Flames of the Past #5: Lost Souls (Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 15

"That smells amazing," Kai breathed as he stepped out of the trees. He'd been securing the area around them, but hadn't run into any of the Sons of Darkness. He was confident now their enemies had lost their trail.

Skylor was kneeling beside the fire Kai had made, cooking something on a stick. She smiled up at him. "Thank you," she answered. She took the stick from the fire and scraped the ingredients into two makeshift bowls she'd created from fruit shells.

Kai walked over and sat beside her, watching as she mixed the stew together. Then she handed him one of the bowls. Kai glanced down at the soup of vegetables and spices before lifting it to his lips and taking a gulp.

He blinked in surprise as he took the bowl from his mouth, relishing the sweet taste on his tongue. "Hey, this is pretty good," he commented.

Skylor smiled as he continued eating. "You sound surprised," she replied, drinking her own soup.

"I didn't know you could cook," Kai explained. "Especially with so little ingredients."

"Marcello taught me well," Skylor smiled. "I used to spend time with him in the kitchen ever since I was a child. I've come to enjoy cooking, although I don't often get the chance."

Kai frowned. "Why not?"

"Because that's the chef's job. Princesses have more important things to take care of." Skylor sighed, placing her bowl on the ground. "Or, fake princesses."

Kai set his bowl down, too, and moved closer to her. "Why do you keep saying that?" he asked.

"The research I found explained everything." Skylor gazed into the distance. "My father overthrew the real king and queen of Shillvaron. Brutus and Marissa."

Alarm lit Kai's face. "So they were real?" he breathed.

"Yes," Skylor replied. "And if they're out there somewhere, Shillvaron is rightfully their kingdom. Not mine."

"How do you know if they're still alive?" Kai pointed out. "If Chen took over Shillvaron, wouldn't he have killed them?"

Skylor shook her head. "The message I found said that the Sons of Darkness took them hostage. They may have killed Brutus and Marissa afterward, but I never found any evidence of that."

Kai blinked slowly, thinking for a minute. "What else did it say?"

"It sounded like a warning," Skylor went on. "It said the Sons of Darkness planned to reverse time. The Guardians wrote that message in those books so that the fact that my father, the leader of the Sons of Darkness, isn't the real king wouldn't be forgotten."

Kai raised his head, feeling the pieces finally come together. "They mind-wiped everyone," he realized.

Skylor met his gaze. "That's what it sounded like," she agreed.

"That would make sense as to why the Guardians couldn't find Chen or Clouse after the war," Kai continued. "They could've been standing right in front of them and have had no clue who they really were." He glanced back at the princess. "There has to be some way to break the spell. Some way to get everyone's memories back."

Skylor raised her shoulders. "If there is, the books didn't mention it," she said.

"We'll find a way," Kai stated.

Skylor's gaze lowered and she painted her fingers through the dirt. "Then what will happen to me?" she wondered quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"If the people remember the truth, they won't accept me anymore. They'll want their real king and queen back. And why shouldn't they? I did take over their kingdom."