One more chapter, guys! And then this story will be finished!

Chapter 5 – Remember

It was a nice afternoon out in the jungle, and Seismo and Teslo were definitely enjoying it together as they were taking a nice stroll through the jungle.

"Whooa-Ooooh! In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion zzzleeps toniiiiight! In the jungle, the mighty jungle the lion sleepzzz toniiiight!" Teslo sang, and Seismo was humming the beat, but soon enough, Seismo spotted a plump little stag beetle, and he thought he'd had a little snack.

""Back me up, Buddy! Ah-weeeeeee-heee-eehee! Bum-bum, buh-weee!" Teslo sang out in rather higher pitched tone, especially for a male…but then he noticed Seismo's singing had stopped, and that he wasn't around anymore, "uh, Seismo? Seismo?!"

Little did Teslo know that his buddy only snuck off in mid-song to chase after the stag beetle, and he followed it out of the jungle and towards the outskirts where it met with some tall, dry grasslands.

Seismo was determined to get this bug and eat it, so he had to stay low to the ground to follow it as long as he could. The bug soon landed on a log and crawled around a bit, but now Seismo was sure he cornered his prey, as he continued to sneak up to it.

But as Seismo looked up and over the log, he noticed something moving within the tall grass when he accidentally lost the bug and it flew away. But now, Seismo was more interested in as to what ever he was seeing in the grass.

So, the Cragster continued to squint into the distance, and he soon saw a long, red, flame-tipped tail sway out from the top of the grass. And not only did he see a tail, but he saw the creature the owned the tail that was crouching down to the ground on all fours…and it looked ready to pounce.

"AAAHH!" Seismo exclaimed with extreme fear as he suddenly turned the other way and started sprinting, but the Infernite that he saw hunting him started sprinting after him with a death glare and her teeth bared.

Meanwhile, Teslo was still searching for his Cragster friend…but his search wasn't to last much longer when he suddenly heard Seismo's screams of terror.

Teslo turned towards the direction of the screams, and Seismo suddenly came bursting through the thick vegetation, but just when he was about to reach Teslo, one of his giant feet suddenly got caught deep in a mole hole, and now he was struggling because he was helplessly stuck.

"Whoa! Where's the fire?!" Teslo questioned with fear as he ran up to his friend.

"SHE'S GONNA BURN ME!" Seismo exclaimed, and Teslo looked behind his Cragster buddy to see a fast-approaching flame.

"Oh, jeez! Why do I always have to save your-AAAAHHHH!" Teslo said as he grabbed Seismo's hand and tried to pull him out, but that was when the Infernite originally chasing him jumped out from the bushes.

Luckily, though, Flain arrived just in the nick of time, and broke her pounce. The stranger Infernite and Flain then started an all-out fight between each other, as they used their flames to fight.

"Yeah! Yeah! Fight fire with fire, Buddy!" Teslo cheered with a grin, and then he leaned down to Seismo, "zzzee, I told ya he'd come in handy."

The fight between the Infernites continued on with intense heat, but it soon became hand-to-hand when Flain lunged at her. But his attempt to pin her down instantly failed when she suddenly rolled over and slammed his back and head against the ground.

Wait a minute…

There was only ONE person Flain knew that would pin him down like that; he even noticed the familiar tail and long flame hair in a pony-tail, as he stared up at her with shock.

"Pyp?"

Adult Pyp was surprised that this stranger Mixel knew her name, so she stopped growling and glaring as she stepped off and away.

"Is it really you?" Flain asked with a smile as he stood back up.

"Who…who are you?" Pyp questioned with a squint.

"It's me—Flain."

"Flain?"

Flain nodded with even more anticipation, but soon Pyp smiled a huge smile as they both happily explained and suddenly went in to give each other hug. But Teslo couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"How did you-?!" the two old friends questioned at the same time, but were too excited to finish their sentence.

"Where do you come from?" Pyp asked with happiness.

"Who cares?! It's GREAT ta see ya!" Flain cheered after pulling out of the hug, and looked at how much they've both grown.

