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It was a late night in the Destiny Islands, stars twinkling in the midnight sky, the moon bright and beaming on the horizon. The waves lapped gently on the sandy shore. Sora and Riku sat at their usual spot, the curved palm tree above the water. They exchanged grins like this escapade was their little secret.
Instead of being fast asleep in their beds, they had snuck out to the beach to watch the night sky. Tonight was the night of a meteor shower, a spectacle neither Sora nor Riku had witnessed in their short lives before. If they missed it, they wouldn't have the chance to witness it again for another thirteen years. Sora's parents forbade him from staying up late, but with a little outside help from Riku, Sora was able to sneak out through his bedroom window. Thankfully, none of the pesky adults staying up late had caught them.
But for a playful boy like Sora, it was late even for him. He sleepily curled up beside the palm tree, the world of dreams tempting him to sleep. The silver haired boy gently nudged him when he began to nod off.
"C'mon, wake up, Sora! It could happen any minute now." He weakly poked the sleeping boy on the side of the arm with his wooden toy sword.
Sora jolted awake, frantically trying to rub the sleep off his eyes. "I'm awake!"
Just then, streaks of light began to brush the sky, like paint strokes on a canvas coming to life. Shooting stars danced in the twilight. The wisps of stardust in the sky reflected as bright fireflies in the ocean. Sora jumped to his feet in awe.
"Wow, it's so COOL!! They're like, like..! Raining in the sky!!"
"It's so beautiful…" The silver haired boy gasped, his turquiose irises glimmering with amazement. "It's even better than in the picturebooks…"
Streaks of whites, blues, and purples graced the sky with each falling star. They sparkled with a second of brilliance before disappearing back into the sea of stars. It was simply breathtaking.
Sora nudged Riku's shoulder. "Make a wish, Riku!! Quick!" Riku smiled and nodded at him, then shifted his gaze back to the sky, as if to directly talk to the stars. Sora shut his eyes and scrunched his face in deep thought as he quietly made his own wish.
"To think, that these stars could possibly be other worlds… I want to go to them someday," Riku admitted after a moment of silence. He longed for adventure, but Destiny Islands could only offer so much. He wanted more, to see what was out there. He was determined. He remembered the blue haired lady and that really strong guy who visited once. They definitely weren't from the islands, Riku knew that much. That meant there must be a way to visit other worlds, just like they did.
But any other ambitious thoughts Riku had were cut off with a sob from the other boy. Concerned, he turned his head to Sora, whose deep blue eyes welled up with tears.
"Sora, what's wrong?"
"W-what if," Sora sniffled, "What if one of them falls towards us? What if it hits the islands?" Teardrops cascaded down his freckled face. That would be bad, wouldn't it? Those stars were falling somewhere, right? It would be a disaster if one of them hit the islands. And if those stars were other worlds, then wouldn't mean those poor people in them were falling, too?
Riku stifled a snicker, earning a pout from Sora.
"Wh-what's so funny!"
The silver haired boy shook his head. He stepped in front of him, taking Sora's hand in his. He smiled warmly at his friend. "They're not gonna fall towards us. And even if they do, I'll protect you!" he promised. Riku grabbed his wooden sword off the ground, turned back to the sky, and pointed the sword right at the stars. "If they come at us, I'll knock them back into space!"
Sora giggled at Riku's declaration, wiping his eyes with his free hand. "Y-yeah…?"
Riku glanced back at him and nodded firmly.
"Yeah."
I want to have the strength to protect what matters…like my friends! Riku remembered swearing. His turquiose eyes lit up with determination to keep his vow.
"Actually, I think you should have this," he offered as he put his arms behind his neck. Sora tilted his head in confusion. Riku unclasped the necklace chained around his neck, and placed it in Sora's hand. It was a silver-chained necklace that glimmered in the moonlight, adorned with a crown pendant.
Sora shook his head in realization. "B-but, Riku, i-it's… it's yours…" The silver haired boy's eyes softened.
"It's my good luck charm. It'll protect you. Think of it like a reminder of my promise," he beamed. Only after hearing that did Sora happily accept the gift with a toothy grin.
The starry phenomenon began to dwindle in the heavens, the stars finishing their dance routine as they settled back into the night sky. Back on the mainland, some lights in houses began to turn on, probably the adults just now realizing the spectacle they had just missed. Soon, Sora and Riku's parents would notice that they weren't in bed, but the boys didn't care. They were right here, and that's what mattered. They continued to watch the night sky together until no more falling stars could be seen.
"Oh yeah!" Sora exclaimed after a long pause. "What was your wish, Riku?"
The other boy hummed for a second before giving him a playful smirk. "I'm not telling."
"What? No fair, I was gonna tell you mine!"
"They say if you share your wish, it won't come true."
"Aww, come on! You can tell me! I'll keep it secret! I promise!!"
"Still not telling."
"Rikuuuuu!"
"Hehehe."
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
Sora clasped the pendant around his neck in fond memory. He remembered now. That was way back when they were kids, wasn't it? He longingly gazed up towards the night sky, Quadratum's skyline bordering the horizon. A nostalgic beat squeezed Sora's heart. His lips twisted into a wistful smile as a single tear fell from his eyes.
"If a falling star comes this way, are you gonna protect me here, too?"
A girl's voice called in the distance, cutting off Sora's train of thought.
"Sora? Aren't you coming?"
He turned to the girl and laughed apologetically. "Yeah! Sorry, Strelly!" he exclaimed as he ran over to her. In the night sky, a lone shooting star grazed the heavens behind him.
·✶·