Back at the palace, Carla was busy stacking a bunch of little figurines and balancing them, including those of Celestial Spirits. The figurines are stacked up like the Eiffel Tower.
"Careful..." Carla whispered to herself as she was about to put the last piece. "Careful…"
She carefully placed the last piece on top and sighed in relief as she sat back. Suddenly, Brain came in with Cobra (still in his snake form), slamming the door. The vibration caused the pile of toys to fall to the ground.
"Prime Minister!" Brain interrupted. "I believe I have found a solution to the problem with the princess." Cobra nodded in agreement with Brain.
"Really?" Carla wondered surprisingly.
"All will be explained," Brain continued as he unrolled a scroll, which he obviously forged. "Right here. 'If the princess has not chosen a husband to be wed on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, then the Prime Minister shall choose for her.'"
"But Wendy hated all those suitors," Carla said. She noticed Cobra, "Oh, it's you again. Have a cookie?" She tried to stuff a cookie from the cookie jar into Cobra's mouth, but he backed away and Carla absentmindedly pulled the cookie back. She turned to Brain, "How could I choose someone she hates?"
Cobra sighed in relief, thinking he had gotten off easy, but Carla stuffed the cookie in his mouth. "Not again!" Cobra thought in annoyance.
"Not to worry, my liege," Brain assured. "There's more. If, in the event a suitable prince cannot be found, a princess must then be wed to…" Brain trailed off for a minute, before he smirked, "Hmm… interesting."
"What? Who?" Carla asked curiously.
"The royal advisor," Brain answered. "Why, that would be… me!"
"But I thought the law says that only a prince can marry a princess," Carla said, looking confused. She tried to take a look at the scroll, "You know as well as I do that if the law is written, it never lies."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures, my lady," Brain interjected, pulling away the scroll. He pulled out his skull-faced staff and hypnotized Carla with it.
"Yes…" Carla nodded in a trance. "Desperate measures…"
"You will order the princess to marry me," Brain ordered.
"I… will order… the princess… to…" Brain whispered, before she snapped out of it and frowned at Brain, "…but you're so old!"
Brain shoved the staff into Lawrence's face and growled, "The princess will marry me!"
"The princess… will marry…" Carla repeated in a trance. However, she snapped out of it again, this time by a fanfare. "What? What is that?" Carla wondered, and she flew over to the balcony. "That music…" She looked out and saw something coming down the streets. She laughed and said, "Brain! You've got to come and see this!"
What they saw was a parade, led by Natsu in disguise as a major.
Marchers: Make way for Prince Romi!
People in the streets turned to see what the commotion was.
Swordsmen: Say hey! It's Prince Romi!
Natsu began to interact with the crowd.
Natsu: Hey, clear the way in the old bazaar
Hey you, let us through, it's a bright new star
Now come, be the first on your block
To meet his eye!
Make way, here he comes
Ring bells, bang the drums.
On cue, Natsu played Kain Hikaru's stomach like a bunch of drums, before he put his arm around Kain.
You're gonna love this guy!
Romeo was then revealed, riding Asuka the Elephant and smiling to the crowd with his shiny teeth.
Prince Romi, fabulous he
Romi Cababwa!
Genuflect, show some respect!
Down on one knee!
Natsu pulled a rug out from Panther Lily, Byro, Sugarboy, Hughes, Dan, Samuel, and Coco, forcing them down in one knee.
Now, try your best to stay calm
In the balcony, Cobra was dancing until Brain glared at him, making him stop.
Brush up on your Sunday salaam!
And come to meet his spectacular coterie!
Natsu rolled a wheelbarrow round and made Rustyrose, Zancrow, Azuma, Aria, Totomaru, and Sol stack up to Romeo's height, so they could each shake his hand.
Prince Romi, mighty is he
Romi Cababwa!
Suddenly, the guys all fell on Romeo, but Natsu secretly zapped him.
Strong as ten regular men, definitely!
Romeo ends up lifting the six guys above his head in an acrobatic. Meanwhile, Natsu turned into an old man and talked to a bunch of old people.
He faced the galloping hordes
He then turned into a little boy and joined a bunch of kindergarteners.
A hundred bad guys with swords
He then turned into a big guy and joined a crowd of bystanders.
Who sent those goons to their lords?
Why, Prince Romi!
At that moment, Wendy came out onto the balcony to see what all the commotion was.
Men: (carrying camels) He's got seventy-five golden camels!
Natsu popped in as a typical parade commentator, as he said, "Don't they look lovely, Kitty?"
Women: (on a float with peacocks) Purple peacocks, he's got fifty-three!
Natsu popped up as another commentator, as she said, "Fabulous, Jason, I love the feathers!"
A group of servants were holding a huge gorilla balloon.
Natsu: When it comes to exotic type mammals
Natsu popped in as a leopard and a goat, talking to a bunch of kids, with Lector and Frosch alongside them.
Has he got a zoo,
I'm telling you
It's a world class menagerie!
Whilst Romeo kept waving to the crowds, Natsu changed into a fat lady and joined Sherria, Merudy, and Yukino.
