Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

As the darkness cleared the familiar, endless shore stretched before them—The Dark Margin, where darkness met the faintest trace of distant light. The sky above was a swirling tapestry of violet and indigo, and the dark ocean lapped softly at the shore with its eternal, haunting whispers.

Helios and Skuld stood on the cool, dark sand, the air thick with annoyance as Skuld said, "Ah, I can't believe we're back here again. I hate this place."

A lone figure sat near the water's edge, her back to them, staring at the distant light on the horizon—the soft glow of the Realm of Light, forever out of reach.

The woman had a tall, slender figure, and her medium-length blue hair shifted gently in the unseen breeze. Her form was both elegant and battle-worn, clad in an armor-like outfit with flowing blue and white fabrics, pink intersecting straps across her chest, and silver boots hooked sharply at the sides.

At her side, buried partially in the sand, was a familiar Keyblade:

The Master's Defender, with its ornate guard and a legacy spanning generations.

Skuld's heart leapt into her throat. She turned to Helios, her eyes wide and hopeful.

"Is that... is that Aqua?"

Helios, his expression softening for once, nodded. "Yeah. That's her."

Without thinking, Skuld let out a cheer and dashed forward. "Aqua! Hey!"

The woman snapped to her feet, her Keyblade materializing in her hand in a flash of white light. She spun toward them, her battle-honed instincts overriding everything else.

Her blue eyes, hardened by years of suffering, narrowed with suspicion. "Who's there?!"

She leveled the Master's Defender, her body coiled to strike.

Her voice was hoarse, strained from disuse, but still strong. As she readied herself to attack she stopped upon seeing that the two individuals donned Keyblade Armors and Keyblades. "Are you real? Or... another trick?"

Helios immediately stepped in front of Skuld, raising a hand slightly without drawing his weapon. His voice was calm but firm. "Skuld, don't say anything. I'll take care of this."

She frowned, confused. "Why—"

Helios' voice was low but certain. "Because... she's been alone in the darkness for too long. The mind... can facture. She has every reason to think we aren't real. Moreover, she's not familiar with either one of us so her guard will be up."

He took a step forward, his Keyblade dissolving into light and darkness, and his armor vanishing until he stood in his normal form.

"We're real, Aqua." His voice was steady. "We came here to find you. We're here to save you."

Aqua's grip on her Keyblade tightened, and her eyes darted between them, her heart pounding. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Why... why now? After so long...? Who sent you?"

Helios spoke softly, "I'm going to walk toward you. Slowly. You decide what happens next."

Aqua's body was tense, every muscle ready to fight—or to flee.

Her heart screamed that this couldn't be real.

But something... something in his voice felt—warm. True.

Helios took slow, measured steps across the sand. His hand was outstretched, palm up.

Aqua, still holding her Keyblade between them, took a step forward—then another—until they were within arm's reach.

Her gaze bore into him. Searching. Questioning. Pleading.

Her hand hovered just above his—shaking, hesitant.

And then—

Her gloved fingers touched his palm.

Warm. Solid. Real.

A single tear escaped the corner of her eye.

The tension broke, and her knees buckled as she fell—

A soft, broken whisper escaping her lips. "I... I'm not alone... anymore."

Skuld rushed to her side, her face full of concern. "Aqua! What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Helios, his expression solemn, answered quietly. "No. She's... been alone for so long. That's all."

Aqua knelt in the sand, her head bowed, her body trembling as silent tears fell, soaking the earth.

Her voice, small and cracked. "I thought... I'd forgotten how to cry."

After what felt like forever, Aqua's breath steadied, and she slowly rose to her feet, wiping her face. She straightened, regaining some of the dignity that had been worn down by years in the darkness. "I... apologize for... that sight." She tried to smile faintly, but her voice was raw. "You shouldn't have to see me... like this."

Helios shook his head firmly. "There's nothing to apologize for. But... let's save the formalities for after we leave this place."

The air suddenly thickened, and a bone-chilling growl rumbled from above. Kurai's cold voice rang yet again inside Helios' head. "Our old friend from your last visit here has come to see you again."

Helios' eyes flashed, and his voice snapped, "MOVE!"

A shadow dropped from the sky, landing with a thunderous crash, sending waves of sand in every direction.

The creature's form was monstrous—a quadrupedal beast, its form twisted and sleek with pulsing veins of darkness. Its jagged mask-like face glowed with crimson eyes, and its claws scraped against the sand with a screech that cut through the air.

Helios' expression darkened. "Tch. It found us. The Dark Hide. I thought we could leave without meeting it."

Aqua's Keyblade snapped back into her grip, her stance immediately defensive. "That Heartless... I've fought it a few times. It's... relentless."

Helios' voice was grim. "Good. Then you know—"

The creature lunged with terrifying speed, its claws aiming for Helios but Aqua the only one with her Keyblade in hand jumped in front and met with the heartless.

Aqua deflected the strike, the clash of Keyblade and claw sending sparks into the air. She flipped back, landing beside Helios and Skuld.

"You've fought this thing before?" Skuld shouted.

Aqua's voice was sharp and urgent: "It doesn't fight like normal Heartless. It's fast—intelligent."

Helios teleported behind the creature, his Keyblade crackling with dark energy. "Then let's test its memory!" He unleashed a Dark Firaga, but the Dark Hide twisted its body unnaturally, the attack grazing harmlessly past.

It retaliated, its tail snapping around like a whip. Helios barely managed to raise a Reflect barrier, the impact sending him skidding back.