Disclaimer- I don't own Wild Arms or the characters. Certain flashbacks have been directly quoted from the original game. These all belong to Media Vision/Sony.

Special thanks- to the nice woman who emailed me, thank you. And to Zed, because everybody loves Zed!

(you may skip) Author's pointless comments about why writing the story took so long- I originally started this fic on January 2, 2004 but never finished it and completely forgot about it. It was one of those somewhat planned out spur-of-the-moment projects I worked on late one night, and my fic showed that (the blind girls name changed in the middle of the story). Then one day in August I received an unexpected lonnnnnngggggg email regarding FM, it included my whole story edited and lots of comments on how to improve it. With me starting college in a week or two I wouldn't have time to finish it and promised to do it in winter 2004( I was even bribed with a video sometime later ); hell if that happened. That break flew by and I ended up back in school, new semester, new classes. I never forgot FM since winter and thought about it a lot. With my spring 2005 semester ending I was thinking, a lot, about how I didn't want to completely waste it like summer 2004 (I did nothing! It upset me considering my huge burst of artwork in the previous summer). I made a promise to myself that summer 2005 wouldn't be wasted. I had two big things on my agenda; finishing FM like I promised, and other projects regarding artwork. Knowing myself I probably wouldn't keep a promise to myself, so I needed a way to seal my promise to myself. I went and got a haircut the day I finalized the promise to myself, for those who don't know me I rarely get my hair cut and at that time I was actually trying to grow it out really long. If you're reading this you most likely have played Wild Arms and know where I got the idea. My plan worked!

(again can be skipped) More Author's pointless comments about why I started the story- I always thought Alhazad is one of the best videogame villains out there, and I always loved the whole Jack/Elmina story in the game. One day when I was bored I got to thinking that Elmina was a strong woman and wouldn't allow herself to end up in the position she did, being Lady Harken and a very useful pawn for Alhazad. To me she would choose death over what happened to her, so she had to have a reason for ended up like that. After a while I got an idea and numerous variations of it kept playing in my mind over a long period of time until I finally decided to write it out, the rest is explained in why it took so damn long to finish.

Extra notes

The blind girl's name was changed again, this time Aura, because that's what I think it's supposed to be in Alter Code F.

Used a lot more portions from the actual game into the story.

Most of the story is based off of the original Wild Arms, with a bit of influence from what I know about Alter Code F.

Used 'xxxxx' as a divider since my underscores dissapeared

Flashbacks are in italics, except in ch 3 where pretty much the whole chapter is a flashback

Forgotten Memories

Introduction

Not long ago a mystery woman with long red hair appeared near the town of Milama. She was confused and had no idea where she was, or who she was. The kind-hearted pub owner gave her a job as a waitress and a place to live for as long as she needed. When she first arrived in Milama some men decided to give her a name, actually some drunk sea captain named Bartholomew. In his drunken state he thought her head looked like a rose with her crimson hair framing her face. Since then everybody began calling her Rose.

She has been living happily in Milama for three months now, however underneath her happiness lies a sadness. Rose has a deep yearning for her true identity. Now she begins her quest to find out who she is, but will regaining her memories fill that hole in her heart?

Maybe some memories are best when forgotten...

Ch 1: A Clue of Her Identity

The bar was nearly empty; besides the owner and Rose the only customers were a young little flaxen-haired woman, and that sea captain named Bartholomew who was passed out at a table. She assumed all the Dream Chasers were at the Ancient Arena because there was a big tournament taking place soon with not only a huge gella reward, but a huge reputation as a great warrior. Rose walked over to her table and handed the woman a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice all while trying to remain joyous, "here you are Aura."

The woman thanked her and sipped her juice. Before the waitress walked away the woman shocked Rose, by saying, "You seem so happy, yet deep down inside you have much sadness. You are a very strong woman, but your weakness is yourself. You shouldn't allow thoughts to eat you up from the inside."

The waitress looked back at the woman who returned to sipping her juice, "How...How did you know that?"

The young lady smiled, "When I was a child I had an accident and became blind. Since then I've been able to tell a lot about people just by the sound of their voice."

A sparkle of hope appeared within the sad woman's eyes "I have amnesia, can you perhaps tell me who I am?"

"I'm sorry, I can't tell that much from a voice. Perhaps you should try researching things that seem familiar to you. They might provide clues for your identity. Maybe I can help, what are you drawn to?"

Rose took a seat next to her and pulled her hair out of her face, "Well... It may sound stupid, but I love hearing the stories of Arctica falling overnight and of great battles against demons and great swordsmen. Actually there's this swordsman who visits me often his name is Jack Van Burace. He stopped by not long ago before heading off to the Ancient Arena. You just missed him. He had bought a bag of thirty goat dolls and while going through them he found a pink one. I always thought they were all blue. He said it was a girl goat doll so he gave it to me. Ha..ha..here I am rambling on. Really though I love stories like that."

The young woman finished drinking her juice and gave a smile, "Demons you say? When my boyfriend picks me up you should talk to him. He's knows a lot about demons." In a lower voice she added, "He is a demon."

