Vladislav looked across the park at the archway that led to his chance at a new life. While the government had grudgingly accepted Krakoa as a legitimate country and mutants were free to enter the gate, it wasn't that simple. Everyone knew they were keeping track of who went through and there were worries about retaliations against family members if there were any mutant incidents here.

He'd heard of some mutants who had gone to other countries to use the portals there where no one knew them. Others simply wouldn't go, too afraid or too set in their life to think they needed to go to an island of mutants. He didn't have that luxury but he also didn't have any family members to worry about.

The guards in their crisp uniforms stared at him as he headed towards the archway. He didn't look at any of them, his gaze fixed on his destination. Let them see, he didn't have to hide anymore.

Vladislav walked through the Portal to Krakoa with a suitcase in one hand, a guitar slung over his shoulder, and no idea if he would ever return to his home country. There were people he cared about there but being at home was a life lived in constant fear of discovery. It was a cloud of dread hanging over him that seemed to dissipate as he took his first steps onto Krakoan soil.

The tropical air was warm, there were green plants everywhere, and an orange-skinned, green-eyed girl smiled and placed a lei over his neck and welcomed him to the mutant island. The weird disorientation remained as a blond telepath dumped an entire new language in his head and an orientation counselor found him a place to live.

He didn't have time to think as he was led to a sort of youth hostel where he could stay until more permanent housing was assigned. Everywhere he looked, he saw mutants of all ages, colors, and appearances walking, flying, and running. Everyone looked happy and he was happy too even though some small part of him felt like this was all a dream and soon he'd wake up back in the dreary orphanage he'd grown up in.

Several of the other young mutants introduced themselves and he tried to be polite and make small talk but his mind kept returning to his guitar. He could play it here without being condemned but years of caution made him hold back until he could find the right time.

That time came after a communal meal where the chatter and bright lights made him want to retreat to somewhere quieter. After he finished eating, he begged off the clubbing some of the others were going to, citing the fatigue of his first day. They accepted his promise of next time good-naturedly as he took his leave.

Shouldering the guitar bag, he went in search of the perfect spot to practice. After wandering for quite a while, he found himself on one end of a sandy beach. To his left were rocky cliffs and there was no one near him although he could see people further down the beach. The moon was a thin crescent on the horizon as he sat down in the sand and tuned the guitar.

Taking a deep breath, he began to play and then he began to sing. As he sang, it began. Light swirled into thin air in front of him, shimmering iridescent and just the size of his fist at first but rapidly expanding as he sang. The light took on form based on his thoughts. Human-sized shapes danced and swirled across the sand, his voice and emotions giving them life.

Entire scenes played themselves out before his eyes in a bright rainbow of colors like paintings brought to life. Trees grew and birds flew around them. Horses galloped across the sand, vanishing when they got too far away. A brief little play of color and light and it was all from him.

As the last note of the song finished, the figures bowed to him and vanished leaving only the night again. Applause broke out behind him and he turned, gaping at the sight of several mutants standing nearby watching him. For a moment, fear bloomed in his heart and then he remembered where he was and the fear turned to relief. They weren't here to arrest or condemn him, they were here to celebrate him.

"Wow, that was quite a show." The blonde woman who separated herself from the little group and walked towards him was grinning. He froze when he realized he knew that face. It had stared back at him from some of the albums he'd bought in dusty stores back home.

"You're Alison Blaire!" The words tumbled out of him breathlessly. The most famous mutant rock star was standing right in front of him. She'd applauded his performance. It was almost too much to bear.

"I prefer Dazzler. You're Vladislav, right? I've been looking for you for the past two hours."

"Me? Why?" Of all the things he'd experienced today, this was the most surreal.

"When you filled out the little questionnaire they give to newbies, you described your powers as channeling sound into movable lights. That sounded a lot like what I could do so I wanted to meet you and have a little chat. But what you did there was way more than I've ever done. I just make bursts of color. You were creating whole scenes in sync with the music. Do you control how the lights appear or is it more from your subconscious?"

He stared at her for a moment, too overwhelmed to answer and then found himself bursting into tears. Dazzler looked alarmed and took a step back.

"I'm sorry! Was it something I said?" He shook his head emphatically and tried to get the words out, tried to make her understand what he was feeling.

"No. It's just…back home I was always so afraid to sing, even to hum for fear of being found out. But here I can sing whenever I want and you actually want to encourage me to sing! I just can't believe this is happening."

"Yeah, a lot of newcomers feel that way." Her smile was relieved this time. "Do you play any other instruments? Are your images different for different sounds?"

"I can play piano too. The images are whatever I want them to be. They don't change for different instruments or songs. They're just based on my imagination and my feelings while I'm playing." He'd managed to gain control of himself and felt a little embarrassed at his outburst.

"That's awesome. How would you like to join my band? We just play casual gigs these days but I think you'd fit right in."

This was too much. He definitely had to be dreaming now.

"You want me to play music with you? But I'm just an amateur and you're a superstar."

"That's sweet of you to say but your voice is good and the images are really beautiful. If you don't want to perform with us, I could give you some tutoring. You could be a superstar too, some day."

The tears were back and he had to swallow a lump in his throat before answering.

"I would like that. Yes, to all of it."

"Great! Come walk and talk with me. I'll introduce you to a few people." He began walking back up the beach with her, still baffled as to how this had happened. "So which of my albums do you like the most?"

"The second one."

"That was my favorite too! You've got good taste, kid. What other bands do you like?"

As they kept walking and chatting like old friends, Vladislav felt the tiny shard of hope that had blossomed in him upon his arrival, seem to expand until it filled his whole body. Here, finally, all of his dreams could come true.

A/N: I had this image in my head of a young man playing a guitar on a beach at night while colors formed scenes around him in time to the music. This was the result.