The warm lights of Traverse Town's First District flickered in the early evening, casting long shadows as Helios, Aqua, and Skuld made their final rounds.
They were leaving.
Their time in Traverse Town was coming to an end, and they wouldn't be coming back for a long time if ever. Well, at least Helios had no plans to return here as the was a temporary World that existed as a refuge so who knows when it might disappear.
While Aqua and Skuld finished packing their supplies at Merlin's, Helios made one last stop at the Moogle Shop.
As he stepped inside, the familiar Victorian-dressed Moogle adjusted his tiny glasses and gave him a knowing look.
"Leaving already, kupo?"
Helios smirked. "Didn't plan to stay forever."
The Moogle floated up, tapping its small paws together.
"Before you go, we have a little something for you."
The Moogles had been tinkering with his enchanted pouch, and now, they had completely upgraded it.
Instead of just a simple pouch for holding a limited amount of materials, it had become a true inventory system. The Victorian-dressed Moogle explained the features of this pouch.
The new features included a large but finite storage for synthesis materials keeping them from weighing him down. It also had an instant transfer system allowing Helios to send materials directly to the Moogles in Traverse Twon from anywhere. A nice touch was the organization enchantment which kept items sorted automatically, preventing clutter. The most basic and last enchantment was the space expansion allowing the the pouch to now store items bigger than itself, such as potions and ethers.
The Victorian-dressed Moogle handed over a second pouch to Helios saying, "This one isn't as well enchanted as the first one because we didn't have much time, but it still had the space expansion and large storage so maybe it'll help that girl Skuld."
Helios raised an eyebrow. "Well, I guess she'll need one too."
The Moogle chuckled. "Consider it a going-away gift."
Helios strapped the upgraded pouch to his belt, feeling the faint hum of magic embedded in the fabric.
This was going to be useful.
"Appreciate it," he said with a smile.
And with that, he stepped out of the shop, ready to leave Traverse Town behind.
Before their departure, Helios decided to test something privately.
He wanted to verify if he could transform Bríon na Lú into a Keyblade Glider. Since he could change Equilibrium into a weapon, then maybe he could also use it as a Keyblade Glider.
He stood in the empty Second District, gripping the keyblade as if changed into the radiant spear.
Closing his eyes, he poured a lot light and magic energy into it, attempting to trigger the glider transformation.
Nothing happened.
The light flickered but did not shift.
Helios frowned. He tried again—channeling more power into it, envisioning it turning into a form he could ride.
Still, nothing.
He clicked his tongue, already knowing why.
To access the Glider transformation, he needed both Light and Darkness.
And right now he had no Darkness at all.
Helios let out a sigh, resting Bríon na Lú on his shoulder. "Well, it was worth a shot but I figured as much."
It didn't matter.
He had other ways to travel.
The time had come.
Aqua stood in the middle of Traverse Town's open courtyard, raising her keyblade.
A shimmering portal of swirling blue and white energy appeared before them, leading into the vastness of the Lanes Between.
Helios and Skuld donned their keyblade armor, the familiar metallic plating manifesting around them having had enough time to regenerate its broken frame.
Helios' armor gleamed black, white, and purple, an embodiment of his duality between Light and Darkness.
Skuld's armor was a sleek silver and blue, fitting her rapid combat style.
Aqua summoned her armor as well, her deep blue plating flickering in the dim light of Traverse Town.
Aqua and Skuld both threw their keyblades into the air transforming them into Gliders. They hopped into the Glider but Helios didn't and hopped onto Skuld's.
As they prepared to take flight, Aqua turned to Helios, eyes narrowed. "You're flying with Skuld?"
Helios grinned. "While you guys fly, I'll navigate."
It was a perfect excuse.
Aqua still didn't fully trust him, so if he rode with Skuld, it would make sense.
It kept her suspicion at bay, while also allowing Helios to keep control of the situation.
Aqua sighed, clearly still uncertain but unable to argue. "Fine."
Helios positioned himself behind Skuld.
The moment they were ready the Gliders shot forward into the portal, leaving Traverse Town behind as the portal closed behind them.
As the three warriors vanished into the Lanes Between, two large Gummi Ships entered Traverse Town's airspace.
The Highwind and the Eclipse Drifter touched down outside of the First District.
And from the ships—
The survivors of Radiant Garden stepped into this world.
Leon walked forward first, his expression unreadable.
Yuffie followed, her eyes scanning the area.
Aerith, Cid, and the others walked in silence, taking in the gloomy, eternal night of Traverse Town.
They had escaped the fall of Radiant Garden. The last person to step off the ship walked over to Leon and asked, "Do you think you'll be able to settle all these people by yourself?"
Aerith was the first to answer, "Yes I do believe we'll be able to manage with the munny you've given us your majesty. We can't thank you enough for the help to us; a group of strange refugees that appeared in your lands."
"Aww shucks no need to be so formal we're all friends here. Besides you guys gave me a Gummi Ship which I believe is more valuble than the munny. So if ever you need anything else let me know and I'll provide it. I'll stick around until everyone is perfectly settled in." said Mickey
Leon bowed his head and said, "Thank you."
Yuffie laughed and patted his back as she said, "You're being so polite Squall."
Leon looked back at the downtrodden people as he replied, "I don't deserve that name. Call me Leon."