Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, or My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic nor any character used in this story.

Note: This Fic is written, assuming the reader HAS played the Kingdom Hearts game series. (Especially I, II, Re:Coded, and Birth by Sleep.) And has watched the first season of MLP:FiM at the least.

Special Thanks: I would like to thank Siegfried432 for helping me with the editing of this chapter.

Chapter 8

The Battle Ends, the Adventure Begins

In the dark world of the Serenity Station, a certain cloaked figure eating popcorn was doing a sudden spit take with soda, where this individual had even obtained soda from is still a mystery.

"What the hay is this?" He shouted as he brought up a palm facing upward fingers extended as to exclaim his point.

"They always seem to do that." Vanitas said from the side of the couch leaning on the armrest. "No matter what happens, even if you know you have the upper hand and, by all rights, you should have crushed them, they somehow in some way pull something that completely dwarfs your own power." He then turned his head to face the cloaked figure. "By the way, why are you doing that?"

"Doing what?" The figure answered with a question of his own.

"That." Vanitas simply said as he pointed at the image.

On the image, Riku's keyblade was changing form, and on the screen were several flashy effects and letters, it read: "Chain Link! Magic and Kindness" at the bottom it read: "Twilight Wing" Before they disappeared, and things were back to normal and Riku was holding his newly created Keyblade. "Oh, that?" The cloaked figure said. "I just thought it'd be funny." He finished with a chuckle. Vanitas groaned and put his hand on his head like he had a headache. "Philistine, good humor is never appreciated." He finished as he leaned back in his seat and went back to watching what happens.

On the clearing field, Riku was approaching Night Mare Moon with his new keyblade, forged by the connection of Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle. As he took his few steps, the others watched on. Pinkie Pie was finally able to stand, though her legs a little weak, she slowly made it over to Rainbow Dash.

"You okay, Dashie?" She asked concerned.

"Yeah, I think so." She answered. "But I don't think I'll be able to fly for a bit, my left wing hurts when I try to move it."

"I gotcha!" She suddenly pulls a wheelie stretcher from behind a tree that was nearby. "I always keep stretchers in trees in case of a medical emergency!" She said smiling.

"Wait… When did you even…." Rainbow Dash Started before realizing… it's Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie, forget about me, I can still walk, we should be helping Princess Celestia! She's probably been burnt to a crisp after that explosion."

"Righto!" Pinkie Pie agreed as she wheeled the stretcher over to the fallen Princess and, with Dash unsteadily walking, was able to put her on the stretcher and started rolling away.

Rarity, at the time, was helping Applejack down from the tree she was stuck in. She was using her magic to pluck her off, and cleared away the dough as best she could, so she could at least walk properly. "Thanks, Rarity, Ah think ah might have to sit this one out though. Ah can't really move that well with some of this gunk still on me." She thanked.

"It's not a problem, Applejack dear, but I'm afraid I may have to join you on sitting this fight out, these burns are just dreadful!" She exclaimed as she and Applejack stumbled their way to Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Princess Celestia, who by now has collapsed from shock and exhaustion. The four ponies looked back at the scene; they saw their new friend Riku walking bravely to face off against Night Mare Moon, their beloved Princess Luna twisted into a dreadful creature of shadow, seemingly to be indestructible. They had no idea what happened to Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy but they hoped they were alright.

Back in the Mysterious Tower, Master Yen Sid was currently stroking his beard, smiling to himself. He had waved his hand again over the image formed from misty cloud. The image was a little cloudy, but, eventually, it changed to show Rarity in the image. The white mare was with the other ponies looking from the forest area near the clearing watching the battle. "Master Yen Sid? How come the image changed to this unicorn?" Mickey asked his old mentor.

"Because, my old friend, I have a suggestion to give to this little one." He replied while smiling. "Miss pony." He started.

In the image, Rarity was shocked to suddenly hear a voice. She looked around and looked to Rainbow Dash, who was currently looking out at the fight with a very worried look on her face, and asked "Rainbow darling, did you just say something?"

"I didn't say anything." she replied confused.

"Applejack? Pinkie Pie?" Rarity asked her two other friends, who were looking after Princess Celestia.

