Hollow Memory

Chapter One – Prelude

A Village in Ruins

In a state province in the pristine country of Stalacia, a seven-year-old girl watched as her father, emperor of the kingdom, glided towards the huge oak doors of their castle. His sword and power at hand, he patted his daughter on the head and looked down at her with loving eyes.

"Poppa, you're coming back, right?" the little girl asked with all the innocence in her small, puerile world. "You will chase the bad guys out of the village, won't you?"

The king turned around, just as he was about to leave. He walked over to her and placed his gentle hands on her shoulders. "Sakura, my dear princess, if Poppa does not come back, you will take my place. When that happens," His tone was soft and comforting, and it brought tears to the princess's emerald eyes. "You will follow in my footsteps, and guide this kingdom to greater heights."

The great man stood up and walked away. "You won't let me down, princess."

He flung the great oak doors open, and the little princess could only catch a brief sight of the burning village before her father, the almighty ruler, and her beloved Poppa, disappeared into the fiery glaze.

"Come, Your Highness. We must not tarry!" a servant hurried up to Princess Sakura. She handed her a hooded robe to put on, and led her up the winding stairs into an isolated cellar. The forbidden West Wing.

"Her Majesty is waiting for you down this tunnel. Come now, before anyone sees us!" the servant clambered into the cleverly concealed hole at the corner of the cellar, and Princess Sakura watched as the last bit of the servant's white clad disappeared into the dark hole.

Just as she was about to follow after the servant, a glow of light drew her out to the terrace. She followed its trail, and was slowly lifted up into the night air.

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"Her Highness!" came a muffled cry of apprehension from deep within the tunnels under the castle. "Her Highness is gone!"

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Before Princess Sakura could come back to her senses, she was dropped gently onto a large plateau off the side of the village. She watched with tears in her eyes as the beautiful suburb collapsed in a mass of ash and debris amidst the tangled flames. She strolled across the dirt of the plateau, her feet crunching on the grass, until she heard a change in the sound her footsteps made. It sounded like she was walking on… Metal.

She looked down and, to her astonishment, saw a huge carving into a metal plate. She was lost in her own world then, just gazing at the beautiful engravement. She could feel her powers building up, but she didn't know why. Just as she thought she might hurtle out her charges, she was shot in the shoulder by… An arrow?

She let a soft whimper, but before she could attack with her fully-charged powers, she was violently hit by her attacker, who was riding a teradon. She fell face down onto the metal base, hitting her head hard. She felt a warm stream of blood – her blood – trickle down her face and drip onto the ground. She clutched her injured shoulder, biting her lips, refusing to cry.

Then, she heard footsteps, and from the corner of her eyes saw that it was a boy on a teradon. This horse-like creature was a tad bit larger than the one she had at home, and its hooves ground to a halting stop as the boy dismounted it.

He unravelled his sword, and lifted her hood with the sharp end of the blade. She looked up at the lad; he was about two years older than she was. The boy had raised up his sword, but his intense eyes were now painted with shock. It… It's a girl!

As swiftly as he could, he jumped onto the teradon and galloped away, melting into the shadows of the night. The fallen princess groaned, and mustered all her energy to run back to the castle. But it was no use. After no more than ten steps, a rush of dizziness swept over her, and she faltered into a black, mindless blank.