[CENTER][h1][color=EB054D][b]RICO[/b][/color][/h1][/center][hr]The day after the Ko’Bo’Ka’Na Festival, an air of tension hung over the capital for those not in the know. Like a hangover, the villagers had over-imbibed, much of the work to be done in the morning put on hold for an intensive cleanup. The exhilaration of going against the king had faded, leaving the anxiety of the incoming punishment. Even those who did know of the royal family having actually took part in the festivities were left with doubts that everything would be alright after the king called for an assembly at the city square. Voices murmuring in trepidation, the whole kingdom buzzed about in the square, their collective concerns forming a low hum of discussion, all of it silenced when King Lulouis took the platform, flanked by Princes Petre and Alliant, all of them as regal as ever. Though the men wore distinguished looks, they were well crafted masks, neither prince having any idea what the assembly was for. Stepping forward, Lulouis raised his voice, words carrying over the crowd. “People of Puddle, I don’t intend to waste your time. After all your revelry, we must return to a harsh reality. Our island is not in the best of positions. We are falling behind the rest of the world, clinging on through luck: a rare resource that is oh so very finite. It’s a difficult hand for any leader, but frankly, I do not believe I have been making the right choices. Even before the death of my wife, a heart in the right place doesn’t make the world move. Not always.” The king was silent for a moment, his eyes glancing over a nearby hill, past which rested the city’s graveyard, where a fresh bouquet of flowers rested at the royal mausoleum. “As such, effective immediately, and henceforth, I am abdicating the throne.” It started as a pitch, then rose to rumble, then thunder. The townsfolk, a large number of which only ever knew rule under King Lulouis, erupted into shock and awe. Some were anxious, some excited, but all tittering quieted down with a single hand being raised. “Prince Petre is much older than I when I was crowned, and I’ve known for a long time that he was more than suitable a leader. But I held on. For what reason, I’m not sure. Petre’s due has long since passed: I do believe it’s time I let go. I will be leaving the island for a time. Pinoko Island has all the facilities I need to recover my health. I’ve neglected it for far too long. I don’t know how much time I have left in this world, but I want to spend as much time as I can with my sons, and next year...I would like to enjoy the Ko’Bo’Ka’Na Festival. I would like to look forward to my birthday for the first time in a long time. Petre will not be alone, he has an upstanding younger brother with him, and I will offer everything I can upon my return, but for now-” Lulouis’ hand waved Petre over, the prince winding up his dropped jaw. Posture stiff, he approached his father, removing his circlet and kneeling down. “I crown you: King Petre. May your reign be long and resolute.” Bequeathed his crown, King Petre stood, meeting the gradually rising cheers of the crowd head on. From behind him, he could feel Alliant’s smile upon his back. The three felt their hearts turning in unison, like gears unstuck, now able to move towards a future full of possibility. Later, the crowd gradually dispersed after Petre announced his desire for a fresh start and intent to address the problems plaguing the island head on. The newly crowned monarch moved off to find his younger brother waiting on him. Petre closed his eyes and smiled. “Did you plan for this?” Alliant was taken aback. “Hardly! I had nothing to do with much of anything. I’ve never been much of a prince.” Petre clapped his hand on Alliant’s shoulder. “Nonsense! You have more trust with the people than I ever had. Not as much respect, perhaps…” “Hey!” Petre laughed. “But really, don’t act like you played no part in this.” Alliant looked off towards the ocean, unable to deny it. “I didn’t do much, I just met a little firestarter.” Petre flinched. Alliant gave a quizzical look. “You’re telling me...”[hr]Lying down in the lakeside grass, rope pinning his arms to the sides, Rico had a blank look on his face. All about him, Petre’s men panted and gasped as they caught their breath, having beaten Rico’s Fruit power through sheer attrition. Even Petre was at his limit, much of his weight pressed on his horse. The game of tag, the keep away with the small rowboat. Neither side sought to harm each other, and that resulted in this wasteful disaster. After all that it only ended because of a sudden shower. His men being reduced to this was shameful. Shameful! [COLOR=EB054D]“Man...this sucks and blows at the same time!”