Ryota wakes from his sleep and rolls over off the heart shaped cushion before standing up and stretching. Searching the chambers he finds everything exactly as he left it when he and Chrysalis finally fell asleep. Sighing slightly to himself Ryota walks out of the chambers and heads to exit the hive. Once outside he finds the nearby, newly built well which provides the hive with fresh water and cleans his face. Ryota looks around to see the sun just barely rising over the horizon and yawns gently, still tired.

"You're a somewhat larger changeling... I've never seen you here before either... Who are you?" An unfamiliar female voice states from nearby.

Ryota turns around to see a changeling female no bigger than a filly like Apple Bloom. She carries all the features of a typical changeling only like Chrysalis she has a mane and tail the same colour. One of the two changeling guards accompanying the female clears his throat and leans down to talk to her.

"Pardon me, Lady Verdammnis, but that is Ryota. He is second in command to the changeling horde and Queen Chrysalis' husband... If my other theory is correct, he is also your father." The guard returns to his normal straight up position.

"Father... That would make sense, but... Where has he been for the past five years since my birth..?" Verdammnis seems confused and very puzzled at this sudden information.

"I can answer that and other questions... From what I've been able to piece together five Equestrian years ago me and two others were kidnapped by a mysterious beam of light. As a result, any memories of us were hidden in those we had contact with. Upon our arrival in the other world our own memories were erased and our forms changed. It was only yesterday we returned thanks to the help of four eastern Alicorns... For me, being in that world ten years have passed where in this world it has only been five from what I understand. It was also just last night I heard the first news that I have a daughter... Chrysalis said you would return today from an outing with some guards... I know how awkward this must be and I don't expect you to think of me as your father at all... However, knowing you are indeed my own flesh and blood I aim to hopefully earn the right to be considered your father." Ryota's voice brims with sadness and regret knowing all he has missed being away.

Verdammnis waves the guards away and walks up to Ryota. "I don't know what you're like... I know literally nothing about my father... Nothing about you... It makes me beyond sad to think that five years of my life, with a father I could have gotten to know and get close to was stolen from me... It also pisses me off beyond belief... However, knowing what I do of the current situation... Getting mad at you is hardly fair when you never wanted to leave us to begin with... I pray that now you're back we can spend time, you know... Getting to know each other... Father." Verdammnis states as she gently hugs Ryota clearly feeling nervous about the entire situation.

"It makes me happy to see you bonding already. I was quite afraid she would reject you." Chrysalis states as she walks over to the pair.

"I'm glad as well... I promise to make up for the time I spent away... Also, my queen I have a favour to ask... I don't know how much you will entertain the idea, but I feel I need to ensure something so the hive and our people have a bright future."

"Oh? I'm curious as to your request, my love... Please, do go on." Chrysalis adds eager to hear his proposal.

"Well..." Ryota clears his throat unsure quite what will happen when he vocalises his request.

Meanwhile, Princess Luna lands just outside Twilight's castle and Yuuki jumps off her back. "Yuuki... Have you put on just a little weight since being away?" Princess Luna looks Yuuki over.

"I'm sure I kept in shape well enough... It has been ten years, It's likely I just grew... Still, travelling in my fox form reminds me of the old days we spent together." Yuuki smiles before turning into his man-fox form.

Princess Luna smiles back before knocking on Twilight's door and after a few minutes Garrick opens the door letting them in. He leads them to the living room where they are sat down and Twilight brings in tea after a few minutes.

"Well, it would seem that we both led interesting lives before our incarceration... I never expected you to be Princess Luna's personal bodyguard." Garrick states taking a sip of his tea.

"What about you? Husband to Princess Twilight and one of the few alchemists left in Equestria. I must say I'm beyond happy to be back where I belong." Yuuki states letting his tea cool on the coffee table.

"Twilight... It does concern me though how this was possible in the first place... To kidnap one creature I could understand. However, three separate creatures from three separate locations all at the same time... The level of magical power required for that is beyond anything we currently know..." Princess Luna looks worried it might happen again.

"It is very troubling that it was done... It also worries me what level of power who did it has... However, we can only use the facts we have and investigate to the best of our abilities to find out the source of the anomaly." Twilight states sighing deeply.

A sudden knock is heard at the door and Twilight excuses herself from the room to answer it. After a few seconds Twilight is suddenly heard screaming in slight shock. Everyone rushes out of the room to see what is wrong and standing there in the doorway of the castle in front of Twilight is none other than Queen Chrysalis and Ryota.

"I was wondering when you would show up Ryota." Yuuki chuckles while leaning against a wall.

"Umm... Hi guys..." Ryota sheepishly greets the group.

Twilight recomposes herself and invites the pair inside and everyone goes back to the living room. "Well... What made you decide to come along with Ryota, Queen Chrysalis?" Princess Luna asks while sipping her tea.

Chrysalis sighs slightly before addressing Princess Luna. "Let me simply say... My husband is a very persuasive changeling." Chrysalis states drinking her own tea.

