So, I know that it's been nearly a month since my last update, but in all honesty, the number of reviews I got for chapter 26 was really disappointing. I only got eight, and my average is usually around fourteen. So there are a lot of people who are reading and not sending in feedback. I know that the time between updates has gotten substantially longer, but now that school is almost over for the year, I'll have more time to finish this story (which has about three parts left, I think).

My thank you's for the last chapter: phantombullets240, Hidden Fairy Tale, pandabearmusic, celtic-roses, NinjaSheik, AoZ, animechick247 and Nerxie.

I'm hoping to get a minimum of 10 reviews before I post the next update. And I already have it half finished.

So let's get those reviews in as soon as possible!

I promise you, you're not going to want to miss the next chapter!

Vilixa could barely blink before the darkness suddenly disappeared. She looked around frantically and found peace once she saw that Sora was alright. She heaved a sigh of relief.

"Come on," she said, motioning to a different door. "We can reach them this way."

Since Vilixa was the only one who really knew where she was going, she led the group through the castle's gray halls. They made their way to a large room with a clear glass window that towered up a high ceiling, the enormous Kingdom Hearts shining like a beacon before their eyes.

Kairi walked up to her, trying to make conversation. "Do you think things can ever go back to the way they were?"

Vilixa looked surprised. "What do you mean?"

"I wish things could just...go back to normal," she lamented. "Like before all of the worlds were connected. I just wish that we could go back to being kids on our island again, not having a care in the world."

Vilixa bit her lip. "My Other...what was she like?"

"Your 'Other'?" Kairi repeated.

"You know," she urged. "Who I was when I had my heart."

"Oh," Kairi chuckled, finally understanding. "Your other was probably the most generous person I've ever known. Always putting others before herself, trying her best to stay positive, even if things seemed impossible...kind of like how you are now."

Vilixa sent Kairi a soft smile. "So maybe, when I get my heart back, things won't be so different."

"I hope so," Kairi nodded.

Then, from the corner of her eye, Vilixa spotted a familiar blue-haired figure. "Saix," she growled underneath her breath.

At the mention of his name, Saix turned with a smirk, looking directly at Sora. "Only you could have made it this far in one piece...Roxas."

"That's really getting old!" Sora seethed.

"Yeah!" Donald agreed. "He's Sora!"

Saix just grunted in reply and held out his claymore, spikes jutting out from all sides. "Different name, same fate."

"Sora, stand back," Vilixa commanded, wielding her Keyblade, her eyes locked on Saix. "I've got this one."

"What?" he declared. "You can't be serious! He'll kill you!"

Riku tried to hold her back. "He's right. You can't do this on your own."

Vilixa turned and faced both of them in fury. "He's responsible for taking everything away from me," she barked. "My freedom, my friends..."

"Axel's demise was no one's fault but his own," Saix said smugly. "He knew the consequences of crossing the Organization. As will you...you've been hanging around far too long for our liking. It's time we finally finished you off once and for all."

"Do your worst," she challenged.

Saix grinned and started levitating in the air. "Moon, shine down," he declared, gathering energy from the moon's light. His eyes were set ablaze as he started slashing away at Vilixa with his glowing claymore. She blocked his hits and dodged his attacks as the others stood by helplessly.

"We have to do something!" Kairi cried.

"We can't," Riku said, his voice laced with worry. "This is her battle."

Kairi looked on with wide eyes. "Sora, please, do something!"

"You heard Riku," he mumbled. "We...can't."

"He'll kill her!" she gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "I can't look..."

As Saix tried to catch his breath, Vilixa took that as her opportunity to strike. She closed her eyes and summoned her energy, surrounding herself in a ring of white light.

"No..." Saix muttered, shocked. "It can't be..."

Vilixa opened her eyes again and locked them on Saix, and used her Keyblade to strike him from all angles. His tormented screams echoed throughout the room as Vilixa flew past in a white blur.

Soon, it was all over.

