Re-sketch

Chapter 2: The Destiny Islands

A cool breeze wafted through the window, cutting through the heat of the mid-morning sun. Outside, the neighborhood mynah birds squawked from the treetops while cicadas chirped in the bushes. It was a familiar medley of sounds—one that usually signaled the start of the summer day, though to Sora it might as well have been a lullaby to send him back to sleep.

A sharp tapping sound, however, roused him from the edge of slumber. His eyes opened slowly as he stifled a yawn. "Gahhh…" Morning already? And he'd been looking forward to sleeping in a little longer… He pulled his pillow over his face, blocking out the sunlight.

Tap! Tap!

"Sora! I know you're in there!"

He bolted upright, flinging his pillow off his face and sitting there in a daze before he scrambled to the window. "Kairi?"

She stood in the yard below, halfway to tossing another pebble at his window. Her blue eyes gleamed when she spotted him. "Were you still sleeping, Sora?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips and puffing up her cheeks.

"Uh…" Sora gave a nervous laugh.

Kairi's stern expression cracked as she giggled into the back of her hand. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Hurry up! Riku's waiting for us!"

"R-right!"

Today they loaded up into Sora's boat, rowing out across the calm waters towards the tiny islet that jutted out above the ocean waves. The islet was a favorite spot of the kids from the main island, a place to waste lazy days on the beach and climb the old weather-worn treehouses—but Sora doubted they'd have much time to do any of that stuff today.

It was day six of Operation: Leave The Destiny Islands. After spending the past week collecting supplies, Sora could say it was finally coming together. The mess of logs and rope had at least looked like a raft when they'd left for home yesterday, though he wasn't quite sure how far they'd be able to go in its current state.

As they approached the shore, Sora caught a glimpse of Tidus, Selphie, and Wakka climbing down from the biggest treehouse. He spotted Riku too, a swatch of silver, yellow, and blue perched at the edge of the dock with one leg dangling over the water.

"You're late," Riku said as Sora's boat bumped against the dock.

Sora scratched the back of his head and offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

"You were right, Riku. He overslept again," Kairi said, giggling at Sora's pout.

Riku hardly bothered to hide his smirk. "Surprise, surprise."

"Yeah, well… I'm here now, aren't I?" It was an awful lot of his friends to ask of him, getting up before noon. Did no one respect the time-honored tradition of sleeping in during summer vacation anymore? "What's the plan for today?"

"We still need to get more logs," Riku said. "You know what to do, Sora."

Sora sighed. "I'll go find some…"

The narrow beaches and lush overgrowth of Thalassa's Rest were a well-tread familiarity for Sora. Years spent during his childhood exploring the islet meant that he knew this little ocean haven as well as he knew his own backyard. So he combed the land for logs suitable for their project, not once thinking that anything he found could surprise him.

But as he paused under the bridge, dropping off yet another potential candidate into his already generous pile of logs, something caught his eye on the sand further up the beach. A seal? he thought at first. But as the seconds passed and his squinting eyes adjusted to the harsh sunlight reflecting off the sand, he realized that something… didn't seem quite right.

His eyes widened. Wait. Was that a…?

"Hey!" He broke into a sprint towards the motionless body sprawled out on the shore.

"We could probably bring some coconuts," Riku said. "As much as I like fish, I don't think I'd want it for every meal."

"Mr. Higa down the road was selling smoked jerky I think," Kairi replied. "I could get some for the food pack."

The two friends lingered on the dock, looking over their checklist of supplies and the extra materials Riku had brought from his house. Riku paged between his notebook and the makeshift raft blueprints, while Kairi lined up their rations in a neatly organized row.

"I completely forgot about that," Riku said. "Good thinking, Kairi."

Kairi shot him a proud smile. "One of us has to keep this boat afloat after all."

"Don't tell me you want to be captain too," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Think I can't handle it?" She propped her hands on her hips. "Mark my words, First Mate Riku—I won't allow mutiny on my ship! It'll be the plank for ye."

"Maybe if you work on your pirate voice first we'll consider it."

"Hey!" Kairi reached out to give Riku a light tap on the head. He ducked away though, gently swatting her hand back.

"You should see if Mr. Higa has any extra oranges too," he said, turning his attention back to the matter at hand. "You know, for the vitamin C? He gave some to us but my mom took most of them with her to the clinic."

"Are you worried about getting scurvy?" Kairi giggled. "Just how long do you think we'll be out at sea for?"