"WHAT'S GOIN' ON HERE?!" Teslo exclaimed angrily after having his questions be ignored at first.

"Teslo, this is Pyp; she's my best friend," Flain happily replied.

"Friend?" Teslo asked with major disbelief.

"Hey Seismo, come over here!" Flain called, and Seismo then tried to pull his foot free. He soon got free, but ended up tumbling up to everyone else, and was staring up at them on his back.

"Pyp, these is my are my buddies Teslo and Seismo," Flain introdued.

"Pleased to make acquaintance."

"Pleasure's all mine," Pyp chuckled.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Time out! Let me get this straight: she knows you, you know her, but she also wants to kill him, and we're all OK with this—DID I MISS SOMETHING?!" Teslo suddenly exclaimed.

"Whoa, chillax, Teslo," Flain said with concern.

"Wait until everyone finds out you've actually been alive all this time," Pyp added with awe.

"What do you mean? N-no one has to know about that," Flain protested with a stammer.

"Well, of course they do, everyone thinks you're DEAD."

"They do?"

"Yeah…Nyx told us about the avalanche," Pyp sighed sadly.

"H-he did…w-what else did he tell you?"

"What else matters? You're alive, and that means—you're the king."

"King? Hold on. Back this truck up, Lady. Flain? A KING? Not in a million years…no offense, Flain," Teslo pointed out grimly.

"A king? You're Majesty; me gravel at feet!" Seismo said with awe as he groveled at Flain's feet, creeping the Infernite king out.

"First off, it iszzz not 'gravel', it izzz 'grovel'," Teslo stated slowly and angrily as he made the Cragster stand back up, "and second, Flain's not a king, he'zzzz OUR buddy, and he ain't the king, and he ain't goin' anywhere…right?"

"No," Flain replied.

"Flain!" Pyp said with shock.

"No, I'm NOT the king…maybe I was gonna be, but that was a really long time ago."

"Wait a minute. You were the king, and you never told US? You're best bros?" Teslo asked.

"Hey, I'm still the same guy," Flain pointed out.

"But with power!" Teslo added with a grin.

"Um…could you guys please excuse us for a moment?" Pyp calmly asked.

"Uh, no. what ever you got ta zzzay ta Flain, you can say ta us. Right, Seismo?" Teslo protested.

"Actually…maybe you guys SHOULD step away for a moment," Flain sighed.

Seismo was more accepting than Teslo, but he was still worried.

"Gee, ya think ya know a guy," Teslo sneered after reluctantly walking off into the jungle with a shocked face.

"Eh, they're my best friends, what are ya gonna do?" Flain asked with a smirk, but then he noticed how Pyp had already walked off a few feet and sulked her head sadly, "hey, are you ok?"

"It's like…like you're back from the dead…you don't know how much this will mean to everyone…and what it means to me," Pyp sighed with sorrow while looking at her friend with sad eyes.

"Hey, it's ok," Flain reassured.

"I've really missed you," Pyp softly pointed out, as she pulled in Flain for another hug and buried her face in his chest, but he didn't mind as he smiled and returned the hug.

"I've missed you too."

Meanwhile, Teslo and Seismo had never actually left; they were watching from afar while hiding in the bushes.

"Pbht! Man, I tell ya, Seismo. This stinks!" Teslo whispered angrily.

"Oh…sorry."

"Not you…THEM. Him. Her. Alone."

"What wrong with that?"

"Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" by Sally Dworsky and Joseph Williams begins to play.

"I can see what'zzz happening," Teslo began in a very subtle sing-song tone.

"What?" Seismo asked with confusion.

"And they don't have a clue!"

"Who?"

"They'll fall in love, and here's the bottom line—our trios down ta two."

"Oh…"

"Zeh sweet caress of twilight; there's magic everywhere!" Teslo started singing in a somewhat French-English voice, "AND with all this romantic atmosphere…DISASTER'S IN THE AAAAAIIIIIR!"

