Interlude: A Crown Prince

[Wakanda]

An Ornithopter was flying above the forests of Wakanda as Grodd suddenly told the pilot to plunge to the forest below.

“But my king… It’s just a forest?” the pilot questioned.

“Just trust me son,” he said calmly.

The pilot just nodded obediently, and the Ornithopter came down to the forest, only to be greeted by illusion barriers. As they entered the barrier, they saw the city of Wakanda, it isn’t at the level of Zimera, but it’s higher than other cities around the world.

The pilot was definitely surprised, but he continued towards the city, when suddenly a light guided the Ornithopter towards the palace near a mountain. They were soon greeted by a landing pad, with many people standing near it. The Ornithopter softly landed as the wind that was produced by the wings of the thopters blew the clothing of the Wakandans below.

The pilot quickly opened the door of the Ornithopter, allowing Grodd to walk out. He was only alone, he tends to do diplomatic missions on his own rather than sending a representative, it’s just who he is.

As he got out, he saw the current king of Wakanda, T’Chaka smiling at him, the other Wakandans though? Not so much.

“King Grodd.” T’Chaka greeted as he crossed his hands in front of his chest, Wakandan style.

“King T’Chaka.” Grodd greeted back, slamming his chest in front of the king. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“And you should be grateful, ape.” a Wakandan spoke beside the king.

T’chaka frowned. “What did I tell you?”

“F-Forgive me… my king…” said the man. “But I still do not understand why you invite a thief to our homeland.”

“My son has been born into this world,” said the king T’Chaka sharply. “I should celebrate it with my neighbours, right?”

“Err… we should quicken our pace, my king.” said another Wakandan, afraid they might embarass themselves.

“You are right.” T’Chaka nodded. “Come King Grodd, I will introduce you to my newly born son.”

—

Grodd entered the palace following T’Chaka’s path. On the way, all the Wakandans were staring at him, some with curiosity, mostly young ones, some with disgust, mostly old ones. T’Chaka opened a door, and inside was a baby, laying on a royal crib, sleeping peacefully.

As soon as Grodd see him, his eyes soften. He walked towards the baby, but the guards halted him with their spears.

“Leave us be.” T’Chaka said sternly to the guards.

“But my king—”

“It is an order.”

The guards nodded. “Very well, my king.”

The guards quickly left the room, only leaving T’Chaka, Grodd, and the baby boy alone. Grodd finally approached the boy again, he knelt in front of the crib, and watched the baby sleep.

“A peaceful little one.” stated Grodd.

“His name is T’Challa.” T’Chaka spoke.

“He will be a great king.” Grodd nodded. “Maybe… he will lift the hatred between our kind.”

“I hope that is the case, my friend.” T’Chaka hummed. “And perhaps it’s time for you to step down as well.”

Grodd shook his head. “I cannot do that. Eshu has appointed me to give his blessings to my kind, and I will continue to do so until war to end all wars claim my life.”

“Do you still believe in him, Grodd?” T’Chaka questioned as he saw Grodd playing with the woken up T’Challa.

“I will believe him until the day I die, T’Chaka.” Grodd said. “He saved my kind from… well… your kind… I was there, you know? When Wakandans kill Zimerans, and Zimerans kill Wakandans… dark times back then. Do you believe in Bast?”

“While I have only seen her once in my dream when I became the Black Panther… I still believe her teachings… I longed for the plains of the ancestral plane.”

“That’s good.” Grodd hummed. He kept playing with T’Challa, but then, he suddenly cried, making Grodd flinch a bit. Grodd stood up, and smiled at T’Chaka guiltily. “Forgive me, I have no experience with little ones, I do not have any unfortunately.”

“The effect of the ring?” T’Chaka asked.

“You could say that.” Grodd nodded.

“Very well. Let’s move to another place, we have distrubed T’Challa long enough.”

—

Grodd was now sitting with T’Chaka alone, with only each other as company. There was some food served for the two kings.

“How is it going with the outside world?” T’Chaka questioned.

“Not good,” said Grodd sadly. “The humans are getting more and more greedy and arrogant. Zimera was once again invited to an international organisation, the United Nations this time, but we have practically no voice there… I have recently complained about the not-so-subtle nuclear threat directed to my kingdom if we do not open the trade for Vibranium.”

“And you are afraid?”

Grodd scoffed. “With bombs like that, it’s going to take many of them to penetrate the barrier of Zimera, it’s the country around us that I am afraid of.”

“You are still strong willed as ever, Grodd.” T’Chaka hummed. “The Zimeran Policy of local interference will just be a nuisance for your Kingdom security.”

“We are making due.” said Grodd. “The Xenophobia of humans are to be expected, but not to this degree. We are tying diplomatic relations with Neutral countries across the world, along with newly formed countries from colonialism. It seems the world have forgotten that the Zimerans are not easy to be pushed aside. Just because they develop some bomb do not scare us.”

“You need to have the will to deal with arrogant countries.” T’Chaka chuckled. “I will just say good luck to you, my friend, you will need it.”

“For that, I agree.”