"We didn't say a thing, sugahcube." Applejack replied.

"Yeah, and Princess Celestia is resting. I didn't hear a peep from her the whole time!" Pinkie Pie assured.

"Hmmm, was I hearing things?" Rarity said more to herself then any other pony.

"No, you were not." Yen Sid said.

"There it is again!" Rarity cried. "Oh no! I must be going crazy! I'm hearing voices in my head!" as she said that she put her hooves to her head.

"Do not worry, little one, you are quite fine." Yen Sid reassured.

"Just who is speaking to me?" Rarity cried again.

"My name is Yen Sid, I am a friend of Riku's" Yen Sid introduced himself calmly. "I am speaking to your mind through my magic."

"Oh! I see, well then, ummm Mister Yen Sid-" Rarity started.

"That's Master Yen Sid!" Donald quacked loudly.

"Donald? Is that you?" Rarity shrieked in surprise.

"Yes!" Donald answered

"How are you talking to my mind?" Rarity asked loudly surprised. Her friends however, were staring at her, their eyes glancing at each other before going back to staring at her.

"Uhhh Rarity? You okay sugahcube?" Applejack asked concerned, for her friend's mental health."

"She is quite fine, I believe this should help clear things up." Yen Sid said as he waved his arm.

"Whoa!" Rainbow Dash cried as she jumped startled. "Did any other pony hear that?" She asked.

"Oooh! Oooh! I did!" Pinkie cried as she raised her hoof like she was in school.

"Who in the hay said that?"

"Somepony named Master Yen Sid, according to Donald." Rarity explained. "He's talking to us through our minds."

"Yes, through magic, of course. But if I may continue… Miss Rarity, was it? I believe I can help you help your Princess." He told her.

"Really? How?" Rarity exclaimed excitedly.

"I can teach you what Donald and Riku are capable themselves by teaching you a healing spell." He told her.

"A healing spell? You mean to make wounds disappear and restored proper form?" Rarity asked.

While Yen Sid merely answered. "Yes."

"Oh, please do! I would be most grateful." Rarity said smiling accepting the lesson politely."

"Alright then, please close your eyes." He told her, and as Rarity did as she was instructed Yen Sid began to chant.

Earlier in the clearing, Riku had just received his newly created keyblade, and was walking towards Night Mare Moon, who was currently quite nervous seeing a new weapon appear forged from such hurtful light, she lowered her head as if she was prepared to charge at Riku.

"So thou hast a new weapon, but will it be enough to defeat us?" She asked in a mocking tone.

"We'll see won't we?" Riku replied full of confidence. As he readied his keyblade he charged, and Night Mare Moon followed with one of her own. As her horn glowed to create a blade of aura from her horn, their blades had clashed. As Riku swung his keyblade three times consecutively in three different arcs from top side and bottom, Night Mare Moon countered and parried each one.

Riku leaped back and pointed his keyblade at Night Mare Moon, "FIRE!" he cried before a dark fireball blasted from the keyblade. Night Mare Moon blasted a bolt from her horn to intercept the incoming projectile and as they hit a small explosion was created, creating a large amounts of dust. Then, Riku tried to run to follow up with a charging slash when he suddenly trips over the chains that kept flinging around his shoulders and legs. "Whoa!" he cried in surprise as he ate a mouthful of dirt. "Peh peh puh" he spat out the dirt and groaned.

He noticed the chains were fumbling his legs and tried to shake them off. Night Mare Moon however, laughed as she blasted several more bolts at him.

"Riku, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked, concerned for friend.

"Yeah, just tripped over the chain that's all." He answered assuring her he's fine as he dodged the blasts and began running again circling around to head back to Night Mare Moon before leaping to land a blow on her. Night Mare, however, had another idea, she stood back extended her wings and started flapping them each time creating a gust of wind blowing Riku back. "Whooooa!" Riku cried before slamming into a tree.

"Riku!" Both Twilight and Fluttershy cried worried for their friend.

"I'm okay, just a little dizzy." As he shook his disorientation off, Riku noticed something about the chains. He saw that all three connected each other on his other shoulder.

