In recent weeks, the world experienced something akin to silent chaos. On the surface, everything seemed normal, but beneath that calm exterior… everyone knew something had changed.
It all started with a superhero movie. Just another one among many, or so people thought. But when the identity of its creator was revealed, at least 70% of the world's population went to see it. Not because the creator was that popular. Not even because he's an Avenger. If any other team member had made a movie, the impact wouldn't have been half as big. Even Captain America, the most iconic superhero of all time, is seen outside the U.S. mostly as an American military symbol. In countries with historical tensions against the U.S., his stories are often dismissed outright as propaganda.
Even though global perception had been shifting ever since S.H.I.E.L.D. officially cut ties with any government, the truth is his fame as a global figure remains limited. Thor and Hulk, on the other hand, are planetary icons. One, a god from another world. The other, a force of nature in human form. Recognizable. Undeniable. Impossible to ignore.
But this story isn't about Captain America. It's about the Avengers. And more specifically, about Leonardo.
The reason that movie pulled so many people into theaters was simple: Leonardo can see the future. And when asked, he even confirmed it himself. In his words, the film is a depiction of "a future that will never come."
Millions showed up expecting entertainment. They left in shock.
It was a reality check.
Since the rise of superheroes, the threats had grown more absurd, more inhuman. And yet, there was always a pattern: the heroes won. Mad scientists, aliens, vampires, mythological races… it didn't matter. In the end, the Avengers triumphed.
And little by little, humanity got used to it. Not to the danger… but to the victory. People stopped living in fear, even though they knew any day could be their last due to a surprise attack. Thanks to the Avengers, that constant crisis mode faded. And that was the problem: they believed they would always be safe.
Not just the general population. Even those with abilities, who could have helped defend the world, became passive. They assumed their help wasn't needed. That someone else would always step in for them.
But after seeing the dystopian future shown in the film, something changed.
People understood. Even the Avengers can fail. Even they can lose. Even they… can die.
The fear was immediate. But so was the reaction.
Without even realizing it, humanity began to adapt. Again. Some people started studying for no apparent reason. Others began training. Many who had once felt useless started to change their lives, without understanding why.
But the deepest impact was felt by those with abilities.
People who feared their powers. People who never imagined using them to help. They saw more than destruction in that film. They saw hope. They saw strangers uniting to save the world. They saw that even in the end… resistance was possible.
And they thought, "If they could do it… why can't I?"
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Meanwhile, in intelligence offices around the globe, the name Wakanda became the center of every discussion.
Although information about vibranium was extremely restricted, some high-ranking officials in various countries already knew it existed. And when they discovered, through the movie, that an entire mine was hidden in Africa, their eyes turned to Wakanda like hawks circling a high-value strategic target.
However, all their attempts failed. Wakanda's cloaking technology far surpassed any known system. Even nations like the U.S. or China, which managed to locate the region thanks to the footage in the film, could do nothing against its defensive shield.
Some countries tried a diplomatic approach at first, but others opted for more aggressive operations. Infiltration. Forced reconnaissance. Unauthorized entry attempts. The response was immediate: Wakanda completely closed its borders.
The use of conventional weapons, even precision missiles, proved useless. Wakanda's shield demonstrated a defensive capability far superior to any known system.
And worse: this behavior only worsened the already fragile relationship between Wakanda and the rest of the world. Since they couldn't determine which nation was behind each hostile attempt, Wakanda's government chose to reject all negotiations, with no exceptions.
What those countries didn't know was that they had just ruined a historic opportunity.
King T'Chaka had, for years, considered opening Wakanda to the world. He was aware of his nation's potential, but also of the impact that a sudden reveal could cause. He knew that a technologically superior country appearing out of nowhere would spark fear. That's why he had waited for the right moment.
That moment arrived with the movie.
On one hand, Wakanda's existence had been exposed. There was no going back. But more importantly, the film showed Wakandans fighting alongside the Avengers. Public perception was favorable. Wakanda, though unknown, was seen as an ally of the good guys.
T'Chaka saw in that an opportunity to negotiate his nation's official entry onto the world stage.
But he didn't expect the first interaction with global powers to be so hostile.
Despite this, he knew remaining isolated was not sustainable. If Wakanda wanted to survive as a sovereign nation, it needed to establish strategic international alliances. Not out of fear, but foresight. As king, he knew that alliances build stability and ensure survival. That's why his plan was clear: ally with a major power, secure mutual benefits, and use that as a foundation to officially present Wakanda as a global actor.
However, T'Chaka also had pride.
And he didn't want, couldn't, extend his hand to the same nations that had tried to violate their sovereignty. This led to weeks of deadlock. He had to choose between forming an alliance with countries that attacked him… or maintaining independence, risking growing international pressure.
He even considered forming a bloc with smaller nations, those that hadn't attacked him. Maybe a common front could provide some degree of security without compromising Wakanda's political integrity.
But the solution came from an unexpected place.
From his son's voice.
"Father, I think I've found the solution to our problem."
T'Chaka looked up. He trusted T'Challa's vision more than he liked to admit. He gave him permission to speak.
"We don't need to ally with a major nation."
T'Chaka's expression shifted from expectation to concern. He sighed with resignation.
"It's not that simple. We can't afford a war. That never ends well."
Then, he offered a small smile, tired but conscious.
"Alright. As king, I must prioritize the interests of my people. If that means allying with a great power, even one that attacked us, so be it."
But T'Challa shook his head.
"That's not what I meant, Father. I'm saying we don't need to ally with a major nation to get out of this situation."
T'Chaka watched him closely.
"There is a major power. One on the level of any nation, but not a country. And they haven't attacked us."
T'Challa paused before continuing.
"We can ally with SHIELD."
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