth of a cave, which was the panther statue that was on the opposite side of the lab, both men carrying Erik to the edge as the sun was setting on Wakanda, which Erik smiled as he saw it, feeling at peace with himself.
"It's beautiful." Erik said, his breathing becoming more laborious as he sat there, both T'Challa and Spyro kneeling down next to him.
"Maybe we can still heal you." T'Challa suggested, getting Erik to look at him.
"Why?" Erik asked. "Son you can lock me up?"
"So you can be family." Spyro said, Erik looking at him. "The past is the past. What happens there, stays there. Let go of it and live your life. Not with hatred and wrath, but with love and happiness. For when you hold onto the past, you rob yourself of your future."
Erik looked at him, smiling before he tried to laugh, coughing a bit as he did.
"Did ya get that from a fortune cookie?" Erik asked, looking back to the sunset. "Nah. Just bury me out in the sea with my ancestors that jumped from the ships. They knew death was better than bondage."
Before they could do a thing, Erik grabbed the spear and removed if from his chest, finishing himself off while they both looked at him, watching him collapse to the ground while both men felt bad for the man, having to live life without his father and to hold onto his grudge for so long and become what he hated and fall because of it. As the next day came, Spyro was at his ship with his friends, getting ready to return home after the events they had gone through, ready to get home and relax.
"Leaving so soon?" T'Challa asked, he and his sister walking to them.
"Well, I'd love ot stay longer." Spyro said. "But we must be getting back home. We've been gone for too long."
"I was hoping ypu could stay a little longer." T'Challa said. "I have decided that Wakanda will no longer hide in the shadows while the world will need our help. That it is time that we share all we know."
"I think that is a wonderful decision." Twilight said. "Everyone could benefit from what you know."
"Indeed." T'Challa said, looking to Spyro. "I have a gift for you my friend."
A moment later, some fo the Dora Milaje excorting a few workers who were moving carts full of what appeared to be Vibranium, shocking Spyro as he looked at it.
"But... I don't understand." Spyro said.
"You have proven to me that you are a good man Spyro." T'Challa said, smiling at him. "You have earned my trust and my respect. I am gifting this Vibranium to you as a token of our friendship. May you use it wisely." The workers started load the Vibranium into Spyro's ship, everyone looking at the workers before lookign back to T'Challa as he removed his necklace and presented it to him. "I believe this belongs to you."
"Your necklace?" Spyro asked.
"It has Beskar in it." T'Challa said. "Though it is tempting to have the Beskar, I don't think I need it. it should remain with someone who knows how to use it."
Spyro looked at the necklace, seeing the item dangling in the kings hand that he and Shuri worked on in order to help protect him, so he reached out to the necklace, but unstead of taking it, he pushed it away, T'Challa looking at him, wondering why he wouldn't take it.
"Keep it." Spyro said, smiling at him. "May it protect you when you need it most. And liv]ke the Vibranium you gift us, let the necklace be a symbol of our friendship."
T'Challa was speechless, looking to Spyro in wonder, but then smiled, crossing his arms as Spyro did the same, saluting him as they smiled at one another.
"Should you need any help, Wakanda will answer the call." T'Challa said. "And should you have need for more Vibranium, simply ask. For you and all your friends are now apart of the Wakandan people. By decree of King T'Challa, King of Wakanda."
Spyro smiled at his friend, grateful for his kind words and for the Vibranium as the two shook hands, both men acknowledging the friendship they had as they soon parted ways, Spyro and his friends getting onto the Dragon's Crest and into the cockpit, Spyro looking out of the window to see their new friends stand their, smiling and waving at them.
"Think we'll see them again?" Twilight asked.
"I have no doubt about they Twilight." Spyro said, activating the ships engines. "I have no doubt about that."
The ship lifted off of the landing pad, the ship turning to the sky as it flew off, everyone in Wakanda looking to the sky and waving to them, waving goodbye to their friends as a light twinkled in the sky, indicating that they had left to go back home. Elsewhere, in Malefor's fortress, Malefor was roaring in rage, his statue blood red as bolts of lightning and a fire tornado raged in the room, Aphara having sought cover while Orion just leaned against the wall, letting Malefor have his little fit as he leaned there, unfazed by the attacks.
"Curse the Prince!" Malefor shouted. "Curse him and all of his friends! They have interfered with my plans for the last time! I will send all of my minions to Equestria and destroy him once and for all!"
"While leaving yourself defenseless and giving away your location to the Keyblade warriors all at once?" Orion asked, floating to him. "Send your entire army, and the Keyblade warriors will be on you faster than dog on a bone."
"Then what do you suggest then!?" Malefor said. "We still have four keys to find, the prince has prevented me from getting any Vibranium for my troops, what do you think we should do!? He is becoming more and more of a nuisance! He needs to die!"
"And he will." Orion replied, floating to the book. "But we don't need an army to defeat him." He then opened the pages, looking into them until he found what he was looking for and smiled. "All we need is one, restless, vengeful soul."
Aphara wondered what it was that he was refering to, walking over to the book to see what he was refering to and looked in the pages, finding a Japanese diagram of a being cloaked in darkness, wearing a red hood and cape and wearing ninja armor with four Japanese symbols below it, the translation next to it as she saw a single work right there underneath the Japanese wording; 'Aragami.'