Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Helios paused before stepping back into the chaos of the city, deciding to stop by Skuld's room. As he approached, he noticed the door was slightly ajar. Inside, Skuld was standing by the window, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her expression was a mix of worry and longing, her gaze fixed on the city's dim glow through the glass.

When Helios walked in, her head turned sharply, and she immediately asked, "Any news about Lea and Isa?" Her voice was tense, her words quick, betraying the fear she tried to mask.

Helios hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I helped the survivors escape on a ship," he said, his tone even. "Lea and Isa are no longer in this world."

It wasn't a complete lie. He had ensured they would eventually be reborn as Nobodies in Twilight Town, so technically, they would leave Radiant Garden. But the impression he gave Skuld was that they had safely evacuated alongside the others.

Skuld let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her face. "Thank goodness," she murmured. "I couldn't bear it if something happened to them."

Helios nodded, watching her closely. "We'll be leaving soon too," he said, his tone firm but reassuring. "I need to take care of two last things, and then we'll go. Get ready. When I come back, we leave immediately."

Skuld nodded, her hands dropping to her sides, though the tension in her shoulders didn't ease entirely. Helios turned and left the room, closing the door gently behind him.

Opening a dark corridor, Helios reemerged in the shopping district. The once-bustling area was now a desolate wasteland, its streets littered with debris and the signs of desperate struggle. Shadows of once-thriving businesses loomed eerily, and the faint cries of distant Heartless echoed in the air.

Helios moved cautiously, his eyes scanning for any signs of life. He wasn't optimistic—after rescuing the first two Moogles, he doubted there would be many more left. Still, he had to check. If any more survived, it would increase the chance of his synthesis project succeeding.

After a painstaking search through the district, Helios's ears caught a faint clattering sound. He froze, turning toward the source. The noise had come from a small shop on the corner, its windows barricaded with overturned racks and shelves. Helios's eyes narrowed as he recognized it: the same shop where he'd purchased Skuld's outfit.

Approaching the store, he peered through a crack in the barricade. Inside, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure—a Moogle, dressed in its refined Victorian outfit, scurrying to pick up something it had knocked over.

Helios smirked. "Lucky," he muttered under his breath.

He stepped back and opened a dark corridor, envisioning the interior of the shop. The swirling shadows enveloped him, and a moment later, he reappeared inside, startling the Moogle.

The Victorian Moogle let out a panicked squeak, dropping the item it had been holding. It scrambled backward, its tiny wings flapping in alarm.

Helios raised his hands in a calming gesture. "Relax," he said, his voice gentle. "It's just me. Remember? We met before."

The Moogle's wide eyes narrowed slightly as recognition dawned. "You!" it exclaimed, its voice still trembling but no longer panicked. "You're the one who bought that outfit! What are you doing here, kupo? And how are you walking around with those monsters everywhere?"

"I'm rescuing anyone I come across," Helios replied simply. "And you're lucky, because this is the last sweep before I leave."

The Moogle's tense posture softened slightly, though its eyes still darted nervously toward the barricaded windows. "You're... rescuing Moogles too?" it asked hesitantly.

Helios nodded. "I've already found two and sent them to safety. How many were here before all of this started?"

The Moogle's face fell, and it wrung its tiny hands. "There were twenty-eight of us, kupo," it said quietly. "We all made a living here, running shops and crafting items. Now..." Its voice broke, and tears welled in its large, expressive eyes. "Now there's only three of us left. Twenty-five... gone."

Helios's chest tightened, though he kept his expression neutral. He crouched down, meeting the Moogle's gaze. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "But you've survived. That means there's still a chance to rebuild."

The Moogle sniffled, nodding slightly. "Where are the others, kupo?" it asked.

Helios waved a hand, opening a dark corridor. "They're on the other side of this," he said. "They'll explain everything when you get there."

The Moogle hesitated, glancing at the swirling portal. "What about you?" it asked. "Aren't you coming too?"

"Not yet," Helios said firmly. "I still have work to do here."

The Victorian Moogle stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Alright, kupo," it said. "Thank you."

It stepped through the corridor, disappearing into the darkness. Helios watched the portal close behind it, then let out a heavy sigh. He stood in the empty shop, the weight of the Moogle's words settling over him.

"Twenty-five," he murmured to himself. "It's not every day you hear firsthand how many lives you've ruined."

Kurai's voice slithered into his mind, dripping with mockery. "Feeling regret, are we? You, who orchestrated the fall of this world? Spare me your misplaced guilt."

Helios clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "It's not guilt," he muttered. "Just... perspective."

Kurai laughed softly. "Call it whatever you like. But don't lose focus. I'm sure you'll be responsible for more than one world falling so it might be best to get used to it as soon as possible."

Helios stepped through a dark corridor, emerging at the base of Ansem's castle. The once-majestic fortress was now swarming with Heartless, their glowing yellow eyes piercing the oppressive darkness. The pureblood Heartless dominated the area, their forms writhing like living shadows as they attacked anything in sight. As soon as they spotted Helios, they rushed toward him in a chaotic frenzy.

Summoning his Keyblade, Helios struck them down one by one, his movements swift and precise. Each defeated Heartless released a shimmering Lucid Shard, and Helios quickly gathered them using his Aero spell. The shards whirled in the air, forming a small, glimmering pile that floated toward him. By the time the immediate wave of Heartless was vanquished, he had collected ten shards.

As he examined the shards, a disembodied voice echoed through the area. "What exactly are you doing, boy?"

Helios straightened, his Keyblade still in hand. Moments later, Maleficent materialized from a swirling mist of green and black flames, her regal figure illuminated by the dim light of the Heartless surrounding her. As if summoned by her presence, Emblem Heartless began to appear, forming from the dark orbs materializing in the air.

"I was looking for you," Helios said, his tone light but laced with curiosity. "I wanted to see how the siege on the castle was going."

Maleficent's eyes narrowed slightly, her lips curving into a thin smile. "It would be progressing far better if you weren't cutting down my troops, child."

Helios chuckled, giving her a faintly apologetic shrug. "My apologies, but they attacked me first. You can't blame me for defending myself."

Maleficent's smile didn't waver as she folded her arms, her gaze piercing. "Be that as it may, you've delayed things. Still, the siege goes well enough. The fools inside the castle have barricaded themselves in one of the upper rooms, using a magical barrier to keep my forces at bay. A temporary measure, I assure you."

Helios raised an eyebrow, feigning interest. "And how long do you think it'll take to break through?"

Maleficent's expression turned triumphant. "Not long now. The barrier is weakening as we speak. Soon, the entire castle will be under my control. It will make a far more suitable home than that dreary shack you so graciously offered me."

Helios smiled, his gaze flickering to the Heartless swarming around them. "I'm glad to hear that. It means the lab will be accessible soon, and with it, everything I need."

Maleficent's sharp gaze lingered on him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "You always have your own motives, don't you, boy?"

He gave her a smirk, his tone casual. "Would you expect anything less? After all, we both know ambition is what drives us."

Maleficent let out a low, amused laugh, the sound echoing through the castle grounds. "Indeed, we do."