Race of Dreams - Round Three

The rush of waves crashing against the shore was the first thing that Ame heard. She could smell a crisp sea breeze and taste the salt of seawater on her lips. She opened her eyes to blinding sunshine, blinking until the spots faded and she could look at her surroundings. She was lying back first on the white sand of a beach. The cloudless sky was a brilliant light blue.

“Am I home?” Ame murmured. She blocked the light from her eyes and sat up, looking down the beach.

The shoreline seemed to stretch on towards the horizon to her right. To her left there was a short wall of boulders separating the sea from a small bay. She looked behind her and saw a dense jungle. She couldn’t recognize anything from her home island; there were no structures, no docks, and not even a single paupou tree.

Ame stood on her feet and tried to recollect the last thing she could remember. She had been to the Pride Lands. Instead of helping Simba in his quest to battle Zira, Ame had helped Kiara in stopping the war and they defeated the Heartless together. After that, Ame could remember nothing except the bright light of a star shining down upon her.

“Where am I?” Ame looked around, hoping to spot any indication of her location. There was no one around.

Something small and green floating out to sea caught Ame's eye.

“What is that?” Ame strained her eyes to make out the form. “Wait is that-” Ame looked around her and noticed what she was missing, “My umbrella!”

Ame ran out into the water, trying to catch up to the umbrella. The tide was going out, and with it was taking her umbrella.

* * *

“Happy Birthday, Ame!” A five year old Kairi held out a long box to her older sister. It was wrapped in pink paper and had a small bouquet of flowers tied into the ribbon.

Ame smiled and took the box. She gently untied the bouquet of flowers and deeply inhaled their scent. Kairi giggled. Ame set aside the bouquet and opened the lid to the box. Inside it was a green umbrella with a silver handle.

“I saw that you were looking at it in the shop.” Kairi smiled.

“Well that's certainly a practical gift, Kairi.” Grandmother pointed out.

“Thank you Kairi,” Ame looked over the umbrella.

“Now you have something to protect you from the rain!” Kairi said enthusiastically.

Ame smiled and patted her sister on the head, “Exactly, and just like how this umbrella will always protect me from the rain, I will always protect you, Kairi.”

Kairi smiled up at Ame and hugged her around the neck. “Always?”

“Always, Kairi,” Ame stated, “I promise.”

* * *

Ame dragged her way through knee deep water. At this rate, the current would take away her gift in no time. Ame stopped and took a deep breath.

“Remember what Merlin said,” Ame closed her eyes and concentrated, “feel the elements.” Ame set her hands at the surface of the water; the movement of the waves was at her fingertips. “Feel the energy and flow.”

Ame took another slow and deep breath. She drew her hands behind her as she exhaled. “Watera, Watera, Watera.” She could feel the current begin to bend to her will.

“I'm doing this for you, Kairi.” Ame whispered, watching the umbrella bobbing in the waves, “I want to be able to protect you. I want to make sure that you're safe.”

Ame's umbrella stopped where it was in the water. The sea was calm for a moment and Ame stood still. The waves began to come back towards Ame, and with it carried the umbrella. It was only moments before Ame's hands were wrapped around her treasured possession.

“I made a promise to you, Kairi,” Ame shook the seawater from her umbrella, “And I intend to keep it.” She opened the umbrella, and with the beckoning command of “Aerora,” Ame was flying above the waves and back towards the beach.

She didn't know where the mysterious Vision spirit had taken her. What she did know was that her renewed resolve would help her face any challenge that prevented her from getting to her goal.