t was a boiling hot day by the water as the sun beat down mercilessly on the city of Ridgeline. This summer was considered one of the hottest ones on record and people took every chance to cool down that they could in order to escape the heat. Most stayed indoors with the shade and the air conditioning, watching the latest TV shows, while others ate lots of ice cream and drank ice cold lemonade and water. In the neighborhoods around the town, young kids enjoyed their summer vacation by running around and playing, exploring the world around them and engaging in fun, imaginative games. The parks were filled with people having picnics and playing in the grass, playing catch with their pets and looking at the pretty flowers.

The most attractive place to cool off was by the water. People had flocked towards any water source they could and splashed down into it to cool off. Streams and rivers in the nearby woods were the target destination for teenagers and young kids, while public pools were for the families. But the most popular location was the nearby beach, where crystal clear water and cool sea breezes attracted hundreds of citizens to its shores for a day of fun and relaxation. 

It was still an early morning when the beaches finally opened and the first beachgoers were allowed onto the shoreline. This specific day was supposed to reach triple digit temperatures before noon so there were already several hundred people making their way to the beach, umbrellas and towels in tow as they were ready for a day in the sun. Within half an hour, the whole shore line was packed with people. It was a bright and sunny day and the beach couldn’t have been more pleasing to the citizens.

Along the beach, two young children were digging in the sand with their shovels, collecting enough in their pails to make a sandcastle. They had already dug a large hole by their stuff, but they wanted to make the largest castle they could so they continued to dig and dig.

“I’m gonna take this back” the older boy said.

“Okay, I’m going to get a little more!” the younger boy replied, still digging away.

“You can’t carry all of that”

“Can too!”

“Can’t!”

They stuck their tongues out at each other as the older child turned away. The younger child, filled with determination to prove their worth, began digging faster and deeper. He would show that he could carry that much sand. They would see.

Faster and deeper they dug. Deeper and deeper. And dee-

*WHUNK*

Something smashed into the shovel and made a loud, metallic sound. The child tilted his head in confusion as they leaned in closer to whatever they had hit. They started clearing away more of the sand and noticed that whatever they found was large and looked wooden. 

Maybe it was a hidden treasure chest!

He felt his heart starting to race at the potential of what could be inside it. He began digging faster and faster until he managed to clear a portion of the the top, but it was so large that it seemed to go deep into the ground and into the walls of sand around the hole that hadn’t been cleared out. But from what they could see, it didn’t look like anything that they had ever known.

It was metallic and heavy, but the material that made it up seemed to be wooden and some kind of other soft molds. There were very intrinsic carvings and patterns all over it and what looked to be a bunch of gibberish letters, almost like it was some kind of text. The child couldn’t even really tell what the shape of the thing was, since so little of it was uncovered. However, there was one part that stood out from the rest. In the middle of the uncovered artifact was what seemed to be a large blue-green button that was glowing faintly. Whatever it was, it didn’t seem of this world.

The child’s excitement grew as much as their curiosity.

“What is that?” 

The younger child jumped and tried to hide the discovery from the older child that returned. 

“N-nothing!” the younger tried to lie.

The older brother wasn’t buying it as they jumped into the hole.

“What is it? Is it some kind of box?” they asked, kneeling down and getting a closer look, nudging the younger out of the way.

“I don’t know” the younger said, returning the shove.

The two began to push each other back and forth, getting slightly more annoyed at the other. Suddenly, they heard a voice.

“Young ones, please don’t fight”

They froze and looked around for the source of the voice. A gentle and almost heavenly chuckle echoed around them.

“I am right here. In the ‘treasure’ or ‘box,’ whatever you wish to call it” the voice chimed. The voice sounded like a woman’s voice. It was calm and serene, but it sounded mature and older, like the voice of their mothers. Just not as nagging or annoying. “I was hoping for the day when someone would find this. And I am very glad that you two were able to.”

The kids looked at each other in disbelief. The voice laughed in amusement, a crystal, joyous laughter.

