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There is a quiet little village in the sprawling expanse of golden wheatfields. A homely place where events of interest were far and few between. Aside from the abrupt disappearance of one beloved child, and then their enigmatic reappearance, every resident of this tightly-knitted community lives their peaceful life with gratitude to one another.
Niko’s family is as courteous as the next.
But anything thought to be constant could change in ways one would never expect. Maybe a welcome surprise?
Surely that includes making friends with a hatted time-traveling alien girl?
It started off as a stroll through the village, on a bright and sunny morning. Children chased one another on the clean paths and business owners flipped their closed/open signs for the new day. Passing neighbors greeted good mornings to one another, returning smiles and waves back.
Today, Niko wore their big brown hat and a long blue scarf that trailed behind them. Their mama was dressed in her yellow apron and wearing a white kerchief on her head. Both of their headwear sported cat-ear-like protrusions, a sort of unspoken custom that the whole village shared on everyone’s hats.
But unlike the rest of the village, Niko’s family had their own ongoing clothing theme; three whisker-like shapes emerging from the ends of Niko’s scarf and the ties of their mama’s kerchief. Granted, they were the first of their generation to begin the idea, but all great lineage traditions needed to start from somewhere!
“Doesn’t Tanner usually open up later on Saturdays?” Niko asks, remembering the business hour sign on the grocery store. They walked side by side with their mama as they listened to the relaxing sounds and chatter of their home village.
“Yes he does. Which is why I let you sleep in since we’d have to leave a little later.” Their mama answered. “But I think we might still be too early.”
From what Niko recalled, the open hours of Saturday were just late enough that they’d have to wait about 15-ish minutes when they’d arrive at the store. “Yeah. Maybe we can find something to do? I heard Farell had some new carvings at the woodshop.”
“He’s closed on Saturdays Niko.”
“Aw!” They were looking forward to the new set of avian sculptures the woodcarver had offhandedly mentioned on their last visit.
“Maybe we can see your friends? I believe Scotch just got a new hat he wants to show off.” Niko would really like to meet up with their whole friend group more often. While Niko’s friends more frequently meet with them in wake of their reappearance, their friend group would spend most of their time and fun in…
“I’m still banned from the fields.”
“Oh. Right…”
Before the incident, they would spend most of their days playing care-free in the wheat fields. Every child around their age was trusted with knowing not to stray too far or get lost. Their teachers taught them all about the landmarks and routes to take when the village was out of view.
Thanks to this effort, nobody had gone alarmingly missing in the last several years. So, no one was really worried.
Until Niko went missing for days.
“I uhh- know it’s still kinda fresh, given it’s only been a few days… But I really want to know, when can I go out there again?” They posed the question with a tint of nervousness, sight instinctively moving away from eye contact.
Their mama was silent for a second. “…Soon Niko. Just- give everyone a little more time to unwind.”
Everyone was really worried then. Not to mention, tired from diligently searching day and night. Their mama especially skipped out on sleep, determined to find Niko.
It must’ve been taxing on her. As much as it was on Calamus’s when his little sister disappeared. That was why Niko didn’t make a fuss when the grownups decided to prohibit them from the fields, even if the decision was made with reluctance.
They should really consider how everyone felt.
“…Ok.” They accepted.
“…If it makes you feel better, I can see your friend Scotch right ahead of us. Oh? Is that a street performance I see people gathering around?”
Niko spotted friend upon his mention, his dark green shirt and teal cat-eared cap sticking out from the group of a dozen spectators.
They quickly joined the audience to stand next to their entranced friend, who leaned forward with stars in his astonished eyes.
Somehow, Scotch registered their presence without batting an eye away from the performance. “Oh- Niko! You won’t believe who just showed up this morning. Just- watch, look for yourself!” He said.
And Niko, now with a clearer view past the small crowd, took in the sight of a young girl juggling what appeared to be four glass flasks filled each filled with various colored liquids. “Pretty cool right? If you think this is awesome—" She casually started before tossing all four items high into the air, eliciting gasps of surprise.
She removed her dark purple pointy hat that had two thin, purple-filled flasks tied to the rim. (akin to a witch’s from a fantasy book Niko once read). Both the brim and the band had a yellow-orange stripe pattern.
She closed her eyes as she held the hat upside down below the falling flasks. One by one, she shifted her arm around herself as the three of the glass containers neatly landed into the bottom of her hat. Then, the fourth and last flask started to plummet too far away from her arm’s reach.
