A/N: Not much to say. ONWARD!

…

Chapter One – Destiny Islands

The next two weeks flew by quickly. Sora, Riku, Kairi, and Aurora, worked hard, collecting building materials for the raft and putting it together. Aurora got to meet Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie as well, the three other kids who played on the Islands.

"We haven't told them our plan, honestly. Selphie would try to take it over, and Tidus would want in. And honestly? Wakka would probably go to our parents," Sora explained when Aurora asked about the secrecy.

The raft was quickly taking shape, looking more and more sea worthy each day.

"Alright," Kairi said, sitting back on her heels. Her and Aurora were just working on tying the last few logs gathered together. "We just need a few more things and it should be done today!"

"A few more logs, it looks like," Aurora said, pointing to the more bare side as she pulled her dirty-blond hair into a high, spiky ponytail.

"A large cloth for the sail, and some extra rope wouldn't hurt either," Kairi added. Aurora nodded, and Kairi looked around, before letting out an exasperated sigh. "I'll go find Sora. He's probably snoozing down on the beach again," she said with a grin. Aurora laughed.

"Guess I'll wait here for Riku, then. He should be getting back soon from that last supply run we sent him on."

Kairi nodded with a smile, before heading off. Aurora sighed and sat back against the mast of the raft, thinking over what needed to still be done. Kairi mentioned needing provisions for the trip as well, like food and water.

"Probably can't start a fire on the raft to cook any fish we might catch," she mumbled to herself with a smile, before sighing again and glancing around. Riku's right though. Paradise is boring. And I've only been here for two weeks! Aurora stood and stretched, before stepping off the raft, pacing a little. A flash of silver caught her eye and she looked up in time to see Riku heading in the opposite direction, a log over her shoulder. She rolled her eyes, jogging after him.

"I'm the only one working on the raft." Aurora heard Riku's voice as she caught up to him, only to find him confronting Sora, who was sitting in the sand, and Kairi, who was standing by the water. She laughed.

"Hey, not the only one," she countered. Riku snorted, walking forward and tossing the log onto Sora, who flailed to catch it.

"Alright, alright. So Aurora and I." He stopped in front of Kairi. "And you're just as lazy as he is!" he said, tipping his head in Sora's direction. Kairi giggled as Sora pushed the log off of him.

"So you noticed," she said, rubbing the back of her head. "Okay, we'll finish it together!" she announced as Riku took a seat in the sand next to Sora. Aurora grinned, knowing what was about to come next. "I'll race you!"

"Huh?"

"What, are you kidding?"

Aurora laughed as both boys complained, walking over and leaning down to look at them.

"What, chicken that Kairi and I can kick your butts?" she challenged with a smirk. The boys looked at her, before looking at each other.

"Ready, go!" Kairi yelled. Sora and Riku both shot up from their sitting positions and took off down the beach, with Aurora keeping pace with them easily. Kairi was only a step behind them, giggling up a storm at the fact that her plan worked, and the four kids quickly made their way back over to the passage that would lead them to the other side of the Island. Aurora quickly grabbed both boys' shirts before they could go through the door, stopping them, knowing they'd have a better chance of finding what they needed on this side of the Island today, and Kairi finally caught up with them.

"Alright, we're almost done the raft!" she announced. "We just need a few more logs. Riku, could you find about four more?"

"Sure," Riku said before taking off.

"What about me?" Sora asked.

"Rope, and a big cloth. Big enough for the sail," Kairi said. Sora nodded with a grin and ran off as well.

"So, what are we going to do while we wait?" Aurora asked, looking over at Kairi. The red-head smiled, pulling something out of her pocket.

"I thought we could make lucky charms from thalassa shells," she said, showing Aurora the shells. "Sailors would make these, and take them on long voyages with them to ensure a safe return home," she explained. Aurora smiled warmly.

"That's a good idea," she said. Kairi nodded.

"I thought so. If you can find five shells like this, I can show you how to make it," she said. Aurora nodded and began searching the sand.

…

After a few hours of searching, Aurora was only able to find four perfect thalassa shells. The fifth one had a chip in it. She came over to Kairi.

"I couldn't find a fifth good one, but… will this work?" she asked. Kairi gently took it, examining it, before nodding.

"Yeah, it should," she said with a smile. "The shell itself is still pretty strong, and the chip isn't jagged. Besides, it's not like it'll change the luck in it," she said, handing it back. Aurora smiled.

"Good."

"Alright, we have to put the Charms on hold. Riku bought the logs back," Kairi said. Aurora nodded, putting the shells away and helping add the last few logs. As they finished that, Sora arrived with the rope and cloth, and they were finally able to finish the raft. The four stepped back to examine their handy-work.