He tried to pull them off but they were stuck pretty tight and they didn't seem to want to come off. "Ouch! He cried. As he noticed the clasp like protruding things poking at his side. "What's with this keyblade?" he thought "It's being a lot more troublesome to use then I thought." He didn't have time to keep pondering because then Night Mare Moon just launched another purple sphere that sent a volley of bolt blasts. As he kept rolling and dodging those blasts, he kept wincing as the protruding clasp side of the keyblade kept poking into his side. "Argh, these horn-like things keep poking me, I just don't get why they're there!" Suddenly a nearby blast knocked him up for loop and sent him flying, only to crash down on the ground dizzy. "Ugh, you girls alright?" Riku asked his keyblade.

"We're fine, Riku, we don't seem to feel anything while like this." Twilight told him.

"Well that's good, but… hey!" Riku cried startled.

"What is it Riku! Are you hurt? Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked concerned.

"Yeah, I am but… the keyblade… it's…" He started.

"What is it? What about it? Did something happen? What happened to us?" Twilight asked frantically.

"You guys are fine but the keyblade is… it's on my arm."

"What?" Twilight asked, just wondering what he was talking about.

"It's holding onto my arm." Riku simply stated. And as he said, the keyblade was literally holding onto his arm. The clasp-like protruding from Fluttershy's necklace design on the keyblade was holding onto his arm. At that moment, the keyblade's hilt guard broke off. The horn like handle and blade fell off. But that's not what surprised Riku no, what surprised him was that the handle was glowing, and from its tipped end… was a purple ethereal like rope… as though it was connecting the handle to the round hilt guard. Twilight's tiara was still connecting the horn and blade together, acting as a smaller hilt guard.

"Whoa." Was all Riku could say, as he picked up the blade.

"What happened?" Twilight asked

"The keyblade it's… it's become some kind of whip." He said. Then with a gasp of realization he realized… the reason keyblade changed into this form, the clasps from the hiltguard, the chains and their link to his shoulder. It was changed to suit his new body and yet keep some of his original fighting style. "Twilight, I think things just got better for us." Riku said smiling.

"Huh? Wait, what do you mean? The keyblade became a whip? How does that make things better for us?" She asked confused.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it from here on. Just support me, you two… your connection, your bonds will be the strength we need to stop her and save Princess Luna." Riku proclaimed. With that, he charged once again.

But this time, he as he charged, he leaped and tugged the ethereal rope as he threw his blade right at her. Shocked, Night Mare Moon tried to swerve to dodge… but it was no use. The rope like blade acting like a snake followed its' flight true, spun and grabbed hold of Night Mare Moon's neck acting like a noose. Then suddenly the rope contracted at incredible speed, in a flash Riku was already on her, giving her a double drop kick in the middle of the air. Upon impact, the rope loosened up and was back in Riku's mouth and began his assault. With series of strokes, he had brought Night Mare Moon onto her knees, not giving her time to counter or move properly. He had shoved the tip end of the blade onto Night Mare Moon facing downward. "FIRE!" he yelled and sent a barrage of Dark Firaga spells upon her point blank range. When the dust settled, Night Mare Moon's body was once again cracked.

"No! How hast thou gained so much power? That sudden light shouldn't have been able to best us so easily!" Night Mare Moon gasped.

"It's because, unlike you… I'm not alone!" Riku yelled, twirling his keyblade aiming once more at Night Mare Moon. Then shouted "Now… let her GO!" Then a beam of light shot from the keyblade, striking Princess Luna under the cover of Night Mare Moon's broken form, who was now screaming in pain. The shadow creature surrounding Princess Luna dissipated, leaving her tired and unconscious, lying on the ground. "Princess Luna!" Riku cried as he rushed to her side. But from the corner of his eye, he saw something that readied his keyblade once again. That dark mist from earlier was gathering forming a large shape. "I got to get Princess Luna out of here." He thought, he spotted the others near the edge of the clearing and, once again, he wrapped his ethereal like rope around her and tossed her to their direction yelling "Rainbow Dash! Catch her and keep her safe!"

"On it!" Rainbow cried as she jumped up to catch Luna on her back safely and placed her nearby Princess Celestia, who was being bathed in a green aura of light, courtesy of Rarity.