Niko, so captivated by the daring act, unconsciously brought hands up together in anticipation. They could almost hear the drumrolls in their head.
The girl’s eyes snapped open. “—then watch this!” She tossed her hat to catch the final flask.
Unbelievably, it fell into the fold of the hat midair, before sliding across ground and slowing to a stop in front of the shocked audience, who responded with cheerful applause.
“Thank you. Thank you!” She bowed before the clapping villagers with grandeur. Scotch looked like he was on the verge of collapsing on the spot, judging from his captivated expression.
An impressed whistle came from their left, from where their mama stood, curious. “Now I’ve seen my fair share of talented street performers over in the city. I’ve seen nothing at this level by someone so young!”
“And not only that—!” Scotch continued, who broke out of their frozen awe. He opens his arms out to the village central around them. “A real magician, here of all places!”
“What’s wrong with here?”
“Well, no offense to anyone, but we kinda live in the middle of wheatfield-nowhere. And everyone’s too nice and soft for anything interesting to happen.”
“Well Scotch, it’s good to cherish the nice and softness while you still have it, as lackluster as it is.” Their mama replied, arms folded and eyes trained on the girl who held out her pointy hat out as people handed her donations of coins and dollar bills.
“One day I wanna go on a real adventure! Be a strong and independent grownup so I can explore ancient ruins and history!”
“Aww, if you want the responsibility of a grownup so badly, maybe you could have a turn babysitting your little sister.” She joked.
“Ugh! No way, I change my mind! Only my mom could handle that crazy tiger I call my sister.” Scotch made a shuddering sound, definitely thinking of a prior incident involving the bundle of energy. Quite an infamously known toddler for being the nightmare of babysitters in the village, who only her own mother could pacify.
“Oh dear. I still remember my first day taking care of little Hailey. There has to be magic on her mother’s part.” Their mama added. A scene of oatmeal clumps stuck to the walls and ceiling, came to Niko’s mind.
“Hey, I thought you did pretty great!” Niko commended, even if that afternoon they found her leaning over the table with her head held in her hands defeatedly, next to an exuberant toddler who’s arms flailed about wildly.
“Hey speaking of magic, I think she’s starting on another trick!” Scotch mentions, head turned back to the magician girl, who was now wearing a top hat?
“Wait. I thought she was wearing a… pointy hat?” They said, unsure, and their mama agreed with a confused ‘huh’, upon looking for herself.
“Woah yeah, you’re right. When did that happen?” Their friend noticed too.
Niko examined the girl’s clothing for any other notable differences in her appearance. The large zipper holding the yellow cape over her purple shirt, still swayed in the wind behind her. The poofs that hung on each side of her face and her brown hair ponytail moved with her showy gestures.
She stomped her little brown boot forward to get everyone’s attention. “Alright, folks! I know I said that was my last trick! But since you’ve all been such a wonderful audience, I thought I’d give one last performance for all of you, on the spot!” This earned her a round of cheers, one particularly gleeful sound from Scotch.
She waited for everything to quiet down before continuing. “Ok! I’m gonna need a volunteer for this one...” Immediately, Scotch raised his hand and jumped up repeatedly.
The hatted girl spared a moment to inspect the crowd around her for a candidate, turning around her whole body with a hand rubbing her chin. More than likely, it was a gesture of showmanship.
Suddenly, with her back turned, she spun around and pointed towards… “You! Blue-haired kid! You up for it?”
“Oh! I- uhh...” They stammered, totally unprepared to be the chosen one. The girl’s hand beckoned them forth; her face fixed in an almost challenging look.
They turned to their mama, who smiled and nodded her head in encouragement while Scotch just hmphed in lighthearted jealousy.
So with that, Niko strode up to the girl, who smirked came up to her. “Alrighty! Tell me your name kid.”
“I’m Niko. Nice to meet you!” They greeted kindly.
“Nice to meet ya too Niko!” Her excitable manner reminded them of a certain blue-haired feathery girl. Just as energetic, if not, livelier in spirit.
“Now, right then Niko—” She started, before she pulled out from her pocket, what appeared to be three large green capsules, each containing a shiny verdant jewel. “I… need you to hold this for me!” They were dumped into Niko’s arms and then she walked a fair distance away from them (about 5 arms length).
