#xiaolindude

Once upon a time, a single drop of sunlight fell from the heavens. Where it landed, a magical golden gemstone, warm to the touch, formed. It was discovered by a woman and dubbed the Sun's Tear.

Now, the magic of this stone was profound. It granted the gifts of healing, longevity, and near-invulnerability. But not everyone can use the stone. Only the woman who found it, and other women of her bloodline, have the capability. Because of this, those women became custodians of the gem and its power, passing it down from generation to generation. It is a great gift, but also a great responsibility. Those who would seek the power of the stone must first locate she who holds it and ask a boon, or else find a way to take the power for themself.

Unfortunately for the current holder, she is being hunted. Fortunately for her, she is difficult to locate...

The wind whipped through Rapunzel's hair as The Chameleon cut cleanly through the waves of the Atlantic. Today was a very important day; it was the three-year anniversary of the day she had become a pirate, having run away from home after her father accepted a proposal from an admiral she despised on her behalf. It was also her 23rd birthday.

Her crew, a cutthroat band of ruffians and thugs, were all smiles as they made their way south toward the equatorial band. Warm seas and fair winds called, as did the merchant ships that sailed from Europe.

Though she had been born noble, Rapunzel had taken to a life at sea with little problem. It offered a freedom that her home did not, as well as adventure and travel -- all things denied her as the daughter of a marquis -- plus, it made her a moving target in an impossibly large sea. For Rapunzel was also the custodian of the Sun's Tear, having been gifted the gem by her mother on her 18th birthday. For five years, she had cared for, used, and kept secret the gem, wearing a non-magical replica around her neck as a red herring. And for the past three years, she had been hunted mercilessly by the man who she had been promised to. Whether it was out of pride, vanity, or revenge, she did not know, but The Chameleon was a fast ship, one of the fastest in the ocean, and had an uncanny ability to blend in with its surroundings. She didn't know how or why it managed it, but there had been so many close calls where her pursuers had sailed past without seeing them.

But for now, she wasn't hiding.

"Hook Hand!" she called out, and was promptly answered by her first mate, a burly man with a bald head and a thin mustache that drooped around the sides of his mouth.

"Aye, Captain?"

"Let me know the moment the Bella Seraphina is spotted."

"Aye, Captain! Her cargo will make an excellent birthday present for you. Happy birthday, by the way!"

She couldn't help her warm smile. "Thank you!" she answered with sweet sincerity. "But I'm more interested in our anniversary celebration tonight! Happy anniversary, Hook Hand!"

POV you're Rai and Rapunzel spent the night in your house, but not your room. This is how what you wake up to the next morning.

Six years of being completely obsessed with them! Six years of learning about Rai from @xiaolindude, going so far as to watch XS so I'd better understand this character she was writing. Six years of falling more and more in love with them as they fall more and more in love with each other, over and over and over again.

In tribute to the Tangled-Xiaolin Showdown roleplay by @runningracingdancingchasing and @xiaolindude, here are some sketches of Rapunzel's life among the Xiaolin Warriors and her relationship with the 'Dragon of the Wind' Raimundo Pedrosa.

I started by showing the playful, sassy dynamics Rapunzel and Raimundo would exhibit between each other, then when they practise martial arts, Rapunzel playing a prank on Raimundo with Pascal ambushing him with a tongue in the ear. Rai gets grossed out while Rapunzel giggles uncontrollably.

Bex, or @runningracingdancingchasing, has shown Rapunzel to be a good friend, or even surrogate sister with Xiaolin 'Dragon of Fire' Kimiko Tohomiko. Having such a close relationship, Rapunzel and Kimiko have challenged each other to a race. Notice Master Fung and Dojo watching the two playing their little game.

Next Raimundo is making use of his elemental power to lift Rapunzel into the air so she can kick some butt from above. Notice Pascal hanging onto Rapunzel's lengthened hair for dear life!

As well as deep lovers, Raimundo and Rapunzel can be fierce fighters, Raimundo bowling over some ninjas and Rapunzel slashing them with her golden hair as though it were a whip.

Art is still a hobby of Rapunzel's, and who better to sketch the beauty of the human body than her Brazilian beau? Of course, Rapunzel, in just her vest and short shorts, doesn't mind in the slightest that Raimundo volunteers to let her paint him with his shirt off. Pascal is serving as her second opinion while she paints, but it seems Pascal will praise her artwork no matter how it looks.

Lastly Rapunzel and Raimundo, who's got on a Brazilian flag shirt, share a passionate kiss near a soothing seasape. For Rapunzel, Raimundo is everything she could want out of partner, life among the Xiaolin monks giving her a life beyond her wildest dreams. His wind powers and her sun-infused hair intertwine just like their relationship and many romantic adventures are in store for Raimundo and Rapunzel.

The first time, would be the hardest, but you’ll be so pleased with yourself once you’re through, Luisa’s mamá had said. But má was on the other side of the world in New Granada, while Luisa had just stepped into a ballroom. Behind her, her ‘aunt’ and chaperone Carla.

For a moment she felt eyes on her. Why would people not look? She was easily towering over any lady, and a few men too. She exhaled slowly, keeping her posture straight and bold as she entered, seeking out a place in the crowd near a statue and a large painting. 

“Remember to smile,” Carla tried, stiffly. “You are to be approached. Not the other way around, Luisa.”

I’ve a feeling that even if Bruce has more or less sided himself with Jack (if only to the point where he makes sure the kid doesn’t get himself killed), the big guy has a habit of befriending everyone and anyone, and that includes the “Xiaolin nerds”

Clay wasn’t here for Raimundo. Hell, he’d never expected to see him again. And while it had been hard getting over losing him as a teammate, he’d never really stopped considering the other boy - other man, now - his friend, somewhere in his heart. After all, Rai hadn’t done anything to him - to any of them, really - other than the initial out lash that had resulted from, well... Clay was never entirely clear about what had happened that had freaked Rai out so much. But his friend had gone, and they’d never seen him again.

Until now.

He still couldn’t believe he was staring down his former teammate. A lot had changed in that time, physically, emotionally, all of it. But the physically? Hoo-boy, Raimundo was not looking entirely human anymore, and that concerned Clay. Had he gone Heylin? If so, why hadn’t they caught up with him until right now? The claws on his hands and feet (his feet were... ‘too big’ about summed it up, but they just looked wrong somehow), the flash of sharp teeth when he spoke and smiled, and when he removed his sunglasses, his pupils were definitely slits. This wasn’t right, and Clay felt his blood pressure go up. The little stoat (Mustela erminea) on his knee was paying too close attention to Clay for his liking, though, so he kept himself calm and centered. Grounded.