As Teslo and Seismo sadly watched and followed their best buddy get bitten by the love bug because of Pyp, the two Infernites went exploring through the beautiful jungle with the setting sun.

They walked into and out a cave behind some gentle and beautiful water falls, but all this was making them thirsty, so they soon stopped by a watery grove, and they cupped their hands to grab a drink.

"So many things to tell her…but how to make her seee? The truth about me past? Impossible! She's turn away from meee!" Flain sadly stated in his head, but Pyp looked up when she noticed his strange body language.

"He's holding back, he's hiding! But what? I can't deciiide! Why won't he be the king I know he is? The king I see insiiiiide?!"

But as Pyp thought to herself, Flain wore a grin on his face and he only confused her more when he suddenly ran behind her, and she dashed out of the way just in time when Flain suddenly came swinging in on a vine, and he cannon-balled into the water.

Now, water was actually pretty harmless to an Infernite, but Pyp was still at the edge of the water, frantically looked for her friend. But then she noticed a stream of bubbles swimming towards her, and those bubbles were Flain's air bubbles, as he suddenly leaped out of the water with a huge smile and he pulled Pyp into the water without warning.

And Pyp REALLY wasn't expecting that, so she suddenly burst from the water with fear and frantically climbed out of the water. But Flain followed her out, and looked out her with a goofy smile. But Pyp knew he had good intentions, so she only smirked back at him and shoved him back into the water and ran off.

But Flain wasn't going to let her just get away with that, so he climbed back out and started chasing her; the two went running happily through a few clearings, and the wind soon caused them to be dry enough for their flames to rekindle.

And Flain soon got his revenge when he lunged at Pyp, but they were at a hilltop, so the two started tumbling down together. They soon landed at the bottom in some soft grass, as Flain lay on top of her, both of them smiling.

But while Flain was busy laughing, Pyp took the opportunity, and she slowly brought Flain's face close to hers and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

Now, Flain never knew Pyp would do that, so he looked down at her with wide eyes…but then he remembered that they weren't immature kids anymore, so he softly smiled back.

They couldn't deny it; Globert was right; they were meant for each other, and they both stood up and shared another big hug.

But Teslo and Seismo were still watching them from a safe distance, and this time, there were tears forming in their eyes.

"And if…he falls…in love…tonight…it can be…assuuuumed," Teslo sadly sang, as Seismo was sniffling.

"His care-free days…with us are history…" Seismo sadly sang along.

"In short, our pal…is dooooooooooooooomed!" the two sang in unison, and when they finished, they started crying like absolute babies.

The sun was just barely finished setting, as Flain and Pyp were still walking together.

"Isn't this just such a great place?" Flain asked softly with a smile, as he and Pyp didn't notice they were not walking towards the edge of the jungle.

"I-it is beautiful…but there's still something that confuses me. You've been alive this whole time, and you never came back home? Why?" Pyp asked softly.

"I guess…I just wanted ta…get on my own; live my own life," Flain began as he found a set of vines that would make a nice hammock, so he climbed up and kicked back into them, "and it's been great out here!"

"We've really needed you back home."

"No one needs me."

"Yes, we do. You're the king."

"Pyp, we've been through this; I'm NOT the king—Nyx is."

"Flain—he let the Nixels take over the Mixel lands…"

"What?"

"Everything's dead, there's no color, no creating, no food OR water anymore."

"I…can't go back," Flain sighed as he hopped out of the vine hammock and walked on.

"Why not?" Pyp questioned as she followed him.

"You wouldn't understand."

"What wouldn't I understand?"

"No, no, no. I-it doesn't matter…Hakuna Matata."

"Hakuna what?"

"Hakuna Matata; it's something I learned out here. Look, sometimes bad things happen…"

"Flain."

"And there's nothing you can do about it, so why worry?" Flain asked grimly as he started to get annoyed, but Pyp wasn't going to give up.

"Because it's YOUR responsibility!"

"What about you? You left!"

