Celestia sits opposite Yuuki and Luna at a large round table in one of the castle's many rooms. Yuuki takes several glances at Luna's necklace, unable to fully stop feeling sad for it being there.

"My sister explained the situation last night in my chambers. If it will ease your position, I am not mad at you Yuuki. I do not blame you for what is happening, nor is it your fault." Celestia explains with a calm voice.

Yuuki relaxes slightly before looking at Luna who smiles before nuzzling him gently.

"The others should be coming soon... No doubt everyone in Equestria saw Despair's demonstration in the sky." Yuuki states, drooping his ears.

At that moment the meeting rooms doors open to Binary and Valentine who enter with Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Each one of them takes a seat at the large round table. Shortly after they get seated, Darkness and the Architect enter the room with Fluttershy and Pinkie.

"How are you all feeling? I'm glad to see your all okay." Yuuki states to his alters.

"It's good to see you are okay too Yuuki. We were all worried something happened to you when you went to see Despair." Valentine states in response.

"Although given the massive display in the sky and the burning sensation we all seemed to feel when the moon was bound suggests that something did indeed happen." Binary adds, rubbing his chest.

"I'd also wager from the new necklace Luna is sporting, she was the main focus of Despairs agenda." Darkness comments.

"It is pleasant to see you are all unharmed for the most part. However, I am curious as to your choice of accompaniment to this meeting." Celestia raises her eyebrow.

"I cannot speak for everyone, but Darkness has been staying with me as he had nowhere else to go." Fluttershy states.

"Pretty much the same for me and Binary." Rainbow Dash adds, looking at Binary.

"Valentine and I run his bar together so, it's slightly different." Applejack comments.

"Archie sleeps with me, so he stays at Sugarcube corner!" Pinkie exclaims.

Yuuki and the other alters, including the other ponies turn to Pinkie in confusion.

"What? I sleep on the sofa in her room." The Architect states, himself looking confused.

The others sigh and relax upon hearing his reply. Celestia clears her throat before the meeting room doors burst open to show Queen Chrysalis wearing a furious expression.

"I demand to know the meaning behind this Despair character this instant!" Chrysalis yells as she walks into the room.

"Queen Chrysalis, please calm down and explain what has happened." Celestia asks, with a calm voice.

"Someone claiming to be Dolor, general of Despair's elite knight legion, showed up in our territory yesterday offering a place in Despair's dark alliance. His terms were ludicrous, so I turned him down. My second in command was then given permission to eject the vermin from our land... He was severely injured in the fight and Dolor got away." Chrysalis explains before shooting a fierce glance towards Yuuki.

Yuuki finds himself unable to say anything to Chrysalis' stern glare. Celestia clears her throat before sighing slightly.

"It's evident now that he is a force that must be dealt with. However, in our current state, we cannot deal with him directly. I have already ordered scouts to locate where exactly these chains are anchored to so we can send the appropriate pony to deal with them. Till then we must remain patient and wait. Will that suffice?" Celestia asks Chrysalis.

"I suppose it will have to do if that is the extent of your current resources..." Chrysalis leaves the room just as loudly as she entered.

"Now that we have diffused that situation, I think we should all allow Yuuki and his alters to discuss this amongst themselves in private." Celestia prompts everypony in the room who reluctantly leaves.

Yuuki and the alters sit in silence for several minutes thinking what to say before Yuuki begins to say something only to be interrupted by Binary.

"You know it's not. There is no point saying it as we all know it to be false." Binary states to Yuuki.

"It's true. Our actions are our own now, you cannot be held responsible for what Despair does." Darkness adds.

"We have our own bodies, own minds, and our own ambitions now. That jar gave us all a new life apart from you and regardless whether we like it or not, it's how things are now." The Architect comments.

Yuuki looks at Valentine who has remained quiet thus far.

"What do you think V? You're being abnormally quiet." Yuuki asks.

"I think that if I was to punch a wall, kick a barrel or buck a tree. Those are all actions I have taken on my own accord. Even when we were inside you, we were splits of your personality with traits that you have. We still are made of those traits, but we have evolved past mere figments of your imagination. We are our own people. Despair's actions are his own and there will be consequences for those actions. We won't get anything done if you continue to blame yourself for his hate. Screw Chrysalis, she doesn't understand. Maybe in time she will come to see, but if not that's her problem. We need to focus on what is important and that's cutting the moon free so we can get that thing off Luna's neck. Then we take it to Despair like we did all those years ago." Valentine explains folding his arms.

"When you put it like that I suppose you have a point." Yuuki chuckles a little and sighs before looking around the table. "Where is Kiara? Wasn't she on the train here?"

The group looks around in confusion before becoming worried.

"We assumed she was already making her way here... Anyone know where she was staying last?" Binary asks.

"I believe she has taken up residence with the local DJ Vinyl Scratch, she was playing at the bar a few nights back when I saw the two talking." Valentine comments.

"We need to go check on her now." Yuuki states standing up.

Yuuki and his alters follow Valentine to Vinyl Scratches house based on the directions he remembered. Upon reaching her cottage Valentine knocks on the door.

