As Maleficent vanished into the shadows, Helios remained in his jaguar form, pacing restlessly in the glowing cavern. The primal instincts of the beast clawed at his mind, pushing him toward aggression and the urge to dominate his surroundings. His breaths came in low growls, his fur bristling as his claws scraped against the stone floor. It was an alien sensation, and he fought to suppress it.
'Focus', he thought, clamping down on the animalistic impulses. 'I'm not a beast. I'm human.'
But the jaguar's instincts were strong, primal, and deeply rooted in survival. Every noise in the cavern heightened his senses, and every shift of light from the crystals triggered his need to act, to pounce. Helios closed his eyes, forcing himself to concentrate. He tried to push past the instincts, searching for the essence of his true self. His human form, his mind, his emotions—these were who he truly was, not the beast he had become.
He recalled how he had embraced the jaguar's essence to transform, picturing every detail of its strength and grace. Now, he reversed the process, focusing on the shape of his human body: his hands, his face, the familiar weight of his Keyblade. The magic within him stirred as he directed his focus inward, willing his body to shift back to its original form.
The transformation was slow and excruciating. Pain lanced through him as his limbs reshaped, his muscles contorting and realigning. His claws retracted, replaced by fingers, and his fur dissolved into his skin. Every shift felt like a battle against the beast's instincts, which resisted every step of the way. Helios gritted his teeth, enduring the agony as his form melted back into its human shape.
Finally, with a gasp, he collapsed to his knees, his human body trembling and drenched in sweat. He panted heavily, his hands gripping the cool stone floor as he steadied himself. The jaguar's instincts still lingered at the edges of his mind, like faint whispers urging him to transform again. He pushed them aside, regaining control over his thoughts.
As he rose shakily to his feet, Helios reflected on the spell. This is the same magic Maleficent uses to transform into her dragon form. He had seen her use it to battle Sora and his allies, the spell unleashing terrifying power in the process. It was a dangerous and taxing magic, but also incredibly useful. If mastered, it could provide him with a versatile edge in battle.
But Helios also recognized its limitations. While the transformation granted access to the instincts and abilities of the chosen form, it came with risks. The primal instincts could overwhelm the caster, and regaining one's original form was a painful and delicate process. He would need to train extensively to perfect it, especially if he planned to use it after leaving this world.
His thoughts shifted to another potential avenue of transformation magic—the spells Donald Duck used to adapt them to certain worlds, like becoming a mer-creature in Atlantica or supernatural beings in Halloween Town. That type of transformation seemed less taxing and didn't come with the burden of any foreign instincts. However, it lacked immediate adaptability, meaning he would need to practice each form thoroughly to make it effective in combat.
I should search Merlin's books for that version, Helios mused. It could be useful for infiltration or travel between different worlds. I'll figure out the rest later.
As he stood deep in thought, a sharp sound broke through the quiet of the cavern. A loud crash reverberated through the air, followed by the distinct hum of energy. Someone—or something—was attacking Maleficent's barrier.
Helios's head snapped toward the direction of the sound, his body tensing. The glow of the crystals flickered as the echoes of the assault grew louder. The force of the attack made the ground tremble slightly, and cracks began to form in the shimmering barrier that concealed the cavern.
I don't have time to figure out who's behind this, Helios thought, his instincts screaming for him to leave.
Without hesitation, he summoned a dark corridor, stepping into its swirling void as the barrier behind him shattered. As the world around him dissolved into shadow, he heard the sound of the barrier breaking, followed by distant voices and heavy footsteps echoing through the cavern.
Helios reappeared in his room at Merlin's cottage, the familiar surroundings a welcome sight after the tense ordeal. He didn't have time to relax, however, as a shadow slithered from beneath his bed, coiling around his legs before merging with his body. The dark energy was cold and oppressive, but familiar—it was Kurai.
The entity's voice resonated in his mind, a low, amused tone carrying a hint of satisfaction. "You must have enjoyed your lesson today, Helios. Quite the rare bit of knowledge you acquired—something most wouldn't dare to learn."
Helios rubbed the back of his neck, still sore from the battle. "I didn't exactly 'enjoy' it," he muttered, his voice edged with irritation. "But I'll admit it was useful. I learned something valuable, even if Maleficent was trying to kill me in the process."
Kurai chuckled, the sound curling around Helios's thoughts like a dark tendril. "Oh, I wouldn't say she wanted you dead, dear friend. She just needed a little… nudge. Call it my way of helping you out."
Helios stiffened, his brows furrowing. "What did you do?"
"Nothing drastic", Kurai said, feigning innocence. "Just a slight prod to her darker instincts, enough to make her teach you something she hadn't planned to. After all, isn't that why I'm here? To help you succeed?"
Helios scowled but didn't argue. Kurai's meddling was infuriating, but he couldn't deny that the transformation spell was a valuable tool to add to his arsenal. Still, he didn't appreciate being attacked by it, even indirectly.
"Don't push me, Kurai," Helios warned, his tone cold. "I don't need your interference unless I ask for it. Understood?"
Kurai made a sound that echoed in his mind, a sound that was equal parts amusement and malice. "Of course, dear friend. You have my word… for now."
Helios sighed, brushing off the entity's cryptic response. He had more pressing concerns. Maleficent's lesson had pushed him to his limits, and the mysterious attack on the barrier only added to his growing list of complications. He needed to regroup, and figure out who had come to the cavern and why.
Turning to his desk, Helios picked up one of Merlin's books on advanced magic, flipping through its pages as he searched for anything related to transformation spells.