Well, that title doesn't give much away, now does it? It's short, so I'll update sooner than usual this time.

Sora: "DarthKingdom doesn't own Kingdom Hearts, Disney, Square Enix, or anything else. If he did, the World That Never Was would be less creepy."

No it wouldn't. Where'd you get that idea?

Sora: "Your brother."

--

Chapter 20: The Castle That Is No More

The Unity orbited slowly around the in-between world. It was a dark little ball, and seemed like a perfect place for Organization's XIII's headquarters. The group looked down at it, wondering what they'd find down there.

"So which of us are going down?" Kairi asked.

"You, Sora, Riku, me, Donald, Goofy, and Axel." The King said. He was wearing his crimson traveling robe again.

"That's almost the same as last time." Sora observed.

"Yeah man," Barret said, "Why bring us along if you ain't gonna use us?"

"We can fight too, you know." Yuffie added.

"Good point." Mickey admitted. "Okay, you two can come."

"SWEET!" Riku and Yuffie shouted at the same time. They looked at each other for a moment, blushed, and turned away. Sora and Kairi grinned.

"Let's head down." Mickey said.

"Coordinates are set for the Alley-in-Between." Axel said. "We'll work our way to the castle from there."

Mickey, Donald and Goofy beamed down to the surface. Then Axel, Barret, and Yuffie. As Sora stepped toward the platform with Riku and Kairi, he desperately hoped that Ruxik wasn't waiting for them.

They touched down, and found the rest of the group waiting for them. All of them were staring up at a point in the sky.

Sora followed their gaze, and saw nothing unexpected. The same old rolling black clouds that never seemed to end were still there. A slight drizzle was coming down. The black buildings of the Dark City were still the same, seemingly vacant with their neon signs barely illuminating the streets.

"What's everyone staring at?" He asked, walking up behind the King and Axel. "I don't see anything."

"Exactly." Axel said. He raised his finger and pointed at a spot. "What was left of our Kingdom Hearts should be right there." He moved his finger slightly. "And the Castle That Never Was should be there."

Sora's eyebrows raised. "Could they have been moved?" He suggested.

"The castle should be permanently held in place by a magical force below it." Axel responded. "I'm not so sure of all those hearts, though. I don't know how you'd move them"

"Let's go see." Donald said, and set off out of the alley down the street. The rest of them followed.

"What happened to the Nobodies?" Goofy asked. "Did they all just leave?"

"This place stinks of darkness." Riku said. "But it's a different kind than was here before. Be ready for anything."

The group of nine wandered through the twists and turns of the city, not finding anything very suspicious. There was nothing that indicated a great struggle of any kind. No invasion. And not a trace of the Heartless or Nobodies anywhere. Sora was beginning to grow uneasy.

As the group approached Memory's Skyscraper, Roxas spoke to Sora.

"Remember this place?" He said.

How could I forget? Both you and Xemnas tried to kill me here!

"Yeah. Sorry about that, dude."

You are forgiven. What's so important about this place anyway?

"It keeps watch over residents of the dark. It's sort of a monument. But to just what, I was never told."

"I fought Riku here, you know. This is where he transformed into Xehanort."

Really?

Sora looked over at his friend. He seemed a bit uncomfortable in the shadow of the scyscraper. As if the memory of his transformation was coming back to haunt him. He would have to let go of his guilt sooner or later.

The rain started to come down harder, as if mirroring Riku's emotions. Sora, Kairi, Axel and Mickey pulled their hoods up. Sora took the first opportunity to wrap his arm around Kairi's shoulder. She smiled at him.

They walked on, not saying anything until they reached the Brink of Despair. Jaws dropped.

The Castle That Never Was had become the Castle That Is No More.

The bowl-like area that had held it in place was now filled with millions of pounds of debri. Giant slabs of white polished marble marked occasionally with the Nobody symbol were strewn about inside. Chunks of metal or other materials littered the bowl and the area just outside it. The debri piled up until it was only fifty feet short of the rim.

"No way..." Sora said. The castle had looked invincible from the outside, and even more so from the inside. It was impossible to imagine it being destroyed, yet there were the ruins piled up in front of them.

He looked at Axel, who was significantly pale.

You two must be taking this pretty hard. This was your home once. I'm sorry.

"Actually, I never had much love for this place." Roxas said. "Depressing, you know? The real Nobodies probably didn't feel it. Though I think that Axel's just a bit surprised. He'll be fine."

"How could this have happened?" King Mickey wondered aloud.

"Do you think the Brotherhood destroyed it?" Kairi asked.

"That's what I was trying to figure out." Said an unfamiliar voice from above them.

--

Next chapter I introduce my favorite O.C.! As always, reviews are very much appreciated.

But while I've got your attention, does anyone really know what Memory's Skyscraper is really for? Aside from being a cool place to fight Xemnas?

SamuraiJedi: You gotta love him, right?

Krystal Lily Potter: Oh, I figured the Summon was fairly obvious. Ah well, it's several chapters before I use him anyway.

Disneytiger: Woops! I'd better check my sources more closely. But who said I wouldn't bring back Demyx? (Evil smile)

ConfederateofZ: Thanks dude! Though I should warn you that I sort of stumbled along when it came to the terminology.

Garuto: We're nerds. Both of us.

JoBrosCupcakeSwirl: Thank you!

Craxuan: Ha ha! Thanks.

Voltair27: Thanks, I missed you too Volt. And that's sound advice, I'll work on it. Though just so you know, I have like sixty chapters already written out.

Spirit Okami: Thanks! And you may be correct.