"It's good to see you landed safely Ryota... Our trio wouldn't be the same if we were one short." Yuuki jokes and relaxes beside Princess Luna.

"It pleases me as well you both are safe... While it's not my place to say directly... I believe my queen would like peaceful relations to be established between changelings and ponies so we might lead better lives." Ryota states to Twilight and Princess Luna.

"While I admit the history between our races is... Less than colourful. Still, it has been twelve years since the Canterlot wedding incident... Perhaps the past might be put behind us so that our people could live together for a better future?" Chrysalis states putting down her tea.

Twilight and Princess Luna look at each other and nod. "It might be some time before things settle down. I will have to propose the idea to my sister, but... I welcome the idea of co-existence. What about you Princess Twilight?" Princess Luna asks Twilight who puts down her own empty tea cup.

"I fully welcome it as I'm sure we could learn much from each other and live happily helping each other towards better and new horizons." Twilight states with a warm smile.

"Well this is a wonderful development. Hmm, I've no doubt something interesting will pop up soon-" Yuuki is abruptly cut off by an explosion.

Everyone suddenly jumps up and runs outside to see smoke coming from the Ghastly Gorge. "That smoke looks like it is coming from the Ghastly Gorge mine that was opened just a few months ago. I should go and make sure everyone is alright." Twilight says before flying off in the direction of the smoke.

Garrick runs off after her while Yuuki looks at Princess Luna before turning into his fox form and jumping up onto her back. They begin to fly after Twilight, leaving behind Ryota and Chrysalis.

"So... Shall we follow them my queen?" Ryota asks shifting into the Pegasus he used when infiltrating Canterlot.

"Hmm it could prove interesting if nothing else." Chrysalis shifts into a dark grey Pegasus with a aqua green mane and tail. Her cutie mark is a heart with a crown around it. The pair then begin flying towards the Ghastly Gorge catching up with everyone.

Landing in the Ghastly Gorge near a mine entrance Twilight rushes over to a male Unicorn standing outside wearing a hard hat and high vis orange jacket. His coat is a light grey while his mane and tail are a darker grey. His eyes are also a darker grey and his cutie mark is a pickaxe.

"Todd are you okay?" Twilight asks inspecting the mine entrance.

"Y-yes Princess Twilight... It was a sudden burst of magical energy which spewed forth from a chamber we just uncovered." Todd states coughing slightly.

Princess Luna and Yuuki arrive followed shortly by Ryota and Chrysalis who turn back into their normal forms. Garrick arrives a few minutes later.

"Is it safe enough for us to venture down?" Princess Luna asks Todd who nods slightly.

"Yes... I believe so. My crew are deeper in the mine, so I doubt they were affected. In any event, if something spooked them they will gather at the many exit points we made all over the Ghastly Gorge. Please excuse me Princess Twilight." Todd bows before rushing off to check the Ghastly Gorge.

"I think we should investigate further to determine the cause of the explosion." Princess Luna states before descending into the mine with Yuuki on her back. The others follow soon after and they make their way deep into the mine. It doesn't take long for them to find a sizeable hole in a wall seeping forth magical smoke. The group enter the chamber to see glowing magical veins running all over the place coming from an ancient looking stone jar in the centre of the chamber. Yuuki jumps off Princess Luna's back and walks over to the jar turning back into his man-fox form and begins inspecting it. Ryota walks over to Yuuki while the rest of the group search the room carefully. On closer inspection Yuuki and Ryota can see a glowing magical heart held within some form of liquid in the jar.

Twilight walks over and examines the jar using her magic. "Hmm it appears to be a heart... It's... It's of Pegasus origin... How is it possible for a Pegasus heart to contain so much magical essence... This is impossible." Twilight ponders out loud.

Ryota looks at Yuuki. "So the heart. Any idea how to get it out?" Ryota asks smiling wide.

Yuuki smiles back. "We shall need a crossbow, an hourglass, three goats, one of us must learn to play the trumpet, whilst the other one goes like this." Yuuki waves his fingers at Ryota.

"I know a pony with a goat." Ryota remarks.

"Good, I can go like this." Yuuki waves his fingers again.

Princess Luna and Chrysalis watch them both puzzled greatly by their little exchange. "Any idea what that was about?" Chrysalis asks slightly leaning towards Princess Luna.

"I've no idea... However, it's nice to see how close friends they have become being in the other world." Princess Luna comments still looking confused.

Chrysalis chuckles slightly and agrees before looking around some more. Princess Luna walks over to the stone jar and notices a hole large enough for a horn to be inserted. "Twilight, I believe there is an insert point on the jar here." Princess Luna points it out using her wing.

