Hey y'all! This chapter shows Amy trying to help Brad remember. Hope you like it.

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"Okay, Brad, open your eyes… and welcome back to Ratland!" Amy stepped aside, motioning to the amusement park as Brad lowered his hands from his eyes.

He stared for a moment, then said, "It looks… amazing."

"Aw, thanks. It's not exactly the same as before, but I thought coming here might still help you remember."

"Before?" Brad asked, holding his hands nervously in front of him.

"Yeah, we—the two of us—built the original Ratland together and made it a safe zone for humans and Mutes. Of course, now the entire city is a safe zone, but everyone still likes to come here just for fun," Amy explained.

"What happened to the original Ratland?"

"It got blown up. All the mutes and the humans used to be at war with each other, but that's all over now." Amy took Brad's hands and said, "Come on, let me show you the rides from the original. Maybe that will help."

Brad let her drag him from one ride to another.

"So, do you remember anything?" Amy asked as they got off the Ferris wheel.

"I remember… cheese."

"That's great!" Amy tried to sound enthusiastic and encouraging, even though she was pretty sure he only remembered cheese because he had been eating it even when he had been cured.

Brad looked at the ground. "I'm sorry. I know you really want me to remember all this, but I just don't."

Amy smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "That's okay. I shouldn't have rushed you. It's just gonna take some time, that's all."

"What if it isn't? What if I never remember?"

"Then we'll just have to make new memories."

Brad looked up, "Really?"

"Of course. I'm here for you, no matter what."

"Thanks," Brad sniffed. "It's good to know that I have a friend, even if I don't remember."

Amy smiled and opened her arms. Brad hugged her. When they pulled apart, Brad wiped tears from his eyes and said, "Hey, you know what we haven't tried? Looking at the rides from behind the scenes! If we ran Ratland, we probably spent more time working here than riding!"

"Of course! We can try it right now—if you want to," Amy said.

Brad nodded, and Amy led him to the controls for the Ferris wheel, where he watched as she took control for the next ride. Once that round was over, Brad asked, "Can I try?"

"Of course!" Amy stepped aside to let him approach the controls. Once he reached them, she said, "There's really nothing to it. All you have to do is…" but Brad was already doing it.

"I think… I remember how to do this!" Brad flawlessly guided the ride to the end. "Amy, I remember!"

"Do you mean you remember… everything?"

Brad scratched his head. "Well, maybe not quite everything, but it's definitely coming back. I remember Ratland, and HMUFA, but most of all, I remember that you're my best friend."

"Oh, Brad!" they hugged again. "You're my best friend too!"

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I considered ending this on the scene of them accepting that they don't know whether Brad will ever remember, but I'm a sucker for happy endings. (Cue finale song from The Pirate Movie) Let me know what you thought!

Thanks and prayer,

RAHbooks