Go! Go! Go! Go For It! Prince Lee!

ONIGAWARA

One of the first places on Earth to greet the rising sun each morning was none other than the kingdom of Starliana. The light swept across the four islands, blanketed the rolling mountain ranges, bathed the rice fields a glittering golden color, and made the sea waters glimmer brilliantly. What would be a typical day for the peaceful nation was shaken up from minute one.

Though impossible, it was as if the clouds parted to shine a spotlight upon a grand sailing ship docking at the country's largest harbor. It may have been the earliest hours of the morning, but citizens from far and wide were gathered on the pier. Packed shoulder to shoulder, everyone anxiously anticipated what would come from the boat stamped with the crest of the royal family.

When the gangway finally lowered, the crowd roared with vigorous jubilation. Departing from the ship was a parade headed by a squadron of armored knights. Some raced down the road on horseback while others marched on foot. Whatever the rank or whatever task they performed, they all joined together in song.

🎵Here he is, He is home at last

The days away are lo-long past

It's him, our prince we hold so dear

Whoa-ho-oh-ho, Prince Lee is here🎵

Then came a shining carriage driven by a train of sporty looking stallions. The curtains may have been drawn, blocking any view inside, but everybody knew it was the crown prince riding in that wagon. Confetti flew, song and music filled the air, and a tremendous merriment erupted from the people's hearts. The parade's course would take them from the harbor to the capital city. In that time, all manner of gossip about the aristocratic celebrity was shared among the attending populace.

"What a day it is! Usually, the prince leaves for schooling in the spring and summer, but I heard he's been gone two straight years to finish his lessons."

"I hear ever since he was a babe, the prince has gone to a real school of hard knocks to learn from the best in, well, pretty much everything!"

"I heard he can do it all. Why, he's so talented, he could play a complicated rhapsody without fail."

"Rumor has it he graduated with the highest of high marks. He was at the top of his class! If this is what we have to look forward to, he will make a wise king indeed."

"PBBBBBT PPPT PIP PUP PUUUH." The future monarch mouthed noises and slapped his palms on his chest in an upbeat rhythm. "Have you heard that one? Ohh my stars, I tell you it's a BIG hit on the mainland. Hold on, lemme play my favorite part."

To combat boredom from the slow-going slog through the countryside, the youngster blathered on about a song heard during his travels. Without an instrument to hand, he took to playing percussion on himself to approximate the tune. While it certainly struck his fancy, it did not resonate the same with the platoon of guards crammed into the coach with him.

Their indifferent silence drove him to cease his folly.

"Okay, I guess it hasn't reached Starliana yet, no big deal." His chin dipped as he muttered in displeasure, only for inspiration to perk him right back up again. "Hey, I know! Who wants to hear a joke?"

Against his will, merely thinking of the rib-tickler he intended to share sent him into a fit of giddy giggling.

Once he gained enough composure to speak, he said. "What's worse than finding a worm in your apple?" A swing of his fist following a charming grin added fanciful flourish to the set-up. The punchline was then delivered with gusto. "Finding half a worm in your apple!" Smiling wide, his eyes darted side to side to gauge the escort's reactions.