"Nice catch, Rainbow, you think Riku needs help though? I mean, that don't look too good if ya ask me." Applejack asked her feathered friend.

"Are you kidding? Did you see what he did? It was amazing! He was whoosh! Then zoom! And then all Hi Yah!" Pinkie Pie spoke as she was all gung ho at the amazing display Riku had suddenly performed.

"Girls, please! I need my concentration. This new magic is not as easy it looks." Rarity complained.

"Sorry." The two said.

Meanwhile, the dark mist grew to an immense size, Riku looked on expecting to see the Heartless's true form and when he did, he was shocked. He had not expected to see this Heartless again after so long. But its form had certainly changed. As the mist gathered, the Heartless was incredibly huge. In fact, it easily towered over the trees. Even the girls hiding at the edge of the clearing were yelling in surprise.

"WHAT IN TARNATION IS THAT THING?" Applejack screamed.

"Oh, Celestia, that is totally uncool!" Rainbow cried with some fear in her voice.

"It's gonna squish us like… something really big would!" Pinkie Pie shouted.

"It's HIDEOUS!" Rarity cried the shock causing her to drop her healing spell.

The creature they were referring to in the first place was a sight to behold. It was completely black, in the shape of a pony only it was over twenty feet tall. Towering over the trees in the forest, it looked down upon the trembling ponies with glaring bright yellow round eyes, unfortunately that was all any pony could see as the shadow-like pony's face was covered by it's tendril like mane, however there was one feature on its head that stood out and that was the fact it had a long horn, covered and wrapped around it with its tendril like mane, one could see it was a unicorn horn, only twisted and crooked. Riku looked on from it's head to bottom and saw just like before , it only amassed its upper body, its bottom half missing with only a dark pool from the ground acting as a portal to allow its upper body surface, as always it had a huge hole in its chest in the shape of a heart, it continued to stared down upon the ponies before shifting its gaze to Riku. Then it began to raise itself as if standing straight, as it did…

It sprouted its wings. Ugly and black ripped and twisted wings, spreading them apart as it released spores upon spores of shadow heartless as they rained down on Riku who struck them down before they even had a chance to reach the ground. "Dark Side." Riku said, the words practically seething through his teeth. He'd know that tendril like hair anywhere, especially those bright yellow eyes after all he went through the door to Kingdom Hearts where there were thousands of them.

As Dark Side stared down on Riku it raised one of its hooves and slammed it down intending on crushing the silver colt, but he dodged roll out of the way and ran on top of Dark Side's arm and ran along up on it. As he did so, Dark Side tried to swipe him off with its other arm but missed as Riku jumped above it. As he reached his shoulder, Riku leaped at his horn and took the ethereal rope attached to his keylade and swung it, as it looped around grabbing onto Dark Side's horn he swung on it reaching to the peak of his swing the rope that had extended to contracted again, allowing Riku to land a devastating double kick onto its horn. Afterwards, he started laying blow after blow on the horn with his keyblade.

Riku only stopped when he had to leap off as Dark Side swiped at him with a hoof. As he leaped, he swung his keyblade again. Like before, hooked onto Dark Side's raised arm, swinging once again like before though this time, however, the blade end loosened quicker and retracted back, as it did, Riku placed it in his mouth again as he aimed the blade end down onto Darkside's horn, and shouted "FIRE!" as several blasts of dark fireballs rained down onto its' horn. As the fireballs went down, the horn had glowed a dark purplish aura and released a large bolt of black Lightning overpowering Riku's fireball and slightly grazing Riku, he cried in pain as he began to fall.

He wasn't out though, because as soon as he began to fall, he twisted his body and his head throwing this keyblade to a very thick tree branch, once again the rope retracted and Riku zoomed towards the tree and as he landed his two hind legs first on it, the branch bent backwards before launching Riku upwards like a catapult. Riku zoomed to the sky reaching Dark Side's height and once again Riku had his keyblade loosely hanging from his right arm, he swung it. "Heeyah!" he cried as he swung it downward the blade swung and hit true. Just as soon as it hit, Riku pulled on the rope again, and once more from the bottom, this time the blade swung upward, hitting the horn once more, however it doesn't seem to faze Dark Side as it swung its hoof out as if to punch him with it.

