Been a while hasn't it?

Sorry, life has been somewhat busy and I've had little time to go over this chapter up until recently. I think I've scrapped it more times than I've saved it.

But anyway, here we are. No more fucking dome!

This will be the last chapter with Richard's Pov for a bit, he's hogged enough of the limelight.

I shall also make a few edits on varied chapters in regards to their arcs. Dome arc, ect.

Begin!

New Arc - The Rise of The Changelings

The Letter

Richard Pov

It was over.

The dome was done, gone, finished. And yet we weren't done, not even close.

Danger was all around me, I could sense it. I could feel it as it walked behind me, staring at me with a gaze so full of varied emotion that I felt almost dazed.

The large gap between us as we walked did nothing to abate it.

We weren't free yet.

A hand squeezed mine, love flowing from the mare…or should I say woman it belonged to.

'Going to take a while to get used to that…'

I looked at her only to find her already looking at me, our eyes catching the other instantly. Hers lidded slightly as she gave me a crooked grin, a warm look upon her face.

I wasn't alone, and that gave me strength.

Even if the cause of that strength was trying her hardest not to trip over herself.

"Fucking little…" Her mumbling was barely audible, but I caught it and fought not to smile at her frankly adorable actions. She was holding my hand so firmly, I had begun to wonder if it was possible to ever regain feeling in it again.

She was walking relatively well for someone who had used her Human form for all of about two minutes. But was clinging onto me tightly as she put one foot in front of the other, trying her best not to wobble.

Despite the situation, I found it rather endearing.

"We have a carriage further ahead," Luna said, her voice catching my attention. "Two actually. Celestia will ride with Cadance and Shining Armour. I will ride with you two and your…subjects, if that's alright?"

I frowned…

Truth be told, I still didn't have a damn clue what to do when it came to Luna…to Emily. She was my sister in the body of a Pony I despised. I could no longer try to deny it. Even if she hadn't been under the truth field when I found out, there were subtle mannerisms that all but screamed who she was.

And yet I still felt…well, strange. Nervous perhaps, that maybe this was somehow still a trick.

Emotion came from her as she looked at me, smiling softly in such a familiar way. It felt like…love, but not the same type of love that Chrissy had for me.

It was close though.

Adoration, slight dependence and an abundance of love…familial love. It tasted fantastic truth be told, but the fact that it came from her made me feel all sorts of strange.

"Richard?" Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts, her eyes betraying her as they looked up at me, nervous emotion thick in the air. "Is…Is it okay?"

"Yeah," I murmured, trying my best to give her a smile and only managing a small grimace.

Her ears lowered somewhat but she smiled back and continued to keep pace, her eyes wandering onto Chrissy with a small frown.

"I should have thought about clothes," she said quietly, eyes roaming up and down the currently butt naked woman hanging onto me. "Stupid of me. I was so excited to see you again that I forgot you wouldn't have any."

"You knew I had this form?" Chrissy asked, scepticism emanating from her.

Luna raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Obviously. I gave it to Richard for you."

And if nothing else, that alone told me who she was. Her grin, her words, her mannerisms. Everything about her screamed that she was Emily.

'Maybe that's enough…if I push aside who she looks like and focus on who she is then perhaps I'll eventually grow used to it.'

I had no idea if that was indeed the case. But I had nothing else to lose by trying to do so.

"I'll just wear my chitin like Richard does," Chrissy said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Though I'm not entirely sure how to do so. Mind giving me a few tips love?"

Smiling at her warm endearment, I nodded. "You just need to focus on how it feels beneath your skin. Focus on that and then will it to come out."

She quirked an eyebrow. "Will it?"

I blushed lightly and, after taking note of how far back Celestia was, withdrew my chitin back into my skin.

'Bet she's loving the view,' I mused, a frown already forming at the mere thought of it. 'Cunt.'

"Do as do," I continued, smiling encouragingly at my mate. "Feel for it, for how it feels beneath the skin."

