Episode 16: Winter Forecast
Connie begins walking up the stairs to the beach house with snow lightly falling. She arrives at the door and knocks. Kimiko opens the door. "Hey, Connie." Kimiko said. "Hello, Kimiko." Connie replied back as she enters the house. She looks around and remembered that Raimundo left a few weeks ago. "Any updates on Raimundo?" Connie asked. "Sadly no..." Clay said with a somber tone. Steven walks up and gives Connie a hug. "Hey, Connie. How are you today?" Steven said. "I'm doing fine. My parents said that there's a snow storm coming this way soon but they decided to allow me to visit you guys before it hits. Though they said they would recommend me to come home before it hits." Connie said.
Kimiko hops back on the laptop she has and begins to look up for the weather. "Let's see how long till the snowstorm hits." Kimiko said with some typing on the laptop. Connie looks over to see Omi is meditating on his round head. "Wow, nice balance, Omi." Connie commented. "Yea, he does that sometimes." Steven said. Omi flips back on his feet and stands up. "That was cool, Omi." Connie said. "Why thank you, Connie." Omi said. "What brings you here today?" "Well, I want to enjoy you guys company. Besides, I did bring marshmallows." Connie said as she pulls out a big bag of marshmallows.
Kimiko and Clay were impressed by it while Omi understandably is wondering what a marshmallow is. Clay would explain it quick to Omi and Omi understands it a bit more. Steven and Connie sits by the fireplace together. Kimiko soon sees that the snowstorm arrival time. "The snowstorm is set to his in 3 hours or so." Kimiko told Clay, Omi, Steven and Connie. "Alright, thank you, Kimiko." Connie said. She opens the bag and places a marshmallow on a stick and begins to toast it over the fire.
Kimiko sits down with Clay and Omi on the couch. Kimiko just sighs. "Still missing Raimundo?" Clay said. "Yea..." Kimiko said with a down note. "You aren't the only one." Clay said with a tip of his hat. "I feel the same thing." Omi added. "If we had realized the Serpent's Tail idea sooner..." "Then Raimundo would have likely join the ranks with us." Kimiko said. "Oh...the what ifs." Clay said
They begin to think some more about it and the more they thought of it, the more they feel bad about Raimundo and his departure. For one thing, Raimundo wouldn't feel jaded enough to leave for Brazil. He would be content enough to have a second chance to redeem himself in the future. Then again, Raimundo would feel like he didn't deserve it and might have left for Brazil still. Was it...inevitable? Just as they ponder more, Steven screams. He just burnt his marshmallow over the fire and it was on fire. "Put it out!" Connie said. Steven did but the marshmallow was super burnt and inedible. "Awww..." Steven sadly said. "Well, we still have a bag full of marshmallow to get you to toast one without being on fire." Connie said with a nervous sweat.
This did draw the monks away from that and began to think a bit. Maybe Raimundo needs some time out of the system. He's been really off since his second win over Tubbimura. It must have gotten into his head and thrown his game off. Amethyst did beat his butt like it was nothing, he lost to Jack for the Heart of Jong, and just got creamed by Mala Mala Jong if it was to believe. His denial of being a Xiaolin Apprentice looks like to be the straw that broke the camels back. It seems that Raimundo was just not there at this time and some R&R might do the trick.
Master Fung came from his walk outside and see the monk at their low point and seem down. "I take it that you are thinking of Raimundo?" Master Fung asked. "That we are, Master Fung." Kimiko said. "I feel like that if we used the Serpent's Tail just a little bit sooner, we might have beat Mala Mala Jong before would find us." Clay said. Master Fung just shook his head. "Unfortunately, Raimundo did do one thing right that is still being felt now… saving the Crystal Gems." Master Fung said. "Wait, wha?" Steven, Connie, Kimiko, and Clay said. Omi was perplexed about it as well. "If it wasn't for his arrival, the Gems may have been poofed and would be vulnerable to shattering, making them irreparable." Master Fung said. "You mean, Wuya would have destroyed them?" Steven said as he gets yet another marshmallow on fire. "Ugh…Again..."
"Unfortunately, that is correct, Steven." Master Fung said. "The Gems look like they went through a lot while defending the beach house. They looked really damaged trying to stop Mala Mala Jong and looked like they were ready to go down for the count. Even Garnet had issues beating Mala Mala Jong." The monks, Steven and Connie were surprised to hear this. Even the Gems, nay even Garnet, had issues against Mala Mala Jong. "So...if Raimundo didn't come save you four...Then Steven would be left without the Gems?" Connie said. "I can assume that, yes." Master Fung said with a somber tone.
