The sky darkened as Aqua and Skuld tumbled out of the Corridor of Darkness, flung from the swirling void by Helios' overwhelming surge of power. Their bodies hit solid ground hard, the force rolling them across a bed of white stone and golden dust.
Armor flickering from the strain, Aqua was the first to rise, coughing into her glove as her armor automatically powered down. Her helmet dissolved into light, revealing windswept blue hair and a frown already forming across her face.
A second thud—Skuld landed nearby in a less-than-elegant heap, groaning as she pushed herself upright. Her armor deactivated with a hiss of light, revealing dirt-smudged cheeks and a look of mild disbelief.
Both women blinked in unison.
And then looked up.
A towering wall of marble loomed before them, adorned with flowing banners, columns carved with heroic figures, and the familiar thunderbolt sigil at the gates.
"…Olympus Colosseum," Aqua said.
Skuld exhaled, stunned. "You've gotta be kidding me."
They both paused, then glanced at each other.
"You've been here before?" they said simultaneously.
Aqua offered a small smile, despite everything. "Yes. A long time ago."
Skuld dusted off her gloves. "Helios and I came here recently, too. We helped out during a tournament. Even fought side-by-side. We also met some a God here."
At the mention of his name, Aqua's smile vanished. She looked away, lips pressing into a thin line.
"…Sorry," Skuld said quietly, her voice small.
Aqua shook her head, collecting herself. "No, it's fine. It's not your fault. I should be the one apologizing."
Skuld glanced around, the architecture and terrain all too familiar now that her memory had caught up. "We're at the foot of Mount Olympus. Looks like we landed near the outer arena."
She examined her bracer, watching sparks and broken glyphs flicker across the metal. "Our armors are fried. Whatever Helios did damaged them. We're grounded until they repair themselves."
Aqua nodded solemnly. "Then we'd better find somewhere to stay for the night. Best not to wander around unprotected."
Skuld's eyes lit up as she pointed toward the path carved into the mountain's base. "I know a place. Come on, follow me."
They made their way through the lower fields surrounding the base of Mount Olympus, where training grounds and sparring rings stretched beneath towering statues of long-dead heroes. As the sun began to dip, golden light turned the stone path a soft amber.
Eventually, they came to a sloped terrace built into the side of the mountain.
There stood a modest, beautiful house—white stone with warm wooden windows, ivy curling up its pillars. It overlooked the entire valley below. Windchimes rang softly in the breeze, and a wide training deck extended from the side, still marked with scuffs and dents from old duels.
Skuld smiled as she approached the front door. "Helios and I co-own it. Mostly for crashing here when we're in this world. He figured we'd come here often."
"You have a house here?" Aqua asked, clearly surprised.
Skuld shrugged. "We loaned it out to a few friends while we were gone. Hopefully, they haven't wrecked it."
She knocked twice—then again, a third time in a specific rhythm.
"You think… he's alright?" she asked softly.
Aqua didn't answer right away.
"He chose to take off his armor," Aqua said at last. "He knew what would happen."
Skuld looked down. "That's not like him."
Aqua's voice was steady, but not unkind. "How well do you really know him?"
The question wasn't cruel—but it cut deeper than expected.
"I've traveled with him," Skuld said. "He saved my life. He helped me train. He joked. Laughed."
Aqua said nothing, letting the words hang between them.
"…But lately," Skuld added, "he's been colder. Like he's holding something back. Like he's afraid we'll see it."
Aqua's fingers tightened. "Maybe he's not the only one afraid."
Silence again.
Footsteps approached.
The heavy bronze doors creaked open, casting warm lamplight onto the dusty mountain path. The scent of roasted olives and fresh bread wafted out into the evening air.
"Skuld?! That you?! Aqua! Where have you been?!" a voice called.
Zack stepped into the doorway, one arm still tangled in a kitchen apron and the other holding a wooden spoon like a weapon. His eyes lit up the moment he saw them.
Skuld smiled, both relieved and sheepish. "Hey. Hope we're not crashing dinner."
Zack laughed. "You own the place, remember? How could you be crashing dinner in your own house."
He stepped aside, ushering them in.
Aqua followed behind Skuld slowly, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar walls—the restored mosaic over the fireplace, the polished weapon racks lining the stone columns, and the golden laurels hung above the hearth.
This place wasn't just functional—it was personal. There was warmth here. Laughter. Memories. It reminded her of her own home and friends who were no longer here.
That only made the hollow ache in her chest worse.
As Zack shut the door behind them, Sephiroth appeared at the top of the spiral staircase. His silver hair trailed behind him, his long coat fluttering slightly as he descended.
He stopped halfway down, eyes cool and sharp.
"Where's Helios?" he asked, voice like a blade sliding from its sheath.
Neither Aqua nor Skuld spoke at first.
The silence grew.
Sephiroth narrowed his gaze. "Did he die?"
A sharp breath caught in Aqua's throat, but she didn't answer.
Skuld shook her head slowly. "No. We got… separated."
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, reading between the lines. "Separated? That's unlike him."
Skuld shifted slightly, her posture firming up. "We took some damage during transit. We'll be staying here for a few days to recover."
Aqua remained quiet, but Sephiroth didn't press. His eyes flicked between the two of them, his senses clearly picking up more than they were saying. But to his credit, he didn't ask again.
Zack, now behind the kitchen counter, glanced back at them with a small grin. "Well, then you came to the right place. Nothing recharges the soul like warm food, hot water, and a bed that doesn't creak like a collapsing ship."
Cloud, who had been sitting silently at the edge of the room, gave a curt nod to Skuld but said nothing.
Skuld moved toward the bench near the fire and sat down with a sigh. "Thanks, Zack. We'll try not to be in the way."
Zack laughed. "Skuld, it's your house. You being here is kinda the opposite of being in the way."