Natsu: Prince Romi, handsome is he
Romi Cababwa!
That physique, how can I speak
Weak at the knee
Girls: (singing in counterpoint) There's no question this Romi's alluring
Never ordinary, never boring
Everything about the boy just plain impresses
Natsu: Well, get on out in that square
Girls: (still singing in counterpoint) He's a wonder, a whiz, a wonder
Natsu: Adjust yourself and prepare
Girls: He's about to pull my heart asunder
Natsu: To gawk and grovel and stare at Prince Romi
Girls: (simultaneously) And I absolutely love the way he dresses!
Romeo blew a kiss to Sherria, Merudy, and Yukino and winked at them, and they squealed in joy and swooned. Wendy rolled her eyes and scoffed as she walked back inside.
Servants: He's got ninety-five Galuna monkeys!
Byro, Sugarboy, Dan, Samuel, and Coco: (dancing like a bunch of idiots) He's got the monkeys
Let's see the monkeys!
Panther Lily and Hughes facepalmed in annoyance at Byro, Sugarboy, Dan, Samuel, and Coco making fools of themselves.
Servants: And to view them, he charges no fee!
Romeo threw bags of money into the street and a bunch of homeless and poor people rushed over and began picking it up.
Homeless and Poor People: He's generous, so generous!
Servants: He's got slaves, he's got servants and flunkies!
At the palace, Carla saw Romeo was coming. Without a second thought, she gleefully flew back inside to get the door to the throne room.
Proud to work for him!
They bow to his whim, love serving him
They're just lousy with loyalty to Romi!
Prince Romi!
Before Carla could open the door, Brain stopped her by standing in front of the door to shut it. But that didn't stop the door from bursting open with Natsu leading the way, crushing Brain and Cobra behind the door in the process.
Servants and Natsu: Prince Romi, amorous he!
Romi Cababwa!
Natsu flew over to Carla and put his arm around her.
Natsu: Heard your princess was a sight lovely to see!
Brain slowly pushed the door aside, looking really annoyed, while Cobra has a funny look on his face from getting crushed by the door.
And that, good people, is why
He got dolled up and dropped by!
Servants: With sixty elephants, llamas galore
With his bears and lions
A brass band and more
With his forty fakirs, his cooks, his bakers
His birds that warble on key!
The birds warble on key on cue. Natsu quickly disappeared into the dragon scale which Romeo kept under his jacket in an inside pocket, and he blushed, pushing his jacket down. Brain forced all the servants but Asuka the Elephant out of the palace.
Make way for Prince Romi!
Romeo flew on Happy lifting him towards Carla, before he gracefully jumped off Happy and curtsied to Carla. Brain slammed the doors shut, more annoyed than he already was.
"Splendid! Wonderful, my boy!" Carla applauded. "Absolutely wonderful!"
Romeo cleared his throat, "Prime Minister Carla, I have journeyed from afar to seek your ward's hand."
"Prince Romi Cababwa," Carla exclaimed happily, rushing over and shaking his hand. "Of course, I'm delighted to meet you." She gestured to Brain, "Allow me to introduce my royal advisor, Brain. I'm sure he's delighted, too."
Brain looked far from it as he said dryly, "Ecstatic. I'm afraid, Prince Cabooboo—"
"Cababwa," Romeo corrected him.
"Whatever," Brain frowned. "You cannot just literally parade in here uninvited and expect to—"
Meanwhile, Happy stared oddly at Carla for a few seconds, until his eyes became heart-shaped. It's clearly obvious that Happy has fallen in love with Carla because she's a female Exceed. He began shaking with his heart beating rapidly. Carla was quick to notice Happy by the look in his eyes. "Oh, and who are you supposed to be?" she asked.
"My name is Happy," Happy answered shyly.
Carla responded by turning her head away, saying, "Hmph." In her heart, she finds Happy to be a silly blue tomcat. But this made Happy fall for her even more.
"I'M IN LOVE!" Happy cried enthusiastically.
Ignoring Happy, Carla began examining Asuka the Elephant. She remarked, "I must say, your elephant is a remarkable creature. It does make a grand entrance to the palace, even better than that silly blue tomcat." That comment made Happy a little bit upset, but still in love. She continued observing Asuka by the long trunk, making Asuka a little bit ticklish. "In fact, I haven't seen a real elephant in many a year."
Romeo nodded, "She's my best mode of transportation."
"She is?" Carla asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course!" Romeo answered.
"I don't suppose I might…" Carla pointed up.
"Why, certainly, Prime Minister," Romeo complied. "Allow me."
"I can take you there with my wings!" Happy offered.
"I have wings too, tomcat!" Carla answered Happy sternly. "I can do fine on my own, thank you very much." She flew up with her wings and landed on top of Asuka's head. The elephant began to position herself, but Brain placed his staff in front of Asuka.
"My lady, I must advise against this," Brain warned. "It's very dangerous for an Exceed."
"Oh, nonsense, Brain," Carla brushed off. "Exceeds can fly anywhere out of any hazard. But since this is my first time riding an elephant, I'll put my wings down for once." She turned to Brain with a smile, "You too, should learn to have a little fun."