Riku laughed too, but it was a sound that faded quickly as he kept his eyes focused on the paper. How long would they be gone for? Even he didn't know that answer.

His sudden silence didn't go unnoticed. "Riku?" Kairi asked. But before she could say more, another voice cut through the medley of ocean waves and crying gulls.

"Guys!" Tidus shouted, sprinting down the beach towards them.

"Hey Tidus! What's up?" Kairi called out.

"Back to get beat again?" Riku asked—but as the brown-haired boy neared, Riku realized that Tidus wasn't here for a challenge.

There was urgency in his eyes—panicked concern mixed with curious excitement. "Come on, you gotta see," Tidus said. "Sora found a girl."

Riku and Kairi only had time to exchange confused looks before they followed, leaving their supplies abandoned on the dock. On the far side of the beach, past the bridge leading to the paopu tree, a small group had gathered. Sora, Selphie, and Wakka were all huddled around something laying in the sand.

It was once they got closer that Riku realized it was a person.

"Oh, my gosh." Kairi clapped her hands over her mouth, stifling a gasp. "Is she okay?"

"She's breathing, I think," Sora said. "But she's out cold."

Riku shouldered his way between Sora and Wakka to get a better look. It really was a girl. Her carroty red hair was a tangled mess against her tawny cheeks, and the coat she wore looked heavy and thick. Sora reached out, giving her shoulder a light shake. The girl groaned, her eyelids flickering, but she didn't wake up.

"Where'd she come from?" Riku asked, his mind racing.

"I dunno," Sora said. "I just found her lying here."

"I've never seen her before," Selphie said. "D'ya think she might be from one of the other islands?"

There was a murmur as the kids shared uncertain looks, but no one had any real answers. "We should get her to the clinic," Kairi said. "If she's not waking up, she might be hurt."

"But you're not supposed to move injured people, yeah?" Wakka said. "That's what they said on TV."

"Riku, your parents are doctors," Selphie said. "What should we do?"

Riku scowled. "Yeah, they're doctors, but I'm…" He held back a sigh. It wasn't the first time people looked to him for this sort of advice. "I'm sure she'll be fine if we take her back—it'll be faster that way. Sora, Wakka, give me a hand."

The Kiyuna Clinic stood in the heart of town, right on the corner of main street. Riku was all too familiar with the place, with that smell of antiseptic lingering in the stuffy air and the half dozen desk fans strategically placed around the room.

The six teenagers gathered in the lobby, taking up half of the seats while Mr. and Mrs. Bulan from down the street and their elementary-aged daughter remained the only other patients waiting in the front. Selphie leaned back, fanning herself with an old magazine from the wall rack.

"Jeez, Riku, can't you guys afford some AC?" she asked. "A girl starts sweating like crazy in heat like this!"

Riku crossed his arms, but despite his cool expression, he couldn't help the embarrassment that flooded into his cheeks. "Hey, it's not my fault the air conditioning broke." Again.

"Well, can we at least crack open a window or something? I'm literally dying right now."

"And let all the bugs in?" Sora folded his hands behind his head. "I'm sure that can't be hospital-level sanitary, Selphie."

While the others bickered and bemoaned the heat, Kairi was the only one besides Riku who seemed to have her mind elsewhere. She breathed out a sigh, looking down the hallway towards the line of closed doors leading to the examination and overnight rooms. "I hope that girl will be okay…"

Her words were soft, but it was enough to make the chattering pause. "I'm sure she'll be fine," Riku said. The sooner she woke up, the sooner they'd be able to get some answers.

"I wonder where she came from, though," Sora remarked as he raised his gaze to the ceiling in quiet pondering.

"She one of your cousins maybe?" Tidus asked, elbowing Wakka in the arm and making the older redheaded boy scowl. "You two look kind of alike after all."

"Tidus, I swear, I'm gonna shove this blitzball up your—"

Selphie promptly kicked both of the boys in their shins. "Shhh! Language!" she hissed before turning to Mr. and Mrs. Bulan and their daughter, bobbing her head in silent apology. Wakka and Tidus grimaced, rubbing their sore legs, while Sora chuckled and even Kairi allowed herself a little giggle. Riku, however, remained quiet, his thoughts rolling with countless questions.

"You kids are still here?"

Riku turned, seeing his mother standing at the edge of the hallway. Rie Kiyuna was wearing the same white coat she'd had on when the kids had first arrived at the clinic, with her long silvery hair pulled into a neat bun.