"I can feel it," she murmured, a light frown on her face. "I just can't make it come out."

"Nor could I at first, remember?" I replied. "I tried to force it out, but I didn't need to and neither do you. Focus on the feel of it and coax it out."

She was confused, I could feel it. But my lover was also determined and stubborn, and being confused wasn't going to stop her from trying.

"…I can feel it," she said once more, her frown melting away as a small smile appeared on her face. "I can feel it, I can-"

Chitin erupted from beneath her skin, covering the entirety of her body in all of one swift moment. Only her face remained uncovered, surprised but oh so happy as she looked down at herself.

To others she would probably look frightening, but to me...she looked beautiful.

"Holy shit," she exclaimed, not caring about who might hear as she all but bounced on her heels. "I did it."

"Told you," I said, grinning at her. "And here I thought you were the teacher."

She looked at me and smiled as widely I'd ever seen it upon her clearly happy face. Her hand squeezed mine a mite tighter, love for me coming from her in wave after wonderful wave.

For a moment we seemed to forget everything except each other. Our eyes met and locked and that was it for that moment, for one glorious, wonderful moment.

"Remind me to reward you later," she whispered, her smile morphing into a wicked grin. "Over and over and over…"

"I can't wait," I murmured, kissing her lightly on her lips. "God you smell so good right now."

She giggled and leaned her head against mine, looking deeply into my eyes as she whispered softly.

"Our baby is letting you know that it likes the food."

I blinked, surprised. "Already?"

She nodded. "I told you, it grows quickly."

"This quickly."

"Oh yeah."

Eyebrow raised in slight disbelief, I gave her a crooked grin and chuckled. "Then I'll have to supply you with more later."

"You better," she giggled, eyes darting down for a moment before looking back at me with mirth. "Though you might want to cover up again darling. You may poke someone's eye out."

I blushed lightly but did so. It was only after I was covered that I begin taking her new term of endearment in causing me to look at her strangely.

"Darling? That's new."

"I like it."

A soft giggle to my right brought my attention onto Emily, her cheeky grin widening as our eyes met.

"You're both adorable," she said, giggling again. "I could honestly watch this all day and never get bored."

"I never took you for a perv, Em."

The way her smile widened, her impossibly happy emotions, the way her eyes seemed to glitter with happiness.

All of it solidified my choice. In that moment I saw no reason to see her as anything else.

"Like you can talk, Richard," she replied, rolling her eyes. "I distinctly remember you perving on Rosie Smith next door quite often that one summer. As in all the time, in her bathing suit."

Ignoring the curious look from Chrissy, I cleared my throat and gave Emily a look.

"And if I recall correctly, you joined me after getting a look at her too."

Emily shrugged, a bizarrely familiar motion in her new body, and grinned up at me. "I never said that I didn't. And why wouldn't I anyway, Rosie was fit. You could bounce a coin off of that arse."

"True."

"She liked you, you know."

I blinked, surprised. "What?"

"She asked me about you one time. Said she saw you fixing the front door without a top, all shiny and sweaty and liked it."

"And you never told me, why?" I asked, unsure whether or not to be amused or annoyed.

Emily gave me a bland stare and snorted in a rather unladylike fashion. "Because the little tart had three other fellas on the side and you deserved better than that. And also, I didn't think you'd like sticking your dick in a hole that was more than likely filled with HIV."

I grimaced at the mental image, but Chrissy just laughed, her amused emotions tickling my senses ever so nicely.

"You know, I think I like you," she mused, the two sharing a grin as they looked at each other. "And I never just like anyone right away."

"I feel so special," Emily replied, a little sarcasm emanating from her.

"You should be," Chrissy agreed, apparently rather amused with her. "I don't just bestow such things to anyone."

"Obviously," Emily deadpanned. "Thank you so much. I am truly lucky to have received the honour."

Chrissy quirked an eyebrow and looked at me, a small smirk on her face. "I like this one, Richard. Can we keep her?"

