○ 02 ○ A Day on the Islands

[connectedsky]

[This dream starts in what appears to be a cave, though a very small one, much taller than it is long or wide. It doesn't seem all that cramped or scary, though - light filters in from the outside, thanks to a hole in the stone at the top, and the walls are easy to see.

Actually, for a tiny cave, this place is fairly inviting. Moss grows on some of the rocks, and the area feels safe rather than closed-in, like a little hiding spot that you can go in and out of at any point. In fact, that's exactly what it is. Should you go to the opening, which is a very short walk, you'll find that it opens to the outside; a small, peaceful tropical island.

But good luck getting outside before a certain someone notices that you're there. A little boy, who some may recognize as Sora, is sitting comfortably near one of the walls of the cave. He picks up a piece of chalk and starts drawing what...looks like an attempt that drawing some kind of animal. In fact, the walls are covered in these drawings; childish scribbles of animals and adventures and stars.

There's also something else strange about this cave; a door, built right into the very back. No, not built - it looks like it belongs there, or has always been there. But what could it be for?

Well, whatever it is, it's not opening anytime soon. Besides, Sora has put down his chalk, already standing up and looking right at your before you have much of a chance to investigate anything.

Talk to the small, slightly confused looking child?]

Comments

C:

[connectedsky]

[The boy just holds still, watching to make sure that she's okay. For all of his normal, youthful clumsiness, his hands are careful. They've held something much more delicate than a butterfly before, after all.

He feels the movement when she starts to crawl around, and he smiles in response - it feels a little funny, but but not bad.]

It's okay, I've got you.

[He wants to ask her why she's here, but he hesitates. Maybe it would be easier if he just stuck to yes or no questions.]

Are you looking for something?

[waterfell]

[The butterfly can't speak, but maybe it doesn't have to. The answer might be in the fact that she seems contented to stay in Sora's palm. There are times it's nice to let herself let go a little. She walks casually towards his wrist, and starts to circle to the opposite side of his hand, walking almost upside-down.]

[connectedsky]

[He just watches and smiles, keeping a careful eye on her - especially when she starts circling to the other side of his hand. Slowly he turns his hand as she moves, so as to make certain that she doesn't fall and hurt herself. That's the last thing Sora wants to see happen.]

I wish you could tell me where you came from. It must have been a nice place.

[This butterfly is so pretty that she had to come from somewhere nice, right?]

sora, too sweet T_T

[waterfell]

[Butterflies don't speak, or she might be able to tell Sora the opposite, that she comes from a damaged world and from darkness. It's not a world where the innocent, like him, are allowed to remain innocent very long, it seems sometimes.

But she also comes from a world that is building itself with its own strength, a world where all that once saved it was humanity's shared wish, a world that's still stubbornly reaching for a golden future. A world she'll still protect because none of them wanted to see it destroyed.

The light powder of the butterfly's wings glitters, like ice catching the light, as if to cast a glow over the world all on its own. She circles higher and higher, as though flying away into the sky- perhaps where she claims to come from, a distant planet.]

[connectedsky]

[Somewhere far away - like the stars, glittering in the sky at night. Though it was not taught, or perhaps even known, by anyone on the island, he and Riku and long wondered if those stars were really other worlds. Proof that, though distant, those other places were out there. If they could reach far enough, one day...]

My best friend and I have always dreamed about going to other worlds. I don't know when it'll happen, but maybe someday I'll get to see your world, too.

[He laughs, still watching her.]

Maybe I can even figure out how you got here, and then I can show Riku!

[waterfell]

[Without an answer, she goes higher and higher still, until it seems like she might be totally lost against the sky, and then the butterfly finally disappears as Ami rises to wakefulness.]