Author's Note: I do not own any of the characters/locations mentioned; that honor goes to Level 5, Studio Ghibli and Bandai. Just putting that out there in case anybody is hunting the site for copyright infringements...

This was one of the things that really bothered me about Swaine's introduction once I had played past the Hamelin arc: did he really not remember Oliver, Esther, and Drippy? Did he not recognize his own reflection? Surely it had to occur to him once his heart was restored, and surely it would solidify his desire to travel with them, at least for a time. This sketch was born to address that issue, and takes place after the introduction, but before they set sail. Spoilers: do not read if you have not finished playing through the Hamelin arc!

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Sketch 1: Reflection in the Waves

The man was waiting on the deck of the Sea Cow for his fellow travelers to return, his arms folded and his head bowed in deep thought. In a way, he was invisible to the world: faded and frayed clothes, poofy unkempt hair, a generous amount of stubble, slouching figure, and tired violet eyes that hadn't known a full night's rest in far too long. There was not much too see, and he could use that to his advantage when he desired it, sneaking unnoticed through a crowd and disappearing from pursuers.

Yet, for those same reasons, eveyone's eyes were on him. He looked like the kind of person no one wanted around, that no one could trust. He appeared a desperate man who had nothing and would take whatever he could get. His only real possession hinted at his trade, a well-maintained gun capable of picking distant locks with ease. This was also the only clue to how intelligent he really was, as he had made the thing himself what seemed like a lifetime ago. Truly, those that had seen him once knew better than to let him out of their sights again, for he was a thief.

These were all things he thought about while he waited, staring at his reflection in the water. It made his head spin, not because of how depressing it all was, but rather because he had seen that face in the water before, fifteen years ago. Of course, he would have realized it sooner if he hadn't been heartbroken for so long; things like one's appearance rarely seem important when part of your heart is missing.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to conjure up memories of that day all those years ago when he had met a man with this face. He was...twelve, and still a prince of Hamelin. What had he been doing? ...Oh yes, he and his brother had been out practicing magic like they always did when that man, along with a red-haired wizard, a fairy, and a blonde-haired girl had showed up to fend off an ogre that was attacking them. He remembered thinking at the time how strange it was that the man seemed to know everything about him. He never could figure it out, but now, seeing the person staring back at him from the water, he knew: among those people who had claimed to come from the future, the man had been himself.

God, what a scary thought. If he had known at the time that the ugly and worn man making snide comments was his future self, the horror would have known no bounds... He had to chuckle at the cruelty of the situation. It didn't last long before he sobered up again. Actually, if he had known the man was his future self, he never would have left home.

That wasn't even the most important part of this discovery. The trio who had restored his heart consisted of a red-haired wizard, a fairy, and a blonde-haired girl.

How they looked. How they spoke. All of the gestures and mannerisms. He couldn't put his finger on it right away when he was introducing himself, but it was sitting in the back of his mind. They seemed so familiar, like old friends he hadn't seen in years, but it was impossible to have met them before. What's more, he was still coming out of the fog of brokenheartedness and grasping to make sense of everything. Now, recognizing the reflection in the waves, it made sense. They were the same group, and he had finally caught up to them in their original time. Combining realizations one and two, his entire path going forward was becoming clear. He would travel with them at least until they were transported to the past; it was destiny.

And that second realization led to a third, which caused a lump to form in his throat. The words he had so casually spoken as he left Hamelin echoed in his head: Until next time…In the future, in your time…See you then! Truthfully, he felt only guilt to remember. He hadn't been actively seeking them out, and in fact had completely forgotten about them for years now. Yet, fate had dropped them right in front of him, and that promise was now looking more like a prophecy that came true. The people that he had grudgingly come to accept as friends of a sort were back in his life exactly the same as the day they parted, only he had changed. Why did it make him feel so…empty? Being reunited should be a great thing, the very thing he had wanted, but now… They couldn't find out. They couldn't know that he was Gascon! What would they think of what he had become? He wasn't the same person they knew…

His thoughts were interrupted by a clamor at the dock. Those kids and their fairy were back, chattering excitedly. Seemed they had never been on a ship before, or some rot like that... He sighed heavily with dread as they climbed on board.

Before long, the ship weighed anchor and began its departure from the harbor. "We're moving!" the red-haired wizard, Oliver, exclaimed.

"Proper exciting, this is!" Mr. Drippy, the fairy, announced. Both Oliver and the blonde-haired girl, Esther, nodded as they hung over the railing for a better view.

"This is going to be fun," the man, Swaine, groaned, rolling his eyes.

The ship's captain overheard his sarcasm. With a smile, he slapped him on the back as if encouraging him. Taking the cue, he looked back at the trio, so naive and so ready to save the world. Just as he remembered. He conceded a smile and moved closer to join them at the rail. This whole thing was annoying as hell, perhaps, but this was where he was meant to be.