***I've made a new cover for the story. It's free to view on my , so take a look and leave a comment on which version you like best. I also tried making a unique intro song for this series, so if you can, please give a comment on your favorite version.
https://www..com/posts/new-cover-for-128460753***
The moment Pocahontas rose to her feet, the crowd watching from a distance erupted into cheers. Tribe warriors lifted their weapons skyward in triumph; elders wept openly with relief. Even the settlers, hesitant and awkward, stepped closer to see for themselves that the daughter of the chieftain truly lived.
Powhatan pushed through the circle of onlookers, his staff forgotten on the ground behind him. His eyes, once cold and unwavering, now shimmered with unshed tears.
"Pocahontas," he breathed.
She turned toward him—and threw herself into his arms. "Father!"
"I thought I lost you," he whispered into her hair.
"I thought I lost myself," she replied softly.
Around them, the tribesmen cried out again, this time in a low, rhythmic chant—one of celebration and return. The atmosphere shifted as the tension in the air cracked like frost under sunlight. Smiles began to form. A few settlers even clapped quietly, though unsure if they were allowed to.
Helios watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, expression unreadable. He glanced toward John, who stood a few steps back, uncertain what to do now that the moment of crisis had passed.
"Hey," Helios said, nudging him lightly in the shoulder. "Aqua's healing the wounded, the tribe's cheering, and the settlers are too uncomfortable about the war they started. Seems like the perfect time for... a feast."
John blinked. "A feast?"
Helios shrugged. "Food, dancing, singing. You know, the universal language of friendship."
A moment later, Pocahontas approached, her eyes bright and voice light. "That's a wonderful idea."
Helios smirked. "Consider it a farewell party too."
That brought a pause.
John's smile faltered. "Farewell?"
Pocahontas turned, concerned. "You're leaving? So soon?"
Aqua walked up, her arms folded across her chest, calm but resolute. "We're travelers. It's time we moved on. We've stayed longer than we planned already."
Skuld joined her, offering a small smile. "Doesn't mean we won't come back."
John lowered his head, but nodded. Pocahontas said nothing, though her hand found John's and held it tightly.
Preparations began quickly. Word spread through both camps, and despite the lingering awkwardness between tribespeople and settlers, neither group seemed inclined to argue. There was relief, hope—and a shared need to forget the horrors of the past days, if only for a few hours.
Before sunset, the clearing by the river was transformed.
Wooden torches lined the edge of the grove, flickering as night approached. Long tables were assembled from logs and planks, some hastily nailed together by settlers, others decorated with tribal carvings. Baskets of fruit, roasted meats, and clay pots of stews lined the table. Skuld, surprisingly, proved an expert in stacking bread high enough to impress even the tallest warrior.
Children from both sides ran around, weaving through the legs of warriors and farmers alike. Laughter replaced tension. Somewhere in the trees, flutes began to play—first slow, then steadily more rhythmic.
Aqua leaned against a tree, watching. For once, her expression was soft. "Didn't think we'd leave this world with a party."
Skuld grinned as she arrived with a wooden bowl of something vaguely purple. "Try this. No idea what it is, but it's sweet and spicy at the same time."
Aqua tried it, eyebrows lifting. "Not bad."
Helios passed by, holding a carved drink cup. "Still think I'm dangerous?"
Aqua glanced at him sideways. "Yes. But you're good at planning parties."
He chuckled. "Hey, I'll take what I can get."
The sun dipped below the horizon, and soon firelight cast golden halos on every face. The music rose—tribal drums, settler flutes, and something like a fiddle joining the chorus.
At first it was just the tribespeople. Then a few settlers, encouraged by Skuld's wild arm-waving, joined in. Someone grabbed Aqua by the hand—she refused at first, but eventually relented, letting herself be twirled into the circle, laughing.
John sat near one of the fires, watching Pocahontas dance with the elders, her movements fluid and powerful, her hair catching sparks of flame and starlight. She looked free. Alive.
Helios sat beside him.
"She'll be okay now," John said quietly.
Helios nodded. "You both will."
John looked over, thoughtful. "Do you guys… ever regret what you have to do? The power you use?"
Helios was quiet for a moment. "Power's not the problem," he said finally. "It's how much of yourself you're willing to give up to use it and how you use it."
They sat in silence after that.
Later in the evening, the music quieted, and all eyes turned as Powhatan stood once more.
He spoke in his native tongue first—a blessing, a remembrance, and a promise to protect the peace earned by his daughter's courage. Then he turned to the settlers and spoke again, slowly, but clear:
"We have shared fire. We have shared breath. Tonight, we are not enemies we are a single tribe."
No one dared interrupt.
Pocahontas stepped beside him, her eyes on John, and then the trio of keyblade wielders.
"We thank you," she said. "Not just for saving us—but for teaching us that darkness is not beaten by strength alone. It's beaten by heart."
Aqua bowed her head. Skuld smiled.
Helios said nothing—but there was a rare sincerity in his eyes.
As the night deepened, stars filled the sky like glass dust scattered across velvet.
Skuld lay on the grass, hands behind her head, watching the constellations.
"Think all the worlds see the same stars?" she asked.
Aqua joined her, also looking up. "Maybe. Or maybe we all just see what we need to see."
Helios stood apart, watching the river.
Pocahontas eventually joined him, barefoot and quiet.
"You're not like the others," she said.
Helios glanced at her. "No. I'm not."
"But you helped anyway."
He didn't respond, not with words.
She smiled. "That's enough."
As the fire crackled low and the drums slowed, Aqua stood.
John stood, hugging Pocahontas tightly. She whispered something in his ear. He nodded.
Skuld rolled up from the grass and stretched, already summoning her Keyblade lazily into her hand.
Aqua turned to Helios. "You ready?"
He looked out over the dancing flames, the two groups of people finally laughing together under the same night sky.
"Of course," he said.
They opened a Corridor of Light.
And then—just like that—they were gone.
The party continued. But the fire where they had stood flickered just a little brighter, for just a moment longer.