Chapter 3: Kimiko's Desire

The next morning, at the palace of ToonCity, the back doors slammed and an infuriated Zuko stormed into the room, grumbling, "Well, I've never been so insulted in my life!"

He stormed past an old man wearing a blue vest and white slacks. He was the King of ToonCity, Master Fung.

"Prince Zuko, you're not leaving so soon, are you?" the King asked.

"Good luck marrying her off!" Zuko mumbled as he slammed the doors shut. Fung caught a glimpse of Zuko's torn pants, revealing the Fire Nation symbol.

He sighed, knowing this had something to do with his apprentice, Kimiko. He walked out into the courtyard, where Kimiko was located.

He spotted a girl with black hair that was held up in pigtails and blue eyes. She was wearing a red monk outfit with a black sash around it. She was Jack's niece, Kimiko Tohomiko.

"Kimiko!" Fung exclaimed when a giant lion came in front of him. He was a golden tawny color and was holding a piece of cloth in his mouth.

"Oh, confound it, Simbaa!" Fung scolded, pulling the sheet out of Simbaa's mouth only to fall on his own back. He looked at the cloth and realized this was Zuko's missing underwear. "So, this is why Prince Zuko stormed out."

"Oh, Master Fung! Simbaa was just playing," Kimiko said in a playful tone. She went over to Simbaa and hugged him, saying, "Weren't you, boy? You were just playing with that over-dressed, pompous prince?"

She giggled, then she quieted down when she got a stern gaze from her master. She cleared her throat and stood up, walking towards a birdcage.

"Kimiko, you must stop rejecting every suitor I throw at you," Fung said as he followed her. "The law says…"

"…you must be married to a prince," Kimiko said with her master, who was to be training her to become the next Xiaolin Warrior while she was in his care.

"…by your next birthday. And, you've only got three days left," Fung finished.

"Master Fung, the law is wrong," she said as she walked back towards the fountain and sat. "Besides, if I do marry, I want it to be for love. And I've never been outside the palace or had any real friends." "Hey!" Simbaa growled. "Except for Simbaa and my three other friends, Kairi, Namine, and June." Simbaa smiled happily at the comment.

"But, Kimiko, you're a Xiaolin Warrior princess." Fung put a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, well, maybe I don't want to be a warrior princess anymore!" she said angrily, slapping the water.

Fung grunted in frustration, and began to turn back to the palace when he told Simbaa, "Lord forbid YOU have any kids." They he stormed away. Simbaa and Kimiko stared at each other, confused.

Then, Kimiko ran to the birdcage and released all the birds.

"Oh, to be free."

Meanwhile, back inside the palace, Fung paced back and forth in front of a miniature ToonCity as he mumbled to himself, "I can't understand where she gets it from. Her father said her mother was ever this picky when she was left in my care."

He spun the sun/moon orb when he saw a shadow appear. He turned around, startled, when he saw it was Jack Spicer and felt relieved (if you could be relieved to see him;-)). "Jack Spicer, am I happy to see you," Fung said, looking down to see his young advisor.

He looked the same as the night before, but now he was holding a golden scepter with a fierce reptilian creature with piercing amber eyes.

Jack bowed. "My job is to serve you, your majesty."

"It's this suitor business, Spicer!" Fung said. "Kimiko refuses to choose a suitor. I am at wit's end!"

"Ruff!" Snoopy barked.Whenever anybody else but Jack was around, Snoopy would pretend to be a dumb dog who knew nothing.

"Heh, heh. Cute puppy." Fung chuckled. "Here. Have some Kibbles N' Bits!" He had pulled out some brown dog food from his pocket and was shoving it to Snoopy. He looked absolutely frightened, but had the stuff shoved in his mouth anyway.

Jack chuckled. "You certainly have a way with dumb mutts."

"What did you say?" Snoopy said quietly, crumbs falling out of his mouth.

"Anyways, I think I can help you with this thorn in your side."

"If anybody can help, it's you, Jack."

"First, I'm going to need that ruby ring," Jack pointed to a red ring on Fung's finger as he took it off.

"But," Fung started. "It's been in my family for generations."

"It's necessary to find the princess a suitor." Jack held up his frightening staff and the amber eyes started to glow bright red, and, just like that, Fung was hypnotized.

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

"Everything… will be… fine," Fung said in a monotone-like voice.

"The ring, my liege." Jack held out his hand.

"Whatever you need…will be fine…," Fung droned as he handed Jack the ring.

"Thank you, my liege. Now, run along and play with your toys." Jack pushed Fung towards the model.

"Yes, that would be good."

Jack walked out of the room and down a hallway. When they were out of earshot, Snoopy spitted the food out and started to rant.

"I can't take it anymore!! If I have to choke down one more of that tasteless, putrid dog food… BAM! WHACK!!"

"Calm yourself, Snoopy." Jack pulled back a curtain to reveal a secret door.

"Ohh, then I would give him a POW! Slam!!"

"Be patient, Snoopy. Soon, I'll be king, not that old man." Jack smiled fiendishly.

"Yeah, and then I get to stuff the Kibble down his throat." Snoopy smirked evilly at the idea and started to laugh maniacally as Jack shut the door.

Later that night, a shadowy figure walked through the garden and to the palace gates. As it reached the wall, and began to climb it, something tugged on its cloak.

"So, you are going?" Simbaa said sadly. Kimiko looked and saw her best friend watching her with doleful eyes.

Before she climbed the wall, she petted Simbaa's head and said, "Oh, I'm sorry, Simbaa. But I can't stay here and have someone rule my life. And don't worry. I sent a message on June, Namine, and Kairi's phones to meet me. I'll be okay. I'll miss you."

She scaled the wall, while Simbaa meowed mournfully.

"Good-bye." She said.

Simbaa laid down and looked at the spot where Kim just was, knowing that she may never return.