"Riku, you and your friends are taking up space. You should leave." She didn't say it unkindly, but still her words played on Riku's nerves.

Way to make everyone feel welcome, Mom, he thought.

"But we wanna make sure that girl is okay, Dr. Kiyuna," Sora piped up.

Riku's mother sighed. "She's doing fine for now. It's just a matter of waiting for her to wake up. But I'm sure there are better things you kids could be doing than sitting around in this stuffy clinic. Now, please, I'm expecting more patients soon… Mr. and Mrs. Bulan, we're ready to see you."

At that, the teenagers grudgingly took their leave. Out on the street, the sun beamed down with sweltering heat. "Well, I guess we'll head out then," Tidus said, tucking his hands into his pockets. "Let us know if you hear anything about the girl."

"Of course." Kairi gave a quick bow of her head. "Thanks for all the help."

As Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie headed down the street, Riku leaned against the clinic wall, crossing his arms. He waited until the other three were out of sight before turning to Sora and Kairi. "All right, time to find some answers."

"Huh?" Sora and Kairi turned to him in unison as he pulled three unfamiliar items out of his pocket.

"Whaaaat are those?" Sora asked, furrowing his brows. Kairi squinted at the objects until realization hit her.

"Riku, did you…?"

"I found these in that girl's pockets," Riku said with a shrug, holding up a wallet, a round silver device, and a tiny laminated booklet for inspection. "Figured if anything would give us information, it would be these."

"Quick thinking," Sora said, looking impressed. Kairi on the other hand didn't seem quite so approving.

"I don't think this is a good idea," she said, crossing her arms. "It's a total invasion of privacy, isn't it?"

Riku responded with a dismissive wave of his hand. "We need answers, don't we? I don't think she'll mind, given the circumstances." He unzipped the wallet, checking the compartments inside. It was empty, mostly, except for a few coins of munny and a set of tiny photo booth picture strips featuring their mysterious castaway and several other teenagers he didn't recognize. Nothing particularly interesting. He tossed the wallet over to Sora, who fumbled to catch it.

Next was the ornate silver device. He turned it around in his hand, listening to the faint ticking that came from inside. A pocket watch, he realized as he pried it open. A cursory once-over told him little else, and he flipped it shut to take one last look at the star-shaped engraving on the cover and the red gem embedded in its center before passing it to Kairi.

The booklet, however, seemed much more promising. Bingo.

It was an official-looking document with the word "PASSPORT" written in gold text and some kind of symbol drawn with seven dots and a series of connecting lines. As he flipped it open to the first page, Sora and Kairi moved to peer around his shoulders.

A photograph stared up at them, the same carroty-haired girl with a freckled face and a toothy smile. Opposite the photo was a box of text listing off identification and expiration dates.

"'Constellation Bridge of Ursa Minor: Polaris,'" Sora read slowly. "Polaris…? Is that supposed to be a place?"

"I think so," Riku said. Something rang familiar in the back of his mind. Polaris? Had he heard that word before? A constellation… Ursa Minor…

Wait a second…

"It looks like her name is Hikaru Stonewall," Kairi murmured, tilting her head to get a better view of the page. "Place of birth: Hart's Haven; Date of birth: December… wait." She leaned closer, her eyes widening. "Is that year right? That's…"

"A thousand years too many?" Sora asked. "Is she… from the future, or something?"

"No, I don't think it's that," Riku said, his eyes lighting up as excitement bubbled inside his chest. "Guys… I think she might be from another world."

"Seriously?" Sora's eyebrows shot up. "What makes you say that?"

"Think about it—she washed up on shore, just like Kairi," Riku said, turning to look at her. Kairi fell silent, a frown tugging at her lips. "And what's with how she was dressed? No one would be wearing clothes like that out here—you'd die of heatstroke."

"Hm…" Sora crossed his arms, still a little skeptical as he pondered Riku's words. "Well… I guess when you put it that way, it makes sense."

"It makes perfect sense," Riku said stubbornly. "It's all right here on the page. Constellation? She's obviously from somewhere out there." He gestured out at the great blue sky and the stars he knew were still twinkling above their heads, even if they couldn't see them. "I borrowed some books from the library for the raft—"

"You went to the library?" Sora asked with a cheeky grin. Riku ignored him.

