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"There are more people coming from the city." The leader of the mining tribe said.

"They need more space." Another elder spoke.

"So what? You are visitors. It is a wonder how anything gets done with you people." M'Baku complained.

"That's no way to treat your guests M'Baku," Makena spoke up, walking through the crowd of people.

"She's alive." Makena heard people whisper in shock. Everyone turned to look at her as she leaned on one of the pillars.

"What are you doing here, Makena?" M'Baku asked with a bored tone. He clearly wasn't surprised that she was alive. She's cheated death before so this was really nothing new.

"Ouch. Not a 'how are you doing after having your throat impaled?'" Makena mused, tossing a grape in her mouth.

Before M'Baku could speak he looked up hearing a noise and noticed one of the ships. A small hole opened in it and a person fell from it, landing on the snowy ground with ease. Makena smirked and shook her head, "Show off." She scoffed lightly. (flashback to the first movie)

The helmet came off automatically from the person who was looking aroumd and revealed, Shuri, the Princess of Wakanda.

"The Princess!"

M'Baku stood up from his throne and stepped down the few steps to face the Princess who was already facing him. Makena pulled out her spear and held it in front of the Dora Milaje who went to step forward, signaling them to back down and they did.

Shuri and M'Baku locked hands, M'Baku wanting to test if she really had the strength of the Black Panther. As Shuri was winning, she was pulling his hand down he stopped her, pulling her up to her feet.

"She has done it. The Black Panther lives!" M'Baku announced, raising Shuri's arm in her achievement.

The elders placed their hand on her shoulders and back as M'Baku and his Jabari did their chant. Makena smiled to herself feeling like a proud girlfriend. She always thought it was cheesy when people said that but now she finally understood it.

Once the celebrating was done they got back to business, listening to Shuri's announcement. All the elders and leaders in the room gathered around, plus Makena.

"Namor believes Wakanda is on her knees. Our Queen murdered. Our capital destroyed. He believes we have no protector. But now...now is our time to strike." Shuri spoke.

"How? We don't even know how to find him." One of the leaders spoke.

"We'll bring Namor to us," Shuri stated.

"Here? Again?" The river tribe elder questioned.

"No. A distant location at sea."

"Alright. Let's say this does work. Assuming we can kill this man. Who can fly and is potentially as strong as the Hulk. Plus Makena, who he almost killed," M'Baku spoke up. "Is murdering him the right solution?" M'Baku questioned.

"We are calling for his death when his only crime was intimidation," the river tribe elder spoke and Makena scoffed.

They turned to look at her and she walked over, having been leaned against the wall. "Intimidation? He's responsible for your Queen's death. That ain't intimidation. At least that's what I know." Makena argued.

"What has changed Lord M'Baku?" A leader spoke, siding with Makena on this.

"His soldiers. They do not call him General or King. They call him K'uk'ulkan," M'Baku said.

"What is that?"

Makena looked down, blocking out what he was saying as she thought about if murder really was the right option.

"Elders, with your permission I would like to talk with Lord M'Baku alone." Shuri spoke, having been silent most of the conversation.

The elders agreed and everyone was escorted out. Makena went to walk with them but Shuri put a hand in front of her. "You, stay." Shuri said.

Makena nodded and leaned back on the pillar with her arms crossed.

"Namor's not finished. He promised to destroy the surface world. Now is our opportunity to take him. What are you afraid of?!" Shuri snapped. Obviously she didn't like how M'Baku was suddenly switching up on her.

She only wanted Makena to stay because Makena was the only one who understood that they needed to kill Namor or he would strike again.

"War. If Namor is indeed a God to his people, killing him will risk eternal war." M'Baku stated as if it was obvious. Makena understood his point of view but she still didn't wanna budge on killing Namor.

"And so what? Was my mother's life not worth eternal war?"

"Of course it was. Of course she was. But it is not what she would've wanted for you. It is not what I want, for my people." M'Baku sat back down on his throne.

"You speak of my mother as if she's still here. Of what she would've wanted for me. Her hopes, and her dreams. But she's dead. She's gone! Namor drowned her, right in front of me!" Tears threatened to spill as she spoke. Makena blinked away her tears hearing Shuri speak.

"So her dreams, her goals, her hopes for me. It doesn't exist. It doesn't matter anymore. What matters is what I want! And what I want is Namor dead!"

Makena looked down in thought, she never ever seen Shuri like this. It wasn't anything like Shuri to be this...vengeful. She remembered a time she felt like this...vengeful. But it only happened once and not when Thanos snapped. It was when she let Erik get into her head and fill her with all these bullshit lies. Makena blinked, snapping out of whatever she was thinking. It was impossible. There was no way Shuri seen Killmonger.

"And you're going to help me get it. Is that clear?" Shuri asked in Xhosa.

M'Baku glanced at Makena who didn't speak, nothing much to say when Shuri made it perfectly clear. "We leave in the morning." Shuri stated.

Shuri reached for Makena's hand. She set her hand in Shuri's and they both walked out.

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Makena stood on the balcony of her shared room with Shuri. Having just took a shower she was leaned on the railing, lost in her thoughts. She wasn't fazed by the coldness in the air, only wearing a sports bra and some sweats with briefs. "The way you spoke earlier, it reminded me of someone," Makena mumbled knowing Shuri could hear her.

Shuri was sitting on the edge of the bed, fiddling with the pocket knife. "Of who?" Shuri asked, a bit nervous.