Twilight inspects the hole gently moving Ryota and Yuuki out of the way. She then, after a little thought, inserts her horn into the slot and channels magic into the jar before pulling out. The jar suddenly springs to life, its veins glowing with magic. The top of the jar cuts and splits open like a sliced pyramid. The slices suddenly slam down onto the sides of the jar and the heart held within is flung up into the air to begin pulsing. "It's a trap!" Garrick yells before the heart explodes violently into a cloud of magical blue smoke covering the room. After what seems like several hours within the smoke Princess Luna slowly opens her eyes to slightly blurry vision. Looking around she can see Twilight groaning beside Ryota near the jar. Chrysalis and Garrick are also lying on the ground barely awake. Princess Luna searches the room for Yuuki and her eyes stop on Yuuki being violently held up against the wall by a shadowy silhouette which has fox ears and three tails like Yuuki.

"Finally... After so many years... I am reborn! Oh, you have no idea how much I want to tear you apart right now... Brother." The shadow states growling at Yuuki, then looks to his left at Princess Luna, then to some groaning from the far left. "Alas, it seems I won't have the luxury this time... You will see me again soon brother... Mark my words!" The shadow turns into a shadow particle ball and flies out of the chamber letting Yuuki fall to the floor unconscious.

Princess Luna crawls over to Yuuki and comforts him in her hooves. "Yuuki... This is not good..." Princess Luna sighs deeply before looking over the rest of the group.

It was already midnight when Yuuki finally awoke to find himself in the Ponyville hospital. "W-what the hell happened?" Yuuki mumbles to himself expecting no answer.

"Shall I answer that for you or would you like Luna to explain?" A familiar sophisticated logical voice states from his right.

Yuuki looks to his right and his eyes widen to who the voice belonged to. Getting dressed in his normal clothes from Yuuki's mind is none other than Binary. "As much as I would love to give you my personal theory... I want to wait till we are all reunited." Binary states checking his clothes over.

"I see... You realise I have so many questions..." Yuuki says getting up into a sitting position.

Yuuki is suddenly thrown a bag, the impact giving him no doubt that Binary is now real. "That has your new clothes in it. Luna took our measurements to a Unicorn named Rarity, I think. She made everyone's clothes, thankfully in time for tonight. I'm sure you will like your new outfit." Binary leaves Yuuki to his thoughts and lets him get dressed.

It takes Yuuki only a few minutes to adjust and put on his new outfit which is the same one he wore in his dream when reunited with Princess Luna. Smiling to himself in the mirror of a nearby sink, Yuuki exits the ward and begins looking for the others. After a little searching outside the hospital he finds everyone gathered around a campfire. Chrysalis is snuggled up to Ryota, Twilight is cuddling up to Garrick, Binary and Valentine are sitting beside each other, The Architect is lying on his back looking at the stars, Darkness is meditating beside The Architect and Kiara seems deep in thought. Each alter is wearing the same outfit they wore in Yuuki's mind. Princess Luna is sitting by the fire with everyone else and seems much happier when Yuuki takes his place by her side.

"Now that everyone is present I believe we can begin throwing theories around this campfire." Twilight states, looking at everyone.

"Well... From what I am able to piece together... When the heart exploded it dispersed its magical essence into the air which Yuuki, being right next to the jar, was able to inhale a significant amount of the essence. It then reacted with his body and mind using the inhaled magical essence to create all the alters from his dream scape, including our lost brother... Despair." Binary explains staring into the campfire.

"That does sound like a reasonable theory... We can also assume that by using the magical essence you all will have the abilities and personality traits you did within Yuuki's dream scape." Twilight adds still feeling puzzled.

"Basically we were forced into these bodies from Yuuki's mind and made our own people... We have our own emotions and feelings now... This seems like it will be difficult..." Valentine ponders while staring at his hand.

"In any event we are real... This is a fact we cannot disagree on... We can also agree on the fact that Despair has been reborn... I doubt it will take long for him to erect his castle and summon his legions..." Darkness informs opening his eyes and looking at Yuuki.

"I know... I don't fully understand what happened, but I don't want Despair to ruin this world and cause pain to those I deeply care for. I just hope we can subdue him before long and he doesn't have a chance to regain his full strength." Yuuki leans into Princess Luna and sighs deeply.

"I think, for now, we should all rest at my castle and figure things out tomorrow. The alters will need to decide what they will do from here on out and think about what direction they want to take." Twilight offers the group who nod in agreement and prepare for a long night of no sleep.

Meanwhile somewhere in the ether...

The same cylindrical room is now upside down and the silhouette Pegasus is sitting in his chair looking at a dark purple version of Yuuki's chess piece. He then stands up and slams the chess piece onto the board with other pieces the same colour. On the opposite side is Yuuki's chess piece with others the same colours as the alters in the forms of their races. Other pieces accompany Yuuki's which must indicate Princess Luna and the others. The Pegasus then rears up onto his hind legs and begins laughing in a sinister and very dark tone.

"Mwa ha ha ha ha! Now things will get very interesting! Continue to amuse me Yuuki, because soon the real fun will truly begin!" The Pegasus silhouette continues laughing long after the room is back to its correct position.

Author's Note

That's four out of four. Finally done with the bundle. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as now things have really heated up, the alters being brought into reality and Despair being reborn. I am really looking forward to writing more so stay tuned!