Saix dropped his claymore and staggered over to the window, clutching his chest where his heart would have been. "Why..." he panted, reaching out to the heart-shaped moon. "Kingdom Hearts...where is my heart?"

With that, he disappeared.

Vilixa returned to her normal state, but felt drained. She collapsed to the ground, her eyes drooping shut. Riku ran over to her and helped her sit up. "Are you alright?" he asked. She coughed a few times, but weakly nodded.

"I think so." She looked down at her leg and cursed. "Looks like he got me."

Riku's eyes wandered down to where Vilixa's were staring and saw a huge gash along the side of her right calf. "You'll be okay," he whispered, mumbling a Cure spell over her. The wound closed up and the bleeding stopped, but when Vilixa tried to stand, she still couldn't put much pressure on her leg.

"I'm fine," she said, limping slightly. "Don't worry about me."

Sora stared at the spot where Saix once was. "I don't get it. Why's everybody been calling me Roxas?"

Riku turned to him and said, "Because, Sora. Roxas is your Nobody."

"My...Nobody?" he exclaimed. "But that's crazy! I never turned into a Heart-" he paused. "Oh...right."

"It was when you came to rescue me, remember?" Kairi chimed in.

"Xemnas was the one who found Roxas," Riku added. "He could use the Keyblade because he was your Nobody. That's why Xemnas brought him into the Organization." He folded his arms over his chest. "But Roxas betrayed them. After that, I fought him because I thought it would help you wake up. I lost. But the next time we met, I made sure I was the stronger one. Maybe I didn't need to fight him at all. I think he left the Organization because...he really wanted to meet you."

"Roxas..." Sora repeated. "I wish I could meet him too."

Riku just silently pointed at Sora's heart. Sora brought a hand up to his chest solemnly, looking really upset. Vilixa sighed.

"If it helps you any," she spoke up, placing a hand on Sora's shoulder. "Roxas was my best friend when Xemnas brought me into the Organization. And he was a great person...just like you."

"Xemnas wanted two Keybearers to collect double the amount of hearts for their little project," Riku clarified after Sora looked slightly confused. "When Livia sacrificed herself to try and save me, she turned into a Nobody. Unlike you, her Heartless was destroyed, leaving only her shell behind. Xemnas found her just like he did Roxas."

"Even when I was a part of the Organization, I never collected any hearts for them," Vilixa said quietly. "I didn't understand the point in fighting."

"You've sort of turned the other cheek, haven't you?" Kairi mused.

Vilixa felt her cheeks redden. "I guess so. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my friends." She summoned her Keyblade, looking down at the crashing wave at the end of it. "It was never meant for destruction. My Keyblade has the ability to unlock people's memories. I used it on Roxas to unlock a piece of you."

Sora glanced at her. "Did it work?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "Everything sort of worked out in its own strange little way in the end."

"Come on," Riku said, starting to walk away. "Let's go."

They followed him back to the Proof of Existence, every gravestone now glowing red except for one. Number XIII. Vilixa looked solemnly at where Axel's was, but shook the thoughts from her head. He was gone, but his memory was still alive inside of her.

They walked up the set of stairs until they were finally outside, King Mickey and Ansem the Wise finally coming into view.

"Your majesty!" Sora called, running towards them.

"Sora, the rest is up to you," Ansem said. "And Roxas, I doubt you can hear me, but I am sorry."

"Ansem!" Mickey cried.

"My heart is telling me what to do!" Ansem declared. "Please let me do what it says!"

"No!" Mickey yelped, but felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned. "Riku!"

"His heart's decided," he said. "We can't change that."

Vilixa looked on in shock, unsure of what to do. Finally, she turned to Mickey and said, "You have to protect Sora and the others. They're the ones who have something to live for."

"We all have something to live for!" Mickey protested. "I can't let it end this way!"

"You have to," she insisted. "Just...please, your majesty. You have to understand."

"What are you going to do?" he demanded.

Vilixa smiled, though her expression was sad. "Whatever it takes."

The really good stuff happens in the next chapter, I promise!

At least 10 reviews for chapter 28!