The sensation of being pulled through a dark corridor was nothing new to Helios but the Demon Tower's presence made the corridors unstable. So the portal collapsed behind him, a gut-wrenching pull twisted in his stomach, hurling him forward with a force stronger than usual. He barely had time to register the shift before the world around him exploded into blinding light.
CRASH!
Helios gasped as his back slammed into something soft—fabric, pillows? The impact rattled his bones, sending pain lancing through his body, but compared to what he'd just been through, it was manageable. Groaning, he cracked open his eyes. A wooden ceiling loomed above him, and the scent of freshly brewed tea filled the air.
"Ah, kupo! He's awake!"
A chorus of tiny voices reached his ears, and suddenly, a small white shape popped into view. A Moogle.
No—three Moogles.
Helios blinked as they hovered above him, their pom-poms bobbing in excitement. His vision cleared, and he recognized them immediately—the very same Moogles he had saved in Radiant Garden.
"You're tougher than you look, kupo!" one of them chirped, fluttering closer.
Helios groaned as he sat up, rubbing his temples. "How... long have I been out?"
"Not long, kupo," another Moogle replied. "Just a few hours. You dropped right into our house—good thing we had some cushions ready!"
Helios looked around, noting the small but well-kept interior. A cozy two-story home, neatly decorated, with shelves stocked full of trinkets and glowing orbs—most likely their attempts at synthesis. He let out a small chuckle. "Looks like you guys have been doing well for yourselves."
The Moogles puffed up proudly. "Of course! Thanks to your idea, we've been working on synthesis day and night, kupo!"
Helios swung his legs over the side of the couch and deactivated his battered Keyblade armor. The damaged plating cracked and shattered into glowing fragments before fading and reforming as a ring. His body ached, and his magic reserves were dangerously low, but at least he was alive.
"Here," he said, reaching into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a small sack filled with crystals—the spoils from their battles in Olympus. He tossed it to the Moogles, who caught it mid-air.
"Whoa, kupo! This is a lot of materials!"
Helios smirked. "Consider this one payment for helping me out this time. Got any food?"
One of the Moogles darted away and returned moments later with a plate of steaming bread and soup. Helios took it without hesitation.
As he ate, he asked, "How long has it been since you last saw me?"
The Moogles exchanged glances before answering, "About eight months, kupo."
Helios nearly choked on his soup. Eight months?!
From his perspective, it had only been about two months since he left Radiant Garden. Time distortion in different worlds wasn't new, but this was extreme. If Olympus Colosseum and Radiant Garden moved at such different speeds, then how long had Aqua truly been trapped in the Realm of Darkness?
Years.
Helios exhaled slowly. There was no use dwelling on it now. Aqua was finally out. That was what mattered.
But speaking of the Realm of Darkness...
Kurai's slow, menacing voice slithered into his mind. "You shouldn't return there for at least a year or two, Helios. The balance has shifted. If you go back I doubt you'll make it out again even with my help."
Helios set down his bowl, his expression turning cold. What do you mean?
"That last battle with the Dark Hide shook the Realm of Darkness more than you realize. Something stronger stirred in its depths. The very fabric of that world cracked before mending itself. Whatever is sleeping there... saw us. To be safe we should avoid going there."
Helios frowned, "And you're just now telling me this?"
"You just awoke and I only noticed as we left, boy. Pay attention."
Helios clicked his tongue and spoke out loud. "Great. Another problem for future me."
The Moogles tilted their heads. "Kupo?"
"Nothing," Helios muttered. "Just thinking out loud."
Meanwhile, Elsewhere in Traverse Town…
Aqua stirred first. Pain flared through her limbs, but she forced herself upright. The air was cool, and a dim lamp flickered above her. She took in her surroundings and it seemed they were indoors. They had reappeared inside an abandoned house in Traverse Town's Third District.
Across from her, Skuld lay unconscious, her breathing steady but weak.
Aqua touched her shoulder. "Skuld?"
No response.
Aqua ran a quick assessment—no external injuries, but her aura flickered, drained. She pushed herself too hard…
Aqua placed her hands over Skuld's chest and channeled her magic. "Curaga."
A soft green light enveloped the younger girl, mending her exhaustion slightly. Skuld stirred, blinking blearily up at Aqua.
"Aqua...? Where's Helios? The monster?"
Aqua smiled. "We're safe. Just rest."
Skuld's eyes flickered in confusion, but the weight of exhaustion pulled her back under.
Aqua leaned against the wall, sighing. Their fight had taken too much out of them. That boy Helios had saved them at the last moment, but he was nowhere to be found so they were scattered. Luckily she she and Skuld landed in the same place.
"We need to regroup. I need to ask that boy some questions about the power he used," she murmured, glancing toward the window. "But first, we recover."
Helios sat cross-legged in front of the Moogles' latest creation—a makeshift synthesis machine, cobbled together from scrap and enchanted materials.
He watched as they eagerly placed two Power Shards and a Lucid Shard from the pouch he handed them before into the machine. The device hummed, its mechanisms clicking and whirring before—
Ding!
A small, silver chain clattered onto the floor.
One of the Moogles picked it up. "Success, kupo!"
Helios inspected the chain. It was crude, barely refined, but the enchantment was real—it had a minor magic affinity boost.
He chuckled. "Not bad for a first try."
The Moogles beamed. "If we get better materials, we can make stronger items, kupo!"
Helios smirked. "Then I'll bring you better materials."
The Moogles cheered.
Helios yawned, stretching. "Alright, that's enough excitement. I need some sleep."
He headed downstairs, finding the fireplace. The warmth flickered against his skin, and for the first time in a long while, he let himself relax.
As he lay down, exhaustion claimed him.
Tomorrow, he'd search for them and they'd regroup.
Tomorrow, he'd plan their next move.
But for now…
He closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.