"There we are. A seaworthy vessel," Riku said, crossing his arms with a smirk.

"Does this mean we can set sail tomorrow?" Sora asked.

"Nope. Tomorrow, we gather food and supplies," Kairi said, while Aurora giggled at the disappointment in the boy's face. Riku grinned, thumping Sora on the back.

"Yeah, we don't need you starving or anything."

"Hey!" Sora complained, and all four laughed.

"Common, let's go watch the sunset from the Paopu tree," Kairi suggested, leading the way to the bridge that lead to the islet.

…

"So, both Kairi and Aurora's homes are out there, right?" Sora asked, looking over from where he sat on the tree. Kairi was sitting next to him, with Aurora sitting on the other side of the red head. Standing next to Aurora and leaning against the tree, was Riku, his arms crossed thoughtfully.

"Could be. We'll never know by staying here," Riku replied.

"But how far could a raft take us?" Sora asked.

"Isn't it a little late to be having second thoughts?" Aurora asked, looking over at the brunette with a smile. He stuck his tongue out at her, causing her to laugh. Riku, on the other hand, shook his head, waving Sora's question away.

"Who knows. If we have to, we'll think of something else."

"So, suppose you get to another world," Kairi started, before giggling at the idea. "What would you do there?"

"Well… for starters, I'd start trying to help Aurora look for her brother, and get her memory back," Riku said, looking up at the new girl. "Though honestly, before you came, I hadn't really thought about it. I had just always wondered why we're here, on this island. If there are any other worlds out there, Why did we end up on this one? And suppose there are other worlds… Then ours is just a little piece of something much greater. So we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?"

"I dunno," Sora said off-handedly, flipping onto his back on the tree. Aurora glanced over at Sora, before looking over at Riku, thinking over his words. Something in his words struck a chord in her, and made her ever more curious to see the outside world as well.

"Exactly," Riku said. "That's why we need to go out there and find out. Just sitting here won't change a thing. And it won't get Aurora her memory or her brother back. So let's go."

Aurora hopped off of the tree and walked over to Riku, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Riku, thank you. How much you want to help… it means a lot to me," she said with a smile. Riku nodded.

"Well, if it hadn't been for you or Kairi, I probably would've never thought of any of this. So, thanks," he said, looking between the blond and the red-head. Aurora nodded.

"Heh, you're welcome," Kairi said. The four watched the sun sink below the horizon, before finally heading off, Kairi and Aurora walking ahead of the boys and leading the way to the dock.

…

The next day, after Sora and Riku decided to have a race, Kairi gave both boys a list of provisions to gather. Meanwhile, she started to teach Aurora how to make a star shaped charm out of the Thalassa shells Aurora had the day before.

By the time the sky was changing from sapphire to pink and orange, the provisions were securely tucked away, and both Aurora's and Kairi's lucky charms were complete. Kairi drew her face on hers, and put a small crown shape in the middle. Aurora decided to keep the shells plain, loving the pinks, yellows, and blues, and found a star charm to put in the middle of hers.

…

"So, we set sail tomorrow," Aurora said as she and Riku sat on the ledge in front of the door that lead to the other side of the island, watching as the sun set.

"Yeah. Are you ready?" Riku asked, looking over at the girl. Aurora took a deep breath, looking down at the lucky charm.

"I… don't know," she admitted. Riku's eyebrows furrowed together, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and studying the girl next to him.

"What do you mean?"

"When I arrived here, I… well, I don't know what happened to me. And since the raft was completed, and especially today, I've been…" Aurora hesitated, searching for the right word. "Scared? No…. nervous? I don't know, my chest feels weird," she admitted, looking up at Riku. "I'm worried something bad is going to happen. Kairi taught me how to make this lucky charm. For a safe voyage." She showed it to Riku. "But… I don't know if it's going to work. I just feel like… this journey might be a dangerous one."

Riku was silent as he listened to Aurora. Finally, he put a hand on her shoulder, and smiled.

"Don't worry, Aurora. Even if something bad does happen, I will be there to protect everyone. Sora, and Kairi, and you, too. I will make sure you won't be hurt again," he said. Aurora turned and looked up at Riku, who nodded confidently, and couldn't help the small glow of admiration she felt towards him.

"Are you sure you can?" she asked. Riku's smile grew.

"Of course I can. After all, I'm the best fighter on the Island," he boasted. Aurora couldn't help the giggle that escaped her, and she nodded.

"Alright. I trust you," she said, letting the lucky charm rest in her lap and looking out towards the sunset, trying to ignore the feeling that something on the island was just… wrong.