18 Family Reunion

(Have a cold so I'm reading manga like I usually do when I'm sick. Still plan on posting at least 5-6 chapters this weekend. We need to get to Civil War and Black Panther.)

T'Chaka, Ramonda, T'Challa, and Shuri boarded the jet with several Dora Milaje under the command of Okoye and Princess N'Dare's family. They were getting ready to head up the mountain to greet the last member of their immediate family.

"Baba. Why must I go as well? I have just graduated and wanted to take a well-deserved break in my new lab."

When J'Zaki left, Shuri was the last of the children to remain tucked away in the castle. J'Zaki was off training in the mountains while T'Challa was handling matters as the Black Panther and crown prince. So noticing this, she decided to put even more of her focus on Wakanda University. The princess had already graduated with her doctorate degree in the past year and was being offered a spot as a guest professor. She had just started her holiday break before she would have to start with classes in a few weeks.

"Do you not wish to see the changes in your brother immediately?" Ororo asked with a small smile on her face. "I know that I can't wait to see him myself."

Ororo had also been busy during the past year. She had enrolled at Wakanda University and was currently a student but she was also taking classes from Ramonda and Okoye about Wakandan practices. Even if she was royalty in another nation, there were still many differences between what she was used to. As she was going to be a princess of Wakanda and started off as an outsider, there were many things that the young lady had to learn.

Shuri rolled her eyes at Ororo.

'You two only met for a day yet you're already so devoted to being his wife. Our year of friendship has meant nothing compared to your fiance I see.'

Ororo could sense that Shuri was displeased about what she said but there was nothing she could really say to comfort her.

The others in the jet laughed seeing Shuri's reaction. They knew that she was just as excited about going to see J'Zaki as the rest of them but she was simply going through her rebellious phase.

After only a few minutes of flying, the jet landed inside Elza's fort at the border. What greeted them when they got off was M'Baku, Elza, the Librarian, and most of the Jabari warriors that lived in the fort.

"King T'Chaka," M'Baku greeted the king without bowing

"M'Baku. Your father?"

"Dead. We killed him in a duel a few years ago."

"Hmm," this was all the small talk that T'Chaka could handle before he got to the point. "Where is my son?"

M'Baku gestured to the eastern wall. M'Baku's elites guarded him while the Dora Milaje guarded the Royal Wakandans up the wall. They looked over and saw nothing but snow and ice.

Seeing that his brother was not around, T'Challa glared at M'Baku.

"Do you not remember the promise I made to both you and my brother last year?"

M'Baku shrugged his shoulders. "Of course, I remember. I don't care or take that little threat of yours seriously but I do remember."

T'Challa was about to say something when Ororo gasped.

"He's there. There is some kind of illusion blocking him from normally being seen but he is there."

Ororo, as a side-effect of her main mutation, could see energy. Of herself, other living beings, and the environment itself. And what she saw when she looked over, trying to clear the blizzard, was J'Zaki standing in front of a massive army.

M'Baku nodded at the little girl. 'It seems that he has a decent wife for the future. Let's just hope that she does not hold him back.'

"They know you're there. Show yourself, boy!" Elza commanded

A blue dome suddenly appeared in front of the fort before he began to slowly dissipate. J'Zaki's massive army appeared. Each of them was wearing furs and clothes that showed they were from different tribes but from how they stood together, no one would imagine that. All of the tribes stood behind their chieftains who stood behind their king.

"Izizwe zimanyene!"

"All tribes, one leader!"

J'Zaki held up his fist and the tribes were silenced. The young man hopped off his horse and walked a few feet in front of it before looking up at the walls of the fort. His family looked at him in surprise. They could all tell it was him but were surprised that he looked so much older. But his attention was not on his family. Instead, it was on Elza, M'Baku, and the Librarian.

"I have united 23 of the mountain tribes in my name. I have eliminated 9 of the mountain tribes who go against me. I have accomplished most of the mission that you have given to me, Fort Cheif Elza. But there is one tribe that I have yet to conquer. The most powerful tribe of them all. One mountain cannot contain two tigers.

I challenge the Fort Chief of the Jabari and the Clan Chief of the Jabari to combat. If I win, the Jabari shall become one of the tribes under me and rally to my calls when needed. If I lose, it means that I am unworthy of being king of the mountain and shall serve under you and command the tribes under me to follow your commands as well."

(True Chapter Title: True King of the Mountains)

Elza and M'Baku smiled. They had never expected him to challenge them but they would not turn down a chance to fight him.

The two chiefs walked down the gate before having it open before them. M'Baku had his large club in one hand and shield in another while Elza had both of her swords. J'Zaki only had the single knife he had first brought with him when Elza knocked him off the fort the first time she sent him on his task.

As both sides approached each other, the other tribesmen could feel the tension in the air. They were about to witness a magnificent fight. Or at least they had expected to. The fight was truly one-sided. In the opening move, J'Zaki had managed to crack M'Baku's shield and push him back by nearly a meter.

With his growth spurt, J'Zaki had grown into his full strength, or at least close to it. He was able to display the physical prowess of the Black Panther. Along with the martial training that he had undergone since birth, the experience from conquering the tribes, and his own natural talent, J'Zaki was able to overwhelm both of his teachers, bringing them to the ground.

With his hand on the back of their necks, they knew that they were not able to beat him. All it would take from J'Zaki was a little bit of pressure, and they would be dead. Elza and M'Baku looked at each other before nodding. At the same time, they announced their surrender.

The army behind J'Zaki went wild. It was now official. The Jabari were under J'Zaki's command. The mountains truly had one king that ruled them all.

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