"Erik," Makena stated. She turned around looking at Shuri for any type of reaction and fortunately for her Shuri wasn't that good at hiding her emotions.

Shuri looked down when she noticed Makena looking at her. Shit, she knows Shuri thought to herself.

"Really? I'm not sure why." Shuri mumbled under her breath.

"For being the smartest woman in the world, you're not a very good liar." Makena said, walking over with her arms crossed over her chest. Makena used her mind to shut the balcony doors and windows, not wanting anybody to hear this conversation.

"I don't know what you mean by that, love," Shuri said.

Makena shook her head softly, humming to herself. "Nope, you can't sweet talk your way outta this. You're gonna tell me exactly what's going on with you," Makena stated, not taking no for an answer.

Shuri sighed and looked up to Makena who stood in front of her. Her arms were still crossed, making her muscles look bigger and more defined. "You really want to know, Kena?" Shuri stood up, setting the knife down.

"Yeah, I do."

Shuri stood up, her body touching Makena's as she thought what to say. She didn't want Kena to know she spoke to Killmonger or she'd most likely talk her out of it. "My mother drowned in front of me and I want to avenge her," Shuri stated.

"Mhm, yeah no I know, you said that. And I understand, more than anyone, I understand. But the Shuri I know, would never resort to vengeance. What happened to "I don't think getting revenge can truly ever make it better. It just drives you into a vengeful state which only drives you to murder. I don't want to kill anyone. Revenge is only good if you do it the right way"? What happened to that, Shuri?" Makena tilted her head in question.

"Well maybe I've changed."

Makena scoffed, "Nah, that's bullshit. You weren't like this a few days ago. You took the the herb and suddenly you have the guts to kill someone. So I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me what's changed."

Shuri licked her lips slowly and nodded, "Why do you not trust me? I told you I want to avenge to my mother and you still don't believe me."

Makena blinked in surprise, never once did Shuri not tell the truth, especially to her. "It's not that I don't believe you. I just want to know who I'm speaking to."

Shuri furrowed her brows in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

"You know exactly what I mean, Shuri. Who am I speaking to? Because I don't know if I'm speaking to my Shuri or if I'm speaking to Erik Killmonger." Makena watched closely as Shuri's eye diverted to the floor.

"See now and the way you keep looking away each time I mention him, tells me exactly what I want to know. Why would you try and keep that from me?" Makena looked at Shuri almost a bit betrayed but she also wanted to understand Shuri's side.

"So what now? What, you're gonna stop me? Stand in my way?" Shuri asked. She pretended as if she wasn't hurt but she was just lying to herself. The way Makena was looking at her was definitely a look she always wanted to avoid.

"Stand in your way? Are you seriously gonna look me in my eyes and say that? The last thing I would do is stop you from avenging your mother." Makena said. She ran a hand down her face, trying to figure out what to do. She definitely didn't want to stand in Shuri's way for vengeance. Shuri wouldn't do that to her so she wouldn't do that to Shuri. But she also felt betrayed that Shuri would keep this from her. She made it clear there was to be no secrets between them anymore.

Makena leaned on the vanity and felt Shuri's stare on her back. "Look, I just...I just don't understand why you wouldn't tell me that you seen him." Makena spoke.

She sighed before turning around to look at Shuri. "I never told anyone how I felt about his death. Except you. You were the only person I trusted enough to actually show emotion about it. He was...he was my best friend. He was my brother." Her voice cracked as she spoke and Shuri looked down in guilt. Obviously she never wanted to make Makena feel this way. The last thing she wanted was to cause Makena any more emotional pain than she's already suffered before.

"But revenge took his life, and it almost took mine too. And the way you're acting-" Makena paused, stopping herself from saying anything that could possibly be true.

Shuri walked over to Makena, having an idea of what she was implying. "Kena, I promise you, I won't leave you. I know what you're thinking, and I know you don't want to say it out loud. But I can assure you that I am not gonna leave you. You don't need to be scared." Shuri took Makena's hands in her own, gently rubbing the back of them with her thumbs.

Makena shook her head in denial, "I'm not scared. I don't get scared."

Shuri rolled her eyes at that. "Can you please put your ego aside for five minutes?"

Makena hummed in thought before pursing her lips, "That's psychically impossible. But I just want you to be careful. And I want this to be your decision. I know what it's like to be manipulated, and I don't want that for you. All I want is for you to feel better. I want this to all be over. So we can finally just be happy." Makena said, holding Shuri's hands up to her chest.

"I know, and I promise that it will. We'll be happy, together." Shuri pressed a kiss to Makena's hand and Makena smiled softly.

"Okay. Whatever you chose to do tomorrow, just know that I will 100% support it. I'll always have your back," Makena spoke. Shuri nodded softly and wrapped her arms around Makena in a sudden hug that was appreciated anyways.

Makena pulled away and cupped Shuri's face gently. "I've lost everyone I loved, and so I can't lose you too."

Shuri nodded softly, "You won't. I promise you won't. I'd never leave you." Shuri leaned her head against Makena's with a soft smile.

"Good. Because when this is all over I really wanna marry you," Makena said. Shuri smiled and wrapped her arms around Makena.

"I love you," Shuri mumbled against Makena's hair.

"I love you too."

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a.n: this chapter took me so unnecessarily long but it's okay bc i kinda like it :)

ok but when shuri dropped down as the black panther i abt fainted she's so hot

i try to add in little tributes to the first movie and the characters so i hope u notice them <3

makenas voice cracking when she talked abt erik </3

two more chapters left :(

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