Fallen Prince, Risen King - Where Lies Hide

Chapter 9 - Hello and Goodbye

Princess Zhen stood in knee-deep of glassy water, she looked around and saw nothing but whiteness. In front of her, she saw three trees with a boy leaning on each of them. They were telling stories they remember and what will soon happen. "Did you seriously fall onto her while she bathe?" asked the present.

"Believe me, you won't hear the last of it from uncle." said the future.

"That sounds like him, does he ever let go of the selfish deed we did?" asked the past.

"Yeah, he let it go after I did that." replied the future. "I much prefer to hear our mistake than the accident."

"So that's about four years away for me to hear that story." groaned the past.

"Just remind him of his pile of paperwork in his office. How you and Tony cleaned it out for him. Then threaten you'll let it pile up again if he continues the story." said the present.

"Right cause then the frequency of him telling it drops dramatically." agreed the future.

"So it was the rain that got us?" asked the past.

"It went into my mouth that night while it stormed. If I went home first, I could avoid what happened." explained the present.

"I can't wait for the stuff you told me about to happen." said the past to the future.

"Let's not forget our story doesn't end with me." stated the future. They looked out to see even an older Zhōng standing on a snow cap of a mountain. Lava spouted out all around him and was closing in. With a black, blue, silver, and purple sword in his hand, he looked up to see the three of them looking at him. The sword suddenly glowed a very light blue, feeling its power, Zhōng lifted it in the air to activate it as the lava engulfs him and the vision ended.

The future and past Zhōngs disappear as well when Princess Zhen approaches them. Zhōng looked up to see her confused at what just happened. "Hello, princess, allow me to introduce myself. I am Former Prince Zhōng, wielder of the Ninja Sword." he introduced.

"Where are we?" asked Princess Zhen, looking around them.

"We're in the space between time. It's the only place where you can't grow old, however, time is frozen therefore the world can't continue either." explained Zhōng.

"You mean we're still in the fortress?" asked Princess Zhen.

"Not exactly, our world no longer exists as it prevented another from going. Father Shí Huà knew I'll be going camping with you a month ago. He prepared an experimental chemical that would make me tell the truth."

"How?"

"He discovered that time ball, that's what we hit to have us come here. If he didn't use it, the timeline will continue and you would have discovered my identity by yourself during that trip. You'll try to kill me, but I promise you to wait till I deal with my brother as he prepared another rebellion."

"So what now?"

Zhōng leaned further back on the tree and answered. "Our timeline is done, my past would avoid the camping trip and you won't find out till later."

"But I want to know sooner than later, why keep me in the dark for so long?" asked Princess Zhen.

"Because that's how this timeline goes, I used the watch inappropriately and almost had me killed. I'll suffer from this consequence, you won't know there was a different timeline." explained Zhōng.

"That's not my point," stated Princess Zhen, she suddenly dropped down and hugged him as she cried. "I've missed you, you are the first friend I met. Though I hated you, I'm sure after a while I would remember why I like you. Let me remember now so you don't have to suffer from keeping a secret from me."

"Would you tell me about your secret? Not your seal but your other one?" asked Zhōng, Princess Zhen stopped crying as she pondered how to answer. "I don't know what you promise, but if you tell me first in our new timeline, I will tell you who I am. But for now, this is goodbye." They disappeared into the whiteness of the void.

"Thanks for inviting me, your majesty." thanked Jane to Princess Zhen. They were out in a meadow setting up camp under the guidance of Captain Howin. While the boys went to find wood for a fire, the girls were finishing up their tents.

"You're welcome, I just hope our last guest will arrive soon." said Princess Zhen. She was fifteen years old and became the princess after her mother took over the throne. Her silver blond hair was plain but beautiful and her red eyes which were once dull came back to life. She thanks Truman the Dual Bladed Ninja for demonstrating courage to her as it was him that sparked her curiosity again. She decided to go on a camping trip and invited her betrothed and Truman along knowing it would two boys and two girls and the captain.

"Let's face it, he's way too busy doing things, he doesn't have time for this." stated Lord Zào, returning with some wood.

"You never know, he perhaps has to travel from the other side of the empire. I would feel exhausted if I did a job out there and then had to come back to my place of operation just to ride towards here. And I would feel sorry for my horse." stated Captain Howin. He was near his thirties and was in charge of the empress's royal guards. He carried a Spriggan sword around his hip and a spear across his back. For ten years, he guarded Former Prince Zhōng and Princess Zhen from any dangers.

"Isn't their horses bred differently, captain?" asked Lord Zào.

"They are, they're bred to run forever and rumors say they only let their owner ride them. But while they can go a long distance doesn't mean they should. If Truman is surely coming, he perhaps picked a spot to rest for a while before continuing his travels." said Captain Howin.

"We should see the stars tonight, correct, captain?" asked Jane.

"We should, considering it's clear skies right now." stated Captain Howin as he begin searching for a spot to build a fire.

Zhōng looked up into the stars over his uncle's home that night. They twinkle in the dark void of space forming constellations of his imagination. During his travels when alone, he often looked up to see them before lightly falling asleep. "If I knew you would be up here, star gazing again, I would have told you to go since you were invited." stated Uncle Tyron. He was the leader of the Ninja Black Market and a well-known smith who people knew as Mr. Fields. He grew a medium-sized black beard as gray hairs peeked in spots in his hair.

"Rain is coming in tonight, not a good way to start a camping trip." explained Zhōng as he watched a shooting star pass over them. He was fifteen years old and went by the name of Dual Bladed Ninja in the black market. His dark blond hair was short and shaggy as the wind blew over his scarless face. His eyes were dull, but when he was determined for something, they were like staring at dark blue fires where demons waited. He carried two swords, a Longus on his left hip with the Ninja Sword on his back hip, and a knife, a gift from his passed-away mother. He felt regret for declining but relief for what could have happened.

Princess Zhen looked up at the stars as Captain Howin was looking for the north star. She felt like someone told her how to find them. "Where's the north star?" muttered Captain Howin. He turned around eventually finding it and pointing it out.

"How come it took you so long to find that bright of a star?" asked Lord Zào.

"Cause there are three others just as bright." said Princess Zhen. She pointed the rest of them out though she didn't know how she found them.