Rose and the bartender gasped. Before they could say anything Aura spoke calmly, "No, he's not like the demons the stories tell of. He's just the sweetest man ever. I was very ill and bedridden not long ago, and he stayed with me and took care of me until I was better. Later, we're going to the Ancient Arena where he's going to win the tournament just for me, although I think he just wants the fame." Aura was glowing with happiness as she spoke of her demon boyfriend.

The bartender knew with that look on Aura's face that she was speaking the truth. "I guess not all demons are evil," he added.

Bartholomew lifted his head from the table when he heard the bartender mention a demon and began holding his head. In a confused and low voice he asked, "Where's the demon?" His blurred vision subsided and he saw a petite blonde woman of about eighteen talking with that old bat of a waitress he named Rose. "That's notta demon, it's an angle." (Not angel, angle. He's drunk, remember?).

The drunk captain stumbled over and then tripped landing at the foot of Aura's chair. Bartholomew dragged himself up using the chair, but he lost his grip and his face landed in the poor girl's lap. He then looked up at her, "Yer lookin pretty good, wanna go..."

Before he could finish his though Rose grabbed Bartholomew by the collar and yanked him to the ground. She then stomped between his legs. The captain screamed like a girl and curled up like a dead caterpillar while holding his crotch.

"Aura!" A green-haired demon ran in wielding a sword. "I heard a woman's scream, whoever hurt her will die! I just got Doom Bringer sharpened!" The man began scanning the bar.

"Don't worry Zed, I'm fine. It wasn't my scream." The woman said calmly while walking over to him. Aura hugged him and rested her head on his stomach which was how tall she was compared to him.

A smile appeared on Zed's face and he put his sword back in its sheath which was strapped to his back, "I'm going to win the tournament and show you just how great I am. I even rented us a private room to show you the full Zed experience."

The blind woman giggled a bit and let go of her demon friend and pointed towards Rose, "Zed, I'm trying to help this woman. Have you seen her before?"

The demon looked at the woman, blinked, then looked again at her. "Of course I do. I'm Zed. I know everything! Her name's Lady Harken. Now lets go; I want to get to our private room early."

A tear began forming in Rose's eyes. "Th..Thank you..That name I know I've heard it before, yet it doesn't seem like my real name."

"That's all I know. Aura, can we go now?" The demon said and he walked out of the bar.

"Perhaps you are a noble from Arctica. Lady is a title for noble woman." The blind woman stated before following Zed out. Because she could sense Zed's movements, she had no trouble following him.

The pub owner put down the glass he was drying, "You know with the tournament going on, there won't be many customers for the next week or so. I'll give you a week off. Maybe you should go visit Arctica, rumor has it that some swordsman destroyed all the monsters living there. So it shouldn't be too dangerous"

The waitress wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed the owner on the cheek, "Oh thank you." She looked towards the captain who was still holding himself on the floor "Get up! You're taking me to Arctica now."

Still in great pain the captain said in a high-pitched voice, "You're not getting near my dear Sweet Candy you old crone!"

Rose got angry. She grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up, "If you don't take me to Arctica right now I'll sink your precious Sweet Candy!" She then let go, and he fell to the floor. She lifted up her foot and added, "And for an extra bonus I'll make sure you never have children."

The poor captain curled up trying to protect his privates, "No need for that... We'll be there by morning if we leave now."

She smiled slyly, "I'm glad you suddenly got a change of heart. I'm going to go get my things." Rose looked over towards the bartender, "Please watch him. He doesn't leave this bar unless If it's with me!"

After the excited woman ran out of the bar, the owner and Bartholomew shared a quick frightened glance.

xxxxx

Rose lived in a small room in the southeastern corner of town. It only contained a bed and a dresser, but she didn't mind. First she rummaged through piles of junk under her bed and pulled out a bag, "Let's see. I'll need food and water...Better get that before I leave. Ooh I might need some sort of protection." She opened up the top drawer of her dresser and pulled out a dagger...

xxxxx

Elmina turned and faced a tall man with long blond hair. He had a cute mouse on his shoulder. "You look like a Dream Chaser... Maybe a swordsman? Can I use your sword...?" She laughed, "Just kidding."

The man had a forlorn look all over his face, but he quickly hid that with a smile, "I have a dagger if you want it. I'll even teach you how to use it sometime..."

To Elmina's surprise the mouse sighed and started talking, "You just met this woman a half and hour ago, Jack, and already you've given her a ribbon and a dagger. I wouldn't be surprised if you tied a bow around me and shoved me in her face."

Elmina chuckled a bit, "I'd love to learn. Thank you, Jack Van Burace..."

xxxxx

Rose fasten the dagger around her waist and then began packing. After she was done she leaned back against her bed. A pink goat doll at the edge of her bed fell right next to her. She picked it up and hugged it, "This might come in handy."

As she opened the door to leave a gust of wind entered her house, and she saw faint movements of green to her left. She turned and saw a green ribbon tied around her bedpost dancing in the wind. She gave a quick smile "Couldn't hurt to take this..." Looking at this always seems to bring me joy...