"—and I'm pretty sure one of them said something about Polaris. A guiding star, I think? You can't tell me it doesn't fit." Riku looked at them expectantly. "If she is from another world, then maybe the weather is different there. Maybe wherever she's from, they have a different calendar. Or, well, they must use the same months, but maybe they count the years differently?"

He could feel himself getting carried away, his head spinning with all the possibilities, all the questions. What were the chances? They had been preparing to set off to find other worlds, and now the other worlds were coming to them? This had to be fate, it just had to.

"Well, whatever it is," Kairi said, snapping Riku from his thoughts as she plucked the passport from his hands. "We should give this to the doctors. They'll probably want all the information they can get."

"Wait," he said hastily, his eyes going wide. "We can give it back when we're done. There's still more stuff we can look into."

"Riku, I don't like it," Kairi said, concern in her voice and in the crease of her brows. "If your mom finds out you took something from a patient, she'll be so mad."

"We can just tell her we found it on the beach," Riku replied. He held out his hand for the passport, but Kairi continued to glare at him. "… Okay, fine, we'll give it back," he grudgingly amended. "But we should at least make a copy, just in case we need to look at the documents again. That fine?"

Kairi maintained a skeptical expression, propping her hands on her hips. But she didn't seem quite as adamant as before.

"Uh… Well, I think that's fair," Sora piped up after a moment as he scratched his head. "Keep some information but get the actual stuff to the adults. Everyone's happy… right?"

Kairi held her ground for a few more seconds before sighing. "Okay, fine… We'll do it your way, Riku." She handed the passport over, and he tucked it back into the safety of his pocket. "Jeez… You always get so worked up about this stuff."

"Can you blame me?" Riku asked. "It's not everyday someone from another world winds up on our doorstep."

"No, not everyday," Kairi agreed. "And since you're talking about copies, I'm guessing you mean my dad's office?"

"That's a great idea, Kairi." Riku grinned, patting her shoulder. "Way to keep the boat afloat."

Kairi sighed again, though this one held a bit more playful exaggeration as they started down the street. "Sometimes it doesn't pay to be captain."

It was late afternoon by the time they headed back to the clinic. A few stops along the way to grab food and hang out at Kairi's house meant hours had passed since their return from the islet. Which, in all honesty, Kairi didn't mind as much as she pretended; it was a nice break from all the hard work they'd been putting into the raft lately.

"So, if there's a star called Polaris… Do you think she's actually from there?" Sora said through a mouthful of yakisoba he had picked up from a food truck on their way back.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Riku replied. "But it's something to go off of. We can try looking into it more later."

"After you return her things," Kairi reminded him.

Riku rolled his eyes. "Relax, Kairi. I said I would—don't you believe me?"

"I believe you," Sora said with a grin. "Only because we both know what'll happen if your parents find out you didn't."

"What, you think it'll just be my parents?" Riku asked. "If I get caught, I'm taking you down with me, Sora."

"Huh?!" Sora nearly dropped his food. "But I didn't do anything! You wouldn't."

"Try me."

"Well, as long as you're not dragging me into this too," Kairi chimed in. "What'll my dad say if he finds out you two pulled his favorite daughter into all this covert sneaky business?"

"You're his only daughter," Sora said helpfully.

"Exactly! And I'd really prefer that he not ban the both of you from coming over to the house, so…"

"… You're bluffing." Riku crossed his arms, looking at Kairi with near complete certainty. But the non-zero percent possibility of her telling the truth cast the faintest shadow of doubt in his eyes.

Kairi giggled. "Maaaybe." She was lying, of course—she would never throw her friends under the proverbial bus like that. But she couldn't pass up the opportunity to tease them either.

"Pulling the dad card? Not cool, Kairi," Sora said, crossing his arms. "That should be against the rules or something."

"Perks of having the mayor for a dad," Riku remarked.

"You mean perks of having my dad for a dad," Kairi corrected him. "But, seriously. I just don't want you to get in trouble, Riku."

"Come on, Kairi, what sort of trouble do you think I'd get in?" Riku propped a hand against his hip. "I thought you'd be more excited than either of us about this. That girl could have answers about your home too."

"You think?" Sora asked.

"It's just a feeling I have," Riku said.

