Helios reappeared iy. He looked around and was happy to see that the Heartless were everywhere, their glowing eyes pierg the gloom. He smiled seems his jecture about Radiant Gardeiny Isnds, and Twilight Town being on the same time axis was correct. This would be valuable information.

  Closing his eyes and using his light he felt a light not as big as Kairi’s but still rger than his own. He was sure this beloo Skuld meaning for now she was still safe. “Hang on a little while longer, Skuld,” he muttered under his breath. “I’ll find you. I just need you to stay safe.”

  Helios moved through the darkereets, the oppressive weight of the Heartless’s presence reminding him of Nightfall. Every so often he would e across a se that brought back certain memories he wished tet. Like what he saw just now as a mother proteg her daughter succumbing to the cws of a Neoshadow losing her heart. Helios froze the Neoshadow inches away from the little girl.

  The distant sounds of battle—shouts, cshes of steel, and the cries of those unfortunate enough to cross paths with the monsters—filled the air. He should have ighis girl because logically saving her wouldn’t ge much. But something in her mother’s eyes before she fell moved him. She looked over as if pleading for him to save her daughter.

  Helios over to the g girl opened a dark corridor to Traverse Toushed her in. Putting that out of his mind he left the area. Turning another er, he caught sight of a familiar figure. A group of Shadows and Soldiers had surrounded Yuffie, Leoh, and Tifa. The four of them fought with precision and skill, coordinating their efforts to protect a small group of survivors they had mao gather

  Helios summoned his dark form and keybde he leaped into the fray. With calcuted movements, he sshed through the Heartless, clearing a path to the group. The sudden appearance of the dark figure startled Yuffie and the others, but Helios’s precise as quickly made it clear he wasn’t an enemy—at least nht now.

  “Who are you?” Leon demanded, his gunbde raised, suspi clear in his voice.

  “No time for questions,” Helios said curtly, his voice distorted by his dark form. “Get your people to Cid’s workshop. I’ll cover you.”

  Tifa ah exged a quice before nodding. Aerith began ushering the survivors forward, her calm demeanor soothing their panic, while Tifa and Yuffie stayed close, cutting down aless that drew too near. Leoated for a moment before l his on and following the group.

  Helios fought alongside them, his movements swift and effit. Ohey reached the workshop, he directed them to the Highwind, the Gummi Ship standing ready for departure. Cid was still missing so Helios still in his dark form went over to the puter, activated the initial unch, and was about tram the destination for Traverse Town when he realized something.

  When Sora met Leon in Traverse Town Leon had met Mickey before and knew of him. So unless Mickey went to Traverse Town they would never meet. Helios did not have time to make sure such a meeting took pce so he o send them to Disney Castle. Fortunately, the Gummi left by Mickey for Ahe Wise was included so they could gate a gate to Traverse Town which should be by Disney Castle.

  “Cid already set the destination for a pce called Traverse Town,” Helios instructed, his tone leaving no room fument. “ Take the survivors ahere. You’ll all be safe there. Once you’re there there should be a nearby world you’ll find Cis there. There’s someohere who help you and expihing going on if you describe my on to him.”

  Tifa stepped forward. “What about Cloud? I’m not leaving without him.”

  Helios turned, his voice cold. “He’s safe. You’ll see him again.”

  Tifa’s determination didn’t waver. “I o—”

  Helios sighed and before she could take a step forward he cast the Sleep spell oifa's body slumped to the floor as the sleep spell took hold. Leon immediately stepped forward, his gunbde raised, fury and suspi etched on his face. "What are you doing?" he demanded, his voice sharp and brimming with anger.

  Helios didn’t flinch, keeping his Keybde lowered but ready. “She’s safer this way,” he said, his voice calm but distorted by his dark form. “She was going to get herself killed searg for someone who doesn’t need saving.”

  Aerith stepped between them, her hands raised in a pg gesture. “Squall, stop,” she said, using his true h a tohat carried both authority and warmth. “He didn’t harm her. She’s just asleep. Look.” She k beside Tifa aly touched her face, showing Leoeady, unharmed breathing.

  Leoated, his grip on the guightening, but he didn’t lower it. Yuffie crossed her arms, her expressioical as she gnced between Helios and Leon. “We’re really supposed to trust this guy?” she asked, her voice sharp. “He just knocked out Tifa. For all we know, he’s luring us into some kind of trap.”

  “The survivors don’t have time for this,” Helios interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. “You’re wasting preinutes arguiher get them on that ship and save them, or stay here and die with them. Your choice.”

  Yuffie’s lips parted as if to retort, but she g the huddled survivors behind them. Their terrified faces and trembling forms silenced her. She bit her lip and looked away.

  Leon’s jaw tightened, his gaze hardening as he met Helios’s glowing eyes. “There are still people out there,” he said, his voice quieter but no less resolute. “We ’t just leave them.”

  Helios’s voice grew colder, a sharp edge cutting through his words. “And how many of them will you find before you’re overwhelmed by Heartless? How many lives will you actually save by running around this city?” He stepped closer, his presening. “You ’t save everyone. But you save them.” He gestured toward the survivors with his Keybde. “Make your choice.”

  Leon faltered, his resolve wavering. Aerith pced a gentle hand on his arm. “Squall,” she said softly, her green eyes filled with quiet uanding. “He’s right. If we don’t leave now, we’re putting all these people in danger.”

  Leon’s grip on the gunbde loosened slightly, his shoulders slumping uhe weight of the decision. He looked back at the survivors, their hope resting squarely on his shoulders. Finally, he nodded, l his on.

  “Fine,” he said relutly. “But this isn’t over.”

  “It never is,” Helios replied, his toinged with weariness.

  Yuffie sighed, throwing up her hands. “Guess we’re trusting the scary dark guy. Fantastic.”

  Helios ighe ent, stepping past them to the trol panel. With a few keystrokes, he finalized the ship’s unch sequehe Gummi Ship hummed to life, its engines glowing faintly.

  “I have other tasks to plete,” he said curtly. “If you’re smart, you’ll leave now. This city is lost.”

  Leon stared at him, a storm of emotions flickering across his face. “Who are you?” he asked finally, his voice low and filled with suspi.

  He turo Aerith, his distorted voice softening. “Take care of her,” he said, nodding toward Tifa. “And the rest of them.”

  Aerith nodded, her gaze steady. “We will.”

  “So what are you gonna be doing?” asked Yuffie

  Helios didn’t answer. Instead, he opened a dark corridor and stepped through, vanishing into the shadows.

  The ship’s hatch closed, sealing the survivors ihe engines roared to full power, and within moments, the ship asded into the dark sky, leaving Radiant Garden behind.

  As the noise of the unch faded, the oppressive silence of the Heartless-ied city settled around Helios.