The old secret tunnel system that ran under the golden city, reached out far and wide, connecting to places all over Wakanda. And all over Wakanda, the system activated by Shuri did its best to guide any saviours into the tunnels secretly.
Not many would be saved this way, but there was just no way of alerting people about the secret tunnels, and so it all depended on luck if anyone found the entrance or not.
Shuri, her mother and the two last members of the Dora Milaje moved swiftly through the dimly lit tunnels, the echoes of distant explosions and gunfire faint but ever-present. The air was thick with dust and the weight of desperation, every step forward feeling like a step further away from everything they had ever known. Shuri's heart pounded in her ears, but she refused to let fear slow her down.
"This way," Shuri urged, pointing toward a narrower passage that veered to the left. Her mind was a whirl of calculations and possibilities, desperately trying to remember every twist and turn of the labyrinthine network. She had studied these tunnels countless times, designed to be an escape route in case of emergencies, but never had she imagined they'd actually have to use them.
Queen Ramonda stumbled slightly, catching herself against the wall. "We need to keep moving," she said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion seeping into her bones. "We can't afford to slow down."
The two Dora Milaje warriors flanked them, ever vigilant, their senses on high alert for any sign of danger. One of them glanced at Shuri, her expression softening for a moment. "We'll make it, Princess. We'll survive this."
Shuri nodded, though the knot of worry in her chest refused to loosen. "We have to. For them… for Wakanda."
The trip was long, the tunnel was unused for many years, and had to be passed on foot. And so the four of them kept on walking, hoping others would have found their way into the tunnels and would be moving towards the same direction as them.
Shuri walked along deep in her thoughts, not really paying much attention to their surroundings, not that there was much around them but darkness and stone.
Suddenly, Shuri felt a sharp pain in her back, forcing her to gasp in shock as she was shoved forward. She stumbled and caught herself against the tunnel wall, turning around to find one of the Dora Milaje warriors standing behind her, spear in hand, the tip pressed threateningly against her back. Her eyes widened in confusion and disbelief.
"W-what are you doing?" Shuri stammered, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. "We're on the same side!"
Queen Ramonda whirled around, only to be met with the cold gaze of the second Dora Milaje warrior, who had her own spear pointed directly at the Queen's throat. "Kneel," the warrior commanded, her voice devoid of the loyalty and warmth that once characterized the Dora Milaje.
"What is this?" Queen Ramonda demanded, anger flashing in her eyes even as she slowly sank to her knees, unwilling to provoke them further. "You swore to protect Wakanda, to protect the royal family!"
The Dora Milaje warrior holding Shuri at spearpoint didn't respond; they just stood there and forced Shuri to her knees, making sure the spear tip remained mere inches from the back of her neck.
Shuri was confused and scared, she had no idea what was going on here, for the most loyal guards to turn on them like this, and at a time like this as well, it was unbelievable. Then she heard something strange, it sounded almost like water dripping down into a puddle… or maybe oil? It had a… thick sound to it.
Lifting her head, she could see just in front of them, a strange sight, a pitch-black puddle of tar-like liquid, seemed to bubble on its own, drops extending up before falling back down.
"What… is that?" Shuri whispered, her voice shaking as she stared at the bubbling black puddle. Her mind raced with possibilities, trying to identify this strange substance. It wasn't vibranium, and it wasn't any chemical compound she had ever encountered in her studies.
Queen Ramonda's eyes narrowed, focusing on the strange liquid. "It's not natural… this wasn't here before."
The Dora Milaje warriors remained silent, their expressions unreadable. But the tension in the air thickened, and Shuri could sense that whatever was happening, it wasn't just an act of betrayal—it was something far more sinister.
Then, as if in response to their presence, the puddle began to ripple, and from its surface, a figure slowly began to rise. At first, it was nothing more than a shadow, an outline of a humanoid shape made entirely of the black tar-like substance. But as it emerged, it solidified, taking on a more defined form—a tall, regal woman. Her posture was commanding, shoulders back and head held high, radiating an aura of authority.
The black substance peeled away, revealing smooth, bronze skin that shimmered faintly, as if kissed by the light of the Nile's sun. Long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back in thick, luxurious waves, adorned with golden beads and jewels that caught the light, resembling the starry sky of Egypt.
Her eyes, sharp and almond-shaped, were outlined with kohl, enhancing their vibrant green hue, which seemed to pierce through the darkness with a gaze that could rival any ruler's.
Around her neck lay a wide, ornate necklace crafted from gold and lapis lazuli, with intricate designs echoing the ancient symbols of her kingdom. Her attire, while elegant and flowing, was form-fitting, emphasizing her slender yet powerful frame.
The fabric, sheer and shimmering, clung to her curves, and as she moved, it seemed to ripple like water, reflecting hues of deep blue and gold. Gold armbands coiled around her upper arms, shaped like serpents, and rings adorned her fingers, each one glinting with precious gems.
Her presence was undeniable, exuding both beauty and danger—a queen who had commanded empires and charmed the hearts of men.
Shuri stared in shock at the sight before her. It was… beyond anything she could understand. She couldn't imagine this being done by any kind of technology. Something more clearly had to be going on here, and it scared her.
