"…So just tie those two logs together," Sky instructed from her spot under the coconut tree.

"Like this?" Riku asked.

"Maybe? It should be fine as long as it doesn't fall apart," she said.

"That's helpful," he replied with a hint of sarcasm.

"I can just take the book and go."

"You would never crush Sora's dreams like that."

"I'm sure you would figure something out," Sky looked up from her book. "Speaking of Sora, where is he?"

Riku stood from his crouched position and scanned the area. The four friends had chosen the Cove of the smaller island as a construction site for their raft. Not only was it away from the other children, but it also provided much-needed shelter from the sun.

"Looks like he isn't the only one missing," Riku noted.

"Seriously?" Sky groaned, slamming the book shut. "How are we supposed to finish the raft if half of our crew is missing?"

"Did you expect anything less?"

"I guess not…" She sighed and rose from the ground. "We better find them before they waste the day away."

She had expected Sora to take frequent breaks. His hyper-activism often distracted him from completing tasks. Kairi, on the other hand, was a different story. Leaving in the middle of a project was very out of character for her.

Riku hummed in response, leaning against a weathered palm tree.

"Might as well pick up more logs while we're at it, or else it's going to be a pretty cozy trip," he said, green eyes studying their unfinished project.

"I think I saw some under the bridge," Sky noted.

The pair leisurely strolled through the dimly lit cavern. The sound of the waves grew louder as they approached the main beach. Barely any time had passed when they spotted their friends conversing by the seashore.

"Hey!" Riku called out. "Aren't you forgetting about us? I guess we're the only ones working on the raft."

He tossed a log they picked up to Sora, knocking the wind out of him.

"And you're just as lazy as he is!" Riku directed at Kairi.

"So you've noticed," Kairi giggled as she sat beside Sora. "Okay, we'll finish it together. I'll race you!"

"Huh?" Sora questioned, catching his breath.

"What? Are you kidding?" Riku sighed.

"Ready? Go!"

The boys exchanged a quick glance before sprinting down the beach, Kairi following behind at a slower pace.

"But we just got here…" Sky sighed and slowly returned to where they came from.

The sun hung high in the sky, giving them plenty of time to finish collecting materials.

"So," Kairi started as Sky when Sky caught up. "What else do we need?"

"We still need building materials and provisions," Sky said, reviewing the checklist. "Let's focus on finishing the raft today. We can collect provisions tomorrow."

"Okay! I'll get Sora to collect everything else. You should take a break."

"We'll leave you to it then," Sky said, handing over the list of remaining items. "If you need me, I'll be by the docks."

With a quick goodbye, she headed back to the beach. Choosing to take a more scenic route, Sky waded through the cool, shallow waters.

Doubts crept into her mind as she walked. How long would she humor her friends with projects that would get them nowhere? She wished she could tell them the truth. It would make her life a lot easier. But she had made a promise to Terra and Master Eraqus.

Sky shielded her eyes when she turned the corner, the sudden brightness temporarily blinding her. Vision clearing, the beach came into full view, waves lapping lazily onto the sand. Across from her, Riku lounged on a crooked palm tree, staring out at the sea. She was glad he decided to rest. Out of all of them, he had been working the hardest. He deserved a break.

As she passed under the bridge connecting the two islands, Sky noticed Wakka hanging out near the island's spring, lazily tossing around his blitz ball. She gave him a friendly wave and continued walking towards the docks.

"Ah! Sky!" A cheerful brunette in a yellow dress called from the end of the dock.

"Hey, Selphie," Sky greeted, pulling herself onto the dock's edge.

"Doesn't the breeze feel great? It must be nice after all the running around you and Riku have been doing." She said.

"Yeah, it feels like we've been everywhere today." Sky agreed. "So what's up?"

"There's actually something I wanted to ask you," Selphie said seriously.

Sky hummed in response, giving Selphie her full attention.

"Have you heard about the legendary power of the paopu fruit? They say if you share it with someone you really care for, it binds you together forever and ever, through eternity!" She sighed. "Does the library have any books about it?"

The legend of the paopu fruit was a familiar tale among the young women of the islands. Every girl dreamed of the moment they would share the paopu fruit with someone they loved. Who wouldn't want to intertwine their destiny with someone they truly cared about?

"I'll have to check," Sky said. "I'll grab it for you when I find it."

"Isn't it so romantic?" Selphie sighed dreamily. "I have to try it sometime."

Sky giggled. Selphie was very much a hopeless romantic. After all the talk about rafts and other worlds, it was refreshing to have such a normal conversation.

"What about you? Do you think you'll share a paopu with someone?" Selphie asked.

"Huh? Me?" Sky said, caught off guard.

"Yeah! You don't have anyone in mind? What about Sora or Riku?"

"I haven't really thought about it," Sky confessed. And it was true. She hadn't thought about it. She was so caught up in her friend's plans and her own plans to leave the island that she hadn't really thought of anything else.

"I'm pretty sure Sora's spoken for." She glanced at the beach and spotted Sora running from the Cove, presumably to collect the rest of the raft materials.