She made no move until she had everyone’s full attention again. “Watch closely, everyone, as I demonstrate to you…” Her hand opened out towards Niko. “Some real magic!”
And Niko watched as the capsules floated, out of their arms like a train of orbs towards her. Miraculously, the three things fluidly move through the air by some unknown force. The girl grasped onto a pair with one hand and caught the last with the other, much to the crowd’s amazement.
“I know, I know I’m great— But I’m not done yet folks!” The applause quickly quieted down. She looked at Niko before resuming. “Niko. Are you an explorer? Do you have that itch of curiosity to uncover strange things?” She quizzed, now having sauntered back to Niko.
She continued to speak, circling around Niko in an interrogative, yet amusing manner. “Ever feel that urge to get out there, and see the rest of the world?”
“Um, I guess I like visiting the city with myfamily time to time?” They answered.
Whether that was the response she was looking for or not, she kept that smug smile. “Well naturally, us children are drawn to learning as much as we can about the world while we’re still young and innocent. We’re drawn to the unknown, including mysterious forces and all that!”
She stopped circling them and walked a distance from them again, proceeding to pull out a green capsule. “As an explorer and child myself, I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with strange events. So, I’d like to impart some of the mysteries of my encounters… with you!” She rolled around the sphere-like item in her hands.
“So, like a story?” Niko guessed, a little lost at where she was going with this.
“No silly! I’m gonna teach you my magic.” Her nonchalant answer elicited many fascinated noises from several people, including Niko themself.
Scotch was trying very hard to hide his envy, while their mama stood by him surprised as much as everyone else. I’ll have to make it up to him later, Niko decided.
“Pay attention closely Niko!” She directed, holding the green capsule in her palm. “You’re gonna learn to do the same trick I used earlier yeah?”
They nodded to the girl and paid close attention to her future instructions. “Reach out towards the ‘pon’. Don’t will it to come towards you, but believe that it already should.”
“Could you clarify a little more?”
“Just do it like it’s second nature, like it’s always been within your ability, just as it was— is mine!”
They tried to imagine pulling the ‘pon’ out of the girl’s hand telekinetically, but the capsule refused to budge in the girl’s hand.
“C’mon Niko! You can’t have any doubt in your mind.” She put on a more encouraging expression for Niko. “You should! Be able to do this!” She emphasized that word, which pushed their mindset even further.
Niko doubled their focus on the pon. They chased away the doubt and realistic considerations in their head that opposed their goal. They poured their determination into their mindset, no longer willing, but expecting the capsule to fly towards—
Their hand clutched a sphere-like object.
What followed was a even louder round of applause from the crowd and audible bravo from Scotch. Niko themself stood speechless, taking the time to inspect the capsuled jewel they held in their hand.
“And that folks is the final act of yours truly. The Amazing Hat Kid!” She struck a pose, then bowed with that announcement. She gave a few last waves to the audience before she procured the pon back from Niko. “Thank you all and good bye!”
Hat Kid adjusted her hat and skipped away, and the bedazzled audience politely parted for her exit.
“So… is my budding little magician going put on a show for us one day too?” Their mama teased as the three of them walked together through the town, chattering about the prior entertainment.
“Mmm… I was already pretty nervous just being a volunteer up there.” Niko replied, still thinking of the last several minutes. They were trying hard to ponder the workings of Hat Kid’s final act. As young and actually experienced with the supernatural at some capacity, they know there had to be some sort of ‘magician’s secret’. It couldn’t have been actual magic… right?
“Well at least you got to be the lucky chosen one…” Scotch huffed. He seemed to be a little grumpy but he shoved his jealousy down for Niko.
“Aw, Scotch. If you want we could hang out later? maybe grab Malia and Rachel and go to the playground?” The sisters would probably be tending to their family’s garden at this time.
“I was afraid you’d say that. Sorry Niko but remember that new hat I told you guys about? I lost it yesterday was spending all morning tracing my steps before I saw the magic show.”
“Oh, I’m sorry about that. Do you need help?” They remembered how much they treasured it, given they once bragged about it being passed down by their grandfather.
“Ah no worries, Niko. I’m sure someone in town’s holding on to it for when I get back.” Scotch brushed off their concern, now seemingly having forgot what he was upset about earlier. “As soon as I get it back which I will, we’ll hang out. Till then, see ya later! Bye Miss Hazel!”
Niko and Scotch waved each other goodbye as the latter practically dashed away from them in his quest for his lost special hat.
