Chapter 6: Memory Matters

"Lissa." I said in a daze.

"What?" Mary asked, probably not hearing what I said properly.

"Lissa." I repeated. "My sister...Lissa."

Mary dropped the pot she was washing.

"You remember?" She asked excitedly.

"No...not everything. I know I have...a sister, and I've spent...days trying to...remember her name." And now I finally remember. Lissa. The name feels so familiar on my tongue, but sounds slightly forgein to my brain. But I know it's right. And all of a sudden, my eyes fill with tears. How horrible a fate, to forget everyone you have ever known and loved, and to wake up in a strange place with no recollection of your life? And I remember, that Chrom and Lissa don't know I still walk this Earth. They think I've been buried deep under the ground, a beloved queen who died not only for her people, but for her enemies as well.

But I don't think I'm that person anymore. I am not the kind and selfless Exalt Emmeryn any longer. No. Now I am simply Emm the ordinary village girl. No...not ordinary. I'm a speech impaired, amnesiac village girl with a broken wrist. But there's no changing me now. The only thing that can heal my wounds is time.

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"The Prince was throwing...a grand ball...which Beauty wished...desperately to attend. Her vicious stepmother...said once she...finished her chores...she could go to...the ball. But the cruel...lady gave her...task upon task...without pause...so many...that she was...unable to go...to the ball. Beauty was on...her knees in tears...as the carriage...drove away.

But then a...light shone down...from the sky, and...an angel appeared. "Don't cry Beauty." The angel spoke...softly. She waved her hand, sparks trailing...from her fingertips, and turned a...pumpkin into a carriage, and the garden...insects into footmen, and Beauty's rags...into a fine gown...with glass slippers...upon her feet. "Enjoy yourself at...the ball darling, but be back...before the clock...strikes midnight."

Beauty walked into...to ballroom, and...immediately caught...the eye of the...Prince. They danced with...each other...the whole night, and when there...were five minutes...left to midnight, Beauty left the ball. Her sisters returned...soon after, and told her...tales of a lady...so beautiful...the Prince would...not take his eyes...off her. They also said...that there would...another ball tomorrow, same as today."

"Are you enjoying the tale?" Mary asked from the kitchen.

"Very much." I answered. The tale sounded familiar to my mind. More likely than not I had read it before, and didn't remember.

"It's awfully late Emm, and you need your rest." Mary said in her motherly sort of way.

"I was just heading to bed."

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"Mother? Whats going on?!"

"Hush child." Mother nods to Father, who disappears into the bedroom and comes back with the royal treasures, the Fire Emblem and the Falchion. Father slings the heavy shield across my back, straps the sword to it, and leaves the room. Mother puts a warm bundle in my arms. Baby Lissa. "Go wake Chrom, and go to the secret cellar."

"What about you, Mother?"

"Don't worry about me."

"Mother, I—"

"Emerina. Do as you are told." My mother pushes me out of the room.

Still carrying my baby sister, I stumbled through the halls until I reached my brother's room.

"Chrom." I hissed, shaking his shoulder.

He doesn't respond. "Chrom, wake up!" I say in a loud whisper.

He gets up, and blearily rubs his eyes.

"Mother told us to go to the secret cellar."

Chrom's eyes widen, and still in his pajamas, he grabs his sword and follows me.

"Secret passages." I hiss, guiding him away from the stairs. Twenty paces away is a tapestry, and behind that tapestry, a door. A door connected to a network of passages that run through the whole castle.

I unceremoniously shove Chrom through the dark tunnel, hand him Baby Lissa, and close the door behind me. "All the way down." I tell Chrom, taking the baby back.

I stumble over my dress several times in the dark, narrow staircase, the sword and shield slapping against my back. Finally, we reach the kitchens.

We dart through and enter another hidden door, even more cleverly concealed than the others. One unused by even the servants. After another flight of stairs, we end up in a small dirt room, with food and water stacked in a corner and blankets in another.

Mother said no one knew about this secret cellar, and that it was the safest place in the palace.

I pulled the Falchion and Fire Emblem from my back and put them in a corner. Chrom ran over and began examining the treasures, having only heard of them but never seem them before. I gently set Lissa on the ground, and pulled blankets to make her a little bed, and two bigger ones for me and Chrom.

"Go to sleep Chrom."

"I'm scared Emm."

"Me too." I huddled up in my blankets. Chrom did the same.

"Do you think Mother and Father will be ok? He asked the same question I had been thinking myself.

"They'll be fine." I said firmly. "Now sleep."

Several hours later~

"Princess Emmeryn! Prince Chrom!" A voice woke me. Chrom sat up as well at the mention of his name.

Chrom's friend and a young knight in training, Fredrick, had found us.

"How did know about this place?" I asked him suspiciously. Only the royal family should know.

Chrom's shoulders sunk. "I brought him here...once."

I would have reprimanded him, but now was not the time.

"The attack is over, Princess. I came to find you three."

"Attack!?" I shrieked.

"A host of Plegian assassins, Princess." Fredrick answered, ever calm.

"Mother and Father, are they ok?" Chrom asked.

Fredrick's stony face was answer enough. "They did not survive. Princess Emmeryn, you will soon replace your father as Exalt."

"No! No, no, no!" I sobbed. Chrom was in tears as well. The din woke up Lissa, who fussed in my arms. "I never wanted this!" I cried.

"Them what did you want?!" Chrom exploded at me, running out of the cellar with the royal treasures. Fredrick ran after him.

Still crying, I left the secret cellar. But then I realized...I could end the war. I could make things right with Plegia and Regna Ferox. I could be the change Ylisse needed.

And I would be. To honor my parents, I would be an Exalt of legends, second only to the Hero-King. I know I will.

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I really hate the way this turned out, but I literally was drawing a blank for what else I could do, anyway I hope you enjoy it, even though I personally feel like it's going really fast.