I Accept Your Challenge

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It was as though the entire nation – people, animals, even nature itself – was celebrating the day. Great barges full of dancing and singing Wakandans floated down the river, their voices echoing back at them from the canyon walls. Above them, birds winged through the clear blue sky while animals – antelopes, gazelles, zebra and elephants lined the water's edge. Harry was sure that he'd even seen a family of panthers crouched along the top of one section of the canyon wall watching them pass.

It was impossible not to get caught up in the atmosphere. Even Tony and Steve were jigging slightly, albeit somewhat awkwardly, assisted as they were by Pepper and Nat, just as Daisy had grabbed Harry's hands and was dancing with him, her hips moving side to side, her feet stepping in time to the beat of the great drums and her smile as wide as Harry'd ever seen it.

This was truly an experience that Harry'd never had before, not even during his years travelling the world. Getting to watch, to participate in, the crowning of a King was almost surreal.

Finally, the barges docked and the Wakandan people danced their way off and into a cave system, never for a second losing their song or rhythm. The caves were nearly pitch black, lit only by shafts of light that shone down through holes in the rock, giving them just enough light to see their way.

The six outsiders followed Shuri and Ramonda as each of the five tribes separated into different tunnels. They found themselves standing on the edge of a small rock clearing halfway up the canyon. Above them, the cliffs rose at least another thirty metres and was quickly being filled by the tribes of Wakanda. In front of them was a shallow basin full of water that Harry guessed was ankle deep, judging by the man, the shaman standing in the centre of it. Beyond the basin was the canyon and a drop of fifty metres to the river below.

Still, the tribes continued their song and dance of celebration, the tempo and volume increasing as a Wakandan jet rose out of the canyon before pivoting and settling so that, when the rear ramp opened, its passenger could walk straight from the craft into the basin.

And then he appeared. Prince T'Challa, looking every inch the Wakandan warrior from times past, at least, that's what Harry thought he looked like. He was dressed only in a basic loincloth and his chest, shoulders and back had been painted to resemble black, grey and white fur. In his hands, he carried a shield, a short spear through its strap, its head and shaft sticking out from behind it.

T'Challa walked slowly across the basin towards the robed shaman standing in the centre of it, looking up at the people as they continued their song and dance, their voices and dance reaching a powerful crescendo. Behind him, the jet sped away leaving the area looking much as it would have done for every ceremony like it since Wakanda was first formed.

Suddenly, the Wakandan people stilled, their song and dance ended. Harry could feel the anticipation in the very air.

"I, Zuri, son of Badu, give to you, Prince T'Challa, the Black Panther," the shaman called, his voice reaching high to all those there.

At once, T'Challa drew a sword that Harry hadn't realised that he carried from behind his shield, held sword and shield up, crossed them and knelt before the people.

Holding out a bowl for all to see, Zuri turned to T'Challa.

"The Prince will now have the strength of the Black Panther stripped away," he said.

Harry looked across to Steve as T'Challa drank from the bowl and was visibly affected, even slipping backwards slightly, as though he was struggling to keep himself from falling completely into the water. Steve, Harry could see, was thinking the same thing that he was: T'Challa was a mutate, with extra powers – including, at the very least, strength – that could be given and taken away. This was obviously something well-known by the Wakandans, judging by the fact that none were surprised, and indeed were now performing a ritual, bobbing type of dance.

Finally, T'Challa seemed to rally and regained his position, before rising to his feet.

"Victory, in ritual combat," Zuri stated once the dance had halted. "Comes by yield or death. If any tribe wishes to put forth a warrior, I now offer a path to the throne."

At once, one of the tribes burst forth with a chant before stilling.

"The Merchant Tribe will not challenge today."

A second tribe chanted and Harry realised that this was the formula for each tribe.

"The Border Tribe will not challenge today."

"The River Tribe will not challenge today."

"The Mining Tribe will not challenge today."

"Is there any member of a royal blood from the Golden Tribe who wishes to challenge for the throne," Zuri asked, gesturing towards T'Challa.

Daisy's sharp intake of breath alerted Harry to something unexpected happening. Looking around, he found that Shuri, T'Challa's sister was raising her hand. The murmuring of the combined tribes emphasised how unexpected this was.