"Do you think they'll really do it?" Selphie asked.

"I'm not a fortune teller, but even I can see that from a mile away," she joked.

"What about-?"

"Hey, Sky!" A voice called from above.

Craning her neck upwards, she spotted Tidus on the deck of the tree house, frantically waving down at her.

"What's up?" She shouted, waving back at the blonde boy.

"Wanna go a round?" He challenged, brandishing his red polearm.

She glanced around the beach, gauging her friend's progress. It looked like Sora found some smaller items but wasn't quite finished with the list.

"Sure! I've got time!" She agreed.

With an excited shout, Tidus raced his way down the tree house.

"I thought you were taking a break?" Selphie asked.

"Yeah, but you know how he gets," Sky said, hopping off the deck. "He won't stop bugging me until I agree."

"So true," Selphie giggled. "Good luck!"

With a small wave, Sky headed to the Seaside Shack to grab a wooden sword.

"Yo! Sky!" Wakka called out as she passed. "Need a referee?"

"Only if it keeps Tidus from sulking when he loses," Sky smirked, a wave of competitiveness overcoming her.

Wakka laughed heartily as he strode closer to the water, intent on judging the upcoming match.

Rummaging through the shack, Sky quickly picked her sword of choice and ran back to the shore. Tidus had finally arrived on the beach, eager to get started.

"Ready to lose?" He taunted, raising his pole confidently.

"Me? Lose? That's not happening," Sky shot back, readying her sword.

Without hesitation, Tidus lunged, thrusting the pole towards her. Sky swiftly sidestepped, narrowly evading the blow. Quickly bringing her sword up, she caught the underside of the pole and forcefully shoved it upwards. Tidus stumbled, leaving himself wide open. Intent on landing a finishing blow, Sky launched herself at him.

Quickly regaining his footing, Tidus dodged, bringing up his pole to strike. Sky ducked and swept her leg out, catching him by the ankle.

With a satisfying thump, Tidus landed on his back, signaling the end of the fight.

"And we have a winner!" Wakka declared.

"Aw man, I'm really off today," Tidus pouted.

"You're definitely getting better, though," Sky said, helping him to his feet. "You almost had me."

"I'll win next time for sure!" Tidus exclaimed.

"Good luck with that…" Wakka mumbled.

"Hey! Like you're any better!"

"Better than you!"

Sky giggled. She had certainly made an interesting bunch of friends over the years.

"Sky!"

She turned, coming face-to-face with Sora.

"I think I've got everything for today. Wanna head back?"

Sky nodded, quietly withdrawing from the two squabbling boys.

"So…" Sora started, clasping his hands behind his head. "When do I get a rematch."

"Hmmm… maybe when you can catch me!" Sky said, taking off in a sprint.

"Wha- wait!" Sora called, his voice barely reaching her ears.

Never a dull day…

Gentle ocean waves lapped lazily against the tiny island as the four friends lounged on the crooked paopu tree. The sun had started to dip into the horizon, painting the ocean in beautiful oranges and yellows.

It was moments like these that Sky appreciated the most. It was like the four of them were the only people in the world.

"So," Sora began, breaking the tranquil silence. "Kairi's home is out there somewhere, right?"

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

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

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

"So suppose you get to another world," Kairi cut in. "What would you do there?"

"Hmmm…" Riku contemplated. "Well… I haven't really thought about it. It's just… I've 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 don't know," Sora said, leaning farther back onto the tree.

"Exactly," Riku replied. That's why we need to go out there and find out. Just sitting here won't change a thing. It's the same old stuff. So let's just go."

"You've been thinking a lot lately, haven't you?" Kairi asked.

"Thanks to you two." Riku gestured towards her and Sky. "If you hadn't come, I probably never would have thought of any of this. So, thanks."

"You're welcome," Kairi giggled.

Sky hummed, silently watching the sun dip lower on the horizon, casting long, golden rays across the water. It was a moment of perfect tranquility.

"We should head back," Sky said, hopping down from the tree. "We'll finish up the raft tomorrow."

"Then it's off to other worlds!" Sora exclaimed.

The four friends strolled across the bridge, Sky and Kairi leading the way, Sora and Riku trailing behind.

"Hey, Kairi?" Sky asked.

"Hmmmm?"

"Do you remember how you got here?" She probed. If there were ways of traveling without taking the Lanes Between, then maybe it was possible to leave.

Kairi hummed in response.

I don't really have any memories from before I got here," She said thoughtfully. "I think that's kind of why I want to go. I want to know where I came from. I want to see that world. And if anyone knows me…"

"I'm sorry," she said bashfully. "That's probably not the answer you were looking for…"

"It's okay," Sky smiled reassuringly. "It's hard not knowing where you came from. But you'll always have a home here."

"Thanks," she smiled back. "That goes for you too, you know. I'm sure we'll find your friend."

Riku's laughter echoed through the quiet evening air as he raced past the two girls.

"Hey!" Sora exclaimed from behind them.

Kairi and Sky exchanged a knowing look, amused by their antics.

Together, they continued towards the docks, anticipating the start of a new day.