However, as if guided by a magical wind, Riku twisted his body out of the way, "Whoa…" Rainbow whispered in awe, she could have sworn she saw Riku created something like a small gust when he did that.

"How the hay is he doing that?" Applejack said surprised as she's seeing an earth pony twisting in the air… without falling at all. Sure enough, Riku was twisting about each time landing a blow with his keyblade on Dark Side's horn and wasn't falling at all. It was as if he was being lifted from the gust of wind he creates when he spins. The strategy didn't last long however, as Dark Side decided enough was enough and from his opened chest he gathered a dark energy, concentrating it, until it finally fired off a large beam at Riku. It didn't surprise Riku though, considering how he's already fought against Dark Side before, he quickly stopped twisting in mid-air and let himself drop.

Unfortunately, he didn't realize Dark Side's new form would let him fire that same beam and move it so quickly because of that, he had to bring up his keyblade to front in order to guard against the blast, which was more of a distraction as Dark Side then fired several blasts that homed in on Riku from its horn. Surprised Riku, couldn't dodge and was struck full force from the blasts.

"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!" he cried in pain.

"Riku!" Twilight and Fluttershy cried. As if being able to feel their friend's pain.

"Oh no!" Pinkie Pie cried.

"He's going to fall!" Rarity shouted as she cupped her hooves to her mouth.

"I'll get him!" Rainbow Dash cried but as she jumped and tried to fly, but then fell as she cried in pain forgetting that her wing was sprained.

"Ah got him! Ah got him! Ah got him!" Apple Jack cried as she ran then leaped to catch Riku onto her back. "Ah got him!" she cried again happily seeing Riku landed on her back.

"Apple Jack! Run!" Rainbow Dash cried.

"Huh? Whooooooaaa! Ah'm runnin Ah'm runnin!" Applejack cried as she quickly galloped as fast as she could, Dark Side trying to flatten her with its hooves, releasing spores of energy blasting and homing in directly on her. Apple Jack swerved around as much as she could in order to dodge them as best as she could. Riku groaned and shook his head awake from all the bouncing.

He noticed the keyblade's blade reattached itself to its hilt guard. Also the fact that he was being carried on AJ's back. "Applejack, I'm fine. Hurry and get back to the others, I'll be okay." Riku reassured her.

"You sure? You took a pretty bad hit there, sugahcube." She said as she panted running for her life.

"Yeah, don't worry about me, get back and hide!" He told her as he left her back and started running back towards Dark Side. "I got to think of a way to dodge that beam without getting hit like that again." He thought "But how? I can't fly and there's no way I could dodge in the air against that thing." At that moment, as if hearing his thoughts, the keyblade's feather blade glowed, and once again detached itself from its hilt guard, but what was happening next surprised Riku. On his back, purple wings suddenly sprouted from his back. They had an ethereal light and, after sprouting, started to flap bringing Riku up into the air.

"Whoa." was all he could say

"He can fly?" Rainbow Dash cried out in surprise.

"He can fly!" Pinkie Pie said pointing a hoof up and suddenly wearing a green cap with a red feather hat on it.

"Darling! Wherever did you get that wonderful hat?" Rarity said eyes sparkling.

"Uhhh, Rarity, shouldn't you be helping the Princess?" Pinkie Pie said giving her a weird stare.

"Oh… right." Rarity said sheepishly as she went back to healing Princess Celestia.

Riku was in awe of his new wings, large and glowing with energy, they flapped bringing him higher and higher until he was above Dark Side's height. He didn't have time to admire the view though because as soon as he reached there, Dark Side already started blasting homing orbs from his horn. But, luckily, his wings moved swiftly as if they had a mind of their own. Dodging, performing barrel rolls to avoid them, he himself was able to start firing his own projectiles. "FIRE!" he shouted, sending dark fireballs right at Dark Side's horn. He dived in like a hawk about to snatch its prey and started laying his keyblade onto Dark Side's horn constantly, his combo hit smashed onto Dark Side's horn in a furious assault and, before long, it snapped off. As it fell, it dissipated into nothing, and Dark Side reared back its head holding it with its hooves as if in pain.

