You blinked.

You wound through the old ruins of the old kingdom. You had no idea where you were. Or who you were for that matter.

You had lost your memories.

Wherever you were, it was long forgotten. The castle was damaged, almost as if a battle had happened there.

It all felt....eerily familiar.

You quietly walked through the halls of the old castle. You didn't have to wander. Somehow...you knew where you were going. Somehow, you reached what looked to be the throne room.

You walked in. The room had old decorations, tables, dead flowers, and ripped banners strung throughout. As if some sort of celebration had taken place before the kingdom met its demise. Light flooded in from the cracked windows in the room, painting light streaks across the dusty floor.

You walked over to a table, plates were stacked on one another. This must've been an old dining cart. You picked a plate up. It was once beautiful. Painted wings of swans danced across the rim of the porcelain plate. Now it was caked with dust from years of unuse. You blew off the dust, seeing your own reflection in the plate afterwards. You smiled.

Flashes of two people ballroom dancing quickly went across the reflection of the plate. You gasped nearly dropping the plate. You turned around, seeing no one but you in the room. That was strange...

It felt like... a memory.

You put the plate down carefully and went on to see a beautifully carved wooden box on a stool. Like most of the rest of the objects in the throne room, it was dusty. You picked it up and held it as you studied the strange box. What did it hold? It was small. Gold lined the box, giving it a pretty appearance. A wisp of a whispering young male voice in your ear.

Happy birthday my starlight

Your eyes widened. Again, no one was there but you. Another flash of a memory? You looked at the top of the box. A sun crest was carved into the top. You ran your hands over the smooth carving before opening the top of the box.

Immediately, your ears were filled with the soft tune of music. You narrowed your eyes at the two figures dancing. This box was a music box. You closed your eyes feeling a very strong sense of familiarity. Where did you know this tune from? You hummed along with the music, spinning around by yourself a few times as you held the box. You set it down as you started to sing and walk around the throne room. Why did this entire castle feel like a lost memory?

https://youtu.be/koWKsgOSs1w

" Dancing Bears,

Painted Wings,

Things I almost remember...

And a song someone sings,

Once upon a December."

You wrap your arms around yourself as you spin in the room.

" Someone holds me safe and warm.

Horses prance through a silver storm.

Figures dancing gracefully across my memory...."

Just then, ghosts from the walls poured out, all in beautiful ball gowns and suits. They ballroom danced with one another, just as they had when they were alive. The throne room was set back into its glory days, the flowers weren't dead, and nothing was covered in dust. You spun around with them, feeling more and more familiarity.

" Someone holds me safe and warm!

Horses prance through a silver storm!

Figures dancing gracefully across my memory..."

All of a sudden, you found yourself in a beautiful dress, you wore a tiara with f/c gemstones set into it. A teenage boy with goggles, dark hair, and blue eyes and a blue streak in his hair found his way to you. He wore a suit that matched your dress. His eyes were so familiar. You gazed at you lovingly. You waltzed with him as you kept singing.

" Far away,

Long ago,

Glowing dim as an ember....

Things my heart,

Used to know,

Things it yearns to remember...."

The boy held up your hand as he kissed it, his eyes never leaving yours. He slowly walked backwards, disappearing with the rest of the ghosts of the past. You blinked at him, recognition showing in your features. You watched his ghost disappear.

"...And a song someone sings..."

Your dress suddenly faded, and you were back into your own clothes.

" ...Once upon a December..." The music box finished, and your voice rang out in the empty silence. You suddenly dropped to your knees, your eyes wide in realization as tears dripped down your face.

You remembered everything.

You had lived in the castle, along with your older sister, Rapunzel. You had fallen in love with the royal engineer and alchemist. Varian. He loved you so much.

" Happy birthday, my starlight." Were his words on the day of your 18th birthday. Starlight was his nickname for you. Your parents had thrown a ball for the special day. Varian had given you a promise ring, along with the music box that played his and yours favorite tune. He had promised to marry you the minute he turned 18, which was only a few months away for him. You and Varian were so happy.

Until, during the ball, the palace was attacked. Saporians. And it wasn't just Andrew either. It was an entire army.

So many lives were lost that night. Including your parents, Rapunzel, and everyone you knew. You and Varian were running through the halls hand in hand, trying to escape. Rumbles of bombs and gunfire shook the castle. You were afraid.

" Varian...there's no way out." You said. His gaze was determined as he wanted to get you to safety.

" No. There is. This way!" He said as he dragged you down the hall, towards your room. Enemy soldiers were at the end of the hall. They saw you.

" HEY! OVER THERE!" One said as they started to run over to you. You and Varian clung to eachother. You started back down the way you came. More soldiers cut you off there. Varian protectively guided you to your own room. It was the only other way. You and Varian quickly pushed your dresser in front of the door, keeping it blocked. The soldiers banged on the door. Trying to kick it down. You hugged Varian.

" We're trapped." You whispered. More rumbles shook the castle as a battle waged. Varian hugged you tightly in his protective embrace.

" No. There's one more way." He said determinedly. You looked up at him. He showed you a hidden passageway in your room. A wall that opened up.

Just then, the soldiers were almost successful in kicking down the door. It wouldn't hold much longer. You and Varian quickly pushed your backs to the door. The only thing keeping them back was your weight against the door. And even that wouldn't hold long.

" Go." Varian said.

" What?" You said, eyes wide. Varians eyes teared up as he spoke again.

" GO!"

" I... NO! VARIAN, YOU'LL DIE!" You said. The alchemist grabbed your hand. Looking at your promise ring.

" I don't want to break my promise of marrying you." He said.

" Then marry me now." You told him. You were crying. More thumps at the door made you both lean against it.

" Y/n, I promise, with my heart, I will always love you. No matter what. Even when death succumbs me, I will love you." He said as he looked at you with loving eyes.

" Varian, I promise, with my heart, no matter what, I will love you until the day the stars fall from the sky." Your voice cracked. And with that, Varian kissed you.

" Now, go into the passage." He said. You cried. He kissed you on the cheek lovingly.

" Go, goodbye my starlight."

Varian held the door as you ran into the passage, shutting it behind you. You ran through the passage, hearing voices shout in your room.

A gunshot.

You cried as you ran.

Now here you stood. Years later, you were now 25, you remembered everything.

Till the stars fall, my love. I will never forget again.