Oh, gosh, I can't believe it's been so long since I updated this! I was just kinda stuck on how to write this and the next chapter is going to be even harder 'cause its my weak point.
I'm quite busy at the moment, so it may be a while until the next - and most likely last - chapter will be up, so I apologise in advance.
I'm working on the next chapter of 'Three-Step' now, so hopefully I'll get it up, but it may be the last for at least a few days, probably at least a week. You see, I've got to accompany the singers at my school mass on tuesday, and the songs are mostly playing the vocal line and chords, but one involves a proper piece - both clefs and everything - so I'm working really hard to get it down by tuesday.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter - please R&R! Oh, and please answer my new poll!
Chapter Six:
Of Doubts & The Ride Into Battle
Kimiko emerged from her tent, glancing around at the deserted camp. Everyone else was asleep in their tents, preparing for the fight ahead. Well, except for a solitary figure huddled by the fire. Approaching quietly, she dropped down beside him, muttering a soft "Hey," as she too turned to stare into the dwindling fire.
"I'm not sure I can do this." She turned to him as he sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "I mean, I could handle you telling me that I was the long-lost prince of Skymond – it was all hypothetical. But now…now it's real." He sighed in response to her unanswered question. "I just…I've never even fought anyone before. Just my siblings, but that doesn't count. And tomorrow I've got to fight the Heylin, and everyone expects me to…well, be like you."
Kimiko shook her head, placing her hand comfortingly on his arm. "No one expects you to fight as though you've been trained like the rest of us have, Raimundo. All they are expecting is to see you back on the throne of Skymond, where you belong."
Raimundo turned his head to her, apprehension in his eyes. "Aren't you afraid for tomorrow? Even in the slightest?"
"Terrified." Kimiko muttered, staring into the embers for a moment. "Truly terrified. There's so much at stake here. I've been wondering if I did the right thing involving Seismeccia and the Tsunami Kingdom. I mean, it does concern them, so they do have a right to be here, but indirectly so. What if I've just convinced them to follow me to my death?"
Her eyes were swimming with emotion when she turned back to Raimundo, so that he lost his train of thought for a moment. "It was the only way to save your people. You wouldn't have stopped until you did your best for them." He placed his hand over hers that was still resting on his arm. "You did the right thing, Kimiko. Now, I may not know much about war and battle, but even I know that there is always the chance that you won't come back. Both armies know that, and they've made their decisions. Helping you, helping Pyronia, is worth the risk. And when we defeat the Heylin-"
"If." Kimiko interrupted. "If we defeat the Heylin."
"No. When." Kimiko smiled weakly at him as he wiped away her tears, staring into her eyes. "When we defeat the Heylin, you'll have your kingdom back. Your people will be free from the Heylin's influence."
"And you'll have yours back. After all these years, Skymond will be free, and will have its rightful Prince." Her smile brightened, but Raimundo's eyes dulled and he dropped her gaze. "Raimundo? What's wrong?"
"You'll be in Pyronia and I'll be in Skymond."
"Oh." Raimundo looked up at her soft tone and noticed tears forming in her eyes once again.
"But, hey, we'll still see each other. After all, Skymond and Pyronia are right next to each other. It won't take that long to travel between them." Kimiko smiled, and knowing he was downplaying the distance between the two palaces, ignored it and laid her head on his shoulder as they resumed staring into the now practically non-existent fire. "One thing I was wondering. Why are we Princes and Princess? If our parents aren't King and Queen, shouldn't we be?"
"No. We're not of age, and since we'll never be, we cannot be King or Queen, so we're simply Prince or Princess in the effective roles of King or Queen."
"Too complicated." Raimundo muttered.
Kimiko giggled. "Yes, I suppose it is a bit."
"A bit? Everything surrounding us is complicated!"
"Our lives are never simple."
"No, but then they're not boring either, I suppose."
Kimiko smiled, before a more serious expression overcame her face. "We really should get some rest."
"Yeah." Raimundo agreed, standing up and offering her his hand. "Big day tomorrow."
"Yes." They stood still for a moment, each locked in the others' gaze. "Well, goodnight."
"Goodnight."
The dawn saw the entire camp up and about, running to and fro, preparing to leave for the short trek towards Pyronia. The four royals lead the way and the entire group wore their travelling cloaks with their hoods up.
As they approached the boarders, Kimiko tensed, spotting her own army on the horizon. "There are going to be some who agree with the Heylin. Some who, when they find out it wasn't me giving the orders, they won't care, since they enjoyed it, and will join the Heylin in fighting against us." She turned her tear-streaked face towards Raimundo. "How can I fight my own people?"
"But they aren't really your people anymore. They're Heylin. You're fighting them to protect your people. To save them." Kimiko nodded grimly and turned once again towards the looming army, face set.
When they reached the Pyronian soldiers, they came to a stop, and the four dismounted their horses, though only Clay and Omi lowered their hoods.
"What is your business here?" snarled a large muscled man Kimiko immediately recognised as Cedric Mazur, her second-in-command when it came to the army.
"We are here to free Pyronia." Murmurs broke out across the Pyronian army at Clay's words.
Cedric's scowl deepened. "Pyronia does not need freeing. Princess Kimiko is a valiant and just leader. We want for nothing under her rule."
"But what of Pyronia's recent deeds? Is that really the work of Princess Kimiko?"
Cedric's face faltered and fell into one of uncertainty. "It does not seem like the Princess Kimiko I know, but who are we to doubt our monarch?"
Kimiko stepped forward and dropped her hood, a small smile across her face. "You know me well, Cedric."
"Princess Kimiko!" Eyes widened and jaws dropped amongst the soldiers. Cedric spluttered, "…but…how…?"
"You have been deceived." Kimiko addressed her army, slipping once again into the manner in which she had given her speech in Seismeccia. "I have not been ill. I do not have another 'deathly illness'. That was all a lie. A cover-up for what had really happened. The Heylin have infiltrated Pyronia." Outraged shouts erupted from the crowd but they fell silent once Kimiko raised her hand. "They crept into the palace – I know not how – and overpowered us. We had no warning – we were unprepared. I was thrown in the dungeon and the lie spread that I was ill again. Their wishes were passed as though my orders from my sick-bed and so chaos began to spread throughout our Kingdom. However, a few days ago, the Heylin placed another in the cell with me. One who they were afraid would learn who he truly was and challenge them. Prince Raimundo of Skymond."
Raimundo lowered his hood, amidst more shocked murmurs from the Pyronians.
"They didn't think about how that would make it easy for us to escape. And escape we did, heading immediately to Seismeccia and the Tsunami Kingdom to enlist their aid in freeing the Land of Xiaolin from the clutches of the Heylin."
Kimiko turned and mounted her horse gracefully, turning towards the Pyronians. "We ride to the palace to finally rid ourselves of the Heylin and free ourselves, and give the Skymondians their freedom back." The Pyronians cheered and fell into line behind their princess, as the three armies rode towards the Pyronian palace, and in the flurry of movement, several soldiers went unnoticed as they galloped towards the palace.
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