Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

Helios reappeared in his room, the dark corridor dissipating behind him with a whisper. He carefully placed Cloud onto his bed, his expression grim as he observed the warrior's pallor. Cloud's breathing was shallow, his chest rising and falling in uneven intervals, a clear sign of how tenuous his condition had become. Helios clenched his fists, frustration coursing through him.

Cloud needed help, and he needed it urgently. Helios knew that Olympus Coliseum was the only place where he could find what was necessary to stabilize Cloud's fractured heart. However, the uncertainty of time flow between worlds weighed heavily on his mind. If he left for even a short while and returned to find days or weeks had passed in Radiant Garden, it could unravel everything. Maleficent and Sephiroth, already suspicious of him, would take his absence as a sign of betrayal. The delicate balance he had maintained so far would collapse.

Helios sank into a chair, his mind racing. Time… The thought lingered, heavy and oppressive. He had seen firsthand how differently time flowed between worlds. The Realm of Darkness had stripped him of any concrete sense of its passage. It had been Aqua whose experience he witnessed had explained to him how it worked. Aqua had spent a decade in that void without even realizing it, her perception distorted by the eternal night that consumed her surroundings.

He knew that some worlds, like Twilight Town, Destiny Islands, Radiant Garden, and The World That Never Was, maintained a consistent flow of time. But Olympus Coliseum was different—it existed in its own unique temporal state. A single hour spent there could mean days or even weeks elsewhere. Helios couldn't risk it.

Cloud's faint groan pulled Helios's attention back to the present. The blond's condition was worsening by the moment, and Helios's window for action was closing. He rubbed his temples, forcing himself to think clearly.

How much time does Cloud have left? That was the first question he needed to answer. If he could determine how long Cloud could endure, he could decide whether he had enough time to address the problem here in Radiant Garden before leaving.

Helios stood abruptly, pacing the room as his mind churned. If he couldn't leave Cloud unattended, perhaps there was a way to speed things up in this world—some way to tilt the odds in his favor without risking everything. He turned back to Cloud, placing a hand on his chest and summoning his Keyblade. Its cold, metallic surface glinted faintly in the dim light.

The Keyblade pulsed as Helios focused, channeling his energy into sensing the state of Cloud's heart. The fragments of Cloud's fractured heart responded weakly, flickering like embers struggling to reignite. Helios winced at the fragility he felt. It was worse than he had initially realized. The heart wasn't just splintered; it was on the verge of collapsing entirely. He estimated, at best, that Cloud had only three to four days before his heart would completely shatter.

Not enough time, Helios thought grimly. Was there a way to stabilize him?

He withdrew his hand, summoning a dark corridor once more. He needed answers, and there was only one place to get them: Merlin's study. If there was any knowledge in Radiant Garden about manipulating the heart or healing it, it would be in Merlin's collection of magical tomes. Maybe there might be a spell to slow time.

Helios sat slumped over Merlin's desk, the dim light from a magical lantern casting flickering shadows over his face. His eyes, weary from hours of scanning through countless texts, fell on a single passage that made him freeze in place:

"Only a heart can mend another heart. The connection between hearts holds the key to healing fractures and damage caused by darkness or meddling."

Helios sighed heavily, closing his eyes for a moment. He had already known this—Cloud's condition could only be stabilized by connecting his heart to another. The text merely confirmed what he'd dreaded: Cloud's survival depended on finding a pure, strong compatible heart to support his own.

His mind raced. This wasn't the first case of a damaged heart in need of healing. Ventus had survived because Sora's infant heart had instinctively reached out to him, a miraculous and rare occurrence. In Kairi's case, her heart had sought refuge within Sora's when her own world fell to darkness, allowing her to escape harm.

Helios's gaze darkened. Could I do it myself? He placed a hand over his chest, where the orb containing Kurai's essence thrummed faintly. His heart was steeped in darkness, its balance precariously maintained by Kurai's presence. If he allowed Cloud's heart to seek refuge within his, the darkness in his own might overwhelm Cloud's entirely, hastening his deterioration rather than stabilizing him.

'No,' Helios thought firmly. 'It's too dangerous. My heart isn't the answer.'

As the thought took root, his eyes darted to the corner of the study where Cloud's unconscious form rested on a conjured cot. His breathing remained shallow, his pallor growing worse. Time was slipping away, and Helios felt the weight of every passing moment crushing him.

Just as his mind churned for an answer, the door to the study creaked open. Helios stiffened, his gaze snapping toward the sound, his hand instinctively moving to summon his Keyblade. He relaxed only slightly when he saw Skuld step inside, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Helios?" she asked softly, her tone uncertain. "What are you doing here so late?"

Helios straightened, closing the book he'd been poring over. He forced a faint smile to mask his turmoil. "Just… studying," he replied vaguely. "What are you doing up?"

Skuld hesitated before stepping closer, her gaze flicking to the stacks of books and scrolls on the table. "I couldn't sleep," she admitted. "I thought maybe I could practice some magic."

Helios leaned back in his chair, watching her for a moment. Her presence, so full of light and innocence, sparked an idea. It was reckless, possibly cruel, but it might be the only solution.

His mind raced as the pieces fell into place. Skuld's heart was untouched by darkness, brimming with purity and light. If anyone's heart could temporarily stabilize Cloud's, it was hers. The thought made him feel a pang of guilt, but he quickly shoved it aside. This isn't about right or wrong—it's necessary.