"And we all know you're always right about those feelings," Kairi teased, earning herself a quiet "hey" from Riku and a chuckle from Sora. She couldn't help laughing herself—but it was one that faded away quickly as her mind turned back to Riku's comment. "I have a lot of questions," she admitted. "But… I guess I'm more worried than anything." After all, if the girl really was from another world, and not just one of the other islands, then…

She might be all alone, Kairi thought. And beyond all curiosity, beyond all the burning questions she had… The thought made her sad.

They turned up the next street, walking until they reached the clinic. Sora and Riku had fallen back into their conversation, wondering aloud about the worlds beyond the islands and what they would find on the raft, while Kairi just hoped to herself that the girl would be okay.

But as they stepped through the clinic doors, they realized something wasn't right.

The phone rang incessantly behind the front desk—for how long, they weren't sure. The waiting area was empty with just the hum of the many rotating fans to greet them. But a commotion came from down the hall, where the clatter of falling objects and raised voices echoed out. A moment later, Kairi glimpsed the nurse hurrying out of one specific room.

"What's… going on?" Sora asked as he set his half-finished yakisoba on the counter. "Isn't that coming from that girl's room?"

Another loud crash down the hall made them jump. "Mom?" Riku called out, all of his flippant unconcern vanishing in a moment. He rushed down the hall, and without hesitation Kairi and Sora chased after him.

But the moment they reached the source of the commotion, squeezing through the doorway, they froze at the scene before them.

Dr. Kiyuna stood closest to the door, her back to them as she held her hands up in a cautious, non-threatening manner. Across the room was the red-haired girl, now wide awake and backed up into a corner. She looked tiny, garbed in one of the clinic's oversized hospital gowns that must have been two sizes too big—but she didn't feel small, not with the fierce glare in her brown eyes and the red-hot fire crackling in the palms of her hands.

"Is that…" Kairi stared at the flames. A sharp smell permeated the room, she realized, like the burning of a clear and thin fuel.

This girl… was using magic?

"I said who are you?!" the red-haired girl shouted. She kicked out at the rolling tray table, sending it crashing into the floor between her and Dr. Kiyuna.

"Mom!" Alarm rang in Riku's voice as he stepped forward. "What's going—"

Dr. Kiyuna whipped around to look at them. "Riku, stay back," she snapped. The harshness in her voice and the urgency in her eyes made Riku falter.

But then she took a deep breath, turning her attention back to the girl. "It's okay." Dr. Kiyuna spoke slowly and clearly, keeping her hands carefully raised.

"Who are ye people?" the girl snarled, the flames in her palms blazing like a wildfire. There was a strange lilt to her words, an accent that felt unfamiliar and ferocious paired with that look on her face. "Where the hell am I?"

"You're at the Kiyuna Clinic on Origin Island," Dr. Kiyuna said. "My name is Rie Kiyuna, and I…"

But the red-haired girl wasn't listening. "Where's my sister?" she said abruptly, a new realization entering her eyes as she looked around. "My brother? Me mam?"

"I don't know," Dr. Kiyuna said. "You were found on the beach. No one else was with you—"

"They must be here!" the girl snapped, her voice cracking and breathless. "I was with them! We all were, until… Until those things…" She trailed off. "My mam… She told us to stay together… Where am I? Where… What happened…?"

For a moment, the only sounds came from the beeping of the medical machines. Kairi stood there, looking between Dr. Kiyuna, the flames that crackled in the girl's hands, and the table lying in a broken heap on the ground. But as her gaze traveled away from the fire and towards the girl's face, Kairi realized something.

The girl's eyes were watering. She was scared.

And why wouldn't she be, all alone in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by unfamiliar people? Kairi knew all too well what that was like, how it felt. But she had been just a child when she'd been in this position, and she didn't have the added factor of magic to make things dangerous.

They needed to do something. They needed her to calm down before something happened, before someone got hurt. But what could they…?

"Um… Hikaru?"

It was Sora who spoke, making everyone stop and turn. The spiky-haired boy took a cautious step forward, genuine concern creasing his eyebrows. The red-haired girl's head snapped up, confusion flashing in her eyes.

"That's your name, right?" Sora pressed on, waiting a moment to make sure the girl understood him. "Hikaru Stonewall?"

Slowly the girl nodded, regarding him and the others carefully for a few moments. "Who are ye?" she asked.

"I'm Sora," he said, offering a hesitant smile before gesturing to the two other teens standing beside him. "And these are my friends, Riku and Kairi. We came to check on you—we weren't sure if you were okay since you've been out of it since this morning. How are you feeling?"