Steven just wiped tears away after hearing that. Raimundo, one of the Monks and what to be his closest friend that saved Connie and him from running away form the parents, may have saved the Gem unintentionally. Yet, he was wrongfully denied the rank of Xiaolin Apprentice and is now gone. Steven sat back down on the pillow on the floor and begins to think. He doesn't know how to take it and it's really sad to hear that Raimundo is now gone.
Kimiko stands up. "Where are you going, Kimiko?" Omi asked. "Outside to take a walk." Kimiko said. "I'm coming too." A mysterious voice is heard. They turn to see Amethyst. "Okay, sure." Kimiko said. Kimiko grabs a jacket and opens the door. Amethyst follows Kimiko outside. They close the door and began to walk down the stairs. Kimiko was deep in thought as she walk down the stairs. "So...why did you want to come along, Amethyst?" Kimiko said. "I feel like I need to clear my head..." Amethyst said. Kimiko look at Amethyst. "You miss him too…don't you?" Kimiko said. Amethyst slightly blushes. "Yea…It's like you said, we were nearly the same person type. Raimundo and I gelled like PB and J." Amethyst said. "Good analogy." Kimiko compliment "But yea, it's disheartening that Raimundo may have saved you but didn't get the rank, resulting in him leaving."
Amethyst begins to think. "Is there anyway we can get him back on our side?" she said. "No clue. He lives in Rio and we best not disturb him while he's questioning his worthiness." Kimiko said. "He'll clear his head and hopefully will return back to us soon enough." "Yea…I guess you are right." Amethyst said. They soon arrive at the Big Donut. "I guess you up for a donut." Amethyst said. "Sure. I have the money to pay for it." Kimiko said. They walk in and see Sadie mopping the floor and Lars at the counter. "Oh, hey, Kimiko, Amethyst." Sadie said. "What brings you in today?" "Well, we kinda had one of our friends going back home in a sour mood and we kinda have him stuck in our mind." Kimiko admitted.
"Uh-oh." Sadie said. "So who is it?" Lars said, unenthusiastically. "Well…it's Raimundo." Amethyst said. Lars eyes shot open. "The dude that is from Brazil? That guy was awesome to be around." Lats said. "Lars, you mostly hear how great his is because of the cool kids. Remember?" Sadie said. "Well, he did manage to show up Jenny without sounding like a jerk. Speaking Portuguese, his native language, would do a person well." Lars admits. "Anyway, what caused him to go back to Brazil?" Sadie said. "Well...it's rather a long story." Kimiko admitted. "But long story short, we had an issue with Mala Mala Jong..." "Mala Mala Who now?" Lars said. "A Heylin warrior that is made of shen gong wu." Kimiko explained. "Got it..." Lars said. "Back to the condensed story, we had to hide out with the remaining wus, the Gems and Master Fung fought Mala Mala Jong and basically got their butts handed to them and even best Raimundo who tried rescuing them, only to give up our location unintentionally." Kimiko added. "Oh...then he felt responsible and left for Brazil as a result?" Sadie said. "Well, that and he didn't get promoted to Xiaolin Apprentice like me, Clay and Omi did after putting Mala Mala Jong to bed." Kimiko said.
"Wow...that's must be harsh for his eyes." Lars said. "You don't know the worst of it. Raimundo also lost a Xiaolin Showdown to Jack Spicer for the Heart of Jong, which lead to Mala Mala Jong being created." Amethyst said. "So, let's get this straight, Raimundo lost a showdown, a critical one at that, got his butt handed while trying to stand up for you guys and got denied a rank because of it." Lars said. "If that were me, I would...have done the same thing actually. That's a pretty bad day." "Yea, I can relate to Raimundo. If that happened to me, I don't know if I wanted to stick around. I feel like I would have put in the work to right the wrong but still get denied because of it? That was just not right." Sadie said.
Amethyst remained quiet and began to feel bad. "Can we just get a donut?" Amethyst said. "It's starting to get to me hard." "Oh, sorry, Amethyst." Sadie said as she grabs a pack of donuts for the two of them. Kimiko pays for the donuts and they begin to head out. "Hey, before you guys leave." Lars said. "If Raimundo does return...tell him I said hi." "Will do, Lars...will do." Amethyst said. Both Kimiko and Amethyst walk out the door.