“There should be a large blue-green button revealed to you. If you press it and turn the dial underneath it, I will grant you any wish you want. For the both of you” the voice said.

“Any wish? So we can wish for anything we want!?” the older child asked excitedly.

“Anything” the voice responded, “all you need to do is open the box. Be cautious, however, as anyth-...” 

The younger child looked over at the older one who was inching closer towards the box and saw something gleaming in their eyes. 

“Wait,” he said, pulling the older one backwards, “don’t you know the old fairy tales? The hero is tempted with a wish if they free the trapped creature and when they do, it turns out to be evil.”

The older one scoffed and brushed the younger one away. 

“Fairy tales are just made up stories to make you feel good about yourself. When you really have the chance to get what you want, you need to take it!” the older one said, crawling eagerly back towards the box.

“Hold on, we can-”

The younger child was silenced by a sudden kick from the older child. A dull thud was heard as their foot slammed into the younger child’s jaw, knocking the young child backwards and face first into the sand, leaving them dazed and dizzy.

“These wishes are all mine! I won’t share them with a wimpy loser like you, you worthless orphan!” they maniacally screeched.

The older child aggressively slammed their hand on the button. Slowly, the button began to glow brighter and raise up from the rest of the chest. Then it split into eight parts, each one slowly peeling backwards before sliding down into the rest of the chest. When all the pieces had moved, a large spiral slid up from a hidden panel that had revealed itself as each piece moved. It glowed the same blue-green as the button with a panel in the middle that was had a hand shaped imprint in it. The older child, their eyes filled with greed and desire, hastily placed their hand on the imprint.

Suddenly, a crackle of electricity surged through the box and towards the older child’s hand. Before they could move, a metal dome swiveled over their hand from another panel that opened on the box and clamped down violently, encasing their hand. Just as the child realized something was going wrong, a powerful surge of electricity jolted their body. Large bolts shot out from the box and the clamp, zapping the walls of sand around them and leaving red hot panes of glass from the sudden increase in heat. The older child convulsed and seized as electricity surged through them and the box. Then, their body began to turn bright blue and green light before it was absorbed into the box, which instantly became silent as fast as it had come to life.

There was a silence before the woman’s voice came again.

“The poor child didn’t heed my warning. I had try to say that any evil desire would end in tragedy. Unfortunately, he was so filled with his desire that he didn’t hear me.”

She sounded sad, somber, and sullen. As though she was disappointed that one of them had to suffer such a fate. 

The younger child, who had seen everything, was terrified and scared, tears beginning to well up in their eyes. Their companion had not only disappeared, but, what had really shook them, was how remorseless he had kicked him to get to the box.

“My child,” the woman’s voice said gently, “do not be afraid. I can see that you are in great pain. Please, come closer to me and let me help heal you.”

The child scooted backwards desperately, tears streaming down their face.

“N-NO! You just want to eat me, just like you did to...*hic*...to my b-brother!” he screeched.

The voice was silent as the young child wept, never breaking eye contact with the box.

“You consider them your brother, but you heard them yourself. Did he consider you to be a sibling? Calling someone a ‘worthless orphan’ doesn’t sound like someone who can be considered a family member” the voice stated.

The young child had already considered that reality and it was slowly breaking them. 

“Come, place your hand on this box. I can see that you do not have the same desires as your brother. You will not suffer the same fate” the voice assured them.

The child slowly began to make their way towards the box and slowly placed their hand on the inprint. The metal dome again appeared over the child's hand, but it covered it in a warm glow. It was similar to placing a hand near a cozy fireplace in the middle of winter. That warmth began to carry up their arm where it reached their chest and dispersed throughout their body, filling them with warmth. The heat even began to soothe the pain of their jaw.

Just then, the box began to shine brightly and shake. It rumbled and trembled, beams of light pouring out in every direction. A sudden whirlwind of air began to swirl, large gusts of wind causing sand to fly everywhere. 

“Speak your wish, my child. Tell me what it is you want” the voice called out. 