"I…" The girl hesitated. "… Everythin' hurts," she murmured, the flames in her hands fizzling away until they were completely extinguished. Angry red welts covered her palms, but she lifted a shaky hand, clutching at the front of her gown over her heart. "How… d'you know my name?"

"We're the ones who found you," Kairi said. "We thought you must've washed up on shore, we were so worried. But you're safe now. Dr. Kiyuna just wants to help you."

At that, the doctor took a slow and measured step forward. "You're hurt," she said. "Your hands…"

Hikaru blinked, releasing her hold on her gown and lowering her gaze. Only then did she notice the burns on her hands and the bloody stain that had seeped into the white fabric where she'd clutched too hard. "Ach…" She winced, her fingers twitching as she dropped her hands to her side. "Gods below…"

Suddenly her legs gave out from under her. Hikaru staggered back, leaning against the wall and swaying like she was struggling to hold herself up. The three teens sprang into action, wide-eyed and alarmed, but before they could get anywhere near close, Dr. Kiyuna stepped in their way.

"I can handle it from here," she said sternly, turning to the teens hovering in the doorway. "She's tired, I'm sure, and this is no place for a bunch of kids. Go wait outside."

Riku and Sora began protesting immediately, but Kairi remained quiet for a moment as she looked at Hikaru's exhausted face. "Guys," Kairi said, placing her hands on her friends' shoulders. "Let's give them some space."

Sora paused. He still seemed doubtful, but as he followed her gaze to the others, a sympathetic understanding entered his eyes. He nodded, while Riku crossed his arms, looking unhappy with the decision but grudgingly relenting.

They allowed themselves to be ushered back out into the hallway. As Dr. Kiyuna began to push the door shut, the last thing they saw was Hikaru staring at them with confused and curious eyes. Then the door closed with a gentle click, leaving them in silence.

"… Well," Sora said after a moment. "Now what?"

Every inch of Hikaru's body ached like she'd been hit by a logging truck, but for a single moment it paled in comparison to the sting of antiseptic on her blistering palms. She scrunched up her face, squinting in a distasteful grimace as she watched the doctor clean her hands.

Everything was quiet in the clinic, with the only sounds coming from the machines in the room and the faintest murmur of voices outside the door. Hikaru sulked at the edge of the bed, sitting in her frumpled hospital gown. Her whole body felt dirty, like she'd been caked in a thin layer of salt. Salt, she figured, because of the taste coating her tongue that made her want to gag.

What in Shiva's name happened?

"So your name is Hikaru," Dr. Kiyuna remarked, breaking the silence as she bandaged her hands. Her voice was calm and soothing, like the teal color of her eyes. "I always said if I had another kid, I would name them Hikaru."

"Really now," Hikaru said. She stared at the doctor carefully, not quite sure where she was going with this.

"Mmhmm." Dr. Kiyuna kept her gaze focused on her work as she snipped a long strip of cottony gauze. "It's a very nice name." She glanced at Hikaru with a crinkle at the corner of her eyes—a look that made Hikaru shift a bit awkwardly in her seat. But despite the sudden self-consciousness creeping its way in, Hikaru also felt an odd sense of pride welling up inside her.

"There," Dr. Kiyuna said, brushing off her hands in satisfaction as she finished wrapping Hikaru's burns. "How does it feel?"

"Loads better." Hikaru flexed her fingers out. She was no stranger to hand burns, but this time a peculiar, almost pleasant numbness had begun to spread under the surface of her skin, chasing away the sting. "Thanks, Doctor."

Dr. Kiyuna nodded. "It's been a long time since I've had to use a panacea; there aren't many people around here who know how to use magic anymore. The last time I had to was… Oh, I think it was at the summer festival two years ago. A fire show gone wrong—though I don't think you want to know where I had to apply it that time."

"Was it a real pain in the arse?" Hikaru asked with a tiny grin.

Dr. Kiyuna gave a laugh. "I guess you could say that. But, while we're on that topic, do me a favor and dial back on the magic. The last thing we need is another accident—or for you to almost pass out from exhaustion again."

Hikaru scratched the back of her head, her cheeks burning. "Got it," she said. "Sorry about that."

"Don't worry too much," Dr. Kiyuna said. "I've had my fair share of disoriented patients in the past. I can only imagine what waking up in a strange and unfamiliar place must be like. Does anywhere else hurt?"