"I left to find help—and I found you. Don't you get it? You're our ONLY hope, Flain!"

"Sorry," Flain protested while rolling his eyes.

"You've changed…you're not the Flain I remember," Pyp stated with a glare.

"No, I'm not. Are ya satisfied now?"

"No…just disappointed."

"You know, you're starting to sound like me dad."

"Good. At least ONE of us does."

That did it for Flain.

"Listen, you think you can just show up and tell me how ta live my life?! You don't even know what I've been through!" Flain angrily exclaimed while sending her a death glare, and he walked off without her.

"I would if you'd just tell me!" Pyp protested.

"Forget it!"

"Fine!"

Meanwhile, Flain just stomped out into some more grassy clearings, and he was angrily pacing back and forth while monologuing.

"She's wrong…I can't go back…what would it even prove anyway? It won't change a thing…ya can't change the past."

Flain's anger soon started to turn to sadness, as he remembered his father when he stared up into the stars above.

"You said you'd always be there for me! …But you're not…and it's because of ME…it's MY fault…it's MY…fault."

But as Flain was starting to sob…he suddenly also started hearing what sounded like…someone singing complete gibberish. And he thought it was rude, so he glared back behind him, and found a purple figure relaxing in the tree; that purple figure was not only the one singing, but also Magnifo.

But since Flain didn't remember, he only rolled his eyes, and he walked away to a log that acted as a bridge over a calm stream. He soon sat down on the log and stared down sadly into his reflection.

But just when he thought he was alone, Magnifo still followed him, and he threw a rock into the water to get Flain's attention, as he was fiddling with his wands and was still singing gibberish.

"Will cut it out?" Flain asked grimly as he stood back up and walked the other way.

"I can't just cut it out 'cause it'll only grow right back!" Magnifo laughed a he started following Flain gain.

"Creepy purple dude," Flain grumbled, and then Magnifo caught up with him, "and will you stop following me? …Who are you?"

"Oh, but the REAL question is—who are YOU?" Magnifo asked whimsically.

"I thought I knew…now, I'm not so sure," Flain sighed sadly.

"Well, I know exactly who you are; come close, it's a secret…" Magnifo said as he pulled Flain's nonexistent ear closer to his mouth…only for him to suddenly start singing gibberish again, and Flain was not amused.

"Enough with the singing! What does that even mean?!"

"It means you are a Wiztastic…and I am not," Magnifo simply replied, but then he started laughing hysterically.

"I think…you're a bit confused," Flain sighed and tried to walk away, only for Magnifo to magically appear in front of him, and he stopped him by surprise and shoved a finger in her face.

"Wrong! I'm not the one that's confused here; you don't even know WHO you are!"

"Oh, and I suppose YOU know?" Flain grumbled after Magnifo took his hand away.

"I sure do—you're Ignitus' boy."

Flain's eyes popped wide and his jaw dropped, as he turned around to look at the Wiztastic with shock.

"Bye-bye," Magnifo said simply, and suddenly ran off.

"No, wait!" Flain called as he started chasing after him, and he was huffing when he ran a few good yards and caught up to Magnifo, who was now balancing his whole body on his head on his wand on top of a boulder.

"You knew my dad?"

"Correction—I KNOW your dad," Magnifo calmly replied while not even opening his one eye.

"I…I hate to tell ya this, but…he died a really long time ago," Flain sighed with sorrow.

"Nope! Wrong again!" Magnifo suddenly exclaimed as he jumped down from the rock and walked up to a separate jungle that was even thicker than his, "he's still alive, and you just follow ol' Magnifo! Come on!"

So, Flain had no choice be to start following the purple loon, and the jungle he chased him through was so thick that it reminded him of the thick thorn brambles he was chased into as a child.

"Hurry up, Slow-Poke!" Magnifo called and used his wand to glide him through, while Flain was still struggling.

"Would ya slow down?!"

But Magnifo's whimsical laughs only continued to get through the bramble that seemed to be getting tougher to get through for Flain.

