Finally, I updated! The next few chapters should hopefully come along more quickly. School is winding down and things are extremely hectic, but I want to get this story done. Also, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are on and I've been really distracted by the television (Go Pens!). Anyway, I hope you enjoy this part :)

Thank you to my reviewers for chapter 24: phantombullets240, Catalyna Cullen, Giulia95, pandabearmusic, NinjaSheik, Clarissa Avila, celtic-roses, Kuro Neko to Kuro Bara, Vanisha Tigerseye Stride, ArkAngel, Lumen, Monkeychicklet23, RedQueen, Chocoboco, animechick247, xxKHxxFan15, ccsakura21.

Keep reviewing! It's nice to know that people still read this story even though it's been dragging on forever. :)

Vilixa's eyes groped through the darkness of the World that Never Was. Donald was screaming Sora's name into the air, and Goofy wandering around looking to see if maybe Sora was hiding. Vilixa just stood there and stared at the spot where the cloaked figure had been before. She knew it was Roxas. She could sense it.

"Where did they go?" Donald repeated, an irate tone filtering into his voice.

"Sora will be back," Vilixa mumbled. "We just have to wait."

"Who was that guy?" Goofy asked, returning to where Vilixa and Donald stood. "That guy in the cloak, I mean."

Vilixa stared up at the sky, Kingdom Hearts floating overhead. "I can't tell you."

"What?" Goofy exclaimed. "Why not?"

"I just can't," she sighed.

Donald eyed her curiously. "Are you hiding something?"

Vilixa glared down at the oversized duck. "Everyone has their secrets. I don't have to divulge anything to you. Nobodies may not have hearts, but we can still keep promises and I am no exception."

"I was just asking," Donald said defensively. "Sorry."

Then there was another flash of blinding light and Sora appeared before them. She heard him mutter under his breath, "You make a good other..."

Donald approached him. "Are you okay?"

"What...just happened?" he asked, sounding disoriented.

"Gawrsh, I dunno," Goofy declared. "You just disappeared."

"When you disappeared, the Nobodies disappeared too," Vilixa added.

"Oh," Sora mumbled. He paused, then said, "He said...he defeated Riku."

"Who said that?" Donald questioned.

"That guy," Sora answered. "In the black coat."

Donald smiled. "But no one could have defeated Riku."

Vilixa stood there silently, biting her lip and squeezing her eyes shut. The others still didn't know about what had happened to Riku...how he had let the darkness overtake his heart right where they were standing. It was all too much for her to handle. She could feel a tear slipping out of her eye.

Sora glanced over at her. "Are you okay?"

She waved it off. "I'm fine."

"A black coat means Organization XIII," Goofy concluded. "He must have just been tryin' to trick you."

"Yeah, that must have been why we couldn't see him," Donald added. "You must be tired, Sora."

Goofy nodded in agreement. "Let's just find a way to get into that castle."

Sora placed a hand on Vilixa's shoulder. "Hey, I know that it might be hard for you to think back to when you were in the Organization, but do you think you could maybe help us find a way inside?"

Vilixa let out a shaky sigh and nodded. "Yeah...there's an entrance on the far side of the city. But we'd better get going now, before the Heartless show up."

Donald and Goofy walked ahead, but Sora pulled Vilixa back so they couldn't eavesdrop. "Are you sure you're alright?"

She nodded quickly. "Yeah, Sora. I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

He frowned. "I can't do that. We're friends. And I know that Nobodies don't have hearts, but...how is it that you can cry?"

Vilixa shrugged her shoulders, feeling a bit defeated. "I don't know," she answered sincerely. "I guess...I'm a little more human than I thought I was."

Sora nodded and the two of them walked together and caught up with Donald and Goofy. Vilixa led them to a back alley that hung just below the Castle That Never Was with a dead end that seemed to teeter off into nothing. Mickey caught up with the group and looked up at the castle.

"There's gotta be a way inside," he thought aloud.

"Sora," Vilixa said, summoning her Keyblade. "Follow my lead."

Sora nodded and summoned his as well. They both held their Keyblades up in the direction of the castle, and a ray of light shot forth and hit the castle doors. There was another flash and a crystalline bridge formed before their eyes.