"Bit of everywhere," Hikaru admitted. Her shoulder throbbed with the impact of boots stomping on her limbs when she'd fallen to the floor of the pub, but other than that it was just a cold ache that crept up her body and burrowed down into her bones, into her chest.

It was like a nightmare, she thought—wading through all the memories that didn't seem real. But deep down, she knew that whatever had happened, it was more than just a bad dream.

"How'd I end up here?" she asked, her eyes flickering to the sterile white walls and the sheer curtains that were drawn over the windows to block the outside from view. "Where am I?" She'd asked it before, but she had been too panicked to remember the answer.

"You're in the Destiny Islands," Dr. Kiyuna replied. "My son and his friends—those kids who came in here earlier—found you on the beach. They think you washed up on shore."

"Islands?" Hikaru repeated in disbelief. "Like, in an ocean?" Was that why her mouth tasted like salt? She'd never heard of any islands on Polaris, much less ever seen a beach—only read about them in old school books of salt-water oceans and lost worlds from an era long, long before she had ever been born.

"I take it you're not from one of the other islands," Dr. Kiyuna said, her brows creasing. "Don't push yourself too hard. You've been through a lot today, and the mayor will be here soon to speak with you."

"The mayor?"

"Yes, Mayor Wallace. He…" Dr. Kiyuna broke off at the sound of voices in the hall—a low baritone rumble meeting a chorus of youthful responses, followed by a heavy-handed knock at the door.

"Rie? You in here?"

"And that's him. What timing," Dr. Kiyuna remarked, offering Hikaru a wry smile before calling out, "Come in."

The door creaked open and a man stepped in, all but squeezing through the doorway. He was tall and muscular, with dark skin and dark hair shaved down into a buzz cut, and a colorful floral button-up that seemed to hardly fit his massive frame. But his eyes were hidden behind a pair of sunglasses, and his attention was still directed towards something outside.

"Now, you kids run along, y'hear?" the man said gruffly to the figures shuffling down the hallway behind him, before his voice turned sweet. "And I'll see you at home, sweetheart."

"Are they still out there?" Dr. Kiyuna asked, crossing her arms as the man closed the door.

"Heh, can't say I blame 'em. Everyone wants to know when something happens around here." The man gave a lopsided grin that faded away into something serious as he turned towards Hikaru. "Now, what do we have here?"

A nervous twinge coursed through Hikaru's veins as the man peered down at her through his sunglasses. She had to crane her neck up to look at him, and with her shoulders hunched over, her pint-sized frame almost disappeared into his shadow. Never had Hikaru felt this tiny, except for those times she'd bowed under her mother's glare.

"What're you lookin' at?" she asked defiantly as she straightened her shoulders and crossed her arms. From the looks on both the man's and the doctor's faces, neither of them had been expecting that response.

The man laughed—an action that made Hikaru puff up her cheeks and glare up at him with eyes full of suspicion. "Got some fire for a pipsqueak, don't you?"

"I am not a pipsqueak," Hikaru said indignantly.

It was enough to prompt Dr. Kiyuna to speak up. She reached out, gently smacking the man's arm. "Don't antagonize the poor girl. She's been through enough today."

"All right, all right." The man waved a dismissive hand that didn't seem all that bothered by the doctor's words. He shifted, crouching down to Hikaru's level with one hand resting on his knee. Hikaru held his stare for a few wary moments, taking in the scars on his face and trying to catch a glimpse of his eyes through his sunglasses. As her gaze traveled down past his tattooed shoulders, though, she realized with a double-take that his right arm ended at his elbow.

"So," he said, removing his sunglasses and hooking them on his collar. "You're the one they found, huh?"

It was a look that caught Hikaru even further off-guard. Brown eyes peered at her, full of a gentle, genuine concern that momentarily disarmed any fight that Hikaru had been mustering.

"The name's Barret Wallace—I'm the mayor of these here islands," the man continued. "What's your name, little lady?"

"Hikaru Stonewall," she said before belatedly adding, "Sir."

To her surprise, the man chuckled—a softer sound than his amused laughter before. "You don't gotta be so formal—only the rookies at SAR call me that. Just call me Barret, y'hear?" He offered her a large hand, and Hikaru stared at it for one uncertain moment before she responded with a firm shake.

"Loud and clear, Barret," she said.

Barret nodded in satisfaction as he straightened up. "How's she doing, Rie?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder to the doctor.

