The throne room erupted into chaos.
Rourke's pistol fired with a deafening crack. The sound seemed to shatter the air as King Kashekim staggered back in his throne, clutching his chest. Blood bloomed across his robes like a spreading shadow, and his ancient body crumpled against the seat's carved stone arms.
"Father!" Kida's scream tore through the chamber as she lunged forward.
Milo caught her arm, dragging her back as Rourke leveled the pistol again. The mercenary commander's expression was cold, calculating. "Don't take another step, Princess. You're too valuable for me to kill… yet."
The king coughed, blood dripping from his lips as his trembling hand reached out weakly. "Kida… stay away," he rasped.
Atlantean guards surged forward, spears raised, but they halted when more gunfire cracked through the hall. The sound of boots echoed as mercenaries flooded in from every side, rifles trained on the guards and royal attendants. The warm glow of the crystal above dimmed slightly, as though the Heart itself sensed the treachery.
Helios stood still amidst the pandemonium, his gaze fixed on Rourke. He had felt it moments before—the flicker of darkness in Rourke's shadow, unnatural and heavy, as if his greed had called something to him. Helios was unsure if it was the heartless or something worse, like the time with Ursula.
Kurai's hand twicthed at her side, her eyes narrowing. Skuld moved closer to Helios, hands tense at her sides.
"Helios," Skuld whispered sharply. "We need to do something—"
"Not yet," Helios murmured back. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. His eyes never left Rourke.
Rourke signaled with two fingers, and a squad of mercenaries moved toward the dais. "Secure the princess," he barked. "And someone deal with the old man. He's wasting air."
Two of the mercenaries moved for Kida, but Milo stepped in front of her, his arms spread wide. "You can't do this! If you take the Heart—"
Rourke's sneer cut him off. "If I take the Heart, I save the world… my world. A man's gotta retire sometime, and this crystal will set me up for life."
"You'll doom them all!" Milo shot back, his voice breaking. "The Heart sustains Atlantis! Without it—"
"Without it," Rourke interrupted, "I'm rich, and this place finally dies like it should've centuries ago."
Kida's eyes blazed with fury. "You don't understand! The Heart is not just power—it is life itself!"
Helios stepped forward then, his movement subtle but enough to draw every mercenary's aim. "You really think you're the first man to lust after a light or power he doesn't understand?" he asked evenly. "Rourke… that thing will destroy you. Mark my words."
Rourke's eyes flicked to Helios, narrowing. "And you're the boy playing smart with magic tricks. Stay out of this."
Kurai's fingers curled tighter, shadows pooling faintly at her boots. "I could end this in seconds," she muttered.
"Not here, not yet," Helios said under his breath. "Wait."
The king coughed again, drawing Kida's horrified gaze. "Kida… the Heart… protect it…"
Rourke fired another shot, the bullet striking the stone throne just inches from the king's head. "Quiet, old man. You've done enough talking for one lifetime."
A mercenary captain approached Rourke and saluted. "Sir, the hidden chamber's been located. We can move the Heart."
"Good," Rourke said, his grin widening. "Bring the princess. She's of royal blood, so she might be the key to disabling any security measures."
Two mercenaries seized Kida's arms. She struggled violently, her crystal necklace glowing faintly as if reacting to her rage. Milo tried to pull her free but was shoved brutally to the ground.
"Don't fight it, Princess," Rourke said mockingly. "The Heart likes royal blood, doesn't it?"
"Helios!" Skuld hissed. "We have to stop this now!"
But Helios didn't move. His eyes softened slightly as they flicked to the faint pulsing of the Heart. He could feel it—a growing resonance. The Heart of Atlantis was stirring, sensing the danger.
"Not yet," Helios whispered. "If we move too soon, they'll kill everyone here. Wait for the split."
Kurai exhaled slowly, her fan of shadows forming faintly in one hand. "If you're wrong, we'll be mopping up corpses."
Rourke began backing toward the doors, dragging Kida with him. "Time to collect my paycheck."
As he reached the threshold, the crystal above flared brightly. A deep hum vibrated through the chamber, and Kida gasped as her necklace pulsed in rhythm.
"It's calling me," she whispered, her struggling ceasing as her body slackened.
Rourke raised a brow. "What the hell—"
The Heart's glow intensified, and beams of azure light shot down, enveloping Kida in a cocoon of energy. The mercenaries cried out and stumbled back as the princess rose into the air, her body suspended within the swirling radiance.
"Kida!" Milo screamed, trying to reach her.
But it was too late.
The Heart of Atlantis had chosen its vessel.
Kida's eyes snapped open, glowing the same brilliant blue as the crystal. Her body floated higher, her hair and robes billowing in the torrent of light. The air felt charged, alive, almost suffocating.
"She's… merging with it," Helios murmured, his tone excited.
Rourke cursed and fired his pistol, but the bullet disintegrated as it touched the light. "Damn it! Secure her! We move, now!"
Half of his men scrambled to obey, dragging ropes and gear from their packs.
Helios watched silently as the Heart's light dimmed slightly, Kida's glowing form lowering to the floor. She stood motionless, her expression distant, her aura thrumming with raw energy.
Rourke smirked, satisfied. "Bag her up. We're taking the Heart and its new guardian."
Milo lunged forward, but two mercenaries tackled him. "You'll kill her!" he shouted desperately.
"Not if she does what she's told," Rourke replied coldly.
Helios finally stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous. "You don't know what you've done, Rourke."
Rourke smirked. "And you don't know how far I'll go to get what I want."
He snapped his fingers, and the mercenaries began hauling Kida's glowing form out of the throne room.
"Skuld. Kurai," Helios said softly, his hand tightening on his keyblade. "Get ready."