"Keep me?"

Ignoring her, I smirked and nodded. "Fine, but you have to take her out for walks. And if she shits in the hall then I'm not cleaning it up."

"Sounds fair."

"Oi!"

We looked back at her and fought to compose ourselves at her rapidly reddening face.

She looked as though she was about to start ranting, but seemed to quickly compose herself and shook her head, giving me a look that promised retribution later on.

I welcomed it. Everything in that little moment, I welcomed all of it no matter how strange, how impossible it should have been.

"The carriage is just around this corner," Emily said, still giving me that look. "Just be wary, they haven't seen you like this before and might-"

We turned the corner and I immediately spotted the carriages, along with the eight Pegasus that stood at the front, the ropes around their bodies intricately designed for them to carry the huge thing.

One turned and looked at us, his fear betraying him before he so much as moved. But move he did, interrupting Emily as he unclipped his harness and leapt towards us with a cry.

"No wait!" Celestia shouted, but the guard ignored her as he jumped towards my mate, sword in mouth ready to swing.

It happened before I could think to stop myself.

My arm swung up, my hand catching the Pony by his throat for all of a moment before I slammed him to the ground.

Pearl was beside me in a blink, catching the guard with a right hook as he landed on the ground before quickly disarming him, the sword now held quite firmly in his mouth instead.

"Captain Pearl?" the Guard stammered, shivering as I neared. "W-What are you doing?"

Before Pearl could say anything, I grabbed the guard and pulled him close, my eyes glowing with power as he met them. His eyes widened as my incisors grew, their sharp points easily whittling the brave stallion down to a gurgling child.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Fleetfoot standing by Chrissy. A furious expression on her face as she put herself in between my mate and Celestia.

"M-Monsters!" the guard cried, struggling weakly in my grasp.

"Richard let him go!" Celestia ordered, moving swiftly forward to put a hoof on my shoulder, only to cry out in pain as something forced her away, the faint sound of something sizzling informing me that her hoof had been burned. Pearl quickly put himself in-between her and I, mirroring Fleetfoot's expression to a tee as he glared up at his former ruler.

"The deal, Tia!" Emily barked, giving her a worried yet angry glance. "You cannot touch him!"

"I wasn't going to hurt him!"

"The old magic begs to differ so stay back!" Emily snapped, turning her attention to me quickly. "Richard please put him down."

Words...were beyond me in that moment. All I could see, all I could smell was the scent of the stallion who had tried to hurt my mate.

My grip tightened as he attempted to bite my hand, a hiss leaving me without thought.

"Richard please!"

"Richie..." A hand upon my shoulder brought clarity back, albeit slowly as I turned and looked at Chrissy. "Put him down love, please. For me."

I looked at her, my anger beginning to ebb...and shrugged as I opened my fist, the stallion falling to the ground none too softly.

I looked down at the stallion and fought the urge to deck him as he glared at me, his wobbly legs almost amusing despite the situation. "You try that again and I'll rip out your tongue with my teeth," I said, half of the words barely recognisable as they came out more a hiss than an actual word.

"Return to your carriage and saddle up, Private!" Emily snapped, clearly displeased as she glared at the guard. "Sun Guard or no, we shall be having words about your lack of discipline and lack of intelligence. If I were you, I would be very careful about what you do from here on out. Are we clear?!"

"Y-Yes Princess Luna," the guard said, snapping a shaky salute and all but legging it back to his carriage, the other Ponies giving him disapproving looks bar a few who looked at us with confusion and fear.

"Their inability to accept that which looks different is why other species despise your kind Celestia," Chrissy sneered, barely giving the white mare a moment to reply as she continued. "Do not try to tell me otherwise. Ponies claim to be a race of friendship and kindness, but that is only to themselves. To any other race, they look down on them, they spit on them. And you damn well know it. Why else would we be attacked for no reason?"

