Hello everyone! It's exam time in school, in case you're wondering why updates have been slow. I have one more exam next Monday and then I'm done for this semester. But in the meantime, I figured I wouldn't let you guys wait anymore, so here's chapter five. I'm up to chapter 13 as we speak! I have everything planned out in my head. Just a matter of putting it on paper. Or, rather, in my computer.

Thank you to Xynlake the fourteenth member, pandabearmusic, NinjaSheik, Witchgirl590, AoZ, Haruka Natsumi, Zamaya, phantombullets240, and Island-style-girl for reviewing. It really means a lot to me. Don't forget, if you have any questions regarding the story, or if things are unclear, feel free to message me. I will, however, only answer questions that have to do with the past, as in Dearly Beloved or In Fate's Hands. I will not give out spoilers for this story, so don't expect any, please and thanks.

I think I'm done talking. Don't forget to review! The last chapter had nine. Can we beat that?

Just then, the door burst open and Sora, Donald and Goofy stumbled through. Donald immediately bowed before Master Yen Sid, as did Goofy, but Sora just waved.

"Hiya," he greeted. Donald yanked him down by the collar and let out an ear-shattering squack.

"Sora, show some respect!" he demanded. Sora just scratched at the back of his head while the old magician let out a laugh.

Master Yen Sid pardoned Sora with a wave of his hand. "So, you are Sora," he said, examining the boy carefully. "So, have you seen the King yet?"

"Yes we did, Master, but we didn't get the chance to talk to him," Goofy answered.

"Yes, he has been quite busy of late," he thought. " Therefore, it seems that the task of instructing you all falls upon by shoulders. You have a perilous journey ahead of you. You must be well prepared."

"I was looking forward to finding by friend Riku, so we could go back to the islands," Sora explained, looking slightly glum at the sound of another long adventure.

"Yes, I know," Yen Sid stated sympathetically. "However, everything in your journey, Sora, is connected. Whether you will find your way home to the islands...whether you will return alone or with your friend, and whether or not the islands will still be there."

"You're the key that connects them all, Sora," Vilixa chimed in. Yen Sid nodded in agreement.

"I'm...the key?" Sora asked, clearly lost.

In a flash of light, Sora's Keyblade appeared in his hands. "The Chosen Keybearer," Yen Sid said in a very serious tone. "You are the key that will open the door to light." The waved his hand towards the book before him and said, "You must read these pages in order to understand the trials that await you. Once you have finished, we will discuss the enemies you are sure to encounter."

Vilixa moved out of the way so that Sora, Donald and Goofy could read the book. As they were reading, Vilixa asked Yen Sid, "What about me? Sora is the key that will erase the Heartless from this world, but what purpose could I possibly have? I wield a Keyblade, but only one that can restore memories."

"Your destiny will guide you towards the right path," Yen Sid replied. "You will learn in due time."

"Wait a sec," Sora asked, lifting his eyes away from the huge book in front of him. "How come there are still Heartless running around?"

"Your past endeavors did prevent an immense effusion of Heartless from the great darkness; make no mistake about that. However, the Heartless are darkness made real," Yen Sid answered, "and darkness yet lingers in every heart. The Heartless are fewer, but while darkness exists in a single heart, it will be difficult to eliminate them."

Goofy had a sudden burst of realization while Sora and Donald let out groans of exasperation and contempt. "Well, sounds to me life if everybody's heart was full of light, them Heartless'd go away!"

Yen Sid gave a small nod, but Vilixa could tell that he wasn't truly convinced that Goofy's theory was even physically possible. How could darkness be eliminated and replaced by light in every heart imaginable?

"It is time to speak of the enemies that you will encounter," he stated. He waved his hand and a small Shadow Heartless appeared. Vilixa saw Sora tense, but it was only a hologram, meaning that it was harmless. Yen Sid said some brief words about the Heartless and then said to the three, "But you know this already."

They all nodded.

With another wave of his hand, a Dusk appeared. "At times, if someone with a strong heart and will, be they good or evil, becomes a Heartless, the empty shell they leave behind begins to act with a will of its own."

Vilixa bit her lip nervously and stared at the ground. She didn't catch Sora's sideways glance at her, but she knew that he was watching.

Yen Sid continued. "An empty vessel whose heart has been stolen away...a spirit that goes on, even as its body fades from existence. For you see, Nobodies may seem to have feelings, but this is a ruse. They only pretend to have hearts. You must not be deceived!"

Vilixa clenched her fist slightly, wanting to be anywhere but that room. She didn't want Sora to think badly of her, nor Donald or Goofy. She just wanted to run as far and fast as she could, but her legs stayed glued to the ground. Almost all of Sora's focus was on her.

"The form you see before you is a Dusk," the old man continued. "They are the most common form of Nobody. But there are others, some larger, some with frightening and unique powers. Still, they are nothing but empty shells, destined to return to darkness."

Another flash of light and the image of three tall, cloaked figures stood before them. Sora, Donald and Goofy all jumped back slightly, alarmed by what they saw.

"The beings you see before you now are different," Yen Sid said, looking over at Vilixa. Sora's eyes widened as he realized, for the first time, that her cloak was identical to theirs. "These powerful Nobodies have formed a group called Organization XIII. It commands the lesser Nobodies."

"Organization XIII..." Sora thought aloud, looking over at Vilixa with curious eyes.

The rest of Yen Sid's words faded in and out of Vilixa's ears. The black cloak that she had so proudly worn before now felt like a heavy ball and chain, and she was afraid to look into Sora's eyes out of fear of judgment. She trudged over to the window and stared outside at the infinite sky, wondering why it was that she didn't have a heart.

"Hey," she heard Sora's voice call out to her. She turned to see him standing in front of her, looking curiously into her eyes. "You...were part of the Organization, weren't you?"

"I was," she answered. "But I left. I didn't belong there."

Sora nodded blankly for a second. "Well, now that you'll be traveling with us, then I guess you can help us figure out how to defeat them!" he said cheerfully. Vilixa's eyes widened in surprise.

"You still want me to come with you? Even though you know who I really am and the kind of being I am?"

"Of course," Sora answered. "We're friends, right?"

Vilixa smiled wide and answered, "I guess we are."

"Awesome," he grinned. "Now, come on. We need new clothes...these shorts are getting really uncomfortable."

I laughed out loud when I wrote that. It made me giggle. I hope it did the same for you.

Review please! Can you beat the 9+ mark?