Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Helios left Skuld's room, his steps slow and deliberate. As he entered the main room, he wasn't surprised to find Maleficent still seated in her usual spot, her sharp gaze fixed on him like a predator watching its prey.

"Did you have a good conversation?" Maleficent asked, her tone dripping with condescension as she sipped from her porcelain cup.

Helios leaned against the doorway, his expression cool and unreadable. "Are you so bored that you've taken to trying to eavesdrop?" he countered smoothly, his voice carrying just enough sarcasm to push back against her usual barbs.

Maleficent's lips curved into a faint, amused smirk as she set her cup down with deliberate care. "Eavesdrop? Hardly. I couldn't care less about what you have to say to your little ward. What caught my interest, however, was your excessive use of the silence hex. Eight of them, no less. You must have been quite eager to keep me from hearing."

Helios crossed his arms, his tone steady. "What was said has nothing to do with you. So why don't you save yourself the effort and put it out of your mind?"

Maleficent's smirk deepened, her eyes glinting with mockery as she tilted her head. "How quaint," she said softly, her tone laced with venomous amusement. "To think I'd have even the slightest interest in the musings of a boy playing protector. You flatter yourself."

Helios raised an eyebrow, his expression unmoved. "You're the one who brought it up," he replied coolly, his voice calm but firm. "Seems like it's more on your mind than mine."

Maleficent's smirk faltered ever so slightly, her fingers drumming against the armrest of her chair. With a flick of her wrist, she waved her hand in a fluid motion, and the room around them dissolved into darkness.

When Helios's vision cleared, they were no longer in the cottage. Instead, they stood in the Crystal Fissure, a breathtaking cavern filled with luminous crystals that bathed the space in hues of blue, purple, and silver. The air hummed with a faint, magical energy, and the sound of faint dripping echoed through the expanse.

Helios turned to Maleficent, his eyes narrowing. "What are we doing here?"

Maleficent gestured lazily toward the surrounding crystals, her expression as serene as it was calculating. "Today's lesson will be… hands-on," she said, her voice carrying a note of satisfaction. "Transformation magic requires more than just theory, and I suspect you'll learn faster under pressure."

With a flick of her finger, a shimmering barrier materialized behind them, sealing both the entrance and exit of the cave. The barrier's surface pulsed faintly, its complex design resembling interwoven runes and magical sigils. It glowed with a light that shifted in time with the hum of the crystals around them.

Helios frowned, his instincts already on high alert. "Transformation magic?" he repeated, his tone questioning but cautious.

Maleficent walked forward, her steps slow and deliberate, her presence commanding. "Indeed," she said. "Transformation magic is an advanced discipline, one that allows a caster to reshape their physical form into that of another creature. Unlike simple shapeshifting, however, this magic is intricately tied to the essence of the form you take. To transform is not merely to mimic—it is to adopt the very nature, instincts, and abilities of the creature you emulate."

Helios tilted his head, intrigued despite himself. "And how does that work, exactly?"

Maleficent raised a hand, conjuring an orb of green flame that flickered ominously in her palm. "The essence of transformation magic lies in harmonizing your magical energy with the innate energy of the creature you wish to become. You must visualize not just its appearance, but its every movement, its instincts, its strengths, its weaknesses. Your magic acts as a bridge, weaving your physical and magical essence into the desired shape."

She let the orb dissipate, her eyes glinting with satisfaction as she continued. "But be warned: this magic is not without its dangers. Lose focus, and you risk becoming trapped in the form you've taken. Overreach, and your body may reject the transformation entirely, tearing you apart from the inside."

Helios nodded slowly, absorbing her words. "So it's not just about appearance—it's about becoming."

"A wise observation," Maleficent said with a smirk. "But enough talk. Let me show you."

Before Helios could react, her body dissolved into a swirling mass of black and green mist, which scattered into a dozen smaller shapes. A moment later, the smoke reformed into a flock of crows, their wings beating as they filled the cavern with the sound of rustling feathers. The birds scattered in all directions, darting around Helios before converging behind him.

The crows vanished in a burst of the black and green mist, and in their place stood a sleek black jaguar, its glowing yellow eyes fixed on Helios with predatory intent. The jaguar let out a low growl, its muscles tensing as it crouched, ready to pounce.

Helios barely had time to react as the jaguar leapt toward him, its claws extended and its teeth bared. He threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack as the beast landed gracefully behind him. Spinning to face it, he summoned his Keyblade, gripping the weapon tightly as he assessed the situation.

The jaguar circled him, its movements fluid and calculated as it growled. There was no mistaking the intelligence in its eyes—this wasn't just an animal. It was Maleficent, fully embracing the instincts and prowess of her chosen form.

"So this is the lesson," Helios muttered under his breath, his grip on his Keyblade tightening.

The jaguar lunged again, faster this time, its claws swiping toward his chest. Helios blocked with his Keyblade, the force of the impact sending a jolt through his arms. Before he could counterattack, the jaguar darted to the side, its movements too quick and unpredictable for him to follow easily.

Helios focused, trying to anticipate the creature's next move. "If you're trying to kill me just say so," he called out, his voice steady despite the tension, "this might be a bit much for a lesson."

The jaguar let out a low, rumbling growl, its lips curling back to reveal sharp teeth. It pounced again, this time feinting left before darting right. Helios barely managed to dodge, the beast's claws grazing his side as it landed behind him once more.

'This isn't just an attack', he realized. 'She's trying to punish me. How petty.'

Every swipe of the jaguar's claws, every calculated lunge, carried an underlying message: 'You may think you're in control, but you're playing my game.'

The jaguar growled again, its low rumble echoing through the crystal-filled cavern. Helios clenched his Keyblade tightly, forcing himself to remain calm. He couldn't afford to lose focus—not here, not against her.