The crowd roared with appuse as Phil stepped forward to annouhe winner. “And the victor is… Skuld!” he shouted, raising an arm dramatically, and handed her a trophy. The cheers grew louder, and Skuld found herself smilie the exhaustion c through her body. She had do—she had won the Beginner Cup.

  Zack stood up from where he had fallen, brushing dirt off his uniform. With an easy grin, he approached Skuld aended his hand. “That was one heck of a fight,” he said. “You’re incredible. grats on the win.”

  Skuld hesitated for a moment, surprised by his geohen reached out and shook his hand. “Thanks, Zack,” she said, her smile soft but warm.

  As their hands csped, a sudden, brilliant light erupted from Skuld’s chest, making both of them step ba shock. Before Skuld could react, a glowing white heart emerged from her chest, h for a moment before it drifted toward Zad merged into him. Zack staggered slightly, holding a hand to his chest, his expression shifting from fusion to astonishment.

  “What… was that?” Zack asked, looking down at himself and then back at Skuld. “Did that just e out of you?”

  Skuld’s eyes were wide, and she gnced around nervously, unsure of what to say. “I… I don’t know! That’s never happened before!” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Before either of them could say more, Phil walked up, his arms crossed and his goat-like legs tapping impatiently. “All right, lovebirds, you’re holding up the show!” he barked. “I’ve got two words for ya: leave.”

  Skuld blinked, her expression still frazzled. “That’s… only one word.”

  Zack ughed, his usual carefree griurning. “Yeah, that’s just a Phil thing. Don’t take it too seriously.” He pced a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

  Still flustered, Skuld grabbed Zack’s hand and hurried off the stage, tugging him behind her. Ohey were iive quiet of a hallway, Zack finally broke the sileh a pyful smirk. “So, was draggi here your way of asking for a date? You know, if you wao spend more time with me, all you had to do was say so.”

  Skuld turo him, her cheeks flushed. “That’s not it!” she said quickly, her voice crag slightly from nerves. “I just… I o find my friend and ask him what just happened with the light! This is serious!”

  Before Zack could respond, a calm voice came from behind them. “o worry, everything’s fine.”

  Zack spun around, surprised, as Helios stepped out of the shadows. His expression was calm but with a hint of amusement as he looked at the two. Skuld’s shoulders rexed slightly at the sight of him, though her worry didn’t pletely dissipate.

  “Helios,” Skuld said, her voice tinged with relief. “The heart—it left me. Cloud’s heart… it just flew out a into Zack! What does that mean?”

  Helios nodded, his gaze shifting briefly to Zack, who looked more fused by the sed. “That’s because Cloud’s heart found what it o make itself whole,” Helios expined. “Your heart kept it stable and preve from shattering but Zack’s heart will help it heal.”

  Zack tilted his head, his brow furrowing. “Okay, hold on a sed. I have no idea what’s going on here. You’re saying there was a heart… inside her? And now it’s inside me? What does that even mean?”

  Helios chuckled lightly, waving a hand dismissively. “It’s a long story, and one you don’t o worry about. Just know that you’re… helping someone important.”

  Zack scratched the back of his head, still thhly perplexed. “Right. Sure. Helping someohat clears everything up,” he said sarcastically, though his tone remained light. Then his eyes narrowed slightly, a teasing grin f on his lips. “So, I take it you’re the ‘friend’ Skuld was talking about. You two an item or something?”

  Helios blinked in surprise befhing, the sound was genuine and urained. “Oh, really? Are you curious if we’re dating? Do you like her?” He leaned slightly closer to Zack, his expression pyful. “I thought you had a crush on Aqua. And here you are, trying to set up a date with anirl? Bold move.”

  Zack’s face turned red, and he waved his hands defensively. “Hey, hey, that’s not what I—wait, how do you know about that?” He pointed a fi Helios, his eyes narrowing in mock suspi.

  Helios shrugged nontly. “I know a lot of things,” he said cryptically, before turning back to Skuld. “In all seriousness, everything’s fine. Cloud’s heart is where it o be now, and that’s a good thing. You’ve done your part, Skuld.”

  Skuld frowned slightly, her worry irely gone. “But what happens now? Is Cloud okay?”

  “He will be,” Helios assured her. “Zack’s e to the heart will help stabilize it. Now I just o guide it back to his body and we’re done.”

  Zack rubbed the back of his neck, lookiweewo of them. “Well, I guess I’m gd I help… even if I don’t really get what’s going on.” He gave Skuld a lopsided grin. “You sure know how to keep things iing.”

  Skuld couldn’t help but smile, though it was tinged with lingering . “Thanks, Zack. I… appreciate it.”

  Helios cpped a hand on Zack’s shoulder, his griurning. “And you, lover boy, keep up the good work. Yoing to do great things iure. The first of which will be following us back to our pd helping us wake a friend.”

  Zack ughed, his usual carefree demeanor returning. “I don’t know if I , but I’ll give it a try.”

  The three began making their way back to the room, the distant cheers of the crowd reminding them of the tour still underway. Helios walked a few steps behind, thinking of how to best use this new addition, Zack.