The child only had to think for a moment. Their mind began to fill with memories of hardships and loss. The life he once had, the suffering of being alone, and the torment of being an outsider in another family. A lack of compassion and care from a family that didn't seem to care for him and the yearning for acceptance and love. He already had a wish, one that he prayed for every night in bed. 

“Someone to love me!” he cried out. 

Everything then seemed to intensify. The rumbling of the box began to violently shudder, the light became blinding, and the winds became a typhoon. Then suddenly, a flash of light shot out from the opening spiral on the box and screamed into the sky above. Higher and higher it went until it exploded in a gigantic explosion. The light was blinding and the child closed their eyes to shield themselves. 

Then it was quiet. 

No shaking, no lights, no wind. Just quiet. 

As the child opened their eyes, he realized that he was no longer on the beach. Or at least, not in the hole anymore. He was standing upon what appeared to be the shore line. The ocean swirled and crashed like normal, the crystal blue water glistening brightly. It felt soothing and calming, listening to the sounds of the waves rolling onto the shore. He felt his feet sinking into the sand and lifted one up and pressed back down. 

Except it wasn't grainy or coarse, but smooth. He looked down and noticed that the light brown sand was now a peachy color. The child was confused and took another look around and noticed that the whole beach looked that way. Not only that, but he seemed to be alone. The towels and umbrellas remained, but only he was present. Everyone else seemed to have vanished. 

But this didn't seem to bother the child. In fact, he rather welcomed the privacy. He took a couple steps toward the water as he looked around before pausing and realizing that something seemed different. He didn't see the small islands off the coast nor did he see the pier just down the beach. In fact, it looked as though the whole city had vanished. 

Just then, the child felt a subtle rumbling that shook the ground beneath them, knocking them off balance and falling over. 

“Oops, I'm sorry, my child, I was just getting more comfortable. I didn't expect you to join me so soon” a familiar voice echoed. It seemed to be very distant and and all around them. The woman's voice seemed to rumble and vibrate the sky, but it was also surprisingly smooth and calming. 

“W-where are you? Who are you?” The child asked with surprising serenity, seemingly not phased by the current events. 

“To answer the second one, I am known as Claudia” the voice replied. “As for the first,” she seemed to giggle, “it should be you asking where you are.”

The child paused. 

“Okay, well, where am I?”

“Just on a little place I like to call ‘Navel Beach’” Claudia chuckled. 

The whole beach shook and rumbled wildly again. The child was knocked back over onto his back at the rumbling quakes. 

“Forgive me, child. I just found my joke funny” the all encompassing voice boomed. “However, seeing as you know of me, that must mean that you found one of my beacons. And if you are here now, then I know what it is you wished for.”

The child sat in stunned silence, trying to make head and tails of their situation. He looked out into the distance to try and determine where he was, but the pink ground seemed to stretch on forever. Even though he seemed confused and lost, he felt calm and not worried at all. A feeling of security seemed to emanate all around them, making them feel at ease in their unknown location. Even the booming distant voice was soothing, even though he had no idea where it was coming from. 

“So where exactly are you? I haven't got a clue where you are” he said. 

“Silly, I told you already” Claudia’s voice boomed. 

“...no, you didn't”

“Sure I did. I told you you were at Navel Beach. That should tell you where you are.”

“Huh? It does?”

Claudia giggled, “Child, do you know what I mean by ‘navel’?”

“Uhhh, isn't that the guys that fight in the sea?” The child asked.

A thunderous and explosive laughter rang out loudly, the ground beneath the child shaking and quaking violently. The child was bounced and tossed around in every direction before the voice settled down.

“Well, you are not wrong, they do sound similar. But that is ‘naval’ with an ‘a’. This is ‘navel’ with an ‘e’. Do you know the difference?” Claudia asked. She sounded cheery and amused. 

“Um, not really. I didn't really read all that much.”

“Ah, a shame. Books and literature are wonderful.” She sighed, “Well, the one I am referring to is a word for the area in or around your belly button. And you are on Navel Beach. So if navel means the belly button area, and you are on Navel Beach, then what can you deduct from that?” She asked gently. 