On 'fun,' Asuka swung her long nose to swat Brain's staff. The elephant, with Carla riding her, trumpeted and ran off, causing Cobra to fall off Brain's staff and bonk his head on the staff repeatedly as he descended to the floor.
Asuka stampeded around the hallways, causing mayhem. Carla was wooing and cheering excitedly while holding onto the elephant. "Wheeeeeeee!"
Back in the throne room, Brain and Romeo talked to each other.
"I must say, I've never seen you before. Just… exactly where did you say you were from?" Brain asked Romeo suspiciously.
"Oh, much farther than you've traveled, I'm sure," Romeo lied and smiled.
But Brain does not. He continued to eye Romeo suspiciously, "Try me."
Once Cobra was able to regain consciousness, he heard Carla's voice, "Look out, pretty snake!" Cobra's eyes widened comically. He screamed when he saw Asuka returning to the throne room, trumpeting and about to squash him with her size 46 feet.
"Hey, watch it!" Cobra yelled, slithering on the floor, trying to avoid Asuka. "Watch it with the dumb mammoth!"
Cobra jumped in the air as Asuka zoomed underneath him. "Phew, that was close," Cobra sighed in relief and wiped his brow with his tail. As he sailed through the air, however, he carelessly slammed his head into a pillar. He slid down and let go of the pillar with his mouth, which were missing teeth as a result of the impact. Cobra fell onto his back on the ground, his head circled with miniature Carlas on Asukas saying, 'Have a cookie, have a cookie.'
The real Carla began her final approach as she cheered, "Out of the way, I'm coming in to land! Brain, watch this!" On cue, Carla jumped from Asuka's head and slid down her long nose, landing gently into the ground. "I didn't even use my wings for this."
"Spectacular, my lady," Brain remarked sarcastically.
Carla pointed out, "Although he should've reminded me that the elephant is too much fun to ride, I do seem to have a knack for it."
Asuka spun around dizzily as a result of running too much and collapsed into the ground. Romeo chuckled to Asuka and said, "Easy there, you overgrown fat horse."
"This Prince Romi is a very impressive youth," Carla remarked Romeo. "And a prince besides." She then whispered to Brain, "If we're lucky, you won't have to marry the Princess after all."
"I don't trust him, Prime Minister," Brain frowned.
"Nonsense," Carla interjected. "If there's one thing I pride myself on, Brain, it's being an excellent judge of character."
"Oh, excellent judge, yeah sure," Cobra said sarcastically, recovering a second time. "Not!"
It was at this moment Wendy quietly walked in, overhearing the conversation.
"Princess Wendy will most definitely like this one," Carla grinned.
Romeo looked confident as he said, "And I'm most definitely sure that I'll like Princess Wendy!"
"Your Highness, no!" Brain interrupted. "I must intercede on Princess Wendy's behalf." Hearing the conversation made Wendy angry. Brain continued, "This boy is no different from the others." He glared to Romeo, "What makes him think he is worthy of the Princess?"
"Your Highness, I am Prince Romi Cababwa," Romeo smiled, pricking a small trail of Brain's hair causing it to spring out in different directions. "Just let her meet me. I will win her over."
"How dare you!" Wendy snapped, causing everyone to look at her in surprise. "All of you, standing around deciding my future?! I am not a prize to be won!"
Wendy stormed out, much to Romeo's dismay and Brain's anger. Carla chuckled sheepishly, "Oh, dear. She must be upset at the moment." She turned to Romeo, "Don't worry, Prince Romi. Just give Wendy time to cool down. In the meantime, I'll give you a tour of the castle."
As Carla escorted Romeo out of the throne room, Brain narrowed his eyes on Romeo. Cobra transformed back into his human self, sharing the same glare.
"You're upset about this 'new prince' as well, I take it?" Brain asked.
"More like imposter!" Cobra answered angrily. "I can hear his thoughts… He's not a real prince at all."
"Hmm… Perhaps your hyper-sensitive ears can expose the imposter's true identity," Brain nodded. "Anything else?"
"That's all I got," Brain shrugged. "Before I can hear more of his thoughts, they were blocked."
"Blocked?" Brain raised his eyebrow.
"Blocked mentally!" Cobra explained. "A powerful force seems to be interfering with my ears before I can hear more of his thoughts! He's something else. Guess we have to call Panther Lily and the guards to get rid of this so-called prince."
"No, Cobra," Brain shook his head. "Panther Lily is extremely loyal to Prime Minister Carla. He would be suspicious if I ever asked him to 'take care' of the so-called prince." He chuckled evilly, "Nonetheless, the young boy will be gone soon enough. And no one will ever know."
Cobra gasped, "You mean…"
"Yes. Call on our friends. They've been hiding long enough," Brain ordered.
"Yes, boss man," Cobra nodded, before he turned into his snake form and slithered away.
Brain said to himself with a sinister look on his face, "It's time for us to say good-bye to Prince Cabooboo."
To Be Continued…