"Why else indeed," Emily said, looking at Celestia very strangely, a frown getting deeper and deeper the more she did so. "It is very strange that a member of your guard just so happened to try and attack them. One would almost think that it was done in a thinly veiled attempt to draw some kind of very violent reaction on purpose."

Celestia said nothing for a moment, merely quirking an eyebrow at Emily as she shook her head.

"I assure you, I have instigated no such thing," she said, honestly disturbingly clear within her words, something that made Chrissy and I look at each other for a moment.

Celestia then turned her attention to us.

"Private Greenhorn and I shall be having a talk later about his actions today. I assure you, I shall do my utmost to discover why he tried to attack you."

"I wait with bated breath," Chrissy replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes for added emphasis. "Which one is ours?"

"Follow me," Emily urged, hopping into the carriage unmanned by the quite bruised Private.

Chrissy and I looked at the other, turning our gaze to our new subjects and gesturing for them to follow as we made our way into the carriage. Pearl and Fleetfoot followed, the former looking over at the Private before throwing his sword over, much to the audible dismay of the other Ponies around him.

"You dropped this," he sneered, scowling at them.

"Captain Pearl, what's going on sir?" a Pegasus asked, indistinguishable from the other armour wear Ponies. "Why are you defending them?"

Pearl blinked a couple of times as if confused, but shook his head after a moment or two and ignored the stallion. He gave a brief nod to Fleetfoot and hopped onto the carriage with us, shutting the door to it behind him and sitting down beside her.

"That stallion wasn't a part of my former unit, my King," he said quietly, looking up at me nervously. "I did not train my unit to be cowards, nor to engage in violence borne of fear."

"It's fine Pearl," I assured, holding my arm around Chrissy and making sure my hand was placed upon her stomach, my own nerves unwilling to let me do anything else. "He was just a fucking idiot like the rest of them. Took one look at us and struck out. It's nothing I'm not used to when dealing with Ponies."

Pearl and Fleetfoot looked at each other, visibly concerned. But rather then say anything more, they chose instead to lean against the other, their eyes planted firmly on Emily.

I could feel their confusion, their lack of trust, their anger.

'Better nip that in the bud then.'

"She isn't Luna," I said, catching their attention as they looked between me and her bewilderedly. "I know, I know. She looks like her, but she isn't the one you may know. She's actually my sister in her body…basically."

I looked at Emily for help, the mare giving me a sad smile as she shook her head and looked at my new subjects.

"Richard has the right of it…mostly," she began. "I am his sister, but I am also Celestia's. I am both Luna and Emily in one being. Neither one nor the other but both altogether."

She frowned a touch. "Although admittedly, I do feel a far stronger pull towards my Humanity. Perhaps this is because of the emotion of this day. I don't know…"

"So what do we call you?" Fleetfoot asked, confusion clear as day upon her face.

Emily's frown lightened up, a small smile upon her face. "In public, call me Luna. No need to get any unwanted attention. But in public, you can call me Emily if you like. I'm not fussed. Whatever you find more comfortable to use."

"Naerx is going to be so confused," Chrissy said, grinning tiredly as she leaned against me.

"I'm surprised she hasn't turned up yet," I replied. "She's usually pretty punctual with her jump scare appearances."

Chrissy shook her head, frowning. "She used up a lot of strength before. And Canterlot is likely too far a distance to reach either of us. We likely won't see her again until we return to the hive."

I wasn't sure what to feel at that information, but I wasn't particularly fussed about it. Truth be told, although I was immensely grateful for all she had done for us, I missed just being alone with Chrissy. There was rarely anything more irritating then whipping it out only to find a ghostly pair of eyes staring at you from the distance.

"We'll manage love," Chrissy said, snapping me from my thoughts. "We did fine before, we'll do so again. Besides, we've only got to stay in Canterlot for a short while."

"Please try and make it at least a month," Emily asked, smiling as we both looked at her incredulously. "I know, I know. Not really appealing, I get it. But it'd be really nice if you didn't up and vanish right away. I'd…I'd really like to get to know you."