The child suddenly understood. 

“T-then...Then that must mean you're a giant!” he cried. 

Claudia laughed again, “Oh my child. I am far more than just a ‘giant.’ I can see you all the way down there, right next to what must look like a vast sea to you, but is only a little water to me. Those towels and umbrellas can hardly be even called specks when compared to me.” She chuckled again as the child’s mouth went agape. “If someone like you were to try and traverse my body from my tiptoe to the crown of my head, it would take you decades to a century. So, I guess you could say I’m a little bigger than a giant.”

The child was stunned silent.

“But don’t be scared. I do not seek to do any harm upon you. In fact, since you found my omnicube and offered your wish, I will grant it.”

“Omni...cube? You mean that treasure chest I found on the beach? That was yours?” the child asked.

“Yes, it was. I will spare you the details, since I’m sure you are more than overwhelmed by what has happened, but I created those and sent them out into the galaxy in order to find those that need escape or help from their lives and offer them sanctuary here with me. You were struggling with your life when you made the wish to leave on that beach. You were brought here so that we could discuss the obligations of your wish, I just hoped that you hadn’t done it quite when you did” Claudia laughed again.

“Obligations? Like what?” he asked quizzically, “You aren’t going to take my soul, are you? I’ve read stories about these kinds of things and they don’t end well for the hero” he continued, standing defensively.

“Ho ho ho! Oh, my child, I have no intention of harming you. All I wish is to do is talk. I have an offer for you” Claudia said gently. “You wished to have someone love you. It just so happens that I am looking for ones that are looking for a new start. You see, I’ve been around for a long time and I’ve started to get a little lonely living by myself, so I decided that I’ve wanted to have others live with me. By sending my omnicubes out for troubled souls to find, I would offer them sanctuary and they would hopefully fulfill my desire for company...a family, if you will” she said, sounding slightly bashful.

“So...you want me to live with you? Like, as a son?” he asked.

“Yes! Er, sort of” Claudia blurted out, before catching herself, her body shifting under the child, “Only if you still desire such a thing. I don’t want to ask you to be part of my family if you aren’t comfortable with it. After all, a large being like myself teleports you away from your home planet and asks if you want to be her son, which would be really, really strange in any situation, but the fact that you came here while I was in the middle of a bath just makes it a little more weird and kind of problematic, you know, and you probably wouldn’t want to-...”

“Yes”

Claudia paused her rambling as the young boy’s answer interrupted her hectic ramblings.

“A-Are you certain?”

“I have never been more certain of a decision than I am right now.” He was serious, no wavering in his decision, eyes gazing into a sky that seemed to stretch on into a hazy, white endlessness. “There is nothing I could ever want more than someone who cares for me. I’ve never had that in my whole life. Something I’ve wanted ever since my birth parents left me when I was young. When I was adopted by my new parents, who never truly accepted me, I constantly felt out of place, like I didn’t belong.”

He paused for a moment. Silence prominent between the two.

“But when I discovered your cube, you showed interest in me and even wanted to help me. That’s more than any family has done for me in my whole life. If I have a chance to live with someone who cares for me, I will gladly accept it.”

Far beyond the young boy’s vision, Claudia smiled.

“If that’s what you wish, then I can easily grant it.  No soul selling required on your part” she chuckled.

The boy suddenly heard a distant rumbling, far off in the distance as well as the sounds of a huge amount of rushing water. Then he noticed something in the distance moving towards him, a wall of shadows that were gradually swallowing up the light and bathing it in darkness. It came closer and closer until he too was enveloped in the darkness. He looked closer and was somehow able to know that it was her arm and her hand slowly making their way down her stomach to where he resided. What should have been a terrifying sight, an all-encompassing and endless underside of a finger, instead filled him with a sense of serenity and protection. Darker and darker it became as her fingertip drew closer towards him, delving him into pitch blackness, but the warmth she emitted was pleasant. Finally, with immaculate gentleness, Claudia’s finger tapped him on the head and gently rubbed him, ruffling his hair. 

