Theme 20: My Inspiration

Ever since she could remember, Lissa had always wanted a leather bound notebook, something straight out of a fairy tale. A diary of sorts, bound in worn brown leather, a strip of ribbon sewn onto the spine to keep the page. One with a metal clasp to keep all the secrets sealed inside. A diary meant for a true princess.

The holiday season granted Lissa's childhood wish, leaving her a brand new notebook on Yuletide morning. With every ounce of childlike glee and wonder, she whisked the diary away to her room, quickly cracking it open, pen in hand and mind running wild. Though nothing caught in her head. No inspiration came to mind, no story she wished to confide in her book, no secrets she was willing to share.

With a pout, she flipped through the bare pages of the notebook to try and find some creativity. Crisp white parchment was the only thing she found.

She took the moment to admire the craftsmanship of the diary. The paper was wonderfully cut and radiated an enchanting smell of pine. In fact, Lissa was worried that her chicken-scratch handwriting style was good enough the grace the pages of such a fine book. The cowhide that wrapped around the front and back covers was fresh, yet was malleable and scuffed to give the air of an ancient, worn journal. The Ylissean royal seal was embossed on the front cover and highlighted in a golden dye. Embroidered in golden stitching was Lissa's name, in the most beautiful calligraphy the girl had ever seen.

The Princess finally had a diary of her own, and one truly fit for a girl of her standing. Trailing a finger over the textured leather, Lissa couldn't help but grin. Ever since she was a child, she wished for a diary.

Though, Lissa couldn't figure out who had given the journal to her. No note had been attached, as the gift had been anonymously left at her place at the dining table. Lissa scolded herself for impulsively rushing back to her room, notebook clutched tight to her chest. Chrom was probably wondering where she was. Breakfast was skipped in order to crack open her new diary. But alas, no inspiration came.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Lissa rested her cheek on her fist, lips pursed and eyes idly glancing over the blank pages of her open journal.

Moments before giving up hope, an idea swiftly came to the princess. Diaries were for writing about cute boys, isn't that what Maribelle had told her?

Lissa giggled, full of newfound inspiration. She remembered years long past, when she was no more than seven or eight. Maribelle had a journal similar to Lissa's, and its pages were filled with what Maribelle had called "boy gossip". The princess had even recognized the names of a few boys she knew from that old diary. Current Shepherd's names.

Invigorated, Lissa took up her pen, dipped it into her reservoir, wrote the date at the top of the page, and began to write.

Dear Diary,

I'm not too old to be writing like this, am I? But from what I've been told, I'm supposed to write like my diary is a person.

She shook her head, the mature part of her mind urging her to tear out her current page and start anew.

I'm the damned Princess of Ylisse after all, so I'll act however I want!

Anyways, I'm writing because I've got all these thoughts jumbled around in my head, and I need to put them on paper before I explode. But where should I start?

Oh, who am I kidding. The only logical place to start is with Robin. I'll spill all the juicy stuff first...