"This corset is really uncomfortable," Shuri stated. "So, could we all just wrap it up and go home?"

Ramonda's slap at her daughter, T'Challa's half-smile and head shake and the people's groans told the story of how amusing they found her joke, or not as the case may be.

Unexpectedly, an echoing call followed by something that sounded like the 'haw haw' of a gorilla or even a troop of gorillas sounded from one of the caves within the mountain. Both Harry and Daisy raised their hands towards the cave entrance but lowered them again at Steve's slight head shake. Looking around, Harry found that, while the Wakandans had all been startled at the noise that was continuing and growing louder, none appeared worried or concerned.

And then they appeared, a sixth tribe, stalking from the cave entrance, their chant now echoing up and down the canyon walls.

"The Jabari," Shuri whispered in something that sounded like awe.

It was then that their obvious leader appeared. Like T'Challa, his head, shoulders and his entire back were adorned with paint. His, though, were primarily white with a hint of some black, making Harry think of a white ape or gorilla, an image that was only emphasised by the mask that he wore.

He strode straight out into the basin, not stopping until he was right in front of both Zuri and T'Challa before taking off his mask.

"M'Baku, what are you doing here?" the shaman asked.

"It is Challenge Day," the now-named M'Baku answered as though it explained everything and Harry supposed that it did.

M'Baku stepped away from them, his feet splashing in the water as he looked up at the tribes of Wakanda.

"We have watched and listened from the mountain," M'Baku called. "We have watched with disgust as your technological advancements have been overseen by a child who has no respect for tradition!"

Beside him, Steve moved quickly to pull his shield from his back, just as Harry and Daisy raised their hands ready to defend Shuri from what looked to be M'Baku's threat, evidenced by his pointing of his club at her. Obviously, they weren't the only ones to think so: the Dora Milaje had also taken up defensive stances, their spears raised and ready around Shuri.

M'Baku, though, appeared unfazed by the weapons trained on him, merely giving them a disdainful look before moving on.

"I know you want to hand this nation over to this prince," M'Baku stated, stalking back towards T'Challa, "who could not keep his own father safe. We will not have it. I say, we will not have it! I, M'Baku, Leader of the Jabari ..."

"I accept your challenge, M'Baku," T'Challa interrupted.

"The Challenge has been offered and accepted!" Zuri called.

Instantly, drums started up, a tribal beat that had Harry's heart pumping. Glancing to either side of him, he noted that T'Challa's family and the Dora Milaje seemed concerned but not afraid.

Looking back, he watched as a dozen Jabari strode into the basin and formed a quarter circle around the two combatants who were now both wearing masks: the ape and the panther. At the shaman's call, a dozen of the Dora Milaje joined the Jabari, adding another quarter circle of warriors around the two, leaving only the back of the basin where it dropped into the canyon open. The two dozen warriors levelled their spears as T'Challa and M'Baku faced off.

"Let the Challenge begin!" Zuri ordered.

As Zuri's staff hit the water, M'Baku strode forward, his club swinging at T'Challa. T'Challa, though, blocked every stroke, taking each powerful hit on his shield even as he was forced backwards. And then a double-handed blow hit, striking T'Challa's shield and sending the prince flying backwards to land with a splash in the water.

As he was getting to his feet, the warriors around the combatants stepped forward, closing the circle.

This time it was T'Challa's turn to attack.

Swinging his sword backwards and forwards as he advanced had M'Baku quickly backstepping. T'Challa used that momentum to deliver a flying kick, striking the larger man in the chest and causing him to fly backwards to crash to the water.

Once again, the encircling warriors stepped forward.

M'Baku was obviously extremely incensed at being knocked down for he came up swinging harder and faster than before. T'Challa was forced to duck and dodge from side to side before, once again, he was struck, this time being spun through the air before crashing down into the water.

When next he rose, it was without his mask or his shield or his sword in his hands.

M'Baku laughed and attacked once more. But this time, T'Challa not only dodged but used some impressive acrobatics to kick M'Baku in the face and to cause the warriors around them to close in once more.

Again, M'Baku struck out at T'Challa with his club but T'Challa simply dodged before hitting him in the ribs and the face. Again, M'Baku attacked and again T'Challa dodged before striking the Jabari leader.

