Chapter 7: Meet Prince Raimundo

"It's so unfair, Keiko." Kimiko comments. "To lose my loved one like that."

"I don't know what to say, Your Highness." Keiko replies.

"Keiko, you don't..." Kimiko was about to say when she hears someone knocking at her bedroom's door. "Who's there?" She asks.

"It's Prince Omi, Your Highness." Omi replies.

"What do you want?" Kimiko angrily asks.

"I came to pay my respects to the late one, Your Highness." He explains.

"What for?" Kimiko spats. "You didn't even know him."

"You are the most wrong, Your Highness." Omi replies and then explains about what happened on his way to the palace.

"I had no idea." She comments.

"Of course, I'd have done a more impressive job but I admit he did it good." Omi comments.

Meanwhile, at Chase's chambers, Chase and Jack are discussing their next move. "And now, Jack?" Chase asks. "Once that bratty Princess gets a husband, she'll have us thrown away from the palace. I can see it."

"Unless, of course, one of us is the husband." Jack replies.

That comment draws Chase's attention. "What a brilliant idea, Jack. In fact, it's the best one you ever had. Not that it's saying much. I could marry Princess Kimiko and then legally become ruler of Xiaolin Land." He then notices Jack's face. "You weren't thinking you had any chance of becoming Kimiko's husband, were you?"

Not waiting for Jack's reply, Chases goes to the Sultan's playroom to propose. "You may enter, Chase." Sultan Toshiro Tohomiko says.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Chase humbly replies. "I have an idea regarding Princess Kimiko's reluctance."

"It won't be necessary, Chase." The Sultan says, shocking his Grand Vizier. "The Princess is starting to show interest at Prince Omi."

'So much for Jack's plan.' Chase thinks. 'Not that it'd be a big problem. I'll just have to dispose of Prince Omi.'

"That's great news, Your Highness." Chase lies. 'Nothing could make it worse.'

Suddenly they hear a commotion outside and see Prince Raimundo coming. 'I stand corrected.'

Prince Raimundo's presence is announced. "Welcome to my palace, Prince Raimundo." The Sultan says. "Where exactly did you say you are from?"

"I didn't say." Raimundo replies. "It's far far away from here."

"And what do we owe your presence, Prince Raimundo?" The Sultan asks.

"I've heard that your daughter, Princess Kimiko, is looking for a husband." Raimundo explains.

"I see." The Sultan sheepishly replies. "Unfortunately my daughter is finally showing interest on another suitor. But you're welcome to stay."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness." Raimundo replies. "And, unless there's already some engagement, Princess Kimiko might change her mind."

"You just arrived here." Chase scoffs. "What makes you think she'll like you."

"Well, I believe we must get to know each other to see if we're gonna like each other." Raimundo replies. Unbeknownst to each other, Keiko, Princess Kimiko and Prince Omi are overhearing it. They decide to appear. "It's very decent of you to take my feelings into consideration, Prince Raimundo." Princess Kimiko comments.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Raimundo replies, while approaching and bowing to her. At this point, Kimiko recognizes him but decides not to mention anything in front of either her father or Chase.

"Well, I see my daughter does like Prince Raimundo." The Sultan comments. "Why don't you show him around?"

"I'd like to, Dad." Kimiko replies. She, alongside Keiko, Clay and Prince Omi, give Raimundo a tour. "Okay, Raimundo, which game are you playing?"

"Excuse me?" Raimundo asks.

"When we first met you didn't say you're a Prince." Princess Kimiko demands.

"And you didn't tell me you're a Princess." Raimundo replies.

"Okay." She sheepishly concedes. "So, were you also tired of palace loneliness and ran away to know what a peasant life is?"

"Actually, I used to be a streetperformer until I found a magical lamp and wished to become a prince." Raimundo explains.

"No need to be sarcastic, Raimundo." Kimiko replies.

"Actually, Your Highness, I've known Raimundo as a streetperformer for a long time." Clay explains.

"He must have ran away a long time ago." Keiko suggests.

"In that case he must come from a palce even far from Water Dragon Kingdom since I've never heard about him before." Omi replies.

"Do you mind?" Raimundo asks. "I'm not used to hear people talking me like I'm not around."

"Sorry." The others say.

"Raimundo, what happened to that lizard?" Princess Kimiko asks.

"Dragon!" Dojo replies, making the others finally notice his presence.

"Well, where I came from, I've learned dragons are shapeshifters." Prince Omi comments. "May I see it, please?" He asks with pleading eyes.

"Sure." Dojo says as he impersonates Prince Omi. If not for the fact Dojo's skin remains green, people wouldn't tell them apart.

"Oh, that's impressive." Prince Omi comments. "Is that true you may become forty foot tall?"

Dojo then turns into his tall form to show it. Unfortunately, it attracts the attention of the guards. "Men, seize that monster."

"Wait." Dojo's friends ask. "He's harmless." Dojo then shrinks back to pint size. However, it does not escape Chase's attention.

"Interesting, don't you think?" Chase asks Jack.

"Oh, s-s-s-s-sure." Jack scaredly replies.

"Don't you realize it, Jack?" Chase asks. "This Prince Raimundo is that streetrat."

"How is that possible, Chase?" Jack asks.

"The lamp." Chase replies. "I should have thought about that."

Please review.