[/color] Rico whined. “Nuh-uh, nothing can suck and blow at the same time,” said one of the knights. [COLOR=EB054D]“Yeah huh!”[/color] “Try it then.” [COLOR=EB054D]“HUFF HAW HUFF HAW HUFF HAW HUFF HAWGH UGH GRAHH UFFF,”[/COLOR] Rico sputtered. “Knock it off already!” Petre snarled. “Let’s get back to town, I’m done.” “Sir!” called a messenger, coming up to the scene of exhausted men. “...Sir?” “Out with it already,” Petre grumbled, pomp and decorum on vacation. “Prince Alliant is calling for you. King Lulouis is allowing the festival! He also asked that the foreigner be exonerated.” [COLOR=EB054D]“Oh god!”[/color] Rico shouted, his breathing quickening in fear. “It means you’re annulled of blame for supposed crimes,” Petre disparaged. Rico thought for a moment, before saying, [COLOR=EB054D]“Wait, it’s not the other thing? We’re all good then?”[/color] “All good.” Rico smiled, sparks sizzling as he slipped from his ropes and hopped ot his feet. The array of knights stared in disbelief. [COLOR=EB054D]“So I can go have fun and eat food at the festival!?”[/color] “...Yes.” [COLOR=EB054D]“YaaaaaaAAAAAAAAY!”[/color] Rico cheered, hands raised in the air. With whistles and screeches, a number of rockets fired off from his person, popping in the air and cracking on the ground. The dry grass was rather receptive to Rico’s mood, growing in blaze all the same. Opening his eyes to see the flames about him, Rico screeched. [COLOR=EB054D]“AHHH AHHHH AHHHH AHH AIIIE AIIIE AHH AIIEE.”[/color] Foot stamping, he tried to quash the nearest fire to little avail. Once the knights returned from having ducked for cover, their shields dug into the dirt as helmets were cast into the water as makeshift pails, the organized troupe finding a last burst of energy to fight the fire. A last trial before the festivities could be enjoyed in full. And enjoy the festivities Rico did, trying just about everything he could, be it food, dance, or show. Filling his empty stomach on candied apples and chicken skewers, filling his ears with laughter at a comedy show, filling his heart with dance at the concerts, he was at the shooting range with a pop gun when an older fellow approached him. “Having fun, boy?” the question was matched with Rico’s pop cap flying off a little to the side, bouncing of one prize and knocking into another. Both rattled to the gasps of onlookers, only to settle, gasps turning into groans. But Rico smiled. [COLOR=EB054D]“This is the most fun I ever had!”[/color] A bit of moisture coming to eyes thought dried out this night, Lulouis smiled. “Is that so?” While Rico lined up his last shot, he began, “I have a bit of a request, if you are willing to indulge…” And so, that lone firework would fly.[hr]The next morning, Rico yawned as he stood at the dockside, Princes behind him as though he might try to run off. “I really can’t thank you enough,” Alliant insisted. Rico stuck out his tongue, [COLOR=EB054D]“Yes you can, I’m sick of it!”[/color] Petre shook his head. “I just can’t understand why you’d bother.” Rico paused for a moment, before admitting, [COLOR=EB054D]“I dunno. I didn’t really think I’d help any, I just figured there being a festival would be better than there not being a festival. It rained a little, but it looked like that didn’t stop anything!”[/color] Alliant nodded. “We need the rain. We may not like it when it happens, but it always passes eventually.” He exchanged a knowing glance with Petre, who couldn’t deny him. [COLOR=EB054D]“Says you, Puddle Prince, the rain is great! Usually. Hey, either of you guys wanna be pirates?”[/color] Petre balked, “What?” [COLOR=EB054D]“I’m recruiting!”[/color] The two stared. Alliant broke out into a sweat, realizing that he in fact, did not mishear the young man the other day. At the silence enabled by the two men trying so very hard to unpack this strange lad, his shrugged, [COLOR=EB054D]“Oh well, your loss!”[/color] Pointing a finger to the sky as he turned off to the gangplank of the merchant vessel, he laughed, [COLOR=EB054D]“Fireworks are made to go ‘up’, and I’m headed to the top!”[/color] “You better watch who you ask,” Petre warned. Alliant chortled, “Rooting for you might be heresy of the deepest kind, but you are a strage sort, and no one normal would aim to be Pirate King.” Petre’s eyes shot opened at Alliant’s words, but Rico only laughed. “Come back next year, if you don’t die.” The gangplank lifted, sails lowered, Rico gave a thumbs up. It wasn’t a promise, yet there was hope, one of many hopes that Alliant hadn’t felt a one of in what felt like a long time. As he went back to his day to day among the people, his heart wasn’t the only one set ablaze on this small Puddle.