Soon enough, though, Flain came to the end of the twisting jungle.

"STOP!" Magnifo shouted as he put his hand up, and Flain luckily stopped just a few inches in front of the Wiztastic's hand, and Magnifo then stepped away and out into a watery brook that was hidden by really tall grass; Magnifo then went up to the grass and pushed it out of the way for Flain to see the water.

"Look down there," Magnifo whispered while pointing down at the brook with his wand.

Flain said nothing as he didn't know what to expect, and he slowly walked passed Magnifo and down into the brook, where he came to a rock edge and stared down…he only saw his and the night sky's reflection. '

"That's not my father…that's nothing but a reflection," Flain sighed.

"No, no, no…look HARDER," Magnifo urged.

Flain looked down again and stared even harder at his own reflection…but as he continued to stare he noticed how his reflection changed into…Ignitus.

"See? He lives in YOU," Magnifo whispered.

"Flain…"

Flain knew that wasn't Magnifo who just said his name, but he remembered that voice too well, and he looked up into the sky.

"D-Dad?"

Flain stared in major awe to see an approaching thick cloud, but no storm came after it…because forming in the cloud was a pale outline of Ignitus' ghost.

"Flain, you have forgotten me," Ignitus' ghost sadly stated.

"No…no, how could I?" Flain protested with worry.

"You have forgotten who YOU are, so you have forgotten ME. Look inside yourself, Flain—you are so much more than what you have become."

As ghost Ignitus calmly went on, the clouds presenting him started to swirl faster around him, and they started to glow like fire.

"But how can I go back?! I'm not who I used to be!" Flain called as tears formed in his eyes, and now, the cloud that his father's ghost rest in was now swirling even faster and it was glowing even brighter with more pride and power.

"Remember who you are—you are MY son—and the TRUE king! Remember…who you are!" Ignitus' ghost chanted as his time to talk with his son was running out, and so his cloud was starting to dissolve away.

"No! Father! Don't leave me…Father!" Flain begged for his dad to come back, but Ignitus had already disappeared as he said 'remember' a few more times.

Soon, the night sky was back to normal, as if nothing ever happened.

""Well, what in the name of Mixels was THAT?! Whoo! The weather! Wow! Very odd, huh?" Magnifo asked with a grin as he suddenly cut in and walked up to the rightful king.

"Yeah…guess the winds have changed," Flain sighed after he wiped his tears away.

"Ah, yes. Change can be very good," Magnifo agreed.

"Maybe…but it's not always easy. I know what I have to do, but…that'll mean that I'll have to face my past…and I've been running from it for so long."

But just as Flain was thinking deeply, Magnifo suddenly squinted and bonked Flain on the head really hard to cause pain.

"Ouch! Jeez! What was that for?!" Flain exclaimed while rubbing his head.

"It doesn't matter anymore; it's in the past," Magnifo laughed.

"Yeah, but it still hurts," Flain added as he removed his hand to check for any blood, but there wasn't any.

"Yes…the past can hurt, but form where I'm standing you can either run FROM it—or LEARN from it," Magnifo slowly stated, and he tried to trick Flain and hit him again, but Flain dodged it this time, "AH! You see? So, what are you gonna do now?"

"Well, first—I'm gonna take your wand," Flain started with a smirk, and he suddenly snatched Magnifo's wand from him and threw it away.

"No! Dag-nabit! Not the wand!" Magnifo said angrily as he ran to go pick his wand back up, and once he found it again, he was surprised to see Flain running off.

"And where are ya goin'?"

"I'm goin' back!" Flain happily called back and then disappeared into the night.

"Yeah! Yeah, yeah! Get out of here! Whoooo! WHOOOOO!" Magnifo cheered and laughed harder than even before while dancing around.

Don't worry. If you know how The Lion king ends, then you'll know that Flain and Pyp will soon make up.

But isn't it awesome?! Flain's goin' back to challenge his Uncle Nyx! The final battle is approaching fast!

Until the next, chapter, I'm TRikiD, bye-bye!