As this happened, Riku flew up higher pointed his keyblade downward, and said. "Let's finish this!"

"Yeah!" Twilight cried.

"Ummm.. okay." Fluttershy agreed meekly. As they agreed, suddenly the horn handle started glowing brighter and brighter, and soon the light concentrated at its point, the ethereal rope disappeared, and Riku twirled the blade to under his armpit, aimed the pointed handle downward

"FLARE CANNON!"

He and the girls shouted, though for Fluttershy it was more of a meek cry. An amazing flaring beam blasted from that small point, blasting downward upon Dark Side, enveloping it. One could see its form being distorted from the light of the blast before slowly disappearing into nothing. In the end after the blast was finished it was all over… Dark Side was gone.

"HE DID IT!" HE DID IT!" Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack cried jumping for joy hugging hugging each other.

"Wowie Zowie! That was amazing, it was all bright and was all BOOM!" Pinkie Pie said donning a pair of shades, no longer wearing her green cap.

"That was marvelous!" Rarity agreed upon seeing the conclusion of that most epic battle. At this point as well, Princess Celestia had awoken, Rarity's healing did its job. She had awaken to see the aftermath of the fight with Riku flying down with the purple ethereal wings only for them to disappear, upon reaching the ground. Out popped Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle out of nowhere, and Riku's keyblade reverting back to its first form of the Oathkeeper before disappearing in a flash of light. The two mares that came back shook their heads to get rid of some disorientation, Riku smiled at them. The battle was won.

A little while later, the ponies were back in Ponyville. In Twilight's library, they were gathered around Twilight's bed where Princess Luna was still unconscious. Princess Luna had just awoken from that terrible ordeal. "Luna! Oh, thank goodness you're alright." Celstia said as she went up to her sister and gave her a loving hug.

"Sister, what happened to me? I can't… I can't seem to remember much." Luna asked confused.

"It's alright, my little sister, everything is fine now." Celestia comforted. Celestia turned her head to face Riku. "Riku, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my dear sister."

Riku just smiled and said. "It's not a problem, Princess, I'm glad that she's alright."

"I also want to apologize… had I not accused you-"

"You don't have to worry, Princess." Riku interrupted.

"But I had wrongly accused you of being the perpetrator to leading the Heartless here to Equestria." Celestia tried explain.

"It was a misunderstanding, it happens… a lot with me actually." He said looking away sheepishly. Celestia smiled in appreciation for his forgiving her.

"Perhaps, then, you could tell us of your tale? As I recalled earlier, you said you were looking for somepony named… Sora?" Princess Celestia asked. Riku nodded and agreed to tell his tale... this time he did not keep anything a secret.

In the Serenity Station, where Vanitas and the cloaked figure were still sitting on that same couch, they were still watching the following events that were happening. "What a waste of time that was." Vanitas said his arms crossed. He got up from the couch to walk around. "So, what's your next 'brilliant' plan?" He said adding sarcasm in that brilliant.

"No, need for the attitude, sonny." The mysterious figure said. "Besides we haven't even started on my actual plan yet." He continued as he chuckled.

"What?" Vanitas said inquisitively.

"What? Did you think I actually need Night Mare Moon?" The figure asked.

"Wait." Vanitas said next. "Then what was the point of me luring the Princess out there for then? I thought you said you wanted me to follow her and make sure Celestia sees what happens to her?" Vanitas cried out angrily.

"Oh yes, I did but I didn't mean her… Goodness no, Celestia already had to strike her sister down once, the shock isn't going to hurt her that much more." The cloaked one answered with an amused voice.

"Then who were you referring to?" Vanitas asked loudly.

"Who else?" The figure said as he pointed up on the image.

On the image was a window. Looking through it, Riku was speaking to the eight ponies listening to what he was saying with much interest. Some had shocked looks on their faces, save Celestia. But the image soon closed in closer and closer on one particular pony. "The pony I was referring to was… her. She is the most vital key to my plan." He said chuckling before going into a full maniacal laughter.

On the image, it had zoomed up onto a certain mare. It was a certain purple unicorn we all knew and love… Twilight Sparkle, who was laughing at something Riku had said, not knowing of the two individuals who conspired against her.