The mysterious woman stepped fully out of the puddle, her form now completely solidified, her piercing green eyes scanning the scene before her. Her gaze fell upon Shuri and Ramonda, still kneeling and held at spearpoint by their supposed protectors, the Dora Milaje.
"Who… who are you?" Shuri managed to stammer, trying to sound braver than she felt. There was something otherworldly about this woman, something ancient that made every instinct in her body scream danger.
The woman smiled—a slow, predatory expression that revealed perfect, white teeth. "Once upon a time, I was a queen, not like your mother, I wasn't queen because I was married to a king, no I was the Queen!" Her voice was smooth, almost melodic, but there was an edge to it, something that sent a shiver down Shuri's spine.
"And now." She continued. "Now I am but a overseer, my colleagues sent that brute Napoleon to deal with Wakanda, they often forget… often become arrogant to thinks happening outside of their precious land of white men, but I, I still see some value left in Wakanda."
Shuri's mind raced as she processed the woman's words. This was no ordinary intruder; the way she spoke with such authority and disdain, it felt as if she was not just an outsider but someone who viewed herself above entire nations, above Wakanda. There was a coldness to her, a disregard for life and history, yet she spoke with a familiarity that was deeply unsettling.
Queen Ramonda, still kneeling but undeterred, spoke up, her voice filled with strength despite the dire circumstances. "You claim to have been a queen, and yet you stand here, working alongside those who seek to destroy what Wakanda stands for. If you value Wakanda, then why allow its destruction?"
The woman's smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Value, yes, but not the way you think. Wakanda is a treasure trove—of knowledge, of power, of untapped potential. It's wasted on those like you, trapped in old ways of thinking, clinging to the past." She glanced at the two kneeling women, her gaze lingering on Shuri. "Your people have lived in isolation for too long, and now, you will fall like every other empire."
Shuri's mind was racing. She had to do something, anything to buy them time. Her eyes darted to the Dora Milaje who had turned against them. Their faces were blank, expressionless, almost as if they were under some sort of control. The thought sent a fresh wave of terror through her—if the Dora Milaje could be turned, then what hope did they have?
"What are you planning to do?" Shuri asked, trying to keep her voice steady, even though her heart was hammering in her chest.
The woman looked down at Shuri with an almost amused expression. "You, child, are the future of Wakanda's mind. Its genius. A rare talent that the others would be all to happy to throw away just because you don't fit into their narrow world view, but I, I have use for you."
Shuri felt a chill run down her spine at the woman's words. There was something far more dangerous about being seen as "useful" to someone like this. It wasn't a compliment; it was a threat wrapped in a promise. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out a way to stall, to find any advantage she could in this hopeless situation.
"I don't want to be used by you," Shuri said defiantly, though her voice trembled slightly. "Wakanda isn't some tool for outsiders to exploit."
The woman's smile never wavered. "You misunderstand, child. This is not about what you want. This is about what you will do. You have no choice in the matter." She glanced toward the Dora Milaje who still held them at spearpoint, and then back to Shuri. "You are smart, Shuri. Surely you can see that resistance is futile."
Queen Ramonda tightened her grip on Shuri's hand, as if trying to ground her daughter, trying to give her the strength to keep fighting. "You underestimate us," she said, her voice fierce. "You underestimate Wakanda."
The woman's eyes flashed with something akin to annoyance, but it was quickly masked by that same infuriating smile. "Perhaps," she said, shrugging slightly. "But that is why I am here, to correct such... misunderstandings."
To Shuri's side, she heard a scream of pain, the sound of something sharp tearing into flesh, looking to the side, she saw her mother's body collapsing onto the ground, a puddle of blood forming around it.
"No!" Shuri screamed, her voice breaking as she lunged toward her mother, but the spear at her back held her in place. Queen Ramonda lay still, eyes wide and lifeless, her regal expression frozen in an eternal moment of shock.
Tears blurred Shuri's vision, and rage bubbled up inside her, fierce and unrelenting. "You monster! How could you?" she choked out, her voice raw with pain.
The woman didn't even glance at Ramonda's body, her gaze remaining fixed on Shuri with a cold, detached curiosity. "I said I came here for you, my dear; I have no use for your mother."
Shuri's whole body trembled, anger and grief threatening to overwhelm her. The reality of her mother's death struck her like a physical blow, nearly robbing her of the strength to remain upright. But the woman's words, that casual dismissal, cut through her pain like a knife, igniting a fire in her heart that refused to be extinguished.
"You'll pay for this," Shuri spat, her voice barely more than a whisper, yet filled with venom. "You'll pay for all of it."
The woman let out a soft, almost pitying laugh. "Such fury, such defiance. It's admirable, truly. But it won't save you." She stepped closer, her presence looming over Shuri like a shadow.
"But… you will serve me, won't you?" Asked Cleopatra the last pharaoh of Egypt. Her tone was filled with a strange mesmerizing quality.
Shuri, stiffened at her words. Then slowly, the last princess of Wakanda looked up, giving a small nod. "yes, yes I will." Following her words was two dull sounds of something heavy hitting the ground, behind her, the two members of Dora Milaje fell lifeless to the ground.
A/N
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