"Her vitals are normal," Dr. Kiyuna said. "Some cuts and bruises, some minor sunburning. She doesn't have any major injuries though."

"That's what we like to hear." Barret turned back to Hikaru. "Now, I'm sure you got plenty of questions. We got some questions too. So if you're up for it, I'd like to talk about everything that happened to you so we can figure out how to help. That sound good?"

His voice was a little too patient and kind, Hikaru thought—like he was talking to a child with delicate sensibilities. Part of her wondered if she almost would've preferred being called a pipsqueak again. But she hesitated before nodding.

"Good." Barret reached for a chair in the corner of the room, popping it down backwards next to Hikaru's bed and settling in with his arm propped against the backrest. "Now, let's start from the beginning…"

Hikaru took her time as she fumbled through her fragmented memories—memories of monsters crawling from the shadows, of the concussive boom of magic exploding in her ears and the glow of bulging yellow eyes. Her throat began to ache from answering all the questions Mayor Wallace and Dr. Kiyuna had for her, but the more she spoke, the more she realized how unbelievable it all sounded.

She was not the only one who thought so, it seemed. "A horde of shadowy monsters?" Barret repeated, unable to conceal his skepticism. "You sure you didn't hit your head?"

"Barret," Dr. Kiyuna chided him, just as Hikaru's eyes narrowed.

"I amn't lying," Hikaru snapped. "There were monsters, I'm sure of it. I know what I saw."

"We're not arguing that," Dr. Kiyuna said gently. "It sounds like quite the ordeal you've been through."

Hikaru didn't respond at first, crossing her arms tight as she pouted. But whatever wariness and irritation she felt soon crumbled away into exhaustion. "I don't know what happened," she said, her shoulders slumping. "I don't know what those things were, or where they'd come from. All I know is…"

Her mother's steely voice rang in her ears, accompanied by the memory of her eerily focused stare. "Hold onto those watches, and they'll lead you to a world that's safe. When you arrive there, look for the king, and tell him I sent you."

"I'm supposed to find a king," Hikaru said. "Or… something like that."

"A king?" Barret repeated. "Sounds like you're getting yourself mixed up with some fairytale. And I don't mean you're lying or nothin' like that," he added when Hikaru opened her mouth to protest again. "But you're in the wrong place if you're looking for any kings."

"I figured as much," Hikaru muttered, sniffling. Otherwise, her family would have been there with her too… right?

"Well, whatever happened to you back at your home, you don't gotta worry that little head of yours, Hikaru," Barret said. "You're safe now, and no monsters are gonna get you on our watch. And in the meanwhile, all of us here in the Destiny Islands will do whatever we can to help you. Understand?"

Hikaru just rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand before nodding.

Barret offered her a smile that made her feel almost at ease despite everything that had happened in the past… gods only knew how long she'd been out cold. "Now, the next thing we gotta figure out is where you're staying for the time being."

"She can stay here," Dr. Kiyuna suggested. "I don't have any other overnight patients right now. It wouldn't be a problem."

"That's sweet of you, Rie—but I don't wanna bother you too much," he replied. "And I bet Hikaru here would appreciate better digs than a stuffy hospital, right?" He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, and Hikaru couldn't help a soft giggle as she nodded. "I was thinking, there's an empty guest room at the estate. My daughter's one of the kids who found you, and she's a sweetheart who'll get you settled in no time. You probably already met her."

"Kairi?" Hikaru perked up. She recalled the auburn-haired girl and her two friends who had come barging into the room earlier. If they're the ones who found me, maybe they'll know something else. "Sure."

Barret slapped his hand against his thigh with enthusiasm before rising out of his chair. "Then it's settled!" he said with a hearty laugh.

"Don't push her too hard, Barret," Dr. Kiyuna said. "She needs rest. Doctor's orders."

"I know, I know," Barret replied. Still, he didn't seem to take the doctor's warnings quite so seriously. "Grab your things, Hikaru—it's time for Barret to give you the grand tour!"

A/N: And so goes our arrival in the Destiny Islands! I'm so excited to get Hikaru acquainted with some familiar faces, and perhaps a new face or two to the Kingdom Hearts series! :D

I've been working a lot on this story lately, trying to keep this burst of inspiration going and also be as far ahead of the current uploaded chapter as I can so I have a nice buffer to work on edits. It feels good to be writing again! If you're reading this, I hope you've been enjoying the story so far. Feedback is appreciated!

Thank you for reading!