By Beachchickrules
Chapter 1: Happy Birthday!Today is the birthday of Emporer Kanbei of Yellow Comet.
The celebration takes place in- where else- the Yellow Comet Emperial Palace… but strangely, it looks like a military headquarters.
Kanbei is seated at a long, fancy table, admiring the gifts given to him.
"Ah, what a durable, precise electric razor," Kanbei says. "This will be perfect for keeping my beard neatly trimmed."
At this, Sonja grins. "I'm so glad you like it, Father. It seems everyone else gave you a katana."
"No need to worry, dear daughter! They are all as special as the last!" Kanbei turns to some guards. "Please take these katanas to my Katana Mansion."
"Sir… that Mansion is full… of katanas."
"Ah, no need to worry. They can be placed in-"
Kanbei pauses mid-sentence as the double doors of the room are opened.
"Emporer Kanbei, sir, the Commanding Officers of Orange Star are here to see you," a guard announces.
"Ah, wonderful. Come and join the festivities, my allies."
"Oh boy! Oh boy! A party!" Andy exclaims, each of his eyes as bright as the sun, emitting rays of extreme eagerness and delight. "I wanna play pin the tail on the Medium Tank!"
Nell smiles uneasily at Kanbei. "He… ate some of the cake we brought you before we got here."
Sami rushes into the room, a silver platter in her hands. "Happy birthday!" she exclaims, opening the lid. There is one small sliver of cake remaining.
"Why, what an extravagant cake slice! I henceforth declare that it shall be the most decadent piece of cake for my tongue to ever experience!"
"Well, I tried to protect the entire cake from Andy, but he can be pretty sneaky, sir," Sami said bluntly.
"Max maded a delicious cake!" Andy burps.
"Max? You made this piece of scrumptious looking deliciousness?" Kanbei asks, surprised.
"Yeah, Sami can't control herself around chocolate, and Andy wanted to frost it with WD-40, so we decided that I would make it."
Kanbei procures a piece of cake on his imperial fork and places it in his mouth while Max speaks.
"Amazing! I am blown away by Max's cake! All other cake is now obsolete."
The palace bakers and chefs leave the room, disappointed, their heads sunk low, and their countenances etched with rejection.
The commanders of Orange Star are seated near Kanbei, and they give him presents. Well, all except… Andy.
"Where is Andy? That young man does not appear to be seated with us at the current time." Kanbei looks around the room.
"Oh boy, this is fun!" Andy is heard exclaiming. He exits from behind a pile of assorted katanas, holding one with both hands. "Wheee!"
"Andy, put that down! That does not belong to you!" Nell orders.
"But…"
"Andy, don't you have a gift for the Emporer?" Max asks him.
"Oh yeah! I broughted that!" Andy rushes behind the pile of katanas once more, retrieving a large, odd-shaped packaged sealed with duct tape.
"The shape of that gift is intriguing. I wonder what it could be?" Kanbei says.
"Probably a bent katana," Sami replies.
"Now Sami…" Nell gently murmurs, "We know that's not what it is."
Before Sami can respond, Andy sets the package on the table directly in front of Kanbei, who anxiously begins to… slide his fingers under the folds of the wrapping paper with cautious care.
"Now, let's see… if I can successfully loosen this end of the paper so as to not damage-"
"Aww, come on, Emporer, that's no way to open a package!" scoffs Sami.
"Rip it open! Rip it open!" Andy hollers.
"All right. I shall rip open the paper." Kanbei attempts to rip the package open, but to no avail.
"I used my super-heavy-duty duct tape," Andy grins.
"Geez, Andy!" Max groans.
"No need to worry, my loyal friend, for I will utilize my trusty katana to slice open the paper."
"Which one?" Sami asks, eyeing the large pile of gift katanas.
"Why, none other than the trusty blade on my side." With that, Kanbei stands up, unsheaths the brown katana attached to his clothing, and slices the giftwrap with ease to reveal… what certainly is the most unique gift of the day.