It hit me slowly…and yet with the strength of a lorry.

'She's scared to be left on her own…'

Bizarre as it was to feel it, to know it. The fact that my sister was scared became very noticeable as the emotion filled the carriage. If it wasn't for our ability to feel emotion, none of us would have been able to see such through her smile.

But she was scared, I could feel it. Now that the dome was done and Celestia was out of sight if for but a short time, the mare we'd seen stand up to her was gone. And in her place was a very lonely, very scared person.

"Of course we will," I said, trying not to wince at her sigh of relief. I looked down at my mate and added. "Right love?"

Chrissy blinked but smiled and was about to nod, only to frown and shake her head. "We can't stay that long. I'm going to give birth in nine days, give or take. I'd rather not be in Canterlot when it happens."

"I can help," Emily said quickly, catching Chrissy's raised eyebrow and smiling widely at it. "Richard can attest. I was learning to be a midwife before…well, before I came here. I can help you when it's time."

"A mid what?" Chrissy asked, looking up at me, confused.

"It's a profession from my world," I explained, enjoying the way Emily was all but bouncing in her seat. "They basically provide care and support to pregnant ladies."

"And they also learn how to help deliver babies," Emily chimed in, practically beaming at us. "Oh I'm so excited. This is brilliant. Please let me help, I can get everything you need to give birth in your own home. You won't even need to come to the hospital."

I was about to ask how…but then the obvious answer shut me up before I could.

"And where is our home?" I asked instead, catching my mates amused smile as she watched Emily all but vibrate in her seat. "Last I checked, I kind of wrecked mine."

Emily grinned sheepishly. "Ah, well. About that-"

Before she could continue, something flashed and passed through the solid walls of the carriage, the suddenness of it causing me to quickly cover Chrissy protectively.

Pearl cried out in surprise as whatever it was bounced off of his head and tumbled away, rolling with the motion before standing up and alert.

For all of a moment there was silence…

"Uh, it's a letter," Fleetfoot said, nervously reaching over to touch it only to have her hoof slapped away by Pearl. "Hey!"

"What was the first lesson you learned in regard to foreign objects, Fleetfoot," he snapped, watching as the mare blinked and lowered her ears sheepishly.

"Never touch it before first examining it for curses and traps," she replied, backing away from the so called letter quickly. "Sorry sir, I didn't think."

"No you didn't" he agreed, taking a deep breath and letting it go very uneasily. He glanced at her hoof and sighed. "I'm sorry about hitting you."

"No, no," she refuted moving down and nuzzling him gently. "I was being dumb. The stupid letter could be booby trapped and I tried to touch it. Better a slapped hoof then a dead mare, right?"

"Correct," Chrissy agreed, moving carefully only to fall back as the carriage's movement proved too much for her uneasy balance to handle. "Can you check for traps, Emily?"

Emily, who had been otherwise silent nodded and lifted up the letter with magic, said magic flickering with varied colours before she put it back on the seat.

"It's clean," she announced, frowning lightly. "It feels weird though. Old and new at the same time. I can't quite figure it out, but it feels pretty safe to me."

"I've got it," I said, moving over only to be pulled back by Chrissy. I looked at her worried face and shook my head. "Love it's fine. Emily already said that it isn't trapped and I…I trust my sister."

Chrissy bit her lip, unwilling to let go. "I…I…okay. Just promise to drop it if it so much as makes a squeak okay?"

"Okay," I chuckled, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

I moved over to the letter, stepping past our new subjects and carefully picked it up. I waited for a few seconds…but when nothing happened, I looked at the envelope and…and…

"It's for me," I said, bewildered.

"For you?" Chrissy asked, blinking before shrugged slightly. "Well…it is a letter."

"No, you don't understand," I refuted. "It's for me. It has my old address on it."

"What?" Emily gasped, moving over and staring at the envelope with me, her eyes widening as she took in the address.