He smiled and felt himself begin to cry. He finally had someone who genuinely cared for him. She happened to be impossibly large and he could only see parts of her, but the parts he did see made him happy. After a few moments, she lifted her finger away, bathing him in light.

“So, when do I get to meet the rest of your family?” he said, looking in the direction where he assumed her face was.

“Oh!” Claudia said in surprise, “Well, you see, I’ve been checking for their activation signals everyday for a long time in hopes that anyone has responded, but I haven’t had any luck. You’re the first to respond to my cubes” she explained, almost sheepishly.

The child was surprised, but amused by her slightly embarrassed demeanor.

“Then I better enjoy being an only child for a while” they smiled.

Claudia grinned in the distance, “I don’t think I ever got your name, my child. I can’t simply call you ‘child’ now, can I?”

The child nodded.

“My name is…”

The two took the time to get to know each other before Claudia decided to step out of the tub. With extreme caution and gentleness, she took her now first child in her hand and showed him his new home. Soon, other cubes began to activate and more people began to appear, greeting Claudia where she would grant them their wish of her guardianship and they would accept her invitation into her family.

It had been an eventful evening for Claudia. She had decided to take a restful evening in her bathtub, lamenting over the fact that she hadn’t received any signals all day, when she suddenly heard a beep while in the water. Before she could prepare, she felt something tiny materialize onto her stomach by her belly button. It had worked! Someone had responded to her omnicube signal. She had finally been able to reach out to someone in need. 

After the conclusion to their first greeting, she showed the young human around where she lived. Soon after, he fell asleep and she put him to bed.

Now on her own, she looked for the signs of her other cubes before she noticed something interesting. The cube that had come from his planet still seemed to be active and sending her a signal. Curious, she inspected the details and noticed that it was relaying a signal to be teleported back with some kind of “special cargo.”

“These cubes have minds of their own, I swear” she mumbled. Curious, she teleported the cube back. After a few seconds, it materialized in her awaiting palm. The cube was only a few inches tall to her and weighed next to nothing.

“What kind of cargo did you find?” she asked.

Responding to her command, the cube suddenly enveloped itself in a bright light before it revealed what it was carrying.

Laying in her hand was a small blue and green marble that was rather heavy. Claudia knew almost immediately what it was.

“This is his home planet! How did you do this?” she looked at the cube which had appeared on her desk after opening.

A series of bleeps, bloops, screeches, and groans emanated from the box. It was an alien language that only Claudia seemed to understand.

“And you just took it? Don’t you know how many innocent people are on this planet?” she scolded it.

A series of gargles and beeps seemed to argue with her.

“Well, that’s true, but those war days are behind me. I don’t take planets as my own anymore. I’ve moved on and want to be a new person!”

Another series of bloops and whirls.

“What do you mean you can’t return it? You have reality warping powers, put it back this instant!” she barked.

A few quiet beeps responded before the cube went silent.

“Hey. Hey! Wake up when I’m talking to you!” 

No response.

Claudia sighed sadly, “Well, once a planet harvester, always a harvester, I guess. I’ll admit the temptation is there, but I’ve turned over a new leaf. I’ll make sure to not to cause any damage to it. But where to keep it?”

She looked around before noticing a small unused solar system model on her desk. It had several floating orbs rotating slowly around a large, bright source.

“Well, I suppose this model will do. Needed something to keep this star company.”

Carefully, she grasped the tiny planet between her fingers and cringed as she felt tiny, minute prods into her fingertips. She couldn’t see it, be she could feel the wanton destruction she was inadvertently causing to millions to billions of creatures on it. Quickly, she dropped it into an orb in the model where it suspended itself, slowly starting to spin again.

“I’ll just keep this a little secret” she said. She was about to leave when another signal was set off. Another cube had found someone. It listed that it also had a “special cargo” in tow. And then another with the same listings and then another.

“Oh come on…” Claudia groaned.