The swirling shadows of the Dark Corridor closed behind them, leaving Helios and Kurai standing in the heat-hazed desert outside the tiger head entrance of the Cave of Wonders.
Sand shifted quietly under their feet.
Kurai narrowed her glowing eyes and glanced around at the empty horizon, the wind rustling her cloak. "We just left this place," she said flatly, her voice as cold as ever. "Why have we returned? Are you messing around?"
Helios blinked once, then gave her an exaggerated, mocking gasp. "Messing around? Me? I'm wounded."
"Then you brought us back here for a reason," Kurai pressed. "Out with it."
Helios sighed, crouching down and pressing one hand into the golden sand. "Something slipped my mind."
"That doesn't usually happen to you."
"It doesn't," Helios agreed. "Which is why it felt important enough to return for."
The spell was already forming, earth magic crackling faintly from his palm. The sand trembled and then burst upward in a narrow column of packed sandstone. Sitting neatly on top was the scarab artifact—the one originally needed to summon the Cave of Wonders.
Helios stood and reached up, plucking the golden scarab from its perch like it were nothing more than a misplaced trinket.
Behind them, the ground gave a distant groan.
Cracks appeared across the dune—silent fractures splitting the sands wide.
The entrance to the Cave of Wonders, the massive tiger's head that once loomed from the earth, crumbled inward. Stone and sand fell in on itself like a breath being released for the last time. The cave was closing… for now.
"Tidying up," Helios said, tossing the scarab in his hand once before splitting it cleanly into its two halves.
He opened a Dark Corridor with a flick of his fingers.
Kurai tilted her head. "And now?"
"Now I return them to where they're supposed to be. Wait here for me it won't take too long," Helios replied, stepping into the swirling dark.
Seconds later, he emerged again, but now holding nothing.
"First half's back in Jafar's lair," he explained, opening another portal. He tossed the second half through. "The other's back where we found it. Everything is exactly where it should be."
Kurai's expression didn't change. "So Jafar will think he still only has one piece and will search for the other half. It seems like you're really good at tying up every loose end when you don't forget things."
Helios nodded. "Thank you for the backhanded praise. Besides I wouldn't want the fool retracing my path and getting curious."
Kurai said nothing, simply turning her head back to the city. The desert wind swept across her hair, sending pale strands fluttering like ribbons in a storm. "Have you finished yet? I dislike how this body feels in this world. We should leave post haste."
Helios didn't move just yet.
He lifted one arm, darkness crawling across his fingers like ink. The dark energy twisted, condensed, and summoned.
At first, the ground only trembled. But soon, the shadows began to pool from thin air—dozens, then hundreds of shapes coalescing out of nothing.
Emblem Heartless.
Bandits. Fat Bandits. Luna Bandits. Even a few Fortunetellers.
Helios didn't speak to them.
He merely let them exist.
The Heartless began to scatter, spreading out across the desert like hunting wolves freed from a cage.
"This should keep Maleficent entertained," Helios muttered. "She wanted the world turned over to darkness. Let her think I've made some progress."
"You always honor your deals so literally," Kurai said. "Even the ones you don't intend to keep fully."
Helios smiled. "Perception matters more than truth."
Then he waved a hand, slicing open another corridor—this one leading to Traverse Town.
"Shall we?" he asked holding out his hand for Kurai to hold it.
Kurai's eyes gleamed faintly, still watching the direction of the fallen cave. "And then?"
"It's time we returned. We'll head to Traverse Town for a rest and get you some new clothes. Then… Radiant Garden to inform Maleficent of a blinding light we noticed, that should release me of my obligation to conquer this world."
She stepped toward the portal but paused before entering.
"You've done all this," she said with her first smile, "schemed, twisted things into place… and all it takes is one mistake for everything to fall apart. I hope I can see that."
Helios turned his head. "If you're so excited to see it, then I won't make any mistakes. How could I ever let you enjoy my suffering? Now come on. We've got places to be."
Kurai smirked wickedly as if daring Helios to try his best to entertain her.
Without answering, he stepped through. Kurai followed behind him, the corridor closing in a sweep of shadow.
The night never truly ended in Traverse Town. Even as they stepped out of the corridor, the world was as dim and gently lit as ever — a place of lost things and wandering hearts.
They emerged just outside the Moogle Shop — a cozy building nestled beneath a crooked lamppost, its windows glowing softly with warm golden light.
Helios reached out and knocked.
A few moments passed.
Then the door creaked open.
Standing at the threshold was a Moogle in a dark Victorian coat, its polished pocket watch glinting in the light. Its little wings flapped once as it blinked up at Helios.
"Well, well!" it chirped. "If it isn't my favorite troublemaker."
Helios smiled. "Been a while. How's business?"
"Oh, the usual," the Moogle said, stepping aside to let them in. "Sold a cursed ring to a guy, then sold him a purifying service, a magic mirror that shows no reflection to a guy who claimed to be a vampire. All in a week's work, kupo."
Helios chuckled as he stepped inside. Kurai followed behind, her presence quiet but heavy.
The Moogle's eyes flicked toward her. "And who's this?"
Helios gestured casually. "An old friend of mine. Her name's Kurai."
The Moogle raised one fuzzy brow. "A… friend? You sure about that?"
"Let's not make this complicated," Helios replied. "She needs clothes."
"I've got just the thing." The Moogle floated toward the back. "I'll get the others."
Two more Moogles appeared, bustling out from behind shelves and stacks of enchanted cloaks and boxes of rare materials.
Then the door behind the counter opened once more.
And in walked a boy.
The same boy who had awakened in this very town — John's Nobody. The one who had no name and no memories.
The moment he saw Kurai, he froze.
Then, wordlessly, he walked over.
And hugged her.
Kurai's eyes widened slightly — just a flicker — but she didn't pull away.
"…So he remembers her?" Helios raised an eyebrow.
Kurai then lifted her hand and was about to touch the boy's neck when Helios grabbed her hand and separated her from the boy. Helios had cold sweats when he realized that Kurai was about to kill the boy. This boy John's nobody was most likely drawn to the body which used to belong to Alira Pocahontas.