"Kairi," Sora said quietly, so that Vilixa could barely hear. "We're almost there."

"You've got to be careful here, Sora," Vilixa warned as she led them through the familiar hallways of the castle. "This is the Organization's stronghold. Just because you're the Keybearer doesn't mean they're going to take it easy on you."

"What about you?" he asked. "I mean, you used to be one of them. What's going to happen if you get caught?"

Vilixa smiled sadly. "I'll more than likely be eliminated...but don't worry about me. We're here to save Kairi. Just worry about yourself. Got it?"

Sora frowned, but nodded. "Alright."

"Come on," she said, motioning for them to follow. "This way."

Vilixa and Sora walked ahead of the group to a room with a wide rectangular platform. She knew that this was where some of the Organization members liked to practice using holo-missions. They had to be careful passing through in case any of the members were in the vicinity--it was a high traffic area.

"Sora...you've done well," a voice bellowed from above.

"Damn it," Vilixa hissed, freezing in place. She looked up and saw Saix standing on one of the high balconies that overlooked the platform.

Sora glared up at him. "Where's Kairi?"

"Who knows?" Saix smirked. "I expect she's catching up with her friend from the darkness."

"What do you mean?"

"She doesn't need you anymore," he stated simply.

Sora growled. "I'm supposed to believe that?"

"Well, you don't have to," Saix sighed dramatically. "But believe this...Organization XIII has no further use for you...just look there." He pointed to the glass ceiling. "Our Kingdom Hearts...thanks to you, we've collected countless hearts. Can you hear their euphoria? Now, all they need is one more helping from the Keyblade bearer!"

With a wave of his hand, dark portals opened all along the walls and Heartless started pouring out. Everyone stood together back to back as the Heartless surrounded them.

"We've got to fight!" Donald exclaimed. Everyone summoned their weapons.

"But," Sora stuttered. "Kingdom Hearts--"

"Sora!" a female voice cried from the opposite side of the room, up in a different balcony than Saix's. Sora and Vilixa looked up. "Sora, it's really you!"

"Kairi!" Sora cried as the Heartless started pouncing on them.

"You leave Sora alone!" Vilixa heard Kairi cry. She looked up and saw Kairi jumping down to a lower balcony before disappearing.

"Saix, you're a coward!" Vilixa screamed, slashing the Heartless off of Sora's back.

He just let out a low laugh. "Don't worry," he said. "The Organization will finish you off. We don't take lightly to traitors."

"How many times have you said that?" she retorted. "I'm still here, aren't I?"

He scoffed. "We'll see for how much longer." Then he opened a portal and vanished.

Vilixa heard commotion from the other balcony. She looked over and saw Kairi battling with her own Keyblade next to a tall figure with long silver hair. She gasped and whispered, "Riku..."

Sora got to his feet and demanded, "What's going on?"

Suddenly laser bullets started raining down from above, nailing each of the Heartless and making them disappear. Vilixa looked up at where the bullets were coming from and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Xigbar..."

"Have you been a good boy?" he called from above.

"Show yourself!" Sora barked.

Xigbar revealed himself from the darkness of a portal and tutted. "Sounds to me like you haven't." He took another step forward and called, "Sora! Roxas!"

"Roxas?" Sora repeated. Turning to Donald, he asked, "Did he just call me Roxas?"

"Hey, squirt," Xigbar grinned over at Vilixa. "Haven't seen you in a while. "Defected, I see?"

"Shut up, old man," she hissed.

He laughed and shook his head. "You two have really put Organization XIII in a pickle. I guess that's why the Keyblade chose you. But man, did it pick a dud this time. You don't look like half the hero that the others were."

"Are you done rambling?" Sora demanded.

"Rambling?" Xigbar frowned. "As if! All I'm trying to tell you, traitor, is that your time is up!" He summoned his guns in his hands and leapt down from the balcony's ledge.

"Here he comes," Vilixa warned. "Don't underestimate him, Sora. There's a reason why he's Number II in the Organization."

Xigbar grinned in their direction. "So nice to know that you still respect your elders." He loaded up his Arrowguns and taunted, "Let's dance."

Sorry this one's so short. Awesome things happen soon.

Review please! Love love love.