Mr Richard Tyler

153 Bracebridge Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

CV11 4NX

"That's our old place," she whispered, looking up at me. "How on earth does anyone here know that?"

"No idea," I replied, looking back at it warily. "Only one way to find out I guess."

Being extremely careful, I opened the letter and began to read it.

Richard.

Before I begin, I ask that you please withhold scepticism and continue no matter what you read. This may not make any sense right now, but you'll understand if you keep going.

Please DO keep going, I have so much to say. I cannot tell you how many times I have written and rewritten this letter over the years.

If you haven't put this down or set it alight yet, then the start is as good a place as any, so let's begin there.

You likely don't remember me, but I remember the day I first saw you. Small and chubby, with a tuft of brown hair and a face like Yoda. Sorry if this irks you, but I've always found it amusing how such an admittedly ugly baby grew into such a handsome young man.

I frowned.

'This guy knew me when I was a kid, who is he?'

There is no easy way to say this, so I'll just get to the point.

I'm your Dad.

I stopped reading and just blinked at those last three words, my eyes seeing but my mind not comprehending any of it.

My Dad had vanished when I was very young. I couldn't even remember what he looked like. I didn't even know why he left, just that he did.

This couldn't be him, it wasn't possible.

"Richard?" Chrissy's voice snapped me out of my trance as I felt her hand upon my wrist. "What's the matter?"

I didn't know what to say to her, I barely knew what to think.

And yet my eyes strayed back to the letter, as if humouring the letters upon it as I continued to read.

I know this may seem impossible and most certainly in bad taste. But I assure you that this is in no way a lie or joke, or even a cruel manipulation to hurt you.

The day you were born and I held you, I knew then and there that there were no lengths I wouldn't go to keep you safe. You were barely a few minutes into the world and I already loved you more than anything.

It's difficult to explain, but you'll understand it one day. You really will.

There's so much I want to write, to say to you here Richard. But the parchment is only so long and I…well, more on that later. Just know that I am writing this letter as both a guide and a warning.

But know that I DID NOT leave you, I was stolen from you and your Mother by a magic the summoner couldn't control. In fact when I arrived, the one who summoned me was a messy puddle of blood and guts on the floor.

I was trapped, alone and frightened in a world I didn't understand. But not once did my thoughts stray from figuring out how to return home to you.

Eventually I was found, starving and dying by a tribe of Zebra. They took me into their tribe and fed me, gave me medicine and took care of me. It took some time to get used to the idea that they weren't animals, but talking, thinking people. But I did and…stayed with them once I was well, not only as a way to pay them back for saving me, but also in the hope that they knew of a way to get me home.

Sadly…this was not the case.

I arrived over two hundred years before you, son. And Zebrica, while rich with culture and knowledge, was incredibly lacklustre in regard to magic. They had no way to return me, I had no way to ever see you again.

That knowledge broke me completely. The only thing that stopped me from ending it all there and then was the Tribe Queen, Kara.

She was a kind soul. Young and nervous of her position, but so strong when she needed to be. She pulled me out of my funk and gave me a reason to live.

Her sight.

You see son, Zebra have what is commonly known as The Sight. The ability to look into the future and see a glimpse of what could be. But Kara's was so strong that she could not only see glimpses into the future, but everything in another's personal future, almost right down to the last detail.

And when she held my hand the day I was at my lowest…she saw you.

She saw you trapped here like I was, alone and afraid…and so angry, so, so angry. The sight of you sent Kara into a three day coma, and when she awoke she told me that it was not the vision itself that did so to her, but the sheer amount of hate and pain you exuded within it.

I had to know more. And so whenever she was able, Kara held my hand and shared her sight with me…and together we saw you.

It filled me with such pride to see the man you became…and such sorrow to feel how you felt.

Still, I resolved then and there to do something about it. But what could I do? From Kara's sight, we had deduced that you would arrive here over two hundred years in the future. I would be dead, she would be dead.

