Well, here we are. My first fanfiction story in almost four years! And my first Treasure Planet fanfiction, to boot :D. Let's see how it goes, shall we?

IMPORTANT DETAIL: I will be using music in this fanfic. I will post links on my profile to songs that I believe would make good background music while reading certain scenes. THe point of this arrangement is to hopefully give the scenes a little extra ambiance. This first chapter won't have background music because it's short; but be sure to check my profile before the other chapters for music!

I'll ALSO be using music directly in the plot, mostly songs with full lyrics. I'll post these on my profile as well, for your listening pleasure.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Treasure Planet, only my OC. And now, on with the story!

Chapter 1

Ali pulled the coat tighter around her thin frame as the wind picked up again. The gusts blew sheets of rain into her face, and she had to bite her tongue against language that would horrify her mother.

Mom…her eyes turned misty, and then hardened. No! I can't keep thinking about that! She kept walking, scanning desperately for any kind of shelter.

Without warning, she walked straight into a post, falling backwards from the impact. As she rubbed the new bruise on the back of her head, she realized something was hanging from the post. A sign. She squinted, trying to make out the words.

"Ben…boat…no, no, bow…Benbow…Inn. An inn!" She sprang up and forged ahead with renewed vigor. A few minutes later she was at the door of the inn. She raised her hand to knock, then hesitated. The people at the last inn had slammed the door in her face, and she'd been dry then. Maybe there was a back entrance?

Groaning, she stepped back into the rain and began walking around the building. Before long she found a second, more flimsy wooden door, blown partway open by the storm.

She eased her way inside and found herself in a kitchen. She quickly found a corner near the stove, which still gave off a bit of heat, and sat down, peeling off her coat. Kitchens were out of the way; she could just sleep here for the night and leave before anyone found her. She laid her head on the floor and let her eyes close.

ooOoo

Jim Hawkins woke with a yawn, pushing his hair back from his eyes. Daylight was peeking through the curtains, the sun just barely clearing the horizon.

A sudden grumbling noise broke the silence. Jim looked down, sheepishly putting a hand on his stomach.

It was Sunday, so the inn was only serving brunch. His mom would be asleep for at least another hour.

But…he was hungry!

He padded out of his room and down the stairs, skipping the creaky bottom step. Pushing the kitchen door open, he began to rummage around, hoping there were some extra purps somewhere. A soft noise halted his search. He turned around, and had to stifle a gasp.

There was a girl lying in the corner! He crept closer, wanting a better look. She was curled on her side, fast asleep. Her shoulder length hair was splattered with dried mud, and her body looked a bit too thin to be healthy.

She sighed and turned over in her sleep, halting Jim's examination. He backed silently out of the kitchen, and then all but flew up to his mother's room.

"Mom! Mom!" He nearly shouted, tapping on her back.

"Jim! Not today," Sarah Hawkins groaned. "Not another early day."

"But Mom, this is important!" Jim insisted. "There's a girl in the kitchen!"

"Mmm, that's nice, honey…" his mother mumbled, closing her eyes. Five seconds later, she sat bolt upright. "What did you say?"

ooOoo

Ali woke to a hand shaking her shoulder and a soft voice. "Hey." Grimacing, she tried to ignore it. The hand shook her more insistently. "Wake up!"

Grudgingly, she opened her eyes. She sat up and found a woman standing over her. Gasping, she sprang to her feet.

The woman had long, dark brown hair that framed gray eyes. She wore a blue bathrobe, tied in the front. She had her arms crossed and one eyebrow raised. "All right, what are you doing in my kitchen?"

Ali gulped. "I-I'm very sorry, ma'am. I got lost last night, and it was raining so hard, a-and I just needed a dry place to sleep." She wrapped her arms around herself. "I didn't take anything, I swear! I just wanted to get out of the rain."

Sarah considered the girl silently. She wore a tattered brown dress that hung loosely on her, and sandals that had seen better days. Her hair was so matted with mud that it was impossible to tell the color. And at the moment, she was staring at the floor, biting back tears.

"What's your name?"

The girl looked up. "Alianne Wood. But most people call me Ali," she couldn't help adding.

"Ali, then. How old are you?"

"Twelve years old, ma'am."

She's the same age as Jim. "Where are your parents?"

A few stray tears leaked from Ali's eyes, but her voice was steady. "They're gone."

Sarah felt a surge of pity. "I see. Well, Ali…would you like something to eat? No charge."

Ali's mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe the abrupt change. Still, she wasn't about to pass up free food. "Yes, please."

"All right then." Sarah went to the fridge and started pulling out ingredients.

"Do you want any help?"

Sarah stared at Ali. "You can cook?"

Ali nodded. "I'm good at cleaning, too."

"I can handle the cooking. We have some dirty dishes around the sink, though. Would you take a crack at cleaning those?"

"Yes, ma'am." Ali turned to the sink and wrinkled her nose. The dishes were piled three feet high. Shaking her head, she grabbed a scrub brush and set to work.

Twenty minutes later, Sarah had a pan full of cooked food. She turned towards the sink. "Ali, can you hand me a clean…plate…" Her voice trailed off as she stared.

The dishes were still stacked, but now they were spotless and properly organized. Ali was rinsing soap off her hands.

"Ali, how did you do all that?" Sarah asked, eyes wide.

Ali blushed and handed over the requested plate. "I'm just used to working fast, ma'am. Is the food done?" She asked timidly.

Sarah shook away the shock and smiled. "Yes." She spooned out the contents of the pan, placed a fork on the side of the plate, and handed it back to Ali. "Eat up."

Ali didn't need to be told twice. Within two minutes, the plate was empty. As soon as she was done, she washed the plate and fork in the sink and placed them with the other dishes.

"Ali…do you have anywhere you can go?" An idea was forming in Sarah's mind.

Ali's expression turned sad again. "No."

Sarah hesitated, and then came to a decision. "What if we worked out a deal?"

Ali's sadness faded into curiosity. "What kind of deal?"

"I'm the owner of this inn, and I've been in need of extra help lately. In exchange for work, I can offer you a room to stay in and three meals a day."

Ali's eyes went round as saucers. "Really?"

"Really. It isn't an easy job, though; you'll have to work hard."

Yes. Say yes! "I'll work very hard ma'am, I promise! I accept your offer. Thank you so much, I promise I won't let you down, ma'am! Thank you!"

Sarah chuckled. "You're welcome, Ali. But enough of this ma'am business; it makes me feel old," she said with a wink. "My name is Sarah Hawkins. Let's go with Ms. Sarah, all right?"

"Yes ma'—I mean, Ms. Sarah."

"Good. Now, first order of business: we need to get you cleaned up."

Ali smiled for the first time that day. "Yes, Ms. Sarah!"

Sarah led the small girl to a bedroom with a small adjoining bathroom, chatting the whole way there. And from a shadowed corner, Jim watched them go, brows furrowed.