Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Helios steadied himself, taking a deep breath. The pain from his wounds throbbed, his vision still swimming slightly, but he forced his mind to focus. "Because I pulled you into existence," he managed, his voice firm despite his exhaustion. "And if you kill me now, you'll be trapped here with no idea of your current situation. But I… I can explain it to you. A purpose beyond the emptiness you must feel."

Sephiroth's gaze flickered, just for a moment, with something inscrutable. "Purpose," he repeated slowly, the word dripping with dark amusement. "What purpose could you offer that would rival my own?"

Helios met his gaze, unflinching despite the immense pain. "I know what you desire. To be free of Cloud and his weakness correct? However, you two are just parts of a whole. So if you fight Cloud all that will happen is you will return to him. I can give you a way around that."

For a long moment, Sephiroth was silent, his blade resting at his side as he regarded Helios with a contemplative look. The tension in the air grew thick, electric, as though a storm were about to break over the valley. Helios held his breath, barely able to stand yet determined not to show weakness.

"Your desperation is amusing," Sephiroth finally said, though his tone had shifted, softened. "But you're correct on one count… I am a being forged from purpose, and from that purpose, I seek only strength and freedom." He paused, a gleam of dark intrigue in his eyes. "Convince me, then. What do you propose?"

Helios felt a surge of relief, though he kept it well-hidden. Slowly, he lowered his Keyblade, but he kept his guard up, knowing that Sephiroth's agreement was tentative at best. "I am aiming to unlock the greatest power in the universe that is said to be the origin of all worlds and all life, embodying the very essence of light and darkness," he began, voice steady, each word chosen with precision. "With it, I will be able to rewrite all and change things to how I see fit. I offer you the chance to write the world with me. Join me… and you'll also find opponents who will push you to the limits of your strength."

Sephiroth's gaze hardened, yet something in his expression hinted at a flicker of interest. "And what makes you believe I'd ever serve someone as weak as you?"

"I don't ask you to serve," Helios replied, his tone even. "I'm offering an alliance. Together, we will get what we want; apart we won't. With your strength and my knowledge, we will be unstoppable. And in that chaos, you'll find countless opponents worthy of your blade."

Sephiroth considered this, his fingers tightening ever so slightly on the hilt of Masamune. The air grew cold as his gaze bore into Helios, scrutinizing him down to the depths of his soul, as if searching for any sign of fear or deceit. Helios held steady, refusing to show the exhaustion clawing at him, the pain from his injuries, or the apprehension that lingered beneath his calm.

Finally, Sephiroth gave a slow nod. "Very well, weakling," he said, his voice low, a dangerous promise hidden within it. "I will consider your offer. But if you fail to provide me with the strength, the challenge, the purpose you promise…" He lifted Masamune, the blade glinting menacingly in the morning sun. "I will find you, and I will take that Keyblade from your dead hands."

Helios nodded, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. "You won't be disappointed. The worlds beyond this one are rife with power, foes, and conflicts beyond imagination. Together, we'll find what you seek."

Sephiroth's lips curved into a mirthless smile. "Then let us see. The moment you falter… you shall die."

With a flick of his wrist, Sephiroth dismissed his blade, its deadly presence fading into the ether. Without another word, he turned and vanished, leaving only a lingering trace of his dark energy and black feathers in the air, like a shadow cast on the soul. Helios watched him go, his body trembling from exhaustion and pain, but his mind sharp and clear. He'd survived.

As the stillness returned to the valley, Helios allowed himself a single shaky breath. He'd faced one of the most formidable beings he'd ever encountered, nearly losing his life in the process, and yet he had managed to turn the encounter to his advantage. Sephiroth's power, aligned with his own ambitions—if he could wield that strength carefully, strategically, it would be unstoppable.

Helios dismissed his Keyblade, taking a moment to collect himself. The wounds on his arms and legs pulsed painfully, but he would have to tend to them later. For now, he had secured a potential ally of unparalleled strength, a weapon that could tip the scales in his favor in ways even he hadn't fully comprehended yet.

For now, he cast the Cure spell on himself to stop the bleeding. Once done he walked over to the unconscious body of Cloud which had been blown away during their battle. With the constant explosion from their battle Helios was surprised no one had come over just yet. Then he saw light in the distance and heard a voice most likely the guards from Ansem castle come to check out the situation.

Although weak and injured Helios picked up the young Cloud piggyback style and mustered his remaining strength to summon a dark corridor. Entering Helios managed to make it to the town Central Square. Maybe it was due to his wounds or the dark corridor but Helios suddenly felt himself getting lightheaded as he heard a female voice ask, "Are you okay?"

Everything turned black as Helios collapsed. When next he stirred he saw Yuffie who he'd met before looking at him which startled him and caused him to sit up in fright causing the sensation of lightheadedness to return as he fell back onto the bed he was on.

"Kid's awake Squall," said Yuffie as she smiled at Helios before standing up.

Aerith walked over with a cup of tea. She handed it to Helios who sat up and then propped his back with some pillows. "Drink this it'll make you feel better."

Feeling weak all over Helios didn't hesitate and drank the tea. The warm sensation eased the fatigue and lingering pain that he still felt. "Thank you. Where's Cloud?"

"Cloud? Are you talking about the other person we found with you? If so he's resting in another room. He hasn't woken up yet." answered Yuffie