But I refused to let something so simple as time stop me from helping my only child. And so together we saw more, we saw what would become of you, what the Pony Princess, Celestia, would do to you.

And we made plans to stop her.

'What is this?' I thought, blinking rapidly at the parchment. 'Plans…what's…'

I cannot tell you what they are in this letter. Kara saw that if I were to do so, the letter would be discovered and taken to Celestia. Why we did no know, but Kara has suggested that fate does not look kindly on too much interference, and as such would try to stop us if we added too much.

It is mere speculation, but I have come to trust her wisdom along these long years.

But know son, know that plans within plans are occurring. Events that should have included those you know, did not BECAUSE of these plans. I wish I could say more…

Alas, the parchment is running low and there is so much more I wish to say.

I felt something cold running down my cheek, but I ignored it. I had to keep reading, I couldn't stop now, I couldn't!

I do not know if this brings you comfort, but I have lived a long and happy life. I have seen so much, fought so much…and I am a tired old man now. But not a day goes by where I do not miss you.

Kara and I were wed some forty years ago…she passed a few months back. I do miss her so. She was the loveliest, kindest soul. I love her more than any other woman I've met. We even managed to have children.

I wonder if you'll ever meet my descendants. Alas, I did not ask such in time.

Please do not be angry, I do still miss your Mother. But she became little more than a faded memory the longer I stayed here. Only you remain clear in my mind, and the only reason for that is Kara's sight.

One day we will erase all knowledge of me here. Celestia is unlikely to ever know as tensions between us and Equestria are strained. But Kara has agreed that we cannot take the chance, and as such we shall use a bit of Zebrican magic to accomplish my…erasure from history.

All that will remain is this letter. The date of its arrival has been set and it is already on its way to you, albeit the long way around. I have placed your address from Earth upon it. I hope what I have glanced proves it to be the correct one. Otherwise this letter may have never gained your attention in the first place.

I think i...

The letter was smudged at this point, the words different somehow as they continued. I noticed it, but couldn't find it within me to care as I continued to devour the words upon it.

Son,

Forgive me. It has been a few weeks since I last wrote anything. I seem to find myself somewhat tired these days, and forgetful.

I am tired now, but before I finish this I have a few more things to say.

Kara and I saw Chrissy, we saw what and who she is, and we saw what you become. Know that I am proud of you. To change who you are for another is the mark of true love and maturity. Kara was also very approving of her fire and wit. Her determination to keep you safe, to love you at your lowest. Hang onto that one son, she's definitely a keeper.

Sadly, relationships between Zebra and Changeling are tense these days, and from what I have learned they only become more so by the time you arrive. And so with a heavy heart do I ask that you please do not trust a Zebra. They see a bit of future and the worst of them try to exploit it.

Forgive me for saying this, Kara. But Richard, never trust one, never. They are as deceitful and manipulative as that white tyrant. If you take anything from this letter, please do not trust any of them.

I can say no more without attracting fates unkind eyes. But know that I have seen the man you are and I am so proud of you Richard. I know you do not like the boy you once were, what little of it I was able to see. So instead focus on who you want to be in the future. The past has happened, it is done and can no longer hurt you.

Focus on the future…focus on more then just surviving in a dank hive.

Focus on learning to live a life with your mate.

Again the words seemed somewhat different as I continued, something I took to mean that time had passed again between them.

I fear that this is the last time I will write anything.

Know that I love you, that I will always love you. You are a leader son, you may not know it or feel it. But you are a leader of men, and you will become one in time.

Lead your people with kindness. Show them a better way.

Ah, forgive an old man his rambling, Richard. I've done all I can to prepare for when you arrive, but my time is coming soon and I can do no more.

The rest is up to you, son.

Love Dad x

Let the new arc begin!

I'll leave this chappy here. Seems as good a point as any to end off, though I'm sure some of you won't waste any time in screaming something about blue balling cliffhangers.

Cya, stay snuggly! :D