It's my first story in English and on Fire Emblem.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem. If I do, Zelgius would stay alive. I own only my OCs.

Without memories

Prologue. Stranger.

Mist, the young cleric in the mercenaries' fort, was surprised when her elder brother Ike called her and asked for help.

"What's happened, Ike?" she wondered. "Is anyone hurt?"

The young man tried to explain the situation quickly. As it turned out, he and Soren had just returned to the fort. On their way back through the forest they found a girl lying on the ground. Of course he decided to help her, and so the strange girl was here, in the mercenaries' home. But she was still unconscious.

"I asked Rhys to treat her with his magic but I think you should help him," said Ike.

Mist understood everything without words and smiled. Then she turned on her heels and ran to the room where she was supposed to find the bishop.

"Thank you, Mist!" her brother's shout followed the girl.

"Not at all!" was her honest answer.

Mist entered the room with a quiet knock. Rhys raised his head at the sound.

"Ah, it's you, Mist! Thanks for coming."

The cleric smiled again and came up to the bed where their patient was lying. It was a young girl of about sixteen-seventeen years old. She had pale skin and long scarlet hair. The right side of her face was covered with a wide orange eye-patch. She had also orange clothes on but they were covered in dirt and soil.

"A puzzle, isn't it?" said the healer. "Ike said they found her in this condition. And I doubt that she fell unconscious in the forest. Do you feel her clothes wet?"

Mist touched the cloth: it was really wet.

"Could you change her clothes, please?" asked Rhys. "I've already treated all her injuries so she'll wake up soon."

"Of course!" Mist laughed. "No problem."

Calmed, the bishop left, and Mist remained alone. She examined the girl's clothes and found them unfit for wear. But when she was about to put them off, the patient suddenly opened her eye. Of course she saw the cleric near and hid in the corner of the bed, glaring at her. The girl's actions reminded Mist of a tiny weak hissing kitten, for some reason. She smiled softly.

"Please do not be afraid of me," she said. "My name is Mist. I want to help you."

Nothing changed in the girl's pose but the cleric was going to wait if it was necessary. In several minutes when the patient's dark-orange gaze became almost heavy, she shifted. Fear disappeared from her only eye and she even managed to smile back but then she looked around and frowned in confusion.

Elmao's POV

I was puzzled and confused waking up in a strange place. When I saw somebody near me my reaction was instant – I tried to hide in the corner pulling my knees to my chin and lapping them. I didn't mean to look at the stranger in such rage but that was uncontrolled, too. Then the girl smiled and introduced herself.

I listened to her voice and immediately began to trust her though my nature was telling me I shouldn't. I didn't know what I was about to do so I just looked into her light-blue eyes. Finally I decided that it was silly to behave like that, and I relaxed, smiling. I looked around and only then realized a horrible fact. I didn't know where I was or – even more – where I was from. My memory was blurred and the last thing I could remember was falling off a rock. But where or when it had happened… And then there was nothing. Emptiness.

The girl, Mist, saw something wrong with me, perhaps, as she reached her hands out, gripped my shoulders tightly and shook me all over like a small animal. I blinked and answered the mute question.

"I… it looks like I've lost my memories."

Mist's eyes widened and she hugged me.

"Oh…" she muttered suddenly. "I'm s-so s-sorry…"

I remained still for a couple of instants but then I hugged her back though I wanted to cry out at that moment.

"Mm… I'll bear it, I suppose," I even managed to chuckle carelessly but it didn't deceived her. "It's not your fault. Just mine, and no one's else."

We remained silent for about two minutes when I thought of something.

"Elmao."

"Sorry?" Mist raised her head, and I giggled.

"It's my name – Elmao."

"Ah!" She understood. "You see, you are regaining your memories back!" she yelled suddenly so that I nearly remained deaf.

"Er… may be," I muttered almost to myself, feeling odd because of her optimism.

Mist pulled back.

"You need to change your clothes, you know?"

Only then I realized that my shirt and pants were wet and of course cold.

"I see," I couldn't help but sigh.

"I'll bring you new clothes," suggested Mist. I nodded. "Are you hungry? The dinner time has already passed but I don't think somebody will mind. Besides, you should meet the others!"

My mood became better when I heard about food but it lowed again when I heard about "the others".

"Are there many people here besides us?" I forced myself to speak turning pale.

"Not very," was the answer. "What's the matter? Are you afraid?"

"I am," I admitted. "I don't know why but I am."

"OK. Then you'll meet my friends later," decided Mist cheerfully. "And now you'll change your clothes and after that I'll show you to the kitchen. Sounds good to you?"

"… I think so. Thank you," I forced myself to smile.

Mist left. I remained alone with my thoughts. For some reason, I was afraid.

"Well, it looks like I'm stuck here wherever I am…"