Chapter Text
In the wake of a violent storm that had torn through the night, the sun shines brightly over a tropical island. It was a beautiful place untouched by man, isolated from the rest of the Ever Realm. The island thrived in it's own self contained ecosystem, where the animals could not want for anything.
It was on this beautiful new morning that a grey and white rabbit, a bluebird, and a robin shook off the excess water, and peered out at the beach.
“Wooooo, some storm!” The bluebird, Mia, shivered from the memory, her feathers puffed out from the force of the shake.
“You’re telling me, I was blown out of our tree.” Robin ruffled her feathers. It was quite a fright. “Minimus, are you coming?”
The robin looked behind her at the young shaking purple winged horse. The colt hid behind a tree. “I-I told you, I saw something! I don't wanna get closer! What if it bites?”
“Don't be such a baby.” The bunny scolded. It couldn't possibly be that bad.
“He is a baby, Clover.” Robin reminded him.
Clover rolled his eyes. “Fine, let's just go see what the fuss is about.” He hops out into the open, looking around at the beach. His eyes wide when he sees an odd shape in the sand. The rabbit and the birds cautiously move forward to get a closer look. It was some kind of container, with SOF carved into it. Inside were odd objects they had never seen before. The animals couldn't make heads or tails of it's purpose, but none of it seemed dangerous. Some of it was even pretty.
Robin sighs. “And as always Minimus was worried about nothing. Just some weird junk that washed up during the storm.”
Mia caught sight of something else buried in the sand. She spoke in a wary voice.“Uh…guys…you should take a look at this…”
Clover and Robin peered behind the box to see what Mia was talking about. They gasped.
An animal, bigger than Clover but smaller than Minimus, was sleeping in the sand, breathing in and out slowly. It was pale, slender, furless other than soft brown fur on the top of it's head, wearing a light purple thing. If Mia were to hazard a guess, it was young, and female.
“She’s alive.” Mia said in wonder.
“What IS she?” Robin wondered.
“No idea.” Clover frowned. He never met something like her. “If we leave her where she is, she’ll probably die out here.” He sighs heavily.
“And…we’re not gonna do that, right?” Robin asked, already knowing the answer.
“No…we gotta help her.” Clover relented. She may look different, but that wasn't an excuse to leave her to die.
“I’ll get some berries.” Mia offered, flying away, leaving the other two alone with an unconscious creature.
SOF. What a weird collection of symbols… maybe the creature would know the answer.
……………………………
Ten years later…
A 16 year old girl with tan skin, back length brown hair, and striking sky blue eyes ran across the beach, grinning as she almost reached the finish line. Maybe this time she would-
A shadow flew over her, crossing the line just moments before she did. Minimus landed and Sof wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug, catching her breath. “Guess you… win again, Minimus.”
“Sof, I know how excited you are but, you’re never gonna beat me in a race on foot.”
“I almost did.” She pulls away with a smile, a gracious loser. She wiped the excess sand off of her white dress. She sighs happily, leaning against her friend as the dolphins leaped out of the water, waving to her before diving back in. The air smelled salty from the sea mist, and felt comfortably warm. “Wanna go back to the tree?” She asked him.
“Good idea, Clover and Mia brought the stuff for a pie.”
“Mmmm.” Sof loved the fruit pies, they were her favorite. She wordlessly climbed onto her friend’s back, gripping his mane as the flying horse flapped his wings, taking off into the air.
No matter how many times she saw the view, it still took her breath away. Her island home was a paradise, and she loved it all, even the marsh where the crocodiles lived. Her friends stayed away, not wanting to be lunch, but she understood that the crocodiles needed to eat to live. It was the circle of life. But Rikki, Tikki, Tavi and Fang listened to her when she told them not to eat any of her friends, as a truce.
Minimus flew close to the waterfalls that fed the river, and Sof reached her hand out, gliding it over the surface of the falling water.
As Minimus flew away from the falls, Sof stood up on his back, bracing her knees as she spots her goal. She leaps off of his back, free falling towards the ground. The horse didn't panic, the girl landing on the ground that sunk from the weight of her fall, then throwing her back into the air. Sof laughed in glee, falling back down from the height to land and be thrown back up. After the fourth time she reached out. “Catch me, Minimus!”
Minimus shook his head at her fearlessness as he flew under her just as she started to fall back down. She grasped onto him, putting herself upright, still giggling. It was so much fun!
The flying horse made a turn, heading towards the biggest tree on the island, their home.
Sof had decorated the tree with flowers and vines and the few things she had with her when she arrived on the island, with the exception of the white fabric she used to make her dress. Robin was putting the last bit of Rabbit’s Ear moss into the nest that Sof slept in.
“Oh Robin, thank you!” She reached out and touched the moss. It was very soft, like the inside of Clover’s ears, hence the name. It made her nest so much more comfortable to sleep in.
“Anything for you, Sof.” Robin landed on her shoulder and nuzzled her.
“Where's Clover and Mia?”
“They'll be back soon. They got a little delayed, on account of Clover eating all the berries.”
Sof giggled. “Oh, Clover…”
Sof got to work preparing the rest of the fruit with a sharp rock, cutting them up into small pieces. Her eyes light up as Clover and Mia arrive with the rest of the ingredients. She hugs Clover and nuzzles Mia.
“Looking great, Sof!” Clover praised, eyeing the prepared fruit.
“Oh nuh uh, you already had enough.” Minimus told him off.
“Oh come on, there’s more than enough for everybody!”
“He can have some, it's okay.” Sof took his side, scratching under his chin.
Clover sighed, enjoying the scratches. “You’re the best, you know that?”
She smiles at him fondly, before returning to the task at hand. There wasn't much daylight left, after all.
……………………
Sof walked along the moonlit path to a quiet spot with Minimus to see the stars.
“Hey, Sof, could you sing that lullaby again, please?” The song always helped him relax after a long day.
Sof nodded, stroking his mane as they walked. The fireflies twinkling around them.
~”...Sun goes down, and we are here together
Fireflies glow like a thousand charms
Stay with me and we can dream forever
Right here in my arms tonight…~”
Minimus yawns. “Where did you learn that song anyway?”
Sof shrugged, accepting of her lost memory. “I don't know, I’ve just always known it.” She looks up at the sky as they continue walking. "~It's magic when you are here beside me Close your eyes and let me hold you tight Everything that I could ever need is right here in my arms, tonight...~"
Sof sat down at the edge where they had a clear view of the stars. Minimus kneeled beside her. “Could you sing the rest?
She sighed, smiling. “Okay, but you know I don't remember all the words.”
“That's okay, I just really like your voice.” He reassured her.
Sof looked up at the stars as she tried to grasp what she could remember.
"~...La la la…la la la…stars begin to climb…la la la… la la la… la la la la la… la la la la la…~”
She rests her head against her friend, who had fallen asleep to her voice. They could go back home soon. Another day in paradise.