When next M'Baku came at him, it was with a different tactic. Instead of attempting to hit T'Challa, it was to close quickly and to grab him in a fierce bearhug and to headbutt him, using his mask to smash into T'Challa's face and leave him obviously dazed and bloody.

"No powers! No claws!" M'Baku yelled, headbutting T'Challa again. "No special strength. Just a boy! Not fit to lead!"

Unexpectedly, T'Challa rallied. With a great roar, he managed to free one arm and struck at M'Baku once, twice, thrice, smashing right through his mask and making him drop the prince and back away, blood all over his own face. Reaching up, he felt the blood, stared at it, roared and rushed at T'Challa, catching him with the bottom point of his club and driving it into his shoulder.

"You can do this, T'Challa!" Shuri called.

"I am Prince T'Challa, son of King T'Chaka!" T'Challa yelled and promptly tore the wood that was impaling him away.

He attacked, hitting and kicking the bigger man, taking him down and getting his legs around M'Baku's throat even as he grappled with his arms. The two twisted and turned each attempting to gain the upper hand and for an instant, Harry was sure that the two of them were going to tumble right off the edge of the basin into the canyon below.

"Yield!" Harry heard T'Challa say, having gained the upper-hand and holding M'Baku in such a way that he couldn't escape. "Don't make me kill you. You have fought with honour. Now, yield!"

All around Harry and the others, the Wakandans took up a chant, T'Challa's name now echoing from the very walls of the cliff.

"The Jabari, your people, they need you! Yield!" T'Challa yelled.

And then, Harry saw M'Baku's hand move and slap T'Challa's thigh.

"He did it," Tony stated, sounding impressed. "Guy's definitely got some skills."

"You can do something about that wound, right?" Daisy asked Harry. "That hole in his chest looks nasty."

"A few drops of dittany will heal it," Harry nodded. "I'll make the offer after this is all over."

"I declare Price T'Challa the winner of the Challenge!" Zuri stated. "He is the new King of Wakanda!"

His declaration caused the assembled six tribes of Wakanda to break out into a cheer louder than any that Harry had yet heard that day, quickly followed by even more exuberant singing and dancing.

ooo00ooo

Adrian Toomes stepped down from the small platform where he'd just landed, unzipping his fur-lined leather coat as he did so. Already, Mason was scurrying up to see to his suit, to endure that it was still in perfect working condition, which Toomes knew that it would be, after all, it wasn't like he'd really taxed it tonight.

No, tonight had been a simple job. Using the suit, he'd flown to one of the smaller Damage Control facilities – really, it was nothing more than a holding bay before everything was carted off to their main facility out of state. He'd landed on the roof, bypassing all that high-tech surveillance that they'd installed to ensure that no one could creep up on the place, with ease.

Then, using Mason's sphere's he'd created a hole in the roof that'd allowed him to simply drop in, grab the tech that he needed – not too much, didn't want to tip off that he'd been there – and to leave again, taking the spheres with him and leaving no trace that he'd ever been there (even the 'hole' in the roof had been repaired).

"Hey, Boss," Vale called as he crossed the room to his desk. "Got Gargan here to see you."

"Was that tonight?" Toomes asked before shaking his head. "Of course, it was, shoulda remembered."

Dumping his flying cap and goggles, Toomes turned to lean against his desk as he awaited his visitor.

Gargan, when he appeared behind Vale, was obviously checking the place out, despite how much he was trying to appear not to be.

"Mister Gargan, what can I do for you?" Toomes asked.

"It's Mac, just Mac," Gargan replied. "Thanks for seeing me."

Toomes simply nodded and waited for the man to answer his question.

"I'm after some tech, something that'll give me an advantage in getting into places that I'm not supposed to be in," Gargan finally stated.

"We might have something," Toomes allowed. "Of course, there's factors that'll determine exactly what we do have."

"I've got the cash," Gargan stated quickly. "A benefactor that'll pay for anything that I'll need."

"Really? Must be nice having a 'benefactor'," Toomes remarked.

"Yeah, well, this guy, he wants me to collect some dirt on the Avengers," Gargan explained. "Thing is, they're the Avengers ..."