A bit later, they were sitting on a bench remembering all of Raimundo's actions and a bit of his jokes. However, Amethyst was rather sad more and more. "How bad do you miss Raimundo, Amethyst?" Kimiko asked. "Enough that I want to say sorry and give him a hug." Amethyst said. "Why?" Kimiko asked. "*sighs* Because...Master Fung, Pearl, Garnet and I pretty much unanimously agreed to deny Raimundo the rank of Xiaolin Apprentice." Amethyst admitted. Kimiko was surprised from this. "Before you yell at me...I almost voted to give him the rank of Xiaolin Apprentice but the gems suggested otherwise. It would have been 3-1 and I would be outed as favoring Raimundo. I had little choice and...I was just at a crossroad. I want to repair me and Pearl's relationship but I didn't want to vote against Raimundo as he was showing promise. However, Master Fung just straight up managed to convince me otherwise and I got no other choice. I'm soo sorry." Amethyst said with tears running down her face. Kimiko hugs Amethyst. "It's okay. I know it's not your fault." Kimiko said, calming Amethyst down. Amethyst hugs back and smiles a bit.
Kimiko lets go of the hug and notices the snow was starting to pick up in amount. "Oh, man, the storm must be getting close. We should head back." Kimiko said. "Alright, sounds good." Amethyst said. They finished their donuts and begin to head back. Back at the house, Steven successfully manage to make a toasted marshmallow that isn't on fire. "Great job, Steven-roo." Clay said as he pulls his out and it was lightly toasted. Omi meanwhile, just burnt his marshmallow. "I got a lot of learning to do on the art of marshmallows." Omi said as the marshmallow fell to the floor. Dojo picks it up and eats it. "Hey, 5 second rule." Dojo comment. "Heheh...ew." Connie said. They hear the door open and Amethyst and Kimiko walked through it.
"Guys, you're back!" Steven said with a happy smile. "Yea, we took a walk and had a donut along the way." Kimiko said. "Eh, I had a few." Amethyst nonchalantly said. Just then, Connie's phone rings. She picks it up. "Hello...Uh, no. Steven is still grounded...Wait, what?…no no, Don't send Dad, I'll be home soon enough. Bye." Connie said as she hangs up. "Looks like I got to get going." "Snowstorm I assume." Kimiko said. "Well yea." Connie said. Just then Pearl and Garnet came out. "You guys are having a good time?" Pearl asked. "Yea, but Connie got to head out, there's a storm coming." Steven said. "Maybe the storm would miss us." Connie said. "I doubt it because the snow is picking up." Kimiko said. "Kimiko is correct. The storm will hit us." Garnet said.
Steven remembers something. "Garnet has future vision" Steven whispers to Connie. "Yea and she helped Raimundo win a showdown against Tubbimura." Dojo added. "You two better get to Greg's quick." Garnet said. "Aww...I was going to show Connie something on tubetube." Steven said. "It's like a minute long." Garnet kneels down to Steven's face. "I know you don't want to go but I want you to make the right decision." Garnet said. She gives Steven's forehead a kiss. Steven chuckles before stopping as he is seeing a lot of things. The monks are puzzled on what going on. "Uhhh...wha-what happened Garnet?" Steven asked. "I passed my future vision to you for a moment." Garnet said. "Wait...then...*Gasp* Connie, we need to go now." Steven said as he grabs Connie by the hand and rushes out of the house.
The Monks were surprised from this. "Okay...when did you know about this?" Clay asked. "A really good long time" Garnet said with a smirk. "Well, why didn't you tell us you could do that and show us the wu back then?" Kimiko wondered. "Because I want to give Raimundo a nice surprise since I noticed he was off for the past few weeks." Garnet said. The Monks realized that Garnet cared for Raimundo and wanted a good surprise for him but making a finding a future where Raimundo won a showdown over Tubbimura. Clay walks up and gives Garnet a high 5. "That's very nice of you, Garnet." Clay said. "Not a problem." Garnet said with a smile.
That evening the Monks were getting ready for bed. However, Kimiko was looking outside at the window. She was still wondering how Raimundo is doing and how Steven and Connie are doing. She ponders if Raimundo is even going to return at all. She then turn to see Amethyst walking up to her and sits down next to her, watching the snowfall. "I can't believe we are close to the new year and we won't have Raimundo to celebrate with us." Kimiko said. "Yea…" Amethyst said. She lies her head on Kimiko's shoulder as the watch the snowfall and wonder how is Raimundo. They don't know that Raimundo is doing fine…just sulking in Brazil.
End of Episode 16