Well, here it is, the second-last chapter.

Gotta say, I was a bit disappointed with the lack of reviews for chapter 20. Only 4? Chapter 19 had 7.

I kind of have this personal goal for this story to get to 100 reviews, and I'm pretty close right now. There's 79. So just 21 more reviews and then I'll get to 100! Problem is that there's only one more chapter left after this.

If there's ANYONE who likes this story and hasn't reviewed yet, why not do it now? The story is almost over and you really might as well. Help me reach my goal please! :)

Thank you to SpringBorn, SheDreamsFiction, Island-style-girl and pandabearmusic for reviewing.

To everyone else, please help me get to 100! The next one is the end, get your two cents in now!

The rain fell harder against the soft grass in the garden outside and Vilixa felt her eyes begin to droop. Before she could succumb to the lull of sleep, she was jerked back into consciousness by loud thumping sounds outside. She gulped and made her way to the front doors of the mansion and peeked outside, her jaw dropping.

There was a giant Nobody outside unlike one she'd ever seen before. It stood tall at about eight feet and it carried a giant claymore, dragging it against the ground as it approached her slowly. Staring at it with both horror and fascination, she wondered what it was doing there in the first place.

Realization dawned on her. "Claymore...it must be one of Saix's Nobodies," she growled. "How am I going to take this thing down all on my own? It's gigantic!" She summoned her Keyblade and gripped it tightly in both hands. "I guess I've just got to try."

She burst through the mansion doors and hurled herself at the giant Nobody, slashing at it with her weapon. The Nobody guarded against it with its giant claymore and swung it around haphazardly, just barely missing Vilixa's head.

She heard footsteps coming and saw Naminé and DiZ standing by the doorway.

"Vilixa, what's going on?" Naminé cried. "What's this thing doing here?"

"If I knew," Vilixa shouted back, the rain making it difficult for her to keep sure footing as she went in for another strike, "I wouldn't be trying to get rid of it!"

At that instant, the Nobody took its giant claymore in its hands and paused. Vilixa stared at it cautiously, trying to keep her guard up. The claymore started to glow blue with pent up energy and she let out a gasp. Before she could dodge or even react, the claymore swung around and hit her directly in the stomach, sending her flying into one of the stone columns that lined the front yard, shattering it into broken pieces of concrete.

Vilixa gasped for breath, trying in vain to get back up again. She tried to mutter a Cure spell over herself, but she was caught again in another blow by the giant Nobody that sent her flying once more into another concrete column, taking out the top chunk of it and spraying broken pieces all across the lawn.

Her left shoulder, which had already been injured, had gone limp again and Vilixa tried once again to cast a Cure spell on herself. She finally managed and regained a bit of her strength, but she felt as if she was on her last legs.

She wiped a trickle of blood that dripped down from her mouth and gripped her Keyblade in her right hand tightly. She felt a surge of energy rush through her body as her fiery red hair began to blow in every direction. Her Keyblade began to glow as a strange ring of light wrapped itself around her. She glared hard at the giant Nobody and in the blink of an eye, she charged at it, striking her Keyblade through its chest.

Light started pouring out of the hole she had pierced in the Nobody's chest until it consumed it completely, cracking its solid armor until it shattered. The Nobody's remains faded into black shreds that seemed to evaporate into thin air until nothing was left.

Vilixa dropped her Keyblade to the ground and then collapsed, her breathing ragged. Naminé and DiZ ran to her, carrying her inside.

"Will she be alright?" Naminé asked, frightened.

"I certainly hope so," DiZ sighed, looking down at the frail girl before him. "She was pushed to her limit. Let's hope she recovers."

They left her alone in her bed so that she could get some rest. As Naminé shut the door behind her, she saw a small smile form on Vilixa's lips as she whispered to no one, "I did it."

* * * * *

"Why don't you quit?" Roxas screamed in frustration at Riku, who was slowly rising from the ground.

"Come on, Sora!" Riku taunted. "I thought you were stronger than that!"

Instinctively, Roxas countered, "Get real! Look at which one of us is winning!" He gasped, his hand flying up to his mouth, not believing his own words.

"So it's true," Riku smirked. "You really are his Nobody. I guess DiZ was right after all."

"What are you talking about?" Roxas growled. "I am me. Nobody else!" He lunged at Riku, striking him with both Keyblades directly in the chest. He fell to his knees, trying to regain his composure. "How many times do I have to beat you?"

"You've left me with no other choice," Riku said tensely.

"What?"

"I have to release the power in my heart," he said, removing the blindfold from his eyes. "The dark power that I've been holding back. Even...if it changes me forever."

Riku let out a loud scream as darkness came shooting up from the ground, surrounding him from all sides. Once the darkness cleared, Riku's body had changed into that of Xehanort's Heartless, with another large Heartless hovering behind him. He moved himself right in front of Roxas' surprised face and the Heartless grabbed him with its gargantuan hands, lifting him up off the ground and crushing him until he let go of his Keyblades and blacked out.

"I have accepted it," Riku said simply.

The Heartless let Roxas fall to the ground and disappeared. Riku pulled the hood over his head as he heard a portal opening behind him. DiZ walked through and examined the blond who was unconscious on the pavement.

"DiZ," Riku said, his voice deep and unfamiliar. "He could feel Sora."

"Oh, he told you how he 'felt', did he?" DiZ mused. "A Nobody cannot feel anything."

"If he had met Sora, things might have been different."

DiZ sighed. "Come. Let's bring him back. Vilixa needs you as well...she fought a hard battle against a Nobody sent to kill her."

"Is she alright?" he immediately asked.

"She's resting," he answered. "Come."

Did you read the memo? Review please!

Just 21 more reviews to 100!!! Don't make me withhold it until the reviews start coming in!

Next one is the end.