My worst memory? Why would you want to know that? ...Historical purposes? When have you been interested in another country's history? Alright, ALRIGHT! I'll tell you, just shut up and sit down.

Hmm... I have a lot of bad memories. Every country does I suppose... Okay, I know now. My worst memory was in 1521, when my father's capitol fell...

Xiuhcoatl couldn't see anything. She didn't want to see anything. As her father ran away from the massacre behind them and through the thick jungle - all the while carrying her on his back - she kept her eyes shut. It didn't help though, she could still hear the faint screams and smell the smoke. Perhaps if she kept her eyes closed long enough it would turn out that this was all a dream. She would wake up in her bed and her handmaids would attend her as always. Then after a day of playing around the palace she would tell her father about her strange dream, he would laughingly scold her, "Did you eat right before bed again?" Surely it was just a dream! There was no way Tenochtitlan had fallen, it was impossible! She just had to wake up from this hellish nightmare.

There was a thud and her father suddenly fell. Xiuhcoatl screamed as she fell from his back and landed a foot away. She scrambled to her feet and crouched in front of her unmoving father. "Tahtll, please! Get up!" she shook his shoulder and with a groan he rolled onto his back. He was no longer the proud, strong nation he had been only a few years ago. The pale gods (more like demons) had ruined him. But how could he have fought against beings who wore clothes that repelled all attack, rode large deer-like creatures that gave them unparalleled speed, and used weapons that shot out lightning and thunder? The demons had also brought a plague with them that killed thousands upon thousands. Her father's handsome face was cratered with scars from the disease. Strangely enough Xiuhcoatl hadn't caught it though it was extremely contagious. Aztec gave his daughter a weary smile and squeezed her shoulder.

"Keep going. Don't worry about me."

"No! I can't leave you tahtll! Come on, I'll help you get up-"

"Xiuhcoatl!" She flinched at his harsh tone. Aztec's expression immediately softened and he cupped her face with his hand. "My child, my only child, you have to go on without me. Run. Do not let him find you. Hide and do not forget me nor our people."

Tears gathered in Xiuhcoatl's eyes until they spilled down her cheeks and dripped onto her father's hands. "I won't forget you tahtll. Even if the sun goes out I'll remember you," she promised. Staggering slightly she got to her feet and ran off. Aztec sighed as the trees swallowed her up and closed his eyes. His relief was, unfortunately, short-lived.

A shadow fell over him and he cracked open an eye. A man with brown hair and unsettling green eyes stared back at him. His armor was dented a bit and his axe was crusted with dry blood. Aztec's lips curled into a snarl and he spat out, "There are no words in any language I know that describe a loathsome beast like you, Carriedo."

The man only smirked and raised his axe above his head.

Xiuhcoatl was clambering over a fallen tree trunk when she heard a far off THUD! A pain like that of a spear thrust hit her chest and she toppled to the ground screaming causing nearby animals to flee the area. After an age had passed the pain finally subsided and Xiuhcoatl sat up. She winced at a scrape on her arm she'd gotten from the fall and tried to wipe her tears away. A snap from behind made her spin around and she gasped in fright. It was that demon! The first one she'd ever met and the one that seemed a bit different from the rest. She scooted away from him but he dropped his axe and swooped down to grab her ankle. Xiuhcoatl shrieked and kicked him in the face as hard as she could. The man grunted in pain and Xiuhcoatl felt his grip loosen. She kicked again, this time at his chest, and broke free. She stood up and was about to run away when his hands shot out and pinned her arms to her sides. Kicking and screaming she fought against his grip as he got to his feet and slung her over his broad shoulder.

"Quite the feisty one, aren't you?" he chuckled. Xiuhcoatl froze. She didn't know what was more terrifying, the fact that he had captured her or the fact that she could understand his strange language now. The demon picked up his weapon and turned to walk back to the ruined city. All the while he spoke, "I recognize you chica, you're the little girl I saw when I first came here. I knew you were special but I never guessed you were a country like me. It wasn't until my spies told me that Aztec had a daughter that I began to suspect." He patted her back, "You don't have to worry about anything, I saved you. As soon as we get to camp I'll find some decent clothes for you and introduce you to the priest. He'll teach you the way of Christ. And perhaps I'll even take you back with me to introduce you to your new ruler."

He chattered on like this but all the while Xiuhcoatl just stared as her father's blood drip, drip, dripped off his axe.

There, that's my worst memory...are you crying? Jeez, sometimes I don't understand you at all Alfred.

QAQ ...I feel horrible for writing this. But it had to be done I suppose. And Alfred got more than he expected for snooping!

Tahtll - father

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