They and their mama smiled at each other before they headed off to Tanner’s.
Ring Ding!
“Yeah sorry girl, I don’t think I’m able to accept these anyhow,”
“C’mon~! These are real gems inside! And if they were currency where I got them, they’ve got to have some value here.”
Upon entering the grocery store and ringing the bell above the front door, Niko stumbled upon a small scene at the checkout where Tanner conversed with a very familiar young face. The man was holding the same ‘pon’ from the magic show in his hands, attempting to examine it.
Again, Hat Kid was wearing a new hat. It was a red visor cap with a pair of wings emerging from the sides.
“Look kid, it’s not that I don’t believe you. I just wouldn’t know what to do with these things, whether they are valuable, or who’d even accept it.” Tanner reasoned as he set the pon down.
Hat Kid opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately gave up with a shrug. “Well I had to see if I could get some use out of these around these parts. It was worth a shot. It’s good I got some local money earlier!” She threw a couple of bills and coins onto the counter, the latter of which clinked on the surface.
Unfortunately, Niko could tell with a squint and count that it was definitely not enough to afford the filled bags of groceries on the counter. Hat kid didn’t have a clue by the looks of her innocent face, unfamiliar with the currency of the village.
Her smile did begin to falter. “Uhh, this is enough right?”
Tanner seemed to be in thought for a second as he looked between the money on the counter and the young girl’s face, before letting out a sigh. “Yes, this is enough.” That was just like Tanner, even if he himself wasn’t doing too well on money nowadays.
“Phew. For a second there I thought I was gonna be outta food again!” Hat Kid casually chirped.
That immediately set off alarm bells in Niko’s head, and they weren’t the only ones judging by their mama’s and Tanner’s shocked faces.
This didn’t go unnoticed by Hat Kid however, who looked around obliviously. “What? I travel a lot. I don’t exactly have a source of food to bring with me. Oh hey Niko.” She turned to them, having finally registered the presence of her show’s lucky volunteer.
“Shouldn’t your folks be getting your food, or heck, be around you right now?” Their mama asked with a concerning tone, quickly glancing through the store that was empty of people save for the four of them.
“Hey lady, any folks of mine would know I’m more than capable of doing stuff myself. I did impress the whole town by myself after all~.”
“You’re younger than my own child.”
“I’m a very independent child.” She proceeded to stare in their direction with a confident face, hands folded.
“Independent enough to carry all this home by yourself?” Tanner raised, eyeing the multiple bags of groceries sitting on his counter.
“…Yes.” With that declaration she reached towards the counter and swiftly stacked all the grocery bags into a tower that balanced on own hand. Everyone in the store was put into a state of shock again, albeit in much greater astonishment.
“If that’s all you chattering grownups need to say, then I’ll be off, savoring my long-awaited brunch!” She gave a wink to Niko as she walked past them and out the door, all the while the tower of groceries remained balanced on her hand.
Said grownups stayed a few seconds silent after the front door shut, and Niko was similarly at a loss for words. What were they suppose to say first? Her abnormal strength and balancing? Her possibly lacking living situation? What kind of place uses capsuled gems as currency?
Luckily, their mama broke the silence first. “Uhm… *ahem* I take it your morning has been a bit bizarre today too Tanner?” She started.
“Heh… Well given she mentioned ‘impressing the town’, that girl must’ve done something big in the central hm?” His gaze lingered on the front door from which Hat Kid exited.
“She put on quite the magic show. Even taught my little Niko here some of her magic~!” Niko felt their mama’s hand rub the top of their head teasingly, a gesture they giggled and lightly pushed away at.
“Really now? Care to show off some this ‘magic’ to us Niko?”
“I think I’ve used up all my magic juice for today. Sorry you missed the magic show Tanner.”
“Ehh, I can live with it. Got a little bit my own show from the little magician in question in my store with that crazy strength of hers— huh? Speaking of…” He then noticed something still on his counter, forgotten by its owner. “Looks like she forgot this little thing.” He held up the green capsuled jewel.
Their mama checked the outside through the store windows, but it looked like Hat Kid was long gone. “She can’t have gone far. Maybe we can still catch her? Niko?”
As Tanner set the capsule back down, Niko couldn’t help but have the urge to try the magic trick again on the pon. They debated internally for a second, if it was worth the probable embarrassment of looking silly, but their day was already full of odd occurrences anyhow.