"Vinyl? It's Valentine. Are you home?" Valentine asks.

The door slowly opens to a dimly lit main room and Vinyl has a slightly more frazzled mane then normal.

"I was wondering when you guys would show up... Figured it'd be soon. She's refused to move since yesterday and keeps having nightmares when she tries to sleep." Vinyl moves to the side as she lets the group inside.

"Where is she?" Yuuki asks.

"You must be Yuuki? She is in the bedroom, curled up in the corner. I tried everything to calm her down, music, deep breathing, meditation..." Vinyl sighs as she rubs her neck.

Yuuki heads to the bedroom and gently opens the door. Inside the room is almost pitch black, but with his improved vision, he can see that the room is also a mess.

"Kiara? Are you in here?" Yuuki asks to the darkness.

Suddenly the door is flung open as a frazzled Kiara leaps out and tackle hugs Yuuki to the floor. He can see she has been crying and hasn't slept much if at all by her dishevelled state.

"Don't let it take me! I don't want it to take me..." Kiara states holding onto Yuuki.

"It's okay, it won't get you. Whatever it is." Yuuki replied, gently stroking Kiara's hair.

After an hour to allow Kiara to shower and calm down, Vinyl sorted herself out before bringing everyone drinks. She then sits next to Kiara, shifting a little closer so she is tight against her. Kiara sighs deeply and hugs the blanket around her as well as accepting Vinyl's comfort.

"I'm sorry for the trouble I put you through Vinyl... I know it must have been scary for you to have seen that." Kiara apologises.

"It was scary, but... I tried hard to calm you down despite what I was feeling at the time." Vinyl states, nuzzling Kiara's side very slightly.

"What exactly happened to make you be like that?" Valentine asks.

"I don't know... I just remember we were talking by the fire while listening to some music Vinyl had been developing. Then suddenly a sharp searing pain arose in my chest and I felt something trying to burrow its way out of me. Like it was being drawn to something. I was so very scared and slowly felt my control slipping to whatever was inside me... I still feel it a little now..." Kiara hugs the blanket tighter.

"We all experienced similar searing pain in our chests when Despair chained the moon yesterday. It's likely you had a much more severe reaction." Binary states.

"I was with Despair and he showed no signs of anything. Although I don't doubt it's because he is more in control of his powers than you all are... If he has resurrected his castle then he will have used the pool... Which also explains why Luxure could weave such a complex spell so soon after being created." Yuuki explains.

"You mean the pool in the castle that rejuvenates the body and such?" The Architect asks.

"Yeah, that one. Likely by using his dark magic he was able to summon the castle and its contents which, includes the pool. Even if from my mind, in the real world and in one with magic it's not unlikely for it to have gained it's imagined properties." Yuuki adds, drooping his ears.

"What do we do then? You said he chained the moon." Kiara asks.

"He also put an intricate necklace around Luna's neck which is tied to the chains around the moon." Darkness comments.

"For now there is nothing we can do really... Besides, try and find the anchor points for the chains and sever them. Once we do that and regain some ground we can start pushing back against him." Yuuki states.

"What is my role in all this? I hardly understand half of it." Vinyl comments.

"You have done a good job of it thus far, can I count on you to look after Kiara for me?" Yuuki asks, looking at Vinyl.

Vinyl looks at Kiara who simply smiles at her warmly and cuddles up to her.

"I guess it wouldn't be too much trouble..." Vinyl states in reply.

"Thank you. We should all go back to our homes and wait for Celestia's scouts to locate the first chain." Yuuki states as everyone begins to leave.

Closing the door behind them, Vinyl walks back over to Kiara who is wearing a sad expression.

"It's not so bad Kiara..." Vinyl tries to comfort her.

"I just feel like there is something I need to do... I don't know quite what I'm feeling inside, but... It's dark, hungry and wants out... I can't quite explain it." Kiara sighs deeply as she lays down and hides under the blanket.

Vinyl lifts up the blanket slightly to look into Kiara's eyes.

"It'll get better. Trust me." Vinyl states.

Kiara can't help but stare into Vinyl's eyes, feeling something behind them that she can't quite place. The longer she stares, the more comfortable she feels. Without thinking she found herself pushed slightly forward to place her lips on Vinyls. After several seconds she flinches back away, unsure of what just happened.

"I... I... I'm so sorry, I have no idea why I just did that. I mean it wasn't bad... but I..." Kiara tries to explain but finds not the words she seeks.

Hiding back underneath the blanket she misses the bright blush on Vinyl's face as she tries to swallow what she felt. Licking her lips and savouring Kiara's taste she clears her throat.

"Umm, would you like a coffee? Or hot chocolate?" Vinyl asks, keeping her cool.

"Hot chocolate would be nice..." Kiara meekly states in response.

Vinyl trots over to the kitchen giving herself a silent celebration for the kiss, regardless if it was accidental or not.

Author's Note

So it truly begins. I hope things will start to get more interesting from here for you guys and the upcoming chapters will have the development that you all will like.