"And it'll take something a bit special to find that dirt," Toomes finished with a nod. "Mason? Get over here!"

Mason's head instantly came out from behind Toomes' suit, blinked at him for a moment before the rest of him appeared and he scurried down from the platform and across to the group.

"Mason, what've we got for someone who's looking to get into places with high security and that's armed to the teeth?" Toomes asked.

Mason blinked at him. "Depends on what sort of budget we've got to work with. And how quickly it's needed."

"Apparently, budget's not a problem," Toomes replied.

"And I can wait a few days. A week, if I need to," Gargan added.

"In that case, I can offer two possibilities," Mason mused. "I've got something small and unobtrusive or we can go the whole hog."

"Well, Gargan's got the budget, so let's go with something flashy, shall we?" Toomes suggested.

With a wave of his hand, Mason had them follow him across to his work station. Toomes watched as Mason rounded the bench and opened one of the full-length lockers behind it.

"This is a full-body suit that I've been working on in my spare time," Mason stated. "It's not done yet but already, I've got it so that it'll give the wearer added strength – up to lifting a three-tonne weight – as well as some serious firepower from guns attached to its arms."

"What's that?" Toomes asked, pointing to the piece of curved metal on the shelf above the suit.

"I was thinking of adding a tail," Mason replied. "It'll have some added extras as well."

"Well?" Toomes asked.

"Might be just what I need," Gargan nodded, one hand rubbing his chin. "How much?"

Toomes grinned and slung an arm around Gargan's shoulder.

"I'm glad you asked," he said.

ooo00ooo

Maria stared at the report on her screen, her arms folded and a grim expression on her face. Flicking her eyes to the adjacent screen, she compared the two. Yes, already there was a discernible difference.

"It's starting, isn't it?" Peter sighed.

"Yes," she replied, unwilling to shield him from the truth.

"Man, I wish I could go out there on patrol," Peter sighed, running a hand through his hair. "What about if I go out in my civvies? I'm sure that I could thwart some bad guy's fun that was just as easily as in my suit."

"You probably could. And be found out in next to no time, arrested and shipped off to the RAFT," Maria stated.

"We talked about this," Bobbi said sympathetically, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Bobbi's right," Bruce stated. "As much as we don't like it, we have to let things play out, play the long game, as Steve said."

Maria chose not to listen too closely to Peter's grumble just then and was glad of Jennifer's unexpected presence at her side.

"Is this showing everywhere, not just New York?" she asked, pointing at the different percentage spikes that lined the screen.

"Yes," Maria nodded. "Different cities in America, all showing the difference in crime rate from before the signing of the Accords to now."

Not counting the rare anomaly, every single city displayed on the screen was showing an increase in crime – be it break and enters, petty theft, muggings, car jackings, murder or a host of other crimes. Criminals were starting to come out of the woodwork and test what this new world offered them. And, judging by the spike that they were seeing, the criminals were liking it.

"This is L.A.?" Jennifer asked, pointing to one particular line, one that showed an increase in crime of thirty-two percent in the last month.

"It is," Maria nodded.

"The Pride's on the move," Jennifer frowned, turning to lock eyes with her cousin.

"They're the ones who shot you, right?" Bruce asked.

"Yeah," Jennifer replied grimly. "Because Dad was doing too good a job and wasn't crooked. Do you think we need to get him out of there?"

"Do you really think that he'd leave?" Bruce half-smiled.

Jennifer sighed. "No. Probably not."

"I can have S.H.I.E.L.D. keep on eye on him, if you like," Maria offered. "They've got some agents out that way."

"Thanks, I'd really appreciate it," Jennifer replied. "But if those numbers climb any higher, then I'll be heading out that way myself, I think."

"And I'll go with you," Bruce stated. "Us Big Greens have to stick together."

"Just so long as you keep your skin colour the same as it is now," Bobbi stated seriously. "The last thing we need is for anyone to draw attention to themselves."

"This really isn't going to take too long, is it?" Peter whined. "I'm an action kind-of-guy; I don't do good sitting on my hands. Feels wrong."

"Looking at these numbers," Maria said, waving a hand at the screen, "I'd say a couple of months, six at the outside before crime is out of control and the big guns come out to play.

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