Shrugging, they opened their hand out to the pon out of reach and replicated the same mental state back at the magic show; to expectably pull it into their grasp.
Their hand clutched a sphere-like object.
“Holy Shiii—! –ells and clams.” Tanner yelped. The spherical object had been placed to his right before it slid across the counter to fly into Niko’s hand.
They blinked. Their mama had gone utterly quiet. The capsule had flown into their grasp just like the first time in the magic show.
Only there was no magic show pulling strings for Niko’s ‘magic’.
“So, haha… I guess that was the magic trick your mother was talking about yeah?”
“Y- yes?” They stammered, turning the capsule around in their hand.
“…Wow Niko, guess you still got some of that ‘magic juice’ in you.” Their mama gave a half-proud half-perplexed smile. She rubbed the back of her head, having trouble believing what she saw was really a trick or not.
“Yeah, I guess…” They trailed off, then went to adjust their hat— but felt a smooth flat thing underneath it. “Hm?”
Niko pulled it off the underside of their hat with some effort, revealing it to be some kind of badge in their hands. Upon inspection, it appeared to be a picture of a magnet generating circular waves at the ends. Was it some kind of souvenir Hat Kid left as a surprise for them?
“Whatever the case, I think should try to catch her before she gets too far.” Their mama said before motioning at Niko to follow her out the door.
“Hey, you two check up on her and tell her I said hi yeah?” Tanner called out while they were halfway through the door.
“Will do!” Niko replied as the bell above the closing door rang above them.
It didn’t take long to track Hat Kid down with a couple of questions to nearby passing villagers. Add in her very stand-out appearance, directions were more than easy enough to gather.
Though they didn’t lead to the inn or any house in the village like Niko assumed, since she wasn’t from around here and had to be staying somewhere nearby. Instead, people witnessed her running fast through and out of the village, into the long wheatfields.
With their mama, they traveled east in the direction people saw her go. They brushed aside tall wheat stalks that swayed to the gentle breeze weaving throughout the fields.
After a bit, their mama caught a glimpse of a building in the distance, which was weird considering as far as Niko knew, there wasn’t suppose to be infrastructure around for a good couple of miles. They could make out the top of some red-orange brick-like structure with a frame of yellow.
Nonetheless, together they pressed on until they both emerged into clearing with an unimpeded view of where they presumed Hat Kid had gone. They took a couple of more steps forward on the slightly scorched ground as took a gander at the out-of-place structure in front of them.
The red-brick-like structure was framed with reflective yellow metal and had a few inactive light sources along with walls. An observatory-like room protruded next to the center room showcasing its interior with three large windows and a smaller silver dome sat situated on the top center, next to a compartment emerging from the top left. Some parts of the outer surfaces were painted entirely blue.
“Huh… aren’t there better places to put what I presume is a mishappen children’s museum?” Their mama said, mystified. Niko agreed that was probably the most accurate kind of place to describe its colorful interior. They took note of a few TV screens, blinking light doors, and a yellow control panel (kind of like the ones in the factory or the barrens).
“What’d you call my ship?”
They both involuntarily yelped at the sudden presence of Hat Kid standing next to them, with a rather unamused frown on her face. She was wearing a different hat yet again; a small black pillbox hat with a transparent light teal tail that went over her eyes like a visor. She didn’t look particularly happy to see them here, specifically.
“What are you doing here? Why are you following me?” She questioned, somewhat aggressively as she propped her hands on hips.
“Uh Hiii… nice to see you again… again haha.” They nervously laughed in an attempt to clear the tension.
She raised an eyebrow and scrutinized them both for a few seconds; making judgements of the strangers in front of her. Their mama attempted a polite wave.
She remained silent for a while, before she sighed and rolled her eyes in acceptance. “I guess since you’re here there’s no point in hiding my little secret anymore.” She exhaled, kicking her boot at the ground.
“That you actually did teach me magic back at the show?” They guessed as of recent events.
Hat Kid just stared at them for a bit while their mama also raised an eyebrow at Niko’s words. Then Hat Kid broke into chuckles.
“Pfft nope! That was totally a magic trick.”
“Aw, really?” They responded, disappointed. Maybe there was something technological in the pons.
“Yep.” Her face became smug-like before she jabbed a thumb what Niko could only assume to be her home. “But I am an alien from outer space and that thing over there is my spaceship.”
What.
“Yep.” She repeated, as she kept that smug smile.